The Biggest Heart Story: Stør’s Job (Part 2)
Summary (2): The continuing story of a blossoming romance between a Water Nymph and a Giant. Mizu joins Stør to work on the farm, she meets new friendly faces who are quite greatful for the pair’s help. While, Stør continues to be nervous around Mizu.
Kæmpe Stør (Giant (17yrs - 36ft)) & Mizu Rivers (Water Nymph (18yrs - 5’6)) 🤭🥰
Part 1 here
More of “The Biggest Heart” here
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3k words
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Soon, Old Briar’s farm house came into view. It had a lovely little brick house with a big red barn next to it. What was odd about it was that to the right of the barn, were several large and deep holes in the earth, evenly spread apart and too uniform to have been made by nature.
Sitting on the porch of the house, Mizu could see an older male with large pointed ears, pale green skin and white stringy hair. Old Briar was a Nymph like Mizu, but a different kind. He dressed like he had just come back from a renaissance festival, but more than likely this was his regular wear. Most of the Tree Nymphs Mizu knew sported this look and it seemed Old Briar was no different.
Owning a giant farm and being a Tree Nymph was an ingenious idea, Mizu thought. His agrokinesis would allow him to help influence plants and crops to grow multiple times a year, both in and out of season.
Finally, stepping in front of the barn, Stør gently pulled the trees from his back and set them on the ground.
“I can see you found a little flower in my garden, Stør.” Old Briar called out to the giant. He looked up at her quizzically, immediately clocking Mizu as a Water Nymph.
Stør slowly raised a hand to his shoulder, inviting Mizu to get off, she did, and with a practiced hand she gave two slaps on his palm to indicate she was ready, and he slowly lowered her to the ground.
Old Briar met her after she stepped off the giant’s palm. Once Mizu was off, Stør pulled himself back so as to not crowd the pair. Old Briar reached out and shook Mizu’s hand and gave a brief introduction.
Watching them, Stør noticed Mizu’s left hand stayed in the air, her fingers wiggling. He still felt the stream of water flow along his neck continuously keeping him cool. Mizu was multitasking, conversing and keeping a constant flow of magic at her fingertips. Stør was touched that she worried about him. She is always caring. Always present. That’s the Mizu he knew.
“You should meet the wife.” Old Briar said before he turned and yelled towards the house, “Rosie!”
“What?!” A shrill voice came from inside.
“Rosie, we have another guest!” Old Briar yelled back.
A window slammed open and an old Tree Nymph woman’s head popped out. Her skin was dark green and her hair was made of leaves that would have reached to her shoulders if she didn’t have it in a bun. She caught Mizu’s eye and groaned at her husband, “Why do you never tell me BEFORE people are coming? I look dreadful, like I haven’t been in the sun in days!”
“You look lovely as always, my blossom.” Old Briar said robotically, as if he had to reassure his wife constantly. Rosie huffed and slammed the window shut.
After a few moments, Rosie walked out of the house clearly annoyed with her husband. She too was dressed for the Renaissance fair. She wiped her hands on her white apron as she walked past the other two Nymphs and straight to the Giant boy kneeling before the house.
“Stør! It’s always good to see you, how’s your father doing, still writing that cook book?” Rosie said as she got closer to Stør, ending up in his long shadow, but the older woman didn’t seem to mind looking straight up to meet his eyes. She wasn’t intimidated by his looming figure.
“Yes, he’s fine!” Stør’s smile widened at the spunky old Nymph lady. “Apparently, he’s planning on publishing it this spring.”
“Oh wonderful! Tell him I’ll be first in line for an autograph!”
Mizu listened politely as they chatted, but her mind started to wander. It was always jarring to see a ‘normal’ sized person next to Stør. Rosie was a little shorter than Mizu’s 5’6 frame.
Mizu wondered if that is really what she looks like next to the giant teenager. Rosie was absolutely dwarfed just by Stør’s hand alone. Standing on the ground, Rosie was a little taller than his ankle. Even kneeling, Stør is tall, large and intimidating. No matter how much he tries to accommodate others, he can’t change that fundamental fact.
In this moment, Mizu realizes how rare it was to see someone— outside of Stør’s family and friends— to confidently talk directly up at him and maintain eye contact. Even most of the teachers in their school won’t even talk to him at ground level, they’ll have their conferences on the roof of the school to be at eye level with the giant.
“And who might this be?” Rosie said. Mizu finally snapped out of her wandering thoughts to see Rosie looking directly at her.
“This- This is Mizu,” Stør stuttered. “She’s my…”
“I’m his friend.” Mizu walked to Rosie and shook her hand. She looked up at the giant to see him practically beaming. Mizu knew Stør didn’t have many friends, so to hear her say those words out loud clearly made him very happy.
Rosie studied Mizu. The older Nymph stared long enough to make the teenager feel self conscious. “You’re a Water Nymph, right?” Rosie asked, then quickly corrected. “Stupid question, I know, but you’d be perfect! I need your help in the kitchen.”
“But what about Stø–”
“Oh hush darling, let the boys get back to their work, I need you now!” Rosie said as she ushered Mizu inside the house.
“W-wait!” Mizu twisted out of Rosies way, she held her hands up and collected the water from Stør’s neck. He instantly started sweating again, missing the cool feeling Mizu’s magic provided.
All three watched in amazement as Mizu formed a giant bubble of water in front of her, and concentrating very hard, she thrust her hands forward and the bubble dropped into a solid block of ice. It was about as tall as Mizu, and perfectly see through. Mizu smiled up at Stør, his mouth still wide open in shock, “There, in case you need to cool down while I’m gone.” And with that, Mizu followed Rosie into the kitchen.
The first thing Mizu noticed was the trail of dirt coming in from the backdoor that led to a small potted lemon tree in the middle of the kitchen, as if it had been dragged inside the house. The next thing she noticed was a long green hose from outside sticking into the pot, watering the tree.
Seeing Mizu’s confused expression, the older Nymph explained, “I’m trying to make enough lemonade for Stør.” Rosie gestured to a large washtub near the tree that only contained a few inches of the yellowish liquid. Mizu realized Rosie intended to fill the tub and offer it to the giant.
“You know he has those potions for food and drinks, right?” Mizu pointed out. “You could just give him a pitcher of Lemonade and call it a day.”
Previously, Strega had explained that her mother, a powerful witch, had developed a potion to make human size food nutritionally proportional and filling to Stør, though the food size stays the same. This ensures he doesn’t starve and that he doesn’t eat a ton of food each meal. He eats about as much as an average human every meal but he usually finishes in one bite. This potion must be added to his drinks or food before he eats it. Stør mention to Mizu that the potion leaves an unpleasant aftertaste.
“I know dear, but it’s not the same. A glass would be like only a single drop to him, just doesn't feel right,” Rosie said.
Mizu deeply understood. The accommodations and loopholes Stør has to jump through just to live were mind boggling. She wished the world would change for Stør and not the other way round. With Rosie’s kind eyes, it seems others also shared this ideology.
Rosie turned to the lemon tree and placed her hands on the trunk. “If you could get the rest of the juice in those lemons and put it in the tub that would be great.” She nodded to a small pile of cut lemons that had been squeezed. Mizu could sense the liquid still trapped in them. “And in a second I’ll have more so if you could be a doll and use your powers on ‘em, you’d have an easier time getting all the juice out of a lemon than me trying to squeeze ‘em with my bare hands.”
Mizu did as she was asked, she hovered her blue hands over the lemons, calling the moisture within to her grasp. She made quick work of them, Leaving the lemons as flattened, hollow versions of themselves. She pulled out enough juice to fill one cup, she guided the bubble of liquid to the tub and let it drop inside.
Mizu looked at Rosie and her eyes grew wide. The older Nymph was using her power to make the tree produce lemons at a rapid pace. Little white flowers bloomed and in an instant lost their petals, then they became small green balls, only to grow rapidly and change color to yellow. It was magnificent.
When she was finished, Rosie wiped her brow, this process clearly took a lot of energy. The older woman turned to Mizu and spoke as if she had just run a mile, “Be a dear and help me pick them, Mizu?”
Mizu did as she was asked and soon the pair found themselves making lemonade quickly. Rosie cut the lemons and Mizu dehydrated them and filled the tub with their juice. When they ran out of lemons, Rosie would turn back to the tree to grow more.
They continued this till they felt they had enough juice to rationalize adding the water and sugar to the tub. To which Rosie happily boiled the sugar and water to add to the mixture.
Finally finished, Mizu and Rosie took a glass each to taste test all our hard work. Mizu wasn’t a fan of lemonade, but to her it tasted fine enough and Rosie seemed satisfied.
Now the hard part, transporting several gallons of lemonade outside without spilling it. Rosie and Mizu grabbed the handle on either side of the tub. Using her free hand, Mizu focused on keeping the liquid in the basin, ensuring the contents didn’t spill out with every uneasy step to the front door.
Eventually, the pair made it out the door and down the porch stairs. Mizu quickly spotted Stør hunched over near the barn, his back turned to them.
Mizu noticed her ball of ice wasn’t in the dirt where she left it last. Hm.
“Stør!” Rosie called out, waving her free hand over her head, “Over here.”
At the sound of his name, the giant turned, his large eyes locked on the two female Nymphs carrying the tub. Mizu’s suspicions were answered as she saw her ice ball in his large hand being rubbed on his neck to help cool himself down. Mizu smiled.
They set the tub on the ground before the giant boy. Both women took a few steps back out of sheer respect for the giant hand coming their way. Stør carefully picked up the large wash tub. It suddenly became laughably small in his hands. After all that hard work, it was about as much as a mouthful of liquid to him.
Raising it to his face, his eyes widened. “Is this Lemonade? Y-you really didn’t have to—”
“Well, it’s a gift,” Rosie’s spunky personality showed through again. “So no take backs.”
“Yes ma'am, thank you so much!”
“Don’t just thank me, Mizu here helped.”
His eyes landed on the Water Nymph. She nervously fiddled with her blue hair as she began blushing from his intense eyes.
“Thank you, Mizu.”
“O-of course, anything for you.”
Stør blushed a little too. He cleared his throat and sipped on the lemonade hoping to make it last. He savored it to the last drop. He thought he could taste the faintest lingering of magic from either Mizu or Rosie. It wasn’t uncomfortable, it was kind of… pleasant, an added sweetness and love to the flavor.
When he finished, he handed the tub to Rosie and once again thanked her for thinking of him. The older Nymph hushed him and went back into the farm house.
Meanwhile, Mizu was talking to Old Briar about using her Hydrokinesis to help reinstall the trees Stør pulled out of the earth.
Old Briar had hired Stør to rip out the trees from the forest on his property so they could extend their crop feilds. Instead of hiring an entire crew to cut down the trees, killing them completely, Old Briar realized he could just ask Stør to uproot them and transport them to a new location. Saving time, money and the trees themselves.
Now, the plan was for Stør to do the (literal) heavy lifting and hold the trees in place as Briar helped the trees grow new roots, and while Mizu would water them to make them grow stronger. They could do this without her help, but it would definitely go a lot faster if she was there watering the trees. Without watering the trees it would take a lot more energy for Briar to keep his powers going and for Stør to hold the trees in place for a long time. So, Mizu’s talents were greatly appreciated.
Before they started, Old Briar ran back into the farm to get something, but he told the pair they can begin without him.
“You heard the man, pick up those big-ass trees and let’s get to work!” She rubbed her hands together getting ready to summon a large quantity of water from the earth and air.
Stør was silent and he didn’t move.
“What are you waiting for?” Mizu asked.
Stør debated if he should say what’s on his mind. “It’s just— I’m uncomfortable doing this with you—you watching…” he finished lamely.
“Do I make you uncomfortable?” Mizu’s eyes grew wide. Was her coming here a mistake? Did he not want to see her in the first place? Would things have been better for him if she never showed up at all? These worries buzzed through her mind and she felt herself (literally) melt a little.
“No! No! Never!” He frantically shook his head.
“Then what’s the big deal?” Mizu said. “I already saw you pull up one of those trees earlier.”
Stør sighed, “I was kind of hoping you didn’t see that…”
“Why?”
“I-it’s not just you… I wouldn’t want to do this in front of ANYONE. Not my friends or my parents… and especially not in front of you… I don’t want to-to… freak you out…”
“Stør, can you look at me?” Mizu asked as she walked closer to his large hand laying in the dirt.
He cautiously looked up where she stood. His eyes widened to see how close she got to his hand. A hand that was as tall as she was. She had no fear in her eyes, though she knew fully well that hand could spring to life at any moment and grab her. But she had known Stør long enough to never have to worry about that.
Stør had always been afraid of what he was capable of, but it was that fear that ensured Mizu’s safety. Not just her own, but everyone around Stør. He was always conscious and aware of the power he had over people. Ever determined to prove that he wasn’t the monster people (and himself) worried he might become.
Mizu placed her small blue hand on his knuckle, “I don’t want you to feel like you have to hold back around me anymore, Stør. The Gods know you already do it so much for everyone else.” She spoke earnestly. “If it’s just the two of us, you shouldn’t have to hide yourself from me.”
The contact from such a small appendage sent lightning through his hand, up his arm, and straight to his head. His brain short circuited for a moment and his cheeks flushed a little. The power this girl had over him was… overwhelming.
“Please Stør, I really am your friend.” Mizu looked at him with her big puppy eyes.
Gods, he could never say no to those eyes. “Alright,” Stør spoke softly. Softer than she had ever heard him speak before.
She gave a squee of delight and threw her arms around his pointer finger. It was half her height but almost as thick as her torso. It was the closest approximation to a proper hug a giant could hope for. Sure, his family or some of his friends had hugged him like this before. (If it was his little sister, Sunday, he’d start swinging his finger back and forth.)
But this was Mizu Rivers, a girl who had never tried to hug him before this moment. The Water Nymph who he met in his English class freshman year. The girl who once stuck her head out the classroom window, to talk to him, and almost fell out. She was clumsy and caring. She was one of a kind. To Stør, she was everything.
She let go of his hand and quickly spun around. She raised her arms, and with a devilish grin she called the water from the earth and air. Stør watched with amazement. She looked up at him, “let’s get to work!”
“Yeah, let’s get to work.”
***
Several dozen holes filled and tree roots reinstated later, Mizu and Stør were once again in front of the small farm house.
Old Briar had run inside the house to retrieve Stør’s payment for his work. He returned with several large bills. Now that they were finished, Stør placed his hand in front of the farmer and thanked him as Old Briar placed the money in his hand.
It was comical to see the small flecks of paper laying in his hand. They seemed to get lost in the folds of his palm. Stør carefully counted the money, and when he was satisfied, he placed them in a wallet that was about as tall as Mizu, and put it in his back pocket.
“Here you are, Miss Mizu, for your work today.” Old Briar handed her a crisp $50 bill.
“Oh no, I couldn’t, I-I didn’t expect anything.” She handed it back to Old Briar.
“Nonsense, you helped out a great deal, you deserve it.” Rosie took the bill from her husband and placed it in the Water Nymph’s blue hands.
“I-I don’t know, it-it doesn’t feel right—“ Mizu started.
“It’s best just to take the money, Mizu. One time I found cash stuffed in my shoe.” Stør shook his head at the memory, “I still don’t know how Mrs. Rosie managed that.”
“Same way I get my husband to do things, sheer stubbornness.” Rosie said mischievously as she bumped into her husband’s side. He lovingly wrapped an arm around her.
“You two should get home before the sun sets.” Old Briar held out his hand for Mizu to shake. “It was a pleasure meeting you Mizu, and you’re more than welcome to come back and help anytime. We can always use talents like yours on the farm.”
“Thank you. I really enjoyed my time here.” Mizu said and she meant it. She usually doesn’t get the opportunity to use her hydrokinesis powers to its full extent, this was a nice change of pace. She briefly considered taking them up on the offer. She turned and looked up at the neiling giant, maybe she will. “Stør, can I get a lift?”
He smiled gently at his dear friend, “Of course.” He said as he lowered his large hand, Mizu quickly stepped on it. She patted his palm twice, and he slowly raised her up to his left shoulder and waited til she sat down. He felt two taps on his neck to inform him she was ready for him to move.
A few more goodbyes later and Stør was walking down the dirt road to his house. Normally this walk would take only a few minutes with his long legs, but he found himself going slower and taking the scenic route.
Stør listened as Mizu excitedly pointed out rock formations in the distance or that she could sense a stream not too far from view. Seeing the world from this high up was normal to him, it was mundane, but having Mizu here with him, it was like seeing his world through new eyes. She pointed out the littlest details in the horizon he would have overlooked.
Stør’s home was finally in view, he wanted to ask the question he’d been wondering since Mizu showed up on Old Briar’s farm.
“Mizu?” Stør said softly.
“Yes?”
“N-never mind, it’s not important.” Stør quickly backtracked. Internally he kicked himself because he lost his courage and crumbled instantly.
“It’s okay, you can ask, I’m sure it is important.” Mizu leaned forward on his shoulder trying to catch his eye.
Stør glanced at her briefly and looked away. Gods she was adorable.
“I-is there a reason you came to find me on the farm?” Stør asked nervously. “N-not that I don’t like your company! You’re always more than welcome to-to tag along…” he finished lamely, cheeks turning bright red.
Mizu paused for a long moment. She had come to ask how they were going to split the research portion of their project, but it was a dumb excuse anyway. She didn’t have a real reason to hang out with him. But did she really need one? All she knew is that she wanted to be here with Stør.
“No… No reason.” Mizu said as she placed a small blue hand on the heart shaped birthmark on his neck. It was the size of her hand with her fingers spread. “I just wanted to see you.” She practically whispered in his ear.
Her light touch on his neck and the sound of her voice sent energy bursting through Stør’s entire body and soul. His brain was on fire. He felt he could die happily right now.
Mizu didn’t know why or when or where it started, but in these moments, between a Water Nymph and a giant, she was truly happy.
***
That’s all folks! 👋🫡
For now 😏🫣
This is my first (published) short story. I usually don’t write stories, I like drawing comics, so any critiques and suggestions are welcome! Thanks!
But if you want more of “The Biggest Heart” click here! To meet other characters and learn about the world! Or if you want to see more of Stør & Mizu being absolutely adorable! (Like this drawing featured below)🥹🤭
