#pred!tango

Now, Jimmy was stuck outside in a near blinding storm, with no sense of where he even was. The gales were so harsh he had to keep his wings tucked in close to his spine lest he get swept away by the wind and snow, and he held his arms close to his chest to conserve the body heat that was quickly being stolen from him. He had some hope in knowing the general direction of the town. He may have wandered far from the house his family was in, but he hadn't gone far from the town. He knew there was a house nearby. The only difficult part was the visibility and if any house had left their porch light on.

Jimmy trudged through the falling snow that began to quickly build around him making it difficult to traverse through. He was shivering and knew that if he didn't find somewhere safe soon, he'd likely freeze to death.

Then thew the falling snow he could see a light. He moved quickly towards it and wanted to cry in relief when he saw it was the porch light to a giant house. He quickly found a way inside, not really thinking much of the conveniently sized mousehole looking entrance next to the large door. Well, he may have found it odd, but he was too worried about not freezing to death.

He shook the snow off of himself and his feathers, and realized it was just as cold in here as it was outside. Jimmy was grateful to be out of the wind and snow but clearly the giant that lived here hadn't been prepared before hibernation took hold.

Jimmy considered that the occupant of the house may be awake with the kitchen light and a lamp in the living room on, but with how cold it was, it was more likely they had simply forgotten to turn it on. Then he noticed the large figure sitting slightly slumped over on the couch.

For a moment Jimmy thought the giant may be awake and his heart jumped before realizing the figures slumped posture and their head tilted to one side meant they were asleep. That cannot be a pleasant position to have fallen asleep in.

Jimmy breathed a sigh of relief. Grian would have told him how stupid he was for not being attentive enough and Joel would have fussed at him for even getting scared of the giant. Joel was always a little too proud for his small stature.

The giant had fire for hair which wasn't exactly common. Jimmy had heard of blazeborns, but had never really seen one before coming to this town. He had actually seen this specific giant before in the house his family had chosen to stay in while they scouted it out. He had been shocked to see a blazeborn as they were quite rare in the overworld from what he had heard.

He would never admit it to his brothers but he had felt a pull towards the blazeborn giant at the time. A pull he was always told to ignore; the want to be as close as possible to the giant. That safety and protection from anything and everything existed within that giant. He had to force himself to look away from the giant before his brothers could say anything to him for looking too long.

He had silently mourned when the blazeborn left, convinced that he may never again see what he was sure was his soulmate. Then he went outside when he wasn't supposed to and now he was in the house of that very same giant. Fate was funny in that way, wasn't it?

Although, Jimmy did note that the giants hair was now a shade of dark red when he was sure that before it was more of a yellow-orange.

Jimmy frowned. Sure, blazes were made of fire and must have higher body temperatures because of it, but with the house being as cold as it was Jimmy couldn't help but worry for the giant's wellbeing. He could already hear Joel and Grian fussing at him for even thinking about worrying for a giant. Giants weren't worth a tinies time, and they didn't care about tinies beyond what tinies could do for giants and blah blah blah.

Jimmy never understood why giants weren't worthy of his compassion, and his brothers weren't here to make fun of him for it.

Jimmy shivered, and remembered he should probably be worrying more about warming himself up than a giant who had a better chance at recovering from the cold then he. He made his way further into the house to get a better idea of the layout and saw a worrying lack of food laid out in the kitchen. Another anomaly as he was used to giants often laying out all of their food in an easy to grab space. There was an unopened box upon the kitchen counter. On the side of this box was written in black letters "For Tango." Jimmy was sure he had heard the giant be called something like that at the other house.

Jimmy looked back at the sleeping Tango with a confused look. What could have possibly been so much more important than preparing for hibernation? Typically while scouting, always a week or two before the cold set in, he would watch giants prep for winter. They would stock up on food that wouldn't go bad easily and gather firewood to keep as constant of a fire as possible for when they had brief moments of wakefulness.

Tango seemed to have a fair amount of firewood, he noted as he looked towards the unlit fireplace. At least he had firewood, although it didn't seem Tango had the forethought to light a fire before falling asleep.

Jimmy noticed a laptop in the lap of the sleeping giant, it wasn't something he considered imperative to take note of before now. Tango's hands laid upon the keys of the computer as if he simply fell asleep while typing something. The computer itself lay lifeless, either dead or simply in sleep mode.

He was curious as to what was so important to the giant that he felt the need to work on it until he was forced to fall asleep in such an unprepared manner.

Jimmy rubbed his arms to try to bring some warmth back to them and sighed when it didn't warm him up as much as he would have liked. His teeth chattered and he still wasn't any closer to possibly finding a way to warm up. The fireplace wasn't lit and Jimmy wouldn't know how to start even a tiny fire. Maybe if Tango woke up he would light a fire. Whenever that would be.

The only thing likely to warm him up was the giant blazeborn that sat motionless, and he was always taught never to even be seen by giants much less touch one. No one else was here to tell him it was a bad idea though, and despite everything he had been told every fiber of his being wanted to be close to the blazeborn.

Jimmy made his way over to the sleeping giant, desperate to feel some kind of safety and less alone in this situation. Jimmy was in the middle of the living room, with no way to easily get out of sight when a groan pervaded the silence of the room and as if Jimmy's presence had been sensed the previously still giant began to move.

Jimmy paused in his steps as Tango righted his head and brought a hand up to rub at a crick in his neck. Then his eyes opened and his red eyes landed upon Jimmy's small form.

Jimmy's heart pounded in his chest as Tango tried to register what Jimmy was. There was a brief moment of stillness between the two before Tango turned his head groggily to look out a nearby window. Panic plastered itself over the giant's previously sleepy expression as he saw the raging blizzard outside.

"Shit, I didn't-" he stood suddenly and the laptop fell from his lap with a clatter. Tango scrambled to pick it up, and set it calmly on the nearby coffee table.

"It's freezing! I forgot to- and I didn't open Skizz's- I hadn't even bought- why did winter have to come so early?!" Jimmy watched in confusion, and apprehension as Tango voiced his panicked thoughts.

Jimmy thought Tango may have forgotten he was there but then he looked back at Jimmy who hadn't even moved from his spot in the middle of the room, and he gave Jimmy an apologetic smile through his panic.

"One moment please," Tango said. He ran a hand through his hair, shivered from the cold, closed his eyes and took in a deep breath before walking to the fire place where he started a fire fairly quickly. The flood of warmth and light was a welcome relief but the fire didn't immediately chase the chill away that seemed to burrow itself beneath his skin.

Jimmy was sure that he should be looking for a place to hide with the opportunity he'd been given, his family wouldn't want him being seen, but he didn't want to hide from this giant. That feeling to just stay close to the giant overriding any previous warnings he'd been given.

Tango went into the kitchen next, where he opened the box on the counter and sighed with relief. "Skizz… you're a life saver," he muttered, as he began pulling out nonperishable snacks and meals to lay out on the counter.

With another deep breath, Tango turned around and his eyes landed on Jimmy once more.

"Did you come in from the storm?" Tango asked going back to the couch. Jimmy did take note of Tango choosing not to eat anything, finding it odd when in past experiences he'd seen giants wake to only eat during the winter. Jimmy nodded but Tango hadn't been looking at him, as he picked up the laptop and attempted to turn it on.

"Yes… I got seperated from my group," Jimmy answered, "they're in another house."

Tango looked disappointed when the computer didn't turn on, but he just closed it and set it to the side, returning his attention back to the Jimmy.

"That sucks… and I'm so sorry about the state of… well everything." Despite the fire now crackling and warming up the room slowly, Tango shivered again. His hair had stayed a dim red since waking. "and if I'm freezing, I can't even imagine how you must be feeling, especially if you just came in from the storm... goodness are you alright?"

Jimmy was a little taken aback by the demeanor of this giant. Everything he'd heard about them was how inconsiderate they were to tinies, that they either wanted nothing to do with tinies, viewed them as pests or as something to be used. This giant was actively apologizing to him for being unprepared for his own hibernation, and worrying about Jimmy's wellbeing.

"I feel like I've been frozen to the bone so I'm not feeling… awesome," Jimmy responded truthfully.

Tango frowned as he looked at the fireplace and then back to Jimmy's shivering form. "I don't think the fire will warm you up fast enough, would you like for me to try to warm you up? I'm probably more comfortable than the brick around the fireplace anyway. I'm Tango, by the way."

"I'm Jimmy, and yes, that sounds like a great idea," Jimmy said, trying to not seem desperate in his want to be close to Tango. He was sure Tango must be feeling some similar way, but Jimmy wasn't sure how exactly giants knew if they met their soulmate.

Jimmy flapped his wings and flew up to the couch where Tango allowed him to be in his lap. Jimmy sat on Tango's thigh and leaned against his abdomen to get as much warmth from the blazeborn as possible.

Tango wasn't warm enough. His clothes and skin still cold from sleeping in such an open space. The air was still too cold.

Jimmy was literally as close as physically possible to Tango and he still felt he wasn't close enough.

"What about you?" Jimmy said through chattering teeth as he tried to push himself closer to Tango and what little warmth he emitted.

"What about me?" Tango said. Jimmy could feel Tango shivering himself.

"Are you alright? You're also cold."

"I run warmer than most, so the cold doesn't really affect me the same way it does others."

"Yes… but your hair is quite a dark shade of red… shouldn't it be… I don't know… lighter?"

Tango was quiet for a second before muttering to himself, "How long was I out for…?"

Tango ran his fingers through his hair. Tango paused before taking in a sharp breath filled with anxiety.

"I should be fine…" Tango said with uncertainty, "I probably just need to eat…"

At the mention of eating, Jimmy could hear Tango's stomach grumble. Jimmy looked towards the kitchen at all the food he had laid out not too long ago, but Jimmy got the feeling Tango wasn't looking where he was.

"So… I'm sure you've also noticed the connection between us, right?"

"I have," Jimmy said, half guessing where this could be going.

"I'm pretty sure we're soulmates…" Tango said before becoming nervous, "and I wouldn't really mention this if this situation was better, but would it be alright if I… could swallow you?"

Jimmy was quiet for a moment as he thought it over. He didn't really like the idea of being swallowed by a being much bigger than him, but his instincts buzzed excitedly beneath his skin at the mention of being closer than he already was. His stress and worry was melting away at the idea that anything that wished him harm, including the cold, couldn't reach him. He couldn't imagine wanting to be anywhere else.

"I say this as my hair being as red as it is means I may have gotten a little too cold and my inner flame is at risk of going out, which I'm sure you can imagine what that may mean for me… with you as my soulmate you'd provide me enough energy to be able to reignite it as I barely have enough energy to keep myself awake right now, and you would also be able to warm up much faster," Tango yawned at the mention of his own energy being low, "or… we can totally forget I mentioned it, I can just eat some of the food Skizz left me, and I'll just hope for the best… Skizz comes over sometimes to check on me, although I'm not sure when he will be able to with this storm…"

Tango's eyes fluttered closed as he began to fall asleep. Jimmy looked over at the fire Tango had started and then once again took in the color of Tango's hair. When that fire goes out both of them would be at the mercy of whatever temperature it was outside, and if Tango's inner fire goes out...

They had to do this fast if they were going to do this.

"Tango!" Jimmy yelled. Tango's eyes flew open with a gasp.

"What?" Tango said exhaustion in his voice.

"Yes, swallow me," Jimmy said, "I want you to."

Tango offered his hand to Jimmy and when he stepped on he was lifted up to be face level with Tango. Tango used his other hand to stifle another yawn before he gave Jimmy a loopy smile.

"Is it a bad time to admit I've never done this?" Tango joked.

"What? Swallowed a tiny?" Jimmy asked, confusion furrowing his brow as he tried to figure out why this was relevant, "I would hope it wouldn't be commonplace for giants."

"It's not," Tango shrugged, "I just realized how easy it could be to hurt you, and I don't think I've ever swallowed anything as big as you, you're kinda tall for a tiny."

Tango was definitely loopy after almost falling back into hibernation. He was on the verge of falling asleep. Although, after mentioning how easy it could be to hurt Jimmy, he could only imagine all the ways this could go wrong for him. Tango's teeth did look pretty sharp and if Tango wasn't fully aware of himself…

Jimmy didn't really have time to worry about that.

"I am a little bit taller than the average tiny but you're like ten times bigger than me."

"I don't think that exactly correlates to how easy it would be to swallow you."

"Why are we even having this discussion," Jimmy said with exasperation, "if you hadn't noticed, you're kinda actively falling asleep!"

"Hmm? Oh, that is true," Tango seemed to think for a second before bringing his hand with Jimmy on it up to his mouth. He opened his mouth allowing Jimmy to get a better look at his teeth and yep, those teeth were quite sharp looking. Tango fortunately was aware of that and stuck his tongue out covering his lower teeth and lip. Jimmy hesitated before deciding to just go for it. Not really time to consider the best way to go about this when Tango was actively fighting sleep.

He awkwardly crawled into Tango's mouth, keeping his wings tucked as flat as possible against his back and sides as to not nick them on any of Tango's upper teeth. Tango drew the rest of Jimmy into his mouth with his tongue when Jimmy couldn't pull himself in any further. Tango closed his mouth carefully around Jimmy, probably due to worrying about any of Jimmy's appendages being caught between his teeth.

Jimmy's bird instincts came alive as an anxiety came over him from being in an enclosed space. It also didn't help that what his brain perceived as a cage was alive and moving. The tongue he lay on moving ever so slightly, and warm damp breath washing over him. He tried his best to reassure himself that it would be alright. He couldn't spiral now, and certainly not because his bird brain won out over his human one.

Instead he focused on the instincts that wanted this and allowed that to override any anxieties. It was warm. It was safe. Everything would be okay. This was how things were meant to be.

A questioning but worried hum filled the space he was in.

"I'm fine," Jimmy said in response to Tango's hum, "Go ahead."

Jimmy tensed as his environment began to move. Everything tilted and Jimmy was sliding towards the back of the throat. Glk. Tango swallowed and Jimmy was sucked into the tight esophagus. It pulled and squeezed at Jimmy, attempting to drag him into the core of the blazeborn's body.

Tango made a small sound of discomfort before another gulp dragged Jimmy fully into the throat and out of Tango's mouth. Jimmy could feel the smaller swallows that undulated around him, pulling him further into Tango as an attempt to clear him from the windpipe quickly.

The tight tube let up sligtly as Jimmy slid into the chest where he could hear the beating of Tango's heart and wooshing of air into lungs much larger than his own. The muscles of the esophagus felt soothing, no longer as tight and massaging him downwards.

He noticed the heart began to slow to a calmer pace as peristalsis moved him through the chest. Tango must've fallen asleep as soon as Jimmy cleared his wind pipe.

The journey ended far sooner than Jimmy expected and he was squeezed into the stomach where he was welcomed by Tango's stomach gurgling satisfactorily, happy to have something in it. The space seemed slightly cramped but the walls fortunately had a lot of give Jimmy realized as he stretched his limbs out.

Jimmy didn't really know what to think of where he was right now. His instincts rewarded him as a wave of peace and calm fell over him at being in the core of his soulmate. Joel and Grian would kill him when they found out he'd found his soulmate and allowed himself to be a battery for one of their larger counterparts. It was awfully warm though. So much cozier than that blizzard despite the sliminess of it all, but even that wasn't exactly an uncomfortable element for Jimmy.

Jimmy felt the exact moment the transfer of his energy to Tango began. It felt like some invisible force was pulling at something from inside him. It was there and gone and then, probably for the first time in his entire life, Jimmy felt exhausted.

Tango gasped and the movement around Jimmy meant he probably managed to wake himself up after his brief nap.

"Jimmy, are you alright?" Tango asked in a low voice as if he was afraid to talk too loud. His voice vibrated through Jimmy and felt as if it came from all around.

"I'm exhausted…" Jimmy mumbled, not really able to think of much else to say.

"I guess I took a lot of your energy… I do feel quite energized, is this how tinies feel all the time?"

"Do you giants feel this tired all the time?" Jimmy retorted with a yawn.

"Probably," Jimmy could hear the smile in Tango voice, "Do you want out?"

"No!" Jimmy exclaimed, shooting up, then felt his face heat up at his sudden outburst, "I mean… I'm really tired, and it is quite warm in here compared to out there…"

Tango chuckled, "Alright, you can stay in there for as long as you'd like, I think I'm going to work on my game for a bit, I'm going to get up to find my charger but after that, I won't be moving around too much so you won't have to worry about being woken up, let me know when your ready to be let out, okay?"

"Okay…" Jimmy said allowing himself to finally give in to his exhaustion.

He began to drift off into the deepest sleep he's ever had as the space around shifted and began to rock in a comforting motion as Tango walked.

As his consciousness faded, Jimmy heard Tango mutter to himself, "I can't wait to tell Skizz and Impulse about this."

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Haiii! Hope you enjoyed! I do have plans for a part 2 told from Tango's POV and eventually, I plan on introducing other members of the lifeseries. This soulmate concept if you couldn't tell is very much based on double life, but I have decided due to personal choice that not every soulmate will line up with canon.

It's my AU and I choose the romantic and mainly platonic ships.