#weeeeeeeeeeee

Here’s my other fic that I wrote based on your wonderful art! I hope it’s okay that it strayed into nsfw territory ^^

WAAAAAAGH TYSM FOR SHARING THIS IS SO AWESOME ; _____ ; such a cute fic... i think our brains melded cus i REALLY wanted to include a scene of them having a distraction kiss HAHA..and so i had to draw something

FINALLY!!! ITS PIZZLE YANKING TIME!!!! IT'S BEEN MONTHS!!!

Lani sat up and looked around, her head throbbed with pain. She felt sick…Oooooh. She must’ve drank too much mead. She turned to look at Noi. He was snoring softly, a quiet, yet thunderous noise. It was like white noise, calming. He was turned away from Lani, still looking beautiful as ever. The repetitive breathing halted for a moment as Noi turned to Lani. She could hear a creaking within the bed with the giant’s movements. 

“Gods, you’re beautiful Noi. I wish I could tell you how much I like you.” (She don’t remember nothing). Noi looked so peaceful when asleep. Lani wished she felt like that, she really could use some water or something. She didn’t want to wake Noi, but her head was burning. She pulled herself from her homemade bed and walked to the edge. She could wake Noi…but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

“Ugh.” Lani slowly made her way down the nightstand, her body aching. She felt nauseated and still extremely tired. But she was also very dehydrated and really needed some water.

Wait…

Where does Noi keep his water? Lani pulled herself closer to the nightstand, regret filling her senses. 

Suddenly, Noi’s peaceful snoring stopped. Lani couldn’t see his head from where she was, but she could see the rest of his body. She heard a groan and Noi’s body turned up. 

“Lani, are you-LANI?!” Noi sounded worried. “Crap! I should’ve watched her! Stupid Noi! Lani must’ve left. She hates you-”

“Noi?” Lani wanted to put her hand over her ears, as her brain felt like it was banging against the inside of her head. “I’m here.”

“Oh.” Noi’s head appeared in view. He sighed. “Sorry. Here, c’mon.” Noi’s hand was swung out, right below Lani. Lani let herself fall, too exhausted to care. 

“Can you get me some water, please?” Lani just laid in Noi’s palm, she felt quite terrible. 

“Oh, yeah, of course.” Lani closed her eyes, putting all her trust in Noi. Multiple times she’d done that, but she didn’t care. “Why did you think you needed to go get some for yourself? You could’ve just woken me up.”

“I didn’t want to.” Lani curled up and pressed herself into Noi’s warm skin. The warmth made her feel much better. 

“Oh gods Lani. I…I care about you, okay? You can always ask me for stuff when you’re here. I…gods.” Noi sounded slightly annoyed, but in a nice way. “C’mon, I’m gonna get you some water.”

“Thank you.”

“Of course, Lani.” 

Lani gulped down water, barely stopping for air. 

“Careful, be careful. Don’t drown yourself.” Noi’s calm voice made Lani pause, she wiped her face on her sleeve. Then Noi said quieter, “I can’t deal with that.”

“I’m careful, just really thirsty.” Lani scooped water more slowly into her mouth.

“Yeah.” 

~~~~~~

Noi admired Lani. She was beautiful even when she was aggressively chugging water. His mind was still stuck on what she had said the night before.

 Lani liked him.

Noi couldn’t believe it. He’d been denying liking her in the back of his mind, but he knew that he really liked her. He couldn’t deny it and he knew that.  

She’s so wonderful. I’m so happy she’s here. With me. 

Oh gods.

I love Lani Jack. 

Noi grabbed his face and scowled at himself. What was he thinking?! Lani was a human. He was a giant. He wasn’t allowed to love her. She was smaller than his eye.

Small.

Insignificant.

Human.

Noi. Noi stop it. Stop. She’s important.

“Thank you, Noi.” Lani’s beautiful voice dragged him from his thoughts. He’d much rather listen to that than his own stupid voice. “I-that helped some.”

“Yeah, of course. Mhm.” Noi leaned on his hand. “Yeah.”

“Are you okay, Noi?” Lani stared directly at Noi. Noi tensed up.

“Oh, yeah, mhm, I’m totally good. Yeah.” Noi waved his hand. “Pfft.”

Why are you acting like this?! Gods! What the heck?! Ugh! Stop it! Noi silently cursed in his mind. He grinned awkwardly. 

“Oh, uh, okay.” Lani returned to her water. 

Noi stared down at his legs. His brown pants felt too tight around his legs. Noi dug his finger nail into his thumb as he tried to ignore it. A loose thread tickled his ankle. Noi pressed his nail harder into the pad of his thumb. Ignore it. He told himself. Ignore it. He glanced at Lani. What if I just grabbed her. She’s defenseless against against me-

NO. NO. N. O. Stop it Noi, those are horrid thoughts. Stop. Noi pressed his nail harder into his thumb. He glanced down, he’d drawn blood. He switched to his other hand, ignoring the first. 

“Noi…I have something I need to tell you.” Lani seemed to be holding her breath. “I…I like you, Noi Evans.”

She said it again. Conscious. Noi’s face felt warm. 

“I…Lani…I…” Noi stuttered. He didn’t think he’d have to face this so soon. What should I say? What do I say? Tell her that I like her?! How could anyone love me?! Plus she’s a human. I’m a giant. That…it’s not allowed! “You can’t. You can’t love me. I’m…I’m Noi. Noi Jean Evans. How could you love me? You? You’re a strong, beautiful, wonderful person. And me?! I’m a stupid giant who can’t deal with his own voice! You’re…How do you love me? How do you love Noi Jean Evans?!” 

“Noi, you’re perfect. I’m not. Don’t make it seem that way. I can love you, you’re perfect for me. I’m a mess. We tried to kill each other when we first met. I will love you because you’re the most delightful person I’ve ever met!” Lani held her head…her headache! Crap. Noi dug his nail into his thumb. 

“Lani. I…do love you. You…I…”

“I know what you want to say, Noi.” Lani walked closer to Noi. Noi stared down at his thumbs. Blood sank under his nail and dipped into his palms. Lani stood on the edge of the table, staring up at Noi. Noi stared back at her.

“You do. You definitely do.” Noi rubbed his hands on his pants. The blood soaked into the brown. Tears appeared in his eyes. “I love you. May Lumine cast light and love upon me! I love you, Lani Jack!”

“I sure do cast love upon you.” A voice caused the two to practically jump in fright. Noi looked up, away from Lani. A short (everyone is short to you, Noi) and lanky man laid in the air in front of the door. He was glowing…literally. Different from a giant’s glow. A spiky glowing crown seemed to exist made of light above his head. Golden curls flowed down his shoulders.

“Holy stars.” Lani was staring at him too. “Lumine. God of the sun. Bringer of love. You…you’re here. Here here. Not in a vision.”

“That wouldn’t display me in my full glory. But yes, I am here! Well your confession of love called on me, but y’know, you have people counting on you. I hate to break up such a sentimental moment, but I have spotted…something I thought I should warn you about! On my journey over the past mornings, I’ve seen…humans. Up here. In Isthmus’s woods. He surprisingly doesn’t seem to mind. But, I think they’re your missing people! Now then! I will be off, back to my duties! Tata!”

“What in the stars…just happened?” Noi stared down at his hands. The blood was gone, the cuts on his thumbs suddenly appearing as small scars. He healed me… 

“Lumine. Lumine. Lumine. Lumine. Lumine?! L. U. M. I. N. E.” Lani stared up at Noi. “He was in your house.”

“The words he just said. That’s important.” Noi thought for a moment. “Kako. So…the sold humans…are in the woods. We…we’re only allowed on the edges. They’re the god, Isthmus’s. He protects them. Those woods…we need permission.”

“I feel…well. Good. He…healed me.” Lani stared up at Noi. 

“Yeah. I-I love…you.” Thank you Lumine. “I’m happy that we’re doing this together.”

Noi stared into the woods. He wasn't allowed to go further in. Supposedly, nobody was. But listening to Lumine…hmm. Humans had made it in. At least Noi and Lani wouldn’t have to search every giant until the humans were found. They were in the forest. 

Noi took a step forward, a bird chirped in the distance, another called back. Noi could feel Lani press herself against his neck.

“It’s cold, Noi.” Lani’s voice rose to his ears. Crap…human’s aren’t good with the cold.

“Oh, yeah-”

“But, you’re warm.”

“Oh.” Noi smiled to himself. That’s good. 

“WHO DARES ENTER MY WOODS?!” Noi slammed his hands over his ears. The voice was loud. 

Isthmus. 

“Lord Isthmus, we’ve come to help!” Noi shouted, he worried for Lani’s small ears. “There are humans-”

“THE HUMANS WITHIN MY WOOD ARE PROTECTED FROM ALL OUTSIDERS AND YOU DARE TO-?!”

“Lord Isthmus!!” A human voice came from a tree. A familiar voice. Noi walked towards the tree. It was past other trees, looking more alive. “Don’t harm them!!”

“M-MA..Matt?!” The wood behind the tree Noi had focused on moved. “Matt, why are you defending him?! You hate giants!”

“Well…not him!” Noi focused on the human, climbing off a bird. Matt. Matt! Matt…

“You were kidnapped-”

“Excuse me, Lord Isthmus, Matt. I am Noi Evans. This is Lani Jack. This man, uh, Kako kidnapped some people. We fought him. Uh, now we’re trying to recover the missing humans that he sold. Uh, yeah. Sorry-”

“What he’s trying to say is: we’re not bad!!” Lani’s voice blasted below Noi’s ear. “I know that Matt could tell you that!”

“Matt.” Isthmus’ voice growled. The god wandered forward. His face was covered with a terrifying mask made of wood. His body mimicked a tree, woody and solid. Dirty…yet a god. 

“Iz…” Iz? Matt gave a nickname to a god. Oh my goodness.

~~~~~~

“Don’t ‘Iz’ me Matt! You said that ‘Noi’ kidnapped you! Not a man named Kako!” Isthmus’s hand landed on the branch next to Matt. A giant in front of him and a god behind him. He was in a terrible place.

“Isthmus.” Matt spoke the god’s name slowly. “He’s good.” Matt looked to the giant, Noi, in front of him. “Follow me.”

“MATTHEW!”

“Isthmus! Please. You protect us. Noi’s not something we need to be protected from.”

“I protect the forest, Matthew, you live in the forest.” Isthmus’s voice became darker. Matt turned around and stared at the god. 

“Isthmus. Don’t say that. You enjoy helping us. You know that. I just need to show them our hideout. Then all will be well.”  Isthmus’s dark eyes shined behind his wooden mask. Matt gave him a smile. 

Matt climbed on his bird and tugged the herbaceous reins. 

“Lord Isthmus? Do we have your permission to enter the woods?” Noi was quiet. His voice wasn’t strong.

“Mmmm…yes. Then, go one.” Isthmus pressed his woody fingers against his mask. Matt almost laughed, but held it in. His bird dashed into the air, cool wind blew into his face. His fur coat kept his body warm, but his head didn’t have any protection besides the hood, which had blown off. 

“Noi, I-I’m c-cold.” Matt could practically hear Lani’s teeth jittering. He tugged the reins and his bird fell back, nearing Noi’s shoulder.

“Here, I have an extra coat. Birdie, hold steady.” Matt reached into his saddlebag and pulled out his extra coat. He lifted it up. Hmm. He wouldn’t be able to throw it to her.

“Here.” A giant hand appeared below Matt’s bird. “Drop it here. Keep going.”

“Oh, uh, thank you.” Matt dropped the coat, it landed in the giant’s palm. It looked so small, Matt shuddered. 

“Yeah, here Lani.” The platform that was the giant’s hand lifted to his shoulder. Lani scrambled forward to put the coat on. 

“And here we are!” Matt gestured to the village his people had worked hard to build. The symbol of Isthmus in a ring around the village. 

“Don’t think about destroying anything, mortal.” Isthmus snarled. His mask seemed to lean into a more horrifying expression. “If you do, you will have hell to pay.”

“Izzyie…” Matt stared at the woody god.

“Matthew…” Just because we’re close does not mean you get to call me ‘Izzyie’! I’m a god!

But your dad’s in charge of emotions!

That doesn’t mean anything!

Matt stuck his tongue out. 

“So…the missing humans live here? Their families? They…they don’t know, do they?” 

Family.

My family.

~~~~~~ 

Four years ago

“Hon, I’ll be right back. I promise.” Matthew Harnaw, aka Matt, waved to his lovely wife before leaving his house. He’d promised to just run off and buy bread. Nothing less. The only problem with living very deeply in the forest was the trek to town. It was long, but Matthew enjoyed the scenic beauty of the woods. A wizard’s house was not too far either. Everyone knew of the royal wizard, Jay, who was rather young. Only with fourteen years in his life, yet he was powerful. But he was powerful. He’d been appointed royal wizard when he was only ten. Matthew could respect that. 

The air was cool, but electric. Like a warning. Matthew ignored it. It most likely wasn’t important. Just a storm coming. That’s it. That’s all. No other reason. He held his money in a small bag and walked slowly, admiring each tree. And the birds. Oh and did he love birds! They were wonderfully fascinating! Hollow bones! Feathers! Beaks! Everything!

He didn’t even notice when the ground was rumbling, as he was admiring a bird. Making a sketch of it, in the notepad he’d always carried. A plentiful amount of bird sketches resided in his notepad.

THUD. THUD. THUD.

What was that?!

“Hello?!” Matthew called out. Maybe it was a weird bird. Undiscovered! New! 

“Rodent.” Something growled. Loud. Ugly. Matthew sprinted out to the edge of the forest. The valley where Jay’s house stood. Alone except for a…a beanstalk.

Oh crap.

The story of the heroes and the giant five years ago.

Alone except for a giant.

“Rodent. That’s what all you stupid humans are. Rats.” 

“What?!” Matthew stared up in fear. “You.”

“Rodent.” 

“I’m n-not-”

Then he was grabbed. 

Taken away.

“My wife! My baby! Bring me back!” Matthew screamed.

My family.