Work Text:
You were looking all over for them. They were usually easy to find. You lifted up another of their usual hiding places. The glares from the others made it clear you had to stop searching like that. You placed the building down and sighed, still nothing. You made your way through the town asking each person if they'd seen your friend. Still nothing.
The sun was getting low. You knew you'd have to stop searching soon, if they didn't want to be found you weren't going to find them. You made your way through one more time, knocking on the roof of their home too. You let out another heavy sigh as you waited in silence.
You bit your lip as you grabbed the building they lived in. It wasn't something you did often, but you were worried. You lifted their home up until you could look in a window. They were gone, but you saw more than you expected. A mess of their own making, their works destroyed.
You frowned as you set their home back down. You were going to keep searching, even without the light. You just had to stop home to get something to help you see. You wouldn't want to hurt someone during your search. You stepped over the small walls of the town and started your trek home. It wasn't far, but that didn't mean you weren't rushing. The mess of their home burned into your eyes.
You weren't deep in the forest when a clearing caught your eye. They'd mentioned it before. You turned and made your way there, one check wouldn't hurt. You found what you expected, a clearing full of flowers and grass. They weren't there. You almost left when the smallest noise caught your attention.
You decided to check more carefully. Slowly you kneeled down to see into the shadows of the trees. You started with the ones beneath you, a bit relieved to find them clear of anyone. You leaned forward, placing your palm in the center of the clearing. The grass tickled you a bit, but you didn't care. You leaned closer to the ground, ignoring the creak of wood against your weight.
You didn't see anyone, but heard a bit more noise. There was the chance this was just an animal, but most stayed clear because of you.
You almost gave up, but they weren't good at hiding. You saw a flash of them from within the dark. They didn't usually hide from you like this.
"Hey," you whispered. They froze, they knew you found them. You tried to sound light hearted. "I've been looking for you all day. I doubt you missed it when I was on my way here."
"Sorry," they croaked. They sounded almost scared, you were worried. They knew you wouldn't hurt anyone, you weren't the type. "I didn't think you'd look so long…"
"Of course I would, I wanted to see you. What's wrong? I saw…"
You stopped speaking when they flinched. They knew you saw their home. The ruined state of their hours of work. Just before they'd been so excited, someone was going to see it. They slowly climbed to their feet and left the shadow of the trees. They looked so small, smaller than they ever seemed to you. If you'd never seen them in person you would usually think they were your size.
"I… it wasn't good enough that's all. You don't have to worry just go home," they weren't looking at you. You sighed and watched their clothes move from your breath. You couldn't ignore how they acted.
"Please tell me what happened," you said. You let your voice be just a bit louder. That made them look up, you saw their pain. They tried to come up with something, you swore you heard the gears turning in their mind. They gave up, hugging themself as they looked in your eyes.
"I heard back they didn't like it. Then I looked at what I'd been working on and I couldn't let anyone see it. I-I meant to hide it, but I fell and ruined it…ruined so much of it. I just…I was mad at myself and disappointed I thought I would be good enough. That I spent so much time on something I couldn't even show you…"
"Show me?" They nodded. The last few weeks seemed to make more sense now. Usually they worked in the open where you could see, but recently they'd stopped. You thought it was because they'd grown tired of your shadow cast over them while they worked. They said it was always fine, but you thought it was to be nice once they hid inside. "You were making something for me?"
They nodded and you were shocked. Slowly you leaned back, taking your weight off your palm in the clearing. They almost seemed to shrink back, like they thought you were upset. Carefully you lifted your hand from the ground. They looked away as you did.
Continuing to keep that caution you brought your hand closer to them. You could feel how cool they were compared to you as you started to wrap your fingers around them. You could feel how tense they were, how small they were compared to you.
You waited a few heartbeats before tightening your grip. You had the tips of your fingers against their chest. You could feel their racing heartbeat. You considered stopping, but they needed this right now. You finally lifted them off the ground.
Taking all their weight in your hand felt like nothing. It was easy to see why others were nervous about you. They never were, they smiled and laughed with you. They encouraged you to be yourself all the time. Today you could be that for them.
You brought your hand up to your chest and pressed them against you. Slowly you moved to have your palm against their back. You added your other hand and held them securely against you. This was the best you could do being so much bigger.
"Thank you for trying to do that for me," you said. You could feel their small body tense and relax as you spoke. You wondered if they were bothered by your voice. You wanted to make them feel surrounded right now though.
"I didn't… It wasn't good enough. I'm not…," they tried. You increased the pressure just slightly, just enough that they stopped talking.
"You're more than good enough. If you want to let me see I'd be happy, but I don't need it. You do so much for me, thank you. Besides I'm not good enough to give you a proper hug so maybe we're even." You laughed, but felt their squirming as they managed to hit your chest.
"Giant hugs are better… if i fix it could I still…?" Unsaid words that carried enough weight you felt like it could crush you.
"I'd accept anything from you, it's perfect to me."
You felt them relax and the small pressure of them leaning against you. You smiled, this was who you knew. They were happy, creative, and kind. They saw you and smiled even as the earth trembled from your steps. Today you managed to show them how much they mean to you and it was with just a hug. A giant hug for a tiny person that meant the world to you.