Chapter Text
They watched with intent, to keep hidden, to not be the next person to be watched. They treaded lightly with their footsteps, turned Televisions and radios down, and dimmed lights, all in an attempt to avoid his gaze.
For years it had been the same cycle. The people would watch him from afar, and, in turn, he would watch them. Sometimes they would give him things, like food and drink, if he was lucky, a smoke. In turn, he would keep the town in check, dealing with criminals and making sure those who lived in it remained safe. That’s how it had been for as long as he could remember, and it’s how it was supposed to be into the foreseeable future.
But no. Life could never be so kind as to let him keep one good thing.
And thus you came along.
And with you came change.
You did not play by their rules, no. You did as you pleased. With screens playing shows until the early hours, and music drifting from your house from dawn till dusk. These were not the usual things the towns folk had though. No, these were different. Things you had brought with you, from outside, and you flaunted it all like some prize.
And he could not help but feel jealousy at you.
For you had all these things, could display and change them all, while he had never even thought of such items.
It made a pit form in his stomach.
But that was not the worst of it.
No. No, what made it all the worse was how you showed them to others. You would leave your tapes at the video store for others to see, you would play your music for those to hear. And it made that pit form into a twisted knot.
For you gave to everyone, to the town, to those around you.
Everyone but him.
And that knot twisted into resentment, and that resentment turned into hatred.
And that hatred would fester deep inside him, like a hungry flame ready to spring forth.
He could never hope on acting on these though, for he was The Law. A force of the town, the thing that kept everyone in check. He was all that stood between them and utter chaos.
He could not have wants. He could not ask for things, show jealousy over items, wish for things that were not a part of The Law’s needs. No, for that would show weakness, and with weakness came loss of power, and he could not slip now.
This job, this town, it was all he had. If he lost his power, what would he have? Nothing, and that was worse than any festering emotions he had within.
So deep inside he hid them, sealing them under heavy lock and key, never to see the light again.
So that was how the town lived. With him, The Law, keeping his emotions down. With him, continuing to watch, and they would watch back. With you and your loud sounds and bright sights.
But the world hated cycles, and one day brought another hammer down on his.
- - - - - -
With time, he would watch you work with those around you, form basic connections, and live. You eventually became just another piece in this puzzle, a cog in the machine. He had expected this, and his jealousy died with it. Life continued the same as ever.
But you broke that wide open.
It was a simple action, really. He had awoken one night from half restless sleep, his mind awash with things he tried to hide, and lifted his head to make sure the town was in check. It was a gloomy day, rain clouds dropping heavy drops onto the world below. It had been like this for weeks, causing puddles to form and lower parts of the place he called “home” to flood.
Then you called out to him, and he turned his gaze to you.
You stood in worn clothing, aged from their once brighter hues to something more monotone and dull. Gloved hands held something up towards him, catching the faint light that crept over the hillside. He slowly put a hand down in the water, causing waves to come and lap at your feet, before finally speaking.
“May you repeat yourself?” His voice was heavy with sleep, trying desperately to blink away this groggy feeling in his mind. He tilts his head to pick up on your words easier, listening intently as the wind carries them up.
“I’m wondering if you would like an apple!” Your voice comes easily to him, years of practice and learning have allowed him to pick up on almost anything. Still, the question throws him off.
The giant had been offered items before, such as food, but normally only by those who had been here for long enough to assume it for the better good. With hunger came emotions, and with emotions came heavy rain, and with rain came floods, and nobody wanted that. So they kept it all in check, taking turns giving him simple things, typically stale bread and over ripe fruit.
Not once had anyone ever asked him if he wanted the food.
“An apple?” He questions, leaning slightly closer to get a better look. As his eyes adjust, he finally picks it out. Reddened skin that caught the sliver of sunlight, held carefully between hands. He watches as you give a reaffirming nod, taking a small step forward. You shift the thing to one hand, holding it up towards the other.
The Law hesitates before pulling his hand from the sea, letting the slight water drip off it before moving it over you. With practiced grace and precision, he grabs the small fruit, pulling it up so he could see it better.
“Thank you.” He mumbles, slowly returning his gaze to you. He watches with curiosity as you give a thumbs up. Then just as suddenly as you had appeared, you turn on your heels and walk away, not a word more shared.
That was bump in the routine, a change in pace.
He assumed it was a once time thing, savoring the fresh fruit he had been given. It tasted like a gift from the heavens themself, not overly sweet like the others, and firm enough that juice still seeped from it.
But this could not stick.
This small act alone had caused a crack in his dam, a fault in his stone walls. He would not give it a chance to fracture more, to turn into a raging tidal wave that engulfs all those before it.
So, he promised himself that he would not accept again. Not from you, not from anyone. He would take only when he needed. Nothing more.
But when you return the next morning, same place, same time, with another fresh apple for him, he couldn’t help but accept. It would be rude to turn you away. So he told himself this was nothing more than taking care of his basic needs. Better food would mean he performed better, and thus would do better in his work. This was simply to keep him in top shape.
But that splinter was still there, and it wedged itself deep in the stone, no matter how hard he tried to seal it further inside.