Work Text:
The tapping of the rain droplets against your apartment window didn't slow down, only poured harder as the giant was in one of those sad phases yet again. He's been depressed the last couple days and nothing seemed to calm him.
Scribbling some more lines, you look up from your sketch book from beneath your eyelashes. In the distance sat the Militsioner himself, head pressed against his knees, legs tugged close to his chest. One hand played with the shirt fabric of his uniform, the other held a cigarette.
You often wondered what else he did in the day besides keeping people like you out of trouble. Probably not much considering he seemed to be just stuck there in the lake in the middle of town. Couldn't he just decide to get up and leave, or to stretch? You never once seem him do either since being sent here. From your perspective, it seemed like a sad life to live; a curse of being a guard of this town for all of eternity. No wonder why he gets in these moods, you couldn't blame him. He has no way to have time for himself outside of his job.
Besides what you already know about him, you wanted to know more about this colossal man. You felt bad for him, truly.
That's why you had a seemingly magnificent idea of giving him something personally drawn by you, and a couple more things, too. You've drawn him dozens of times already you could capture his likeness even in his darkest of times. You also wanted to get out of your house after days of being stuck inside and resupply. The way out of it was blocked by the rising level of water.
If you couldn't cheer him up at this rate this whole town will go under… not that you cared anyway. Fuck most of these people, especially the cashier in particular. She claimed to like the giant but couldn't even attempt to cheer him up.
After some last minute fixes on your sketch page it was finally finished. Looking over the multitude of sketches, you did some of him as a head bust, full body, and a couple random ones like cats on the side cause you were familiar with his love for them. You felt silly for thinking this idea could remotely work. You had no other option even if you felt embarrassed to do this.
Getting your wares prepared you make your way up the house roof through your window. The only way to get around a bit these days while the giant continued to sob. From living in this town you've grow quite creative in the way you climbed buildings, so this was no problem at all as you made your way up. Living close by you hop along the rooftops towards the man, hands shaking from the cold and the potential scolding you'd get from the giant.
It was so dang cold no matter how many layers you wore, every passing day seemed that way. Your fingertips had a hard time carrying your bearing gifts, your toes were swelling from the wet and cold, and your nose darkened from the chill. Oh how you wished you'd stay home, you told yourself. Already being halfway there, it would be pointless to turn back now.
Hopping to the last roof you almost let the red wine slip out of your backpack before catching it by its neck. Adjusting the bow that held the flowers in-between and the page, you prepare yourself to face the giant once more. Approaching him this time around was never easy, never got easier either. You were the only one in town who even tried to end the punishment of rain and floods. Today wasn't any different.
The giant continued to cry, his hand shook taking a huff of the cigarette before hiding his face away against his knees. The compassionate side of you couldn't let him stand by and be by himself feeling this way. Preparing yourself, you cleared your throat, hiding the gifts behind you.
"H-Hey, Militsioner!" You shouted. "Hey down here!"
Didn't take long for him to notice you, slowly moving his head in your direction. He didn't respond at first, only looking down at you with those sad eyes.
"What's going on big guy? Let's talk. I won't bite."
Pondering for a moment the giant man let out a deep sighed, slouching his way down to hear you better, but he didn't keep his eyes connected with yours.
"I'm sure you don't bite, prisoner." He finally replied, tapping some ash into the lake. "I don't have time for your games right now. I'd rather be left alone. I'm not in the mood to talk about my problems to the likes of you-"
"Wait wait wait, you misunderstand! Just- you don't need to say anything. At least let me show you what I brought you first before you drag me off back home."
Shaking like a leaf, you quickly show him the little gifts you brought him before he could deny you anymore. As soon as you shown what was behind your back his worn out eyes widened a smidge. Mouth opened slightly, he pointed to himself.
"Is all that… for me? You must be joking."
"No sir I'm not, totally serious." You reassured him, ushering him to take the gifts. "No jokes or pranks this time. I promise. I just… hate seeing you so down on yourself so I took the time to prep these gifts for you, my treat."
He inspected your gifts some more, noticing the bright white flowers wrapped in a bow around the wine "How did you know I liked flowers? Who told you?"
Eyes widened, you tell a white lie. "Random guess? I picked these days before the flood even started and… I thought maybe you'd like them?"
Reaching down he gently take the gifts between his fingertips. You could see the slight hint of a smile poking through the sadness. You smiled, too, but only slightly not wanting to get your hopes up. You were well aware he was quite sensitive in this state so you didn't want to push your luck. You move your emptied hands behind you, twiddling with your fingers out of sight.
You thought friend was lying out of his ass about the giants love for flowers when you asked for info about him. After all, he's lied to you before, but for this to be actually true? You never would've guessed the giant man of a guard could be such a sweetie.
The giants heart grew warmer and warmer by the minute, admiring the dedication and personalization of the gifts. Raising the piece of paper you drew on closer to his right eye, you turn your gaze downwards, your cheeks flushing not just from the cold anymore. There was a noticeable blush on the giants cheeks as well, not just from the cold either but from pure joy. Bringing the paper down from his eye for a moment, he leaned forward closer to you, almost touching your chest with his nose.
"You… drew me. You took all your precious time to draw me. I didn't know you were an artist." He said, a teasing hint in his tone. "The cats are so cute, too. Is this what you do in your spare time when you're not out here causing trouble for me, hm?"
You realized he read right through you. Before you could deny anything he let out a chuckle.
"I'm only joking, little sunshine. You're very talented. I feel slightly better now."
"Ah well, yes thank you, and you're welcome, I…" You pause, scared to let your true feelings show, but letting him see only a glimpse. "You are… a source of inspiration to me in a way, after all."
"Really now, how so?"
"Well, despite my wrongful imprisonment, you're the most interesting person I've ever met. I don't meet colossal men like you everyday."
Turning speechless, he hummed deep from within his chest. He then burned the cigarette out by putting it in the lake. You could see some gears turning in his head before he continued, clearing his throat.
"I didn't know I… caught your interest in that way." He said, almost shyly "This is… new news to me."
Smirking, you tap his nose. "Hey, don't get any ideas! I'm glad to see you're feeling better. I was starting to wonder when I'd see that beautiful smile of yours again-"
"…Pardon?"
Realizing you flirted on accident, you stepped back, changing the subject. "Nothing uh- I should get going now. I'd love to chat longer but I'm… absolutely freezing like hell."
The giants noticed you shivering since you got here. For being so generous and ridiculously sweet, he lowered his hand to you. The giant wouldn't push you to repeat yourself… for now.
"Here, let me give you a lift home. You deserve such a gesture after being so kind."
How could you deny him? Especially when that sweet closed smile of his came back. You stumbled a bit stepping onto his hand but you manage. His hand vastly warmer then your own, you felt you were cocooned in a cozy warm blanket being shielded away.
Covering you, he guided his hand toward your house. The rain seemed to die down and so was the flooding when he opened his land to let you jump off onto the ground. Mission accomplished on your part.
You pat down your coat before stepping toward your front door. Before you open it and head inside, you take a good look at the giant one last time before saying your goodbyes.
"Thank you for saving me trip… I'll see you later?"
"Always." The giant replied, almost too sweet."If… you need a better reference when drawing me you can always ask for a close up, I don't mind."
He waved goodbye before lifting himself back to his usual spot on the lake, with a much more positive attitude then before. You noticed for the rest of the day from your window that you didn't see him frown once, often looking at the drawing you drew him and smelling the flowers, or simply admiring their beauty. After the flood disappeared, many of the true criminals got away with crimes under his distracted supervision. You could've taken advantage of that as well but decided against it.
You continued to draw that day, but every once in a while you do catch the glimpse of the giant himself looking toward your house more then usual. Smiling to yourself, you'd have to take up his offer sometime. Not just for drawing but to… perhaps confess your feelings someday if you were brave enough.