★ The Pirate and The Mermaid [Giant/Tiny]★

VI - Jaxx

"Are you certain you want to proceed? Jackson is... a peculiar little man. He's akin to a younger sibling to me... so, are you absolutely sure?" Kaine inquired once more, his eyes brimming with genuine concern, searching Mariana's face for any trace of hesitation. Mariana, her curiosity thoroughly piqued, nodded with unwavering confidence. "Yeah, what could possibly go wrong?" she asked, her voice tinged with a mixture of excitement and naïveté.

Kaine exhaled a deep, contemplative sigh, leaning closer to her as if about to divulge a clandestine secret. "He's got a girlfriend, and he's exceedingly overprotective of her, which is understandable. However, only four of us have had the privilege of meeting her, and I am not among those four. I harbor doubts about her safety—perhaps she's a sorceress or something of that nature," he explained, the gravity of his words hanging heavily in the air as he settled into the plush carriage seat. The undulating hills and dense forests gradually gave way to the imposing spires of Jaxx's castle.

"Annabelle, come out, my sweet little fairy," Jackson called, his voice echoing with a melodious tenderness as his eyes scanned the room for his diminutive fiancée. "I'm too little," Anna sobbed, burrowing further beneath the bed. "No, you're not. I hear Kaine's new girlfriend is also tiny. You'll have the opportunity to make new friends. That's the primary reason I invited him over," he cooed, extending his claws further under the bed. "But my fairy pox—" she sobbed, but he gently yet firmly clasped her before she could react.

"There's my pretty fairy," he whispered, his voice imbued with adoration, as he tenderly licked her cheek. She blushed slightly and buried her face into his cheek. "Jaxx," she mumbled with a frown. "Don't worry. Kaine is like a big brother to me; we essentially grew up together. I'm certain his new girlfriend is lovely," he reassured her, gently caressing her delicate wings. Just then, the sound of approaching horses reached his ears, prompting him to rush to the window. Kaine was outside.

"Alright, so, Jaxx is part human, which means he's going to be smaller than me. Dad insisted I spend time with him as a child. His parents, though, made excellent food. Just be cool," Kaine explained to Mariana. Suddenly, a thud resonated in front of him.

"KAINE!" Jaxx yelled, rushing forward to embrace him. Kaine swiftly placed Mariana in his pocket and grabbed Jaxx's chin. "What is this?" Kaine demanded, scrutinizing the smaller man's chin. "Is this...STUBBLE?" he raged, glaring down at Jaxx with intense disapproval.

"Do I look manly? Anna won't comment on it," Jaxx asked hopefully, looking up at Kaine, who continued to glare at him. "NO WONDER. YOU LOOK LIKE A SEA DOG. SHE WAS PROBABLY TOO FRIGHTENED TO SAY ANYTHING," Kaine bellowed, drawing a blade from his pocket and pointing it at Jaxx's cheek. He scooped up some mud and held Jaxx in a headlock, meticulously shaving his cheeks and chin while Jaxx squirmed.

"YOU'VE BEEN ENGAGED FOR A WEEK," Kaine scolded, rolling his eyes.

"Best week of my life," Jaxx said, his eyes gleaming with joy. Kaine set him down, finishing the other cheek. Jaxx looked youthful once more and stood up. "Thanks for the, uh, grooming, I guess. Anyway, may I see your fiancée?" Jaxx asked, reaching into his pocket for his own beloved.

"She's not my fiancée, she's my best friend. We're working things out," Kaine insisted, pulling Mariana from his pocket. "Are you alright?" he asked, looking down at her with genuine concern.

"IM YOUR BEST FRIEND?" Mariana squeaked, and he nodded. "My bestie westie," he said, using his claws to make quotation marks. She clutched her cheeks, squealing with delight.

"Is that nail varnish...?" Jaxx asked, his voice tinged with apprehension, as he examined Kaine's nails. "Jealous?" Kaine retorted smugly. Jaxx sighed in resignation. "I share your fate," he whined, showing his own orange and black nails. Kaine's were red and black. "Anyway, little woman, WOAH, IS THAT A MERMAID?" he exclaimed, staring down at Mariana in fascination. She looked up at him. "WOAH, ARE YOU A DRAGON?" she squealed.