Oliver let the front door of his house click shut behind him as he returned home, and set his wallet and keys down inside the cream-coloured bowl to his right side, followed closely by his bag as he set it on the ground beside the door. He continued forward toward the living room as he let out a yawn and stretched his arms above his head. It was good to be home after the hour-long trip on public transport. Normally, he could just drive to university and cut the travel time down to a third, but his parents had taken the family car just two days prior for their holiday trip. Not a huge deal, after sitting his final exam today, Oliver was on holiday himself, which he promptly celebrated by laying down on the couch and turning on the television. He tried a few different channels, flicking between them quickly, but he wasn't paying too much attention to the television, because his mind was distracted by someone else.

Connor.

The two had met at the beginning of the semester when they had shared a couple of classes, and Connor had quickly caught Oliver's eye. He had caramel locks and olive skin, and a pair of soft green eyes that twinkled when he spoke. Even thinking about Connor drove Oliver nuts. They'd spoken a couple of times, and were on good terms with each other, but Oliver wanted to be more than 'just friends'. This could have been a possibility if Oliver had ever sucked up the confidence to actually ask Connor on a date, but he chickened out every time. Even today when Oliver saw Connor before the exam but was too overcome with nerves to even speak to him, and by the time it was finished Connor had already left. Despite being home alone, Oliver's cheeks filled with blush as he attempted to overcome fears of rejection.

"I just wish I could talk to him more," Oliver groaned, voicing his thoughts aloud.

"I can help you with that."

The sudden shrill sound pulled Oliver from his thoughts and he quickly looked around, but found the room still empty. His eyes flicked to the television, had the sound come from there? Just as Oliver began to calm himself, a small being came into his view. It was shaped like a person, but much smaller - about the length of his forearm - and could have almost passed as a tiny person if it wasn't for its lime-coloured skin, or the pair of crimson wings that emerged from its back. It wore a long-sleeved white shirt underneath a green vest, and a pair of brown pants that stopped halfway down its calves. Oliver could see moss-coloured hair pulled back into a ponytail, and shapes that looked like ears. Pointed ears.

"What the hell are you?" Oliver squeaked after a moment of staring, fixated by the small creature before him. "Are you a fairy?"

"To an extent," the being laughed but didn't elaborate before continuing, "you can call me Jynn, and I believe I can help you with something, Oliver. Perhaps, talking to a certain someone named Connor?"

"You can help me talk to Connor?" Oliver responded a little too quickly as he sat up. Jynn had perched on the backrest of the couch, and was now overshadowed by Connor as he leant forward, their eyes at the same level.

"I have the ability to grant you a wish. One small wish to make your darkest desires become your reality. Just agree to my terms, and I'll create us a contract."

"Terms? What terms?

"Oh, the usual. Spend time at his house, hang out together, he might even take care of you. Just picture him in your mind, and tell me your wish."

"I," Oliver closed his eyes, words heavy in his mouth. He thought of Connor's lips slowly creasing into a smirk whenever he would tell a joke, "I wish I could spend time with Connor."

Jynn snapped his fingers, and when Oliver opened his eyes he was confronted with a parchment and quill in his lap. He looked over at Jynn, then down at the words below him. Jynn, using his wings to carry himself in the air, lept gracefully off the back of the couch and tapped the base of the scroll with his foot. There was a black dotted line, intentionally left empty. Oliver lifted the quill but slowed as he began to bring it down. No longer sure, he set the quill down and closed his eyes. What the hell was he doing?

"Well then," Jynn's sharp voice snapped, "if you're not serious, I'll just retract my offer. Oliver, your wish no longer stands."

As quickly as it had come, the parchment faded to nothingness in Oliver's fingers.

"Wait," Oliver retorted, sitting straight up, "bring it back. I want to sign it."

"Not doing that, you had your chance," Jynn laughed, and turned away. He was about to take flight when Oliver's hand wrapped around the small individual.

"I'm bigger than you here, do what I say. Bring it back."

Oliver's grip loosened once the parchment reappeared in his lap, and Jynn shot him a dirty look. His eyes wandered down the page, skimming the text without taking any of it in. His hand, holding the quill, hesitated over the dotted line.

"Again," Jynn sighed, throwing his hands in the air, "you're not serious, I'll just-"

Oliver quickly scribbled his name, ink flowing smoothly without having dipped it in anything, and dropped the quill like it was hot iron. The inky signature remained black for a moment, before it flashed white and faded into a deep red. Oliver felt a tingle overcome his entire body, and Jynn spoke, his voice suddenly a lot deeper than before.

"Good, now, Oliver, go be with him."

Oliver attempted to open his mouth to reply, or move his head to face Jynn, but his body was unresponsive. Just as his actions began to dawn on him, he fell back and slipped into darkness.

~ ~ ~

When Oliver awoke, he was on a hard, flat surface. It was cold, and glossy, and had the appearance of wood. He looked around, struggling to keep his eyes open, and saw the floor surface stretch out far in every direction. As his eyes began to adjust, Oliver attempted to climb to his feet but was almost immediately knocked back down by a sudden, booming shock to the ground. The shake was short-lived, accompanied by a loud thud, and then followed by another. And another.

It took mere seconds for Oliver to realise they were footsteps.

In the distant horizon, Oliver could see a silhouette slowly walking towards him. It was human, and expanded far upwards, well over ten times Oliver's own height, and was approaching him fast. His heart plunged, and Oliver quickly scrambled to one side as the silhouette, the giant, walked past. From where he stood on the floor, Oliver began to take everything in. An olive-skinned foot, over twice his size in length, landed down where Oliver had been standing moments prior. The giant's accompanying leg wore a pair of beige corduroy pants, and Oliver's eyes traced the long limb upwards to a loosely fitting white t-shirt. Above that was a set of pink lips, a rounded nose, pair of emerald eyes, and a tussle of caramel hair.

Oliver recognised who it was instantly, but it took a few seconds for the truth to settle in. Once it did, he fell to his knees on the wooden floorboards as a giant Connor unknowing towered over a shrunken Oliver.