Trust me, there’s nobody else around
Anyways here’s a drabble that I wrote about Ky and Ragna a few days ago.
content warnings: nightmares, violence, remembering traumatic experiences
Getting caught in the rain while hunting in the Abiding Boneyard? Not a good day. Ky and Ragna had both heard thunder, so the duo had decided to play it safe and hide in a cave. Ky hadn’t intended to fall asleep, but the rhythmic pounding of the rain on the roof of the cave had lulled him and Ragna into an uneasy state of rest.
The white-and-blue Pearlcatcher’s eyes slowly flickered open. What time was it? Was it the middle of the night? Ky squinted into the darkness, trying to make out where Ragna had fallen asleep. In a crevice slightly above the cave floor, curled up into an ellipse, lay the lean crimson form of Ragna, also known to some as the Bloody Blade.
Is he not cold up there? Ky wondered briefly. The cave was hardly dry, and the walls were covered in mosses and slime. Ragna’s seeming determination to keep himself isolated constantly astounded Ky. Mirror dragons were pack creatures, were they not?
What happened to him? was the last thing Ky thought before drifting off again.
“Go away…. go away…” Ky’s eyes jolted open. He could hear the distressed growling of Ragna. Was he still asleep? Was he dreaming? Was something wrong? Ky slowly pushed himself into a sitting position as strange murmurs echoed about the damp cave walls. Were they Ragna’s, or were they something else? “L-leave them alone…. please…” Stormcatcher’s arms, is he crying?
Suddenly the Mirror gasped. A thud and a slight shriek pierced Ky’s ears. Ky inhaled, and them exhaled a sphere of lightning. At the cave wall, sitting on his haunches, glaring at Ky, was Ragna. Wisps of dark energy, forming shapes of eyes and talons and other monstrous things, danced from the crimson dragon’s righ forearm like sparks dancing in a fire.
“What… the hell are you staring at me for…?” Ragna’s attempts at his usual hostile tone of voice were cut short by a tremor of his speech, as though words had failed him momentarily. Ky could see glistening tears streaming from Ragna’s eyes. “Did something happen?” Ky asked. “It’s nothing….” Ragna grumbled and hid his face behind one wing. Suddenly thunder crashed in the distance and lightning flashed across the sky. The sudden fright was enough to cut Ky’s magic short, plunging the cavern back into darkness. “FUCK!” Another lightning flash and Ky could see Ragna’s form lit from one side. He was on his feet with his wings spread, as though he was trying to scare someone away. “Ragna.” “What?!” “There’s nothing in here except for us.” “That’s just what they said!! And it was a lie, Ky, a fucking lie! It’s gonna come back for me!!” “....what is?” “It wants its arm back-- oh, fuck it, forget I said anything… fucking forget it….”
Another sphere of lightning. Ragna hadn’t moved an inch, still trying to intimidate. “What is it?” he snapped at Ky. Ky tried to smile. “Ragna… whatever it is that’s haunting you isn’t here.” No answer. “There’s really nobody here, okay? Do you need me to show you around to prove that to you?” Ragna still didn’t move. The ball lightning began to slowly fizzle out. “Alright then, I assume that’s a no…” “Wait…” Ragna said. “Could I.. uh… could I sleep next to you? I can’t relax after having that nightmare….” his voice carried a hint of shame and defeat, as though he had been captured and taken prisoner. The lightning was gone. “Yes, I would not mind that.” Ky answered quietly. “We are friends and teammates after all. There’s no shame in asking for a favor…” A soft clicking of claws combined with the hissing of a Shade arm, and Ky could feel Ragna’s presence. He couldn’t see much but he knew Ragna had walked over next to Ky. And then, in a strange, unexpected gesture, Ragna tucked his own wings in and slithered under Ky’s right one. The motion was tentative and shameful,almost as thought the lean mirror warrior had surrendered himself to an enemy. Ky smiled inwardly and draped his tail over Ragna’s back. “I’m damn sorry but I’m still scared…” muttered the Mirror, pressing up against Ky’s form. “This is pitiful… god…” “Ragna, it’s okay. Anyone would be scared after having a nightmare about their past…” Ky had little idea what the dream was about, but he knew it had to be something bad to cause such behavior from the Bloody Blade. “Whatever it was, I won’t let it hurt you.” “Thanks, Ky…” Ragna muttered as he began to drift into sleep. The frightened, ragged breaths of Ragna slowly gave way to gentle snoring. Ky was not sure how long it was before he was dragged into slumber as well, but he knew it was long enough for the rain to end, giving way to a peaceful silence.