Warnings: Book 7 spoilers, kind of angst to comfort, established relationship
Scenario: Emotions have always been difficult for Malleus. Thankfully, he isn't alone in dealing with them anymore.
Green lightning pierced through the atmosphere, followed by rain thrumming against the windows and resounding booms of thunder echoing across the skies.
Malleus remained still as he watched the storm grow closer to the college. The fruits of his blessings from the Senate. He would never come to harm, but he could cause harm in return.
His sadness sent frosts upon anything near him, his anger was enough to cause mountains to crumble, and even expressing joy could cause the ears of others to bleed.
Such power bestowed on me to protect me…it was couched as a blessing, yet it must be anything but.
He watched green sparks dance around his fingers. He seemed all too lost in thought to notice your soft footsteps towards him. You then stood near him and you said nothing as you tried to think of the right thing to say.
“Are you not afraid? You could be electrocuted if you came too close to me.”
Your head turned to look at him and you could see those brilliant green irises glowing as smoky clouds dimmed the usually golden evening sky.
You shook your head and you stayed right where you stood.
“No, I am not afraid. I want to help, and I can't do it from across the room.”
His widening pupils turned from black slits to obsidian ovals against neon green glass, and his chest felt constricted.
They don't wish to flee but to help me? Are they truly so foolish as to risk themselves?
You still didn't move an inch, and the faint scent of ozone radiated from him like the magic that shrouded his being. His expression then turned stony, almost reminiscent of the gargoyles he constantly admired.
“Leave now, [name]. Your safety cannot be guaranteed." His voice came out as an icy chill, one that could've been mistaken for a command towards a creature of darkness if not for the way he mentioned keeping you safe.
You sighed and you placed a hand on your hip, still not leaving my spot. Your voice came out like cashmere, not to coerce but to coax.
“I can’t help you if you force me out. So please, let me be there for you. Whether it be talking through it or just sitting in silence.”
He remained silent and looked back down at his hands. He clenched them into fists, and watched the sparks crackle.
He then closed his eyes and relaxed his hands. The raging storm outside began to fade away, revealing the shades of gold bleeding into purple and blue. The sparks at his fingertips began to die down, and an expression of exhaustion settled over his features.
You waited for a moment before you reached out and gently took his hand. He stiffened at the contact at first, but soon relaxed as he allowed your fingers to intertwine with his.
“What do you want me to do right now?”
His fingers gently curled around your own and he sighed.
“I…I am unsure. I usually deal with such things on my own.”
Grandmother would scold me for such an unbecoming display. And Lilia has always preached that control was vital for someone with my power.
You didn't know if he wanted to discuss it or not, and the weary set to his eyes and slight droop in his shoulders spoke of a bone deep emotional exhaustion that had built up over time.
You then looked out at the sky and a small smile tugged at your lips.
“The sunset is beautiful tonight. We could go out and watch for ourselves, and see the stars come out. Maybe even have some ice cream.”
Malleus nodded after a few moments, yet you could see a flicker return to his eyes at the suggestion.
After teleporting to Ramshackle and smuggling a tub outside of the freezer, you both walked to the back porch of the place and the aged wood creaked and groaned under your weight as you sat.
You each scooped a fair amount into bowls and began eating in a tranquil silence, the symphony of the light breeze and leaves rustling adding to the ambience.
As the ice cream melted into your mouth, you looked over at Malleus, watching as the hardened crinkles around his eyelids slowly softened and disappeared. You scooted over and pressed your fingers against his wrist before lacing your pinky with his, your shoulder touching his. He was burning like a furnace, but his pulse was slowing down.
“Did you wish to tell me what upset you?”
He didn't reply to me at first, still savoring the final bites of his ice cream and keeping his pinky wrapped with yours. He only spoke after silence stretched into minutes.
“I cannot name a singular cause. Perhaps it was the way a student trembled and fled when I tried to speak with them about a partnered alchemy experiment. Or how I missed yet another housewarden meeting and party because no one bothered to tell me. Or, merely the way I am being passed by while everyone flocks to one another…”
You listened in silence as he voiced his thoughts and frustrations. While his stoicism and regality painted a picture of indifference, even the most detached of beings would be affected after people scurried to avoid them over and over again.
You moved back slightly so you could face him properly.
“I'm sorry, Malleus. While I can't control other people, I can tell you that not everyone is just passing you by. Lilia cares a lot for you, and Silver and Sebek do as well-”
“Sebek and Silver are simply loyal retainers who have sworn fealty to me.”
“Even so, they are trying to get to know you better. I mean, how many times have they both gone with you to Gargoyle Studies club meetings or argued over what the best gift for your birthday would be? They even bombard Lilia with questions 2 weeks ahead every year so they can figure out what you like the most. Is that truly just sworn fealty?”
He raised a brow at your question and a neatly manicured finger propped itself under his pale chin as he silently considered your words. You then scooted back towards him, your breath whispering against his pointed ear.
“What's more, I care for you. All the time we've spent together under the moonlight, all the time I've spent hearing you laugh at something silly I said or just hearing you talk about everything and nothing in particular; it's all been part of the happiest I've ever felt. I adore the way you press kisses to my knuckles, receiving your handwritten letters, and feeling your tail wrap around me as you hold me.”
His lips parted slightly as you talked and allowed all the things you loved about him to spill from your own in a wordy waterfall. When you finished, you slightly backed away again to gauge his reaction. That same intense gaze that could make the masses tremble was motionless and wide.
He had been used to hearing praise all his life, placating sugar-coated words from politicians, servants and the like to gain his favor were almost expected. Yet, to hear someone speak to him straight from the heart without fear or expectation, nothing could be sweeter.
He took your hands and gingerly pulled you closer. You then took his hands and pressed tender kisses to his palms before resting your head on his shoulder.
“I won't pass you by, Tsunotaro. I'll walk with you, hand in hand.”
Malleus pressed a kiss to your temple and cradled your head close.
“And I shall walk with pride, knowing I have you beside me, my beauty.”
Some time later…
Dusk had cloaked over the sky like spilled ink, and the stars began dotting it one by one. Your bowls had been placed to the wayside, your treats long finished.
The alignment of each constellation was still the same, despite the months that had passed by. The amount of events happening was truly dizzying, even for those accustomed to Night Raven College's chaos.
Malleus had caused one of the largest magical disasters on Sage's Island, and he had a broken horn to show for it. Fortunately, his emotions would no longer result in storms or other disasters.
However, it had taken time (and an apologetic Malleus kneeling at your feet) to go back to how things normally were between both of you. It was the first time in weeks that you had met up like this in such a manner, and you were relieved the fear and the tension had dissolved and faded into the atmosphere.
Malleus was also lighter, and his emotions emerged and flitted more readily. You had also picked up on people avoiding him less, and even the way he allowed himself to enjoy the mundane more. You had missed the way intimacy came so easily before his overblot during those weeks, but you were relieved that he seemed happier.
“Beloved? Were you listening to me, or was your mind perhaps lost in the stars?”
His voice took on a teasing lilt as he lightly tapped your nose to bring your attention back to him.
“Merely lost in thought, Mal Mal.”
You smiled in return and you leaned closer to him. Your fingers brushed his bangs back to reveal the black diamond shaped scales on his forehead, and you pressed a kiss to them. The slightest rumble of delight resounded in his throat before he began to purr.
Thank you for reading 🌹🖤
A/N: Inspiration has avoided me like the damn plague, but I finally reached it ✨️ (several Book 7 angst edits pulled me out from the abyss to write this). Exams are also over too!! I wanted to write not only some Malleus comfort, but to show how the little traditions stuck around, even with his overblot (you also can't convince me that this didn't change the dynamic between Malleus and Yuu at least a little. It would probably be a little unsteady at first, but then if would grow even more than it did bc Malleus can show his emotions more freely now✨️).
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed my longest fic yet :) (1.5k)
how did that happen? me curious on how she became wife to peony😊
Peony: I'm unsure of how much my Bluecrown has told you, but in this world, there exist three types of fae: Avian, Optera, and Dragon. The Silver tree, which sits in the middle of the Fae Wilds, used to be a sacred place where the three races would join together in celebration. Its bountiful branches provided us shelter, food, and a near infinite source of magic: a gift from the elder Optera fae who first planted its seeds here.
But as it often is with gifts so freely given, there are those who seek to hoard its power away for themselves.
One day, during one of these gatherings, a dragon fae and those who were charmed by his tenacity, attempted to siphon its magic for themselves. Many innocents were harmed...And though their plan failed, the betrayal was enough to force the other fae to permanently cut ties with their Dragon fae brethren, banishing them to the molten side of the island. Walls were erected around the tree shortly after, and through the power of the virtue of justice, the dragon fae were stripped of their magic completely.
=
All this is to say that Dragon fae are not...treated kindly by the other races, particularly by my kind. Similar to how our Fount inherited the virtue of truth, I inherited the power of the virtue of joy, and was seen by my people as the granter of wishes. Back when I was young, I would travel the world, spreading happiness and love where I could...but never felt true "joy" myself.
Until I found my love. Though we'd been forbade from interacting with Dragon fae after their deception, I could feel the sadness...the despair that hung over their lands. I breached the barrier, disguised as one of their own, determined to spread as much joy as I could before I was found out.
Only to discover that there were others doing so in my stead. Least of which was my beautiful Holly Drake. She was the owner of a tavern at the Dragon's peak. Fae would come from miles around to be entertained by her stories, by her drinks, and her infectious laughter. I was drawn in...and I finally felt the joy that I'd been seeking all my life.
But my station, my Kind, would not have allowed us to be together--So I came to the only logical conclusion: to allow others to truly find happiness, they must discover it themselves.
So I left.
The world has changed in the time I've been away, but our love is still far from accepted. So until that day, I choose to live her with her. To live in joy and love-and may the rest of the world follow by example.
Here’s Vincent Keyland!! Meant to post this wip FOREVERRR ago, I just kept tweaking and then forgetting. Not even kidding you: July 22nd. 🥀🥀 (post includes spoilers for the book 7 also lore dump)
I have more information for him in terms of lore I think. Comparatively speaking against Oleander and Cephalic since I made him first (this isn’t his first iteration)
Based more off of the dragon from Shrek, but lore wise. Decided to make his mother actually be the twst of Dragon, and him just… a version ig. Didn’t reeeaally want to make him a dronkey.
I wouldn’t say that he is close to the Diasomnia group like they are with each other, it’s more like. Incidental family friends/acquaintances. With his mother serving as a guard/soldier in the fae war and occasionally serving under Lilia near the mid/end of the war as she was sorta younger. Eventually meeting this dorky fae named Dondre Keyland (donkey…), who was a simple outpost scout. This would be a fleeting fling during the war, neither had time (despite the sheer groveling Dondre would do).
Near the VERY end? No surprise that eggs came of it (even if the relationship was negatively viewed, as they had different statuses). And I mean plural. Maybe around 4? 3. Unfortunately, with the lingering hatred of fae in Briar Valley, especially those of dragons, these eggs quickly had bounties(mainly being somehow confused with Malleus’s egg). Either being destroyed or used for magic. This went on for a few decades, until Elsbeth (His mother) went into hiding around the same time that Malleus would hatch and it was temporarily speculated that she had tampered with the prince out of envious grief as he rejected his grandmother’s magic and neared death.
Until she came back 53 years after Malleus had hatched, silly husband no longer in tow. But carrying three little hatchlings. These hatchlings would be raised under her care of course, including training. It was only on off chances that she would cross paths with Lilia and his group in later years, and allow for her remaining children to mingle—about 5 times total. None of which were Vincent lmaooo,,, according to old notes he was hidden away with magic for safe keeping and later hatched when this spell’s standards were met when his siblings were soon to be laid. Unfortunately this means he hatched alone, as a feral little beast terrorizing local settlements until fae caught wind of this loose hatchling. MANY years later, he’s probably about 40 years old at this point, reaching that stage where he can shift in and out of his dragon form and start to run on two feet. But he is eventually returned to his mother, joining her guidance with his peculiar siblings until eventually receiving an invitation to Night Raven College. (Not her fault, she deadass fully believed he had been destroyed like his other 3 siblings)
He may sometimes be… abrasive and volatile. Scratch that he is generally just that, along with dismissive. Blame it on raw dogging life as a hatchling in the wilderness like a little beast. Occasionally, when in his niche about botany and herbology (hope I spelt that right), he can go on long winded tangents where he comes off much softer and more articulate than just the usual sarcasm.
Has this one been mentioned before? Anyway, I don’t like the “only can be made with love” thing for dragon fae children. I guess the concept was more like being “fed” with magic and love, but it’s still not something I love. It’s Disney, so magic of love and all, but the way it was worked in kind of felt like ship bait rather than a lore drop/commentary on Lilia’s capacity for love. Can’t have Malleus x Yuu fans (or any Malleus shippers) worrying that their ship would be ruined by Briar Valley’s political situation. But maybe I’m just nitpicking because I’m still salty that so much information was condensed into Lilia’s dream.
I don't recall this being brought up before, no.
I think the EN version makes it pretty clear that the love in question is parental though.
The mention of shipping is where I point out that "love" has a lot of different forms and familial love and romantic love are two different things, so it really shouldn't be controversial to say that Lilia loves Malleus (if not as an extension of his love for Malleanor and Raverne as she pointed out) and Malleus loves Lilia as a father figure. I personally don't see it as ship-bait because I feel like these dynamics are obvious. That doesn't stop people from interpreting them differently though, so I suppose the criticism is valid.
Build an altar (can be permanent or temporary) and decorate it with things for YOU! A snack you would really love to be gifted- your favorite drink. Fun objects that mean something to you or that you just think are pretty! Then sit at the altar and feel the self love- hell even imagine that another person built this in your honor. You are a mighty dragon worthy of worship.
