Oct 2, 2014
Miza/Nasch with your dragon tamer au, please ヽ(・∀・)ﾉ
Ok I just always wanted to write this crap.
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Miza/Nasch with your dragon tamer au, please ヽ(・∀・)ﾉ
Ok I just always wanted to write this crap.
Mizael was laughing for once, warm and rich and carefree and so handsome- and Nasch knew he really had to stop thinking that but Mizael was the most stunning creature on their island, and quite possibly off of it as well.
"You're a child, Nasch," Mizael said firmly and of course he was, he was two years younger than Mizael, who wasn't all that mature himself no matter how much he acted like he was, "Maybe try to act like you're going to be king one day?"
In response, Nasch ducked under the crystal clear water, pulling Mizael down into the hot springs, and the pair floated in the water for a moment, suspended and perfectly at peace without a care for the cruel world outside; for a moment it was just peace, just them, and Nasch pushed forwards gently, their lips pressed gently together and for one moment the world was perfect.
Breachshipping. ^o^ Because it became I really like because of your fanfiction. <3
Another ship that needs more love (and thanks, I live to convert people to my ships)
Who’s the messiest one: neither really but Ryoga is more untidy than messy and just doesn't put stuff back in its place and loses it
Who feels the most uncomfortable about PDA: neither are really comfortable with it because they're both grumpy losers
Who’s the funniest drunk: probably Mizael
Who texts the most: Mizael texts Ryoga complaining about ridiculous human customs
Who has the most embarrassing taste in music: Ryoga, he played for Sanagi I bet he listens all the time
Who reads the most: Mizael likes stories about dragons
Who’s better with kids: Ryoga but he denies it
Who’s the one that fixes things around the house: Ryoga, Mizael tries but he doesn't understand the human world enough to be much help
Who’s got the weirdest hobby: Ryoga and his shark obsession
Who cooks and who cleans up: Ryoga cooks and Mizael cleans up because it doesn't require any special human knowledge
Broken Perfection
Title: Broken Perfection
Rating: M
Pairings: galaxymastershipping, breachshipping, aztecshipping, leadshipping
Word Count: 5491
Summary: Kaito learns about Neo mode and why some dragons have galaxies in their eyes.
Warnings: death, violence, murder, injuries, blood, human sacrifice, forced marriage, slavery, drugs, suicide, nakedness, implied dubcon
Dragon Tamer AU Main Page
Kaito woke unusually early. It wasn't even dawn. There was hushed giggling outside his hut and Kaito pulled on his clothes, lacing up his vest as he hurried to the door. Mizael and Nasch were sneaking off together towards the woods. Kaito bit his lip.
Mizael had moved on fast. Kaito wasn't sure he was comfortable with how the relationship had gone. He and Mizael had been so close but now Kaito was supposed to marry Ariel and Mizael was busy with the Prince. And they certainly seemed in love but… Kaito still wanted to be with Mizael so much. He knew the rules punished infidelity but he still longed for his young love.
"Mizael," he called softly. Mizael frowned and paused. "Can we talk?"
"Sure," he said. He glanced at Nasch who scowled. "I'll catch up."
Nasch nodded and leant up, pressing his lips to Mizael's in an obviously possessive kiss, making it as clear to Kaito as he could that Mizael was his. The Prince turned and stalked off and Mizael walked over slowly, offering Kaito a smile. He missed Mizael. He missed what they had. He led Mizael back inside and Mizael shut the door behind him.
"Kaito, you're going to be married in a few days," Mizael whispered. "This is inappropriate."
"You think I care about inappropriate?" Kaito hissed. "You think I care when I have to see you with him? I don't stop caring about you because they say I have to."
"What do you expect me to say?"
"Nothing," he whispered, cupping Mizael's cheek gently. "You don't have to say anything."
He leant in, their lips meeting softly. Mizael resisted for a moment before leaning into the kiss, his hand sliding down to Kaito's waist and pulling him close. Kaito pulled the black ribbon from Mizael's hair, letting it tumble down around his shoulders as Kaito pressed him back against the door. He might have been marrying Ariel in a few days but he wasn't married yet. He wanted Mizael for as long as he could have him.
"You know, they tell me you're some kind of siren," Kaito murmured between kisses. "That for a child of sin to be as beautiful as you, you must be some sort of demon."
Mizael smirked and twisted, slamming Kaito against the door, sealing their lips together once more. Kaito reached up into his beautiful silky hair, drawing him closer. They were about the same height now and Mizael hadn't stopped growing. Soon it would be Mizael gazing down at him.
"They think I'm some sort of seductive demon, I know," Mizael whispered against his lips, his hands travelling down to Kaito's hips. "That I must be a temptation, sent from Hell. That my mother was corrupted and lured my father and I was conceived not only in sin but to give a body to this wicked, lustful soul. I'm temptation itself, luring weak minded men into my bed to corrupt their pure souls. Although…" He squeezed Kaito's hips and Kaito gasped softly, his head falling back against the door, allowing Mizael to nip and kiss at his exposed throat. There was a commotion outside but they ignored it, it was likely just the discovery that Nasch was missing. "I doubt you would mind much if I corrupted you."
"Please," Kaito groaned.
"You would give into temptation so easily, little prince?" he purred, leaning up to Kaito's ear. "What would people think if they knew? Just a few days from marriage and you still want to be corrupted. You still want a beautiful sin."
"Mizael-"
"But unfortunately," he murmured, stepped away and pulling Kaito from the door. "You are getting married and I am late to meet Nasch."
"Miael-" Mizael strode out the door, pulling his hair up as he did, only Kaito caught a glance of an arrowhead, glinting in the dawn light. "Mizael!"
He tackled Mizael to the ground and the arrow soared above his heads, driving into the side of a house. Mizael rolled over and Kaito glared down at him. Chaos erupted over the village, screaming voices erupting as soldiers appeared.
"It's the Mad King," Mizael panted.
"No, my father promised he would fight with us, protect the island," Kaito hissed, scrambling up and ducking through the rain of arrows, grabbing his sword from his hut. "Why would he betray us?"
"I don't know," he snapped, drawing his own sword. "It doesn't matter, we're alone now. There's nothing to be done."
Kaito nodded and Mizael ran into the battle, Kaito on his heels. He had no choice, Mizael was right. They were alone. Whatever had happened, his father's army wasn't there to help.
It was hell. Kaito had never seen anything like it. They were trained for battle and they were strong warriors but Kaito had never seen it before.
The world blurred and Kaito's mind went blank, his instincts leading him to twist and parry and dodge. He'd never killed before but he struck without fear now, striking quickly and easily. He didn't think about it. He ignored it, refusing to let his mind linger on his actions. The noise was deafening. Children were screaming, mothers and older siblings racing save the youngsters of the village, hiding in their homes. It was dawn. No one was awake. They were helpless and vulnerable.
Out the corner of his eye, he caught Mizael's flowing golden hair stained with blood, flashing in the light with his blade. Dragons screamed and roared, dying and killing too protect their masters. Swords clanged around him, his head pounding as bodies of his enemies and those he considered family fell around him.
Suddenly hands caught his arms, dragging him away from the fighting no matter how much he fought. He was forced to the ground and his hands tied. He struggled desperately but he was shoved down.
"Kaito," purred a familiar voice. His head lifted to find Prince Vectoor. "How you've fallen."
But Kaito was watching Mizael in battle behind the Prince. He was covered in blood but somehow managed to be beautiful. A beautiful sin. He tore through opponents. He was an elite fighter. But an arrow shot from behind him. It drove into his lower back just below his leather armour and Mizael's back arched from the force, a pained gasp escaping him. Kaito screamed for him and Prince Vector grinned as he was forced to remain still. Mizael fell to the ground. He reached back desperately for the arrow but a soldier slammed a foot to his hand. He kicked him over onto his back and Mizael let out a pained cry before the soldier raised his sword.
"Mizael!" Kaito screamed.
Kaito saw red. Photon screamed and roared and power flooded through him. Kaito stared up at Photon as his shimmering body turned red and his form twisted and changed.
"Haruto!"
The village was on fire and people were running and screaming. Photon was being restrained and Kaito was held down, exposed and helpless. There was pain, absolute agony and he screamed until his throat was raw. He was helpless as Photon's wings were stretched and metal bars and swords and anything the men could get their hands on were taken to them. Photon's pained screams mixed with his own, filling the air as they were broken and subdued. Haruto's voice called to him but Kaito's mind began to blur with pain.
He didn't want to be here. He didn't want to see this. He didn't want to remember how he'd fallen apart.
"Father, please-"
"You will be hanged," his father said.
"No, Father!"
He was slammed against a wall, tears dripping down his cheeks as he was stripped bare. Photon whined and Kaito closed his eyes. He was pathetic. Hands moved over his body, rough and careless and Kaito couldn't deal with the indignity of it all. He wasn't a Prince but a Dragon Tamer and they abused him as such.
"We'd put a dragon in this condition down," Mizael said.
"Stop!" Kaito cried. "Stop, please!"
"It's all because of you."
"No!"
"You should be dead!"
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
Nasch yanked him up and Kaito gasped as he sneered. "As if I'd ever trust you with Mizael."
~♥~
"He's not looking well," Nasch murmured. Kaito was shaking, tears dripping down his cheeks. Jinlong nodded and Nasch lifted Kaito carefully. "If this doesn't work he's going to have to wake himself up."
Jinlong nodded and helped Nasch gently undress Kaito. He smiled sadly. He didn't trust Kaito, definitely not with Mizael, but didn't want him in this state. He'd given him such a low dose. He shouldn't have been in this mess. It was worrying Mizael and he couldn't even come into the temple to see him. They lowered him gently into the water and Kaito at least stopped shaking. Nasch smiled sadly and poured the water gently over his head, washing his body gently as Kaito began to stir.
"Come on, Kaito," Nasch said softly. "Wake up. You're scaring Mizael."
Kaito groaned slowly and Nasch let out a slow breath. He was waking up. His eyes cracked open and Nasch smiled, touching his cheek gently. Whatever had happened, he was terrified. He knew it could be terrible.
"Kaito?" Jinlong said gently. "Kaito, are you alright, son?"
"I- I saw things," Kaito panted softly.
"That's normal," he said. "It's perfectly normal. It can be scary at first."
"I want to see Mizael," he whispered, shaking his head. "I need to see Mizael."
"Once you've relaxed and we've spoken," Nasch replied. Kaito glanced up at him and drew back a little. "It's alright. Whatever you saw, it's alright. This is real."
"You said that last time," Kaito said softly, shaking again.
"What did you see?"
"The life I could have had if I'd known what I was. The day leading up to the slaughter." Nasch sighed and nodded and Kaito slid back in the water. "I just want to see Mizael."
"Once you've recovered," Jinlong said firmly.
~♥~
"You know the bath is plenty big enough for the two of us," Michael murmured.
"Lord Michael-"
"Are we going to start this again?" he said softly, stroking Yuma's cheek. "Just Michael. Now, take off your clothes and get in here. You stink too."
Yuma smiled and stepped away, slowly peeling off his clothes. Michael leant on the edge of the large tub, watching with a soft smile. Yuma's body was delicious. Michael remembered when he'd first arrived. He was slightly scrawny but there was potential. And the hard work of being Michael's personal servant had certainly helped him fulfil that potential. He was tall and nicely muscled and he still managed to have such a young innocent face.
He climbed into the tub with him and Michael smiled, drawing him close and pressing their lips together softly. Yuma drew back a little and Michael sighed, fondling the key hanging around Yuma's neck absently.
"I love you, Yuma." Yuma's cheeks flushed and Michael smiled, leaning up and kissing him once more. "I mean in. We've been together for so long, I'm not sure when I began to feel this way but it's the truth and even if we can never truly be together-"
"Why not?" Yuma said, shaking his head.
"It's my duty to-"
"You're not the oldest," he said quietly. He smiled and lowered his head a little. "It's not your duty to produce an heir. We… could…"
Michael smiled sadly and nodded, leaning over and pressing their lips together softly once more. "Father would never allow it but at least while we're travelling with them, we might get somewhere."
"I'd like that," Yuma replied, nodding slightly. "At least we could try." Michael smiled, leaning in for another kiss but Yuma drew back, glaring up at the air and Michael could only assume it was Astral. "Astral!" There was silence and Michael smiled as Yuma huffed. "Because he's different, Astral."
"What's he saying?" Michael whispered.
"He wants to know why you can be in a bath with me when I don't like him in here with me," he said. Michael giggled softly. No one was quite sure just what Astral was, but sometimes they saw him, they caught glimpses and glows but it was only Yuma who truly saw him. That was why Father had taken him in really. He said it was because of Yuma's father, but Michael knew all their servants were of interest to their father in one way or another. "He doesn't understand why you're special."
"I'm special?"
"Very."
Michael laughed softly, tangling his hands into Yuma's hair and pulling him into another deep kiss. Finally he could be with Yuma. He'd wanted this for so long now. He didn't even know how long but he needed it.
~♥~
"I don't like her," Allie huffed, climbing into the bed he and Alit were to share. Alit didn't appreciate the way Sanagi was treating them either. Gilag and Leo got guest rooms; because Leo was noble and Gilag was some oh-so strong military man. He and Allie ended up in the servants' quarters, sharing one thin, rickety bed. "She's mean."
"I know," Alit said gently. He smiled and patted Allie's head gently. "But it's just for tonight."
"But she's going to come with us," he argued. Alit smiled and slipped into bed next to him, pulling him gently down to the bed, tucking the itchy covers up around them and letting Allie snuggle up into his arms. "And that Sorcerer and his servant. I don't want them around. I don't trust them."
"Me neither," he murmured, stroking his hair.
He smiled and kissed the top of Allie's head. They'd kept Nasch prisoner. From what he'd seen they were cruel and rude. Honestly, Alit wanted as little to do with those stuck up as nobles as he could. He didn't understand why Gilag and Leo put up with them. They treated him like he was still a slave. He was one of Heartland's greatest gladiators. He should be treated with respect!
"What happened to them?" Allie whispered. "They feel sad. Do you know what happened to the Sorcerers?"
"Some of it, yes," Alit replied. "Leo told me about it. It was ten years ago now, I guess."
"Can you tell me?" he said softly. "They feel so sad. It's like a bad energy from them."
Alit frowned but nodded. "There were originally four of them. Four brothers, those three are the eldest three. Rumours said the youngest was born to an affair. Then one night, no one's quite sure why, they were alone in their home on the coast. Their father wasn't home. The mother slipped a sleeping draft in their drinks, put them to sleep in her bed and started a fire."
Alkel stared up at him. "She was going to kill them all?"
"That's what everyone assumes. No one knows why." Allie lowered his head a little. "But the drink wasn't strong and the eldest, Chris, woke up when his father came home to the fire, realised what was going on and began calling to them to save them. He managed wake up all but the youngest boy. Chris managed to get Michael to safety with his father but the mother took the other two. The youngest didn't even wake up. Chris went back into the fire for his brothers but…"
"Alit?"
"She jumped. The youngster never even woke up as they fell but he saved Thomas. His vision was severely damaged but… it could have been a far greater tragedy, I suppose."
"That's awful," Allie whispered. "What kind of mother would do that to her kids?"
"Who knows, kid," he sighed. "There are things in some people's minds that we can't understand. They survived, there's little point dwelling on it."
Allie nodded and Alit closed his eyes. "We were taught that darkness can leave a mark, that evil and sorrow lingers forever until peace if found."
"There's no point worrying about these things," Alit murmured, stroking his hair. "I would never let anything harm you. I would give anything to keep you safe, I promise you that. It's going to kill me to let you go."
"You should travel with me and Ellie," Allie replied. "It'll be fun."
"I'm sure it will." He smiled and kissed the top of his head once more, stroking his hair gently. "Get some sleep, kid."
"Alright."
He smiled tiredly and Alit leant over, blowing out the candle and plunging them into darkness. Allie snuggled into his chest and Alit couldn't help thinking about how terrible it would be to finally give him up to his brother. Logic told him Allie would be happiest with his own kind- with his family- but Alit had looked after him and raised him for so long, the idea of letting him go was heart breaking. He'd looked after Allie for nearly half his life.
Allie drifted off quickly but Alit lay awake for hours. They really only had this one chance. Even if they would save Allie, who was to say that King Don would keep his word? They could be doing all this for nothing. They could all end up dead.
~♥~
"Where's your knight?" Prince Mist chuckled.
Vector practically snarled. "He's learning his lesson."
"Oh?" he sneered. He turned and pulled Vector close by his collar. "Trouble in paradise, my friend?"
"Do try not to sound so pleased, Mist," Vector snapped, slapping his hands away.
Vector didn't know why King Don had a son sometimes. He seemed restricted to their palaces and didn't seem to receive any sort of affection from his father. His Queen, Ena, was quite a lovely woman who reminded Vector of his own mother, although he suspected that marriage was arranged since she certainly didn't seem fond of King Don. Prince Mist was too similar to Vector for his liking really. One of his was plenty; he didn't need someone with a personality so close to his own to get in the way and scheme against him. He certainly seemed to take pleasure in Vector's failures and problems.
Durbe himself was chained up in Vector's room. It was one thing for Durbe to question the direction he was going in- Durbe had always had such high moral virtues and was always hesitant about inflicting pain and injury- but it was another entirely for Nasch to have corrupted his knight into wanting to leave him. He would never allow Durbe to leave him and certainly never for Nasch.
"Sorry, Vector," Mist chuckled. "But it's rather amusing to see him finally getting a backbone. He was always such a wuss."
Vector snarled and slammed Mist to the wall. Mist just sneered down at him. "Don't you ever talk about Durbe like that!"
Mist laughed and pushed him off, guiding him along the corridor to one of King Don's grand halls. Vector didn't see what the big deal was by Mist had something exciting to show him so Vector followed along. It had better be worth it.
Mist pushed open the doors a Vector was stunned. The hall had been transformed into some kind of temple. The floor had channels carved into it, spiralling into two of the three altars. The walls were covered in carved, shimmering red and purple stone. Vector recognised them, they were a story about one of the gods. At the far end which was a strange black material. Vector's first thought was perhaps it was black marble, but it shimmered in such a strange way. The carving on it was familiar too. A huge creature- not quite man, not quite monster- in strange robes and with a huge red eye in his abdomen.
"Don Thousand," Vector whispered, touching the picture.
"Father was named after him," Mist said quietly. "God of the afterlife. Father created this. He found relics from all over the place to salvage the original temple from when our lands were one." Vector nodded. He knew about the temples. "You know that some Sorcerers and scholars believe that there is a ritual that can resurrect Don Thousand inside your body?"
"I had heard," he murmured, leaning against the altar at the far end. "Supposedly if you sacrifice blood to him, you can have his power."
"Not just blood," he replied, shaking his head. "Two royals, stained in blood."
"Royals stained in blood. Who've killed?" Mist shrugged. There weren't many other translations for stained in blood. "Who's he sacrificing?"
Mist sneered. "Shouldn't that be obvious? If we can't get control of King Faker by healing Haruto, we'll just have to take his other son."
"He was willing to hang Kaito, you think Faker will give up just because you threaten Kaito?"
"He let the Tamers die for him, didn't he?"
"And the second? You and I aren't candidates, Heartland has never handled a sword in his life, and he might have ordered a few people killed but he's never taken a life personally. Faker hasn't taken a life and as far as I know Haruto hasn't."
Mist grinned again. "Both Tamer brats count as royalty."
"You expect me to give up either of them?" Vector snapped. "Nasch is doing to suffer for what he did to Durbe and Merag is to be my wife."
"You can argue that out with my father," Mist replied, sweeping out again.
Vector glared at his back. Perhaps once he'd married Merag he'd let King Don have her. Let Nasch beg for his life to be taken instead. Make him watch. He stormed through the halls back up to the guest room he was taking for the night.
Durbe sat on the bed, playing absently with the chains around his wrists, keeping him from sneaking off anywhere. Had Nasch even kidnapped him? Or had it all been some game to get away? How long had he been dying to slip away from him? What had he done so wrong that his best friend in the world no longer wanted him?!
"Your highness, please," Durbe whispered.
"I could banish you," Vector said softly, stalking around the foot of the bed. Durbe watched him carefully and Vector hated that. Durbe was all he had, he'd never hurt him, he loved him. Why would he look at him like that? "That would solve your problem. You could leave. You could leave and never return."
"That's not what I want."
"Haven't I always been good to you?"
"Of-of course."
"You're the only person I can trust, Durbe. At least… I thought I could…"
"I'm sorry, your majesty," Durbe whispered. Vector sat on the bed with him and smiled softly, stroking his cheeks. "I just… I'm not a killer. I can't keep doing the things you ask of me, it feels wrong. You enjoy inflicting pain. You like seeing families torn apart to make up for your own. You're not the boy you were and you scare me sometimes and I can't keep destroying people's lives for you. I'm sorry."
"It's ok," he murmured, leaning in and pressing his lips to Durbe's cheek. "I've been pushing you. I thought you could take it. I guess I over estimated you."
"Vector-"
"It's ok," he said again, lowering his voice to whisper. "Nasch must have shown you incredible things out there. He must have shown you freedom, an exhilarating life on the run. Did you make you think about all the pain we'd caused? All the lives lost?"
"He made me tell him everyone I'd killed that day," Durbe breathed. "He told me their lives, their families, their hopes and dreams, how incredible they all were. I cut those lives short. My father wanted us to be at peace with the Tamers and I went to war and killed so many innocent people."
"You don't think you deserve forgiveness?" Durbe shook his head. "You know I've always loved you, Durbe. Nasch might have tried to kill you, but I think you're brave for carrying on. You do all this for me, just because it's your duty. You do things you hate because you love me too, right?"
"I… you're all I've ever had…"
Vector nodded, leaning in, their lips brushing softly. And for the first time, Durbe didn't show any flicker of fight. He knew Durbe would accept it eventually. He was meant for Vector. He was his. They were born to be together.
"I love you too," he murmured, stroking his cheeks. "Let me show you?" He pressed their lips together a little more purposefully and Durbe accepted it, his eyes falling shut. "You belong to me, Durbe. You know that, don't you?" Durbe nodded weakly and Vector grinned, gently pushing him back to the bed. "You'll see, Durbe. I'll look after you. You're so precious to me."
Vector kissed his knight once more and despite his eyes clenched shut, Durbe let it happen, he even kissed back. Nasch could never have his Durbe. He remembered how Durbe's eyes used to sparkle every time he saw Vector coming. How Durbe would laugh and throw his arms around his shoulders. How they'd collapse by the fire together, the woman they both called Mother laughing softly as played. His dear, beloved Durbe. Vector's lips travelled slowly down his neck, listening contentedly to Durbe's soft, hitched breaths in the otherwise silent room.
He'd rather see Durbe dead than belonging to anyone else.
~♥~
"Has Jinlong never considered accommodation out here?"
Mizael lifted his head slightly. Kaito was in the doorway to the storage stable. It was used as a feed and tack room. Mizael got up slowly and climbed down the ladder from the loft. Kaito smiled and shut the door behind him. He was wrapped in a blanket, no doubt from his room.
"Should you be out of bed?" Mizael murmured.
"I don't want to sleep yet," Kaito replied. "I've wanted to see you since I woke up."
"You're needy, aren't you?" he said softly.
Kaito smiled and Mizael's eyes widened for a moment when Kaito stepped forward and leant into his shoulder, hanging onto his shirt. "I saw you die. I just needed to make sure you were really here still."
There was a heavy silence and Mizael leant his head against Kaito's. He understood. The idea that Kaito might have never woken, or could have even died, had been playing on his mind all day. He hadn't been able to settle, even with Nasch telling him Kaito was alive and well. His stomach hadn't settled until he'd seen Kaito here in front of him.
"Needy and morbid," Mizael muttered. "Dreams of my death… what have I got myself into with you?"
Kaito laughed weakly. "You and Nasch…"
"Me and Nasch?"
"I saw my life if I'd been raised on the island," Kaito whispered. "I was going to be married in a few days. We had been together but I was going to be married and you'd moved onto Nasch."
"The opposite of real life."
"I watched the slaughter. I watched you die." Mizael closed his eyes and nodded. "I remembered more of what I'd done to that village back home."
"Kaito…" He sighed and pulled back, gesturing over to the ladder. "I assume nothing I can say will get you to back to bed in the temple."
Kaito smiled tiredly and nodded, climbing up the ladder to the hay loft. It wasn't as bad as people thought. The warmth from the stables and horses below made it a comfortable temperature. Hay and straw were good insulators. It was shelter. It was better than sleeping out in the wilderness. He'd made something of a bed from a pile of straw, a thin mat and a blanket. Kaito looked rather impressed and Mizael pulled him down gently, letting him curl up.
"Who were you going to marry?" Mizael murmured, sitting on the bed with him.
"Ariel." Mizael snorted and Kaito rolled his eyes. "I know."
"What did you do to deserve her?"
"I wanted to be corrupted," Kaito whispered, pulling Mizael down over him. He took his own weight, leaning over Kaito, their noses touching. "I let myself be tempted by a beautiful sin."
Mizael's cheeks warmed. A beautiful sin. That had haunted him from the start. Always. Kaito had never heard the saying before, and if he had, he'd not used it until now. The dream must have been deep. He smiled sadly and nodded.
"Sin should not be beautiful," he murmured.
"It wasn't your sin," Kaito whispered. "It was theirs. And I was always taught that a little indulgence of temptation can be a good thing every once in a while."
"Not in our culture," Mizael replied. "Temptation is to be ignored. Only weak souls give into it."
"Then I'm weak," he teased. "Because you are beautiful."
Mizael smiled and tilted his head away slightly. "Very few people have ever said something like that and meant it as a compliment."
Kaito smiled and pulled him down to the bed next to him. Even if he'd promised not to take things further with Kaito until Nasch was happy, he was content with Kaito in his arms. He held him close, reassuring himself and Kaito that this was real. They were both real and both alive. Even now, it was tricky to make himself believe it. What if it was all a dream and Kaito still hadn't woken?
Still, Kaito curled up, tucked under his chin and breathing softly.
"You know, I thought it would be ok," Kaito whispered. "I thought- I wondered if my life would have been better if I was a raised in your village. I wondered if it would be easier. But it didn't change things. I saw you die and I was helpless. And no matter how much I knew Photon in that world, I couldn't control him. He still did that- that thing like in the village."
"Thing?"
"He changed. I was so hurt. So angry. You were… I just fell apart… He glowed red. He changed. He became so powerful. Like nothing I'd seen before. "
Mizael frowned. Kaito and Photon's bond was that powerful? "What you're describing sounds like a Neo mode."
"Neo mode?"
"The most incredible power, available only to a Galaxy-Eyes and only when the bond is strong enough. It's the ultimate power they can wield. It's said a Neo Galaxy-Eyes can destroy a small army. You might have saved our people in that life."
"It didn't matter," Kaito whispered, his hands sliding up to Mizael's chest. "I lost you."
"You could have lost Photon," Mizael murmured. "There are Galaxy-Eyes who die after Neo mode. They can't handle the power, it overloads them, drains them. Their bodies burn out. And often, with the increased risk of complication with a Tamer bonded to a Galaxy-Eyes, the Tamer will pass too. " Kaito's eyes opened and he lifted his head, gazing up at him and Mizael smiled weakly. "It's how the old stories of the first Galaxy-Eyes go. The Tamer was in love with the Goddess of the stars. He would lie out in the fields at night and wait for her to come to him. One day the Goddess of death grew jealous of their love, that no one loved her like they did the stars."
"How can anyone love death?"
Mizael smiled sadly and nodded. "So she killed the Goddess of the stars but in her dying breaths, the Goddess of the stars went to her Tamer and she put the galaxies in his dragon's eyes, so he would always remember her. And the Tamer's grief and rage were so great and the power given to his dragon by the Goddess so strong that his dragon changed and gained the first Neo mode, attacking the Goddess of death. Their powers were wasted. She took their lives and scattered their souls across the world and thanks to her spite, Galaxy-Eyes and their masters are prone to complication with their bonds and tragic deaths."
"As if my dreams were traumatic enough," Kaito laughed bitterly.
"It's a story we're taught as children," Mizael said quietly. "Along with others."
"I can't wait for you to tell me more."
"Go to sleep or Grandfather really will be mad at me in the morning."
"Alright," he sighed, closing his eyes and pressing a little closer. "Good night, Mizael."
"Good night, Kaito."
Mizael closed his eyes, playing with Kaito's hair absently. He wondered if Kaito had a complicated bond like he and Alkel did. Tachyon was devouring his soul, drawing her power from him. Cloud would recover from illnesses and injuries by drawing power from Alkel and making him ill. He'd never heard of anyone bonded to a Galaxy-Eyes without complications. It was just a matter of time before Kaito found his.
But at least for now there was a little bit of peace and comfort with Kaito in his arms.
Infatuation
Title: Infatuation
Rating: T
Pairings: galaxymastershipping, tomoshipping, aztecshipping past mizaryo,
Word Count: 5055
Summary: None of them really knew how to deal with such difficult relationships.
Warnings: nakedness, alcohol, and not really much else
Dragon Tamer AU Main Page
"What's he doing?" Kaito asked quietly, watching Photon in the fields.
Jinlong chuckled and Kaito glanced over. "He's courting. Haven't you noticed?"
"Noticed?"
"He's been at it since he arrived."
He hadn't noticed at all. It was strange. He was sitting with Jinlong as his own dragon, Dragluon a beautiful beast that shimmered gold and silver in different lights, his head between them as they watched the others. The moon was slowly raising and the stars were coming out and Kaito never ceased to be amazed by the view they had up in the mountains.
All his chores for the night were done, the horses were turned out and the dragons were fed, he'd swept the courtyard and the steps and everything else that need doing. It had been hard to get into the pattern of things, but now he had a routine he was starting to settle. His thoughts drifted to Mizael less and less as Kaito focused on work and lessons. But when he was alone and allowed his thoughts to wander, he remembered Mizael's warmth, how much he longed to lie close to him once more at have his arms wrapped around him again.
He really was mad about Mizael, wasn't he?
And if Jinlong was right about Photon, maybe he wasn't the only smitten.
"She won't hurt him, will she?" Kaito said softly.
"You haven't ever had someone reject your advances, have you?" Jinlong chuckled.
"I don't tend to make advances," he muttered, stroking Dragluon's slightly fuzzy muzzle.
Jinlong chuckled and nodded. "Well, she's far more likely to just ignore him. Besides, he's injured, isn't he? If she doesn't take an interest in him, she won't bother with him."
Kaito nodded slightly. There was still so much to learn. So far most of what he'd learnt about dragons revolved around his bond with Photon. Sometimes Dragluon would sit and let Jinlong teach him, and the books could only go so far. Watching them interact was fascinating.
Tachyon was still curled up by the cliff, watching as Photon seemed to be trying to impress her. What had caught Kaito's attention was when Photon offered her his dinner. Tachyon had batted him over the head with an armoured claw and snarled and Photon seemed to sulk after that, eating quietly.
At this point Photon had finished his dinner and was lying in front of Tachyon, tail wagging slightly as he watched her. Tachyon barely looked at him but when Photon made soft noises, almost like a cat's mewl, Tachyon made a soft, almost humming noise back. Despite looking like she had no interest, she was responding.
"What will happen?" Kaito said quietly. "If she accepts him?"
"Dragons mate for life." Kaito nodded absently. "I wouldn't expect much though. Tachyon is as cold as her master. And Photon seems to be like you; alone and not well socialised."
Suddenly Tachyon huffed and Photon got up from the ground, spreading his bandaged wings and throwing up his head, roaring up to the sky as his body flashed a bright blue for a moment. He really was beautiful. Tachyon tilted her head, making an obviously unimpressed noise, not even opening her eyes as a pulse of rainbow coloured lights moved down over her body. She was beautiful too. Photon tilted his head, drawing his wings in slightly as Tachyon huffed.
"What would it mean for me and Mizael if she does accept him?"
Jinlong frowned. "Your dragon reflects your soul. If she accepts him, in theory, it's a good sign for the two of you as well. But then she never took any interest in Shark Drake but his master and Mizael were lovers for a good year and Mizael remained devoted to him even years later."
"Even now?" Kaito murmured.
"Who's to say? They were young back then. But first love always cuts deepest." Kaito nodded absently. "The Prince was one of the few people who ever looked kindly on Mizael. He was an outcast thanks to his curse. But our Prince is nothing if not stubborn. He decided Mizael was to be his friend and nothing was going to convince him otherwise."
"At least he had someone." Jinlong nodded as Photon growled softly and Tachyon opened her eyes. "How long do you think this training will take?"
"You mean how long until you can chase after Mizael?"
"Perhaps."
"A month at least. And that's just for the bare minimum you need. Mizael was always incredibly talented. To get to his level Tamers would train from the moment they bonded with their dragon. That's usually around the age of three or so, often a lot younger. There have been baby dragons who bond with new-borns, rare as that is. Although Mizael was late finding Tachyon. He was nine before they found each other. But she's a Galaxy-Eyes. They often bond late."
Kaito nodded. He would have liked to have seen Mizael again sooner but he supposed he didn't have much choice. Galaxy-Eyes bonded late? He hadn't found Photon until the year before. Was that simply because they'd bonded late or would they have bonded sooner if he'd found him sooner?
Photon stalked cautiously closer to Tachyon. She watched him silently, tail flicking absently. Kaito was almost proud. Little Photon was infatuated. Maybe he should have sought out other dragons for Photon sooner but he wouldn't have known where to start. Perhaps it was best he spent time here away from society and learnt about himself. Perhaps he could use the isolation and peace to figure out some of the other problems he seemed to have. Growing up in the spotlight and with certain expectations there were some things he needed to keep quiet about and deal with alone. But perhaps here he could figure things out.
Finally, Photon laid next to Tachyon, shifting slightly so he could touch his muzzle to hers only for Tachyon to growl and jerk her head away. Photon whined and leant his head on his forearms, gazing up at her sadly as she laid her head down, pointedly away from his.
"What just happened?" he whispered.
"He pushed his luck a little far," Jinlong replied. "But it’s a good sign. It's the closest anyone's got so far."
"Well, I suppose that's a good sign for me and Mizael then."
"You should stop thinking about him," he said firmly. "Come, let's leave them too it."
Kaito nodded slightly and followed Jinlong from the field. He knew he should stop thinking about Mizael. But he'd never felt like this with anyone else. He'd seen people as attractive before. The Sorcerer Chris was terribly handsome, and the young noblewoman he'd been set up with was beautiful as well, but he'd felt nothing for them.
It was silly though, wasn't it?
He'd already learnt that in the Dragon Tamer culture, it was frown upon to have a relationship with another man at their age. They should be married off and faithful to their wives and continuing their bloodlines. Especially since he was royalty. He supposed that wasn't something unique to the Dragon Tamers. There would be uproar if he took a male lover. At least publicly. It was his duty to produce an heir. Although at least it was something of an open secret that nobles married for money and power and has concubines for love and lust.
Perhaps…
Was it silly to imagine one day Mizael would be at his side? It was, wasn't it? How childish. To think maybe one day when he was King, maybe even as Prince, Mizael would settle for being at his side as his lover. Of course it was. He was starting to sound like a silly little girl planning her perfect marriage to some perfect noble. How pathetic. To think Mizael would ever turn his back on his beliefs. He'd already learnt that Dragon Tamers treasured fidelity. Mizael's curse was proof enough of that. Once they were married, they were expected to be faithful even if they didn't love each other. As if Mizael would ever agree to being his bit on the side.
Not that it really mattered anyway. There was a chance he might not even see Mizael again. He was day dreaming about things that would likely never happen. It was ridiculous.
"Does it ever get any easier?" he murmured absently.
"In time," Jinlong replied. Kaito glanced down at him and he patted Kaito's arm. "As I said, the first one cuts deepest. But it will fade. Time heals all wounds."
~♥~
"Ok, so what's your problem with Durbe?" Nasch hissed.
"Nasch-"
"Answer me this time, Mizael."
Mizael scowled and Nasch laid his hand absently over Mizael's. They'd stopped just inside the border of King's Heartland's land, at a clearing in the forest where the river formed a pool so they could actually wash. He was surprised Mizael hadn't washed at Grandpa's but then he'd never wanted much time there. He always hated being there. Even if Grandpa was kind to him, he hated not being able to enter the temple.
"He's a good man," Nasch said softly when Mizael still didn't answer.
"Really?" Mizael murmured, glaring at Durbe's back as he slipped off his clothes. As if feeling his gaze, Durbe glanced back over his shoulder. "Would you stake your life on that, Nasch? Would you honestly trust a man who was there when our lives were ripped apart? Who helped destroy our families?"
"There's hope, Mizael," he replied. "You heard him. There's a chance that Alkel-"
"That Alkel was captured and has lived a prisoner all these years," he hissed, snatching his hand away. "That my little brother has been alive and suffering all this time, hoping I was coming to save him and I haven't known? You think that's reassuring? And what if he's wrong? What if this is all a trap?"
"You think I haven't thought of that?" he snapped. "This is my family too. I've asked myself the same questions over and over, Mizael."
"I'm not lying," Durbe called over as he slid into the pool. "And it's not a prison. It's a home. My father created a home for Dragon Tamers. The entire point is that your kind would be able to live with us on the mainland. The entire point was that we were supposed to be together. It was supposed to a safe haven. I'm sorry your families were dragged away from you in such a horrendous way. I'm sorry that everyone was so hurt by it. But my father created a good place. It was designed to be a community, not a prison."
"It's not your family locked away," Mizael snapped. He glared at Nasch and lowered his voice. "What if it's not him? What if I'm getting my hopes up for nothing? Do you realise how much that will hurt?"
"I do, Mizael," Nasch said softly. "But if it is-"
"I just hope you're not letting your obvious infatuation with him cloud your vision."
Nasch glared up at him. How did Mizael get that impression? He might have been a little attracted to Durbe but it certainly wasn't an infatuation. And it didn't change the fact that he and Mizael had sworn to love each other forever. He could deny loving Mizael as much as he liked to Durbe but he did. They had been madly in love- at least he had been madly in love- and when Mizael gave him his ring and swore they would find each other and that he would love Nasch forever, Nasch had believed him. Looking back it was silly and childish but there was a horrible part of him that desperately wanted it to be true.
"And what about your infatuation with Lord Kaito?" Nasch murmured.
"Are we really going to do this?" Mizael hissed. "Would you like a full history of everyone I have considered attractive since you left?"
"Oh?" he said with a smirk. "You're the one getting jealous over these perceived feelings for Durbe."
"All I'm saying is that you shouldn't let his looks make you forget what he was a part of," Mizael said firmly. "Remember what they always told us?"
Nasch sighed and nodded, glancing over at Durbe. "It's those who want nothing in return you should fear most."
Mizael nodded. They knew that really. People who offered help and kindness for no reason and for nothing in return, were the ones who usually had hidden motives. Durbe wanted to follow and lean from them, he'd helped him escape but… he didn't seem to have anything else he wanted.
"I'm sorry, if you care about him," Mizael whispered. "But you should be careful."
Nasch nodded, getting up from the ground and heading over to the pool where Durbe was washing and their horses were drinking. He undressed slowly, ignoring Mizael's glaring and actually taking his time stripping off to tease him and at that point Mizael pointedly looked away. Nasch smiled. As if Mizael hadn't seen him naked before. What amused him far more was how Durbe pointedly gazed away until he'd slipped into the still waters.
"It's ok, you know," Nasch murmured, swimming over lazily. "We had communal baths back home." Durbe glanced up and Nasch smiled. "You must have seen it. Our baths? The building carved into the mountains over the hot springs."
Durbe nodded. "It was incredible."
"We'd bath there together. It was a social thing. The men together, and the women together and then the youngsters who were old enough to be under their sibling's care rather than their mother's. It was a social, community spirited thing."
"Maybe for you it was," Mizael grumbled. Nasch glanced over to see him at the edge of the bank, leaning on his folded leg. "I was never welcome."
"You're welcome now, Mizael."
"Someone has to keep watch."
"I know you don't trust me, Mizael," Durbe said softly. "But I really do just want to learn. I know King Vector has done some terrible things, and I won't deny I've done awful things in his name, but I want to learn about your kind and your culture. Nothing more."
Mizael scowled. "You're starting to sound like Kaito."
"Tell me about Kaito," Nasch murmured. "What's he like? Is he going to be any use to us?"
"He's a good boy," Mizael replied. "He cares deeply for his dragon, which is a Galaxy-Eyes, and the bond is strong." Nasch nodded slightly. Another Galaxy-Eyes, that was always good. You could never have too many Galaxy-Eyes. They were some of the most powerful dragons. "He's a good person. He wants to live and protect his family."
"Prince Haruto is dying," Durbe said softly. Nasch and Mizael both glanced over. "They've searched everywhere they can for a cure."
"He said he was sick," Mizael said quietly.
Durbe nodded. "They've tried everything they can think of. They've summoned healers and Sorcerers and everyone they could. No one has been able to heal him. There are untold riches and rewards for anyone who can save Prince Haruto's life. People have said someone who healed the Prince could ask for the crown and get it."
"Does Kaito know the odds of getting sick with a Galaxy-Eyes?" Nasch said quietly.
"I haven't mentioned it," Mizael replied. "I assume Grandfather will. Or he'll find out the hard way."
"Sick?" Durbe said.
"Galaxy-Eyes come with incredible powers," Nasch said, waving his hand dismissively. "But more often than not they come with a terrible down side. The kind of power that just burns you out. Mizael's dragon is slowly eroding his soul."
"Cloud caused Alkel terrible debilitating fevers and migraines and we all suspected it would get worse as he grew," Mizael grumbled. Durbe nodded slightly and Mizael leant back. "If he's really alive…"
"I don't know," Durbe said quietly. "I can't really make any judgements, we only knew the most dangerous or wanted Tamers. I can only tell you what I know and what I saw. It's up to you to draw conclusions."
Mizael turned his gaze away and Nasch sighed, moving away from the bank. It would be so much easier if they'd just get along. He dropped under the water, letting his hair get wet. Durbe might have had lovely short hair but his thick curls needed to be washed. Mizael hair probably needed a wash too. It wasn't looking its best and Mizael was keeping it tightly braided.
When he pulled his head up above the water once more, Durbe was on the bank in Mizael's travelling robes as he washed his clothes while Mizael had something in his hand. Something glinting in the dim light. Nasch's stomach dropped.
"You kept it."
Nasch's cheeks burned and he sunk a little lower in the water so only his eyes were above the water as Mizael eyes down at him. What was he supposed to say? Yes he'd kept Mizael's ring. He'd wanted to believe they could be a loving couple once more. It was silly though, wasn't it? They'd both grown out of that.
"Nasch?"
"The idea that we would meet again kept me going through some really bad times," Nasch replied, swimming back to the bank. "We were just stupid kids and I know that it was just one of those stupid kid promises that don't actually mean anything and you just believe it in the moment but… but sometimes imagining that you were out there somewhere, looking for me because we promised, it made me hold on a little longer."
Mizael nodded slightly and slipped the chain the ring was hanging on back over his head. Nasch smiled, playing absently with the chain. Being the prisoner of those Sorcerers had been a waking nightmare. There were times all he could do was hang onto Mizael's ring around his neck and believe that any moment Mizael would find him and save him. Even as time moved on and he knew Mizael probably thought him dead and was likely never going to find him, he hung onto that ring and forced himself to believe it.
"Do you still want that?" Mizael muttered.
Nasch glanced up to find Mizael glaring up at the sky. "I don't know. But I know that I still want to be a big part of your life."
"We'll agree not to jump back into a romantic relationship then?" he said. "And try to figure out if we still want what we did back then." Nasch nodded, leaning up just enough to kiss his cheek. "Nasch-"
"Just because we're not partners anymore, doesn't mean I can't still love you, right?" Nasch murmured.
"Of course. You are the only friend I've ever had. I will always love you for that."
Nasch smiled softly and splashed the water up at him. "Come on. You're hair isn't going to look dazzling again if you only show it the water."
Mizael shot Durbe a wary glance and Durbe sighed, picking up his clothes and wringing them out before heading back towards the fire. With Durbe gone, Mizael seemed to relax a least a little and slipped off his clothes, joining Nasch in the water where Nasch splashed him once more, laughing softly. It had been so long since he'd been able to laugh and play. He couldn't imagine Mizael made much time for fun and games either if he was travelling alone. And once Mizael had got over the shock, he seemed rather content to splash him back. Their childhood had been cut short so abruptly, it was alright to play a little.
"So, the plan is to save Shark Drake from some of the most powerful Sorcerers on the continent," Mizael said, moving out of Nasch's reach. Nasch nodded. "And then find out siblings in the Mad King's high security facility?"
"Pretty much," Nasch replied.
"Sounds like a suicide mission to me."
Nasch laughed taking a deep breath and dropping under the water once more. He was far more comfortable in the water than Mizael. He was more comfortable than most people. His dragon was a water dragon, after all.
He slipped through the water with ease and could just about see Mizael glancing around warily, watching for any sign of him. Of course Mizael knew Nasch was likely playing around near him. He reached out and caught Mizael's hips, pulling him down under the water and pulling him around.
Under the water, everything seemed to slow. It was all so blurred and beautiful and so often felt like it was a world of him own. He vividly remembered the last time he'd pulled Mizael under like this. The pool had been clearer and warmer, Mizael's hair floating around his beautiful soft teenage face as he stared back at Nasch. And it had just been the alone in the silent underwater world. For some reason Nasch had pushed himself forward and sealed his lips over Mizael's, hanging onto him tightly, as Mizael's fingers slid down his spine.
Only they weren't children anymore. Mizael had matured physically and Nasch imagined he had too. They weren't young lovers anymore. He had no right to want to press against him and kiss him anymore. It was blatantly obvious, at least to him that Mizael was rather taken with Kaito.
When they broke the surface once more, Mizael's hair had fallen over his face, sticking to his forehead and hiding his eyes. Nasch laughed softly and reached over, brushing his hair from his eyes.
"You'll follow me on a suicide mission, Mizael?"
"You are the Prince-"
"King, Mizael, I'm King."
"-and I will follow you. Especially if there is even a slim chance that I will find Alkel alive and well."
"I hate to interrupt," Durbe called. "But if you two don't hurry up the food will be charcoal."
Nasch smiled slightly, swimming back towards the bank with Mizael following. "Let me do your hair then, Mizael."
"I can do it myself."
"I always like playing with your hair. You know that."
Mizael sighed and Nasch knew he'd got his way, grabbed a bottle from the bank as Mizael turned his back to Nasch. He'd always loved running his hands through Mizael's beautiful hair. He'd always loved Mizael's hair. That was one of the first things he'd fallen for. He'd always been so sorry for causing Mizael's hair to be cut off and dyed black. He dear Mizael.
"Hey, promise me you won't get serious with Kaito until I've had a chance to vet him," Nasch said quietly, gently massaging the soap in Mizael's hair. "I mean… if you decide it's him you want. I'm still your best friend, I still want to make sure no one's ever going to hurt you."
"He's a prince," Mizael said quietly. "Just like you are. You will both marry and I will not be someone's dirty little secret."
"As if I could ever keep you a secret," he murmured, leaning in to his ear.
Mizael turned to glare at him. "You know what I mean. And I will agree to your terms if you agree to the same when it comes to Durbe."
"We have a deal then. Now rinse."
~♥~
Michael smiled absently, running his hand through Yuma's hair as he poured him out another glass of wine. They were in one of their drawing rooms with the rest of the family and a few of the other servant. Michael had probably had too much wine to be trusted around Yuma but today he didn't care. Yuma moved away and set down the decanter and Michael watched as subtly as he could, sipping his wine.
"Don't think I don't see you, Michael," his father said firmly. Michael smiled weakly, focusing his gaze on the wine. Thomas hit an off note on the piano as his gaze flickered over, drawing Byron's gaze. "Pay attention, Thomas. Stupid boy."
"Sorry, Father," Thomas murmured, but slammed his hands on a mess of keys at once, making a terrible din. Their father's gaze narrowed and Chris caught his hands, pulling him away from the piano. "My bad."
Chris pulled Thomas down by the fire and Michael smiled softly. His older brothers had their fair share of problems with each other, but Michael knew they loved each other dearly. They remembered their mother. They remembered hanging onto each other as their father spiralled into madness in his grief. While it seemed he'd recovered from the loss of their mother- and there was a second grave next to hers, unmarked apart from a rose that they wouldn't talk about- sometimes Michael wondered if there wasn't still something unsettled about him. Thomas often laughed hollowly that their father needed a new wife but no woman had ever seemed good enough for the three of them. They'd tried but their father wouldn't have a woman the three of them didn't approve of whole heartedly.
But, despite all the pain they'd gone through, it had brought Chris and Thomas close. Their bond withstood all their wild arguments.
Chris sat with Thomas by the fire, murmuring to him softly and apparently settling him from their father's insults. Father was always cruel to Thomas. Michael never understood why really and he knew Thomas tried hard to please his father but he just didn't seem get along with Thomas.
"Here," Chris said softly, laying a book in Thomas' lap and opening it up.
Thomas nodded slightly and Michael shifted to try and see what the book was but he couldn't make it out. Chris was sitting close to Thomas, talking quietly and pointing at the book. Maybe Chris was teaching him. Thomas was a naturally gifted Sorcerer but the technical and theoretical parts weren't his forte, as their father pointed out so often.
"Yuma," Michael said, getting up from the settee. He was going to sit around in such a tense atmosphere. And he wanted to be able to watching Yuma if he wanted to without fearing his father noticing. "I think I'm ready to retire for the night."
"Yes, Lord Michael," Yuma said, turning to follow him.
"Yuma," Byron said softly. They both paused and glanced back. It worried him when their father spoke so softly. It was when he scared Michael most. He knew his father could be a good, loving man but there was something inside him that terrified him sometimes. "Akari can deal with Michael tonight." He held out his glass and Yuma nodded quickly, picking up the decanter and pouring out some more wine for his father. "Good boy."
"Father-"
"Aren't you going to bed, Michael?"
Michael sighed, finishing off his wine before nodding. Akari followed silently up to his room and helped him undress and put on his bedclothes. The entire thing was done in a heavy silence. He'd grown up with Akari. She was their governess. She ran the house and was considered one hundred per cent trustworthy. Michael even suspected Akari could be positioned to marry one of them. He wasn't sure how that would go, but he knew he wasn't keen on the idea. She was a wonderful governess but she wasn't cut out to be the wife of a noble.
"Lord Michael?" Akari said quietly, pouring out a cup of milky tea for him. "Can I speak openly with you for a moment?"
"Of course, Akari," Michael said. He sat on the bed and sipped his tea. "What's on your mind?"
"What are you intentions for my brother?"
Michael frowned slightly. "Intentions?"
"We all see how you look at him, Lord Michael," she replied quietly. "And when he thinks no one's looking he looks at you too. I want to know what's going to happen to him."
"Nothing, Akari," he said quietly, glaring at his drink. "No matter how close Yuma and I are, there will never be anything physical between us. We will remain as we are."
She nodded slightly. "That's terribly sad."
"Perhaps. But it's how things have to be. Goodnight, Akari."
"Goodnight," she murmured, heading to the door and blowing out all but one candle by his bedside. "Sleep well."
Michael almost laughed, sipping his tea slowly. He never slept well these days. Not without Yuma out at his side. There was something about Yuma's presence that kept him from being consumed by nightmares he could never remember. Yuma's presence comforted him even in the sleep. He wanted Yuma to be with him and to hold onto him and keep the nightmares from coming.
"Lord Michael?" His eyes opened to the darkness and found Yuma in the doorway. Michael knew his silhouette with the light of the hallway. "Umm…?"
"It- it's alright, Yuma," Michael said quietly, sitting up. "Please, come in." Yuma nodded and slipped in, shutting the door silently behind him. "Come and join me, Yuma, please."
"I just thought I should come and check on you," Yuma said softly. Michael listened to his movements in the darkness until final the bed dipped and Yuma's hands caught his. "I didn't mean to wake you."
"I'm glad you did," he replied. His eyes slowly got used to the darkness and his hand found Yuma's face, playing absently with his hair. "You help me sleep."
There was silence for a moment and Yuma's hand laid over his squeezing gently. "Lord Michael-"
"I've told you, Yuma. Just Michael." Yuma sighed and nodded. "Yuma, if we could be together, would you want to be?"
"…Yes…"
Michael nodded and took a moment to steady his nerves before leaning in a pressing their lips together cautiously. Everything was still and silent but Yuma didn't push him away. He didn't really react at all until Michael pulled back.
"Yuma?"
"Your father will kill me."
"I just wanted you to know how I feel, Yuma."
Yuma nodded slightly and Michael was rather stunned when Yuma leant over and kissed him in return. It was just as chaste and cautious and was over just as quickly but the meaning was obvious. At least, Michael hoped it was.
"So, now we know, huh?" Yuma whispered. "What we can't have?"
"I guess so." Michael turned to lie back on the bed and Yuma shifted to lie down next to him. "Please don't ever leave me, Yuma."
"I won't. I'm always going to be here for you."
Cloudy
Title: Cloudy
Rating: K
Pairings: little Mizaryo
Word Count: 900
Summary: Random Dragon Tamer ficlet because Galaxy-Eyes Cloud Dragon. Mizael hated storms. They meant his family could interrupt.
Warnings: none really, oc
Mizael sighed, listening to the wind and rain battering the side of the house. Nasch was resting silently on his chest as Mizael teased his hair around his fingers. The storm had moved in from over the mainland, unusual and powerful. And it also meant they were stuck inside.
"Ellie!" The door burst open and pair of teens sat up as Mizael's younger brother burst in dripping wet and forming a puddle at his feet. "Ellie, look what I found!"
"Stop calling me Ellie," Mizael groaned as Nasch chuckled.
"Ellie!" he cried, puffing out his cheeks.
"What, Alkel?"
"Look!"
Mizael rolled his eyes and folded his arms but his jaw went slack when Alkel held out his arms, presenting a little dragon. Nasch smiled and climbed off the bed, kneeling with Alkel and patting his hair gently.
"You finally found your dragon."
Alkel beamed up at him, nodding enthusiastically. "His name is Cloud. He's a Galaxy-Eyes. Just like yours, Ellie!"
"Mizael," he corrected. He was constantly correcting him on his name. It had been fine when he was a child, but he was nearly five now. Mizael was not a hard name for a child his age. "But this is good news. I'm proud of you."
He sat on the edge of the bed, watching with a soft smile as Nasch fussed over Cloud and Alkel. The little blonde was a blessing on the family. His parents had all but given up hope on having another child when ten years later Alkel came along. Given their bloodline, it was unsurprising that Alkel had bounded with a Galaxy-Eyes, although such a little thing couldn't be as powerful as his Tachyon. Alkel was holding Cloud around the chest, arms wrapped under his front legs. But the little dragon didn't seem to care about the unorthodox way of handling him.
"I'm gonna make you proud, Ellie!" Alkel chirped, hurrying off again.
"Mizael." The door slammed and Nasch chuckled, getting up from the floor. "He's going to be a great Tamer when he grows up."
"I heard that!" he calleded from the other side of the door.
Nasch laughed, taking Mizael's hand and pulling him back to the bed with him. "No one's ever going to be greater than you, Mizael."
Mizael laughed softly, leaning back on the bed and Nasch leant against the headboard next to him. As much as Mizael constantly teased him and bickered with him, Nasch was his best friend. Two years younger than him, Nasch was a talented Tamer, and trained at Mizael's side despite his younger age. Nasch smiled, his eyes softening a little as he leant a little closer.
"Mizael-"
"Ellie!" Alkel called, bouncing in once more. Nasch pulled back and Mizael sighed, glaring at Alkel, who now had a towel wrapped around his shoulders and was in his nightshirt, Cloud wrapped in a towel as well. His eyes widened slightly and he gasped loudly, far too dramatically. "Ellie?!"
"What do you want, Alkel?" he hissed.
"I'm so telling Mother," he replied, turning and hurrying out.
"Alkel?!" Mizael snapped, getting up quickly. "What are you telling her? There's nothing to tell. Alkel?"
"Let him go," Nasch muttered, coming up behind him. "What's he going to say? It's not as if we actually did anything."
"Of course we didn't," he grumbled folding his arms. "Why would we?"
"Silly, isn't it?" he said, pulling Mizael around to face him. "As if I'd ever be interested in you."
Mizael glared down at him. He wasn't doing this. He wasn't going to fall into this mess. But when Nasch was right in front of him, smiling softly, his voice a soft and teasing, his resolve began to waver. They had grown up together. He was considered an elite fighter for his age, bonded with a Galaxy-Eyes, so it was natural that he'd end up mixing with the prominent families of the village. He was Mizael's best friend and yet… when Nasch leant in once more he didn't stop him. In fact he leant in slowly until their foreheads touched and their noses brushed.
"But you are rather handsome," Nasch whispered.
"That goes without saying," Mizael replied.
"And I doubt anyone but a Galaxy-Eyes master would ever be good enough for me."
"Of course not. But duty-"
"Can wait until we're older, Mizael."
He did make a good argument. They were young. They were children still. They could. Nasch tilted his head slightly, leaning up and Mizael gave in. What use was there in fighting?
"Mizael, Nasch," his mother called. "Dinner's ready."
Mizael pulled away, glaring over at his bedroom window as Nasch gave a heavy sigh. How silly. How could he ever consider anything more with Nasch? It wasn't proper. He turned on his heel, stalking away, knowing Nasch was following.
Alkel was already at the table and, to Mizael's annoyance, Cloud was next to him in Mizael's seat. Tachyon had never been allowed to sit at the table, even when he was small enough. He tried to take Cloud from his seat but the little dragon puffed himself out and hissed as Alkel giggled and Nasch chuckled. Eventually, he gave up, pulling the chair away and replacing it with one of his sisters' from the other side of the table. They didn't live at home anymore so they wouldn't miss it. And if they did, they could deal with Cloud.
Nightmarish
Title: Nightmarish
Rating: T
Pairings: MizaRyo, galaxymastershipping
Word Count: 1382
Summary: Mizael is haunted by the memory of his beloved Prince. The new Prince isn't helping.
Warnings: blood, violence, sexual situations (nonexplicit)
Mizael sighed softly, closing his eyes and letting the soft breeze blow through his hair. The sky above them was perfectly blue and the ocean was perfectly smooth. Everything was perfect.
Especially when the young Prince rather his arm around Mizael's chest, pulling his hair away and kissing his neck softly. It was silly. A young teenage romance, that was what everyone said. After all, the Prince had to marry a woman and produce an heir. But everyone over looked their young foolish affair because they were kids in love and it wouldn't last. But it would. Mizael would never love anyone but his Prince. He was sure they were meant to be together, and he knew his Prince felt the same. They should have been allowed to mate when they came of age.
He turned slowly, gazing up into the red and blue eyes of his Prince- the two tones eyes that marked him out as rightful heir to the throne- and leaning up to press their lips together, his hand tangling into his deep, thick hair. The delicate crown that twisted over his forehead made it awkward to run his hands through his hair but Mizael didn't care.
"Mizael." His soft voice sent shivers down his spine as they fell to the soft grass in each other's arms, no doubt staining the pale clothes beneath their darker leather defences. "Mizael."
Hidden in their private little cove, the pair of young Dragon Tamers shed their clothes, throwing aside custom and tradition and figuring out how their bodies fitted together and how to make love. It had been hesitant and awkward but they were so in love it hadn't mattered. They had each other, so why need did they have for approval?
And as evening fell, the two young Tamers were lying together, with only their shirts for modesty. Mizael leant over, kissing his Prince softly. If only they could be together. If only he wasn't Prince. His Prince smiled back twisting Mizael's hair around his fingers.
"I love you, Mizael."
"Mizael!" He sat up quickly as a solider came running over. "Your mother! She's been shot! She won't last long!"
Mizael staggered up, pulling on his clothes as he did, struggling to lace up his boots with his trembling hands. He ran through the fur forest after the scout, struggling with his over garments. There were footsteps behind him and Mizael knew the Prince was following on his heels. How could she have been shot? The only inhabitants of their island were other Dragon Tamers. That meant she'd been shot by one of their own.
As they approached the village, smoke and the yells of the dying and wounded filled the air. The Prince stood at his side, staring at their village. They were under attack. Dragon roars and screeches echoed as their people fought back against the invaders. There had been rumours of people looked destroy their people but they'd been promised by their allies that it was nothing to be afraid of. The Prince had been at the meetings, he'd assured Mizael they had allies who were going to help them and protect them and were looking out for them. Where were their allies now?
Striding through the crowds of the dead and dying was a tall, bulky man, blood flowing down his face from a wound over his eye and his sword stained with the blood of their people. The Princess was being dragged from her home, by several men, her dress ripped and splattered with blood, her own leather armour hanging loosely over her torso. She'd had no time to arm herself or strap on her protection. They'd been taken totally by surprise.
"Find the Prince!" the man yelled. "Bring him to me! Kill everyone else who resists!"
"You have to run, your highness," the scout hissed, pulling a knife from his belt and handing it to him. Both young boys were unarmed. There hadn't been any need for any weapons. "There is a hideaway up in the mountains to the east. Go there. There are horses at old man Samson's. Go quickly, tell him what's going on and stay hidden until our allies arrive."
"My sister- my family-"
"We have to go," Mizael said softly. "We have to get out of here. You have to survive. If he wanted her dead he'd have killed her by now, we have to get out of here and we can save your family later."
"Mizael-"
They were cut off by an arrow burying itself in the neck of the scout. They'd been spotted. Mizael hissed and grabbed the dead scout's bow and quiver of arrows, turning and pulling his Prince away, ignoring his protests. He had to protect him.
"Mizael, we can't-"
"Your duty is to your people," Mizael snapped. "Not to your family no matter what you might think or how much it hurts!"
The Prince didn't argue any further and simply grasped his hand, letting Mizael pull him away back into the forests, into the darkness night he'd ever seen.
~♥~
"Mizael. Mizael." His eyes snapped open and Mizael jerked up, his dagger pressed to the throat of the man above him before his tired eyes focus on the red and blue eyes of the Prince. "Mizael? You were having a nightmare."
He tore his gaze from his eyes and nodded, pulling his blade away. "I'm sorry if I disturbed you."
"I was keeping watch. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, your highness. Nothing for you to worry about."
"You don't have to call me that. Kaito is fine. After all, I'm no Prince anymore."
Mizael sighed, gazing silently at Kaito. The Prince was older than him, but certainly less mature. But what was he to expect? He hadn't lived the life Mizael had. Kaito sighed and glanced over at him. That one red eye was just a trick of the light and his tired mind. Both Kaito's were a dull grey.
"Are you ok?"
"I'll be better once we get further away from the city," Mizael replied, glaring at the fire. "Less chance of being caught."
"Caught?" Kaito whispered. "Will they really kill us if they catch us?"
"I don't know," he laughed bitterly. "Maybe this time your kingdom will do us more good than the last time."
Kaito frowned. Mizael didn't care that Kaito had no control over what had happened. He didn't care that he was just a teen himself. His kingdom had been their allies and they had let Mizael's people be slaughtered. The first thing Mizael had done when he'd been given Kaito to look after was the force him out of his silk robes with their fine gold stitching and patterning and fitted, tailored designs that were meant only for show, and found him clothes more fitting for a lowly Dragon Tamer. He'd come into his powers, Mizael didn't care that he was older or high ranking or royalty, he was a Dragon Tamer now and he would act like one. Kaito had objected loudly but a sharp slap and a harsh dressing down had quickly put his arguments to rest.
He was nothing like Mizael's Prince.
"Mizael…" His hands brushed Mizael's cheeks and he jerked back, glaring down at him. He raised his hands to his cheeks only to realise they were damp. "It must have been a terrible dream."
"Mind your own damn business," Mizael hissed. Kaito folded his hands in his lap and glared at the fire. "Get some rest, I'll take over the watch."
"I'm not tired. I'll stay up with you."
Mizael scowled and got up from the ground. "If we're both awake there's no point sitting around. Let's move."
He picked up his bag from the ground, looping his pendant around his neck and fixing the golden tooth decoration into his hair. Kaito frowned and Mizael glanced at him.
"What?"
"Where did you get those? I've never seen you without them."
Mizael scowled, lacing up his leather armour. "The tooth was given to me by my Prince when I passed the tease of claiming my dragon. And the pendant was his gift to me for my thirteenth birthday."
"You must have been very special to him." He offered Mizael a wiry smile. "I can understand why."