The afternoon was lazy, sunlight leaking in through the wide windows and painting the living room floor in golden shapes. Kayla was curled up in the corner of the couch with a bowl of mixed nuts on her lap. She cracked a pistachio with casual precision, popped it in her mouth, then absentmindedly grabbed a walnut to work on next. Her pencil and sketchpad rested nearby, half-forgotten.
Across from her, Simon sprawled in his usual dramatic way — his long legs dangling over the edge of the couch, tail lazily flicking against the rug, one arm draped over the backrest as if it was his personal throne. His phone was in his hand, scrolling through notifications with the faintest curl of irritation on his lips.
Kayla popped another almond in her mouth, then glanced at him. “You know,” she said around her chewing, “I’ve never seen you eat these.”
She held up the bowl and rattled it lightly, the sound of nuts clinking against glass. “These. Nuts, berries, grapes — little snack stuff. You never touch them. Not once.”
For a beat, Simon looked like he might come up with some grand, pretentious answer. Something like I’m above such peasant food or my refined palate only craves feasts fit for a king. His ego twitched in his grin. But instead, he groaned, dragging a hand down his face like she’d just called him out in front of millions.
“It’s not that I don’t like them,” he muttered finally. “It’s just…” His claws flexed against the cushion, sharp tips catching on the fabric. “…They’re too damn small.”
Kayla blinked, confused, then let out a laugh. “Too small?”
Simon sat up straighter now, defensive but leaning into it. “Look at these things, Kayla!” He jabbed a claw toward her bowl. “They’re pathetic. Tiny little rocks. I need, like—” he held his massive hands apart, fingers stretching — “a whole mountain of them before I even taste anything. Otherwise, I look like an idiot trying to pick up a pea with construction equipment.”
Kayla bit her lip to hold back her giggle as he pantomimed clumsy grabbing motions with his claws. “So, what, you’re saying almonds are beneath you?”
“I’m saying,” Simon growled, voice dropping into that pompous register he used on stream, “if the universe wanted me to eat almonds, it would’ve made them the size of apples. Or, I don’t know, engineered a pistachio the size of a steak. Then we’d be talking.”
Kayla laughed outright this time, tossing a peanut at his chest. It bounced off and fell into his lap. “Or maybe the universe just didn’t design snacks for ten-foot dragon boys.”
"It's twelve, thank you very much." He looked down at the lone peanut like it had personally insulted him. Slowly, he picked it up between two claws, exaggerating the effort. His tongue poked the inside of his cheek, focused as if this was the most delicate operation of his life.
Simon scowled, then finally got it close enough to his mouth. He snapped it up, chewing with exaggerated gusto, then leaned back smugly. “See? Nailed it. Graceful as hell.”
Kayla raised an eyebrow. “Congrats. You ate… one peanut.”
“That’s all I needed,” Simon shot back, wiping his claws like he’d just slain a beast. “Proof of dominance. I win.”
Kayla laughed again, shaking her head. She popped a cashew into her mouth and nudged the bowl toward him. “You know, I could just make you a pile. Like a dragon hoard. A mountain of almonds. Then maybe it would be worth it for you.”
Simon’s grin sharpened, his pride instantly fed. “Now you’re talking my language. A proper feast. Bowls overflowing, like in those medieval paintings.” He leaned in closer, eyes glittering. “But only if you feed me. Otherwise, I’m not touching that pathetic little squirrel food.”
Kayla rolled her eyes, but her smile softened. She plucked another peanut, carefully balanced it on his lower lip like she was feeding a zoo animal, and waited.
Simon smirked, then snapped it up again with a quick flash of his teeth, sitting back with mock elegance. “Mmm. Delicious. Truly, you’ve outdone yourself, sweetheart.”
Kayla shook her head, laughing under her breath. “You’re impossible.”
“And yet,” Simon stretched back out across the couch, folding his arms behind his head with smug satisfaction, “you love me.”
Kayla just kept eating her nuts, refusing to give him the satisfaction of an answer. But her smile gave her away, and Simon, as always, caught it.
