A derisive laugh left Arthur, the force of it so strong it forced his head back. “A lie to keep the damned succubus from learning the truth!” he said, voice high and growing in volume with every passing word. “Matthew does not care if I use magic to help someone heal or not, because he knows I cannot use healing spells on another unless I feel a connection to them!” Arthur ended with a scream, his teeth barred and breathing harsh in his throat.
Alfred flinched at the amount of anger in Arthur’s face, his wings flaring out slowly in hopes of seeming more intimidating. “Arthur,” he whispered, a clawed hand coming out to rest on one of the tense shoulders before him.
Only for Arthur to slap it away with a hiss. “Oh please! You’re probably ecstatic! I just admitted feeling something for you, your mind’s probably already thinking of ways to coerce me into being your ma-“
“I would never do that to you!” Alfred yelled out, voice surprisingly gentle despite his volume. Seeing Arthur finch away from him he shifted his hold of Arthur’s hand, gripping firmly enough where he’d have some resistance but Alfred would ultimately let him go. “Arthur, you have to believe that I would never do that to you. Ever,” he said with a shake of his head, eyes imploring Arthur to at least try to believe him.
Arthur’s wide eyes stared into Alfred’s before he looked away, jaw tight and gaze hooded. “Please, just-just leave.”
Blue eyes still misted over, Alfred let go of Arthur, lower lip trembling as he glanced over to the floor before back to Arthur. “Would that….Would that make you happy? Me leaving?”
“I don’t know!” Arthur yelled, hands waving desperately despite his arms staying close to his chest. “I don’t even know why you’re even interested! Why do you care so much when you hardly know anything about who I really am!? What in blazes even caught your eye to begin with!?” he continued, voice becoming more pained as he ranted on. “I blend in to my surroundings. My only ‘friend’ not only lives in water, he only talks to me out of misplaced guilt! The only thing-The only reason you could possibly have found me is if I’d used a spell to call you! And since there’s only one spell that could possibly do so and I doubt-” Arthur cut himself off, eyes growing wide as something in his mind, something nearly impossible, clocked into place.
“Arthur?” Alfred asked, soft concern coloring his words as he leaned closer while letting him go. “What…What spell would have-would have called me?”
Arthur turned towards sound of wings flapping, a soft smile gracing his face at the image of Alfred in the caves entrance touching down. Turning back to his book, he marked the page he was on before setting it to the side, just in time for a strong pair of arms to wrap around him and lips to ghost over the back of his neck. A shiver ran through the naga at the touch, his head tilting back to give Alfred a proper kiss. When they separated, the dragonling set his head on Arthur’s shoulder, one of his hands reaching down into Arthur’s coils to gently touch one of the eggs lying there.
Arthur awoke with a jolt, his breath leaving him in a gasp. After frantically looking around his home and seeing nothing out of place, he let out a trembling sigh and forced his body to relax, a dull whimper forcing its way out his throat. That dream…felt much too real for Arthur to be comfortable with, was it some kind of vision? Swallowing hard, he looked to Alfred’s face to see the drake still sleeping, face expressionless, yet somehow calm. A sudden surge in his chest had him leaning forwards, body and coils shifting until his mouth was poised over his charges pulse. He parted his lips, breath washing over the skin as he leaned closer…only to pause as his mind fully understood what he was trying to do.
Shame caused his cheeks to burn, the usually pale skin a surprisingly bright flush as he buried his face in his hands. What was wrong with him?
Alfred began to stir awake several hours later, his blue eyes hazed over from sleep as he shifted to try and alleviate the pain in his back. As he adjusted, he felt a hand come to rest on his forehead. He hummed at the cool fingers and leaned into the touch, practically nuzzling the appendage.
“Alfred, do you think you can sit up?” he heard, his mind vaguely recognizing it as Arthur’s voice. He released a short grunt before slitting an eye open, Arthur’s worried expression catching him off guard enough to help clear his mind and fully wake it despite his protesting body. Giving a short nod, he carefully sat up, resisting the urge to stretch his wings out as he knew it would only cause him a spike of pain. “What’s wrong?” he asked, voice surprisingly dry and rough. Alfred gave a cough to try and clear it when he noticed Arthur’s tail loosely coiled around him. “Arthur?”
Arthur ignored Alfred’s question, instead choosing to work on unwrapping his bandages. “I need to check your wounds progress,” he said, the lie heavy on his tongue but otherwise sounding normal. He took Alfred’s silence as understanding agreement, continuing until his back was free and bare. It revealed an expanse of ugly blue-purples fading into sickly yellow-greens, most of which were around his shoulder blades and wing joints. Arthur swallowed thickly, his throat unnaturally dry as he slowly, slowly, slowly, placed a hand in between Alfred’s shoulder blades and whispered a quick incantation.
Violet lines swept across Alfred’s back as he arched, a choked noise leaving him at the sudden rush of warmth that felt both foreign and familiar. Alfred tried to call out Arthur’s name, his voice only letting loose another choked sound before the sensation left him and he slumped forwards, his hands clumsily coming out to catch his forward fall. “Wh-What was that?” he questioned, lips trembling as he looked over his shoulder past his drooping wings to Arthur’s face.
Only Arthur wasn’t looking at him, his gaze trained elsewhere with a lost look in his eyes. “Your wings should be healed now…you can leave whenever you like,” he said after a moment, gaze still lost as he curled in on himself.
Alfred’s eyes watered slightly at being told he could leave, but the suddenness of his healed wings and Arthur’s reaction to it stayed his tears. “Arthur?” he asked, voice hushed as his wings twitched inwards. The tingle of magic still running through him, Alfred carefully turned and placed a hand atop one of Arthur’s. When the naga looked at it, he swallowed and opened his mouth to speak.
“You have no reason to stay here…so just-” he took a deep breath and turned his head away, “just leave already.”
Although Arthur’s words had been hushed, they echoed in Alfred’s mind like a cannon blast. So much so that his blue eyes were wide and misted over to the point he couldn’t see other than a blurry outline of Arthur. Then a fuzzy memory of when he’d been under his toxins influence came forward and his brows furrowed. “But…I thought Matthew made you promise not to heal me with your magic?”
Eyes wide at the unexpected apology, Arthur pushes at Alfred’s shoulder, ignoring the hiss of pain it causes as he studies his patient’s face. “Why are you apologizing? What could you have possibly done wro-”
“I scared you,” Alfred said, cutting Arthur off and continuing. “I jumped to a conclusion that could never be and lashed out when I learned it was false, I should know better but…I still hope-” realizing what he was about to say, Alfred cut himself short and stepped back, hands pushing him away from the counter as he stared at Arthur with scared eyes. “Arthur-”
“Shut up.”
Both men flinched at the harsh order, Alfred in obedience and Arthur in regret as another silence settling between them. Alfred kept his gaze trained on the ground, not daring to look up while Arthur watched Alfred with a hint of regret, eventually it was too much for the Naga and he sighed.
“I’m the one who should be apologizing. I’m the entire reason you’re hurt to begin with…both physically and emotionally. I…hope you can forgive me,” Arthur said, voice soft as he looked away from Alfred and moved to his shelves. Reaching up to the top, he pulled down a chipped seashell, holding it in his palm for a moment before turning to find Alfred staring at him with furrowed brows. Seeing the Drake about to speak, he held up his hand in a silent plea for him to remain quiet. “Please, I….There’s a lot I need to tell you if you wish to waste your time pursuing me and-I….I should have tried to explain beforehand,” he said, clenching the shell tight and holding it to his chest.
Both men were silent for moment, Alfred in respect to Arthur’s request, and Arthur in an effort to build up his courage. Eventually Alfred stepped closer to Arthur, eyes shining with concern more than anything else. “Arthur…?” he asked, voice surprisingly soft in the naga’s ears as his gaze flickered from Alfred’s eyes and away.
A tense moment of silence and Arthur cracked. “You aren’t the first to try and mate me, but you’re better in that you actually gave me a choice and accepted it.”
Alfred’s head tilted to the side, not fully understanding the words until he did and his shoulders tensed fast enough to make him hiss. At Arthur’s frantic look up, he stormed over and pulled the slimmer blond into his arms, squeezing tight enough to make Arthur’s back pop. Picking up on Arthur’s own tense form, he relaxed his hold and apologized.
“Sorry, and…” choosing his words carefully, he continued. “I wish you hadn’t had to go through that,” Still holding the naga gently, he closed his eyes and simply offered a comforting shoulder for Arthur to cry on if he needed it.
Arthur hated how glad he was of the embrace, squeezing his eyes shut in hopes it would hold back his tears. “Stop-” he began to protest, pushing weakly at Alfred’s shoulders. “Stop being so kind. It’s-How am i supposed to ignore you if you keep,-” a sob wrenching itself from his throat cut him off and he curled inwards, unheeding now of the arms around him.
Picking up on Arthur’s distress, Alfred shushed him softly and lowered them both down to the floor, sitting cross-legged to form a makeshift perch for the other blond to rest in. “Arthur. Hey, it’s okay. You’re safe now. No one’s going to hurt you,” he said, voice gentle as he did his best to comfort Arthur through his tears.
“Shut-Shut up.” Arthur protested quietly, no real bite to his words as he buried his face into Alfred’s shoulder. “Just shut up,”
Biting down on his lip, Alfred hesitantly reached a hand up to Arthur’s head, pausing for a moment before carding his fingers through the Naga’s hair and humming a soft lullaby his mother sang to him when he’d had nightmares. After a verse, he pressed a soft, feather-light kiss to Arthur’s temple and began to rub the part of Arthur’s back that he could reach, watching in case either motion upset him, but aside from a shuddering breath and a tilt of his head, Arthur didn’t react. Taking this as a sign of good faith, Alfred continued to hum and rub the slighter blond’s back.
They stayed like that for quite some time, long enough that Arthur drifted into a half-awake state and his coils shifted and rearranged themselves around the two so that Alfred had a firm but yielding backrest to lean on as he began to drift off as well. Eventually both men were asleep, one from emotional exhaustion, the other from wounds still trying to heal.
If only they could hold onto this peace after they woke up.
What happens when a Dragon and Naga cross paths? Depends on who the Dragon and Naga happen to be…
Something will be changing soon, but is it for better or worse?
Arthur sat in front of Matthew, his long tail coiled around himself and his shoulders hunched in a rare show of fear as he watched the Nymph weave delicate flowers together in a crown. After several tense moments of silence, he sunk lower into the protective barrier of his scales and let out a low sounding hiss, his discomfort beginning to show.
Smiling softly, Matthew set his work aside and leaned forwards, chin cradled on interlocking fingers as he let a plain white rose bloom by Arthur’s head. “I’m not sure what you want me to tell you Arthur. That it’s fine to hallucinate about your patient? That you aren’t getting attached to the person who tried to propose to you and become your mate that you’re now stuck with because he’s living with you in your home while he heals? You know better then to expect lies from me,” he said, violet eyes showing his minor disappointment in his adopted son, despite the Naga looking older than him.
Scowling at the much older male from over the top of his coils, Arthur let his fangs show before turning his head away, sulking as he thought over the other’s words. “I just don’t understand why my mind’s coming up with such things now. It’s not like anything has changed from when he first arrived and yet...not even a week has gone by and somehow the damned Drake has-”
Matthew held a hand up, stopping Arthur’s ramblings in its tracks as green eyes blinked in confusion at Matthew’s shaking shoulders. “Really? Nothing has changed? Did you really think I wouldn’t pick up on the heat-like tendencies he was showing when you tried to take him outside?” he asked, mirth in his words as he watched Arthur hide even firther admist his coils.
“That was-He’d managed to poison himself with his toxin! What was I supposed to do!?” he shouted, his words only partially muffled by the scales around his head and torso.
This made Matthew pause and study Arthur more carefully now. “Is he cured of it?” he asked after several long moments of heavy silence. A jerky nod from Arthur was his answer and the Nymph felt one of his eyebrows rise. “What was the toxin and cure for it?” he questioned when it became apparent that Arthur would rather forget the events involved.
Shifting nervously, the blond Naga mangaed to peek over his coils and tightened them around himself comfotingly, his arms held in front of his chest. “I’d rather not s-”
“Arthur.” Matthew cut in, lips tilted in a frown. “What were they?”
Flinching at the now cold tone of voice Matthew used, Arthur hid behind his coils once more and bit his cheek, tongue pressing to the bitten flesh. Releasing it, he sighed and forced himself to sit up properly. “Fine. His toxin induces a heat-like state and the cure is a” here he paused, expression twisting before he slumped forwards onto the table and tangled his fingers into his hair. “….Passionate kiss.”
Matthew stayed still where he sat before sighing, standing and moving to sit by Arthur, his arm going around his partially exposed shoulders and his fingers squeezing comfortingly. “You’re still not back to yourself after them, are you?” he asked softly, voice a gentle whisper of wind in trees to lessen the words blow.
Arthur still flinched but at least it wasn’t as violent as last time Matthew had needed to ask. Gaze shifting to look up from the corner of his eyes, Arthur shook his head, not bothering to hide how miserable the memories made him. Soon pale green fingers were combing through his hair, reminding him that it was short and not the terrible long that had helped trap him in something he hated. That he wasn’t with them and he had someone who cared and would help him heal in his own time, despite his wounds not be visible.
“I think you should tell Alfred before he’s fully healed,” Matthew said, voice still gentle but the words cutting into Arthur like knives.
Frozen, he kept his gaze locked on the coils in front of him, barely noting the sigh that left Matthew’s lips as he withdrew his hands, picking the flowers from before back up and continuing from where he left off. Both were silent until Arthur felt a once familiar weight settle on his head, glancing up in time to see Matthew’s smile as he poked his adopted son’s cheek.
“Next time you visit I want it to be so I can check on Alfred myself. Make sure he’s still okay when you get back and don’t use anymore valerian, alright?” Matthew’s voice was a familiar balm that Arthur had taken many times before, his body relaxing around himself as he smiled thankfully and nodded, uncoiling himself as he stretched his upper spine, bones popping into place as Matthew stepped back and moved to a wall of vines. “Take care of yourself Arthur,”
When Arthur made it to his home, he didn’t expect to find Alfred curled up against the wall, eyes closed in a fitful sleep. “Alfred?” he asked, voice soft as he crept forward, not wanting to startle the drake. A slight shift of his head was all the reply Arthur got, the Naga creeping forwards as worry began to bloom in his chest. “Please tell me you didn’t get sicker while I was out,” he whispered, a hand reaching out to feel Alfred’s forehead in fear of a fever.
As soon as his fingers came in contact with Alfred’s forehead, the blond’s lashes fluttered open and Alfred stared up at Arthur in muted confusion before whatever tendrils of his sleep left him and it turned to warm affection that he was smart enough to hold back. “You’re back,” Alfred said instead, eyes closing as a gentle smile took over his face.
Breath catching in his throat at the new sight, Arthur jerked his fingers away and straightened, hand moving to re-settled the flower crown still perched on his head. “Yes. Well, I had to come back sometime didn’t I?” he said, the question rhetorical as he moved away and began to take stock of his home, wondering what the Drake had done while he was away.
Gaze following the Naga, Alfred sat up straight and tested his muscles, wincing slightly at the pain from his wings but other than that and a stiff soreness he felt fine. “I hope you don’t mind but I ate a rabbit while you were gone,” he called out, eyes drifting down to the floor so he wouldn’t have to see any anger that Arthur might hold at the words.
Eyes flicking to Alfred and back, Arthur made a small hum as he checked his cupboards, making note to try and catch more rabbit later in case it was something the Drake favored. “That’s fine I suppose,” he said, looking back to Alfred who now had a curious expression on his face. “What?”
Instead of answering, Alfred stood and carefully made his way to the Naga, his legs still tingling after being still for so long that day. “That flower crown…” he whispered, stopping in front of Arthur and almost reaching for it but stopping himself. “Did you make it?” he asked, eyes trailing from the flowers down to Arthur’s green eyes and holding his gaze.
Feeling a flush of heat build up in his cheeks, Arthur looked away and pushed Alfred’s hand down, not saying anything for a moment as his gaze flicked over to his nest before resting again on the floor. “Matthew made it. Why do you ask?”
Instead of answering, Alfred reached out and brushed his hand against Arthur’s, pulling it back at the flinch the Naga gave in response. Silence hung between them until Alfred swallowed and decided to break it. “It’s beautiful. I’m...sorry you have to take care of me,”
Confused at the apology, Arthur turned to look at Alfred fully, only to see the Drake’s gaze trained away and onto a wall. Confusion growing, Arthur tilted his head before unthinkingly reaching out and gently turning Alfred’s face towards him. “Is something wrong?” he asked, green eyes searching blue as his hand molded to fit the cheek it held more snugly.
Honest blue stared back and Alfred reached up to cradle to hand on his cheek in his palm, turning his face just enough to press a kiss to it with closed eyes. “No...not really,” he whispered, looking back to Arthur’s now flushed face.
“I...see,” the Naga forced out, his gaze drifting down to the floor between them. In truth he didn’t, but he didn't know what else to say. The feel of a clawed hand cradling his cheek now jolted Arthur out of his thoughts, his head snapping up to match gazes with the Drake and his breath catching at how much closer the other blond had gotten. Silence hung between the two in the span of a few centimeters, neither daring to break it for very different reasons.
Eventually, Arthur couldn’t take it anymore and carefully averted his gaze, pulling back slightly enough to break contact with the Drake as he pulled his hand free and held it against his chest, “I think….we should check your bandages and see how your wounds are healing up.” he said, mentally berating himself afterwards as that would involve seeing more of the taller blond’s skin then he really wished to.
Eyes turning sad, Alfred nodded before sitting at the low sitting table, still as Arthur came up and worked at his bandages, only giving short answers if the Naga asked anything important but otherwise silent. After a while, Alfred closed his eyes and simply listened and felt Arthur working, his eyes blinking open only after he’d felt Arthur shift away and move to his cupboards.
“I know you said you ate a rabbit while I was out, but would you like to have something else as well?” Arthur asked, pulling down a cured fox for himself before he glance over his shoulder.
Nodding, Alfred stood and moved so he was next to Arthur, ignoring the other’s faint blush and looking at the options available. “Do you have any deer?” he asked before picking up a rabbit and tearing off a strip of the cured meat.
Arthur, set his fox down with a shake of his head, putting the rest of his food stores up before taking his meal to the table and settling down at it. “No, but I could try to get some for you the next time I’m out,” he offers, eyes glancing up and away as Alfred sits opposite him.
The other blond shakes his head with pursed lips, the rabbit in his hands stretched taut before he brings it up and bites down. Through the food in his mouth, he speaks; “No, I don’t want to burden you.”
Deciphering the words despite the garbled food in the way, Arthur scoffs and turns so his back is to the Drake’s. “If it will heal you more quickly I would barter with the damned merfolk,” he bit out, not realizing how affectionate the words could be taken until after he’d spoken. He opens his mouth to explain just as he feels a clawed hand on his wrist, Alfred tugging on it to turn him so they faced each other once more.
“Don’t say that, Arthur. Not unless you mean affection by it,” Alfred hisses, eyes wide despite his bared teeth.
Yanking his wrist away, Arthur hisses with narrowed eyes, the flower crown on his head slipping dangerously close to falling off. “As if I would show affection towards you, you arrogant-”
He doesn’t get to finish as the flower crown is torn from his head and slammed onto the table, the foliage used finally shown to Arthur even as Alfred’s hand crushes it beneath his palm. Green eyes widened as they recognized the shape of rose leaves entwined with white heather, pine, and pink roses. “How else am I supposed to interpret those words when you wear these on your head!?” Alfred roars, anger and hurt obvious in his voice and eyes as his fingers clench, claws digging into the wood.
Silence hangs between them for a beat before Arthur looks away, an explanation stumbling from his lips as he refuses to look at his patient. “I didn’t know what plants Matthew had used. If I had I would have left it outside so you wouldn’t get confused. Believe me when I say I have no intention of leading you on,” he said, eyes refusing to look into Alfred’s blue as he fought to keep his own emotions in check. Damned Nymph! Why would he try to do such a thing!?
Alfred doesn’t say anything at first, his jaw clenched tight as he studies any sign of Arthur’s face for a lie. Eventually, he relaxes and pulls his hand back, picking up the rabbit and taking another, this time much smaller, bite from it. “Whatever,” he says, expression coldly neutral as he eats and does his best to ignore the Naga.
Arthur eventually glances from the corner of his eye to Alfred and then the now ruined flower crown, his hand reaching for it before hesitating right above it. Closing his eyes, he steels his nerves and picks it up, rising from the table so he can throw it out the door and be done with it and then get back to his own meal. The two men are quiet as Arthur settles back down and proceeds to swallow the fox whole in typical Naga fashion, Alfred still avoiding looking at the other as he eats and Arthur sitting there awkwardly once he finishes.
After Alfred pushes what little remains there are of his meal towards the center of the table, his eyes glance up in time to catch Arthur’s looking away, the two blond’s now more uncertain around each other then before.
“I think...perhaps you should go lie down for a bit, at least while I clean up some,” Arthur suggests, picking up the few remains of Alfred’s meal, mostly cured meat too tough to chew-and moving to throw it out as well, careful not to look at the flower crown that would no doubt be back to vibrantly whole and beautiful as when Matthew had first finished it. The Nymph’s touch could extend very far if he wanted it to. When he came back in, Alfred was seated by his nest, leaning against the wall and watching him with a detached expression.
Arthur avoids looking over as he works on ‘cleaning’ his home, wanting to avoid the Drake for as long as possible but knowing he’d eventually have to speak with the other blond.
It’s as he’s organizing his meat store for the third time that he hears shuffling behind him, his mind panicking as he looks over his shoulder to see Alfred stepping towards him with pursed lips. “Alfred?” he asks, turning to face the Drake in time for two arms to brace on the counter behind him and trap the Naga where he is.
Wide, cautious green looks into expressionless blue for many still, silent breaths. Neither moving until Alfred’s eyes close and he rests his forehead on Arthur’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
What happens when a Dragon and Naga cross paths? Depends on who the Dragon and Naga happen to be…
After an hour or so of careful reading Arthur leaned against the wall of his home, a heavy sigh leaving him as he squeezed his eyes shut to try and relieve the strain on them. Cracking his eyes open a slit, he noticed his lights, brought forth by magic, dimming, a silent marking of the passage of time outside reflected in their glow. Marking his place, he shut the book and reached for one, a soft smile teasing his lips as it danced around his fingertips. Shaking away a stray thought, he released it back up to his ceiling, his eyes falling shut as he leaned back against the wall once more. Perhaps he could let his eyes rest for a few moments before continuing his research.
After what felt like only a few seconds, Arthur's eyes fluttered open to land on the sight of Alfred curled up in his coils, asleep with his head resting on his stomach, the glow-lights back to full strength once again. Freezing at the unexpected sight, Arthur let his eyes shift to the side to see that his nest was still occupied by the drake. Eyes snapping back to his coils, he released a relived sigh when he saw them empty, the phantom image gone as reality settled back in his mind. Hopefully that was just a slight delusion from not enough rest or sunbathing and not...the other thing.
Shaking his head to dispel the thought, Arthur snatched up his fallen book and rose, dusting the cover and spine off before putting it back in place, his eyes flickering to Alfred and back again. Teeth clenching at an errant thought, the Naga forced himself away from the bookshelf, a low hiss leaving him despite his effort to hold it in. This wasn’t good. He needed to see Matthew, now.
Hours later, Alfred began to squirm awake, his body fully recovered from his toxin and wanting to return to it’s normal functions. Like eating. God Alfred hadn’t realized just how much he missed eating. Arms curling around his growling stomach, the Drake opened his eyes and immediately shot them towards Arthur’s cupboards, memory of cured rabbit meat causing him to lick his lips. Would Arthur mind if he ate in his nest…?
Thinking of the other blond caused Alfred to pause and wander where he was. Blinking back his hunger for a moment, he began to look around the relatively small home the Naga had before a rush of cold swept over him.
Arthur wasn’t there.
Eyes wide, Alfred scrambled out of the nest, a worried cry leaving him as he ran and tore the door open, gaze frantically snapping to and fro for some clue as to where the green-eyed Naga could have gone.
The only thing that greeted him on the other side of the door was dense forest and startled birdsong.
Breath caught in his throat, Alfred’s lips trembled at the thought that he had been left alone, the Naga tired of caring for him and leaving him to fend for himself. As soon as the thought came, Alfred shook it away. No. No, it was more likely that Arthur had simply decided to go foraging or hunting. Fresh meat was always better then cured after all...even if cured meats tended to taste smoky with wooden undertones.
Mind turning to the thought of food once again, Alfred turned away from the door and allowed the wood to close back into the hollowed the ground as his eyes landed on the cupboards once more. He was awfully hungry…
Soon the Drake had torn the tiny doors open and had snatched up a cured rabbit, his teeth sinking into it before he realized he should probably sit down so he didn’t eat the entirety of whatever storage Arthur had. Plopping down in front of the table, Alfred continued to eat, his mind half-focused on his task as he began to think of earlier that day.
He’d gotten a kiss from Arthur...something he thought completely impossible after the Naga’s refusal of him. Even if it was just to cure his toxin. Shaking his head clear, Alfred looked down to the rabbit in his hands only to find that somehow he’d finished it all and held only bones. Cheeks flushing in embarrassment, he disposed of them and sat back down at the table, unsure of what else to do since Arthur wasn’t there. Maybe it’d be best to wait..?
Alfred was tired of waiting. Arthur’s glow-lights were beginning to dim and the Naga still hadn’t returned! Forcing himself up from sitting, Alfred wobbled slightly as blood rushed into his legs, the feeling making the Drake grit his teeth as he shakily moved to the nest. Just where was he!? Feet slipping, Alfred stumbled and leaned against the wall for support, his shoulder drooping as he looked over at the still closed door.
He missed Arthur… A low whine left Alfred’s lips before he could stop himself and he dropped to his knees, a clawed hand coming up to curl over his chest. “Arthur,” he muttered, another whimper leaving him as his mind decided now was a good time to remind him of their kiss. Well...if it could really be called that. After all, he’d only gotten Arthur’s lips on his because he’d needed his toxin cured so his body could focus on healing his wings. Bringing his free hand up to his lips, he ran his fingers over them, remembering the feel of it as his eyelids lowered. I wonder what it would be like to kiss him...without a reason for it? He wondered, gaze drifting as he imagined it with his lips parted in want. He wanted that. A kiss from Arthur that wasn’t because he needed it. Hell, he wanted Arthur, and all of him, not just his lips for kissing. Snapping out of the daze his thoughts had put him in, Alfred shook his head and curled into himself as best he could without hurting his back and wing muscles.
His mind was starting to come up with some dangerous scenarios that would be better left unknown.
What happens when a Dragon and Naga cross paths? Depends on who the Dragon and Naga happen to be…
As quickly as the kiss began, it was ended with a hiss and answering whimper. "How dare you!" Arthur accused, his shoulders tense as he glared hard enough to cause Alfred to flinch away from him.
Still glaring harshly at the now shaking Dragonling before him, it took Arthur a few moments to calm down. When he did, he clenched his teeth shut and forced himself to rise in an effort to get away from the other male. "Stay," he ordered, making his way towards the bookcase and pulling down on of the older tomes. Sparing a short glance at Alfred, the Naga began leafing through the book, skimming some pages and passing others entirely.
After several long minuted of this, Alfred began to squirm and shift against the furs and fabrics surrounding him. "Arthur...?" he voiced, head tilted as his eyes silently begged the other to come closer to him.
"Not now. Hush,"
Shoulders slumping with Arthur's rejection, Alfred pouted down at the blanket between his fingers before an idea made itself known with a whisper. Glancing to make sure Arthur wasn't paying attention to him, Alfred lifted the fabric to his nose and silently inhaled, the scent greeting him enough to make his mouth water with want as a shudder passed through him. Opening his mouth, the Drake had to hold back a moan as he fell onto his side, the blanket still firmly held in front of his face. Holding it closely now, Alfred soon had the entirety of it wrapped around his upped torso as he continued to nuzzle it in need. If only it was Arthur around him instead of simply a blanket that smelled of him!
Whining at the unwelcome thought, Alfred squeezed his eyes shut and buried his face into the fabric, not noticing the sound of scales on dirt until it was too late to move and Arthur was looking down at him with a twisted expression. Wide blue eyes stared up at the Naga as he released a breath and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"The cure for your toxin is a kiss?" Arthur eventually asked, closing the book in his hands with a firm 'thump'.
Blinking in confusion as to why the question was asked, Alfred nodded before clarifying. "A passionate one. The kiss of a mother wouldn't work."
"Well good thing I'm not your mother then, am I?" Arthur bit out, scowling as he lowered himself into the nest and set the book off to the side. Glancing at the Drake and noticing the confused expression growing, Arthur huffed with a shake of his head. "Just...don't tell Matthew about this," he said before grabbing both sides of Alfred's head and pulling him forward until their lips met.
Frozen at the unexpected contact, it took Alfred a full minute to realize what was happening, at which point Arthur was beginning to pull away with a what looked to be a hurt expression. Quick to realize his mistake, Alfred surged forward and reconnected their lips with blue eyes squeezed shut.
Now it was Arthur's turn to jolt in surprise, but the Naga was quick to catch himself and return the contact. He was no stranger to passion without love after all...
It wasn't until a shiver ran through Alfred that he broke the kiss with a startled gasp, eyes flying open to stare at Arthur in confused awe as a clawed hand came up to cup to green-eyed blond's cheek. "You..."
Arthur cut him off with a sudden glare and turn of his head before the Dragonling could finish, pulling his hands from Alfred's face and pushing the one at his cheek away. "Don't," he said, eyes trained at the far wall as he fought to keep is face neutral and free of a blush. It wasn't until he felt his hand be taken in one of Alfred's that he looked over and lost control of his expression.
Alfred had his eyes closed and his head bowed, the hand held in his placed against his forehead while his free hand lay over his heart. "Arthur," he said, voice a low husk that caused an unexpected shiver to run through the Naga that had nothing to do with fear. Raising his gaze to meet Arthur's, Alfred let a smll smile cross his lips before he spoke again. "I know that you only did it to...cure me of my toxin but, I will treasure the memory of your lips on mine for the rest of my life. Even if I never see you after I am healed," he said, eyes closing in a smile to hide the tears threatening to spill over.
Instead of speaking, Arthur slid his hand out of Alfred's and forced himself up and away from his charge, face turned away to hide the flush he was sure was beginning to form on his cheeks if it wasn't already there. Opening his mouth to speak, it hung open for a moment before he clicked it shut and clenched his jaw. Fists forming at his sides, the green-eyed blond quickly turned fast enough to grab his book before he was up again and heading towards the shelf. "Just go to sleep Alfred," he said softly, just barely loud enough to the half-drake to hear.
Instead of saying something as he wished to, Alfred looked at Arthur's back longingly before pushing the blanket from earlier aside and pulling a pillow to his chest. Silently, he flopped onto his side and closed his eyes, waiting for sleep to take him after the exhaustion from finally being satisfied after days of arousal settled over him. Mouth parting just enough to whisper, "Good night, Arthur," before his body sagged against the fabrics and fur in unconsciousness.
Finished with putting the book up, Arthur looked over to the sleeping Drake, emotions warring for control of his face before he shook his head to try and clear it. Sighing softly, the Naga turned his attention to another book of his, pulling it into his arms and holding it tight against his chest. It seems there were still some things he needed to read up on if he was going to properly care for the other blond.
What happens when a Dragon and Naga cross paths? Depends on who the Dragon and Naga happen to be…
They didn't make it very far.
After Alfred had taken a few trembling steps into the grass he'd collapsed in on himself and began convulsing. Short, ragged gasps left him as Arthur swore and tried to hold him down to keep him from injuring himself further.
"B-Burns-!" the Drake cried, his voice cracking as his body arched sharply forwards.
Jaw clenched, Arthur wrapped his coils around the injured Kinling, squeezing just enough to render him immobile and prevent him from thrashing around. "Alfred!" he shouted, trying to get through the wheat blond's head so he could find out the root of the problem. "What the bloody hell is your toxin!?" left his lips before he could think better of it, his clawed hands forcing Alfred to stay down as tremors and convulsions took him. The only time he saw anything like this was when an idiotic Kinling had gone into heat out in the open.
Just as quickly as the thought went through his head did the ability of Alfred's toxin click into place.
Shocked at the implications of this, Arthur hissed and pushed away from his charge, his entire body releasing the Drake who's body reacted violently in response. His claws sinking into the earth, Alfred let loose a cry more animal than not and began writhing against the Earth.
"Arthur! P-Please!" Alfred cried, his eyes blindly searching out the Naga who now refused to come near him. "It burns-!" he whined, his shoulders tensing as his wings tried to break free of their bonds. "Arthur-!"
"Dammit!" Arthur shouted, quickly moving to pin Alfred's shoulders to the ground, the side of his face shoved into the dirt as a consequence. The two struggled for a few moments before Arthur, hissing in frustration, bared his fangs over Alfred's neck and coiled around a leg in warning. "Stop...squirming!" he huffed, not moving as the dominating gesture translated itself in the Drakes mind.
Who shuddered in response and let loose a low keen. Mind hazed over, his body slumped to the ground and lay against it, his chest thrumming with anticipation even as a voice in his head whispered that he wouldn't be getting relief. "Arthur..." Alfred muttered, his eyes drooping as a shudder passed through him.
Looking on in disgust, the Naga debated on whether or not he should pull away. Taking into account how violently his reaction had been before, he sighed in defeat and drew his head back, his tail squeezing Alfred's leg a little tighter. "We should get back inside," he said, voice low as he watched his charge for a reaction.
Alfred's eyes flickered open and he peered over his shoulder at Arthur before humming lowly and relaxing further against the earth he'd previously been pushed into. "Don't wanna move..." he muttered, eyes firmly shut as his hormone riddled mind decided it was in his best interest not to move.
Green eyes narrowed in a glare, Arthur hissed a low warning before he began loosening his coils around Alfred's leg. "Either you get up and get back inside...or I leave you out here," he threatened, his body shifting away from the Dragonling with disapproval written on his features.
That caused Alfred's eyes to shoot wide open and he yelped before scrambling up and turning to Arthur desperately. "No, no, no, no-Please, I'll be good! Don't leave me out here!" he begged, eyes wild and frantic as he fell over himself to try and grasp the slimmer male. "Please, please, please, please-"
"Enough! Stop groveling and get back inside," Arthur hissed, eyes a cold glare as he wretched his tail free from around Alfred's leg.
Whining at the loss of contact but nodding in understanding, Alfred did as he was told and shakily forced himself to his feet. Stumbling with his footing, he didn't notice the strange look Arthur sent his way as he clumsily made his way back into the makeshift house of the other.
Once both were in and the door firmly shut and locked, Alfred slumped onto his knees, breath ragged as Arthur slid past him to his nest. Eyes half lidded, the Dragon didn't notice Arthur moving things around until the Naga was back in front of him and calling his name softly. Looking up, the blue-eyed blond keened lowly at the sight of Arthur before he reached out a hesitant hand. "Arthur?"
Instead of answering, the green-eyed Kinling grabbed Alfred's hand and pulled him up, keeping a grip on him to keep his charge steady. Not really looking Alfred in the eye, he led the other towards his nest before helping him lie down in it. At the questioning noise Alfred sent him after he'd been settled in, he flashed a brief smile meant to comfort before moving away from him. "Go to sleep, I'll be here when you wake up," he offered in hopes that would appease the hormone drunken blond.
Nodding slowly, Alfred let his eyes droop some more before falling onto his front, his arms wrapping around a close by pillow and his nose burying itself into it. Humming softly in content, the Dragonkin was soon fast asleep and dead the everything around him.
Arthur watched Alfred for a little while before he released a long sigh through his nose. Gaze flicking to his door, he double checked that it was locked properly before biting the inside of his cheek and moving to do what was needed. "Gods above Matthew will never let me live this down..."
When Alfred woke next, it was to a cool scales wrapped around him and a gentle hand running through his hair. Shifting slightly, he pressed his cheek against the closest bit of scales, a content sigh passing his lips even as the hand in his hair stilled.
"Alfred...?"
Squeezing his eyes more firmly shut, the Dragonkin ignored the question in favor of snuggling closer to whatever he was against. Not realizing that it was shifting slightly away from him.
"Get up Alfred," Arthur said, pushing at his shoulder determinedly.
Whining now, Alfred moved his arms from around the pillow to hugging Arthur's tail, pouting against the scales there despite his eyes remaining closed. "But you feel nice," he mumbled, nose now brushing against the scales in front of it. "Really nice..." he mumbled in addition before slumping in contentedness. "Like a mate..." he whispered, not registering the way his words made Arthur freeze around him.
Staring down at his charge, Arthur debated on getting the hell away from him and possibly triggering another toxin-induced attack or attempting to explain to the other Kinling just what was wrong with his word choice. Sighing in resignation of his choice, he began combing his fingers through Alfred's hair again as his other moved to rest on the Dragonkin's upper arm.
"You and I both know something like that is impossible. Especially considering how we originally met." he reasoned, expression carefully blank as his charge finally looked up at him.
"Arthur?" Alfred asked, reaching a hand out to cup his cheek.
Jolting out of his thought just in time to avoid the gentle touch, Arthur looked warily down at Alfred's hurt expression before he sighed and leaned over him. "Is this all part of an elaborate plan to trick me into being your mate?" he asked, eyes tired as though the thought had been troubling him for a while.
Eyes widening in open hurt, Alfred's mouth opened and his eyes misted over before he turned his head away and buried it against the scales still in his arms. "Why would you say that?!" he cried, clinging to the Naga even as his mind screamed to get away from him. "I gave my word I would never offer again if you refused-"
"But you did not say anything about trying to convince me to offer myself first." Arthur cut in, gaze void of any true emotion even as his fingers began to tenderly move over Alfred's shoulders.
Confused now, the blue-eyed blond peeked up at Arthur before swallowing and moving so he was sitting on his knees. "You said you would never be mine..." he whispered, his gaze flicking to the Naga's lips and lingering there, his own tongue darting out to wet his lips.
"And he won't be if you kiss me," 'Arthur' said, his eyes closing before opening to reveal a saphire blue gaze as the body shifted from Naga to succubus.
Yelping at the change, Alfred jumped backwards and landed on his butt amidst the furs and cloths. "What-"
"Damn it Marianne! You said you would help get rid of his ailment!" Arthur shouted, snapping the book in his hands shut from his position by his shelves. Drawing the gaze of both Dragonkin and succubus.
Gaze hardened into a glare, Marianne flipped her flowing hair over her shoulder before she slipped past Alfred and stood. "I said I would get rid of it if it was in the boys best interest. His heart is set on you and his body will not be satisfied with anyone else. Not even me." she said, casting a short glance at the confused Kinling over her shoulder before directing a hard glare at Arthur. "You say he is here to have his wings healed. You and I both know you could speed up the healing process with a well placed spell right now if you wanted to."
"And you know that Matthew had me swear I would not use my magic on him!" Arthur shouted in reply, the tone of his voice heavy with anger.
"When has that stopped you before?" she scoffed, her body twisting in a seductive manner.
"Marianne!" Arthur warned, his gaze catching sight of Alfred's breath hitching before his gaze hardened into a glare. "Just get rid of the toxins in him."
Crossing her arms, she cocked her hip out to one side with a lifted eyebrow. "I think not. I know why you want the toxins out, and while I agree they must go, I think it must be you who gets rid of them. Have you even asked the poor boy what the typical cure is?"
"It's a passionate kiss," Alfred whispered, gaining the attention of the two arguing figures, his eyes downcast, as the reality of the situation fully registered in his mind. Arthur had attempted to clear his bloodstream by employing a succubus to wear his face...Somehow that made his heart hurt deeply. "Something I'll never have at this point," he added on meekly, his shoulders sagging as he curled in on himself, despite his aching joints protesting.
"Oh, you poor thing," Marianne said softly before glaring coldly at Arthur. "Fix your mess," she hissed at him before turning her nose up and leaving.
Silence hung heavy in the room before Alfred gathered the courage to look up at Arthur, flinching at the glare there. "I'm sor-"
"A kiss!? That's the cure for your toxin!? Why the bloody hell didn't you say anything!?" the Naga yelled, fists curling and uncurling as he fought not to strangle the Drake.
"Because you have to mean it!" Alfred yelled back, his eyes shutting as he braced his arms against the furs in front of him. "You have to mean it and actually feel something for me for it to work! It can't be a pity kiss!"
"Pity? You think I pity you? Don't make me laugh!"
"Then what do you feel for me!? Because as far as I know you either feel nothing or you hate me!" Alfred cried, tears beading and threatening to run down his face. "It hurts....It hurts to think that I ruined the one good possibility in my life before it even had a chance to start..." he whispered, voice breaking as he finally let the tears fall.
Arthur stared dumbfounded at Alfred before he hesitantly moved forward so he was within arms reach of the Drake. "I don't...hate you, I-"
"You don't care for me either though," Alfred accused, eyes hard gems even as his body began to flush over.
Eyes now trained away, Arthur thought over his next words carefully before sighing and moving his body so he was loosely coiled around the other. Taking one of Alfred's larger hands in his, he began to play with the fingers as he spoke. "I believe if you have approached me with the intent to get to know me first...you might have had a chance at gaining my friendship. I personally... don't think myself capable of caring for someone so...intimately,"
"Then how would being your friend of placated me?" Alfred asked, pulling his hand away and refusing to look at the Naga.
Arthur was silent as he watched Alfred for a few moments. "Then at least you would have had happy memories with me before I'd refused you," he answered, turning away himself and using his magic to bring the jar of Valerian springs to his hands. "Since we can't efficiently solve the issue of your toxins now...I suggest you take some more Valerian and sleep until I can find a suitable solu-" Arthur didn't get to finish his sentence as the jar was knocked out of his hands and fevered lips slid onto his own.
What happens when a Dragon and Naga cross paths? Depends on who the Dragon and Naga happen to be…
(Time to see what’s wrong with Alfred. Can Arthur find a proper cure? I sure hope so~)
Once he felt the Dragon's breathing even out, Arthur risked a glance down at his patient and frowned to himself. He knew dragon's were immune to most of their own poisons, but he was unsure of the possible effects they had on dragon Kinlings. Careful not to wake the other blond, he picked up one of the bandaged arms and slowly unwrapped it, flinching at the sight that greeted him after he'd done so.
It would seem whatever toxin Alfred held in his nails had been placated by his initial treatment, while the disinfectant he'd used last had activated it. Judging from the veins growing from the small crescent wounds, there was enough to leave Alfred immobile for at least a week had it been a paralyze-r. Thankfully it wasn't something that serious, but it would be awhile before the Kinling could be fully functioning again. Arthur knew that dragon Kinlings didn't hold nearly as dangerous toxins as their purebred cousins, the most dangerous being a sedative that would place full grown men into near comas, but that didn't mean he had full knowledge of what all they could possibly hold. It seemed to differ from one to the other.
Carefully re-wrapping Alfred's arm, Arthur studied the Dragonling for a few short moments, concerned on how he'd be able to help the other heal without another mishap like this happening again. Sighing through his nose, he pushed the thought aside and focused his attention on the fire and its contents, one hand resting on Alfred's shoulder so he'd be able to pick up on any changes more easily. "It seems you'll be more trouble than you're worth after all, damn Drake," he muttered, thinking over possible sleeping arrangements that could work for longer than a week.
When Alfred woke, it was to the feel of soft pillows and blankets under him and warm furs over him back, a large pillow nestled in his arms and preventing him from clawing himself in his sleep again. "Wha-"
"Finally awake? I was beginning to wonder if Valerian was poisonous to you or not," a lilted voice called out, snapping Alfred's attention to the green-scaled Naga who was currently caring for him. Arthur was looking through a book, his gaze not on Alfred but his tone clearly stating that he knew the other heard him.
Swallowing past the dryness in his throat, Alfred croaked out a short 'yes' and looked more closely at where he was lying down. "Um..Why am I-"
"You're in my nest because as of now it will be where you sleep until your wings are fully healed and recovered," Arthur cut in, glancing over at the larger blond before closing his book gently and setting it back in its place. "Do you...feel alright?" he asked after a tense moment had passed between the two, turning his body to pay close attention to the other's body language.
Shuffling awkwardly until he was kneeling among the soft fabrics and furs, Alfred shook his head shortly and began focusing on attempting to stand.
Rolling his eyes at the other's antics, Arthur made his way over to his charge and placed his hands at the backs of his shoulders, halting his movements. "Now before you go and do something stupid, I think it might be fair to warn you that if you still have any of your toxin in your bloodstream, it will reactivate and cause you to collapse as you did earlier, and I will be made to put you back to sleep. So please, stay lying down for the meantime until we're sure it's out-"
"If you need it out of my bloodstream so much then let me outside so I can burn it off," Alfred cut in, his gaze trained straight ahead of him despite his body desperately wishing to lean into the touch on his back and moan. He knew what kind of toxin he had, it was one of those things all dragons and Dragonlings instinctively knew. He also knew there were only two safe ways to get rid of it and there was no way he'd be able to do the first.
Silence was Arthur's answer for several long moments before he sighed and moved so he was face to face with the Drake. "And how will you do that?" he questioned, lifting an eyebrow with crossed arms as he awaited Alfred's reply.
Not even daring to look the Naga in the eye, Alfred bowed his head and clenched a fist tight. "If I breath enough fire out, it will burn away any traces left in my bloodstream," he explained. "I won't set anything on fire so you don't have to worry about that." Glancing up his breath caught in his throat and he had to force himself to look away again. "Please?”
Confused as to why the Dragonling was acting so strange, (was it a side effect?) Arthur mulled the idea over in his head before slowly nodding. "Alright...I guess I can allow that. Provided," he said, leaning over to better look at the larger blond's face, "you can promise not to run off and injure yourself further."
Swallowing thickly, Alfred nodded sharply and cast a quick glance over Arthur before looking away again. "I-I promise. You don't have to worry about me running off or-or anything." Word given, Alfred braced himself to try and stand again, only to be caught by surprise when the slighter male easily picked him up under his arms and pulled him until he was shakily standing on his feet. Eyes wide in shock at the display of strength, the Drake took a shaky breath and peeked up at his caretaker.
Arthur blinked down at him in reply, face a neutral mask as he kept his hands in place beneath Alfred's arms. Lifting an eyebrow at the other's silence, he pursed his lips before looking away with a small, barely there shrug. "Come on then, I don't intend on carrying you outside."
Nodding jerkily in response, Alfred began to carefully make his way outside, Arthur never far behind in case he fell again.
