Ally set the plates down on the table before going to lean against the counter, arms crossed over her chest as she watched Mack with the fondest look she was apparently capable of. Her gaze flickered to Dorian, an eyebrow quirking slightly as she watched his smile brighten.
Dorian didn't even notice Ally looking at him and if he did he wouldn't care. He leaned across the table to whisper a 'secret' to Mack which ended up just being a joke he used to tell his own siblings that always had them laughing.
Mack immediately burst into giggles, trying and failing to stifle them as she whispered a secret in response. Hers was that she hid candy in a shoe box, which she then put in a 'fake pillow' on her bed.
Dorian chuckled softly at that, shaking his head slightly. He'd known Mack for what? fifteen minutes and he already knew that if anything was to happen to her he'd kill the other person. Maybe that was a little extreme but he didn't care.
The sound of the front door opening drew Ally's attention, and she left the two alone in the kitchen to go greet Johnson. Even if Dorian didn't know it, it was a testament to her slight trust in him, leaving him alone with Mack. "You're a prince, right?" The redhead asked, hopping up into one of the chairs at the table.
Dorian nodded and hummed slightly, "Yes, I am," He replied, leaning forwards against the table, "I don't look very princely though, do I?" He smiled softly, shaking his head at the thought.
"Princes can look like anything." Mack said matter-of factly, the honesty obvious on her face. "You just look like a prince who won a battle."
Dorian's smile grew, "Maybe I did. Maybe I slayed a mighty dragon just to protect this town from being destroyed."
Mack's eyes lit up, and she leaned over the table, setting her fork down. "You did? Was it scary? What did the dragon look like? Is it dead for good?"
Dorian took a bite of his meal, swallowing before he replied, "It was really scary. The dragon was huge and red and black and breathed really hot fire. But I stabbed it right through the heart and got the treasure."
"Treasure? What was the treasure?" Mack asked, bouncing in her seat excitedly. It was obvious she had taken a liking to Dorian, and the dragon story was like a cherry on top.
"I donated it. To families that need it," Now that wasn't a complete lie as he'd done a similar thing not too long ago, "But I might…." He patted himself down gently then reached over to Mack, reaching behind her ear and pulling out a small gold coin that seemed to come out of no where, "There you are."
She gasped, her eyes widening in amazement. "How'd you do that? It came out of nowhere! That's the dragon's treasure?"
"Magic," Dorian replied, grinning, "And yes it is the dragon's treasure but it's yours now so go on, take it and keep it safe."
Mack accepted the coin happily, studying it with wide eyes. "I'll keep it the safest!" She looked up as Ally walked back in, a newspaper in hand, and waved. "Your prince killed a dragon!"
Ally raised an eyebrow, half at the term 'your prince', and half at Dorian himself as she leaned against the counter once more. "Is that so?"
Dorian chuckled lightly, ignoring the first part where Mack said 'your', "Yes, I did. That's where I got all this wounds from, battling a dragon." He looked over at Ally and offered a half smile.
"Dragons can be pretty nasty." Ally said, nodding. "I'm surprised you managed to make it out alive." The double meaning to her words was obvious, but she offered a small smile in return.
Dorian nodded a little, "Yes… I am too…" He knew what she meant, heard it loud and clear but he wasn't going to mention it around Mack and ruin the story.
"Are dragons really big?" Mack asked, completely oblivious to the second conversation happening underneath the first. "And scary? I read they could breathe fire, too!"
"Yes and yes. They're powerful, too and they could probably take over the entire kingdom, hells the entire continent if they tried," Dorian replied, "That's why you've got to kill 'em before they can attack, though sometimes it doesn't always work."
"Is that why you're hurt?" Mack asked, tilting her head much in the same way a puppy would. "Because you didn't kill the dragon first?"
Dorian sighed and nodded, "Sadly. But like I said, the dragon is dead now so there's no need to worry. And I don't think I'll be fighting anymore dragons anytime soon."
"You might end up fighting a different kind of dragon." Ally said, without looking up from the paper she was reading.
Mack had turned to eating happily, and quickly. She looked up at Ally as she finished, smiling. "Where's dad?" "Out back. Said something about a busted motor." "I'm gonna go tell him about the dragon!"
"Don't go telling everyone, though. We don't want people freaking out, okay?" Dorian pointed his fork at Mack, raising a brow before going back to eating his own meal.
"Right! Promise!" Mack nodded, already out of her seat and slipping out the door.
Ally shook her head, huffing a sound somewhat like a laugh. "She likes you." She commented, gaze flickering up from the paper to Dorian for a second.