forum Knight and Serpent (enemies to lovers o/o, may contain strong themes)

Started October 11, 2020 by Deleted user

tune

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Crow paced around their study, nervous and quite disheveled. All they could think about was the man’s eyes, his beautiful eyes, how they’d positively ruined them earlier and would certainly ruin them now. They found there healing supplies, just a few creams to rub into the skin that would heal any non magical injury, and returned to find Flynn looking at his shattered wrist. “Here, this will help. Hold still, it won’t hurt a bit,” the latter was a lie, but it might have a calming effect on the man.

Those were words Flynn had heard too many times. It won’t hurt— but he knew for a fact it would. He had undergone too many injuries to count, and this was far from the worst of them.
Yet it burned like a lit furnace, fire climbing through the slots and his wrist was the forged sword.
Flynn quickly unwrapped a strap of leather from his other gauntlet, and bit down on it to keep from damaging his lip any more. Surely it wasn’t good for his jaw, but it kept him relatively sane as he felt severed nerves go numb.
“Just… Just get it over with, please,” Flynn muttered, voice lightly muffled. “You don’t have to be too careful. Just so it’s in… working order.”

“I will be careful, because I’m not that much of a terrible person. I may be responsible for dragon war crimes, but I’m not a sadist,” they said, gently rubbing some of the salve onto the wound. Flynn would likely feel a brief burning sensation, them numbness for about half an hour as the bones healed. “There, now just hold that arm still and wait or it will take much longer,”

“Al-Alright,” he coughed, trying his best to suppress a small whimper.
When Crow finished his work, Flynn spat out the leather strap and began poking at his numbed lip, pulling his hand away only to see dried blood stains. He winced, eyes narrowed as he felt around for the cut on his neck. No doubt he had earned himself new scars today— well, not really earned, but somewhere around there.
“I… I know you said you didn’t want a ‘thank you,’ but I’ve never really been one to abide by the rules,” Flynn said suddenly, his own eyes still locked on his wrist. They flitted up to Crow for a moment. “So… thank you.”

“I hate you for even mentioning it, but I hate you for other reasons so I’ll let it slide.” they shrugged, beginning to bandage up the man’s wrist with a splint to hold everything in place. They weren’t sure if they could trust Flynn not to move. “You have lovely eyes. I keep thinking about them, so deep and insightful.”

The compliment caught Flynn so off-guard he wasn’t sure what to reply with. It took him a moment of silence, of just his steady breathing, before he could answer.
“Is that so?” he asked, not entirely sure what Crow’s whole motive behind the remark was. Regardless, he had to consciously keep himself from squeaking out another thank you. “Yours… Yours are, too. Perhaps it’s just because I have never seen a draconic figure up close, but you sure are a sight to behold.”

“Oh, stop, I’m hideous and we both know it.” they laughed bitterly, reaching into a shelf hidden in the wall and grabbing Flynn a blanket and pillow. “Rest for a while, you’ll be much better soon and then you may take your leave.” they tucked Flynn in and started to leave, too ashamed of themself to stay.

Flynn cocked his head, narrowing his eyes for a moment.
“You say that like it’s common knowledge,” he replied, shaking his head. “In all honesty, dragon, I think you’re… mighty. Elegant. Something to be proud of, no?”
He was reluctant to get tucked in, but had to have some assistance to carry it out successfully without using his left arm. He felt like a vulnerable little child and hated it with every fiber of his being, but at the same time, he was exceedingly thankful for Crow’s help.

“Dragon’s haven’t had anything to be proud of in thousands of years. It was all before your time, before mine, even. Most of the elder dragons are gone now, due your people murdering them. And with them, their wisdom and knowledge, and thus dragons have only gotten worse. Really, most of us are happy to be left to our own devices. But if humans decide to invade our lands, our hunting grounds, and our homes, what choice do we have?” they asked. “However, dragon factions have been getting restless. They want to burn you into dust. Some advise against it, against war, but…. well, there’s less of us but more power between two dragons than a hundred men combined; it would be impossibly difficult to make things… well, I’m against the extermination of your kind, but some have sunken low enough that they believe… it doesn’t matter,” they turned back to the doorway again.

“There’s no one who wishes for peace more than I,” Flynn replied, closing his eyes briefly before looking back up to Crow. “That’s why I came alone. Why I left my troupe back at the base of the mountain the first time I met you. I have been trying to get the Knights of the Crown to step off your case for weeks, but they keep pressing it, and I’m starting to look exceedingly suspicious.”
He adverted his attention back down to his hands, letting out a slight breath.
“I doubt I could go back, now. Doubt I could lie about killing you. With my background, the others wouldn’t believe me, and they’d most likely lock me up and send an army to make sure you’re gone. However, if I don’t return, the same thing would happen.”
Flynn pursed his lips, earning him a wince as he tasted the blood again. “I’d just be fighting for a different side.”

“I suppose I’ll have to move back home, then. I can take you with me, but it would be under the pretense of you being my servant, my thrall. I can create things there, and dragons move around quite often compared to me. It would be unremarkable.” they suggested. “Dragons don’t balk at the idea of humans in servitude to us. They assume it as completely natural.”

“Your servant?” he asked, although his voice didn’t sound as disgusted as he thought it might. He sounded more… curious.
The thought of living with Crow sparked a sense of fear in Flynn’s chest. They were a literal beast, one that could tear Flynn to pieces before he could even introduce himself.
“Why, I … I don’t know if I could. Unless it’s not my choice,” he replied, blinking up to meet Crow’s eyes. “But… I do owe you.”

“I’m only doing it to protect you, and if that is not what you wish, I can’t stop you from leaving,” they said softly, looking at Flynn with pain in their eyes. “But… some dragons, my people, they are kinder than most. My sister would probably love you to bits, unfortunately. She doesn’t get much company, I’d probably just have you work with her most of the time and help me with experiments the rest.”

“Experiments?” Flynn asked, hoping he wasn’t prying too far into Crow’s personal affairs. Although the softness in their voice was reassuring, leaving Flynn more relaxed than before, and pleased to hear their words.
He had to say he was completely surprised by Crow’s declaration. Their sister would love him? It seemed so farfetched, considering Flynn had always been taught to fear these beasts. To fear them, fight them, but never coexist.

“I create things. I build. I make new of the old and find old in the new. I have the title Maker for a reason, little knight.” they said, smiling softly at the man. “I’ve recently created a fast-growing mycelium, or mushroom, for the purposes of spreading across the city and… well, I get paid for war, I suppose, never for peace. It’s quite deadly if you handle it improperly, most of my creations are, making keeping clients around difficult. But necessary, so I manage.”

Flynn nodded along, genuinely intrigued. He had always had a sort of interest in the biological world, and the creation of environmental subjects.
“That’s… Amazing,” he said, words more a short breath than an actual voice. “I didn’t know your kind could do things like that.”
He paused momentarily, sighing as he looked down to his hands. “Gods, humans are so … ignorant. Such a shame, really. We’re always taught you all are something to be feared. If only they could see your true beauty. Such… such arrogance.”
Flynn glanced back up to Crow, having to squint through the ashy air. “I would love to help you, if I can.”

“Really? Well, I… I’d have to train you, and I don’t know all there is to know, and I’m hardly a good teacher, and what if you get hurt? Anything could happen?” they said, fear in their eyes. Why were they so concerned over one human, even? A human with very pretty eyes, admittedly, but that was no moral reason to keep him around. Maybe they were going soft, and at this young age? Well, they’d be a laughingstock for sure.

“Well,” Flynn began, teetering his head in thought. “I’d be happy to let you teach me. And if you don’t know everything, who’s to say we can’t discover it together?”
His heart leapt slightly at the unsettled waver in Crow’s voice, but he took a deep breath and offered them a timid smile.
“And, if I get hurt, I heal,” he replied, voice as soft as he could make it, although it was still hoarse and raspy. “While we’re fragile, we’re also ungodly stubborn. Our bodies, as well. It takes quite the force to break us for good.”

“But… oh, alright, if you’re sure.” but they weren’t sure. They didn’t know if they could keep Flynn safe or not. Crow sat down beside Flynn on the bed, staring up into nothingness. “Fine. If you’re sure. My sister will likely help with teaching, she’s always been a prodigy and I’m sure she’ll pass on the knowledge to you. She’s half human, even, you’ll get along at least halfway. I hope.”

“Half human, hm?” he asked, narrowing his eyes. He had never heard of a hybrid, outer-species relationship between anyone human or draconic, so it seemed to pique his interest. Especially because he figured they would be so looked down upon, but Crow seemed to speak of their sister so highly.
“And yes, I’m sure,” Flynn hummed slowly. “After seeing this side of the situation … I’m disgusted by the knights. I had always just questioned their morals, but I need to see your kind safe from them. And, I’d like to cut ties with them altogether. But, perhaps that’s just me being highly impulsive.”

“Frankly, I’m disgusted by my kind. They hate humans, want to dominate them and bring forth their ruin. When really, you’re like… spiders. No real harm, get rid of pests sometimes, and are overall lovely to have around. I’m just scared, what with the dragons siding with other monsters. Great Vampires, unicorns, manticores, the like.” they said darkly.

“Beautiful irony,” Flynn said, voice practically dripping with melancholy. “Because, at least in my mind, humans are the real monsters. They have no rhyme or reason to their anarchy. Of course, you can’t take my word for it. I came up here first, after all. I was blind, and perhaps still am.”
He nodded slowly, letting a few beats of silence pass.
“You seem so peaceful, after all of this,” he finally said, glancing over to meet Crow’s eyes. “And while you might not see it, I think you are one of the most … well, I can’t seem to put it into words. Regal? Confident? Beautiful creatures, I have ever seen.”

“I’ve seen humanity. It’s… it’s good. And kind. When it wants to be. But it gets scared of what it doesn’t understand.” they said. “My mother and my sister’s father, who was also my mother, saw the good in humans. There’s reasons to care, always, even if it’s hard to see,”

“That’s reassuring,” Flynn said softly, letting out a breath he had seemed to be keeping in for ages. As he did so, he could feel the ache still permeating his wrist— although it was much more numb, now.
“We… We do have weird little quirks, don’t we?” he continued, the edges of his mouth twitching into a smile. “And it is true, we have a lot of good people. But those who aren’t… well, they overpower those who are.”
His head dipped as he brought a hand to his lips absently. “You just might have to flip through the book of tyrants and anarchists to get to the peacemakers. The only complications is those… those ones have a tendency to get lost in the pages.”