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The sharp slice of an arrow cuts through the air, lodging in the dirt next to where the wolf's paw lands next.
Sharpened axes catch the glow of torches and the moon overhead, orange and white glinting like fireflies against the steel.
Bramble tears at the wolf's coat, small scratches embedding beneath his fur. It is pure adrenaline that keeps him swift on his feet.
The hunters yell out, announcing their presence and sending the animals of the forest scrambling for cover. A bird flaps its wings as it takes off, fleeing from the forest, free from the burden of the ground as the wolf is.
To the left is a lake, and the wolf knows if the hunters corner him there, it will truly be the end of the line for him.
Right it is.
Snapping his bloody maw, he diverts from the straight path he has been taking, running deeper into the woods.
The land is foreign to him. Never has he had to escape so deep into the wilderness during his hunts, but Lady Fortune laughed down on him as the gloaming set.
He should have learnt to be more sporadic with his hunts, to extend the vicinity in which he lurks, and be overall less predictable.
Or more, he should have remembered how predictable humans can be.
The faint tap of an arrow being knocked reaches his ears and he dodges preemptively, skirting off the path in an erratic zigzag.
A whistle sounds.
Pain splinters against his side as the arrow finds its mark. He lets out a roar which fades into a whimper.
The mob on his tail are fuelled by his agony, a few tripping over their feet in their excitement.
It is not the first wound they have inflicted on him. They already cleaved a jagged line against his chest with one of their axe when they caught him unaware. He was lucky enough to hear the metal sing through the air and retreat before the weapon appeared from behind the tree.
The trap was flimsy, but the wolf had been unsuspecting. Overzealous.
He has managed to gain distance through the rough forest, having torn the humans off their horses early on, which is when he caught a nasty gash in his shoulder.
All he has to do is keep running. He can far outpace a human any day, even injured.
The thudding of his paws plays in tune with his erratic heartbeat. He is panting, and the pain is overpowering his senses, felt everywhere, even where there are no wounds to be seen.
A small whine sounds from his throat as he notices the thick forest seeming to thin. Being out in the open will do him no good, but he has nowhere else to turn now.
Despite the fact that he is triple the size of a normal wolf, he has no doubt that the mob could overpower him if given the opportunity. There is no question that his injuries are bad enough he may succumb to them even if he does escape. He knows he cannot hold his ground.
Noticing there are less trees to dodge, the wolf forces himself to speed up, even when agony implodes through his body. The cry from the humans that sounds quickly fades as he gains distance. The obstacles made manoeuvring his big body much harder. Hope blossoms as he widens the gap, though the pain is growing more and more unbearable.
Just as he believes he has lost the hunters, the forest ends.
A slate mountain looms, gnarled and jagged. That is what lies before him.
The wolf suppresses an anguished sound.
He cannot turn back and face the mob. All he can do it hope desperately for somewhere to hide until they forgo their hunt for their families and a warm bed. He careens right, running parallel to the mountain, eyes scanning the terrain in despair.
His vision begins pulsing, black creeping into the edges like night encroaching. Just as he is about to surrender to the nothingness, a deep cleft appears in the mountain.
He almost howls.
Somehow, he speeds up for a final time, paws aching. Whimpers are spilling from his mouth as abundantly as the blood from the hunters he ripped apart earlier.
He scrambles into the dark entry, praying that it leads to more than just a small alcove.
The darkness does not hinder his sight, so when all he can see is endless void, he knows the cave must burrow deep into the mountain. If the humans follow him, he can take advantage of the low light to pick them off one by one.
He scans the vicinity for any sign of bats or creatures as he keeps his fast pace, outrunning his own shadow.
A wall appears ahead. Along the surface, the wolf spots another break and scrambles through it without stopping.
Now, even if the hunters venture into the cave after him, their inferior eyesight will make it impossible to find this hidden recess.
A breath of relief escapes him.
He is as safe as he can be.
Limping, he pads away from the wall, still cautious enough to put distance between himself and the enemy.
There are a few twists and turns before the path becomes somewhat illuminated.
The wolf lets out a low snarl, fear perforating through the haze of pain as he prepares himself for any development the light will bring.
But it is salvation.
His paws almost fail him for the first time in years when he spots the cavern, moonlight spilling through a giant crater in the roof. In the corner is a underground spring, a steady flow of water that flows into a pool for the wolf to clean himself with.
He whines, shaking himself, ears flicking as he drags his exhausted limbs the rest of the distance.
His body starts to shift—reconfigure. His ears flatten, snout shrinking, build stretching yet growing smaller. A clatter sounds as the arrow loses the body that it had dug itself into.
By the time the edge of the spring is within reach, he is walking on two legs.
He cups his hands together, allowing the water to fill the makeshift basin.
Firstly, he splashes his face, removing the grime of the hunt and chase. The water washes over bloodied golden skin, revealing the handsome face below.
"Ah… fuck."
Suho strips off the clothes he is wearing and submerges himself in the spring without another second delay.
He lets the water handle the buildup of blood and dirt crusting his abdomen, shoulder, and chest. The wounds have been reshaped on his human form, but they remain and so does the pain they bring.
Even a shapeshifter cannot escape his injuries.
He wades in the water, dipping under every so often. The cool spring glistens in what remains of the moonlight's glow.
Eventually, he settles on a part of the rock that has been chiselled out like a bench for one to perch. Lets himself really soak.
After another passage of time where he is simply staring into the void, thinking much about nothing, he returns to his wolf form, dousing the matted fur.
Once he feels thoroughly cleansed, he steps out of the basin, shaking his fur with a content grown. Droplets fly off him in all directions and splatter along the smooth ground.
He begins to study the cavern, walking into the darkness and leaving behind a trail of wet paw prints.
A glisten of moonlight breaks the thick wall of black.
His steps speed up, eager to find the opening.
The white dots grow in number, like stars in the sky, until a mountain of white fills his vision.
Not moonlight.
At first, he thinks it is a huge mound of white grass, though slick and steel-like. Almost the same as how light reflects off of armour.
But then he spots them.
Huge irises of amethyst, like nodes of the quartz have broken containment from the ground. They are so colossal, that now Suho has seen them, he cannot look anywhere else.
As they are looking at him.
The grass is not white, he realises. It is silver.
Silver scales.
A yelp unlike anything he has ever made comes from him and he cowers, tail tucked between his legs and ears flat against his head.
His body trembles as he starts to retreat.
Those eyes watching him blink slowly. A tail skims against the rock floor, curling around the body of the beast.
A huff comes from it, gentle, almost resigned.
It shifts its head to turn away from Suho, settling down again with only the back of its neck within view.
Breathing unevenly, Suho straightens up, no longer presenting his submission so overtly. His ears cannot decide between standing tall or remaining against his head in case he finds those amethyst eyes upon him once more.
He cannot believe what he is witnessing—the beast that he has encountered.
A silver dragon.
Suho knows nothing much about dragons other than what exists in folklore. Undoubtedly a superior being, ancient and celestial. Their appearances waned until they became mythic; stories for children or warriors who swear upon their souls they saw a glimpse of one.
But there is a living, breathing one before Suho in the depths of this cave where he has sought refuge from hunters.
It does not seem aggressive, at least not towards him in this moment. Though, he suspects it would not take much for a dragon to quash him if it so wished.
Suho's fur is replaced by skin, his mouth parting with a trembling breath.
"I intend you no harm."
The dragon's head lifts. It turns towards the human, eyes narrowing. In any other situation, Suho would be acutely aware that he only has a scrap of fabric covering him from the waist, soaked, but his life is currently in even more danger than it had been outside in the midst of hunters.
"I didn't mean to disturb you," he continues. "I was being hunted by humans."
The dragon huffs again. Its feet clack against the floor as it adjusts its position.
A second later, its snout is pressing against Suho's body, gently pushing him away.
Swallowing down a scream, Suho takes a few steps back, his hands raising.
Content with the distance, the dragon returns to laying upon its cradle. Suho stares for a few beats before saying, "You want me to be silent?"
The dragon's head whips to him, teeth snapping, steam escaping its nostrils.
Suho opens his mouth again, earning him another huff.
"If I'm quiet, can I stay?" he asks, wincing as he is forced to speak again.
Violet eyes seem to study him, a kind of clarity within them that crawls up Suho's spine. Just observing those eyes proves that the dragon before him is indeed an ancient creature.
Suho has lived to see one hundred years, but he imagines this dragon has lived for over a millennia.
A rumble echoes through the cavern as the dragon dips its head, accepting Suho's terms.
Suho is unable to stifle the smile that grows on his face. He lowers his head in a bow, even as his injuries protest and a hiss escapes from between his gritted teeth.
He remains in a bow even as the dragon shifts yet again, too afraid to look up.
All of a sudden, his vision is taken up by silver. The dragon nudges him again.
Suho gasps, head snapping up.
Upon retreating, the dragon lifts its head to one side of the wall. Suho squints, but in his human form is unable to see anything but darkness expanding into more darkness.
That is all the dragon does before settling back to sleep, its entire body turning away from Suho.
Exhaling, Suho shifts into his wolf form, reconsidering the patch that the dragon motioned towards.
A green moss covers the side of the cavern, climbing up the wall as far as he can see.
Suho's eyes light up and his tail wags.
He trots over, returning to human form so that he can tear the moss away.
Herbology is not his field of expertise, but he has picked up the odd thing from living among, around, and in avoidance of humans. His own trial and error also offered some knowledge, albeit at the price of his health.
He remembers a hunter using this moss as gauze for an injury, so he acts accordingly.
After cleaning it, he puts it along the lines of his wounds, packing it tight to absorb the blood.
His hands work tirelessly to cover all of his injuries, though he keeps silent to not offend the dragon any further.
To the side of the pool he bathed in, there is a slab of stone, smooth as if it has been sculpted by a stonemason. Suho lays upon it and allows his discomfort to dwindle as sleep claws at him.
He is visited by dreams of axes, rope burn, and a pyre. The mob in his subconscious are warped faces, less human than he has ever been.
Blissful sleep is rare for Suho, haunted by memories of all the desecration he has experienced, how his body has been war-torn for no reason other than being different.
He jerks awake in a cave much lighter than he expects. Across the cavern, the dragon is within view, even though Suho is still in his human form.
Under the gentle wash of sunlight, those silver scales shimmer. Suho finds himself lost in admiration for the ancient creature and how angelic it is, even when slumbering.
He takes a few minutes to regain his bearings, studying all that the sunlight has now exposed of the cave. Moss and vines creep up the rock faces and the spring is still spilling into a pool of water, trails glistening through the ground. Some sharp rocks rear from the ground near where Suho entered through, a visible slit in the wall. His blood is littered over the floor, including the arrow that fell from his body on his way in.
As he pulls himself into a sitting position, a groan escapes him. His eyes are quick to check the dragon, but it does not show any sign of waking. Relieved, Suho stands from the slab and crosses the distance to the arrow, retrieving it from the ground.
After locating the same mossy wall he found last time, he uses the arrowhead to pilfer some more of the moss for his wounds. Instead of applying it immediately, he lays it where the sun shines, hoping to dry it for when he needs to replace the pieces that are current dressing his wounds.
He intermittently glances at the dragon, overly conscious of its presence in the far corner. Even in his wolf form, Suho would likely only be the same size as one of its clawed feet.
The dome overhead acts as a sundial, projecting how far into the day they are upon the cave floor. When the sun is directly overhead, Suho takes another dip in the spring, a quick refresh before he lets the pool of direct sunlight dry his skin, leaving behind its warm kiss upon his muscles.
Absentmindedly, he begins to hum, especially as his hands grow busy packing the dried moss against his wounds. He bled enough through the night that he is tending towards precaution. It is unlikely he will be able to access any treatment from humans while healing from his wounds. They are clearly the result of a human weapon and Suho knows that will draw too much attention. There is also the likelihood that the men who hunted him reside in the nearby villages; if he were to be exposed as a shapeshifter, he would have no chance of escaping from them this time.
It must be around mid-afternoon when the dragon stirs.
All it does is glance over at Suho, huff, shuffle his limbs, huff again, and promptly drift off into another deep sleep.
"Is all dragons do sleep?" Suho mumbles as he watches the afternoon sun dance over the scales with each steady breath.
Over the coming days, he learns just how true that is.
The silver dragon acts as though nobody is within its cave, sleeping away the days. It seems to plan on hibernating for years. Its purple eyes open once or twice a day, capturing Suho in whatever activity he is doing to pass time before it huffs and sleeps again.
Suho should probably feel something like offence, but it becomes a comforting routine. Just a glimpse of those amethyst eyes gives him some peace. Not that he believes that the dragon would move even a claw if the hunters were to track him this far into the cave, but he cannot help but feel secure when such a big creature is passive beside him.
The moon and sun cycle overhead more times than can be counted on one hand when hunger visits Suho once more.
His last meal was a few humans, not including the ones he mauled in his frantic escape from the trap that had been set for him by the hunters.
The injuries on his body are well underway to healing now. Most of the scratches have disappeared without a scar, while the deeper wounds still twinge with some rotations of his body.
Suho waits out his hunger as long as he can.
It is a waning crescent that presents itself in the dome when he shifts into his wolf form.
He takes a claw to the rock face where he has extracted the moss and engraves a simple, 'Hunting' into the wall.
It is unlikely that the dragon will look for him in his absence, but Suho still feels as though he owes it that much courtesy in case it wonders for even a second where he has disappeared to.
Slipping back through the crevice that he entered from, the wolf stalks out into the night. Ravenous.
Caution guides him through the forest, and he prowls in the shadows. His trail of blood has been washed away by the rain from a few days before, but the damage that his big body did to the overgrowth is still visible.
After a moment of consideration, Suho heads in the opposite direction from which he was hunted.
Although he does not have a lay of the land as he would within his usual hunting grounds, he is an exceptional tracker as both human and wolf. His keen sense of smell and the power in his jaw make for a quick and lethal attack. There should be no struggle to find prey, even something small.
It does not take long for him to spy a lone deer through the thicket. After flattening himself to the ground, he stalks the deer through the forest until it dips its head to graze on the grass. That is when Suho pounces from the shadows, teeth latching around its neck and snapping.
He only realises how starved he is at the first taste of blood as it gushes from the wound. He growls.
Blood coats his snout as he tears at the meat with his teeth. He has never been much of a clean eater, especially when his stomach is so empty.
Once he is nibbling on bone, he withdraws, considering the carcass. It is a mangled mess, nothing even remotely presentable about the claw and teeth marks he has left behind, and how most of the meat has been consumed or fallen from the bone.
His tail lowers and disappointment writhes in his stomach. His eyes turn to the moon, still high in the sky, before he leaves the clearing back into the forest.
It does not take him long to find another deer.
This time, he cleanly snaps the neck before sinking his teeth into its hide.
With the deer limp in his mouth, he begins retracing his steps towards the mountain.
His tail begins wagging a little as he closes in on the entry.
After squeezing through the second crevice, he continues down the tunnel and out into the opening.
The silver dragon is where it always is.
Suho pads over, head bobbing.
One amethyst eye peels open as the dragon's nostrils flare. It lifts its head upon noticing Suho's approach.
Once he is close enough, Suho lowers the deer onto the ground. He braces his paws and his rear lifts, tail wagging hard. He nudges the carcass with his nose before tilting his head towards the dragon.
The dragon stares at him blankly for a few seconds before it releases one of those huffs that have become so incredibly familiar by now.
It uses its foot to push the carcass back towards Suho.
Ears drooping, Suho releases a low whine. His tail slows to nothing more than a flick.
The dragon huffs again.
It comes closer and a grin grows on Suho's face, ears standing up as he does another play bow. He bounces to the left and right.
The dragon taps him with its nose and Suho's tail moves faster. He drops down and exposes his stomach to the beast, ears pressing back.
The dragon's eyes widen slightly.
Overly excited, Suho rolls back onto his feet and nudges the carcass towards it for a second time.
It takes a little while longer for the dragon to part its mouth, tongue picking up the carcass and pulling it between its razor sharp teeth.
It retreats from Suho's proximity, turning its head away. He hears something of a rattle before the dragon looks back at him and motions towards the spring.
It is telling Suho to leave.
Suho shifts into a human, the smile on his face still wolfish. "I went hunting— I got that for you… Thank you for letting me remain here."
Something crosses the dragon's eyes, a cloudy look that surprises Suho. It almost seems human.
"I've been healing well because of the moss you gave me," he continues. "Thank you. I mean it. I'm indebted to you."
The dragon blinks slowly before dipping its head. Once again, it nudges at him to leave.
Frowning, Suho begins to walk away. The dragon seems pleased by that and settles down to return to its hibernation.
"Why are you always sleeping?" Suho asks before it can.
The dragon sighs.
This time, it jerks its head towards the spring. Pouting, Suho surrenders and leaves the creature to its sleep.
Over the course of the next days, he makes many attempts to strike up a conversation with the dragon. Sometimes he is able to share his stories without facing any consequences but, other times, the dragon is simply not in the mood to listen to him.
So far, he has been pushed, swatted, and dangled in the air. The latter of which made him laugh more than anything.
Once he is—gently—returned to the ground, Suho jumps on his feet. "That was fun! Do it again!"
A clawed foot surrounds him and he is lifted for a second time. His legs flail.
He gets no more than five seconds in the air before he is dunked in cold water.
The surface of the spring breaks as he shoots out, gasping for air. Amethyst eyes stare at him, bored and a tad irritated.
"That was mean," Suho says.
The dragon huffs and shifts its whole body away from him.
Suho decides not to annoy it further that day.
He grows hungry again as time drags on, and wonders if there is any food on the plains of grass upon the mountain. High above in the side of the rocky walls is a gap he noticed long ago. It acts as a window for the sunlight to spill in, much like the dome overhead.
After almost a full moon cycle, all his wounds have healed. He spends a few days considering how to climb to the hole, and eventually discovers a route which is uneven enough to supply many handholds that will make the climb easy.
It is early in the morning when the dragon is still slumbering—though it is for most of the day—that Suho decides to undertake this endeavour.
The rock crumbles slightly underhand, and Suho winces, praying it can bear his weight.
His hands suffer throughout the climb as they grasp at the rocks, rubbing against the rough surface. They dig into his palm hard as he holds on. Sweat drips from his hairline and he grits his teeth with every pull of his body.
Halfway up, a ledge protrudes, and he rests there for a while before continuing on his journey.
He is more than a capable climber. He can manoeuvre his human body as well as his wolf one.
Minus one time that his foot slipped, there are no close calls for the entire climb.
The sun is high overhead when he pulls himself onto the opening. He is panting, grasping at the wall, eyes squinting shut as he adjusts to the light. He hears a crumble and forces one of his eyes open.
His stomach plummets.
Below him is a sheer drop down the cliff side. The ledge he has pulled himself onto is barely enough for his feet to rest. It erodes where his toes are hanging off.
"Shit."
He should have known it was a stupid idea. Especially to climb with no back-up plan on how to get down. But he swore that the opening led onto the fields he saw during his last hunt.
Something taps against his back.
Suho nearly tumbles, inhaling sharply as he stares at the drop.
It takes an ungainly dance for him to spin around so that he can face the inside of the cave.
The dragon is staring at him from barely a metre away.
Relief washes through Suho. "Did you come to save me?"
The dragon huffs, its snout coming closer until it connects with the rocks, like a bridge for Suho to climb upon.
Tentatively, Suho tests whether he is allowed to do such an act.
His foot brushes over hard scales. The dragon closes its eyes, accepting.
Taking a shaky breath, Suho reaches for the dragon's scales and latches on, hugging onto the snout tightly. Once he is secure, the dragon begins moving. Suho squeezes his eyes shut as the air whooshes around him. The descent makes his stomach flip, such an unfamiliar sensation to his human body. It would be to his wolf one, too.
Before he knows it, his nose and mouth are filled with water and the dragon is gone.
He chokes, eyes flying open as he scrambles for purchase, clawing at rock and sediment. He bursts from the spring with a desperate gasp for air.
Through his panting and squinting, he spies the dragon watching him with an unimpressed expression.
Scowling, Suho does not think twice before he cups his hands and throws water at the silver scales closest to him.
"I could've drowned."
Something about how he is being looked at tells him that the dragon is far from believing that to be possible.
Before Suho can say anything else, the dragon scoops water in its clawed foot and drops it on Suho.
Compared to the measly handful that Suho was capable of, the water from the dragon pours like a waterfall. It is as if Suho has been suddenly capsized.
He slips and tumbles in the water, somehow managing to do a backflip under the water.
By the time that he is able to push back up the surface, the dragon is walking away back to its corner.
Suho yells, "Thank you for saving me!"
The dragon glances over its shoulder and huffs.
This time, when it lays to sleep, it rests with its head facing Suho.
And when it rains that night and Suho cannot stop shivering, seeking warmth in the only place that he can, against the belly of the dragon, the beast opens one eye before curling its tail around the wolf, safe within its hold.
Suho paws at the tail and it flicks him in the face before resting around him once more.
A rumble starts in Suho's chest as he drifts off, suddenly free from the discomfort of the cold rock pressed against either his back or side. All he can feel is the breath of the dragon around him, warm and promising.
The next day, when he wakes, the dragon stirs too. Suho shifts into his human form, walking to the dragons head before stroking the scales where it repeatedly nudges him.
"I'm going to hunt tonight," he says. "I'll be back before morning."
The dragon nods its head, eyes fluttering closed as it lays down to sleep again.
Before he leaves that night, Suho presses his lips to the dragon's snout as it slumbers.
With that, he sets off for food.
Outside, the forest is still a bit damp from the rain, and different smells tangle in the air from all directions. Suho raises his nose and sniffs, trying to pry them apart until he finds what he needs.
He slinks through the trees, weaving around as he scans the far distance for any sign of a prancing deer or a lost human.
The night drags on with no sign of prey. He adventures further into the forest, annoyance spreading through his empty stomach.
It grows quiet around him, a hush that raises his hackles. He slows, scanning the vicinity.
A glint.
The wolf snarls but it is too late.
Shoulder, flank, and leg. Three arrows pierce his skin and bury deep.
A cry sounds from him, echoing in the air as he almost collapses upon impact.
Humans cheer from ahead and Suho pivots on his heel, tearing through the forest.
His vision blurs as the agony stabs through his body with every collision of his paw against the ground.
He should have known the woods were no longer safe for him. The humans will return here forevermore to catch the beast wolf, even as they retire and their sons assume their positions. He will become a mythical beast as the dragon is.
The reminder of the silver dragon, the warmth provided last night as he was tucked safely against its stomach, nips at Suho's heels. He accelerates his pace until he is going so fast he cannot even feel his body nor the agony that courses through him.
All he can think of is his silver dragon. He promised he would return before morning.
He has to.
Another arrow hits his side. His legs buckle beneath him and he releases an anguished howl.
The thud of hooves fill the forest from behind him. Suho snarls as his front paw slices through the air, tearing a horse bound human into pieces. He throws the body towards another human on steed before taking off again.
Another arrow. This one he manages to dodge. Somehow. Despite the haze and pain.
Human shouts all ring in a cacophony. Whatever silence the forest had been bestowed is now desecrated.
The pain mounts, and every vein in Suho's body feels on fire, like they are being pulled taut until they snap. He grits his teeth until his fangs are breaking flesh.
There is nothing he can do but urge his body on, through the torture of his insides coming apart.
At the first sign of the mountain, he almost weeps in relief. He turns right, weaving between trees the closer that he gets to the break in the rock formation.
Once he sees it, he releases a howl, and it echoes through the cave. The entire mountain carries his cry through it.
With that, he sprints into the cave, not relenting until he pushes through the crack.
The arrows break from his body and his panting becomes less animalistic. Tears tumble down his face. He is gasping and whimpering, legs drags with each step. His hand clutches the gushing wounds at his side.
He has lost too much blood.
When the tunnel opens into the familiar cavern, Suho immediately looks for the dragon.
It is not resting, standing alert across the space. It must have heard his call, for its amethyst eyes fly to him when his foot scuffs against the rock.
"I— They—" he tries, speech broken up by his cries.
The dragon's eyes widen as Suho steps into the moonlight.
Head spinning, Suho feels the pulse of his heart in his throat. He knows he does not have long to explain himself, nor the words.
The silver dragon is frozen like a statue.
"Arrows— Hunters— I'm— Fuck— Sorry—"
With that, he tips back as he loses consciousness.
The last thing he sees is the silver disappearing into black.
Screams and fire follow him into his subconscious. A burning house with smoke reaching high into the night sky, blotting out the stars.
Weathered arms that hold him close until they can no longer hold him at all. A casket.
More fire. Axes. Arms straining with the memory of firing an arrow.
The look of betrayal on his best friend's face when he saw him shift for the first time. Hatred in eyes once so forgiving.
Being hunted.
Hunting.
The cycle that never felt right. The smell of death that used to shroud him.
And at the end, a sparkle.
Silver reflecting like moonlight on water.
A gentle push against his stomach.
Amethyst crystallising in his mind; a node hidden by a silver rock.
It dazzles him, surrounding him on all sides.
He squints against the glare.
When his eyes close, it takes considerably effort for him to open them again.
His vision is hazy—unclear. He blinks, lashes fluttering. There is no amethyst that encompasses him. Nothing but grey, black, and silver.
He cannot see properly still, and he shifts his head, a groan escaping him. It is not rock beneath him, but something softer. Fabric brushes his cheek.
A throb begins through his body, and he winces.
The silver moves.
"Are you awake?"
Fingers card through his hair. Suho squeezes his eyes shut before re-opening them.
The silver robes that he mistook for rock are flowing in all directions around him. Long black hair drapes down like a waterfall. Between the sheets of hair, a human face stares at him.
Suho's breath catches.
The human is so beautiful, Suho believes himself in heaven, blessed by an angel or a celestial being of sorts.
Perfect round eyes, bottomless like a midnight ocean. Golden skin that is so smooth it looks like sand dunes in a desert. A soft nose and plump lips, currently curled down into a frown.
Suho marvels at the beauty for all of five seconds, absolutely enraptured.
That is until the memories from before he lost consciousness return like a punch to the gut.
Suho flies off the human's lap, ignoring the protest from his body that results in a searing pain.
The human stares up at him, legs folded politely under the silver robe, a little depression where Suho's head had been while resting.
Suho frantically scans the cavern, the same as always but now lacking the silver giant that he longs to see. That he fought to return to.
Face crumpling, he turns to the seated human, still so serene despite Suho's obvious distress.
"What did you do?" he spits.
The human tilts his head.
Suho snarls as a snout forms where his face is and he grows into three times his size. He snaps his jaw towards the stranger.
Without making any sound, the human stands on his feet. He moves so gracefully like water flowing in a stream. Barely human-like.
A hand reaches for Suho, and lands on the underside of his jaw. It strokes back and forth, the other resting above his eyes and stroking backwards between his ears.
Suho has not felt such a tender caress in so long that it nearly pulls him into submission, but his eyes catch the silver of the robe and the reminder of the lost dragon snaps him free.
He jumps backwards, teeth sinking down on flesh.
No pain registers on the human's face even with Suho's teeth deep in his arm.
Instead, his hand that is not restricted by the wolf's maw lifts and cups the underside of his ear, fingers dancing against the fur before he begins scratching.
His arm comes loose, puncture wounds showing through his robes, but Suho cannot see any blood.
"Do you not recognise me?"
The human's voice is deep and soft, as is each brush of his fingers under Suho's ear.
His question echoes in Suho's mind, already calmer from the soothing hands against his fur.
The silver robes flash as the human lifts his injured arm, rivulets of silver blood slipping down from the wounds.
Suho's mind blanks.
The human rests his forehead against Suho's snout. "I'm here."
Ears pressing back against his head, Suho releases a whimper.
His silver dragon.
"Why did you go and get hurt, hm?" the dragon asks, eyes narrowing.
Suho swears he can see a flash of purple in the irises.
"Always putting yourself in danger, pup."
With a whine, Suho nuzzles his head against his dragon and his tail starts thumping against the floor.
"Thank you for waking up," his dragon breathes into his fur.
They share a sigh of relief before Suho lowers onto his stomach, staring up at the pretty dragon with his tail spinning so fast behind him it is like a windmill.
When he sees the silver blood dripping down his arm, Suho whimpers, tongue poking from between his teeth to lap at it.
A crinkle appears between the dragon's brows. "Stop."
Suho shakes his head, tail thumping loud enough to echo.
His dragon frowns. "Stop it."
Licking more insistently, Suho paws at the fabric of his robes, ears flicking.
A hand pushes at his head, and his dragon steps away.
"Not even four poisoned arrows can make you less overbearing."
The wolf tilts his head, utterly clueless to the insult. Tail still wagging at just the sight of his dragon's human form. Something that he was previously unaware existed.
Nothing in mythology has ever talked about dragons having a mortal form. As far as Suho once knew, they are intelligent enough to understand and communicate with humans, but they are not shapeshifters.
However, when Suho looks at the ethereal man before him, hair lined with silver beads and robes as reflective as his scales, how can he not believe him a dragon? His dragon?
Sitting up, Suho makes him a little taller than the human, even at full height.
It earns him an unimpressed look.
"Are you going to remain as a wolf?"
Pure embarrassment wells up inside of Suho at the thought of becoming human at this point in time.
The dragon has seen him fumble around, nearly topple off the mountain, wag his tail as he play fights, get repeatedly injured, and all the more. Not to mention that he just bit into his arm after all he did to remedy his wounds—after revealing his human form to Suho.
As if reading his mind, the dragon says, "If that is what you wish. At least let me check your injuries, pup."
Dipping his head, Suho stands on all fours, letting the silver beauty slowly circle him, hands running over his fur. They are incredibly soft, as all his skin looks.
When the dragon ends up before him again, Suho's jaw is cupped. Unwittingly, thumps sound from behind and Suho pretends to be unaware of his wagging tail.
"You are not to leave this cave while you recover." Again, the dragon's eyes seem to flash amethyst. "If you are hungry, I will get you food. Do you understand?"
There is not much choice for a wolf in the face of a dragon and, even if he did have the power to, Suho has no desire to go against his dragon.
He licks the pretty face before flopping down onto his back, legs in the air. His tail swishes against the ground.
His dragon wipes his face with his robes, frowning.
After a pause, he crouches down and runs a palm over Suho's exposed stomach.
The wolf's mouth spreads into a big smile, tongue lolling out.
His dragon seems the slightest bit amused. "You seem just fine."
At that, Suho's ears flatten and he whines as if in pain.
A sigh. "You should rest more."
Suho nudges his side with his snout. The long hair that the dragon has tickles his nose.
"What?"
The ebony curtains fall either side of Suho's face as the dragon looks down at him, his hand still stroking over his stomach.
Suho paws at the hair, marvelling at how silky it is. The silver adornments seem to shimmer.
"Stop it."
If he were human, Suho would be evidently pouting, but the best he can offer is a huff—much like the dragon's—as he turns away.
"Rest."
That is all his dragon says before standing. Suho lays on his stomach as he watches the human walk away, sitting on the slab that Suho usually sleeps on. He closes his eyes as the sun dances over him.
The silver robes that he is wearing are so celestial, and with the sun shining on his long hair and the spring shimmering to the side, Suho feels as though he is watching a nymph. He pads over to the dragon, curling up by his feet and laying his head against his legs.
After a beat, a hand strokes through his fur.
"You need to rest to recover." It is said in a murmur, as if talking to a child who has roused from a nap.
Suho's ears flick and he lets his eyes fall shut, coaxed to sleep by the hand caressing his fur.
He awakes a few times through the day, and every time the dragon is still in his human form, watching over Suho like some guardian. Suho attempts to study him in the few seconds before the dragon knows he is awake but, without fail, his tail betrays him.
The soft thumps draw his dragon's attention and earn Suho a gentle scratch under his jaw, or behind his ear.
"Sleep," he commands, and so Suho does.
It is only when his eyes open to moonlight that the dragon does not immediately instruct him to sleep more. Instead, he stands and strolls over to the corner where he usually resides in his dragon form.
Suho pads after him, wanting to pounce but fighting the urge.
All it takes is one blink and suddenly the beautiful human is once again his silver dragon.
Suho jumps in the air, yipping.
The dragon looks to him, nosing against his torso before its tail slides from its body, making space for Suho to sleep as he did the night before he was hunted.
In the absence of the dragon's human form, Suho fends off his humiliation long enough to switch.
The dragon's eyes widen.
"Thank you," Suho says, "for saving me. And for everything."
Huffing, the dragon taps him with its nose again. Suho grins, stroking the scales as he rests his head against them.
"My name is Suho. Will you tell me yours, too, tomorrow?"
He says it now, knowing the dragon cannot speak to him seeing that it is once again a beast.
In answer, the dragon dips its head. Before Suho can say anything else, something wraps around his body. He looks down at the dragon's tail, and a surprised laugh escapes him. He is deposited by its chest, the tail giving him a gentle pat before it rest against the floor once more.
When the dragon lays its head down, Suho is right between its legs, chest, and jaw. As safe as can be.
He returns to his wolf form and circles three times before settling down and closing his eyes.
The rhythmic breathing of the dragon is the only lullaby he needs to rest.
He sleeps deeply through the night, awakened by a hand stroking his head.
He looks up at his dragon, in human form again, kneeling beside him. His eyes are scanning Suho's body, checking for any signs that his injuries are taking a turn for the worst.
Suho smiles, rubbing his head against the dragon's lap and stomach, eyes closed in bliss. Another hand starts scratching under his chin and his tail sets off wagging again, ears flitting.
"Sieun."
The wolf pauses.
"That is my name, pup."
Suho shoots up, diving on his dragon—Sieun—with all his weight.
Sieun's breath is punched out of him as he falls back, robes and hair splaying out around him. He looks like an angel, wide eyes staring up at the wolf.
Suho licks his face, tail lifted and wagging so fast the air whistles around it.
"Suho," Sieun says, and it sounds so beautiful from his mouth that Suho almost whines. "Are you shy?"
Confused, the wolf's head tilts.
Sieun cups his jaw. "Must we have these stilted conversations? I…" He sighs, shaking his head as his hands drop back to his side. "Forget I spoke."
Suho nudges him with his snout, prompting him to continue.
Sieun frowns. It is the first sign of any real emotion on his face.
"You are much too young. I suppose you are allowed to be immature for another hundred years or so."
That makes Suho pout. His paws, braced either side of Sieun's head, turn to hands.
"What do you mean by that?"
Sieun's eyes flash amethyst. A shaky breath parts his lips.
"Suho."
Suho beams, leaning closer. "Yes, Sieun?"
Sieun's gaze flits up to his head of hair, and his mouth presses into a thin line. "…Get off me."
Suho glances down to where Sieun's legs are parted either side of his body and he is pressed against him like—
Scrambling back, a furious blush works its way onto Suho's face.
Sieun rises from the floor, every fold of his robe falling naturally where it should, even his hair without a single strand tousled.
He lifts a hand to strokes over Suho's head. "Your ears are out, pup."
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
The corner of Sieun's mouth twitches up. "Your tail, too."
Suho reaches behind him and grabs the offending appendage to keep it still.
"I… I was just embarrassed… About… I didn't know you could…" Suho clears his throat as his eyes trail over Sieun from head to toe and back up again. "Y'know."
Sieun tilts his head. "I do not understand. Why would you be embarrassed?"
When Suho goes to rub the back of his neck, his tail slips free and fluffs in Sieun's face. Suho grabs for it with a horrified noise. Somehow, Sieun manages to remain impervious through it all.
"I've been making a fool out of myself," Suho whimpers, ears flattening against his head. "And you're so… Well… you're a dragon."
He shyly averts his eyes to the stone floor.
"And you are a wolf. Yes, a little rowdy, but I do not see why you should feel embarrassed. I do not want you to," asserts Sieun.
Suho nods, gripping on his tail harder lest it break free again. It does not really help that his ears are flicking in excitement.
"Would you mind turning around for a second?" he mumbles, a furious blush on his face.
Sieun obligingly stands and puts his back to Suho.
Taking a deep breath, Suho wills his tail and ears away, as they should have done when he transformed earlier. He has never encountered such an issue when shifting before this.
When they have finally disappeared, he says, "Okay."
That prompts Sieun to pivot on his foot, facing Suho once again. "Ah. They are gone."
Suho places his hands on his head where the ears had been protruding previously. "Yes…"
Nodding, Sieun offers him a hand to help him stand up. Suho takes it, although he bears all his weight on his own hand and none on Sieun's.
"I have somewhere to show you, pup."
Suho's fangs press against his bottom lip and he has to take another long inhale to force them to retract. Once they do, he smiles. "Where?"
Sieun inclines his head towards the area past where he usually sleeps. Without wasting a second, he starts walking towards it. It is only when there is a slight pull that Suho realises their hands are still together.
His ears perk up again. He pats them with a scowl.
Ahead of them is a chiselled doorway, like it has been hand-carved. Suho has no recollection of ever seeing it before, which he assumes is mostly on account of the silver dragon who has been slumbering in front of it since Suho first happened upon the cave.
Suho's gaze lowers to where their hands are joined. After a second, he pinches the sleeve of Sieun's robe and peels it back. The skin beneath is completely smooth.
"What are you doing?"
"I bit you," Suho says, letting the fabric fall back over the skin. "I thought it was this arm, but I guess I was wrong."
Sieun glances over his shoulder, a little incredulous. "It was that arm. I am a dragon, pup."
Suho does not bother to explain that Sieun's statement clarifies nothing because all he knows about dragons is from folklore; he simply nods.
Of course a dragon could heal itself. That makes perfect sense to him, especially from Sieun's pretty mouth.
Sieun tilts his head before facing forward again, just as they reach the doorway.
The moment they step through it, their hands fall apart. Sieun continues walking while Suho is frozen in place.
The entire cave has been carved out into something reminiscent of a palace. The walls are covered by decorative columns and inscriptions. There are even depictions of kingdom, dragons, and humans covering the rock faces. Sconces protrude from the columns and are glowing alight, casting gold over the hall.
When Suho finally finds his tongue, he says, "Has this been here the whole time?"
Sieun pauses a few steps ahead of him. "Yes. Do you think I could have created all of this whilst you slept?"
Shaking his head, Suho continues marvelling the entire room.
There are shelves covering one wall, filled with ancient relics that he is certain people would pay a fortune for. In the corner is a large table with silver marbling running through what looks like quartz.
"Wow."
"It is a bit ostentatious, is it not?" the dragon muses.
Suho's eyes shift from the scenery to Sieun, his silver robes spilling around him, black hair stark against his face. He stares at Suho earnestly. Suho cannot think anything other than that he looks like the prince of this silver palace.
"It's beautiful," Suho breathes, staring at him.
Sieun lowers his eyes to the floor, tugging at his ear through his ebony hair.
"Come this way," he mumbles, putting his back to Suho and walking towards one of the doors in the left corner.
Suho hurries to catch up to him. Sieun pushes the door open and it gives way easily.
The first thing Suho spots is a four-poster bed.
His mouth falls open.
Drapes hang from the wooden posters, a silver shade that shimmers. Tapestries cover the walls, depicting history that Suho is sure has been long forgotten.
The sconces light themselves. He jumps, ears shooting up.
Sieun turns back before he can hide them, so he decides to simply pretend they are not there.
"Every time that I went to sleep on that stone slab," he says, "did you feel bad even once?"
Sieun blinks slowly before shrugging. "It would be foolish of me to show you this place. You are still half human, and all they do is covet that which is not theirs."
"Does this mean you trust me now?" Suho asks, taking a step towards the dragon.
Sieun's eyes follow his approach. "Maybe. Or maybe because you obviously cannot hide your emotions very well." He points to his own head, where Suho's wolf ears would be.
Embarrassingly enough, the thought of Sieun with animal ears makes Suho's perk up in excitement.
"Ah, seriously," he laments, putting his hands up to cover them from view.
Something reminiscent of a smile shows on the dragon's face but he faces the room before Suho can get a proper look at it.
"You are more than welcome to rest here."
"Humans don't like me." The words tumble from Suho's mouth and make Sieun pause. "I don't… Even if they did, I wouldn't tell."
Sieun considers him for long seconds before he nods. "I know."
A smirk grows on Suho's face. "So you do trust me."
"Overzealous," mutters Sieun but there is not contempt in his tone. "I would have brought you here earlier if it was within my power." He motions generally to Suho's figure. "I cannot carry you as a human, and as a dragon, I cannot fit through the doorway." He turns away, voice lowering as if he is speaking to himself. "And even once you woke up, you refused to forgo your wolf form."
"Are you sulking?" Suho asks, stepping closer.
"I am doing no such thing," the dragon says, his back still to Suho, unaware of his approach.
The silence stretches.
Suho's hands lift and brush against Sieun's hair. The dragon tenses slightly, though he does not seem all that surprised. Suho suspects he could sense his proximity.
He slides his palm against the silky strands, until they spill over Sieun's shoulder and down his back.
"Don't sulk," Suho murmurs. "I was just embarrassed."
Sieun's head lifts slightly, angling so that he may look up at Suho.
Suho curls his finger around a section of Sieun's hair and lifts it to his lips. "Next time, tell me what you want me to do, my dragon, and I'll do it."
He places a gentle kiss to the lock of hair before letting it slip down like a waterfall.
Sieun stares at him with wide eyes and, this time, the amethyst is clearly visible, swirling around his pupil. Suho could fall into them, swimming in the rich lagoon of Sieun's gaze forever.
"Your eyes…" he says, suppressing the desire to brush his fingers along the dragon's under-eye. "They're so beautiful. Like an amethyst cave."
Slowly, Sieun turns on his foot, his shoulder brushing against Suho's chest as he does. It draws Suho's attention to how close they are. Now he cannot think of anything else.
"Are you hungry?" Sieun asks.
Licking his lips, Suho nods. "Yes."
"I will hunt for you. Make use of the bed whilst I am away, pup."
The wording sends a flush through Suho's body and he fights the urge to turn his head away. Only because he wants to say the next words in full sincerity, meeting his dragon's heavy gaze.
"Please be careful."
"Whatever humans have wounded you so, they are no match for me, Suho. I am a dragon."
Suho does not move or speak. Just stares.
Finally, Sieun releases a huff, not so different from the ones he makes as a dragon.
"I will be careful."
It brings a smile to Suho's face. "Thank you."
Sieun strokes his head, scratching behind his ears. "I shall not be long but do not wait for me."
"Yes, my dragon," Suho says. "I'll sleep, don't worry."
Sieun's mouth forms a soft smile. "Okay."
Although Suho wants to see him off, he knows it will only irritate the dragon, so he meanders over to the bed. The mattress sinks under his weight as he sits on the side, watching Sieun walking towards the door. He looks back once.
"Hunters, was it?"
It takes Suho a second to deduce what Sieun is talking about. When he does, he nods.
"Yes. I know you're much stronger and bigger than me but…"
Sighing softly, Sieun says, "I promised I will be careful. That is as good as an oath to a dragon."
"I'm really out of loop on this whole dragon thing," Suho says, brows furrowing.
"A conversation for another time."
With that, Sieun disappears through the doorway, steps so light even Suho's wolf hearing cannot pick up on them.
He lays his head to rest against the pillows, listening out for the sound of mighty wings as the dragon leaves its cave.
For the first time in however long.
To hunt for him.
Suho grins and hides his face in the pillows.
He falls asleep shortly after.
Maybe because he has slept so much in the days prior, or because he is lacking a certain draconian companion, but Suho finds himself restless, tossing in his sleep and unable to fully settle. He drifts in and out of consciousness for a long while.
He is half-awake when the air shifts, as though winds are rushing through the cave.
Immediately, he shoots off the bed, ignoring the sting in his side at the abrupt movement.
"Sieun?" he says, stumbling from the room.
He manages to regain his bearings before he makes it to the doorway that leads into the cavern. His hand lands on the side as he takes a deep breath.
The scene before him steals it away just as fast.
Where the moon casts a spotlight in the centre of the cavern, Sieun is standing, eyes closed as he bears his face to the light.
He looks like a God.
Maybe that is Suho's first thought because Sieun's face and arms are dripping with blood. It covers him, as though he has bathed in it.
It makes Suho's heart shackle in his chest.
"Sieun?" he tries again, starting towards him.
Slowly at first, until panic swells and he speeds up his steps.
Sieun's eyes open and his head languidly turns towards Suho.
He meets his gaze with irises of pure amethyst. It reminds Suho so viscerally of the first time he saw the silver dragon.
"Suho."
Sieun's voice commands attention, booming around the cavern.
Suho trips over something just before he reaches Sieun. He glances down at what is under his foot.
Limbs.
An arm.
There are humans littered at the feet of the dragon.
A gurgle sounds.
Suho realises that they are still alive.
After a rudimentary scan, he confirms all of them have had their vocal cords torn from their throats, eyes gouged out, and four 'X' marks clawed over their bodies. Three have their hands mangled.
Suho returns to Sieun without a second longer wasted on the humans.
"You said you would be careful," he whispers, cupping his dragon's face.
The slick feeling of blood coats his hand.
"This is not my blood."
The words are so cold that it should terrify Suho; an immortal dragon who has tortured these men so viciously he is doused in their blood is standing before him.
Yet, all he feels is worry.
"You didn't get hurt?"
Sieun shakes his head. "They did not anticipate my arrival. They were not prepared to handle me, as they were for you."
Suho almost stumbles. He looks down at the writhing humans.
It dawns on him so quickly now that he is studying them for a second time; the crosses are engraved in the same spots across all bodies, where the arrows had embedded in his wolf form. And the three with their hands destroyed—hands that had been holding bows a few nights before.
The men who had hunted him.
"You did this… for me?" Suho croaks, facing his dragon.
Sieun stares up at him, his gaze piercing now that it is such a vibrant hue. Suho feels as though his soul is bared to the dragon, his hands cupping it and offering.
"You do not have to worry anymore, pup," Sieun says, stroking his hair. "Nobody can hurt you now."
A throaty noise escapes Suho, and he nuzzles his face into Sieun's neck, breathing him in, even with the overpowering stench of iron.
"Thank you, my dragon," he exhales against skin.
"Eat, Suho. You said you are hungry."
"I am," Suho whispers, face pressed into the warmth of Sieun's neck. "I'll eat, Sieun."
Sieun's hand continues to stroke his hair, neither caring for how the blood begins transferring between them.
After a little while of hugging his dragon close, Suho untangles from him, turning into his wolf form as he tears into the bodies of the men who hunted him. There is no forgiveness in his teeth as they rip. No revenge either. Sieun has already dealt out that punishment for him.
He is simply eating because Sieun has told him to.
He is able to finish off a few of the bodies—the archers—and when his stomach is bursting, he sits down in front of Sieun and bows his head.
Sieun scratches his bloodied chin. "Is that sufficient to satiate you, pup?"
Suho noses against Sieun's neck and shoulder, hair brushing his snout.
The smell of blood is oppressive, but it does not affect Suho. He has been a hunter long before he became so docile. Only for Sieun. Only for his dragon.
A hand caresses the side of his jaw before Sieun says, "Let me deal with what remains."
Suho whines when Sieun steps away from him, but he has almost no time to actually protest because Sieun shifts into a dragon and collects the bodies in his claws before disappearing out of the dome above.
Even the way that his dragon body cuts through the air is so graceful. Suho marvels long after he has left.
When he finally draws himself away, he leaves behind the patch of blood from his feasting and returns to his human form. After splashing his face in the spring, he settles on the stone slab as he waits for Sieun to return.
A flash of light dancing over the cave wall is the first sign. Scales reflecting the moon.
The dragon descends. Sieun turns into a human just as his toes touch the ground, landing as softly as a fairy would.
He is still covered in blood as he makes his way over to Suho.
"Their fates are in the forest's hands," Sieun says. "I doubt they will live to see the sunrise."
"You ripped their vocal cords and eyes out. They'll be eaten alive." Suho is far from accusatory, simply pointing out the obvious.
Sieun stares. A blood-adorned angel.
"Good," he says with finality.
Pushing off of the stone, Suho steps closer to him.
"You hunted for me," he states, picking up some of Sieun's blood-matted hair. "I am indebted to you, Sieun. But you're too beautiful to be covered in their filth." He sneers as he says that. "Let me wash you clean of them… please."
The dragon does not move for a long time, even as Suho absentmindedly plays with his hair.
When he finally does speak, it is three simple words. "As you wish."
It takes considerable focus for Suho to prevent his tail and ears from sprouting. Especially when Sieun turns his back to him and shrugs, allowing the blood-stained robes to slip from his shoulders.
Suho's breath catches in his throat, and his hand is shaking slightly as he reaches out. Hooking some of Sieun's hair, he slips it over one shoulder. His other hand comes up to slide over the smooth skin of Sieun's shoulder.
Sieun turns to look at Suho's hand as his fingertips push at the hem of the robe, following it down the curve of his arm until his hand brushes over Sieun's.
The hush of fabric against skin is the only sound.
It folds down Sieun's back like blood-red moonlight on a silver lake. His hair falls from his shoulder, hanging to his lower back. Suho's eyes trail the newly revealed skin, wanting to touch, lick, and bite.
When it reaches his waist, Sieun lets the fabric spill entirely, pooling on the floor at his feet.
Suho swallows.
Leaving behind his robes, Sieun moves towards to the spring. His hips sway ever so slightly, hair dancing with each step, and Suho has to force his gaze up before he is mesmerised.
He pulls his shirt overhead and his trousers off as Sieun submerges himself in the water.
The water already begins staining crimson.
Suho dips his foot in the spring, finding it a little warmed with what it has soaked from the day.
The surface oscillates around the dragon as he turns, bloodied face staring up at Suho as he wades closer. The purple of his eyes has darkened, gradually returning to their original colour. They flick down to what lies below the water before returning to Suho's face.
Suho stops in front of him, the difference in their height forcing the dragon to lift his head.
Gently, Suho slides Sieun's hair over his shoulders, coaxing his head to tip back.
Their eyes never leave one another as Suho rakes his fingers through the bloodied hair, clouds of red dispersing with every run through.
"Are you usually so…" he begins, sentence fading when he cannot find the correct word.
"Savage?" offers Sieun.
"Messy."
Sieun's mouth forms something of a smile, his fangs poking out from under his top lip.
"I do not make a habit of it."
Suho guides Sieun's head up before instructing him to dip under the water.
When Sieun goes, so does he.
He forces his eyes open, and even through the fog of blood, he can see the ethereal beauty of the dragon.
Sieun's black hair billows out around him, golden skin almost shimmering as the blood washes away. Everything about him looks so soft and untouchable—human to the point that he simply cannot be.
Without the red stain, his perfect pink lips are visible. A heat rushes through Suho's body and he quickly surfaces, running hands over his face and through his hair.
When he opens his eyes, Sieun has emerged and is watching him. There had been no sound of the water flowing as he broke the surface, and Suho, once again, is taken by how mythical he is.
Before he can say anything he will come to regret, he glides closer through the spring. Sieun's irises have completely bled to black as they stare.
Suho lifts a hand from under the water, thumb finding home along Sieun's cheekbone. He swipes the blood that beads there, tilting Sieun's head with his other hand as he begins to clean off any remainder of the hunters from his dragon.
Once his face is clear, Suho gently pivots Sieun, marvelling the softness of his muscles before he cups his hand with water and pours it along his shoulder. It trickles down. He slides his hands over the skin, listening to Sieun's slightly uneven breath as if it were his own, deep within his chest.
Sieun tucks his hair over one shoulder, eyes on Suho as the wolf carefully lets his hand explore, down to the small of Sieun's back, the curves of his waist, and back up again.
His eyes follow the path, rubbing everywhere that the blood clings.
When he is finished, his hands return to Sieun's shoulders and he leans down, lips pressing against the skin. They linger there. The water that is picked up by his lips tingles.
With that, he retreats.
Sieun's eyes flutter closed as Suho's callouses disappear from his body.
"Done," Suho rasps.
Sieun glides a hand from his shoulder, over the spot where Suho kissed him and up to his neck, as he tilts his head slightly. "Mm."
"You can wear my shirt," Suho offers. "I'll wash your robes."
Sieun turns to face him. "Are you certain?"
Suho nods. "You must be tired."
It almost looks as though he is floating as Sieun cuts through the water. When he takes the first step up, water cascades down his body, rolling over every curve as Suho's hands had been.
Suho tells himself to look away, but he cannot. Transfixed.
Only as Sieun leans over is he able to drag his gaze to the side.
It is for that reason that when he looks back over and finds Sieun completely dry, he has no idea what occurred to make that possible.
Not that he dedicates much thought to that when his dragon is wearing his shirt, the fabric falling down to the middle of his thighs.
Suho swallows, ears shooting up and tail disturbing the water below.
"Come out, pup," Sieun says. "I will dry you."
It takes everything in Suho to nod and advance up the rock steps. He has only a piece of fabric covering him.
The dragon does not look down, and two steps from the spring, all the water on Suho suddenly evaporates. Sieun's eyes flash violet for a second but that is the only sign of him using his powers.
They stare at each other for a second before Sieun turns away, the corner of his mouth twitching.
Suho knows it is on account of the tail wagging behind him, brushing against the floor. He tries to pretend it is not.
Clearing his throat, he motions to the bloody robes. "I'll deal with this."
Sieun nods and, with that, he walks towards the doorway and out of Suho's view.
Suho watches him go before he smacks his ears and tail, cursing under his breath.
The fabric that the dragon wears is incredibly soft, a finer material than anything Suho has ever been able to get his hands on, despite the duration of his life. It is fit for kings and princes. And dragons too, he supposes.
He treats the robes with as much care as he did Sieun. Working out the blood with gentle rubs and massages.
A long while passes before they look just as they did when Suho first saw Sieun, albeit a lot damper now. He spreads it over the stone slab, hoping the sunlight tomorrow can take care of it.
After, he pulls up his loose trousers, tying them tighter around the waist and leaving behind the spring that has been dyed red by Sieun's care.
The silver palace carved into the walls of the cavern is silent, so quiet that each step he takes seems to echo.
Turning left into the bedroom, his feet stutter against the floor and he almost trips over entirely.
Sieun is laid out on the bed, eyes closed, and face so incredibly peaceful.
He sleeps on his side, facing the door, and long hair spilling over the pillow.
Only in Suho's shirt, which has risen to his upper thigh. It dips where his waist curves.
Suho inhales sharply, breaking himself from the trance he entered.
He hesitates, unsure if he is allowed to lay on the same bed, despite there being enough space for two more people on the huge mattress.
That is until he imagines Sieun telling him to lay beside him, and decides it is definitely for the best that the dragon is resting.
Slowly, he slips onto the mattress, laying his head on the bend of his arm and studying Sieun's face.
He traces his features so many times it is like he is carving them into his memory. With his eyes closed, Sieun's lashes, a deep black, are so pronounced and lend him an even prettier glow. His plump lips are parted with silent breaths, once again existing in a way that is so beyond the bumbling manner of humans.
After a while, Suho's eyes lower. Lifting his hand, he keeps an inch of space between Sieun's body and his palm. The heat radiating off Sieun is so warm that it almost catches him off guard.
His hand follows the curves of his body—the shoulders and arms he had touched in the sanctity of the spring, down his torso and the curve of his waist, and finally his legs, where Suho's shirt falls on him.
He steals his hand back, tucking it under the arm that he is leaning on as if it has committed an offence.
Returning to Sieun's face, he continues to marvel at him up until the last second before his eyelids droop, and a slurred whisper of, "My dragon…" escapes him.
When he awakes however long later, Sieun is no longer beside him. It takes Suho a little while to regain his bearings, but once he registers the bed as half-empty, he sits up with a frown.
Sieun is nowhere within the room either.
Knowing that the dragon seems to prefer his beast form, Suho thinks not much of it and pads out into the cavern. However, the silver reflection he finds is not from scales.
It must be early in the morning as golden light covers the rock faces, but the sun is not pooling in the centre of the cavern. On the far side, Sieun is beside the spring, his back to where Suho now stands, frozen.
Pinching the fabric of Suho's shirt in his hands, Sieun pulls it overhead. His hair gets caught in the fabric and once it is off, the long ebony locks tumble down.
Suho does not even realise that he is holding his breath.
Sieun folds the shirt into a polite square and places it beside his robe, picking up the silver fabric from the slab that Suho left it on the night before.
In the silence of Suho's overwrought eyes, Sieun redresses. Draping his arms with silver, golden legs and curves all adorned.
When he has tied it at the front, he tucks his arms under his hair and pulls it from where it is trapped between his skin and clothes.
Only then does he turn.
Suho tries to say something, despite the space between them, but all that comes out is a stuttered breath.
His face grows incredibly warm, almost buzzing.
Sieun does not budge for a second, before he picks up Suho's shirt and crosses the distance between them.
"Your shirt," he says once he is close enough, lifting it in his hand.
"Thanks— Thank you," Suho stammers.
Their fingers brush as he takes it from Sieun's grasp.
"I hope it wasn't uncomfortable."
Sieun tilts his head, brows drawing together. "Is it not your own shirt? I am certain you would know."
Flushing, Suho nods rather frantically. "Yes, of course— Mhm, I do."
The corner of Sieun's lips curl up and he ruffles Suho's hair. It does not take much for Suho to realise his ears are out again.
Seriously, what is wrong with him?
"May I get past, pup?"
It takes a moment for Suho to grasp what Sieun is talking about. He steps to the side and allows Sieun passage into the palace.
With a frown, he pats down the ears flicking on his head, before pulling his shirt on and chasing after the dragon into the bedroom.
"Are you sleeping again?"
"Mm…" Sieun hums as he lays down on the far side of the mattress.
Suho shifts on his feet, hands fidgeting with nothing to do. "You sleep a lot."
"There is not much else to do when you have been alive for far too long."
The tone brings a frown to Suho's face, but he hides it fairly quickly.
Sieun's head tips to the side and he stares at Suho, still loitering on the opposite side of the bed.
"What about you, Suho?" he asks. "Are you going to join me?"
A growling noise escapes Suho, low in his throat. Immediately, he casts his eyes to the floor as if he has done wrong and is about to be scolded.
"What was that?"
"N– Nothing…"
The dragon arches a brow. "Did you just growl?"
"It happens sometimes," Suho hastily says, though it is a blatant lie. "Just a wolf thing."
Pitch black eyes consider him.
Fearful of being discovered, he scampers to the mattress and finally offers his answer to Sieun's question—one that is not a growl. "I'm not tired, Sieun-ah, but I'll stay with you."
He pulls his legs up onto the mattress and lays flat on his back, lacing his hands over his stomach. He attempts to focus only on the wooden roof of the bed and not the presence to his right that is still staring at him.
It takes a few more breaths—and a gulp from Suho—for Sieun to shift.
Suho does not risk a glance for another few minutes.
He almost sighs in relief when he finds the dragon slumbering again. He mutters something incoherent under his breath before turning to what lies above him instead.
The mahogany frame has been carved with intricate patterns, interlocking with a perfection that boasts of careful craftsmanship. He cannot imagine how long it took to create such a masterpiece. For it to be within Sieun's cave palace, many generations must have passed since the artist's life was snuffed out.
He follows each line with his eyes, as if he were trailing fingers over it. He has only finished one quarter of the engraving when the bed lets out a faint creak.
Something warm brushes his arm. He inhales, though it almost gets caught in his throat as his eyes flare.
The softness of Sieun's robes is almost mistakable for skin, especially when the heat that radiates off of his body is so intense. Suho takes a shaky breath, shifting his head so slowly that it feels like he is acting in a pantomime.
His chin brushes something silky. Sieun's hair.
"Are you cold?" he whispers, as he marvels how Sieun has curled up against his side.
The dragon releases a sleepy sound, one that is more unconscious than anything. His head angles ever so slightly so that he nestles further into the crook of Suho's neck.
A fever rushes through Suho, warming him like a furnace. The swish of fabric being flicked is the only audible sound other than his heart, pounding in his head.
Suho ignores his excitable ears in favour of pulling his hands apart.
Carefully, he lifts one and lays it just above Sieun's head.
The dragon blinks, staring blearily up at him. Their faces are inches apart.
After a moment, Sieun raises his head the slightest bit, giving Suho the space needed to slip his arm under his head. Once it is in position, Sieun lowers again, fitting himself as snug against Suho as possible.
His breath fans out against Suho's neck, and the wolf squeezes one eye closed with every exhale.
The tail trapped beneath his body manages to tap Sieun's leg twice, fluffing as it tries to rub against it.
Suho bites his lip, raising his head slightly so that he can try and wrangle his tail under control. The angle of his neck strains, and he nearly drops it thrice as he unsuccessfully tucks his tail just for it to free itself once again.
A hot huff hits his neck and he freezes.
A moment later, something cold winds around his tail.
Suho releases a small noise when he sees a tail made of silver scales wrapped around his own.
Gulping, he becomes distinctly aware of a problem rising in a different place. His tail tests the restraints for just a second before it surrenders to Sieun's hold. Likes it a little.
"Will that suffice in preventing you from moving for at least a few minutes?" Sieun murmurs, a haze of sleep saturating his words.
Suho is not quite ready to look away from the sight of their tails twisted together but, for the sake of Sieun's sleep, he lets his head rest on the pillows once more. The moment that it lands, the sound of shuffling fabric resumes.
"Sorry."
Humming, Sieun gives his flicking ears a scratch. Suho closes his eyes, leaning into the feeling.
"If you dare to wake me once more, I will fly you higher than any mountain you have ever ventured and let you fall."
Even though there is a high chance that Sieun is being the utmost serious, Suho cannot help the chuckle that rumbles in his chest.
"I'll be as still as a dragon," Suho promises.
"Anything but a wolf," mumbles Sieun, already dozing off.
It is clear that he has succumbed completely when his hand stops its slow scratch and falls to the pillow at the side of Suho's head.
Suho only shifts once in the next three hours. When he is certain that Sieun will not be awoken by a slight movement, he tilts his head and feathers a kiss to the crown of Sieun's head, smiling.
Despite the fact that he has slept more than enough in the past couple of days, the warmth of his dragon coaxes him into another nap.
By the time that he awakes, he is dismayed to discover that Sieun's tail has once again disappeared.
His own begins to brush against the bed now that he is cognisant, catching Sieun's attention. Sieun, who is awake but still tucked against Suho's side.
After the lacking dragon tail, the second thing that Suho becomes acutely aware of is that at some point while asleep, he has rolled onto his side and the arm not tucked under Sieun's head is now flung over his waist.
"I am glad to see you are resting enough," the dragon says. "You need it to recover."
Suho almost confesses that he has barely noticed any pain or injury since he first woke up to Sieun's beauty, but decides against it. Either to avoid a lecture or to not further embarrass himself.
"Being around you makes me sleepy." His voice comes out in a grumble, muffled as he drops his face into Sieun's hair.
"If that is what it takes for you to finally stop running around like a newborn cub," sighs Sieun, as though resigned to an eternity babysitting.
Suho frowns, withdrawing to stare down at Sieun. The dragon shifts his head too, blinking up at him with his bottomless stare.
"Do you know how boring it is to be stuck in a cave with nothing to do and nobody to talk to?" Immediately, he adds on, "Don't answer that."
Sieun looks away, the corners of his mouth tugging up as he huffs. "After a couple hundred years, you will get used to it."
As he speaks, Suho admires his face, tucking some of Sieun's hair behind his ear. The dragon returns his attention to Suho, who tilts his head.
"I won't have to get used to it, though." Suho takes the hand that Sieun has been resting beside his chest and interlaces their fingers. "I have you."
Sieun stills. His eyes dart over Suho's face, as though he is reading something there.
Eventually, he says, "You will still grow bored. I do not provide much entertainment."
"That's a lie, I'm very entertained right now."
A disbelieving smile grows on Sieun's face. "Really?"
"Really."
"I guess you are a pup," murmurs Sieun, brushing Suho's bangs with the side of his finger. "So easily appeased."
"When are you going to stop calling me that?" Suho gripes, on the verge of sulking. He does not like being treated as though he is a child. "You know my name now."
Something glimmers in Sieun's eyes, like the moonlight reflecting off the spring.
"I do, Suho," he answers. "But pup is simply so fitting that I cannot help it."
"Sieun-ah."
The dragon huffs. "I will try, pup."
A beat of silence follows before he presses his lips into a thin line and averts his eyes.
Even though it is at his expense, Sieun's expression causes Suho to burst out laughing. He tips his head back, eyes crinkling as his amusement echoes through the room.
When it finally subsides, he returns to looking at Sieun, whose eyes are concentrated on him with the same intensity that Suho had earlier when studying the patterns in the bed frame. As if he is tracing Suho's features with a finger, searing every contour into his memory.
Suho opens his mouth but, before he can say anything, something smacks over the lower half of his face. He yelps, ears standing to attention as if he is being attacked.
Which he is. By a certain sly dragon.
Suho catches Sieun's tail the next time it tries to silence him.
His hand starts to trail lower, gliding over the scales and following the curve.
It does not go unnoticed to him that Sieun has to swallow, especially as his hand gravitates dangerously close to slipping beneath his robes.
"I didn't know you could do that," Suho says, voice low.
Sieun's lips peel apart. "We are both shifters, Suho. Why would I be unable to do something that is within you capabilities?"
"I don't know." Suho shrugs. "I know nothing about dragons."
His hand gives the tail underhand a small stroke. A shaky breath escapes Sieun.
"I am not well versed on wolves, but I still have common sense," he says.
Suho pouts, stealing his hand back and leaving Sieun's tail to its own devices.
A beat.
The end of the tail strokes Suho's cheek before sliding down and behind Sieun again, out of view.
Suho bites his lip, unable to keep a smile off his face despite how flustered he feels.
"Are you going to sleep again?" he asks.
Sieun makes a non-committal noise.
Five minutes later, he has dozed off once more within Suho's arms.
Even as a human, Sieun sleeps much too often. Compared to how listless Suho would grow in the days before he discovered the silver dragon could shift into a human, Suho finds himself content enough to watch Sieun as he slumbers, often using the excuse of his recovery to justify it.
In his head, at least. Sieun does not care enough to require any such justification for him.
As he recovers—though he barely feels his wounds—they spend most of their time together, and Sieun remains human throughout, mostly so that he can entertain Suho's conversations.
After a few days, Suho leaves Sieun sleeping in bed so that he can bathe in the pool. It has long since cleared of the blood that permeated its waters.
He strips off completely, untying the cloth around his waist too before diving into the water. It is cool in the early morning, and Suho can feel himself coming clean.
After dipping his head under and scrubbing his face, he rests against the side, staring at the wall of the cavern.
His mind starts to wander to Sieun, although he tries not to. He seriously cannot help himself.
Those crystalline eyes, whether obsidian or amethyst have replaced the usual darkness he sees when his eyelids are closed. And now they are absent from his surroundings, he can make them out in the depressions along the wall as well.
They morph into more simple lines, the curve of Sieun's back the day before when he laid down on his stomach, robes highlighting every detail beneath for Suho's keen eyes. And again, shifting into the shape of his waist, the one Suho has woken up to find in his hold three times now.
He bites his lip, a groan sounding in his throat as he tilts his head back to stare at the ceiling instead.
Said obsidian eyes peer at him.
He shouts incoherently, almost ricocheting out of the water, but instead shooting off the side and swivelling around.
Sieun is crouched on the dry bank by the waters edge, where Suho had been a moment earlier.
He cocks his head at Suho's fast retreat, hair falling in curtains.
Face overcome with surprise, Suho runs hands through his own hair, hoping there is no evidence of his fantasising anywhere on his face. "W– W– When did you— You could've—"
"I stirred and you were not there," says Sieun in response to the stammering. "I wanted to confirm that you were not venturing beyond the cave. And you are not, so…"
Suho clears his throat, a hand rubbing his neck until it grows raw. "I.. uh… Just wanted to freshen up. Thought it'd be best to go while you slept."
Sieun cups his hand, filling it with some water before gently throwing it towards Suho. It splashes his collarbones.
"Do you like… ever make noise? Or do I have to get used to being scared out of my mind every five seconds?" Suho weakly asks.
Standing, Sieun unties his robe and lets it spill down his body.
Suho chokes a little.
"Oh—"
Without a word, Sieun descends down the steps, dipping his head under at the final one.
Suho tracks the clear outline of his body and black hair flowing as he moves through the water.
When he finally breaks the surface, eyes already opening and hair smoothing back, he is right in front of Suho.
Suho swallows loudly.
The dragon does not say anything, his chin just above the surface as he looks up at Suho.
Suho's hand snakes up, cupping some water and chucking it in Sieun's direction, as had been done to him a few moments ago.
Sieun closes one eye, moving away from the splash. Although Suho had aimed it to his side, a drop lands on his cheek and rolls down, as if a tear.
Suho reaches out to wipe it away with his thumb.
"You did it first," he mumbles.
The dragon huffs, dipping under the water again.
As Suho watches Sieun ball up under the rippling surface, he suddenly recalls something.
The last time they had bathed together, he chose to keep the cloth around his waist on, covering his crotch.
Not now. He removed it earlier under the assumption that Sieun would not be joining him. Which had been correct at the time.
He turns a horrid shade of red as he becomes acutely aware that he is completely naked, and Sieun is beneath the water, way too close.
He tucks his hands under Sieun's armpits and hauls him up. The dragon's face looks mildly taken aback, like he has been disturbed mid-nap. Suho awkwardly holds him up before releasing him again.
Sieun considers him for a few seconds before he shrugs—it must be a wolf thing—and lifts slightly off the floor so that he can plunge under again.
Once again, Suho grabs his arms and deters him from doing so.
Sieun frowns. "Is this a game?"
"N- No." Suho sounds all kinds of choked up. "Just don't know why you would stay underwater when there's such a beautiful view."
He closes his eyes, lips pressing together as he wills himself out of existence. One day fairly soon he is going to have to sew his mouth shut.
"A… beautiful view?"
When Suho cracks one eye open, he sees Sieun glancing around the cave, trying to grasp what Suho is referring to. He must not find much to be desired along the cave walls because his gaze returns to Suho, not lingering on his face for long before skimming lower.
Both of Suho's eyes are open now, watching Sieun study his chest. Then lower again.
Before he can breach the very area that Suho is trying to draw his attention from, Suho pushes his chin up with a knuckle. The dragon's eyes belatedly follow.
"Your face?" he asks after a pause.
"Thank you, but no."
That earns him a huff and Sieun swivels, wading away from him.
Suho rubs the back of his neck before dipping under the water. After a beat, he opens his eyes.
A few air bubbles escape his mouth as his jaw falls.
On the ledge that Suho was sitting earlier, Sieun is now perched, one leg crossed over the other. Even through the blur of the water, Suho can make out the perfect golden shade of his skin.
One of his hands lands on his head prematurely, the other going for where his tail pokes out, and he pushes out of the water before he can stare transfixed any longer.
Sieun's eyes meet his.
Suho swallows. Risking the chance of his ears popping out, he wades towards Sieun, stopping before him. Sieun's foot accidentally brushes his pelvis and he has to bite back a gasp.
The dragon frowns and draws both his legs up onto the ledge. Just as Suho is about to guiltily move away, Sieun leans down, hands cupping his face.
Words die on Suho's tongue. He does not think in anything other than explosions of colour that all bleeds to violet.
Sieun's forehead rests against his, nose fitting to the side of Suho's, and he nuzzles into Suho's face.
Suho has spent so long in nature's shadow, alone as a wolf, forced to witness how affection is shared between those who were born normal.
Wolves who have a pack, snouts rubbing, a deer and its fawn, nosing together, and even the most sinister of animals being offered what he has always lacked.
As Sieun's soft skin brushes against his, Suho cannot imagine anything more tender. He closes his eyes, immersing in the feeling.
After a beat, he slightly inclines his head, responding in kind.
His face is aflame when Sieun finally withdraws, blinking at him, almost lethargic.
He cannot imagine how he looks at Sieun now, something like a nonbeliever finding salvation, as if Sieun is a God. His God.
Sieun's face reveals no emotion, but he lifts a hand and begins patting Suho.
Suho's ears jump to attention, but this time he does not see the purpose of suppressing them.
Instead, he holds out a hand. Sieun stares at it for a few seconds before he slips his own into Suho's grip, their palms fitting together so perfectly.
Gently, Suho guides him off the ledge and into the water again.
They do not speak as Suho twists Sieun so he is turned away, and still nothing as his hands begin to slide over his shoulders, up to his neck.
Down again, over his shoulders blades and his lower back, round to his waist, and up his stomach.
Sieun leans his head to the side as he rakes fingers through his hair.
Suho washes him in the hush of the cavern, his heart thumping so loudly that he is certain the hollow is amplifying it for Sieun to hear. The dragon says nothing though, so maybe he is spared.
When he finishes cleaning him, his hands remain on Sieun's waist, and the dragon reaches back to stroke his head.
Suho picks him up and places him back on the ledge. Neither of them really notice as Sieun lets his legs open so that Suho can step closer. Suho naturally winds his arms around him, forearms resting on top of his thighs. Sieun begins to play with his hair, and once rewarded with his ears poking out, takes to scratching and fondling them instead.
Suho smiles, basking in the early morning sun that fills the cave, and all of his dragon's attention.
Until Sieun says, "I suspect it is time for us to get out, Suho."
He shows his fingers, beginning to prune at the pads.
Suho sighs, moving back to allow Sieun to exit.
Sieun stands on the ledge before turning and stepping out, blessing Suho with the sight of his ass once again. His hips do that small sway that always drives Suho absolutely insane.
He squeezes the excess water from his hair, which seems superfluous because, a second later, his twists his fingers and is completely dry.
Suho watches from the side, resting his chin on his arms as Sieun gets dressed.
It is only once he has tied his robes that he notices Suho still in the spring, tail disturbing the water as it wags behind him. He frowns.
"Suho, come out," he instructs.
Suho shakes his head. "I will in a bit. You go rest up."
Sieun's eyes narrow. "Pup, out."
And who is Suho to disobey?
Even as humiliation burns in his stomach, he trudges to the stairs and steps out.
The water runs down his body. Sieun's eyes follow it down.
They widen slightly.
Suho bites his lip.
Abruptly, Sieun takes a step back and his attention breaks from where it has been concentrated. His face scrunches slightly, dabbing water from his cheek.
Suho realises it is because of his tail. His soaked tail, wagging with such excitement he is flicking water everywhere.
The shame he felt prior to this moment of clarity is paltry in comparison to what courses through him now.
He averts his gaze, a small noise coming from his throat. A whimper, maybe.
Whether Sieun hears or not is up for debate because, the next moment, Suho has been dried by his powers. Glancing up, he finds Sieun still watching him. Arms crossed.
Suho grabs his garment and ties it, pulling his trousers up as quickly as he can.
Once his shirt is on, he runs his hand through his hair, disturbing how the locks settle. It always fluffs, no matter how much he tries to train it.
He steps towards Sieun, still fiddling with an unruly piece of hair.
As natural as everything Sieun does, he lifts a hand between them. Suho slides his own into it and the begin to walk back to the palace in the cave.
A few more days pass of that bliss. Suho could never tire of watching Sieun sleep, even as a dragon. He reveres him.
It is mid-afternoon and they are in bed, Sieun only just rousing from his third nap of the day. In his sleep, he had snuggled into Suho's side who is holding him close. When he feels Sieun's head shift, Suho tucks the hair slipping over his face behind his ear.
"Hey," he greets. "Going back to sleep?"
Sieun blinks, staring up at him with half-lidded eyes. Suho tries not to let it get to him, but he is not impervious.
Instead, he dips his head and noses against Sieun's face. He has taken to that a lot, and Sieun always returns, no matter how sleepy he is, as he is in this moment.
He quietly hums while he nuzzles. "I am awake."
Suho's hand trails from where it paused behind his ear to his waist, landing there with confidence. He sneaks a brush of his lips against Sieun's cheek before retreating.
His dragon takes a second to process that he has moved away, eyes still closed with content. When they flutter open, Suho smiles. "Awake?"
Sieun blinks twice. Slow, eyelids dragging. "Mm…"
"Just go back to sleep," Suho murmurs, rubbing his waist.
"You will stay?" asks Sieun, his voice still weighed down with sleep.
Suho does not know if he means that simply; at this moment, in the bed. Or if, maybe, he means something deeper, requesting a future that Suho had been willing to offer since the moment the dragon first helped him.
"Yes," he answers. "I'll always stay, for however long you want me to."
Even with his eyes closed, that puts a soft smile on Sieun's face. "Mm…"
Suho chuckles, turning on his side. The space between them immediately disappears as they both move forward to fill it. Sieun exhales against Suho's chest once before falling to sleep again.
Suho cannot help how he sighs so fondly.
He makes sure to stay in bed the entire time until Sieun wakes up. On other occasions, he has taken to reading the books that are stacked up in the other room, oftentimes bringing them into the bedroom so he can read them while Sieun naps at his side.
Really, he fears the dragon sleeps too often.
Or maybe he just craves all of his time—wants it to belong to him.
When Sieun wakes a few hours later, Suho has been mesmerised by his face the entire time.
Sieun's lashes flutter as his eyes open and he meets Suho's gaze. Nothing remotely close to surprise crosses his expression. Perhaps he has grown used to Suho's constant attention, or perhaps nothing can shake him.
Either way, Suho is curious.
"You are still here," observes Sieun.
"I said I would be." After a beat, Suho adds on, "Where would I go, Sieun-ah?"
That seems to appease the dragon, eyes widening with a sweet lift of his lips. He strokes Suho's head. "My wolf."
Suho grins so brightly that it hurts his cheeks. His tail thumps behind him, and his ears dance happily under Sieun's touch.
"Sometimes I think you say things like that so this happens," Suho says as his ears are scratched.
Sieun smiles, almost privately.
"I had the strangest dream, Suho. You were unable to shift from your wolf form and I was stuck as a human. Every day I was tasked with bringing you these huge slabs of red meat, bigger than I could carry. You never left any for me. So I went hunting for myself, but you would not stop following me, and everything I caught, you would eat."
A crease appeared between Sieun's brow and Suho almost apologised on instinct, even though the dream version of him was far from reality. He would never choose to satiate himself if it left Sieun hungry.
"And guess what I did, pup?"
Suho raises a brow, prompting Sieun to continue.
"I turned around and took a bite out of you."
An amused smirk grows on Suho's face. "You ate me?"
"I did not eat you," Sieun huffs. "I just took a bite. Then you got upset with me and walked off sulking. I had to chase you through the forest, just to find out you had been caught by hunters again!"
For someone usually so inexpressive, Sieun seems incredibly distressed by his own tale, as though it had really happened.
With a smirk still playing on his lips, Suho drags Sieun closer until they are flush, angling his head so they are but inches apart.
Sieun continues, "I managed to save you, just for you to eat all the hunters too."
"Do you really think I'm that greedy?"
Sieun tilts his head and the arm under him bends so that Suho can comb his fingers through Sieun's perfect hair.
"In my dream you were… And I have only seen you eat once."
"I left some humans behind," murmurs Suho, eyes dropping to Sieun's lips, remembering them covered in blood. "Did you leave any?"
Sieun rests his hand against Suho's cheek. After a second, he responds, "Do you think I would let anyone who has hurt you live, Suho-yah?"
Suho's teeth sink into his bottom lip, and his face shifts even closer to Sieun's.
The hand on his cheek slips lower, thumb dangerously close to his mouth.
"They were part of a much larger hunting group. I believe they intended on hunting once more. Some of them tried to escape, but they did not get very far," Sieun speaks in a quiet, low voice. "Nobody is allowed to hurt you, my wolf."
Suho does not use words to answer. Instead, he finally, finally connects their lips and kisses Sieun.
Sieun's lips are soft—softer than his skin.
He does not move for a second.
Then, his mouth is slotting with Suho's, meeting him halfway.
At the first sign of reciprocation, Suho's tail thumps in beat with his heart.
Sieun's nails—claws—drag from the nape of his neck to his wolf ears and scratch the base before rubbing the tips. Suho lets out an embarrassing noise, which is breathed in by the dragon.
They break for air, only a second of separation before Suho dives back in, palming the side of Sieun's face as he tilts his head back, starving for more.
Maybe Sieun's dream was right. Maybe he is incredibly greedy. Greedy for Sieun.
His tongue runs against the seam of Sieun's lips, requesting entry. They part in a gasp and Suho slides his tongue against Sieun's. Heat pools in his stomach. He has been wanting to do this for so long that now that he has it, it is almost too much.
Sieun's hand slides down to his neck. Goosebumps sprout along its path. Suho fends off a shiver, brushing his hand over the curve of Sieun's waist and pulling him closer. Somehow. Every time he thinks they are as close as possible, there is always more space to traverse. Perhaps it will only be enough for him if they are one.
"S-"
He does not give Sieun a moment to speak, kissing him more feverishly.
Sieun's tongue folds against his and Suho almost moans. Every time Sieun indulges his eager kisses, he feels lightheaded.
His tongue trace the roof of Sieun's mouth.
Something prickles the back of his neck, but he is too lost in the warmth of Sieun to notice, even as an unwitting whimper escapes him.
He licks into Sieun's mouth with heavy breaths, much like he has stumbled upon a lake after days without water.
Running his tongue over Sieun's teeth, he relishes in the feel of the sharp canines hidden behind Sieun's lips.
Something pierces his skin.
Suho yelps, retreating as his hand flies to the back of his neck. He accidentally hits Sieun's hand, fingers braced against the skin, nails sinking in.
"S- Sieun-ah…" he whimpers.
Sieun stares up at him, his blown-out pupils surrounded by glinting amethyst.
"Be careful," Sieun says, and his voice is velvety, much like his lips. "Did I hurt you?"
"My neck," whines Suho. "Your nails."
The dragon's eyes widen. "Ah. I did not mean to cause an injury, but you were being reckless. Let me check."
Sieun lifts his head, angling Suho's so that he can see the angry red crescent he has left peppered in his wake. He cradles the other side of Suho's face, and the wolf nuzzles into it, kissing the palm.
A gasp escapes him when something wet touches his neck. "W- What—"
Sieun's tongue sweeps over the bleeding marks, mopping up all the blood. The back of his throat rumbles and Suho squeezes his eyes shut, hand shaking where it still holds Sieun's waist.
It only lasts a few seconds but, for Suho, it feels as though an eternity has passed by the time that Sieun withdraws. He stares up at him with wide eyes as the dragon licks his lips, picking up the remaining blood left there.
Right, Suho thinks.
Sieun is a dragon.
Those amethyst eyes flick to him and Suho's tail starts wagging, though less overzealous than it had been when they were kissing.
"I have not had wolves blood in a long time," Sieun muses, tilting his head.
The pad of his finger runs over the marks he has left behind. Suho cannot contain his shiver this time.
"It is still as delicious as I remember."
Suho gulps for air. "Do— Do you want more?"
What is he saying? Why is he offering his blood as easily as he offered his shirt?
The corner of Sieun's lip twitches up. "This is why I cannot help but call you pup, Suho."
Suho's worst enemies, his tail and ears, get really fired up by that. Sieun lets out a chuckle, giving his ears a good scratch. A content grumble sounds in Suho's throat.
"Does that feel good?" Sieun asks.
Suho nods, tails wagging.
Well, until it is suddenly constrained again. Suho does not need to look to know that Sieun's tails has wrapped around his once more.
He is gone.
He pulls at Sieun's waist, until the dragon falls onto his chest.
In one second, he is licking at Sieun's mouth again, angling his head so that he can deepen the kiss immediately. Sieun's tongue rolls against his, meeting just outside of their mouths.
Suho moans, grabbing a fistful of Sieun's hair. Gentle but insistent.
Every time he attempts to slip his tongue into Sieun's mouth, he is obstructed; Sieun will poke his tongue past his lips and play with Suho's until the wolf becomes dizzy.
Suho whines, even though the messy kiss feels so good.
A hand flattens against his chest and, for a moment, Suho thinks he is going to be made to stop. Only for Sieun to gently scratch at the fabric under his hand, almost a warning.
Suho whimpers, breaking the kiss. He is panting—overwrought. Sieun seems only the slightest bit out of breath.
His hair is mussed where Suho is grabbing it and his eyelids drooping. It is the same stare he has when tired, though now there is a fire burning in the tinges of amethyst.
"Why not?" Suho asks.
"You will not be careful."
Suho has no clue what Sieun is talking about, but if he needs to be 'careful' to be allowed to kiss the dragon properly, he is more than capable of that.
"I will…"
Sieun narrows his eyes, but eventually huffs and says, "Do not say that I did not warn you."
A little unfair, but Suho is much too eager to get offended.
He drives Sieun back down with the hand in his hair and this time he is allowed to tongue into Sieun's mouth. He grins, exploring every surface.
So incredibly warm. The heat radiates and makes Suho feel as though he is melting.
Sieun's hand clenches into a fist against his chest. Suho groans. When he tests the ridges of Sieun's teeth with his tongue, the dragon growls.
The sound is electrifying. Suho's hand frees Sieun's hair and trails down the curves of his body, hiking him up so that he is completely laid atop him.
He teases his teeth again and is rewarded with another growl. Suho licks the gums behind the sharp canines. A sharp pinch sends pain through his wolf ear, caught by Sieun's fingers.
It elicits a yelp from him, and he withdraws, brows furrowing. Before he can say anything, Sieun gently grasps his chin, opening his mouth.
"Tongue," he orders.
Suho lets out a shaky breath but slips his tongue forward until it is resting over his bottom lip.
Sieun studies it with an intensity that has Suho shuddering.
It takes a few more seconds before he is released and Sieun sighs with resignation.
"I knew you would not be careful, pup."
Suho tries to say something, but he suddenly becomes aware of how numb his tongue is. His eyes widen, and he grapples at Sieun's waist, panicked.
"It is just the paralysis that you will have to contend with. It should not knock you unconscious for more than a few hours," explains Sieun, though Suho does not know what it is. "Rest well, my wolf."
Suho really wants to do anything but that, had been perfectly happy kissing Sieun, but black spots are beginning to bloom across his vision and he realises that he does not have much choice in the matter.
He passes out within a few seconds.
As promised, he ends up stirring a few hours later.
At first, he sees nothing but dark brown and has to blink a few times to clear the haze of his vision.
He flexes his hands and curls his toes to check they are willing to listen to him once more.
Something brushes his cheek a second before Sieun's face covers his view of the ceiling, hair showering down on Suho like a curtain.
The dragon looks mildly concerned, studying Suho's expression.
A lazy sort of smirk grows on his face at the attention. "Did you poison me, Sieun-ah?"
Three beats pass before Sieun huffs with offence. "I warned you."
"No, you said, 'be careful' and didn't elaborate. I wasn't aware you were going to try and kill me."
"Kill you?" Sieun gapes, even more insulted. "It is a paralysis poison that knocks you out for a few hours so that I can peacefully eat you if I wish. If it had the chance of harming you I would never have let you act so reckless."
A frown whisks away Suho's previously amusement. "And you didn't want to eat me?"
Sieun narrows his eyes. "You are not funny, pup."
With a grin, Suho pushes off of the bed, where his head has been resting in Sieun's lap, so that he can press his lips to Sieun's once more.
"Did you stay awake to look after me?" he asks between kisses.
"Of— course—"
Suho grins, ears flicking. He bears more weight forward until Sieun falls back into the pillows that fill the head of the bed. His dragon looks so perfect, splayed out before Suho like a feast.
He wraps his arms around Suho's neck, tugging him down.
"Do not make the same mistake," he warns once they are inches apart.
Suho tilts his head. "Eh… Can't I just build up a tolerance?"
Sieun's lips press into a flat, unimpressed line, but Suho does not miss the explosion of amethyst in his irises. He seems to really, really like that idea, no matter how disapproving he tries to make himself seem.
"Hm?" Suho prompts.
"Foolish," spits his dragon.
"I think you like it," Suho murmurs, kissing his cheek. "Or you wouldn't keep me around."
"Maybe you are my food reserve, Suho, have you considered that?"
Suho laughs and he can feel the amusement curling Sieun's lips as he maps out a path from his cheek to his mouth.
"You already had your chance to eat me, my dragon," Suho whispers, replacing his chaste kiss with his thumb.
He knocks their foreheads together and feels as Sieun winds their tails around one another, staring at Suho with those round bottomless eyes that make him seem so innocent. There is something in them as he looks at him, as if Suho is something so novel—so confusing.
"Do you want to eat me?" Suho asks.
Sieun shakes his head ever so slightly, jutting out his chin to bring their faces a little closer. Suho's tail tries to wag, and it rewards him with a stroke from the tip of Sieun's. He shivers.
"I didn't think so."
When their lips meet, it is gentle, another chaste peck. The sound of their lips coming apart fills the space and Suho smiles. "You are so devastatingly beautiful, Sieun-ah. My silver dragon."
Sieun smiles back, rubbing Suho's cheek with his hand. "You are the only thing that matters to me, Suho-yah."
A furious blush dapples Suho's cheeks, and his ears flick. So happy. So content. So safe. So warm. So devoted.
"Thing?" he says, raising a brow. "What a lofty title."
Sieun's lips peel apart in a breathy laugh. "You are neither human nor wolf, Suho, but you are mine."
And for someone who has never been given somewhere to belong, that is all that matters to Suho.
He nuzzles into Sieun's face, met halfway as if they both began to move towards each other at the same time.
"I'm yours," promises Suho.
"Forever," Sieun says, and it is not a question.
Suho kisses him as if they do have forever.
Slow; exploratory.
The dragon seems to melt beneath his touch—for him.
Their lazy kisses could last an eternity or two, especially with Suho being so careful, avoiding Sieun's fangs. He wants to revel in their lips meeting for as long as he can.
Until, of course, Sieun withdraws with a small sound. His eyes scrunch shut as his lips press together. Suho laughs at how adorable he looks trying to stifle a yawn.
The dragon slowly blinks once before coaxing Suho down into another kiss. Surprised, Suho is quick to part his lips for Sieun. A second later, he feels a pinprick on his tongue.
"Fuck."
Sieun gently pushes his chest until Suho falls to the side onto the bed. He cuddles against him, moving his arm so that he can lay his head there. After releasing a content noise, his eyes flutter shut.
Even though his mouth refuses to obey, Suho internally lights up with a smile before his body succumbs to Sieun's poison.
And so begins their tolerance training.
They discover a system that works quite well for them; if Sieun wants to nap, he will offer Suho a sweet kiss and prick his tongue.
By the time Suho is stirring, so is Sieun.
Suho has never slept so much in his life. Yet, somehow, he is still not sleeping as much as his dragon.
When he brings up his concern, Sieun simply waves him off. "Dragons are hibernating creatures, Suho. We sleep for a human's entire lifespan sometimes."
Suho decides that the plethora of naps that Sieun takes throughout the day is definitely his preferred choice to Sieun hibernating until he dies. Definitely.
On the occasions that Sieun does not knock him out with his poisonous kiss, Suho takes to exercising in the cave while Sieun sleeps, as both human and wolf. It has been a while since he last hunted, and he does not want to lose his predator instincts, even with a dragon to take care of him.
Beyond the cave is another story. He chooses to wait out until he has grown hungry once more before broaching that subject.
It takes much longer than usual because of how filling his last meal was.
They are sitting together on the slab by the spring. The dome in the roof opens onto the red sunset and Sieun is resting his head on Suho's shoulder.
The silence is tranquil.
Until Suho's stomach rumbles and ruins the moment.
Blushing, he winds an arm around his midriff, curling in on himself.
The weight of Sieun's head disappears from his shoulder. "Have you grown hungry yet again, pup?"
Suho sighs, nodding his head. "I thought… Maybe I could hunt."
"No."
It is so instantaneous that Suho's ears droop. They are often visible on his head now, because Sieun likes them.
"But I thought—"
"The last time you hunted for yourself, you were almost killed." Sieun's voice is cold-cutting.
"Sieun-ah," whines Suho. "I can't stay in this cave forever… I'll go pale as a ghost. And I'm a wolf! I'm meant to hunt. And you've already killed all the hunters."
"There are no forests truly free of hunters, Suho. You should know that better than anyone."
Slightly frustrated, Suho groans. "I do, Sieun-ah, but I'm a hunter. I appreciate how much you want to take care of me, but I don't want to rely on you completely. Can you understand that?"
Sieun's expression softens. Suho takes his hands between his own, stroking over the knuckles.
"Fine," Sieun says, slowly. "But I am coming with you."
An incredulous look crosses Suho's face. "As a dragon?"
"I am not asinine, Suho. You will not be able to hunt if I am trailing you as a dragon. Use your brain."
Suho splutters, intending to defend himself, but Sieun kisses him before he can get a word out.
"You know that I have essentially no presence as a human. I will not be of any burden to your hunt."
Whatever expression Suho is wearing earns him a fond sigh.
"Suho-yah, I am far more powerful than you believe." Sieun stands, dusting off his robes. "When I hunted those humans for you, I remained a human until I had to carry their bodies. I can protect myself." A pause. "And you too."
The image of Sieun, the same Sieun who smacks his lips together when sleepy, and who is always so soft for Suho, gouging out men's eyes and tearing their vocal cords from their body while a human stuns Suho into a silence for a moment.
Once he overcomes his surprise, he stands as well, saying, "Fine. We'll go together."
Sieun lifts onto his tiptoes to press a kiss to Suho's mouth. "Thank you, my wolf."
Humming, Suho tamps down the uncertainty that sneaks past his defences.
Once the sun has set, they depart from the cave, Sieun seated upon Suho's back, who has shifted into a wolf.
In the gloaming, the forest is alive, fireflies and crickets buzzing and lighting a path through the thicket. So different from the forest Suho entered on his last hunt. This one has flourished in the absence of the hunters, reclaiming what once belonged to its beautiful foliage. Though, it never truly belonged to the humans that took advantage of it to hurt and maim.
Suho heads in the general direction of the lake, almost trotting as Sieun gives him scratches and little murmurs of encouragement. As if Suho is not a huge wolf who can easily take down a group of humans if he so wished.
It should be demeaning, but it has Suho's tail wagging. He likes to be with Sieun outside the cave. There is something special about it. So, for a while, he is just strolling around.
It is only when Sieun's foot taps his flank and he slips off that Suho is forced to actually hunt.
Just as Sieun promised, he makes his presence negligible. Even Suho cannot sense him as he prowls through the thicket, completely immersed in his surroundings. Moving in harmony with the forest—a part of it once more.
It takes little time for him to find a deer and rip it to pieces.
Once satiated, he looks up from the body, blood dripping from his maw.
Sieun is crouched by a tree, watching him eat.
Suho's tail begins to wag, but he keeps a short distance between them so that he does not bloody Sieun's robes.
After a second, Sieun pushes off his thighs and stands, hoisting himself onto Suho's back once more.
Suho takes off, still heading away from the cave. He remembers this path, the one he took during his frenzied escape from the hunters. Both times.
Sieun does not remark on the direction that they are going, and they continue through the forest in blissful silence.
Eventually, the greenery opens up onto a lake.
Suho slows to a stop, thankful that he was recalling correctly.
The body of water is wide and dusted in a silver from the overhead moon. It is full, swollen in the sky. At its best for the visit from the silver dragon and his wolf companion.
As if showing off, everything seems to glisten under the moon's touch.
Suho pads up to the edge of the lake and begins to drink, cleaning his snout of blood.
After he dismounts once more, Sieun wanders a little to the left, staring out at the silver lake.
The wolf pauses, mesmerised.
After a beat, he shifts into his human form and wipes his face clean before approaching Sieun.
When he pulls his eyes from the moonlit lake, Sieun smiles at Suho. Leaning down, Suho noses against the side of his face.
"It looks beautiful, does it not?" muses Sieun.
Suho follows his line of sight. In a way, the silver ripples remind him of his dragon's scales. That is his first thought, at least.
"It looks like you," Suho murmurs.
Sieun lets out a breathy laugh, eye closing as he leans into Suho's affection.
"Should we take a dip before going back?"
There is a short silence where Suho thinks he is going to be rejected—lectured about the dangers of being outside of the cave, but then Sieun is nodding. "Should we?"
A beat.
Suho's arms wrap around Sieun, reaching the tie around his front and pulling it until it unravels. Gently, his robes spills down his golden skin as kisses are pattered to his neck and shoulder.
Sieun neatly folds his robes. Almost tripping over himself, Suho undresses too.
Once his shirt is over his head, he finds Sieun already up to his waist in the lake. He turns to face Suho, who falters for a second.
Until Sieun raises his arms, waiting for Suho to join him.
Suho does trip this time, but he makes it to Sieun's outstretched arms and dives into him, sending them tumbling under the water.
When he emerges, he is laughing freely, in a way he never had the confidence to do before Sieun.
In the past, drawing eyes came hand in hand with drawing suspicion. But, now, all Suho desires is for the only pair of eyes that matter to be drawn back to him time and time again. Whether they come dyed amethyst or obsidian, he loves them equally.
The top half of Sieun's head appears from the water, eyes narrowed.
"Sorry," Suho says.
Bubbles pop to the surface. Suho smiles as he starts to wade backwards, going deeper into the lake, eyes never leaving Sieun's.
After a second, Sieun begins to follow him.
When the water reaches his chest, Suho stops, waiting to see how deep it is for Sieun.
Tentatively, Sieun continues until the water is splashing his chin, only faint concern seeping into his expression. He decides to remain a short distance away, where his feet have found a rise in the bank and the water stops at his collarbones.
Suho moves closer, palm brushing Sieun's cheek to tilt his head up so their lips meet.
Before it can last more than a few seconds, they both hear a whistle.
Sieun's head snaps to the side, teeth bared. A low growl sounds at the back of his throat.
When Suho glances at the direction of the noise, he finds two humans along the bank, a fair distance away.
They whistle again, and Sieun grows more tense.
"Baby, it's okay," Suho assures.
His hands slip under Sieun's thighs, lifting him and drawing his legs around his waist.
Sieun's eyes fly back to him, mouth parting with a soundless inhale as his hands land on Suho's shoulders.
"They just think we're lovers having a late night dip," continues Suho. He hikes Sieun up, a smirk growing on his face. "Which we are."
They both turn to check where the humans were to find that they have disappeared altogether. Sieun seems uneasy, eyes flicking over the expanse of the bank.
Suho kisses his cheek. "If they come here, I have my incredibly powerful dragon to save me."
Sieun huffs as if unamused, but it is enough to finally pull his attention back to Suho.
"I suppose I will have to."
Suho feigns offence. "Harsh."
With a soft smile, Sieun dips his head to kiss him.
As they kiss so tenderly, Suho's hands slide across Sieun's back, holding him tighter. Behind him, Sieun hooks his ankles together. Suho smiles against his mouth and is rewarded with a lick of Sieun's tongue.
They remain in the lake for a long time, kissing, until Suho grows too excited to keep his ears and tails suppressed and, where it is disguised by the dark colour of the water, he has begun rubbing against Sieun.
"Pup," Sieun says, a little breathless. "Let us go back."
"Yeah," Suho breathes, chasing his lips to keep kissing. "Yeah."
He does not let Sieun down, continuing to kiss him as he advances towards the bank. Until they exit the lake, Sieun is happily wrapped around him. Only then do his legs slip from around Suho's waist and he is returned to the ground once more.
They both pointedly ignore that Suho is half-hard. Once dry, they get changed back into their clothes.
For ease of travel, Suho transforms into a wolf. They speed through the forest, a blur of green and silver moonlight spinning around them.
After getting through the double-layered cave, Suho keeps moving, straight towards the doorway. Once Sieun slips off his back, he shifts once more and whisks Sieun off his feet, carrying him into the bedroom.
Sieun seems somewhat amused by his antics, wrapping his arms around Suho's neck as he is lowered onto the bed. Suho grins, tucking his head against Sieun's neck, kissing and licking the skin.
Fingers pinch his chin, and Suho, half-dazed, lifts his head. Sieun guides him up, lips parting for him.
With a groan, Suho kisses him, open-mouthed. Almost panting in excitement.
His hands begin exploring Sieun's body, running over the curve of his ass and his plump thighs. He whines when Sieun's tail starts teasing his own, stroking only to slide out of Suho's reach.
A fever rushes through Suho, and he feels as though his skin is crawling. Unbridled need shatters inside him.
"Sieun-ah," he moans.
Sieun meets him halfway, as he always does. His legs fall open even further so that Suho can bring them flush together.
He is breathless—overwhelmed. Wants so badly that it hurts. His vision pulses.
It takes another minute for him to pass out cold on Sieun's chest, the dragon humming as he combs fingers through Suho's hair.
Suho does not even know when he was pricked.
Just over an hour later, he wakes up with a bone to pick.
"When did you—"
"I believe it may act as an aphrodisiac."
Suho's throat closes up and he chokes a little. "Huh?"
It is Sieun who is laying atop him now, though Suho has no clue when during his brief unconsciousness Sieun managed to flip him over. His chin digs into Suho's chest, and he blinks up at him innocently as if he did not just utter the words that he did.
"The poison," he clarifies. "I bit you immediately once we entered the bedroom"—Suho frowns, hard—"but instead of passing out, you just grew… eager."
"Eager," repeats Suho in an amused huff.
"Were you not?"
He has no words to defend himself because he had been… eager.
"So even if I no longer pass out I'm gonna grow horny?" Suho asks, raising a brow.
Sieun's mouth folds into a thin line before he wriggles up Suho's body and kisses him softly. "It is just a theory. Maybe you were simply excited."
Tangling his hand in Sieun's hair, Suho lets out a mortified groan. "Can you stop, please?"
Sieun smiles against his lips. "Only because you have asked so politely."
Shortly after, Sieun smacks his lips together and falls asleep atop Suho, tired from the hunt and staying awake to relay his observations to Suho.
Suho kisses his forehead. Internally, he prays that Sieun's hypothesis is wrong.
Over the coming days, Sieun does not go out of his way to prick him with his poison, as if cautious after Suho's reaction.
Almost a week passes before Suho goes out of his way to pierce his tongue with Sieun's canine.
His dragon retreats, flustered, cupping Suho's face. "Are you okay? Why did you do that?"
He strokes a thumb over Suho's cheek, worry etching his brow.
"I'm meant to be gaining tolerance," Suho says. "Our progress is gonna backtrack."
Huffing, Sieun shakes his head. "You are too stubborn."
"I just wanna be able to kiss you and not pass out."
That brings a flicker of amusement to Sieun's face. "Silly wolf."
Suho lets out a rumble, deep in his chest. His tail begins to wag.
"Call me that again."
Pink dusts the golden hue of Sieun's face.
"Silly wolf."
"Mm…"
"My wolf."
Suho smirks, a sort of arrogant expression that Sieun has never seen before. It takes him by surprise.
"Yours," Suho says. One of his hands splays over Sieun's abdomen, so big it covers the expanse of his stomach easily. "Gonna make you mine too…"
Sieun's mouth parts with a shaky inhale.
Suho looks up at him, eyelids low. "Wanna?"
The hand on Sieun's stomach starts caressing, like a promise.
He bites his lip as he nods, obsidian eyes fixed on Suho, as they always are.
Suho's smirk grows wolfish. "Yeah?"
"I told you," murmurs Sieun as he tilts his head. "And I am rarely wrong."
Suho does not know what Sieun means, just that he so desperately wants to kiss him, touch him—make him come apart. It is as though his desire is being amplified by a thousandfold.
He captures Sieun's lips in a searing kiss, all tongue and heavy breaths, his hands moulding to the curves of his body.
After drawing a breathless noise from Sieun, Suho starts to map out his jaw and neck with open-mouthed kisses, rewarded with more uneven inhales and sounds that border on a whine. His hands deftly untie Sieun's robes, exposing the skin of his shoulders and collarbones for him to claim.
He bites. Sieun gasps, back slanting off the bed.
Tail wagging so hard it thumps, Suho licks over the mark he has left right over where Sieun's heart beats in his chest.
His eyes flick up, soaking in the cracks in Sieun's usual calm demeanour as he grows dishevelled under Suho's touch.
"Feel good?" Suho asks, sliding one hand under the folds of fabric down to Sieun's bare waist.
He moves back up to Sieun's mouth, met with urgent kisses that persuade a groan from him.
"Tell— Hah… me, Sieun-ah—"
"Good," Sieun breaths between them. "Good, pup."
Suho moans, dragging Sieun so that he is pressing his cock against—
Spots dapple his vision.
The last thing he sees before the poison drags him under is Sieun, sporting a flush, breathing heavily, eyes wide as the light dances in the amethyst crystals. His robes undone and spilling around him in a silver pool, marks littering his neck and a bite residing over his heart.
So beautiful.
Like a corrupted angel; corrupted from Suho's touch.
Suho collapses.
He wakes up within an hour this time.
Which is an improvement. What is not an improvement is the sheer humiliation that punches him in the gut the moment that he is cognisant.
Unsurprisingly, Sieun has done up his robes again and looks pristine. He is laying on his side, already staring at Suho as the wolf turns over.
Once he finds himself being watched, Suho's ears droop. "I'm sorry."
Sieun does not respond in any way, not even with his eyes in the silence.
"I shouldn't have— I…" Suho shifts his gaze away, ashamed.
"I was right," Sieun says. "It acts as an aphrodisiac."
Suho goes beetroot red. He hides his face in his hands and hopes that, maybe, he will be spared some mercy.
"It only takes an hour for you to wake now," continues Sieun. "Soon you will not pass out at all."
Suho's fingers come apart so he can stare at the dragon through them. Behind him, his tail starts to shift over the mattress.
"Why did you say it like that?"
There are a few seconds of silence before Sieun takes Suho's wrists in his grasp and gently tugs at them.
Suho lets his hands drop from his face, and they slide across the bed to drag Sieun close. With his chin against Sieun's chest, he looks up at his lover as if marvelling a God.
Sieun tucks his chin so that he can look down at Suho, too. "I want to be yours, Suho-yah."
Suho's throat feels parched all of a sudden. He gulps. "You already are. You're my dragon… My whole world…. My everything."
Sieun smiles softly. The pads of his fingers dance over Suho's under eyes, caressing the mole dotted there.
"If that is enough," he says, feathering a kiss to Suho's mole and then his nose.
And it is, in that moment.
Until the poison no longer makes Suho pass out.
The first time that Sieun nibbles on his lip hoping to get some sleep and finds Suho does not become unconscious at all, the dragon frowns harder than ever before.
Suho has his desired tolerance now.
Sure, he gets a little dizzy. His nose bleeds once. Maybe that symptom is caused more by Sieun in his lap than any poison in his system, though.
Most of all, he gets horny.
So God-awfully horny.
Any contact between Sieun's skin and his own sets him alight. When they are close, he feels as though he is chasing—hunting. Somehow, the silver dragon becomes his prey.
Sieun knows. Of course he does.
Sometimes he simply shifts into his dragon form if he is too tired to entertain Suho, which leaves Suho whining as he circles him, hoping that his lover will decide he is worth the time.
That is surprisingly rare, though. Sieun is very soft and giving for Suho. He lets him do almost anything. It is a power that Suho hardly wields, already too content with the simplicity of an afternoon nap entangled together, kisses, and how they never bathe alone anymore.
That is why Sieun is so pliant when Suho comes onto him, his feverish need rolling off his skin in waves.
And every time that it passes, he tells Sieun that one day he will grow immune to these side effects too. His dragon's answer is a faint smile and a hand ruffling Suho's hair.
In spite of his promise, Suho finds himself growing more vulnerable to the effects. It seems to consume him. A craving so abyssal that he fears he will never see the end of it.
His bouts of eagerness last longer. They come at random and with enough force to blind him. Always catching him unaware.
That is when he realises it is not just Sieun's poison that is making him spiral.
Many moon cycles have passed since he happened upon a silver dragon in a cave. Time slips from his grasp. He measures his days in Sieun's sleep.
That is how it has crept up on him so subtly; between the naps, the kisses, and the poison that his body never has the chance to completely purge himself of before he it is coursing through him again.
After the realisation, not much changes. He eases into it, allowing himself the touch but always withdrawing before it has the change to dig its claws into him.
There is not much he can do but bite his tongue and will himself to take a step back.
He does not want to put space between himself and Sieun, and he knows that if he tried to do so, Sieun would have something to say. Or maybe he would not do much more than look a little hurt. That would be enough for Suho to yield immediately.
Not even that. Anything Sieun does makes him yield.
Once, they are kissing when Sieun withdraws and, with no explanation or expression, leaves the bedroom.
Only after he has disappeared from sight does it hit Suho's system. He scrambles off the bed with a growl low in his throat.
Stalking through the palace and into the cave, he finds no sign of Sieun.
Until a head pokes out the crack in the wall, black hair falling softly. Suho's tail wags, ears flicking. He starts jogging over to Sieun, a bright smile on his face.
But Sieun slips from view back through the crevice once more.
Suho narrows his eyes, pace speeding up. He grabs the rock wall and turns sharply to follow.
To chase.
Sieun keeps a healthy distance between them, even once they reach the forest.
Suho's not only driven by his desire but also his fear. A possessiveness he has never really experienced before inhabits him. He does not like Sieun being somewhere that others could see him. Needs him to be safe and hidden away in their cave.
It takes him fifteen minutes to hunt him down.
The dragon stands there in a clearing, almost bored as if he tired of waiting for Suho to catch up. Suho stalks towards him and as he draws closer, Sieun's arms open wider for him.
His eyes fly open as he is pinned to the forest floor.
"Suho—"
"I caught you."
Sieun's chest sharply rises.
Suho tilts his head. "What do I get?"
A shaky laugh comes from Sieun, looking either side of them, as if the forest is an unwilling audience and is complaining to him.
Maybe it is. Suho is still not all that knowledgeable on dragons, despite having promised himself to one.
"What is it that you desire, Suho?"
It is a simple question with a simple answer. All of Suho seems to come alive with it; spoken in his lungs, threaded along the lines of his blood vessels. Destined.
You.
But he does not speak it aloud.
In one fell swoop, he throws Sieun over his shoulder and carries him back to their cave.
They both know what he wants. He is ardently devoted to Sieun. It could not be more obvious. Even the forest could sense it.
And yet, once he deposits Sieun in the bedroom, he goes to the spring and sits in the water until it passes.
Sieun watches from the doorway with a frown, arms crossed.
Almost a week later, Suho almost slips up again. The need to hunt—capture. The soft skin against his that awakens such a palpable hunger in him his stomach aches.
Once more, he leaves the bedroom and heads to the basin to cool himself down.
Only, this time, Sieun follows.
Without a word, he wanders over to the spring, untying his robe once he is close enough.
When Suho's eyes catch on him from where he is sitting, he freezes.
"Sieun-ah—"
The robes spill down.
Sieun unties the cloth around his waist.
A strangled sound, almost as though he is dying, chokes Suho.
Slowly, Sieun descends into the water, eyes never straying.
With his arms rested on the rocks behind him, Suho watches him approach, licking his lips.
A chant begins in his mind that he cannot stop. It becomes him.
When he reaches Suho, Sieun splays his hands on his shoulder, lifting himself into his lap.
Suho's head goes back, hands like magnets to Sieun's waist as he attempts to wrestle with the last of his self-restraint.
Sieun slides over his legs to bring them flush together. Something hot like a furnace presses against Suho's cock.
He breaks the skin of his lip with his teeth.
He is already hard. Of course he is.
It has been virtually impossible not to be recently.
Gently, Sieun adjusts his head so that they are looking at each other.
Then, with eyes open, meeting Suho's, he licks the blood beading along Suho's lips.
His mouth is painted rouge as he retreats. "I want to be yours, Suho-yah."
"Y- You don't have—"
Sieun nudges his nose against Suho's neck, dragging his teeth where it is most sensitive. He has learnt as much from all their languid days in bed.
"Dragon's are sexless. I thought this would be more convenient."
Suho squeezes his eyes closed. "You're really bad at dirty talk."
His voice is hoarse. Strained.
In reality, it does not matter what Sieun says because anything from his mouth sounds like bliss to Suho.
Pulling away from his neck, Sieun moves to his ear. "What do you want me to say, pup?" Between whispers, he tugs at Suho's earlobe with his teeth, though he is careful not to pierce skin. "I have grown weary of waiting."
Suho makes a guttural noise.
"Will you please your dragon, Suho-yah?"
Suho's lip is bleeding again. So is his nose. He feels like he has been punched in the face and stomach all at once.
It surges through him, as if thrown into a wildfire that he has been watching grow from a distance.
Every nerve in his body is feverish.
Finally, he embraces the feeling. Lets himself be engulfed by the desire that has been simmering inside of him for far too long.
His breathing falters before he wraps his arms around Sieun's body, angling him so that the folds of his cunt hug his cock. Sieun lets out a breathless noise.
"Do you know anything about wolves, my love?" Suho asks as he slowly rubs his cock up and down.
The water makes it such an easy slide, and he can feel Sieun fluttering around every move. It is titillating how warm Sieun feels in comparison to the cool water. It almost makes Suho delirious.
"Enough. Not— Hah… that I can claim to be well versed on… Mm— this." Sieun's speech breaks up every time that the head of Suho's cock catches his clit.
A shiver runs through him as Suho tightens his hold and begins to move his hips faster. The touch of their skin is so wet. Suho has never felt anything like it before.
It overpowers his senses and he has to draw blood from his lip again before he can speak.
"Ah. Wolves have this thing, baby. It's called a rut cycle."
Sieun whimpers.
"And you, my beautiful dragon, have just come onto me at the beginning of mine." Suho mouths at Sieun's jaw, almost crooning as he speaks. "I didn't want to make you deal with it. I have good self-restraint. But… Do you know how much I've been wanting to be inside you? I almost fucked you out there in the forest the other day. Why do you keep teasing me, Sieun-ah?"
Sieun gasps, curling his arm around Suho's neck as his head tips back. "Suho—"
"Hm? I've been so good, baby. I've been holding myself back. I've been good." He grunts at the end of his sentence as Sieun's pussy flutters around him.
"Yes, Suho, you have been good." Sieun manages to lower his head so that he can kiss Suho's cheek. "So have your reward. Have me."
Suho growls.
He craves Sieun like breathing. The thought of being inside him is makes him dizzy. More than dizzy. His vision pulses and blurs at the visceral need pumps through him with every beat of his heart.
Sieun wipes the blood from his cupid's bow and licks it. The black of his eye bleeds into amethyst, pupils blown out as he swallows.
Suho's hand slides over his thigh to where they part.
"Let's go to the bed, then."
Sieun smiles, a little victorious.
Suho is going to eat him alive.
He kisses him hard, tongue and teeth, as starved as a wolf.
It is barely a kiss, more like a feast. Their tongues meet outside of their mouths before Sieun opens his mouth wider as if urging for more.
And death would be easier for Suho than ever denying Sieun.
They pant into each other's mouths, Suho still continuing with his lazy grind against Sieun's cunt. It rewards him with a gasp every now and again, only feeding the buzzing beneath his skin.
Every time that he thinks he has reached the bottom of his hunger, it shatters beneath him and he succumbs even further.
When they next break the kiss for a breath, Suho is so heady he cannot even keep his eyes open properly. Sieun kisses his eyelids before slipping from his lap onto the ledge and stepping out of the spring.
Eyes trailing him, Suho pushes off his hand and gets out, too.
Sieun does not turn around. He walks backwards, a few paces ahead. Their eyes remain locked together as Suho follows. Sieun's entire body almost within reach, and all his attention focused on the wolf that is pursuing him.
Another chase.
Suho's smile is entirely teeth as he lazily pads after him. It is like his prey wants to be caught.
Just to prove as much to Suho's buzzed mind, Sieun curls a finger, coaxing him.
In one second, Suho has him trapped against the wall beside the doorway, hiking up his leg and kissing him without pause until Sieun starts pushing at his shoulders.
Instead of stopping, Suho lifts him off the floor and carries him through into the bedroom.
He does not know when Sieun dried the both of them—does not care.
The moment that Sieun is laid on the mattress, a tail coils around his arm and tugs him down.
He nudges Sieun's legs apart with a knee, eyes pitch black as he stares at his pussy.
He can hear his tail whistling through the air, but he ignores it in favour of capturing Sieun's lips in another frenzied kiss. His fingers slot between the folds of Sieun's cunt, running up and down, coating his fingers in slick.
Sieun releases little gasps into his mouth and Suho swallows down every one as if it is the only way he can breathe. At this point in his ecstasy, it may as well be.
"How are you so wet already?" he murmurs.
He says that as if he is not rutting against the intersection where Sieun's thigh meets his pelvis, leaking pathetically over the skin.
Sieun snaps his teeth before sinking them into Suho's shoulder. The wolf whimpers, chasing the high. He has craved to leave a claiming bite on Sieun for far too long now and in the haze that he is in, he cannot distinguish between Sieun's intention and his own. Just the prospect of being claimed by Sieun sends a rush of heat through him with so much force that he almost almost topples over.
The chanting in his head gets more potent.
His mind feels like it has become liquid. Molten.
As Sieun licks up the blood that drips from the teeth marks, Suho can feel him becoming wetter under his fingers.
He groans, finally pushing one inside.
He has spent too long enjoying the chase. Now, he is ravenous. Aching.
He slides another digit into Sieun's warmth. Curls them.
Sieun's lapping stops as his back slants off the bed with a gasp.
Suho is caught in the midst of a fire; everything is burning.
His vision pulses, blurring into nothing outside of Sieun's ethereal face as he succumbs.
Suho faintly recalls the poison.
Faintly knows Sieun bit him on purpose.
He has been imagining their first time as soft and gentle; he thought they would take it slow.
All he can conjure up in his mind now, amidst the headiness, is how he needs to be immersed in Sieun's heat, which is so much stronger than a humans. Sieun burns like a wildfire—just as he entered Suho's life.
Their foreheads press together and Suho pants as the flame ravages him, all-encompassing.
His rut and Sieun's poison dance a deadly beat through his blood. He can feel his pulse everywhere, mostly where his wrist meets Sieun's mound as he roughly fingers him.
Sieun cups his face, breathing into the charged air between them, "It is okay, my wolf. Surrender to it."
Suho feels faint.
"I love you," he whispers.
Sieun's mouth finds his. It ignites him. The kiss is like a touch of a silver flame, and Suho wants to burn forever if it means being this close to Sieun.
He staves off the black blurring his vision. He wants nothing more than to experience every second of their first time, even through the haze of his instincts and the aphrodisiac.
His fingers slip out of Sieun's pussy covered in slick. Suho brings them to his mouth, tongue rolling over the digits as he savours the taste—Sieun's taste.
Just as Sieun has tasted him.
"Now we've both tasted each other," he says, nuzzling into Sieun's neck and teasing with his teeth.
He is too feverish to notice how Sieun bares his neck a little more with permission.
His cock drags down Sieun's skin, slipping between his folds to coat himself in his slick.
Finally, the head catches on Sieun's hole. Suho squeezes one eye closed, tongue hanging out as he pants with every increment that he pushes forward.
Sieun's hands are feeling over his head, face, and shoulders, like he is trying to soothe him. Or maybe soothe himself. Both of them caught in the blaze.
His pussy is so hot that Suho shudders, a moan tearing from his throat. He could lose himself in this. Or maybe he lost himself at the first sight of amethyst eyes.
"I love you," he repeats in a whimper.
Nails turn inwards against his cheek. Sieun does not press to make him bleed, just enough to startle him. The haze that has engulfed Suho eases for a few seconds so that he may meet Sieun's eyes.
Sieun is flushed, eyes cloudy as tears brim at his lash line and bottom lip painted red with Suho's blood. His hair flows around him like a crown.
The gaze that meets Suho is so gentle, so giving. Just as Sieun's body is too, warmth easing around Suho's cock as it pushes further into him.
Softly, Sieun says, "I love you, too."
It is for that reason that he demanded Suho's momentary clarity. To confess his love and know that Suho has heard it—that he knows it.
Their lips meet. Suho can taste the remnants of the confession on Sieun's mouth.
Suho is truly nothing more than a devotee, and he has his God, impossibly human, beneath him, offering himself.
His hands land at the altar of Sieun's waist, and he breathes another prayer between their coupled lips before he snaps his hips forward and buries deep inside.
Sieun moans, arching off the bed. When his nails find Suho's back, they are not so forgiving as before. Suho barely registers the sting as his skin breaks, too overwhelmed by Sieun's intense heat. It throbs around him until it feels as though he is melting.
His hands slip from Sieun's waist to his tuck under the back of his knee. He folds Sieun's legs up to his torso and presses himself as close as he can.
He lifts his hips a little before he plunges back in, bottoming out completely.
His cock is clamped down on, and he moans, pushing Sieun's legs up more, even though he is already completely folded in half.
"S– Suho-yah—"
The mewl draws Suho's attention.
He is presented with the marvel of Sieun with tears streaking down his face.
They glow silver. Even Sieun glows—a halo pulses around him.
Suho wants to lick his tears.
His blood is simmering, and he burns from the inside.
Drawing out, he sinks deep into the heat again. The sound of skin slapping is still echoing, Sieun's moan half-finished, but Suho needs more. He pulls out and thrusts forward. No wait. No warning. Chasing the delicious feel of Sieun's walls squeezing him tight.
His pace is filthy. Sieun cries out with every connection of their skin. It is already blooming red from the force behind every thrust. Sieun is drenched.
Knowing that it is all for him makes Suho wanton.
"Mnn… Gonna make you mine—" he groans. "Gonna… You're gonna take it—"
Sieun's eyes roll back, mouth parting with a lewd moan. Scales sprout along his cheekbones. A tear runs over them, glimmering silver.
The sight alone makes Suho's cock kick and Sieun gasps, head jerking back.
"Hnnngh! Suho!" Drool slips from the corner of his mouth as it remains agape, unable to close as endless noises of pleasure spill from him.
Suho is panting hard as the heat suctions around him like a vice. Sweats beads along his forehead and drips down with every thrust. His tail is whipping through the air, and the little breeze it produces is barely enough to offer any relief.
The hell warring inside his body is nothing compared to the heaven that he plunges into with every thrust. If he were not already in a rut, he is certain that the first taste of Sieun's pussy would have been enough to trigger it.
It softens so easily around his cock, eager to take him as deep as possible. Clamps down the moment that he is nestled inside. Suho wants to listen—wants to sink into it forever. He cannot think of anything beyond knotting Sieun, cumming in him, and giving him pups.
Nothing beyond how pliant Sieun is.
Moaning, he tries to lean down to kiss his dragon. Sieun's legs shake with the weight of Suho atop him.
His tongue parts his lips, trembling as he stares with his amethyst eyes. Suho sucks his tongue, tangling together in the space between them. It is almost as filthy as the gush of liquid around Suho's cock in response.
Sieun claws at Suho's bicep, leaving behind beading blood in his wake. "Suho— Pup— I am… Nngh! Too— I feel— Hmmnn!"
"Hah…You gonna— Hah… cum, Sieun-ah?" Suho pants out. "Feel good?"
Sieun nods, almost frantic. "S'good—"
He clenches around Suho's cock, drawing a moan from Suho.
"I'm gonna cum too, baby," Suho whines. "Hah… Gonna give you my knot—"
With a mewl, Sieun tips his head back, grabbing onto Suho's shoulders and sinking his nails in. He gnashes his teeth but cannot reach anything to sink them into with Suho still folding him in half so that he can reach as deep as possible.
Mate him. As his brain has been demanding since the first hints of his rut, weeks ago.
Sieun entwines their tails together, squeezing as Suho continues to pound into him, chasing his release.
The taut feeling in his stomach crests and Suho sobs. Burning. Everything is suffocatingly warm.
"Suho-yah!" Sieun cries out.
His walls squeeze around Suho's cock, and Suho loses it. The base of his cock swells, locking him in place so that he can release deep in Sieun.
"Take it," he groans, one hand sliding from Sieun's leg over his stomach before finding the swollen button.
The leg fall to the side of Suho, limbless. Almost as if he has lost feeling in it after being trapping in a mating press for so long.
Suho rubs his clit and Sieun twitches on the bed.
"Take it," Suho says, almost rough. "Mine…"
Sieun's hand threads in his hair, small whimpers falling from between his lips. "Yes, Suho-yah, I will take it— Good puppy—"
Suho gapes, eyes crossing as the words echo in his mind.
"Closer," demands Sieun. "Come… Hah… closer."
Releasing Sieun's other leg, Suho lowers his head, met with a gentle kiss. Sieun's hand rubs over his neck, stopping at the side. He carefully angles Suho's head to the right, nosing at the spot that he just caressed.
There is no warning before he digs his teeth in. Suho yelps, ears shooting up. Sieun makes a noise as their bodies jostle where they are connected, but it does not deter him from drinking Suho's blood.
He withdraws with an intoxicated stare and lips painted crimson. Tilting his head, he taps a spot on his neck, gaze imploring Suho.
Suho's eyes widen, and he stammers. "I– I couldn't—"
"I am yours, Suho-yah," Sieun says, arm coaxing him down.
With a gulp, Suho noses against his neck. A small, vulnerable whine sounds from him before he breaks skin with his teeth.
Sieun inhales sharply, and Suho is about to retreat when a hand pushes the back of his head, encouraging him to drink.
It is metallic. Sieun's blood runs silver into Suho's mouth, coating his tongue.
"Just like that," Sieun coos. "You are doing good, pup."
Whining, Suho laps at the wound. It is only natural for him to grow anxious at seeing his mate wounded, even though it is his own bite that is stoking his concern.
Sieun cups his jaw and brings their faces together.
They kiss softly, their blood combining on their tongues. A whimper comes from Suho as their tongues brush together, like their goal is to become one.
When Sieun withdraws, his eyelids are half-shut as his throat bobs. He covers Suho's mouth with a hand. "Swallow."
Suho swallows. Of course.
His tail starts wagging harder, not that it stopped once the entire time that they have been entangled.
A tingling sensation begins against his pelvis and chest, and his ears flatten. It is not uncomfortable but he feels the need to escape it. In an effort to distract himself, he begins licking at Sieun's hand, which is still against his mouth.
Sieun's index finger trails over the area where Suho's skin grows itchy, his eyes lowered there, too.
Suho licks more insistently.
Finally, Sieun returns his gaze up. His hand flattens against Suho's heart and he rests his other—the one Suho had been licking—over his own.
"Mine."
"Yours," repeats Suho.
Sieun smiles.
When his hand slips away, Suho sees a silver mark over Sieun's chest, like the veins of a river. He frowns. "When…"
A throb at his temple. He winces.
The short time in which his rut has been appeased by his knotting of Sieun starts to fade.
"Ah." Wiping his own cheek with a thumb, Sieun picks up some of his tears. "Open your mouth."
Brows furrowed, Suho obeys.
Sieun swipes his thumb over Suho's tongue. "Swallow."
Suho swallows.
"There." A kiss to Suho's lips. "Forever."
"Forever," Suho repeats, chasing the kiss.
They kiss until his knot disappears and he can finally move again. He begins slow this time, until the itch is simply too much and he returns to his relentless pace that has Sieun writhing beneath him. Every so often his hand will land over Suho's heart and claws, making him bleed.
Now that he is not folded in half, he bites Suho all over, leaving behind a trail of tears and blood.
Suho's nose bleeds again.
The euphoria is so dizzying that he loses himself completely.
He floats in the absence of time, just in a space where their bodies are intertwined and never come apart.
His rut lasts two weeks.
Their clothes are forgotten somewhere.
They never bother to get dressed again after the second day. It is pointless.
There is something incredibly primal about that decision that only worsens Suho's libido, but he does not voice that matter.
The first week he is insatiable in craving Sieun's warmth. He sleeps inside of him. When they bathe to wash off the sweat and everything else, Suho just ends up fucking him again, seated on his lap on the ledge, or legs wrapped around his waist. The water does little to cool Sieun's body temperature down. It makes Suho a little delirious to have the cold water surrounding him, yet sunk deep in a furnace-like heat.
The second week he is slightly better. Sieun is able to nap again, and Suho is not always reaching for him. Having full access to Sieun's curves and golden skin is a dream. Even when he takes one of his naps, Suho can satiate himself just by staring.
And when Sieun wakes up, he is rewarded by him rolling over and straddling him. Ridden agonisingly slow while they kiss, whispering between them.
Apart from those moments, Suho still ends up bending Sieun over the table, fucking him against the wall, and into the mattress many, many times.
But there is relief at the end of it all. Slowly, he returns to himself.
When all the fuzziness from the rut and Sieun's constant dose of aphrodisiac fades, Suho spends his time admiring the damage he has done. And that Sieun has too. Especially his teeth.
Suho's body is littered in bite marks all over, and Sieun has hickeys and bites covering his entire torso, neck, and thighs.
Suho is revelling in the beauty of Sieun's claiming marks when his eyes lift to his chest.
Apart from the bite on one side, the same silver stream that he noticed on Sieun's chest the first day of his rut is covering his own heart.
He blinks a few times, thinking that the weeks of staring at Sieun's tears have perhaps gotten to him. But it is there.
He glances down to the right side of his pelvis where he also felt the tingling after their first time.
Swirls of silver spread out over his skin.
"Baby," he says.
There is no response.
He drags his gaze from the dyed flesh to his sleeping lover. "Sieun-ah."
Sieun's face scrunches up. Slowly, his lashes flutter open. He smiles sleepily at Suho, fingers brushing his jaw as he reaches for him.
"What is it?"
"The marks," Suho says, pointing to his chest and pelvis. "How did I get that? Is it the poison or the biting?"
Sieun's smile falters. "You did not know?"
"I only just noticed."
"Oh." Something akin to horror crosses Sieun's face. "Oh."
"What?"
"I thought you were aware."
An anxious feeling festers in Suho's chest but he attempts to hide it. "Sieun-ah?"
Sieun's fingers trace over the whorls at his pelvis. "It is a dragon's mark. My mark. It means you are my mate."
Suho's jaw goes slack.
Sieun's mate.
He is Sieun's mate.
"When—"
"Exchanging blood," answers Sieun. "I was under the impression that you knew. I should have been more mindful that you are not knowledgeable on dragons. I am sorry."
"No— No, don't apologise," Suho hurriedly says, cupping one side of Sieun's face. "I want to. Of course I want to. I love you, Sieun-ah."
Sieun smiles, nail still running over the patterns as if he has learned them by heart in the past two weeks. And maybe he has.
Through the hazy memories of his rut, Suho can recall the same sensation tracing his pelvis again and again. As if Sieun has been so in awe—so happy—that they are mated he simply could not help it until he had every detail memorised.
"I love you, too," Sieun says, quiet.
Sometimes he speaks in a voice that is so intimate that Suho feels as though he is intruding. But it is meant for him. It has always been meant for him.
A beat.
"I have a question, though," he murmurs. "Don't dragons mate for life?"
Sieun raises a brow. "That is the one thing that you know?"
Blushing, Suho says, "It's folklore."
Arms wind around his neck, and Sieun brings their faces close. "We do. So, you are mine and I am yours. Forever."
"Mm," Suho agrees with a hum. "Forever."
"In case you are also unaware," adds Sieun, "my tears grant immortality. That is what I mean by forever. It is what I have always meant. I want to spend my whole life with you, Suho-yah. Which is an eternity."
Suho gapes. His disbelief does not last long before the affection overwhelms him and he starts laughing, nuzzling against Sieun's face as he does. "You're too much for me sometimes."
Sieun threads his fingers through Suho's hair, nuzzling back. "Well, you have many lifetimes to grow accustomed to it, pup."
"And yet, it still won't be long enough to give all my love to you," Suho says, withdrawing.
When Sieun smiles this time, his teeth are visible. It is the brightest smile that has ever graced his face.
It is a dazzling shade of silver that Suho cherishes so dearly. It is the colour of salvation. Safety. Love. It is Sieun's soul, and the God that Suho lives for.
"My silver dragon."
"My wolf."