I woke up to the sound of rain falling on the windowsill. I rolled over, cradling my head in one of my arms. Another day... Another battle... Another failure. I dreaded opening my eyes, more than the rain did. I felt tired, drained. My bonds had been severed, my dragon had gone missing... I had failed.
I jolted up, opening my eyes as I felt a warm breath tickle my ear. It was him. My dragon. His warmth on my back seeped into me and I felt myself slowly return to consciousness. I turned my head, to try to meet his gaze, but he moved away, out of my vision. I heard his wings flutter as he flew away, leaving me behind. I moved over to look at my dragon, my partner, my best friend. My hands felt around for his head, but I got no response. I hugged him, I couldn't help but to be sad.
"I can't do this anymore... I've failed as a rider." I said, sitting in the grass. I wiped away a few tears as I let my shaky voice fill the air. "I can't ever beat those alien bastards, not like you." I said, choking up. "I love you, Steve. And I always will."
"I love you too." A dragon said, talking to me. I stood up, feeling a hand on my shoulder. I turned around.
"What?" I said to him in surprise.
"You've been calling for me, for ages now... And I love you too."
I felt his cold scales as I touched him. I then had a realization of what I was doing. I was touching my fiancé... I was holding him, and I loved every second of it. "And I am still yours. Though I do not deserve you." His voice was low, but I felt it deep inside of my heart. I turned to look at him, and finally saw my beautiful Steve, my once upset dragon. "You... You jumped in front of my pack. You got trampled... You kicked a shot while the aliens were firing at us..." I said. He nodded. "I know. I should have stayed on your back... But I didn't want to let you go. I thought I was going to die." I said. He nodded again. "If I hadn't... If... I could... Will you have me?" I asked.
He nodded. I smiled and ran my hands over his scales and he shuddered as he shifted, his human form forming for me. I smiled as I looked at him. "I'm sorry I'm not perfect. I do my best." He said, sighing. "I know. I think we'll make a great team." I said, walking over to him.
"This is how it is supposed to be." He said, smiling at me. "I know." I said, kissing him.
"So when did you get here?" I asked. "Hmm... I guess I showed up when you did." He said. "Come on, we have to get you home." I said, picking him up by his waist. "Why?" He asked, wrapping his arms around my neck. "Well you're weak, and in the morning the dragons start attacking again. We need to get ready." I said, laughing.
"You'll always protect me, right?" He asked. "Of course, you're mine." I said, biting his ear. "Ow." He said, cringing. "You'll get used to it." I said, grinning. He smiled. "Never." He said, cracking a smile. I put him down and we ran back to our home.
He was once a dragon I had been searching for, but he became more... He became my heart and soul. He became me. He became everything I will ever need.
I ran into my house, Steve still in my arms, and tossed him on the bed. "Ow!" He yelled as he landed on the soft surface. "Sorry, but I don't have the time to take you out. We need to get ready. I heard that the dragons are attacking again soon." I said, picking him up again, my body leaning against his.
"You're lucky they even let me be in your life. I don't want to fight, or hurt anyone." He said, yawning. I rummaged through my closet, looking for something. "I know, I don't blame you. But we will one day, and I will protect you." I said, grabbing a shirt.
"And I will protect you too. Friends are to be protected, right?" He asked. "Of course, they're allies. But friends are to be protected as well, especially when they are as precious as you are." I said, walking over to him. "Than I'll protect you too. I won't let anything happen to you. Not even if it kills me." He said, looking up at me. I smiled and nodded. "As long as you do. I will never be able to live without you... I'll never survive without you, Steve..." I said in hypnotizing, almost goading words.
"You aren't listening to a word I'm saying." He said, turning away. "But I know. You're my life, Steve... My only life. And I won't let anyone take you from me." I said, wrapping my arms around him.
"I don't want to fight... I don't want to kill anyone. All I ever wanted was for this to be a quiet world, a safe one... I just wanted a place for our dragons and children. But they attacked anyway. And now the dragons keep me, and they don't want me." He said, balling his hands into fists. "But I will not let them do so." I said, in a firm tone.
"Steve... I'd rather die than live life without you." He said. "Don't say that... Of course you will live." I said. "And I will die." He said. "Do you love me? We're going to have a family someday... We'll fight for them and keep them safe. You'll see, this world will be the future of the future, and you will be a grand dad someday." I said. "If through death... If through fire or water or wind I see you again. I will hold you again. And..." He started, getting interrupted.
"And I'll kiss you." I said, my lips touching his. "Then, I can die happy." He said, holding me. "I don't want you to leave me." He said.
