[For Sam] Healer & Dragon

[carrythetorch]

It had all gone wrong this time. In retrospect, Lio thinks maybe he'd been going too hard. He was on the brink of exhaustion, and his latest raid on livestock had been met with more resistance than it should have, almost as if someone had known he was coming.

He'd gotten away, thankfully, but not before he'd taken a number of blows -- arrows shot from crossbows with enough power that they'd pierced even through his scales. He'd ripped them out in flight and set the better part of a fallow field on fire before he'd flapped high enough to disappear into the cloud cover. That had been what saved him. It wasn't long before he couldn't keep himself aloft any longer, too much pain, too much blood lost.

Even maintaining his full draconic form is too much, and as he plunges to the Earth and tries to slow his descent with his wings, he fizzles back into his human shape, a lithe, slender man. His clothes are dark enough that the blood soaking them isn't obvious from a distance. He lands in a crumpled pile not far from a road through the woods, just off the trail in the underbrush. And that's the last thing he knows.

...

When he opens his eyes next, he's warmer than he expects to be. There's soft blankets beneath him and over him. He can smell something clean and earthy, herbal maybe, and light spills in setting the whole room in a comforting brightness and-- wait. He's in a room. The last thing he remembers is falling, and, oh.

He sits up all at once, hissing at the way his body protests the movement. Where is he? Has he been captured? Except no, if he'd been captured he'd be bound. Or dead. Maybe staked through to the ground. Not wrapped in soft blankets and tended to. "Where am I?" He asks the question mostly to himself as he blinks against his bleary vision willing it to clear, willing his eyes to focus.

Comments

[carrythetorch]

Lio grumbles, but somewhere in the grumbling he does admit that Galo is right. They need to get out and go about the day, otherwise Meis and Gueira would walk in on them making out in the bath and Lio is in agreement with Galo there. This is his mate. The possessiveness is new, but he can't help it.

A startled sound as he's just lifted -- and a flush as he pretends that's not a total turn on, the way that Galo is strong enough to lift him without hesitating -- and winds his arms around him.

"No need to hunt then?" Fine by him. Hunting can wait for another day. And since he's being carried and doesn't have to walk, that frees him up to kiss and nibble at Galo's jawline.

[barenakedspirit]

“Nope! I stocked up before we went off to face Kray.” His breath comes out a little faster. If Lio keeps that up, sex is definitely in their future.

After breakfast and dealing with possible interruptions. He rubs his cheek against his with a deep rumbling purr. Their bedroom has their clothes, he ducks inside and pauses a moment to feel the fire around the eggs.

Everything is alright. He sets Lio on his feet and brushes his hair out of his face. “Once everything settles we’ll have a lot of time for just us before the kids hatch.”

[carrythetorch]

Interruptions is something he probably ought to keep in mind. He doesn't need his most trusted generals and advisors seeing him and his mate all over one another.

Back on his feet, he leans into that touch, wrapping his arms around Galo's waist and stepping closer, drawing out just another moment of bare skin on bare skin. "We will. The calm before the storm. They'll be a handful, since they're ours." And neither one of them is exactly a quiet personality.

He leans in to press a kiss to Galo's chest. "I want to present you as my mate. I'm the Lord of these dragons, and now you're my partner. We'll lead them together." Side by side. "If you're okay with that."

[barenakedspirit]

Him. Leading. Galo blinks as he loops his arms around him. “I’m okay with it. I need whatever students I take to pay attention anyway. I can’t do that by stepping back.”

It still throws him for a loop how much is about to change. Dragon healers. The town beyond the forest will have new and better leadership. Children. “And of course our kids will be a handful! They have fiery souls just like ours!”

[carrythetorch]

"Good. I think it'll suit you." He plants his chin on Galo's chest, looking up at him. Affection and closeness is new to him, but it comes naturally enough, and he's sure he has Galo to thank for that.

He really does think leadership will suit Galo. He also knows himself well enough to know he sometimes needs to be checked, gets too focused. In the healer-turned-dragon, he thinks he's met someone who can do that, who is more than his match.

A laugh. "That's right. Guess you've been burning even before you were a dragon." Maybe Galo was always meant for this path.

[barenakedspirit]

“Always. Fire mage before, remember?” He grins then his grin fades into soft smile. “Let’s get dressed, okay?” He kisses him sweetly on the lips then walks away. He grabs up his clothes and pulls them on as he pads into the hatchery.

Their fire is woven around the eggs like braided cord. He breathes in and changes shape. His long winding body wraps around the eggs and he breathes flames over them. Bathing them in his magic and love, singing softly as he rubs his cheek gently against their shells. No eggs were neglected.

He draws back and changes back, smiling to himself. “Sleep well, kiddos.”

[carrythetorch]

"Hard to forget," but Galo had felt like he was shying away from that fire. And it's hard to blame him given what he told Lio of his past. But right yes, clothes, he supposes are a good idea. He dresses as well and wanders after Galo, watching as he checks over the eggs.

The smile that settles over his features is warm and almost painfully content.

Maybe that's the explanation for the tears that he's very much trying to blink back when Galo changes back. Lio turns quickly away and clears his throat, lifting a hand to surreptitiously scrub away a tear that escaped. Somehow, this is real. Somehow this is his.

"So... breakfast?"

[barenakedspirit]

Galo approaches slowly and wraps his arms around Lio, resting his cheek against his. “Breakfast.” He agrees as he lets him go but reaches for his hand.

“You want fish today? Like when we first met?” He grins, eyes bright. That had been a time. He had been fighting and warring against fire and himself. Now...he feels better.

Still a bit off about fire but that will take time. “We can probably be done by the time they get back and I can make them whatever they want.” Which will probably be a shock.

[carrythetorch]

Lio curls his fingers around Galo. "Heh. So you're the sentimental type." ...amd so is Lio, who is he kidding? "Fish sounds great." Like their first meal together, when Lio still hadn't known if he could really trust this healer, hadn't known how Galo would react to the truth of what he was.

But here they are, mates. In a brand new world that Galo helped him fight for.

"Careful, if you start feeding those two they'll eat you out of house and home." It's only a small exaggeration.

[barenakedspirit]

Galo tosses his head back and laughs. “Good practice for when the kids hatch!” He points out as he steers Lio out of the room and down the hallway.

The main room of the cave is softer than before. The forest has been at work preparing for housing a family of dragons. The formerly sharper edges are rounded and smooth. Galo grins as he pads to the stone slab he prepared fish on before. The hole is already open, fish waiting to be prepped.

“Forest is picking out a spot for the healer apprentices to stay so we can keep our personal privacy.” He adds, pausing to laugh. “And making this cave all baby friendly.”

[carrythetorch]

"Good point. We should probably practice."

Surprise, Gueira and Meis, you're now baby practice. Prepare to be mommed. Or dadded. Maybe both.

But first, breakfast with his mate. Lio walks the room, running his fingers along some of those changed edges. "Looks like we won't need a nanny." Just this forest that loves its healer and apparently will also love that healer's children.

He turns to face Galo, taking a moment to look at him. "I never thought I'd have the chance for this. For a family. Children. Love."

[barenakedspirit]

Silence falls for a moment then Galo looks to the cave entrance. He hasn’t been a shy man but this isn’t a comfortable subject. He still is not used to admitting or talking about the past. “Me too. I was just gonna stay here and take care of the town. The forest. Train an apprentice to take over when it was time.”

Some part of him devoted himself so deeply to the forest to escape the pain of the past. “Don’t think it’s the same but just. I didn’t think about it.” He turns his head to meet his eyes as he takes fish out and descales them. “Then I met you. Took time but, I started feeling really depressed that you would eventually leave.”

He looks down and fillets the fish with his stone knife. “But we got us. We got the kids. And,” He grins brightly like the sun coming out. “We got a lot of time to enjoy it all.”

[carrythetorch]

"Mm... maybe not the same, but not that different, I don't think." They both have been living on a path that the pain of their past laid out for them -- Galo's heartache and loss, Lio's rage for his people. But they're here now, and Lio thinks, he gets to decide his own path, one that isn't dictated by anger and sorrow.

He makes his way over to settle on his knees beside Galo.

"I didn't like thinking about leaving. After a while, I started to wonder if this place was what a home felt like." And, as it turns out, it was.

That grin breaks across the other man's face and Lio smiles back. "That's true, isn't it?" He leans over to press a kiss to Galo's cheek, a quick, small little peck before adding, cheerfully but matter-of-factly, "And if anyone tries to ruin that, I'll eat them."

[barenakedspirit]

“You don’t have to eat them. You could just sit on them until their mood improves.” That is his plan. He is a very big boy. People will rethink themselves very quickly.

Galo scratches at the his scales on his neck and wraps the fish fillets in leaves. The meat begins to steam as his magic fills the stone slab.

He wraps an arm around Lio and presses a kiss to the crown of his head. “But if it comes to it, we’ll eat anyone stupid enough to try messing this up for us. I’ve got your back through spark and flame. Rain or shine.” A low pleased rumble rolls through the air.

He is a big boy indeed.

[carrythetorch]

"Also a good strategy." But Lio prefer teeth. Slightly more efficient. He'll only take small bites, really. Enough to discourage. Sharply discourage. They've got this.

He leans into Galo as that arm comes around him, his stomach growling its approval of the aromas filling the air. Breakfast smells delicious already. "You're better at cooking than I am. But I'm a very good hunter. I can provide." For his mate and his family. He won't even steal from farms to do it.

Slipping his own arm behind Galo's back, he makes a soft sound not unlike a purr in response to that rumble. Galo has taken to this dragon thing beautifully.

[barenakedspirit]

“I know you’re a great hunter.” Galo says, then he pauses. “Still not used to how big I am/feel.” He shakes his head and rubs Lio’s back.

He steals a kiss from Lio’s lips as the meat cooks. He can feel the cave shifting more around them. The forest is so eager to have more guests and a family in it. He smiles and pats the stone with a foot.

“Forest is super happy though. Us living here has done a lot to address over amount of water magic. Once the kids hatch it will balance!” His grin is bright. “Visiting dragons can help too.”

Once more dragon healers are trained...more places can be a balanced out. He shivers and presses his face against Lio’s neck. “Ahh, I’m so excited for this! This is a whole new era of healers and healing! And I got you and the kids and,”

He makes a small happy noise.

[carrythetorch]

"Very big," Lio agrees, and maybe there's just a smidgen of indication just how hot Lio finds his big, strong dragon mate. It's not his fault. Galo's gorgeous in every form that Lio has seen him in. And he's his.

A smile stretches over his features and he looks around. "We'll make sure it's taken care of." It's his home, and that's something precious enough that Lio will fight for it. He can picture it without too much trouble, their children running around this house, the surrounding forest.

Galo's happiness is infectious, and Lio laughs, lifting a hand to ruffle through his hair. "I'm excited for it too, all of it." A pause and he adds, "Well, I'm not as much a nerd about healers, but I'm happy thay ou're happy about it."

[barenakedspirit]

He leans into the touch with another soft happy sound. "Mm, and we'll make everything better over time." Galo turns his head and presses a kiss to Lio's fingers. He draws back and slides a bundle of fish closer to Lio.

"Food is up!" He peels open his bundle and snags a chunk of fish from the fillet. He pops into his mouth. "Fish have been over breeding so, should hunt and lower their numbers a bit. Think Gueira and Meis will be willing to help?"

[carrythetorch]

Lio finds himself surprised by how easily he's fallen into such a close and familiar pattern with Galo. The soft touches, the sweet and natural affection. It's going to undo him.

His stomach rumbles its answer to Galo's offer of food, taking the bundle and opening it to start in on eating. Delicious like the first time. His mate can cook. "This is delicious. Thanks. Just like our first date."

A laugh escapes before he can stop it. "Yeah, I think you could probably persuade them to help." Really easily. They've been scraping by at best trying to keep their people fed while hiding away.

[barenakedspirit]

“And they can fly the rest of the hunt back to the rest of the...” Galo blinks and purses his lips. “Flight? Flock? How do we refer to ourselves here?” It’s a simple question.

No one has bothered to figure out which in ages. But it matters to Lio and to Galo as well. It’s just unfair not to treat dragons with respect. Even before he became one himself. But he pats the stone as he finishes off his own breakfast. “Plenty to go around. I can pack up any medicine they need too.”

[carrythetorch]

"Flight," Lio answers, entirely unable to hide how charmed he is by Galo. He's a genuinely good person, isn't he? Human, dragon, no matter what shape he might be, he's still Galo. It's about here Lio realizes just how smitten he is.

He finishes his own breakfast as well, nodding. "Medicine would be good. We take care of our own, but we've had to make do in many cases."

And now they can take care of them better, really look out for their people. "Do you think your forest could babysit for us? I feel like stretching my wings."

[barenakedspirit]

The trees rustle and Galo grins. “Forest says yeah and the kids aren’t in any danger of hatching without us around.” He cleans up what is left of their breakfast and stands up, stretching his arms.

“We flying in half or full dragon?” He asks. Roots and vines curl round the edges of the doorway, ready to fall in a screen once they leave. He can feel the slow and ever present thoughts of the forest. It’s eager to protect its fiery family.

And not just because a healer exists in this clutch. Galo blinks at that knowledge, glancing back to their bedroom. He turns to Lio and steps in, reaching for his chin a d tipping his head up to steal a kiss from his lips. “I’m happy with either way.”

[carrythetorch]

They'd better not hatch without them around. Lio wouldn't miss it for the world. But since they have time and a very effective babysitter in the forest, a little sky time should be just fine.

He sets a hand one one of the vines at the edge of the doorway, a silent sort of thanks, for keeping their eggs safe, for allowing Lio to call this place home too.

The hand at his chin stills his thoughts and all he can focus on is kissing Galo back. "Half," Lio answers, with the sole reason being that half will make it easier for him to steal a mid-air kiss should the impulse arise. Another quick peck of his lips to Galo's and he steps outside before shifting into his half form, wings unfurling and stretching wide.

[barenakedspirit]

Galo watches him go with a dreamy smile on his face. This is his life now. Lio is his mate and they have kids on the way. The forest vines curl gently around Lio's hand then let go. Galo walks past them as he changes to half form.

His full dragon form has no wings, but half his wings colored like the sunset sky spread out. His staff that he has carried since he first truly became a healer takes on the shape of a necklace of wooden beads around his neck. He stretches his arms up over his head then runs his hand along the edge of Lio's wing. "Let's go!"

He calls then launches himself into the sky. He won't get over how good it feels to fly. No wonder Aina loves it and all creatures of the wing so much. He circles over head while waiting for Lio and catches the sight of dragons far off in the distance. They can have a flight before the dragons reach them. He makes a soft sound of awe. "Wow, so many!" But not as many as the glory days.

In fact, not even a shadow of that. He knows that as he hovers in the air, nodding to himself. "Soon enough to be way more than this." He promises the empty air.

[carrythetorch]

Lio allows himself just a moment to watch Galo take to the sky on his new wings, smiling softly to himself before that smile turns downright mischievous and he springs into the air to chase after his mate. A few beats of his wings and he's up on a level with his mate.

He sees the rest of the flight in the distance. "Looks like everyone is coming to meet you," Lio informs him, reaching out to snag Galo's hand in his own and urge him higher. "And the kids."

But for now they have the sky to themselves for a few minutes, and Lio wants to make the most of it.