Kemal was all alone in the city walking through the streets.
Azul left to who knows where and the boy was too bored to stay on the roof. His steps were pretty slow, a rare indulgence of peace. The city was large. There were many carriages and many riders, guards patrolling, and even the sky wasn't safe.
Despite the heavy security that didn't stop The liar from snatching an apple and simply biting into it.
Unlike that rookie I won't be caught that easily…
With an egoistic scoff he suddenly felt someone grab onto his shoulder.
NEVERMIND!
Kemal tensed up his mind racing with excuses but when he turned around his eye twitched when he saw a familiar face behind him.
White scales…
With a mental note taken he stared at the dragon in silence. Unable to take it any longer he finally spoke first. "What is it? Shouldn't you be on the ship?"
He wasn't exactly sure how to start the conversation but he quickly got led into a more empty area.
He's gonna kill me…
Preparing for the worst the boy crossed his arms but got taken aback when Kier took out a pouch.
"Money?" Curiously he took it, opening it slightly.
"do you… Wanna come back?"
The air grew stuffy and Kemal shook his head.
"I do."
The dragon was about to interrupt but Kemal shushed him, stepping closer. "But Azul doesn't want to."
"It doesn't matter what he wants."
"It matters to me!" He yanked the dragon closer by the collar, their faces nose to nose.
"So you came here to take Azul back?" He questioned but Kier shook his head. "I came to take you back."
"Me?" Kemal looked at him surprised.
The dragon's tail suddenly started wagging while his expression kept indifferent.
For me..?
Unable to ignore the pounding of his heart the boy took a step back only for the dragon to take one forth.
"You." He confirmed.
"Why me.." Kemal hesitantly questioned and the man's tail seemed to pick up its pace.
"Because I want you back."
Surrounded by silence Kemal finally took a breath before answering. "Well if I can't come back, then that means you have to stay with me.."
Kemal turned his head slightly, hoping his advancement wouldn't get rejected but instead he felt his hand pulled towards the dragon's chest.
Feeling the rapid pounding of Kier's heart. "I can stay?" His voice came out softly, startling the boy's heart watching him get chills before turning himself away.
His soft candy-like smell took over the entire alleyway.
The message and intention was clear, too clear. No one's ever been so bold with their feelings towards him!
It took the boy a few minutes to shuffle and readjust himself. "Well.. Since we are on the same page.." Kemal vaguely gestured with his hand almost as if searching for his warmth once more.
"Let us explore the city then, there is so much Azul didn't show you, so if you would allow me to beat him to it." Kier went on his knee extending his hand.
His wings unfurled in a prideful display white scales reflecting the sun away making him seem almost glowing.
This man!! He knows what he's doing!
Praising internally Kemal didn't hesitate to take the dragon's hand, accepting his dramatic gesture.
Hand in hand they were strolling down the streets. The dragon's wings vanished behind his back but his tail stayed as active as usual.
There were a lot of curious eyes following them around but nothing stopped Kemal from using this walking wallet till it's filled with webs.
He was quick to subtly hint at food or drinks which he immediately got. Sometimes things he barely glanced at would end up in his hands in no time. Everything he ate was either sweet or fruits he's never seen before.
The current place they were at seemed to be mostly filled with healthy vendors and occasional candied fruits.
Well that made sense since I came here to steal some food…
Kemal chuckled to himself, causing the dragon beside him to perk up.
I guess being ethical every now and then won't hurt.
He wasn't a man that steals, if anything he'd always make someone else borrow for him. But was he shy of contributing to it? Not at all!
If anything Kemal mastered the art to the point where he doesn't even notice when he does sometimes snatch things up.
He suddenly felt himself get pulled closer by the waist. "What are you thinking of?" Kier curiously asked, his expression was not nearly as loud as his body language.
His tail always had been grabby of Kemal even when they barely met each other it still tried to get as close as possible.
"You're really cute.." Kemal confessed with a whisper. The dragon's expression didn't change but his tail almost whacked a nearby passerby in the knee.
Kemal could only laugh while Kier tried to stay as nonchalant as possible.
Everything seemed to go well despite the gut feeling in Kemal's chest. Azul hasn't shown himself the whole day much to Kier's fortune.
His steps suddenly stopped when he noticed a little game vendor. It has balls, puzzles and even little board games. But what caught Kemal's eye was a deck of cards, seemingly the only deck.
Without realising his legs already began moving until he was at the vendors stall.
"Anything catching your eye?" The beastman beamed, knowing full well what the boy was looking at.
Kier followed close by before preparing a few silver coins.
"The cards?" He hummed the question while watching Kemal reach out to grab them.
His vision blurred for a second the cards changing shapes and size until he found himself on a table with three cards displayed before him.
Death. Death. Death.
Once snapped out of it he gasped for air when he realised he'd been holding his breath.
Kier's tail swiftly reached out to hold the boy by the hips before paying for the cards.
"Thank you.." Kemal mumbled, fingers already beginning to unpack the deck of cards.
Afterwards they were sitting high up in the sky on an invisible platform together. Kemal was resting on the dragon's crossed legs nestling comfortably against his broad chest.
Maybe this man being huge isn't so bad after all.
Together they were looking down at the sunset, the clouds blending beautifully into a shade of purple and pink combined.
Kemal's hands were restlessly shuffling the deck of cards repeatedly with rather smooth skill.
When was the last time I've taken my time to admire the clouds..
"You seem to be quite skilled?" Kier tilted his head only making the other chuckle.
His eyes felt heavy for a second, his heart warming up with a faint memory.
—
"The sky looks stupid."
Kemal suddenly snaps, crushing his empty cup. "What did the sky do to you!?" He burst out clearly confused at the sudden choice of words.
The man beside him crossed his arms while looking up at the setting sun. "Well, I don't know…"
"I think it's pretty good?" Kemal wasn't sure what to say, the sky wasn't feeling glamorous but it certainly wasn't ugly either. Where would you even go with this conversation?
"I just.. Don't like it.." The other lowered his gaze, deciding to look at the gravel beneath his feet.
"Do you.. Wanna talk about it?" Kemal turned to the other man who only bit his nail in response.
"You don't have to…" Kemal mumbled and the other man smiled faintly.
"I appreciate it." The other sighed faintly, satisfied with the others' concern.
Although Kemal couldn't quite hear the sentences after he only remembered the way the clouds shifted to cover the bright stars.
—
There were no clouds in the sky, the stars were shining so brightly that it was almost blinding.
"I wonder if he still hates the sky.." Kemal spoke without realising, his hands pausing.
"What's there to hate?" Kier immediately questioned snapping the boy out of his reverie. "I wish I knew.."
He never got an answer, it seemed like something so important yet he never pressed on.
I wish I did..
Kier suddenly let out a deep sigh but it was ignored by the fact that Kemal saw something pass by in the sky.
"Was that a flying horse?" Kemal was about to point but the creature vanished immediately into the clouds.
Kier turned to the direction Kemal was pointing at but there was nothing but clouds over there.
"I have to.."
"Go, you have to go right?" Kemal finished his sentence before he could. "I understand." Kemal got up jumping off of the man's lap.
It was gonna be a harsh crash when suddenly his body gently floated onto a roof.
Of course my dragon wasn't gonna let me die from fall damage!
A flicker of disappointment flashed through Kier's eyes but he reluctantly unfurled his wings and took off.
Kemal decided to just sit down on his little spot when suddenly he let out a high pitched scream when someone touched his shoulder from behind. He gripped onto his cards more tightly than before.
His hands flew up to his chest and quickly turned to face another large dragon, almost identical.
"Didn't you say you were gonna leave?." Kemal commented while putting down his fists but the man shook his head with a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
"That was my brother, it's me."
It's you? WHO IS YOU!?
Kemal tried to think for a second until his mind finally remembered the different scales.
Just as he suspected the man's tail was black, he can't quite remember who he was always talking to at all times, he only remembered two names.
Kier… and Azul… dog.. and dragon..
Was Kier Azul's captain? Or is it this one? He could swear he saw their tails but no matter how much he tried to jog his memory nothing would stick.
"i don't think I ever got your name… Captain."
Crossing his fingers inside his heart the dragon let out a deep hum.
As if considering something the dragon smiled. "If you didn't tell us your name, why should you get mine?"
His smile was very soft for his rough demeanor, although an unsatisfactory answer Kemal was at least happy not having to remember another name.
His smell was strong, that must've been the difference.
"So you remember…"
"Unlike you." The man chuckled, causing Kemal to tense up.
Hey… Not everyone has crystal clear memories…
"Then why did you come? For Azul? He's not here.." Kemal turned to look up at the sky where Azul vanished.
"Where do you think he went?" A soothing voice echoed behind Kemal.
"Do you think he's looking?" Kemal searched the stars for Answers but there was no response.
"Looking for what?"
"Himself… Why did you take Azul in?" Kemal stepped to the corner of the roof sitting down at the very edge leaving his legs dangling.
"Azul… Has always been an easy child, his energy always went in the right places…"
The dragon groaned with a stretch before sitting down beside the boy.
"it would have been even easier if the boy was born in the right conditions aswell."