Comfort in Strange Places

Reed never had any intention to reveal to their party that he was a lizardfolk. They dealt with horrendous discrimation from various races - he didn’t want to deal with it. That, and he was terrified to lose the only companions he’s ever known over something Reed’s unable to control.

What person could control their race and birth?

Their little ragtag group is in a city similar to Agrabah. There was the monarchy and lower class folks, where lower class individuals were treated like dirt underneath the royalty’s boot. Reed couldn’t help but feel sympathetic when he saw beggars on the street, pleading for even a single coin.

Not many know, but Reed understands what that’s like. Coming from nothing. Lizardfolk didn’t derive many basic necessities from folks, and Reed did his fair share of dirty work to ensure his family got at least some bread for supper. He was, once, one of those beggars on the streets. And he also stole from various merchants when the coin they gathered wasn’t enough to feed even one person.

Reed didn’t understand materialistic things or pleasures until he met this raggedy bunch. Out of all of them, Celio was the one who caught the lizardfolk’s attention. He was tall, blue skinned, with various markings adorning his frame. He was… interesting. 

Although Reed could do without Celio’s constant flirting and trying to get him in bed.

Even though they’ve done that once or twice.

Walking through the dingy streets, Reed notices something out of the corner of his eye. There’s a young boy, not much older than ten, stealing from a vendor. He almost gets away with it, but then a guard yells. ‘Thief!’, and the boy starts to run with the barest scraps of bread in his hands.

He runs right past Reed, and Reed gives his best reassuring smile, mouthing, ‘I’ll take care of this.’ The boy looks grateful before continuing his trek, and Reed plants himself in the guard’s way.

“You’re with the thief, are you?” the guard sneers. “You know what the punishment is, don’t you? Or perhaps you don’t, and that’s why you defended one of those street rats.”

Reed rolls his eyes. “Get on with it.”

“The punishment is losing your finger. Hah! Afraid now?”

Reed shakes his head, a scoff slipping free. 

The guard looks at Reed’s hand, seeing one adorning the ring Reed’s worn for god knows how many years. He raises his butcher knife, and Reed gives an internal snort. It’s just a finger. It’ll grow--

Wait, shit!

Reed lets out a scream, alerting the rest of his party where he is. Celio in particular runs towards Reed, eyes blown wide with fear and anger, ready to defend the person he cares the most for. The lizardfolk attempts to get away, but it’s useless - the guard slices off his finger in one swift, clean movement.

The change happens in seconds. Celio, and the rest of their party, look on with surprise and mild horror as a 10 foot tall komodo dragon stands where Reed once was. The guard, rightly afraid, screams, Reed’s severed finger falling onto the ground. And the shopkeeper looks so terrified to the point Celio is surprised he hasn’t shit himself.

Celio’s surprise is short lived when Reed runs off, and anger, red, hot, and searing, boils in his blood for what these bastards did to his friend and lover. Drawing his weapon, Celio charges towards the guards, the rest of their party snapping out of their dazes to join him.

The battle doesn’t last long. Humans are weak, and fall rather easily to the drow and the rest of his supernatural party. They cower in fear and beg for their lives to be spared. Celio snorts at that. After what they did to Reed, they deserve nothing but death, but Celio knows Reed wouldn’t condone needless ones.

So, the drow waves a hand, shooing them away, and they leave running and screaming. Celio turns to his friends, and they all nod, telling the drow without words to go after the man he loves.

Celio does exactly that. Following the deep footprints in the ground caused by Reed’s feet, he comes across the one he loves so dearly, curled into a corner behind some stacked boxes as soft growls slip from his lips.

“Leave me alone,” Reed drawls. The snarls and growls he’s emitting would scare your average person. But, then again, Celio isn’t your average man. He gives slow, tentative steps towards Reed, who growls louder in an attempt to make Celio leave him be.

“You aren’t scaring me,” Celio says in a soft, gentle tone. Reed curls further into the corner, but Celio refuses to be deterred. He crouches next to the man he loves once he’s within a safe distance, raising his hands and showing Reed he has no weapons, he’s not going to attack him. “I’m not leaving you, Reed.” A few moments pass, Reed’s growls reduced to soft snarls, and Celio dares to ask, “Are you okay?”

Reed shrinks further into the corner, and Celio knows he’s not ready to be approached further. He keeps the severed finger and ring in his back pocket, ready to give it to his love whenever he’s ready to be approached further. “Can you tell me what you’re feeling?”

Reed looks up, golden eyes fearful. Celio gives a small, sad smile, wishing more than anything he could pull Reed into his arms and tell him it’s okay, he’ll be okay. Reed reaches a large hand forward, brushing his fingers against Celio’s cheeks, and Celio’s smile widens just a little. “Everyone’s worried about you. They aren’t going to toss you away.”

Reed makes a tiny noise in the back of his throat, and Celio takes his hand within both of his, stroking the scales with an affectionate touch. “It’ll be okay, Reed. I swear.”

Celio is well aware of the danger he’s in. Reed stands at ten feet tall, while Celio’s height is nearly four feet shorter than that. If Reed so chose, he could attack, slam his tail into him, shatter his bones. But Celio isn’t afraid of his beloved. He knows Reed will never hurt him, could never hurt him. They care for one another far too much to want to harm the other person, even if they were in a changed state.

Reed, slowly, starts to uncurl, but still holds himself tightly. Celio gives an encouraging smile, using one of his hands to stroke the scales on Reed’s cheeks. He’s treating his love like a cornered, scared animal, exactly what he is. Celio doesn’t make any sudden movements or anything of the sort. Just continues stroking Reed’s hand and face, whispering encouraging words to his most precious one.

“If you come back with us, maybe Ian can retach your finger,” Celio offers in a soft, warm tone, holding up Reed’s severed finger and the ring that once adorned it. 

Reed doesn’t respond, looking like he wants to run. Celio is terrified of that. He doesn’t want Reed to bolt, never to see the person he loves again. Giving a gentle tap to Reed’s cheek, the komodo dragon looks at him. His golden eyes scream one thing, ‘I can’t trust them.’ And it breaks Celio’s heart to see his most precious treasure like this.

“They won’t hurt you, Reed. They’re our friends. And if they do, I’ll keep you safe. I won’t let anyone hurt you. I swear to you this.”

Reed opens his mouth, then shuts it, teeth snapping together. He looks so desperate, like he wishes, more than anything, to believe Celio’s words. But the distrust still burns in golden eyes. His hand on Celio’s face falters for just a few moments, and Reed pulls it away, terror lingering in golden depths. 

“I want to believe you,” Reed speaks after many silent moments. Celio moves his hands to take Reed’s larger, clawed one within both of his. “But I’m wanted for what I’ve done. How can I know our friends won’t sell me for a pretty coin?”

“Because you know them,” is Celio’s simple reply.

Reed looks to and fro, biting hard on his lip to the point blood is drawn. “I knew them when they knew I wasn’t like this. How will they feel now, knowing I could kill them if I so desired?”

Celio shakes his head. “That’s the thing. I know you will not do so. You’re too kind, too caring, to want to hurt another. This all happened because you saved a boy when he was stealing bread. If that’s not a testament to your character, I don’t know what is.”

Reed gives Celio a long, intense look. Then, with a quiet whisper, and a gentle swishing of his tail, the lizardfolk utters one word, “Why?”

“Why? Why what?”

“Why do you do this for me? Your bones are brittle after your events in the Hollow. I could shatter them if I wanted to.”

“Isn’t it obvious?” A blush adorns Celio’s cheeks as he says, in an equally soft whisper, “Reed, I love you. Why wouldn’t I chase after you and be by your side throughout the turmoil you’re going through?”

Reed looks shocked, golden eyes blown wide with surprise and alarm. After a few moments of silence pass between them, Reed gives a tiny smile and whispers, “I love you too.”

Celio smiles, leaning forward to press a kiss against Reed’s cheek. It’s a strange feeling, kissing scales, but it doesn’t deter the drow. He places kiss upon kiss on Reed’s face until the dragon laughs, pushing Celio away with as soft a touch as he can muster in his larger form. 

“How do we change you back?” Celio asks, moving closer to Reed and tucking himself underneath Reed’s arm. “Is there something I can do to quicken the process?”

“The reason I was so scared? The ring,” Reed says, and Celio blinks, confused.

“What about the ring?”

“It’s what holds my dragon form back,” Reed explains, and Celio lets out a soft ‘ah’. He curls against the one he loves, happiness brimming off him in waves now that they’ve finally said they love each other. “Can we stay like this a little longer, Cel?”

The drow blushes. That’s the first time someone had a nickname for him, and finds he loves it. Only if it comes from Reed. If anyone else gave him a pet name, Celio wouldn’t appreciate it. But Reed?

The fact he whispers such a thing under his breath, with the barest hint of a smile on his lips, tells Celio it took a lot of courage for him to utter the name. And that’s something the man can respect.

“Of course we can,” Celio murmurs in a soft, gentle tone. Reed lets out a happy growl, tightening his clasp on his love, but ensuring not to do so too hard. Celio is fragile with his bone structure, after all, and it’s something the larger male respects. The last thing Reed wants to do is hurt Celio - if he did, he may just run and never come back.

The urge to bolt still lingers in Reed’s blood, but with Celio in his arms, why would he possibly want to run away? That, and the fact Celio loves him, the same way Reed does, is enough to ground him to stay. Burying his face in white tresses, Reed lets out content purrs, something which makes the drow chuckle and cuddle further within his most precious person.

“I love you,” Celio whispers once more, and Reed growls in contentment, arms securely fastened around the smaller male.

“I love you,” Reed repeats.

-w-

The two stay in the alley for hours, curled against one another and whispering soft words of love and affection towards the other. Darkness starts to cover the skies, so Celio looks at Reed, giving him a warm, reassuring smile.

“Ready to go back?”

Reed looks hesitant, but the smile Celio wears is enough to make him stand. “You’ll protect me?” the dragon asks in a hushed, worried whisper.

“Until the day I die,” Celio declares, and Reed nods, wrapping his arm around Celio’s shoulders and letting him take him towards their group.

They’re all lounging in a local bar, likely drinking a few to forget about the day’s events and unwind. Screams echo throughout the area once Reed and Celio enter, and Reed makes to run. Celio holds him in place with a strong, soft, reassuring hand on his arm, and looks at the patrons.

“He won’t hurt you. He’s too sweet for that,” he tells them, and while they look freaked, the determination in Celio’s voice is enough to make them go back to what they’re doing. 

“Welcome back,” Ian greets them, and Celio guides Reed towards their group with every bit of gentle reassurance. “How’s Reed?” the healer questions, looking at the large dragon with worry.

“He’ll be alright, once you reattach his finger and put the ring on him,” Celio replies. “The ring was holding back this form.”

“Ahh, was it now? The scream makes perfect sense, then,” Ian responds with a nod. “Come with me.”

The rest of their friends look at Reed and Celio, looking concerned and not at all afraid. Reed gives them a timid smile, still nervous. One of them pipes up with, “We ain’t gonna toss ya aside because you’re a giant lizard, man,” and Reed’s smile widens, nodding and following Celio and Ian to a room.

“These rooms are rather small, apologies,” Ian murmurs, apologetic. “Will you be alright, Reed?”

“Y-Yeah, I’ll be fine,” Reed murmurs, crouching. It’s painful, but he won’t tell anyone else that.

Celio takes one of his clawed hands within his, stroking the scales as Ian gets to work reattaching his finger. The magic stings and Reed’s eyes water, but Celio reassures him by stroking his skin and saying soft words of comfort to his love.

After a few moments pass, Reed’s finger is reattached. The only evidence it was cleaved off is a thin line, barely visible. “There, all done,” Ian remarks with a smile. “I’ll let everyone know you two need some time for yourselves - you’ve been through a lot today. We’ll leave in the morning.”

“Thank you, Ian,” Celio says, giving a brief hug to their friend. Ian smiles, walking back to the bar, and Celio looks at Reed, holding the ring in his hand. He slides it over Reed’s finger, and in a puff of smoke, Reed reverts to his human form. “There you are,” Celio whispers, drawing Reed into his arms.

“C-Celio,” Reed mumbles, voice thick with tears. “Thank you. Thank you for not leaving me.”

“Why would I leave you? I told you - I love you. I will always remain by your side, fighting and protecting you. No matter what form you take.”

Reed nods, hiccuping as he curls against Celio’s larger form. Celio loves that Reed fits so perfectly in his arms. His dragon form is one to be feared, but his human one? It’s a soft, gentle creature. And Celio loves both forms equally.

Pressing a kiss into soft brown tresses, Celio guides Reed towards bed, and Reed’s heterochromatic eyes look wide. “No sex tonight,” the drow reassures his love. “Just holding you.”

Reed lets out a soft exhale, nodding and letting Celio lead him. Falling back against plush cushions and blankets, Celio follows after Reed, wrapping his arms around his precious dragon and holding onto him in a tight grasp.

“You mean the world to me, Reed,” Celio murmurs. He lifts Reed’s face, chasing his lips. Reed makes a happy sound in the liplock, clinging onto Celio in an almost desperate way. “I will never leave you. I will love you until our deaths, and even after. Nothing will remove me from your side. This is my promise to you.”

Fresh tears spring to Reed’s eyes. Celio is a flirt, true and true, but never has the lizardfolk heard such comforting, gentle words from the drow. Reed just nods, tucking his head under Celio’s chin as Celio’s grasp tightens around him to the point of pain. But Reed doesn’t care about pain. He’s happy to be with the man he loves.

The warmth between them leads Reed to slumber, eyes closing as his fingers cling to Celio’s shirt. Celio gives a soft laugh - Reed is adorable when he’s drifting off. Gliding his fingers through brown locks, Celio smiles, closing his eyes, and sleep soon finds him as well.

Two unlikely people - a drow and dragon. Two unlikely souls to have love blossom between them. But they have. And they promise to remain with one another until the end, no matter what obstacles come their way.

And if anyone attempts to harm the other?

Heaven help them.