Chapter Text
Martín had given up on following his golden string a long time ago.
When he was younger he had travelled all over, wherever his wings would take him. Over rivers and oceans, around mountains and between canyons. Hoping somewhere his string would pull taut and lead him to his mate.
But that had never happened.
With time and the passing of years Martín had grown weary. He was tired of travelling. As much as he enjoyed flying and seeing the world, he was tired of being in a constant state of alert. Of always being careful where he flew in fear of being spotted by humans. Of living in constant anxiousness of being found and captured, maybe even killed.
So he decided to settle down.
Martín didn't know much about humans, only the basics. Every dragon knew that there were two kinds of humans. One kind, the smelly violent ones that were scared of them and would try to kill them on sight. The ones that lived in strange dirty towns, that disrespected nature and creatures. The ones that preyed on everything and destroyed what surrounded them. The ones dragons had to stay far, far away from. While the second kind was very different and far more difficult to come across. They were magical, capable of wielding magic just like dragons but unlike dragons they used their powers in strange and wondrous ways. They respected nature and all magical creatures, including dragons as they mostly stayed out of their way and left them in peace.
So Martín settled down, far away from his homeland, in a place the humans called Europe. He chose some mountains covered in woods and surrounded by a dense forest. Near to it there was a human settlement, a small kingdom, not far from the outskirts of the forest. It was full of the second kind of humans and it made him choose that particular spot because the low trum of concentrated magic felt warm and comforting. There was also something that called him to the little kingdom but he couldn't figure out what it was.
He picked a cave and made his lair. Hoarding his gold and stones, and all the trinkets he had collected along his travels. He made a home, guarding his territory and venturing occasionally into the human city, even if there wasn't much of interest there.
Slowly moons passed and seasons changed and Martín settled into his quiet and comfortable life. Even if from time to time he felt the itch to travel, the pull of adventure and the unknown, the restlessness that came with staying still for too long. But he ignored it, exploring the lands around his territory and enjoying the pleasures of a comfortable life.
He wasn't sure if the humans were aware of his presence but if they were they never tried to enter his lair or invade his territory so he gave them the same courtesy. His interest in humans laid purely in the way they use their magic and the powers they wield. So he didn't concern himself with them.
That all changes quite unexpectedly one day when the air is sharp and crisp and the leaves turn golden brown.
It's been a calm and slow morning, the watery early morning sunlight and the slight fall chill in the air pushing Martín to stay curled up in his cave. Yesterday he had managed to catch a whole cow, so food is still a far away thought. His warm cave and full belly promising a day of lazing about until some other natural necessity pushes him outside.
He's just stretching a bit to change positions before going back to sleep when shouts and what sounds like explosions reach his ears. It sounds like humans but he doesn't feel any immediate danger so he decides to ignore them.
Not long after he's starting to feel sleepy again when the smell of sharp ozone and smoke reaches him as the explosions come nearer. That's when he resigns to his fate and goes to investigate. He stretches out his wings, making sure they are ready to take flight in a second, and slinks through his cave to stand in the shadows near the entrance.
At first he can't see anything through the smoke and blinding flashes of battle spells, then slowly he manages to make out a group of humans. They are all dressed in dark robes with hoods and masks covering their faces. In their hands they hold those strange slender sticks the second kind of humans all carry. From what Martín has been able to gleam from his travels, humans use those sticks to better wield their magic. Smoke and light emanates from them as they throw spell after spell at an opposing lonely figure.
And that's when Martín sees him.
A pale and slender man twirls, gracefully dodging spells and casting back in retaliation. His robes dancing around him and his light armor clinking with the movement, his face alight by the power of his spells.
He is breathtaking.
The bright flashes of power flare around him, illuminating luscious dark brown hair and whiskey brown eyes. The man sidesteps a curse and huffs, throwing up a barrier with his eyes squinted in defiance. Like that with his regal stance and sharp profile, bathed in the light of spells and the sun he looks divine. He shimmers like a jewel, like the most precious of stones.
He is the most beautiful treasure Martín has ever seen.
And more importantly, it's at that precise moment that something marvelous happens, something Martín had longed for his whole life. After years of searching and having given up, finally his golden string pulls taut. Martín watches it tense as if about to snap and then shine blindingly bright leading straight to the man. Connecting Martín directly with his precious treasure.
"Looks like this is it for you, commander! Any last words?" Asks mockingly one of the humans attacking his treasure. He laughs, waving his stick and calling his magic to him, preparing to strike. It is dark and sick magic. Martín can feel it, putrid and rotten, glowing green and turning the air around it heavy, leaving a miasma of death in its wake. A killing curse.
Martín doesn't give him time to finish casting.
He makes no sound as, quick as lightning, he launches himself in the air. Flying out of his cave, wings spread and roaring, to wrap himself protectively around his treasure. The group of humans scream and screech, casting rushed spells at him and turning to flee. Martín opens his mouth wide, letting out an earth shattering roar along with an explosive burst of flames, burning them alive like pathetic insects. He flicks his tail like a whip, crushing and beating those that managed to evade his flames. He doesn't concern himself with the few that manage to escape, relishing in the screams, the terror and the gore of it all.
When the screams of the survivors can no longer be heard, the whole forest falls silent once again. The air is saturated with the stench of fear and the nauseating smell of burning flesh. The only sounds to be heard are Martín's slightly panting breaths and a choked off whimper from his treasure.
He scans the clearing to make sure no more attackers are nearby. Then he looks down at his treasure and slowly unwraps himself from around him, tracking his every move looking for injury.
"Great, I'm going to get eaten by a dragon." The man mutters, pointing his stick at him with an almost imperceptibly shaking hand. His voice is deep, velvety and dark, sweet like honey. It makes a shiver run down Martín's spine.
He steps forward a bit, leaning closer to the man but he immediately steps back, his eyes wide, calling his magic to his stick, a vibrant flash of red glowing around it. Martín knows he must paint an intimidating sight. Glinting golden blue scales that shine in the sun with some flaming red streaks along his body. Slitted reptilian eyes, horns, spikes, claws and a powerful whip like tail covered in feathers.
He quickly gathers his magic, calling it to do something he has never before done in the presence of a human. His powers swirl around his form, dancing in a dizzying rainbow twirl. It completely engulfs him, exploding in sparks before compressing itself into a smaller shape. The mighty dragon disappears leaving behind a human shaped form. Martín makes sure to conjure garments onto himself before his magic fades and dissipates, leaving him face to face with his treasure.
The man stares at him disbelievingly while Martín carefully steps up to him, his eyes looking him up and down. Martín knows his human form is an attractive one. With luscious dark hair, pale skin, a comely body and otherworldly eyes the color of his scales. Also on his occasional interactions with humans quite a few females have informed him he's in the possession of a nice smile and an amazing ass. Whatever that means. Martín has no idea, but going by their lustful stares directed at his behind he believes it is a good thing.
There's absolute silence for a while as they size each other up. They carefully study the other. The man is tense looking at Martín like he's expecting an attack. When none comes he relaxes slightly, cautiously lowering his stick.
Martín smiles happily at him. His lips stretching to show a row of very sharp teeth with a little gap between one of his fangs and the incisor.
The man blinks, still staring at Martín. "I guess then this means you aren't going to kill me, right?" He looks momentarily at the carnage around them before looking back at Martín. "Thank you for saving me."
"No need to thank me." In this form his voice is rough and raspy. His accent strong and curling around his words in a throaty cackle, like burning embers. The man seems surprised by it. Martín gets closer to him, caging him in against the outer wall of his cave, invading the man's space till he can feel his breath on his face. He knows humans get uncomfortable with this kind of proximity. Something about personal space and other such nonsense. Martín doesn't much care.
"How may I call you, little knight?"
"Andrés de Fonollosa."
The man says it with an air of authority, haughty and regal. He stares at Martín as if waiting for a reaction. If he expects Martín to know who he is, he's out of luck. Martín doesn't know… Wait…
"De Fonollosa? Isn't that the name of the kingdom? Don't you have a family name?"1
Andrés stares at him with a strange expression like he can't quite believe his words. "That is my family name." He says emphatically, still waiting for some kind of reaction.
Martín shrugs. It didn't matter. To him that name just became the most important one he would ever know. It would forever be engraved in his mind, in the beating of his heart, for it belonged to the man on the other side of his golden string.
"My name is Martín of the Berrote clan and I am the one that saved your life, knight de Fonollosa." His smile becomes even wider and he sees Andrés eyeing his teeth with some apprehension.
Andrés brings his hands up, pushing Martín away from his space and stepping away from where he had him pushed up against the cave wall. Martín lets him. He knows humans are very concerned with things like manners, privacy and social conventions. They'll have to work on that. In the meantime Martín will have to do some research on norms and human societal behaviour.
Andrés clears his throat, brushing himself off and straightening his clothes. "Yes, it appears so and, as you are pointing it out like that, I assume you require something in exchange, don't you?"
Martín smiles slyly, feeling smug. Indeed there is something he wants and, as he saved his life, Andrés is bound by honor and by nature to give it to him. Still, he has to tread carefully if he wants his advances to be well received. He will court his little treasure and make him his, but not against his will. He is confident he can manage not to spook him away, it cannot possibly be that hard.
"I want your friendship and your companionship, knight de Fonollosa. I'll see you here every day."
Andrés once again looks at him incomprehensibly while blinking slowly. Martín is starting to worry his first assessment was wrong and the man did receive a curse or damage to the head. He's staring at Martín as if he were speaking to him in Draconian.
"Why?" The man finally asks uncertainly. Martín chuckles and, with inhuman speed, gets up in his space again. He brings one hand up to cup the man's cheek, running his thumb under his eye. While his other hand takes a hold of one of Andrés' and puts it against his chest, right where his string starts and he can feel the beating of his heart (well, one of them at least).
"Because you are a very beautiful man, Andrés." He smirks when the man blushes and squirms slightly, trying to take back his hand. "And because I would like to get to know my mate too, of course."