Work Text:
Kris maneuvered their way around the small apartment kitchen, setting aside bowls and spoons for the meal to come. They were lucky to have gotten off work early today, and planned to celebrate by putting together a nice home-cooked meal. They checked the slow cooker again, confident the meal would be ready in time…
As if in answer to their thoughts, they heard the familiar jangle of keys and heavy footfalls that signaled the approach of their favorite dragon. Kris hurried out of the kitchen to greet her as the door swung wide.
“Hey Sooz, how was wor–” Kris stopped short when they saw what awaited them.
Susie stood framed in the doorway, emanating rage and hostility. Kris was almost surprised they didn’t see storm clouds brewing over her head. Kris knew this look all too well.
“Ah shit, rough day, huh?”
Susie merely ground her teeth in response, fists clenching and unclenching and she relieved the events in her head - a compounding shitstorm of ever-worsening moments that was her work day. Charging headfirst into the storm, Kris walked purposely forward and took her scaly hand, slowly rubbing it with their own until it unclenched, losing just a bit of its tension.
“Alright, now, what can I do for you?”
Her head turned slightly as she fixed her baleful eyes on the human. Her jaws barely moved as she uttered out a low growl.
“........Hold.”
Kris nodded, closing the door behind her and guiding the dragon monster carefully over to the couch. Kris sat her down in the middle as she kicked off her boots and tossed her jacket to the floor. Taking their place at the end of the couch, the human sat diagonally and slowly eased her shoulders back. Susie turned to lie across the couch with the back of her head resting on their chest. Kris wrapped one arm just below her neck as they pulled her snugly against them, while their other hand began to gently stroke her hair.
“I’m sorry. I know how much you hate it when work sucks… I’m proud of you for hanging in there. You wanna talk about it?”
She merely grunted noncommittally in response.
Reaching down, Kris switched their hand to lightly scratch the scales just under her snout. Susie uttered a low, prolonged growl that Kris could feel vibrating through their body. Anyone else might have recoiled in pure terror at the noise, but Kris knew better. To them, it was the sound of total contentment. They could feel her shoulders sag and her muscles relax as she leaned deeper into the human, a great puff of air blowing out from her nostrils. They smiled at how fast they were able to soothe the savage dragon.
They sat together in silence for a few minutes, each of them in total commitment to the other’s presence. Both of them wished they could spend every hour of the day like this.
“So, I’m making your favorite chili in the slow cooker, it should be ready in about an hour. You wanna nap until then?”
“Yeh.” She mumbled with her eyes already closed, savoring the feel of their body holding hers close.
Kris leaned their head down to give her a peck on the tip of her snout, but she reached up and held the human's head in place. She rotated a bit until she could give them a proper kiss, holding it for a moment.
"How did I get so damn lucky with you?”
"Love you too, Susie.”
She wiggled a bit to adjust her position, resting the side of her face against them and nuzzling her snout against the crook of their neck, her tail thumping happily against the human's leg. Now slightly on her side, she rested a hand on Kris's chest alongside her face, while her other arm hooked under their waist. Kris knew they weren't going anywhere at this point, not that it mattered since there was nowhere they'd rather be.
Susie would never admit this aloud, but when Kris held her while she lay against them this way, it made her feel smaller somehow. And yet at the same time, she felt nothing but safety and love, allowing her to finally cast off her tough and hardened front and place herself totally in their care. At first it had been scary - downright terrifying even - to let down all of her guard and give Kris all of her trust. Thankfully, she had quickly realized not only did she have nothing to fear, but the sensation often left her feeling completely at peace in these moments.
She’d just have to remember to remind them who was in charge later.
It wasn’t long after that she was already asleep, and all of the day’s worries washed away with warm feelings and pleasant dreams.