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Usually, it just itched.
That thought kept going through Sebek’s mind as he followed his usual routine. The pain in the morning hadn’t been so bad. Working out, escorting Malleus to class, attending history and potions, and eating lunch…the ache in his shoulder blades and down his back had been easy to ignore. Now, though, as he stood in the cold training yard waiting for Silver, he grit his teeth against worsening discomfort. Thunder rumbled in the distance, the gray clouds overhead promising rain.
It was winter. His scales were “coming in,” as his mother always said, minor variations as old scales fell away and new ones grew in their place. It was only visible when he took his fae form, and in his human form, it should be nothing but a minor itch. Not…this.
Hot pain lanced down his back, and Sebek winced. He hoped Silver hurried up, and wasn’t sleeping somewhere. He didn’t relish the idea of jogging around campus trying to find him when his back hurt like this.
Of course, he would do it if he needed to. He wasn’t lazy like Silver. He was a strong, tough fae after all. A little pain and itchiness from scales growing in was nothing!
He had almost mustered his resolve to go and find his usual training partner when the silver-haired man appeared, carrying his baton. He yawned, blinking bleary eyes, and Sebek grit his teeth in annoyance.
“You’re late!” he snapped. He took a step forward, intending to lecture Silver on proper decorum for a guard, and gasped instead. Pain lanced through him again, like a fiery blade was suddenly dipped straight down his back. It spread like fire across his shoulders, and he stumbled to a stop, gasping against the flash of agony.
What was this? Scales growing in wasn’t supposed to be this painful!
Sebek curled his hand across the front of his shirt, the pain making his fingernails sharpen into claws. He breathed deep as it continued, willing away the urge to take his fae form and start scratching and pulling at what must be new scales. He could handle this. He may just be half fae, but he could handle this!
Anxiety wormed in his gut, mixing with nausea at the pain. If he was full fae, would this hurt this much?
“I’m only five minutes…Sebek?” Silver tilted his head.
Sebek took his hand away from his chest, standing up straighter. He just had to push through it. It would be shameful to let Silver see such weakness! He wouldn’t let minor scale pain ruin his training!
“I’m ready!” he called, ignoring the muscles in his back twitching with an itching pain that was not easing in the least. “Prepare yourself, Silver!”
Silver blinked slowly, but Sebek knew better. He may look sloppy and act sleepy, but Silver was always on point when it came to sparring. He was sure he would overpower him one day, but until then Silver was a tough opponent. The perfect person to spar against and ensure that Sebek would get stronger.
He just wished he was at his best. But at least he could learn how to fight through discomfort.
It’s just minor scale pain, he told himself as he went in for the charge. It’s nothing.
Silver parried his first strike, then struck back, Sebek blocking across his body out of instincts trained over years. Silver hit hard, and the shock of it traveled through his baton into his shoulder and down his back. Normally it was nothing. Now, the surge of pain brought tears to Sebek’s eyes.
Silver’s eyes narrowed, and Sebek pushed through it with a gasp and swung his baton again. This time Silver sidestepped, bringing his weapon around, his wrist flicking so that it traveled as fast as a blink.
Sebek blocked it faster than he thought possible, more training taking over. He did not want to be hit in the shoulder. He didn’t want to be hit at all.
Silver gave him an approving nod, and a flash of warmth went through Sebek. It didn’t last, though, as Silver tried the move again, and this time when Sebek moved to block he feinted and flicked his baton toward Sebek’s other side.
It would be smart if he backed up—
The blow struck before he could finish the thought and translate it to action. It was a light hit. Silver always used lightest touch. But the pain traveled like fire down his spine, and he couldn’t help but cry out, a shout cut off by a hissing gasp.
Silver drew his weapon back, blinking. “Did I…? I didn’t mean to swing that hard.”
Stupid Silver. Sebek drew in a shaky breath. “I’m fine!” he said. His stomach flipped. The pain wasn’t easing. “Don’t let your guard down, Silver!”
Sebek lunged. If he could just knock Silver’s baton away, he would be victorious. He could get a short reprieve that he had earned, not just been given by Silver’s stupid pity. He swung his baton down and then feinted, tilting it up, ready to beat Silver’s baton out of his hand.
Silver saw it coming and parried. Another strike, then block. Parry.
Every blow, usually effortless to block, was sending pain down his arm and into his back. His shoulders itched and burned. His back ached deeply. Sebek gasped, gritting his teeth against the urge to cry out again.
Then Silver got another hit in, this time on his shoulder. Sebek’s baton dropped from his fingers, and he staggered at the explosion of pain.
It shouldn’t hurt this much!
“Sebek?” Silver asked. He lowered his weapon. “Are you feeling alright?”
“I…” Sebek grit his teeth, waiting for the latest rush of pain to ease. He marched over and grabbed his baton, suddenly lightheaded as the pain worsened when he bent down. “I’m fine, Silver. It’s nothing. Let’s keep sparring!”
Silver’s eyes narrowed, but he nodded. Sebek lunged forward again, the move slow. This time Silver parried and Sebek twisted, trying to get around Silver’s guard. Silver stepped to the side too, swinging his baton around and struck again, Sebek not fast enough. Another light touch, but directly across Sebek’s back.
For a moment Sebek saw nothing but gray and white flashing as the pain overwhelmed him. His knees hit the pavement, his baton clattering to the ground again. This was…this was wrong. His back was on fire. He knelt on the ground, unable to get up, unable to even speak. All he could do was try and breath through the pain.
“Sebek!” Silver shouted. His feet sounded loud on the pavement of the training yard, and suddenly he was there, reaching for Sebek’s shoulders. Sebek flinched away, back muscles twitching in agony. It was so bad for a moment he thought he might retch.
“What’s wrong?” Silver said, his voice faint against the pounding of Sebek’s heart.
“It’s…” Sebek swallowed against nausea. “It’s nothing,” he managed through clenched teeth. His fangs sharpened, the pain making his jaw twitch.
“Sebek, you look like you might pass out. It’s clearly not nothing.”
Cursed Silver. “It’s just…a fae thing. I’m fine!”
“I’m getting Father.”
“No!” Sebek shouted, then winced, clutching his shoulders, curling up further. “Don’t,” he said, more quietly.
“Why?” Silver said, kneeling closer.
“It’s…just scales growing in. Sometimes it…hurts.” It had never hurt like this before, but Silver didn’t need to know that. “It’s something some fae deal with. I should…I should be able to deal with it.” His mother had never acted like she was in pain when she had new scales grow in, but then again, she was a full fae. He wasn’t. But that just meant he had to try harder!
“Sebek, you’re clearly in agony.” Silver carefully touched his shoulder. “I won’t spar you like this. I’m taking you back to your room. Don’t argue,” he added when Sebek glared. “I’ll carry you if I have to.”
“I don’t need your help!” Sebek snapped, and tried to stand. The pain flared up and down his spine, and he stumbled.
Silver caught him, and Sebek couldn’t help but groan as he was hoisted to his feet. He coughed, swallowed, and suddenly he really thought he might be sick from the pain, his face going pale. Silver seemed to sense his discomfort, and stood still, giving him time to adjust.
“Is this like a fae illness?” Silver asked quietly.
Sebek shook his head, not trusting himself to speak for a few moments. Finally, though, the nausea passed. “I told you,” he snapped. “It’s just scales coming in. It’s normal.”
“It doesn’t seem normal,” Silver replied. Sebek huffed. As if he’d know. Silver started to walk, offering Sebek support, and the brief flare of pain stole Sebek’s words.
Going up the stairs was more difficult than it had to be, and Sebek hated that he had to lean on Silver, his legs buckling as the pain doubled in his back. This was just pathetic. He needed to get in his fae form and figure out what was going on. Let the new scales grow in or scratch off old ones, whatever the problem was.
Finally, they arrived into his room. Immediately Sebek pushed away from Silver. “I’m fine now,” he growled. “Go away.”
He didn’t bother to confirm that Silver had listened. He ripped off his shirt and pants. Sebek gave in to the pain, and took his fae form as he got under the covers. His crocodilian tail stretched out from beneath the blanket, and his back was uncovered, the blankets covering his hips and modesty. As soon as he took his fae form, the pain eased slightly, and he stretched, wincing at the residual tearing of new scales and strange pressure along his spine. The pain flared again when he moved, and he groaned.
“Oh wow,” Silver breathed behind him.
He hadn’t left!? “I told you to go away!”
“No, Sebek…” Silver stepped further into the room, close to the bed. “I wish I had a mirror. Your back…”
“What about my back?” Sebek asked. Now that he was in his fae form, his tail lashed with his annoyance.
It stilled when Silver drew close. The light-haired human gazed down at him, but didn’t meet Sebek’s eyes. Sebek’s skin fizzed with both pain and uncertainty at the way Silver looked at him. Was he disgusted?
“You don’t have to look!” Sebek snapped.
“You have scales,” Silver said.
Sebek willed his long tail not to lash out and hit Silver, even though the human probably deserved it for being so stupid. “I know that already!”
“No…big ones. Here.” And he reached out and touched Sebek’s back.
Sebek hissed, gripping the bed with his claws, expecting agony. Instead, the pain eased at Silver’s touch, the human’s hands warm and soothing. He sighed.
“It’s a little like the design on the backs of our uniforms,” he said, trailing his finger down ridged scales. “You…I don’t think you had these before.”
Sebek stifled a whimper at the sensation, the relief of pain when Silver stroked him and a hint of pleasure, and Silver drew his hand back. “Sorry! Did that hurt?”
Sebek cleared his throat. “No,” he managed. He tried to lean back from his position on his stomach, to crane his neck to look at whatever on his spine Silver was talking about. The movement was painful as well as impossible, and he flopped back down.
“It’s pretty,” Silver said. “They’re like bumpy scales that follow the curve of your spine down to your…tail.” Sebek narrowed his eyes. Silver’s cheeks were flushed. “And they’re shiny like your tail too, like dark emerald green.”
Sebek wanted to snap at Silver, but then the realization hit. “Wait,” he said. “I’m growing scutes? Like my mother?”
“Uh, is that what they’re called?” Silver asked.
Sebek tried to turn again to see his back, his tail arcing back and forth as he twisted. Ridged scales like his mother…he may just be half-fae, but this was fantastic! Pride filled his chest. His pathetic smattering of scales had always been shameful, but now he would look more like his mother! Like a real fae!
It did hurt, though, and his twisting earned him another flare of pain and a groan. He hoped it didn’t hurt like this every year.
“Are you okay?” Silver asked.
Sebek nodded, resting his head. “I’m growing scutes,” he said, voice proud. “It just…it just hurts while they grow, is all.” The large growths near his spine certainly explained the pain he had been feeling. He should have taken his fae form earlier.
“Did…did my touching them help?” Silver asked, his voice quiet. He reached a careful hand out.
Sebek wondered if he should protest, but the memory of the touch from before kept him quiet. He lay there, the tip of his tail flicking, when Silver touched his back again.
The fizzing, pleasing sensation of his touch chased away the pain, and Sebek couldn’t stifle a moan of relief. Silver drew his hand back as if burned.
“I didn’t tell you to stop!” Sebek snapped. “It…” his face heated, and he turned his face away. “It does help. Please…keep going.”
This time he kept the audible expression of pleasure quiet when Silver touched him again. Warm hands moved over the new scutes, and with each touch of soft fingers, the muscles around them relaxed. Sebek shifted a few times, privately marveling at how sensitive the new scutes were. Was it because they were new, or was it just because of his fae form, or was this how they were supposed to feel? Every touch was almost overwhelming, chasing away pain and replacing it with pure sensation that if Sebek thought too hard about could potentially make things awkward. He shifted slightly, hoping his face wasn’t red.
Silver, at least, didn’t seem to notice. He touched Sebek’s back and scales gently, running his hands up and down the new growths on his spine, and his fingers trailed up to Sebek’s shoulders. “You have really pretty scales here,” he said. “They’re brighter.”
That must be new too, since Sebek didn’t remember having many on his shoulders. He hummed in pleased acknowledgement.
He had to admit, this was nice. Silver kept touching him, touching his scales, and it filled Sebek with satisfaction. He had always hated his fae form. On the one hand, he didn’t have enough scales. Too human. On the other, the tail and the fangs and the few scales he did have were odd, out of place. He had always been afraid that others—Silver—would think it was ugly. Would think he was ugly.
But Silver’s light strokes and massage, the way he looked at him, his eagerness to touch…Sebek swallowed. Clearly Silver didn’t think that. And now he had more scales. Scutes. And Silver didn’t mind.
The pain was a distant memory now, and Sebek lay on his stomach, tail twitching in contentment, as Silver gave him the scale massage he had desperately needed. It felt…Sebek shifted again, Silver pausing and then continuing to touch. It felt really good.
Sebek closed his eyes, enjoying the sensations, the touch and the quiet sound of Silver’s breathing. Until it started to slow.
When he opened his eyes, Silver’s were drooping shut. His touches were slowing down.
Sebek curled his upper lip and almost growled, then stopped. Silver had done a good job. His back didn’t hurt. And it wasn’t like Sebek felt like doing much more than this.
“Silver,” he said, his voice gruff.
“Mm?” Silver blinked slowly. “Sorry…this is really soothing.”
“That’s enough,” Sebek demanded. “If you want to keep touching…” he swallowed down a moment of nervousness. “Lay next to me.”
Silver blinked. For a moment Sebek worried he might refuse.
“Okay,” he said with a small smile.
Sebek moved over on the bed, and Silver lay on his side next to him. He kept stroking with one hand, his arm over Sebek’s back.
“Like this?” he asked. His breath was warm on Sebek’s shoulder.
“Yes,” Sebek said. “That’s…nice.” Maybe this was too much. It felt really, really good.
Sebek closed his eyes, enjoying the touch, trying to keep his mind from going places it shouldn’t. And then the touches slowed. Silver’s breathing grew deeper.
Of course. Soon enough, Silver’s soft touches became just a simple one-armed hug as he slept next to Sebek.
Worst masseuse ever, Sebek thought. Who falls asleep during a scale massage?
Then again, given how his body tingled and the new, pleasurable ache he had acquired that had nothing to do with his back, it was probably for the best.
Sebek sighed, taking in the sight of his fellow guard. His closed eyes, long lashes, and softly-parted lips. If it hadn’t been for him, Sebek would still be in pain.
He had earned his rest. Sebek closed his eyes, his tail curling around Silver’s leg.
For now, he was content.