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'Wish they'd hurry up,' growled Susie, kicking her legs furiously through the air beneath her seat. Next to her, Ralsei chuckled as he set to his crochet work.
'Patience is a virtue, Susie,' he said softly. 'Or so I've been told, anyway.'
'Patience is for dweebs, is what it is.' She cracked a wide smile at her own witticism, sharklike teeth glistening in the darklight. But the creases in her brow, the anxious rippling of her mauve scales, gave away her restlessness. The prince watched her out of the corner of one eye, perhaps nervous that she might make her own entertainment, and that he might be roped into whatever scheme she'd concoct. He'd be lucky if she only took his glasses this time.
'Well, whatever Kris is doing, I'm sure it's important,' he offered. 'A-and they'll probably be back before you know it!'
Susie gave a derisive snort. 'You kidding? You mean like last time, when they almost got... aargh! Shit like this is why I HATE waitin' around! Who knows what trouble that freak's gotten themself into this time...!'
She drove a fist into the seat between her and Ralsei, causing the entire bench to tremble.
'O-oh dear, Susie...' said Ralsei, tone wavering somewhere between concern and admonishment, hand hesitating to reach out to her. 'Y-you're really that worried about them, aren't you...?'
'...worried? Nah, more like pissed off!' She thumped the bench again for emphasis, and the prince flinched from her. 'They get to do all this cool secret stuff while I'm just sat here like some useless piece of trash! I should be out there, helping 'em out instead of sittin' here and thinking, and thinkin'... 'cause that's when... that's when I... when I...'
Her voice hitched, like a walkman trying to read a scratched CD, and her formidable frame sagged, shrinking into itself. It was the first great snort, wringing with roiling emotion, that broke Ralsei's delicate heart.
'N-no, you mustn't...' he said, placing a soft hand upon her quivering shoulder, '...you mustn't say things like that, Susie. You aren't useless, you... you aren't trash... you're nothing of the sort...!'
'And what do YOU know about it, huh?!' she snarled through her hot tears, yanking herself away from his consoling touch. '...what it's like to be... to be HATED by everyone?! When no-one'll go near you 'cuz... 'cuz everyone thinks... you'll bite their face off...? An'... an' all anyone tells you is that you'll never... NEVER amount to anything?!'
'S-Susie, I-'
The dragoness loomed over him, eyes burning amber underneath her matted mane. 'Y'know ANYTHING of what that's like, do you? 'Cuz if not, then don't you DARE tell me what I can and can't call myself! Got it, pipsqueak?'
The caprine boy gave a feeble nod, incandescent with shame. 'Um... yes. I... I'm sorry.'
Seeing his mortification, Susie turned away. A shuddering sigh escaped from between clenched teeth as she realised too late just how she was coming across.
'...heh. Guess you get it now, huh.'
'...Yes. I get it, Susie. It's... clear as crystal.'
Something warm gripped her arm, fluffy fur brushing against smooth scales, small paws rubbing with gentle, soothing touches.
Her head whipped round to look at him. 'Hey hey hey, the hell you doing?! You wanna get decked or what-'
Ralsei met her gaze, and the earnest seriousness in his expression stopped Susie dead. Something in that look, so sad and so tender, struck her full force in the heart, and the raging storm inside her began to quieten.
'You're right, Susie. I... don't know what any of that is like. It sounds... horrible. And I can't believe that anyone would ever... ever say those things to you. N-not when I know you to be so brave, so loyal... I... I really admire those things about you. And I am so happy to call you my dear friend.'
He smiled, and it was as if the clouds had parted and a golden ray of sunlight was shining directly onto her, blinding and beautiful. Warmth radiated from her core, through her arms and legs, suffusing her every nerve with vital electricity.
Was... was this what it was like to be... happy?
Without thinking, Susie threw her free arm around the prince's neck, burying her snout in his wispy white fur, gripping hold of his tiny frame with everything in her. For once, she didn't care what anyone else thought; she didn't listen to the screaming voices in her head. All she really knew was that this, this right here, was good, and she was determined to keep hold of it for as long as possible.
'S-S-Susie...!' wheezed Ralsei. 'I... Is everything...?'
The dragon snorted again, sending ripples through his hair. '...you're a real weenie, Ralsei. Y'know that, right...?'
His smile widened a notch, despite the discomfort. Maybe it wasn't so bad, waiting for Kris.