Archive of Our Own

The morning air is crisp and cold, the waves unrelenting in their pursuit of land. Between his fingers, the sand feels coarse and harsh, a multitude of little rocks hardening the softness of it. In the distance, in the high above mountains, he can hear the roars and screeches of his beloved dragon, out on her breakfast hunt. He doesn’t need to strain his ears as much to hear the crunch of what he assumes to be his mother’s feet on the beach, approaching him. 

No one else would risk coming to speak with him at this time. He sighs, straightens his back as she stops next to him. She waits; he does not stand up. 

Akemi sighs. Suguru turns his head to look at her. 

All of his beauty comes from her. They share the same dark, long hair, and their eyes are of the same shape. Their lips are of the same curves, and only Suguru’s straight and strong nose is a feature he shares with his father. 

“Have you come to try and change my mind?’’ he asks. He doesn’t bother to hide the bitterness in his voice. She already knows of his feelings on the matter.

“There is no changing your mind, Suguru. I understand this was not what you wished for yourself, but this something you must do, and will do. The Kingdom -’’

“The Kingdom would benefit more from my presence here than there ,’’ he interrupts. “The Gojo dynasty has no use for me, or Kage, for that matter. Do not fool yourself, Mother, and try and persuade yourself that this deal benefits everyone involved.’’

Suguru stands up, looking straight into the eyes of his mother. Taller than her, he towers over her small frame, but she shows no fear and doesn’t flinch. 

“What you are doing is selling me,’’ he spits out. “Claiming it is for the Kingdom’s benefit, but you have no care or empathy for what will happen of me over there.’’

In a rare display of emotion, Akemi raises her voice. “Do you truly think I am so devoid of emotions? Do you truly think so little of me that I do not feel anything at the thought of sending my son away, knowing I might never see him again?’’

She paces as she speaks, holding the fabric of her dress at her hips so that it may not drag and dirty itself in the sand. 

“The circumstances of my marriage with your father are no different than yours, Suguru. I am best placed to understand what you are feeling, and you must know it breaks my heart, but there is truly no other choice.’’

“I refuse to believe that,’’ Suguru says. 

“Suguru, my son, you do not know everything. Your sisters - your sisters are too young to be married off. And the Kingdom is in disarray, gold is rare and few, we - Suguru, without this, we might not make it through the winter.’’

Shocked, Suguru steps back from his mother. How did he not know of this? He isn’t quite yet of age, only a few months shy of it, so his presence at councils has not been requested yet, but still - this is his Kingdom, one he was set to inherit only a day ago, one he has grown up in. He has visited countless villages, spent time with their people, would he not have noticed that the Kingdom was suffering? 

Reaching out, Akemi puts her palm to Suguru’s cheek, gently holding his face as he looks at her, tears threatening to leave his eyes. 

“My beautiful boy,’’ she whispers. “You have a heart of gold, my darling. Do not fret over this, your father and I did not want you to know until you were of age.’’

Leaning into his mother’s touch, Suguru whispers back. “Is this truly the only way I can help?’’

Caressing Suguru’s cheek with her thumb, Akemi lets silence flow for a minute. 

“It is,’’ she eventually says. “Suguru, all hope is not lost. This marriage may grow to be one of love, the same way it was for your father and I.’’

Suguru chuckles sadly. He has heard plenty of the Gojo dynasty, their ruthlessness, their cold demeanors. He has no hope of love growing in such a cold place. 

-

Saying goodbye to his younger sisters is harder than he thought it would be. They cling to his legs, crying their little hearts out, too young to understand he can come back and visit. To them, this is forever. 

Doing his best to smile, Suguru kneels on one knee so that he may be face to face with his sisters. Their cheeks are red, as are their eyes, brown like their father. Suguru himself shares the same purple eyes of his mother. Their hair is messy, clinging to their foreheads; Suguru pushes it back, gently letting his hands rest on their heads. 

“Girls,’’ he chastises gently. “You must behave yourself. I will be back, I am not leaving without returning to visit my favorite people, you understand?’’

“But the Gojos are mean,’’ Nanako sobs. “What if they never ever let you visit? What if they keep you prisoner?’’ At her words, Mimiko starts crying harder. 

Looking up to meet his mother’s eyes, Suguru answers as best he can. “The Gojos aren’t mean, Nanako. Don’t spread such lies. I am sure my new husband will be happy to let me visit my family, and if not, well… I’ll come back anyway.’’

Mimiko gasps. “You would go against your husband? For us?’’

Suguru laughs, bringing the girls closer to him so that he may hug them. “For you, I would do anything. Now, you be kind for Mother and Father, and you do as they say, you understand? I’ll know if you don’t,’’ he teases.

“We promise,’’ they claim at the same time, their tears long forgotten. 

Standing up, Suguru heads for his parents, sharing a quiet goodbye. Then, already wearing his dragon riding armor, and his luggage already with Kage, he squares his shoulder and leaves the castle, the only home he’s ever known. He has a few hours of riding to get through, and the sooner he leaves, the better it is. 

Outside, Kage waits for him, majestic as ever. She stands big; a bit on the smaller size compared to other dragons, but she is still around twenty feet tall. Her scales are white, but in the sunlight they shine with a pale blue shimmer. She huffs at him, shuffling on her legs, smoke leaving her nostrils. She has always been impatient to take to the skies. 

Lowering her neck as close to the ground as she can, allowing Suguru to step close, she stills while he climbs to his seat. He takes his time to make sure his luggage is secure and well attached, then looks one last time at his Kingdom before giving Kage the command to fly. 

-

Suguru will never tire of the feeling of flying with his dragon. The biting cold on his cheeks when they get close enough to touch the clouds, the winds in his braided hair (he’d learned quick enough that letting it loose meant spending hours trying to comb through the knots), and the feeling of pure freedom as they soar together. 

When he sees the Gojo land in the far distance, he feels disappointed. Although his ass hurts from the hours on the saddle, he could stay there for many more. And, despite the fact that he knows this marriage will only benefit his people, the gold enough to allow them to survive for many years to come, he still feels a pang in his chest when he thinks about it. 

Call him hopeless, romantic or delusional, but Suguru had always dreamed of a marriage of love. He’d had hopes of a grand meeting, of courting and butterflies in his stomach. He wanted understanding and compassion, a partner that would listen to him, someone that would make him want to be the best version of himself. 

He doubts he’ll find that relationship with the Gojo heir, if it can even be called that. This is a marriage of convenience, a business deal to benefit both Kingdoms, and Suguru will be smart not to fool himself into hopes of something akin to love blossoming with time. 

He sighs when they get near the castle. He reminds himself of why he is doing this, of his people and his sisters, who deserve a better future. If this is how he can offer it to them, then he will straighten his shoulders, keep his chin high, and go through with this marriage.

Kage must have been spotted a while ago; Suguru notices a group of people waiting for them. Not that she’s easy to miss in the light of day, what with her dark scales. 

Suguru counts the people. Five of them, and a dragon. It looks huge, bigger than Kage for sure. From a distance, the scales look to be black, and Suguru is not certain, but it seems like the dragon has four wings, a true rarity. Though one thing is certain; it is a beautiful beast. 

He orders Kage to slow down to begin their descent. Once she lands, he takes a moment to himself to breathe deeply and take off his mask. Only then does he allow himself to look over to the group of people waiting for him. First, he sees a knight, tall and strong, with blonde hair. His expression is serious, and something in his stance makes Suguru think that the man would rather be anywhere else. Next to him stands a shorter man, with brown hair and a kind expression; his clothes are common, though. Suguru is not certain why that man is there.

The next are clearly the royals. Two of them stand proudly with crowns on their heads, the King and Queen. But more interesting is the Prince, the one Suguru is promised to marry. He is absurdly tall, with a mop of messy white hair on top of his head. Absent-mindedly, Suguru is astonished at how strange it is that they match the colors of each other’s dragon. 

Suguru taps Kage’s neck, a silent demand in being let down. She obeys easily, and he slides down. His legs shake a little, as they usually do after hours of being in the air, but they right themselves after a few steps. He approaches the group of people with a small smile, unwilling to let them notice his nervousness. 

“You must be Geto Suguru,’’ the King says, approaching him to shake his hand. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you.’’

‘’Thank you, Your Grace. I reciprocate the feeling.’’

“I hope your travels were easy on you and your dragon. Does she need anything?’’ the King asks, leading him towards the others. 

“Rest, food and water would be great, if you please,’’ Suguru answers. Kage likes to act proud, but she needs care like any other living being.

“Of course, of course! I’ll see that she’s cared for immediately,’’ he says as they finally reach the other four people. “Haibara,’’ he adds, pointing to the short man Suguru had noticed, now finally understanding his role as a valet, “take Kage to the dragon caves, then come back after.’’

Haibara nods, before leaving to approach Kage. Suguru can’t help but turn around and watch; Kage has always been standoffish with people other than himself, even with the servants that had cared for her since she’d hatched. She exhales smoke when Haibara nears, but surprisingly, the man doesn’t falter. He keeps approaching, slowly, and she shuffles on her legs, but ultimately lets him get close. Suguru sees Haibara smile, and soon enough, Kage follows the man willingly. 

He raises an eyebrow, surprised. She’s never taken to a servant this easily. It must be a testament to the man’s character that she chooses to trust him so quickly. 

Suguru turns back to find the eyes of the Queen and the Prince on him. While the King was surprisingly warm in his welcome, Suguru cannot say the same for the other royals. The Queen stands tall and proud, and she shares the same shocking white hair as her son, but Suguru sees that the blue of her eyes is not quite as beautiful and iridescent as the shade of the Prince’s. Her gaze on him is cold, disapproving. 

The Prince is another matter. His demeanor is confusing. His gaze seems curious, interested, looking Suguru over from his face, to his clothes, to the braid holding his long hair. His stance, though, feels rigid and distant. 

Behind him, his dragon stands tall; taller than twenty-five feet, even. It is huge, one of the biggest dragons Suguru has ever seen. This close, he can see that the scales aren’t black like he initially thought, but a very dark purple. 

The King’s voice brings him out of his thoughts. The blonde haired knight stands, his eyes elsewhere, but his attention on them. 

It seems the King is making the introductions, and that Suguru has almost missed the one for the Queen. Just in time, he bows. She lifts her chin, the only acknowledgement that Suguru receives from her. 

“And my son, the Prince, Gojo Satoru.’’

The Prince nods while Suguru bows again. He’s unfairly handsome; freckles adorn his nose and cheeks, his eyelashes delicate and long, as white as his eyebrows and hair. 

“It is a pleasure to meet you, my Prince,’’ Suguru says. He keeps his eyes on the Prince, and is surprised to find a small smile forming on his lips. 

“We shall leave you to get acquainted,’’ the King tells them. “Satoru will show you to your rooms, and your valet, Haibara, will be by later to help you settle in.’’

They are left alone (almost, as the knight stands always a few paces behind), as the King and Queen leave to attend to their duties, and Satoru’s dragon flies away on its own, somewhere towards the mountain in the distance. 

They start walking, and the silence feels awkward and heavy on Suguru’s shoulders.

“What is your dragon’s name?’’ he asks, in hopes of starting a conversation between them.

“His name is Sorahiro, but I call him Sora for short,’’ Satoru answers. 

“He is beautiful,’’ Suguru compliments. Just like his rider , he refrains from saying.

“Thank you.’’

Then silence falls again. It stays until they reach what Suguru assumes is his bedchambers. At the door, Satoru speaks.

“Would you like to go for a ride, tomorrow? We can introduce our dragons, and I should like to show you the Kingdom.’’

“It would be my pleasure,’’ Suguru says honestly, smiling at Satoru. 

Satoru nods, then turns on his heels, walking to his knight. His head lowers as he says something, but Suguru cannot hear what is said between the two men.

His hopes of this marriage being at least one of friendship die in his heart as he sighs and enters his new home. 

-

Later, Haibara comes by as promised, bringing with him Suguru’s luggage and maids. They flutter around the room, some of them placing his clothes in the dresser, others preparing a bath. Meanwhile, Haibara speaks to him. He introduces himself, speaks to Suguru of his family, asks about Suguru’s own, and Suguru finds himself opening up to his valet. He seems to be a kind man at heart, a trait that Suguru values and respects immensely. Friendship could be found there, he thinks. 

As Suguru sits at the vanity, Haibara detangling his braid and brushing through his hair gently, Haibara tells him something surprising. 

“He picked you himself, you know.’’

“Really?’’ Suguru asks, surprised. “I had the impression that he doesn’t like me very much.’’

“Well, I cannot speak of the Prince’s feelings, but he was adamant that he marry you. The Queen was not very pleased with his decision. Apparently, she would have much rather that he marry the daughter of a close friend, Mei.’’

“I know her,’’ Suguru tells him. “Last I heard, a dragon egg would still not hatch for her.’’

“That is indeed strange,’’ Haibara agrees. 

“Do you know why me?’’

“That I do not, I apologize. Fret not, I am certain the Prince will warm up soon enough!’’

“I appreciate your optimism,’’ Suguru chuckles. ‘’Gods know I lack it.’’

When Suguru goes to bed, later that night, he struggles to fall asleep. Part of his mind is with Kage; dragons adapt very well, but he cannot help but worry that she feels lonely, misplaced, in this new land. She does not know the dragons here. He worries that she might not find friends like she had done back at home. Does she miss the dragons of his little sisters the same way his heart feels empty without their laughs and warm presence?

His mind is also with the Prince, Satoru. Suguru feels confused about it all. Apparently, Satoru had requested to be married to Suguru, of all the royalty available to him, but then barely spoke a word to him when he arrived. Why fight tooth and nail with his own mother if he was so disinterested in Suguru? 

Eventually, the exhaustion of the day catches up to him, and he falls into a restless sleep.

-

The next morning, he is woken by Haibara. The man chats joyfully, uncaring of Suguru’s bad attitude of the morning, and he walks around the room as he picks out one of Suguru’s dragon riding armors, the one with the purple accents that make his eyes stand out. He helps Suguru by braiding his hair, and Suguru insists that Haibara stay for breakfast with him when the maids arrive with the food. 

“It is not the norm,’’ Haibara argues. 

“I do not care, I wish for your company,’’ Suguru retorts. “You might well be the only friend I will have here.’’

Haibara relents, and he stays for breakfast. It isn’t long until a knock comes at the door, and Suguru chokes on his strawberry when he hears Satoru’s voice calling his name. He rushes to the door, ignoring Haibara’s laugh, and opens it in a hurry. 

He tries to ignore the red that must be staining his cheeks as he greets Satoru. “My Prince,’’ he nods. 

Satoru looks him over. “Good, you’re ready. Let us leave now.’’

Looking over his shoulder to Haibara to say goodbye, Suguru follows Satoru outside. It is a perfect day for dragon riding, he thinks. The sky is open and endlessly blue, and it is warm enough, the wind kind on their faces. It will be comfortable up there, high in the sky. 

Out in the field where Satoru leads him, Kage and Sora wait for them. Kage seems curious, sniffing the air, but looking the other way like she wants to seem disinterested in the other dragon. Sora, on the other hand, does not need to act to look uninterested. His eyes are straight on Satoru, and he only moves when Satoru puts his hand between Sora’s nostrils. His eyes close, and he exhales smoke on the Prince. Satoru laughs, the sound a symphony in Suguru’s ears. 

Kage gently bumps Suguru with her nose, breaking his train of thought. He turns around to greet her, a tender caress. He doesn’t even need to ask for her to lower her neck, making him smile. He climbs up and sits down in the saddle, stretching his arms and legs while he can before they depart. 

Satoru is ready for him when Suguru looks at him, and in a silent agreement, they give the order to their dragons to fly. They fly slowly, not too high, so that Suguru can hear Satoru’s explanations and descriptions of the land and Kingdom, and Suguru finds himself surprised to be genuinely interested in the history of Satoru’s home. 

It is nothing at all like the rumors said. They claimed the land to be cold and unforgiving, but it is not too different from the weather back at home; they claimed the royal family to be ruthless monsters, uncaring of others, and while the Queen fits the description and Satoru seems to be a closed off, private person, Suguru thinks the rumors could not be more wrong.

He feels the love Satoru has for his people in his voice. He sees the care in the land, how beautiful the villages and houses are, the fields well tended to. 

After a few hours, they land somewhere so that the dragons may rest, and the humans eat. Satoru has brought food with him, with the plan to share it with Suguru as they get to know each other. The conversation is stilted and awkward, making Suguru wish he was either back home with his family, or at the very least in his bedchambers with Haibara’s friendly company. 

“My Prince, can I ask you a question?’’ 

“Go ahead,’’ Satoru says, struggling to open an orange. 

Wordlessly, Suguru takes the orange from him and peels it open, handing it back after he’s done. “I was wondering why you picked me in particular.’’

Satoru stares at him in silence.

“For marriage,’’ Suguru clarifies. “There are lots of princesses available and willing to marry.’’

“Half of them have no dragons,’’ Satoru says. “And I have no interest in princesses.’’

Suguru tries his hardest not to blush, busying himself with another orange for Satoru, even though the first one is barely eaten. “I see. Why was it important to you that your fiancé be a dragon rider?’’

“My Kingdom is rich in everything but dragon eggs. The majority of our dragons are males, and the few females we have are either too young or too old to give eggs.’’

Suguru feels a tug in his chest, the bitter taste of disappointment on his tongue. So he has been picked not for himself or his personality, but rather for the advantage of having a female dragon in her prime. 

“I understand,’’ he says in a low voice, unwilling to let the Prince hear of his bitterness. 

“That is not the only reason,’’ Satoru rushes to say, his gaze searching for Suguru’s eyes. “I have heard of your beauty and kindness, of your prowess and talent with Kage. No one else could compare to you.’’

Satoru’s cheeks are stained red with embarrassment, but Suguru finds his vulnerability and honesty endearing and attractive. It shows that the Prince is not used to opening himself to someone else this way, awkward in his actions, but Suguru feels charmed nonetheless. He hands the newly peeled orange to Satoru, and shivers flow down his back when their fingers brush. 

“And you? What of princesses? You could have had your pick, same as me.’’ Satoru asks. 

‘’I like princesses just fine,’’ Suguru tells him. Satoru frowns, looking down to the grass. “But I much prefer princes.’’ Satoru looks up quickly, his eyes shining more brightly than they have since they met. 

The smile on Satoru’s face is blinding and hypnotizing, and when Satoru splits his orange in half, offering it to Suguru, he can’t help but smile in return. 

“Call me Satoru,’’ he says.

Afterwards, the conversation flows easily, and Suguru laughs more than he ever has before.

-

After that day, it is almost impossible to find Suguru without Satoru by his side. Suguru learns that the Prince is quite a clingy man, but he absolutely does not mind at all. He revishes in giving Satoru the attention and care he so clearly desires, and it makes him feel warm all over to be the object of Satoru’s affections. 

Satoru begins courting him properly; it feels like everything Suguru has ever dreamed of. Satoru brings him his favorite flowers (and how he learned which flowers Suguru prefers, he has no idea), organizes days to ride with Sora and Kage, who are beginning to get along, shows Suguru all of his favorite places in the gardens, visits the townspeople and villages with him. 

Every night when Haibara comes to his bedchambers to help detangle his hair, Suguru has a new story to tell him about the adventures Satoru is taking him on, and he’d feel embarrassed for gushing this way if Haibara wasn’t so genuine in his happiness for him. 

But Suguru craves more. He wants more of Satoru; they have held hands and hugged, but it is not enough anymore. And Suguru does not care if it is not proper of him.

One evening, they are out late at night to stargaze. Satoru has brought blankets and pillows to assure their comfort, as well as Suguru’s favorite foods. Satoru is speaking of a story of his childhood, but truthfully, Suguru is not hearing a word coming out of the Prince’s mouth. He stares at Satoru’s lips, so pink and plump, begging to be kissed. 

A hand shoves at his shoulder. “Suguru,’’ Satoru whines. “Are you not listening?’’

“Satoru,’’ Suguru says, his voice low. His eyes are still on Satoru’s lips. “Kiss me.’’

Satoru turns red as a tomato, stuttering. “W-what?’’

Suguru moves closer to the Prince. “Kiss me,’’ he says again.

“I - it is not - we mustn’t -’’

Bringing his hand to Satoru’s face, Suguru whispers, “I want to. Do you?’’

In the background, bugs chitter. Birds sing. The leaves ruffle in the wind. The stars shine brightly in the sky, and the moon covers the land with its light. Suguru cares for none of it; all he sees, all he could ever want, is right there in front of him, with the brightest blue eyes he has ever seen, fluffy white hair that reminds of dandelions in the spring and with the most absurd personality. 

Breathlessly, shakily, Satoru nods. Slowly, Suguru leans in, giving the Prince plenty of time to lean back and change his mind. Satoru closes his eyes, and Suguru kisses him. 

At first, it is but a gentle press of lips together. None of them dare move. Suguru leans back, and Satoru’s cheeks are pink as he stares at Suguru, something akin to adoration in his eyes. Suguru smiles, chuckles, then goes back in for more. 

This time, their lips move slowly against each other, trying to find the perfect angle and rhythm, and Suguru sighs in Satoru’s mouth when they do find it. Satoru’s lips are as soft as they look, so pliable and willing, and they taste of the strawberries he had eaten earlier in the evening. Satoru’s arms move to circle Suguru’s shoulder, accidentally bringing their bodies closer together. Someone gasps, but Suguru does not care to know who. 

His hand goes down to grab Satoru’s waist; he tentatively licks at his bottom lip. Satoru gasps, opening his mouth further, and Suguru uses the occasion to lick into his mouth. Their tongues dance together, and his hand clenches on the soft skin of Satoru’s hip. 

Gasping for breath, Satoru leans back. “We must stop - someone could see us,’’ he says. “We should not be doing this.’’

Frowning, Suguru asks, “Do you regret it?’’

Satoru smiles, his thumb touching the frown between Suguru’s eyebrows. “I do not, but I fear the consequences if my mother were to know what we have been up to.’’

Moving to lay on his back, Suguru wills his blood to stop flowing down between his legs. Satoru is right; it is not proper for them to be doing this, and if anyone learned of it, the consequences could be dire. Gods know the Queen would not hesitate to use it to her advantage, claiming that Suguru was using Satoru, defiling him, and promptly call off their union. 

Which is the last thing Suguru wants. This marriage, though it has not happened yet, seems to be heading to be one of love, and he will not have it, or Satoru, taken away from him. 

-

One day, Satoru asks, “Why did you agree to marriage with me?’’

Suguru must admit that he is surprised by the question. He is used to Satoru’s incessant questions, but they usually range from his favorite color to his favorite time of day to ride Kage, or what his favorite book and meal is, not questions such as this one. 

“Well, you must have heard of the state of my Kingdom,’’ Suguru says. Satoru only looks confused. “Not that I was aware of it, but before you asked for my hand in marriage, we were almost out of gold. The Kingdom was about to sink into poverty.’’

“I see,’’ Satoru mumbles. His eyes are looking everywhere but at Suguru, his face morphing into an expression of disappointment he is trying to hide. “So you accepted for the gold and resources we would send.’’

Trying to catch Satoru’s gaze, Suguru feels confused at his Prince’s reaction. “I - yes, I did, to save my Kingdom from ruins. Did you not do the same, Satoru?’’

Satoru’s head whips up quickly, his eyes wide as he looks at Suguru. “What?’’

“Of course, your Kingdom is doing very well,’’ Suguru soothes, “but did you not admit yourself you were in dire need of dragon eggs? I understand you had some… interest in me, but did you not pick me because of Kage and her usefulness in repopulating your dragons? Did you not pick us because of our talent, and the firepower we could bring in the event of a war?’’

Waiting a few seconds to see if Satoru says anything, and seeing his Prince’s silence lasts, Suguru chooses to keep going.

“Satoru,’’ he says, his voice soft, tentatively reaching out to touch his face, “you had no way of knowing if I would be inclined to have a romantic relationship with you, and yet you picked me. You were ready to have a marriage of convenience for the benefit of your Kingdom. My reasoning for accepting is not so different than your reasoning for asking.’’

“I guess you’re right,’’ Satoru mumbles, leaning into Suguru’s touch. 

“My Prince, do you not think we are so lucky to have found friendship, companionship and love in this union?’’

Satoru’s eyes shine as Suguru speaks. “Love?’’ he repeats, his voice joyful and excited, as his body inches closer to Suguru’s. 

Blushing, Suguru stutters. “I - I apologize, I did not mean to presume of your affections -’’

‘’Do you love me, Suguru?’’ Satoru interrupts, his gaze searching Suguru’s face. “Because I do. Love you.’’

“I love you, yes,’’ Suguru laughs, as Satoru tackles him into the ground to hold him. 

In a rare bold display of affection, Satoru covers Suguru’s face in kisses, making Suguru squeal and laugh. 

“We must begin the wedding preparations now,’’ Satoru tells him, giving him a quick kiss on the lips (their second ever kiss), before he stands up and dusts off his clothes. 

-

The wedding preparations begin quickly. Suguru learns that Satoru has grand ideas for their wedding ceremony and that he cares about every little detail. Satoru comes to Suguru to ask for his opinion for everything, but Suguru truly does not mind the color palette or the flowers; all he wants is to be married to his Prince already. Still, the preparations seem to be very important to Satoru, and so Suguru indulges him and gives his opinions when asked. 

The only thing that is of great importance to Suguru is the guests invited to the wedding. He would like for his sisters and parents to be there; after all, this is an union between two Kingdoms, and it would do well for both families to meet. There is also the matter of Nanako and Mimiko never forgiving Suguru if they were to miss his wedding. 

He brings it up to Satoru one afternoon, relaxing in the grass after a long ride with Kage and Sora. They are getting closer; right now they are soaring through the skies, high above Satoru and Suguru, playing and chasing each other. Even though Sora is stronger, bigger and faster than Kage, he is very gentle with her. It seems the affection Satoru and Suguru share is mirrored in their dragons; it is not rare for it to happen, as dragon riders share a deep, emotional connection with their dragons, and so when a dragon rider falls in love, the dragon is aware of it. 

It hasn’t been rare in history for dragons whose riders are married to mate. Of course, Kage and Sora getting along was always in the hopes, but now that it is happening, Suguru cannot lie and say he is displeased. Both have great qualities, and if they ever make an egg, the dragon coming out of it will definitely be strong. 

Satoru smiles brightly at Suguru, definitely pleased with himself, but for what reason, Suguru doesn’t know. 

“I’ve already sent a letter to your family to invite them,’’ Satoru tells him, giddy with excitement. “I wanted to surprise you with their arrival, but you just had to go and ask,’’ he teases. 

“What? When?’’ Suguru asks, surprised, but oh so pleased. It warms his heart to see how open and affectionate Satoru is with him, how eager he is to make him happy and content. Satoru didn’t invite Suguru’s family only to please his future husband; he invited them out of a true desire to know them, because if Suguru loves those people, then Satoru wants to love them too. 

“The day we decided to end the courting period and move ahead with the wedding,’’ Satoru says. He grabs Suguru’s hand, squeezing it. “They will be here in two days time, and will spend the week before the wedding with us.’’

“I don’t know what to say, I - thank you, Satoru, truly.’’

Tears in his eyes, Suguru squeezes Satoru’s hand with both of his. Satoru’s smile, in answer, is gentle and loving, his eyes warm. 

“Anything and everything for you, my love,’’ he says.

Suguru’s heart has never felt so full.

-

The reunion with his family isn’t what he expected, nor what he wanted it to be. Instead of warm hugs and excited chatter, he’s greeted by the opposite.

The morning starts out like any other, with Haibara in his bedchambers, the two of them enjoying breakfast together as they talk. Suguru is laughing as Haibara tells him of a childhood story about Satoru’s knight, Nanami, who he met on his first day here. Their moment is brusquely interrupted by a knight opening the door in a hurry, calling for Suguru’s attention.

“The Prince requests you at the outposts,’’ the knight says. 

Already dressed for the day, Suguru hurries out, Haibara following closely behind. Outside, at the outposts, he finds Satoru, Nanami and multiple other knights. They all look worried as he approaches. 

“What is going on?’’ Suguru asks, his hand reaching out for Satoru’s shoulder. 

“Our guards have spotted unknown dragons on their way here,’’ Satoru explains, giving him a pair of binoculars. “I - I am not certain, but I think it might be your sisters, based on your description of them.’’

Confused, Suguru accepts the binoculars. “I don’t understand. They are not supposed to arrive before tomorrow. Why would they be coming now, and without my parents and their entourage?’’

As Satoru speaks, Suguru looks into the binoculars. He has to look around a little as he searches for the dragons mentioned. 

“That is what we are wondering. Your family accepted my invitation with joy and wrote they would be coming by boat.’’

Finally, Suguru sees the dragons. They are still small, and they seem to be struggling to stay high in the sky, not used to traveling such long distances yet. He squints his eyes, notices the riders on each dragon. He looks for a minute.

His shoulders drop.

“It is my sisters,’’ he confirms. He turns around and looks at Satoru, who reaches out to hold his hand. Suguru is fighting hard against the panic slowly settling in; it is of no use to imagine awful scenarios. After all, his sisters might simply be impatient in seeing him again, and decided to travel a day early.

But then again, he knows they care very much for their dragons. They both know very well that their dragons are as young as themselves, not yet ready for travels such as this one, so why would they risk it? Why would they risk the health of their dragons, and their own safety?

“I will take Kage and meet them halfway,’’ he says, already walking away. Only Satoru follows. Suguru distantly registers Haibara staying behind and quietly speaking to Nanami. 

“It is of no use,’’ Satoru grabs his wrist, stopping him. “They will be here shortly, we should wait for them.’’

“Their dragons are exhausted, and they must be too, I cannot leave them -’’

“You are not leaving them, Suguru. They will be here in half an hour, and we need to prepare for whatever they might tell us.’’

Suguru looks at Satoru, not caring to hide his emotions and panic. He doesn’t know what exactly Satoru sees in his face, but he sighs. He brings a hand up to hold Suguru’s face, gently caressing his cheekbone. 

“You can send Kage to accompany them for the reminder of the flight, but I want you to stay down here with me. I - Suguru, you know as well as I do that they might be coming with bad news. I think we should be together when they tell you, so that I may support you in whatever way I can. I cannot do that and be there for you if you learn of those news high in the sky, vulnerable.’’

Suguru sighs. He closes his eyes and leans forward until his forehead is touching Satoru’s, and they breathe together for a minute, enjoying the peace and quiet they both know will break soon enough. “You are right,’’ he whispers. 

“I wish I was not,’’ Satoru answers. 

Soon after, Suguru is pacing as he waits for Kage to come back with Nanako and Mimiko. In less than no time, he exhales in relief as he sees all three dragons breach through the clouds, beginning their descent towards him, Satoru and Nanami. Satoru had insisted he come along, claiming that if need be, they could send Nanami to the castle to relay whatever news the twins were bringing, so that he and Suguru could take their time with the girls and calm them down if need be. 

He hurries to their side as soon as they land, both the girls and the dragons crashing to the ground in exhaustion. Nanako and Mimiko hurry to Suguru’s arms, desperately holding on to him. 

“Girls, are you alright? Are you - why are you here so early? Why aren’t Mother and Father with you?’’

“Suguru,’’ Nanako cries, “the most awful thing has happened. Uncle Kenjaku is waging war on the Kingdom!’’

Shocked, Suguru looks back at Satoru. With just a nod, Satoru speaks to Nanami, who leaves right away for the castle. 

Hurriedly, Suguru looks over the girls for injuries. “Are you certain it was him? Where are Mother and Father? How did it happen?’’ He slows down once he is satisfied that neither of them are hurt, only tired to the bone after forcing themselves and their beloved dragons to hurry to Satoru’s Kingdom. 

“It was him,’’ Mimiko whispers, unable to meet Suguru’s eyes as she cries silently. “At first, he pretended he was here to see us, since he hadn’t visited in years, but…’’

Suguru waits for her to finish. Next to her, Nanako is faring no better, her tears heavy on her cheeks. 

“He - he forced them to kneel and he,’’ she stops, sobbing through the words. “He killed Ankoku.’’

Suguru stills. Ankoku is - was - his father’s dragon. He was old, his father not even his first rider, but he was strong, a dragon not to underestimate. Kenjaku slaying Ankoku is an affront, a declaration of war - and an insult to the Kingdom. The loss is even more bitter; Ankoku having fathered both Kage and the twins’ dragons. He shudders simply to think of the devastation his father must feel, his connection to his long time partner severed in an instant like this. 

“What happened after?’’ he forces himself to ask. 

“Mother distracted him, and she managed to send us away,’’ Nanako says, sniffling at every few words. “She told us to come find you, and to ask you to help.’’

He brings the girls close to his chest, slowly caressing their hair in what he hopes is a soothing pattern. 

“I will, of course I will,’’ he whispers. 

As the girls’ breathing starts to slow down, their bodies slumping in his arms, Suguru looks up and meets Satoru’s eyes. The dread Suguru feels is reflected in Satoru’s face; they both know what is coming.

War. 

-

The next morning, while the girls are still sleeping off their exhaustion in bed, Suguru heads for the War Council, where he knows he’ll at least find Satoru and Nanami, maybe even the King. 

As he approaches the room, he is surprised to hear yells, and the Queen’s voice. He slows, enters the room quietly. None of them notice him walking in, too caught up in their argument.

“I will not have our dragons fight and be killed for another Kingdom,’’ the Queen shrills. “Especially not that one!’’

Suguru’s eyebrows raise on his forehead. Of course, he’s known since he arrived here a few short weeks ago that the Queen disliked him, hated that Satoru had ignored her advice and picked him, but to hear such disdain in her voice, as if his home is beneath her, is shocking. 

“I am to be married to Suguru,’’ Satoru is saying, his voice loud, but cold. “So that Kingdom, as you put it, is our ally, and we owe it to them to help! Gods know they would do the same if it were us being invaded instead.’’

“With what resources would they help?’’ she snarls. 

“Dear, that is enough,’’ the King interrupts. “I will not hear more of this matter from you. We will help, and that is the last word -’’

“The Queen is right.’’

Silence falls onto the room, everyone looking at Suguru in shock. He stands in front of the doorway, his chin high and his back straight. Satoru looks bewildered, hurt, and shocked at Suguru’s interruption. 

He walks closer, looks at the map on the table, at all the wooden pieces that represent armies, dragons, fleets. All of those wooden pieces represent lives that could be lost, and those lives belong to Satoru’s Kingdom. Suguru can’t bear the thought that Satoru would willingly put himself, and those lives, at risk for his home. 

It is his fight, not Satoru’s.

“The Queen is right,’’ he repeats. “We are not yet married, the wedding effectively postponed, so your Kingdom owes nothing to mine.’’

“But the news of our union has already traveled, the other Kingdoms would expect us to act,’’ Satoru says. 

“None of them would hold it against you if you didn’t,’’ Suguru retorts. “It is also a family matter, I do not wish for you to endanger your people and your dragons, when I can go and fix it myself.’’

“Son, I know of your uncle,’’ the King softly says. “He is a power hungry man, a dangerous one. We cannot let you face him alone.’’

“Your father’s dragon has already been killed, which in itself is a declaration of war, and if you go alone, I fear the same will happen to Kage,’’ Satoru tells him, stepping closer to him, lowering his voice so only Suguru can hear. 

They look into each other’s eyes, Satoru silently pleading with him. Sighing, Suguru feels his will start to dissolve. 

“Suguru, please,’’ Satoru begs. “Let me help you save your parents, your Kingdom.’’

Looking away, Suguru relents. “Very well,’’ he mumbles. 

The Queen leaves the room in anger, startling Suguru, but Satoru tells him to ignore her. They catch him up on the news; they sent scouts last night to gather information on the situation. For the moment, both of Suguru’s parents are still alive, but it seems Kenjaku is not acting alone. Sukuna, the ruthless ruler of a northern Kingdom, has allied himself with Suguru’s uncle, in a surprising turn of events. 

All Kingdoms know not to mess with Sukuna. Both he and his dragon are crazy, merciless killers. His Kingdom is ruled by force and fear, and has been for centuries; wars have been waged against Sukuna’s line, all of them lost.

Maybe it isn’t that surprising, then. Kenjaku’s Kingdom, the one his mother had been born in and had lived in her entire life before marrying his father, was one of the smaller ones. The army had always been small, and their number of dragons had been dwindling for decades. Suguru’s mother had never even gotten a dragon, even though it was custom for all royal members of high standing to have one. Only Kenjaku had bonded with a dragon. 

Suguru now remembers stories his mother had told him about her childhood home and her brother, about how he had always spoken of bringing glory to their Kingdom, of making it a place to be respected, not forgotten about and ignored. It now seems that Kenjaku wants to expand his Kingdom, and has set his eyes on Suguru’s home Kingdom to start, effectively taking advantage of their current weakness. 

But Kenjaku’s dragon and army is not enough to invade a Kingdom on his own. He needs help, and how he managed to get Sukuna, of all people, on his side is a mystery, but it makes the situation that much more precarious and dangerous. 

Now that Suguru is up to date, he now understands why Satoru and his father are so insistent on coming to his Kingdom’s aid. If no one acts, Kenjaku and Sukuna will not stop there; they will invade others. 

The next week is spent preparing details of their attack, instead of last minute wedding preparations. Suguru and Satoru barely spend a moment alone, each of them constantly getting whipped away to answer questions, to give their opinions on the different plans being drafted; especially Suguru, since the attacker is known to him, and whatever he knows about him may be useful. 

In the end, they decide to launch their attack at night, when Kenjaku and Sukuna will least expect it. The dark of the night and the clouds will be useful covers for the dragons and boats, and although it is an unfair move to attack while the enemy is sleeping, it is the only way they can think of to gain an upper hand on Sukuna. 

-

Something feels wrong. The air fills still, the night too quiet; even Kage seems nervous, constantly looking back to look at her rider. Next to them, Satoru and Sora look the same way. 

Suguru shares a look with Satoru, no words needed for them to know what the other is thinking. Something isn’t right, but they can’t quite put their finger on what exactly. Suguru moves to guide Kage down to warn the few knights with dragons following, so that they may go and warn the soldiers on the boats down below. 

Except he can’t, intercepted by a huge figure that, until a second before, was hidden in the clouds, throwing fire at him. Suguru thinks he hears Satoru scream his name, but it soon drowns out in the sounds of Kage screeching as she scrambles to escape the flames, desperate to protect both her ride and herself. She manages and gains height, turning around so that they may see who their attacker is. 

It is none other than his uncle, Kenjaku, and his dragon, whose name he had never even learned. 

“Suguru,’’ his uncle yells, loud enough to be heard above the sounds of fighting beginning around them, “you should have known better than to come here.’’

Suguru strains to see what is happening behind Kenjaku. He thinks he sees Satoru and Sora fighting another dragon, but he cannot be certain, for his uncle and his dragon move to block his sight. 

“If you truly thought I wouldn’t defend my parents and my home, you know nothing of family and love,’’ Suguru answers. He gently rubs at Kage’s scales in an attempt to calm her down; for all the time they’ve spent together, almost eighteen years, never before have they needed to fight other dragons. 

“How heartwarming,’’ Kenkaju drawls, his face harboring an expression of cold disinterest. 

“Why are you even doing this?’’ Suguru tries. “This is your sister’s home, does that mean nothing to you?’’

“All Kingdoms are someone’s home, nephew. If I had to stop myself because of the sentimentality, I would not get anything done.’’

Such a cold hearted response. Suguru frowns, now willing to admit to himself that there truly is no other way to finish this than to fight. He had hoped, of course, to find a peaceful way to end this madness, to stop his uncle from claiming the land, but now he realizes the man is cold and emotionless, nothing like the few warm memories he had of him from his childhood. 

Determined, Suguru orders, “Kage, attack .’’

With a roar, she surges forward, grabbing at Kenjaku’s dragons legs. She tugs in an attempt to make the pair stumble, scratching as best she can at the other dragon’s stomach. They fall freely, Suguru holding himself as near as possible to Kage’s body to protect himself from the other dragon’s breath of fire. He prays his armor holds up and resists the heat. 

Kage lets go when they are near the water, using her advantage on being above Kenjaku and his dragon to push them farther down as she flies above. Suguru watches as the dragon and Kenjaku crash in the water, waiting. His uncle’s dragon had not seemed very hurt by Kage’s claws, but maybe the crash would be enough to put them out of the fight. 

He uses the brief moment to look around and try to find Satoru. Suguru spots him easily enough, he and Sora fighting against what seems to be Sukuna and his dragon, Heian. It is the biggest dragon Suguru has ever seen, bigger even than Sora. Satoru seems to be holding his own, but too quickly, Suguru’s attention is driven back to the water, where Kenjaku and his dragon are emerging, looking more angry than ever. 

Suguru taps at Kage’s scales with his heel, urging her to fly high, hiding in the dark clouds. As she flies fast, Suguru holding on for dear life, he briefly wonders how the hell Kenjaku and Sukuna had known they were coming tonight. Had they simply been on the lookout every day and night, and it had been pure chance that one of their soldiers had seen them coming, or had they been warned? And if so, by who?

That’s a mystery for another time, Suguru thinks, as he and Kage wait in the clouds for Kenjaku and his dragon to appear. Suddenly, Kage is being slammed into. Suguru almost falls out of the saddle. 

She screeches, desperately clawing at whatever she can reach, breathing fire in all directions. Kenjaku’s dragon is ruthless, and doesn't falter in his hold of Kage. They fall just like they did mere minutes ago, except this time, Suguru and Kage are on the losing side. 

“Breathe, Kage, breathe,’’ Suguru whispers against her scales. 

She calms down enough to twist in the dragon’s hold, pushing herself away from his claws. Quickly, she turns back around and slams into the other dragon, and doesn’t hesitate, uses the brief moment of surprise to close her jaw around the other dragon’s neck. 

He screeches and falters, desperately trying to get away from Kage, but fails. Suguru watches as the light leaves the dragon’s eyes. He watches as realization hits Kenjaku, seconds before his free fall begins. 

Suguru watches, as his uncle, still attached to the saddle, falls to an inevitable death. 

It feels wrong. It feels like this all happened too quickly, too easily, but it also makes sense, considering what he knew about his uncle. If himself and Kage had never gone to battle, well, it was also true for Kenjaku and his dragon. This was a battle that would be decided quickly, in a matter of minutes, as they both had the same level of inexperience.

Still, he feels deep guilt in having effectively killed his own kin. Granted, his uncle was a horrible person, willing to invade his sister’s Kingdom, maybe even kill her, and Gods know that he wouldn’t have hesitated to kill Suguru first. Deep down, he knows it was for the best, but it’s still hard to accept. 

He takes a few seconds to breathe deeply, to will his heart to slow down. He caresses Kage, praises her and thanks her for how well she handled it all, for saving them. 

They turn around to assess the situation. Down on the land he sees soldiers fighting, and he’s relieved to see that their soldiers are gaining ground. The few knights with dragons use their advantage to clear paths for the others and to destroy cannons. 

Somewhere down below Kage, Suguru spots Satoru and Sora, still battling with Sukuna and Heian. If minutes ago, it seemed to be going in Satoru’s favor, now it is the opposite. Suguru gasps when he notices the shredded skin of one of Sora’s wings, making him fly lopsided as he struggles to get a hit on Heian. 

It all happens so fast. Heian’s long tail slaps Sora’s body, pushing Satoru out of the saddle. Heian grabs Sora in his claws, stopping him from flying after his rider.

“No!’’ Suguru screams, not even hearing himself.

He doesn’t think.

He jumps.

The last thing he hears is Kage’s screech of fear. 

-

When he wakes up, he isn’t sure where he is. He’s lying in a bed, the room around him unfamiliar. His head hurts, and he groans. Only then does he notice he isn’t alone; there is a woman with short brown hair sitting in the chair next to him.

She looks up when he makes a sound, a smile on her lips.

“Oh, good, you’re awake,’’ she says. When he stays silent, only looking at her, confused, she laughs. “My apologies, I forgot we hadn’t met before! I’m the royal family’s doctor, my name is Shoko.’’

Suguru is even more confused now. His family’s doctor’s name is not Shoko, so who is this woman, and why is she pretending like…

Wait. 

Is he? 

Is he back in Satoru’s Kingdom? 

“Where is Satoru?’’ he asks, his voice hoarse from not having spoken in - well, he doesn’t know for how much time he’s been asleep. 

“He is alright, Your Highness, do not fret. Both of you were very lucky, you know.’’

She looks at him with a serious look in her eyes, her gaze intent on him. 

“You both could have died,’’ she tells him. “He was lucky you were there, and you were lucky your dragon is fast.’’

“What happened?’’ he asks.

She sighs. “Well, from what I’ve been told, he was pushed out from his saddle and was falling. You jumped off from your dragon, and she managed to grab you both just before you hit the water. If she had been a second later, both of you would have been dead on impact.’’

Tears well in Suguru’s eyes, though they stay unshed. It is frightening to know that they both came so close to death’s door, and that their survival is a miracle of sorts. He thinks of his parents, of Satoru’s parents, of his sisters. What would have happened to them all if both he and Satoru had fallen in battle?

Gods, Satoru had almost died. In the past week, Suguru had come so close to losing everything that is dear to him; his parents, his home, his sisters, Satoru . 

“And then?’’ 

What about Sukuna, he thinks? What about his parents’ Kingdom? 

“They say that your dragon brought you both to safety on one of our boats, then headed back to battle. The Prince’s dragon was struggling to hold his own against Sukuna, gravely injured, but your dragon turned the tides around. She was furious, according to the soldiers. She and Sorahiro gained the upper hand and defeated Sukuna.’’

“So my parents…’’ Suguru says, a silent question.

“They are safe, yes. As well as the dragons, who have been tended to, and your sisters are still here, as well.’’

“When can I see them? And Satoru?’’

“Well, you’re very luckily not injured, but you have been asleep for almost two days. The fight was brutal on your body. I would like for you to eat and drink before you go anywhere. Afterwards, you will be free to do as you wish.’’

Suguru nods. “Thank you,’’ he says.

Shoko smiles. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness, though I do wish it had been under other circumstances.’’

“Me as well.’’

-

It turns out that Suguru does not even need to leave the infirmary room, because Satoru comes to him first. Suguru is busy slowly eating his meal, going for smaller bites that are easier to chew, exhausted. He doesn’t hear the door open, but he hears Satoru’s gasp.

Suguru looks up, and tears well in his eyes when he sees his fiancé standing in front of him.

He looks beautiful. His hair is a mess on top of his head, and his eyes shine so beautifully. Even the dark circles under his eyes look beautiful, and Suguru could cry. He never would have thought that when he left his Kingdom, he would live all of this, and fall in love with such a magnificent person. 

“Satoru,’’ he breathes, his hand reaching out for him.

“Suguru,’’ Satoru answers, quickly walking to the bed. He sits down next to Suguru and grabs his hand, squeezing it tightly. “I am so glad you are well, I was so worried.’’

“I felt the same way,’’ Suguru says. “When I heard that we almost - I cannot speak of it, I was terrified that I’d almost lost you.’’

“You did not, my love,’’ Satoru reassures him. “I am still here, and so are you. Everything is alright, now.’’

“How is Sora?’’

“His wing was gravely injured, but luckily, our doctors think it will heal, and he’ll be able to fly with no issues.’’

“That is good to hear, I’m glad.’’

“Speaking of dragons, I have good news to share with you,’’ Satoru tells him, an excited glint in his eyes. 

Suguru nods, encouraging his Prince to go on, curious to find out what the news is.

“Kage has laid eggs!’’

Suguru gasps. That is indeed wonderful news, and it must bring such a relief to Satoru, who was worried about his dragon population and the lack of eggs. 

They talk for an hour, catching up on their stories of the battle. Suguru learns that Sukuna has also perished, bringing a definite end to the war. Unfortunately, they still do not know how Sukuna and Kenjaku came to know of their coming. The soldiers on the opposite side had either perished or fled the scene before they could be captured for questioning. It leaves a feeling of worry in Suguru’s guts, but he reassures himself by thinking that the only threats to their Kingdoms were dead, and that everything was alright now, as Satoru said. 

His sisters eventually come to see him, too. He learns that they will be staying for at least two to three weeks at his parents’ demand. They would prefer that they stay safe while they rebuild what they need in the Kingdom. 

“Then, they will come join us here,’’ Satoru tells him sheepishly. Nanako and Mimiko grin excitedly. 

“What? For what reason?’’ Suguru asks, confused. 

“I might have decided on a new date for our wedding,’’ Satoru says, blushing up to his ears. “I hope you do not mind, Suguru, it is simply that we came so close to losing each other, I only want to be married and close to you as soon as possible,’’ he rushes to say. 

Suguru smiles, his heart full. “I do not mind at all, my Prince.’’

-

Three weeks later find them illuminated by the light of the setting sun, standing in front of the people they love. 

Satoru looks angelic in the golden light, his cheeks red and his smile blinding as he looks Suguru in the eye. In the distance behind him, Sora and Kage lay on the grass next to each other, lazily looking on. 

As they exchange vows and kiss, Suguru feels warm all over. Who would have thought that happiness like this could be possible?

He had always hoped for a marriage of love, but this beats all hopes he ever had. 

In Satoru, he has found his other half, his one and only. 

In the blue eyes and white hair in front of him, Suguru finds everything he has ever needed.