Work Text:
“Ashur-”
The Shadow Dragon leader looked up from his desk as the door slowly creaked open. Revealing his smallest dragon, his little assassin, with rumpled parchment clutched in her shaking hand.
His jaw was already clenching in anger as he saw her red rimmed eyes. Her lower lip trembling as he closed the space between them in three swift strides. Not pausing as he pulled her into the safety of his arms. Where she belonged, would always have a home, as a fresh wave of tears fell down her stained cheeks.
“Shhh, whatever it is I'm here,” he murmured gently against her hair as she clung to the safety inside his large cloak. As if she was adrift at sea and he was her only salvation. A role he was happy to fill, though he hated to see his once strong assassin so frail.
He wanted to scream in frustration, but it wouldn't help her right now. It had been a week, an entire seven days since his Rook had her last breakdown. Since they stood on the roof and he forgave her supposed sins. Since she kissed him softly through the leather of his mask.
It had gone no further but he was happy with her progress. She needed time. Support. His fragile Lena healing the pain that bastard had caused.
And Ashur would always be there to catch her. Love her. As he had silently done for years. And would continue for decades more if the Maker willed it so.
If he didn't lose control first and kill the Crow for what he had done. The Divine was supposed to show mercy above all else, but some sins were beyond forgiveness.
Especially when she pressed the note against his armoured chest. A shudder running through her as she took a ragged breath. “He- wrote to me,” she whispered as her gaze fixed on the ground. “He wants me to come to Treviso. To- talk about what happened.”
There was only so much that one man could take. So much understanding he could give without finally losing his mind. The Divine might speak for the Heavens, but he needed someone on earth to keep him grounded. And now that his anchor had returned to him, he refused to lose her once more.
Desperation made men crazy, as did fiery women with pouty lips and broken hearts.
“Lena,” he began in a soft tone. Fingers curled under her jaw as she relaxed into him. Tilting her face up to brush his mask against her cheek as his voice rumbled against her flesh. “I have not said much these last few weeks regarding that Crow, and I feel I have been very understanding-”
There was a look of uncertainty from her soft blue eyes as he spoke. A hint of fear as her fingers tightened around the straps of his leather armour. A gentle creaking accompanying her inhale of breath. Worry at what she had already lost, and panic at the thought of losing again.
But he calmed her in a single move. Gloved fingers reaching to dance along her neck. Her hammering heartbeat slowing as he pressed his forehead to hers. Reminding her he was here and she was safe with him.
“We are friends, Lena. Better than friends if we will both be honest with each other.” She licked her lips then, a subtle agreement that made his heart thunder in his ears. And he cursed the mask that separated them as her arms snaked up to wrap around his neck.
“I want no secrets between us,” he said as she slowly nodded yes. Her eyes fluttering closed as his words echoed into her very soul. “I love you, amate. I always have. And while I support whatever decision you make, I'm not sure how much more my heart can take if you return to him.”
She smiled then. A warmth as if she alone knew something she was about to share. Reaching up to unclasp his mask as cool air met bare skin. Calloused fingers tracing the angles of his face as he tried not to hope. Until her thumb came to the fullness of his lips and he sucked in a sharp breath.
“Good,” she replied breathless as she leaned up to meet him. Bodies pressed together as she looked from his mouth to his eyes and then back. “I just needed to hear that. That- you would never let him come between us again. That you would protect me. Even from myself.”
“I promise little assassin,” he swore as his mouth hovered above hers, “No one will ever take you from me again.”
She kissed him then. A full press of her mouth to his that was gentle at first, but grew more hungry as he pulled her against his chest and greedily took all that she offered. Only stopping when a soft whimper escaped her. Satisfied when he looked down to see her lips swollen and her eyes unfocused.
She was still fragile, but he made her strong. Enough that she could face the days ahead. That she could continue to heal. That she could reach out for something new. Something she had been craving for much longer than she had allowed herself to realize.
And he would always support her. Always be there when she needed him. And Maker help that damn Crow if he tried to steal her again.