Work Text:
It made sense, Karamatsu supposed as he stood at the mouth of the cavern high atop the darkest mountain in the land, that even a fire breathing dragon could catch a cold. At least he had no reason to doubt the explanation the great dragon Osomatsu had given him as he trembled incessantly in the draft of the entryway, despite the smoke that poured like a fountain out of his nose and mouth with every laboured breath. He looked tired, and cold, and pleadingly desperate for care and Karamatsu had wasted no time wrapping the poor thing up in the many layers of bedding that made up his nesting material. It wouldn’t do to have the holy knight’s destined foe vanquished before their battle had even begun, after all.
“Karamatsuuu.” The dragon had wasted no time in learning Karamatsu’s name and even less time in using that knowledge to its full potential. His whine was stubborn and childish, not at all befitting of a man-eating terror of the skies. Shifting around in his bundle of blankets Osomatsu freed a scale covered arm and clung to the skirt of Karamatsu’s silver tunic.
“Stay Karamatsu, don’t leave yet.”
“Osomatsu.” Karamatsu smiled despite himself and fought to keep the firm undertone within his voice. It was nice to be needed of course, but this was an unholy demon who had plagued their fair kingdom with darkness and pyre. “I have already fed you, and warmed you, and given you peace to rest. You are written in the stars after all to be my eternal adversary, my greatest challenge, not my ally. What more could I possibly do to aid you?” A holy knight such as himself could never turn down a heart in need, but Osomatsu had to remember that their destiny was the battlefield and their fate awash in blood, valour, and heroic sacrifice – it wouldn’t do to spend too much time in one another’s amicable company.
“I don’t care how star-crossed we’re supposed to be!” Osomatsu’s pout was even less monstrous than his whining, and his knowledge of the myths and legends their lives were to follow apparently misguided. “I’m bored! Do you know how lonely it is being sick on this mountaintop?” The question was punctuated by the shifting of Osomatsu’s tail and the twitch of his wings as he fought to find comfort despite his illness. He tugged on Karamatsu’s tunic again and vented a thick cloud of black smoke out his nostrils. It didn’t smell of brimstone like the stories suggested however, more like mucus and congestion. “I even tried going into town today.”
“Yes…” Hesitantly Karamatsu perched on the edge of the nest as he thought the dragon’s words over. “You burnt down a village and made off with the livestock.”
Osomatsu snorted. “Only one or two of the woolly ones and I… I.” Abruptly he cut himself off to sit upright and Karamatsu only narrowly avoided having both eyebrows singed off by the stream of flame that erupted with the force of Osomatsu’s sneeze. “I couldn’t even eat them.” He finished with a groan.
If it was a sin to offer a monster your personal possessions then Karamatsu was sure to be noted by the angels above as a guilty guy, however he handed his handkerchief over to Osomatsu anyways. The dragon snorted into it immediately and burnt the poor item from white to black.
“Well you’ve had your supper now.” The charred remains of those two sheep Karamatsu had fed Osomatsu himself, but what could the knight do besides trust Osomatsu’s word on what the best meal for an ailing dragon was? “So all there is left to do is sleep.” As a sign of their temporary camaraderie Karamatsu offered the dragon one of his legendary winning smiles, and a beguiling-if-not-motivational wink as well. “I will be back to vanquish you another day, my fair demon of the sky.”
“Keep me company.”
Huh? Faltering for a moment Karamatsu turned his full attention back to Osomatsu who had shuffled forward enough to place both hands on his arm this time. Even through the plating of his armour Karamatsu could feel how warm they were, but surely that was a result of Osomatsu’s draconian nature and not just of his sickness alone, no?
Dragons were apparently not above begging. “Please? Stay with me for a bit, it’s so boring alone!” Osomatsu huffed stubbornly and both of them coughed in the smog it created. “I can’t get better unless you keep me company.”
Well that was worth a pause, Karamatsu thought the situation over with furrowed brows. If he never got better than they could never do battle and Osomatsu’s reign of erratic chaos would never cease. The dragon was surprisingly pleasant company, friendly, forward, even cute with his stubborn expression and the impatient tap of his tail within the soft bundle of bedding he was encased in. It would be all too easy to keep his company for a short while longer. But there were also the legends to account for, and destiny, and the scorched landscapes and countless deaths that Osomatsu had to be brought to answer for.
“What’s that?” The soft plink of strings and the question brought Karamatsu out of his reverie. Osomatsu had dragged himself even closer, it seemed, leaning by the edge of his nest. He had boldly reached into Karamatsu’s person to pluck a few notes off the knight’s most precious possession – not a weapon of battle as many might assume, but one of the soul.
“Ah, this.” Karamatsu pulled the item in question forward with a flourish, showing it to the curious Osomatsu. “This is a holy harp, blessed by no other than my guardian angel to bring order and serenity to this dark world which we know.” His explanation had fallen on deaf ears if the heavy tilt of Osomatsu’s head was any indication, so Karamatsu tried again in simpler words. “It’s a musical instrument.” He played a few chords in demonstration and the notes filled the cave instantly, soft and true.
“Ohhh.” Osomatsu caught his sneeze this time, billowing black smoke as his sniffled instead. Karamatsu could only imagine how horrendous it must have been to have one’s airways stopped up when they breathed fire and smoke, but Osomatsu smiled all the same. “Play it for me.”
A resounding idea. The harp had been blessed by the angels after all to calm the chaos of war and bring peace to the battlefield both physical and mental. Who was to say it couldn’t also be used to lull a dragon to sleep? Or to quell the pace of Karamatsu’s heart when Osomatsu offered him that weary but earnest smile, one that quirked up at the fangs and brought the brilliance of the sun onto the dragon’s face. So Karamatsu played. He played until the soft lilt of his song filled the cavern with its radiance and brought life to the dead mountaintop on which they resided. He played until he forgot destiny and myth and legends and they in turn forgot him as well, enchanted by the harmony that surrounded them. He played until his voice compelled him to sing, and sang until his throat went dry for a pause, and by the time he’d finished Osomatsu was sleeping soundly with a smile on his face and drool dribbling down his chin.
A plague upon the kingdom Osomatsu might have been and surely was, but he was a terribly endearing one at that and it was with great assurance that Karamatsu pressed a kiss to the dragon’s warm forehead. A sinful man, but Karamatsu could never deny a heart in need, even when that heart was his own.
“Sleep well, my sweet star-crossed rival.”
- Cinnabar