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Fairly cold, the sun was just setting up, in the tree's there was a soft breeze, it was a chilly but cozy. Millennial Tree had let out a soft breath, recognising the pattern if the soft wind warning him for who is to come.
He pulled himself up from the ground sorrunding him, gently brushing the dust off his robes as his hands met up again infront of his lap, closing his eyes as he heard some pained footsteps approach with a rough breath.
Longan dragon — it was strange to see them like this, they said nothing, but it was obvious, they came to seek comfort. Their left arm covered in jam and scars from a fight, either with Ananas dragon or Pitaya dragon.
Millennial tree sighed and their head slowly turn around to see the pained dragon, his mouth opening to talk but quickly closing it due to the concern they had for the dragon, making him turn around and tilt his head to see them.
In pure silence they had communicated, there was no need for words when the scene was right infront of the other. He had took soft steps towards the dragon, raising his hand softly, close to their cheek — not fully touching it.
"Do not pretend to pity me."
They let out words almost as sharp as a growl but it did not bother the guardian, instead he had responded with a light tone, to let them be aware they were safe.
"Yet you show yourself before me."
His hand had never reached their cheek fully, he had pulled it back, slightly hesitantly.
"Please, sit down wherever you dear."
Their eyes had searched his for any threat but after not managing to find any real scare, they had sat down on the grass, coincidentally next to a Forget-me-not, taking in the sight of the lone flower, their eyes frowning.
After a few seconds of disappearing, Millennial Tree returns with some herbs and bandages, smilling at the interaction between the flower and dragon, it wss almost sweet.
"Do you like it?"
"It is pathetic."
He let out a gentle chukle as he took a seat next to them — who still had their glaze focused on the flower before them. He had took their hand and started to clean the claw mark from the dirt and blood.
"They are some of my favourites, yet they refuse to bloom around me..."
The dragon turned their gaze back to the guardian, almost as if he said something that stuck to them. But he was just taking care of their wound, not daring to look up at them.
"How could you care about something so small and insignificant?"
"Flowers and plants are very similar to cookies, even so, they don't have the liberty to speak, hear or see, they just exist for their own self."
They had almost pulled away while hearing those words, their eyes solely focused on the simple flower that was moving along the wind.
"They may not look as if, but they still are alive, like us."
The conversation was dragged on a bit too long for Longan Dragon's preference but they didn't do much to deny him, they were tired. Anyone would be after a long fight with their kin.
It didn't take long for him to notice that they had given up on listening, so they had just focused on bandaging their arm.
"You should be more careful in battles, not every cookie remainds strong forever"
"I am not getting weaker."
The guardian had no idea what they were planning but he had known them long enough to understand their body language and what their lingering glare means.
"Then you were distracted. A great dragon such as you does not get such deep wounds.."
They had frowned, their face getting darker and avoiding the topic even more but he had finished patching up their arm so he did the dangerous choice to bring their claw to their lips and kiss it gently.
"What is bothering you, my darling friend?"
They had frozen in space, but their shoulders relaxed and they let out a soft sigh as their eyes were stuck on their hand held in his.
"My kin. They seem to believe I want the worst for them, but I care for them deeply. They continously try to rebel against me like some teens!..."
He had massaged their hand as they spoke about their troubles, glad he was managing to seek in a bit deeper into them, understand them more.
"I see your perspective, but I also don't deny their actions, you become... a bit... protective over what you believe is yours to claim."
"Excuse me?"
Their eyes had immediately gone wide with anger, their claws sinking into the other's skin, drawing jam with even realising. The only thing the knew of at the moment was how they could see now was how they trusted him and he immediately opposed them.
"Gh... like this, for example.."
He had used his other hand to softly remove the nails that had sunk in deep into their dough without them even realising. Their eyes softened again, their guilt was written all over but they were not able to deny it.
"I do not mean it negatively, but you should try to listen to them aswell, at least from time to time."
"Does it hurt?"
"Do not worry."
Their hands had separated but they still had remaind close, even if he now had a bleeding hand he did not tend to — he had his other on to put on their shoulder.
"I do not understand you."
They had looked away shamefully, knowing that the cookie could read them with ease but instead of using it against them, he used it to help them. That's what they hated most.
"Lay on me, you are tired."
"I do not wish to sleep."
"We don't have to."
The dragon had moved forward putting their head on his shoulder and letting them feel the slight thud as he had let himself fall on the ground with them on top of his chest.
Their hands intertwining one more time, this time the claws are softer with the small hand. They had not looked at eachother but they easily fed off the comfort of one another.
"Only if I could bring back how fierce the dragons once were."
"Going back to the past does not bring everything back."
The old tree quickly corrected the dragon, not letting them believe the delusion they can change everything they had done. The wound on his hand from them was not first, some were physical some were not, but one thing remained, they had hurt him a bunch, the wounds might aswell never fully heal.
But there they were. Clinging onto eachother like some lone beings never taught of care.
"You could never understand how it feels."
Their claws had tightened against their bark once more, their breath harsh on the cookie's skin, but he hadn't said much. Just let them do whatever.
"I may not understand, but I am here for you."
The wind became a bit louder with them denying the care they have deep inside for eachother, even when met with sharp marks and scars, he had gently moved his hands against their back to keep them warmth.
"Are you hiding your face?"
Despite the danger, he had spoken in a teasing tone, yet soft to not pose any real threat, but suprised when met with no response. His voice even more quiet murmured
"My dragon?"
After a few seconds he had smiled, his hands —hesitant and scared — moved to the side of their head and moved a strand of hair from their face. Their eyes were closed, but not asleep. They had given in comfort in his embrace.
He wasn't necessarily sure of what they wanted, but if they were quiet and pretending to sleep, he had no reason to push them away. As long as they were hurting themselves or others.
So much that he had failed to realise his hand was still brushing against their sharp features and smooth hair.
"I like it."
They spoke but didn't think twice of what they had said. He had trouble holding back a chukle, but imagining the anger the dragon would show if he had poked more fun, was enough to hold himself back.
"I'll be here till night if needed."
"Don't make promises you can't keep, guardian."
The two had made eye contact, until the dragon broke it to go back to the warmth between him neck and shoulder.
He had done nothing against it, it had shocked him to feel their breath soften against his dough, this time. He just smiled lightly, watching them slowly be lost in time, without much communication, he had figured out they had spend the whole night arguing and fighting with their kin until they had attacked them first, after that, he couldn't predict.
It was a strange feeling, he had never imagined to be so close to such a fierce and apathetic dragon, yet there he was, with one in his arms, cuddling them to sleep, he joked to himself. Then softly leaned in, to wispear a simple sentence.
"Sleep well... my flower."