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Longan Dragon Cookie watched their mate practise their necromancy. The gift they’d given him - a powerful grimoire - seemed to be finding purpose. They had no need for it themself, just a powerful trinket they owned. A soft smile crept on their face as Licorice Cookie’s staff glowed with a power not thought possible for him. They wanted to go over to him, cuddle up to him…
Love him
Love.
What even was it, at the end of the day? Was love not just a preview to a need to reproduce with another being? Or was it…something more? A desire to cherish, to protect, to be grateful for. Someone to fight for.
Deep down, they knew they loved him. They wouldn’t have given him their gem fragment if they hadn’t. Dragons only had one true mate, and only could love once. But that didn’t mean they would get close to him.
It was easier, in all honesty. Easier than getting closer, falling deeper and deeper in love with him, and then feeling the anguish when their mate inevitably crumbled before them. He’d tried to bond with them, multiple times, and each time, Longan Dragon Cookie had turned it down. It killed them to see Licorice Cookie’s hopeful face fall every time his mate turned him down, but it was a necessary evil, to put it. It was safer to keep their distance.
Should they have done so earlier instead of proposing? Perhaps, but they had their nature to blame for that. They didn’t like the idea of Licorice Cookie moving on and loving another. Every now and again, they did entertain the idea of a bond - usually a nice, romantic dinner or watching the sunset, but then again, that was to stop the relationship dying.
Sure, they themselves were the one who sought out the relationship. They weren’t going to deny that. The stars had decreed they would be mates, and they obliged. Would’ve it been easier had Licorice Cookie not fallen in love with them? Perhaps, but deep down, they were happy with this outcome. The feeling of being loved was worth the whole toying around thing.
They snapped back into the present as Licorice Cookie smiled, clasping Longan Dragon Cookie’s hands. He was saying something to them, but Longan Dragon Cookie was more focused on the tree behind the two…they always liked willow trees. It reminded them of an old friend of Lotus Dragon Cookie’s…
The urge…the urge to invite Licorice Cookie to join them in sitting underneath it. Where they could cuddle and all that. It overwhelmed them at that point. Before they could stop themself, the question spilt out of their mouth. Licorice Cookie’s vibe switched - from anxious and insecure to shy, yet happy. Next thing Longan Dragon Cookie knew, they were underneath that willow tree, Licorice Cookie’s head resting on their shoulder.
Instinctively, Longan Dragon Cookie wrapped their tail around Licorice Cookie’s body. In most contexts, this would be a romantic gesture. For Longan, it was more of a “don’t touch him” gesture. Nonetheless, the world would know this anxiety ridden mortal was theirs, and theirs alone. No one else's, but theirs. Their eyes scanned Licorice Cookie’s face, and a strange sensation washed over them…
Licorice Cookie…wasn’t happy.
Was it guilt washing over Longan Dragon Cookie? Anything else? They wanted to love him, they really did, but…no. They had no excuse for making their mate unhappy. Deep down, they knew that. They knew they were wasting a precious bond out of fear of the emotional repercussions. Deep down, they knew that the regret of not doing more with him - not loving Licorice Cookie - after his death would be stronger than the grief they would feel for him. So, they did something drastic.
They kissed him.
They felt the tension ease itself out after a few moments. It truly was a pleasant feeling. They wanted to savour this, make it last forever, but stopped themself. Be it stubbornness, ignorance…or maybe actually cherishing the little moment, they knew it couldn’t. They wouldn’t have loved Licorice Cookie had the two not shared that stubbornness.
“I love you.” Licorice Cookie softly choked out, leaning against Longan Dragon Cookie further.
“I love you too.” Longan Dragon Cookie whispered, after ensuring Licorice Cookie had drifted to sleep.
Those words somehow hurt more than the Draconic Wars ever did. Because admitting them out loud meant Longan Dragon Cookie cared. And if they cared, then that meant their enemies had leverage, and if they had leverage…they’d rather not think about it. Right now, their whole world was sitting next to them.
And maybe that was all they needed…