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Lomedy was simply checking on his crops around his farm. The deer knew he’d be alone for a few more moments before FlameFrags would be back. He harvested some of the matured crops and replanted. Within those moments he heard a familiar yipping sound from Flame’s beloved pet wolf, Ashen.
The wolf pounced onto the deer like a puppy. Flame chuckled at the situation and put the things he had bought from Merchant City down on the ground before helping the brunette up.
“Sorry about that. I had to restrain him from killing a few people on the way. He’d got some pent up energy.”
“You’re good bro.”
The tiger hybrid let a small smile slip through. Lomedy loved Flame’s smiles because they were always genuine and showing happiness as the combat master rarely smiles to other feelings. As Flame reached to pick up the items he’d placed on the ground, Lomedy grabbed some of the things to help the tiger. Ashen was moved between their legs, the wolf nuzzling into Flame’s legs.
Once Flame put the things down on the counter, he gave Ashen some pets before giving him a command that told Ashen that he was free to explore the forest. There was a forest around Lomedy’s farm to the west side and Ashen is a wolf Flame trained. Ashen often had more energy left to burn than Flame could help the wolf burn, so the combat master let the pup play and explore the forest to burn that energy.
Before Ashen left the house, he nuzzled into Lomedy’s legs wanting attention from him too. Lomedy, unable to deny the request, gave the pup some pets. Once satisfied by the affection, Ashen left the farmer’s house heading into the forest. Flame was taking the combat things he bought out of the bags to avoid being lectured by Lomedy for bringing combat gear into the house. The deer noticed what the tiger was doing and smiled because it was sweet of the other to remember his preferences and in general keep in mind that he was staying in someone else’s home. He walked over and put the other things away while the combat master separated the things.
The way Flame’s tail moved gently side to side, the tiger didn’t seem to notice the farmer watching him with doting eyes. Lomedy moved closer and hugged the other from behind. The deer hybrid was reading about lions and tigers hybrids to show Flame that he cared as the combat master doesn’t always understand words of affection or mistakes it for normal conversation. The deer nuzzled his head into the other’s shoulder. This form of affection, the physicalness matches what Flame grew up feeling when he was being raised by his older brother, ManePear, who happened to be a lion hybrid. That situation Flame grew up in caused the tiger hybrid to act mixed between a tiger and lion. The mixed ways show up in how Flame comforts Lomedy by being cuddly and generally social which is a lion characteristic while the combat master’s preference to be alone when fighting is a tiger characteristic.
Flame reacted quite positively to the deer showing affection this way. The combat master turned and leaned into the deer’s chest, also nuzzling. Lomedy recently had been noticing how Flame saw Ashen as a son of sorts and this detail caused the deer to start realising how much Flame truly loved and trusted him. It was known that lions care for any cub in the pack and Flame being raised by a lion hybrid subconsciously displayed the trait. The cub in Flame’s eyes was Ashen and Lomedy was the other who cared for him.
The tiger was quite happy to be in Lomedy’s arms, audibly assured by the happy sounds the tiger made. Lomedy rubbed Flame’s head with his hand knowing the other liked it because it was comforting for Flame as it reminded him of Manepear. Flame’s blindfold loosened as the tiger kept nuzzling his head into Lomedy’s chest.
“Your blindfold is loose.”
The combat master could care less about that for the moment because there was no one around to even worry about seeing his eyes. Also the deer has already seen Flame’s eyes on multiple occasions specifically during the night as Flame wore contacts and glasses. Although preferring the latter due to general disliking to touching his eyes.
“Can I take the blindfold off then?”
Flame hummed, in his mind he’d let Lomedy do a thousand more things without permission, but he feels safe here because Lomedy by nature is respectful and asks before doing anything to the other. As Flame was happily leaned into Lomedy’s chest, the deer reached back and undid the blindfold. In Lomedy’s opinion Flame had the prettiest eyes, they were the warmest tones of orange and red. The left eye was a warm red tinged with the fire you’d expect while the right eye was a soft blazing orange that struck out from the tiger’s appearance.
“You’re eyes are pretty”
This compliment made the tiger shy, exemplified by Flame not looking at Lomedy instead looking into his chest and his tail was gently swinging lower. A smile formed on the deer’s face as the combat master is just too adorable, a comment others wouldn’t agree with because it’s Flamefrags, the immortal demon.
Bliss was something Flame didn’t know well, but Lomedy has changed that recently. Every moment with the deer felt like absolute heaven and Eden for the tiger. If Flame ever fucked up and hurt Lomedy, he wouldn’t forgive himself and go back to isolation.
As the combat master calmed down from the compliment, he licked the deer’s cheek. Due to both of them being hybrids this habit of licking wasn’t disgusting or a concern as it served a reminder on their relationship. Flame’s ears were relaxed, his tail oscillating, and the tiger in general looked content. Lomedy rubbed the tiger’s head near his ears, but just shy of touching them knowing the tiger was sensitive there.
“I love you. Don’t think otherwise.”
It took the other a moment to register what the deer had just said. Once it had set in, Flame nuzzled into the other harder and much more present instead of the light playful nuzzling from earlier. Understanding that Flame doesn’t use words to show he cared or loved someone as a tiger hybrid isolation is normal, but being raised by a lion hybrid led to socialization. Flame shows he cares by being touchy, doing things for Lomedy, and protecting him.
A loud disruptive thump sound came from outside which caught the attention of both the tiger and deer. Flame grabbed his sword and went outside because an ambush meant death for the attacker. The tiger looked around and identified where the noise had come from; the sound had been from Ashen dragging a large cow back to the farm.
“Lomedy, get a butcher knife.”
“What? Why?”
“It’s not an ambush, just Ashen bringing back food.”
The deer stepped outside the house, butcher knife in hand staring at the dead cow the wolf had dragged to the farm. Walking over to the tiger, he handed the knife to Flame.
“There isn’t a cow anywhere near my farm besides the one I care for.”
“He probably staked it off from a herd around a few kilometers away.”
“What do you feed him to make him this strong?”
“Nothing, I give him the normal things, raw meat since he’s a wolf and sometimes health potions after fights.”
Lomedy shook his head, but still smiled at how happy Ashen looked, showing his owner and owner’s partner the reward for his work like a son wanting to show his parents his work. Flame was kneeling down on the ground and used the butcher knife to behead the cow.
“Poor thing didn’t die from Ashen’s bite, the skin where he bit was thicker than normal. All Ashen did was paralyze her.”
The sweater cladded male rubbed the tiger’s head. Flame liked animals, he was always good with them. If he had to kill an animal for survival, he made the kill quick to keep the animal out of suffering. Lomedy adored Flame, but this side was Lomedy’s favorite.
“At least you noticed and put her out of her misery.”
The tiger hummed, tail swinging slow and solemn for a moment. He turned to use the knife and divide the carcass once the cow fully passed. Flame is an efficient butcher after years and months of surviving off nothing, but hunting for his own food. Along with being on the run without a home.
Once Flame was done cutting up the meat, he tossed a chunk away and gave Ashen the go ahead to eat it. The rest of the meat was turned into sizable chunks that he and Lomedy would eat through for the week. The parts of the carcass that couldn’t be turned into anything edible were piled and ready to be turned into fertilizer that Lomedy used.
During dinner, Flame was watching Lomedy cook as it was the deer’s turn to cook. The two had different ways of cooking and made their dishes entirely different. Flame preferred cooking his meals with the spices in them while Lomedy preferred to season it off near the end with spices. Either way Flame wouldn’t complain about Lomedy’s cooking because his cooking was good either way.
Plating the food, Lomedy handed the tiger a plate and nudged him toward the table.
“Dining table, not the living room. Flame.”
Flame turned from his original target location and moved toward the table. Sitting down, he felt Lomedy undo the blindfold which confused him, but then he realised the lights in the house were changed to a softer color which didn’t hurt his eyes.
“Surprise! Now you don’t have to wear your blindfold in the house.”
“Thank you… I’ve never had someone take my comfort into account like this before.”
“You’re welcome. I’m going to be right back, start eating. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Flame began to eat the food, it was nice and warm. It wasn’t an overwhelming taste which he had been finding out recently made him nauseous. When Lomedy returned, he sat down and started eating his food too. They sat in a comfortable silence eating, listening to the occasional sound from Ashen and the refrigerator.
Sometime after they had finished eating and cleaned up, they were preparing for bed. Flame was in the bathroom taking out his contacts as Lomedy waited by the threshold of the room. The Immortal Demon wore glasses and contracts because his genetic lottery didn’t have much for him in sight. At the moment, Flame didn’t have his glasses since he had lost them when he was being hunted by the Law meaning he would have to get new glasses. He could see somewhat well, it was just that he couldn’t see far away that well. Lomedy moved when the tiger started to leave the bathroom. What he didn’t expect was for Flame to grab his hand and pull him into bed.
They settled into bed. Flame curled into the deer’s arms. Despite being a dominant person by nature, Flame had a deep desire to be cared for. There was a part of him feeling unloved, scared of being rejected, and abandoned. Lomedy leaned his head into the tiger’s collar.
All these touches from Lomedy was his way of telling Flame he loved him without using his words. Despite saying it aloud earlier that day, it still didn’t feel like they were dating because to Lomedy a verbalized response was the most valuable thing. Until he heard Flame making soft subconscious happy sounds.
“I love you.”
Lomedy hummed and kissed the tiger’s head.
“I love you too. Thank you for saying it back. I did understand your way of saying it earlier, letting you know.”
A serene silence blanketed the moment, it was heaven. Nothing could ruin this moment. Ashen moved into the room quietly, jumping on top of the bed. The wolf laid near the foot of the bed facing the doorway as if ready to protect both Flame and Lomedy. It had been months since Ashen had last done this as Flame normally would be on guard, but recently Lomedy had gotten Flame to relax and sleep without worry. Now Ashen felt his owner resting and naturally went into a protective state. That feeling Ashen felt is something Lomedy also feels, but different as Lomedy is Flame’s lover and close confidant.
For the moment, everything was the way it should be. Through the window the moon’s light traced the room with a glow of the divine.