Capítulo 4: Home x Comfort
Jinxing watched the dragon climb stairs and his eyes were filled with wonder.
He looked up and down at the dragon's profile, coming up from behind to peek at his chest and the concealed abs beneath.
"What are you looking at?" Tian Ci cast a side long glance as the human's eyes lingered at his waist and continued to lower.
"Son..means..family..?" While guilelessly looking him over, Jinxing tried to convey his thoughts.
Reaching the top of the stairs, Tian Ci looked back wearily. "That's right."
"Yinyun.."
"He is."
"Where.."
"Where what?"
Standing at the top of the stairs, Jinxing voiced his main concern. He reached out for the ornate garments clothing the dragon, and started to part them gently. "Yinyun came from..where?" He had never seen a dragon baby..until Yinyun, but decided he liked them. If he found out where on the dragon's body they arrived, he could take one for his own.
"You.." Tian Ci frowned before brushing that hand away swiftly. "Yinyun didn't come out of me.."
The two approached a room to the right of the staircase. Tian Ci stood before the door and took a breath; He entered slowly.
"...." The bedroom the human entered was simple but full of luxuries. Wide stained glass windows cast a motif of cherry blossoms on the walls. The bed was large..enough for two people, and covered in light blue silk. A vanity held many shining trinkets and an oval mirror that seemed to be made of ice. Book shelves and a study were inundated with scrolls, a few ink wells and bamboo paper. The room was likely shared by two people of different interests. Jinxing looked around and gravitated toward the vanity. He jumped at the sight of the person within.
"Who.." He splayed his hands on the mirror and leaned in.
"That's you." Tian Ci walked up from behind. From the expression on his face it was clear he was not amused. He crossed his arms and spoke solemnly. "Is this your first time seeing yourself?"
"Mn." The human mused while looking from one angle to the other. After awhile, he touched the reflection with both palms and simply watched himself. "Jinxing. Jinxing." A soft mantra left his lips. Confirming that the bright eyed face belonged to him. He tapped the mirror lightly. "You." He didn't think it was a bad face.
"Come Yinyun, look.." Taking the snowy fluff in his palm he gently held it up to the mirror. The amethyst eyes flickered and it bumped the surface a few times.
"It's only a reflection, Ah Yun. It won't respond." Tian Ci comforted the white fluff with wet eyes, herding him to bed to play. After rolling over silk pillows and bouncing around, Yinyun floated towards the dragon who waited patiently at the edge of the bed.
He held out a slender hand with long dark nails, but that hand was impossibly gentle when holding the little ball.
"Close your eyes." He gently instructed, bringing their foreheads together.
As threads of light entangled between them, Tian Ci began his examination. The connection between dragon and dragon child was inseparable. They possessed links both telepathically and energetically. Even in the womb a dragon would know the state of their offspring. And during the Great War, when dragon children were pursued endlessly, this ensured the survival of many of the unborn.
Tian Ci gently explored the soul of Yinyun. Wavelengths of color and abstract structures danced across his consciousness.The colors and sounds and sensations imbued him with emotion. Directing his awareness above the little world within the child, he saw the network of energy pathways and associated memories form a mandala. This was the soul map and essence of living things, and if one could draw it in blood, they owned that creature entirely.
"Ao?"
When Tian Ci finally opened his eyes, two little orbs of the same form and color as his own were gazing back. He lightly rubbed the fluff surrounding the baby and put him down. "The rips in your soul have healed. You can still become an egg and be born properly."
"Ao ao ao.."
"It's nothing to fear. The process has already begun. You can thank a little fool for your lease on life.."
Speaking of little fools, Jinxing had occupied himself with the trinkets on the vanity, biting into a powder box shaped just like a peach. The item burst under his bite force, spraying cosmetics and shrapnel. Spitting wood and doused in pink dust, he cried for help.
"It's your own fault." With an undertone of laughter, the dragon stood up and began to transform. Silver light surrounded him and out of that light came an onyx dragon. A dragon whose dark scales caught every beam of sunlight from the window.
"Big dragon ~" Jinxing cheered when seeing the familiar form. He approached without caution and flopped onto the large body.
"Get lost. You're a mess." The dragon grumbled, adjusting his size. He rolled in the air, tossing the human onto the bed and hovered. As Jinxing tried to rise, he growled in warning. "You can play later. Ah Yun's finished, so now it's time for your exam."
"No."
"It isn't a request. For all I know you could be a 'detonator'. I have to check head to toe."
During the Great War, many humans were implanted with vile things and sent into dragon territories. So to check for human 'detonators' was an old but valid habit.
"Not to mention, you're a general.There's much more to learn of you."
As the dragon spoke, Jinxing grew more and more anxious, the feeling of lying bare and defenseless..while others did what they wanted, familiar. Subconsciously, he clenched his fists tight.
"Hold still."
"..No!"
A surge of energy swarmed around the room and the temperature rose drastically. An outline of golden light suffused Jinxing and his hair fluttered as the light began to expand and dance. The golden waves poured out of the General and the veins in his body burned bright.
"Jinxing!" Pushed back, the dragon called out in alarm. His voice was strained against the general's power. "..this...you'll hurt..Ah Yun.."
.
.
.
In an otherwise sunny room, a dragon and human faced each other. The dragon hovered cautiously, while the human, breathing heavily, came back to himself. The mass of golden energy retreated into it's host, restoring the room to it's former state. Jinxing blinked and his golden eyes returned to their warm brown. He looked up and shakily raised a hand.
"Yinyun.. hurt?"
Emerging from the safety of the dragon's white mane, one Yinyun floated up and out. He mewled a few times cautiously.
"..Like Yinyun." Holding out his hand, Jinxing patiently waited until the snow ball sat in his palm. Tian Ci sighed in relief. Now that things were like this, he had to be mindful of the bond between the two.
When both human and child settled down, the dragon spoke.
"You may not like it, but I still have to examine you. For Yinyun's sake."
"..like Tower.."
"No. Nothing like there."
"..lying.."
"Why don't you tell me, what it was like. If I know what they did, I'll know not to do the same."
Jinxing paused for a long time, stroking Yinyun's fluff. His eyes were overcast, and his voice soft. "..watching..hurting..writing.."
Tian Ci nodded quietly, not at all surprised to hear the fragments of abuse and experimentation.
"There are tales about your class of human, Jinxing. Born in the Eastern Highlands, your kind were taken as infants to serve the Human Empire. Despite being cherished by nature and creation..the Tower bound you, ensnared your soul, and plunged you into darkness.."
Jinxing froze. This was not the 'truth' he had been told as a youth.
"Others should have seen your kind as the apex of human potential; The new frontier of humanity.. courtesy of evolution. You should have been protected and cultivated properly."
Trembling, he moved closer to the dragon subconsciously. His hand reached out for the hard scales which always softened at his touch. He was seeking comfort. The dragon didn't mind.
"It's okay to be angry about it. It's okay to be hurt."
Jinxing was overwhelmed. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, only managing a single word. "..hurt.."
But this was more than enough for Tian Ci to understand.
"On the day the first General emerged on the battlefield..I knew you humans had messed up." He paused, wondering why the first general's appearance had escaped him. "..Anyway, it was an experience that changed the world forever. In some good ways, and some bad.."
Not wishing to dwell on his own memories, he leaned over and nudged the human's cheeks of their wayward tears. Yinyun had never seen anything cry before, and took the salty droplets for a sparse drink.
"Let's not call what I'm doing an exam, then. It's just a check up."
"Check up." Jinxing tested the word and nodded to himself before lying down.
Tian Ci wasted no time and pressed his snout to the human's forehead. He lingered there, inhaling a few times, eyes closed. Viewing a human's soul map took a lot of energy. That's why the dragon form was best. A tapestry of light threads wove together. They revealed the inner sanctum of the human energy and memory. But the dragon's nose could also detect the human's biological state, assessing any imbalances within organs and vessels.
Thus Tian Ci moved from forehead to neck, where he lingered for several moments. Moving down to the human's chest, the winding veins of light burned bright. A tapestry of sounds and colored abstracts, infused him with emotions and various thoughts. The impressions were fuzzy, so he pressed his snout into the human's chest and rubbed a bit. As he did this, he felt the body beneath him shake and twitch, along with a breathy sound that rose in pitch. When he moved on to the stomach and navel, the strangled noises finally roused him.
"What are you doing, Jinxing.."
"..S-something.."
The dragon opened his eyes as the human's eyes were watering and his body heaved. He slapped the human's thigh with his tail and offered clarity.
"Laugh. If you don't let it out, you can't breath."
This slap seemed to open the floodgates, and spirited laughter filled the room. Jinxing clutched at his stomach, tingling everywhere the dragon had touched.
"Hold still." Tian Ci continued to examine the human, only vaguely bothered by the moving and giggling.
The dragon's snout followed a linear path...until it reached his most sensitive spot.
Jinxing instinctively closed his legs, but received a growl in warning.
"Given your foolishness, I would put you at adolescence, but..your body and it's scent says otherwise. I need to confirm." Speaking calmly, Tian Ci managed to convince the human after a few minutes of reassurance. If the human was at the peak of sexual maturity, it would mean needing to take certain precautions throughout the year. "Summer is coming. I'd rather not have to tear half the beast kingdom off your back."
Jinxing didn't understand, but felt as long as 'it' wasn't bitten, he would be fine. Thus, he gently parted his legs and watched the dragon put his head between them..
"..DUMB DRAGON!"
A powerful kick was given to the scaled head doing questionable things. But a dragon was still a beast, so Tian Ci saw nothing wrong with rubbing his nose on a thing for information. For Jinxing's part, the actions weren't painful..but the dragon's snout, once warm and soft, had suddenly turned icy and rough.
"Stop hitting me. It has to be cold."
"Why?"
"So your little brother doesn't stand up."
"..brother?"
"Never mind. Anyway it's done." Tian Ci raised his scaled head and slid a forked tongue across his snout. His gaze was pensive as he swallowed slowly. "..You're well into adulthood and at a good age to make a family." In order to keep the pool of humans diverse and plentiful, arranged companions were common. Chosen by the guardian dragons of human families or individuals, marriages were conducted and offspring produced in abundance. Of the many offspring, a few would be split between further human relationships and dragon-human relationships. "During summer, I'll have to douse you in bitter root to keep the beasts away."
"Make family?"
"You can."
"With Ci Ci?"
"What? No." Tian Ci frowned, a little taken aback. "Why?"
"..want..more Yinyuns."
"You shouldn't make family just to get a child."
Jinxing seriously considered these words and sat up while shaking his head of the pink dust from earlier. "Ci Ci doesn't want to make family with Jinxing?"
"No. I have Ah Yun."
"Jinxing wants family.."
"I already said no."
Jinxing squinted a bit, small shoulders slumped. Drawing away from the dragon's body, he huddled up to himself and repeated quietly. "..want family.."
"....."
Watching the human for a bit, the dragon cursed in his heart. "You already have Ah Yun. He's tied to your soul map. He's your family now. Why worry about nonsense?"
Sensing his debut, Yinyun floated up from the white and silver mane and nuzzled the human's chest. "Ah Yun needs protection, food, and attention. Do you think I'll let you off?"
Jinxing held the snuggling form to his chest with a cupped palm. The space over his heart began to glow, shedding beads of honey-gold light. Yinyun nuzzled the area with more vigor, his fluff of a body absorbing it eagerly.
"What.."
"The light veins humans possess are usually a thin stream. Yours, being what you are, is a raging waterfall that leads to the sea. Yinyun has tapped into that and is taking nourishment."
"Eating Jinxing?" The human looked down at the source of warmth over his heart. He felt no ill effects from the dragon's feeding and continued to hold him gently.
"Kind of."
.
.
.
When Yinyun finished his meal, he sluggishly entered the human again. Jinxing pressed his chest and called out a few times, but received no response. He looked to Tian Ci who had laid on the bed in his dragon form to nap. Opening one eye, the dragon gazed at the human's chest and sighed. "After feeding, an infant dragon can sleep between 1hr to 1 week. He has to process the flow of 'cera' that came from you."
"Cera?"
"Cera is the life force in all things." The dragon rose up and yawned. He looked over Jinxing who looked back at him and the two watched each other for a bit.
"Now that Yinyun is in order, I guess it's time to sort you out."
"What?"
"Meaning it's time for a bath. And to finally put on clothes."
Although the words were simple enough, when the dragon spoke them, his fangs shone and made the undertone sound wicked. Jinxing instinctively drew back, prepared to fight.
"Come here."
"No!"
"You don't even know what I'll do."
"No!!"
With a nimble leap, Jinxing sprung from the bed. He headed for the door leading downstairs but the dragon increased in size. His tail swayed magnificently as he barred the human's escape, and that black scaled head with piercing eyes was menacing in the cramped space.
"Jinxing don't need bath!"
He wasn't sure about the term, but it sounded too much like the Human Empire's word for 'brushing'. Due to the ignorance and incompetence of the Tower's 'groomers', his head was tortured from time to time. If a dragon also did it, wouldn't he die?
To that end one naked human flew around a room at mach speed. He slipped up and over the dragon's undulating form, barely missing the fangs that nipped at his ankles and the sadistic reptile laughing as he blocked his escape.
"Little fool. I could do this all day..but it's already noon.." Tian Ci growled, having had his fill. When the human still kept dipping and dodging, at last taking shelter under the bed, the dragon phased into a smaller form and dove under to wrap him up.
"Let go! Dumb dragon! No brush!"
Jinxing punched and kicked and bit the onyx body wrapped around him, using forces that would kill even the strongest of humans. To Tian Ci they certainly hurt, but weren't enough to deter him. Flowing through air currents, the dragon left the room with a human tied in a knot on his back. Further down the hall on the right, a double door chamber was bumped open.
Steam and fragrant mist washed over Jinxing, and he stopped his brutal assaults.
The spacious chamber had a glossy overlay and was white marble throughout. Circular depressions in the walls were partnered with crystal levers. Shelves held various colored bottles and plush towels and brushes. There was a pool in the center, it's waters shining and emerald. It was from this pool that the steam came, and was where Jinxing focused his attention.
"This is the bathing chamber. Don't even think of escaping." Tian Ci unceremoniously loosened his tail and let the human fall on the chamber floor. In a flash, the dragon was standing on two legs in his second form, unclothed like his human companion.
Jinxing looked from the dragon's feet to his chiseled calves, toned thighs, and ever upward. He scanned the glistening abs and alluring mermaid lines, stopping just below them with a curious gaze.
"Why Ci Ci has-
"Silence. Don't ask questions."
"..but Jinxing only has one.." He looked between his legs at the thing the dragon called his 'little brother'.
Tian Ci snarled. "Dragon parts are not the same as human parts. Stop looking."
"What other little brother is for?" When a human's curiosity was piqued, could anything be done? Tian Ci knew this and had tried to shut down that inquisitive mind. But now it was too late. Jinxing casually walked over and squatted, shamelessly looking up at the dragon's 'brothers' from a prime angle. He even more casually reached up.. to give those brothers a little tug.
"JINXING!"
"Ci Ci!"
"I'm not playing! You!.." The dragon thought about a suitable threat for a little fool. In the end, he pointed between the human's legs and smiled. "I can do more than make it cold. Should I turn it to ice?"
On instinct, Jinxing scurried away and closed his legs tight. "No cold."
"Then no more gawking. And definitely don't touch. Come here now. I'm going to clean you up."
But how could Jinxing just listen? "Want two big brothers. Like Ci Ci."
In a few strides Tian Ci had crossed the chamber floor and scooped him up. He sat him on a smooth bench, gathering a big soft bristled brush and colored bottles.
"Let it go, Jinxing. You can't have two." The crystal lever nearby was pulled and warm water flowed freely. "It isn't human anatomy. You'd have no use for it."
He took the brush and wet it, pouring on an azure mixture that foamed up as it brushed against the human's skin. Jinxing was still in thought and behaving, and before long his chest was covered in bubbles.
"Ci Ci uses two..to make more family?"
"No. Just one makes family..the other.." His voice lowered. "..the other is because we're a greedy sort."
Jinxing didn't understand and just let himself be scrubbed. "Like baths.." He turned on the seat to expose his back and then raised his arms and stood up. Tian Ci chuckled, continuing to brush all the human's limbs and pertinent parts. When he was covered from head to toe, the fountain rinsed him clean. "You can soak in the pool now."
Jinxing stood where he was. The dragon rolled his eyes and picked him up again. He was gently placed in the emerald waters and sunk down to his neck, where, from behind, his long mane was gathered and laced with shampoo.
"Like.."
The dragon's dark nails combed through his ink black curls. Jinxing's scalp was lightly stimulated and he murmured in content. He looked at the fine and kingly features of the dragon, reaching out a hand to touch a cheek while his hair was rinsed.
"..How come CiCi does this?"
"Consider it gratitude for saving Ah Yun."
"Saved Yinyun?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"That child has been through too much. After so long, Ah Yun finally has some place warm and safe to grow. Where he can be properly appreciated. You are that, for him."
Sensing the dragon's shift in mood, Jinxing sat up and began to wring out his hair that was soft and fragrant.
"..where is..Yinyun's other dragon..?"
"Ah Yun's other dragon?"
"..who fed Yinyun..before Jinxing.."
It was then that the dragon understood, and his gaze turned cold.
"Yinyun's mother didn't feed him."
"Mother.."
"That is the first source of nourishment and protection for a child. You had one too, I'm sure.."
"Sick?"
"No. She just..wouldn't feed him."
"Why?"
"...."
"Ci Ci.."
"..."
"..why Yinyun's mother not feed.."
"Shut up."
Rising abruptly, Tian Ci switched seamlessly from second form to first. The war dragon quickly flew from the chamber, but not before tossing a large towel at the base of the pool. Jinxing left the bath and followed Tian Ci in a plush towel. He looked at the dragon whose countenance seemed off, and joined him on the bed with purpose.
"Jinxing likes Yinyun!"
Tian Ci looked over at the face that was full of vigor. The words were simple but he could sense their intent. He wouldn't be moved. "I don't care."
"Jinxing not let Yinyun be hungry.."
"....."
"...always feed him.."
The dragon's eyes widened.
"..always hold.."
Something stirred in the dragon's chest, his gaze complex as it rested on the human's face. "You.."
Jinxing paused, struggling to take another word and parse it into the beast tongue. It left his lips earnestly, as he patted his chest. "Promise."
"...."
The dragon stared for a moment longer before laughter overtook him. His long and magnificent tail reached out to poke the human's forehead. His tone held a hint of a smile and the dark clouds of his mood scattered.
It had been a very long time..actually he couldn't remember when...a human had tried to comfort him.
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