itsladykit:

Glittering Gold

Part 2 of the fic chain I’ve got going with @lunarsnickerdoodle.

Part 1: HERE

Warnings: death threats, feral behavior, territorial behavior.

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Twist could barely hear Edge talking past the rush of magic through his earholes. He hardly noticed the pressure inside his skull as his horns curled around his brainpan. His breath was hot, fire magic gathering in his throat and smoke curling from his nasal aperture.

He stalked into the living room, catching sight of the other dragon. Twist didn’t think about his actions, just allowed instinct to drive him forward. Bone scraped against stone as he hurled the other dragon into a wall, pinning him there with his body. His wings flared behind him threateningly, and subsonic vocalizations—pitched so low they were felt rather than heard—vibrated their bones.

The other dragon was smart, though—he immediately tilted his head up, exposing his throat in submission. He dropped his gaze, not making eye contact, and his own vocalizations were softer and smaller—more like the chirping of a hatchling. Twist still caught him by his cervical vertebrae and pressed him into the wall, snarling, “The fuck er ya doin’ ‘ere?”

The other dragon held up his hands, visibly struggling to maintain his submissive posture. “Came for a cup of sugar, love,” he said, still cheeky despite his attempts to maintain his submissive posture.

Twist paused, scenting along the other dragon’s vertebrae and mandible. Then his growl grew louder. “Yer not in heat, so I‘m gonna ask again—the fuck ‘er ya doin’ ‘ere?” Behind them, Edge coughed, and Twist flared his wings wider. “Go ta yer room, sweetheart. I got business ta take care of.”

“I want to hear what he has to say.”

Twist grumbled at that, but he wasn’t about to force him. “Talk,” he snapped, glaring at Braise.

Chin still lifted to expose his throat, Braise said, voice rough, “Need your help.”

Twist cocked his head. The words were almost nonsensical. Dragons didn’t help each other. Dragons didn’t even associate with each other outside of heat. They were too territorial, too aggressive. The very idea that another dragon—even the dragon he’d used as a heat partner for centuries—would seek him out like this was absolutely absurd. “What could ya possibly need my help with, huh?”

“Another dragon’s got her eyes on our territory—yours and mine.”

“So? You don’t need my help fer—“

“I was hoping your vampire could watch the kids while I showed her the error of her ways.”

Twist blinked. “Kids? What’re you talkin’ about?”

Braise lowered his gaze and met Twist’s eyelight. “My clutch caught last time I was in heat. Four of them hatched out.”

Twist’s soul was hammering. “…last time?”

Braise looked away. “Congrats, love,” he said, uncomfortable.

Twist’s wings sagged and he released Braise, totally adrift. Behind them, Edge asked, “Did I miss something?”

Trying to steady his breathing, Twist nodded. Then asked, “How’d ya feel about watchin’ a covey ‘a dragonlings.” He took a breath, looking at Braise—who still refused to meet his eye. “My—our dragonlings.”

“YOU HAVE KIDS!?”

All three turned to stare at the sex demon standing at the top of the stairs, looking down at them. Pup, at his side, flushed and waved nervously.

Edge just facepalmed. “Well, at least it’s never boring around here.”