The maroon dragon stood still in the center of the shattered courtyard, its razor-sharp claws clenched into shattered stone, its molten eyes glowing with fury and protectiveness. One mighty inhalation, and the heat in the air intensified until even the bricks beneath its feet seemed ready to melt. Anyone—anything—that so much as stepped near its mistress would be torn apart.
But then... a voice.
"Issei," Rias said softly, rising from the dust and stepping in front of the massive beast. "Calm down. It's okay. I'm fine now."
The black smoke that had clung to the dragon's frame began to fade away, curling into the air like fog lifting beneath the morning sun. Its massive wings, poised to strike, folded gently against its armored body. The dragon leaned in, lowering its massive head until its long muzzle hovered in front of her.
Slowly, cautiously, Rias reached out with both hands and pressed her palms against its hardened metal cheekbones. The maroon plating was still warm—almost alive.
As soon as she touched the metallic hide, delicate fissures spiderwebbed across the armor. Pieces of burnt-red metal began to drop away, crumbling into ash and dissolving into faint black smoke before they reached the ground. Beneath, eyes the color of autumn brown with shimmering slitted pupils regarded her with steady calm—familiar, loyal.
"It's okay, Issei," Rias whispered again, gently stroking his bare skin where the armor had fallen away. "I'm safe now."
Without a word, Hyoudou Issei, the boy who had become a dragon, scooped her into his arms and sat down on the scorched earth, placing her carefully in his lap. He buried his face in her scarlet hair, breathing her in. The scent of strawberries filled his senses—a scent tied to too many memories to count.
At first, Rias thought to stand. To say or do something. But instead... instead, she stayed right there. In his arms. It felt safe. It felt real.
A crack of magic split the silence as a tall figure emerged through the hole in the courtyard wall. Sirzechs Lucifer, Rias's older brother, stepped through and waved a hand, casually repairing the damage with a sheen of glowing enchantments. His eyes were calm, composed, but slightly narrowed with concern as he approached.
Issei stared at him from the corner of his eye, his cheek still buried in Rias's hair.
"Don't glare at me like that, Hyoudou Issei," Sirzechs said calmly. "We tried to help you. But nothing we do will work unless you're willing to cooperate."
The dragon snorted quietly and buried his face deeper into Rias's crimson strands. He clearly had no interest in talking further.
"Is he always this stubborn?" Sirzechs asked.
Rias chuckled weakly. "Yeah. It's kind of his thing."
A cold breeze swept through the courtyard suddenly, brushing against the nape of Rias's neck and sending an involuntary shiver down her spine. Then—
A voice.
Barely audible. So faint it was almost indistinguishable from the wind. A whisper that crawled across the edge of awareness like a shadow moving through the dark.
"It hurts."
Rias froze instantly. Her breath caught. Her heart skipped as if time itself halted.
Behind her… behind her, something stirred.
She didn't turn around.
"Rias, did something happen?" Sirzechs asked with light concern, his tone breaking through the heavy silence.
"Huh?" She blinked. "No. Not at all. Everything's fine."
She wanted desperately to turn. To see where the voice had come from. But Issei… Issei was still sitting behind her, arms around her, nose pressed to her hair. His silence hadn't changed.
Sirzechs exhaled. "Well, I guess I'm not needed here anymore. I'll go check on the science division and their progress."
"Good," Rias replied softly, watching her brother disappear back into the now-repaired wall.
Light chirping sounds echoed off the walls. The dragon purred contentedly under his breath, the tension in him slowly ebbing away.
Rias turned slightly in his grasp. "Issei… is everything really alright?"
A beat of warm air passed between them, and Issei nodded.
"Good," she said with a quiet smile, standing. "We'll go home now."
He rose with her, fingers still wrapped around hers as she guided him forward. His sharp eyes watched her carefully with every step, as though seeing her vanish again might shatter what remained of him.
......….
Back home, they were instantly greeted by the aroma of home-cooked food and the sounds of disagreement from the kitchen.
"I'm telling you, ramen is the better choice tonight!" Akeno declared confidently.
"No, it should be miso soup!" countered Asia, standing with hands planted on her hips.
"I leave this house for one day and the food war starts up again," Rias muttered under her breath with an exasperated smile.
Someone suggested a solution.
"How about we let Issei decide?" Rias said, raising her eyebrows playfully. "Any objections?"
After a short silence, both girls agreed, turning to face the dragon boy expectantly. Issei blinked, confused by the sudden responsibility.
Issei tilted his slightly as if asking "What's required of me?"
Rias chuckled and leaned close, explaining the choice in his ear.
Without hesitation, Issei turned and gently wrapped his arms around Asia.
"Well," Akeno groaned dramatically, folding her arms. "I guess that's the answer."
Asia blushed fiercely and squeaked, "I—I guess I'll be making dinner then."
"You sure you don't want help?" Rias asked with a faint smile.
"Nope! You're the President. I'll handle this!" she said proudly.
The enthusiastic blonde rushed to the kitchen, sticking her tongue out at Akeno as she passed. The older girl lunged after her, mock-offended, but Asia darted away, laughing as she disappeared into the next room.
Dinner was warm. Comforting. Soothing, in a way that only home-cooked meals shared among close companions could ever be. But as the evening settled into night, a quiet unease returned to the air.
Hyoudou lay on his bed, eyes open, staring silently at the ceiling. Rias had asked him to wait in the room—she needed to handle a few things. Half an hour passed. Then the door creaked open.
Rias entered. And the moment she did, Hyoudou's eyes locked onto her—and in an instant, he vanished, slicing the air with a sudden vortex of wind. A heartbeat later, he was back, standing in the center of the room…
Holding her in his arms.
In that single blink of movement, Rias realized something else.
Her clothes were gone.
"Issei, damn it!"
She swatted his chest, flailing with her fists in an effort to break free, but the dragon only laid down on the bed, still holding her close. He nuzzled into her mess of fiery hair again, deliberately ignoring her protests.
After a few seconds of silence, she stopped struggling. She turned in his arms instead, facing him, propping herself against the warmth of his bare chest.
"Issei," she asked, voice barely above a whisper. "Are you okay?"
Warm breath answered her, brushing across her cheeks.
"I get it," she whispered. "You're scared. So am I."
She looked up—and noticed something strange. The green glimmers in his previously brown eyes glowed a little brighter now. They shimmered faintly in the moonlight, threading gently across the iris, fractal patterns blooming softly like scattered stardust.
The change was subtle. Barely visible. But unmistakable.
Rias reached out and cupped his cheek, leaning into him.
"Faster," she murmured. "Come back to yourself."
A whisper twisted through the still night air again.
"Everything has its time."
Her eyes opened suddenly. The room had gone still.
In front of her was Issei's sleeping face—or maybe it was just her imagination.
She reached forward, kissed his forehead, and lay back down, exhaling softly into the quiet.
"Good night, Issei."
And this time, not even the nightmares followed.
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