theharbor | Time is slipping away from us so stay

Time is slipping away from us so stay

Who: Nyra and Kai
Verse: Dragon Prince
What: A case of unintentional breaking and entering ends in an unexpected pair bond for the mating season.

Nyra had never envisioned having to live life on the run when she was younger. Scavenging supplies from unwary travelers and leeching off the kindness or pity of others had gotten her through the last two months, but only just. She had no friends, no allies, no place to go except away. There were few people willing to give her more than a day's refuge once they saw the garish brand burned into her back, if they even gave her that long. No one wanted to risk word getting back to Savas that they were harboring one of his escaped conquest trophies. No one wanted the wrath of the warlord falling on their heads.

Having witnessed firsthand what the tyrant was capable of when he was in a forgiving mood, Nyra could not say that she blamed them.

Strangely, the residents of the small city she had entered less than a week ago had been rather more tolerant of her presence than most. While she had not been given the warmest of greetings she had not been chased out or otherwise sent on her way. Instead she had been taken in by an old grandmother who lived alone near the edge of the commerce district. The woman had asked for neither her name nor her story - in fact, she had rarely said a word to her at all. But there was an aura of knowing about her that made Nyra suspicious. Especially when she had knocked on her door earlier that evening, as if she had already known that Nyra was planning to leave. As usual the woman had said nothing, only nodded and thrust a small package into her hands then closing the door behind her. The package contained an old shawl and a pot of the paste that she had been using to dull the colors of her scales - everything she would need to slip out of the city with any level of anonymity.

Actually getting out of the city without drawing any sort of attention was an impossible feat. Even with the late hour the streets were still filled with people, and though there were many who were distracted by their companions she found herself catching the eyes of more than a few individuals. Their lingering gazes seemed to follow her long after she passed. She kept her head down and kept moving. Locking eyes with anyone was the last thing she wanted to do just then. Her skin prickled and her chest ached with the want to stop and talk to the starers, to present her best side and entice one of these strangers into something deeper than meaningful looks, but she couldn't risk it. She had to move on and continue searching for waters that even Savas would not enter.

The sensation continued to gnaw at her focus until it became borderline overwhelming. An obscenely loud moan echoing from an alleyway somewhere to her left sent a shudder down her spine and drew a low curse from her lips. Someone had not even had the decency to seek the privacy of a building before jumping their chosen partner. Nyra paused and dragged her hands down her face, tail flicking in irritation as she saw curious passersby trying to peer into the darkness of the alley. There were too many people here. She needed an alternate route if she hoped to escape with her dignity intact.

She had almost made it past the center of the city when someone shouted behind her. Instant anxiety spurred her into bolting down the nearest path without waiting to see if she was in trouble, or even if the person had been shouting at her to begin with. Her irrational panic blinded her to her surroundings, to the fact that the buildings she passed were growing more and more ornate and grand in design. Nor was she aware of the fact that they abruptly stopped, giving way to an imposing wall of natural stone, an outcropping of an ancient mountain. Spying a small hole near the base she dove into it, squirming her way through the narrow passage until it spit her out into a sheltered cave. Only then did she finally stop.

Surfacing with a gasp she grabbed hold of a half submerged bolder with shaking arms and leaned her head against it, eyes closed as she struggled to slow her breathing again.

"Idiot," she whispered to herself, her voice harsh in her own ears. So much for blending in and not making a scene.

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The Prince had thought that escaping to his private grotto would help with the urges this year, but with the new female in the town, it really wasn't as helpful as he hoped. He wanted to find her and see why she chose to come to his city but he forced himself to stay put. He didn't need to go rampaging around, and especially not during the season.

The splash alerted him, and Kai set his book down, watching to see who came up. One eyebrow raised as the female he had been just thinking of popped her head up and heaved herself out of the water, clearly panicked. He got up slowly and held his hands out to his side and slowly approached her, making sure to make his steps heard.

"Is someone chasing you?"

A voice was the last thing Nyra expected - or wanted - to hear in the cavern. She jerked in surprise and stared at him with wide eyes, hurriedly slipping back into the water and moving behind the rock. Tension danced along her nerves, her heart hammering with enough force that she was sure it could be heard across the gap. She was ready to flee again. But, where would she go? She could not escape the way she came in. The jagged sides of the narrow tunnel allowed for only one way travel. She would have to find another way out. Somehow.

Carefully peeking around the side of the bolder she eyed him with open suspicion, ducked down so low that only her head remained above the water line. She considered his question for a long moment, trying to find any hidden meanings in the words, before finally answering. He clearly had the upper hand in the situation; she could humor him long enough to find a way out of the grotto.

"Yes. No. Maybe. I don't know."

Oh, but she did know. Perhaps no one in the city was chasing after her, but she had every reason to belief that somewhere, someone outside of it certainly was, and he would not be happy once he caught up to her.

He raised his hands and backed away from the edge of the water. Best not to spook her too much more. He wanted her to stay, not run.

"Only way in is through the water. You're safe." Kai said, his voice both soothing and coaxing.

"You say that, yet I was able to get in without much effort." Her attention shifted back to the water. A grim, unbidden thought about what might be lurking further down made her crawl back onto the dubious safety of the rock, curling her tail around it so that even the tips of her fins were above the waterline. It was an awkward position and not one she could hold for long but for the moment it eased some of the irrational worry nipping at the back of her mind. Tiny hints of color glinted where her trip through the rough, narrow passage into the grotto had scraped away thin lines of the mask obscuring the true color of her scales. It had caused her no injuries, thankfully, but there was no missing the traces of vibrant blue and gold hidden behind the drab facade.

"Your security could use a bit of work," she continued once she was certain she would not tumble ungracefully from her perch.

The corner of his mouth tipped up as he dropped into the pool coming up close to Nyra's rock, the water streaming over his skin.

"Most visitors know what they're getting into when they enter my grotto. And everyone in this city knows that it's very unwise to enter here for the wrong reasons. Somehow I don't think you're here for those reasons, are you?" Kai's voice dropped an octave, the rumble coaxing.

Nyra pulled herself a little higher on the rock when the man decided to join her. He was easily twice her size, and while that appealed to the more primal part of her, she knew that she stood no chance against him should he grab her. Her expression darkened, lips curling into an uncertain frown as she tightened her grip on the rock, for all the good that would do her.

"Depends on what those reasons are," she muttered, tension heavy in her voice. "I am nothing more than a traveler passing through. It was not my intent to end up here precisely."

Kai pushed himself up on the edge of his grotto as far as he could get from her and still be in the water, water streaming down his torso and tail, his scales glittering dark green and gold under the light. His eyes fell on her hands gripping the rock like it would save her, then moved up to her tense face.

"Considering the timing of your visit here, I wonder. But someone is definitely chasing you. I take it you did not want to be chased? You're the first female to come in here seeking safety not pleasure in the years since I've lived here."

Her eyes tracked his every move as the tattooed stranger retreated to the stone edge of the natural platform. Once he had settled again she breathed a quiet sigh of relief and loosened her death grip on the bolder. Bit by slow bit she unwound herself from around the rock and eased back into the water with obvious reluctance. She still did not trust him, but the strain of holding such an awkward pose had become too uncomfortable for her to remain on her perch.

"I'm sorry to have broken your streak," she said, sarcasm threaded through each word. A pause followed the insincere apology as Nyra considered how best to answer his question, if she decided to answer it at all. Leaning her head against the rock again she shrugged. "Been playing a game of Hide and Seek for a while now. Not real keen on losing it. Don't want the other player winning the prize."

Kai threw an amused look over his shoulder at Nyra as he hoisted himself up, shifting back to two legs, giving her a great view of his ass as he made his way over to a wardrobe.

"I think my ego will survive." He says, voice slightly muffled as he dresses then withdraws from the wardrobe with a stack of clothes in his arms. He looks at her, his face serious.

"From here or out of town? The other player."

Nyra turned her head when he hauled himself back onto land, politely directing her gaze elsewhere. Mostly. It was difficult to ignore the well toned muscles of his back and his equally sculpted ass, and she found herself sneaking subtle glances from the corner of her eye. She could not deny that he was a fine specimen of a man, but she could not let herself dwell on that for long. There were much more pressing things to focus on than the male physique.

"I'm sure that it will," she deadpanned, looking forward again once he was dressed. A slight frown ghosted across her face at the sight of even more clothes stacked in his arms, but she chose not to comment on them. Again she stopped to mull over her answer, weighing the risks involved and trying to select a vague reply that would not give her away in case he was an ally of Savas.

"Out of town. There are no boundaries in this game."

Kai made a displeased noise, making a note to keep an eye for any new males around.

"So they think. Their boundaries end at the borders of my territory. Their game isn't going to be played here." Kai bent down to place the clothes close to Nyra but far enough away to not get wet.

"I brought you some clothes. They're clean, but not sure if they'll fit. If you'll wait a minute, I'll get you a towel so you're not dripping everywhere. You can spend the night since it'll be easier when you're not having to figure out if the shadows are safe or not." A beat then he continues.

"I am not expecting you to do anything in return for shelter and clothing and food. Well, other than not slitting my throat while I sleep. In the other bedroom. You can have my bed by yourself for the night and I will be looking for any unknown males here in the city."

It was beginning to look less and less likely that the man was a friend of Savas. Nyra's frown returned when she heard him refer to the city as his territory, her mind a jumble of questions. Was he a rival of Savas, then? Would he truly let her leave in the morning without demanding repayment for his mercy? And who exactly was he? She bit the tip of her tongue, hesitant to push her luck. Taking a deep breath she cautiously left the false safety of her rock and swam over to the ledge, keeping him in her line of sight as she braced her hands against the stone.

"...you don't have to do this. I'm no stranger to traveling in the dark," she murmured. Still frowning she reached out to touch the offered clothing; it was far newer than anything she had worn in months. Her fingers twitched slightly before she withdrew her hand and settled back to watch him, not wanting to get anything wetter than necessary. Her focus on what he was doing was so intense that she failed to notice that the old shawl she wore had slipped off her shoulder with her movements, revealing a glimpse of rough, discolored flesh that was too well defined to be the simple scars of an animal attack. The design was purposely crude but recognizable as a fish tail, the rest of the brand still hidden behind the clinging wet fabric of the shawl.

Kai returned with a large fluffy and neatly folded towel and squatted by the edge. He was dressed in a loose linen tunic and pants, and the material was having a hard time containing his muscles.

He saw the brand, or part of it in any case, and wore a ferocious frown but his voice was gentle as he spoke.

"I am Kai, the Prince of this city. You sought sanctuary here. It is my honor and privilege to protect anyone who seeks sanctuary or is a citizen in my lands.

Nyra flinched when she saw the expression on his face. Following his gaze she realized that the shawl had shifted and part of the stylized barracuda brand was visible. Bowing her head in shame she pulled the garment back into place. There was no point hiding the scars now, but she hated the way people stared at them once they knew they were there. She listened to his words without looking at him, and said nothing for a time after he was done. Prince of the city, huh? Definitely not a friend of Savas - Savas tended to overthrow Princes rather than befriend them.

Finally, she moved, hoisting herself out of the water and onto the ledge, shifting to two legs as she did so. Standing, she accepted the offered towel and draped it over her shoulders, letting the soaked shawl drop to the floor only after she was certain the brand was still hidden. The towel was more than large enough to cover her, the bottom of it nearly reaching her knees. At her full height she stood no taller than Kai's chest, and she was a slender thing to boot.

"I won't stay any longer than I need to. I assume you know the kind of game the other player thinks he and I are playing," she muttered, still without looking at him. "I won't get your people tangled up in that mess if I can help it."

"Savas was the one who did that, didn't he?" Kai asks, his back turned to give her some privacy. He turned back around when he heard the plop of wet clothing hit the floor.

"I've heard what he likes to do. But he's been very careful to not involve any of my people or anyone who travels through my lands. Until now. Wish you hadn't been branded, though."

Kai moved over to build the fire up a little more, trying not to let the fact that she was tiny and everything he liked in a woman distract him. She wasn't here for a romp in the sheets, even though she was close to her season. She was here because she needs a safe place.

"Are you hungry? I have some soup and bread." He asks, speaking over his shoulder as he worked at the fireplace.

"His reputation precedes him even here. I'm not surprised." Dismayed, but not surprised. The fact that Kai knew what the brand represented told Nyra that she had not gone nearly far enough in her travels. She had already known that, but a small flicker of hope still burned in her chest. Someday she would reach a land that had never heard of the bastard. Maybe. If the bastard did not reach her first.

Huffing a soft, mirthless laugh she smoothed a hand over her hair and pulled it to the side to further hide her scars. "That makes two of us. It's not exactly a badge of honor," she said, watching him fuss with the fire. After he had finished she took a few steps closer, carefully maintaining a polite distance from him as she positioned herself with her back to the flames.

"Not hungry, no. I had something before I set out from the other side of town." It had not been much, but she was so use to eating the bare minimum that larger meals made her feel sick. The morning would no doubt see her hungry again, but she was satisfied for the night.

She would have to go to the other side of the world to get away from Savas' reputation.

Kai looked at her and nodded as he rose to his full height. "And what may I call you?" He asked, shifting to give her room. "There was a younger male, still a juvenile, who fled here after Savas took over his village. He told me he's on the move again, making sure he has a firm grip on his lands. And now you're here with his brand."

Nyra stilled beside him upon hearing his report, hardly daring to breathe. Inch by slow inch she lifted her hand to card her fingers through her hair as her eyes locked on the shadows near the water's edge. She could practically feel the ice beginning to flow in her veins, followed by the familiar burn of shame and helplessness. Part of her wanted to cry. What had she ever done to deserve any of this? What had her people done, except be in the way? If ever there was a good reason to cry she had plenty to choose from.

But she didn't. Savas enjoyed seeing his conquests reduced to tears, and she had long ago made a vow to herself never to give him that satisfaction again, even if he wasn't around to witness it.

"My name is Nyra," she said at last, voice tight and near mechanical. "And I am one of his wives. He won't stop until I am found and back where I belong."

That gets his eyebrow winging up. Then it clicked of why she was running. He couldn't help the rumble vibrating through him as he spoke, though, hinting at his other self.

"Nyra, you are safe here in my home and in my city. He won't ever touch you. Or even look at you. That I promise."

The low rumble jarred her from her brooding. Nyra shivered and shook her head, trying to shake off the lingering grasp of phantom fingers. Taking a step closer to the fire in an unconscious attempt to chase away a chill that was only partially physical she turned to look at him. Her eyes reflected an old sort of sadness and pain and the tiniest glimmer of hope that had not yet been smothered.

"I wish I could believe you, your Majesty. But I know him too well. He always gets what he wants in the end, no matter who or what he has to go through to get it."

Kai smiled, trying his best to keep his temper from erupting and scaring Nyra away.

"No need to be formal. Kai is fine. And he hasn't dealt with me." He smiled as he looked Nyra over.

"You don't know me well enough to trust me. That's okay. You had no reason to trust any male." He gave her a brief bow, then stepped back, turning to fetch his book before moving over to a darkened archway leading to the rest of the rooms.

"As I mentioned, I will be sleeping in another room. I'm going to make a final round for the night so feel free to make yourself comfortable." He said, over his shoulder.

Edited (words help) 2018-09-26 03:52 (UTC)

She quirked her brow when he bowed but chose not to comment. It was too late and she was too tired to argue. Kai was confident in his abilities, whatever they were, and not the least bit afraid of Savas, that much she could tell. Nyra watched as he stopped to pick up a book on his way out of the room, her ears straining to make sure that he had left once he stepped out of sight. Then and only then did she let herself relax, shoulders slumping as she exhaled a heavy sigh and rubbed her face with both hands.

"What a mess," she mumbled under her breath, glancing back to the pile of clothing he had left her. As tempting as it was to attempt to sneak out she was better off sleeping in the city another night. Her chances of successfully sneaking out of the grotto were slim to none anyhow. Pausing long enough to make sure that Kai was still elsewhere she picked up the shirt and unfolded it. First glance alone told her that it wouldn't fit, being several sizes too big, and the bottoms were a definite no-go for the same reason. Still, they were better than nothing. Draping the towel over the end of the bed she pulled the shirt on, frowning as the bottom hem of it fell to her mid thighs. Whoever the shirt belonged to was a much taller person than she was. She didn't even bother with the bottoms.

The bed was likewise made with taller people in mind. She almost had to climb onto it, then had to crawl back to the foot of it to retrieve the towel. Finally settling in she wrapped up her still damp hair and waited.

Kai had returned just as Nyra was crawling into bed (his bed) and he had to step back into the shadows to catch his breath, the spike of desire sharp and fast. Once he felt he was in control again, he moved into the room, heading for the fire. He knelt, and banked the fire for the night, making sure Nyra would be warm.

"Comfortable? Not too cold?" He asked, his hands resting on his knees. He knew that once she left, he was going to be hard-pressed to not go after her. But she didn't need yet another male chasing her.

Nyra paused midway through drying her hair with the towel when she heard Kai step into the room. Squeezing the towel around her hair she slowly pulled it down to the ends and dropped it into her lap, trying to appear nonchalant as she watched him move around the room. She did not fail to notice the way his shirt bunched around his arms and pulled tight across his back when he knelt to deal with the fire. The sight made her shudder slightly and forced her to take a steadying breath. That in an of itself was a mistake - with him so close it was impossible not to catch his scent, especially when she was on his bed, and it reminded her all too sharply of the time of year. Picking up the towel again she yanked it over her head and returned to drying her hair in earnest, trying to distract herself before her thoughts wandered too far.

"It's fine," she answered when he spoke up. Not wanting to look flustered she pushed the towel back and away from her face, silently hoping that he had not notice her staring while pointedly ignoring the way he was crouched. Gesturing towards the numerous furs on the bed as a diversion she scooted back until she was pressed against the pillows. "These will keep me warm enough should it get chilly."

He thought he caught a spike of interest from Nyra, but Kai wasn't sure, so he let it drop. Standing up, he had to shove down the reaction of seeing Nyra cuddling in his furs and in his bed.

Kai's mouth curved up as he spoke. "The bathroom is through that archway and to your right. I'll be down the hall on the left. If you wake up and need a snack, the kitchen is down the hall at the end."

It was going to be a long night, he thought, but it wasn't Nyra's fault. Only his for assuming why she was there.

The rundown of the grotto's inner layout provided Nyra with an excuse to look away from him without the risk of appearing embarrassed. Glancing towards the darkened archway she hummed and nodded along. The directions were simple but ultimately pointless, as she had no intentions of venturing beyond the bedroom during the night. Once he had finished she bade him an awkward good night, finding no reason to prolong the evening with idle small talk. After she heard the door to the other room shut she sighed and ditched the towel, tossing it over to the nearest chair before she flopped onto her back. Staring up into the shadows of the ceiling she tried to plot her course for the next day, doubtful that she would find sleep easily. But the bed was comfortable, far softer and more luxurious than anything she had laid on in months, and the furs were warm. Before she realized what was happening she slipped into slumber, lulled by the gentle sound of waves lapping at the stone and the subtle crackle of the banked fire.

Waking again was a slow affair, marked by brief periods of consciousness where she would stir just long enough to bundle herself tighter in the furs and nestle deeper into the nest of pillows. It was well past dawn - her intended departure time - when she finally woke for good. Blinking blurry eyes she peered around the room and pulled herself up with a drowsy groan, hiding her face in her hands as she tried to gather her wits again.

He woke with the dawn, keyed up from his thoughts all night, and also the scents growing stronger as she moved through the night. Kai walked on quiet feet as he peeked in, and noting she was still sleeping, withdrew.

He went to the other exit and planned to pick up some supplies and maybe see what the markets have today. He hoped she would still be there, but wasn't expecting Nyra to stay.

So he was pleasantly surprised, and by pleasantly surprised, he was delighted. She hadn't left yet. Kai really hoped she wouldn't leave, not while smelling that delicious, but Nyra hadn't made any indication of her interest or lack thereof. So he had to shove down his eagerness and slowly developing need to not pressure her in any way.

Kai was quiet as he prepared breakfast, and carried it out on a tray he left near the bed.

He straightened up and noticed Nyra was stirring. Pitching his voice low and soft, he greeted her with a smile curving his mouth.

"Morning. Would you like breakfast?"

The smell of warm food made her lift her head. For a moment she ignored him, having eyes only for the tray sitting on a table near the bed. She was still too scatterbrained and groggy to identify the meal, but the aromas were enough to make her mouth water. It was only after she had shoved the furs back and swung her legs over the side of the bed that she realized Kai was standing nearby. Nyra blinked at him somewhat owlishly then slowly returned his smile with a faint, embarrassed one of her own.

"I-" Before she could answer her stomach growled, effectively ruining any shot she had at pretending otherwise. Heaving a sigh she scrubbed her fingers through her hair and shook her head. "Well, I guess it goes without saying."

The tension that had stiffened her movements the night before was noticeably absent as she walked over to investigate the tray's offerings. She paused to watch him from the corner of her eye for several heart beats, studying his pose for any indication that the food might be a distraction, then turned her full attention back to the plate. Honestly, if he was going to do anything, he had had plenty of opportunities during the night. Picking up a slice of toasted bread she nibbled at the crust, trying not to look as hungry as she actually was.

His lips curved up as he heard her stomach growl and he laughed, a soft noise as he pulled up a chair next to the table. He pulled a plate off the tray and balanced it on his knees as he took a bite.

"Eat as much as you wish." He says, trying to ignore the fact she had slept in his bed and her scent was mixing with his, and it was a heady mix that left his mouth watering not for the food on his plate.

Nyra shot her host a slight pout as he laughed. She finished her toast in delicate bites to keep up the broken illusion that she did not feel close to famished, taking the time to brush the crumbs from her fingers while studying the plate left on the tray. It was more food than she could handle after surviving on scraps for so long, but part of her was still tempted to shove everything on it into her mouth was abandon. Reining in such foolish impulses she finally settled into the empty chair already at the table and took another piece of toast off the plate, this time adding a piece of meat and taking a bite, her eyes briefly closing as she savored the taste.

"You have close ties to the surface, I take it?" she asked after a bit in an attempt at small talk. Ordinarily she was content to eat in silence when being fed at the mercy of someone else's generosity but Kai struck her as being the friendly, talkative sort. She could tolerate a bit of conversation. An unconscious part of her was even willing to admit it was just because she was starting to like the sound of his voice, her ears still ringing with the warm echoes of his laughter.

"Frequent trading, yes. Occasional support at sea for guarding ships. In exchange, I get things from the surface, and they get fishing rights and some of our goods that would survive being dry."

Kai half-smiles, eyes tracking Nyra's movements. He noticed how she was careful to start slow with her food, either from low appetite or from having to hide and subsist on whatever she could grab.

He wets his lips but otherwise sits perfectly still, his gaze flicking between her hands and eyes.

"After you're done eating, I'll be happy to run you a bath. I'm sure you'd appreciate being clean after a good meal."

"I haven't been to the surface in years," she said with a wistful half sigh, eyeing the thin slice of meat on her toast in appreciation. There was a hint of something familiar in the taste but she could not place it. Finally it dawned on her that it was tuna and a far better cut than the leftovers she was use to, and a flash of embarrassment darted through her expression. She was getting too accustomed to eating trash.

The mention of a bath kept her from sliding further into shame. Popping the last bite of toast into her mouth she chewed slowly, mulling over the offer. A bath would just push her departure time back further. Honestly she should have been gone long before now but she had needed the sleep. As charming as her host was if she stayed much longer the chances of her leaving at all would be slim to none. Still... it would be nice to get clean again. Her legs and lower back were beginning to itch from the dried paste smeared on them, paste that she would have to reapply either way to fully mask her scale colors again. There was no harm in enjoying a bit more luxury before she was forced to scavenge for everything once more.

"I... yeah, a bath sounds great. Thank you," she said quietly.

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Time is slipping away from us so stay

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