colorful-perspective

[colorful-perspective]

Tale #1: When a seraphim and a dragon meet

I was once told that I’m like a sea wave, a force to be reckoned with. I give my all in one moment, crashing down with intensity, but then I retreat swiftly and get lost in the depths within myself.

It’s true that I’m an all-or-nothing type of person. Either I care with unwavering passion, or I don’t bother at all. There isn't room for mediocrity in my heart. I prefer my feelings to be crystal clear, knowing exactly where I stand.

Some people call it excessive control, but I call it cautiousness. But life had a lesson in store for me when I met him.

I knew the night was off to a bad start when my usual bartender was nowhere to be found. The planets must've been terribly misaligned for Drew to call in sick. Instead of her skilled hands expertly crafting drinks, customers were met with a clumsy replacement, with deeply scarred fingers stumbling over glasses.

I could’ve just walked out or gone straight to the other bar owner, but his presence was like a breath of fresh air, a calm amidst the storm. He seemed unfazed by the commotion, exuding a quiet confidence that intrigued me.

“You’re late today.” Those were his first words to me, leaning against the counter with a teasing grin as I approached.

“I’m sorry?” I replied, caught off guard by his remark.

“Drewvalyn said the angel in brown leather would come by at eight. It’s past nine.” He continued, raising an eyebrow playfully.

"I'm no angel," I retorted with a smirk, feeling a strange warmth spread through me at his words. "She must've been talking about someone else."

Dae chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm sure that old lizard wouldn't spare her special brew for some regular creature." He handed me a frosted mug, and for some reason, I found myself smiling back at him.

“And you are?” I asked, taking a sip of the cold, refreshing beer.

“A long lost cousin, Dae.”

"I see that the obsession with the letter D spread to the extended family," I said, amused.

“It matches our kind.” He shrugged his shoulders with a smirk. “I’ve heard all about you, lady Andrea.” He pronounced the last words in a low, teasing voice.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Please, no lady comes to a place like this, do they?" I sipped. “Pleased to meet you, Dae.”

“Pleasure is all mine, angel.”

We struck up a conversation, and I was surprised by how effortlessly we clicked. He had a quick wit and a charm that was hard to resist.

As he had to tend to other customers, I made my way to the usual spot at the back of the bar. When I got up for another pint, he was nowhere to be found.

"Interesting bar boy, Dina," I said to Drew's sister as she poured me a fresh glass.

She grinned mischievously. "Do you approve of our new barman, Drea?"

I took a sip, feigning indifference. "I don't have much to go on yet to form an opinion."

Dina's smirk grew wider. "Oh, you'll have plenty of time to gather your 'data.' He'll be sticking around for a while." She emphasized the word 'data' with a playful wink, knowing my penchant for careful observation.

I couldn't help but chuckle. Dina always had a way of teasing me about my analytical nature. But as I thought about her enigmatic cousin, I couldn't deny that he piqued my curiosity.

A month slipped by in a blur of diplomatic negotiations and grueling training sessions, leaving me with little time for my weekly drinking routine. The newfound peace had brought about an unprecedented wave of productivity, and everyone was working even harder than during the war.

Then, the rumors started swirling.

Whispers of a legendary winged legion returning to base after completing their pacifying duties on the frontiers began to spread. Little did I expect that among their ranks, I would find him - the enigmatic dragon warrior I had met at the bar. A colleague of mine.

I guess no dragon built like him would be wandering in a military city just on vacation.

Dragon warriors were a rare breed, with only a handful of families scattered across the continent. Most preferred the solitude of the forges over the chaos of the battlefield, a choice that was highly respected given their abilities. But for those who did choose to dedicate their lives to the fight, they were bound to greatness. And here he was, standing before me as the captain of the esteemed dragon legion.

"I've heard that I might need your help to get a warm welcome in the winged council, Captain," he said, appearing at my side during the monthly formal. "I fear we have yet to be formally introduced. I'm Captain Daemetrius Vixiens." He extended his hand for a mocky handshake.

"After getting a female seraphim in there, a dragon is easy," I replied with a smile, shaking his hand firmly. "I'm Andrea Mitzran. But I’m no Captain when they dress me in gowns while all my comrades wear their gala uniforms."

I glanced over at our general, my brother, and he lifted his glass with a knowing grin.

"You do look like an angel, if I may say so," Captain Daemetrius remarked.

"I hope that's a compliment," I replied, tilting my head slightly.

"It most definitely is."

His acceptance into the council went smoother than either of us had anticipated.

We had met a few times so I could brief him on the main agenda and give him insights on each council member. It was all about delicately stroking their egos and downplaying the fact that a dragon held more power than any of the attendees.

In fact, it seemed like the council was already familiar with the captain, as if they had been expecting him. I couldn't help but wonder what kind of reputation he had built among his fellow dragon warriors.

As we planned for the next training cycle, we all decided to pair the legions and increase the difficulty of the exercises, despite not expecting real combat anytime soon. Fate seemed to have a hand in it, as the members voted that my legion should be paired with the dragons, mainly so I could keep an eye on their captain.

But just as fire and air magic didn't mix well, cherubim and dragons couldn't be more different.

"They'll end up killing each other out of sheer stupidity." I muttered to him.

"We should make them work together." He pondered. “Joint training exercises that force them to collaborate, rely on each other's strengths and overcome challenges together.”

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his idea. "And what if they still can't get along?"

He grinned, his fangs peeking out. "Then we'll have to get creative. Perhaps some trust-building exercises. We must set the example."

"How?" I inquired, curious about his proposal.

He leaned in, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Let’s practice together.”

We spent countless nights experimenting with different ways to combine our magic. It was challenging at first, as our fighting styles and elements often clashed and made it seem like there were no bridges between our differences.

As we practiced, we began to understand each other's strengths and weaknesses. My seraphim air magic was nimble and precise, while the dragon's fire magic was powerful and destructive. We learned to complement each other, using our combined abilities to overcome obstacles and solve problems that neither of us could have done alone.

I found myself unable to suppress a slight shrug whenever our breaths grew dangerously close during our body combat training. My heart would race, and I couldn't help but close my eyes when he touched me, feeling a rush of sensations.

There was an inexplicable allure to him that I couldn't ignore. His golden eyes held a mesmerizing depth, and the way he seemed to connect with the wind as we soared on our wings was captivating. There was just something about him that drew me in, stirring up emotions I couldn't quite comprehend.

It felt like dancing. We learned to synchronize our movements and coordinate our spells, finding a rhythm that allowed us to work in harmony. At some point, I just knew his next move and he could also predict mine.

"Draconian military man by day, graceless bartender at night." I teased, taking the beer he poured for me, just like the first time we met. "What else should I know about you, Captain Vixiens?”

“I'm not draconian.” He grinned, sticking out his tongue playfully. "But I sure know how to give great massages. Maybe you can find out for yourself someday after practice.”

I couldn't help but blush at his playful comment, taking a sip of the beer to hide my flustered expression. "I'm positive my muscles would end up smashed," I replied with a chuckle, trying to dismiss my growing attraction to him.

His eyes glinted. "Too bad you’re so scared of my strength, I could promise to be gentle. I might have to find another volunteer.”

I raised an eyebrow, feigning indifference. "Oh, I'm not scared. Just skeptical of your so-called massage skills."

He smirked, leaning even closer, his breath tickling my ear. "Challenge accepted, then."

I swallowed hard, feeling my heart race as I tried to maintain my composure. "We'll see about that," I retorted, determined not to let him see how much his proximity was affecting me.

We kept progressing in our practices and passing down our knowledge. It was noticeable the change in the way our legions interacted. It was a slow process, but we could see the walls of mistrust and prejudice slowly crumbling down.

We found ourselves working closely together, coordinating missions, and strategizing for the betterment of our troops. Despite his stoic exterior, I discovered that the Captain had a keen humor and a deep sense of honor. He was respected by his subordinates and admired for his unwavering leadership.

As we spent more time together, I began to see a different side of him. He wasn't just the fierce warrior I had first met at the bar, but also a compassionate and caring individual. He would go out of his way to ensure the well-being of his unit, often putting their needs above his own.

"I owe you one, angel." he said, watching as the other captains celebrated and got drunk to mark the end of our training cycle. "I don't think I would have been able to gain the council’s and your legion’s trust so easily without your support.”

“Who would’ve thought we’d make such a great team.” I answered.

"I knew we would," he replied with a confident smile. "I had hoped for it."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "I'll miss your enigmatic nature in the next cycle. I suppose I'll have to settle for Gareth's harpyan cockiness."

He chuckled. "You tell yourself I'm enigmatic just so you can dismiss my sincerity and directness."

I arched an eyebrow. "What does that even mean?"

"It means," he declared, his gaze unwavering, "that you don't have to miss my 'enigmatic nature' if you don't want to. I can come to meet you whenever you want."

I hesitated, taken aback by his boldness. "We can barely exchange two words without arguing. Could you really stand to be with me outside of work hours?"

He leaned in, his eyes locked with mine. "You know that half the time I'm just teasing you, flirting with you."

"Are you though?" I challenged, my heart skipping a beat. "You’re just playing around."

He shook his head, his expression earnest. "I don't play around. I like you," he confessed. "And I think you like me too."

I swallowed dry. “Aren’t you fazed by me? By my title, my family name?”

He closed the distance between us.

"I'm fazed by how it's getting incredibly difficult to stay away from you," he said, his eyes never leaving mine."I'm fazed by your kind leadership and how you command the respect of your squad while still being so approachable. I'm fazed by how the thought of you consumes my mind day and night, and how your touch makes me feel like there's not enough space in the room for both of us. Yeah, I'm deeply fazed by you, Andrea.”

I was touched by his words, and I found myself leaning in closer, my heart pounding in my chest. Our lips were inches apart, the tension between us palpable, when suddenly, the loud cheers and laughter from the other captains broke the moment.

He pulled back, his eyes still locked on mine. "Looks like the celebration is getting wild," he said in a low, husky voice. "But I recall I still owe you a massage demonstration."

I blushed, nodding slightly, unable to find the words to respond. He kissed my knuckles before guiding me through the crowd, through a whirlwind of emotions.

As we navigated through the jubilant captains and their squads, my pulse quickened with anticipation. The sounds of laughter and music faded into the background as I focused on him, on the magnetic pull he had on me.

He led me to my quarters, away from the revelry, patiently waiting for me to invite him in. As we entered the room, he moved behind me, his skilled hands finding their way to my shoulders, and I couldn't help but let out a contented sigh at his touch.

He worked his magic, expertly kneading the tension from my muscles, magic warming up his hands. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to fully relax in his capable hands. The air was charged with undeniable chemistry, and I could feel the electricity between us. I was aware of every brush of his fingers against my skin, every whisper of his breath against my ear.

I turned to face him, meeting his intense gaze, and I saw the desire mirrored in his eyes.

“I’m fazed by you, Daemetrius.”

Without another word, he closed the distance between us, his lips capturing mine in a searing kiss. The world around us faded into oblivion as we lost ourselves in each other, our bodies pressed together in a frenzy of passion.

When we finally pulled apart, breathless and flushed, he rested his forehead against mine, his fingers tangled in my hair. "I've been waiting for this moment for far too long," he whispered, his voice raw with emotion.

I couldn't find the words to respond, but I didn't need to. Our feelings for each other were undeniable, and so was the unspoken connection between us. We were two captains bound by duty, but in that moment, we were simply two people who had found something special in each other.

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Author's note: After years without publishing my writing, I'm giving it one more try.

I'd like to leave here a kind reminder that I'm not a native English speaker, so you might find a few grammar mistakes.

Any feedback is welcome :)

Image by Lissy Laricchia.