listentomymuse | Dragons in the night || Zeno

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Dragons in the night || Zeno

[It wasn't natural for Jae-ha to be paired up with Zeno.

Not that he had anything against the Ouryuu, but it seems to be perfectly natural that the Ryokuryuu would be paired up with Kija or one of the others on occasion when they were investigating. There was something about the Ouryuu that often piqued Jae-ha's interest, especially after learning how old Zeno truly was.

That strange hug he gave all of them earlier only made him more curious.

But Jae-ha wasn't like Kija, who was fascinated by anything dragon-related, so he didn't feel like he could pry when it came to Zeno's private affairs.

Learning he had been married was almost shocking enough.

Now, however, questions plagued his mind and it was a dangerous thing since there wasn't anything around he could distract himself with. After being placed on watch duty while the others ventured off somewhere, Jae-ha and Zeno were both left at the campsite.

It was a perfect opportunity, but there were some words Jae-ha couldn't quite voice yet.]

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[For Zeno, he was just glad that he was able to be together with all of the dragon warriors once more. There was a time he didn't think it possible, back when Guen, Shu-ten, and Abi started dying.

But that was long ago, and he was over most of the self-destructive tendencies from before he realized Hiryuu might be reborn. But he has been and now the miss is Hiryuu even if she doesn't believe it and-- Zeno is back with his brothers again.

Zeno smiles and hums to himself, looking around their small campsite. He's got a family again.

But after a while, Zeno tilts his head and looks over at Jae-ha.]

Is there something Ryokuryuu wants to ask Zeno? [He really wouldn't be surprised if there was something, since they hadn't realized Zeno wasn't actually just 17 before he took the blows for them.]

[Shit.

Was he caught already?

But Zeno did ask, and it was an opening Jae-ha knew he could take. The only question was how he would be able to ask what's on his mind.

Zeno provided a familiar warmth, something he could only faintly recall from his childhood days. Now. It hasn't changed at all. He was just more acutely aware of it.]

Aah, something like that.

Then Ryokuryuu should say it! There is a lot Ryokuryuu might want to know that Zeno could share.

[He's not entirely sure how well he'd be able to take it if Jae-ha asks about Shu-ten in more detail, but...well, details.

He's sure Jae-ha would accept it if he said that he didn't want to talk about something just yet.

Besides, Jae-ha was something around nine years old when Zeno saw him last, maybe he is less of a vague memory than he is to the others, even though Jae-ha was the only one who wasn't awake during his visit.]

Even if you say it like that, it's difficult to ask.

[Because, how to even begin?

Kija has already made the attempt and even Shin-ah has completely warmed up to Zeno quickly.

Seeing their reactions towards him made Jae-ha feel...excluded, but they were family now and Jae-ha wasn't going to put them all at risk because of his own personal feelings.

This dragon blood was really annoying sometimes.]

You say that you've been watching Yona-chan for a long time. Does that mean you've been watching the rest of us, too?

Zeno realizes, but if it's bothering Ryokuryuu, Zeno thinks it's better to say it than to not, even though it's hard.

[Maybe Zeno would have had less regrets and doubts if he had asked everything he had wanted to ask back then, but maybe not. It's still something he thinks about occasionally and surely that is enough.

Zeno tilts his head.]

Zeno saw all three of you before Zeno went to the Miss. [This would be Weird if Zeno wasn't...Zeno.]

Your carefree nature is somewhat envious to have.

[Even though they've all seen that Zeno isn't as carefree as they had all initially believed.

At the answer, Jae-ha feels something spark in his chest, and he wasn't sure what it was yet.

And yet—]

All three of us? [He pauses, struggling to remember.] I'm sure I would've seen you at some point in my childhood.

[Jae-ha chooses not to dwell on his childhood back in his village, of being chained down and—

He stops thinking right there.]

Zeno has always been like this! [Liar.]

All three of you. [He smiles at Jae-ha, one that shows his age and his affection for the older-younger dragon warrior.

But he should answer him more directly than just confirming that he was there, as awful as Jae-ha's village was.]

Ryokuryuu was sleeping, Zeno thinks. [He was indeed chained. Chained and cold and hurt and--how did his sibling's villages get to be the way they are? Only Hakuryuu's village, Guen's village, makes sense with how his brothers were.]

Somehow, I have doubts about that.

[But then Zeno is smiling at him and it's. Comforting.

Familiar.

Then he hears his response and he sort of shifts in place, growing quiet.

Zeno was there.

Zeno was there.]

You left the robe on me, then? [Because none of the villagers would ever act so kind, and Garou would've never bothered.]

That's what Zeno did. [He...would've done more, but he'd just started caring again. He didn't have anything but what he was wearing on him.

And Zeno stills too, face almost closing off compared to how open he usually is even with all the things he doesn't say.]

Did they let Ryokuryuu keep it? [He wouldn't be surprised if they didn't. Garou had been so young for a predecessor, surely there was resentment there.

But he doesn't really know how Jae-ha will actually react to being told this. Will he resent him for leaving him there? Or will he not? Will he want to know why when he woke with the robe on him, he was still chained there?

Zeno has answers, but he doesn't know which ones Jae-ha wants to know.]

No. Garou had taken it and thrown it away. [And Jae-ha could have done nothing but watch.

It was the only comfort he had known, the only sort of warmth he actually felt in that place.

Garou, by all means, was jealous and cruel, but Jae-ha could never hate him despite the abuse he had been put through. He wanted to make amends somehow, allow Garou to fly one more time, but that never happened.]

Back then, why hadn't you waken me up?

Ah. [So that was his predecessor's name.] What a waste.... [He could have at least used it for himself. They must not have treated Garou much better than Jae-ha after all.

But this is the question he started with, huh...]

Would Ryokuryuu still have left that place behind, if a kind stranger had spoke to him back then? Would he have hesitated? [Would he have realized, as the then-nameless Shin-ah had, that Zeno was Ouryuu? He isn't sure that Kija hadn't realized, at the end.]

Zeno isn't sure it wouldn't have been worse, if Zeno had woken Ryokuryuu up. Besides, [He smiles slightly.] you needed all the sleep you could get. Zeno didn't want to take any away.

It was a nice cloak, at least.

[Jae-ha does take a moment to think about it, though.

Would he have hesitated to follow a stranger? He wasn't quite sure if he would have known that Zeno was Ouryuu back then, though it can be argued that Jae-ha had gotten quite good at sensing dragons - better than Shin-Ah and perhaps as good as Kija.

It's a question that may never be answered.]

Perhaps, but at the same time, a kind stranger would have been better than that village. [Like how he stumbled upon Captain Gi-gan and she had given him a home, a place where he could feel free.]

How considerate of you giving me more sleep.

It served Zeno well! Zeno just wishes Ryokuryuu had gotten to use it longer.

[And...he hadn't had a weapon. If he was to have broken the chains, he'd have had to injure himself to get the strength of Ryokuryuu and Hakuryuu...

No child would ever need to see that, or be woken by blood if all of Zeno was not quite scaled yet.]

Zeno is sorry, then. But Zeno had no food. All Zeno had to offer was the robe. [And maybe freedom, if Jae-ha would have gone with him.]

Ryokuryuu's village was not good, like Seiryuu's. Chaining a Ryokuryuu is foolish. Shu-ten surely would have been furious if he knew. [But he died a long long time ago.]

If only Garou was kind enough to let me keep it.

[But after seeing what Zeno could do, Jae-ha could somewhat understand.

Even if he isn't necessarily happy about it.]

The robe was good; it was warm. I'm generally used to not eating that much food, anyway. [Until they all became spoiled by Yoon's cooking, and somewhere during his childhood, Jae-ha had to learn how to cook for himself.

But then he hears that name and it makes him look at Zeno curiously.]

Shu-ten?

Even keeping it for himself would've been better than getting rid of it... [But some food would have been enough for Jae-ha, huh...]

Zeno would've had to double check what was edible. If Ryokuryuu had decided to go with him.

[...Please don't think too closely about that statement, Jae-ha.

Ah, he said it. Zeno touches the dragon medallion, letting himself smile.]

The first Ryokuryuu.

I think he was more suspicious as to how I had managed to acquire it. [And being spoiled was a big no-no.]

If I decided to go with you.

[There was a touch there, something that was close to longing, but Jae-ha is quick to dismiss it.

He only wanted answers; he wasn't going to dwell on the past.

But then Zeno is giving that smile, the touch of fondness that made Jae-ha feel a little envious for that kind of bond.

Clearing his throat, Jae-ha shakes his head.]

I think I'll go hunting for a bit. It'd be good to have some lunch since we're not sure when the others will come back.

Ah, Zeno understands. [He doesn't really like it, but he nods.] If Ryokuryuu had decided to go with Zeno, if Zeno had asked.

[So many ifs. Just let his little brothers have happy lives, why is that so much to ask?

It's natural, isn't it, to miss family? But he doesn't want to push his current family, the ones that are still here, away if he can help it. He would tell him about him, if Jae-ha asked, but...maybe there is a fear there, that he is a replacement.

Nothing could really be farther from the truth, but Zeno can't say it before Jae-ha mentions it without Jae-ha thinking it is true, can he?]

Ryokuryuu wants Zeno to stay here? [Or go with him, it's his choice. Ryokuryuu should be fine hunting alone, but still. Zeno worries.]

If Zeno had woken me up.

[But it doesn't matter now.

What's done is done.

So, Jae-ha stands up and dusts off his clothing. He's not upset, but he's not happy either.

Kija lived off well, and even Shin-ah had it better with his predecessor, but Jae-ha doesn't know the true extent of their past and he doesn't like to ask.

Even so, he smiles at Zeno.]

It'd be best for someone to watch the camp in case the others return. [In other words, Jae-ha just needs a little bit of alone time to gather his thoughts.]

[okay so we have yona actually got kidnapped and jae-ha saves her, zeno gets yona out of the castle instead of hak, and zeno takes shin-ah away!

It's done and in the past and Zeno out of everyone should be able to accept that, no matter how much he dislikes it at times.

Shin-ah wasn't beaten and chained at least. Zeno doesn't wish to say that beaten is better or worse than neglected. They are bad, but both Jae-ha and Shin-ah survived. That is all they can really say.

Zeno smiles back, raising his hands in one of his childish gestures.]

Zeno will be here then! [And ready to answer anything else Jae-ha would like to ask when he returns (with food, preferably).]

[The childish gesture has Jae-ha smiling and he gives a nod.]

Just don't do anything reckless.

[And off he goes! While he might not be as accustomed to hunting, he has learned to be able to take care of himself, so it shouldn't be too difficult to find some good prey.

Being away would make it good for Jae-ha to think as well.]

[ >Zeno >reckless

Sorry there Jae-ha. Might be a lost cause. But, he laughs lightly.]

Zeno will be good!

[And Zeno just sits down on one of the rolls to watch for signs of anything approaching camp. There isn't a fire currently so there's not exactly a lot to watch in camp...]

[At least Jae-ha isn't leaving Zeno with Kija or Shin-ah.

...Who knows what might happen.

It'll be a bit before Jae-ha returns, though, with a dead fawn over his shoulder.]

The others aren't back yet?

[Hey, he would be a good brother to them! As long as Ao didn't jump into a river everything would be fine. Maybe Kija would ask about Guen. Everything would be Totally Fine, he doesn't know what you're talking about Jae-ha!

Zeno is up when he sees Jae-ha coming back, grabbing the knives Yoon usually uses on their game.]

Not yet. Should Zeno start the fire or take care of the fawn? [Jae-ha is obviously going to do the other one.]

[He doesn't want to come back to them and finding out they nearly drowned.

...He'd be afraid to leave them alone at all.

He places the fawn on the ground.]

You can handle the fawn and I'll start the fire.

[That would be Very Bad, yep. But Zeno wouldn't let anything hurt them! Jae-ha may be physically the oldest, but the rest of them aren't that dependent, really. Only Kija had an opportunity to be, out of the dragons.]

Okaaaay! [And he clasps his hands in front of his face, a small thanks to the animal before he starts the process.]

Everything was fine when Ryokuryuu left. [Might as well report. What was his hunting-thinking trip like?]

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i...had a thought of a zeno actually did take jae-ha au but idk how it'd actually like. go

l-lol that's a good question since...well...considering

sobs but it probably won't leave me alone-- there is a took shin-ah au on ao3 tho

awww, shin-ah. Zeno just adopting all the other dragons on the way

that might be what ended up happening i haven't read it in a while

i should read it just to check it out

i will find it again!

/cheers you on!

\o/ i found others i liked when they started too

oooh /looks at all of these

i should also....read them again. later. when not replying to you why are you so fast

because i have nothing else better to do at the moment lol

makes sense

it's a quiet day here

we just haven't left to do stuff yet today /west coast