For aniolmroku, with love.

OC short
Pairing: Unikko x Lightningale
Contents: platonic fluff, unexpressed wishes, language barriers

-*-*-*-

On a relatively calm evening, Unikko had retreated to the outside, on top of a grassy hill. The day had been... exhausting, to say the least. Many things to be done, many complicated situation, as ever in this strange world. Even when growing used to it bit by bit, she still didn't know what to think about it. After all, it wasn't her home. Not her real world.

A scaley snout poked her back, and for a short time, Unikko froze, but then smiled gently.

"There you are, Lightningale. Come here, you little rascal."

The dragon made a low, rumbling sound and laid his head into the female's lap. For neither of them, it was easy to find a place in this strange world. Much less when being a legendary beast like Lightningale... but that wasn't the greatest worry of the dragon.

No, since quite some time... he felt attracted to Unikko. Not only in the protective way over her (and she was protective over him, too), but in a deeper sense. The only problem was that he couldn't express what he truly felt for the female.

Sure, there was body language, but if he could have used words, it would have been quite some easier. Like this, he was depending on how Unikko interpreted his at times quite funny and impossible contortions. And sadly, most of the time, she didn't guess the right thing, but something pretty far off.

With his head resting in Unikko's lap, he at least could be close to her. Even if it wasn't in the way he would have liked. Then again, would she even be interested in such things? Besides, he was a dragon, she a human. Urgh, no, that would go wrong in a very horrible and messy way, quite possibly. Maybe without any possibility to save anthing of friendship or such.

"Hey, is something wrong?"

Unikko had noticed the sad shimmer in Lightningale's eyes, and the slight, whimpering sound coming from the dragon. But the at times too proud creature merely shook his head, resting it in the female's lap again, while the rest of his body curled around her in a wide circle.

"Fine... then you can stop whimpering now. If nothing's wrong, then there's nothing to be sad about."

After a while, the dragon felt how Unikko's fingers softly scratched along his head and neck. Making a somehow purring sound (it was more like the rumbling of a small rockfall), Lightningale closed his eyes, just letting Unikko pet him a bit. That was much better, so much better than having to worry about dragon slayers and other dragons and still more daily hassles...

"Happy dragon, hm?"

Unikko chuckled as she noticed how relaxed and content Lightningale was. She made a good point of rubbing all along the dragon's long neck, practically making him melt into the female's lap. That was heavenly... wonderful and absolutely heavenly.

Silence fell around them, only disturbed by the low, approving sounds Lightningale made, and the occasional scratching sound of Unikko's nails along the dragon's scales. Sometimes, a mosquito seemed to try and suck some blood, but the dragon's presence made the tiny insects change their mind about the nightly snack.

"Are you tired, Lightningale?"

The dragon blinked up at the female, seeing how she was yawning heartily. Slowly and quite sluggishly, he straightened up, shaking like a dog and grumbling in disapproval. It was much too early to go sleeping. But then, he yawned long and deep, showing off all those sharp fangs of his.

"Okay, that was quite clear."

Unikko chuckled, gently nudging the dragon to go back inside. She had to smile at the drowsy way Lightningale staggered, how the dragon's eyelids already grew heavier. Even when the dragon was the stronger of them, she had to take care of Lightningale just as the dragon was taking care of Unikko.

Some time later, in their bedroom, when the dragon had curled up on the floor and was sleeping soundly, Unikko for a long time stared down at the bundle of scales and muscles. Odd how Lightningale was behaving sometimes. Today, it had been relatively calm, but at other times...

She shook her head at her thoughts and laid back down, staring up at the ceiling. It couldn't be. No, Lightningale merely was missing home, or so she assumed. If Unikko just had known...