I really loved mintyskull's AkuRoku Dragon AU fanart, but I thought Axel as a dragon was a little too easy. Then my mind got to thinking...and thinking...and it just ran away from me. This was intended to be a drabble, or maybe a short one-shot. Instead, what came out was this behemoth.

Prompt: Dragon AU
Pairing: SoRiku
Other pairings: implied Xigbar/Ansem
Rating: M (for second half, violence/death)
Word Count: 11628

To Slay A Dragon
Part 1

Twilight Bastion was a bustling little city. It couldn't compare to the capital, Radiant Garden, but its position on a crossroads made it a popular destination and rest stop. It also meant that those looking for work wouldn't have to look far. In the city square hung a board with job postings, wanted posters, and advertisements for just about any other odds and ends.

Aquamarine eyes scanned the parchments that crowded the board. Sometimes, Riku was lucky enough to be contracted specifically, but he was still making a name for himself in this region. He was a knight for King Mickey, and while the king often had work for his knights, it was rarely compulsory in these quiet times. And, more often than not, the missions Riku received were boring, only adding to the tedium of castle life.

So Riku travelled instead. He was paid a small stipend, for maintaining peace and monitoring outlying areas, enough to keep him fed and sheltered. But people were always willing to give him money or goods to put his skills to use, and while didn't need much—he often accepted less than was offered, depending on the job—he was always looking for the next big adventure.

He hadn't had much luck, lately. The quests he'd been offered, even this close to the kingdom's borders, were just the same as anywhere else. The promising ones often turned out to be exaggerations or just a clever turn of phrase to attract attention. So when he noticed a posting that declared a reward to slay a dragon near the far northern border, Riku pulled it down with a hearty grain of salt. It was older than most of the other bulletins, the script barely legible, and the edges curling, so perhaps someone had simply neglected to remove the relic. After all, dragons were often urgent problems that demanded swift action.

The tiny script scrawled at the bottom directed him to a local inn and tavern, the Chocobo, where the innkeeper, Namine, informed him that yes, Lord Ansem was still looking for someone to slay a dragon plaguing his borders. Riku asked Namine to arrange for travel rations for the journey, to be ready in the morning, before turning in. The Chocobo's rooms were, thankfully, clean and pest-free, and the breakfast waiting for him the next day warm and filling, so Riku left some extra silver pieces before setting out for Lord Ansem' lands.

The rolling hills of Twilight Bastion slowly turned to low, forested mountains as Riku travelled north. It was quiet as he followed the road, although he did encounter a band of Shadow Rogues. Perhaps they thought him easy prey, with his leather armor tucked out of sight under a heavy cloak. But he'd seen the warning signs from his mount, felt the horse tense beneath him, and met the ambush with only the slightest surprise. The dark creatures were fierce, one of the few blights still on the lands from the Keyblade Wars. Riku was happy to dispatch them, out of duty as well as self-preservation. When they lay dead around him, he wiped the black blood from his sword in disgust. They stank, and he spurred his horse away from the corpses to escape the stench, resettling the dull wool around him even as he clung to the saddle.

It took him another day of riding—three days out from Twilight Bastion—before the monstrous white castle came into view, rearing its ugly head out of the forest alongside the cliff it clung to. A few hard-won farmsteads had been carved out of the land approaching the castle. There were still some peasants out harvesting late crops; they looked worn and haggard, and Riku wondered if it was the harsh climate or something else that dragged them down so early in the cold season.

As he approached the castle, he wondered even more. The stone building looked to be in excellent repair, and two guards flanked the foreboding doors, barring entrance until Riku supplied the bulletin, as well as his credentials. It was fair enough, that a lord may not be immediately welcoming to unexpected visitors, but the security was a bit much for an un-harassed border estate.

Riku stood in the foyer for a long time, and when he was finally received, it wasn't Lord Ansem that came to greet him. Instead, he'd sent someone from his court: a grizzled man with an eyepatch, by the name of Xigbar.

"The Lord is currently managing matters of the land. I'm sure you understand, Sir Riku."

"Just Riku is fine," he muttered.

"Yes. Riku." The man's lips curled into a smirk as he swept his single eye over the much younger knight. An appraisal, Riku knew, and the look made his mouth tighten into a thin line. If he couldn't handle a dragon, this quest would be a death wish, but he'd made it this far without any fatal injuries, and he'd faced some nasty beasts in his relatively short life. "Most of us here aren't suited for combat with a dragon. For combat, maybe, but we're not eager to take on such a beast in our advanced years."

"You're looking for someone expendable," Riku supplied, voice dry.

Xigbar laughed. "I wouldn't say that!" He slapped Riku on the back. "We just aren't knights, up here, and we're settled into the rhythms of our lives."

Riku fought to keep the irritation from showing on his face. "Is this dragon not an immediate threat, then? You don't seem very concerned."

Xigbar shrugged. "It has been ravaging our already-sparse livestock. Lord Ansem worries that it is only a matter of time before the sheep are gone and it begins targeting people. The peasants are quite afraid—I'm sure you noticed?" Riku gave a curt nod, although he wasn't sure that fear of a dragon was what he'd seen on those faces. "Ah, here." Xigbar opened a plain door and gestured into the vacant room. "Lord Ansem wished for you to have lodgings to rest for the task ahead. He regrets that we only have modest rooms to offer."

Riku took in the small room. It was as plain as the door, but looked comfortable enough, even if he suspected that the castle boasted much more sumptuous guest suites. "This is fine, thank you."

Xigbar pointed out the rope for a bell that would call a servant in case Riku needed anything, and bid him good evening. Riku heaved a sigh as he dropped onto the bed, still in his armor and thick cloak. While a warm bed was nice, the condescending reception he'd received made him miss sleeping under the stars. The nobles closer to the capital were much more gracious, even if the assignments in their lands were dull. This far out, it was almost as if the lord of this castle forgot about those that helped forge and protect the land he managed. Perhaps Riku would mention it to King Mickey. Though, it was likely that Lord Ansem would grovel in front of someone as important as the king.

Riku sat up and began the tedious process of removing his armor as these thoughts crossed his mind. He was down to a linen undershirt and breeches when there was a knock on his door. Riku wondered what the occasion might be as he strode to answer it.

A diminutive, dark-haired girl stood on the other side of it. "Uhm, Sir Riku?" She wore a plain woolen dress and was likely one of the servants.

"Yes, what is it?" He kept his voice soft, in case she frightened easily.

"Milord has invited you to sup at his table tonight, if you please. Dinner will be served in an hour. Shall I return then to fetch you?"

Riku nodded. "Thank you." The girl bowed and padded back down the corridor. Riku clicked the door closed; maybe Lord Ansem wasn't so haughty, after all. He bent to retrieve his pack and fished out a roll of dress clothes. The doublet was a little worse for wear, but it would suffice.

When Xion returned for him, Riku had donned the doublet; his sword he lay at the foot of the bed, though he kept his knife at his belt. It was habit, from before Riku had become a knight, more than anything, but a knife was often overlooked at table, anyway. Xion led him through a twisting series of corridors, until they reached a private dining room that was as plain as the room Riku had been given, albeit much…brighter. He couldn't really think of a word to describe the cold, immaculate dining room. The walls and floor were pristine white marble, the dining set carved out of ebony, silver serving dishes already in place. Little else decorated the room, not even wall tapestries for warmth, making it stark and impersonal. Even so, the room spoke of wealth.

"Welcome, Sir Riku." Riku didn't bother to correct the man's use of his title; in the face of superiors, a title could be the only thing to stand on. Lord Ansem wore black and white, but the man himself was all silver and gold. Silver hair, long enough to rival even Riku's, artfully draped around his shoulders, bronze skin, and yellow-gold eyes. Youthful, but still older than Riku. "I hope you find your accommodations comfortable?"

Riku offered a small bow. "Lord Ansem. Yes, thank you, it is more than adequate."

Lord Ansem smiled. "Good. I should like you to be strong and well-rested so you might succeed in the task ahead."

Their dinner passed in much the same way: pleasantries peppered with business, a promise that a small sum would await his return, if he did indeed return. The dinner had been simple, but hot and fresh. There would breakfast in the morning, and additional rations to carry him deeper into the mountains, where the dragon was.

Riku was about to excuse himself when Lord Ansem stopped him with a hand on his wrist. "Sir Riku, I thought I might warn you. It is very cold here at night."

Teal eyes met gold ones. "Thank you for the warning, milord." Riku waited to be released.

He wasn't. "It would be warmer if you were to join me in my room."

"Milord?" Riku didn't like the heat in Ansem's voice, or the way the lord stood and drew closer. Or those hungry eyes. But he wouldn't make assumptions.

"You need not worry about the cold with me." Riku met the lord's gaze coolly as the man draped another hand on his arm. "It may be your last night to enjoy simple pleasures, Riku. Of course, I wish you success, but these things are never certain…"

Riku disengaged, careful to avoid any injury to the noble. "Lord Ansem, I appreciate your concern." Riku bowed. "However, I must prepare myself for the task ahead."

Gold eyes hardened, but Lord Ansem conceded, and Xion appeared to lead him back to the sparse room. The incident hung over his head as Riku removed his doublet and wrapped his wool around himself again. He resituated his sword so that it would be close at hand, and slipped into the borrowed bed. It was cold, indeed, but it didn't give him the shivers that Lord Ansem did. The man was…off. He'd thought it was a haughty lord he'd be facing, but the man was something else altogether. Something reminiscent of the Shadow Rogues, or snakes, or something equally unpleasant.

Riku curled deeper into the bed. He slept, but it was the sleep of a man on the road, unprotected in the wild forest, not the sleep of one in a safe bed.

The next morning dawned with a deep chill, and Riku was thankful for the hot breakfast that Xion brought him. She offered him a timid smile when he thanked her again. "Lord Ansem is still asleep," she whispered. "Perhaps Sir Riku would like to make an early start?" She looked at him through her lashes, her eyes full of knowledge.

Riku chuckled. "If my horse can be ready, then I think I will." Xion nodded and slipped out of the room.

Riku wouldn't know, but when Lord Ansem learned that the young knight had disembarked before he had even quit his bed, he was furious.

The journey from Twilight Bastion had been an easy one, only a brief three days. Riku was grateful, because it left both him and his mount fresh and strong for the last leg of this particular adventure. He continued north, deeper into the mountains, and the going was rough and unpleasant. Even with the sun creeping higher into the sky, the air remained chill. The wind at least was lessened by the trees, but if the dragon roosted above the tree line, he would be in trouble. By Lord Ansem's information, though, that seemed unlikely.

Frankly, Riku wasn't sure where exactly the dragon's lair was, nor did he know what kind of signs to look for. He could hunt, and knew how to track, but a dragon was a beast he had never before encountered. He expected scorched land somewhere, maybe, but he'd also heard of dragons that commanded other elements, so that wasn't helpful if fire wasn't this one's element. Ansem hadn't spoken of fire, only of stolen livestock.

Just past midday, Riku heard the tinkling of water, and adjusted his trajectory to find the source. Even dragons needed water, he figured, and while there might be more than one body of water, this was at least a start. It didn't take him long to find the icy water tumbling over a rocky streambed. There he stopped, taking time to dismount and nibble at his rations while he surveyed the area. He saw nothing out of the ordinary, only the usual signs of game and wildlife. He decided to continue, albeit slowly, along the banks of the spring, walking his horse as he went. After a moment's thought, he retrieved his bow and quiver from the saddle, keeping them at hand for small game. The packed food was fine, but he would need meat if the quest stretched out for longer than a couple days.

At dusk, he shot a hare, and shortly after, he made camp, a little ways from the stream banks. The fire he'd built to cook his supper crackled merrily, and after he ate, it lulled him into a sleep better than he'd had back at the castle. Even with the dangers of the untamed lands, at least he was out in the open, not trapped within the same walls as that unsettling lord.

o - o - o

Riku was jerked awake at dawn, and it took him a moment to find the reason for it. Still tucked unmoving in his bedroll, he let his eyes dart around his little camp as his hand curled around his knife. His horse stood where he'd tied her. The fire had burned down to embers. His eyes shot back to his horse, and the person scratching her behind the ears. The person that he hadn't registered at first.

They were short, the person, with their profile to Riku, head and face mostly hidden in the shadows of a dark, hooded cloak. The hands petting his horse were gloved in a shiny sapphire material that Riku had never seen before, and they were mumbling something soft and soothing to his mount. Riku gathered himself into a crouch, taking care to minimize the rustle of wool as he readied for an attack.

He'd thought he'd been successful at being silent, until the other spoke. "She's very pretty, your horse! What's her name?" The voice was low and musical as the other swung around to face him. Riku was surprised at being caught, but even more shocked by the bright eyes glittering at him. They were the color of spring skies, and glowed with an intelligence that seemed at odds with the cherubic face and youthful tone they accompanied.

"D-dawn." The question had thrown Riku. He'd been expecting danger and opposition, not this friendly openness. Not those piercing eyes.

The other turned back to the horse. "Dawn! I think it suits you," they purred. "I'm Sora." The blue eyes slid back to Riku as the other leaned their hooded head against the horse. "Who're you?"

Riku finally straightened, tucking the knife into his belt. It would still be near, if the stranger in front of him proved to be dangerous after all, but there didn't seem to be an immediate threat. He crossed his arms, pulling himself back into a more guarded stance. "Sir Riku of the Radiant Kingdom."

The other's face brightened. "Oh, a knight! No wonder you have such a lovely horse! What brings you so far north, Sir Knight?"

"It's Sir Riku. I'm on an errand for the kingdom."

"Well, duh! That's what knights do, stuff for the kingdom. But what's your quest? Is it a damsel in distress? Shadow Rogues causing trouble again? I sometimes see them, they're nasty creatures, so I just," here Sora made a tearing motion with his strangely-gloved hands.

Riku raised an eyebrow at that. The person in front of him seemed too cheerful and young to deal with Shadow Rogues. Not that he was so old, himself. "No damsels. Just a dragon."

Sora laughed. "I don't think there's any dragons in distress around here! But I'd be happy to accompany you, if you like."

Riku scowled. "Not in distress. I'm here to slay it. And I don't need the help of some kid."

Sora was silent for a moment as they ducked behind the horse. "I'm not a kid." There was a trace of a pout in the voice now, contradicting the words. "Anyway, why would you want to slay a dragon? What's he ever done to you?" All Riku could see was a glint of blue eyes now, staring at him.

Riku sighed and began breaking camp. Sora seemed harmless, and he still had a job to do. The daylight wouldn't last forever. He glanced back over to where Sora hid behind his mare. "He? It has been causing trouble for one of King Mickey's lords. Lord Ansem, the steward of these north lands? He's offering a reward." Riku picked up the saddle he'd been using as a pillow and approached the horse. And the stranger, Sora.

A low growl made him freeze mid-step, and the mare skittered away from the person cowering behind her, ears flat. "He's the one causing trouble for me." Sora's voice had dropped to a deep, guttural pitch. "What's a knight like you doing helping him out, anyway?"

Riku dropped the saddle and moved forward to soothe his horse, stroking her neck and murmuring wordlessly. He glared over at the person called Sora, who was now leaning against a tree, arms crossed. Close up, he could see tufts of spikey brown hair over the other's brow, and the wrinkled, almost snout-like nose. "What are you talking about?" He took in the blue glittering on Sora's arms, blending seamlessly into tan skin halfway up each forearm. "Those…aren't gloves." Riku darted forward and grabbed at Sora's arms.

"Hey, hey, what are you doing?" Sora tried to pull away but Riku's grip tightened on an arm. "Let go!" With a sudden, surprising display of strength, Sora yanked away from Riku. The scuffle sent Sora's hood falling, and Riku's eyes widened as he saw what had been hidden under it. There, sticking out of spiky brown hair, were two small, blue horns, the same sapphire as Sora's…claws. "You can't just jump a guy like that, geez!" Sora's face had twisted into a pout.

"You're—"

"A dragon, duh!" Sora rolled his eyes. "I thought it was pretty obvious." Sora flexed a clawed hand near the knight's face.

Riku crossed his arms. "It's not like I've ever actually seen one before. I didn't expect you to look like a person."

Sora peered up at him, a smile appearing on his face. Sharp teeth. "Oh, I forgot already! Pretty neat, right? I only just learned how to do it. My real form scares a lot of people away. But now I can make friends with them! Wouldn't you rather be my friend than slay me?" Sora's face darkened. "Anyway, like I said. He's the one causing trouble. Not me."

Riku's eyes strayed to his saddle, discarded a couple feet away. Well, not like he'd need it now that he'd found the dragon he was hunting. But. He looked at Sora again, and had to admit that open, expressive face was…cute. Young, but probably close to his own age. If a human standard was anything to compare to a dragon's.

"So let me get this straight." Sora moved closer to him, nodding. Invading his space. But the dragon-person emitted a delicious warmth, and Riku was hesitant to step away with the sharp chill in the air. So he looked down into those so-close blue eyes, arms still across his chest. "You're the dragon Lord Ansem wants me to kill." Sora flinched, but nodded. "You say he's the one causing trouble. But he tells me you've stolen his livestock."

"I did not!" Sora huffed.

Riku raised an eyebrow. What would King Mickey do in a situation like this? Ansem was a noble, but Riku hadn't felt comfortable near the man, and he relied on his instincts to survive. This wasn't much different, and the dragon in front of him felt…good, pure. Not a creature he should be slaying for a reward that he didn't even need. In fact, he had already decided he wouldn't kill him. Maybe he could reason with him, instead.

Riku sucked in a breath. "Well, tell me your side, then."

"Well." Sora sighed. "He's got Shadow Rogues in the caves, you know? He keeps them locked up, I don't know why. But he didn't check the caves before he threw them in, right? So they got out because the caves let out to other caves." Sora growled again. "It's because of them that Roxas…! My brother." The blue eyes had turned sorrowful. "They attacked him and he lost his memories. He flew off and hasn't come back, and now I'm all alone." Sora was frowning at the ground now. Riku didn't like that, he decided.

The knight tucked a hand under Sora's chin and lifted it so their eyes met again. "If you're telling me the truth, Sora, then Lord Ansem is in the wrong, and it's my duty to correct it. Although it doesn't line up." It was Riku's turn to frown again, and he gripped Sora's chin. "Why would he want you killed if you're not causing any trouble, hm?"

Sora shook his head and pulled away. "He tried to capture me, but I'm not stupid. I got away. He said if he couldn't catch me, he'd kill me. But he won't come after me himself."

Riku nodded. "So, do you think you could show me where Ansem's keeping the Shadow Rogues?"

"Yes!" Sora jumped up and threw his arms around Riku's neck. "So, you will be my friend! Yay!"

"Uh." Riku stood awkwardly with the dragon boy draped over him. "I didn't. I didn't say that. Uhm. Sora."

Sora beamed up at him. And kissed him. Right on the mouth.

Riku grunted and pushed the smaller body off. "What was that?" Deadpanned, so Sora wouldn't know how hard his heart was beating.

Sora peered at him through dark eyelashes. "A kiss. That's what friends do, right?"

"Ah. Well. Not exactly. Uhm." Riku floundered for a moment, before refocusing on business. "Can you take me to where Ansem is keeping the Shadow Rogues?" Sora nodded, and Riku retrieved his saddle.

"So a kiss is no good?"

Riku glanced up from tightening a girth strap. Sora had gone back to lavishing the mare with attention, stroking her nose as he posed the question. Riku sighed, not sure how to answer the question. What did the dragon know about people? "Kissing is more…between the closest of friends or family. And usually you only kiss one person on the mouth."

"Oh!" Sora's eyes twinkled as he looked at Riku again. "So you only kiss your pair-mate like that, right?"

"Uhm. Yeah. Something like that." Riku swung up into the saddle

Sora grinned up at him. "Then it's fine!"

Riku stared. "It's fine?" Sora was strange; or maybe it was just a dragon thing. He glanced around, plotting his trajectory. "Is the place near Ansem's castle?"

"Oh yeah, it's close to it. A little west." Sora looked Riku's mount in the eye. "Can I sit up there, too, Dawn?" Riku suppressed a smile; as if the horse could talk back! Even so, the mare's bobbing head could be a nod. If horses nodded like people. But, apparently dragons could appear human. Riku wasn't sure about anything, anymore.

He offered his hand to help Sora up, only for his head to spin even more as a pair of bat-like wings unfurled from under Sora's cloak. A few powerful beats carried him up, stirring the air around them, and then he gently set down on the horse's hindquarters. There he perched, knees tucked up, clawed hands gripping the back of the saddle. A tail he hadn't noticed before curled around him like a contented cat. Riku watched him over a shoulder. "It's easier if you sit astride."

Sora's lips twisted. "Easier to ride, but not to get down. I don't like it."

Riku shrugged. "Just watch those claws." He urged his mount forward. She didn't seem to mind the added weight, or the awkward placement of it.

"I wouldn't hurt you. Or Dawn." Sora brushed a hand through Riku's hair to demonstrate. "Your hair is so shiny, even better than real silver." He nuzzled into the pale strands, breathing in the scent of the knight.

Riku stiffened. "Are all dragons this friendly?"

"Mm, well, we're all different, you know?" Riku nodded; that seemed reasonable.

They rode together comfortably after that, Sora sharing what he knew about the Shadow Rogues, and the mountains that he called home. Riku told Sora of his training as a knight, of the Keyblade War, and his constant quest for adventure that had him wandering the kingdom. Sometimes Sora would jump down to walk alongside Riku, or climb up a tree to gauge their position. Around midday, Riku dismounted, too. He did it to give Dawn a rest, but secretly he wanted to prolong his time in Sora's company. He dug out his rations, and a bit of hare left from the previous night, and sat down on a log to eat.

Sora easily caught a squirrel and, indeed, he did have a command of fire, because he blew a small jet of it from his mouth until the thing was crispy. Satisfied, he sat next to Riku and crunched the blackened meat between his teeth. Riku supposed he was glad the dragon didn't eat it raw, even if the smell of burnt flesh was unsettling.

They were both walking along the road together, Riku leading his mare, when Sora spoke up. "Riku, can I kiss you again?"

"Ah. Uhm. Like I said…" Riku avoided his gaze.

"You only kiss your pair-mates, I know! But you're my pair-mate!" Sora grabbed his arm, being careful that the hard claws didn't dig into the knight's skin as he stopped him.

Riku spluttered and pulled away. "Sora, you've only just met me! And I'm a knight, and you're a dragon! You can't just declare that I'm your pair-mate. It…just doesn't work like that!"

Sora frowned. "Of course it works like that. A dragon knows when it finds its pair-mate. Our souls know each other."

Riku let out a dry laugh at his companion's solemnity. "Yeah, right. Well, people have to get to know someone before they know if they're 'pair-mates.' And I've just met you. Also, you're a dragon. I'm not sure how you expect that to work."

Sora moved in front of Riku and threw off his cloak. "You don't like this form?"

Riku took in the figure: the blue tail whipping in a frenzy, the restless wings, the horns. The rest of Sora could almost be mistaken for human, if not for the iridescent blue scales peppering the skin along his neck and shoulders, just visible at the edges of his ill-fitting tunic. His eyes softened a little. Sora was a beautiful creature: he was small, but Riku had already felt the strength in those limbs, and his face was earnest, his eyes deep.

Riku sighed and picked up the discarded wool. "That has nothing to do with it. Put your cloak back on. It's cold."

"Fine." Sora donned the cloak and followed Riku in a sullen silence.

It was nearing twilight when Sora climbed a tree and returned to direct Riku west. "It's only a couple hours at this pace. But," he said, "We had better wait until morning."

Riku nodded. Shadow Rogues were not creatures he wanted to encounter in full dark, if he could avoid it. Setting camp was quicker with Sora to gather firewood and light the fire with just a breath. He even scampered off and returned with a pair of squirrels for dinner. Riku skinned his and roasted it over the fire, with Sora looking on, perplexed.

"What's that you put on it?" Sora pointed a claw at the little satchel Riku was returning to his pack.

Riku smirked. "It's seasoning. Not everyone likes the taste of charred meat."

"I like it crunchy!"

"Do you? Or is the only way you've tried it?"

Sora's lips jutted in a pout as the thought occurred to him. He held out his untouched squirrel. "Can you do mine, too, then?"

Riku eyed the proffered carcass. "You've got to skin it, first." Sora nodded and slid a claw into the thing, but it soon became clear that he was more likely to shred it than skin it. Riku held out his hand impatiently. "Here, I'll do it." Sora watched, enrapt, as Riku removed the skin with deft movements. "It's better to save the hide," Riku explained. "It's not really good for eating, anyway. The fur can be used for something. Maybe to line a hat. There's not a lot here, but that's no excuse to waste it." Riku retrieved the pouch of seasonings and sprinkled some over the meat before putting it over the fire with his share.

Sora eyed the gory skins with distaste. "You carry it around like that? Doesn't it stink?"

Riku smirked. "Of course not." He pulled a can from his pack and shook it. "Salt. I let it do its work while I sleep." He set to work, salting the skins as the meat cooked.

A thoughtful look crossed Sora's features as he watched. "So…do you do that to a dragon, too?" Just a hint of fear there, behind his eyes.

Riku studied the other, eyes catching on the blue scales that glittered in the glow of the fire. It wasn't unthinkable. In fact, he imagined there was a merchant somewhere who would murder for dragon skin. Even King Mickey couldn't prevent all evil men from acting. And Sora was so trusting. The thought stabbed at his chest painfully. Out loud, he gave a flippant reply. "Sora, I've never even seen a dragon until now. How would I be able to? Anyway, I don't think I have enough salt."

Sora's face brightened and he laughed. "No, probably not!" He turned to face the fire, and their squirrels roasting in it. "Does it always take this long? My way is so much faster."

Riku snorted. "Faster, yeah." He pulled the first squirrel out and handed the skewer to Sora. "This is worth the wait."

Sora sniffed it warily before taking a tiny bite. His eyes widened. "Oh wow!" He pointed at his food. "Riku! Riku, this is really good! Thank you!" Riku watched as Sora devoured the squirrel with renewed enthusiasm.

"Of course it is." Riku rolled his eyes. "I'll have to teach you the art of cooking. Living off the land is no excuse for bland food." He bit into his own share with relish. Even a gamey meat like squirrel at least tasted good with a bit of seasoning. Riku mulled his words over in his head, that he'd implied he'd be around Sora long enough to teach him to cook. It was a good thought, and a small, secret smile spread over his lips.

Sora was still staring into the fire when Riku tucked himself into his bedroll. This wasn't the quest he'd been expecting, but it was an adventure nonetheless. And, for the first time in a long while, the restlessness that nagged at him had abated. That was…interesting. Riku's eyes slipped shut on the glint of brown and blue across from him. He was already asleep when Sora shifted and settled next to him, so he didn't see the dragon in all his glory, nor did he notice the wing draped protectively over him. But he did snuggle into the warm cocoon that enveloped him. Sora breathed a rumbling sigh of content. Even if Riku didn't believe him yet, he was certain this was his pair-mate.