A/N: Another one! I know. Apparently (obviously), I am absolutely fond of the four dragons, no? Haha. Thank you, reader, for actually clicking your mouse because you're curious of reading this...well, another story of mine. Shin-Ah was a tricky one, considering how silent and preserved his character is, but fortunately the OC I paired for him might just fix that gap. There was also the fact that I had to make his POV somewhat monotone (I hope I got that right). Lastly, what this beautiful dragon here needed was a friend. Jeez, it's saddening to know he did not even have one in his entire childhood. I hope you enjoyed it!
The only warning I could grant all of you is that this will be somewhat confusing. She won't call him Shin-Ah since this will be set before he even met Yona so I would only call him Seiryuu.
I hope I did justice to Shin-Ah's character!
A/N 2: Hello! So before anything, I'm so sorry for completely rewriting this! I didn't like how I wrote this in the supposed three-shot before but, hey, at least I'm updating here again! For now, I decided that this fic here will just be a series of random drabbles with an equally random timeline (by that, I mean I could be writing about what happened before, what is happening now, and what will happen between these two). Updates will remain sporadic. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it in spite of its shortness!
1. want
Whenever she left him to return back to the village folk, Ha-Neul always faded like vapor, a steam of pure white wafting behind her leaving her sweet essence for him to want and reject. He felt shame destroy him, this pining for another beside him sharing his joys and pains, his breaths and words— and just the mere thought he felt something, something so real and alive and not just another shadow of his imagination. The caverns had always felt so immense and cold, with labyrinths that can make one go mad with despair; a bleak contrast of the world behind these walls of stone and granite.
This time she stayed for a night, tucking her knees to her chest, searching for him still. She was in a cramped place, a little too spacious for a small body, a little too broken for a fragile girl. However, she melded in with scuffled feet and ruined robes, as if such thing never fazed her ever since.
Vigilant, Seiryuu was facing her, just a few meters apart, a limb away to pull her back from the shadows that dared snare her into its grasp. He needed to watch her, to peruse her being—still so pale and delicate—in fear of losing her at this moment, like a dragon guarding its lily. Though he didn't want to get too close, he didn't wish for her touch or any sort of gesture from her. Ao suited the role best and he was no creature of sociability and pleasantries.
Her blue eyes stared at him, bright even in the dark. "You won't stray too far, will you?"
He held a breath. Just a moment.
No.
He shook his head, as if she did see him. It felt like she always did. His bells jingled along with his movement.
Ha-Neul smiled faintly, aware of his answer. She tilted her head to lean on her knee, her locks sticking on her forehead, just barely obscuring her eyes in a blur of starlight hair. Her eyes shone like a beacon. Even without the torchlight, it illuminated on its own. Pierced through him. Her hand reached out.
"You're here," she muttered in a feather-soft voice. "You're close."
Her face was unruffled despite of its wanning vitality. She was looking at him, through the mask, through his dragon eyes, with blind eyes that can see the naked world. He shifted just a little, scraping the ground with his boots. His heart was on his throat. Something heavy and hot dropped at the pit of his stomach. He was stuck, petrified. That small hand that reached for impossible things. He wondered how far it could reach. If it could find him. If he should return it back.
She pouted, her lip jutting out. Her arm looped around her knees, bringing it close. "The silent treatment, hm?"
Seiryuu couldn't respond back. He didn't know what to utter or what he should say. It was complex on its own as he tried to grasp the situation. He didn't want to speak. He didn't want her to know he was near her, preferring she kept her distance and he just silently watched over her from afar. But she knew anyway. And he could only feel himself tremble if she did try to look for him, seeking for a beast that can make all that sweetness and frailty vanish with one glare.
She sighed under her breath and she let her eyes close, long lashes dusting her pallid cheeks. But her hand was suspended, still reaching, waiting for something to hold it back.
Her eyes were still shut. She smiled and everything in this void of shadows and nightmares lit up with brilliance.
Ha-Neul whispered for his ears alone, "As long you're here."
When she uttered those words, she destroyed him again.
Disclaimer: I do not own Akatsuki no Yona.
