a/n: Wrote this as part of my Hobbit's Birthday Party for a lovely lady called Kintail, who simply adores the dragon. In any case, thought it would be fun over here too. ) Gaiden fic.
Cardinal Sins
Between incarnations...
"I cannot live with this shame." The Dragon of the Western Sea is mortified, but has yet to find his weapons to achieve any ritual suicide. The Marshal does not do sympathy well. He smiles.
"Well, that's true enough. On some level of thinking, we are dead, after all." He lights up a cigarette to cloud the melodrama. The dragon won't meet his eyes.
"But I was a mere tool! A vehicle, little better than an oxcart." Only Goujun could take it that seriously. Tenpou smirks and the dragon continues. "I was mindless, and useless in a fight."
Tenpou finds his superior's rigid posture amusing, but nods politely.
"I hunted squirrels in the forest like a common dog."
"A bit more like an owl?" the Marshal offers. His comment is ignored.
"I ate scraps from your table and rode your shoulder." No sinner in confessional ever spoke with such dismay.
"At least the view was good." No priest ever teased so much.
Finally, the dragon takes a deep breath and gets to the horrific heart of the matter.
"I slept with you," he whispers, agonized, "every night for more than a decade."
Tenpou laughs almost inaudibly, then schools his face and places a deliberately gentle hand on his former pet's arm. He insinuates himself into Goujun's field of vision, stealing his gaze, and feigning perfect sincerity, replies.
"But at least you almost never stole the covers, sir."