Hey! Originally, I intended this as a short one-shot. Decided to continue on and use this to show how I imagined the two growing closer and opening up to each other. Hope you enjoy!

"GAH" Glory shouted. "Can't I go one day without you two causing a racket? What is it over this time?" Her hut had been vastly more comfortable before these two had burst in. Not that she would have refused to hear any of her subjects out, especially after the trend she inherited from previous queens, but she could certainly relate to how tedious it became.

"He started it."

"What do you mean 'I started it' I was minding my own business and you used one of your... ridiculous RainWing blowdarts on me."

"And it was hilarious! Why are you still so stiff with so much sun to bathe in?" Whether snark lurked under those words, the RainWing Queen couldn't tell.

Glory lashed her tail and snarled at them. "Both of you, knock it off! Majestic, let the NightWing do... whatever NightWings do. Eclipse can you at least try to get along with everyone? You're welcome to go back to your 'home' if you'd like." She never enjoyed broaching that subject, even after many of the NightWings had begun to favor their new life in the rainforest. And yet some still retrained every ounce of malice, leaving them sourer than some of the tropical fruits they now had free access to.

After some more words, the two eventually slunk off, no doubt to return within a day or two just to get under her scales again. She hadn't realized her crest had flashed an uncompromising, grating red. Just before she managed to settle herself back down on a sunny rock and take a moment's repose, she heard footsteps... again.

She had already prepared another lecture. "What more do you two- oh... it's you."

Another large NightWing entered with a smirk and a dramatic bow, sparking a worthy sigh from the tired RainWing Queen.

"Now," he said, "is that the kind of excitement you show a friend?"

Her eyes glowered sharper than talons. Unperturbed, he continued on. "How about companion? Acquaintance. Lo-"

"Deathbringer, just tell me what you want," Glory cut in.

He paced around, swaying his tail about with some kind of smug satisfaction. Was it her tone, her look? No matter how scathing or sharp her words, he always seemed to take it in stride. And the fact he enjoyed it only reinforced how petulant and annoying he could be. Was that what endeared her to this intolerable dragon?

He finally stood still. "My, my, all this frustration really does seem to get to you, Queen Glory"

She grunted. "You don't have to put so much sarcasm in it."

"What can I say," he replied. "I learn from the best."

"Do you have to be insufferable?" She rose back to full height, which didn't fare much better in getting him to wipe that dumb grin off his face. "Tell me why I shouldn't punish you for interrupting my much needed… rest." There was a moment's pause where her words faltered. Resting? Even with all the madness since they escaped the Talons of Peace, never once did she desire her rest. That time with Scarlet, perhaps, but she felt she was past that. No matter her enjoyment at the time, it was a ruse, a lure, unintentionally digging into RainWing nature.

As quickly as she lost momentum, it returned. She hummed, tapping a claw on the ground. "You did say we should construct a prison. How about you be its first guest?"

"Now, no reason to be so hasty." He replied. She thought she had him on the ropes until he gave an impossibly fake, theatrical sigh. "More importantly, the great Glory wanting rest? What's happened to you."

Deathbringer waited for her to say something, but all she could do was groan. Satisfied, he winked. "But maybe, you should have it. Before you take it out on someone..." After another look, he added on to that. "Someone like me."

"Don't tempt me." Her words carried neither the weight nor anger they had earlier.

In fact, the company from her former murder-assassin frenemy managed to take her mind off how ridiculous the discourse between both tribes could become. The reds on her scales earlier had shifted back to their normal colors. She decided to readjust herself, sitting next to one of the few dragons around this place with a half-functioning head on their shoulders. She wouldn't grant him the satisfaction of telling him such, of course.

"In all seriousness," she said, "have you seen them? We've been trying for months and we still can't force the two tribes to get along. The NightWings barely listen to me, and the RainWings barely listen to anyone half the time."

The other dragon idly shrugged. "They'll come around eventually. What you need is a break, but not one for a few hours."

Glory seemed puzzled, tilting her head. "And ignore these idiots long enough to spark another war?" She blinked. Had she spoken so harshly about her own tribe? Tribes, technically.

Deathbringer snickered. "Have some faith, you've already whipped them hard enough to earn a week. Maybe two."

"Is this an insult? What's your play?"

"You, me. A break. You ever been to the southern coastline? I've always wanted to go."

Glory turned tail and sat down. "I'd rather deal with more of those disasters," she pointed past the exit, "than be stuck with you for a week."

"Oww. Such pain." He jabbed at his flank dramatically. "You wound me, oh great Queen Glory. Far better an assassin than I could ever be."

"Shut up," she grumbled, but something about the ridiculous gesture twitched the corner of her mouth upward. He noticed, so she put the scowl back on. "Besides, who would run things?"

"Bodyguard and advisor? Piling all the chores on me, I see how it is." He twisted his body around, suavely sliding closer.

With a bemoaned huff, she shoved back on his flank. "You were more manageable when you were trying to kill me."

"What a fine way to express gratitude for sparing you."

"You mean for saving your life," she bit back quickly.

He shrugged, now sitting back himself, his tail lazily dragging from side to side. She almost wished that he'd give up there, but she knew him well enough that any such chance was rarer than a RainWing enjoying the cold. "I take it you don't need me to recount the score, do you?"

The score. How many times had she covered his sassy, persistent behind now? He never failed to flaunt his advantage in that, but she liked to remind him that those meager attempts he fraughted as her bodyguard hardly counted. Sometimes, he enjoyed playing up anyone jumping at her as an assassination attempt. As if she couldn't wrestle half his unruly tribe to the ground herself.

As she was about to answer, a thought struck her mind. "Grandeur." After a confused hum from his side of the tent, she elaborated. "She could watch things here for a while. Unlike some of the other queens, she's… competent."

"Competent? High praise from you. I may be the greatest assassin in all of Pyrrhia, and you still never bestowed on me such an awe-inspiring title."

Insufferable, that word fit too well. Absolutely insufferable. Why did she find herself smiling from it? "I'll consider it. When you earn it."

"Oh? And what must I do to earn my queen's grace?"

She deeply, intimately considered slamming him back with a snide response. Or with her tail. He doubtlessly deserved either. Instead, she flicked her tail lightly at his side as she whipped around and lay back down. "You can meet me back here in the morning. And not be a thorn in my paw for the next week."

"A tall order. But if you insist on a vacation, I had better accompany you. Not because you can't take care of yourself, of course," he added hastily as her eyes narrowed.

Something about this calmed her in a way she couldn't quite identify or explain. Though Deathbringer had a special claim to riling her up, it would always melt everything away the moment he stopped. The RainWings, as relaxing as they could be, brought an awkward calm to the environment, one that Glory still hadn't discovered how to handle. The intensity, desperation, and adrenaline shared between her and her friends not months ago still lingered on her mind. It was a relief, of sorts, to have someone else from that past around with her.

Tension between them and the NightWings wasn't disastrous, but it was still a process. It was hard to imagine Tsunami handling something as delicate as that balance, straightening out constant distrust and unease. Glory hadn't wanted this job, but it seemed everyone was relying on her now. Relying on her, looking to her for advice. Acknowledging her. In the same way Deathbringer had.

She hadn't realized how enrapt in thoughts she had become. Her NightWing companion had settled down a respectful distance away, likely enjoying some of the peace and quiet himself. Even after months, he stumped her. He seemed like a dragon who had come to terms with his deeds and the tragedy of war, yet he was so… blaringly optimistic.

"If you need help pondering your next decree, your new royal advisor lays here, waiting."

And then, instantly, she regretted ever imagining saying something nice to him. "Nothing that I can figure out today."

Three moons, she needed a proper break. Her mind was spinning in circles. "Hrf… you were right. I do need a vacation." Glory said it without thinking, and his beaming, toothy grin filled her with instant regret.

"Heeding my wisdom? It was only a matter of time."

What a moron. "Don't let it go to your head."

He chuckled. "Wouldn't dream of it."

She knew he would. But she liked that too.