The Sample Platter
Chapter 9
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Atemu yawned as he stretched him out from another good night's slumber. The day was just beginning, a small chill in the air that had him curling back into the warmth that provided comfort throughout the cool night that was left behind. The dark body shifted, inhaling a heavy breath before releasing in a rush of steamy air to mist the surroundings.
A deep purr reverberated through the large form, making Atemu chuckle, extending a hand out to rub the warm beak of the dragon curled around him. The large tail swayed, eager like a dog's, then the massive head of the dragon moved to settle on his legs. Once more, Atemu was reminded how lucky he was to have this massive beast of destruction as his own.
There were many perks to having a dragon companion but one of his favorites was always having a warm bed to sleep in. Atemu could easily admit there were some luxuries of domesticated life he missed. Since living with Yugi, the dragon worked hard to adapt to living beside him and provide all he could with the little knowledge he had of the human world.
It was sweet yet there were things Atemu appreciated more of the naturally born dragon that human-made necessities could never give.
And one was the dragon's heat.
Sure they have their hearths and fires but a dragon's warmth was a whole different level of comfort. The searing energy that boils inside, regulating their body temperatures and a source of such destructive power to the fire-affinity dragons. It was such a fascinating thing that only provided more interest once Atemu learned that said body heat carried over to the human form Yugi possessed.
He was a living furnace that was a godsend for chillier nights. Not even Atemu could imagine the idea of being without the dragon, traveling alone still and having to deal with the colder months with no working experience. Being born with a silver spoon in the mouth was going to bite him in the end once money dwindled to nothing. A sigh left him, leaning deeper into the dragon's body.
A chuff came from the dragon, making his whole body shudder and Atemu chuckling softly. "Hush now, darling. We're safe, we're safe." Atemu whispered, turning to run his hand under Yugi's large beak. The dragon settled down, clearly in troubled slumber just for a moment until the familiar touch of Atemu brought him ease. "There we go...rest up. I'll be right here beside you."
Another stroke under Yugi's chin and Atemu went to settle himself back into his side. Swathed in the dragon's heat, his eye couldn't be bothered to stay open much longer, lulled back to slumber beside his dragon partner. Not long after Atemu drifted off again did Yugi wake himself. A wide yawn left him before his head turned down to view his mate and felt his heart swell with warmth.
Like Atemu, there was a warmth Yugi appreciated and that was the warm feeling of love. Having Atemu for a mate had been the best thing to come of his years after leaving his nest, growing up in the wild world of dragons with no direction. Finding him, working with him and loving him were goals Yugi didn't expect of his life upon leaving but never regretted it once.
Atemu was perfect in so many ways. How anyone could treat him wrongly was appalling even if the dragon could never understand the humans' need for social hierarchies. Dragons have them too but such statuses were for flocks of big, intertwined families. Now, Atemu was all his and Yugi would treasure every second in his company.
Held in his strong arms, soothed by his tender words and able to mate with him whenever Yugi desired. All such perfectly wonderful gifts for the gods' most destructive beast. Sure, he would have no legacy, eggs clearly unviable with their arrangement yet he did not care. The glorious warmth of Atemu's love is all Yugi needs.
Well that and another sort of "warmth" but that one will be received after Atemu had a good nap. He clearly woke up too early and needed some more rest. The dragon curled in more, sheltering Atemu with his body, a wing adjusting to cover his mate and his head, settling down to watch his rider sleep peacefully in the crescent of his body.