Ok, so I totally bailed on the smut in the previous chapter... Because I wrote it and I hated it so it got omitted! Ooops again for the long wait xxx I feel like this is going to be a bit longer than the prompts, so stay tuned :)

Chapter 7. Doxy.

The Pradesh patriarch couldn't help the tears of joy that escaped his eyes as he watched a dark haired man disembark carrying his god-daughter, the princess of Caros. He was a stranger but everything about his jaw line and mahogany hair was achingly familiar; Arman couldn't explain it, but he just knew in his heart that it was his long lost son. He was slightly taller than his brothers, both biological and adopted, and definitely broader, and Arman had to force himself not to approach them and throw his arms around him.

Arman was an incredibly affectionate man but since Kaleb had finally broken and told him everything, leaving nothing that he'd learned through Vander and Kaleb out, he knew he'd have to rein in his familial urges until the man was ready for uninitiated contact.

"Arman, I believe you already know Zen?" Amalie introduced as she was gently set to her feet. She trembled with the strain of standing by herself before she was swept up into the hug Arman dared not to lavish on his missing son just yet.

"Hey!" the girl yelped in protest, though didn't struggle. "Still healing here, old man!"

He chuckled and set her down, not releasing her completely until the Poison Slayer had an arm securely around her waist. He'd have hugged the maroon haired man too, but knew of his extreme distaste for being touched.

"Zen," Arman breathed, finally turning his full attention back to the taller man. Gods, he wanted to reach out and touch him, but the things he'd been victim to were still fresh in the ambassador's mind so he kept his distance. "I didn't dare believe it was true."

"Dad," the gladiator greeted him with a tight smile. Arman could sense his inner conflict as Zen hesitated briefly before finally pulling the older man into a brief, uneasy hug. "I missed you."

They released each other and Zen took a step back, putting a small bit of distance between them. It broke Arman's heart but he knew his son would heal. The Pradesh's were nothing if not resilient.

"Can we take this awkward reunion back to the house?" Amalie asked lightly, trying to ease the tension. "I'd kill for some ramen."

"Seriously?" Cristoff asked, rolling his eyes. He gently bumped her with his shoulder as he passed, the small action causing her knees to buckle underneath her and she'd have pitched forward if not for Cobra's grip on her. "You want that poison when Mr Elan will cook you something that actually has a nutritional value?"

"Ramen is life," the princess shot back with a smile.

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Zen woke up slowly, feeling rested and safe despite only having a few hours of sleep. It was an alien sensation, one he'd barely believed possible until he'd woken yesterday morning in a similar position. He was so used to constantly being cautious and on edge, even when he'd been in the apparent safety of his cage at the colosseum, that waking peacefully was almost disconcerting.

Sluggishly, he noted he was in a soft clean bed and curled up with a smaller body in his arms as the past couple of days finally registered in his sleep addled brain.

Her scent was unmistakable, even under layers of antiseptic and masculine shampoo and laundry detergent - Amalie was still there with him.

He almost started when he felt gentle fingers lightly trace his jaw before running down his throat and across his collarbone, followed by slightly chapped but warm lips pressing firmly to his chest right over his heart. He tightened his grip on her slightly, suddenly afraid that if he let go even a little that it would all just disappear and he'd wake up back in his cell at Sky's Reach. It wouldn't be the first time Pergrande had tried hallucinogens on him in an effort to break the Dark Eagle.

"Is it real?" he asked softly.

There was a pause and her fingers moving to his face again to caress his cheek.

"Yes," she whispered back. "You're home and you're free."

Zen opened his eyes, looking down to meet her vibrant green gaze from where her chin rested on his chest. She still looked exhausted, the whites of her eyes bloodshot and her face worryingly pale.

"I'll look better in a few days," she said with a small smile, like she knew where his thoughts had taken him as her fingers smoothed the creases worrying his brow. "How are you?"

"Still in disbelief," he confessed, closing his eyes again and leaning into her touch. He wanted to talk to his father and get to know his family, but instead he'd felt overwhelmed by the house and everyone in it, so he'd absconded with the Change mage to the sanctuary of her room for a nap. He found inexplicable comfort in her presence and could admit freely to himself that he was using her as a buffer to ease himself into his new found freedom and life, but he couldn't get a read on what she wanted from him. "Am?"

"Mmm?" she hummed in response, her lips pressing again to the same spot on his chest.

"Why did you do it?"

"Killing most of the royal guard and paralysing that piece of shit King, busting you out of Sky's Reach or invading Pergrande?" she asked. "I have plenty more but I'm guessing your query pertains to the first two items. Arman is a very dear friend to my mother. He was devastated by yours and Ganier's deaths and since I abdicated, I've been helping him chase leads to hunt down those responsible. Getting to stab that fucker was one of the best moments of my life."

"What aren't you telling me?"

"Zen, look at me," she ordered softly. He opened his eyes slowly and met her fierce gaze. "I don't know what you're looking for, but I promise there's nothing sinister going on here. There's no ulterior motive or play to break you. We all just want you to be happy and to integrate back into society, however and whenever you see fit. If that means snuggling in bed for naps so you can escape from everyone, then that's fine. Your family... They know you need time, and they'll help you even if you don't ask for it."

"And you?" he prodded. He wanted to ask her, selfishly, if she'd stay but wouldn't. He couldn't - he knew she had a life outside of Bosco, she'd heal and then she'd leave and go back to the life she'd been leading before his father had roped her in to this.

Her eyes searched his, clouded by something she wouldn't tell him, and she shifted as much as his hold on her would allow so she could press a gentle, lingering kiss to the underside of his chin. "I'll stay as long as you need me to, in whatever capacity you decide. But my country is invading Pergrande as we speak. I told mother about the berserkers and poison, but I might need to go and help."

"I'm coming with you if you go," he told her. He didn't like secrets and was determined to find out what else she was hiding. "What aren't you telling me?"

"Do you... Feel anything when we're in physical contact?" she finally asked carefully after a long pause, pink tinging her cheeks. "My magic... It's a bloodline magic and it has traits that are similar to Dragon Slayers. It... It reacts to you."

Zen didn't say anything, his hand moved from her waist to tangle into the pale pink hair at the nape of her neck so he could pull her up his body. He studied her face, trying to find some deception in her words and failing before pulling her face down to his so he could finally taste her lips. He gave her the opportunity to reject him, to pull away and gently rebuff him as she had when he was magic drunk, but her fingers slid into his hair as her tongue gently parted his lips so she could deepen the kiss.

He was in heaven as he kissed her back feverishly, his thoughts turning from adoration for the woman to lust as he imagined how good her bare skin would be pressed against his, until the clearing of a throat broke the moment and she pulled away panting. The couple turned to see the door open and the Lunar and Poison Dragon Slayers watching them.

Amalie's face turned a vivid crimson before she hid her face against the side of Zen's neck. The gladiator, however, was unaffected. His whole life had been a display, an attraction to others especially when things were intimate, the only thing different to that right now was the possessiveness he felt for the pinkette. Zen let out an audible snarl that only made the maroon haired man laugh while Cristoff smirked.

"We'll come back later for that check up, Queenie. From the porno running in your soul right now, you're gonna need more than a few minutes to calm that shit down..."