Tikki was woken up by the smell of fish, blinking her eyes open to see Plagg's form ready to take off into the night.
"Plagg?"
The dragon turned, his bright green eyes confirming the dark dragon was Plagg.
"Hey Bug."
Tikki grimaced, but chose to ignore the nickname, scooting closer to the edge of the cave, pulling a sleeping Marinette with her. At the entrance of the cave was a pile of fish. Tikki looked from Plagg back to the pile.
"I noticed yesterday you took the princess in, and probably had her all day today. Thought you might be hungry."
Tikki smiled, the black dragon frowning.
"Thanks Plagg. That was really sweet."
She began helping herself to the fish.
"Don't get all sentimental on me. I'm just returning the favor, since you watched the princess the past night."
"Don't worry. I'm not getting sentimental."
Tikki spread open her wings to catch the moon light, as Plagg moved to her side, looking down at Marinette's sleeping form.
"How is she?"
Tikki looked back at Marinette with a mouthful of fish. She finally looked peaceful, her face expressionless as she slept.
"Alright. Lots of talking about Adrien, then crying, then talking about home, then crying. She ran out of tears and went to sleep an hour ago."
Plagg scowled, "next time I see that kid I won't go so easy."
"You wouldn't kill him, would you?"
Plagg looked over to Tikki, for once wearing a serious expression that made Tikki wonder if the elder dragon had killed any humans before. But on second thought, that might be too much work for him.
"Only if the princess commands it," He answered, Tikki sighing in relief. Adrien may yet live to see the end of winter.
"Any sign of the kid?"
"No, he never noticed us. I think I saw him head back to my prides' cave awhile ago."
Plagg nodded.
"Did she eat?"
"No, she said she wasn't hungry."
Plagg growled at Marinette, who remained undisturbed.
"Make sure she eats when she wakes up," he instructed before preparing to take off.
Tikki finished her last bite of fish before speaking, "You do care about her, don't you?"
Plagg halted his wings, Tikki smiling at her victory.
"Don't go getting it in your head I'm a nice dragon just because I care for one person."
"Oh I would say more than one person, as Adrien hasn't been roasted alive by you for rejecting Marinette."
"I was too tired after a night of flying to be bothered."
Tikki shrugged looking over at Marinette.
"She'll make it through," assured Plagg, coming closer to look at Marinette.
"You sure?"
"She's tough. I would call her an honorary dragon."
"Dragons don't have to deal with arranged marriages."
"Humans don't have to deal with being turned to stone if they don't absorb moonlight for awhile. It's a trade off."
"An unfair trade off if you ask me."
"I didn't."
Tikki looked up at the dragon to glare, only to find him still watching over Marinette with a fond gaze.
"You are full of surprises Black dragon," Tikki teased.
"Because I'm not your average elder dragon, all dull and stuffy?"
"Because you care, as much as you pretend not to. You care for the humans here, and me."
Tikki pulled her head close to Plagg's long neck, nuzzling her head along his scales. She felt him stiffen, and was certain he would be blushing if dragons could blush.
"I-I can take the princess back to my cave for the night if you want a chance to fly."
"You sure?" Tikki looked up at Plagg, who was briefly glancing between her and Marinette.
"I'm sure. I could use a long nap anyway. Plus your human is probably wondering about you."
"Right. Of course you would want a long nap."
Plagg slid his tail in between hers, tightening his hold on Marinette. When Tikki was certain Plagg had her, she loosened her tail's hold, Marinette falling easily into his own.
"She is a heavy sleeper," commented Tikki and Plagg continued to secure his tail around Marinette.
"You have no idea. She slept when a heard of sheep passed over our hill. Noisiest things," Plagg grumbled as he readied his wings, taking off into the night. Tikki pulled the rest of herself out of the cave, and quickly followed.
"You don't have to follow me," called out Plagg.
"I know." Tikki smiled, Plagg scowling as he turned back towards his cave.
"If you are going to follow at least tell your human to keep away for now."
"I will, I told Marinette some time off might be good for them. See if they really love each other."
"Pfft, he probably only likes her because they are stuck in the valley together. There's a reason why dragons pair off this time of year in the Valley."
"Oh really?" Tikki flew up beside him so their heads were aligned, smiling at the grizzly dragon. Plagg just frowned and dove for his cave, Tikki following after. He landed and hurried inside, Tikki remaining at the entrance. Plagg pulled Marinette around, placing her behind a rock.
Tikki crept forward to see the girl adjust her sleeping position as Plagg spread a cloak over her.
Tikki leaned over to rest on Plagg's neck, the dragon hastily pulling away.
"Stopping touching me Bug. You're weirding me out."
Plagg shuffled over to the front of the cave, spreading out his wings to catch the moonlight. Tikki sighed as she looked down at Marinette, using the tip of her tail to pull away some loose hairs from her face.
"Males," Tikki chided as she returned to the entrance of the cave, spreading out her wings so they were behind Plagg's open ones, her neck nestled under his wings.
"Sheez, why are you so touchy tonight?" The black dragon lifted his wing Tikki was under, Tikki taking the opportunity to snuggle closer.
"Just enjoying a peaceful night."
"Well, can you do it elsewhere? With another dragon even."
"Why are you such a grump? You seem fine being nice to Marinette. But when it comes to other dragons, you are rude and hostile."
"Maybe I just like being alone Bug? Ever think of that? Just like you like being around humans and other dragons, I don't. This princess kidnapping/ guarding thing is a one time deal. Once she goes home, I'll flying to the farthest reaches of the world where I will spend my days sleeping and eating cheese."
"You are impossible," growled Tikki as she stood, Plagg rolling onto his side to let her pass.
"Now you finally get it."
"What do you mean?"
Plagg sighed, "Humans don't like what they can't handle. Hence no longer using dragons. Same goes for dragons. And if they can't handle me, that's fine. I can handle myself."
"You shouldn't have to."
"Maybe I want to." Plagg rolled back over, folding his wings as he turned his head.
"Night Bug."
Tikki sighed, placing her head next to Plagg's neck.
"You don't have to be alone," she whispered before taking off. She dove into the water, scooping up so fish with her. She then directed her flight towards her pride's cave, slowing down as landed on the ledge. She looked inside to see Adrien nestled up in their spot, clinging tight to his pack he brought with him. Tikki lumbered over to lay beside him, replacing his pack with her tail. Adrien immediately clung to the tail, smiling as he did. Tikki quickly swallowed the fish in her mouth, then bringing her head over to nuzzle the sleeping human.
"We'll figure this out Adrien," she assured.
