Chapter 6

The dragon, with Alfred on its back, flew all night. By the time they landed it was near morning and the beast had made sure they were a good distance away, probably one of the Nordic countries, if Alfred remembered properly. He slid carefully from it's back before looking at the dragon with a smile and patted its back with a sigh.

"Please don't eat me too," he asked and the beast turned to him and laid down its head, spitting Arthur onto the ground. Alfred stared for a second before his senses regained and he ran, feeling for a pulse, happy to find a strong one. He sighed as he looked up at the creature, his eyes wide and a little unfocused, his jaw dropped in shock. "You didn't eat him?" The dragon let out an injured whimper as it nudged the boy with his nose.

"Cold..." Arthur turned over, shivering and the beast wrapped his tongue back around him, pulling him back into it's mouth. Arthur was comforted almost instantly, wrapped in the warmth of his mouth, but this time it didn't close its jaws and looked at Alfred as if asking for help. Alfred nodded and walked over, swallowing hard before looking him over.

"Christ, we need to get him to a healer. I don't even have any money here. What are we supposed to do?" he asked with a touch of panic and the dragon looked around for a second. He noticed a large bolder and walked over, clawing at it a few times before letting out a whimper and turned, backing away from the blood stained rock. Alfred walked over, seeing one of the dragon's nails on the stone and turned, looking the dragon over again.

"You did that to get money to heal him?" he asked and the dragon stared, as if waiting. "You understand me, don't you?" Alfred asked and again the dragon stared. Alfred sighed as he looked around, seeing a castle a bit over the next hill. If there was a large village, chances were there were good doctors as well. He sighed as he realized he couldn't carry Arthur that distance, and at the same time, a dragon walking into a town would probably be a bad idea. He turned to the dragon and sighed.

"Go hide in the woods over there," he pointed. "If anyone sees you, fly away and come back every half hour or so 'til I return. I'll have to sell this before finding a doctor." Alfred looked at the nail, almost the length of his forearm. He held it up to the light, looking it over. It almost looked like a cat nail. It was black, but nearly transparent, the light coming through, but just barely. He turned and ran into town, leaving the dragon with Arthur. The creature backed away and waited, curling up to rest from the long night.

The dragon hadn't meant to fall asleep, but it had been a long journey, and the wings he'd never used ached on his back. He wasn't even sure if he'd been flying right. He had only mimicked what he'd seen birds do and was honestly shocked when they left the ground. He hadn't realized Alfred had been on his back when they left the ground, but now he was happy about it. Alfred would be able to help in this situation so much more than he could himself. He let out a soft sigh, feeling Arthur shift beneath his tongue.

As his eyes closed, he prayed that things would work out alright. He didn't know what had happened, and that realization had scared him. The boy wasn't supposed to hurt like that. He looked ready to die, almost accepting of the oncoming rape. The cold, blank look that crossed the boy's face broke his heart. It wasn't supposed to be like this!

And who had that been behind him? Who was it who almost attacked him? It couldn't have been who he thought. It didn't make sense. He felt his expression try to shift, his brow tried to lower on instinct, but the hard scales of his face didn't allow it. He curled up, looking over the hill, listening softly for the comfort of the boy in his mouth as his eyes started to close.

He didn't know how long it had been when he felt a hand press to his nose and he startled, jumping to his feet and skittered back, his eyes searching the space before him to find Alfred with a taller, older man dressed in white robes. "I told you to hide if anyone came out! Why did you fall asleep?" Alfred asked, but his expression showed more worry than anything else. "You're not sick too, are you?" he asked and the dragon let out a puff of air from his nose before laying down his head and opened his mouth. Alfred shook his head and walked up, patting him softly on the jaw before waving the doctor over, who just stood still, struck with terror.

"In a dragon's mouth?" he asked and Alfred turned and grinned.

"He's practically a giant cat with wings. He's safe." Alfred grinned as he looked Arthur over. "Come on, his jaw's broken, and it looks like his ribs might be too. He's really messed up." Alfred glanced up at the doctor who came out slowly before looking at the boy in his mouth.

"What happened?" he asked and Alfred stilled, cringing.

"He was stolen as a slave, and the owner got too rough with him. The dragon saved him, I just stowed away." He grinned and the doctor looked up at the dragon, a visible shiver running down his back.

"I'll need to use both magic and potions, and I don't' know the effect either will have on a dragon, so it's for the best if he's not touching it," the man spoke softly, looking up and Alfred nodded.

"Spit him out. We'll keep him safe, alright?" Alfred asked, softly patting the dragon's nose. The dragon nodded and gently wrapped his tongue over the boy again before carefully lowering him to the ground. He let out a whimper as he nudged Arthur's shoulder and Alfred looked up at him with wonder.

"You really care about him, don't you?" Alfred asked, realizing he didn't even know the boy's name. The dragon turned to him and blinked once, a soft and gentle movement before turning his eyes back to Arthur, who the doctor was now looking over thoroughly.

"Broken ribs, broken jaw, he has damage to his trachea. Was this man raped?" The doctor turned to Alfred, who shivered and crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes now glued to the boy.

"I don't know," he admitted softly. "I have no idea what in the hell happened." He stared, his eyes widening as the doctor stripped away the cloth and Arthur's body was really looked over. He still had scars from the knives. His whole chest was black and blue, but it could be told it was from more than one beating. His scalp was ripped in a couple of places, and one of his eyes was swollen, nearly black all the way around it. The lower part of the right side of his face was swollen, black and red seemed to stretch from his eye to his throat. Bruises of varying colors nearly covered his arms and legs.

Alfred realized he was more black, blue and red than the pale color his skin was supposed to be. "What in the hell happened?" Alfred let out a startled whimper as he realized Ivan, the man who had been his best friend since he was a child, had done this. "Why would he do this?" Alfred gasped, the onset of a panic attack starting and the dragon softly nudged his back. Alfred turned to the beast, who gently shook his head.

Somehow, Alfred understood. He needed to be strong right now. They had more important issues and would be able to revisit the darker realizations of this after the boy was taken care of. Alfred took a deep, steadying breath and nodded, letting the dragon know it had been understood before turning back to the boy on the ground, the doctor already hard at work fixing the broken bones first before working on the soft tissue damage.

It was hours later that the doctor stood, wiping his brow, seeming unsteady on his feet. "Here." He handed Alfred a bundle and he took it with confusion. "This is some medication that should help with the healing process. I've done as much as I could, but he was in such bad shape it's hard to know if I even got everything. You gave me enough money that if there's anything I didn't already get, you can bring him back to me and I'll fix him again." The doctor looked up and Alfred nodded.

"He'll live, though?" Alfred asked softly and the man looked up and gave an affirmative hum.

"He should wake up after he's slept off the fatigue. It looks like he hasn't been allowed to sleep well in days. I think the dragon letting him sleep well on the way here was probably what saved him so far. Once he's awake, he should be able to tell you if he's still in any pain, alright?" the doctor spoke softly and Alfred's shoulders dropped in relief.

"Thank you." He looked at the doctor, who shook his head.

"It's fine, but one thing I should say. If you're traveling with a dragon, it might be a good idea to try and hide him," the man spoke and Alfred frowned, turning.

"He's a little large to shove into a pocket," he sighed and the dragon turned, lightly smacking him in the back of the head with its tail. Alfred couldn't help but chuckle at the playful gesture and the doctor shook his head.

"You can use illusion charms. He would be shrunk down and turned into the size and shape of a human. He probably wouldn't be able to speak. I've seen cats with the charms who seem human until they meow at you, but at least you'd be able to blend into a crowd," he spoke softly and Alfred stared.

"Where can we get one of these charms?"

The dragon lifted Arthur back into his mouth to rest while Alfred left with the doctor again. When he came back, Alfred sighed as he held up the charm. It was a simple chain with a small lock at the bottom.

"I think I understand how to use this," Alfred said as he stepped forward and the dragon stepped back, turning and quickly tore off another nail, this time from his back foot before turning back to Alfred and laying Arthur on the ground.

"I get it. That way we have enough money to last us a bit, right?" he asked and the dragon nodded quickly before staring, wondering what was about to happen. Alfred stepped forward and pressed the charm to the dragon's chest. He watched as the beast started to glow a faint blue, shrinking down before him. When he was small enough, Alfred slid the chain over his head and the beast blinked.

Somehow this was familiar. He was no longer a dragon. He stood, stark naked in the field and looked over his hands. He glanced up, seeing Alfred stare in surprise.

"Woah, you look human!" Alfred mumbled out.

"I... am," he spoke softly, feeling the oddity of the new vocal chords and nearly fell forward, choking at the feeling.

"Clothes. Go," he spoke and Alfred nodded, staring before turning and running back into town. The dragon stepped forward after regaining his breath, and walked over, grabbing the nail he'd torn off and walked over to the boy laying unconscious on the ground. He needed to be kept comfortable, and laying in a field like this couldn't be that helpful. He sat and pulled the boy to his lap, softly cradling him in his arms, running a hand down his hair, trying to keep him warm and safe.

It was a while until Alfred returned, an outfit for both Arthur and the dragon under his arm. "I was able to get us a place. It seems like you're really protective of him, so I hope you don't mind sharing a room with him." Alfred watched as the dragon dressed, shaking his head.

"Prefer," he spoke and Alfred nodded, understanding. It's what he wanted anyway.

Alfred took a second to look him over. He looked just like Ivan, but with black hair and his eyes seemed red, but Alfred wondered if it was a trick of the night sky. He took a second longer to look at them, to try and decipher his appearance.

The more he looked, the more he realized he really did look just like Ivan. It was uncanny, the resemblance. "You need a name."

"Ivan," he looked up and Alfred shook his head.

"That's not a good idea. That name isn't looked at very well up here. We'll need something that doesn't belong to the man who did that, anyway," Alfred said as he looked down at Arthur and the beast-turned-man nodded with a sigh.

"Viktor," he spoke again and Alfred looked him over, arching an eyebrow.

"Really? You went from his first to second name?" Alfred asked, crossing his arms and the man turned to him, his brows scrunched, his eyes narrowed as he placed his hand firmly on his chest.

"Ivan," he spoke and Alfred shook his head.

"You can't be Ivan. I'll let you have Viktor, but the other name is too hated." Alfred stared and the man nodded, rolling his eyes. He quickly dressed the other as well before stilling, patting his shoulder carefully.

"Arthur?" he asked, wondering if lifting him would wake him. He let out a soft whimper before lifting him in his arms.

"Arthur?" Alfred turned, his eyes narrowed. "That's a British name. Is that his name?" he asked a bit surprised and Viktor looked up, nodding. "How do you know?" he asked before jumping up, his eyes wide in excitement, a grin taking up most of his face as he became lost to the thoughts that ran rampant in his mind. "Were you able to read his thoughts through your mouth?! That would be so cool!"

"Told me," Viktor mumbled as he lifted the man, looking over his expression to make sure it was still calm.

"He told you? He's been unconscious the whole time," Alfred frowned, mumbling and Viktor shook his head.

"Before," he spoke softly, not wanting to wake him. Alfred stared, wondering what 'before' he'd spoken about. There hadn't been a chance for that.

They walked into town, and Arthur took them to the house he'd been able to get with the rest of the money from the first nail. There was a bit left over, enough for some more clothes, basic furniture and food, but it wouldn't last long. Alfred sighed when he realized that for now, they'd be living off of Viktor's broken off nails.

They were surprised to walk into the house and find it already furnished. It looked comfortable and cozy. The walls and floor were wood over brick, so it had a warmer feeling. A large, brick fireplace stood at the back of the room, a small kitchen to the side, and a large couch and chair sat towards the center of the room. A large book shelf sat off to the side, though it was currently bare. Alfred walked in, finding a bathroom beside the kitchen and walked up the stairs to the bedrooms. He opened the door to the first one and found it to be the master bedroom.

That would be the one Arthur and Viktor would share. He turned to the second one and opened it, finding the same wood over brick walls, shining wooden floors and a smaller, more cozy fireplace and a bed with a dresser at the side of the room. There weren't any sheets or blankets, but it would work for now. With his sleep depraved mind he thought for a second on whether it was a good idea to leave Arthur with the dragon, but he couldn't find the energy to alter the sleeping arrangements until he'd rested enough that his mind would function properly. He climbed into bed, forgetting to even close the door and curled up, instantly falling into sleep.

Viktor climbed the stairs, Arthur still asleep in his arms and opened the first door to find the bedroom. The wooden walls here were a different type of wood, very light in color. There were two beds, as well as two dressers off to the sides, and a large fireplace at the side of the room away from the doorway. There was a very large window by the side of the beds that overlooked the quaint street below. It wasn't just a normal house, this was a really good one, he realized as he watched the people thinning as the businesses closed.

He turned and saw the large beds and laid Arthur in one. There weren't any blankets to keep him warm, Viktor realized and sighed as he slid off his shirt, laying it over the other bed before sitting and sliding off his boots and laid down, curling around Arthur carefully before falling asleep.

Arthur woke, his head spinning and his stomach growling. He groaned in pain before realizing he was surrounded in something warm and looked up, finding Ivan laying beside him and clasped his hands over his mouth to keep from screaming. He backed away, accidentally falling from the bed and jarred the other awake as he scooted against the wall, his eyes wide in horror as red eyes opened on his.

"Arthur?" he asked as he sat up, at first still groggy before the look on the other's face was really seen and he sat stalk still for a second. Arthur was panicking. Maybe he didn't recognize him. "It's okay," he whispered and Arthur nodded, his hands trembling horribly as he lowered them and came to the side of the bed on his knees.

"I'm sorry I ran, Master," Arthur spoke, clenching his body in preparation of the beating he was sure he'd get for waking him up. He was surprised when a warm hand reached over, caressing his cheek. He wouldn't dare look up.

Viktor swallowed hard. Arthur was terrified. "Not Master," he spoke softly, gently lifting Arthur's face to see him. He placed a hand in the center of his chest, hoping he would understand. "Viktor," he nearly whispered and Arthur stared, confused.

"Yes, Viktor," he spoke softly, thinking this was some sort of game, but it hurt. The warmth in his eyes reminded him of the kindness Ivan had shown before he was knocked out. He didn't even realize there were tears in his eyes.

"No, Not Ivan. Victor. Dragon," he spoke and Arthur remembered.

His arms wrapped around himself as he started shaking horribly, feeling ill. His head had been shoved hard into the marble, his clothes lifted up, and he knew he was about to be raped. What had happened after that? The dragon he'd seen, it had been huge. He was sure, after he was raped, he'd be fed to it.

"Am I dead?" Arthur asked, his voice a high whine as he cried, his whole body shaking and Viktor lifted him, carefully pulling him back onto the bed.

"No. I saved. Arthur is good. Didn't... deserve." Viktor's soft voice calmed Arthur at least a little. It was so hard for Viktor to remember the words and put them into the right order. Viktor wrapped himself around him again, moving his arm beneath the smaller man's head to try and comfort him a little more.

"Sleep. Heal." Viktor's soft voice comforted Arthur more than either of them would understand that night. Arthur nodded, closing his eyes and drifted back to sleep, the other following shortly after.