It's past midnight, he's sure. He's checked his wall-clock three times already, but the talking never seems to reach an end and the way she's looking at him doesn't really give him much choice but to keep on with their conversation.
He's learned new things; about the world, about its people, about other entities. He now is aware that not everyone in this world of his is human, and that he is most certainly not crazy whenever he sees something out of place.
She's been giving him free information for the last five hours and it seems like it's her that is enjoying herself the most. The way her eyes beam up, the way her horns seem brighter, her skin much healthier and her body language much more open makes it feel like he's talking with the sun.
A much hotter sun, if he may allow himself to such thoughts.
"And there's more of your kind, around here?" He asks if only to let her know that she can keep talking, because it's the third time she apologizes and it's becoming too endearing for him to bear.
She blurts out a yes that she instantly denies just to slightly embarrass herself for the fifth time that night, and lets out a sigh that makes him smile.
It makes her look less godlike and more like someone approachable, after all.
"Yet another rule I've broken" She mentions after admitting that, yes, there is more of her kind around here, "But please, if you ever want to meet them, speak with me first" And he doesn't ask if there would be trouble if he didn't, because he's sure there would be. He knows; he can see it in her worried eyes.
"I have a slight interest, but with the way you've described them, I wouldn't mind not meeting some of them" And she's half laughing, half losing the glint in her eyes so he corrects himself, "Not trying to offend them, but it sounds as if they'd attack me on the spot" And she's nodding because he's right.
He sighs with relief once her eyes turn back to normal and her brightness returns, and it's not too long before she starts talking again; this time about her younger days, back when humanity didn't exist, when war was a tale of surreal nonsense, and when peace is something that could actually be conceived in her mind.
She goes quiet, though, after mentioning a certain occurrence, so he takes over in a matter of seconds.
"Let's not talk about it" He smiles at her the way he's sure works best, and takes her warm hand in his own calloused, cold ones, comforting her, "You've been telling me a lot about yourself, so let me return the favor" He shares a seconds of silence with her, letting her heart calm down and she understands, takes her time, and then nods.
He had never felt so much attention from a pair of eyes until now, so he opts for a deep breath, prepares himself, and starts.
He tells her about his younger self, a different kind of persona. A cheerful child, sport-kid with that trademark I can run all day long attitude that he's almost forgot he had. Tells her about his lost passion about football, about baseball, about basketball, about sports and it's all too soon before she regretfully stops him, with a shy finger on his lips, and cutely asks a simple question.
Of course, he should've explained what the hell was a sport beforehand.
So he goes into an extended explanation that he's never told to anyone before, and internally realizes that he's enjoying himself with her. The way her eyes beam up at things he says that she recognizes only fuel him to talk more.
"Tell me more about your youth, please" Her pleads are like liquid gold to him, sending shiver down every inch of his body so he obligues without much thought, and starts telling her stories.
He tells her about his childhood friends, about their activities. About hide n' seek, about running and playing, about the pool days. Tells her about his strong pouting skills for whenever he wanted a bar of candy, about his ability to persuade even the strongest of men, and about his joy for anything that meant physical usage of his body.
Anything that gave him that rush of adrenaline, since his younger days, that was all he lived for.
It's the first yawn escaping his mouth that makes her realize that, surprisingly, humans need sleep too and that she's been hogging him to herself for six hours already, so her babbling about how sorry she is starts and he can't help but laugh.
He never thought he'd have a magical being such as a dragon apologizing to him.
"I don't mind talking to you" He starts and she goes silent abruptly, swearing under her breath after biting her tongue, "I would spend eternity talking with you, but I know that's like a span of a second in your eyes" She blushes, blinks and smiles sadly at him, shaking her head.
"Untrue" She corrects him and he lifts up a questioning eyebrow, "I will harbour for my whole life every moment I spend with you, no matter the time" The wide look she's giving him tells him there's something rare on his face so he turns around, checks the mirror close to the entrance and realizes that, for the first time in who knows how long, he's blushing at her blunt words.
He comments on something he really doesn't pay attention to, and the next thing he knows is that her left hand is on his shoulder and her right hand is holding his own one without that slight shyness she was showing before.
Determined, glowing eyes were on him once again.
"You need to sleep" She says and he's almost voicing his thoughts before she shakes her head in denial, "Yes, of course I could use magic to take away your need for sleep, but that isn't healthy, and I wouldn't-no, I will not take away your ability to dream just so we can talk for a little more" She gifts him another astonishing smile before squeezing his hand softly, "There's always tomorrow, anyway" So he nods and slowly frees his hand from her grip, instantly missing her warmth, before he starts walking towards his room.
He realizes at one point that he only owns one bedroom, and that the other places are all filled with papers, but it's too late, because her arms are already around him, soft snores can already be heard right next to his ear and a warm body is pressed on his right side, blissfully sleeping it's tired mind away.
He can't remember the last time he slept next to someone, if he ever did.
—
Waking up, like any other day, was a hassle. His alarm went off beforehand again, ten minutes earlier than the actual alarm set-time and he's again reminding himself to buy a new clock as he shoves his body into a business suit, already used to its mundane smell of an untouched workplace and many cups of bittersweet coffee.
The sleeping beauty behind him stirs and he smiles because he's sure, she's missing his body next to her own.
He finds her eyes fixated on his attire, and questioningly tilts her head in a cute manner, asking silently whether or not she should know why is he awake at such ungodly hours of the day.
Five thirty in the morning, for God's sake.
"Work" he says and her eyes change to an understanding tone. She mutters something like koba and yashi in it and stands up abruptly, with a determined smile on her face.
"Let me make you breakfast" She offers and even though his heart flutters a little, he refutes, telling her that there is no time, "You should know by now" She says while shaking her head, "Time is no issue for me" And then she leaves, letting him cover his feet with socks and work shoes.
It only takes him a minute, or two, and then he's out of the room.
It surprises him how much he should've seen this coming.
On his small table for two, there's eggs and bread waiting for him peacefully, warm and recent, and as he turns his head towards a cute giggle, he finds her in the kitchen, wearing an apron a few sizes too small for her and a beautiful smile.
It comes to him as he gratefully nods at her and she beams up like a lightbulb that she's literally stopped time, to make him breakfast.
He couldn't feel more special.
"It's good" He compliments as she approaches him, leaving the apron on the chair next to him and standing by his side.
Her eyes seem shy but her posture stays determined.
She wants something.
"What is it?" He questions her because even when they are connected, he doubts he can read her mind so he opts for being open with her, asking without a nerv what is it that a god like her could possibly want.
It takes her a second to mutter simple words that come out as a request that makes him chuckle.
"Of course you can stay; you can do as you please, it's not like I could stop you" And contrary to what he thought, she frowned deeply and took a step away from him, making him flinch.
"No" she replies with hurt in her voice, "No, of course not. If you want me to leave, to stay, to do something, just tell me" Her piercing eyes look at him with just slight sadness, but it's enough to make him see his mistake, "I would never go against you" She approaches again, this time slowlier and lays a hand on his shoulder in a careful manner, as if to see if he would swat her away.
As if.
"Then stay" her mood changes quickly to a soft smile again, "Stay as long as you want" And she's telling him about how she'd stay as long as he wanted her to, so he laughs and stands up, the last pieces of bread going through his throat before nodding happily, "Even if that's forever?" He asks and her smile grows exponentially.
"Yes" She replies with calm and mature sounds, "I wouldn't mind, you know, staying here forever" She agrees with him and follows him to the door, already knowing the traditional way of seeing someone goodbye.
"Forever is a long time, you know?" He sarcastically comments and she giggles before smiling, pink cheeks showing.
"It's more than what I could hope with you" She replies before she waves him away, closing the door after promising to look after his house.
He swears he sees her blushing madly after he corrects her.
It's now our house, you know?