Same Mold

"Can I sleep with you?"

Glow green eyes pleaded up at the rough exterior that was the Red Dragon Grandmaster. He was exhausted and had very little sleep these days. His one good eye frowned at the grey skinned boy that belonged to his superior.

"Tiberius…why don't you ask Mavado or Hsu Hoa…" Daegon grumbled trying to wrap the sheets tight around his bulky form.

He almost rolled over to avoid the pathetic attempt to sway him but the boy's quivering lip as if the slight rejection had somehow shattered his little heart won him over.

That aside the grandmaster knew there would most likely be consequences.

This could hurt not only his reputation with Lord Shinnok, but the little monster would probably grovel to his second in command who would never let him forget the time he made a brat sleep next to him.

Sigh.

Daegon moved over in his large bed and threw the red comforter open inviting the child to join him. "Fine…" He grumbled and watched as the dark lords son crawled hurriedly into bed next to him.

"Thank you…" He peeped pulling the sheets under his chin and looking up at the edenian with adoration.

Daegon felt his angry façade fade briefly seeing the tender eyes of Tiberius and ruffled the little boys short black and silver hair. He saw a faint purple bruise on his upper cheekbone and frowned while he gently rubbed the area with a thumb.

He knew Shinnok would strike the boy whenever it suited him. He was still far too young and innocent to know what it was like for a parent to despise him.

"You're welcome…" Daegon gently rubbed Tiberius' head until he fell asleep, running his fingers through the short clean strands.

The godling snoozed soundly with a thumb in his mouth; a bad habit for a ten-year-old to have but a coping mechanism, nonetheless.

The Grandmaster pulled the boy close against his strong chest and swallowed feeling the young one hold him back; even as he slept. Usually, he wouldn't allow such actions or encourage coddling, but he knew the boy needed it.

Daegon knew he himself needed it.

Whenever possible the demi-god would allow the boy to stay with him at the red dragon caverns to escape his troubled life at home. Shinnok was charismatic and powerful, but the fallen god was careless with what he thought belonged to him.

Tiberius was his property and his wife; Rashid was just another of his followers.

Unlike Shao Kahn the fallen god wasn't much of a stickler for charity or romance; he didn't care for a single soul besides his own and mercy was a joke.

Daegon breathed steadily and let the boy rest against him; the smell of brimstone and youth flowing from him and into his nostrils.

"Everything will be okay…" He whispered.

Somehow, he couldn't believe that if he tried but it was all the Grandmaster could muster without rolling over and sobbing himself to sleep.

He remembered his mother and his father; there was good times of course but all Daegon had wanted was someone who understood him as much as he did for Tiberius. His mother had been limited for what she could do for him, and his father rarely looked his way if he wasn't scolding him for lack of coordination or performance in training.

Swallowing a sob that he caught in his throat Daegon continued holding the young boy close before he could succumb to sleep. Deep under the warm scarlet covers and for the time safe from the world that persecuted them.

One last time the demi-god looked down at the boy and ran a rough hand over his bruised cheek.

"I'll always be here."