#also suba in a smoking... again...

[kaoarika]

Somewhere in my head, I forgot that the Seiyuu Awards was a thing... and I was never on point about the date of the awards ceremony itself.

So, it was today.

It’s, uhmmm, nice seeing the guys from HypMic winning the Singing Award? Yeah.

Congratulations!

[croatian-magician]

The magician and the Welsh dragon (part 1)

Pairing: Baleric

Summary: Leaving the safety of the city to collect herbs for his potions after the guards spotted a dragon nearby certainly wasn’t Luka’s most clever idea.

Or maybe it was?

Wordcount: 4600

Notes: Just the fantasy AU nobody *cough* the no good gang *cough* asked for

Luka bit his lip in concentration while throwing the next ingredient into his caldron. He wiped the sweat on his brow, forcing himself to stay focused on the recipe and not on the unbearable heat plaguing the tower. The young magician needed to refill his stock of healing potions before the end of the season. The fresh herbs he needed to make it would start disappearing in autumn, so he didn’t have a single minute to lose, just like he couldn’t allow himself to waste any of it.

Soon enough, the smoke flying out of the caldron took the right color and Luka smiled. He started filling small vials with the mixture before closing each of them and putting it on a shelf. He repeated the motion until his caldron was empty. Then he poured water into it again and started searching for herbs in his reserve. However, he frowned when he realized it was empty, which meant that it was time for him to go out to harvest some more.

He snapped his fingers and the magic fire burning under his caldron disappeared. Luka put on his cape and his hat, swearing all while doing so. He hated wearing those ornaments, especially when it was so warm outside, but he needed it so that the city guards would let him wander wherever he wanted without asking questions.

Luka went down the long stairs of his tower, cursing whoever decided magicians had to live at the top of such high constructions. It was situated near the walls of the city, though, so it didn’t take him long to reach it. A few guards were watching over who was entering. Luka quickly greeted them, ready to go outside, but one of the soldiers stopped him.

“I’m sorry, Luka. No one’s going out today.”

“But Danijel, it’s me! You know I have the right to…”

“I know magicians don’t have to follow the same rules as regular citizens, but this is different. A dragon has been wandering outside of our walls. You have to stay here for your own safety.”

“Please, Suba!”

“Don’t Suba me. You’re staying inside those walls and that’s final. You should go back to your tower, just to be safe, in case the dragon would change his mind and attack the town.”

“If that’s what you want…” Luka pouted.

He turned around, following his friend’s orders, but he couldn’t chase away his frustration. If he didn’t make enough healing potions now, many people could die during winter. And if the city was really under the threat of a dragon attack, then those potions were more needed than ever!

Luka stopped to hide behind a nearby house, convinced that he was skilled enough to escape the beast even if he was to cross ways with it. He took a temporary invisibility potion from under his cape, then drank it in one go. It immediately took effect and Luka hurried to leave the city. He felt a bit guilty when he walked in front of Suba, but he told himself he was doing it for the city and for his friends. Everyone would thank him for those healing potions later.

Once he was outside, he ran to make sure that he would be out of the guards’ sight once the effects of his potion would fade. It happened pretty quickly, but by then, he was in the middle of the field where he usually found all the herbs he neededed. He started gathering it in his basket, making sure to only pick the most perfect leaves, the ones that would mix in his potions without problem.

It was a long and laborious task. His back soon started hurting as the sun burnt his skin, but he gritted his teeth and went on with his work, well-decided to only go home once his basket would be full.

At some point, he was forced to change spot to gather different herbs, the ones that only grew near the mountain. It wasn’t a long walk, but he feel the air growing colder as he got there. Luka enjoyed that change, especially the cold wind that went with it.

Or at least, he did before he understood that it wasn’t wind, but a dragon flapping his wings.

The gigantic reptile flew towards him, a small storm accompanying him. It was so strong that Luka barely managed to keep standing while he lost his magician hat. He started shaking from head to toe as his eyes fell on the monster above him. He couldn’t see the sky anymore, only the dragon’s black scales. Impressive scars ran down the monster’s face and belly, proving that many people had tried to take him down, and that none had succeeded.

When the beast roared, Luka had to put his hands on his ears because of how loud it sounded. A ray of fire also escaped its jaw and Luka shook, only breathing again when this burning inferno didn’t reach him. The dragon landed in front of him, growling and showing its sharp teeth. Luka didn’t dare to move, paralyzed by fear, until he spotted a weird ornament hanging around the dragon’s neck.

It was a collar, a very expensive looking one at that. Diamonds and emeralds adorned it, but it looked painful, carving into the dragon’s scales and flesh. It was also glowing in a strange way, and this excited Luka’s curiosity, even though his instincts told him that he should rather think about his own survival. However, in spite of all self-preservation, he took a step towards the dragon to take a better look.

The dragon growled in warning, but Luka managed to get a good view on this object. His jaw dropped in surprise as he exclaimed:

“That’s a magical necklace!”

He immediately put a hand on his mouth, realizing that shouting in front of such a giant beast could be a bad idea. However, the dragon didn’t take it as a threat. On the contrary, he stared at Luka, lowering his head and the magician saw a flicker of intelligence in his deep, blue eyes.

“Wait, am I going crazy or… Can you understand me?”

The dragon immediately let out a powerful roar, so strong than Luka fell on his bottom. He shook in fear, thinking that his assumption had been foolish and that the dragon was going to devour him now. But when he looked at him again, the beast looked pained and embarrassed, not blood-thirsty. He slowly nodded his enormous head and Luka slowly stood back up, doing his best to look non-threatening.

“Were you… Were you trying to say yes?”

The dragon nodded again and this time, Luka stopped having doubts. The being in front of him was smart enough to understand him and communicate. Luka had studied enough at the Academy to know that it wasn’t something common for his kind.

“Listen, I can try to take that necklace off. Will you let me?”

Luka tried to take a step towards him, but the dragon growled once more. Though this time, Luka realized that he wasn’t being aggressive. Only scared. So he took his dagger out of his belt and threw it on the floor, to show the saurian that he wasn’t here to harm him.

“See, I only want to help you. Please, let me come near you.”

The dragon looked hesitant and he still showed his fangs when Luka took another step in his direction. The magician couldn’t really blame him, though. Considering all the scars on his flanks, maybe it wasn’t the first time someone tricked him into giving his trust, only to try to kill him. After all, cities paid well anyone who could bring a dragon’s head as trophy. The reptile was certainly expecting Luka to have some hidden weapon on him.

“Fine, if you take it like that…”

Luka took off his cape, then his tunic until he was shirtless, his chest showing. The dragon bowed his head to the side, confused.

“See, I’m not hiding any sword, or bow, or axe or anything you might be fearing. Now, can I come close so I can help you?”

Luka didn’t know how he would deal with another refusal. He didn’t like the idea of having to strip entirely under the eyes of a curious dragon. Thankfully, the dragon lowered his guard and his neck, allowing Luka to inspect the weird necklace. The magician grimaced once he saw from up-close how the metal was digging into the dragon’s flesh. This wasn’t natural, he could tell. This was the result of some enchantment. Tentatively, Luka reached for the dragon’s scales, before gently putting his hand on it. It was surprisingly warm, more than he expected. Once that he was sure that the dragon wouldn’t attack him, Luka gently petted him in a soothing way.

“Listen, I’ll try to take this necklace off, but he might hurt a bit. So even if it does, please try… Uh… Not eat me? That would be nice?”

The dragon moved his big head towards Luka and for a moment the young magician feared the worst, but he simply rubbed his snout against Luka affectionately. This made the magician laugh and he petted his head once more.

“So I guess it makes you, happy? Maybe try to keep your head away from me while I take that collar away, though?”

At that, the dragon growled again, but it was more sad than angry. Luka rolled his eyes but he kept on smiling.

“I’m not saying you would hurt me on purpose, you big idiot. But you’re huge and you might jerk off because of the pain. I wouldn’t want to die crushed because of it, do you understand?”

This time, the dragon nodded and he laid his head on the ground, far away from Luka. The magician took a deep breath. The enchantment looked complex, and he would have to use more than debutant magic to break the curse. It took him a minute to think on how to proceed, then he put a hand on the necklace and started his spell-casting. The words came to him easily, even though he could feel the necklace’s magic resisting against him.

At the same moment, the dragon let out a loud roar of pain. However, it didn’t raise any terror or panic in Luka’s heart, only regret that this poor creature had to suffer. It helped him to stay concentrated, determined that he was to free the dragon from his curse as soon as possible.

It took him a while, but finally, the clasp of the necklace broke and it fell from the dragon’s neck. It then shrugged in size, to the point where it didn’t look bigger than a regular necklace. Luka carefully took the object into his hand, but he soon forgot about it when he realized the collar wasn’t the only thing changing size.

A warm light surrounded the dragon, and Luka saw the reptile changing shape, becoming smaller and smaller. The magician put a hand in front of his eyes so he wouldn’t be blinded, waiting for the transformation to end. He blinked a few times, surprised when he found himself in front of a man laying on the ground, curled into a ball. As a magician, he had already experienced lots of weird things, but that was by far the most surprising.

However, the man bore on his skin the same scars as the dragon, which left no doubt about his identity. His injuries seemed painful though, now that they weren’t drawn on tough scales but on tender flesh. Luka quickly ran for his cape and took another vial stocked in it. Then he quickly came back to the stranger, helping him sit down.

“Here, drink this.”

The man sent him a confused looked, but he gulped the beverage down in one go, putting his trust in Luka. For some reason, this warmed his heart, and he felt even more proud when all of the man’s injuries started to disappear from his body, leaving his skin unmarked.

“How… How did you do that? It doesn’t hurt anymore! It’s been so long, I can barely remember a time when my body wasn’t hurting!”

“I gave you a healing potion, that’s why you’re feeling better. I’m Luka, by the way.”

He offered him a hand so the man could stand up, which he gladly accepted. Luka soon regretted though because the man was tall, handsome, and very, very naked. His long hair hang loose behind his back and Luka did his best to stare at his face and not at his broad chest or at… Other body parts.

He was already all flustered, but it didn’t get any better when the man suddenly hugged him, bringing their bare chests together. Luka yelped in surprise, startled by the strength of the arms encircling him.

“Thank you so much for saving me, Luka. You can’t imagine how it was, to be trapped in this body that wasn’t mine… You can ask whatever you want of me, and I’ll do it!”

“Then can I ask for your name?” The magician replied, his heart filled with joy at seeing the happiness on the former dragon’s face.

“My name? Sure. I’m… I’m Gareth.”

The name sounded almost foreign on his lips, and Luka didn’t miss Gareth’s struggle at remembering it. This time, all inappropriate thoughts left Luka’s mind as he gently rubbed the taller man’s back, trying his best to comfort him.

“It’s alright, Gareth, you’re safe now. I’ll take care of you until you find a way to go back to your home, okay?”

Luka hoped his words would help, but instead, Gareth sobs just grew stronger. The magician put a gentle hand on his cheek so that he would look at him. All the pain he saw in those tearful eyes filled him with rage. He wished he could put his hand on whoever gave Gareth that cursed necklace and make them pay for it.

“I… I don’t have anywhere to go back to… When I put this forsaken necklace on and turned into a dragon, I… I panicked and I… I destroyed half of my hometown. Even if I came back now, I’m sure no one would forgive me for what have I done!”

“Shh, it’s alright. This isn’t your fault. I live alone in my tower, you can stay there for as long as you’ll like. I’ll take care of you, Gareth, don’t worry.”

Luka kept holding him in his arms, only stopping when Gareth had no more tears to shed. He quickly put his clothes back on, swearing when he realized he couldn’t find his hat. Not that he cared much about it, but he knew everyone would send him weird look when he’ll go to Mario’s shop to buy a new one. Most people believed that the hats of magicians were powerful artifacts, after all.

He also carefully stored the necklace in his cape, well determined to study it once he went home. Luka needed to understand why someone would want to turn people into dragon. He expected some kind of personal revenge, but he didn’t feel like asking Gareth about any detail, not when the man already looked so broken.

“Do you feel strong enough to follow me all the way to my home? You’ll be able to rest there.”

“I can try.” Gareth offered, although it was clear that he didn’t know how to handle his new body.

It only took them a few steps for Luka to understand that this was going to be way more difficult than planned. Gareth quickly stumbled, his legs weak, and Luka barely caught him in time for him not to hurt himself.

“I’m sorry. It’s been so long since I had to walk like this, too.”

“It’s alright, don’t worry. I’ll just help you until it starts feeling natural, okay? Here, you can put an arm around my shoulder if it helps you stay grounded.”

Gareth did just that, but Luka was amazed by how gentle his touch felt compared to his height. He tried his best not to lay too much weight on the small magician, who wished he had some spell or potion to make thing easier. For now, that would have to do. For him, the hardest was still to make sure that his basket full of herbs wouldn’t fall and spill its content on the floor.

“What are those for?” Gareth asked after a while, trying to make the situation less awkward. Luka smiled happily at him, glad to see someone interested in his work.

“Oh, I use these herbs to make healing potions, just like the one you drank. I need plants that I can only find during summer to make it, though, that’s why I’m gathering as much of it as I can. The city guards refused to let me leave the city this morning, because they spotted a dragon… I mean, because they spotted you. But I really needed those herbs so I sneaked out anyway. I guess that was pretty reckless of me.”

“It certainly was but… Sorry if I’m being selfish, but I’m glad that you did. Without you, I could have spent years suffering and being hunted by men wanting to kill me. I owe you so much, Luka.”

“Don’t be stupid, you don’t owe me anything. Every magician would have…”

Luka stopped half-way through his sentence, knowing that what he was about to say wasn’t true. Upon finding a dragon like Gareth, most of them would have captured him in his reptilian form to study his scales, bones and blood or use it for their potions. Even now that he was human again, there was certainly some draconic magic left in him, and some magicians would kill to perform experiments on him right now. But Luka only saw a shaken and scarred man that he desperately wanted to help and protect.

“Don’t lie to me. I know just how lucky I am to have met someone like you.”

Gareth’s words went straight to his heart and Luka averted his eyes, smiling shyly at the praise.

The magician sighed in relief when the walls of the city finally appeared before them. However, he stopped before they got close enough for the guards to see them. When Gareth raised a confused eyebrow, he explained his reaction.

“No one here must know who you are or rather, what you were. It could bring you lots of troubles. Also, I wasn’t supposed to leave the city, remember? So we’re both going to drink an invisibility potion, okay?”

Gareth took a step back, scared. Luka hated the look of utter terror he could see on his face.

“What’s wrong, Gareth? Did I say something I shouldn’t have?”

“No, it’s just… I don’t feel comfortable dealing with magic after… After what happened to me.”

“But you drank my healing potion earlier. So why is it a problem now?”

“Well, when you gave it to me I had no idea it would have magical effects. You can call me stupid if you want. I get trapped for years into a dragon’s skin, and the first thing I do when I become human again is to drink a potion. I know I’m not the most clever guy out there.”

“Don’t say that about yourself! And I promise you no harm will come to you through this potion. I made it myself, in my caldron. I know exactly what ingredients I used for it. Please trust me, Gareth.”

He still looked resistant, but he took the vial Luka was offering him with a shaking hand. He brought it to his lips and drank slowly. With each drop, his body starting looking blurry before he completely disappeared from Luka’s sight.

“Is that all? I don’t feel any different.”

“Yeah, you’re invisible, it’s done. Now, please take my hand.”

“Sure, but why? I mean, I’m strong enough to stand on my own now.”

“Because in a second, I will be invisible too. Without me to guide you, you could get lost. So, what do you say?”

Instead of answering, Gareth intertwined his fingers with Luka’s. The young magician was startled when his heart started to beat faster, but he tried once more to just ignore the strange feeling.

“Okay, here we go.”

He emptied the other vial while thinking that he should make some more invisibility potion once he would be home. He didn’t want to risk any shortage.

“Let’s go.” He said warmly, smiling even though Gareth couldn’t see it.

They stayed silent so the guards wouldn’t suspect their presence. Luka noticed that Suba wasn’t at the guard post anymore, which reassured him. Lovre, Livi and Karlo did their job well, but they didn’t detect trouble as well as Suba yet. They still needed a bit more training, but Luka was convinced that they would do well soon enough.

Walking through the city and its more narrow streets proved to be difficult, though. Luka knew that they needed to hurry to get to his tower before losing their invisibility. Gareth’s nakedness would make people curious and they couldn’t have that.

However, they needed to make sure they wouldn’t stumble into people walking through the city. At one time, Gareth had to pull Luka towards him so the small magician wouldn’t be pulled over by a cart. He couldn’t see Gareth and so he let out a gasp of surprise when he collided with the man. His hands fell on the invisible chest and he blushed brightly when his index finger ended right on Gareth’s nipple. He quickly removed his hand, as if it had been burnt, glad that the invisibility spell was hiding the redness currently invading his face. However, their closeness didn’t leave him much choice and he had to put his hands lower on his chest.

They waited for a few minute like that, stuck against one another, waiting for the street to be less crowded. Then they rushed towards Luka’s tower, the magician helping his new friend. Once they reached the building, Luka fumbled with his keys, quickly opening the door and closing it behind them right before the invisibility spell wore off.

“Wow, that was close.” Luka let out, out of breath.

“I shouldn’t say that, but running like that and trying not to get caught was kinda fun. I haven’t felt like that in a while.” Gareth replied, a happy smile on his lips.

“Oh, that’s good! Wait, I’ll go find some clothes for you. You can’t keep running around naked like that!”

Gareth looked down on himself, almost surprised by Luka’s words. Then he nodded, agreeing with him.

“Yes, that would be for the best. I got so used to not wearing clothes when I was a dragon that I didn’t even notice something was wrong. Looks like it’s something I’ll have to learn to get used to again. Are you sure you’ll have anything my size, though?”

At that question, Luka couldn’t help but stare once more at Gareth’s strong, tall body. He forced himself to concentrate on helping Gareth, though. The other man was still traumatized, he didn’t need to think Luka saw as some kind of piece of meat. He had the body of a god, sure, but Luka was way more interested in the person hiding behind those sculpted abs and piercing blue eyes, in his fears and feelings. He wanted to do everything so that Gareth would feel at home here.

“It won’t be a problem. Many magicians lived in this tower before me and some of them left their clothes here. I’m sure we’ll manage to find something that will suit you. Follow me.”

Rummaging through old closets took them a while, but they finally found clothes big enough for Gareth. Of course, they were magicians clothes and he looked a little bit off in it, but it was still better than nothing. However, Luka didn’t miss how Gareth kept on yawning, even though he never complained.

“You look tired. The transformation must have exhausted you. Follow me, you can sleep in my bed until I clean a room for you.”

“I don’t want to be a bother…”

“You won’t be. I’m a magician, I don’t get much sleep, and I planned on making potions late in the night anyway. Some of them need to be brewed under a certain moon. I don’t want to bore you with all this magical stuff, though.”

“That’s not boring, not at all. That knowledge you have is precious. It would have sparred me so much trouble, if I had been as intelligent as you…”

“Hey, hey, wait, don’t start blaming yourself! This isn’t about intelligence or anything like that! I was just lucky enough to meet a magician who accepted to pass his heritage onto me. What happened wasn’t your fault, Gareth. Someone clearly tricked you into wearing this thing so you would turn into a dragon.”

At these words, Luka saw Gareth closing up again and he understood that he wouldn’t get anything more out of him today. He was already shaken enough, no need to make him revive the moment that had led to his transformation.

“I… I’m not sure I want to talk about it.”

“Of course,  I don’t want to force you into doing anything you would feel uncomfortable with. Just know that I’m here for you if you need to talk. I’m going to show you your room, now. This way.”

Once more, Luka felt a rush of pride when Gareth almost cried in happiness into seeing his huge bed. Luka himself didn’t like the furniture, finding it too big for his small frame. He quickly changed his mind when Gareth happily jumped onto the mattress though, bewilderment in his eyes.

“Damn, it has been so long since I last slept in a real bed. I would often have to rest on cold rocks, in the open, or in a cave when I was lucky. Staying in the mountains was the safest. I was dying of cold, but at least it was difficult for the hunters to find me there…”

Gareth shivered at the bad memories, a shadow darkening his bright eyes. Luka went to sit on the bed next to him and he wrapped an arm around him in a comforting gesture. The taller man accepted his soothing attempt without any protest and even rested his head against Luka’s shoulder.

“It pains me so much, to know all you have been through… But I swear you will never have to endure that again. I’ll take care of you.”

“I now, Luka, thank you. Thank you so much. You are my personal miracle.”

Gareth hugged him once more as Luka patted his back and the magician heartbeat suddenly went crazy. He still couldn’t believe the admiration he spotted in Gareth’s eyes when he looked at him.

“You should sleep now. I need to go make those potions I told you about.”

“Oh, okay.” Gareth agreed, although he let go of Luka a bit reluctantly. “Don’t exhaust yourself, though. I still need the help of my savior.”

“Don’t call me that!” He protested, embarrassed.

Gareth didn’t argue, but from his attitude, Luka could tell that it wouldn’t be the last time he heard that nickname. Before he left the room, he could see the man getting comfy and curling up under the covers. This sight brought Luka a sense of peace and a tender smile illuminated his face when he closed the door.

Taglist: @puolendollarinonni @smolmandzo @esparafuso @sejan-is-love @arduango @ante-ray-bitch @winters-chiid