Skippy Fic: Meddle Not
Skippy Valentine Challenge: Meddle Not
Author: amkave
Type of kiss #5: body: calves
Word associated with Valentine's Day #23: courting
Sequel to Sleeping Dragons
Author's Note: Well... This almost fits the challenge? They really aren't quite at the body-part kissing stage... yet. And since it is a courtship, and Carden really does want to kiss Kevin (and Kevin really wants to kiss Carden)...
Carden was packing his satchel for the flight south east of his mountain to the Jonas brothers farm. They were in an out-of-the-way valley near to the center of the Realm - off the beaten path, but easily accessible in his dragon form. As he slipped off the robe to pack it, a sudden wind blew into his cave.
"Hello, Beckett." He said without turning around. "What brings you north?" Carden shifted smoothly to his dragon form.
"The winds tell me interesting stories of you." Beckett said. As a Realm Guardian, and the strongest Weather Mage in living memory, it was entirely possible that his "wind-sense" did report Carden's recent movements. However, it was just as likely that Mage Chiz was the "wind" in this case. Chiz was likely to know of Carden's frequent visits to the edges of the Great Eastern Forest that was Chiz's border to guard. Chiz had his animal friends - and they definitely would have noticed his Dragon form in their territory.
Carden rolled his eyes as he settled the pack securely out of the way of his wings. "You and your winds. I need to get going. You can see yourself out."
"My dear Carden, you've been spotted in the skies over the Realm more in the last four months than in the last eight years - since you took up residence here in the frozen north as a matter of fact! I am delighted, don't get me wrong, but the boy wasn't that ill, was he?" Carden turned to finally face Beckett. Beckett seemed... worried.
"No. But he didn't take the first therapies well. I'm being cautious. That's all." Carden really did not want Beckett to question him too closely about the frequency of his visits to the Jonas farmstead. Kevin's younger brother was finally gaining weight, and his color was better. He was still scrawny - but Carden was pleased with his progress. That he was also pleased the visits necessitated him spending time with the whole family, and Kevin in particular, was something he kept to himself.
For all his bumbling obliviousness, Kevin was surprisingly intelligent. And compassionate. And hardworking. And if he didn't stop listing Kevin's virtues he'd give himself away to Beckett of all people. Carden was a Dragon Mage, one of the most powerful Mages living - and he was also hopelessly besotted by one innocent curly-headed farmboy. He'd kick himself for being a sap, but he was going to see Kevin in a couple of hours. If he could get rid of Beckett.
Beckett's eyes narrowed a bit. "That's all?" an elegant eyebrow rose. "Are you sure?"
Carden huffed a breath and let a tiny lick of flame accompany it in warning. "I'm sure," he growled. "Nick is healing well. A little underweight still, but he will be fine." The moment he said it he knew it was a misstep. That he knew the boy's name and used it was a flag. One he hoped Beckett would let go.
No such luck.
The speculative gleam was back in Beckett's eyes. "Nick, huh? Is he as adorably fluffy as his brother?" He smirked a little.
Carden growled a little and extended his wings before leaping off the cliff, leaving Beckett behind.
"HEY! I WAS TALKING TO YOU!" Beckett's voice echoed and faded as Carden pulled strongly away. Beckett could follow him without much trouble by wind riding, but that was much slower than Carden could travel. He'd pay for that, he knew, except he couldn't get too worked up about it... Kevin was waiting.
------------------
Kevin was intent on the plowing when a shadow fell on him and just as quickly passed him by. Glancing up, the sleek bronze body of the dragon wheeling down from the heights made his eyes light up.
In the distance, his younger brother Nick burst out of the small farmhouse heading to the empty paddock at a fast clip. Joe, his other younger brother exited the barn and stood watching the dragon come in to land.
All three brothers liked the Mage. He was grumpy and ill-tempered at best, rude and uncouth at worst, but he'd saved Nick's life. That gave him an immediate out for polite society manners. Polite society could hang. Nick was nearly as active as he had been before the illness sapped his strength.
Kevin unhitched the plow from the horse, leaving it in the middle of the partially plowed field. He led the horse to the water trough tying it close by with the long reins, leaving the horse ample grazing and water and a bit of shade. Horse taken care of, Kevin headed toward the paddock where Carden had landed.
When he got there, Carden was already in his man-shape wearing the loose robe he packed, speaking seriously to Nick. He had one hand on the nape of Nick's neck and the other cradled the side of his head as he looked into Nick's eyes. Most likely they were discussing how Nick was feeling. Since midwinter when Carden had finished the series of healings on him, Nick had regained weight, energy, and color. If the intimate way Carden was touching Nick made Kevin want, well, that was really no ones business but his.
Both Kevin and Joe had watched Nick's slow recovery with growing hope and joy. That Carden visited every seven days without fail warmed Kevin's heart, and he found himself anticipating the Dragon Mage's arrival. Over the months Carden spent more and more time with the brothers, staying to share their evening meal more often than not.
That each leave-taking made Kevin a little more melancholy, a little sadder, a little less likely to smile or laugh. Well. No one had noticed. Kevin hoped no one noticed. Carden was a Dragon Mage and a Realm Guardian besides. Kevin was a farmer. And that was really all there was to it. Neither had a place they could fit in each other's world.
Eventually, Carden would no longer feel that Nick warranted checking up on; that Nick was completely healthy. At that point, Carden would go back to whatever he usually did in the lonely Northern Mountains. And Kevin would get back to farming, here in the lowlands near the Great Eastern Forest. The farm was all they had, and it needed all three of them to keep it going.
But, happily, the time when Carden would taper off his visits hadn't yet come, and the Dragon Mage was here again right on time.
Carden turned from speaking softly to Nick and lifted his carryall from the grassy ground. When he looked up, he noticed Kevin standing at the fence, and he smiled. Just a slight upward lift of his lip, but there was warmth in his eyes.
Kevin admired his slender physique. The robe had a series of buttons on the left running from shoulder to mid-thigh. As Carden walked, his bare legs kicked out from about his knee downward all the way to his bare feet.
Kevin thought the best and worst part of the robe was the tantalizing glimpses he got of Carden's knees and calves. In the deepest part of the night he admitted to himself he'd love nothing more than to start at Carden's highly arched feet and work his way up with fingertips and lips - spending a long time tracing the lines of those legs he'd only ever gotten to see - and see very briefly. He knew that there were faint trails of shimmering bronze scales on Carden's skin. He wondered what they would taste like.
At that point, he'd restlessly tumble from his bed to pace, or leave the house and cool off in the chill night air. Sleep was becoming an issue.
Neither of his brothers commented on his broken rest, or the way he looked increasingly tired as the days dragged on, waiting for Carden to make his appearance to check on Nick.
Kevin smiled as Carden neared.
"Hey, kid." Carden said. "He's a lot better."
"I know." Kevin's smile faded.
"Nick says you haven't been sleeping. Something wrong?" Carden's tone was brusque, but there was a thread of worry as well.
"No. Everything's fine. Just." Kevin wiped at his sweaty brow. "Lot of work. The farm and all."
"Uh huh." Carden did not look convinced but he didn't question Kevin again.
Kevin led the way to the small farmhouse the brothers shared. He washed up before settling in the small kitchen to watch as Carden mixed the healing potions for Nick.
The rest of the visit was both wonderful and awful. Carden seemed to be paying more attention to him and he touched Kevin more then he ever had. Kevin grew increasingly confused as the time for Carden to leave approached.
As Carden packed up his supplies, he turned to Kevin and grasped his arm unexpectedly.
"Listen kid, I may be way off base here but..." Carden's eyes stared into his searchingly.
"M-m-mage Carden?" Kevin stuttered, tugged off balance from Carden's hard hold. He was scared, suddenly, of something he couldn't name.
"Oh, kid." Carden's gaze softened and his hand gentled. "C'mere."
Kevin was enfolded into the sweetest embrace. Carden was warm, and smelt spicy. Dragon. Warm. Mmmmm… Kevin thought hazily. With a soft moan he gave himself up to it and Carden was kissing him. A slow, soft, wet press of lips, the quick edge of teeth and limber swipe of tongue. Kevin wound his arms around him and cuddled close.
Pulling away slightly, Carden pressed his forehead against Kevin's. "Nick doesn't need such close monitoring, you know. Hasn't since the second month. I've been wanting... but I thought you liked the waiting as much as I did. The slow build. The knowing it was only a matter of time. But... Maybe you didn't know that?" Carden sounded unsure. "Maybe you didn't understand what was really going on. You look so tired. You're thinner. Paler. Unhappy." A gentle hand brushed at the curls at his temple. "I hate seeing you so unhappy and trying so hard to hide it."
"I... didn't understand." Kevin admitted softly. "I thought... this was something out of reach."
"It isn't. You just have to want it. Want me. Be sure, Kevin." Carden let go of him completely and stepped back. "Dragons are possessive. We tend to keep what is ours."
Kevin bowed his head for a long moment, twisting his hands together. When he looked back up at Carden his eyes were full of tears and hope. "Keep me. Please?"
Yes.
Author: amkave
Type of kiss #5: body: calves
Word associated with Valentine's Day #23: courting
Sequel to Sleeping Dragons
Author's Note: Well... This almost fits the challenge? They really aren't quite at the body-part kissing stage... yet. And since it is a courtship, and Carden really does want to kiss Kevin (and Kevin really wants to kiss Carden)...
Carden was packing his satchel for the flight south east of his mountain to the Jonas brothers farm. They were in an out-of-the-way valley near to the center of the Realm - off the beaten path, but easily accessible in his dragon form. As he slipped off the robe to pack it, a sudden wind blew into his cave.
"Hello, Beckett." He said without turning around. "What brings you north?" Carden shifted smoothly to his dragon form.
"The winds tell me interesting stories of you." Beckett said. As a Realm Guardian, and the strongest Weather Mage in living memory, it was entirely possible that his "wind-sense" did report Carden's recent movements. However, it was just as likely that Mage Chiz was the "wind" in this case. Chiz was likely to know of Carden's frequent visits to the edges of the Great Eastern Forest that was Chiz's border to guard. Chiz had his animal friends - and they definitely would have noticed his Dragon form in their territory.
Carden rolled his eyes as he settled the pack securely out of the way of his wings. "You and your winds. I need to get going. You can see yourself out."
"My dear Carden, you've been spotted in the skies over the Realm more in the last four months than in the last eight years - since you took up residence here in the frozen north as a matter of fact! I am delighted, don't get me wrong, but the boy wasn't that ill, was he?" Carden turned to finally face Beckett. Beckett seemed... worried.
"No. But he didn't take the first therapies well. I'm being cautious. That's all." Carden really did not want Beckett to question him too closely about the frequency of his visits to the Jonas farmstead. Kevin's younger brother was finally gaining weight, and his color was better. He was still scrawny - but Carden was pleased with his progress. That he was also pleased the visits necessitated him spending time with the whole family, and Kevin in particular, was something he kept to himself.
For all his bumbling obliviousness, Kevin was surprisingly intelligent. And compassionate. And hardworking. And if he didn't stop listing Kevin's virtues he'd give himself away to Beckett of all people. Carden was a Dragon Mage, one of the most powerful Mages living - and he was also hopelessly besotted by one innocent curly-headed farmboy. He'd kick himself for being a sap, but he was going to see Kevin in a couple of hours. If he could get rid of Beckett.
Beckett's eyes narrowed a bit. "That's all?" an elegant eyebrow rose. "Are you sure?"
Carden huffed a breath and let a tiny lick of flame accompany it in warning. "I'm sure," he growled. "Nick is healing well. A little underweight still, but he will be fine." The moment he said it he knew it was a misstep. That he knew the boy's name and used it was a flag. One he hoped Beckett would let go.
No such luck.
The speculative gleam was back in Beckett's eyes. "Nick, huh? Is he as adorably fluffy as his brother?" He smirked a little.
Carden growled a little and extended his wings before leaping off the cliff, leaving Beckett behind.
"HEY! I WAS TALKING TO YOU!" Beckett's voice echoed and faded as Carden pulled strongly away. Beckett could follow him without much trouble by wind riding, but that was much slower than Carden could travel. He'd pay for that, he knew, except he couldn't get too worked up about it... Kevin was waiting.
------------------
Kevin was intent on the plowing when a shadow fell on him and just as quickly passed him by. Glancing up, the sleek bronze body of the dragon wheeling down from the heights made his eyes light up.
In the distance, his younger brother Nick burst out of the small farmhouse heading to the empty paddock at a fast clip. Joe, his other younger brother exited the barn and stood watching the dragon come in to land.
All three brothers liked the Mage. He was grumpy and ill-tempered at best, rude and uncouth at worst, but he'd saved Nick's life. That gave him an immediate out for polite society manners. Polite society could hang. Nick was nearly as active as he had been before the illness sapped his strength.
Kevin unhitched the plow from the horse, leaving it in the middle of the partially plowed field. He led the horse to the water trough tying it close by with the long reins, leaving the horse ample grazing and water and a bit of shade. Horse taken care of, Kevin headed toward the paddock where Carden had landed.
When he got there, Carden was already in his man-shape wearing the loose robe he packed, speaking seriously to Nick. He had one hand on the nape of Nick's neck and the other cradled the side of his head as he looked into Nick's eyes. Most likely they were discussing how Nick was feeling. Since midwinter when Carden had finished the series of healings on him, Nick had regained weight, energy, and color. If the intimate way Carden was touching Nick made Kevin want, well, that was really no ones business but his.
Both Kevin and Joe had watched Nick's slow recovery with growing hope and joy. That Carden visited every seven days without fail warmed Kevin's heart, and he found himself anticipating the Dragon Mage's arrival. Over the months Carden spent more and more time with the brothers, staying to share their evening meal more often than not.
That each leave-taking made Kevin a little more melancholy, a little sadder, a little less likely to smile or laugh. Well. No one had noticed. Kevin hoped no one noticed. Carden was a Dragon Mage and a Realm Guardian besides. Kevin was a farmer. And that was really all there was to it. Neither had a place they could fit in each other's world.
Eventually, Carden would no longer feel that Nick warranted checking up on; that Nick was completely healthy. At that point, Carden would go back to whatever he usually did in the lonely Northern Mountains. And Kevin would get back to farming, here in the lowlands near the Great Eastern Forest. The farm was all they had, and it needed all three of them to keep it going.
But, happily, the time when Carden would taper off his visits hadn't yet come, and the Dragon Mage was here again right on time.
Carden turned from speaking softly to Nick and lifted his carryall from the grassy ground. When he looked up, he noticed Kevin standing at the fence, and he smiled. Just a slight upward lift of his lip, but there was warmth in his eyes.
Kevin admired his slender physique. The robe had a series of buttons on the left running from shoulder to mid-thigh. As Carden walked, his bare legs kicked out from about his knee downward all the way to his bare feet.
Kevin thought the best and worst part of the robe was the tantalizing glimpses he got of Carden's knees and calves. In the deepest part of the night he admitted to himself he'd love nothing more than to start at Carden's highly arched feet and work his way up with fingertips and lips - spending a long time tracing the lines of those legs he'd only ever gotten to see - and see very briefly. He knew that there were faint trails of shimmering bronze scales on Carden's skin. He wondered what they would taste like.
At that point, he'd restlessly tumble from his bed to pace, or leave the house and cool off in the chill night air. Sleep was becoming an issue.
Neither of his brothers commented on his broken rest, or the way he looked increasingly tired as the days dragged on, waiting for Carden to make his appearance to check on Nick.
Kevin smiled as Carden neared.
"Hey, kid." Carden said. "He's a lot better."
"I know." Kevin's smile faded.
"Nick says you haven't been sleeping. Something wrong?" Carden's tone was brusque, but there was a thread of worry as well.
"No. Everything's fine. Just." Kevin wiped at his sweaty brow. "Lot of work. The farm and all."
"Uh huh." Carden did not look convinced but he didn't question Kevin again.
Kevin led the way to the small farmhouse the brothers shared. He washed up before settling in the small kitchen to watch as Carden mixed the healing potions for Nick.
The rest of the visit was both wonderful and awful. Carden seemed to be paying more attention to him and he touched Kevin more then he ever had. Kevin grew increasingly confused as the time for Carden to leave approached.
As Carden packed up his supplies, he turned to Kevin and grasped his arm unexpectedly.
"Listen kid, I may be way off base here but..." Carden's eyes stared into his searchingly.
"M-m-mage Carden?" Kevin stuttered, tugged off balance from Carden's hard hold. He was scared, suddenly, of something he couldn't name.
"Oh, kid." Carden's gaze softened and his hand gentled. "C'mere."
Kevin was enfolded into the sweetest embrace. Carden was warm, and smelt spicy. Dragon. Warm. Mmmmm… Kevin thought hazily. With a soft moan he gave himself up to it and Carden was kissing him. A slow, soft, wet press of lips, the quick edge of teeth and limber swipe of tongue. Kevin wound his arms around him and cuddled close.
Pulling away slightly, Carden pressed his forehead against Kevin's. "Nick doesn't need such close monitoring, you know. Hasn't since the second month. I've been wanting... but I thought you liked the waiting as much as I did. The slow build. The knowing it was only a matter of time. But... Maybe you didn't know that?" Carden sounded unsure. "Maybe you didn't understand what was really going on. You look so tired. You're thinner. Paler. Unhappy." A gentle hand brushed at the curls at his temple. "I hate seeing you so unhappy and trying so hard to hide it."
"I... didn't understand." Kevin admitted softly. "I thought... this was something out of reach."
"It isn't. You just have to want it. Want me. Be sure, Kevin." Carden let go of him completely and stepped back. "Dragons are possessive. We tend to keep what is ours."
Kevin bowed his head for a long moment, twisting his hands together. When he looked back up at Carden his eyes were full of tears and hope. "Keep me. Please?"
Yes.