The Prince and the Dragon
-Chapter Three-
Author: DaraDaraDara12
Pairing: Jaemin
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, AU
Rating: G
Warnings: None
In a single week, little Changmin had grown so incredibly fast that he was now as big as an adult dragon. Every day, the prince went to the beach to meet the winged creature. He hadn’t told anyone about it, even his best friend Yoochun, to whom he usually told everything. Jaejoong had done researches about dragons, but found almost no books or scrolls about baby or young dragons. Seeing Changmin’s growth, it was not very surprising. He also had been unable to find anything about any bronze and green aquatic dragons.
After dinner, Jaejoong found himself at the table with his brother and father. They were discussing about a few red dragons that had attacked many villages in the past month, but Jaejoong was only half listening. He was thinking of Changmin and wondering why these red dragons attacked people when they could simply hunt down sea creatures like his dragon did. Images of the bronze reptilian filled his mind as he remembered flying on Changmin’s back. Jaejoong didn’t realize he had a goofy smile on his lips until his older brother snapped at him.
-Jaejoong! Are you even listening?
-Uhm… Sorry Yunho-hyung. I must have been day dreaming…
Yunho simply scoffed and went back to making a plan to slay the red dragons. His father, however, gave his younger son a concerned look.
-Jaejoong-ah, tell me, is something bothering you? Are you not feeling well?
-I am well, father, only I am not really gifted when it comes to making war strategies and catching dragons.
This was true, but it was not the real reason as to why he wanted to leave the room right now. His father nodded.
-I understand. Do you wish to leave it to us?, asked the king.
-I would rather study, lied the prince.
-Fine. Go then.
Jaejoong bowed to his father and quickly flew out the room to get his bag, feeling his older brother’s glare in his back. He left the castle, trying not to look too excited and probably failing. The prince made sure no one followed him as he went to his secret beach spot, looking over his shoulder every once in a while. He finally arrived at the beach and took off his boots to put his feet in the water. Hearing a flap of wings over his head, the prince looked up and smiled as the bronze and green dragon slowly landed next to him. He looked in the dragon’s wide dark-brown eyes and caressed his muzzle.
-Hi, Changmin.
The dragon replied with a short deep groan.
The prince told the dragon about what he had been doing at the castle. Just like with Yoochun, he could drop the formal speech he used at the castle when he talked with him. He recited what he had learned at the library, as well as his anger about not being able to handle the sword like his older brother. By the look in Changmin’s eyes, Jaejoong knew he could understand what he was told, unlike the very first days where he seemed content with only hearing the prince’s voice whatever he said.
-You know, I’ll have to stop coming over every day to see you, Min, said the prince out of the blue as they were both watching the waves lap at the sand.
Changmin’s eyes suddenly got smaller. His breathing became faster as his long tail started to move, sweeping the sand with its long fins.
-Don’t look at me like that, protested the prince. I think Yoochun’s starting to suspect me, or something. I told you, he knows about this place, he’s just nice enough to leave me here alone when I need it. I really don’t want him to grow worried and come and take a look to make sure I’m fine.
The dragon turned his head and put it on the sand, looking away.
-Oh! Come on, Changmin! It’s not like I can bring you in town!
That last sentence made the dragon’s head snap up. He looked at Jaejoong with intensity. The prince gave him a weird look, wondering what was going through the reptilian’s head. His eyes had a glint of excitement and intelligence. Changmin got up and closed his eyes, neck arching in a noble figure. Mist came from no-where in particular and started covering the dragon’s body, making Jaejoong back up a little at the display. The mist thickened, becoming a deep fog all around the dragon. Through the magical fog, the prince could only see the dragon’s silhouette. It slowly grew smaller and smaller until Jaejoong could not see it anymore. The thick mist vanished in a second, like it had never been there at all, and the prince found himself gaping at a beautiful naked young man with wide dark-brown eyes and chestnut hait. Jaejoong stood there, mouth hanging open. He technically knew that dragons had the ability to take human form in order to attract real humans and eat them, but he had never thought about Changmin’s human form.
-Could you bring me in town, now?, asked Changmin, voice a little hoarse from the lack of use.
-Wow…, was all Jaejoong could say.
Changmin smiled a toothy grin.
-Why didn’t you do that before?, asked the prince. We could have had conversations and stuff instead of you listening to me ramble all day!
-Dunno, shrugged Changmin. I just figured you talked enough for the both of us.
-And you’re snarky, I like that!, laughed Jaejoong. How long can you keep that form, though?
-I’ve no idea. It’s the first time I’ve tried.
Jaejoong found it very weird to talk with Changmin, to interact with him as a human. He was used to him as a giant reptilian, as his baby dragon now all grown, but never as a human like him. He would have to get used to seeing him like this. His eyes quickly traced around Changmin’s body. He was a good head taller than him, with impressively long legs. His skin was tanned, probably from being outside all day, though Jaejoong was not sure if that had any influence on his human transformation. His human muscles were not as impressive as his dragon muscles, but they were visible nonetheless. His face had a strong jaw and high cheek bones which reminded the prince of Changmin’s dragon form. His eyes had the strongest resemblance to his dragon form, but they were smaller and had a round pupil and iris. Changmin did not mind him looking as he seemed more preoccupied by his fingers, flexing them and pinching the skin, visibly impressed by their dexterity. The prince felt a little uncomfortable. His baby had suddenly turned into a young man his age, and his brain seemed to have difficulty accepting the silhouette in front of him as Changmin’s. It was strange how he was more comfortable with a man-eating monster than with a naked and weaponless human.
-I should get you some clothes, he mumbled.
-Does that mean we’re going to town, then?, asked Changmin once again, voice filled with a childish hope.
Jaejoong smiled slightly. How could anyone say no to that? Changmin, even as a human, was still the same eternal child that he was in dragon form, and in a way, it made him feel better knowing that.
-Tomorrow, I’ll take you to town, said the prince. It’s a promise.
Changmin got closer to Jaejoong and sat down near him, totally unaffected by the fact that he was naked as a newborn. Technically, wondered Jaejoong, hadn’t he been naked all the time? Changmin shot him a nervous look.
-I can shift back if you want, he offered with hesitation.
-Why would you? Don’t you wanna see how much time you can stay like that?, asked Jaejoong, confused.
-I feel like you don’t like it. Do I look bad? Is that why?
Seeing the dejection on Changmin’s face, Jaejoong quickly went down to face him.
-Look at me, he said. You’re gorgeous, ok? Trust me, you’ll have all human girls at your feet in no time! I… just need a little time to get used to it, that’s all. Ok?
Changmin nodded, blushing slightly and letting out a sigh of relief.
He did not keep his human appearance for more than a few hours, as he kept complaining that he was cold without clothes or scales and that he felt too small. Jaejoong gave him a kiss on the muzzle before going back to the castle. He was both excited and a little anxious in regards to the next day. If Changmin behaved well and if he was able to keep his human appearance long enough, they could both meet every day in town without worrying about secret meetings at the beach, though they could still do that too, from time to time. However, the prince had no idea if the dragon would like the idea of spending most of his time as a human. Jaejoong would never get tired of Changmin’s powerful dragon form. He felt that he should be afraid that the dragon would go and attack the town’s citizens, but why would he? He listened to Jaejoong all the time and he always ate sea creatures when he was hungry. The prince went to his room and promptly jumped on his bed, rising up fast when he heard a muffled groan of protest coming from under him. He had jumped on Yoochun sprawled on his bed.
-Man! That hurts!, complained Yoochun.
-What the fuck are you doing sleeping in my bed, anyways? Who let you in there?
-The guards kinda know me, by now! Just wanted to talk to you and you weren’t home, so I waited for you.
Yoochun sat up and Jaejoong sat behind him. The younger man gave him a look, and the prince knew his friend was about to tell him how he had almost never been at the castle for the past week.
-So?, asked Yoochun. How’ve you been?
-Ordinary routine…, the prince tried.
-I’m being serious, Jae. How much time have you been spending at the beach? It’s getting me worried. Is it about Yunho? Did you guys fight?
-It’s not about Yunho…
-What is it about, then?
-…
-Jae!
Jaejoong was stuck. He didn’t know what to tell his friend. He couldn’t tell the truth about Changmin, Yoochun would think he was crazy and tell someone about it, simply because he would be afraid for him. On the other hand, Jaejoong couldn’t lie either. There was no lying to Yoochun; he would know right away. The prince silently cursed his best friend’s ability to see through him like a piece of glass. Feeling the other’s eyes on him, he settled for half the truth.
-I… I want you to meet someone tomorrow, he finally said, biting his lips.
-Oooh, now I get it, said Yoochun with a knowing smirk, raising his eyebrows. Tell me, who’s the lucky gal?
-What? No! Chun, it’s not like that!, opposed the prince. He’s a friend!
-He? Noooo way! What’s his name?
-Fuck off, I’m not gay! His name’s Changmin and he’s just my friend! Ok?
Yoochun looked very amused and nodded, obviously not believing him. Jaejoong hit him as hard as he could.
-Alright! Alright! Just a friend!, said Yoochun, raising his arms in defeat. I’m so proud of you, he added while putting his arm around Jaejoong’s shoulders and bringing him in a tight hug.
-Fucker! Stop it!
The two friends bickered for a moment until Yoochun finally let go. They talked about everything and nothing until the both of them were so tired they fell asleep on the bed. That night, Jaejoong dreamt of bronze and green, of flapping wings and wide brown eyes with a round pupil.
AN: So, here’s the third chapter! Enjoy!