A Dragon In the Dark
Title: A Dragon In the Dark
Author: Kitipurr
Pairing/Characters: Ezra/?
Warnings: dark, death, suicide d
Summary: A partner left behind.
Notes: Written for Cowboy Dreams Reed Challenge 05: Let there be dragons. All that matters is that a dragon or dragons are somehow included in the storyline.
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He stared into the flame, wondering if he could really do this. He had darkened the windows, blocking out all light from the street below; only the glow from the candle itself cast shadows against the walls with no interference. It was how he wanted it to be, dark and silent like a tomb.
Like a grave.
He refused to blink as a tear escaped, simply continuing to stare into the flame. It had been a gift, and an expensive one no less. A large candle in the shape of a dragon, each scale carefully carved and gleaming with the light decorative coating that had been painted over the wax. The eyes were made from two small stones, perfectly round and glittering purple to contrast the bluish color of the dragon itself. Ezra had bought it for him after he’d been so enthralled with a particular story he had read, some new novel by a guy named by Lord Dunsany. It had to be special ordered from a small shop in London, but Ezra had known how much he would love it, and had spared no expense or effort in securing it.
He had sworn he would never burn the candle but would always save it as a remembrance.
Now it burned.
He closed his eyes, trying to remember. The feel of Ezra’s skin, the mischievous look in his eyes as they played over the sheets. The way Ezra would stretch himself out like a cat before the fireplace, light dancing along the curves of his chest and hip as he teased. The way Ezra glowed, inside and out, after they made love.
Instead all he could see was that pale, grey face, dripping with sweat, shivering as a cold grip overtook it. The warm flow gushing from his gut, spilling out onto the dust. The frightened look in those green eyes as they realized there was no chance.
The way the light of life had faded from those eyes. The sparkle had died, diminished as the knife wound won.
The hand that had suddenly dropped slack against his side.
It was all he could remember now.
The laugh was gone. He couldn’t remember how it sounded. The grin was gone. He couldn’t picture it anymore in his mind. The smell… for a while it had lingered on Ezra’s pillows, but now there was only the scent of detergent. He should have told Inez he didn’t want her to wash the bedding, but he’d forgotten.
The candle had been burning for a while now. There was only a little left, maybe an hour or so. Just a bit of the dragon’s tail, a hind claw, and a round of belly.
He smiled, and lifted his knife to his wrist.
FINI