100 Puppies and Dragons
Failure
Author's Note: This is a follow-up to Tears.
Failure
Seto whined as the blond cringed away from his claws. Joey had never shrunk from him before. Why now? Sure, he may not have been happy to be kidnapped, but his anger had been short-lived when he saw how sorry and upset Joey had been when he'd had to watch his scales being ripped out.
…Those men had hurt his human friend almost irreparably.
Seto advanced on the human and whined when he backed away, reaching out once he'd cornered him and gently pulled the blond into his claws. Joey…
"Please let me go-!" Joey gasped, flinching. "Seto, please-!" He struggled wildly and finally—desperately—slapped the area around where the dragon's sensitive scales had been ripped out.
The white dragon let out an anguished, angry roar and dropped him, shrinking backward instinctively.
Joey whimpered as he was dropped, body throbbing with pain. "Ah-!" He struggled to his feet again and began limping toward the entrance of the den, leaning on the wall every few steps when the pain became too much. "Uhn…"
He felt like a failure. He'd tried to keep his relationship with the dragon a secret—his own powers a secret—but had somehow been found out for what he was and who he knew. He'd been abused and, when he'd failed to produce as many pearls as his captors wanted, had given up his friend in a drug-induced haze. His breath hitched as he heard a few pearls clatter across the floor. He hadn't even realized he was crying.
Seto snarled and rushed around the blond to shove the boulder that served as his door in front of the entrance so he couldn't leave. Turning back to the human, he whined quietly. Joey. Please. I see that this wasn't your fault. Please stop trying to run away.
"They hurt ya t' get t' me," Joey whispered, sobbing quietly. "I don't want anyone else t' hurt ya just t' get my tears. I love ya too much. If I leave ya, they won't have any reason t' think that hurtin' ya will affect me. I just don't wanna be the cause of your hurt." He reached out toward the bloody spot on the dragon's side, then flinched and pulled his hand back. "Look what they did t' ya, just t' get me t' cry for 'em. Look what I caused."
You didn't do this. Seto's voice was soft—soothing in a way that the blond couldn't explain and didn't really want to. They did. What did they accept in place of torturing me, Joey?
The human sighed, reaching up to scrub away his tears. "Seto, I—"
What did you offer them in place of torturing me, Joey? the dragon repeated gently but firmly.
Joey shivered and bit his bottom lip. "…My body," he finally whispered, disgusted with himself, but not sorry—he'd have done anything, if they'd just stop hurting Seto.
They abused you before, too. Seto placed his claws on the blond's hips and whined. You're hurt. I need to go fetch someone to heal you.
The human frowned and reached out to touch one of his claws gently. "But Seto, you're still bleedin'!" He bit his bottom lip. "Let me heal ya real quick—Where do ya keep your herbs—" He yelped as the dragon suddenly plucked him up by gripping his arms, startled as he was then deposited on a big pile of soft furs.
I don't have any, Seto replied immediately. Another reason why I need to go get someone to heal you. If you make a list for me, I will gladly ask for them so you may have them when we return so you can be healed.
Joey blushed a little and began to move off of the blankets, but the dragon immediately cowed him with a single sharp look from his dark eyes. "…But… I…"
You are hurt just as much as I am—maybe even more so. Please, let me get someone to heal you. After all, how are you supposed to heal me when you can barely move?
"Oh. O-okay. I guess ya have a point…"
Of course I do, Seto replied, then turned and rolled the boulder out of the way. He turned to look back at the human with a crooked smile. Stay there. Those furs will be good for your back.
Joey blushed a little more and ducked his head in embarrassment. "Okay."
Good. I'll be back shortly.
The blond squeezed his eyes shut and sighed. "Okay."