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It was dark outside.

Yes…

It was…

And yet, the Moon that orbited the planet lit it up with its everlasting shine, the cloudlessness allowing its reflection across the world as a whole.

As such, it lit up the room in a great light, no electricity required.

Its silvery brightness came through the windows on the left wall from the door, creating visibility.

It was all perfect.

Perfect for valued and sacred intimacy of its co-owners.

The wooden oak door opened into the inside to the left, gliding over the equally brown planks upon the brass and faded fake gold handle being knob being twisted into the frame.

The one who walked through the door was a human, a male.

His name was John Fitzgerald.

He was a rather handsome man, if rather, well, rugged.

His brown hair was a little bit longer than it should have been, not to the point of falling over his eyes, but by God did it grow somewhat too much over his ears and his neck. However, ironically, his dark brown beard, mustache, and all were rather well kept, all being rather shortened, yet professionally maintained.

He was wearing a plain white tee with a light brown pair of pants held up by a leather black belt with a silver metal that made up the buckle that looped and hooked into a hole along the article's length. He also took off his work outside shoes at the kitchen door, leaving his black socks hidden under the pant legs.

It wasn't extravagant and was rather sparse, but it was what John wore.

As he walked his way across the polished wood to the left side of the queen-sized bed, another passed under the doorway into the chamber.

It was Marlo.

The purple psychic drake had no clothing on, since, as a dragon, he didn't need it, but that didn't mean he didn't have physical characteristics.

Easily the most definable part of his appearance was his left foreleg, which had a nasty looking vertical scar running up and down the kneecap. Marlo had long since got the metal stiches out upon feeling stable with a new strong and resistant polymer replacement, but he couldn't forget losing his original bone when dragon poachers tried to debilitate him but shooting a hole through it.

Bahamut, he remembered it like yesterday, how his left leg knee down was paralyzed and was in so much pain that his beastly side had to temporarily take over and try to fly off in an effort to flee, to spare him the agony.

Only for a bullet to graze the joint of his left wing.

Another scar was on his back, but nowhere near as pronounced. If one were to squint, they would definitely be able to notice.

From that, the most sensitive part of a dragon's body was harmed an her plummeted like a rock down.

Right into John's yard.

The rest went in history logs in his head.

Yes, it hurt like Bahamut was burning him when the man removed the bullet from his shattered joint.

Oh Bahamut, yes it did.

And yes, it was nearly insufferable to put his weight on his leg for a good while.

But you know what? It was all worth it.

He was worth it.

How else was he to find his soulmate?

It was all Bahamut's plan all along, and he praised him for that.

Yes, John was his soulmate…

Or, well, will be.

They kissed for the first time in the kitchen but a few days ago, giving in to their needs and wants.

The need for another.

And who else was perfect?

John saved him, and what started off as an eternal debt that was owed that he could never hope to repay, it slowly transitioned into stray feelings of…attachment, of…

Love.

It wasn't right. Dragonkind looked down on these types of thoughts, but…

B-But…

But it was right!

He found his mate!

Wasn't that all that mattered?

Of course, their first kiss wasn't perfect, as the drake's maw never felt a dragoness, let alone a man for that matter, so the act of intimacy was rather…sloppy and disjointed.

Still, a first kiss was a kiss, and the first of anything was never meant to be perfect, but to be perfected.

And, so, their relationship started. Companionship between a human and a dragon wasn't supposed to work, but by Bahamut's grace, it did.

And it was natural…

But now, with their love evolving into something more, it was Marlo who asked the question, kneeling down and raising his right paw up to pop the eternal request to change their lives for the better, as to reveal their dedication to one another to Bahamut.

He asked him to be his mate.

And with John's answer, it was set.

And so far, they were closer than ever to tying the knot on their matehood.

They flew the sacred mating flight in the dead of the sunset, the drake holding the man securely in his forelegs, never to let him go. They spun around and around at such speeds, even dancing a bit as they held each other as they flew into the star's epicenter…

However, with the Sun's retirement, the first half of the ritual finished, the second had begun.

And to be honest, both were…ambivalent…

John…had a certain amount of confidence and was the more reserved at of the two. It was something to be excited for, and yet, he had…concerns.

Concerns about how this would all play out.

John never had…well…sex before and, well, he wasn't any less straight than before, he just fell in love with a drake, that was all.

This ultimately led his heart rate to beat faster than usual, along with a small pit in his stomach forming.

Afterall, one's first time was always bound to cause nervousness.

Marlo one the other hand was ironically the more emotional out of the two, asking himself questions, creating doubts…

Would he be a good mate?

Could he protect him?

Could he stop himself from ever causing him harm, even by accident?

Was he going to hurt him in the mating?

Bahamut, could he even mate him properly?

And the world!

What would they think?

A man and drake, not as professional companions, but as lovers?

It didn't help that he's never mated before either…

Dragons from a rather teenage era are told how mating works, how important it is, and how_ seriously _it must be taken.

Afterall, breaking matehood was considered a one of the biggest sins against Bahamut. Only death may break such a thing naturally.

And…

Oh.

Oh Bahamut…

Was he…

Was…Bahamut going to look upon this…fondly?

Oh…

Would it…

Would it matter that they were both males?

No, think about it.

Bahamut dictated that the proper rituals be conducted before becoming one's mate, b-but…

Would it matter if…they did it all right?

Bahamut, how were they even_ going _to mate?

It just…

No, Bahamut had it so that the sacred mating trials be undertaken and for happiness to follow, along with the responsibilities that followed.

He should love, care for, and protect his mate for the rest of his mortal life, and feel the same from his mate.

Yes! It had to be right!

It's just, well…

Here, it was a man and drake, not a drake and dragoness…

No, that wouldn't matter…

…Would it?

No, no, he was positive!

…Right?

No, he promised he would be faithful and love John with all of his heart! Wasn't that what Bahamut wished?

Too many questions with too few answers…

But regardless, he loved John more than anything, and executed the first portion of the mating with flying colors, now all he had to do was…

M-Mate with him.

Marlo was nervous. Everybody's first bout of intercourse was always meant to distill such an emotion, but…

He…

Bahamut, he didn't really know what to do!

He was kind of new to all of this!

He had this and that, and so did John, but…

Ughhh…

John said he worried too much, and maybe so, but were these concerns unwarranted?

No, no, there was room for worry! He was a drake, and he was a man! Two different species, two males!

Just…how could they make it work?

Would it be…painful?

No, Marlo didn't want it to be painful! He wouldn't ever hurt his beloved John!

But was it unavoidable?

No, surely it could be prevented!

…Right?

Was this…something that Bahamut planned out from the start?

Yes, it had to be!

Marlo falling into John's yard, injured beyond belief, only to fall in love with him despite everything that Dragonkind had made him believe.

No, he was his own life, his own dragon.

But this was a point of no return, for if they mated, there was no going back.

His cave he could care less about, but his family…

No, he left long ago. He couldn't bear to stay there any longer.

It would be worth it. All of it.

He was worth it, his sweet, sweet John.

He was just a man, but with a man's courage, kindness, and loyalty.

That is why he fell for him.

And so, that was the reason they were here.

To become bonded and become one heart, one soul.

Marlo padded his paws to the left side of the bed against John's room's wall, his heart also thumping like a drum against his skull.

Afterall, this was going to be life-changing for the two of them, as nothing would ever be the same when all was said and done.

However, it was only reinforcing what was already true.

That they were meant for one another.

As John followed the dragon close behind, he took the drake's former position on the side of the comforting mattress as Marlo stepped up on the edge with his right paw first, and then his rear one next before flipping his whole body around and plopping his spine onto the sheets, wings splayed out.

If there was one thing that Marlo thought he was going to get used to quickly, it was this bed.

While his nest back at his old cave was homey enough, it paled in comparison to this.

While his time with it was limited to only the last few nights sleeping with the man, it just melted into his scales and kept him warm while being nice and cozy.

And most of all, it was a way to snuggle with his soon-to-be-mate.

As Marlo relaxed his legs and scooted a bit to the right onto the small pile of pillows, John was removing his shirt albeit rather slowly. The drake was gazing over at him as the man pulled his arms into the cotton prison and sucked his head in before lifting it over his head and onto his right side.

While the action would give Marlo some sense of calmness to keep his mind off of things for the time being, it also allowed him to face the human's incredibly well-toned and sharpened bundles of muscles underneath. His chest's muscles and a just barely visible pack on his abdomen showed humanly strength evident by his occupation.

To be rather honest, such sight shocked the psychic drake at first. However, it quickly became a trait that made him admire John even more.

Dragons were strong, probably the strongest on the whole planet, natural power in the sinews of their bodies straight out of the egg.

So, when humans put in the time and effort to gain such a build through sheer determination was commendable and respectable.

Such dedication was something Marlo found…nice about the man.

He would've loved John regardless, but it was something interesting the dragon has never seen in humans before.

Imagine yesterday, sleeping in the same bed as him, and seeing such defined and distinguished features...

Even dragons aren't used to such sights.

However, John wasn't fully uncovered. It was intentional, as he also wanted to get his bearings first before they would get intimate.

Did…

Did he want to do that…yet? At all?

Marlo thought about it, and more of his insecurities bubbled up to the surface as a result.

Marlo was a dragon, one who could easily overpower John despite the fact that he would never do such a thing. Still, instincts ruled at the end of the day, so who could say he wouldn't fall on those primal urges?

It scared him to no end. He loved the man so much that he was willing to do anything to stop all of this if the man felt uncomfortable in any way.

It likely wouldn't stop them from going forth with this, but it was all a matter of trust, and the purple drake was open to giving John all the decisions here, for he was only human and could easily be hurt, unlike Dragonkind and their scales.

After flinging the shirt away, the man lifted his right knee onto the softness of the queen-sized cot while facing the headboard and, while on his cap, he slid the rest of his body on. He lifted his lower limbs again over the drake's reversed rear legs in order to gain purchase over the drake's barrel, sliding upon his chest plates.

Marlo, upon seeing the man's invitation to just sit down to just settle down before they got started, closed his eyes and curled his neck around John's head to bring him closer. As the human descended upon the drake and turned his head a bit to the side, the purple dragon pulled his head back and onto the pillows and connected his deep blue eyes with John's green ones. He raised his forepaws and then slowly and carefully gripped onto the upper part of his back.

Marlo was especially cautious as to not cut his beloved before they mated, but fortunately, the claws were flat against the expanded spinal column of the human's skeleton as he held onto the man.

He just wanted to feel him, to touch his fragile flesh to sooth not only John, but himself as well. This was the beginning of something new, something that was life-changing.

They had to be delicate with this subject, as this moment was one that shed the old and grew the new.

John felt the pads of the soft part of the dragon's feet and toes. Dragons couldn't grab anything well at all without opposable thumbs, but they could curve their paws to hold something with both, or just, well, feel something. There was some strength behind those forelegs and feet, but one that was loving and tender, and he knew it was to calm his nerves before everything was going to change.

As such, he welcomed it.

As they kept eye contact, the drake slid his paws down from just under the shoulder blades to down to behind his abdomen, getting a sense of the full frame of John's upper half.

Marlo could just melt into the human's eyes and skin. It was something he grew to cherish dearly despite everything that he'd been told, about draconic traditions and what was considered right and wrong.

Then, that thought began to fester more in his mind.

Would John want this? Would he be able to bear the weight of life and their relationship with him on their shoulders?

Would it…

Would it be…too much?

The world could be cruel. Marlo knew from experience, hence the scars he bore from Humanity before he met the love of his life.

However, he was a dragon. They were meant to face punishment from the elements and other creatures.

Humans, however, were vulnerable, physically and emotionally. He didn't want to make it be too much for John.

He wouldn't be able to stand putting such a pressure on the one he was going to spend the rest of his life with.

That it, if he accepted.

Once mated, there was no such way to break it, unless one of them passed on. Because of this, the important questions had to be asked.

'Do you want to do this? Will you be happy? Would you be willing to spend the rest of your mortal life with me? A dragon? Will you face the world with me?'

He didn't know.

As such, the drake opened his maw to put forth those said questions.

“John…"

The man, whose arms were wrapped around the drake's neck, felt the psychic dragon's words.

The voice he connected with was filled with…concern, one that was…caring.

He could immediately tell that this was important, and so, he grew attentive.

“Y-You sure you want to do this? With me?"

Ah…

He was asking if he truly wished for this, if he was willing to bind their souls despite what he world would think.

And the second part…

No, it didn't matter that he was a dragon or a male for that matter.

He loved him all the same.

That sweet, emotional, and protective dragon, one who gave him true companionship like no other.

This was meant to happen. He knew it.

“Of course.", John answered simply.

John was straight to the point, while Marlo liked details. This time was no different.

What?

He said…y-yes?

B-But…

No, he needed to know.

Know what they gained and lost once they became one.

Yes, they would finally be together forever for as much time God and Bahamut would offer them given Humanity's lower lifespan compared to Dragonkind, but the world…

The planet was massive, and their privacy out here in the countryside would be their shield to prying eyes to their relationship, but what if that wasn't enough?

Dragons were still looked down on by some humans, even after the integration. Just imagine a human and dragon together. Add into the mix that they weren't different sexes, and you got a recipe for disaster in the public eye.

That, and no kids. It was just a biological fact.

And so, he spoke once more, his eyes drifting off to the left and scaled brows in worry. John pushed himself from holding onto the back of Marlo's throat as he heard him speak.

“I was just thinking that…well, i-it's just that there's no going back, and we won't have children, and…well, I mean…"

He stumbled with his words.

How could he not?

It was a lot, and he needed John's thoughts on this even though he could, well, just read his mind, but he wanted to hear it from him, from his sweet and caring voice.

John thought about it.

Yes, it was life-changing, but…

What was his life? He hadn't found one to take his hand down the winding road, well, that was until Marlo, but he was just an ordinary guy, making a living for himself while supporting his community.

Drinking with his work friends could only go so far.

He wanted somebody to love, to care for. Hell, there was a second floor to this place meant for kids!

And…and…

Children…

It was as clear as day. They were both men, so they had the requirements to sire them, but not hold them.

As such, unless they adopted, they would be alone in their family, the tree cut off at the branches due to unused fertility.

Regardless, the bond had to be made. It didn't matter who or what Marlo was. He was the person he loved, who God made to be his soulmate, and that's a fact.

As such, he was willing to give up everything for the drake, and he didn't think, he knew that the dragon would do the same for him.

However, Marlo also had another concern, but unlike his previous words, which were clearly planned, these ones didn't, and came out more so as a last ditch effort to reveal the consequences of their act if they were to go with it.

“I-I mean think about what the world would think! I mean…a man and drake…together?", Marlo stated, placing his left paw on his chest plates to gesture to himself upon speaking about his race before letting it slink down to his side and looking down at himself.

That's right.

The world.

Sure, Dragonkind had integrated into a once predominantly human society, but it wasn't as seamless as one would think.

Even though both were fully sentient, the differences were obvious, even if the dragon race and Humanity were always meant to walk side by side.

Sure, many innovations and improvements to life followed, but then came the thoughts, the biases, and the opinions.

Dragonkind wasn't so welcome to change to their values, even if they were willing to shape up to fit into the world stage with the humans.

Tradition was impossible to break for them, and that included what they imagined was right and wrong.

Humanity was sensitive, but Dragonkind was overly rigid.

The dragons believed that a drake and dragoness should be together, not the other way around, and humans would be quick to point out their differing species.

If everything came out, the melting pot of culture clash would be assured to explode in their faces.

The reason why Marlo asked was because John would have to separate his personal and private lives altogether, not blur the lines.

He asked because he couldn't put that on John. It would break his heart if he did.

However, John didn't give a damn.

“Fuck them. I don't care."

He said is as he drew up along the drake's breast plates once more, Marlo's glance to reinitiate eye contact once more and his words plucked at his heartstrings.

He…

H-He would give up everything? For him?

A drake?

He was touched, truly, he was. He gained an emotion face as his mouth quivered a bit.

Then…

He urged his head and extended his neck a little before halting for…

Wait.

Why did he stop?

Was it his neck not willing to stretch on?

Regardless, Marlo rectified the mistake but shutting his eyes, curving his throat, opening his jaws, and…

In the air, he lifted and pushed his draconic mouth forward, and…

And…

John closed his eyes as well as he tilted his head a bit to the left with the dragon, and…

He felt the dragon's lips on his own.

Because Marlo was a dragon, the extent of his entire mouth given the longer skull couldn't cover the mouth of the man, but he engulfed him either way.

And so, it happened again…

They were still getting used to kissing one another, and it wasn't perfect, but it was blissful regardless.

Their first one once again was rather filled with inexperience, as they had never caressed another person before, human or dragon. It left some slobber, especially from the amethyst dragon, but a first kiss was a first kiss.

This was one of their original outings, but it was more refined.

Marlo, with his longer tongue, didn't have the width John had, but could cover more ground than he could. As the drake was incredibly careful to keep the man at bay away from his teeth, he danced with him, tasting the soft epithelia as he and John exchanged their fluids. Sounds came out as they split off for but a second before rejoining, aiming to gain better purchase, to savor the mouth and tongue of the other.

John, who had lifted his left hand to cradle the bottom jaw of his beloved, felt the taste of the draconic tongue twirling with his, the sensations overwhelming him with love and pleasure. He never felt a dragon's tongue in his trap or his throat, but the experience was simply unforgettable. The dragon's inner cavern was something to behold, like a train tunnel, and he would never fully enjoy the entirety of it, but what he could reach was inescapable. Like the psychic drake, he was simply enamored by the emotions that flowed into him, like a beautiful waterfall, along with the physical perception of his companionship.

He had no doubt.

He was not a best friend, but a soulmate.

However, they were nearly breathless, and had to separate, but it was slow at first.

Marlo broke it first, eyes still shut while John opened up immediately, feeling a line of saliva hit his chin like the drake.

Then, he heard…

A…

A…sniffle?

Marlo scrunched up his eyebrows with his lids down as his snout wrinkled as he let out the whine.

He was just…

H-He was just…

He let out another whimper. As he let the horned backside of his head feel the pillows and the headboard, he opened his draconic eyes to…

Tears?

Marlo was…crying?

A dragon…was…crying?

W-What…

Why?

Did…

Did something go wrong?

Why was he…sad?

Wasn't…

“Marlo, you okay?", John asked with concern as his drakefriend let a stream or two out of his reddened orbs.

Did…did he do something wrong?

Did he put pressure on the drake?

Dear God…

Seeing his eyes watering up was heartbreaking.

No, he shouldn't be like this!

Marlo heard the heartfelt question.

I-It was just…

He let out another draconic whine as he lifted his left forepaw and delicately used his right claw to capture his own salty tears as he spoke an explanation.

“I-I'm sorry…I-I just realized that…t-that after all these years, I…"

He choked on some more of the moisture before he finished it with the truest word in the universe.

“I-I found my mate."

He said it proudly and with the utmost love in the world as he struggled to put into words his true feelings, having fully accepted John as his other half.

Oh…

Oh…

They were not sad tears, but happy ones.

It made sense, as dragons took courtship and matehood seriously, at least more so than humans ever did. To Dragonkind, it was the birth of a new life, a light on the path forwards.

John couldn't help but let out a small grin.

Oh…

Marlo was a softie.

How ironic.

A dragon opening up to a human despite their perceived reputation of having less emotion.

With that, John relaxed as he turned a bit to his right to place the left side of his body next to the drake's. Marlo accepted his invitation to embrace as cranked his right foreleg to hug him.

As John slid his right hand along those bright chest plates and shining scales, Marlo felt the soft palm as it stuck to him.

He wished he had those hands, to feel John even more as he held him close with his three-toed paws, but limitations made one love what they had even more.

Marlo lowered his jaw while laying down, the bottom of his mouth gaining the sensation of the soft brown hair of the man as he melted into him.

He just wanted to hear his heartbeat forever…

And so, they cuddled, hearts entwined in the dance of life.

They just laid there, the only thing sounding out being their breaths and their only movements being their heaving chests as their hearts fluttered.

Now…they could be like this forever, and it did last for a good while.

About ten minutes to be exact.

However, they couldn't stay like this for eternity, no, they could do this afterwards.

They had to complete the second half of the ritual.

Still, they wanted to go slow with this, for they wanted to enjoy the calm before they truly became intimate.

Marlo broke the caress slightly, lifted his skull and opened his eyes.

“So, uh…"

Marlo started but never finished, although it did get John's attention, causing him to crack open his eyes.

“Before we, uh, y'know,…do you want to…um, get to know each other a little bit more?"

Ah…

He wanted to take it easy before…

John was still willing to delay them having intercourse, so he agreed.

“Uh, sure."

And so, this session of conversation was started between the two.