alpha omega.

[dovahfahdon]

[ He has camped at a field within a grove of trees, a fire softly burning nearby. Alduin is a month dead, and it is still something to take in. Alain has not returned to "civilization" since then--he has kept to earth and flame, power and might, and has only taken in the land, the enemies, the creatures. He has only had thus.

He has expected Niall for a while now, but the dragon agreed to wait for him. Alain does not want to return to the house he built. Instead, upon waking, he uses the amulet given for the first time. Calls the dragon to him.

When he finishes the Dragonborn lays down again. He watches the sky. He waits. ]

Comments

[nehnahlmey]

[He has waited.

Waited, waited, waited until the seconds turn to minutes, minutes to hours, hours to days, days to a month. Until his compound eyes were caked with dust, his limbs locked, his heart beating rapidly in anticipation.

From Morndas to Sundas, Nehnahlmey waited.

A month passed, and Alain had not returned. Had not, yet--

Yet, one day, the dragon feels it, a vibration within his bones, a call he has never heard before but knows its source by heart. His head whips toward the source, eyes widening.]

Alain.

[Alain is back. Alain has returned.

With a roar, Nehnahlmey takes to the sky, flying as if he holds the strength and speed of ten dragons. He follows the call (his heart) to a small grove, to a fire in the darkness.

To a Man. Nehnahlmey lands in a nearby clearing, stumbling in his footing in excitement.]

Alain!

[dovahfahdon]

[ He does not respond.

He does not speak or sign or sigh. He only moves to the stumbling dragon, to the existence screaming the name he was given. Alain reaches up to the dragon, reaches his hands for an embrace.

Speaks not at all. Only wishes for touch. ]

[nehnahlmey]

[He lives. Alain lives. And Nehnahlmey--

He ducks his head, toward the outstretched arms.]

[dovahfahdon]

[ Scaled flesh meets his own, and he touches the dragon's head gently. Moves his hands over the other in a comprehensive sweep, as if Niall was the one to disappear and not Alain.

Alain touches the dragon, holds him, and breathes. ]

...I have missed you, zeymah.

[nehnahlmey]

And I have missed you.

[Hands, warmth, press against him, and Nehnahlmey whimpers in the emotion rising in his chest.]

I have missed you...

[dovahfahdon]

[ Regrets burns like heat, then dies away under the onslaught of relief. Alain presses his forehead to the other's head, and inhales deeply. ]

I'm sorry I made you wait. I'm here now.

[nehnahlmey]

[The apology does not matter. It is Alain's presence that has all of the dragon's focus.

Nehnahlmey huffs once, enjoying the contact, the affection.]

And now you will never leave.

[A hope. A certainty.]

[dovahfahdon]

[ In response, Alain laughs.

Full and complete and genuine, like he hasn't laughed before. It carries, draws out, like something releasing. Something letting go.

Something being allowed. ]

[nehnahlmey]

[Laughter fills the air, and the dragon called Niall finds comprehension. A form of fulfillment.

He nudges the other lightly.]

[dovahfahdon]

[ In response, Alain hugs the dragon's head. Throws his arms around and holds tightly. Alain laughs and laughs, until the sound turns to sobs, the breaths turn to wet tears. ]

[nehnahlmey]

[The sound grows. Changes. It slips and falters, but Nehnahlmey knows.

Alain has gone to Sovngarde. He has faced the World Eater. It is understanding enough.

Nehnahlmey remains. Thrums gently as if offering comfort.]

[dovahfahdon]

[ Alain pets him at the noise, hands moving over him lovingly. After a while, he backs somewhat, enough to look at the dragon instead of lay on him.

Alain smiles. ]

You waited for me.

[nehnahlmey]

[The man returns patience with a smile. Nehnahlmey has to think hard for his words.]

Ol fun.

[As told. Promised.]

[dovahfahdon]

[ There is weight here, and right now, at the moment, Alain would see it dispersed. He wishes for something lighter. Something less weighted. Something that lacks complexity and is only simple.

He continues to touch the dragon, running fingers over rough skin. ]

Where have you been staying?

[nehnahlmey]

[The man would ask a dragon to speak whilst bewitching the aforementioned dragon with a gentle hand. Yet Nehnahlmey only huffs, heaving his chest.]

Where you left me.

[dovahfahdon]

[ ...What that means. What that means is-- ]

...So my house and my cow are gone.

[nehnahlmey]

[A pause.]

Your house stands, and your cow breathes. They are very fortunate.

[dovahfahdon]

[ Alain smiles again, easily and full of affection. He pets the dragon. ]

Such a merciful creature.

[nehnahlmey]

[The petting is approved. Nehnahlmey closes his eyes.]

Mercy, Alain Ebon, is a quality I do not possess. I have merely...forgotten them.

[dovahfahdon]

So you say.

[ But forgetting from anxiety and pain is not something he wishes to draw attention to. He would rather let themselves slip into each other. ]

...I would ask you if you wish to do something, but night is a sorry excuse.

[ Still. ]

Would you, perhaps, wish to watch the stars with me?

[nehnahlmey]

[Night, however sorry the excuse, is wanted, and to watch the stars is a wonderful request.

The dragon inhales, absorbing the emotion.]

I would.

[dovahfahdon]

[ Living, when one was to die, has a freeing affect on his mind. He speaks where he would have abstained. ]

Would you take me to somewhere with a better view, then?

[nehnahlmey]

[Nehnahlmey thinks on this. This and others.]

Climb.

[dovahfahdon]

[ He wastes no time.

He does so, then touches the base of the dragon's skull, fingers tracing gently. ]

[nehnahlmey]

[The weight against him is no weight at all. The fingers on his head, however, are distracting, and Nehnahlmey thrums. He considers simply dropping to the earth for a nap.

Instead, after some effort, he takes to the night sky with the magic afforded to dragons and rides the wind to their destination.

They come to an ice field. Nehnahlmey circles the area once, seeking out a stable place to land, before dropping elevation. Eventually, he touches the ground, his back legs absorbing most of the impact in an effort to minimize the chance of knocking Alain from his seat.]

[dovahfahdon]

[ It is different, all of this, and Alain knows it. Knows it and does nothing to return to their prior balance and distance. Perhaps he might, perhaps they might, in time. Now he is content for closeness. Intimacy.

He slides downward and brushes himself off at the ground. Then pats the dragon's side. ]

Thank you.

[ For agreeing, for taking him here, for allowing his request. For waiting and keeping and remaining. For returning, just as much as Alain did. ]

[nehnahlmey]

[This closeness exudes suspicion, only Nehnahlmey does not notice. That possibility of loss is too great to see anything else.

Instead, the dragon only watches Alain, pleased at the contact and absorbing the thanks.]

[dovahfahdon]

[ Brevity returns. ]

You are supposed to be watching the stars.

[ Not Alain. The scold is given teasingly, quietly; affectionately. ]

[nehnahlmey]

[He is, but--]

The stars are here.

[dovahfahdon]

[ Another would laugh. The man he was would have looked away with narrowed eyes and a flush. Instead Alain keeps the eye contact through the surprise, even as red blooms on his features. It spreads to his temples and eventually he smiles against his will, a hand coming up to mask the expression.

A habitual gesture of denying any happiness. ]

You missed me, then.

[ Question and statement both. ]