A Dragon's Love (Young Justice)

Little Miss Dragon Scales With Her Racing Heart

Needless to say, once I was finished cooking and everyone had a serving, I was feeling much better deep down. Everyone loved the food, all of them having seconds, before Wally took the rest of the pot. It was only after everyone was done, and the dishes had been placed in the sink that anyone asked me anything else.

"Emma? I mean Esmeralda?" Wally asks. I look at him. "You can call me Esmeralda, Wally, but only when it's just the team. Emma for when the League members are here, or if we're out in public." I tell him. He nods, before looking back at me. "Um... Could you... uh, what do you..." He trails off, not knowing what to say. "Yes?" I ask.

"Well, you see... I was wondering, as I think we all were... What do you look like, underneath your mask?" He asks. At this, everyone turns to stare at me. I sense my cheeks turning a light shade of pink. "Do you all really wish to know?" I ask. They nod, simultaneously. I sigh, giving in. "Alright, if you all want to know." I state, adjusting my crown before I take off my mask.

I move slowly, taking my time. My eyes are closed, my head down. Secretly, I'm so scared to show them. It's been years since I'd shown anyone my face. Not even Kent has seen me. Not since the day we met.

Once my mask is placed on my lap, I raise my head, opening my eyes to see their reactions. I immediately hear gasps, and mouths are hanging open. Superboy and Robin's eyes are wider than Saturn's rings. Wally leaned forward to much, and was now face planting on the floor, both M'gann's and Artemis' jaws were practically touching the floor, and Kaldur... He was staring at me with an expression I couldn't place.

Suddenly, Artemis smirks. "Well, well. Little miss dragon scales here has been holding out on us." She states. I turn to face her, confusion plain on my face. "What do you mean?" I ask. "Leave it to the quietest girl on the team to be the prettiest, too." She states, "Even with blood red eyes." I look down to hide my darkening blush. "No. No, there are plenty of Dracsun girls in my kingdom who are much prettier than me." I say.

"Not by much, I'd say." Wally states, getting back up to sit on the couch again. "Do all dragons have white hair?" Superboy asks. I shake my head. "A dragon's hair reflects the color of their scales. My father has crimson red, and my mother is black as the night. I get my color from my grandfather on my mother's side; it skips a generation, but I don't know why I'm the only one in my family to have it." I state.

"Either way, that's awesome." Robin says. I smile at him, changing my eyes from their red slits to their human grey-ish color, before looking over at Kaldur. He hasn't said anything since my mask came off. He shakes his head, snapping out of whatever stupor he was in. "Esmeralda?" He asks. "Yes?" I question back. He walks up to me, grabs my hand, and places a small kiss upon it. "As pretty as you are, Esmeralda, you look beautiful with your dragon eyes." He tells me, before letting go of me, sending a small goodnight to us all, and walking out of the room. They all turn back to me, only to see my cheeks a rosy pink once more. He called me... beautiful.

The others do nothing but smirk, for whatever reason, I don't know. Instead of saying anything, I excuse myself, stating that I was simply tired, and wanted to go to bed. I left them to talk amongst themselves and ignoring what they say; upon reaching my room, I closed my door and stood against it. I place my hand upon my chest, feeling it's racing pace. Slowly, I slide down my door until I'm sitting on the floor. "Why is my heart racing?" I ask myself. "Why did he do that?" I don't know why, and I don't know why I really liked him kissing my hand.

(Aqualad's POV:)

I left, saying a quick goodnight, in a rush after kissing Esmeralda's hand. Leaving was the only thing I could think of to hide the fact I was now blushing myself. Emma wasn't pretty like Artemis said, she was breathtakingly beautiful. So much so that the mere sight of her left me in a stupor.

With hair as white as snow, and eyes red enough to put a rose to shame, this girl is easily one of the most beautiful girls I've ever met. She is quiet, and kind, and she seems to have the air of a natural-born leader around her. She always knows just what to say, and she says it with that modest confidence she tends to hide under that midnight black cloak of hers. She's so passionately protective of the people she cares about and obviously isn't afraid to fight if needed.

Yet, underneath all that, there's this strange aura of mystery around her. She hides her emotions so well, it's hard to tell what she's thinking most of the time. It always looks like she's secretly angry at everything, but when she speaks, it's as if nothing in the world is wrong in her eyes. Why is she so angry deep down inside herself? Why does she hide herself away from the world? What insecurities and fears does she bury deep within herself?

"Why did I do that?" I ask myself out loud, placing a hand on my head as I looked up to the ceiling of the cave, as if it had the answers for me. The scene of eventss that happened in the living room play over and over in my mind. I don't know what came over me. My mind went blank. My heart beat quickened, and I couldn't stop staring at her. It feels so natural to be so close to her. But why? Why do I long to be around her so much? Why do I desire to go back and sit by her side? It's something that I just can't figure out...