The Maiden's Dragon

Monday Movie Night

Vivienne let herself into Red's house and kicked off her shoes.  The day had been long, but rewarding, with the placement of a brother and sister into foster care as well as another boy adopted.  She wanted to tell Red all about it, but it was late enough he probably wasn't awake.

She peeked into the living room and found Red, apparently asleep on the couch.  Tommy was wedged between the sleeping Dragon and the back of the couch, snoring.  Tommy had been ecstatic upon their return, charging Red for a hug with enough force he had managed to bowl the Dragon over.  It was sheer luck that had Red catching himself on his elbow, rather than his broken wrist.  Not that he had seemed to care as he wrapped his arms around his son and loved him.  The two had been practically inseparable ever since.  Leaving them there, she slipped through the kitchen and into the dining room, giving Eveirdo a smile.

"Evening.  Sorry I'm late."

Eveirdo looked up out of Red's collection of ancient books, seeming to just notice how late it was.  He rolled his neck and stretched his arms above his head with a sigh.  "Hevreshek left dinner for you on the stove."

Vivienne glanced behind her, finding the pot with a lid on it.  "Wonderful.  I'm starving.  Were the boys well behaved today?"

"Tommy was fine.  I think Hevreshek's hearing is coming back and he's just pretending it isn't so he can ignore me whenever he sees fit."

Vivienne chuckled.  "Sounds like Red."

She watched Eveirdo get to his feet and pull his jacket off the back of his chair.  After a week of trading off between them while Red was healing, she had learned his gruff tone and apparent irritation at everything she did was simply him.  Not any real reflection of anger.  She cocked her head at the ink coiling out of one sleeve and down his forearm.  She gently touched it when he went to pass her, stopping him.

"What's this?  I've been meaning to ask about your tattoos.  They don't show up when you're a Dragon but I got a decent look when-"  She stopped, flushing a little.  She had gotten a decent look at a lot of things while they were escaping from Esther in Europe.

Eveirdo didn't seem at all embarrassed.  He tugged aside the collar of his tee-shirt to show her the Chinese style dragon flowing over his shoulder and down one pectoral.  "Old girlfriend."  His deadpan tone and expressionless look didn't give her any clues as to whether or not he was joking.  She grinned anyways.

"And this one?"

She brushed her fingers over the lightning storm peeking beneath his other sleeve.  He grinned this time.

"Makes for a neat trick."  The tattooed lightening suddenly glowed an electric blue.  Sparks and arcs of electricity had her pulling her hand away to watch in fascination as the storm inked into his arm came alive.  She chuckled when it all faded away again.

"That it does."

Eveirdo swung his leather jacket around his shoulders and prepared to leave once more.  He hesitated before bolting for the door like usual.  "How are you feeling?"  She raised a brow and he elaborated, reluctantly.  "No homicidal urges?  Strange feelings or dreams?  That sort of thing?"  Vivienne shook her head, confused at the line of questioning.  Eveirdo didn't expand any further, simply nodding in satisfaction and assuring, "I'll be back in the morning.  Good night."

"Good night.  Thank you."  Eveirdo nodded and quietly headed out the door.  Vivienne went over to the stove to reheat dinner and eat.  She cleaned up the kitchen a bit after she was done, humming to herself as she did so.

"I don't know that one."

Vivienne jumped, whirling to look at Red leaned in the doorway.  He had apparently taken Tommy to bed while she had been distracted.  His sightless eyes stared into the middle distance, but his head was cocked with his ear towards her.