Park and Eileen get to know each other a little better – drawing parallels and gaining further understanding.

(At the moment, this story preview does not have any formatting – this means character thoughts aren't differentiated from plain text.)

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Our Story (Comeuppance Pt. 2)

Perhaps one did not want to be loved so much as to be understood.
“So, what’s your story?” The dragon asks, shifting a little next to me.
I clear my throat, gathering the scattered thoughts as I piece together a response. “It’s nothing special, really. I’ve been alone since I was a child. It started as a nightmare. My greatest fear had come true: isolation. It all happened in an instant. I wanted to get out of our house, my father had only just finished his eight hours working the crop fields with his magic. He taught me some of it; but, more importantly, he taught me to teach myself. He always made sure I could make it on my own, that I knew how to do everything myself. We had hardly even made it down the street before I saw him fall from the corner of my eye. A puddle of blood grew from his chest, his eyes were blank and... cold. Whenever I think of him, it’s always that face.”
I take a second to catch my breath, coughing a few times. Eileen messes my deep red hair with the tip of her snout, blowing warm air down the back of my neck. “The thief stood over me, a bloodied dagger in one hand and my father’s coins in the other. I didn’t even think to look at their face before I lost control. I could hardly tell what was happening, emotions spiralled in my head. But, I could feel the life draining from the-the thief. I must have used my magic to choke them, or something. Then, before I knew it, they began to swipe their dagger around and....”
Staring at the wall, I distantly run my fingers along the rigid line dragging across my collar and neck. Pulling me out of the daydream, Eileen brings her head in close again. “Do you mind if I...?” She asks quietly, a soft and somewhat curious gaze finds my eyes. I nod silently, leaning into her a little more. Tenderly, she ran her lips and snout across the scar. I sighed deeply, looking more intently at her. While we have been this close before, I’ve never really paid attention to her detail.
I idly run my fingers across her tightly woven, smooth scales. They’re all coloured in an individual pattern of cloudy grey, not leaving even the slightest gap in her organic armour. I continue to entertain myself as she explores the scar, sliding my hand up her neck. Although, I reach an odd-feeling disparity. On the side of her neck, opposite of me, is a rigid protrusion – somewhat vaguely resembling a line. Eileen discontinues her study of my scar, meeting my gaze without a word. “I guess we’re a little more similar than we thought...” I whisper; she rests the underside of her jaw on the top of my head as I continue to feel around the break in her, otherwise, uniform and neat scales. “Well, I told you my sad back-story.” I start with a dry chuckle. “Do I get to hear yours?”
She blows a bit of air out of her nose, seemingly in an expression of reminiscence. One of her fore legs languidly swings around to rest on my lap, pulling me a little closer to her radiantly warm core. “There’s not much to say... I moved away from my parents at a young age; I never felt any love from them or even for them. The only thing they were good at was telling me what I

didn’t need to hear. I only ever seemed to let them down and give them more things about me to dislike, so I got sick of it and moved here. Ever since, I’ve been working in construction – it’s about the only half-decent job that one of my kind can find. I wasn’t accepted when I first got here, there was a lot of hate and prejudice against me for what I am. It was exactly what I was trying to escape.
“One day, a small group took it too far. They cornered me on the street, in front of many others. A small crowd formed as they began to brandish weapons and call me slurs. I looked for any officers, only finding that they were all simply watching – I could see they had no intention in helping me. The group must have grown bored, because they then attacked. Luckily for me, none of the weapons pierced my scales – I was able to simply knock them out or send them running with as little as a bruise. That was until one got too close with their short-sword. I wasn’t paying much attention because by then I hadn’t expected any of their weapons to hurt me. But, it turns out this one was enchanted. I killed the one who injured me, in front of everyone including the police.
“The officers arrested me, leaving the gang to continue on with their own business. I had to fight, far harder than against the gang before, to argue my case. They eventually let me off and I was able to keep my job – it was an absolute miracle that I didn’t lose my job, that certainly would’ve been the end for me. Until earlier today, I’ve been cautious of others ever since. I’ve seen everyone as an enemy of me and what I am, I’ve only ever seen glares from others. It’s been hard – my biggest fear has really become reality. I’m just so scared of ending up, or having to accept that I’ll forever be--”
“--alone.” I cut in; she moves her head, allowing me to meet her eyes in understanding. I hold both my arms out, she arcs her head downward and accepts my hug. “I know.” I say softly, comforting her with one hand. A feeling, one I can’t describe, grows deep within me. A tear streaks down my face, almost surprising me. I quickly wipe it away, accidentally drawing Eileen out of the hug.
She regards me silently, the violet hue of her eyes gleaming out into the room. With a small lick to my neck, she begins to prosper a smile. “Park...” I look intently at her, almost losing to the tears. A single droplet then falls from the corner of one of her eyes, I gently whisk it away. I can tell from her gaze that she’s trying as hard as she can to find the right words, but silence is the only sound to be heard.
“It’s okay; I know.” I say again with a stifled chuckle. She looks at the ground, I see more tears build from the edge of her eyes. “You know...” I begin. “I really struggled – with surviving, or even just wanting to survive. My father told me to always find something to fight for, to have some reason to justify your life with. But, it wasn’t always clear if I had anything. I’d sometimes lose sleep wondering if there really is any reason for me to continue living – if I had any purpose. In the end, I don’t know what it was that I found. I honestly don’t

know why I chose to still be here. I guess, if you know that better things are a possibility, then you just have to trust that they’ll happen.”
Using both my hands, I pull Eileen’s head to face me. “I don’t know what this is – between us – and I don’t know if it will last. But, right now, you are who I want to fight for. As long as I know I can continue to walk this sad and conflicted world, knowing that you are too, then I’ll do everything I can to make sure that continues. What I’m trying to say is... Eileen, I understand.”
Eileen completely turns and pulls me close to her chest. She begins to cry – hard. This causes me to cry more, too. After a good few seconds, she catches her breath. “I-I want to try, to try my hardest for you. But, what if it’s not enough? What if they try to separate us? What if we don’t work out?” My under- shirt quickly becomes damp again, stained by warm sorrow.
“I can tell you, honestly, that no matter what happens, it will always be enough for me. And, sometimes we have to drown to know how good it feels to breathe again. If what I feel is real, and if what I feel is what you feel too, then I know-I know that nothing will get in our way.”
She stops crying, but continues to sink deeper into my chest. “Okay...” I make a quick sniffle and wipe the tears from my cheeks, immediately returning to rub my hands across her scales.
“Okay-” I reply.