Dragon's Healer

 

 Raphael was inside, preparing lunch when he looked out of the window. He smiled when he saw Byron in the garden. It had been almost half a year since their relationship started. Never in his wildest dreams had he thought that he'd find happiness with a dragon who turned into a human and Byron, who he'd loved for years. But he was happy. Mostly.

At first he was uncomfortable with Trenton, and he would sometimes feel as if he was intruding in something for Byron and Trenton alone. As the days, weeks and months passed as the kisses, touches and whispered words of loved built, Raphael finally started to feel as if he was actually a part of the relationship.

He watched as Trenton came flying down, changing as soon as his touched the ground. He was naked, and his dark skin gleamed in the sun. He walked to Byron, and Raphael smiled as they kissed. They looked so different from one another. One with black hair, the other red. Trenton had dark skin, wider shoulders and he was some fingers taller. Byron was sun kissed and not as broad. Both strong and larger than Raphael. They two of them made a beautiful couple.

Trenton was so gentle with Bryon, as if he was the most precious of treasures. As he watched, Raphael realizes that as much as he is a part of this relationship, he didn’t' belong. That much was obvious to him as he watched Byron and Trenton.

Raphael finished making lunch, then brought it to the outside table, amidst the decorative part of Byron's garden. He sat and waited for the other two to join him. Raphael knew Trenton and Byron spent time together, just the two of them. And he also knew they made love, just the two of them; and Raphael didn't mind. He didn't expect them to always include him. But Raphael never made love with just Trenton, or Just Byron. It was always both. Almost as if they were reminding Raphael that he was the third, the one who was invited. There but not truly a part of it.

The two eventually came and Raphael saw the flush on Byron's cheeks, and the satisfied gleam in Trenton's eyes. Byron smiled and kissed Raphael. He could taste Trenton on Byron's tongue. The dragon slid his fingers through Raphael's hair and along his neck.

“Have you been waiting? You should have eaten.”

Raphael smiled at Byron's words, replying, “I like eating with you two. I don't mind waiting.”

Lunch was quiet and after, Byron went back to his garden. Trenton changed and lounged in dragon-form in the sun while Raphael cleaned the dishes and the house. Throughout lunch Raphael watched the other two interact with one another and he'd come to a decision. After he cleaned the cabin, he had one last task.

It had darkened and Trenton and Byron were sleeping. They were used to Raphael coming to bed later than them, and it was something he'd counted on. They wouldn't think anything was wrong. Raphael adjusted the packs on his horse and set out into the night.

His plan was to allow Trenton and Byron their relationship, to not have to worry about Raphael. He hoped they were happy because the thing he wanted most in the world was their happiness. He'd told it to them many times, even wrote it in the note he'd left them.

Sometime in the past six months, Raphael had not only fallen more deeply in love with Byron, but he'd come to love Trenton as well. Which was why he hurt so much. But if his pain could someway ensure the happiness of the two most important people in his life, then he would survive.

Maybe he was being selfish and childish, but he couldn’t' help how he felt. He was no longer satisfied with being merely the third. He wanted to belong. He wanted to be thought of as well. He wanted to be included, and not only as just between the two of them. What it came down to was that he wanted to be loved by Trenton and Byron as much as he loved them.

Raphael had been walking all night, and after being up all day, he was tired. At midday, after eating a light lunch, he feel asleep, his dreams full of Trenton and Byron.

The thing about a horse who got used to being around a dragon was that when said dragon came to find a person, the horse didn’t' get scared. Raphael woke up face to face with an angry dragon and his horse was calmly eating.

“You ran away.”

Trenton was still in dragon form as he spoke. It wasn't something he was able to do easily and it startled Raphael.

“Are you afraid of me?” Trenton had changed, becoming human; naked. Raphael looked away.

“No. I was startled. You've never spoken to me while you were a dragon. In fact, you don't usually remain in dragon form while I’m around. You are beautiful when you’re a dragon. Just as beautiful s when you're a man.”

Raphael was hungry again, so he pulled out some dried fruits and bread to eat. He didn't eat a lot because he wanted to cross the mountain to get to the next town. He only brought enough food for two weeks, as that's how long it would take.

“I didn’t' think you were comfortable with me as a dragon. You never said anything.”

Raphael looked at Trenton with a warm smile on his face that didn't quite hide the sadness. “I've told you how beautiful I thought you were, and I’ve told Byron. I thought you did it because it was something you shared only with Byron. I didn’t' want to intrude.”

Raphael was looking at the bread in his hand, but he heard Trenton moving around. Large hands cupped his face, raising it to look into dark green eyes. Trenton looked deeply into Raphael's own blue eyes.

“Help me understand why you are unhappy. Why you felt the need to run away.”

Raphael put his hands on Trenton's and sighed heavily. “I'm not unhappy. I just don't think you and Byron are as happy as you could be if I wasn’t there.” Raphael couldn't look Trenton in the eyes as he continued, “Didn't you get my letter?”

“That letter explained nothing. Byron was worried and we immediately set out to find you. Didn't you think of how he'd feel? Or were you too selfish to see that?”

Raphael wrenched himself away from the dragon and angrily replied, “I was thinking about Byron and you. That's why I left; because it's just Bryon and you. I don't feel like there is any room for me. I'm included but I don’t' belong.” He didn't yell, his voice was measured and low, but angry.

He started cleaning up, repacking the blanket and food, setting the packs next to the horse.

“What are you saying? We make love with you, we eat with you, we make sure you're involved with us.”

“And that is exactly what I mean. Every time we sleep together, it's you and Byron, and me. I'm an addition who is allowed to participate. It's never just you and me, or Byron and me.” His voice lost it's heat so Raphael just sounded lost and sad. “I knew when you two first suggested I joint he relationship that I wouldn’t' come first to either of you. I never expected to. I know you two spend time alone together, and I’m happy he has someone to share that with. I just realized that it was something I wanted to.”

Raphael put the supplies on his horse, then tied his hair back before turning to face the dragon. He could feel his heart breaking. Could he really give him up? And Byron? It would hurt, but he had to. For their sakes, and his.

“When Byron was imprisoned, I though up hundreds of ways to save him. But the only thing I could do was ease what little of his suffering I could. And you saved him.

“I though I had lost my chance to tell him how I felt, but then he came back and it took me a long time to gather my courage. But I turned out that I lost. Again. To you. Then everything happened and I got a different chance, a better chance. Both Byron and you.

“At first I liked you because Byron loved you. But then, I fell in love with you, separately from Byron.”

Trenton made a rough sound and started to move closer, but stopped and asked, “Then why are you leaving?”

“Because I don’t' think you two feel the same way. More often than not, I feel like I am intruding upon you two. If I leave, you two can be happy without interruptions. You won't have to worry about including me or not. You wont' have to think of me at all.”

The horse nuzzled Raphael's shoulder, sensing his distress. He was always good with animals. Byron always said he had a soothing touch, which was why he made such a good healer.

“So you decided to eave without saying goodbye? Without explaining? That note didn't count, as it is the coward's way.”

Raphael smiled wryly, “I already know I'm a coward. That's why I stayed as long as I did with you two. I didn't want to be alone; didn't want to give you up. I would have rather soaked up the scraps of your affection than be without.”

For one who wasn’t' originally human, Trenton moved quickly. He rushed forward and grabbed Raphael, bent down and kissed him hard. It was the first time the dragon had kissed him without Byron present. Raphael couldn't help but melt into the kiss, clinging to Trenton's arms. Trenton kissed his way along Raphael's jaw to nuzzle his ear.

“At first I agreed with Byron's proposition because he wanted you. You were precious to him, and he is precious to me. That meant you were too by extension. But that changed. Soon, I saw the wonderful being you were, and you became mine too. Not because of Byron, but because of you.

Raphael was silent for a long time, just looking at Trenton. He didn’t' know what to say. He'd never known the dragon to lie, but he wasn't sure if Trenton was saying that to keep him there. And Raphael wasn't convinced that staying was the best thing for Trenton and Byron, or himself.

“I that was true, Trenton, I wouldn't feel the way I do. I'm sorry, but I want more, and I'm not sure you and Byron can give it to me. Not when you and he are so in love with one another. It's not fair to you or him if I try to insinuate myself into that.”

Trenton narrowed his eyes at Raphael, who knew the dragon was getting annoyed. For a dragon, he was patient, so that he was showing annoyance said a lot.

“Don't you think you should have spoken to us about this?”

Trenton's annoyance was bringing Raphael's own to bear. “Maybe I should have, but I didn't. And maybe I shouldn't have just left a note, but that's what I did. That's how I am. I don’t' like confrontations. I don't like inconveniencing others. Maybe ism a coward and I’m sorry for that. But that's me.”

He jumped on his horse and looked at Trenton. “I love you, but you shouldn't have come after me.”

Raphael left, expecting Trenton to go home, be with Byron. So he was surprised when he transformed to dragon-form and started after him. AS used to a dragon as Raphael's horse was, she wasn't used to being chased by one. She panicked and started running. Raphael tried to slow her down, calm her, but the dragon came closer and swiped at them. Raphael knew Trenton wouldn't hurt him, but he didn’t' know what the dragon thought he was doing!

Raphael turned left, then right, running from an annoyed dragon. His horse was breathing hard and pushing to go faster, trying to escapee. He found himself in a place he recognized. It was near Byron's old cottage. Byron and Trenton hadn't returned, but Raphael had. He kept it clean and sometimes still treated some of his patients there. He still loved being a healer and continued to help. Raphael stopped his horse finally, got off and full on glared at the dragon.

“Are you insane!” He yelled at the drain, and he never yelled.

Trenton changed and stalked to Raphael, picking him up and entered the cottage. He went inside and straight to the bedroom. The tossed Raphael on the bed, the crawled on it, covering Raphael's body with his own.

Raphael put his hands on Trenton's shoulders and set to push him off, but Trenton took his hands and pinned them over the healer's head. He lowered his head, nipped at Raphael's ear and spoke in a gravelly, rumbling voice. More dragon than human.

“I've kept a lot of my more dragon-like attributes from you and Byron. So let me tell you something. Dragons are possessive. We don't let go of what we see as ours. Byron's mine, and you are most definitely mine.”

Raphael tired to free himself but Trenton was too strong. The dragon settled more fully on top of Raphael, nestled himself between the healer's thighs. He licked and kissed Raphael's neck. “You don't know what it means to be a dragon. But that will change.”

Trenton and Byron were always so gentle when they touched Raphael, but this kiss was anything but. It was hot and demanding and passionate. IT was something the dragon never shared with Raphael. It was overwhelming and he melted into the onslaught.

Trenton's hands were merciless, forcing reactions from Raphael. He knew where to touch, as he'd been with Raphael before, but this seemed as if he was relearning the healer's body. His mouth felt hotter on Raphael's skin. And when Trenton swallowed around Raphael, the healer came harder than he had before.

Trenton crawled up his body and kissed him, sharing Raphael's release. They were both breathing hard when they broke apart.

“We're nowhere near done.”

Raphael fell asleep exhausted, sore, sweaty and happily wrapped in Trenton's arms. They slept late the next day and woke up to the sun shining in the room and a plate of fruits, bread, honey, and juice on the bedside table.

“Good morning Raphael.”

The healer looked to the door and saw Byron standing there, smiling.

“How did you know to come here?”

Byron walked to the bed and gave Raphael a kiss before answering, “We knew you still came here. I figured I'd try here eventually to look for you. It looks like you and Trenton worked things out.”

Trenton, in response rumbled and tightened his hold on Raphael.

“You do have everything worked out, right?”

Raphael looked at Byron and thought back to all that had transpired between himself and Trenton before he replied with a definitive “Yes.”

“Good. Next time, don't just run away. All you had to do was say something to us. You believe us when we say we want you, right?”

Raphael nodded and Byron kissed him. “You believe us when we say we love you?”

“Yes” Another kiss, and another, until Raphael laughed and pulled him down into a deeper kiss.

“I'm sorry I ran away instead of talking.”

Byron crawled on the bed, onto Raphael and said, “So long as you don’t' do it again.” His hand reach down after removing Trenton's arm from Raphael. He wrapped his hand around the healer's hardening length.

“Trenton has had his turn with you. Now it's mine.”  

 

A/N: That's it. I'm pretty much done with this world. The story kind of got a away from me in the prequel to this, but I don't dislike it. Regardless, rock my world and let me know any thoughts about this. Thanks for reading!