Dragon's Pride (Ch 12) (Patreon)

I take a large bite from the remains of a barbecued rib in my hand, crunching through the bare bone without any trouble. I nod in happiness, the chef having adapted well to my inquiry about consuming the bones as well as the meat. I have no idea how they did it, but it’s almost as good as the meat itself!

I swallow, taking a drawn out chug from the water next to my platter with the same hand. With the other, I idly stroke the golden hair I’ve braided together and hung around my neck like a scarf. Maybe I’ll see about getting it fully made into a scarf? I wonder idly. But I push the thought to the side for later as I peek around the oversized (for others) pile of meat at the two suited people across from me enjoying their own food, after my urging, in a decidedly less messy manner.

“So,” I start, watching as they both spring to attention, backs becoming as straight as if they tied boards to their backs. I roll my eyes in exasperation. “You don’t have to be so serious, you’re like, thirty years older than me. Just be casual.”

The woman’s eye twitches, but she doesn’t act on whatever thought caused it. “If you insist.” She says before taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, the tension in her posture leaving with it. She slumps back while her partner leans forward, clearly enjoying the food almost as much as I am.

After swallowing another bite of rib -bone and meat this time- I continue my earlier thought. “So, you mentioned that the two of you are with ‘DAB’. What’s that, and what does it have to do with me?”

The man gives me a curious look while the woman blinks. “DAB stands for: Dragon Appeasement Bureau. Which should answer both of your questions.”

I take a sip from my water, smacking my lips before responding. “Nope.” I pop the ‘p’ before tossing the remainder of the rib in my hand into the air and crunching down on it directly, pleased that I didn’t miss.

The man and woman exchange glances, the man expanding on the explanation. “We… appease dragons. Of which you are one.”

“Huh.” I tilt my head, blinking at them. “Wait, I’m a dragon?” I look up as I try to sense what my instincts feel about that, but they’re oddly quiet. Maybe they’re still basking in how these two have been treating me right from the first moment they showed up? Whatever. But if I think about how my instincts have reacted to everything and my own actions…

I nod. “That makes sense.”

“You seriously didn’t realize?” The man blurts out, his partner elbowing him in the side. But I feel like it’s a fair statement.

“Nope. I just knew that it wasn’t a quirk. Other than that, I didn’t particularly care about finding out what I am.” I shrug. “I always figured it would just come to me one day, or someone would show up that already knows and tell me.” I drag a bone through my teeth, the meat being left behind as I point it at them and swallow. “And behold, here you are. With absolutely no effort on my part.”

They exchange another glance, the man shrugging. “I mean, she’s not wrong.” His comment earns him a hit to the shoulder this time, and he adopts an aggrieved look. “Stop hitting me, she told us to be casual!”

“There’s a difference between casual and disrespectful," she growls out. I can’t help but chuckle at their antics, enjoying the pleasant atmosphere that hangs over our table.

“The two of you get along well. I can see why they sent you to meet me. You must have experience meeting dragons who have recently Awakened?”

The woman claps her hand to her partner’s mouth, sighing at how easily he’s become used to me. Evidently giving up herself she turns to me. “We haven’t. Full dragon Awakenings are exceedingly rare. In fact, you are only the eighth full dragon to Awaken since records of them have begun.”

“Curious,” I say before raising an eyebrow. “You keep saying full Awakenings, so does that mean there are partial Awakenings?”

“Before that,” the man interrupts, “how come you know about Awakenings but not the fact that you’re a dragon? How does that make sense?”

I blink at him as I furrow my brows. After all, the answer should be exceedingly obvious. “Instincts, duh.”

Ignoring the way he sputters in indignation I turn to the woman, only now realizing that I haven’t bothered to ask their names. Nor have they offered them. Oh well, either they pop up or they don’t. She ignores the byplay with her partner as she answers.

“There are partial Awakenings, and from what we have been able to discover or been told, they are far more common than full Awakenings. Though more difficult to discover, given how prevalent quirks are.”

I frown at the implication that any of my (admittedly newly discovered) kinsmen could be mistaken as simply having a quirk. Apparently realizing what her words can be construed as, she hurriedly expands upon the topic.

“We don’t have the ability to monitor partial Awakenings like we do full, and even then we only obtained that capability after the last dragon to fully Awaken offered their services to our organization.”

She shakes her head. “More to the point though, those who have partial Awakenings are perfectly happy to claim their newfound abilities are the result of a quirk, rather than something the general public has no idea exists. Most often they believe it as well.”

Barbecue sauce splatters as I crush a rib in my hand, bone and all. A growl builds in my throat as my eyes flash, scales spreading from the corners as my rage flares. “Those filthy fucking disgraces. How dare they! To belittle their heritage so easily… They better pray I never cross their path. Or else.”

The two of them swallow, and I force myself to reign in my bloodlust. “Apologies for my outburst. I simply find it… offensive that others of my kind could stoop so low.” I frown as I angrily take another bite, only realizing after the fact that I’ve grown a muzzle and just shoved an entire rack into my mouth. Interesting, but nothing out of the ordinary. Though it’s the first time I’ve grown a muzzle instead of my tail, wings, or claws popping out.

The conversation dies down there, the meal continuing in silence. It’s only after I clean my platter and request another -much to the awed shock of the waitress- that the woman finds her voice.

“Well, it seems like all dragons share the same hatred for half-breeds.”

I think on the term for a moment, nodding at how it fits. “Rightly so. They’re disgusting.”

There’s hesitation from them before the man speaks, almost sounding out the words to his question. “Do you know… how Awakenings work?”

I wave my hand dismissively as the waitress brings back freshly steaming ribs, half the size of the previous, but still enough that the two across from me turn a bit green at the thought of eating it. “I do not, but that hardly matters. However it starts, they should have the resolve to see it to its finish.”

“Well, typically people have a bit of trouble throwing away their humanity.” The woman states dryly. That has me pausing mid-bite, and I look at her in surprise.

“Truly?” She nods and I slowly eat what’s in my hand, thinking about it. I swallow, my words coming out thoughtful. “Well, in that case I suppose I should show them leniency, given how pathetic they are.”

“Wanting to stay human is pathetic?” The man questions honestly, genuinely not following the very clear reasoning rather than trying to be impertinent. I nod sadly.

“Of course. Each full or partial Awakening occurs to someone who is quirkless. Correct?” I know I am, because I find it simply unfathomable for one of us to have one. We’re so much better than quirks, after all. They nod, their expressions clearly showing their bemusement at how I know that. Poor lessers.

“Are you aware of the treatment of the quirkless?” They grimace, with the man piping up.

“It's the worst in Japan, but generally it’s overall not good.” I nod, idly wondering how it is in other countries before dismissing it to investigate in the future.

“So, the fact that the people who are in one of the best positions to know how humanity truly is are desperate to remain a part of it? Clinging to something so vile, well, it can’t be anything other than sad and pathetic, can it? They have the chance to be better but they are unable to accept that fact. They become happy with mediocrity when they can Awaken to greatness.”

I shake my head. “Really, putting them out of their misery is a kindness. But I suppose I will try to limit myself. So long as I am in a good mood, at least.”

They say nothing, clearly enamored with the truth I’ve enlightened them with. They say nothing for the rest of the meal, and I don’t feel the need to fill the silence with inane chatter. I give a satisfied burp after clearing my platter for a second time, the waitress coming by to clean the table and leave the check behind.

I push it towards them as I start the second part of our discussion. “Now, you claimed that you can provide me with a proper Lair?”

They jerk at the sudden question, the woman fumbling the credit card she pulled from her jacket pocket. They recover quickly though, professionals through and through. I wonder what kind of training they go through to become so competent? Since I’m the only newly Awakened they’ve encountered, it must be effective for them to be so skilled.

“We can,” the woman states, folding her hands together on the table. “However, to ensure that you are provided with your ideal Lair, we would like some more information on what you desire.”

Her words are back to being formal, but I don’t mind. The previous talks were for pleasure. This is business.

“Something large, so that I do not have to worry about the size of my Hoard outgrowing the size of my Lair.” I start off with the bare-bones basic requirement before adding on my list of desires. “Fairly isolated, so that I don’t have to worry about random burglars attempting to break in and make off with my Hoard.”

I scowl at the thought of someone stumbling across what’s mine and attempting to flee with it. “It would not end well for their home city.”

“I require comfort, all modern amenities so I am not inconvenienced. I also wish for enough room to install traps, to better protect my Hoard.” I tap my chin in thought, each tap of my claws against my scales signaling a shrinking of my muzzle until my mouth is eventually back to normal.

“I find myself missing warm baths; most temperatures are incapable of breaching my scales. Perhaps a lava bath? When I first Awakened I found it to be rather comfortable.”

I frown at the niggling sensation that I’m forgetting something, but for the life of me I can’t think of what. The two of them nod along with each of my requests, not even blinking at me wanting a lava bath.

“We can get all of that handled. Is there anything else?”

“Hmm.” My frown deepens, a single claw digging a thin furrow into the table as I try to think about what it is I’m forgetting. I try working it out loud in an effort to discover what it is.

“I don’t need it to be by a city, since I can simply fly if I need something. Perhaps an obstacle course so I don’t become fat? DAB will be providing me supplies wherever my Lair is located, correct?”

She nods. “Indeed. At no cost, given we wish to keep your existence hidden from the general public.”

I snap my fingers, realization settling in. “That’s what it is!” I meet the woman’s eyes. “I wish for DAB to set up a website where I offer my services.” I smile, flashing my pointed teeth in an intentionally half-threatening manner.

“I do have a need for entertainment, after all.”