Kayden Kings Grove

             voice     fluttered     in     her     mind,     speaking     up     that     she     needed     to     figure     out     what     this     was.     however,     fae     felt     as     if     she     knew.     despite     hard     attempt     to     push     it     into     deepest     part     of     core,     there     was     kayden     leaning     his     face     into     her     touch,     and     her     shifting     slightly     to     be     closer.     and     what     he     said?     enough     for     white     ink     against     her     skin     to     change     shade,     wings     threatening     to     give     her     away.     but     they     could     not     flutter.     deep     inhale     from     her     then,     face     actually     coloring     as     the     other     complimented     her     once     again.     how     many     was     that?     did     not     know     true     count     but     would     treasure     each     one,     overthink     each     one     come     night.     ❝     kayden,     you     keep     saying     sweet     things     like     those     and     i     may     just     start     believing     them.     -—-     you     are     really     handsome,     you     know     that?     and     usually,     i     do     not     care     to     know     deeper     than     that     about     someone,     but     i     am     lucky     to     know     you.     and     i     like     who     you     are     inside     and     out.     very     much.     ❞     stops     self     before     continuing,     knowing     she     would     despise     it     if     tongue     continued     to     roll     onto     ‘you     are     not     like     anyone     i     have     met’     speech.     as     true     as     it     was.

             perhaps     having     some     distance     between     their     vessels     would     come     to     help,     but     amorette     finds     that     she     holds     no     desire     to     move     back.     not     much     anyway.     she     is     looking     over     at     him     as     he     speaks,     as     if     trying     to     commit     features     to     memory,     yet     they     had     been     long     ago.     despite     all     uncertainty,     kayden’s     words     manage     to     pull     a     smile     from     her,     bright     and     honest.     ❝     you     have     a     deal,     no     overwhelming     ourselves     with     all     of     that.     but,     if     you     think     about     it     or     me,     call     me?     ❞     request     leaves     lips     despite     her,     gaze     wide     at     his     next     words.     usually     she     was     one     to     say     something     along     those     lines.     of     course,     never     to     him,     but!     look     at     that,     only     blushing     deeper,     attempting     to     hide     it     by     pressing     her     palms     to     her     cheeks,     head     tilting     as     she     looked     at     him.     ❝     baby,     that     is     so     scandalous.     do     you     mean     it?     —     because     i     can     cancel     my     plans     tonight.     ❞     only     then     does     a     hand     drop,     moving     forward     to     grab     onto     his     shirt     and     pulling     him     closer     to     her     again.     abort.     ❝     you     are     so     sweet,     i     think     i     really     felt     something     just     now,     corazón.     ❞     tone     is     teasing     though     it     gives     away     hint     of     truth     as     she’s     then     the     one     to     lean     her     face     into     his     hand.     lips     pressing     soft     kiss     against     kayden’s     skin     before     looking     back.     ❝     if     you     give     me     that     much     freedom,     i     might     just     say     every     night,     you     know     that?     might     even     invite     you     somewhere     else.     ❞ 

             just having her hands on his body brings an unfamiliar chill that feels as if it’s cooling his hot skin down. it reminds him why he pushed amor away in the first place, indignant behavior meant to make the fae fly far away from him because he could find wanting this feeling forever. he wonders how there is still space between them as he is practically melting in her hands, kayden finds that he keeps leaning more into her touch.  ❝ you should believe what i say for it is true. ❞ eyes soft as they only focus on her, absorbed in her essence, absorbed in the moment.  ❝ i will tell you every day if that’ll get you to start believing me. ❞ it would be the honor to hold the role as the one that whispered her sweet dispositions throughout all their days, seeing the smile he adored so much as the perfect reward. crimson color dances across his cheeks when she speaks, proving she affects him like no one else does. he hopes she doesn’t notice it, genuine smile from the words i like you hoping to distract, ❝ fuck amor i- ❞ the dragon can’t find his words, mind still processing all the kind things she said. he could go on and on about what makes her great, infinity reasons listed in his mind but kayden was never good with words or feelings, it’s often why he remained so quiet, so grumpy.  ❝ you’re the type of girl i want to allow to dig deeper. i don’t know why, you should be getting on my nerves... ❞ she was soft and light, he was jagged and dark, polar opposites meant to be not as close as they currently were. ❝ but for whatever reason i find myself liking you more too. ❞ the words feel strange coming out of his mouth. However, they also felt right, sincere in the moment kayden didn’t have to lie to her or himself anymore, 

Alaric liked Kayden, he respected him. There were teachers who believed that the students should respect them, regardless of if the teachers respect them back or not. Alaric didn’t see it like that. He believed it was in his best interest, as well as in the best interest of his students, that a relationship of mutual respect be formed with each of them. He didn’t find Kayden to be a pain in his class. He often advocated for him in the teacher’s lounge, he just didn’t view him the same way some of his colleagues did. He notices Kayden change, just slightly, and Alaric appreciates it. He’s centuries old, and therefore he APPRECIATES being shown respect. It wasn’t something he demanded, but rather something that he craved. After living a very long life, after being given the opportunity to live another of the same length, it was nice when he felt as if that time MATTERED. “Well the better half of my life does go to things like grading papers, and crafting lessons and tests, I find that there are other things worth making time for. It may not seem like much, but this town has a lot more to offer than what meets the eye.” 

He smiled warmly, looking over at Kayden so that he could meet his eyes. Real men always looked others in the face when they spoke to them, it was both common courtesy and and made for conversation that was slightly more personal. “What has you out here sulking, I hope not the homework I assigned..?” He chuckled softly, waiting for Kayden’s reply. Alaric liked to think he was good at being there for his students, at possibly given advice, and he was here if Kayden wanted to talk. Of course, he also knew how teenagers could be, and the option for Kayden to joke past the question was there. Whatever he chose would be accepted, he wasn’t one to press about things unless it was dire.    

     kayden was the son of the chief of the sora clan, but he never had a father just someone who trained him to be the perfect soldier, destroyer, bringing terror to humankind, and whatever got in the way from their conquering. and kayden was perfect for it. the lessons he learned glued to his mind despite living for so long and wishing to forget. while he was primarily human having not taken on his dragon form in decades ( he was almost caught once, so kayden prohibited himself from shifting no matter how much he misses soaring in the air ) there were days he felt the dragon clawing out of him, attempting to destroy the life he had created. those days he just locks himself in his crap apartment and mediates, control one of the most important things he learned from his father. so he controls the dragon by being as normal as possible and going to school was one of those normalities. it wasn’t enjoyable learning the same content that he had lived, but seeing his select friends and attending alaric’s class made the headache of school slightly better. ❝ i guess your right. this town is all about perspective and which one you choose. ❞ he inhales the cigarette for a moment after that wondering what perspective alaric had of king’s grove.

჻░     𝐛𝐞𝐱﹕     i     am     going     to     show     you     how     to     emoji     tonight,     sweetheart     😍

჻░     𝐛𝐞𝐱﹕     ugh,     but     what     if     i     wanted     to     see     them??     also,     hello,     your     attention     should     be     on     me     regardless     of     who     is     clinging!

჻░     𝐛𝐞𝐱﹕     thots,     feelings,     shots,     shots,     shots!     you’re     always     needed     &     i’m     going     to     kick     your     ass     at     shots!

✦ grandma / bex

kayden  ⫸  but i just learned to uwu i thought uwu was cool UwU

kayden  ⫸ you can get a private show event you want ;))))) ah yes main ho before other hos 

               pencil taps against denim-covered knee,  lips pursed in thought,  consideration.  ❝  don’t know why.  there isn’t much to do in this town. ❞   dark hues glance over,  bounce between features & edges,  & an elbow knocks gently into side.   ❝  well,  i’ll try not to dwell on that.  ❞   weak humor laced with laid-back tone,  looking forward once more.  this town was both a headache & sanctuary;  her & other creatures lying amongst shadows,  waiting with baited breath.  thumb ghosts over lip,  unconscious habit,  including the flipping of the pencil,   ❝  yeah,  she says it’s some sort of good vibe thing    ridiculous if you ask me.  but,  good to know.  we don’t ever burn incense in the cafe so. ❞      

˗ˏˋ     𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠     𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥     /     𝐤𝐚𝐲𝐝𝐞𝐧. 

჻░     𝐛𝐞𝐱﹕     secret:     i     don’t     really     either,     but     it     felt     right     to     say     it.

჻░     𝐛𝐞𝐱﹕     wait,     we     have     to     put     on     pants??     this     may     be     too     much     expected     of     me.     it’s     saturday,     kayds!

჻░     𝐛𝐞𝐱﹕     i     am     trying     to     put     my     thoughts     &     feelings     in     order.     &     i     think     i     got     it     for     the     most     part??     i     just     don’t     want     to     hurt     anyone     in     the     process,     y’know?

✦ grandma / bex

kayden  ⫸  if i knew how to emoji i would send one that is disappointed. not just in you but the both of us.

kayden  ⫸  look, my legs are too sexy to be flashed at a time like this. my focus needs to be on you not the number of people that will be clinging to me once they see these calves.

jude nodded very seriously.  “hm.  good to know.  note to self:  count benches in town next time you’re too bored to function.  thanks for the tip.”  he relaxed as soon as he sat down, slinging an arm across the back of the bench.  he always appreciated people who weren’t trying to out-chipper a damn disney character, and kayden certainly fit the bill.  “it looks like all your other faces.  i think most normal people smile when they’re thrilled.”  jude glanced from the boy, down to his finger, then back up to his oh-so-thrilled face.  “kayden, kayden, kayden.  i don’t know what you’re buttering me up for, but i’m glad that you know how far flattery gets you.  don’t sell yourself short, we can both be the prettiest.”

   he doesn’t scare her.  sometimes she wonders if he should scare her ;  if she should wonder if his glare would ever turn on her too,  but the thought has never even crossed her mind,  not once.  despite all of her sardonic responses,  despite all her obnoxious quips,  he’s stuck around.  despite all the fights she’s cleaned him up from,  the anger has never turned on her.  no matter how frustratingly talkative she’s been,  he hasn’t left.  carson can’t say that much for everyone.   (  even the best of friends leave her.  alex left,  and they grew up together.  who’s to say kayden or bex or layla won’t do the same at any given moment ?  )   

  she’s doing the best she can do.  she patches him up when he needs it.  hell,  she’s even watched a few youtube videos on how to stitch him up so they don’t have to go to the hospital.  she’s there if he wants to talk — which is rare,  but still occasional.  she’ll point her finger in his face accusingly if he oversteps ;  she’s never been shy when it came to putting people in their place.  all that never really left room to think of him in a different light,  but sometimes,  sometimes …   (  sometimes he would fall asleep on her shoulder and she would wonder how much he must trust her for that to happen.  he’ll wrap her up in his jacket if it’s raining at school and let her wear it long after the clouds disappear.  it’s the little things that make her wonder if maybe ———-  )  

 they aren’t you.  the words make her freeze,  caught off guard by the suddenness of them.  she shakes her head with a laugh after the poke in her cheek,  ruffling his hair in retaliation and in hopes of ridding herself of whatever butterflies are congregating in her stomach.   “ i —- ”   she’s floundering for something witty to say,  something to take off the pressure,  something that doesn’t give her away.  she hopes in the darkness he can’t see the blush that so profusely tints her cheeks.   “ that sounds like a big responsibility,  kayden sora ;  you sure i’m up for that ? ”

     he always wondered if she would runoff. carson has witnessed his anger on more occasions than kayden would prefer to admit, the dragon lashing out on others ( in his defense they deserved it ) but carson was always there to calm him down when he sees red and ready to stitch him back up when the bleeding didn’t even really bother him. the look of concern and the way she’s always just cared got him to stick with her. unexpectedly morphing well into the established friend group that they had together, he wouldn’t have any of it without carson. and kayden knows there must of be something that carson could see in him that would make her want to stick around a hot-headed dirtbag dragon guy. he never questioned what it was, just knew he was grateful that his long life led him to her.

       kayden sometimes wonders how he did live without carson. all the frustrating nights of just attempting to thread the needle to stitch himself up, shaking hands, proving only how human he could get washed away with carson’s presence. he hasn’t transformed into fully into a dragon in over eighty years. his human skin decorated with natural freckles, moles, and deep scars that he told bullshit stories about as well as some artistic tattoo modifications, kayden often forgot what his dark scales looked like. sometimes they haunted him in his dream, but even in the end he couldn’t recall how he looks. but strangely didn’t matter because in carson’s eyes she saw the human he’s always tried to be. and that human has never been perfect for as long as he lived but when kayden is walking down the halls with carson, making sure his glare clears the school halls to make sure the traffic keeps up with carson’s get to class walk ( she says it’s a fast walk. kayden says jog ) it just feels right. like everything he has ever done has led him to be by carsons’ side...

             fails     to     know     feeling     that     comes     to     reside     at     core     but     shoulders     drop     in     physical     defeat,     her     gaze     becoming     softer     if     possible.     only     hoped     that     kayden     did     not     dwell     on     clearly     dropped     walls.     which     normally     faerie     would     build     right     back     up     but     this     once?     amorette     allows     the     truth     on     her     end,     untwisted     and     genuine     as     it     was     meant     to     be.     she     looks     at     him     as     he     leans     closer,     honey     gaze     moving     over     features     as     he     spoke.     and     without     talking     herself     out     of     it,     she     allows     hands     to     rise     and     gently     take     hold     of     his     face,     thumbs     lightly     brushing     over     his     skin.     after     all,     he     initiated     the     space     invading     first!     ❝     you     know     what     i     think,     mi     corazón?     i     think     the     dragon     is     more     than     good     enough     -—-     extra     grumpy     maybe,     but     that’s     one     of     my     favorite     things     and     i     have     never     met     a     better     one.     ❞     each     emphasis     intentional     and     genuine.

made     own     vessel     speechless,     simply     left     to     lower     hands     and     collect     whatever     was     left.     listening     as     she     toyed     with    notebook.     moments?     had     one     she     would     write     about.     ❝     you’re     absolutely     right,     and     i     think     i     have     shared     more     than     enough     truths     and     secrets     with     you     for     one     day,     so     maybe     my     journal     should     get     the     next     batch,     don’t     you     think?     ❞     grin     that     graces     rosy     lips     is     one     of     teasing     nature,     ❝     amorcito,     i     would     never     tell     a     soul     about     your     journal.     you     have     my     word,     kayden.     –     besides,     it’s     hotter     for     us     that     way,     right?     all     the     secrets.     ❞     words     sounded     easy     enough     yet     with     her     they     carried     heavy     weight,     having     sealed     an     oath     that     if     broken     could     cause     serious     damage.     but     truly,     she     would     not     break     whatever     trust     was     between     them.     past     the     bite,     she     was     loyal,     whether     or     not     he     got     under     her     skin.     ❝     and     since     i     am     willing     to     do     that     for     you,     then     do     something     for     me,     and     come     sulk     at     the     bar.     sabes     que     me     encanta,     i     just     love     seeing     that     look     on     you.     ❞

    there is something about the way she is looking at him that makes him feel vulnerable. her touch on his skin feels as if she is shedding his human skin away, reveling the harsh scales that reside underneath; however kayden moves his face against her hand, slightly nuzzling it for the moment. the genuine action is also rare, reserved for special people in the dragons’ life, and now he has marked her as one of them. he won’t tell her though not yet that’s information he’ll lock away. her words flutter a smile on his lips; he nods his head, accepting the compliment.  ❝ well, this extra grumpy dragon thinks in all his life he’s never met a better princess can kick his or anyone's ass anytime they need it. ❞ he pauses eyes tracing over her unforgettable features once more,  ❝ i’ve never met anyone as beautiful either, gorgeous. ❞ he’s given her more compliments than typical without even having a drop of alcohol in his system when his intention was to annoy her, it just shows him how she truly gets to him. 

˗ˏˋ     𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠     𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥     /     𝐤𝐚𝐲𝐝𝐞𝐧.     @courgonborn.

჻░     𝐛𝐞𝐱﹕     code     red.

჻░     𝐛𝐞𝐱﹕     might     be     past     code     red     actually.     but     i’ve     got     a     shot     with     your     name     on     it,     sweetheart.

✦ grandma / bex 

 kayden  ⫸  bex for the millionth time, i don't understand the different codes. 

 kayden  ⫸ i do understand shot talk though. lemme put some pants on. 

                “ oh and become the paragon of good decision making like you? tempting, but i think i’ll pass. ”               she crosses her arms. but when the joint is extended, it really only takes a second. she wasn’t planning on going home any time soon, and what better way to pass the time? not to mention, MANNERS. she needed to pick up soon, anyway.       so she handles it, taking an exaggerated inhale like this was some game she’d just won. and obviously, no interaction between the two of them could continue without an insult. she exhales, offering it back between pinched fingers.              “ you roll like a freshman. ”