#mage!rey

The blizzard was beginning in full force when she finally reached the cave, her cloak covered in a light dusting of snow but the package, mercifully, intact. She grinned to herself. It was her first winter with him, and wasn’t sure if Kylo celebrated Yule - or if dragons even observed human holidays - but she’d always been fond of gifting, even if she hadn’t been able to most of her life.

But those lonely days in the desert were behind her. Rey set the package down in her little alcove, dusted the snow off her cloak and traded it for a wool blanket. Kylo had a strict no-fires policy in his cave, and on days like this she could damn him for it.

She glanced at the mouth of the cave, tugging the blanket tighter around her. Where is he?

One hour passed, then two; the temperature dropped. Rey began to seriously debate if it was worth risking his wrath to avoid freezing to death when he arrived, swooping into the cave. The snow and moonlight made his black scales glisten silver; Rey had a moment to admire it before having to dodge the flying chunks of snow he shook off of him. She’d never tell him, but the movement reminded her of a dog.

Good. You are here.

“And freezing,” Rey said. “Could you do something about that?”

No fires, he groused, but he lumbered over and dropped his head so he was eye-level with her. Rey wasn’t sure what to expect; he touched the tip of his nose to her forehead, and the strangest chill went through her; from the tips of her toes to the top of her head, Kylo took away the bone-deep cold feeling, leaving only a contented warmth in its wake.

Rey blinked. “That’s...useful. Wait - why didn’t you do something before? I’ve been freezing for a month!”

You never asked, he said, flicking the tip of his tail across her calves. You instead thought it appropriate to use my flank as a space heater.

“I can always go back to my old place, you know,” she told him. “If it’s too much…”

Nonsense. He butted her shoulder with his snout. Rey gave his cheek a pat, mindful of the spikes. “Oh! I got you something.” She retrieved the package and unwrapped it for him. “I don’t know if you do Yule or not -”

I was around when the traditions were invented, little bird.

“All that tells me is you’re old,” Rey said with a cheeky grin. She tore away the brown wrapping paper and held the portrait out to him. There was a beat of silence; Kylo’s golden eyes were fixed intently on it.

Rey swallowed. “I - uh...you have a lot of portraits of this woman - the legendary queen. A passing merchant’s guild had it, and I thought…”

Thank you, he said, fixing his gaze on her, rooting her to the spot. He ruffled his wings, and said, I...have something for you, as well. Come.

Rey set the portrait down and followed him to the back of the cave, and watched as a necklace floated through the air and - to her surprise -  landed in her hand.

“Is - is this a tooth?”

It is a protection amulet. And yes. It is. One of mine.

Rey glanced from the amulet to the dragon, unsure of what to make of it. One of his teeth? She ran her fingers over it, noticed tiny etchings throughout. “Oh - it’s a scrimshaw.”

Of a sort, he agreed. I was...out, retrieving it from the grave of the sorcerer who stole it from me. Should you be in danger, my magic will protect you.

Rey smiled to herself and put on the necklace. “Well, that’s a story.”

For another time.

“Spoilsort...Thanks, Kylo. I...thank you.”

As accident prone as you are, it’s only prudent, he chuffed. Rey laughed, but didn’t press the matter.

Later that night - still warm from whatever spell Kylo had used - Rey was preparing to sleep. She changed into her sleeping clothes and, now that she no longer needed her dragon’s body heat, retreated to her alcove to sleep -

Only to find her blankets were no longer there.

“I - what - where -?” Rey asked, turning to Kylo for an explanation. To her surprise, the dragon had taken several of her blankets and pillows and had piled them next to his side.

The spell will wear off eventually, he gruffed. And the wind chill will kill you.

Rey smiled to herself and climbed into his nest of silks and wool, curled up next to his side, leaning a pillow against his forearm.

“Happy Yule, Kylo.”

He flicked the tip of his tail across her calves, half out of boredom and half to get her attention. “What?” she asked, not looking up. 

He flicked her again. What are you thinking, little bird?

She cocked an eyebrow and scooted closer to his face. She lay on her belly and propped her chin up on her elbows, met his eyes. “What do you mean, what am I thinking? You’ve been brooding all afternoon.” 

I do not brood.

She poked ones of the silver spikes on his cheek. “If you were any more broody, you’d have laid an egg.” 

He let out a playful growl. Next time I’ll bite your finger off.

She had the audacity to snort in disbelief. He was almost irritated - almost - and she said, “Last time I got hurt, you practically played nursemaid.” 

Of course he had. What was he going to do - let his apprentice freeze to death? She might be a reckless magelingl, but she was his reckless mageling. And if the contract was broken, well - that magic would take a toll on them both. No - it was best this way, both of them healthy and together. 

Next time, he told her, I’ll let you freeze to death. And bite off your fingers.

Rey snorted again, but re-settled into the curve of his neck, idly scratching him behind the horns. She was small and warm against him, and he could feel the magic thrumming in her veins. 

Perhaps, in another life, things could be different. He wasn’t sure what it was about her that made him resent his curse and yearn for his days as a man - days he had pushed far behind him - but it was as unsettling as it was intriguing. 

But there was no use dwelling on the past. One day, his mageling would seek out more from human life, and he would not stop her. 

But for now...

Kylo shut his eyes and rested his head on his paws, draped his tail across Rey’s legs, let out a satisfied purr when she scratched the base of his horns.