Xiao hadn’t left his apartment in a while. Living in Beijing, he was surprised to have found an apartment affordable for a creature like him.

Xiao, a solder— a creature of destruction and death— refused to be seen by others. He couldn’t, not after what he had done and who he was. As a soldier in most to all of China’s wars hundreds of years ago, he’d killed and witnessed deaths, those of his comrades and those of his victims. Being a dragon, he felt disgusted with himself.

Dragons were seen as ‘decor’, or creatures of folklore. He saw himself as neither of those, and he refused to let anyone see him.

He didn’t go out; when he ordered food or groceries, he always demanded they leave it at the door for him to retrieve.

Until he met you. You, you cursed thing. You knocked on his door, with that oh so sweet smile on your lips. One thing led to another and you are the only creature he allows himself to be with.

Snuggled close, his face buried in your nape, his tail wrapped around your ankle to keep you in place. His hands found your waist, his lips pressing kisses along the slope of your spine. He adored how you didn’t see him as a disgusting creature, how you held him so dearly and kissed at his scars and took such good care of him.