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“15 copper 10 silver and 2 gold” a small armored knight dressed in red and deep dark pink with her auburn hair tied back into a ponytail looks at the small bag in front of her and knows the pay won't even last her two days of food, let alone refill her supplies for completing this job.
“The poster said 30 gold” the man behind the counter stares at her apathetically.
“Consider it a fee for completing the job so late” she grinds her teeth as she glares at the hefty man who just chuckles at her. “If you want to start a fight prissy little knight then you'll find the guards and a comfortable cell waiting for ya” she gives him another glare before she begins to walk away.
“Oh and leave the ring on your nec-?” her sword is drawn and pointed at the man's throat.
“My sword can pierce your throat before you call for the guards.” her gaze is cold and steely but there's something else within it. But the man is too scared to identify it.
“Right miss” she sheathes her sword again as she walks away leaving the greedy man to himself.
She may have gone to a prestigious knight academy but she came from a poor family. Most people see her wielding a sword and the coat of arms of her school and assume she's a rich, stuck up noble. But that's far from the truth. Her family has lived in poverty for generations. Ochako had to fight for her right to exist at her school against the best knights and teachers on this side of the world.
She could have gone to some far off kingdom and become their most noble night, but she didn't. Ochako chose to stay in her own kingdom to help her parents. Every coin she earns is for them, but every time she takes a job people always try to stiff her or convince her she didn't fulfill the mission right.
Rescuing a kidnapped child, the mother said their daughter was scared of her and wanted recompense. When she helped guard a flock of sheep the shepherd kept insisting a wolf got a few of the sheep when she wasn't looking.
Every duel she wins they always have an excuse for why they lost.
‘The sun was in my eyes. I haven't had my sword sharpened enough. You used dirty moves’
No one ever gives her credit for doing something right and they all look down on her because she's a knight from a prestigious school. She thought things would have been better if she became a knight like those she always saw when she was little, but it's caused her nothing but pain.
Still she tries to carry herself with dignity and honor like she was taught. Even if everyone around her glares at her or spits on her name.
Ochako looks at the board of requests and the slim pickings they offer. She knows that the offered price for completing each one is only a fraction of what they'll give her.
She's sick of it. But her pride as a knight has been through the mud enough times that it's become the norm. But ochako still wishes she could do something that would make people see her differently.
As she scans the board she sees an old paper buried beneath the others. The price on the sheet catches her eye.
10,000 gold. She picks up the withered paper and looks at the description.
Request from the king and Queen, slay a monstrous dragon. Ochako frowns.
‘A dragon? Why a dragon?’ The books she read in school said dragons are hermit-like creatures only interested in shiny treasures like gems and gold and crystals. Some of the books say they want to build a nest for their mate. But as she looks down at the old paper the words ‘Avenge the princess consumed by the dragon’ makes her think.
Something feels off about this mission but the royal seal and amount listed make her ponder if she should take it. Her stomach rumbles with pain and she feels the weight of her previous job in her coin pouch and how light it is.
She sighs before taking the paper with her and walking off.
Deep in the forest near the mountains was where the rumors of a dragon living were. The people say it terrorizes farmers and steals from their flock and burned down a nearby village.
She wanders through the forest as she looks for clues of where the dragon might live. So far she hasn't found anything. No claw marks on trees or rocks reduced to rubble. No footprints on the ground and no remains of cattle or sheep anywhere. And those rumors about a burned down village seem to be mostly rumors. The only thing she's seen close to it is a shack that's burned down and had burned books and belongings that looked like they belonged to a young girl.
Ochako walks down the forest as her armor gleams in the light. Chips and scratches adorn her old armor because she can't afford a new set so she uses the one they have her at the academy.
She's seen no sign of a dragon. Maybe she's in the wrong place or someone else already found the dragon a long time ago.
“Hmmm” ochako contemplates what she should do now as she walks near the steep cliff of the mountains. But then her eyes go wide when she spots a cave hidden beneath branches and brush.
‘It looks like someone hid it on purpose’ ochako decides to step forward through the foliage and look into the dark entrance. ‘It's dark I can't see anything’ she chastises herself for not spending the money on at least one torch.
She bends down and looks deep into the cave. The only light she sees is the light glinting off her armor from the evening sun. But then in the darkness something with glowing yellow eyes opens and stares back at her. Fear runs through her body at the inhuman amber eyes until she thinks and realizes those eyes are small, too small to belong to a great bellowing beast that breathes fire.
“Hello?” the eyes in the darkness close as the sound of running begins to fill the air. “Wait! I'm not going to hurt you” the sound stops and those entrancing eyes open again and look at her warily. Ochako thinks of what to say to them before reaching for her coin pouch and pulling out the few gold coins left. She holds them out towards the figure in the darkness and hopes she's right.
Those eyes turn wide when they see the sight of the few pieces of gold in her hand. The sound of small steps can be heard in the darkness as those pretty eyes that remind her of gemstones come closer to her. As Ochako's eyes get adjusted to the darkness she starts to see the figure in the darkness.
She's holds her breath and keeps an still as possible so she doesn't scare them off.
Then when they finally approach her and she sees a clawed scaly hand reach out towards the gold she's holding.
Then she catches sight of them, her the moment the cloaked girl snatches the gold from her hand and quickly retreats into her cave. Ochako smiles to herself as her eyes finally adjust to the light and she can finally see her.
It's a girl hiding inside this cave and her draconic features stand out even against the hood and cloak covering herself. She's sitting on a pile of torn cloth and gold and silver coins are scattered in a small pile in the middle. There's other shiny and precious looking things along with the coin. A shiny open metal can, a pair of broken rusty metal scissors, broken colored glass and a few empty bottles.
Ochako decides to take a small step forward into the cave and a fire begins to spark and leak from the other girl's mouth. The girls – tail wraps protectively around herself as if she's scared.
Ochako raises her hands in peace.
“I'm not going to hurt you i promise” slowly ochako reaches towards her sword and coin pouch before she undoes her sword causing it to fall to the ground. She raises her pouch and pulls out the silver coins. “Here you can have these, a peace offering” the other girl's tense form begins to relax as her fiery breath fades.
Ochako takes small steps forward as she keeps both her hands visible. Slowly she walks up to the other girl until she's right next to her. Then she holds out the silver coins for her to take. Ochako smiles gently as the other girl reaches a hand out towards her but then she's pulled to the ground and has a clawed hand around her throat. She chooses not to fight back and thankfully the other girl doesn't hurt her and leaves her enough room to breathe. It's quiet for a moment until the other girl speaks.
“Why! Are you here?” in the darkness ochako can see hints of pale white skin peeking out from under her hood. Ochako wets her lips as she tries to figure out what to say. “No lying either!” with no other choice ochako tells the truth.
“I saw a poster about a dragon that ate a princes and-” the moment she says those words the girls breath turns to flame and ochako feels her breath hitch because she sees the most beautiful girl in the world in front of her. Her beautiful features are highlighted by the fire on her pretty pink lips. She has narrow upturned eyes filled with amber and fangs poking out of her lips coated in flame. Her hair is long and messy and colored an ashy blonde. It frames her face perfectly. She's reverent and heart stopping.
Her eyes barely register this girl's dragon-like features. Her eyes aren't drawn to the tree like horns atop her head that remind her of a fawn or the golden scales around her neck and face.
No she's drawn to her beautiful eyes as they stare back at her with fear and fury.
“You're beautiful~” the words slip from her lips unconsciously and the flame fades from the other girl's mouth. But even as the light dims she sees a blush on the girl's cheeks and her eyes become filled with disbelief.
Ochako slowly feels the other girls hand unclenching from her throat and she feels a calmness between the two of them as they both stare at each other in the darkness. She's still in awe of the other girl and her heart hammers inside her chest like it's fit to burst, but the calm only lasts a moment. The other girl sits up and begins to leave and ochako can't help herself as she grabs her wrist.
“Wait!” but the moment she touches her the other girl hisses and claws at her arm and blood spills from between her armor. Ochako is so worried she upset the other girl that she doesn't even register the other girl freezes at the sight of her blood.
“You need to-” the hooded girl swallows before continuing. “You need to leave” it's only then that ochako notices the sun leaking in the cave has become twilight and she knows that she needs to find a place for the night.
But she doesn't want to leave the girl alone in this cave. Her eyes look at the small pile of cloth and jewels and she has a proposition for them both.
“Miss?”
“Why are you still here?” She can tell the girl is glaring at her from beneath her hood and she holds her hands.
“Your bed, is this all you have to sleep on?” Ochako tries to be cautious with her words so she doesn't upset her. The mysterious girl seems to have trouble trusting people so she shouldn't push her too far. She needs to be calm and collected.
The other girl scowls at her and grits her teeth. Her fangs interlock perfectly and she would have liked to admire them but now isn't the time.
“ Get. Out.” ochako reaches for her bag and pulls out a few silver coins and the other girl's eyes go to them and try to avoid looking at her bloody arm.
“I'll give you one silver coin for every question i ask you, please” ochako shakes her bag to rattle the coins and it makes the other girl tense up. She looks at her palm and the coins in front of her and her hand reluctantly goes towards them. The other girl is extremely cautious and ochako can't help but think of what could have happened to her that she's so scared.
Then she picks up two coins before pulling back like her hand was burned. It's like she expected ochako to grab her the moment she was close. The thought makes ochako worried.
She remains completely still and doesn't say anything despite her taking more than one coin. The tension seems to leave the other girl's body for the most part. Then she looks at the coins in her hand before clenching them close and tight to her chest.
“Fine . Two coins for every question.” a small smile appears on Ochako's lips and she nods.
“Okay, what's your favorite color?” the other girl blanches and her glowing eyes look at her with confusion.
“That's your question? You're not going to ask me my name or why I'm here in a cave or how i can breathe fire?” ochako nods softly.
“Yes, i won't force you to tell me anything you don't want to” ochako sees the other girl blush before turning around away from her. She clears her throat before saying something that throws her off.
“You're weird” ochako thinks for a moment about how true that is and chuckles.
“Yeah i guess i am” her cheeks hurt from how long and wide she's been smiling. She doesn't know what it is about the girl in front of her that makes her feel this way but she doesn't want it to go away ever.
Ochako watches as the other girl unconsciously flicks her tail back and forth and she realizes she is happy. It makes butterflies fill her stomach and she can't help but stare in awe at the girl in front of her.
Ochako fumbles with the coins in her palm because she's very excited but also nervous. She doesn't know why though, all she knows is it's because of her .
The mysterious girl sighs before turning around to face her. Then ochako watches in reverence as the other girl grabs her hood before lifting it up and piling it down to reveal her face.
Emotions swell inside her chest and her heart thumps like a hummingbirds.
“My name's himiko and my favorite color is red” ochako smiles as she holds out her hand to give her the coins in her palm. Himiko shakes her head causing her long hair to fall over her shoulders.
“You don't have to pay me anymore for questions, I'm not a whore” himiko says it playfully and they both smile.
“It's fine you can have the coins they're s gift from me” himiko looks at the coins in her hand and then at her pouch and she notices how light it is.
“I don't think you can afford to give me any more money without you ending up starving.” ochako blushes because she knows it's true, but she still wants to give them to her.
“It's fine i insist” himiko eyes her hand before her eyes go up to the simple silver ring hanging from her neck. Ochako tenses up and wants to grab it to hide it but she doesn't want to scare himiko. So even as she reaches for it she keeps from grabbing her hands and pulling them away.
Himiko hums as she runs her fingers over one of the most important things in her life.
“Hmmm, this looks important to you” himiko's eyes are curious and filled with melancholy. “What's the story behind it?” ochako keeps her breath steady and refrains from sighing.
“It's, it's my mom's, it's her wedding ring that my father gave her. My mother wanted, she wanted me to hold on to it in case i…” ochako looks into those beautiful amber eyes that look at her reverently and a sense of calm falls over her.
“My mom gave it to me so that one day I could propose to the one I loved” Himiko's fingers lightly trace the edges of the ring as a sadness fills her eyes.
Ochako bites her cheek and can feel those words burning her throat and she knows she's a fool as those words tear themselves from her throat.
“If you want it you can have it, but then we would have to get married” ochako bites her tongue until it bleeds and she watches as something unknown passes through himiko's eyes. Then himiko takes the ring and holds it between her fingers.
“Then…” himiko pauses for a long moment as she thinks her next words through. “Then let's get married”
Ochako's eyes go wide and her words almost catch in her throat.
“You…you want to marry me?” Himiko looks at her with sadness and that other thing she can't tell what it is.
“Yes i want to marry you” ochako feels conflicted feelings at this moment.
“But you don't know my name or-”
“I don't care” tears start to spring from her eyes and ochako unconsciously moves forward to wipe them away but she freezes just an inch away from touching her. She's scared she might hurt himiko if she-
Himiko wraps her fingers around her hand before pressing it into her cheek. Even through her gloves she can feel how warm himiko's skin is. She becomes so entranced in the fact that himiko is letting her touch her and wipes away her tears.
As Himiko nuzzles into her touch she can't help but curse herself for wearing gloves. Himiko is so pretty she can't help but tell her.
“You're beautiful” himiko hiccups and buries herself into her arms as she begins to cry.
“Himi-”
“Thank you, you don't know how important those words are to me” ochako feels a heavy weight behind himiko's words. She rubs her back to comfort her. Unconsciously she nuzzles against himiko's head before kissing the top of her head.
Himiko's breath hitches and for a moment ochako is worried she messed up, but Himiko lets out a content sigh as her horns start to glow faintly.
At this moment as rain starts to patter from the night sky outside the cave, ochako can't help but feel her heart go to this girl she barely knows. Thoughts of trying to find a reason for how she feels try to invade her mind but she knows there is no logical reason, she just does. She doesn't need a reason to feel this way, she can just let herself feel this way with himiko.
Himiko's tail wraps around her legs and ochako lets her heart free. She places a thumb on himiko's chin and slowly leans in. Himiko doesn't hesitate as she lets her kiss her.
Himiko lets out a content sigh as her tongue licks at the blood in her mouth.
This is the moment she realizes it, that she's fallen for her and she hopes it's the same for Himiko.
When they finally pull away from the kiss they both smile at each other.
“Himiko will you marry me?” himiko's eyes full with tears and she says “Yes, i love you”
Ochako can't help but say it back.
“I love you too himiko”
As they lie in bed together with their hands held together, they both look into each other's eyes and find peace in the other's presence and the taste of each other on their lips.
Himiko chuckles to herself and it fills Ochako's stomach with butterflies.
“I'm so in love with you I haven't even asked your name yet” ochako giggles.
“It's ochako, Ochako uraraka.” the words dance on her own lips not it's Himiko who says them first.
“Himiko uraraka, hmmm, i like the sound of that” they both giggle as they lean back into each other to kiss and seal their love for eternity.
Ochako smiles peacefully as she holds the bundle of joy in her arms. They have hair like hers and himiko's fangs. She coos at them and their draconic features.
The sound of her wife stirring from sleep and slowly waking up fills her with happiness.
“I love you sweety, and i love your mom just as much” tears fill her eyes as she kisses the tiny ones forehead.
“They're beautiful,” Himiko says groggily and Ochako smiles.
“Yes they are just like their mama, the cutest girl in the world”