A Monster Like Me

A Walk in the Woods

Chuuya lay coiled up in a tight ball, refusing to acknowledge that he was enjoying Dazai's touch. He kept his eyes closed stubbornly as Dazai worked at the knots and tangles in his mane; pulling out branches, leaves, and other things that had gotten caught in his hair. Dazai's slight weight on his neck and the feeling of him combing out his thick red hair was soothing, and was doing no favors for Chuuya's already mixed feelings about his new guest.

"This would be much easier with a horse brush," Dazai grumbled, tossing another twig onto the ground.

"I didn't ask you to do this, you know."

"I know, but I was sick of watching you try and untangle it yourself with your clumsy dragon paws."

"Fair enough," Chuuya huffed, then winced in pain at a particularly hard tug. Just then, the comb snapped in two, eliciting a curse from Dazai.

"That was my only comb, fuck it!"

"Its probably not made for dragons," Chuuya shrugged.

"No shit. Well, looks like you're screwed, big guy," Dazai said, sliding off of Chuuya's neck and onto the ground. The dragon instantly missed the contact, but refused to admit it out loud.

"You know what this cave is missing? Literally everything. I don't even have a place to sit besides the cold, hard ground," Dazai griped, settling down on a boulder. "There's nowhere to sleep or rest, no food, shitty lighting, and everything is cold, hard stone!"

"I've lived here for years and been perfectly happy, so sorry if it doesn't suit your tastes," Chuuya replied with an exasperated eye roll. Dazai's complaining was a bit annoying, but he knew that he had a point. His cave was hardly a suitable place for a human to live. 

"It's different for dragons! Come on, can't you raid a village or something to get me the stuff I need?" 

"No! I don't want to stir up trouble, and I promised someone important to me that I wouldn't hurt anyone without cause," Chuuya replied, his eyes distant as if recalling a fond memory.

Someone important? Like a significant other?!? Dazai felt a wave of jealousy, immediately followed by frustration at himself for feeling that way. I shouldn't even care that he has a social life outside of me! It's not like it matters, anyway! 

"Can't you just buy the stuff then? You have plenty of money," Dazai asked, already knowing the answer.

"I'm not spending a single coin on you!" Chuuya replied firmly. Dazai's hopeful expression slipped, and he looked down at the ground. 

"Oh, alright. I guess I don't have a choice since I'm stranded out here..." Dazai said dejectedly. 

Chuuya tried to keep a stern expression, but damn, he just wanted to cave and give Dazai whatever he wanted. He growled to himself, debating about what to do. Finally, he said: "I know of a place where I can get you your stupid human stuff..."

Dazai looked up with a surprised and hopeful expression, suppressing a satisfied smirk. "Really? And I thought all you cared about was your gold~"

"You're taunting me, I know it," Chuuya said with an exasperated eye roll, "but I know a way around that problem. I can get you what you need without spending a coin or killing anybody. I know some people who might trade you what you want for alchemy ingredients, and this mountain just so happens to have plenty of rare plants and ingredients you can collect."

Dazai's face immediately fell. Oh, I have to do the work myself... damn it! Usually, he was good enough at manipulation to get out of most of his work, but it seemed like Chuuya wasn't as easy to con as he'd originally thought.