Into the Depths

𝓕𝓲𝓷𝓪𝓵 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻: 𝓐 𝓛𝓮𝓪𝓹 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓤𝓷𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀𝓷

Wriothesley followed Neuvillette through the winding caves, the walls narrowing as they descended deeper into the earth. The air grew colder, tinged with salt, and the sound of rushing water grew louder, pulling at Wriothesley's senses. He didn't know where they were going, but he didn't care. There was no turning back now. The pull to understand, to be with Neuvillette, was stronger than ever.

Finally, they reached a cavern at the base of the mountain—a vast, open space that stretched down into the dark depths of the ocean. The water lapped at the edge of the cave like a beckoning call, its surface illuminated by the soft glow of bioluminescent algae. Wriothesley stood at the water's edge, heart pounding in his chest as Neuvillette turned to face him.

"This is where I belong," Neuvillette said softly, his voice echoing in the stillness of the cavern. "This is my true home."

Wriothesley's gaze swept over Neuvillette's form—his eyes, his body, everything about him exuded a sense of belonging here. The man—no, the creature—who had always been so distant, so unreachable, had found solace in this world beneath the waves. The tension between them, the uncertainty, the fear of being too much or too little—it all seemed to dissolve in this space, surrounded by the endless ocean.

Neuvillette stepped forward, his dragon form flickering beneath the surface, an ethereal reflection of the depths he called home. The dragon's eyes were fierce, but there was a softness beneath the surface—a vulnerability that Wriothesley hadn't yet fully seen.

"Wriothesley," Neuvillette said, his voice low, almost a whisper. "I've never let anyone in. Not like this."

Wriothesley stepped forward, his heart urging him to close the distance between them. "You don't have to let go of everything," he said, his voice filled with quiet certainty. "But I'm here, Neuvillette. I'm here to stay."

Neuvillette's gaze softened, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then, without a word, he reached out. With a single, graceful movement, he removed a scale from his body, its iridescent sheen glowing in the dim light of the cave. He held it out to Wriothesley, who stared at it in confusion.

"What is this?" Wriothesley asked, feeling a tug of something unfamiliar in his chest.

Neuvillette's voice was steady but filled with weight. "This is a bond. A sign of marriage, of commitment between a dragon and the one they consider their husband. It is a mark of trust, of belonging."

Wriothesley's heart skipped a beat. "Marriage?" he repeated, still unsure of the gravity of the gesture.

Neuvillette nodded, his dragon eyes glinting with something that was more than just emotion—it was a promise. "I'm giving you a part of myself, Wriothesley. It means I trust you. I want you with me... in every way."

The words hung in the air, heavy and profound. Wriothesley didn't understand fully, but the meaning of the gesture, the weight behind it, was undeniable. His hand reached out, fingers brushing the scale gently. And in that moment, something inside him clicked.

Wriothesley stepped closer, drawn to Neuvillette by an invisible force. He could feel the energy between them—an intensity that had been building, ever since they had first met, ever since they had shared their doubts, their fears, their unspoken truths. They were no longer bound by the barriers of their worlds—no longer two separate beings. They were together, in this moment.

"Neuvillette," Wriothesley said, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't know what this means... but I know that I want to be with you. I'll follow you, wherever you lead me. Even into the ocean."

Neuvillette's gaze softened further, and for the briefest of moments, it felt as if time itself had stilled. But then, without warning, Neuvillette's large, powerful form shimmered, and he slipped into the water, his body cutting through it like a sleek shadow.

Wriothesley hesitated for only a second before following. As he stepped closer to the edge, the realization hit him—he couldn't breathe underwater, not like Neuvillette could. He wouldn't be able to follow him into the depths without help.

Neuvillette surfaced, just within reach, his eyes meeting Wriothesley's with a quiet intensity. "You can't follow me like this," he murmured, his voice low but filled with an unspoken invitation.

Wriothesley's heart raced. "Then help me," he said, his voice thick with a sense of urgency. "I'll go anywhere, Neuvillette. Anywhere with you."

Neuvillette's gaze softened again, and he reached out, pulling Wriothesley into the water with him. Wriothesley's body tensed as the cold water surrounded him, but before he could protest, Neuvillette's lips found his.

The kiss was deep, urgent—Neuvillette's mouth pressing against his, warm and soft, but filled with an overwhelming intensity. It was a kiss of comfort, of acceptance, of promise. As their lips parted, Neuvillette pulled away just enough to look into Wriothesley's eyes.

"You can breathe now," Neuvillette said, a faint smile on his lips. "With me, you can breathe underwater. Just... trust me."

Wriothesley's heart swelled, and he inhaled, realizing that he could, indeed, breathe—his body responding to Neuvillette's gift, to the bond they had just formed. His chest filled with air, and for the first time, he felt free, as if he had truly let go of everything holding him back. He was no longer just following Neuvillette into the unknown. He was diving into it, heart and soul.

With a smile, Wriothesley took Neuvillette's hand, his fingers intertwining with the dragon's. "I'm ready," he said, his voice filled with quiet conviction. "Take me with you. Let's live together—down here, or anywhere."

Neuvillette's smile deepened, and without another word, he pulled Wriothesley into the depths of the ocean, where the water was warm and vast, and their bond would only grow stronger.

They swam together, deeper and deeper, into the unknown.