The Whistling Kettle

Worth

"Your scales,"

The dragon hybrid glanced up across the fire, his cold eyes settling on the human that sat across from him. The young mortal prince was looking at him, his emerald eyes curious as he watched the way the flames glittered against the sparkling scales.

"What of them?" Alfred asked, turning his eyes away so that he could blow again at the fire. White flames flickered from his lips, and Arthur watched silently, before he asked again.

"Were they that color then, too?"

He knew it was a dangerous question to ask. Alfred never spoke of the past, never spoke of the years and lifetimes  that had existed long before these moments. Arthur hadn't asked, but he had wondered. What could a small question hurt?

The dragon turned his eyes to the mortal again, his gaze narrowed now. As Arthur expected, he stayed silent, watching him for only a moment more before he looked back to the fire.

Since the beginning of their journey, Alfred had never been one to ask, much less answer, any personal questions. He had never been one for anything, really. There were a few times that had taken Arthur by suprise: once in a while, he'd step a little more in front of him when something new came their way, or he'd offer a hand at the bottom of a stair. Moments like those were rare in the beginning, and while it was still not a common thing, Arthur had defiantly noticed the slight increase of friendly gestures.

He didn't think Alfred would answer the question, and was not phased when he didn't. Instead, he merely sighed and looked back to the stars, watching how they glittered and gleamed above them. He wondered if his brothers were looking at them now, if his mother and father were looking back. It's not as though it mattered now...Whatever prince he was then, he was now no more.

Every once in a while, when he had those rare moments of privacy from his immortal companion, Arthur would find himself wondering. If he had stayed, would he be married off to some pretty little thing or locked within the walls of the castle? He missed the comfortable beds and warm foods, his violin, his mother's garden. Once in a while he'd catch himself longing to read a book or to practice his writing. After all, he had been raised a prince in once of the finest kingdoms in this realm. In those moments alone, he'd stop and he'd wonder if this was worth it.

"They have been this color since longer than I can remember."

Arthur turned his eyes away from the stars and let his gaze fall on the dragon, who now stared at the fire. His eyes held the look they usually did when he shared something personal, that look as though he disliked sharing anything about himself, but Arthur knew differently.

A small smile came to his lips, and Arthur turned his emerald eyes to the twinkling stars again.

Yes, it was most definitely worth it.

A/N: Inspired by an RP between @sirkirkland and I- and Boi do I love it.