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Cole turned over the garbage can, hoping to find a clue. Unsurprisingly all he found was garbage. The dwarven watchman knelt down over the pile, sifting through the crumbled documents and rancid apple cores with one hand while the other held a mage’s loupe to his eye. The magic detecting device wasn’t able to pick up anything useful. He promptly dropped the wicker receptacle onto the floor, kicking it across the room in frustration. It sailed through the air narrowly missing another watchman before striking the adjacent wall. “Nothin’. As if we even know what we’re lookin’ for.”“Watch it, Cole!” The old man barked, wheeling on him.“Heh, my bad. Sorry.” Cole smiled bashfully, scratching his scruffy brown beard.It had been a week since the King’s Row branch of the Merchant’s guild hall was swallowed by a strange curse. In one afternoon nearly every man on staff was transformed into an orc, a species thought extinct within this region for generations. The city was in a panic, fine upstanding men turned into big green perverts! Families torn apart in an instant as husbands lost interest in their wives, becoming obsessed with other men … At least that’s what the newspapers told him. The reports on the matter didn’t have the same flair for the dramatic. From what Cole could tell from the poor fellow his captain was interrogating, they were the same people they were before. Just greener and hairier. Cole had enough encounters with the acquisitions manager to tell that besides the additional 150 pounds of mass, Charles Marlowe was essentially the same person.“I told you, I don’t remember how it started. The appraiser we hired just started changing and before I knew it, I was like this…” The orc said sullenly, scrubbing his hand over his smooth head.“Think harder!” Captain Reyes demanded, pounding his fist against the nearest desk. The outburst drew Cole’s attention, along with every other watchman still scrounging around the requisitions office for clues. It was like watching a mastiff bullying a winter wolf. Reyes was a decently built man and his black half-plate armour and heavy crossbow did a lot to add to his intimidation factor but he was still staring down a two and half metre tall green behemoth. Marlowe shrank from him, clearly terrified. It was obvious that he was no threat at all. Reyes grabbed Marlowe by the bushy goatee, yanking him closer. “Where is he!?”“Hey! ease up. He’s jus’ a civvy.” Cole interjected, bolting across the room as fast as his stumpy legs could carry him.“Stay out of it, half-pint. Just worry about your damn job and I’ll worry about mine.” Captain Reyes said in his usual cold tone. Cole rolled his eyes at the drab insult, it wasn’t exactly revolutionary observation. Most dwarves rarely grew over 150cm and he was no exception. Reyes wasn't a pleasant man to be around even on a good day and today had been far from a good day. It was inevitable that he would start taking things out on his staff. The building was clean, aside from a lot of… bodily fluids. There was no sign of what caused the mass transformation. If there was something in the last loot table submitted, it should still be here. But it wasn’t. No cursed objects, no magical residue. Nothing.“I don’t know! I-I barely knew him! He was just someone the museum sent to appraise a loot cache.” Marlowe squeaked, weakly attempting to wrest his chin beard from the guard captain’s fist.“You're useless!” Reyes snarled, shoving the hulking figure away. Marlowe barely budged in proportion to the force but he was still left trembling from the rough handling.“Puh-please, you’ve all been questioning me all day… I jus-I ju-I just wanna go home…” Marlowe whimpered, holding himself with his mammoth arms. Cole couldn’t help but scowl, he couldn’t stand just watching this play out. With the merchant’s guild out of commission for nearly a week a lot of money was lost and that made the high-born bastards in the upper city all riled up, and they had the ear of the crown. King Balderich was putting the screws to the lord commander to find out what happened and to prevent it from happening again. That pressure was being passed down the chain until it fell on the heads of the victims themselves. It wasn’t the big man’s fault for pete’s sake; not that humans were particularly known for being caring of others.“Yer not gunna get anything else from him, Reyes. Jus’ let him go.” Cole interjected, stepping in between his captain and the blubbering beast. Reyes levelled his white-hot stare at the dwarf, exactly what he wanted. Better him than some confused pencil pusher. “You already got guys out lookin’ for this Korben guy, jus’ leave it to them.”“Not all of us can afford to be so wishy-washy with our jobs, dwarf.” Reyes hissed, his face was a mix of exhaustion and frustration. Cole didn’t back down, he just crossed his arms over his armoured chest staring his captain down. “If I don’t come up with a lead on this asshole, then it’s my ass on the line. That getting through to your rock skull?”“Tch, Forgefather forbid anythin’ get in the way of you and yer fuckin’ promotion.” Cole growled in disgust. Captain Reyes’ eyes bulged at the accaustion. Every other watchman in the room echoed a nervous ‘Oooo.’ Reyes’ tanned skin flushed a shade darker with fury. Cole could practically see the hairs on the human’s goatee raise in anger.“What’s your fucking malfunction sergeant!?” Captain Reyes roared, booting Cole in the chest plate, knocking him on his ass in one swift kick. The captain pressed his boot down on Cole’s chest, holding him to the floor. “You think I like being the bad guy here? Sometimes we have to make hard decisions to get the results we need. And the people who run this city, who keep layabouts like you off the streets and employed, expect us to do what it takes to keep the people safe.”“And what about him?” Cole countered, pushing through the barbs. The big green man was cowering in his seat, on the verge of tears. His eyes like saucers filled to the brim with fear. “Doesn’t he count as one of those people… dammit Gabriel, he was a victim in all this too. Don’t that mean anythin’ to ya?”Captain Reyes just rolled his eyes, craning his neck to look over his shoulder at the pathetic orc. Marlowe bowed his head, staring fixedly at the floor. “That thing took three men to take down if you forgot. He’s only playing nice now because he’s outnumbered.”“We charged him with weapons! How else was he s’posed to react?” Cole grunted, attempting the pry off his captain’s boot.“Hmph. Obediently. Something you two seem to have in common. Dwarf.” Gabriel smirked, looking down his nose at the man beneath his boot. “I was willing to forgive your past mistakes because I knew talent when I saw It.” He spat, contempt practically dribbling from his lips as he spoke.“I saved you from that life, don't think I won't send you right back.” Reyes pushed Cole away with the heel of his boot, sending the dwarf rolling over the hardwood.The surrounding officers laughed at the spectacle. Cole scrambled to his feet, dozens of intrusive thoughts fighting for attention. How would his boss like an alchemical grenade to the face? Could the bastard keep looking down on him if he took Reyes’ knees out? Cole pushed them all down. Just a glance at the gawkers was enough to curve his temper; it was just a show to them. They wouldn’t have his back, and it was eight to one. He let the tension flow out of his muscles, his stance relaxing. Captain Reyes grinned, self-satisfaction practically radiating off his teeth. “That's more like it.”Cole brushed himself off with a grimace. He was never going to hear the end of this…“Cap’n.” Said a new voice, joining the fray. A fresh watchman, on the youngerside wandered into the room finally pulling attention away from Cole. “We’re here to relieve you for the night shift.""About time. I've had enough of talking to these freaks." The captain growled with his teeth. He jabbed a finger at the orc. 'Take him to the boardroom with the others."Marlowe began to sputter, clearly desperate to just be let go. Reyes narrowed his eyes at the orc, he froze on the spot. "I don't want to hear it. You lot are a menace. I can't have you going around spreading whatever this is."Cole watched as the fight withered in the orc's eyes like a flower in a drought. The middle manager was unfortunately smart enough to know the quarantine was a farce. To keep an apparent problem out of sight and out of mind. They all had been around Marlowe all day and most of the night, and obviously nothing happened. Marlowe looked to him, his only advocate in the room. Cole pulled his wide brimmed hat over his eyes, unable to watch this play out. In the end he was just as helpless as the orc, Marlowe was an innocent man being jailed for showing up to work on the wrong day. He was helpless to do anything about it."Alright boys, you're free to go." The captain barked to the room, on cue every watchman in the room dropped what they were doing and began to file out. Like students at the sound of the last bell, anything related to work was promptly forgotten. Shame bid Cole to follow, he could not bare face Marlowe after failing him so nakedly. He began to drag his feet towards the door. "Not you, Cole." Reyes snapped, stepping into the doorway."Yeah boss…?" Cole asked, straightening his hat. He was never going to hear the end of this."Officer Pendleton." The captain said with a sardonic sweetness, turning to the relieving watchman. "You'll be answering to sergeant Cassidy from now on. Am I understood?""What?" Cassidy and the young watchman he had never met before who was apparently named Pendleton said simultaneously. The captain's malicious grin grew wider, as if feeding off Cole’s reaction."Since you're so concerned about the victims of this debacle. They get to be your responsibility now." Reyes sneered, forcefully jabbing the syllables of ' 're-spon-si-bil-i-ty' into the dwarf's forehead with two fingers. "You might even learn a thing or two.""Yes sir…" Cole muttered, biting back a curse. He couldn't give the bastard the satisfaction of knowing he got under his beard with this petty shit. Cole looked towards Marlowe, the big man hunched where they left him, head in his hands. He doubted the night crew were treating them any better. Working a double was gonna suck, but he could make this work.====================================================="We keep them up here." Pendleton droned, leading Cole upstairs to the building's third floor. The watchman seemed largely indifferent to his sudden demotion. It wasn't surprising to Cole, a job like this was pretty cosy compared to being out on the beat. Cole looked over his shoulder to spot the orc sullenly following behind him, his eyes were glazed with exhaustion. These pencil-pushers might have grown big but they were in no shape to make a break for it let alone survive out in the wilds. They arrived on the third floor landing and turned into the main hall. Most of the floor was occupied by arbitration rooms, gathering places where the guild divides the loot equitably between parties. A necessary step for larger hoards. Cole could spot two more guards posted outside a room on the far end of the hall, if sitting by the door and playing cards counts as a posting anyways.“Kledd, Elendro–we’re here.” The two watchmen, a squat human and an uncomfortably thin elven man barely acknowledged Pendleton as they approached. Cole gave the short human; Kledd he assumed, a soft kick.“Oi.” Kledd harumphed, jerking his head toward them only to find he was eye to eye with a dwarf than his usual co-worker. “Huh?”“Howdy? I jus’ got transferred on yer shift, nice to meetcha.” Cole smirked, both the card playing guards just stared through him then turned back to their game. Cole scratched his messy brown beard; was this where all of Reyes’ favourites ended up? “Where’s the rest?”“Rest?” Pendleton asked vacantly.“Yeh, like the security for the vault?” Cole pushed, Pendleton only shrugged. Three people? The captain left three people to look after the building overnight? A king’s ransom was held up in arbitration before the building was quarantined. Sure the vault was legendarily dangerous but a thief would have all the time in the world to chip away if no one was around to stop him.“Nah, just us. We take turns patrolling.” Pendleton finally explained, scratching his chin. Cole watched as the elf flicked the ash of his cigarette into Kledd’s beer who proceeded to drink from it. The dwarf didn’t think the squat man even noticed. “Who’s turn is it anyways?”“Your’s.” Kledd and Elendro said in a unified drone.“Always is.” Pendleton rolled his eyes, turning to leave without much of a fight. He ran straight into the orc who had been quietly standing there the entire time. “Oh yeah…”Pendleton gave their captive a little shove, herding him into the room like a depressed cow. The other orcs sat around the long table in the centre of the room, a dozen hulking green figures. While the muscle and fat distribution differed between each man, they were at least over 300 pounds minimum. The group was too despondent to react to Marlowe rejoining them, the most he got was a sidelong glance from a gent with a broken tusk. Cole frowned, it was worse than he thought. “Mind if I had a word with ‘em?”Pendleton only gave a shrug. “You’re the boss, boss.”Cole’s shoulders drooped; they could have at least pretended they gave a fuck. He pulled a cigar from his pocket, tearing off the end with his teeth. He almost asked the other watchmen for a light, but that’d be a waste of time obviously. He waddled over to the table, climbing onto the top. The oil lantern light did the job just fine. He sucked in a drag of the spicy tobacco blend, letting the smoke sit in his mouth. Just giving himself a moment to savour it before speaking. “Hey Marlowe.” Cole said, billows of smoke swirling around the syllables. The old orc glanced towards him, his arms resting on the table.“Sorry I couldn’t do more for ya back there.” Cole offered, sitting down cross legged before the giant. It was probably the only way they could see eye to eye. Marlowe’s gaze was cold despite his eyes’ warm amber hue, Cole didn't take it personally, if anything he deserved the chilly reception. “I wanted to let y’all know I'm here for ya."The orc said nothing, just watching him impassively. It was like there was a wall between them, each brick a different way the system betrayed him. It was going to take more than some nice words to win these orcs over. It didn’t escape him how incredibly nude all assembled orcs were, considering Marlowe wasn’t even the tallest one there. They probably all annihilated their old clothes. As much as he could appreciate the view, it probably wasn’t comfortable. “Say, how about we find ya’ll some clothes? I know a gal downtown that runs thrift. I’m sure we can at least get ya’ll some blankets while we’re at it.”Marlowe leaned back in his chair, considering the dwarf carefully. The wood moaned underneath his considerable size. The intrusive thought of offering bigger chairs passed through Cole’s mind, but he thought better of it. "I would rather you feed us." he said dryly, folding his arms over his furry chest."Hold on, they ain't feedin' y'all?" Cole’s jaw dropped, his cigar tumbling from his lip. He recovered quickly, snagging the burning cigar before it hit the table."We eat once a day, it isn't enough. I assume it's because of our size." Marlowe remarked, the listlessness in his voice carrying a whole new layer to it."That fuckin'…" Cole hissed, cutting off his own curse. This wasn't surprising, knowing the captain, it wasn’t malice; he just didn't care. He had done the bare minimum, and that would be enough for any passing bystanders. Cole slipped the cigar back in his mouth, rolling it between his teeth. That’s an easy fix, right? He could run out and grab some food for these guys and… Cole’s train of thought paused. They were massive, how much food are they going to need?"Judging from the look on your face, you won't be. I understand." Marlowe said flatly, resuming his vigil of staring at the desk.”Cole sprung to his feet. "I'll find y’all something, I just- I'll scrounge up enough coin to...” It slowly dawned on him he didn’t really have much money to spend. No, he’d make it work. He could pull some favours, if that’s what it’d take.Marlowe was watching him, head resting on his knuckles. “You mean it, don’t you?” he asked, cautious.“Of course I do, darn it–I just…I dunno if the captain will give me the money for that.” Cole admitted, turning out his pocket. Marlowe said nothing in response, he merely got up from the table and walked to the other end of the room. Cole clutched his face; he was such an idiot. He had only a moment to stew in his own foolishness before the orc returned holding a pile of torn cloth. He pulled a leather wallet from the pocket of what was once his pants. Cole stopped wallowing in time to see him retrieve a thin golden card. “By Boson’s beard, is that a gold card?”“It is.” Marlowe responded, a hint of smugness poking through his dour expression. The orc tapped it against his palm, activating the enchantment. Gold coins tumbled from the card. While it looked like a piece of gilded cardstock, the card was essentially a portal to a bank somewhere. Like an infinite font of money. It was something only the extremely wealthy would have. “It’s a company card of course, so I can’t just give it to you. However, I am still the assistant acquisitions manager–regardless of whatever form I may be in.”“So…you want me to take ya.” Cole puffed, letting the smoking roll with his words. Marlowe nodded, he assumed the dwarf would refuse, given his experience with the King’s row watchmen so far. Cole grinned, the joke was on big green: he was jonesing for a chance to earn the orc’s trust. “Done deal.”“No, I won’t budge on this–” Marlowe started with a rehearsed rebuttal, his head held high. He was in his element, negotiation or at least he thought he would be. “Wait-you accept!?”“Well, I sure as shit can’t carry all that food back on my own.” Cole chuckled, he craned his neck to the curtains behind him. They’d do just fine. The brown beard leapt from the table, yanking the curtain from the rod. “Here, this’ll do, cover up and let’s go.”“You are not joking… oh…” Marlowe wheezed watching as the whole curtain ripped from the window sill. Cole paid the giant’s shock no mind, wrapping the patch of fabric around the stunned orc’s waist. Marlowe dumbly accepted the fabric, helping the dwarf work it into a pink toga. Completely flummoxed to press on the watchman’s assertive generosity, Marlowe simply went along with it.The other orcs were paying attention now, if only for the novelty of Marlowe’s reaction. Cole was like the doting faerie godparent, leaping off the table and bounding back up onto it wrapping Marlowe up like he was the princess of a faerie tale.“There we go, easy!” Cole said proudly, giving the orc a pleased nod. With some ingenuity and a bit of fincess the curtain made fine clothes. Marlowe looked more like his old fastidious self already… if you squinted. Cole pulled on the orc’s great paw, gently leading him from the room. “C’mon big guy, let’s get goin’. It’s a-ways to the night market.”Cole kicked open the boardroom door, startling the other watchmen from their game. “Hey, I’m goin’ on a food run. The big guy is comin’ with me.”“Yeah, get me some beef sandwiches from Mama’s.” Elendro slurred, taking another swing of beer. The dwarf smirked, just the reaction he was hoping for. The only person with enough sense to care was off on patrol, the poor sod. This was just the right amount of supervision he needed. Cole looked over his shoulder to see Marlowe hadn’t moved, he was just staring at him. This probably seemed too good to be true, he’d wear the big guy down he just needed some time. Cole gave him one of his best smiles. “You comin’ or what?”The orc with a broken tusk got up out of his chair and gave Marlowe a push, the old orc huffed indignantly at the rough handling. Marlowe straightened and began his march to the door. It was funny seeing the man in a proper position of leadership. Everytime Cole paid a visit to the guild to help settle a violent loot dispute, Marlowe was always more than willing to forfeit all the real responsibility onto the watch. Typical middle manager, interested in maximum authority with minimal responsibility. That wasn’t going to fly with a dozen other big hungry men dogging him for results. Still, he had a head for logistics that Cole could never fake. They might be able to get something going…given time. “You got a carriage or cart or somethin’ we can use?” Cole asked when Marlowe finished dragging his feet to the door.“Hm, yes but the horses were ‘confiscated’…” Marlowe said bitterly. “I take it, you want to use it to ferry the food back?”“Uuuh, well I think we’re going to need more than a few grocery bags worth to feed all of y’all?” Cole chuckled with a shrug. “I have a pony? If that helps.”“Yooou cheatin’ knife eared twat! Show me yer sleeves!” Kled yelled over their conversation, slamming his fists against the floor.“Right…we’ll work something out.” Marlowe sighed, brushing off the interruption. “Follow me, it’s out back.” The pair departed down the narrow staircase, leaving the other watchmen to their game. Minutes later, the orc with the broken tusk slipped out after them
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“Marlowe left, then?” A tall athletic man asked, not taking his eyes off the building. He was dressed mostly in black. A deep grey haori draped over his no-frills leather cuirass, a rare piece of clothing in this part of the world.“Yes, Shimada-sama. Around 20 minutes ago-- but he left his keys behind.” Answered the orc with the broken tusk, offering the key ring to the man in black. Hanzo Shimada carefully plucked them from the trembling orc’s hands. He considered them as he stroked his sharp goatee. They were simple rectangles of sheet metal only differentiated by the coloured sigil on the base of the key. They were meant for the arcane locks that lined the depths of the guild’s vaults. Completely unassuming to the naked eye, each key was infused with several layers of enchantments designed to defuse the numerous trapped locks on each vault. Almost impossible to replicate, even if you knew what you were holding.Hanzo plucked the mage’s loupe from the utility pouches he kept on his quiver. Looking through the small magnifying glass, he could see a medley of coloured patterns stacked and mixed on top of each other. A rainbow of intersecting threads, almost blinding to look at. These were legitimate, it would take thousands in materials to enchant an object this many times. This was not something you could fake, least of all on short notice.“You did well.” Hanzo said coolly, returning the loupe and adding the keyring to his utility belt. “It looks like you have earned the privilege to survive the night, Mr. Somerset.” He added, turning toward the building.“...So when will the clan come to get me out? They’ve had us here f–” The orc with the last name Somerset asked weakly, wringing his hands pathetically. Hanzo slowly turned to face him, the steel in his gaze locked the orc in place. As if the man in black had turned the orc to stone.“As you’ve been contaminated by this curse. You are too conspicuous to continue spying for the Shimada Clan. We will no longer have use of your services.” Hanzo answered, his words as cold as a lake midwinter.The orc gasped, his bright green skin blanching until he resembled an over-boiled cucumber. Hanzo turned his back on the stunned man. Going from the floor plan he had studied, the fastest route from here to the vault would be the guildmaster’s office, bypassing the security measures in the front facing entrances. The windows would most likely be warded, save for the one Somerset tampered with. Despite the orc’s unfortunate circumstances, he had no doubt that step had been handled properly. Hanzo took a step towards building, his leather tabi making no sound.“You can’t do this to me!” Somerset roared.Hanzo turned towards the giant man, staring impassively at him. The orc’s face was stained a reddish brown, his fury showing through his verdant complexion. He was trembling, his clenched fist raised. “ I’m not some trash to be discarded! I’ve put my life on the line for the clan and–a-and they send their miserable outcast to tell me I’ve been fired! With no reward!?”“Hm…” Hanzo replied. He shrugged off his left sleeve, revealing the elaborate dragon tattoo that wove up his arm.“Who are you to cut me off!?” Somerset shouted, advancing on the black garbed archer. His voice echoing off the surrounding walls, Hanzo frowned at the cacophony. He was liable to draw unwanted attention if he continued. “You-you’re nothing! The Oyabun’s castaway–you.” Somerset's sentence ended abruptly, a trickle of blood oozing down his thick neck. He reached for it, finding a shallow cut across his jugular.Hanzo only stared the giant down, bow at the ready. Somerset blinked, confused. He didn’t notice the human draw his bow and fire–it just…happened. “Your reward is your life, a gift you seem determined to waste.” He said matter-of-factly. As if awakened by his killing intent, the dragon on his arm stirred. The white and blue ink flowed like water over his muscle as it slithered up and down his arm. All of the spit and fury the orc had mustered quickly sublimated into terror as Somerset saw the arrow buried in the wall behind him. “Now, you will return to wherever you are being held and you will not speak a word of anything that transpired on this night. Understood?”The orc nodded, suddenly very captivated by the dirt of the alley floor. “Good, you are dismissed.” Hanzo finished, turning away from his former associate and walking smoothly down the corridor. The dragon within growled, disappointed in the act of mercy.He could hear the clumsy brute behind him stumbling away frantically. An easy kill, he reigned the dragon in.Upon reflection Hanzo had to admit, perhaps he had over done it. It wasn’t like him to lose his temper like that. It didn't matter what meaningless buttons that washed-up spy pressed. The patriarch’s disappointment was a temporary problem. A wound on his honour to be healed. He’d redeem himself for his past failure one mission at a time. The dragon within seethed at his mercy. The beast was never never sated, but he would not be a slave to its impulses. Hanzo took in a slow breath, shutting out the dragon's cruel voice.There was work to be done.
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“You good back there, Marlowe?” Cole asked, leading their ‘caravan’ down the mostly empty street. It was eight into the evening so most of the usually dense traffic had thinned. What remained was eager to get out of the way of the miniature guard convoy. Cole wasn’t used to getting this much deference. He knew most of it was because of the orc he was accompanying. Despite being an officer of the law, he was still a dwarf so most humans spoke to him like he wouldn’t know how to tie his shoes if they asked. Unless he was arresting them anyways.Behind him hitched to the cart alongside his dear pony was Marlowe. The middle manager grunted with exertion, sweat rolling down his cranium. While his transformation had clearly gifted him with a good degree of strength he was still clearly more dough than brawn. “I am…fine, we’re almost there…almost there…” Marlowe repeated, most likely for his own benefit.The cart itself wasn’t heavy, it was a standard sized wooden unit. Far nicer make than your standard farmer’s cart, but still manageable for one horse. Instead of the treasure it was made for, it was loaded to the brim with produce and two barrels of salted beef. Marlowe insisted they bring back as much as they could and Cole couldn’t say no to him. They were carrying enough food to feed him for two or three months, but for a group of blokes as big as Marlowe? They probably had enough to keep everyone fed for two or three weeks. “Well, Maple Stirrup appreciates yer assistance.” Cole smiled, nodding to the brown and white splotched pony that saddled on next to the orc.Marlowe didn’t respond, just kept his eyes focused on the road ahead of them. Cole sighed, no one appreciated his wit. He thought the name was good… “Sorry it’s such a trek, there was only one shop I knew that’d do business with us after closing.”“It is…quite alright…” The orc frowned, letting the sounds of Maple Stirrup’s hoof beats fill the silence. Cole adjusted his hat; he probably should stop pushing for conversation. He could feel the tension between them, he never liked making people feel uncomfortable but maybe it was unavoidable even what Marlowe had been through the past few days. Still, he had hoped securing them a few good meals would help. “...When… are you going…start questioning me?” Marlowe asked as they stopped at an intersection.“Huh?” Cole stopped, turning to look up at the exhausted orc.“You are…clearly trying to…ply me…” Marlowe said still winded, his face set in a stern frown. He half collapsed onto the corner light, staring at the dwarf defiantly. Cole sagged, the weight of suspicion falling back on his shoulders. Cole couldn’t fault him, given the kinds of financial stakes Marlowe was used to negotiating with and put under such duress by the guard for what was probably days on end. This whole situation would seem too good to be true. “but I told…your captain…I don’t know where…Korden is…When I woke up…He was gone…”Cole looked behind the orc, there was no traffic waiting for them to cross the intersection. They could afford to idle a little longer, at least long enough to let the pencil pusher catch his breath. “Welp, yeh got me. I jus’ itchin’ to interrogate the shit outta you~” The dwarf raised both palms in mock acquiescence. Marlowe sneered, seemingly vindicated. If the big guy wanted questions, he'd get them.Before the orc could retort Cole cut him off. “What's it like? Bein’ changed?” The smirk fell from Marlowe's scruffy face, he slid off the lamp he was leaning against, stumbling forward.“Pardon…?” The big man blinked.“I mean, yer like a totally different man. People have been actin’ like this is some dangerous sickness or whatever but I mean…do you guys even mind it?” Cole asked, twisting a lock of his messy beard between two fingers.“What kind of scheme is this?” Marlowe sputtered, trying to regain his footing in the familiar.“Answer the damn question.” Cole snapped, preventing the orc putting his walls back up.“I-- no, it feels good, honestly.” The orc said quietly, rubbing his thick neck. He looked like a child caught in a lie, wringing his hands anxiously. “It’s hard to put my finger on exactly, I suppose… It feels like I was always meant to become an orc. Like this was predestined.” Marlowe said airly, the stress easing from his frame.“Did it hurt?” Cole pushed, urging him to keep talking about it.“A little? When my tusks came in but mostly it was just really intense.” The longer Marlowe spoke, the more the tension seemed to release with his words. Cole saddled back to the cart, pulling himself up to where the driver would usually sit. He retrieved his half finished cigar from his back pocket.“Ha. I can only imagine, gettin’ all huge like that.” Cole chuckled, reaching into his back pocket looking for his firestone. It was never around when he needed it.“I wasn’t, I wasn’t referring to…I meant…” Marlowe suddenly blushed dark, the rushing blood tinging his green complexion brown.Cole had a hunch as to what Marlowe meant, he read the reports. They found the whole group of orcs in a heap, most of the furniture that was once in the room was smashed, and the air was thick with the scent of sex. “Oh yeah?” Cole poked, rolling the unlit cigar between his teeth, his moustache curling upward with his knowing smile.“Don’t look at me like that!” Marlowe barked, a petulant stomp punctuating his frustration. “I am not some harlot! We just…you wouldn’t understand! When Korben kissed me and my body started changing it was like…like the whole world fell away. It was just us and that all consuming passion, it was more than just sex! It was connection.”Cole brightened, finally finding his firestone. It was on his sword belt. He squeezed it until he felt the heat through his leather glove. Tapping the stone against the end of the cigar, there was a spark and the cigar was lit. Marlowe clearly meant every word, Cole could feel it. That was little detail of this spell that was left out of all the reports. Thinking back, the fact that it didn’t seem to have an effect on the women in the office was interesting. Instead it was a mass chain reaction of androphiliac passion that linked every man it touched. Maybe that was what everyone was so afraid of, it wouldn’t surprise him. Most humans didn’t appreciate dwarf-love because all mountainfolk are bearded and, apparently, that was weird to humans. Nevermind something like this strange magic that pushes them outside their usual boxes. “ I’m not judgin’, just curious. I’m gettin’ the feelin’ I’m the only guy that’s really cared to ask.”“Yes, you are.” The orc sighed, averting his fierce stare. He tugged awkwardly at the straps he had tied around his arms. He seemed ashamed. “You’re the only guard that seems to care at all.”Cole smiled, he was finally getting through to him. “There’s a lot ‘bout magic I don’t know.” The dwarf mused. “but I do know you guys ain’t dangerous.” Marlowe cautiously looked at him, his face was stern but Cole could see the hope in the old orc’s eyes.“Excuse me?” A new voice asked from behind them. A woman driving a wagon was stuck behind them on the narrow street. She looked like a merchant but Cole couldn’t see what was in her wagon past the curtain. How long was she just stuck behind them? “I'm sorry to bother you, but you’re blocking traffic.”“W-we should get going.” Marlowe pulled on the straps, prompting the dwarf to prod his own pony back into action. They resumed their journey in silence, travelling the remaining two blocks back to the guild.“You know anyone on the outside? Cole asked, exhaling smoke from his nostrils.“Hm?” The orc asked without stopping. At least the old man was more receptive.“Like favours you can call to get you outta there?” The dwarf offered, trying to dig the orc out of the defeated pit Reyes had pushed him into.“Ha, I was only…in my position… because of my family… the best they could find for… the useless middle son.” Marlowe grunted, the bitterness in his words were obvious. They were never going to come for him. It must have come as a crippling blow for the once haughty man, hung out to dry with the men he thought were below him. Still, the orc probably had more sway than anyone else Cole knew that would be willing to help. He had to get Marlowe out of his head and onto the task at hand.“It wouldn’t take much…just a few threats.” Cole posited, stroking his beard. He knew Reyes the bastard wasn’t lazy so much as he was apathetic. The dwarf watched his captain grow increasingly jaded as his opinion on the people he was supposed to be protecting turned sour:a far uglier transformation than anything the orcs had been through. “The ol’ captain is more interested in keepin’ his job than doin’ right by anyone. If ya’ll proved more complicated than yer worth to keep around. He’d turn you out in a second.”Marlowe began to slow down, his mind racing ahead of his feet. Maple Stirrup let out an annoyed whinny at her partner for stopping early again. The dwarf on the other hand sat cross-armed, watching the orc get lost in thought. The fingers on his left hand impatiently drummed against his bicep, waiting for him to finally speak. “I suppose it is possible… it would not be difficult to convince the board that keeping us there any longer is a waste of assets…but getting us released is a different beast. Maybe we can arrange some kind of house arrest elsewhere…”“Yeh?” Cole added, pushing the ball a little further.Marlowe caught him staring and waved him off, “That’s completely hypothetical. Without a messenger willing to do the leg work, I can’t get word out. Who’d feel fool enough to risk their jobs just to ferry messages from their capt--” The orc trailed off as Cole slowly raised his hand, a bright smile shining through his scruffy beard. The orc chuckled in disbelief, the week he had been through capstone by this absurd little man pushing beyond expectation to help him. Despite the stress and the fear-he couldn’t help but laugh. “Why am I not surprised you’d offer? I’ve clearly misjudged you, dwarf.”“The name’s Cole, and I’m happy we’re finally gettin’ somewhere.” He offered a hand to shake, Marlowe reciprocated his grip, being surprisingly gentle. There were some kinks to work out, it was bare bones for a plan but it was still a plan. They could workshop it, it wasn’t like Reyes was getting anywhere with his current ‘methods’ of solving the case. They had time.
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Hanzo rolled the ball bearing over the stone tile floor, triggering the mechanism. A two metre wide section of ceiling erupted with pillars of blinding light mere inches from where he stood. “Hm…”Disintegration traps. He had to commend them on their security, when he had infiltrated the building and only found one extremely obvious guard patrolling the floor. He worried that they had over prepared for this operation. Even with the keys which were meant to both unlock the doors and disable the traps attached to them, that didn’t protect him from dozens of snares that littered the floor from wall to wall. If he didn’t have his sonic arrows, this would have been a significantly messier process. Hanzo drew another from his quiver, they were heavy and their oblong tip made them useless in a fight but they were one of the strongest tools he had.Hanzo stringed his bow, pulling into a textbook perfect stance ready to fire. He loosed the arrow, letting it clear the remaining distance between him and his target. When it struck the ground it created an echo, a full image of the room sculpted in sound. The vibrations worked several inches into the surrounding stone before petering out, giving him an idea of what might be hidden in the floor and walls. Hanzo frowned, hearing a familiar clicking sound. A section of the floor snapped vertical, an array of spikes sprouting from its surface. It shot forward like a cannonball straight towards where Hanzo stood. Like lightning, Hanzo threw himself flat against the nearest wall propped up on his tiptoes. The section of wall flew by sending his loose hair whipping in the tailwind.As predicted, there was a gap left between each well to keep the flying floor from running into the vault doors. Hanzo relaxed, stepping back out onto the floor. He could barely see the offending tiles sinking back into the floor, straightening his haori. That was a tad too close, two or three extra arrows between him and the wall and he would have lost the end of his nose. Fortunately, that seemed to be the last obstacle. He fired a second sonic arrow, just to make sure.With the way clear, Hanzo slowly approached the door keyring in hand. The safe room door from a glance looked like a great mechanical puzzle spirally rigidly into a single key hole. To open it, lock requires a sequence of several keys rather than just one to disable the ten loaded mechanism attached to it. Missing any one of these keys will reset the pattern and trigger the traps and nothing he had seen so far could compare to the death that would await him if he did. Hanzo had no intention of being out performed by the civilians that work in this place. He knew the pattern by heart; orange, orange, red, blue, purple, red, green, yellow, orange and finally white. As the last key slipped into the lock, the whole mechanism shifted. Hanzo stepped back, waiting patiently for the contraption to fully untangle itself. The door opened, welcoming him inside.“Hm…” Hanzo fired a final sonic arrow, just to be sure. Nothing, the interior seemed to block the sonar. He shook his head. He had infiltrated castle treasuries with less security than this. Hanzo raised his tattooed arm calling to the dragon within. His tattoo flared with light, washing the small room with blue revealing the tens of lock boxes embedded in the walls. It was a waste of his limited reserves, but he wasn’t going to be foiled by soundproofing. He would retrieve what the guild’s hounds had stolen.A glint caught the infiltrator’s eye, a ring laying there innocuously on the floor next to where his sonic arrow had landed. It was a ring, instinctively he pulled out his mage’s loupe… it wasn’t cursed, did someone forget to sort it? It wasn’t his target, yet Hanzo found himself compelled to pick it up. He rolled it in his fingers, it was made of two bands of gold woven around each other. An orcs' face set into the rings’ head, snarling at him. Curious…trinket, it was strangely beautiful in its way. He couldn’t help but slip the odd artefact into the pocket of his utility. It could serve as a souvenir of the evening. He tucked the distraction away, gazing at the many boxes. This was where their intel dried up, he had no way of knowing which lock box had his quarry but dragon’s blood was here, he just had to find it.
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Cole was still feeling optimistic as finally approached the empty guild hall. He unhitched dear little Maple and took her around back leaving Marlowe to start bringing the food up into Marlowe’s office. They had already searched the place five times by that point, it was as safe a place as any to hide their illicit produce.Cole climbed the lonely stairs back up to the third floor. Elendro was exactly where Cole had left him but the elf’s game partner was missing. The elf started at the dwarf’s return, he rushed to Cole’s side looking rather pale in the face. “You! You didn’t see Kledd or Pendleton on the way up, did you??” Elendro asked frankly, running a nervous hand through his stringy hair.Cole narrowed his eyes. “No, why?”“Well, usually Pendleton would have come back with more drinks by now…” The elf started, the dwarf rolled his eyes. “No, it’s serious! Kledd went after him and he still hadn’t come back…!”The dwarf scowled, his hand reaching for his short blade. Did they have an intruder? Were they waiting for him to leave? “Dammit, Reyes. This place is too important to be manned by a skeleton crew.” He cursed, racking his brain. Where was the vault supposed to be again? That was one of the few places he wasn’t allowed to go, but it was probably the first place he should start looking. “ Elendro, go find Marlowe. He should be in his office or out front. Keep ‘im safe, I’m going to check this out.”“Wait, why is that orc outside again?” The lanky man asked vacantly, watching Cole bolt back down the dark hall as fast as his short legs could carry him. This was bad, this was going to ruin their whole plan. If the guild lost enough capital to a robbery, they’d want blood and he knew exactly who Reyes would pass the coin to. Cole hit the first floor running, his sharp dwarven eyes cutting through the curtain of night. He ran through possible entrances into the basement level, in the guildmaster’s office maybe? Maybe there was a secret door or false wall. Cole’s train of thought derailed when he spotted a pair of familiar standard issue boots sticking out of a doorway. Judging by the size, it must be Pendleton.Unfortunately for the dwarf, it was; the human was splayed out, face down on the floor. Cole knelt by the body. He was still breathing but he was out cold. From a cursory glance, it looked like he was struck on the neck. One strike, just below the jaw judging from the welt on poor Pendleton’s neck. This wasn’t an ordinary thief, whoever came through here was clearly a professional. Cole reached for the metal canisters attached to his belt, he only brought three tonight. He prayed to the forgefather that’d be enough.“Cole? What happened?” The low voice of Marlowe rumbled from the front lobby carrying all the way to the back. “I found officer Kledd hiding in the rain barrel behind the building. I could not get a straight answer from him.” The dwarf winced, if the intruder was still here, the last thing they needed was for the bastard to know they were coming. The big man came jogging into the fall, a certain useless elf at this heel. Cole just gestured to them both to keep it down.“Charlie, how can I get into the vault?” Cole asked in a hushed tone, Marlowe boggled at the question but spared him any interrogations as to why. The unconscious guard was enough.“Through the arbitration chambers usually. However there are enchantments that activate after hours, walking in there would be a death sentence.” Marlowe said quietly, hunching down so he was easier to hear. Cole rolled his eyes, whatever they were getting paid to work here. It clearly wasn’t enough. Marlowe snapped his fingers, his dour expression brightening. “There’s a second entrance in Shimmerbeard’s office. You can’t get in without the right keys, but I have a ring with my belongings upstairs. I’ll fetch them!” Marlowe promptly spun around and thundered off the way he came leaving his entourage standing there, staring at the unconscious body.“For land’s sake! Don’t jus’ stand there, look after him!” Cole scolded, reminding Elendro where exactly he was and what he was supposed to be doing. The elf bolted after the orc leaving Cole alone. He couldn’t wait for them,there was an itch in his beard that told him something wasn’t right. If they could get in through the back, then why couldn't their burglar? Cole chewed on the end of the half-cigar still clenched in his teeth. He had to get back there, his feet already gilding around the corner and down into the office corridor. Just as he thought, the door to guildmaster Shimmerbeard’s office was wide open. Cole peered inside, it was a painfully ostentatious space. Everything was white and gold, the dwarf couldn’t help but feel a flash of embarrassment at his brethren’s clear obsession with gold. The back wall was already open, leading to a stairway that spiralled under the building. Where was Kledd? Was he taken hostage?Cole rushed down the stairs, blade at the ready. The spiral stairs lead straight into the basement, taking the dwarf down a short corridor into the back of the guild vault. The triple reinforced door was wide open as well. Cole grabbed the end of his cigar, twisting off the embers. There was no time to waste.The inside of the vault was almost a maze, there were dozens of brick and metal corridors branching from the main path. Each wall was dotted periodically with thick steel doors equipped with intricate dwarven locks. It honestly reminded Cole of the clan home he was born in, he hated that. There was only one open door. Cole could see it plain as day from the far side. There wasn’t any light to give away his position, all he had to do was take it slow… A human dressed in black stepped out from the safe before he was halfway to the open door. The stranger didn’t seem to notice Cole in the gloom, he was preoccupied with whatever he stole. Cole could easily get the jump on the bastard in the dark before he even knew what hit him. The dwarf advanced one step and an arrow struck the tip of his steel plated boot. It made a strange ping sound as it bounced off, what was that?“Hm…so a dwarf of all people thinks they can sneak up on me?” Hanzo chuckled, priming another arrow. Cole froze, when did he draw his bow?“What can I say, guess I’m too thick fer my own good.” Cole shrugged, assuming the human couldn’t really see it. It didn’t look like he was wearing anything to help with the lack of light.“So unserious? You clearly fail to understand the danger you are in.” The stranger said coldly. Cole smirked, the man had the overly formal tone of a man that took himself way too seriously, and It was honestly a little funny. The blinding flash of blue light that came after he finished speaking was significantly less amusing. Cole reeled his photosensitive eyes unable to adjust. Something struck him hard in the chest, pain blossoming from his clavicle. Caught flat footed, the dwarf fell onto his back with the wind nearly knocked out of him.On instinct Cole rolled out of the way, avoiding the second arrow launched to finish the job. He pushed up onto his feet, grabbing at the object protruding from his half plate. The archer struck him right in the gap between the gorget and chest of his half plate. If the leather under armour was a half inch thinner it would have buried right in his clavicle. Cole squinted, his vision adjusting to the new light source. Cole took in the sight of his assailant, reality sinking in. Now he never encountered one in person before but he’s heard the stories of men like this one. A family of deadly killers and infiltrators with magic etched onto their skin. It was as plain as the dragon coiling on the stranger’s arm. “Sh-shit…! Yer a Shimada!”“Indeed.” The interloper only stared through him as he drew another arrow. It was a look Cole was used to, he wasn’t even registering as a threat to him. Fair enough, he probably couldn’t kill the guy if he tried… but he could at least make it as difficult as possible for the archer to win. Cole reached for the canisters on his belt, tossing one directly at the intruder. Hanzo pivoted his shot, striking the tube out of the air just as it left Cole’s hand. The arrow pierced the thin metal, forcing the aluminium and potassium contained within to mix. It erupted in a blast of light and sound giving the archer a taste of his own medicine. “Gah!”Cole didn’t stop to gloat, he bolted forward aiming to close the gap between them. Hanzo grabbed another arrow from his quiver, firing it blindly. The arrow narrowly missed Cole’s leg by less than a centimetre, nearly slicing through his hamstring. Cole swallowed the panic, he only had one shot at this. He threw himself into a tumble, vaulting towards Hanzo like a boulder with an agenda. Hanzo had shaken off the dazing effect of the flashbang by the time Cole was within a metre of him. Hanzo went low, not that there were many other directions one could go when fighting something 120cm tall. Lashing out with a sweep kick, forcing Cole away. Cole brought up his short sword parrying the following swing from the archer’s metal bow. The dwarf hissed, pulling back. The resonance from the strike made his fingers cramp, what was that thing made of?Hanzo continued the onslaught of kicks, attempting to drive Cole back enough to firing range. He was relentless, every precise strike had a purpose. Cole grit his teeth, he’d never get an opening expecting the archer to make a mistake; he’d have to create an opening. Cole pivoted, pressing into the intruders range taking a palm to the jaw in the process. It hurt like a bastard, probably worse than anything else he’d taken from a human. If one thing was true, it was that no one could take a hit like a dwarf. Cole grabbed onto Hanzo’s bare arm with hands, the tattoo humming with enough power he could feel it through his gloves and yanked him forward. Hanzo’s eyes bulged, caught off guard. He stumbled, falling to one knee as Cole leap frogged onto his back. He shoved his hand into the archer’s quiver, taking a harsh retaliatory strike from Hanzo in the process.Cole tumbled to the floor with a fist full of fletching. “Heh? Bouquet darlin’?” He smirked, pulling himself off the ground offering the archer’s arrows back to him like flowers. Sure this guy was a solid hand to hand fighter but this would even the playing field significantly, Cole was sure of it.“Clever.” Hanzo straightened, hoisting his bow onto his back with a practised ease.“How’s about yeh return what ya stole and we can call it even?” Cole offered with a tip of his wide brimmed hat.Hanzo answered by pulling back the string of his bow, a line of blue filling the gap between his finger and the grip. An spectral arrow appeared in his hand. He fired, striking the surprised dwarf in the leg.“Fuck!” Cole yelped, looking down to see the magical projectile disappearing as quickly as it was summoned. It stung, a jolt of electricity to the flesh. Not as bad as the real thing, but not something to dismiss. “Aw, c’mon! That ain’t fair!” He grumbled as the archer fired another volley. Springing upright, Cole strafed around Hanzo seeking any sort of weakness; how long could he keep spending magic? Was there a focus he needed to do this? Cole cursed his own inability to grasp magic, what he wouldn’t give to have a mind as sharp as Marlowe’s.Something caught Cole’s eye between his dodging and rolling. There was a glow from the archer wherever he summoned another arrow. It grew brighter with each shot as if in reaction to the magic in his arm. A golden glow stark against the blue of the storm. That had to be it, the magic’s focus. Cole tossed another flash bang, aiming for the floor at the archer’s feet. Hanzo blocked the blast with his bow arm leaving his utility belt open. Cole reached for it, only for the archer’s tattooed fist to close around his wrist.“What is this?” Hanzo asked rhetorically, attempting to wrench Cole back. In terms of raw power, the dwarf had more muscle in his compact body than the archer. The attempt at condescension fell flat, he disengaged narrowly dodging Cole’s shoulder check. “Was this what you were looking for?” He asked, reaching into the first pouch and pulling out a ring. He stared into it, apparently just as drawn in by its lustre as the dwarf was. The blue and golden lights danced with each other as he rotated it with his fingers. “Your gambit was wasted, It’s just a trinket. I do not recall why I even bothered with it.” Hanzo attempted to toss it, Cole reflectively following the trajectory to the floor. There was nothing.“What is this?” The archer snorted, his words dripping with indignity. Cole looked to see Hanzo staring confused at his hand, where the ring now resided. The dwarf blinked, perplexed. How did he manage that? The dwarf couldn’t help but wonder what this crime family was teaching its minions. Was this man an assassin, thief AND a street magician? It didn’t matter, the archer was distracted. Cole grabbed onto Hanzo's bow from his hand, tossing into the pile with his ammunition. The sudden jostling snapped the archer back to the present; Cole was ready, sword primed, dissuading Hanzo from striking back.The archer slipped into a low stance, pulling his tattooed arm back. “Ryū ga waga teki–” he began, like a chant. The radiant ink on his bicep reacted to his words, flaring brighter. Any confidence Cole mustered from his little manoeuvring dissipated as he felt the air charge with electricity. All his shaggy whiskers standing on end, Cole dove for the floor as the final words left the archer’s lips. “--wo KURAU!!!”Two great serpents leapt from the archer’s flesh, like coiling bolts of lightning. They charged the dwarf expanding as they travelled through the air until they nearly filled the entire corridor with roaring lightning. Cole closed his eyes, bringing his arms up in a futile attempt to shield his face as he fell. An intense prickling swept over him, the scent of ozone filling his nostrils. Overwhelming pain surged over him, stifling all other senses as he flew backward. Cole’s vision faded away as the floor rose up to meet him.
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Pain welcomed Cole back to reality, it felt like the time Maple kicked him in the head. It wasn’t the first time he woke up with a deluxe headache and a lack of knowledge of how he ended up there. The buzzing in his ears and the stench of burning assaulting his nose, however, were very new. The dwarf groaned, writhing futilely in his bed struggling and losing the fight to open his eyes. It didn’t help that his mattress was awfully lumpy this morning. Suddenly, it leapt beneath him.“He's stirring!” Marlowe's deep bass hummed over the ringing in his ears. Why was he there…? Cole racked his brain, trying to put the pieces back together. He didn’t end up having drunk sex with the orc did he? Not that he’d really object to the idea, but that didn’t seem right. Ol’ Charlie should be wined and dined, not dragged to his usual dives. He certainly wouldn't have gotten this wasted on grape juice. What did he drink anyways? His brain was not cooperating, strangely more so than usual. He furrowed his brow in concentration, forcing the pieces back into place. He just got back from shopping with Charlie. Yeah, he finally got through to the big guy about… something. It was important, but he couldn't remember.“Think whoever got me got him too?” Another voice asked, Cole's brain throbbed he definitely knew than voice. He was no stranger to inviting men home but his bedroom wasn’t supposed to be a hub of community activity. Where the fuck was he?“I am not sure, we just heard a roar from the vaults and found him on the floor. Most likely…” Marlowe explained. Oh right, Cole reflected. He was in the vault and he ran into that guy, the thief and… the dragon. It came back to him in a rush, that serpent charging him down like a hungry animal. A shock of adrenaline flooded into Cole’s addled mind, his eyes snapped open and he shot up right reaching for a short blade that was no longer there. Cole panicked, at a loss for breath. His hands clawed blindly at the loose fabric draped over his cushion’s body. Slowly green silhouettes clarified in his blurry vision, a dozen pairs of eyes watching him with concern including Elendro and… Pendleton?“Careful Mr. Cassidy. We just got you bandaged up, don’t go undoing all our hard work now.” Marlowe said coolly. Cole looked up at the orc, affecting his usual stern demeanour. Bandaged? Cole thought as he looked down at himself, his left forearm was covered in clean gauze.The dwarf stared at his arm, flexing it curiously. His hand still worked but there was a dull throb coming from beneath the bandages. “Think his brain is fried?” Pendleton asked wryly from his chair. Marlowe glared at the guard, clearly he didn’t think the joke was funny.“ Please, Mr. Pendleton. he's in shock and you have a concussion. Some semblance of seriousness would be appropriate.” The old orc said, his tone sounded almost protective. It was sweet of him but the dwarf couldn't spend the night laying around. He had to catch that thief. Using Marlowe’s toga as an anchor, the dwarf pulled him to his feet. The sudden change in altitude sent blood rushing to Cole's head. Overwhelmed by vertigo, he stumbled falling into the orc's pillowy chest. As much as he'd normally enjoy something like that happening most days, the pain that flared up from where his head impacted spoiled it. Cole groaned, pawing at his head finding a layer of bandages between fingers and his head. “Cole, you need to rest. You nearly died down there.” Marlowe said gently.“Yeah boss, they used their only health potion trying to save your ear.” Pendleton added helpfully.Marlowe looked to the floor, ashamed. “I’m sorry, none of us are healers… there will be scarring.”Cole grunted, touching where his ear hopefully still was. He could still hear well enough and that was good enough for him. “Nevermind my damn ear, we gotta catch that thief… if the guild finds out there was a break in we’re all screwed.” The dwarf grimaced, fighting for balance. The guild was already functioning at a deficit thanks to the quarantine. If they find out they were robbed while the guard was occupying their building they’d expect someone to cover the damages. Knowing Reyes all that shit would roll straight down into the gutter, exactly where he was standing. At best, everyone on the shift would be fired, at worst blamed for organising some inside job. Cole finally climbed off the orc’s lap, swallowing the pain. There was work to be done.“Yes, I know… my keys were stolen while we were out.” Marlowe admitted bitterly with the expression of a man facing the gallows.“We gotta go after him!” Cole huffed, testing his burnt arm. Lucky for him he wasn’t a leftie. “Where’s my damn sword?”“Is the little guy serious?” The elf whispered to the human in the chair, Pendleton just shrugged. The old orc gave his assigned bodyguard a sidelong look.“Even if you and Mr. Pendleton were well enough to fight. We have no idea where the thief would have fled to.” Marlowe sighed, each word felt like a weight dragging down his determination. The old orc was right, the Shimada clan operated around the world with impunity. How was one underpaid guard supposed to ferret them out by himself? Hell, the guy nearly killed him and he doubted the thief would get distracted twice.“I know where Hanzo is going…” Added the orc with the broken tusk from his place in the corner. Every man turned to the orc, most seemed confused by the interjection. All save for Marlowe himself, who was already putting the pieces together.“...And how would you know that, Somerset?” Marlowe asked coldly after a pregnant pause. Every word carried a sense of danger. The other orcs seemed to shrink away from the old orc. All except for the target of his ire. That orc with the broken tusk…a feature that only seemed odder now that Cole was really looking at him. How did one of his teeth get broken already?Somerset stood with a slump, dragging himself towards the centre of their circle. He had the look of a man who was already dead.
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Hanzo stumbled through the back streets, exhaustion racking his body. His treacherous horse bucked him off halfway to his destination, frightened by stray lightning arcing from his arm. The ink shone like a beacon beneath his haori, refusing to go out. The Dragon in his arm was restless; this cursed ring was clearly interfering with it. It railed against his control, sending chills through his body. Hanzo half collapsed against the nearest wall, a fever washing over him. It felt like his insides were on fire, his own magic burning him from the inside out. He would not let this ring take his life, even if it would cost him his hand. He just had to get a little bit further.Mariano’s was a restaurant located dead centre in the city’s commercial district. It was a classic rags to riches story of a pair of poor foreigners from the southern seas settling in the big city. Without a coin to their names, they started their own business out of a cart on the side of the road in the outskirts. Over time they wowed the citizens of King’s Row with the versatility of tomatoes and garlic. Introducing the people of the rainy city to the concept of seasoning. That single cart soon became many, quickly growing in a franchise that spanned the country. It was also one of the most successful Shimada shell companies.No one in the family planned on a simple cover for their operations to become so lucrative, the people were so floored by the novelty of the food it became a runaway success. Hanzo stumbled towards the back of the building, the loading bay door was left open for him. In the darkened building, he could barely pick out a silhouette in the bay door. The light of their cigarette was the only real indication anyone was there. Hanzo couldn’t help but grimaced from more than just the pain radiating from his arm, they had lost faith in him. Even though he had succeeded this night, there would be no accolades waiting for him come dawn.“Has a lost lamb wandered into the wolf's den?” The woman in the shadow asked in their native Hanamuran tongue. It was a warning and a password, not that most of the residents would know the words.“Not prey but a hunter in–argh!” Hanzo began, suddenly another bolt of lightning surged from his arm. He fell to one knee the roar of a dragon ringing in his ear.“Marcus! Gregory, come here! Something is wrong.” The woman called into the dark. Light erupted from the dark behind her, two men came to flank her with lanterns in hand. He could see her clearly now, dressed in the typical bodice and skirt you’d expect from a waitress. Completely unassuming, while he didn’t know her Hanzo knew one didn’t become a ‘manager’ at Mariano’s by being mild mannered. Her minions were obviously natives, the usual stock they pull from when bringing in people from outside the family. Desperate, dim and physically capable. Despite being the shortest, she lorded over her henchmen. When she stepped forward, they followed behind her. Though the trepidation was a lot more obvious on their faces than her’s “Well, Shimada-san. What a sorry state we find you, such a pity.”“Spare me the lecture, lieutenant. I–Hhng!” Hanzo spat, his arm flexed involuntarily freeing itself from his haori. Even the lieutenant’s composure broke at the sight of the raging tattoo. “I have retrieved…the ink.” He finished, panting heavily. Fighting and failing to resist the cursed ring’s magic. The fever that seized his muscles burning hotter with each breath.“I see…” The lieutenant remarked cautiously, approaching no closer. Hanzo looked up at the officer. He wasn’t able to discern the expression on her matured features. It wasn’t disgust or disappointment he expected. Was it… fear?“What the fuck is up with his skin?” One of the henchmen grunted, Hanzo didn’t bother to see which. To his horror the dragon was fading, blending into his skin leaving a dark teal green stain behind.“Get away from him!” The lieutenant ordered, putting her arm out to stop either man from investigating. “I warned the Oyabun about sending anyone into that contaminated building! You are infected!”“Want me to put him down, Ms. Kikyo?” Said the other minion, the one on the left. He was easier to identify thanks to the club he brandished. Hanzo grit his teeth, taking a shaking step back instinctively grabbing for an arrow. His quiver was a mess thanks to that dwarf but he could tell the difference between arrows by touch. He would not be undone by these simpletons. Lightning surged from his body, striking out almost as if responding to his killing intent. The armed henchmen was struck directly, he flew backward sending the others scattering. Hanzo’s bow slipped from his fingers, his hands spasming from the shock. Left numb, he fell to his hands and knees forced as tendons popped and bones stretched. That deep teal colour bleeding to the other hand.One by one the lights in the surrounding buildings came on. The lieutenant scowled, grabbing the light from the right henchman’s hand. She blew the lanterns out, letting the shadows consume the alley once more. “Leave him for the dogs. He’s drawn too much attention, they’ll be on us before we can kill him. He still has his beast, even in his sorry state.” The lieutenant commanded, her scowl illuminated from the occasion bolts arcing from Hanzo’s hunched form. Hanzo snapped his head towards her, her hapless henchmen cowering behind her. Who did she think she was? He was son of Sojiro Shimada, 7th Oyabun of the Shimada clan. He was not a pawn to be discarded!Lightning lashed out wildly, his rage a literal storm surging from his body. Lieutenant Kikyo and her minions swiftly pulled out of range of his uncontrolled power and back to the safety of the loading bay. Hanzo snarled at them, the dragon within snapping at their cowardice. He could not stand no matter how hard he tried to right himself. Hanzo could only watch helplessly as the loading bay doors shut beyond his reach. His shifting body was too unstable to walk. His spine extended, his torso growing twice as broad as it once was. Hanzo clawed at his leather armour, the padded vest felt like it was trying to smother him. The arm holes biting at his shoulders and the collar constricting his neck. With an animalistic desperation, Hanzo tore through the straps that held his cuirass closed shredding through the straps with a feral strength. The joints in his fingers popped one by one as they tripled in size.The archer groaned, unable to process the cocktail of sensations. He could feel the dragon’s emotions blending with his own. Fear, rage, pain and… arousal swirled in his head. He could no longer tell which feeling belonged to which spirit. The teal stains crawled up his lithe arms, new muscle following in its wake. Hanzo’s biceps swelled and shoulders bulged until they were each a match for his head. His neck thickened as the colour smeared down his bare chest. His pecs ballooned out, weighing down his chest. The archer doubled over clutching his head, lightning still dancing around him. Hair came off in his hands in great chunks, but the archer’s mind was too scattered to notice. The throbbing of his groin took priority. He had to get control, he couldn’t give into these desires. No matter how intense they were, he had to keep in control.The sound of tearing filled the air as the back of his pants split down the middle unable to contain his inflating ass. His legs swiftly swelled beyond what the looser fit of his hakama could contain. His cock burst free on its fabric cage growing longer and thicker with each passing moment. He could sense the dragon within, hiding in the whorl of emotions. He could feel his control over it slip with each throb of his traitorous dick.Hanzo could hear it speaking to him without words. Whispering in his ear like one of his father’s sycophantic advisors telling him what he wanted to hear. An overwhelming sense of indignance rose like a mountain in the storm. Hanzo latched onto it like an anchor. ‘He deserved better than this', the thought rang true within the eye of the whorl. What had he done to deserve this beyond what was asked of him? He dragged his nails over the stones, carving grooves into the cobbles. He was going to hunt down that witch and minions and punish them for abandoning him in the alley like some trash.He could see it, he would tear the loading bay doors and siege the complex. Erratic lightning dispatching anyone that stood between him and his quarry. He would find that witch and kill her but not before humiliating her henchmen. A lecherous grin spread across the archer’s face as the dragon’s rage merged with this new hunger, guided by the serpent throbbing between his girthy thighs. How he would delight in pinning them down beneath his claws, rending their clothes from their bodies. He would take his time with the brutes, savouring their masculine forms. Then he would bend them over, spread their asses and ravish them. He would make them his.A sharp pain pieced through the sexual fog, his tabi constricting his feet. It pulled the archer violently back to the reality of the cold alley. He stared down at his trembling hands, self-disgust rushed in to fill the void left behind. What was happening to him? He was meant to bury such depraved thoughts years ago. Hanzo groaned, another growth spurt wracking his body. His feet split the seams of his tabi, leaving him fully exposed to the night air.He clutched at his head as teal blue colour climbed up his bull neck. Vision bombarded his mind one after another, lustful fantasies he had buried within the prison of his subconscious. Hanzo slammed his fist into the cobbles, this wasn’t him. His father raised him to be above these base 'perversions’. He was better than this, he wasn’t a depraved beast. It was the dragon, Hanzo told himself. It had to be, they were such greedy creatures hoarding gold, food, people. He could feel it, circling just outside his turbulent emotions. It recoiled from his baleful attention, that had to be proof of his guilt. He lashed out at it, reaching his spirit out to strangle the thing. It writhed, attempting to escape his grasp. It was fruitless, there was nowhere for the dragon to run.Hanzo’s skin rippled, thick black claws erupting from the tips of his fingers. The skin on the back of each hand split, revealing scales underneath. How he had toiled to restrain this fowl beast only for it to strike when he was vulnerable. The dragon within snarled, struggling violently against the archer’s grip. Lightning rolled off the archer’s body, crawling up the buildings and bathing the alley in blue light. It was fruitless, he would sooner die than let this thing shame him.White hair began to pour from Hanzo’s jaw teal hue spread over his face. His naturally colour getting edged out until his widening jaw was covered in a massive cloudy beard. His nose broadened, developing a hawkish hook. Then his brow pulled forward, crowding his eyes and his ears grew long and sharp. Tusks erupted from his lower lip, heralding him into orchood yet the transformation did not stop. His nose grew sharper, longer, his underbite gradually becoming more exaggerated until the archer’s once noble features resembled that of a gargoyle’s. Hanzo was ignorant to the mutations, too consumed with his invisible duel. More and more of his humanity bled from his face. Hanzo could feel the creature inside him crushed beneath his fury and…his lust. The dragon spirit being consumed entirely by its master. It brought him into mania.The frightened bray of a pony drew the mad half-dragon’s attention. There at the end of the backstreet, coming in from the main road was a dwarf. The same dwarf from the vault, he was trying desperately to stay atop his tiny horse as it bucked in fear. He had survived? Clearly Injured but still very much alive. Hanzo’s vision went red, aiming his rage at his new target. It was his fault that the wretched cursed ring ended up on his finger. The archer pulled himself slowly from the ground, sizing up his target. The dwarf noticed him and gave up on keeping his tiny horse in line. The brown bearded brute bailed out, tumbling onto the cobbles. This disgusting creature condemned him to his fate, it was all his fault! Hanzo broke into an awkward sprint, charging the dwarf down. To Cole’s credit he managed to dodge the clumsily attack.“Whoa easy! Easy! I uh, I know yer not in your right mind right now but I’m not here to hurt’cha...” The dwarf drawled in his unrefined accent, with his hands raised in a placating manner. Hanzo roared, an entirely inhuman sound as he locked eyes with the dwarf. He lunged, launching himself towards his prey, baiting the short man into another predictable dodge. The poor creature took it, quickly springing out of the way. Hanzo pulled the trap shut launching a control bolt into where the dwarf would land, unable to change his trajectory the dwarf was struck directly. The dwarf yelped pathetically, collapsing to the ground. The half-dragon chuckled, grabbing his prey from the ground and slamming him against the wall. It grunted weakly, still paralyzed from the shock.The half-dragon grinned showing off a set of sharp teeth, the beginnings of a tail swaying with delight. The dwarf was a striking specimen, an artfully wild beard and tousled shaggy hair. What flesh that could be seen was positively covered in coarse hair. It was a perfect little teddy bear of a man. The half dragon peeled open the dwarf’s crude half-plate, the worn straps barely holding the uniform together, unwrapping Cole like a birthday present. With another swipe, the dwarf’s shirt was shredded. They drank in the sight of Cole’s torso, the dwarf was not toned but it was built strong. The swirls of his chest hair accenting the curves of his pecs and belly. The half-dragon buried his face in the dwarf’s gut, breathing in his scent. Warm, he smelt like late summer fields; it was strangely soothing. A hand gently came to rest on their head.“Hey…it’s ok. I know you need this, uh connection. I can help, jus’ please… go easy.” Cole said as calmly as he could manage. Hanzo came back to himself, as if waking up from a long sleep. Hanzo found himself naked, cock at full mast while huffing the scent of a man he hardly knew like a desperate dog. He dropped Cole, letting him slide to the ground. Hanzo stumbled away, his self disgusted so intense it made his stomach knot. He fell to his knees, clutching his guts. The skin of his back from his neck to his shoulders to his tailbone split like dry paper, giving way to shimmering cobalt blue beneath.“Shit…This ain’t like anything Marlowe went through…” Cole approached the distressed creature cautiously, hand outstretched. Persistent despite the threat of shock warding him away.Hanzo forgot he was even there, the burning in his skull taking priority. His stumpy tail pushed out inch by agonising inch until it dragged the ground as thick as one of his arms. White fur sprouted down his spine in a neat line until it crested the new appendage. Horns erupted from Hanzo’s forward head, curving backwards like crescent moons. Hanzo yelped in pain grasping at the foreign bones jutting from his hairline.… Until he felt a hand gently stroke his head. The simple touch quieted the pain, leaving the archer dazed. Hanzo looked to Cole who stood there staring at his own hand, a big clump black hair in his hand. He didn’t dwell on how much he could feel the evening chill on his mostly bare head. The agony was still there, lurking in the shadows. Without thinking he scooped the dwarf up and pressed his face into Cole’s chest. That warm scent washed over him, soothing him the storm inside his spirit finally abating.“There ya go, big guy. That good?” Cole asked, cautiously stroking the half-dragon’s head, letting the half-dragon hold him close. Hanzo felt the weight lift from his head, the last hair sloughing off with what remained of his top knot. He felt the loss but only distantly, it paled in comparison to the feeling of the dwarf’s hand gently caressing his bare scalp. Hanzo’s eyes fell closed, his sense of smell taking over. Guided by his nose, the half-dragon drifted from Cole’s stomach, to his chest, coming to rest in the crook under the dwarf’s arm. Contentment embraced him there deep in that warm summery musk, it soothed the rage of his betrayal and calmed the fear. As if drawn by gravity, Hanzo’s clawed hand found his cock, finally relieving the ache between his thighs. His tongue rolled from his heavy jaw, dragging through the forest of pit hair. The dragon within rumbled at the taste of Cole’s salt, the heavy weight of his or. their fat tail swaying languidly as he indulged. Or was it his own mind that relished it. He couldn’t tell the difference anymore.“Uh I can help with that, if ya want?” Cole asked, slightly flushed. Hanzo rose from the dwarf’s underarm looking Cole right in his big brown eyes.“What is your name?” Hanzo asked with as much composure as he could muster.“Cole.” The brown beard answered. Good, hanzo thought. He had a name now, that would make this moderately less shameful. Not that he could sink any deeper into his own guilt over just how deeply he wanted this unassuming guard.“I want to kiss you, Cole. Badly. May I?” The half-dragon asked, his desperation only thinly veiled.Cole looked surprised, as if he expected something more. “Sure, if it’ll he–” He didn’t get to finish his sentence. The half-dragon pounced on him, pressing his lips hard into the dwarf’s beard until he found Cole’s hips hidden under the whiskers. It was awkward, the introduction of tusks made the natural meeting the mouths slightly more cumbersome. The thrill Hanzo felt when their tongues met made it worthwhile. Cole tasted black pepper and smoke, it was a strong flavour but not entirely unpleasant. A moan slipped free the small gap between their mouths as the half-dragons arousal reached fever pitch. It was such a simple pleasure, their tongues caressing one another in an endless dance. Cole grew more confident as time went on, unlike Hanzo he was no stranger to intimacy between men and its intensity. The half-dragon gradually relented, letting the dwarf take the lead. Merely holding Cole close as the shorter man’s hands ran laps over his smooth head, down his neck and back again.Hanzo stroked his unwieldy weapon, his hips occasionally bucking into his own paw like a rutting beast. His heavy balls slapping against his fist. All 35 centimetres of flesh literally tingled with pleasure, the dam of the repressed archer's sexuality sundering up the middle. The dwarf's lips a draught too delicious to resist. Precum freely dribbled from the tip of hanzo's club of a dick oozing into a puddle on the cobbles. His balls clenched, orgasm building. Hanzo broke the kiss bluntly, feeling the end rapidly close in. Hanzo let his head rest Cole's cleavage, re-immersing himself back into the dwarf's virile presence. The half-dragon came, hard hozing the stones in short blasts. Electricity rolled off his muscles in small sparks as the storm inside him finally died.Cole held the giant beast as his great bulk buckled. His boots were probably ruined now, but at least the big guy had calmed down. Without a word Hanzo pulled away, unable to look at himself let alone look the dwarf in the eye after what he had done. Instead he turned to the restaurant, to the clan that had shunned him. His father will know of his transformation by sunrise, he was worse than a mere failure now. He was an abomination… This was the final straw, there'd be no more chances for redemption.“Here.” The dwarf said kindly, Hanzo turned to see Cole standing there holding the tatters of his clothes. “It's not much, but I figure you'd wanna cover up.”“Hm…” Hanzo hummed, eyes flicking to his utility belt which rested on the dwarf's shoulder. He accepted the cloth wrapping around his waist. The pair stood in heavy silence, the archer lost in his shame and the guard at a loss for words.“You wouldn't be willing to come back with me, woulda?” Cole asked, awkwardly tugging at his beard. Hanzo raised a thick white eyebrow. Had the dwarf just asked him nicely to come back with him? He considered the short man carefully. What could his motivations for this sabotage be if the fool didn't have a way to bring him to heel? Was it even sabotage in the first place?Cole squirmed beneath the half-dragon’s scrutiny. “Look I can't force ya to do anything, I ain't that stupid. I jus’ wanna help people like you.”His actions were hardly that of some devious mastermind, a finer warrior than his vocation would require but hardly malicious all things considered. No, this cursed fate was his own doing. Hanzo understood that now, his fate was signed and sealed as soon he laid eyes on that ring. The ring… Hanzo glanced at his hand, finding it painfully unrecognisable.Long black claws capped fingers too thick to properly wield his bow. The ring however was gone. Wretched thing… probably off to torment someone else. Hanzo sighed staring out into the alley, he could stray onlookers watching him from the streets and windows. How long had they been watching him? He didn't enjoy being so visible. “Fine. Arrest me if you wish. My life is over either way...”“Nah, you won't be locked up that long.” Cole chuckled, he slipped two fingers into his mouth and whistled three times, the sound echoing off the buildings. After a long pause, the dwarf’s tiny horse peaked its head out from behind the shallow crowd of onlookers that had gathered at the entrance to the back street. She was staring at him like a deer watching a wolf. “Aw c’mon Maple, it's ok~” Cole called to his pony, consoling the shaken creature.Hanzo scoffed at the dwarf’s blind optimism. It was clear Cole could not comprehend the depths of shame Hanzo had sunk into. “You are remarkably merciful, considering I nearly killed you.”“Yer right. But I ain't in the habit of kickin’ a man when he's down.” The dwarf fired back cajoling his tiny horse back into his arms. Stroking the shaken creature on her snout to calm her down. The frankness of his words caught the half-dragon off guard, he crossed his arms and attempted to lean against the wall. Resolved to just remain silent. The rack of horns he didn't realise he had caught in the brick, pushing his head forward at an uncomfortable angle. His shoulders drooped, dignity was truly something forever out of reach. He slid to the cobbles, head slumped in defeat. Cole guided Maple back to Hanzo’s side, giving him a gentle stroke on the head. “I guess I'm just a sucker for a big grump in need.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Three months, it took three months for things to settle down into a new normal. In the end the robbery itself was easy to cover up. The traps reset themselves 12 hours after triggering and no one was clear to enter the building for another week after that event. Hanzo himself, he wasn't so easy to hide. Not when a dozen souls personally attest to witnessing Cole Cassidy, brave officer of the guard wrestling the dangerous mutant with his bare hands. Cole supposed in a dark back street, at a distance, their little make out sesh could have probably looked like ‘wrestling’. Regardless of what really happened, the news spread across town by morning and Captain Reyes found swamped by overeager reporters bombarding him with questions about this rare draconic monstrosity under his apparent custody and the dwarven hero that brought it down. Each one practically salivating for more detail on this latest development in the ‘Green Plague’ scandal. Cole thought himself a dead man with the stare Reyes was giving him… At least until the next day, when the accolades came down from on high praising him and his precinct for handling such a beast and with no damage to the guild’s building at that. That was enough to distract the captain, at least for a little while.Cole weaved his way through the Southside Fens, one of the poorer dockworker districts by the riverside. Marlowe owned a building in the area, run down for sure but big enough for the whole clan. It was the first day Cole had off in weeks, between running favours for Marlowe during the day and patrolling at night. Reyes was determined to keep him working the evening beat, if only because they rarely saw each other, but that was really taking its toll on the dwarf. If he wanted to spend all his time in the dark he would have stayed back home in Velgan. At least then everything would have been dwarf height.“Hey, ain’t that the dragon-slayer?” One of the dock-workers asked his coworker as Cole passed.“Huh?” The other swarthy labourer asked, clearly not paying attention.“ Yeah, I saw a print of him in the paper! Beat the shit out of a– ” Cole didn’t stick around for the dockhand to finish, clicking his heels into Maple’s sides to get her to trot around the corner just a bit after. He never got into guard work for fame, nevermind the reputation for brutality on the job. This kind of fame was ugly, but there was nothing he could really do about it. He brushed his shaggy hair out of his eyes, it had gotten a little out of control but he simply did not have the energy to worry about it.Marlowe’s townhouse slowly came into view. It was a weathered old duplex, hewn from stone and old forest. It was probably a stately building once upon a time, before the markets moved away from the distincts decades back. Now it is falling apart and covered in half-finished repairs. Scaffolding wreathed the building in several places, repairs in progress. They were slow going, most of the orcs didn’t know what they were doing but one of them came from a construction background so they weren’t all in the dark. So it was strange when Cole noticed a man, a human man climbing up the scaffolding like a skittish monkey. The closer he got the more things seemed off. The orcs didn’t have enough money for a contractor, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t find volunteers. Then there was the lack of tools on his person and the ‘worker’s’ overall looked awfully clean for the kind of person that would live around here or doing this kind of job.“How goes the work, big guy.” Cole asked nonchalantly, dismounting from Maple Stirrup’s saddle. The thin man leapt at the sound of the dwarf’s voice, like a kid caught elbow deep in the cookie jar before dinner.Cole tipped up the brim of his wide brim hat to get a better look at the stranger. Even from two stories away, Cole could tell this guy was young. He couldn’t be older than 20 and he was pale, the dwarf knew that particular brand of ivory skin. Only two kinds of people were that sun-starved, men who spent all day knee deep in books or dwarves fresh from the low roads. And this guy was no dwarf. “Uh, it’s going great! uhm-thanks for asking!” The young man responded, forcing a painfully awkward smile.Cole fetched his cigar case from Maple’s saddlebag; from what he could see, the poor kid was in over his head. One of the orcs was going to get fed up with the college poking around and snap on one of these hapless apprentices they kept sending. “Oh yeah? What’s on the docket today? You finishing the roof today?” The dwarf asked casually, ripping the end of a cigar with his teeth.“Wha-oh? uhm-Yeah yeah. Got to get it finished before…it uhm, rains this weekend!” The imposter babbled, Cole couldn’t help but smirk at the imposter’s attempt at acting as he casually lit his cigar.Cole took in a deep breath of the smooth, letting the smooth taste of vanilla and tobacco mix on his tongue before responding. “Oh yeah? Well, where are the shingles? Shouldn’t you have taken the old ones of before finishin’ anything?” The young man blanched, looking up at the roof then back to the dwarf. He started to stammer one kind of excuse, but his words got all tangled together. Cole raised his hand, gesturing for the imposter to stop. “Ya’ll seem a little confused, let me ask the man of the house. I’m sure he can straighten you out.”“Waaa-waitwaitwait!” The imposter yelped, attempting to scramble after the dwarf as he climbed the short stairway to the front door. Cole ignored his pleas and let himself inside. The inside was rustic but surprisingly clean considering the rough exterior. There was a lot of furniture left behind when the place was abandoned, as dated as they looked. The orcs weren’t in a position to be picky. The hall split in three places from where he stood, a short hall to the main sitting area, a stairwell to the upstairs and an open doorway to the kitchen. Deep grunts and creaking furniture emanated from the sitting room. The familiar sounds of orc sex, the clan had gotten… very comfortable with each other once they were free from captivity. With as many of them as there were under one roof, at least two of them were going at each other at any given point of the day. He didn't think it was Charlie though, he was a whimperer.“Charlie! There’s another apprentice trying to climb your gutters!” Cole shouted up the stairway. The couple in the sitting room didn't even pause. They were all used to the dwarf’s presence. He appreciated the acceptance, it was genuinely kind of nice. Even if he wasn't ready to accept their invitations to join in. After a pause, the orc known as Charles Marlowe but more commonly known as Charlie these days came stomping down the stairs wrapped in a dressing gown.“Confound those mages!” Charlie fumed, stomping down his way to the landing. He tugged his robe shut, barely concealing his modesty as he marched out the door. The imposter worker was already attempting a get away by the time Charlie left the building. That didn't stop the old orc from running the boy down. ”How many must I tell you wretched wizards! He's not your specimen to harass, you creature you!”Cole could hear the boy shriek in fear at the sight of the rampaging Orc. He wasn’t going to do more than give the apprentice a very firm talking to but he couldn't fault the boy for being intimidated.Charlie had really come into his own as chief of this clan. Dedicated and fiercely protective of his charges, Cole really had to admire the man he was becoming. Charlie returned after lecturing the apprentice for a solid minute with a deep frown on his face. Cole took a draw from his cigar. “The eggheads from O'Deorain tower really don't know when to quit, huh?”“you don't know the half of it…” Charlie grumbled, scrubbing his hand over his face. Cole did, he had pressed the half-dragon about it. Dragon's were a rare breed, only surfacing from the underdark once a decade to gorge themselves. Creatures of magic, every part of them had value. From their scales, to the blood, even their spit was worth twice it's weight in gold. So when it was discovered that there was half-breed in their midst every enchanter, alchemist, and smith went feral for the chance to get a drop of dragon’s blood. Ever since the clan's home was under siege by these aggressive solicitors seeking Hanzo out. It got better when Hanzo moved into the attic loft, but he rarely left it since going up there. It just seemed unhealthy to Cole to isolate yourself so completely.“But I won’t burden you with my complaints, it's been a while since we’ve seen you. And on your day off? Are you finally going to join us for the evening?” Charlie smiled, a hint of lust in his eye. Cole felt a knot build up in his stomach, as much he liked the idea. It didn't feel right to dive into one of their orgies. The clan was fond of him and he loved them too but it still didn't feel right leaving Hanzo on the sidelines.“Aha, well I'd love to but uh, I'm not here fer a social call. I'm trying’ to settle some things around town before I go.” The dwarf sputtered bashfully, hiding his blush in a cloud of cigar smoke.“Oh? You're leaving?” Charlie asked, both eyebrows raised. He stood up straighter, more alert. His hands drifted to his hips, letting his robe casually slide open.“Yeah, works been bad lately and I don’t think it’s going to get any better. So I was gonna jump ship.” Cole sighed, slipping off his hat. His thick brown fringe tumbled into eyes, he shook it out of his face.“I was honestly thinkin’ leavin’ town, start wanderin’ the roads fer a while. See if I can't make a difference out there...” Cole trailed off, watching fear wash over the old orc's face. The knot in his stomach twisting tighter. He was worried this was going to happen. He was awful with goodbyes, it didn't help that the clan was so affectionate with him. It felt like abandoning a pack of big, green dogs on the side of the road. “N-now I don't wantcha to think I'm leavin’ y'all high and dry. I jus’--”Charlie looked up the empty stairwell, tugging on his bush of a goatee. “It's not that, Cole. We can take care of ourselves now, thanks to you. Have you told Hanzo?”“Huh? No, I just settled on this like the other day. Is somethin' wrong with him?” Cole asked, that was the interaction he was looking forward to the least.Charlie, sat down crossing his legs. He looked the dwarf in the eye, his stern business persona sliding on like a mask. “Hanzo is still very much his own island, he spends most of his time in his room meditating. Only stopping to eat, he still very much avoids us… you're the exception.”“I mean, it’s not like he’s friendly with me. He jus’ tolerates me because of this life debt he says he owes me.” Cole hummed, sidestepping those implications the old orc was lobbing at him. “I'm guessin’ he still feels bad fer attackin’ me.”“Is that so? I could not imagine why.” Charles gently reached for Cole’s face, slipping his fingers through the dwarf’s unkempt mop to find the scar hidden underneath. The scar left behind by Cole's brush with the dragon snaked from his left cheekbone to the back of his head. The flesh was severely seared, leaving a long patch of marbled pink scar tissue. Much of the upper half of his outer ear was gone, the rest was barely salvaged by Charlie’s clumsy first aid.“Look Chief, nevermind my darn ear.” Cole brushed away the old orc's doting touch. He didn't hold anything against Charlie for not being a perfect medic, he did the best he could but the big guy was so hard on himself.“Sorry… let me make you both some tea. I have a feeling this will be a longer conversation than you planned.” Charlie smiled, giving Cole a sympathetic pat on the shoulder before he rose to his feet.Cole kicked off his boots, leaving them by the door. “Yeh…you're probably right."
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Inhale… exhale…Hanzo sat eyes closed on the bare floor of the attic. Sunlight poured in from the single circular window in the room. Light dancing off his scaled back dappling vibrant blue glints. His mind was closed off to it all, lost in the tranquillity of his mind. His inner world was a river, thoughts passing through his mind like leaves carried by the current. Through control there was peace, through control there could be redemption. That was the first lesson his father taught him. The dragon had been silent since that night three months ago, ominously so. Its desires were present, it took constant vigilance to keep them reeled in. But the serpent itself was absent.Inhale… exhale…The lust came in waves, plaguing him with mental images of male forms. Hairy chests, and monstrous facial hair, oversized muscles and gluttonous guts in all their absurd overindulgence. This was nothing new to the half-dragon, despite both his and his father’s best efforts to alleviate the problem. He has always had a desire for men, just not this intensely. He couldn’t even glance at his hosts without feeling that typhoon of desire rolling back in. Distance between him and the rest of this budding clan was necessary. They had all given in to this same hunger long ago, being around them would only make his condition worse. He would not dishonour himself any further than he already had. He was grateful for shelter, for the steps they’ve taken to secure his privacy, but he could not join them.Inhale… exhale…He did not care how many miles this journey took, he would find himself again. He would do right by his patriarch, even if he was trapped in this form forever.A knock on the trapdoor pulled Hanzo from his quiet place and back into the dusty reality he had locked himself away in. He tried and failed to glance over his shoulder, his neck and traps were too bulky to properly manage a 90 degree turn. He sighed and got off the floor and turned fully around. Judging by the position of the sun, it couldn’t be later than three past noon. It couldn’t be time for dinner already, what could Marlowe want from him?The person at the trapdoor knocked a second time. Hanzo looked around for something to conceal his modesty. He didn’t have anything in the way of clothing, not at his size. Without options, he grabbed the towel from the wash tub he had used that morning. Tying between his groin and left hip, a thong would have to do. “Come in.” Hanzo finally responded, glancing away from the entrance. The trap door swung open and a tea set, complete with small biscuits appeared through the open space. Hanzo arched an eyebrow, this was highly unusual. A familiar dwarf popped his head up after.“Howdy biggun’.” Cole said sheepishly, pulling himself up off the ladder.Hanzo’s heart began to race, as soon as the dwarf’s devastating beauty entered in peripheral vision electricity surging through his veins. The half-dragon pivoted on his heel, turning his back to Cole. “You have returned.” He said stiffly.“Yeah, I’ve got some news for ya...” The dwarf mumbled, Hanzo could hear him kicking his feet against the floorboards. Hanzo could picture the brown beard standing there humbly, with hat in his hands. His hair and beard tussled in that charming way it often was. Warmth rushed to the half-dragon’s groin. Hanzo breathed in sharply, attempting to unhook the image from his mind. He failed.Hanzo swallowed his frustration, sparks arcing off his body. “News? I do not suppose my old clan has deigned to speak with me?” There wasn’t a chance in that, he knew that fully well. The fact they hadn’t sent assassins to finish the job was a miracle in itself, though that may just be because he wasn’t worth losing more agents to the curse or his lightning.Cole rubbed his neck, his mouth pulled into a thin line. “Geez, do ya even wanna hear from them? I thought they left you fer dead.”Hanzo felt himself bristle at the bluntness of the dwarf’s words. Lightning sparking off his tensed muscles. He was right, but hearing the truth put so plainly from another mouth only made it taste more bitter. “Sorry, probably shouldn’t have said that.” Cole apologised.“Hm.” The half-dragon snorted, shoving the feeling of longing away. It was unlikely that Cole could understand what it meant to be a part of the Shimada empire. They gave him purpose and he was one of their keenest blades...until his brother’s betrayal.Cole lightly punched himself square on the forehead. He took a deep breath, pushing his thick brown shag out of his face. “Sigh…well I sure fucked this up out the gate. Let’s jus’ get this over with. I’m leavin’ town, gunna try for a fresh start on the road. You don’t have to worry about me or whatever debt you feel like you owe me anymore.”Hanzo’s breath caught in his chest, his throat closed. The dwarf’s words smashed through his calm like a bull charging through a pottery shop. A tornado of emotion spinning up within the half-dragon's head. Dammed feelings breaking free, drowning all sense in a world-drown torrent. Cole took a cautious step forward, carefully stepping around the lightning arcing from the dragon’s body “Shit, what did I do? I thought you didn’t–”Hanzo pounced onto the dwarf, shoving him into the floor. The wood beneath them groaning protest of the weight. Their eyes met for the first time in weeks. Cole's irises looked like pools of honey in the afternoon sun, a beauty matched for the gods themselves. “You…you can’t go! I need you–I’ve wanted you badly.” Hanzo gushed, his restraint collapsing under his unrelenting hunger. Cole only looked up at him, stunned. The half-dragon’s mind was racing; he was so close, just a thin layer of clothing between him and everything he wanted. The dragon within purred as Hanzo’s claws dragged deep grooves into the wood on either side of the dwarf’s head.“Easy there, partner… I didn’t know you cared.” Cole chuckled nervously. “Maybe we can slow down? This is goin’ a little fast.”The wind died in his sails, replaced with the cold realisation of what he had done. Shame filled the void where the storm once was like a thick black bile. He could feel the heat of his own erection, straining at the towel. A beacon to his own depraved appetites. The half-dragon backpedalled, tripping over his own tail in the process. “Please, forgive–I did not…I…” He could see his father’s face that day when he walked in on him in bed with his first love. That expression of unbridled disgust, it was seared into his memory like a deep tissue burn.“Hey hey, talk to me...” Cole cooed, scooping up the reeling half-dragon’s head pressing it into his chest. Hanzo shuttered softly, the dwarf’s warmth enveloping him. He felt so peaceful there, it was more than the sterile control of his mediation. It wasn’t something he could replicate. The dwarf’s touch was safe, it was calm… it was home. “What’s gotten into you?”“I am…an abomination…” Hanzo choked, fighting back tears.“No, no you ain’t.” Cole responded without hesitation. He stroked the half-dragon’s head, comforting him.“You do not understand…” Hanzo closed his eyes, soaking in touch. How he missed this feeling, it was so simple yet even the dragon within purred with contentment.“Help me understand.” The dwarf huffed, giving Hanzo’s horn an impatient tug.“Hm…” Hanzo felt conflicted, to discuss the dragon and its secrets with an outsider would be breaking a core tenet of his family’s code. Could he bear the weight of another sin? Yet the isolation had worn him down, he never realised how much he had been craving connection all this time. The half-dragon drew in a slow breath, letting the dwarf’s presence erase his anxieties. “It is in the ink…” He began. Cole hummed acknowledgement, he was listening but he wasn’t going to interrupt. “Dragon’s are not merely creatures that do magic, they are magic itself. Even in their blood carries that essence. By mixing the blood into ink, we can bind a small piece of the dragon’s spirit to our bodies. You have met the beast, personally.”Hanzo felt the dwarf tense beneath him from the memory. The half-dragon stroked the dwarf’s slight paunch as gently as his colossal body would allow, he wasn’t used to the practice of comforting others but he felt like he should. “I am truly sorry, for bringing it to bear against you. Surely you would understand how vicious it can be.”“You…sayin’ it’s alive?” The dwarf asked his fear, barely restrained.“In a manner of speaking, yes. '' Hanzo continued to rub Cole’s gut as he reminisced. His clawed hand slipped under Cole’s shirt, combing the body hair beneath. He never saw himself being so attracted to the mountainfolk before. Culturally they were so brutish and uncivilised but then again he never saw himself as an orcish mutant either. That had to be why… “It fights you, doing everything it can to rip itself free. It takes years of discipline to master it. Even then, I had to curb its blood thirst. It was ravenous and when that cursed ring changed me. I felt it emerge, I heard it taunt me as it attempted to seize my body. I can no longer tell where it ends and I begin…”“So…you want to kill?” Cole asked cautiously. Despite his clear trepidation, he did not pull away. He just continued to pet the great behemoth, gliding over Hanzo’s head, down his neck and onto his back.“I… No, I want to take. To control, that night when you found me. I wanted to… debauch you. Make you mine, it was overwhelming. That is why I could not look at you. I do not hate you, you are just too beautiful. I fear harming you.” Half-dragon admitted, voice sombre. He waited, expecting the rejection that would inevitably come.“Oooh, so the magic made it horny too!” Cole chuckled, the tension in the air dispersing.Hanzo pulled himself upright, looking the dwarf directly in his beautiful eyes. “I am being serious.”“I mean, I’ve heard dragons are mean but I haven’t heard of horny ones.” Cole shrugged, a hint of mischief peeking from under his moustache. “You sure it’s this dragon and not jus’ you? You’ve had to have heard how many times the boys go at each other downstairs. This place would reek of sex if Ol’ Charlie wasn’t such a tightwad about cleanin’.”Hanzo felt his temper boil, how could this dwarf make light of his situation? What would Marlowe’s little family know about his burdens? The other orcs were just civilians, they never had the stakes levied over them as he had all his life. ”Are you mocking me?“Nope.” The dwarf smirked, tussling Hanzo’s unkempt white beard. The half-dragon jerked away, his beard bristling.“I’m sayin’ there’s a whole group of men going through the same shit as you, helping each other through it.” Cole reached for the tea tray, finally able to reach it without the hybrid weighing him down. “Yer a soldier, a better fighter than me. You’d probably have killed me if you weren’t so distracted. But here you are still struggling with this alone, when the answer is in the same darn building as you. I might not know what you are going through. But they sure as shit do, you aren’t the only one cut off from his family cause of this.”Hanzo flexed his fists, his fury mounting. It wasn’t that the dwarf didn’t have a point. It was the fact he might have a point that caused Hanzo so much duress. His mind shrank from the possibility like a feral cat. To stray from the path he had walked all his life could spell his end. Yet all it took was there mere sight of the dwarf to shatter the delicate hold he held over the dragon's desires. Cole took the chance while Hanzo sat in silence to prepare the behemoth of a man a cup of tea, placing it before the half-dragon almost as tribute. “Lemme put it this way, I don’t know shit about dragons but I used to run with a crew north of here. They kept Winter Wolves as hunting dogs, they starved them to make them more meaner hunters. But leavin’ them hungry all the time sure didn’t make them any more obedient, if you get my drift.”Hanzo snatched up the cup, swirling the loose leaf that sat at the bottom. He took a deep breath, letting the frustration flow down the river of his mind. With clear eyes, he gazed into the cup swirling the contents. The tea leaves danced in the whorl, staining the hot water a dark brown. He took a sip, draining the cup in a single draw. The bitter draught felt good, it wasn’t his favourite but it was familiar in a pleasant way. Hanzo poured himself another cup, setting down at his feet to steep.His options were simple: continue fighting a war of attrition with a part of himself he didn't understand with no end in sight. Or, give in to these desires and risk losing himself to the dragon. Hanzo returned his focus to Cole. He was just sitting there, his stumpy legs crossed waiting patiently. Rough around the edges in his dwarvish way, he was the opposite of everything Hanzo was taught a man should be. His hair and beard were a mess, the latter had grown so wild since their first encounter it nearly reached his chest. He is reckless, blunt and foolhardy, very much the dull blade you'd expect to find in the city guards' retinue. Most of all Cole was unfailingly kind and selfless and his embrace had brought the half-dragon more peace in an instant than anything his father had taught him all his life. Hanzo picked up his mug of tea, tipping it back. If he was going to lose his mind… he wanted to lose it in the tangle of the luscious whiskers.Hanzo swallowed, setting down his mug. “Cole.”“Yeh?” Cole replied, perking up.“I wish to ask something of you, and I must stress you can say no.” Hanzo started, averting his gaze. The rest of his own massive frame sliding into vision. It still surprised him just how immense his body had become. “ Despite my best efforts, I've found myself deeply fond of you. Would you… do me the honour of sharing yourself with me?”“Oh yeah? Like in the sex way?” The dwarf chuckled, a grin shining through his beard.Hanzo’s tail twitched, slapping the floor impatiently. “Yes! You oaf!” He huffed his embarrassment tinting his teal cheeks purple.“Jus’ makin’ sure!” Cole sprung to his feet, the chipped china jostling from the impact. He stepped over the tea tray as delicately as he could manage. The contrast in the scale between his feet and kettle of water really put into perspective just how big they were. Hanzo felt his scales prickle as the dwarf closed the distance. Cole was so close, he could smell him. “I ain't used to people flirting with me so poetically.” The shorter man smirked, his voice a sultry rumble.“...What are you accustomed to, then?” Hanzo asked, challenging the dwarf to take command. Cole grabbed the half-dragon by his own billowing beard and pulled him into a kiss. Hanzo felt his titanic frame shudder as their lips met and their whiskers meshed. Hanzoscooped Cole off his feet holding him close. He felt a warmth swell in his chest, as their tongues reunited with one another. He could practically feel his heart roar ‘finally’, drinking deep for the affection it had been deprived of for so long. The dwarf was vastly more experienced and it showed. Despite his superior size, Cole easily took command of their kiss controlling the pace effortlessly and Hanzo loved it. His claws grasped blindly at Cole’s shirt, overeager to explore every inch of the dwarf with a clear mind.Cole broke the kiss, wiping his moustache. “Hold on, lemme get this.” He chuckled, pulling off his shirt. “I’m running out of clothes, can’t have you shreddin’ more.” The jest fell on deaf ears, the half-dragon stared transfixed the vision that was the dwarf’s furry chest drowning out his other senses. Hanzo swiped the dwarf off his feet, swiftly reuniting his face with Cole’s gut. It was a rush, Cole’s scent, his fuzz, and his heat all hitting his starved senses at once. Hanzo’s brain shut-down, embracing the feeling. His nose took over from there, guiding him up Cole’s torso planting kisses as he went. “Heh, yeah that’s it, big guy. Get comfortable.” Cole chuckled as he lifted his arm, letting the half-dragon slot deftly into the crook of his arm. Hanzo moaned, his tongue rolling from his mouth tasting the dwarf’s scent. He couldn’t justify his attraction, it was uncouth to crave another man’s odour like this… He couldn’t resist that late summer smell. Cole stroked the half-dragon’s head, encouraging him to indulge. Hanzo drank in the salt of the dwarf’s skin, his fat tongue gliding along the valley of the dwarf’s pit until the area was clean.“Heh, a hound dog ain’t got nothin’ on you big man.” Cole laughed as Hanzo surfaced, panting his face maroon with blush.“My apologies, I–” Hanzo began, Cole didn’t let him wallow in his shyness. He kissed the half-dragon again hard, gently resting his foot against Hanzo’s untethered erection. The dwarf rubbed Hanzo’s throbbing length, the neglected flesh over sensitive to the softness of the sole.“Nah.” Cole smirked, letting Hanzo gather himself. “I should be the one apologizin’. I wouldn’t have washed my pits this mornin’ if I knew we were gunna tussle.” Hanzo felt his face burn even brighter and beard bristle. He tried to look away, Cole caught him by the beard gently pulling him back. “Hey, it’s ok, you big softie… now tell me. You have any practice suckin’ dick.”Hanzo closed his eyes, centering himself. “Not much…just some experimenting when I was a teenager.”“Would you like me to teach ya?” Cole asked, his tone earnest and his eyes sympathetic. Hanzo swallowed dryly, desperation overpowering dignity and gave Cole a nod. The dwarf jerked the half-dragon back into his gut. Rather than moving up, Cole pushed Hanzo down towards his groin. Hanzo obeyed, letting himself drift toward the waistline of Cole’s pants. They smelled of horse, it was poisoning the mood. He yanked roughly on the roughspun trousers, taking down Cole’s underpants with him.Cole’s uncut cock sprung free, knocking Hanzo on the chin. Hanzo gaped, the dwarf was massive. Half as long as his absurd length, the dwarf’s cock was girthy. Proportionally his meat was like a third leg. Cole grinned. “Why is everyone so surprised when they see it? This is below average fer a dwarf.” The brown beard bragged, leaving Hanzo to soak the sight in. The half-dragon cautiously wrapped hand around it, peeling back the foreskin. The dwarf’s musk was different here, heavier but all the more enticing. He felt his mouth water, the heavy aroma drawing him closer. Hanzo let his nostril rest along the length. “That’s it big guy…” Cole purred, pressing the half-dragon’s face into his groin.Cole ran Hanzo through the motions, though much of it came naturally to the half-dragon. Memories of intimacy coming back to him through their linking. Hanzo kissed the head, letting the dwarf’s dick slip into his mouth. Heat on his tongue gave him goosebumps and the sound rolling from Cole’s throat only enticed him further. He swallowed the dwarf whole, choking on the girth half way down. “Easy…a little at a time.” The dwarf soothed, letting Hanzo catch his breath.“I am fine.” Hanzo huffed, pushed the dwarf to the floor knocking over the tea tray in the process. He was not bested by dwarf’s shortsword before and he wouldn’t lose now! Hanzo swallowed down hard, pushing past the barrier of comfort between his mouth and throat. His gag reflex protested but his hunger would not be defied. Cole groaned, his head going limp as Hanzo inhaled his length. Swallowing it down until his face was buried in the dwarf’s pubes. The half-dragon pleasured himself to the act, Cole’s length working its way into his throat, the dwarf’s taste on his tongue it was all so…gratifying. He liked this, he liked it a lot.“What the…” Cole panted, sitting up right. Hanzo looked up, reluctant to let the dick in his greedy mouth go. Cole was examining one of the jars that came with the tea set, running his finger on the inside of the clayware and smelling the clear substance. He laughed, passing the jar to the half-dragon. Hanzo accepted it, sitting up right to look into the jar.“And this is…?” He asked, looking at the liquid. It was clear and fairly viscous with an unplatable small. Certainly nothing he would voluntarily drink.“Marlowe was thoughtful enough to include lube with our tea.” Cole rolled his eyes, springing to his feet. Hanzo blinked, not quite following. The dwarf scanned the room, finding Hanzo’s bed. It was just two straw mattresses stacked on top of each other. It was probably all they could manage to fit up here. He podded over, the half-dragon following behind like an eager puppy. Cole flopped backwards onto the bed, spreading his legs giving the half-dragon full view of his undercarriage. Hanzo tugged at his beard, flustered by the sight. It was quite the vista.“Yer gunna smear that stuff on your finger, use it to help open my ass up.” Cole smirked, giving his rod a few pumps to keep it from getting soft.“You would…let me…? Would it fit?” Hanzo stammered, looking down at himself then back to Cole’s pucker.“Ha, you ain’t my first mega-dick Hanzo.” The dwarf nodded, pulling his stumpy legs back. Hanzo bit down on his lower lip, hunching over the prone man. They were already long past the swallow pool of experience he could draw from. Hanzo looked up into the dwarf’s eyes, looking for instruction. “Start with one finger, stretch me a bit then go for two…and watch the claws.” Hanzo dipped his finger into the lube, soaking a finger and pressing it to the tight ring of muscle hidden in curls of Cole’s furry rump. Claws aside, it sank past the threshold easily. Hanzo worked the passage gently, carefully. As tough as he knew the dwarf was, his insides felt so delicate. “Yeah… that’s right.” The brown beard sighed. “Start hooking your finger backward, right about…mmmph.” The dwarf moaned, Hanzo quickly finding his prostate. Cautiously, the half-dragon took Cole back into his mouth falling into a rhythm. Teasing the dwarf’s entrance as he nursed on his cockhead.Hanzo monitored the dwarf as he worked his body, watching what made the dwarf arch his back or flex his toes. Unfortunately the better he did the worse of a teacher Cole became, too busy moaning to offer decent advice. Not long after he worked on the second finger, Cole grabbed onto his head with both hands and shoved him down onto his cock. The thick hunk of meat sitting perfectly between his tusks. It went easier than the first time. There he was nestled in the dwarf’s groin, the scent of arousal thick in the air. Something inside Hanzo snapped into place, he began sucking down Cole’s length faster as he pumped both in and out of the dwarf’s ass. The brown beard hips bucked into his gullet, partially gagging him. He felt himself growl, enticed by the roughplay. He added a third digit, letting Cole fuck his mouth. Drool dibbling from the corners of his mouth onto his cloud beard. It felt good to please this man, he could do this forever if Cole asked. The dwarf however had other plans.The brown beard wrenched Hanzo off his dick, leaving the big man dazed and confused. “Wha–did I do something wrong?”Cole shook his head. “I’m done with foreplay, gimme the real thing.” He smirked, pulling back his legs again. Hanzo didn’t need to be told twice. He leaned back grasping his turgid member, smearing the lube up the length. He nudged the head against Cole’s ass, kissing the ring. Another growl rumbled from his chest unbidden, he felt the energy build. A new storm roiling in his mind. He wanted this so badly, his heart was pounding like thunder in his chest. The dwarf nodded, giving him the green light. Hanzo thrust forward, into the dwarf’s ass. There was push back, the dwarf was tight even with all that prep work. Cole let out a pained hiss, his teeth grit. Hanzo didn’t hear it, his own moan drowning out the sound. The silken grip of Cole’s ass was so intoxicating. He couldn’t stop himself from pushing deeper until his cock rooted all the way up the dwarf’s mining shaft. Hanzo collapsed onto the brown beard, smothering him in muscle. The dwarf’s ass was like nothing had ever experienced, every centimetre of his dick was held so intimately. Hanzo drew his hips back, the vice of the dwarf’s ass holding him tightly as he withdrew.Hanzo thrust in again, striking like lightning. Cole’s prone body bucked from the impact, forcing a straggled sound from him. Hanzo didn’t notice, the dwarf’s depth caressing his length took priority. He liked how it felt, he needed more. The half-dragon snarled, thrusting again and again chasing the sensation like a predator cornering a kill. The dwarf writhed helpless beneath him as he rammed himself deep into the brown beard’s flesh tunnel. The half-dragon came down hard on the dwarf, pounding Cole into the mattress. The floorboards around them creaked violently as Hanzo hilted himself inside the smaller man's furry butt. He was relentless, delivering the full brunt of his herculean body with each motion. The sound of his heavy balls slapping sharply as against the dwarf’s skin echoing through the empty attic.“Ahh!..Sh-shit, f–fuck.” The dwarf babbled, the wind literally knocked out of him. His slightly soft midsection bouncing to the beat Hanzo was beating mercilessly into him. The half-dragon revelled in the sight of it, this stout and sturdy brute laid low by his might. The brown beard’s eyes were unfocused, face red and his hair matted with sweat. A litany of moans tumbling from his lips. Each lewd grunt filled Hanzo with a feral pride, the dwarf was practically bulging with his cock. stuck like a pig on a spit. The half-dragon bared his fangs in satisfaction, watching as his dick sank into the dwarf’s small frame. His hot insides clamping down on his length so snuggly. The scaled colossus let out a feral growl, coming down harder on the helpless dwarf. His muscular thighs settling into a hard rut. “Guuh–fu-fuckin’ hell, slo-uhmph-slow down.” Cole wheezed.The plea didn't register in the half-dragon’s mind. They were lost in the tornado of lust. Nothing mattered beyond that primal need to sunder the little man's ass in half. The half-dragon buried his claws into the mattress, shredding the thin casing. Electricity coursed down his tensed arms. The harder he pushed the more the dwarf’s ass clenched around him. The faster he slammed the more sweat they worked up until the air was thick with the scent of the little man. He could chase this feeling forever. “Dang it!” Cole barked, kicked Hanzo in the pec. The swift strike dragged the giant from his high, leaving him dazed. “I said…ease up.” The dwarf grumbled, brushing his sweat slick hair from his face.Hanzo pulled his claws from the bed, he stared down at his hands. He had lost control, he couldn’t even pinpoint when it had happened. Had the dragon seized his heart? “I…apologise I–”Cole gave him another light kick. “It’s fine, you ain’t the first top I’ve had that overdid it.” The dwarf winced, letting his legs rest against the half-dragon’s chest. Hanzo stroked Cole’s left foot, a small attempt at comfort. “Don’t get in yer head now, you were doin’ good. I jus’...I might have been lyin’ jus a little when I said I’d handled men yer size before.” Cole admitted, rubbing his face.“We can keep goin’, jus’ mind yer speed.” The dwarf rolled his shoulders, steeling himself for another marathon.“Hm…” Hanzo hesitated, he was still inside. The brown beard’s hot velvety insides flexing around his length, enticing his hips. Even just looking at the display of Cole’s sweating, panting body was intoxicating. He could already feel the desire to split Cole like lumber rising like a gathering typhoon. Could he really trust himself with this? With handling the dwarf with the tenderness he deserved? “No.”“Huh?” The dwarf asked, as Hanzo eased himself out. The giant backed away, sitting off the edge of the bed. Hanzo didn’t know if this was against the rules, he could only hope this request wouldn’t offend.“I…would rather have you show me the correct way to do this. So I do not hurt you.” Hanzo answered, earnestly. Cole chuckled, shaking his shaggy head. In one smooth motion, he leapt up and closed the short distance between them sweeping the half-dragon into another kiss. The relief Hanzo felt as their tongue reunited was palpable. It felt easier to match the dwarf’s intensity this time, matching his fervour without overwhelming him. Cole placed his foot on the half-dragon’s neglected dick, caressing it with his sole as he tamed the beast’s tongue. Hanzo broke their kiss with a gasp, a pleasure rumbling from his groin. “Like that big guy?” The dwarf asked, rhetorically rubbing the full length of the half-dragon’s massive member. Hanzo snarled playfully, letting his hips buck against the meaty sole.Grabbing Hanzo by the horn, Cole tugged him closer. “Thought you might.” He whispered in Hanzo's ear. “Now climb back on the bed for me. And lift that tail.” The Big man complied, the dwarf's assertive tone made his scales prickle. He could not resist the little man even if he wanted to. Hanzo crawled back onto the mattress, his back turned to the dwarf. There was a thrill in it, perhaps it was the conscious effort of moving his tail to expose himself or maybe it was just a simple act of letting his guard down voluntarily. Regardless of why, the wolf whistle that Cole made at the sight of him. Of his body, dispelled any lingering doubt that any of this was some sort of deception or overextending charity this little brute was prone to. This was what it was like to be desired?“...So this body is to your liking then?” Hanzo asked, attempting and ultimately failing to look over his own shoulder. He let his neck go slack, resigned. He hoped someone would, given its limitations. Cole descended on the half-dragon's rump planting a reverent kiss on the left cheek as his hand delicately grasped Hanzo’s still slick cock. Starting from the balls, the dwarf ran his tongue to the half-dragon’s tail and back again. Hanzo gasped, feeling Cole shameless worship his aft end. Each stroke of the tongue grew shorter, slowly honing in on his asshole. Hanzo prided himself on being a clean person, but was he clean enough for this? Cole did not let him dwell on the thought. The dwarf pushed his tongue firmly against the half-dragon’s hole, carefully working it open. The colossus felt a pleased pur roll from his chest, his tail swaying languidly in the air. He could feel every whisker on Cole’s face against his unweathered skin as the dwarf pressed his face hard down between his ass cheeks. Cole’s head was nearly entirely eclipsed by the volume of his ass.Hanzo found himself reaching back, pulling his cheeks apart inviting Cole in. The dwarf pulled back, replacing his tongue with a lubed thumb. Hanzo grunted, the foreign discomfort of the invading was a sharp contrast to the previous softness. After a brief prodding, the dwarf kissed Hanzo’s aching ass better, holding lips to Hanzo’s rim. His nimble tongue slipped into space he had worked open allowing for a deeper plunge. Hanzo moaned, his body chasing the feeling before his mind could orient itself. The dwarf settled into the rhythm, swapping between the work of opening the colossus up with his fingers and soothing the ache with his sloppy laps of the tongue. All the while slowly pumping Hanzo’s cock as he worked. The mighty half-dragon felt himself melt under Cole’s touch. His upper body sagged his brain too preoccupied by the pleasure to focus on holding himself up. The proud assassin was left face down on the mattress and ass in the air purring like a pleased cat. Any strangeness or discomfort with the process slowly became a distant memory. The little brute was like a sculptor, artfully toying with his body until it was ready for something far thicker.Cole sank his middle and index fingers down to the second knuckle, pressing down on the half-dragon's prostate. The giant shook, his cock spasming already on the verge of orgasm. “Whoops, sorry big guy. Might’ve gotten a little carried away.”Hanzo only mumbled something indecipherable in response, still lost in the sexual haze. He felt the dwarf mount him down, his cock resting between the half-dragon’s cheeks. “I’ll go slow. Lemme know if I need to stop.” Cole said, assuringly. Hanzo only nodded, the anticipation churning the winds of his heart. Cole lined the shot and fired, his cock sinking into the half-dragon’s depths. Hanzo bit down hard on his lower lip, the intruding appendage stretching him further than he could have imagined. It hurt, but he had to bear much worse in the past. He could already feel something through the discomfort. A connection. Something he had been craving for all these lonely weeks. Hanzo shoved back into the dwarf’s groin, forcing the rest down and nearly knocking Cole down in the process.“Oh shit…” The little man grasped, holding onto Hanzo’s tail for balance. Hanzo held him there, his head bowed. He could feel the dwarf’s third leg throbbing inside him, practically squashing his prostate. The sensation was…transcendent. Without hesitation Hanzo eased himself off Cole’s pole and promptly pushed himself down again coaxing a moan from the both of them. Hanzo could hear the dwarf laugh, his disbelief plain. When the half-dragon tried to plant himself a third time, the bearded brute’s hips rose up to meet him. Ass and groin colliding with a sharp slap, it intensified the throb of pleasure that followed. Cole doubled speed, the dragon’s appetite clearly overruling any need for caution. Hanzo snarled, bracing the dwarf’s ferocious force. The rough treatment only seemed to enhance the gratification, each severe thrust sending another tide of pleasure through his body.Bit by bit, Cole’s wild thrust became more focused as they slowly narrowed in on the half-dragon’s pleasure point. The moment he found the perfect angle Cole threw his weight onto Hanzo’s back, mounting him like a pony. One thrust was all it took to fell the beast that was Hanzo. The surge was too much for his inexperienced mind to bear. He collapsed onto the mattress in a heap, the floorboards beneath their mattresses creaking in protest. Reservations lost to the winds, Hanzo bellowed his approval. Each long feral growl smashed into a staccato rhythm by the dwarf’s merciless pounding. His claws dragging a second set of grooves into the bed. Hanzo could feel something boiling up from inside him, a familiar pressure like the still silent dragon’s presence. It was building in his chest the clouds of hurricane, growing large with each pendulous slap of dwarven balls against his ass.With agency wrested from him. Hanzo had no choice but to lay down and take what he was given. Fortunately the dwarf was generous, drilling into him like he was mining for gold. Pushing the physical limits of what his stout body could do. Both their bodies were dripping in sweat now, leaving the atmosphere heavy with the smell of their sex. Hanzo savoured it, Head bowed, horns resting against the mattress. Simply wallowing in the pure indulgence of it all as he pumped his cock. He stood on the edge of climax, the pulsing sensation surging into every cell of his body. Electricity arced from his tense shoulders, that strange pressure suddenly fighting to get out. Hanzo grit his teeth, as if he could hold whatever was trying to escape back. It was impossible to comprehend what was happening with his rider still pounding his ass red. He was beyond words now, his eyes rolling back and his brain short circuiting. All the colossus could do was let it out.Hanzo came, hosing the mattress beyond in a torrent of semen. Orgasm finally making landfall. Simultaneously a blast of pure light erupted from his mouth in a dazzling bolt of pure electricity. It blasted through the adjacent wall. Cole froze, still hilt deep in the half-dragon’s ass stunned by the display of power. Drained, Hanzo went limp landing face first into his battered bed.“Holy shit, Hanzo…” Cole said breathlessly, pulling himself free. He stared at the smoking hole in the wall, the brick on the building across the alley blackened. The half-dragon seized him by the ankle, dragging him into the present. “Whoa–uh, you ok there?” Hanzo mumbled something into the bed, Cole tilted his head. “Sorry, I can’t hear ya.”The winded giant rolled onto his back. “You haven’t cum yet.” He panted, his face set in a stern frown. Cole tried to wave it off, but the half-dragon wasn’t interested. With yank, he pulled the little man off his feet. As easily as handling a toy, he planted Cole ass first on his face. Promptly burying himself in fuzzy dwarven buns. Hanzo took a bold lap of Cole's backside, combing through the dense fur to find his target. It was better now, neck deep in the afterglow to satisfy this impulse. Before any shame could set him back, he could reckon with why he’d want to do something like this in the first place some other time. What mattered now was that Cole was clean, he smelled even better now and the surprised sigh he made was nice on the ears. Hanzo took another broad sweep and then another, mimicking what Cole had shown him.“Alright…whew. Jus’ watch the tusks.” Cole chuckled, leaning back on his seat. He closed his eyes, casually stroking himself to the colossus’ eager tongue just letting Hanzo have his fill. Already thoroughly worked open, Hanzo didn’t have any trouble worming his way into Cole’s hole. Hanzo hummed, lavishing the dwarf with all the love his weary body could muster. It didn’t take much to carry Cole over the edge, his body flexing as he came. His semen drizzled down onto the half-dragon’s abs like rain. Only once the dwarf was completely spent, thus the job thoroughly completed did Hanzo let Cole dismount his throne. Cole flopped onto the bed next to where Hanzo laid, landing on his back.”Well dang, yer quick on the draw big guy.” He chuckled, scooping his drooping bangs out of his face.“Hm…” Hanzo grunted, tacitly accepting the compliment. It was good to soak in the afterglow, allow himself to enjoy the company of the man he had craved to have by his side for longer than he ever wanted to acknowledge. The calculating part of mind however, was not so easily contented. “Cole…I have to ask you something.” He began sitting up.Across the attic floor, the trap door exploded open and an exasperated Marlowe popped in through the opening. “Look, I don’t want to interrupt you two. Especially after you’ve finally coaxed Mr. Shimada out of his shell but. Why is our building smoking?”“Oh shit.” Cole yawped, looking back towards the hole in the wall. The wood of the interior walls had slowly but sure caught fire from the embers left behind from the blast. Hanzo bolted to his feet, ignoring the protest of the old floorboards. How hadn't he noticed the smell of smoke was getting worse? Had he really been so preoccupied? It didn’t matter, he could douse the fledgling fire with the water from his bath.That's when the floor, unable to tolerate anymore abuse from the half-dragon’s prodigious weight finally gave out.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Hanzo woke up past the crack of dawn, his arm draped over a very familiar furry torso. The discomfort of waking up in an unfamiliar place quickly receded. He recalled where he was now…they had him move rooms. The top corner of the attic had collapsed, in combination with the charred hole in the loft wall. It would not be practical to keep sleeping up there. As nice as it was for his privacy.Cole was willing to stay the night with him, which was both a source of relief and pain for the half-dragon. He resented how much he had come to rely on this stranger for stability. Yet he dared not let go of him.Hanzo sat up right, eyes slowly adjusting to the weak morning light. The room wasn't much, sparsely furnished with just two beds pushed together to accommodate his size, a dresser and a vanity. The half-dragon slumped lethargically, careful not to disturb his bed mate. It had taken hours to clean up the mess they had made. In the span of an afternoon Hanzo had transitioned from a state of nigh-virginity that he had held fast to since he was 17… to literally fucking the floor out from under him. Father would be so severely disappointed with his holistic failure. He could practically see the old man in the doorway glowering over him. Just like he had on the morning when he found his firstborn son in bed with another boy. A boy Hanzo would never see again. The colossus averted his gaze away from the wizened old spectre, unable to face it. His potential as an heir was spent. Burnt like paper money over an open flame, no matter how he tried he could not force it. He had wasted the time of countless women in a futile attempt to provide his father the grandson he wanted so badly only to immediately fall into the arms of the man he tasted. He couldn’t end his brother's life after he abandoned his family, he couldn't find a wife. Time and time again he failed to give what the clan asked him. Perhaps his exile was deserved…Cole choked in his sleep, a snore half caught in his throat. The half-dragon stared down at him, on his back his stumpy limbs sticking out at odd angles. Hanzo couldn’t keep the wistful smile from his face. Cole was such a tempting little creature, and worse of all. He wasn't even aware of it. It would be so much easier if this was some kind of manipulation, a deception to see through or a tactic to counter. Unfortunately Cole was so painfully earnest in his sincerity, it defied all expectations. Hanzo gently combed his fingers through the curls on the slumbering dwarf’s chest. The dwarf was better company than he deserved and that only made the taste of his betrayal more bitter.Had he really deserved this? He hadn't even failed in his objective before they cut him off. Casting him off as if he was a diseased limb without a second thought. By the hells, that could have been the intention of the assignment. Hanzo scowled the wounds of his abandonment still fresh. Sent alone Into a building beset by an unknown curse under the pretence that he was one of the only operatives they had to get in and out unscathed. It wouldn't be the first time he saw a peer set up to fail. Had he been so desperate to regain his honour that he'd walk into an obvious trap? How could he have not seen it sooner? They had played his wounded pride like a fiddle! Hanzo cast his fury to the empty doorway. There was nothing there but a memory of a man, fragile in old age. He would never know for sure, cloak and dagger was a frustrating game to play without involving actual killers but relevance of the question alone was disquieting enough to set him on edge. It was difficult to ignore the contrast between the patience even just Marlowe’s budding clan had given him. Giving a roof over his head, the seclusion he asked for, even food all without asking nothing from him during his meditations. It was better than anything he had gotten from his own flesh and blood since his mother fled the clan.Hanzo locked eyes with the conjured illusion of his patriarch. Hanzo’s frown graduated in snarl, cyan light slipping through the small gaps between his teeth. He had sacrificed decades of life to appease his bastard of a father and for what? Hadn’t it always been that with the old man, always demanding everything but never giving anything despite all his promises? Hanzo clutched his head hard enough to nearly piercing his own skin. What else could he ever have expected from him? Oyabun Shimada would call for the death of his own child without a second thought, and then shame the remaining boy for failing to share his detached relationship with ‘family’. If you failed to measure up to the great Sojiro’s expectations, what were you worth? Hanzo seethed, tasting ozone on his tongue. It felt like he was alone again in that alley, naked against the cold with the rage of a dragon threatening to consume him. His rage manifested itself as a thunderhead roiling in his gut, threatening to erupt at any moment.The half-dragon exhaled a slow trembling breath, attempting to centre himself. When it failed, he tried again. slowly but surely plucking the rancorous hooks from his thoughts. His brother was right to want to leave, his mother too even if he didn’t want to understand why. They were never favoured as he once was, he was a fool to have failed to see that for so long. Hanzo let his body deflate, the tranquillity of meditation soothing his wounded heart like a balm. It was clear to him now, he couldn’t control his emotions but he could at least stop himself from spiralling. He smoothed his palms over his head, down his neck feeling the moment where skin transitioned to scales. It was grounding, in an odd way. Hanzo opened his eyes, looking out into the dim room. The vision of Shojiro was gone from the doorway, at least for now…Cole in the oblivious bliss of sleep rolled onto his stomach, exposing his fuzzy rump to the morning sun. Hanzo smirked, giving the slumbering lump a gentle pat on the bottom. He disembarked from their bed, doing what he could to avoid disturbing the sleeping log. He walked across the mostly empty room, slumping over the vanity top. It was difficult to reconcile who he was with the creature staring back at him. He looked more like the lion dog statues from overseas than a man, especially with that flare of white whiskers on his face. His eyes were the only thing remotely recognisable, if a bit more repitalian. There was no going back for him, no one that saw him now would know he was the great Sojiro Shimada’s cast off. He was cut off from his past in totality and maybe that was for the best. Hanzo stroked his unruly beard, familiarising himself with the new face he saw in the dusty glass. He didn’t know who he was, or even what he was anymore. He couldn’t imagine a life outside the one he was taught to lead, and that may have been by design but at very least…He could try to figure it out.