middaeg | 001. CLOSED ♘ WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE ANYTHING

Who: Arthur Pendragon and Ozymandias
When: After the September full moons.
Where: Home and The Coven.
What: Bonding
Warnings: N/A.

𝐼. 𝓒𝓛𝓞𝓢𝓔𝓓 𝓕𝓞𝓡 𝓞𝓩𝓨𝓜𝓐𝓝𝓓𝓘𝓐𝓢 ⇢

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𝔹𝕠𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 ♘ 𝔹𝕒𝕔𝕜𝕕𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝔸𝕘𝕦𝕣𝕚𝕝

[ When finally the shared dream of Dorchacht releases him, Arthur wakes with a start, pulse pounding hard in his ears and what remains of his own skin drenched in sweat. Though he’s regained consciousness, his mind is still a captive in the claws of the nightmare he’s just awakened from and green eyes dart around his darkened surroundings frantically as he tries to get his bearings. Before he realizes where he actually is, his hands are already flying to his neck, feeling for the thick, oppressive collar that was typical for his kind in the Black City.

He finds it isn’t there, of course. Finally recognizing that he’s in his bedroom back in Aefenglom doesn’t bring him much relief though. His throat, wings, wrists and ankles are still pained under the phantom weight of chains and manacles that were, in reality, actually never there. The bruises and scratches from the captivity that once marred the human skin around his scales are nowhere to be seen.

Arthur’s hands go to his face then, covering his eyes. A dream. It was just a dream. Or so he wants to believe, but while the events that transpired in the nightmare did not happen to his body, he knows the likelihood of Dorchacht not really existing is slim indeed and the thought that their actions there might have had repercussions in the waking world makes him sick to his stomach. He’s unsure how long he‘s been asleep exactly, for outside the sun has not yet risen, but now that he’s more awake, a different fear cuts clean through the slowly dissipating fog in his mind:

Ozymandias.

It’s enough to push him away from the edge of madness that his status as an Unbonded dragon constantly has him veering towards these days and Arthur is quick to jump out of bed. The fact that Ozymandias is a Witch and so, safer when it comes to Dorchacht than Arthur would ever be, isn’t really adequate for quelling the irrational fear the King of Knights has for the pharaoh’s well-being. Perhaps if he were thinking straight, he might have questioned his own heightened concern for the King of Kings, but as it is... well, he’s only compelled by this unrelenting need to know that the other man is safe and sound, as if he’s ever known Ramesses to be otherwise when left to his own devices. ]

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[Ozymandias narrows his eyes slightly at Arthur, but that his smile remains (even forming itself into a grin) tells that he isn't truly offended by Arthur's teasing. But there are appearances to maintain here, and he cannot allow Arthur to so brazenly insult him like that.]

Watch your mouth. [Ozymandias elbows Arthur in the side with enough force that while it doesn't particularly hurt, it also cannot be ignored.] Becoming my Bonded does not suddenly give you permission to speak to me in whatever way you please.

[...It kinda does actually. Or, at least, grants a lot more leeway than if that were not the case. But Ozymandias will not surrender such information to Arthur.]

I’m sure I haven’t the faintest idea what you are talking about.

[ Arthur chuckles quietly at the dig to his ribs as they leave the house. But whether it’s in apology or silent acknowledgement of the actual truth that has the knight-king squeezing Ozymandias’s hand with his where it’s wrapped around his arm, is hard to say. Certainly though, there’s undeniable affection in his eyes as he looks at the other man.

Outside, the air has the faint crispness of an early autumn morning, the last heat of summer beginning to fade, if only just. The moon is still out and the sky is still dark, but the black of night is receding, giving way to purple hues as the sun slowly creeps up on the horizon. For Arthur, the timing is perfect; he could think of no better moment to tether their souls to one another than this. Excalibur has an affinity with the moon, after all, and as its wielder, so too does he. There are only two times of the day where the sun and moon might visibly share the sky if the sun’s rays permit and this is one of them. ]

[Some would likely consider the affection between Ozymandias and Arthur strange given their history. It would perhaps seem more likely that they would share animosity before any sense of camaraderie. After all, Ozymandias' pride was difficult to match and no doubt Ozymandias' actions still strike the same chord with Arthur that resulted in his need to take action against him beyond the competition for the Grail. But in the end, neither Ozymandias nor Arthur could hold a grudge against the other. Ozymandias accepted his defeat in the moment and holds the battle as among the most glorious and Arthur does not place blame on Ozymandias for any painful reminders his presence might inspire.]

[And so, they are able to walk side-by-side like this with a look of affection in Arthur's eyes and Ozymandias' casual acceptance of touch.]

[Although the air around them is not particularly cold -- nights in Egypt certainly were far colder than this -- Ozymandias remains close and with his hand on Arthur's arm throughout their walk to the Coven. Perhaps more importantly, however, is that he remains quiet. It's a rare thing when he chooses to remain quiet, but with their decision reached, there seems no need for further words. At least for now.]

[Once they reach the top of the steps leading to the Coven, Ozymandias separates from Arthur to open the door.]

001. CLOSED ♘ WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE ANYTHING

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