Dragon Heart

First Sight

when Norman realized that the dragon that was once hovering over him with a look of curiosity had just shape shifted into a broad-shouldered human with soft black hair that just fell over his forehead, he knew that those ‘tall tales’ were nothing but the truth, and he was somehow lucky enough to see this rare sighting up close just inches away from his face for reasons he was sure he would never understand.

He could see now that the dragon was a male, unclothed and weak from the transformation. Norman didn’t get a chance to see his face before his knees buckled underneath him and he collapsed flatly on top of Norman, panting heavily and muttering out in a thick accent only some of the elders in his village had from their accent learned from their parents and taken from a language long since forgotten, “I…” the man’s voice came out smooth and quiet, “I haven’t done this in a long time…”

Norman was shocked to hear the dragon speaking in his language fluently, causing him to fall speechless for a moment until the dragon spoke again, “My dragon form hinders me from speaking your language, but I tried to ask your name.”

Was this… Was this dragon really speaking to him to ask for his name? Did this dragon just turn into a human to ask him that?

Norman awkwardly laid flat underneath the dragon/man/very-naked-man and answered nervously, “I-I’m Norman. You’re a dragon…” he stated as if he had just found that out or maybe he had forgotten it and was reminding himself.

Whatever he meant, this caused the man to laugh a little under his breath and lift his head to smile at Norman, “Well I’m one of your kind at the moment,” he pressed his knees into the ground on both sides of Norman’s hips and struggled to push himself up into a straddling position on Norman, placing his hands on his hips and asking nervously, “How do I look?”

Norman looked up at the beautiful, no, absolutely stunning man on top of him and was almost afraid to answer in fear of saying something vulgar. The man had a handsome face, black hair that was shorter than he had seen on most vikings, a cleanly shaven face, and big eyes that still held the same curiosity his dragon form did. He had broad shoulders as Norman noted before and abs Norman hadn’t even seen in even the strongest of vikings in his clan. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open without him thinking, “You’re…” he coughed a little and looked to the side, “You’re a man.”

The dragon, no, gorgeous human, huffed under his breath and tilted his head from side to side in thought before he leaned in closed and whispered, “You vikings can’t recognize a beautiful man when you see one?” he ran his fingers through Norman’s hair and admired him with a smile before he sighed to himself and said, “That’s a real shame because a dragon certainly can.”

Norman’s eyes widened, “W-What?”

The man didn’t care to answer and got up off of him, not worrying about his lack of clothes since he had enough confidence to carry him or maybe just because he didn’t see a need for it since he was a dragon. He only looked up at the trees around him and smiled, “Humans are so short,” he laughed under his breath, “And you’re one of the taller ones, yes?”

Norman raised an eyebrow, wondering how the dragon-man new this, “I suppose?” he got up after him, “You haven’t told me your name yet. Do you have one?”

The man nodded and beckoned Norman to follow him as he started walking in a direction away from the golden muse, “I do. I was never named at birth like you humans like to do, but I gave myself a name based off of what most men and women say when they first see me regardless of my form.”

“And what is that?” Norman ask though he wasn’t sure if he would even ever see this dragon again or need to know his name. He wasn’t even sure if this was a dream or not anymore because of how casual the dragon was speaking with him now that he was human.

He still walked with him though, becoming more comfortable with him as the dragon continued to talk, “My name is Allen,” he smiled proudly, “It means ‘handsome’.”

Norman wasn’t surprised most humans called him handsome when they first saw him. He really was, walking around with a bright smile and beautiful features that Norman couldn’t help but melt into and follow him around the forest like a lost puppy without even being prompted to as if he was in some kind of trance. He then realized where Allen was going and paused when they reached a large pond hidden in the woods where Norman sometimes liked to go to think to himself privately without worries of blood or shouting or fights over food between vikings happening around him. This place was his calming peace. His secret sanctuary that he found comfort in. His little hideaway he thought no one knew about… until Allen peered over into the water at his reflection, smiling at himself and nodding his head in satisfaction, “This place you always visit is so beautiful. When you leave, I stare into the water at my reflection and hope I’m a human. You can find awe in just like our surroundings, and I think I was successful.”

Norman raised his eyebrows, “Wait, you’ve seen me here before? You’ve watched me?” Odin, he had a million questions right now, “Why do you want me to find awe in you?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” the man tilted his head, “I’ve chosen you to mate with! It’s my choice of course since I’m the carrier, but I’d still like you to enjoy our time together since I’d prefer our child to grow up with parents in love with each other.”

Norman felt his heart skip a beat, and he almost felt his knees growing weak underneath his weight. Ok, he was definitely dreaming now. No way was this real, and he was probably just nervous because he had a whole clan waiting for him to finish his ceremony to become the chief of his village and lead them into the new age for Vikings. But how was he going to even make it back to his village if there was a dragon, now man, talking to him about mating? And how was a male going to carry a child? Norman wasn’t even ready for children either! He hadn’t even thought of marriage yet, though he was sure the elders were thinking about bringing that topic upon him soon now that he was going to be the new chief and would need to pass his leadership down to an heir. Either way though, they probably had a certain girl in mind rather than a male dragon to be the viking who lead alongside him.

He shook his head slowly, hoping the dragon wasn't going to eat him for turning him down, “This is flattering, but I have a clan to lead, and I don’t think they would be too fond of the idea of their chief and a dragon producing their future leader. I-If we were to have a child, he would face prejudice and be stripped of certain rights only full humans and dragons have, right?”

Allen laughed a little and shrugged, “Well, would anyone have to know he’s half dragon? Seems silly for your people to have to know your family business.”

Norman swallowed hard at the sound of the dragon using the word ‘family’, and he spoke lowly now, “My people need to trust in me, so I must tell them everything,” he sighed and started to turn towards the direction of his village since he knew they were expecting him to come back soon to place a torch in the fire and claim his father’s throne, “Find another human or dragon to mate with you because-!”

“Norman, I already chose you!” the dragon grabbed his shoulder and forced him to turn around, his eyes glowing yellow for a split second to remind Norman of his true more vicious form. He seemed more desperate now as he spoke, “Please… I’m of age and I have found myself in so many places searching for the man who will be able to give my child the best life. This age of dragons and humans being at peace is not going to last long, alright?” he was breathing heavier now, seeming scared and out of character from before as he continued,

“The war is spreading…”

“What war?” Norman asked, eyes widening.