changed his mind.
“You’re lovely, baby.”
“Flattery will get you laid.” He handed Champ his tea. “Where would you like it sit?”
“I’m going to remember that and I’m going to flatter you a lot. Thank you for the tea. Let’s sit in the living room. I like the comfy seating. That toast looks good.”
“There’s enough to share.” Score!
Champ beamed at him. “Wonderful. Thank you.” Champ grabbed one of the quarters and nibbled on it.
He did the same, snuggling in close. He felt so relaxed, so brave.
“This is fantastic. I’m so glad you decided to stay with me. I enjoy the fact that we can relax together. You going home is not hanging over us.”
“No…but me coming home is.”
“That’s a good thing though. A very good thing.”
“It is.” He finished a bit of toast. “I’ll have to figure the bus route to class, move from the apartment, start setting up my studio…”
So much to do.
“You won’t have to do any of it alone—I’ll help you. And I can drive you to your classes or get you an Uber.”
“Oh, so many options.” He leaned against Champ’s shoulder, loving life. “It’s like a fairy tale.”
Champ purred again. “I love that. We’re a fairy tale. Which may be even more true than you realize.”
“Are you going to tell me you’re a prince?”
“Not quite a prince, but you’re on the right track.”
“Well, I can see you’re not a bridge troll. You are my knight in shining armor though.”
He gave Stephen a gentle kiss. “Would you believe dragon?”
Stephen pondered that, because he loved the idea of a magical man high in his aerie. It wasn’t true—like literally, but it was a lovely idea. “I can see it.”
“Do you like what you see?”
“I do. It’s a grand idea, to be a dragon.”
“What if I tell you that it’s real?”
“How can it be? I mean, is there something I don’t understand?”
“Yes. Dragons are real and we can shift back and forth between being men and being dragons. This is my human form.”
He pulled away and frowned. “What?”
Champ touched him, stroked his shoulder. “It’s okay. I know it’s a lot, but remember? This is your fairy tale.”
“And you’re my dragon? Does that make me the princess?”
“It definitely makes you mine. My companion. My other half. The best of me.”
Stephen wasn’t sure what “other form” might mean, but he was curious. “You have other selves? Other shapes?”
“Exactly. I have a dragon form as well as a human one. Would you like to see?” Champ’s eyes were alight with a fire.
“I—is it scary? I don’t want to be frightened.” He was trying to understand what Champ meant.
“I don’t want you to be scared. My dragon is large, but not so large I can’t fit in this room. I won’t hurt you—I would never hurt you.”
“All right then. I’d like to understand.” He had to figure this out.
“Remember—don’t be scared. It’s still me.” Champ gave him a hug, then stood and stepped back to the center of the room.
Then Champ seemed to shimmer and the man disappeared, leaving a fantastical creature in his place.
Stephen blinked, looking for mirrors or a camera, something. Nothing this big was real outside of a zoo. The creature—fantastical as it was—was huge and mottled colors of red. The scales needed a polishing, a loving, but the glowing bright eyes held him.
The dragon took a breath and smoke drifted from his nostrils.
“Ssstephhhhen.” His name was mostly purr, more sound than word.
“Is this a trick?” He stepped closer, hands reaching out to touch.
“Nooo.” The dragon—Champ!—bent his head, bringing it down to his hands.
“You—you’re real. I can feel you. Are you…whoa. Whoa.” He sat down on the floor, hard.
Champ settled beside him, the big head landing in his lap.
He reached out, petting Champ instinctively. He couldn’t think. He couldn’t. All he could do was run on his gut. As he petted, Champ made that purring noise, but now it was fuller, deeper.
He closed his eyes and petted, tears catching on his eyelashes. The sounds continued, seeming to echo in his ears.
“I don’t understand. Is this some wonderful drug?”
The big dragon shook his head. “Trrrrrruuuuthhhh.” Then Champ raised his head and breathed on him, warm and smoky but the way Champ tasted, too, all wrapped up there.
“Are you scared? Did someone do this to you? Some government agency or something? Does it hurt? Can I help?” Could he help. Right. Jesus, he was a loser.
“Gooood thing. Strrrrrooong.” Champ rubbed a huge cheek against him. “Youuu scarrrrrred?”
“I guess I ought to be, but…” He