Chapter Text
The sharp clang of swords echoed through the garden as Katsuki dueled with Faerlanas and Saeryn. Rosie tried to keep her attention on the wine glass in her hands, but her gaze betrayed her, wandering back to Katsuki. His movements were fluid yet feral, his body glistening with sweat under the sun, every muscle in his arms and back flexing as he wielded both swords with ease. She swallowed hard, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks.
Her mother, Faeryn, clicked her tongue in disdain, breaking the spell. “He fights like a savage,” she muttered, narrowing her eyes at Katsuki. “He is no more than an animal.”
Rosie, unable to stop herself, smiled into her glass. “That animal has saved my life on numerous occasions.”
“Then perhaps you should be down there training with the beast,” her mother sniffed, shooting her daughter a pointed look.
Before Rosie could retort, her grandmother, Laenera, swept up beside Faeryn with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “A handsome beast,” she added with a smirk.
“Mother!” Faeryn gasped, spinning toward Laenera, her expression a mix of shock and outrage. “Why would you say something like that?”
Laenera shrugged nonchalantly, her soft pink hair gleaming in the sunlight. “In all my travels, I never did get to bed a dragon. Always wondered if the legends were true about their stamina.”
Rosie nearly choked on her wine, coughing violently as she struggled to keep a straight face. Her shoulders shook with suppressed laughter, and her blush deepened, though she wasn’t sure if it was from her grandmother’s audacity or her own lingering thoughts about Katsuki.
“Mother, please!” Faeryn hissed, her voice scandalized. “We are in public!”
“What? I’m simply making an observation,” Laenera replied, utterly unfazed by her daughter’s outrage. She leaned closer to Rosie with a wink. “And you, my dear, seem to be enjoying the view. Don’t think I haven’t noticed you blushing like a maiden in a ballad.”
Rosie froze, her wine glass halfway to her lips, her face now burning. “I—I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, please,” Laenera waved her off. “The way you’re staring at that man, you may as well be planning your wedding.”
Rosie’s blush deepened as her mind betrayed her with a vivid memory of Katsuki kissing her under the stars, his hands on her waist, his lips claiming hers with a passion that left her breathless. She quickly took another sip of wine, hoping to drown her thoughts.
Faeryn pinched the bridge of her nose, her exasperation palpable. “This conversation is absurd. We should be discussing more important matters, not indulging in your whims.”
“Important matters can wait,” Laenera replied breezily. “Right now, I’m more interested in this dragon of yours, Rosie.” She glanced down at the training field where Katsuki was now locked in a heated exchange with Faerlanas and Saeryn. “He’s holding his own against two of the finest swordsmen in the realm. Impressive.”
“He’s more than impressive,” Rosie murmured before she could stop herself, then quickly covered by adding, “I mean, as a fighter.”
Her grandmother raised an eyebrow but said nothing, her smirk growing.
Faeryn let out a long-suffering sigh and turned her gaze to the field, her disdain only slightly muted by begrudging acknowledgment. “It seems even savages can learn discipline if they try.”
Rosie barely heard her mother’s words. Her attention was wholly on Katsuki, on the fierce determination in his eyes, the way his body moved with such purpose and strength. She tried to suppress her thoughts, but her mind kept circling back to his kisses.
She needed him desperately.
Rosie could no longer keep herself on the balcony. The sight of Katsuki battling her brothers with such raw determination and skill had set her heart racing. With a murmured excuse to her mother and grandmother, she slipped away, her dress fluttering lightly as she descended the marble staircase leading to the training field.
By the time she reached the edge of the sparring circle, Katsuki had bested both Saeryn and Faerlanas. His swords crossed against Saeryn’s blade in a final clash, forcing the weapon from the elf’s grasp with a powerful twist. Faerlanas, still recovering from a solid blow to his side, sat on the ground catching his breath.
Katsuki stood tall, sweat dripping down his temple, his chest rising and falling with exertion. His smirk was as sharp as his blade. “Not bad for a savage, huh?” he called out, his voice teasing as he glanced toward the soldiers who watched in awe.
Rosie stepped into the ring, clapping her hands lightly. “A savage, maybe,” she teased, her melodic voice catching his attention. “But an impressive one.”
Katsuki turned, his smirk softening into something warmer as he met her gaze. “Came to see me wipe the floor with your brothers?”
“Came to congratulate you,” she replied, her smile growing. “And maybe see if your ego could use deflating. You’re impossible when you’re this smug.”
“Smug? Nah,” he said, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. “Just confident. Don’t tell me you’re not impressed.”
Rosie raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “I might be. A little.”
“Only a little?” Katsuki stepped closer, his crimson eyes locked onto hers. “Guess I’ll have to work harder.”
“You’ve done enough for today,” she said, her tone playful as she glanced toward Saeryn and Faerlanas, both of whom were now brushing themselves off. “I think my brothers would agree.”
Saeryn groaned, picking up his fallen sword and shaking his head in disbelief. “I don’t know how you managed to best us both, but well done... for a human.”
“High praise,” Katsuki shot back, his grin smug as he sheathed his swords with practiced ease.
“You’re lucky I’m too tired to try again,” Faerlanas added, his tone begrudging but respectful. He rubbed his sore ribs, casting a sidelong glance at Katsuki as if still trying to process the defeat.
Katsuki smirked, unfazed. “Guess that makes you both lucky, then. I’ve got plenty left in the tank.”
“He isn’t a human,” Rosie interjected, her voice cutting through their chatter like the clear chime of a bell.
Both Saeryn and Faerlanas froze, furrowing their brows at her in confusion. Gaeryndam, leaning casually against the edge of the sparring circle, snorted. “Sister, you mustn’t assume they’d recognize a dragon in human form. They haven’t ever left the realm.”
The words seemed to click into place for the brothers. Their eyes widened in shock as they turned back to Katsuki, who stood there smirking, the proud fire in his crimson gaze unmistakable.
“A dragon?” Saeryn breathed, his voice barely above a whisper. He stared at Katsuki as if seeing him for the first time.
Faerlanas blinked, then narrowed his eyes in disbelief. “You’re telling me this... this savage who just wiped the floor with us is a dragon?”
Katsuki’s smirk deepened. “Got a problem with that?” His tone was daring, almost playful, as he folded his arms over his chest.
Saeryn let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “No wonder. I suppose we should consider ourselves lucky we only lost and not worse.”
Rosie laughed softly, the sound light and free as her earlier tension melted away. “You’ve both earned some humility today, it seems.” She glanced at Katsuki, her smile growing. “And you’ve earned some rest. Even my brothers rarely lose a sparring match.”
Katsuki tilted his head, his sharp eyes softening as they met hers. “I’ll take that as a compliment. So, you impressed yet, princess?”
Rosie rolled her eyes, but the blush creeping up her cheeks gave her away. “Maybe I am. Just don’t let it go to your head.”
“Oh, it’s already there,” he teased, stepping closer with a confident swagger. “You saying I’m better than your fancy elven warriors?”
She raised an eyebrow, folding her arms in mock defiance. “Don’t push your luck, Katsuki. They went easy on you.”
“Easy?” Saeryn spluttered from behind her. “We gave everything we had!”
Rosie shot her brother a look but couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her. Katsuki grinned, his chest puffed out as though he’d won a greater battle.
Unbeknownst to them, the exchange hadn’t gone unnoticed. Up on the balcony, their audience had grown. Faeryn, Gaelyn, and Laenera now stood together, joined by a handful of curious soldiers who leaned against the railing, watching with a mix of amusement and intrigue.
Faeryn’s expression was sharp and cold, her lips pressed into a tight, disapproving line. “He fights like a brute,” she muttered, her tone dripping with disdain. “An animal masquerading as a warrior.”
Laenera chuckled, sipping her wine with an amused glint in her emerald eyes. “That ‘animal’ has managed to charm your daughter and best her brothers in combat. I’d say that’s more than enough to earn some respect.”
Faeryn’s nose wrinkled. “He’s no match for her. He doesn’t belong here.”
“Perhaps,” Gaelyn interjected, his voice calm and thoughtful as he watched Rosie and Katsuki below. “But it’s been a long time since we’ve seen our daughter so at ease. Look at her.”
They all did. Below, Rosie had relaxed completely, her posture loose and her laughter genuine as she bantered with Katsuki. The way he leaned toward her, his crimson eyes softer than usual, suggested an unspoken connection that neither seemed fully aware of.
“She should be careful,” Faeryn said, her voice tight. “Getting close to someone like him will only end in heartbreak and death.”
“Or,” Gaelyn countered, his lips curving into a faint smile, “it could lead to something extraordinary.”
Rosie, oblivious to their scrutiny, stepped closer to Katsuki, brushing an errant strand of hair behind her ear as she tilted her head to meet his gaze.
Above, Laenera took another sip of her wine, her smirk widening. “I wouldn’t worry, Faeryn. Our dear Rosie has always known how to hold her own. If she’s found a match in this dragon, it might be exactly what she needs.”
Faeryn just frowned, “he is a dragon. He will only lead her to her death.”
“His parents are great rules and even better people,” Gaelyn stated. “From what I have seen so far, he’ll be a legend.”
The Queen only stared at Katsuki, but could only see her best friend causing her to soften as memories of the dragon realm, Ignis flash across her mind. Then she scowled, her lips curling and nose scrunched as she turned away, “you two have always had an interesting sense of what should be rather than what is.”
Dinner with her entire family felt like stepping into a familiar dream that had been warped just enough to feel strange. The grand dining hall, with its towering ceilings and intricate carvings of elven lore, was illuminated by soft golden light from floating orbs. The table, long enough to seat twice their number, was laden with fragrant roasted meats, delicately spiced vegetables, and sweet elven breads. Crystal goblets filled with the deep red cherry wine that was famous in their region were placed before everyone.
Yet, amidst the feast, tension brewed as thick as the aromatic soup being served. Katsuki sat next to Rosie, his fiery eyes locked in a battle of wills with Faeryn, who sat at the opposite end of the table like a queen presiding over her court.
“You’ve developed quite the habit of bringing strays home, Stellalucewendë,” Faeryn remarked coolly, swirling her wine in her glass as her sharp green eyes cut toward Katsuki.
Katsuki didn’t hesitate, meeting her glare with a smirk. “Better to bring home strays than let the wolves run wild.”
Rosie stiffened beside him, glancing between them nervously. Her father, Gaelyn, on the other hand, chuckled softly, pouring himself more wine. “Now, now, let’s not turn dinner into a battlefield. This is meant to be a time for unity.”
Laenera, sitting to Faeryn’s left, raised her goblet in mock salute. “Unity! Or at least good wine. Speaking of which—Saeryn, pass me the decanter, would you?”
Saeryn, seated next to Faerlanas, obeyed, though his attention remained on Katsuki. “I must admit, I’m curious. Katsuki, do all dragons have a temper like yours, or are you special?”
Katsuki leaned back in his chair, reaching for his own glass with a shrug. “We are trained to control it.”
“That’s one way to put it,” Faerlanas murmured, though the hint of a smirk betrayed his amusement.
Rosie tried to steer the conversation elsewhere, her voice cutting through the rising tension. “The training fields seem well-maintained. I imagine you’ve been busy keeping the soldiers in shape, Saeryn?”
Before her brother could respond, Faeryn spoke again, her tone sharp. “It’s a wonder you’ve survived, Stellalucewendë, with such... brutish company. Surely his methods are as graceless as his manners.”
Katsuki set down his glass with a deliberate clink, his crimson gaze narrowing. “Graceless? Funny, considering your soldiers couldn’t land a hit on me.”
Rosie bit her lip, unsure whether to intervene or let the tension play out. Meanwhile, Gaelyn leaned back, a wry smile on his face, clearly entertained. “It’s not every day someone stands their ground with Faeryn. I almost feel bad for the boy.”
“I don’t need your pity,” Katsuki shot back, his tone unwavering. “I’m here for her, not your approval.” He jerked his head toward Rosie, who flushed at the declaration.
Laenera laughed openly, her silver hair gleaming in the light as she raised her glass again. “Oh, this is marvelous. You’ve brought home a dragon with a bite, Rosie.”
“Mother, enough,” Faeryn hissed, her composure cracking slightly.
Rosie, finally finding her voice, interjected. “Can we not argue for one evening? This is supposed to be a family dinner, not a contest of who can throw the sharpest insult.”
“Don’t worry, princess,” Katsuki muttered under his breath, his tone almost teasing. “I can take it.”
“You’ll have to,” Faeryn snapped. “If you insist on staying as a guest, you’ll need to learn some decorum.”
“Yeah?” Katsuki said, leaning forward with a feral grin. “Maybe I’ll teach you a thing or two about loosening up.”
The table went silent for a beat, then Gaeryndam snorted into his wine, followed by Saeryn and Faerlanas chuckling. Even Gaelyn let out a low laugh, shaking his head.
“Mother,” Rosie’s eldest brother said with mock seriousness, “it seems your usual tactics aren’t working on this one.”
Laenera clinked her glass against Gaelyn’s. “I like him. He keeps her on her toes. Don’t you agree, dear?”
Gaelyn raised his goblet with a knowing smile. “I’d say it’s about time she met someone who challenges her. She’s my wife and I cannot go head to head with her.”
Rosie buried her face in her hands, her cheeks flaming as laughter spread across the table—save for Faeryn, who remained icy and silent, her fingers gripping her glass tightly. Katsuki glanced at Rosie, a rare softness in his gaze, before muttering, “Riling up your mother is fun.”
Though the words were quiet, Rosie heard them, rolling her eyes. She straightened in her seat, reaching for her own goblet and raising it high. “To family. And to surviving a family dinner.”
Katsuki smirked. Rosie sighed. And Laenera, her grandmother, simply raised her glass higher. “To chaos,” she toasted, clearly delighted.
Everyone drank while her Mother just rolled her eyes with a snort before drinking.
The soft glow of the firelight danced across the walls of Rosie’s room, casting long, flickering shadows. She sat curled up in a plush chair by the hearth, a thick book open in her lap. The silk white nightgown she wore shimmered faintly in the warm light, its delicate fabric pooling around her legs. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders, and the faint crackle of the fire was the only sound in the quiet of the night.
Several books from the library were stacked on the table beside her, their spines reflecting her curiosity and thirst for answers. But tonight, she was distracted, rereading the same paragraph multiple times as her thoughts drifted.
A soft knock startled her from her musings. Before she could even think to respond, the door creaked open, and Katsuki stepped inside, his crimson eyes gleaming in the dim light.
“Katsuki?” Rosie whispered, sitting up straighter. “What are you doing here?”
He shut the door behind him with deliberate quietness, his gaze unwavering as he approached. “Couldn’t sleep and I can hear you stuck on the same page.”
“That doesn’t mean you should—” She cut herself off as he crossed the room, dropping into a crouch beside her chair. Before she could stop him, Katsuki rested his head on her lap, his blond hair spilling over her knees.
Her breath hitched, her cheeks flushing furiously. “Katsuki, you can’t—someone might see!”
“Let them,” he muttered, his voice low and rough with exhaustion. “I’ll kill anyone who tries to stop me.”
She blinked down at him, utterly flustered. “You can’t just say things like that!”
He smirked faintly, his eyes closing as if he were finally at ease. “Yeah, I can.”
Rosie sighed, her heart pounding in her chest as she looked at him. His expression was softer than she’d ever seen, the usual edge of his temper and bravado smoothed out by the quiet intimacy of the moment. It made her feel both nervous and... warm.
“You’re impossible,” she murmured, brushing a hand over his hair before she could think better of it.
He cracked one eye open, watching her intently. “You gonna keep talking, or are you gonna read?”
Rosie hesitated, her fingers lingering in his hair. “Katsuki, you really shouldn’t be here. If my mother finds out—”
“I don’t care about her,” he cut in, his tone firm but not unkind. “I came here for you. So, read to me, princess.”
He continued to call her by her title but out of affection and teasing than seriousness.
Her blush deepened, but she couldn’t deny the strange comfort she felt with him so close. Sighing in defeat, she looked down at her book, flipping to a new page. “Fine, but if someone catches us, I’m blaming you.”
“Deal,” he said, a small, satisfied grin tugging at his lips.
As Rosie began to read, her voice soft, Katsuki’s breathing slowed, his body relaxing completely. She stumbled over a few sentences, her nerves fraying every time she glanced down to see his face so close to hers. But the warmth of his presence steadied her.
For a while, the only sounds in the room were the crackle of the fire and her voice weaving stories into the quiet night. Unbeknownst to them, a single shadow lingered beyond her door for a moment before disappearing into the dark corridors of the castle.