Chapter Text
"Through terrors unknown and trials unnumbered, I have fought my way to the g-" your words died in your throat as you slipped on the rope you'd been climbing down on.
A scream erupted from your lips as your hands burned with the roughness of the rope. Your heart pounded loudly in your ears as you dangled freely in the dark, with nothing but a deep expansive void beyond you. You took a moment to calm down, to tell yourself that you were okay...
"- just one foot and then another" you whispered to yourself "And then we'll find it"
You were an adventurous soul, one always bound for trouble and wonder. Some called themselves liberators of ancient wonders, some pirates, and you? You called yourself an unsatisfied knowledge glutton. You were endlessly curious and often, curiosity lead to danger.
You had come across this tale, well, rediscovered it really as it was a bedtime story you had been told as a child, of a great library of the ancient times and you had to know more. The more you found, the more your interest burned, until you were offering mega credits to anyone with tidbits of its location - good thing your grandfather left you a rather cushy inheritance...
With great effort, you stood at the bottom of the vacuous shaft. Your torch at the top still visible but not by much. You cracked another set of glowing bars and tossed them at the end of your rope before continuing.
The corridors were massive, unlike nothing you had ever seen before in your life - and you'd seen quite the few grand displays of architectural prowess before...
Intricate grand pillars rose to unseen ceilings that were no doubt just as lavish and beautiful. This place was built with care and respect - that much was clear. Pausing for a moment, you thumbed your digits across the engravings - each groove deep and smooth...clearly whomever made them were experts of their crafts...
So why leave?
You continued to explore but after a time, you noticed a dim light that was growing brighter and brighter. There was a lit room and you were getting closer to it with every step - but why have a room lit down here when everything else is in darkness?
Cautiously, you kept moving along...but just as you-
You froze feeling eyes upon you. But with a quick turn, you saw nothing - nor did you see anything when you glanced about you.
Reaching again, your arm stretched to the curtain before you and pulled it back to reveal a large but cozy looking room.
"Whoa...."You gawked as you stepped within, the walls were covered in datapads, artifacts, holocrons, scrolls and books.
You couldn't believe it!
There were large ladders about to allow someone access to all shelves, a winding staircase that served as a way up and also a strange shaped bookcase itself. Sconces of actual flamed torches were all around, although a large light pillar was settled in the core of the staircase's path f it wrapping around it.
Walking further inside, you could easily see that with all the knowledge gathered... there was still not enough space as piles of information vessels were stacked in piles strewn about.
Actually...
Your brows furrowed as you looked carefully at the piles. They appeared to be sprawled out as if someone were perusing them...as if somebody was in active study of the contents they each contained
Reaching to the nearest scroll, curious of its contents, your hand was suddenly grabbed.
You screeched as you eyes met with the much larger, clawed hand. You tried to rip away from whatever had you and instinctually threw a punch, with your eyes screwed shut, at where it's assumed face would be
Your fist was caught and a rock dropped into the pit of your stomach. But at the sign of no further offence, you peeked an eye open. You were met with dark honey-coloured eyes surrounded by grey-beige flesh.
"What are you doing here?" the creature demanded in a calm tone, its lips moving having exposed some rather sharp teeth
You didn't answer, gaze trailing across it's form instead.
Past it's face hung a cloak- no wait...it's wings...carefully latched together to appear as a cape...? It's skin was a very pale beige but was speckled with grey and dull red flecks - like a galaxy etched upon stone...which is what his skin resembled. Your gaze continued down broad pectorals, bare midriff to a wrapped ornate looking cloth that gave way to it's thighs and clawed feet.
"What are you...?" you mumbled in confusion
The creature before you scoffed softly, likely displeased at it's own question being ignored.
"How did you find this place...?" it raised a brow ridge, filled with little spikes
It seemed as if an information tiptoe was in for you today...
"If I answer, you'll answer me" it was more of a demand of a deal rather than you brokering one
The creature snorted, amused, and let go of your fist, and loosened it's grip on your other wrist...however it kept hold of that limb
Taking that as your "yes" you summed up your trip here briefly and then explained how you followed the light
The creature scowled and glared at the torches nearest to the curtain
"I wouldn't worry...I only saw it after I explore for a while" you offered in comfort
"My name is Thire" he answered "I'm a Gargoyle"
You hummed as you processed the information given
"So what are you doing here?" you mumbled in confusion
"Same reason you are - and then some" he said cryptically, as he let go of your wrist.
Thire then shooed you back a few steps and gingerly picked up an ancient scroll you'd accidentally stepped on. He then began to carefully dust it off and re-roll it
"I decided to stay and be caretaker for this place" he added
"Don't...you have somewhere else to be?" you picked up a blue holocron and held it up to your eye, peering through the translucent side of it
"Not anymore" he grumbled "The guard was in shambles. I'm sure my brothers are long gone now"
"The guard?"
"On Coruscant" he nodded in confirmation
"Wait a minute"
"Yes, I'm sure the shock of the rumours being true is quite dumb-founding" the once-commander rolled his dark eyes before walking away.
You quickly and quietly followed him about, the conversation having died with that statement. And silence continuing to rule over you both before Thire turned suddenly and you tripped right into his toned chest
"Why are you still here...?" It wasn't a demand, more of a curiosity
"I want to be here" you answered easily, leaning into his personal bubble space
Flustered and confused at your sudden closeness, Thire delicately grabbed your shoulders and guided you back a step
"Alright, just...just don't destroy anything. This location houses immense knowledge, some of it as ancient as the core worlds as we know them. And be gone before nightfall"
You ended up staying a week straight at first...then returned for another month, spending your waking moments consuming knowledge and comparing understandings with Thire.
At first, you would sit on the other end of the room, unsure how safe it was to sit too close to the man-beast during the day and at night, Thire locked himself into a room by himself.
But as the days wore on, you ended up settled nestled right against his side as you perused the endless information, finding yourself being lulled into a cozy nap more times than you'd care to admit - and then waking yourself up to find one of Thire's wings draped across your form to keep you warm.
However one night you banged on the ornate ancient door that separated Thire from you.
"Thire...?" you called "You awake?"
There was a slight delay before footfalls came to the door and he yelled across to you
"What's wrong?"
Your brows furrowed, he sounded funny...
"I...I can't sleep, can I stay with you...?" you asked feeling childishly
You waited for what seemed like forever as your gargoyle companion weighed his options. But with a low groan-growl you saw the door open to a room with a single dim light - otherwise the room was entirely pitch black.
You quickly, before he changed his mind, rushed at the male silhouette that most definitely was your friend. Your arms wrapping around his middle as you let out a breath of relief.
"I told you to leave that Sith holocron be...but did you listen to me...? No-"
You peered up, squinting
"You sound different"
Thire's hand settled against the back of your head and you felt confusion continue to bubble at the feel of a clawless, much smaller hand
"Thire...?"
"I thought you knew about us" he mused softly, then lead you to the dim light.
Your breath caught as your gaze settled on a human's face, honey coloured pools of life and dark curls on top of his head cropped short in a military-styled cut.
"Thire...?"
"When the sun goes down," he explained gently "We go to this form - but we're more vulnerable this way. Which is why I locked the door"
He leaned in close to you, your faces just a hair apart
"Thire...?" you asked again feeling more unsure than before, cheeks heating at his closeness
"Wouldn't you like to explore this...?" He whispered softly "In this form, I cannot hurt you. No fangs, claws or barbed tail to accidentally prick your flesh"
Your breath caught in your throat as your lashes flickered to his lips
"For knowledge's sake" you urged in a soft, heated whisper
"At the very least" he added softly "Anything past that is entirely your decision"
Desire burned in the core of your being - finding yourself nodding as your lips inched closer and closer to his own
"But" you whispered against his lips
"But...?"
"But I wouldn't be opposed to trying out the other you...for information gathering purposes, you know"
A soft growl rumbled in his chest then melted into a purr as he guided you to the makeshift bed, to settle above him. Your bodies pulled tightly against one another as heat grew to overwhelming levels between you
"Keep that up, and I might need to know what having a mate is like - for knowledge's sake"
