Page 25 of To Fall for a Dragon

“Thank you, Hakko.” Poe lifted his head toward Hakko’s in an invitation, which Hakko accepted. He savoured Poe’s mouth, tasted the delight and the peace in the kiss. It was heady and nearly did Hakko in. He’d stay here and kiss Poe all night if he could. “Go to sleep. Your big event is coming soon.”

“You’ll still be here?” Hakko hated that he asked, but he had to know. He had to make sure he didn’t wish for something that would be impossible to get.

Poe tilted his head consideringly. He glanced at the corners where the ghosts gathered to watch him. He cleared his throat and pursed his lips. Hakko both loathed and loved that Poe gave his question careful thought. “I’m ready. I’ve made my decision.”

Hakko hid the smile and left the room with a jaunty step. Things were finally going in the direction he wanted them to.

In the morning, he sat up in his bed and pouted. Hakko had to wait for Ethan as always, even though he itched to see what Poe had done in the dark of the night. Was Poe safe? Had he managed to appease the angry ghosts? Was he still working?

“Good morning, Hakko! It’s a glorious crisp morning!” Ethan sang out as he entered the apartment like he always did. Hakko stumbled to the kitchen and wrinkled his nose at the amount of red Ethan brought.

“What’s with all the bright colours?” Hakko asked, spinning the coffee cup around. He cringed at the sight of the paper decorated in fanciful hearts. It looked too cheery. The pastry box was also red, white, and pink.

“It’s Valentine’s Day! A pastime to celebrate love and to go on fancy dates!” Ethan swept his arm around before sitting with his own red cup. He emptied the box filled with heart-shaped pastries and piped icing. “I told you, remember? When you were choosing the date for the letter exhibit. You thought it’d be auspicious.”

“But it’s so red,” Hakko complained. The pastry–while garish–still tasted the same, and he was happy about that.

“These are the colours of Valentine’s.” Ethan shrugged. He changed gears to reliable assistant in a quick minute. “The glass guy will be here midmorning. I have the caterer coming in around three to start prepping for the buffet. We have two class visits in the afternoon for children to have a peek at the letters. So, if we want to have a minute’s rest later, we need to start motoring now.”

“Are you sure you’re just the assistant?” Hakko teased. He was delighted to see Ethan so enthusiastic about his tasks, since he'd been so timid when he'd first begun working with Hakko.

“We shall see.” Ethan clapped his hands together. “Chop, chop. Move along.”

Hakko took one more bite of the flaky deliciousness before getting dressed in appropriate clothing. He disappeared into the basement workroom to check the letters and to look in on Poe.

As he stepped into the workroom, he smiled at how tidy it was. The letters were in protective boxes, placed with their counterparts in a unique display. The leather journals were set to the side with a small note beside them.

Hakko reread the letters, discerning Poe’s shaky worries and his own responses. They had fed off each other and created a wonderful timeline. It was more beautiful than he had imagined.

“Oh, that’s neat! What made you think of that composition?” Ethan asked as he poked his head in. “Where’d all these come from?”

“Poe, the vampire,” Hakko said, lost in the emotions swirling over the display cabinet. He was sure he could see the anxiety and fear of Poe’s statements tangling together with Hakko’s responses. True magic was at work here, and it fascinated Hakko.

“He wrote every one of these? That guy you’ve been hiding?” Ethan asked, shocked. Hakko opened his mouth to reprimand Ethan, but Ethan continued. “He’s got a way with a phrase, doesn’t he? I can feel the pain. He’s been hurt so bad. You always hear about vampires being so hoity-toity, but this guy seems so normal and alone. Are these going to go on display as well?”

“Some of them. Not the letters where he’s particularly low. He doesn’t need to bare his entire self to strangers like that,” Hakko murmured.

“Yeah, it’s shitty when that happens. People can be right dicks even when they think they’re helpful,” Ethan agreed. He touched the case. “It could have been one of us.”

“I know.” They were silent as they both chose letters that held more hope than despair.

“I’ll get these set up and then we can see if we need more. What about those books? They seem so out of place with the theme.” Ethan drifted down the table to where Poe’s journals were resting.

“They’re from a restoration project I’m working on for a friend. Definitely not part of the exhibit.” Hakko smiled. He willed Ethan to go away. Poe’s life shouldn’t be on display any more than it was.

“Good luck. That leather is going to need a lot of help. I have a friend who can offer suggestions?” Ethan asked. His eyes never lifted from the books, and Hakko had to hold back his dragon from attacking Ethan.

“It’s fine, Ethan. We should be ready for the glass guy,” Hakko suggested to get Ethan moving again. His grip on his possessive dragon was beginning to be a bit tenuous.

“Right! He said any time midmorning. Shit, I’m sorry, Hakko.” Ethan froze, and a deer-in-the-headlights look crossed his face before he left the workroom. Hakko had a momentary pang of guilt for causing Ethan to panic, but he had to get him out of potential danger sooner. Hakko’s urge to protect Poe overwhelmed him.

Listening to people entered the building and being greeted by Ethan, Hakko smiled at the friendliness in Ethan’s voice. Hakko made his way to the back corner of the workroom where a discreet door was. A note was set on a nearby shelving rack for Hakko to read. Poe’s writing was still shaky and uneven, but the words soothed Hakko’s beast. Poe was still here, safe and at peace. Even the ghosts weren’t bothering him. Hakko caressed the piece of paper once more before placing his ear against the door.

There was nothing, of course, just the aura of an undead body at rest. Hakko wrote his own greeting and set it on the shelf beside Poe’s.

The day flew after that. Hakko greeted the young students as they came in with their construction paper hearts and big, wide eyes. He made hearts and dreams soar when he showed the children his tail. They were so curious and accepting. Hakko enjoyed interacting with them.

Everything was going according to plan until just before the evening sun dipped below the horizon.

---