First Demonic Dragon

It turned out that Thrudd was actually quite serious about offering Fiona that protein bar.

The two of them sat together on a cliff overlooking their isolated valley.

Fiona was a lot less cold now that she had chosen a seat in between two very large hell beasts who happened to be like living space heaters.

Fiona was starting to see the appeal of the beasts. They were sort of cute and harmless when you got used to their appearances.

"It's funny… this place kind of reminds me of home."

"Hm?" Fiona looked up with a mouth full of peanut butter protein and found Thrudd staring at the valley with a forlorn look.

"My family lives in a valley just like this. Although, it's a fair bit more vibrant and the lake is a lot cleaner." Thrudd chuckled.

Fiona actually thought that she was joking.

No one from the Order had ever set foot in the abyss. Even gods only started getting let in recently.

But a few thousand years of collective paranoia had given the impression that Tehom was not necessarily a 'vibrant' place to live.

The fact that there was greenery, or clear water, was almost like hearing that there was cheese on the moon. (There is though. Mira has her own separate palace on earth's moon.)

Naturally, Thrudd recognized the incredulous look that her new acquaintance was trying not to sling her way, and she found it partially amusing.

"Did you think we were all living in some dark demonic scape of hell?" She raised a brow.

"Aren't the underworlds literally made from pieces of your dad's body?"

"…"

"…?"

"…Fair point." Thrudd conceded.

Thrudd fell back onto Gandora's side and scratched her exposed belly like a ripped old man.

"Tehom is the most beautiful place in the multiverse. I've seen dreamlike landscapes all across the realms and visions of luscious paradises. None of it compares to home." Thrudd said fondly.

Fiona could tell that she was being sincere. Which in a way, made things a bit more complicated since Fiona wasn't sure how much she could ask.

After all, it wasn't like they were friends. They hardly even knew each other.

In fact, their families were glorified enemies.

Would asking too many questions here not seem like a possible interrogation?

"You can ask questions if you want. I'm not going to think you're trying to commit espionage or anything."

Fiona was starting to see why everyone said that she was bad at controlling her facial expressions. Thrudd was picking her apart easily.

The funny thing was, now that Thrudd had expressly given her permission to ask questions, Fiona didn't know what to ask.

As a result, she simply blurted out the first thing that came to mind after a momentary thought.

"What is your dad like?"
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Thrudd had to give her credit. She never expected the quiet woman to surprise her with her line of questioning.

"He's like any dad." Thrudd shrugged. "He's overprotective, makes bad jokes, has too big a fascination with college football, and makes lots of passes at my moms when he thinks I can't hear."

"No, I mean-"

"I know what you mean, and I just gave you the only answer I know how to give. That is the only version of my father that I have ever known. Today was the first time in my entire life that I ever saw him fight somebody outside of a spar."

Fiona's shocked look betrayed her internal feelings again.

This time, Thrudd and the abyss beasts couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"What about your dad?" Thrudd asked as she wiped a tear from her eyes. "He seems like a barrel of fun."

Fiona stared at Thrudd awkwardly, as if the subject was still too tender.

The red haired dragoness held up her hands in surrender. "Too soon. My bad."

"No, it's… it's fine."

Fiona said that, but she didn't seem in a rush to answer Thrudd's question.

Instead, she stared into the crackling fire in front of her and let it's soft purple glow mesmerize her.

"He's… a dick." She finally said after a long silence.

Thrudd stared at her awkwardly out of the corner of her eye.

Fiona's frustration with her father ran deeper than his augmentations.

The Order of Shining Mercy ran on strict codes that all were expected to uphold.

Before creating something they must always ask the question of should they instead of could they.

They are only supposed to use their magicks to defend mortals from scourges. Not themselves, or other threats that were lower on the supernatural scale.

And the number one rule that had largely gone unchallenged till now- they do not utilize anything that they have for personal gain. They must remember that they are all mortal men, and one day they must all travel home to meet the creator.

Shin's transforming into a cybernetic being had undermined those principles. Because he had only done it to best Abaddon, and he had made himself functionally immortal.

In his vow of upholding the natural order, he had irreparably perverted it.

The kicker was that even Abaddon was repulsed by him. A once respectable man had thrown away all of his values and principles in the name of blind retribution.

Thrudd genuinely felt bad for the young woman.

It couldn't be easy to see any parent lose themselves to something like hate. Especially not if he was the only one she had.

"Sorry… mind if we talk about something else?" Fiona asked in a low voice.

Thrudd could see it was still a sore subject, so she had no problem changing the topic to something a little less invasive.

"Well… just so you're not the only one who feels embarrassed…" Thrudd scratched her cheek. "The only reason why I even came on this trip was because I'm avoiding a crush I have on someone."

Thrudd waited and waited but there was no response.

She turned her head to stare at her new companion and found her open-mouthed and slack jawed.

"T-The hell are you making that face for?!"

"What do you mean you're avoiding a crush…? Can't you have like anyone you wanted?? I mean your moms and dad are.."

"T-They don't have anything to do with me!" Thrudd's face would soon be the same color as the hair she was so fond of. She was already regretting bringing this conversation up at all.

"I'm not some super big flirt like almost everyone else in my family, alright?" Thrudd huffed. "I'm really bad with that stuff."

Somehow, Fiona's jaw just fell open even wider.

"Are you like… a virgi-"

"T-That is none of your business!"

"Oh my god, you're a virgin. An 8,000 year old virgin..."

"New subject! New subject!!"

"So have you never had a boyfriend either…? No wonder you seemed kind of immature.."

"BAGGY!" Thrudd yelled.

The locust responded appropriately and bonked Fiona over the head with one of it's hooves.

However, Fiona practically lived off gossip and wouldn't let a little love tap distract her from the story of the year.

"So like, not even finger stuff??"

"N-No, you twit! Baggy, hit her again!"

This time, Fiona ducked out of the way and rolled to safety.

She came to a stop and continued to rapid-shoot her questions like she was wielding a machine gun.

"Primordials are supposed to know everything, right? So then do you know what that stuff feels like in theory, but just have no practical experience? Do you have a preference for like gender or body type, or would we all just be a meatsleeve to you??"

"You're so nosy!" Thrudd fired a bolt of lightning from her fingertip.

Again, Fiona rolled out of the way while continuing to bombard her with questioning. "You have to answer! Inquiring minds demand to know! Have you ever touched yourself, or-"

"AAAAHHHH!!!"

Thrudd called down a massive amount of snow and buried the inquisitive woman underneath a white avalanche six feet high.

The sound of Thrudd's heavy breathing was the only sound that could be heard over the sound of the fire.

Well that, and the beasts' suppressed snickers.

A head poked out of the mound of snow and Fiona appeared as a disheveled, out of breath mess.

"Alright, I'm done making fun of you now…" She said between breaths. "Just know if it ever comes up… penis Is pretty hit or miss, so if you find a good one be sure to make him obsess over you so that he doesn't go anywhere…"

With everything else that Thrudd had heard, that was by far the least jarring.

She finally relaxed her shoulders a bit and allowed a smile to creep onto her face.

"I'll be sure to keep that in mind." She replied curtly as she pulled Fiona out of the snow.

As she helped clean her up, Fiona made one final gambit.

"I just have two more questions.." She held up the appropriate amount of fingers.

Thrudd had already learned by now that even if she said no, Fiona was probably still going to ask her anyway. "Go ahead… don't make me regret this."

Fiona pushed up her glasses and assumed a serious look as if this were a matter of national security.

"Do you watch porn, and has your mind already been expanded to grasp the wonders of BL manga..?"

"…"

"…?"

Thrudd pushed the human back into the snow before getting on the back of Bagheera and galloping away.