The Shadows Within

Finn’s room was so dark compared to the others. There were old claw marks on some walls, too.

Is this where you ran away when you came back to your senses? Ah… How lonely were you?

When a new presence became known, I gazed at Finn standing before me.

“What are you doing in here, sweets?” he asked.

“You’ve been to my room so many times that I thought I’d visit yours,” I answered, touching the bed sheets.

In this room was where you… No, there’s no use in thinking that.

Sitting next to me, he leaned onto my shoulder.

“I saw what you did. It caused quite a stir within the generals who saw the new changes. It shocked me Nyla didn’t tell me anything about it either.” He closed his eyes, resting his head on my shoulder. “Oh, and Brie says she loves what you did with her room. Not that she will ever tell you that.”

A soft chuckle left his lips as I laid my head on his. The warmth this man gave me was out of this world. I wore a warm, long, blue-sleeved dress for our date that reached my ankles. It had decorative flowers on it—one he had made for me.

Underneath it, I wore leggings as it was cold at night. My bad arm was still in a sling.

“Well, I wanted to lighten up the mood around this murky castle. Hope I didn’t stir them too much.” I offered him the figurine in my hands.

“Na, they're fine. The only one who had snarky comments was Astred, and she is irrelevant.” He assured me, noticing the gift.

“Wait, what’s this?” he tilted his head, grabbing it.

The moment he had it in his palm, his eyes widened. Unable to read his expression, I gazed towards Solas as his tail wagged. Unlike the demon, the pup was easy to read, though he didn’t reflect Finn’s emotions.

“Back in my world, people have pictures to remind them of…” I mumbled, fidgeting with my shirt.

Everything he had burned down or was destroyed in the carnage after the miasma, including all his family portraits. Yet that didn’t mean they had to be forgotten.

“I thought he was too pretty not to be represented here. Though I don’t know if I stepped out of the comfort zone.” I continued, hoping I hadn’t hurt him with it.

However, running away wouldn’t help either. Working up the courage, I turned to him to see a soft smile on his lips.

“No, I love it. Thanks.” He closed his hand, causing it to disappear and appear on the nightstand next to me.

He seemed genuinely happy, making me jittery, especially considering what I would say next.

“Hey, Finn…” I began, triggering him to gaze at me.

“Hm?” he hummed, grabbing onto my left hand.

Your touch is so warm.

“Once my hand’s better. Do you think I can fix up your room? And…” I trailed off, not knowing how to finish it.

It felt like a big ask, but…

“You can do whatever you want in my room. What was the other thing?” he answered, caressing my hand with his thumb.

My hand was so small in his. It was hard to speak, thanks to all the butterflies fluttering in my belly.

“Serah… c-can I make her resting place more comfortable?” I asked, bracing for an argument.

Not that I would argue, but I couldn’t shake the state of her resting place, especially when she was stuck in the in-between. However, it would hurt him to know if he didn’t already know, and I didn’t have the heart to tell him.

Not when he would probably rage because of it. Serah had said she couldn’t reach him. So, perhaps this was something better off staying that way.

“I…” he sighed.

Please… I don’t want to leave someone so precious to you like that.

“It’ll just be me and Nyla doing it the old-fashioned way. So, there won’t be other people there.” I continued to ramble.

In response, he grabbed me by my cheeks, tugging me up to a kiss. It was so warm and gentle that it melted me on the spot. Drawing away from my lips, he gazed at me with such affection that I froze.

“I think she’ll love that.” Finn simpered, pressing his forehead against mine.

A soft hum left me, enjoying the warmth emanating from him.

I thought you’d be more reluctant. Thank you for trusting me enough for this.

“I think so, too.” I smiled, triggering him to gaze away.

His eyes were set on the figurine next to us.

“Just let me know when you got in there. I don’t want to hurt you again. That room’s tied to my nature.” He sighed, shifting his orbs into his left hand.

It was the one that held me to the floor and ripped my arm.

It isn’t your fault. That was just an accident.

“Well, in my defense, I didn’t even know I went there the first time. I wouldn’t have gone in otherwise, even if I was curious about what you were hiding.” I confessed, gazing to the side.

Like the catacombs… No… I’ll wait until you’re ready to tell me.

He shook his head, touching my cheek, prompting me to gaze at him.

“I know. You found a secret chamber my grandfather had made to escape his wife. It didn’t do him much good since he got caught by her on the way out. Grandma didn’t tolerate him slacking on his duties. When I was ten, she chased him around the castle.” He chuckled.

His expression was one of a man who held to that memory fondly.

“I hope you tell me more about your family one day. They seem lovely.” I simpered, enjoying his company more than I should have, but I couldn’t help it.

“Don’t you mean to show you?” he grabbed my hand.

“No, I want to see your expression when you think of something nice. Plus, I like your voice so much. You should be a singer or something like that.” I leaned into him.

It caused him to chuckle again. “Only you would think that.”

“I’m sure I’m not the only one.” I huffed, enjoying his warmth.

Hearing him cackle next to me was all I needed to know that he was enjoying his time with me.

That’s what we do on dates, right? Did it even start?

I honestly didn’t know the first thing about them. All I knew was how my sister went out with boys until she found her fiancé.

I guess that dinner was a family date? Eh? Maybe?

“Hey, Finn…” I mumbled, gazing towards the figurine.

“Yes, Sparky?” he urged me on.

“Where will we be going tonight?” I asked.

He gazed at the window, trying to judge the time. Unlike in my world, the inhabitants of this world used the phases of the sun and moon to tell time, something I wasn’t good at.

“Hm… it should be up already; if it isn’t, we’ll wait a bit when we get there.” He informed.

It left me none the wiser.

“What is?” I mumbled, tilting my head.

Instead of answering me, he grabbed onto my left hand.

“Come,” Finn smiled, leading me out into the hall.

Quietly, I followed him through the castle’s halls and onto one of the top towers’ roofs. Once there, he let me go, walking towards the edge. The vast sky was above us, and while the mist was lighter at these heights, it still reached higher than I expected.

“What are we doing here?” I gazed around, unable to see anything else than the purple miasma below.

However, Unlike me, Finn was staring up at the sky.

“We’re making one of your wishes come true.” He simpered, standing on the edge.

“Hm?” I hummed, “What?”

A second later, the demon lord smirked, triggering the same explosion of feathers as before. The gust of wind that came with it. I was so close that I put my arm up to protect my eyes. However, that was short-lived.

When the wind died, I lowered my arm to see the same beast from that day. This time, there was no red aura coming from him. However, he released a roar that rang in everyone’s ears, triggering lights in the city below.

Sticking to the edge, he slowly glanced at me, leaning his snout towards me. My heart was racing, yet it wasn’t in fear but anticipation. Unable to help myself, I gawked at his magnificence.

Why am I not afraid? Ah… Some fight, run, and freeze, but some give up on everything.

I was one of those; whoever got angry at an animal for acting on instinct was a fool.

I can’t blame a shark for biting someone in their domain or a lion who kills someone for getting too close.

Whoever hunted them for tasting human blood were the actual murderers.

We always act like we own everything.

In reality, we wouldn’t survive five seconds in the conditions they thrive in.

“Afraid?” Finn asked.

His voice was nothing like the other time. It wasn’t the one I was used to, but there wasn’t any malice in it.

I shook my head. “No, can I…” I trailed off, not knowing if I could.

He said a wish, but I didn’t know which one.

Is it my death? I don’t think…

I didn’t want that anymore, especially if he came with me, too. Solas sat beside me, gazing at Finn. The last time he saw this form, it squished him against the ground, yet the pup stood firm. I guess we were two of a kind.

“Can you what?” the dragon asked, leaning closer.

Now that I wasn’t running for my life or in any distress, I could see details that eluded me the last time I saw him. I could see his snout and body were just like a canine. Even his nose was one of a cat or dog rather than a lizard.

Perhaps you’re more feline than a dog, I thought. And from my vague memory, I remember your feathers are…

“Touch you?” I announced, gazing at him straight on.

His eyes widened again, tilting his head as a soft chuckle soon followed.

“You don’t even have to ask. I told you before, I’m yours.” Finn declared, spreading his wings wide.

Instantly, I ran to him, crashing into one of his arms. The sudden action caused the enormous dragon to stiffen up.

“You’re so beautiful, Finn. Soft, too.” I hummed, smothering myself into his arm.

His feathers were more like fluffs, much like Solas's. Their texture reminded me of the silky chickens back home. I didn't have one, but I saw one in a pet store once. Clearing his throat, the dragon turned to the pup beside us, avoiding my comments about him.

Though the effects of my compliments showed in his voice, “S-Solas, you’ll have to shrink for what comes next.” His voice squeaked.

All it did was make me hug him tighter. Though, even if I could use both my arms, I wouldn’t have been able to get around his arm.

“Shrink?! I can do that?!” Solas gasped, unaware of this ability.

Ah… right, Felix could do it.

However, Finn’s softness was too hard to pull away from to speak to the wolf.

“Oi, you’re too slow for your good.” He huffed at the pup.

It triggered me to puff up, tugging away from him. “Hey! Don’t be mean to him!” I pouted.

A soft sigh left the dragon before rolling his eyes. “Fine, fine. Let me show you.”

In that instant, his eyes glowed, making Solas respond with a similar hue. A second later, the pup was the size of a toy Yorkie or poodle.

“Oh! Yay! Now I can sleep with Sylvia again!” he beamed, jumping around happily.

“I swear you spoil him.” Finn breathed, shaking his head.

Picking up Solas from the floor, I placed him in my bag.

God, I missed this! You’re too cute!

“But I love him. So, of course, I’ll spoil him.” I simpered.

“Oi, you trying to make me jealous?” Finn growled.

Hm…? Why… oh…

Another opportunity rose to mess with the dragon that stole more than my arm. He had my heart and didn’t know it yet.

“Hm? Shouldn’t you be happy? He has a part of you in him, doesn’t he?” I pointed out, gazing away from the dragon.

In my hand, one of his feathers remained.

Another bookmark. Well, a bigger one.

Although big, it was lighter than a page of paper.

“So, you love me?” Finn asked, leaning his snout closer to me.

“Oh? Now we’re moving too fast.” I giggled, knowing I was throwing him for a loop.

“Hm? What do you mean?” his tone dropped.

I could imagine him frowning. Pushing his buttons was always the best, yet recently, there was no red aura attached whenever I did—nothing like when we first met.

“I like you, but that’s all I’m giving you right now.” I declared, closing my eyes.

It's a simple lie. I love you, but I can’t let you win. Not until I know you’ll be fine.

“Okay, baby steps.” He chuckled.

Yes… baby steps. How close can I get to your heart before I can’t contain my feelings anymore?

The night was still young, after all.