Dahlia

“Oooh~, Danke!” chirped the elder. He made his way over to the tea tray.

She watched the old dragon as he poured tea out from her set. He took a sip, using his right head before giving it over to his left. As aberration standards went, Traveller must’ve been the most harmonic pair of heads she’d seen yet. She couldn’t recall a time the twin heads ever bickered- let alone disagree.

“What do you want, viejo? You only come here when you want something,” she grumbled.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Dahlia’s eyebrow twitched. “Well?”

“I just wished to visit, Vögelchen.”

“No, you-“

“My friend, seriously.” On a different day, she might’ve just snapped at him- maybe yelled at him for interrupting her. Just not today...

“Fine.” She twisted on her heels, walking back to her desk. Sitting back down, she started tinkering again. The sound of careful footsteps slowly approached her working area until they were right behind her.

Traveller breathed directly into her ear. It was extremely loud. Dahlia swatted both of his heads away- only for them to come right back. They repeated the process for a hot second.

"Dear Plaguebringer- could you not?" She barred her teeth at the older dragon, who smiled apologetically back.

"I only wish to see what you're working on..." muttered Traveller as he raised his hands. Dahlia narrowed her eyes. "Good try, Viejito. No."

"Come on Dahlia, Bitte!"

She chuckled humorlessly. "Again, no. It's Behalf's work, you know better than to ask."

"But I'm working above you in the Behalf, Vögelchen. You do not need to no-"

Glass shattered in her grasp.

A nearby pen and pencil holder had been the victim. Small, sharp pains zipped through her claw, and small trickles of blood fell from her palm.

"Can you get me a bandage, please." It was a command, not a question. Traveller knew better than to argue now.

As Traveller ran off to get a bandage, she plucked the glass from her hand. Right as Traveller returned, she had just removed all the pieces. He wrapped her hand in the bandage, tightening it. It makes Dahlia hiss.

"Ouchhhhhh..." She stomped her foot on the ground. Traveller finished tying the bandage, dropping the loose ends.

"Dahlia, I'm sorry for my... persistence...The cuts too!" Both of Travellers' heads ducked down. "But I don't understand your anger!"

She looked away- not wanting to see either of his faces. This conversation... It always ended in her kicking him out. She closed her eyes. It'll end the same way today as well.

"They use you, Viejito. You're simply too senile to see it." Dahlia grimaced. "And you'll never admit it!" She twisted back around, facing Traveller.

"...It was nice seeing you, Vögelchen. You want me to leave. I'l-l I'll go..."

She looked down, a mix of shame and anger painted on her face. The sound of clumsy footsteps slowly made their way to the door- stopping there. Dahlia could only imagine that he glanced back before leaving. Something should've been said. She should've stopped him. Every time he left, she should've stopped him.

But she never did, and she never will.