...

Without A Resolve

Juda laughs sleepily because he sincerely wanted to hear that, "If only I'm not a fairy and you're not a dragon, those words would've mold this broken and cold heart to completely be yours."

"Then can I interrupt that as a glimpse of hope for us?" Artemis smiles brilliantly.

"I wish it is that way too, Artemis. But that's not how life goes," Juda's smile gradually fades away.

"How should I change the world that'll allow us to happen?"

Juda laughs again, "Don't be so cocky. You should just be you and Jaufasi and I'll just be us. If you and I are meant to be, then I wouldn't need to feel this way, like a piece of dung unworthy of your attention."

"How can I not pay attention to the world's most interesting and humbling piece of dung?"

"You sure know how to make me laugh," Juda gives off another giggle.

"I want to see you laugh like that for the rest of your life..."

And before Artemis could finish, Juda covers his face and wipes his wet cheeks.

"I'm sorry."

"No. It's not you," Juda tries to swallow the knot in his throat. "I'm sorry for constantly giving you false hope because I lack self awareness and I can't stop this feeling that keeps growing every time I see Jaufasi or you."

Artemis stands up and asks, "May I come over there?"

Juda shakes his head violently and accidentally wakes up the boy sleeping in his arms.

"Mommy? What's wrong?" Jaufasi pouts and then easily cries while wiping Juda's tears.

He turns to see a giant silhouette standing by the fireplace and jumps from his mother's lap, "You meany. You make my mommy cry."

Juda hugs his son from behind, "Your father didn't hurt me. I just cried on my own."

"Daddy?" The boy balls his fists, "Daddy shouldn't hurt mommy."

"No, Jau-Jau. I cried on my own."

The boy gestures for Artemis to come closer to them, "Say sorry to mommy."

When Artemis hears his son's strong objection, he bends his knees, apologizes, and  embraces the son and his mother.

"Daddy and me protect you, mommy," Jaufasi hugs Juda's neck and kisses his lips. "No more crying."

"They don't like me Jau-Jau," Juda grabs a hold of his son and pushes Artemis away.

Artemis strengthens his grip on them, "They understand and want you now. Our son and I need you. The world is much more open minded than you thought it was."

"No. My father will never truly accept us," Juda smiles hopelessly. "People will look down on you two because of me, and I don't want you two to have that disadvantage. It's something I can control."

The dragon lowers his head and kisses Juda, knowing that it won't give him a fever.

"Then it's a disadvantage we must endure and overcome for you," Artemis presses his forehead onto Juda's. "We will never abandon you for our gain because we're a family."

"What is this? Perhaps I have failed to engrave into you about the loyalty to a mission?" The door is kicked opened with the cold wind and snow entering the cabin along with an old man with a cane and his minions.

Artemis takes his family to a corner of the room as his smoky red scales begin developing with his eyes glowing in the dark cabin.

"Oh, scary. Are you going to send us a blizzard this time?" Niusin claps his hands with a lofty laugh.