Rhys the Lizardman (rough draft)

It had been windy and overcast all day. Dark clouds hung upon the horizon while pale gray covered the sun overhead. It was no surprise to you when it started raining. The area cleared out, no one was on the road outside, and everything was veiled in fog. It gave the sense of abandonment, but really, the lights inside houses reassured you there was still life about.

Despite the feeling of nothing to do that rain brought about, you set about some busy work that would help the day go faster tomorrow. You took out the large blocks of soap and set about cutting them. You were so used to the scent you never noticed it much. But as that taut string sliced through the bars, you got whiffs of the fragrant perfumes and oils within the bar.

“Maybe some tea would be nice,” you murmured to yourself after slicing up the first bar. You took off your proactive gloves and went over towards the stove. You were gathering up the kettle to fill with water when you heard something outside.

There was a loud shuffling, and then it sounded like the chickens next door were extremely spooked. You set the kettle aside, and moved about to the window that overlooked your neighbor’s backyard. The chickens were frazzled, vanishing into their coop while something dragged around the side of the house.

You frowned as you walked away from the window. “To hell with this.” You got upon a stepstool, reaching up behind the stovepipe where you had hidden an old tool of yours, one you used before soapmaking. You checked the blade of the dagger, pleased it was still sharp.

“Not needed your ro quite the while. And hopefully I won’t now, but no sense in playing it stupid.” You were getting down off the stepstool when there was a loud banging upon your door.

You stood stiff and stuff the dagger into a hidden pocket on your skirt. “Who goes there?” You called out.

There was another loud banging.

“I don’t answer my door for just that.” You approached the door, keeping your breath steady as you waited for a response. “Who goes there?”

There was silence with the sound of rain. The soft pelting of droplets on the muddy earth outside. You then heard breathing, labored breathing.

“Let me in Pocket,” a voice outside snarled. “Or I’ll bust down this door.”

Every hair on your body stood on end. You knew that voice well, but only one person ever called you that name.

“What are you doing here, Rhys?” You said after a moment of tongue-tied shock.

He let out a very effortful laugh. “Can’t a bloke come see an old friend.”

“We were never such a thing.”

“Please,” his breath squeezed tight. “Let me in.”

You cracked the door a smidge, keeping the chain locked. Immediately, you saw the cut upon his face and his swollen eye. “What happened to you?”

“Something bad enough to bring me here.”

You opened the door and Rhys all but fell upon you. He stumbled, catching himself upon the doorframe. He shuffled in, using your shoulder as support before he collapsed to his knees upon the ground. The great lizard that he was looked so small and helpless.

“Criminy, Rhys!” You cried out. You rushed to the kitchen, fetching a clean cloth to mop him up. But by the time you had gotten back he was laid unconscious upon the floor. You let out an exasperated sigh. Who had once been your worst enemy was now seeking sanctuary in your home.

It took a lot of effort, but you managed to get Rhys into your bedroom and upon your bed. His tail hung off the side, striped black and green until the tip where it was dark purple.

You cleaned him up and treated his wounds, of which there were many. “Finally found a fight you couldn’t get out of, eh?” You looked over his sleeping face then double checked he was breathing. “Who’d you try to rob this time?” You snipped at him. “You were always overzealous. I’m not surprised really.” You were wrapping up his hand, which felt a bit strange upon touching. His knuckles were split and bleeding, he either hit a wall or someone twice as scaly and spikey as he was.

“I am surprised to see you here though. I thought once I left the thieves guild, I’d never see you again.” You set back once you were done with him, remarking at how much bulkier he had gotten since the last time you saw him. Then again it could be swelling, you thought.

You left him to rest, checking occasionally to make sure he was still breathing and had a pulse. You fell asleep in your big chair that night, lulled by the sound of rain or else you probably would have stayed awake all night.

In the morning, sun from the window hit your eyes, warming your face until you woke from the heat. You scoffed as you got up, picking your dagger up from the side table to put back into place. You peeked into the bedroom, seeing Rhys tail twitch.

“Not dead yet,” you murmured. You put the bagger back into it’s hiding place and got the kettle ready. You then went out the back, going to your neighbor Allie’s door.

“Here for eggs?” She asked with a chipper tone.

You held out your basket. “If you don’t mind.” You followed her inside where she took your basket and began filling it.

“I thought I heard something last night,” Allie said. “My chickens were acting odd, so I came out to check, I thought I heard you talking to someone.”

You sighed. “Yes, unfortunately, someone from my past showed up at my door last night. He’s passed out right now.”

She stopped and stared at you. “Are you alright? Do I need to send odd over?”

“No, no. No need to send him in. I’m not worried about it anyways. He’s a piece of shit but he does have some honor to him.” You shrugged. “But I wouldn’t be pressed if you kept a check on things.”

Your neighbor nodded with determination. “I will, I promise!” She then leaned in close and whispered. “Is he from…you know?”

You smiled at her. “Yes, he’s a thief like I was once. The goddess knows why he is here,” you laughed.

“You can handle him if he does try anything, right?”

“I may be rusty, but I think I can handle him in the state he’s in. Thanks for the eggs. I’ll bring you some new soap when it’s ready.” You went back home, taking the eggs into the kitchen.

Breakfast was long over, and you were working on getting soaps ready to take into town to sell to the shops. You were wrapping bars when you heard a loud thud and string of foreign cuss words.

You washed off your hands then went to the bedroom here Rhys was crumpled upon the floor. “You honestly think you can walk in your state?”

“I got all the way here didn’t I?” Rhy moaned weakly from the floor.

You scoffed, rolling your eyes before you knelt down and helped him back up onto the bed. “Stupid hurts.”

“You would know,” he growled as he eased back down upon the bed. Another long string of foreign expletives flowed from his mouth.

You pushed up the pillows so he could lounge back against the headboard. “You need to rest. You’ve never had a beating like this. Speaking of which-”

Rhys turned his head away and grunted. “Shut your trying lips. It’s none of your business.”

You glared down at him, trying to burn a hole through his skull with just a look. “When you show up to my house like this, I would say it is!”

He squinted his gray eyes up at you. “It’s nothing important, Pocket. Once I’m healed up in a day or two, I’ll be gone, and you can pretend this was all a dream.”

“A dream? You showing up is no dream of mine! Now you fess up to your crimes Rhys or I’ll start poking you with the fireplace poker!”

Rhys squirmed, wincing from the sudden movement. “You lay one hand upon me-”

I placed my hands upon my hips and gave him a look. “And what?”

Rhys grew quiet, but his kept his eyes upon you. He finally scoffed. “Not worth it anyways. You never were.”

You rolled your eyes again. “So what are you doing here?”

“Nothing personal really. Just knew I could hide here and it wouldn’t be nothing,” he grunted. “What else can you do when you’ve got nowhere else to go?”

“Nowhere else? You do realize you’re a long way from Slytsall.”

“You are,” he snarled.

Shaking your head you took a deep breath. “Why did you come here? Why me? Tell me that and I might be kind to you.”

“Might be?” He let out a laugh and wrapped his arm against his chest. “Fine. I’ll tell you.” He let out a pained breath. “Guess I’ve not made many friends lately. Not the Slystall is full of them anyways. The place has gotten bad since you left. Ever since that centaur guy has been trying his shit, more and more have been slithering their way in.” He turned his head back towards you, only able to look at you with one eye. “Made some bad connections. There’s no loyalty these days.”

You just gave him a look.

“Don’t do that. Don’t think the way I know you’re thinking,” he huffed. “It doesn’t matter what happened. Only place I figured I could go to was you.”

You furrowed your brow. “How did you even know where I was?”

“Manka knew. She told me once.”

You scoffed. “Knew I shouldn’t have sent her any soap.”

“Forget about Manka. I haven’t told a soul, because I knew I’d need you one day.”

You balked and glared at him. “Need me?” You snapped. “Need me?”

“Look, don’t get testy.” Rhys held up a hand in defense but you smacked his arm anyways.

I stomped away from the bed, pacing before the door. “After all the shit you pulled. After everything that went down in Slystall, you think you still have the right to need me?”

Rhys sat up in bed with a great deal of effort. “I didn’t want to die, Pocket! Do you want me to die?”

You stopped pacing and storming about to look at him. “You just get better and  you never have to need me again.” You stormed out of the bedroom, slamming the door so hard it bounced off the frame and wiggled.

You went back to your workshop, cussing and muttering as you tried to wrap the soap. But you were so worked up you kept messing up the paper and the precise way you needed to fold it.

There was a knock and Allie came in through the back. “Hello, everything alright?” She looked around, as if expecting to see something. “I thought I heard yelling,” she whispered.

“It’s fine Allie,” you chuckled. “Just…” You let out a long, exasperated sigh. “We’re not exactly friends.”

“What are you exactly?” Allie asked, tilting her head to the side.

You scratched at your scalp and combed your fingers through your hair. The aggravation was making you itch all over. “Complicated.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh, this sounds like gossip,” she giggled.

You made a face at her then shook your head. “My past back in Slystall is very connected to him.”

“Were you lovers?” Allie asked with excitement.

You flinched and the hairs on the back of your neck stood on end. “What? No. Kind of- eh!” You waved your arms out. “It’s complicated, like I said!”

Allie pursed her mouth and crooked it to the side. “Was he a frequent customer of yours?”

You may have been too open with Allie one night over some ale. “When he paid.” You then waved your hand to blow it off. “It doesn’t matter anymore. Bad blood happened, and bad blood it will remain.”

Allie made a sound as you turned away to deal with your work. “What was that?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know if it stays that way. I think bad temper remains bad temper. Unless what he did was really, really bad.”

You slammed down a bar of soap and dented it upon the table. “He stole from me. Clients, Money. Clothing. You name it!”

“Food. Jewelry. Patience!” Rhys shouted from the bedroom.

You scowled and slammed shut the door to your workspace.

“Is he nice?” Allie teased.

You huffed, wiping your hands down the front of your apron. “Don’t meet him. Don’t ever talk to him! He’s a charmer, and that’s the problem.”

The next few days went by as irritatingly as you expected. By the end of the week Rhys was able to get up and move about the house, but much more else caused him pain and he exhausted easily. He continued to pester, to poke, to start arguments with you. Although, you admitted to yourself more than one you were also the instigator there.

Ages ago, back when you were both young, it could have been a different story. You were both members of a thieves guild in the village of Slystall. You worked within the Red District, while Rhys was often tasked with bigger game, shipments from Obresh, royal entourages, bigger scams in cities. It was once a good place, even if Slystall was the lowest of the low. You had liked your time there.

It was late in the afternoon one day, you were coming from from delivering soaps to the shops when you caught Rhys in your work room. You set down your basket and took off your coat. You kept your savings in a hollowed out book that you kept in your pocket. If you didn’t make a move for it, he wouldn’t notice.

“What are you doing here?” You grumbled. “This is my workshop, not for the likes of you.”

Rhys was sniffing a bar of soap. “This place smelled so strong, I was wondering.” He raised the bar to his nose again. “It’s nice.”

You snatched the bar from him and placed it back on the shelf. “It’s still curing. I make that with lye, you know. Wash your hands.”

Rhys chuckled, wiping his hand along his ripped shirt. “When did you start this?”

“When I started minding my own business.” You looked him over, noting his torn, filthy clothes, as well as his hulking appearance. “I can get you some clean clothes.”

“What? Are these not good enough?” He then smirked. “If i didn’t know better, I’d say you got some sort of kick taking care of me.”

You bit down on your tongue and held your breath in for a moment.

“You like that little bit of power you hold.” He smirked as you looked at him, it grew into a grin even as your scowl turned ugly.

“Why don’t you just hush for a while?” I suggested. “Go lay down. Take a nap.”

“I’m feeling pretty good right now, why would I ever waste it?” He looked around the room with that same smile. “Besides, this room is quite-” he took in a very deep breath, “-relaxing,” he let out that breath.

“This is my work space, not a spa.” You scolded him. “Now get out. There’s lye and all sorts of things I could hurt you with in this room. Go on, get.” You took him by the arm, leading him towards the door.

Rhys took your hand, holding it as he stepped into the doorway. “You keep being so nice to me, Pocket, I might never leave.” He winked as he kissed your knuckles. “You know I love it when you threaten me.”

You frown deepened and you narrowed your eyes upon him. “You didn’t seem to like it so much last time I was in Slystall.”

“Because you were serious then.” He kissed your hand again.

You yanked your hand away and wiped it upon your apron. “What happened then? Are you ever going to tell me what sent you here.”

“A job gone bad, obviously,” he sniffed. “Trusted the wrong group.”

You sighed. “You wouldn’t have run away if that was the case. Out with it, Rhys. You’ve been here long enough to tell me honestly.”

Rhys shifted, kicking the ground then twisting his tail so it wrapped around his waist. “I told you things had changed in Slystall. Surely Manka has told you something in her letters.”

“I know the distracts have separated. The Red Light district is it’s own, the Hollow Street is it’s own,” you murmured. “But Manka doesn’t tell me everything. If she’s comfortable, she’s not going to blow it.”

Rhys scoffed. “That cohesion is missed. But more than that, the districts are on the brink of war. The reason I came here is linked to that.”

A bristle rolled down the back of your neck into your spine. I watched Rhys closely, noting the shift of his eyes and the way he fidgeted with his tail. “Don’t tell me you actually stood up for something.”

“And what if I did?” Rhys sniffed, his nostrils flaring. His lip curled up, showing his sharp teeth. “What if I did something worth being proud of, huh?”

You couldn’t help but let out a laugh. “Just tell me what happened!”

Rhys snarled, whipping out his tail then stiffening his back to stand taller. “They wanted to take over the Red Light district, and I told ‘em no.”

Your stomach dropped. “Are these guys idiots?”

“No, that’s part of the problem too. The girls are on high alert due to all of this. They’re strong and have greater numbers, but they’ve done rash things recently.” He shook his head and looked away from you. “But they don’t deserve what was on the table.”

A lump grew in your throat. You were actually touched by this. You swallowed, trying to keep these feelings at bay. “You protected them?”

“Warned them, got them ready.” He smirked and glanced back at you briefly. “My traitorous ways were found out and they took me on a heist that was designed to be the end of me. Luckily they didn’t know I am too stupid to die.”

You chuckled and shook your head. “You could have told me this. I would have been nicer if you did.”

Rhys’ gaze turned to steel and there was a glint that made your heart pound. “It’s not your world anymore, Pocket. I didn’t want you worrying. You’re doing what some of us aren’t brave enough to even attempt.”

You stiffened your jaw. “I’m not ashamed of my past, Rhys. I still care about Slystall to an extent.”

He smiled again. “Why do you think I’m here?”

That evening, as you were getting ready for bed, Rhys stood int he doorway, watching you put down your bedroll before the fireplace. “Why not come to bed?”

“You’re using it,” you murmured.

Rhys looked back into your bedroom then back at you. “Unlike popular opinion, I can be good at sharing.”

You gave him a sharp look.

“We used to all the time, Pocket.” Rhys stepped out into the room. “Remember? We had many good nights together. Lots of lovely mornings.”

You scoffed. “Yes, well, that was when I was in the Red Light district. I’m not that girl anymore, Rhys.”

He came and stood over you. “Not asking you to be, Pocket.” He held his hand out to you. “Maybe I just want to remember something. Maybe I miss you.”

You looked at his black palm then up at him. His green scales seemed almost yellow in the light of the fire. “Just sleeping.” You took his hand. “My hips are bothering me sleeping on the bedroll.”

Rhys chuckled. “I remember when I-”

You grabbed his hand and pinched his palm. “That’s enough.”

It was nice to be in your bed again, even if there was a giant, scaly man asleep next to you. You laid there, unable to shake an image of the past from your mind. You kept close to the wall, hugging it to try and keep from touching Rhys. He was so big though he took up the biggest chunk of mattress.

“Why don’t you just get comfortable?” He chuckled.

You huffed, hoping he had been asleep all this time. “I am comfortable.”

“No you’re not.”

You rolled over to face him. Even in the dark you could make out his smug smile. “Just worry about yourself and go to sleep.”

Rhys laughed again. “I have a gorgeous woman next to me. How do you expect me to do that?”

“Keep talking like that and I’ll kick you out of bed.”

Rhys rolled onto his side, both of you were laying face to face. “I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

He laughed. “It’s been a long time. Sorry, I’m a bit nervous.”

“For what? We’re both just trying to go to sleep. So let’s agree to do that and we’ll all be golden. Right?” You adjusted your leg under the covers and brushed up against Rhys’. You jerked back and both of you had a chuckle.

“Maybe I am thinking a bit too much about- something else.” You muttered.

“Yeah. For a long time all we did in a bed was-” Rhys stopped and laughed nervously again. “Well, you know. We sot of trained of bodies to-”

“Yeah,” you interrupted.

“I messed up,” he murmured. “I never stopped kicking myself for what I did.”

“Good,” you huffed.

You both fell into silence once again. You laid there, trying to make yourself sleep but it would never come. Old memories resurfaced, bubbling up in every corner of your mind to where you couldn’t think of anything else. Your body responded in kind, warming and stewing as those old feelings had been inching ever so slowly close towards the surface again.

“Pocket,” his voice whispered through the shadows.

“Be quiet.” You lunged forward, kissing him and bringing your body into his. He took old of you, kissing back and moving his hands down your body.

“Careful,” he whimpered.

“I’ll be gentle.” You kissed him more, pressing close to his body, reaching down to find him already hard. “That was fast.”

“I couldn’t stop thinking,” he huffed.

You wouldn’t admit to your own nostalgic lingering, but you kept going. You turned him over, mounting him and rubbing yourself against him. You pulled up your nightgown as you grinded against him, feeling old flames renew all through your body. It had been so long, and yet you knew how he felt intimately still. His cock was quite thick, but that’s what you liked about it.

Rhys hands wrapped around your hips. “It’s been so long.”

“I said quiet,” you moaned. “Let me just do this.” You reached down, taking hold of his shaft, keeping it still as you placed yourself over the tip. You took him inside, sitting upon him and relishing this moment.

Rhys was straining to stay quiet, then again, he was always a talker. You began to move, moaning and whimpering. It had been a long time since you were last with Rhys, but it had been a long time having sex altogether. You took your time savoring him, being careful of the injuries that persisted. His hands tightened upon your hips, moving up to your waist then around your breasts.

“Oh, Pocket,” heyou whimpered.

“Yes,” you panted from effort. “Yes, feel me.” You leaned forward, going harder upon him. It wouldn’t be long now. You just needed to go harder. The night had a way of going on though, and your love making went on beyond that first daliance. Once the air had cooled, you went again, then again. Rhys found energy unlike you had ever seen before, and you took great delight in his stamina.

Come morning, you never heard the door open. You didn’t, at first, hear Allie calling out and asking if you wanted some eggs.

“Oops!” You heard her squeal and she ran out.

“What was that?” Rhys voice cracked.

“Our neighbor,” you muttered. “I told her to keep a check on me while you were here.” You rose up in bed and yawned. “I must have slept in.”

Rhys chuckled. “You earned it light night, Pocket.” His hand smoothed up your bare back. “Mmm. How I missed you.”

You gave him a sharp look, but it didn’t last. You smiled down upon him and your face turned rosy red.