Jace and the Black Dragon 01

Jace had never imagined that working in a financial office could be so surreal. But ever since he’d been assigned to share an office with Rubena, his life had taken a turn he couldn’t quite explain. She was unlike anyone he’d ever met—striking, intimidating, and utterly unpredictable. “Has she bitten you yet?” Geoff asked one afternoon in the cafeteria, his tone hovering somewhere between a joke and genuine concern. He sipped his coffee, eyeing Jace with a raised brow. “Of course not,” Jace replied, a hint of irritation in his voice. “And I haven’t done anything to make her angry… I think.” “Well, she always looks angry,” Geoff said with a shrug. “Like she’s one bad day away from breathing fire.” Jace couldn’t argue with that. Rubena was a mutant, her appearance as fierce as her reputation. Black scales traced her arms and neck, glinting under the fluorescent office lights. Her yellow eyes, sharp and piercing, seemed to cut through anyone who dared meet her gaze. Four well-defined breasts strained against her blouse, which she wore unbuttoned just enough to reveal a daring cleavage. Her hooves clicked like heels against the floor, and her hands ended in claws that tapped impatiently on her desk whenever she grew frustrated. A long, spiked tail swished behind her, completing the image of someone who belonged more in a fantasy novel than a corporate office. The rest of the staff kept their distance, speaking to her only when necessary. To them, Rubena was a walking hazard, a ticking time bomb of claws and scales. No one knew if she could actually breathe fire, but no one was willing to find out. Yet, despite her intimidating presence, Jace couldn’t help but notice an exotic beauty in her. Her curves were impossible to ignore, and her confidence—though often mistaken for hostility—was magnetic. If not for the fear she inspired, she might have been the object of admiration rather than avoidance. The office had recently closed several lucrative deals, and Rubena’s workload had doubled. Jace was assigned to assist her, a task that left him constantly on edge. Her cold, sullen gaze followed him as he worked, and the rhythmic tapping of her claws on the desk sent shivers down his spine. He told himself to stay calm, to remember she was just a coworker. But the thought lingered: What if she snaps? A few days later, the boss called a meeting. The news was grim: the company had been acquired by a new owner, an eccentric man who prioritized “team cohesion” above all else. There would be layoffs, and the criteria were disturbingly vague. Those who didn’t “fit in” would be the first to go. “What does that even mean?” Jace muttered to Geoff as they left the meeting. “Popularity? What is this high school?” “If that’s the metric, the ‘black dragon’ is definitely getting axed,” Geoff said with a smirk. Jace nodded, though the thought of Rubena losing her job unsettled him more than he cared to admit. As he headed back to his desk, a heavy hand landed on his shoulder. He turned to find Rubena standing there, her yellow eyes locked on his. His heart skipped a beat. “I need your help,” she said, her voice low and raspy but surprisingly soft. It was the first time Jace had heard her speak without the usual growl. “My help?” he asked, his voice tinged with apprehension. “Yes,” she said, her claws twitching nervously. “If I don’t become more… popular, I’m going to get fired. I don’t know how to do that. You… you have friends here. I don’t want to lose my job.” Jace stared at her, stunned. The fear he’d felt toward her began to dissolve, replaced by an unexpected pang of sympathy. Beneath her fierce exterior, she seemed vulnerable—just someone who didn’t know how to connect with others. “I’m not exactly popular,” Jace admitted. “I’ve got, what, three friends in this office?” “That’s three more than I have,” Rubena said, her voice barely above a whisper. “There are people here who could help you better,” Jace said. “The social butterflies, the—” “They’re either too popular to care or too scared of me,” Rubena interrupted. “You’re… less impossible… more approachable. And you’re not afraid of me. Not entirely, anyway.” Jace hesitated. “I don’t know if that’s a compliment or an insult.” Rubena’s scales flushed a darker shade of black, a sign of embarrassment. “I… I looked up tips online. About how to be more likable.” “Of course… the unfiltered noise of the masses is bound to be helpful,” Jace said, trying to lighten the mood. “What did it say?” “A lot of things I can’t do,” Rubena admitted, crossing her arms. “Smiling, for example.” She attempted a smile, but it came out as more of a grimace at best and a threat at worst. “Okay, maybe we skip the smiling,” Jace said, chuckling nervously. “What else did it suggest?” Rubena hesitated, her claws fidgeting. “Well… we could pretend we’re dating. An office romance might make me seem more… human.” Jace blinked. “You’re suggesting we fake a relationship?” “Just until the restructuring is over,” Rubena said quickly. “I saw the popularity rankings in HR. I’m dead last. Even below Frank ‘Mr. Misogyny’ Webber and Claire ‘I’m Smarter Than You’ Reynolds.” “Ouch,” Jace said. “To be frank I’m not sure an office sanctioned popularity list is legal. I guess we both need the help. But… pretending to be in an office affair? That’s big.” “We could start small,” Rubena said, holding out her clawed hand. “Maybe just… holding hands.” Jace stared at her hand, the sharp claws that had once terrified him now seeming oddly delicate. He took a deep breath and reached out, his fingers brushing against hers. To his surprise, her skin was warm and soft, not cold and rough as he’d imagined. Just then, a group of coworkers passed by, their eyes widening at the sight. One of them smirked. “Holding hands? What’s this, a new office romance?” Before Jace could respond, Rubena leaned in and kissed him. It was quick, almost impulsive, but it left Jace stunned. The coworkers erupted into laughter and whispers as Rubena hurried away, her scales dark with embarrassment. The rumor spread like wildfire. By the end of the day, the entire office was buzzing about the “new couple.” Rubena, once seen as a looming threat, was now the subject of playful teasing. The “black dragon” had a heart after all. When Rubena found Jace later, she looked both relieved and mortified. “Well, it worked, didn’t it?” she said, her voice trembling. Jace managed a nervous smile. “Yeah, I guess it did. But… kissing me? That was a bold move.” “I panicked,” Rubena admitted. “But… thank you. For going along with it.” Jace nodded, his heart skipping a beat as she offered him a small, genuine smile. For the first time, he saw her not as a monster or a mystery, but as someone trying to navigate a world that didn’t quite understand her. “Did you happen to see where I ranked?” he asked. “38,” Rubena said uncharacteristically meekly. “Out of 50 huh… guess I couldn’t expect to be higher.” “I’ll uh… look for some uh… good ideas for things to do as a ‘couple’,” Rubena said hurrying back to her desk. “Y-yeah, me too.” As he returned to his desk, Jace couldn’t help but wonder what he’d gotten himself into. But for the first time in a long while, the office didn’t feel quite so mundane.