"Get back!"Lancelot bellowed, shoving them both over and down as dragon fire poured down right where they'd all been standing.
Lancelot grunted into the dirt, blood dripping from his nose where it had taken the brunt of the landing.Above him, Merlin was holding back more fire, pouring sweat from the heat of it.Lancelot swept his gaze around, and sighed in relief as he saw Arondight.Snatching the sword up, he heaved to his feet and called up his magic.
"My shield won't hold much longer," Merlin bit out.
"Its fire won't last forever either," Lancelot said."When it pauses, drop your shields, and I'll take a turn.My water—"
"Will turn to hot steam and just make this whole situation worse," drawled a familiar voice from behind them."Not every problem can be solved by drowning it, fish boy."
Lancelot's breath caught in his throat, but before he could say a word, or even turn, something dark and quick surged past them, beyond Merlin's barriers, dodging dragon fire and vanishing from sight.
It was only then that Lancelot realized his back was bare.Somewhere in the scuffle, he'd lost Caliburn.He could see the sword nowhere.
Had the sneaking suspicion that it had been returned to its owner.
He'd barely finished the thought when an unholy scream rent the air, the dragon fire stopping like a breaker killing a circuit.Another scream, and as the smoke cleared, Lancelot could see the dragon thrashing about, slit open from the base of its jaw down to its stomach, spilling blood and ichor everywhere, dislodging boulders that came crashing down atop the dead dragon.
As the dragon finally ceased to move, slaughtered like it had been little more than a toy when Lancelot would have struggled bitterly and come out the worse for it, the wind swept away the last of the dust and smoke.
Revealing David, who might be unfamiliar in appearance, but wore a smirk Lancelot knew well."Hello, fish boy.Madman."
Lancelot rolled his eyes."You don't look like you.We do.Why are you different?"
David blinked at him, then at themself."Oh, right.Hang on."Their eyes went distant as they clearly went into their settings.A moment later the avatar blurred out in a mess of faded colors—then sharpened again, like a lens being adjusted.
To reveal a figure tall and willowy, with soft brown, olive-toned skin and black hair far, far longer than was practical for a knight.They had once described themself as not simply male nor female, but rather both and neither.Eyes the color of a midnight sky, and freckles that had disarmed many, a long scar down their face from the fight that had won them Arthur's eternal friendship.Caliburn was held lightly in one hand, and that damnable smirk was back in place.
"Mordred," Merlin said with a smile."Still an arrogant upstart, I see."
"Dred," Lancelot said, closing the space between them to hug them tightly."It's so good to see you again."
"And you," Dred replied gruffly, hugging back just as tight.Drawing back, they looked at Merlin."What in the world have you done, Merlin of the Wild?"
Merlin laughed."A lot.Let's get off this fucking mountain and we'll talk."
Meetings
They met downtown by one of Lancelot's favorite food trucks, where he was more than happy to let Merlin foot the bill for enough falafel to feed a small army.
"So where do you live?"Lancelot asked as he sat down with his ridiculously overflowing tray.
"Slums, where else?"Dred replied, wolfing down food like they hadn't eaten in at least a week, which was entirely likely.God knew Lancelot had been there a time or twenty."I live in the squalors north of the city, by the slop houses.You?"
"South, in the hives.Before that, the garden squalors.Dad died, got a settlement."
Dred grunted.
Merlin frowned unhappily."Neither of you should be living in such abominable conditions.If anyone should, it's me."
"It's true no one wanders a forest in a mad haze just this side of naked subsisting on roots and berries like you, Merlin," Dred said with a grin."Still, having you amidst all the guzzlers will give us an enormous advantage."
"As long as all of you come stay with me until we can get proper living situations sorted for you," Merlin replied firmly."It's not safe to have us so scattered anyway.Quit your jobs.This is our only job until that thrice-cursed bastard is dead once and for all."
"Yes, lord and master," Dred said dryly.
Merlin lazily flipped them off while working a mouthful of falafel.
As in the game and the past, Dred's hair was obscenely long, down to their ass, even braided as it currently was, dark like a raven's wing.They rarely wore it loose, but it had always been a sight worth remembering when they did.
