Seven Days of Summer – 2023: Day One

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This is a new series!  All stories associated with the Dragons will now be listed under this series!

Title: Dragone Tales: Butt Napkins My Lord
Author: Bj Jones
Rating: M
Summary: Mushu was the only one who could help Nathan with his predicament.
Author’s Note: This was inspired by a simple wall plaque which can be found at the end of the story.
2nd Author’s Note:  You may notice a theme for my participation in this year Seven Days.

By the time Nathan returned to the main Clan home, he felt like death warmed over. Considering he had actually faced death on a few occasions, he had intimate knowledge. He stepped into the home, calling out for Kensei. When there was no answer, he shockingly realized no one was home.

Which was odd, considering it was rare for the place to be empty. Add in that one of the main Clan rules – was never to leave Mushu alone.

Ever.

He wasn’t even sure where Mushu was hiding. Sometimes he preferred his giant oversized ‘dog’ bed, having a few of them scattered around the house. Other times he liked to lay out in the tall grass and stare up at the stars. The two of them had spent many nights doing just that to calm Nathan’s nerves.

Nathan thought about having a quick look around for the Dragon, when his stomach cramped to the point he cried out in pain, leaning against the nearest wall to steady himself, and breathe through the pain. Willing his body to cooperate until he got to a bathroom.

He could feel Katsumoto’s worry through the Bond, but at this moment he really didn’t give a shit. He was in pain, getting sicker by the minute, and he knew the next few hours were going to suck.

Ever since he was a kid, he had an issue with milk. He swore that just sniffing a glass of milk was enough to set his stomach into a frenzy. He avoided milk products as an adult, and as the years progressed, he learned that he was lactose intolerant, and that didn’t change when he was Turned. The staff and cooks had always made sure that if a meal was served with cream, cheese, or milk products they had a special dish for him. Now they substituted the milk products with Almond Milk for his meals, giving him a taste of the creamier dishes without the long stay in the nearest bathroom, feeling like death warmed over.

There were times when they were out, that he didn’t always check ingredients, followed by moments when he did and was ignored. Of course, that didn’t take into account that some people were just assholes.

Katsumoto was the face of their business. He had built the tech empire in the 1960’s and staved off hostile takeovers from larger corporations over the decades, survived the dotcom craze and crash, outwitted American Investors, and even at one point politely told Stark that they would gladly do business, but they weren’t being bought out.

His Mate worked hard to navigate political pressures, along with staying in line with Japanese cultures and traditions. In the past few years, Katsumoto had been more open in the fact his partner was a male, an American on top of it, which had hurt some investments, and irritated the board to no end. They grumbled out of Nathan’s hearing range, but forgot he was Head of Security for the company. So, he knew way more than they thought.

Plus, his nephew was an International Spy, and his nephew’s Mate was an International Hacker, who enjoyed screwing with bigoted idiots. Which meant that their security system in place at their Tokyo offices was top notch, and Nathan knew all about the dealings, backstabbing’s, and closed door meetings.

Once it was realized they weren’t going to scare Nathan away, or run Katsumoto off the board, they became petty bastards. It was death by a thousand cuts, and tonight was the last cut. The board called for an end of the fiscal year dinner – spouses included. They were suspicious, but knew they had to play the game. It wasn’t the first time Nathan had played the wife, having dressed the part for many years before the Second World War. Now if he dressed in the full gear, it was for a night of hot sex, not to appease sexist bigoted assholes.

He knew it was going to be a bad night, when he wasn’t seated next to his husband, but with the wives. Who had no idea he spoke Japanese by the variety of snide comments they were making, but that was nothing new. Though he knew the night was going to truly suck, when the garlic cheese bread came out, along with the cheese platter for an appetizer. Nathan glanced over to Katsumoto who frowned, then pointedly asked their host if he forgot that Nathan was lactose intolerant, as he mentioned it when the dinner was being planned. The host was a horrible actor, and the gleam in his eye as he glanced at Nathan was enough to know how the evening was going to turn out.

Nathan was able to work his way around the garlic bread, didn’t pour any salad dressing onto the salad, but he was stuck with the main course, shrimp linguine in a cream sauce. He ate enough to be polite, but left most of it on the plate, and to add insult to injury – dessert was cheesecake. At that moment he hated every member of the board and was going to let Luther do his thing.

By the time the lattes hit the table, he was already feeling ill, and it was at least a two-hour train ride back to the house. When the board members decided to have drinks and a cigar on the patio, he took the moment to inform his Mate he was leaving.

‘I know you can’t come.’ Nathan whispered harshly. ‘And I know this isn’t your fault, but right now I hate everyone.’

‘I’ll call Kensei to make sure you have everything you need.’ He cupped Nathan’s cheek, not caring if anyone saw them. ‘I’ll be home as quickly as I can.’

Three hours later, Nathan found himself truly alone, sitting on the toilet in their on-suite bathroom, cursing every fucking one of those assholes. He was thankful he was a Vampire, or he would’ve ended up in the hospital. He knew feeding would help, but he didn’t have the energy to get to the blood stash, his phone was dropped somewhere in the bedroom so couldn’t even call for help, and to make matters worse – he just ran out of toilet paper.

He eyed the shower which was far enough away to be inconvenient.

There was a loud thud, followed by crashing, and the shattering of glass. Well, it seemed Mushu had woken up, or the house was being raided. Honestly, Nathan didn’t care which of the two it was, he sure as hell wasn’t cleaning up the mess.

There was a reason they had set the rule that no one left Mushu alone in the house. He didn’t know exactly how old Mushu was, and at times he truly came across as the distinguished old wise Dragon. Then there were days he was a mix between a toddler and an overgrown puppy.

“My humoom.”

“Not now Mushu.” He was thankful he had gotten past any shyness decades ago, or he would have found the idea of a Dragon’ sticking his head into the bathroom, while he sat on the toilet naked, shitting everything out of his system, horribly embarrassing.

“Don’t smell right.”

No shit.

Wait.

“Not feeling well, I ended up having milk.” Mushu understood his milk intolerance. The last time he had been sick, the Dragon had fretted to the point Katsumoto had to put him outside.

“Need anything. I get it for you.”

Nathan looked up and gave the Dragon a small smile. “Thanks, but …”

Mushu pushed the door open, to get his head into the bathroom and took stock of the situation. He then backed out and ran off. Nathan heard their door slam, and miraculously nothing came off the walls. He could hear crashing around, something was differently broken, and some very colorful cursing. The Dragon learned to curse from Marco, and that’s the story Nathan was sticking to.

A few moments later Mushu’s long tail slid into the room, on the tip was at least three rolls of toilet paper. “Your butt napkins, My Lord.”

He grabbed all three, beyond grateful … when what Mushu said registered.

“What did you say?” He glanced over to the Dragon who now had his head in the bathroom, his long body filling up the bedroom. Mushu wasn’t bulky like some of the other Dragons, but he was long and took up a lot of space. Like Toothless and Tiny Terror he was small enough to run through the house – of course their main home was designed for him to do that.

“I got your butt napkins.” He gestured towards the toilet paper, with a clear proud expression.

The laughter escaped, followed by a groan and more cramping, but he really didn’t care as the laughter had taken over. God, he loved that, Dragon. He heard Mushu once again leave, more crashing, this time metal screeching and loud enough bang, that he was surprised Kensei didn’t appear out of thin air wondering what was happening to ‘his’ house. Part of him wondered where the hell the Caretaker was, but at the moment he was beyond fucks to give.

He could feel Katsumoto worry along with warmth. Appreciating the assurance, but at the same time he hated everyone, except the Dragon. He understood his Mate’s position, having to cater to the Board, but there were times he just wished he went full on protective Mate mode.

Nathan sighed, then gingerly left the toilet for the shower. It didn’t take too long for the water to heat up, and damn did it feel good. Standing wasn’t quite an option but there were advantages of the rain features. After a good ten minutes under the hot spray, he was able to get to his feet with the use of the bench and handrails. He pushed the door open only to come to a complete stop staring at Mushu who had wiggled his way fully into the bathroom. The Dragon stood on his hind legs, using the strong tail to keep his balance.

“Your fluids, My Lord.” He held out a silver tray that looked a bit scratched and dented. Nathan didn’t want to know how he got a hold of one of the good silver platters. Nathan couldn’t help the smile, at the sight of Mushu holding the tray delicately, a white dish towel over his arm like a good Butler. On top of the tray was a couple of bottles of water, some Gatorade, and a packet of blood. That explained the metal screeching he heard, the fridge was tucked into the pantry and not the easiest to get to let alone open for a creature that doesn’t have thumbs.

He stepped out of the shower, slipping slightly on the pool of water. Mushu somehow moved forward to steady him, though had his own juggling act not to lose all of his hard found goodies.

“Thank you.”

“Stay!” Mushu wiggled backwards, after a few moments he heard the tray and bottles landing on the bed. The Dragon then scurried into the bathroom, holding out a claw. “I help.”

Nathan gripped the claw and the two slowly shuffled their way out of the bathroom. There was one of Katsumoto’s robe half laying on the bed, he glanced over to see the closet in shambles. He slipped on the robe, taking in his Mate’s scent, feeling calmer than he had all night. He climbed onto the bed, moving the silver tray to the foot, though grabbed the blood packet and downed it, not caring if it was cold. He left one water bottle on the tray as it was leaking from a tear on the top, likely from Mushu’s claws. The second one he cracked open and downed it, followed by the Gatorade.

Snagging his pillow and pulling it to him, he settled into the middle of the bed. Mushu’s tail flicked around to the wall and turned off the lights, as the Dragon climbed onto the bed, turned around at least three times, tried to fluff the blankets, then flopped onto the bed completely curling around his humoon.

Both were asleep in seconds.

***

Katsumoto had been on the phone the whole trip back to the Clan home. He had sent messages out to Blossom, Sifu, and Luther – Nathan wasn’t the only one who kept close contact with the International Hacker, who had cackled way too much when Katsumoto asked him to do whatever he needed to do to bring down specific members of his Board.

It was time he stopped catering to old traditions, and reminded the Board that he owned the company. He had stood back for too long, letting them get away with their comments and dealings. He tried to ease them into a more modern way of thinking, to leave behind gender conformity, along with their homophobic and xenophobic tendencies. Some days it seemed to work, then days like today, it was obvious they were set in their ways.

After Nathan left, he had to listen to the ‘older’ Board members complain how inappropriate it was for him to leave early, and Katsumoto should find a much more suited partner.

‘Would you be happier if he was a Japanese Male or an American Woman?’ He asked, startling all of them into silence. ‘My relationship is none of your business. As it’s none of mine, that most of you have mistresses, gambling problems, and at least a few of your wives are alcoholics but understandable considering the amount of porn that was discovered on work your computers was astonishing. Oh, by the way, you might have wanted to mention that Nathan is fluent in Japanese, so any and all insults were heard clearly.’

And with that he set his drink down, gave them a small bow, turned on his heel, and left the blustering bigoted assholes. There were a couple of chuckles from the further corner, where two of the youngest board members stood watching the spectacular. They had been the only ones who asked with sincere concern about Nathan, as far as Katsumoto was concerned there were going to be a few promotions coming.

It took way too long to get a ride to the station, adding insult to injury he had missed the train and had to wait an hour for the next. By the time he settled into his seat, he was five hours behind his Mate. He wasn’t surprised he couldn’t reach Nathan, but he was disturbed that he couldn’t reach anyone else, especially Kensei.

Katsumoto’s concern went to anger, when he arrived at the house to find no one was home. The doors had been locked, security set, but the only person he could sense in the house was his Mate, and the Dragon. He was going to have a lot of words with everyone tomorrow, there was a reason they didn’t leave Mushu alone, and the devastation he was seeing was one of those reasons.

The storage closet was wrecked, one door was hanging on by a hinge, the other was on the floor. There were rolls of toilet paper scattered down the hallway, and as he walked gingerly over the damage, he swore there were a few in the living room area.

The kitchen wasn’t much better.

The serving trays were scattered, most of them will need repairs. The drawer that held the kitchen towels was ripped out and hanged pathetically by a thread with all the towels falling onto the floor. As he turned to leave the kitchen, he heard the drawer give up the ghost and crash to the floor. The storage closet was flooded from the damaged water bottles, the water was a unique color of lime green since most of the Gatorade packages were turned upside down and leaking.

The fridge that held the blood was likely unrepairable. It had been pulled out of its cubby hole and laid on its side. The door had been ripped off. The packets were neatly stalked as if someone took extra care.

Katsumoto would defend Mushu to the death, as everything destroyed or broken was from Mushu doing what he could to help Nathan. He knew Mushu trusted and loved his Mate, more than anyone else in the Clan. He never quite understood why after all the centuries he knew the Dragon, that Mushu had decided to imprint on Nathan, but he was thankful for it.

When Nathan had been taken in the war, they had to send Mushu after those who betrayed them. The Dragon needed an outlet of his anger, and that was the best they had. The Dragon also hated that it had taken years for them to get back into Japan, after rescuing their clan members from the camps.

If they had thought he was protective before, it was nothing compared to after the war.

Katsumoto followed the destruction up the back stairs, ignoring the few tilted frames, shattered objects on the floor – though he hoped that wasn’t a true Ming Vase that was in pieces at the top of the stairs. He stepped into their room, surprised there wasn’t too much damage, well besides the closet, but seeing his Mate curled up in his robe, was enough to pay for a new closet.

Not wanting to disturb either of them, he made his way to the bathroom. He stripped out of his suit and put them in the dry-cleaning basket, then in nothing but a t-shirt and boxers proceeded to clean, so the bathroom would be fresh for his Mate when he woke up. After it was finished to his satisfaction, he stripped out the last of his clothes, and took a quick shower.

The sound of snoring followed him as he walked through the bedroom and made his way through the up ended closet. It took a few moments to find a t-shirt and pajama bottoms, before he made his way back to the bed. Mushu was completely wrapped around Nathan, one eye open letting Katsumoto know there was no way that he was getting near his ‘humoon’.

He patted the Dragon, leaned over and kissed Nathan’s hair then found a spot at the end of the bed, after he moved the bent tray and leaky water bottle. He wiggled his hand under Mushu, and found his Mate’s hand, and fell asleep with their hands clutching tightly.

***

Katsumoto woke up with Nathan curled into him and they were more situated in the middle of the bed. He lifted his head to see Mushu curled in his oversized dog bed, which Katsumoto had custom ordered, and paid handsomely for. To this day he swears the poor online person still had no idea why he wanted a set that big. The one in their room was big enough for him and Nathan, so it was perfect for Mushu, and as someone who ended up in the ‘dog bed’ a few times, it was very comfortable. It was Katsumoto and the Dragon’s compromise of who got to share the bed.

There was a secondary one in Nathan’s office/meditation room.

A third was in the main living area, and that sometimes got moved to the dining room.

“Good morning.” Katsumoto kissed his Mate’s forehead. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I got run over by a truck.” He moaned and curled further into his Mate. “I’m done.”

“I am sorry, my love.” He held him close. “Sorry I had too much hope they would change. I’ve let Luther off his leash, and just checked the morning news.” Katsumoto held up his phone working it with one hand, as refused to let go of his Mate. “Seems two of my Board Members were embezzling, I don’t remember them doing it, but well they are now. Oh, and the one who shall not be named, but thought making you sick was fun entertainment, has charges being brought up on child porn. I did actually check in with Luther, come to find out what we saw on the work computers was nothing compared to his home ones.”

Nathan shifted enough to blearily look at the phone. “Damn. The guy was an asshole, no idea he was a perverted asshole.”

“Our lawyers are having a field day doing the whole ‘we worked with authorities on their investigations’ and one was channeling his inner cartoon Mushu and saying that these men deserved to be cursed, along with their ancestors and cow.” It was quite a dramatic serious moment that had him snickering to no end.

“And where is my protective Dragon?”

“Sound asleep on his bed.” Both shifted to see Mushu laid out on his back, one paw twitching. “Kensei finally showed up two hours ago … “

‘This is all your mess to clean up.’ Katsumoto stared at his Caretaker, not sure how menacing it was considering his sleep deprivation, he had only been asleep for a couple of hours. ‘You left him alone, and he did everything he could to help Nathan.’

Kensei deflated instantly. ‘I am sorry.’ He bowed respectfully. ‘There was a crisis in town, and it took longer than expected. Mushu was outside napping when I left.’

‘Take the opportunity to figure out how we can make things, either more Dragon proof or accessible. Considering the situation, he got all the things Nathan needed.’

‘Well, the overgrown bastard loves him. He would let the rest of us suffer.’

‘And laugh at our expense.’ Katsumoto gave the Caretaker a smile. ‘Round up who else was supposed to be here, get them to help you. I’m going to take the one tray that is somewhat decent and bring up more blood, and substance for Nathan.’

‘Right bastards! Every last one of them.’ Sometimes Kensei couldn’t hide the Englishman.

“Maybe it was good he was gone. I really didn’t want to see anyone. I hated every human at that moment, so it was good that my companion was a Dragon.”

“‘Cause my humoon!’

“Go back to sleep, Dragon!” Katsumoto called over his head, laughing lightly when he heard the snuffling then snoring. “How about some time, just you and me?”

“Last time we did that a Board Member saw us at the theatre, which started this whole thing.” Nathan pointed out, though, liked the idea of a small trip. “How about we ignore the Hunters and go visit my nephew, I hear sloths are good for therapy.”

“Dragons good for therapy!” Mushu’s head popped onto the bed. “We can eat the person annoying you.”

“He has a point.” Katsumoto reached back to scratch Mushu’s nose. “But I think a trip to Sanctuary wouldn’t be too hard to arrange. We’ll just have to sneak out and leave Wales behind.”

“Speaking of the overprotective bastard, where is he?” Nathan asked slightly suspiciously.

“Having way too much fun with Luther.”

He snorted, then curled further into his Mate. “How about naps, then later a bath and more naps.”

“Sounds like the perfect day.”

“By the way, we need more Butt Napkins.” Nathan yawned and fell promptly to sleep leaving Katsumoto completely confused.

***

And that is why there now is a sign in their bathroom, with a red dragon holding out a roll of toilet paper saying, ‘Your Butt Napkins My Lord’.