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Tiamat and Marduk.

Marduk and Tiamat.

They had always been together and would always be together. They completed each other or at the very least she completed him.

Marduk loved every part of Tiamat. He loved the sensation of running his hands over the dragon's smooth scales, the way she would curl her tail around him as they drifted through the constant darkness, and the warm protective embrace of her wings. She was powerful, graceful, and flew with finesse he would never match. The dragon was truly beautiful and even more so when she created. The way her sterling eyes shimmered and her scarlet paws emanated cerulean bands of ethereal light before her thoughts became life absolutely enthralled him.

The creations where every bit as wonderful as the dragon. She named everything and every name was as unique as the creation. From small shells that fit perfectly in her paws to giant worlds of fire and ice, the creations were marvelous. Medleys of liquids and gases, hots and colds, textures and smells were all at the dragons command. It was as simple as a few thoughts alongside shimmery eyes and glowing paws.

Compared to Tiamat, he was weak and insignificant. Human. It was not his destiny to create, but to destroy. Nothing came from his thoughts, nothing made his eyes shimmer, and nothing made his hands glow. Worst of all he destroyed everything she created. A simple touch or brush of his skin on her creations caused them to shatter into dying light. Even if he didn't touch the creations they always found their way back to him. Creations they long since left adrift in the void would vanish and their essence would rush back to him as he simply felt when their time had finished.

"Marduk love," Tiamat called from behind him.

He was too enamored with her latest creations and entrenched in thought. Before him was the sight of thousands of stars swirling in an endless vortex like debris stuck in a maelstrom of darkness. Ever since he had told Tiamat that stars were his favorite creation the dragon had taken a liking to filling the void with their presence. More recently she strung the stars together with her own worlds in giant invisible webs. Galaxies she called them. The creations stood as a beacon of light amongst the emptiness of the void.

For him the stars represented Tiamat, the light to his darkness. He wondered if he was responsible for that darkness and the emptiness they floated in. If before he could remember he simply destroyed everything, leaving Tiamat, the only thing his touch could not destroy, stranded with himself. The thought that he had trapped her sent ripples of guilt coursing through his body. Tiamat deserved so much more than the darkness he provided, she deserved creations being made for her. Eventually he would provide what she deserved, he would create something for the dragon.

"Marduk love, I have a gift," she called again.

But before he could turn and face Tiamat he felt the gift. Light pressure on both his shoulders pressed down before a familiar tingling sensation on his back as her gift undoubtedly exploded. A rush of ember and light flickered past his head before dimming into the void. The dragon laughed as she flew around to face him, her tail grazing his shoulders where the gift had touched. Whether she ignored his destruction or embraced it he did not know, but the dragon seemed happy enough to continue gifting her creations so he was happy enough to receive them. Tiamat's happiness was all that he cared about and if giving away her creations made the dragon happy it made him happy. It did not stop his vow to one day give her just as much as she gave him.

"Will you be giving me my gifts before I can even see them now?" Marduk grinned as he crossed his arms to pout.

She gasped. Her wings flared open, her muzzle went agape, and her ears splayed out underneath her horns as she feigned shock. "You did not see? Marduk love, I thought you enjoyed my creations."

"Only the ones I can see," he teased.

"Hm, what was that?" she questioned while slightly raising her nose. "Clearly you are not interested in your gift then. Perhaps I will go find someone else that would like to receive my gifts." Tiamat then turned and slowly drifted away from him but not without a slight tilt of her head to peek backwards. That blasted dragon was trying to playing him but she needed to put up a better front then that, there was no one else.

"Tiamat, are you going to make me beg?" Marduk cupped his hands together and extended both his arms as Tiamat looked back with a grin.

The dragon made no response but turned and let out soft rumbling laughs. Her wing extended forward and she craned her long neck so that she was hidden underneath the tan membrane. Dimmed blue light emanated from beneath the veil followed by a small rustle. However, Tiamat remained crouched in her position still letting out small fits of laughter.

Curiosity turned to slight agitation as he remembered the last time the dragon had been in that position. "I swear Tiamat if you spray anything at my face again I will never talk to you."

Silence.

She was being coy. Clearly proud of the newest creation. Giggling she reared her head so that only her eyes and horns peeked out from underneath the extended wing. Wide dilated eyes bore into the human and a huge smile plastered her partially hidden muzzle. Whatever she made it had to be something special _or_highly annoying. Suddenly her wing lifted and her forelegs surged forward. A blur of orange and white was catapulted at him. If only for a brief moment he saw what flew toward him. Tiamat had made sculptures of creatures before, often mixing in various human or dragon features in ice or stone, but this was something else entirely. It looked so... alive.

It was just a flash before its head hit the palm of his hand. As usual, her gift exploded into an assortment of colored light. Glowing strands of reds, oranges, and whites whirled around him before fading into tiny orbs of light that then flicked out.

"Fox!" Tiamat declared, throwing up her long neck and swishing her tail back and forth.

For the first time he did not know what to make of her creation. Tiamat was ecstatic and he wanted the dragon's happiness to be his happiness, but a tinge of fear rattled in his mind. If her creation was truly living she did not need his company anymore. He had to be sure. No sense getting worked up if the creation was just another statue.

"Tiamat was it like us, was it ali-"

"Yes!" The dragon crackled with glee jumping on the human and sending them adrift. A warm tongue attacked his grimacing face while her grip held him in place. Following her assault she let out a high pitch roar before jumping away only to shove her snout next to his face with expecting eyes.

He wanted to celebrate with the dragon and shower her with deserved praise. To create a living being mystified and awed Marduk, all he had to do was tell her. Despite the achievement his thoughts ran sour at the implication, and insecurities held his tongue. An icy grip tugged at his heart. When would she make another dragon to be with? How long before he was replaced and left to drift alone in the darkness? He could not suppress a small frown nor could he blame her. Why would she want everything she made destroyed by his touch? She would find more happiness without him. He should be happy that Tiamat could finally live without him. It still stung. Accepting his fate would be hard but he did not need to do it now.

"That's great Tiamat."

The dragon, however, had picked up on his reluctance and instantly her demeanor dropped. It was the first time he had been withdrawn about a gift and she was hurt. "It's okay if you do not like my creation Marduk. Don't feel forced to like everything I make," Tiamat said with a soft exhale.

It broke his heart to be the reason of her unhappiness. He was torn between admitting his darkened thoughts and letting the dragon discoverer the truth. Marduk did not want to spark the idea of replacing him. Lying would buy him more time with the dragon before she realized, but the longer he wrestled with his internal turmoil the worst the dragon looked. Sometimes Tiamat was unhappy with how her creations interacted or how places looked on her worlds when they explored them but unlike now, she was never truly sad. She had looked down to absentmindedly click her claws against scales. Neither knew how to proceed. He had no choice, they needed to bridge the gap he had created.

"Tiamat will you ever leave me?"

The dragon reeled back at the question. "Why would you ask me such a thing? What makes you think I would ever leave you?" She sounded more pained then he had ever known but small hints of anger shown through her tone. He was making things worst and at this point he looked down into the void not wanting to make eye contact. Tiamat deserved to know the truth even if it tore them apart.

"You could make someone better than me now. You don't need a human that destroys everything... you don't need me."

Instantly Tiamat embraced her human. "Marduk love, everything I make has been and always will be yours. You are the reason I make anything at all. Without you I would be lost and alone. I will never leave you even if you tried to make me leave. Nothing will ever keep us apart."

"Promise?" he whispered.

She pulled him even tighter before releasing him. "Promise. I would maul anyone that tried to ripe us apart. You are_my_ human." Giving him a quick lick she proceeded, "Now, what do you think of my fox?" Tiamat then drew up to cradle her paws almost like she did when holding him and called forth another fox. Its body structure resembled Tiamat as cerulean strands formed four legs and a long tail within her grasp. The large strands slimmed around the form before hair, not unlike his own, covered the creation in the oranges and whites he had seen earlier along with new hints of brown. The process stopped as the blue ribbons vanished and golden eyes peered into his own. After a brief moment the fox yapped at him before nuzzling the armored chest it was propped up against.

"Hey there little guy," Marduk said before holding out his hand out.

The fox sniffed at the outstretched hand, its nose bobbing lightly up and down. It made another yap before it licked the open palm. A flurry of light lit up the space between the pair and just like that the fox was gone, leaving him to stare at the empty space where the fox had been.

"It's even better than the stars," he murmured.

At that the dragon squealed. Her forelegs clenched his arms and she spun him in circles. All he could do was glance up to look at the dragon as she danced in jubilation. He smiled, her happiness really was his own. He loved this dragon.

"Marduk l want to do it here then," she blurted before releasing her grip. Tiamat was as unpredictable as ever.

"Do what exactly?"

Tiamat's whole body lit up with the dazzling ethereal bands of light. "I want to build a world with everything. Everything I have ever made!" A flick of her tail sent thousands of stars speeding away. "A world filled with alive creations." She grinned and beat her wings to send thousands more stars scattering in every direction. "And I don't want to drift any longer Marduk. I want to carve out our own space. Something we can call our own. A space filled with everything we could ever want. Not just some world to explore, not this time." Lashing her neck even more stars rushed forth. As the stars flew away and eventually settled into specks Tiamat returned to her crimson color. She gently closed her eyes and slowly inhaled before returning her gaze to him. "A home."

In every direction he could see stars and galaxies dotted the darkness. They glistened in a bubble of spattered celestial light. For the first time there was not just endless space and there was not just emptiness. Tiamat sliced through the darkness that had enveloped both around him and in his mind. Marduk worked his mouth as he admired the feat, she never ceased to amaze him. This place really could be a home.

"I would like that Tiamat," he said as he went over to the dragon and wrapped his arms around her neck. "I really would like that."

"Then it's decided." With that the dragon opened her maw and blinding blue flames shot forth. The fire rapidly expanded and clumped together. The sight was strikingly similar to stars that Tiamat made but this one did not soar away. Stone, water, and ice rose from within the fiery mass, slowly consuming the flames. Vibrant shades of lush green vegetation ran across exposed earth and swirling clouds began to obscure portions of the planet. It was almost as if the world itself was alive. Waves fought rock and clouds drifted all while stars sparkled in the background.

"Our home. Eraden," declared Tiamat proudly.

***

It was rhythmic. Marduk laid across the back of the dragon, eyes shut, enjoying the light rise and fall of her breath as they floated above Eraden. Slowly he fluttered his eyes open to stare at the closest star. It was taking the dragon longer than usual, they had made five or six star rotations already. Tiamat currently flew facing Eraden occupied with making a new creation for their home. Gently he pushed up and off the dragon as to not disturb her. Complicated creations needed her concentration and he didn't want to agitate her. He certainly didn't want another lesson in rousing a creating dragon.

Marduk looked around at the twinkling stars before casting his gaze to Eraden. The stars had since faded from his favor, living creatures were far better. Watching the creations live and breathe brought a sense of relaxation. Creatures scampered, skittered, and played peacefully on the world below. The pair was no longer truly alone. Even if Tiamat wasn't able to fill the infinite void of darkness, it felt good filling just this section with happiness.

Sadly even living creations were not immune from fading. Even more so, they passed and came to him much faster than the stars, but it was part of the reason he loved them so much more. When their time came not only did their essence rush back to him but their lives. Flashes of Eraden, thoughts of interacting with other creations, and emotions were all wrapped in the essence. He felt their love for each other, for Eraden, and for Tiamat mixed with the sadness of losing their kin. It was the same sadness he held when watching them pass. Marduk had learned to accept the inevitable so he hoped they would too.

Wondering what the dragon was forming he turn to watch her. She was outstretched with her paws glowing and pointed toward Eraden. Not a single movement came from her tucked wings or curled tail. Eagerly he awaited her next creation, waiting for those wonderful blue bands that ensnared her paws to shoot out and fill Eraden with more unique creatures. Those bands flicked and twisted at the dragon's command. How he wished to control those bands and bring life. A small smile curved his lips up as he thought of creations he would make. From horned horses with wings to creatures born of tree bark his imagination screamed to be realized. Tiamat would make anything he desired but these were his ideas. When it was his turn he would make them for her. He just needed those beautiful cerulean bands.

Then it struck him! Marduk crackled with overwhelming joy. The idea might have been a long shot, but if it worked then he might be able to make something for his dragon. Tiamat had simply raised a brow at his outburst but otherwise kept her eyes close and concentrated on creating. That wouldn't do.

"My sweet dragon," he cooed before he flew over and tugged at one of her pinned ears.

A low growl rumbled from her throat as her eyes opened to glare at him. "I was almost done. Now I have start all over," she chide. Oh right, she had been creating. Perhaps he shouldn't have pulled on her sensitive ears. The excitement in potentially creating something had admittedly distracted him.

Gentle patting her twitching ear he tried to look as small and innocent as possible to the annoyed dragon. "Do you think I could help?" he asked softly. It must have helped as her demeanor perked at his question.

"Of course! What would you like me too make?"

He didn't exactly want her to make anything. "No what I mean... er, well what I want...," he stammered, not quite prepared to explain his intentions. Tiamat gave him a puzzled look as he gathered his thoughts into a coherent sentence. "Well, I was maybe thinking that perhaps you might just concentrate on the light bit," he said while gesturing around his hand, "and maybe I could tell it the creation bit."

The explanation only served to make her look even more puzzled then before. The whole idea was a stretch anyhow. He didn't need to set himself up for disappointment.

"It's okay. It was a stupid idea."

Despite the dismissal, his intentions must have registered with the dragon. With a few flaps of her wings she flew right behind him. Tiamat's scales brushed his arm as she held out her paw next to him. The familiar sight of glowing cerulean bands greeted him.

"Go ahead Marduk."

Reluctantly he touched her soft pad. Light entwined with his hand and the bands looped over his fingers before traveling to his wrist. Marduk knew exactly what he wanted to make. Tiamat had avoided both humans and dragons from her creations since they formed their home. He had silently thanked the dragon for her patience, still feeling uneasy about her falling in love with someone better. However, if he made humans she could make dragons. Their creations would be able to have the same love they shared.

His heart raced. "It will work and it will be my gift to you." While the statement was meant for the dragon it was also meant to center himself. It was his turn to finally give Tiamat something. He would finally be able to give the gift that she had forever given to him. It was time for him to concentrate but his hand quivered in her paw.

Tiamat lowered her nose into his hair and took a breath. "Be calm and breathe love. Think about every detail no matter how minute. Imagine it in our home. Moving. Talking. Thinking. Or how it will feel. Maybe its likes and dislikes. Anything really, once I have a solid enough grasp on what I want, it just becomes. Don't be disheartened if it doesn't come immediately, sometimes it's frustrating how long it takes to create. And... I will love you no matter what the outcome is," she reassured. He knew Tiamat was trying to tell him if it didn't work it was alright, but this would work, he knew it would.

Considering the dragon's advice it seemed easy enough to do. Marduk knew the most about humans after all. So he closed his eyes and imagined. He started thinking about his basic body shape in the same way the cerulean bands would first shape the form of a creation. He thought about his soft supple skin in comparison to the scaly hide that brushed against his back and the tuff of hair on his head. Wiggling his fingers and toes he concentrated on the movements of his body, on his dexterity that helped perfectly caress those scales and elicit rumbling purrs from his dragon. He moved on to the wide sweeping motions of his arms that would hook around Tiamat's neck and the crook of his own neck always waiting to be nuzzled. Concentrating on his heart, he imagined all the emotions he felt and emotions his humans would feel. Mostly he thought about the love that humans would have for the dragons Tiamat would make.

Timelessly the pair drifted above Eraden. Tiamat willing her powers into Marduk's hand. Both content in their efforts of creation. Until he felt an unusual sensation. It started as just a few pricks in his fingertips but immediately the feeling ripped up through his arm, not painful but jarring. His eyes bolted open just in time to see the cerulean ribbons dance in front of him before spiraling down to Eraden.

He made humans!

"Woohoo!" His arms shot over his head as he flew forward to get a closer look at his_gift. They were tiny specks on the surface of Eraden but he felt them growing. Becoming, just like creations Tiamat made. He could finally give the dragon gifts too. "I did it, I actually did it!" he shouted. This was better than the stars and the living creations combined. Finally being able to give Tiamat something. It wouldn't have mattered what the creation was, anything to give to his dragon. _Is this how Tiamat felt giving him gifts?

He beamed, "They're all yours my dragon. I hope you love them."

A stillness filled the air. The dragon had not made a sound.

"Tiamat?" he asked softly. Peeling his eyes away from his creations he turned to look at the dragon.

His eyes went wide. A huge fracture emanating light blue energy covered her scales stemming from her still outstretched paw. It cracked alongside the inside of her arm and tapered off across her chest. The light was seeping from underneath her scales and fully covered her paw. She stood motionless and frozen, her head in an empty gaze that peered past Marduk.

"Tiamat!"

Immediately Marduk flew to his love before running his hand over the glaring light. Small white fire erupted from open parts of the wound and sent Marduk into a frenzy. He quickly tried to touch the fire and send it away. Desperately he patted the flames pleading for them to vanish. More fire erupted.

"Tiamat! Tiamat answer me!"

Audible snaps came from the dragon's chest, yet she made no indication of movement. The wound was growing. It now trailed up into her neck and alongside her flank. White fire grew to rampage along her exposed arm. The light continued to fissure along the cracks and grooves of her scales showing no signs of relenting.

"TIAMAT!" he screeched, hoping to somehow reach her. Marduk flew up and put his hands on either side of her head to look into her eyes, they were dull and glazed over. No sign of her usual sparkle, no sign of life. "No no no no NO! Tiamat!" Streams poured from Marduk's eyes. He slumped his shoulders so that his body wrapped around the front of her head. Not knowing of a way to help, he just cried into her scales, hoping that she would return. He cried as the cracks of light ran up into her face and he cried as the small wisps of white fire followed the growing cracks. He was so useless, even when his dragon needed him the most. In between his whimpers and cries a low guttural sound caught his attention. She was trying to speak.

"Ma-r..."

"Yes Tiamat speak to me, speak to me!"

"Lo-"

And the dragon erupted. A wave of pure fiery white light both consumed his vision and sent him plummeting toward Eraden. He tried to fly back, tried to return to Tiamat, but he couldn't control his decent. Again and again he tried to drift back to his dragon, to get back to his love. Yet he still fell. Wind beat against his face and shoulders as he remained powerless in his decent, his senses completely overwhelmed.

Everything burned, inside and out, pain raked his body. Each breath of air stung his chest, a constant ringing blared in his mind, and his muscles had all gone stiff. Still, Marduk couldn't focus on the pain, not now, Tiamat needed him. He pushed his eyes open but saw nothing. Rapid flashes of black and yellow drowned out the world around him. He needed to do something before he hit Eraden, destroying all of Tiamat's hard work. Again, he willed himself to fly - nothing.

Marduk peered into the flashing light hoping to make out anything. The edges of his vision were beginning to return but not enough to distinguish his surroundings. While he tried to focus on his vision a dragon roared. It was hard to distinguish over the rushing wind but it was there. Tiamat's roar! "Tiamat I'm here, help!" he screamed. Which only caused him to choke on rushing air as he frantically tried to breathe. His lungs ached with each wheeze and added to his insurmountable pain. Coughing and gagging he pushed through the agony as his vision began to recover. The darting black and yellow light had settled into a grey film, but he could finally see.

There she was, right beside him!

Something was wrong. Tiamat was falling as well. Her wings thrashing uselessly in the wind, her tail flailed wildly, and her legs galloped in place. He wanted to scream and yell at her, tell her to fly, to use her wings but he could barely get in a half breath. The ringing in his head grew louder and his whole body began to feel like stone. He was so cold. Looking toward the rapidly approaching planet he was about to destroy, the grey cloud that distorted his vision began to lift. The familiar and vibrant colors of Eraden reached his vision.

Turning to look at Tiamat, dread sunk in. The dragon beside him was not Tiamat. Jerking in the wind was a dragon with viridian scales. All at once reality hit and Marduk became acutely aware of the situation. Roars were echoing all around him. Dozens of dragons of every color were falling with him. They, too, thrashed and spun unwieldly in the air like the dragon next to him. Their cries overtook the howling wind and rattled his very being. He didn't care about them. He needed to find crimson scales, to find Tiamat, but everything was becoming distant. It was like being cast down a dark tunnel slowly drifting away from the light. The wind and roars where still there but the constant ringing in his mind grew unbearable. He clutched violently at his head pleading for the noise to stop. He couldn't concentrate on anything else but the pain. Getting a single gasp seared his throat.

Fading from consciousness, Marduk only thought of one thing.

Tiamat.

---

And scene! The next chapters already partially written but It's not what you're expecting so prepare for a 180. Let me know what you think - no really - It's the first thing I've written so let me know the good and the bad.