Acacia x Carnage

Carnage was usually perfectly content with his nest. It was small, tucked safely inside Viscera's shop where his little body could disappear from sight whenever he wanted. It was comfortable, familiar, and, most importantly, it gave him an excellent place from which to watch everything happening around him. He had never seen much reason to put effort into anything more elaborate. His nest served its purpose, and Carnage was not the sort of dragon who wasted energy simply for the sake of doing something. But Acacia had caught his attention in a way that made him reconsider that habit. He had noticed how often she carried plants with her, constantly collecting flowers, vines, and interesting little pieces of greenery before carefully taking them elsewhere. He had also noticed which flowers she seemed particularly fond of, the ones she lingered around before gathering them and the ones that appeared most often in the bundles she carried to Midnight. Carnage remembered all of it.

The next time Acacia left with Kaida, Carnage stayed behind. Once the shop had settled into quiet, he slipped outside and found a secluded patch of earth where he could work without interruption. His plant magic spread through the soil, and almost immediately tiny shoots began pushing their way toward the surface. Carnage watched them carefully, guiding their growth with deliberate movements. Vines emerged next, twisting around one another as he directed them into a broad foundation. He coaxed them upward, weaving them together into a rounded structure with a low entrance and a spacious center. He wanted it to be comfortable, but he also wanted it to be impressive. The vines continued growing beneath his magic until they formed a sturdy nest, its interior lined with soft moss and broad leaves. Carnage carefully adjusted every part, occasionally stepping back to inspect his work before returning to make another change. He wasn't simply allowing the plants to grow wherever they pleased. He was shaping them.

Then came the flowers.

Carnage had been paying attention.

He remembered the plants Acacia collected most often and the blossoms she seemed to handle with the greatest care. One by one, he encouraged those flowers to grow around the nest. Some climbed along the woven walls, hanging down in colorful clusters between the leaves. Others grew around the entrance, framing it naturally with blossoms and curling vines. Carnage guided several long stems into decorative patterns, making them wind around the outer edge of the nest without obstructing the opening. He filled the interior with smaller flowers and soft greenery, creating a comfortable bed of moss beneath them. When he finally stepped back, the little dragon stared at his creation with his enormous eyes. The simple patch of earth had been transformed into a living garden, with the nest sitting in its center as though it had always belonged there. Yet Carnage wasn't quite satisfied. He stared at the middle for several moments before producing one final cluster of flowers, carefully placing them where they would be impossible to miss.

Then he waited.

When Acacia eventually returned, Carnage immediately noticed her approach. He remained near the nest as she drew closer, watching her reaction without making a sound. Her attention was caught almost immediately by the sudden explosion of greenery. She moved toward it cautiously, inspecting the vines and flowers while Carnage stayed perfectly still. He had created traps and defensive displays before, things designed to make others underestimate him until it was too late, but this was entirely different. There was nothing threatening about this place. It was simply something beautiful that he had made because he wanted Acacia to have it.

When she finally stepped into the nest, the vines gently shifted beneath her weight, settling around her as though they had been grown specifically to hold her. Carnage watched as she explored the flowers surrounding her, his tail curling slowly around his feet. The plants she liked were there, arranged among the moss and greenery, and the whole nest was surrounded by enough living growth to make it feel secluded without becoming difficult to enter. Acacia had always preferred being around plants, and now she had an entire little garden waiting for her.

Carnage settled beside the entrance, his black eyes remaining fixed on her. He didn't need her to understand exactly how much work had gone into it. He didn't need some grand reaction or acknowledgment. He was perfectly happy simply watching her enjoy the result. For a dragon who was usually lazy unless something actually required his attention, Carnage had spent a remarkable amount of effort creating something that served no practical purpose at all.

And somehow, seeing Acacia comfortably surrounded by the flowers made every bit of that effort worthwhile.