Private Finished By The Power Of Hot Chocolate

Shul was actually relieved when Sark offered to slow down. His two jackets had been sapping his originally pretty low stamina.
"Really? Well, in that case."
Shul smiled gratefully and slipped off one of his jackets, tying it to his waist. It became chillier instantly but not so much that it bothered Shul. Besides, the hot chocolate in his hands was still nice and warm.
"I'm actually not in the best shape. Maybe I should work out."
Shul said, half jokingly, and flexed his thin arm. Shul let out a small laugh at how stupid he must've looked.

Now that it was okay Shul began walking at his own pace, taking in turn small and in turn short steps, wandering around. The sand made his coordination a bit woozy and occasionally he swayed to the side dangerously much. And when Sark called him mr. dragon Shul laughed heartily.
"Oh, please don't call me that. I'm a shame to my species. But I do enjoy issuing a nice challenge, almost as much as accepting one."
Shul grinned at Sark, enjoying himself.

Shul saw the shells too but rather than them he enjoyed looking at Sark's reaction. Shul chuckled and crouched down next to him, now looking at the shells.
"It's been around 30 years since I saw a shell on the beach and they're pretty cool. But you're looking at them like they're a treasure or such."
Shul laughed, his tone wasn't mocking. He just sounded pleasantly surprised and amused.

Shul looked at the shells in Sark's hands, smiling a little. He was so strange, and Shul really appreciated strange people. It made Shul wonder what had made Sark like he was. When Sark dropped the shells and stood up Shul stayed down for a second more. He picked up the shells Sark had held and put them in his pocket.

When Sark spouted the soppy metaphor only one thing popped to Shul's mind.
"That is so cute of you. But why make a metaphor if its not a soppy one."
Shul said and laughed a little, and again his tone was not mocking.
"I've only known you for a few days but I got a feeling you will never fail to surprise Sark."

Shul followed after Sark, quietly snickering. It sounded a little awkward when he said 'Shall we continue?' like that.
"Oh yes, we shall."
Shul said back and grinned, poking at Sark arm a bit when he caught up to him. Shul was about to say something else when he saw a crab on top of a rock ahead. It was a big one.
"Look, a crab! I wonder if it's edible."
Shul said and walked a bit faster but near the rock he slipped on something under the sand. Shul started falling, his head on a collision course with the rock. He stuck out his arm so his head wouldn't be cracked open if he fell but his hand would probably get a bruise or two.

As Shul was falling he could see the angle in which he was falling. Shul had sharp senses and fast mind and he knew as he fell that it wouldn't take long for him to hit the rock. Which was why he was even more surprised when Sark actually caught him in the middle of his fall. Well, first came the surprise and then slight embarrassment. Shul was a dragon, for crying out loud. He shouldn't be falling all over the place getting caught like some, well, damsel. Shul couldn't think of a better word at that moment.
Shul was also surprised, and flustered, at how gentle Sark was. But when Sark put him down and bombarded Shul with questions embarrassment was replaced with slight confusion and worry.
"I'm okay Sark, I'm totally okay. Small wounds and cuts heal in few minutes with me anyway."
Shul said with a calm, gentle tone and he smiled at Sark as he stood up, dusting his clothes.
"But boy, were you fast! Well, I knew you were fast but not that fast. I calculated I'd hit that rock in no time."
Shul peeked over at the rock, not wanting to imagine what would've happened if he was indeed a normal human. He looked at Sark and smiled gently.
"Thanks for saving me."

Shul was honored Sark had been so worried about him. He chuckled and puts his hands in his pockets, feeling the shells he had picked up just now.
"Thanks for looking after me but under the clumsiness I'm a dragon, more or less. So I'll pay you back in some form, believe me."
Shul lifted his hand and gave Sark's helmet a boop somewhere around where the nose would be, grinning.
Shul looked at Sark not only slightly amazed. He seemed embarrassed and Shul patted his shoulder, laughing.
"You're even more awesome than I thought. Way more than just shrugworthy."
Shul said and slowly smiled as he looked at Sark with new eyes. Well, not that Shul really changed his way of thinking about Sark. Sark was still Sark.
"I can just breathe very cold air. And I guess I'm soft. As a dragon, I mean."
Shul laughed and drank some cocoa as a cold gust of air blew on his face and fluffed his hair.
Shul noticed Sark stiffening when he thanked him. Shul automatically wanted to ask Sark what was wrong, to help him. But Shul didn't want to push him away, or make him clamp up. So instead Shul gave Sark's back a friendly push, leading him towards the rocks at the end of the beach strip.
"Let's see how many more times you'll save my sorry skin during this hanging out session. I also want to interrogate you a bit."
Shul sent a sneaky smile at Sark as it was Shul's turn to take the lead.
"First off, can you feel heat or cold? Or do you have sensors through which you alter your body temperature? Am I even using right robot terms?"
Shul laughed at himself as he glanced at the rock that almost destroyed his head. The crab was now gone.

"You can think of my charming personality as a weapon, if you wish."
Shul grinned and made a gun shape out of his free hand, pointing it at Sark.
"If I get serious it can be as fatal as a real weapon."
Shul shot the "gun" in his hand with a wink and laughed at himself. He usually was only able to mess around so goofily with kids. It felt good to be able to do it with someone...how old was Sark again? Oh well, someone not under 11.

Shul listened intently as Sark told him about his abilities but took a pseudo horrified expression when he said the word boring.
"Oh no, anything but boring. Please spare me. Can't you make it fun for me? Because I'd really much like to know about you, out of curiosity and for personal reasons."
Shul smiled and pushed the warm flask against his face again.