After being caught speeding, Max was sentenced to community service.
Alex was recognized as an innocent bystander. That didn't mean that he was ready to leave Max to his fate.
The two of them were there, sweeping the streets. Max looked like a gym bro under his robe, but he was sweeping with gusto.
"You know," Max began, as he swept and swept. "If I had only known that the Big Capybara streets are so dusty, I would have done something about it."
Alex nodded. If Max was willing to take out the megaphone at 3 in the bloody morning for avenging his relatives and over a dirty mug, Alex did not doubt that he was also going to be ready to start a cleaning spree in the small town.
"That is good to hear." Alex was also sweeping, but with a bit less enthusiasm. After all, the man had been woken up at 3 in the bloody morning.
He didn't want to bother with too much care for the dusty streets!
"Alex, do you think that I should get some golems to keep on cleaning the streets and lighting the oil lamps at night?" Max continued.
Alex had no idea what was in the coffee that the dragon made, but he was sure that the man was either keeping himself awake with an energy drink, or with the protein shakes he loved so much.
"Won't that lead to unemployment in the town?" Alex had seen more than one cleaning squad on his morning commute to the police station.
The path to hell was paved with good intentions. And if it were anyone but Max making the suggestion, Alex would have thought he genuinely cared about the town's folk.
But how could he, when they had eaten his father and made his mother move back in with her parents after a very rich and good life with her dragon husband, who had treated her like a crown jewel?
No, Alex knew not to fall into this trap. He knew that Max was simply trying to be petty.
"No, it won't," Max said. He knew that sausagefication was the worst thing that could happen to a dragon.
For the Big Capybarians, it was just some bloody business the goblins did.
But for Max, it meant a closed and empty casket being thrown into a volcano.
Hoping that the dragon's soul the coffin represented could find peace, or at least, could move on and get reborn into something less likely to end up with him turning into mincemeat and then stuffed into his entrails.
Like a butterfly.
Max was on the warpath. No one could deny it.
"You sure?" Alex asked. He still remembered General Pavlov's words:
"Keep the dragon from pranking us, and we will knight you!"
Now, Alex was not doing it just because of the knighting. He was doing it, because Max had already shown that he could be vengeful, when he wanted to be.
Alex continued to sweep the street, and Max continued to gather curious glances.
Everything was peaceful.
Until Max saw something in a butcher's shop that made him stop and stare.
There, in the glass display, was pastrami! A chunk so big, it could have come only from a dragon.
"Uncle Rodge!" Max yelled, as he clutched his broom for support. "This meat smells just like Uncle Rodge!"
Alex looked at the chunk of meat in the butcher's shop and wondered if he was not going to buy some meat for later.
Pork or beef, so that he wouldn't hurt Max's feelings.
"How do you know?" Alex stepped next to Max, who was shaking.
"Uncle Rodge liked to smoke and vape," Max said, as a lone tear fell down his cheek. "He was so kind! Didn't even burn down villages. Just taxed them until the church mice were richer than them!"
Alex nodded. As far as he was concerned, the dragon had earned being turned into a pastrami.
But he figured that Max was not seeing it this way.
"You know, we can buy your uncle's… remains and bury them?"
Even though Alex suggested that he wished he could get some of the remains with a glass of rakija on a calm summer day.
Max nodded, going into the butcher's shop. Only for him to come back out crying.
"It was like a Christmas dinner in there," the dragon said, as he clutched his broom. "All my uncles and aunties are in there, hanging by hooks!"
Alex nodded. He couldn't begin to imagine what Max was going through.
"Did they really deserve all this? Did they really deserve to be turned into an appetizer? Most of them didn't even burn down more than one empire!"
Alex clapped him on the shoulder.
Knowing that the dragons had it coming but not wanting to be anything but empathetic to the young dragon shifter.
"Max," there was one thing Alex needed to know. It was important to him. "Have you ever burned down an empire?"
If the dragon had such a big past crime, then Alex would have to report him to the police!
"No. I have problems with my lungs. I can only light candles with my fire."
Alex blinked. Was his soulmate… a physically challenged dragon?
"It's ok." Alex went inside the butcher's shop, only to see Gretta Ironheart, the dwarf in charge of making the cuts, cutting up a pastrami.
Now, Alex could not smell the smell of old cigar smoke in the meat, but the size was telling.
"Ma'am, I would like to buy off all your dragon meat," Alex was going to keep his word. He was going to help Max bury his relatives!
"Sure! That would be 1,000 golden coins!"
Alex blinked. This was pastrami made from something that had more wealth than some small countries had debt! And it was sold so cheaply?
"Here you go," Alex said, forking over the thousand golden coins from his savings.
He went in the butcher's shop as a skeptic. But he came out as a hero.
As he handed the bag with Max's relatives to the dragon, he hugged him.
"I'm here," Alex said, as he held onto the dragon as gently as possible.
"Thank you," Max murmured, as he tied up the bag and placed it in his bottomless bag.
There was something unfair about a dragon sweeping the streets of the people who had eaten up his entire species.
But the police were watching. Some insults were better left unanswered.
For the maniac with the red pepper was waiting. For a slip-up from Max. For one complaint too many.
Alex knew the danger.
But he was ready to give his best to keep his soulmate alive!
With a crossbow, if he had to!