I stared down at the banking app on my phone and tried not to curse.

Rent was due today, and I found my balance was light—again. Thankfully, I knew where the money was, and thus could fix it with ease.

Though it wouldn’t be as simple as it sounded.

With heavy footsteps, I walked down the hall and hung a left. A door stood in my way. Solid wood with white paint and a metallic golden dragon nailed into the front. An obstacle I would overcome. I clutched my phone like a sword and raised my hand high.

I paused before I let it fall. Were they live on stream? A quick check online confirmed they weren’t. If she was asleep, she wouldn’t appreciate being woken up, especially if she’d been gaming all night again, But glancing at my balance steeled my resolve. My fist fell onto the surface. Once, twice, thrice. Each knock firm, hiding my nerves. I waited. Then waited some more. I fidgeted as I debated if I should knock again.

Enough time had passed, right? I couldn’t psyche myself up to try the door, I understood she didn’t want me in her lair uninvited. It was part of the roommate agreement, but so was prompt rent payments.

“Oie. Drasha!” My fist pounded on the wood again. “Open up.”

No response. Annoyance welled inside me as I pressed my ear against the door as I listened for sounds of movement. My cheek burned as I brushed against the golden dragon, and I winced. That girl really needed to crack a window or something. Maybe get an air conditioner?

Muffled clicks and taps greeted me, and an annoyed mumbling. So she was awake, probably with headphones on again.

Well, I had tried to get her attention.

My hand trembled as I grasped the doorknob and found it unlocked. With a shrug, I pushed it open to take a peek inside.

I noticed the darkness caused by the blackout curtains first, then the mess. Unopened cardboard boxes lined the walls and sat around the floor. She had no desk, instead using box piles that both her monitor, and her, rested upon.

Each bore names from popular online retailers, and I had seen most arrive this last week. I did my best not to shudder as I surveyed her domain. I wasn’t a clean freak by any means, but the food wrappers that peeked out between the boxes looked ancient.

“Drasha!”

That got her attention. Scaled hands removed expensive looking headphones from an unkempt mass of frizzy blonde hair. She scooted around on her box seat and glared at me with golden eyes. As she did, a familiar shiver ran up my spine, and my knees locked up.

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Unpainted lips pulled back to reveal sharp teeth, which were almost scary enough to rip my attention away from the massive bags under her eyes. I debated asking her when she had last slept. Before I could open my mouth, she growled at me.

Low. Menacing. Kinda hot in a primal sort of way. I was still thinking about that when she spoke in her normal tone of annoyed resignation.

“What? Also, how are you in here? I locked the door.”

She turned back to the screen.

“No, you didn’t.”

My eyes widened as I saw the humongous list of games she had added to her cart. “Are you getting all of those?”

“Yes, if you must know. Gotta grow my collection.” Her single bare shoulder rose in a shrug of resignation.

“I can’t believe I live with a hoarder.”

She barked out a laugh, and I stood confused until it clicked. Dragon. Hoard. Right.

I stood nervously in the door as I tried to steel myself for the upcoming conversation. I wasn’t sure how best to broach the topic. Dancing around it was an option, but I recognized she’d prefer me to leave. So, I went with straight forward.

“Rents due.” I straightened my back and pushed myself off the door frame. It wasn’t a heroic pose, but it would do.

“Then pay it?” She snarked.

“I need your half.”

There was a pause, and I refused to fill it.

She turned again; her face stretched in a wide grin. This was not her usual sarcastic grin, or smug smile, nor a smirk of anger. It almost looked seductive? Combined with the bare shoulder and oversized sleep shirt, it was quite the effect.

“You can cover me this week, right?” She licked her lips and leaned forward. “Pretty please?”

“No,” I kept my tone firm, even though I wanted to cave.

It’s not like I wasn’t interested in her. She was cute, and the snarky banter was fun. But that didn’t mean I would let her manipulate me again. I knew full well, if I did, she’d never pay rent again. It had taken me a month and a half to get her turn loading the dishwasher back on the chore rotation.

She pouted, but I continued to stand tall. A knight facing down a dragon! Though none of the books spoke of domestic disputes. An image formed in my head, of a man in armor, arguing with a giant red lizard about cleaning its cave. I did my best not to smile.

Finally, her shoulders hunched in defeat.

“Fine. Jerk.”

She whirled around and deleted games from her list.

“Aha. Pay your rent. In the next hour, please.”

She didn’t see my wave as I left to sounds of mumbled insults. As I made my way back to my room, my phone dinged. A transaction. Perfect.

Before I paid the rent, I sent a quick thank-you note.

Moments later, my phone buzzed again. On my screen was a cutesy, animated graphic of a dragon on a pile of treasure. I watched as a small figure stole from its hoard before the roused beast instantly roasted him.

I laughed, even as I wondered.

Did that little gnome represent the landlord or me?