On any given day, working for the Aerie Master was a challenge, albeit an enjoyable one. Most of the time, Jinki looked forward to whatever new hiccup might come along. Today was not one of those days. In point of fact Jinki was quite uncomfortable. Standing near the back in Satoru’s office, while the Aerie Master talked in a low voice with High Dragon Commander Eric, Jinki exchanged a nervous glance with Yongguk. He didn’t seem much happier either.

            Given the news they’d been dealing with the past sevenday, it was no surprise. Worse, they didn’t really have anyone to speak to about it either. Jinki didn’t know if it was maybe some kind of test to see if either of them would break their silence, but he didn’t like having this kind of information.

            Satoru sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose while Eric looked on sympathetically. “We can’t tell the Aerie the whole truth yet but we also can’t send another wing,” he murmured, tapping his fingers on the desk in frustration.

            “We can’t keep them in the dark either. The other riders have been guessing at rumors and gossip does no one any favors,” Eric commented, frowning at the map they were staring at with a missive on top. Jinki had been none too happy to see the stamp of Tiamat on the seal.

            The Aerie Master looked up with a perturbed expression and snorted. “So you would like to start a panic or a mutiny by telling them that the first wing we sent has been captured and is being detained – we hope - in Tiamat’s Aerie? And that we don’t know what’s happened to the second wing yet?”

            Jinki and Yongguk winced. “No. But this has confirmed what we were right to fear. Tiamat’s Aerie is starting to amass a greater force than we can effectively counter. If this is any indication, they’re getting ready to make a move and unless we know more or do more, we won’t be prepared to stop them.”

            “That didn’t answer my question,” Satoru reminded him, chewing on his bottom lip.

            “Because you know the answer, Satoru. We have no more options,” Eric admitted softly, his tone just shy of defeated.

            Satoru was quiet for a long moment, his thoughts obviously troubled. “Almost,” he conceded with a slight nod of his head. “Remind me. What was the status of the new band of riders we sent a wing to investigate?” he wondered, looking at the taller man.

            Eric frowned and muttered under his breath. “Nothing conclusive. The wing returned with no information about them. It seems they were little more than a rumor.”

            “We should try again,” the Aerie Master remarked softly.

            “Satoru…” the Commander exhaled.

            “We need dragons and riders, Eric. If they aren’t aligned, there is a decent chance we can… persuade them to help us,” he gestured with his hands. “It’s not as if we can just go out and round up wild dragons to throw at the Dawnbringers. And we certainly don’t have enough trainees who are ready or even able to pass the Trials in time. If any…” His expression was dark and bitter.

            “I know,” Eric murmured, sounding almost apologetic as he reached across the desk to rest a hand on Satoru’s shoulder. “What do you suggest? We have limited forces, but even with less than half a battalion, we can make something happen.”

            “Send another wing to seek the unaligned dragons. The last group didn’t have a gold or silver dragon so perhaps we need to catch their attention a bit more,” he mused, biting his thumbnail softly. “We need to send a couple more representatives to Talongrace to see if they can help keep an eye on what the Dawnbringers are doing. While they’re there, they can also help monitor their ships. In addition, we have to send a couple scouts to check for the second wing. We’ve heard no word from them or Tiamat’s Aerie, which could mean any number of things.”

            “Done. I’ll send Captain Yunho to try and approach the unaligned dragons this time. Dragon Master Dongwan will be able to keep an eye on the Aerie in the meantime,” Eric nodded, thinking out loud. “I’ll speak with the wings for volunteers for Talongrace – I think we have a couple riders who have family in the area. For the patrol, we should send Hyoyeon and Jongin.”

            “Jongin?” Satoru blinked in surprise. He wasn’t the only one. Jinki felt a surge of mild panic at the idea of sending the crippled man into possible danger intentionally.

            “Krystal’s a black dragon. Tiamat’s favored. It might give them some cover and she’ll be harder to notice,” Eric reasoned logically. “Plus she’s fast and very protective of him. Paired with Hyoyeon and Donghae, that’s a good combination with a lot of reason to come back safe,” he explained further. “Hyoyeon’s got the experience for it too.”

            Satoru made a face but he didn’t argue. Jinki wanted him to. Bahamut knew he didn’t want them sending any of his friends towards the Kinshire coast, but on the other hand, it was a weird sign of trust and confidence in a way. “I hate that you’re right. Especially because that leaves a stronger dragon to stay in case they are needed for combat,” he scowled, glaring at Eric’s half-smile.

            “But you still need to contact the High Priest,” Eric added, much to Satoru’s frustration. “He’ll be wanting to know about Taekwoon’s progress anyway.”

            “I’m aware,” Satoru exhaled, keeping his tone mostly neutral, though he cast a glance at the back where his apprentices were. Eric just seemed to remember they were there too when he looked up and back and nodded slowly.

            Jinki felt very much as if he was listening in on something he shouldn’t be. But he also had questions because he wasn’t sure what progress they were meaning. Taekwoon hadn’t said… well they hadn’t really talked about it at all in a while so he didn’t know what Taekwoon was doing specifically. Other than dragonrider training. And something with Gain…

            “Okay,” the Commander nodded, getting to his feet slowly. “I’ll let Dongwan know and get the new riders ready. The rest is in your hands,” he bowed respectfully. Heading towards the door, he conjured a weak smile and nodded at the apprentices. “Yongguk. Jinki.”

            “Commander,” they responded in unison, bowing as he left.

            The door closed and Yongguk and Jinki looked at each other before glancing over at Satoru who was watching them. “Sir?” Yongguk prompted first when no one else said anything.

            The Aerie Master pressed his hands together and rested his fingers against his lips thoughtfully. “Yongguk. We need to write a message,” he murmured, gesturing for the young man to approach the desk. “Jinki. You’re free to go. But remember,” he added sharply, dark eyes focusing on him intently. “Not a word.”

            “Yes, sir,” Jinki nodded with a bow, swallowing hard. He managed a small, mute wave at Yongguk who nodded in response, and then hurried out. The news was making him feel slightly sick and he didn’t like it. Closing the door softly, he leaned against the wooden barrier and took a deep, calming breath. It helped a little bit. But that didn’t make the underlying problem go away. Nothing would for the moment. A ball of worry had formed in his gut and was just sitting there. It killed his appetite so food was not an option, and since it was still early, most people were going to be busy.

            He could make the rounds but with the news, he really didn’t want to. After a moment, he took another breath and pushed off the door, wandering forward slowly. Unfocused, he let his eyes travel over the wall mural and then he blinked. That’s right. There was a crack there he wanted to check out more. He’d been meaning to but he honestly had a habit of forgetting it was there when he was just coming and going as usual. Glancing back over his shoulder, he didn’t hear anybody coming and figured it was safe enough.

            The story was impressive as always, but he had a feeling there was something more to it. Kneeling in front of the mural, under the Bahamut image near where he and Tiamat were fighting, he saw the crack as before. It was unchanged with the barest hint of faded paint peeking through, but when he brushed his fingers against it, a small piece of colored stone fell away. “Oops…” he cringed, picking up the piece and reaching to try and put it back before anyone noticed. He paused though when he saw a faded silver color in the new space. Silver was Bahamut’s color. Granted, it could have been a shade of white before time got to it, but Jinki didn’t think so. If it wasn’t though, what silver thing would be hiding under a mural of Bahamut and Tiamat already?

            His fingers itched to find out, but while a tiny piece might remain unnoticeable, a bigger chunk would certainly be seen. He was probably just going to have to work up the nerve to ask about it. Well, ask Satoru about and see if he knew anything. Just… not today. Nope. Today, he was going to do everything he could to stay out of the Aerie Master’s way. With that thought in mind, though still curious, he pressed the piece gently back into its spot and shrugged when it remained. For the moment anyway.

            Heading into the open area of the Aerie, Jinki took a deep breath and looked around, noticing, not for the first time, how few the number of dragons seemed relative to the caves they had available. Commander Eric hadn’t been lying when he’d said they were at less than half a battalion in strength. The last time he’d counted, they had one hundred twenty seven dragons. Minus twelve now, with the captured dragons and the second wing missing. It was not a pleasant thought, especially because it always made him think about Taekwoon.

            Out of habit, he looked towards where Taekwoon’s dragons usually kept to themselves. He’d made some progress with them. He could sit and talk in the general area and Jongup would come to investigate him from time to time, but Jonghyun was still very finicky. At least Jinki wasn’t as afraid of him anymore. Mostly. He did notice they liked the spot on the other side of the garden though, somewhat hidden from the rest of the Aerie but comfortably in the open. He didn’t see them immediately and that gave him cause for concern. They were generally noticeable. But then he looked up when he saw a couple dragons flying nearby. Ah. Four dragons but only two riders. Two blues and two coppers. That would be Hyoyeon and Boa taking Jonghyun and Jongup for a flight.

            He smiled at the sight of Jongup in front with Donghae, doing playful loops and barrel rolls while an apparently disgruntled but resigned Jonghyun watched from the back. Despite his general reluctance in flying, Jinki almost thought he was happy. Or at least content. Looking at Jongup, it was more than obvious he was happy, though it was almost as if he could feel it. Frowning, Jinki placed his hand on his chest and mulled that over. He knew he wasn’t happy – the news he was dealing with wasn’t good. But there was some kind of happiness in him that didn’t belong to him and that was strange.

            “You are imagining things,” he told himself sternly, turning away and trying to push the feeling and the thoughts that came with it aside. He pulled up short though when he noticed who was heading this way. Taekwoon. Conflicting emotions bubbled up then: his own happiness, wariness, confusion… And just a touch of irritation when it became obvious that Taekwoon wasn’t heading this way to speak with him as his eyes were locked on the dragons above. But then he seemed to notice something else was in the area and he looked down, making eye contact with him.

            “Jinki,” Taekwoon murmured in surprise, coming to a standstill as his face reflected uncertainty. He was nervous. That much was obvious. And Jinki had no idea why. Other than what they hadn’t talked about in sevendays…

            “Taekwoon,” he forced a smile he wasn’t sure he entirely felt and waved in greeting.

            “I… wasn’t expecting to see you here,” he mumbled, blinking quickly as he looked between his dragons and Jinki.

            “Yeah. I was just leaving a meeting with Satoru,” he answered with a shrug, shuffling in place and biting on his lip. “I figured you’d be training today.”

            Taekwoon nodded with a quiet hum. “I’ve been given the day off,” he explained, hand gesturing as if there was more he wanted to say.

            “Oh,” Jinki chirped, a bit disappointed he hadn’t mentioned that before. But really, they hadn’t been talking that much and it was his call after all. “So…? Any plans?” he wondered, taking a hesitant step forward. If he wasn’t busy, maybe they could try and spend some time together. Perhaps even clear the air between them. If he was honest with himself, he missed him. He didn’t like sleeping alone… being alone… but he couldn’t make it work by himself.

            “Actually,” Taekwoon started, ducking his head. “Nothing yet.” He bit his lip and glanced over Jinki’s shoulder to what had to be the dragons but then looked back quickly. “I was just coming to check on them.”

            “Okay. Well. If you’re not busy…” he trailed off, moving just a bit closer, feeling as if maybe today could be a good day. “Could we… I don’t know… talk?”

            Taekwoon actually winced at the question and Jinki felt his heart drop. That was as good as sign as any. His face fell a touch and the dragonrider reached out quickly, taking another step forward so that they were almost within touching distance. “I want to,” he reassured, a semi-pained expression on his face. “We have a lot to talk about,” he added earnestly, glancing at the dragons again. “I just can’t today,” he explained quietly, face tense.

            “Why not?” Jinki asked immediately. It was the perfect opportunity: neither of them were busy and he knew they both wanted to talk.

            “Tomorrow,” Taekwoon said instead. When Jinki frowned in confusion, he took a breath. “I have something I have to do tomorrow, but if it goes the way I hope. The way I need it to…” he explained, stepping just close enough to ever so lightly catch hold of Jinki’s fingers in his. “We can talk about everything,” he whispered, meeting Jinki’s eyes intently.

            Jinki was terribly conflicted. He both loved and cursed the butterflies that appeared this close to Taekwoon. The look in his eyes was earnest and intense and he wanted to believe. He really did. And really, what was one more day? But that was just it. It was another day. Like Taekwoon often did, pushing things off for whatever reason. “What do you have to do tomorrow?” he asked instead, needing something.

            “I have… a very important duel planned that I need to make sure I have a clear head for,” Taekwoon explained apologetically, his eyes darting to his dragons again. “Tomorrow, I can and will explain more if you’ll let me,” he added, fingers tightening on Jinki’s just a touch.

            Jinki took a small breath, the ball of nerves in his gut warring with the butterflies. It was not a pleasant sensation. “You promise?” he asked directly, making sure Taekwoon was looking at him when he asked so he could see the answer. It was just another day, but it was also more than he’d gotten in sevendays and he wanted this to be the time. He wanted to be able to hold onto something certain

            “I promise,” Taekwoon responded just as quickly, determination blazing bright in his gaze.

            That was so not fair… “Good,” Jinki nodded instead, torn between needing to step away or step forward.

            “Can I just say one thing?” the dragonrider asked quietly, inching forward just a bit more. Jinki could practically feel his body heat in the space between them.

            “Yes,” he answered, blinking once as he searched the other man’s face.

            He inhaled softly when Taekwoon leaned forward to close the distance between them, hesitating just before their lips could meet. Jinki’s eyes were wide in his face, but when he didn’t pull away, gentle lips pressed against his. His heart skipped a beat and he breathed in through his nose when a hand reached around his back and drew him close, the other sliding up to cup his jaw. Happiness washed over him. The confusion was there, but he pushed it away for just a moment.

            They hadn’t talked in a while so he hadn’t been sure about how Taekwoon felt about him anymore, but this… this was real. This needed no words. He knew without a doubt the other man still felt for him what he felt, and his heart rejoiced in that certainty. Following that certainty, he placed his hands on Taekwoon’s waist and kissed him back, the exchange sweet and tender. He wanted it to go on, but even as his heart said yes, his head told him they needed space. Very reluctantly, he listened and gently pushed away, just enough to break the kiss but not enough to separate entirely.

            “Those weren’t words,” he laughed quietly, turning his face down so that they could rest their foreheads together instead.

            “Sorry,” Taekwoon murmured, though his tone clearly said he wasn’t.

            Jinki smiled. “This isn’t fair, you know.”

            Taekwoon nodded mutely. “I am sorry,” he whispered, sincere this time. “I just… needed you to know.”

            Swallowing hard, Jinki sniffed once and nodded too. “Well. Thank you,” he admitted, laughing through his nose.

            “My heart,” Taekwoon murmured, pulling the shorter man into his arms and hugging him tight.

            The affectation made Jinki smile again and he took a breath as he hugged the other man back. ‘Please let tomorrow work out,’ he mentally pleaded, wanting this back.

            They stepped back at about the same time, both reluctant but they also knew it was necessary for now. “I’ve… gotta check with my dragons, but when I’m done… would you like to take a walk or get something to eat?” Taekwoon wondered hesitantly. “I know we’re not talking – tomorrow,” he added pointedly. “But I just… want to be with you… today.”

            His words were so hesitant, so uncertain. It almost felt like he was afraid he was going to say something wrong. Everything in Jinki wanted to make that uncertainty go away, and even if it didn’t, he probably would have said yes anyway. “Okay,” he smiled reassuringly, linking their fingers together in a loose hold as he turned to head towards the dragons with him.

            “You don’t have to come,” he commented with a nod towards the now grounded dragons, both of whom were watching them intently.

            “It’s okay. I want to,” Jinki promised, letting his eyes drift to Jonghyun and then Jongup in particular. There was that happiness again. But now he was even more confused. Jinki was happy but it felt like there was another happiness present and that was mildly frightening. But still, now was a good chance to get even closer than he’d been doing. If he was lucky, maybe he’d be able to touch Jongup today.

            “Yeah?” Taekwoon grinned, the expression almost childlike in its sincerity.

            “Yes. But then I wanna show you something,” Jinki answered, a thought occurring to him. Maybe Taekwoon would have an idea about the cracked mural.

            “Okay,” the dragonrider nodded in easy agreement.

            Loosely hand in hand, the pair approached the copper and blue. Boa was still nearby keeping an eye on them, but Jinki winced when he saw Hyoyeon heading off after one of the new errand runners came to get her. Squinting, he noticed that it was Chaejin, a rather small but very endearing young man. He was definitely the heart of the next rising batch of trainees and aerie residents.

            “You okay?” Taekwoon asked when he noticed his distraction.

            “Yeah!” Jinki answered automatically, flashing a covering smile at the taller man. “Just thinking,” he added with a shrug and a wave. Fortunately, Taekwoon didn’t question it. He just smiled and nodded before leading them up to his dragons with a wave at Boa. Jinki’s grip tightened on Taekwoon’s hand as he looked at Jonghyun. He was still nervous around the copper. After all, he wasn’t exactly very welcoming in general. But Jongup on the other hand was much easier to deal with.

            “You can say hi, you know,” Taekwoon encouraged, nodding towards Jongup before he looked at Jonghyun with a stern glare.

            “You sure?” he asked with a slightly knowing grin towards Jongup as he took a hesitant step closer to the blue.

            “Yep,” Taekwoon nodded, giving him a little nudge to start him moving.

            Jinki gasped and stumbled to an abrupt halt a couple feet from Jongup. This was the closest he’d been yet and it both exciting and worrying at the same time. The blue chirped at him with a sideways tilt of his head. “What’s he doing?” he whispered back at Taekwoon, not looking away from the dragon.

            “He’s wondering what you’re doing,” came the amused reply. “Hold your hand out. It’s okay,” he soothed when Jinki didn’t at first. “He won’t hurt you. I promise.”

            This time, Jinki did look over to make sure, but all he saw was calm sincerity. “If you say so,” he sighed, chewing his bottom lip as he looked back at Jongup and raised his right hand. “Hey Jongup. Remember me?” he asked with a shrug, looking between his hand and the distance to the dragon’s mouth. Another chirp made him flinch and Jongup tilted his head again.

            “He does. He’s just being shy right now,” Taekwoon snorted, drifting to Jonghyun so he could carefully touch and quietly talk at him.

            Jinki watched him for a moment, a little nervous at just how large the dragon’s head looked next to Taekwoon. It wasn’t a stretch to imagine he could very easily bite a person in two. But he didn’t look mean at the moment. Grumpy maybe and a bit huffy if the sigh was any indication, but otherwise mostly harmless. That being a very relative term. However, he made a very strange noise in the back of his throat when he felt something press against his hand while he was looking away.

            Looking back, he saw Jongup’s nose against his palm and he laughed in amazement once. “Hey Jongup,” he murmured, smiling at the chirp he got in return.

            “He says hello back,” Taekwoon translated, the hint of a smile in his voice.

            Jinki chuckled softly and then rubbed Jongup’s nose with a careful motion. When the dragon pushed against his palm harder, he got the message. Moving a bit closer, he tried rubbing his hand up and down the dragon’s long face. He got a strangely familiar sound in response. “He’s… purring.”

            “Oh. He does like you,” Taekwoon chuckled, the smile obvious now.

            “Well. I gotta say, Jongup. I kind of like you too,” Jinki whispered, meeting the dragon’s amber colored eyes. They were large and beautiful with the rays of the sun making them shine like gems in the morning light. Unblinking, they just looked at each other. It almost felt like he could fall right into them if he wanted to.

            “Jinki?”

            He jerked and blinked, stepping back just a touch so he could look over at Taekwoon. “Yeah?” he asked, a little disoriented.

            “You okay?” the dragonrider asked, brow furrowed just a touch.

            “Mm hmm,” he nodded, looking back at Jongup who was still purring. “Just got a little mesmerized by his eyes I think,” he laughed, giving a final pat and stepping back so there was some space between them.

            “Huh,” Taekwoon hummed, wandering closer to look between them. “You weren’t going into Trance were you?”

            “Huh? No!” Jinki laughed, waving off that idea. “I wouldn’t even know how.” That didn’t seem to reassure Taekwoon though. The dragonrider remained speculative as he regarded Jongup thoughtfully. “I’m sure it’s nothing,” he promised, laying a hand on Taekwoon’s arm.

            “Maybe,” Taekwoon nodded, unconvinced.

            “Anyway,” he hummed. “If you’re done here…?”

            “Huh. Oh. Yeah. What did you want to show me?” he asked, catching Jinki’s hand in his, once again establishing a loose hold with their fingers.

            Of course Taekwoon had seen the mural before, but he was fascinated by the crack and what might be beneath it. Jinki watched him, equally fascinated. Long fingers traced around the break and for a moment, it actually seemed as if he was listening for something. Or maybe smelling. It was hard to tell.

            “That’s silver,” he mused, eyes narrowed and bottom lip caught between his teeth.

            “Mm hmm.”

            “Bahamut’s color.”

            “Yep.”

            “Do you think it’s Bahamut?”

            “Figured I’d ask you.”

            “Huh.”

            They both jumped and turned around when the doors to the Aerie Master’s office opened and Satoru himself stepped out, looking tired and probably hungry. “Oh,” he chirped, noticing them immediately.

            “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to break it!” Jinki apologized immediately, pointing at the crack in the mural.

            Satoru’s face shifted from genuine confusion to understanding to amusement to something else in a very short period of time. It was fascinating and unsettling to watch. Stepping close, he waved off his worry. “That’s been cracked for quite some time,” he promised, kneeling closer to the mural so he could see for himself.

            “I just… was curious and it looked like there was another painting or mural underneath,” Jinki explained, wringing his hands nervously.

            “There is,” Satoru answered easily, glancing at his apprentice.

            “Oh.”

            “There is?” Taekwoon asked, earning the Aerie Master’s focus.

            “Yes.”

            “Do you know what it is?” he asked, surprising Jinki. He didn’t know that he would have asked that directly.

            Satoru laughed softly and shook his head. “No. It was covered up long before I became the Aerie Master. The former Aerie Master didn’t tell me and I’m not sure if we have records, but if you’re curious,” he started, looking between them thoughtfully. “I would check with Master Jolin. Or Master Kibum but the former probably has greater access to older records. She is the Master Scribe after all,” he reasoned with a shrug. In other words, a record keeper when she wasn’t teaching letters and writing to her students.

            “That’s a good idea,” Jinki said, standing up and brushing his clothes off reactively.

            “You could start today, if you were interested,” the Aerie Master offered. “Unless you have other plans already,” he added, glancing between them with a raised brow.

            Jinki shrugged but Taekwoon offered, “We could take a walk to the library?”

            That wasn’t exactly the walk Jinki had envisioned when he’d made the suggestion before but… it wouldn’t hurt. It would keep them distracted enough that they wouldn’t be tempted to ask questions Taekwoon couldn’t or wouldn’t answer and it would definitely keep Jinki from thinking about what he’d heard this morning. And they’d be spending time together. Maybe not in the best way possible, but thinking about it, Jinki thought it was a good idea. “A walk sounds nice,” he finally agreed, bowing to Satoru. “Thank you, Aerie Master.”

            “You’re welcome,” he replied easily with a nonchalant shrug. “And good luck.

            “Thank you,” Taekwoon offered, giving a bow as well before he and Jinki headed out towards the library.

            Satoru’s expression was pensive and a little troubled when he looked at the mural and then back towards the door the pair had left from.

(a/n: And now they're trying to make a tentative peace. Taekwoon is at least attempting to bridge the gap between them while also keeping Gain's words in mind. And now we've got the mystery of a hidden mural. Dun dun dun! lol Yeah. We'll get to that in due time, but thank you for reading and I hope you look forward to the next update. Also, I have to make sure my chapters are organized. lol I did some updating and things got a bit wonky, leading to strange, out of order potential updates. Go figure...)