A warm damp cloth against his head woke Taekwoon. Tired eyes pried open to look and then flinch at the light above. Sunlight streaming in through an open window made him feel blind, but warm and alive. He hissed and turned his head away, fleeing from the brightness. A single word stopped him though.

            “Taekwoonie?”

            His breath caught in his throat and he forced himself to look around. To find the speaker of that name. “Jinki?” he called softly, squinting through the brilliance. Why was everything so bright?!

            “I’m here,” the soft voice answered, fingers wrapping around his nearest hand.

            Taekwoon exhaled and squeezed tight, feeling anchored by the other man’s hand in his. Memories assaulted him quickly, trying to piece together what had happened and how he got here. The second Trial. The silver haired opponent. Darkness consuming him. And this…

            “Hey,” the other man smiled, his warm brown eyes nearly disappearing in his face as he focused Taekwoon’s attention to look at him.

            “Hey,” the trainee groaned, narrowed eyes nearly blinding him with his lashes. Comically, he forced his eyes wide and Jinki laughed at the expression, reaching down to cup his cheek tenderly. “Not nice to laugh at an injured man,” he chided sorely, feeling everything hurt.

            “You’re right,” Jinki admitted with a laugh, sniffing softly. “I’m just glad you’re okay,” he whispered, kissing the nearest hand softly.

            “You should see the other guy,” he laughed once, coughing when it proved too much.

            Jinki beamed, his brown eyes glinting with tears. “I’m sure.”

            “You should,” Taekwoon insisted, pulling the other man’s hand down so he could kiss it in turn. “How are you?”

            “I should be asking you that,” Jinki tsked, swallowing hard. He reached his other hand out to smooth Taekwoon’s bangs away from his face and then cup his cheek again.

            “I’m okay,” the trainee promised, using both hands to grab Jinki’s and hold it against his chest. “A little battered and bruised but I passed,” he smiled, tired eyes nearly closed in his face.

            “Foolish man,” Jinki barked a laugh, leaning close enough to place his lips against Taekwoon’s forehead.

            “Never said I wasn’t,” Taekwoon reminded the other, staring up into the eyes so close to his. A quick glance down showed trembling lips, a sure sign the other man was close to tears. He was so tired and just wanted to sleep, but Taekwoon mustered his reserves. “Hey,” he soothed, wincing as he forced himself into a sitting position. “It’s alright,” he promised, peering at Jinki evenly.

            “I know,” Jinki responded, his lip still trembling. “But you’re still hurt and this was only a trial,” he admitted, grabbing the hand in his tighter and holding it close.

            “But,” Taekwoon drew out, wrapping his free arm around Jinki and holding him close. He kissed the crown of sun-kissed brown hair. “A trial that I won,” he reminded him, hugging the other man tight.

            Jinki calmed in his arms, but didn’t pull away. His next words confirmed more of his fears. “I know this is what you want, but I don’t want to lose you.”

            “You won’t,” Taekwoon promised immediately.

            “You keep saying that,” Jinki sighed, hands tightening on the other man’s arms. “I might keep believing it, but you keep coming back like this,” he forced a laugh, patting blanket covered legs.

            It bothered him that Jinki didn’t look up to meet his eyes. Taekwoon pursed his lips and captured the downturned chin gently. “Look at me,” he murmured, brow furrowed enough to give him a forehead wrinkle. Jinki immediately reached up to smooth it and Taekwoon smiled, making the mark disappear once more. “You are mine and I am yours,” he promised, holding Jinki’s gaze.

            “I’m not your dragon,” Jinki reminded him with a sad laugh.

            “No,” Taekwoon agreed, a warm smile pulling his mouth up. “You are my Jinki. My heart. My partner. My friend. And so much more,” he promised, cupping the back of Jinki’s head and pressing his lips to the bang covered forehead. He pulled away and just held the other man against him, enjoying the feeling of him in his arms. His hair smelled nice too. Must have washed it recently.

            “Are you smelling my hair?” Jinki laughed lightly, the sniffing sound apparently too obvious.

            “Mm hmm.”

            “Well at least one of us smells good,” he teased with a snort.

            “Hey,” Taekwoon complained, amused but slightly resenting that. He couldn’t help it if he’d been unconscious for… “How long have I been sleeping?” he asked since he didn’t know how long he’d been out.

            “A full day,” Jinki explained easily, pulling away with some reluctance so he could get a better look at his other half. “Hyesung and Mimi both said it was normal,” he added, cutting off Taekwoon’s question before the words could come out of his mouth. “Especially for the ones that passed,” he shrugged, looking away quickly before meeting the other man’s gaze again.

            Taekwoon shook his head and exhaled. “They tell you it’s not going to be easy in class, but skip the details about getting better.”

            “No,” Jinki shook his head, one finger resting over his lips. At Taekwoon’s raised brow, he laughed. “They tell you the time could be anywhere from a couple marks to a couple days for recovery. It’s different for every person.” Still shaking his head, he stood up and wandered to the table on the side of their room so he could pick up the pitcher and poor a glass of water into the wooden cup. “Besides, you’re lucky it only took you a day after the first Trial to be ready for the second.”

            That much Taekwoon did know. “Thanks,” he murmured, accepting the cup and dutifully drinking the tepid liquid under Jinki’s watchful gaze. “I was hurt but I walked away from my trial,” he conceded gravely. Many others had not.

            Jinki was silent for a moment, reaching out his hand to take the cup and get more water. He swallowed a half cup and then poured again, bringing it back to Taekwoon. “You’ve still got two days to rest,” he explained, sitting on the side of the bed once more. “Promise me you’ll take that time to actually rest,” he urged, holding the cup firm as Taekwoon’s hand slightly overlapped his.

            “Jinki,” he chuckled, bringing his other hand up to cup Jinki’s between them and the cup. “The only thing I intend on doing for the next two days is seeing you,” he grinned, finally conjuring a genuine and relieved smile from the other man. He claimed the water cup from a relaxed hand and took a sip before he added, “And maybe see a dragon or two.”

            “Woonie…”

            “And I have to see N at some point,” the trainee shrugged, shaking his head like there was nothing he could do.

            “Ugh,” Jinki groaned, head tilting back as he looked at the ceiling.

            Taekwoon relented quickly enough, setting the empty cup on the bed as he reached to grab Jinki’s arm, fingers wrapping around the forearm tenderly. “But mostly, I just want to spend time with you.”

            “Yeah?” Jinki asked, turning his hand over to mirror Taekwoon’s hold.

            “Yeah,” he breathed, reaching out to gently grip the back of Jinki’s neck. “Just you.”

            When Jinki smiled this time, it was like the sun had come out. More than from the open window. Taekwoon’s heart soared and the tension he didn’t know he’d been carrying simply dissolved in the face of that beatific expression. “Can we start now?” Jinki asked with quiet hopefulness.

            “Sure,” Taekwoon answered easily, his voice soft and pleased. “I warn you I’m not at my best right now.”

            “I just wanna be with you,” Jinki assured him, scooching closer and turning so he could better align his body with Taekwoon’s. “When you’re awake and not fighting or studying or sleeping to recover from something,” he clarified, freeing his arm so he could wrap them around Taekwoon’s waist and cuddle close.

            “I see,” the trainee smiled, tightening his arms around his heart and resting his cheek atop the other man’s head. “So what did I miss while I was out?” he asked, getting the conversation started again after a brief but comfortable pause.

            “Nothing new,” Jinki answered. “Classes, training, dragons and riders. The usual ebb and flow of the Aerie. You were the unusual event and even that didn’t change the daily workings of what goes on here.”

            “Good to know,” Taekwoon laughed. He hadn’t expected his Trial to really change things but it was one thing to think about it versus knowing.

            “What about you? How did this Trial go?” Jinki asked. He’d been able to see the first trial as it was physical and in person. The second was entirely mental. Or spiritual depending on who you asked.

            “Hard,” he nodded. A gentle smack on his stomach made him laugh. That was not new information. “Interesting,” he amended thoughtfully. “You know how they explain the idea of Trance in class?”

            “Mm hmm,” the other man quietly encouraged.

            “Well, it was like that but I never actually saw a dragon.”

            “Eh?”

            “I know. There were just these stairs in the Inner Sanctum that led to a room somewhere. It was dark. And then these silver flames drew a circle. Magic of some kind,” he breathed, remembering the scene vividly. “A voice called to me. Deep. Powerful. Like something that moves through your whole body.” It was familiar too but he still didn’t know why. “And then the circle just pulls you away to somewhere. Not your body. I don’t think,” he admitted. He didn’t know what had happened to his body during or after the Trial. “But your mind or your spirit goes somewhere else. Somewhere gray and empty.”

            “That doesn’t sound too bad or interesting,” Jinki commented, thoughtfully playing with the blanket between his fingertips.

            “The interesting part was the man I faced off against,” Taekwoon chuckled, biting his lip as he contemplated teasing his partner.

            “Oh?” Curiosity was obviously piqued.

            “Perfect figure,” Taekwoon explained in a deadpan tone.

            “And how would you know?” Jinki wondered shrewdly, eyes obviously narrowed.

            “Completely .” He had to fight not to laugh at Jinki’s reactive gasp. “Like I was.”

            Mildly scandalized, Jinki muttered, “Should I be jealous or worried?”

            “Yes,” Taekwoon answered, but went on before the other man could actually get upset. “But only if I was interested in anyone other than you.”

            “And you weren’t at all interested?” That was a trap, but an easy one to avoid.

            “Of course not.” His scoff was genuine. He had the only person he wanted in his arms right now. More to the point… “He was my opponent only. And everything about him screamed father figure.” They both shuddered at the jump in thought that conjured. “Exactly,” Taekwoon laughed, giving Jinki’s shoulder a squeeze. “But he was amazing,” he added, voice soft with memory. “Silver hair and silver eyes. And just… powerful,” he explained, brow furrowed again.

            “But you won,” Jinki reminded him, leaving the unspoken question there.

            “Sort of. I mean, I was fighting as hard as I could. It felt like a real battle for me. But for him… it just seemed like a game. He was happy or maybe even proud when I hit him. I get the feeling he could have wiped the floor with me, but he didn’t,” Taekwoon explained, chewing his lip in thought. “He did break my hold on him so easily though.”

            “What hold?”

            “You know. The arm twisted behind the back hold. And he was pinned on the ground,” Taekwoon muttered, remembering the strength he’d felt in that moment.

            “Really?” Jinki gasped, looking up to meet Taekwoon’s gaze to make sure he wasn’t messing with him.

            “Really. But then he said I had done well and gave me leave to try the final trial.”

            “Who was he?” Jinki asked in confusion.

            “I don’t know. I mean, he had to have been a dragon. Silver dragons are rare and all but no human has silver eyes. And it wasn’t Hero. I know that for a fact. There is no way that person and the dragon were one and the same,” he explained in a tone that make Jinki laugh.

            “Could it have been Bahamut?” Jinki wondered softly, his voice quiet and unsure.

            Taekwoon’s immediate reaction was automatic denial, but paused first. It was not in the realm of the impossible, but it was so unlikely as to seem that way. “I don’t think so. I mean… why? Why would the dragon god take part in a test like this? I’m only a trainee after all. Really, only his priests get to commune with him.”

            Jinki shrugged with an uncertain sound. “I don’t know, but if he wasn’t Hero and he wasn’t human, there aren’t many other things he could have been. Maybe a dragon ghost?” he laughed, the suggestion clearly in jest.

            “Maybe,” Taekwoon agreed, though he didn’t add on that it was also not in the realm of the impossible. With magic and that circle – the nature of which he didn’t understand, many things could be possible. Perhaps he could ask a Priest about it. Or maybe Jolin. Or maybe have Jinki help him find a book with some answers. The Dragon authorities were always so intimidating…

            “Well, whoever it was, I’m glad they acknowledged you,” Jinki murmured, face pressing into Taekwoon’s chest.

            “Me too,” he whispered back, holding tight to Jinki but still thoughtful. His resolve was firm but there just never seemed to be enough answers for anything. “Me too.”

            The pair spent the rest of the day lounging in their shared bedroom. Taekwoon was weary to the bone – more so than after his first Trial strangely enough – and Jinki was more than happy to take care of him. It was time they did not often get to spend together of late. Taekwoon had been very busy these past couple moons. His dream was time consuming, demanding, and dangerous, and while Jinki supported it, there was often very little time to spend in shared company. Especially since Jinki was interested in training to be an Aerie Master.

            Taekwoon found it quite ironic. He didn’t much favor the dragons – that niggling fear always stayed in the back of his mind, but he had a knack for and a love of handing the details of larger projects. Really, he was made to delegate and coordinate large scale events or enclosures. His manner with people was physically clumsy but that added to his social charms often enough, especially since he’d gotten better with age and practice.

            Not surprisingly, the dragons and dragon classes didn’t exactly coincide with Aerie affairs. History and geography classes were exceptions, of course, but they were just that: exceptions. More often than not, they ate their meals together, as most residents of the Aerie did, and shared the same living space in the mornings and evenings, but even then, the work of the day often followed them there. Jinki was always looking over books or paperwork and Taekwoon was generally doing something physical – or hunkered down with a book about a completely different topic than whatever Jinki was working on.

            It was honest, fulfilling work. But some days, it was nice to just be. Like today. The day before Taekwoon would head into the wilds to find and bind his own dragon. Sequestered away outside the walls of the Aerie and sitting together on the ledge that overlooked the surrounding area, Taekwoon enjoyed the day and Jinki’s quiet company. The nearby city of Aerie’s Rest, so named because of it’s proximity to the Aerie itself, bustled with life far below. People and animals looked like insects from this vantage, but both Taekwoon and Jinki could watch them for marks.

            “That cloud looks like a dragon,” Jinki spoke into the quiet, pointing at a fluffy white cloud that was floating by.

            Taekwoon pulled his gaze from the city and searched the blue expanse above until he noticed what his partner was talking about. His laugh was immediate and amused. “That is a strange dragon then.”

            “I don’t think so,” Jinki responded confidently. “See? There are the wings and that’s the head and the tail… is starting to detach but it was a dragon,” he laughed, pulling his knee to his chest so he could rest his chin on it.

            “What color do you think it was?” Taekwoon asked, leaning closer, but not quite touching.

            “I think it was a little small,” he explained, wrinkling his nose. “So probably a blue or a red. Definitely not a silver or a gold,” he grinned.

            “Yeah. Probably not,” Taekwoon hummed, thoughts full for the morrow.

            Neither spoke for a moment until Jinki began again. “Hey Woonie. What color dragon do you want?” he wondered softly, expression pensive when Taekwoon looked over to meet his eyes. “I know you’ve wanted a dragon since forever,” he admitted, “but you’ve never said a preference for color.”

            “I’d be happy with any dragon,” Taekwoon answered honestly, but even before Jinki smacked his arm, he knew it wasn’t the right answer.

            “I know that, jerk,” Jinki snorted, a briefly cross expression disappearing in the wake of open curiosity. “But if you could choose a color, which one would you want?”

            “Huh,” the trainee sighed, pulling at his bottom lip in thought. He hadn’t really considered it so much. They were all stunning creatures, though sizes varied considerably between them. And genders to a degree. In each tier – gold and silver, white and black, red and blue, copper and bronze – one was more often male and the other more often female, but that was not the rule with two exceptions. Silver was always male, like Bahamut, and black was always female, like Tiamat.

            Part of him wanted a silver. Hero was gorgeous and massive. A dragon truly meant for a captain. But that was a large part of the reason he didn’t actually want a silver. Taekwoon had no desire to be a Dragon Captain. And while the white dragons were equally brilliant in their own way, they tended to be a bit on the smaller side for his tastes. Their acrobatic ability was second to none, but he preferred a more direct style of combat.

            He could feel Jinki’s gaze on him, patient and curious. Eventually, Taekwoon parsed through the dragons enough to have a reasonable answer. “Copper or bronze,” he finally stated firmly, proud of himself for the answer.

            Happy to finally have an answer, Jinki shifted to turn his body towards the other man and pulled both knees to his chest. “Why?” he asked with a grin, chin resting back on his knees once more.

            Taekwoon his lips as he contemplated the words for his answer. “I might actually be able to get you to ride a larger one,” he teased, grinning when Jinki smacked him again. “But really, their size and… attitude,” he gestured, for lack of a better word. “They’re not proud like leaders. Like the silvers and golds. But they are determined and steady. They’re the dragons you call when you really need help. The ones that defend and protect as well as they can attack. The blacks and whites are too… energetic,” he explained, waving his hand somewhat dismissively. “I wouldn’t mind one,” he cautioned, holding his hand up to forestall any words Jinki might offer. “But I would prefer the temperament and size of a copper or bronze.”

            For a moment, Jinki just looked at him proudly, another emotion flickering in his eyes. “Good answer, dear one,” he chuckled, a little sad in his response. “But you must want my heart to die of worry and fright with reasons like that.” Taekwoon shrugged. “’The dragons you call when you really need help’? You’ll be right in the thick of combat if that is the case.”

            “And if fighting comes to pass, that is where the biggest difference is made,” Taekwoon explained, laying his hand atop Jinki’s reassuringly.

            Jinki took a deep breath and laced his fingers lightly between Taekwoon’s. “I asked and you answered, but please. Promise me you’ll be careful if you do get a bronze or copper,” he laughed, biting his lip in a preemptive cringe.

            Taekwoon was pleased that there never seemed to be any doubt in Jinki’s manner that he would succeed. He was already looking to the future of ‘when.’ “Aren’t I always careful?” he questioned, grinning harder when Jinki gave a derisive laugh. “But of course, my heart. No matter what dragon I get on the morrow, I will be careful,” he promised, brushing his thumb against the back of Jinki’s hand.

            “You better,” Jinki nodded, leaning forward enough to steal a quick kiss on the lips before standing up. “Come on then,” he urged, tugging at the trainee’s hand determinedly. “Time to get you fed and…” He tilted his head and shrugged in a resigned but accepting manner. “Ready for the morrow.”

            “If you say so,” Taekwoon shrugged back, dragging on the arm a little longer than necessary. He was tempted to pull Jinki back down with him. It would have been nice to just lay out here in the failing light, watching the sky darken as night came. But chances were equally good someone would be coming to find them soon. He was surprised they’d been left as alone as they had, but he suspected the Dragon and Aerie Masters had something to do with that.

            “I do,” Jinki laughed, tugging hard enough to get him moving.

            With mild reluctance, Taekwoon allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. “Fine,” he groaned, pretending irritation. A firm smack on his stomach made him groan and then laugh. “Nice,” he complimented, glad that Jinki was finally putting a bit more into his hits. For the longest time, if he did smack Taekwoon, it had been feather soft, as if he was afraid he’d hurt him. It was more satisfying when he felt the hit and it was a point of pride that he knew Jinki wouldn’t hold back if he had to hit someone else.

            “Let’s go, trainee. I wanna know what they’re preparing for supper this evening,” Jinki winked, pulling on Taekwoon’s hand with both. When they started moving, he let go with one and kept their fingers loosely interlocked while he continued to lead the way.

            Taekwoon smiled at the connection and happily followed. He was content to be badgered by Jinki for the day. After all, who knew how things would change on the morrow.

            Supper was a loud, raucous affair. No longer protected from the rest of the Aerie, Taekwoon was fair game for teasing and speculation about his odds for the third Trial. But everyone was careful to keep it playful. No one wanted to risk Jinki’s sadness. Or his ire. It was difficult to get under his skin, but he was sort of legendary in their circles for those rare moments when he turned into a fierce dragon of sorts. And really, that side of him only appeared when he was worried about Taekwoon. Mostly.

            “I think you’ll find a dragon but I don’t think you’ll bond tomorrow,” Wonshik grinned, one finger pointing at the quieter trainee across the table.

            “Just because you didn’t even make it out of your circle, doesn’t mean Taekwoon won’t manage to complete his Trial,” Amber teased, ramming an elbow firmly in Wonshik’s side.

            Taekwoon and Jinki chuckled while Wonshik groaned in pain. It was true that they were no longer an item, but their relationship had turned into something more akin to brother and sister. Strange on the surface, given their intimate history, but they really did work better as friends.

            “You didn’t even make it past the first one!” Wonshik gasped back, giving her an affronted look.

            “I know that, idiot!” she laughed, giving him a playful smack on the head this time. “I was there.”

            Joy, one of the first trainees Taekwoon had seen upon entering the Aerie, leaned forward to ask, “What color do you think you’ll get?” She brushed her strawberry hair back when it threatened to swing into her food and then laughed as she sat further back on her seat.

            “Only Bahamut knows,” Taekwoon answered with a shrug. “Knowing my luck, I’ll be fortunate to find any dragon on the morrow.” His comment brought a chorus of laughter. All knew that with his luck, he’d find a gold or silver, but none of them were going to say it.

            Taekwoon soaked in the conversation and the camaraderie here. He could feel the Aerie Masters’ eyes on him, observing and watchful, but they did not matter for today. Should he succeed on the morrow, he would worry about them again. Right now, he just wanted to be with his friends and companions. A pity that official dragonriders were not allowed to eat with them, especially before a Trial. The Masters all wanted it to be as self-learned as possible. Before the Trials, he could talk to anyone he wanted to. Now… he needed to either succeed or fail to return to a more normal semblance of life. Supper was the best he was going to get just then.

            Even that could only last so long though. And before he knew it, Jinki was pulling at him and urging him to leave the table. “Alright, Taekwoon. We both know you should get some rest before the Trial tomorrow. We can talk with our friends again later,” he promised, waving warmly but firmly at Wonshik, Amber, and Joy.

            “Already?” Taekwoon chuckled, allowing himself to be pulled to his feet. “Wish me luck,” he winked at the trio at the table.

            They laughed and saluted. “Good luck!”

            As he departed, he could hear them making further bets behind his back. Again, nothing that Jinki could hear and all in good fun, but bets nonetheless. Taekwoon let himself be guided back to the sleeping quarters where he and Jinki parted to bathe separately, quickly, and then returned to their shared bed.

            Strangely, his normally loose and comfortable sleeping shift felt scratchy and heavy. In the privacy of their own room, he tossed it off and paced, full of nervous, worried energy. So many things could go wrong or right tomorrow. It left a heavy ball of nerves in his gut. Irritatingly, no amount of movement helped. At least until Jinki called to him.

            “Would you stop that and come to bed already,” he chided, gesturing for the trainee to join him.

            So many words crowded his tongue just then. So many worries. But he knew Jinki already knew them all and so he swallowed the words and sat down silently on the bed. Droplets of water from his hair plunked softly on his skin and trailed down his . “Tomorrow…” he started to say, hands clasped tight before him.

            “Is not here,” Jinki reminded him, shifting close to wrap firm arms around the bare waist. He hugged Taekwoon hard from behind, chin resting on his shoulder. “And won’t be for several marks,” he added, pressing his soft lips to the nearest skin.

            “Jinki,” he whispered, inhaling deeply as he closed his eyes and placed his hands atop the other man’s.

            “I don’t know what will happen tomorrow,” Jinki whispered, inching a little bit closer. “But tonight this time is ours.” Soft lips pressed against Taekwoon’s neck and then moved to brush against his ear. “So be with now,” he pleaded, arms moving up to hold tight to Taekwoon’s chest.

            Taekwoon knew the other man was right. Tomorrow was an uncomfortable albeit exciting unknown. There was nothing he could know about how things would turn out. But here and now, there was no doubt. He had the man he wanted to be with and they had the time to be together. It was enough for him.

            Turning quickly, he loosed himself from Jinki’s hold and threaded his fingers into damp, brown hair. Holding gently but firmly, he raised his mouth to kiss Jinki’s, wrapping his right arm around the yielding waist and pulling him closer. Together, they both made the little desirous sounds that were pulled from willing throats and that made hands adventurous.

            Fingers tangled in his hair and Taekwoon threw aside the blanket that separated them. The bed creaked softly as he crawled onto it, joining Jinki more fully. Gentle but hungry, he lowered the other man to the surface of the bed, body pressing down on the eager flesh beneath him.

            “Woonie,” Jinki whispered, lips and tongue lapping at his mouth.

            “My heart,” Taekwoon responded, kissing hard as he brought them close in a way that made both their bodies sing. But there was still too much separating them. Determined, he dragged Jinki’s sleeping shift off and tossed it away before kissing him again.

            There was no question of what they both wanted in that moment. Faced with the unknown of the next day, they were almost desperate for the certainty this time offered. And they reached for it with abandon. Slowly, joyfully, pleasurably, the two became one and drowned their worries in each other’s willing and receptive bodies.