Former Weyrmates

Writers: Devin, Halyonix
Date Posted: 23rd May 2025

Characters: N'vanik, I'serin, Z'kim, K'mai
Description: I'serin tries to figure out what's going on between N'vanik and Z'kim.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 26 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Saibra, T'mhas, M'thos, Cyradis, J'ackt
Follows "Hot and Sweet"

N'vanik

I'serin

Z'kim

K'mai

I'serin was thankful that his hand had healed enough not to draw
anymore immediate attention to it, especially at a high profile
Hatching. He could be surreptitious as he made his rounds.

Eventually, he managed to corner N'vanik. "Congratulations on a fine
clutch, Weyrleader," he said sincerely.

"Weyrleader I'serin, thank you," N'vanik said with a grin. He gripped
I'serin's arm in greeting and then turned to the man next to him.
"This is Z'kim, of green Warroth, my fri--"

"N'vanik's former weyrmate." Z'kim smirked as he offered his hand. "A
pleasure, Weyrleader I'serin."

N'vanik snorted. "You're _still_ making that joke?" Turning to
I'serin, he said, "We shared a _ledge_."

The events of the last few sevendays made wearing that mask harder for
I'serin but it was there still for a long moment. He did not assume
every Weyrleader and Weyrwoman had a romantic relationship on top of
their duties to ensure that the Weyr ran successfully. But former
weyrmate or not, there was something between the two of them -- not
counting by what had just happened on the dancefloor -- that drug up
dull longing within I'serin. A longing that he would have dismissed
quite readily a few months ago.

"An honor to meet you," the bronzerider said courteously with a grasp
and a bow. "You are quite a dancer," he remarked. "And how long have
you known N'vanik?"

"Faranth, it's been . . . I think eighteen Turns now. And I _am_ a
good dancer, thank you. Did you enjoy the show?" Z'kim asked with a
bright gleam in his eyes.

N'vanik snorted again and took a drink to distract himself from the
urge to touch Z'kim.

I'serin's smile was polite but warm. "It was quite a show," he
answered. "I was unaware that Weyrleader N'vanik knew how to dance
like that." Had it been a show only? A joke between Turns of close
friendship? Or was there something more than just "a ledge"?

Did it honestly matter? Or was I'serin looking for validation?

"He indulged me this time." Z'kim looked up at the tall Weyrleader and
N'vanik couldn't stop a flash of heat in his eyes.

He caught himself and cleared his throat. "We, uh, we met at Dream's
End. It's overcrowded and they stuck me in what was basically half a
weyr, sharing a ledge with this guy. For some reason, he insisted on
making friends."

Z'kim thought about making a joke, but he went for the truth instead.
"You looked like you needed one."

"Wait . . ." N'vanik said. "Is this a pity friendship?"

The greenrider laughed. I'serin chuckled as well.

But was it just friendship? I'serin thought that N'vanik...no, he had
_assumed_ about N'vanik much like everyone assumed the same about
I'serin: bronzriders were only ever interested in women. Briefly, his
mind thought about T'mhas and M'thos. But N'vanik had said friendship
and I'serin thought that someone like N'vanik would be far more
forthcoming about himself than I'serin was. He had to be reading into
what he had seen.

"Better pity than none at all?" I'serin quipped.

Z'kim put a hand to the side of his mouth and stage whispered, "I do
feel very sorry for him."

"You're makin' me look bad in front of a fellow Weyrleader."

"Am I?" Z'kim asked sweetly. "I figured you do enough of that yourself."

"I should make you pay for that."

Z'kim shot him a look. "Promise?"

N'vanik sucked in a breath.

I'serin felt a spike of...panic? No, that was wildly irrational
because Z'kim was looking at N'vanik, not I'serin. But there was
something in that look that triggered I'serin's own protective
tendencies. Something in the way N'vanik drew that quick breath.
I'serin exhaled very slowly, very calmly, grounding himself, and then
offered a joke to see if that would bring balance again. "I can see
why he is your former weyrmate with sass like that."

Maybe N'vanik had a bit more alcohol than he should have. Maybe it was
the urge to be a little bit bad. They were standing right in front of
the Dragonsfall Weyrleader and he kinda . . . didn't care. N'vanik
kept his gaze on Z'kim and said, "Maybe I should spank him." He waited
a few heartbeats, just long enough to enjoy Z'kim's eyes widening.
Then N'vanik turned to I'serin. "So how are things at Dragonsfall?"

The whiplash of that moment nearly caused the mask to slip. I'serin
covered his nervous swallow with a sip of his drink. "As well as can
be during a Pass," he answered with a smoothness he did not feel. "And
also given that we are still housing some of the Holdless we rescued
last month."

That was enough to pull N'vanik's attention. "If you need any help
with that, Dolphin Cove is at your service."

Z'kim watched him carefully, knowing how personal the subject was.
They'd been friends for _Turns_ before N'vanik had confided in Z'kim
that he'd been holdless.

I'serin nodded his gratitude as he took another sip. "We have most of
them resupplied and on their way but it seems as though some will be
remaining with us. Most in the form of Candidates." Faranth help the
Weyrlingmasters on the next clutch!

"Hm, that should make things interesting," N'vanik said. J'ackt alone
had been a handful. "If they start givin' you gray hairs, you could
send a few my way."

The Weyrleader of Dragonsfall smiled sincerely. "Much appreciated.
Though, if I do, think of all of the tales I will not be able to
regale you with during our next meeting."

"If you do, we can swap stories and I can complain you sent me the
worst ones," N'vanik chuckled.

"A fair deal," I'serin chuckled.

"I haven't seen you on the dance floor, Weyrleader I'serin," Z'kim said.

"You collecting bronzeriders now?" N'vanik asked.

Z'kim gave him a teasing smile. He'd had enough time to recover from
the shock of N'vanik talking about spanking him in front of a
_Weyrleader_. "Maybe. Can you blame me for wanting to see how many
bronzeboys I can . . . dance with?"

"I danced with Weyrwoman Saibra at the beginning of the feast,"
I'serin replied. "And Weyrwoman Cyradis." As was socially obligated of
him. I'serin did not particularly like being touched by unfamiliar
people but endured certain moments out of duty. He fervently hoped
that Z'kim was not about to ask him to dance. He would very quickly
find a way to politely decline.

Z'kim looked him over. Not his usual type, but . . . "Have you ever
danced with a man, Weyrleader?"

"Zeke, leave him alone." N'vanik's tone was a mix of scolding and
amusement. "Don't pay him any mind, I'serin. He likes to push his
luck."

Practice made it easy for I'serin to say, "I am afraid I will have to
pass. I have not the skill that you do. I will only embarrass you. But
I do appreciate the offer."

"So polite. You could learn a thing or two from him, Nik," Z'kim said.

"Oh? Should I politely decline the next time you ask me to dance?"

The greenrider gave him a mock glare, barely holding back a smile.
"Fine. You can be as much of an ass as you want as long as you keep
dancing with me like that . . . and other things."

"Zeke." N'vanik's voice had a real edge to it. "Rules."

Well, he'd found another limit. "Sorry. I know." And yes, Z'kim had
gotten carried away with their little game. He turned to I'serin. "I
realize we've been rude, Weyrleader. My apologies."

This situation continued to edge between intriguing and confusing.
There was no missing the steel to N'vanik's tone -- I'serin recognized
that same tone in himself some days -- but as far as the relationship
between the Weyrleader and the greenrider went, I'serin could not
accurately discern heads or tails. "No offense taken," I'serin assured
Z'kim. "It is a Hatching. We are all in festive moods."

N'vanik let out a breath, pushing the tension away. "Yeah. It was good
seeing you, I'serin. Thanks for coming."

"Of course. Congratulations again, Weyrleader," I'serin answered with
a bow of his head. He watched N'vanik and Z'kim head off, just
observing the pair as he quietly nursed his wine.

K'mai waited until they were out of earshot before he stepped up to
I'serin. "And I thought that dance was interesting."

Last updated on the May 26th 2025

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