Wading Through Shadows

Writers: Aaron, Heather
Date Posted: 29th May 2025

Characters: I'mrei, K'don
Description: I'mrei checks on K'don after Eismuth's flight
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 17 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Follow up to "Walking on Sunshine"

I'mrei

K'don

"Hello the weyr?" I'mrei called uncertainly from where he stood in
Maciath's weyrcouch. He'd had to trek to K'don's weyr on foot since
Eismuth was still curled up with Yuliuth.

As if on cue, Maciath alighted on the weyr ledge, and K'don schlepped inside.

"Oh. Im'rei. Hi. Hello. A-are... Is everything... Er... Did you have a
good flight?"

I'mrei was dressed in different clothes and his blond hair was still
wet from the bathing pool.

"Yes," he said in his typically bright manner. "C'pier's Yuliuth
caught Eismuth. It was much better than my first flight." This was
said with an audible sigh of relief.

K'don did not realize it, but he had a rip in the back of his shirt
from shoving himself into a space that he remembered being a lot
bigger only a little while ago.

But he, too, sighed with visible relief. "I'm so glad..."

But then he tensed again.

"Wait, isn't he the one who... you know..."

"Tried to kill someone? Yeah, but I think he's over that phase now."
I'mrei said all of this with a casual flip of his hand. He then looked
over his shoulder toward K'don's weyr. "Do you want to go... inside?"

"Oh! Shells. I'm so sorry. Please, come in." K'don turned the lights
on and led Im'rei into his residence and started a pot of water
boiling. "Can I get you something to eat? I've got, ah... some bread
and treacle. I can do toast."

I'mrei remained standing, watching K'don. The greenrider stepped over
to him and put his hands over K'don's. "Why don't you just come sit so
we can talk?" The nervousness he sensed in the brownrider was new and
unlike the vibrant young man who had danced with him at Yethber's
party.

That was it, was it not? The kind of thing someone said when they were
breaking up with you? K'don had never broken up before.

"A-are you upset with me?" The shaking and shivering came back.

The greenrider's brow furrowed, a rarity. "Why would I be upset with you?"

Oh, Faranth. Now he _did_ look upset.

"I thought... maybe you might have wanted me to catch you," said
K'don. "And I didn't."

I'mrei's furrowed brow deepened. He'd never seen K'don like this
before. Where was this coming from?

"Of course I wanted you to catch me, but I mean, it's all up to the
dragons, isn't it? Maybe you'll win next time."

K'don wanted to relax. But that look was still there on Im'rei's face,
like he was mad.

"I told Maciath I wanted him to try again," said K'don. "Shells... I
wish... I wish I had listened to my grandfather..."

I'mrei's brow did clear, only so that he could arch one eyebrow.
"Listened to him about what?"

"Weyrlingmasters always tell you to have sex before your dragon starts
chasing... I just... didn't think it was ever going to happen to me.
But I guess it was just because I was young, and Maciath knew I wasn't
ready.

"After he chased the first time, I didn't like the way it made me
feel... so he didn't do it again. If there was a green he really
wanted, he would leave before he gave in to chasing her.

"But. I didn't want him to leave for you. I... I wanted to be with
you. I wanted to make you smile like I did at the party. Shells, your
smile is so beautiful, and now, you're...

"Well, now I'm not making you smile anymore."

These words, oddly enough, made a full smile blossom on I'mrei's
clean-shaven face. "Well, I'm only not smiling because I'm _worried_
about you." He squeezed K'don's hands reassuringly. "I'm glad you
wanted Maciath to chase Eismuth. I like being the exception." The
greenrider preened a little. "But I also understand if the flights
are... too much. They can be intense. You don't have to participate if
it's too upsetting."

_Now_ K'don could finally relax. He pulled Im'rei into a hug and held
him close for a little while as his heart slowed.

"I think I just... need to stop being so afraid of what happens at the
end of one," he said. "Though, I'm not sure afraid is the right word.
Nervous? Worried? It's a little bit that don't want to hurt you, but
for _you_, it's that I didn't want it to be... you know,
disappointing. I wanted to do a good job for you. I bet Ç'pier knows
his way around a dick."

I'mrei blanched at the unexpected word, laughter sparkling in his
eyes. "I mean, I'm not one to kiss and tell but... C'pier is
knowledgeable."

K'don smiled back, proud of himself for eliciting that reaction.

"I really like you a lot. And making you happy is one of the things
that makes me the most happy, too. So... will you teach me how? It
doesn't have to be right now; you're probably pretty tired after a
flight, but... we could also just kiss like we were going to before."

"Of course I'll teach you," I'mrei said brightly, his heart thudding
wildly. His crush, _the_ K'don, wanted _him_ to show him around in the
bedroom. Dreams did come true! "Today was a lot of emotions so, yeah,
I think some kissing sounds nice." He smiled.

Last updated on the June 10th 2025

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Wading Through Shadows