Totally Worth It

Writers: Avery, Devin
Date Posted: 15th July 2025

Characters: K'mai, L'val
Description: L'val puts K'mai on night watch. K'mai flirts with him anyway.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 4, day 25 of Turn 12
Notes: Follows "DFW: Bragging Bluerider"

K'mai

K'mai lingered over his meal, in part because he was enjoying the
conversation so much, but also so he could avoid reporting to his
Wingleader. Eventually, though, he stepped into L'val's office and
tried to make his expression serious. "I know I was late, sir. And
that I made a number of mistakes. I was up pretty late and then stayed
for breakfast with . . . well, anyway. I'm sorry, sir."

L'val had taken his own meal back to his office and then started
reassigning the next two sevendays of duties, anticipating the extra
places he could put K'mai on punishment duty and the ways in which he
might lessen the tasks he'd give those returning from injury as
related. He also was turning the evidence over in his head and
thinking about things - what he'd observed, what he'd could play this
furious and domineering, shout and strut like an angry martinet
furious to have seen such a dreadful performance... but the thing was,
it seemed like maybe something was strange. K'mai had occasionally
been a little hung over at drills...a little late... but he was a
sharding _good_ Thread-flyer and this just wasn't like him. It was
puzzling.

He was chewing on the top of his writing utensil when K'mai arrived
and had barely uttered a "Come in," before the bluerider launched into
his side of things.

"You're right. You were extremely late to drills and you made a number
of mistakes. I know your reputation as a party animal from overhearing
it and Overhearing it." He tapped the side of his head and even smiled
- just a hair of a smile to lighten the mood.

"But this is so unusual for you. I was worried you were out ill when
you were so late."

"Sorry, sir," K'mai repeated, though he couldn't really be sorry about
lingering that morning. "I didn't mean to worry you."

Maybe knowing he didn't just make his Wingleader mad, but had actually
worried him, would get it through K'mai's head that there was an
issue. "I don't suppose you want to tell me exactly where you were?"

K'mai scratched his head, debating if he should admit it. But L'val
wasn't the entire Wing in the middle of the dining cavern. "Barrier
Lake."

"Oh, that's why I didn't hear Sebeth tell me something from you
earlier!" L'val exclaimed. He had been so busy organizing the drill
he'd just kept an ear open for 'is Sebeth reporting in sick', and had
heard nothing until Sebeth actually joined formations.

"If it was Dolphin Cove, at least there'd have been a big timezone
difference to blame," he continued, shaking his head. "I hope whatever
you were up to was fun, and not a crisis."

The bluerider couldn't help a smile. "Oh, it was. Have you ever had a
goldrider and a bronzerider at the same time, sir? It's an
experience."

"I've never been with either," L'val admitted while focusing on the
first part, 'goldrider'. Then he paused. "Wait. Bronzerider, not brown
or blue?"

"_Bronze_." K'mai's smile widened.

"Are you trying to get me to stop yelling at you to ask questions instead?"

"Maybe," K'mai said with an impish smile. "And maybe I just want
another excuse to brag."

"Well, I can let you brag if you would like. That is impressive, and I
_am_ curious, and if I wasn't your wingleader I'd have been sitting at
the table asking you to tell me more," L'val admitted. He could
acknowledge he was human and he was a gossip and he was _nosy_.

"But, I can't let my curiosity let you entirely off the hook, or I'm
going to get in trouble. Because if I let you show up late to drills
and making mistakes like that, and then you leave with no watch
duties, no extra shifts, well everyone is going to think I'm letting
the party get out of control."

"Ah, I see." K'mai had hoped, but hadn't really believed, he'd get out
of this with no punishment. "Wing discipline, and all that. I suppose
a formal apology to my wingmates at the next drill won't cut it?"

"Formal apology and several shifts of night watch, so you don't get to
be at parties or doing more evening amorous behavior. I was going to
let Kivara do night watch as light duty as she gets back from the
Infirmary, but now it's yours."

The bluerider let out a groan. Night watch? No parties? "Well, I'll
just have to do my amorous behavior in the morning, then."

L'val tried very hard not to roll his eyes or laugh. K'mai was
irrepressible. It was charming. "As long as you make sure to make it
to drills and duties and aren't late again."

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry to let you and the Wing down, but it _was_ worth
it." K'mai considered trying to charm his way out of night watch, but
that might make things worse. "And if you ever feel curious about what
it might be like to be with a man outside a flight, I'm always
available. I might even be able to find us a goldrider to share."

"I'll keep that in mind," L'val said, losing the battle against
smiling. "Now get out, before more scandal spreads."

K'mai headed for the door, but before he left, he blew his Wingleader
a kiss and winked. "Think about it."

"I certainly will not," L'val retorted, feeling more like his daughter
getting the last word in against a classmate than a Wingleader talking
to a wingrider.

... and he certainly Was Not thinking about it that evening.

Last updated on the July 29th 2025

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Totally Worth It