Chapter Text
Futakuchi stared at the frowning, white-haired trainee in front of him.
"So the pointy one gave up, huh?" Futakuchi asked. "I should have known a radish wouldn't have the spine to stick with me for more than a week." The white-haired trainee didn't seem to react beyond a slight tilt of his head. "What's your name again?" Futakuchi asked.
"Futakuchi, this is Trainee Aone. Please try to get along with him," their Flock Leader, Moniwa, sighed. His dragon, Kamasaki, eyed Futakuchi sternly.
"I didn't mean to scare the squeaky one and the freckled one," Futakuchi grumbled, crouching and lowering his head to get a better look at Aone. Of all of Flock Two's trainees, Aone was the quietest, and also the most stern-looking. Futakuchi wondered if this trainee would be heavy-handed with signaling for maneuvers. Aone studied him for a moment, then bowed. Futakuchi blinked. Aone reached out but stopped with his hand halfway between them, waiting for Futakuchi to either pull away or lean closer. Futakuchi glanced at Moniwa and Kamasaki, who were staring at him expectantly, and wow, wasn't it scary how alike they could look when one was a human and the other was in dragon form? Futakuchi sighed and eased his head forward until Aone's palm was pressed to the smooth scales on his muzzle. For a moment, the rider stayed still, as though expecting Futakuchi to pull away.
"Do you mind?" Aone asked quietly. Futakuchi blinked. He wasn't sure he'd ever actually heard Aone talk before, and he wasn't sure what he was asking.
"No?" Futakuchi said hesitantly. Aone's hand shifted, then, lightly stroking the tan scales on his muzzle. Then he stepped forward and slid his hand under Futakuchi's chin. The dragon jumped when the human's fingers found the spot under his jaw where his scales didn't overlap quite right, exposing the skin beneath. Aone's touch was firm enough not to tickle, but gentle enough not to hurt. Before Futakuchi could fully process the fact that he actually really liked the feeling, Aone was moving on. The trainee slowly walked along Futakuchi's long neck, seeming intent on memorizing the pattern of his tan scales. Futakuchi glanced at Kamasaki.
What is he doing? Futakuchi hissed.
Getting to know you. Probably making sure you don't have any strained muscles or anything, too. Akira said it was weird, but Aone always seemed to know if he was stiff after his nap, the older dragon replied. If you're uncomfortable, just say so. Unlike you and your snark, Aone knows when to stop. Futakuchi huffed and returned his attention to the trainee, who was examining his shoulders and wing joints. He considered standing so the human wouldn't be able to reach, but just as he started to gather himself, Aone's hands found another spot where his scales didn't match up right, right next to his wing, and he lightly scratched the exposed skin. Futakuchi melted. He settled back down and this time the huff he let out was pleased instead of irritated.
"Has he ever been this quiet for this long?" Moniwa asked.
"Aone found a soft spot," Kamasaki explained. Futakuchi glared at the older dragon, but Aone seemed to take their flock leaders' discussion as approval, and kept scratching at the spot. Futakuchi leaned over slightly, pressing into the touch, and noticed a faint rumbling sound, almost like a purr. For a second he wondered where it was coming from, then realized he was the one purring like a scaly, overgrown cat. Aone found two more soft spots before Moniwa and Kamasaki decided it was time to see how well they would fly together. Aone just nodded at the suggestion, then disappeared into the equipment room. He came back several minutes later with a different saddle than the one Kindaichi had used with Futakuchi. As Aone carefully situated the saddle on Futakuchi's back, the dragon realized this was a new one, and Aone had already adjusted the straps almost perfectly while he was in the equipment room.
"If you drop him, you'll have to wait until next year to find a rider," Kamasaki warned once Aone had settled into place on Futakuchi's back. Futakuchi glared at him, then launched himself into the air without thinking. After all, Kindaichi had sort of gotten used to Futakuchi's abrupt takeoffs in the last few days, so for a second, Futakuchi didn't realize the significance of the fact that Aone had calmly sat through the takeoff, not seeming at all surprised by the sudden movement. Futakuchi paused, gliding in a wide circle as he glanced over his shoulder. Aone wasn't holding onto the straps. Instead, he was leaning forward, his hands splayed over Futakuchi's scales, his expression as serious as ever, but there was a slight upward tilt to the corners of his mouth, so small that Futakuchi almost missed it.
They went through several stunts the whole flock had been practicing, and Futakuchi realized that while Aone's signals were firm, they were also gentle, and Aone seemed to read which maneuvers Futakuchi tried to surprise him with somehow. After a while, they settled into a balance, with Aone signalling for different moves occasionally, and sometimes Futakuchi taking initiative and adding something.
Did you just try to barrel roll to throw that poor trainee off balance? A rust-colored dragon slid into place, flying beside Futakuchi, who had just leveled out after his roll.
He actually signaled for that, Futakuchi replied. What brings you up here, Satori? And where's your rider?
I heard you were flying with Aone today, so I thought I would come check on you, Tendou replied. Eita stayed on the ground.
Wait, don't tell me. Did you keep him up last night and now he's tired and not looking forward to sitting in a saddle? Futakuchi guessed. Tendou snorted, and Futakuchi almost commented on the scattering of sparks that appeared, but then Aone was signalling for a dive, and Futakuchi obeyed happily, leaving Tendou behind.
Over the next several days, their coordination improved, and Moniwa informed them that they would be working together until their final test at the end of the year. Despite the flock leader deciding to assign them to each other, Futakuchi still fully expected for Aone to eventually request a different dragon. He tried teasing the stoic rider, thinking that maybe he could hurry things along, and then it wouldn't be so frustrating when he eventually decided Futakuchi's constant efforts to get under people's skin - the reason Kindaichi had asked for another assignment - were too much. But when he tried to tease Aone, all he got was a raised eyebrow.
They fell into a cycle of Futakuchi trying to get a reaction, flying when the flock trained, and then sometimes flying extra, and weeks flew by before Futakuchi even realized that time was passing. It wasn't until he was stretched out on the warm rock of the cliff above his cave, curled around Aone, who was leaning against his side and scratching the soft spot under his chin that Futakuchi realized that as well as Aone seemed to be able to read his intentions when they flew, he'd gotten better at reading Aone, too.
When he needed Futakuchi's attention, whether it was to discuss training, or just to check on him, Aone would pat his shoulder, or scratch at the soft spot near his wing. When he was settled in the saddle, he would shift his weight in anticipation of Futakuchi's usual abrupt takeoff. Futakuchi suspected that when Aone raised his eyebrows at the obnoxious comments Futakuchi was so fond of throwing around, he was amused rather than irritated.
"You're quiet," Aone murmured, applying a little more pressure to the spot he was scratching to pull Futakuchi's attention back to his surroundings. Futakuchi tilted his head, studying the human for a moment. Aone just tilted his head the slightest bit and kept scratching. Futakuchi found himself making a pleased rumbling noise, which had been happening more and more often lately.
"Just thinking," Futakuchi replied. They were silent for a moment. Then Futakuchi spoke again. "You could call me Kenji, if you wanted." Aone's hand paused, and Futakuchi found himself taking pride in having caught the human off guard for once. "And if you're okay with it, I'd like to request you be my permanent rider if we pass our final test." Aone resumed scratching the spot under his chin.
"All right." The words were simple, but there was a definite tilt to his lips, telling Futakuchi that the human was pleased. Futakuchi relaxed and focused on how nice Aone's touch felt, and told himself that he was rumbling, not purring.
And his body temperature definitely wasn't rising, and if it was, it definitely wasn't the heat of dragonfire.
Right?