Dragon Wings: The Outskirts of Heaven - Chapter I
“Jared!” Jensen’s voice called across the facility’s grounds. All the current trainees living in the facility were there to meet the incoming new recruits, and Jared saw several heads turn towards Jensen’s call. When Jared turned himself and saw his friend, he understood why. While he and Jensen had been inseparable at camp each summer, their lives outside were too far apart for regular contact. That hadn’t stopped them from keeping in touch by letter and, when they could arrange it, a phone call. That had been until Jared turned sixteen and was no longer young enough to attend the summer camp. He had been moved to the barracks here at the Dallas Dragon Flight Squad Training Facility, but Jensen had had to remain at camp until he was eighteen. No one had ever bothered to explain why the riders were moved on long before the dragons, but considering what Jared had often seen going on between the dragons and their riders here, it was probably to protect all parties involved. And seeing Jensen now, Jared was glad the teen had been kept back with the children at the camp.
Jensen had grown in the last five years, naturally, and stood about six feet tall. He was slim, as most dragons tended to be. His hair was a very light brown, bordering on blonde, and his large green eyes were as bright as ever. He was smiling widely and waving madly. Jared felt his own mouth curve up in response and waved back, quickly moving towards his friend. They met with a strong, heartfelt embrace, and then Jared pulled back to take a closer look. The intervening years had been good to Jensen; strengthening his almost effeminate features but leaving behind the long lashes, full lips and freckles that had always been the bane of his existence. Jared cleared a suddenly dry throat, “Wow, Jen, you really grew up.”
“You too!” Jensen laughed. “Just how tall are you, anyway?”
Jared grinned. “Six four.”
“Wow!” Jensen looked around as though looking for someone else. “Where’s your dragonmate?”
“Ah...” Jared flushed, embarrassed. It was uncommon for someone to remain un-mated for long once they entered the facility. “Well, the thing is...because of my height and build...I’m too big for most of the dragons. Hopefully there are some heavyweights in your group.” He tried for a smile but had a feeling it looked more like a grimace.
“You’re un-mated?” Jensen’s voice was soft, and he laid his hand over Jared’s heart. Looking up with earnest green eyes, he whispered, “But you’re the perfect mate. Why would any dragon choose someone else over you?”
The thing was, Jared could see that he meant every word. Jensen was one of the sweetest, most innocent people he had ever met, and he still looked at Jared the way he had that first day; with a touch of awe and like Jared was the most amazing person in the world. He had no idea that most dragons wanted a small, nimble and young rider. With each group of new recruits, he was that little bit older than he had been with the last recruits. His chances were becoming more remote all the time. “You’re biased, Jen. You always have been.”
But Jensen frowned. “Is...is that bad?” He looked up at Jared. “Are you upset with me?”
It was stupid, but he was angry at Jensen. And he felt wretched about it. The young dragon hadn’t done anything except have blind faith in him. “No. No, Jen. I’m not upset with you.”
Unfortunately, the one thing Jensen was really good at was discerning Jared’s moods. With tears in his bright eyes, Jensen told him, “You are. I’m sorry. I’ll just...see you later.”
“Jensen...” Jared tried to stop him, but the dragon disappeared into the crowd and left him standing there, cursing himself.
“Well that was stupid.”
Jared turned to look at the man who had spoken. “I know, Chris.” Chris was the dragon equivalent of Jared. He had not found his mate amongst the recruits that had come through either. The trainers were starting to despair, for Chris was a heavyweight, and an excellent fighter with it, which made him a valuable addition to any squadron. However, no dragon could be sent to war without its mate; they were too unpredictable and prone to rushing headfirst into danger, thus getting themselves killed.
“He’s just a kid. More so than most.” Chris had a knack for reading people too. Maybe it was a dragon thing. “You know, whoever mates him probably won’t have a clue how to handle him.”
“I know.” Jared growled. The thought of some eager young rider having Jensen in their inexperienced and impatient hands made something inside of Jared clench.
“Do you know what happens to abused dragons?” Chris asked.
Jared looked at him sharply. “A mate can’t abuse his dragon.”
“Oh, yes, Jared. They can. And there is nothing we can do to stop them. Just take whatever they throw at us and...”
“Stop. Chris, I get it. What can I do? I can’t stop him finding his mate.”
Chris rolled his eyes and huffed out, “Maybe you could start by looking past that kid you knew and see who he really is. Now, come on, we need to get to the Ceremony and get into place.”
“Yeah.” Jared replied glumly.
***
The entire population of the facility were gathered in the Hall. The Hall had one purpose; it was the scene of the Ceremony which brought dragons and riders together. It resembled an open-air stadium, with seats all around the sides and a large oval in the middle. No one could remember how it had come to be named the Hall. The new recruits were assembled in two groups; one on each of the long sides of the oval. One group were dragons, the other were riders. The few un-mated dragons and riders at the facility, including Jared and Chris, sauntered in and joined their appropriate group just before the Master of Ceremonies called everyone to attention.
“We welcome our new recruits to the Dragon Flight Squad Training Facility. For most of you, today will mark the day that you find your mate, the other half of yourself.“ Jared tuned out as the speech he had heard so many times before rolled over him. He could see the excitement of most of the others in his group but, between his own un-mated state and Jensen’s no doubt soon-to-be mated state, he was feeling less than enthusiastic. Soon enough, however, the first dragon was called up, a recruit by the name of Abrams. He was average in size and appearance as a human and when he shifted to dragon form it wasn’t really a surprise to see a small white courier dragon standing before them. They were the most common dragons, but as they were so integral to the communication network, they were still welcomed as valuable additions.
It was the riders’ turn now. The rider who was able to correctly name the dragon would be his mate. Neither dragon nor rider knew the name until that moment. Jared looked at the little white dragon and got...nothing. As with every other Ceremony he had attended. It was a young girl who suddenly called out, “Chwip!” The dragon let out a cry and the girl rushed forward, grabbing a cloak from a conveniently located table, and rushing to her mate’s side. The dragon became a boy once more and she flung the cloak about him to hide his now-naked body. They hugged, smiles wide on their faces, and headed out of the Hall together.
Jared’s gaze sharpened as the next name, alphabetically, was called. “Recruit Ackles.”
Jensen walked into the middle of the oval self-consciously. His eyes sought Jared’s and they were scared. Jared shot him an encouraging smile and Jensen shakily returned it before shifting. There was a small gasp throughout the Hall. Jensen was a heavyweight - which didn’t surprise Jared, who had seen him so many years ago, bigger than the other children - but he was large even for one of the kind. He would match Chris in size. There were so few of these true fighting dragons that it was almost shocking to see one before you. It wasn’t only his size, however, that drew the eye. Jensen’s scales were a shimmering copper that caught the light, darker than Jared remembered but dazzlingly brilliant. He shone in the drab interior of the Hall. And his eyes; those startling green eyes so unlike those of any other dragon. Jared remembered Chris’ words. See who he really is. This was who Jensen really was; this incredible creature before him. He was...
“Eirian!” The name left Jared’s mouth without a thought. He was as shocked as anyone to hear his voice ring out so loud and sure across the Hall. His eyes lifted to meet Jensen’s green gaze, and the answer was there. He had spoken true. Almost in a daze, Jared moved forward, collected a cloak, and walked towards the massive copper dragon. He stopped in front of him, and the majestic head - larger than Jared was tall - lowered to him. Jared smiled and repeated, “Eirian.”
Just like that, Jensen stood before him, and Jared flung the cloak around him, using it to pull the smaller man into his arms. Jensen was laughing, giddy. “Jared! It’s you. I always wanted it to be you.”
“Jensen.” Was the only thing he could manage to say, and then he hauled him in close and kissed him. Jensen opened up under it, and Jared was just about to take it deeper when the Master of the Ceremony cleared his throat. Jared jerked back and Jensen blushed before they both started to chuckle, quickly making their exit from the Hall. They didn’t see Chris roll his eyes and shake his head.
***
“So, what happens now?” Jensen asked as they settled into Jared’s room. They had collected Jensen’s pack from the ante room of the Hall, where all the new recruits placed their things until after the Ceremony. Jared looked at him. Hadn’t they prepared the recruits at all?
“Umm...what did they tell you?”
Jensen shrugged. “We would come here and if we were mated we would share with our riders or dragons, respectively. If neither had been assigned a room, they would be once the Ceremony was over. Then they took the riders away and I don’t know what they were told, but we were told to follow our rider’s lead and do whatever they told us to do.” Jensen looked at him expectantly, waiting to hear what their next move was to be.
For his part, Jared was angry with the instructions the dragons got. The riders were told to get the young dragons back to their room and mate them, to tie them to them in the most elemental way possible. If the dragons were instructed to do what they’re told...was it really a choice? He didn’t want Jensen to be subjected to that, so he told him, “We get to know each other better.”
“But we already know each other.” Jensen smiled widely, clearly still giddy over the fact that Jared was his mate.
Jared took his hand and drew him to the bed - there was only one, which shouted loud and clear what was expected - where he lay down and pulled Jensen down beside him. This was nothing new; they had always been close and had often lain side by side to talk. The only difference this time was how close Jensen laid, and how Jared’s arm was under Jen’s neck. He used the hand of that arm to brush slowly up and down Jensen’s arm, shoulder to elbow, in a gentle and soothing caress. Jensen shivered and looked up at Jared, smile slowly disappearing into comprehension. “I don’t know everything about you.” Jared murmured. “There are things still to learn, like how you taste when I kiss you for hours, or how you feel all night in my embrace.”
“I want you to know those things, too.” Jensen whispered, tilting his head up.
Jared met him half way and breathed into his lips, “Good.” Then they were kissing; lightly, as they had in the Hall, but quickly turning deeper. Jensen simply opened up and let Jared take whatever he wanted. Jared accepted the offer being made, but made sure that his partner was right there with him the whole time. It could have been minutes or hours as the two young men learned what the other liked, what would make them moan and what would make them break apart in a fit of giggles. At some point they had turned onto their sides and Jared, without a thought, ran his hand down Jensen’s flank and to the sensitive flesh behind his knee. Through his clothes it didn’t tickle, but Jensen did squirm at the unfamiliar feel of it. Jared pulled Jensen’s leg up over his own by the knee, until Jensen could feel Jared’s strong, hard thigh pressing against him intimately. Jensen tried to pull back, afraid that Jared would feel his slowly rousing body, but Jared grabbed Jensen’s ass in one large hand and pulled him in as Jared rocked his thigh up. Jensen gasped at the surge of pleasure. “S’okay, Jen. Just go with it.”
Jensen wasn’t sure he could have done otherwise anyway. With or without Jared’s helping hand, he would have been rocking down onto that firm touch. He curled into Jared, panting hot breaths at the taller man’s throat. With Jared’s hand on his ass, and the other arm tight around his shoulders, Jensen felt enveloped in his mate, and he was losing control. “Jared.” He panted, begged. “Jared!”
“That’s it. Don’t worry. You’re so good, so perfect.” Jared looked up and away, ashamed of himself for doing exactly what he had determined not to. He held Jensen’s head below his own, his chin resting against the dragon’s forehead, where he could place soft, apologetic kisses. Jensen was rocking into him and making small, shocky whimpers. “Good boy. My good Jensen. Let go now. I’ve got you.”
“Jared!” Jensen jerked and keened against Jared’s throat, again and then once more, as he tipped over the edge. Jared held him close and continued to press kisses to the soft, gold-streaked hair. Jensen squirmed slightly until he could look up at Jared with hazy, sated eyes. “What about you?”
“No.” Jared answered firmly. “That was just for you.”
Jensen frowned. “I don’t understand. Why would you give me pleasure but take none for yourself?” Then his confused face fell. “Oh. You didn’t want this.”
Jared sighed. “I didn’t want it like this, just because it was expected of us.” He smoothed Jensen’s hair from his damp forehead. “You deserve better than that, Jen. Do you understand? I care far too much about you to share that with you just because we’re supposed to.”
“I understand.” Jensen replied softly and settled back down over Jared’s chest. Jared didn’t see the tears that ran down the young dragon’s face.
Chapter II: http://lady-krystal-79.livejournal.com/41034.html