Disclaimer: 

This story is a work of fiction.  Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.  Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.  This work contains homosexual acts that take place between an adult and a minor.  The author does not condone sexual activity with minors.  If this is illegal in your area by local, county, province, or national law, please stop reading now and go elsewhere.

 

Dragon's Tears

Chapter 3

 

We reached the door to my apartment and I was surprised that I didn't hear anything smashing against walls.  I can't say that I knew Aden was a good kid because I honestly didn't know him that well, but something told me that despite how pissed off he was, he wouldn't resort to being that petty.  Of course, that could just be because he would have been worried about pissing me off to the point where I'd kick him out and he'd have no other place to go, except back to the street.  Guilinn put a hand on my shoulder to reassure me, knowing at least some of what awaited us inside wasn't as bad as it was in my thoughts.  My hand reached for the doorknob when the door suddenly flew open.

"About time," Aden said while rolling his eyes.  "I'm starving!"

"Sorry little man, Lin and I were just getting caught up while I was making sure your undies were all sparkly white."  I laughed a little at the horrified face me made.  It was mean, I know, but I couldn't help myself.  "Which, by the way, they are."

"Shuddup."  Aden mumbled.

"Aden, this is my cousin Lin," I said motioning my hand over to her.  "Lin, this is Aden."

Lin said hello, but Aden ignored her.  His eyes never left mine, even as we walked into the apartment and made our way to the kitchen so we could all grab some food.  I started to dish up some pizza for Aden when I heard him whine and tell me that he's old enough to do it himself.  Once the food was all on plates, we carried them to my dining room table.  I sat down in my normal seat without thinking about the other two.  Lin sat next to me, while Aden sat opposite us.  He dug into the pizza without reserve or remorse.  Lin and I looked at each other, smiled then tore into our pizza like ravenous dogs that hadn't eaten in a month.  After I finished my fifth piece, I walked into the kitchen and grabbed the rest of the boxes and took them to the table.  I saw no point in the unnecessary walk to the kitchen if you wanted more.  In a half hour, the three of us devoured the five pizzas, and two cases of soda.  And to answer the question that you're probably thinking, yes we ate like that all the time.  Unless we're in public or something, then it's all high class manners and what not. 

After wiping her face off Lin turned to me, "You know Brenten; I'm surprised you're not watching the game."

My mouth dropped open.  I totally forgot with everything that had happened today that the championship game was on tonight.  Without another word, I vaulted from my chair in the dining room, and then jumped over the couch, landing with a bounce.  The TV came on with a hiss of static electricity and I flipped through the channels to find Manchester United leading Chelsea 1-0.  I watched the game with rapt attention. 

When it was over, I noticed that Lin and Aden joined me on the couch, one on either side of me.  We discussed the game and eventually Lin said she had to leave.  I got up and told Aden that I was going to walk her out to her car.  He just looked at me and nodded.  I'm sure he knew we were going to talk about him, but I felt no need to mention it. 

"He likes you."  Lin said as soon as the door closed.

I just looked at her.  I wasn't sure what exactly she meant.

"I wouldn't say he loves you...yet.  But give him time, and treat him right, Brenten.  He's a good kid; you can trust me on that.  He's been through some shit, but he'll get through it ok as long as someone can look after him."

"So that's your professional opinion?"  I asked.

She laughed.  "Hell, I'm no more a professional at this kind of shit than you are.  But according to his thoughts, he thinks pretty highly of you for having just met you.  He feels that you saved him."

"Wow."  It was all I could say, but judging his plight earlier in the day, I would have to agree.  Who knows what would have happened to him if I had just kept on walking like my grandfather taught me.

"While you're thinking of Paps, what are you gonna do?"

I sighed.  I had no clue.  "You know Lin, I don't know.  I mean, I probably should have gone to him already about this, and for that he'll have my ass, but I don't know what he'd do to him."

"He's not as ruthless as he'd like us all to believe.  In all honesty, he'd probably just send him back to his family, but by reading Aden's thoughts, that's one of the worst things that can be done right now."

"What are you talking about?"

"Let's just say that it would be much better coming from him.  But don't press him for it.  Let him tell you in his own time.  I meant what I said when I told you that he's been through some shit.  He's fighting with himself right now because he thinks he should close himself off to you, but at the same time, he trusts you."

"That's quite a dilemma."

"You have no idea.  And remember, he's just a kid, so while we've had practice as adults, it's still new to him.  You know he almost transformed when you introduced me?"

"What, really?"

She nodded.  "He's not stupid.  He knows that our family is pretty much run like his.  He thought you lied to him about me just being there for dinner."

"What did he think that you were there to take him?"

"Yeah, I know it's fucked up.  This whole situation is seriously fucked up.  You really need to figure out what you're going to do."

I sighed again.  "I know.  Believe me, I do know.  But there're only so many options."

"I know a stór.  Just remember what I said about Paps.  It may not hurt to seek his advice."

"I think I'd rather swallow fire than go and see him right now."

"Suit yourself."  Lin looked at her watch and gave me a hug.  "I've really got to get going' now."

"Slán leat."  I said.

"Slán agat."  She replied.

I stood back and watched as she got into her car, started it and drove off.  She hadn't really helped me in my situation, but at least some things were a bit clearer now than they were before she had come over.  I walked back into the building and went into the basement.  I got all of Aden's clothes and folded them, then took them up to the apartment.  Aden was still sitting on the couch watching TV.  He turned when the door closed and gave me a small smile.

"I'm sorry."  He said.

"For what?"

"For thinking that you lied to me, and that she wasn't really someone coming for dinner."

I shrugged.  "Don't worry about it.  Every once and a while Lin and I get together to eat, it just happened to be tonight."  I didn't bother telling him that I had called her earlier that night to see if she could make it.  "Speaking of tonight, we need to figure out sleeping arrangements."

"I'll be fine on the couch."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded.  "Yeah, it's softer than the street."

My heart broke when he said that.  "Alright bud, if you're sure.  Let me get you some pillows and a blanket or two."  I walked into my bedroom and pulled two of my biggest pillows from the bed and grabbed a blanket that I had stuffed away in an old cedar chest.  I walked back out to the living room.  "Want me to get it ready for you?"

"Nah, it's alright.  I can do it."

"Ok.  Well, goodnight."

"Oiche."

I fought the urge to give him a hug and walked to my bedroom.  I closed the door, then opened it a little bit just in case he needed me or something.  Endless thoughts ran through my head as I got ready for bed.  I looked in the mirror and noticed that I looked a little older now than what I did when I left for work that very morning.  I brought my hand up and ran it over my face, then started to take my shirt off.  As it was halfway up my torso, I thought about the boy in my living room.  Should I sleep like I regularly did, naked, or leave something on?  I settled on sleeping in my boxers.  My shirt came off and was tossed into the clothes basket in the corner; my pants hit the floor with a dull thump.  I reached down and pulled out my wallet, keys, and various other objects that I had in there and threw them all on the dresser next to my cell phone.  I walked back to my bed and crawled in.

My ceiling never looked so complex as it did that night.  My body was exhausted, but my mind just would not shut down.  Of course, my brain was continuing its search for what to do about Aden, even though I knew I'd never come up with the decision in just one night.  I tossed and turned for several hours until my body won out and cut off communication to my brain, and I passed out. 

My eyes snapped open at the sound of tiny footsteps coming across my bedroom floor.  I quelled the urge to flee when I saw Aden's form come to my side of the bed. 

"Are...are you awake Brenten?"  He asked softly.

I sat up slowly.  "Yeah bud, I'm up.  What's wrong?"  I had no clue how long I'd been asleep, it didn't feel like very long, and one glance at my clock and I knew I'd only been asleep for an hour.  I didn't know when Aden fell asleep, but I had been in my room for 3 hours, so he could've very well fallen asleep earlier than I did.

"I...I..." he stopped.

"What is it?"

"This is gonna sound like such a kid."  He complained.

"There's nothing wrong with that.  Did you have a bad dream?"

He nodded.  "Yeah, can...can I come up there with you?"

Oh...now that's a dilemma.  I wanted nothing more than to allow this sweet boy into my bed with me, but knew that it probably wouldn't be a good idea.  Eh, fuck it.  I needed to get some sleep, and there was no way I was going to send a scared Aden back to the couch scared and alone.  I scooted over and pulled back the covers, telling him to climb in. 

Aden climbed into the bed, and crawled over to me.  He lay down next to me and put his head on my chest.  My arm automatically wrapped around his chest and pulled him close to me.  "You want to talk about it?"

He shook his head.  "No, I...I just wish I could fly."

I sat up.  That was a great idea.  "Why don't you?"

"What do you mean?"

I held out my hand and smiled.  "On the count of three, alright?"  I saw his eyes widen, and he nodded.  "One...Two...Three." 

My bedroom faded around me.  I felt my body begin to transform, the warmth in its core coming out, emanating around me.  Aden's hand was still in mine and I could feel his coldness.  My face elongated, my legs lengthened and thickened, the same with my arms.  I could feel my skin harden, and my eyes grow larger.  My single heart beat multiplied as another heart formed from my organs.  When I opened my eyes, we were in a meadow.

The sun was shining against our scales.  The heat felt wonderful to me.  I looked over and saw the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.  Standing next to me was an Ice Blue dragon.  His eyes were yellow, and his scales were interspersed shades of light blue and dark blue.  He had a medium sized snout, a smooth head, and ridges coming from his spine.  Unlike me, he did not have spikes coming from his tail.  Ice dragons weren't generally known for their ferociousness.  They were determined beasts, and usually won out by stubbornness, where as the Fire dragons were fierce and brutal.  I saw him look me up and down, and in this form, I was more self conscious than I was when I was human.

When we were in our natural form, being dragons, they were true to us.  There were no lies, no secrets.  What you see is what you get, and I instantly fell in love with what I saw.  Aden may have been a Jagi, but he was not my enemy.  His yellow eyes met my black ones and he nodded once.  His wings unfurled and he launched himself from the ground.  I followed him, letting out a roar.  I saw his head turn and look back at me, and I could swear that dragon had a smile on his face. 

We flew for what seemed like hours, but I honestly couldn't tell you how long it was.  We were up with the hawks, then flying through the trees.  We stopped at some point to land in a smaller, greener meadow with a stream.  We both walked to the bank and lowered our heads to the water.  My vision was filled with both of our heads, and I have to say, I liked the sight.  We drank the cool water until our thirst was quenched, then he went over and found a tree.  We both lay down in the shaded grass, our necks turned so we were looking at each other.  I saw Aden's eyes start to close, and I fought the urge to fall asleep with him right were we were.  I swung my tail and let it smack the ground next to his leg.  One of his eyes opened and he looked at me.  I lifted one of my front legs and held it out to him; he did the same, so they were touching.  A second later, the beautiful clear meadow faded from my view.

I felt everything transform back to its human position.  The heat returned to complete the transformation.  When I finally opened my eyes again, Aden and I were back in my bed, lying in the same positions we were in before we left.  I lay back down and threw my arm over my eyes.  I was so drained now; I knew I'd be able to fall asleep in an instant.

"Thank you."  Aden said softly.

"For what?"

"For letting me fly, letting me get away, to forget it all."

"Forget what?"  I felt Aden scoot further away from me.  I wasn't sure if this was the right time for this.  We had both transformed and needed our rest to recuperate, but there was something going on, and I needed to know what it was.  "Come on man, you can talk to me."

He didn't look too sure.  Finally he sighed.  "Alright.  I had a dream that my family came back for me."

"Ok, and that's bad because?"

"If they find me, they'll kill me."

"They'll kill you?  Surely not, you're just a kid."

"You don't know my family."

"What did you do that was so bad that they've ruled you to die?"

"Well, first you have to remember that my clan is a lot different than yours.  We'd always make fun of you guys for being so...lean...lien..."

"Lenient?"

"Yeah, that's the word.  Well, I got mad at my parents and I ran away."

"And?"  I asked.

"There is no and.  I ran away, and I got caught.  You know how it is.  We're Dragons.  We can't just leave, we know all kinds of secrets and stuff, and you know how the elders are afraid that the real humans are going to find out that there's dragons walking around, mixing with them."

"So they were afraid you'd tell?"

"I guess.  That's what they said anyway.  My...My" he sniffed, "my great grandfather, the elder of the Jagi clan, said he had proof that I was getting ready to go public with the secret of our lives."

"Were you going to?"

"NO!  Absolutely not.  There's no way I'd do that.  I may have been mad as hell at my parents, but I wouldn't endanger everyone else."

"So then why did he say that if it wasn't true?"

"He's always hated me.  I was the runt of my family.  He felt I was too weak to be a dragon.  He tried finding a sorcerer back in Ireland to come and bind my ability to transform."

"How'd you find that out?"  I asked.

"I overheard my parents talking about it one night.  Of course, my dad agreed with him all the way, but my mum, well, she didn't like the idea.  She thought it would damage me some how.  And of course, my dad already thought I was damaged.  All because I was smaller than everyone else, and I had a slower growth rate."  Aden was openly crying now.

I wasn't sure what to do.  I pulled him closer to me and began running my hand up and down his back as he sobbed.  "You're here now.  You're safe."

"Y...You mean that?"

"Yeah."  I felt rather than saw him look up into my face.  My eyes met his, and I smiled.  He returned it.  "Get some sleep miurnin."

I held him close to me, feeling his heat.  He turned so his back was resting against my chest, and my fingers traced circles around his belly.  He mumbled something that I couldn't quite make out, but I was too far gone to even care.  My eyelids drooped, and I fell asleep.

 

To Be Continued...

Well, here ends Chapter 3.  Ok... here's the list of Gaelic words I've used and their meanings:

a stór (ah-STOR), Gaelic term of endearment meaning "my darling"

slán leat (shlahn ly-aht), Gaelic term for "good-bye," which is said to the person leaving

slán agat (shlahn u-gut), Gaelic term for "good-bye," which is said to the person staying

oiche (EE-heh), Gaelic for "night"

miurnin (also sp. miurneach [mornukh]), Gaelic for "sweetheart," term of endearment

 

 

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Links to my other works:

 

Adult Youth

Fun Stop -- www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-youth/fun-stop/

Dark Paradise -- www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-youth/dark-paradise

 

Celebrity

Harry Potter and the Parchment Snake -- www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/celebrity/parchment-snake

Harry Potter and the After Effect -- www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/celebrity/after-effect

Harry's Private Affairs -- www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/celebrity/harrys-private-affairs

Declan's Private Concert -- www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/celebrity/declans-private-concert

 

Young Friends

Weekend at Brian's - www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/young-friends/weekend-at-brians

 

Sci-fi/Fantasy

Dragon's Tears - /nifty/gay/sf-fantasy/dragons-tears

 

 

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