Private Tales The Fool You Need

[Cullen]

Cullen chuckled at Nadya's exasperation. "True, Kalyss is going to do whatever he wants. If he thinks racing is a good idea, who are we to stop him?" He glanced toward the imposing Storm Dragon, the low rumble echoing through the air like thunder, and he couldn’t help but smile.

As they approached the dragons, he felt the familiar flutter of excitement that always came when he was about to fly. Nadya's words about the new cadets struck a chord, and he shook his head with a grin. "It sounds like they need to learn the hard way. Maybe a little competition will get them motivated. Or scared enough to take things seriously." He gave her a teasing nudge, trying to lighten the mood again.

With a quick glance back at Nadya, he felt a rush of nostalgia for the days they spent together in training, the friendship they built, and the way they pushed each other to be better. "Too fucking right." he smirked.

Meala lowered herself to allow Cullen to mount up, feeling the familiar connection between them, the rush of anticipation coursing through his veins. He glanced back at Nadya, ready for the challenge before he kicked his dragon into motion, soaring into the sky. The wind whipped past him as they took off, the exhilaration of the race taking over.

The ground fell away beneath them, the world blurring as they soared higher. He could feel the energy of the race pulsing through him as they twisted and turned, diving through the clouds.

 

[Nadya]

Nadya's climb to her saddle was a longer process than Cullen would on Meala. Although Kalyss did not seem upset that his bonded had taken her time. He knew the skies well, had terrorised them and soared through them since he was able to fly. The clouds were his domain, and so he allowed the other dragon to gain some distance before he shot up to the sky.

Nadya was excited for a race, but her heart wasn't in it entirely. "Keep competition close." She communicated through her bond, and a rumble of acknowledgement shivered beneath her. It was unclear if he was amused at her human thinking, but the Storm dragon indeed toyed with Meala and kept things close. He was skilled in the way he could match the pace of the others, and this had her grinning over to Cullen.

For old time's sake, she lifted both hands and flipped him off, grinning wickedly as Kalyss gave a powerful beat of his wings and shot forward that small distance to keep things interesting.

Maybe... maybe they could do it. Be a squad again... Of course, Danika lost an arm, and Jensen was to be a Prince, and Cullen only worked with his close and trusted. A small squad was not one the Thunder may allow to exist, they probably try to pawn off a number of cadets their way. And Nadya was to be a Wing Leader.

She missed her friends, their dragons. Of course, she was sick of seeing them as they were out drinking all the time, but to be in the skies with them, working as a tight unit...

One day...

Kalyss dropped back his pace, allowing Meala to wonder if he was going to surge forward again or not, but left the race to her to win.

 

[Cullen]

Cullen caught Nadya’s wicked grin, the double middle fingers, and his laugh was swallowed by the sound of beating wings. The wind whipped through his hair as he leaned into Meala, urging his dragon to keep pace with Kalyss, but he knew well enough that Nadya’s Storm Dragon could overtake them in an instant. It was the game they had always played, pushing each other to the edge, keeping it close enough to feel like they had a chance, but knowing full well that Kalyss would win if he wanted to.

"She’ll always find a way to make me work for it, huh?" Cullen muttered to himself, grinning. Meala rumbled in amusement, sensing his rider’s joy, and responded with a short, sharp beat of her wings, surging forward to keep pace.

Meala’s wings beat in rhythm with his heart, and Cullen felt the pulse of the dragon beneath him.
Just as Kalyss allowed Meala to pull ahead, Cullen glanced back at Nadya, giving her a wink and a middle finger of his own before he tightened his grip on his saddle, and fell into a dive.

"Come on, Meala," he whispered, urging his dragon to keep the lead for just a few more moments, knowing full well that Kalyss could overtake them whenever he wanted. "Let’s at least give her a good show."

A burst of flame poured from the dragon's mouth, and Cullen ducked low as they flew through it.

"Not that kind of show! I'm fucking FLAMMABLE!!"

 

[Nadya]

Nadya had tears in her eyes by the time they both had landed and out from their saddles.

Cullen's close call was not the only one, and after a series of three near accidental burn incidents, Nadya had been unable to keep herself from laughing, over and over. When it appeared she would settle, she made the mistake of looking to Cull and seeing that sullen face. Of course, it only made her cry with laughter some more.

Laughter still lingered in her smile, snickering as she looked to Cullen as their dragons landed in a large open area in the middle of the lower cities where Rosita's was located.

"I think a bit of your hair got burned. Can smell it from here."

And like that, Nadya was back to her usual self beside him. Her arm wrapped around the lower of his back, as she expected him to drape his arm over her shoulders like they had done many times over the years. "If anyone ever messes with your hair and changes it drastically, they're going to need to have a word with me."

 

[Cullen]

Cullen slipped down from Meala when she finally landed, his heart still racing from the thrill of the flight, but the laughter spilling from Nadya brought warmth back into the moment. He shook his head, running a hand through his tousled hair, which now had a faint smell of singed strands. "Looks like I'll be needing a hair cut." he said, attempting to scowl but failing miserably as a grin broke through.

He turned to her, feeling that familiar ease settle in as she wrapped her arm around his lower back. It felt right, as if the bond they shared could bridge any distance life had thrown between them. Cullen draped his arm over her shoulders, pulling her in slightly, relishing the comfort of their friendship.

He paused, his gaze shifting to the bustling streets of the lower cities surrounding them, alive with vendors and laughter. The smell of roasted meats and spiced rum wafted through the air, drawing him back to the present. “How about we get that drink you promised?” he added, the teasing glint returning to his eyes. “Maybe it’ll help me forget how I almost got barbecued.”

As they started walking toward the tavern, Cullen felt the heaviness of their earlier conversation lift just a little. There was a sense of belonging, of shared history, that could chase away the shadows of doubt. For now, they were just two friends enjoying the thrill of the sky and the warmth of good company. And as long as they had that, maybe everything else could wait.

 

[Nadya]

Nadya snickered, but said nothing else to tease her oldest and dearest friend. They entered their regular haunt, vying for the table they and their friends often occupied. It was a slow time, meaning there were plenty of other options available to them, but Nadya liked holding court at this table. It was close to the bar, meaning she had perfect view to flirt with the many pretty faces Rosita hired to tend the bar. She often scored free drinks more than heated kisses in one of the backrooms, but the power she held made Nadya feel invincible.

It also made her different to what was expected of her and the name she bore. The last time Nadya acted like a lady, she could not remember, but her freedoms she was living now was all because of her dragon.

And Cullen.

Her eyes fell on him, staring at him a moment before clearing her throat and calling out their order of drinks and meals.

"I have a question." She did not ask permission to ask it, rather telling him before continuing. "Will you be escorting Lady Malennis to the Royal Wedding?"

To Nadya, it said a lot about the Princess to encourage Jensen to invite his friends, even though Cullen's status in society was highly protested. Jensen had told her once in passing on the Wall that the Prince--- Orissa, was not happy with the punishments and meaning of Marking a family of traitors. In fact, the Princess had reached out to Nadya with an invitation to tea, but finding free time was hard to plan for when her schedule had been a constant as of late.