[Dragon AU] Once more into the breach

[bloodyashes]

Military work. An obligation to any dragon who wanted to live peacefully - to have even a chance of living to old age. Most humans regarded it as a way for adolescent dragons to burn off their hormonal urges relatively safely, especially the males.

The dragons themselves knew that the reality was a bit more complicated. Young dragons had a need to claim territory, but with their own populations dwindling and human populations surging, there was very little territory left they could claim. And with most matings chosen by genetic matches, there wasn't a need to impress potential mates anyway.

So they sent their young to defend human territory instead. It had the side benefit of making the humans think they were tamed, safely under control, and so it protected their kind as a whole. Human technology, quick to develop, could easily spell the end of dragons entirely if their kind was seen as a threat, instead of allies.

By the time they hit puberty, most dragons knew this. It didn't mean they didn't chafe under it, especially those with more stubborn and independent personalities. The dragon seated in a human chair, trying to ignore how his shoulders itched under the shape-changing magic, was a particularly magnificent example of that.

The flight commander's office was small, especially for a facility designed to accommodate dragons, and even though his human shape fit inside perfectly well, Asch couldn't help but feel caged in. Part of it, he knew, was the lack of windows, which itched at him more than it would even most other dragons. Claustrophobia and large creatures didn't get along well.

Military dragons were appointed flight partners for their term of service; sometimes it was more than one, depending on how lucky the human was. Dragons could restore themselves with magic and recover from injury much better than their human counterparts - a benefit to shapeshifting, certainly - but sharing that healing outside of a pair bond was difficult. And true bonds were rare these days.

All the better, as far as Asch was concerned. He wanted this section of his life over with as quickly as possible. Not that he hated humans - just the opposite. He found them endlessly entertaining and innovative... Outside of the rigid structure of the military.

Inside of it, well, he'd already had a face-off with the commander about the length of his human form's hair. The bright crimson, at least, had gone un-commented-on, as many humans knew that bold colorations were critical points of pride, but being forced to keep it short as well...

Well, it simply wasn't happening. He was already going without his ornaments and usual loose clothes, not to mention going along with the polite cultural requirement of maintaining an entirely human form. For this, the first meeting with his assigned partner, he could manage polite, even if it chafed.

And did it ever chafe. Asch flicked his eyes up at the commander before returning his attention to his dull human-shape nails. He'd at least made a good impression by being early. And he was good at most of the actual tasks the military required of their dragons - a fast, strong flier who could easily bear a rider, skilled at magic, not afraid of violence. For his skill, they were willing to let some things slide.

But not everything. And one of the things they weren't going to slide on was 'no solo operations.'

He really hoped that whoever came through that door was tolerable, or the next couple of years were going to be hell.

Comments

[power_of_dominance]

With a few minutes to spare before the appointed meeting time, there came a knock on the commander's door. Once the order to enter was given, the door swung open and a strikingly pale young man stepped inside, standing at attention halfway between the entrance and where Asch sat. Something in the commander's face twitched when he saw who'd been sent to partner with the crimson dragon, a mixture of disdain and cold amusement.

"So you're the one they picked," the commander growled. "I think you two are perfect for each other."

"That's what the profiling software says, sir," the new rider said smoothly, his voice just a hair too quiet for a military reply.

That made the commander "hmph" and shake his head. "Introduce yourselves and get out of my office. Orientation is at 0600 tomorrow."

The young man relaxed from attention and approached Asch, actually offering a soft smile and an extended hand with no hesitation. "Airman First Class Soma Cruz. I look forward to working with you."

[bloodyashes]

Profiling software? Fortunately, his new partner won't be able to see Asch's eyeroll with his attention focused on the commander. Still, he does sit up a little straighter at the new arrival, looking the teen over.

'Pale as ice' is his first thought - he's seen plenty of ice dragons with darker coloring. It's not too abnormal for him, but on a human, it's startling.

Quiet and fairly respectful, too. Unusual, and maybe not awful. At the very least, it seems like Asch won't have to slip his claws into the offered handshake to make a point. He stands before returning the shake, his grip solid.

Formal introductions are still a little unbearable, though, when you don't get rank. "Asch fon Fabre, of the southern clans." It's close enough equivalent information, anyway, the parts that are meaningful for a human.

[power_of_dominance]

Soma nods, and with a crisp salute to the commander he goes to the door and opens it for Asch. Once they're out in the hall, the young rider relaxes into a casual stance, his smile more open without formality to dampen it.

"So, is it okay if I just call you Asch? You can call me Soma. Short names are easier in the field, when you're probably shouting them in the middle of a fight."

Soma is genuinely friendly, that much is obvious from the way he talks and the look in his eyes. He doesn't stare down Asch like he thinks the dragon is inferior. If anything, he seems excited to finally have a dragon partner.

"Did you get your lunch yet? I was waiting until we met before hitting the mess hall."

[bloodyashes]

Surprises and surprises; Asch actually blinks at the door being held open for him before going through it. His posture doesn't immediately relax as they leave the office; rather, it's as they're leaving the building to the mess hall that something slides out of his shoulders.

"That's fine." It's actually a bit unusual; even among other dragons, he's used to a barked 'Fabre' unless they need to distinguish him from his brother. "And no, I haven't."

He usually tries to avoid the stares in the cafeteria, eating either at the very beginning or very end of meal times. No chance of that now, though.

[power_of_dominance]

"I think they have pot roast or fried chicken today. Tough choice."

Soma walks briskly, more relaxed than most soldiers but still with purpose. He holds the door to the mess hall for Asch again, which nets him a few odd but knowing looks from the people inside. It seems Asch's partner has a reputation on base, but Soma barely pays it any attention. There's nothing self-conscious in his demeanor to indicate that the looks or even a few random whispers bother him in the slightest.

Those whispers also bring Asch's name into play, mainly along the lines of looks like they paired the troublemakers up, not surprised. That's when Soma sighs and rolls his eyes, definitely not a very military response. "Just ignore them," he insists quietly to Asch. "This is the military, you'd think we'd be past this high school kind of crap, but when there's no officers around they say whatever."

[bloodyashes]

"Depends how greasy the chicken is. Half the time places like this it doesn't taste like chicken, just a ball of grease." Oh dear, it seems Soma's landed himself a food snob on top of everything else.

The whispers go mostly ignored, except for a faint puff of what has to be smoke as Asch huffs. "They'll say whatever they want to make themselves feel superior. Talk's cheap."

None of them were actually willing to challenge him, which is good enough for Asch. Though it probably helps that he's one of the few dragons who has actually paid enough attention to human martial arts to be able to stand on his own in this form without magic. Let them talk.

[power_of_dominance]

Soma's sharp eyes catch that faint puff of smoke, his faint smile stretching into a grin. "Fire, huh? Or at least I'm guessing since that didn't look like frost or steam."

They finally get to the front of the line, where Soma takes the pot roast and a chicken thigh. Since the beef has potatoes, onions, and carrots already, he passes the other veggies to grab a small salad, followed by a slice of apple pie. "Chicken actually looks pretty decent, so don't worry about the grease." A bottle of unsweetened lemon tea goes on his tray, and once he scans his ID wristband he waits for Asch.

[bloodyashes]

"Good eyes." There's a faint smile on Asch's face, now. It takes a good bit to impress him, really, but having a partner who seems to know what he's about - it's a good sign. A very good sign.

He takes a good sniff while standing over the chicken, pausing thoughtfully, but ultimately goes for an extra-large helping of the roast, bypassing the vegetables and salad bar entirely in favor of picking carefully through the oranges until he finds two of them that satisfy him. An apple pie for him, too, and a bottle of plain water. His ID is on one of those retractable tags hanging off his jacket, rather than a wristband - less chance of it getting damaged by transformative magic that way. It's only meant to be temporary until saddle fittings this afternoon anyway.

[power_of_dominance]

"I've read a lot about dragons. Memorized most of their ranges, what types tend to appear where, different diets... the one thing that bothers me is there's almost nothing on etiquette. It's upsetting. How are humans supposed to know how to treat you guys unless we understand your customs?"

He doesn't flail or make a big deal over it. It's just a simple fact that makes him unhappy. It's racism, something Soma can't abide in any form.

Soma sits down at a table across from an empty seat for Asch, away from the other soldiers and riders. He's not bothered by their talk, but that doesn't mean he wants to listen to it while he eats. "So if I do or say anything wrong, tell me. I won't be offended, and I'll make sure it doesn't happen again."

[power_of_dominance]

It turns into more than just a nap. Soma sleeps deeply until reveille, though even with the din of the morning bugle he's slow to wake. He groans, his eyes cracking open the barest sliver, but it's a while longer before he raises his head. There are red marks on his cheek where the folds of his sleeve pressed into his skin.

"Nnh... A-- Asch...? Where... oh... yeah, that's right...." He rubs his eyes and coughs, clearing his throat. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sleep here all night...."

[bloodyashes]

Asch is the sort who gets up just before any alarm that might be set, so he's already awake and wondering how to gently get Soma up off him when the bugle goes off. He nudges the boy's shoulder with his nose, his wing already pulled back so he can get out. It's dark in the room aside from the red oil lamp, which is raised back up into Soma's view.

[Not exactly how I planned to spend my first night on this side of the barracks,] he says. [Come on, I need to get up too.]

[power_of_dominance]

"Right...."

Soma stretches with another groan, cautiously working his way to the edge of the hammock so he can slide out of it. He makes his way back to his room to freshen up and change into a clean uniform. Luckily he can shower in under five minutes, though it means coming back to Asch with damp hair.

"I have snacks since we don't have time to hit the mess before orientation. Smoked meat and dried fruit."

[bloodyashes]

By the time he's back, Asch is human again - mostly, there's a few slightly disordered feathers still sticking out of his hair - and he's buckling himself into his harness over the uniform. He doesn't look up, focused on the small buckles, but he does seem to perk a little. "What kind of fruit?"

[power_of_dominance]

"I think I have crisp-puffed apples, banana chips, dried pineapple, and homemade fruit leather made with strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry." One of the advantages of his family's influence: he gets frequent deliveries of healthy and delicious snacks they can't find in the mess, and no one will bitch at him if he keeps food in his private quarters.

[bloodyashes]

"Pineapple." Not even a question. He clearly likes warm weather fruits. "Maybe some of the banana." An annoyed jiggle of a buckle before he finishes getting it up on, and he reaches up to pull the ID tag from his jacket. "I'll owe you a pastry."

Good thing he doesn't have to eat much to get moving; a different metabolism from humans is good for that. The jacket goes on over the rest.

[power_of_dominance]

"I'll never turn down good pastry." Soma retrieves a couple of pouches, passing them off to Asch. He cracks another one open for himself, gnawing on a piece of fruit leather.

"Saddle situated okay? Need any help?" Maybe he's being a pain but he just wants to be helpful. That's what partners are for.

[bloodyashes]

"You get your stuff together, I've got this fine." He'll take that pineapple though, chewing and swallowing every so often as he gets everything settled. The saddlebags and holsters are left behind, for now; they aren't supposed to worry about them until the second week, once they actually have the hang of the flying thing. "Hopefully it's not too cold out there."

[power_of_dominance]

The weeks have gone by, and the new recruits are starting to become a cohesive unit. But among all of them, one pair stands out as exemplary: the two misfits. Their maneuvers are spot-on, their combat skills superb, their teamwork beyond reproach. Despite their eccentricities, none of the training instructors have any real reason to discipline them. In fact, the continued attempts of the other dragons and riders to sabotage the pair earns the offenders disciplinary measures rather than the targets of their pranks. It's not earning them any friends among their squad, but they don't seem to care.

Soma has fallen asleep in Asch's hammock multiple times, each time while they're relaxing and talking about whatever interests them. Most of the time, Soma asks about dragon culture and history, wanting to know everything the few books don't detail. This is one of those nights, and though he's tired after a long day, Soma can't help feeding his curiosity as always.

"You know, I appreciate you telling me so much. I don't want to be annoying, but when nobody writes about you, or if they write inaccurate crap, it just feels like they see you as little more than equipment or livestock. You know that makes me sick."

[bloodyashes]

There's also been a distinct increase in Asch's comfort level, not that Soma has seen enough of him to be as obviously aware as one of his relatives would be. Even so, by now it's fairly obvious that the redhead is a different person in public than in private. At "home," he's far less prone to the temperamental sparking he's known around the base for; instead, his energy goes into sharp political barbs that have a lot more depth to them.

For example;

"It's not like they treat conquered countries of their own kind any better," Asch says, spinning lightly in the desk chair. He's been fiddling with a jewelry enchantment off and on while they talk, a set of pliers in one hand and a half-open setting on the desk among scattered stones. Most of them are semi-precious - quartz and the like - but there's still enough of a pile that by now, the reasons his jewelry box is so warded are obvious. "It's actually kind of funny, in a painful way. We know more about ancient human societies than humans themselves."

[power_of_dominance]

"And that's why I don't like politics. Or any of this other crap, for that matter." Soma sighs, twirling a pen in his fingers. He's been writing down whatever Asch allows him to, seriously considering writing a book of his own. "I'm getting to the point where I'm ashamed to be human."

Of course, being a dragon would mean being subjugated. Dragons and humans work together now, but both sides know who won in the invasion and what lies beneath the surface of the truce.

[bloodyashes]

"It's not as though we haven't done our share of shameful things," Asch says. "There's a reason humans call it fair turnabout. Of course, they ignore that most of the really violent dragons were either already exiles or have been exiled since..."

He sets the pliers down and picks up a set of tweezers instead, picking through the tray of loose gems. Peridot, peridot, where are you... "A few of them are even still alive, or at least unaccounted for."

[power_of_dominance]

"Yeah, I've heard there's standing orders to take those dragons out if they're spotted." It's not like the dragon community at large would lose much sleep over those deaths. "Not that I'm eager to engage them. I don't like killing, Asch. I can do it if it needs to be done, but it's not the solution I want to go for first. I know it's weird, a borderline pacifist in the military, but...."

But he has an agenda, a desire to change things for the better for both sides, and that can only happen from within.

[bloodyashes]

At the mention of the orders, Asch snorts. "Honestly? Most of them it's smarter to not engage, anyway. They're old." He waves a hand at the reference books occupying the back of his desk - the one on enchantments is pulled forward and open in front of the rest. "Remember what I said about it being impossible for a human to memorize those in even a lifetime? I don't know of any exiles who are less than five hundred years old."

The most dangerous are in the thousands. That's why they're dangerous. "We only exile what we can't kill ourselves. Either that's because we can't get our claws into them, or because going after them is too many lives for not enough of a chance of success."

[power_of_dominance]

"It's all ego." If Soma sounds bitter, well, it's because he is. "Humans conquered the dragon races, what's a few individuals on the fringe? They think the weapons are all they need."

Neither of them has mentioned that Soma's last name is on many of those weapons. Soma doesn't want to talk about it and Asch either hasn't noticed (not likely) or isn't going to put the family's sins on his rider (almost certainly true, and Soma's grateful).

He's tired and doesn't want to think about this anymore, though. Clicking his pen and tucking it into the spiral of his notebook, Soma sits up to watch Asch work. "Mind if I ask what you're making?"

[bloodyashes]

"And there are plenty of dragons who think that we should all just keep our heads down and hide in our airs, because eventually human society is going to destroy itself again." Asch rolls his eyes; he sounds equally bitter. As well he should, given that his uncle is one of the ones that advocates hide and wait, not that Soma would know it.

He's perfectly happy to turn his attention to the work he's doing instead. "This? Simple wind charm. Keeps the air circulating around a space, or will once I'm done with it." Right now, it's just a metal hoop with some runes carved in and a couple of empty settings.