Samys was, in one word, an idiot.

I respected her; I loved her, but dear Skie, she was a fool sometimes. Earth was a fantastic planet to live on. Sure, it was vastly different from Reon, but oh so spectacular.

Movies, television, video games, and the internet.

It was a constant rush of dopamine. Even four years later, I was still shocked by how much better everything was in comparison. Alys and Samys would talk about our home world sometimes, waxing nostalgic for a place I could barely stand to remember. Constant wars, suffering, living in a literal rock dump—why would anyone miss that? Maybe because Alys was so strong that she was never hurt like the rest of us, or because Samys had Aiden and was never completely alone.

But for the rest of us?

The common dregs of the realm without a powerful mage for a mate or the ability to throw lightning and fly faster than wind?

A horror show.

Alys had been an arrogant, spoilt dragoness with too much natural power for her own good, and Samys had abandoned us years before. It was me who'd warmed Jarys as an egg, me who hunted for food when there wasn't enough to go around, and me who pressed for us to escape to Earth—all the while Alys was busy eating gryphons.

Never again.

Still, that wasn't to say Earth was perfect.

Nowhere was.

but if there was one thing Earth could do without, it was difficult customers.

"A-And it goes like..." The teen in front of me waved his hands dramatically, nearly hitting the counter in his enthusiasm. "You know? All that happiness and then they still die? I mean, it's fantastic!"

It was Tuesday, the 2nd of October, and I was dealing with such a customer.

I nodded politely and bagged up his copy of Your Lie in April. "Yep, it's a, uh, modern classic," I said, keeping my tone neutral. "Do you need anything else?"

"Yeah, there's this other one that ends in kind of the same way, but I can't remember the name," he rambled, drumming his fingers on the counter like all of the energy in his body had nowhere to go. "It's about a human guy who goes pop in a few months. He sells his lifespan or something?"

Human guy?

No shit. It's a manga written by humans for humans.

I stared at him for a moment, watching him take a full ten seconds to pull out his phone. With a silent huff, I sat down upon my haunches, right forepaw resting on the counter, waiting for him to hurry up. The store wasn't busy, but he was eating into precious Eric time.

"Um... Three Days of Happiness!" He exclaimed, flipping his phone around to show me the title, accompanied by a gloomy-looking manga cover.

I sighed, typing it into the system. Exactly as I'd expected—it wasn't in stock. "Sorry, not in stock or our usual rotation. I can order it for you, but it'll take about a week to arrive. You'd need to pay now."

He clicked his tongue. "Okay, yeah, but can you check for a few others too?"

I swallowed my irritation. "Sure. Go on."

"I Want to Eat Your Pancreas, Tell Me How to Forget About You, Leyline Migration, and… Tokidoki."

Huh. All tragic romances…

After a few moments of careful typing and browsing, I looked over. "The first two are already in stock. Tokidoki will arrive with next week's usual shipment. I can't find anything on Leyline Migration. Is that its proper name?"

"Yes, but it was never translated to English."

I nodded. "We don't sell Japanese copies. You'd have to look online for that one. I can grab the other two now and order Three Days of Happiness. I'll set Tokidoki aside when it comes. What name should I put the order under?"

"Aiden Luscus," he said. "You want ID?"

I froze at the name, my claws freezing above the keyboard as I processed the name. "Aiden?" The name slipped out before I could stop it, a flicker of something—recognition? Dread? Sparked in my chest. "I, uh… I knew an Aiden, actually."

The boy blinked, and for a moment, there was something strange about the way he smiled—too casual, almost rehearsed. "Yeah, me too," he said with a soft chuckle. "Long time ago." He didn't elaborate. "So, uh, do you need ID?"

I shook my head quickly, my mind still catching on the name. "No, I just need an email to send you the digital receipt and the delivery alert. Bring the receipt when you come to pick them up. Wait—which volumes are you after again?"

"Volume one for everything," he said with an easy smile.

"Got it." I rang up the order. "That'll be thirty-nine ninety-six. Card or cash?"

"Cash," he said, handing over a crisp fifty. As I was counting out his change, something about his posture caught my attention. He stood perfectly still—not the restless, jittery energy of most teenagers, but something more calculated, deliberate. His pale eyes seemed to linger on me for just a moment too long, and it sent an odd chill down my spine.

As I handed him the change, he added with a grin, "You can keep the ten. Buy your brother something nice for me."

My claws stiffened at that, my tail curling instinctively. My brother? I opened my mouth to ask what he meant or how he knew, but before I could begin, he was already gone, climbing the stairs to the upper floor.

I stood there for a moment, staring after him, the words I hadn't said still caught in my throat. Something about him felt... off. Familiar in a way that made my scales itch, but I couldn't quite place it.

Shaking my head, I slipped the ten into my coin pouch and put the change into the till.

I turned my attention back to the store, the faint hum of the overhead lights and the quiet rustle of a nearby customer flipping through a manga filling the silence.

Despite my attempts at normalcy, I couldn't shake the feeling the kid's presence had left behind. The way he moved, the way he'd smiled—it all felt too deliberate, too familiar. My tail flicked behind me, restless as I tried to settle back into the rhythm of work.

“Hey, Rhys!"

I glanced up and immediately felt my ears perk forward at the sound of his voice. Eric was standing at the doorway to the back room, a stack of boxes balanced on his hip. He gave me that easy, warm smile of his, the kind that made my chest feel a little lighter no matter how heavy the day had been. His rich, tawny complexion seemed to glow in the late afternoon light filtering through the high windows, a soft contrast to the jet-black curls that framed his face.

“Got an old shipment the geniuses upstairs forgot to sort," he said, nodding toward the boxes. “You mind giving me a ha- uh, paw?"

“Y-Yeah!" I replied too quickly. "No problem." I stepped out from behind the counter. My claws clicked softly against the floor as I walked over, and I tried to keep my tail from curling too obviously.

Eric set the boxes down on the counter and brushed his hands off on his jeans. “You okay? You look a little spooked."

“Customers," I said simply, keeping my voice neutral. “Some of them just like to hang around a little too long, you know?"

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Tell me about it. I had someone earlier asking me to find a book based on the description of you know; it has a dragon on the cover. Took me ten minutes to figure out they were talking about Eragon. I had to explain the difference between a comic book and a book book to someone in their thirties."

I snorted, the corner of my maw twitching upward despite the lingering unease. “People are amazing."

“They really are," Eric said, his grin widening.

For a moment, the room felt quieter, the sounds of the store fading into the background. I busied myself with opening one of the boxes, my sharp claws slicing through the tape easily.

“You sure you're okay, though?" Eric asked, his voice softer now.

I paused, glancing over at him. His expression wasn't teasing or playful like it usually was—it was serious, almost worried. It made my chest tighten in a way I didn't like.

“I'm fine," I said, a little too quickly. Realising this, I looked back down at the box, pulling out a stack of manga to avoid meeting his gaze.

“If you say so," he said, though his tone suggested he didn't entirely believe me.

He moved to the next box, and we worked in silence for a few minutes. But even as I focused on sorting through the forgotten shipment, I could feel his presence beside me. It wasn't uncomfortable, exactly. It was just… distracting.

Eric wasn't like the dragons back on Reon, with their endless posturing and rigid traditions. He was just… Eric. Easy-going, steady, the kind of person who could make the world feel a little less heavy just by being there. That was the problem—because he made me want things I wasn't sure I was allowed to want.

And by Skie did I want more from this life...

Back on Reon, relationships between those of the same sex weren't forbidden, but they weren't exactly encouraged, either. Archon dragons were a dwindling species, and every union was supposed to be about survival—about producing the next generation. Two males couldn't do that, so what was the point?

But this wasn't Reon.

This was Earth.

It didn't matter what the old traditions said. Or at least, it shouldn't.

…So why did it feel like it still did?

I was so lost in thought that I didn't realise Eric had stopped moving until I felt his gaze on me. I glanced up, and he was leaning against the counter, one eyebrow raised.

“Okay, seriously," he said, crossing his arms. “What's going on with you today? You're all spaced out."

“I'm just tired," I said quickly, setting down the manga I'd been holding.

“Uh-huh," he said, clearly not buying it.

I sighed, running a paw over my snout. “It's nothing. Just a weird customer earlier. Got under my scales, I guess."

Eric nodded slowly, his expression softening. “You've got to stop letting people get to you, Rhys. They're just customers. They come, they go. None of them matter as much as you think they do."

I wanted to tell him that it wasn't just about the customers. That it was about everything—about Reon, about “Aiden," about him. But the words wouldn't come.

Instead, I just nodded. “Y-Yeah. You're right."

Eric studied me for a moment longer, then smiled. “Of course I'm right. I'm always right."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop the small smile that tugged at my lips.

"Let's knock this out," he said, nudging another box toward me. "Then you can call it a day."

I followed him back to the boxes, my tail swishing behind me. And for just a moment, it was easy to forget about customers, about Reon, about everything.

I followed Eric back to the remaining stack of boxes, his presence a steadying force as we worked side by side. For a little while, everything else faded away—the gnawing thoughts about Reon, the strange tension left behind by Aiden, even the ever-present weight of my own doubts. It was just me and Eric, sorting through the chaos of another shipment.

And then, as always, the world came crashing back.

I was in the far corner of the upstairs store, organising some display shelves, when a pair of familiar voices reached me. The floor manager's grating tone was unmistakable.

“Eric's favourite, huh?" He sneered, his words dripping with sarcasm.

I froze, my claws tightening around the Funko Pop I was adjusting.

“What's that supposed to mean?" Someone else asked, their tone lighter, curious but cautious.

“Be serious, man. You've seen how he treats that dragon guy. Always giving him the easy jobs, covering for his mistakes. If that's not favouritism, I don't know what is. It's ridiculous."

The knot in my chest tightened, and I forced myself to stay still, to listen.

“Maybe he's just being nice," the other person offered, though their voice was quieter now, like they weren't sure they believed it.

“Nice?" The floor manager scoffed. “Please. Either he's got a soft spot for scales, or he's trying to play hero. Either way, it's unprofessional. And don't get me started on how the customers love him. Half of them are probably just coming to see the dragon employee. It's a gimmick, not sales talent."

The words hit harder than I wanted to admit. My tail swayed behind me, a physical display of the anger simmering just beneath the surface with the way it smacked into the shelves.

I wanted to march over there and demand to know what his problem was. I wanted to ask why he cared so much about me and Eric, about how we worked together, when all we did was try to make his job easier.

But I didn't. I was scared.

When I finally made my way back down to the manga section, Eric was still there, flipping through inventory forms with that same casual ease he always seemed to carry. He glanced up as I approached, his smile faltering slightly.

“You okay?" He asked, his brow furrowing in concern.

I wanted to tell him everything. The words hovered on the edge of my tongue, aching to break free. Had he heard them? Did he care? Or worse—what if he agreed with them? What if every kind smile, every effortless laugh, was just pity wrapped in good intentions? My claws flexed against the counter, a small, sharp motion that reminded me to stay silent. Better to keep the illusion intact than risk seeing it shattered.

He didn't look convinced, his expression softening into something more cautious, but he nodded and stepped aside. “Let me know if you need anything," he said quietly, his voice so steady and sincere it almost made me believe he really could fix everything.

I took his spot behind the register, grabbing the scanner without looking at him. “I'm fine, Eric. Really."

The next customer stepped forward, a middle-aged woman with a stack of brightly coloured manga in her hands. Her smile was cheerful and polite, and I did my best to match it as I rang her up. The register beeped in its usual monotone rhythm, the sound almost calming in the moment.

“That'll be twenty-two forty," I said, sliding her items into a bag. My voice sounded normal enough, detached but professional, the way it usually did. She handed me a twenty and some loose coins, and I slid her change across the counter with a paw, nodding politely as she thanked me and walked off.

I sighed through my nose, glancing over at him where he was adjusting a display shelf. He was just a few feet away, his movements casual and fluid, the kind of relaxed ease that made everything seem effortless for him. He glanced back at me, catching me looking, and raised an eyebrow. His lips quirked into a small, knowing smile.

“Are you sure you're okay?" He asked again, his tone lighter this time but still tinged with clear concern.

“Yeah," I replied, the word automatic as my tail flicked restlessly behind me. “I'm fine."

The rest of the shift passed in a blur. I kept my head down, focusing on the mundane tasks in front of me—the steady flow of customers, the endless tidying of shelves, the occasional request for something we didn't have in stock. But no matter how much I tried to lose myself in the routine, I couldn't shake the weight in my chest.

The floor manager passed by a few times, his presence lingering in the back of my mind like a sour taste. I caught snippets of his voice as he spoke to the other staff, his tone sharp and clipped in a way that made my scales prickle and my ears twitch. Every now and then, I'd catch him glancing at me, his gaze cold and assessing, as if he were looking for a reason to confirm whatever weird suspicions he had.

By the time my shift ended, the store had settled into its usual late-afternoon quiet. The sun outside had softened, casting long golden shadows through the windows. I grabbed my bag from the break room, the strap awkwardly draped over my shoulder as I made my way to the front. Eric was still there, leaning against the counter as he chatted with another employee. He glanced up as I approached, his expression brightening instantly.

“Heading out?" He asked, his voice warm and familiar in a way that made my chest tighten.

“Yeah," I said, keeping my tone even, though the words felt heavier than they should have.

“You want a ride? I have a pretty nice car I could squeeze you in. I finish in five too." He offered, leaning back slightly, his hands casually resting on the counter's edge.

I shook my head quickly, almost too quickly, pretending the offer wasn't sweet. “No, I'm good. Thanks, though."

Eric's smile faltered for just a moment, a flash of something unreadable crossing his face before he nodded. “Alright. Get home safe, okay?"

“Yeah," I muttered, adjusting the strap of my bag as I pushed open the door and stepped out into the cool evening air.

The walk to the bus stop wasn't far, but it felt longer than usual. My claws clicked softly against the pavement, the faint hum of passing cars blending with the distant chatter of pedestrians. I tried to focus on the simple rhythm of my paws hitting the pavement, the familiar sounds of the city, anything to drown out the thoughts swirling in my head.

A gimmick.

My tail swished sharply behind me, a flicker of frustration breaking through the fog of doubt. I wanted to believe he was wrong, that Eric didn't see me that way. But no matter how much I tried to tell myself it didn't matter, the words lingered, gnawing at the edges of my thoughts like an itch I couldn't scratch.

When the bus finally arrived, its brakes hissing softly as it pulled up to the curb, I climbed on and found a seat near the back. The engine rumbled beneath me as we pulled away, the soft vibrations running through the floor somehow soothing.

I stared out the window as the city blurred past, the golden light of the setting sun casting everything in a soft, hazy glow. My thoughts wandered to Alys and Jarys, probably already at Samys' supermarket, arguing over whether or not he was allowed a magazine or not. The flat was small, but it was warm and familiar, a place where I didn't have to pretend to be anything other than what I was.

My tablet buzzed in my bag, jolting me out of my thoughts. I pulled it out and unlocked the screen, blinking down at the message that had popped up.

“Hey, you wanna play Warframe later?"

It was James.

The corner of my mouth twitched into a faint smile, the tension in my chest easing just a little. Leave it to James to come up with the perfect distraction, even if it was unintentional. Sometimes, just sometimes… I was jealous Alys had snagged him first. What I didn't envy, however, was the way the two awkwardly danced around one another… although I wasn't much better. In some ways I was worse.

I tapped out a quick reply, my talons clicking lightly against the screen. They didn't work on regular screens, but our tablets were designed specifically for dragons and gryphons. “Sure. Let me get home first."

As the bus rumbled toward my stop, I leaned back in my seat, letting my head rest against the cool glass of the window. The weight in my chest wasn't gone, not entirely. But for the first time all day, it felt like I could breathe a little easier.

….

I got back around five, about the same time as James, as I saw his name pop up just as I logged into Steam. I grabbed my new laptop from the bedroom and carried it into the living room. I set it down, then took the new headset in my mouth and sat down on my haunches.

I'd have played in my room, but the connection in there was atrocious. 

Probably because the walls were made thick enough so that you didn't have to hear the heat induced fun your family members were having. If only Alys knew how to use a lock… Poor Jarys had walked in on her venting her frustrations with James a week back.

I shuddered at the memory as I plugged my headset into the laptop. They were so much nicer than the human ones my older sister used and complained about, seeing as they were dragon specific and hers were generic. I made more money than she did, and I enjoyed using that money. 

She, like a true dragon, hoarded her wealth.

The only time I could remember her spending any was when James suggested getting leg warmers, and even then she'd only worn them once—in her room, posing in front of a mirror. I didn't count her crappy laptop as that was a full year ago, and even then she'd barely understood what the thing was for at the time.

A year and a half... a year and a half.

She'd made good progress.

Aside from the kiss and some funny interactions with some gryphons she'd begged me not to tell James about, she was behaving herself. Her and Samys. I was proud of our little family. Still… her refusal to see someone about her behaviour with the avians was a little worrying. Even our cousin had been for a few visits…

"You been levelling without me?" I blinked at James' message, at first worried I'd actually offended him before the "XD" came through. "My favourite dragon boyfriend has betrayed me."

Rolling my eyes, I typed out, "You wanna call now or after we're both in the game?"

"Call now. I've forgot my password again, so I'll need five."

I bent my mic again before hitting voice call. Almost immediately I got the James branded, "Yo."

"How do you forget your password every single time we play? Do you have dementia or something?" I booted up the game, and unlike my friend, I got the password right the first time. "Like, legit every time."

"I've got brain damage; leave me alone. I… oh no… for fuck's sake…"

I grinned, realising near instantly what he'd done. "You did it again, didn't you!?"

"Shut up, dumb iguana." He groaned, and I could hear him lean back in his chair, stretching. "I put in the wrong password when I changed my password. Now the client thinks I'm trying to hack myself."

"And, what, steal your four platinum?"

"Uh huh…" He muttered, distracted. "Just let me, um…" I sat quietly, adjusting my mods for sanctuary onslaught, as it was all he played. "Ugh, alright, I'm in. I just got a five minute… Yeah, yeah, I'm in. You in a mission yet?"

"Nah, just tweaking my mods. What are we doing?"

"Dunno."

I hesitated. James was a nerd, yet his gaming habits were a bit of a mystery to me. I could never actually tell if he played for fun or just went through the motions, sticking to specific missions he'd already perfected.

"How about we just do Mars survival for a bit?" I suggested, hoping for something simple.

"Sure, yeah, let me just swap to Styanax real quick. He needs ranking up." I sniffed and nodded, not that he could see the gesture. "What have you been up to anyway? My day has been, uh, kinda shitty, to be honest."

I finally understood why he wanted to play.

"Not much. Today was alright; I got some guy that made me do actual work for once," I said with a grin. "Had to order some manga rather than just pointing at the shelves. I also got accused of being a teacher's pet."

"Teacher's pet?" He whispered.

"Kind of. The floor manager thinks I get special treatment because… I don't know; they're idiots? Trust me, I don't. All Eric does is talk to me. They're just pissy because he makes them do their fucking jobs." I couldn't keep the heat out of my words, but that didn't matter. James was a friend, a proper one.

"Yeah, I know the type. You've got special treatment because you're the only one actually doing your job." He was placating me, but I didn't care. I appreciated him letting me get it out of my system. "I, uh, sent you a party invite."

"Got it."

We both paused, the conversation lulling.

"So, was your day as bad as mine?" I asked when our ships had finally loaded in. He hesitated, so I fiddled with the W and S keys, watching as my blue ship glided up and down.

"Eh, it was…" He paused. "Uh, I don't know how to put it, but Alys was kind of… angry with me?" I paused my spaceship's stimming. "Like, she was just sort of passive-aggressive with me?"

I chewed my lip, torn between wanting to help and wanting to shut down the conversation completely. I really didn't want to get involved in their weird relationship, or whatever you called two inexperienced morons circling each other like two birds trying to outdo each other with the worst mating dance ever.

In the end, I sucked in air through my clenched teeth and said, "What do you mean?"

"Okay, right, um… I went to pick up my brother, and it turns out it's at the same school Jarys goes to." I made a sound to show I was still following the story. "And I was with this gryphon since her brother also goes to Jarys' school, a-and Alys was just kinda weird with her. Like she got all quiet and kept staring at her." Again, I grunted, barely noticing that we'd loaded in. "And when I got back, after I had to prove I wasn't some sort of paedophile to the teacher trying to steal kids, she was just… like… moody with me."

He paused, and I nodded. "Right. What do you mean by moody?"

"Um. Ugh, I might just be reading into this, to be honest…" His words came out more like a groan than an actual sentence. "But she was joking that I was avoiding her, which I'm not, and then she cut me off, and then she suggested I take Galia to KFC instead of her and…" He paused and made an odd sort of huffing sound. "I don't even know. Am I even making sense?"

Kind of?

I sighed, leaning back in my chair and letting the game run as I thought about what to say. "Look, James, you're making sense... kind of. But honestly, this sounds like classic Alys. She's always been a bit... territorial, you know?"

"Territorial?" His voice cracked slightly, and I could almost picture his eyes widening behind his glasses. "She's not a dog, Rhys."

"Obviously," I said, rolling my eyes, "but she's a dragon. And like it or not, we've got instincts, even here on Earth. Alys is just..." I hesitated, trying to find a way to phrase it that wouldn't make things worse. "She gets… prickly when she feels threatened. Galia probably caught her off guard."

"Threatened?" James repeated, clearly baffled. "By Galia? She's like half her size! And what would Alys even have to be threatened about? I wasn't doing anything. I'm not—"

"James," I interrupted, trying to sound as patient as possible, "you could have been doing absolutely nothing, and it wouldn't matter. It's not about Galia being small or you being oblivious. It's about how Alys feels when she sees you with someone else."

There was a long pause on his end, and for a moment, all I could hear was the faint hum of his mic and the sound effects from the game.

"So... you're saying she's jealous?" He asked finally, his tone cautious, like he wasn't sure he wanted to believe it.

I sighed again, running a paw down my snout. "Yes, James. That's exactly what I'm saying. She likes you—Skie knows why—and seeing you with another girl probably poked at something she wasn't ready to deal with."

"But I'm not dating Galia," he protested, his voice rising slightly. "We're just friends! I-I barely even know her!"

"It doesn't matter," I said bluntly. "In Alys' head, you're her human. Whether or not that's actually true. It doesn't change the way she feels."

James groaned, and I could hear the faint creak of his chair as he leaned back. "This is so dumb," he muttered. "I'm not even... I mean, it's not like we're dating, right? We're just—"

"Friends," I finished for him, my tone dry. "Yeah, I've heard that one before. But James, let's be real. Do you actually think Alys sees it that way?"

Another pause, longer this time. I could almost hear the gears turning in his head.

"I don't know," he admitted eventually, his voice quiet. "Maybe not. But I don't want to mess this up, you know? She's... she's important to me. I don't want to lose that just because I said or did something stupid."

"You're already halfway there, mate," I said with a grin. "But hey, at least you're trying to figure it out. That's probably more than most people would do."

"Thanks, I think?" He let out a short laugh, though it sounded more strained than amused. "But what do you think I should do?"

"Talk to her," I said simply. "But, you know, without the weird passive-aggressive, ultra-sarcastic back-and-forth you two always do. Just be honest. Tell her how you feel, ask her what's going on, and try not to make it about Galia."

"Easier said than done," he muttered, but I could hear a faint note of determination creeping into his voice. "Alright. I'll... I'll try. But if she bites my head off, I'm blaming you."

"Fair enough," I said, chuckling. "Just make sure she doesn't take a chunk out of you for real. Those teeth aren't just for show."

He groaned again, but there was a hint of a smile in his voice now. "Great. Thanks for the pep talk, Jeremy Kyle."

"Anytime," I said, my grin widening. "Now, can we please focus on the game before you get us both killed?"

"Yeah, yeah," he said, the sound of his keyboard clacking filling the call as he started moving again. "Let's see how many times I can die before you give up on me. This frame is rank one, remember."

"Don't tempt me," I shot back, my claws clicking against the keyboard as I dove back into the mission.

For a little while, we let the conversation drift away, focusing instead on the chaos of the game. But even as I tore through enemies and dodged explosions, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for James. He might not have been the sharpest claw in the hoard when it came to relationships, but at least he cared. And for Alys, that was probably more than enough.

...but.

The irony of it all, the irony of being able to help him, to be able to help my sister... and yet still feel so conflicted about Eric, about... everything in my own life. "Rhys, you're dying." I blinked, noticing my shields were down and I had less than two hundred points of health remaining.

With a groan, I activated my grappling hook ability and escaped the bundle of infected. When free, James' Styanax shot forward, sliding and spinning its polearm madly. I jumped up and hit the ground with a slam, finishing the remaining enemies off instantly. "Did you have a stroke?"

"Shut up," I huffed. "I was just thinking."

"That's dangerous."

I immediately laughed. "I knew you were going to say that!" I grinned, momentarily distracted from my musings. "Like, ninety percent certain that..." I paused, sighing. "Ugh, James, can I use my favour?"

He paused, as I expected he would. "Your what...? Since when did I owe you a favour?"

"I helped you with Alys, so you've got to help me with something similar?"

"Similar? A-And what took you so long to... Oh, oh! Oh shit, have you got a human of your own!?" James gasped excitedly, his energy forcing a flush to my cheeks. I shuffled, adjusting my tail and tapping my claws against the surface of my laptop. "I thought you were being a bit weird."

"W-Weird?"

"Like, I don't know, just sort of... well, weird. So..." He paused, and I could physically hear the grin in his words. "Who's the lucky lady?"

My heart pounded in my chest, thumping almost audibly against my ribs. "It, uh, I might have..."

Silence.

“...It's not a lady, James," I eventually muttered, barely loud enough for the mic to pick up.

James, naturally, didn't let it slide. “Not a—wait, what? Rhys! You've got to spill now." His voice was a mixture of shock and genuine curiosity, the grin still audible in his tone.

“It's not a big deal," I said quickly, hoping to downplay it. My claws fiddled with the keyboard, even though my character stood idle on the screen. “And it's not, uh, what you think."

“Rhys, come on. You just made it what I think. You can't back out now," he teased, though there was an underlying sincerity that only made the knot in my chest tighten.

I hesitated, weighing my options. Did I really want to get into this with James? Sure, he was a good friend, but this wasn't just casual gossip—it was about Eric. About how I'd been feeling lately and how much it scared me to even acknowledge it.

"It's someone from work," I admitted finally, the words dragging out of me like they weighed more than they should. “That's all."

“Ohhh," James said, dragging the word out like he'd uncovered some big secret. “So, this someone—you want to, like, ask him out or something?"

I groaned. “You think I can just… say something and hope for the best? It's not just about him—it's about me. What if I screw it up? What if he doesn't… you know. What if he doesn't feel the same?" I paused. "It's not that simple."

“Why's it not?"

“Because it's not. Same as you and Alys! You think that's simple? It's not, and you know it." I snapped, frustration slipping into my voice before I could stop it. James fell silent, and I immediately felt the heat rise to my face. “Sorry," I muttered. “It's just... this isn't Reon, you know? Relationships here are different. They're supposed to be about feelings, but feelings don't come with guarantees."

I hesitated, my tail curling around my chair leg. “Back on Reon, it wasn't like this. Mating was survival, not... whatever this is. I don't even know how to start. What if I make the first move, and it's the wrong one?"

“Okay," James said slowly, clearly trying to tread carefully now. “But, I mean, isn't it always? Like, relationships are never easy. If you like this guy, maybe you should just... go for it?"

I snorted, shaking my head. “Says the guy who needed my advice on how to deal with Alys literally a minute ago."

James sputtered, his voice rising slightly. “Hey! That's not fair."

“Isn't it?" I shot back, smirking despite myself. “Because I distinctly remember having to explain to you that Alys was being territorial and not just randomly moody. And now you're out here handing out relationship wisdom like some kind of expert?"

“That's different!" He protested, though I could hear the embarrassment creeping into his tone.

“Sure it is," I said, drawing the words out. “Totally different."

He huffed, but there was no real heat in it. “Alright, fine. Maybe you've got a point. But at least I'm trying to return the favour, okay?"

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. “Maybe. But it's not just about liking him, James. It's about... everything else. Dragons aren't like humans. On Reon, relationships weren't about feelings. They were about survival. About making sure the next generation had a chance."

James was quiet for a beat, processing that. “But this isn't Reon," he said softly. “And it doesn't sound like you want it to be."

That hit harder than I expected. I let out a slow breath, his words settling over me like a weight I wasn't sure I could carry. He wasn't wrong. I didn't want our home world's traditions or expectations dictating my life anymore. But letting go of all that? That was easier said than done.

“Maybe," I muttered. “But even if I wanted to... it's not like he feels the same."

James made a thoughtful noise. “You don't know that," he said finally. “You're not a mind reader, Rhys. And from what you've told me, this guy sounds like he cares about you. Honestly, there's a teeny chance he is giving you special treatment. Not, like, less work, but just being nicer to you. That make sense?"

I glanced at the screen, where my character stood idle next to his. James' Styanax shifted slightly as he moved his mouse, his presence steady and patient. He wasn't all that smart when it came to his own emotions, but he was a good listener.

“Maybe," I said again, my voice quieter this time.

“Look," he said, his tone lighter now, “if he doesn't feel the same, then yeah, it'll suck. But at least you'll know, right? Better than driving yourself crazy wondering what if."

“James… Do you know what irony means?"

He scoff-laughed. "Yeah, it's when you give advice but can't actually follow it yourself. Pretty sure I'm nailing it."

I didn't continue right away; I just let his words sink in. He had a point, as much as I hated to admit it. But knowing something and acting on it were two very different things.

“Hey, your work…" He paused. “They'd be cool with you two, right?"

“For sure, it was just an issue with that one shift manager. He doesn't…" I froze at the sound of rustling bags and a huffing Alys. I looked over to the front door, spotting a tired looking sister and a bored looking brother. “Oh, um, one second, James." I waved a paw at the two.

Alys made a noise and hurried past Jarys, chucking her bags onto the sofa before storming into her bedroom. I watched her, tight lipped for a moment before looking over to Jarys. “Hey, Jarys," I said. “How was school?"

“Okay," he muttered, his tone shifting. “Alys saw James' new friend and got jealous. She's-" I felt my eyes widen. My microphone was sensitive. I waved at him and flicked the side of my headset. “Yeah, sure. Whatever." I tapped at my laptop, temporarily reducing the sensitivity.

“And then she took me shopping for ages while Oliver got to go to KFC," Jarys whined. “James invited us, but she said no!" I rolled my eyes, not looking up as I spent a revive. I was running low on affinity… “Uh-huh… Uh, latch the door for me, Jarys. And no, you two needed food for the week. You couldn't have gone to hang out with your friend or hers."

I could hear Jarys huffing, along with the sound of rustling bags. “Jarys, don't eat all of that for Skies' sake," I grumbled, not needing to look over at him to tell that he was probably eating Alys' depression chocolates.

“What's up? Are the others back?" James asked.

“Uh, yeah… Jarys is just eating all of our food."

Silence reigned as my brother chewed and huffed.

“Anyway," James added after a long moment. “If you need help, I'm your guy. Relationship advice, pep talks, even a wingman—just say the word."

“Thanks, James," I said dryly. “I'll think about it. But if this blows up, I'm blaming you."

“Hey, fair enough," he said, laughing. “But I'm saying the same about your territorial sister, alright?" I rolled my eyes at that but internally conceded. “Although, if I'm being honest, I'm kinda jealous that the only issue you've got is… uh, fuck, how do I phrase this…? You don't care about the physical part, right?"

“Nah, I'm cool with that."

“How?"

“What do you mean how?" I asked, tilting my head. “Why wouldn't I be cool with the physical part? Aren't you…?" It took him pausing for me to realise he was not in fact cool with it. “James?"

Silence.

“James?" I said again, this time with more urgency. The silence on his end was stretching just a little too long, and I could practically feel the tension through the call. “You good, man?"

He sighed, a long, exasperated sound that made me lean back in my chair. “I don't know how to phrase this. It's... complicated."

“Clearly," I muttered, clicking idly on the game's menu as I waited for him to explain. “So why don't you uncomplicate it? What's actually bothering you?"

“It's Alys," he admitted after a beat, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant. “I mean, not her, exactly, just... everything. Like, me liking her, uh, physically? It feels... weird. She's not human, and sometimes I just—I don't know if that's okay. N-No offense, by the way."

I blinked, my claws hovering over the keyboard. “Nah, I get it. But, James, liking Alys doesn't make you weird," I said slowly, trying to parse his words. “Okay, maybe you're a tiny bit weird, but no weirder than me or her. Besides, she's not just some random dragon. She's... well, Alys. And if you're into her, then what's the problem?"

“It's not just that," he said quickly, his words tumbling over themselves. “It's... everything. Like, I don't even know how it would work. You know, physically."

I froze, my tail curling reflexively against the chair leg. “Physically?" I repeated, my tone wary. “James, are you seriously asking me how dragon-human sex works!?"

“No!" he yelped, though his voice cracked, and I could hear the nervous edge in his laugh. “I mean, not... directly. But, you know... kind of?"

I groaned, dragging a paw down my snout. “Skie, help me; this is not a conversation I want to have. About my sister."

“You think I want to have it?" He shot back, though there was an almost desperate edge to his words. “But you're the only person I can ask. And you seem fine with Eric, so I thought maybe... you'd get it."

I sighed, the weight of his awkwardness settling over me like a too-heavy blanket. “Okay, look," I said, deciding to just get this over with. “It's not that different. I mean, dragons and humans... we're more compatible than you'd think. Cloaca or not—" I froze mid-sentence, my brain finally catching up to my mouth. Horror flooded me as the implications of what I was saying hit like a boulder rolling downhill. “Never mind. Forget we ever had this conversation," I muttered, my voice strained.

“Why?" James asked, and this time, his tone was almost gleeful. I could practically hear the grin spreading across his face. The shift from nervous to teasing was almost instant.

“B-Because I'm basically telling you why banging my sister wouldn't be weird," I rasped.

James' laugh erupted over the call, loud and uncontrollable. “Oh, I know. Keep going; this is phenomenal blackmail material! Imagine if Alys found out you were saying half of this."

I scoffed. “She'd probably say thanks."

“And Samys," he snarked. “How would she react to this phenomenal blackmail?"

I thought about it for a moment. “Samys would either kill you, then me, or… she'd explain what I missed. It's fifty-fifty with her when it comes to this sort of thing," I muttered.

James snickered. “Ah, of course. Internet racists and their boyfriends."

I busted out laughing, remembering the weird, vaguely offensive memes he'd send me whilst pretending to study. “Closer than you think." I leaned in closer to my laptop, as if that made it more private. “Have you heard about her ex?" It felt a bit soon to tell him family secrets, but I trusted him.

“Ooh, are we gossiping now?" He teased.

“Only if you promise not to tell anyone," I replied, lowering my voice. “I'm only telling you because it's kind of connected to… uh, what we've been talking about."

I could feel my tail swish, excitement bubbling. It was one of our family's best kept secrets, and one I was proud of knowing.

It was wrecked, however. “Did Samys date a human?" He asked, sounding too confident, too casual, stating it as though it were a fact. “And was his name Aiden?"

I pause, brain flash frozen.

H-How!?

“Y-Yeah," I stammered after a moment. “How did you know? Did Alys tell you?"

He laughed quietly. “I, uh, heard the name at Jarys' birthday party. Sounded human, and well, you guys were talking about how we're not all bad, so… y'know. Two and two and all. It was either that or a best friend, and you did just say ex."

“Huh. That's… kind of disappointing, actually," I muttered. “And here I thought I'd get to do a big reveal. Way to spoil my fun." I tried not to sound so sour.

“I live to disappoint," James replied, sounding pleased. “Just ask my dad."

I snorted at the self-deprecation. “To be fair, James, the guy was always kind of weird-looking, so maybe he was secretly a demon or something." He had the magic to back it up too, and he was a bit of a weirdo.

“A human and a demon? Samys really does roll with the lowest of creatures, huh. Total hypocrite."

I sat up and rubbed at my eyes, taking a moment to take a sip of the water I'd not touched since I first sat down.

“Yeah, but, uh, did he have, like, red skin or something?" James continued.

“Nah," I muttered, leaning back and yawning. “He had white hair and purple eyes."

The sound of the sofa creaking caught my attention. I spun around, spotting Jarys watching me with pricked ears and wide eyes. “Jarys!" I snapped. “Are you spying again!?"

He squawked and shuffled over to the other side of the sofa, eyes suddenly glued to the lightly warped screen of Alys' laptop. My scales itched with irritation and worry. I wasn't sure what he'd overheard, but most of what James and I had talked about had been painfully personal. “Ugh, sorry, James, I might have to call you back. Jarys—"

“White hair and purple eyes?" James interrupted, his voice sharp and shaken. “Seriously?"

“Yeah," I replied, frowning. “Nice guy, a bit weird though. Crazy good magic."

There was a long pause, and I could hear James's breathing now, uneven and deliberate. “I-I think I met that guy," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.

I froze, my claws digging into the armrest of the sofa. “I, uh, doubt it, man. He died five years ago. Alys and Samys saw the body… Are you sure you didn't just meet someone similar looking?"

James exhaled shakily, the sound making my spines prickle. “Uh, maybe? I don't know," he muttered. “It was when Alys and I went out for coffee. She left for the bathroom, and this guy came up to me—about seventeen-ish, white hair and purple eyes—and started jabbering about Alys picking me and exterminating something. I—" He hesitated, then rushed the words out. “A-Are you sure it wasn't him? Could he not have come over?"

“No," I said firmly, the certainty in my voice leaving no room for argument. “Humans can't cross over. That I know for sure. And, James, the guy was good with magic, but he was dead-dead—magic can't fix that, no matter what kind. But, yeah, that guy sounds… weird… maybe he's Earth's equivalent?" I forced a grin, though it felt awkward and hollow. “Heh, maybe Reon has a James?"

James didn't laugh. “Hm. Maybe," he muttered, the unease still thick in his tone. There was a pause, his breathing filling the silence. “I'm gonna get going, alright? I've got a ton to think about."

I didn't push him. “Wait. Are you still coming over this Friday?"

“Yeah," James said after a moment, his voice distant and distracted. “I'll… talk to you later."

“You too."

The call ended, and I sat there in silence, my character still frozen. James's unease lingered in the air, heavy and infectious. I rubbed a claw over my snout, trying to shake it off. Whatever had happened to him during that coffee trip, it clearly hadn't been normal—but the idea of Aiden showing up on Earth was just ridiculous. 

Dead people couldn't talk.

I sighed, shifting my focus to something I could actually control: Friday. Alys had said she was bringing James. My tail flicked as I considered it. If she could bring her human friend, why couldn't I invite mine? The thought made my chest tighten, my stomach doing an uncomfortable flip.

Would Eric even want to come? He'd been friendly, sure, but it wasn't like we were super close. And humans weren't exactly lining up to hang out with dragons—not outside of official work or casual, surface-level interactions, anyway. Still… he'd always seemed at ease around me, not stiff or awkward the way most humans got. Friendly, caring. 

That had to mean something, right?

But what if Eric said no? Or worse, what if he came and felt out of place? My tail thumped lightly against the backboard of the chair. Alys's decision to invite James seemed so easy, so natural.

She probably hadn't even hesitated. She probably hadn't even assumed he'd say no.

“Guess I could mention Alys is bringing a human," I muttered, more to myself than anything. “Might make it… less weird."

It wasn't a bad idea. If Eric knew there'd be another human there, maybe it'd make him more comfortable—or at least curious enough to say yes. And if he didn't… well, no harm done, right?

I let out a slow breath, trying to steady the mix of nerves and excitement bubbling inside me. I'd ask him. Probably. Maybe.

….

The call ended, the sudden shift in energy knocking my head back and giving me an earache. I forced my consciousness away from Rhys and paused for a tick. James' reaction stuck with me, circling in my mind like a stone skipping unevenly across water. I'd expected him to brush it off, to let it slide with his usual shrug and grin. Instead, he'd doubled down.

Way to kill the vibe, James.

I rolled my shoulders, trying to shake off the tension. My thoughts turned over restlessly, teasing the edges of anxiety. He could've drawn that out a bit longer, leaned into the physical worry, given it room to breathe.

…Whatever.

Despite my irritation, I couldn't deny it—Rhys was right. Earth really was a fantastic place to live.

Good food, warmth, shelter, water, and people who didn't constantly try to kill you. By Reonic standards, it was paradise. But even paradise had its flaws, didn't it? After years of living here, the monotony was hard to ignore.

Still… Earth humans, for all their little quirks, were at least tolerable.

But back on Reon, everything was… softening.

Teran and his bleeding-heart snake thought they could tame the world. Let the humans live freely, they said. Treat them as equals, they said. Pathetic. Dragons were hunters, not caretakers for a species that should've gone extinct centuries ago. Whatever. Teran and his mate were soon to have an egg. At least something useful would come of it, I thought.

Their numbers were returning, too.

Slowly but surely humanity was returning…

Vermin.

Another rift would fix that.

I didn't form the warp in town, of course. That would've been beyond idiotic. Earth's authorities—or worse, the dragons here—would sniff me out in an instant. The countryside was safer, far from human settlements. There, nestled in an overgrown clearing, the barrier between worlds was weak. Barely a shimmer in the air, it was a fissure waiting for the right push.

Red mana burned in my left hand, raw and searing dragonfire, untamed power that demanded to dominate. Blue mana hummed in my right, human life-force—erratic, alive, and brimming with restless creativity.

I pressed them together, feeling the energies clash. They fought at first, grinding against each other like oil and water, until they began to merge. Slowly, the colours turned purple—chimeric energy. Rare. Powerful. Unstable. It felt like holding a storm in my hands, barely leashed and ready to break free.

Carefully, I shaped the energy, sharpening it against itself until it was fine enough to cut. The air buzzed, tension building like the split second before a thunderclap.

With a sharp motion, I hurled the energy forward. It slammed into the shimmering fault line, and the air rippled like water under strain. Vibrations grew, reality itself trembling as if it might buckle under the pressure.

Then came the crack.

A jagged line split the air, the faint shimmer shattering into shards of liquid energy that twisted and spun. The fissure widened, the fragments curling inward, forming something alive.

A portal.

I grinned, running a hand through my sweat soaked and hair as I stepped closer. It wasn't quite stable yet, the edges quivering as if ready to collapse. I poured another wave of chimeric energy into it, coaxing it into shape. Slowly, the portal smoothed into a perfect oval, glowing with swirling purple light.

This wasn't just a gateway; it was a filter. Mythic creatures—dragons, gryphons, unicorns, the likes of me—could pass through unharmed. Reonic humans, though? For them, it would be a death sentence. The energy would strip them down to nothing.

Earth humans?

A mystery. Maybe it would give them headaches when shoved through.

Maybe worse. I hadn't tested it.

Yet.

For now, though, the rift would remain open, a beacon for dragons and other mythic creatures seeking escape. Humans would come soon enough, drawn by the electrical disturbances. They'd build one of their precious “transit stations" here, another checkpoint for their so-called “safe and stable" arrivals. As if they understood what truly made a creature dangerous.

The rift hummed, its violet glow pulsing steadily as it carved a path between worlds. I lingered for a moment, the energy vibrating through my skin—a reminder of the power I held.

Real power. The kind humans could never hope to control.

I turned away, the cool night air brushing against me as I headed for the trees. Behind me, the rift glowed faintly in the dark, waiting for what would come next.

Earth really was a fantastic place to live.