The sound of something being dragged across the grass made Kaarif's body tense but after a quick glance he confirmed it was Reeva approaching and relaxed again. With a corner of her cushion in her jaws and the rest dragging beside her, she gave a weak smile to her best friend. With a long tug of her neck, she rotated the square pad to be alongside the aquatic dragon's own and sat beside him. 

The sounds of their classmates gossiping and playing became a white noise to their lunch break as Reeva extracted the brown paper bag from her harness. In their final year, the pair didn't share elective classes and their lunch break was their first chance to catch up. While many of their classmates had taken to the sky and were chasing each other around the elevated goals that had been left on the Dragonball pitch, the pair were happy to watch from the edges of the turf. 

Deep bleachers surrounded the circular grass field, each level large enough for dragons to lounge while they watched the sport. However due to instances of graffiti, the seating was off limits to students except during games. On the edges of the circular pitch, six columns rose high above the soft grass. Each column was complete with a flat platform atop them, a 'nest' and goal for each team to score points in during a match. 

“So, I've been thinking. Or rather, I think I've been overthinking everything." Reeva announced pulling out a lump of dried meat from her lunch bag, with delicate claws she began unwrapping the paper coverings and lowered her snout to take a sniff. “The whole Meegi thing, I mean." She added and glanced at the silver drake, his purple frill flat against his neck as he poked the slices of meat he had bought from the cafeteria for lunch. 

“I mean, it's just an assignment, right?" Reeva continued and took a bite out of her home packed lunch. While eating, she continued. “We get to hang out together and work on this thing, but it doesn't mean that we are together-together. Right?" She asked but continued without waiting for a reply. “Like, if he asked me out or something. I would totes say yes. But, I shouldn't come across as too strong. Right?"

Kaarif pushed the meat around his tray before taking a deep breath and smiled politely. “Of course, you aren't desperate for him-"

“Exactly!" Reeva exclaimed with a mouthful before swallowing. “I mean, I think he is cute. But I don't want to give off the wrong impression." 

“Of course." Kaarif acknowledged and looked down at his plate. Despite the red meat being cooked exactly how he liked it, he didn't find it appetising. “Probably keeps your folks happy too."

Reeva took another bite of her meat, her sharp teeth making short work of the tender flesh. “Well... well that was easier than I thought." She managed to say while chewing. “I told my mom about it all, and she was weirdly supportive. Like… really weird about it." 

Kaarif frowned and looked at his friend, despite skipping breakfast he found he really wasn't feeling hungry. “What do you mean?" 

Reeva shrugged. “I don't know, I was kinda expecting the whole 'drake's are nothing but bad influences' thing. But, she was totally fine, even suggested studying at home alone with Meegi." 

“Well, I've studied with you at your place before." Kaarif remarked, “and I'm a drake. Am I not boyfriend material?" He asked softly and forced his lips to not curl into a smirk.

Reeva slowly chewed her mouthful, looking into his purple eyes to see if he was serious. When his frill twitched she smiled broadly, knowing he was just teasing. “Sorry Kaarif, Meegi is an easy ten, and you are like a…" she paused to pretend to think. “Four?-"

“Four!? What the fuck Reeva!" Kaarif exclaimed loudly. “In what world am I a four? Like come on! A solid seven at least."

Reeva laughed and wrapped a wing around the silver drake's back to pull him into a friendly hug. “Oh sweetie, it's okay. You are someone's seven." She teased. 

“Gee thanks!" Kaarif retorted and leaned away from her until she retracted her wing. “First Tiiphani and now you? Is there no one here that likes little ole Kaarif?" he asked with a pained smile. 

Reeva's grin faltered until she saw the pain in his eyes and became serious. “Wait what? First Tiiphani? What do you mean?"

Kaarif rocked his head from side to side in a nonchalant shrug and looked down to his lunch, the tender steaks still not looking appealing to the drake. “It was nothing, just a passing remark."

Reeva shuffled closer to him and lowered her head down to his level. “Kaarif, what happened?" She asked, her eyes laced with concern. She saw him smile as he was about to dismiss it again but tightened her wing around him. “Kaarif." She added firmly. “What did she say?"

Kaarif turned his head to look back at the wing over him before shrugging. “It was… she just made it clear that she wants to get at least a B for this stupid assignment." He said simply, when her wing didn't retract he rolled his eyes. “She may have implied that it was in my best interests to make that happen. Or else I may become accident prone."

Reeva looked around to the rest of her classmates to try to spot the red dragoness Tiiphani. It was clear that her friend was hurting and she felt her blood boil, as she scanned the field she clenched her jaw. When she spotted the crimson dragoness she was about to stand but paused when she saw the much larger dragoness Miikalah amongst them. Built solid and mean, Reeva knew any confrontation with Tiiphani or Miikalah would end with herself pinned to the grass or worse. 

“That's not right, Kaarif." Reeva said softly. 

Kaarif pulled to the side until she retracted her wing. “Yup, but what can ya do?" He asked rhetorically.

Reeva frowned. “We can tell a-"

“Teacher?" Kaarif finished her sentence and shook his head. “It was just me and her, who are they gonna believe? The daughter of the owner of Cresties Dragonball team, or the little aquatic derg who already said he didn't want her as a partner?"

Reeva opened her mouth to object but closed it again when she realised it would be no use. “That's… shit."

“Yup!" Kaarif acknowledged, looking down at his lunch he drove a piece of meat through the sauce with a claw but couldn't find it in him to eat it. “Best I can see is that after the presentation, I try to stick to public places for a few weeks."

“That dropped egg…" Reeva swore. “Let me guess, she isn't gonna actually help either, is she?" She asked and sighed when Kaarif shook his head. 

“I bet she will make sure her name is on it, but fake a throat infection or something on the day." Kaarif explained, “I think she did that for her last history assignment too."

“Well, you could try and get a B? I could help you." Reeva offered. 

Kaarif waved a paw dismissively, “Thanks, but this is my mess. You already have your own assignment." he said sadly before his frill flared slightly. “Wait… don't you think I can get a B?" He asked, pretending to be offended. 

She could see that his emotional armour was back on and hugged him close. “Oh, I'm sure you can bud." She lied, her smirk telling him that she wasn't buying his act. “I would just be there to make sure it wasn't an A. You know, let her know that you ain't scared." she added with a patronising pat of her wing on his back.

“Thanks Reeva, you're always looking out for me." Kaarif retorted with a genuine chuckle. “Maybe I should try to get close to a B and see what happens."

Reeva sliced a piece of dried meat and stabbed it with a claw, offering it to the silver drake who shook his head. With a shrug she lowered her snout to take a bite, “So… any idea what your… presentation is going to be about?" Reeva asked between chews. 

Kaarif shook his head sadly. “No idea. Five minute oral on something that's changed over time." He repeated their assignment. “I don't know, should I try something complex and earn points because it's tricky? Or something simple and cover it completely?" 

Reeva thought for a while, chewing the dried meat before swallowing. “Mr. Siigma isn't thick. I think if you try to go complex, he will meet you there." Reeva explained, knowing her teacher had often questioned students when they thought they were being clever.

“So something basic then." Kaarif agreed, while tracing a line of sauce across his tray with a sharp claw. “What about teachers? Dragons couldn't always be teachers, but now we have one. I could make it about him, do you think that would work?" 

Reeva was about to nod before she cocked her head. “I don't know, he might see it as you are trying to kiss his tail."

“You're probably right." What little wind Kaarif had deflated as he nodded in agreement. “What are you going to do yours on?" 

“Not sure really, I guess that's what we are going to do on our date-" Reeva cut herself off as she blushed and her neck frill flattened in embarrassment, the wide grin on Kaarif's snout made her swat a paw on his forearm. “Our homework thing! I mean our homework thing!" 

“Uh-huh…" Kaarif teased. “Maybe you should make it about something you like, that way he knows a bit about you." 

Reeva's frill perked up at the idea before laying flat again. “That's not a bad idea. But what if he doesn't like what I like?" 

“Then lie, girl! Or even better! Suggest something that he likes, find out what his hobbies are and make it about him. Drake's like a 'ness who is into what he is into."

Reeva's nostrils flared as she nodded in thought, looking across the school's Dragonball pitch she could see many of her classmates playing on the grass or in the air. “That's… Yeah, I could do that? I don't know what he is into though, other than Dragonball. But, I don't know anything about Dragonball."

“So? Have him explain it to you?" Kaarif said before grinning. “Over a steamy coffee in his cafe, windows fogging while it rains outside-"

“Why is it always raining in your stories?" Reeva exclaimed, feeling warmer than usual. 

Kaarif grinned guiltily, “It's a good excuse to be close to one another." He said simply. “It's like the modern version of two dragons sharing a cave in a storm, the formula works!"

Reeva shook her head in disbelief. “Maybe… it is kinda cute." She said before grinning back. “I don't know though, it's a bit obvious. What if he doesn't like Dragonball."

Kaarif blurted out a laugh and looked to see if she was being serious. “Reeva, honey… every drake likes Dragonball and you don't get as good as he is without loving the sport."

Reeva shrugged and folded her wing back along her side. “I don't know about all drake's liking Dragonball, that's a bit of a generalisation." Reeva explained, “Like, I would have thought you were a great swimmer. But you avoid the swim team like it's the plague."

Kaarif straightened his posture and slowly turned his head to face her. “Why do you think I'm a good swimmer, Reeva?" He asked, trying hard to look confused. 

Looking down at the aquatic drake, “Oh, I didn't mean…" Reeva started to apologise before closing her mouth and squinting slightly. “Oh, come on! You know why."

Kaarif cocked his head in mock confusion, his frilled collar swaying limply as he turned his head. “No, why would you think I am a good swimmer?"

“Fine!" Reeva exclaimed with an exasperated sigh, “because you are an aquatic-"

“Reeva! What?" Kaarif exclaimed loudly. “I thought you were better than the others! You think because I look the way I do, I must be good at certain things." He added before tilting his head to the sky in offense. “Sheesh, Reeva… I'm going to have to find a new best friend now, I didn't have you pegged as a racist-"

Reeva shook her head in disbelief, knowing he was not being serious. “Oh flap on-"

“I would if I could!" Kaarif retorted with a grin, “this is the best I got." He added and flared his collared neck frill before focusing on closing it to make it flap. As Reeva burst out laughing, he repeated the flapping motion of his frill while raising his head as if it was taking off and looked surprised. 

The pair laughed before she snorted which made them both burst out laughing even harder. Finally after wiping a tear from her snout Reeva composed herself and looked at her friend. “But seriously, why don't you join the swim team? I bet you are fast in the water."

Chuckling, Kaarif gave a playful shrug before looking down at his food. “Yeah, I probably am, I could probably set some school records too."

Reeva cocked her head and caught the small smirk in the corner of his snout. “So, why don't you? You could probably pick up some extra credits."

Kaarif nodded, lifting a webbed paw he stabbed a piece of his lunch with a claw. “Probably could."

Reeva shuffled to turn her body to him. “Which would mean, you might not need a tutor over the break."

“I should probably get a tutor anyway." He replied and lifted a piece of meat to his snout. “Have you seen what the chef's did to this steak-"

“Don't change the subject, Kaarif." Reeva chuckled. “Why don't you want to be on the swim team?" 

Taking a bite of the tender but cold steak he smiled, “Not fair for everyone else." He said with his mouth full. 

“Liar." Reeva retorted, “I know you don't mind playing unfair. Wait… you can swim right?"

Kaarif rolled his eyes while chewing his food, “Oh my god, of course I can swim. Can you imagine an aquatic dragon that couldn't?" 

Raising an eyeridge, Reeva leaned close to her silver friend. “So why don't you then?" She asked and saw him smirk, her clearly not knowing something was amusing to him and she quickly changed tactics. “I promise not to tell anyone. But if you don't tell me, I'll let slip to Tiiphani that you can't actually swim."

Kaarif glared at her, he knew she wouldn't but slowly swallowed his mouthful and picked up another price of meat. “I can swim just fine, hell, I could thrash those clowns in the swim squad. Wings are just drag underwater after all." Taking a bite of the meat he saw her staring intently at him and finally continued. “I don't swim for sport, because I'm more than just a good swimmer, and the school would love it if I did swim for their precious swim team."

“I don't understand."

Chuckling, Kaarif shook his head. “When I moved here, the school made it very clear to my folks that they had a swim team. They went into detail that they had rivalries with some of the public schools and wanted to ensure they won the championships. On my first day they gave me a sign on pack. Like a little tote bag with a towel, claw caps so I don't scratch the pool and ear plugs, even though I hadn't even signed on yet."

“It sounds like they really wanted you to join." Reeva remarked with a smirk. “So wait… you didn't join, because they wanted you to join?"

Kaarif gave her a wink and a smirk, “Top of the class, as always." 

“Gods you can be petty." Reeva laughed, “So you are okay missing out on extra credit, just to spite the school? And your folks are cool with that?"

Kaarif nodded while picking up another piece of meat. “Oh, they don't care. They made it clear that they want me to get good grades, get a good job and give them a couple grand eggs to look after. Being good at swimming doesn't exactly relate to being successful in the real world."

Reeva nodded as she watched him take the next piece of meat from his claw and continued to eat. “Do Dragonball players get paid well? Like, I know the top players would, but what about the other leagues?" 

Kaarif nodded and looked above the pitch. A few of their classmates could be seen tossing a white ovoid shaped ball between them as they burnt off some energy. “Oh, they all do. The top players rake it in, but even the lesser leagues bring in a good hoard." He explained while pushing another piece of meat through the sauce and biting into it. “Think… think of it like hazard pay." He continued while eating. “It's a brutal sport to play, and gets violent quickly. So players are always retiring with injuries and new stars replace them all the time. Hell, our school's coach Daanic, he used to be a big shot in the Cresties."

Reeva had heard rumours that Tiiphani's parents had played a role in securing the injured player as a coach, but had not thought much of it. “I heard Mr. Daanic was famous or something, didn't he used to go to this school?" 

“Oh yeah, he studied here and got snatched up by the Cresties a couple years after graduation. Didn't last more than three seasons though, you can find the clip online. He got into a nasty accident on the field and almost got a wing torn off. Like I said, it's a brutal sport, but exciting to watch."

Reeva nodded in understanding. “My mom's not a fan, says it's too barbaric. But let's dad watch the big games."

“It used to be a lot worse. At least now they have pads and aren't allowed to kill other players." Kaarif said casually while stabbing another piece of meat with a talon. 

“Wait… you're serious? They used to be allowed to kill other players?"

Nodding with his mouthful, he chewed before swallowing quickly. “Like centuries ago. Why do you think they call the balls eggs and the players claimers and brooders?"

Reeva's frill perked up as she connected the dots. “Wait, no way they used real eggs, what happened if they were dropped?" Looking up above the Dragonball pitch, she could see Meegi tossing the white ball to his Friend Riikal while midway through a loop. The athletic dragon's body twisting like a dancer as he righted himself and dove after his friend. 

“Bye bye, egg." Kaarif said bluntly. “Again, ages ago. Now they are not allowed to strike wings, they are all padded up and the egg is just a synthetic ball."

Reeva looked down at the remainder of her lunch but suddenly wasn't feeling hungry. The idea of dragons tossing an unhatched egg between one another made her stomach tighten, her frill twitched as she heard Kaarif continuing to eat and looked at him. “You're not pulling my tail, are you?" She asked and he shook his head. “Because if I ask Meegi if it's true and it makes me look silly-"

“Look it up if you want." Kaarif exclaimed. “I promise, it's fucked. But this was way back when the players were owned by humans. It was very much a blood sport, a way for rich masters to demonstrate their wealth-"

Reeva's mind wandered but nodded politely while she looked back up at Meegi flying overhead. While every dragon was born with the tools to kill, she couldn't believe he had it in him. The way he darted and weaved through his peers with such speed and grace that she couldn't see him lasting long in the old rules, but a part of her found that fact oddly comforting. 

“-earth to Reeva!" Kaarif teased, smiling as the dragoness blinked and looked back at him. “Still find Meegi hot?"

Her frill perked up and snout blushed at the thought before swatting him on the forearm. “Shut up." She exclaimed. “Yes." She added softly, much to the silver drake's amusement. “Hey, there is a game this Saturday isn't there?" 

“The season hasn't started yet, but there is a 'parade' game this weekend." Kaarif explained. “Although 'parade' is a loose term." 

“Parade?"

Kaarif slid the final piece of meat through the last of the sauce and lifted it up. “Well, it's meant to drum up hype for the season. Also to show off the talent. Like, if you owned a team, now is the time to show how strong and fierce they are. However, because the points don't matter, neither do the penalties so it's not uncommon for 'accidents' to happen during the parade games, well in the big leagues anyway." Kaarif explained. “Especially to star players, the ones that would be hard to beat in a real game."

“Are you saying that they would try to injure them on purpose?"

“Oh no…" Kaarif said in the most unconvincing voice. “That would never be their goal… just accidents tend to happen."

“So it is all part of the strategy?" 

“Yup, winning is everything. Even if it means grounding a dragon permanently." Kaarif replied once he had swallowed his mouthful.

“And all teams do this? Even the top teams?" 

“Especially the top teams! When big money is thrown around, even the elite club owners get desperate."

Reeva was shocked, her mouth tasting bitter at the thought of such unsportsmanlike behaviour. “That's crazy." She muttered under her breath, her eyes flicking towards Kaarif who was suddenly very focused on the air in front of them. “You good-"

Kaarif raised a paw to silence her while he thought, after almost a minute of silence he slowly nodded. “Yes… yes I think I am." He said, each word slow and measured. “I think I may have found my topic for the assignment." 

“Oh really?"

“Oh yes." He said with a sinister grin. “I think I know exactly what to present."

Reeva shook her head with a look of disbelief, “I've seen that look. Do I want to know what you are thinking?" 

Kaarif's frill flattened against his neck as he tried to look innocent. “Oh, I'm just thinking of Dragonball things."

As Reeva opened her mouth to probe further, the bell rang out across the campus to signal the end of their lunch.

Sitting on her haunches on the cold concrete, Reeva watched as her classmates left school for the day. Her stomach was tight and tail swishing slowly as she waited for Meegi to meet her. 

Turning her forepaw, she checked the time on her phone and looked around again for the tan drake. She had contemplated hanging around the water fountain, in order to not appear like she was waiting for him but couldn't bring herself to leave in case he came and saw her. 

As her classmates took to the sky in groups and began to head home, she found herself feeling alone in the large empty assembly area. She had smiled at Kaarif as he left, the silver drake had mouthed 'good luck' across to her as she waited patiently for her partner. While she had hoped that Kaarif had waited with her, the silver drake had a bounce in his step as he headed home to work on his assignment. 

Fidgeting with the straps of her harness, she tried to loosen them to make them even but found that she was almost out of extension on the straps. Given how much her father had complained at the time about the cost of the harness, she wasn't eager to ask for another. Deep down, she knew she would have to ask her parents for a new one. As a fledgling coming into adulthood, her body was going through its final growth spurt and it was only natural to outgrow her harness. 

As the last few dragons took to the sky, she frowned and looked around once more. With no signs of the tan drake, she started to wonder if she had remembered their interaction wrong. With a delicate touch of her claw on her phone, she opened the calendar app and confirmed it was yesterday that she had been given the assignment. Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady her building anxiety and slowly exhaled. “Maybe he forgot?" She muttered under her breath. 

Looking at the time once more, she promised to wait for at least an even number on the clock before leaving. Her heart sank at the thought of having to explain to her mom that their meeting hadn't gone as planned. 

“Sscreeaah!" A distant roar came from behind her. Snapping her head around she reared up onto her hind legs to see the tan drake flying rapidly towards her. His yellow wings beat the air into submission as he soared above the school grounds. 

She let out a sigh of relief that she didn't know she was holding and spread her wings. With a leap and a bound she took to the sky, the ground falling away behind her as the thin membranes of her wings caught the air and propelled her upwards.

Angling herself to intercept his trajectory, she beat her wings quickly to try and match his speed and height. Her heart pounded and lungs burned as they worked together to deliver oxygenated blood to the flight muscles that wrapped her chest and flapped her wings. 

“I am so, so sorry!" Meegi exclaimed as he came closer, His pace only slightly slowed as she pulled up alongside him. “I forgot I had a pad fitting thing at the end of last period."

Reeva nodded in understanding while trying to keep pace with the athletic drake. While she normally had no issue flying on such a calm day, his pace was a lot faster than she was used to. Looking at him while he flew, she could see his broad chest muscles bulging and tensing with every wing beat. Being so close to him she noticed that his scales were not completely tan, each scale had small streaks of light green running through them like veins in an autumn leaf. Realising she hadn't replied, she quickly shook her head to clear her thoughts and smiled. “It's okay. I was doing other stuff too." She lied. 

“Still, I feel bad. No one in the team had your details otherwise I would have messaged you." Meegi explained, “and Riikal went before me. I swear, everything was either too small or too loose."

Beating her wings hard, her muscles burnt but she took a deep breath and tried to smile. “It's fine. You need the pads before the game this weekend, don't you?" When Meegi gave a weak smile and nod in return she waved a paw dismissively. “Then it was important."

“I still feel bad for keeping you waiting. Can I make you a coffee or something to make up for it?" 

“I don't really…" Reeva's words drifted off as she caught herself and smiled. Her heart melted as he was clearly trying to apologize. “Um, yeah. I would like that." 

Meegi's smile broadened as he watched the dragoness fly beside him. Looking ahead he saw that they had drifted off course and with a small nod and twist of his tail he led Reeva across the city.

Looking down at the busy metropolis, the pair could see the city starting to become busier and busier with the afternoon traffic. While cars filled the streets, more and more dragons were taking to the sky to do errands before the end of the day. 

Standing tall in the center of the city stood the four buildings that made up The Spires. Reeva glanced towards them, knowing that her father would be waiting for her to return. She promised herself she would message him when they landed to tell him she was elsewhere and tried to think of what to say. 

Meegi glanced at the sky blue dragoness in the corner of his eye. Her crimson frill occasionally rose and fell as it battled the air currents while her long tail drifted like a ribbon behind her, forever adjusting and correcting her flight. He could see her chest swelling and contracting with every breath she took, despite her stoic expression he could tell she was quickly becoming fatigued. With a slight adjustment of his wings he turned his speed into drag and began to slow down.

Noticing the reduced speed she smiled thankfully and chuckled. “Oh thank you, I didn't want to say anything, but I am not as fit as you." 

“No, sorry… again." Meegi replied. “It's a force of habit, sorry."

“You always fly that fast?" Reeva asked, her eyes widening as he nodded. “Do you live near the school?" 

Meegi shook his head and caught himself before saying the suburb where he lived. “Not exactly, but between the cafe and home I definitely get my flaps in."

“I bet!" Reeva chuckled, despite smiling she couldn't help feeling substantially more self-conscious of her weaker body. “Do you work every day?" 

Shaking his head, Meegi explained, “Usually it's just weekend stuff. But the season is about to start and that will keep me busy. So I convinced the boss to let me do some afternoon shifts, it gets pretty quiet but the competition is open. So I think we kinda have to be. If that makes sense."

Reeva nodded in understanding, she knew dragons were creatures of habit until they saw a better deal and if a competitor shop offered a better service then it was likely to attract long term customers. 

“I've only been working there for a few months and I think the boss is pretty cool." Meegi added to fill the silence. “He offered to pay for my pads if he got to put a logo on it, but the school has strict rules on that sorta thing." 

“That would have been cool!" Reeva replied. 

“I thought so too!" Meegi grinned, “But instead he gave me an advance and I'm paying him back." 

“Oh, you pay for your own gear?" Reeva asked and saw his jaw clench and eyes focus ahead. His whole body seemed to stiffen as if that wasn't what he wanted to say. “That's kinda cool." She added and saw his eyes flick to her to see if she was genuine. 

“You think so?" He asked softly, his voice only just audible over the wind. His smile returned when she nodded enthusiastically. 

“Well yeah! I hate asking my folks for money too. It makes me feel like I'm a hatchling." Reeva explained. 

Meegi's smile flickered at what she said before nodding along. “Yeah, me too!" He lied and looked forwards, spotting the familiar roof ahead. “Some independence is good, isn't it? That's me just down there." He added and gestured with a paw to the buildings ahead.

Following the direction of his paw, Reeva saw the single story building. Surrounded by tired looking shop fronts, the roof was painted a faded terracotta color with the company's logo in high contrasting colors. Two black dragon paws holding onto a coffee cup with the words 'Claws on Coffee' printed four times in each direction, allowing dragons to read the company name regardless of how they approached the structure. Situated between the inner business districts and the outer suburbs of the city, the cafe was in a prime location for dragons to fly over on their way home or to work. 

Seeing a free landing area marked on the street right out in front of the cafe, Meegi smiled at her and gestured with an elegant flick of his paw for her to land first. Chuckling at his chivalrous gesture, Reeva cropped her wings and dove down to the landing area. Her smile fading as she quickly realised that the athletic drake would now be watching her landing and judging her. The strain in her weaker wing muscles now became more apparent as she flared out for a touchdown. 

Stretching her hind legs down and adjusting her wings, she landed on two legs before dropping down to all fours. Her small nervous stumble masked by her quickly trotting onto the pavement to give Meegi some room. 

She could feel the burn in her wing muscles as they finally received a break from flying and by the time she had coaxed them to fold against her sides, the tan drake was touching down on the asphalt landing area. When he saw the trailing edges of her wings drooping slightly his stomach tightened, knowing that she was likely trying to hide her now sore wings.

“Everything okay?" Meegi asked, his eyes flicking to her wings. 

Reeva nodded and smiled, “All good. I just didn't stretch before flying." she replied. She knew it was not completely a lie, but that she was going to be sore tomorrow. 

A brief awkwardness hung in the air before the door to the cafe opened, a bell inside ringing as a drake emerged. The pair quickly moved out of the way to let him pass before Meegi nodded to the cafe and stepped inside while his tail kept the door open for Reeva. 

“There you are!" called the man from behind the counter. Looking to be in his forties he wore a tidy black button-up shirt with a purple tie behind an orange apron. His uniform gave him the appearance of having black arms and an orange body. With a queue of human and dragon customers and the scream of an espresso machine, the entire atmosphere was chaotic and loud. 

“Sorry Mike, I got held back at school." Meegi replied and quickly trotted behind the counter and gave his paws a wash in the sink. Pulling an apron off of a hook on the wall with his jaws he flicked his head up and pushed his snout through the neck loop. With a wiggle and shimmy of his neck, the heavy orange garment settled across his front. 

“Are you getting into trouble again?" Mike teased as he leaned forwards against the counter to let the drake pass behind him. The student took up his position behind the large espresso machine while the human smiled at the next customer, the pair already having developed a routine. 

Reeva chuckled and spotted a collection of lavender coloured cushions in the cafe and when she caught Meegi giving her a nod she made her way over to one and lay down. Letting her tired wings relax she found herself mesmerised by the controlled chaos of the store. The man called Mike seemed to know every customer by name and order, pausing for a brief small talk while processing their payment. The customers that were not dining in would produce a large flask from their harnesses, each one a similar color to their draconic owner.

The decor of the store caught her eye, while the few coffee shops she had been in seemed to have a consistent aesthetic, this store seemed to have a striking colour palette. Black framed pictures of famous dragons hung on the faded terracotta colored walls along with the industrial style black powder coated shelves behind the counter. However while the walls looked tired, the cushions looked almost brand new. Plush, soft and a lavender colour, Reeva kneaded her paw in them as she made herself comfortable. 

Reaching into her harness, she extracted her notebook and a textbook and began working on her homework for other classes while Meegi worked. Occasionally when she looked up she saw the tan drake talking with his boss, however the scream of the coffee machine made it impossible to overhear what was being said. 

Her eyes widened as she realised she hadn't told her mother where she was and quickly swiped to unlock her phone. While the phone would be considered a small tablet to a human, she had to take her time to gently tap at the screen with her claws to send the message. 

With the happy swoop noise from her phone, the message was sent and Reeva looked back at the pair behind the counter. While standing, Meegi's head would have been just above the human's, now that he was sitting on his haunches his head was now well above the large coffee machine. Her homework quickly became forgotten as she became fascinated with watching him work, the occasional rush of steam puffed out of the machine as the tan drake cleaned the spouts between orders.

Eventually what was once a line of customers had become a single person. As they thanked Mike and Meegi for their coffee and turned to leave, the door swung open as a dragoness entered. Clearly foreign, Reeva couldn't tear her eyes away from the dragoness' lavender colored fur that covered her whole body. While wingless, her height was similar to Reeva's, however stockier and by the looks of the few faded hairs around her eyes, much older. Her smile matched Mike's as she held the door open for the leaving customer before practically bounding towards the counter. 

“Alright Meegi, the shop is yours. Make sure you lock up and flush the machine." Mike exclaimed before leaning over the counter to greet the dragoness. Reeva tried to not look as the man held the purple dragoness' jawline and kissed her on the nose, only now Reeva noticed the bracelet the man wore and the matching ring on the dragoness' horn. 

“You kids have fun, don't get into trouble." Meegi remarked at the pair and quickly caught the apron that was tossed in his direction from Mike. 

“Same to you!" The man grinned and came around the counter, wrapping an arm around the dragoness' shoulders they made their way together out of the cafe.

Reeva waited until the door closed before looking up from her textbook and smiled. “Your boss does seem cool. A little older than I imagined." she remarked before double checking that had left. “And I take he is with that dragoness?" 

Meegi nodded, “It would be weird if he wasn't." He grinned when she laughed. “Also, sorry about the wait. The afternoon rush isn't usually that bad. Can I get you something before we get started?"

Reeva's eyes lit up and she squinted to try and read the board above the counter. “Ummm, what's good?"

“Everything is good. What sort of coffee do you like." 

Reeva's frill flattened against her neck as she smiled sheepishly, “I-um… I haven't really had coffee before." She admitted weakly. 

“Well, It can be your first time-" Meegi clamped his jaws shut quickly and eyes went wide before hastily adding. “No-no-no! I mean, your first coffee. I can make you your first coffee, or tea, or something else."

Reeva saw the calm demeanor of the drake shatter in front of her and she stifled a giggle, his smile returning as he realised she knew what he meant. “Can you do milkshakes?" Reeva asked after composing herself. 

Meegi grinned, his cheeks still darker but his ivory teeth showing as he nodded. “I can do milkshakes."

Neebis closed a copy of Reeva's math text book and leapt from the couch as he heard wing beats flap deliberately on the balcony. Seeing his mate touch down he cocked his head in confusion, his chest tightening as he realised his daughter should have been home by now.

He quickly trotted over to the large sliding glass door and pulled it open with his jaws for the teal dragoness. “You're home early!"

Reevian kissed him on the cheek as she entered and continued to walk towards the kitchen counter. A spread of pens and notepads already laid out ahead of Neebis' homework time with Reeva. Looking at the array of books, Reevian knew she would have to explain why Reeva was going to be late. “The marketplace was pretty dead, so I decided to come home and spend some time with my lovely mate." She said, turning back to face him with a smile. With a slight twitch of her tail she communicated exactly what she meant. 

Neebis' eyes went wide and he glanced out to the balcony. “Ooo, but Reeva should be home by now…" his words drifting off as he heard the buckles of Reevian's harness come free. The heavy thud of the leather straps and click of metal buckles against marble echoed through the open plan living room. 

Reevian shook her head slightly as she undid the straps on the tablet on her wrist. “Reeva is with friends, doing an assignment." She said and smiled at him. “So it's just you and me."

Neebis' smile broadened as he walked towards his teal mate. His claws clicking against the marble floor as he approached her. “Just you and me, hey? Where is she? How long do we have?" 

Reevian shrugged and glanced down at her tablet on the floor, tapping the screen she couldn't ignore the pang of anxiety in her chest as she didn't see a message from Reeva. “I don't know actually." She said, her tone became serious while Neebis came closer.

“What? Did she tell you where she was going?" Neebis asked, his lustful eyes turning concerned when she shook her head. “Is she with Kaarif?"

Reevian pressed a button on her tablet to lock the screen and tried to give him a reassuring smile. “She was meant to tell me where she was going, but she probably got distracted." 

Sensing something was amiss, Neebis frowned. “Also, what assignment? Since when did she not tell me these things." Neebis asked, sitting back on his haunches with a flop.

Reevian leaned in and pressed her cheek against his. “I'm sure it's fine. I think she only got the assignment yesterday." She said softly, stepping closer to press her front against his affectionately.

Neebis' nerves calmed somewhat with his mate pressed against him, lifting a forepaw he wrapped it around her shoulders and held her close, turning his head he nuzzled her neck and enjoyed the feeling of her scales against his. “Did I do something to offend her? She normally tells me about assignments." He murmured softly. 

Reevian closed her eyes, the thought of lying to her mate eating away her resolve. “Promise not to tell her that I told you?" she whispered and smiled when he paused. Opening one eye she waited for him to nod before pressing into him further. “So, she got partnered with this drake she likes and didn't know how you would react."

“Wait… what?!" Neebis exclaimed, pulling his head back in shock to look his mate in the eyes. “You're kidding?! Since when did she like drakes?"

Reevian saw the genuine shock in his eyes and smiled. “She isn't a hatchling anymore, hon." As she leaned in further he pulled further back. 

“When did this happen? Why-why didn't she tell me?" He asked.

Reevian stood up and shook her head in disbelief. Picking up her harness and tablet off of the floor she placed it down on the kitchen counter and stared at her stunned mate. “Probably because she thought you would be like this?" She retorted with a gesture of her paw at him.

“But-but she is sixt-"

“Seventeen, going on eighteen, Neebis! She isn't your little egg any more." Reevian corrected her tail flicked in annoyance as she remembered the heated arguments she had with her own father so many years ago. “You have to let her do her own thing, or else you will just push her away." 

Neebis blinked while opening and closing his mouth in stunned silence, trying to rationalise how it felt like only the other day she rode on his shoulders. “But… So… So-so who is this drake? Is he alright?"

“I don't know, she told me it's just a homework thing." Reevian said with a shrug, walking around the kitchen island to approach the fridge. With a paw she opened the door and peered inside, contemplating what they could eat for dinner.

Neebis shook his head vigorously to clear his mind causing his crimson frill to flap against the side of his neck before perking back up again. “So you are okay with this? She is out with some drake she likes?"

Reevian shrugged again, “like I said, She told me it was just a homework thing. I gave her the speech of being smart and not doing any funny business." She said with her head in the fridge before pulling her snout out and looking over her shoulder at Neebis. “This isn't the first drake she has worked with and this hasn't been a problem with Kaarif. He has even slept over a few times this year."

Neebis tucked his wings in close to his sides, his neck in a graceful arch. “That's different. Kaarif is… funny-"

“Funny?! What does that mean?" Reevian laughed, closing the fridge with her tail as she walked back to her mate. She could tell he was clearly struggling to comprehend the idea of his daughter growing up. 

“Kaarif is funny, like a friend. Reeva likes him because he is her best friend. This new drake however, that's different. Do you know his name?"

“Meegi, his name is Meegi." She said calmly as she stood in front of him and pressed her head into his neck. “And I hear he has a job at a cafe, sounds like he is kinda down to earth." 

Neebis rested his chin between her horns and lifted a paw to wrap back around her shoulders. “Meegi…" he muttered under his breath, rolling the name around in his mouth as if trying to determine what kind of drake would fit the name. 

“This was always going to happen, Neebis." Reevian murmured. “She was never going to stay a hatchling forever."

Neebis kneaded his toes on her shoulder to reassure her that he understood. “I know… I just wish she told me, I thought we were close."

“You are close!" She chuckled, pulling her head out from under his chin she looked at him in the eyes. “Many 'nesses her age hate their parents, what you have with her… I would have killed to have with my parents." She stated, before blinking her moist eyes and pushing her head back under his chin. 

Neebis nodded and held her close, what he knew of his mate's family and upbringing was no fairy tale. “That's what I'm afraid of." He whispered, “She tells me everything, but not this?"

Reevian kissed his throat and nuzzled him tenderly. “She tells you everything school related."

“This is school related!" Neebis exclaimed, when she pulled out from under him again he pouted. “I mean, sort of school related."

Reevian rolled her eyes and shook her head. “If it makes you feel better, I had to coax it out of her."

Smiling, Neebis pulled her back into a hug, his paw stroking her shoulder as he enjoyed their closeness. “That does make me feel a little better. I still don't like not knowing where she is." 

As if on cue, a chime rang out from Reevian's tablet. It's screen illuminating to show a message from Reeva. “That will be her." Reevian murmured while nuzzling him. “See, nothing to worry about. She is a good egg, we did well." She added softly. 

Neebis nodded, half paying attention as he squinted to read the message on the tablet before the screen dimmed again. “You're right." He admitted softly with a small smile. 

“I know I am."

“And you smell good." Neebis added before lifting his head up to them angle down and kiss her forehead. 

“I smell of work." Reevian retorted. 

“Well, your work smells good." Neebis countered and smiled down to her when she looked up at him. 

“Drake's and their stomachs." She retorted and gave a playful slap to his shoulder. “Make you a deal, let me have a decent shower…" she added before kissing his jawline. “And then I'll have another one before Reeva gets home." She said in a sultry tone with a smirk, her smile broadened as she watched his mind connect the dots. 

“Oh?" 

“Oh, indeed." Reevian replied with a grin. Turning around, she swayed her hips from side to side seductively as she began to walk away from him.

Neebis swallowed, his eyes locked onto her tail base as she left the living room and turned down the hallway. 

“Let me get clean first!" She called back playfully from the end of the hall. “Make us some tea!"

Neebis chuckled, his attention shifting as her tablet lit up again as it tried to alert Reevian of the unread message. Taking a few steps closer, he confirmed she was out of sight before looking down at the message and memorised the address. 

He waited until he heard the shower head begin to blast hot water before he put his hastily made plan into action. Grabbing his harness off of a hook on the wall he quickly spread the leg loops and stepped in. Hoisting the harness up with his jaws he clasped the buckles shut and trotted towards the bathroom. 

Sticking his head around the bathroom door he saw his mate in all her glory, hot water cascading down her wings as she sat in the shower, her head tilted up at the showerhead with closed eyes. It took all of his self control to not enter but instead cleared his throat. “Hey honey, so I may have drank all the milk, I'll just go get some, I'll only be a moment." he announced, when she nodded he turned around. 

Walking quickly across the living room, he rationalised that a cafe probably sold milk…