It was Wednesday, August 21^st, grocery day, and for once I was up early.

I'd snagged an extra shift a few days prior in order to bulk out my college fund, but that meant I had to do my grocery shopping in the morning as opposed to the afternoon so as to leave me time to lounge about before heading back out.

As I was sitting in my kitchen at the dinner table, enjoying some toast, when I got a call.

Sarah Morris: 0784###

With food still in my mouth, I took the call.

“What's up?" I asked, voice muffled.

“Eh, not much," she answered. “Work and stuff, but, uh, James, have you checked Friendster recently?" Taken aback by the sudden shift in conversation, I took a moment to reply.

“I'm twenty-four, not forty-six. I only check it like once every few days or whenever I get a message." I paused to swallow. “Did someone get into an argument again? Was it interesting at least?"

“Kind of," she said slowly, her anxious tone of voice setting my nerves on edge. “You know that picture you put up last night, the one with that blue dragon?"

A hot shiver ran up my legs and into my sides.

“Y-Yeah?" I stammered, the hold on my phone tightening.

“Big comment clash," she said quickly, her admission followed by a relieved sigh. “Lots of nasty shit. I'm surprised your post wasn't removed, actually. Have you really not seen all of the notifications you've been getting?"

“I had to get up early today, so I went to sleep at like eight. Plus, I've had it on charge with do not disturb on." I minimised our call and quickly swiped over to Friendster. “Anything really bad?" I felt my eyes widen at an internal realisation. “Oh fuck, Alys probably saw all of that—I tagged her in it. God's sake."

“Alys? Who's Alys?"

I finally found my post.

“The, um, dragoness in the picture. How'd you not know her name? It's right there on the post." I paused, spotting the red heart. "Huh, look at that; she left a love heart." Rhys had liked it, as had Sarah and an auntie on my mother's side. The real treat, however, were the thirty-eight comments. “Okay, thank God, she hasn't replied, and neither has her brother."

“James…" She said quietly, her voice cautious. “You guys aren't, like, dating or anything, are you? I-I don't care if you are; I'm just curious is all." I believed her; she was honest to a fault. “You look close."

“Nah, we're just good friends, is all." I felt my heartbeat quicken just a little at the question. Wanting to divert, I quickly said, “God, actually, that reminds me; you remember that Michael I told you about? The one from work?"

“Yeah?" She asked, bait taken.

“He also thought we were a thing. Came up to us during a lunch break and asked."

“No way!" She laughed.

“Yes way. Although, to be fair, he probably only said it to be a dick." I thumbed through the comments, making sure to delete the bad ones—karma, it seemed—for setting my post to public and not just friends and family. “I don't get how that guy can be older than me and still act like a high schooler."

“Some people just are," Sarah explained through a mouthful of crunchy snacks—crisps, I assumed. “Have you gotten to the comments yet?"

“Yeah, I have; I'm removing a bunch of them now." I grimaced. “What a stupid place to have a political debate; underneath a selfie celebrating a ten-year-old's birthday party... It's like marching through a fucking Build-A-Bear or something."

I scrolled down, coming across an especially nasty one.

"It's sad to see such a nice young man with a dragon. You could have a real relationship if you just tried!"

A real relationship...?

I stared at the dim screen, my chest constricting painfully at the accusation. It was easy to tell myself that their opinions didn't matter and that I was free to do as I pleased, but the sting still hurt.

They didn't know Alys like I did—they didn't understand, couldn't understand.

Surely, I thought, surely he wasn't the majority?

Surely it was just him, just him and his vitriol.

Right?

“Did you see that one saying you should be careful because they, uh, are dangerous or whatever it was he wrote? I blocked the guy." I was thankful for the interruption.

“Y-Yeah, I got it. Good call; actually, I'll do the same." I'd always considered political echo chambers to be a bad idea, but neither was open war. Especially given the field of said battle. “Aw… Cara's defending her." I tried, masking my tension.

“She's a university student; of course she's defending an interracial couple."

"Technically, it would be interspecies," I corrected. "God, the comments are going to look so barren without... wait, I'm stupid." I clicked back out of the comment section and disabled them entirely, wiping the bottom of the post clean. “It's such a pain that I had to get rid of them all because of a few dumbasses."

“Since when did you swear so much?"

I paused. “You know I'm twenty-four, right? And have a flat and a job? Besides, they are dumbasses." I clicked out of the app and sat back for a moment, trying to calm my shaking nerves.

I knew the selfie would stir up trouble, but still I pushed onwards. Despite their reactions, and despite the dull pain in my chest, I didn't regret posting it.

“Fairs." I could hear a shuffling of papers and pens. “Dad messaged."

“Why?" I was immediately suspicious.

“Asking how you are."

I clicked my tongue, resting my head on the backboard of the dining chair. “That's why you asked about Alys, isn't it? Are you spying on me?"

“Yes, but for my own consciousness, I was going to tell him whatever you wanted me to say. But, yeah, just the usual prying. I think he's only doing it because he got a new girlfriend, though—trying to impress her or something."

“Oh totally. She knows he's literally homophobic, right?" I finished my now cold toast and grabbed my backpack from its comfy spot on the sofa. "Or is he keeping that little nugget to himself?"

She laughed, though it was stilted. “I doubt it, but I'm not calling her up and telling her that. We'll watch that bridge burn when we come to it." She paused; the only sound I could hear was a light creaking—her gaming chair, I reasoned. “Have you spoken to Connor?"

“Not a lot," I answered weakly, metaphorically winded by his mention. “But he does message when he's not busy. I-I don't mind; I know he loves us and stuff; he's just working a lot." I felt a pit form in my stomach at his mention, and I knew for a fact that Sarah felt the same, so why she asked, I had no clue. “Have you seen Sam or Oliver recently?" I enquired, needing a change of topics. “They look just like Connor."

“Whoa… I wonder why that is!" She breathed in heavily, as though shocked. “Almost like we've got the same dad or something!"

I snickered.

“Yeah, but he looks like mum, so it's weird they both look so similar." Realising it was later than I'd expected, I quickly put on my shoes, along with the new black coat I'd worn to the previous night's party. “Right, I need to head out now. I'll talk to you soon. Love you."

“Love you!"

I ended the call after a moment of silence passed between us.

Curious for anything else I might've missed, I checked my notifications and found that I'd received a message from Alys, of all people. I considered leaving it a minute while I got ready, but then I realised that it was a recent one.

I put my plate and coffee mug into the sink for later and opened the message.

Alys Morgana.

“Morning. Last night was really fun! Thanks so much for coming!"

- 08:29

Aw, that's actually sweet. Only thirty minutes ago as well...

I swallowed a lump of nervousness and began typing.

“Yeah, it was fun and great hanging out. with you everyone. We should do it again when not busy whenever."

I put my phone back in my pocket after hitting send and grabbed my keys off their hook, only to jump when my phone buzzed almost the instant I did.

“When?"

I felt my eyebrows raise at the forwardness before reasoning with myself that she had likely taken my comment as meaning literally whenever.

“Just when neither of us have some free time. We could grab Rhys or whoever and go out for food like last time."

The little bubbles hesitated.

“How about now? Are you doing anything now?"

“Just getting ready for a grocery shop. What about you?" I had an idea of where she was taking the conversation but needed confirmation.

“I just dropped Jarys off at school, so I'm not doing anything."

You cannot be this nervous over meeting someone in town. Just relax, relax...

“We could go to a café? Starbucks has better coffee, but Costa is a bit cheaper, and their hot chocolate is nicer." As soon as I'd sent it, I regretted it. It was minor, yes, but I'd wished I'd been a bit more confident and simply picked one. “I'd go with Cost-"

“I can't drink hot chocolate."

Thank God she types so quickly...

“Starbucks it is! You can get it without lactose."

Ah, I kind of wanted hot chocolate.

…

Wait, shit, I could've picked Costa, and she could still have gotten lactose-free coffee!

Also, weren't they going to rename those places?

… Actually, a few places were supposed to be renamed but weren't. I think it's literally only been a few games, some manga, and fucking Facebook of all things...

It's almost like the government is lazy or something...

“Nice," she replied. I went to put my phone back in my pocket, only to stop when she texted again. I sighed and resolved myself to keep it out as I jogged down the steps to the lower levels of my flat. “Where is it located? Also, where will you be?"

“Hang on, let me grab the location real quick." I knew where it was, but only based on nearby places, so I was forced to look up the actual address. “It's at 48 Albion Street, LS1. It's near the shopping centre and a pharmacy."

“Shopping centre? Also, what's a pharmacy?"

I took a moment to think.

“What place do you know really well? I could meet you there, and we could just walk there."

“Yes. Thank you," she answered quickly, her nervousness obvious even through text. “I know the green sushi place. Very good fish."

“That's actually close to the cafe, lol. I'll meet you there in like thirty-ish minutes. It might be a bit longer if the buses are running slow."

“I'll get there quickly, just in case. I think there's a landing pad nearby."

Landing pad? Oh, right, wings.

Wait, does Samys walk, or does she get a bus? A car? How do dragons without wings get places?

Questions for later...

As if the universe were telling me that it would be a good day, my bus turned up almost immediately. My second boon was the near-empty downstairs compartment.

When in my seat, I checked to see if anybody could see me, and once certain of my solitude, I put my fingers into the hand sign Alys had shown me.

Nothing happened, obviously.

There's no way I'm the only human to have made this shape before. Surely someone was bored one day and did it. Maybe it needs mana?

I pulled my fingers loose and took my phone back out.

“Hey, quick question; how would someone (me) get mana?"

“Be born on Reon? Trade blood with me?" Were her very helpful answers. “Why?"

“Tryna blow up the guy in front of me with that hand thingy you showed me." An idea struck me. It was a bit forward compared to how we usually chatted, but I felt confident enough to try. “Blood? Would saliva work?"

A pause, then: “(o_O)" —exactly what I expected. “I know exactly what you're thinking, and no, it wouldn't work. Not enough magic."

“You could still try."

“James, I am not drooling into your mouth so you can blow people up."

“What a shame, what a shame. ( :( )"

There was a lull, one that stretched on long enough to make me regret the joke. I briefly considered backtracking but was unable to even begin typing.

“Maybe if you're a good human, I can try, but we'd need a private booth. I'm not a voyeur. ( ;) )"

“You sure?" I was glad for the empty compartment, for I could feel my cheeks warming up. “It could be a political statement; like that selfie, but messier."

Hey, look at that, bucket list—flirting with a mythological creature.

“Would you post it online? Show everyone?" She enquired.

“Oh yeah, it would be a permanent statement for all to see."

“Lol. I'm a bit confused on how this statement's going to work. Are we kissing, or am I literally dribbling into your mouth like a weird waterfall?"

“Dragon's choice?"

“(:O)"

I went to type but was stopped by her rapid continuation.

“Do both; we could see which one gets the most fame, then delete the less popular one. When are we doing this, by the way?"

“When in Starbucks, obviously, lol."

“Obviously, they appreciate interspecies spit-swapping."

I looked up from my phone, finding that I'd missed my stop.

I smacked the stop button and hurried off the bus when it pulled up at the next station. “Missed my stop, gonna." I decided against messaging and instead rang her up using Friendster's built-in caller.

“Yo. Guess who missed his stop?" I said cheerfully.

“I'm flying; if I crash into a building, I'm blaming you," she stated, the sound of tearing wind audible through the connection. “How'd you miss your stop?"

After getting the bearings of where I was, I began walking.

“Well, there's this one blue dragon who kept flirting with and harassing me."

She sniggered. “I doubt it. I think you started it by mentioning a slimy way to acquire magical powers, and she just played along."

“Specific guess." I crossed the street when the funny little man turned green.

“Yeah, I'm smart, plus... hang on, James. I'm not seeing a landing pad nearby; I'm going to have to circle around and then head back up. I think I see one near that big, uh, train place."

“The train station? I'm close to that street now, actually, so I'll head down there and meet you. Then we can go to the café if you still want to."

“Yeah, it sounds nice. Rhys drinks a lot of coffee, and it always smells really good. Where should we go afterwards?"

I nodded politely at a car that let me pass.

“We could just do some shopping? Have a look around for a bit? Kinda boring, but there's not much to do in town today."

“I really don't mind. Relaxing all day is my main goal in life now. I've had enough excitement to last a hundred years."

As I walked, I got a surprise message from Sarah.

“Hey. Dad wants to meet today at Costa. He's dragging me with him. What time is work for you?"

“I'm doing eight till half-one. I'm out with Alys today rn."

“Cute. You and your dragon girlfriend doing okay?"

“I hope you get buried alive."

“Hehe (:D ). I'll TTYL."

I quickly dealt with the messages before turning my attention back to Alys, who was still on the line. “Sorry, sister messaged. We, uh, it might sound sort of lame, but we could go to the park near the top of town? I heard it was pretty popular with flyers."

“You mean with girls?" She teased, and whilst on the phone, I could picture her smirking.

“Wait, so the guys really don't have wings? I thought it was just a coincidence that only you and Samys had them."

I jogged across a thin road during a red light, making sure not to drop my phone as I did. “Males do not," she said matter-of-factly. “But they do have better fire and tend to be stronger. Some nesses can't breathe fire at all."

“Can you?"

“You bet I can. Not as well as Rhys, obviously, but I'm pretty good."

I was on the main street; the train station at last visible.

“Can Samys?"

“No, she's unlucky. Whereabouts are you now?"

I looked around, recognising a few shops and locations.

“Near the big shopping centre, close to the pharmacy. I can see the train station from here. What about you?"

She paused, the sounds of a busy walkway all I could hear for a long moment. “I... I think I can see you, actually. Are you wearing the same jacket as last night?"

I squinted, at last able to make out the vaguely draconic shape. She was standing beside an old telephone booth.

“Yeah, I got you. Jesus, I really need to wear my glasses if I'm missing giant, blue lizards."

“...you wear glasses?"

“Um, no… Just a, uh, saying," I replied, realising that I'd given away a valuable secret to someone as snarky as Alys. The chirping laughter vibrating my phone didn't help settle my nerves.

“I'm ending the call; see you in a bit." I put my phone and hands into my pockets as I speed-walked to the sushi place and waited for her to reach me.

She approached quickly, tail swaying idly and wings folded tightly by her sides. As she neared, I noticed a fair few things different about her: golden bangles on both of her lower horns, along with her top right one, and a faux nose-ring attached to the end of her snout.

“Busy today," she said when close enough for non-stilted conversation. “Also, do you really wear glasses?"

It was a surprisingly good look for her. Punky, without being too strong. Just enough to stand out—which, to be fair, something she didn't need help with to begin with.

I sniffed. "Yes, I do, and no, I won't wear them. My eyes aren't so bad that I need them on all the time; they're mainly for reading." I nodded towards her. "I like your new look. Where did you get the jewellery?"

She angled her jaw up to allow a better look. “Family jewellery, plus a borrow from a friend of Rhys. Is it actually alright?"

I nodded. “Yeah, you look great, really."

Yeah, that sounded fine. Plus, she does look good.

“Thanks." She smiled, her expression softening for a second before returning to its usual composure. I nodded in the direction of the coffee shop and began walking. She followed quickly. “I like your, um, hair," she added, a little awkwardly.

I ruffled it, making sure not to disrupt the styling too strongly. “Thanks. I do think it's getting a little long, though." I tugged on a strand, discovering it could reach the tip of my nose. “I might get a haircut soon. Maybe whilst we're out today."

“No, it looks good," she said quickly, sounding almost panicked. “It's so fluffy and soft-looking. I always want to touch it-" She snapped her mouth shut. Catching my smirk, she looked away. “N-Not in a weird way. I'm just curious what it feels like."

I stopped and lent my head to the side. There weren't too many people on the sidewalk, so I felt safe doing it.

“What are you doing?" She asked.

I lent my head further down. “Do it…" I said. “I know you want to~"

She grimaced and looked around before quickly reaching up to feel. “Ooh," her tension faded quickly. “It's like wool! Ah, so nice…" She paused her feeling, her expression suddenly looking mischievous. Before I could move, she did her best to mess up my carefully constructed hair. “Big weakness, though."

Hang on, is that the first time she's actually... No, wait, paw on my shoulder in the selfie.

“Ha-ha, comedian dragon." I pushed her away and got to work fixing it. “And here I was going to buy you an overpriced croissant and a large coffee. I see now where my generosity gets me."

“Aw, that's…" She paused, ears flicking back. “Wait, really? How come?"

…huh. Why? Good question.

“Paying you back for last night?" I tried, not sure myself.

“You brought cupcakes."

“Cause it's a date?"

Her wings flared and her eyes widened, showing me that I'd said it with far too much conviction.

“I-I'm kidding!" I let out a chuckle; the sound clearly strained. “Sorry, it's early, so my humour is kind of trash until I've had some caffeine." Her response was a smack on the arm and a closed-eyed pout. “Relax. As an apology, I'll buy you an overpriced croissant and a medium coffee."

“You said large." She poked me in the arm with a sharp claw. “Don't go back on your word and ruin our date." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a woman hitch in her walking and look at us, mouth open—something I was grateful Alys didn't catch.

“Not a date." I poked her back, feeling for a moment how strong her arm felt despite being so lithe. “Otherwise we'd be having dinner."

“You're buying food and drinks, and we're making a political statement—that sounds like courting to me," she listed off, technically correct in her assessment.

“Sorry to burst your bubble, but I don't think we're actually doing that. I've seen enough online politics to last me. Plus, my family would probably murder me the second I posted it."

“So you care more about your own flesh and blood than letting me drool in your mouth?" Another strange look, one she did catch, based on the flicker of her eyes and the faltering of her smirk.

“Oh no, that's a definite goal—but I do care about being murdered."

Alys hesitated before continuing. “Would your family actually be that mad? I know that's a bit rich coming from me, but I thought most humans were pretty open-minded, or are you an exception?"

Open minded?

Oh, right, laptop jokes, and well... everything else.

“Honestly, no. As mean as it sounds, I don't think dating dragons is on most people's minds. Friends, maybe, but our brains just aren't wired for interspecies relationships. We've just grown up in a world where we're the only intelligent species."

“I guess it's different than on Reon, where there are multiple sapient races."

I wanted to ask more, but the idea of making her uncomfortable was itself uncomfortable. “Would you court a human?" I asked, sticking to the topic but still diverting it away from murkier waters.

“Yeah, sure."

I blink, taken aback by the bluntness. “Really? If you don't mind me asking... why? Is that not a bit weird to you? What about sex?"

She shrugged. “I wouldn't really see it as dating a human, but rather a person who was human. As for sex... I don't know; seasonal moods do some pretty crazy stuff to your body. I know a ness who met a gryphon one season, and wow, poor little clipped claws."

Clipped claws?

Oh my God, was that a slur?

“Seasonal moods? Like, uh, heat? Do dragons really have a heat cycle? I kinda thought that was a rumour."

She nodded. “Yep, every four months or so, for about a week I turn into a monster, eating the furniture and crying about how fat I am." Alys nudged me with her wing. “I'd recommend you avoid me during that unless you like sharing food. It's really nasty without a mate."

Don't ask, don't ask, please don't ask.

“I can imagine. Do you have a mate?"

I hate you.

The question hung, floating between us until it began to drag the mood down.

“N-No, no, I do not," she stammered, looking away, her cheeks turning a darker shade of blue. “In my defence, neither do a lot of nesses I know—a lot of them have been without one for a while. More females are born than males, and trust me, we're not exactly tripping over them here." Despite the way she'd said them, the words had weight to them, reminding me exactly why the dragons were on Earth to begin with and why there were so few.

She didn't let it get to her; however, as quickly afterwards she grinned and said, “And no, I'm not answering the question you've probably got, so save it."

Unable to help myself, I caught myself quickly scanning her.

Nah... no way. Around Samys' age and that decent-looking... for a dragon, I mean.

Fucking Freudian slip.

I held my hands up, ignoring the light flush creeping up my neck that resulted from my staring at her legs. “I have no idea what you're talking about. Besides, it's not good to talk about exes when on a date."

“Exactly!" She chirped, practically bouncing on the pads of her paws. “Don't go ruining the happiest night of our lives by mentioning those that may or may not exist!"

Another weird look, one more obvious than the others.

“Sorry," Alys muttered, excitement dropping in an instant. “I said that a bit too loudly."

The good mood we'd worked to build up began to fade.

“Don't apologise," I said, waving it off. “Ignore them." I kept walking, pretending their reactions didn't bug me. The opinions of strangers weren't going to change anything—that much I was sure of. But still, I was human, and that meant anxiety was a constant companion. “Let's just enjoy today. Who cares what they think?"

She lent in close as she walked, wing brushing against my side, but I said nothing about it. She was determined to keep in contact, it seemed. “Thanks, and again, sorry."

I shook my head, feeling strangely guilty for her upset. “Please don't apologise."

We were finally at the café. I moved in front of her and opened the door widely, allowing her to enter first. To avoid others, we took a booth near the back, one that separated us from the other patrons, some of whom had already begun staring and whispering, unable to help themselves.

She slid into her seat, taking a moment to adjust to the leather seating. In the end, she decided to lay on her front, angling her left side towards me.

“This place is nice," she said, looking around, ignoring the customers. “You said it was the one that cost a bit more?" Something was off about the way she spoke.

“Only by a little bit," I explained. “But it's drinks are better—except the hot chocolate; this place doesn't do it as nicely."

She hummed, sinking into her seat, her expression softening, shifting. Her eyes moved over to the nearby window, her gaze flickering between all of the passing humans. “We people watching for a bit?" I joked, unable not to.

“A little, yeah." Her light smile faltered. “You know," she began, tracing a claw along the leather of her seat. “Not to, um, taint our fun, but... sometimes I do wonder what life would be like if I stayed back home. I mean, humans here are cool and make great things, but they're so unpredictable and different. Sometimes I do miss being surrounded by my own kind, where things just... make more sense."

I nodded, unsure of what to say. "Y-Yeah, I get that." I didn't. How could I have really understood what she was going through? Sure, I was able to relate on some level, but it wasn't the same. She wasn't just different—she was entirely other. My stomach flipped at the thought of her leaving, of her not enjoying my company any more.

“But I wouldn't trade it for anything." Her words quickly raised my sinking spirits. "I have so many wonderful things here and so many opportunities." She pulled her gaze from the window, looking me straight in the eyes. “And wonderful friends like you..."

Oh… wow.

Fuck…

Answer her.

The way she was looking at me was soft, vulnerable. Jesus, it was so sudden, so... real.

“I… I'm glad you feel that way," I said, trying not to show just how off guard she'd taken me. “I mean, I feel the same way. You've made things... different, but in the best way possible."

Her wide smile stayed for a while longer, allowing me to feel the near-physical warmth between us. She lacked her usual teasing, yes, seeming instead genuinely content, and for some reason, it made the moment feel good.

Banter was fun, but I felt as though we'd become too dependent on it.

“You know," she continued, her long tail swaying lazily beside her. “I don't think I've ever met someone like you before."

I laughed, unsure if the observation was a compliment or a veiled barb. “I'm pretty sure most people say or think that after meeting me, so thanks?"

She smirked, but it dissipated into a smile. “I meant it as a compliment; you don't need to be so self-deprecating all the time."

I held my hands up, feeling a light shake in them. “I'm just prepping for the worst," I said, leaning back into my chair. “It's a perfectly healthy defence mechanism."

“Uh-huh, totally," she teased, before her expression warmed again. “But, seriously, I don't think I would've been nearly as happy as I am without you."

I felt my stomach flip. Something in her tone—warm, honest, gentle—made the sweet, simple comment feel heavier than it was.

“Yeah, well," I started, trying to sound casual despite the odd mix of emotions churning around inside of me. “I guess we're a good match then. I help you out; you help me."

She smiled. “Maybe that's it. Not quite so give-and-take, but maybe."

As the conversation came to a close, I took out my phone and opened up the café's app, both to save time and also to earn myself some points. I considered ordering Alys' for her, only to stop myself. “Do you know what drink you want?" I asked. “I can recommend some for you."

“Something sweet? Do they make sweet coffees? I mostly eat a lot of food from our work or just meat," she answered, claws clacking together quietly as she considered her options.

“This place has brought out a sort of new drink that I've been wanting to try. Some sort of cinnamon latte. It should be really good. We can each get one to try if you want." I flipped my phone over to show her the frothy, orange-tinged drink. Normally I got something cheap but strong, but I was open to change.

“Ooh, I like it. How much is it?"

“That," I paused for effect, “is none of your business, dear iguana. Hey, can you drink regular milk? Like cow's milk?"

She shook her head. “No. Apparently we're all lactose intolerant. It's why we can't have chocolate."

“Soy milk it is then! Right, let me just tweak mine real quick."

“I was joking about you paying," she grumbled, trying to sound annoyed and failing. “I have coins; you don't have to do it." I smiled at that, happy she felt like she needed to treat her friends.

“I have coins too—I was paid a day earlier than you, remember? Plus, it is a date; normally the guy pays."

She rolled her eyes but was unable to hide the small grin. “That's a lame rule," she announced. “For dragons, we would trade gifts and food over the course of a day. So, in human terms, we'd both pay."

“Fine," I said, throwing my hands up. “You're going to get me a can of coffee then."

Her head tilted to the side. “Really? Just that?"

“Yep. I normally grab one whilst walking around, so if we're heading up to the park, then you can buy me one. Deal?"

“Very well, if that's all you want, then throw your treasures my way. But what's the actual reason for not letting me pay?"

I thought about deflecting, but that felt disrespectful given all she'd said. “It's a treat," I said honestly. “For you, I mean, for hanging out with me, and I know I brought cupcakes, but it's also for the party. Even the messy part of that whole thing ended up okay. It was a really great night."

She hesitated before nodding softly. “Thank you, James. I won't forget this." She sat up properly. “It's just a shame Jarys' friend couldn't come; apparently he's still sick."

“That's a shame," I commented, recalling how upset the little Drake had been at the time. “Didn't you say his name was Oliver? I've got a younger brother called Oliver, funnily enough."

She hummed. “Yeah, I don't know his clan name, though. His mother did send a letter with some money in it, so at least he got some sort of gift—he'd have preferred his friend showing up, though." She rubbed beneath her long ears, waiting a moment before continuing. “What are you doing after this?"

“Aren't we going to the park?"

“I mean after today. Did you really come to town just for coffee?"

“Oh, right. Nah, I came because it's grocery day, remember? After town I've got work, then... um, sleep, I guess."

“Work, sleep, groceries, and... repeat?"

“Pretty much," I shrugged. “I mean, I've got to save up for school, you know. Not everyone's got wings to fly to Paris on." I made sure to cross my arms and lean back, as I felt I'd put too much heat into my words.

She shook her head, then froze for a moment before smiling. “I could take you flying one day—show you what you're missing out on being human."

I felt my eyes widen at the idea of fulfilling a childhood dream. “Really? What's the catch?"

“No catch," she said, her tone surprisingly sincere. “It could be fun to stretch my wings." Unable to help herself, however, she quickly added. “Plus, I'd get to see you panic when I accidentally drop and then have to catch you. It's all part of my plan to seduce you and steal your wallet."

“Alys, you're like eleven feet long and about as tall as I am—you could probably sneeze me into a hospital bed, no seduction necessary."

“Then I'm doing it for the fun of it!" She declared loudly. “Think how mad it would make Samys!"

“Alys, she would kill me, then you, and then..."

Aiden. Shit, don't mention him. Talk later.

“…the world," I said lamely.

“The world?" Alys chuckled. “I don't think she'd be that mad, James, sweet Skie. You should-" she suddenly looked over at something, her ears twitching madly. I followed her gaze, but all I saw was a couple sitting down, enjoying their drinks. Alys made a clicking sound and turned back to me.

“What?" I asked, noting the drop in temperature.

“Nothing; I thought I saw someone I recognised is all."

I hadn't known her long; I really hadn't, but...

Pinned ears, flicking tail-tip, talons clacking quietly together... How they got away with anything remotely deceptive, I had no idea.

“You sure everything's alright?" I asked, leaning forward a little, my voice quiet. “You look… upset."

She waved a paw dismissively, but the gesture was too quick to be natural. “I'm fine. Like I said, I thought I saw someone I recognised—nothing important."

I thought about leaving it—letting the anxious feeling in my chest pass as it usually did—but the way her shoulders sagged made that an impossibility.

“You're a terrible liar," I said gently, offering a weak smile. “You don't have to tell me, but..."

“I'm fine, James." She'd cut me off, but it wasn't harsh—more like she was trying to convince herself and not me.

Before I could push harder—something I'd likely have regretted—a waiter brought our drinks over on a black tray. Two golden-brown drinks topped with too much cream and far too much dusting awaited us, the steam tantalisingly white. The staff tried to remain professional but failed, eyes repeatedly roving over to Alys. I didn't blame the guy, but that didn't mean I had to like it.

Speak up for once, Jesus.

“Is that it?" I asked, earning his suddenly nervous stare. I kept my tone polite; he wasn't being rude, but she already seemed upset, and I didn't want to make it worse, whether by allowing the staring or making a scene.

“Oh, yeah, just this. Enjoy!" He left thankfully quick, returning to the counter he'd come from. Just to his left were the couple Alys had looked over at.

“You know, if someone's talking about you or us," I began, voice light but steady, “you don't have to let it get to you. Like I said, they're not even worth paying any attention to."

She didn't respond right away, choosing instead to absentmindedly trace a claw around the rim of her glass, collecting whipped cream on the singular talon. Then she gave a soft sigh, her voice barely audible. “It's just, sometimes I hear things that people say. Mostly about me, but also you. I-I just don't want to embarrass you, I guess."

Me? Why me?

I didn't know what exactly she'd heard, but it wasn't hard to guess.

People could be... well, people.

I took a moment to try my drink, allowing her words to slowly sink in.

Embarrass me?

The idea felt so foreign it almost made me laugh at the absurdity.

“Alys." I placed my drink down on the table and lent forward, trying to catch her gaze again. Her eyes were still fixated on her drink, the whipped cream melting slowly under the heat. “You could never embarrass me. I mean it. Anyone who has a problem with the two of us hanging out, or just with you, well, they're just not worth thinking about. They don't matter at all."

Her gaze lifted for a brief moment, something unreadable glimmering in her eyes—doubt, maybe. “You say that now, but you can't hear like I can."

The walk up...

I only caught the occasional look we were getting, but she probably heard everything.

I exhaled. “No, you're right, I can't. But that doesn't mean I can't imagine." I placed my palms on my lap. “Like I said, people are always going to talk. Alys, I don't want you to feel like you have to worry about what they think for my sake. It sucks, yeah, but I'm here with you because I want to be. You're important to me, and that is what matters; you, not them."

The dragoness paused, her eyes searching mine, and for a moment, the world around us faded into a soft, warm blur. She took a deep breath, the tension in her easing a fraction. “Thank you, James. I mean it, thank you."

“Of course," I replied, unable to suppress the smile that crept back onto my face. “I've got your back."

She nodded, and for a short while, we simply sat in comfortable silence, sipping our still-too-hot drinks. I glanced around the café, watching the other patrons laugh and chat with one another, but they felt miles away. It was just us, cocooned in our own little world.

Eventually, of her own power, Alys broke the silence, a playful glint returning to her scarlet eyes. “So, if this is a date, does that mean I can make you buy whatever I want?"

I raised an eyebrow, placing my glass back down and leaning back in my chair. “Depends. What do you want?"

She smirked, her wings fluttering lightly, almost stroking her sides. “How about the ridiculously overpriced croissants? You said you were buying."

“Oh, I completely forgot," I realised. “Fine, but you're sharing."

She hummed audibly. “On one condition." She held a single claw up. “Give me the glasses I now know you need."

I rolled my eyes but did as told. “I don't need them; they're reading glasses, not, like vision glasses or whatever they're called." I took the case out of my backpack and handed it over to her.

The blue dragon accepted them with surprising soft hold, carefully taking them out of their case and cautiously tilting them, examining the black metal and clear glass. “Try them," I suggested. “With the jewellery, you'd look good. I can even take a picture for you and send it over on messenger."

She opened her mouth to respond but stopped and carefully slipped them on—the frame just barely fitting her snout.

I was right—she looked good.

Gotta watch that…

"This is weird," she mumbled, her eyes straining. "Everything is all blurry up close. How can you even see with these on?"

After digging through my pocket, I took my phone out and aimed my camera at the smiling ness, making sure to fit as much of her head in as I could whilst still setting up a decent angle.

I hadn't taken a year of photography for nothing.

I mean... I'd dropped out, but it still counted!

There was a certain point in her posing where her smile stretched wide enough to force her eyes shut. There was a subtle dusting of her heat on her cheeks. I quickly snapped a photo.

“Nice," I said, mostly to myself as I zoomed in on the image, surprised by how well it had turned out. “I'll send it over now so you can post it if you want."

“You could post it," she said, passing me my case back over. “You did say you wanted a political statement."

“Absolutely not. If I post a picture of you wearing my glasses, people will one hundred percent think we're going out—I'd think that too if I saw that. It's better to put it on yours."

Alys leant forward, a subtle smirk on her face. “But wouldn't that make it more interesting? Imagine the comments."

I hesitated, surprised by the sudden forwardness. “Yeah, but after everything we just talked about, do you really want to stir up that kind of attention now?"

She tilted her head. “True, but wasn't part of that about how we can't let others dictate what we enjoy. We're having fun, right, so why bother worrying?"

I sighed. “I know, I know, but it still feels kind of risky. What if it does actually cause a scene? What if they say something to you?"

Alys shrugged, wings ruffling. “It's sort of annoying, but my main worry was you. If you don't care, then neither do I. Besides, it's all on the computer, not in the real world."

A real relationship, I recalled, that earlier anger and fear bubbling back up in equal amounts.

“Alright," I said, pulling up the app. “But you're doing one of me in exchange."

Another shrug. “Easy deal. Pose really quick for me."

Without warning, she pulled up her tablet and took a quick picture. When shown, it displayed a James, mid-blink, mouth open in an attempt to say no. “Please don't post that," I begged, already picturing the comments, but she was already creating a post. “Oh, come on, I actually look horrible."

“Exactly!" She laughed evilly. “It'll have people talking for days."

I placed my forehead against the edge of the table, trying to hide my embarrassment. “I'll never live this down. My internet fame is in tatters."

“Don't be so dramatic; it's just a dumb photo. No one's going to make fun of you—too much. Besides, you look super cute."

I felt a sudden heat rise to my cheeks, suddenly very thankful for my obscured face. “I look like an especially startled fish."

“Fish or not, it's a memory," she insisted. “And that's what matters."

“Fine…" I yielded. “But you owe me a better one later."

“Deal!" She declared, the sound of fluttering wings reaching me. Bored of the headache, I sat back up. “Alright, it's up. I tagged you so... oh, your sister is laughing at it."

I scrambled over to her side of the booth, avoiding sitting on her stretched-out form. “Weaboo shut in!"I snapped at the emoji before taking out my own phone to scroll through the post.

In the twenty or so seconds it took for me to find it, Sarah had already left a comment comparing me to a rotting potato. I looked over to Alys, who kept her mouth shut tight but was clearly on the verge of breaking. “My turn." I took a very quick, very unflattering photo, the flash highlighting all the wrong parts.

“Hey, no fair!" She tried to swipe at the device, but the weird angle I was sitting at meant she couldn't bend her forelimbs nearly far back enough. She circumvented this by rolling over so her back was against the headboard. Quickly, she grabbed my wrists. She grinned, her red eyes sparkling. “Are you going to delete it now and only have good Alys photos?"

“Probably not, no," I said, somehow out of breath from the two-second scuffle. “You make a very cute startled fish." She tightened her hold, bringing her snout closer, the smell of cinnamon on her breath. “A very, very cute fish?"

“Very flattering," she replied, her face visibly hot.

“I'm good at flattery," I said, my back pressed further into her stomach. After a pause, I asked, “Isn't this position uncomfortable? I'm kind of squishing you."

“I'm used to sleeping on rocks, James; this is nothing. Now, are you going to delete that photo, or are we stuck here forever now?"

“Tempting… You're super warm."

“I should hope so."

“Why? Are you looking into a career of heating up humans?"

“Possibly, are you interested?"

“Maybe."

With a playful shove, she at last let me go. I stumbled but caught myself quickly. I straightened my clothes and turned back around just as she said, “Next time I won't let you off so easily," she teased.

“Next time, huh?" I shot back, patting down my shirt. When satisfied, I took my previous seat. “For now, is it a draw, or did I win the photo conversation?"

She let out a small snort, her tail swaying in amusement. “You won this time because I let you."

“Course, course. Do you still want that croissant?"

“Yep, we've had drinks, and now it's time for the dinner portion of the-"

“I will post it if you say it."

“-date."

“Get ready to be famous," I grumbled, but rather than doing so, I instead moved over to the coffee bean app and ordered two croissants—one for us now and one to chew on whilst we were walking around.

She shook her head, but then her expression twisted. “One second, I just need to go to the toilet really quickly." I gave her a lame thumbs up and finished confirming the payment. She hurried away quickly, going straight for a worker as opposed to the restroom itself.

Apparently, whatever the barista said was unsatisfactory, as once their conversation was over, she dashed back to the table.

“Are you alright?" I asked, suddenly concerned.

Alys hesitated, her tail giving a quick, almost nervous flick before she spoke. “Y-Yeah I just need to head over to that big uh shopping place. They've only got human ones here." Her voice wavered just a little before she glanced out of the window at the target location. “Please wait here."

I nodded and tried not to think too hard about the specifics. “It's fine, Alys. I'll just order our food and hang out for a bit. I'm not going to run out on you because you needed the toilet." I waved her off.

She left the café, but not before lingering, her gaze roving over to the couple who she'd worried about earlier. She departed, however, before I could say anything.

I sat in silence, worried...

For about five seconds, as Sarah's TTYL finally came into play.

“Yo, it's confirmed. Costa, 2pm. How's Alys?"

“She's Alys, I guess. Do we really have to meet him? We're adults; we can just ignore him."

“She's Alys? Vague. And yeah, we do. I don't want him whining online again. Just say to him; work gives money, life is good, and then we get to leave."

I huffed.

“Fine, but if he's difficult, I'm walking."

“I'll join you. Just bear with it this once for me, please."

A pang of guilt hit me—Sarah never really understood the full weight of our dad's selfishness. She was younger, shielded from the worst of it.

“Fine, fine." I felt a stroke of inspiration. “Actually, meet me before 2 p.m., and you can meet her."

“Your girlfriend?"

“Sarah, I swear to God. But yes, Alys."

“Nice. Where?"

“I'll message."

“Poggers." The conversation drifted off, and during the lull I opened up a Tetris ripoff. I scarcely had time to enjoy the game before another interruption pulled me back to reality.

“Hey… Can I ask you something?"

I looked up, already half-annoyed at being disturbed. A young man—sixteen, maybe seventeen—stood nearby, his stark white hair and bright purple eyes catching the light in a weird way. Contacts, probably. Some sort of goth. I sighed internally, preparing myself for whatever awkward conversation was coming.

“Sure, what's up?" I responded calmly.

“You and that dragon—are you two dating? Or just friends?"

The casualness of the question caught me off guard, and for a split second, the room felt... different. Like the air had shifted, just slightly cooler than before. I blinked, brushing it off.

Jesus fuck, there's no way we seem that much of a couple.

“We're friends is all," I said, carefully choosing my words. “Why do you ask?"

He shrugged, taking a seat at a small table nearby. Thankfully, not in Alys' seat. Something about him sitting there would've felt wrong. His eyes, though—still locked on me—felt just a little too focused, like he was sizing me up.

“Well, there's this..." His voice dropped lower, almost like he didn't want anyone else to hear. “Gryphon…"

Oh… right…

“And are you, um, interested in her—him, uh, them?" I cringed at myself but managed not to let it show. “Like, do you wanna ask them out, or are you just friends?"

He fiddled with the paper menu on his table, his fingers moving nervously, but his face didn't quite match the energy. The hesitation seemed more like an act now—something was off. But I couldn't place what.

I let his words hang, giving myself time to think. But more than anything, I was feeling that strange vibe creeping up again. Like the air around me had thickened, or the room had gotten quieter without me noticing.

“It's easy to say and hard to do, but... fuck 'em. If you like this girl and she likes you, who cares what people think? People are always going to judge you no matter what you do, so why let it get you down to begin with?"

His eyes lit up, and suddenly, all the nervousness was gone. His voice shifted, too—stronger, more confident. “And you really believe that?" It was a near-physical shift, his posture straightening as he leaned forward.

“Yeah," I said, a little thrown off by his sudden change. “I mean, it's not like I don't get affected by it. I still feel weird when people say stuff or look at me funny, but it's always temporary. So yeah, I believe it."

The kid nodded slowly, his gaze still fixed on me, but he didn't say anything for a moment. Something had changed—he felt more... present now. More aware. It was subtle, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.

"You seem like a good person, more so than that Teran kid at least; I hope he's having fun with his new friend…" He muttered, his voice neutral as he tapped his fingers lightly on the table, a mirror of the nervous fidget I hadn't even realised I'd been doing. "This was a valuable talk, and now I'm sure I made the right choice with this place. I'm glad Alys picked you."

I blinked.

“Picked me? What do you mean?"

He ignored the question, standing up with a smoothness that made him look taller than before. “I've got some things to take care of. Exterminating, mostly."

My stomach twisted. “Exterminating? You got rats or something?"

He gave me a half-smile, but there was nothing friendly in it. “Something like that." He started to turn away, then stopped. “Don't worry, though. Not your problem—at least, I hope not..."

I stared after him, unsure what the hell that was supposed to mean. My brain raced to catch up, but all I could do was watch as he strolled toward the door, hands in his pockets, like everything was perfectly normal.

“See you soon, James."

Jesus Christ, what a weirdo. Why the hell did I even talk to-

I froze.

He called me James.