Despite all this, he felt sweaty with nerves when he heard Kian coming up the stairs to his study. The sun had set, and he had lit candles to continue his reading.
“Adrissu,” the human said, his head poking through the doorway. “I’m ready whenever you are.”
“Of course,” he said, standing up abruptly. “Shall we go?”
“Sure,” Kian said, eyeing him with an unreadable look. They went down to the ground floor, where Adrissu pulled away the rug that covered the trap door to his lair; and for a long moment, they both stood there looking down at it. Finally, Kian’s eyes flickered over to him, but he couldn’t bring himself to look away from the metal latch.
“Why areyounervous?” the human blurted, laughing, and Adrissu felt his face flush with heat.
“I—” he started to protest, then sighed. “I don’t know why, but I’m anxious about you... seeing me. How I really am.”
“Why would you be anxious about that?” Kian chuckled.
“I don’t want you to be frightened of me, I think,” he answered, and Kian’s laugh tapered away, his expression growing somber now. “And... If you are afraid of me this way, I wouldn’t know how to fix it.”
Kian gave him a long look, lips pursed thoughtfully.
“I get it,” he sighed, folding his arms across his chest. “I mean, that was basically how I felt about you, you know—seeingme.That you would think I was gross or something. And you didn’t. You thought it was a silly fear to have.” He managed a reassuring smile. “So, you know, same thing. It’syou. I remember most of it. I’m not afraid now, and I don’t think I will be when we’re down there, either.”
For a long moment, Adrissu only stared at him, heart racing. Part of him bristled at having his words thrown back at him, but Kian wasn’t wrong—if anything, it was a relief to hear. It was similar, in a way. What Kian worried over had barely registered for Adrissu. He could only hope that this would be the same.
“You’re right, of course,” he finally murmured, managing a tight smile at the smaller man. He smirked back up at Adrissu in response, smug and self-satisfied. “Shall we go, then?”
Kian’s grin faltered as he glanced down at the trap door between them. Apprehension returned to his face, but he nodded.
“Not looking forward to the drop,” he sighed, peering down as Adrissu kicked the hatch open.
“It’s not so bad, really.”
“Because you’re the one who can fly,” he retorted, rolling his eyes, and Adrissu chuckled.
“Fair point,” he said, spreading his arms to hold Kian. “Ready?”
With one last nervous glance toward the dark drop, Kian nodded and wrapped his arms tightly around Adrissu’s waist. Adrissu squeezed him in return, then with a few shuffling steps, he moved for the door. Kian yelped as they stepped through, falling fast. But Adrissu held him securely as the illusion condensing his body faded away, and his true form burst forth. A mighty flap of his wings slowed their descent, making Kian yelp again as the sudden deceleration sent his head snapping back against Adrissu’s broad, scaled chest.
He landed at the bottom of the tunnel and carefully set Kian on the floor. The human staggered as he got his bearings, and Adrissu could see him looking around with uncertainty in the dark.
“I can’t see anything,” he said, his arms extended at his sides, and Adrissu chuckled. The low, deep sound reverberated through the cave, and Adrissu saw Kian jump, startled.
With a glance, magic flowed through Adrissu and lit every torch and candle in the cavern, illuminating it with warm light all at once. Kian’s eyes landed on him, widening as he craned his neck to look up at his towering form. Adrissu watched him, apprehensive for a moment—but the expression which he’d been dreading, the fear on his mate’s face, never came. After a moment, Kian took in a deep breath, then smiled weakly up at him.
“You’re much bigger than I thought you’d be,” he said, chuckling, and Adrissu’s face split in a grin. “Guess I didn’t remember that part very well.”
“Shall we go on, then?” he asked, and again Kian gave a start at the low rumble of his voice.
“Gods, you sound so different,” he muttered, stepping closer to Adrissu and lightly touching the scales of his forelegs. “That’s the weirdest thing, really.”
Adrissu stared down at him expectantly, and after a beat of silence, the human laughed.
“Alright, alright,” he said, walking around to Adrissu’s side. “I have no idea how to get on top of you, though.”
It took a little while for Kian to find a comfortable position between the ridges of Adrissu’s spine and secure himself there with several long leather straps; but eventually, Adrissu lumbered to the exit of his lair that led out to the ocean with Kian safely on his back.
“You’re sure we’re going to fit?” Kian said as they looked out through the narrow opening, a tinge of doubt in his voice.
“I’m sure,” Adrissu reassured him, backing up. “Just keep your head low.” He did not wait for Kian to answer before leaping forward, as his wings beat powerfully and sent them soaring through the tight corridor. Kian shouted, echoing through the chamber for only an instant before the cold ocean air hit them, and they were in the open.
“Quiet, before someone hears us,” Adrissu grumbled, still flapping his wings to get higher into the air.
