Jambu was vibrating.

He had also never been more grateful to be his favorite color in his whole life.

And as he stood in front of his very best friend in the whole world ever, proudly presenting none other than Deathbringer of the NightWings, he was pretty sure he wouldn't have to inform her of either of those things.

Liana stared at the two dragons in front of her, eyes wide with surprise. Her gaze darted between them a few times before she settled on giving Jambu a rather significant look, which made him thank the moons that she knew better than to say what he knew was on both of their minds now.

"Er. Hey," she began instead, casually. "Who's your friend?"

Jambu thought his face might fall off if he didn't get a chance to stop grinning soon.

"Liana — this is Deathbringer." He turned his grin to Deathbringer again, and held a talon out to Liana. "Deathbringer — this is Liana. My very best friend in the whole world ever."

Liana smiled. "Nice to meet you, Deathbringer."

"And you." Deathbringer tipped his head to her.

"He's my 'royal attendant' now," Jambu smoothly continued. He slipped closer to Liana, nosing her with his snout and twining his tail around hers. "Because apparently I'm a giant disaster waiting to happen."

"Wait — Queen Glory said that to you!?" Liana asked him.

Jambu stifled a snort. "Well, okay. Not in those exact words. But yeah. Pretty hilarious, right?"

The other RainWing laughed through a big yawn. A few swirls of golden yellow danced over her dark blue scales, sparkling in the warm sunshine. Jambu had taken Deathbringer up to the treetop hut that he and Liana often shared, and now the three dragons sat together on the wide leaf platform outside. Around them, a few late risers snoozed peacefully in their hammocks, displaying dreamy colors as birds serenaded them with happy morning songs.

Liana leaned into Jambu's cuddle. "So what did you do this time?" She flashed him an all-too-knowing look.

"Excuse me!?" Jambu feigned offence, bringing a talon to his chest.

He grinned as Liana burst into another laugh. She nudged him firmly with her wing, and Jambu glanced up to see Deathbringer watching them with a curious expression. Quickly, the NightWing averted his eyes. Jambu felt a squishy burst of bubbles in his chest as he watched another second of his attendant's adorably awkward fidgeting.

He shook himself a bit before turning his attention back to Liana.

"Okay, okay," he sighed. "I maaaay or may not have accidentally almost squashed our queen and seriously injured myself yesterday. But neither of those things actually happened, sooooo..."

Liana was already shaking her head.

"You are such a mess," she said through a giggle.

Jambu giggled along with her. "Well, at least I'm a lucky mess."

"A very lucky mess," Liana corrected him. She tilted her head down to bump her forehead against his, and the two RainWings shared another cuddle, both of them grinning with endearment.

Deathbringer finally cleared his throat. Jambu and Liana paused to look up at him.

"Shall I...give you and your partner a bit of privacy?" he asked, only a little cautiously.

Jambu blinked. He slowly turned to look at Liana again, and she was already looking back, holding her breath. Then both of them suddenly burst into gales of laughter. Liana laughed so hard she fell to her belly and flapped her wings a few times. When she managed to catch her breath again, she staggered back up to her haunches.

"Oh, please," she breathed. "Jambu is so gay, he'd be as straight as me if he were a female!"

Jambu grinned, and nodded. "This is true."

Deathbringer only stared at them for a moment, unblinking.

"Ah. Right." He coughed slightly, and ducked his head down in an embarrassed way. "My apologies. I-I didn't mean to —"

"Oh no, no! Don't worry about it! It's completely totally fine," Jambu hurriedly assured him.

"Yeah, it really is, I'm sorry we laughed at you," Liana joined in. "It's just —" she smothered one more giggle. "— we kind of get that a lot. And it's kind of hilarious."

The NightWing peeked back up at them, then glanced around at the other dragons in nearby trees, almost as if he didn't expect them to be so unfazed by the things that had just been so freely and loudly announced.

"But hey, we actually are about to chill for a bit. Like, preferably alone. No offence or anything!" Jambu continued. "It's just our 'us' time, y'know?"

Slowly, Deathbringer nodded, straightening himself back up. "Of course. I'll leave you to it, then."

"Sweet, thanks! I'll catch up later. If I need ya, I'll just yell across the rainforest or something." Jambu ended his words with a humored tail-flick, and let a few sunny starbursts of yellow show in his scales.

His attendant dipped his head down politely, then turned to spread his starry wings and leap off their platform. As soon as his black tail disappeared over the leafy edge, Jambu was grabbed and dragged into Liana's treehouse.

Liana fumbled with the vine curtain in the doorway until it settled well enough to hide them inside, and then immediately swirled around to face Jambu, looking thoroughly astounded. Jambu felt his whole body quivering with excitement as he beamed back at her.

"Are, you, KIDDING ME!?" she hissed.

"I KNOW, RIGHT!?" he squealed his response. "Can you BELIEVE it, because I totally can't!"

The dark blue RainWing paced around a bit before she brought her talons to her face and took a big breath in, exhaling as she slid them down again. "Okay. I need a FULL report." She paused. "Now tell me HOW, exactly, you scored your sister's bodyguard!?"

"I told you!" he cried. "I was just being my usual stupid self! And Glory just...gave him to me! Out of nowhere!"

"So what did she say, then?" Liana demanded.

"She just said something about me being a 'danger' to myself and others." Jambu rubbed the back of his neck as he thought over his sister's words from the day before. "Then she assigned Deathbringer to me." He shrugged his wings.

"Of ALL dragons!" Liana huffed her frustration. She plopped down on her haunches with a loud, dramatic snort. "This is so unfair! I wish she'd give me my own super hot NightWing guard."

Despite her obvious jealousy, Liana kept a playful tone in her voice. Jambu stepped in closer and reached out to wrap a wing around her, knowing she wouldn't dream of actually letting anything like this come between them. After all, even he hadn't expected to be granted the very dragon both of them had been mooning over together since the first time they'd laid eyes on him. Deathbringer had been one of their biggest mutual crushes for quite some time now.

Jambu assured her, "You'll get your own someday... But I'm not sharing this time." He grinned.

"Ahck!" Liana stifled a laugh as she gently shoved his wing away. "You are such a little... Hey!" Suddenly, she blinked her eyes wide, then gave Jambu a funny look. "Aren't you going to have to share anyway? Deathbringer and your sister — they're like, a thing, right?"

"Ummm, I think so?" Jambu said. His raspberry tail twitched curiously as he thought about that. He didn't know much about Glory's relationship with her bodyguard, but he seemed to recall them definitely being more than just friends. Which wasn't surprising at all, in his opinion — who wouldn't want to be more than friends with Deathbringer?

"Well, whatever. No big deal." His best friend waved a talon airily. She tilted her gaze up a bit before she giggled. "But it might be kind of awkward sharing with the queen. Has anyone ever done that?"

Jambu shrugged. "I have no idea."

"She is your sister, though," Liana continued matter-of-factly. "So maybe she won't mind at all."

"Maybe. But...would he mind? What if NightWings don't share?" he mused aloud.

The other RainWing blinked at him. "Why wouldn't they?"

"I dunno," Jambu mumbled, feeling his cheeks warming up. He averted his eyes for a moment, and shuffled on his talons a bit. He wasn't sure why that rather strange possibility had suddenly popped into his head. His heart, and his thoughts, were racing now that doing anything with Deathbringer was actually plausible. Especially with the way Liana was talking. But if he wouldn't be up for it...I wouldn't want to impose...as much as I'd really, really like to get to know him better...

"You're making that face you get when you worry too much," Liana pointed out, bringing his focus back to their conversation. Gently, she said, "And it's in your scales, too."

Jambu glanced down to see the pale blues and greens that were creeping up his talons. He hadn't even noticed.

Liana shook her head, and made a sympathetic clicking noise with her tongue. "Oh, babe. I'm sure any NightWing would share with you. You're totally adorable! You just have to make yourself known. Besides...if Deathbringer doesn't want to, then he'll just say no. And you'll be sad for a bit. But, mystery solved, either way."

Hopefully, Jambu looked back up at her. He blinked once, thoughtfully.

"Hmmm. I guess you're right. Yeah." He smiled as a much more natural-feeling magenta started pushing his troubled hues down again. "So...what should I do? Just ask him out?"

"Definitely!" Liana said. "You know I would." She gave a small snort of amusement, and then sighed, holding a talon out to him. "BUT, it looks like he's yours now — if he says yes — so I say go for it."

Jambu finally let his face grow into another signature grin.

The next day, Jambu could barely concentrate on his tree gliding class at all. He kept getting distracted by the perfectly gorgeous shine of Deathbringer's ebony black scales. And the tantalizing way his muscles rippled in the sunlight. And whenever the NightWing looked his way with those mysterious dark blue eyes, Jambu felt he might just as soon melt into a sticky-sweet puddle of tree sap.

He'd been silently rehearsing, all yesterday afternoon and this morning, for what exactly he planned to say whenever he found the opportunity to ask Deathbringer out.

He still had no idea.

So it was kind of a relief when Deathbringer stepped forward first, for an unexpected word with Sundown and Dartfrog.

"Before you go," he asked them with a soft smile. "Would either of you be interested in participating in a brief royal survey?"

Both dragonets' eyes grew wide at the question, and a wave of blue and yellow swept over Dartfrog's scales. They quickly scuttled in closer for more information, tails swaying with curiosity.

"What's a survey?" Dartfrog asked.

Deathbringer chuckled. "I'm just going to ask you a question or two, because honestly I'm hoping to report some encouraging news to the queen." He cleared his throat, and dipped his head to Sundown. "Your mother — I assume she knows you attend this class every morning?"

The little NightWing blinked before letting a bright smile spread across his face; Dartfrog lit up right alongside him.

"Yeah!" Sundown readily explained. "She knows. She lets me go lots. But not every morning."

Dartfrog giggled. "He wishes he could go every morning. Sundown's parents are really very nice, though. Sometimes they invite me and Kiwi to stay for lunch, and that's always fun. As long as there's fruit. Which there is, because Sundown loves it."

"Fascinating," Deathbringer said. "So, your family likes the RainWings, then?"

That was when Sundown faltered ever so slightly. "Ummm." His cheeks grew a bit lighter as he brushed at the ground with his feet. "I dunno if they like all of them...but Mother likes my friends a lot. Especially Dartfrog." The little RainWing puffed her chest proudly. "And as long as they're with me, she doesn't mind who else plays with us."

"Ah, I see. I'm glad to hear that." Deathbringer nodded, sounding sincere.

"Anything else you wanna know?" asked Dartfrog, tilting her head.

"That will be all, actually," he told her. He bowed to them both. "Thank you. And do enjoy the rest of your day."

The two dragonets then gave their goodbyes, and off they went.

Once they were gone, Deathbringer turned back to Jambu with just about the happiest look he thought he'd seen on him since Glory had put them together. His dark eyes sparkled with hope, and in that moment, Jambu wouldn't have minded getting lost in them forever. He thanked the moons, again, that he was already hot pink from horns to tail.

"It's so nice to see real examples of our tribes living in harmony." Deathbringer sighed with relief. "Perhaps everything will be alright, if we're patient enough. Glory will be very pleased."

Jambu could only stare back at him.

"Y-Yeah! Definitely," he finally said.

A slight awkwardness hung in the air after that. Orrrr maybe it was just on Jambu's end of the conversation. He was kind of dying, after all. It turned out, it was a lot easier to feign nonchalance when he wasn't trying to ask a gorgeous dragon out on a date.

His attendant seemed much more relaxed as he sat down, still smiling. "Alright, then. What's next on our agenda?" he asked.

Jambu blinked.

WhatdoIsaywhatdoIsaywhatdoIsay?

Should I just ask later?

No... No I can ask now — Liana would ask now.

For a brief, silly moment, he imagined his best friend cheering him on up in the treetops. And that served to push him forward a bit.

It's fine. I can do this.

Think, think, think, Jambu, THINK.

Deathbringer shifted his wings, and the silver star-scales underneath caught the sunlight like beautiful drops of morning dew. Jambu couldn't help but wonder what it might be like to be wrapped up in them for a while. And I'll never know...if I don't...say soMETHING.

"Actually!" he finally coughed out. "I-I was kinda wondering if — I've been thinking maybe we could, uh —" Deathbringer watched him expectantly. Jambu swallowed. "I-If you're up for it, I mean — maybe we could, go fruit-picking together? Sometime?"

Aaaaah! I did it... But despite the tidal wave of relief that immediately splashed over his entire soul, the pink dragon could barely breathe as he awaited Deathbringer's response.

His crush blinked once, furrowing his brow a bit. Then he said, "Fruit-picking?"

Jambu was at a loss for anymore words at the moment; he opened his mouth, but only closed it again, and nodded.

Then Deathbringer, to his utmost surprise, offered a casual wing-shrug.

"I don't see why not," he said, sincerely. "Sure. I'll pick some fruit with you. I probably won't be eating any, though. Nothing personal."

"R-REALLY!? YOU — YOU WILL!?" Jambu blurted. His wings flared so suddenly he couldn't do a thing to stop them, or the streaks of banana yellow that raced up his spine and exploded onto his ruff. The color quickly spanned outward as well, reaching both wingtips in no time.

Deathbringer blinked again, and Jambu couldn't tell whether he seemed more amused or slightly taken aback. "Of course." He paused. "When would you like to do it?"

The RainWing took a deep, cleansing breath, letting his bright yellow surprise melt away until it disappeared back into magenta. Gently, he folded his wings back in.

"Uhm," he stammered. "How about tomorrow? After my sun time? Or — anytime works, really. Whenever you want!"

"Tomorrow is fine by me," said Deathbringer.

Jambu beamed, his tail curling with delight.

"Alright! Sounds great!" he said. He went silent for a short moment, gazing into Deathbringer's eyes. "Well. I guess I'm gonna head on to Liana's place for now. She'll be expecting me. But uh, I'll see ya later?"

The NightWing suddenly lifted himself a bit. "Ah, yes. Go right ahead." Curiously, he tilted his head. "Will she be expecting you every morning?"

"Heh. Yeah." Jambu grinned. "She oversleeps a lot, so I usually stop by and make sure she's awake for her assignment. Which she recently got moved to the afternoon, anyway." He snorted a laugh. "But she would prefer to be awake early. She just has a hard time getting there by herself."

"I see. Well, good luck with that," Deathbringer offered.

"Thanks!" said Jambu.

He flicked his tail happily before spreading his wings and spiraling up into the trees. He could hardly wait to tell Liana all about his success.

Liana was asleep, and snoring softly, when Jambu poked his snout through the vines that hung in her treehouse doorway. No surprises there, he giggled to himself.

He slipped in quietly, and tiptoed his way to the middle of the leafy floor where she was resting. Then lowered himself down to her ear level, and took a breath in.

"PSSSSSSSSSSST!"

Liana grumbled incoherently, still asleep.

Jambu made a funny face at her that he knew she wouldn't see.

Then he tried again. "Liaaanaaaaaaaa."

She suddenly snored loudly, and rolled over onto her belly, letting her wings flop out to either side. Still asleep.

"Bhhhuh?" she said. Jambu snorted.

"I have some good news," he whispered. "But you won't remember anything I say if you're asleep. Silly sleepy dragon!" He bopped her lightly with one of his wings.

"Mmmmm." She smiled.

He sat down on his haunches, blinking at her.

"I hope you're dreaming about your future super hot NightWing guard," he continued. "Which won't be Deathbringer, by the way. Because he's going out with me tomorrow."

Jambu crouched down, and blew a short breath of air in her face.

Liana snorted, and wrinkled her snout. Then her eyes fluttered open to meet his.

"There you are." He grinned. She smiled back, and he leaned in to nose her with his snout.

"Hey," Liana breathed through a big yawn. Slowly, she stretched her whole body from where she was on the floor; then with a sleepy groan, she pushed herself up to sit with him, rubbing her eyes. "What'd I miss?"

"Not much. I was just telling you that I have a date tomorrow." He paused. "With Deathbringer."

The sleepy RainWing froze in the middle of rubbing her eyes. Slowly, she turned to look at Jambu. She blinked once. And then she exploded.

"AAAAAHHHH! ARE YOU SERIOUS!?" Grinning from ear to ear and suddenly wide awake, Liana jumped to her feet. Even in the shade of the treehouse, Jambu could see the bright bursts of yellow and pink that flashed through her dark blue scales.

He nodded eagerly, grinning right back at her.

Liana squealed. "OH MY GOSH! I TOLD YOU!" Playfully, she flapped her wings at him. "I KNEW he'd totally be up for sharing with you! You adorable lucky mess! aaAAA I'M SO HAPPY! And a little jealous. BUT SO HAPPY!"

"I KNOW, I KNOW!" he said, brimming at the same level of excitement. "You were so right! I can't even believe this is really happening!"

"You have to tell me EVERYTHING after your date!" she continued. "Oh! And make friends with some of the other NightWings, so you can introduce ME to my true love!"

Jambu threw his head back with a laugh. "Alright, alright! I will! I promise!"

"I guess I was right about them sharing, too." Liana giggled as she mused aloud. "But I mean, that's not even a question, really. Who doesn't share? Remember the time Tinamou had five partners?" She paused, and then jokingly asked, "Are you suuuuure you don't wanna share your new boyfriend with me?"

"I-I dunno if he's my boyfriend," Jambu answered, blushing furiously.

"Yet," Liana finished his sentence with a canny look.

He snorted. "Well, I guess I'll know soon enough, won't I?"

Because I'm totally, actually, FINALLY getting a chance with the dragon of my dreams, TOMORROW.

notes:

i wasn't expecting this chapter to be finished so quickly (lol surprise!). turns out, platonic Liambu fluff is actually extremely difficult to stop writing. :')