Chapter 10

Vin wasn't deep in sleep for very long a few hours later somewhere around midnight lighting spooked Elita who all but screamed in panic she was very frightened about the whole thing and only Vin's soothing words calmed her down he laid his cheek onto her soft nose and slowly stroked her chin. "It's alright my love its only thunder it can't hurt you here.'' He said in a soothing tone, Oversia who was woken up by her screaming was also being soothed by a very grumpy Oliver, Vin gave an apologetic smile towards him but Oliver was still grumpy and only snorted and returned to his dragon. Elita relaxed and rumbled apologetically "I'm sorry it's just so loud and noisy I don't like it.''

Elita finally went back to sleep started to snore and Vin moved back to his place next to her belly, Oliver doing the same the night was cold as the rain's fell Vin try as he might couldn't keep warm Oliver was the same way he tried his best to roll closer to Oversia but the dragon was sleeping in an awkward position, " Well this is nice.'' He said jokingly "Yeah we should have brought blankets.'' Vin said trying to warm up Oliver laughed and crawled closer to Vin and wrapped his good arm around him, Vin felt very warm all of a sudden and he just realized that Oliver was more muscular then he appeared Vin felt nice and safe in his warm arm. "Much better don't you think.'' Oliver asked whispering in his ear "Yeah much better.'' Vin said feeling his face go red the pair eventually dosed off and went to sleep later in the night.

Vin woke up to the sound of water trickling down the storm had last the whole night the lighting had stopped but the heavy rain and the thunder remained, Elita was still sleeping both she and Oversia had their wings over each other both snoring but not as loud as Oliver was still with his arm wrapped around Vin he was snoring just as loud as they were his head resting on Elita's belly. Vin found his snoring oddly adorable know and giggled as Oliver mumbled in his sleep, he sighed and turned away from him he's mind went back in time to the day when it happened the day that changed his life forever.

He was only thirteen when it happened but even before then he knew he was different from the other boys he was more sensitive and more deep with his feelings, when it came too girls he showed very little interest in them though they would flirt with him and try to get him in the stall at night. He refused every one of them because for some strange reason it felt wrong not him he talked to his father about it but his father dismissed the idea and told his son never too bring it up again. Confused and lost Vin kept his thoughts to himself as his father asked and things seemed fine until he it happened the thing that proved what he was. It was at a nearby village festival the whole family was having a good time, Luna had come to visit so it put everyone in good spirits.

There was a lot of drinking and dancing and Vin had slipped away to drink a little on his own, a lad about his age maybe older had seen him and the two hid in one of the empty tents on the grounds and both were heavily drunk and before Vin new what had happened the boy had grabbed his face and their lips locked together. The kiss was nothing like Vin had felt before it made everything very clear to him and he oddly enjoyed it, but it felt also wrong because he knew his father wouldn't approve of it. After the kiss with the lad Vin had snuck back to his family they left an hour later and he collapsed in his bed the second he got home, the whole time he felt different around his family and pushed himself away from them.

Luna immediately noticed the change before she left to go back to the castle, she asked Vin what was wrong he lied and said nothing but she knew something was wrong she pulled him aside and demanded he tell her. Vin broke down and told her everything, she hugged him tight and kissed his brow and said "Vin there is nothing to be afraid of you are what you are and I'm sorry that father was so cruel about it but he just doesn't understand. Don't worry once you join the Aerial Guard you'll be more comfortable you'll see and you're not the only one." Vin believed his sister but decided it would be best for him to keep his feelings a secret from everyone.

"But know.'' He said to himself as he lay next to Oliver with his good arm wrapped around him he didn't know how to act he was still afraid to show who he really was. Oliver was still sleeping and it didn't look like he was going to get up anytime soon, training would be on hold until the rain stopped from the look of the clouds it wasn't going to end today. He yawned it would be another hour before breakfast and Elita would be up begging for her breakfast, he had just enough time to get a quick bath and eat before she woke up.

Vin slipped from under Oliver's arm and tiptoed out of the pavilion and headed towards the baths, he'd hoped he'd be the only one in the baths since it was so early in the morning but he was mistaken as he waded into the pool Ryan appeared he was just stepping in when Vin spotted him he waved at his friend, Ryan seemed to have lost his grumpy mood at least for the moment and waved back and jumped in and swam closer to him "Good morning Ryan.'' Vin said as his friend came closer Ryan smiled "Good morning to you too.'' He stopped and grabbed a handful of soap sand from one of the soap dishes and started scrubbing his hair, Vin fallowing his example taking a smaller amount from the dish started rubbing the soap until it was thick foam. "So how was your night?'' Vin asked ducking his head under the water to wash the foam off, then resurfaced and started scrubbing his body with the soap sand. " It was pretty rough for Izzy he panicked when lighting flashed he finally went to sleep after Carson convinced Dusty to come sleep with him since Izzy refused to go out in the rain.'' He laughed and ducked under the water to wash the foam out his hair before resurfacing "Dusty wasn't too pleased with the idea of being lead into the rain into a squealing Finchy. Eventually Izzy settled down after Dusty snapped at him.'' He smiled and started rubbing sand on his arms "So how was your night?'' he turned to look at Vin who washing the sand off "It was pretty good Elita got startled once but she was pretty good. She didn't have a problem with Oversia in her pavilion or Oliver.''

After Vin said Oliver's name Ryan's eyes went wide and he swam closer to Vin "Do you mean Oliver was sleeping with you and Elita the whole night?'' he asked his eyes locked on Vin's "Yes he had nowhere else to go and I asked Elita first and she didn't mind and having both dragons in the pavilion kept us warm.'' He didn't add that Oliver also kept him warm it didn't seem like a good idea to get Ryan more angrier then he already was "What's your deal with Oliver he hasn't been here long enough to have done anything to you?'' he asked Ryan backed away "I don't trust him that's all he's been here for only a few weeks and half the time he was out cold I don't see why he's so special to everyone.'' He said looking right into Vin's eyes as if the word everyone was Vin, it made Vin very uncomfortable and he turned away. "What's going on here Ryan's acting like a jealous boyfriend.'' Vin said to himself Ryan was still looking at him with his blue eyes "Ryan if I didn't know better I'd say you were jealous.'' Vin said looking at his friend looking at his face looking for some kind of expression but there was none Ryan just laughed "Jealous of him that's funny.'' He climbed out and grabbed a towel from a nearby rack "I can assure you I'm not.'' He said drying off Vin snorted "Liar.''

And came out of the pool and grabbed a towel from a different rack and started drying off Ryan snorted back "I'm not lying.'' He said pulling up his pants "If you say so.'' Vin replied putting his boots on, he knew his friend was lying but wasn't going to press on with the matter " Well I just want you to know that just because I'm friends with Oliver doesn't mean I've replaced it you'll always be my best friend Ryan.'' Vin headed towards the exit not before Ryan grabbed his hand and pulled him closer "I know that but just be careful I don't trust him.'' He said and left without looking back.

Vin was more than happy to start breakfast he was starving he didn't eat much at dinner last night and the smell of bacon and eggs made him hungry. Oliver was sitting next to him he had stopped at the infirmary to talk to the surgeons about his arm it was a very good visit his arm was fully healed a surgeon had removed the sling and after a few test to make sure the arm was fully healed he was given the ok. Oliver was very happy with his arm out the sling Vin could only imagine why as he stuffed a slab of ham in his mouth Ryan and Carson joined them soon after and Ryan was still in a bad mood Carson was talking with Oliver when Ryan said something that Vin couldn't believe came out his mouth "Hey man lover can you pass the salt?'' He said looking straight at Oliver, Oliver looked at Ryan with daggers in his eyes this wasn't going to be pretty "I beg your pardon?'' he said his hands clutched into a fist Ryan returned his gaze "I said man lover...''

And that was all it took before Oliver's fist hit his mark and meet Ryan's nose Ryan flew from his chair and onto the floor everyone around watched as Oliver jumped over the table and onto the other boy they rolled all over the floor each trying to get on top of the other, the other riders were cheering and roaring he spotted one of the captains run off to fetch the leader.

Ryan kicked Oliver in the rib two times before Oliver had him in a headlock and started punching his face. Vin and Carson tried to intervene but were knocked aside by the boys as they kicked and threw punches at each other finally Akins appeared his face red with furry "ENOUGH!'' He roared and the crowd that had formed around the boys returned to their seats backing away from their leaders angry eyes. Vin managed to get Oliver's arm and pull him away, Carson the same with Ryan both boys had cuts and bruises on their body and blood was dripping down Ryan's lips. Akins looked at both boys with anger in his eyes " I've never been so disappointed at this behavior were at war and should be fighting the enemy not each other. Rider's do not fight like children over a toy this has brought shame on us all, go get cleaned up and then meet me in my office.'' He turned away his boots hitting the floor like he was a giant.