John took a half step back, warily watching the older dragon.

Unlike his pewter coloured younger sibling he was a dark silvery-blue, with hints of copper along his spine and tail, and unlike Sherlock he looked fiercely distrusting.

A deep warning growl sounded in Sherlock's throat, but Mycroft was already turning, his sharp fore claws reaching towards the smaller human.

In the blink of an eye Sherlock launched himself, pinning his brother to the floor, his own claws pressing dangerously close to his brother's jugular.

"Leave. Him. Alone." The fire drake shook his head, breathing a sheet of flame close to his brother's face, making him flinch away slightly before retaliating with a crackle of icy breath.

Propelled by powerful hind legs and tail Mycroft flung him off, moving surprisingly swiftly for such a cumbersome creature, leaving both dragons standing face to face once more, Sherlock strategically placed to protect John.

"He's a liability; it's too big a risk brother."

"No!"

"He can't be trusted."

"Oi!" John stepped around his friend, fed up with being discussed as if he weren't there. "You know I can be trusted, you've trusted me to keep your brother safe since the first time you kidnapped me, and the only thing that's changed is that I've discovered that he's even more unique than I first believed."