Training
Chapter 6 - Day 3

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Notes/Disclaimer: This fic is based solely on the Dinotopia movie, NOT the series. I apologize for any inconsistencies with the books. I don't apologize for any inconsistencies with the series because it bit. I don't own the movie, or the series, or the books. Thank you.
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The third night was the first time David was utterly sure of the dream person's identity. Sebastian's face loomed next to his own as the older man leaned in for a kiss, and David willingly parted his lips to allow his lover entry.

The hands were all over him again. He found he couldn't focus on one individually because he would be entirely distracted by the ministrations of the other. The only thing he was sure of was the burning heat in his veins that threatened to boil his blood, escaping him as mist and taking his sanity with it. There was no denying the fierce sexual energy that flooded through both of them, and David knew with startling clarity what this encounter would eventually lead to.

He awoke before dawn and headed out with Freefall on his own, needing to get as far away from Sebastian as possible.

I am not dreaming about sex with my teacher. I am NOT dreaming about sex with my teacher. I am NOT- ...Shit. David pressed himself closer to the saddle, trying not to think about the way Sebastian had felt lying on top of him yesterday.

Okay, he thought to himself, feeling foolish, there comes a time in every man's life when he must question his own sexuality. Am I gay?

At first the idea seemed too ridiculous to even consider. But David forced himself to think about it logically.

I've never been attracted to men before. He paused, trying to be as honest and fair as possible. But then, I've never really been attracted to women either, have I? Except for Marion, of course. Karl was right; before we came here I did spend almost all my time holed up in a room by myself. I never even really dated before. I guess that's kind of sad.

David shook his head, forcing himself to stay on topic. The important question here is, how exactly do I feel about Sebastian. There's no denying the effect he had on my body yesterday. David blushed at the memory. But does that mean that I'm attracted to him? Or am I just starved for physical contact?

David sighed. On the whole, this little outing hadn't really done him any good at all. But it was nearly dawn, and Sebastian would be getting up now. He had to head back.

I'll just let it be, he thought to himself. It's probably a moot point anyway. It's not like he would be interested in someone like me.

Sebastian was waiting for him when he got back to the cliff. "You alright?" he asked as David landed. "I got worried when I woke up and you were gone."

"I'm fine," David assured him. "I just had some thinking to do."

"Okay," said Sebastian. "So listen. We pretty much finished up with the black balls yesterday. When we get done with our warm up ride around the canyon, we'll start on the white balls. How does that sound?"

David nodded, his pensieveness fading away in the face of the prospect of another thrilling day of flying. Because despite their difficilty, the drills Sebastian was teaching him really were fun. There was nothing that felt better than the freedom of being on the back of a Skybax.

As usual, Sebastian's comment earlier had been completely accurate. The white balls were nearly impossible to spot in the first place, let alone follow. The smallest movement besides the ball in his field of vision and he would be distracted and lose it completely. Time after time he dove towards it, only to find that the spot he had been aiming for was empty. Freefall was as confused as he was, and mumbled now and again in disapproval.

Sebastian tried to give him tips, but David couldn't seem to concentrate on his words. Every time his teacher spoke, David's eyes would stray to his lips and he would remember the dream and completely space out whatever Sebastian was saying. Sebastian began to notice that he wasn't listening and became, for the first time since David had met him, displeased.

So it was in a state of exhaustion and frustration that they finally broke for lunch.

"I don't know if I can do this," David said, sitting next to the stone circle where they normally had their fire. "I just can't seem to see them."

Sebastian sighed and practically collapsed next to him. "Don't be too hard on yourself. A lot of cadets get stuck at this point. I knew it was going to be problematic when we started."

David ripped almost viciously into a piece of bread. "I just... can't... concentrate," he admitted.

Sebastian paused and gave him an incredibly strange look that David had never seen before. Before he could question it however, it was gone, and in its place was the usual grin that seemed to be Sebastian's default. David decided to let it go.

They had finished their meal and stood to go back to their mounts when Sebastian halted David with a hand on his arm. "Hold on a second," he said. "There's something I want to do before we head out again."

Quickly and with no warning at all, he leaned in and captured David's lips in a kiss.

David's mind froze. The sensation was so incredibly akin to the one in his dream that he felt paralyzed, unable to move or even think. It was just the same, down to the strange, irresistable heat that flowed into him through the contact. For a moment it was so intense that he thought he might pass out.

Sebastian finally released him and grinned. "I'm sorry. I've just been wanting to do that pretty much since I first saw you." He paused, obviously taking in David's shocked expression. "Hey, are you okay?"

David took a step backwards, putting some space between them. He was still having a hard time putting together coherent thoughts. "But, you..." he stuttered, "You're... a guy! We're guys! We can't..."

Sebastian looked mildly surprised. "I'm sorry. Are you exclusive? I wouldn't have thought you were. If you are, then of course I respect that. ...What? Why are you looking at me so strangely?"

David sat abruptly on one of the stones surrounding the campfire. "Exclusive... what?" he managed.

Sebastian sat on a rock near him, maintaining the distance that David had imposed. "You know. Exclusive. Preferring to only be with one gender rather than both?"

"But..." David was beginning to regain a solid mental footing. "No. That's how it normally is, back at home. Most people only like those of the opposite sex. That's... normal."

"Not in Dinotopia," Sebastian said amiably. "Here we believe that one should not shut oneself off from love for reasons as simple and insignificant as gender. Of course, there are the rare few that choose to be exclusive. Are you saying my advances are wholly unwelcome? I like you a lot David, but I'm not going to pressure you into something you don't want, just because I'm your teacher. Especially because I'm your teacher.

"No, it's okay. I just... Give me some time to think about this, okay?"

David's mind screamed at him. Idiot! Why did I say that?! Tell him no! Tell him of course not, I'm not some fag! I don't like men! I DON'T!

But somehow he couldn't make himself say the words. He could feel, deep down, that they lacked truth.

Sebastian stood, grinning. "Alrighty! In that case, let's get back to your training, shall we? You need to learn how to watch these things. Tell you what. We'll do a couple runs where you just stand and watch while I throw the ball. Count how long it takes before you see the splash when it hits the water. Then you'll have a rough idea of how long it takes to fall, all right?"

David nodded, forcing his brain to switch gears. "Right. Okay. That sounds like a good idea." He walked over to Freefall and mounted up.


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