Pairing: Charlie
Prompt: wisdom
Word count: 513
It's a test that every Dragon Tamer has to pass, and it's one that Charlie feels confident that he'll pass. On their first day of training, each new recruit must stand completely bare in front of their dragon of choice.
Dragons are prideful creatures and they can tell the measure of a man just by looking them dead in the eyes. And that is why every Dragon Tamer must complete this task – to see if the dragons deem them worthy. Charlie stands in front of the Hungarian Horntail, without the protective gear that he should have on being this close to a dragon.
The logical part of Charlie's mind knows that the Reservation would never endanger their recruits purposefully, that he'll be protected if the dragon doesn't take a liking to him. But his body tenses and his hands slightly shake because he is nervous. Because what if the dragon doesn't take to him? His whole life has been about dragons and he doesn't know what he'll do if the Hungarian Horntail doesn't see anything worthy in him.
He takes a deep breath, calming his nerves. Looking up, Charlie studies his chosen breed. The Hungarian Horntail is the most dangerous breed of dragons, but, to him, it's also the most beautiful. The female sixty feet in front of him is utterly gorgeous. Her pure black scales shimmer in the light and the bronze spikes on her head nearly glow.
But there's something in her yellow eyes that Charlie finds amazing. There's a kind of wisdom that only comes with the years lived, and a fierce loyalty that is boiling below the surface. As he meets her eyes, he finds that he doesn't want to look away because he's intrigued.
Suddenly, the dragon moves closer. And as much as he doesn't want to, he flinches. He wants to reach for his wand, but he knows that any quick movements would cause the dragon to act because she would feel threatened. So he does his best to cover his flinch and to regain his stature.
The dragon stares at him, meeting his blue eyes. She's searching his soul, and he knows it. He shivers as her eyes flicker back and forth because he's never been this open with anyone. He watches as the dragon tilts her head.
After several long moments, the dragon bows her head. Charlie suppresses a sigh of relief and bows slowly to her, careful not to make any sudden movements. When he comes up from his bow, he's wearing a smile. He waits a few more seconds as a trained Tamer comes to help him out of the danger zone.
As he's walking home that night, he wonders what the dragon saw in him, what she deemed worthy. But he can't deny the overwhelming relief that floods his body to know that the dragons believe him to be a man of honor, loyalty and pride. When he goes to work the next day, he knows that he has earned the respect of the dragons because the Hungarian Horntail deemed him worthy.
A/n – also written for the one character comp, round two. Write 500 words without dialogue about Charlie and a given emotion that's never stated – vulnerable.
So many thanks to Sylvia, because otherwise there would extra words that don't belong. Thanks, love!