A Dragon's Heart: Book One [2]
Adam certainly did not remember Sam receiving his egg. Hell he didn’t remember the closing statements or the New Recruits shuffling away into groups to await their next orders. Sam stood steady at Adam’s side as the world began to buzz and move around them. The youngest Winchester vaguely registered Dean’s approach and being prodded to the side of the hall with gentle calloused hands.
“Addy? Kid, look at me.” Dean’s voice sounded like his throat had been sanded down, like a gentle tide rippling over pebbles. “KID!”
“The fuck! What the hell, Dean?!” Adam yelled as he subconsciously patted his egg in apology. For the language or Dean’s outburst, Adam wasn’t sure.
“Addy you were away in cuckoo land there. What the hell happened?” Now Adam wasn’t waxing poetic about his brother’s voice like some brain damaged loon, Adam could focus on the fact that Dean had dragged them into a shaded corner of the hall and his two older brothers were looming over him. One with concern and one with rising frustration.
“Dean’s right, Adam, it looked like you were going to cry at one point.” Well shit, so much for his non-existent reputation.
“I’m-.”
“I swear to God Adam if you say you’re fine I will kick your skinny ass," Dean growled quietly. The whispered threat lost none of its effect especially with Dean right in his face, green eyes blazing and friendly freckles lost in the rising colour of his cheeks. Adam was suddenly struck with a hilarious thought about how often Adam was mistaken as Dean and Sam’s gay offspring and couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face. Dean’s gaze just narrowed in warning and Adam’s grin faded as quickly as it had arrived.
The youngest Winchester turned to find support from his older brother. But Sam had turned on the concerned puppy-dog eyes full brunt and was standing in the thin light beams clutching his egg tightly with both arms wrapped around the delicate frame like he was attempting to form his own limb nest. In that moment Sam looked like a lost little boy and Adam caved and handed over his pride and masculinity on a silver platter.
“For a moment, Professor Visyak looked like mom…” Adam mumbled as he stared at the crown of his egg. Adam could already sense the distinct shift in his brothers’ attitude. Dean coughed as he stood up and Adam was instantly reminded of the fact that he was the shortest Winchester offspring. Which sucked because Sam was almost as tall as his eighteen year old brother and Adam felt like a midget under their gazes.
"Addy..." Sam started and Adam could feel the sorrow and Sam's insatiable need to hug the pain away in that one simple loving nickname.
"Kid, I'm sorry I yelled. Next time hit me and tell me to shut up 'kay," Dean offered with a hefty back slap that almost winded the youngest sibling. Adam knew his older brother hated touchy feely moments almost as much as him, so he understood Dean's subtle attempt to change the subject immediately. But for once Adam wanted the touchy feely moment, he wanted Sam's bone crushing hug and he wanted to curl up in his mother’s arms and be rocked to sleep.
"Dean..." Adam mumbled knowing the tears had already begun to fall as he raised his eyes to catch the rabbit caught in headlights look Dean was wearing. Adam’s puppy-dog eyes could only be outdone by Sam and Dean had never said ‘no’ to either of them, so Adam knew he wasn’t about to start now.
"Aw hell kid. C'mere." And with that Dean was wrapping his arms gently around Adam and his new egg.
"It's okay Adam," Sam muttered from beside him. His gigantor brother had shuffled a little closer but was obviously indisposed with his own egg. It didn’t matter. Adam could feel the care and affection radiating from his older brother. Dean’s arms felt like a safe cocoon and Adam let the world fade away as he snuggled into Dean’s firm hug. Safe and cherished, Adam would never admit to Dean how much his oldest sibling’s hugs reminded him of his mothers.
"Is everything all right, Dean?" A sex roughened voice sounded behind Adam's older brother and said brother stiffened minutely having been caught in such a tender display of emotion by an outsider. Adam expected him to shove Adam away and start growling and glaring at the idiot who dared approach until the poor sod cried and fled. He wasn’t expecting Dean to squeeze him a little before releasing him gently.
"Yeah, Cas. Everything's peachy," Dean replied sarcastically. Adam shared a raised eyebrow with Sam. Dean letting anyone witness even the slightest open display of emotion was a huge step for their oldest brother and apparently Castiel Novak, Dean’s bond mate, had earned that right. Adam should have guessed that it wasn’t all about the mind-blowing sex his brother had claimed it was in his short letters home. Obviously it was real, honest to god love for their big brother. And wow that was huge.
"We must escort the New Recruits to the Waiting Dormitories. And your parents are looking for you and your brothers. Sir Singer is distracting them for now but I believe he is becoming impatient," Castiel mentioned obviously ignoring his bond mate's sarcastic tone.
“Wonderful," Dean muttered as he rolled his eyes. “Addy, you going to be okay?”
“Sure. I’ll just hit ‘em and tell ‘em to shut up if they piss me off," Adam answered earning a wide grin from both his brothers and a birdlike head tilt from the head of The House of Water.
“Good boy, see you’re already learning.” Dean slapped Adam’s back again in congratulations. “Take notes Sammy. Adam’s already ahead of the curve.”
Sam grimaced slightly at the nickname he hated. Dean only grinned wider as he ushered his younger brothers into hell.
Whilst Adam had been having his minor breakdown in a darkened corner like the emo teenager Dean had often claimed he was, the New Recruits were busy making temporary cliques that would quickly dissolve once their Dragons hatched. Some New Recruits were even talking to the heads of the houses and the predecessors. Some, more worryingly, were sitting down and talking to the eggs…and in some cases petting their eggs with a crazy look of bliss. Adam clutched his egg tighter trying to shield the baby Dragon within from the crazy.
“There they are.” Sir Singer’s gruff scratchy voice was filled with relief. Obviously ‘impatient’ wasn’t the right word to properly define Sir Singer’s emotions. Frustration, irritation and anger…maybe.
“I happen to have a busy schedule, Bobby. I can’t show favouritism now can I?” Dean took position in front of Sam and Adam as he teased the headmaster with his usual boyish charm. Sir Singer’s left eye twitched moving his prickly looking beard with it.
“I’ll show you busy in a minute. You’ll be busy with my foot up your ass, you idjit!” Sam and Adam took a united step away from Dean in an act of self-preservation.
“Dean, Samuel, Adam,” Their father muttered effectively destroying all the warm happy feelings Adam had been feeling in one swift move.
“Dick,” Sam muttered.
“Douchebag,” Dean replied with a slight growl.
“Ass-hat," Adam said blandly feeling his eyebrow twitch in the usual rising rage.
“I look forward to seeing the rest of my sons follow my footsteps into the House of Fire.” John carried on ignoring their insults. Dean snorted and Adam could practically feel Sam praying for green scales.
“Not fucking likely jackass," Adam mumbled as he patted his egg. So help him, if he had to paint his Dragon blue on a regular basis, he would.
“I expect it," John stated like he could control his sons. He hadn’t been able to control Dean and Sam since his adultery was discovered and Adam’s mother had kept him away from John’s influence most of his childhood. One stupid mistake had cost John Winchester his empire. He wasn’t the King of his home anymore. Just the King of Jack Daniels and bad whiskey.
“If that’s everything, I gotta get the kids here settled in.” Dean didn’t wait for an answer before he dragged Sam and Adam away from their father. Mary Winchester hadn’t so much as twitched from her spot silent behind John. Her eyes followed Adam as Dean escorted them away. Adam shivered under her intense gaze. He was never quite sure if she hated him or if he just represented her heartbreak over John’s affair. Adam had never actually spoken to Mary. Oh sure he’d tried but she’d just stare at him until he gave up and then he just stopped trying.
Adam let the bustle and chaos of organizing the tired and bored New Recruits consume his every thought. He watched as Dean moved amongst the group helping his bond mate with silent hand gestures with a detached amazement. His egg felt a little heavy in his arms, a warm weight of his future already beginning to settle into his frazzled mind.
Eventually everybody knew where they were going and who was leading which group. Leaving the chilly and dim Dragon’s Temple was a little disorientating. The bright sunlight momentarily blinded Adam as it warmed his chilly limbs. The goose bumps under his scratchy uniform didn’t make him feel any more comfortable in the rapidly rising heat. The sooner he could get out of the regulation uniform the better.
The Waiting Dormitories were plain. Really plain. Dean had mentioned it was to avoid tainting the fragile physic link between New Recruit and Egg. Compared to the lively warm buildings they’d passed in the village, the Waiting Dorm was nothing more than a block of rustic grey brick with pale cream box rooms sparsely decorated within. This would be Adam and Sam’s home for the next three weeks.
“Very modern chic…” Adam mumbled as he looked over the uncomfortable looking wooden bed and single tiny night stand. There was a cupboard with sliding doors built into the wall opposite his bed and the floor was a soft padded bamboo matt. The Japanese influence was clear as day in Adam’s new home. The Island itself was just of off the coast of Japan and the Japanese government had final say on anything to do with the Academy.
“Whatever helps you sleep at night, Addy," Dean offered as he squeezed Adam’s shoulder before squeezing past his younger brother into the room. Adam watched from the doorway as Dean threw himself down on Adam’s bed, said bed creaked a little ominously under the new weight.
“Where do I put my egg?” Adam asked as he looked around the empty room for a nest or seat for his egg.
“Up to you. You can sleep with it, take it wherever you go or you can build a nest out of your clothes and leave it here while you go out.” Dean shrugged. Sam had wandered over from his room next to Adam’s mid answer.
“Won’t that effect the bond?” Sam frowned as he clutched his egg tightly. Adam ambled into his room and sat down in front of the wardrobe. Sam followed and settled next to him.
“No one’s actually sure about that. Cas has been doing some research into it but it’s just theory at the moment," Dean answered yawning.
“What did you do?” Sam asked as he folded his legs to provide a nest for his egg to settle in. Adam removed his jacket with a sigh of relief and folded it into a make shift nest between the wall and the night stand. He carefully placed his warm egg into the folds and gave it a pat.
“Like every newbie I carried Kat around with me.” Dean shuffled into Adam’s thin mattress attempting to get comfy.
“How’s Katrina doing?” Sam perked up at the mention of Dean’s crimson dragon. Dean’s forehead creased in a frown as he concentrated.
“She’s curled up with Deanna having a nap before the big show tonight," Dean replied after a moment, a silly smile twitching at his mouth. Adam knew from Dean’s letters that Deanna was Castiel’s deep blue coloured dragon. Both dragons had fully matured and were now thirty feet tall. Adam peeked at his egg; the tiny foot long dragon would grow over the next few years until it matched Katrina’s size. It was a little bit terrifying for Adam.
“You and Cas are the real deal, huh?” Sam smirked knowingly at Dean.
“Yeah…” Dean mumbled his silly smile back full force. Sam and Adam looked shocked at Dean’s easy admittance. Usually getting Dean to admit anything took; patience, time, a strong will and determination. That their brother was so easy-going about confessing the seriousness of his relationship with the head of The House of Water was a massive step forward in Dean’s maturity.
“That’s…that’s awesome, Dean.” Sam smiled widely and Adam matched his expression with a warm fluffy feeling settling in his chest he refused to acknowledge or name.
“Thanks guys now let’s stop acting like teenage girls and talk about something else.” Dean laughed as he chucked Adam’s pillow at Sam’s face. This resulted in a small impromptu wrestling match after Sam had gently put his egg alongside Adam’s.
The brother’s ended up in a tight heap on the floor. Sam and Adam tucked safely under each of Dean’s arms, their heads pillowed against Dean’s chest. Adam grinned, a little giddy at the closeness he shared with Dean and Sam.
“Things are really gonna change, aren’t they…” Adam whispered.
“Yeah, Addy. They are," Dean replied quietly giving Adam’s bicep a quick squeeze.
“For the better, right?” Sam asked, a hint of worry colouring his words.
“Absolutely, Sammy. Absolutely," Dean answered ruffling Sam’s long hair affectionately.
For the next three weeks Adam, Sam and Dean bonded further over their shared time on the Island. Without John Winchester glowering over their shoulders, the brothers were free to just be themselves.
Dean had introduced Sam to the Grand Library and Adam and Dean had watched their brother squeal with joy quietly before becoming lost to them in the miles of bookshelves. The whole building seemed to fascinate Sam and his geeky nature. Its architecture was similar to the Dragon Temple. Sparkling marble columns with intricate golden dragons intertwined around the large oak doors. They had to bribe Sam with skittles to get him to leave.
Seminars about the history of the Academy, Dragons and some of the more notable past students were held daily in the old theatre. A charming building that was understated on the outside but held a warm rich comfy interior. Dean had pushed them into some of the lectures stating in an exaggerated whisper that it would help them with some of their mandatory classes.
During the days Dean couldn’t join them, immersed in his own studies or head of house duties, Sam and Adam wandered the local town. They stopped at brightly coloured stalls with shiny trinkets and cloths for their unborn dragons and investigated the local cuisine.
“This isn’t bad. What is it?” Sam mumbled through a mouthful of his latest test. Adam grinned.
“Dragon sperm," Adam replied happily. Sam spat out a mouthful of dragon sperm all over the stall owner, who was not impressed in the slightest.
When Adam wasn’t torturing Sam, they were observing their fellow New Recruits.
“Ow! Adam watch my egg! What the hell are you hitting me-What the?”
“That’s Becky Rosen…Pushing her egg around in a ‘My Little Pony’ sparkling pink pushchair.”
“…Dean said there’s a bar around here.”
All in all Adam had a wonderful time exploring his new surroundings with his brothers and at night Adam curled around his egg and talked. About the fading memories of his mother’s kind smile, about Mary’s cold regard for Adam, about John’s sneers, about Dean’s rebel attitude, about Sam’s thirst for knowledge…everything. It had never been proven that the hatchling could hear behind the thing outer shell but Adam didn’t care. He just needed to talk.
And then the day came when his hatchling talked back…
Adam crossed out the day on his plain desktop calendar. Three weeks to the day since he’d received his egg and it was due to hatch in the next forty eight hours. If it didn’t hatch, Adam was to take his egg to the infirmary and have it checked out. The list of ailments that could hinder a dragon’s birth was endless and frankly the forty eight hour window would be terrifying.
“Adam?” Sam’s voice sounded excited through his door after a short knock.
“Yeah," Adam responded and Sam shuffled into the room clutching his egg tightly to his chest.
“Today’s the day!” Sam grinned widely showing off his dimples. Adam snorted.
“Forty eight hours, Sammy. Remember?” Adam smirked as Sam frowned a little.
“Yeah…well…not the point!” Sam yelled. Adam laughed as his brother spluttered.
“Shall we go celebrate?” Adam asked already picking up his black jacket and egg. Sam smiled and they headed out to the local bar. Adam stroking the shell of his egg discreetly as they made their way to the local and popular watering hole.
Adam shifted fitfully in his tiny uncomfortable squeaky bed. Hanging out at the bar had done little to ease Adam’s concerns and rising anxiety. Around him and Sam, New Recruits had laughed and smiled as their eggs cracked open to reveal tiny baby dragons in bright colours. Adam had watched with a heavy heart as older students congratulated their new house mates. All the while Adam’s cold cream egg remained devoid of heat and movement beneath the thin shell. Even Sam had noted slight fluttering’s under the shell of his egg and Adam didn’t miss the worried frown Dean had shot his way when he admitted to no such movements in his egg.
As the evening had trundled on, Adam felt a choking weight settle in his heart. No Dragon, no education at the Academy. But it was more than that now. Adam had grown attached to the speckled egg he shared every waking moment with for the past three weeks. It was a tad silly but he couldn’t help it. Adam didn’t really have friends. If you took Sam and Dean out of the equation, Adam had no one. No one but an egg.
The cold unmoving weight beside him refused to let him sleep. His mind twisting and turning around different scenarios, each more panic ridden than the last. Adam’s thoughts fell on Sam’s egg. As the two siblings had meandered back to the waiting dorms for the night, Sam’s egg had cracked open, rather un-dramatically compared to others.
As expected Sam’s tiny new friend, Aralia, had bright green scales and eyes like her Riders. Her voice was musical and made Adam’s heart sink even further as he stared glumly down at his own egg.
“It’ll hatch, Addy. Just give it time,” Sam had tried to reassure. Adam had forced a brave smile before they separated for the night. Even now Adam could hear Sam and Aralia talking softly through the thin walls.
Adam sat up suddenly and pulled his egg into his lap. In the darkness of his room he quietly sobbed into the crown of his egg as he clutched it as tightly as he dared.
“Please hatch…please…” Adam begged softly. He breathed in the slightly damp scent of his egg. Minutes ticked by in the darkness. The small travel clock was almost deafening as shadows from dark clouds covering the full moon danced across Adam’s bamboo mats.
Eventually Adam’s tears dried up and he was left with the empty exhausted feeling that usually followed a good cry. The youngest Winchester sniffled and rubbed his nose against his arm feeling small and too young for the large and intimidating Academy. A soft flutter under Adam’s hand startled him.
The young blond boy stared at his egg blinking back new tears. His finger’s splayed out fully across the shell praying his mind wasn’t playing tricks on him.
The shell expanded slightly against his hands. Adam breathed sharply through his teeth.
“Hey…Are you hatching?” Adam whispered afraid to break the silence.
In reply a large crack snapped across the top of his egg and Adam held his breath. It was like the world faded away in those slow few seconds after the first crack formed. The shadows blurred, the loud ticking ceased and Adam’s breath felt like ice trapped in his lungs.
And then the shell exploded outwards. Adam’s arms yanked upwards to protect his face from the sharp jagged edges that launched themselves towards him. Adam surprised himself by not yelling even as he felt the frightened scream claw at the back of his throat. His heart felt like a an energizer bunny on crack as he lowered his arms.
Adam peeked under his lashes and opened his eyes wide as he watched the newly hatched dragon knock a piece of the cream shell of off its head with a three clawed foot. He stared at the tiny scaly bundle now preening happily perched in on his thighs. Adam guessed his new fire breathing friend was a foot long from head to tail. Tiny scales covered thin limbs and a small torso. Most impressive were the wings; millimetre thick bones outlined the thin bat like membrane that was easily a thirty centimetres long outstretched for each wing. The dragon’s head was in direct proportion with the rest of its body with tiny horns curled back towards its tail from the rear of its crown. Its scaly pointed jaw opened wide in a large yawn revealing pointed pearly teeth.
His dragon was beautiful…and most importantly a bright aqua blue.
“Holy shit!” Adam yelled, shocked with the skinny dragon now stretching in his lap surrounded by gooey pieces of cream shell.
Hello to you too, little one, His sky blue dragon mumbled picking tiny shell pieces from her wing. Her voice was soft and a little scratchy but rather nice.
“Hi…” Adam offered lamely. His dragon stared up at him with glinting sharp blue eyes.
Intelligent aren’t you, little one? For a lack of eyebrows his dragon sure managed to express her utter disdain without a problem.
“I’m in shock here, so cut me some slack!” Adam glared, his hackles raised.
Calm yourself, little one. I mean no offence…much. Now help me remove my shell, it annoys me. She opened her wings in invitation and Adam snorted unhappily before he complied with his dragon’s request.
“Have you got a name, Miss Witty?” Adam asked a little snidely as he plucked tiny shards of soft shell from in between the smooth scales of his dragon’s skin.
Sirenia, Sirenia replied simply as she chewed at the scales between her clawed feet.
“That’s a nice name,” Adam offered genuinely.
Thank you, little one. Adam is a strong name and you shall be a strong rider, Sirenia offered in return. Adam blushed under the compliment. Instead of replying he continued to help groom Sirenia is silence. His fingertips ghosted over the almost see through membrane of her wings. The soft blue skin that would help her glide above the clouds one day shimmered in the soft dust filled light of Adam’s room. Her scales glittered like diamonds across her thin frame.
“You’re very beautiful,” Adam muttered without thinking. He immediately stopped flicking shards of shell from Sirenia’s body and focussed on the tiny spider’s web growing in the corner of his window.
You are most kind little one. I thank you, Sirenia replied and Adam reluctantly drew his eyes away from the shimmering thread to meet Sirenia’s amused gaze.
“Why do you call me little one…and how do you know my name?” Adam asked suddenly. Curiosity bloomed in his mind as he frowned down at the tiny blue creature grooming in his lap.
You are a child of your kind, which is why I call you little one…As for your second question, I heard everything you said to me. Your words were gentle and nice, I never felt alone in my shell. Thank you, Sirenia answered softly, seeming to sense the delicate nature of what she was revealing. Adam was shocked. He opened and closed his mouth trying to find any words that would fill the awkward silence. Sirenia just smiled a little lopsided. Adam smiled back shyly. Now stop acting like an ‘emo’ and help me finish grooming.
Adam just laughed.
Present day…
Adam did not pout for the rest of Professor Michael Novak’s lesson. No matter what Andy said. He did however watch the Professor’s shapely ass every time he turned around to jot down a few notes on the board in neat writing. Sirenia’s quiet chuckles filtered through his mind and he knew when he picked up his sassy dragon from Katrina’s flight lesson he’d be subjected to sniggers and knowing looks. The trouble with having a physic link connecting you to an annoying snarky lizard is that said snarky lizard is privy to your every thought.
It made wanking off in the morning before Sirenia woke up, a heart racing new sport. Michael bent over to pick up a book from beside his desk and Adam groaned mentally. He foresaw a lot of early morning showers in his future.
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