Get Ready for Trouble {Iro}

[Zirin]

J'degar leaned back in his chair, feeling his eyes drift shut even as he fought to stay awake. He was tired and sore and mentally worn out. THe entire ordeal with Iro'ris and the Rikula had been entirely stressful and J'degar was once again feeling that he was getting too old to deal with children (because as long as Iro was a weyrling, J'degar felt he could lump the ex-cook in with the rest of them!)

After getting the idiot patched up, J'degar had left no room for discussion before simply scooping the man up and carrying him up to the his weyr. He had put the man to bed and pulled up a seat to watch over him, but the fatigue was taking him over faster than the man would like. He was too tired to even drag himself to the bath and wash off the soot and dried blood that coated his bare chest. A part of him knew he should try to clean Iro off as well, but he felt his mind slowly drifting off and couldn't put any more effort forth.

And so, whenever Iro managed to wake up, he would find his weyrlingmaster dead asleep on the large chair, his head cocked to the side and his arms thrown lazily over the arms of the chair.

[Elessar]

The first thing that registered in Iro'ris' mind was his dragon. She had been hurt. Was she okay? They had betweened! The whirling mess of thoughts that hit him when he first woke nearly knocked him out again. Thankfully, he managed to hold on to wakefulness, and call out to the Topaz.

I am fine, CrazyMine. Check on yourself and syphraelth'sOwn.[/color]

The Weyrling was momentarily confused, until the pain hit him. He gasped, and reached around to his side, where he saw a large bandage. Hissing in displeasure, he moved to swing out of the bed, but found something in his way. J'degar. Syphraelth'sOwn. Now things were starting to make sense. The Weyrlingmaster was asleep, his head in a rather odd position, arms locked behind the chair.

Saekath, He thought to the Topaz. Has he been here... the entire time? The Queen yawned from where she was curled up next to Syphraelth in J'degar's weyr. Yes. Ever since we flew Thread. A whole night and day. You slept long, CrazyMine.[/color] Iro'ris was shocked. He hadn't realized he had been that hurt... or that J'degar cared.

Slowly shifting around, so he could stand, he grunted in pain. He'd need some numbweed or fellis or something to drown the pain, but first... Gar. Gently moving the other man's arms, Iro'ris attempted to slide the Weyrlingmaster from the chair to the bed without waking him.

Good luck, CrazyMine.[/color]

[Zirin]

At the first touch from Iro, J'degar grumbled something in his sleep and swatted at the offending hands. THe touch wasn't enough to wake him up completely, just enough to start to pull him back to consciousness. As the tugging continued he finally opened his eyes, blinking in confusion as he tried to figure out why Iro was in his weyr, trying to drag him out of the chair. He shifted slightly, and pain shot through him; he had been sitting there way too long. FInally, as Iro gave another tug he remember what had happened.

"Idiot, you should be lying down." He grumbled, trying to blink the sleep out of his eyes before pulling his arm out of Iro's grasp and reaching to the nearest drawer to pull out the bandages and numbweed that were there. Pointing to the bed, and wearing an expression that meant he wasn't going to accept any arguing, he gave a gruff command. "Bed, stomach down."

Syphraelth lifted his head from where he lay, glancing over to the topaz. He is awake, my Lady? That is good. GarMine will make the pain go away.

[Elessar]

Iro was just grateful he that J'degar woke up before he dropped him. The Weyrling hadn't been prepared for how heavy the man was! Then again, Iro was also in a rather weakened condition, so it was understandable that Gar's weight had been too much for him. It still stung, however. Obviously J'degar had carried him up here, so why couldn't Iro manage to shift J'degar from a chair to a bed?

Grumbling, he shook his head. "You need to rest," the Weyrling protested, still standing. "You're filthy, too. You need a bath." Eyeing the man's bare chest, Iro'ris felt his face flush a dull red. He looked away. "I probably need one, too, if you're the one bandaging my wounds," he teased, eyes sparkling. He refused to look back at J'degar's half-naked form, however. It'd only give him feelings he knew Gar didn't want him to have.

At Gar's gruff command, however, Iro'ris sighed and sat down on the bed again. "Only if you promise to rest afterwards," he countered. "Deal?" Not waiting for an answer (he would force the Weyrlingmaster to rest if he had to), Iro gingerly moved so that he was laying on the bed with his stomach down.

Saekath turned to the brown, eyes swirling. Mine has been too long asleep, and Yours not enough.[/color] She commented, watching the Sub-King carefully.

[Zirin]

"Good to see you too weyrling." J'degar grumbled back, annoyed that Iro was even attempting to boss him around. Clearly, other than a lack of sleep, J'degar was fine. The brat really needed to learn to care for himself first. "I don't need to do anything except make sure you don't do something else stupid. You can boss me around if you graduate." He quirked an eyebrow, not at all catching Iro's joke.

"You need a bath regardless. You smell like a herdbeast's behind." He retorted, running a hand over his own chest in a weak attempt to brush off some of the blood and grime, which failed miserably. A bath would be in orer once he made sure Iro wasn't going to hurt himself more.

"You're in no position to make deals Iro. You're in a lot of trouble you know." He sighed, pleased that Iro knew well enough to listen to him, at least. He picked up the skin and rag that lay nearby as well and moved to sit on Iro's legs before gently pulling away the bandages, careful to disturb the wounds as little as possible. He was pleased to see they weren't too deep and were already scabbing over.

"Don't move or complain, or I'll hurt you." Was all he said as he dabbed gently to clean the area around the wounds with the damp rag. It didn't take long, and soon J'degar was scooping a handful of numbweed into his hands. He gave a brief warning about it being cold before laying his hands on Iro's back and gently rubbing the cool ointment into the topazrider's skin; his hands surprisingly gentle.

Syphraelth watched Saekath as she watched him. A brief nod was given to acknowledge her words before he responded. Mine puts the life of you and Yours above his own sleep. He will sleep better knowing Iro'risYours is okay. He answered easily. He didn't necessarily like it, he had spent the last while worried about his rider's health. But he could feel how happy J'degar was to know his best friend was okay enough to be a thorn in his side.

[Elessar]

Iro'ris didn't afford J'degar's grumbled, obviously annoyed hello with a response. He did, however, jerk his head when the Weyrlingmaster suggested that he might not graduate. Then again... Iro could understand why J'degar might hold him back. There was quite the list, actually.

Flying before they were supposed to. Nearly sleeping with J'degar during Chahaturth's flight. Betweening before they were supposed to... it was quite the list, and all the strikes were against them. It would make perfect sense for J'degar to hold them back. It just hurt to have his best friend in the world hint at it.

Iro watched as the man brushed at his chest, and raised his eyebrows. "Thanks, Gar," he snapped. "You don't smell all that wonderful yourself, you know." Yes, a bath would definitely be needed by both of them. Iro was moderately surprised to see how much of his blood was on his friend.

At J'degar's next words, however, he winced. "Yeah, I know I am..." He murmured, grunting as the Weyrlingmaster sat down on his legs to keep him from moving. It occured to the Weyrling that this was as close as they had been since Chahahurth had risen, and felt himself blush again. He closed his eyes as J'degar removed the bandages, shocked at how gentle his friend's hands were.

"I won't," Iro whispered. He felt like crying. So many of his feelings toward J'degar were of the wrong inclination... J'degar wanted friendship, and Iro'ris wanted something more between them. Sometimes the topaz Weyrling suspected that J'degar did, too, but he could never really tell.

Hissing as the cold numbweed was rubbed over his wounds by J'degar's gentle hands, Iro'ris waited until the man was finished to exhale his held breath. He knew Gar was serious when he said not to move. Pushing himself up onto his elbows, the Weyrling moved to roll himself over, simultaneously sliding a bit so J'degar was essentially straddling him.

Staring up into the Weyrlingmaster's eyes, Iro'ris could only wonder how his friend would react.

Saekath, at her rider's movements, uncurled herself like a giant cat, padding over to the brown dragon. Rubbing her head along his neck, she laid down next to him, humming lightly. Mine loves Yours. Does Yours not know it?[/color]

[Zirin]

J'degar couldn't help but think 'pissy queenrider' as Iro snapped at him. He wasn't quite sure what it was that had pissed off the normally happy-go-lucky man. Perhaps the idle threat? Sure, Iro had done a lot of things he shouldn't have done, and he had been punished accordingly, but he was also among Gar's better students. He may be held back a couple months, but it would only be enough to teach a lesson about following orders.

"Didn't want to be in the bath when you woke up." J'degar shrugged, not particularly caring. It wasn't like he was trying to woo Iro after all, they both knew why he stank and they both knew Gar would clean up when he got a real chance. "You'll be doing push ups and runs every morning for the next month." He began, lazily going over the list of punishments he had concocted. So far, it was all things Iro was used to. "After your morning exercise you will assist me in chopping up meat for the new juniors and," He paused and looked at Iro, trying to meet his eyes to show how serious he was. "You'll be having some private lessons. I don't want you idiots trying to between again without a proper lesson and I doubt you'll behave and wait for the class lesson."

His eyes widened as Iro'ris flipped himself over though it was out of worry rather than surprise. Once he realized how Iro had repositioned himself though, his look of worry shifted to one of mild disapproval; rather close to J'degar's regular expression. What was the best option? Yell at the man for being inappropriate, playing along, something else? Rubbing his fingers together briefly he decided ignoring Iro's position was the best plan, so instead he leaned forward and began rubbing the remaining numbweed into Iro's shoulders; he didn't doubt the man's muscles were sore.

"We will grab a bath once the numbweed has kicked in." Syphraelth rumbled as Saekath pressed against him, thrilled that she still approved of his presence. He had been afraid she would hate him. Mine knows many things, some of which he does not share with me. I know he is aware that they care for eachother. I do not know of love, Mine is not so easy to decipher when it comes to this emotion of love. For good reason. The man had lost two women to the world of dragons now, how was he to open up and tell someone he cared now?

[Elessar]

Iro'ris felt a bit guilty for snapping at his best friend, but still! He didn't want to be held back at all. He knew he had deserved it, but it wasn't at all what he had planned. Besides, it wasn't his fault no one had gone to help Ka'mond and Abyrath and that Saekath had been forced to between.

J'degar shrugged, and Iro'ris sighed. They both knew full well why they both smelled so badly and that they would clean up when they got a chance. As the Weyrlingmaster began to list off punishments, Iro nodded. It was nothing he wasn't used to by this point, though he couldn't for the life of him figure out why he was being punished for saving someone's life. At the mention of private lessons, however, he blinked. And realized... all of the extra lessons isolated him with J'degar. His eyes narrowed.

When he switched positions, J'degar just frowned. Iro'ris's eyes narrowed farther. Didn't Gar understand? Pushing away his friend's hands, he stared int J'degar's dark, disapproving eyes with a stubbornness he hadn't realized he had until Saekath had called to him from the Sands. "Stop playing hard to get, J'degar!" He exclaimed. "I know when you punish me, you isolate me with you, and you alone. I see the way you look at me. Say you like women all you want, but it's a lie, J'degar, a lie! You should be with me and you know it!"

Lifting his chin defiantly, he lowered his voice. "You know it," he whispered, blue eyes trained on J'degar's brown ones. There was a brief moment of silence before the Weyrling slowly leaned forward, his hand on J'degar's chest, and pressed their lips together.

Saekath was mildly confused. Why would she hate him? She could feel his emotions, but decided not to ask that question. Hers was more important at the moment. I am influenced my Mine as you are by Yours, and as Ours are influenced by us. Why does Yours not love Mine?[/color]

[Zirin]

Playing hard to get? What was the man going on about now? J'degar didn't fight when his hands where shoved away, but they did widen at Iro's sudden accusations. He thought the punishments were a way to flirt? He thought J'degar was isolating him for some selfish, guilty pleasure?! The brownrider couldn't help but just stare at Iro, mouth agape as the man rambled. He had thought Iro might harbor some sort of strange feelings for him, but to think they had something between them was... absurd. If Iro thought there was because of the flight well... they would have to have a little chat about flightlust.

He was about to answer, truly, when suddenly there was a whole lot of Iro up in his face and J'degar found himself kissing his weyrling for a second time. Well, he didn't kiss back, but he didn't pull away either. This was his best friend! His drinking buddy, his fellis supplier, his fellow feline fanatic! He finally pulled back just enough to talk."I punish you alone because the rest of your classmates don't fuck up like you do." He growled. Well.. half true. He punished Iro'ris alone because the man tended to break the rules mroe strongly than anyone else, requiring extra punishment. "If anyone here is using punishments to their advantage its you." His eyes narrowed more.

"And just because it doesn't bother me to wake up next to men after a flight doesn't mean I'm INTO men." Then again, Iro was one of the strangest men around and J'degar knew he couldn't deny that he cared for the weyrling. Nor could he deny that he looked at Iro differently than others. Scoffing, he knew Iro wouldn't take no for an answer. "You should at least brush your teeth before trying to take advantage of someone."

Syphraelth shifted. Mine cares for yours. Does it matter that Love is not what he feels? It takes Mine many Turns to open up to someone, to love them. Assaila took four Turns, and she has broken his heart once more. Can you blame him for being wary?

[Elessar]

Iro'ris was rather startled when J'degar did not immediately pull away. Granted, the Weyrlingmaster didn't kiss him back, either, but, well, the kiss had been rather sudden. When the other man did pull back, it was only enough to talk. Iro didn't want to listen to what his friend had to say, but he was trained in every inch of his body to listen when J'degar spoke, and so he did.

"If I didn't fuck up so badly, Ka'mond would be dead!" Iro'ris snarled back at J'degar's excuse. "And I'm not using punishments to my advantage, J'degar. Just admit that you care for me!" He couldn't stand it that Gar wouldn't just admit it. Maybe J'degar didn't fall in love as easily as Iro did, but there was something there. There had to bed!

"You certainly don't deny it. And just because you're not into men doesn't mean you're not into me." Iro's blue eyes shone with defiance. "You can't deny that you look at me and see me different than the others." However, it looked like J'degar was finally getting the picture. "Believe me," Iro said with a grin. "If I had the chance to brush my teeth before I took advantage of you, I would." And then he was kissing J'degar again, his arms slowly wrapping around the other man's neck.

Saekath grumbled. No, she couldn't blame him. But it hurt when Hers hurt. It hurts me when Mine hurts because Yours does not love him.[/color] She admitted to the brown, curling tighter against him, despite being nearly larger than Syphraelth.

[Zirin]

"Of course I care you dumbass!" J'degar growled back. If he didn't care then he would have left Iro in the untrustworthy hands of that bronzeweyrling that he so despised, or he would have left someone else to save him and Ka'mond. "At least when you fuck up you do it in style I suppose, and I commend you for putting your life on the line to save that brat, even if it was the most idiotic thing I've ever seen." His face fell, the look of disapproval becoming more pronounced as Iro gave a valid argument.

"A bath before hand would be nice too." J'degar sighed as Iro leaned in. He had known Iro long enough to know what that grin meant and knew what was about to happen. He supposed he couldn't deny it, not to someone who knew him so well, and they both knew J'degar wasn't planning on giving women any attention after the entire Assaila ordeal. With a grumble and a groan to himself more than anything, J'degar pulled himself off of Iro only to yank the man onto his lap instead. Iro could claim a victory if he so chose, but J'degar rolled over for no man.

"Fine, one kiss, then hygiene." He grumbled into the kiss, pressing back. Would it be so bad to give in just once? To share what had almost happened during Chahaturth's flight? He didn't like men but... J'degar liked Iro, in a strange way. He knew giving in was a bad idea; he didn't love Iro, but he cared, he felt attraction, hopefully that would be enough. The kiss was short lived, and before much could happen J'degar was standing and making his way to the private bath in his room.

"Bath first." Was all he said in a gruff, no nonsense voice, giving Iro a look that, when matched with the inmistakable shape of his pants, made it clear what he was willing to do after they were both free of blood, dirt, and general dirtiness.

Syphraelth had been about to answer when he received a puff of emotion from his rider. Perhaps we spoke to soon. He rumbled in amusement, curling himself around the slightly larger topaz as best he could.

[Elessar]

Iro jumped at J'degar's fierce growl. Okay, his friend cared! The Weyrling nearly toppled backwards in shock from Gar's forceful answer. Eyes wide, he listened to the man speak. "You... commend me?" Iro was confused. He was being punished for doing something right? Shards and shells his friend was confusing sometimes!

"Yes, a bath would be nice." Iro'ris grunted as J'degar switched their positions, and hissed in pain as his wounds stretched and cracked. Thankfully the numbweed had already set in. But hell if he was going to sit by and just let those wounds heal. For J'degar, he would reopen them time and time again.

The topaz Weyrling was shocked when J'degar agreed to a kiss, providing they washed up after. Iro wasn't entirely pleased at how short the kiss was, but when J'degar stood up, Iro'ris could only grin. Seems like the Weyrlingmaster would be willing to give in once they were clean.

Shaking his head to keep himself from laughing, Iro'ris followed J'degar to the private bath, shedding the remainder of his clothes on the way there. Stepping gingerly into the water, so not to rip open his wounds, he looked up at his friend. "Going to join me or not?" He asked impishly.

Saekath's head shot up so quickly she nearly knocked the top of her skull against the bottom of Syphraelth's jaw. The brown curled around her, and she sighed. Perhaps we did.[/color]

[Zirin]

"What you did was... good." J'degar rolled his eyes. "Another rider is alive because of you. That's commendable. Not all riders are willing to put their lives on the line like that." He paused, not sure how to explain it since it seemed the weyrling was shocked or confused by his praise. "That said, you're a queenrider, and there were other, better options you could have picked. Ones that wouldn't have needed you to go between before you were trained to do so. Do you understand how lucky you were to come back? Not many weyrlings get that lucky with a bit of training." Sheer dumb luck was the only reason Iro was there, in the room now. With a sigh as he stood, J'degar watched the all too pleased expression on Iro's face and knew he was doing something incredibly stupid.

"I'm tempted to just leave you soaking there, actually." J'degar shot back as he brought a hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose. Even still he somehow managed to strip off his pants and socks and step into the hot water. A quick sigh of pleasure as the warm water immediately made him feel cleaner and for a moment he forgot that he was here to clean up in preparation for other things.

"You need to heal." He finally said after a moment, running a hand along the wounds before scooping up sweetsand and starting to clean himself off. Then again, there were... less strenuous options than what was clearly on their minds. Syphraelth rumbled in amusement. It appears Mine is not as predictable as I had thought.

[Elessar]

Iro'ris blinked as J'degar rolled his eyes. He listened quietly to the Weyrlingmaster's explaination, his eyes downcast. "I know how lucky I am," he murmured. "And I know there were better options, but... I couldn't think at the time. All I could see was Ka'mond and Abyrath, and before I knew what I was doing we were in the air. The smartest thing I did was call for you to help us. I'm... I shouldn't be alive. I shouldn't have come back. I didn't think I was going to. I was terrified."

He didn't comment on J'degar climbing into the bath, only scooped up a handfull of sweet-sand and began to scrub himself. Even thinking about the cold of between sent shivers down his spine. He honestly had no desire to go there again... but he knew he would have to. J'degar would make him learn, in these private lessons. Shuddering, letting Gar's hands pass over his wounds, he moved closer to the Weyrlingmaster.

Wrapping his arms around J'degar, his body significantly cleaner now, he buried his head in the crook of Gar's neck. "I was so scared," he breathed. "All I could think about was how I might not ever see Saekath again... or you."

[Zirin]

"First lesson of between: think about your destination." J'degar replied without skipping a beat. He had dealt with cheesy words from women before, and while he didn't doubt the validity, he wasn't going to let it sway him. He scooped up another handful of sand and continued cleaning himself and Iro, where the man was in the way.

"If you thinking about silly things during the lessons you will not enjoy the punishment." He paused, having a sudden urge to do something fun. Perhaps it was the closeness of Iro's body, or the fact that J'degar had gotten so used to physical attention from his ex-weyrmate that the sudden loss of it was messing with him, but either way he reached out and began training the gentlest of kisses along Iro's neck and jaw.

"Time for a practical lesson. Stay focused and tell me everything you know of how to between." He growled as he gave an experimental nip.