CC | Between Friends (Jubilee 3/5)

With Vita and Grimsby off on a date, or a stakeout as Vita ever-so claimed, watching Fidelia and Malakai, who were also on a date, despite their claims, it left Akeem and Aila on the beach. Aila had returned back to her digging, while Akeem tried to practice his magic. It was, admittedly, getting easier, grasping the feeble hold of magic he did have. Fi had told him as he practiced, it would slowly become more powerful, where he was sturdy enough to keep holding it on. For now, he could only make spirals from the water and do some healing. Akeem had found healing was easier for him compared to doing water manipulation. Which was odd, as from what Fi had read, water manipulation was usually the first step for Ocean dragons to learn magic, and yet, here he was, having trouble on making a simple spiral.

Sure, he could do it alright. After practicing a few times, alone, hiding under the ocean's waves of Fi's village's island, it had become easier to make small little typhoons in his palm. Above, was a different story, him laying down on the beach, cooling sand resting against his scales. His little show to Aila, to make her feel better after Vita's little fit, had been the best he could do for a while, and at the moment, he was glad that Aila wasn't currently nestled against his side. If he turned his head, or really just his gaze, he would spot the bright fluffball digging in the beach's sand. She dug with her front claws, her back legs keeping her steady as she dug into the soft, crumbling sand. Piles were scattered around her, the telling of her digging adventures.

She had stayed close, which honestly relieved Akeem a lot more than he would like to admit. He didn't want her getting hurt again, with how clumsy she could be, and with scrap metal littered about. With her digging, she could accidentally cut herself trying to get something for Fi, and her so close to him, he knew he could at least prevent an infection from occurring. So, seeing how joyful Aila looked, the night-lit starts beaming down on them, their own light source, he was content to return back to his attempts at magic. Breathing, feeling his chest breathe, veins relaxing, he closed his eyes.

It was true, it was getting easier to grab ahold of his magic, to feel it pulsate in his grasp. It was part of him, an extension of his life, breathing with him, singing its own tune. Licking his chaps, he focused harder on grasping it, like twisting his hold on the magic, bringing it down into the watery target. It curled around the waves, that danced and twirled around, its own life that was so calming to him. He often could watch the waves surround him, floating in the blue abyss, letting it drag at him as it ran through him. This was almost like that, letting the water drag at him as he grasped a hold of the particles, before pulling on them. It curled around him, light glowing around his ocean hold, curling as it swam.

Holding his breath, feeling his chest tighten, he opened his eyes and watched as he made a new spiral, curling into the air. No droplets this time, no sign of breakage or weakness in this hold. He breathed, feeling his chest relax as he tilted his head, watching the show of magic he had done for it. He twisted and bent it, curling it around in an arc. It sapped out energy from him as he did the small tricks with his hold on the ocean, but it looked so beautiful. It amazed him, how he could do such a thing. He felt his tongue poke out between his teeth as he tried to gather more up with him pushing the spiral back down. He dug his paws into the sand as he tried to focus on gathering more up, his chest feeling weaker though as he tried to bend it back up.

"This is where you've been?"

A yelp escaped, high-pitched and his magic scattered, water drooping back down with the ocean. Akeem panted, heaving out a gasp as he turned his head to see who had spoken, tail twitching closer to him. Farther up the beach, where the forest started, was Rivia. She stood, tail lightly waving, looking awkward with the seeming-doughy sand that contained the beach. Aila had stopped in her digging and was racing over to where the dark-colored dragon stood, squeaking loudly and leaving little imprints. Akeem watched as Aila bumped her head affectionately against Rivia's leg, not even tall enough to reach Rivia's shoulder. Rivia mumbled something to the little dragon, which seemed to please the young dragon, before hopping off back to her digging. Akeem turned his head back to the ocean before him, hearing the soft steps of Rivia approaching.

"Mal and Fidelia have returned to camp," Rivia finally said as she got close, laying down next to Akeem.

"Already?" He asked, tilting his head, flicking his gaze up to the sky. It was still dark, stars still high in the sky, being illuminated through the dark navy the night sky spilled out before them.

"Mal wanted to show Fi one of his newest machines," Rivia explained, gaze drifting over to where the ocean laid. "This is what you've been doing?"

Akeem shuffled awkwardly next to Rivia's careful, scrutinizing gaze on him. He fluttered his wings awkwardly, lightly pulling the sand up, before it being dropped down as he resettled his wings carefully against his sides. 

"I've been practicing my magic," He finally admitted, the silence and the soft digging of Aila being broken by his admittance. Rivia let out a soft sound from the back of her throat, her nodding slowly.

"It gets easier," She replied, gaze drifting over to the sandy coastline. "I know from experience. As a hatchling, I could barely move a rock. And now, it's as easy as breathing."

"Really?" He asked, peering curiously at her, eyes wide and curious. She snorted at his wonder-filled gaze and nodded. "Can you show me?"

"Show you?" She questioned, raising a brow at that and he excitedly nodded. "Magic is not exactly like that. It takes practice, little one."

"I know, but," He paused, shaking his head awkwardly. He couldn't find the words he wanted to say, how to express them properly. He made a perplexing, bewildering chirp from the back of his throat, lightly scratching at the sand underneath them.

"I've never used my magic on sand before," Rivia finally stated, seemingly amused by his awkward chirping.

He watched as she got herself up, quickly following her lead and trotting after her as she walked down the beach. Finally, she seemed to have found a spot she liked, farther away from where Akeem had tested his own magic, but still close enough to keep an eye on the little, digging Aila. Akeem tossed one more look back at Aila, who was digging a new hole, shells, and pieces of metal all in one pile in the center of all of her digging attempts. Satisfied that she was safe, he turned his attention back to Rivia, who was closing her pale blue eyes. Head bent, body tense as she seemed to focus on her hold on her magic.

He watched, scrutinizing every little sand particle he could find. He was startled, as much as he was a bit ashamed to admit, and bemused, tilting his head curiously as the first touch of sand started to bounce around like it was on fire. Soon more followed, jumbling around as Rivia stood perfectly still next to him. It was almost amusing to see all the leaping sand, slowly moving away from each other, a dip emerging into the land. The earth seemed to yawn, stretching itself open, sand being pushed away from the middle, and moving more to collective sides. Akeem lightly backed up, his breath seemed to be lost, mouth open as he saw the growing hole become deeper and deeper. Finally, the yawning stopped, the land no longer shaking, and becoming still. In the corner of his eye, he could see Rivia finally relax, opening her eyes, as the two sides of sand start dipping back down the middle again. She sighed, a rumble in her large, sturdy form, as the sand trailed back down to its center.

Rivia opened her mouth to say something, but a loud chirping noise interrupted her. Akeem rose his head and saw a wriggling, paler oceanic blue compared to the dark navy of the sky come flying towards them. Plunging towards them, Akeem lightly jolted back as claws found themselves around his neck, before wriggling on top of his head, claws sliding in between his tentacles. 

"Hello Vita," Rivia murmured, narrowing her gaze at the wrangling dragon on top of Akeem's head now. Akeem lightly shook himself, trying to see Vita, who seemed much happier than normal.

"You came back early," Akeem commented and Vita snorted in his ear, rolling her eyes as if she was bored. 

"Fi and Mal decided to leave early," Vita explained, sitting down, her tail draping over Akeem's snout. "Is this why Rivia is here?"

"Yes," Rivia calmly said, slowly blinking up at the wyrm dragon. "I was just seeing where Akeem and Aila were."

"Being boring," Vita snickered, and lightly tapped her claws against Akeem's snout. "You should've seen how awkward Fi and Mal were. I thought it was going to be boring, and was wondering why Grim would even want to watch them."

"Spend time with you?" Akeem asked and Vita hissed, hitting her tail against his neck.

"No! Stop saying that," She snapped, and Rivia let out an amused snort at Vita's yelling. Vita angrily stuck her tongue out at Rivia, before continuing. "Anyways, sometime during it, I thought they were kissing, but -"

"What?" Rivia asked, and Vita snickered, body shaking against Akeem. 

"They were hugging," Vita corrected. "They were talking about a story of one of the constellations, and Mal starting thinking about Leshen."

"Monti should've let me," Rivia grumbled and Akeem lightly pressed his wing against her cool side.

"Can you let me finish?" Vita snapped and Akeem jostled her about, Vita squawking and letting out an angry hiss, twisting about to glare at him more properly. "I don't know what Fi said, but it calmed him down enough. And they kind of fell into a hug, because Fi had placed her hand on his shoulder. I think at least."

"Fi must've been surprised to see that he had hugged her," Akeem mumbled, with Rivia making a gruff in the back of her throat.

"And she was all bubbly," Vita hissed, sticking her tongue out again and scrunching up her snout. "Why can't they just get together? They obviously like each other. I was certain Fi was going to ask him out tonight."

"It's good she didn't," Rivia muttered, shaking her head. "I think it's still too early for them."

"They've been friends, for what? A year?" Vita questioned. "It's getting annoying to keep seeing them bumble around each other."

"Isn't that what you and Grim do?" Rivia finally asked. Vita hissed, her spine curving up and shaking her head, finned crest flaring up.

"No! We just like each other as friends," Vita snapped, rubbing her snout awkwardly.

"You're blushing," Akeem teased, earning him a swat. "Don't make me knock you down."

"You won't!" She snapped, grumbling irritably and looking away from Rivia's intense stare. "This is supposed to be about Fi and Mal!"

"You already know my opinion on this," Rivia mumbled, and Akeem shrugged helplessly towards her.

"Whatever," Vita mumbled, before flying off, away from both of the larger dragons and towards Aila. She twisted her head to yell one last thing at them. "I'm telling you! They're going to get together soon!"

"Do you mean you and Grim?" Akeem called, grinning as he watched Vita balk, almost tumbling down to the sand, before she caught herself.

"Akee!" She screamed and Akeem simply shook his head, letting the bubbles of laughter escape from his chest.

"So, Grim and Vita?" Rivia finally asked and Akeem nodded. Rivia rolled her eyes, making a soft tsk sound. "Once those two are together, the world will be over."

"Maybe, but they'll be happy," Akeem replied, smiling softly, before looking back at Rivia. "Just see. They'll be happy together."

Rivia raised a brow at those words, before shaking her head. She sighed, before finally whispering out a quiet word, barely audible through the sounds of digging and the songs of the ocean.

"Maybe."