Self Control

Writers: Devin, Eimi
Date Posted: 28th February 2006

Characters: N'vanik, U'kaiah
Description: N'vanik and U'kaiah do some verbal sparring.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 15 of Turn 3

N'vanik

Turning the corner, N'vanik saw U'kaiah farther down the hall.
**Sharding U'kaiah,** came the automatic thought. Thanks to that man, N'vanik was miserable. He decided he was going to go make sure U'kaiah was miserable, too. "So, I hear you have to play with the kids now."

U'kaiah knew was doing it just to get a rise out of him. **Sharding ass.** "That's quite a black eye you've got there. I didn't do that, did I?"

N'vanik frowned. It wasn't supposed to work like this. Then his smile returned. "Yeah, you did. I think that was right before you tried to kill me in front of half the Weyr."

The former Wingleader gave him a sickeningly sweet smile. "Aren't you lucky they pulled me off you before I could finish the job."

"You think you could have? Well, I guess we'll never know. One attempted murder is enough, don't you think?" N'vanik leaned against the wall.

U'kaiah shrugged. "It's not my fault that you were such an easy fight. Now if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do with time than talk to you."

"We'd both have better things to do if you hadn't lost control." N'vanik snorted. "Honestly, U'kaiah, even _I_ have more self control than that."

He was starting to hit his mark. U'kaiah could feel his anger rising, but he also knew that was just what N'vanik wanted. "Your record would speak otherwise."

"The last time I punched someone, I had good reason to." Even four months later, the thought of that incident still angered N'vanik. "So did I. You're a sharding ass." "Maybe I am." N'vanik shrugged. "Maybe..." U'kaiah snorted. "And just _what_ did that man do that made you lose your self-control?"

"He . . . implied I wasn't doing my duty in Fall." N'vanik's eyes darkened. U'kaiah shook his head. "Oh yes, you have all the self-control of a rising green."

There was more to the incident, but he wasn't going to explain that to U'kaiah. "Well, at least now we have something in common."

"No. I actually had a _good_ reason to beat the ego out of you,"
U'kaiah muttered.

N'vanik lifted an eyebrow. "If that's what you need to tell yourself."

"Yeah, well, at least I probably got you pity points with Trae," U'kaiah snorted. It hurt more than he care to admit that he had heard nothing from Trae since that night. Part of him deep down knew he may never see her again.

"I don't need pity points," N'vanik growled. "And I don't need _her_
either." It felt like he was trying to convince himself of that.

"Huh." What a sharding fool! "Well, its good to see I didn't beat any sense into you. Shells... You really _aren't_ worth it, are you."

N'vanik felt his hand curling into a fist. No. There were other ways.
"You're no better than me, U'kaiah. At least now everyone knows it."

"That may be. But they all also know I kicked your ass." Despite his mocking tone, it was nothing U'kaiah was proud of. It was that very fact that lost him his wing and his best friend, after all.

"You choked me. Not exactly fair," N'vanik said. "But I do have to hand it to you for fighting dirty. I didn't expect that from you."

U'kaiah didn't have enough experience with fighting to know the difference between a clean fight and a dirty one. N'vanik didn't need to know that. "It seemed appropriet considering it was against you."

N'vanik tilted his head. "I don't know whether to take that as an insult or a compliment."

"Take it as an insult as it was intended."

"Well, then, thanks for the insult."

"Anytime," U'kaiah nodded. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some children to attend to. Have fun washing your dragon. I hear that's all you get to do these days."

He _knew_ he shouldn't say it. But N'vanik was mad, and it was the worst thing he could think of. "It's a good thing Jaela isn't around to see how pathetic you are without her."

U'kaiah blink a couple times as his hands balled into fists. _Now_ it would have been worth it... But instead of throwing N'vanik and trying to kill him for the second time that week, the bronzerider decided to it was time to just walk away.

N'vanik said nothing more, grinning as the former Wingleader walked away. Inside though, guilt had a hold on him.

Last updated on the February 28th 2006

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Self Control