Modesty

Writers: Devin, Estelle
Date Posted: 11th November 2025

Characters: Z'kim, I'lek, Ochyra, D'stan
Description: After witnessing him with N'vanik, I'lek invites Z'kim to dance
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 15 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: N'vanik

Z'kim

"Look, look! They're doing it _again_!" I'lek tugged at D'stan's sleeve and pointed to the dance floor, where all eyes were on the Weyrleader and his greenrider partner as they moved together, hands sliding over bodies barely a hair's breadth apart.

The older bluerider twisted around in his seat and squinted at the pair. "Is that the same one as before?"

"Yes! I wouldn't forget a...a face like that." I'lek watched the dancers avidly, desire warring with keen envy. "He's from Dream's End, and he's _so_ lucky."

"The holders are going to love this." Ochyra watched for a few beats before giving her verdict. "I don't care if he is a bronzerider, those two are definitely sleeping together."

D'stan blinked. "Did he just grab his..."

"They can hardly keep their hands off each other," I'lek sighed. "Imagine if a bronzerider looked at you like that, like he was burning up inside and he just _had_ to have you. If he touched you - held you that way. I'd _die_." He leaned his cheek on his good hand and watched them as they spun and swayed, apart and then pressed together again, long after the other riders had gone back to their conversation, until...

He let out a squeal of delight. "Look! _Look_!"

"Now what?" D'stan shook off the young greenrider's clutching fingers and cast an impatient glance over his shoulder. His eyebrows shot up. "Well, that's new."

I'lek flung himself back in a dramatic pose and pressed his wrist to his forehead. "It's too, too much. My head is spinning. My heart is fluttering like a firelizard's wings. I can't take any more."

"Not much more they can do without stripping off and getting down to it in the middle of the dining cavern." Ochyra grinned and refilled his glass. "Here, this should calm your hectic spirit."

The greenrider accepted the wine, but rather than tossing it back in his usual showy manner, he sipped slowly, conserving his wits. Gossip swirled around him, but like a careful hunter, he kept a close eye on his quarry, until at last he saw his chance. The harpers had struck up a more sedate dance tune and the Weyrleader was leading one of the visiting ladies onto the dance floor, leaving his friend standing alone to one side. I'lek sprang up, darted through the crowd and managed to present himself to the mysterious man before anyone else could, a little out of breath, eyes shining and cheeks flushed.

"Hello! I'm I'lek, Lirioth's rider. After seeing that wonderful dance I simply _had_ to meet you."

"Well met, I'lek." Z'kim smiled as he looked the young rider over. "I'm Z'kim, of green Warroth."

"You're most welcome to Dolphin Cove, Z'kim of Warroth." Close up, the Weyrleader's partner was quite as attractive as the Weyrleader himself, I'lek thought with a pleasurable thrill. "Now, I could ask you if you enjoyed the Hatching, or how things are at Dream's End, or even where you got that elegant outfit, but you look like someone who finds conversation much more fun on the dance floor?" He offered a hopeful arm.

"Correct." Z'kim took I'lek's arm and let the other greenrider lead him through the dancers to an open spot. I'lek was cute, even if he was probably half Z'kim's age. "Where would you like to start?"

I'lek considered leading up to it with innocuous small talk, but in the end, he couldn't resist. "We're all absolutely _dying_ to know about you and our Weyrleader. That dance! It was extraordinary." He let out a happy sigh. "How long have you been together?"

"That has two answers," Z'kim said with smile. I'lek's enthusiasm was a nice antidote to the sullen looks and judgmental words of some of the holders. "We've been close friends since he moved to Dream's End before the Pass. But the part you're really asking about has been happening since Month One."

"You were friends all those Turns, and then suddenly, one day, you fell in love? That's so romantic," the younger greenrider said dreamily. "Or did you feel that way all along?"

Z'kim made a face. "We are _not_ in love. He's a very dear friend with very delicious benefits."

"If you say so," I'lek replied with a knowing smile. "So what changed back in month one?"

Z'kim frowned at the young greenrider for a moment. People were going to make the assumption and if Z'kim protested too much they were going to think . . . Well, that he was protesting too much. "He can't explain it," Z'kim chuckled. "But he finally wanted me without the dragonlust."

"Well, who wouldn't?" Despite the rather daring prospect of competing with the Weyrleader, I'lek couldn't resist a little sly flirtation. "I can't believe it took him that long. So Loseth flew your Warroth?"

"Many times. They're very fond of each other." Z'kim's smile was smug. "He brings Loseth to Dream's End for her flights, and N'vanik very much enjoys flying me, too."

"That must be nice," I'lek said wistfully. "Lirioth's never been flown by a bronze..." A thought struck him, and his eyes glinted with curiosity. "What's it like?"

"Bronzeriders in general can be . . ." Z'kim's face scrunched up. "Kind of a mixed bag. Some of them do _not_ know what to do with a man. But at the risk of inflating his ego even more than it already is, Nik is sharding amazing. He can be a little rough, but in a good way, and most of the time I give as good as I get. And even before this . . . very interesting change, he went for a second round."

"I love it when that happens. When you're still all dazed and blissful from the flight and attuned to the lightest touch...But I thought bronzeriders never did that with men? I've heard they usually can't wait to get away." The young greenrider thought for a moment, then grinned. "You must be pretty amazing yourself."

"Oh, I am." Modesty? What was that? "Nik can't keep his hands off me after a flight." Z'kim smiled and leaned closer. "While our situation is special, he does sometimes linger with male greenriders for . . . a bit of extra. You might get lucky."

"That would be so, so wonderful. I'm half afraid I'd swoon in delight," I'lek said, privately determined that he would do no such thing. If he was ever that lucky, he wanted to enjoy every minute. "I suppose it's all up to Lirioth, but at least I can dream." A thought occurred to him, and with it came a wicked little upturn of his mouth. "If I ever did have the good fortune...any, ah, tips?"

"He doesn't want me giving details of what we do together, but surely I can give advice to a fellow greenrider." Z'kim grinned. "Besides, I'm not talking about _us_. When he does spend time with other men after a flight, he says he enjoys being touched. If you coax him a little, he might let you pleasure him. Fair warning, he won't reciprocate. That benefit is just for me." Shards, he'd been waiting _Turns_ to brag about this. It was a little surreal to finally be open about it.

I'lek seemed almost too lost in thoughts of the delights of N'vanik's bed to be envious. "That'd be enough for me...." Then, as if incapable of pining for long, he cast off his dreamy mood and perked up. Why long for another man when he was already in the arms of a handsome and desirable dance partner? "Thank you for the advice. I'll remember it well. And perhaps while I'm waiting, I'll come to Dream's End and seduce _your_ Weyrleader," he teased.

Z'kim rolled his eyes. "_He's_ no fun, but I could point you toward some of the less stuffy bronzeriders."

"That could be fun. Though I wouldn't want to give the impression I limit myself by color. I'm sure you have lovely brown and blueriders..." Though the dance was more sedate than the one Z'kim had shared with N'vanik, I'lek didn't miss the opportunity for a graceful twirl. "And greenriders."

Z'kim chuckled and pulled I'lek a little closer. "I would be happy to entertain someone as delightful as you." Z'kim didn't generally go chasing much younger men, but if one landed in his lap . . .

"How could I resist an invitation like that?" I'lek let his momentum carry him a half-step closer still, just enough to scandalize any visitors who'd missed the earlier dance, his eyes bright with mischief. Then he sighed as the harpers strummed a final chord, drew back and bowed. "Look out for me very soon, Z'kim of Warroth."

"I very much look forward to it, I'lek of Lirioth." Z'kim mirrored his bow.

Last updated on the November 14th 2025

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Modesty