A Little Braver Every Day

Writers: Devin, Halyonix
Date Posted: 11th June 2026

Characters: K'mai, I'serin
Description: K'mai and I'serin share some quiet time and discuss a few things.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 1, day 15 of Turn 13
Notes: Mentioned: T'thalin

K'mai

I'serin

There was, at least, a few things going right in I'serin's post-Weyrleader tenure world.

One of them was currently resting his head on I'serin's lap, letting the bronzerider idly run his fingers through that shaggy hair while the other hand held a book whose story was coming to an end. There were more evenings like this, where K'mai would come over, they would talk about their days, and then relax as I'serin read a chapter from a book that K'mai had picked. I'serin found that he was enjoying it, even if K'mai sometimes picked a book with a sex scene in it.

K'mai was floating happily on the sound of I'serin's voice and his fingers sliding through his hair. Much as he loved parties, he loved this, too. A quiet evening with I'serin was like curling up in the softest, warmest blanket.

And yet, in the back of his mind, a question tugged at him. When I'serin reached the end of the chapter, K'mai said, "Hey. Can I ask you something?"

A tendril of familiar panic waved, even as I'serin answered, "Of course."

K'mai turned his head to look up at him. "Could we have dinner with Caranda? And could we . . . tell her about us?"

The bronzerider stilled in what K'mai could recognize as a moment of him trying to work through panic. Caranda was K'mai's fostermother. Caranda was a parental figure. The fear that I'serin felt about coming out to his own parents was momentarily projected onto the possibility of coming out to someone else's parents. "I..." he started to say, before forcing himself to relax. "How...do you think she will...react to us?"

That look of panic made K'mai's heart twist. He smiled reassuringly. "She'll be _delighted_. Shards, I've been afraid to see to her because I'm worried she'll take one look at me and just _know_. She's way too perceptive." Growing up, he'd almost never gotten anything past her.

Marginally reassured, I'serin relaxed. "Very well. Let us set up a dinner."

Beaming, K'mai sat up to kiss him. "Thank you."

I'serin leaned his forehead against K'mai's briefly after that kiss, drawing further reassurance. When he spoke again, it was to switch subjects. "How was the Barrier Lake Hatching that you went to?"

It took a moment for K'mai to focus. He was already imagining how the dinner with Caranda would go, how good it would feel to tell her. "Oh. Yes. It was great. _Two_ female blueriders, and one of them from the Stands! And . . . oh, do you remember Tathalin? He says he met you."

The Holdless harper apprentice. Yes, I'serin remembered him. "I did. He brought records to my office when I was Weyrleader. He...thanked me for saving him and the others."

"That was sweet. He seems like such a nice kid," K'mai said. "He Impressed a bronze! He wanted me to tell you."

_That_ was quite a surprise. I'serin's eyebrows raised. "A bronze? Curious." The fact that so many Holdless had Impressed still surprised I'serin. What did the dragons know that the rest of Pern had missed? "I will have to visit him," he remarked absently. "Was his the only bronze in the clutch?"

"There were two, and the other one went to _another_ holdless kid. They're Impressing all over!" K'mai laughed.

Aluneth rumbled thoughtfully, echoing the same contemplative mood his rider felt. Holdless on bronze dragons. How would that play out in a few Turns when those riders matured? "Unexpected," I'serin remarked. "When we rescued them, I thought..." He paused, his brow furrowing. "I did not expect them to become so entwined with the Weyr."

K'mai squeezed his hand. "You did the right thing. And T'thalin is a sweeheart. Shy, earnest. Reminds me of another bronzerider I know."

I'serin's expression was part blushing, part awkward. "It was the right thing to do," he agreed quietly, as if reminding himself of that truth. "I will have to pay him a visit."

"I think he'd love that. You seemed to make quite an impression," K'mai said.

"Hopefully the right kind," I'serin answered, thinking of how everyone lately had expressed the opposite impression of him. "I will give him a few sevendays to settle into his new bond."

"Maybe send him a quick note soon, just to congratulate him?" K'mai suggested. "I think it might mean a lot to hear from you."

That suggestion sounded like a good one. They could converse through letters as well as their dragons and I'serin would not be impinging upon a weyrling's precious time. He kissed K'mai's cheek. "You are a font of good suggestions," he told his lover.

"Thank you." K'mai warmed at the praise, and the comment led his mind on a tangent. "I thought about it when you were Weyrleader, what it might be like if we could be public. I could stay close to you at events, smooth things over so you didn't have to be stuck in awkward conversations. Make excuses to take you away for a bit when you were feeling overwhelmed and needed a break."

The thought of being taken care of like that brought a small but genuine smile to I'serin's face. "Ever thoughtful," he told K'mai with another appreciative kiss. "We...can practice those things now that..." Now that he was not Weyrleader. Perhaps, with less public scrutiny, he could relax further into himself.

K'mai's heart beat faster. "Now that you don't actually have to go to those events?" he joked.

He caught the excited light in his lover's eyes and chuckled. "Perhaps one or two of the less...conspicuous events. We can begin there."

K'mai brushed a thumb along I'serin's cheek. "I love seeing you get a little braver every day."

"It is absolutely a work in progress," I'serin answered. He leaned his forehead against K'mai's. "But you...make it easier."

Warmth spread from K'mai's chest and seemed to go all the way to his toes. "Faranth, I love you so much." They stayed like that for a long moment, K'mai breathing in the closeness of his lover.

Though reluctant to end the tranquility of the moment, eventually I'serin drew back, though he left a soft kiss on K'mai's forehead. "It is growing late," he said, "You should be getting home. We both have drills in the morning."

"Okay." K'mai hugged him tight, wishing he could linger. "Could I stay over later this sevenday? I have a party and uh, plans with someone but my other evenings are free."

I'serin planted another kiss on the bluerider's forehead, reassuring him. "Yes."

That brought a warm smile to K'mai's face. I'serin was becoming more and more relaxed about them staying the night with each other. About a lot of things in their relationship.

Speaking of, tomorrow he needed to send a message to Caranda.

Last updated on the July 1st 2026

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A Little Braver Every Day