Something Finally Felt Right

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 6th December 2005

Characters: Zanie, D'cal
Description: Zanie and D'cal have an understanding
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 23 of Turn 3

"I think I'm going to _like_ having a dragonrider as a friend!" Zanie exclaimed as she examined the cove D'cal had brought her to for their restday afternoon. It was secluded and beautiful, with shade up near the cliff, and no sounds but the waves coming gently in. "Can we go swimming?"

"Of course! The water is a bit cooler than you are accustomed to, but I think you can still float." He pulled his tunic off over his head and breathed in the fragrent air. It wasn't the smell of the sea. Salt was not the dominant flavor in his nostrils. It was wood, mixed with nature's natural cycle of decay and rebirth. There was no reply, and when D'cal looked at Zanie, she was watching him with dreamy eyes and a goofy smile. She didn't look embarassed to have been caught staring, though she did wrinkle her nose at him as she unlaced her tunic. It was now D'cal's turn to watch her as she pulled on the laces. Propriety told him he should avert his eyes, but every other part of him didn't want to. His eyes spoke volumes too as she pulled the tunic over her head. He was too busy reminding himself to breath to worry about smiling.

Her voice came out a little breathless. "Swimming? We were going to swim, right?" Shards, this _had_ to be teenage hormones. Or maybe sexual frustration. Surely other people could see a man with his shirt off and not want to knock him to the ground and...

Zanie's cheeks flushed and she decided now was a _very_ good time to get in the water. The colder the better. A sudden stab of guilt hit D'cal as he watched the young woman make her way into the water. He had been to this lake with a woman before -
Dyaera. She was the one who showed this beautiful spot to him - ages ago it seemed, back when he was afraid to even kiss her for fear of finding happiness only to lose it again. And now Dyaera was threadscored and alone in a bed, and he was here with Zanie, thinking the thoughts he didn't allow himself to think the last time. **No,** he reminded himself, **Dyaera is probably not alone. She has plenty of lovers to keep her company.** He pulled off his pants and walked towards the water's edge.

Zanie was well out into the water, swimming easily. "It's a bit chilly, but nice!" D'cal had learned the best way to combat the painful adjustment from warm to cold was to submerge his whole body and stay under until the shock had passed. He took a couple deep as he waded out to waste high water breaths and dove under the lapping waves, swimming straight for the young woman who had a head start on him.

She waited for him to catch up. "I forgot what a good swimmer you are! I suppose I should have realized it, seeing what you do and all..." "Used to do," he corrected with a smile. "There aren't too may boats around that need building at the Weyr. Although, who knows, I might build a small boat of my own to sail around in sometimes."

}: Do you need one of those things anymore? I can _fly_. That's so much more exciting that _floating_!:{ D'cal laughed and passed Aosorath's sentiment on to Zanie.

Zanie grinned back at the shore where the blue dragon was curled up.
"Flying is wonderful... but so is sailing! I haven't gone in a long time." The weyrling smiled. "I haven't either. Not since before the storm. When I build it we should go."

"Can you really build a boat all by yourself?" Zanie asked curiously, imagining how wonderful it would be to sail again. To sail for enjoyment, and not for work. "Sure, I could build a boat big enough for two or three people at least," he said as he swam in a lazy circle around her. "I helped my father build one a couple turns ago."

"Really? How long would it take?" She turned with him as he circled, doing her best not to admire the muscular line of his shoulder or how strong his arms looked. "By myself, between drills and caring for Aosorath... I really couldn't say. Maybe a few months?" He liked how gracefully she moved through the water. She looked at home there, and her eyes reflected the shimmering light from the water...

"I'll help," she promised, grinning. "Well, I'll stand around and bring you drinks and admire how handsome you look. I don't think you'd want me to _actually_ help. I promise I'd break it!"

"Sure you can do that," he said as he slowly swam a little closer. "But only if you'll let me admire how beautiful you are."

Zanie laughed. "Wouldn't that make it a little hard to build a boat?"

"It might," he nodded, grinning as he inched closer. "I'll make you a deal then, you can admire me while I build the boat if you'll let me admire you whenever I'm not building it."

"Mmmm..." Zanie pretended to think it over as she bobbed just out of reach, mischief glinting in her eyes. "I suppose I can agree to that...
but only if I get the first trip in the boat!" "Ah, but what if I never have a chance to build the boat? Does that mean we can't admire each other?"

Zanie was a strong swimmer, but she didn't think she was strong enough to keep from drowning if D'cal kept looking at her like that... "I think you're doing an all right job of it already... and I know I am." D'cal grinned as he inched a bit closer. "I'd like to do it a lot more, actually."

"Oh?" She put a few more inches between them and felt sand under her toes... at least she _probably_ wouldn't drown. Probably. "Well, what are you going to do about that, then?" "Well, I was thinking that I'd like to see more of you..."

Zanie's smile was terribly teasing as she took two steps back, bringing the water from her chin to her shoulders. "There... are you seeing more of me yet?" D'cal's eyes traveled over her bare skin and felt his heart beating faster. "Actually, I meant that I wanted to see you more _often_..."

"I know..." She grinned, taking another tiny step back. The water lapped just below her collarbone, not quite over the boundaries of her craftbred modesty, but certainly pushing the line. "But I love that look you get in your eyes..." He swallowed hard. Well, two could play at _that_ game. D'cal walked slowly passed her, turning to face her when the water reached his elbows. "No reason I get to do _all_ the admiring."

She admired him for a long moment in silence, then gave him a shy smile.
"Maybe this wasn't the best time to start teasing... because I really want to come over there and kiss you, but I'm not sure that's a very good idea..." Part of D'cal wanted to walk over to her right then and kiss her just _because_ is wasn't a good idea. But part of him could understand her thinking perfectly. He could understand her in a way Dyaera seemed to be unable to understand him. And that was what he loved about Zanie most.
They could understand each other.

The bluerider smiled slowly. "I really want to kiss you too, Zanie. I really want to do a lot of things. But I don't want to do them until you are ready to."

"Even if I'm not sure how long that will be?" There was a tiny bit of uncertainty in her voice--mostly because she just wasn't sure _why_ she wasn't ready yet. It wasn't the act itself, or D'cal... it was more the idea of it being something she could just... do. Maybe if she'd come to the Weyr as a candidate it would be different, but she still went home to the remains of the Dolphin Hall most nights, and it was hardly a permissive atmosphere. "However long it takes." It was the one concession Dyaera could never make for him. She couldn't wait because she couldn't understand. He could understand Zanie too well. "But I won't stop admiring you."

"Come here," she said softly, holding out one hand to him. D'cal stretched his hand across the water until their fingers touched. Taking her hand he walked slwoly towards her, never taking his eyes off hers.

"I trust you." And because it was true, she kissed him gently. Not the world's most passionate kiss, but slow and sweet and with the promise of something more. Aosorath crooned as D'cal stiffled in inward sigh. For the first time in a long time, something finally felt... right.

Last updated on the December 7th 2005

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Something Finally Felt Right