Dragons are incredible creatures. Even having obviously grown up with them, Percy seems fascinated by them. Although, Percy seems rather fascinated by all animals and wildlife. The dragons are feeding, eating fish and meat, and apparently they’ll perform later. They tolerate the kids and cadets poking around well. Percy might as well be one of the kids, cooing over the dragons with an obvious sense of awe.

“He likes animals, huh?”

“Have you only just noticed?” Harper says.

Alexi smiles “What’s with him and the ocean?”

“It’s how he’s always been,” he replies. “When I first met him as a kid, he was already like this. He was already fascinated. He said he saw things in the water. Something was calling to him down there.”

“Not just a quirk?” he says.

“Perhaps,” he says, “but there’s magic in the world. I don’t think something calling to him in the water is so easy to brush off as just another little quirk.”

Alexi nods. It’s not hard to imagine there’s something more magical to Percy’s affinity with water. Perhaps he wasn’t so wrong when he imagined a water deity has contaminated his line. It’s not so far fetched. Their gods are known to breed with mortals, after all. Although, there haven’t been any records of such a thing since the days of the Algeans.

“Percy,” Harper calls. Percy straightens up and spins around, hair bouncing around his face. “Let’s go, we’ll come back for the show.”

Percy nods, wandering over and the three of them head deeper into the festivities. They pick up cold, brightly coloured drinks in plastic cups with cheerful character on. Harper wins a test of strength with a mallet and picks out a huge pink bird plush toy, that he will apparently send back to his little sister. Although the way Percy clings onto it, perhaps he needs to win another. Alexi has never really got to do things like this growing up. There’s something of an appeal, it’s nice as a change, but it’s definitely not as exciting as Percy makes it seem.

It’s early afternoon when it’s finally time to see the dragons’ show. Percy seems barely able to contain his excitement. It’s rather adorable. Alexi watches him fidgeting in his seat with a small smile. A strange anticipation fizzes in the pit of his stomach. His gaze is drawn to Percy’s lips as he rambles excitedly about the dragons around the Golden Palace when he was young. The words don’t really go in. He just watches silently. His eyes are bright and sparkling and it makes Alexi’s heart race. He lays his hand lightly against Percy’s, drawing his attention. There’s silence for a moment and now Alxi isn’t quite sure what to says.

“Percy-”

“Attention, attention! The show is about to begin!” The turn to the ring and Alexi puts aside talking for now. “Prepare for the greatest dragon show in the system!”

Percy’s eyes light up and Alexi sighs, leaning back in his seat and letting him enjoy himself. The dragons are rather wonderful. Percy leans forward on his knees, eyes never leaving the beautiful, colourful creatures.

As the show goes on though, Alexi catches Percy holding onto Harper’s hand. Neither acknowledges it but it makes Alexi’s stomach churn uncomfortably. He reaches over, hesitating a moment before taking Percy’s hand.

He regrets it instantly.

Percy’s grip is absolutely crushing. He bites the inside of his cheek, scrunching his eyes shut and doing all he can not to react out loud. How can Harper just sit there and take this? What’s causing this reaction?

“Percy?” he whispers. He leans forward and rests his hand on his shoulder. “Percy, what’s wrong?”

“They’re in pain,” Percy replies. Alexi frowns, gazing down at the dragons as a whip cracks. “They’re not disciplining them. They’re hurting them.”

There’s another crack and Percy stands.

“Percy,” Harper says.

“Enough!” Percy bellows.

The arena fall silent and Percy strides down towards the ring. Alexi and Harper watch helplessly as he steps into the ring. The dragons roar and their wings beat as they try to take off in the chaos only to be yanked back by chains. The ring leader swings his whip and Alexi jerks up from his seat as Percy steps into its path.

“Percy!” Harper cries.

“That’s enough,” Percy says, voice echoing around the arena. “How dare you hurt them when they want to make people happy?!”

“Who do you think you are, you brat?” the ringleader snaps.

He pulls at the whip wrapped around Percy’s forearm. Percy digs in his heels. He holds his ground, grips the whip tighter and yanks back. The handle is snatched from the ringleader’s grip. There’s that strange, stormy aura around him again. It’s breathtaking and terrifying and beautiful and Alexi isn’t even sure which makes his heart race more.

“I am Percival Galene,” he says, voice steady and booming, “son of Golden General Arthur Galene.”

There’s a murmur across the audience and Alexi’s grips his hair. The same reaction he always gets. Percy ignores it though, standing proud and glaring back at the ringleader without a hint of shame or fear.

“You’re one of Her Majesty’s brats and you’ll go against her will?” Percy’s fists clench. “We are one of her favourite shows. You dare to go against her will?”

Percy swings his arm, snapping the handle of the whip across the face of the ringleader. As if he doesn’t understand the seriousness of the accusations levelled at him. Even for someone like Percy, ruining one of Her Majesty’s favourite shows won’t go without punishment. As if he isn’t aware, or simply doesn’t care, Percy is still calm and smiling.

“You’re going to lie about Her Majesty?” he says. “Or to her? Our queen is a woman who cares about all creatures. Who loves and cherishes everything and everyone in her empire. She would never allow such beautiful creatures to be hurt for the sake of entertainment. So either you’re lying about her or to her. Which is it?”

“You-

He yanks at the chain of the dragon closest and it shierks. Spikes dig in and blood drips down it’s shoulders and neck. Percy’s shoulders tense. He clenches his fists. He steps forward and the ringleader staggers back dragging the dragon’s chain. Alexi’s hands tremble and pain shoots through his scalp. His fingers have tangled themselves into his hair again.

“Why don’t you play with your hair instead when you get those urges?”

That’s what his mother always said. The order worded as advice he’d been forced to live by. He’s not a child anymore though!

The closest dragon snaps at Percy, wings thrown wide with a screeching roar. Alexi dentangles his fingers from his hair. He reaches out, fingers stretched toward Percy and the dragons. He doesn’t want his mother’s curse. He doesn’t want his genes to be a curse. He doesn’t want to be ashamed of his existence anymore!

The chains burst into bubbles and sparkles, floating off into the sky. Everyone stares up after them in stunned silence. Children recover first. Cheering and laughing as the dragons take off after the bubbles. Free. Alexi smiles, lowering his hand. Everyone’s alright. There’s nothing to worry about.

“You can use magic,” Harper says from behind him.

Alexi’s shoulder’s go rigid and Percy spins around to stare at him. It’s all very well to say he doesn’t want to be ashamed anymore but, when everyone is watching him and whispering about him, it’s easier said than done.

“Alexi-”

“Alexi Karnstein,” he says, raising his voice enough to be heard. Saying it aloud like this, it’s surprisingly easy to keep his voice level. There’s the typical wave of whispers and murmurs at that, but for once Alexi can ignore it, stepping into the ring, eyes never leaving Percy’s. “I am the son of the The Great Witch, Hilda Karnstein.”

Not even the familiar startled gossip bothers him now as he indulges the desire that seems to have come from nowhere today but is now utterly overwhelming. He cups Percy’s cheeks lightly, stroking his fingers over his heated cheeks.

“Wait,” Percy whispers as Alexi leans in.

“Percy?”

He grabs Alexi’s hand and, before he can really process it, steps back, pulling Alexi with him. Alexi hangs on, trusting him completely for reasons he really can’t put his finger on.

It’s all a bit of a blur. All Alexi really knows is that it ends up with Percy pulling him up onto a shimmering blue-green dragon as it takes to the sky. Percy’s arms wrap around his middle to steady him and Alexi does his best not to look down at the ocean waves beneath them.

“Relax,” Percy says, stroking his side. Easy for him to say. “I’ve got myself a witch, huh?”

“I’ve never said it outloud like that before,” Alexi replies, lowering his gaze. “I’ve never used magic in public like that before either.”

“And you can use magic. That means…”

“I’m either a woman or a genetic mistake.” Percy nods against his shoulder and squeezes his middle. “Which makes me less of a freak?”

“Whichever’s true,” Percy whispers.

Alexi laughs softly. “Then does it matter which?”

“Not in the slightest,” he says. “You’re you, Lexi, and you’re definitely not a freak.”