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ninoexchange2013-06-18 07:29 pm
nino-mod.livejournal.com) wrote in ninoexchange2013-06-18 07:29 pm
fic for ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
alexxasick
For: alexxasick
From:alphie_damiek
Title: The Sun Hasn't Died
Pairing/Focus: Aimiya, Matsumiya, Jun/Nino/Aiba, OT5 at the end
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Porn, language, more porn
Summary: The boys are among the latest group of dragon riders in training, who must learn how to not only tame dragons, but tame their loins and hearts and all the feelings in between.
Notes: Foralexxasick! I love your work, and I hope you enjoy your NinoExchange fic. Loosely based in the world of How to Train Your Dragon. There's a bit of angst, but it ends well and hopefully it's not too upsetting. Thanks go out to my beta, she-who-shall-not-be-named.
Nino woke to the glare of the morning sun and the sounds of early morning practice. Being the morning person that he wasn’t, Nino usually tried to skip those lessons. But he didn't need the lectures from his instructors and his friends (two of them in particular), so he'd get up and deal with it. This morning, however, he had slept past the first rays of sun.
He got up slowly, wincing as he sat on his bed. Grabbing his blanket, he couldn’t help but blush as he took it to his nose and inhaled the lingering scent. He looked to his left; his hut mate was already gone. He shot up when he heard a banging at his door.
“Nino!! We’re both gonna be late if you don’t get up!”
It was Masaki Aiba, one of the other young men from his village who had traveled with him to the north for training.
Nino groaned in response, changing out of his sleeping tunic as quick as his sore limbs would allow.
“Aiba! Shut up! Seriously, I’m almost ready,” he yelled as he made his way towards the door, grabbing his riding gear along the way. Saddle and foot grips slung over his shoulder, he barreled his way out the door and past Aiba, making sure to not step on Casper’s tail on his way.
Eighty years had passed since the first dragon-rider had tamed a vicious Night Fury and claimed it as his steed. Since then, villages had adapted those skills and used them in almost every facet of their lives. Dragons became the bond between villages: with them, trade could be done faster, wars were fiercer (although few and far-between), and information, knowledge, and insight were passed through more ears than ever before.
It had become commonplace, almost mandatory, to have children and young adults go out and learn how to train a dragon and become a dragon rider. And there was no better place than Redkern, the Valley of the North. Surrounded by oceans and forests, it was an ideal place for dragons to breed, and an even more ideal environment to train in.
The training itself was simple enough: learn how to tame and train a dragon, then learn how to fly a dragon. Once you were able to do that, you could graduate and return to your village and find your own dragon to claim.
Nino and Aiba had come from one of the bigger villages in the east. Friends since birth, they had held off going to school until their parents practically kicked them out. As they ran to the outskirts of the training grounds they caught up with Ohno, a student from the biggest village in the west who Aiba and Nino had befriended the first day of training. He had come to the north with Sho, while Nino and Aiba had been literally dragged here by their other friend Jun, who rounded out their group. Sho and Jun had lessons in the morning and dragon training in the afternoons, so the only times the five of them could meet up were during lunch or after all lessons were over. Nino, Ohno, and Aiba had the same mindset when it came to this rite of passage: get it the hell over with.
Sho and Jun, however, were another story. Unlike the other three, they were actually trying, and trying their hardest. They were learning a multitude of trades, but everyone knew their focus was combat. They were the sons of the dominant villages: Sho, son of Shun the Conqueror, from the Village of Cherry Blossoms, and Jun, son of Kinichi the Shrewd, of the Valley of Forest Pines. Fans and admirers would gather behind them, swooning with talk of “friendly competition” and “boyish rivalry.”
Nino thought about those phrases and smirked. If “friendly competition” was another term for “probably fucking their brains out while they weren't trying to outdo each other”, then sure, they were at the top of their class. Although Nino didn't know for sure if Sho was sleeping with Jun. And it didn't bother Nino that Sho had been monopolizing Jun's time as of late. Nino liked Sho, idiosyncrasies aside, and he knew that Sho was good competition for Jun, someone to keep Jun on his toes and help him stay focused during training (because Nino knew all he and Aiba would be was a distraction). And wasn't it Nino's idea to have Jun spend more time with Sho in the first place? As long as Jun came back to them in the end, it was fine.
But Nino had to admit that he had a soft spot for Jun. The youngest of the group, Jun came into his and Aiba's life when they were already teens. A wide face and a wider smile, he was a cute refresher from the doldrums of the quiet, working class life. Given that Jun's father was the ruler of their village, it was a surprise that Jun not only stuck around with them, but with Nino in particular. He didn't know why, but once Jun had considered himself fully integrated into the group, he focused a lot of his attention towards Nino, asking for his help for even the most mundane tasks and confiding in him when he felt like his father wouldn't listen to reason. Nino remembered the days where Jun would stick to him like a shadow and, as they grew up, they shared their first intimate experiences together. Nino smiled, thinking back to the night before.
Nino, Aiba, and Ohno followed the rest of the students into the main training arena, but not before Aiba bent down so his dragon could hop onto his shoulder.
“Stay with me, Cassie, OK?”
Nino scoffed. “I thought you named it Casper? Cassie’s a girl’s name. Is that thing even a girl?”
“Of course she is! And if she isn’t, well I still love her! Him. It.” He nodded resolutely.
They entered the arena. It was made with clay and wire, with no ceiling and a heavy set of wooden doors that led to where the dragons were kept. They approached the center, where their trainer stood. Even with an eye patch, his glare was powerful enough to quiet the group of about 30 students.
Higashiyama the Swift was one of the best dragon riders and warriors of the region, but after the birth of his daughter (and, rumor had it, the begging of his wife), he turned in his reins and focused on teaching the new generation the basics of dragon taming and riding.
“Today you will be taking turns learning how to balance on a dragon. With the exception of one of you,” he glared pointedly at Ohno, “none of you have shown the competency it would take to be able to tame a dragon. So we're going for a different approach. We have a pre-tamed dragon ready for you to practice with.”
“Higashiyama! Sir!” Aiba raised his hands, waving them around.
“No, Aiba, you cannot try first. I don't need us wasting our practice time re-building this place.”
“You just said that Ohno is the only one who can tame a dragon. But what about me and Cassie?”
“That,” he pointed at the dragon on Aiba's shoulders, “is nothing but a garden dragon, a house pet. I wouldn't even call it a dragon.”
Aiba sulked while Cassie yawned. Higashiyama whistled at the gate, where two assistants were waiting. They opened the gate, and out stormed a Chickenpoxer, roaring into the arena, thrashing against the chains that the other assistants held to keep it from flying away. As it was pulled towards the group, the students began backing away, but were stopped by Higashiyama's raised hand. He quickly took the reins from the assistants and pulled the dragon forward. He kept a foot on the side of its head, which left the dragon immobile and with its head firmly on the ground.
Nino heard one of the students cry out, “I thought you said this was tamed!” Higashiyama looked to the group and smirked, keeping a tight hold on the leather bindings.
“What good is practice,” he said, giving another tug of the reins, “if you aren't practicing on the real thing? Now hush and come forward!”
He called the first student over: a girl with black pigtails who looked like she was from one of the smaller east villages. Tepidly, she stepped forward. Her hands were shaking, trying to place her saddle on the dragon's neck while attempting to ignore the angry stare the dragon gave her. Higashiyama yelled at her to get a move on, and she climbed onto the dragon's neck, but in the process grabbed its skin too tightly, ripping a few scales off. The Chickenpoxer roared in pain and began to flail wildly, tearing the leather leash from Higashiyama's grasp.
They watched in horror as the dragon began bucking its neck and blowing puffs of fire, causing the girl to scream and fall off, singing some of her hair and the hems of her tunic. The assistants hung onto the other restraints like a lifeline to prevent the dragon from escaping. Nino winced while the rest of the students backed away, weary of catching fire by way of dragon breath (or vicariously through the girl who was currently running around, trying to fan away the parts of her that were still on fire). Higashiyama tried to call everyone back, but they had broken formation, which made the dragon even more disoriented. It slowly began huffing and puffing, trying to break through its restraints and ignoring Higashiyama's whistles and shouts of attention. Finally, he gave up.
“Ohno! Get your ass over here!”
Ohno, who some the instructors dubbed “The Dragon Whisperer,” had a special sort of knack for calming just about every dragon at the school. He probably would have graduated by now if he didn't slack off so often and sleep through every appointment he had with the dragon masters.
He walked towards where the dragon stood, angry and ready to blow. He looked up at it, doe-eyed and sleepy. The dragon glared back but, after just a few seconds, slowly lay it’s head on the ground and began snoring.
Higashiyama shook his head and turned to the rest of the group, who had all but backed themselves against the walls of the training arena. “Since we have to deal with getting this dragon out and bringing another one in, you all can take an early break. But be back in ten minutes!”
“Aiba, we have ten minutes. You know what that means?” Aiba looked at Nino and smirked.
“That means we have twenty minutes before Higashiyama asks where we are. Let's go!”
They sprinted towards Nino's hut, which was closest from the training grounds. Nino opened the door and looked towards his roommate’s space. But seriously, even if Toma was present, that wouldn't have stopped them; Nino briefly entertained the thought of asking him to join them if he were there. His thoughts disappeared as Aiba grabbed his ass, groping him and leading them towards Nino's bed. Nino pulled Aiba towards him, kissing him and pulling at Aiba's vest. As Aiba sat up to take it off, Nino looked past Aiba and saw something that made him sit up, stopping Aiba from advancing.
“Your pet cat is watching.”
“Don't call Cassie that, Nino! And don't worry about him.”
“I think I have every right to ahhhhhhh...” Nino stopped speaking once he felt Aiba's erection touching his own through their cotton pants. Aiba laughed softly, nosing against Nino's hair, leaving small kisses against his face, his neck. Those kisses turned into bites as Aiba rutted against Nino. He held onto Aiba's ass, using his small hands to spread Aiba's ass cheeks apart, teasing one of his fingers against Aiba's hole.
Aiba quickly shimmied out of his pants, leaving them stuck against his boots, while Nino, who had the foresight to remove his boots before they got into bed, removed his pants completely. They commenced grinding against each other, with Aiba breathing his moans into Nino's mouth. Nino bucked up, meeting Aiba at every thrust. Nino wanted more and raked his short nails against Aiba's back. That was the last straw for Aiba, who bit down on Nino's shoulder as he shuddered and came. Still panting, Aiba grabbed for Nino's erection and jerked Nino off, making sure to put extra pressure on the tip. It wasn't a few more seconds until Nino came as well, using his hands to cover his cries. Aiba fell to Nino's side, wiping Nino's come off his hands and onto Nino's sheepskin blanket.
“So,” Aiba started, breathless, “we're ditching the rest of the class, aren't we?”
Nino sat up and slapped Aiba's bare chest, causing him to jolt up, laughing. His eyes were still shining and sated as he watched Nino put his clothes on. Heading towards the door, Nino looked at Aiba, mostly naked on his bed and glowing.
“As much as we both want to, we shouldn't leave the person who blessed us this break to suffer through Higashiyama by himself.”
Aiba gave a salute, reaching over for his tunic while Nino left to find Ohno. He laughed as he passed Toma, who entered their hut and let out one of the deepest, girliest screams he had ever heard.
====
Nino grabbed his lunch (half a loaf of bread and a bowl of fish stew) and made his way past the student huts, the training arenas, past the outskirts of the north village, and finally towards the mouth of a cave barely covered with a makeshift door made out of ferns and branches. Carefully setting his food down, he slid the door away, picked up his things, and crawled into the tiny space he provided himself.
He set his food down next to two identical, cold sets of lunch. He tsk-ed at his friends' impatience. He also noticed a lack of two other bodies who should have been regular sights in this cave.
“And where're the prince and princess? Couldn’t make it this time?”
Aiba giggled, detaching himself from Ohno’s neck. Nino wondered why those two couldn't keep it to the hut they shared. He squeezed himself between Aiba and Ohno, snuggling against Aiba's chest and propping his feet onto Ohno's lap. He made grabby hands towards the food, and Ohno leaned over to hand both his and Nino's shares.
Aiba bit off a piece of Nino's bread. “I don't know about Jun, but I think Sho said something about extra lessons?” he said, spitting crumbs into Nino's face as he spoke.
“And no doubt little Jun is there to make sure his beloved future husband does his best to impress daddy.” Nino's comment had Ohno laughing into his bowl of stew.
Aiba rolled his eyes. “Come on, I don't think they see each other like that.”
“Please, Sho and Jun have their own huts because of who their fathers are, but what makes you think both of them are in use?”
“They probably fuck on the regular,” Ohno chimed in. “Sometimes I'm with Sho when he talks to Jun. I've seen the way Sho looks at him. If they haven't done it yet, they probably will soon.”
“Well, whatever it is, they need to get their shit figured out before graduation. Cuz after that, it'll be harder for all of us to meet up.”
Aiba nodded, looking towards Ohno. “Ohno will go with Sho to the west.” They watched him chew his stale piece of bread. “And Jun, you, and me: we'll be back in the east valley.”
Nino chewed his bread thoughtfully. They only had so much time left before graduation. He wasn't sure what it was, but something had slowly settled inside him and it wasn't comfortable.
====
Nino came out of the hut, wiping the ink stains from his hands onto his vest.
In addition to dragon taming, it was expected for all students to learn a trade or two while they were in school, because although everyone should learn how to ride a dragon, not everyone could make a living from doing so. Nino had always been interested in money: how it's made, how it moved around. So he figured his best match would be to work with the town's head of commerce, Taichi Kokubun. He was an astute man, quick to flatter and even quicker to temper. Nino made sure to use the right amount of flattery to get their lessons to end earlier today.
Nino sauntered over to where Jun was standing at the top of a hill. He thought it was a strange place for Jun to be, until he saw who he was with.
“Not really sorry, but am I interrupting?” Jun turned, putting the man he was talking to in Nino's line of sight.
Sho shook his head. “Not at all, Nino. We were just talking about riding lessons.”
“Yeah, I'm sure you were, Sho. Well, I'm going to take Jun here and we're going to do some practical lessons of our own. Isn't that right, Jun?” Without letting either of them get another word in, Nino dragged Jun by the arm without giving Sho another glance.
====
Jun allowed Nino to lead him towards the student huts, but not without some trepidation. He wasn't used to this kind of behavior coming from Nino. Clingy Nino: yes. But not like this.
“Nino, what are you doing?” Jun broke his arm away from Nino's grasp.
Without looking at him, Nino asked, “Oh, can a friend not ask for another friend's time nowadays? Wasn't it you who always came running to me when we were growing up?”
Jun stared at the back of Nino's head, confused. “I don't know what you're getting at.”
Nino turned to face Jun. For a second, Jun thought he saw something flash across Nino's eyes. But it was gone in an instant, with Nino looking at him expectantly, like he was cashing in on a favor that Jun owed him.
“That's okay, Jun. You've been working hard, right? Come join Aiba and me. Come on,” Nino tugged Jun forward.
After a few seconds of silence, they neared Jun's hut, where Aiba was waiting in front of the door. Nino stopped, released Jun's arm and turned to face him.
“I know we're all friends here, but are you fucking him?”
The question threw Jun off-guard. His reply was stuttered. “I'm sorry, what?”
Nino sighed. “Never mind. Just... come with us, Jun.” It was almost like he was pleading.
“Come be with us.”
====
Nino noticed how well-kept Jun's hut was. Everything was in its place, the bed immaculate despite living with a dirt floor and holes for windows. However, Nino couldn't help but notice the thin layer of dust on Jun's desk, workbench, and even on the lining of his pillows, which felt soft as Nino lay against them, the weight of Jun and Aiba next to him making a dent in the mattress that should have already existed.
Nino let Jun take the lead. It was his hut, after all. He watched as Jun kissed Aiba, sharply pinching his nipples through the fabric of his tunic. Nino got up and did the same to Jun, biting lightly on the back of Jun's neck as he interrupted their make out session to tug Jun's shirt over his head. He latched himself onto Jun's back, scratching his rough nails against Jun's belly, making his way lower and lower.
Jun had to break his kiss with Aiba to moan, bucking into Nino's hand palmed against his growing erection. Nino buried his hand into Jun's pants and grabbed his cock, using the precome to help him speed the pace of his hand. Jun cried out, leaning his head onto Nino, exposing his sweaty, shining neck. Nino latched his teeth onto Jun's neck, who made a weak attempt to stop Nino from marking him. But every time he lifted his hands, Nino would change the pace of his stroking, pinching the tip or running his nails along the ridge on the underside. Aiba helped him remove Jun's pants and together they pushed Jun onto the bed and loomed over him, watching Jun pant and tremble, his erection twitching and leaking, coating his pubes in clear fluid. Nino dove in, lapping at the head of Jun's cock while Aiba latched onto one of Jun's nipples and began sucking.
With his free hand, Aiba grabbed for a small container of oil that Jun kept near his bed, opening it. Both he and Nino dipped their fingers into the jar before each taking a hand and slowly working their way down Jun's body. Aiba put a finger in first. Nino watched Jun's knees shake the deeper Aiba's finger got, heard Jun moan into Aiba's mouth. He took in every detail of Jun's body before sinking next to him and inserting his own finger into Jun to join Aiba's. Nino attacked Jun's neck as Aiba added a second finger and Nino used his other hand to keep Jun's head in place while he kissed him.
Jun broke away from Nino. His eyes were watering and his voice was small as he panted:
“Nino, please.”
Nino looked up to Aiba, who smiled and moved towards the edge of the bed, giving them room. Nino situated himself between Jun's legs and didn't even try to hide his smile when Jun's legs hooked behind him, bringing him closer. He ran the head of his cock along Jun's crack, coating it with the excess oil and watching Jun's hole twitch. Jun was gripping the headboard, and Nino moved forward to kiss Jun while he pushed his cock into the other man.
Slowly he moved forward, willing himself not to thrust, just kept sliding in until he bottomed out, his pubes touching Jun's ass. Jun gripped Nino's shoulder.
“Move.”
So he did. He began thrusting in and out of Jun, making sure his tempo wasn't too fast that it would make him come too quickly. But he was rough, each thrust causing the bed to shift. He wanted to make this last, he wanted to remember this. He watched Aiba crawl forward on his knees until his cock was aligned with Jun, who opened his mouth and took him in. Aiba took Jun's cock in his hand and started stroking at the same rate he was fucking Jun's mouth. The sensations caused Jun to tighten, which forced Nino to move faster, harder, seeking more of Jun to take. Jun clenched again and Nino came, fire burning behind his eyes as he thrust a few more times, digging his nails into Jun's thighs. As he came down from his high he heard Aiba moan. Taking himself out of Jun's mouth, he and Nino worked Jun's cock and watched as Jun came, shaking and panting. Nino smiled and kissed Jun's forehead, moving the hair away from his eyes.
As they lay on the bed, catching their breaths, Nino gazed at Jun's profile, still shining with sweat. He watched the rise and fall of Jun's chest. As they began to settle, Nino spoke.
“You know, you, Aiba, and I, we used to hang out all the time. Before we came up here for training. Even in the beginning, it was us.”
No response. Jun closed his eyes, but Nino didn't break his gaze. Well, no time like the present.
“So what are we now? Right now? Aiba and I... are we a substitute for Sho?” Nino watched, concentrating, gauging Jun's breathing, hoping for a response, a reaction, anything. Next to him, Aiba held his breath.
“You can be honest, you know. It only bothers me if you're lying. But you wouldn't do such a thing to us, right?”
“Shut up.” Jun didn't move, so Nino nudged at Jun's shoulder, but was surprised when Jun physically took his hand and shoved it away.
“Stop it, Nino! Can you not be greedy for once in your goddamn life?”
At this moment, he could have said anything. He could have defended himself. He could have shot back, said something, said anything. He could have begged Jun or gone so far as to exploit Aiba's friendship for an answer.
Instead, he got up, put his clothes on, and left, slamming the wooden door behind him.
====
Aiba watched as Nino stared at the door to Jun's hut for five, then ten minutes, before he turned around and walked away. He followed Nino, who trudged back to his hut and left the door slightly ajar, a clear--if silent--invitation that Aiba accepted. Toma was asleep and the only light source was from the candle Nino lit at his desk. Nino sat on his bed and stared at the flame. Aiba sat next to him and gingerly placed an arm around his shoulders. He waited. Slowly, Nino leaned his head against Aiba's shoulder.
“Nino, I know you’re worried about Jun. You and me and Satoshi are too.” After a moment he added, “Sho too. But I think,” he said, placing a quick peck to Nino’s forehead, “that we'll get through this. Together.” Nino looked at Aiba, who wasn’t at all trying to hide the tears welling up in the corners of his eyes.
Nino scoffed. “Idiot.” He pushed Aiba away, stopping Aiba's hands from getting any further up his shirt.
“As much as I'd like an audience, let me be the good roommate for once. We don't need Toma listening in on us.”
A groan came from the direction of Toma's bed. The man shifted and turned to face Aiba and Nino.
“No, I can hear you. Dumbasses woke me up, so it's not like I have a choice.”
Nino looked to Toma and smirked. “Well, since you're not planning on sleeping soon, what say you to joining us?”
“Yeah!” Aiba added. “Nino's forlorn and needs cheering up!”
Toma buried his head into his pillow. “No, because for one thing: no, and for another thing, three people can't fit.”
Nino smirked, wrapping his arms around Aiba's shoulders and giving him a knowing look.
“Oh, we've made it work before,” he countered. “And, by the time we graduate, we'll make sure we've tested these beds to their limits.”
====
Ohno watched another student get knocked off a dragon. This time, it was a Gronckle with an especially nasty temper. Sometimes, Ohno didn't get it: why couldn't they just ride cattle? Those are sturdy. And delicious.
He'd disengaged himself from this lesson a long time ago, and let his eyes wander to the nearby student huts. His eyes passed through them all, but stopped when he saw something—no, someone—he recognized.
It was a couple of someones. Jun and Sho, to be more precise. They had just left Sho's hut together.
Ohno cocked his head to the side. He remembered Nino's words from the cave. He approached Sho just as Jun said his goodbyes. Jun waved at Ohno before he jogged towards the village.
Ohno looked at Sho, who met his absent gaze with a confused look.
“Something wrong, Satoshi?” Ohno blinked.
“I don't know, Sho. Is there?”
Sho sighed. “Jun told me he just had an argument with Nino. It's shaken him up pretty bad. Did you hear about it? Has Nino talked to you about it?” Ohno shook his head.
“I think Nino's had... issues sharing Jun with other people.”
“Nino's being selfish, that's what he's being.”
“Just give the two of them time. I think Nino will come to his senses.”
Ohno turned towards the training area when he heard Higashiyama call his name. He patted Sho on the back, giving him a small smile before he meandered back to the training area. The Gronckle was almost on a rampage and Ohno figured he should be helpful today.
====
Nino, Aiba, and Ohno reached the cliffside, located about one mile away from the training grounds and overlooking the ocean. This is where the dragon riding test took place. The test took place the day of the new moon, and students who had their instructors' blessing could take part. Nino and Aiba hadn't done anything to please Higashiyama as of late, and Ohno forgot to put his name on the roster (again). So they stood with the other students who had come to watch.
Higashiyama stood in front of the testing students and their dragons. To their side stood two other instructors who would serve as part of the judging panel: Nishikiori the Wise and Uekusa the Mighty. They, along with Higashiyama, were dragon masters, the strongest dragon warriors of the north.
“You, who have shown courage and tenacity, have tamed dragons, and will now prove to us that you can take to the skies and become the dragon riders you were destined to be. Now, approach your dragons!”
The three of them watched as Jun and Sho mounted their dragons. Jun had a rich blue Monstrous Nightmare, while Sho had a red and gold Timberjack.
They steered their dragons towards the edge of the cliff, towards the setting sun and the angry ocean. Higashiyama lifted a whistle made of dragon tooth to his lips and blew. At the sharp tone, the riders cried out, and the dragons ran towards the cliff, gaining speed before they flared their wings and took off.
The other students “ooh-ed” and “ahh-ed” as the dragons kept a tight formation, moving precisely to every whistle Higashiyama issued.
Suddenly, a flock of giant birds flew into their formation. The shock sent one student's dragon straight into the flight path of another dragon, which then caused the dragon next to Jun's to careen straight into his. Everyone on the ground watched as the formation broke, with the dragons fighting amongst each other as their riders tried desperately to calm them down. Jun's dragon was bitten in the neck by a Changewing, causing it to cry out and buck around, trying to dislodge itself from the other dragon's bite. One jolt was too strong, and Jun was unable to keep a hold on the reins. He fell off, going headfirst towards the ocean. Nino, Aiba, and Ohno ran towards Jun's falling figure but stopped as they reached the edge of the cliff, waves crashing against jagged rocks below them. They were too far away to do anything.
A piercing cry came from their right and with a whoosh, Sho's dragon barreled past them, a flurry of gold and red scales. The dragon banked straight down, his wings almost perpendicular to the horizon. Sho held both his hands out, reaching towards Jun, who was desperately trying to make contact with Sho. Mere feet before they hit the ocean, Sho lunged forward and caught Jun, and the Timberjack shot up, torpedoing towards the sky with its two passengers.
Next to Nino, Aiba started cheering with the rest of the group. He grabbed Nino's shoulders and shook him, but Nino was paralyzed.
If Sho hadn't been there, and if Jun had fallen, there was nothing Nino could have done to help him.
Nino shrugged Aiba's hands away and stormed past the students and back to his hut.
====
Nino hadn't talked to anyone since the training event. It had been three days already, and he had spent them either stuck in his hut or in class, towards the edges of the group where he hoped Aiba and Ohno couldn't see him. He put in extra time with Kokubun, avoided their cave, and had skipped meals to spend time anywhere than where the other students were.
He had wanted to get away. Away from the mess his friendship with those four men had become. But instead of pushing them away, he found himself thinking about his friends constantly. He replayed the moment Jun fell, the way Sho held him in his arms after he caught Jun, the looks on Aiba and Ohno's faces.
Where, in the grand scheme of things, did he even fit into their group?
As he walked back to his hut, he hadn't noticed the hand at his shoulder until it practically flung him backwards, forcing him to turn around. He scrunched his face in anger, ready to tell whoever it was to get the hell away from him.
It was Aiba.
Nino blinked a few times. Yes, Aiba had tried to get Nino's attention during his period of self-exile. But it had been from a distance: knocking on his door at all hours or calling to him from across the training grounds. Very rarely was Aiba this direct.
The other man grounded himself while grabbing onto the sleeves of Nino's tunic. He had a determined look in his eyes that let Nino know he wasn't going to take “No” for an answer.
====
Nino let himself be tugged by Aiba towards Jun's hut. He wasn't pleased; he couldn't see this meeting as anything but awkward. So he tried to act like dead weight against Aiba's hold, going so far as the have Aiba literally drag his body part of the way.
“Come on! Nino!” Aiba grunted after the fourth tug that got them nowhere. “This isn't just about seeing Jun. Believe me, this trip will be worth your while.”
Nino stood up, pouting as he picked at the grass stains on his shirt. Aiba opened the door and shoved the other man inside. Nino was about to make a snide remark about “late-night intrusions”, but held his tongue when he realized that Jun wasn't alone. Ohno was there as well.
And Sho.
“Nino,” Sho started. He bounded towards Nino, then stopped. Looking straight into his eyes, Nino didn't know where to go or what to do, but he willed himself to stay.
Suddenly, Sho grabbed him by the arm and pulled him closer, wrapping him in a tight hug. “I don't think I've ever been so happy to see you.”
Nino froze in Sho's embrace. He was too confused to even move. After a moment filled with nothing but the sounds of breathing and the wisp of flames flickering on candles, he slowly placed his hands on Sho's chest and pushed him away.
“Why?” Sho smiled.
“Because we're all here.” He gestured towards where the other three sat on Jun's bed. He held out his hand towards Nino.
“Nino, I know things have been... well, strained. I know there's been some kind of rift between you and everyone else. And there's no way we can correct the damage on our own. The most important thing is that we're together. Whatever issues we have, we can figure them out, and we can fix them.”
Nino looked at Sho's outstretched hand, then at the figures on the bed, then at Sho's face. All four of them were looking at him with the same look.
Sho spoke, as soft as the flicker of the candlelight across his face.
“Let's spend the time we have left together.”
Nino took a slow breath, then nodded, taking Sho's hand and allowing him to be maneuvered to the bed.
Nino sat back, falling against Aiba's chest. He quickly pushed Nino's tunic off. Nino watched as Ohno did the same for Aiba, and Sho for Jun. Soon they were all naked, with Nino watching as Sho took Jun's face in his hands and began kissing him. He watched them, only partially distracted by the noises Ohno and Aiba were making next to him.
Sho separated from Jun and set his sights on Nino. He leaned against him and kissed him. Nino was falling in love with those lips. Those lips, which he had never realized until now that he wanted to kiss. They were chapped from the days of riding dragons, but still plump and soft enough to make Nino want to taste more. Nino let himself be moved around until he was on top of Jun, their cocks touching. Nino arched forward as he felt familiar fingers at his ass, preparing him with oiled fingers. He pushed back against Aiba's fingers, moaning into Jun's chest. After a few moments, Aiba maneuvered Nino so that he was hovering right above Jun's erection. Nino took control after that, reaching under him and aligning his hole with Jun's cock.
It was the familiar burn that Nino had missed so much. Gasping, he instantly started to rock back and forth, riding Jun's cock. Aiba's hands on his skin disappeared and were replaced by the rough, unfamiliar hands of Sho. Sho pinched Nino's nipples and kissed the skin on his shoulders. Nino moved his head so he could kiss Sho while still keeping his balance on Jun. From the corner of his eye he could see Ohno thrusting into Aiba, who kept his ankles locked behind Ohno's neck. From the way Aiba arched and the way Ohno held onto Aiba's hands, he knew that they were familiar with each other's bodies.
Sho ran his hand along Nino's cock, thumbing the head before jerking him off in quick, harsh strokes that spurred him on, bucking harder on top of Jun. With a few more strokes Nino came, releasing onto Jun's stomach. He lifted himself off Jun and lay next to him, watching as Sho prepped Jun. Sho was so delicate with Jun, taking his time even as Jun began moaning, almost begging for Sho to fuck him. Sho looked at Jun, and Nino saw something in that look, something in the way Sho's eyes softened.
He watched with clear eyes. That unsettling feeling in his chest had disappeared.
Sho hiked Jun's legs onto his shoulders and thrust into him, hard and fast. Nino took Jun's cock in his hand just as Ohno appeared behind Sho, circling his nails against Sho's nipples, then raking them against his sides. Aiba appeared on the other side of Jun, smiling at Nino as he touched Jun's body. Sho's thrusts became more erratic and suddenly he was coming, pushing the last of his energy into Jun.
As Nino felt Jun's come on his fingertips, he heard Jun moan into his ear:
“You all mean everything to me.”
====
The five young men stood atop the hill facing the North Village. In each of their hands they held a coin made from a dragon's tooth: a special coin that they would always carry with them as a symbol that they had graduated from dragon training. Kokubun had offered Nino a permanent position as his assistant. He hadn't accepted, but said he would think about it. Nino looked back towards the village and thought about how their lives would change from this point on. He looked to Aiba and Ohno, who were chatting and pushing each other, then to Jun and Sho, who were having a more serious conversation. Nino didn't try to ignore the smiles he saw on their faces. Not this time. Sho grabbed his pack and called to Ohno, who joined him as they made their way towards the path that would lead them back to Sho's village. Before they went too far, however, Nino called them back. Dropping his own pack, Nino dashed towards the two and crashed into their open arms, embracing them in a way that said “Thank you, see you again.” Sho kissed Nino on the top of his head while Ohno rubbed his cheek against Nino's. Aiba and Jun walked towards the group and after setting their own packs down joined in the group hug. Sho and Ohno broke away and the two then made their way into the forest and out of sight. Nino smiled as he watched their retreating backs. Grabbing his pack, he joined Aiba and Jun as they made their way home, where together their new lives would begin.
Author's notes:
- The title is a lyric from the song “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons.
- Sho's and Jun's village names are loose translations of the kanji for their respective family names. Shun really is Sho's father's name, however Kinichi is a made up name for Jun's father, because my beta and I were unable to find that information.
- Garden/Common Dragons, Chickenpoxer, Gronckle, Monstrous Nightmare, Timberjack, and Changewing are all dragons from the HTTYD universe. I did my best in terms of research, but any misuse of the dragons mentioned is entirely my fault.
alexxasickFrom:
alphie_damiekTitle: The Sun Hasn't Died
Pairing/Focus: Aimiya, Matsumiya, Jun/Nino/Aiba, OT5 at the end
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Porn, language, more porn
Summary: The boys are among the latest group of dragon riders in training, who must learn how to not only tame dragons, but tame their loins and hearts and all the feelings in between.
Notes: For
alexxasick! I love your work, and I hope you enjoy your NinoExchange fic. Loosely based in the world of How to Train Your Dragon. There's a bit of angst, but it ends well and hopefully it's not too upsetting. Thanks go out to my beta, she-who-shall-not-be-named.Nino woke to the glare of the morning sun and the sounds of early morning practice. Being the morning person that he wasn’t, Nino usually tried to skip those lessons. But he didn't need the lectures from his instructors and his friends (two of them in particular), so he'd get up and deal with it. This morning, however, he had slept past the first rays of sun.
He got up slowly, wincing as he sat on his bed. Grabbing his blanket, he couldn’t help but blush as he took it to his nose and inhaled the lingering scent. He looked to his left; his hut mate was already gone. He shot up when he heard a banging at his door.
“Nino!! We’re both gonna be late if you don’t get up!”
It was Masaki Aiba, one of the other young men from his village who had traveled with him to the north for training.
Nino groaned in response, changing out of his sleeping tunic as quick as his sore limbs would allow.
“Aiba! Shut up! Seriously, I’m almost ready,” he yelled as he made his way towards the door, grabbing his riding gear along the way. Saddle and foot grips slung over his shoulder, he barreled his way out the door and past Aiba, making sure to not step on Casper’s tail on his way.
Eighty years had passed since the first dragon-rider had tamed a vicious Night Fury and claimed it as his steed. Since then, villages had adapted those skills and used them in almost every facet of their lives. Dragons became the bond between villages: with them, trade could be done faster, wars were fiercer (although few and far-between), and information, knowledge, and insight were passed through more ears than ever before.
It had become commonplace, almost mandatory, to have children and young adults go out and learn how to train a dragon and become a dragon rider. And there was no better place than Redkern, the Valley of the North. Surrounded by oceans and forests, it was an ideal place for dragons to breed, and an even more ideal environment to train in.
The training itself was simple enough: learn how to tame and train a dragon, then learn how to fly a dragon. Once you were able to do that, you could graduate and return to your village and find your own dragon to claim.
Nino and Aiba had come from one of the bigger villages in the east. Friends since birth, they had held off going to school until their parents practically kicked them out. As they ran to the outskirts of the training grounds they caught up with Ohno, a student from the biggest village in the west who Aiba and Nino had befriended the first day of training. He had come to the north with Sho, while Nino and Aiba had been literally dragged here by their other friend Jun, who rounded out their group. Sho and Jun had lessons in the morning and dragon training in the afternoons, so the only times the five of them could meet up were during lunch or after all lessons were over. Nino, Ohno, and Aiba had the same mindset when it came to this rite of passage: get it the hell over with.
Sho and Jun, however, were another story. Unlike the other three, they were actually trying, and trying their hardest. They were learning a multitude of trades, but everyone knew their focus was combat. They were the sons of the dominant villages: Sho, son of Shun the Conqueror, from the Village of Cherry Blossoms, and Jun, son of Kinichi the Shrewd, of the Valley of Forest Pines. Fans and admirers would gather behind them, swooning with talk of “friendly competition” and “boyish rivalry.”
Nino thought about those phrases and smirked. If “friendly competition” was another term for “probably fucking their brains out while they weren't trying to outdo each other”, then sure, they were at the top of their class. Although Nino didn't know for sure if Sho was sleeping with Jun. And it didn't bother Nino that Sho had been monopolizing Jun's time as of late. Nino liked Sho, idiosyncrasies aside, and he knew that Sho was good competition for Jun, someone to keep Jun on his toes and help him stay focused during training (because Nino knew all he and Aiba would be was a distraction). And wasn't it Nino's idea to have Jun spend more time with Sho in the first place? As long as Jun came back to them in the end, it was fine.
But Nino had to admit that he had a soft spot for Jun. The youngest of the group, Jun came into his and Aiba's life when they were already teens. A wide face and a wider smile, he was a cute refresher from the doldrums of the quiet, working class life. Given that Jun's father was the ruler of their village, it was a surprise that Jun not only stuck around with them, but with Nino in particular. He didn't know why, but once Jun had considered himself fully integrated into the group, he focused a lot of his attention towards Nino, asking for his help for even the most mundane tasks and confiding in him when he felt like his father wouldn't listen to reason. Nino remembered the days where Jun would stick to him like a shadow and, as they grew up, they shared their first intimate experiences together. Nino smiled, thinking back to the night before.
Nino, Aiba, and Ohno followed the rest of the students into the main training arena, but not before Aiba bent down so his dragon could hop onto his shoulder.
“Stay with me, Cassie, OK?”
Nino scoffed. “I thought you named it Casper? Cassie’s a girl’s name. Is that thing even a girl?”
“Of course she is! And if she isn’t, well I still love her! Him. It.” He nodded resolutely.
They entered the arena. It was made with clay and wire, with no ceiling and a heavy set of wooden doors that led to where the dragons were kept. They approached the center, where their trainer stood. Even with an eye patch, his glare was powerful enough to quiet the group of about 30 students.
Higashiyama the Swift was one of the best dragon riders and warriors of the region, but after the birth of his daughter (and, rumor had it, the begging of his wife), he turned in his reins and focused on teaching the new generation the basics of dragon taming and riding.
“Today you will be taking turns learning how to balance on a dragon. With the exception of one of you,” he glared pointedly at Ohno, “none of you have shown the competency it would take to be able to tame a dragon. So we're going for a different approach. We have a pre-tamed dragon ready for you to practice with.”
“Higashiyama! Sir!” Aiba raised his hands, waving them around.
“No, Aiba, you cannot try first. I don't need us wasting our practice time re-building this place.”
“You just said that Ohno is the only one who can tame a dragon. But what about me and Cassie?”
“That,” he pointed at the dragon on Aiba's shoulders, “is nothing but a garden dragon, a house pet. I wouldn't even call it a dragon.”
Aiba sulked while Cassie yawned. Higashiyama whistled at the gate, where two assistants were waiting. They opened the gate, and out stormed a Chickenpoxer, roaring into the arena, thrashing against the chains that the other assistants held to keep it from flying away. As it was pulled towards the group, the students began backing away, but were stopped by Higashiyama's raised hand. He quickly took the reins from the assistants and pulled the dragon forward. He kept a foot on the side of its head, which left the dragon immobile and with its head firmly on the ground.
Nino heard one of the students cry out, “I thought you said this was tamed!” Higashiyama looked to the group and smirked, keeping a tight hold on the leather bindings.
“What good is practice,” he said, giving another tug of the reins, “if you aren't practicing on the real thing? Now hush and come forward!”
He called the first student over: a girl with black pigtails who looked like she was from one of the smaller east villages. Tepidly, she stepped forward. Her hands were shaking, trying to place her saddle on the dragon's neck while attempting to ignore the angry stare the dragon gave her. Higashiyama yelled at her to get a move on, and she climbed onto the dragon's neck, but in the process grabbed its skin too tightly, ripping a few scales off. The Chickenpoxer roared in pain and began to flail wildly, tearing the leather leash from Higashiyama's grasp.
They watched in horror as the dragon began bucking its neck and blowing puffs of fire, causing the girl to scream and fall off, singing some of her hair and the hems of her tunic. The assistants hung onto the other restraints like a lifeline to prevent the dragon from escaping. Nino winced while the rest of the students backed away, weary of catching fire by way of dragon breath (or vicariously through the girl who was currently running around, trying to fan away the parts of her that were still on fire). Higashiyama tried to call everyone back, but they had broken formation, which made the dragon even more disoriented. It slowly began huffing and puffing, trying to break through its restraints and ignoring Higashiyama's whistles and shouts of attention. Finally, he gave up.
“Ohno! Get your ass over here!”
Ohno, who some the instructors dubbed “The Dragon Whisperer,” had a special sort of knack for calming just about every dragon at the school. He probably would have graduated by now if he didn't slack off so often and sleep through every appointment he had with the dragon masters.
He walked towards where the dragon stood, angry and ready to blow. He looked up at it, doe-eyed and sleepy. The dragon glared back but, after just a few seconds, slowly lay it’s head on the ground and began snoring.
Higashiyama shook his head and turned to the rest of the group, who had all but backed themselves against the walls of the training arena. “Since we have to deal with getting this dragon out and bringing another one in, you all can take an early break. But be back in ten minutes!”
“Aiba, we have ten minutes. You know what that means?” Aiba looked at Nino and smirked.
“That means we have twenty minutes before Higashiyama asks where we are. Let's go!”
They sprinted towards Nino's hut, which was closest from the training grounds. Nino opened the door and looked towards his roommate’s space. But seriously, even if Toma was present, that wouldn't have stopped them; Nino briefly entertained the thought of asking him to join them if he were there. His thoughts disappeared as Aiba grabbed his ass, groping him and leading them towards Nino's bed. Nino pulled Aiba towards him, kissing him and pulling at Aiba's vest. As Aiba sat up to take it off, Nino looked past Aiba and saw something that made him sit up, stopping Aiba from advancing.
“Your pet cat is watching.”
“Don't call Cassie that, Nino! And don't worry about him.”
“I think I have every right to ahhhhhhh...” Nino stopped speaking once he felt Aiba's erection touching his own through their cotton pants. Aiba laughed softly, nosing against Nino's hair, leaving small kisses against his face, his neck. Those kisses turned into bites as Aiba rutted against Nino. He held onto Aiba's ass, using his small hands to spread Aiba's ass cheeks apart, teasing one of his fingers against Aiba's hole.
Aiba quickly shimmied out of his pants, leaving them stuck against his boots, while Nino, who had the foresight to remove his boots before they got into bed, removed his pants completely. They commenced grinding against each other, with Aiba breathing his moans into Nino's mouth. Nino bucked up, meeting Aiba at every thrust. Nino wanted more and raked his short nails against Aiba's back. That was the last straw for Aiba, who bit down on Nino's shoulder as he shuddered and came. Still panting, Aiba grabbed for Nino's erection and jerked Nino off, making sure to put extra pressure on the tip. It wasn't a few more seconds until Nino came as well, using his hands to cover his cries. Aiba fell to Nino's side, wiping Nino's come off his hands and onto Nino's sheepskin blanket.
“So,” Aiba started, breathless, “we're ditching the rest of the class, aren't we?”
Nino sat up and slapped Aiba's bare chest, causing him to jolt up, laughing. His eyes were still shining and sated as he watched Nino put his clothes on. Heading towards the door, Nino looked at Aiba, mostly naked on his bed and glowing.
“As much as we both want to, we shouldn't leave the person who blessed us this break to suffer through Higashiyama by himself.”
Aiba gave a salute, reaching over for his tunic while Nino left to find Ohno. He laughed as he passed Toma, who entered their hut and let out one of the deepest, girliest screams he had ever heard.
====
Nino grabbed his lunch (half a loaf of bread and a bowl of fish stew) and made his way past the student huts, the training arenas, past the outskirts of the north village, and finally towards the mouth of a cave barely covered with a makeshift door made out of ferns and branches. Carefully setting his food down, he slid the door away, picked up his things, and crawled into the tiny space he provided himself.
He set his food down next to two identical, cold sets of lunch. He tsk-ed at his friends' impatience. He also noticed a lack of two other bodies who should have been regular sights in this cave.
“And where're the prince and princess? Couldn’t make it this time?”
Aiba giggled, detaching himself from Ohno’s neck. Nino wondered why those two couldn't keep it to the hut they shared. He squeezed himself between Aiba and Ohno, snuggling against Aiba's chest and propping his feet onto Ohno's lap. He made grabby hands towards the food, and Ohno leaned over to hand both his and Nino's shares.
Aiba bit off a piece of Nino's bread. “I don't know about Jun, but I think Sho said something about extra lessons?” he said, spitting crumbs into Nino's face as he spoke.
“And no doubt little Jun is there to make sure his beloved future husband does his best to impress daddy.” Nino's comment had Ohno laughing into his bowl of stew.
Aiba rolled his eyes. “Come on, I don't think they see each other like that.”
“Please, Sho and Jun have their own huts because of who their fathers are, but what makes you think both of them are in use?”
“They probably fuck on the regular,” Ohno chimed in. “Sometimes I'm with Sho when he talks to Jun. I've seen the way Sho looks at him. If they haven't done it yet, they probably will soon.”
“Well, whatever it is, they need to get their shit figured out before graduation. Cuz after that, it'll be harder for all of us to meet up.”
Aiba nodded, looking towards Ohno. “Ohno will go with Sho to the west.” They watched him chew his stale piece of bread. “And Jun, you, and me: we'll be back in the east valley.”
Nino chewed his bread thoughtfully. They only had so much time left before graduation. He wasn't sure what it was, but something had slowly settled inside him and it wasn't comfortable.
====
Nino came out of the hut, wiping the ink stains from his hands onto his vest.
In addition to dragon taming, it was expected for all students to learn a trade or two while they were in school, because although everyone should learn how to ride a dragon, not everyone could make a living from doing so. Nino had always been interested in money: how it's made, how it moved around. So he figured his best match would be to work with the town's head of commerce, Taichi Kokubun. He was an astute man, quick to flatter and even quicker to temper. Nino made sure to use the right amount of flattery to get their lessons to end earlier today.
Nino sauntered over to where Jun was standing at the top of a hill. He thought it was a strange place for Jun to be, until he saw who he was with.
“Not really sorry, but am I interrupting?” Jun turned, putting the man he was talking to in Nino's line of sight.
Sho shook his head. “Not at all, Nino. We were just talking about riding lessons.”
“Yeah, I'm sure you were, Sho. Well, I'm going to take Jun here and we're going to do some practical lessons of our own. Isn't that right, Jun?” Without letting either of them get another word in, Nino dragged Jun by the arm without giving Sho another glance.
====
Jun allowed Nino to lead him towards the student huts, but not without some trepidation. He wasn't used to this kind of behavior coming from Nino. Clingy Nino: yes. But not like this.
“Nino, what are you doing?” Jun broke his arm away from Nino's grasp.
Without looking at him, Nino asked, “Oh, can a friend not ask for another friend's time nowadays? Wasn't it you who always came running to me when we were growing up?”
Jun stared at the back of Nino's head, confused. “I don't know what you're getting at.”
Nino turned to face Jun. For a second, Jun thought he saw something flash across Nino's eyes. But it was gone in an instant, with Nino looking at him expectantly, like he was cashing in on a favor that Jun owed him.
“That's okay, Jun. You've been working hard, right? Come join Aiba and me. Come on,” Nino tugged Jun forward.
After a few seconds of silence, they neared Jun's hut, where Aiba was waiting in front of the door. Nino stopped, released Jun's arm and turned to face him.
“I know we're all friends here, but are you fucking him?”
The question threw Jun off-guard. His reply was stuttered. “I'm sorry, what?”
Nino sighed. “Never mind. Just... come with us, Jun.” It was almost like he was pleading.
“Come be with us.”
====
Nino noticed how well-kept Jun's hut was. Everything was in its place, the bed immaculate despite living with a dirt floor and holes for windows. However, Nino couldn't help but notice the thin layer of dust on Jun's desk, workbench, and even on the lining of his pillows, which felt soft as Nino lay against them, the weight of Jun and Aiba next to him making a dent in the mattress that should have already existed.
Nino let Jun take the lead. It was his hut, after all. He watched as Jun kissed Aiba, sharply pinching his nipples through the fabric of his tunic. Nino got up and did the same to Jun, biting lightly on the back of Jun's neck as he interrupted their make out session to tug Jun's shirt over his head. He latched himself onto Jun's back, scratching his rough nails against Jun's belly, making his way lower and lower.
Jun had to break his kiss with Aiba to moan, bucking into Nino's hand palmed against his growing erection. Nino buried his hand into Jun's pants and grabbed his cock, using the precome to help him speed the pace of his hand. Jun cried out, leaning his head onto Nino, exposing his sweaty, shining neck. Nino latched his teeth onto Jun's neck, who made a weak attempt to stop Nino from marking him. But every time he lifted his hands, Nino would change the pace of his stroking, pinching the tip or running his nails along the ridge on the underside. Aiba helped him remove Jun's pants and together they pushed Jun onto the bed and loomed over him, watching Jun pant and tremble, his erection twitching and leaking, coating his pubes in clear fluid. Nino dove in, lapping at the head of Jun's cock while Aiba latched onto one of Jun's nipples and began sucking.
With his free hand, Aiba grabbed for a small container of oil that Jun kept near his bed, opening it. Both he and Nino dipped their fingers into the jar before each taking a hand and slowly working their way down Jun's body. Aiba put a finger in first. Nino watched Jun's knees shake the deeper Aiba's finger got, heard Jun moan into Aiba's mouth. He took in every detail of Jun's body before sinking next to him and inserting his own finger into Jun to join Aiba's. Nino attacked Jun's neck as Aiba added a second finger and Nino used his other hand to keep Jun's head in place while he kissed him.
Jun broke away from Nino. His eyes were watering and his voice was small as he panted:
“Nino, please.”
Nino looked up to Aiba, who smiled and moved towards the edge of the bed, giving them room. Nino situated himself between Jun's legs and didn't even try to hide his smile when Jun's legs hooked behind him, bringing him closer. He ran the head of his cock along Jun's crack, coating it with the excess oil and watching Jun's hole twitch. Jun was gripping the headboard, and Nino moved forward to kiss Jun while he pushed his cock into the other man.
Slowly he moved forward, willing himself not to thrust, just kept sliding in until he bottomed out, his pubes touching Jun's ass. Jun gripped Nino's shoulder.
“Move.”
So he did. He began thrusting in and out of Jun, making sure his tempo wasn't too fast that it would make him come too quickly. But he was rough, each thrust causing the bed to shift. He wanted to make this last, he wanted to remember this. He watched Aiba crawl forward on his knees until his cock was aligned with Jun, who opened his mouth and took him in. Aiba took Jun's cock in his hand and started stroking at the same rate he was fucking Jun's mouth. The sensations caused Jun to tighten, which forced Nino to move faster, harder, seeking more of Jun to take. Jun clenched again and Nino came, fire burning behind his eyes as he thrust a few more times, digging his nails into Jun's thighs. As he came down from his high he heard Aiba moan. Taking himself out of Jun's mouth, he and Nino worked Jun's cock and watched as Jun came, shaking and panting. Nino smiled and kissed Jun's forehead, moving the hair away from his eyes.
As they lay on the bed, catching their breaths, Nino gazed at Jun's profile, still shining with sweat. He watched the rise and fall of Jun's chest. As they began to settle, Nino spoke.
“You know, you, Aiba, and I, we used to hang out all the time. Before we came up here for training. Even in the beginning, it was us.”
No response. Jun closed his eyes, but Nino didn't break his gaze. Well, no time like the present.
“So what are we now? Right now? Aiba and I... are we a substitute for Sho?” Nino watched, concentrating, gauging Jun's breathing, hoping for a response, a reaction, anything. Next to him, Aiba held his breath.
“You can be honest, you know. It only bothers me if you're lying. But you wouldn't do such a thing to us, right?”
“Shut up.” Jun didn't move, so Nino nudged at Jun's shoulder, but was surprised when Jun physically took his hand and shoved it away.
“Stop it, Nino! Can you not be greedy for once in your goddamn life?”
At this moment, he could have said anything. He could have defended himself. He could have shot back, said something, said anything. He could have begged Jun or gone so far as to exploit Aiba's friendship for an answer.
Instead, he got up, put his clothes on, and left, slamming the wooden door behind him.
====
Aiba watched as Nino stared at the door to Jun's hut for five, then ten minutes, before he turned around and walked away. He followed Nino, who trudged back to his hut and left the door slightly ajar, a clear--if silent--invitation that Aiba accepted. Toma was asleep and the only light source was from the candle Nino lit at his desk. Nino sat on his bed and stared at the flame. Aiba sat next to him and gingerly placed an arm around his shoulders. He waited. Slowly, Nino leaned his head against Aiba's shoulder.
“Nino, I know you’re worried about Jun. You and me and Satoshi are too.” After a moment he added, “Sho too. But I think,” he said, placing a quick peck to Nino’s forehead, “that we'll get through this. Together.” Nino looked at Aiba, who wasn’t at all trying to hide the tears welling up in the corners of his eyes.
Nino scoffed. “Idiot.” He pushed Aiba away, stopping Aiba's hands from getting any further up his shirt.
“As much as I'd like an audience, let me be the good roommate for once. We don't need Toma listening in on us.”
A groan came from the direction of Toma's bed. The man shifted and turned to face Aiba and Nino.
“No, I can hear you. Dumbasses woke me up, so it's not like I have a choice.”
Nino looked to Toma and smirked. “Well, since you're not planning on sleeping soon, what say you to joining us?”
“Yeah!” Aiba added. “Nino's forlorn and needs cheering up!”
Toma buried his head into his pillow. “No, because for one thing: no, and for another thing, three people can't fit.”
Nino smirked, wrapping his arms around Aiba's shoulders and giving him a knowing look.
“Oh, we've made it work before,” he countered. “And, by the time we graduate, we'll make sure we've tested these beds to their limits.”
====
Ohno watched another student get knocked off a dragon. This time, it was a Gronckle with an especially nasty temper. Sometimes, Ohno didn't get it: why couldn't they just ride cattle? Those are sturdy. And delicious.
He'd disengaged himself from this lesson a long time ago, and let his eyes wander to the nearby student huts. His eyes passed through them all, but stopped when he saw something—no, someone—he recognized.
It was a couple of someones. Jun and Sho, to be more precise. They had just left Sho's hut together.
Ohno cocked his head to the side. He remembered Nino's words from the cave. He approached Sho just as Jun said his goodbyes. Jun waved at Ohno before he jogged towards the village.
Ohno looked at Sho, who met his absent gaze with a confused look.
“Something wrong, Satoshi?” Ohno blinked.
“I don't know, Sho. Is there?”
Sho sighed. “Jun told me he just had an argument with Nino. It's shaken him up pretty bad. Did you hear about it? Has Nino talked to you about it?” Ohno shook his head.
“I think Nino's had... issues sharing Jun with other people.”
“Nino's being selfish, that's what he's being.”
“Just give the two of them time. I think Nino will come to his senses.”
Ohno turned towards the training area when he heard Higashiyama call his name. He patted Sho on the back, giving him a small smile before he meandered back to the training area. The Gronckle was almost on a rampage and Ohno figured he should be helpful today.
====
Nino, Aiba, and Ohno reached the cliffside, located about one mile away from the training grounds and overlooking the ocean. This is where the dragon riding test took place. The test took place the day of the new moon, and students who had their instructors' blessing could take part. Nino and Aiba hadn't done anything to please Higashiyama as of late, and Ohno forgot to put his name on the roster (again). So they stood with the other students who had come to watch.
Higashiyama stood in front of the testing students and their dragons. To their side stood two other instructors who would serve as part of the judging panel: Nishikiori the Wise and Uekusa the Mighty. They, along with Higashiyama, were dragon masters, the strongest dragon warriors of the north.
“You, who have shown courage and tenacity, have tamed dragons, and will now prove to us that you can take to the skies and become the dragon riders you were destined to be. Now, approach your dragons!”
The three of them watched as Jun and Sho mounted their dragons. Jun had a rich blue Monstrous Nightmare, while Sho had a red and gold Timberjack.
They steered their dragons towards the edge of the cliff, towards the setting sun and the angry ocean. Higashiyama lifted a whistle made of dragon tooth to his lips and blew. At the sharp tone, the riders cried out, and the dragons ran towards the cliff, gaining speed before they flared their wings and took off.
The other students “ooh-ed” and “ahh-ed” as the dragons kept a tight formation, moving precisely to every whistle Higashiyama issued.
Suddenly, a flock of giant birds flew into their formation. The shock sent one student's dragon straight into the flight path of another dragon, which then caused the dragon next to Jun's to careen straight into his. Everyone on the ground watched as the formation broke, with the dragons fighting amongst each other as their riders tried desperately to calm them down. Jun's dragon was bitten in the neck by a Changewing, causing it to cry out and buck around, trying to dislodge itself from the other dragon's bite. One jolt was too strong, and Jun was unable to keep a hold on the reins. He fell off, going headfirst towards the ocean. Nino, Aiba, and Ohno ran towards Jun's falling figure but stopped as they reached the edge of the cliff, waves crashing against jagged rocks below them. They were too far away to do anything.
A piercing cry came from their right and with a whoosh, Sho's dragon barreled past them, a flurry of gold and red scales. The dragon banked straight down, his wings almost perpendicular to the horizon. Sho held both his hands out, reaching towards Jun, who was desperately trying to make contact with Sho. Mere feet before they hit the ocean, Sho lunged forward and caught Jun, and the Timberjack shot up, torpedoing towards the sky with its two passengers.
Next to Nino, Aiba started cheering with the rest of the group. He grabbed Nino's shoulders and shook him, but Nino was paralyzed.
If Sho hadn't been there, and if Jun had fallen, there was nothing Nino could have done to help him.
Nino shrugged Aiba's hands away and stormed past the students and back to his hut.
====
Nino hadn't talked to anyone since the training event. It had been three days already, and he had spent them either stuck in his hut or in class, towards the edges of the group where he hoped Aiba and Ohno couldn't see him. He put in extra time with Kokubun, avoided their cave, and had skipped meals to spend time anywhere than where the other students were.
He had wanted to get away. Away from the mess his friendship with those four men had become. But instead of pushing them away, he found himself thinking about his friends constantly. He replayed the moment Jun fell, the way Sho held him in his arms after he caught Jun, the looks on Aiba and Ohno's faces.
Where, in the grand scheme of things, did he even fit into their group?
As he walked back to his hut, he hadn't noticed the hand at his shoulder until it practically flung him backwards, forcing him to turn around. He scrunched his face in anger, ready to tell whoever it was to get the hell away from him.
It was Aiba.
Nino blinked a few times. Yes, Aiba had tried to get Nino's attention during his period of self-exile. But it had been from a distance: knocking on his door at all hours or calling to him from across the training grounds. Very rarely was Aiba this direct.
The other man grounded himself while grabbing onto the sleeves of Nino's tunic. He had a determined look in his eyes that let Nino know he wasn't going to take “No” for an answer.
====
Nino let himself be tugged by Aiba towards Jun's hut. He wasn't pleased; he couldn't see this meeting as anything but awkward. So he tried to act like dead weight against Aiba's hold, going so far as the have Aiba literally drag his body part of the way.
“Come on! Nino!” Aiba grunted after the fourth tug that got them nowhere. “This isn't just about seeing Jun. Believe me, this trip will be worth your while.”
Nino stood up, pouting as he picked at the grass stains on his shirt. Aiba opened the door and shoved the other man inside. Nino was about to make a snide remark about “late-night intrusions”, but held his tongue when he realized that Jun wasn't alone. Ohno was there as well.
And Sho.
“Nino,” Sho started. He bounded towards Nino, then stopped. Looking straight into his eyes, Nino didn't know where to go or what to do, but he willed himself to stay.
Suddenly, Sho grabbed him by the arm and pulled him closer, wrapping him in a tight hug. “I don't think I've ever been so happy to see you.”
Nino froze in Sho's embrace. He was too confused to even move. After a moment filled with nothing but the sounds of breathing and the wisp of flames flickering on candles, he slowly placed his hands on Sho's chest and pushed him away.
“Why?” Sho smiled.
“Because we're all here.” He gestured towards where the other three sat on Jun's bed. He held out his hand towards Nino.
“Nino, I know things have been... well, strained. I know there's been some kind of rift between you and everyone else. And there's no way we can correct the damage on our own. The most important thing is that we're together. Whatever issues we have, we can figure them out, and we can fix them.”
Nino looked at Sho's outstretched hand, then at the figures on the bed, then at Sho's face. All four of them were looking at him with the same look.
Sho spoke, as soft as the flicker of the candlelight across his face.
“Let's spend the time we have left together.”
Nino took a slow breath, then nodded, taking Sho's hand and allowing him to be maneuvered to the bed.
Nino sat back, falling against Aiba's chest. He quickly pushed Nino's tunic off. Nino watched as Ohno did the same for Aiba, and Sho for Jun. Soon they were all naked, with Nino watching as Sho took Jun's face in his hands and began kissing him. He watched them, only partially distracted by the noises Ohno and Aiba were making next to him.
Sho separated from Jun and set his sights on Nino. He leaned against him and kissed him. Nino was falling in love with those lips. Those lips, which he had never realized until now that he wanted to kiss. They were chapped from the days of riding dragons, but still plump and soft enough to make Nino want to taste more. Nino let himself be moved around until he was on top of Jun, their cocks touching. Nino arched forward as he felt familiar fingers at his ass, preparing him with oiled fingers. He pushed back against Aiba's fingers, moaning into Jun's chest. After a few moments, Aiba maneuvered Nino so that he was hovering right above Jun's erection. Nino took control after that, reaching under him and aligning his hole with Jun's cock.
It was the familiar burn that Nino had missed so much. Gasping, he instantly started to rock back and forth, riding Jun's cock. Aiba's hands on his skin disappeared and were replaced by the rough, unfamiliar hands of Sho. Sho pinched Nino's nipples and kissed the skin on his shoulders. Nino moved his head so he could kiss Sho while still keeping his balance on Jun. From the corner of his eye he could see Ohno thrusting into Aiba, who kept his ankles locked behind Ohno's neck. From the way Aiba arched and the way Ohno held onto Aiba's hands, he knew that they were familiar with each other's bodies.
Sho ran his hand along Nino's cock, thumbing the head before jerking him off in quick, harsh strokes that spurred him on, bucking harder on top of Jun. With a few more strokes Nino came, releasing onto Jun's stomach. He lifted himself off Jun and lay next to him, watching as Sho prepped Jun. Sho was so delicate with Jun, taking his time even as Jun began moaning, almost begging for Sho to fuck him. Sho looked at Jun, and Nino saw something in that look, something in the way Sho's eyes softened.
He watched with clear eyes. That unsettling feeling in his chest had disappeared.
Sho hiked Jun's legs onto his shoulders and thrust into him, hard and fast. Nino took Jun's cock in his hand just as Ohno appeared behind Sho, circling his nails against Sho's nipples, then raking them against his sides. Aiba appeared on the other side of Jun, smiling at Nino as he touched Jun's body. Sho's thrusts became more erratic and suddenly he was coming, pushing the last of his energy into Jun.
As Nino felt Jun's come on his fingertips, he heard Jun moan into his ear:
“You all mean everything to me.”
====
The five young men stood atop the hill facing the North Village. In each of their hands they held a coin made from a dragon's tooth: a special coin that they would always carry with them as a symbol that they had graduated from dragon training. Kokubun had offered Nino a permanent position as his assistant. He hadn't accepted, but said he would think about it. Nino looked back towards the village and thought about how their lives would change from this point on. He looked to Aiba and Ohno, who were chatting and pushing each other, then to Jun and Sho, who were having a more serious conversation. Nino didn't try to ignore the smiles he saw on their faces. Not this time. Sho grabbed his pack and called to Ohno, who joined him as they made their way towards the path that would lead them back to Sho's village. Before they went too far, however, Nino called them back. Dropping his own pack, Nino dashed towards the two and crashed into their open arms, embracing them in a way that said “Thank you, see you again.” Sho kissed Nino on the top of his head while Ohno rubbed his cheek against Nino's. Aiba and Jun walked towards the group and after setting their own packs down joined in the group hug. Sho and Ohno broke away and the two then made their way into the forest and out of sight. Nino smiled as he watched their retreating backs. Grabbing his pack, he joined Aiba and Jun as they made their way home, where together their new lives would begin.
Author's notes:
- The title is a lyric from the song “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons.
- Sho's and Jun's village names are loose translations of the kanji for their respective family names. Shun really is Sho's father's name, however Kinichi is a made up name for Jun's father, because my beta and I were unable to find that information.
- Garden/Common Dragons, Chickenpoxer, Gronckle, Monstrous Nightmare, Timberjack, and Changewing are all dragons from the HTTYD universe. I did my best in terms of research, but any misuse of the dragons mentioned is entirely my fault.
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(I don't mind that a little bit, of course)
I love the whole AU setting, how you make it different from the actual movie despite the obvious references, how Jun and Sho are friendly (or intimate *cough*) rivals, the puns of their names, and the whole insecurities thing, and how they solve it in the end. Really appreciate the mentions of Higashiyama and Taichi in this fic! We really need more mentions of senpais in Arashi fic, don't we? Oh, and the title fits really well with the fic, I think :3
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