Chapter Text
Fire Spirit huffed a small chuckle as he redoubled his efforts, wings beating the sky hard as he tried to catch up to the green blur flying in the forest below him.
It was always a fun game when Wind Archer sensed him coming and decided to run, letting Fire give chase till he managed to catch up, if he did. Normally Wind just stopped and let him get close, once he tired of the game, but sometimes, sometimes Fire had been fast enough to catch him.
It was looking like today wouldn't be one of those times though, since Fire knew a clearing was coming up and it was one of the ones Wind liked to stop in, since it had a good open area for him to land in without setting the trees ablaze. True to his habits, Wind Archer landed in the clearing and folded his wings in close, turning and waiting for Fire Spirit to zero in on him, a small smirk of a smile on his face, but one he mostly hid in his scarf.
He expected the flaming cookie to stop in front of him, so he was unprepared when Fire zoomed right into him, knocking them both to the ground while smirking.
“Got you Windy! Bet you didn't see that coming, did ya?”
He laughed, laying on top of the green cookie a few moments longer before sitting up, using his wings to help a bit before folding them to his back as well, the flames on them extinguishing, but still radiating heat from the workout.
Wind Archer chuckled a little as he sat up himself as well, covering his face with his scarf for a moment.
“Yeah, I didn't foresee you bowling me over. I still let you catch up however.”
“Hey no fair! I'd have caught up eventually and you know it!”
Fire Spirit laughed, smiling as he tapped his staff on the ground and started floating, moving to hover near Wind Archer.
He didn't really need his wings to fly or hover, but where was the fun in not using them? It was one of the draconic traits he’d gotten when he acquired the red dragon’s bead, and one of the ones he had the most fun using. Afterall, there was just something, different, something, exhilarating about flying with your own wings, under your own power, and he loved it everytime. Something he shared with Wind Archer actually, when the green cookie actually showed his feathered wings. That's why they started these little games of catch up, they both just simply enjoyed flying with their wings.
Speaking of wings, Fire Spirit noticed Wind Archer shuffled his a little, as if uncomfortable, after he stood up, walking over to sit under the tree they liked. Fire followed him, landing on the rock next to him. Wind had placed rocks around the tree so that he could sit without worrying about setting anything ablaze, and it was nice. The tree also started their branches high up, so even the flames of his hair wouldn't set it on fire either. The perfect spot for them both to rest after a fun chase, or long patrol.
“Something on your mind? Or is there, like, something in your feathers?”
Fire asked after a few moments, noticing one of the wings twitch a little again.
Wind Archer huffed a little, once more hiding his face in his scarf as he stretched one wing forward somewhat.
“My wings just need to be preened, that's all.”
He muttered.
“Oh! Don't you normally go to Millie for that or something? I know there's some spots you can't reach, right?”
“I normally do, yes,”
Wind archer said as he started to preen one wing, gently squeezing one pin feather between his fingers and watching the outer shell flake off.
“But I don't want to bother him right now. He has more important things to do regardless.”
“Hey now, you're pretty important to him too! But… I get it, I guess.”
Fire spirit said, twirling his staff a bit as he watched the sunlight dapple through the leaves, tail flicking a little at the tip. He was quiet for a moment, debating on if this would be an overreach or not. He shook his head a little, he needed to have courage, and couldn't keep ducking around it forever.
“Do you need-, er, well,,, uh, would you like some help?”
He offered quietly, causing Wind Archer to freeze before slowly turning his head to look at him, eyes wide but expression unreadable. Fire spirit ducked his head down and away, hiding his slightly flushed face. He knew that with birds it was normally mating behavior, having done much more research about it then he'd care to admit, but he did truly just want to help.
Massive crush he had on the archer be damned, he didn't like seeing the wind elemental uncomfortable.
“I-I get it if you'd rather not have me help! I do have the whole “embodiment of fire” thing going on after all, and I've never preened feathered wings before, hell, my wings are just like a dragon’s, no feathers, but, I mean, I'm here, and I'm free, so I can if you'd like, that's all.”
Fire stammered out, waving his hands a bit at Windy in a placating way as he was picking up on the awkward tension that filled the air. Wind continued to simply stare at him a little bit longer. He then looked away, gently fidgeting with the feather still between his fingers.
“I, um, I can teach you how, then, if you'd like. As long as your hands aren’t burning hot or actually on fire it'll be ok.”
He said softly, barely a whisper, but Fire Spirit heard it all the same. He nodded, shifting and scooting himself over so he was behind Wind Archer now as the other let both his wings stretch out a bit.
“What you do, is you look for these small little pin feathers, they will be in a thin keratin sheath like this. All you do is gently pinch and roll it between your fingers, and it'll come off. It releases the feather so it can expand out. You can also, just, run your hands along the feathers and gently make sure to shift any that are out of their spots back into place, it's rather easy to tell when you do that. Oh, and one last thing.”
He said as he turned his head to look at Fire Spirit as he taught him, ignoring the way Fire's tail seemed to twitch and curve around him a little as he listened. the warmth of it against his legs was kinda nice, after all.
“If you pinch too hard while getting the sheath off, it'll cause the feather to bleed jam, you'll be able to see it. It's not that big an issue, just make sure you pluck it out. Warn me first though, please.”
His voice got stronger as he spoke, gently teaching the other how to care for his wings. Fire for his part, paid close attention, not wanting to mess up and hurt his friend.
“Ok so, really, I just need to be gentle, got it.”
He said softly as he reached a hand out, gently running his fingers through the plumage. Wind Archer tensed a little at that before relaxing, not only not used to others touching his wings, but not used to the sheer warmth of Fire Spirit’s hands touching his wings. It felt really soothing, the warmth, and it was all he could do to not lean into it.
For a while, it was kinda quiet, as Fire Spirit gently combed his hands through the feathers slowly, making sure he found every last pin feather and made sure to set each feather in its place. He even made sure to get any dirt off that he saw. Wind Archer couldn't help but appreciate how gently his clawed hands combed through his wings, it was definitely really relaxing.
“You know,”
He started softly, gently freeing another feather.
“I don't think I've ever mentioned this, but your wings are really pretty. Like, just look at your feathers! The soft gradient in them from white to pale green, and the feathers themselves are really nice. I, really do enjoy seeing them, even if it is just during our fun little chases. Nothing like my own wings, not that those aren't cool, but, well, I think you see my point.”
“Mmm, I do see your point Fire Spirit,”
Wind Archer said softly, eyes half open
“Your wings are cool too though, they don't need as much maintenance as mine, I bet.”
The flaming cookie chuckled slowly.
“I suppose, but they are also really sensitive, especially at the curves and edges where the scales stop. The membranes are also really thin, although sturdy, like a sugar bat’s wings, so they can get damaged easily.”
He stretched one out so Wind could get a closer look at it, and the sunlight could be seen through it. It was also somewhat scarred, but looked tough enough, there just weren't any scales on the membrane itself.
“It's why I cloak them in fire, it's honestly just instinctual but it helps. Pitaya said it was kinda weird there weren't any scales on them, but the fire is my protection so I dont ne-!!”
Fire spirit yelped as his wing jerked back when Wind Archer reached out to touch it, entranced by it. Wind jerked his hand back too.
“S-sorry! I didn't mean to startle you, they just looked soft,”
He said softly, looking away
“I-It's fine! they're just, sensitive like I said, and I wasn't expecting that,”
Fire Spirit said softly, letting his wing stretch back out. He kept his head angled to the side to hide his blushing face as he kept talking.
“You can touch it now, it's fine, I'm expecting it, so it won't be a shock this time.”
Wind Archer nodded as he tentatively reached out his hand again, brushing his knuckles over the soft skin of the wing. His eyes went a little wide as he felt the surprisingly soft texture of it. It wasn't covered in fine fur, but it almost felt like it. It was soft and almost velvety. He brushed his fingers against it some more, but then pulled his hand back, resting both in his lap.
“I'm sorry about that again, Fire Spirit, your wings are very nice though.”
Fire Spirit smiled at him, his signature cocky one.
“That's all right Windy! Don't worry about it, it's really not a big deal. Let's get back to your wings now though, ok? I'm almost done with this one wing.”
Wind archer nodded as he faced forward again, letting his wings stretch out again and feeling Fire Spirit get back to work.
Fire Spirit, for his part, was doing his best not to let his inner turmoil out, because Windy had touched his wing. There was a lot about dragon customs and instincts he still didn't fully get, because he didn't really pay full attention to Pitaya when they told him about it, but he knew it was a big deal to let someone touch your wings. Being such a sensitive part of a dragon’s body, and being needed for flight, another super important thing to dragons, it was normally reserved only for a mate to touch, kind of similar to birds really.
And he'd just let Wind touch them, not only once but twice.
And the Archer had touched them. Twice.
But he also knew that the archer probably didn't know a lot about dragon customs, so there was no way he knew how important that was. Just like Fire Spirit didn't get how important it was that Wind Archer allowed him to preen his wings, although he had an inkling.
He was pulled out of his thoughts by a weird noise though, and after a few moments, he realized it was Wind Archer himself, softly cooing and chirping as he kept working on his wings. Fire Spirit smiled softly, realizing that the archer was lost in his own world right now, completely relaxed and blissed out. It didn't take long for his eyes to shut completely, and he slowly ended up leaning back more and more. Fire Spirit watched while carefully still combing his fingers through his feathers, watching as for once, the Archer seemed to relax completely.
It wasn't long before the coos and chirps stopped, and were replaced with soft, gentle snoring. Fire Spirit switched from preening his main wings to preening the little ones on the sides of his face, being extra gentle as they were small. Wind Archer smiled softly in his sleep, and Fire Spirit paused.
This was the first time he’d ever seen Wind Archer completely relax his guard. It was very clear he was sleeping deeply, something he’d never done in front of the fire elemental before. Something, Fire Spirit would be willing to wager, had never happened before.
And he caused it.
It didn't matter that his legs hurt from the position he was now trapped in, it didn't matter that he couldn't move. Wind Archer was sleeping against him, and he’s never been happier, tail tip twitching, wings flapping softly in excitement and happiness.
He was the one who got the Archer to finally fully relax.
He smiled softly, such a tender look on his face as he gazed down at the cookie in his lap, knowing forever that this was the only cookie he'd ever want to be with.
His light, his sun, the reason his eternal flame kept burning with such warmth and delight.
His mate.
Now, he just needed to confess, make it official.
He had to have a plan. Had to be perfect, just like the cookie before him.
“Sweet dreams Windy, I'll be here for when you wake up,”
He said softly, one hand gently brushing a stray lock of hair out of his face.