LAST RESORT

     “Well, to each their own I suppose.” Henry couldn’t understand why someone wouldn’t be absolutely excited about this whole ordeal. Why someone wouldn’t want to exchange their experiences with the other wyvern shifters. But he wouldn’t force anyone to do something they did not want to do. “I just figured it would be easier to handle this if we could learn from each other.”

    “If I were you, I would think twice about calling me annoying. You may be able to shift into a dragon, but I’m still more powerful than you.” There was a sharp edge to Freya’s voice now – she didn’t take insults to her person lightly, at least not those made so quickly. “Well, that’s all I needed to hear. I’ll leave you to yourself then, as clearly that’s what you want.”

-

“Valkyrie helped? Hm.” Enzo rose an eyebrow, picking up his glass of wine and downing it. He slowly refilled the glass, smirking now, “Original wyvern shifter. Was he hot? Who knew you’d be part…Norse. Maybe even Icelandic. I wonder how it’s chosen to come through.”

“She sure did. The audacity of her.” Maybe, if she had stayed out of things, he would still be a genasi. Hell, he was still trying to figure out how something like this would happen. A shifter gene being dormant for so long seemed likely. Vasilis just wished it hadn’t happened to him. “Well, I was adopted so it makes sense.” Then he nodded. “But yes, he was hot.”

     Henry probably should have expected that not everyone would be as excited about the possibility of turning into a dragon — and that not everyone would want to talk about it. But he wasn‘t about to let this guy‘s attitude put him down. “Not friends, I just thought we can help each other figure it out. How all of this works.”

Scream was really the last thing Ajax wanted to do. Instead, he stared, wide eyed, as Vasilis transformed into a dragon. Each scale was a different shade of red whenever he moved, and the reaper found himself reaching out to press his hand against the hard skin. Pulling back, he let out a breath, “This is amazing, Vee.”

It wasn’t surprising that Ajax’s hand landing on his scaled form was comforting to him. Vasilis always appreciated his boyfriend being around him. Something as simple as a touch from the reaper was enough for him to be stupidly dumbstruck with love. And he hated it so much. Regardless, as soon as the other pulled away, he was turning back to his normal form. It was getting easier to do like Dreki said it would be and he was absolutely happy about that. He didn’t want to be struggling forever.

     “Our paths are usually laid out before us long before we can make any choices. It‘s called fate. We may not always get what we want, but there‘s a reason for everything.” Freya wasn‘t surprised by his reaction, and she didn‘t take it personally. She was past taking responsibility for the genasis‘ fates. “Have you spoken to Dreki about this?”

-

“It will get easier.” Dreki commented simply, “Shifting is always difficult until you get a handle on it.” Wolves had it worse, but that was all part of their condition. His was seamless, nearly instant, but he had had thousands of years to practice this. “You didn’t even try to breathe any fire.” The original wyvern pointed out, a little bit disappointed. This one reminded him of his middle son, ungrateful but still riddled with potential. 

I’m sure. I learned quickly with the whole genasi thing. I plan on learning fast with this, too.” It was his first time doing this. He would get used to it though. He didn’t want to have to depend on this Dreki guy, but he was sure that wouldn’t be his choice when it came down to it. “You’re asking for so much right now. I would breathe fire at you right now if I could.” He held his hands up for a moment. “That doesn’t mean do it to me though. With all of your many breathing techniques.”

-

“Enough of that, go on.” He waved at Vasilis. “Shift.” The wyvern said, “Don’t stand there with your dick in your hand, use your magic. Transform. Breathe fire. You used magic once, this won’t be much different.” Maybe, probably. Either way he did not do all that work to stand here playing a game of pointless questions, Dreki wanted to see the fruits of his labor. 

“You’re a bit of an asshole, anyone ever tell you that?” Vasilis probably shouldn’t have been the one saying such a thing considering his own personality, but it was always infuriating when someone else was that way. Maybe that was why people didn’t like him. Nevertheless, he moved to summon whatever magic was flowing through him now and tried to shift. Sooner rather than later, he was feeling the scales and his body forming into exactly what Dreki had just turned into. It was different though. A different color. And it was a different kind of magic than he was used to.

“I never said I did or did not, only that the mortal perspective of a monster is quite narrow indeed.” Anemos dismisses, gesturing in the air with their hand. “Would you like to be wined and dined and sixty-nine’d first? I would love to offer, but I’m in a relationship now, I’m afraid. I do not believe my partners would approve — at least, not without their own involvement.” Though the idea of an orgy has not come up between the three, they imagine at the very least that Hippolyta and Rafael would like to be included in such an affair. “Is there something else that can be offered in it’s place?”

-

“Everything is fine, Vasilis. Thank you for being so concerned,” little jars behind the counter where she worked began to clank together. She had been in the middle of a few tinctures when he came in and while the water genasi tried to focus on mixing, his presence was more than distracting. Especially now that he was no longer something familiar to herself, “I guess this is when I’m supposed to ask how you are.” Which she wasn’t, but knew would find out about nonetheless.

“Of course I do. This is…I don’t know. Something new for you, and I’m sure it’s a lot.” Ajax knew what that was like – but so did Vasilis. He’d been a witch, now a genasi, and now…a shifter. Ajax had just known death. “Lead the way.”

“Yes,” they confirm easily, because for Anemos, it is not such a twisted situation. Vasilis has changed, but the new role he has been given in this world is one that intrigues and excites them — one they have not seen before, and desire to now. “Mortals are oft so limited in their ways of thinking. What makes a monster is only a matter of perspective,” they dismiss, because this is not about their sexual proclivities right now. “If you say you have become a wyvern, then I wish to see it. They have not flown about this world for thousands of years.”