Chapter Text
Qibli and Winter were in Sanctuary, shopping for Moon’s hatchiversary, browsing through the various bracelets and fashionable clothing they thought Moon would love. As they were deciding between maroon or dark purple robes for her gifts, a stranger came up to them and tapped on their shoulders.
“Excuse me?” the stranger asked, “Are you two, by any chance, Qibli and Winter?”
The two turned around to see a tall, slender NightWing, similar to Moon but more adult and astute compared to Moon’s somewhat shyer stature.
“Three moons! Where did you come from?” Winter shouted, jumpscared from her sudden appearance. He jumped backward in a state of panic. Qibli placed his arm over Winter’s to calm him.
”Sorry for my friend here. He’s jumpy today, apparently,” Qibli gave Winter a cold stare from the corner of his eye before returning to the NightWing. “I’m Qibli, and this is Winter, like you had asked. And you are?”
”Truthspeaker. I am an interviewer and associate editor-in-chief for The Pyrrhia Times. I have been dying to meet you two for a long time! We’ve wanted to get an inside interview with you both for so long, and I found you!”
”Now, can you two answer a couple of questions for me? Wait, first let’s go to my office, then this will be easier.
Qibli shrugged, “Ok! Sounds fun!”, while Winter grumbled under his breath, still flustered but tagging along with the SandWing.
As they entered her empty office within the building that neither Qibli or Winter had seen before, she beckoned them into the room.
”Sit down! Have a drink! Relax! I’ll ask you a couple questions in a moment but feel free to chill for now,” offered Truthspeaker.
Winter whispered into Qibli’s ear, “You sure about this? This is weird to me…” “Don’t worry, she seems nice, you’re fine!” Qibli responded.
”Alright, you guys ready?”
“Fire away!” Qibli smiled.
“So! Qibli, what is it like being the closest assistant to Queen Thorn? I’m sure it is an important job to keep up.”
Qibli chuckles and nodded. “It’s been an amazing experience. I’ve learned so much by being there. I get to advise strategic and personal plans for Thorn, go to important meetings, and even watch over the Sand Kingdom when Thorn’s away. I’ve enjoyed every day of it.”
“Wonderful! And what was it like on the inside of learning at JMA? I’m sure it was a learning experience due to the events that took place.”
“Well, it was an interesting journey to say the least. There were many events that transpired that many wish had not caused as many or any casualties at all, and the memories of the harsh battle against Darkstalker will linger for a long while. But I learned so, SO many valuable lessons, and made some very good, lasting friends. In the end, I’m glad I went through and finished. It’s definitely changed me for the better!”
“Thank you very much! Now, Winter, I understand that you had some very harsh experiences with your family in the Ice Kingdom, especially as the nephew of Queen Glacier. Are you comfortable with answering questions related to that?”
Winter glared slightly and hesitated before nodding slowly. “I suppose I am. Go ahead, ask.”
Truthspeaker nods. “Thank you. Now, what is it like in the inner working of the top circle of IceWing royalty? How vicious compared to rumors told about the kingdom?”
Winter looked away and sighed. “The inner circle is very vicious and cut-throat. Everyone there is trying to earn a better spot, or get some kind of recognition. Especially when the Queen is around. She tends to give more favor to those in the inner circle who follow the rules and do what she says..”
“I understand that. Were you treated harshly treated at all by your family?”
Winter’s expression darkened, and he clenched his talons into the table. “Yes. My mother was always.. very harsh with me. I was given many rules to follow, and was punished if I broke them. My mother had me train many nights on end to perfect my techniques. She treated me as if she was just trying to make me her weapon.. not her son.”
“I understand how terrible that must have been for you. How have you recovered from that, or been able to recover from the trauma placed on by your mother?”
Winter looked away, not exactly wanting to remember. He scoffed. “I wouldn’t say I’ve ‘recovered’ from all of it. I feel like that trauma will always be there.. hiding in the shadows and popping up every now and then. It… still hurts thinking about it sometimes.. but my coping with it.. was Qibli and friends, mainly. They’ve helped me quite a bit, more than I think they could imagine.. and I’m very grateful for that. Without them I’m not sure I would have come this far.”
“I understand completely. And I sympathize with you entirely. Now, a question for the both of you. How has Jade Mountain impacted the two of your lives forever, in friends and closer bonds, such as your own?”
Qibli smiled and spoke up first. “Jade Mountain Academy has definitely changed me forever. I’ve made some of the best friends I could ever ask for. People I would trust with my life. It definitely improved me as a dragon, and as a person. I wouldn’t be who I am now if I had never gone.”
Winter nodded slightly before speaking up. “I suppose the same is applied to me. I made good friends at Jade Mountain. Friends that I wouldn’t dare lose, no matter what. I guess I feel a lot less alone now than I was before.”
“Well spoken. Now, between the two of you, have you ever considered that the two of you are more than just best friends for life?”
Both dragons instantly blushed. Qibli coughed awkwardly and looked away. Winter’s glare darkened.
Winter mumbled, “What exactly do you mean by that.”
Qibli coughed, “Yes, please elaborate, Truthspeaker.”
“I mean, have the two of you ever discussed more intimate or romantic messages or feelings between the two of you? Readers who have learned about your adventures from afar have been pining to learn.”
Both boys’ eyes widened. Qibli’s face changed to more of a deep red, looking away and coughing into his shoulder.
Winter growled, his eyes narrowed in complete embarrassment. “I-I don’t..- we..-“ He tried and failed to form a response.
“So then, we must discuss. Are the two of you both interested in men, that is? In a romantic and more intimate way, obviously.”
Both boys nodded slowly. Qibli’s blush getting more redder with each moment he sat there.
Qibli stuttered, “Yeah… we b-both.. like men..”
Winter looked down, his face and neck slightly awash with blue.
“Great. I assumed so, and so do a large percent of my readers had assumed. I lean towards women myself, if you know what I mean. Now, have the two of you ever had discussions of each of your romantic explorations, inside or outside of each other?”
Qibli nodded slowly and sighed. He tried to force his blush down.
Qibli gulped, “We’ve.. had many.. discussions about our previous relationships and crushes.”
Winter shifts awkwardly in his seat while avoiding eye contact. He lets out a soft growl.
“Are the two of you more open to romantic explorations currently? Do the two of you have feelings for each other, by any chance? Both of you, please elaborate each, if you can.”
Qibli’s blush intensifies so that it is extremely obvious now, looking very embarrassed and slightly guilty. “I…. I do have feelings for Winter. I’ve had them for a while..”
Winter looked startled to hear that. He slowly looked up at Qibli, his expression shifting to something more unsure and confused. After a long moment of awkward pause, he finally spoke. “I.. also have feelings for you as well, Qibli. It’s just.. taken me a while to admit it..”
to be continued… in the next chapter