by Noah Harris
“Oh my god, it’s The Dragon!”
A cluster of people gathered around Xanathen as he sat at a table in the bistro. They all clamored for his attention with excited ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’. All their voices melded into one and got lost in one loud cacophony of sound. Still, Xanathen leaned back in his seat and flashed them his jagged grin.
He loved the attention he got when out in public. Being recognized for his talents wherever he went, was a thrill. He was amused by the variety of people that seemed to recognize him. Mostly young people around his (supposed) age approached him, but he found himself giving high-fives to children who barely reached his knees and saying hello to the elderly. There were lots of questions, usually asked all at once. “How did you do that?” “How long have you done that?” “What’s your real name?”
He always puffed out his broad chest with a smile and replied with only one answer, “I’m The Dragon.”
Deryl sat next to Xanathen with a satisfied smirk on his face, the rest of the group were nearby. He always seemed to be checking the amount of followers they had picked up, scanning through the comments and sharing the videos on whatever platform he could. Xanathen realized he hadn’t bothered to ask him, or any of his other new friends, what they aspired to be besides his crew. They had all been so caught up in the thrill of making his viral legacy that he hadn’t thought of it until then. Deryl never talked about anything else. It was always about videos, comments, and how many more followers he had gotten. The latest thing he had suggested was about making t-shirts. There was nothing to gauge from that except that he was the most devoted Xanathen follower of all.
Xanathen flexed and showed himself off to the group of girls who had stayed behind to talk to them. He could feel them ogling his muscles and his eyes. Even his signature fin-like mohawk caught viewers’ attention. They pleaded for a trick, just for them. He smirked, rolling his head around his shoulders with several pops, and focused his imposing eyes on one of the girls’ hands. She froze in fear and excitement as he reached out to hold them inside of his, all while her friends squealed.
He stared down until at last he opened her hands. Inside her palm was a glittering clear stone the size of a baseball. All eyes immediately went to it with a loud cry of shock and amazement. The girl hadn’t even felt it until he removed his hands. With no sleeves in which to hide something, no one could figure out how he had done it. As the girls screeched and looked at him, begging to know how he did it, the stone disappeared from the girl’s hands and into the ether.
They stared with confusion at the now empty hands.
“It was just an illusion,” one of them said.
“But that’s so weird, it felt so real,” the middle one declared.
“Your mind probably just tricked you,”
“I swear, I felt it in my hands. It was heavy!”
“It’s just a magic trick, Stacey, oh my god.”
The girls all frantically thanked Xanathen for his time and walked off, still debating how that could have been real. The rest of the group, including Deryl, sat with their dinners and their faces twisted in awe. Xanathen shook his head, treating it like it was nothing as he ignored his dinner and stared into the distance.
Deryl reached out his finger and poked him gently on the shoulder. “Dude. Xanathen. I’m your friend. You gotta tell me! How’d you do that?”
Xanathen wagged his finger dismissively as he looked back to Deryl. “Easy. I’m The Dragon.”
“Ugh. Cryptic as always,” Deryl groaned. “That’s amazing, though. Like, you shoulda told me. I would’ve recorded it and everything. Honestly, I think it’d be good to get videos of you and the fans. Show more people being all surprised with their “no ways” and “wows." Feed into the hype, y’know? How come you haven’t done that trick before?”
“It’s something I’ve been working a little on,” the dragon replied half-heartedly as he turned his attention back to the distant sunset.
As he dabbled with his illusions more and more, when he had time, he found they were sometimes insistent on staying. Even if he didn’t think about what he made they would stay as if they had always been there. It was still incredibly shaky and didn’t always happen. When it did happen, it was always with things that could fit in the palm of his hand. But with practice the size and subject matter had gotten bigger and the time they stayed had grown longer. To him it was nothing to be proud of and certainly nothing worth showing off.
Instead, he was more focused on the sun sinking below the horizon as Deryl continued to talk on about potential prospects for videos and the next stunts. He listened to half of it. The other half of the time he let his mind wander to more important things.
He knew he was having fun doing this with these people. He cherished the adoration of others and let Deryl do his technomancy to ensure this not only continued but got bigger. There was still something missing.
As much as he loved the swelling feeling in his chest that he got from random people telling him he was handsome and how much they wanted him, he really wanted Barry to be by his side cheering him on. Still, he had said his piece on the subject. He was a man who didn’t want the bright lights of the glory and the nonstop stares of strangers. He wasn’t sure if he could ever understand that, but he could respect it at least for Barry’s sake. Without Barry there was a hollow feeling to the entire thing.
He also felt it had a strange feeling of falsehood. Xanathen felt like he was only being partially honest. To whom, he wasn’t sure. The fans seemed more satisfied with the mystery of who he was rather than the person that performed for them on screen. He began to wonder who he really was and if the man showboating on the internet was really him.
He looked at his own videos with disenchantment and he knew what was wrong with ‘The Dragon’:
He didn’t have wings.
Chapter Seven
“So I look behind me and I think to myself that son of a bitch lied to me; my car’s not here. I click the beeper, and it sounds like it’s right behind me. I look up and, well, my damn car’s up in the tree.” Guy concluded his story with a snicker. “It’s been years and my exhaust is still fucked up.”
Barry let out a loud guffaw as he rocked back in his chair. His stomach ached as his face continued to stretch from all the laughter. The bottles of wine had been packed away and neither of them had touched another glass for at least a couple of hours, but Barry’s laughter continued. He found himself laughing harder at Guy’s comments than he probably should have. Sure, they were funny. If the punchline itself wasn’t funny Guy’s dry delivery seemed to always add a pinch of humor to it anyway. But even if it was only chuckle-worthy Barry seemed to add an extra oomph of volume to his laugh without even thinking about it. As the natural light from the window had faded in what seemed like only a few minutes, Barry looked at Guy and wished it didn’t have to end.
“Wow, it’s gotten late,” Guy said as he glanced out the window and up into the night sky. “Time flies, huh? Should probably head out before too long.”
“Oh no, you’re fine.” Barry shook his head.
“Maybe another time. I’ve got some stuff to take care of. But—” the word was emphasized for good measure as Guy got up and stretched his legs. He gave a soft grin as he jingled the car keys in his pocket, “This was a lot of fun. ‘Til next time?”
“Yeah. Definitely.”
Guy gave a simple one-handed wave as he made his way to the door with a smirk. His wavy hair bounced playfully as he walked. As his hand reached out for the doorknob he quickly pulled it back when the door swung open. Xanathen stood on the other side with a startled look on his face as he saw someone else on the other side besides Barry.
As their eyes met the world around them seemed to freeze with an unworldly tension. Xanathen’s golden eyes remained wide with shock and he maintained eye contact as he tilted his head down in Guy’s direction. As for Guy, as svelte as he was in comparison, he still stood firm as his silvery eyes gla
nced up and down, quietly inspecting Xanathen.
“Sorry, man,” Guy replied smoothly as he narrowly glided out of Xanathen’s way. “You’re Xanathen, right? The Dragon?”
“Yes, that’s me,” Xanathen replied simply.
“Groovy.” His narrow lips formed a sliver of a grin as his eyes flashed. “I’ve been wanting to meet you!”
“Oh! Xanathen! Welcome home!” Barry called out from the dining room.
His stomach sank a little as he looked past the archway and at the situation unfolding in the doorway; the two men seemed content to stare each other down with an uncomfortable silence. Xanathen’s shoulders tensed as he presented his masculine chest in an act of subconscious defense. Guy seemed unfazed by the, clearly territorial, physical display. He seemed comfortable anywhere he went. There was a satisfied gleam in his eyes as he looked over Xanathen’s enormous body.
“This is my friend, Guy,” Barry continued as he came closer, in the hope of diffusing the situation, whatever it was.
“Pleased t’meetcha.” Guy extended his hand with a playful smile.
Xanathen hesitated but gave his hand a shake anyway. His eyes widened as Guy’s fingers wrapped back around his and squeezed much harder than he expected. The handshake was awkwardly long as the two seemed either unsure of how long it should last or they were quietly content trying to see who could grip the tightest.
“Y’know, I think I’ll stay a little longer, Barry. Thanks for the offer.” Guy slid his hand out of Xanathen’s firm grip and slunk back to the table.
Barry watched as the two made their way across the room. It was something as ordinary as walking, but somehow they made it seem more impressive than it had any right to be. It was fascinating seeing them walk side by side. Xanathen, tall and dark, had a large stride with powerful swinging arms and sculpted legs that stepped heavily. All of his movements seemed fueled by power and strength, from each simple step to each flexing muscle. Even with just this walk across the room he exuded a great aura of seemingly inhuman strength. Nearby skated Guy, who instead of forcing power into all his movements was content to quietly stroll along with grace. Though his demeanor was laid back, subtly allowing everyone else around him to take the limelight, his own footwork and positioning rivaled Xanathen’s natural aura. Instead of making himself a sight to be seen, he opted instead to let his unspoken actions draw people’s eyes in.
I could just be overthinking things, Barry thought as Guy crossed his legs. He gave an inviting smile towards the two of them.
Xanathen’s brow darkened as he glanced down at Guy, sitting at the table like he owned it. His eyes shot over to Barry for some sort of explanation. Barry’s calmness soothed Xanathen’s tension, and he let his shoulders sink down. If he was really wanted here, then there was nothing to get too worked up over. Though he had relaxed a little his body was still tense and he felt uneasy under Guy’s expectant gaze. He leaned in to Barry and kissed him swiftly yet firmly. Barry nearly melted from the heat of his own flushed face.
The dark dragon then sat down, a pleased expression on his face. He was just as tall when seated, his pecs peeking over his folded, muscular arms and his legs straddled over the sides of the chair. His eyes were still locked on the new guest.
“Have you eaten, Xanathen?” Barry asked, breaking the tension.
“Yes,” he replied simply with a nod.
“Oh! Were you making more of those videos?” Guy asked with an excited twinkle in his eyes. “Big fan of your work. Forgive me, I’m a little excited.”
“Uh. No, not today.” Xanathen’s fin-like streak of hair stayed perfectly still as he shook his head. “Deryl’s trying to get more monetization. Tonight was mostly just talking about unimportant stuff.”
“Just hanging out?” Barry asked.
“Yes, that’s the term. Thank you.”
Guy’s foot shook as he continued to examine Xanathen from across the table. He looked like he was stifling a laugh as if he had just remembered some inside joke. He placed his elbows on the table and propped his head up while his fingers drummed against his cheeks. Barry hadn’t seen Guy this giddy before. He was always so laid back he seemed like he had just woken up most of the time, but now, for the first time, he seemed fully awake.
Guy’s gaze lingered on Xanathen for prolonged periods of time and Xanathen squirmed a little from the intense scrutiny.
“So I’m dying to know. Where’d you get the name ‘The Dragon’ from? It’s a great name. Shows power and mysticism all at once. Something that everyone’s familiar with, but still mysterious. Why’d you pick it?”
“Um…” Xanathen trailed off uncomfortably, his eyes looking at anything else but Guy. He looked over at Barry who was frozen in a moment of silent panic then looked back to Guy. “I just liked it.”
Guy paused for a moment, then flashed another grin. “So simple! I love it! Y’know, your videos are great. I know I don’t need to say anything, I’m sure you get it all the time, but I love watching them. Those tricks you do are outstanding. I’ve never seen anything like them. I like to think I’m an observant guy and I’ve seen them like a hundred times but I still can’t figure out how you do it. Work of a brilliant magician, though, am I right? Makes you believe that you’re actually making magic. One of the things I find the most fascinating is your little trademark aura, though. Real attention to detail.”
Xanathen looked back at Barry for some sort of answer. Though Barry had seen the videos he couldn’t think of the right thing to say or do other than to shrug. Guy’s lips puckered at the silence as he leaned back further until he was rocking slightly on the two back legs of the chair.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I might be asking the wrong person. Is it you who does the editing? Or is that someone else?”
“I don’t edit. I just do the show.” Xanathen couldn’t be bothered to call his work anything less than a show. Calling them mere stunts was an insult to him.
Guy tilted the seat back onto its hind legs again and let his head fall back to stare at the ceiling while he rocked back and forth. His carefree smile was still visible as he looked away. One of his arms dangled by his side while he waved his hand dismissively.
“Ah, okay, my bad. Just tell whoever does the editing that I love the attention to detail.” Guy paused as the two sat in confusion. He tossed his hair back and gave a light, breathy laugh as he shook his head. “So, okay, nerd time with Guy. I’m a bit of a dragon dork. Loved’m since I was a kid. There was never any books about them left in the library because I always had them checked out. They’re so cool, how could I not?”
“Anyways! Not many people really think about it, most people assume dragons are just big green scaly things, right? I don’t blame’m. Green dragons are pretty boss. But there’s so many different types of dragons from all over the world.
“Ah. Sorry. I’m babbling.” Guy chuckled again with a sheepish air as the couple still sat silently. “See, this right here is how I got so many ass-whoopings when I was a kid.”
Barry’s mind began to race. Guy was a mysterious jack of all trades. Whatever subject came up Guy had some fleeting interest in it. His endless spring of interests both fascinated Barry and made him nervous.
Even though Barry knew how silly his fears were he couldn’t shake them off. He couldn’t get rid of the paranoia of Guy finding out the truth about Xanathen. As uncomfortable a coincidence as this was, that’s all it could possibly be. Just a coincidence. Just play along with the discussion on dragon lore and they’d be fine. This could work out better than expected if Xanathen would just play into that.
“But no, your videos are awesome. Though they’re lacking a little something. You could use a logo,” Guy continued excitedly. “Say, I know. I’ve got a graphic designer buddy, I’ll send them your way. You need a logo.
“So, you know what’d be cool? You get the words ‘The Dragon’ on a dragon. The dragon…hmm…green’s too cliché. Need something that pops. I know. Maybe black! Wouldn’t t
hat be cool?”
“Yeah, I think so,” Barry said with a forced smile.
“Ah, crap, it’s getting late. This guy needs to sleep,” Guy announced as he forced himself out of his seat once more. “I’ll text you my buddy’s information, Barry. See ya later, alligator! G’night.”
Before the two could say another word, the sound of Guy’s boots clopping against the floor and a simple one-handed wave signalled his exit. The room hung heavy with an awkward silence and the two looked at each other expectantly as they made their way to the couch.
“That was…That was something,” Barry gave an awkward laugh.
“I don’t like him,” Xanathen said plainly. There was no mincing words with him. “He talks too much.”
“He’s fun,”
“I’m fun. He’s nonstop words,” he asserted. “Too much wind in him. Makes him all talka talka talka.”
Xanathen’s face darkened unpleasantly as he thought about it. Just picturing Guy continuing to gush and joke made him feel more sour by the second. Even though the words were all praise he found himself feeling prickly about it.
“Xanathen, are you jealous?”
Barry’s eyes softened as he looked over to Xanathen, sitting sternly with his hands gripping his knees. He leaned in and cupped Xanathen’s cheek in his hand, pressing their noses together he gave him a sweet smile then he kissed him softly with a gentle laugh.
“Babe, c’mon. I love you,” Barry assured as he kissed him again.
“You never told me about him before.”
“Sorry. Didn’t think it’d matter.”
Xanathen’s hands wrapped around his side as he pulled Barry in closer to press their lips together hungrily. His hands traced the small of Barry’s back as he held him close and let the heat of their bodies intertwine. All their anger and stress seemed to melt away as they touched each other.
