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Chapter Text

The advertisements for the circus had consumed Tim's every waking thought and topic of conversation for weeks before his parents gave in. He was transfixed by the claims of a whole family of dragon performers that could transform in mid air and perform all sorts of aerial stunts high above the ground.

Tim dreamed of soaring high above the ground, much higher than the jump off his balcony allowed, to the roar of an applauding crowd. He begged and pleaded with his parents to see the other dragons until they relented.

Tim's parents were very traditional and proud dragons. They would not showcase more than a glimmer of their deep crimson scales in mixed company and would never transform for another's entertainment. Therefore Tim was not allowed to transform in public either.

Dragons weren't the rarest of magic to exist, but they were still revered and occasionally hunted by others to make seeing another dragon a special occasion. Tim's parents taught him that all dragon magic was special to their culture and non-dragons would never understand the secrets they possessed.

So going to the circus and seeing the family of sapphire blue dragons performing for the masses was a unique experience for Tim. He was vibrating with excitement, eyes flashing with his innate magic and his bright red scales dusting across his cheekbones, as he saw the other dragons greeting the crowds.

Tim tugged his parents in close to meet the other family and then froze as he felt their magic crash into his.

“Don't worry Tim, just go say hi.” His mother nudged him closer and Tim stared at the other young dragon.

Then, as Dick Grayson’s bright blue eyes snapped to his, Tim felt his whole world tilt as the clashing magic burst and swirled together and created a new bond.

Of course it wasn’t that easy. Tim had fully transformed into a small dog sized dragon in his magical confusion, and his father had snatched him away from the crowds and his new bond in a panic. His parents didn't know what had happened and Tim was too young to explain the extra heart beat he could now hear in his soul.

Tim watched Dick soaring through the air that evening in awe until tragedy struck. He felt Dick's soul scream with his own and terrified his parents with his reaction as he felt his new soulbond's pain consume him.

The following weeks were a blur of pain and panic as his parents tried to understand what happened and Tim became stuck in his transformed state. Tim’s dreams were filled with Dick flying and falling for months afterwards.

None of them realized a little blue dragon was similarly stuck and their resident billionaire neighbor was struggling through learning how to help. Eventually the nightmares calmed when Bruce Wayne adopted the other dragon into his home.

The soul connection was there: secret, buried and completely unexplainable.

Tim's parents became even more protective as he regained control over his magic and the result was it took years to land in the same social circles as Dick again. The young red dragon had chased him, but found himself always just missing the other. Tim had grown enough to learn and understand what his magic had done, what was trying to be said.

He'd dreamt again and again of the heights that Dick would soar to in his dragon form and finally they were at the same social gathering. Tim watched carefully as Dick navigated around the others, there were no other dragons present but Dick's blue scales shimmered on the edges of his face. The color matched his tie and eyes perfectly.

The moment Dick excused himself to step out on the balcony, Tim followed, drawn by an invisible string. Tim felt nervous, breathless, as he approached the other young dragon. He knew this was something special. He'd seen the dreams and the nightmares of Dick Grayson for years now. All he wanted was an opportunity to meet his soul bound.

But how should he catch the other dragon's attention? How do you explain years of yearning and chasing to another? Tim looked carefully around, and seeing no one was paying attention, he approached the balcony railing.

Dick's eyes were on him as he drew closer, but he didn't say anything as Tim approached. Tim could feel the others burning gaze and wondered if he felt the same bond. He stepped around Dick though, causing a surprised look to trigger, before he climbed up on the railing.

“Wait–” Dick reached for him as panic entered his eyes, but Tim leapt off before Dick could grasp him.

He flipped once, taught through his dreams and the occasional attempt, and then soared up on his glossy red wings, flashing his ruby scales through the moonlight.

He heard Dick's gasp, a bright laugh, and suddenly a larger sapphire blue dragon was tangling with him gracefully in the air.

Chapter Text

Dick loved the color red.

He was always dressing in blue, and he knew everyone associated him with blue for his dark blue scales. The color of his eyes matched his scales, his scales matched those of his parents, and Bruce took to wearing more sapphire blue formal wear just to match Dick and show support of his dragon heritage.

And that was wonderful, but what Dick really loved was the seductive ruby red of Tim's scales.

Tim was more reserved with showing the full depth of their color as he rarely transformed when others were around, so it was always a special treat when Dick could really enjoy the way that the sunlight set Tim’s scales aflame. Dick loved transforming in front of a crowd, showing off his control and aerial skills. He'd become a blue streak in the air, elated at all the appreciative sounds from the crowd.

Tim would politely applaud too, but only transform when they had rare moments alone. In those special moments the smaller red dragon would join Dick in the sky as they flipped and danced through the air together. They were rarely alone though, a situation of Dick's own creation as he didn't want to encourage Tim's little crush.

To Tim’s face, Dick would play ignorance in face of the other’s obvious hero worship of him. Tim wasn’t used to other dragons, and Dick being the only other one around, had seemingly by default caused Tim to latch on tightly. Dick tried not to make it obvious how much he admired Tim in return, not wanting to force anything between them, but the red scales were absolutely a secret obsession of Dick’s. When he had the rare opportunity to enjoy the full sight of his friend transformed, Dick would catalog every shimmer of light and every shade of crimson that he could.

Dick's most secret and prized possession, hidden carefully in his bedroom was a bright jewel of a scale that Tim had given him shortly after they met. Dick treasured the gift more than he should.

The thing about it was, DIck knew he was supposed to be older and wiser than Tim. He was a dragon that until the untimely death of his parents had been raised around other dragons. He knew their culture, the magic and the stories. There were stories of predestined mates and soul bonds between dragons, but they were stories. Tim had early in their friendship shared that he believed in them, believed that Dick and himself could be that, but Dick knew better. Knew the truth of the rarity of that situation, and the fact that since the two of them were the only dragons in Gotham, made TIm’s beliefs all the more skewed.

Tim had turned sad eyes on him when Dick said it outloud, trying to teach the other dragon the truth. As excited as Dick was to see another dragon, he did not believe that Tim was his fated mate. Tim was too young, too male, and too isolated.

But… that didn’t stop Dick’s desire for the red scales that haunted his dreams. They’d come to him at night, or whenever he had a quiet moment, and glimmer seductively in his thoughts and dreams. Dick pushed Tim away during the day, maintaining a friendly distance but he couldn’t control his thoughts at night.

–

It was another formal event, another showing of the high society of Gotham and Dick felt anticipation build through him. What he was nervous about, he wasn’t sure. It was Tim’s 17th birthday. Dick was already 23. It was an insurmountable gap still, but at the same time Dick knew his feelings were growing harder to ignore.

Everyone seemingly circled like vultures around the Drake heir. Tim’s parents had made their love of their son obvious in the finery he was dressed in. His fitted black suit glimmered under the lights with its ruby threading, but the only jewels on Tim were his blue sapphire studs in each ear.

Dick was captured, entranced, but Tim’s every move. Logically he knew Tim wasn’t doing anything in particular. He wasn’t rolling his hips on purpose as he sashayed up towards where Dick was standing. He wasn't running a hard through his hair with the goal of arching his neck enticingly and showing off Dick's color displayed on his ears. He wasn’t actually dropping his gaze and looking up through his thick dark lashes intentionally, Tim was just shorter than Dick.

It didn’t stop the crowd from parting, from their eyes wandering covetingly at the younger man. Dick knew several wouldn’t care about Tim’s youth, his innocence, maybe that even drove the lust higher, but Dick wasn’t like that. He stepped easily up to Tim with a smile, wrapping his arm around his dear friend and glaring behind him at the leeches.

Some shuddered at his wrath and turned away, but a few challenged his gaze. Dick allowed his magic to seep from his eyes and felt them begin to glow. The challengers backed off, sinking back into the crowd as none dared to truly take on a dragon.

“Are you glaring at people again Dick?” Tim laughed as he returned the hug, his hands lingering warmly against Dick’s sides.

“All good,” Dick smiled as he focused on the shorter dragon. Tim’s scales speckled prettily against his cheekbones in a flattering manner.

“Well since you scared everyone else off, would you at least escort me for a dance?” Tim’s eyes sparkled mischievously and Dick hesitated. “Come on Dick,” Tim pouted, his bottom lip sticking out childishly, but Dick could see a twinge of true hurt beginning.

He did turn his friend down more often than support him these days, but couldn’t Tim see that was for his own good? Dick cared about Tim. He wanted the best opportunities for the younger dragon, and being seen with an older dragon did scare off potential suitors.

Tim’s hands snuck around Dick’s waist again as Tim burrowed into Dick’s chest lightly. “It’s okay,” Tim’s voice was muffled against Dick’s chest, “I’ll find someone else to dance with–”

Dick’s arms squeezed back before he knew it, and he tugged them both out on the floor. The music was soft and romantic as it had been all evening so Dick began a slow sway with TIm still tightly wrapped in his arms.

“Sometimes,” Dick whispered into Tim’s hair, “I can’t tell if you are doing this all on purpose or not.”

“Hmmm,” Tim’s hum was more a feeling against Dick’s chest where his head was buried than a true sound. “Sometimes I can’t tell if you are giving in or not.”

Chapter Text

Rage

Dragons didn’t breathe fire, but Tim felt the magic swelling through him and thought he might start anyway. He’d loved Dick Grayson since he was barely five years old. Fourteen years of care and devotion towards a soul bond he knew was there and no one else believed in. Not even the other man on the receiving end.

And now, blatantly in his face, was the ultimate proof. A wedding invitation to his soulmates wedding without him.

There was no one else in the house as Tim flew into a true dragonic rage. His forms twisted and fluxed between scales and skin and sharp talons and closed fists. His tail lashed into the wall, creating cracks to the ceiling, then his human legs kicked a hole in the entryway wall. His magic exploded around him with a pulse that pushed all the furniture back. His voice screamed in pain, his scream turned into a glass shattering roar and then back into a sob as he collapsed to the floor. His chest ached and Tim wanted to physically rip his heart out of his chest. His blood boiled in his body and hot tears ran down his face.

His stomach flipped and he tasted bile in his mouth. His talons emerged and he scratched his arms so his internal pain was felt externally as well. The world went dark around him, he grew colder and colder as the true reality of being alone in a doomed one sided bond set in.

Janet found her son hours later, her own startled gasp turning into a choked cry at the state of her beloved child. The rage she felt as she found the mocking invitation triggered her own magic crackle.

Still, she set aside her own anger, gathering Tim in her arms as if he were a young child again. Just as she had after he’d first met Dick and been so deeply hurt by the other boy's tragedy, she held him close, pouring her own love and magic back into him.

She would pull Tim through this, help him rebuild his strength again, and then she would burn Dick Grayson to a crisp for every transgression against her child.

~*~

Bonus Rage

~*~

Dick didn’t know why he agreed. It just seemed like the easy thing to do. Catalina was part naga, which was close enough to a dragon they could have a family together. She was interested in his choices, didn’t mind that he was estranged from his rich father, and led him through several tough choices when he was down on his luck.

So when she proposed the idea of marriage, he agreed. Just like he’d agreed to the first date, the career change to a new city and the idea of moving in together.

Bruce had been supportive when Dick reached out initially. He’d helped fund the wedding plans and everything had been moving along fine.

Until Damian had met Dick’s fiance. It was like a bucket of ice water had been dumped on top of Dick’s head as the hypnosis broke. Damian’s abilities negated all the spellwork Catalina had woven tightly around Dick, unknowingly stripping him of all his free thoughts and choices.

His magic lashed and rebelled once freed, his soul ached and cried in pain. He didn’t ask how the enraged Bruce and Damian handled the naga witch, but he did accept their help as they picked him up and took him home to heal.

Chapter Text

Dick felt a strong sense of deja vu upon his return to Gotham society. Everything was different and the same. Bruce had smiled and clapped him on the back, happy to see him back on his feet and Damian had even given him a small smile, still rare for the surly teen.

But the real feeling struck when he attended Bruce’s latest charity ball. Like a moth to the flame, he felt the heat of Tim’s presence before he saw him. The other dragon was across the room, not even facing in Dick’s direction, but Dick couldn’t stop staring. He felt his magic tugging and reaching for the other dragon and his chest contracted as it became harder and harder to breathe.

Finally Tim’s icy blue eyes snapped up and met Dick’s across the room. Dick’s knees hit the ground as his magic clanged around him and his soul burned in his chest.

Damian was by his side in an instant, but unlike before his little brother’s powers of negation didn’t change the volatile magic swirling around him.

“Dick, can you stand? I’ll escort you out.” Bruce’s voice sounded like it was coming from underwater. Two strong arms slipped under Dick and he was hoisted up against his father. Bruce looked concerned, but he waved off the curious looks of the party goers as they helped Dick off to the side.

He collapsed in a chair in the hallway as soon as he was out of sight. “What happened in there son?” Bruce’s concerned face filled Dick’s vision as he tried to reconcile what was occurring.

“I think-” he shook his head, unbelieving of what his magic was telling him, “I think it was–”

“Absolutely not,” a cold voice cut off Dick’s attempt to explain. Janet Drake stood with her arms crossed in front of her chest as she assessed the trio. “You will not try to restart the bond with my son after I spent the past six months healing him.”

“I didn’t know.” Dick whispered. He couldn’t meet her eyes and instead stared at the floor.

“I don’t particularly care if you did it on accident or on purpose,” Janet continued, “but the truth of the matter is you used him for years and then nearly killed him with that little pseudo wedding stunt. He’s better now. He’s safer without you. Stay away.” She didn’t allow any response or plea before she swiftly turned and reentered the ballroom.

Bruce’s hand gripped Dick’s shoulder as he shuddered through a breath. His cheeks were wet as Damian grabbed his hand.

“Richard,” Damian’s voice was soft as he obviously tried to soothe, “what is she talking about?”

“Tim always said we had a soul bond. I didn’t believe him, all these years I held him at arms length thinking it was a childhood crush he’d grow out of. I just felt it. For the first time, I felt the bond start back there… but I have already ruined it.” Dick’s voice trailed off as all the pain and betrayal from the last year resurfaced. He’d done this, every moment from the past year crashing into him, showing him what he deserved and—

“Dick stop, chum.” Bruce’s warm voice cut through the spiral. “You didn’t know. Let’s just get you home and we can figure this out later. We are here for you, no matter what. Do you understand?” Bruce wrapped him in a hug as Damain squeezed his hands.

“Yes,” Dick felt fresh tears welling up, but these he knew were from the protective love he felt from his family.

—-

Dick didn’t quite know what to do with this new information. He replayed years of interactions with his childhood friend through the new perspective of a soul bond. It didn't paint him in a favorable light.

He thought of their flights together, the moments Tim would reach out, and all Dick would give was a pat on the shoulder before turning his back.

Further down into the spiral he fell. Bruce was at work, Damian at school, and so there was no one to tell him off when he refused to move from his bed that day. He nested down, whining pitifully into his pillows. His scales itched but he knew if he scratched them, they'd rip off and leave wounds. Bruce and Damian would see and know he hadn't taken care of himself properly and then they'd insist on helping further. Dick didn't feel like he deserved their care.

But it hurt. The incomplete soul bond tugged and dug into his magic reserves. He was still so weak from healing from the naga's spells and now this was raking across his soul and ripping his control to shreds.

He took up the entire bed in his dragon form but it didn’t matter. There was no comfort in either form. He tucked his head under his wing and just tried to breath through the pain.

As he focused, he became aware of a tapping sound that was not coming from the room or the hallway. Dick lifted his head as he realized it was the window where a shimmery red form clung to his balcony.

He yanked his magic inside himself to reclaim his human form as he scrambled off the bed and to the balancy doors. The doors slammed open as he crashed into them, desperate to see if it was a trick of his eyes.

Perched on the balcony railing was a glimmering ruby red dragon. Still slightly smaller than Dick's transformed state and absolutely glowing under the bright sunlight. Dick was momentarily stunned by the sharp blue eyes that contrasted against the scarlet colors of Tim's scales. His wings were still outstretched for balance, creating an awe inspiring display that hit Dick straight in the chest. He felt the emotions well up again even as his soul sang for relief.

“I’m sorry, Tim. I can feel it now.” Dick held his arms close to his sides as his hands flexed with the desire to reach out. “You were right.”

Dick struggled to meet Tim's eyes as he battled with the shame of his folly, but he held onto the icy gaze resolutely. There was a moment of silence, of Dick just feeling nothing but the hurt reverberating around in his soul, then the ruby dragon snorted as it relaxed and climbed onto the balcony.

Tim wrapped his larger form around Dick in the tight space and Dick couldn't help but to reach out and stroke the jewel toned scales surrounding him.

It was like breaching water after drowning.

Dick’s magic pulled out all the pain and heartache from his soul and Tim's magic rushed into the space left behind, filling in the scorch marks with a soothing balm. Dick felt relief for the first time since the naga's spell was broken.

No, he belatedly realized, he'd never been whole before. The flood of magic encircled him and he gasped as the bond fully formed between them.

Moments of his youth filled his mind but he was watching them from an outside perspective instead of experiencing them again. He saw himself with his parents outside the circus tent happy and carefree, he watched himself walk morosely across a ballroom floor trailing after Bruce, he watched his sapphire blue form flip and dance through the air and he felt all the protective care and devotion Tim reserved for him. He knew Tim would be sharing all the same moments from Dick’s perspective. That Tim would see the hidden desires Dick failed to bury, that he'd see and understand Dick's shame of being pulled towards Tim all this time and also the reasons he resisted were all needless worries.

Peace settled in Dick's healed soul.

**

Tim dragged Dick inside the room and nested him into the bed as the bond finally settled. He wanted to stay in his dragon form, protect Dick from all the hurt and danger he'd been through, but Dick also needed a human touch and voice right now.

Tim stroked his hands against Dick's feverish brow with a concerned frown. “I need to go get you some water,” Tim stated as he tried to pull back.

The bed creaked underneath them as Dick latched on and tugged Tim down. “Just stay, please.” Dick reached back towards the nightstand and produced a water bottle and Tim couldn't help but smile at his mate.

He finally settled then, pressing against Dick's side, and listening to Dick's sigh of relief. Tim squeezed his arms tightly around Dick's chest to assure his mate there was absolutely nowhere else he'd rather be.

Suddenly Dick's frame stiffened and Tim felt a slice of panic through the bond. He jolted up with Dick, ready to face the threat together when–

“Oh god, your mom is going to murder me!”

Dick's cry of alarm had Tim bursting into giggles as he tried to soothe his mate back down for a nap. Everything was better after a nap and Dick still needed to finish healing before trying to face off against a mother dragon.

Not that Tim was going to let anything happen to his mate. The Drake protectiveness streak didn't end with Janet after all and Tim would stop at nothing to ensure Dick's life was full of all the care and devotion he deserved.

Chapter Text

Tim took a breath and jumped.

The air caught against his skin and his stomach flipped and adrenaline spikes. He kept his eyes open watching the ground grow closer but then shut them to execute a clean front flip. As he opened his eyes again, stretching his body out in a dive, he also pulled his magic close. The next flip, he released his magic and rolled up on scarlet wings into the air.

His wings carried him up as the caught air and then gravity caught him in her grasp as he stalled in mid air. He slipped through the sky and maybe in years past this is where he would have panicked.

But he didn't this time because he trusted Dick would catch him. The larger sapphire blue dragon swooped him up and Tim's wings caught the air again as he resumed his glide.

They completed their routine with a few simultaneous twists and turns together before the shouting from below could no longer be ignored.

Cheers from Damian and a few more enthusiastic crowd members greeted Dick in particular as they landed, but Tim saw his mom's disapproving frown and headed down the lawn towards her.

“It's important to him and therefore it's important to me,” he stated as they reached each other.

“Hello to you too, son.” His mother's reproachful tone had him blushing at his improper greeting, but she wrapped him in a hug before he could apologize.

“Sorry, Mother,” he tried anyway.

His hair ruffled under her sigh as she held him close. “I know, Tim. I may not like every choice you make but I do trust you to make them. You understand right?”

“Of course Mom,” Tim burrowed into her calming scent. “Did you watch it though?”

“You were beautiful in flight.”

The wind whipped at their clothes in a gust as Tim stepped back and looked at his mother.

“You were both stunning, Tim, but he doesn’t deserve you. You know we have to agree to disagree on this.” Janet’s tone was soft but harsh.

“We’ve had lots of conversations mother–” Tim started, but Janet cut him off with a sharp look.

“I already told you I trust you, Tim. That’s going to have to be enough. I’m not changing my mind.”

—

Dick’s greatest fear was seeing Tim hurt in any way. Fear was funny like that. One day your greatest fear could be falling and the next day the worst thing in the world was hurting your soulmate.

And after all the time apart, all Dick wanted was to keep Tim safe and happy. Therefore Dick's issues with Janet Drake were an obstacle that Dick had to tackle.

She'd been resolutely avoiding him at every turn though. If Dick was in the room, she'd ask Tim to join her in the next room. If Dick tried to follow, she'd leave until Tim approached alone.

It hurt Tim.

It was Dick's fault.

—

“Bruce, I need a favor,” Dick's tone was serious as he approached his father after another failed attempt with Janet. She'd give him the cold shoulder as she pulled her son aside to talk about bonding ceremony plans without him.

Bruce eyed the two other dragons warily before looking back to Dick, “I don't think I can help, chum.”

“No,” Dick dismissed the current failure as he thought up a new approach. “I need you to invite Tim to lunch so I can corner Janet for a talk.”

Shock was evident on Bruce's face, “You trust me to take your mate out to lunch?”

“Of course Bruce,” Dick rolled his eyes and then paused as he thought. “…. Just don't bring Damian. Or Clark. Or–”

“Just me and Tim. Got it.”

“Thanks, Bruce.”

—-

Dick knocked on the door with dread building in his stomach. His heartbeat pounded in his ears as the door swung open and Janet eyed him coldly from across the threshold.

“Where's Timothy?”

“He's fine,” Dick returned her glare with a timid smile. “Bruce took him to lunch. I was hoping we could do the same.”

The look she delivered could have brought on the next ice age with the chill Dick felt. Then she seemed to pull herself together and gave a polite (fake) smile back. “Very well, Mr. Grayson. We can chat.”

And that's how Dick found himself escorting his future mother-in-law to a charity auction, an awards dinner, and an art gallery opening. Along the way it became less of an act of penance and more fun than Dick expected. Janet was sharp with a dry humor that her son clearly inherited. Getting close to Janet may have started as a way to ease the bond between himself and Tim but instead Dick found himself with a new friend.

—

The day of the official ceremony brought back all Dick's fears of failure and Tim's anxiety clearly matched.

The night before was spent as dragons under the stars, just existing in one another's presence but the day brought guests, and catering and coordination requirements.

Tim scrambled about, craving perfection and Dick trailed after, trying desperately to ensure things were executed correctly by the staff.

It was luckily a small ceremony… but small to people like Bruce Wayne and Janet Drake still meant far more people than Dick and Tim had wanted.

In the end though as Dick read the words that would finish the bond, he only had eyes for Tim.

Tim's eyes reflected back the excitement and love he felt and Tim's words closed the loop between them. Magic overcame Dick and Tim as they slipped from skin to scales. This transformation was purely ceremonial and Janet was even approving.

Tim's claws plucked a ruby scale and Dick felt the sting on his own hide. He handed over his freshly pulled sapphire scale.

The last part though was Dick's favorite. The two dragons launched into the air, magic creating the lift under their wings, to twirl together high in the sky.