“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 glanced 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 that 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.

As Barry kissed and ran his hand across Xanathen’s head, he still had an annoying thought.

Guy’s voice echoed in his mind: “You’re both in the wrong, yet you’re the one apologizing. You may’ve done some wrong but you don’t deserve to do all the work in this.”

Barry pulled away from the embrace, straddling his lap and looking down at Xanathen lying comfortably across the couch. His gold eyes gazed out with some sort of expectancy, waiting for him to say or do something. Instead, Barry just sat on him in quiet hesitation.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, just…thinking about something,” Barry tried to force the words out. He frustratedly searched for the right words, but found himself incapable of saying them. He continued to look into those golden eyes of Xanathen’s and melted. “I just think you’re getting a little close to the truth with the whole Dragon thing.”

That wasn’t what he wanted to talk about, but those were the words that came out.

“Like you need to have answers when people ask. Can you at least say it’s part of ‘dragon lore’ or something, or that it’s intentional?”

“I…guess. I mean you’re not wrong. I just didn’t think people would want answers…You’re right, though.”

Barry leaned over on top of him, laying his tight stomach against the rugged muscles of Xanathen’s and continued their kiss, all while the annoying nagging feeling continued to persist. The words continued to flow in his mind and crash against the banks of his skull, begging to be released. But those thoughts remained exactly where they were, in his head, straining to be let out.

The taste of the wine lingered as he kissed Xanathen, reminding him of his afternoon spent wine tasting and of Guy. As Xanathen’s hands raced across his smooth body and sent his pulse racing with primal excitement, his mind would flip back every now and then to Guy’s mature smile. He thought of how comforting he was in that moment. A pang of guilt assaulted him, and he shook the thoughts away as he continued to grind against Xanathen’s beautiful, strong body.

* * *

“Hey, come on in,”

Guy’s tone was both enthusiastic and laid back at the same time as he stood behind the opened door. He seemed thrilled to have Barry come to visit yet still appeared mostly unfazed by it. His heavy eyelids hung low over his gray eyes giving him a sleepy expression but the smile on his face made it look all the more welcoming.

Barry looked around in a state of awe even before he stepped into his home. Guy’s apartment complex was nothing like the ones he was used to. Everything was glossy and pristine. He was afraid just touching something would send it shattering into a million pieces. He could see his reflection in nearly everything he passed and even his sneakers made loud echoing footsteps.

The walls, aside from being shiny and smooth were covered in painted canvases, framed in glass. The paintings varied from portraits of men and women dressed in clothes from centuries ago to sporadic splattering of various colors. The variety was wide and consisted of a multitude of styles, but the one thing they all had in common was the grating level of mediocrity. They were certainly not masterpieces to Barry’s eyes, but they made the walls more interesting as he waited for the elevator.

Guy hung onto the door lazily with a half-awake smile. He wore a fluffy bathrobe with a clumsy knot tied tightly around the middle. Barry felt his stomach twist nervously as he stood outside the door, his eyes frozen on Guy.

“Oh. Sorry, is it the robe?” Guy asked as he ran his hand through his thick hair. “Hold on.”

Barry flinched as Guy untied his robe and pushed it to the floor. He could feel the color in his cheeks getting brighter as he turned away. His eyes glanced over curiously, followed by the rest of his head as he inspected Guy, who had been wearing a t-shirt and jeans under the robe.

Barry nervously walked in, feeling the heat in his face. The twisting uncertainty in his stomach continued to knot itself and wring beads of sweat from his pores. As much as he had been looking forward to finally seeing Guy’s place, he felt a strange anxiety as well as the excitement. A tiny voice in his head regretted that Guy was strange enough to have clothes on under his robe.

He shook his head dismissively and looked around. This was more than an apartment, but rather an entire penthouse. It seemed to be the size of a house, with walls that looked like they were made of glass draped in thick curtains.

The walls exploded with numerous shelves, filled to the brim with all sorts of useless knick knacks of varying shapes and sizes. There was no real decorative theme to them other than whatever odd thing Guy found interesting. Small porcelain women with their glossy petticoats extended dainty hands out to wooden geese with faded bowties of paint while a cluster of music boxes were piled in a small pyramid nearby. There were at least several faded plastic trophies for different accomplishments: “Sexiest Gardener”, “Gilligan-Look-Alike 1968”, “Perfect Attendance”, “Tightest Tighten-Up”, “World’s Greatest Mom”; the rest were too faded or hidden behind piles of books and other pointless things, to be read.

The floors, what could be seen of them, had piles of books and loose photos that fled from stray scrapbooks that claimed the ground. The heavy books were enough to trip over and Barry walked cautiously just in case.

The other parts of the actual penthouse, aside from the clutter of musty old books, photos and random items, were decorated with sprawls of dark burgundy and bright oranges in looping paisley patterns. In addition to the random collection of stuff, the appliances seemed just as old fashioned. An old record player sat in the corner with several shelves of old records, while under several decorative glass bottles was a long bar. The bar itself had fallen victim to the expansive collection of books as well. Vintage clocks and wall décor clung to the walls, seeming to pray they wouldn’t fall into the hungry collection of paper piles on the floor.

An easel with a blank canvas dominated one corner. An exercise bike stood off to one side, used as a rack for a suit and tie. A punching bag was strung festively with bright christmas lights. A keyboard sat behind the smooth leather couch; if it were to be turned on it would be in a constant disarray of chords due to several ship-in-a-bottles sitting on top of the keys.

“Wow,” Barry said simply as he looked around.

“Yeah, what can I say? I’m a sucker for the 70’s.” Guy shrugged casually as he made his way through the chaos to the bar.

“You weren’t kidding when you said you were a hoarder.”

“I know, I know. I just can’t find it in me to get rid of any of it.”

Barry continued to look around at the sprawling museum of miscellaneous things as Guy released all the tension in his body and flopped into a leather couch. He draped himself comfortably, framed by paper book covers. Though his eyes were closed, his body was arched and poised elegantly. His hair fell lazily over his face like it was trying to shield his eyes from the light and the overall effect was of some elegant prince who seemed to heap disdain on the idea of waking up at all.

“How the hell do you have people over like this?” Barry glanced back as he investigated each curious object on display, while he ventured deeper into the hoard.

“We don’t drink in here,” Guy said, his eyes still closed. “That’s what the patio’s for. Besides, there’s enough stuff in here to keep people entertained.”

While Barry wanted to say something in response, he couldn’t. Guy certainly wasn’t wrong. At every turn and in every corner there was always something of interest to discover. He felt like the more he found the more he wanted to keep searching through the immense collection. Each hidden treasure just begged for more searching. Even if the treasure was in a sense completely worthless, just finding it was some sort of great reward in itself.

Barry’s blue eyes darted back to Guy reclining lazily on the couch. He looked like he was about to nod off to sleep at any moment. Was he supposed to leave or wake him up? He felt himself wriggle with uncertainty as he stared.

“Sorry. Migraine.” Guy said, brushing his hand lazily. “Mind if I take a quick nap?”

“Did you want me to leave?”

“You don’t have to. I just need like…an hour? I’ll be fine in a bit, I just really need to sleep this off. I swear. I’m sorry, I wasn’t planning this. Just make yourself at home.”

Guy rolled over, turning his back to the light with his face hidden by the couch. Barry frowned sympathetically in his direction, wishing there was something he could do to help. If he insisted he just needed some sleep, he would let him. There was certainly enough to explore on his own.

The walls stretched out in opposite directions, leading into more rooms beyond and tempting Barry to explore further. He nudged past the piles while looking at the shiny baubles that cluttered the space around him, until he finally trudged toward the hallway. As he went further the mess came to a sudden halt right at the beginning of the rectangular archway, leading to a perfectly clear hall and kitchen.

The lack of clutter was in striking contrast to the rest of the apartment, at least those bits he had seen so far. Everything seemed to be organized to the letter, carefully put away with anticipation of being used again. Aside from the orderly manner of it, it really showed off the 70’s aesthetic. More browns and oranges tried their best to stand out as the garishly painted wood held etched glass panels in the kitchen cabinets. Tiles seemed to be at odds with wooden paneling on the cabinets and furniture.

Of course there was a spiraling curl of metal jutting from the wall, clinging onto bottles of wine and glasses like an enormous, surreal grapevine. Across from that wall were glass sliding doors, letting in the glaring sunlight.

I don’t know if I should be more surprised about this or not, Barry thought as he ventured out of the sliding door and onto the patio.

The breeze at that high altitude wafted through his blond hair as he stepped outside, brushing his fingertips against the glossy table. The sea glistened in the sunlight away in the distance, occasionally flashing with a bright white light. Barry stood in awe at the magnificence of the view. The world seemed so small from where he stood.

Near the table was a serene azure pool, surrounded by coloured, smooth rocks and exotic plants. It appeared like he was intent on making the outdoor patio, and his view of the outside world, as natural and alluring as possible. Just being there made Barry feel relaxed. He stripped off his shoes and socks, dipping his feet in the cool rushing water and letting his mind and his thoughts just flow.

Reminds me of the island, he thought as he tilted his head back.

His mind rushed back to the crashing waves on the pearly shores and the high home of Xanathen’s mountainside cave. It was chaotic and unkempt, but still it had a mysterious charm about it that made him feel relaxed and at home. There was so much to discover both here and on that island. Even the pools of water surrounded by the foliage took him back to the moonlit nights swimming in the island pools.

He remembered how Xanathen’s muscles would glisten in the moonlight as the water dripped down his chest. He wondered if Guy swam much, or at all, at night. He pictured his lively brown hair drenched with water as he emerged from the pool, letting beads of water drip down his swimmer’s body. The coloring of the pool and the darkness of the night made it hard to tell if he wore anything in the pool or if he was carefree enough to let the water caress his naked body. Barry felt himself lean in closer to take a better look.

He shook his head dismissively as he felt his face flush.

He remembered looking out into the distance as he curled against the gigantic scaly body of Xanathen. The feeling of smooth, dark slate colored scales rubbing against his cheek sent chills down his spine and the image of his massive wings expanding out in flight made him feel liberated. It was almost the same feeling he got looking out over the edge of the railing and onto the city down below.

He looked through the curtains on the glass windows at the sleeping figure. Could that man really have acquired all of this? Did he really have a taste for all of this?

Maybe there was something more to him than he had at first thought. He must have been a deeper, more sentimental creature that was always filled with surprises. He was certainly giving Barry a bit of a shock. He must have some sort of know-how to have gathered all of this together. He had the charisma, but he always seemed to be staring off into a faraway place with a dreamy look. There was definitely something going on behind those glistening silver eyes of his.

He fixed on the thought of the silvery eyes for a moment. He felt almost trapped in the man’s gaze, letting a tingling sensation run through his body. As he imagined Guy coming closer and closer, Barry’s body ignited in a blaze of excitement. That brown wavy hair of his flopped playfully with each step and tumbled boyishly in front of his face. His hands would be so smooth and tender, just the way they appeared to be. He could only imagine how exhilarating they would feel if they were to cup his face. If he were to draw him in, Barry felt it would be by some magnetic force.

Barry’s body froze as he thought about it and shook the visual image out of his head. Playful daydream or not, he wasn’t going to let himself ogle another man.

Through the glass panels he could see the bedroom. A colossal bed stood on a platform under bubbles of light. He slipped through the doors to get a better look. The barrage of oranges and browns had come to a halt, instead giving way to a soft gold theme. With the way the rest of the apartment was styled, he was amazed it wasn’t a waterbed. Instead, a tall pillar of bricks and glass stood in the middle of the room, filled with charred firewood. The room smelled dry and almost crisp; Barry felt his skin instantly dry as he stepped inside. It felt considerably warmer than the rest of Guy’s home, like a gentle hug.

He looked at the wide, expansive bed that sat proudly over the rest of the room and he wondered how comfortable it would be. He felt pulled by unseen strings until he was drawn to the golden sheets of the bed and he sat down letting the comfortable mattress give way to his body. It felt soothing to the touch, sending the tingling sensation up his spine again as his body began to ache with carnal desire. He breathed heavily as he thought of Guy sleeping through the night on the spacious bed. He could picture him leaning in gently, leading Barry’s head to the pillows as his nimble hands would begin to strip away his clothes. His flesh ached with desire as he continued to picture Guy’s flesh pressed against his, his lips warmly sucking at his earlobe and blowing soft air against them as he would murmur seductively.

Barry shot back up in a panic. He focused on anything else until at last he was presentable again.

He walked to the door, stopping momentarily by the dresser as his curiosity at something he saw lured him in. Strange gold coins lay on top of the dresser, glinting in the dim rays of the sunlight. He picked them up and held them in his hands, turning them over and over. They were nothing like any coins he had ever seen before. Strange markings and scratches adorned the smooth gold. He shrugged awkwardly, he knew he wasn’t a historian, so maybe he just didn’t know enough about coins. As he looked at them though, they looked almost familiar. He remembered the claw marks etched into the mountainside back on Xanathen’s island. They looked almost identical.

I’m seeing things, Barry thought.

He placed them back down on the dresser, trying his best to make it look as if they were completely untouched. Even if he was invited to look around, he didn’t want to be caught snooping. Something about investigating Guy’s bedroom made him feel uneasy. Not out of fear or guilt, but just the looming pressure of his internal voice painting the loveliest of pictures. He feared losing Guy’s trust or possibly losing himself. With the etchings of the gold coins in his head he shut the bedroom door behind him and vowed not to tempt himself again.

Guy continued to sleep on the couch as Barry fumbled his way through the sprawling collection that claimed most of the penthouse. Barry’s curiosity pulled him toward the piles of scrapbooks. He felt there was something charming about an old photo album. He wouldn’t want anywhere near as many as Guy had but he couldn’t deny there was a charm to generations of photos, memories even, being placed lovingly in a book and being handed down like that. He glanced back at Guy, nestled into the couch like a strange nocturnal bird surrounded by a nest of excess oddities.

He’s only like ten years older than me, Barry thought as he looked over the pile of scrapbooks. Not sure why he’d have this many scrapbooks. Unless his parents documented every day of his life or something.

Barry looked over at the scrapbooks with growing curiosity, pulling out the nearest one he placed it in his lap.

Gray pictures filled the pages, all covered with a glossy film fixing them to the blackened backing pages. They were so crisp and brittle Barry had to take great care when looking through them. By the style of the clothes, the buildings, everything, Barry could tell they were far too old to be of Guy.

The photos reminded Barry of looking through his grandparents’ old scrapbooks. As he inspected them he wouldn’t be surprised if they were from around the same time. The photos started on some tropical island with scores of young, fit men. Barry smirked a little as he browsed through. The pictures continued with some of the men posing with naval weaponry, flexing on camera and in general looking exactly like he’d picture a bunch of young men looking. The photos all seemed to have one man in common: short light hair and a fetching smile.

Guy’s grandpa? Barry thought, They have the same smile!

The photos moved away from the tropical island to various places. Luscious vineyards, old chapels and farmhouses, several airports. All of them featured the same young man, occasionally posing and giving that familiar impish grin. There was no context for this man but from what Barry could gather he seemed to be a bit of a charmer. All the people in the pictures with him seemed thrilled to have him around.

The photos of him began to become more sparse. It looked like he bought a house somewhere in the newly developed suburbs. There were pictures taken from every angle of it until even Barry had an idea of the blueprints, and then the pictures just stopped. The rest were all blank pages.

Huh. Maybe it’s not his grandpa, Barry thought. You’d think this would be filled with getting married and all that.

He grabbed another and began to look through it. This was another one that didn’t seem to have Guy in it, or even the man from the previous book. It seemed even older than the last one and the photos were even more frail! There weren’t nearly as many photos in this one, but the ones that existed were very poised, elegant yet still bearing that familiar grin.

Guy continued to snore on the couch across from him while Barry carried a cluster of photo albums to the loveseat and browsed through them all. Each book seemed like a new story altogether with a new main character and a new adventure. Every scrapbook varied greatly from one another. There was a jazz musician in an old swing bar with nothing but a clarinet and an old steamer trunk, the pilot of an old biplane, a man with a hairy chest lying on the thick shag carpet, a woman with several children…It seemed to go on and on. There were no notes or any indication of who each of the people were; Barry could only vaguely guess.

None of these people were ever in any pictures with the other people, from the other books. If they were family, they must have been incredibly distant. It wasn’t like they were total loners. They were almost always surrounded by other people. It was just a collection of different peoples’ lives, all placed carefully into books.

Weird. There’s no pictures of them ever aging, Barry thought. They’re all mostly young. Did they all die young or something?

A chill pulsed through Barry’s mind as a sudden thought came to him, though he couldn’t really tell which part made him the most uneasy. The unsettling thought that he was flipping through the unfinished lives of several unknown people made him squirm uncomfortably against the leather seat. But his own mind, it seemed, was set against him as it punctuated his own dreary thoughts cryptically.

His stomach squirmed at the thought as he looked over his shoulder to the mountain made up of the rest of the scrapbooks. If they were all like this he seemed to have an entire village of short, unmentioned lives held tightly in paper.

Is he…A serial killer? he thought with a lump in his throat.

He looked over at Guy who snorted in his sleep. While everything he heard about serial killers was that they were people who were charismatic, he found it hard to believe the goof lying on the couch could actually kill anyone.

Barry turned away from Guy and continued to sort through the last of the scrapbooks. The next one one featured another young man. From the look of his thick mustache and the abundance of denim it was probably the nineteen-seventies. Apparently he lived somewhere near a lake surrounded by plenty of trees and mountains and he seemed to be quite the outdoorsy type. Aside from all the pictures of him and his buddies around the lake, fishing, drinking and randomly jumping into the water, it was when the pictures started featuring planes that it started to really pique Barry’s interest. The pictures were taken with genuine care and precision. The detail was such that Barry could almost decipher the knobs and dials on the old plane.

The scene then seemed to change. No longer was it, presumably, in the Pacific Northwest, now the landscape was suddenly filled with rolling green mountains and clear lakes. There were lots of pictures of old stone walls that overlooked vast bodies of clear water. A mysterious air seemed to emanate from pictures of old castle walls. It looked to be a building lost to the hands of time. It was no longer in one piece and it seemed to be forgotten by the rest of the world.

Barry’s fingers traced over a picture that caught his attention. In the spiraling maze of cold gray stone was a mural of sorts, blazing in the sunset. A Celtic-style dragon made of melted, forged gold was fused with the stone wall. The strands of gold were framed on each side with carefully carved wood. The dragon’s silver eyes seemed to stare down intimidatingly at the camera.

This is like the mural in—, Barry thought.

“Xanathen’s cave?” Guy finished.

Barry slammed the scrapbook shut as Guy slouched up to him lazily. Tufts of brown hair flopping past his face as he turned to face Barry. Barry’s blue eyes widened as his heart raced. It was the only part of him that did any moving while he stood silently and motionless under Guy’s intense gaze. The hair moved out of Guy’s eyes and revealed a stoic expression. There was no levity in his inflection.

“Dragon Mark. Those have different names in different cultures,” Guy said. “The one there is commonly called a Dragon Feast. Old Celtic place of dragon worship, home of the dragons. That is, of course, if you believe in dragons. Which you do.”

“What? That’s crazy.” Barry stammered.

“On that island, there was a mural carved into the walls. Made out of jewels.” Guy said. “That’s the Dragon Mark of his clan. A bit garish, but hey, nothing wrong with that.”

Barry couldn’t move. Though his body was capable he felt unwilling and unsure of just what to say or do. Guy’s expression softened to a sweet smile. Barry felt his world crashing down around him, leaving only he and Guy in a quiet staredown. What could be said? There seemed like there was nothing he could possibly say. Guy talked about this with such knowledge, like he had been there himself or known Xanathen personally.

He…Can’t be human, Barry thought.

“You’re getting warmer.” Guy teased as he ran his hand through his hair.

Barry froze in place. He clutched onto whatever was nearby as Guy reclined on the couch giving him a playful smile.

“I’m not a fan of this playing around bullshit.” Barry said. “Either say something or don’t.”

“You were so close! Come on, I know you’ve got it.”

“This is freaking me out, Guy.”

Guy’s lips pursed as he sank deep in thought. He still remained content on the couch until finally pulling himself up and stumbling out onto the patio. He leaned against the railing as he watched Barry.

“Oh come on, I’m having fun.”

“Fuck off with that shit. I don’t know what you’re trying to prove but…”

“No, no, you’re right. I shouldn’t tease. It’s just been a lot of fun. You’ve got a super active imagination, by the way,” Guy gave a coy wink. “Tell you what. Go ahead, go downstairs, meet me at the parking lot. I’ll catch up.”

“What? Why?”

“Just trust me.”

Barry’s eyes darkened as he continued to look over at Guy. His expression was sincere and sweet as the wind blew his hair playfully. Barry’s heart continued to pound frantically. He didn’t believe it and he didn’t want to believe it. It was all just some ruse. He was off the island now and aside from having a dragon for a boyfriend he wasn’t going to believe the strangeness extended to the rest of the world.

There was something compelling to Guy’s gentle request. He wasn’t sure what to expect, and there was an angry force building in Barry that felt like just going home. But his curiosity tugged at him and drove him to act on this one request. He said nothing as he quickly gathered his belongings and headed out the door. Guy still stood on the patio staring back expectantly.

The sky was a calming vermillion with delicate pink clouds that drifted by, as Barry walked into the parking lot. He looked up at the sky cradling the tops of the buildings and punctured by the enormous apartment complex. The streets were still a gentle stream of constant footsteps and conversation.

Barry sighed as he waited, letting his mind wander as he thought. Perhaps he had jumped to a conclusion? There could have been several reasons behind all of this. He wanted to believe that so badly. If only he could be wrong and was just overreacting to some silly misunderstanding things could all remain as they were.

Look up, Guy’s voice echoed in his head.

Barry tilted his head up again. His eyes focused on the red sky. There was a blurry figure with waving arms looking down at the world. Barry gasped and let out a scream and pointed to the man letting the crowd around him see.

The crowd turned into a frenzy of dismay, many calling for the police and others trying to shout him down on their own. All eyes were on him. Barry ran closer to the building in a panic.

Guy’s arms extended from him in a straight line as he leaned forward and let gravity claim him. The screams grew louder in horror as Guy plummeted faster to the ground, silhouetted against the glaring red sky. Barry’s heart sank to the bottom of his body in a frenzied state of fear and regret. He wanted to close his eyes and even tried to turn his head away but he could only stare as Guy tumbled from the roof and fell towards the ground.

Guy remained poised as he descended from the roof with his arms out. He didn’t shout or scream as he gracefully dove towards the cement below. The wind wailed past him as he fell faster.

There was a tremendous shaking of the Earth as Guy made impact with the ground. People cried and screamed as they rushed up to investigate. Barry ran to where the body would be and stopped as he looked. An enormous crater was smashed into the pavement like a meteorite had struck it. It stopped traffic and sent people into a state of hysterics.

Down below in the center lay Guy; his body untouched by the impact. Guy twitched and slowly rose up against the sinking sun to a chorus of disbelief. He brushed off the rubble and dust from his clothes and climbed out of the hole. People around him began to grab at him and shriek while demanding to know why he did that, how he did that, what on earth had happened.

He paid no attention to any of them. Each step was smoothly delivered toward the nearby pavement where Barry stood. Guy smiled pleasantly as he passed by the crowd. The eyes of those he passed widened as he went by and their open, shouting maws would hang low for a brief moment. The disarray became quieter as he calmly made his way past everyone, person by person, as they all stood by vacantly.

Guy’s boots, now scuffed, stopped a few feet in front of Barry as he turned his head back to the seemingly endless crowd of people, all staring emptily at nothing until at last their focus went on the hole left in the ground.

“What the hell? How did this get here?”

“What happened?”

“These potholes are getting ridiculous and these damn politicians are doing nothing about it, I tell ya!”

Guy slowly turned back to Barry as the crowd had completely forgotten that Guy had even existed, let alone had just jumped from the roof and walked away unscathed. He was just another face in the crowd to them. A nobody. Barry, however, didn’t forget. He breathed heavily in shock as Guy stood expectantly.

“You’re a dragon.” Barry said softly, coming to terms with it.

Guy only shrugged and smiled as casually as ever.