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Gabby was fully expecting another day filled with sports, that ended early due to those shorts. And true to form, Efflo was wearing them. But what he didn't expect, as he landed on the grass, was the backpack and goggles.

"That's a good look for you." Gabby muttered, walking the few feet between them and flicking the goggles with a finger. "You look like an explorer." He looked like a cub scout, but Gabby wasn't going to say that. He was trying to be nice today.

For as long as that lasted.

"What's with the pack? Are we going somewhere?"

Gabby's smarmy expression faded, and he blanched (was that even possible?!) when Efflo mentioned flying. "Why? Don't you remember the last time we tried that?" Gabby's hand moved slowly up the boils side, brushing gentle caresses across the spot where he knew his claws had dug into. "There's better things we can do with our time." He bent down, tugging Efflo's lips with his teeth before leaving a peck of a kiss against them.

Gabby looked absolutely frustrated that his attempts to distract the boil had failed. He ran his hand through his hair roughly, and turned his head away.

"This isn't about you, Efflo. It isn't about how good you can be, or what you can take, it's.." He grunted, his lower lip jutting out. When he spoke next, it came out in a very quiet, very unnaturally weak whisper.

"I'm scared. I'm scared of what could happen, and I don't just mean hurting you."

When he had the boil so close, wrapped up in his arms and pressed against him, it was easy to forget what he was so worried about. But even through how much he loved Efflo, and how much he knew the boil loved him, he was hesitant concerning this.

He closed his eyes and just took a few seconds to collect himself, nuzzling the cheek that pressed against him. Then he took a deep breath, steadied himself, and explained.

But first.

"You're not allowed to get mad at me for being scared about this." He opened his eyes and narrowed them, looking down at Efflo with an intense stare. "Promise?"

That was not a promise.

Gabby pulled Efflo back up against him the moment he pulled away, grunting with disappointment. He wouldn't be able to talk about something like this if the boil wasn't as close as possible. "Give me a break, Efflo. Half the things I think are perfectly normal, you'd hit me for." His fingers reached under the boils chin, tilting his head up. "Just promise me. It's important. I want to tell you, but.. it's hard." His brows furrowed, the closest to pathetic Gabby could ever get. "It's really hard to talk about."

"Yeah." His voice cracked, and he cleared it. "I know. That's why I'm telling you this. I just want to save myself the stress of having to explain it to you without actually.. having you here." His arms squeezed, emphasizing his need. But then there was nothing left to procrastinate about, and he actually had to try and explain why flying was such a big deal for him.

"All right." He huffed with a sharp blow of air that blew his hair out of his face. "So, I'm a dragon, right? But there's tons of different kinds of dragons. I mean, there's different species, and then there's different colors, and there's even different places we come from, and it's all... it's all really kind of a mess." One side of his lip twisted up in a smile. "But for some of us - not all, just some - me, for example. We have this thing, that can happen. And it's not.. really.. something we can control."

His heart fluttered with anxiety. "I think, because, long ago, we weren't supposed to go around alone, so. If we take on a rider. There's a chance that something inside of us.. happens."

This was harder than he'd expected it to be.

"It's.. really complicated. I'm trying to explain, but I don't even have anything to compare it to. It's a bond, sure, but we have a bond." He kissed Efflo's forehead. "And it's unbreakable. But not.. I don't know. It's a bond we made, A choice, you know? It isn't some kind of force of nature." His hands tightened, tension rippling through his muscles. "I don't know what it's like. It only happens once, and then you can't.. like.. live without that person, I guess. But it isn't something you really choose, except - if you don't let people ride you."

His face pinched up slightly. This was about where he'd expected Efflo to get mad.

"You're upset." Gabby read him like a book, and it tore him apart. "You're taking this personally. Efflo, this isn't about you. It isn't even about us. You don't understand, nobody understands.." He growled, both of his hands going into his hair now. "I just don't want to be owned. I can't stand the idea of being somebody's pet. Even you, baby. You know I love you, but.." His hands released his hair, and clenched into fists. "I didn't say we couldn't do it. I'm just.."

That quiet voice returned, the one he only used when he had to admit something he was frightfully ashamed of. "Scared."