The white ceiling illuminated by artificial lights is what Miok opened her eyes to.

Most of her vision was constricted by the green curtain that surrounded her bed. The smell of disinfectant strong and the constant irritating beep of the heart-monitor. However, it was the uncomfortable feeling of the IV drip attached to the back of her palm that really indicated to her where she was.

The mattress crinkled beneath her as she shifted. A mop of cherry pink hair tickling her forearm, drawing attention to the boy fast asleep with his head rested by her hip,  fingers wrapped around her wrist and palm, holding on as if afraid to let go.

Still quite unsure how, or even why she was in the med-bay of all places, she looked around to find a pair of familiar dragon eyes already on her. A slow blink and a lazy smile greeting her to the waking world.

"How are you feeling?"

His voice was soft, accommodating to the late hour.

Miok took a moment to asses herself, before answering. Other than how uncomfortable the IV drip felt, she wasn't in any pain. Her head and body felt fine, she actually felt loads better than she had before she fainted.

Which reminded her ...

"Taehyung!" Miok jerked upright at the memory of those pretty brown eyes that had filled her vision right before everything had gone black. The worry filling them and the hand that had been wrapped around her middle. Protective. The strong chest she remembered her head falling on before all her senses had shut off.

Namjoon was beside her in an instant, gentle hands catching her before she could have tumbled out of the bed. Her movement disturbing Jungkook's sleep. Thankfully, she didn't seemed to have woken him up, as he grumbled incoherently, hugged her arm closer and settled right back into his slumber.

Miok and Namjoon watched him for a moment longer, making certain he was well and truly asleep before turning back to each other.

"Taehyung is fine. His scales can handle the bite of a Chupacabra. If anything, you should worry more about the hound than the Dragon," Namjoon said as he fluffed up a pillow for her so she can sit comfortably. Even tugging the blanket out from under Jungkook and pulling it up to her waist.

As new as someone taking care of her was, it was his words that made her stare at him in confusion. She had been aware there were hound all around the training grounds, they guarded around the whole faculty, keeping intruders out. This didn't explain to her what Taehyung chasing after her had to do with.

Seeing the confusion written all over her face, Namjoon's words trailed off. Brows twitching but not pulling together as he did a mental assessment of what had happened before she fainted. "Miok-ah, what exactly do you remember before you fainted?"

Still confused about what is going on, Miok answered as honestly as she could remember, "Taehyung catching me." It wasn't until the words were already out of her mouth that she realised how unhelpful her words were. Blinking she added, "I was walking across the ground, back to the other Cadet's when Taehyung lunged after me. I remember his tail wrapping around my waist, pulling me back and he must've shifted in that second because I swear it was a human that caught me and nothing more."

Humming, Namjoon sat back on the chair he had just vacated. Settling down before explaining to her what exactly had gone down in the training grounds.

"What really happened is, just as you were crossing the grounds, a Chupacabra broke free from it's handler and went rushing straight at you. Your Wonder was the first one to notice, in fact, him breaking free from his handler had us all distracted until both were already upon you. He pulled you to safety, however, that is not the reason you fainted. or so your doctor tells us." He spoke slowly, like he was aware how much of a mush her brain was in right then. Well, it wasn't like Doc hadn't worn him that her medication was going to be making her lethargic for a few long hours yet.

Completely ignoring  the last of his words Miok frowned in worry. Her first and foremost concern being for the well-being of the dragon who had helped her. Helped her by breaking free of his chains.

"Is he in trouble?"

Lips pressed together, not even needing to ask whom she was asking after, Namjoon shook his head. "Not for saving you from an attack. If he hadn't intervened, you'd be fighting for your life right about now and no one could argue otherwise..." It was when he trailed off, looking away from her, that she knew it wasn't all good news. He looked torn between telling her what had happened, yet at the same time he wanted her to remain blissfully unaware of what had happened. Knowing her, it didn't take a genius to know that her first instinct would be to go finding for the Dragon.

And she was supposed to be on bed-rest until her release.

"Joonie?"

With a deep sigh, he tilted his head back, all the way until his head-touched the back of the chair. Eyes studying the ceiling like there was something fascinating on it. Stalling.

"Taehyung... he got hurt while he was trying to break free of his chains. It ripped into his underbelly when the chains snapped. He was bleeding pretty heavily -"

Miok sucked in a sharp breath at the same moment her heart monitor started beeping erratically. It was statement how lethargic she was that she hadn't sat bolt upright at hearing her Violet Wonder had gotten hurt. Trying to save her life at it too.

Namjoon's eyes snapped to the heart monitor at the same time that Jungkook practically jumped straight out of his chair in a panic. If the monitor wasn't already spiked, the intensity of his reaction would have set it off for the scare it gave Miok. Not understanding, yet, the reason for such a reaction from the younger Rider.

"Noona! What's-" He exclaimed, eyes wide open and alert, in a state of panic before they fell on her perfectly fine form on the bed. He expression went through a plethora of emotions at an alarming rate. Happiness at seeing her awake quick to turn to alarm at the sound of the heart monitor before settling on worry. "You're awake! Is something wrong? Should I get the doctor?" It was Namjoon he addressed the question towards.

Namjoon, who had been cut off by Jungkook's panicked awakening, only sighed. Pinching the bridge of his nose with a deep breath. It had been quite the long night for the Commodore after all.

"Miok-ah is fine. And yes, go get Doc. They'd want to know she is awake," He assured Jungkook, waiting until the worried boy had run out of the ward before turning back to Miok to finish what he'd been saying. "Taehyung is fine now. The medics have patched him up and he's well on his way to recovery. So you have nothing to worry about."

"As for yourself Miok-ah..." Namjoon sighed as he slumped back in his chair. Eyes hooded as he stared back at her. At least her heart-rate had dropped back to a normal pace. "Do you know how long you've been out?"

Miok felt confused, not by the question but by the calmness in his tone. Her gut-instinct telling her that she needed to proceed with extreme caution. The word's that jumped to her lips were 'a few hours?' But the way he asked made her shake her head instead.

The tick that appeared in Namjoon's jaw had her dropping her gaze, unable to hold his hard stare. Not wanting to see, not anger, but rather disappointment written all over his face. She wasn't sure what exactly she had done to make him this disappointed - not even her stupid stun and dragging Yoongi into it had made him this disappointed in her. Whatever it was, she hated it. Namjoon was one of the very few people she looked up to.

"Two days, Miok. You've been unconscious for two days."

Miok's eyes widened, stunned, as she quickly looked back at Namjoon. Bad idea.

He was staring at her with steel in his gaze, lips pressed tight in a line of displeasure. 

Miok clutched at her covers, bracing herself for the scolding that she was about to receive. Wanting nothing more than to fall right back unconscious so she didn't have to face this.

"Do you know why?"

Again, that deceptive calm in his tone was only adding to her growing discomfort. There was just something so... not right about that forced calmness. She would rather have him yell at her. At least then she could have yelled back. This... this she didn't know what to do with. There was no defensiveness that she could fall behind when he was only having a conversation with her.

Clutching her blanket in a tight fist, she gave a slow shake of her head.

Namjoon sighed, before shifting to the edge of his seat, elbows placed on his knees and fingers steepled together. The seriousness he exuded telling her that she was in deep trouble.

"You were not just dehydrated but also malnourished, rings a bell?"

For her part, Miok blinked back at him like it was news to her as well. Even if she had sunk herself as low on the bed as she could get without outright hiding under the comforter. She knew it was bad, but it wasn't something she had done on purpose. She just had a lot going to really worry about eating. And maybe she did skip a meal or two that had become a habit between her worry for Taehyung, the insomnia that turned even worse, her peers and classes. She just hadn't had an appetite.

It was only now she was really realizing how bad her appetite had truly turned. Missing one meal had turned into skipping it altogether in favor of burying herself in her research. She had felt like it was the only thing that had kept her sane away from the comfort of the Violet Quarters. She hadn't skipped meals on purpose.

There was a tick In Namjoon's jaw seeing the confusion his words caused. He still wasn't about to yell, but it was rather maddening how little regard she had for herself. They were more worried for her well-being than she was. Jungkook had almost cried when he realized the reason for her fainting over little rough handling. This was the same girl who had dived head first into a hurricane.

"Hyung!" Jungkook rushed back to their side, the Doc following the boy at a much calmer pace. The moment he stopped beside Miok's bed, his eyes glued itself to the heart-monitor that had calmed since he had left. Hand gentle as he took hers between both of his. A squeeze in inquiry if she really was as well and Namjoon said she was.

Smiling at him, she let doc who had reached her bedside as well, to check her vitals. Namjoon was who had to step aside to let the man closer because Jungkook refused to.

However, Namjoon went on speaking as if Doc wasn't right there while he checked her Vitals. Voice soft and speaking so gently, it was like he was trying not to scare her away. It wasn't like he wasn't aware of her reputation among her peers. He knew more about what people said about than even she did (but only because Miok is mostly too busy burying herself in her research that she pays them no mind). Not just in the Faculty, but even before, back in the Academy.

"Miok-ah, You aren't on your own anymore. You are not alone. You don't have to be strong and fight all your battles on your own anymore. We are all right here with you. You can rely on us, trust us to take care of you just that same as you do to us, can you not?" His touch was gentle as he took her hand between his. Held cradled between his palms like they were too fragile to hold with any force. "If you were having such a hard time, why did you not go to Cadena for help? She asked time and time again didn't she? If you were doing alright? If you needed anything?"

Biting on her lip, she looked down, his word creasing a frown to build between her brows.

For someone who had no one but herself to rely on, to fight her own battles, her whole life, the concept of what Namjoon was asking of her was foreign. Her Grandmother was the only person she had had her whole life, and there was only so much the old woman could have done to fight her battles for. And she'd never had friends, not the human kind at least, who she would have felt comfortable enough to burden her troubles with.

It had not always been just her and her alone. However it had been years since she ever had a friend, a true friend, she could have relied on. 

"I just wanted to do this on my own," She mumbled to the blanket, clutching it all the way to her chin with the hand he didn't hold. It wasn't entirely a lie, but not exactly the truth either. This was easier to admit than tell them that she had never had anyone to ask for help from. At least, not people who really meant it when they said so.

Namjoon stared at her a moment longer, her shifty eyes telling him a very different story than the ones her lips were.

"Doing things on your own does not mean that you can't take a break or not getting help. There is nothing wrong with either. Just a though to keep in mind, yeah?" Miok's head snapped up, staring at him with wide eyes, not having expected the kind words. or to meet kind, open eyes, welcoming and understanding. Knowing an out when she sees one, Miok was quick to nod her head in a hurry.

"Very well then," Namjoon grunted, placing her hand back under the blanket before stepping back once more. It was the same moment that Jungkook plopped down on the bed beside her, a wide bunny smile lighting his face (Doc having finished his examination and waiting for their heart-to-heart to be over with to give his report on her condition - mind this was a privilege only because Namjoon was present, he still out-ranked everyone in that room either-way). "I'm hoping you learnt your lesson and that is the only reason you aren't grounded right now."

He paused to give her the chance to give him a sheepish nod before he he turned to Doc, finally acknowledging the man waiting for him to finish. "Sorry for that Doc, what's the verdict?"

"She is doing much better than when you bought her in. I wouldn't recommend flying or any strenuous activity for the next few days, but otherwise she will be fine. She will, however have to spend the night here. You can take your Nuna back by evening tomorrow," This last part said to Jungkook, who was listening to the man with his doe eyes all round, and his fingers entwined between Miok's. 

"Any reason for the overnight stay?" Namjoon asked, quick to evaluate everything.

"Her IV has vitamin in it for now and just to make certain that she really is alright as her body is showing. If you are hungry, try eating something small and light, and drink a lot of liquids." Saying so, with a bow, he excused himself.

"Alright, since Jungkookie doesn't look like he will be letting me take him back, I'm going to go let everyone else know that you woke up. In the meantime, I better not hear a word of complain from the nurses that your feet touched the floor until you are released, am I understood?"

And just as he had predicted, instead of the instant agreement she'd been good at giving all this time melted into a pout. 

"But I want to go see how Taehyung is doing?" She whined, looking up at him with puppy eyes that would have worked if he had not been expecting it and she was looking way too sickly to look cute.

"Not a toe out on the floor, which means no walking. I also don't think you will be able to make it all the way to the dragon wing and back without fainting again."

"Not even if I promise that I will be right back after making sure he is doing alright?" She asked with a hopeful grin.

Namjoon gave her a flat stare, seeming unimpressed, but he was hiding a smile inside at her very predictable argument. He knew this would be the only thing she'd ask once she woke up. After the length she had gone to make sure he survived, it was not hard to see how much the Dragon meant to her.

"Not a toe."

With a huff, she crossed her hands across her chest. Pout jutting out her lips. Laughing, Namjoon  only ruffled her hair. "It's just one more day. I'm sure you can survive."

Giving Jungkook a pat on his arm, Namjoon finally left the pair to fend for themselves.

It wasn't until after Namjoon had disappeared from eyesight that Jungkook took her hand in his. Doe eyes focused on his task as he carefully entwined their fingers together. Miok watched him silently, feeling that Jungkook wanted to tell something to her, something he needed to collect his words in order to convey. So she waited, as patient as she knew he had for her while she was unconscious.

"Hyung is right you know Nuna," Was how he decided to start. Fingers playing with hers, keeping his eyes glued on them. "Joon Hyung said that the reason you don't ask for help is because you never make friends. I'm not supposed to tell any of this to you, but I thought we were friends and... was I wrong Nuna?"

He finally looked up at her. Pouty lips and eyes wide and glossy, sad.

Unfortunately for him, his question had put her on the spot. Miok had never taken the time to really stop and consider this. If she truly though of anyone in the Violet Unit as her friends. or were they just what she had to deal with during her stay in the faculty.

Sure, she thought highly of Namjoon and she cared for Jungkook. And yes, she had missed having them around when she'd been demoted. But friends?

She didn't know how to answer that.

Giving him an assurance, the answer he was hoping to hear felt way too much like a blatant lie. At the same time, a hard pass wasn't exactly right either. 

She cared. 

A lot.

Yet caring wasn't the same as being friends.

At the end of the day, she knew it was all their Dragons that she truly and deeply cared about. Every time she ran to Namjoon's room for help, it had been Yoongi she'd gone looking for after all.

Jungkook dropped his gaze back to their lap at her silence. Not letting go of her hand. If anything, he only held on to her hand tighter.

"You don't have to give me an answer Nuna, not right now, but I just wanted to tell you. I love having you as my friend, and if you just need me to tell it, I do think of you as my friend and it is alright if you don't think so because like you said for Talia, your trust and your friendship is something I have to earn through hard work"

I heaved a sigh, tangling our fingers together and leaning my head on his shoulder. "Thank you Bunny."

Jungkook hummed as silence settled between the pair. The comforting kind. The one not needed to be broken. Miok had missed this. This effortless solace that presides with Jungkook presence.  There was no one who quite knew how to enjoy silences the same way that Jungkook does. 

Taehyung clearly not counting. It wasn't necessarily that Taehyung appreciated the silence, but more so that he refused to talk to her.

It was quite the moment later that Miok finally stirred. It had been late when she had woken up, however when she finally moved, most of the lights had been turned off, leaving just the nurse station lit as all the patients were more or less asleep.

"Alright, lets get going," She murmured as she sat up, pulling her hand free from his.

Utterly confused as to what she could possibly mean. Jungkook got to his feet. "Where are we going Nuna?" he asked even as he got her slippers for her.

"To see Taehyung, of course. Be a doll and get me a wheelchair would you -"

"But... Nuna!" 

Miok's eyes widened at his shout, shushing him as she threw a nervous look towards the nurse's station. It didn't seem like anyone reacted to the shout.

"Nuna," Jungkook stressed through gritted teeth, holding himself back from reaching out and giving her a nice shake. He honestly didn't know what to think, because in one side, he feels like he should've expected this. only Miok would decide to ho breaking the rules not even a few hours after getting a scolding. "Remember what Joonie Hyung told you?"

Miok giggled, eyes sparkling as if she had been waiting for him to ask this.

"oh, I heard him Kookie. I heard him loud and clear. Its you who didn't."

By the mischievous glint that literally spilled out of her eyes and with wicked grin her lips had pulled up, Jungkook knew whatever she said next will be the doom of him.

If there is one thing trailing after her all this time had taught him, it was to be weary of that grin. because it meant nothing but absolute trouble. That was the same look she had in her face as she had convinced him to dsitract a Spriggan while she searched through it's treasure to find Princess Atesa's lost necklace. (Long story short, Miok gad found the necklace, Jungkook had escaped with just a few bruise and an extremely windswept hair that couldn't be tamed for another whole week before the spell wore off and their Dragons having to carry them off before the Spriggan caught them).

"Joonie said that I wasn't to set a foot on the ground, he never said anything about leaving  the bed," She told him, eyes wide and all innocent. Knowing better than to trust that innocent act, Jungkook only raised his eyebrow, crossing his arms. nope, he wasn't helping her get into any more trouble than she was already in.

"He never told me that I couldn't go see Taehyung, Kookie. And his only warning was hot to set a foot on the ground-"

"Which translates to you're not allowed out of bed Nuna."

Miok, adamant on her observation, shook her head. "No, Kookie, you're missing the point here. He said it for doc's benefit. With a little help from you, we can wriggle around the rules. Trust me, Joonie knew very well I will find the wriggle room he gave me."

Seeing that Jungkook still didn't seem convinced she added, "Let me put it like this. He was well aware that he gave me the wriggle room and he knew exactly how I got to Taehyung over me doing something stupid."

Jungkook's mouth popped in an 'o' at her words. For he could actually agree with that one. They both knew that she was sneaking to see how Taehyung was doing with her own eyes one way or the other.

"Alright then lets go," Jungkook sighed, making her beam up at him. He got the feeling that he should be more offended and not as endeared by her skills to get him to follow after her. After all, he knew best how stubborn of a person he could be himself. He just never expected someone to give him a run for his money. What was more unexpected was it coming from Miok.

Shaking his head at her obvious excitement, he leaned down and in one swipe had her scooped up in his arms. Not having expected him to do so, without even a warning, Miok yelped as her hands wrapped around his shoulder in an automatic reaction. Her only consolation was that she had managed to keep her voice down.

Jungkook silently chuckled at the pure shock in her eyes as she stared at him. Shifting her weight to hold her properly as he started towards the Dragon section of the ward.

It took no more than two steps before Miok's shock turned into a scowl. "Am I really that light or are you pretending I weigh nothing?" she whisper-demanded near him, unwilling to accept that he had lifted her up with such ease. A human. Not even a Dragon at that.

Jungkook full out laughed at her question, giving her a light bounce in his arms to show that he wasn't bluffing. "Maybe if you eat your meals properly and on time, you weigh a little bit more Nuna," He teased, enjoying her scowl deepening. After all, it wasn't often he gets the chance to one up her. He was going to milk this for all it was worth. Especially now that he found out how annoyed it made her.

Before she could come up with a retort, he stepped into the Dragon ward and both fell silent. With their sensitive ears, even Jungkook heavy footsteps could easily disturb their rest.

Taehyung was kept on the furthest corner from the room, it seemed to Miok as if he was kept away from the rest of the Dragons. It was either that, or no one wanted to deal with his death glare all the time.

Miok studied the sleeping Dragon as Jungkook walked closer to his bed. He was in his human form, dark hair a halo on the stark white pillow, tan skin looking pale in the moon light, almost glowing under its ethereal beauty. His eyebrows were drawn together. out of discomfort or due to bad dream, Miok couldn't say.

It was as Jungkook was setting Miok down on the chair beside his bed that his eyes snapped open, zeroing on the two Riders who froze at the precision with which he pinned them with his gaze.

He didn't really acknowledge their presence. Staring at the pair, who frankly looked as if they were caught with their hand in the cookie jar, in silent judgement.

All three of them remaining frozen. Jungkook bent over the chair, Miok held out, but still in his arms.

It was a whole minute of silent staring later that Miok broke it by clearing the silence. Careful not to place her feet on the floor, she lowered herself to the chair, out of Jungkook's hold.

Snapping out his thoughts, Jungkook made sure she was settled in, before he straightened up. "Ur, you two..." he made a vague motion between the two. He was well aware the pair didn't really talk. It was Miok jabbering away while Taehyung tolerated her... somewhat. At least he hadn't try to eat or torch her. "I'm heading down to the cafeteria to find something for Nuna to eat," he mumbled under his breath, not really waiting for their answer before he was already booking it out of there.

Miok watched him run away with an amused look in her face. She knew, as well as Jungkook did, that the cafeteria would long since have closed. If food it is that he seeks, he'd have to go  back to the dorms or out downtown. Shaking at his clear attempt to give them privacy, she turned to back to Taehyung.

"Heard you got hurt," Miok said as a conversation starter. Her eyes searching the length of his form as if she could spot anything under the covers and the loose fitting clothing he wore. "How are you?"

Taehyung stared at her in silence for a long time and she smiled right back at him, waiting in patience. Their eyes never leaving the other, not even to taking in the rest of their body for injury.

At long last, it was Taehyung who gave in. He knew well how stubborn the human girl was, knew that she would sit there the entire night waiting on his answer if he didn't give it to her. Knew she would wait day's until he was willing to disclose anything to her. He had seen it time and time again to put up much of a fight anymore.

"They've been running tests on me the past two months, how do you think I am?" Taehyung snapped, finally breaking eye contact to let his eyes roam around her face, then down the length of her body. Miok couldn't be certain if he was searching for injuries or just looking her over since it had been a long time - the training center had been far from ideal for a reunion.

"What did you expect they would do when you agreed Wonder?" Miok's voice was soft, eyes falling to her lap with what Taehyung could only call sadness, regret. "But I meant your wound. Namjoon Oppa said you got hurt trying to save me earlier."

"Earlier? You do know that was two days ago right?"

Miok huffed a laugh, having forgotten that small bit of information. "Oh right, That was two days ago," she mumbled more to herself than him. 

Truth be told, she was finding holding an actual conversation with him a little alarming. Not the snark or snappy comments, or even the dry tone. She was too used to hearing grunts and huffs, even a roar if she riled him up enough, but never actual words. So a back and forth conversation with him was new. Strange, yet not quite unwelcome.

Her words had Taehyung furrowing his brows. Why did she sound like she was just realising it? Her next words answered before he could ask.

"I just woke up a few minutes ago, so time is still a bit disorienting. You must be all healed up right now then, why are you still here?"

As loath as he was to admit it, he did feel a spike of something that was not concern at her words.

"And where exactly would I go?"

Miok stared at him in silence, her face kept carefully blank as he stared back at him. She had forgotten. Forgotten that he hated the world. Hated her. That he saw her as nothing more than another slave runner. A means to and end. An accomplice for something beyond his control.

"Where would you like to go?"

If he weren't a Dragon he would never have heard the words that she had whispered too herself.

Despite knowing the words weren't meant for him, he couldn't help the curl of anger that grew in his gut. The need to lash out and she was right there. Words rising to the very tip of his tongue, but falling flat when she looked up, inky black eyes looking back at him with a look of so much pain that the words just refused to come out.

Miok saw the fire burning in his eyes, the deep rooted hatred he held. Knew there was nothing she could do to help him. Knew the consequences to free him right then right there would be wasted effort. One free Dragon was not going to change anything for anyone. The most would be the riders would be under stricter security, she would lose her life and they would hunt him down again. And this time he would not escape the breeding labs, that is if they decide not to put him down as well.

"The results will be out at the end of this week. I'll get you out of there," She promised, eyes dropping back to her fiddling fingers on her lap.

"From one cell to another, what difference does it make?"

He watched her lack of a reaction, gaze fixed firmly on her hand as she mulled over his words. However when she lifted her gaze to him, it was to give him a small smile. A smile filled with hurt, because he knew, knew his words hurt. That was his intentions after all. He worded them in the exact way that would hurt her the most. Stab closest to home.

"I guess not."

And this time when they fell into silence, it was not awkward. Despite having so much unsaid thing, the silence didn't suffocate those words. It was almost peaceful. Just simply taking in the other just being their. A very much solid presence.

Which is why when Jungkook returned to get Miok back to her room, he found both of them fast asleep. Taehyung laid out on the bed and Miok curled up on the chair. Both their breath even and more restful than Jungkook had seen from either of them for the past two days.

~~~~

All Trainees who had passed their tests. the Dragons who could be paired off and all the Commodores (with their second-in-commands), were gathered on the waiting room outside Doctor Lee's office. As head Doctor in the Faculty, his office could easily hold the five Commodores, their second-in-commands and the Rider they were consulting.

The test Results from their Flight tests were out and they were all going to hear their results as well as advise from the commodores to choose the Dragon they are going to be paired up with for the rest of their life. 

It was no simple choice they were making after all.

Miok was currently sitting on a lone chair facing the five Commodores. Doctor Lee, his assistants and her Trainer to her left with the second-in-commands to her right making it a circle room conference.

"Unfortunately Cadet, your first choice of Dragon, to be paired with Taehyung, has been denied. Your compatibility with him only coming up to sixty-seven percent," Doctor Lee's assistant prattled off in a monotonous tone. You had the highest compatibility rate with Naeyong, with a score of Eighty-two percent. With your natural affinity with the creature and the  capability to reach a much higher percentage , it was highly suggested that you do not follow through with bonding to Taehyung -"

"What was her after test score?" Cadena's firm voice cut through not only the nurse but also Miok feeling like her whole world had been upended. A tether that reminded her that she wasn't in this fight alone. She had allies, powerful allies, who would stand by her. Who could help her make sure she never had to go through with the promise she had given to Taehyung.

"I'm - I'm sorry Commodore, what?"

"The result when they flew without orders. What was there score?" Cadena sounded impatient as she asked this. Knowing that the nurse wasn't dumb enough not to know what she was talking about, taken back simply because no one usually cared about it. However, she had to ask. She couldn't let Namjoon step in. Not right then. They had to do everything to prove he wasn't being either biased nor favoring towards Miok.

The nurse blinked, looking quite taken back before she looked down to refer to the results in her hand. When she looked back at them, her eyebrows pulled together, she looked more puzzled than at Cadena's question.

"Well?" Cadena snapped, patience running thin at the silence. it wasn't like they had all day to be sitting here. They all had duties they needed to get back to. And Miok was the first Cadet they had gotten in here.

"Ninety... ninety-six percent Commodore."

The silence that prevailed the room was loud, yet the relief that coursed through Miok almost had her sobbing. If she had been standing she was sure the weight of her relief alone would have made her lose all feeling in her legs.

"Repeat that," one of the other Commodores demanded. Not quite willing to believe their ears. It was very rare for any Rider to ever get anything more that a solid eighty-eight percent on their test the first time. The highest anyone had gotten close to a hundred was Air Marshal Soohyun, himself. His compatibility with Ryujin reaching around ninety-eight percent. And that had been almost sixty years ago.

"Ninety-six percent, Commodore."

"No, no. That can't be right. surely there has been a mistake. How could she get such a high score?"

"How is that even possible?"

"Truly a malfunction. Even Namjoon only got eight-nine compatibility with Yoongi."

"Too close to a hundred."

"Surely a mistake"

Miok felt as if the voices that filled the room as nothing more than a buzz. Her relief making her stare in wide-eyed relief at Namjoon, who gave her a barely present smile. As if to reassure her that everything work out. He will make sure it did. For both her and Taehyung.

A loud clap had everyone stop speculating and turn to Cadena. "That settles this then. Clearly they have a higher compatibility rate than anyone else here. Besides we all know that the second result is the one they are going to grow into once they learn to trust each other," Cadena said, her voice high and sure, rising above the murmur of the others occupying the room.

"Besides, who else can we pair with Taehyung if not Miok?" Doctor Lee questioned, going through the tablet in his own hand as he did. "Miok is the only one who came close to a pausible compatibility rate with him. The other Cadets could barely control him, forget taking him out on missions."

"However doctor Lee, Cadet Miok's unique talent could be put to much more use with a dragon better suited for her. I feel it too much of a wasted potential to waste it on Taehyung."

"I agree with Bam. It is a shame that she fainted before she could run tests with other dragons, but if this is her result with Taehyung, a Dragon hardly anyone could tame as opposed to a Dragon that wouldn't be fighting her almost all the way through, imagine how much better she could possibly be?"

"What about all the potential of Taehyung we are wasting here? Miok might be the only one of the current Cadets that can bring out his true potential. And we all know that Taehyung is the strongest Dragon among the un-bonded ones currently in the faculty."

And back and forth it went. Some in agreement that Miok gets to keep Taehyung, most highly opposed to the idea of it. Stuck in a stalemate while Miok sat silent in her seat, barely paying attention to what anyone said. It didn't matter to her. She was sticking with her resolution that she would bond with no other Dragon than Taehyung.

For almost a good half-an-hour Namjoon let them squabble over a decision before his voice cut into the discussion. Voice no louder than a normal volume, yet the room fell silent at his words.

"Since when have we ever taken the decision of who gets bonded with which dragon? It has always been the Riders choice to pick the Dragon they bond with, yet not a single one of you have question Miok what her choice will be. We are here to give her our opinion on the matter, not to dictate her choice, are we not?"

Silence followed Namjoon's words, as they all looked at Miok.

"Commodore Namjoon is right. What is your thoughts on all of this Cadet?" Doctor Lee took the initiative to ask her, sounding sheepish at getting swept up in the conversation forgetting this one very important detail. After all, it is bond for life and the bond would never take place if both Dragon and Rider were against it, or reluctant.

"I choose to bond with Taehyung."

Sure a true, Miok didn't hesitate to answer Doc. Not that anyone who knew the girl thought differently. She fought tooth and nail to give up just then.

"Miss Miok, you really ought to consider all your options."

"That is right. Think of how far you can go with a better compatible match for you."

"I thought I did have the highest possibly compatibility with Taehyung," Miok said, shooting a confused look at Doc to make sure she hadn't misinterpreted what was said earlier.

"It is, but you also only tried and tested flying with Taehyung. If you could get such a high score with a wild, uncontrollable Dragon like him, i can only imagine what you results would be if its with a Dragon who complies to you."

"Where would be the adventure in that Commodore?"

Her words gave a genuine pause as everyone struggled to come up with a rebuttal, until finally the Commodore of the Ruby faction spoke up.

"There is no adventure Cadet. We run a military operation here, not a theme park to get a free Dragon ride for life."

"Pardon my words Commodore, but if that is so, you have lost all the joy that flying on the back of a Dragon truly brings you. I am not unaware that what we do here in the Faculty is not all fun and games, that is what we are being trained for, is it not? But life isn't about the just the Mission. A Dragon Rider is far more than that. you should know that well Commodore Bam."

"Well said Cadet, and I agree with her," Cadena interrupted before Bam could discredit her words. "I for one, know this is a sentiment I share with Commodore Namjoon and Commodore Miri, and Im sure many of you in this room. But My Dragon is more than a weapon to be utilized to me. She is a lifelong companion and it is in all of Cadet Miok's rights to pick who she gets to spend it with."

"I agree with Commodore Cadena. If Taehyung who is Cadet Miok's final choice, then it is her final choice. As Commodore Namjoon has already suggested, we are here to offer advice, not to dictate." Commodore of the Sapphire sector, Tu Miri, agreed.

And so the discussion finally came to a close. No one else wanted to be called out for trying to manipulate her into doing what they wanted and saw the battle for the lost cause it was. Choosing instead to give in.

Miok was finally allowed to leave, The nurse letting her know the time of her bonding ceremony will happen sometime this weekend and she could either return to her old sector or join a new one if she so wished. 

She soon learned that despite all the disagreements, all four Commodore had invited her to join their sectors (Cadena being the only one who hadn't, but she'd already knew Miok was returning to the Violet Unit). The nurse wouldn't accept her answer right then, telling to think well on it till the bonding ceremony. It wasn't like she could return until the ceremony was over in any case.

And once she was briefed on what to expect and finally getting the permission to visit Taehyung again (the ceremony had a higher chance of success when the Dragon too is will to accept the bond they already have something akin to a friendship formed), she was finally allowed to leave.

A/N ~

First and foremost, I am really sorry for this chapter taking forever to be updated. It was giving me so much trouble while editing because my first draft was a mess. I've been editing this from the end of December. To all my lovely readers still sticking around, thank you so very much for reading my story, I appreciate it a lot.