Blue Dragon

pants, then his arms went around me like a vice. His face was a fierce grimace next to mine, his breath rough in my ear.
    ‘Yes!’
    He flopped onto his back next to me.
    ‘You bastard. You tried to hold it back,’ I said.
    ‘What did you just call me?’ he said, rolling over to face me.
    I moved my face right into his. ‘A turtle egg.’
    He rolled onto his back again and shook with silent laughter. I pulled myself on top and straddled him. He brushed his hands over my back and drifted them over my shoulders.
    ‘I wanted to see how long I could hold out,’ he said. ‘I think I lasted about twice as long that time. But you were no help at all. You like pushing me over the edge, despite my best efforts to retain control.’
    I leaned my arms on his chest and put my nose right next to his. ‘Don’t bother.’
    He kissed me. I closed my eyes and drifted into him, and then suddenly I knew. I snapped open my eyes and jerked back. He didn’t move; he watched me silently, his face expressionless.
    Neither of us said anything.
    I threw myself on top of him and held him tight. I kissed him frantically, and he returned it just as frantically, because we knew. We both knew. It was perfectly clear. The truth was obvious.
    This was our last chance.
    I jerked awake. I’d been half asleep in his strong arms, my own wrapped around him, our bare skin touching wherever it could. I had a sudden inspiration. I carefully looked up at him: he was dozing, his noble face serene. I gave him a tremendous push and completely launched him out of the bed, his long hair flying. He woke before he hit the floor, landed on one hand, somersaulted, and touched down lightly on his feet into a long defensive position.
    I didn’t give him a chance to do anything. I threw myself at him, both feet aimed straight at his chest.
    His face didn’t move. He caught my feet and turned me over. I somersaulted with the movement, landed back on the bed, and jumped right over the top of his head. He spun to face me.
    I went for him with a series of roundhouse kicks, one after the other, as fast as I could. He easily blocked them all. On about the fifth one he was close to the wall, so he grabbed my foot again and attempted to flip me over.
    I wrapped my other foot around his hand and used the energy centres to twist him, trying to take him off his feet. It didn’t work; he moved with the force, rolled, flew back upright, and threw my foot away.
    I used the energy centres again and this time, instead of moving away, I moved closer to him. I landed in front of him, spun, grabbed his arm, pushed, twisted and threw him onto his back.
    ‘That,’ he said, holding out one hand for me to help him up, ‘was absolutely pathetic. I’ve seen first years do better.’
    I reached down, took his hand and jerked him right into me.
    He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. I put my hands on his back and pulled myself into him. He smiled down at me. ‘I made you a promise a long time ago. Want to try?’
    ‘No, of course not,’ I said. ‘Don’t waste your energy. We should take the chance to do some hand-to-hand instead.’
    He shrugged. ‘Not a problem. Won’t take too much energy down here.’
    ‘You sure?’ I said, eyeing him suspiciously.
    He squeezed me briefly. ‘Of course. Move back, give me room.’
    I released him and moved away. He lowered his head, concentrated and took Celestial Form.
    He was nearly four metres tall, his hair a wild tangle around his head. His face was square and dark and ugly, with a long thin black beard. He wasn’t wearing armour; his traditional black robes flowed around him, held at the waist by a wide black belt.
    He held his arms out. ‘Try.’ His voice sounded exactly as it always did.
    ‘This is weird,’ I said. ‘I’ve never touched the Celestial Form.’ I hesitated. ‘It doesn’t feel like you.’
    He bent so that his face was level with mine. He looked me in the eye and his eyes crinkled up.
    ‘Okay, it’s you,’ I said. I spun, grabbed his arm and threw him onto his back, the robes flying everywhere as he hit. I didn’t give him time to rise; I quickly moved to sit on his chest. It was like sitting on a horse, he was so big.
    ‘Freud would have a field day,’ I said, then moved my face into his and kissed him. It wasn’t as good with something so huge; he was far too big and the beard felt strange.
    He put his enormous hands onto my back and then circled my waist. He gently pushed me so