#this is set in the ''ah shit. isekai'd.'' au btw

[tokillamockingbird427]

Flying is boring with how easy it is... simply find a willing mount with wings. Saddle it. Hop on. Steer. And sit there until you get where you want to go.

Logan however, this "marine sergeant" from "the United states" had seemed endlessly fascinated however. Even when they were in the stables, when is stunk of gryphon manure, he'd been enraptured even watching the simple task that saddling their mount was.

And even now, with the world passing beneath their feet he seems enchanted... Bewitched by nothing more than trees, hills, and rarely the light from some fire. Man-made or otherwise.

"I thought you said you flew before..." The imp asks, when the blonde behind him leans to the side again, like the view from the left and right side of the dust-brown gryphon are different.

"I have!" The marine replies, enthusiastically. "But that was inside an aircraft, not riding it!"

Keegan sighs softly, it's lost in the wind, and Logan continues to hum and chitter to himself.

"Go higher." He orders suddenly, and Keegan considers complaining, but decides the marines thick skull won't yield. He pulls the reigns back and after a couple dozen feet, right under the clouds, he lets the animal even out.

He doesn't like flying through clouds... they're very wet.

He can feel Logan shift around behind him, a hand and weight on his shoulder, and turns his head to see the blonde reaching up and dragging his fingers through the underside of the mist.

The cloud lights up, bright blue-green, and Logan grins wide, laughing to himself.

Keegan's not sure what's special... they're everywhere, if only very visible on dark nights, and the only reason they light up is because the little animals in them. It's not magic.

The thought strikes him that someone below might see them, and his hands tighten on the reigns in worry... but what does he have to fear? An archer can't reach them. A ballast would need time to aim and they'd be out of the bolts reach in a few moments.

He looks back at Logan, who's raised both hands and continues to stare at the light, the thin twin trails of blue light dragging behind them and reflecting in his eyes.

Keegan pulls the reigns back, and they ascend again, passing through the bottom of the cloud and swamped in bright blue light until they breach the top.

Logan whoops when they do, laughing and grinning, spreading his arms out to touch more of the clouds and widening their trail. Though the gryphons wings reach farther than his arms ever could, they cut through below the top surface, and the light isn't as bright as where Logan touches it.

Keegan looks across the rolling sea of clouds around them, mostly grey-dark mist, but lighting gently wherever the wind pushes... he's seen a view like it a million times, he's used to flying but... he'd forgotten what if felt like the first time he found one of these clouds, without knowing it.

A flying ocean, one that breathed and lived, glowing wherever he touched it. Breathtakingly beautiful, wondrous and new, something strange to be learned and understood.

Keegan reaches out a hand and dips his fingers into the mist, feeling the cold wet mist on his skin and watching the glow spring to life under his fingers. He releases the reigns, sure that the gryphon will keep it's current path, to reach out his other hand. Copying Logan, watching the light spread out behind them, and smiling... a little.

He turns to see what else the marine might be doing, only to see he's been staring at Keegan, grinning still.

The light in his eyes aren't just from the clouds now, not when he looks at Keegan.

===

Posted on AO3 as well