
Fuzzy timed to Autumn 2048
Zayn felt like a coward. He'd been at the weyr for a bit...okay long enough to settle into a role in the archives...and he'd yet to do the one thing he'd come to New Atricis to do. Tell Bronzerider D'kellen he is his son. At first he could excuse his fear as simply not having had a chance to talk with the man, but he couldn't do that anymore. He'd had a run in with the man a few weeks ago. That had been beyond awkward. Not for D'kellen, of course, and Zayn could only hope that the man hadn't noticed how nervous and anxious he was acting. That should have been when he told him, but he'd froze up and stayed silent. After that he swore he would do it, but days passed and he didn't. Then, he had run into him again. Still...his lips remained still. There was no hiding it...he was a coward.
He was still trying to gain the courage when the unthinkable happened. The bronzerider came to the archives asking for help with a book that needed some of the passages rewritten because they were too faded. Zayn had smiled and agreed to happily get that done for him immediately. He had thought that the man would leave to do something else, but he'd wanted to stay. He wasn't exactly sure why, but he guessed the book was important to him for some reason or another.
The entire time he worked to figure out the words and then re-copy them they had shared small chitchat. Zayn's heart was pounding in his chest, but he hoped that the man wasn't able to tell. He knew now was a good time, but it was like the words were getting stuck in his throat. Before he knew it he had the job complete. Another missed chanced....
....Or maybe not.
Duke invited him to eat lunch with him. Digging deep within himself, Zayn agreed to join him with the determination that he was finally going to say something. They got to the dining hall, got their food, and found a table before the archivist was able to say anything that would steer him towards his revelation. "So, ah, D'kellen. You're...ah...originally from Fort, right?" He asked as he pushed the food around his plate with his fork.
