The beasts known as Dragon-Shifters had long since been weaponised for warfare. It was only natural, after all. Powerful beings who could take the form of either a human or a dragon, they were the perfect weapons for mass destruction.

Captain John Price was one of such Dragon-Shifters, and a feared one at that.

The old Dragon-Shifter was not one to be trifled with, as he proved time and time again whenever someone threatened his precious hoard - the 141 Task Force. Subtle in his aggression until he wasn't. He was definitely not someone you wished to have as your enemy...

John supposed it was why the younger Dragon-Shifters, hatchlings in the Captain's eyes, admired him so. Trailing after him like ducklings after their mother. Hanging off his every word, fighting for his attention. Not to mention the few Dragon-Shifters who tried their luck at wooing him. After all, Price was the prime example of what a mate should be.

He never really paid mind to it, though his inner self often preened at the attention given so freely. Waving off the younger Dragon-Shifters dismissively, rejecting their blatant offers of courtship, leaving a trail of broken hearts in his wake wherever he went.

Which is why when you came along, the Captain found himself at a loss of what to do...

New to base but not to the job, you carried yourself with a quiet confidence he rarely saw from the younger Dragon-Shifters. You didn't feel the need to show off or impress anyone, didn't waste your time attempting to cosy up to the older Dragon-Shifters. Diligent in your duties and carrying out orders with a poised resilience which had that voice inside, which John had long since believed to be dormant, what a good mate you would make.

And, as such, it drove Price near mad when you wouldn't spare him the time of day.

You weren't rude by any means, simply... distant. Polite smiles, the barest threads of small talk before excusing yourself to get back to whatever you had been doing beforehand.

The Captain did everything he could thing of to win your affections. Courting gifts - jewellery, sweet treats, things that made him think of you. He gave you lighter duties, lavishing you in praise for completing the most minute of tasks. Why, he even began to openly display his interest in you by stretching his wings whenever you were around. Showing off their impressive wingspan, displaying how healthy his scales where.

Yet, none of it seemed to work.

Until one day, making his rounds around base, he stumbled across the hatchery.

The hatchery was where mated Dragon-Shifter couples stored their eggs while deployed or on missions. A heat controlled room, the eggs were cared for by volunteers. The volunteers more often then not being Dragon-Shifters whom wanted to practice caring for eggs before having their own brood.

It wasn't a part of base that John visited often, he had never really had much of a desire to have a clutch with anyone, and he wasn't exactly sure why he'd taken that route himself. But, he was pleasantly surprised to find you in there, starring longingly at the eggs under the heat lamps. Your wings, smaller in your human form but still present nonetheless, fluttering happily behind your back.

"We're going to have quite a few hatchlings on our hands before Spring, aye?" Price seized his opportunity, stepping into the hatchery and pausing beside you. Chuckling at how you jumped at his sudden appearance, looking towards him in surprise. "Apologies, love, didn't mean to spook you."

John paused, considering his next moves carefully as his gaze flickered between the eggs and you, his wings spanning out behind him in an impressive display.

"You want one? An egg, I mean," he asked, a warm glint in his eyes, a lopsided smile tugging at his lips. Deciding to seize the opportunity and make a more... direct offer. "...I'd be happy to give you one. I'll give you a whole clutch."