Yea so I’ve been thinking a lot about this recently cos I’m rarely not thinking of Iwaoi in some capacity.
Most dragon/rider content has Iwaizumi as the dragon and Oikawa as the rider and I get it! Iwaizumi is strong, Oikawa is strategic and it makes sense in other ways too. And I’m here for it. I eat that up, it’s iwaoi, I love it.
Thinking about dragon traits that tend to reach across genres - petty, ambitious, strong, calculating, possessive and obsessive. You know who else is all those things? Oikawa.
Not to mention the other traits Oikawa has, such as being considered pretty good looking, preens under attention (even if it’s somewhat fake) and being intensely threatening on occasion (rip Hinata).
Then thinking about the relationship Iwaizumi has with Oikawa - Reins him in, gives him focus, a steadying influence. Sounds like a rider to me. He has the physical strength to withstand the rigors that would come with riding a beast that size (in more than one sense, eyyyy). And it’s not like Iwaizumi doesn’t show an ability to devise and implement strategy either.
So yea.. If I was to write a dragon rider AU, that’s what i would go for. I was trying to think of specific examples of things I would include but it’s all basically the usual canon reactions, but just extra cos dragons are ridiculous beings:
Oikawa constantly butting up against and draping over Iwaizumi like a cat in human and dragon form looking for attention and affection.
Oikawa regarding Iwaizumi as his treasure and being intensely jealous and possessive over him. Has a habit of using his extra height to loom behind Iwaizumi if he’s talking to others and not giving enough attention. Iwaizumi hates it.
Iwaizumi is absolutely meticulous in the maintenance of the equipment used for riding. He says it’s because Oikawa will whine otherwise but really he thinks Oikawa deserves nothing but the best.
Iwaizumi found Oikawa abandoned in a nearby forest. He initially kept the dragonling secret but soon realised he couldn’t take care of him and was worried what would happen so he brought Oikawa to his parents who arranged for him to be taken to a nearby colony. The encounter convinced Iwaizumi he wanted to be a rider and meet him again.
Oikawa gave him a scale before they were separated and Iwaizumi had it made into a pendant (brilliant, iridescent teal obvs).
Dragonlings go through massive physical changes and get better at maintaining human form as they get older so Oikawa wasn’t immediately recognisable to Iwaizumi when the time came to find a dragon to bond with.
Due to the difference in aging rates, Oikawa should have been paired with another rider a few years before Iwaizumi was ready but he remembered the boy who rescued him all those years ago. And if a dragon gives a gift, it allows them to sense when the recipient is in the vicinity..
Oikawa knew Iwaizumi immediately by smell as well as his scale. Iwaizumi didn’t immediately recognise him but did feel drawn to him. The scale got warmer the closer he was to Oikawa.
Oikawa was determined to impress Iwaizumi but being a haughty dragon, didn’t want to just tell him who he was. He pushed himself hard to make sure that Iwaizumi saw how impressive and powerful he was. An accident in training meant that his glamour faltered slightly, letting Iwaizumi see some scaling and finally twig that it matched the scale pendant.
It took them a while to find a balance in their partnership. Both felt like they’d been waiting so long and wanted it to work so badly that they crushed it a bit (think of a kid that doesn’t know how to gently love a bunny. They just kinda transfer all their love into their hands, you know?!). They butted heads (literally) a lot before finally having an earnest conversation about what their goals were and what they needed from each other.
They specialise in aerial grappling.
Oikawa has pinpoint accuracy with fireballs. He can singe Iwaizumi’s eyebrows from 500 paces.
Hmmm.. I think that’s all I got. But please consider basically feral angry cat dragon Oikawa who turns into soft kitty for his handler Iwaizumi ^^
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