Bound by Fate-The Next Generation

Szin's storyEveryone has returned from the trip to Earth where they spent Christmas with Dale and his family. The Beta Site is nearly complete, soon everyone will be moving to their new homes on Aploi. 
~Age 5~
“What time are Ti and Cielo supposed to be here?” Dale asked Keyno.
“Any minute now.” Keyno held Raiden in his arms, patting him on the back. “Is everything ready?”
“Yeah, I think we’re good. Takeo can sleep with Raiden and Szin in their room—there’s enough room for all three. Besides, you know neither young will sleep without the other near.” 
“I figured they would’ve stopped that by now. They are five years old, Dale. Don’t you think it’s time to separate them?” Keyno asked as he put a wiggling Raiden on the floor. Raiden immediately made a bee-line for Szin.
“That answer your question?” Dale laughed as Raiden toddled over to Szin and sat down next to him. 
The difference between the two young was striking. Szin’s ash brown hair grew much slower and barely touched his collar bone. Raiden’s white hair was past his shoulders. There was also about a half a foot  height difference between the young. Raiden’s growth was along the line for a Ta’Narian, while Szin’s growth was closer to a human’s child. Raiden was faster, taller, heavier than Szin, and just as protective as ever.
“Leave them be, love. It’s been like this since birth, you know that. Honestly, they were like this before birth. They have a very special bond.”
Keyno shook his head. “You know, I didn’t believe it when you told me they could communicate with you while still in the womb.”
“Imagine my surprise.” Dale’s lips twitched as he remembered the first time his young spoke to him. He received a nice little scolding about stress and a certain young’s shower he had been planning for Juan. “Chad didn’t believe me either. We all saw how that turned out.”
“Thank the Gods you were there. I don’t want to think what would’ve happened otherwise.” Keyno’s ears twitched as the elevator raced up their tree house. “Hmm. I think Ti and Cielo are here.”
Dale didn’t have a chance to answer before the elevators doors were thrown open.
“Hola!” Cielo called as he strode into the kitchen with Ti behind him.
“Hey.” Dale walked to Cielo and Ti and hugged both. “Come on in, guys. Did you have a safe trip?”
The flurry of activity drew Dale’s youngs’ attention. Raiden and Szin made their way to the new arrivals, giggles and happy sounds filling the kitchen. Keyno followed behind. 
“Greeting, my friends, and we did, yes.” Ti carried in their bags, muttering about how Takeo had more things than he and Ti. His red eyes fell on the twins.  “Ah, Szin and Raiden, how are—”
“Szin! Raiden!”
“That took longer than I figured.” Cielo laughed as his bebe immediately darted around him and headed toward Szin. 
Raiden growled and took off after Takeo at a full out run. Raiden jumped on Takeo, knocking him to the ground. They rolled on the floor, playful growls and snarls bubbling from them. Takeo had Ti’s snow white skin, fangs, and forked tongue. His pupil’s were red like Ti’s even though his eyes were shaped like a huaman’s. 
But his hair was the same as Cielo’s—a striking glossy black that touched the top of his shoulders. He had inherited Cielo’s sharp, high cheekbones. Since Cielo had been dosed with Ta’Narian DNA and Onfre DNA, Takeo also had a tail that looked like both Keyno and Raiden’s tail. Takeo was a gorgeous mixture of Onfre, Ta’Nar, and human characteristics’. He was just as big and strong as Raiden. 
“Good grief.” Dale rolled his eyes at the floor show the two were putting on for the adults. “Even this young they’re evenly matched.”
Szin sat down, watching the two roll around on the floor, entertaining himself by batting at the tails that twisted near him on the floor. An occasional giggle sounded from him. Finally he managed to snag Raiden’s tail and pulled. Raiden meowed loudly and both males stopped their play fighting. 
“Szin! I’ve told you about that.” Dale pursed his lips as he stepped towards Szin. “You’re just asking for it, Mister.”
Raiden looked at Szin—at the small smile hovering around his lips, then glanced at Takeo. An smirk passed between the two… and they jumped at Szin. 
“And here we go,” Keyno said. 
All three rolled around on the floor, a tangled mess of arms, legs, and tails until Szin let out a small, sharp cry. Both Takeo and Raiden stopped rough housing instantly. They helped Szin sit up and comforted him. Raiden purred softly and Takeo cuddled close to Szin.
“One squeak, and that’s the end of that.” Ti mused as he watched the young.
“I’ve said it before—brain over brawn wins every time.” Dale elbowed Cielo. 
“Careful there, bro.”
“Cielo, be warned,” Keyno tugged the end of Dale’s hair. “He’s been working out again and—”
“Hey, I have been!” Dale glared at Keyno.
Cielo rubbed his hands together. “Maybe we can have some sparrin’ time later. You up for it?”
“Oh good Lord. It’s bad enough Keyno throws me around the room, but now you want to also?” Dale rolled his eyes. “Sure, maybe we can fit some time in around—”
“Dad! We’re hungry!” Raiden yelled.
“…around the young,” Dale said to Cielo. “And Raiden, don’t yell in the house.”
“But we’re hungry!”
“It is time for the final meal of the day.” Keyno said. “Everyone ready to eat?”
“Yes, I’m ready to enjoy a meal. Are you by chance… What is it called? Grilling? The meat we had at Dale’s parents was very tasty. ” Ti eyed the patio.
“I am, actually. Why not come out here with me? I could use a hand.” Keyno nodded his head to the outdoor space. “Up for a cooking lesson?”
“If you can do it, then so can I.”
“Is that so?” Keyno and Ti gathered up the things they needed and headed to the large grill Keyno had made.
“Huh. If Keyno gets Ti hooked on grilling…”
“Yah, tell me. But Ti likes his meat veryfresh. Drippin’ actually. I can’t eat meat still kickin’ you know?” Cielo rolled his eyes. 
“Must be the snake in him.”
“Probably. Yo, need help with anythin’?” 
“Yeah, can you grab those cups for our little guys?” Dale asked.
“De nada.” Cielo turned and reached up to grab the cups, the bottom of his shirt riding up. Dale noticed the fresh whip marks on the bottom of Cielo’s back.
“Get yourself in trouble with Ti again?” 
“Oh… Si.” He smirked at Dale, a filthy look on his face. For a second Colt looked at Dale. “Wanna hear?”
“Ah no, thanks.” Dale shook his head. 
Cielo snorted. “So, where ya want these plates?
“Over there on their table.”
Keyno had made a little table for Raiden and Szin, and there was enough room that Takeo could sit with them. Meals tended to be a wild mixture of soft snarls and laughs by the young. Szin would steal a piece of meat from Raiden’s plate, who would in turn playfully snarl at Szin while he stole something from Szin’s plate.
A short time later Keyno and Ti had the meat ready, and just as Cielo said some of the meat was barely cooked. Takeo sat next to Szin and helped himself to whatever Szin wasn’t eating. The three ended up eating off each other’s plates amidst many laughs and growls, while the adults watched their antics. Finally the meal was over, and Dale brought out dessert, which was Key Lime pie.
“By the God’s!” Keyno eyed the pie. “The last time I saw that pie you were pregnant.”
“Well, I’m not, as you well know you pointed-eared alien, so behave.” Dale snickered as he set the plates down in front of the young. “Besides, you know this is Szin’s favorite.”
Raiden immediately stuck his fingers into Szin’s pie and swiped a huge chunk. Szin’s lower lip trembled as he watched Raiden lick his fingers. Big, fat tears eased down Szin’s face as Raiden grinned at him. Before Dale could reprimand Raiden, Takeo launched himself across the little table at Raiden, knocking both of them to the floor.
“Oh, crap!” Dale jumped up from the table.
“Takeo!” Ti’s voice demanded instant obedience, and when that didn’t work he switched to those strange hissing noises that were the Onfre language.
Both the young were rolling around on the floor—this time there was no play involved. Takeo had a hold of Raiden’s tail and yanked it, hard. Raiden yowled loudly, then swiped at Takeo with his fist, which Takeo blocked. Raiden’s body bulked up in a dominance display as he snarled at Takeo. Growls and hisses filled the kitchen while Szin sat at the table in shock as the other two fought on the floor. The rest of the adults had just pushed their chairs back when Szin surprised everyone.
“Stop!” Szin cried loudly. “Stop it!”
Both the young on the floor froze immediately, and looked at Szin. Szin didn’t speak often, even though he had a good command of the language. Even Ti looked shocked. Both young sat there for a minute, then slowly picked themselves off the floor and hurried over to Szin. 
Takeo gently rubbed Szin’s back while Raiden laid his head on his twin’s shoulder. A small hand reached across and Raiden pulled his untouched pie over to Szin. Szin rubbed his cheek against Takeo’s and then did the same to Raiden as the young settle down.
“Well,” Cielo said, “that was… surprisin’.”
“I have never seen Takeo respond so quickly.” Ti watched the young made up. “He responds differently to Szin, very protectively.”
“He may not have the size or strength of the other two, but he still knows how to deal with them.” Dale shook his head as he watched the young gather around Szin.
“Yah,” Cielo muttered. “Very interestin’ how he can calm Takeo.” 
Dale shrugged. “You know why.”
The next few days during Ti and Cielo’s visit the same thing happened many times. The twins picked on each other constantly, which was nothing new. And most of the time Szin held his own. A few times Raiden got the better of Szin, and Takeo would immediately defend him. The three were very close and spent every minute of the visit together.TBC
~M