Bound by Fate-The Next Generation

 Szin's story 
~Present day… age 18~
Szin stared at the water, lost in thought. Takeo had done something to him that he was still trying to come to terms with. It wasn’t the fact that Takeo blew him outside a bar, no, what was preying on Szin’s mind was how he submitted willingly to Takeo and enjoyed it. At least, he thought he did.  Parts of it were still foggy, but the one thing he did remember was Takeo getting ready to bite him, mark him as his. Szin hadn’t told Raiden he was partially awake for the little discussion he and Takeo had while Takeo held him in his arms. He’d kill Raiden for that little gem of information later. Right now he had a bigger problem—Takeo. 
Through his childhood he had watched Takeo grow into a male of honor. But there was that element for danger, a warning in his eyes that his tastes ran to the darker side of sex. He remembered those pictures Takeo brought with him one time. Takeo had watched him closely for his reaction, he knew that. And unable to help himself, he’d reacted strongly. Takeo had seemed pleased. 
“What am I going to do?” Szin stared at his reflection in the water. “He means to claim me, and I’m not what he needs as a mate. And jeez, why would he want me?”
Szin hadn’t told anyone about his plans to visit Earth, possibly settle there with his grandparents. Since he looked human, he could maybe fit in somewhere, finally. That was, if the made it to Earth. Somehow, he didn’t see Takeo going along with that plan. He certainly wouldn’t fit in; he was much too exotic. Szin sighed. That described Takeo perfectly: exotic and deadly. 
Takeo had buzzed him several times since the ‘incident’ as he called it in his mind. He was becoming more and more insistent. He knew he couldn’t hold Takeo off forever. Takeo wasn’t known for his patience. All Szin had to do was avoid Takeo until after this party was over. Then he planned to leave for Ta’Nar. He had booked passage from Ta’Nar on a luxury ship heading to Earth. Takeo would be furious, but it was the best thing for both of them. He certainly wouldn’t come after him. Well, he didn’t think. Szin knew he wasn’t the kind of mate Takeo needed, but he’d never convince Takeo of that, so the best thing to do was just go. 
“What in the name of the Gods are you doing out here?” Raiden asked as he walked up behind Szin.
“Nothing. Just thinking about today and what it means.” Szin skipped a rock across the water’s surface. “Is it time?”
“Yeah, I was sent to look for you. People are beginning to arrive.” Raiden watched Szin for a moment. He really needed to talk to Takeo. Szin was acting funny, and that was never a good thing. “You coming?”
“I’ll be there in a minute.” 
Raiden hesitated for a moment. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, of course.”  Szin shrugged, “It’s just… a big day, you know?”
“Yes, I do. Look, don’t hang out here long or dad will have my ass.”
“Okay.”
Raiden left Szin by the water, and went in search of Takeo. Szin was blocking his thoughts, something he rarely did. That spelled trouble for Takeo. Szin might be smaller than both him and Takeo, but when he made his mind up on something—it took an act of the Gods to change it. Raiden had a pretty good idea why Szin was blocking his thoughts.
“Damn it,” Raiden hissed, switching to his dad’s favorite cuss words. The earthlings just had so many more to choose from than the Ta’Narians. “Not good, not good at all.” 
Moments after Raiden left, Szin stood up, squared his shoulders, and walked back to his home—his decision made. He saw his dad outside, putting the final touches on the cake.
“Hey Dad, I’m here. Sorry about that, the time got away from me,” Szin said.
“It’s okay. So, how does it feel to finally be considered a fully grown male by Ta’Narian standards?” Dale asked his young.
“I don’t feel any different, Dad,” Szin replied. “And this birthday party you planned is nice, well… it will be if we can keep Raiden from stealing the cake.” 
“Hey! I have a sweet tooth; thank Dad for that,” Raiden huffed as he joined the group. He stared hungrily at the cake. “And the presents are cool and stuff, but I really, really want some of that cake.”
“Better guard it with your life, my mate, or it may end up half eaten before the guests all get here.” Keyno laughed as he patted Dale on the back. “Raiden is a well-know cake thief.”
“Ha! So is Szin, he just never gets caught,” Raiden complained.
“Brains over brawn,” Szin said, “works every times. Or do I need to explain that to you?”
“Geek,” Raiden said, taunting his twin.
“Fur ball.”
“Hey!” Dale exclaimed. “Don’t you two start. Swear to God, if you both act like five year olds, I’m gonna treat you like five year—”
“Dickhead.”
“Barbed wonder,” Szin threw at Raiden.
Dale stood by the table, holding his hands up. He dropped his head, letting his hair swing forward, covering his face at what Szin just yelled at Raiden. Chewing on his lip, he closed his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he struggled not to laugh. A quite snort behind him nearly caused him to lose the battle.
“Raiden, I love you dearly, but by God, that was a good one,” Dale snickered. “Christ, I may have to use that myself.”
“Daa-aad,” Raiden complained.
“Thanks, my young,” Keyno said to Szin. “Just what your dad needs, another name to call me.”
Szin grinned when Dale finally lost the battle and began to laugh. Raiden finally cracked a smile at the annoyed look on his dabba’s face. Dale was laughing, and holding on to the table for support. Just then their brother ran through the seating area.
“Barbed wonder, barbed wonder,” Kaylo yelled, running around the table, screaming what he heard at the top of his lungs.  
“Oh Lord, nowyou’ve done it.” Dale, holding the table, launched into a new fit of hysterics.
Dale snickered again as Keyno grabbed Kaylo, and threw him over his shoulder. His hair was white like Keyno’s but had a brown fringe around the bottom. His eyes had the slit-like pupils like Keyno’s, but the color was hazel—like Dale’s used to be. He did have Keyno’s ears, but no tail. Kaylo was a bit smaller than an average Ta’Narian young. His skin was the warm golden brown like Szin’s. 
“Damn parrot,” Raiden mumbled. 
“Hey, I tried to talk you into leaving him out in the woods and you said no,” Szin reminded his older brother.
“Hmm, wonder if it’s too late to rethink that decision. I should’ve listened to you when I had the chance.” Raiden laughed as Keyno dropped Kaylo to the floor. He immediately ran to his older brother and tackled Raiden around the legs. 
“What’s a barbed wonder?” Kaylo asked.
“Have fun with that, brother dear.”  A smirk hovered around Szin’s mouth.
“You started this, you explain it to him,” Raiden hissed. 
“You’re on your own. I have things to check on—like all the gifts that are piling up over there in the far corner of the room.” Szin winked, and walked off, leaving Raiden with a half-blooded young trying to climb his leg. 
“Wow, watch the claws, kitten,” Raiden said.
“I’m no kitten,” Kaylo hissed dramatically. “I’m He-Male, Master of the Uni-Uni- how do you say it?” Kaylo turned sweet hazel eyes on Raiden.
“Aw Gods, Szin’s been letting you watch those old Earth cartoons again, hasn’t he? It’s He-Man not male, and the word is universe. Now let go; I need to see if Takeo has arrived.”
“I saw Takeo earlier. He was looking for Szin.” Kaylo scampered down Raiden’s leg. 
“Yeah,” Raiden said quietly, “imagine he is. Gods, I need to find him.”
TBC