(Two)

The next couple of days went by quietly in the Lab. The Siskans all settled in and found their routines. Kimble was just as fascinated by Babette as he was with Aiden, and tried to spend as much time with her as Aiden, not wanting her to be jealous of his distraction. It didn't take Kimble long to realize that she was deeply devastated inside at the loss of both her Master and her Angel and needed constant comfort and care. He was naturally helpful and tried his best to comfort her, but was at a loss. She didn't mind when he climbed in bed with her and Aiden, in fact she seemed to like him there, mainly because of the happy gleam in Aiden's eyes. She could feel Aiden's growing desire for Kimble and it pleased her to know her companion was fitting in so well. They would all snuggle together under the blankets, Babette in the middle, and nap like children, something that made Beast smile happily every time he saw it.

Babette's persistent melancholy threatened to depress an already unstable Kimble but Aiden wouldn't stand for it. He was very observant of the pilot and took him right under his wing with a kind of brotherly possessiveness. He did not want Kimble to ponder what might happen if his own Angel were to suffer the same fate as Babette's David. If he saw Kimble sliding down, he was quick to start a game or to joke around. He wanted Kimble's laughter, had grown drunk on it. Kimble was easy to please and it didn't take much for Aiden to start him giggling and playing around.

Henry and Gambit watched all this with fatherly amusement and joked around about it. They could see the growing attraction between the two Siskans and it was fun to watch. The two Siskans followed each other around, playing games and frolicking about, something Kimble hadn't had much desire to do in a long, long time. The pilot was falling in love, something that pleased Remy. Gone were the masochistic mumblings Kimble had uttered, gone was the brooding heaviness behind his eyes. It was as if all memory of the affair with Mary was gone and had never happened. It was never spoken of and Gambit was content with that for the now.

Angel was brought down a couple of times for Kimble to visit with, but she was still kept separate from the other Siskans. Logan insisted on that, he still hadn't liked how Remy had brought the two new Siskans directly down into the secure levels like that. His investigations in New Orleans had turned up very little and he had no reason to suspect treachery on their part towards this child, but he was taking no chances. Angel missed her daddy and Kimble would hold her and cry with happiness at the sight of her. He never wanted to let her go and their partings were painful. She was still under Remy's care and constantly under protective surveillance. It had only been two days since the arrival of these new Siskans, not time enough for security measures to be relaxed.

During the day, Gambit's presence was almost constant in the Lab. He volunteered his services as observer of all the Siskans and made sure all was well, bullying his way into the job and accepting no protests about it. If Charles was pissed about all the training classes he was missing, he could give a shit. Remy spent a lot of that time at Babette's side, offering the simple comfort of his presence. It concerned him how she was so listless and wouldn't leave her bed. She did not charge from the sun and so stayed as she was, feeding off of the cubes that Remy was charging for her.

It was the afternoon of the second day when he was sitting on the edge of Babette's bed and took her hand. "How you doin', chere?"

"Been better I have."

"Bien sur. Dis Gambit can see. Anyt'ing 'e can do fo' you?"

"Worry not for me. Look at them, happy they are," Babette commented, looking across the room to where Kimble and Aiden were currently engrossed in a game of Monopoly. Gambit had brought it down with several others in an attempt to keep the Siskans amused. As much as they played, Aiden was never where he couldn't see Babette or answer her call if she needed anything.

"Dey hit it off pretty quick, dose two."

"Glad am I to see Aiden happy. So long he has been without a new friend."

" 'E always 'ave you, chere."

"Not like this. Aiden's heart, stolen it is."

Remy looked across at them, seeing the truth in their shines. Kimble hadn't been this happy in a long time. His shine was shimmering blue with contentment — he was winning the game, or perhaps Aiden was letting it happen. Either way, Kimble had lost that distant, far away look he had been having in his eyes. There were no lapses of silence, no brooding. All day long he had laughed. His change in posture and behavior was startling.

"Dis a new improvement or did Aiden get better after I left?" Remy tossed out, thinking how different Aiden was now from the dark and sullen creature he had presented back at the palace. Seven years was long enough for some changes.

"Better he is for coming here. He dreams less."

Remy quirked an eyebrow at that. He had been hearing that Aiden had had a couple of nightmares already while here in the Lab. "What you mean less?"

Babette shifted nervously, but she had always felt comfortable with him so she replied, "He greatly fears the Game, Aiden does. I think he saw something before we left. Stubborn he was and did not say, but I don't think..."

"Don' t'ink what, chere?" Remy prompted when she dropped off and left that dangling.

"Don't think Jael was a surprise to him, me. I think he tried to warn our Master and that Trishnar did not listen. The pain was deep in Aiden, much anger and pain is there. Less of it now I see, that my brother's mind is elsewhere."

Remy nodded, digesting what she had said. He got the idea she was being very general and not giving him details, but perhaps that could wait for later. Aiden had confessed none of this to Logan in his interview, but then Aiden would not trust the man, they hardly knew each other. Maybe he could get Aiden to talk about it later. Remy decided to let it drop and said, "P'etetre, we seein' a change fo' de better fo' bot' our Siskans, fille. But you, chere? You worry me. Time fo' you to be up an' movin' about."

"Not ready am I. A large place this is. Happy I am to stay in here and watch my Aiden play."

Gambit was silent a moment, taking the time to use his power to read her. He didn't like what he was feeling. / She's hiding something, Shi'ow-ri was whispering now. / Her emotions are cloaked, hidden from you. It's best if she is not left alone. I fear she might be a danger to herself. /

It was not out of the question for a Siskan to consider suicide, Remy was more than aware that Kimble had contemplated it many a time. Remy made a promise to himself not to leave her alone for too long. Hopefully she would pull out of this if given enough time.

Gambit's inspection was cut short when the Med Bay doors opened and Cyclops and Jean arrived. Aiden and Babette had been here only two days and they had yet to be formally introduced to the senior members of the team. Looked like the time had come for the new arrivals to be inspected.

Gambit rose and walked over to greet his teammates, praying silently for this to go well. He beamed a radiant smile on them, doing his best to charm as he said, "Bonjour, mes amis."

"Heard we had some new arrivals," Scott began, looking about the room with the eyes of a man used to assessing situations and making judgements on how things were going. He noted a pleasantly happy Kimble sitting across Aiden. Everything seemed fine over there, just two kids playing a board game. He hadn't witnessed Kimble's little meltdown with Mary though he had seen pictures. It had been hard to equate the carnage he had seen with the passive Siskan that had shuffled so submissively around the house. He knew Kimble had a taste for violence but Kimble had always been on the receiving end, not the other way around. Scott had read a report that since Kimble had been placed down here there had been no trouble at all, not even when the strangers had come. Kimble was back to being himself, the monster was sleeping within. Hopefully it would never wake again.

Cyclops frowned slightly when he next took in Babette's poor drawn face and said, "Sorry the introductions have been so late. I hope our guests are all right."

"Oui, dey fine," Gambit replied. This was the first visit by the big brass, the Complex was still under construction and there were many administrative duties that had kept the Professor and Warren away from actually meeting these new Siskans. Charles' compromise was to send his Second instead. Gambit turned to the bed and said, "Dis petite fille is Babette. She one of Trishnar's Siskans from N'awlins. She help me find out about de Games Master. Wit'out 'er, Kimble wouldn't be fixed."

Scott smiled at Babette as they were introduced, all the while biting back the urge to comment, Who said he was fixed? The guy's still a nut job to me.

Easy, Scott. This is just an introduction, his telepathic wife sent back. She held out her hand for Babette. "Hello, it's nice to meet you."

"Hello," Babette replied, her mouth spreading into a smile. It erased the signs of her worry and loss and made her seem more like herself.

"An' dis 'ere is Aiden, 'er companion," Remy continued.

"Hello," Jean said once more and offered her hand.

Aiden was grinning now and slowly rose to his feet to take it with both of his own, every move telegraphing a rich sexual interest. Like Kimble, Aiden could be graceful when he wanted to be, when he wanted to seduce. He was all liquid animal magnetism now, flexing his muscles and preening for her, appearing more sensual and dangerous. A beautiful creature, like a panther waiting to pounce. His eyes gleamed at her like prey, like he wanted nothing more than for her to give up all control and let him simply ravish her right then and there.

Oh, no. Here we go again, Jean couldn't help but think. She'd had a similar first encounter with Kimble years ago. She allowed the newcomer to touch her and prepared for the worst.

"Cheerii dumask etet," Aiden replied smoothly in the Muzla, knowing the exotic tongue would add to his mystery, and bowed low to kiss her hand. His eyes were half closed and his mouth curled in a pleasured smile, as if the privilege of touching her was enough to make him high.

Jean couldn't help but flush and laugh a little. She felt his power come at her, lapping against the pleasure centers of her brain. It was far stronger than Kimble's and it instantly spread through her like a fever, making her a bit too warm.

"I hope that was hello," she giggled.

"Indeed it wasz, pretty. May I 'ave ze pleaszure of your name?"

She cocked her head at his strange accent. It was like Remy's but yet its own creature, smooth and full of 'z's. "I'm Jean."

"And I'm Scott Summers, her husband," Cyclops interrupted a bit rudely. He held out his own hand to break their contact. He didn't like the way his wife was blushing.

Not to be undaunted, Aiden turned his pale green eyes on the male offering before him. His posture changed subtly as this new situation presented itself. He was softer now, his body stance becoming less intimidating and more feminine. He wasn't backing down any, merely adjusting. "Hmm, yesz. Aiden 'asz 'ear of you. You much more in ze flesh. Tell me, what color are you eyesz? Aiden cannot szee zem."

"W-what?" Scott stammered lamely, flustered as much by the unaccustomed question as he was by Aiden's chameleon like body language. He had no idea what to expect. "Uh, brown."

Aiden smiled mischievously and gave Scott a sip of his power as he exchanged Jean's hand for his. "Brown isz good. Ze color of wiszdom. Probably why Aiden 'asz dem not, eh?"

Scott shivered as much from the vibration of desire that came at him from nowhere as from the strange words he was hearing. He had no idea how this conversation had taken this direction, but he was teetering badly here, drawn into those pale green eyes full of playful hunger and need.

"C'est assez, Aiden," Gambit complained with a soft snicker, separating them with a gentle nudge to Aiden's shoulder. He couldn't help but find the whole thing somewhat hilarious. He had seen Scott wavering simply by the fact that for one moment Scott had lost his normally rigid posture and actually relaxed. His shine had sparkled brightly from Aiden's Kundatesh and Remy could see the arousal.

Once separated, Cyclops took an awkward step back, switching from dazed curiosity to tightly controlled anger. He was shocked that Aiden had gotten past his mental defenses so easily. It was as if he had woken up to find his hand stuck in a bag of worms, he was so disgusted by the reaction that had been drawn out of him unbidden. "I came here to welcome you. I hope that you remember that you came to us for aid and there will be no trouble."

"Trouble?" Aiden asked, stepping back himself to take a more defensive posture. He could read Scott's shine as well. It was telegraphing his anger...and his disgust as well. This one was not receptive to his advances and never would be. This was more than his being married, Scott was vibrating a strong anti-Siskan sentiment.

"Yes. We've seen that you Siskans can be unruly and hard to manage at times."

"Scott!" Jean complained. She looked at Aiden in apology. "What he means to say is that we have rules here. I hope you don't mind being confined for a while. As it is, we can see that your companion Babette needs the rest."

"It isz no trouble," Aiden replied, his shine sparkling an angry black now as he spoke the lie. "Perhapsz you will learn zat we Sziszkansz are not at all what we szeem, eh?"

"And you, Kimble, how are you feeling?" Scott inquired, turning his eyes in that direction. He hadn't really wanted to know, he was just being polite in front of their guests.

Kimble's eyes were down now, submissive. He had felt the Second in Command's disgust towards Aiden and it tanked his high spirits. It wasn't just that Scott disliked Aiden, it was that Scott disliked all of the Siskans. It had always been this way, Kimble's lack of emotional and sexual control had seen to that. The only one he barely tolerated was Seth and he had always kept their conversations short as though he wasn't going to give Seth an opportunity to let him down. "I'm fine, sir," Kimble replied, his voice low.

"Good then," Cyclops replied, eager to leave and make his report. "You'll be settled in in a couple of more days," he said to Aiden. "Enjoy your stay."

"Oh, I intend to," the Siskan replied with meaning, not letting Scott off the hook so easily. He was furious at how Kimble had reacted. It smacked of habit and told him that Kimble had been put down before. Kimble did not feel accepted, not even by those who claimed to be his family.

"Well dat was smooth," Gambit snapped at Aiden as soon as Jean and Scott had left. He knew by experience that Aiden could be handful but had hoped the Siskan would have controlled himself better than this. "You tryin' to alienate everyone you meet, cher?"

Aiden looked at him disarmingly, that arrogant smile firmly in place. "Whatever do you mean?" he asked with saccharine sweetness.

"Don' use your power like dat. Most folks don' like it."

"Eszpecially you men, eh? What have you to fear from me? I am 'armlessz, me."

"Oh, you far from 'armless, Aiden. We bot' know dat. Don' be playin' your little games round 'ere. Folks 'ere ain't so fo'givin' as me."

Aiden started to comment further but a sharp noise from Babette silenced him. / Dreamer, behave! she vibrated. / Need my rest I do!

He hung his head in submissive regret, not because he had acted badly, but because he had upset her. "Szorry, my love," he whispered softly, taking her hand and kissing it.

"Settle down and play, you," she ordered firmly, forgiving him. He smiled at her and looked back at Kimble. The pilot was still low, the lowest he had been since Aiden's arrival. The Monopoly game hadn't been finished, but he was already putting the pieces away. He was vibrating pain and suffering and wanted only to find a small place to hide.

"What'sz disz, eh?" Aiden asked, coming closer.

"Just wants to sleep," Kimble mumbled drearily, not looking up at him.

Just in the short time they had been together, Aiden had already noticed that Kimble slept far more than a normal Siskan should. The average 'gram only required four hours or so a day. The only reason Aiden could guess as to why Kimble would need to sleep so much was to escape from a world he did not feel comfortable in. Aiden wasn't about to support Kimble's need to hide away. No, if he had his way, he would give Kimble endless reasons to stay awake. To stay awake and play with him.

"Non, it time for szome szun, let'sz go up," Aiden suggested, glancing at Gambit for approval. The thief would have to accompany them.

"Good idea," Remy agreed. Kimble always felt better after a charge. "Let's go, buddy."

He tugged on Kimble and brought him to his feet, steering him to the door.

Minutes later, Remy was leaning against the railing of one of the guard shacks and openings for the lower levels, idly wishing for a cigarette. That had been a hard habit to break for him. He had made a promise to Kimble that if the Siskan would give up his desire for bio-produced plasma, he would quit smoking. Both had agreed to the promise, both had backslid more than once. Remy still had that emergency pack in his pocket, freshly opened from when Kimble had just had that spill with Mary. He fingered it but left it in his pocket.

Right now, Remy was enjoying the view. He was up here watching two Siskans fall in love. They had come up to one of the nearby parking areas for the Blackbird jets, using an access route stairwell that took them far away from the main Complex building. It was warm out here as it always was in the desert, but a nice soft breeze was blowing the sand around pleasantly. Both Aiden and Kimble were a few paces away, frolicking about in the bright sunshine. Aiden was taking advantage of the wide open area and was trying to do his ritual exercises, but Kimble was being very disruptive. His spirits had recovered just on the short trip up here and he was now was playfully pestering Aiden with obnoxious questions and trying to imitate Aiden's movements. Remy knew perfectly well that Kimble was properly trained in these exercises, Logan had taught him years ago. He was just flubbing it up for the attention.

Aiden completed one smooth movement, but bobbled as Kimble said something stupid and made him laugh. That was a strange sound, Aiden hadn't laughed all that much back at Trishnar's when Remy had first met him. Aiden had been sullen and quiet, skulking around the house and keeping pretty much to himself. He was being bright and open now, normal. As much as Kimble was reviving a bit from his visitor, so Aiden was coming out of his shell.

Feeling flirtatious, Kimble reached up over his shoulders and pulled his shirt off back to front, arching his back and flapping his wings to stretch. It was much cooler inside the Complex and he was warming up fast from the exercise and the Arizona heat. Aiden paused, momentarily breathless.

Remy's smile grew wider as he watched the rapid change in Aiden's shine. The calm and passive blue had changed to a sparkly red, a sign of his arousal. He had gotten a rush just watching Kimble undress.

Kimble noticed it too. He cocked his head and flexed, deliberately preening.

"You szuch a teasze!" Aiden hissed in Siskan, his eyes playful. He had spoken in Siskan for a reason, they weren't alone. Two of Logan's guards stood beside Remy over at the railing. It was now procedure for any time the Siskans came up topside, Remy's presence alone was no longer enough.

"What? It's hot," Kimble said, pretending innocence.

Aiden just nodded and played his next move, removing his own shirt as well. He was lean and well muscled as any decent Siskan should be. He was beautiful in the sun and he knew it. Most of the damage done to him was gone now, faded considerably from a couple day's charge. He moved around Kimble in a slow circle and began to sing. The song was in Siskan, a crude song of lust.

Come come to me my love

Take me in, your body like a glove

Hot and wet, give me some

Feel me, fuck me, make me cum

Kimble was momentarily struck dumb. It had been years since he had heard anything of his home world. His own memory was fractured and disjointed, whole years were missing, especially those in the very beginning. He knew this song, but didn't know who had taught it to him or why. It was a stupid little thing, a pathetic little limerick, but it made him shake with pleasure to hear it.

Aiden sensed Kimble's wonder if not the why. He laughed and repeated the silly ditty, dancing now in slow, deeply erotic moves and snapping his fingers to make time. Kimble began to pace him, giggling and singing along. Aiden switched verses, the next quatrain much cruder than the first, his moves matching his words as his erotic dance continued. Kimble followed with his own and it became a game, to see who could be nastier. On and on it went, the two of them circling each other like flirtatious little kids, their hands reaching out to touch.

Remy was laughing softly now. He understood Siskan very well, even the crude slang, and he thought it was hilarious. He hadn't known Aiden could dance, but guessed he should have known, all Siskans were supposedly fully trained in the many arts of pleasure. Aiden's dance was seductive, Kimble's intense interest left no doubt of that.

Gambit couldn't take his own eyes off of Aiden, either. His draw was too powerful. Kimble had long since shown him the pleasure of a man, and even though he had made a vow to Molly he would keep, he couldn't help the shiver of lust he felt just watching that slender blonde body moving with its liquid feline grace. Aiden was vibrating, / You know you want me as much as I want you. And when it happens it's going to be glorious. / It was hard for his Siskan self to ignore.

"Stupid fuckin' queers. What are we doin' out here anyway?"

Gambit paused in his chuckling and his red eyes slowly slid to his right. The guards were right next to him, out here on Logan's orders. His two companions were laughing contemptuously to one another, clearly not enjoying the show. One of them was Gambit's old buddy Jerry Maxwell, the telekinetic from when Kimble had transformed into Zander. Since then ol' Jerry had pretty much made up his mind about Kimble and it wasn't favorable. He was looking on the pilot now with a look of pure disgust.

"This is shit, man. We should be out there fighting, not watchin' this faggot crap."

Kimble faltered, his sensitive body picking up on their vibrations of loathing immediately. He stopped his own dance and stood in place, his head down and his wings slumping. He was tuning out, hearing stirrings from within, the censure had roused Lin and the soft whisperings began. We should go back inside. It's too big out here.

Kimble wasn't allowed a chance to respond to his inner voices. Aiden's ability to read Kimble had told him many things about this pilot. He could easily sense the damage and the inadequate repair that was only barely holding him together. He had recognized the blank look on Kimble's face and knew what it meant. He didn't like it and gave him a gentle shove. "Eh? Keemble! Where you at? Look at me."

Kimble snapped out of it and looked up, his pale blue eyes rimmed with pain.

Aiden snarled softly in anger, pissed that his playful attempts at courtship had once again been so rudely interrupted, and looked over Kimble's shoulder. The two guards had frozen in place, they had thought themselves too far away to be heard. They had been unaware of Kimble's empathy and hadn't realized their hate could be felt until now. They were unsure of how they had been noticed and the air was heavy with an impending confrontation. Remy stood up straight now, ready to respond if he was needed.

He wasn't. Aiden looked back into Kimble's face and said rather loudly, "What you care desze two 'uman shitsz t'ink, eh? Dey not'ing but Chuckfet, organic 'uman trash."

"They hates me," Kimble mumbled soft and low.

"Huh? Szo what? You t'ink zey are better dan usz causze dey real an' you are not? Hah! Zey de onesz wort'less! Zey cannot feel what a Sziszkan can feel, zey cannot live ze way we live. Dey ze onesz dead. Aiden cannot imagine not being able to feel ze rush of a client cummin' like ze four windsz. Dey ze onesz empty, dey ze onesz not wort' ze air zey breathe. Fuckin' waszte of flesh an' szpace!"

"Hey! What the fuck is your problem!" Jerry shouted, coming closer. Aiden had intended that his comments be overheard and they had been. Jerry was easily roused to anger and hadn't liked Aiden's derisive words. Jerry wasn't quite sure how this had started but he wasn't about to sit still for it.

"My problem? Your piecze of shit, bigoted leetle mind, puke!" Aiden retorted, his eyes hungry at the thought of battle.

"Whoa dere, boys!" Remy interrupted, stepping forward. He hadn't liked that Kimble felt so much shame for his natural sexual tendencies, but Aiden's outburst was uncalled for and shocking. As much as Aiden was complaining about the prejudices of the guards, it was clear that Aiden suffered from his own bigotry as well. His body was vibrating a strong anti-non-Siskan sentiment. So much for Aiden taking his advice about controlling his temper and Siskan ways. "Take it easy, mes amis."

"You got a smart mouth, little boy," Jerry said to Aiden, ignoring Gambit completely.

"It szmart all right, yesz. Szmart and talented, too," Aiden replied with an evil sneer. He grabbed Kimble's cheeks and kissed him, a pure vampire kiss full of lustful intent. Kimble tried to fight, believing such a display would get him beaten or worse. On the one hand, he was drowning in the embrace, loving every moment of it, but he was screaming inside. He had hidden his desire for men deep inside back at the Institute, only letting it out in far away private places. He had learned long ago that this way of loving wasn't acceptable here and often lead to violence. He wanted none of that.

"Why you, little perverted - " Jerry started, coming forward. He was grabbed from behind by his partner.

"Don't, Jerry. This guy ain't worth it."

"Oh, Aiden isz wort' it all right!" the Siskan challenged, not done having his say. "You want a piecze of disz, eh? I'll szuck you szo good, you never aszk for a woman again! Make you cum szo 'ard, your brainsz shatter!"

Jerry lunged and his partner grabbed him, tossing him back. "Leave it! He's trying to get us busted! It isn't worth it!"

Jerry shook his head and shoulders, loosening up, and backed off, his face bright red. He was furious, a hothead unable to let this little faggot boy have the last word. "This isn't over!"

"Oh, I 'ope not, preciousz," Aiden said, blowing him a kiss.

Jerry lunged again and was shoved back, this time with Remy giving a hand. The thief gave Aiden a burning glare of warning. "C'est assez! Dat's enough! Aiden, you just back off now! What you tryin' ta prove, eh?"

Aiden didn't move an inch. He turned his attention back to Kimble who had wilted in his hands from the confrontation. Kimble's shine was now swirling black and he had gone back to staring off into nothing, his conscience back in the Black Room of his own mind. Lakotashay, the Quitter and the Mistress of his own self loathing, was stirring. Aiden wasn't about to let her. "Eh? What'sz disz, Keemble? Don' you let desze Chuckfet trash make you shine turn to black, eh? Don' you ever let nobody make you t'ink bein' Sziszkan a cursze!"

Kimble's eyes suddenly focused on Aiden's and his shine shimmered brightly. "What?"

Remy shoved Jerry back into place and turned to watch as something magical happened. Kimble's shine was swirling from black to green in an incertain, nervous churn of emotion. Green was a color long absent from his friend, it was sign of pride. Of self worth.

Aiden locked Kimble in place once more with his both hands and his forceful spirit. "Don' ever let nobody make you t'ink bein' Sziszkan isz wrong! I szeen you. Szeen ze way you act around zem. You try to be Chuckfet, try to be like zem. Hah! Aiden never want to be deir way! 'E Sziszkan and proud of it! 'E love ze girlsz, love ze boysz, too. Don' matter not'ing. 'E make zem all cry wit szuch joy at ze touch of 'isz 'andsz. I embraze my 'eritage! What better dan usz! We live from ze sun, we immortal now. Godsz! We live on a whole other plane of existanze from zem. We alive! Dey ze onesz dead!" he finished dramatically, bringing Kimble close for another bruising kiss.

Kimble's shine was bright and glowing ever brighter with each second he was in contact with Aiden's mouth. He was filled with a vibration of Aiden's pride and self worth, a vibration so powerful it roused him with a sense of self he hadn't felt in years. For a long time now he'd done just as Aiden said, trying to bend himself to fit into a human shape. It hadn't been working out too well. Being with Aiden made him want to stop all of that. Aiden didn't walk around with his head down, he didn't constantly watch to see if what he was doing was acceptable or not. He behaved as he was -as a Siskan who's feet were firmly on the ground. Kimble was filled with a terrible jealousy, one that was being washed away by that very kiss. "Don' fight it no more, Keem," Aiden whispered now, his lips still so close. "We are what we are. What we are meant to be. What doesz 'Sziszkan' mean?"

"It means the 'good people'," Kimble recited faithfully, his voice growing stronger.

"Dat'sz right. All ze Sziszkansz dead 'cept for usz. Now we ze Good People. Tay kunda Siska esken. We are ze Sziszkansz and we are alive. We are ze very beszt. We are ze onesz real."

Kimble whimpered softly and embraced his new friend tightly, not wanting to let him go. Aiden allowed it with a gentle laugh, his pale green eyes daring his human guards to say anything about it. Nobody was, Remy had the situation back under control. Aiden then set Kimble back on his feet. He tipped Kimble's chin up, straightening his shoulders and making him stand tall. "Who are you, eh?" he asked, his voice confident and firm.

"I'm Kimble. I'm Siskan."

"Got dat right. Who isz real?"

"I am."

"Damn sztraight, an' never let no one tell you diff'rent," Aiden agreed and took a step back. "Now where wasz I? Ah yesz. Dere once wasz a lady from Sziszka..."

Remy smiled and relaxed, pleasantly astonished at what he had just witnessed. Just like that Aiden had skillfully pulled Kimble back from the brink and he had done it in such a way that Kimble was stronger than ever before. Perhaps his prayers had finally been answered.

The guards were still muttering to themselves, but Kimble no longer heard them. He was focused on Aiden and back to playing the game. Back to laughing. Back to being alive.