February 3rd: Fear - Our heroes receive a warning about the enemy's latest battle plans.
How sad that Shen is their enemy :(
Chiaotzu smiled as Tien jumped into his little cot, pulled the thin blanket up to his chin and flopped dramatically back onto the pillow. The telepath hummed quietly, a soothing lullaby, as he straightened the blanket and tucked it up around the boy's shoulders.
"Chaozu stay," Tien said. He pulled one arm free of the blanket and caught Chiaotzu's hand. "Sleep. Stay."
"I'm sorry, Tien. Master Shen has asked to see me." Chiaotzu squeezed Tien's hand, trying to reassure through the simple motion. "I might be gone a while but…hopefully I'll be back by morning."
"Chaozu win," Tien said solemnly.
"Yes, I'll win. I'll always come back to you. I promise." Chiaotzu smiled and retucked Tien's arm under the blanket. The boy stared up at him with three sleepy but concerned eyes.
"Love you," he said, his voice earnest, and Chiaotzu's eyes prickled with unexpected tears.
Chiaotzu bent and gently kissed the toddler's cheek. "Try to get some sleep. I'll be here when you wake up."
Tien's eyes slid closed and Chiaotzu quietly slipped from the room. As he walked towards Shen's quarters he worked on hiding his emotions. This was an assignment. Nothing more. Never mind that Tien's simple acceptance and uncomplicated love had burrowed into the telepath's soul and lit a small flame of affection that he hadn't felt for a long time. It was frightened but wonderful and he had to keep it hidden from their master.
As he approached Shen's room he heard low, cold voices conversing softly, making his ears prick up despite the gut reaction that told him to announce his presence, to stop eavesdropping.
"What makes you think the boy has so much potential?"
Shen's younger brother, Tao Pai Pai, sounded frustrated and his tone was dropping by degrees with each word.
"There's something there, Tao. With the two of them. I'll make the telepath teach the boy telepathy and the pair of them will be unstoppable."
Chiaotzu shuddered, his eyes widening. The pair of them? Him and Tien? What could they possibly see in a toddler who could barely write his own name?
The door opened. Tao exited, ignoring Chiaotzu as he fiddled with his braid. The telepath remained huddled close to the wall for a prolonged moment, then approached the door and knocked.
"Ah, Chiaotzu, please come in." Shen was standing by the window, looking out at the full moon. "How is Tienshinhan doing?"
"He's doing well, Master," Chiaotzu said awkwardly. "He's...he's only small. He is small and still learning how to talk and write and walk…" Underlying his words was a subtle prayer, the plea of please don't do this, please spare this boy. Of please don't make me do this.
Shen smiled, a slow sly grin that made Chiaotzu's skin flush with fear. "Excellent. You've been doing well. I want you to start teaching him telepathy."
"Master, he's so young, I don't know if his mind could handle it." Seeing the smile start to twist, Chiaotzu quickly dipped in a bow. "I...I'll try, Master."
"Good. Dismissed."
Shen turned his back. Chiaotzu left, his mouth pulling down at the corners and his stomach roiling with fear. He didn't want to do this. He didn't want to infiltrate the boy's mind and make it malleable to Shen's manipulation. But if he didn't then Shen would, and that would be much worse for the young triclops.
Their room was silent. Tien was breathing in soft whispering snores, curled up on his side with his hands folded before his face and his knees drawn up close to his chin. Chiaotzu looked at him for a long moment, watching the boy sleep peacefully, then as gently as he could slipped into the cot beside him, leaving his own bed empty.
Tien grumbled quietly in his sleep, then rolled over and nestled closer as Chiaotzu gingerly wrapped his arms around the toddler's body. A small sad smile touched Chiaotzu's lips. He bent and kissed Tien's smooth forehead just above his closed third eye. Tears stung and he blinked them away, almost angry at the show of emotion.
"I love you too, Tien," he whispered. "So, so much…"
And he drifted into a shallow, uneasy sleep.