-Two years later-
Riki cursed pulling apart Sian and Lavender yet again.
"What did I say about hitting your brother? Family doesn't fight, we clear?" he scowled as Lavender continued his endless fit of wailing.
Though they were the most identical they found it impossible to get along. In the day they were warring feudal lords and in the night they were snuggle bears for each other. At this rate Riki wasn't certain he would be able to keep up.
"Here take her," Riki heaved a sigh handing her over to Iason as Hades prepared him for work.
Although he was already holding Siege he took his fuming daughter puffing with rage.
By not their differences were becoming more acute as they grew, which Iason was silently grateful for. He had been ready to put name tags on them which he knew Riki would strongly disagree with when notable changes in their appearances started acting up. Though it wasn't her best trait, he could identify Sian by her feisty attitude always rebelling against anything she didn't like. Lavender on the other hand was far more docile but proved to be a force never to be reckoned with when angered. Their hair was relatively the same length that brushed their elbows and their bright blue eyes did wonders to mirror each other.
"Excuse me Master Iason your going to be late for your dinner reservation," Hades stated as he took Sian and Siege from Iason so he could finish dressing on his own before taking them to their rooms
"I swear if she punches him again I'm gonna knock her lights out," Riki threatened as he gently bounced the crying Blond pressed against his shoulders.
"There really is no need it'll heal in no time and besides she takes after you quite well," Iason stated nonchalantly as his son reached for him.
Slipping on his shoes he accepted the wailing bundle as Riki opted for easing against the wall behind him.
Soon enough his cries were followed by silence as he simply clung to his father he was ever so fund of.
"Are you ready to tell us what happened?" Iason questioned after a moments silence.
"I didn't want to play," his words were simply, soft as a whisper and clear.
Riki rolled his eyes. It was the same thing every time, Sian was being forceful when things didn't swing her way she resorted to force. He sighed, only the great one above knew of his fears that he was raising a terrorist. This was where it all started first bulling then world domination.
Lavender was very soft spoken and cautious, if anything calling him an introvert this early might just be an understatement but Sian really didn't care.
"I see," Iason rested the little mink on his feet before brushing aside his tears, "staying strong in your resolve was the right thing to do. You must never allow yourself to fell intimidation but there are also times when humoring her wouldn't be so horrible."
"But I don't want to. I hate playing games wit Sian I don't know how to deal wit that," he was on the verge of tears again.
"Yes I know but there will come a time when you will have to learn," Iason stated as he rose to his feet.
"In all honesty it wouldn't hurt to clock her one every once in a while you know," Riki stated watching as Lavender took after his father on unsteady little legs.
Unlike the others he had decided to walk a bit later which resulted in him having difficulty getting a around on his own. Riki's heart faltered ever time he watched him fall but refused to move from where he was. It was natural to fall, and the same went for crying they would have to learn to get back up on their own.
Unlike Sian who welcomed every fall Lavender preferred to stay down afraid of the pain that came with falling. But it wasn't long before he learnt that falling and getting back up was a part of a greater struggle to get where he was going. Which in his shinning blue eyes was anywhere Iason was.
"Papa going to work?" Lavender Questioned as he tailed Iason.
"Yes but I will be sure to return shortly," Iason stated turning smiling eyes on his son why shied away from his gaze once he had his full attention.
"I want to come too," he spoke tentatively seeming as though he was ready to run and hide behind Riki at any moment the way he always did when he was feeling nervous.
"I apologize but not today but I promise to take you with me tomorrow," he got down on one knee to plant a kiss on his forehead as the little Mink beamed.
"You know he's going to hold you to that right?" Riki stated as Iason drew him close for a kiss.
"I'm hoping he doesn't but I always make good on my word, don't I?"
Riki smiled against Iason's lips on his fighting off a laugh as he watched Lavender stare up at them.
"Are you going to pick up Raven or should I?" Riki enquired after the parted quite reluctantly.
"That's quite fine Katze should be dropping him off any mo-,"
Without warning the little mink was gone in a shot moment before the doorbell chimed and Hades went to answer it. As a familiar sensation coursed through them, they knew Katze was right on time.
Hades sighed after tucking the last of the little Mink's in bed. As per usual Sian was the last to call it a night refusing to sleep before seven at least. But, he brushed back a lock of black hair away from Raven mouth; Raven went out like a light. Spending most of his days learning from Jupiter they ensured they swamped him with the details of all he had missed out on as soon as he returned.
It must have been tough on him but like a true Mink he took it in stride. Who would have thought of all the persons Jupiter wanted she would choose Raven. But at least he understood the logics behind it. After her passing she wanted someone to rule who would be in favor of Ceres and Tanagura.
"Hades," the little voice that drew him from his thoughts came from Siege.
Of them all, he saw Iason most in him, from his long blond hair to his cold and stoic demeanor. Unlike the others he hardly spoke or engaged in anything but he was a critical thinker whose intellect rivaled that of even Jupiter herself.
"Yes young Master is there something that you need?" Hades breathed sauntering across the room to check on the little on, "you should be in bed, are you feeling unwell?"
"No," his voice was firm as his eyes traced ever step Hades took, "I was just wandering if you knew anything about the spaces between?"
Hades seemed taken aback as the little mink sat up to look at him directly, "where did you hear that?'"
"From Raven, usually he has his barriers up but when he falls asleep his thoughts always reach me," his voice was nonchalant dark blue eyes turning on his sleeping counterpart.
Hades sighed unlike the others gifted in telekinesis he was a subtle blend of telepathy and telekinesis. Though it was rough at first it got better after Raoul was put to the task of teaching them how to suppress it by implanting the thought directly into their minds. He shuddered at the recollection alone hoping he would never have any run ins with Am himself. Raoul was truly a being to be feared.
"Well I'm not entirely sure you would have to ask ka san and Tou san when you see them," Hades stated going over to Lavender who was started to hover over his bed in his sleep.
"But you must have some basic idea, they mentioned you several times," the mink pressed curiously.
"Did they now? I'm sure it must have been a coincidence then," he mused tucking Lavender back in bed this time making sure he didn't have to seek comfort off the bed rather than between the sheets.
Siege sighed already knowing that it wasn't going to be easy to get the furniture to spill the beans. For some reason he wasn't able to read his thoughts like everyone else's. It wasn't as though he mind had any barriers but they comprised of random symbols and letters that confessed that his thoughts had been encrypted.
"I'm certain it was no coincident father is too intricate in his making for that," Siege stated rather proudly.
"As I am certain but not Katze and what of Ka san, master Riki?" Hades questioned mindless of Siege's eyes following every sway of rolling hips in curiosity as silent comparisons were being made.
"Young Master surely you must be tired," Hades came to kneel next to the young Master's bedside.
Siege was indeed tired but being a child full of pride he would rather put on airs and deny it than confess. But Hades knew him far too well as his knowing eyes smiled with mirth at the small act of defiance.
"At the moment young master I am tired but surely after a night's rest my memory will be fresh again in the morning," Hades didn't have to feign fatigue it was true that he was tired.
But siege would not be so easily deterred, "well then at least tell me one thing and you have my word not to speak of it again till tomorrow."
"If it is within my knowledge I will do all I can to answer," Hades stated mindful of Sian as she wrapped herself once again within her mental barriers.
"Raoul speaks rather fondly of a person who played devil's advocate to save us when we were yet to be born," his eyes held Hades as he did a small assessment of the furniture, "he goes by the name Apple. I want to know if you had known him."
For a moment Hades was taken aback of the lot Siege was the most perceptive and it didn't take much to know why.
"Well," Hades smiled not entirely knowing the reason why, "whether I did or not is a secret I'll ever tell."
The little Mink despite his expressionless face seemed puzzled. Hades could all but see the wheels turning his head.
Hades smiled leaving the little devil to ponder as he reached over to tuck him into bed.
"Why?" it was obvious that Siege wasn't about to yield as he handed him his favorite bed companion a doll Hades had made him the thing being far more treasured than life itself though he would never confess it.
Hades had to admit to he was a persistent one but he would humor him anytime he wished after all was one of his new roles as a furniture.
"Why?" he crossed his arms and rested a finger on his lower lip feigning deep contemplation, "because the answer to that is what ties the two of us now. This little secret is now our space in between," Hades mused coming to plant a kiss on the young master's cheek in the way that told him that his night had officially ended.
Siege, sighed deciding that even if he waited a thousand years Hades would never tell he would have to simply find out on his own. After all Hades was simply a creature too complex to fathom, it was in his nature to be difficult.
"Good night young Master," Siege watched as Hades bowed deeply his red hair momentarily veiling his face before he excused himself.
Before drifting off into slumber he had decided that he would uncover the true about the Spaces in Between even if it killed him. For some reason he felt as though it would have been in his best interest to know exactly what this new space between he shared with Hades meant and if he could share one with Apple. The little Mink was intrigued and itching for discovery but fatigue came swift and fierce sweeping him under before he even knew what happened.
-…-