Retribution
The twins were absolutely furious when they found out.
"But you can't! Not her!"
Vejiita stared at Sheftali as she paced angrily up and down the room, little fists clenched, the bite on her neck - and on that of her sister, who was sitting watching wide-eyed - still bleeding slightly. I really wish Vejiita had told them about me before he'd claimed them...
He let Sheftali rant for a few minutes, his eyes cold as the twin poured a flood of vituperative poison in my direction - then grabbed her wrists and dragged her to stand in front of him.
"Be quite clear about this. The Lady Leteetza is my Companion. She will be the guardian of my heirs. Her status surpasses yours. I will brook no opposition from you or your sister - you will do as she says. Or you will answer to me."
She cowered under his fierce scowl and glanced at me, her eyes frightened. Vejiita's grip tightened.
"Do you understand?"
"Y...yes, my lord."
"Good. Now you will both get into bed."
She stared at him. "W... what?"
He smirked. "You are both now in season. Get into bed. Unless you want me to take you here..?"
Sheftali glanced at me, and mutely shook her head. Vejiita released her wrist, and she dragged her sister through into the bedroom. The King wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me to him, twining his tail around mine.
*Duty calls. I will see you later.*
I nodded and kissed him. *Uh, my lord? Don't be too rough with them, please?*
He stared at me, eyes wide in surprise. Then he sneered. *After the way they have behaved, you intercede on their behalf?*
I shrugged. *You've humiliated them, and made my position clear. I see no need to make them suffer further.*
*You are too soft!* Then he smiled, and kissed my cheek. *But compassionate. Very well, I will be gentle. This first time, anyway.*
*Thank you, my lord.*
He shook his head mock-despairingly and made his way to the bedroom. I left for the day's training session...
The twins were very subdued when I next saw them, several days later. Almost courteous. And almost certainly pregnant: they had that different scent about them. Their own attendants were brought in to look after them - and Vejiita had me ensure a couple of the palace medics were allocated to their care - but the King had also asked me to keep an eye on them. As a favour: he freely admitted I could say no if I wanted - it wasn't part of my duties. But it didn't cause me any problems, and might even make it easier on the twins when the time came to give up the babies, so I agreed...
Sheftali was dozing: with a brief glance at her sister, Kayusu came to my side, her expression apprehensive. I smiled at her: she half-smiled back, which was a definite improvement on the way they normally looked at me!
"I was wondering..." she said, diffidently. "No-one's ever talked to us about having babies..."
"And you'd like me to?"
"Well, yes. If you don't mind." she added.
I sighed and nodded. "I'll do my best."
I wasn't likely to ever actually like the twins, but at least they were now more or less bearable. Sheftali was still prone to fits of temper (I was dreading what she'd be like later on) but Kayusu was reasonably tractable. And their behaviour had improved immensely. With me at least. They were still giving Radittsu a hard time, though, even though I'd tried to stop it.
The crunch came about sixteen days after Vejiita had first claimed them. I'd stopped off at Zha'haabron's suite to collect Radittsu for a training session when the call came through that the twins wanted to leave the palace. The captain swore quietly, his face thunderous, then glanced at me.
"I'm sorry, little warrior. I have to go."
I nodded. "I know. Don't worry about it." I smiled at the prince. "Do you mind if I stay and talk for a while?"
He regarded me gravely. "I would enjoy it. I have no appointments for several hours."
Radittsu kissed his bondmate, ruffled my hair, then headed quickly off towards the twins' suite. I settled myself cross-legged in a chair and gazed at Zha'haabron for a moment. He inclined his head.
"How are you coping?"
"With the twins? Not too badly..."
He smiled. "I meant, within yourself. With your feelings."
"For you and Radittsu, you mean?" It came out before I'd had time to think what I was saying, and I could feel my whole face burning - I must have gone bright red. I buried my face in my hands.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."
Cool hands pulled mine away from my face. Zha'haabron's expression was gently amused, but not particularly surprised.
"Yes you did. Would you like to talk about it?"
I gazed into his golden eyes and sighed. "Not really. If I don't talk about it it makes it less real, somehow. I'm coping. I'm too busy right now to really have the time to let it bother me."
He nodded very slightly and returned to his seat. "Very well. But know that I will always be ready to listen when you are ready to speak."
I gave him a shaky smile. "Thank you." I swallowed and changed the subject. "I haven't seen you for a few days. How are you?"
He laid a hand over his abdomen and frowned. "Something feels - unusual. Zh'leet has said there's nothing wrong, but... I'm uncertain."
"Do you think you ought to stop sparring yet?"
He shook his head. "It is still too early. I'm gaining strength from the combat."
I could feel that. His ki seemed half as high again as his norm: I wondered how he compared to Vejiita now. Perhaps I ought to make the time to be present at one of their sessions.
"How's Ti'aasaan?"
His expression softened. "Still lonely. But Gh'heegonan is keeping his promise: Ti'aasaan is being very well cared for."
I smiled. "I'm so glad."
For a moment Zha'haabron was contemplative, then he gazed at me.
"Do you have the time and inclination to continue our discussion of Saiya-jin customs?"
I brightened, pathetically glad of the diversion. "Sure!"
He gestured to his aide, delivering orders in his hissing native tongue, and the gn'ick'lehe scurried off to prepare cold drinks for us. Then he reached for a recorder, and settled back to listen. I grinned.
"Now, where did we get to..?"
About half an hour later a knock came on the door. It was Apyo: he bowed to both of us and grinned at me.
"My lady, the captain requested I stand in for him as a sparring partner for you - I'm sorry I'm late but I've only just managed to get away. Is it a good time?"
Zha'haabron smiled at me. "We can continue later."
I nodded at Apyo. "Sounds good to me!"
We both rose to our feet - then Zha'haabron gasped and wrapped his arms around himself, paling, dropping heavily to his knees and doubling over in pain. I knelt beside him, my arm across his shoulders.
"What is it? Is it the babies?"
He shook his head, expression agonised, voice strained.
"Radittsu... twins' suite..."
I bit my lip, staring up at Apyo. "You'd better hurry..."
Zha'haabron grabbed my arm. "No... both go.... Please..."
"You'll be all right?"
"Yes! Just go..."
I don't think either of us have ever flown so fast. But we arrived just a little too late...
Sheftali had Radittsu's tail in her hands: the big male was on his hands and knees, white and sweating with pain, teeth gritted, refusing to make a sound. It infuriated her: as Apyo and I appeared at the door there was a faint but audible crack as she twisted and pulled, breaking the bones. Radittsu's head snapped back, then he slumped forward, collapsing to the floor. She giggled, and her sister grinned.
"My turn..."
Leaving Apyo - wincing in sympathetic pain - at the door, I moved as I'd never moved before. As Kayusu reached to take hold I was in front of the pair of them, slapping Kayusu to the other side of the room and turning to Sheftali. She glared at me, fear in her eyes.
"Keep away from me. Or I'll break it again."
I grabbed her wrists.
"Let go. Now."
She kicked me, and I winced. She could kick very hard for someone so small. Her grip on Radittsu's tail tightened, and I heard him stifle a cry of pain. Not unconscious then, just incapacitated. I'm sorry, my friend...I let go for just a second - and heard another snap as she bent his tail double. He shuddered, gasping. I chopped at her wrists, numbing her fingers to force her to let go, then hit her so hard she bounced off the opposite wall and landed, unconscious, on top of her wailing sister.
Kneeling at Radittsu's side, I stroked his mane back from his face. His eyes were screwed shut, skin pallid, expression a grimace of pain.
"Still with us?"
"... only ... just..."
Keeping one hand on his back I moved to take a look at the damage, only then really appreciating what the little bitches had done.
By the look of it, Radittsu's tail had been broken in four places, twice near the tip, once halfway up, and the fourth close to his spine. That one worried me: the flesh around the break was swelling alarmingly. If there was internal damage, or some kind of clot or blockage stopping the blood flow, and it wasn't put right very soon, he could suffer paralysis - or even lose his tail...
I bit my lip and rested a hand against his face.
"I have to hurt you. I'm sorry."
His eyes flickered open momentarily, then closed again as he braced himself. Opting for fast and brutal rather than long-drawn-out and only slightly less painful, I straddled his lower back and forced the fractured bones back into place with my fingers, trying to ignore his choked whimpers, his body shaking beneath me. To my relief, the swelling started to lessen almost immediately: I tore a wide strip from my bodysuit (why is it always mine? I thought fleetingly...) and wrapped it firmly around the break, carefully tying off the ends.
I shifted to kneel at his head, laying my hand on his far-too-cold cheek.
"How're you doing?"
"I'll live."
"But will you enjoy it?"
He managed a forced grin.
"I'll get back to you on that...."
"Do you want me to fix the other breaks or shall I get you to the infirmary?"
He glanced up at me sideways, his face reddening slightly.
"You do it."
I frowned. "But they'll use anaesthetics in the infirmary..."
His eyes closed. "I know. It would look so good on the medical records though, wouldn't it? Radittsu, Captain, Elite Guard. Cause of injury: attack by very small, very weak female brat. I'd never live it down..."
Oh. I hadn't thought of that. I grinned.
"All right. It'll hurt though."
"Just do it..."
Sheftali was coming round by the time I'd finished and hauled Radittsu somewhat unsteadily to his feet. She was dazed, but at least had the sense to keep quiet. As I helped the captain from the chamber he glanced at Apyo.
"Make sure they don't leave the suite. Lock them in if necessary."
Apyo saluted smartly and took up position outside their door. I helped Radittsu back to his quarters...
Which may have been a mistake. I'd never seen Zha'haabron angry. It's not something I ever want to see again...
He'd grabbed Radittsu as we entered their suite, strong blue fingers digging into his bondmate's upper arms, golden eyes shot through with livid green, hissing through clenched teeth, fury visibly crackling around him.
"What did they do to you?"
Radittsu tried to hug him, but the prince was having none of it. Holding the captain at arm's length, he glowered at me.
"Well?"
It takes a lot to frighten me. Zha'haabron annoyed will do it every time. I quailed. "Broke his tail. In several places."
He pushed Radittsu in the direction of the bedchamber.
"Go and make yourself comfortable."
The captain caught his wrist. "Where are you going."
"To have a 'word' with their ladyships..."
I raised my hands, trying to block the doorway, desperately hoping he'd listen to me. "Please my lord, please don't do that. I have a better idea..."
Zh'anah was happy to oblige. There was really no way the twins could hurt her - her hide (both literal and metaphorical) was far too thick and tough. I'd worry about what Vejiita thought of it later, although I couldn't see him objecting. Radittsu was wasted as their bodyguard, anyway, and if the aim was to protect them, Zh'anah was as good as, if not better than, the captain.
Zha'haabron wasn't exactly overjoyed by the suggestion - Radittsu's suffering had really brought out his protective streak - but accepted that it could reflect badly on the captain if he interfered and the twins complained: it was a good interim solution until someone, either myself or, preferably, Vejiita, could deal properly with the incident. The prince had reluctantly nodded his agreement, and as Zh'anah and I left the suite stalked through to the bedroom to attend to his bondmate's comfort.
In the early hours of the morning Zha'haabron woke as he had set himself to do, braced himself on one elbow and lay for a few minutes watching his bondmate sleep. Radittsu lay on his stomach, head on his arms, the sheet thrown off, his abused tail draped limp and motionless across his thigh and onto the bed. His face was relaxed in sleep, the scowl he so often wore gentled into an expression of calm pensiveness - although there were, the prince noted angrily, signs of pain around his eyes. Zha'haabron touched him tenderly, stroking long fingers across his shoulder as the Saiyan moaned and shifted slightly under his caress, then rose and dressed without waking him. He stood at the bedside for a moment, watching his love - then his expression hardened and he turned to the door.
Zh'anah *felt* him approach, and roused herself from the resting trance she had assumed, on guard outside the twins' door. As the prince paused before her, she saluted, a very faint grin on her face. Their brief hissed conversation would have been unintelligible to any Saiyan listening.
"Ssii'irin?"
Zha'haabron laid a hand very lightly on her shoulder.
"They are asleep?"
She nodded slightly. "How is Ssii'iir Rhoi'i'dat'hzziu?"
The prince's face remained impassive, though one hand clenched into a fist.
"In pain."
Zh'anah nodded. "And that is why you are here."
Zha'haabron smiled, coldly. "There may be some noise. Ignore it."
"Of course, my Ssii'irin..."
The twins were sleeping soundly, cuddled together on an immense bed. Zha'haabron stood silently, motionlessly, at its foot, waiting for his presence to wake them...
Sheftali woke first, frowning and twitching, aware of something wrong but unsure of what. As she caught sight of the prince she gasped and half sat up, shuffling backwards on the bed and waking her sister. Kayusu griped irritably - then also saw the prince and grabbed her sister.
"G...go away!"
Zha'haabron stared at them, silently, mouth slowly widening into a cruel, cold smile.
"W... what do you want? You can't... do anything to us... Vejiita...."
"...will do nothing." His voice was cold. "I am more valuable to the King than you."
Kayusu's lips were trembling, tears streaming down her face.
"That's not true!"
"You are here to provide him with heirs. Nothing more."
"What... what are you going to do?"
One moment they were huddled against the headboard, trembling, the next, Zha'haabron's hands were around their throats, holding them above the floor. Two sets of small hands went to strong blue wrists, holding tightly to relieve the pressure of their own weight on their necks. The prince was silent for a moment, Radittsu's pain echoing in his mind and *enjoying* the fear he could feel emanating from the sisters. Then he smirked, his eyes glacial.
"This is the only warning you will receive. I will not tolerate your behaviour, nor will I countenance you injuring anyone, in any way, while you are under this roof."
Sheftali managed to gasp out the words. "What... will you do...?"
He brought her closer, his tongue flicking out and pulling her forefinger into his mouth, then bit down, gently. She paled and gave a choked scream, her eyes closing in pain and fear. Zha'haabron released her finger, licking at the blood that splattered in fast, heavy drops onto the floor from the near-bone-deep, precisely cut incision.
"Vejiita requires your bodies to host his offspring: he does not need you to possess fingers. Or ears. Or tails..."
He watched their panic as his words sank in, then concentrated slightly, allowing himself to flicker very briefly into his defensive form. The twins stared, trembling like wind-blown leaves, their eyes huge and faces white - then Kayusu fainted. 
"I trust I have made myself absolutely clear?"
Sheftali, close to fainting herself, nodded as best she could. Zha'haabron laid them both very gently back on the bed. Turning to go, he glanced back over his shoulder, treating them to his most dazzling smile.
"Oh, and you will apologise to Radittsu, before myself and the King's Companion, tomorrow. You understand?"
Sheftali nodded frantically. Zha'haabron inclined his head, and prowled from the room.
Zh'anah was grinning widely.
"Oh, very well done, my Ssii'irin!"
Zha'haabron smiled and made his way back to his suite. Radittsu was still sleeping: the prince stripped and nestled close to his side, one cool blue hand across his back buried in his mane, the other resting lightly on a broad, warm, muscular shoulder. He watched his beloved's clean-planed, beautiful face for a moment or two, still quietly overawed that something so wonderful could have happened to him - then brushed a kiss across Radittsu's temple and drifted into sleep, knowing that at least one of his bondmate's difficulties was solved...
© 2001 (April 21st) Joules Taylor
