Chapter Text
-- 01 --
Ye Xiu and Ye Qiu were born of a Heritage about as ordinary as they come. Their father was a snake, their mother a lark.
With the birth of the twins, they assumed that their Inheritance would be similar, if not the same as their parents'; for Ye Qiu had small scales of a dark aquamarine shade encircling his wrist and ankles, while Ye Xiu had a single black feather, its tips the colour of flame, clenched tight within a tiny fist.
-- 02 --
The twins are five and have yet to show any indication of their Inheritance since the time of their birth to their parents' disappointed eyes.
Most other children their age are already able to Shift some parts of themselves, while others can Project a brief, astral projection of their Inheritance's form.
Despite their cajoling, neither Ye Xiu or Ye Qiu seem at all interested in humouring their desires. Father and Mother Ye can only look to each other and sigh, deciding on the idea that their sons are just embarrassed and with time would accept their Inheritances, plain ones or not.
-- 03 --
The biggest secret that Ye Xiu and Ye Qiu share between each other is that of their forms, both having mastered the ability to Shift and Project long before others their age due to Knowledge that was bestowed upon them one night in their sleep.
It is a secret that could be shared, but for now both are content just having the other know.
After all, they are twins and two halves of the same soul, and all that matters is that they have each other.
"Mine," The younger of the pair hisses within his twin's mind, an answering croon given within his own.
-- 04 --
Ye Xiu is thirteen and miserable, buried beneath a pile of blankets and sheets.
His twin hovers nearby, uncertain of what to say or do, but hating the idea that the other isn't well. Finally, Ye Qiu makes a decision and crawls into bed with the other, invading his makeshift nest and wrapping his arms around in a tight hug.
The elder of the two tenses at first, before his entire form relaxes with a content trill, the other's touch a soothing balm against his heated skin.
Ye Qiu's head turns, nose nuzzling slightly into the crook of his twin's neck, inhaling the other's Scent. There is a low rumble in his chest, and he fights the sudden urge to bite down and mark; to Claim the other for all to see.
"Mine," He contents himself with asserting instead.
-- 05 --
Ye Xiu and Ye Qiu are fifteen when both decide to run away, neither liking the thought of remaining under the authorative rule of their parents longer than needed.
Besides, in the eyes of the land, both were old enough to be considered emancipated under the laws regarding those of Heritage.
"Where will we go?" Ye Xiu asks, watching as his twin decisively packs suitcases for the both of them.
"No idea," Ye Qiu responds, "I don't care as long as it's with you."
-- 06 --
There is a near palpable tension in the air upon the first meeting of the Ye twins and the Su siblings.
Both Ye Qiu and Su Muqiu regard each other with narrowed eyes, each feeling as though the other is treading on a territory that didn't belong to them.
Ye Xiu and Su Mucheng watch them from the sidelines, the pair able to make out the faintest images overlaying their brothers that are posturing just as much as their human forms are.
Su Mucheng casts a sidelong glance at her silent companion, and wonders.
-- 07 --
Ye Qiu is too riled up to speak properly that evening, stalking back and forth within the confines of the room.
He keeps casting glares at the door seperating the two from the rest of the apartment belonging to the Su siblings, hissing and baring teeth sharpening into fangs, the faintest hint of scales shifting and hardening within his skin.
The other occupant sighs, "Qiu-di, you need to relax. Neither of those two are going to harm us."
"Lies," Ye Qiu insists, though he does stop his pacing to instead launch himself onto the bed, wrapping himself around the other, "Not his, mine."
"Of course I'm not his, he has his own sister."
The younger twin growls in response, "Not what I mean."
-- 08 --
Su Mucheng finds it rather interesting to watch the dynamics between her brother and Ye Xiu's twin.
She might be younger than the other three, but she is mature enough to understand what is going on.
She just wonders how in the world the center of the conflict between the two remains clueless to his part even after all this time.
-- 09 --
Ye Xiu publicly reveals his Inheritance for the first time in order to save Su Muqiu from an otherwise inevitable death. His hands shoved the other out of the car's path and for a moment it seemed as though he, instead, would perish.
There was the screeching of tires and a sudden burst of flames, the driver regaining control of his vehicle and speeding off without stopping to see the damage left behind.
"Ye Xiu!" Su Muqiu panicked, picking himself off the ground and rushing over to where he'd last seen the other.
Instead all he found was a pile of ashes.
-- 10 --
The one thing keeping Ye Qiu from Shifting and tearing the other male apart is the fact that said male is cradling the sleeping form of his twin close to his chest, the featherless and rather ugly chick wrapped in Su Muqiu's jacket to keep it warm.
"... What happened," Ye Qiu demanded, then growls, "Give him to me."
"... He saved me..." Su Muqiu replied, reluctant to let Ye Xiu go but also knowing that now is not the best time to test the younger twin's patience.
Ye Qiu is quiet for a few minutes, holding his twin's vulnerable form close to his own chest as he regards the older male. He then looks down to the still sleeping chick and grits his teeth, "We're supposed to protect him, not him protect us."
"'We'?"
"... He is mine, has always been mine. I don't like you, but he does. He is mine, but it seems he might also be yours. I won't let you have him, but for his sake I can force myself to share."