Updated PartTitle: Binding Hearts
Author: Pixiestyxs
Fandom: Original
Pairing: Several, main Heath/Aiden
Summary: A lonely shifter gets more than he bargained for one night.
Archive: sure I don’t care as long as you let me know
Rating: FRT
Parts: 8
Status: Complete
Series/Sequel: The Inbetween Universe
Website: Valley of the Pixies
Disclaimer: These are all characters of my own creation. If you want to play with them let me know.
Author’s notes & Warnings: This used to be the story The Inbetween but I have changed the name since it has expanded beyond the one story with another in the works. I recommend visiting the page that details the history of the universe these stories are played in.History
A long time ago on a planet called Verona, humans began to experiment with the science of genetics and cells. Sure, they could clone each other, but, could they create a new race? A race where they could play god and have complete control. Using their superior technology, they spliced their human genes with all types of animal genes and ending up creating the Shifter race. Much to the scientists’ dismay, the Shifters did not want to be controlled at all.
Splicing a woman’s genes and an animal’s genes wouldn’t take, and soon the females died out. The males used their creators’ science to turn into Alphas who fathered the kits and Betas who carried them to save the Shifters from dieing out. Shifters knew who was whom at birth by a special scent and tattoo they carried. The Alphas had a broken swirl on their right shoulder and the Betas had a complete circle on their left shoulder. If an unfortunate accident occurred where the shifter was born sterile they had no marking.
The Shifter race had both a human and animal form and could move between the two with ease. Using this advantage, the Shifters, who had grown into innumerable numbers, fought the humans for control and won. Any human who survived the Great War were forced to become a Shifter.
Part 1
Eighteen-year-old Aiden Jonquil walked into the club Wonder late for his work shift. It was only eight twenty in the evening, but he worked the early shift. The reason he was late was that he had been on the train on his way to work when an alpha swift fox had been convinced that Aiden was his mate. Aiden had managed to convince him that they weren't meant to be with a swift kick to the groin, but now he was twenty minutes late for work.
He quickly made his way to the employee locker room and headed straight to his locker at the back of the room. He ignored the expected catcalls from his co-workers, twisted his combination into the lock, and opened the door when the lock clicked. He reached into the recess, pulled out his skimpy waiter's uniform, and took off his street clothes.
When he was fully dressed, he looked in the mirror that was at the back of his locker and made sure that all of his long, slate gray hair was pulled back into a ponytail with only his long bangs framing his orchid eyes. His eyes were the most distinguishing features on him; at least that was what people always told him. He didn't know why everyone found them so fascinating though.
He stuffed his street clothes into the small space, and turned to head out of the locker room and into the club proper. He was brought up short as a hulking body blocked his path to the door. He looked up into the face of his boss, Merta Calvin, and sighed.
Merta was a large grizzly bear in his animal form, and like many bears, that size transferred over into his human form. He'd had in his head that Aiden was the perfect mate for him ever since Aiden began working at Wonder. He was always hitting on the young man and used his large body to intimidate all of Aiden's suitors into leaving the fox alone.
Aiden sighed dolefully. He hoped Merta didn't start in on him right now. "I know I'm late Merta."
Merta didn't pay any attention to Aiden's tone of voice and smiled seductively at the younger Shifter. "Why are you late this time Aiden?"
"Not that it's any of your business," Aiden started angrily. He didn't like the man and he let the disdain seep into his voice. "But a fox decided to get frisky with me on the train. I had to convince him that we wouldn’t be good for each other." Aiden said, crossing his arms over his chest.
Merta mimicked his stance and scowled irately. "You know, that wouldn't happen if you realized how good we could be together and took me up on the offer to be my mate."
Aiden uncrossed his arms and put his hands on his hips. "I don't want to be your mate Merta. There's no way we could work out. Plus there's the fact that I don't like you very much, which isn't good in your favor." Without another word he ducked around the larger man and went out to the club to start his shift.
He went over to the bar to greet his friend Rinku Bayne, one of the barmen at Wonder. He smiled slightly at his old friend, feeling all his anger at Merta drain out of him, and asked, "Hey Rinku, what's up? What section do I have tonight?"
The Bengal tiger grinned back at him. "Hey Aiden, late again I see. You have section four tonight. It's in the VIP section. I saved it just for you knowing you could use the extra money."
Aiden smiled at him gratefully. He adjusted his uniform, bow tie, wrist cuffs, and thong, and made his way up the stairs to his section.
There were three Shifters at the one table in his section, so he smiled brightly knowing that they wouldn't make him work too hard. He sauntered over to the table and cleared his throat to get the men's attention.
"Hello there," he said, his voice a seductive purr. "I'm Aiden and I'll be your waiter this evening at Wonder. Can I get you anything to drink?"
~!~
Heath Celsia had scoffed earlier in the evening when his two best friends had wanted to go out for drinks, but when their waiter appeared, he was instantly thanking them for dragging him along. With his shoulder length, sea green hair, and golden eyes he didn't look like a typical arctic wolf Shifter. Usually artic wolves had ice blonde hair and light blue eyes. He had to give credit to his Alpha for mating and claiming a red wolf who were renowned for their inability to settle down. Heath got his looks directly from his Beta.
He smiled charmingly at the waiter, Aiden, when he came back with their drinks. "Hi Aiden, I'm Heath. Why don't you take a seat? We're probably your only table right?"
The orchid-eyed boy smiled back at him shyly and sat in the empty seat next to Heath. "Thank you. You're right, you are my only table tonight, so I can spare a few minutes until you need anything."
Heath studied Aiden's softly rounded face and knew, just knew, that he had found his mate. It was an undeniable pull of attraction that tugged at his stomach. Wanting to get to know the other shifter he asked, "What type are you?"
Aiden bit his bottom lip innocently making it plump up lusciously, and Heath almost groaned aloud. "I'm an arctic fox."
"Really?" Heath asked amazed. They really were compatible. "I'm an arctic wolf."
Aiden looked at him in amazement. "No way!" He laughed. "I've never met a wolf before. They don't usually come around these parts what with being part of the upper echelon and all. So Heath, how old are you? What do you do?"
"I'm twenty-five and I work in advertising. You?" Heath answered honestly.
Aiden looked down at the tabletop, and blushed a shocking pink. Quietly he replied, "Don't tell anyone," he looked up at Heath beseechingly, "but I'm only eighteen."
Heath was stunned. He would never have figured that this gorgeous man was only eighteen. He nodded at Aiden knowing that you needed to be at least twenty-two before you could work at a club on Verona. "Don't worry about it. I won't tell. Why are you working here though? Shouldn't you be in school? Do your fathers know you work here?"
Aiden bit his lip as his eyes filled with tears, but he refused to let them fall. "My fathers died when I was little. I live by myself. I finished school early but you know the laws. You can't enter college until you turn twenty and you can't work at a place like this until you're twenty-two. I couldn't find another job, so it was either this or I whored myself; there was no way that I'd do that." He couldn't believe how much of his life he was telling this complete stranger.
Heath nodded understandingly. "That makes sense." Then he smiled devilishly. "So that means you're unmated right?"
Aiden blushed at the blunt question. He shook his head. "Not for my boss's lack of trying though. He's incorrigible. I say no all the time, but he just keeps coming on to me. He's a bear and you know how relentless they are. He scares away anyone who takes an interest in me and thinks I'm his property."
Heath grinned at him mischievously causing Aiden to look at him in surprise. He moved closer to the young man, laughing inside, and kissed from Aiden's mouth to his ear in a claiming sweep. In his ear Heath whispered, "We'll just have to change that won't we?"
Aiden blushed harder as Heath pulled away from him. This man was so intriguing and he made Aiden laugh as no one else ever had. His two companions snickered at Aiden's blush making them known to the oblivious fox. The dark haired one introduced them to Aiden. "I'm Zeru Clay and this is my mate Jin. We're Heath's best friends."
Aiden smiled softly, the blush receding slightly from his face. "It's nice to meet you. How long have you two been mated?"
Jin flushed prettily making the freckles on his nose stand out on his pale face. He wasn't used to being around people; he was a very shy person by nature. "Not long, only a few months." He answered softly.
Heath figured that now would be a good time to ask Aiden out since he had already made a claim on him, not knowing that Merta was standing right behind him. He smirked at the fox seductively. "So, Aiden, how about we get out of here and go someplace quiet where we can get to know each other better."
Aiden shook his head negatively, but turned a bright smile at him. "I can't until my shift is over. Maybe after that we can go out."
"Aiden's not going anywhere with you," Merta growled stepping up to the table. Aiden looked up and gasped when he saw Merta standing there. He jumped up from his seat and backed up a few steps in fear of what Merta might do.
Heath turned around to look at the large man and scowled. "And just who do you think you are that you can tell him what he can or can't do?"
Aiden tugged on Heath's sleeve to get his attention. In a quiet, fearful voice he said, "That's my boss."
Merta nodded his head in agreement. "And his future mate. So if you would kindly get away from him I'd appreciate it."
Heath smirked at the big man and shook his head. "I don't think I want to get away from this lovely one." He said putting his arm around Aiden's waist and drawing him close to his side.
Aiden squeaked in surprise when he was pushed to the floor. Merta grabbed Heath, pulled him to his feet, and pulled his fist back. Heath just calmly looked back at him daring him with his eyes to hit him. A vein stood out on Merta's forehead and he swung his giant fist at Heath's head.
Part 2
Heath ducked the wild punch and pulled away from the enraged bear. He yanked Aiden up off the floor, shoved him into Zeru's waiting arms, and then gave Merta a hard right hook to the temple. Merta crashed into the table causing it to collapse under his weight and Heath shook his hand in pain, grimacing. Merta's head sure was hard.
Turning from the downed Shifter, he grabbed Aiden's arm and started pulling him down the steps and out of the club. Zeru and Jin looked at each other, shook their heads in disbelief, and followed them. They hurried outside of the club before Merta got back to his feet.
When they got outside Aiden jerked his arm out of Heath's grip and scowled at him, or at least he tried to scowl. He didn't look very menacing to Heath, who thought he looked like a puppy that had just lost its chew toy. This thought caused Heath to burst out laughing.
’Heath didn't have any right to laugh at him’ Aiden thought. He glared annoyed at the green haired man and crossed his arms over his chest, shivering. The non-existent outfit he was wearing sure wasn't warm in the middle of winter.
"What the hell was that?" Aiden asked. He started to rub his arms in an attempt to get warm, but it didn't really help. Heath saw this, shrugged off his jacket, and wrapped it around the mostly naked man. Aiden accepted it with only a slight shrug of thanks. "You probably lost me my job!"
Heath offered the boy a soft smile. "You don't need that job. I'll take care of you."
Aiden's eyes grew wide with astonishment. He had never been so outraged in his life. "Take care of me!" he snarled, "I don't need any one to take care of me!" He looked up and down Heath's body and said nastily, "Least of all you!"
Heath's mouth dropped open in shock and he just starred dumbly at Aiden. Zeru and Jin laughed to themselves, deciding to let Heath figure a way out of the mess he had gotten himself into, and called it a night. Zeru clapped his hand on Heath's back and snorted. "You got your hands full with this one my friend. Jin and I are heading home." He winked at him suggestively and they walked away. Over his shoulder he called, "Have fun!"
Heath turned to Aiden. "I intended no disrespect, Aiden. I just meant that the job was beneath you. Any why wouldn't you let me take care of you?" he pouted. "I'm going to be your mate soon."
Aiden's jaw dropped in shock. By now, his eyes looked like they were going to pop out of his skull: they were that big. "Don't I have any say in this? What if I don't want to be your mate?" he asked indignantly his face taking on an unsightly shade of puce.
Heath gritted his teeth in frustration and forced himself to smile brightly. "Who said you have a choice? I already gave you the claiming kiss." He knew this was the wrong thing to say when Aiden's face tightened in rage, but he couldn't do anything to take it back.
Aiden seethed at the stupid man. "Fuck you, you bastard. I have a say in everything that concerns me and I certainly don't want to be your mate if you have that attitude."
"Well then, you should stop flirting with people and sending out mixed signals." Heath yelled angrily. He had been having such a pleasant evening until this fiasco had started. He was cold and getting upset and that did not make a clear-headed Heath.
"Mixed signals!" Aiden shouted back. He could not believe that they were having this 'conversation' right outside of his work. Not that he still had his job. He was sure he would be fired for this stunt. "You're the one who was all over me. All I did was be nice, sit down, and talk with you." He pulled the coat closer to him to ward off the cold and turned around. "I'm leaving now. I hope I never see you again you arrogant prick." The fog that had been steadily building all night swallowed his quickly retreating figure.
Heath kicked a trashcan near him in anger. The little minx rejected him, he thought in frustration. What had he done wrong? He didn't know, but he had to find out. He shook his head and decided to call out the big guns: his fathers. He knew one way or another that Aiden would be his mate if it were the last thing he did.
~
Heath stood nervously in front of his boyhood home. It was a relatively modest house that sat on a large corner lot. The house was two stories and painted a soft blue with white scalloped trim around the edges. An old-fashioned swing seat hung from the roof of the wrap around porch near the front door. The white wooden door was so inviting and it seemed to beckon him in. He walked up the porch's three wide, wooden stairs and took a deep breath as he stopped in front of the door.
The walk to his fathers’ home hadn't taken long. He didn't know if they would help him figure out what had gone wrong, but he could hope. They had always helped him in the past. Hesitantly, he raised his hand and knocked on the door.
He waited several minutes and had almost turned to leave when he heard soft footsteps approach the door. The porch light turned on and then the door opened to reveal his Beta. Long light blue hair and light blue eyes, Brendan Celsia didn't look like the typical red wolf Shifter, but he was the mold that had shaped Heath's body. They looked almost the same and people had always mistaken them for twins.
Brendan smiled widely at his son when noticed him and gave him a huge, warm hug. He released Heath and ushered him into the house. He closed the door behind him and guided Heath into the living room.
The room was just as it had always been ever since they had moved to the house when Heath had been five. The room had a very homey feel to it that made the twenty-five year old smile. There was a grey stone fireplace on the south wall with a comfortable looking deep blue sofa facing it. The light blue plush carpet Heath stood on was a perfect compliment to the room.
He could clearly see all the photos of him on the mantle and had to grin a little wider at his younger self. He had been so different back then. He had been so carefree, and he had been used to getting what he wanted. He frowned when he remembered why he had come home.
Brendan waited patiently for Heath to say something as they sat on the couch. Heath looked down at the small wooden coffee table and fiddled with the books and magazines on it while he tried to come up with something to say to his father.
"What's wrong Heath? I've never seen you look so down before," Brendan remarked after seeing his son's face shift through several unnamable emotions. He wrapped his arms around Heath's shoulders in silent support and waited for him to tell him what was wrong.
Heath fell into his papa's embrace as tears sprang to his eyes. He felt like he was fifteen again crying over the boy who had used him and left him. It was not a pleasant memory. "I don't know what I did wrong Papa. All I want is for him to be my mate and he hates me."
Brendan looked shocked. This was what Heath was so upset about? "You've found your mate? That's wonderful Heath. What's he like?" he asked, excitement over coming him, visions of grand kits coming to his mind.
"He's great Papa. It's just; he doesn't seem to like me." Heath answered pouting. He wiped the tears away and sniffed pitifully. Brendan hugged him closer.
"Tell your papa all that happened," Brendan requested patting Heath on the back in comfort.
Heath explained everything that had happened that night. He told him of how well they had gotten on until Aiden's boss had ruined everything. Brendan gave him a frown. His son was so stupid at times. He shook his head morosely and started to explain things to his kit.
~
Aiden stalked in to his apartment, a frenetic expression on his face. The nerve of that man, he thought, as he shrugged off the man in question's jacket. He flung it onto the couch without a thought, and then went into his bedroom to change.
He strode to his closet and yanked out a pair of dark green sweat pants and a comfortable white, long sleeve shirt. He pulled them on and then went to the kitchen to make him a snack. He hadn't eaten since lunch earlier in the day and even though he had only left the apartment a few hours previous, he was now starving. He made a turkey and cheese sandwich and settled on the couch to eat and think about the events of that night.
Why couldn’t that man just mind his own business? He thought, taking a savage bite out of the sandwich, imagining that it was Heath's head. He hadn't needed him to get involved in his business with Merta. He frowned to himself, so what if he had flirted a little with Heath. That didn't give the bullheaded man any right to make a claim on him.
He looked at the black leather coat beside him and sighed. He was a little cute, and he was sweet to defend him from Merta, but that didn't mean he would just fall into his arms like the heroines of the old fairy tales he read about that came from the time before. Aiden finished his sandwich and lay down on his side; he thought of everything that happened that night and was somewhat glad that Heath had been there. Now he didn't have to worry about Merta trying to force him to mate with him anymore.
He smiled as he remembered the look on Heath's face when Merta had made his possessive claim on Aiden. The man had looked extremely pissed and that made Aiden shiver for an unknown reason. Maybe he did like Heath, but he was going to make Heath work for it. He knew the perfect way how too. He knew that he had told Heath that he never wanted him to see him again but he was fickle. He could change his mind if he wanted to.
He smiled mischievously to himself and picked up the phone from his coffee table. It was time to call in the big dogs. Literally.