The Room of the Ummaar

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“We can’t do this,” Aixa said finally, his words clipped as he tried to control his tongue. He stood in front of Shezaan, putting his hands on the djinn’s shoulders and knelt down. “Shezzy, they have Shayteen here. We’re not any safer than the Lords of Times or the humans,” Aixa said, frowning. “I don’t want you to get thrown in the salt room because of me.”

Shezaan's blue eyes lifted with the sudden realization when his brother mentioned Shayteen's name and he visibly shuddered. He stood back up and looked at his feel, embarrassed... He never was one to think before acting. He was ruled by his passion. He had intended to turn into a magnificent Spanish Bull and ram the door until it either shattered or he brained himself to death. But the idea of a slow death in a salt room was less appealing than bashing his head into a door repeatedly. He looked at his brother with a visible pout and a hint of red in his face.

He tucked a strand of his brother’s hair behind his ear. “If we’re going to do something,” he said quietly, taking in his brother’s face again. “We need the others,” he pointed out, his eyes returning to his brother’s lips briefly. Aixa wiped some of the ash from around his own mouth and placed it on Shezzy’s lips. “There,” he said, satisfied. “Now you’ll always have a bit of me inside you.”

Shezaan motioned his arm out to the others with a look on his face that clearly showed that he felt he couldn't rely on them. "The others? But Aixa, They-" and he was silenced when Aixa gently smeared his own ash onto his lips. He stood there for a moment, dumbfounded. His eyes softened as he brought those thin delicate fingers to his own lips, feeling the soft ash and he gently licked the ash. He closed his eyes with a sigh and nodded with a gentle smile, "Alright, then, Brother.... What should we do?"

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Aixa smiled as his brother stood to his feet and did the same. His brother had never been one to think things through. The only reason Aixa had survived King Solomon’s reign was biting down his emotions and being servile. Shezaan… Shezaan hadn’t had it so easy. He felt another stir of anger towards humans and for a moment… for a moment, he didn’t want to do anything. He wanted to let the Shayteen kill the humans and the Lords of Time.

If King Solomon had never ruled, how different would their lives be? How would Aixa have developed without the cruel human’s scarring? Would he still be Aixa? Would Shezzy be Shezzy? He swallowed thickly, because he knew the suffers the king had put Shezzy through and Aixa himself hadn’t gotten off easily. For the first time, he was beginning to wonder why he was fighting for the humans and Lords of Time. (Pippa his mind whispered.)

He looked up reluctantly, afraid his indecision would show on his face. But Shezzy’s pout brought him back, anchoring him firmly. He wondered briefly if the Ifrits would erase this moment of his life. Part of him wished they would, because the kiss CPR had done its purpose of giving him energy, but it was weighing heavily on the older Djinn’s shoulders that the kiss hadn’t been anything more than a means to an end. But that should be okay because Shezzy was his brother – his twin – and he shouldn’t want the kiss to have meant more.

But he did.

“The others? But Aixa, They—”

He placed the ash on his brother out of instinct. Instantly he regretted it as Shezaan simply stood there. Maybe it was against some sort of code to give a person part of your soul. Maybe Shezzy thought it was disgusting which, he realized belatedly, it kind of was. Shezzy moved, then, bringing his fingers up to his lips and licking away the ash. Aixa had to look away, blushing to the tips of his ears. Shezzy needed to stop because he was making it awfully hard to focus.

“Alright, then, Brother…”[/b][/color] Aixa’s shoulders dropped slightly from the use of the term ‘brother’. “What should we do?”[/color][/i]

Right. Now was not the time to be worrying about his increasingly worrisome incestuous thoughts. It was the time to focus on Pippa and the rest of the innocent non-Jinn out there. (Except the Nothing. For all Aixa cared they could dump her in a nuclear reactor.) He turned away from his brother, deciding that it was easier to concentrate when he didn’t have look at Shezaann. “Well,” he said quietly, looking around and trying to find inspiration. “I’m not sure right now. But come on, we’re Jinn. Just because we’re Ummaar doesn’t mean that we can’t fight back, right?”

His point might have been made better if he’d had the courage to look at his brother. “Maybe none of us could beat the Council by ourselves, but together? Come on, what’s that human saying?” he asked, tapping his head in concentration.

“In unity there is strength,” a fluffy-haired Amir said from the corner.

“Yeah, that. And call me cocky, but after victoriously battling a Nothing—” okay, sure, he’d had a little help and technically he hadn’t been ‘victorious’ because he was pretty sure Sevaros had simply gotten tired of him “—I’m pretty sure we could handle the Head of the Council. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.”

“And what’s your pl—”

Aixa scowled at the older Amir, crossing his arms. “I don’t have one yet!” he grumbled. Several of the Ummaar rolled their eyes and continued their own escape attempts. Aixa huffed and sat back down in his corner, pointedly walking around Shezzy and avoiding eye-contact. [/size][/font]

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 He turned away from his brother, deciding that it was easier to concentrate when he didn’t have look at Shezaann. “Well,” he said quietly, looking around and trying to find inspiration. “I’m not sure right now. But come on, we’re Jinn. Just because we’re Ummaar doesn’t mean that we can’t fight back, right?”

His point might have been made better if he’d had the courage to look at his brother. “Maybe none of us could beat the Council by ourselves, but together? Come on, what’s that human saying?” he asked, tapping his head in concentration.

Shezaan chimed in, honestly trying to be helpful. “Um.. A picture's worth a thousand words? A fool and his money are easily parted? Curiosity killed the cat? Dont look a gift horse in th-” but he was cut off by the voice of a much older Amir.

“In unity there is strength,” a fluffy-haired Amir said from the corner.

Shezaan muttered under his breath “That was what I was going to say next”

“Yeah, that. And call me cocky, but after victoriously battling a Nothing—” okay, sure, he’d had a little help and technically he hadn’t been ‘victorious’ because he was pretty sure Sevaros had simply gotten tired of him “—I’m pretty sure we could handle the Head of the Council. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.”

“And what’s your pl—”

Aixa scowled at the older Amir, crossing his arms. “I don’t have one yet!” he grumbled. Several of the Ummaar rolled their eyes and continued their own escape attempts. Aixa huffed and sat back down in his corner, pointedly walking around Shezzy and avoiding eye-contact.

Shezaan chewed anxiously on his lower lip, wanting to be of more help. Seeing the other ummaar disregard him when he said he didnt have a plan made the heat rise to his face in anger. Aixa was very clever, and he was confident that he could come up with something. Shezaan rested his delicate fingers on Aixa's shoulders trying to reassure him that all was not yet lost. He didnt seem to noticed that Aixa wasn't looking at him. He just figured that he was preoccupied with trying to devise a plan. He then looked over to the older amir who had spoken and called over to him “What about you, Fluffy. Any ideas come to mind? If this is going to be a group effort, we might as well bounce ideas around.”

He turned and looked at Aixa with a soft smile and tilted his head to the smile, sending silken tendrils of ashen blond hair over those cerulean blue eyes. He had never been one for being a leader. He had learned as a young djinn that trying to be a rebel got him locked up in a glass bottle alone for years. Because of the cruelty of Solomon, he had lost a good deal of his confidence for fear of being alone. Besides, the only thing that came to mind was causing some sort of distraction and slipping out unnoticed as a small feline.But the likelyhood of that working was just as unlikely as Shayteen saying “Oh sorry! There's been some sort of muck up! Hope you understand” and letting everyone go.

He dropped down against the wall and sat on the floor, his finger making swirly designs in the dust, that to a well trained eye, was the scrawling of a Gallifreyan. He muttered under his breath softly “I wish my former mistress was here.. She'd know what to do.”

[Deleted]

“Um… A picture’s worth a thousand words? A fool and his money are easily parted? Curiosity killed the cat? Don’t look a gift horse in th—”[/color] his brother tried. Aixa smiled at the ground, shaking his head lightly. Why his brother didn’t have a confidence level through the roof was a crying shame, Aixa figured, since he was quite the wonderful person. Well, as wonderful as a brother could be. Aixa felt another stirring of something close to nausea. “That was what I was going to say next,”[/b][/i] his brother muttered.

Aixa wanted to grin at him, but it was much too risky to spare a glance in his direction. The fluffy-haired Amir was pressing him about his plans – or lack thereof, as his case was – so he didn’t have time to worry too much about his brother getting annoyed with the older Djinn. “It was a stupid idea anyway,” he mumbled quietly, embarrassed as the Ummaar blew him off when he admitted he didn’t have any idea. He was ready to give up the idea altogether and return to the drawing board which involved various methods of getting into the salt room. “Sorry…”

None of those ideas were looking too sharp.

Thin fingers rested on his shoulders. His shoulders tensed and he was pretty sure that his heart was having trouble remembering how to beat properly. Aixa took a shuddering breath and tried to nonchalantly move his shoulder so his brother’s fingers slipped from him. “Don’t worry about it, Zaan,” he said quietly, but the request was promptly ignored.

“What about you, Fluffy. Any ideas come to mind? If this is going to be a group effort, we might as well bounce ideas around.”[/color]

The Djinn shook his head. “I’m not offering ideas because I will not help,” he said shortly.

Aixa frowned. “Why?”

Blue sighed. “They don’t need us. The first sign of resistance and you’ll have us all killed. You’ve got your reasons to help the humans, and I have my reasons to help the Jinn,” he said, looking at the ceiling. “I don’t see why you would want to help them. Have you forgotten all that humans have done to us? Lied to us? Abused us?” he pointed out.

“Especially you two. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten Solomon’s fascination with the only twins in Jinn history.”

Aixa glanced over at his brother, unsure. And really, he hadn’t wanted to do anything but be reassured that his brother was still there, but his brain went rather alarmingly empty. The smile was adorable, and the pretty eyes were locked on him. Aixa tore his eyes away, shaking his head and muttering Arabic curses. What was wrong with him? “Shezzy…” he shut his mouth, unsure what he had been planning to say. Stop making me want to jump your bones? Sounded fair enough.

“I wish my former mistress was here.”

He felt a flair of jealousy ignite. What did this lady have that he didn’t? He could certainly fix the anatomical differences! He reached over to hug his brother, his hand smudging the ‘doodle’ briefly, before Blue slapped his hand away. Aixa squeaked, falling on his brother’s lap. Rather much too close for comfort (although really he didn’t mind, which was why the nauseous feeling was returning, he suspected) Aixa pulled away, cheeks and ears burning.

Blue ignored the spectacle before him and pointed at the doodles. “Where did you learn this from?” he asked, wiping it from the ground. “That’s the language of the Time Lords. The Shayteen will be after you if they think you can read their language.”

“And why aren’t they after you? And don’t yell at my brother like that.”

Blue stared at the twins evenly, moving away from them. “That doesn’t involve you. Just keep your mouth shut about talking about escapes. We all just want to get out of here with what we’re fighting for. It won’t happen if you send us to the salt room.”[/size][/font]

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Blue ignored the spectacle before him and pointed at the doodles. “Where did you learn this from?” he asked, wiping it from the ground. “That’s the language of the Time Lords. The Shayteen will be after you if they think you can read their language.”

“And why aren’t they after you? And don’t yell at my brother like that.”

Blue stared at the twins evenly, moving away from them. “That doesn’t involve you. Just keep your mouth shut about talking about escapes. We all just want to get out of here with what we’re fighting for. It won’t happen if you send us to the salt room.”

Shezaan was not one to get angry. He normally huffed, said a few unpleasantries and that was the end of it. But when Blue caused his brother to fall, He held his brother steady for a moment and helped him to his feet. Those normally serene cool blue eye smoldered with anger as he stood glaring at Blue. His hair waved out like an immense heat was radiating from him. He was normally so femininely short of stature but as he closed on Blue, he seemed to grow at least four inches in height and was nose to nose with the older djinn, once cool blue eyes a smoldering ashen grey.

The heat radiating from Shezaan was enough to put off a watery mirage around him. His voice was low and threatening "If you touch Aixa again, The salt room will be the least of your worries"he snarled between clenched teeth. His foot went to smear away the writing he had scrawled. His eyes continued to glare into Blues, searching for some kind of reaction. He shose to ignore the remark about the writing. He was not about to divulge that he could indeed read the writing, His most former mistress had been a time lady. He was not about to say this to Blue since he now knew that he was for aiding Shayteen and was not about to have him rat him out.

"I help the humans and the time lords because I will not punish them for the insanity of one cruel man. If you help Shayteen, you are no better than Solomon. So.. I will repeat my brother's question.. Why not help us? You dont strike me as a coward. So, why?"

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Blue raised an eyebrow as the younger Djinn approached him. His expression didn’t falter as the younger of the brothers grew in height. “If you touch Aixa again, the salt room will be the least of your worries.”[/color] Blue’s lips twitched into a smirk, and he stepped forward. There were much larger things to worry about than his demise. If the Jinn were successful, any deaths would be erased. If they were to fail, all deaths would be in vain. The sacrifices of the three Ifrits who captured the Nothing, the Ummaar who had been insolent to the Head, and Mattie’s death.

“I will say this but once,” Blue said coldly, a polite smile twisting on his lips. “If you do not want the death of your brother on your hands, you will not interfere. I don’t need to touch anybody to kill them.”

--blue?
--mattie?
--ne me quitte pas, blue.

“I help the humans and the time lords because I will not punish them for the insanity of one cruel man.”

“Likewise, I serve the Jinn because I will not be punished for the insanity of one cruel man. Tell me, would you prefer to kill us? To have the Jinn murder every Ummaar? Every human? Every Time Lord?” Blue asked. “You know as well as I do they don’t intend to let the prisoners go. Why would you risk your life for something you can’t change?”

“If you help Shayteen, you are no better than Solomon.”[/i][/color]

Blue chuckled. “I wasn’t aware that trying to protect my people was so morally gnarled. I don’t like the Shayteen anymore than you do.”

“I will repeat my brother’s question… why not help us? You don’t strike me as a coward. So, why?”[/i][/color]

“And you don’t strike me a fool. Perhaps we’re both wrong in our assessments of each other,” Blue replied. “My business is my own, and it would do you well not to get involved.”

“Guys,” Aixa said, pulling his younger brother away and wrapping his arms around him. “Stop. Please, Shezzy.”

“Yes, Shezzy. Listen to him.”

--mattie?
--oui?
--…je crois que je suis amoureux de toi…
--moi aussi…[/size][/font]

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“Guys,” Aixa said, pulling his younger brother away and wrapping his arms around him. “Stop. Please, Shezzy.”

“Yes, Shezzy. Listen to him.”

Hot steam blew out of Shezaan's nose.. How DARE he call him by his nick name.. Hearing someone else call him Shezzy made his insides boil. The sudden exhale from his nose was a hot jet of steam as she slowly backed away from Blue, not because he was afraid, but because Aixa had asked him to. It took several moments for his eyes to return to their cool calm blue color. He finally looked at Aixa with an apologetic look in his eyes. The last time he had lost his temper, he'd been stuffed into a bottle and left there to rot until Solomon's death.. He had a lot of pent up anger and frustration.

He offered a soft smile to Aixa, but his fists were still clenched in anger, his nails digging into the flesh of his palms. He shuddered a sigh and his cheeks turned red, ashamed he had lost his temper. His fists slowly unclenched and he shook his hands to unstiffen his knuckles. "I'm sorry about that. I.. I couldnt bear the idea of you being hurt." He glared over his shoulder at blue "Pfft.. Helping his people.. He's making it worse. "

But Shezaan shook his head, dismissing Blue from his mind. He wasnt worth the energy it took to produce this much anger. But, and he hated to admit it.. It felt good to allow that much anger out. like a weight had been lifted. He put his back against the wall and gently slid down to sit on the floor and smiled up at Aixa. "Things will get better.. I can feel it. "

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He’d never seen his brother this upset before. Aixa held on to him uncertainly, and although he was intrigued by this new side of Shezaan, he didn’t want his younger brother to do something he’d regret. And picking a fight with a much older and much stronger djinn (who’d admitted being loyal to the Ifrits, Marids, and Shayteen) would definitely count as something he’d regret. Aixa gave his brother another light tug away from Blue as the older djinn continued to egg him on. The other Ummaar in the room were looking between the two with great interest.

Although perhaps neither Blue nor Shezaan had intended the outcome, they had set a very clear schism between the Ummaar. Each Jinn had vastly different motivations and reasonings, there was now a division in the room of the Ummaar. There were those who wanted to aid the humans and the Time Lords, and there were those who were vowing to ensure the victory of the Jinn.

Blue didn’t respond as Shezaan hatefully told him that he was only making things worse. He couldn’t find the reasoning in the fledgling Amir’s argument, but to each his own. He settled back down on the floor, his expression once more blank, cold, and vacant. The dark eyes studied the twins for only a moment longer before roaming to another small group of jinn.

“I’m sorry,” Aixa said immediately and shakily. He was confused by his brother’s body language. The eyes were open and apologetic, but he still looked as though he were preparing to smash Blue’s face in. And maybe he deserved the salt room for having such feelings for his brother, but to Aixa, it was an incredibly attractive look for the normally docile djinn. He lowered his eyes to the space behind Shezaan.

“I’m sorry about that,” Shezaan said. Aixa looked up again. The other djinn’s cheeks were flushed with color and he finally unclenched his hands. “I…I couldn’t beat the idea of you being hurt.”[/i][/color]

Aixa opened and shut his mouth, a blush of his own making its way to his cheeks. He watched as his brother slid down against the wall and tried to reassure him. Aixa nodded quietly, sitting in front of his younger brother. “Shezzy, you didn’t have to do that,” he said sheepishly, taking his brothers hands in his own. He flipped one of his brother’s palms over and looked at the claw marks, feeling a stirring of both guilt and happiness. He wanted to leave it at that – that Shezzy shouldn’t have tried to fight with Blue – but he couldn’t. What would he have done if someone had knocked Shezzy down?

He remembered the homicidal rage that had clouded his vision and his judgment when the Nothing had kidnapped Pippa.

“But… thank you. I-it was sweet,” Aixa told him, kissing his brother’s palms and wrapping his arms around the djinn’s neck, pulling him into a hug. “I know things will get better, Zaan. They can’t get much worse, can they?” he asked reluctantly, resting his head on Shezzy’s shoulders. His hand trailed up his brother’s arm and stopped at the Lamp hanging around his neck. He paused, knowing as a general rule you simply just didn’t touch another Djinn’s Lamp. It was part of why he’d been confused and scared earlier when his brother had pressed it into his hands.

His fingers brushed it gently, sighing against his brother’s shoulder. “I don’t know what to do,” he confessed, lifting his head up only slightly, embarrassed by his tears. Shezzy wasn’t crying and neither was anyone else in the room, so why was he? He felt his thoughts begin to run together again and he wondered if he was losing energy again or if he was just having a standard issue psychological break.

What would happen after they got out? If they did? Would Shezzy go his separate ways, like they had centuries before? Pippa surely wouldn’t be able to handle another djinn in her life – if she was even alive at the end, or if she didn’t throw his Lamp back at him. He wouldn’t want to be friends with someone who kept getting him kidnapped. Just a month ago he wouldn’t ever have believed that he could get anywhere close to dying. It took a lot to murder a djinn – it was nearly impossible for a human to manage.

He covered his mouth, trying to muffle the sob. He was scared. Was this how Pippa felt constantly? He took his hand away from his brother’s Lamp, his mind berating him for touching it. Even if the Jinn didn’t have relationships like the humans, Aixa thought like a human, and he knew that family was off-limits. “I didn’t want to. B-but I did, you know? It didn’t mean anything but it meant so much,” he ranted, sounding slightly delirious to the casual observer, but he knew what he was referring to and that made him feel better.

“And nobody ever likes me. P-Pippa is scared of me, Leo just led me on, a-and Chaucer w-was straight. And Oliver was a werewolf and h-he didn’t like me,” Aixa rambled, rubbing his tears away and hiccupping from his crying. “And I know that I fall in love easily, but this isn’t fair, Shezzy! Is it? Do you think it is?” he demanded, flailing his arms from the injustice of it all.

He bit his lips, embarrassed from his ranting. He shook his head and slumped next to his brother. It wasn't the time nor the place for such things, but he was grateful that he had at least gotten it off his chest, which made him feel better at least... even if it hadn't solved anything.

He smiled at his brother and, emboldened by his catharsis, ran his lithe fingers over the Lamp again. He made hesitant eye contact, afraid he'd lose his nerve if he saw his brother's reaction but dammit he didn't really care anymore because even if he was made a complete and utter fool he knew that Shezzy was a constant in his life. He raised the pendant to his lips and kissed it lightly.


"Speaking of, I'm thinking I should nearly die some more," he said quietly, letting the pendant go and watching it land against Shezzy's throat.[/font][/size]

[Deleted]

Shezaan pondered the situation quietly. He was refusing to even look in Blue's direction as just the sight of him might set him off again. It wasn't because he would not hep them, or because he had called him a fool. Here Aixa was, on death's doorstep, barely able to breathe, and Blue came over and knocked him down just because of some simple writing in the dirt. What was so bad about the time lord's language? Shezaan thought it was beautiful. He shook his head, sending that long blond hair into his face as he brought up his knees to his chest, wrapping his arms around his knees for a moment as he brooded.

 “Shezzy, you didn’t have to do that,” he said sheepishly, taking his brothers hands in his own.

“But… thank you. I-it was sweet,” Aixa told him, kissing his brother’s palms and wrapping his arms around the djinn’s neck, pulling him into a hug. “I know things will get better, Zaan. They can’t get much worse, can they?” 

Shezaan smiled softly and wrapped his arms around Aixa as well, nuzzling his nose into the soft smooth curve of Aixa's throat. He replied softly breathing against Aixa's neck “Everything's going to be fine. We just have to stay calm and... and.... we'll figure something out, Aixa.. I know it” and he comfortingly began stroking his brother's hair away from his eyes. Shezaan looked at his twin with the most loving and concerned look in his blue eyes before leaning in to kiss his forehead. Aixa's skin still felt hot and Shezaan closed his eyes tightly, still worried for his brother..... Brother... such a funny word. He drifted off in his own thoughts for a moment. Once he thought about it logically, he wasn’t sure if they were brothers at all, not in the same sense that humans considered it.

Aixa and Shezaan were deeply connected in a way humans simply could not fathom. Brothers and sisters were a common thing with humans, twins even more so, but for both Aixa and Shezaan to have been brought into existence at the same time, in the same place... Perhaps there was more to their bond than just 'brothers'.. They were unique among their kind. Shezaan always felt like they were meant to be together. And at the time, “Brother” was the only word that came to mind to describe their bond. But soon, Aixa's breaking voice brought him back with a start.

“I didn’t want to. B-but I did, you know? It didn’t mean anything but it meant so much,” he ranted, sounding slightly delirious to the casual observer, but he knew what he was referring to and that made him feel better.

“And nobody ever likes me. P-Pippa is scared of me, Leo just led me on, a-and Chaucer w-was straight. And Oliver was a werewolf and h-he didn’t like me,” Aixa rambled, rubbing his tears away and hiccupping from his crying. “And I know that I fall in love easily, but this isn’t fair, Shezzy! Is it? Do you think it is?” he demanded, flailing his arms from the injustice of it all.

“A-Aixa? “ The look of worry grew in his eyes as he looked at his brother. Hi brought his hand up to caress Aixa's cheek and used his thumb to clear away any tears he may have missed. Those tear stained fingers then trailed to Aixa's quivering lips and Shezaan caressed his lips reassuringly with his fingertips. “No... That doesnt sound fair at all... But I'm sure, your Pippa isn't scared of you.. She just hasnt gotten to know you yet. You're wonderful.” He felt bad for Aixa. Aside from his first master ( who suffered a rather nasty fate that Shezaan did not feel bad about at all), his other masters had been so kind, sure each had their odd quirks, but each had been so nurturing to him. He felt horrible that Aixa had not seemed as fortunate.

He bit his lips, embarrassed from his ranting. He shook his head and slumped next to his brother. It wasn't the time nor the place for such things, but he was grateful that he had at least gotten it off his chest, which made him feel better at least... even if it hadn't solved anything. He smiled at his brother and, emboldened by his catharsis, ran his lithe fingers over the Lamp again. He made hesitant eye contact, afraid he'd lose his nerve if he saw his brother's reaction but dammit he didn't really care anymore because even if he was made a complete and utter fool he knew that Shezzy was a constant in his life. He raised the pendant to his lips and kissed it lightly.

Shezaan seemed to shudder, as if a soft kiss had been placed right at the base of his spine causing him to arch his back in a strange delight. Fingers eached up to gently grip a handfull of Aixa's hair, not in a pull but as if he didnt want Aixa to move away. His flesh seemed to tremble as he let go of a hot sigh, fingers loosening and coming to rest on Aixa's shoulders and looking into his eyes with a sense of confused satisfaction.

"Speaking of, I'm thinking I should nearly die some more," he said quietly, letting the pendant go and watching it land against Shezzy's throat.

Shezaan's throat trembled slightly as he swallowed and sat up to look at him. “Dont say that, Aixa. I dont know what I would do if I lost you”

[Deleted]

Aixa smiled gratefully as he hugged his brother. He still wasn’t happy that the Jinn had captured him, but Aixa knew that if Shezzy hadn’t sacrificed some of his life then the older Djinn would be dead. “Of course it will,” he returned, pressing into his brother’s hand as it stroked his head. “But I don’t know if I can stay calm,” Aixa admitted, looking down nervously. “Either way, we’re going to be hurting someone.” He was about to expand on his thinking process, when cool lips touched his forehead.

It took the young Djinn every ounce of self control not to act on instinct. Instead he tensed, trying to ensure that his arms or legs didn’t move of their own accord. His face flushed brighter which didn’t help cool him down. Shezaan seemed blissfully ignorant of Aixa’s current internal moral dilemma, because, even though normally Shezzy could understand Aixa better than Aixa himself, their proximity was setting off small sparks inside his mind. And yet Shezzy wasn’t letting him go.

That moment was when the dam broke; all of Aixa’s thoughts and worries and mindless prattling poured from his mouth in a rush of words and self-pity. He clamped his mouth shut and whimpered a little miserably. “A-Aixa?” Shezzy asked, looking rather worried. Aixa brought up a hand to rub away his own tears, but Shezzy beat him to it. His breath caught in his throat and he froze as the Djinn across from him wiped away the tears. He was going to die if Shezzy didn’t stop touching him (although at the same time, he was also fairly certain that he would die if he stopped, so he wasn’t too sure what was the happy medium.) He sighed, flustered and embarrassed, and that’s when the damnable Djinn made his move. Aixa’s eyes widened as Shezzy’s fingers traced his lips.

I do have self restraint I do have self restraint I do have self restraint I do have self restraint

“No… that doesn’t sound fair at all…” couldn’t he tell that it was him? “I’m sure, your Pippa isn’t scared of you… she just hasn’t gotten to know you yet. You’re wonderful.”[/b]

Aixa nodded wordlessly, wondering if Shezzy realized that Aixa wasn’t particularly listening. His attention was rather focused on not flicking his tongue out to taste his brother’s fingers. “Stop,” he muttered, pushing his brother’s hand away from him. His pupils were rather dilated, making his head ache. “A-anyway, you don’t know Pippa. She’s scared of everything.”

His eyes returned the pendant around his brother’s neck and he took his chance. He didn’t know what he had expected – maybe a confused stare or a ticklish giggle or something equally as innocent from his innocent brother – but he hadn’t expected that. Aixa’s jaw trembled when his brother’s fingers gripped his hair. Aixa let the Lamp go, afraid of what it was doing to his brother.

Of what he had been doing to his brother.

“Don’t say that, Aixa. I don’t know what I would do if I lost you.”[/b]

Aixa giggled. “I was just trying to get you to kiss me again,” he said honestly. His brother seemed to be rather confused – confused, but not all together unhappy. “But, anyway, I guess we should figure out what we’re going to do…”[/size][/font]

[Deleted]

Aixa giggled. “I was just trying to get you to kiss me again,” he said honestly. His brother seemed to be rather confused – confused, but not all together unhappy. “But, anyway, I guess we should figure out what we’re going to do…”

Shezaan looked at him, his head tilted to the side at his remark. He immediately smiled and leaned in to nuzzle his nose to Aixa's affectionately. "Maybe under better circumstances, I will." There was a gleam in his eyes that told Aixa he meant that.

As he pondered his next statement he ran his fingers behind his ear, pulling the hair to tuck it neatly there. He chewed his lower lip as his mind puzzled over a possible strategy. Then it hit him.. This was probably a more reckless and dangerous idea than transforming into a bull and slamming the door down. The elder Amir had said it clear as day. he repeated it aloud to Aixa, where he could hear. “That’s the language of the Time Lords. The Shayteen will be after you if they think you can read their language.”..... He looked at him with a slight twinge of fear but also a look of determination. he COULD read it... well.. some of it.. he still didn't understand sentence structure but he could read the letters and numbers easily enough. "My former mistress was a lady of time.. She taught me some of it.. I.. Could get their attention and that would get us out of this room, maybe then we can see where they're being kept."

[Deleted]

"Maybe under better circumstances, I will."[/color] Aixa smiled and ducked his head, embarrassed by the eskimo kiss. Maybe. Well, if that was the best chance he could get, he'd take it. He felt a little less dirty knowing that Shezzy didn't hate him for it. He had doubted that his brother would but... well, it was his brother. His smile faltered and he leaned away. He had dealt with Daleks, angry Time Lords, the Nothing, and King Solomon, so why was his brother doing this to him?

Geoffrey Chaucer, the Nomad, Oliver Lerenzo, the random doorman, and countless others... they had all felt an initial flair of attraction for the djinn, and then they had left him. He was cursed, absolutely cursed. He scooted farther away from Shezzy. If he didn't have any feelings for his brother, then nothing bad would happen to Shezzy. They'd go back to how they were.

With a smile and a great bit of determination, the djinn happily boxed up his emotions and threw them in his mental crematorium.

There. Now nothing bad would ever happen and they would be brothers forever and it would be great. He opened his mouth to declare that a kiss would be unnecessary, but Shezzy had already been storming up ideas for their great escape. And, like was always the case, it was a very dangerous idea.

"You're out of your mind," Aixa said, grabbing his brother's shoulders and shaking him gently. "Do you know what they'll do to you? Who knows what they do with the Jinn who can speak Time Lordish!" he whispered furiously. He glanced over at Blue. "You don't know what they'll make you do."

But it wasn't like he had any better ideas. He stared at Shezzy unhappily. There were so many things that could go wrong and it was highly unlikely that they could both get out alive, or that both of them would even survive trying to trick the Shayteen. The Nothing, at least, was an intelligent creature that knew when to back off when it was in a losing battle, but the Shayteen were brute force.

"She's still wearing my Lamp... i-if she makes a wish, maybe..." he trailed off helplessly. "She won't though. The last time she made a wish I got her kidnapped and taken by the Nothing."

And she hadn't even wanted to wish it.

It was hopeless. Either they did nothing or they died. Of course, knowing the Head of the Council, they would probably die anyway after serving whatever purpose the twisted little boy had in mind. [/size][/font]

[Deleted]

"You're out of your mind," Aixa said, grabbing his brother's shoulders and shaking him gently. "Do you know what they'll do to you? Who knows what they do with the Jinn who can speak Time Lordish!" he whispered furiously. He glanced over at Blue. "You don't know what they'll make you do."

But it wasn't like he had any better ideas. He stared at Shezzy unhappily. There were so many things that could go wrong and it was highly unlikely that they could both get out alive, or that both of them would even survive trying to trick the Shayteen. The Nothing, at least, was an intelligent creature that knew when to back off when it was in a losing battle, but the Shayteen were brute force.

"I.. I know.. it could get us killed. But... I.. I know she doesnt have my lamp any more.. but I think they have my mistress too." He trailed off sadly and looked his brother in the eyes. "She dismissed me because she said she felt something bad was going to happen and she didnt want me caught up in the middle of it.... I think she meant this." He motioned his arm to the room packed full of amir. "She tried to save me. The least I can do is return the favor." He then rested his forehead on Aixa's shoulder. Without looking up he replied even more quietly. "And they have your Pippa. If we are anything alike.. And I'm sure we are.. We're twins after all. Heh" he said with an uncertain chuckle.. "Your Pippa is more than a mistress... She's a friend, right? The Goddess was my friend...."

"She's still wearing my Lamp... i-if she makes a wish, maybe..." he trailed off helplessly. "She won't though. The last time she made a wish I got her kidnapped and taken by the Nothing."

And she hadn't even wanted to wish it.

It was hopeless. Either they did nothing or they died. Of course, knowing the Head of the Council, they would probably die anyway after serving whatever purpose the twisted little boy had in mind.

He lifted his head off of Aixa's shoulder and looked into his eyes, reaching his fingers behind his ear like a cheap magic trick and produced a black piece of chalk and smiled softly, but unable to conceal the fear in his eyes. "I'm sure if I scrawl it all over the walls, they're bound to notice."

[Deleted]

He was going to die. “If she knew this would happen, why didn’t she warn you?” he asked bitterly. “Why didn’t the Vetales say anything?” Aixa sighed and looked around the room. The rest had given up hope. He was ready to bite down his optimistic spirit and admit defeat. Sure, he didn’t want the Jinn to do anything to the innocent Time Lords or the humans, but the only option was to get his brother and himself thrown in the salt room.

Shezzy rested his forehead against Aixa’s shoulders. Aixa ran his fingers through his brother’s hair. “And they have your Pippa. If we are anything alike…and I’m sure we are…we’re twins after all. Heh.”[/color] Aixa decided to ignore the sting the word ‘twins’ had given him. “Your Pippa is more than a mistress… she’s a friend, right? The Goddess was my friend…”[/i][/color]

Aixa frowned when Shezzy lifted his head. Sure, Pippa was more than a mistress, but Shezaan was more than a brother.

“I’m sure if I scrawl it all over the walls, they’re bound to notice.”[/color][/b]

The older amir nearly tackled him in a hug, squeezing him tightly. “D-did I ever tell you that I’m sorry for that one time when I put sand in your eyes? O-or when I said your hair was too long? Or when I said you were really girly? Which I mean you are, but that’s okay! And I’m sorry for trying to drown your master in peanut oil….b-by the way, that was me,” he rambled, hugging Shezzy tighter. “And also I’m sorry for not talking to you for so long… and I’m sorry for not being able to get you out of this and I’m sorry that the stupid Nothing made me weak! And I’m sorry that I always make things awkward or weird like when I say that balloons and condoms used to be made out of animal intestines!”

He scrolled through the past one thousand two hundred and forty three years, trying to discern whether there was anything else he needed to apologize for. Deciding that there wasn’t, he buried his head in his brother’s neck, mumbling out his next words sheepishly. “But I’m not sorry that I love you, ya ruuhi.”

Deciding that being exceedingly corny was out of the way, he released his grip on Shezzy and nodded. “So… what’s the plan for after we get dragged mercilessly out of the room?”[/size]

[Deleted]

The older amir nearly tackled him in a hug, squeezing him tightly. “D-did I ever tell you that I’m sorry for that one time when I put sand in your eyes?"

“Aixa.. It's okay. I just-”

"O-or when I said your hair was too long? Or when I said you were really girly? Which I mean you are, but that’s okay! And I’m sorry for trying to drown your master in peanut oil….b-by the way, that was me,” he rambled, hugging Shezzy tighter. 

“Aixa!”

“And also I’m sorry for not talking to you for so long… and I’m sorry for not being able to get you out of this and I’m sorry that the stupid Nothing made me weak! And I’m sorry that I always make things awkward or weird like when I say that balloons and condoms used to be made out of animal intestines!”

“Aaaaixa... Really, I-”

He scrolled through the past one thousand two hundred and forty three years, trying to discern whether there was anything else he needed to apologize for. Deciding that there wasn’t, he buried his head in his brother’s neck, mumbling out his next words sheepishly. “But I’m not sorry that I love you, ya ruuhi.”

At that sudden confession, Shezzan's breath caught in his chest. In a long line of people and fascinating creatures he had met, not one... Had ever told him that they loved him. Not the male masters who insisted he take a female shape, nor the females who flirted with him. None of them. Not even The Goddess whom he was so dearly fond of. No. Aixa's proclamation of his unyielding love made a roaring heat rush to his face. That heat burned all over his body. It wasn't a heat of shame or embarrassment. No, Shezaan had always considered Aixa his beloved, but because he had always addressed him as “Brother”, was to ashamed to admit otherwise.

Deciding that being exceedingly corny was out of the way, he released his grip on Shezzy and nodded. “So… what’s the plan for after we get dragged mercilessly out of the room?”

“well, first thing's first... “ Shezaan suddenly held either side of Aixa's face and pulled him in close to his own face, so close, their eyelashes touched. Before Aixa could even let out a squeak or ask what he was doing, Shezaan's eyes shut tight and kissed him. A slow, gently loving caress of lips, soft and trembling against Aixas.. Shezaan's fingers gently ran through Aixa's hair as his body suddenly snugged up against the older amir.. He didnt care that the others were there. He didn't care that they thought they were being strange. He didnt even care that Blue was there.. All that mattered was Aixa in that moment.

Once the fever of passion settled, Shezaan finally slowly eased his lips away. Those eyes searching almost pleadingly for some kind of reaction other that horror or disgust.