Fated

Chapter Four--Uncharted Territory

Aquarius

"'Not the only ones?'" Pisces echoed, raising an eyebrow.

"Aquarius is right," Aries said, leaning against the table. "There are many other Zodiacs, though more minor. Like the Celtic Tree Zodiacs, the Chinese, the Egyptians and so on."

"You think it's these other signs doing this?" Sagittarius asked, fiddling with his cream suit.

"It feels like it," Capricorn mused, his turquoise eyes lingering on each of them. "But the question is why."

"We don't know it's them for sure," Aquarius said.

"What else could it be?" Libra asked, "As far as I know, no human can mess with the world like this. They don't even know about it."

Aquarius frowned. "We can't be for sure," he repeated.

"How about we just wait," Pisces suggested softly, his violet gaze looking around, "Aquarius is right. We don't know for sure. We wait, and we see."

"Are you sure that's safe?" Cancer asked softly, looking over at Pisces.

"No, I'm not sure, but it's all we can do," Pisces murmured, looking over at the shorter sign.

"It's not all we can do!" Aries said, standing up straight. "We can confront them!"

"And start an unnecessary war?" Capricorn asked, frowning deeply, "I don't think so."

"Well, what do you suppose we do?" Aires snapped impatiently.

"What Pisces said," Capricorn said evenly, "we wait and see."

"Fine," Aries grumbled, "but if I wake up dead, be sure I'll haunt you."

"We'll see," Capricorn mused, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"I say we leave this for now," Gemini said, crossing his arms, "we've said what we said, that's all we can do."

"I agree," Virgo said, "if we feel anything different, we meet again."

"We should let Them know if anything changes," Cancer mumbled, "just to be on the safe side, you know?"

Everyone grimaced. No one liked the Hooded Ones, their leaders, their Gods. The assholes as Aries called them. But it was written in their Law to inform them of any changes.

"Agreed," Libra said, "we're already stretching our rights by hiding this from them. If anything changes, we let them know."

They all mumbled agreements before stepping away from the table, talking among themselves as they moved towards the archways. Aquarius pushed his way over to Gemini, grabbing his arm. As he did, he felt the uncomfortable, but strangely pleasant zap run up his arm.

Gemini pulled back and looked at him, shaking his arm. "What?"

"I want to talk to you," Aquarius whispered, looking around to make sure the others weren't watching.

Gemini shifted uncomfortably. "You know, I don't really have time," he attempted to dodge, "I've just started watching Friends and I'd like to binge it..."

"Please," Aquarius pleaded.

Gemini sighed. "Fine, but we're going to my place."

"That's fine, I just want to talk," Aquarius murmured.

***

Gemini's apartment was rather small and cramped, but cozy. The walls in the living room were brick, and two sofas, a coffee table, and a wall-mounted TV filled the small space, along with many warm pillows and blankets.

Aquarius sat down cautiously on the edge of one of the soft sofas as Gemini went into the kitchen nearby, where he could still see the living room.

"Did you want anything?" Gemini asked, his voice low and forcibly casual.

"Uh... just water, thanks," Aquarius mumbled, looking around.

Gemini came round into the living and placed two glasses on the wooden coffee table, his hazelnut hair falling over his shoulder and hiding his face like a curtain. When he straightened, he pushed his hair back.

"What did you want to talk about?" he asked, meeting eyes with Aquarius briefly before looking away.

"About what happened," Aquarius murmured, fiddling with his bowtie.

"Can't we just put it behind us?" Gemini asked a little tensely, "please?"

"I want to, but, I read something today," Aquarius said softly, his mind flashing back to the book he had been reading. He hadn't been looking up why the air had been disrupted, he had been looking for why that zap had ignited between him and Gemini.

Gemini met his gaze before lowering himself down onto one of the other sofas, leaning back. "What did you read?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, "how to make the feeling go away?"

Aquarius shook his head, looking out the window. "It's forbidden."

Gemini frowned. "What's forbidden?"

"This," Aquarius gestured between himself and Gemini.

Gemini raised an eyebrow. "Going to spill it or...?"

"Gemini, we had the same teachings," Aquarius muttered.

"Yeah, four thousand, five hundred and twenty-four years ago," Gemini muttered. "You expect me to remember school after this long?"

Aquarius glared at him.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Aquarius!" Gemini exclaimed, throwing his hands up, "Would you please care to explain, oh mighty air sign that knows so much?"

"Shut up," Aquarius mumbled half-heartedly.

"Well?"

"That spark was..." Aquarius swallowed, "the start of something we're not meant to do."

"Enlighten me."

"It's forbidden to mate, Gemini."

Gemini, who had taken a sip of his water, coughed, spluttering water all over the collar of his white shirt. "What?"

"You heard me," Aquarius mumbled, shifting uncomfortably.

Gemini set his glass down with a clink. "So, you're implying we have sparked a mateage?"

Aquarius nodded shortly.

"No, no. Nope!" Gemini shook his head and rose from his seat, pacing around the cluttered living room. "This is illegal, Aquarius! You know what it can do?" he asked, shoving his hands through his hair.

"I know," Aquarius said calmly.

"So what do you expect we do?" Gemini asked, "avoid each other?"

"That will cause pain eventually."

"So, what, we give in and fuck?"

Aquarius raised an eyebrow.

"I'd rather be in pain than disrupt our clearly already fragile balance," Gemini muttered, crossing his arms.

"I know," Aquarius murmured, standing, "I just wanted to warn you."

"Well, thanks for the warning, now can you please get out of my house?" Gemini grumbled, "I have a midlife crisis to work out now!"

"Fine," Aquarius murmured, heading to the door, "but, something tells me we won't be able to help it or avoid it."

"Just..." Gemini sighed and looked at Aquarius, his eyes a little more gentle. "Just go. Let me work this out, then we can work it out."

"I'm sorry," Aquarius said, lowering his head as he opened the door.

"As am I," Gemini murmured, "but we will work it out."

Aquarius slipped out of the warm apartment, tugging at his tie. A small part of him wanted to stay, but he pushed it back. We will work it out... but something told him that wouldn't be so easy.