Qualin
"Damn, he's cute." I whispered under my breath, resting my elbow on my knee and my chin in my hand.
"Ugh." Draco shuddered slightly, but there was a small chuckle in his voice.
Another male voice laughed out loud and I turned to see a young man with silver hair, furry ears, and a fluffy tail. His eyes were a bright gold with black slits. He smiled cheerfully as he took some of the savory dried meat from one of the baskets in front of me.
"Hello."
"Hi. So...which one are you?" I smiled back.
"Kyo. I'm partnered to Sunrise, one of the sisters from the first litter."
"Ah. And...is it rude to ask what you are? Because, you're not a transformer, right?"
"Correct." He smiled. "You are perceptive. I'm a spirit beast. Also called a yokai in some cultures, or a demon."
"A demon? That's interesting. That other girl, Flyer, mentioned her partner was half demon. but, uh, don't they...eat...demons?" I gestured over to where the fiend had been. The fact that there was was now no trace was impressive.
He laughed. "Funny story, actually, first time I met Draco and the rest of the family, was after he tried to eat my dad..."
"But I didn't!" Draco interjected. "It was the first time I had met beings like you guys and his aura at the time was still pretty dark. But I stopped when I saw a saw cute kid jump in to protect his daddy." He reached over and ruffled the young man's hair.
"That's right, I forgot I had actually tried to fight you. Seeing something that could take on my dad was terrifying. Jumping in was pretty dumb."
"Yes. But when I saw I was dealing with a family, I calmed down and we were able to talk."
Kyo chuckled, "Yeah, so it all worked out for the best. You guys even started adopting animal features in your humanoid forms because of how we look..."
"So that's two that were nearly eaten, then became family." I interjected, admittedly curious about an apparent pattern. "And I was a criminal that was also nearly killed by..." I looked around, suddenly wondering in the dragon a fought in the palace was here. That would be awkward...
"Oh, that was Shree, she's my litter mate. And you nearly killed her partner, Rayken. He's a LaMihinnian guard at the palace." Draco commented calmly. "She's not here, but when you do meet her again, don't worry. She's a bit fierce, but I won't let her eat you now that you're family." He winked.
I laughed. "Gee, thanks. Guess I'm pretty lucky Minor decided saved my ass."
"Yeah... she definitely meant to kill you... but I was only teasing about the eating you part...I wouldn't have let her regardless. We have a rule against eating people, even enemies."
The fact that they had to make a rule about that was a bit distributing... but I decided not to think about it too much.
"And yes..." Draco added. "Our family is pretty diverse and open minded, and also big on second chances. We've met all sorts. Including many that just... needed a nudge in the right direction." He shrugged and smiled, looking around. "Not all that surprising that a few have ended up as family."
This really was an interesting family. Pushing the thought aside, I turned back to see if I could still spot Minor. It only took a second, and it was my ears that found him first.
Instead of wrestling, he was now singing, apparently teaching some of the younger kids. Shooter joined in, directing some of the kids to make certain sounds or different pitches.
"Like this..." he began making low, rhythmic noises and beats. Minor began humming and vocalizing along with him and directing the kids to join different parts.
I loved hearing him make music again. He had mentioned he sang with his siblings but I hadn't really put much thought into it. Now I was excited to hear. Shooter seemed just as talented.
"Come on!" I barely had time to glance towards Stardust's voice before she grabbed my arm and pulled me from my seat and over to Minor.
Then she began to harmonize with Minor. That seemed to be a cue for the other two litter mates to join, because suddenly all five were in a semi-circle around the three or four kids, who were all giggling with excitement and trying to follow along.
Minor also transformed so they were all beastlings, which was an attractive sight, and they all began clapping their hands, patting their chests, and lightly slapping their thighs in rhythm. Along with their voices, it created an interesting beat and harmony like I'd never heard without instruments.
"Like this..." Stardust tapped my shoulder until I met her eyes and began repeating a simple pattern.
Then I realized what she meant. "Oh, no. No, no, no." I raised my hands and started backing away. "I'm good. I'll just listen."
"Wait, please!" Minor squealed in excited and quickly grabbed my arm. "Please, sing with me!" He began to also repeat the same simple vocal pattern, encouraging me to do the same. His brothers began to do the same, adding little embellishes to the melody.
"It's easy. Just start simple, then build on it." Galaxy offered, then demonstrated.
"Yeah...I don't sing." Like hell I was going to embarrass myself. They sounded like professionals. Like, freaking angelic! I was pretty sure I'd never done more than maybe hum a random tune now and again. I didn't even know what my voice would sound like if I tried to sing, and I was good not knowing. I Certainly was not about to find out in front of my partner's entire family!
"Come on, don't be shy!" Draco laughed and began vocalizing along with his children. His voice was mid range, rich, and powerful.
"It's tradition." Minor's mother added with a smile. "Transformers sing to court their partners, and once bonded, sing together to announce and celebrate their union." She turned and smiled at Draco.
He responded with an expression like I'd never seen before. It could only be described as a look of deep love and affection. Like she was his whole world. Then he began to sing in a language I didn't know, but I could feel the emotion, and see it on his face.
Other voices began calling out, echoing the words or adding their own. I glanced around and noticed that most of the adults were pairing up. Some by themselves, most with groups of children, ranging from very young to adolescents.
I watched as Draco and Stared-one climbed up a rocky ledge, overlooking the rest of their family. They held hands and looked...I assumed...immensely proud and happy as they sat down and cuddled while continuing to sing and watch their children.
Each pair seemed to take turns leading a solo. Some sounded like different languages. I understood a few, or at least a few words here and there. It didn't seem to be a single song, rather, everyone was just singing their own words, but all to the theme about being together. Being family.
Not everyone necessarily had a beautiful voice, but everyone together sounded surreal and mesmerizing. It also seemed like only the couples were singing words. The young ones and single adults, like Minor's litter mates, were all just quietly humming or vocalizing, or tapping out a winding rhythm that changed slightly with each pair. Everyone added their own color, their own flavor.
It was fucking beautiful, and I suddenly felt extremely out of place. My chest tightened I felt like I couldn't breathe.
'I don't belong here.' The thought formed before I realized it.
Minor's hands suddenly grasped mine. I heard the melody and words in my mind before I heard his voice out loud. He began to sing softly in my native tongue. A language I had hardly heard since I was a kid, and probably hadn't spoken in years.
But I instantly recognized the lullaby my mother used to sing. I covered my face with my hand. Emotions I had buried deep down were threatening to break through.
"Safe in my arms, you are home with me." Minor sang softly, his hands clasped both of mine again as he repeated the translated words. He continued to sing the lullaby, translating some of the words and tweaking and embellishing a little here and there, making it sound more like a song between lovers than a mother and child.
Minor's mother seemed to pick up on it first. She began to sing, "You are home...I am home with you..." And the sentiment seemed to spread.
Soon, everyone around us seemed to be repeating similar phrases.
Shit. I felt a few hot tears trickle down my face. I don't get emotional. I certainly don't cry. This was ridiculous.
"It's alright." Minor whispered, breaking away from singing, but still humming quietly. I leaned down and he pressed his forehead against mine. A warm, comforting feeling spread through my mind and body.
"This is where you belong. We are home, together..." He began to sing again, quietly repeating the words in my native language, his voice purring softly.
It didn't know about 'announcing' anything to anyone, but I did want to celebrate. Just between the two of us. The only one I wanted was Minor. I wanted to feel the connection between us and for him to know how much he had come to mean to me in such a short amount of time.
"I am home...I am home..." I whispered in his ear, attempting to follow the simple melody. I felt his smile against my neck and a sensation of joy spread through my mind.
"Damn, I love you." I picked him up, wrapping his legs around my waist and holding him close as I hummed and swayed to the sound of his family's singing.