Walk forward, into the world

Title: Walk forward, into the world
Author: Ainzfern
Genre: Ai no Kusabi – Post OVA
Code: Iason/Riki
Rating: NC-17
Parts: WIP – 10/?

Surprisingly enough, it was Iason’s young Furniture, Dane, who arrived to collect them rather than the expected Katze. Driving Iason’s own private vehicle, he pulled up outside the safe-house just after mid-morning, announcing himself through the intercom beside the main gate and then waiting patiently until Riki had entered the security code to allow him to drive into the courtyard.

Standing beside Iason on the main steps of the safe-house, his small satchel of belongings slung carelessly over one shoulder, Riki watched expressionlessly as the slightly built young man cut the engine of the car and climbed out to respectfully greet his Elite Master.

“Good morning, Sir,” Dane bowed his head in the standard display of submission.

“Dane,” Iason’s nod was pleasant enough; for all that it was characteristically aloof. “I was expecting Katze to return this morning. Where is he?”

“Ah,” Dane straightened and wet his lips, “Master Am rather sternly instructed me to collect you this morning. He and Mr. Katze were… otherwise engaged.”

Riki literally felt his ears perk up.

“Engaged in what, Dane?” Iason’s voice grew a touch sterner.

An odd look crossed Dane’s face. For a moment, Riki couldn’t pick it but then it struck him. Dane was amused. The expression was only slight, but it was there. All of a sudden, he began to look a little more intensely at the Furniture. The young man was obviously not quite as cowed and submissive as he might first have appeared, despite his youth and small stature.

Riki couldn’t help liking that fact. He couldn’t help liking anyone who stood up to a Blondie, no matter how subtly.

Which probably explained why he liked Katze so much… lying prick that he was.

“I believe it was resting, Sir,” Dane had replied, his face betraying nothing.

“I see.” Iason flicked a brief glance at Riki’s artfully blank expression. “How interesting.”

Riki quirked a brow at him, shrugging slightly.

“Well,” Iason stepped towards the rear of the car, motioning Riki to follow him, “If the order came from Raoul Am, then I can hardly fault you for obeying it.”

“Thank you, Sir,” Dane quickly opened the door for his master.

Pausing in the act of lowering himself into the vehicle, Iason turned and met Dane’s eyes directly. “This is Riki,” he nodded towards the mongrel standing close behind him. “He will be returning with me to Eos Tower. You are to make him welcome.”

Dane’s eyes widened slightly, even as Riki felt his narrow a touch. It was obvious to him, in that single fleeting instant, that Dane knew very well exactly who Riki was. Of course he would have. Riki felt his mouth curve into a tiny scowl. The Elite gossiped amongst themselves worse than a bunch of bored Pets. The Furniture was sure to have heard all about it at some point in his travels from master to master, and in varying degrees of lurid accuracy, no doubt.

The Furniture returned Iason’s nod without comment, continuing to hold the car door as Riki climbed in. As he moved past the slighter man, their eyes met for a moment and Riki saw an unmistakable hardening there. Not dislike, as such, more a sort of challenge. A clear message that Dane knew his place and was not about to be pushed out of it.

He met that gaze steadily, unflinchingly, even as he lowered himself into the seat beside Iason, sending a silent message of his own right back.

As he settled into the car, tossing his satchel onto the floor at his feet, his smile genuinely returned as Iason immediately hooked one long arm around his shoulders, drawing him in to his side. “Issues, already?” that velvet voice murmured with mild amusement, directly into his ear.

Riki glanced wryly up at him. He really ought to have known than Iason would pick up on the silent by-play that had just occurred. “You’re too damned perceptive for your own good, sometimes. Did you know that?”

Iason merely continued to hold his gaze, silently awaiting more information.

Stifling a sigh, Riki shrugged. “I’ll handle it.”

Iason’s expression tightened a little. “If you require me to- -“

“I’ll handle it, Iason,” Riki felt his jaw set stubbornly. “Okay?”

He watched, almost instinctively bracing himself slightly as Iason’s eyes flashed momentarily. Then, in an act that honestly startled him, the Blondie relaxed almost immediately and vented a deep soft chuckle. “As you wish, Riki.” He faced forward as Dane lowered himself into the driver’s seat. “Take us directly back, Dane, if you would.”

“Of course, Sir.” Dane adjusted the rear view mirror and started the engine, easing the large vehicle around the courtyard and out into the main square with practiced ease.

Sighing softly, Riki looked back over his shoulder, partly to ensure that the security gate closed behind them but also, in a way, to say a sort of silent farewell to the place that had been both his home and his sanctuary for the last three months. He couldn’t deny that he was glad enough to be leaving it. Certainly he was happy to be heading away from it in the company of Iason Mink.

He wondered, however, even as he settled a little more comfortably into Iason’s warm side, if he might not be back here again sooner rather than later.

Time would tell, he thought, resting his head against Iason’s shoulder and closing his tired eyes for a moment. He felt the Blondie’s arm tighten just a little more around him, and he smiled again, even in his dosing state.

Time would tell…


*****

As he strode through the front door of his penthouse in Eos Tower, Iason immediately drew to a sudden stop, his eyes widening in something very close to shock at the incongruous site that had met his arrival.

As he stood there, feeling a not inconsiderable amount of irritation rising within him, he only peripherally noted Dane softly closing the door and asking Riki if he might take his belongings into the main bedroom. And he most definitely chose to ignore the soft and muffled snorting from directly behind his left shoulder as Riki attempted to stifle his laughter.

He drew in a deep breath, fighting for and winning – but only just – his composure.

He couldn’t deny that there was a certain level of personal disappointment fueling his ire at the moment. He had truly hoped, upon their return to Eos, that he and Riki might have had an opportunity to talk intimately for a while, perhaps make love again, before Iason had to leave and attend the final trade ratification at Partia with Chey Neeson and his delegate team.

Alas it appeared, Iason heaved a slow sigh, this was not going to be the case.

On his sofa… in the middle of his penthouse suite… behind the low table littered with the empty remains of several of his finest vintages from his private collection... Raoul Am, his closest Elite friend and Chief Biologist of the Tanagura syndicate was slumped, apparently sound asleep. And sprawled right next to him, slack mouthed and softly snoring was his ex-Furniture…

“Katze!!” Iason’s sharp stern voice cut the silence.

Groaning softly, Katze opened his eyes, peering blearily up at Iason for a moment before, with a sudden gasp, realization set in and he sat up straight, his face paling almost immediately and one shaking hand lifting to press against his forehead. “Uh… Iason,” he mumbled thickly. “You’re back.”

Iason glanced sideways briefly as he saw Riki stroll over to one of the large chairs to the side of the sofa and perch on the armrest, one foot bracing himself on the floor, as he watched the scene with keen interest and every indication of enjoyment.

“Explain yourself!” Iason snapped at the suffering ex-Furniture.

“I believe that is my obligation in this instance, Iason,” Raoul had also woken and was straightening his appearance, his eyes a little shadowed yet appearing overall none the worse for wear, certainly nowhere near to Katze’s sorrowful state. “I gave Katze permission to open your cellar.”

Pressing his lips tightly together, Iason regarded the Elite for a long moment. “Would you care to tell me why?” he asked acidly.

“Ah.” Raoul frowned for a moment, looking perplexed. “You know, Iason… I don’t think I can.” He cast a sidelong look at Katze and shrugged almost helplessly. “It just seemed to be a good idea at the time.”

Heaving a long-suffering sigh, Iason felt the tension suddenly leaving his shoulders. “Am I to understand that you, Raoul, came here with Katze, uninvited… and became drunk last night?”

“Apparently so.”

“I actually have no idea of what to say about that.” Iason shook his head unhappily, reaching down and picking up one of the empty bottles with his long and elegant fingers. “Some of these vintages were over two hundred years old,” he murmured sadly, inspecting the label.

Raoul winced apologetically. “I will of course, replace them, my friend,” he offered immediately.

“Indeed you will.” Iason set the bottle down and lifted his chin. “Dane?” he called out.

Dane appeared, silent as always.

“Clean up this mess,” Iason told him, “And bring some coffee for my two unwelcome guests.” He looked back down at Raoul and Katze, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “You two,” he declared flatly, “are an absolute disgrace.”

“Iason...” Katze began

“Not a word from you, Katze,” Iason held up one hand, his expression stern and hard. “Not one single word.”

He turned his glacial eyes back to Raoul. “There are approximately three hours left before our presence is required in Partia for the signing of the trade agreement, Raoul. In keeping with your selected role as my second in the negotiations, I would suggest that you use that time to return to your own apartment here in Eos Tower and make yourself presentable. Katze..?” he looked at the red-head, “I will deal with you shortly.”

Katze winced.

Turning, Iason stalked across the room towards the balcony door, motioning discreetly for Riki to join him. Stepping out into the warm late-morning sun, he walked across to the balcony wall and leaned against it. Resting both hands against its sun-warmed surface, he gazed out over Midas.

Riki joined him, mirroring his stance as he, too, looked out across the sunlit city far below them.

After a few pensive and thought filled moments had passed in silence, he heard the soft low sound of Riki’s chuckle.

Strange… and rather sorrowful, Iason couldn’t help thinking. It really was a most pleasing sound; Riki’s laughter. How sad it seemed to him now, that he had heard it more times in this single morning than he ever had during the three years that the mongrel had spent as his Pet.

On an impulse born of both inquisitiveness and desire, Iason turned to face Riki, reaching out with both hands to gently cup and lift that suddenly startled face. He leaned in and kissed the younger man, gently, lingeringly, tasting the sweet warmth of Riki’s mouth with fleeting dips of his tongue. When he felt Riki lean towards him slightly, heard the acquiescence in Riki’s soft moan, he pulled back almost regretfully, his thumb stroking back and forth over a smoothly shaven cheek.

Riki blinked his dazed eyes a few times as he slowly refocused on Iason’s face. “Not that I’m complaining or anything,” he said, his expression displaying a peculiar mix of pleasure and suspicion, “But, what was that for?”

Iason tilted his head to one side, considering the question as he moved his hands from Riki’s face, letting his touch drift down; his fingers stroking the length of Riki’s sleekly muscled arms, tickling and soothing, before curling about his lean hips, holding him loosely in a gentle grasp.

“In truth?” Iason answered softly with an honesty that surprised even himself, “To see if you would let me.”

Riki’s expression, his entire demeanor, softened noticeably. As Iason continued to look down into his dark eyes, he saw that they had grown very warm, almost tender... and there was something else there, too. Some other emotion that Iason wouldn’t dare to define just yet, however much he felt that he knew what it was.

Nevertheless, he filed Riki’s reaction away in the recesses of his formidable mind for later redress, feeling considerably more hopeful regarding the situation between them.

“Iason?” Riki asked him, one sable brow arching slightly, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully.

Iason matched him with a lifted brow of his own. “Yes?”

“You’re not really that pissed off with Katze and Raoul at all, are you?”

“No, I am not.”

Riki snorted in amusement. “Well, you sure as hell had ‘em thinking you were. Katze was practically peeing himself.”

“Tell me, Riki,” Iason stroked his hands up the length of Riki’s back, “What made you so sure that I was not angry?”

Shrugging as if the answer was the simplest thing in the world, Riki grinned at him. “No one kisses like that when they’re angry.”

“Ah.” Iason nodded at him, appreciating his perceptiveness once again, “Well, I must admit, you are correct. I am not at all disturbed by the fact that Raoul and Katze enjoyed each other’s company last night. In fact…” He frowned thoughtfully, “it is a situation that I feel deserves a certain amount of encouragement.”

“Whoa,” Riki moved back and held up his hands, “Hold it a minute. Are you suggesting that my black-market boss and your pal Raoul, who happens to be the most elitist Elite in Tanagura, should become buddies?”

“I don’t actually know what I am suggesting, Riki,” Iason sighed and looked out over the city of Midas once more, his eyes distant and inwardly gazing, “But I don’t think that it would hurt either man to see the world from a different perspective.”

Riki was quiet for a long moment, considering Iason’s words. “Just like you,” he murmured eventually. “Just like you’ve learned to see the world differently.”

Iason’s head snapped around sharply, his eyes catching and holding Riki’s.

Riki met his gaze without the slightest indication of fear. “One day,” he continued, “You’ll have to tell me what the hell happened to you to make you like this.”

“Like what?” Iason frowned at him.

Riki shrugged, “Human.”

“That’s easy,” Iason reached out and touched Riki’s cheek with gentle fingertips. “I met you.”

“Nice,” Riki purred at him. His gaze focused over Iason’s shoulder for a moment, an odd little smile curling his lips. “Looks like Raoul’s gone,” he nodded towards the Penthouse. “Katze is still waiting, though.”

Turning around, Iason peered through the plate-glass windows that graced the balcony of his Penthouse, immediately seeing his ex-Furniture still seated on the sofa within the main room, his tense outline belying his anxiety.

With a soft non-committal grunt, Iason walked back into the Penthouse, moving to stand directly in front of the black marketer. “Well, Katze?” he asked coldly, “What have you to say?”

Katze glanced up at Riki, standing slightly to one side of the sofa. “”Y’know how you promised to kill me, last night?”

To Iason’s profound approval, Riki’s face didn’t even so much as twitch. “Yeah?”

Katze shuddered, his fingertips lifting to press firmly against his left temple. “Would you mind doing it now?”

Ignoring that, Iason moved a little closer to the red-head. “Katze,” he said softly, “I understand what happened last night. I know that you and Raoul Am both had great and sudden changes to deal with.”

Katze looked up at him, his face filled with impossible hope.

“It is no excuse, of course,” Iason smiled briefly, a fleeting flash of expression across his flawless face, “But it was, perhaps, a reason.” His gaze hardened again. “I want you to return to your safe-house, and to your main office… do whatever you need to do to ensure that Riki can continue to work for you from this location.”

He heard Riki’s shocked gasp behind him. Ignoring it for the moment, he continued. “I am, of course, assuming that you do still want him to continue in his current role?”

Katze swallowed, nodding somewhat carefully in deference to his obviously aching head. “Yes, Iason,” he replied, “He’s actually quite talented. It would be a shame to lose him.”

“Then don’t.” Iason pulled his broad shoulders back, his jaw firming decisively. “Make this happen, Katze, and you will be forgiven.”

Rising to his feet, Katze met Iason’s eyes with a suddenly steady gaze. “Done.” He declared softly, “By tomorrow I’ll have a full up-link installed here for him.” He paused, hesitating a moment, his lower lip caught between his teeth. “Iason, are you sure about this? I mean, its one thing to be a silent partner in the Ceres black-market… it’s quite another to be actually running a section of that right out of your own home.”

Iason reached out and closed one hand gently over Katze’s shoulder, even as he glanced across at Riki’s intense face. “The world is about to change, Katze. I would be disappointed in you if you didn’t already feel that.”

Katze dropped his eyes, flushing slightly at the mild rebuke.

“Do not think that I don’t appreciate your concern,” Iason continued in that same soft tone, “But understand, it is not necessary. Please do as I ask.”

Nodding once more, Katze pulled in a deep breath and made his way towards the main entrance of the Penthouse, pausing for a moment to look back at Riki. “I’m sorry I lied to you, kid,” he said softly, a wealth of regret in his voice. “I really didn’t have a choice, y’know?”

Riki nodded at him. “I know.”

“Good.”

With that said, Katze left in silence, closing the door behind him.


TBC…