Metalia-sama

After he had had lunch, Nephrite went in search of the Master. He was beginning to wonder if the man was eating at all because Nephrite was having trouble remembering the last meal he had seeing the prince consume. He didn't even bother checking the Master's room, instead he went straight for the witch.

He knocked at the door, but had little patience to wait. When the door wasn't opened immediately, Nephrite opened it himself. To say that the sight that greeted him was unpleasant would be a vast understatement.

The witch more or less had his Master in an embrace, he didn't appear to be crying, but when Nephrite got a look at his eyes, it was obvious that he had been earlier. Beryl didn't move initially, but when the prince saw that his guardian had entered the room, he immediately detached himself. “Nephrite,” he said, his voice wavering noticeably. “What can I do for you?”

There was something off about the room, besides the fact that Beryl seemed to have dug her nails into the crown prince. Nephrite didn't reply and instead tracked down the source of his discomfort. Purple incense was burning on the table, and it was setting him on edge. Too many things in the room told him that this was not a safe place for his Master. “Master, I need you to come with me.”

“Is something wrong?” he asked, oblivious to the danger that Nephrite was sensing.

“I'm hoping that's not the case. Please.”

The Master politely thanked the witch on his way out and make some comment about seeing her soon, which Nephrite hoped he could dissuade the prince from doing.

Nephrite lead him back to his own chambers. Once inside, he felt it again and immediately sought out the source. Old incense on a table that had been burned the night before. He dumped the remains in a trash container and opened a window to clear the air.

He was surprised that the Master didn't give some complaint or question about why he was throwing out his belongings, but when Nephrite finally turned to face the Master, he saw that his expression was pained and his thoughts were elsewhere. “Master, what's wrong?”

“I've started to remember things.”

This wasn't good. She was doing this to him, wasn't she? “Remember what, Master?” he asked, playing dumb for the moment.

“I remember what I did to them. Zoisite and... and Jadeite.”

Damn it. Nephrite needed to come up with something fast. “Are you sure? Perhaps your mind is just making up memor-”

Endymion slammed his fist into the back of the sofa and it startled Nephrite as he went to sit in his own chair. “I remember beating Zoisite, threatening his life,” the prince began, finally turning his head and looking Nephrite in the eye, “and I remember raping Jadeite.”

Nephrite looked down and away, unable to meet that gaze. He couldn't lie to his Master, but he didn't want to admit the truth either.

“Are you going to tell me that it didn't happen?”

Nephrite shook his head slowly. “No. No, Metalia did do exactly as you said.” Thoughtfully, Nephrite drew his eyebrows together and looked back up at the Master. “Did Beryl make you remember these things?”

“No,” the prince said quickly, “she just happened to be there when the memories came back.”

Nephrite didn't believe it. The Master had been spending too much time with her, and there was something about the incense as well. “I think it would be best if you spent some time away from her, Master. Go outside and get some air, or go to the library or...”

Nephrite's voice trailed off when the Master rose from his seat, quickly closed the distance between the two men, and grabbed the front of Nephrite's uniform, hauling him to his feet. “Don't tell me what you think is best,” he growled, “you don't know the first thing about what I need.”

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, the Master seemed to realize what he was doing. Nephrite's own heart was beating quickly, he knew the tone the Master was using, and it belonged to the demon. Quickly, the Master released his guardian and fell back into his seat in a sort of state of shock. “Master...”

“The incense,” he whispered. “It's supposed to help me suppress Metalia. You threw it out?”

His voice was back to normal, but Nephrite wondered for how long. “It doesn't appear to be working, Master. Beryl can't be trusted. She may say that's what it's for, but she's lying.”

The prince sort a glare across the room at Nephrite. “I'm beginning to think that she's more trustworthy than you are.” With that, the Master stood and left the room, slamming the door behind him.

---

The morning had found Zoisite and Jadeite successfully employed at the restaurant. Despite the questionable circumstances that the two had arrived in town with, Zoisite had been able to put the owner's concerns to rest, and not only got himself a job playing the piano, but Jadeite would be able to work as a server and dishwasher a few nights a week. It would be more than enough income to get them started.

Zoisite had been quite upfront about their situation. Immediately confirming that he and Jadeite were lovers, but that their relationship would not come with them to work. Also, they were intending to move further from the palace in the future, but that wouldn't be for several months. Whether the owner had appreciated his honesty or was just desperate for employees, Zoisite wasn't sure, but the fact remained that they had work.

“I'm so excited to hear you play again!” Jadeite exclaimed. “I'll be able to hear you while I work.”

Zoisite smiled at his excitement. “I wouldn't be so sure, It's been months since I played. I'll be rusty.”

Jadeite would hear none of it. “You'll have plenty of time to practice tomorrow, don't worry about it.”

The pair had picked up a bottle of wine to celebrate. White wine at Jadeite's insistence, and Zoisite was happy to comply. He remembered Jadeite talking about Endymion's taste for red, and unpleasant memories were to be avoided.

After the events yesterday, Zoisite and Jadeite had had a long discussion about their relationship. It seemed that Jadeite felt much less secure in it after Zoisite's confession, but he had done his best to put Jadeite's mind at ease. Jadeite was the first and only person Zoisite had ever loved, romantically at least, and sex was no longer an empty, emotionless act. The next morning, Jadeite seemed settled enough with the situation to head into town.

They had returned to the cottage in the early afternoon, and after spending the time leading up to dinner more of less entirely in each other's embrace, Jadeite seemed to be back to normal.

No, better than normal. Jadeite was acting like he had before Metalia had come along to tear apart their lives. He was smiling almost all the time, and his goofy personality was back as well. Seeing Jadeite like this once again filled Zoisite with so much joy. They were finally moving on with their lives.

“Can I have another glass?” the blond man asked, looking up at Zoisite from where he had curled up against him.

Zoisite smiled and gave a chuckle. “You don't have to ask me, you know,” he said in reply, passing his own glass to Jadeite to fill as well.

The bottle was mostly gone by this point, and it had been a long time since Zoisite had drank this much. Much of the wine had gone straight to his head. He accepted the glass back from Jadeite and raised his arm as his lover repositioned himself on the sofa, nestled close.

As the two sat quietly together staring into the fire, Zoisite glanced down and caught sight of Jadeite biting his lower lip in contemplation of something. “What are you plotting?” Zoisite asked lightly.

Apparently decided in his course of action, Jadeite replied, “This.” He rose up on his knees and swung one leg over Zoisite's lap, straddling him with a mischievous look in his eye. He took a final sip of his drink, placed it and Zoisite's on the nearby table, and then crushed his lips into Zoisite's.

Zoisite's arms were almost immediately around Jadeite's frame. He returned the kiss with equal vigour, but waited for Jadeite to make the moves. He knew what he wanted, and so Zoisite would be patient.

As it turned out, he needed very little patience. Jadeite was soon tugging at his shirt and then reached between them to start working on his pants. Zoisite offered no protest, though he would have liked to take things slowly. Rushing like this reminded him too much of... 'Don't think about him,' he scolded himself.

Jadeite slipped off of him, and Zoisite realized it was so that he could slide out of his trousers. Jadeite used this time to disrobe as well, and climbed back onto his lover's lap. Jadeite's hands were fast, and before Zoisite realized it, Jadeite had a firm grasp on him.

“Jade!” he gasped. “We don't have to rush.”

“Sorry,” he said, though he did not let up in his actions, “but I'm a little... I really want you right now, Zoi.” With little warning, Jadeite left Zoisite's lap and lay down on the sofa, spread his legs, and gave a very determined look back up to Zoisite. “That thing I did to you last night with my fingers? I want you to do it to me.”

They way he said it, so decided and to the point, Zoisite almost complied without another thought, but he did catch himself in time as he leaned over his lover. “Jade?” he asked, uncertain.

“I know what I want, don't worry about it.” His tone really left no room for argument, and without another thought, Zoisite was coating his fingers in oil.

As Zoisite brought his fingers to Jadeite's waiting entrance, he paused for a moment, but only to kiss the man under him. Jadeite met his lips and an almost bruising passion, grabbing the back of Zoisite's head with both hands and pulling him down on top of him. Zoisite's fingers teased his opening, drawing small circles before slowly dipping inside.

Jadeite moaned happily as they continued to kiss, which Zoisite took as an invitation to press deeper. He'd never actually been in this position with someone else before, so he hoped that he would be able to find the spot he was seeking easily enough. He'd pleasured himself countless times, but doing it to someone else might be more difficult.

“Are you feeling alright so far?” he asked, still feeling worried about Jadeite, but trusting him more at this point than he had in the past.

Jadeite nodded. “It actually feels really good,” he muttered, looking down at Zoisite's hand. “I didn't think tha- ah!”

That was it. Zoisite smiled, knowing exactly what Jadeite had just experienced. “Good?” he asked.

Jadeite nodded again quickly, making no secret about wanting more of that. Soon Zoisite had him writhing in pleasure on the sofa, not only paying special attention to the pressure he was applying, but also slowly spreading his fingers, just in case Jadeite was ready.

“Zoi.”

“Yes?”

Jadeite opened his eyes and Zoisite paused the movement of his hand for a moment. “Make love to me.”

Slowly, Zoisite withdrew his hand. “Are you sure?” he asked, even though he was already applying the left over oil on his fingers to his hard organ.

“Please. I've wanted this for so long.”

He really did want it, and everything had gone well so far. Zoisite would realize later that his decision had been influenced by the wine, but that wasn't a concern for him at the moment. Jadeite wanted to be pleasured, and he was telling Zoisite exactly how.

Zoisite positioned himself right at Jadeite's entrance, and gently lifted the other man's hips onto his lap for support. He looked into Jadeite's eyes, looking for readiness and certainty. Jadeite's fierce eyes gazed back at him, covered by lust, but determined none-the-less. Zoisite pressed forward gently, with only the required force to enter his lover.

Jadeite opened his mouth and inhaled slowly as Zoisite entered him. He continued breathing slow and deep, his eyelids fluttering for a moment before Zoisite was completely buried within him.

---

“How does that feel?” Zoisite asked, leaning over him.

“It feels... so different. Good.” Jadeite didn't mean to refer to his past as he had, but he knew that Zoisite would understand what he meant. It was fine to continue.

Jadeite continued to look into Zoisite's eyes as they began to rock together, slowly working out their rhythm. Zoisite's arms curled under Jadeite's legs and pushed them back slightly as he propped himself on the cushions. One hand kept him balanced, the other began to gently stroke Jadeite's desire.

It was actually quite beautiful, Jadeite found, the way Zoisite made love to him. Gentle, caring, he let Jadeite pick their pace, and kept up with him as he began to experiment with moving a bit faster. “You're not going to hurt me,” he said softly, wanting Zoisite to take some pleasure for himself as well.

Zoisite seemed to nod a bit reluctantly, but he still kept himself in check until Jadeite started pressing himself down on him, doing anything he could to get Zoisite more into this. “Please, Zoi,” he said, wrapping his arms around Zoisite's neck, “you do want me, don't you?”

To Jadeite, Zoisite looked conflicted, and he knew why. “Zoi,” he said, trying to return his voice to the determined tone he had earlier. “I'm not asking you to be rough, I just... I want you to stop worrying and just love me.”

That seemed to get through to him a bit better. Jadeite gave a pleased moan when he felt the first signs of Zoisite taking a bit more control. His thrusts began to come a bit faster, a bit deeper, and finally it started to feel the way Jadeite had dreamed.

Zoisite's eyes were closed, his lips parted, as he appeared to finally be enjoying the pleasure. He tightened his grip and increased the speed that he was moving his hand, pushing Jadeite towards his brink. “Y.. yes...” he whispered, closing his eyes and leaning his head back. “That feels so good.”

Above him, Zoisite began to moan with almost every thrust. Jadeite tightened his grip, his fingers beginning to dig into Zoisite's back. He felt his climax approaching and when it did, he let it take hold of him completely. Pure ecstasy captured him, and it seemed to pulsate through his entire body before finally releasing him.

Jadeite was just coming to his senses when he realized that Zoisite was reaching his peak. His pace quickened as he finally lost himself completely in the experience. Jadeite smiled, happy to ride out the final thrusts and feel Zoisite come deep inside him.

It almost felt like a cleansing in some sense. As if this was some kind of official end to the nights he had been forced to spend in his Master's bed. Zoisite had finally accepted him, taken him and made him his. He pulled Zoisite down on top of him, holding him tightly to his chest. “Thank you,” he whispered. “I love you.”