Out of the Embers

Not mine. Honestly.

***


Riki and Iason both looked up from their kiss, the heady feel of it dissipated. The medical technician stood at the door, appearing stunned and furious, and behind him, smartly clacking heels could be heard hurrying towards him.

“What now?” Raoul’s voice could be heard saying.” What is wrong with Iason? I’ve already been informed that the Pet has go-“

He stopped when he reached the technicians shoulder, his eyes seeing the same thing that the tech saw: Riki, his knees straddling either side of Iason, and the Blondie himself looking pleasantly flushed.

“Oh,” Raoul’s mouth dropped considerably, before snapping up once again.

“When his heart rate became erratic, my alter activated,” the technician spoke to Raoul, his hand sneaking towards a large band on his wrist, all the while glaring at the interloper in Iason’s bed,” I came to see what caused this, and then I saw this.”

Riki shifted to the opposite of Iason’s side, away from the door, and from the interruptions. Iason rested his hand on the lower of Riki’s back, his intentions about his Pet’s position clear.

“I’m quite sure you enjoyed it,” Iason said with a pleasant pasted smile,” Not as much as I did, I’m sure, but never the less-“

“Iason,” Raoul sounded annoyed. “Your exploits-“

“Are mine,” Iason replied frostily. “I thank you for -inadvertently- bringing him here.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be resting?” Raoul pressed, taking a step into the room.

“I was tired,” Iason admitted,” Especially after that horrifying jolt that shot gave me. But,” his eyes lingered on Riki at his side,” I found a reason to awaken.”

Riki grinned back, his tongue flickering out to lap at something imagined, leftover on his chin.

“Lust can be very good with releasing endorphins,” the technician commented mildly. Raoul gave him a glower that caused him to shirk back.

“I’m sorry about this, Iason,” Raoul commented stiffly, moving forward,” He was supposed to be back at the flat. I can bring him back easily.”

“No, no, this is just fine.,” Iason replied smoothly,” I rather like having him at my side. Even for a few minutes, his visit is most pleasant.” The poorly concealed anger on his face made Iason add a few choice words.” As satisfying as yours, admittedly, though entirely different.”

“I don’t mean that,” Raoul frowned. “He is under my care, almost essentially, my Pet. What he does performs poorly on me, as well as yourself. In yourFve position, your current state, its not the best way to be right now.”

“I’ll question you later about that,” Iason murmured as he turned his gaze to his Pet,” Give us a few minutes. Then you may take him back to your apartments for the safekeeping that has apparently been entrusted to you.”

“Very well,” Raoul looked poorly calmed by this. “I shall call home, see what sort of damage he inflicted in his actions. When I conclude the transmission, then I will escort Z101M personally back.” His eyes lingered viciously on the tanned man.

“That seems well and good,” Iason nodded, willing to give a little to spend some more time with his unique mongrel pet. “Go on ahead then, make that transmission. I wouldn’t want to keep you from your valuable duties.”

Raoul growled at this almost inaudibly, but took his leave, his hand reaching at his hip for his communications case. The technican also turned to leave, but was stopped by a quick call from Riki.

“Hey... you. Is it , ok, for me to sit here like this?” Riki put his hands down between where his and Iason’s covered flesh met. “The legs I mean.”

“As long as you shift,” the attendant stated after a moment, taking the set in; it was clear he disapproved, though he didn’t want to risk any sort of anger from and of the three powerful people involved in this particular case. “Don’t sit in any one area for too long. You don’t want any bloody clotting and forming underneath the skin. The blood vessels are still too tender to risk any sort of drama.

Appearing satisfied that his words sunk in -and Riki was squirming undecidedly on his Master’s thighs- technican left, and the zoom softly zoomed closed.

“That’s a head trip,” Riki was aware of his fidgeting around the Blondie\'s more sensitive regions. He stared sullenly where the tech had been,” You’d think he wants me to get off or something.”

Iason chuckled, drawing his Pet’s attention to him again. “What?” the dark hair asked.

“You are a great deal more talkative than you were before,” Iason commented, referring when his Blondie companion was with them.

“What?” Riki looked vague, then he realized,” Yeah, Raoul. . Well, yeah. It’s better that way.”

“Oh?” Iason questioned, edging the mongrel so that he was splayed against his abdomen.

“I get more time with you,” Riki fisted his hands, peering inches away into Iason’s icy ones. “And not with him.”

“You still don’t favor Raoul?” Iason laughed briefly at the angry countenance on his Pet’s face. “It appears to me that he has done a lot for you, and in turn, me. Aren’t you living in his home, his servants waiting on you as well as him?”

Riki pouted with only a minute amount of distress.

“I’d much rather be back at the apartment,” he allowed himself a brief nip at his lower lip. “With you. I don’t get why I couldn’t just stay in over at the apartment.”

“You’re a Pet,” Iason reminded him simply, gently. “Property.” Seeing Riki was about to argue this point, and most likely vehemently, Iason added to pacify,” Even without that, Riki, you can’t properly take care of yourself. You do not ingest anything remotely healthy, you smoke too much, and drink yourself senseless with those vile illegal stouts. You don’t bother to bathe regularly and you take up nasty habits and patterns of behavior when bored.”

“Yeah, you liked how I smelled when you fucked me,\" Riki had the sense to leer. Continuing crudely, he made a face and drawled,\" How did I ever survive before you weren’t there to kidnap my ass?”

Iason ignored this, knowing nothing would be solved with his pets attempts to bait him.

“I imagine that in his home, Raoul didn’t allow you to smoke?” Iason asked softly.

Riki was silent, realizing it wasn’t the best time for the hashing of old arguments.

“Well,” Riki started, unsure, his eyes drifting to Iason. They darted away when the cool blues focused upon his own dark brown sets.

“What is it?” Iason pondered, attempting to gain his pet’s eyes. Perhaps Raoul had been unjustly cruel and denied his Pet his nicotine addiction? The effort to maintain his habit was of too little worth in his opinion, maybe?

\"No... I actually got... Raoul started on them,” Riki hid his uncontrollable smile clumsily

“Raoul? Raoul smokes like the average citizen?” Iason asked incredulously. It was not uncommon for Blondies and other Elites to indulge in the occasional grass pipe or novelty of a cigar. But for common cigarettes?

“He hates it now, but he keeps bumming them off me,” Riki shrugged.

\"When did this start up?”

\"While you were gone. He saw me puffing away, and he just got used to the smell and the smoke. One day I just offered one for him to try them. He was annoying me, glaring at me with those stupid green eyes. Like a cat,” Riki shook his head. “He orders them for me, and uses up more than I could in a month. Least he keeps up with the nice stuff. He’s like you that way.“

“Then if he allows you to choke yourself,” Iason ran an hand up and down his forearm,” then what could it be that bothers you about it?”

Riki looked away, determined not to give anything away.

“Is it his Pets?” Iason then guessed, willing to pursue this game of demi-intrigue,” Perhaps you aren’t so fond of the others Raoul keeps around him.”

“Yeah, right. Raoul hasn’t had a Pet in months. He got rid of the two that were there the day after he grabbed me home, after we pulled you out.” Riki shook his head,” Hasn’t had another one since. Guess he thinks they’re all tainted and evil.”

“Raoul? With no Pets?” Iason looked vaguely amused,” I don’t think I’ve ever seen him go through a few sets of weeks before buying another sort of sexual entertainment.”

“Yeah,” Riki grimaced briefly, only briefly, and then it faded away. Though Iason was willing to let it go, his subconscious urged at him to pursue this to whatever venture it could go.

“What was that for?” the hand caressing his forearm clutched all of a sudden. Riki winced at the harsh contact.

“Answer me this pet, speedily and honestly. It may save you from a thrashing yet,” Iason spoke these words to Riki in a dangerous and cool tone. His jealousy was sharp and over bearing, as well as appearing from no where. It took Iason completely by surprise as it did Riki.

“Have you ever performed duties of a Pet for someone other than me? Ever in front of Raoul?” Iason pulled his face close, and searched the mongrels features, trying to discover something he was sure was not good news.

“Oww, ease up, aright?! Oww!” Riki gritted his teeth against the pain his master suddenly inflicted.

“Yes, oww,” Riki struggled against the grip, which slowly lost power as Iason felt a faint spell wash over him, depleting him of any power to hold his mongrel captive. His head fell back against the pillows. Riki’s hands, frantic and searching, making sure he was indeed alright, “Just once.” He leaned in, speaking softly, reassured that once again his master was safe,” I hated it. I don’t think he liked it either, even though -at the time- he said it was what I had to do as my Pet duties.”

“Once?” Iason asked in a pleading sort of tone. Once, he could forgive. Once, he had to guess at his friend’s state of mind, if Raoul had wanted to see what Iason felt...

“Just once,” Riki murmured affectionately. “And he made me hate it worse than anything else, ever.”

“Oh?” Iason allowed the swimming feeling to fade off as he waited for his Pet’s reply.

“Just kept making... “Riki thought of the tamest words he could use to describe the encounter... ”Bad. ”

“Bad.”

“Bad.” Riki confirmed. His gaze dropped to the bedspread, his fingers knotting themselves in it,” I get the feeling he doesn’t trust Pets now for whatever effects the have.“

“Effects?” Iason asked, stroking his hair, feeling a bit contrite over his reaction.

“Yeah. I’m not his favorite person, ya’ know?” Riki settled his chin onto Iason’s chest. “You know, he blamed me for what happened to you? Or a little.”

“Well, I know its not true,” Iason dropped his face into Riki’s hair. He smelled specialized Pet shampoo, physiologically enticing phermones. It had an overpowering effect on his fragile state of mind. He gave a deep groan at the enticing scent.

“Try telling him that,” Riki wrapped his lithe arms around Iason’s pale neck,” Push him too far and he’ll tirade about that in that Blondie way of yours.”

“Our Blondie ways?” Iason asked, too lethargic to feel amused.

“All quiet and eerie.” Riki pulled back, tapping the tip of his nose with a slender finger. “ Totally calm, but for the eyes. Burning, dark little blazes of blue.” Riki engaged Iason’s eyes, keeping a firm grip of what the Blondie saw. What he saw was the chiseled features of his mongrel pet, a small scar from an adolescent scuffle hiding under his hairline, a fleshy bauble where a faulty home-pierced earring once was.

“Poetry from my street cub,” Iason murmured, letting his hands slip to Riki’s waist, arms lazily cross at the base of his spine.

“If it turns you on,” Riki ignored the slight on his upbringing,” then why not.”

“Oh?” Iason smiled to himself,” Do you think such an invalid such as myself could stand a second round with such a talented devil?”

“Maybe.” Riki smiled sensually, his hands reaching back to hold onto Iason’s hands. “Depends how much the Blondie wants it. If he’s been as celibate as he’s trying to allude to.”

“Allude?” Iason repeated, amused at this somewhat educated word,” Has someone begun an education regime?”

“Between listening to you and Raoul, how could I not pick up a few things?” Riki shrugged, the pressure from his bounce putting an unaccountably pleasant sensation in Iason’s groin.

“Of course,” Iason cupped Riki’s cheekbone, his fingers drumming along the lines of strong bone structure. “I’m pleased to hear this.”

“I’m glad you’re back, Iason,” Riki slid from his hold and nestled himself under Iason’s chin, his hands sprawled on either side of him. “Is this comfortable? Are you okay?”

“I don’t feel a thing,” Iason smiled.

“That can’t be good news,” Riki chuckled peaceably.

“It is if you’re here,” Iason murmured, smoothing back pieces of dark hair.

\"Oh I can\'t tell you how much I\'ve missed you,\" Riki mumbled into his chest.

\"I can feel exactly how much,\" Iason allowed himself a chuckle,\" You expressed yourself quite well. I would like to return the favor...\" His hands drifted downwards, heading ultimately towards the hem of his pants. Riki gave a soft moan and relaxed into it, arching back towards his master\'s hands projected path. The Blondie\'s hand reached the crevices from between each of his cheeks, before Riki snapped from his daydream, and lunged at Iason\'s hand, twisting around, stopping him with unusual severance.

\"Iason, no!\" Riki protested, attempting to push the Blondie\'s hands away.

Iason was momentarily shocked by his pet\'s display of resistance. What was this rejection? A part of Riki\'s long time-held defiance of his ownership?

Iason turned angry in a flash. It was illogical, given the tender moment they’d just shared.

“What is this, Riki?!” Iason demanded, quickly making his escape from the mongrel’s attempt to hold him.

“No, don’t!” Riki tried to escape hands that were trying to restrain him now. Dark eyes widened in terror, a fear of something Iason couldn’t quite put his hand on.

“Don’t resist me, Pet,” the Blondie ground out, the voice of a disciplinarian resounding, strength adding to his fingers, keeping a hearty grip.

“Stop! Quit it!” Riki struggled, while Iason began the task of restraining him, half wrestling him to the other half to the bed. The cot in question shook violently, springs protesting and creating a racket soon to bring the attentions of the others, “Don’t, Iason!”

“I think you forget your place, Pet,” Iason gritted through the effort,” The ring you wear may not be mine, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t.”

With a repressive hold on a tender point at his neck, Iason subdued Riki. On his back, with Iason’s hand at his jugular, Riki panted with effort. Wincing in pain, the mongrel could only watch with fearfully stricken eyes as Iason managed to tug down the specially tailor Pet trousers he wore. And with that, see his shame. He closed his eyes against the upcoming realization, and still was poorly trained for Iason’s gasp of horror.

Iason lost his grip, his arms recoiled from the sight. The Blondie, absorbed in the fight to loosen the pants to where they hung now, mid-thigh, failed to see what caused his Pet such anguish. The shaky line at his lower abdomen.

Riki...

-Iason felt his mouth drop most uncouthly as he really understood-

...was missing his penis.