Ai No Kusabi Fan Fiction ❯ The Lost Cadre ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Author's Notes: Ai no Kusabi and its characters do not belong to me and I make no claim on them. All rights apply to the talented people who did create them. I make nothing off this except gratifying my own twisted pleasure.

 

But…the characters of Mingan Zenos and Sevilen ARE my own creations that I have plopped down into the Ai no Kusabi world. The things that they do and their interaction with the other characters of Ai no Kusabi are purely my fabrication.

 

Thanks goes to eternajewel for her assistance in this little slightly AU endeavour.

 

 

The Lost Cadre 2

 

Mingan pushed Sevilen behind him. He cursed under his breath when his Pet clung to his back like a limpet. He wasn't going to be able to fight or defend himself if Sevilen was pressed to him like a second skin. Mingan pinned the delegate who had touched Sevilen with a harsh look.

 

“I know you are aware that it is a breach of good manners to touch a Pet uninvited. I'm willing to overlook that. But I do think we should have a little talk. I believe we have other things to discuss besides your bad manners.”

 

It wasn't a request but a demand. The delegate swallowed hard and slid a glance to his companion. Something passed between them that made Mingan go to high alert. Every sense he possessed was screaming at him that something nasty was just on the horizon.

 

“As you wish, Mingan,” said one of the delegates as he put his drink down and waited for Mingan to lead the way.

 

When Mingan moved to escort the delegate away, Sevilen wrapped his arms around his Master's waist and refused to let go. He had stopped speaking but he was holding on with surprising strength for one so small. Mingan pried his Pet's arms from around his waist and stepped away. Sevilen gave a distressed cry and moved towards Mingan.

 

“Pet,” Mingan warned, “Stay here.”

 

“No! I stay with you. We have a deal.”

 

Heads began to turn. A Pet didn't speak back to his Master. Blondies around the room stopped what they were doing to watch how Mingan was going to deal with such blatant disobedience. Sevilen stepped up to Mingan, intent on staying with him. He was unprepared for the big hand that circled his throat and lifted him to his tip toes. His hands grabbed at the thick wrist and suddenly frightened gold eyes stared at him.

 

“You will stay here, Pet. Do what I tell you or I will have you pair here tonight.”

 

Although it looked like Mingan was choking him, his breathing was unrestricted. Sevilen realized that Mingan was being careful with his strength and showing remarkable control when it would have been much easier to choke him. That degree of control was almost as frightening to Sevilen as the obvious strength of Mingan. Colour drained from Sevilen's face at the very real threat of being forced to pair in the hall. Sevilen had no wish to subject himself to the kind of things that would come to him from being intimate with a stranger never mind the fact that it would, in all likely hood, be a male that Mingan would choose.

 

Mingan saw the unease move through his Pet's eyes at the mention of pairing in front of the hall. He had no intention of having Sevilen do that now that he knew his Pet was a virgin. Mingan wanted to be the one to possess that gift. However, Sevilen didn't know that and Mingan wasn't about to enlighten him. He released his Pet abruptly and Sevilen fell to his knees at Mingan's feet.

 

Mingan looked at the delegate and noted with some satisfaction that he had paled at the display of strength. Mingan walked away with the delegate, not even sparing Sevilen a backward glance. Sevilen remained on his hands and knees and watched Mingan walk away. He wanted to go after him but he was more than a little afraid that Mingan would carry out his threat and have him pair with another Pet. Sevilen suspected that if he refused to pair, Mingan would have him tied in place, mounted by another Pet and then released at the end of the evening.

 

And then Mingan would die because Sevilen wasn't with him.

 

Sevilen rose to his feet and looked at the Blondies and Pets around him. He gnawed on his lip in indecision. They weren't paying him any attention thinking he was sufficiently cowed by what had just happened. They had no idea of the deaths that would come if Sevilen wasn't with Mingan. Making up his mind, Sevilen sprinted after Mingan and the delegate. Startled cries followed the small Pet as he raced towards his Master. Several drinks fell from trays held by Furniture as they twisted to get out of the way and added to the general chaos that was developing in Sevilen's wake. Mingan turned at the door he was about to step through; just knowing that his new Pet was the cause of the disturbance he could hear behind him.

 

Sevilen barrelled into Mingan, the force of the impact making the big Blondie take a step back. It was that small movement that saved his life. Mingan heard the soft pop of a weapon going off and dropped to the floor with his Pet in his arms. The delegate stood where he was; stupidly staring at the red blossoming on the front of his stylish shirt. His eyes connected with Mingan's for an instant before his knees gave way and he crumpled face first to the floor.

 

Screams and shouts rose from around the room. People scrambled for the exits. Blondies, Furniture and Pets ducked down behind couches and tables. Mingan scanned the crowd for the other delegate and growled low in his throat when he didn't see him among the people rushing around.

 

“Are you hurt?” his disobedient Pet asked in a frantic voice.

 

Mingan ignored the question. Unless he had been shot in a vital area, which he had not been, he would be fine. He scanned the crowd again and cursed when he still couldn't see the other delegate. He slowly became aware of Sevilen's hands moving frantically over his chest and arms. He finally spared a glance at his Pet sprawled across his chest. Sevilen's gold eyes were wide with worry.

 

“I told you to stay over there, Pet.”

 

“But I need to be with you to keep you alive,” Sevilen insisted as he continued to run his hands over Mingan.

 

“And I expect to be obeyed, Pet. You will be punished for your disobedience later.”

 

Mingan sat up and gripped Sevilen by the arms intending to lift him from his chest. At the feel of warm, thick liquid under one of his hands, he narrowed his gaze and twisted Sevilen's arm. A shallow groove burrowed through the soft skin of his underarm. Mingan glanced down to find a matching groove high on the left side of his ribs. A little higher and to the right and it would have hit something vital. Mingan knew that Sevilen slamming into him as he had, had made him move just enough to avoid a serious wound.

 

Mingan disregarded his wound. It was minor and already closing. The wound to his Pet was another matter entirely. It continued to bleed sluggishly. The Blondie frowned in annoyance. He had to stop the bleeding before he could chase after the missing delegate. The Pet was his to look after and treatment of any wounds fell to him since he didn't have any Furniture.

 

He pulled up the sleeveless shirt he was wearing and tore a strip off the bottom. He wound the make shift bandage around Sevilen's arm and tightened it into place. His Pet made no sounds of pain or protest even though Mingan hadn't been gentle about his wound dressing.

 

“You will stay here and you will sit quietly on a couch and not move from that spot until I come and get you. This is not negotiable, Pet,” Mingan said as Sevilen opened his mouth to protest.

 

Sevilen's mouth tightened and anger flashed through his eyes before he dropped his gaze to Mingan's chest. Mingan couldn't help the small smile that came and went from his face. Sevilen might appear to be shy for the most part but he apparently had a bit of a temper. Mingan wondered what it would be like to see it unleashed. The flash of anger in Sevilen's gold eyes had been arousing. Mingan wondered if his eyes would flash like molten gold in the heat of passion. The smile came again to his lips at the thought and he felt his cock stir to life.

 

Sevilen didn't want Mingan to go off without him. He'd done it just this once and someone had shot at him. The tone of Mingan's voice told Sevilen that he wouldn't change his mind about allowing Sevilen to go with him. Sevilen frowned and his down cast gaze lighted on the dead delegate. He wondered if he could get any thoughts from the dead man. He had grown up believing that a spirit didn't leave the body for a few days. He hadn't touched a corpse since he had been branded and his mind thrown open to information from others by casual touches. Sevilen reached out a hand, touched the corpse and concentrated.

 

Revulsion crept over Sevilen at the feel of the dead man's thoughts. They were disintegrating into a tar-like mass as he tried to grasp them. He felt like they were trying to cling to him because he was alive and the originator of the thoughts was not. Bile rose in Sevilen's throat and he jerked back against Mingan. His body was covered in a cold sweat and he had begun to shiver. But he had something for Mingan.

 

“Hotel. Swal-something. Cheap. Ceres. No number. Couldn't see,” said Sevilen as he swallowed hard, trying not to throw up. He held his hand away from his body and shook it with a look of intense distaste.

 

Mingan raised his eyebrows. He had wondered what his Pet had been up to when he had touched the body of the delegate. The touch had been brief; no more than a handful of seconds. Mingan wasn't sure if he should believe what Sevilen had just told him. As far as he could tell, Sevilen had no reason to make something up that would send him away from him when his Pet clearly wanted to be with him to keep him alive. It would be a fairly simple thing to find out if there was a hotel in Ceres that started with Swal.

 

Mingan scanned the hall once more and knew that the delegate had fled in the confusion. It's what he would have done. He heaved himself to his feet and pulled Sevilen up with him. He strode to a computer terminal and punched in his personal code. Sevilen edged closer and Mingan felt the light touch of his Pet's skin against his own. Mingan was surprised at the chill of his Pet's flesh. He would have to get something to warm him before he caught a chill and took sick. A sick Pet would be even more of an annoyance than a healthy one.

 

Mingan's fingers flew over the keyboard, requesting information based on what Sevilen had told him. He knew his eyes widened slightly when a hotel in Ceres popped up on the screen that began with Swal. Mingan briefly wondered if Sevilen was a plant by the delegates from Denague. He dismissed the idea almost as soon as it had formed. There were too many variables for him meeting with Sevilen and even fifty years ago, he had not been in the habit of keeping a Pet.

 

The Blondie logged off from the terminal and surveyed the hall. Chairs were overturned and spilled drinks and food littered the floor. Most of the Blondies were leaving with their Pets in tow. The party was officially over. Mingan glanced at Sevilen and wondered what he was going to do. He couldn't check out the hotel with Sevilen tagging along and if he brought Sevilen home first, valuable time would be lost. If the delegate had indeed gone to the hotel, he'd likely be gone to by the time Mingan arrived.

 

The problem was solved when Mingan spied Iason leaving with his Pet. He caught the Blondie's eye and signalled for him to wait. Mingan started to stride across the floor and only stopped when he realized that his barefoot Pet had to pick his way carefully across the floor to avoid the broken glass. He turned to his Pet, lifted him up and slung him on his shoulder before continuing his march to Iason.

 

Sevilen felt his face turn red from more than just the blood suddenly rushing to his head from his upside down position. The small cloth wrapped around his hips wasn't meant to hide much and when he was in this kind of position, it didn't hide anything. He could feel Mingan's fingers at the backs of his thighs; mere inches from brushing against his balls. Sevilen was disgusted with himself when he briefly wondered what it would feel like for Mingan to touch him there.

 

Sevilen's eye was caught by the flash of something black on the bare skin of Mingan's back that showed between the ragged edge of his shirt and his pants. He inched his hand forward and slowly pulled up the shirt to reveal more of the same kinds of designs down Mingan's spine that decorated his arms.

 

“I will show you my body art later, Pet. Don't start undressing me in public.”

 

Sevilen dropped the edge of the shirt quickly and felt even more blood rush to his head. He pushed his hands against the broad back of his Master and struggled to right himself. The stinging swat to his mostly naked behind startled him and he sagged back down.

 

“Be still,” Mingan commanded. He felt a pleasurable jolt travel to his groin from the swat he had delivered to Sevilen's ass.

 

Iason waited with his Pet with only a little impatience showing. Mingan stopped in front of Iason and let Sevilen slid down his body. A pretty blush coloured the flustered Pet's cheeks as he tugged the short cloth into place. Iason's Pet was looking curiously at Sevilen and Mingan could almost see the desire to say something. He had no time to indulge the Pet and ignored him as he spoke to Iason.

 

“Take Sevilen home with you. I have business to attend to and can't spare the time to bring him home first. I'll collect him when I'm done. Don't touch him with skin on skin contact,” Mingan said with warning in his voice.

 

Sevilen looked at Mingan in surprise at the fact that Mingan was dumping him off on another Blondie as well as informing the Blondie not to touch him. He wondered what Mingan had found out on the computer terminal. He guessed that Mingan had discovered the name of the hotel and was going to go after the person who had shot him. Sevilen reached out to touch Mingan's arm as he started to walk away.

 

“Be careful.”

 

Mingan smiled and it made the Pet standing beside the other Blondie stiffen. Sevilen saw the smile for what it was. Mingan was going hunting. He had seen similar expressions on the faces of the village men before they left to go chase down beasts that had been harassing the villagers. Whoever got in Mingan's way tonight was going to be very unlucky. Mingan turned and strode away without another word.

 

“He can't talk to you like that,” Riki muttered to Iason. “You're the fucking head of the Syndicate.”

 

The Blondie sighed and tugged on the chains that his Pet wore. He looked at Sevilen and pinched the bridge of his nose as if in pain.

 

“Let's go. I feel a headache coming on,” Iason said as he started towards the exit.

 

Sevilen trailed after the Blondie and his Pet. Mingan should be safe. The initial vision had shown him what had happened tonight, with the exception of him being wounded. The grazing stung like mad but after the pain of enduring a branding, it was a minor thing. Sevilen got into the car indicated and watched the lights of the city flash by. He was pulled from his quiet thoughts of Mingan on the hunt when the car entered an underground parking garage and stopped. Sevilen silently followed the Blondie and his Pet into an elevator, paying no attention to the quiet conversation they were having.

 

When the elevator doors slid open, Sevilen blinked in surprise. The entire city was spread out below. The view from the wall of windows was stunning. Sevilen moved towards the glass, entranced with the glittering lights. He had never seen anything like it before. He wondered if Mingan had a view like this.

 

“Pretty cool view, eh?” said Riki as he moved beside Sevilen.

 

Sevilen nodded and pressed his nose to the glass.

 

“Riki, leave him alone,” Iason said as his Furniture appeared with a glass of wine.

 

“I was just talking to him. That guy didn't say we couldn't talk to him. I still don't know why you did what he said. So what if he's supposed to be `The Blondie'? I thought you were `The Blondie'.”

 

“I'm a Blondie. Mingan is…” Iason sighed and took a healthy swallow of the wine. “Just drop it, Riki. I doubt Mingan will be long.”

 

“He doesn't even look like a Blondie. I mean he's good-looking and all but what's with the hair? And those tats on his arms? He's gotta be the biggest Blondie I've ever seen.”

 

“Riki,” Iason snapped, setting his glass down with a sharp click.

 

“What? I'm just saying that your explanation wasn't an explanation. `He's The Blondie, he's dangerous and he's Jupiter's tells me fuck all.”

 

Sevilen finally turned from the window at the conversation taking place. That Riki, as he now knew the Pet was called, was speaking to his Master in such a way and wasn't getting the beating of his life was surprising. They had been very careful at the Trading House to explain to him that talking back of any kind wasn't tolerated and a Pet could expect a beating.

 

“Riki! I have told you before about watching your tone. Are you trying to get a paddling?”

 

“What? I was good all night. I even remembered to call you Master in front of the other Blondies. I kept my trap shut almost the entire night. Cut me some slack, Iason. We're home now.”

 

“Come here, Riki,” Iason said softly.

 

“Aw fuck, Iason. What the hell did I do now?” Riki asked from where he stood.

 

“We have a guest with us and you're not acting as a proper Pet should. Don't make me tell you to come here again.”

 

Riki looked over at the strange Pet that had come home with them and scowled. Iason waited for him to move. Riki waited until Iason was about to call his name again before he trudged over to where Iason sat. He stood in front of him and glared at Iason.

 

“Drop your pants,” Iason commanded.

 

Riki continued to glare at Iason but pushed his pants to his knees. Iason pulled Riki down over his lap and raised his hand. Sevilen was surprised to see that there were already bruises on the dark haired Pet's backside. He winced when Iason's hand came down in a hard slap on Riki's ass.

 

“Ow, fuck , Iason. My ass is still sore from yesterday,” Riki protested as he squirmed in his Master's lap.

 

“Then you should have thought about that. You know what is expected from you,” Iason said as his hand descended in another hard swat.

 

“But he's another Pet,” Riki protested as another hard strike landed.

 

“Even more reason to behave as a Pet should. Really, Riki, sometimes I wonder why I bother. I think you're beyond correction.”

 

Sevilen was puzzled by what he was seeing and hearing. He had been alarmed at first but the tone of voice from the Blondie didn't match the actions. It was almost like some kind of affectionate by-play between them. Several strikes rained down on Riki's ass with the Pet squirming and protesting. When the Blondie's hand descended again, he let his hand caress his Pet after he spanked him again. The noises the Pet was making were starting to sound suspiciously like pleasure. Now Sevilen was completely confused. What kind of people enjoyed being hurt?

 

“You both like the pain,” Sevilen blurted out before he could stop himself.

 

Iason and Riki jerked their gazes to Sevilen. He had been so quiet and completely motionless that they had briefly forgotten he was there and the initial reason for the spanking. Iason rested his hand on Riki's reddened bottom and pinned Sevilen with a penetrating gaze.

 

“That's rather bold of you to speak to me like that. What makes you believe that, Pet?”

 

“You're not hitting him as hard as you could and those aren't sounds of pain he's making,” Sevilen answered hesitantly, wishing he hadn't said anything.

 

Iason let Riki up. When the Pet stood, it was obvious that he had been enjoying the spanking from the erection he sported. Sevilen let his gaze slide away as Riki pulled his pants up and moved away from Iason.

 

“And what the hell would you know about sounds of pain?” Riki asked as he stalked towards the small Pet. He was a little annoyed that the Pet had interrupted the spanking. A few more swats and Iason would have slipped a finger into him to tease him before the real pleasure would have started.

 

Sevilen frowned at the Pet, not sure why he seemed put out.

 

“I was branded. I know the sounds of pain,” Sevilen said as he spread his arms out to fully display the marks on his body.

 

“Holy fuck!” Riki breathed as he looked over the marks on Sevilen. He had assumed they were drawn on.

 

Riki reached out and grabbed Sevilen's arm to examine the marks more closely. Sevilen didn't move fast enough to avoid Riki's touch and keened at the skin on skin contact. His eyes widened at the images that flashed through his mind. He jerked away from Riki and took a few stumbling steps before he stopped and stood in the centre of the room, panting and wild eyed. Sevilen darted his gaze between Riki and Iason.

 

“Blondies don't pair with Pets,” Sevilen said in a shaky voice as he continued to look from Iason to Riki.

 

Iason rose from his seat and stalked to the small Pet. He towered over Sevilen and was surprised when the Pet didn't back down or immediately drop his gaze. Iason started to reach out a hand to grip the Pet's chin. Sevilen scrambled back and pressed his back to the cold glass of the windows.

 

“Don't touch me, please. I swear I won't tell anyone you pair with your Pet.”

 

“No one would believe a Pet,” Iason said as he approached Sevilen.

 

“Mingan said not to touch me. There's a reason. Please, don't.”

 

“And what would that reason be, Pet? Why shouldn't I touch you?”

 

“Because Riki loves you and it upsets him to see you touching another Pet. It makes him jealous. He wants you all to himself.”

 

“I have no idea how you came up with that,” Iason said with a chuckle. “Riki wants nothing more than for me to set him free.”

 

“He wants to make the choice to stay; not be forced to stay,” Sevilen insisted as he slipped further along the window and away from Riki.

 

He glanced at Riki out of the corner of his eye and saw something that made him turn his attention to his own Pet. The colour had drained from Riki's face and a look very close to panic moved through his eyes before he flushed red and moved towards Sevilen.

 

“Shut the fuck up! You don't know anything!” Riki snarled as he followed Sevilen.

 

Sevilen realized then that Riki hadn't told Iason this and he swore softly under his breath. He couldn't seem to control half the things that came out of his mouth when he received the impressions and other information that came to him from skin on skin contact. Even more than the remembered pain and shame of the burns the villagers had inflicted on him, he hated the curse he now had.

 

Riki lunged at Sevilen and grabbed his arm. Having already been touched once by Riki, Sevilen wasn't deluged by thoughts and emotions and swung a fist at his attacker. Riki growled in anger as Sevilen's fist grazed his chin. He jerked Sevilen forward by his arm and aimed a fist at Sevilen's nose. Iason managed to get his hand between Riki's fist and Sevilen's nose. The momentum of Riki's fist, with his body weight and anger behind it, pushed Iason's gloved hand into Sevilen's cheek hard. Sevilen's cheek stung from the sharp contact of the leather glove. He was about to retaliate when Iason shoved his body between the two fighting Pets.

 

“Enough!” Iason roared as he turned to Riki and wrapped his arms around his Pet.

 

Iason easily lifted a struggling Riki off his feet and moved away from Sevilen. He retreated to the chair he had first occupied and held a furious Riki in his arms. Iason looked at Sevilen and thought furiously. There was something very odd about the Pet Mingan had bought. When Riki had touched him with bare skin, Sevilen had reacted like a live wire had been placed on his skin. Yet, when Iason's hand had touched him with the glove, there had been no similar reaction.

 

Then there was the matter of what Sevilen had said and Riki's reaction to it. There had to be some grain of truth or Riki wouldn't have reacted so violently. Iason could feel the tension still running through his Pet. He was going to be having a talk with Riki once they were alone.

 

Iason sat in his chair with Riki fuming on his lap for the better part of twenty minutes before he felt it would be safe for him to relax his hold on Riki. Sevilen had pressed himself back against the wall and watched Iason and Riki. He raised a hand to his stinging cheek and gently touched it. It would probably bruise by morning but it would have been far worse if Riki had actually connected with his fist.

 

“I'm sorry,” Sevilen said softly to Riki. Riki glared back.

 

“It wasn't on purpose. I can't control it.”

 

“Fuck you,” Riki hissed before subsiding from the tightening hold of Iason.

 

Sevilen sighed and looked down at his feet. He felt bad about spilling a secret that was obviously so important. It had all been one big accident. If the villagers had wanted to torment him, they couldn't have picked a better way to do it. Sevilen was starting to feel like he was the butt of a huge cosmic joke. When Iason's Furniture cautiously entered the room to tell Iason that Mingan was at the door, Sevilen sagged with relief.

 

Mingan stalked into Iason's living room, annoyance in every line of his big body. The delegate had been at the room at some point but he was gone by the time Mingan had arrived. The clerk at the hotel desk had been worse than useless. He couldn't remember seeing the delegate enter or leave the building and was only interested in returning to the holo-program he had been watching. Mingan had been hard pressed not to snap the clerk's neck from sheer frustration.

 

Mingan opened his mouth to thank Iason for taking his Pet with him when he noticed the tension in the room. Iason was seated with his Pet in his lap. The Pet was obviously very angry about something and was glaring at Sevilen. Mingan looked to his Pet and saw the beginnings of a bruise forming on his cheek. His Pet was also plastered against the wall of windows and made no move to leave.

 

“What happened?” Mingan growled as he stomped to Sevilen, took his chin in hand and turned his face so he could see the mark clearly.

 

“It was an accident,” Sevilen said in a quiet voice as he jerked his chin from Mingan's grasp.

 

“How did you get that mark, Pet?” Mingan demanded with anger in his voice. He had completely run out of patience tonight and was in no mood to deal with a wayward Pet.

 

“It was an accident,” his Pet insisted stubbornly.

 

Mingan looked at Iason and waited. Iason sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He was developing a migraine. He couldn't wait until Mingan and his troublesome Pet left. He'd get Riki to massage his neck, have a little wine and go lay down with his Pet snug at his side. When Mingan remained standing where he was and folded his arms, Iason sighed again.

 

“Riki and your Pet were fighting and I stepped between them. The back of my hand caught him in the cheek. It was accidental.”

 

“My Pet was fighting,” Mingan said in patent disbelief. “Somehow I have a hard time picturing Sevilen fighting.”

 

“He swung at me first,” Riki said sulkily.

 

Mingan shot his Pet a look. Sevilen shrugged his shoulders and looked at the carpet. His Pet was tense and Mingan knew there had to be something more that he wasn't being told. He let out a frustrated growl and looked back at Iason.

 

“I want answers and I want them now. I've had a very frustrating evening and this is not helping.”

 

“Riki touched your Pet. I don't believe he thought about what he was doing. Your Pet had a strange reaction and blurted out some information Riki would have preferred to keep to himself. They started to fight after that.”

 

“What did Sevilen say?” Mingan asked, curious in spite of himself.

 

“It's none of our business,” Sevilen said quickly as he pushed against Mingan to make him leave.

 

“Pet,” Mingan said with warning in his voice.

 

“Well it's not,” muttered Sevilen as he continued to try and push against Mingan.

 

Mingan felt a smile try and escape. The very idea that his tiny Pet would be able to move him was bordering on hilarious. He could let the tone of voice his Pet had used go in the face of his amusing attempt to get Mingan to leave.

 

“I hate to be rude, Mingan, but I am developing an awful headache and really must ask that you take your Pet and leave.”

 

“There is the small matter of the injury to my Pet. He was in your care.”

 

“What will make that right for you?”

 

Mingan looked at Iason sitting in his chair with his Pet in his lap. He thought they looked beautiful together. Light and dark. Master and Pet. Mingan let a slow smile develop across his face as he pulled his Pet towards a chair across from Iason and Riki. Mingan heard Sevilen grumble under his breath as he seated himself in the chair and pulled his Pet to sit in his lap, mirroring Iason and Riki's pose.

 

“Play with your Pet, Iason,” Mingan said softly as he locked his gaze with Iason.

 

“No.”

 

“Then I mark your Pet as you've marked mine.”

 

“It was an accident.”

 

“Regardless. Choose, Iason. Find pleasure with your Pet or allow him to be marked as mine was.”

 

The decision was taken from Iason when Riki turned his head and kissed him. Rikki had no desire to have the big Blondie backhand him across the face so he would have a similar bruise to his Pet. Riki kissed Iason as he did when they were alone. If the strange Blondie wanted to watch a show between him and Iason, Riki figured he'd make it a good one. Riki wasn't shy about pairing with others watching. He knew he looked good and he was an enthusiastic partner. Iason groaned softly into his mouth and fisted his hand in Riki's short hair. He always had this reaction to his Pet. It was as if he couldn't get enough of him. It was why he rarely touched Riki when they were out in public. The world had the alarming tendency to fade away when he had Riki under his hands.

 

Sevilen watched with wide eyes. Because of the images that had come to him when Riki touched him, he knew that what he was watching wasn't just taboo sex between Master and Pet. Riki loved Iason even if he refused to tell his Blondie Master that. To know that Riki was laying his heart at Iason's feet every time he pleasured him was an almost painful thing for Sevilen to watch. Sevilen didn't know how Iason felt about Riki and wouldn't unless he touched Iason's bare skin and Sevilen had had more than enough of that kind of contact for one night.

 

“Please, let's leave. We shouldn't be watching this,” Sevilen whispered to Mingan as he averted his eyes from Iason and Riki.

 

“I want to watch,” Mingan replied just as quietly as he began stroking Sevilen's arms and down his hip.

 

“It isn't right,” Sevilen insisted as he shifted in Mingan's lap. He inhaled sharply when he felt the erection growing against his thigh.

 

Mingan thought Sevilen was referring to the intimacy between two men. He gripped his Pet's chin and forced his head around to look at Iason and Riki. Iason was running his hand over Riki, making his Pet moan and squirm against him. It looked like Riki was trying to get even closer to Iason as he tunnelled his fingers through the Blondies hair.

 

“I will expect the same thing from you, my Pet. Remember what you agreed to in order to stay with me.”

 

“Would you have wanted others to watch you and Cenon together like this?”

 

Mingan's hand stilled and he forced Sevilen's head back to look at him.

 

“What do you mean by that, Pet?” Mingan asked in a cold voice.

 

“Riki loves Iason. I saw it when Riki touched me.”

 

Mingan frowned. It was possible that Sevilen was wrong but his Pet had been right about several things that he couldn't possibly have had knowledge of. Mingan was still holding judgement out on the visions his Pet claimed to have. But if it was true that Riki loved Iason, and Iason did seem to have some feelings for his Pet, then he couldn't continue to watch them becoming more intimate with each other. To watch Master and Pet pair was titillating. To watch lovers with true emotions pair was like peeping where one shouldn't. Sevilen had known the exact right thing to say by asking if he would have wanted his relationship with Cenon to be viewed by others.

 

Mingan stood, holding Sevilen easily in his arms. Neither Iason nor Riki seemed to notice. They were both engrossed in each other and the pleasure of their touches. Mingan quietly left the penthouse with his Pet and headed for the elevator. He said nothing to his Pet the entire ride down and only directed him to his car. The drive to his home was silent until the last few miles when Mingan just had to ask.

 

“What do you know about Cenon?”

 

“He was your partner and lover. You loved him. You watched him die and couldn't stop it. You still love him.”

 

Mingan gripped the steering wheel hard and only relaxed when he heard the hard plastic crack under his fingers.

 

“How? How do you know this?”

 

“Visions. When I touch a person, I see into their secrets.”

 

Mingan fell silent again. There was no way that Sevilen would have known about him and Cenon being lovers. He didn't think that even Jupiter had known about it. The possibility of Sevilen having visions was looking more and more likely. Mingan shook his head and wondered at the strange turn of events that had landed Sevilen quite literally in his arms. He directed Sevilen out of the car and saw the surprise on his Pet's face at his home.

 

It was far enough from the city that it had forests around it. It was also the only home in view. Mingan enjoyed the privacy the location afforded him and had lived there for almost his entire life. Sevilen was simply staring with open mouth shock.

 

“You live here?”

 

“Yes, and now you do to. Inside, I'm suddenly dying for a drink. It's been a rather trying evening.”

 

Sevilen followed Mingan into the house. It was easily as large as the penthouse that Iason had but it felt more like a home. There were all kinds of strange and curious things on the walls and resting on tables. Sevilen wanted to pick up and touch several things and ask Mingan what they were. He remained silent instead and watched as Mingan moved to a low table and poured himself a drink from a squat pitcher.

 

Mingan sat in his favourite chair and took a healthy mouthful of the strong liquor. He rested the glass on the table beside the chair and drew his braid forward. His deft fingers undid the braid and dropped the jewelled balls and black chain beside his drink. He next removed the heavy torque and matching earrings and laid those on the table as well. Mingan leaned forward and pulled the ruined shirt over his head. He dropped it to the floor beside the chair and sat back with his eyes closed. After a few minutes, Mingan felt his Pet's eyes on him.

 

“What is it now, Pet?”

 

“I have a name you know,” Sevilen muttered under his breath.

 

“I know you do. I'll call you whatever I wish. I can give you a brand new name if I so desire it. Now, what are you staring at?” Mingan asked as he opened his eyes and took another sip of his drink.

 

Sevilen blushed and gestured vaguely towards Mingan's chest. Mingan wondered if he had sustained another wound during the evening and looked down. Finding nothing he looked at his Pet again.

 

“Since I don't know what's going on in that head of yours, you're going to have to tell me.”

 

“You have…You're…I've…”

 

“What? I'm beginning to loose my patience, Sevilen. What is it that has you so flustered?”

 

“You have rings through your nipples,” Sevilen said in a rush as a blush coloured his cheeks.

 

“You're flustered because I have my nipples pierced? Ah, gods, this is just too good. I thought you were interesting earlier. I had no idea you'd be this amusing.”

 

Sevilen scowled at Mingan and looked away. He remained standing across the room. It wasn't his fault that he hadn't seen things like that before. No one in his village had done anything like that to their bodies and it had never occurred to him that someone would want to. Against his will, Sevilen found his eyes drawn back to Mingan's chest. He wondered why Mingan had done it. He wanted a closer look. He wanted to know if the metal was cool or warm to the touch. Sevilen hissed to himself at the way his mind was working and folded his arms across his chest.

 

Mingan watched his Pet and smiled at the conflict he saw. Sevilen's eyes kept drifting back to his chest and fixing on the nipple rings before sliding away again. Mingan set his drink down and motioned Sevilen over. His Pet hesitated for the briefest of seconds before moving to stand in front of him. Mingan reached for the tie at Sevilen's hip and undid it. The cloth fluttered to the ground and Sevilen blushed but remained standing, unmoving in front of Mingan.

 

“Much better. I have no Pets or Furniture. Most of the time, I prefer to be naked in my own home. I believe I'll prefer to see you that way as well. Go ahead and touch them. I can see that you want to.”

 

Sevilen stared at Mingan's chest and worried his bottom lip. He was annoyed with himself that his desire to touch was so plain on his face. When he simply stood there, Mingan sighed and grabbed his hand and brought it to the nipple ring himself. The metal was smooth and cool under Sevilen's fingers and when he grazed Mingan's erect nipple, Sevilen was surprised at the little sigh of pleasure Mingan released. He tried to pull his hand away but Mingan had a firm hold of his wrist.

 

“My nipples are very sensitive to touch. I enjoy it when the rings are tugged on. It feels very good when a partner takes the ring into their mouth and plays with it with their tongue. I expect you to remember this information, Sevilen. When I have you pleasure me, I will want you to touch all of me not just my cock to get me off.”

 

Sevilen felt heat increase in his cheeks. He had to be completely red by now. He had never felt so much embarrassment. Just the fact that he was touching another man's nipples while he stood naked in front of him was enough to have him turning crimson. To hear that same man telling him that he expected Sevilen to touch more than his cock was mortifying.

 

“I did tell you earlier that I'd show you my body art. Just so you don't die of curiosity, I suppose I should show you now.”

 

Mingan released Sevilen's wrist and was pleased when the freed hand wasn't immediately snatched back. Sevilen may have been raised to believe that sex between males was wrong but he was curious about it. Mingan felt goose bumps rise from where his Pet's fingers trailed away from his nipple. Mingan looked at Sevilen and stuck out his tongue at him.

 

Sevilen blinked in surprise. A shiny metal ball rested on Mingan's tongue and it took him a moment to realize that it actually went through Mingan's tongue. For the life of him, Sevilen couldn't figure out why Mingan would have done such a thing so he asked.

 

“Because I wanted to and to give my partner additional pleasure during oral sex,” Mingan answered as he began to draw the boots off his feet.

 

He stood and quickly stripped off the pants he had been wearing and waited for Sevilen to look his fill. A little smile teased Mingan's lips as he wondered what his sheltered little Pet would think when he saw Mingan in all his naked glory.

 

Sevilen couldn't help but look at the big Blondie. Physically, he was perfection. His muscles were defined and well proportioned. He had no noticeable body hair except for a curly patch of metallic silver around his cock. Sevilen felt his eyes widen and he knew his mouth had fallen open in shock when he saw that there was a metal ring through the tip of Mingan's cock. Sevilen started to reach forward to touch it but snatched his hand back and raised wide golden eyes to Mingan.

 

“It feels very good to have it rubbing inside you during sex. For me and for my partner.”

 

Sevilen dropped his eyes from Mingan's face and was confronted with the pierced cock. The idea that Mingan would penetrate him with that attached to his erection was both a little frightening and oddly thrilling. Sevilen was utterly confused at the way his mind was working. He shouldn't be thinking that it might feel good to have Mingan enter his body. He had been told all his life that sex between two males was wrong. Sevilen had never thought that he'd have to deal with a situation of another male wanting to have sex with him. He had never thought he'd have the choice of having sex at all.

 

Sevilen dragged his eyes from Mingan's groin and finally noticed that the designs on Mingan's arms didn't stop there. The same design that covered his arms appeared from between his legs, travelled down his inner thighs, wound around his knees, down the backs of his calves and twined around his ankles. Mingan waited for several minutes before he slowly turned around. He brought his hair over his shoulder and stood motionless.

 

It looked like the design started at the base of Mingan's skull. It moved down his neck and a thin band travelled across his shoulders. The design continued down his spine and branched out low over his buttocks. It travelled around the outside of his cheeks before disappearing under them to appear on the inside of his thighs.

 

Mingan sucked in a quick breath when he felt a feather light touch down his spine. He hadn't expected his shy little Pet to actually touch him without him being ordered to do so. He allowed Sevilen to ghost his fingers down his spine and enjoyed the rush of arousal it was producing in him. When Mingan turned back around to face his Pet, he was erect. Sevilen looked down and Mingan saw him swallow hard.

 

“As much as I'd like to bury my cock in your ass tonight, I know I'd hurt you. I just don't have the patience tonight to make you ready for me. I'm not going to add to the pain you've already suffered. I want you to enjoy pairing with me. Nothing kills desire for me faster than a partner that just waits for you to finish. I expect full participation, Sevilen. This will be the last time I ask you. Are you committed to staying with me knowing that I will be sliding my cock up your ass as often as I want?”

 

Sevilen looked at the large erection Mingan had and had serious doubts that it would fit inside him. Mingan was a very big man and Sevilen knew he was considered small by most people. It would probably hurt no matter how careful Mingan was but nothing could compare to the pain he had endured from the branding. He was also a little curious. He had watched other Pets pair at the Trading House and they had seemed to enjoy the penetration, crying out with pleasure. His curiosity and what he had been taught warred inside him.

 

Mingan watched his Pet struggle with the idea of sex with a man. Mingan knew that it wasn't common outside of Amoi and that in some places it was even punishable to pair with another male. Several planets had refused to have trade dealings with Amoi because of the openness of male pairing that took place. He waited for Sevilen to decide, hoping that the curiosity he saw on his Pet's face would win out over the things he had been taught.

 

“I need to stay. You'll die if I leave and I can't let that happen,” Sevilen said softly as he looked at Mingan.

 

“Is that the only reason, Pet?” Mingan asked with satisfaction. He realized that he would have been very disappointed if Sevilen had backed out of his self-imposed mission to supposedly save his life.

 

Sevilen blushed and mumbled something that Mingan didn't quite catch before sliding his eyes away from Mingan. Mingan tipped his Pet's chin up and looked into his gold eyes.

 

“What was that, Pet?”

 

“I said the Pet's I saw pairing seemed to enjoy it.”

 

Mingan smiled and caressed Sevilen's jaw. “I'll make sure you enjoy it, Sevilen. By the time I'm done with you, you'll wonder how you could have ever had doubts about feeling me throbbing in your ass.”

 

Sevilen was beginning to wonder if he would ever stop blushing in Mingan's presence. Mingan released his jaw and circled a hand around his wrist.

 

“I'm going to properly dress that wound on your arm and then its bedtime. I think it's safe to say that we've both had enough excitement for one night,” Mingan said as he led the way to a large bathroom.

 

Sevilen remained quiet as Mingan removed the hasty bandage and cleaned the shallow wound before applying a clean bandage. He pulled Sevilen after him into a large bedroom and pushed him towards the bed. Sevilen looked at the bed with apprehension. He had thought that he would get a bed to sleep in alone until Mingan decided he was going to pair with him. Mingan noticed his little Pet hesitating and casting glances at him.

 

“What now, Sevilen?”

 

“You want me to sleep with you?”

 

“You're going to have to get use to me touching you if you are going to keep up your end of the bargain. Sleeping together will help. Besides which, I don't have another room prepared.”

 

Sevilen opened his mouth to protest further but seemed to think better of it. He climbed into the bed and hugged the edge. He felt Mingan get in behind him and gave a startled squawk when Mingan dragged him close. Mingan's big body curled around Sevilen's small frame and the Pet could feel the tension slowly drain from the Blondie. He could feel the incredible heat of Mingan's skin against his back and the softening erection under his ass. Sevilen didn't think he'd be able to sleep when wrapped up so intimately with another man. He never realized when he wriggled his hips into Mingan's groin and fell into a deep dreamless sleep.