1
He was cold.
This was not a new feeling, most of his life he had been cold but he had grown accustomed to the warmth of the store.
Now he was huddled in a cage as the truck roared along, the cold wind whipping at his hair and he held back a whimper of fear.
His brothers and sisters had been long since sold before him, his own wait finally over.
The truck came to a stop and he was roughly pulled from the cage by his collar and dumped in the grass beside the driveway.
"Jesus, a bit thin isn't he?"
He felt the bile rise as he imagined himself cooking in the large ovens, an apple in his mouth as they bemoaned the lack of meat on his bones. He had heard of places like that and he held back the desire to wet himself as he shook.
"Looks cold"
He was dragged upright and pulled along to a holding pen, pushed into the soft bedding.
He sighed as he burrowed to find a warm spot, encountering a pen-mate.
One does not question such things, one just accepts comfort where it is found and he cuddled into the warmth of the other body, as it accepted his touch.
There was no time for tears, no time for grief.
Pets do not have need for such things.
The evening was long and he tried to ignore his hunger and the need to pee that still ached.
"Get out of there, come on girl"
His warmth moved and left the nest, making him blink against the light of day.
"Oi, there are two in here!"
"He's the one we got last night, didn't have anywhere else to put him that late."
"Huh, cute nose"
He tried his prettiest face and more than one made a happy noise as they all looked at him.
"Get him shit, showered and shaved" the large man frowned, "Then fed and watered. Take him to Toshi for some good clothes before the master sees. You know he hates the damaged ones."
He hid his arm with shame, the scars so harsh in the light.
His heart still heavy as the death rattle of his mate was still lingering in his ears as her burns were too severe.
He struggled to his feet and waited patiently, eager to please, to stay the hand that punishes.
He found himself in a toilet area, relieved as he emptied his body, then he was taken for a wash, clothes and finally food.
He was careful here too, they don't like greed.
Then he stood before the master.
"Well, tall. Thin though"
"We think he was starved a bit while recovering from whatever caused those burns."
"How did they occur?" the master asked and they shrugged.
"Our quarters caught fire, only 27 of us escaped, hundreds burned Master" he said softly.
"You purchased a damaged T1?"
"They didn't tell us that in the shop" the man whined as his master growled.
"My arm has healed, although ugly, it no longer requires attention master" he whimpered, "Please. I live to serve."
"What have you there father?" a new, bold voice joined in and despite his lifetime of subservience, Ianto raised his head and looked into the face of the most handsome man he had ever seen.
"Gods, he is lovely. I want him" another voice said and the man Ianto was looking at laughed.
"No way Gray, you are too mean. Look at him, he needs softness, not your kind of training" the pretty man laughed.
"Ah, come on Jack, he's just a pet!"
"No!" Jack's smile faded as he turned to his brother, "I already called dibs."
"You don't even like pets" Gray scoffed, "Said they made your skin crawl."
"No! I said your pets made my skin crawl, you turn them into simpering fools that cry at the drop of your hand" Jack corrected, "I haven't had time for a pet until now. I have finished my studies and want one. He fits the bill."
"Papa?" Grey whined as he turned to their father.
"Sorry baby, Jack did call dibs" Jackson shrugged.
Ianto waited patiently, unconcerned as to whose he was to be.
Either way, a pet is a pet.
Right?