Well, here it is ladies and gents, as promised the third and final part of Blondies Have More Fun. Thank you for your patience in waiting for it. I will try and update weekly if not more often, depending on how the holidays and my work schedule is going. Please feel free to leave a review. Thank you for your continued support.
Iason stood facing his brother solemnly as Raoul briefed him. The trip back from Avalon was not a long one, and he'd made proper use of it by keeping Riki in bed for the majority of it. Despite his satisfaction from Riki, he did not feel one hundred percent, and he hoped the issue was only that he had yet to join properly with Jupiter. The joining himself concerned him because then She may glean enough to know what he had learned about Riki on Avalon, he was not at all sure how She would perceive it or if she would consider Riki a threat.
"And there can be no mistake?" he asked Raoul quietly.
"None. I was very thorough in my investigation, Iason. Jupiter has also confirmed that She sensed such things from him, though She had been unaware what it was until I reported my findings.
"I see." Raoul never made mistakes when it came to such situations. His prowess in discovering the truth of things was unrivaled. "That is disappointing."
"Yes."
"What is to be his punishment?"
"Jupiter has not decided yet. I requested that She allow you to speak with Iassac first, perhaps you may learn some rational cause other than the one we can only assume."
"Yes, I will speak with him."
Iason turned towards the window and looked out over Eos, comfortable in the familiarity of the towering white structures of the technological city surrounding them. It was a drastic comparison to the openness of nature he witnessed on Avalon, but Tanagura was his home; his and Riki's.
"Thank you for all you have done to assist in this matter, Raoul."
"Of course." Raoul moved to the bar and poured two glasses of almost translucent green liquid. "You do seem to attract the worst sort of trouble since you've been keeping that pet, Iason."
Iason smirked and turned as Raoul walked over and handed him one of the glasses. "Do I?"
"Don't play coy, it hardly suits you."
Iason shrugged. "People change."
Raoul paused in raising his glass to his mouth. "People do," he agreed. "We do not."
"We were created to evolve, Raoul. Can you deny that it is your innate curiosity that drives your experiments, and with those results you change your opinions of facts you held firm in before?"
"That is science, hardly the same thing."
"I disagree." Iason settled into a chair, crossed one leg over another and sipped his drink as he shot Raoul a knowing gaze. "You used to hate Riki."
"Hate is not an emotion I can be bothered with." Raoul took the opposite chair and neatly mimicked Iason's position. "I simply do not see the point of him, nor of the continued sacrifices you make for him."
"Did you not recently also make sacrifices for me, Raoul?"
"Not at all. I was under Jupiter's order and there was no personal cost on my part."
"Ah." Iason smiled knowingly and sipped his drink again. "The point is that you like Riki now."
"Hardly!"
"Of course you do, or you would have ordered Katze to just return from Avalon once he had me. It would have been the perfect opportunity to get rid of my troublesome pet once and for all."
"That too was under Jupiter's order." Raoul waved his hand, bored. "Who am I to challenge Her?"
Iason chuckled, finished his drink and rose. "As you like then."
"Iason?" Raoul also rose and walked with Iason to the office portal. "Are you truly grateful for my intervening?"
"Of course." Iason straightened his gloves, glad to have them on again. Having to touch so much and so many while on that horrid planet had been quite distasteful. "What do you want?"
Raoul smiled, Iason did know him well. "Nothing overly much…"
"I am not letting you experiment on Riki."
"I'm no longer interested in him. I want Katze."
Iason's eyebrow rose again. "You wish to experiment on Katze?"
"No, I wish you to sell him to me- or if you are truly grateful, give him to me."
"Impossible."
"Oh come now, I am sure he has been of great help to you, but there are others who can do what he does…"
"No one can do what he does. I believe we have had this discussion before." Iason chuckled. "Is this what Humans call Déjà vu?"
"Possibly." Raoul grinned. "Are you so unwilling to part with him, even for an old friend whom you owe several debts to, may I add?"
"You misunderstand. I did not say I was unwilling, I said it was impossible. I cannot allow Katze to go to another. He has knowledge of vital and confidential information regarding myself and the Syndicate. That knowledge cannot fall into the wrong hands."
Raoul studied Iason. "You mean you would terminate him if it did?"
"I would not need to. Katze has taken measures himself that should he ever be captured and can find no escape, he will end his own life. He understands the risks."
Raoul nodded, remembering when he'd had Katze on his table not very long ago. Even though he never would have harmed the former Furniture, Katze had believed the threat to be real and was willing to take his own life. He'd dismissed the red-head's actions until now, as there had been so many other things to deal with, but as he considered Katze's decision, he felt a strange sensation crawl through him, one he could not yet analyze.
"I see." Raoul searched for an alternative. He wanted Katze and he meant to have him by any means possible. "Perhaps you might lend him to me then?"
Iason smirked, his curiosity aroused. "What exactly is this experiment that you need him for?"
"It's complicated, but he is the perfect candidate for me to get the best results." When Iason continued to stare at him, Raoul continued. "I'm not going to irreparably damage him, Iason."
"Meaning the damage you may cause can be repaired."
Raoul shrugged.
"I don't believe I will allow him to be damaged in anyway, Raoul. He has been loyal to me, and I would be…annoyed if he were injured in any way."
"I'm kidding, of course. I promise I shall not physically harm him." When Iason lifted an eyebrow, Raoul added. "Oh, very well, I will not physically or mentally damage him. You are tying my hands, and ruining the chance of optimal results you know?"
Iason started again towards the portal. "You are resourceful; I have no doubt you will manage."
"So, I may use him then?"
"Yes, but only if he is not working on something important."
Raoul nodded. "Yes, of course." He clapped a hand on Iason's shoulder. "Also, I'm happy to look over your pet, if you like? Ensure he's recovering from his traumatic experience. I have a table prepared in my lab…"
Iason offered Raoul a rare, genuine smile. "Nice try."
"Success cannot be achieved without determination." Raoul returned mildly. "In all seriousness, you should have a pet doctor of yours give him a full physical, just in case."
"I have already arranged for Kanin to do so." Iason nodded. "I will see you shortly, brother."
Raoul nodded and watched his friend disappear through the portal. He walked back to the bar and poured himself another drink. "One day, Riki. One day I will discover all your secrets."
Katze moved away from the wall he had been leaning on as Iason appeared in the lobby of the building that housed Raoul's condo and he fell in step beside his employer.
"How's the leg?" Iason asked as they stepped outside.
"Healed."
"How did you injure it?"
Katze lowered his eyes, embarrassed to say he'd been bitten by a dog. "I landed wrong going over a wall."
"I see. You've done well, Katze. Once you've determined that everything is back in order on your end, take some time off."
"Time…off?"
"Yes, a vacation, one, no two weeks. Perhaps stay at that beach house, it was quite relaxing for the most part."
"I don't like the water."
"Well, then just pick somewhere and put it on your expenses. I'll pay for everything."
Katze wasn't sure what to say. Iason had never offered him time off before, not in all the years he had been working for him, not even when he had been the Blondie's furniture. "Are you…displeased with me, Iason?"
Iason spun around so quickly that Katze almost walked into him. "Why would you assume that?"
"It's just you've never mentioned my taking a vacation before. Do you think my failure to rescue you warrants additional training? I can…"
Iason dropped a hand on Katze's shoulder. "You did not fail me. I am offering you this as a reward, not as a punishment."
He remembered how he'd tried to have a nice dinner on the balcony to reward Riki's behavior after Diman and his pet had left, Riki also had been suspicious. Was he really so heinous a master that those who belonged to him did not expect him to ever be kind? That was a troublesome thought.
"You have been of great service to me, Katze, as my aid and as a friend. This is my way of showing my gratitude for that service."
"Oh." Katze blinked slowly. "Okay."
Iason started walking again and Katze followed. "By the way, I've agreed to lend your services to Raoul, he will probably be contacting you soon."
Katze halted in his tracks, shocked. "What? Why the hell would you do that?" He watched Iason still and slowly turn back.
"Is there a problem?" Iason asked quietly.
"N…no, I just. I don't know what kind of help I could be to him and I'll have my hands full following up with all that's happened in my absence."
Iason tugged at his gloves, a sign of annoyance. "It seems he needs your assistance with an experiment and as a measure of my gratitude for his assistance with this recent situation I agreed. He is aware that your work for me comes first and you can only assist him when you are not busy." His eyes rose and met Katze's. "However, I expect you to have the same respect for him as you would any Blondie and not lie about your time to avoid going. Is that clear?"
"Yes." Katze's features returned to their usual stoic state. He didn't want to be around Raoul, the Blondie made him nervous and he rarely got nervous about anything. So, this vacation was what? Like a last request? A moment to enjoy before the horror began? What the hell?
Iason continued to study his right-hand man and finally said. "I know Raoul can be difficult, but I am sure you can handle him." When Katze remained silent, Iason continued. "This is a request, Katze, one I hope you will accept." He didn't want to make it an order, not after all they had been through together, but he would because he did owe Raoul.
Katze nodded, curtly. "I understand." He would do anything for Iason, and the Blondie well knew it. "I apologize for my earlier reaction. It was just unexpected as Raoul can be…"
"Arrogant? Beastly? Frightening? Maddening?"
Katze chuckled before he could stop himself. "Yes."
Iason clapped him on the back. "I have complete faith in your ability to keep him in line."
They continued walking and Katze brought Iason up to speed regarding the people he had uncovered that instigated the plot against the Blondie and Riki. He assured Iason they most been appropriately dealt with and the others he would be moving on shortly.
"Iason?" Iason glanced at Katze. "About Cal."
"Yes, Raoul informed me that he was still assisting him on some matters and would return home in a few days."
"Is that all he told you?"
"What else is there?"
Katze fought with himself as to whether or not to explain Cal's predicament. He didn't want to betray Cal's confidence, but he had never promised not to tell Iason and he felt Iason needed to know what happened, for Cal's own sake. He had never lied to Iason, and his training forbid him to do so now.
"There is…more."
Iason listened quietly as Katze gave him the details of what Bean had done and what had happened to Cal. The Blondie gave no visible reaction and when Katze finished his report, Iason turned away.
"Thank you for informing me. I understand why Raoul could not, having given his word."
"What are you going to do?"
"What is necessary." They arrived at Iason's building and the Blondie turned to Katze once more. "I want you to take that time off, Katze. You may spend it however you wish, but you may not use it to conduct work, is that understood?"
"Yes. Thank you, Iason."
"Will I see you at the ceremony tonight?"
"Regretfully I will be unable to attend." Katze pulled a small package out of his jacket pocket. "Here is my gift, Good Joining, Iason."
"Thank you, Katze." Iason accepted the package, nodded once and then disappeared inside the building.
Katze turned away and tried not to wonder what would become of the Furniture named Bean. He'd prepare a list of new candidates for Iason as soon as possible.
