Chapter rated E for everyone! Katze reflects.
TONIGHT
Tonight.
Tonight proved to be a fluid concept, at least where Katze's involvement with Iason and Riki was concerned.
The first day after the most spectacular evening in his life, Katze had excitedly thought that tonight meant, well, exactly that.
Tonight.
However the day was just one of those days, full of nasty surprises and complications that rapidly went downhill. Iason's day was even worse; an unannounced group of very important foreign diplomats and businessmen turned up, requiring he play host on top of the usual endless incidents that seemingly all required the attention of the First one.
So tonight became tomorrow's tonight, when it wasn't mentionned at all in their brisk, business-like evening vid-com.
When Katze learned that the group of foreigners was staying a week, he mentally pushed tonight to tonight-when-Iason-is-free-of-obligations. And oh, things were going from bad to worse. Katze observed from the shadows as the Blondie grew more and more irritated at having to pamper prickly over-inflated egos as the week progressed. The negociations were long and difficult, requiring all of Iason 's considerable skill.
The strain Iason felt was perfectly hidden beneath an impeccable veneer of slightly aloof politeness. Katze knew how to read his Master after so many years though: Iason was just itching to lash out, shoulders rigid and back too straight.
Tonigh was soooo not happening tonight! Katze's newfound lust slowly curled up inside his belly, sleeping beneath layers of frost as thick as the glacial blue of Iason's fake smile.
When the contracts were finally signed with a flourish, Katze felt a swell of hope. Yes!
Tonight!
Tonight was tonight!
Surely?
Except Katze was swept along at Iason's swift pace and hurrying to debrief him on Market activity as he hurried to the Summons from Jupiter, ceremonial robes swirling.
Katze waited patiently, guessing that tonight was probably not tonight-tonight after all. He pressed his lips hard together as he watched Iason emerge after his session. The Blondie was too pale, and his eyes squinted unnaturally.
Fuck.
Katze remembered Iason's admission of headaches caused by hiding Riki from Jupiter. Now he felt sick as well as wound up and stressed out. Great.
Iason's pain was carefully hidden; his Master was all pent-up frustration and arrogant haughtiness as he brushed by Katze.
"Tonight. " The word was cold, so cold. Uttered with dead certainety of blind obedience.
"No."
The soft refusal was out before Katze could think twice. Nobody denied Iason, especially not in the murderous mood he was in. Nobody smart anyway.
Iason stopped moving. Long blond hair swished to stillness as a cultured voice snarled
"Excuse me?"
Too late to back down now, Katze decided. He had responded impulsively, but he would stand by his heart.
Katze did not want to join Iason in the state he was in. He would hurt Katze. It was certain, unavoidable.
He straightened his back when Iason stepped close, too close. Katze was tall for a mongrel, but the Blondie fucking towered over him. A gloved hand dug into his arm, hard unyielding fingers squeezing around his biceps.
"Tonight, you need Riki..." Katze breathed the words to Iason's heaving chest. He couldn't bring himself to look at Iason's face, but at least his voice was steady. He would not be moved; the decision was final. He steeled himself, waiting for the crash of a Blondie's slap.
For a long moment, they remained frozen together. Then, without a word, Iason released Katze and swept silently away, long angry strides gliding down the elegant corridor.
Katze's breath came out in a whiny huff.
He was relieved, yet disappointed too. He had blown it, damn it. Tonight was unsure now. He had held his ground, doing the unthinkable and standing up to Iason. The likelihood of tonight happening was close to zero now.
Shit!
Walking briskly back to his appartment, chain smoking, Katze decided that it was all right. He was not a Pet. He knew his place. He refused to let go of his hard-earned dignity and become the sexual vent for Iason's frustration. He had spent years in self-imposed abstinence. It would be relatively easy to slip back into that old skin.
Tonight...
If Iason wanted a tonight, he needed to respect Katze.
The keys jangled as Katze let himself into his place. If there was no future tonights, at least Katze would treasure the memory of his one tonight.
...
Business continued as usual between Iason and Katze. Not a word was said about Katze's refusal or future tonights together.
It was fine. Familiar.
Riki cornered Katze a few weeks in.
"How did you piss him off?" He hissed, getting into the car while Iason finished saying good-bye to Raoul.
Katze's grip on the steering wheel tightened.
"I refused to join you, the night the diplomats left. He was..." Katze trailed off, not knowing how to explain.
" ... in a mood." Riki finished bitterly. " I fucking know. I couldn't even walk the next day, he had to call Raoul."
Fuck.
"Sorry." And Katze was, he had known Iason would take it out on Riki, he'd known!
"S'okay. I'm glad you did. You had the choice."
I didn't went unspoken.
Riki sat back when Iason opened the door. He squeezed Katze's shoulder, whispering. "You hurt his pride. I'll think of something."
...
A week later, Katze got a short text from Riki.
Working on it.
The words made him place a hand in his lap, clutching himself as hope reignited.
Riki was working on it.
It was four days later that he got a second text.
You owe me.
Yeah. Riki was working on it.
Katze's hope for tonight was a warm little thing that he held in the secret of his heart.
Tonight, sometime.