MUTING MORTAR
Or: Sound
It always starts with two measured knocks sounding hollowly from his wooden office door.
Ritsu doesn't bother to call to enter as the door already opens with a click and the pale boy steps inside.
He sits back in his chair, relishing the sounds as though listening to a favourite piece of music. Two knocks, the click of the door, soft footfalls. It amalgamates into a rhythm with which Ritsu is intimately familiar.
Silence comes down on the room, fluttery at first, but it solidifies around Ritsu, settling into a firm foundation as the only sound becomes the rustle of clothing as Soubi slips off his shirt and folds it neatly.
Once shirtless, Soubi waits. Ritsu allows the silence to strengthen for a moment, seeping to every corner of his office like a syrup, then rises and heads to the cabinet mounted to the wall.
The leather of the whip is smooth and supple in his hand and creaks in greeting as Ritsu clenches and unclenches his hand around the auburn handle.
Ritsu turns to find Soubi in position, hands propped up against the wall, head bowed low, the only movement the occasional twitch of his cat ears beneath his hair.
The tip of the whip hits the floor with a tap and gives a low sigh of leather against wood with every step as Ritsu moves forward.
Soubi's regulated breathing is just audible as Ritsu stands behind him, watching a scar partly running down Soubi's side stretch with every intake.
The silence intensifies, a physical force pushing Ritsu onward trough the wonderful pressure building in his ears.
Leather creaking as Ritsu pulls his hand back is Soubi's cue and his breathing hitches once as the tightens his muscles.
The whip gives a sharp hiss before cracking on Soubi's back, drawing a welt across his shoulder blade. It takes a few seconds before the parted skin starts bleeding, as though Soubi's body has trouble keeping up. No sound escapes Soubi.
Ritsu listens closely as he lets the tip of the whip drag across the floor again to ready for the next blow. He doesn't miss the fact that Soubi's breathing quickens fractionally.
The whip snaps again, a wet slap as the leather bites into Soubi's lower back. Soubi's body lurches from the force of the impact, but he remains mute.
Elation steadily builds in Ritsu with every strike that brings only silence and he allows himself to fall into a rhythm, dragging the tip across the floor before cracking the whip again.
Hiss, crack, drag.
Hiss, crack, drag.
The sound of Ritsu's own laboured breathing, underscored by Soubi's soft panting, becomes a chorus to the music of the lash.
Hiss, crack, drag.
Hiss, crack, drag.
Blood coats Soubi's back, staining his pants, but Ritsu doesn't worry. Soubi had needed no prompting to start wearing black clothes, better to hide the fabric being wet with blood. One of the reasons Ritsu knew he had chosen well with the blonde child.
Hiss, crack, drag.
Hiss, crack.
Ritsu lowers his arm, breathing heavily through his nose, letting the coils of the whip patter to the floor at his feet before dropping the handle with a thud. He is pleased to find Soubi's breathing is already controlled again as he steadies himself.
Ritsu pushes his glasses further onto his nose as he considers Soubi. The blood from the first lashes already slowing into congealed blobs as Soubi remains in position, waiting for an order, seemingly relaxed. The only indication of the contrary are Soubi's ears and tail, both pressed low.
The two steps towards Soubi sound offensively loud in the pronounced silence.
Ritsu reaches out and runs his finger over one of the silky edges of Soubi's feline ear. He is rewarded with a tiny gasp, airy, barely more than a quick intake of breath. He rubs the ear more firmly between his fingers and Soubi stiffens almost imperceptibly, his tail twitching and pulling closer to his leg.
'These,' Ritsu gives a tiny tug on Soubi's ear, 'and this,' a curt whimper is muffled, but not hidden by Soubi's clenched teeth and he most assuredly shudders as Ritsu's hand suddenly closes around his tail, 'betray you,' Ritsu finishes, voice low and syllabic.
Ritsu has always favoured Soubi for his beautiful silence.
'I can help you with that.'
But exceptions can be made.
A/N: I will update once a week.
Next part: Smell. Soubi finds a moment of indulgence.
Comments and constructive criticism are very much appreciated. Follow the homepage link in my profile for more.