AN: This chapter was originally much longer, but I hated the ending of it so I broke it up and am working on fixing it. Hopefully in the next few days it will be out (unless I suddenly throw a fit and start over...)
Alfred was completely convinced he had never been so hungry in his life. The night had seemed to drag on as he fell into short periods of fitful sleep and continually waking up, whether it was the aches in his body from not being able to find a comfortable spot, when his arms fell asleep from his body weight cutting off circulation to them, or when the thin blanket moved and exposed a portion of his skin to the cold, he just couldn't fully drift off. And without any windows to the dark cellar he couldn't tell how far off the sunrise was only that in his mind it was still the earlier hours of the morning.
Ivan was silent for the rest of the evening and there were no more whispers or shifting around in the darkness, but he was sure that if he listened closely he could make out the sounds of the man's deep breathing. It gave him plenty of time to think when he wasn't trying to figure out a way to get the blanket back where it was supposed to be. The more sadistic voice that echoed inside his head was coming up with all sorts of examples as to what his captors meant by 'pet.' There was the standard vision of him in only a collar sitting patiently at their feet when they came home like some golden retriever, but that was the tamer of the possibilities his head had conjured up. Others included anything from personal sex slave to underground fighting ring and that second possibility would explain why there was only Ivan down here, especially if he was the opponent.
Alfred continued to futilely tug at his bindings when he was awake, even though he knew by now there was no hope of them giving way. His wrists were becoming sore and chaffed from his constant pulling, but somewhere in the back of his mind there was a small voice urging to try again; that somehow this time would be the time they would break and he would be free. He had always been known for his fool-hearty optimism, but even that was bound to give out eventually.
At some point his thoughts went back to his family, wondering what they were doing now. Did they know yet he wasn't coming home? And how worried were they? Alfred sighed softly as he thought about them and blinked furiously. He would see them again soon, because he was going to find a way to escape so he needn't get so upset. But he was sure his father was panicking when he recalled the time in the past the man had thought he'd lost his sons. It had been shortly after they had moved to their new home and while their father had been arguing with their new neighbor and using the bad words that neither brother were allowed to say that they decided to explore their new neighborhood. Together, hand in hand, the small children had set off down the street and eventually further along found a park to entertain themselves in.
But the look on their father's face when he finally caught up with them had made sure they never did something like that again. It was a cross of fury, relief, and the deepest form of pain caused when someone believes they have been abandoned. They had thoroughly scolded for leaving without permission and if he remembered right Matthew had blamed most of it on him, which caused him to chuckle a little at the memory and how no one ever seemed to realize how devious his twin could be. At least the day had ended well enough, with the friendly neighbor, who had also helped search for the missing boys, suggesting dinner and cementing the strange friendship that he kept with their family.
But that face his father had made. Maybe it had been too soon after everything they had been through at that time and the man could not have imagined losing more family, but the look of absolute worry and panic was what Alfred imagined his father would look like soon enough if not now already and that thought hurt. Deep down they loved each other no matter how many arguments they got into and no matter what insults they threw at each other, but the pain of one of his sons just disappearing? Alfred wasn't sure if this would be the thing that broke his old man.
Just when his troubled thoughts were reaching an all-time low and he was beginning to worry what would happen when his bladder reached capacity there were noises above him that soundly dimly like someone walking across squeaky floorboards and heading in the direction of the door. His entire body turned rigid as he waited and turned his head so he could focus on where the door was waiting for whatever was about to happen next. It took several minutes of anticipation before his only exit opened and the light flickered on. Alfred blinked against the light and looked up to find the man with the ponytail having already descended the stairs carrying something in his hands.
"Morning, Ivan." The brunette cooed, walking over and running a hand through Ivan's hair. "Did you sleep well?" The large man nodded looking up to meet Yao with bright eyes. "Would you like to go outside?" Yao asked which received a much more enthusiastic response which caused the shorter man to smile and kneel in front of him. Alfred studied them curiously and paled slightly when he realized what it was Yao had been carrying: a thick sturdy leather collar which the brunette was taking care to fit snuggly around the other's neck, though what disgusted Alfred most was that Ivan tilted his chin to allow space for the man to complete his work.
Once the end and been pulled through and secured, Yao attached a small padlock to keep it in place, and before closing it, slipped in a link to a metal chain he also had with him. The lock clicked into place and the brunette sat back with a smile. "Want to help me with your new friend?" his caretaker asked, and Ivan obediently got to his feet and followed after him as they approached the wide-eyed American. This was it, his thoughts raced as he considered all the possibilities once again. This was when they were going to start whatever torture they had planned for him.
Ivan eased him up into a sitting position, and Alfred winced from being so stiff and when the part of his side where he had been struck was moved, but froze as the brunette neared him. He kept his eyes trained on Yao with a defiant glare as the other moved to place his own collar around his neck. Yao ignored whatever silent threats Alfred gave him as he tightened the collar and locked it to the other end of the chain that Ivan was attached to. Alfred didn't even try to hide his displeasure at the situation, but watched silently as his captor dug in a pocket to produce a key which he soon learned went to the locks that kept his limbs bound. Legs freed first and Ivan easily flipping him so Yao could reach his arms, Alfred relished in the sudden ability to move his legs and soon his arms as well. His shoulders popped as he was finally able to bring them around to his front and rubbed at the irritated skin around his wrists. Red rings and dark bruises were the reminder of their presence and Alfred frowned at the sight of them.
Yao stepped lightly away without a second glance and after a moment of wondering what was going to happen next he was pulled to his feet by his enormous partner and pulled along behind their… no, there was no way he was going to acknowledge him as a master, owner or anything like that. The crazy man who kidnapped him lead the way up the stairs, and Alfred shakily followed as his circulation tried to pump blood to his previously immobile limbs. His eyes were fixed on the open doorway at the top of the stairs. Up there was his fate, however twisted it was, and he was being lead to it with a chain around his neck. Was this how cows felt when they were walking in to be turned into meat? If so, he may surprise everyone and never touch another hamburger again.
The first thing that surprised him was how normal the upper portion of the house looked. A fairly modern looking kitchen sat to one side comprised of the standard things you would normally see and through to the other side he could see what looked like a living room with at least a couch and a tv. He was at least expecting some sort of torture room or something that screamed 'psychopaths live here' but no such luck.
Off the kitchen was a door that led outside and Yao held it open watching as Ivan easily made his way outside and Alfred was forced to follow though he gave a suspicious glance as he passed Yao. Maybe the torture part happened outside, like in a shed with rusty gardening tools, or, to his sudden horror, out among the trees of the forest that seemed to surround the house. The brunette raised an eyebrow at Alfred's confused expression but didn't say anymore, instead looking past him to his companion. "Ivan, don't go too far. Breakfast will be ready soon and I can't be late for work." Ivan nodded and happily started walking away while Alfred stumbled along behind him, throwing glances over his shoulder as Yao stayed behind and shut the door to the house.
This had to be a trick; some sort of weird trick that they were playing on him. It was only Alfred and Ivan now, without any sort of supervision from their supposed masters. Ivan led the way with confidence into trees and Alfred was reluctant to follow except that the chain that connected them would pull him after his larger companion. His head turned in all directions as he examined his surroundings; perhaps there were cameras? A fence? Guard dogs? They wouldn't just let captives walk freely away from the house, right? Unless… Maybe Ivan really wasn't being held there against his will…
Alfred ceased examining his surroundings to see what the other was doing and quickly turned back around when he realized that he was reliving himself. Shifting as far as his tether would allow and keeping a wary eye on the small house he could still glimpse through the leaves, he decided he should probably do the same, seeing as this may be his only chance. Mind drifting once again, he studied the structure he had spent the night in. It seemed a standard home, mostly lumber and poly siding beneath a shingle roof, and nothing about it seemed foreboding, which didn't seem right in his opinion. Shouldn't the building be giving him the creeps just looking at, not trying to welcome him in for milk and cookies?
Saving that thought for another time, he finished and shook off and went to tuck himself back in when he felt he was being watched; watched by a pair of cheerful amethyst eyes. "Dude!" he flushed and yelled crossly, "Can't you give a guy some privacy?"
Ivan blinked several times and smiled wider. "Are you finished?"
"Since you were watching, you should know…" Alfred muttered back, looking away. A sudden tug on his collar had him choking and looking up to see Ivan moving away through the trees. "Where are taking me?"
"There's someplace I want to show you!" Ivan called playfully over his shoulder, giggling and dragging him forward.
The blonde frowned and tried to dig his heels in to halt the forward momentum. "Unless it's to the nearest police station, I don't want to go with you!" He grabbed the chain in his hands to lessen the strain on his neck and leaned all of his weight against it. Ivan was jerked backwards and spun around confused. "But, you'll like it." Was his explanation as Alfred straightened and tried to adjust the collar so it was no longer strangling him.
"Ivan, what I would like is to leave. Just point the direction and we can go." With slow steps and the biggest smile he could muster, the American approached and motioned in the direction that led away from the house. "Somewhere in that direction maybe? You must know the way to leave. Come on, you and me, buddy, we can go look for other people."
Ivan shook his head so hard his shaggy hair flew around his face. "No, we have to stay close to the house and not be seen."
At hearing this Alfred could have screamed in frustration. "Ivan." He tried again, his smile twitching a little as he tried to hold it, "Why can't we leave?"
"Because Yao says no." Ivan reminded him and went to back away but Alfred would let him.
"They aren't stopping us, and they won't be able to catch up!" The blonde argued trying to keep his voice hushed and throwing a glance back towards the house. No movement at the door or in any of the windows so hopefully they hadn't been spotted yet and could slip away unseen and be a mile away before either one came looking for them.
"No!" Ivan shook a little and fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. "We will be in trouble if we do and get punished."
"That's if they catch us which they won't if we leave now…" He gave a sharp pull to the chain trying to take over leading and force the other in a new direction, but Ivan leaned away from it. In retaliation Alfred growled and began to pull harder and Ivan snatched the chain in his own hands to pull back. Their gazes caught as they stared each other down and tried to pull the other in the direction they wanted go. Grunting and growling, they merely managed to rub their hands raw against the links of chain rather than make any progress in either direction.
Their tugging match was put on hold when a voice rang out from the house calling Ivan's name. Said man froze at the sound and abruptly changed direction and pulled to head back towards the building nearly sending Alfred sprawling at the suddenness. Reeling and trying to get the leather collar back to where it wouldn't cut off his airway, he tried to put on the brakes to stop Ivan's forward momentum. "Wait! We can still leave!"
Not stopped completely, but significantly slower, the pale man was still trying to get back to the voice calling him. "No! We have to go back. Yao called; we have to come when he calls."
His sneakers slipped on the leaves scattered across the ground and the blonde lost another a few feet in the wrong direction. "No. We. Don't." he grunted, pulling against the chain that connected them with everything he had.
Ivan's name came again, but it sounded more like a question and it made the other pull a little harder in order to get back. "Please, we have to get back." He pleaded and leaned his larger mass against the already taught chain. Alfred groaned in the effort to keep them from going back but if it was a competition in brute strength, Ivan would undoubtedly win just from sheer size. Not that this was going to deter him in the slightest from putting everything he had in to fighting the man's return.
They struggled like this together for another minute and Alfred was losing ground when Ivan's name came for the third time and this time it was more of a demand. The tone of the voice threw Ivan into a panic and he gave a sudden tug to the chain the toppled the American forward and allowed Ivan to pull them the rest of the way out of the trees in clear view of the house. Alfred caught himself and carefully raised his head to see Yao holding the door open and frowning down at him.
Uttering a few curses at the grass, he straightened to follow a groveling Ivan who looked more like a kicked puppy beneath Yao's harsh gaze. The brunette's gave terse instructions for the both of them to get inside which the larger of the two followed as quickly as he could considering he had to drag an unwilling party behind him. Once the door had been shut and the last of Alfred's hopes of escaping this morning were dying down, he pouted and followed his captors as they headed into the kitchen. Ivan was quick to find a seat on the floor and kept his eyes down and began fidgeting again while Yao collected a bowl and cup from one of the counters and handed it to him. "Eat quickly; I have to leave for work soon."
Alfred studied the interaction, and in a brazen move decided he wasn't going to sit on floor which looked like it was expected so opted for leaning against one of the walls. Yao glared up at him as he walked over with another bowl and cup in hand. "Sit." He ordered to which Alfred glared in return and stated clearly, "No."
The brunette rolled his eyes and stepped back. "Ivan." A sharp jerk to his lead and Alfred was yanked down to his knees. Ivan gave him a small apologetic smile as he released the chain and went back to eating which Alfred glared at and then at the bowl that was set on the floor beside him. Yao was tapping an impatient foot while he waited, and the blond sat back and folded his arms. "I'm not hungry." He told the shorter man, attempting to ignore the ill-timed growl to his stomach at the smell of something edible even if the strange-looking soup did not look all that appealing.
Yao frowned at the declaration and sighed looking back to Ivan who sat frozen with his spoon partway between his mouth and the bowl and was watching everything unfold. Brown eyes flicked back to Alfred and held their threatening stare. "Ivan." He ordered and Alfred didn't even have time to react until after he was backhanded by the man's long reach. Rubbing the side of his head and directing his glare towards Ivan instead, Alfred mumbled another string of curses. Yao had crossed his arms and was staring down his nose at the blonde. "You learned quickly last night to listen to orders, so I will not repeat my warning."
Alfred remained defiant for another minute, before relenting to both the threats of being 'punished' and to the groaning of his stomach by snatching up the bowl, determined to ingest everything at an inhuman rate and move past this stand-off. Grimacing at the taste of what he had been given, but enjoying the relief that came with filling his stomach, he had the bowl empty in record time and sat moodily sipping the water out of the cup he was given while attempting to ignore the other two as they carried on their morning routine as though he wasn't there.
"I may be running late tonight." Yao told Ivan while gathering together lunch and searching for keys. "We are supposed to meet with the company that is holding the party and we need to go over the menu for the event. Kiku should be back around dinner time when his shift is over, but you will have to take care of everything until then, okay?" Ivan nodded as he handed over his empty dishes and sat quietly to listen to instructions. Alfred pushed his forward so he and Yao would not need to be any closer than was needed, and tried to steady himself as swayed after trying to sit back up. Apparently he had eaten a little too fast, and was now feeling light-headed.
Yao rinsed the items in the sink and quickly cleaned them. "Don't let your new friend get you into too much trouble today, Ivan." Yao called over his shoulder as he set the dishes aside to dry. "He may not be as annoying as the last one, but I don't trust him so you should be careful." Alfred frowned at the words, but did little more. He couldn't be certain, but he felt like things were listing to one side.
Yao pulled a coat on over top of his slacks and button up shirt and stuffed a black tie into one of his pockets. He smiled as he turned towards Alfred before addressing Ivan again. "You should take your friend downstairs. He looks tired." Alfred became dimly aware of the sound of the chain being dragged across the floor and jumped when he felt Ivan's hands on his arms. The food they gave him must have been bad because the room was moving too fast for him to keep up with.
Somewhere in the distance he thought he heard Yao explaining that Ivan's friend would be quiet for most of the day and the blonde wasn't sure whether he was moving, or the house was moving beneath him. More words from Yao, but now he couldn't completely keep up with what was being said, only that he felt dizzy and he couldn't keep his eyes open. He fought the urge as best he could, but lost consciousness somewhere between the kitchen and the bottom of the stairs.
