James Kirk felt a chill going down his spine. Did Kodos just told him that he had to mark him as his slave. He can't possibly be that nuts? Or could he? Jim looked into his eyes. Those eyes said it all. They say the eyes are the portal to one's soul. If that were true his soul died along time ago with every shred of decency that came with it. James soul was about to follow his masters.

"Did you hear me James? What do you think of my declaration?"

"That you're not functioning on all thrusters."

"Funny James. You should be a comedian. I meant what I said, you will be mine to have and to possess."

Jim was getting worried that maybe the executions that he had ordered were getting to him. Maybe, he just lost it and was giving in to delusions of godhood. Whatever it was, James Kirk was scared shitless.

Kodos ordered the guards to enter. There were only two. Strong muscular men, one was holding something peculiar in his hand. On closer examination it dawned on him that this item was a branding iron. Jim recoiled in horror. He could see the billowing smoke escaping the end of it. It wasn't very big but the fact that he intended to use it on him sent spikes of fear shooting all along his body. He was so scared that he couldn't stop trembling.

"James please do not worry the pain will not last."

"Are you bloody serious? Please don't do this, I beg of you. Fuck me instead, you haven't penetrated me yet,do that, not this."

"They'll be plenty of time for that. Guard please give me the item and then I want you to hold my captive."

Jim tried to escape but the men were too strong. They held his arms one on each side. Kodos brought the item in full view of him. It was very small but it still frightened him.

"Now where would be a good spot? Yes... I know the perfect spot. Near the pulse point of your left wrist. I had this made for us. Let us begin."

"Please, no.! I will scream like you never heard anyone scream."

"Guard cover his mouth with your hand. James please remember, if you bite my guards they will ask for payment for a bad deed."

"Yes, it's been a long time since I haven't gotten a good blowjob and my friend here is in need of one too. Hell, bite me little man, I long for your cock sucking lips on my flesh."

"Enough. He is mine and no other. Proceed."

The smell of burnt skin and hair permeated the room. Jim cried in agony and then it was over. His wrist throbbed from the pain. Kodos actually gave him some ice for it. Jim looked at what he etched in his skin. It said J/K. The guards let him go and Jim so desperately wanted it gone but that was impossible. It was permanently seared into his skin.

The guards left dissapointed. Only Kodos and himself remained.

"Do you know why I used those initials? They fit us so perfectly. They can be interpreted as your initials or just us. The slash symbol reminds me of fiction that I read many years ago. Have you heard of slash fiction James. Quite popular in the late 20th and early 21st century. It is the pairing of two men in sexual conduct usually written by women. They seem to believe that they know what we want. Maybe they do. Perhaps they shall write something of us one day."

James stared blankly through him and held the ice to his wrist. It felt a little better but it still stinged.

"Please leave me, haven't you broken me enough?"

"Please don't feel that way. You are very special to me. You will accept this, and you will come to me."

"Never."

"Time will tell my child. Goodnight."

He watched Kodos leave, as he passed out from shock.

****
McCoy's heart broke in tiny pieces. He wanted so much to ease the sadness and pain his best friend was feeling but all he could give him were simple words. That he was there for him, that Jim was a brave human being and that he would get through this because Jim Kirk was a man who would never give up. Proof being, he continued to live his life, besides the turmoil Kodos inflicted upon him and became the youngest captain in Starfleet. He studied hard and perservered. Still the pain of what had happened to his friend stayed with him and he couldn't seem to shake the feeling.

"You know you're pretty amazing."

"Why do you say that?"

"How you managed through all this, and that it you didn't give up."

"Bones, like I said before, it's complicated. Sam and I were held captive there for ten days. He manipulated me, brainwashed me, abused me. I never felt so ashamed. The day after the branding I believe that was the 6th day he began to change. I also began to change Bones. I was getting weak and didn't have the energy anymore to fight him emotionally and physically. You know the saying 'if you can't beat them join them.' I'm afraid to say I did join him."

"You must realize that it wasn't your fault that he was breaking you. You had no control over the situation he did. It's called Stockholm Syndrome.

Stockholm syndrome can be seen as a form of traumatic bonding, where strong emotional ties that develop between two persons where one person intermittently harasses, beats, threatens, abuses, or intimidates the other."

"Yes. That's how it felt. He did have control. I remember it all too well. I remember finding a long sleeved shirt in the closet of my room. I felt so cold and I changed into it. I liked that shirt for it covered up my marking on my skin. I was about to put the shirt tail in my pants when he entered and told me not to bother because I wasn't going wear it for very long. I stopped and he came forward and began to unbutton it. He ran his hand down my chest and it felt so good. My body was beginning to betray me and no matter how I demanded it not to respond my brain just wouldn't listen. He decided that he waited long enough and we had sex. He was gentle at the beginning and then went wild towards the end scaring the shit out of me. I can only tell you Bones that when he hit my prostate gland I just...couldn't speak."

"Funny thing that prostate gland."

"After he penetrated me he cleaned me up and then he left. I was sore understandably, god my head was messed up. This thing between us continued to the 9th day of my captivity. He was always the one who came down on me. It changed on the 10th."

James Kirk waited, what was keeping him? It was late evening and he hadn't come. Where the hell was he? Jim began to pace back and forth in his room almost wearing out the carpet underneath his feet. He had literally become a sex addict wanting his next fix. Everytime he'd enter the room Jim's sex would instantly begin to rise in arousal and he hadn't even touched him. Jim couldn't stand it anymore and went to the door and tried the knob and was surprised to discover that it wasn't locked. He gladly left the room and sought out his. He located his room and didn't knock. The door opened and he was there.

"James, what are you doing here?"

"I was wondering when you were coming, you were late."

"I was detained and I wasn't sure if I should do it to you again tonight. I got carried away yesterday and I don't want to hurt you my child."

"So you were gonna come and see me like before?"

"Yes, unless your thinking something different."

"Actually I am, for today you Kodos are my slave to do as I please."