Chapter Fourteen

A Pet's Wounds

—

It had taken hours for Riki to quiet down to a soft weeping, his sobs of agony would soften only to increase in volume again in a vicious cycle. But now he was quiet, hurting and miserable. His body was screaming with agony, his mind with anger and frustration and his heart with sadness.

He felt betrayed and hurt by the punishment. Iason had struck him relentlessly for a crime he had no control over — not that anyone would believe him.

He curled up more, trying to bring comfort to himself. His wounds were still raw, as no one had attended to them yet. But that was standard procedure in Eos for pet punishment. No medical treatment would be offered until the Master ordered it in cases of punishment like this. And it was to be administered after allowing the pet to reflect on their transgressions for a minimum of two hours. Riki didn't know how long it had been, and he didn't especially care.

He was shaking now, from the cold and his body still being in shock. He craved warmth.

As if his prayers were answered, a blanket was draped over him. He flinched, staring up at the Blondie in fear. How hadn't he heard him coming? He quivered, biting back his fear.

"It's all right, pet," Iason soothed, his chest aching as he saw the fear within the dark eyes. "You're not being punished anymore." His heart surged with emotion as he saw the relief in Riki's eyes as the mongrel accepted the blanket and rested again. "I had to be harsh, Riki. I couldn't avoid it. You must know that, don't you?"

Riki refused to answer, averting his gaze. He wasn't about to talk with the man who had beaten him ruthlessly.

"I didn't have a choice, Riki," Iason sighed, turning and walking away.

Riki felt his throat tighten at the sound of the closing door. He rested his head against the cool floor, eyeing up the elegant marble until his vision clouded over with tears that began spilling from his eyes, while sobs convulsed his throat. These tears were of pain, but not from punishment but rather a broken heart. He found himself craving warmth, but not from a blanket, but of his Master who had abandoned him.

—

It was past midnight, the twin moons shinning brightly in the sky when Iason awoke. He couldn't settle for more than ten minutes at a time. His thoughts plagued with his mongrel. He wanted nothing more than to hold him tightly, lovingly stroke his hair and kiss him.

Finally, he threw the sheets back and rose. After wrapping himself in a robe and tying the sash, he headed down the hallway to the room Riki was in.

He laid his eyes upon his mongrel, his heart pierced with guilt and pity. He could see the tear stains on the tanned cheeks from when he had cried himself to sleep. Iason crouched before the mongrel, ensuring all of the bindings were undone before scooping him up into his arms.

Riki's eyes snapped open and he screamed, his eyes wide with fear as he struggled.

"Shh, love," Iason soothed, holding the mongrel close to him and kissing his neck and face repeatedly. "It's all right. You are not being punished." He could feel the mongrel's heart hammering in his chest as their bodies pressed together. "It's all right, love. I will not harm you anymore."

Riki in his dazed state finally relaxed upon hearing those words and wrapped his arms around the Blondie in a desperate wish for comfort. He needed something to take away his shattering heart and soul.

Iason closed his eyes, relishing in the mongrel's actions. "It's all right now," he repeated, sliding his fingers into the dark locks and lovingly caressing his head as he exited the room.

—

Riki slowly awoke mid way through the day, the feeling of a soft bed beneath his battered body was nothing short of bliss. He refused to open his eyes, allowing his hurting body to seek refuge in the softness that lulled him back to sleep.

His body had numbed substantially, creating a feeling as if he were floating. He was floating in the softness and relief from all of the pain. He didn't want to leave the illusion, knowing that once he was free it was back to the blue eyed monster who had thrashed the life out of him.

He nearly screamed as he felt a hand brush softly against his back, his body jolting in terror. Riki twisted painfully around to look into the eyes of the man who had so brutally hurt him — in more ways that one.

"Calm down, pet," Iason eased, moving his hand in a gentle circle across the tanned back. "I am only here to help."

"Go away," Riki pleaded.

"Not until we put the healing cream on your back," Iason denied, sparking a new fear within Riki as he held up a container of a disinfecting, accelerated healing solution. "We've left it long enough."

"No, please, no!"

"Riki," Iason admonished. "I will not have you scarred from this."

Riki lurched to the side, attempting to get away from the pending doom. Iason easily pinned him down, straddling his lower back. The mongrel cried out in agony from having the Blondie's fabric scrape against his wounds mercilessly. He writhed under Iason as the blonde seemed to carefully spread the cream into the wounds.

"Stop fighting me, pet," Iason demanded, continuing to smear the salve onto the damaged areas despite the mongrel's protests.

"It hurts!" Riki screamed.

Finally when he was finished, Riki buried his face into the sheets and wept softly again. His rage and fear towards the blonde mingled within him, brewing into a venomous concoction that dared to overflow.

"There, there," the Blondie soothed, stroking his fingers through the black locks. "It's finished now."

"Don't touch me!" Riki hissed, painfully twisting to fight off the man. "All you do...is hurt me!"

"I punish you, Riki," Iason corrected, slipping off of the young man. "Because you are disobedient. If you would just submit to me, I would never have to hurt you."

"You punished me for no reason," Riki snapped back sadly. "It wasn't my fault!"

Iason frowned at this statement. "What do you mean?"

Riki gritted his teeth, turning his body to face Iason. "I didn't attempt to kill Nori!"

"Yes, you did, pet," Iason denied. "He's in the hospital right now as proof."

"No..." Riki whispered, shaking his head and falling back to the bed. "I didn't...it wasn't..."

Iason softly caressed the midnight hair strands. "Rest, my love." He leaned in and planted a kiss on the tanned neck. "Your punishment is over and when you are well again, we will work past this." He only hoped it would be that simple.

—

Riki limped out of the room, wanting to go to the balcony for some fresh air. He needed some sunshine, a cigarette and a light breeze.

"Where are you going?" Iason demanded, entering the living space after receiving a notification that his pet was on the move.

The mongrel ground his teeth, refusing to acknowledge Iason. He continued his slow limp to the balcony.

"Pet, answer me!" Iason scolded, striding forward and grasping roughly onto him. "You are not to be out of bed!"

"Fuck off!" Riki screeched, fighting against the Blondie. "I need a cigarette!"

Iason tightened his hold, pinning Riki's arms against his body. "You most certainly do not," he denied, forcing Riki to walk with him back in the direction he came.

"You fucking...!" the mongrel protested, thrashing around feebly and weakly in the hold. He fought against Iason, kicking and cursing all the way down the hall. "God dammit!" He was let go when they entered the Master bedroom. "What is your problem?"

"You are still recovering," Iason informed him. "And you are not permitted to smoke yet."

"Then let me out on the balcony!" Riki reasoned. "I just want some fresh air."

Iason chuckled. "Do not play me for a fool, pet. I know very well the moment you're out there you will smoke."

"How?" Riki questioned, feigning misunderstanding what the Blondie was eluding to.

The Blondie stepped forward, placing his hand on Riki's chest and brushing it downward into the boy's pants. With precision he pulled up a pack of cigarettes. "Deceiving me, are we?" he purred dangerously.

Riki cringed, groaning exaggeratedly. "Come on, Iason!" he pleaded. "I'm dying..."

"You most certainly are not dying," Iason dismissed. "You are to stay in this room until your wounds are healed completely. And no physical activity is permitted." He pointed to the bed. "Go on, back into bed."

Riki released a loud, utterly exaggerated groan. "You suck, you know that?"

Iason raised an eyebrow. "You may see it that way," he answered, heading to the door. "But one day you'll understand that it was all for your benefit of speedier recovery. Rest now."

—

Riki woke up, blinking a few times and realizing he was in the Master bedroom. He looked over and saw Iason dressing, mesmerized by the movements filled with grace. "Where you going?" he croaked.

Iason turned, smiling at the sleep dazed mongrel. "To retrieve Nori," he revealed. "He is awake and recovered."

"Great," Riki snapped, sarcasm dripping from just one word.

"Riki," Iason called, sitting on the bed. "You mustn't harm Nori or any other pet again. Do you understand? If you do, Jupiter will exterminate you."

Riki snorted. "Some days I think that wouldn't be a bad thing."

Iason paused, hurt filling his chest. "Is that so," he responded, then rose. "I will return within an hour and we will all eat breakfast together."

Riki watched Iason leave, guilt pricking at his heart. Why did he say that? He wished he could take those words back, and was shocked by it. When had he started accepting Iason?

—

A/N: Sorry about the deleted chapter! I was working on another story and happened to peek at my documents and saw that I had the old copy and that was what I uploaded D: this is the right one. Sorry ;_;