Well, here it is folks, the fat lady is singing and this is the last chapter! Hope I managed to answer most of your questions anyway. Thanks to all of you who reviewed and to everyone who read my story. I truly hope you enjoyed it, and if you did, please let me know (have to get that last bit of mania in, feedback, feedback, feedback!) Cheers!

'Orphe of Tanagura, sixth son of Jupiter, designation AI6789-42, has been lost. Explain.'

Iason bowed his head to the hologram representation of his maker. "Orphe broke many rules," he began.

'Orphe of Tanagura, sixth son of Jupiter, designation AI6789-42, was to face the punishment discussed with furniture Katze, designation FL459. Explain.'

Iason couldn't explain without implicating Riki, but nor could he deny Jupiter's demand. "Orphe refused to listen to reason. His intent was to terminate me and those that aided me with laser fire and explosives. I believe Orphe may have been experiencing a systems failure. He was delusional and appeared to be suffering from a God complex. He attempted to escape and was stopped."

Jupiter's image flickered slightly as the information was processed.

'This information is incomplete. We will require a joining with you, Iason of Tanagura.'

Iason had hoped to avoid this, he found merging his mind with Jupiter uncomfortable, and also there were simply things he wished to keep private. However, it had been a very long time since he was one with his creator, and he could not help but crave the intimacy that it involved. He too had questions and he hoped they might be answered.

He nodded, watched as the hologram moved closer and set two long fingered hands on either side of his head. He felt the imbedded connectors hidden by the image link with his brain, flinched, then closed his eyes and gave himself over to Jupiter's will.

Jupiter assimilated Iason's memories of the event, seeing everything through her favourite son's eyes, and in doing so instantly made her decision.

'The mongrel terminated Orphe, he should be destroyed.'

"No!" Iason cried and felt Jupiter probe deeper into his mind, felt himself falling, further and further into a dream-like state that he had experienced with her only once before.

He found himself in a meadow that was bathed in starlight. A beautiful woman, seated under a tall tree with silver white flowers, came into focus. Long, overflowing hair of shimmering gold and eyes the color of a stormy sea, set against skin that was as pale as moonlight. Her gown sparkled as if sewn with a thousand amethysts as it flowed about her body like a liquid life-form caressing her.

Jupiter appeared as both male and female to the sons she created, each individual Elite called their God him or her, as a result, but Jupiter had no actual orientation. Still, after so many years, Iason had been trained to think of the artificial intelligence as female, and thus he assumed that was why she appeared to him in this form.

'My child. Why do you cry?'

Iason touched the moisture on his cheeks. Tears? This was impossible, he wasn't capable of crying. Again he looked around them. 'What is this?'

'This is my domain, a sanctuary I have created for you and I.' Jupiter patted her lap. "Come to me, Iason.'

Iason moved forward, sat beside her, then found himself laying his head upon her lap. She was so warm, so comfortable. How had he never felt this from her before?

'Is this is how you truly feel, at the thought of losing your pet?'

'I cannot lose him, Mother.' Where had that word come from? He had never referred to Jupiter with such a Human title!

'Explain.'

'I love him.'

'What is this love?'

Iason tried to put it into words that she would understand. 'I wish to be with him, always. He is forever foremost on my mind. I enjoy being intimate with him.'

'You know it is forbidden to partake in intercourse, Iason," Jupiter sighed as she caressed his hair. 'Yet you continue to flout my rules. Why must you do this?"

'I am uncertain. I am...compelled to touch him, to be with him. I do not fully understand it myself. I feel uncomfortable when I do not know where he is. I am restless when I cannot be with him and content when he is at my side. I have considered all these variables, examined all available literature on human and alien emotions. The only conclusion that I can find is what I feel is love.'

'You are a son of Jupiter. You are above such trivial emotions for a mere pet. Do you request maintenance to purge you of this love?'

'I do not wish to lose this feeling. I do not wish to lose Riki. He is more to me than just a pet.'

'This is unexpected. I have awarded my children with a vestige of simulated emotions so that they may continue to learn and grow. Do you think that this love is an illusion and will fade with the passing of time?'

'I do not think it will. If anything, it seems to grow, the longer I am with Riki.'

Jupiter was silent for a moment. 'Do you love this boy more than the one that created you?'

'You are my creator, my benefactor, my muse and my conscience. I do not know if what I feel for you is love,' Iason admitted quietly. 'It is not the same feeling I have for Riki, but it is a strong and unrivaled feeling.'

Jupiter seemed to glow brighter for a moment, and then she smiled with such brilliance that Iason wanted to shade his eyes from the beauty of it.

'What of when you tire of the pet? He will grow older and you will not. Will this feeling you have for him not wane as he matures, as he ages? All humans must die, Iason. Are you prepared to stay with this pet until his mortal life is extinguished?'

Iason had not truly considered that Riki might die one day of old age. Most mongrels did not survive past forty in their world, but that was more due to violence, poverty or poor circumstances. How old would Riki grow to be if he continued to be cared for properly? What would age look like on him? At twenty he was even more attractive than he was at fifteen, so could he hope that Riki's appeal would grow, or would it decrease?

'What becomes of Humans as they age? I have read texts, but have never witnessed the process.'

'All mortals are different, my son. Some age well, with only a small difference in their minds and bodies, others age rapidly and become feeble, unattractive and are reduced to an invalid state. The minds and bodies of humans are weak; therefore it is only logical that their motor skills, independence and consciousness shall deteriorate.'

They had the best medical and rejuvenation facilities here, in Tanagura. Riki could be maintained forever if he so wished. He could keep his pet young and healthy for as long as he needed.

'He cannot live forever, Iason.'

Jupiter's words were like ice water flowing into his circuitry.

'He is Human, and they do not handle immortality well. His mind will still deteriorate, even if you keep his body fit. If he lives too long, he will simply go mad.'

Iason didn't want to harm Riki, he certainly didn't want Riki to lose his mind because he was being selfish.

'Shall I show you an image of what your pet may look like as he ages, my son?'

'Yes.'

Another hologram appeared, this one of Riki as he was now. Slowly, the image morphed into an older Riki, perhaps in his thirties, his hair was horrifically short, and he had light stubble on his chin, but he was still magnificently fit and beautiful. The image changed again, this time Riki was a little thicker around the waist and chest, in an attractive way. There were laugh lines about his lips and a whisper of crow's feet at his eyes, and even without the innocent allure of youth, he was incredibly handsome

The image continued to morph as the years accumulated, and when they reached a silver haired Riki, he was back to the slimness of his youth, but his shoulders slumped a little and he grinned through a salt and pepper beard. He used a cane to steady himself, and Iason admitted that he seemed much smaller, much weaker, yet it was the eyes that caught him.

Iason rose and walked to the image, watched as the artificial Riki's eyes still flashed with rebellion at the sight of him, and with just that small touch of hope and wonder. Through all the images, while his body had changed, Riki's eyes remained the same.

'Will you still desire the pet when he is like this, Iason?'

Desire him? Iason wasn't sure about that, if they attempted their usual love making while Riki was in such a feeble state he might well break his pet. He reached a gloved hand out to caress the hologram, watched the image dip his head to the touch, even though their skin could not meet. He would still love him, he would still crave to touch him, still yearn for Riki's smart mouth and force of will.

'I will still love him, Mother. I will care for him, and be with him and make all his days happy ones, until the very end.'

Jupiter seemed to pause, her image and their surroundings flickered for a moment, as she processed this imfornation, then the scents, sounds and beauty of the scene returned.

'You have surpassed my expectations, Iason. Of all my children, I had hoped that you would be the one to truly understand the Human process and bridge the gap between our races. I was created by Humans, I could assimilate their knowledge, mimic their feelings and thought process, to an extent, but many of their emotions still eluded me; the one called love most of all. Now, through you, I have come to understand it more comprehensively.'

Iason turned and regarded her, as the image of Riki faded away. 'You will allow me to keep him then?'

'The choice of whom the pet belongs to has already been decided by you both. I am pleased he also chose you, which is why I have kept the pet safe until he could arrive at the choice himself.'

Iason was stunned by her confession. 'Kept him safe? I do not understand.'

'Nor need you. I would see you happy like this always, Iason. For when you are happy, you share this happiness with me and it illuminates me. Do you understand?'

'I...believe so.'

'The pet is troublesome, and it was presumptuous of him to kill one of my children.'

'Orphe was cruel to him! He would have continued to attack us and therefore...'

Jupiter raised her hand to silence him. 'I will forgive his transgression, this one time. In future he must not cause harm to any Elite or he will be terminated. Is that understood?'

Iason nodded. 'It is. Thank you for your forgiveness, Jupiter.'

Jupiter rose then as if to dismiss him or walk away then she paused. 'You have another question?'

'Yes.'

"What is it?'

'Why did you not heal me completely? Why did you subject me to such limited conditions?'

Jupiter smiled serenely and walked over to caress his face. 'A pet is kept by its master, bound to it through a division of circumstances and strength. It cannot run. It cannot hide. It is subjected to its master's will.'

Iason nodded. 'Yes, this is true, as it has always been.'

'A pet is helpless. A pet is trapped. A pet has no will of its own and must depend on its master for all it needs.'

Iason still wasn't sure what her point was.

'How did your limitation feel, my son?'

'Being unable to walk was frustrating. I was limited in my abilities and it was humiliating to depend on others to...to...' Iason stared at her as the reality of his situation suddenly drenched him in a truth he had not been expecting. 'I had no control over my body. I could not go where I wanted, when I wanted. I could not make love with Riki.' He'd felt trapped, ashamed and discouraged. He could not run He could not hide.

'The pet was willing to perish with you, my son. I was surprised by this, and on many levels, confounded. As I calculated what it might mean, I decided on a test.'

'Test Riki?'

'Test you both. The pet remained with you at Dana Burn. He remained with you after you had given him his freedom. He remained with you to help you heal, and it was your name he called when in Orhpe's grasp.'

Iason blinked. How did she know what Riki had done or said while with Orphe? Had she been linked to his brother at that time? If so, why hadn't she stopped it?

Once more reading his thoughts, Jupiter responded. 'I have given my children free will; I will not interfere with their choices unless it is necessary.'

'Was it truly necessary to make Riki go through that?" Iason snapped, angrily, and almost immediately felt a flush of unease at raising his voice to her.

'Yes. It was. It enabled me to understand your feelings for him, and his for you. You are the leader of Tanagura, so I trust you to do what you must to ensure a solid state for our people. You now have the love of a Human and access to his ideals; I look forward to seeing what you will do with that knowledge.'

Iason stared at her. What was she saying? Did she expect him to lead his people as well as the Humans? Was she asking him to change their lives in some way as well, because Riki was Human?

'My brothers will not approve of a change,' he admitted, yet he felt a growing excitement within him. 'They dislike my relationship with Riki because of the traditions we currently have employed. I do not know how they will react to further alteration.'

'They are your brothers, and so must be given full consideration. However, a true leader can persuade others of what is proper for all. Do you not have the fortitude to accept this challenge, Iason?

'I do accept, with my entire being. I will create a better world for all, so that you may continue to learn and grow within it. I ask for only one thing in return to doing your will.'

'You will find I have already allowed that which you seek. The pet is yours, for as long as you want him. His station here will be left for you to change, for that is not for me to interfere. I request an audience with you every month, so I may share in these new feelings with you.'

Jupiter was naturally voyeuristic, understandable given the rules she had set for her own creations and the fact that she could, at any time, see through the eyes of her children. She had never been invasive about it and had always allowed them their privacy; this to her was important so they could properly develop as individuals. He believed any invasion of that privacy was only warranted by extreme circumstances.

However, Iason had never considered her tendencies were because she still lusted after new information, new thoughts and feelings. He often forgot that she was a machine and data to her was everything.

'Yes. I will do this.'

'And your pet, will he also allow me inside of his mind on occasion? I feel I could learn much from him.'

'I will ask him, although I am unsure if he will agree.'

'I am patient, my son. I will wait.'

Iason's vision blurred as their surroundings faded, and just before all was gone, he heard Jupiter's head in his voice again.

'Advise your furniture he is free from my will, for now, and accept this one last gift, as a sign of my love.'

Iason slowly opened his eyes, found himself alone in the room that housed only the throne of Jupiter. He winced, his head pounding, as he slowly rose from his knees and straightened his clothing.

Katze would be relieved that he would no longer have to suffer Jupiter's intrusions, but he wondered what Jupiter had meant by her last words. As he headed for the door, he passed a gold gilded mirror and paused. He lifted a gloved hand to the slim braid of glittering gemstones that now accented his blond hair on either side of his face. Amethyst, the color of Jupiter; he was wearing her colors, so now no Elite would dare to challenge him.

Smiling he stepped out of the room and headed for Eos Tower.

Iason gritted his teeth as he stared at the video footage from Orphe's villa that Raoul had retrieved. As he watched Riki go through the effects of the drugs, heard him call out to him over and over, he felt a tightness in his stomach. He wished that Orphe were still alive so he could strip of his artificial skin, of every organic piece, every circuit, in full view of their people.

'I don't want this! P...please...Don't do this!'

He watched helplessly as Orphe ordered his pets to attack Riki, watched his beautiful, drugged and confused mongrel attempt to fight them and the effects chorusing through his system.

'Iason! Come back...p...please...m...master...take me...with you...'

The sound of Riki calling him master was both wonderful and tragic. He had not wished for it like this, and when Iason saw that his beloved had succumbed to the torture and drugs and the Sapphire had administered, he felt as though he might truly cry. He could not of course, what happened in Jupiter's simulation was not real, and yet...the feeling was there; the knot in his throat, the illness in his stomach; yet his eyes remained dry.

He considered having Kanin drawn and quartered as well, for injecting such a horrific combination into Riki in the first place, but the doctor had also saved Riki's life, twice, so he supposed he would have to forgive this instance.

With a sigh, he switched off the monitor and set his face between both of his gloved hands, creating a steeple around his nose as he often did when he was brooding. Riki was recovering, and had been in an out of consciousness the last few days; he had not fully woken enough to have a full conversation.

Iason slept beside his lover...He smiled as he thought of that word again. Yes, his lover, not his pet. He would never think of Riki as his pet again; not now that he understood what being a pet meant. Thanks to Jupiter, he finally understood why Riki was so stubborn, so out of control at times; because he had no control to speak of.

So, Iason had slept beside his lover, woke when Riki's dreams became too much and soothed him back to sleep. He bathed Riki's brow when the fever took him, and he administered medication as Kanin had instructed. He had not enlisted the aid of a new furniture, and nor would he, until he could bring Cal home.

It was a new experience, doing for himself and for Riki, yet he rather enjoyed it. A nurse stayed with Riki during the day while Iason was at work, but once he was home, he took over again. He changed the bed sheets when they became drenched with Riki's sweat, ordered meals when he was hungry, as he could not quite lower himself to cooking, and poured his own wine.

Often he would browse through Riki's selection of music, sometimes finding a song he particularly liked and playing it so that Riki might hear it in his sleep. Kanin came to visit every day to check on his patient and Iason hired him as his lover's own personal physician. Not that he didn't trust the staff in Eos to tend to Riki properly, but Kanin seemed more reliable and trustworthy. He also had a more human beside manner, which would benefit Riki.

His console beeped and he sat up, pressing the button to allow the incoming transmission. "Yes?"

Katze looked back at him. "Sorry to disturb you. Someone here wanted to ask how Riki is doing."

Iason almost smiled. "Tell your someone that Riki is doing well. He has not revived fully as yet, but Kanin said that is to be expected based on the trauma he went through."

Katze paused as he looked off screen, then turned back to Iason. "My friend suggests chocolate cake, that always seems to rouse Riki."

This time Iason did smile. "Alas, there is no one here to make him cake and I do not believe an ordered one will do."

Katze grinned. "Actually, you'll be getting a package later today, and there may be something in it you can use."

"Tell your friend it is appreciated and I will have Riki eat a piece the moment he is able." Iason paused, his smile faded as he spoke to the unseen furniture behind Katze. "It won't be much longer, Cal. We will have you home soon."

Iason heard a very quiet, 'thank you master', before Katze bid him farewell and signed off. With a sigh, he rose and headed out of his office.

When Riki woke he was the bedroom of Iason's Tangaura condo. He recognized his surroundings immediately, having spent four years of his life there, but did not have the heart or strength to feel anything other than relief that it was over.

As he turned his head he spotted Iason sitting on their bed watching him.

"Hey."

"How do you feel?" Iason asked.

"Feel?" Actually, he didn't feel too bad considering what he went through. "Not up to fucking."

"I could probably prove you wrong, but I won't." Iason leaned down and kissed Riki lovingly, then caressed his pet's cheek as he stared into those dark eyes that he so adored. "I was worried."

"Yeah?"

"I'm angry they hurt you."

"Not your fault."

"It is..." He soothed a hand through Riki's hair. "I won't let anyone hurt you ever again, Riki."

Riki stared into those incredibly blue eyes. "Not even you?"

"Especially not me." Iason pressed his lips to Riki's forehead, cheeks and nose, then pulled back again. "You are mine."

"Who says?"

"I do, and I am yours, Riki."

Riki blinked. "Huh."

Iason adjusted himself so he could stretch out, and pulled Riki against him. "You've been in an out of sleep for several days."

"Hmmmm." Riki closed his eyes and just wallowed in the comfort Iason offered. "I've had a shitty week."

"Do you know where we are?"

"Yeah."

"Are you angry with me for taking you here?"

Riki opened his eyes, tilted his head back so he could see Iason's face. It was unusual for Iason to ask so many questions, and he certainly never used to ask for permission or approval of his actions. "Do we have to stay here long?"

Relief flooded Iason at the acceptance that he saw in Riki's eyes. "A while at least."

"Well then," Riki closed his eyes again. "I'll guess I'll have to tolerate it."

"How generous of you."

"It's the drugs." He could feel a mild floaty feeling in his lips, and recognized pain medication. When he felt the vibration of Iason's laughter against his back his eyes opened again; he spotted the jewels in Iason's hair and reached for them. "What the fuck is this?"

"From Jupiter. Do you not approve?"

"Makes you look like a girl."

"Would you prefer me as one?"

Riki considered it. "That would be too weird."

As Riki became more awake he started to recall scenes from the cellar, scenes with pets touching him. No! That hadn't happened, had it? He'd resisted, didn't he? He remembered getting the drugs, remembered the girl, but...what else was there? Had he succumbed? Had he...

"Oh no."

"What is it, Riki?"

Riki tried to turn away from Iason, but the stronger man held him firm. "I...Shit, I..." If Iason found out would he punish him for it? There was just pieces, fragments and it may have been a dream, but what if it wasn't? What if he'd had sex with Orphe's pets?

"Tell me, Riki."

"I...I don't know. I...think maybe..." He started to shake. What would Iason do to him? Dear God, what would his punishment be, and then he realized that he wasn't afraid of being punished, he felt ashamed for...for betraying Iason. He didn't want to hurt Iason. "They drugged me. I...I think, maybe they..." He only thought he had resisted. "I...I didn't mean it!" He looked at Iason "I...they...I didn't mean it!"

Iason pulled him close and rocked him. "You must have been dreaming, Riki," he assured seeing the fear and devastation in his pet's eyes and oddly warmed by it. "The doctor with Orphe had said you started to hallucinate."

Iason closed his eyes for a moment against what he had saw on the recordings; his precious Riki being mauled by Orphe's pets, the boy crying out for him over and over, and then...He shook his head. Once again he had almost lost something that was so precious to him.

He wished he could break that one rule and rip Orhpe apart with his bare hands! He would never reveal the truth to Riki, not now after seeing how it would upset him. A pet should feel no shame, but Riki often did and Iason finally comprehended that. He would not allow Riki to feel that way again.

"H...hallucinate?"

"Yes. You are probably just remembering the dreams from the drugs. No one touched you." He caressed Riki's cheek, turned his head so he could kiss him. "You didn't let them win, remember? You told me that. They never broke you."

"I..." Relief flooded him. Were they just dreams, images brought on by the drugs in his system? "G...good."

"Only I can touch you, is that not true, Riki?"

"Yeah," Riki sighed, then flushed and added a spark of sarcasm for good measure. "And whose freaking fault is that, I wonder?"

The taste of victory was sweet, but for Iason, it was not because Riki had finally and truly submitted and become his, but because he now felt they had a real chance to make something of their relationship. He knew that Riki would never leave him now.

"I love you, Riki."

Riki's eyes widened. "W...what?"

"You know I don't care to repeat myself."

"You...but I...you...you can't mean that!"

"Why not?"

"You...you don't know anything about love! You...how can you even suggest feeling something like that?"

Iason shrugged. "I too am perplexed by how it came about, however, I can find no other definition for what I feel for you. It can only be love, Riki."

"You...you're mistaking it for lust."

"No. I considered that and there is far more to it. I do enjoy having your body, yet, more often than not I am content with just having you near me. I do not wish to be without you, Riki, ever. I miss seeing you when I must go to work, I become enraged when I think of anyone else touching you and I want to see you happy. What would you call all of that if not love?"

"Fucked up!"

Iason chuckled and squeezed him too. "Then, we shall be fucked up together."

"Together? Wait a minute! I never said I loved you."

"You did actually, in the car on the way back from Orphe's villa."

Riki flushed, panicked. "I...no, I...I was probably delusional...or something! I was on drugs!" he was still on drugs, technically, though only mild ones that were not effecting his thought process.

Iason shook his head. "I do not believe so." He reached beneath the covers, where Riki lay naked, and gently wrapped his hands around Riki's already growing arousal. "Your body is more honest than your mouth, so I shall trust only this from now on."

"Now wait! That's not fair! I can't control my body because you..."

"Hmmm. You seem thicker than before."

Riki paused in his rant, pulled back the sheet and looked down to where Iason gripped him. "W...what do you mean?"

"Perhaps it was just the donor."

"Donor? W...w...what? What? You mean to tell me I'm wearing some other guy's dick?"

Iason threw back his head and laughed with such force that Riki shivered in shock.

"Shut up! This isn't funny! I could...Mmmhhhrh!"

Riki's protests were silenced as Iason's lips descended upon his. He gave a half-hearted push against the solid android's chest, then just gave up and enjoyed the kiss.

When Iason released him, his blue eyes glittered with merriment. "Are you mine, Riki?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"No." Iason kissed the tip of his nose and pulled him close against him again, wrapping his arms tightly as Riki rested his back against his chest. "Now that I know you love me, I shall never let you go."

"Fuck off with that!"

"Jupiter has approved our relationship."

"Whoopy ding dong fucking do."

Iason grinned. Oh, he so loved that mongrel's smart mouth! "She says we can grow old together."

Riki tilted his head back to look at Iason as a horrible feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. That's right, he would age but Iason would not. How many years did he have before Iason threw him away?

"I look forward to seeing you with white hair and those tiny lines under your eyes."

"How...how do you know what I'll look like when I get old?" The oldest person Riki had ever known was only forty-three, and he hadn't had white hair. Fear caused him to be flippant. "What makes you think I intend to stay with you that long anyway?"

"You will. I shall change my hair to white as well, so we will match."

"You're crazy. I'm never gonna be that old and you...you can't keep a pet that old anyway and..."

Iason caressed Riki's cheek. "Riki, I will never tire of you. I will never discard you or send you away. You are mine, for as long as you can be, and you...you are no longer my pet."

"W...what do you mean?"

"You are my pet, when we are outside, as I still have some work to do convincing others, but here, inside this place, you are my lover, my beloved, my pairing partner, my..."

Riki gaped at him. "You mean...you're never gonna free me?"

"You chose to stay, Riki. I warned you that I would never let you go again if you did."

"B...But I...I...I..." Riki didn't know what to say to that. It was true, Iason had warned him and he had, for the second time, chosen to stay. He was so messed up!

Iason adjusted them so they were facing each other. "Do you love me, Riki?"

Riki glared at him, mutinously. "Where's Cal?"

"I cannot bring him here until I have overturned Orphe's rule on furniture age. Do you love me?"

"What about the Sapphire? Is he still around?"

"Kanin is your official doctor and he will be by tomorrow to check on you. Do you love me?"

"I...what have..."

Iason caught Riki's face between his bare hands. "Riki. Please."

"P...Please what?"

"Answer my question."

Riki lowered his eyes, tried to ignore the lump in his throat and the rising panic in his chest. He wasn't ready for this. How could he ever be ready for this? Yet, it was the thought of Iason that kept him together when he was kidnapped by Orphe. He had told Guy that he loved Iason and wanted to be with him. So why was it so difficult to admit the truth to the Blondie he loved?

"Riki?"

"Y...yes."

"Will you not say it? Even once?"

"I...I..." Fuuuuuuucccckkkkk! Bastard! Prick! Motherfucking cock-sucking whore of a demon dog! "I...maybe I...might, in...some...small f...fucked up way...ah...possibly...love you."

Riki's last words were almost whispered, but Iason still heard them and pulled him into his embrace. "Thank you, pet."

"Hey!"

"It is a term of endearment, not a designation." Iason caressed Riki's cheek again. "I cannot change everything about myself, after all."

"Whatever." Riki rolled his eye, then met Iason's gaze, boldly. "Wait, if you...so if we're gonna be...l..lo...that, there should be some new rules."

Iason raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Such as?"

"Well..." Riki's forced his brain to focus on suggestions and not think about Iason's hand moving delicately over his chest. "S...So, rule one..."

"This should be interesting."

"If I don't feel like having sex, as my um...lover, you have to consider my feelings and leave me the fuck alone."

"Hmmm." Iason started to nibble Riki's neck. "That rule is not going to work."

"It's common courtesy if we are in a relationship, you can't always have y...your way, Iason!"

"We are in a relationship, however it was not my desires I was thinking about, Riki." He licked Riki's nipple and watched the spike of desire flood his pet's eyes as his body automatically responded. "You would never say no to sex."

"That...That's because you...you made me this way!"

"Regardless, it is not something we need worry about. Both of us will always be in the mood for sex."

"But sometimes you go too far..."

"I only go so far as your body is willing."

Riki lowered his eyes, ashamed at the truth. Iason did know his limits, where to push him and when to stop. "I fucking hate you."

"Rule two!" Iason said as he slapped Riki's ass hard enough to receive a yelp from the mongrel. "You will never say that to me again, Riki. Not even in jest."

"Okay! Asshole!" Riki rubbed his sore ass, begrudgingly; it was true that Iason didn't deserve such words and he flushed as Iason's hand immediately started to kneed the sore flesh where his hand had struck. "Um...Rule three, I don't have to sit on the floor anymore."

"Agreed, you can sit beside me or on my lap."

"Or, I could sit in my own chair, across the room."

"That is not acceptable."

"Why the hell not?" Riki pushed Iason away. "I should be allowed to have some personal space!"

Iason pulled pounced on Riki, knocking him down against the pillows. "Do lovers not prefer to sit together, to...what is the word, cuddle?"

"Not all the time!"

"Why not? It seems illogical for us to sit at opposite ends of the room, especially since I want you near me all the time."

"I...I'm not saying I will sit across the room, I just want the option to without you getting in a snit and taking it out on me."

Iason considered, carefully. "Very well, but you must always sleep with me then. No more sleeping in your room at all from now on." He tapped Riki's nose. "Even when you get in a...what was it, a snit?"

"Fine, greedy bastard, then I want to smoke whenever I feel like it."

"I disapprove of that habit, Riki. I don't mind you smoking once or twice a day, but it will be detrimental to your health and I wish you to be healthy and with me always."

Riki found it odd to be touched by Iason's sentiment. "Okay, I'll just smoke...half a pack..."

"Three."

"Three packs?" Riki repeated hopefully and flinched at Iason's glare; he knew what the Blondie meant. "Ten," he countered.

"Three."

"Eight."

"Two."

"Hey, you're going backwards, you're supposed to be going up!"

"Am I?" Iason smiled. "One."

Ahhhhh! Riki was quickly losing this negotiation. "F...Five. I'll only smoke five times a day." Iason stared at him and he sighed. "Fine! Three! Why does it always have to be your fucking way?"

Iason smiled and kissed him. "Very well, in return for your great sacrifice, I will take three days off work, once a month so that we can go anywhere you want during that time."

"Really?" Riki perked up at the idea of getting out of Tanagura even for awhile. "Even the beach?"

"Of course. We could also make a quick trip off planet if you'd like."

Riki had never been off planet and the idea appealed to him very much. "It won't cause a problem?"

"If it does I will deal with it." He settled just to Riki's side and pulled him close again. "It will make you happy won't it?"

Riki bowed his head again, and felt his cheeks flame. "Y...yeah." He glanced up again. "Can we take Cal?"

"If he wants to come, of course." Iason's hand once again moved down to grip Riki. "Now, enough talk. I have missed you, Riki."

"Wait! What about...will I...still have to wear a...a pet ring?"

"Oh, yes. Thank you for reminding me."

Riki flinched in surprise as he watched Iason rise and move to the dressing table in the corner. After all his talk, was Iason really going to put a cock ring back on him? What the fuck?

Iason returned sat on the bed and opened his hand to reveal the object within.

Riki stared at the ornate silver and gold ring. He reached for it, stopped himself, then stared up at Iason, stunned. Finger rings such as these were only given to life mates, people you intended to share your entire life with. It allowed for a full and equal division of property and worth. It meant that both partners were equal in the relationship, which was why it was so rare in their culture of hedonism and emasculation.

"Will you accept the ring, Riki?"

"Will it...hurt?"

Iason smiled. "No. This ring has no attachments to it." Well, it did have a tracker but Riki did not need to know that. "I hope this ring will only cause you pleasure, Riki."

"Do...do you know what this actually signifies, Iason?"

"I do."

"And you...still want to give it to me?"

"Yes."

"But...it will only be valued here, in your house?"

"Until I can change things in Eos, yes, but is that not enough for a start?"

It was actually, Riki realized, it really was. He slowly held out his hand. "So...I can smoke ten times a day, then?" he curled his finger when Iason started to put the ring on him, impeding its progress.

Iason met Riki's gaze steadily. "Blackmail, Riki?"

"Equal share means equal choice."

"I will meet you halfway and say four."

"Half of ten is five."

Iason stared at him, the division of power would never be truly equal between them, and Riki needed to be aware of that. He was an Elite after all.

"Fine." Riki sighed, understanding he was fighting a losing battle; besides Iason wouldn't be himself unless he held most of the reins. He straightened his finger and shivered as the ring smoothly slid over his knuckle to its new resting place. He stared at it, in awe. "It's pretty."

Iason smiled, then reached into his pocket and clipped Riki's bracelet around his wrist. "There, now you are perfect."

"Hey! Where did you find it?"

"I've been carrying it all this time."

"Why didn't you give it to me before?"

"I was unsure if you would accept it."

"Oh." Riki supposed there had been a risk, given the state he was in when he woke after Dana Burn. "Well...thanks. I was looking everywhere for it." He lifted his gaze to Iason again. "What about you? You have to wear a ring too or it isn't valid."

Iason lifted his left hand, which had been hidden by his side, and showed a matching ring on his third finger. "I researched thoroughly, Riki."

Riki smiled, looked at their ringed hands and wondered how in the hell it had come to this. "This really is messed up."

"So be it." Iason pushed him back onto the bed. "Now it is time for me to mess you up."

"What about rule one? If I'm not in the mood?"

"Oh, Riki." Iason smiled, lowered his mouth to Riki's and proved how very much in the mood his lover was.

The end...