Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the plot. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it.
Note: This chapter contains some very, very minor spoilers for the Ps/Changling series by Nalini Singh. Just a heads up on that.
Importance of Bonding
Narrowing his gaze to combat the glare Bane glanced in the direction of his Pet, ignoring the men around him as they packed up to continue their journey back to base. The brief look in his Pet's direction confirmed that Blake was in the process of dusting sand from his trousers, Kei standing at his side with a respectable foot or so between them while the two discussed the heat. A conversation that wasn't nearly as interesting as their previous one.
Both he and Barsad had been listening in on their conversation earlier, through the bug he'd placed on his Pet's shoulder when they'd left the vehicle. He'd been curious as to what the two would talk about, and the conversation they'd overheard had not been what he'd expected.
That the food was not up to his Pet's standards; that did not surprise him. The obvious lack of sexual interest between the two, or at least what Bane perceived to be disinterest on both parts…he noted as validation of Blake's reassurances that there was nothing between them and checked that off as one thing he didn't have to take into serious consideration in the future.
He had been caught somewhat off-guard by their discussion concerning Barsad's motives for reprimanding the boy, though Bane had seen a great deal more surprise flicker across his second's eyes at that point in the conversation before his second's usual mask of cook indifference had fallen back into place.
Currently, what interested Bane most at the moment was the boy.
Kei was almost childlike, Bane mused as he mentally went over the conversation again in his head, absently removing the ear piece he'd been using. Innocent in the way he seemed to simply say whatever he was thinking or feeling without censorship or any hint of self-preservation. And the way the two had spoken about making him aware that Kei's brain was 'wired differently' made Bane wonder if there was more to that then the boy simply being simple. Because that wasn't what he thought either had meant. It sounded like they might have meant that the young alpha's brain was different in a way that was medically recognized either due to a condition or an actual brain injury. Something that would, to a degree, excuse someone's inability to behave as they were supposed to.
From what he'd gathered Kei didn't speak more than was necessary, but thus far he appeared to have a normal vocabulary with no obvious speech impediments. Nor were there any obvious physical signs that he'd injured his skull at some point in his life. Bane was also aware that the Western World seemed eager to slap labels on children at every turn to explain their various behaviors, real or imagined, which could be the case here.
He would pay closer attention to the boy's mannerisms, Bane decided, and go from there.
Sensing Barsad movements as the beta came to stand patiently at his side, waiting for possible orders, Bane continued to look around them as he stated that he'd take the wheel for the next leg of their journey. It would give him something to do and Barsad a break.
"Understood."
Curiosity fueled Bane's next question as they walked in the direction of their vehicle. "You did not forcefully put the boy in his place when he showed you disrespect."
Over the years many had foolishly challenged Barsad, either because they were alphas who could not conceive of obeying a beta, or because they wished the power and prestige of Barsad's position as his second. And in all that time Bane could not think of a single instance where such a man had walked away without injury. If he was capable of walking at all.
"The boy meant no disrespect."
"If that is the case, how he's survived this long is a mystery to me."
Barsad nodded in agreement. "He is a puzzle. I don't believe he is unintelligent…and yet he is too old to not comprehend the situation he's in and what's expected of him."
Bane was pretty sure they were both thinking about how Kei had stated that it was possible Barsad had corrected him to help him, as opposed to being 'mean' to him.
"I will observe him closely. He will not remain a puzzle for long."
The boy had intrigued Barsad, Bane surmised, and quite a lot to have put such a determined look in his second's eyes. Which was unusual as Barsad generally showed little interest in people aside from sizing them up as prey, tool, or fellow predator. The boy had yet to do anything to fall into those categories, and wasn't likely to in the future. Kei had made no effort to gain skills or connections that would give him higher status within the League according to their sources, and had yet to reveal any valuable use any of them might have for him.
Topic dropped nothing more was said as they reached their destination, the other three passengers already in the backseats, waiting for them. Walking around to take the driver's seat Bane's eyes briefly met his Pet's, and then he was inside the vehicle and it was time to follow behind the other vehicles who had already started moving.
But even as his eyes stayed on the desert in front of him, Bane's thoughts were on his Pet and the fact that he needed to figure out very soon how to insure that both Blake and Hitashi's boy pulled their weight in the future.
)
As planned the set up team had everything ready again by the time they arrived at the designated campsite for the night. The difference was that this time, after Bane had eaten his dinner away from everyone as was his habit, he headed for his tent rather than rejoin his men. Barsad would handle any issues the men might have, and would come and get him if he was needed. For now he had another issue to deal with personally, and to do that he wanted privacy with his Pet.
When he arrived at the tent it was to find the boy guarding the entrance as before, Kei's body language and direct gaze suggesting that the boy had taken Barsad's warning from the night before to heart. Good.
Not acknowledging the boy Bane opened the tent's flap and walked in to the space lit with the lamp hanging from the ceiling, his Pet sitting cross-legged on the floor with a stick in hand. Using it as some sort of writing tool?
"What are you doing?"
Looking up Blake shrugged his shoulders a little. "Just fooling around. I didn't think you'd be back for a while." Getting to his feet Blake brushed off the sand clinging to him.
Coming over Bane studied the designs his Pet had etched into the sand, the swirls and lines aesthetically appealing, he supposed, though pointless given that the sand was already caving in in places, destroying the patterns. Such was often the fate of beauty when exposed to the harshness of this world.
"You ate?" He'd ordered food be brought to his Pet earlier.
"Yeah." The cop grimaced. "I know you weren't sure what I'd be doing as your Pet aside from sleeping with you…could I maybe cook for you? Like real food that is actually enjoyable to eat? I'll even taste test your food in front of you if you want, so you know I'm not poisoning you or something."
"What you consider food, I consider garbage that does nothing for my body but weaken it."
"Bane. I do know how to make nutritious stuff too. I don't want your body going to fat any more than you do. It would be a waste of epic proportions." Smirking, Blake moved in to stand in front of him, placing his hands against Bane's chest. "At the home I was in with Kei the older kids were always expected to help in the kitchens. Kei could help me make the food too. Salads? Stews and soups? Something that isn't so bland a Psy would have eaten it under Silence?"
"Psy?"
"From a book series by a woman named Nalini Singh. The Psy were a group of people with mental abilities like telekinesis and telepathy that decided that the best way to prevent mental instabilities and insanity in their people was to erase emotion. They conditioned themselves and their children that way, including denying themselves food that would elicit any reaction from them. They'd love your food. If they were allowed to love things. Which they were getting to start doing…only now I'll never know how it all ends." A grumble that had something to do with someone named Silver.
"If you behave in the future, and it isn't garbage, I will get you the book." It could be an interesting premise, but Bane wasn't about to let his Pet further pollute his mind with what passed for literature in this century.
"It's a series. And it got a lot better as it went along too. You and Krycheck would totally get each other. Though Talia is no Sahara, that's for sure. But that's not important. What is important is the question of food. I could even just make it for myself and Si-Kei if it comes to that. Then the only bodies we'd be screwing would be our own."
Bane didn't like the idea of his Pet cooking food for another alpha. He didn't like it one little bit. But saying so would imply things that Bane didn't want spoken, so instead he settled for stating that once they arrived at their destination, where there would be plenty of food available, he would give Blake a chance to prove his skills. The nutritional benefits of the meals would be the deciding factor though.
"Thank you."
"Why do you touch me so much?" It wasn't what he'd come here to discuss, but since the man was basically petting his chest Bane decided to pose the question before addressing the other issues they had to discuss.
"Do you not want me to touch you?"
"That's not an answer to my question." And he had no intention of acknowledging the fact that he in any way enjoyed the fact that his Pet was strangely tactile and affectionate around him. It was most likely a seduction method on the cop's part, but he was curious as to whether the man would admit that or offer him some other excuse.
"Touché. And there's…two main reasons I touch you. The biggest reason is to normalize our relationship, so to speak. I don't like feeling like a convenient hole for you to shove your dick into. Touching you, talking to you like we're just two people, it makes this whole clusterfuck easier for me, while hopefully reminding you that I'm a person too. And one that won't hurt you if you don't hurt me."
Not knowing how to respond to that, he was still processing, Bane didn't comment.
Which Blake took as encouragement to explain his other reason. "Secondly, I'm a tactile person when it comes to the men I sleep with, and I find you sexually attractive. I want you to touch me and find me appealing, so me touching you is me telling you that without actually saying it."
"You should fear me."
"Would you rather I did?" Blake resorted, his hands still on Bane's chest, the beta not backing away in the slightest.
"You would be more malleable if you feared me." Bane pointed out, just to see what his Pet would say.
"I really wouldn't be. You'd just think I was until it was too late."
Intrigued, Bane asked if he was threatening him.
"I'm being honest. You like that."
"I do?"
A thoughtful pause, and then Blake nodded.
"If you didn't, we wouldn't be able to talk as we have since the first night. You're in charge, no argument or question of that. But I think the reason you talk to me and don't slap me down for talking to you as an equal is that no one else does that. They either talked down to you as a subordinate or tell you what you want to hear because you're their leader and you hold their lives in your hands. Even Barsad probably maintains that distance, to a degree, but I'm not your leader or a minion. I'm just yours. And so I'm more interesting unbroken and mostly unafraid. Right? Or I hope I'm right because that's the best explanation I've been able to come up with as to why you haven't stopped me from running my mouth yet."
Intrigued, he hadn't thought of it quite that way, Bane considered the beta's hypothesis. Which, he decided, had some merit since it was certainly preferable to the theory that he had suddenly become so weak and common as to let himself be seduced by the base pleasures his Pet could provide him.
It was true that he had never had anyone treat him as an equal. In The Pit he'd been seen as less than an animal by those who ruled it, both topside and within it. And after his injuries getting Talia to freedom…he'd been paid no more attention and even less respect than a homeless man on the street might get in a third world country. After, when he'd been made whole and strong again, there had been those in the League who had learned to regard him a very dangerous and powerful ally. But even the ones who claimed to hold equal position with him in the League were careful with their words, careful not to get too close. His second was indeed closest to him after Talia. And even then Barsad did answer to him. Was still his subordinate.
As a Pet Blake should be the lowest of the low. Ranked last in the camp. And his. His and ONLY his. He'd never had that before.
"Your reasoning isn't flawed." Bane was willing to acknowledge.
There was definitely relief in his Pet's eyes now.
Curious to see what his Pet would do, Bane raised a hand to cup the other man's cheek, his thumb sliding over the skin there in a short caress. The skin was soft there, and smooth in a way that tempted him to touch more.
Blake didn't flinch away, the beta's lips curving a little in a smile Bane took to be encouragement.
That being the case Bane told him to retrieve the oil from the satchel near the bedding and prepare himself. He'd join him momentarily. Discussing other things could wait now that other things were on his mind.
)
Bane was very pleased to find his Pet naked and waiting for him in the bedding when he finished his last circuit of the camp for the night, Blake's ass shiny from the oil and his for the taking. His pleasure was somewhat damped though, by the question his Pet posed after Bane had removed his boots, belt, and opened up his pants so that he could take said ass while leaving his clothes on in case of attack. The question Blake posed as Bane moved into position behind him was that Bane had made it clear before that he wanted to hear him, but if Blake didn't muffle his shouts with his hand or bedding the majority of the camp was going to hear them. And was that okay with Bane?
For a moment Bane wondered why he would care, and then his alpha brain kicked in and made it clear that it didn't like the idea of anyone hearing what was his. And given his own reaction to the sounds Blake made beneath him, Bane didn't even want to think about what they would do to the men with far less control than him. And there would be times when he wouldn't be around to protect his Pet. And men would always covet what wasn't theirs to touch even knowing death would come on swift feet if they dared to trespass.
Especially since Blake was moaning right now, which made Bane aware of the fact that the fingers he'd placed on his Pet's ass had naturally gravitated to testing how open his Pet's hole was to receive him. And while he'd been thinking about what he wanted his Pet had been fucking himself on two of them. Muffling his sounds with his hand, Bane saw, but his Pet was certainly enjoying himself from the sounds that were now reaching his ears.
He rather liked watching Blake's ass take his fingers, Bane realized after a few moments spent observing the sight of his fingers disappearing into Blake's pink hole. There was a beautiful sensuality to the way his Pet's moved, really. Moving back a little more, to get a better view, Bane asked if Blake thought he could come from his fingers alone.
"Your fingers? Fuck, absolutely. God. As fucking big as the rest of you."
Slapping Blake's ass with his free hand for the swearing, Bane was reminded of why that wasn't an appropriate punishment for the swearing when Blake just moaned his appreciation, the sound echoing in the room since he'd removed his hand to answer.
'"No swearing. And no coming without my permission." Bane punctuated that last order with a hard thrust of his fingers that had Blake crying out a very garbled, barely understandable yes.
Withdrawing his fingers, which Blake did not like judging from the grumble and over the shoulder look his Pet gave him, the beta had the sense not to verbally complain. And seeing what was coming Blake quickly turned back around and covered his mouth as he put his ass in the air for Bane's taking once he finished oiling himself up as well.
And Bane took it with a great deal of pleasure from his Pet's tight little ass, though he looked forward to their arrival at his home that much more, knowing that there he'd be able to make this little bird sing as loud and long as he wished.
