He's irritated right now. Apparently, this was part of his 'training', but honestly what sort of Prince would he be if he didn't know how to do the proper things like eat at a table or even drink from a tea cup properly?

Of course, he's never had to actually 'drink' before but he learned how to from one of his former master-well mistress and that was before he shocked her too.- taught him enough to be at least 'presentable' in her company.

Old manatee. Still, he couldn't say anything, at least Alfred was chastising Wally more than him. That should be something there.

No, this wasn't his greatest issue. The real issue was thinking of what to do to get that man under his thumb. Or at least willing enough to take him to the ocean. That meant putting up with his inane requests and..

He makes a face, he couldn't simply make himself give in to him. There was something about that that simply made Kaldur want to fight him even more. Which he shouldn't do because he's trying to get on his good side. If only he wasn't always sporting that smug look on his face or even that know-it-all expression all the time. Then he would be able to put up with it.

It's just..infuriating!

"Are you done?" Alfred's voice snaps him out of his thoughts, "You've barely seem to eat. Is something the matter?"

"No, elder, the food is good." Kaldur answers looking down at the plate. It is. In fact, eating there has got to be one of the better perks of this glided cage. He's never had food like this- even in Atlantis and they had all the finest foods in the seven seas. However, he just couldn't make himself eat more, even though he wanted to.

"You should eat more." Alfred studies him for a moment, "You do not seem unwell. Perhaps a swim will do you some good."

Kaldur nods slowly, "Yes, I think that will cure it."

"Oh! I'll go!" Wally grins perking up, "Bruce had it just finished-filled with sea water."

Kaldur glances at him somewhat surprised, "Sea water?"

Wally nods getting up and walking with him, "Yup. Of course, it's clean, but you know." He shrugs, "Anyway, it'll be fun! Though you're suppose to wait thirty minutes after eating to swim."

"How queer." Kaldur said, "I have never heard of that notion before."

"How is it gay?" Wally smiles a bit, wondering if Kaldur caught on to the joke. "I don't know, something about digestion."

"Happy?" The Atlantean frowns really not understanding why he was using the words wrong, "I did not mean it was a joyous thing, I was simply saying it was ...odd-"

Wally snorts, "I know, I'm just playing with you. It's a...thing."

"You should explain yourself." Kaldur glances around once they arrived to the pool. It was rather large and he can't complain about it. Well, it's still not the ocean, but the very scent sent a pang of homesickness through him as he wanders to the edge of it.

"I'm going to change, are you coming?" Wally asks heading to the changing room.

The only sound that greets him was a splash.

He shakes his head running a hand through his hair, "Guess not." Still, watching from above, he could see it even more clearly, Kaldur really is meant to be in the water. He wonders how deep it is but moves off to change.

At the bottom of the pool, Kaldur looks up towards the top and tries to imagine the sky above it. He knows it's bright out-daylight streams into those narrow windows- and he knows that the sky is blue. He just wonders if there are any clouds. Were they white and fluffy looking? Or stretched out, barely there wisps floating across the sky? Or maybe there weren't any clouds at all?

His ears strain automatically trying to pick up sounds of other things-living things- in this watery world.

But it's quiet. No, silent. Dead silent as if he were hundreds of miles away from anything else living in the world. For a moment, he felt like he was back in his tank. Back in that place were he swims nude because they took away his clothing. Where he had to learn that shame doesn't matter to them. Pride has no meaning-being treated like something that needed no consideration-.

He swims up slowly and breaks the surface of the pool just as Wally-he looks like he's never seen the sun before- steps out and puts his feet into the water.

"Damn, that's cold." Wally mutters to himself but smiles at Kaldur, "But I bet you didn't even notice."

"I can withstand cold temperatures to a point." He answers evenly as he leans against the side of the pool. Memories swam in and out of his mind as he inhales the scent of the saltwater around him.

Smelled like home, but it wasn't. No where near it.

"Think you could teach me to swim better?" Wally asks slipping into the cool water and cursing softly at it. "I mean, I know at least how to doggy paddle."

Kaldur glances at him, giving him a long considering look before he nods, "Best to do this at the most shallow end."

"Great!"


It is not considered stalking when you own a pet and simply want to check up on it. It isn't considered invasion of privacy because the pet lives in your house, you own it and the things in it's room.

So having a camera in his room, shower, and in most of the public places of the manor-once includes his own bedroom- was not a crime at all, morally or otherwise.

Bruce simply is curious about his pet's mannerisms. He has at least two weeks to make Kaldur presentable at the Pet Party at Oliver's. He's considering on having Oliver over to introduce his pets to his own so they won't feel awkward or if there's trouble they would know not to socialize them with each other.

That plan sounded good, so he would have to schedule something like that soon.

In the meantime, Bruce watches his pet teach his son's pet how to swim. It was rather interesting to watch-really. Though he knows how Wally is. Kaldur has no idea just how devious that pet of his son could act when he really wants to.

They're still not invited back to J'onn's home after that incident between M'gann's pet and Wally.

Still, for now, he thinks he may have come up with a solution for training him without directly doing it.

He'll just have to keep Wally on a firm leash about it.


Kaldur was studying, it's been a few days since the pool and Wally had asked him the other day if he could help him learn something. It had to do with dancing.

Kaldur had, obviously, confessed he knew little to nothing of dry-landers' ways when it comes to that. When he was in the ocean that had been a different thing. Everyone could dance there and nothing would ever seem clumsy.

It brought to his mind, now, of Tula.

Even though they had been engaged since they were about five, Tula had always had a certain...feeling around her that made Kaldur always want to gravitate towards her. She had always been a good friend and an excellent dancer.

His eyes slide away from the steps in the book as he recalls other things. Things that made his longing even more profound.

Tula was the one that had taught him how he could dance. They were always the ones paired together and sometimes they simply practice just to show off at another party his Father and Mother would throw.

He sighs softly wondering what they were doing now.

"Studying hard I see." Bruce smiles slightly watching him as he enters, "But you won't learn with that."

"I can learn well on my own." Kaldur turns away from him, "I thought you would be busy with your other pets or servants."

That vaguely irks him, but he wasn't deterred by that as he places a hand on his shoulder, "Jealous? If so, I can spend most of my time with you, if you like?"

He is much too close for Kaldur's peace of mind. That night not too long ago still flashes in his mind and he feels the uncomfortable stirrings again. "Why should I deprive them of your deviant presence?"

"Still so on guard." Bruce tilts his head towards him, "This is your life now. Whatever happened before now, well, it will not happen here."

"It is only a matter of time before it does." Kaldur says that with little emotion. It was always the same. No matter. He'll see. "I suggest you do not touch me."

"How can I possibly resist that, Pet?" Daring, or simply because he was told 'not to', Bruce kisses him slowly, deepening it every few seconds until he could hear him groan again.

Kaldur is hating the fact that when he's kissed like this, he melts. A prince should not be acting this way, yet he almost can't help himself as the book falls from his hands and he leans in a bit more. He really isn't sure what he wants from him but his body seems to know very well what it wants. His body feels like it's aching to be touched by Bruce, of all people.

When the kiss ended, he still was in a haze of some kind, not really wanting to stop at all. Why had he stopped?

Seeing that smug expression snaps him out of his haze somewhat and he looks away embarrassed with himself.

"Now, lets see if I can teach you to dance properly." Without hesitation, Bruce pulls him to his feet and out a little ways from the bed.

"How can we if there is no music?" Kaldur's reluctant to be touching him any more than necessary. Especially because those feelings haven't gone away yet, but have intensified instead.

"We'll make our own music." Bruce smiles, settling a hand on his hip. "It's much better that way."

He's a bit clumsy at this, mostly because he feels so grounded rather then fluid like it had been when he danced before. He's not used to being so restricted like this. Anchored to another body and expected to follow it-trusting to guide you.

Kaldur had little choice, but to listen to Bruce's instructions. He's heard about the party- Wally can't keep anything like this to himself- so he's sure that this is the reason he's showed up here. To see if he could do something that wouldn't make a fool out of both of them.

I should. He thinks somewhat annoyed at having to follow his lead. Maybe then he will leave me be.

On the heels of that thought is the ocean. If he didn't, he would never see it again. Such thoughts go against his plan to get there again and perhaps see them once more.

"And this, is the kind of dance I doubt you'll have to learn, but just in case, lets try it." Bruce was saying, bringing his attention back to him.

Kaldur swallows slightly, they were dancing-rather swaying- very close to each other. His scent is really distracting right now. Something husky, dark.. Kaldur couldn't put his finger on it really. Unexpectedly, he could hear Bruce hum something.

That- that's really surprising. He wouldn't have thought a man like him would just randomly hum such a sad song. He glances at him, frowning still as if he couldn't quite puzzle this out.

"Do you ever smile?" Bruce asks him, keeping him quite close.

Kaldur's frown deepens, "What is there to smile about?"

"I don't know..Perhaps the fact you're alive would be a good reason."

"Are you ever serious?"

His smile widens, "Only on business. Never with pleasure."

"So I am your pleasure then?" Kaldur raises a brow, "As expected."

"What else would you be?"

The question caught him off guard and he simply stares at him before cutting his eyes away from his face, "I would not know."

Something more than this, that's for sure. Was what crossed his mind. He didn't want to be a pet. He wanted..

"You're a quick study." Bruce said when they stopped moving but he hasn't let him go yet. "What made you decide to learn this?" Even though he already knew.

"Wally said he could not dance well and wished for us to practice. I agreed." Kaldur didn't add anything more to that but inevitably, his eyes were drawn back to his face.

"You're becoming good friends with him."

Why does he do this to himself? Kaldur still refuses to believe he's willingly allowing himself to be drawn into this again. What happened to his defenses? Why wasn't he shocking Hades out of this man? Usually, it happens about now. When they pull him too close, push him too far and then they get shocked.

"Tula, I am sorry! I-"

Kaldur closes his eyes and pushes the memory away. The real reason why he ended up in this situation. Even as he slowly returns the kiss, he thinks that this - this life he's living now- is his punishment.

He did something wrong and now he's paying for it.

Bruce notices the change. Either he's coming to accept this part or something else has happened. He'll have to figure that out later, right now he'll take it for what it's worth.

It is only then did Kaldur feel it. That buzz n the back of his head that warns him of energy being ready to be used. A surge of fear snakes through him at the thought of this happening again.

He couldn't let that happen, even if he doesn't like Bruce much, he couldn't willingly stand there and let it happen-again.

Kaldur moves, pushing Bruce onto the bed with him on top , breathing hard. His hands stays on Bruce's shoulders, pinning him there as he straddles the man's waist, trying to calm himself down. It always seems to happen when he felt threaten or scared. Mostly scared.

"Kaldur?" Now he knows something is either wrong or his pet has just made a bold move. He's willing to bet on the former.

"Keep quiet." He hisses, trying to regain some type of control. "If you do not wish to be hurt, I suggest you do not move."

"What-?"

Stupid man, is the thought that snakes across Kaldur's mind as he only leans over and rests his forehead against Bruce's. "I do not want to hurt you."

"You wouldn't."

Kaldur lets out a dark chuckle before leaning up and looking down at him. Just a half buttoned up shirt that Bruce is wearing right now. Perhaps that best way to get rid of his fear, of that feeling, would be to go ahead with the plan. He'll never let him know that he couldn't control himself. That would be the worst mistake of his life if he did.

He slides his hands down Bruce's chest, then slowly unbuttons the shirt the rest of the way. "You would think so."

Bruce's brows rose as his frown deepens, "I'm not playing games with you, pet."

"But I am playing with you." Kaldur gives him a sly smile, pulling his shirt up, "After all, you said it yourself, Bruce. I am here for pleasure."

Before the man could even object, Kaldur leans over, running his tongue up Bruce's chest, flicking it over one of his nipples until it became pert and trapped between his lips drawing a sound from him. It was surprising to watch the former rather reluctant prince do this. Bruce had thought it would take him weeks-hell months even- to get him to do this willingly.

Yet here he was, grinding his hips against him almost wantonly, licking and sucking his way all over Bruce's torso, igniting lust within him as he watches this display.

Something, he knows, is not right with this. What was he-?

Bruce's mind came to a stuttering halt for a moment when he felt a web hand snake down his pants and released the semi-hard on he had that was becoming harder which each passing moment.

So it does work. Kaldur thought, feeling the harden length in his webbed hands. I guess watching them has paid off. He may have been untouched in body but the things he's seen...Well, they seem to come in handy now. Though he was nervous. What if he doesn't do this right?

"What is with you?" Bruce has had about enough of this.

Kaldur slides down along his body to the floor, kneeling between the older man's legs, "What? I thought you wanted me to be like this?" His throat felt a little dry, but he leans over and gives Bruce's cock one long lick up. His eyes closing half way as he does so. "Is it not? I am here for your pleasure."

Even with the stirrings of lust at the sight of Kaldur's face so close, Bruce is not buying this. However, he thinks as the teen continues on, if he wants to play this game-let him. See how brave he is. How far he'll take it before that stubborn pride comes back.

"Is that all you've got?" Bruce grunts a few moments later watching Kaldur lick his lips to get rid of the last remnant of what he's done. "You need more practice."

There it is, Bruce tries not to smile at the spark of anger he saw lurking in those usually calm eyes. Must've hit a nerve.

"Your technique is sub-par." He continues, "I've had better." He moves to get up. This would be fun. Funny how a plan can turn out to be like this. "If you really want to please me, you'll have to step your game up."

Kaldur only glares at him mutely, thinking that he should've just let that smug ass get a shock of his life. He just saved him from something and-

"Continue with your lessons." Bruce causally runs a hand through his hair, mussing it up more, "Oliver's pets will be here in a few days just to meet you. I would rather not have you embarrass yourself or me at this meeting. Maybe you'll learn something."

With that, Bruce left the room and the glowering Atlantean heading down the hallway until he reaches his own room.

Once there, he didn't need to pretend that what happened didn't effect him. It did more than that.

A hell of a lot more.

Stripping down to ease this tension, he wonders exactly what Kaldur will do next.