It was then that I realized we had an audience, and remembered that master was still in the room with us. I turned my head cautiously and found him sitting on the bed patiently a few inches away. He did not seem angry as he watched us, like many masters would. Other masters feared letting their slaves bond, thinking they would mutiny, as some had. Masters strove to create competition between their slaves, to keep the slaves from trusting each other, and to force them to work harder. It was hard on the slaves, but benefitted the master all around. This master, however, looked almost pleased that we had come to share a bond as we did.

"Come to me?" master said softly, a questioning lilt to his voice, allowing for refusal. Heero and I both moved at the same time, gracefully untangling from each other as we moved to where master sat. It was the first time, I realized as I pressed myself against his left side, that I wasn't sure if I moved because my master had said to, or because I wanted to. True, I was still uncertain of my master, but now more than ever I craved the feeling of protection he gave when we touched. As Heero curled against his right side, I could tell he felt the need as I did and cherished it just as much.

I watched as master leaned to his right and could tell that he was kissing Heero even though I couldn't actually see it. When they parted and I could see Heero once again, there were no traces of disgust from the kiss. Instead, Heero had the ghost of a smile on his face as he leaned in to rub his cheek against master's chest. It was only then that I noticed they were both dressed for the dinner, with Heero in an angel costume and master in a loose, flowing white suit that allowed him to look as ethereal as Heero without using wings.

Master turned to me, and I realized with sudden clarity that he was going to kiss me. I choked down the urge to shy away and submitted obediently, parting my lips to allow him access. His lips met mine, but it was a chaste kiss, his lips lingering over mine for only a second, his tongue never invading my mouth. The warmth of his lips felt good on my own, and they tingled even as he sat back. It felt good and clean, unlike the kisses of my other masters.

A stab of fear went through me, realizing what had just happened, and I nervously glanced at Heero, who was watching me and could not have missed what had just happened. Though I had not asked for it, I was afraid Heero would be angry that master had kissed me, making me competition. But there was no jealousy in Heero's eyes, only a melancholy acceptance, telling me that he had known this would happen and had accepted it. I felt no animosity from him, and was grateful. I was not certain that in his place I would have been so kind.

"I won't proclaim to know what goes on in either of those heads of yours, but a blind man could see that you're both more upset than you have any merit to be. You," he said, looking me straight in the eyes, "need to learn to trust me. I've done nothing to betray your trust, and you've given me no way to earn it. Then, by default, I should have it, for it would make a lot of things go much more smoothly. You," he said, turning to Heero, "need to tell me what's wrong. I can't fix it if I don't know what it is. I know you have a voice, use it to help yourself once in a while, instead of putting all your feelings aside. Your silence does more harm than good, and the only one you're hurting is yourself."

I was somewhat awed when master finished. I had not known him to be nearly so perceptive. And neither, it seemed from the shocked look on his face, had Heero.

"Now," master continued, "If you have no compelling argument against it, I am going to give you an injection," he said firmly. I flinched at the word injection, then tensed, expecting him to pounce on me with the shot. Instead, he waited, and I realized that he was waiting for me to give him a response.

"I... won't have any... control..." I explained hesitantly. A slave wasn't supposed to have any control, and in reality we had almost none. The only control we had was over ourselves and our action, and drugs removed that control, making us helpless. When the master is someone the slave does not trust, this experience is... terrifying.

Master's eyes were sympathetic, but his resolve was still there as he said, "I understand, but I can't acquiesce. The drugs I'm about to give you are mild, and mainly painkillers, but they may disorient you," he said, placing a hand on my chin and tilting my face so that our eyes met. "You will have to trust that I will keep you safe. There is no other option, little one. I wish there were," he said sincerely, then gently kissed my forehead. I nodded, still frightened but less so.

"Just..." I said suddenly, "Just don't hold me down please," I asked, "I can't... I don't..."

"I understand," master said gently. "As long as you don' try to get away, no one will restrain you. Just stay calm," master soothed as he cleansed my arm and gently pricked me with the needle.

The drug didn't take affect immediately, but by the time master and Heero had moved to the closet to get my clothes, I could no longer feel the pain in my back. By the time they had dressed me, with their gentle hands and soft voices, I was beginning to feel like I was in a very good dream.

"Now, Heero," I heard master say, "It's time you and I talked about..." master said, but was interrupted by the beeping of his watch. He cursed. "You and I will talk when we come back," he promised, and I sensed that he was somewhat annoyed, but he was still gentle with me when he said, "Come now, it's time to go," then lifted me in his arms and headed for the door.

I remember feeling blissfully happy, then everything began to bleed into one another, and it all swirled so much that all I could do was giggle.