Master was frowning deeply. My heart suddenly jumped to my throat. I knew Heero had said something about my piercings, but I wasn't sure what. What if I had somehow displeased the master? What if he turned it back on?
I must have whimpered, because master was suddenly looking at me with concern.
"I'm sorry..." I tried to say, while sitting up. I was cut off by the room suddenly tilting sideways and could only moan as I dropped my head back to the hard wooden floor.
"Don't move," master warned, reaching over to snag a throw pillow from the couch. He lifted my head, causing the room to spin again, then settled me onto the pillow. I closed my eyes, and when I next opened them Master was frowning again. I flinched as he reached down and examined one of my piercings, but Master only touched it, there was no shock.
"I suppose that's why they won't come out," I heard him say, but could tell that it was directed more to Heero than to me. "Did you get the wirecutters I asked for?" he asked. I whimpered, wondering what he was going to do with them, and what I had done so wrong to deserve it.
"Hush," Master said, petting my hair. "I won't hurt you."
"Yes," Heero replied to his earlier question, "I got two of them."
"That's good. Put them on the kitchen table for me, then you can go to Quatre. I know he's probably wondering where you are."
"Yes, master," Heero said, then rose.
I could hear Heero moving around the room, but I couldn't see him, and I realized that my eyes had gone closed. I struggled to open them, but they were so very heavy. My body hurt, but I knew I couldn't sleep. I wouldn't want to disappoint master again.
"Just rest," came master's voice from very close, and I realized that he was beside me on the floor. "Lie still for a moment. I want to show Heero out before he goes to see Quatre, so I'm going to leave you alone for just a minute. Lie still for me and don't try to get up," he said, and I heard him rise and move away. I was so tired, but so nervous at the same time, that it was impossible for me to rest and impossible for me to fully wake up. Instead, I hovered in a daze and could only hope I didn't make any more mistakes.
Master returned after speaking in low tones to Heero at the door. Something about not mentioning what had happened, and something about a Cat. I was too far gone to really comprehend what they were saying, though I was worried about it none the less. I heard the door shut, then master's soft footsteps approaching me, but I did not open my eyes, though I felt that they might stay open now after the few seconds of rest I had given them. Master knelt beside me again, but I wasn't sure if I should open my eyes as he had told me to rest. I was afraid of upsetting him again.
"Trowa?" he asked softly, touching the skin of my forearm, "Are you awake?"
I opened my eyes and looked up at him, certain now that he would not be angered. "Yes, master?" I told him, my voice soft and horse from my punishment.
"Can you stand?"
"Yes, master."
"Come then," he said, taking my hand and helping me to my feet. I was shaky, and I wobbled on my feet, but I was fairly certain that I would not fall. Master, who stood beside me and held my shoulder, did not seem so certain, and stayed very close as he helped me to the bedroom.
Once in the room, master had me lie down on top of the bed, then left the room. I hadn't been told to sleep, so I forced myself to stay awake, though I couldn't keep my eyes from drooping. Master returned only seconds later, carrying the wirecutters he and Heero had talked about earlier. I felt the color drain from my face and must have made a small sound of distress.
"Calm down. As I've said before, I'm not going to hurt you. Now, I want you to take these and clip one end of your piercings."
Master placed a wirecutter in my hand, which I could not get to move no matter what I tried. I stared at him in disbelief. He must have spoken to the Duke. They must have formed a plan together. I knew what the punishment would be if I removed any of my piercings, even by accident. To do it intentionally...
The tool fell from my limp hand and dropped to the bed, making a small patter as it hit. Master, who had been assessing the piercings on my ankle, looked up at me.
"Trowa?" he asked.
"I can't," I replied, trying to sound determined, but even I could tell that my voice shook. I was disobeying Master once again, and I worried he would turn the charge back on. But it would still be better.
"Can't what?" he asked, his face showing confusion.
"I can't take them out. The piercings... I am not allowed to remove them..."
"I allow you," he said with conviction. "I am your master now, and I say that you are allowed."
"No," I whispered, and I could see him frown. I looked away, too afraid to even look at him. Tears spilled from my eyes. Why was he doing this? He had seemed so kind earlier and last night. Mane masters were kind to slaves they wanted to own, but why had he been so nice last night if he only planned to hurt me? He hadn't even beaten me for servicing the Duke's body guards, and he had put a lotion on the bruises that made the pain go away almost instantly. What had I done so wrong to force such a change in Master? What could I do? If I disobeyed Master, I would be punished, but disobeying the Duke meant torture and death. But what if Master took me back to the Duke because I had disobeyed? The Duke would kill me anyway. So... what should I do?
White noise had suddenly taken over my hearing, and all I could hear was the deafening silence that screamed in my head. I knew Master was saying something, but the pain drowned out his words. I could hear myself saying, "I can't! I can't! I can't!" but I couldn't feel my lips move. I was shaking, and I was icy cold, but the two didn't seem related. Master was beside me, but he was so very, very far away.