Trowa returned with one of my worn, long-sleeved shirts instead of a robe, and I looked at it inquisitively.
"He keeps squirming about. I didn't think a robe would stay on him in this state. I'm sorry if it displeases you and-..."
"Don't be silly," I told the green-eyed boy, "It's a good idea. Would you be kind enough to borrow a pair of Quatre's shorts as well? They look about the same size..."
"Yes master," he responded, trying to hide a smile of pleasure from my small compliment. I would have to remember to do it more often. I glanced back at Dragon... pardon, Wufei, who was squirming uncomfortably in his seat. In a moment he noticed the small patch of blood on the seat next to him and carefully extended a finger to poke at it.
"Stop that," I chided, causing him to jump and turn toward me. It took advantage of his momentary confusion and slipped his other shirt off of him. It came off easily, as it was loose for easy movements in fights. I almost didn't want to take it off him, for he would be completely naked without it, but he had managed to get blood spots onto the white material, and they were far to unnerving for me to allow. "Arms up," I told him, holding the shirt up for him to put on.
"No!" he said belligerently, whichwas silly, because it meant that he had to remain naked, which I had thought was one of the things he would like least to do around me.
"Now Dra-..." I tried to reason, despite his semi-lucid state.
"That's not my name!" he yelled, tears springing back to his eyes. "I hate that name!"
"Well I'm sorry, alright? I forgot!" I snapped.
"Really?" he sniffled, rubbing his eyes.
"Really what?" I asked, exasperated.
"You're really sorry?"
"Yes. I didn't mean to call you a name you don't like. I just haven't known you as Wufei for very long."
"Alright, then, just don't do it any more," he said, looking up at me for the first time with dry eyes.
"Will you put the shirt on now?"
"Yes," he said, holding his hands above his head. Withholding a sigh, I slipped the large shirt over his small form. It came down almost to his knees, and completely covered his hands. He saw this, and shifted a bit, getting a feel for the clothing, then gave the first smile I had seen on him. He looked so young, with his hair down, an innocent smile on his face, and his brown eyes looking about curiously, if a bit unfocussed.
There was a knock on the door, distracting me from Wufei. I motioned for Quatre to sit with him while I escorted the security team to the body.
The security team was quick, if nothing else. They walked in, dropped the body into what amounted to a garbage can, took three pictures of the damage, and left. I felt bad for the slave who had attacked Wufei, even though his actions were despicable. More than him, I blamed the master and the situation for causing him to take such rash actions. It made me want to defeat it all the more, and to feel my failure so far all the more bitterly.
Once I returned from showing the team out, I went to the kitchen and grabbed a dishrag. There was still a large spot of blood from Wufei's leg on the couch that needed to be cleaned, and I wondered for a moment if blood stains weren't the reason the couches were made out of a synthetic leather, which was water resistant. Upon entering the den, I found Trowa holding Wufei up while Quatre put a pair of shorts on him. If it weren't for the reason Wufei was like this, I would have laughed to see him being handled like a child. As it was, I almost felt like crying.
While I cleaned the spot on the couch, Heero and Trowa cleaned up the slave's quarters, and Quatre babysat Wufei. It gave us all some time to calm down, for we had all been on something of a rush. There was a silence in the apartment broken only by the sounds of our cleaning and any noises Wufei happened to make. But it was not an uncomfortable silence, merely a quite time for us to calm ourselves. Within half an hour, my slaves came tromping into the den, visibly lagging. Even Heero, who had bragged about being able to remain awake for days, was sluggish. Not that I didn't believe he could do it, I was sure he could if he pushed himself, but I also realized that he was still slightly weakened from when I first found him, and that he had been running himself ragged for the past week.
"Time for bed," I commented quietly, getting up and motioning toward the bedroom. Trowa helped Quatre up, and Heero came to my side as I took Wufei by the hand and led him toward the room.
We made it three steps away from the doorway before Wufei panicked.
"No!" he gasped, stopping dead and leaning back against me. "I won't go in there! It's bad!"
"Wufei, it's not..."
"No!" he yelled. I sighed. I doubted this conversation would be any better than our earlier conversation, and less lucid.
"No one's going to hurt you..." I said, but it only had the effect of making Wufei burst out into harsh, wracking sobs. "Alright, alright!" I snapped, turning him around and leading him away from the bedroom. His sobs quieted somewhat, but he was still crying harshly.
"Master?" Heero asked, following me.
"Heero, could you go get some extra blankets from the closet? It seems I'm going to have to sleep on the couch tonight."
"But... why?" he asked, even as he moved to obey.
"Because he's certainly not going to go into the bedroom, and it's not safe to leave him alone at this point. Oh, and Trowa? Could you warm a glass of milk?"
"I could sleep out here," Heero offered, returning with the blankets. Together we began to lay them out.
"Thank you, but no. It's my responsibility to keep all of you safe. Besides, you could use the sleep."
"But..."
"Not another word. I'm the master here, I get to say who does what," I told him sternly, finishing with the blankets.
"Yes, master," Heero said with his head hung. Guilt nipped at me and I took him in my arms.
"It's not that I don't trust you, but I think... I think I need to do this. Do you understand? I need to protect what is mine."
"I understand," he said, meeting my eyes. "I just... I want you to know you can rely on me. I'm stronger than I look."
"I know," I said, and kissed him on the forehead. "Now get to bed," I said, pushing him off toward the retreating backs of Trowa and Quatre. He cast me a lonely, longing look, but followed my command. That look, more than anything, resolved me to find a partner slave for Heero. I didn't want him to be lonely every time I was busy or occupied, and Heero needed a close companion of his own. Perhaps he would even fall in love.
With that resolution, I turned to the couch, where Wufei was watching the happenings with that innocent curiosity.
"Do you love him?" he asked suddenly. If it hadn't been for the glazed look in his eyes, I almost would have thought it was the lucid Wufei talking. But, no, it was merely the innocent question of a drunken mind, and I could deal with it as such.
"Uh... that's a rather unfair question to ask. Here, drink your milk," I said, lifting the cup of warm milk I assumed Trowa had left.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because it's good for you, and because it'll make you sleepy." Without any more drugs in your system, I silently added.
"I don' wanna sle'p. You'll do ba' things," he huffed, though his eyes were getting suspiciously heavy.
"I give you my word of honor that I will not to anything bad to you tonight or tomorrow, but you have to drink your milk. Deal?"
"You promise?"
"On my honor."
"Kay, then," he said, and took a big gulp of his milk. I smiled and leaned back, hopeful that he would soon be asleep. Unfortunately, once he managed to finish the milk he surprised me again, this time by throwing himself on my chest and nuzzling my stomach.
"You smell pretty," he said, giggling softly. "The Owner smelled pretty, too, but he's a jerk. I hope you're not a jerk. I'm not a jerk... Well, not really. I just act like a jerk, 'cause I'm really a coward. I used to have honor, though, 'til Owner took it. I was a sko- a ska- a scholar... er somethin. I read lots a books. I was gonna be a teacher 'n everything. I don't think they let dirty people teach, though. Maybe I can teach dogs or something. Do you have a dog..." he asked, drifting off to sleep. I wondered, absently, if there had been some kind of truth serum in that patch, and if I should have asked some questions, but it was all moot now. He was finally asleep, and I couldn't help but smile as I covered his gently snoring form, which was still lying on most of mine.