Second Interlude - Deep Winter
"Hey big brother!"
Radittsu's eyes flashed open, widened in horror, then closed again as he groaned at the sound of the cheery voice. He'd known Leteetza was trying to arrange for a low-ki sparring partner for him while he recovered fully - he hadn't realised it would be his thrice-damned sibling.
Zha'haabron stared. The figure standing at the foot of the bed bore very little resemblance to his bondmate, and was considerably shorter, as was his hair. His face was broad, his expression light, open - for a Saiyan, that is.
And he'd marched into the bedroom without bothering to knock!
The prince slid out of the bed, planted his hands on his hips and ran narrowed, angry eyes slowly up and down the Saiyan warrior, then turned to Radittsu.
"Your brother?"
Radittsu closed his eyes as if in pain. "I'm afraid so. That's Kakarotto."
The younger Saiyan saluted briefly then ran a hand over his forehead. "It's hot in here!"
Radittsu glared. "Feel free to leave."
Kakarotto grinned. "Can't do that. I'm supposed to look after you." His gaze flickered briefly to the prince. "Both of you, sort of. Until you're properly recovered, anyway."
Radittsu glanced at the prince. *. . . . . . help?. . . . .*
Zha'haabron crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at the younger Saiyan -
And at that point I knocked on the door.
"Enter."
I frowned - Zha'haabron sounded irritable - then, shrugging mentally, opened the door and stepped in. And halted in my tracks.
The inner door was wide open. Radittsu was in the bed. Zha'haabron was standing beside it, glowering at Kakarotto. Who was trying to sneak little sideways glances at the prince without him noticing...
I couldn't really blame him: it was the first time I'd seen Zha'haabron naked and he was an impressive sight. Intriguing too - even though I knew, from my researches, that three types of R'ren'nkh'ia-jin, including the zn'hre, carried their testes internally, it still looked somewhat odd. Kakarotto swung his attention to me and grinned.
"Hey, Leteetza! How's things at the palace?"
I smiled back. "Well. How are things with you and Tamata?"
His face fell. "We had a row. She's not speaking to me."
I glanced quickly at Radittsu and his bondmate, who were staring at me as if I'd suddenly grown horns, and beckoned to the younger Saiyan.
"Why don't you come out here and tell me all about it?"
Radittsu flashed me a grateful look as his brother complied, and I closed the inner door, giving them peace to rise and dress. Or do whatever they usually did in the morning. I wasn't in any particular hurry... I turned to Kakarotto.
"So what did you row about?"
He ran a hand through the back of his hair and frowned. "I can't remember. It was probably something really stupid."
"Have you tried apologising?"
"Uh, no..."
"You could consider it. It often works."
"But what if it wasn't my fault?"
I sighed. I really couldn't work out what my friend saw in him. "Does it really matter?"
"I guess not. All right, I'll try it."
Zha'haabron slid back onto the bed, pulling down the sleeping fur and sheet and gazing down at his bondmate. He rested one hand over the slowly fading scar on his chest and pressed gently, smiling when there was no reaction - then moved to straddle Radittsu's hips and settled himself over the Saiyan's groin, rocking slightly. Radittsu groaned, his eyes closing as his back arched, thrusting up into the prince's welcoming body.
"Do we have time?"
The big Saiyan glared up at his lover, then twisted swiftly upright, wrapping his arms around the sleek, pale blue body and rising from the bed. "Of course we have time!"
Zha'haabron chuckled quietly and wrapped strong arms around his bondmate's neck and long legs around his waist as Radittsu carried him through to the bath...
Zha'haabron sighed contentedly, then pulled himself upright in Radittsu's lap and laid his hands on the Saiyan's shoulders.
"Do you really feel sufficiently recovered to start training today?"
Radittsu pressed his lips to his prince's throat.
"Mmmmm. After that, I feel I could take on Vejiita himself! Gods, I've missed you!"
Zha'haabron buried his hands in his lover's heavy mane.
"It has been less than satisfactory, hasn't it. I would prefer it if you didn't let yourself be injured again. At least, not that badly."
Radittsu hugged him close. "I'll do my best." He sighed. "I suppose we'd better get out."
"Indeed. Your brother will be waiting for you."
"I don't give a fuck about him! But keeping the little warrior waiting is unfair." He frowned. "What's she here for, anyway?"
"To speak with me. There are a number of things we need to clarify before our visit to my homeworld."
Radittsu's face fell. "Oh." He tried to smile. "Great. You get to spend time with the lovely Leteetza while I have to suffer my brother's company."
Zha'haabron inclined his head, sliding off his bondmate's lap and climbing from the bath, reaching back to take Radittsu's hand. "He lacks your charm."
Radittsu sighed, allowing the prince to pull him out of the bath. "He lacks a lot of things. Respect, common sense and propriety, for a start."
"But he should at least be a suitable sparring partner for you?"
"Yes. He's a third class warrior. Third class brain, too, I sometimes think."
Zha'haabron paused in the bedroom and hugged the Saiyan gently, careful of the still-tender ribs.
"Fight well."
Radittsu hugged back and pulled on a bodysuit and armour, while the prince slid back into the bed and pulled the covers up around his waist. The Saiyan kissed the top of his head, then opened the door to the antechamber, beckoning Leteetza inside while he gathered up Kakarotto and headed for the arena.
I sat cross-legged facing the R'ren'nkh'ian, thinking I should feel awkward - perched on a bed containing a beautiful, naked, alien prince who belongs to someone else not being something I do very often - but Zha'haabron behaved as though it was the most natural thing in either world, and I soon forgot about it. In any case, we had a lot to discuss.
"Have you been able to give any more thought to his status?"
The prince nodded. "Vejiita's first idea - to present me as his consort - is by far the best. He's already an Elite, which would roughly translate as a median member of the aristocracy on R'ren'nkh'ia, making the match more plausible. And as consort, I have to ask his permission before taking any action." He faltered slightly, his expression tense. "He will not be able to refuse my company to everyone, however. We will need to teach him the degrees of chieftanship, and which outranks him: it would be dangerous, for both of us, if he were to deny them my - favours."
I laid a hand on his wrist, and he glanced into my eyes. "I think you're being very brave about this."
He grimaced. "It is not bravery when there is no choice."
"Nevertheless..." I sighed and got back to business. "What else does being a consort involve?"
His eyes twinkled. "It depends on the degree. For our purposes we should make it the lm'entr'e. The highest degree. It equates to chattelhood, but would ensure me greater safety."
I ran a hand through my hair. "All right - bear with me. This information isn't available on the database."
"Lm'entr'e would mean that I am his possession, with no authority over my own person."
"His slave, you mean."
"If you wish to put it that way."
I frowned. "Well, I don't like it, but I can see how it could be useful. Do we have to authenticate any of this?"
"A notification from Vejiita to my sire will be quite sufficient. Onworld communications are very efficient: the news would spread extremely quickly."
I nodded. "Fine. If you're sure, I'll organise it."
"I'm sure."
I sighed. "Fine. So, how is he supposed to act?"
Zha'haabron smiled, and I switched on the recorder...
An hour later I switched off the device and frowned at the prince.
"D'you think he can do it?"
Zha'haabron nodded. I was less certain, and it obviously showed, as he cupped my chin in one cool, elegant hand and smiled gently.
"Don't underestimate him. Or our feelings for each other."
I grinned wryly. "Sorry. I suppose I'm just a worrier."
He inclined his head. "Between the two of us we'll have him behaving like the most arrogant, self-assured and bloody-minded creature on the planet. My people will love him!"
I chuckled and he stroked my cheek with his thumb before lowering his hand.
"What else do we need to consider?"
"He's going to need something to protect him from your sun. Saiya-jin skin will burn and blister after a very short exposure."
His eyes narrowed. "I hadn't thought of that."
I grinned. "You don't need to. That's my job. You just need to make sure he uses the lotions I'm having made."
He smiled. "I'll apply them myself. I assume they must entirely cover the body?"
I shook my head, mock sadly. "Everywhere. Absolutely everywhere. Even the parts that aren't going to get direct sunlight."
He grinned. I'm sure he choked back a giggle.... Then his expression became sombre.
"I will consider it a sacred ritual."
I stuck my tongue in my cheek. "I'm sure he'll appreciate it... "
He inclined his head. "He will need some kind of skin - and hair - cleanser, too. Water is a precious commodity on my world. We do not use it to wash, except in exceptional circumstances."
I frowned curiously. "What do you normally use to clean yourselves?"
"Sand."
"Sand!?" I winced at the thought. He nodded, and I sighed. Well, it obviously worked for R'ren'nkh'ia-jin: even when he'd first arrived his skin was the softest, smoothest, silkiest I'd ever seen...
"Very well. I'll make it a high priority. Now, I want you to look at this. I've been trying to cobble together an appropriate outfit..."
I handed over a sketchboard. I'm not the greatest artist in the world, but I'd spent some time hunting the database and had come up with something that seemed comfortable while combining elements of both Saiya-jin and R'ren'nkh'ia-jin clothing. Zha'haabron's eyes widened.
"Very nice!"
I laughed. "Yes, I thought you'd think that. But does it look all right?"
He held out his hand for the stylus, and I watched while he made a few adjustments. A minute or two later he handed the board back.
"That will be entirely suitable."
I grinned. "Fine. I'll get some made up for him. Right - another thing I'd really like to do is make sure you can stay in constant contact with us. I've asked the local Feeodoreean engineers to see what they can come up with in the way of a communicator."
He frowned. "That will cause problems. My people are suspicious at the best of times, and some of the chiefs are simply paranoid."
I nodded. "I'd considered that. What I've requested is something very small." I regarded him soberly, then raised an eyebrow. "Do you think you could persuade him to wear an earring?"
His eyes widened as his lips parted - then he smiled, slowly. I could *see* him envisioning Radittsu with a pierced earlobe. He licked his lips, and I made a mental note to check out exactly what body piercing meant on R'ren'nkh'ia...
"I can certainly try..."
"Stress that it's important, all right?"
He nodded, his eyes still dreamy - then his gaze sharpened and he inclined his head, smiling.
"They are on their way back."
I nodded. Well, it had been short, but given that Radittsu had been out of commission for twenty days it was probably more than enough for a first session. I made to rise, and the prince caught my wrist in a gentle but firm grip.
"Please stay. Take lunch with us."
I grinned. "I'd like that, my lord."
A couple of minutes after the prince's aide had arrived with platters of food, Radittsu and Kakarotto returned. Radittsu was breathing heavily - the session had obviously tired him out - but otherwise seemed all right. His brother, however, looked decidedly battered. I smiled to myself. I'd heard rumours about the captain's dislike of his younger brother and had specifically asked for him as a sparring partner for the big male, figuring that Radittsu would improve more quickly if he was fighting someone he didn't like. Looked like I was right!
Kakarotto collapsed on the end of the bed with a groan, oblivious to the contemptuous glare his brother gave him. Radittsu settled himself beside the prince, grabbed a chunk of steaming meat and grinned at me.
"Useful chat?"
I grinned back. "Extremely. We have a lot of work ahead of us though. But you'll enjoy some of it." I reconsidered. "Actually, I think you'll enjoy most of it. Oh, and look what we've come up with for you to wear!"
I handed him the sketchboard, fighting down my giggles. He took the board, frowning - then his eyebrows shot up as his eyes widened and his mouth dropped open.
"I can't wear that!!"
I leaned forward and prodded him in the ribs. "'Course you can. You'll look really sexy."
He was blushing! "But... but.... Come on! That'll barely cover me! What happens when..." He floundered for a moment. "I mean, what am I supposed to do when I ..."
I gazed at him with my most innocent expression. (Yes, I can do one...)
"When you what?"
He glared at me. "Become aroused, baka! That," he shoved the board back into my hands, "sure as hell won't cover me then!"
Zha'haabron took his hand. "Then you'll do what my people do in that situation. Pull me to you, enter me and relieve your - tension."
Radittsu gaped. "What...?"
Zha'haabron shrugged. "It's accepted behaviour."
"In public!?"
"Certainly in public." Zha'haabron watched his bondmate's face run through an extraordinary range of emotions - some of which were new to me - for a few moments before taking pity on him. "Of course, as a high ranking alien, you'll be permitted to request a private room, when the need arises."
Radittsu's glare would have stripped the hide from a bighorn. Zha'haabron simply half-closed his eyes and gazed up at him from under long, emerald lashes. I choked back a hysterical giggle as the big male melted and cuddled into the prince's side, wrapping an arm around his waist and kissing his forehead.
"I suppose that's all right, then."
It was a companionable lunch, but I could tell that Radittsu and the prince wanted some time alone, so after we'd emptied the platters I hustled Kakarotto out of their suite, pausing at the door for a moment.
"Are we all right to start coaching tomorrow?"
Radittsu glanced up, and nodded. "The sooner I know what I'm supposed to be doing, the sooner I can get used to the idea."
"Right. Workout in the morning, study in the afternoon." I looked at Kakarotto, who grimaced and nodded. I grinned and waved as I closed the door.
Radittsu looked pensive, and the prince hugged him tightly.
"All is well?"
The Saiyan moved away fractionally to pull off his body suit, then grabbed Zha'haabron's hand and pulled him to the bath. As they settled into the hot water he held his bondmate close.
"I wish we didn't have to go through with this."
The prince stroked his face, then buried his hands in his mane. Then - to Radittsu's astonishment and breathless joy - kissed him. A very gentle, tentative kiss on one high cheekbone, but nevertheless a genuine kiss. Radittsu pulled back slightly to stare into his prince's beautiful golden gaze. Zha'haabron smiled, his eyes wide and suspiciously bright.
"I love you."
Stunned, Radittsu wrapped his arms more tightly around his lover, silently vowing to protect him forever...
© 2001 Joules Taylor
