Compassion
He lay on his side on the bed, in too much pain to sleep, trying desperately to find a position that didn't hurt...
He couldn't work out why he'd done it - it wasn't as though he even liked the arrogant little brat. Yet he'd been very aware of the speculative glances the Ice Lord had been giving the child, even though the Prince was oblivious to them - and... he didn't want to think too hard as to why, afraid that he'd see the king's face in his mind... he'd distracted Furiizaa just long enough for Vejiita to leave, unmolested, on his first purging mission.
He'd hoped, almost prayed to his dead people's forgotten gods, that Furiizaa wouldn't realise what he'd done. A futile hope, of course. Zaabon was far too sensitive to the emotions of others, his master most of all, not to know what Furiizaa had intended, although the changeling had waited for three days before taking his revenge - long enough for Zaabon to dare to think he'd actually got away with it.
But then Furiizaa had 'requested' his presence - the night before he was due to pay a short, supervisory visit to Vejiitasei, just himself and Dodorya, just to remind the natives of their subjugation, that the Cold Empire was in control. Zaabon had walked the short distance from his own quarters to his Master's - Furiizaa kept him close, it was more convenient to have him nearby - a faint unease quivering through his mind. What did the changeling want now?
"Ah, Zaabon, my dear..." Furiizaa sipped from his glass. "All prepared for tomorrow?"
Zaabon dropped to one knee. Furiizaa didn't seem annoyed, but it did no harm to pander to his ego.
"Yes, sir."
"That pleases me." He gestured for Zaabon to rise and come close, then ran a finger very gently down his lieutenant's cheek: the alien flinched as a sharp black claw scored his skin, leaving a fine trail of tiny beads of blood behind it.
"I understand that Vejiita has left."
Zaabon stilled, the breath catching in his throat. ...oh...hell...
"Yes sir."
"Do you know how much it - irritates me, being denied my prey?"
Zaabon swallowed, fighting back his fear.
"Sir?" His voice shook very slightly.
Furiizaa smiled. Zaabon knew that chilling smile well. His heart sank.
"Strip."
There was no point in delaying, it would only hurt more. Zaabon slid out of his clothing and stood before his master. Furiizaa reached up to his lieutenant's nipples, idly toying with the rings, then hooked his fingers through them and tugged, hard.
Zaabon winced, biting his lip as blood began to trickle down his chest. Furiizaa pulled himself upright, then pushed at his lieutenant, backing him against the table. The changeling watched the blood's slow progress down the pale blue skin, then took Zaabon's limp hand and laid it over his own groin, letting the alien feel the stirring genitals.
"So what am I to do, hmm?"
Zaabon was silent, unsure as to whether the Ice Lord expected an answer or not. A further sharp tug on a ring persuaded him that the changeling wanted him to speak.
"Sir... I..."
"Don't bother." Furiizaa pressed the strong blue hand more tightly to his groin, forcing Zaabon to knead the growing erection, then moved his hands back to the dark blue nipples, suddenly wrenching the rings from side to side, gouging bleeding furrows through the sensitive flesh. Zaabon bit back a cry, and Furiizaa laughed.
"I've had an idea, Zaabon. Since I can't have the little monkey, I'll take you, instead. But it's a little unfair - you're so much bigger than he is, while I'm smaller than you. In this form, anyway..."
Zaabon shuddered, closing his eyes, knowing what was coming next. The last time Furiizaa had fucked him in that monstrous third form it had taken him three days in the tank to recover...
He tried to blank his mind, to simply endure, trying not to feel that huge, icy, rough-ribbed organ rip into him, his own blood the only lubrication, powerful clawed fingers leaving black bruises over his hips as the creature behind him slammed into him over and over again...
...how am I supposed to fulfil the mission if I'm in the tank? he thought distantly, close to blacking out from pain and the backlash of Furiizaa's massively increased ki. ... I suppose that will be my fault too...
But the Ice Lord knew, from long experience, precisely how much punishment his lieutenant could take, and came just before that point was reached, hauling the suffering blue body upright into his arms and dragging once more at the bleeding nipples as Zaabon screamed. Seconds later Furiizaa pulled out roughly and dropped the alien to the cold floor.
Zaabon lost consciousness for a few precious seconds as his lacerated chest made hard contact with the ground, then a three-clawed foot caught him in the side and kicked him over onto his back, cracking several ribs. He looked up through pain-glazed eyes, trying to draw breath. Furiizaa, now back in his more usual form, leered down at him.
"Thank you, my dear. I feel much better now... Why don't you go and lie down for a while? You need to rest before tomorrow's mission."
Slowly Zaabon pulled himself unsteadily upright and stared at his master. Furiizaa poured himself another glass of wine, glancing back over his shoulder.
"Come now, you're not that badly hurt. A night's sleep should do the trick. Go."
And Zaabon had stumbled back to his own quarters, every step sending waves of pain spearing through him, mercifully not meeting anyone on the way.
Dodorya had insisted on making snide comments about how tired he looked, how Furiizaa must have kept him 'up' all night, until Zaabon, hurting and out of patience, had grabbed him by the front of his armour and slammed him against a bulkhead, gritting his teeth as the action reopened the gashes on his chest as the rings scraped across the inside of his armour. The abrupt movement tore barely-healed tissue inside him as well; he was suddenly grateful for the dark blue colour of his bodysuit. At least the bleeding wouldn't be too obvious...
Dodorya scowled and left him peace for the rest of the journey.
The initial audience had gone much as he'd expected. The Saiya-jin-no-Ou had received them with barely disguised hostility, giving no hint of their previous encounter - for which Zaabon was profoundly grateful: it would have placed them both in danger. They were to remain in the palace for three days while Vejiita gave them a detailed report of everything that had been done to fulfil Furiizaa's orders over the last year. But now, this first night, Zaabon had cut short the evening meal and made his way to the suite he'd been allocated, desperate to get out of the armour that rubbed his nipples raw with every breath and the bodysuit that was almost glued to him with his own blood.
He hadn't even had the energy to bathe, simply collapsing onto the bed and trying to ease the agonised mass of flesh that was his body. In vain.
He covered his eyes with his arm, wondering if Furiizaa would let him use a tank on his return. Then he froze as the outer door of the suite opened quietly.
Gathering what ki he could in his depleted state, he managed to haul himself into a sitting position - then relaxed as he made out the dark silhouette of the king. Vejiita left the light muted, crossing quickly to the bed and gripping Zaabon's shoulder.
"My son?" The voice was a harsh whisper. Zaabon sighed.
"Is well. Furiizaa is showing interest, but has not acted on it yet. And the Prince has just left on a purging mission, and will not return for some time. He is safe - for a while, anyway."
Vejiita nodded, relaxing a little in his relief.
"Good." He loosed his hold and turned to leave - then paused at the inner door, frowning over his shoulder. Now that his initial fears had been laid to rest, he realised that something was - not right.
Zaabon looked - vulnerable. He sat on the edge of the bed, naked, his head bowed, his shoulders slumped. Exhausted. And Vejiita could smell fresh blood...
He returned to the alien's side, seating himself.
"What's wrong?"
Zaabon twisted carefully to face him, a wry half-smile on his face: Vejiita's gaze flickered over the mangled nipples, the heavy bruising on his ribs and hips.
"I - annoyed Furiizaa..."
Saiyans are anything but intuitive, but something about the injuries - and the fact that the Prince had just left... Vejiita laid a hand almost gently on Zaabon's shoulder.
"You protected him, didn't you?"
The alien nodded slightly, his eyes closing. Vejiita watched him, wide-eyed, for several seconds, then stood and strode to the bathing chamber, flooding the tub with hot water. In one of the cabinets he found a jar of the soothing antiseptic herbal mix his people used, occasionally, when their natural healing ability needed a little extra help, and threw in a large handful before returning to the sleeping area.
Zaabon hadn't moved. Vejiita caught hold of an unresisting hand: the alien gazed up at him, pain in the golden eyes. The king pulled him upright.
"Come with me."
Limping, moving carefully, Zaabon followed the Saiyan into the bathroom.
"If you relax, the pain will ease that much more quickly."
Zaabon peered at the king from half-open eyes, teeth clenched to stop himself from whimpering. The water in the bath was already tinged blue with his blood.
Vejiita shook his head, sighing, then stripped and slid into the steaming water. With one supporting arm under the broad blue shoulders, he swept a wave of the liquid over Zaabon's chest, completely unprepared for the reaction as the alien gripped his wrist almost to breaking point, his entire body shaking with the effort of not crying out. Whatever was in the water felt like acid on his ragged flesh.
Vejiita snorted.
"Weakling."
Zaabon stared at him, eyes wide, then frowned. Well, that was something he'd never been called before...
But in fact, after that initial jolt of agony, the pain had eased somewhat, enough for him to cautiously lie back against Vejiita's arm as the king laved more water over his chest. It was almost comforting...
He looked up at the Saiyan's quiet hn. Vejiita was examining the wounds closely, scowling. He glanced at Zaabon, expression grim.
"He really made a mess of you, didn't he?"
Zaabon peered down at his chest, able to see the damage clearly for the first time now that the blood had washed away. The double barbs on each ring had sliced through both nipples, leaving deep lacerations behind, and Furiizaa had twisted as he pulled: the flesh was almost shredded, the tiniest rag of skin the only thing keeping the left ring in place. Zaabon sighed.
"It's amazing," he murmured "how something so small could cause so much pain..."
"Can't we just take the bloody things out? "
Zaabon gazed at Vejiita for a moment, bemused, then shook his head.
"He would only have me held down while he put them back in. And then he would make me suffer for the temerity of removing them." He shuddered, closing his eyes. "They need to be turned so the barbs are back inside. I'd rather it was done now, than after the flesh has healed."
Strong fingers stroked his face, and he looked up, straight into Vejiita's intense dark eyes.
"I'll do it. Keep your body under the water - it will hurt less."
That may have been the case, but the pain still left Zaabon breathless...
"We ought to get out."
"Hmm?" Zaabon roused himself, astonished to find he'd actually dozed off, lying back between the king's legs in the hot water, his head on Vejiita's shoulder as the Saiyan held him close, strong arms around his waist. Shifting slightly he felt the king's erection against the small of his back and groaned silently. Surely the Saiyan didn't expect...?
Vejiita kissed his neck.
"We ought to get out." he repeated. "The water's getting cold. And you need to sleep."
Sleep? He frowned over his shoulder at the king.
"But I thought..." He reached back, cupping the Saiyan's balls. Vejiita stared at him, then grinned.
"You think I want to hurt you? After what that bastard did to you? Are you a complete idiot?"
"It would appear so..."
Vejiita cupped Zaabon's chin and turned his head, gently, something almost - tender in his eyes.
"I'm no monster. You've been hurt enough." He smirked. "Though I can't say the idea isn't appealing..."
He rose to his feet, pulling the alien with him, heading towards the hot spray. Glancing back Zaabon winced at the distinctly dark blue hue of the bathwater: Vejiita nodded.
"And you're still bleeding. It's slowing though. And you should be a little more comfortable now."
And indeed he was, the pain down to a tolerable level, although walking still sent stabbing jolts through his gut and loins. Vejiita settled him on the bed and sat beside him, shaking his head.
"Even in this state you're beautiful. I can understand why Furiizaa wouldn't want to lose you."
He smirked and rose to leave, pausing as Zaabon caught his wrist.
"Your Majesty..." Vejiita's eyes widened, but there was no hint of sarcasm in Zaabon's voice or on his face. "Will you... could you... stay for a little while?"
Vejiita's voice was harsh.
"You want to spend time with a monkey?"
Zaabon interlaced his fingers with the Saiyan's and smiled gently.
"I'd like to show a king how much I appreciate his... compassion." His other hand stroked lightly up Vejiita's erection, making a tremor ripple through the strong bronzed body. The king closed his eyes, then shook his head.
"Maybe when you've recovered..."
The fingers threaded through his tightened, and he frowned down into golden eyes shadowed with... loneliness? He inclined his head, suddenly struck by an unwarranted insight.
Zaabon was lonely, wasn't he? The only one of his species left as far as he knew, in thrall to the Ice Lord, an object of lust, something to be used by anyone to whom Furiizaa might care to loan him. The Saiya-jin had no patience with kindness - it was a weakness best smothered at birth - but at least they knew the rough affection of their kin, a certain unity and fellow-feeling. Zaabon had no-one, and nothing but pain.
"I will stay with you, for a little while." he heard himself saying. "But I want nothing from you. Just that you sleep, safely and peacefully tonight. Tomorrow - well, we'll see what happens."
And ignoring the brightness of unshed, grateful tears in the beautiful golden eyes, Vejiita slid onto the bed, nestling against the strong blue back and cradling Zaabon close, his tail draping across the alien's hip. Feeling relaxed, and warm, and almost happy. Wondering just what was happening to him...
And Zaabon slept, deeply, for the first time since becoming Furiizaa's slave completely at ease, undisturbed by nightmares.
Safe.
In the last place he'd ever expected to be. In Vejiita's arms...
Gentle
