Loneliness
He jerked awake with a start to find himself alone.
For a moment he felt himself go limp with relief - if he was alone it meant Furiizaa was somewhere else, which meant he was spared the Ice-lord's attentions, at least for a little while…
Then he remembered where he was, and slid a hand under the covers. Vejiita's side of the bed was cold.
Zaabon was suddenly filled with something closely approaching panic. Where was the king…?
Rising, he looked briefly into the spacious - empty - bathroom, then tried the main door to the suite. Locked.
Well, that was no barrier for him, and Vejiita knew it, so the door must be locked to keep others out. Intellectually he knew that. But emotionally…
He returned to the bed, curling up into a ball on his side, making himself as small as he could. Burying his head in his arms as unwelcome memories came flooding back.
He'd been alone for as long as he could remember. He had vague memories of something that had looked after him as a child, something that handled him with clinical coolness, that looked nothing like him. A grey being, four-armed, with eyes he never saw. It cared for his basic needs - kept him clean and fed and healthy and fit - but it never held him, never talked to him. Never - never communicated with him. It was the only other living thing in his world until Furiizaa had 'liberated' him from the three small rooms in which he'd spent his whole life…
He'd still been a child when the Ice-lord had first appeared, in that relatively harmless-looking first form of his: the child had looked up unto his smiling face, feeling his own lips pulling into an answering smile. One cold clawed hand had brushed the child's long green hair back from his face, gently, slowly.
"Ah, sweet child. Don't be afraid. You have nothing to fear from me."
The child had closed his eyes, trembling. It had been the first caring, living touch he'd ever felt. As far as he could remember, anyway.
Furiizaa had glanced over his shoulder, beckoning to a… a pink being a short distance away.
"Dodorya - come here."
The creature had approached, handing the Ice-lord some sort of golden, soft, smooth, shiny thing that Furiizaa proceeded to wrap around the child's naked body, gently easing his arms into the sleeves of the robe, fastening it loosely around his waist, then stepping back to admire the effect. He'd smiled again.
"Lovely. Quite lovely. We must find some other clothes that suit you. For now, go with Dodorya: he'll show you where you are to sleep, and will look after you until I say otherwise. Won't you, Dodorya?"
The pink being flinched and bowed his head, voice quavering.
"O… Of course, Master Furiizaa."
"Good. I don't want any harm to come to Zaabon…" he noticed Zaabon's involuntary twitch from the corner of his eye and turned to the child. "What is it, my sweet?"
"Zaabon…" the child frowned, puzzled, and the Ice-lord smiled.
"That's your name, pretty thing."
"My… name?"
"Yes. You are Zaabon, and I am your Master, Furiizaa."
Wide golden eyes regarded the small horned being ingenuously.
"Master Furiizaa."
The Ice-lord chuckled.
"If you learn the rest of the rules that quickly you and I will get along just fine…"
And for two years Zaabon was treated like… like some sort of rare, prized specimen. Premium foods, the finest clothes, the greatest trainers, and best of all real live companions whom he could touch and talk with. The child grew tall and strong and happy and very beautiful, his ki increasing until it seemed he would become the most powerful of all of Furiizaa's subordinates.
And then came the reckoning.
Dodorya delivered the message, his eyes downcast. He'd grown to like the youngster over the years. Despite his advantages, the way he'd been pampered, there was a strange, appealing innocence to Zaabon, a child-like charm that meant that what was to come would hurt him even more. Dodorya wished he'd had the guts to try and warn his young friend. Too late now.
Puzzled but intrigued, Zaabon had made his way to his master's suite, entered and dropped to one knee as he had been taught, lowering his head and thus not seeing the cruel, speculative light in the Ice-lord's eyes.
Five hours later, almost white from shock and bloodloss, broken bones grating together, too terrified even to whimper and his eyes glazed with a mixture of pain and disbelief, Zaabon lay beneath Furiizaa as the Ice-lord ploughed his body for the thank all the gods last time, gripping his chin and sneering into the once beautiful face.
"You are mine Zaabon. Reconcile yourself - this is now your place…"
Furiizaa's face faded out as Zaabon slipped willingly into unconsciousness, believing he'd never wake again and grateful for it…
…only to rise to consciousness two days later, immersed in a healing liquid that stung his eyes. Dodorya was waiting for him, helping him stumble from the regeneration tank and wrapping his shivering body in a soft, warm robe.
"I'm sorry." he mumbled, keeping his eyes averted. "I would have told you what to expect, but he wouldn't let me."
"Why?" It was a breathless whimper. "Why am I still alive? Why didn't you let me die?"
"Not my choice. He wants you. Anything that comes between him and what he wants is more than likely going to end up wishing it had never seen daylight."
Zaabon halted, swallowing hard, and reached up to grip Dodorya's shoulders.
"He… he said… That was my place, now…"
Turning his head to avoid the anguished golden eyes, the pink being nodded.
"You're his newest toy. He doesn't treat his toys kindly. But there's always the tank, if he injures you too badly."
Shaking, Zaabon wrapped his arms around his body.
"… why…?"
Dodorya shrugged.
"Who knows? Perhaps he just likes breaking beautiful things…"
Furiizaa had allowed him two days to recuperate - then demanded him again. And so it had continued.
Zaabon had discovered his origins, at some point - at least, they were his origins if Furiizaa's records could be trusted. Last child of his race, the rest destroyed by the Kold Empire, the Ice-lord had 'rescued' the days-old infant and kept it as a curio, handing it over to an underling to raise while he continued his trade across the galaxy. Zaabon had been onboard Furiizaa's ship the entire time.
He continued to train, not knowing what else to do. Furiizaa continued to use him - and later to 'loan' him to favoured warriors or clients (a night with Zaabon had occasionally clinched a deal with an awkward client). And it didn't matter what they did, how they abused him: a spell in the tank was sufficient to heal even the worst damage…
Trembling, caught up in a mix of memory and terrified anticipation, eyes squeezed tightly closed against the images bombarding his mind, he didn't hear Vejiita quietly enter the suite, locking the door behind him.
He froze, unable to breathe, as the hand gripped his shoulder.
"Zaabon? What is it?"
It was the king's voice, he knew it was the king's voice, but all he heard was Furiizaa…
He slid from the bed to kneel abjectly on the floor, his forehead pressed against smooth wood.
"Forgive me, my lord. Forgive me. Please."
Vejiita scowled.
"What the fuck's the matter with you?"
The alien slowly raised his head, enough to peer through the tangled strands of emerald hair veiling his eyes, gasping with relief as he recognised the king.
"Ve… Vejiita?"
The Saiya-jin-no-Ou reached down, grabbed Zaabon's upper arms, and hauled him to his feet, glowering into his face.
"I'm not your lord."
Zaabon stared at him for long moments, then crumpled against his strong warm body. Vejiita caught him, alarmed: his lover really did seem to have collapsed. He pulled the cool blue body into his arms and sat on the bed, cradling the shaking body close, stroking the heavy fall of hair.
As the trembling slowed and Zaabon gradually relaxed against him, Vejiita cupped his chin and pulled the beautiful face up to his own, brushing a gentle, reassuring kiss across parted lips.
"Want to tell me what that was all about?"
Zaabon bit his lip, lowering his eyes, ashamed.
"I'm sorry."
"Fine, you're sorry. Why?"
"It's nothing."
The king growled.
"It's quite obviously not nothing and I want you to tell me what's wrong!"
Zaabon gazed at the worried - worried? - deep eyes, and decided honesty was more important than embarrassment.
"I woke up. And you weren't here."
"Is that all!?"
Zaabon lowered his eyes, colouring slightly.
"I'm sorry."
Vejiita sighed.
"You were asleep. I was hungry. I went to get us some breakfast."
Zaabon cowered, feeling ridiculous. Vejiita kissed the corner of his mouth, slowly easing his tongue between the tightly closed lips. As the alien submitted, allowing the king access, Vejiita shifted slightly until they were lying on the bed, Zaabon nestled against his chest.
"Tell me what's so terrible about being alone."
Zaabon sighed.
"In itself, nothing. Usually it means no pain, for me - no Furiizaa, no… 'clients', no need for tanktime. No pain."
"What, then?"
The alien swallowed, at a loss as to how to explain.
"It's not the being alone - it's the loneliness."
Vejiita gazed impassively into the haunted golden eyes.
"Ah. I see."
"Do you?"
Looking into your eyes I see all I need or want to know about loneliness…
The king smiled, gently.
"I think so…" He coughed and changed the subject. Right now Zaabon needed distraction, not introspection. "I brought you breakfast. Are you hungry?"
Zaabon blinked, staring at the king. Then chuckled, ignoring the tears brimming in his eyes.
"Thank you. Yes, I am hungry."
"Good. Eat, then we'll bathe…"
It was a long, leisurely bath, and towards the end the king gathered Zaabon to him, caressing the swollen, be-ringed nipples with long, leisurely sweeps of his tongue and fingers as the alien quivered and slid a hand down to his groin.
Vejiita caught the hand before it could reach its objective, pulling it up to his mouth, kissing the long, graceful fingers and smiling into startled golden eyes.
"Let me…"
And the Saiya-jin-no-Ou pushed the alien back until his shoulders rested on the edge of the tub, then settled himself between powerful blue thighs and raised the muscular body to the surface, pulling the long legs over his shoulders, cupping the strong buttocks in his hands, and lowering his head to Zaabon's groin.
He kissed and nuzzled the responsive flesh where the thighs met the groin, nipped at prominent hipbones, lavished attention on the tight, hairless balls, his tongue flicking at the sensitive area just behind them, then swirling a path upwards before carefully sucking each into his mouth, licking firmly and allowing his teeth to graze the velvety skin oh-so-gently… Fully aware of the tense quivering throughout the alien's body as he tried desperately to control his reactions. Grinning, Vejiita tugged with his teeth at the heavy silver ring through Zaabon's scrotum, earning himself a whimper: then licked - painfully slowly - up the length of the dark blue erection.
Zaabon's hand gripped his mane, trying to force his head down - by now the alien was beside himself with need - but Vejiita resisted, licking, licking, up the length, slowly over the top, his tongue delving under the foreskin to the exquisitely sensitised skin beneath, teeth sliding across the weeping head… then plunging down to take the entire shaft into his mouth.
Zaabon screamed and flailed upwards, nearly dislodging the king as the pleasure spearing through his body overcame his control. Vejiita wrapped an arm firmly around the lean hips, teased and sucked and nipped tantalisingly - then slid two fingers into the tight, puckered entrance to his lover's body.
Zaabon froze - then whimpered ecstatically as Vejiita found that one, special, magical spot…
And the king kept his lover hovering, not allowing him to come, until Zaabon was thrashing mindlessly in the water, senses overloaded, almost delirious with pleasure, then with one last fluttering motion of fingers and tongue, taking the quivering, painfully hard shaft deep into his throat, the king held the alien tightly as Zaabon arched and pulsed and came, and came, and came.
Zaabon came back to his senses to find himself held safely in the king's arms. Vejiita was smirking down at him.
"I enjoyed that. I'd like to do it more often."
Zaabon sighed, his body liquescent, more relaxed than he'd thought possible. He blinked slowly up at his lover, wriggling gently against the hardness he could feel against his buttocks.
"But what about you?"
The king's kiss took his breath away.
"Well, if you insist, I'll happily take you to bed and we can carry on for as long as we like. But if you're tired, I don't mind."
Zaabon stared, and opened his mouth to object: Vejiita laid a hand across his lips. He smiled, his expression open and loving, something no-one else had ever seen. Including his Saiyan mate.
"You have no idea how much it pleases me, giving you pleasure, seeing you… enjoy yourself. It is… satisfying."
Tears spilled from the golden eyes. Zaabon gently moved the King's hand and pulled himself upright, wrapping strong arms around warm shoulders. Vejiita sighed and kissed him lightly.
"I want you with me. Always. There has to be a way. There has to."
Zaabon nestled close, his head resting against the king's chest, half-listening to the strongly beating heart.
"I could almost believe there is."
"What if all of my warriors were to attack Furiizaa at once? Would we be strong enough?"
Zaabon frowned to himself.
"I don't think so."
"If you were to help us?"
Zaabon stared at the king - who frowned.
"You would help us, wouldn't you?"
Zaabon blinked.
"Of course! I'm just not sure if our combined strengths would be enough to ensure victory."
Vejiita hmphed quietly.
"If we had the prince with us… and if I had some of the lower classes take on Furiizaa's men… I believe we could succeed."
"Many would die."
"The Saiya-jin don't fear death - only dying ignobly."
"You would do this for me?"
Vejiita kissed him.
"For you. For the prince. And for the freedom of the Saiya-jin."
Zaabon pulled himself upright and held out a hand to his love.
"Then let us make plans together…"
© 2002 June 18th Joules Taylor
End
