Interlude - Consolation "Where the heck did yew get to?"
Terry glared at Dik Dik, the relief in his eyes belying the pugnacious scowl. The buck regarded him sullenly.
"That's none of your business."
"Whad'ya mean, none of our business? Yew disappear fer a whole day, twenny four hours, leave us worryin' and wondr'in' where y'are? Damn right it's our business!"
"I'm a grown man! I don't belong to you - where I choose to spend my time is up to me."
The Texan's fists clenched.
"Yew…"
Jaeger gripped his shoulder.
"Nein, Terry. Dik Dik is quite right." The German took the buck's hand, eyeing him a little worriedly. "Are you alright, leibchen? You are not hurt?"
"I'm fine."
"That is gut…" Jaeger hesitated for a moment, then added, his voice very soft, "ve missed you."
Dik Dik very, very nearly gave in, then. After all, between them Jaeger and Terry had looked after him when he'd been hurt, rescued him when he'd been in danger, taught him… taught him so much…
But last night… last night had taught him something new, something soft and gentle and sweet…
He didn't want to be taken advantage of again - well, not so soon, anyway.
"Thank you."
Jaeger blinked - he hadn't expected that response - then half-smiled hopefully.
"You vill come home, later, ja?"
"I don't know. Maybe. We'll see."
The German's eyes widened in shock.
"Ve'll… see?"
Dik Dik nodded.
"Yes - I may have other plans."
And he sauntered away to his training session, leaving Terry and Jaeger gaping after him.His reappearance caused a quiet stir amongst the wrestlers, moreso when Checkmate approached him an hour into training.
Terry stared, eyes widening as the chessmaster touched Dik Dik's face with one finger, and hissed to Jaeger,
"Whut's goin' on?"
The German was equally startled, so much so he failed to block Kid's kick and ended up on his back, grunting with pain. Ignoring the Kid's wails of "I'm sorry!" Jaeger pulled himself to his feet and stared at the buck.
"Vhat…?"
Checkmate's hand lowered from the buck's face, the chessmaster offering a small, fond smile before walking away, and Dik Dik turned back to training, his white face very slightly flushed. Scowling, Terry marched over to the gazelle-man.
"Whut was that all about?"
Dik Dik folded his arms across his chest.
"What was what all about?"
Terry jerked his head in the direction Checkmate had taken.
"That. Whut did his majesty want?"
"It's none of your business."
The Texan's fists clenched.
"Aw, fer gawd's sake, Dik Dik! Look, if y're tryin' to get revenge fer what Ah said, yew've done a heck of a fine job! Ah'm sorry, OK? Reely sorry. Ah wasn't thinkin'. An' I don't think yer easy, not at all. An' Ah missed yew last night. We both did. T'ain't right, yew not bein' in the bed…"
Dik Dik grimaced.
"You missed having someone to… fuck."
"Naw!... well, yeah, but that ain't the reason…" He growled in frustration and placed both hands on the buck's shoulders. "Look, Ah didn' mean t'upset yew. It was a slip o' the tongue, that's all. An' if the thought o' Checkmate in bed with us upsets yew, then we'll jest forgit it." He took a deep breath and swallowed, lowering his voice a little. "Y're too important to upset over somethin' like this. We don't wanna lose you."
Dik Dik eyed him for a long moment, then relaxed a little.
"Thank you. That makes me feel better."
"Then yew'll come home?"
"… I don't know…"
"Please? Please?"
"I really don't know, Terry. I need to think."
Terry looked as though someone had just shot his puppy. Jaeger joined them, his expression one of anxiety as he listened to the Texan and the buck.
"But… but… But we… need you…"
Dik Dik half-smiled mirthlessly.
"No you don't."
"Yes, we do. An' we miss you."
Jaeger nodded.
"This is true. Ve haf missed you greatly, leibchen."
"Thank you. I appreciate it. But it doesn't change anything - I still need to think."
Terry would have argued, but Jaeger silenced him, then bowed his head to the buck.
"Ja, leibchen. You shall haf all the time you need. Ve vill vait." He gently, discreetly, stroked the buck's cheek. "You are vorth vaiting for.""Thou art still troubled, my friend."
They'd eaten in Checkmate's suite again, at the chessmaster's request (his reason for interrupting the buck's training session earlier); it had been delicious, and Dik Dik had enjoyed both the meal and the congenial company. As they finished, Checkmate had taken his hand and brought it to his lips, kissing the white fingers. Dik Dik sighed.
"It's nothing you need to worry about."
"But of course I need'st! Th'art a friend."
Dik Dik bit his lip; this was beginning to get a little embarrassing. When had he become so important to people that they worried about him like this? He was used to doing the worrying: it felt odd to be on the receiving end.
Checkmate was watching him, turquoise eyes fond and attentive. Dik Dik sighed and began, tentatively, to speak…Checkmate was frowning when he finished, elbow resting on the table, chin resting on his fist.
"I cannot decide whether to be angry that they gavest thee no choice, or pleased that thou art loved…"
"… loved…?"
"Indeed. 'tis plain that they feel much for thee - lovest thee, I would say. Even if they have not said as much to thee. Yet their manner leaveth much to be desired. For it is my belief that plain-speaking serves best in such circumstances: if 'twere me, I would tell'st thee that I love thee."
Dik Dik stared.
No, of course he didn't mean it - he was just giving an example.
Of course. That's all it was.
Checkmate was eyeing him with some concern.
"Dik Dik? Have I said something that disturbest thee?"
The buck pulled himself together, although the thought - of being loved - was still disorientating, and took the chessmaster's hand.
"No - of course not." His smile faded. "Though… I haven't told you about Terry…"Checkmate gazed at Dik Dik with some alarm.
"Thou speakest truly? Master Terry hath the… 'hots' for me?"
Dik Dik nodded and choked back a laugh: the term sounded very strange on the chessmaster's lips. Checkmate frowned.
"And this was the reason I found thee lonely and distressed among the dunes? That Terry had spoken without regard for thy feelings?"
Dik Dik gaped. How had he guessed that? Checkmate smiled and squeezed his hand gently.
"Thou art… open, my friend. Thy thoughts and feelings show in thine eyes, upon thy face. 'Tis a wondrous thing - if oftimes a trifle dangerous, mayhap. And Master Kenyon hath a tendency to speak before he has considered his words."
The buck sighed and nodded.
"He said I was easy. Well, not so much said it, as implied it." His shoulders drooped as he lowered his eyes. "I shouldn't have got annoyed. After all, it's true."
"No, it is not. I think rather that thou wast overcome by the kindness of others - perhaps a little too much, to allow thyself to be used so… but 'twas never with violence. Was it?"
"No, not after that first time…" He could have bitten his tongue. Checkmate inclined his head, brow furrowed in growing anger.
"Who treated thee so? Terry, or Jaeger?"
"No, neither!" Dik Dik hastened to explain. "They've never hurt me. Well, not deliberately."
"Then who was't?"
"… Eskara…"
Checkmate stared at him. Eyes brimming, the buck folded his hands in his lap.
"And it was my fault. I was vain, and arrogant, and I believed I could win…"
"And he claimed his prize from thy hide. Thy hindquarters, rather."
Dik Dik nodded miserably. Checkmate was silent for a moment, then rose to his feet, extending a hand to his companion.
"Come. Let us go to bed."
The buck blinked.
"You… still want me?"
"Who could not? Thou art a noble creature - misused and misunderstood, indeed, but a true friend nonetheless."
Overcome with emotion, Dik Dik followed Checkmate into the bedroom…The chessmaster surely learned quickly, Dik Dik thought vaguely to himself as he slumped panting over the broad chest below him, quivering from the intensity of his orgasm. Checkmate was still buried in his body, hips thrusting powerfully upwards, turquoise eyes wide and intent on his bedmate's face: he groaned as he came, every muscle clenching, strong, elegant hands pulling Dik Dik to him. They lay quietly for a long moment, breath mingling as they kissed, then Checkmate shifted awkwardly, wincing. The buck pulled himself up quickly, straddling his partner's hips as the chessmaster slipped from his body, regarding him worriedly.
"You're hurting? Where? Can I do anything?"
"… 'tis naught." He moved slightly, then pulled the buck back down, nuzzling Dik Dik's neck. "What wilt thou do?"
"About what?"
"About thy lovers, and thy situation."
"I don't know." And I don't want to think about it, not now, please, not here.
Checkmate stroked his back idly.
"Wouldst like me to help?"
Dik Dik lifted his head to gaze into half-closed turquoise eyes.
"I… no… I must… do it myself…"
The chessmaster stroked his face.
"There is no need. I wish to help thee."
"But… what could you do?"
"'Tis, I believe, a matter of convincing thy partners that they should value thee as though deservest. Wilt allow me to pay court to thee?"
Dik Dik froze, unsure that he'd understood the words correctly.
"Checkmate…?"
The chessmaster slid a hand around the back of the buck's neck, forefinger making small circles through the dense pelt, and smiled enigmatically.
"Pay court to thee. Pamper thee. Woo thee."
And Dik Dik, too afraid to ask whether he was in earnest or only thinking to make the others jealous, simply nodded.
© 2004 January 12th Joules Taylor
© 2001-2004 WordWrights
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