Spliced: Part 4 - Chapter 13B
Dec. 14th, 2009 03:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
flighty_dreamsAUTHOR:
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flighty_dreams WARNINGS: NC-17. slavefic. scifi setting. M/m.
WORD COUNT: 4,442 (for this half of 4.13)
SUMMARY: In a world where clones are made and sold as commodities, Matt Muldane can't resist purchasing an intriguing slave.
NOTES: The index to this story available here. Thanks to
aurila and tuawahine !FEEDBACK: Always welcome, even if it's just to say that you read it.
“So how is this going to work?”
From his desk, Matt looked over at Min, who was leaning against the bedroom door. “You swore to be honest.”
“Yeah, so I won’t lie. That doesn’t mean I can answer anything you ask. I have my family to protect. You can’t ask for say, my brother’s address, and expect an answer.”
“That isn’t what we agreed to.” But Matt wasn’t surprised. He’d never truly expected full disclosure from Min.
“We agreed I wouldn’t lie. Whether I could refuse to answer a question or not wasn’t covered.”
Of course. Matt was somehow both annoyed and amused. He’d known Min would find some way to wriggle out of this—he was too paranoid to do otherwise. Yesterday he would’ve let his anger override his reason, but today he’d faced the facts. Expecting Min to tell him everything at once was unrealistic.
Crossing his arms, Min sighed. “Matt, if it’s just about me, I’ll answer.”
Matt frowned. Those were easy enough conditions for Min to sidestep quite a bit. Any answers were progress in getting the clone to trust him though, and he had six months to find out all he wanted about Min. Unfortunately, patience was not one of his strengths.
“You’ll still get answers, Matt, just not all of the ones you want.” From his tone, the clone thought this was a great concession on his part.
“And I’m telling you that’s not what we agreed on,” Matt said, more for the sake of argument than anything else. He couldn’t let Min think he’d just go along with whatever he wanted.
Min rubbed his eyes. “Trust has to be earned, Matt.”
“It damn well does.” The words slipped out harsher than Matt had intended. He scowled, struggling to repress his natural impatience. Some answers were better than none. “Why is everything always so complicated with you?”
“I was just thinking the same thing.”
The response came out tired rather than snide, and Matt found himself studying Min. He didn’t have to give the Andorian any allowances. He was still adjusting to the idea of compromising with a clone he legally owned. Instead of fighting for every concession he received, he should’ve been obeyed. But so far compromising was certainly achieving better results than giving Min orders.
Apparently feeling he’d gotten Matt’s agreement—or the closest thing he was going to get to it—Min walked over to the small table. Grabbing one of the chairs, he pulled it closer to the desk and straddled it, facing Matt with his arms flat across the square back. Matt had never seen him sit like that, but he had to admit it was so… Alex. The other name slipped in unconsciously, because while he could never imagine the old Min doing that, it fit perfectly with the new version’s attitude. His next traitorous thought, that the cocky attitude was sexy at times—especially when it involved Min spreading his legs like that—was entirely unwelcome.
He shoved the idea away as if it burned him. It was time to get started. “How old are you?”
There was only a slight hesitation. “Twenty-eight.”
That fit with Kimbel’s assessment, but it was nice to have an exact number.
“Out there,” Matt gestured vaguely, “what did you do for a living?” Part of him still found it a ludicrous idea in regards to a slave, but he knew it applied here.
Min straightened, his tension ratcheting up. Seeing him pinned down by his own promises was an entertaining sight. He recovered though, flashing a grin. “I’m in the shipping business too, actually.”
That was some coincidence. “Doing what?”
“Nothing fancy. I work with cargo.”
It was still too vague, but Matt thought about how well-traveled Min seemed. “Transporting it?”
“Yes.”
Matt continued asking him more questions regarding his work. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected Min’s profession to be, but it hadn’t been this. For all Min’s intelligence, he’d have thought Min would do something that required more brain power than hauling cargo. But he was a fugitive, and had to keep a low profile. Matt supposed staying on the move helped prevent exposure as a runaway slave. But in other ways it was risky.
“So you go through secpoints often?” Every spaceport had one.
“I have it down to a fine art,” Min said with a crooked smile.
“Arrogance. You could’ve gotten your ass caught,” Matt retorted, concern sharpening his tone. Depending on where he was discovered, the results would be varying degrees of disastrous.
“I won’t let fear rule my life.”
“You should’ve been more cautious,” Matt replied, feeling like he was giving a lecture.
“I know. I am cautious. I know what precautions to take and what to avoid. I don’t go too far.”
“Like shooting and abducting someone in broad daylight? Very cautious.”
At least Min had the grace to blush. “An aberration, not the usual. I plead insanity brought on by contact with a certain Kartan businessman.”
Matt rolled his eyes, ignoring the teasing. “What about the people you work with? Do they know what you are?”
“Some of them do.”
Reaching the limits of what Min would reveal about his work soon after that, Matt dropped the subject in favor of one he found personally important.
“Were you involved with anyone?”
The lengthy pause that followed did nothing for Matt’s nerves. Eyes downcast, Min finally admitted, “I’m involved with someone now.”
Matt gritted his teeth, feeling something violent inside him struggling to emerge.
“He’s clean cut and attractive,” Min continued, gesturing with his hand, “about this tall, with brown hair, and currently sending me a death glare.”
Matt’s tension loosened, no longer at a breaking point. Warmed by the gentle teasing, his mouth curved as he met Min’s blue gaze. But the belated awareness that Min hadn’t answered his question, had distracted him instead, soured his mood again.
“Who did you have sex with while you were gone?”
Min put his head in his hands. “Muldane, let it go.”
Apparently Min didn’t know him as well as he thought. “No.”
“That question involves someone else.”
Matt didn’t let him off the hook. “Who was he to you?”
“A friend.”
“Could you be any less vague?” Matt snapped.
“And a co-worker.”
Matt pictured some burly cargo man pushing Min against a warehouse wall and fucking him. Or shoving Min to his knees to suck him off. The sudden urge to throw something—or preferably sucker punch the trespasser—assaulted him.
“Flame fucking all, and I thought that was a death glare before.” Min leaned back in his chair, watching him as if he were a lion escaped from its cage. “Calm down, Matt.”
Not in this lifetime. “You never told me how many times you fucked.”
Min rubbed the bridge of his nose, as if warding off a headache. “Ah yes, information that is bound to comfort you. Why do you stress yourself out like this?”
“I need to know.”
“Too bad. I’m not telling you,” Min said, his expression mulish.
“Why the fuck are you being so fucking stubborn?”
The clone blinked, startled by his vehemence. “Because it’s enough to know it happened. No good will come out of getting all the details. This whole subject is hurtful to you.”
“I’m fucking pissed, I am not…” Matt trailed off, unable to finish the denial. He did feel hurt that Min had uncaringly left him and gone off and fucked someone else, as if Matt had never meant anything to him—or he hadn’t had any obligation to his master.
Min was watching him, probably seeing more than Matt wanted him to. “It’s over anyway. We’ve gone our separate ways.”
Finally some good news. Matt was relieved to hear that much. He struggled to rein back his anger, disturbed by how easily Min could always make him lose his temper.
A heavy silence followed, broken when Min asked, “So what else?”
“No, we aren’t done with this topic,” Matt told him, his mouth firming.
“Yes, we are,” Min countered just as decisively. “I’m protecting you from yourself.”
The concern in his eyes threw Matt off balance. He would’ve thought Min would avoid the subject out of fear of incurring his ire, but he was more anxious than fearful.
“Fine,” Matt agreed reluctantly, deciding he would get the details eventually. “But we aren’t done with this.”
Arms spread across the back of the chair, Min laid his head down on them. Matt studied him absently, taking in the tousled dark hair and the well-formed limbs as he considered other questions. After the last topic, he’d rather deal with a minor thing next.
There was something that had bothered him for a while now. “When you were first here, you used to curse in Pyrunian.”
“Revk na’des.” A slight smile from Min.
“Yes.” Matt’s eyes narrowed. “Now it’s Tyrran curses. What’s with that?”
Min’s gaze turned distant. “When I escaped, I needed to speak differently. Not just accent, but attitude, gestures. I figured a neutral accent for speaking Common would work best, not pinpointing to people where I was from, but I still needed something to swear with. I chose Tyrran.”
“So the Pyrunian was from before?” Matt asked, feeling on the cusp of another answer. “You’re from Pyrun originally?”
Min made a face. “Yes. Born and raised there.”
Matt asked a few more questions about his life on Pyrun and the lab there, but the clone didn’t add much more to Matt’s previous knowledge, presumably because he wasn’t the only one involved. Between what Min had already told him and the visit to Kimbel though, he already had a fair idea of what had gone on in that lab. And after the incident at dinner that first night, he was wary of pushing too hard on this subject.
Hollis did say to be careful with him. But there are some important things he’s not telling me.
“What happened with Kimbel?”
Min’s shoulders slumped. “Matt…”
“Tell me.”
“I wouldn’t demand a play by play of your doctor visits.”
“Because you know better, despite your general lack of manners.” Matt crossed his arms. “You are mine, my responsibility. I need to know about any issues you have.”
Min stood, glaring down at him. “I’m not anyone’s responsibility! I can take care of myself.”
“From that FS scan,” Matt drawled, “it’s clear you’ve done a great job of that so far.”
“I was a kid! I’m not helpless anymore.” With a disgusted growl, Min turned away, pacing across the room. Matt let him take a minute to calm himself. Finally the clone faced him again and said, “It’s a private matter.”
Frustrated, Matt studied his face, searching for insincerity. There was none. He remained torn, wanting to push but sensing Min wasn’t going to budge on this issue.
That’s the second thing he’s brought me to a standstill on. He wouldn’t be a pleasant adversary to face in a negotiation room.
“You need to offer a little trust,” Matt told him, changing his strategy.
Min’s smile was sad. “Someone has to, or we’ll never get anywhere.”
After a long pause, Min sat back down in the chair he’d vacated earlier. Raking his fingers through his short hair, he said, “I’ll tell you about something else you’re interested in. My other reason for coming back.”
An earthquake couldn’t have diverted Matt’s attention from Min then.
No words followed the pronouncement, the silence stretching between them like a bridge to nowhere, and Matt crossed his arms. The urge to prod Min was potent, a force increasing as the seconds passed, but he resisted with stringent self-control.
The clone sighed, and the soft sound seemed to crackle in the air around them. “You have such a grim look. I thought you’d be happy.”
“I am,” Matt admitted, voice cotton soft, “but you’re stalling.”
“Yeah, I guess I am.” Min gathered himself, then said wryly, “I might be in trouble, and not from just you.”
It took a second for the words to register, and another for Matt to note that his suspicions had been correct. Then came the wave of anger and concern. “From who?” he demanded.
“Remember those calls you got from Vendenza?” Min sketched out the details, revealing that there was no one named Kurtis Hayeston working for them. Matt’s worry increased at learning that someone unknown was very interested in Min. But another thought managed to override that.
“How did you know he called me? Were you spying on me?” Matt asked, outraged. The little voice that whispered, at least it proves Min is obsessed too, was determinedly ignored.
“No, I wasn’t,” the clone said with a shake of his head. “Remember that second call from Vendenza?”
“Yeah,” Matt said slowly.
The Andorian’s arctic eyes brightened as he grinned. “That was my brother.”
“What?!” Matt recalled the man’s older features, and his offensive demeanor. The attitude and use of a disguise certainly fit a relative of Min. “Ashen hell, was deception wired into both your genes?”
The clone grimaced. “Our childhood didn’t encourage honesty.”
Matt’s mind flashed back to Kimbel’s confirmation that an appallingly large number of Min’s injuries had occurred during childhood. It left him feeling sickened again.
“You mentioned to him that Vendenza had already called you,” Min went on, “and he got curious, so he looked Hayeston up. Or tried to.” He continued, telling Matt the conclusions they’d come to.
They knew worryingly little, and Min’s solution didn’t make Matt happy. “How is using yourself as bait a good idea?”
Unbelievably, Min looked amused. “You aren’t the only one with that opinion.”
“And yet you weren’t swayed,” Matt replied, tone dry.
Propping his chin on one hand, Min cocked his head. “You would rather I hadn’t come back?”
The sudden ferocity with which his heart cried out against that dizzied Matt. He sent Min a scathing glare, not dignifying that stupid question with a response.
And then something else he hadn’t considered made him go cold, the heat of his anger drowned by a wave of numbness. “So if not for this Hayeston, you wouldn’t have returned?”
Min bit his lip thoughtfully. “I don’t know. I think so, eventually, but I’m not sure.”
The one time I would’ve preferred a tactful lie, of course I don’t get one, Matt noted distantly. “So the other reasons you gave were lies?”
“No,” Min denied, his eyes incredibly earnest for such a skilled liar. “It’s not that simple. I’ll admit that Hayeston tipped the scales, but he doesn’t invalidate my other reasons. I do want to try again.”
Still too stunned to process everything, Matt merely said, “I see.”
Startled, the clone sent him a considering look before his gaze drifted to the desk, a sad smile on his face.
A strange feeling pierced the numbness as Matt realized that he was the one who had caused this unhappiness. “What?”
“I’m not used to you not arguing with me.”
Blood rushed to Matt’s face. It was time for a subject change. “Hayeston. So your plan was to come back here and what? Just sit around until he shows up?”
Min’s eyes darkened. “Well, I have ideas for ways to pass the time.”
Matt had some suggestions of his own, but the knowledge that someone was out there hunting his Min was sinking in, and there was no way he’d be distracted from that. Outrage swept the last of the numb feeling away. The Andorian would be taken from him over his dead body; he’d be prepared for anything this time. Needing to move around, he rose from the chair. Matt’s mind raced, pondering what measures to take, how he could better protect Min from this threat.
“Whatever you’re thinking right now, stop.”
The sharp words made him turn. “What?”
“Don’t sabotage this. This is why I was hesitant to tell you in the first place.”
Eyes narrowing, Matt focused on Min’s disapproving expression. “What do you mean?”
Still straddling the chair, Min straightened, gesturing as he spoke. “The advantage we have right now is that he doesn’t know we’re on to him. If you suddenly increase the security at your home and office, or whatever else you’re thinking, it’s a blatant sign that you’re suspicious or paranoid. It will encourage him to wait, and to be more careful in his approach. We want him to do less thinking, not more.”
“If we make ourselves harder to access than the Treasury, he won’t be able to reach you,” Matt pointed out.
The Andorian’s condescending look made Matt bristle. “Even if that were possible, if you make the house impregnable, then you just change the location where he makes his move. Better to let him underestimate us and move too recklessly.”
“I don’t care if he waits,” Matt snapped, “I don’t want to encourage him.”
Min bowed his head against the chair’s back, tucking it against his arms. “Matt,” he said softly, “short of finding him first, which I already tried, there’s no way to guarantee that he never appears.”
That gave Matt pause. “What would you have done if you found him?” Min couldn’t have handled this on his own.
That mask returned to the Andorian’s face, giving away nothing. “Depends on how big a threat he turned out to be.” Something about his tone was odd. “But we’d have dealt with it.”
We? Oh, he meant his family. Sudden disappointment made Matt say, “Well, we’ll deal with it now.”
The clone sent him a wry look. “I knew you’d insist on being involved.”
“Because I am involved. I’ll handle it.”
Min sobered. “I brought this problem to your door. I’m sorry for that, but you have to let me take point on this.”
Follow the Andorian’s lead? The idea was laughable. Min was more than any other clone he’d ever met but he was still-
“Muldane,” Min said, the name rolling off his tongue, “this is my area of expertise, not yours.”
“And what would that be exactly?” Matt asked, voice hardening.
“Intrigue.” A rueful grin. “Shady people.”
That last one Matt could believe. “I won’t take orders from you.”
“You know things that I don’t,” Min said, his eyes flashing angrily, “is it really so ridiculous that I have areas of expertise too? I was raised into intrigue.”
“So was I.” Kartan corporations stabbed each other in the back every day.
“Oh.” Min paused, for once at a loss for words. “I guess you were.”
“But I failed at it, while you obviously excelled,” Matt replied, letting his bitterness shine through.
“Matt, I wasn’t allowed to fail.” He caught the way Min’s hands curled.
It wasn’t the same—he couldn’t imagine the punishments Min had suffered for failure—and yet he still found himself confessing, “Neither was I.”
There was no mockery in Min’s gaze, only interest.
“I was disowned,” he said, resentment still lacing his tone, even after all these years.
Shock twisted Min’s features, as well as anger. “For being too honest?!”
“Well, not just that,” Matt amended. “I refused to spend my life in a sham marriage, lying to both myself and my wife.”
“Ah yes, I remember.” Min looked at him with sympathy, but then his mouth firmed as he reached up to touch the collar at his neck. “And yet you’d have me lie.”
“I-” There were so many things he could say, remarks about how Min was still a slave, or how lies were something Min must be used to, but he found himself tongue tied. It wasn’t just about Min’s social position, it was about the personality he was forced to conceal in public. Matt knew what it was like to conceal your true self, and he’d vowed never to endure it again.
The clone shook his head, taking a deep breath. “Never mind. I already spent six months here lying, what are some more? There is Hayeston to consider.”
Of course, can’t forget that. Matt would never know how much of Min’s return was based on actual feelings.
“Matt.” The soft tone drew his attention. “I’m sorry about what happened to you.”
Matt shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “It was a long time ago.”
“Not long enough.”
Flushing, Matt couldn’t deny that. Thankfully, Min sensed he didn’t want to talk about it anymore. They let the silence hang, until Matt asked, “Why were you so hesitant to tell me?”
Min bit his lip, unwilling to answer, and Matt remembered his earlier comment. “You said something about me sabotaging this.”
The clone rubbed at the bridge of his nose. “You don’t have a good track record for thinking rationally when I’m involved.”
That was Min’s attempt to be tactful? “Your diplomacy sucks.”
“Thanks.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Matt snapped.
Min groaned, hiding his face against his arms again. “I’m not saying you’re incompetent, just hot-headed.”
“Two traits which often go hand in hand. Once again, you’re a fountain of tact.”
Min sighed. “I give up. There’s no way to avoid blowing dust from my mouth.”
Pissed that the Andorian thought he’d be a bungling idiot about this, Matt glared at him in silence. Determined to prove him wrong, Matt considered the situation carefully. “Once we have something substantial, we should get the authorities involved.”
“What? No.”
“Why not?” They’d certainly be better equipped to handle this.
Min’s eyes blazed. “Because we don’t know how much Hayeston knows. If he were arrested, we don’t know what he’d tell the police.”
“There are records showing I bought and paid for you. They can’t legally take you away from me. Whatever he says won’t matter.”
Min rose abruptly from the chair, causing it to rock for a moment. He paced away from Matt before spinning on his heels. “It will matter if he convinces them I’m dangerous.”
“What, a ferocious Andorian? Please. They’ll never believe it.”
“What about a troublemaker? Or defective? I’m not willing to bet my life on them not being convinced of any of that.”
That statement, reminding him what was at stake, hit Matt like a blast of cold water. No, the thought of risking Min like that was unacceptable. If Hayeston made the police suspicious enough to do a thorough investigation of Min’s background, the holes in it would raise far too many questions.
“Fine, no cops. But how the hell do you expect to stop Hayeston without them?” When Min just gave him an uncomfortable look and started pacing again, Matt decided to spell out the obvious to the stubborn idiot. “You were trained as a spy. You ferreted out information and passed it along to your handlers. Along the way you also learned some self-defense, but I don’t see how these skills are going to help you with this.”
Min stopped near the window, looking out of it with his back to him. Matt wasn’t sure where the gut feeling came from, but it was too powerful to ignore. “What aren’t you telling me?”
The clone remained silent, so Matt approached him, trying to coax an answer out of him. “You promised to be more honest with me.”
Min’s fingers tightened on the windowsill, and a lengthy silence followed. His voice when it finally came was soft, but it carried in the quiet room. “We weren’t just trained as spies. We also were trained to kill when ordered to.”
“That’s impossible.” The automatic denial slipped out as Matt stared at him in shock.
No matter how harsh the training, you couldn’t change docile Andorians into killers. For practical reasons, violence had been bred out of all clones, but Andorians in particular were known for their passivity. And yet, as he thought of his encounter with Min on Festun, it was clear that Min had a vicious streak. Not for the first time, he wondered how that was possible. But he’d never believed Min would go so far as murdering someone. The killer instinct had to be trained into soldiers with constant repetition, until firing a gun became mindless habit. Had Min’s trainers employed a similar technique? It still seemed likely to fail with Andorians, but Min never had been a normal Andorian.
Unless they’d used that docile nature to train them to obey any order, no matter how counter to their other instincts. The instinct to obey pitted against their passivity. A horrid thought, but possible.
The Andorian’s tone was bitter. “I wish it were impossible.”
Matt thought of all the childhood injuries. He grabbed Min’s arm, turning him to face him. “How did they make Andorians into killers?”
His face blank, Min stared at him for a long time. “Knowing that, it doesn’t make you nervous?”
Perhaps it was arrogance, but he didn’t fear that Min would kill him. His rebellious Andorian had problems with restraint in other areas, but he wasn’t rabid. “No.”
“I’ve killed people,” Min said, guilt flashing in the blue eyes.
The confirmation that he’d actually committed the act, not just trained for it, did disturb Matt. But it didn’t make him want Min any less—instead he found himself creating excuses for it. Min had had no choice; he’d been following orders, and he was so brainwashed from the training that he didn’t know right from wrong.
No, that part was incorrect. Some of Min’s words on Festun came back to him:
They wanted us to hurt people that had done nothing to us. I couldn’t do it, so I ran.
Remorse had driven him to escape. No, Matt didn’t fear him—he’d taken drastic action to put a stop to these crimes.
But he was appalled that Min’s masters had trained slaves to kill free citizens. What the fuck had they been thinking? No wonder Min had trouble showing proper respect. He’d been taught it was okay to kill people when ordered to. It was a mind fuck he’d probably never recover from.
Min had half-turned away from him, his fingers clutching the edge of the windowsill again. Something in the hunched set of his shoulders aroused Matt’s protectiveness. Stepping closer, Matt hugged him, one arm curving around his waist. The Andorian’s hands settled tentatively on Matt’s hips, an unusual lack of certainty about him. Knuckles caressing his troubled face, Matt shifted his hand up to slide his fingers through Min’s hair. Their gazes met, and Matt watched with relief as distress gradually became surprise.
His voice soft, Matt said, “It’s not your fault. It’s the people that twisted your purpose who are really to blame, not you.”
Min’s face filled with regret once more. “I wish it were that simple.”
Chapter 14
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no subject
Date: 2009-12-14 09:11 pm (UTC)I like this moment a lot. It shows that even if he denies it, Matt is attracted to both sides of Min/Alex.
I love how much he is in love and denial at the same time. :D
Matt was somehow both annoyed and amused. He’d known Min would find some way to wriggle out of this—he was too paranoid to do otherwise.
Hee, annoyed and amused, I like that mix. It shows that Matt is slowly getting to really know Min, and it's also less overbearing than his previous attitude.
I wonder if that last line is leading up to another shocking revelation...
no subject
Date: 2009-12-14 10:53 pm (UTC)Yeah I like that combo too. :D Alex seems to have that affect on Matt!
And I'm wondering how Gill is doing... it seems we both have things to wonder about! :P Ahem.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-14 09:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-14 11:06 pm (UTC)And I'm glad you liked the humor. Thanks for commenting. :D
no subject
Date: 2009-12-14 10:00 pm (UTC)Finally some answers for Matt. I do think that he felt better after that, in one way, even if he didn't like all the answers, and even if he has got plenty more to worry about now. It did bring them closer and the last scene in front the window was touching... but yeah, nothing is ever as simple, is it?
no subject
Date: 2009-12-14 10:59 pm (UTC)Now why would we as authors ever let things be simple? It's much more fun to torment our characters! :D
At least Matt knew going in that he wouldn't like everything he heard...
Thanks for commenting!
no subject
Date: 2009-12-14 10:57 pm (UTC)*squeals* And right here, I just wanted to pick Min up and hug him. With perhaps a consoling pat on Matt's shoulder. Because he is totally outclassed at the moment.
Finally some good news.
Oh Matt. Matt, Matt, Matt.
I kept snorting with laughter until the end. That last bit had a very real poignancy to it - so much up/down, and then that quiet, tired moment.
Not an easy conversation for either of the boys. And yet they both did so well on the whole.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-14 11:09 pm (UTC)Glad you found the scene so amusing, and yet emotional as well. :-)
Shocker, right? It wasn't a complete disaster.
Thanks for the nice comments.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-15 12:22 am (UTC)Glad Matt finally got some answers, if not all the answers. I understand why Min doesn't trust him completely yet I just hope they will get to the point where he can, because I love them both.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-16 12:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-15 04:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-16 12:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-15 04:14 am (UTC)I just love this story to bits. I shall eagerly be awaiting the next installment.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-16 12:29 pm (UTC)Glad to hear it, thank you! :-)
no subject
Date: 2009-12-15 04:29 am (UTC)The first thing I thought with this sentence:
“We agreed I wouldn’t lie. Whether I could refuse to answer a question or not wasn’t covered.” was cheeky slave, that alone deserves a spanking! >:) And he keeps it going: “You’ll still get answers, Matt, just not all of the ones you want.” From his tone, the clone thought this was a great concession on his part. Did I hear correctly, he is making concessions to his master? >;P At least we still get reassurances that Matt still knows that he is just compromising with a clone he legally owned!!! *grin* I will stop now before I am burned at the stake! ;)
I liked the image of Alex (crap that came seriously, totally involuntary), I mean MIN, straddling the chair and I salute Matts iron will not also straddling that hem 'chair'!! >:)
The did you not take a vote of celibacy when you left me questioning is pure perfection!!! I must laugh at Matt here, and that is rare, I am normally a full Matt supporter, but please...your delicious Andorian sex-slave leaves you and he expects him to have no sex at all? I agree that the cheek of that slave to do ALL those things deserves punishment preferably in the way it occurred in 13A as if he hadn’t had any obligation to his master EXACTLY!!! But that Min (see I am using Min again, damn subconscious calling Min, Alex) did not have sex? Bwuahaha! Min's teasing and then shameless flirting describing that 'current involvement' is priceless! :)
The one time I would’ve preferred a tactful lie, of course I don’t get one, Matt noted distantly. Am I the only the one who felt bad for Matt here, you would think they would have bred some tact and empathy into that andorian genes, tsk tsk! :D
I like it always when we get background not only on Min but on Matt also! And it does show that he is starting to confide in Min, that is huge for Matt!
“And yet you’d have me lie.” Thank you that I wasnt the only one thinking, well technically its not a lie, he IS a slave! >:) Matt think so too!!! ;P
Even if in the back of my head I was already connecting spy to assassins, still it was a little bit shocking and this “I’ve killed people,” Min said, guilt flashing in the blue eyes. heartbreaking! It does comfort me that even with his flaws Matt wont back down on Min because of this! I think Min has serious self worth problems that arise of what he had to do in his past and someone who will still love him even if he does not say love and is terribly possessive (well own him, actually >:)) is worth staying with! :)
No wonder Min had trouble showing proper respect. I know the mood wasn't set for that, but this sentence made me laugh quite a while! Leave it to Matt to find the worst in Min being trained to kill, that its what screwed up his docility and proper behavior towards his master! I heartily approve of this thinking, that IS the worst side effect! >:)
And with this Their gazes met, and Matt watched with relief as distress gradually became surprise. I thought uhh they are going to have gentle love now, even if its off scene, but then we get this cliffhanger “I wish it were that simple.”!!! Gahh and with stuff like this you want to be 'off the hook' with Spliced? ;D I liked this chapter a lot, I say it if it wasn't obvious in the ranting! :)
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Date: 2009-12-17 04:29 pm (UTC)Haha, the name Alex slipped in for you too! So it is totally believable now that it also did for Matt. :D Yeah, I like that image too, of him sitting like that. *I* would have jumped him, Matt really did exercise some self-control. :P
Yeah, when you put it like that, it IS laughable for Matt to expect celibacy here. :P I mean especially when originally Alex had no plans to return. Why would he ever refrain then? ;-) And hey, the flirting is a good distraction tactic!
Pffft. If he used tact then it would've been a lie, and then Matt would have been mad at him for lying. Better a little pique that he was honest. :P I may have felt a tiny bit of sympathy for Matt though.
Yes, confiding is a good sign!
Hey, that's not the only thing Matt thought. :P He recognized that even if he is a slave, there is still lying involved.
Mmm, it seems Matt is the type who will not give up easily, even if he learns disturbing things about Alex.
Lol, exactly. All this serious stuff, and that's what Matt thinks of. I thought it was in character. *grin* And of course you would agree with him, sigh! It's almost as if you want a completely obedient Min... instead of contrary, unpredictable Min... where would be the fun in that? :P
Cliffhanger? Who me? I never do those! Yes, off the hook please! :P Time for a serving of Scotch next...
Thanks for all the comments. :-)
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Date: 2009-12-15 02:09 pm (UTC)Wonderful, wonderful chapter, I loved that they actually "talked".
That last line worries me though. :(
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Date: 2009-12-16 05:41 pm (UTC)Talking? They seem to forget you can do just that instead of arguing. ;-)
Thanks for reading. :-) And your icon is cute, aww!!
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Date: 2009-12-15 10:04 pm (UTC)“And I’m telling you that’s not what we agreed on,” Matt said, more for the sake of argument than anything else. He couldn’t let Min think he’d just go along with whatever he wanted.
Oh boys - still so stubborn! Both of them. :)
But so far compromising was certainly achieving better results than giving Min orders.
Wow, I’m glad to see Matt‘s learned his lesson and he is willing to think this way. :)
Grabbing one of the chairs, he pulled it closer to the desk and straddled it, facing Matt with his arms flat across the square back.
Oh my! I read this and I was thinking: „AWWW, this is so sexy! THIS is really how I love to see men – sitting this way, looking in my eyes.“ Then I read Matt's reaction and I had to smile. :)
Matt had never seen him sit like that, but he had to admit it was so… Alex.
I agree! :)
“Like shooting and abducting someone in broad daylight? Very cautious.”
At least Min had the grace to blush. “An aberration, not the usual. I plead insanity brought on by contact with a certain Kartan businessman.”
O-ow, here we go. Again. :D Poor Alex - Matt is probably never going to forget about it. *Sigh* I know, Alex was a little harsh on him on Festun. But Matt was much harsher on Min when he had owned him first time, IMO. :)
“He’s clean cut and attractive,” Min continued, gesturing with his hand, “about this tall, with brown hair, and currently sending me a death glare.”
That was priceless! :D
It took a second for the words to register, and another for Matt to note that his suspicions had been correct. Then came the wave of anger and concern. “From who?” he demanded.
I can understand Matt’s feeling here. And I like him being concerned about Alex this way.
And then something else he hadn’t considered made him go cold, the heat of his anger drowned by a wave of numbness. “So if not for this Hayeston, you wouldn’t have returned?”
Well, I see Matt in quite another light now. And I think he is not the same man as before Alex’s return. Anyway, truth be told, I wouldn’t blame Alex at all for not coming back then. (But so far I’m glad he did it :))
The one time I would’ve preferred a tactful lie, of course I don’t get one, Matt noted distantly.
OMG! :D Poor Matt.
You balanced drama, suspense and humor in this chapter so well! Great job!
Shock twisted Min’s features, as well as anger. “For being too honest?!”
“Well, not just that,” Matt amended. “I refused to spend my life in a sham marriage, lying to both myself and my wife.”
Oh, even some Matt's issue was mentioned. And this time it was Alex that was upset for it. They two just care about each other, I can see it. :)
“I-” There were so many things he could say, remarks about how Min was still a slave, or how lies were something Min must be used to, but he found himself tongue tied. It wasn’t just about Min’s social position, it was about the personality he was forced to conceal in public. Matt knew what it was like to conceal your true self, and he’d vowed never to endure it again.
I really appreciate these Matt’s thoughts. And it seems I like him more with every chapter. :)
The clone rubbed at the bridge of his nose. “You don’t have a good track record for thinking rationally when I’m involved.”
Well, that’s true, IMO. :)
The confirmation that he’d actually committed the act, not just trained for it, did disturb Matt. But it didn’t make him want Min any less—instead he found himself creating excuses for it. Min had had no choice; he’d been following orders, and he was so brainwashed from the training that he didn’t know right from wrong.
Creating excuses for it - another Matt’s thoughts about Min I was pleased to see. :)
Thank you very much for this excellently written update! You totally made my day!
The talk between Matt and Alex was very well done. Finally Matt found out the reason of Alex’s return. Still, there are so many issues – I can’t wait to read more about it in the next chapters.
LS.
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Date: 2009-12-17 04:38 pm (UTC)Matt has made a little progress, or at least it seems so. His concern and protectiveness of Alex is nice to see as well. And the thought of Alex never coming back does leave him vulnerable.
And yes, I like that pose too. I agree it's very Alex. :D
You balanced drama, suspense and humor in this chapter so well! Great job!
Thanks, I'm very glad to hear it. :-)
They do care, it's just buried underneath all that denial. :D
Happy to make your day. ;-) I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter and are still along for the ride on future chapters. Thanks for commenting, I enjoyed hearing your thoughts on the scene.
Spliced
Date: 2009-12-16 01:22 am (UTC)Re: Spliced
Date: 2009-12-16 05:43 pm (UTC)I'm glad you liked it though. Yeah it was good that Matt comforted him. Thanks for reading.
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Date: 2009-12-16 04:58 am (UTC)I really hope that Matt will be able to open up to new experiences, despite his upbringing, and accept Alex/Min as a partner instead of just a slave. Oh, the kinky-ness he could experience if Matt would just relax and let Alex take do the "dirty work" for a while.
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Date: 2009-12-16 05:46 pm (UTC)Lol, the possibilities if Matt freed his mind are fun to imagine. :DDDD
Thanks for commenting.
Spliced
Date: 2009-12-16 11:19 pm (UTC)Re: Spliced
Date: 2009-12-17 04:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-17 04:56 pm (UTC)Anyways, we found out a whole lot more about Min; and the interesting part is I find myself making up the same excuses for his actions as Matt does. It wasn't his fault; it's all his employers, etc. and so I really enjoyed how you made Min deny that or at least nuance it: once again, you make it plain things aren't black and white and I think that's definitely one of you strong points with you characters. They're extremely real and layered.
Plus, I really enjoyed the direction their conversation took and, although I usually find Matt to be the childish, brash partner in the relationship, I felt he was entirely right when he said Alex wasn't very diplomatic :p
Can't wait to find out more about what's happening/happened to Min! And go Matt for you efforts with self control... you're gonna need them :p
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Date: 2009-12-17 07:22 pm (UTC)And sure, by all means rec it, thank you. I'm always happy to get new readers. :D (And often curious how people found my writings.)
Yeah, it's interesting how we are more willing to be understanding/forgiving of the sins of characters we like, rather than random character X, even if they did the exact same thing. I felt Alex did need to deny Matt's easy explanation. It was too convenient.
You can draw a comparison here to soldiers, for example. They are out there on the battlefield, killing under orders. So the responsibility for who they kill lies with their superiors, but it is still them that actually pulled the trigger. So it's understandable that Min, like many soldiers returned from war, would still be haunted by the past. It wasn't his choice, but he still feels some responsibility (and guilt) for it.
Lol, yeah Alex wasn't diplomatic. To be fair though, I'd say with Matt being Matt, it's understandable that sometimes its hard to be diplomatic with him. It's not like Matt is spending a lot of time worrying over being diplomatic to Alex. :P
And go Matt for your efforts with self control... you're gonna need them :p
*smacks Matt* Behave!! XD (Sadly I don't think that will work.) Thanks for the compliments about the characters, and the rec! :-)
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Date: 2009-12-27 04:07 pm (UTC)i HATE it when i miss your updates .
* hugs you for the update *
so , m/a finally told matt about the people trying to find him . and theres * squeals * progress ! trust ! lots of long silences where m/a decides what to say ! ( ok , maybe the last one didnt really fit in XD )
and * covers eyes * more about childhood torture/punishment ! ( why am i covering my eyes ? i LOVE torture ! did you read the turn-of-the-century-trough or something by duskpeterson ??? did i mention i am a SICK person ?? or maybe i just like non-con ... ok , seriously RT and too much info sorry )
Min’s face filled with regret once more. “I wish it were that simple.”
evil cliffie , much ? what did he mean , that simple .. or .. not ....
sorry the comment is pretty short , its 12:06 now . at night . me sleepy . Night . * hugs *
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Date: 2010-01-05 02:01 pm (UTC)Progress? Trust? I sure hope so. XD And hey he had to think over his words carefully and decide what to say (or not)!
I've read some duskpeterson but I don't think I've read that one. Hmmm. And don't worry, apparently I'm a sick person too, putting all this childhood torture stuff into the story. XD
*whistles innocently* Cliffie? I have no idea what you're talking about. >:D
No worries, I appreciate you commenting anyway! Thanks. Hope you got some rest.
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Date: 2010-01-06 12:45 pm (UTC)the turn-of-the-trough thing(its actually a sort of series ??i dunno how to explain it . its on the high bookshelf , i think ) by duskpeterson ..... try reading eternal dungeon especially . i LOVE chap 4 !!
'Progress? Trust? I sure hope so. XD And hey he had to think over his words carefully and decide what to say (or not)!'
you're going *hinthint* at me aren't you ? * hugs * thanks for thinking 'his' words carefully through all this time ! :)
'*whistles innocently* Cliffie? I have no idea what you're talking about. >:D'
*whistles innocently back * really , im not waiting for your story and going 'today is the day , today is the day!' whenever i go into the friends page .
Really.
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Date: 2010-01-07 04:33 pm (UTC)Yeah, I need to go back thru dusk peterson's stories when I have some time. I know there is good stuff in there. :)
Lol you saw thru me there. Yes, I do have to think carefully with the boys. It's so easy for them to turn a productive conversation into an argument! :P
Aww, sorry to leave you so anxious. I'll do my best to hurry. XD
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Date: 2010-02-06 04:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-12 12:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-11 02:56 pm (UTC)Epic love. I usually avoid WIP's like a plague, because I HATE waiting to see what has happened, but as usual, recs from this particular friend make me break that rule and it has, damnit, happened again.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. You have an excellent grasp on your characterization. I was skeptical when I first realized that Alex was Min and the dual personality thing made me wary, but you've written it so beautifully and it just fits in with the story perfectly that I can't fault it in any way now that I've read through.
As much as I enjoyed Min/Matt in the beginning I ADORE Min/Alex/Matt even more and I am delighted with the learning curve their relationship is going through. (I can always tell when I love a pairing when I want to SHAKE them both very hard and tell them off! ;) )
Thank you so much for sharing thing and now I think I shall have to poke around and see what else you've written while I anxiously wait for the next installment!
Edited for spelling, because it's hard at 7am when you've been up all night reading, yo. ;)
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Date: 2010-02-12 12:48 pm (UTC)I do understand hating the wait, but I'm glad you decided to give the story a try anyway. At least there's a lot of story posted already.
I'll admit I was afraid that some people might not buy into the dual persona thing, but I went with it anyway because I felt it was true to the character. I'm glad to hear that it did work for you in the end.
Oh yes, they have a lot to learn, and both need a good shaking lol. And I feel the same way--as much as I enjoyed writing Min/Matt together at the beginning, what I really love is how they are now. So much more fun this way. :D
You're welcome. Alas, besides a couple random fanfics, I have no finished stories up on my LJ, only WIPs. What can I say, I'm a little ADD. I DO intend on finishing them all though!
Anyways, thanks for commenting. I always enjoy chatting about the boys. :-)
Please Please Please ...
Date: 2010-02-24 01:16 am (UTC)really enjoyable fiction with a great plot.
Just advise watching etc and 100% and similar colloquiallisms, because I dont think Min/Matt would use them, and they disrupt the flow.
otherwise brilliant.
~A
Re: Please Please Please ...
Date: 2010-02-24 04:45 pm (UTC)Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the story, and I'll keep that in mind. I'll add it to the list of things I need to go back and correct after I finally finish the story! ;-)
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Date: 2010-02-25 07:45 pm (UTC)Thank you and can't wait for your next update!
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Date: 2010-02-26 01:58 pm (UTC)Yeah I know what you mean--I love some scifi series, but I find it hard to get into really science heavy scifi novels. Worldbuilding is wonderful, but sometimes it's too much, when the story gets bogged down in so many details. I won't apologize for depriving you of sleep--I'm just glad I can captivate people enough to forgo sleep! I've been in the same place with other people's stories. ;-)
That's so nice to hear, that you found reading it a pleasure. And thanks for commenting; I enjoy hearing people's thoughts on the story.
Hopefully I'll update within the next week.