Spliced: Part 1, Chapter 7 (End of Part 1)

[flighty_dreams]

TITLE: Spliced, Part 1, Chapter 7
AUTHOR: flighty_dreams
WARNINGS: NC-17, most definitely. slavefic. scifi setting. M/m.
WORD COUNT:  1,463
SUMMARY:  Part 1. A businessman finds exactly what he wants at a slave market. Or does he?
NOTES:  Last chapter of Part 1. Not sure when the next update will be.

 

Chapter Seven

 
                Months of old Earth time—the standard measure used amongst the AP--passed, and he and his pet fell into a routine. He kept the Andorian on a tight leash, not giving him freedom to do much. Sensing silent protest from the slave at times, he felt it wiser to be strict with him. It was better for there to be no misunderstanding about the pet’s place in the household. He didn’t think the slave minded too much; he always obeyed Matt’s commands, and was easily aroused by any of his master’s play. Perhaps some of that was just his Andorian blood, but he knew that the fire that continued to burn between them in bed wasn’t a simple matter of genes or training. The slave had told him in confidence that he’d never felt such desire for a master before, and he’d made sure Min was being honest and not just flattering him.

In the first month he owned Min, he became accustomed to the occasional angry flashes that flickered in the pet’s eyes, showing him that the Andorian was not a simpleton without thoughts of his own. Those sparks aroused him further, intriguing him and bringing out his need to fight and defeat his pet. He wanted them to never go away, even though the slave usually lost their battles.

It added extra spice to their relationship—that ashen excitement Hollis had mentioned. Matt had vehemently denied liking it at first, but reluctantly he had to admit, at least to himself, that he enjoyed his tussles with Min. At least the ones that took place in bed. Sometimes the Andorian’s skills enabled him to win, when they fought to out-arouse each other. Min was a fast learner, and he quickly found all of Matt’s sensitive spots and exploited them when given the chance. Of course, Matt could ensure a victory if he decided to restrain Min, but it seemed a hollow one when done in mid-battle.

Perhaps the slave went through phases? In the six months he’d had Min, the Andorian had been feisty that first month or two, and then gradually calmed over the next few months. For three months after that beating he’d given Min over his attitude about the books, it was hard to arouse even a flicker in his eyes. Just as Matt had started feeling bored with the arrangement, the fire had returned a few weeks ago. It was slow at first, but now it was pretty built up. Every night was a fight now, and it was incredibly exhilarating.

Too bad he was leaving on a business trip for a few days. Normally he might have brought Min with him, but with his pet acting like this lately it would be too much added stress to keep an eye on him. Better to leave him at home under Sadie’s watchful eye and focus on business.

Finished with his packing, he walked over to the sofa to join Min in front of the vid screen. His pet was frowning at the news report, and he wondered why. He speculated whether the text on the screen held key information Min was missing, since Andorians couldn’t read. Looking at the screen, he saw it was also a complex story on the current Monlean recession, using various business terms. “It’s just talking about how the economy’s doing, pet. Nothing for you to worry about.” Even from the profile view of Min that he had, he saw the slave’s face go blank. He often did that, hiding all reaction, and Matt could never figure out why or what exactly triggered it.

“Anyways,” he continued, “come up here, Min.” He patted a hand next to him on the couch. Min climbed up next to him and he embraced his pet, hugging him close. He closed his eyes and breathed in the Andorian’s rich scent. Then Matt pulled away just enough to turn his head to kiss Min. It was sweet, and gentle, and affectionate. He moved back and tugged playfully at a strand of raven hair, then brushed Min’s nose with a fingertip. “Alright, time for me to go. I’ll be back in three days, pet. You’ll see me again before you know it.” He smiled at Min, but when the slave’s eyes rose to meet his, there was some emotion swirling in them that he couldn’t identify.

Min leaned forward swiftly and captured his lips again, his arms tightening around Matt. He returned the kiss fiercely, and felt both of them heating up. He broke it off with a chuckle, saying, “No matter how many times you do that, I still have to go, Min. But don’t worry, we’ll continue this soon.” He stroked Min’s cheek one more time, and then got up. As he stopped in the doorway, suitcase in hand, he looked back at the Andorian one more time. There was that emotion he couldn’t read again. Sadness, perhaps? His pet was going to miss him, and that thought made something in him lighter.

 

*          *          *

 
              Matt’s trip was uneventful until he received the call from Sadie. “Sir, I don’t know how to tell you this, but…” she broke off hesitantly, her face on the vid screen looking distraught.

“What happened?” he demanded anxiously.

“It’s about Min.” Once again, she paused.

“Min? Did something happen to him?” Worry ate at his gut.

“Well, I don’t know, Matt. He’s disappeared.”

“What! What do you mean, disappeared?” Grief and concern washed through him. Had someone taken Min?

“Your room was clean, no sign of struggle. He just wasn’t there. And everything was folded up, arranged.”

Min wasn’t the neatest of slaves, but he’d trained him to keep things in order, since Matt preferred it that way. So there was nothing odd about his room being clean, it just showed that no one had come in and dragged a struggling Min out the door. Unless they’d drugged him, then there would be no sign. “Did anyone sense any intruders? Hear anything strange?” he asked, hoping for clues.

“No one heard anything,” she answered despondently.

“Have you checked the rest of the house? The grounds? Maybe he’s just being stupid and hid somewhere.” Matt hoped that was the case.

“Yes, we searched all of it before I called. I wanted to make sure he wasn’t right here before I worried you. But he’s not,” she said anxiously.

Matt flashed back to Min’s odd behavior lately. The fire in his eyes, and had there been a slight hesitation sometimes before he obeyed? Or was he imagining that? Matt froze, reluctant to say it aloud. But finally he asked, “Do you think he ran away?”

Sadie hurried to relieve him. “He’s a little different from the other Andorians I’ve seen. You know I have my complaints about him not being respectful enough sometimes. But he still is Andorian. A rebellious Andorian is unheard of. And even if he did decide to run, where could he possibly go? Slaves, much less Andorians, can’t make it on their own, they just aren’t made that way, and they’re easily detected. Nothing’s missing, so he doesn’t even have any money. So if he did run, he won’t make it very far. We’ll find him.”

“You’re right, we will.” Her words comforted him, and actually drove him to hope Min had run, rather than having been taken. A runaway Andorian they could find; a stolen slave resold on the black market would be harder to trace. Unless he ran away and then was caught by black market traders… he sure hoped the dealers didn’t encounter him.

He cut his business short, impatient to return home and look for clues. Also, he called the authorities and reported the missing slave. Whether Min had been stolen or escaped, he wanted people keeping an eye out for him.

Unfortunately, his search of the house revealed nothing new. Anger and worry fought for equal attention as he wondered what had happened. He thought back to the last time he’d seen Min. That strange expression on his face—had it been goodbye? If so, it meant the slave had known they would soon be apart, and he had planned to escape. The very thought of it incensed him. How dare the ashen bastard think he could run off? He paced back and forth and slowly calmed himself. Perhaps he was re-interpreting it to suit the current situation. Maybe the clone had just wanted to tell him something, and refrained. He really wasn’t sure what Min had been thinking when he left, and now he wished more than anything that he’d asked him. It had become vitally important, but it was too late.

All that remained were worry and an empty bed.

~         ~         ~

Part One -  End.
On to Part 2