Spliced: Part 1, Chapter 5b

[flighty_dreams]

TITLE: Spliced, Part 1, Chapter 5b
AUTHOR: flighty_dreams
WARNINGS: NC-17, most definitely. slavefic. scifi setting. M/m.
WORD COUNT: 5,067
SUMMARY:  Part 1. A businessman finds exactly what he wants at a slave market. Or does he?
NOTES:  Second and biggest chunk of the chapter.

Once he heard the beep of the alarm as they left the house, Min rose from his uncomfortable position. His legs ached, especially his knees, but he sighed with relief as he gradually stretched them out. More comfortable now, he turned back to look at Nuit.

He’d never been alone with the other slave before, and he’d never been bold enough to initiate conversation in their masters’ presence. So they’d never spoken, and he wondered what to say to him. Then again, maybe that wouldn’t be so hard, because he couldn’t help asking, “Are you just going to stay like that?”

Nuit was still kneeling in the same place. He lifted his eyes to meet Min’s when he spoke to him, but didn’t stand up. He shrugged his shoulders, making no other reply. Min frowned, speculating whether Nuit was against talking too. An idea forming, he let his expression grow sad. “You aren’t going to talk to me either?” he asked in as pitiful a tone as he could muster.

The solemnity of Nuit’s face finally cracked a bit, his eyes growing troubled. Min perceived that he didn’t know how to deal with a situation like this, but Min kept his expression the same, not revealing his inner thoughts.

Faced with needy, arctic-blue eyes and pouty lips against milky skin, Nuit didn’t stand a chance. He weakened, and Min felt a thrill of satisfaction as Nuit finally spoke. “I guess, if you want, I’ll talk.” His tone was hesitant and obviously uncertain.

Meanwhile Min was certain he did want to hear more. “Yes, please,” he replied, keeping his tone soft and unthreatening. It would be a relief to speak to someone of his own station, who didn’t force him to be aware of proper protocol at all times. It had been too long.

When Nuit didn’t say anything else, and didn’t move from the corner, Min realized he’d have to carry this conversation. “How long have you been with Hollis?” He figured that was a safe enough question.

“Almost a year,” Nuit answered calmly. No further words came, and he still didn’t move.

“You really aren’t going to get up?” Min asked, still wondering about it.

“Why would I? The floor is the same everywhere,” he said to the Andorian, glancing around the room. Only something in his eyes told Min that inwardly he was frowning.

Min smiled with amusement. Facing someone with such a limited mindset pushed him to do something out of the ordinary. Breaking character he said, “But the sofa is clearly more comfortable.” To emphasize his point, he walked over to the couch and sat down on top of it, putting his feet up on the table for good measure.

Only the stiffening of his limbs betrayed Nuit’s shock. “You can’t do that.” The words were tinged with disbelief.

“I just did,” Min said humorously. Glancing down at the table, he looked at the half-full glasses that Muldane and Hollis had left behind in their rush. Part of him was tempted to finish off the drinks for them, but he knew that would really appall Nuit. And he didn’t know whether Nuit would say something to Hollis later, who would then inform his master. Best to avoid getting himself into too much trouble when he could avoid it. But being punished for sitting on the couch he could live with. In fact, it might even add some spice to his relationship with his master.

“But,” Nuit stammered, “but your master said not to do that.”

Sighing, he got up before he offended the other slave even more. He crossed back over to Nuit, sitting down on the floor in front of him. He sat with his legs crossed, refusing to kneel when it wasn’t necessary. “I know he did, but sometimes it’s good to take a chance. To live a little bit,” he encouraged, trying to catch Nuit’s eye.

The other slave shook his head, blatantly disagreeing with him. “It’s not right. They take care of us, and we serve. We have to obey.”

One of Min’s brows rose critically at the uncompromising statement. “That sounds like something you heard in training.”

Nuit’s face closed back up, his features turning blank. So that’s what it looks like when I do that, Min thought silently. He hastened to reassure the other slave, “I didn’t mean that as an insult. Just telling you what I think.”

“What you think?” Nuit sounded doubtful that their opinions meant anything.

“Nuit,” Min said, his expression firming and his voice turning urgent as he struggled to convey the importance of this, “Don’t let them trick you into thinking you don’t matter.”

“But-” Nuit protested, stopping as Min shook his head vehemently.

“That they think it is bad enough, don’t let it spread to you.”

This time Nuit’s frown was actually visible. “I don’t understand.”

Min grimaced, searching for a good way to explain what he meant. After a minute he finally said, “I’m not saying ‘don’t serve’. Yes, we were bred and trained to serve and obey, and that’s fine. It’s our calling, what we were created to do. But remember that there is only one of you in the entire ‘verse. I don’t care if they made ten other clones that look just like you. It’s not just about what you look like, it’s about your actions and what you’ve experienced—your life. And it’s about the effect you leave on other people. Every person you meet, you have a chance to mark their life in some way, even if it’s just a memory. But if you never take a chance on anything, you won’t leave anything noticeable behind for people to remember.”

Nuit stayed quiet, and Min watched him think his words over. Finally he said, “What does this have to do with sitting on the couch?”

Min laughed, pleased to see he’d really thought about it. Yes, Nuit was smarter than he appeared. “Well,” he replied, “ten years from now, Matt Muldane will still remember the Andorian slave that wouldn’t stay off his couch. And you’ll remember the bizarre Andorian that wouldn’t listen to his master, and told you all these weird things.”

Understanding flashed in Nuit’s eyes, and finally a genuine smile curved his lips. “So I can affect people’s lives?”

“Yes.” Min grinned back at him. “I think you’ve already affected Hollis’ life.”

“Really?” Nuit asked, clearly surprised.

“Yes, really. He seems to be pretty attached to you,” Min answered, watching Nuit’s smile linger.

“I’m glad,” the other slave said happily.

There was an air of innocence to him Min could no longer remember having, and he had to ask, “How old are you, Nuit?”

“You mean how long have I been active?” Nuit asked, puzzlement brushing aside his happy tone.

A fresh cut formed on Min’s soul when he heard the correction. “Yes,” he sighed, not bothering to argue. To him there was a big distinction between life and ‘activation’, but one fight at a time.

“Almost four years, I think,” Nuit responded. “What about you?”

“Ten years,” Min said easily.

“Oh,” Nuit said, registering the number.

Min wondered how high Nuit could count; most clones weren’t taught any number past ten during their comprehensive training. The moment of first awareness came to clones at ‘activation’, when they awakened fully grown. Once activated, they were trained for months in standard programs that made them ready to serve in society. The trainers made sure they could behave, walk and speak correctly during that year or so of training. They didn’t concern themselves with teaching slaves numbers or letters. Any number past ten was generally deemed beyond a slave’s mental capacity.

Consequently, once a slave reached ten years, then that was usually the age they told everyone who asked, since they didn’t know any higher numbers. Although Min could count higher, it wouldn’t be prudent to reveal that to Nuit.

“Do you know how long you’ve been ten?” Nuit asked, showing unusual perception. The more clever slaves started counting over again from ten, which meant they could give a more accurate answer when asked how long they’d been active.

Min shrugged at Nuit with practiced casualness. “Not that long.”

Looking around the room in the silence that followed, he caught sight of the glasses on the table in front of the sofa again. His master wouldn’t be pleased if they were still there when he returned. Min stood up slowly and walked over to them, picking them up and bringing them over to the bar against the opposite wall. He pulled out a small tray from the side compartment and stacked the two glasses, along with a few others the men had used earlier, on top of it.

“I’ll be right back,” he told Nuit, who was watching him intently. He balanced the small tray on his arm with the ease of experience and headed for the door. Walking down the hallway, within a minute he had reached the kitchen, Sadie’s domain. Stopping outside the door, he could hear the two women chattering inside.

Min had been with Muldane about a month, and Sadie hadn’t warmed up to him at all. She held onto her Kartan beliefs regarding the treatment of slaves the way a bounty hunter clutched a captured fugitive. Meanwhile, she adored Muldane and couldn’t have been nicer to him. She thought credits shot from his ass, to use a Tyrran trader saying. Of course, the recent couch incident hadn’t helped matters when it came to her opinion of him. Knowing it would be wise not to anger the woman, he knocked respectfully on the door. He knew she wouldn’t want him barging in unannounced. Whenever Muldane sent him to the kitchen, Min always made sure to knock first.

The talking inside ceased, and a moment or two later the door swung open. He felt the older woman staring at him hostilely, but he kept his gaze lowered meekly, focusing on her long skirt.

She huffed expressively, unmoved by his show of respect. “Yes, slave?”

She wasn’t going to make this easy, was she? “I collected these to be washed, madam,” he explained politely, indicating the tray.

“There’s a sink and some soap right there, get to it then,” she ordered, gesturing into the kitchen.

Keeping his face carefully blank, he didn’t mention that he knew they had a high-powered dishwasher taking up almost half the kitchen. He clamped down on his anger, accepting reality. If this was what she wanted, there wasn’t much he could do about it. She would just complain to his master about anything he did wrong. At least with Tara around she usually couldn’t make up false accusations, although she’d already done that once. It had lead to the recent influx of new rules being imposed on him, like the couch rule.

“Sadie,” Tara spoke up, protesting.

“Little work never hurt anyone, Tara, and all this one does most days is lay in bed or watch the vid.”

Min walked past them, not saying a word. There was no point in explaining that he wasn’t actually given the option to do anything else. Not that he was really complaining; it was preferable to most other situations he’d experienced with other masters. At least a lazy lifestyle was better than being forced to do menial labor—or being passed around to his master’s friends.

She clucked her teeth, frowning at him. “Offensive is what it is, letting a slave walk the house or laze about when he’s not working. A slave that isn’t working shouldn’t be anywhere but a cage. On Karta this would never happen. Don’t know why Muldane lets this animal roam about his room.”

Grimly containing the rage and fear her description of slave life on Karta inspired, he washed the dishes as quickly as possible while still making sure Sadie could find no room for complaint with the job he’d done. He just wanted to get out of there before she came up with anything else for him to do—and before he had to listen to anymore of her ranting. After he finished, he turned around to head for the door but Sadie stopped him.

“Wait,” she told him, and he glanced up at her face long enough to see that she was scowling at him. He bit back a sigh and halted as ordered. “Matt’s not home. Are you supposed to be walking around the house?”

He blinked, giving her his best innocent look. “Master left me in the den with Mr. Hollis’ slave,” he explained patiently. An uneasy feeling flitted through him even though it was true. Until today, whenever he left the house Muldane had always left Min in the bedroom with orders to stay there, and he wondered if Sadie would believe him or not.

She frowned at him, clearly doubtful of his story. “Tara, did Matt tell you anything about this?”

Tara looked back and forth between them uncertainly. “No, but he and Mr. Hollis seemed to be in a big hurry, and Hollis didn’t have his slave with him. They passed by me and said something about being back tonight.”

“Mr. Hollis is coming back after to pick up Nuit,” Min elaborated.

“Nuit?” Sadie asked sharply.

“Mr. Hollis’ slave,” he answered, keeping his face blank again.

“Oh,” she said, making a dismissive gesture with her hand. She seemed to find it inconvenient that slaves had names, but perhaps that was Min’s own dislike of her projecting itself. She was quiet for a few seconds, and then her eyes narrowed and she asked, “You left him alone in the den?”

He stared at her blankly, wondering what issue she had with that. “Yes, ma’am.”

“You left someone else’s property unattended in Mr. Muldane’s house? If he makes a mess, you’re picking it up,” she threatened.

Min fought hard to keep his face straight as he tried to imagine Nuit running around tossing stuff. The clone wouldn’t even move without express permission. Hiding his inner amusement, and sensing an escape, he said, “I should go back there then and keep an eye on him.”

She scoffed at him, shifting her hostility back onto him, her usual target. “The one that really needs watching is you.”

He ignored her last contradictory comment. “May I go?” he asked politely, the urge to say something much ruder flaring briefly, but his training and his genes kept him in check.

“Yes, get out of my kitchen,” she told him, and Min was happy to comply. As he walked away he could hear her grumbling again about slaves belonging in cages.

When he returned to the den, Nuit was still in his corner, but he looked more uncomfortable than he had before. “You okay?” Min asked.

Nuit shrugged, not saying anything.

“Are your knees hurting? You can get up, you know. Our masters won’t be back until tonight,” Min told him, trying to persuade the younger slave.

Finally he succeeded. “All right,” the darker-skinned clone said reluctantly, rising from the floor. He stretched his limbs, getting the kinks out. Min watched, admiring the trim young body underneath the clothes, but he wasn’t tempted to do more than look. That path only led to misery.

Turning his head away, he grabbed the remote from the table and asked, “Does your master let you watch the vid?”

Nuit stopped moving and looked over at him. “He lets me watch it with him.”

Min nodded. His master did the same, and allowed him to watch it when he wasn’t home too. Min suspected it was so he didn’t grow too bored; a bored slave was more likely to misbehave, that Min knew personally. “What about when he’s not around?”

Nuit shrugged again. “He never said.”

“And you never asked.” Min made it a statement, not a question, and grunted softly. “Good enough for me,” he replied, pressing the power button. He lowered the volume while he got set up.

The Andorian grabbed two cushions off the couch and arranged them on the floor in front of it before settling down on them himself. If he couldn’t sit on the couch, then he’d bring the couch to him. Nuit’s lips pursed thoughtfully as he noted the action, but he didn’t say anything.

“He didn’t tell me I couldn’t move the cushions,” Min said, eyes twinkling with mischief.

Nuit frowned. “But he probably won’t like it.”

“I know. If he catches me he’ll probably yell and correct me later.”

“Then why do it?” Nuit asked curiously.

Min thought it over silently for a minute before saying, “Because I’m Andorian. I don’t mind a little punishment. And I can’t disobey my master outright, I won’t rebel. But I can sneak around his rules and make things interesting. I like this master, and I don’t want either of us to get bored.”

“Bored?” Nuit asked, his voice surprised. He approached Min, sitting on the hard floor near him.

Min met Nuit’s dark eyes with his own, his expression serious. “Yes, bored. If your master gets bored with you, eventually he’ll sell you.”

The other clone’s eyes widened. “Of course,” he told Min softly, his eyes growing sad. “How do you make sure they aren’t bored?”

“Well, he’s in control, so there’s only so much you can do, but get to know your master. Then you can figure out what he likes and doesn’t like, and what your limits are. How far can you push him? That sort of stuff.” Nuit nodded, listening raptly, so Min continued, “Figure out what gets a reaction out of him, but not too serious a reaction. You don’t want to totally drive him away or piss him off. And it can be a positive reaction, not just a negative one. Do something especially pleasing, that sort of thing.”

“So you figured out that disobeying some was the way to keep your master interested?”

Min smiled wryly. “I know he enjoys punishing me sometimes. If I behaved perfectly he’d do it anyway without giving a reason. I’d rather misbehave once in a while and control when it happens. And this way I keep him wary and interested.” He paused, and then added, “I don’t think you need the same approach with Hollis, from what I’ve seen of him.”

“What do you think I should do?” Nuit asked worriedly. “I don’t want him to sell me.”

The Andorian pondered how much advice he should give Nuit. He sympathized with the other clone’s situation, but some things a man had to learn for himself. “It’s really up to you,” he finally told him. “I don’t know much about your relationship with him in private, so I can’t tell you what to do. But I can tell you it’s not something you have to decide today or tomorrow. You have some time, and he’s had you almost a year already. Obviously you’re doing something right.”

Nuit brightened at the praise. “You think so?”

Min smiled gently. “Yes, I do. Just think over what pleases him, and what doesn’t, and I’m sure you’ll find an answer.”

“Thank you, Min,” Nuit said, using his name for the first time. His gratitude warmed Min’s heart, and he hoped he’d been able to pass something valuable on to the other clone.

Looking at Nuit sitting on the bare floor, he asked, “Does your master ever let you sit on the couch?”

Nuit was quiet for several seconds, and Min thought he wasn’t going to answer him. But finally he said, “He told me it’s okay in private, when no one’s around.”

A mischievous grin pulling at his lips, Min teased, “There’s no one around now.”

Nuit’s eyes widened a little. “But you’re here, and it’s someone else’s couch, not my master’s. And if he doesn’t let his own slave on it, I shouldn’t be on it either.”

Min sighed. “What did we just talk about?”

“You said I had some time to think about it, and Hollis wasn’t the same as your master. Do you really want me to risk angering your master?” Nuit looked worried.

“I just want you to try something new, that’s all. Have you ever done something without express permission?” Min asked, doubtful that he had.

Nuit was silent a minute, shifting through his memories. “Not really,” he finally answered, an edge of yearning in his voice.

“Now’s your chance,” Min told him encouragingly. He was such a bad influence.

“But-” Nuit protested, but Min could sense weakness.

The Andorian glanced at the vid screen, noting the program that was on. “Come on,” he said, beckoning Nuit closer, “just until this show is over. You probably won’t even get caught. And even if you did, think how surprised your master would be. He’d be more surprised than angry.”

“Okay, just for a little while.” With a sigh the other clone finally got up, and he timidly sat on the edge of the couch. Min eyed his position, noting that sitting like that probably wasn’t much more comfortable than the floor. But if he left him alone he knew the other clone would gradually relax, so he didn’t make any comments. Instead he busied himself repositioning the cushions at his back more comfortably. Ah, that was better.

After several minutes ticked by, he checked on Nuit and hid a smile when he saw the other clone leaning comfortably against the back of the sofa. Yep, he was corrupting the boy already.

The comedy show they watched wasn’t the best, but it had its moments. Once it ended, Min watched as Nuit immediately got up from the sofa warily, his eyes on Min, searching for his reaction. Min said nothing and followed his example, standing up as well. Sadie usually finished with dinner about this time; he’d smelled it cooking when he was in the kitchen earlier. He suspected that she’d come by to check on them soon. He’d rather not get into any more trouble today at her hands, so he picked up the cushions and arranged them back on the couch with Nuit’s assistance.

Min noticed the other clone was looking at him curiously and told him, “The housekeeper will probably check on us soon, and she hates me.”

Nuit’s eyes widened a bit, but he nodded in understanding and Min watched him glance around the room, checking that everything was in order.  Then Min said, “Let’s go see if everything’s cleaned up in my master’s room.”

“Okay,” Nuit said compliantly, following Min into the hallway and through his master’s bedroom door. Frowning critically at the room, Min found it mostly in order. He’d made the bed earlier, before Hollis and Nuit arrived, and there were only a few minor things out of place. They were all quickly corrected and once again he was left searching for something to do.

Finally he said, “Let’s go back to the den, Nuit.”

“Okay,” Nuit agreed, uneasy in another master’s bedroom.

Once they had returned, Min roamed around the den restlessly. His eyes fell on the deck of traditional playing cards on one of the shelves. There were several other card decks commonly used among the various planets, but the ancient Earth cards were still popular. Slaves didn’t usually play cards, but he didn’t think it would be that outrageous. There weren’t any words on it, just a couple of letters, and he could pretend he recognized them as symbols, like the clubs and hearts. Several of his masters had often played cards of some kind, and he liked to watch them. He’d been taught some card games a few years earlier and he thought it would be fun to teach them to Nuit.

He grabbed the cards and hid them under the couch and turned the vid screen back on. He’d wait until after Sadie came by; she’d probably take the cards away if she saw them. Soon enough she appeared without knocking, looking disparagingly at the two slaves sitting innocently on the floor. They glanced up when she entered and shifted to a kneeling position, lowering their eyes. She was carrying a tray with two bowls of food in her hands, which she placed on the table. Synth food, Min could tell by the smell, his nose wrinkling in distaste. Leveling an assessing stare upon them, she found nothing to criticize and after a minute turned away without a word, leaving the door open.

Noting Nuit’s tension Min said quietly, “Scary, isn’t she?”

The younger clone breathed out a shaky laugh. “Yes.”

They turned to the food, and Min was half-surprised she’d bothered to give them spoons. Grimacing he ate the food quickly, wishing to get the meal over with fast. If he hadn’t been hungry, he wouldn’t have been able to manage it. He loathed synth food; it was so bland and tasteless, and Sadie loved giving it to him. Glancing at Nuit, he noticed that the other clone ate it without any apparent disgust. He wondered what Hollis normally fed him, but didn’t feel like asking.

Tara came by several minutes after they finished. Min was glad to see her, because he’d been debating whether to risk another trip to the kitchen—he wasn’t sure whether Sadie had expected him to bring the bowls back himself.

“You boys all right?” Tara asked, her brows rising questioningly.

“Yes, Tara, thank you,” he told her as she reached for the tray.

“Thank you,” Nuit murmured quietly as well, his tone shy.

Smiling gently, Tara walked out leaving the door still wide open.

Standing up, Min went over and closed it, uncaring if Sadie disapproved. The woman hadn’t said not to, so he felt no hesitation in doing so, and he wanted at least the illusion of privacy. He moved back over near the couch, dragging the cushions to the floor again and crouching down to retrieve the cards from underneath the sofa. Once he had the cushions arranged, he shifted around so he was facing the table and put the deck down on top of it.

“Okay,” he said encouragingly. “Have you ever played cards?”

Nuit shook his head wordlessly, but he too sat down on the cushions and turned towards the table. “Are we allowed to?” he asked a moment later, his voice hesitant.

Min shrugged and replied truthfully, “I’ve never been told not to.” Nuit nodded, making no further protest. “All right, let me show you the cards,” Min told him, spreading the deck across the table. He spent a few minutes explaining the individual cards to Nuit. The numbered cards were easy, as was the ace, because Nuit could count the number of symbols on each. The jack and the king were harder for him to distinguish because he didn’t know the letters.

“Okay, so the picture of the woman is the queen, and this picture with the hook thing is the jack?” Nuit asked uncertainly, pointing at the J.

“Yep, you got it,” Min smiled, pleased.

“And the king is that other picture with the funny thing in the corner.”

“Correct.”

The Andorian taught him an easy game at first, letting him get used to the cards. The other clone was an avid learner, which thrilled Min. It was so nice to relax with someone he could really talk to, and it felt good to have something to share with him. Teaching made him cheerful too, because he felt useful—at least as something other than a bedwarmer. In fact, he felt truly happy for the first time in a long while.

Laughing at Nuit’s consternation when he beat him in their latest game, he said reassuringly, “Don’t worry, you’ll get better. You’re still learning.” Nuit frowned, still discomfited, so Min teased, “Do you want me to go easy on you?”

Stubbornness crossed Nuit’s features for the first time, pleasing Min no end. “No,” Nuit said firmly, determination glimmering in his face.

“Good.” Min’s grin widened. It was wonderful to see Nuit’s reserve broken, his emotions leaking onto his face. The other clone was really opening up and showing his true self, the self he normally kept locked away. Min wondered if the young man knew himself at all, or if slavery had kept him hidden even from himself. But those dreary thoughts soon drifted away as the games took over his focus.

Min showed him a few other games as they whiled away the afternoon pleasantly. Nuit caught on to the rules of the various games quickly, his background no doubt helping there. But beyond that he was astute, rapidly learning the best moves to use and when to use them. At first Min sneakily held back a couple of times, letting the other clone win to boost his confidence. He wanted the boy to enjoy this, and it wasn’t fun to lose all the time, or even to win all the time. But as time passed his opponent’s skills improved and it became harder to win, and he gradually stopped holding back.

When the lengthened alarm beep sounded, signaling the opening of the front door, reality came crashing back. For a few hours Min had been able to forget everything else and just enjoy having fun with a friend. He’d felt like a person, if only for a little while. He knew his own expression must’ve sobered too, but he felt a pang of sadness upon seeing the blank mask settle back over Nuit’s features.

The other clone dropped the cards he was holding onto the table, smoothing all the cards into a pile. With reluctance Min added his own cards to the stack and put them back in their little box. He grabbed the remote and turned off the vid screen; they’d left it on to mask the sounds from their card games. While Nuit removed the cushions from the floor and placed them back in their original position, Min got up and opened the door, peeking down the hallway. Catching the sound of voices around the corner, he swiveled back towards the room and grabbed the cards off the table, returning the deck to its place on the shelf.

Smiling wryly, he walked back to the same corner he’d been in earlier and knelt there, giving the appearance of not having moved while their masters were gone. Perceiving his intent, Nuit followed his example.

Chapter 5C

Comments

[flighty-dreams.livejournal.com]

Hehe, happy to spoil you. Yeah, I feel like the momentum of stories is lost when you post it slowly, chapter by chapter. I'm glad I was able to post all of Part 1 within a day or two. Not that it's absolutely necessary to do so, I've enjoyed many fics without that advantage, but I think it ends up being a better reading experience. I mean ideally thats how stories are read, in scopes bigger than a chapter at a time. But if it means we get to read things sooner, as authors write it, I'll deal with it. ;)

Oh thanks! I love the last two sentences of that paragraph (if I do say so myself). I'm happy with how they came out.

And yes, it's not a happy existence. >.