Master of Slaves

Disclaimer: I do not own these delectable boys or the fandom of Final Fantasy VIII, nor do I collect any profit from these works of fiction, only pleasure.

Summary: In Galbadia the slave market is a prosperous one. How does Squall take his new servitude in foreign lands with the most renowned slave tamer, Seifer Almasy? Does he submit to his master? Or fight?

~~~~~~

Master of Slaves
By: Baby Chiba

Chapter 3: It begins with Hide and Seek
Dedicated to: Everyone who has reviewed so far!


He bore the semblance of a caged animal.

Instincts prevailing over logic in his desperate dance for escape. It made him dangerous.

And Seifer would have him.

A fire coursed through his loins.

He’d never felt so alive.

Jade eyes dilated as he watched the two bulks of muscle struggling to calm the feral beast. He shivered with the anticipation of what lay in store for him.

“ Struggling is futile, Squall.” Seifer teased, his voice husky.

Squall visibly cringed at the use of his name on the lips of his captor. Irvine even arched a brow at the usage. In all his time delivering slaves to Seifer he never dared utter one’s name. To Irvine’s ears it felt like the greatest transgression. It made everything too personal…

As Squall stood strained between two pillars of muscle pulling him in opposite directions by his bondage Irvine asked wearily, “ Where should I have the boys shackle him?”

“ No where.” Seifer snapped, “ Give him to me.” He presented his open palm, as if Irvine were merely dropping candy in his hand!

Irvine furrowed his brows, clearly troubled, “ Seifer… I don’t think you can handle this one by yourself.”

“ Give him to me Irvine…” An austere edge crept into his voice.

“ Forget your ego for a moment, you can’t-” Irvine tried earnestly to dissuade his friend from making a grave mistake.

“ Irvine!”

But it was all in vain. He couldn’t defy that tone.

Irvine looked between his cohorts and Seifer’s upturned palm and sighed, “ I warned you…” Before gripping the boy’s chains and placing them in Seifer’s hands, the act more profound then either party would like to admit.

The metal chains were cold in Seifer’s hand, yet a foreign warmth filled him. The boy had ceased his struggling but that only reached as far as his limbs, for his eyes still burned with a fiery passion. Perhaps it was this deceptive stillness that prompted Seifer to do what he did, or perhaps he had an entirely ulterior motive, whatever the reasoning, Seifer unhooked the leash from Squall’s neck. The source that kept him linked to Seifer.

Irvine was about to fiercely protest, and just as soon as he’d opened his mouth, Squall bolted.

Irvine glared at Seifer, all his hard work amounting to naught.

“ Seifer, I told you!” Irvine shouted incredulously, his feet already carrying him down the hall where the still bound youth scurried off.

Seifer chuckled in his reply, “ let him go.”

Irvine froze in his spot, as did his two cohorts. He snapped his head towards Seifer, his face contorted in confusion.

“ Are you dense?!”

Seifer spoke calmly, mirth glistening his eyes, “ In case you’ve forgotten this manor is more complicated than a damn labyrinth. He won’t find his way out in his frantic haste.”

Irvine’s disposition eased slightly at the truth in Seifer’s words. However, he still believed it was an unwise decision to unleash him so abruptly.

“ And to think he wants to play already!” Seifer snickered.

“ You’re a real sadist ya know? The kid’s gonna have a heart attack before you’ve had him even a day. I’m starting to regret my decision to give him to ya.” Irvine drawled in his thick accent.

Irvine scratched his head, dumbfounded by his friend’s questionable behavior.

“ And I couldn’t be more thankful.” Seifer responded jovially.

Irvine shrugged, giving up, “ He’s your problem now.” And then as an afterthought as he placed his hat on his head, “ Send for me if you need me.”

Seifer bowed his head slightly and winked at his friend before the trio took their leave. As the door was opened and the three of them walked out Irvine yelled back in, “ I’m leaving the cage!”

Though Seifer heard he didn’t turn around to acknowledge the voice.

With the confident strides of a predator Seifer stalked through the long winding halls of his manor, a lecherous smirk plastered on his face.

He was on the hunt.

In the distance he heard the faint rattling of chains, and quickly changed his direction, picking up his pace, but not out of worry.

He turned a corner away from the source of the sound into a dark room…it was time to have a little fun.

Meanwhile, Squall was frantically searching for an exit, or some door that was already open for he had no use of his hands. After what must have been three twists down two different corridors he finally stumbled upon a dark room with an open door! He had no plans other than to prolong his impending fate.

Entering the room he kept his eyes trained on the door, watching vigilantly for any sign of Seifer approaching. He leaned his heavy head against a wall, breathing heavily from adrenaline and his run. He sealed his lips trying to conceal his panting, lest someone heard.

“ You know, hide and seek is a favorite game of mine…” A deep baritone voice rumbled.

Squall’s breath hitched and his heart sank as he recognized it as Seifer’s, and wasted no time dashing out of the room once more. Bewildered at how he had managed to get inside the room without Squall noticing.

Seifer laughed but made no move to run after him.

Left, right, left, left.

Squall was lost within these walls. He’d never felt so suffocated inside a building before. The manor felt like an even bigger box to imprison him.

His eyes darted every which way as he ran. His divided focus led him right into a servant girl knocking them both over. Stormy eyes met with black doe eyes filled with surprise. He paused but a fraction of a second before scrambling to his feet, which proved a difficult task since his footing kept slipping under the puddles of water dripping from him. Just as he’d gotten to his feet he heard Seifer’s laughter as he approached them.

Squall growled deep in his throat before running off again.

Seifer was still laughing as he stopped in front of the same servant girl that had announced Irvine’s arrival. The look of alarm on her features and the blush that crept back into her cheeks when Seifer extended his hand to help her up elicited a stronger laugh from him.

“ My apologies Miss Heartily, my new slave is very excitable.” Seifer explained as he hoisted her off her bottom.

At the contact her blush deepened if possible. She stammered to reply, “ it’s quite alright my lord!” Then bowed, however, her master was already halfway down the hall, no doubt in search of the aforementioned slave.

She stood riveted in her spot for a few moments, wistfully watching her master’s retreating figure. Jealousy swept through her as she replayed the event in her mind. She had been loyally serving the Almasy family since she was ten, and had been in love with Seifer for just as long. No matter what she did, she never begged the attention from her master that she secretly yearned. He had always been kind to her, but he was kind to all of his servants because he was a good man. He even treated his slaves humanely! Sometimes she coveted their positions. If she had been a slave brought over from lands far away he would have given her amble attention. However, her lot in life was not as such. Though she had never seen her master quite so animated over a mere slave before. And for that she boiled with envy towards the boy that bumped her in the hall. She clenched her fists, no, she boiled with hatred towards him… and then she slipped in the puddle of rain he left behind.

Back in pursuit, Seifer was hot on Squall’s tail; all he had to do was follow the convenient trail of wet footprints. Suddenly the footprints disappeared. Seifer halted.

“ Come out come out wherever you are.” Seifer called out into the open.

Resorting to desperate tactics Squall found himself huddled under table in the drawing room. The tablecloth that hung over the sides hid him well. He held his breath as he heard already familiar boots take a step closer and closer. His moves were dangerously calculating. He stopped right before the table where Squall was hiding. From beneath the thin clothe anxious eyes watched. He heartbeat thudded loudly in his chest, he was sure Seifer could hear it. Then the boots walked away. Squall bowed his head in relief.

“ Found you!” The cloth was ripped up and Seifer’s leering face appeared.

Squall jumped from his kneeling position under the table and rolled out the other side, away from Seifer’s advancing hands. He rolled to his feet, his stance ready for action. Seifer stood in the same stance, the table separating them.

Seifer made a feigned move to the left, which caused Squall to jump to the right. He sniggered and made a move to the right, and Squall to the left. He was toying with him. Squall slit his eyes, anger reigning over him. Seifer also narrowed his eyes and in one clean motion threw the table to the side, leaving an open space to lunge at his prey.

And they both lunged, one playfully, the other with intent to maim. They clashed and fell to the side, Seifer with his arms wound around Squall. Hard bodies crashed to the floor and slid from the momentum. Squall lashed out and kneed Seifer in the stomach. Seifer let out a grunt but scrambled atop Squall’s thrashing body, straddling his chest. Squall bucked up as if he were seizing. He growled behind his gag.

“ Submit.” Seifer ground out through a tight smirk in his effort to pin the boy down.

That one word made Squall’s world go red. He would never submit! Finding an uncanny flexibility in the moment Squall brought his legs up, hitched them around Seifer neck, and pushed him down. Shocked, Seifer fell backwards off of Squall in a tangle of limbs. Somehow his prey detangled his limbs, rolled to his feet and was off again before Seifer managed to recover from the attack.

Seifer square on his ass stared in awe at the shadow of the boy already down another corridor. He brought his hand up gingerly to touch his neck. It had knocked the wind out of him. He contemplated his next course of action. He would have to resort to more extreme measures, just for tonight. He hadn’t expected such a challenge. He grinned despite himself.

Squall found himself winding back through the labyrinth. He cursed the architect of the manor. Observing his surroundings he noted that he was in the servants passage, mainly because the passage was lacking in decadent color and décor evident throughout the entire manor. He must be close to an exit then! The hallway was dark and narrow, lit only by scattered candlelight that danced across the walls. Almost there, he could taste his freedom. He saw light at the end of the passage. It must be daylight! Closer and closer, just a few more steps and he’d be free! His heart beat faster threatening to implode in his chest.

And just then boots stepped out from a side passage and intercepted him.
Emerald eyes flashed out in the gloom and strong arms wound around him from behind, so tight they threatened to strangle the breath from him. They pulled him into the side passage and against a hard chest. Squall’s heart sank, a sickening feeling taking over. He was so close.

And so he fought.

He lashed and kicked out until a hand with a damp cloth came over his nose.

His eyes went wide in horror.

Frantic.

He couldn’t help but inhale sharply as he fought ferociously against the body and hand restraining him.

It couldn’t end like this!

It couldn’t!

Panic.

He whipped his head from side to side, desperately trying to shake the hand from his nose.

The pungent odor of the chemicals surged through his nasal passages, choking him.

He tasted blood in his mouth.

Suffocating.

His eyes twitched.

He kicked and it connected with his captor’s shins, but his captor only tightened his grip. The hand squeezed muffled groans and choked noises from his gagged mouth. He tried to regain his footing but his wet boots kept sliding against the slippery floor.

He felt his limbs grow heavy and his struggling became sluggish. And though his body slowed, his mind was ever racing. Stormy eyes were hidden behind heavy lids and the last thing he heard before he slipped into a reluctant darkness was a deep, but gentle voice whispering to him.

“ Game over.”

And darkness descended.

~~~~~~~

When the veil of darkness was finally lifted Squall found himself laying flat on his back.

His eyes fluttered open and he jerked up, instantly regretting it. He inhaled sharply.

Dizziness overwhelmed him. His head throbbed. A wave of nausea washed over him.

He groaned letting his eyes slid close again. He brought his trembling hand up to rest on his sweaty forehead. His bondage had been removed.

Despite his state he jerked up again, the thought of escape still burning in his head.

And he acted too soon. His bondage had been removed; save for the neck shackles that snapped his head back as he tried to pull away from the bed.

The room started spinning violently and he bit back bile fighting its way to the forefront. The chemicals still surged through his body, immobilizing him far better than any shackles. The effects of the drugs kept him a shivering, sweaty mess.

He brought a knee up and the robe that had been covering his skin slipped to the side exposing his pale thigh.

Robe?

Where were his clothes?! Or what was left of them anyway!

He threw the robe open to reveal his nudity to himself. His eyes went wide at the revelation that Seifer must have stripped him and put the robe on him! A combination of rage and humiliation colored his cheeks.

“ Welcome back.”

The voice startled Squall and he immediately covered his nudity with the plush robe. He located the source of the voice at the foot of his bed, obscured in the shadows of the dimly lit room.

Seifer let out a small laugh, “ I’m not so sadistic that I’d let my new pet catch his dead of a cold.”

The said pet growled a low and menacing growl, “ I’m not your pet!”

“ No, not yet, but you will be.” A sure reply.

He couldn’t see Seifer but he could feel the bastard smirking through the haze. It ignited a tempest of resentment and he dually trembled.

“ I’m a fucking human! You can’t do this!” Squall spat, hostility dripping from his lips.

His hands clumsily clawed at the shackle around his neck. His motor skills were still impaired, but he exerted them to their extent.

“ Trust me, I can…it’s been done.” Another haughty reply.

He was taunting his prey.

He stood from his seat in the corner of the room where he had vigilantly watched the rhythmic rise and fall of Squall’s unsteady breathing for the past hour. He ambled to Squall’s side and gingerly reached his hand out.

“ Don’t touch me.” Squall barked, his voice crackling.

He made a move to kick out at Seifer but he couldn’t will his limbs to lift. They felt increasingly heavy. He knew he should stop his struggling lest he black out again, but his pride wouldn’t allow him to be violated without a fight.

“ Relax, come here.” Seifer’s warm hand cupped Squall’s cheek.

He immediately thrashed his head to one side, pangs of pain tearing a choked sound from his throat.

The towering form above him furrowed his brows and tried again, getting the same adverse reaction.

“ Fine, then I take it you don’t want any water.” Seifer said, still eyeing the beautiful writhing form on the bed.

Squall reflexively swallowed, feeling for the first time that his throat was like sandpaper. In spite of himself he stopped struggling and looked up accusingly at Seifer who only chuckled.

He bent down and gently lifted Squall’s head, putting the cup of water to his lips.

Squall eagerly gulped the cool liquid which immediately soothed his scratchy throat.

“ Good boy.”

In his haste some of the water had escaped his lips and dribbled down his chin. Seifer took the empty glass away and with the softest of touches wiped the liquid from Squall’s chin.

The touch sent Squall reeling. He deeply resented that this man could do the cruelest of things to him yet touch him so gently, a touch reserved for lovers!

“ Chloroform will do that to you, dehydrate you when it gets into your nasal passages.” Seifer spoke softly, setting the glass down.

“ Bastard…this is inhumane!” Squall panted, resuming his vain struggling.

Seifer took a moment to peer down and admire the sinfully beautiful, strong-willed boy shackled and writing on his bed. It sent heat straight to his groin. But he resorted to leaning casually against the wall with a smirk.

“ Compared to the conditions in which you were shipped here, is it really so inhuman?” The blonde asked earnestly, full well knowing the answer.

Squall swallowed again, the dry itchiness in his throat reminding him of his earlier torment, however, Seifer was right. He didn’t have to look down at his wrists; arms or legs to know the imprint of biting metal would be found there. Compared to the cage and chains he had to endure for hours without reprieve, food, or water, being chained to a large bed, wrapped in a plush robe was heavenly.

Though he would never openly admit that, ever. As far as he was concerned none of this should be happening. It was all equally inhumane!

Seifer saw the familiar battle behind blue eyes and revealed, “ Rest assured, I don’t make a habit of drugging my slaves, takes the fun out of everything. However, you were too close to an exit for comfort.”

Squall scoffed, but made a mental note to use the servants passage again to escape.

If Squall had bothered looking up into the jade eyes above him he would have seen a similar battle waged there. It had pained Seifer to have to resort to chloroform. It was a cheap move, and left Seifer feeling like he had sold his dignity. He didn’t approve of it any more than Squall had, but he saw no other option. And letting him go was certainly not an option!

The thought of Squall escaping through his fingertips did him in. He had surprised himself; he’d never been so passionate, so eager over a slave before.

“ Would you like some more water?” Seifer finally offered after watching the boy squirm a bit more and lick his dry lips.

Squall nodded, his eyes slipping closed again.

Squall heard Seifer’s retreating footsteps but the world of sleep was beckoning him. Every fiber in his being throbbed, being robbed for so long from adequate rest.

He was tired of fighting…at least for now, that was his last thought before darkness descended yet again.

Moments later Seifer came back with a cold glass of water in his hand, but upon noticing the little lion was fast asleep, he set the glass down on the stand next to the bed. Chuckling that the lion had done himself in at last.

TBC…

~~~~~~~~~

Author’s note: I put in allusions to Yami no Matsuei with the whole darkness descending upon Squall. What’s yummier that an allusion to yaoi in yaoi huh!? I decided to make Rinoa Seifer’s servant girl and since she’s a servant that means she can’t speak freely and annoy everyone around her! I just love tormenting her character!

I hope this chapter length appeases everyone who was calling out for longer chapters! I know short chapters suck!

I want to thank everyone who has reviewed and given me feedback so far! I appreciate every single one of them! And when anyone reviews I look at their profile and read about them! So let that be incentive to you all to REVIEW!

Click that REVIEW button and receive some yummy YAOI!