|
Alden did not sleep well. He spent the rest of the night in and out of sleep, plagued by bad dreams and worries about what was going to happen to him. Would Kairos still want him as a pet? Did he still want to be the tiger's pet after seeing that angry side of him? What even happened to failed pets? Would he have his memory wiped again and be given to someone else? Or would he just be returned to the Lower District slums to fend for himself? All questions he didn't know the answers to... Eventually morning came and he hauled himself out of bed after hearing Kairos moving about in the bedroom next door. He heard the big tiger leave his room and stride away along the corridor, heading elsewhere in the penthouse. He should probably go talk to him, Alden knew. Whatever was going to happen, hiding in his room, delaying the inevitable, would do no good. Best to go face his owner. After a quick shower, he quickly got dressed in a simple blue shirt and some black trousers. He then took a deep breath and left his room to go find Kairos. He found the tiger in the kitchen, leaning against a counter, lost in thought as he sipped from a large mug of coffee, the aroma of which filled the air. The memory of Kairos standing over him roaring flashed through his mind and fear froze him place for a moment. But he forced himself to go on, stepping into the room. "Master, I..." He began. Kairos' attention snapped in his direction, freezing the words in his throat. "Alden..." The big tiger rumbled, carefully putting down his mug. He closed the distance to the badger in just a few steps and crouched down in front of him, so that they could see eye to eye. Alden couldn't help himself from flinching slightly as Kairos reached out and planted his paws on his shoulders. The tiger looked forlornly into his eyes. "Alden." Kairos said, his voice deep and sad. "I must apologise profusely for my behaviour last night. I…” He swallowed hard. “I am deeply ashamed of myself for getting angry and frightening you. There is simply no excuse for my behaviour and I hope you can forgive me.” The tiger was so earnest, and had such a look of shame in his eyes, that Alden’s first instinct was to try and make him feel better. “You’d had a difficult, stressful day, Master, it’s okay that you…” Kairos cut him off. “No.” he said, firmly. “As I said, there is no excuse for the way I acted, and I will not attempt to hide behind any. I should have had more control over my emotions.” He let out a deep, sad sigh. “As your owner, I should care for you and protect you. You should never be afraid of me, Alden, and you have my word that you never will again. And I hope that eventually you are able to forgive me.” He stood and went to retrieve his coffee, leaving Alden a little lost for words. All the scenarios he had imagined for this moment... Kairos apologising profusely and asking him for forgiveness had not been one of them. “But, with all that being said…” Kairos rumbled, after another sip from his mug. “I remain a little… disappointed in you. For violating my privacy.” He glanced pointedly at the badger. Alden winced slightly. Yeah, there was still that to address. The badger realised it was his turn to apologise. “I am sorry about doing that, Master… But I swear I didn’t look at anything personal! I just looked at food you had ordered in the past…” Kairos’ coffee mug paused halfway to his muzzle as the tiger looked at him, puzzled, an eyebrow raised. “Why would you do that?” The badger shuffled uneasily. “I wanted to do something nice for you, because you were going to have had such a difficult day. I wanted to make you something, so you’d have some food waiting for you when you got home, but I didn’t know what kind of thing you might like so…” Kairos listened to this explanation with an incredulous expression. His eyes darted to the refrigerator, deducing that must be where the food in question was. He stepped over to it and pulled it open. A moment later, he carefully lifted out the dish Alden had prepared the evening before and sniffed at it, whiskers twitching in appreciation. “This is one of my favourites…” He glanced at Alden, his expression betraying his shock. “You really made this? For me?” “Yes, Master.” Alden said, with a slight nod. After a long moment of Kairos processing this, he let out a small chuckle. “It would seem I have been an even bigger ass than I realised.” He carefully returned the dish to the refrigerator and closed it. “Alden, I am sorry I assumed the worst and gave you no opportunity to explain…” The tiger trailed off and frowned. “But then how did you know about…” His eyes went to the open door to the dining room, to where the plates from Alden’s meal still sat on the table. And once again, his enhanced Apex intellect figured it out in a flash. “Renton was here.” The tiger’s eyes narrowed in annoyance, but he kept his tone even. “Was it him?” He rolled his eyes and let out a low growl. “Or was it that damned nephew of his?” He tiredly rubbed at his eyes with one paw. “I still can’t believe I let Renton talk me into giving that idiot a chance…” Alden decided that it was best to be honest. “Chef Renton accidentally let slip that you had a pet before me, but immediately realised his mistake and said no more than that.” With a nod, Kairos rumbled unhappily. “I shall have to have words with him…” “Please, Master…” Alden pleaded. “Please don’t… I don’t want anyone to get in trouble because of me.” Pausing for a moment to look at the badger in puzzlement, Kairos couldn’t help but smile. “You are so thoughtful and considerate of others.” He said. “Unfortunately, for whatever reason, he did go against my explicit instructions. I will have to talk to him… However, for you, I will go easy on him. A light verbal reprimand at most.” Alden accepted that with a nod. “Yes, Master.” It was probably the best he was going to manage. Another few seconds passed in awkward silence, as Kairos sipped more of his coffee before he spoke again. “I am sorry you had to find out I had a previous pet like that. I had fully intended to tell you myself. When I felt ready.” When he looked at Alden again, he saw a sad look in the tiger’s eyes. This Julius must have been pretty special. Alden found himself thinking, the feelings of bitterness and insecurity returning once again. If his absence makes Kairos so sad… Kairos looked at him curiously, seeming to notice the shift in the badger’s demeanour and body language, and then sighed. “Oh, I have been foolish…” He put down his mug again and strolled over to Alden, placing a paw on his shoulder and gently guiding him out of the kitchen and toward the main living area. “Come, pet, let’s go sit down and talk properly.” When they had sat down side by side of my of the couches Kairos gave Alden his full attention. “I didn’t consider how the news of I having had a pet before might make you feel. It obviously bothers you.” The tiger rested a comforting paw on the badger’s shoulder and looked at him with concern. “Please, Alden… Will you share how you’re feeling?” When Alden looked uncertain, he added. “Remember what I told you yesterday. I will not judge you.” Alden fidgeted nervously where he sat. He supposed it was going to come out sooner or later. “It made me feel… like I was just a replacement, a second choice… I let my feelings of insecurity get the better of me. I know it’s silly…” “No.” Kairos said, firmly. “It is not silly. It is perfectly understandable that you would feel that way. Especially given how little you knew…” A pained look crossed his face. “I will tell you the whole story… when I am ready. Suffice to say, things with Julius were… difficult. And it did not end well…” He looked down, sadly shaking his head. “It was a very painful experience. And it has taken me years to feel ready to get a new pet, to get over it…” He let out a snort. “But my outburst last night would seem to indicate that I am not as over it as I thought…” Alden couldn’t help but feel a huge swell of guilt. He’d jumped to the conclusion that his predecessor was some beloved wonderful pet. It simply hadn’t occurred to him that it had been something bad that Kairos just didn’t feel comfortable talking about. He wanted very badly to hug the tiger then, but his owner wasn’t finished. Kairos looked him in the eye, his expression steely and serious. “But I want to make this absolutely clear, Alden. You are not Julius. You are not some mere replacement. You are not a second choice. You have no reason to feel inadequate. In fact…” he broke into a smile. “You are… wonderful. You have only been mine for a short time, and have constantly surprised me with your thoughtfulness and consideration and affection.” The tiger reached up with one paw and gently caressed the side of Alden’s face, running his fingers through the cheek ruff. “I am extraordinarily happy to have chosen you, my pet. Please do not allow yourself to think any different.” Alden felt a blossom of warmth in his chest at his owner’s words, the feeling of acceptance and approval causing him to smile broadly. “I’ll try, Master.” “I know you will, my pet.” Kairos leaned in and kissed him gently on the forehead. “But for now, we should…” He trailed off as he pulled back, noticing something on a table nearby. Following his gaze, Alden saw what he was looking at. A small flat box on a table nearby where the badger had left it. The box containing the collar. Kairos retrieved the box and returned to Alden. “I think it’s well past time we did this, my pet.” He pulled out the collar and looked at the badger, smiling warmly. Alden couldn’t help but smile back at him. The truth was that he really wanted to wear that collar. Although he knew he belonged to Kairos already, it was if the collar would make it more official somehow. The big tiger turned the leather collar over in his paws. “And since you were wondering last night… No, this collar did not belong to… to Julius.” Kairos seemed to have to force out the name. “I had this specially made for you and you alone.” A brief flush of shame of having thought otherwise washed over Alden. He stopped himself from blurting out an apology. The subject of Julius was obviously very painful for the tiger and he thought it better to move on as quickly as possible. Besides, this was supposed to be a special moment for the two of them, and he wanted to leave his owner’s previous pet out of it if he could. “Thank you, Master.” He said, simply. “It looks fantastic.” He leaned forward, tilting his head up and presenting his neck. “Please collar me, Master…” Kairos eyes gleamed at him in a heady mix of pride and happiness, with a wide smile on his face. Without another word, he lifted the collar to Alden’s neck, wrapping it around the badger’s throat and buckling it in place, not too tight, but tight enough so that it remained a comforting presence against his skin. Alden reached up, brushing the collar with one paw. “Thank you, Master.” He then felt a sudden need. “Master… May I hug you?” The big tiger let out a low chuckle, considering this. “Hmm. How about this? From now on, whenever we are in private, alone together, you may hug me whenever you wish. How does that…?” Before he could finish, Alden launched himself at Kairos, wrapping his arms around him and hugging tight. A moment later, the tiger’s arms enveloped him, hugging back, pressing him against his owner’s muscular frame. Alden could have happily stayed wrapped up in that embrace all day, but eventually, Kairos pulled out of it. “I’m sorry, my dear pet.” The tiger said. “But time is getting on. I need to get some breakfast and get going. I’m needed at work today, still lots to do after yesterday’s incident, including an emergency meeting of the full Ruling Council.” Nodding his understanding, Alden let go of the tiger and pulled back. The prospect of another day spent here alone struck him and he shuddered at the thought. He wished Kairos could stay here with him. Then he realised. Kairos couldn’t remain here with him. But he could remain with Kairos… The big tiger was just standing up when Alden asked. “Master, may I come with you today?” That request caught the tiger by surprise. He looked at Alden, wide-eyed, but didn’t say anything. “You did say that other councillors take their pets to meetings.” Alden said. “I promise you, Master, I’ll be on my best behaviour! I just… I just want to spent more time with you.” Kairos smiled at that but sighed. “It is very tempting, my pet… To have you with me through a difficult day, to take comfort in between meetings when I am able…” He shook his head. “But it is going to be a busy day. I don’t have the time now to teach you the proper protocols…” “You don’t need to, Master!” Alden said, triumphantly. “I spent some time yesterday studying the protocols and stuff…” He shrugged. “I wanted to be prepared… to be a good pet…” That caught the big tiger off guard and he once again looked surprised before chuckling. “It seems you are not yet done with surprising me, Alden.” He spent a few seconds thinking things through before reaching a decision. “Very well, you may accompany me to the Council Halls for the day.” Alden leapt to his feet, beaming happily. “Thank you, Master!” “Yes, yes, now come along, my pet, we don’t have very long before we must leave…” The next forty-five minutes or so were pretty hectic. After they had a quick breakfast of some reheated fruit pastries, Kairos led Alden back up to his room and insisted he take a shower, despite the badger having already showered when he woke up. The tiger told him to use some proper fur shampoo and groom himself fully. Only grumbling slightly, Alden did as he was told. He had to admit, the shampoo he’d been provided with had a very pleasing clean scent to it as he lathered it all over his body and it did leave his fur feeling soft and glossy once he rinsed off. After the shower, he took a little time to properly brush his fur until it looked immaculate. When he stepped out of his bathroom, he saw that Kairos had selected clothes for him and laid them out on his bed, alongside some items of jewellery. He got dressed in what his owner wanted him to wear. It was an elegant looking formal outfit, mostly black with gold decorative edging and patterning. Alden vaguely wondered if this colour scheme was a favourite of Kairos’ as he’d noticed it used on a lot of the clothing in his wardrobe. The outfit consisted of a tight shirt with a low open neckline that left his collared neck on display for all to see. He supposed that was the point. The shirt was tucked into formal pants that were held up with a thin leather belt with a stylised ‘K’ symbol for a buckle. Then there was the jewellery. A pair of gold ear cuffs that he clipped on, one on each ear, making sure they were symmetrical. And there were a pair of identical wristbands, gold and inset with small red gems. He slipped them onto his wrists. Just as he finished, Kairos returned to the room and stood just inside the doorway, looking him up and down. The tiger had showered and groomed, now looking far more awake than he had before, with his fur brushed and shining. He was wearing a fresh set of the formal robes he’d been wearing yesterday. He gave Alden a smile and a nod of approval. “You look marvellous, Alden!” “Thank you, Master!” Alden said, happy that he had pleased his owner. “But now, we really need to be on our way.” Kairos took him by the shoulder, guiding him out of the room and in the direction of the landing pad. The two of them were soon climbing into Kairos’ personal skimmer, the door closing behind them and it lifting off a few seconds later. It was only then that a little doubt crept into Alden’s mind. While he was happy he was going to be spending the day with Kairos, he hadn’t really given much thought to exactly what that meant. He was going to the Council Halls, the seat of government for Apex and Runts and would be stepping into and experiencing the world of Apex politics. A world he was probably not even remotely prepared for. He pushed the doubts aside. I know I can do this. He told himself. I can be a good pet and make Kairos proud of me in front of everyone he worked with. Alden just hoped he was right... To Be Continued... |
Raging Tiger/Kuman the Barbarian/Mitchell and Michael/Going Under/Beware the Transformer/That Day/Working Bears/Heart of a Hero/Apex