Dilandau stomped into his bedroom, his face twisted in rage, Gatti following close behind. He waited until his second had cleared the door, then slammed it shut. He rounded upon him, snarling, wanting to slap that wooden look off his face.
"What's the matter?" he barked. Gatti stared straight ahead, not answering, and Dilandau raised his hand. The second didn't flinch, just waited for the blow, and he dropped it, snarling in exasperation. He yanked his diadem off and threw it against the wall instead, then forced himself to calm down. Damn you, Gatti, he thought, why do you do this to me? He stepped up and gently put his hands on his second's armored shoulders.
"Look at me," he ordered softly and Gatti did so. Dilandau was shocked to see pain and humiliation in the dark blue eyes. "It's about what happened tonight, isn't it?" he asked quietly and the second nodded, a spark of anger now appearing.
"Screwing in a dirty alley like two dogs is not something I enjoy, my lord," he said evenly and Dilandau was instantly enraged. His hands trembled with the effort to keep from smacking the young face before him.
"I wanted you," he hissed and Gatti went back to his straight-ahead stare, his body snapping stiffly to attention.
"Dammit, Gatti!" Dilandau shouted. "Do you realize that I could kill you right now?"
"As you desire, my lord," his second replied stiffly. Dilandau choked down his rage, ready to scream in frustration. I could be fucking any of my men, he thought, and I have to choose Mr. Prim-and-Proper! Oh, how he wanted to hit him, but he knew, damn him!, that it wouldn't change his second's attitude. He glared at him, then noticed a tear sliding down his cheek. Gatti was crying? Over this? The rage vanished, lost in sudden confusion. Dilandau gently wiped the tear away with his thumb, then looked into those beautiful, expressive eyes. Gatti looked up at him, the pain and shame back in place, and Dilandau took his face between his hands and softly kissed him. Gatti's mouth opened and he slipped his tongue inside, then pulled it back as the second slid his own tongue between his lips. Oh, Gatti-san, he thought sorrowfully, I'm so sorry. Please don't be sad. He gently freed his mouth and watched as Gatti dropped his head, a blush on his cheeks.
"It'll never happen again," he whispered and, after a moment, his second raised his head and looked at him. Dilandau shivered as he recognized that look in his eyes: Gatti wanted to make love to him, slow and sweet and oh so very good... He let the slayer take his hand and lead him over to one of his sitting chairs...
Afterwards, he lay back in the chair with Gatti sitting on top of him, gently lying against him with the back of his head resting on his shoulder, both of them gasping a little in sweet exhaustion. Dilandau wrapped his arms about his second's waist and held him close, resting his cheek on his shoulder and breathing in the warm smell of his skin. Do you know the hold you have over me? he thought softly, listening to Gatti's breathing slow and deepen into an easy sleep. I would do anything for you at this moment, anything at all.
But the moment passed, as it always did, and suddenly the hard wooden slats were biting into his back and Gatti was rapidly becoming a dead weight upon him. He let go of his second and pushed up against him with his hips.
"C'mon, Gatti," he said, a touch impatiently. "Get off." The slayer sprang to his feet, instantly awake.
"I'm sorry, my lord," he said, concerned. Dilandau waved his hand irritably.
"It's all right, Gatti-san," he said shortly, then got up and walked over to his bed. "Well, come on," he added as the second hesitated. "Let's get some sleep." He had never invited him to actually sleep with him in his bed before, and Gatti blushed as he carefully got under the covers and moved to the middle, giving him room to slide in beside him. Dilandau pulled up the sheet and blanket to his shoulders, then rolled over onto his stomach and threw his arm over his second's chest, resting his head on his shoulder. He felt Gatti softly stroke his hair and caress his cheek. He smiled: it felt good. Then he yawned and dropped off into instant slumber.
He was alone, crouched on a stone cold floor, terrified. "Don't leave me alone!" he screamed helplessly, clutching his head, praying that someone, anyone would come to him. "Please!" he screamed again. An unnameable horror was creeping up on him, a terrible monster that would hurt him. He screamed in terror...
"My lord, my lord," Gatti was saying in soft concern, brushing back his hair and holding him to his chest. Dilandau clutched at him, feeling the sweat pouring down his face, his heart pounding wildly. He stared at the dark blue eyes in desperate fear, sudden tears gushing from his eyes.
"Don't leave me alone! Don't leave me alone!" he cried and Gatti cried out in response, his face drawn in terrified concern. "Please!" he gasped, and his breath was driven from his body by the force of his second's embrace.
"I'll never leave you alone, my lord!" Gatti exclaimed. "I'll never leave you!" Dilandau shuddered, shaking uncontrollably, then he felt his second's arms tightly about him and his body stilled. He buried his face in his neck, crying and crying.
"Oh, Gatti-san!" he gasped. Gatti stroked his neck and shoulder, his hand trembling.
"Oh, Dilandau-sama," he whispered. "You know I'll never leave you alone." His tears slowly stopped and he sighed, feeling very secure and warm in his second's arms. Then he realized what had just happened, how he had just acted before his subordinate. God! He jerked away from him in horror, his mind whirling. Gatti was staring at him, looking hurt and confused and scared, all at once.
"My lord?" he asked carefully. Dilandau stared at him, wanting him to go away but desperately needing him to stay. He groped for his rage, anything to stop his mind's confusion and terror, but for once his anger was out of reach. Gatti was studying his face, then suddenly the second put a gentle hand upon his shoulder.
"I am here, but I will leave if you want me to," he said softly. Dilandau reached over, suddenly uncaring of his image, his ego, and gently stroked his lower lip. Gatti turned his head slightly and kissed his fingers, then arched his neck to have him stroke him there. Dilandau smiled and did so: this was as close to ordering him to do something as Gatti ever dared to get, and he had to admire his boldness. He could feel the last of the terror fading, his old self was returning, and he would feel grateful to him if that was possible. It may have been a few moments before, but not any longer. He smirked, then grew solemn. Gatti had his eyes closed, moaning a little as Dilandau slipped his fingers down his chest, slowly caressing his way down to his awakening manhood. Gatti-san, he thought suddenly, do you know the hold you have over me?
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