What Lies Within

Chapter Seven

Zack knew he was sulking, but he couldn’t help it. The furniture rule had been tough to conform to since he did things like that automatically. Angeal had been patient the first few mishaps, but after six mistakes decided that the teen needed more reinforcement. Zack had been given the tour of the apartment and then told to “sit”. He hadn’t expected a leash to be clipped to his collar and then fastened to the wall of the bedroom. His master had left the room and was sitting in the living room out of the youth’s line of sight. Zack was finding that he didn’t like to disobey Angeal very much.

“Master…?” Zack called timidly, hoping that the taller man wasn’t really so angry with him. The sound of paper on paper, a page of a novel turning to the next. Zack pouted.

“I’m sorry, Master. Please let me be in that room with you.” He tried. The television was turned on, making Zack whine. He had only been a slave for two days now, his spanking while learning rules had only occurred hours before, yet here he was, a slave that disobeyed something he knew to be wrong. Why he wasn’t allowed on the furniture, the youth couldn’t fathom, but he now knew not to. The doorbell rang, making the teen tense. Angeal passed by the bedroom door and answered it.

“Delivery for Commander Hewley.” A voice informed and they spoke in low tones briefly before the door was shut again. The taller man stopped in the doorway and smiled gently down at the bound youth, a bag dangling from his fingers.

“Did you learn your lesson, pet?” He questioned and Zack nodded eagerly, looking desperate to be unchained. Angeal chuckled and unclipped the lead from the D link of the teen’s collar, motioning for Zack to follow him. Their journey ended at the kitchen and the SOLDIER stopped in the entrance, watching Angeal sit down on one of the chairs. Dark blue eyes flickered to him.

“May I sit on a chair, master?” Zack questioned, having learnt his lessons. Though Angeal’s smile was proud, he shook his head negatively.

“No, pup.” Zack pouted.

“You are to sit in my lap while I feed you.” Glowing mako eyes shined brighter when the teen brightened and moved to sit on the 1st Class’s thighs. Though the boy was still naked, he seemed to be used to it now. The long haired mentor opened the bag and pulled a pasta dinner out, sitting it on the table. Zack waited quietly and the opened his mouth to take a bite of the offered pasta, chewing and swallowing.

“Are you having any trouble adjusting, Zack?” Angeal asked suddenly, after eating a few bites of the meal as well. The teen froze.

“It’s alright, you can speak freely without angering me, pup.” The 1st Class fed another forkful of pasta to the teen, waiting patiently for an answer.

“It was hard at first, but… I think I like being yours.” Zack answered truthfully. Angeal tilted his head.

“Are you saying that because you mean it or because you think I want to hear it?”

“No! I really do like belonging to you, Master.” Dark blue eyes softened and the taller man smiled.

“I believe you.” They ate in silence for a few minutes.

“Zack… When you were initiated, where did you go?” Angeal asked suddenly. The teen blinked in surprise.

“I was in the chains…”

“No, I know that is where you stayed physically, but where did you go in your mind? You almost didn’t come back to me.” The older man looked torn at that moment and the spiky haired teen tensed.

“What do you mean? You brought me back.” A shake of the head made Zack fall silent.

“Puppy, the decision to come back is yours, not mine. I can be your strength and safety, but where you went was somewhere I couldn’t follow. You came back on your own, but I want to know where you went that put you in so much distress…” The teen’s heart felt heavy when the other revealed this and he began to shake. Angeal put down the fork and held onto him tightly, humming to comfort the slave.

“Shhh, puppy. It’s alright.”

“I came back because of you… I don’t remember a lot of it, except… I remember green?” Zack offered, looking confused and scared. Angeal’s brow furrowed.

“Green?” He questioned. Zack nodded.

“Yeah… Light that was green and that was sort of twisting…” The grip on him tightened slightly and his blue eyes met Angeal’s darker ones. They were looking at him with an edge of fear.

“You can’t ever withdraw so far into yourself again, Zack. Promise me that.” Angeal whispered firmly.

“I promise, but what do you mean? That green was me?” Zack asked, resting his head on Angeal’s chest.

“Within every living creature there is a current like the Lifestream. You went so deep within your consciousness that you went to your very core. What you witnessed was your own soul, Zack.” The teen blinked, listening to Angeal’s heartbeat.

“That was my soul, master?” He asked. The other man nodded and they were quiet for awhile longer.

“Puppy… Were you that scared that you thought the only way to freedom was your soul?” It was a quiet question, but Zack heard it.

“I was terrified, but I came back to you. That was my freedom…” Zack murmured and Angeal held him.

“Your soul is powerful and precious, pup. Don’t use it so recklessly. Okay?” The taller man’s tone was gentle and the spiky haired boy found himself smiling. Even though Angeal was firm as a master, he still cared for him.

“Okay…” Zack agreed. They finished their meal and instead of letting Zack up, Angeal stood with the lithe body in his arms, carrying him to their bedroom. Settling the nude 2nd Class in, the taller man stripped and joined him, pulling the smaller body into his arms.

“Sleep easy, pup. We’ll continue tomorrow.” Angeal murmured. Zack smiled and nuzzled into the broad chest.

“Goodnight, Master.”

To be continued...

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