6. what's best

[badass_tiger]

Comm: fallintofallfestival
Prompt: Any Fandom | Any Pairing | ”You’ll never have me by your side.” “I will, one way or another, no matter how long it takes. I will have you.”
Word Count: 700
Author/Team: badass_tiger
Title: what's best
Fandom/Original: Original: Master, Prisoner
Rating: Mature
Triggers: Non-sexual(-ish) non-consent, slavery, discussions of suicide.
Summary: Leonard makes his position clear. Again.
ConCrit: Y

Notes: Hey Shaiha, could you not read this? Thanks lol.

For a moment, Desroches could only stare with his mouth open. Despite forcing his former master into becoming his slave-pet, despite the fact that he had dragged him to the royal dinner party as his companion, despite the actions that spoke of how little he considered Desroches' will, Leonard had never, until then, spoken to him so directly - spoken to him as if he was his master. The bottom of his stomach had fallen out, and he felt as if he was falling.

'Forgive me for speaking so frankly, my lord,' Leonard said in a tone that conveyed no apology whatsoever. 'I only want what is best for you, and what is best is that you accept your place with me now. Do not fear that I intend to force myself upon you in any other way. My only wish is for you to be happy.'

'I would rather you have your way with my body than that you force me to accept this situation,' Desroches said.

'I -' Leonard appeared to hesitate, and Desroches felt a fierce flare of triumph at the involuntary admission that the prospect was tempting to Leonard. It was infuriating how Leonard acted so noble, pretended that so base an act could have a pure motive; it was satisfying to see that he was not so indifferent after all. 'I would never - that is, only if you wished it -'

In a single swift motion, Desroches rose up from his seat, grabbed the front of Leonard's waistcoat, and pressed their mouths together. It was neither romantic nor sexual; it resembled nothing so much as an act of war. Leonard squirmed in the first instance, then quelled his automatic reaction and remained still with his mouth open. His response confirmed for Desroches that Leonard desired him with none of the inherent magic that now bound them, and with all of the natural desire of man, and he wanted to make Leonard feel some of his pain, of the conflict between mind and body. Such an absurd state of affairs. Two men who desired one another, knowing their desire was mutual, and neither willing to act out of pride: Leonard, pretending that he had made Desroches his slave-pet only to save him from the gallows; Desorches, not wishing to submit to his former servant.

Desroches released him, wiping saliva away from his lips with the back of his hand. Leonard remained limp, staring at him in shock.

'You well know that I very much desire you,' Desroches said. The words burnt like acid on his tongue. He wanted to spit.

'Only as an effect of the spell -'

'A spell that bounds me to you for life. You proclaim noble intentions, but you won't take responsibility for your actions.'

'How am I to take -'

'I've told you a hundred times. Kill me.'

'Never.' The word was as sharp as a whip on Leonard's normally gentle tongue, the glare in his eyes completely alien to Desroches in all their years together. 'I will bear your pain and the guilt of keeping you here without your consent all my life, but I will never -'

'I understand your intentions perfectly well. You need only adjust them a little.' Desroches closed his eyes, took in a breath, then opened them again. When he next spoke, it was with complete sincerity. 'You saved me from dying at the hands of my enemies. Very well, then. I accept that. Give me instead a death I can accept. Allow me to die at the hands of my old friend.'

Tears filled Leonard's sky-blue eyes. Desroches wanted to weep too. He felt, ever so briefly, as if he was back in time, back in those sweet days when Leonard was his greatest confidante and his dearest friend. Leonard threw his arms around his shoulders and pulled him into a tight embrace.

'Forgive me, my lord,' he whispered. 'Forgive me of all of my sins, and continue to hate me. I will bear it for you. Only cease to ask me this impossible task.'

Desroches wrapped his arms around the servant of his previous life, buried his face in his shoulder, and found no solace.