Fate - 8
He wakes up screaming. The sound is muffled by a gag, his thrashing is restrained by the ropes binding his wrists and ankles. Terrified, he struggles harder, barely aware of the pain in his body or the throbbing in his head. His wrists grow slick with sweat and blood but he doesn't stop. Hurried footsteps approach and he fights harder, tears staining his face.
"Florian!"
There's a moment of blinding white as a hand connects with the side of his face. It steals his breath and while he recovers, he feels gentle hands loosening the ropes. His arms begin to tingle as circulation returns.
"Are you calm now?" Florian recognizes the voice but can't remember the name or the face that goes with it. His vision is still blurred and he blinks rapidly hoping to clear it.
"Just relax, you'll be fine in a moment." The hands are gentle. They lift him up and brace him against warm, solid flesh.
Florian turns his head towards the voice and feels the roughness of beard stubble. "Ray." He nuzzles into his lover's embrace and closes his eyes. He's drifting back towards sleep when the body supporting him shifts and large hands ease him down onto a rough blanket. Florian's eyes open again.
"Ray?" His mind is still muddled, but little things keep pricking his subconscious. It's wrong - the voice, the body, the scent. Florian's heart is racing again and he sits up quickly, almost overbalancing when one of his tingling arms almost gives out.
"You're withdrawing from the opium," the voice tells him as those hands hold him again.
"Solomon. Solomon Sugar, " Florian mumbles as he finally connects a name and face with the voice. It is and isn't a relief. "You took me from Ray."
Florian knows he sounds like a petulant child but he can't help himself. His mind is still foggy. Thankfully, his vision seems to be improving at last. He can see the man's smile and the way his glasses reflect the light shining in through the small window.
"And Azura. Just as Ray asked me to."
"What?" Florian suddenly feels much clearer, as if he's been doused with cold water. He manages to sit up on his own and face Solomon.
"When Ray got Azura's letter, he contacted me. We made a bargain - that I would rescue you from Azura in exchange for a generous payment."
"But you… we…" Florian gestures to indicate his nakedness and their proximity in the messy bed.
"Yes, we did. And we'll continue to do so until Ray is free and we are safely on a ship. Perhaps even longer." Solomon takes Florian's chin in his hand and leans in to add, "Did you think I would do all this just for the money? There are considerable risks involved."
Florian nods. He feels lightheaded and very tired all of a sudden. "My head hurts."
"It's the opium withdrawal," Solomon tells him. "You're almost free of it. Come have something to eat and drink; you'll feel much better."
He throws aside the last of the blankets and stands, offering Florian a steadying hand. He leads the unsteady blond towards a small table with two chairs and a platter of fruits and breads. A robe is draped over the back of one chair and Solomon helps Florian into it before taking a seat. The detective is already wearing a matching robe and Florian thinks he looks odd in the unfamiliar garb. He glances down at himself and wonders if he looks different like this or if it better suits his new life as a concubine.
He downs half the cool fruit drink in one go, finding it refreshingly tart but wishing it was something stronger. Perhaps he should have succumbed to the opium, letting it steal his mind so he wouldn't have to think. His hand shakes as he reaches for a square of sweetbread.
"Slowly," Solomon scolds him mildly. "Let your system adjust or you'll be sick."
"I'm sorry." Florian puts down the bread and bows his head. He waits for the inevitable punishment and is startled when Solomon reaches over and pats his head.
"Don't be so afraid, I'm not Azura. I just don't want you to make yourself sick."
Florian nods, but he doesn't look up and he doesn't start eating again. After a long silence, he glances up at Solomon without raising his head. "Why are you helping me? You don't even like me."
"Ray knew you'd be in danger. He asked me to rescue you. He even provided the money to get me here and to compensate me for the loss of the finder's fee for that necklace." Solomon reaches over and places two more slices of sweetbread and a small bunch of grapes on Florian's plate. "Besides, who said I don't like you? I certainly liked you well
enough a few hours ago."
Florian obediently eats the food on his plate, keeping his face downturned. He can feel himself blushing and a spark of anger flares in his chest. A servant and a whore, is that his only worth?
"Do you remember what we were doing a few hours ago?"
Solomon's voice holds a hint of amusement and Florian can feel the anger growing. He presses it back, chewing slowly to buy time before responding.
"Of course you don't," Solomon continues, reaching out and stealing a grape from Florian's plate. "Opium withdrawal can do that, cause you to forget." He taps a finger on the top of Florian's head to get the blond to look up. When Florian complies, Solomon grins. "You were singing."
"Singing?" Of all the answers, Florian certainly didn't expect that. He blushes deep red; he doesn't exactly have a voice for singing in public.
"Quite nicely, actually. You were reciting riddles too. Not quite how I expected to spend my evening, but it was entertaining. I can see why Ray treasures you."
Florian studies Solomon, looking for a hint of teasing or condescension. He seems sincere, and Florian relaxes a little.
"But why was I tied up?"
"Nightmares, probably brought on by the withdrawal. You were thrashing quite violently and I was afraid you might hurt yourself."
"I don't remember," Florian mumbles, but he looks away as he says it, his imagination supplying all manner of nightmare-inducing memories.
"Of course not. Just as well. You're over the worst of the withdrawal now so I wouldn't expect any more troubling dreams."
Florian wishes he could be so optimistic. He finishes the things on his plate in silence, then pushes it away. He isn't really full, but his stomach feels queasy and he desperately wants to sleep.
"You must be tired." Solomon rises and offers his hand to Florian. The blond hesitates, then accepts the offer, letting Solomon pull him up into a loose embrace.
"I can't…" Florian feels tears threatening and quickly closes his eyes. Memories of those days in Azura's mansion flood his mind, overwhelming him. Florian just can't submit to Solomon while Ray is still a prisoner of that madman.
"I may take advantage of a situation on occasion but I am not a rapist. I did what was necessary to secure your release from Azura and I won't apologize for it. In fact, I'll do it again if I consider it necessary. Now I'm tired and need a nap. This room has one bed. You can trust me or you can have the chair. Your choice."
Florian eyes the very uncomfortable looking chair, then looks at Solomon who is still holding him loosely, waiting.
"I'm sorry. I don't. . . I owe you my thanks. No matter what was between us in the past, you risked your life to save me."
"Damn right." Solomon agrees. He pushes Florian back so he is sitting on the edge of the bed then reaches for the fastener on his robe.
"What are you. . .?"
"If you want to end up twisted in knots in this thing, fine. But you'll be too warm and won't sleep well." Solomon strips off his own robe, letting it drop to the floor as he climbs past Florian into the bed. "Remind me to have the maid in here later."
Florian nods and slips out of the robe. He settles into place at the edge of the mattress, suddenly feeling every ache in his wounded body. He closes his eyes and tries to relax, but can't stop the memories of Azura from intruding. He feels himself begin to tremble, but the more he fights it, the harder he shakes.
With a half-sob of desperation, he shifts, seeking the solid warmth to his left. He reaches out blindly to touch Solomon half afraid of what will happen once he makes contact. After agonizing seconds, Florian is rewarded with a gentle hand drawing him close and warm lips pressing a kiss against his forehead.
"I'll keep you safe," Solomon whispers, drawing the light blanket up over them.
Florian rests his head on Solomon's chest and slips off into sleep, desperately hoping that, for once, his trust won't be betrayed.
::end part 8::