Part VDull orange greeted closed eyelids, slowly opening to flutter away the bright morning sun. Zell slowly became accustomed to the slightly blinding light, squinting just so. He was surprised to feel a nice warm body snuggled close to his, and turning his head, he blushed furiously, noting the Lord Lion sleeping soundly there. He was unsure as what he should do in this situation. Waking the Lion might be a bad idea, but staying tied down when his body needed relief from the one position he’d been forced in all night wasn’t sounding all that great, either. Risking whatever a roused sheik might do, Zell shifted, his thigh rubbing against the sleeping sheiks.
“Mm…” The sheik mumbled in his sleep, his hand slowly migrating up Zell’s side, his fingers tickling Zell’s bared skin. Zell grimaced, his stomach muscles tensing. How was he supposed to at least get more comfortable with the pervy Lord Lion feeling him up? The blonde captive tried squirming a bit, hoping to bump the Lord Lion’s hand off of him. That didn't seem to do what Zell had wanted; the bump encouraged the Lion's hand to continue exploring upwards until long fingers twined themselves in Zell's short blonde hair.
"Damn it all..." Zell breathed out, annoyed. He was worried about another near rape from this insane sheik, but his current discomfort was more than his mind could deal with. Risking wrath, Zell coughed loudly. "Um, Lord Lion? Excuse me?" Zell spoke loudly. The brunette lying next to him grunted in his sleep, his fingers gripping tighter in Zell's hair, causing Zell to wince. "Ouch! Hey, that isn't necessary!" Zell yelped.
"What are you babbling about, Desert Blossom?" The Lord Lion grumbled, one stormy gray eye peeking open to glare at the trapped blonde. Zell blushed deeply, shaking his head.
"I am not babbling, you barbarian!" Zell huffed. The Lion simply chuckled. He released Zell's hair gently, nipping at his neck. Zell's breath caught, enjoying the intimate near bite. Swallowing, Zell pulled his mind away from his libido and squirmed. "I am in a bit of pain, Your Majesty. I need to get up and stretch." Zell spoke flatly, embarassed his request to move might sound something like begging again. The Lion grunted again and pushed himself up on his knees. He sat for a moment, looking at Zell, considering the request. Without a word, he climbed down out of his bed and grabbed a fresh robe from off a divan, carelessly stepping out of his nightly garb, consisting singularly of some type of loose fitting pants, and slipped on the soft blue garment. He leisurely pulled on a thick red rope hanging just to the right of the rooms gilded armoire, turning back to Zell with a smile.
"I have some business to attend to this morning, as I oft do. Seifer will have someone come in to assist you, dearest." The Lion calmly walked over to the bound Zell and brushed his lips across the blonde's forehead and lips. Moments later and the Lord Lion was striding from the room, his robe billowing out behind him.
Time seemed to move as fast as land erosion when the big blonde man, Seifer, entered the room to see a semi nude Zell Dincht on the bed, an expression of humiliation and discomfort shadowing his soft features. Zell, upon noticing Seifer, grimaced.
"Oh, no, not you again," Zell muttered, glaring at Seifer. Seifer gave the little blonde a gentle smile.
"Nice to see you, too." Seifer responded cordially. He stepped around the room until he found another thick red rope close to the first one by the armoire. He pulled this one twice and within moments there was a knock on the other side of the large dresser. Zell raised an eyebrow, confused. Seifer laughed. "There's more to this palace than meets the eye, Angel." Seifer pulled the doors to the wardrobe open and out walked a lanky red headed male, his long russet locks pulled back with a strip of gold.
"Yes, M'Lord?" The red headed asked with a smile flirting at his lips. Seifer motioned with his chin towards the bed. The red head, Zell noticed, had rather pretty blue violet eyes. Those pretty eyes were now staring at him, narrowing to an uncomfortable glare. "Who is this?" The red head asked. Seifer laid a hand on the red head's shoulder, squeezing gently.
"This is the Lord Lion's mate, Zell," Seifer said in an introduction Zell did not quite expect.
'Mate???' Zell thought, his cheeks flushing hotly. A reddish gold eyebrow quirked at Seifer.
"Mate, you say? I never thought Old Leo would ever grab a steady. Interesting." The red head stated. He shrugged, causing Seifer's hand to fall from his shoulder, as he walked over to the bed. He sat on the edge, tilting his head. "He is pretty." Zell flushed again.
"Irvine, the Lord wishes to allow his mate to work out the kinks from their nighttime activities, but he is troubled by the thought that this little desert flower might run. Do you think you might be able to assist in keeping him active but within palace walls?" Seifer asked, crossing his arms. Irvine tapped his bottom lip with one of his long fingers, the nail much longer than how most men wear them and decorated in red and gold paints. No more than seconds passed before Irvine nodded.
"Will not be a problem." Irvine assured Seifer. He stood and waved off Seifer. "You just leave us two alone while you go run around like a chicken with your head cut off. I'll handle the Lioness." Irvine winked at Seifer. Seifer kissed Irvine's cheek, turned and left.
Irvine looked at Zell a long time before he came back towards the bed to sit again. Zell kept his gaze steady and straight into Irvine's beautiful blue violet orbs, though he was terribly aware of his semi-nakedness. He knew everything from just above his belly button down was on display, but he only allowed the flush on his cheeks to show his shame. Irvine didn't break off eye contact either when he sat.
"So, Zell," Irvine began, crossing his legs, positioning his long red robe to fall gracefully over his knees. "Do you speak?" Zell balked.
"Of course I speak! What a ridiculous question!" Zell spat. Irvine rolled his head back and let out a long, loud laugh. Zell pursed his lips, feeling more than a little annoyed. He wasn't sure what he thought of this rude red head.
"Ah, no wonder Leo likes you so much. You've got more fire and ice in you than Armageddon." Irvine chuckled and stood. He began to untie the sashes binding Zell's wrists together. Zell, for the slightest moment, considered punching out this red headed courtier and running. When his legs were free, however, the thought ran from him as his need for decency overcame and he quickly covered himself. Irvine smirked at him. "It's all right, Zell, I won't be taking advantage of you." Irvine helped Zell out of bed and stretch properly, smiling when he heard a few pops and cracks emitted from Zell's poor weary bones. Zell leaned heavily on Irvine a moment.
"My, thank you very much, Irvine," Zell breathed as he stood straight, his gold covering falling flat against his angles. Irvine blinked down at the short blonde in his arms. Zell felt a little hot being watched by Irvine and he moved out of the red head's arms. "I apologize for leaning on you so. I must say, I think you're the first kind person I've met during my stay here." Zell smiled. Irvine grinned.
"Well, I'll be nicer still. Come on, we need to get you properly dressed and breakfasted. Old Leo's got some work for a friend of mine, a messenger, and she'll wanna meet you, too. Selphie's always told Leo he had to either get a hubby or a wife, and she'll be absolutely thrilled to know it's someone so sweet." Irvine said, opening up the armoire door. It appeared to lead down a long hallway. Zell's fingers bunched up in the flimsy gold cloth covering his body, his eyes going wide. Irvine raised a questioning eyebrow. "Is something wrong, Zell?"
Zell was quiet for a moment. 'Marriage, is that what this man is talking about? The sheik only mentions ownership, but Irvine says marriage. What is it, then? And why me, of all people? I only met this crazed king yesterday!' Zell thought. Irvine held the door open, waiting. Zell shook his head.
"No, Irvine. I just have some...things...to get used to, I suppose." Zell gathered the bottom of his long gold covering like a gown and walked through the wardrobe into the secret hall.
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