Secrets of the Enslaved

Over the next few months or so, everyone in their household noticed just how close the two Nekos had grown and were continuing to grow. No one realized that, cliché as it was, Ash’d fallen in love with his companion the first moment he saw him, but hadn’t realized it until a bit of time had passed. He kept his mouth shut and didn’t say anything, not because he thought his Master or “siblings” would betray him by telling the younger Neko, but because he didn’t want to be the first to say anything.

Although he’d never been in love before, he’d seen what admitting love first could do to a person. After his own rough childhood, Nikki’d gained a big heart that he opened fairly easily to anyone in need, especially after getting himself cleaned up. He’d been the first one to admit love after his started dating his “stepmother” Donna, and now they were separated with “irreconcilable” differences.

He honestly didn’t want to be the first to admit he was in love, especially if Andy didn’t reciprocate that sentiment when he admitted it, nor did he want to make that admission, only for things to fall apart like they’d done for his Master not once, but twice. If anyone admitted love first, he wanted it to be his companion, and to be honest, he wasn’t sure he loved him the same way. From what he could tell, if he loved him at all, the younger Neko merely loved him as a brother and nothing more. That thought caused him to sigh heavily, making him glad that he was locked away in his bedroom for the moment. He hadn’t been feeling good earlier and had come upstairs after breakfast for a nap, and he still had yet to go back downstairs from that.

The thought that, no matter how much he loved him, the younger Neko might not reciprocate his feelings at all in their lives was one that hurt. Ash pushed those thoughts as far from his conscious mind as he could, not wanting to seem depressed when he did go downstairs. That’d lead Nikki to ask him one too many questions that he either couldn’t or didn’t want to answer at the moment, seeing as how neither of his parents’ death anniversaries were right on the horizon.

“Hey, Dad?” he said, now standing in the older man’s office doorway.

“Yeah, son?” Nikki countered, glancing up from his computer.

“Can I use your bass again?” he asked.

“Still working on Saviour? Or have you perfected it and started writing something else?” he countered again, rising from his chair to go over to his locked case.

“I’ve started writing some new stuff,” Ash answered. “One of the songs I’m calling I Am Bulletproof for the moment.”

“What’s the lyrics? Maybe I can help ya out.”

“Here we go…holding onto lies, holding onto ties that vanished. Cut the rope, and fall into the sky; the Devil fills our minds with sadness. The world’s a gun, and I’ve been aiming all my life,” he sang, belting out the lyrics he’d written. “Got something to live for, I know that I won’t surrender; a warrior of youth. I’m taking over, a shot to the new-world order. I am bulletproof!”

“Sounds like you’ve got something good there, son,” he said, his face lighting up. “Hell, it sounds like you’re talking about both our childhoods, to a certain extent.”

“That was the point,” the older Neko answered, nodding. “Rather than sit around bemoaning the fact that, other than you, I had no parents growing up, I’m choosing to turn that angst into something creative.”

“Good for you, Ash,” Nikki said, kissing the top of his head as he wrapped his arm around his shoulders. “I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks, Dad,” he responded shyly, blushing.

“Run along and perfect your masterpiece. And don’t forget to let me hear it when you’re done.”

Ash grinned at him as he headed back upstairs, choosing to climb out his window onto the roof right outside it. He had many quirks when it came to his playing, and standing on his head at the edge of his bed while doing so wasn’t the only one. So long as the weather was nice, he often enjoyed sitting on the roof to play, letting the world around him, which he could see for miles from up here, inspire him. Most of his inspirations came from his own life, but no one ever said he couldn’t be inspired by the world around him.

He quickly got himself settled in his spot of choice, his balance being better than a human’s from being part cat, but not quite as good as an actual housecat. Besides, with Nikki’s bass strapped to him, he knew he had to be extra careful so he wouldn’t damage the instrument, even though he had more than enough money to replace it. He just didn’t want to live with the guilt he’d have from breaking one of his “dad’s” prized possessions.

Once he started playing, the older Neko got lost in the music he was creating, quietly singing along as he fit the lyrics to the rhythm of the bass riff. He tuned out the world around him beyond keeping his ears perked up for possible threats, as that was how he worked best. Even though he’d normally be embarrassed by anyone hearing him sing, or hearing one of his unfinished works, he couldn’t care less that he could hear Andy moving around in the back yard, likely exploring as Nekos were known for doing. The younger Neko could kiss his ass if he didn’t like what he was doing or thought him talentless.

“Ash?” The basement-deep voice startled him out of his self-induced trance that he always lapsed into while writing a song. “Where are you?”

“On the roof,” he answered, knowing Andy was in his room looking for him.

“Aren’t you afraid of falling, especially with Nikki’s bass strapped to you?” he asked as he joined him.

“Nope. I’ve been doing this since I was old enough to climb and even hold a bass,” the older Neko answered.

“So what are you doing?” Andy asked curiously.

“Trying to fit the lyrics of a song I wrote to the bass riff I’m working on,” he answered.

“Have you got a lead riff worked out yet?”

“Damn, you sure are inquisitive,” Ash chuckled. “But yeah, I do.”

“If you’ve got a guitar, I can go get it and we can trade to see if that helps,” he suggested.

“So you’re a bassist, too?” he asked curiously.

“Mmm hmm. Nikki and Gene Simmons are two of my biggest influences,” the younger Neko answered, nodding. “Doesn’t help that I’m a huge fan of Mötley and KISS. Then again, maybe it does.”

“Go look in my closet. There’s a blood-red Greg Bennett on a stand at the very back,” he told him. “Just be careful bringing it out here.”

“That was the plan, Ash,” Andy said, saluting him before climbing back through the window.

Nodding, he got ready to take the bass off and hand it to the younger Neko upon his return, hoping that he didn’t drop either instrument off the roof. It was only mere moments that he returned to the windowsill, the guitar in question in his hand with its strap already attached. He had a pick between his teeth, unsure if the older Neko used one or not.

Before he even attempted crawling out onto the roof, he handed the guitar through the window to him, as if making damn sure he wouldn’t have a chance to drop it. Once Ash had a firm grip on his beauty, he crawled back onto the roof and reclaimed his seat beside him. The older Neko quickly brought the bass strap he was using over his head and handed him Nikki’s Gibson Thunderbird, watching carefully as he wrapped the strap around himself and rested it on his lap. He then took his own guitar strap and wrapped it around himself, quickly trading picks once they were both settled and in no danger of dropping the instruments or falling.

He quickly retuned his guitar so that it was in the key he needed, using the pick Andy had brought for him to pluck the strings so he got the best sound. The bass was already tuned to where it needed to be, C-sharp, G-sharp, C-sharp, and F-sharp when running from the top string to the bottom. With both instruments tuned to where they needed to be, the older Neko started shredding out the lead riff, which was harder than it looked. Thankfully the bass riff was simple, and easy to catch on to, which the younger Neko did without him even having to show it to him just yet. He grinned as his companion caught on to what he’d written so quickly, impressed by how good of a bassist he was.

They quickly reached the end of the song, Andy rewriting a couple parts for him that didn’t sound quite right and even finishing the parts he’d been working on before. Definitely impressed now, he gave him the notebook he’d written the lyrics in and told him he could sing along if he wanted, but didn’t have to. He quickly nodded and they launched into the song once again, surprising the older Neko when he decided to start belting out the lyrics with him, though it took him a moment to catch on to the rhythm.

“Wow…” Ash said, his jaw dropping immediately as soon as he’d spoken.

“Was I that bad?” the younger Neko asked, cringing slightly.

“Hell no!” He shook his head furiously. “I’ve never known anybody but Dad who could catch onto my riffs, and even then, it takes him a helluva lot longer!”

“Really?” his companion asked, his eyes lighting up.

“Really, really, Donkey,” the older Neko chuckled. “And your vocals…absolutely killer!”

“I’d say yours are killer, not mine,” Andy told him stubbornly. “I mean, you’re the one who can match Vince Neil note-for-note, not me.”

“Yeah, Uncle Vince can hit some pretty high notes,” he chuckled. “But I can’t match Gene Simmons; you can.”

“I guess. I’ve never really thought about it.” The younger Neko shrugged.

“You’ve got the deep growl, and you can scream like him,” Ash insisted. “But that’s neither here, nor there. I just wish I had other members, particularly a drummer, so I can finish these songs completely.”

“Ya know, I might be able to help ya there.” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “I’ve got some friends that I met while I was living on the streets. They’re all really friendly, and two would be right in the fray with me to protect you and the last one.”

“What do you mean by that?” He cocked a brow at him curiously.

“The third of my friends—Jinxx, as he likes to be called—is not only submissive, but a fertile. I’m pretty sure that whether you’re a fertile as well or not, you know well enough that submissive Nekos don’t tend to fight unless they have to.”

“Oh, I know that. And…I-I am a f-fertile.” The older Neko blushed at his admission.

“I thought you were,” Andy chuckled. “I was pretty sure I smelled it on you the second Nikki introduced us. I just didn’t wanna assume anything and make an ass outta you and me.”

“So what about the others?” Ash asked curiously.

“Jake and CC are both Doms, like me,” he answered. “Jake and Jinxx are mated, but they sometimes let CC join in on their fun, if you catch my drift. Depends on whether he needs to sate himself and can’t find anyone or not.” He shrugged.

“What about their musical talents?”

“Jake and Jinxx are guitarists, though the latter can play piano, like me, as well as violin. CC, wild child that he is unless angered, is a drummer. I often call him Animal because of that.”

“Like the Muppet?” The older Neko couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Thank you! Finally, someone gets my reference!” Andy fist-pumped the air in excitement. “But anyway, Chuppy can be pretty wild; he’s like an ADHD child that’s had too much sugar. Like I said, though, he’s not harmful, just excitable. He’d never hurt you unless it was by accident while trying to protect you; he’d never let himself live another day without a shit ton of guilt.”

“Really?” he asked, sounding surprised. “I don’t think I’ve ever met a Dom quite like that.”

“Really, really, Donkey,” his companion chuckled, turning the tables on him.

“Very funny, Ands,” Ash chuckled in response.

“Lemme go make sure Nikki doesn’t mind them coming over and gimme a few minutes to open up our mind link.” Andy handed him his guitar until he’d climbed through the window. “I don’t have the phone that I used to, and I’m not even sure they’re still in the homes they used to be. Their Masters weren’t exactly the nicest, and I’m surprised Jake and Jinxx haven’t been split up by the abusive asshole.”

Nodding, he waited until the younger Neko was ready, then handed him both the guitar and bass so he could climb back through his window, too. Both the picks were held between his teeth as he did so, but he quickly tucked them into the strings of the instruments since he wasn’t planning on leaving them there for long. He never left picks between the strings for more than a few minutes, maybe a couple hours, so they wouldn’t cause damage to the strings. If he thought they’d have to be left there for any longer, he could always come back up and take them out, then store them in his nightstand drawer.

By the time he got downstairs, Ash found that his companion was nowhere to be found. His “dad” told him that he was out back, saying something about opening up a mind link he had with some other Nekos he’d asked about having over. He told him that, if a Neko had a strong enough connection with another of their kind, they could develop a telepathic connection that they could use to communicate with, no matter what part of the world they were in. Andy could be on one coast of the country, his friend on the other, and they could still communicate through that link as if they were standing right next to each other, holding a verbal conversation.

Their Master nodded his understanding, realizing that, even though he’d had one for nearly twenty-six years total, there were things about Nekos that even he didn’t know. He shrugged and returned to his work, telling the older Neko that he’d already said they weren’t allowed if they were vicious, but they both trusted his companion’s word. They just hoped that his friends didn’t disappoint them, therefore making them wary of him and distrusting anything he said in the future.

Notes