Prompt #400--First Line: "But I heard you were dead!"

The Past Returns

"B-but I heard you were d-dead!" he whispered in horror as he looked up at the man who had tormented him from the first day, whipped him, almost killed him.

The blazing eyes of his master's brother loomed over him as he huddled, trying to disappear into the floor beneath him. He was freezing, his naked body shaking uncontrollably. He didn't know where he was. Why was he here and not with Damien? Why had his lover left him alone here? With him? Why was this man back? They told him he was dead, had been executed for treason.

His body shivered as a cold hand raked down his bare back.

"Such a sweet little body," the harsh voice rasped. "You're going to pay for ruining my plans."

Kayden wrapped his body into as tight a ball as possible, his tail curling in around his form as he tried to bury his head in his arms, hiding from this nightmare of a man.

He tried to wriggle away but thick arms wrapped around him, holding him tight. He felt like the breath was being squeezed out of him. He started panting heavily, trying to get a good breath, but it seemed like no oxygen was getting in.

"Shhh," a voice whispered close; it almost seemed softer, more gentle, but that couldn't be right. Not from this horror of a man. The breath was hot against his neck, and a hand slid across his chest, splaying across his belly as it pulled him back against the thick body behind him. He could already feel the man's arousal pressing against his back.

"Nooo..." he whined as tears leaked from his eyes.

He couldn't let this happen again. No! They told him he was dead. Why was he here? Please, no...

He heard mumbling against his ear, but his mind was roaring with fear and anger. Tears flowed faster as he finally managed to catch a quick breath. His elbow jabbed back as hard as he could, and he kicked as much as possible against the body trying to pin him down.

"No!" he screamed, and immediately he felt his body free.

He scrambled away as fast as he could pressing back up against the wall, praying the man didn't come kill him now. As he looked up, all he could see was that evil face grinning at him in the dark, and he was sure the man would now slice him open like he'd always wanted to.

"Kitten!!"

He froze. His heart pounded in his chest, as his eyes popped open again, blinking.

Bed. He was in his own bed?

Damien.

He felt himself gasp for air as he realized his lover was staring at him worriedly from his side of the bed.

Kayden dropped his head in his hands as he cried in relief. It was just a dream, well nightmare. Another one.

"Kitten?" Damien's voice was softer now, obviously having broken him from his panicked nightmare. Damien didn't move closer yet, and Kayden knew he was waiting to see if he was alright. The man was used to his occasional nightmares by now. They had mostly disappeared, until he'd been kidnapped by the hunters again. Now, they were back, and it wasn't just the hunters haunting his dreams.

Kayden finally managed to relax his shoulders and look over at Damien's searching eyes. "I-I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Sweetheart, there's nothing to be sorry for," Damien said, as he slowly reached out and simply stroked the top of Kayden's foot. Just a small touch, enough to connect with him, but not to send him into panic mode again until he'd totally calmed down.

Kayden took a deep breath, dropping his head back against the headboard as he fought back the remnants of the nightmare--the familiar face looming over him, threatening, wanting to destroy him for getting in the way.

"Kitten," Damien's voice coaxed softly, "we all have nightmares sometimes."

"But I hit you, didn't I?"

Damien chuckled. "I think we've done more damage in our lovemaking, don't you think?"

That got a small smile from the neko. Kayden blushed as he ducked his head in embarrassment. He had probably done more damage with his claws and jumping on his lover than just kicking and elbowing him in his sleep.

Kayden finally uncurled himself and crawled across the bed into his master's arms. He noticed Damien was careful not to make him feel like he was pinned down. They often slept with Damien wrapped around him, and usually he loved the feel of his master's body curled around him. But with the lingering feelings of the nightmare, he didn't think he could handle it right now, and he was grateful that his master instinctively knew that.

"Are you feeling better now?" Damien whispered, keeping his touch light as he trailed a hand down his side.

Kayden nodded. "It was--... It was about ... Master Roman," he stammered with a small hitch in his chest.

He felt his lover's body tense for a moment, before Damien gently pressed his lips against his bare shoulder.

"I'm so sorry that he still brings you such fear. He haunts me too, sometimes."

"Really?" Kayden croaked.

"Yes, I still see him--" his master's voice choked, and Kayden realized that he wasn't the only one plagued with nightmares. He felt Damien's fingers trailing over scars on his back that Damien couldn't possibly see in the dark but probably knew exactly where they were. "... I see him flaying you with that whip, and--...Fuck, kitten. In my dreams, sometimes I don't get to you in time, and I just--"

"Shhh," Kayden soothed, just like Damien usually did for him. He smiled softly. "It's okay. I'm right here."

"Exactly," Damien's voice came back stronger, like he was fighting back the memories of not only the past but also of nightmares caused by his brother's treachery. "Roman is not here. He is dead. We both need to remember that, and remember that he can't hurt either one of us again."

Kayden didn't trust his voice to work so he just nodded, gripping the arm Damien had wrapped under him against his chest.

Damien placed a kiss on his temple before working his way down Kayden's jaw, kissing away the tear tracks before Kayden turned to accept a soft, gentle kiss.

"I love you, sweetheart," Damien whispered against his lips. "Always."

"Me too," Kayden murmured, as he felt his body slowly drifting back off to sleep in the protective arms of his lover.