Complex: Rescue, part 1
The last day of my vacation and finally one without a doctor's appointment. I have a contusion (bruise) between the bones in the ball of my foot. No wonder it hurts.
Title: Rescue, part 1
Side story to: Complex
Length: 2393 words
Summary: Tiziano must allow himself to be sold on the black market to rescue two kittens
Warning: This first half has violence against people-animal. If you don't want to read that but still want to get the just: read the first section, scroll down to the end then back up slowly and read the last two sections.
Note: the letter š sounds like sh.
Master list: lj DW
Tiziano leaned against his boss’s desk. “What’ve you got for me today?”
Tatiana took a breath. “It might be dangerous.”
“Danger’s my middle name.” Tiziano buffed his nails on his jacket.
“I don’t mean ‘coaxing’ info out of a blackmailer or breaking into a guarded building. I need someone to embed themselves into a demon’s collections.”
Tiziano grinned. “And you thought of me? How sweet. Do demons still have collections?”
He’d had heard stories of demons making a zoo out of sentient beings, but they were all well before his time.
“Only really bad ones.” Tia was so straight forward, which is why she was at the desk and he was in the field. She might be his twin, but they were nothing alike. Or almost nothing. They both wanted truth and justice to win.
“So we’re taking them down.” It had been too long since he’d destroyed a bad guy’s hope.
“We will of course rescue everyone we can, but our goal-even if we do nothing else-is to rescue two small feline familiars.”
“Kittens?” A house full of children might be the only thing that would make him retire. One couldn’t put their life at risk with little ones at home. Not that that was ever going to happen. Tiziano was just too picky.
“No. Just two very small cats.”
Regular cats were very small. “So I swoop in, rescue the little ones, and bring the demon to their knees?”
Now that was a real job.
~~~~~
Tiziano preened in the cage almost to small too turn around in. Good thing he had a bobbed tail. That was his Lynx heritage showing. His target was looking around the high scale black market establishment that an informant worked for.
They were taking this place down too, once Tiziano had those kittens safe.
Most of the other inhabitance of the cages were drugged, pressing themselves against their cage’s back corner, or both. The target had quite the reputation.
The informant’s boss talked quietly to the target about babies from the animals he breed, which ones he could make the most on, and which would just be a waste of food.
The target laughed and Tiziano had to take deep breaths to hold himself back. Those the target couldn’t sell, he ate.
This shop was going down as was all the people it sold to and all that sold to it. Tiziano swore on his life.
The target stopped in front of Tiziano’s cage. “It’s fairly well behaved.”
“Very well behaved,” the shopkeeper ran their hands down their white coat. “I haven’t had a single problem with it. It prefers the exercise cage, but goes back to the smaller one when told to. Male. Mid-twenties. Would make a great stud. Improve any stock. Impressive in both forms. Isn’t addicted and I’ve found no signs that it’s ever been kept drugged. Was used in the fighting rings off and on, so it has a few scars, but nothing that would inhibit sending him into the rings again. I have the full pedigree.”
Tiziano preened. He had to look his best. Fighting rings? Past tense, sure. Tiziano’s father had destroyed them from the inside out. Future though? Tia better hear about them.
The target looked the papers over and walked on. He spent several minutes tormenting a small rodent who had been chewing their own front paw bloody since the target had entered the room.
As soon as the target turned his back, the shopkeeper motioned for their clerk to remove the offending animal. Hopefully just to be drugged and not killed.
Tiziano was going to make all of them pay.
~~~~
Tiziano looked around the small room-like cage. It was painted a soft blue with fish scale tiles on the floor. Someone had bothered to decorate this viewing cage. The target looked in though the bars near the top. “The catnip.”
Dried minty leaf bits fell around Tiziano. Luckily he was immune. But he also knew how to act the part. The rubbed his face against the cold tiles. The target laughed. “Bring in the breeder.”
The spotted grey cat shoved in the second door was already doped up on catnip. He wasn’t just small. He was tiny. Tiziano had to weigh ten times as much. His front paw was probably bigger than the kitten’s whole body.
A striped cat wined at the door. He sneezed. The catnip was effecting him, but he was fighting it off. Aleš, please, come back here. I’ll protect you, but I need you to come here. Please, Aleš, please.
The poor spotted kitten was too far gone. He rubbed his body on the ground, moving closer to Tiziano.
Please. The striped cat begged. Please don’t hurt him. Please leave him alone. Please.
Someone snatched the striped kitten up, shrieked, and dropped him. He ran back to the cage door rather that saving himself. He was snatched up again and when he fell the second time he was limp. Please let that be a knock out drug. Please. These had to be the two Tiziano was supposed to save.
The spotted kitten rubbed against his foot. He carefully lay on top of the kitten, trying to make it look like the catnip had got him. The spotted kitten wiggled and squirmed, begging to be taken.
Tiziano recited multiplication tables up to twenty-five, spell tables, dates from his history classes, his grandmother’s favorite recipes, all the people he could remember from his graduating class, his teachers and professors in chronological order.
Finally the kitten stopped wiggling and Tiziano shifted until the kitten was solidly under his chest. The target had grown bored with the lack of a show, so before he could send in his thugs to terrorize the poor kittens more, Tiziano mimed a thrusting motion.
The striped kitten cried, but the target called his minions off. Soon though, the target annoyed that Tiziano was too big for his to see the ‘show’, gave up in annoyance. Tiziano settled with the stripped kitten in front of his chest and laid his head over the poor little creature the same way he would have if the kitten had been his own. He wanted to reassure the striped kitten, to reassure both of the kittens, but he didn’t know if anyone was listening.
~~~~~
Tiziano woke when the cage door opened. He was hungry and thirsty and too hot. The stripped cat dragged himself in. Aleš, Aleš are you awake?
Tiziano moved back, but not far. The spotted cat didn’t look right. That catnip was either especially strong or the small cat was especially sensitive.
The striped cat nosed his friend-lover probably, although how could they be old enough for that?
Small teeth dug into Tiziano’s paw. How could you? You hurt him!
I did nothing, although I understand if you don’t believe me. Tiziano held still until the tiny teeth withdrew. I don’t know why he won’t wake up.
Because you hurt him!
He had to get out of here. Is there somewhere safe?
We live in a cage! There is no where safe!
Hush, kid. Tiziano picked the spotted kitten up by the scruff and walked to a door.
Stripy ran ahead of him. Where do you think you’re going?
We need to get him away from the catnip and get some food in him if we can. He should be awake by now.
Stripy whined. Then he straightened his back. This way.
The kittens lived in a big luxurious bedroom with silk sheets and a giant bed, but their home was a box Tiziano could only fit his head in. He set Spotty on the towel and stepped back. He needs to be cleaned.
I know what he needs. Stripy stepped between him and Spotty.
I’m immune to catnip. No point making you sick too.
Don’t touch him. But Stripy didn’t move to stop Tiziano.
Tiziano cleaned Spotty like he would any kitten. How old are you guys anyway?
Older than you.
Tiziano didn’t believe that. What do you suppose the demon will do next?
The master will wait to see if a baby caught.
It won’t have.
Good.
And the demon’s next step?
Tiziano was glad his stomach was empty. He would have lost his lunch. These little kittens had lived through so much. We aren’t going to wait for that to happen.
He took a deep breath and sent a call to his twin. I have them.
Her reply echoed over the distance. Hold. The team is in place. We’re taking everyone down.
Tiziano hoped so. I may need to get them out first.
Wait as long as you can.
Tiziano set his jaw. If he moved too soon other people, like that poor rodent shifter, might never be freed. He’d have to find a way to keep the kittens safe until rescue came.
~~~~
The rescue was chaos. Tiziano hated fighting naked-the target only allowed clothes at his own whim and Tiziano hadn’t ‘earned’ any yet-but sometimes opposable thumbs were irreplaceable. When he took out the last bad guy, he wrapped himself in a sheet from the bed, and bent to see if the kittens were all right. Or as all right as they had been.
Spotty, Aleš, still wasn’t in the best shape, but understandable after what Stripy, Jonáš, said had happened to Aleš just before Tiziano arrived. The target hadn’t put on that little show to get Aleš with child.
Tiziano picked up the box and carried it out to where Tia was. She checked their names off the list. “We’re still missing seven.”
Tiziano didn’t have high hopes for them. “We need to get these to a hospital.”
Jonáš mewed his protest.
“No complaints. Aleš isn’t getting better.”
Aleš sobbed his pain. He’s been much too quiet for the last hour. Jonáš agreed to be seen by a doctor.
But Tia wouldn’t let Tiziano leave after the kittens safe. “I need you to get them all the way to their son.”
“They have a son?” How could they be old enough for that?
Dal. Aleš sobbed. My little Dalimil.
He whispered the name over and over and strong little Jonáš wept.
~~~
The doctor said rest would do Aleš and Jonáš the most good. She’d done what she could.
Tiziano thanked her and tucked the kittens into a basket and carried them out into the hall. He was supposed to meet a demon who would then take Tiziano and the kittens to the home of the couple who’d fought so hard for their freedom.
Something smelled good. Really good. Tiziano let his nose lead him to a demon with glasses and patches on the elbows of his jacket. His contact? “Professor?”
The demon’s eyes widened like he’d been exposed to catnip. He struggled to hid his reaction behind his suit jacket, but he couldn’t hid the smell.
He held out his hand. “Professor Onesimus. I’m guessing the basket has the parents of my favorite student’s husband.”
Tiziano shrugged. “Tiziano. I’ve got two kittens. The doctor tells me they’re just small, but they’re kittens.”
No adult cat was as small as these two. And even in human shape they didn’t look old enough to have a child who had a husband.
Onesimus took his arm. “This way, Tiziano.” He almost purred Tiziano’s name. “I sent Salathiel and Cunobelinus a note saying we’re coming.”
“Are you sure having these kittens stay with demons would be a good idea?” They’d lived through a lot at the hands of a demon.
“They can rest up and get well then decide where they want to live. We have counseling appointments set up, but they are no where near the worst off and with all the people coming out of captivity at once our knowledgeable professionals are taxed. I want them going to someone who won’t make things worse.”
Tiziano grudgingly agreed. He cared about these two little guys. “Lead on.”
Onesimus weaved his fingers into Tiziano, which wasn’t necessary for the jump across the demon realms, but felt good anyway. The touch of a man, even a demon one, was a good cure for the last week. Hot sex would be better, but Tiziano had a job to do.
The step was quick. Onesimus knocked on an ornamented door. The door was opened by a old school demon, except this one had a ponytail hanging over their shoulder, a ratty sweater on, and used the pronoun ‘they’, none of which was old school at all.
Cunobelinus invited them in and apologized for Salathiel being gone. They were on their way to get the kittens’ son. The kittens still weren’t old enough for a grown child. Tiziano would never believe it.
He tucked the kitten’s basket behind the edge of the couch and joined Onesimus at the table. They were offered tea, coffee, cookies, pudding, and cake. Tiziano hadn’t indulged in too long and Cunobelinus cooked wonderfully. But despite all the goodies, the warm masculine scent of Onesimus was the best in the room. Tiziano was distracted from Cunobelinus’s story by Onesimus being distracted.
Onesimus was into Tiziano, that much was plain. He’d be great for easing Tiziano into civilian life after weeks on the edge, but if he tasted half as good as he smelled, Tiziano would have a hard time forgetting him and he wasn’t looking for anything long term right now. Which Onesimus wasn’t about to offer anyway.
Cunobelinus stood up so fast their chair tipped over. “Salathiel.”
He hurried to the door.
An angel rushed in holding the arm of a porcupine shifter, and in the arms of that young man was a small youth with a big belly.
“Blanket!” The angel screamed.
The bedroom. Jonáš raced up the hall and turned quickly. In here.
Tiziano yanked the bedspread off the bed and ran into the living room. Cunobelinus took the blanket from his hands and spread it in front of the couch. The angel the coxed the young man to put the pregnant boy down.
Aleš and Jonáš spoke soothingly to little Dal. The kid was in labor. It was time for Tiziano to go. He excused himself as more people appeared. The kittens were safe with their very own kitten, having kittens of his own. Made a man feel really old.
Title: Rescue, part 1
Side story to: Complex
Length: 2393 words
Summary: Tiziano must allow himself to be sold on the black market to rescue two kittens
Warning: This first half has violence against people-animal. If you don't want to read that but still want to get the just: read the first section, scroll down to the end then back up slowly and read the last two sections.
Note: the letter š sounds like sh.
Master list: lj DW
Tiziano leaned against his boss’s desk. “What’ve you got for me today?”
Tatiana took a breath. “It might be dangerous.”
“Danger’s my middle name.” Tiziano buffed his nails on his jacket.
“I don’t mean ‘coaxing’ info out of a blackmailer or breaking into a guarded building. I need someone to embed themselves into a demon’s collections.”
Tiziano grinned. “And you thought of me? How sweet. Do demons still have collections?”
He’d had heard stories of demons making a zoo out of sentient beings, but they were all well before his time.
“Only really bad ones.” Tia was so straight forward, which is why she was at the desk and he was in the field. She might be his twin, but they were nothing alike. Or almost nothing. They both wanted truth and justice to win.
“So we’re taking them down.” It had been too long since he’d destroyed a bad guy’s hope.
“We will of course rescue everyone we can, but our goal-even if we do nothing else-is to rescue two small feline familiars.”
“Kittens?” A house full of children might be the only thing that would make him retire. One couldn’t put their life at risk with little ones at home. Not that that was ever going to happen. Tiziano was just too picky.
“No. Just two very small cats.”
Regular cats were very small. “So I swoop in, rescue the little ones, and bring the demon to their knees?”
Now that was a real job.
~~~~~
Tiziano preened in the cage almost to small too turn around in. Good thing he had a bobbed tail. That was his Lynx heritage showing. His target was looking around the high scale black market establishment that an informant worked for.
They were taking this place down too, once Tiziano had those kittens safe.
Most of the other inhabitance of the cages were drugged, pressing themselves against their cage’s back corner, or both. The target had quite the reputation.
The informant’s boss talked quietly to the target about babies from the animals he breed, which ones he could make the most on, and which would just be a waste of food.
The target laughed and Tiziano had to take deep breaths to hold himself back. Those the target couldn’t sell, he ate.
This shop was going down as was all the people it sold to and all that sold to it. Tiziano swore on his life.
The target stopped in front of Tiziano’s cage. “It’s fairly well behaved.”
“Very well behaved,” the shopkeeper ran their hands down their white coat. “I haven’t had a single problem with it. It prefers the exercise cage, but goes back to the smaller one when told to. Male. Mid-twenties. Would make a great stud. Improve any stock. Impressive in both forms. Isn’t addicted and I’ve found no signs that it’s ever been kept drugged. Was used in the fighting rings off and on, so it has a few scars, but nothing that would inhibit sending him into the rings again. I have the full pedigree.”
Tiziano preened. He had to look his best. Fighting rings? Past tense, sure. Tiziano’s father had destroyed them from the inside out. Future though? Tia better hear about them.
The target looked the papers over and walked on. He spent several minutes tormenting a small rodent who had been chewing their own front paw bloody since the target had entered the room.
As soon as the target turned his back, the shopkeeper motioned for their clerk to remove the offending animal. Hopefully just to be drugged and not killed.
Tiziano was going to make all of them pay.
~~~~
Tiziano looked around the small room-like cage. It was painted a soft blue with fish scale tiles on the floor. Someone had bothered to decorate this viewing cage. The target looked in though the bars near the top. “The catnip.”
Dried minty leaf bits fell around Tiziano. Luckily he was immune. But he also knew how to act the part. The rubbed his face against the cold tiles. The target laughed. “Bring in the breeder.”
The spotted grey cat shoved in the second door was already doped up on catnip. He wasn’t just small. He was tiny. Tiziano had to weigh ten times as much. His front paw was probably bigger than the kitten’s whole body.
A striped cat wined at the door. He sneezed. The catnip was effecting him, but he was fighting it off. Aleš, please, come back here. I’ll protect you, but I need you to come here. Please, Aleš, please.
The poor spotted kitten was too far gone. He rubbed his body on the ground, moving closer to Tiziano.
Please. The striped cat begged. Please don’t hurt him. Please leave him alone. Please.
Someone snatched the striped kitten up, shrieked, and dropped him. He ran back to the cage door rather that saving himself. He was snatched up again and when he fell the second time he was limp. Please let that be a knock out drug. Please. These had to be the two Tiziano was supposed to save.
The spotted kitten rubbed against his foot. He carefully lay on top of the kitten, trying to make it look like the catnip had got him. The spotted kitten wiggled and squirmed, begging to be taken.
Tiziano recited multiplication tables up to twenty-five, spell tables, dates from his history classes, his grandmother’s favorite recipes, all the people he could remember from his graduating class, his teachers and professors in chronological order.
Finally the kitten stopped wiggling and Tiziano shifted until the kitten was solidly under his chest. The target had grown bored with the lack of a show, so before he could send in his thugs to terrorize the poor kittens more, Tiziano mimed a thrusting motion.
The striped kitten cried, but the target called his minions off. Soon though, the target annoyed that Tiziano was too big for his to see the ‘show’, gave up in annoyance. Tiziano settled with the stripped kitten in front of his chest and laid his head over the poor little creature the same way he would have if the kitten had been his own. He wanted to reassure the striped kitten, to reassure both of the kittens, but he didn’t know if anyone was listening.
~~~~~
Tiziano woke when the cage door opened. He was hungry and thirsty and too hot. The stripped cat dragged himself in. Aleš, Aleš are you awake?
Tiziano moved back, but not far. The spotted cat didn’t look right. That catnip was either especially strong or the small cat was especially sensitive.
The striped cat nosed his friend-lover probably, although how could they be old enough for that?
Small teeth dug into Tiziano’s paw. How could you? You hurt him!
I did nothing, although I understand if you don’t believe me. Tiziano held still until the tiny teeth withdrew. I don’t know why he won’t wake up.
Because you hurt him!
He had to get out of here. Is there somewhere safe?
We live in a cage! There is no where safe!
Hush, kid. Tiziano picked the spotted kitten up by the scruff and walked to a door.
Stripy ran ahead of him. Where do you think you’re going?
We need to get him away from the catnip and get some food in him if we can. He should be awake by now.
Stripy whined. Then he straightened his back. This way.
The kittens lived in a big luxurious bedroom with silk sheets and a giant bed, but their home was a box Tiziano could only fit his head in. He set Spotty on the towel and stepped back. He needs to be cleaned.
I know what he needs. Stripy stepped between him and Spotty.
I’m immune to catnip. No point making you sick too.
Don’t touch him. But Stripy didn’t move to stop Tiziano.
Tiziano cleaned Spotty like he would any kitten. How old are you guys anyway?
Older than you.
Tiziano didn’t believe that. What do you suppose the demon will do next?
The master will wait to see if a baby caught.
It won’t have.
Good.
And the demon’s next step?
Tiziano was glad his stomach was empty. He would have lost his lunch. These little kittens had lived through so much. We aren’t going to wait for that to happen.
He took a deep breath and sent a call to his twin. I have them.
Her reply echoed over the distance. Hold. The team is in place. We’re taking everyone down.
Tiziano hoped so. I may need to get them out first.
Wait as long as you can.
Tiziano set his jaw. If he moved too soon other people, like that poor rodent shifter, might never be freed. He’d have to find a way to keep the kittens safe until rescue came.
~~~~
The rescue was chaos. Tiziano hated fighting naked-the target only allowed clothes at his own whim and Tiziano hadn’t ‘earned’ any yet-but sometimes opposable thumbs were irreplaceable. When he took out the last bad guy, he wrapped himself in a sheet from the bed, and bent to see if the kittens were all right. Or as all right as they had been.
Spotty, Aleš, still wasn’t in the best shape, but understandable after what Stripy, Jonáš, said had happened to Aleš just before Tiziano arrived. The target hadn’t put on that little show to get Aleš with child.
Tiziano picked up the box and carried it out to where Tia was. She checked their names off the list. “We’re still missing seven.”
Tiziano didn’t have high hopes for them. “We need to get these to a hospital.”
Jonáš mewed his protest.
“No complaints. Aleš isn’t getting better.”
Aleš sobbed his pain. He’s been much too quiet for the last hour. Jonáš agreed to be seen by a doctor.
But Tia wouldn’t let Tiziano leave after the kittens safe. “I need you to get them all the way to their son.”
“They have a son?” How could they be old enough for that?
Dal. Aleš sobbed. My little Dalimil.
He whispered the name over and over and strong little Jonáš wept.
~~~
The doctor said rest would do Aleš and Jonáš the most good. She’d done what she could.
Tiziano thanked her and tucked the kittens into a basket and carried them out into the hall. He was supposed to meet a demon who would then take Tiziano and the kittens to the home of the couple who’d fought so hard for their freedom.
Something smelled good. Really good. Tiziano let his nose lead him to a demon with glasses and patches on the elbows of his jacket. His contact? “Professor?”
The demon’s eyes widened like he’d been exposed to catnip. He struggled to hid his reaction behind his suit jacket, but he couldn’t hid the smell.
He held out his hand. “Professor Onesimus. I’m guessing the basket has the parents of my favorite student’s husband.”
Tiziano shrugged. “Tiziano. I’ve got two kittens. The doctor tells me they’re just small, but they’re kittens.”
No adult cat was as small as these two. And even in human shape they didn’t look old enough to have a child who had a husband.
Onesimus took his arm. “This way, Tiziano.” He almost purred Tiziano’s name. “I sent Salathiel and Cunobelinus a note saying we’re coming.”
“Are you sure having these kittens stay with demons would be a good idea?” They’d lived through a lot at the hands of a demon.
“They can rest up and get well then decide where they want to live. We have counseling appointments set up, but they are no where near the worst off and with all the people coming out of captivity at once our knowledgeable professionals are taxed. I want them going to someone who won’t make things worse.”
Tiziano grudgingly agreed. He cared about these two little guys. “Lead on.”
Onesimus weaved his fingers into Tiziano, which wasn’t necessary for the jump across the demon realms, but felt good anyway. The touch of a man, even a demon one, was a good cure for the last week. Hot sex would be better, but Tiziano had a job to do.
The step was quick. Onesimus knocked on an ornamented door. The door was opened by a old school demon, except this one had a ponytail hanging over their shoulder, a ratty sweater on, and used the pronoun ‘they’, none of which was old school at all.
Cunobelinus invited them in and apologized for Salathiel being gone. They were on their way to get the kittens’ son. The kittens still weren’t old enough for a grown child. Tiziano would never believe it.
He tucked the kitten’s basket behind the edge of the couch and joined Onesimus at the table. They were offered tea, coffee, cookies, pudding, and cake. Tiziano hadn’t indulged in too long and Cunobelinus cooked wonderfully. But despite all the goodies, the warm masculine scent of Onesimus was the best in the room. Tiziano was distracted from Cunobelinus’s story by Onesimus being distracted.
Onesimus was into Tiziano, that much was plain. He’d be great for easing Tiziano into civilian life after weeks on the edge, but if he tasted half as good as he smelled, Tiziano would have a hard time forgetting him and he wasn’t looking for anything long term right now. Which Onesimus wasn’t about to offer anyway.
Cunobelinus stood up so fast their chair tipped over. “Salathiel.”
He hurried to the door.
An angel rushed in holding the arm of a porcupine shifter, and in the arms of that young man was a small youth with a big belly.
“Blanket!” The angel screamed.
The bedroom. Jonáš raced up the hall and turned quickly. In here.
Tiziano yanked the bedspread off the bed and ran into the living room. Cunobelinus took the blanket from his hands and spread it in front of the couch. The angel the coxed the young man to put the pregnant boy down.
Aleš and Jonáš spoke soothingly to little Dal. The kid was in labor. It was time for Tiziano to go. He excused himself as more people appeared. The kittens were safe with their very own kitten, having kittens of his own. Made a man feel really old.