Kidnapping is Always an Option - 12. Chapter 12

Dear Jackoff the Second,

Nix and I found Caspin with his foxy tail swaying in the kitchen, all happy and humming. We couldn’t help but tease him about his vocals the night before. It made his face turn a lovely shade of red. We don’t call him out on it often, as I usually sleep in Nix’s room, which is further down the hall and further from any of their sounds. But, we all know how loud the Vulpan can get when he is on the receiving end.

The tempting tease,

Falorios

===

“I can’t believe you’ve been a Vice President for a while now!” Caspin spoke into the vid-screen to his cousin. “Tell me honestly, the Kaynens don’t give you too much trouble? Isn’t it scary trying to run a company chock full of them?

Etsu let out a snort. “Of course not, it’s me you’re talking to! Besides, being the company President’s soulmate has its perks. Even the Kaynens that don’t like me all that much hold their tongue for fear of Orin’s backlash. These days, I think I’ve gained the respect of most of them, though. I really like it!”

“I’m so glad to hear it,” Caspin responded. A flicker on the screen drew his eye. “Oh, we’re coming out of the relay, so I’ll talk to you later!”

“Alright, Cas! Love you!”

“Be safe!” Caspin finished as he closed out of the vid-screen. He made his way over to the control room to sit in the co-pilot seat. “Are we getting close?” He asked.

“Look for yourself,” Adrian replied with a nod. The planet Yralis was covered in several kinds of brown and purple hues. The bodies of water had a surprising pink undertone. As soon as the ship began to descend into the atmosphere, there was a rough turbulence that nearly gave the human and Vulpan whiplash, and then there was a standstill.

We are the South Light Exaction. State your purpose for entering our territory.

Adrian and Caspin looked at one another, noting the shock on each other’s faces, before Caspin activated the ship’s speaker, tuning into the ship that held them suspended. “We are here to bring a Murisian home.” He explained. “We are a crew of five.” The two of them were then nearly blinded as a light trailed down the ship, scanning it.

Five living organisms verified, along with a missing Murisian citizen. We will escort you down to the SLE Center. You will need to input a Visitor’s profile for every person on the ship.

“Understood?” Caspin responded, unsure. He then let out a sigh of relief. “If they’re so cautious with their security, how did they allow slave traders to take Mycha from them in the first place?” He wondered out loud.

“Do you think the security was vamped up since then?” Adrian suggested.

Caspin shrugged in reply. “Maybe. Either way, it’s a new planet to explore.” He said as he poked Adrian in the ribs. "You going to dump a hold when we land this time?"

"We'll see." Adrian responded with a wink as he hovered over the controls to do just that. They needn’t have worried, landing went quite smoothly.

“I’m going to let the others know to get ready.” Cas relayed as he headed out of the control room.

Moments later, a very excited mouse scampered over to the hangar, bouncing on the heels of his feet. “Someone tell me I’m not dreaming!”

Rios couldn’t resist reaching over to pinch the Murisian’s arm. “Feel that?”

“Ow!” He gasped, scowling at the Alano before his expression changed into one of understanding. “Oh! Then, this isn’t a dream, I’m really home!”

“I bet your fiancé has missed you.” Caspin smiled at the cute mouse's excitement. He shot a worried glance at Phen and quickly changed the subject. "Do you have much family on Yralis?"

Mycha nodded, sounding a lot more eager to divulge the information now that they were finally on his home planet. "My mother and father are retired. They were both SLE Enforcers. I have an older brother, two younger brothers...and my fiancé, of course." He replied.

Phenner scooted up beside Mycha and rubbed his cheek on the mouse's strawberry blond hair. "I'll miss you."

Mycha felt his heart skip a beat. He wanted to say that he allowed the rabbit the contact because it was the polite thing to do, but the reality was that he wanted to allow himself the contact, in case it was the very last show of affection that Phenner would give him. He found himself placing a hand gently on top of the rabbit’s own.

"Come with me," The mouse invited him before glancing at all their faces. "All of you. I am sure that my brothers and parents would like to show their gratitude for having brought me back!"

When Adrian completed the docking procedure, he opened the hangar door and walked over to join the group as the door began to open. He sensed mixed feelings in the air from his lovers and the Murisian. Tension, excitement, and thick concern. Just what had he missed?

For a moment, Mycha kept still. The released suction of air flipped his hair and clothes about and the artificial light from the Center shone on his skin. But, he was hesitant to step out. If he walked out of the hangar, and they weren't truly on Yralis, he would suffer a great disappointment.

"I want to see if they have any cool hats in their shops," Rios commented casually as he threaded his hand through Nix's and tugged him along.

"I want to see if they have any bondage gear." Nix said as he allowed himself to be led.

Caspin rolled his eyes as the pair started to walk off. “Hold on, hold on. I still have to input our profiles before we’re allowed anywhere into the town.” He then turned to Mycha. "Do you have a way of contacting your fiancé and family?"

Mycha jumped, startled out of his reverie. When he turned his gaze towards the Vulpan, he shook his head. "No, Captain. But, I do know where my parents live. And my fiancé lives a few houses away from the Center." He explained. The mouse took a deep breath before braving his first step out of the ship.

Several Enforcers greeted them upon disembarking. The majority of them sent Mycha wide smiles.

“Welcome back, Squeaky!” One of them teased as he peered down at the petite mouse.

The strawberry blonde placed his hands on his hips and stared the Enforcer down. “You have no idea what I’ve been through, Rooter. This is not the time to play around.” He admonished.

Phenner frowned at the interaction and immediately walked up behind Mycha to place a supportive hand on his shoulder. His pink eyes shot a slight glare at the Enforcer.

“Mycha didn’t just disappear, he was forcibly taken,” the rabbit added.

The Enforcer looked sheepish and caved into the tension. “My apologies. I…we’re all just glad to see you back, Squeaks.” He admitted in a softer tone of voice.

The golden-eyed mouse gave a nod, finding it a lot easier to let bygones be bygones with Phen’s hand on his shoulder. The old Mycha wouldn’t have let the comment go.

Two of the Enforcers led the group to an automated reception machine, where Caspin’s fingers flew in his rush to input their basic information. Several badges were ejected from a slot on the machine with all their names on them. Caspin handed some of the badges to Phen and the two of them began to pin them on everyone.

Mycha then took his turn at the machine. Instead of a badge, it printed out a key card that served as his house key, his ID, and his bank card. His eyes widened when he read the date on it. “Two years?” He choked. How could it have possibly been so long? When the crew finally stepped out of the Center, they were greeted by the sight of a circular shopping district.

The Murisian gave a wide berth to the last shop he remembered browsing, as it began to stir up unwanted memories of blacking out right next to it.

Phenner noticed Mycha's nervousness. "Hey," He caught the mouse's attention. "You're safe with us. There are five men here that would do anything to protect you." Phen straightened his spine. "And maybe...maybe I can't fight real well, but I can run. I would get you away while everyone else kicked their butts."

Mycha gave Phen a genuine smile of gratitude, feeling warmth settling in his chest. "Thank you, Phen." He said softly. “Come on, everyone.” He prompted as he waved his card in his hand. “Souvenirs are on me!” He had waited this long to see his family, so what was another hour more? The truth of the matter was that Mycha was also self-conscious about his appearance. He wanted his family to see him as he always was before, and that involved an outfit that fit him properly.

As the crew milled about the shops, Mycha did buy a new outfit from head to toe. He wore a white, long-sleeved blouse with golden buttons, a brown vest made of a similar material to suede, formal khaki pants, and a pair of small, rounded brown shoes with darker brown designs on them. The petite Murisian thought that he would feel a little more normal again after putting on clothes from his home planet. However, they did nothing to ease his mood. The "new clothes" scent wasn't nearly as comforting as the scent of the white rabbit's clothes he had borrowed on Caspin’s ship.

True to his word, he bought everything that his companions gave him, despite how odd. His face turned red as he checked some of the racier items out, but he boxed them and handed the box to the store owner, instructing them to be delivered to the ship. On his way out of the store to meet up with the crew, he came across a stylish white hoodie with splashes of violet, magenta, and black. The pockets had zippers on them and the wide sleeves had several snaps underneath to adjust how high up the wearer wanted to roll them. Mycha’s hands went through one of the side holes on top of the hoodie that allowed for ears to go through them. The mouse sent a longing glance towards the group that waited for him outside. He then bought the sweater and boxed it, slipping a note inside that read:

Phenner,

I will never forget your kindness and warmth. I would very much like to see all of you again someday, especially you. Thank you for being so patient and understanding of me. Thank you for gently extending your hand in friendship to me. If I had friends like all of you before I was taken by the slave traders, I know that I would have never been taken in the first place. If I had only met someone like you first, I don’t think I would have... (Mycha decided to draw a line through that sentence before continuing)

Take care of yourself and the others.

Always,

Your Murisian friend Mycha

After rejoining the group, Mycha found them transportation to his house. He had chosen that house for its abundance of rooms and had his parents living there with him. He was anxious to see them.

Murisians got around by trains, and then by walking the final short distances. The rail system crisscrossed to reach nearly everywhere. The system looked like a maze to the crew, but Mycha navigated them with minimal difficulty. The trains were crowded, but the Murisians, some of whom were even smaller than Mycha, gave them a wide berth.

A space was practically carved around them on the trains. Nix seemed to make the mice especially nervous, though it was Adrian who towered over them. Some children would point at them, wide-eyed, until their parent would scold the little ones. Nix, Rios, and Caspin seemed unbothered by the scrutiny. Phenner and Adrian, however, felt uncomfortable with the attention.

They were all glad to exit the last train and start walking away from the crowds.

"We're only a block away," Mycha stated out loud as he walked faster and faster. By the time he turned the corner, he rushed towards his house at a sprint. What would his parents say? Would Rina be with them?

"Mom! Dad! Are you home?" He called out, fully aware that they couldn’t possibly hear him from inside. He dashed down the path to the entrance, anyway.

The houses were pressed together side by side, and all of them were two stories high. There were double doors at the entrance in oval shapes intersecting, making them look like two long mouse ears without the head of the mouse in between. A digital pad resided next to the doors that would open them after the scan of a card. Mycha immediately slid his card into it, but was shocked when the double doors didn't open for him.

"What?" He slid the card in again, but still nothing.

The doorways finally slid open, but only to reveal a dark brown female mouse. "Can I help you?"

The strawberry blond gulped. "Do the Stewarts not live here?" He asked in a trembling voice. Who was this woman and where was his family?

The female mouse frowned for a moment and then made a face of recognition. "I remember now! They moved out months ago. The four of them are living with the oldest son now."

Mycha let out a whoosh of air, feeling relief rolling down his body. "Thank you so much!"

By the time he turned back around, the rest of the group had caught up with him. "They're at my brother's house," The mouse explained. "It's not much further, I promise." He added with a strained smile.

"I'm sure no one minds." Caspin assured him.

"It's been a while since I was anywhere that had a real sky." Nix commented as they walked. "It's kind of nice. Weird, but nice."

Phenner was full of questions as usual. Caspin was only able to hush him after promising to find him a vid chip about Yralis history, art, architecture, and science. Earlier, Phen's incessant questions hadn't seemed to bother Mycha, but the closer the group got to their destination, the more distracted the mouse seemed.

When they finally reached his brother's house, Mycha slid his card into the pad to let them know he was there. A queasy feeling twisted in his stomach as he waited for the moment of truth. The mere slide of his card would announce his name to the house like a caller ID. He was in shock when, instead of his brother, it was Rina who opened the door. The female mouse was a pale yellow with wheat blonde hair and blue eyes. She had a protruding stomach and was holding her lower back with one hand.

Confusion and then pain raced across the golden-eyed mouse’s face before he shook it off and rushed over to carefully hug her. “Rina!”

"Mycha!?" Rina asked, in shock herself. She gently urged him off of her. "Careful, careful...can't hug me too tightly right now." She did, however press her hand to Mycha's cheek. "Oh, Mycha." She said as tears welled up in her eyes. "I can't believe that you're alive! Come inside and tell us what happened."

She carefully made her way to the living room with a slight waddle. Mycha's parents were already seated on the couch, clutching at each other's hands as if they had been afraid to hope.

"Mom! Dad!" Mycha cried as he rushed over to hug them tightly.

"Son!" His father called back.

"Oh, my son!" His mother added. She then reached back to give him a sharp slap on his backside. "You worried us sick!"

"Ow! I'm sorry!" He whimpered. "I was taken by slavers and sold off. It’s not like I had some choice in the matter!" He hissed as his body stiffened. The frown on his face was shaken off as he motioned towards the many men entering the house one at a time behind him. "These men found me and brought me back."

His parents looked at one another in shock at their son’s brief outburst. His words frightened them, as they didn’t know what truly happened to him. They wanted to ask a million questions, but quelled them when they saw the crew. Mycha’s parents walked over and bowed to the men.

"Our deepest gratitude for bringing back our son." His father said.

"It was the least we could do." Caspin said quietly.

A moment later, the sound of thundering footsteps could be heard running down the stairs. Two golden blonde mice, one with curly hair, and the other with spiked up hair, appeared. They each had orange eyes. Both of Mycha's brothers ground to a halt when they almost bashed into Adrian and Nix.

"Sorry!" They said in unison. The twins beamed when they saw Mycha and dove for him, tackling him to the ground. "Brother!"

"Noel! Leon!" Mycha squealed as he hugged them both back tightly, his pain momentarily forgotten. When the three of them finally recovered enough to stand up, their oldest brother finally reached the bottom of the stairs.

Mycha rushed over to hug him. "Koby!" His older brother was like a blood-related version of Adrian, to him. The man was someone he always admired and respected. Mycha loved him dearly.

"Mycha!" Koby responded as he hugged him back. "You're alive and well! It feels like a dream. Just what in the hell happened!? We looked all over for you and gave the SLE Center pure hell when they failed to monitor incoming and departing ships!”

"It's no dream," Mycha insisted when he pulled back. "These men found me and brought me back, big brother." He rushed over in front of them. "Everyone, these are Captain Caspin." He introduced them one at a time. "His first mate, Adrian. And these are Rios, Nix, and Phen." A sad smile formed on his face. “They bought me from the slave traders that grabbed me from one of the shops on their way off planet.” He gulped as he forced himself to continue.

“They…” He wanted to tell his family everything. He wanted to tell them how he was drugged time and time again, upon each of the ship’s stops. He wanted to tell them the pained yowling he heard from the other men and women that were there with him, and how the bigger ones shielded him to protect him. He wanted to tell them how he lost track of time, how he nearly lost his mind. In the end, he took a shuddering breath and merely said. “They sold me at an auction.”

Koby walked over to Rina and wrapped an arm around her waist as he gave the men a grateful nod in greeting. "Thank you for taking care of my brother." He stated.

Mycha's gaze fell to the contact and, after noticing the identical bands of engagement and wedding rings on both their fingers, everything finally clicked into place.

"What...happened while I was gone?" He asked tentatively, his voice cracked in spite of his attempt to keep it steady.

"Everyone, please have a seat." Koby insisted.

Sitting down was the last thing on Mycha’s mind. He wanted to scream his frustration out. He wanted to rip his brother’s hair out. He wanted to…his thoughts trailed off as he glanced at Rina. The woman he cared about so much, that he had loved more than anything, was on the verge of crying. With another shuddering breath, Mycha acquiesced.

As if they had been waiting for his cue, Adrian and Caspin sat beside Mycha's parents on the couch. Rios sat on the recliner with Nix on his lap. Phenner, the twins, and Mycha chose to sit on the carpet. The strawberry blond's left hand was clenched so tightly that his knuckles were white, but his face betrayed nothing of what he was feeling.

His older brother explained once again how they had searched for him tirelessly. Rina recounted how one of Mycha's exes told them that she had seen him talking to a squirrel from one of the many moon colonies and suggested that he had probably eloped. After months of no contact, they all had presumed him dead. In their anger and agony, his parents had pressured the SLE Center to up their game in the security of incoming and outgoing ships. As retired Enforcers, they still had a lot of pull.

"I did talk to a squirrel woman at one of the shops.” Mycha agreed. “But, I wasn't taken until long after. All I remember was darkness, and then I woke up on the slaver ship with several others." He elaborated.

"Mycha, listen..." Koby began, looking lost and forlorn, an expression that Mycha hadn’t seen on him since they were children. "About Rina...we really thought you were dead. If we had even the slightest hope that you were alive, I would have never...we wouldn't have gone as far as to have gotten married." Mycha's brother ran a hand through his hair, ruffling it more than smoothing it. "It never started out that way. Please understand. We just... we both love you and thought you were gone. Not eloped, we never believed you'd do such a thing to us and Rina, but dead." Koby swallowed hard. "At first, it was just being together to work on finding you, I swear... then we got close. Friends. Nothing more than that." He shook his head. "But after two moon turns and you weren't back..." When Koby looked up tears shone in his eyes. "We gave up, Mycha. I'm so sorry. We never should have... But we believed that you had to be dead. And it was so hard..." Koby's voice broke.

"We were there to comfort each other." Rina placed her hand on Koby's. "And then it turned into more. I'm so sorry, Mycha."

"I never meant to..." Koby's voice trailed off, unsure what he could say to make things right.

A tight smile formed on Mycha's face. "...I know, Koby. I know." With the cheeriest face he could muster, he faced Rina and asked. "When are you due?"

Rina glanced at Koby with a soft smile on her face. "I'm due in twenty days." She stated.

Mycha took a sharp intake of breath, but covered for it by letting out a laugh. "That's great. I'm truly happy for you." He held his hands to his back and stealthily pulled off his engagement ring, slipping it into his back pocket, before walking over to give each of them a hug. "So, were you thinking of naming him or her after me?" He teased cheekily.

"Yes," Rina replied, surprise etched in her voice. "Her name will be Ella-Mycha."

Mycha swallowed sharply, but he placed his hands gently on Rina's stomach. "Little Ella...you be a good girl for your parents, ok?" He whispered.

The mouse then stood up abruptly. "Well, I came to let all of you know that I truly am alive and well." He said as he glanced at each of his family members in turn. Not a single one of them could look him in the eye, not even the twins. Mycha didn’t know what was worse, that they had given up on him after a paltry two years, less than that really, or that they honestly thought that allowing his brother to take over as Rina’s husband was okay.

"I can't take up any more of the crew's time." Mycha leaned over to give each of them a kiss on the cheek. "Didn’t I mention?” His voice raised an octave as he fed them lie after lie. “I plan to go back with them to pay off my debt to them.” He studied the faces of his family. There was shock and there were frowns, but there was also an underlying relief that caused his stomach to twist tightly. “But, don’t worry! I'll be back soon, ok?"

Though his parents and younger brothers insisted that he stay longer, Mycha merely hugged them tightly and walked out the door. As much as he truly wanted their requests to have been sincere, he didn’t hear an ounce of sincerity in any of them except the twins. His hug for the twins was warmer and longer. “When I come back, I promise I’ll visit you two first.” He whispered before walking out.

The entire family saw Mycha and the crew out. The golden-eyed mouse even waved to them as they began to walk away.

“I’m alive and well and I’ll be back, I promise!” He called out. “…I promise.” The last vow was stated in a broken whisper.

He speed-walked ahead of the crew, and it wasn't until they turned the corner and walked further away from the block that Mycha fell to his knees and began to weep bitterly.

"Gods!" He whimpered between sobs. “Just what the hell am I even doing here?”

Phenner and Caspin rushed over to the crumpled mouse. They held him as he cried, the others standing in a protective circle around them.

The hiccoughs came back with a full vengeance as the mouse wept. He couldn't speak. A part of him felt miserable and betrayed that his fiancé fell for someone else, his brother, of all people. The wiser part of him felt relieved that two of the people he cared about the most were well taken care of. But, for the moment, it was pain that had taken over every inch of his being. They had stopped looking for him! His brother married his fiancé! And his parents had allowed it!

"What can we do for you, Mycha?" Phen whispered into one round spotted ear.

Mycha merely clung tighter to the rabbit, feeling his heart wrench. “Please, just...hold me for a while.” He keened as tears upon tears fell onto Phen’s shirt.

Who was he to break them up, with a child on the way that carried his name? Who did he think he was? He wasn’t there. It hadn’t been his own doing, but he wasn’t there. His brother comforted her when he was gone. His family moved on without him. But, it was only Mycha himself that hadn’t moved on. And it was apparent to him, now, that it was something he truly had to do.

Mycha didn’t speak again until he finally began to settle down. "C-Can we go back to the sh-ship now?" He asked out loud.

"Of course," Caspin assured him gently, his eyes full of unshed tears.

Phenner and Cas each offered the mouse a hand to help him stand, which the Murisian took. Mycha was lulled into a state of numbness as they walked back to the train station. The group took train after train back to the ports. On the last train, Mycha took out the engagement ring from his back pocket and handed it to a young Murisian boy.

"Here,” He told the boy with a soft, gentle tone of voice. “Give it to someone you care about. I don't need it anymore." The strawberry blond was silent the rest of the way back. He sniffled and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand as he walked through the hangar of the ship. "Th-Thank you, everyone."

Phen sniffled as the big door closed behind them before throwing himself at the little mouse and wrapping him in a hug.

The strawberry-blond felt his heart speed up at the contact. He held on tightly to the rabbit. His emotions were raw and ragged. But, there was finally no longer any guilt left. He no longer had to hold himself back from caring about the man in his arms. He could finally be honest with himself about how he felt about him.

"Mycha... I'm so sorry," Phen whimpered.

Mycha hid his face in the rabbit's chest with a pathetic whine. Was it wrong to feel so relieved? Was it wrong to want to stay like this?

"Why don't you take him back to your room?" Caspin suggested, patting Phen on the back. "I'll go with Adrian and we'll get set on our next course."

As Nix and Rios passed, they patted Mycha's head and shoulder in sympathy. They weren’t unaffected by the events of the day, either. The mouse could have sworn he heard them whisper something about punching his brother in the nuts and a garbled giggle escaped him.

Mycha allowed himself to be led back to Phen’s room. He began to feel drained and half-wondered if everything that happened to him in the last several months was barely more than a living, breathing nightmare.

Phen sat with Mycha on his bed, petting the mouse's hair soothingly. He was about to ask if Mycha wanted anything when Nix strolled in his door with a bottle and cups in hand. The cat nabbed the desk chair and tugged it next to the bed, sitting on it backwards. He poured amber liquid into a cup and reached out to hand it to Mycha.

"Here. It'll make you forget your woes." Nix said. "At least for a little while."

Mycha sniffled once, but he took the cup. He shut his eyes tight as he took a few sips. "Thank you," He whispered hoarsely. At least his hiccoughs were gone. Regardless, every other breath he took was a shuddering one.

"You too, bunbun." Nix said as he handed Phen a cup.

"Ooo, does it taste good?" Phen asked and took a sip. "Oh!" His eyes lit up. "It's like honeyed fruit!" The rabbit took a bigger gulp.

"Easy there, hon." Nix warned. "Might want to go slow. This stuff packs a wallop."

Phen gave him a grumpy look but stopped chugging. Nix sipped his own drink and sat quietly, watching the mouse contemplatively. He, himself, had felt the sharp stab of betrayal more times than anyone else on the ship, including his favorite moth.

By the time he reached the bottom of the cup, Mycha started to feel quite giddy and a little dizzy at the same time.

"I feel a little better now." He stated as he snuggled closer to the rabbit and placed a hand gently on Phen's chest.

"Good." Nix said with a grin, knocking back the rest of his second glass and standing. "Now scoot over. You guys are hogging the bed."

Mycha frowned. "Noooo," He huffed. "Find your own bed, sneaky kitty." He insisted.

The cat's ears drooped as he pouted. "I came to cheer you up and I can't even get a little snuggle?"

"Ooo, he is a good snugglee... snugglist..." Phenner wrinkled his nose trying to wrap his inebriated head around the right word. "Giver of snuggles." He nodded with satisfaction, making his long ears flop.

Mycha let out a snort and shook his finger. "He's a sneaky snuggler snickerpuss." He stated with determination. "No snuggles for you, yet, kitty."

Nix ruffled Mycha's strawberry blond hair, ready to leave the smaller men to cuddle. He'd go hunt down Falorios and tackle him. Phen's voice stopped him.

"He could come on my side." The rabbit suggested. "Then I would be between you and he couldn't snicker your puss."

Golden yellow eyes peered up at pink ones. Mycha puffed out his cheeks, but sighed. "Alright." He told Phen before turning towards Nix, pointing his finger at the feline. "But no funny business!"

Nix held his hands up as though showing he was unarmed. Phenner giggled at him.

"Can he be funny with my business?" Phen asked Mycha with deceptively innocent eyes.

"I'm good with just cuddles," Nix assured them both.

It was Phen's turn to pout.

Mycha made a pensive face. "I don't know if I like the idea of him being funny with your business, either." He replied mulishly, unable to stop his honest words from falling. "At least not today. I've had enough heartbreak today."

“Oh, Mycha….” Phen hugged the mouse tight, nearly smothering him. “That was thoughtless of me. I’m so sorry. Nix can go if you’re not comfortable.”

The mouse hugged the rabbit back. "It's ok if he doesn't do anything more than snuggles." He grumbled like a petulant child.

"I'll be a good boy." Nix winked. "Hopefully, eventually, you'll let me know when I can be naughty." The ebony feline sprang smoothly over the little footboard to bounce onto the bed next to Phen, who was still squeezing the stuffing out of Mycha.

Though the hugging was a bit painful, Mycha didn't want the contact to stop, so he said nothing and merely kept still. "For me, it was like only yesterday...but, I really was gone for long enough for her to conceive a child with my older brother..." He mumbled to himself.

Bunny and cat ears picked up his soft words. Phenner eased his hold and pulled back. "It didn't seem as long?"

It was Nix who answered. "The monotony of being a slave on a collection and transport ship makes it hard to know how much time's passed. It's always dark except when they come to feed you or pick a slave for... entertainment, and you never know when that will be." His eye came back from its faraway gaze. "At least, that's how it was for me..."

"That's how it was for me, too." Mycha replied. "I was drugged again and again. Some of the veteran slaves hid me in the back, so I was never picked. I flew under the radar, I guess. But, whenever I would come out of the drugged haze, I could hear them screaming…” His voice cut off as he recalled the excruciating sounds of his travel companions as they were brutally raped.

Phen hid his face in Mycha's shoulder so he wouldn't see his tears.

Nix nodded. "Sometimes the small mercies are all you have to hold onto when you’re in that kind of place, even if they’re at the cost of others." He petted Phenner's long ears, resting on the pillow behind him. "I hope you can be happy. If not here, then somewhere."

"It's funny," Mycha went on, the liquor having loosened his tongue even further. "The other slaves told me that my best bet would be to make a prompt escape or to be bought by a gentle, elderly man." He let out a soft snicker. "When the Captain spoke of all of you, I thought I was bought to entertain an entire crew. I thought that I was doomed in one of the worst case scenarios." He shifted so that he could look each of them in the face. "But, all of you really are kind and have treated me well." His face scrunched up as he shook a finger at Nix. "Well, mostly well. But, I know it wasn't entirely your fault."

"I used to hate my heats," Nix admitted. "I rather enjoy them now that I'm safe with people to take care of me... Falorios is especially helpful, though the others have been very... generous, as well." The cat laid his head on a soft pillow. "They're good people, they'll help you find what you need, too." Nix sighed, trailing his fingers over Phen's shoulder dreamily. "You're right to watch out for me. I think I gave up the last bit of good in me when I stabbed that syringe in my eye."

"Noooo." Phen scowled, Nix just smiled softly and patted the rabbit's head.

"You still have plenty good," Mycha countered with a genuine smile. "I feel a little better right now because of you, after all." The mouse then shifted a bit to get more contact with Phenner, not realizing just how much he was rubbing against him. "But, I only want Phen snugglies right now."

"Yay!" The rabbit cried. "Snugglies!"

"I get this side of bunbun." Nix scooted close, pressing his body to Phenner's back, stroking his fingers up the rabbit's ribs. "You get that side."

Phen blushed and shivered, moaning softly as he was surrounded by the warmth of the two men.

"Alright," Mycha replied. The mouse squirmed to get comfortable again, nuzzling against Phen, his tail swaying gently behind him.

Phenner bit his lip as the mouse moved against him, fighting back a groan as he hardened in his pants. He tried to ignore it, even as Nix nipped his neck and caressed down his hip.

When Mycha wiggled his leg in between the albino's own, he gasped. "Phen, are you hard?" He asked with wide golden eyes.

"I'm sorry," the rabbit whimpered. "I couldn't help it..."

The mouse pouted, but he was more concerned about the rabbit than himself at the moment. "What should I do? Is there anything I can do to help?" He fretted.

Phen shook his head and closed his eyes. "It's... it's fine..."

"Poor bunbun," Nix purred. "I wish I could help you, but I'm not allowed."

Mycha huffed at the feline. "I can help him just fine!" He insisted, his expression changing into one of concern as he glanced back at Phen. "Just tell me what to do, Phen."

"I don't... mmm." Phenner moaned as Nix nipped his long soft ear.

"You sure you can handle it, mousy?" Nix teased as he groped Phen's ass. "I mean, if it was me I'd unbutton his pants and let his poor needy cock out. But that might be too much for you."

Mycha sent a little glare at Nix. "I can, too." He huffed as he carefully did just that. The strawberry blond nearly jumped back when he saw the flesh spring up. "Whoa..."

"It's alright." Nix soothed. "Can you touch him? If you need me to take over, I'm right here." Nix pricked Phenner's hip with his nails, making the bunny gasp.

"N-No! Allow me." The mouse pouted, but he carefully took hold of the rabbit's rod and gave it a tentative stroke. "I...I've never touched someone else's flesh before." He whispered.

Phenner moaned, the cat's hold on his hip the only thing keeping him from thrusting forward. Mycha felt a hot blush form on his cheeks at the sound. Phen was quite arousing.

"Hmmm, maybe I was wrong about you," Nix admitted, a glint shining in his eye as he regarded the Murisian in a new light. "Can you stroke him, though? Make him feel good?"

The blond did his best, gently stroking the shaft and alternating between a light and tighter grip. "Is this ok?"

"Cosmos, yes," Phenner gasped. "Please, don't stop."

The mouse felt another surge of lust rolling down his spine, but he didn't stop his gentle stroking. The rabbit had been the most kind to him, so he wanted to at least do this much for him.

"Mycha!" Phen whimpered. "It feels good."

"Mmm, bunbun," Nix whispered just loud enough for the mouse to hear. "I wish I could play with you, I'd take you in my mouth. I'd make you feel amazing."

Phen gasped at his words, twitching in Mycha's hand.

A frown formed on Mycha's face. "I-I could..." He stammered as he slowly moved down and licked the tip of Phenner’s shaft. "...how do you even go about putting it in your mouth?" He asked Nix suddenly.

"You don't -ah- you don't have to..." Phen whispered. "If you don't want to..."

As the mouse shifted, his butt ended up in the air, tail swishing. "But, I want to try...how is it normally done?" He questioned as his focus centered on nothing other than pleasing the rabbit between them.

Phenner wriggled in excitement, his breath coming in wanton gasps.

"You scoot down and look at it first, see how pretty it is." Nix cooed. "All of him is so pale and white, but there he's so pink and lovely. Don't you want to lick it like candy?"

Mycha gave him an odd look as if he had no idea why anyone would want to lick someone else's flesh like candy. But, he gave it his all. His small tongue licked Phen in long strokes all over. He was surprised to find that he actually liked the taste, a lot.

"Cosmos," Phenner gasped. He was so hard it was almost painful. Precum wept from his slit as he moaned and wriggled. Every swipe of Mycha's warm soft tongue sent electric shocks through his body. "Please," the rabbit begged. "More..."

"I think he wants you to take him in your hot little mouth, mousy." Nix purred with a wicked grin.

"How?" He whispered at Nix. "W-Won't it hurt?" Mycha wondered aloud.

"Not at all." The cat rubbed Phen's thigh. "Just open wide enough, and if you're worried, you can roll your lips to cover your teeth." Nix demonstrated, pulling one of Phenner's hands close and sheathing one of the rabbit's slender fingers in the warm cavern of his mouth.

Phen whimpered as the cat's rough tongue ran over the pad of his fingertip.

Mycha licked his lips nervously. He could do this. As he hovered over the flesh, he opened his mouth as wide as he could and moved down enough to encase the head of the shaft completely in his mouth. He carefully gulped around it as he went down a little further.

Phen trembled with the need to thrust into Mycha's mouth.

"Just like that, pretty mousy." Nix encouraged. "Perfect. Look how he's shaking. He can hardly contain himself, it feels so good." The cat wrapped his arms around Phen's chest, rolling the rabbit's nipples between his fingers. "I bet he wants to fuck your mouth so bad."

Nix snugged his own throbbing cock up to Phen's ass.

The mouse wasn't skilled enough to take in the whole length, but he did manage more than half. He used his hands to keep hold of Phenner’s sac and the base as he ever so carefully moved back and forth. Somewhere down the line, he extended his tongue so that it curled tightly against the underside of the rabbit's flesh.

"Whatever you can't get in your mouth, wrap your hand around it and stroke it as your suck him in and out." Nix coached as he tweaked Phen's nipples. "Use your other hand to gently cup and massage his balls. I guarantee he'll like it." Nix whimpered a little himself. "Can I rub against bunbun? Pretty please?"

Mycha carefully pulled back to speak. "A-Alright." He replied as he carefully worked his jaw muscles before diving right back down. A set of golden yellow eyes peered up at Phenner as he took in a little more than before and stroked the rest with his hands, as previously instructed. He moaned around the flesh, quite aroused at the sight of the rabbit on the edge of bliss.

Phenner reached down to gently tangle his fingers in Mycha's strawberry blond locks.

"Your hair... soft." Phen praised breathily.

The rabbit rubbed the mouse's round spotted ears, humming happily. His noises became more urgent as Nix began thrusting against his ass, pressing his cloth--covered cock against the rabbit again and again.

"Fuck," the feline swore. "He feels so good. It's even better when it's just bare skin pressing together, though, and he's so hot and tight inside." Nix nipped Phen's long white ear, making the rabbit yelp. "Are you getting hard, mousy? Do you like hearing all the little noises you pull out of him? Feel him getting closer and closer to orgasm because of your mouth around him?"

The rabbit's shaft really was quite hard. Mycha did his best to continue going without closing his mouth. The worst was the need to bite down, since his jaw began to get tired, but he forcibly quelled that urge. Somewhere amidst the sounds Phenner made and the taste of his flesh in his mouth, the mouse's tail slammed downwards onto the blankets and he began to quite literally hump the bed. He moaned, the sound stifled by the cock in his mouth, as he came in his new pants.

When Mycha had pulled off, Phen reached down to grab his own cock. In moments, he was reaching his peak as Nix rubbed against the rabbit's ass. As the cat was spurting in his own pants, Phen shot his cum onto a panting Mycha. It smeared into strawberry blond hair and shot creamy streaks across the mouse's cheek and the bridge of his nose. Some even got on his eyebrow and upper lip. Phen and Nix lay panting and spent on Phenner's big, soft bed.

Mycha had neither seen nor felt another man's cum before. He ran his tongue over his upper lip for a taste and was surprised to find that liked it even more than he liked the taste of his flesh. "Phen tastes good." He mused out loud without thinking, only to blush fiercely and scamper off to the bathroom to wash himself in embarrassment.

Nix groaned as he watched the mouse taste Phen's cum and then run off. "Damn, you are all so hot I swear it's going to kill me one of these days." He nuzzled the back of Phen's neck, realizing the rabbit had passed out. "It would so be worth it..."

===

Dear Jackoff the Second,

Last night, I felt lonely and ended up joining Caspin and Adrian. But, considering the fact that Nix had been all but drowning in temptation from the moment that mousey boarded the ship, I definitely wasn’t gonna stand in his way. I mean, I had to let him at least attempt to seduce him. The engagement was called off, after all. I’ll admit it; I’m looking forward to tapping the plushest butt on the ship, too. But, I can wait. ;)

Three is not the loneliest number,

Falorios