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Veritas Ratio gets accosted by a provocatively-clad woman on his way home from the university.
"As fate dictates, you will encounter someone who will become your precious person soon... To celebrate this occasion, here, all yours!"
The veiled lady beams and hands him a green pebble. As he raises it to eye-level, pretty flecks shine in the sunlight.
"It's an aventurine stone, a gift from the Garden of Recollection. Destiny gifts unexpected joys, and so will this stone. Through the course of your existence, if you find yourself needing guidance, fear not, for I, Black Swan, a Memokeeper from the Garden of Recollection, will do all I can to assist you."
She hands him a business card.
"Mmm, I've heard that divination via app is all the rage these days. Yet, this is just a supplementary tool. To hear one's speech... that's where the most precise truths are revealed. Don't hesitate to contact me any time!"
And just as Ratio was about to start walking again, she continues. "Oh, and when exploring opportunities, one such as he, a gambler, will never reject your overtures. Gratify his whims, but also keep your defenses up. See you later!"
As marketing ploys go, it was fairly standard, and more pleasant than most, mainly due to the fact that she wasn't too pushy or demanding. He pockets both the stone and the business card and continues walking home.
A fateful encounter in his imminent future, huh?
-x-
There's a big cardboard box beside the dumpster in the alley near his house. On closer inspection, he notices that the top is not sealed, and gingerly opens it to reveal a blonde head of hair.
He inhales sharply. Did someone dump a corpse in his neighborhood? This cardboard box was still folded when he left for his morning run. It was still dark then, but now the sun has risen. What exactly happened in the hour he was gone?
He decides to lean closer and hears soft snoring. Good. At least this person is not dead. His eyes catch something dark on the person's neck. Blood? A cut— no, a recent tattoo, still healing.
Gentle shaking or tapping does not wake the person in the box. Ratio sighs. Turning a blind eye is surely not the right way to proceed. But he can't just wait for this person to wake up here. Who knows how long that will take?
Thanks to his daily workout routine, he knows he's capable of lifting the box in front of him, and he takes care to keep proper posture throughout the process.
He hauls it to his couch and contemplates removing the person from the cardboard box. That position can't be too comfortable. But he doesn't have much leverage, so it would be best to cut the cardboard away. Plan of action thus decided, he goes to his home office to acquire scissors.
The person hasn't noticeably moved when he returns. In the light of his living room, the person is identifiable as a man, with objectively beautiful features, roughly a few years younger or older than Veritas. And as Veritas cuts away the cardboard box and lays him down on the couch, he sets eyes on the man's tattoo.
His stomach turns. It's a slave tattoo, one he's only familiar with due to the news reports. He braces himself and scans the rest of the man's body for injuries. His stomach settles when he only finds scraped hands and feet, no broken bones or anything major. He can take care of those, no problem. No need for a hospital, which will create complications when he can't provide any records for the man. He has a fully-stocked medical kit, and as his own stomach reminds him, the ability to cook breakfast for both himself and his unexpected guest.
-x-
Kakavasha has a plan. It goes something like this:
1. Escape
2. Find somewhere to hide
3. ????
4. Profit
Step 1 went smoothly. Step 2 is ongoing. He just needs to find somewhere to hide. A respectable alley, relatively clean, doesn't smell too bad, with enough stuff in it that could serve as a hiding spot... He has standards, okay?
He starts losing hope by the time the sky starts lightening up. Of course, no one cares about the cleanliness of alleys downtown. But something in him vehemently protests hunkering down beside the suspiciously white-ish puddle in the last alley he passed.
He keeps going, alternating between jogging and walking. He can't catch his breath enough to run or dash, and besides, that would attract more attention.
He crosses over to the middle-class area of town. He's more likely to be spotted by local enforcers on patrol, but if he could just— there!
His salvation is a folded-up cardboard box by a dumpster, estimating it to be large enough to fit him. The alley is tidy. Chances of having an exceptionally diligent street sweeper assigned to this area? Low, since the area is middle-class. No one would bother. Chances of a cleanliness-conscious do-gooder who lives nearby? High. Chances that the same person will report him to authorities?
He'll take his chances.
-x-
He wakes up to the smell of something delicious. Then, his awareness of his surroundings returns: he's no longer in a cardboard box outside, since the sounds of the streets are muffled, and more importantly, he's lying on something soft and there's a blanket keeping him warm.
Ah. He found the do-gooder. Or more accurately, the do-gooder found him.
He opens his eyes to an open floor plan living room and kitchen. He'd been lying on the couch.
The space is clean and tidy. Lived in, but not cluttered. Books are neatly piled on a table beside the couch. There's a marble(?) bust on display in the hallway leading to the entrance of the house. No feminine touch to be seen anywhere. Conclusion: a bachelor's pad.
Sure enough, there's someone with their back to him, cooking at the stove.
His first thought is those biceps carried me here and I missed it!
Then he facepalms loud enough for his benefactor to hear. He sees the person startle and turn through the gaps in his fingers.
"Good morning," the guy greets. Kakavasha is too stunned to reply, hands lowering of their own volition. He'd been picked up by a man handsome enough and built enough to be a Greek god. "I am Doctor Ratio. I must admit I found no severe injuries on you, but your dazed look may be indicative of a concussion."
Doctor Ratio frowns in concern. Concern? For me?
Kakavasha wrenches his mind back on track with great difficulty, and beams. "Thank you, Doc! My head feels fine, though!"
Doctor Ratio nods, losing the frown and reverting to a serious expression. "Good to know. Well, breakfast is just about done, so come join me at the table."
"Sure! This must be my lucky day, to have someone like you save me, and even cook for me!" Kakavasha says, obediently going to the kitchen table.
As he stands, he notices the bandages on his hands and feet... and on his neck.
"It's the logical thing to do," the doctor replies, distracting him. "I've already sheltered you and patched you up."
It seems like he found a decent person, with good morals. Does he dare push for more? It's not like he has a lot of options... And he's easy on the eyes...
The doctor lives alone, and is in a good enough state of finances to not think much of the cost of feeding him breakfast and using medical resources on him.
He's willing to chance it.
"Still, thank you," Kakavasha solemnly insists, keeping his thoughts off his expression. "Not many would help someone like me."
"Those people are morons who would rather turn a blind eye to suffering. Do not belittle yourself due to people's twisted perceptions," the doctor orders.
This might be easier than he expects.
Kakavasha shrugs and lightly scratches his bandaged neck, intentionally bringing attention to his slave tattoo. "But I'm just a slave to them, so—"
A hand gently encircles his own. Kakavasha inhales sharply, meeting Ratio's eyes. "Slavery is abhorrent and should be abolished. And don't scratch it."
That stare is intense, but it doesn't make his instincts cry out in danger. He's not being hunted against his will. He's safe. He's... being treated with respect. His heart skips a beat and his stomach fills with butterflies.
Kakavasha nods, and Ratio releases his hold. His hand twitches, but he manages not to cling or do something equally desperate.
They eat in companionable silence.
-x-
"What happened to you?" Ratio asks after they finish eating and relocate to the living room. They sit side-by-side on the couch.
"You want the long story, or the short one?" Kakavasha asks, glancing at the clock on the wall. "I don't want to take up more of your valuable time, doc. You probably have a hospital shift or something, right?"
"Ah. I'm actually a professor at the University of Veritas Prime. I've already notified the relevant people that my classes are cancelled today," the doctor replies.
"All that, for me? You really know how to flatter someone, doc," Kakavasha teases, leaning closer.
"You are important," Ratio replies.
One hundred percent serious, Kakavasha judges. Wow. He averts his eyes first, conscious of how much he'd been staring. "T-thanks. Anyway, I... I'm an Avgin. My people were hunted down, and I'm the last one. Eventually, I was caught, and became a slave. But last night, I saw a chance to escape and I took it. And you know the rest."
"Yes. I came across you as I was finishing my morning run," Ratio explains. "Should we not notify the authorities?"
Kakavasha flinches. "My ...former master is quite above the law, I'm afraid."
Ratio simply nods. "I expected as much, since that person is a slave owner in this day and age. So then, what do you plan to do now?"
Kakavasha closes his eyes, preparing himself. He hunches his shoulders and opens his eyes pleadingly. He crowds closer, and Ratio stands his ground, so they end up with almost no space between them. "...I was hoping you'd let me stay here for the moment?"
"You..."
Kakavasha raises his hand and counts off his fingers. "1. I don't have any money! 2. I'm paranoid that my master will catch me again if I step outside! 3. Your cooking is delicious and I want to eat it everyday!"
Ratio blinks. "I can lend you money. Don't you have somewhere you want to go?"
Kakavasha shakes his head adamantly. "Noooo, doc, I'm gonna die if I leave! I'll get killed! Please let me stay? I know, I'll be your pet instead!"
He holds Ratio's hands and turns on his well-practiced puppy dog eyes. "I'll stay here as your pet. I promise to behave, and I'll eat your cooking, and I'll obey your orders! Deal?"
Ratio looks exasperated. "Didn't I tell you earlier not to belittle yourself? Stop spouting nonsense."
Imagining the catastrophe looming in his future is easy, and it brings tears to his eyes. He leans even closer to Ratio, for maximum effect. They're breathing the same air. "Please? I didn't think you'd be heartless enough to throw me out after all this. Or was my offer not enough? Go ahead, use me as you wish. A lot of people think I'm pretty enough, and I guess if it's you... I wouldn't mind providing sexual—"
Ratio's hand slaps over his mouth. Ratio looks indignant, but he's gentle as he pushes Kakavasha back to regain the distance between them. "You don't ever need to go that far. You can stay ...and what do I call you? You haven't told me your name yet."
Kakavasha feels like he dodged a bullet. He smiles beatifically. "Ah... Name? Why don't you name me? Your ex-boyfriend or favorite celebrity, I don't mind. I can be whoever you want to be! I can play the role of friend when needed. That's what pets are, right?"
Ratio looks resigned. "Fine. From now on, you're Aventurine."
"Wow! What a grand name for a simple pet! I love it!" the newly-named Aventurine declares, metaphorically wagging his tail. After all, he got what he wanted.
Ratio sticks his hand into his pants pocket and withdraws something. It turns out to be a green stone, which he drops in Aventurine's hand. "It suits you, that's all."
Aventurine examines it closely. "It's pretty," he exhales softly.
"That it is," Ratio agrees. "Now, since you're staying here... I suggest taking a bath. Your hair is full of dirt, not to mention the rest of you."
Aventurine grins. "Are you gonna bathe me, doc? My hands and feet are bandaged, after all!"
"They're not so badly injured that the bandages can't be removed and reapplied. And the bandage on your neck is waterproof. But I suppose you'd need help regardless. Very well."
Aventurine gapes as Ratio walks off, presumably to ready the discussed bath.
-x-
Ten minutes later, Aventurine feels distinctly floaty as he watches a rubber duck float merrily in his bathwater while Ratio shampoos his hair gently.
"Doc, your hands are magic! Can you bathe me everyday?"
"Shut up, moron! And you don't have to be so formal. You can call me Veritas. Or Ratio, if you must."
Aventurine leans back and looks at Ratio upside down. He can see the faintest traces of a blush on Ratio's cheeks. Cute. "Okay, Ratio. How's the view over there, huh?"
Ratio whacks his head lightly, his blush deepening.