Chapter Text
The two months since leaving Sebastian’s house, were some of the calmest, most peaceful moments Soma had experienced in quite a long time. The sun, the sandy shores of the island that he’d walked with Agni countless times already did wonders for him.
It gave him a new outlook on life. And he realized that it was foolish of him at the time that he’d wanted to throw his life away. He was glad he hadn’t ended it then and there, that Agni had saved him and he endured until the end to see this. To be with Agni, to be loved genuinely, and to love in return.
Agni gave him everything, stability, security, comfort, love. But, he wasn’t a fool. It still seemed like the man was holding back something. Sometimes he caught him lying awake at night by himself when he thought Soma had fallen asleep. He wouldn’t say anything, but he’d just lay there awake, staring at the ceiling until he fell asleep. Soma didn’t ask. He’d wait until Agni would tell him. It was the least he could do for the man that had given him new life. He could only watch with weary, worried eyes as he waited for the day that Agni could trust him with whatever it was that lay heavy in his heart..
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He liked this; the chirping of the crickets in the distance, the sound of the waves on the shore. He often liked to take walks late at night along the island's cliffside, following the beaten path. It was a moment to himself, to take in the quiet and think about the day's events. He’d thought this night was no different, until it was.
At the end of the beaten path, there was an area that was fenced and gated off. It usually was closed, but tonight it wasn’t. It was left open. Soma crept forward, nervousness in the pit of his stomach. He’d never been past this point before. The closer he got to the edge of the cliff, he could see someone standing there. And his heart stilled at the sight of Agni standing at the edge of it, staring down.
He carefully made his way over quietly, not wanting to startle his Master. He stopped just short of Agni, waiting with his heart in his throat to see what he’d do.
It was silent for a long while, Soma was nearly about to make his presence known when Agni spoke suddenly, not even turning to look behind him at Soma.
“I had a slave before you…Mina. She was my first love, someone I loved deeply. And I failed her. She wanted more, more than just being my slave. I refused her. And she threw herself off of this very spot where I’m standing…She hit the ground, looking me right in my eyes as she jumped.” Agni said, laughing bitterly as he looked up at the glowing moon half in anger, and half in regret and cruel irony.
Soma thought he was done, but then he spoke again. Agni turned towards him then, his eyes full of pain, and sorrow.
“The night before she killed herself, she’d asked me if I saw her as anything more than a slave.” His voice pitching high with his emotions. His fists clenched.
“Do you want to know what I said to her, Soma?” he said, his voice sharp with self loathing.
Soma didn’t answer. He knew it wasn’t what Agni needed at the moment, so he stayed quiet; he walked up to Agni and took his hand into his.
Agni gripped his hand like it was a lifeline. Like it took every ounce of strength to keep speaking. His voice barely audible over the crashing waves, but Soma heard him clear as day.
“I laughed at her. I said that this was just how our lives were. I said it wasn’t necessary for her to become anything other than my slave. I remember being so angry that she kept bothering me with the same questions. I scolded her, told her that I’d given her enough, that she was being selfish. I asked her what else she wanted from me? All I asked her for was her obedience, her love, her loyalty. But I hadn’t realized that by denying her the one thing she wanted…it would be our undoing.” Agni said, his hand holding Soma’s in a death grip, Agni’s hand had gone numb but he didn’t protest.
Agni looked up at him then, his eyes burning with something unspoken. A fire and ferocity in them that made him gasp.
“But I won’t do that to you. I do expect complete obedience, Soma… but I won’t pretend that’s enough. Not anymore. Not after her. I know now that love isn’t earned just by obedience. And I’ll never make that mistake again. I won’t withhold what matters. Not your voice. Not your needs. Not my heart. Mina begged me to see her as something more. And I laughed. With you, I want to try. I want to be different.”
Soma squeezed his hand, a silent understanding and acknowledgement.
“I used to walk this same path to this cliffside every day after Mina died. Tonight is the first time I’ve come back since bringing you home. And now... I feel like I can finally stop,” Agni said, releasing his hand before taking a deep breath and looking over the edge of the cliffside one last time, closing his eyes and muttering something under his breath that Soma couldn’t hear.
He approached Soma once more, a hand outstretched in a question.
“Can you stay with me and allow me to try? Will you let me care for you? Will you let me love you while I try to love myself a little more each day?” Agni asked, his voice uncharacteristically soft.
Soma’s voice was hushed. Hoarse with unshed emotions. But he knew the answer.
“Yes.”
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Ever since that night, it was as if a weight had been lifted off of Agni’s chest. He no longer lay awake at night by himself. He held Soma tightly as they slept, as if he was afraid Soma would disappear. He didn’t know why Agni would think such a thing.
As much as the weight lifted off of Agni’s shoulders after that night, a new one was weighing him down. A week after that, Soma could tell something was off. He’d had enough, he wanted to know the reason for Agni’s guarded mood lately.
“Is everything okay, Master?” He asked, hesitant as the two of them sat eating breakfast. Agni had been reading his newspaper, but Soma could tell he was reading the same line over and over again, his mind clearly distracted.
Agni sighed heavily.
“Sebastian called again. He said he’s going to see the people that tortured you. To oversee and finalize the execution. He asked if we wanted to join him, but I said I’d have to check in with you.”
Soma was surprised, he hadn’t expected them to be put down so quickly.
“You don’t have to do this, Soma.” Agni said cautiously.
“No. I want to do this…As long as you’re with me, of course.”
Agni smiled gently at him.
“Just so you’re aware, it’s not just about Sebastian. Regardless of what it is, I can promise you Soma, that I will be there every step of the way.”
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They got out of the car and approached Sebastian, dressed in his usual two piece suit, the epitome of what it meant to be a Master. The all black ensemble was striking against his pale skin, his wedding band shining, his watch glinting in the sunlight as he stood with his back straight, his face holding his signature blank expression as his hands were tucked in his pockets as they approached.
Agni offered his hand out for Sebastian to shake it.
The man raised a brow before taking Agni’s hand and shaking it. His gaze landed on Soma, and Soma’s eyes narrowed.
Sebastian smiled at the look of disdain on Soma’s face. He couldn’t blame him.
“Well, well. Would you look at that; Soma looks nearly unrecognizable. I suppose peace and proper care really do wonders, don’t they?” Sebastian said, chuckling.
Soma rolled his eyes, but said nothing else.
Sebastian looked over Soma once more, a slight grin tugging at the corners of his lips. No longer was he the pale, bony, malnourished shell of a man. Agni had done well. His gaze flicked over towards Agni who was looking around the area.
Sebastian pointed over in the direction of two large holes that were a few feet away.
“They’re over there if you’d like to see them.” He said, getting straight to business.
Agni’s eyes met Soma’s for a brief moment before returning to Sebastian’s.
“Actually, Sebastian…I have something I’d like to say.” Agni said, a hand on his friend’s shoulder as he said the next words. “Thank you for what you said to me before I left. It worked. I was just too broken to want to change before. And I’m sorry for what I said about Ciel. For trying to take him from you.”
Sebastian’s face is impassive. He nodded, looking slightly impressed before his face was back to his perfected mask.
“I’ll accept your thanks. But I can’t say I’m sorry for nearly breaking your wrist. Because I’m not.” Sebastian said, hands into his pants pockets. A smirk on his lips.
Agni laughed.
“Of course not, I don’t blame you. I would have done the same.”
Sebastian smiled. And something behind his gaze shifted just slightly. Dangerous, unpredictable, the monster that lay dormant rising yet again. The old Sebastian came out briefly. To test. To taunt.
He inched closer to Soma, leaning close to Soma’s ear as the man stiffened.
“What do you think, Soma? Did you miss the time we spent together? Would you like to find out if I’ve changed in your absence?” Sebastian said smoothly, almost seductively. His voice was like silk that cajoled you into a false sense of safety right before it tightened into a noose and was your undoing.
Agni’s hand met Sebastian’s shoulder roughly. Holding him away.
“If I recall, Sebastian. We’re here because we have business to attend to. My slave isn’t business.” Agni said, clipped and cool.
Sebastian smiled as he eyed his friend, clapping theatrically.
“Ah, see? There’s the good old Agni I remember! Good to see you’ve found your spine again. Now come on. They’re waiting for us.” Sebastian said before he turned on his heels and walked up to the two ten foot holes in the ground. There were a few lower ranking Society members strewn about, collecting evidence and destroying some other things.
“Thank you for holding down the fort, James.”
The younger blonde haired man nodded.
“Sir.” He said, addressing Sebastian before returning his attention towards the two men inside the pit.
At the sight of them, Soma’s rage sparked like a lit match. The two slimy, pathetic men were on their knees, naked in the dirt. They looked absolutely disgusting as they were covered in sweat and grime as they begged to be spared.
Soma’s eyes narrowed at their pleading.
“Bastards!” Soma cursed, kicking at the edge of the hole, dirt falling and spilling into both mens’ eyes as they groaned at the burn.
“We can do this the easy way if you’d like..” Sebastian murmured, pulling a pistol out of his suit pocket and offering it to Soma. “Would you like to be the one to put them out of their misery?”
Soma looked between the gun, Sebastian’s curious expression, and the two worms in the pit.
He walked away from Sebastian and over to the edge of the pit and spat on them.
“No. Killing them that quick would be mercy. Let them suffer.” Soma hissed.
Sebastian smiled, dangerous. Proud.
This was a far cry from the broken slave who cowered at everyone and everything.
His job was done.
“Very well, I’ll ensure that message is passed on.” Sebastian said as he walked with Soma and Agni to their car.
Agni motioned for Soma to get in without him before he turned and pulled Sebastian into a hug before pulling away.
Sebastian’s eyes were wide, he hadn’t expected that.
“Thank you, again. I truly mean it Sebastian. You saved me from myself.”
“No, Agni…You did that yourself. You always had it in you, you just needed some reminding of who you were.”
Agni smiled, genuinely smiled at his friend.
“So, safe to say you’ll be visiting more often? Ciel would like to see Soma more often if you don’t mind. You and I also have a lot of catching up to do.” Sebastian said.
Agni chuckled.
“Of course. Let me know when you want me over, I think I’ve been in your guys’ space enough lately though.” Agni said as Sebastian let out a laugh.
“Till then, Agni.” Sebastian said with a nod.
Sebastian watched as Agni turned and got into the car, he stayed watching them leave, his gaze lingering on the car as it drove away, getting smaller and smaller in the distance. He wanted to continue watching, until they were nothing more than a speck in the distance, but life had other plans.
A voice called out for him then and he sighed. Of course. Duty first.
He straightened his suit jacket before turning and walking over to the pit once more.
“Oi! Sebastian! What did you wanna do with these fuckers, Boss?” asked Bard, of the men who were beneath Sebastian in rank.
Sebastian smiled, cruel. Sharp.
He shrugged.
“Whatever you like. Rape them. Torture them. I know Derrick and Nathan don’t mind getting themselves dirty for that. I don’t particularly care what you do. Just make sure they suffer.” He said, his voice smooth, bored. As if cruelty was an everyday occurrence for him to say something such as that. “Just make sure it’s cleaned up afterwards.” He said, not turning to look at them as they acknowledged his order.
He gave the pit one last glance before he turned with his hands in his pockets. He walked to his car, and got in, starting it up as he buckled his seatbelt. He hit the gas and drove off. With only one destination in mind. Home. To Ciel.
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Sebastian POV
You didn’t think Ciel approached Agni in my kitchen by coincidence did you? Agni dared to question my slave’s worth. I simply made him regret opening his mouth. And my Ciel was perfect as he always is. And I’ll admit, even I was surprised by what he said. My slave is truly a wonder. He managed to get under Agni’s skin more than anything I would have said, and that was what mattered.
You didn’t think Ciel went crying to Agni on his own either did you? That too was by my hand. Soma was only sedated, I sent Ciel to give Agni the final push to remind him of the confidence he’d lost.. Granted, I didn’t think he was committed enough to pull that stunt with Ciel, but nevertheless, it proved my point.
Agni had been lost for quite some time now. He was merely a broken man, drifting through life without purpose. As his friend, it was my job to set him on the correct path again.
Soma was my one failure from when I was just starting off. I needed to cut the attachment he had to me still, even if it was unconsciously. As I’ve said previously, to be a Master, you have to want it more than anything, you have to have a heart as cold as ice to break and rebuild slaves, to be a proper Master. And Agni didn’t have the required mindset or inner strength in him at all by the time he’d shown up at my doorstep with Soma in hand. It would have been the blind leading the blind. A broken Master with an even more broken slave would only end in disaster. It was with my intervention for both parties that they’re now free to live their lives happily. If there was one thing I could do in my time as a Master once more, it was to teach Agni the error of his ways. To have him relearn what it means to be a Master. Even if that meant he no longer wanted to be friends. I gave him no gift. I gave him no freedom. I merely forced him to stand. To choose. To take. As I once had to. It wasn’t just redemption for Agni, it was also redemption for me as well. This time, I could finally rid my hands of Soma the proper way. I gave him a Master that was worthy of a slave such as him, one that would stand the test of time with him. One that had learned from his mistakes.
Was I cruel? Yes. Did I go overboard a tad? Yes. But it got the intended result, that was what mattered.
In the end, Agni had learned a valuable lesson. He found his inner strength again, He re polished his old Master mask but it was only for Soma. Agni would never break another again nor take a slave to train. He was content just living with Soma on his private island away from the Societies meddling and politics.
As for me, I would never train again. Never break, nor shape, nor ruin. Not as I once did. The Master within me remains of course. There are meetings to attend. Inductions to witness. Deals to make behind polite smiles. And people to put in their place, but that is all that I would do for them. My only true care in this world sits in lace, in diamonds, lays his pretty, perfect head next to me every night and looks at me like I’ve hung the moon from the stars. I suppose for him I did, in a way. Ciel Michaelis is, and always will be... my only exception.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again...
I am a Master.
I have no empathy.
No love.
No kindness in me.
And I…am not a good man.