Process Complete - Darius and Crew

Her spare moments, when all was quiet in the house, she thought.  Processed.  It took her a while, as her brain wouldn't sit still long enough to complete the process in one go.  But it did process.

In the quiet moments, the thoughts came.  The sound of the flies, the feel of the ants.  The smell.  Oh, god, the smell.  But through it all, a single thought.

He understands.

When he woke up, she was waiting, kneeling at the end of his bed.

Which was a bit odd. He didn't seem alarmed. In fact, quite the opposite. But he was surprised. His smile, though? It said he was pleased.

"Good evening, Elizabeth."

She smiled up at him.

"Good evening, Master."

He patted the bed beside him for her to join him.

"And to what do I owe this sweet surprise?"

She crawled up onto the bed next to him.

"I have processed what I learned in the pit."

Because it's Darius, he waited for her to get onto the bed. Then his hand went down to her hair, gripping it in a fist. Not really hard enough to hurt her. But he dragged her up so that her head rested against his shoulder.

Once he had her where he wanted her, he started to pet her gently.

"Have you?"

She didn't resist, but made a small sound of surprise that ended in a contented sigh.

"Of all those who have owned me, you are the first who has truly understood. I did not even know I needed that. Someone to actually punish me. There to truly be consequences, with a Master strong enough to hold me, to not weaken when I show the least bit of weakness myself. When I cry out in pain and anguish, one to not pick me up and hold me, but to keep me down. To make sure that I know that I did wrong. To teach me. Or I will flounder as the voices become too much."

He turned his head to look at her. He still pet her, still held her in his arms as he stroked her hair. Much like one would pet a kitten or puppy. To show affection, care. He met her eyes, one of those hands of his stopping and moving so that he could caress her cheek.

"I am not like your other Masters, clearly."

She met his eyes, as he seemed to want, but didn't try to move from where he held her.

"They were weak. Even Chet was weak."

At that, he paused. Truly paused for a moment.

"Explain to me why you believe that they were weak."

"They did not have what it took to give me what I need."

His brow rose.

"And that is what makes them weak?"

Her eyes closed for a moment. Then opened again to gaze at him.

"That is not all that makes them weak. All of them could not rise up to what they could be. They all fell short."

He nodded.

"And what was it that caused them to fall short, Elizabeth."

He was hoping she knew the answer to this question. It was always the same, for every single one of them. The same weakness, the same fault. Every. Single. Time.

Her words were soft, barely above a whisper.

"Fear."

He sat up just a little. Just enough so that he could look down at her. So that she could see his face very clearly.

Pride.

Oh, so much pride. He was pleased with her, that much was for certain. He nodded and his petting, for a few moments, became more vigorous, more affection.

"Yes, Elizabeth. Fear is what it is that holds one back. That makes one weak. Do you fear me?"

She looked up at him with a look that could only be described as absolute devotion.

"I don't fear you. I fear your punishments, but that only drives me further down the path you guide me on. And if I deserve punishment, while I will fear it, I will still face it, and admit to my sins."

He smiled at that. This, he decided, had been a very good investment. He nodded.

"Very good. Is there anything that you do fear, Elizabeth? It's not a trick question. I won't be angry if there is."

She bit her lip.

"Being alone. Abandoned."

"And if I said that I would never willingly abandon you, would your fear ease?"

She nodded.

"It would. It exists as it has happened so very often to me."

He nodded and looked her in the eye.

"I will never willingly leave or abandon you."

She smiled and sighed.

"Thank you."

He smiled at her.

"Any other fears?"

She shook her head.

"None that I can think of right now."