She'd come home from her night away with Indigo. It had been a lovely night but so incredibly sad. She had told Indy that they needed to try and love other people. She needed to shut her heart off, blocking him from it in anything other than a familial love. Both had felt the nauseating pain that the decision brought. The girl was a mess. She was disgusted with the world. A world that didn't want her to obtain happiness.

After the pair had parted ways, coming back home alone, the tears began to fill her big, purple eyes. She didn't want anyone to see her crying, so she rushed to her den and darted inside. Her mind so focused on Indigo, Asla forgot that Basilisk lived there as well. She hadn't even told him that she was going to be gone all night.

Seeing the form of the russet man, Aslatiels lower lip jutted out as she fought the tears. Seeing Bas made her want to cry even more for some reason. In the end she couldn't tamp down the emotion. Aslatiel threw herself at the big wolf and cried, her face buried in his chest.

He sat by the entrance to her den for a long time. He must have drifted in and out of sleep for parts of it, his head thudding against the other side of the entrance anytime his muscles relaxed far enough. He was getting complacent, time was, he could have stood awake and alert for the full length of night. Good food and good sleep only seemed to make it harder.

He had returned well before sunset, as he had been bidden to, and stood guard, in wait for her, for as long as it took for his Princess to return to him. He almost didn’t realise when the small tawny frame darted towards him. He caught her as she ran directly into his coat, throwing herself against him. He wrapped her into a great big hug, resting his head gently against the side of her cheek, ensuring his breaths were deep and soft, and one paw began gentle, rhythmic circles along her back. He said nothing, no silly platitudes or consolation, no asking the reason why. He simply held her, and rubbed, for as long as she needed.

She cried and cried and in her tears she tried hard to let go. Let go of the forbidden love that she had within her. It could never happen, so why hold on to it? There was no point. Even their sneaking around always ended up with sorrow. Neither of them were okay with it, but Indigo agreed that he would try.

Bas rubbed her back soothingly. The action made her cry even more. Whether it was sympathy or duty, she needed it. The poor guy. His coat would be soaked by the time she was done.

Asla needed to forget. She needed... something. She didn't know what that something was, so sleep would have to do. Daylight was creeping over the horizon, but she was so very tired. "Take me to bed, Bas." Her little voice quivered as she made her request. Maybe things would be clearer when she woke.

THe sheer vulnerability she showed him astounded him. He did not know if it was a deep level of trust - for surely that was impossible? He was a slave, and a new one at that. Perhaps it was simply convenience, she needed to let it out, and here it was, standing wait for her. Whichever the answer, he knew he would be whatever she needed him to be. In this moment, he was not a slave, not a guard. Not a strange new play thing for her to toy with. He was her friend, and he offered her what comfort he was able.

The touch of another around him was still strange to him, but he ensured his body was relaxed and welcoming as she buried herself in his coat. Her tears soaked to his skin, but at least his furs would dry her eyes.

“Of course, my dear one.” He murmured softly, offering his shoulder as he lifted her gently back to her feet, and led her to her room. He paused at the doorway to plump up her pillows as quickly as he was able, and gently nudged her to lie among them. Then he curled around her, so she was surrounded by nothing but pillows and furs, and his warmth. He did not know why she was upset, the only thing that mattered in the moment was her comfort and wellbeing, his curiosity played no part.

One could say that she trusted him so much because he was a slave. He couldn't say a word about her sorrow unless she allowed it. They would be wrong, however. She trusted Basilisk because he was good. He was true. He was hers and he would never leave.

As he led her into her bed chamber and placed her among the furs, she expected him to take his leave. Much to her surprise and pleasure, the big, russet brute curled himself around her. Aslatiel nestled into his big, warm body. She needed this comfort. Anything to make her forget.

"Thank you, Bas," she murmured into the cream if his chest. Her eyes had already been closed but she opened them to look upon him. Raising her head, the girl placed a soft kiss upon the side of his muzzle. Right now, Bas was exactly what she needed. Once she laid her head down once more, she was out like a light.

- time skip?-

“Anything for you.” The mask of his slavery was ripped away, showing vunrability for vulnerability. Even his gentle snark was absent in the moment. He had always obeyed his master, but he had never loved them. Aslatiel was different. She had treated him differently, right from the start. She confused and exasperated and thrilled him. She was changing him from an empty vessel to a well of emotion. He didn’t know yet if that was a good thing.

Her breathing evened out, and a soft subtle whistle blew past her muzzle. She was asleep. He held her a little longer to be certain, before gently and subtly untangling himself. He grabbed a small piece of cloth, and heated water over her little fireplace. Warming it, before dipping the cloth into it, and returning to her. He gently dabbed under her eyes, doing everything he could to keep his motions quiet so not to disturb her. Wiping away the salt of her tears so her eyes would not be red and puffy on the ‘morrow. Then he laid out an assortment of soaps Io had allowed him to take. Tomorrow he would convince her was a spa day, with a warm cloth over her eyes, and soft soaps rubbed into her paws. But, for now, sleep. He curled himself back around her, holding her gently against his larger frame, and let sleep take him.

The exhaustion from her anguish had been so deep that she hadn't felt him stir or wipe her eyes. Asla slept deeply with no dreams or thoughts. The sleep of the dead. And she needed it. For hours and hours  the girl slept. She didn't know how long. The only telltale sign was the shifting of the sun from dawn until midday.

When she finally did stir, he was there. His big body was still wrapped around her dainty frame. Had he been asleep all this time too or had he simply refused to move? Either way, he was there and she appreciated it. Again she placed a kiss on his cheek, this time in an attempt to wake him.

"Thank you,  Bas," she spoke softly. "You knew just what I needed." She wanted to reward him for this. But couldn't think of a good enough prize at the moment. What she could give him was information.  "You know,  my father started out as a slave. He worked hard serving his empress until he earned his freedom." Raising one paw,  she stroked his speckled cheek.

The mostly sleepless night ensured he was tired enough to fall quickly into dreams. He awoke sometime in the morning, his arms still around the Princess before him. He kissed her forehead, feeling a strange thrill at the audacity of his action, and then rested his head on his paws. Closing his eyes, and waiting for her to awake. He did not want her to awake alone.

He knew when she was awake, for the first thing she did when she stirred was kiss his cheek. His lips twitched in amusement, before he regained control of his expression. It was too similar to the fondness with which he had kissed her forehead upon waking.

“Good morning, Lady Aslatiel. I’m glad I could help.” he said gently, opening his cool blue eyes to meet the brilliant lilac of her own.

And then of course, she exploded his world.

He stared at her in astonished confusion. “The… mountain that greeted us at the border?’ he confirmed, remembering back to the large, saber-fanged wolf that hat allowed him to stay. Earning freedom didn’t exist in his world, but nor did titans like that one start out as a slave. He looked like blood stock of a general or some sort. He scrunched up his nose… that meant that if Asla had been born earlier, she could have been born a slave? How did a wolf go from slave to king? No, that was much too confusing. He swept it under the rug, and ignored it. “If you did not already have plans for the day, my Lady, I had an idea.”

It bothered her that he didn't want freedom. She didn't want to force it on him. She wanted him to want it too. That was why she had dropped the story bomb on him about her father having been a slave. Basilisk didn't believe it nor did he seem to want any part of it. Inwardly, she sighed. Asla would keep trying. She had to. She couldn't be with a slave.

Wait. Where had that come from?

The girl's amaranthine gaze widened as the thought struck her. She hadn't thought about it before, so why all of a sudden? Probably because he had been there for her. Basilisk was what she needed at the moment because what she truly needed, she could not have. Was it best to settle for the next best thing? She didn't know, but she had told Indigo that they needed to love other people. So... she was going to try. Maybe Basilisk was making it easier than she'd planned.

Upon being questioned, Asla fought to shake the shock from her face. "Umm... no, no plans for today." Suddenly she felt a little awkward. Something within her wanted Basilisk. Not just as a slave. She wanted him. It was... a lot to process. The young wolf blinked a few times, focusing on his features as she waited to hear his idea.

As he watch his Mistress, her eyes seemed to widen in surprise, and he fought the urge to glance about himself, and find what had caught her attention. She didn’t seem to be focusing on anything in particular, and he had to assume that she was remembering whatever had upset her last night. He wanted to know of course, and help keep her safe from such heartbreak again. Without knowing why, it was much harder to do that.

“Excellent” he responded, assuming the distant expression of her eyes was to do with things far away from here. He went back to grab the soaps and eye press he had organised before going to sleep. “It would work best if there was heated water, but I don’t know where to find that here. I was thinking I could put something over the fireplace to warm some water, My lady” He explained as he moved outside the den to begin stocking the fire.

Maybe she needed a distraction. A big, russet and cream distraction. She could see the curiosity on Bas's face, but she couldn't tell him the cause of her sorrow. She'd been judged for it enough. She couldn't bear to see disgust or disappointment in Bas's eyes. And so she remained silent.

He spoke of needing hot water and had the idea to heat some over a fire. Hmm. Well Asla had a better idea. Bas moved out of the den and she followed him. The larger wolf began stoking the fire and she came up beside him, taking one of his paws in hers and drawing his attention to herself. "I have a better idea. Let's go away. I know a place that has all of the hot water you'll need." Plus maybe she would be able to distract herself a bit. "What do you say? A night away with me doesn't sound too bad, does it?" Aslatiel tilted her head sweetly and batted her long lashes. She really was a brat.