#light pain

[chenoahchantel]

I’ll admit that I didn’t watch Season 4 of Black Lightning. After I heard that China was leaving, I wasn’t interested. But damn, they didn’t give the fans not one Kennifer scene in the last season? I was looking for clips on YouTube to see how they closed out their storyline and found nothing. Did they have scenes together but nobody posted it? What happened?

[whumplin-dumplin]

Shower time

The bathtub was a pearl white with gold trimmings, and the showerhead pure gold. The pearl cabinets on which the sink sat were vast and held a couple of towels and silken clothing, the sink itself being gold. The walls were milk and the tile the same. The whole bathroom had a fragrance, light on the nose.

Aslan stared at the steam coming from the shower as hundreds of drops of water sprinkled down from the showerhead. His chains had been prematurely taken off of him by the king, and despite the fragrance of lavender, Aslan was not calm or comfortable.

"A shower?" he questioned. The king nodded.

"You're dirty, my pet." Aslan bit back his remark, and nodded once.

"Okay."

"But I expect a form of thank you." Aslan swallowed, he was scared to know how he would have to show his gratitude, and wished he could choose not to take a bath.

"Yes sir," he said quietly.

"Wonderful," the king said. Two hands were gently placed on Aslan's shoulders, and they began to pull down his dirty clothes. Aslan tensed at the feeling of his clothes being removed but knew better than to do anything. He wished Niven was there, because Niven would more than likely say something to try to help. As the clothes fell around Aslan's ankles, steam began to stick to his skin. He shuddered at the chance of temperature, then at the feeling of Kleitos' hands travelling down his body.

"Your skin is so gross," Kleitos commented. "But so full of color and beauty." Aslan made a face, knowing that Kleitos couldn't see him.

"Now, get in and come see me when you're done."

Kleitos turned and left the room, shutting the door behind him. Aslan gulped, wondering if this was all a trick. He looked around for a moment, then carefully stepped in the water. To his surprise, his skin was not burned with acid but burned with heat. Wonderful, wonderful heat that he hadn't felt in nearly a year. He stepped both feet in and stood under the water that fell from the showerhead. His skin ached and burnt under the hot water, each of his unhealed and untreated wounds scorching. But he was too afraid to turn down the water temperature, too afraid of consequence and then he'd never be able to have a bath.

As his body slowly began to get used to the heat, he sighed and rubbed his wrists. They were red and irritated from the shackles, some cuts formed on his skin from his struggling in the nights he was in the dungeon. The countless hours he had spent trying to pull them apart, trying to pick the locks with anything he could find, it all rushed to his mind and he was reminded of himself. If who he was. He was Aslan, a rightful prince and, now, heir to the throne. He gritted his teeth as he realized how low he had become in these past months, how Kleitos had so easily broken him down. And how, Niven, the kindest person to have entered the castle since Kleitos took over, thought that Aslan was a gypsy and Aslan had no way to tell him otherwise.

Aslan licked his lips and raised his hands to his head, where he tussled his hair in the water. He glanced down and saw dirt and blood both coalesce and run down the drain, and wasn't sure if that was from his hair only or if his skin was still being washed as well. After his body became used to the water, he grabbed the soaps and began to wash himself. The smell was the best he'd been graced with in forever. He made no rush in washing himself, taking his soapy hands all throughout his body, despite the stinging from ever cut he had received. When he was soaked in soap he let the water run. He closed his eyes and for a moment, just a brief second, thought that Kleitos was kind to allow him a bath.

And then he realized what he had judt thought and snapped his eyes open. Kleitos was a monster, he reminded himself. A murdering, abusing, predatory, monster. And Aslan would not become his play thing. His toy. His pet. Aslan would rise above this, and he would prevail and he would become king. And this would all be a story of the past, a origin for him. And Niven would- Niven would- well, he wasn't sure about Niven. Niven was indeed the one who killed his brother, but he hadn't known and he was the a nice, good person.

Aslan stepped out of the water and sighed. He wished it wasn't over, but knew eventually it had to be. He dried himself with the towels, and picked up the silk, only to find that it was completely see through. He gritted his teeth and threw it down, looking in the mirror. He didn't want to go out, he didn't want to- he was crying. Tears were rolling down his face, and he sniffled. This time, he allowed himself to cry. He was alone, no one ever had to know he had broken down. Especially not Kleitos. Not Niven either.

Once Aslan pulled himself together, his out on the silk and sighed staring at himself in the mirror. The steam was starting to reappear on the part he had wiped off before, but he considered it a timer. When he could no longer see himself, he would leave.

And then the time came. He could no longer see himself, and with a large breath he pulled himself together and stepped out of the bathroom.

Kleitos was in the bedroom waiting for him, speaking quietly with Niven. Aslan gasped and covered himself, his face heating up. Niven and the king turned to look at him, their faces saying everything. Niven turned red at the sight, Kleitos simply grinned.

"There's my boy," he said reaching his arms out. "Come see us." Aslan stepped to Kleitos who put his hands on his shoulders. Aslan had gotten used to that feeling, but this time is felt different. His thumbs rubbed up and down on Aslan's thinly covered skin, and Kleitos began to speak again.

"As I was saying, you really must try it."

"Sorry... I'm, uh, not exactly the... uh..." Niven's eyes flickered to Aslan. "I'm not uh, a really sexual person." Aslan'a stomach dropped. He knew, somehow he just knew, that would be the thank you. Aslan swallowed hard.

"No!" Niven shouted. He cleared his throat. "I mean, I've, uh, changed my mind. I'll do it. Gladly, I'll do it." Askan whimpered. He had thought Niven would help him, would say no, would do something.

"Great! Then. I'll allow you two to be alone. Have fun, and remember, I've trained him well so do whatever you want." Niven smiled.

"Of course." Kleitos closed the door and they both listened to him walk away. Niven licked his lips and turned around, only to find Aslan undressing.

"Don't."

[jdskier1]

On a clear night in the woods in colorado messing with light.  No colorizing.

[cccphotography-blog]