The next time he woke it was to a soft bed and the amber light of sunset. He was laying on his stomach, his naked body wrapped with bandages and only a thin sheet covering his lower regions from view. Iyasu stared blankly at the wall across the room, he was too mentally exhausted to even spare a thought about where he was at the moment. He only snapped out of his trance when he saw the door open to reveal Jerrod. The man looked as stoic as usual carrying a bowl of food and a glass of water. 

He set them down on the nightstand before reaching over to try to grab Iyasu only to have the omega flinch away from him with frightened eyes. Iyasu didn’t even seem to think before his body instinctively tried to pull away. Jerrod paused with his hands hanging in the air, there was an uncertainty behind his brown eyes, he almost looked awkward like he didn’t know what to do. Iyasu didn't expect the bigger man to pause like that, it was the first time in so long that someone seemed to consider his space. It made his mind rationalize some of the fear away but he couldn’t completely relax. 

“You need to eat.” was all Jerrod said, his deep voice was surprisingly gentle. Iyasu could feel the pain in his back return and the sharpness of his hunger pains but somehow the sound of Jerrod’s voice still caught his attention. He didn’t think the man could even speak.

“You can’t eat by yourself. I have to help.” Jerrod lifted his hands again but this time he waited for Iyasu's approval before moving closer.

"Okay." Iyasu finally whispered. Jerrod's calloused hands felt rough against his skin and oddly familiar as he helped him. He slowly turned Iyasu onto his side causing him to let out a small moan of pain. Jerrod tensed but was more careful as he held him up into a seating position.

Iyasu watched as Jerrod reached over for the bowl of fruit on the nightstand while he halfway cradled Iyasu in his other arm. The sweet smell wasn’t unpleasant but even through his hunger he didn’t feel any real desire to eat. He felt like his mind and body were disconnected, like his mind lacked the stimulation to desire anything, let alone food. He was beginning to change his mind about the whole eating thing, he was beginning to feel nauseous, it was only the more subtle smell of cinnamon that kept his mind from thinking of it too much. 

Jerrod placed the bowl in his lap and used a fork to pick up a grape, Iyasu was thankful for something small at least. Jerrod tired not to look him in the eyes when he nudged his dry lips to open. Iyasu ate it with more effort than it should take to eat a grape and the nausea increased once he swallowed. He ate a few more grapes and some mango before pushing the fork away with a whine of discomfort. His stomach pains were subsiding but he still wanted to throw up. The fruit was delicious and crisp but his brain was beginning to focus heavily on the faint smell of his own blood. Jerrod got the message and let him lay back on his stomach before placing the bowl down. Iyasu groaned when his back protested but for some reason anxiety took over him when he saw Jerrod move to pick up the dishes and leave. 

“Don’t--” The word came out so small he was surprised Jerrod even heard it. The big man stilled and looked at Iyasu with silent curiosity. 

“Please stay, until I fall asleep.” Iyasu's voice trembled with unshed tears. He didn’t even know this man, probably couldn’t even trust him, and yet he was desperate to keep his company. He wanted to be in Jerrod’s calming presence a bit longer, he craved any presence that didn’t possess animosity towards him.

Jerrod paused again looking reluctantly at the door before finally deciding to sit back down next to Iyasu whose breath was now a little more labored from the increasing pain coming from his body. He concentrated on the waft of cinnamon scent to distract from the ache and it somewhat helped. 

“Thank you.” He sighed and finally let his body fully relax into the soft surface of the bed.

Jerrod didn’t reply and stayed quiet the whole time as Iyasu began to drift off again, by the morning he was gone.

As he healed it felt like a week of him drifting in a cloud of pain with the occasional visit from Jerrod to clear the haze. It was strange at first having Jerrod change his bandages, he would’ve felt more shame if he wasn’t already dealing with more potent demons. Jerrod seemed sort of uncomfortable too but he went ahead with his task without complaint. After a while Iyasu was able to sit up and move around on his own, the injuries were healing into scars and he regained most of his strength from actually making an effort to eat and drink. Jerrod was bringing him dinner now, carrying a plate of what looked like leftovers from the kitchen. He was ready to feed Iyasu again but Iyasu sat up and shook his head.

“It’s fine, I can feed myself.” He reached out to take the plate. The contents appeared similar to the meal he ate in the slave quarters but the food was clearly fresher and better quality. He ate his food slowly, truly he had no desire to eat but he pushed himself to do it anyway. He could feel Jerrod's eyes on him and he wondered why the other man was still sitting there, he was always so quick to leave after that first night.   

“You gonna watch me eat?” His eyebrow quirked as he gazed at Jerrod curiously. Jerrod only crossed his arms and studied Iyasu with that stoic expression back on his face. Iyasu continued to eat nervously as Jerrod watched him, he couldn't even guess what was going on in the other man's head. 

“You don’t talk much do you?” Iyasu said around the food in his mouth. 

Jerrod frowned a bit. “You shouldn't have ran away like you did. It's not good to draw attention to yourself in a place like this.”

Those unexpected words stung, Iyasu glared at Jerrod as anger took him for a moment, but it deflated just as quickly when those words continued to sink in. Maybe Jerrod was right, maybe if Iyasu kept his head down and just endured he wouldn't have made things worse. He tightly gripped the fork in his hand as he looked down at his plate and bit his lip. It was a hard thought to swallow and he wasn't sure if his pride would truly let him.  

“I understand why you did it.” Jerrod continued when he saw Iyasu’s face, he looked back up at Jerrod in shock. The other man was looking away but met his eyes again, Jerrod's light brown eyes seemed to peer through him, his full lips were set in a serious line.

“Just don’t fight it, you will experience much less pain if you comply.” Jerrod’s voice was somber. His eyes became empty like they were witnessing a distant memory. Iyasu took in his form, glanced down at his scarred arms and chest then back at his face that showed a prominent scar on his cheek. The sight made his chest tighten and his heart speed up, suddenly Jerrod's words felt even heavier.  

“Master Roland says I have to monitor you.” He said as he focused on Iyasu again. “I don't want to be the reason for your further torment.” It felt like a warning and a plea all at once. He knew it had to be difficult to personally take part in someone else’s bondage.

Iyasu nodded his head though there was still a part of him that stubbornly wanted his freedom. He didn’t want to make things harder for Jerrod but he wasn’t willing to be dehumanized like this any longer. Perhaps he just had to wait, maybe lull Roland into a false sense of security. He would try to be the perfect submissive slave until an opportunity of freedom arrives. 

A hand on his arm startled him back to attention. “Eat and get some rest, don’t think too much and things will be easier.”

Jerrod got up to leave after that. The silence was suffocating, Iyasu felt anger build in him again, he hated that his only source of comfort was now another person he couldn’t trust. He felt like fate itself was trying to grind his body and soul into dust, trying to corner him until he relented. 

His thoughts troubled him until he finally managed to fall asleep. He slept better than when the pain was unbearable but something didn’t feel right that night. He began to feel a hand caressing his face, lightly trailing down his plush lips and down his neck. He would turn his head away to avoid the touch but that same hand would trail down his collar bone, over his nipples and under the sheets. They felt too soft to be Jerrod’s but Iyasu was too afraid to open his eyes and find out it wasn’t a dream. 

“No…” He whimpered under his breath when fingers slipped between his thighs. Surprisingly they stopped when he protested, instead choosing to brush their fingers over the brand mark on his inner thigh before pulling away completely. 

The sound of footsteps leaving the room made his tense body relax. The days went on and every night he would feel those hands on his skin confidently exploring him but never going any further than that. The touches made him shiver in disgust but he promised himself to endure until eventually he refused to sleep at night. He would crash by the morning only to be awakened by Jerrod throughout the day. He sat up at night watching the door and jumping every time a shadow passed by.   

Eventually one night he got a visit from Roland, much to his dismay. His very presence made Iyasu's heart thunder in his chest, he had to calm his breathing and fight the urge to run from the sight of him.  Roland smirked when he noticed the fear in Iyasu’s eyes.

“Feeling better?” He didn’t wait for an answer before pulling out what looked like a uniform from behind his back, “I hope so, because it’s time to get back to work.” he held up the dress shirt and long black slacks for Iyasu to see.

“Since we can’t rely on you to work the fields I’ll have you work in the house instead. I’ll have to train you more before I feel confident letting you out of my sight.” The last sentence was said in a dark tone that put Iyasu on edge. He couldn’t imagine how he could do any worse to him, then he remembered those hands that violated him every night and feared where that thought might lead him.

“Don’t fret, this job is usually only reserved for half-breeds like Jerrod, your kind should consider it an upgrade.” He joked. Iyasu thought about how Jerrod did look rather different from the black people in Faction 5. His light brown eyes, loose curls and deep caramel skin was not super common where he's from. Though the word ‘half-breed’ offended him just as much as the insinuation that his darker skin was inferior.

“You will be up at 6 am and at my quarters by 7. Jerrod will make sure you know the estate well but I expect you to be able to do this on your own sooner than later.” He moved to place the clothes on a dresser that sat on the other side of the room. He started to leave the room but paused right after he opened the door.

“Oh, and make sure you behave yourself. If you think I have no patience for wily field niggers you have no idea what happens to slaves who disobey me in my own home.” He stared into Iyasu’s eyes with a sharp gaze that gave no room for argument. Iyasu silently gripped onto his sheets and challenged the eye contact until Roland smirked and left the room. 

He was finally able to take off all of the bandages on his own when he woke that morning. When he finished Jerrod guided him to the bathroom that all the house slaves shared. He felt exposed having to wash himself in an open shower but he was incredibly grateful to have any opportunity to clean himself, even if the shower was cold and barely working. The other slaves casted curious looks at him as he made his way out of the bathroom, he hadn't felt so awkward in a long time. Jerrod waited for him to cover himself before handing him his uniform. It was more presentable than his previous outfit, the shirt and pants were softer and more fitted to his form. He unconsciously kept brushing his dreads away from his face until Jerrod silently handed him a black ribbon to use as a hair tie. Iyasu gave him a weak smile of appreciation as he tied it into a high ponytail. 

“We must hurry to Master’s quarters.” Jerrod said as he headed towards a smaller hallway. They took a shortcut through the smaller hallway so they could reach the main stairs. The house was quite massive with shiny wooden floors and high white walls. All the furniture was tasteful, ranging from wicker to black leather. The first floor was much nicer, there was a long mauve carpet that lined the entire hall and paintings that depicted real life scenes from the second civil war, something Iyasu’s only seen in books. 

They finally arrived in front of the white decorative door that must’ve led to Roland’s private chambers. Jerrod knocked before cracking the door open.