Together, We Endure

5th day of the 7th moon, 1162 HC

Hanna and Damion are sitting on the chairs for the small table while Mulsae kneels on the floor in front of them. He gathered them there to tell Hanna about his powers so they can use it to coordinate when in public.

Mulsae takes a deep breath, "Hanna, I need to tell you about one of my powers. It may shock and upset you." She furrows her brow confused and glances up at Damion. He nods. She turns to face Mulsae again.

"I'm a telepath. Have you heard of that?" Hanna shakes her head. "I'm not surprised you don't know. It's an incredibly rare power. Only the Water Master and their heir have this power." Mulsae takes a deep breath and braces himself, "I can read your mind."

She abruptly stands and takes a few steps back, "What?!"

Mulsae tries to make himself seem as nonthreatening as possible as he nods. She looks to Damion and he nods as well, "It's actually really handy. We talk to each other mind-to-mind regularly."

"When we're out in public, we'll be able to talk to each other secretly. If you have questions, you just have to ask them in your mind and then I can answer them. I can create a bridge so that all three of us can be in on the same conversation."

Hanna is shaking, but she returns to her seat, "Okay. What is it like?"

This is me speaking in your mind, he gently pushes to Hanna.

Her eyes pop open, "By all that's sane!" she grasps her mouth, "I heard you!"

Mulsae nods, "Now try speaking to me in your mind. All you have to do is form the words in your mind and I'll 'hear' them."

*You can honestly hear my thoughts?

I can honestly hear your thoughts,* he pushes back.

She glances back and forth between Mulsae and Damion, her eyes wide, "This is... I don't have words. This is just... wow. Just. Wow."

Damion gives her a small nod of encouragement, "It feels overwhelming at first. But once you realize it means we can look like we're obeying while secretly plotting... it gets easier."

Mulsae watches Hanna closely, "This is our edge. In a place like this, silence is safety. And a silent voice that can be heard?" He taps a finger against his temple, "That's a massive advantage."

Hanna swallows hard, but her shoulders start to settle, "So if I ever panic, or don't know what to do..."

"Just think it," Damion says, "and we'll be right there with you."

She nods, slowly at first, then firmer. "Okay. Let's do this right, then."

Mulsae finally lets himself breathe. "Let's practice speaking without speaking."

A quiet beat passes between them. None of them are smiling, but all three held together by something steadier than fear. Whatever came next, they would face it as one.

=*=

The three of them lounge on the floor, sharing thoughts mind to mind. Now and then, Hanna smiles, genuine but fleeting before sobriety overtakes her again.

Then comes a knock. The door creaks open. "You've been summoned to the Harmonarch's suite. All three of you."

Mulsae and Damion share a look of shock. Hanna's eyes widen. Her pulse quickens. Mulsae stands with practiced grace. "It will be just one moment," he says. "I need to prepare my pets for transport."

I'm sorry. Damion's arms are expected to always be bound, and I suspect the Harmonarch will be happiest if you are leashed, he sends through to the three-way connection.

Damion and Hanna rise. Hanna nods, squaring her shoulders with quiet resolve. I can do this, her voice is heard in their minds.

Mulsae and Damion share a different look, one that is older and heavier. Knowing.

Mulsae retrieves the arm bindings. Damion folds his arms behind his back so they can be bound. Then Mulsae rummages for the collar and leash. He grimaces as he meets Hanna's eyes, but she nods with confidence. He buckles the collar loosely around her neck and clips on the leash.

*I meant to practice this tonight in the halls once everyone was asleep. But we ran out of time. I'm sorry.

I understand,* Hanna replies. *I'll do my best with what you've taught me. And at least we can still talk like this.

Are you both ready?* Mulsae asks.

Yes, Hanna answers.

Ready, Damion says.

Mulsae exhales slowly. Then he turns to the door. The escort steps aside to let them out. Hanna keeps close to Mulsae, keeping the leash loose, and Damion follows.

They follow the escort down the hallways. Mulsae knows he needs to mentally prepare Hanna for what happens in Zudaeshi's bedroom. But putting what happens there into words has always troubled him.

Hanna... Mulsae starts, but loses his nerve.

Yes?

He takes a deep breath, What happens in Zudaeshi's bed chamber is always upsetting.

Mulsae can sense Hanna trying to steel herself.

It's worse for Mulsae than it is for me, Damion continues, sensing Mulsae's hesitation. She usually just has me watch. Or hold him down.

Hanna's eyes widen, *What does she do to you?

She...* Mulsae loses his words again.

Damion finishes the thought, She uses Mulsae to sexually satisfy herself. Often violently.

Hanna's steps falter. Her panic about her virginity and sexual inexperience bombards their mental connection.

I'm sorry, Hanna, Mulsae's grief floods his body, I don't know what she will do. But hopefully she'll keep her attention on me. I'll try to keep her attention on me. Okay?

Hanna's thoughts settle and a small, Okay, slips through clearer than the rest.

They pass by the guards to the suite and enter the main room. Zudaeshi is already there, lounging on the main couch with a goblet in hand. She smiles when they enter, "My pets," she coos.

She stands and circles the three of them. Hanna trembles. Zudaeshi smiles and runs a finger down her arm, "She trembles like a fawn," she purrs. She takes the leash from Mulsae, "Serve yourself a drink, Mulsae dear."

Mulsae nods and heads to the mini bar. Zudaeshi leads Hanna by the leash and lounges on the couch again. She pulls the leash close so Hanna's knees press against the couch cushions.

"Kneel." Hanna kneels just as she was taught, her knees shoulder width apart and her right ankle over the left. She keeps her gaze down. Zudaeshi smiles, pleased, "Your training is going well, Mulsae."

He turns to face them with a cup of mistburn in his hand. He didn't start by downing a cup this time. He wants to keep his wits to do what he can to shield Hanna.

"I'm good at what I do," he croons as he approaches the couch.

Zudaeshi reaches out and fingers the sleeve of the tunic Hanna is wearing, "What is this, though? She looks like she's wearing a black sack."

"It's all I had," he stops his approach to stand behind Hanna.

"Why not leave her nude, then?"

Hanna's mental connection explodes with thoughts of fear, shame, and desire for modesty. But she remains stoic, her face unmoved.

Mulsae runs a hand along the back of Hanna's shoulder. I've got you, he sends. He steps to her side and answers coolly, "I find the female form is better left as a gift to be unwrapped."

Zudaeshi hums warmly at Mulsae. "Go to the tailor and put her in prettier... gift wrapping."

Mulsae girds himself to dare to sit down next to Zudaeshi without being invited. He needs to keep her attention off of Hanna. He sits and runs gentle fingers up Zudaeshi's thigh.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Zudaeshi smiles devilishly. Mulsae smiles at Hanna then shifts his gaze to smile smug satisfaction at Zudaeshi. He hums his agreement and rests his hand high on her thigh.

"Have you been growing restless while training her these past few days?" she asks with a voice laced with amusement. He takes a deep lustful breath, "Yes," he breathes. She leans forward and drags a finger over his cock cage, "You weren't able to get satisfaction from her like you had when breaking Damion." He slowly shakes his head and leans closer to her, "No," he breathes. She brushes her lips against his, murmuring, "Do you want a release?" He captures her lips then pulls back only just enough to whisper, "Yes, Your Radiance."

Zudaeshi rises and gives Hanna's leash a sharp, awkward tug, pulling her aside by the neck. With her other hand, she extends an inviting gesture to Mulsae. He takes it, setting his untouched mistburn on the low table as he rises. Without a word, Zudaeshi walks backward, guiding Mulsae with one hand and dragging Hanna with the other. Damion follows in silence.

I think I successfully distracted her. She's probably going to make you watch, Mulsae pushes to their three-way connection.

She likes an audience, Damion adds, she'll just ask us to kneel and watch.

Zudaeshi walks Mulsae and Hanna to the middle of the room. "Hanna, kneel." She drops to her knees and Zudaeshi drops the leash in front of her. "Damion, kneel next to Hanna." He approaches and lowers himself to kneel next to Hanna.

Zudaeshi turns her attention to Mulsae. She fingers the buttons of his shirt, "Poor Mulsae, doing what you love and no way to get release. These past few days must have been torture."

Mulsae runs his hands up and down her arms, "I've missed you, Your Radiance."

"You've never been so affectionate before," she purrs, "Maybe I should give you pets to train more regularly."

He hums noncommittally and leans down to kiss along her jaw. He reaches behind her and unties her bodice. She steps back and continues to work on loosening her bodice, "Strip." He unbuttons his shirt and tosses it aside before shucking off his pants. She finishes with her bodice and her gown drops at her feet.

She sits on the edge of the bed and pulls him close. "Let's free you and let you have that release you've earned." The cock cage's latches click open and is then removed. It thunks on the floor where she unceremoniously drops it.

Zudaeshi pulls Mulsae on the bed with her. It's clear she wants to be worshiped tonight. A night of worship. Humiliation without cruelty. The best outcome he could have hoped for.

Mulsae does his best to make Zudaeshi feel wanted and desired. It feels easier tonight than usual. He's not thinking about how to protect himself, instead his thoughts are just on how he can protect Hanna. Each satisfied moan from Zudaeshi means her attention is further from Hanna.

He works her to climax several times, but she hasn't forgotten about him. She's insistent he get his 'reward' for his 'success' with breaking Hanna. He tries to focus, but every time she references his 'breaking' skills, his stomach roils and pleasure falls flat.

Finally she stops talking long enough for him to find a way to cum. He feels disgusting. He always feels disgusting afterwards with her. But he kept her mind off Hanna. That's all that matters. She didn't further torment Hanna.

Zudaeshi gets off the bed and walks towards the bathing chamber, "I'm done with you," she trails her nails through Hanna's hair, "You're dismissed." She enters the bathing chamber and closes the door behind her.

Mulsae swings his legs over the side of the bed and bends over to pick up the cock cage. He clicks it back on, then swipes his pants and pulls them on. Let's go, he sends to Damion and Hanna while picking up the rest of his clothes. They stand and follow him out the bedroom door.

Mulsae goes through his routine to assemble himself back into a presentable fashion before exiting the suite, then leads Damion and Hanna back to their bedroom.

As they walk through the hallways, Mulsae checks in with Hanna. Are you alright?

Y- yes, Hanna says faintly.

Let's talk about it when we get back to the room.

O- okay.

=*=

They enter the room. Mulsae unbinds Damion's arms and gently removes Hanna's collar. Then he gestures for the three of them to sit in a loose circle on the floor.

"You sounded hesitant when I asked how you were doing," Mulsae says softly.

Hanna's cheeks flush crimson. She keeps her gaze turned away. "Am I going to be expected to take part in that?"

Mulsae and Damion exchange a glance that's heavy with dread. Mulsae inhales carefully, "I don't know. There's a chance. I would never ask it of you... but we don't know what the Harmonarch will demand."

Hanna nods, swallowing hard. A single tear slides down her cheek. Her thoughts ripple too loudly for Mulsae to ignore.

She's thinking she'll never find a place to belong again. That surviving this makes her suspect. That humans will see her not as a victim, but as someone who must have cooperated to stay alive. And collaborators are executed.

He shares it with Damion, then adds privately, She's worried if she survives this she'll only end up being called a collaborator and killed anyway. She's trying to weigh whether all this pain is worth it.

Damion looks up, eyes full of grief. He turns to her. "Hanna," he says gently. She looks at him, eyes rimmed red.

"Our cultures tell us that we can be corrupted somehow. But it's not true. We may change. And often, it makes us better. But we're definitely not corrupted." She's frozen, listening intently.

"It's true that the people we grew up with may never understand us again." Hanna's breath catches. "But that doesn't mean we're lost. It means we've outgrown something. It means we get to find a new path. There is more out there than you can even imagine right now, Hanna." She blinks and more tears fall, but Damion has her undivided attention.

"The pain changes us, but not for the worse. It makes us capable of seeing the world more clearly. Of choosing who we want to be. And once we do... we find new ways to live. New places. New people who understand." Hanna's breath shakes as she breathes in.

"We can find a kind of happiness that was never possible if we had stayed in our original culture."

The words hang in the air. Hanna blinks, stunned. She looks at him wide-eyed, "Really?"

"Yes," Damion's voice is sure, "I used to think like you. That once I was broken, I'd never belong anywhere again. But I've discovered kinds of love I never imagined. I feel the old me was so small. I don't ever want to be that person any more."

She draws in a shaky breath, "I'm alone now, though. My entire family and village is dead."

"We won't let you be alone," Damion says quietly.

"We'll always look out for you," Mulsae adds.

She looks up at them, uncertain. "But... Why would you help me?"

Mulsae answers without hesitation, "Because we understand you and your story. You're not a burden. You're one of us now."

Damion nods, "We're a team. And a team takes care of each other."