The dream of Erik looked down at him and Nikita shifted, realizing that he was unclothed in disobedience of his Master's orders.  "Stay, Nikita," Erik said softly.  He leaned down.

Nikita turned in his sleep, giving a noise something like a moan.

Erik groaned slightly, rubbing his eyes. "What?" he mumbled, sitting up. He paused, looking around the room. "Hm," he said sleepily, eyes drooping. "Could 'ave sworn..." he trailed off as Nikita gave another small moan.  Erik blinked. "What in the bloody...." he trailed off again.

The boy's head dropped to one side, baring his neck and he shifted as if something were on top of him.

Erik blinked a few more times. "Erm..." He touched the boy on the shoulder, pushing slightly to rock him. "Nikita... wake up," he ordered, looking rather uncomfortable.

"Master," Nikita whispered on gasped breath, arching wantonly.

Erik quickly retracted his hand, eyes wide as he pulled back. He stared at Nikita a long moment. "Nikita, wake up..." he said again, very hesitantly and gingerly pushing on the boy's shoulder again. "You're having... a... nightmare... of sorts..." he said, swallowing nervously. It would have to be a nightmare... He didn't want to think what it would be otherwise....

Nikita's eyes opened slowly, gold hazed with sleep and passion.  "Master," he whispered again in the same tone, looking at Erik worshipfully.

Erik grimaced. "Nikita... you were dreaming. Do please stop..." he said, voice slightly tense.

The boy dropped his gaze, tensing self-consciously.  "I'm sorry, Master."  He paused, then added hesitantly, "Master?  You're very beautiful."

Erik was quiet a long time, unsure how to respond.

Nikita shivered slightly and slid toward the edge of the bed.  "I'm sorry, Master," he said softly.  "I'll sleep on the floor."

"No, no..." Erik said, putting a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Stay.  I... I will not punish you for things you have no... control over..." he said, awkwardly and slightly uncomfortably.  There was another long pause. "What... were you dreaming?" he asked hesitantly.

Colour rose in the boy's cheeks.  "Master was... Master was... was touching me..."  He paused, looking up at Erik through his lashes to see what reaction there was.  "Touching me... all over...."

Erik grimaced again, looking rather nervous. He folded his legs to be sitting Indian style, making sure his long sleeping gown covered him completely. "What I was afraid of..." he said in a very quiet voice.  "I'm sorry you dreamed that."

"I'm not!" Nikita insisted, looking up at Erik earnestly.  "Master's touch... I liked Master's touch."

Erik blinked a few times. "Liked...." he trailed off, looking uncomfortable again. "So..." he said, almost for lack of anything else to say, looking down at his lap where he hands were folded.

"I'm sorry, Master," Nikita said, looking down again.  "I'm sorry I made Master uncomfortable."

"It's not something that could have really be prevented," Erik said, voice still soft.  There was another long pause. "Does this... happen often?"

Nikita blushed lightly again.  "Recently....  I have had the dream several times...."

"Oh..." Erik said in a small faint voice.  There was once again a long pause. "So... something should be done about it?" he asked softly.

"What will Master do?" Nikita asked.  He paused and his shoulders tensed.  "Master could make me stop dreaming it... by using my mind...."

Erik shook his head. "I'm not about to rape your mind because what it dreams makes me uncomfortable.  You shouldn't be punished..."  He gave a small sigh. "I need to think..." he said. He closed his eyes a moment and reverted to his natural form.  He gave a slow exhale, running his fingers through his hair to push it back.  "Do... do you know why... why you have them?"

Nikita gave a small sigh, gazing at Erik.  "I... would like it if Master wanted to touch me...."

Erik looked up, blinking. "Why?" he asked, voice confused.

The boy struggled to find words.  "Master never hurts.  And Master makes me feel like I have worth... worth other than my training.  And Master takes care of me.  And Master lets me take care of him.  And... and Master is beautiful, and warm."

Erik blinked a few more times. "But... why... would that..." he said slowly, with many pauses, expression confused. "I don't understand this at all," he admitted with a sigh.

"I'm sorry, Master," Nikita said softly.  "I don't want to trouble Master."  He hunched over in misery.

"No, no...." Erik said, voice almost saddened. "It's..." He sighed and took Nikita onto his lap, gently putting his arms around the boy, trying to comfort him. "I... I should be able to deal with this," he sighed.

Nikita snuggled against Erik, almost purring.  "Master has no reason to know what to do with this situation.  May I still be near you?"  He looked up, eyes concerned.

Erik gave a small smile and nodded.

Nikita smiled glowingly.  He snuggled closer to Erik's chest, purring.

Erik awkwardly stoked the boy's back.   "But..." he said a while later. "Something... does need to be done... I think.... Because logic would suggest that if you've had... dreams before... if something does not change, they'll continue... correct?"

"They might," Nikita said softly.

"So..." Erik continued slowly. "We should... do something... to fix this, I think..."

"What do you want to do?" Nikita asked, looking up solemnly.

Erik gave a slightly exasperated sigh. "I don't know..." he admitted. "Do you have any ideas?"

Nikita hesitated.  "Sometimes, if what is wished for is received, it isn't wished for anymore...."

Erik looked at him and blinked a few times. "You mean...." He trailed off. "But..." he began hesitantly again. "Doesn't.... doesn't that... hurt?"

"It doesn't have to," Nikita said in a small voice.

Erik bit his lip slightly. "But it--  it's messy..."

Nikita looked down.  "Yes, Master."

"I'm sorry..." Erik said in a soft voice.

"Master mustn't do anything he doesn't want to," Nikita said softly.  "Please, do not send me away."

"I'd NEVER send you away!" Erik insisted, hugging the boy closely. "You are my most cherished companion!"

Nikita melted against Erik, eyes tearing.

Erik did his best to sooth the boy, holding him comfortingly.
 
 

"Master," Nikita whispered, as Erik whispered touch down his naked chest and then pushed his legs apart.  "Master," he whimpered, holding himself tightly to the man.

Erik groaned groggily, sitting up. "What is it?" he asked, rubbing the back of his head. He paused, hearing no answer but Nikita's whimper. "Bloody..." he muttered. "Nikita!" he exclaimed, shaking the boy lightly.

Nikita came awake slowly.  He smiled at Erik a moment, then his eyes went wide.  "I'm sorry, Master!  I shouldn't have woken you!"

Erik sighed. "Let me guess, another dream?" he said, voice tired.

Nikita nodded, looking down.  "I'm sorry, Master.  Maybe you SHOULD just make me stop having them."

Erik shook his head. "I respect you too much to do that."

"So what can I do, Master?  I don't want to keep waking you, and I can't keep making you uncomfortable."  Nikita looked up in distress, tears dripping down his cheeks.

"I don't know," Erik admitted, gently wiping away the boy's tears. "I don't want you to be distressed over this... we'll find a solution."

Nikita leaned into the touch, closing his eyes.  "I'm sorry, Master," he said again.  "I'm sorry I feel this way."

"Tell me... how do you feel?" Erik asked gently.

"I never want to leave you, Master.  I want to be everything you want me to.  I want to be part of everything you do.  And I want you to want me... the way others want me."  The boy's lip trembled slightly.  "Even though I know you won't."

Erik blinked. "The way... others...?" he repeated.

Nikita took Erik's hand gently in his and ran it down his chest.  "The way others want me," he repeated softly.

Erik grimaced slightly, but didn't remove his hand. "I'm sorry..." he said in a quiet voice, looking down. "I-- I don't know how."

"I do," Nikita said intensely.  "If you want, I can do everything."  He practically quivered with tension.

Erik looked up. "Is this what you want?" he asked, voice somewhat unsure.

"Please?" Nikita asked with a wide-eyed, begging expression.

Erik hesitated a moment. "All-- all right..." he said quietly, eyes lowering again. "But... don't be too disappointed with me if I can't...." He trailed off again.

"Thank you, Master," Nikita said in soft relief.  He leaned forward and up to kiss Erik.

Erik pulled back some, looking nervous and confused. "What-- what are you doing?" he asked, trying to restrain the panic in his voice.

Nikita stopped, then reached up slowly with one hand to caress Erik's cheek.  After a moment he used that leverage to pull himself closer and kissed the man gently, eyes fluttering shut.

Erik tensed slightly, then forced himself to relax. When the kiss broke, he pulled away, looking very nervous and uncomfortable.

Nikita looked at Erik with glowing eyes, touching his lips gently.  His mouth quirked into an almost smile.  "Master," he said, voice caressing.  He leaned forward, arms sliding to hold Erik as he leaned up for another kiss.
 

Erik heaved a shuddering breath as he came to release. He grimaced as he pulled out and wrapped himself in a sheet, looking conflicted. "We-- we should bathe..." he said in a slightly shaking voice.

Nikita collapsed limply at his side.  "Yes, Master," he said softly.  He rose, luminous in the halflight.  "Shall I prepare it for you, Master?"

Erik nodded, hugging himself. He felt like he should feel dirty, but it had been wonderful, which made him feel guilty that he had enjoyed it.  His head was swimming with things he hadn't experienced before and he was somewhat frightened. Somewhere in the act he had lost control, reverting to his true form and feeling as if he had reverted to a monster or an animal. He shuddered slightly, curling into himself slightly, wings curving to hide him.

"Master."  Nikita knelt at the side of the bed.  "The bath is ready, Master."  He looked up at Erik, concerned.  "Do you need anything?  Did I hurt you?"

Erik shook his head, trying to get himself back under the iron control he always carried. "I'll be fine..." he assured, forcing himself back into his human form. He rose to his feet and walked to the bath, sheet still clutched around him until after the door was closed.

Nikita stared after Erik in concern.