Viktor wasn't sure what happens to politicians who were involved in an attempted assassination attempt back on Earth, but surely, this was a little over the top.

After the attack at the school, to which Viktor was certain had been merely written off as a stray, rabid animal that had gotten too close and targeted the most threatening creature in the vicinity, Vok'Rul and he had been whisked back to the mansion posthaste. They hadn't left the place since.

Or rather, they hadn't been allowed to leave.

There were guards posted at the entrance to Vok'Rul's personal wing. There were guards patrolling the mansion. Viktor could see multiple stationed about outside of the office window, lining the grounds and building. He had seen a guard inside the kitchen, briefly, but he had retreated back to the closet as soon as Vok'Rul started shouting. He hadn't seen any guards inside their home since. The alien was about as big of a fan about this situation as Viktor was.

He prowled along the living room in distaste, muttering and tapping away on his phone incessantly. It hadn't been too terrible the first day; Viktor had been more than happy to sleep off the slowly receding pain in his arm and the bruises littering his skin after Vok'Rul had given him more medicine. Vok'Rul had sat in the office with him almost all day, doing whatever he did on his alien computer. Eventually, though, his weariness had worn off, and he was able to stay awake for most of the day.

There was little to do in the wing, outside of messing around with Vok'Rul. The alien seemed less reserved in touching and petting him, much to Viktor's discomfort. He ignored the signs that Viktor gave to tell him to back off, pushing his limits and petting him whenever he pleased instead. Vok'Rul must have figured that throwing himself in between him and a snarling beast meant that Viktor wouldn't snap too harshly at him. It irritated Viktor to no end, but there was little he could do except suffer through it. Smacking his hand away only stopped him for a little bit. So, in a fit of petty revenge, Viktor decided to annoy the ever-living shit out of the tall alien. It wasn't like there was anything else to do, anyway.

Unfortunately for Vok'Rul, the alien had gotten him plenty of odd toys. Fortunately for Viktor, these toys were semi-sharp and pointy. He enjoyed putting them wherever the alien would step, especially after Vok'Rul had unexpectedly picked him up from behind and carried him over to the couch. He had nearly bitten the alien.

Putting toys and knickknacks where the alien walked had lost its shine after a while, especially when Vok'Rul got wise and deftly avoided them, which had only taken about a day. He also found it amusing, chuckling in delight whenever he would find them planted on the floor. Short of chucking his food at the alien (which he was rather loathe to do, considering his time during the arena), there was hardly anything else to entertain himself with.

Sneaking out of the wing to explore the mansion had proved useless. One of the guards posted outside had seen him immediately, despite Viktor waiting until they switched posts to get out. The guard had grumpily called Vok'Rul while shuffling across the floor to block Viktor's path like some sort of demented tango. Viktor, furious that his attempts at exploration were swiftly coming to an end, had been incredibly close to attacking the guard if only to surprise him and make his escape. Vok'Rul had shown up shortly after, eyes wide and worried, which had made Viktor feel guilty. He had retreated back into the wing with little encouragement, listening idly to the sympathetic words that left Vok'Rul's mouth as he followed after.

It had been five days since the assassination attempt, enough time to make both Vok'Rul and Viktor stir crazy. Viktor was sprawled on the massive couch, draped over the arm. Vok'Rul was sat on the other end, speaking up now and then while he watched the TV on the wall. Viktor stared at the room, upside down.

He had never been a particularly active person back on Earth, but without a phone to occupy his time, Viktor felt as though he could run around for hours without tiring. Without the faint buzz of fear lingering in his bones, trying to stay warm on an unnaturally cold day, attacking giant beasts to protect someone, Viktor found himself bored with the lack of things to do here. His whole time on this planet had always been occupied with something. This was the first instance he had had downtime.

It was terrible.

He could only do his daily stretches, born of habit in the arena, so many times a day before he grew bored with that. Solving the odd little Rubix's Cube had lost its charm the fiftieth time. Arranging his food in stacks was only entertaining for about five minutes before he caved in and ate it.

So, here he was, half-watching television with an alien leader, in an alien mansion, on an alien planet. Honestly, Viktor wasn't too sure if his younger self would've believed him if he had been told about where he would end up in ten years. He could hardly believe it himself.

"Kohgrash," Vok'Rul called from across the couch, legs propped up on the table in front of it. Viktor grunted in response, still lazily watching the wall. Vok'Rul said words he had no meaning attached to. Insistently, though, the alien tapped the couch, annoyingly dislodging Viktor's precarious position bit by bit.

"What?" he grumped, struggling to sit upright and glaring at the alien. The alien wasn't affected by the glare one bit. He just smiled with no teeth and turned back to the TV, speaking quickly. "I should've never saved you from that thing. You're all pushy now. Never leaving me alone." He glanced at the TV, holographic images taking a second or two to get used to. He did a double-take when he realized that he was on the TV.

It was the first time he's seen himself. He looked like shit if he were honest.

The months spent in the arena had certainly taken their toll on him. The news station Vok'Rul always tuned in to was playing a video, probably taken by one of the students in the crowd. It showed him leaping out of Vok'Rul's grip to collide with the beast. Viktor had never gotten the opportunity to see himself fight. He could sorta see why aliens paid money to watch. It was fast, efficient, and brutal. He looked feral, hardly recognizing the contorted expression lying on his face. It made something uncomfortable squirm in his gut. The video cut soon after he had collided and started to raise his fist, ending with him chasing the beast out of the crowd and Vok'Rul sweeping him up in a hug.

He couldn't read the words scrolling on the screen, nor could he understand the words the news anchors were speaking, but the content and proud expression on Vok'Rul's face as he watched the story told him it was good news. At least he wouldn't need to worry about being put down like some vicious animal. Maybe they had spun it as some feel-good story about humans. They were still generally new to this planet, after all. Maybe there was some political strife, he didn't know.

The TV shifted to photos of Vok'Rul, both candid and professional. The Vok'Rul on the TV looked polite, smiling for the camera (or whatever they had here) and looking every bit the regal politician. Viktor heard him grumble under his breath from the other side of the couch. He must not be too pleased with what they were saying. Viktor frowned, looking at the alien.

His expression was irritated, mouth pulled downwards into a frown. His eyes were squinty, glaring up at the holographic screen. The alien pulled himself forward, dropping his legs onto the ground and hunching over himself with his arms on his legs. Viktor jumped as the alien abruptly swung his head to make eye contact with him.

"Uh, rohsh, Vok'Rul," he said after the alien kept staring at him. Was he saying that right?

Vok'Rul cracked a smile, laughing incredulously and saying, "Rohsh, Kohgrash!" and some other words before standing up abruptly.

He turned the TV off, tossing the remote that still made Viktor wary at the mere sight of it onto the couch. Viktor edged away from it, telling himself that it was just a TV remote. He watched as Vok'Rul walked into his room, hearing him rummage through the dresser drawers and closet. Bemusedly, Viktor slid off the couch with all the grace of a three-year-old - it was a really big couch, okay? - and went over to peek inside.

He stepped back hurriedly, shouting 'hey!' as he was nearly bowled over by the much taller Vok'Rul. Vok'Rul awkwardly stepped over him, hopping on one foot to get around him. He looked sternly at Viktor for a moment, arms full of clothing. Vok'Rul started speaking firmly to him, but Viktor ignored him, giving him an impudent eye roll. The alien huffed, dropping the pile of clothes on him.

"What the f-" Viktor yelled, pushing the clothes off him in a hurry, not really a fan of not being able to see Vok'Rul. He glared at the alien, gritting his teeth. "The fuck's wrong with you, man? Jesus!"

"Shesus," Vok'Rul said, mocking him. Viktor's mouth dropped, struck speechless.

"What?! Say that again!" Viktor said, pointing at him. Vok'Rul merely laughed at him, reaching down to pat his head. Viktor grabbed his hand as tightly as he could with his much smaller one. "C'mon, man! Say it with me: Jesus."

Vok'Rul didn't though, and Viktor's hope that he had suddenly gained an understanding of the English language was diminished. He dropped Vok'Rul's hand like it burned him, disgusted with himself.

"I'll just learn their language. I already know like, four words. How hard is it gonna be?" he muttered to himself, detangling himself from the pile of clothing and watching as Vok'Rul grabbed it all up and put it on the couch.

Aside from the clicking, the grunting, and the guttural growls... Yeah, learning the language would definitely be a piece of cake. Viktor sighed. What a mess.

Vok'Rul gestured for him to come here, and Viktor wondered if he could communicate with some sort of sign language instead. Pushing the question of how to communicate with these creatures and telling them they were sentient aside, Viktor wandered over to see what the alien wanted. He seemed quite determined to get him to look.

It was a bunch of the clothing he had bought. Most of it was thicker, late autumn clothing. Thick sweaters and pants. They were all pretty cutesy, little kid stuff, especially since he was the size of what seemed to be kindergarteners here. Viktor looked up at Vok'Rul, unimpressed. "Congrats, you dragged out a bunch of laundry."

"Kohgrash," Vok'Rul said reproachfully, taking a thick sweater in his hands and shaking it out in front of Viktor. "Pora, cho'k," he said sweetly, stepping towards Viktor.

"The fuck's a chork?" Viktor grumbled, glaring balefully at the sweater and stepping back from the alien. He was not that cold. The mansion was kept much toastier after his escapade outside, though the weather had started to warm slightly. Whenever he was nearby an open door or window, Viktor could practically feel the coldness thawing from the planet. Whatever passed as spring here must have started. It was about time. The winter had lasted long enough.

Vok'Rul stepped forward again, and Viktor curled his lip in a sneer, retreating to the office despite the alien's calls to come back.

He heard the alien huff and stomp after him. Viktor hurried his pace, feeling the slight fluttering of fear under his ribs. He glanced over his shoulder, turning around completely and bumping his back into the wall when Vok'Rul was almost on top of him. He bared his teeth completely this time, snarling out, "Back off!"

Vok'Rul, thankfully, stepped back, looking guilty. Viktor straightened from his crouching position, feeling a bit embarrassed at his reaction. He patted himself down, brushing off his front. "Personal space much?" he asked, glancing up at Vok'Rul. The alien seemed to be thinking hard, looking at him with furrowed brow ridges.

Viktor watched from the safety of the wall as Vok'Rul rummaged through the drawers in his desk. He pulled out a small bag. Treats. What the fuck, Viktor thought, bewildered as the alien walked over to him with the bag in hand. Where did this guy get all this? He probably singlehandedly kept the entire treat supply funded.

"Norish, Kohgrash!" Vok'Rul said, crouching and reaching out his hand with a few pellets. The clothes he had grabbed earlier were dropped over his shoulder. Viktor stepped forward to swipe the treats, still miffed at the reaction that the alien had pulled out of him earlier. Vok'Rul pulled his own hand back before he could get them, though.

Viktor grit his teeth, not really in the mood to be toyed with. "Fuck off, man. Keep your treats."

Vok'Rul said a few more things, but Viktor pointedly ignored him, crossing his arms and marching into the closet. He heard Vok'Rul sigh and leave the room. A few minutes after that, he heard the alien taking the stairs down to the kitchen. Fine by him.

Almost a half hour later, Viktor was relaxed and cozy in the soft plush bed that he had squirreled away in the closet the first night he had come here. He was even contemplating a nap. He was interrupted when Vok'Rul came back into the room. Viktor sighed at him, sitting up and watching the door of his closet suspiciously, blanket pooling onto his legs.

He was rewarded when Vok'Rul's face appeared in the cracked doorway. Viktor peered at him with a frown. He had gotten over the irritation he had at the alien almost as soon as he left, figuring that he had just been excited to show him clothes of all things. The alien was out of his mind if he thought he was going to get them on Viktor, though. He was not here to play dress-up, damn it.

A hand appeared in front of his face. He jumped slightly, shoulders coming up to his ears before he visibly dropped them, taken off guard. Vok'Rul was holding out his hand, barely encroaching in his space but there nonetheless. There was no way to ignore him. Viktor reached out tentatively, pulling the other's hand down with both of his own to investigate when he had in it.

The spiky fruit lay nestled in his palm. Viktor gasped in delight, quickly grabbing it from Vok'Rul. His hand retreated as the alien sat back on his haunches, watching as Viktor cracked it open with his fingers. It was a bit difficult with the cast on, but he made do. The alien looked curious as if he had never seen Viktor eat before. The human supposed that there was a difference between shoveling prepared food into his mouth and actually working for something. He shrugged to himself, gnawing open some of the more stubborn spiky parts of the purple fruit.

He finally got it open, eagerly chomping on the sweet fruit inside. He finished it in a blink, licking his lips. "Thanks, dude," he said gratefully, smiling at Vok'Rul. What a nice guy.

Vok'Rul smiled back in that vicious way of his, too many teeth. It was starting to get a little endearing, though. Ugh, what a sickening thought. Viktor firmly reminded himself that these aliens had taken his whole entire planet hostage and sold them off as pets. It was easier to be mad at them when they weren't looking at him with that hopeful gaze, though.

"What do you want, then?" he asked Vok'Rul when the other had taken out another fruit from the mysterious confines of his pockets. He swiped at the fruit, only to scowl when the alien shuffled backward, just out of his reach. Viktor half crawled, half walked out of the closet, trying and failing to get the fruit from Vok'Rul. The alien looked pretty proud of himself when he got Viktor out of his hiding place. The human merely rolled his eyes.

Vok'Rul grabbed the clothes from before with his free hand and shook them out. Ugh. Bribery!

"Fine, you great big bastard," Viktor swore, snatching the clothing from his hand. He pulled it on over his current sweater, feeling more than a bit lumpier. He had to hastily step back when Vok'Rul reached out to help him. He was already feeling much warmer. He yanked on the pants after Vok'Rul held the fruit out of arm's reach from him again. "You're lucky I'm starting to like you."

Vok'Rul clapped, the sound slightly diminished by the small fruit in his hand, wincing when Viktor jumped at the sound nonetheless. He guiltily gave the human the fruit, slightly squished. Viktor shrugged, prying it open and eating the sweet insides.

"Pora," he said, walking out of the room with a backward glance. Viktor obligingly followed, wondering if he had any other fruits in his pockets. It was worth getting up from his warm bed and being made to put on some clothes.

They went downstairs, Viktor only mildly put out when he had to be carried down again. He squirmed out of the alien's grasp as soon as they had landed on the first floor. He followed the alien outside of the wing, stepping close when Vok'Rul replied shortly to the guard that tried to stop him. Whatever Vok'Rul said must have cowed the guard, because he let them go without any further trouble. Viktor waved at him as he passed, still carefully out of arm's reach. The bewildered guard merely blinked at him.

"Where are we going?" Viktor asked, not expecting any answer. Vok'Rul stopped abruptly, and Viktor nearly tripped over his tail, cartwheeling his arms to stay upright. Vok'Rul reached down to pat his head in apology. Viktor batted his hand away. He waited, slightly impatiently as Vok'Rul tapped at his phone. They stood in the entranceway for no apparent reason.

After five minutes of waiting, Viktor was nearly bored to tears. He was about to go wander around the entranceway if only to give himself something to do when Vok'Rul beckoned for him to follow him out of the mansion. Viktor muttered a 'finally!' and walked out into the sunshine. Breathing in the fresh air, he noticed a pretty nondescript car parked in the front. It was pretty small, especially compared to the large limos he had been in previously. It was a dull brown color, much like most of the vegetation on the planet. Vok'Rul was leading him over to it.

He wondered why they were going undercover, but he supposed that not every trip the alien made would have to be all pomp and grandeur. Maybe they needed groceries. Though, Viktor mused, looking at the regal way a servant opened the door for Vok'Rul and bowed lowly, he probably had some people to do that for him.

Viktor scrambled into the car with some difficulty, opting to sit on the floor instead of the seats, which were about at his height on the ground. He wouldn't be able to get up there if he tried. Vok'Rul made some sort of clicking noise at him. He wrinkled his nose back in response.

The car started. Viktor felt pretty cozy down here. The rumble of the car could be felt pretty strong on the floor of it, and he felt pretty secure with Vok'Rul's legs at his side, an unoccupied seat behind him, and the passenger seat in front of him. He leaned back against the soft seating, eyes drooping slightly when he got comfortable.

He yawned, crossing his arms in front of his chest as well as he could with the cast on, and shut his eyes. Wherever they were going, he'd find out when he woke from a well-needed nap.

***

Vocabulary:

cho'k: endearment, usually meaning little one, love; usually used for pets or small children

pora: come

norish: food

rohsh: a friendly greeting, such as hello or hey