DemoGrassi

twenty three

Mitch bites his lip, twirling the pen around his fingers as he struggles to think.

A small velvet box rests beside him, open to reveal a ring, sparkling in the light streaming in through the window.

The slaves outside mind the fields, picking and planting and watering in the heat.

Mitch finally groans, resting his forehead on the table. "Think, Mitchie," he growls to himself, furiously clicking the pen open and closed.

Then, suddenly, he stops, sitting bolt upright and staring viciously at the paper. "It's you. It's your fault," he hisses at it, slamming his pen down to pace his office.

You might think he's going insane by the way he's acting, and he probably is.

Scott hesitantly knocks on the open door before coming inside. "Master? Are you alright?" he asks softly. Mitch starts at the sound of his voice, hurriedly swiping the box off the table and hiding it behind his back and hoping Scott doesn't notice.

Mitch forces a smile, nodding. "I'm fine, Scott. Thanks, though," he says softly, but Scott frowns. "Sir, you've been sitting in this office for ten hours. Let me get you some food or something —"

"No, Scott. I'm fine. And honestly, all I really need from you is cuddles."

Scott chuckles softly, moving over to gently wrap his arms around his master. Mitch closes his eyes and smiles contentedly, leaning into Scott's touch and discreetly slipping the box in his pocket. Scott pulls back enough to smile at Mitch. "Better?" he asks softly, and Mitch nods. "Yes, thank you. Now go. Get some sleep. It's getting late," he commands softly, but Scott hesitates before obeying. "What about you?" he asks quietly, and Mitch smiles slightly, leaning up to peck his lips. "I'll be right there, okay? I promise." Scott hesitates again, but eventually nods. "Okay, sir." With that, he turns and walks out of the room.

Mitch watches him go, pressing his lips together, before finally turning and plopping down at his desk again. He sighs, running his fingers through his hair and staring at the piece of paper before him.

It's a while before he finally gives up and leaves his office, heading for his bedroom. As soon as he opens the door, Scott attacks him in a hug. "I missed you," he murmurs against Mitch's hair, and Mitch chuckles softly, gently separating himself from the taller man so he can close the door.

He turns back to Scott, staring at him for a second with a small smile on his lips. Scott fidgets nervously under his gaze. "What?" he asks quietly, and Mitch feels himself fall even more in love with his slave. "Nothing," Mitch whispers back, "it's just... I love you. A lot." Scott blushes, and Mitch smiles, pecking his lips before moving to change into his sleeping clothes. Scott trots over to sit down on their bed, criss-crossing his legs and waiting patiently for Mitch to join him.

When he finally does, Scott is quick to wrap his arms around his torso and pull him down to lay beside him. Mitch chuckles, but lets him, snuggling into his side. "I love you, Scott," he whispers, and Scott smiles widely back. "I love you too, sir."

It's silent for a moment before Mitch speaks again. "I found a way we could be together freely," he says quietly, and Scott immediately grins.

"Really?"

Mitch looks up at him, smiling slightly. "Yeah."

"How?"

"I could free the slaves."

Scott stares at him in disbelief. "You don't have to free the slaves for me, Master."

"Yes, I do." Mitch's voice is soft.

"Why can't you just free me?"

"Because then you wouldn't be allowed to live here anymore."

"Are you sure there isn't another way?"

"No. There isn't. If we want to be together freely, I have to do this."

Scott's eyes fill with tears snd he frantically shakes his head. "No. You'll be hurt. You said it yourself, there would be an uproar."

"You still remember that?"

"Never mind that! Master, you'll get killed!"

"Shh. It's okay. Don't worry about me."

Scott, panicked, digs his nails into his palms. "Please. Don't. I can't lose you, Master. I can't. I love you and I —" his voice breaks, and Mitch feels his lips tilt downward, reaching out to gently caress Scott's cheek.

"Hey. I'll be fine, okay? Don't worry about me."

Scott simply whimpers, holding Mitch closer. Mitch leans up to peck his lips. "I'll be fine," he repeats, smiling reassuringly.

In truth, Mitch isn't entirely sure that's true.

But he still writes the law freeing the slaves everywhere.

+++

I, Mitchell Grassi, hereby free any man or woman or non-binary, adult or child, that is enslaved. They no longer have to work for your masters and they no longer have to stay in those warehouses. They're free and slavery is abolished.

I am also changing the way things run around here. Instead of being a total dictatorship, we shall be a DemoGrassi. I stay in office as presitator, and the citizens vote for what they want done. Simple.

This law is to be put into place immediately.

Mitchell Grassi

+++

Scott cowers in fear as they bang on the doors. "Give us our slaves back!" they scream, outraged.

He was right. He knew it would happen. But he doesn't say 'I told you so' yet.

Mitch stands protectively in front of Scott, ready in case they do manage to break the door down.

Scott flinches as there's another loud bang — Mitch, on the other hand, isn't even fazed.

With a loud boom, the door gives in, and angry slaveowners pour inside, taking Mitch by the wrist and throwing him against the wall. "What is this?! I worked long and hard to get my slaves, you can't just take them away —" "Where will they go? You just doomed them forever —" "I need slaves —"

Hundreds of voices, all screaming at Mitch and doing anything they can to hurt him. Mitch still isn't fazed, though, letting their punches hit him and their words rip through his ears. He only resists when he glances at Scott.

"Stop it. All of you."

Somehow, someway, they all fall silent. Mitch slips out of their grasp and brushes himself off, glaring at them. "That's no way to treat your presitator. I could have you all killed," he snaps, and the citizens tense. Mitch chooses to ignore this, however, continuing to speak. "I made that decision and nothing you can do will change it. It's final. Learn to live without your f*cking slaves." With that, the security comes and ushers them all out. The door closes with another loud bang and everything is quiet.

Mitch immediately rushes to Scott's side, ignoring the pain in his stomach. "Are you okay?" he asks, dropping to his knees beside him. Scott frowns, wrapping him in a hug. Mitch tenses for a second before he notices and forces himself to relax. "You're so selfless," Scott murmurs, and Mitch frowns as he hugs him back. "What makes you think that?"

"You'd rather a horde of people throw a punch at you than bear to see me get hurt."

Mitch smiles slightly, pulling away so he can look into Scott's eyes. "Because I love you."

"I love you too, Master."

Mitch smiles again, shaking his head. "You don't have to call me that anymore."

Scott smiles even wider. "I love you too, M-Mitch."