That Lucky Jerk (On Hold)

Chapter 6: Slaves and Masters

"Are you alright? We can stop for a while if you need to." Eric asked as Fiva panted beneath him while struggling to take steps forward.

"I'm... okay..." She replied. "Need to... get away..."

"Then let's swap roles for a while." Eric offered before she released him and he started stretching. "You just sit back and rest for a while, okay?"

"But... you're my master now, and a slave like me should-"  Fiva attempted to protest despite her shaking limbs.

"Don't worry about it and just climb on." Eric insisted as he knelt down so that she could climb on his back.

"Well... if I must..." Fiva replied, and while he knew that she was heavy, Eric wasn't quite as prepared to carry her as he thought he was as Fiva wrapped her cold and nearly metallic-feeling arms around his shoulders and he felt like the world was crushing him as soon as she stopped supporting herself.

"Dang girl! What do you eat?!" Eric asked in a shout as, even though he managed to stand, he felt as if he couldn't move for even ten steps without collapsing.

"I haven't eaten in over a week." Fiva answered.

"Really?" He asked.

"Hn." Fiva confirmed, though as soon as she did, she also let out a small shout of surprise as he let her drop off of his back without warning.

"Then let's go get some food then." Eric said as he started walking off.

"The worst..." Fiva grumbled behind him while rubbing her head before getting up and following him. "Where do you expect to get food?"

"It's all around us!" Eric replied while spinning dramatically. "As a bandit, you have to learn to scavenge for food wherever you can!"

"You're a bandit?" Fiva asked cautiously.

"Born n' raised! Didn't you hear my charges?" He asked in reply. "Now come on, I'll show you a little trick about what to do at a river."

"What river?" Fiva questioned.

"That's what we're looking for!" Eric replied. "But we should be close seeing as the foliage is greener over here than in other places."

"That isn't a sign of water though..." Fiva replied in her normal monotone.

"Is too, see?" Eric asked as they walked out from behind some tall bushes to find a large creek in front of them.

"Lucky guess." Fiva continued doubtfully.

"Just come over here and join me." Eric instructed before she thankfully did as he asked before the both knelt beside a large part of the creek. "Alright, now we're both going to stick our hand in the water and wiggle our fingers around together. And when a fish chomps down on our arms, you need to use your monster strength to save me, alright?"

"I don't have monster strength, you're just weak." Fiva replied while looking at him as if he were a bug. "The weakest person I've ever met."

"And yet I saved your life today." Eric replied before sticking his tongue out at her. "Now hurry up and join me, or do you not want a meal?"

"Is this really going to work?" Fiva asked doubtfully again.

"You know, you're awfully doubting of your new master..." Eric harrumphed. "It wouldn't hurt for you to be a bit more respectful to me."

"We haven't completed the enslavement contract yet, so it's not official." Fiva replied.

"We don't need to. Just do whatever I say and always tell people that I'm your master should they ask." Eric waved away her words, though after looking at her again, he realized that he must have said something strange as she looked completely shocked.