“You are as bad as some of the new rebel recruits. Sometimes they come in and want to kill with flare, style, panache. Yeah, and you know what? The ones who don't break themselves out of that, die really freaking fast,” Erik muttered, more vehemently than intended. Was it possible he actually had some concern for this damn human? What had changed inside him to get him to agree to this absurdity? Alexi had expressed his wish to end slavery before, but after speaking with him longer, he still could not explain what had clicked to get him to believe it now. And yet, even thinking clearly, he was willing to trust in this eccentric human's plan, at least for the first dose.
As Alexi spoke, Joseph continued trying to apply pressure to the wound. He was silent, and his face was completely impassive, but inwardly, he was fuming at Alexi's recklessness as well. He looked up sharply into Alexi's eyes, a rare occurrence for such a well-trained slave, when the human informed him that he would be taking the potion. I don't want either of you taking that horrible concoction, he thought angrily. But his eyes widened as Alexi explained that it was not the “normal” breaking potion.
“What I bought was the normal potion. I thought that's what you wanted, Master,” he hesitated for a moment, vaguely remembering a potion of legend, one that could bond the minds of two lovers when taken by both. “If this is not the breaking potion, then what is it?” he questioned coolly, wondering if this could possibly be the potion of legend. It was ancient, having already been near-myth before even Joseph had been born.
Despite his fear, however, Joseph wanted to believe that this could be a solution. Furthermore, if the poor man in chains could be relieved of his suffering, and still not turn into a broken slave, this was far less horrifying. Whatever Alexi had done, clearly it had changed Erik's mind, and perhaps that was worth a little bit of blood loss. In the end, he wished to hell his master would simply explain himself. Perhaps he would worry those around him less if he tempered his ideas with a bit more rationality and explanation. But Joseph was only a slave, no matter if he had raised Alexi or not. It was his place to serve and protect, not criticize.
Though it would never show, could never really be revealed, the elder vampire was also touched when Alexi had called him his father. A pang clenched his heart as he remembered all the days he had not been able to protect the boys from their biological father, but that appreciation, rarely expressed, weighed on him greatly.
For his part, Erik still doubted his decision, but he knew that he had no desire to subjugate anyone, not even a human who had kidnapped him. Magicals were not superior to humans. He would never claim that. They were all sentient beings, all equals, and that's all he had ever wanted. He had been willing to give up his pride and his autonomy if Alexi could provide proof that he would end slavery. Even though that's not exactly the proof his captor had given him, he realized he would have to trust in it. This eccentric human might be the only hope for his race. And well, if it turned out he was lying about the rest of his plan, then at least Alexi would know Erik's wrath.
“I have no choice but to trust you, Master Alexi. But I would anyway,” Joseph finally replied, returning the kiss onto the human's forehead, as finally cleaned the wound. And if this is what it took to convince Erik, to end his suffering, and the suffering of the millions of slaves out there, then I suppose I can live with that, he decided.
“I'm afraid you're going into mild shock. But you shouldn't need a transfusion. You'll have to wait until tomorrow to give the blood for our guest's dosage though. I will not extract it with you in this condition,” Joseph declared with an air of finality. Sure, his master could directly order him to do it, and his own cocktail of breaking would force him to carry out the order, but he hoped that Alexi would not humiliate him so, and would not further endanger himself.