Spock is not much of a master at all. He creates Leonard a pallet of soft furs and and pillows and carries him from the saddle to the little bed. He is gone most days, hunting and scouting for a new place to stay. Jim tends to Leonard for days, bringing him water and soothing his burns with a bitter smelling salve. It's blissfully cold and Jim rubs it in gently before applying a thicker layer to sit. Jim feeds him soft bread slathered in a sweet jam and measures his hips and shoulders for new clothes. The burns heal and Leonard is strong enough to walk with Jim to the tent of the woman that made his clothes. She is elderly and kind and tells Leonard he has beautiful eyes. She makes him light brown trousers that fit properly at the hips and swing loose around his ankles. The off white top has long sleeves and an open neck and it's comfortable in the heat. Jim smiles and crosses his arms over his bare stomach. Leonard's hair had grown back during his captivity, shaggy and matted. Spock returned near to supper and brought fresh meat. He and the other hunters gathered at the main fire and began preparing the meal while Jim had Leonard sit behind the tent. "A warrior's hair is very important in our culture." Jim explained, pressing Leonard to lean over a water basin, "though you are not a warrior, your occupation as a healer will be apparent in your hair." He washed and combed the snags from Leonard's hair and pressed out the water with a thick cloth. "You don't need to do this." Leonard finally mutters as Jim begins brushing out wet knots. Jim pauses only a moment before returning to his task. "I asked Spock to purchase you. If you are unhappy here, it will be my fault and I want you to be as comfortable as possible." He says softly, brushing through until there are no catches, "It's... it's not home. Not as we knew it. But you could have a home here. With us." Leonard says nothing. Jim tells him how the Vulcans cut a healer's hair and the symbols associated. He only nods for Jim to continue. Jim pulls the center of his hair up and takes a sharp knife from his hip. Jim shaves the sides, leaving the longer hair along the top. He opens a small box he brought along and picks out five pale blue beads. Leonard sits still while Jim weaves new braids unto his hair. Three beads decorate one thick braid over his right shoulder and the other two are tucked away in the bulk of his hair. "You will bear none of the marks of a slave." They both turn to see Spock standing beside the tent. He offers them both hands to help them rise. Jim goes up on his toes and kisses him deeply, a hand cupping his cheek. "My t'hy'la." He murmurs, taking another small kiss before turning to Leonard. He breaths deeply a moment, trying to find a steady place in all the changes in his world. "Am I a slave?" He asks plainly. Jim looks up at Spock and back at Leonard. "In the eyes of the law of Vulcan, you belong to me." Spock explains, drawing Jim close, "As does my Jim. It is the way of my people and without this ownership, you may be taken by any man who decides they want you." He raises Jim's wrist to display the golden band too small to fit over his hand. "At dinner tonight, I will mark you in this manner." Leonard feels his stomach clench and nods. "However." Jim smiles and Spock returns the gentle gesture. "You are a free man within my Clan." Spock continues, "You are free to deny advances for sexual favors or pursue any favors you may wish, within polite reason. You will share the tent with Jim and I, but you will not be pressured to join us in bed. Outside of that, you may do as you wish. Clans men will pay you for your services and you may do with it what you will." "It's not your homeworld," Jim said softly, touching Leonard's shoulder, "But it is a good living." It's not home, but it's more than he could have dreamed of. Leonard is breathless when he asks, "I will not be made to fight?" Spock frowns. "No man may be forced to fight." "Thank you." Leonard is shaking outright, "Thank you so much." Jim catches his shoulders and Spock steps forward and they lower him to the ground. He's crying, sobbing into Jim's bare shoulder. "It is behind you." Spock says softly, brushing his hand through Leonard's new bangs, "Those sins are behind you." "Telepaths." Leonard grumbles, squeezing Jim's arms. Jim laughs and squeezes him back. "Perhaps a more private binding ceremony would be appropriate for tonight." Spock says, kissing Jim's temple and pushing back Leonard's hair to expose his eyes more fully. "Would you prefer that." Leonard manages a teary smile and nods his assent.
