[Comments welcomed, screened and loved]

Two weeks after this

Please be aware that this log does not follow SSC or RACK principles. As well, although both pups are members of Citadel, the actions contained herein do not take place on Citadel property and are neither condoned nor endorsed by said organization.

**************


The heat's getting more and more as the spring days grow longer and though the house stays cool enough, those morning runs and workouts are starting to take their toll as Chace is having to move those runs earlier and earlier just so as not to be bombarded by the heat. Hopefully as summer kicks in his Master will allow him to run on the treadmill or even at night. Coming from the kitchen, Chace looks around. He's made a fresh pitcher of sweet tea and is hoping his Master will let him have a glass. "Master? Are you in here?"

"Vince wants to see you about the kid at the next show."

Fuck. Mark takes a breath, then texts Paul back. "Boy." He closes the cell phone and rubs his eyes. Fuck. He was hoping for a little more time, especially with nothing coming about after he had to take care of that jackass. Leave it to Vince to ruin that. "Boy!"

Hearing his Master's voice, Chace immediately goes toward the sound and sinks to his knees at his Master's feet, stifling a yawn in the process. That tone doesn't sound at all like he's getting a glass of tea. Taking position, Chace's eyes focus on the floor at Mark's feet.

"Vince wants to talk to me." Shit. How do I even start explaining this? He's not ready. And fuck don't have Linda there. Maybe Stephanie's already done some explaining. Fuck don't let Shane and Marissa there. Don't need the whole clan. "About you."

Chace's eyes go wide and his normal stance falters as he lifts his eyes up to search out Mark's face. "You aren't in trouble because of me, are you Master? Do they already know about me? What I am?" He can only hope that word of what happened to him hasn't reached his Master's boss.

"I don't know. I thought I would have more time, that you'd be further along. But of course not with Vince. And I don't know what he knows. Paul just said he wanted to talk, didn't say what on exactly. Fuck. With luck he'll be happy with just me, you can stay in the room. He wants it at the next show."

If this is bad enough to have his Master flustered then Chace knows it's not even remotely a good thing. "How will I act if he wants to see me? He's not Jeff or Adam, Master, he...he doesn't know? Will there just be him or..." Chace's entire world has basically consisted of his Master, Glenn, Adam and Jeff and the little store that his Master takes him to, being around his Master's boss could be bad.

"I'm hoping it'll just be him. There's no reason for the family to be there. Most likely just Stephanie, they keep her on Smackdown since Paul's on RAW. Not sure what if anything she told him about our little visit to Stamford. You never know with Vince. Fuck, he's going to want to know your name."

It's the first time that Mark's mentioned him actually having a real name - a name other than boy - and Chace stares upward in confusion. "Master, what do I tell him if he asks?"

"I don't know yet. Hopefully I'll have an answer before I see him."

***********************

Paul's waiting for Mark outside his hotel room. "Hey. You ready for this?"

"I could have been more ready. What did he tell you? Boy, take the bags in the room, get my ring gear out." Mark hands the boy the keycard and leads Paul a little down the hall.

RING GEAR?! It's not as if Chace wasn't already nervous but now it's tripled. Now not only does he have to worry about messing up in front of his Master's boss but he has to try to keep focus with his Master in ring gear? Nodding, Chace takes the card and the bags then makes his way into the room, the door closing behind him. "Ring gear. Great."

"Nothing, man. Just asked me to tell you. I'm surprised he gave you that much warning."

"You know if Steph was able to talk to him? He ask you about when we were at the offices?"

"He asked what I thought of the kid. I said he seemed okay, that he wanted to be with you. Started to say more but he just waved me off and walked away. Steph says he asked her how long she had known about you being into this and that was it."

"Fuck. So he's pretty much walking into this blind and is going to make me explain it to him."

"Looks like it. How you going to explain the name thing?"

"I might have to find it out to tell him. Shit, the boy doesn't need any reinforcement about what he was, not now."

"Fuck, Mark. How long did you think you were going to be able to keep him under the radar?"

"Why do you think he's been at the hotel rooms most of the time? Especially after-"

"After what?"

"You don't want to know."

"Shit, fine. Whatever."

"When does he want to see me?"

"Said he was coming to your room, before you left for the arena. You still got that thing to do before the show, right?"

"Yeah, why I told the boy to get the gear out. Okay. Least Linda won't be there."

"She might be. She's here."

"What the fuck!?"

Chace gathers everything that his Master will need, more than aware of the men outside in the hallway but to focus on that and not on the task at hand will have him even more of a nervous wreck than he already is. If he fucks this up with whoever this person is, it will not only be bad for him but for his Master and that isn't acceptable.

With everything laid out on the bed, Chace looks around, puts his own bag in the closet since he's not completely sure what he'll need, then goes to kneel in the middle of the floor.

Mark comes into the room a couple of minutes later, shaking his head. He sighs, then sits on the bed. "He'll be here in a little while. Maybe with Linda. Looks like they want to talk to you too."

Hands that are normally steady and calm begin to shake and Chace crawls forward, suddenly needing the closeness of the other man. He doesn't touch, however, but pauses a foot from his Master's feet. "There are too many names and...why do they want to talk to me, Master? You can't...maybe I can pretend to have a sore throat?"

Mark is forced to chuckle. "He'll just hand you some paper and pen. That's been tried on him before." He runs his hand down his face. "Fuck, I must really like that family. Boy, you...you answer his questions, whatever he asks."

Blue eyes widen and Chace inches closer. "Anything, Master? What if I don't know the answer? Am only really used to you asking me questions and you always know the answer anyway, just seeing if I'll give you the one you want. But him...what do I call him?"

"Then say you don't, or you don't want to. Be honest, he will respect it." A rueful smile appears. "Just don't always expect the same from him, fuck kissing, he tongued that Blarney Stone."

For someone who's had the idea of silence unless spoken to hammered into them the idea of someone that simply rambles on is a terrifying one but Chace can't help but chuckle at the image Mark's words bring. "Master, how much does he know about what I am? How much do you want him to know?"

"I don't know what he knows, part of what I get to find out. And," he sighs, "answer their questions as best you can. Don't elaborate, but don't try to dodge. If you don't feel comfortable answering, then tell them."

Nodding slowly, Chace finds it hard to believe that he's actually being given the chance to turn down answering questions that will be asked to him. "Understood Master." He pauses for a moment then looks up into Mark's eyes. "Thank you for going through this for me."

"This shouldn't have happened yet. I wanted you to be more ready. Hell, this shouldn't be happening at all. I should have waited til I was done with this to try for a boy. But then I reckon I would've missed you." His hand falls onto the boy's hair.

*************

"Do you know yet what you're going to to do?"

"No, fuck. I never expected something like this from him. I mean, yeah but no."

"Vince, just remember. Mark loves this company as much as we do. He would never knowingly do anything to hurt it."

"Yeah, I know. Well, let's get this over with." Vince stands outside the door a moment to prepare himself before raising his hand.

Mark sighs at the knock on the door. Motioning the boy to stand, he goes over and opens the door. "Vince. Linda." He nods to them as he steps back to let them in.

"Mark." Vince looks around the room, eyes flicking over to the boy before settling on Mark.

Linda walks over to him, a gentle smile on her face. "Son, why don't you and I wait outside while they talk. There's a nice view out the window at the end of the hall. It won't be far."

As the man gives him a quick once over, Chace remains steady even though his nerves feel like they're coming unraveled by the second. As the woman nears him and speaks, Chace's eyes dart to Mark before returning to the woman - Linda - and he nods. "That'd be nice. Thank you."

Linda exchanges a glance with Vince as she walks past. She stops when she reaches Mark and smiles up at him. "Hello, Mark." Standing on her toes she gives him a hug.

Mark tries to hide his smile and does for the most part. "Hello, Linda." He bends down to hug her back, then opens the door for her. He nods at his boy, then turns his gaze to Vince.

Vince waits til the door closes. "So, were you going to tell me?"

"Of course I was. And nice touch, coming to my room instead of making me go up to yours. The gesture is appreciated."

Vince nods. He had expected Mark to see through that. They handled business in a similar fashion. It was one of the reasons the relationship had lasted this long. That and bluntness.

"When?"

"When the boy was ready?"

"And when was that going to be? And why bring him around then? I'm finding out from the new talent about him. 'Wondering' out loud bout your 'personal assistant'. And you got him involved in a Kane promo. Didn't think I would find out about that? Come on, Mark. You're never flaunted the rules like that!"

"You're right." Mark's hand runs through his hair as he sits on the bed, waving Vince over to the chair. "It's just-"

"Mark, I've been hearing rumors about you for a long time. About you and some 'club', along with some of the other wrestlers."

Mark smiles, knowing what's on Vince's mind. "There is no club. And Paul resigned his membership when he and Stephanie got serious. I was there."

Vince lets out a breath he wouldn't have admitted to holding, shaking his head. "In any case, that was outside of the business and didn't affect it. But it's getting to be where that's not the case. And that's why we have to talk."

"What do you want to know?"

"In a word, everything."

**************

"This way. There's enough of a ledge to sit on." Linda walks down the hallway. She waits for the young man to join her before sitting down. "My name's Linda McMahon. I heard you've already met my daughter and son, Stephanie and Paul. I've known him so long I think of him as more than just a son-in-law."

It's more than strange to watch his Master be affectionate with someone that isn't kneeling before him but Chace gets the idea that this Linda doesn't kneel to anyone. Setting down beside her, Chace does his best not to fidget and slowly loses the battle. "They were both very nice," he says quietly, trying to recall exactly how much was said between any of them.

"Good. I hoped they were." She studies him for a moment. "You have me at a disadvantage now. You know my name, but I don't know what to call you. It'd be nice to say hi if I see you at the shows."

Fuck, fuck, fuck! Chace knew this was bound to happen and his eyes dart back toward the room as he wishes for all the world that his Master had given him something to answer this question with, a standard answer perhaps. "If you say hello when you see me, I'll say hello back, promise," he says with a grin but knows that's not what she means. "I...could you please ask him what you're to call me?"

"Okay. So let's go to something else. How long have you known Mark? What kind of...relationship do you have?" Linda leans forward and puts her hand on his arm. "I'll keep your confidence if you wish. I'm good at keeping secrets." She smiles at him.

It's not a matter of confidence, it's a matter of what Chace will tell his Master later when asked. "He and I met at...at a club and we had the same...likes. The same interests in each other and we sort of hit it off." Chace's eyes soften as he takes in the features of the woman. "It's hard sometimes, but I care a lot for him."

"Yes, I can see you do. You kept your eyes on him as much as you could in the room." Linda sits up. "Vince doesn't know I've heard the same rumors about Mark that he has. About what he does outside of work. Vince deals with the talent, I take care of the business end, you understand. But I've heard...things. Can I assume this is what you share with Mark?"

She knows?! Chace visibly relaxes slightly, shoulders and neck not near as tense. She knows and she isn't looking at him like he's a bug nor is she speaking about his Master with disdain. "Yes Ma'am, uhm...Linda. He's my Master," Chace says softly. "It's hard for some to understand, but..."

"Master?" Linda thinks for a moment. "Word was that someone saw you with Edge. Do you know his history with the Undertaker? Their connection?"

"Edge? You mean Adam?" Not even remotely considering venturing into that area until he knows what the woman knows, Chace slowly nods. "Some, yes. I know that he and...Edge? They have a history together." He blushes, eyes lowering. "I didn't follow wrestling until after I met Master. Had to Google just to find out who he was."

Linda is surprised into laughing. "Really? So you went with him practically sight unseen. It must have been a shock to you entering this world. It was for me. Vince made sure to take me to my first show early in our courtship. Vince's father started the company. We bought it from him, used all the money we could get a hold of."

"It was a shock the first time I saw him in full-on Taker gear, yes Ma'am. Well, shock might be an understatement. He sort of went all out with the coat and hat and all." Chace glances back toward the door and nods. "It's a different world than what I lived in before, but living with Master itself is different. It still shocks me he brought me to stay with him."

"Do you ever call him Mark? And the reason I asked you about Edge, is how you're being sounds like how the Ministry was with him." She laughs. "Or the Corporation was with Vince. You do as you're told, don't you?"

Blue eyes widen to near comic status as he looks at Linda. "Call him...oh no! No, not ever. It's been sir or Master since the first time I met him." The blush returns in full force to Chace's face and throat and he nods. "Well, I do my best but sometimes that doesn't work out so well and..." His eyes narrow for a moment. "What's the Corporation?"

"Vince puts himself, well all of us at one time or another, into the story lines. The Corporation was, well 'his gang'. Wrestlers that did what he said. Just an extension of him being their boss anyway."

Chuckling softly, Chace nods. "So Master comes by it naturally then. The expecting things to be done without question thing." He pauses for a moment and, for the first time, begins to fidget. "Linda, you don't seem shocked by what I am...how I am with him. How come?"

"Oh, I don't pretend to understand how things are between you. And I don't envy the conversation they're having in there." Linda touches his hand again. "I'm going by what I see. And what I see between you and Mark, is something I haven't seen in his eyes ever. And if you've put it there, then I can't think of any objections. And from what I see in your eyes, you're right where you want to be."

He can only hope that whatever's being said inside the room is going as well as what's going on between he and Linda. The touch startles him out of his own thoughts and Chace, for the first time, gives the woman in front of him a wide, genuine smile. "It's hard sometimes, Ma'am, but yeah, 'm right where I need to be. And I hope you're right. I hope I give him something that he needs." Chace takes a deep breath then slowly exhales. "They're talking about me. Is your husband as nice as you are?"

The door opens and Vince walks outside. He nods to Linda as he stands by the door.

"He has his way. But if he asks if you want to be on TV, think before you answer." Linda whispers as she stands up. "Just take your time and don't let him get to you. You'll find him and Mark have a lot in common." She walks down to the room, her hand a moment on her husband's arm before entering. She closes the door and leans against it, watching Mark. "He does love you."

Mark snorts. "You sure about that? I don't think he cares much about me right now." He sighs, closing his eyes. "Not that I can blame him."

"He'll figure out a way, he always does. Especially now that he knows about it. I know you know you should have come to us sooner, so I'm not going to say anything on that." She smiles as she walks toward him. "But I was talking about your young man."

He looks up in surprise. "The boy? I'm just giving him what he needs, what he wants. And he's..." A faint smile crosses his face. "You're not going to buy that, are you?"

"Nope. I saw the way he kept his eyes on you. And part of it was cause you tell him what to do. But there was more there. Just like there was more in your eyes when you look at him."

"What do you mean?" Mark stares up at her, the way he's rubbing his hands together the only sign of his unease.

"You look at him the way Paul and Shane look at Steph and Marissa. The way Vince looks at me when we're alone. Protective, caring. Loving. Though I dare say they would envy your level of control in the relationship. Not so much the case being married to a McMahon woman."

The room rings with Mark's laughter, tears coming to his eyes. It takes him a minute to regain control enough to speak. "Yeah, I reckon so." He holds his hand out to take hers. "Thanks for seeing that, Linda. And for telling me you did."

"Anytime, Mark. I consider you as much my son as I do Paul, you know that right?"

"Yeah, I reckon I do. Thank you."

"You're welcome. And it'll work out. Between the three of us, we'll figure it out. So long as we keep Vince from making him part of Taker's storyline."

"Oh, he's already thinking about it."

She sighs. "Of course he is."

******************

Vince walks toward the boy, eyes fixed on him. He puts his hands in his pockets as he stands. "So you're Mark's?"

He and Mark have a lot in common? Chace groans inwardly. If that's the case and he knows how his Master affects him then he's in deep, deep shit with the man suddenly taking up the better part of the hallway. "Yes sir," Chace answers, his voice quiet but steady.

"What's your name? What are you called?"

Direct enough that Chace nearly squirms where he is and forceful enough that it nearly has him sinking to the floor. "Master calls me boy, sir." Proud of himself for the moment, Chace hopes that the answer will be enough.

"Master? You mean Mark, right? He was explaining this to me. I want to hear your side of it."

Linda was right; this man has more in common with his Master than Chace really cares to see but he knows that avoiding the questions won't please his Master. "Yes sir, I call him Master, not his given name." Chace's eyes lift and he judges the man for a moment, trying to determine the reasoning he's so curious. "I didn't know who he was when I met him but after seeing him for the second time, I knew I wanted to be with him if he'd have me."

"So this...whatever you call it. You agreed to it? There was no forcing on Mark's part? I want the truth. He said he told you to tell me the truth."

Chace's blue eyes flash with fire as his head comes up and, for the first time, he meets the man's eyes dead on. "Master didn't force me to come with him. I left my life knowing full well what I was doing." He can't say it's been easy or that he's liked everything he's been put through but to hear this man think he was forced... "I'd have no reason to lie."

"And what were you doing? Mark says what you do is different from the usual. Explain this owning."

Head cocking to the side, Chace tries to decide what the man's after, what he thinks Chace can tell him that Mark didn't. "My job before Master was...in the entertainment field you might say. And I'm not understanding what you want, sir. He owns me, bought the contract from where I was working."

"And what do you do for him?" Vince sits down, leaning closer to the boy. "Mark says he doesn't even know your name? That right?"

Knowing enough to know an intimidating move when he sees it, Chace does his best to remain calm, his breathing even. "I do whatever he needs or wants me to do. And to my knowledge, no, Master has no clue what my name is. He's never used it and the slip showing he owns me only has a number on it."

"And you won't tell anyone your name why?"

"If my Master won't use it then why does it matter?" Chace thinks for a moment. "Before I came to him I had a job and money of my own and...a name. I was also miserable. It's hard, but I like where I am."

"How long do you see yourself being with Mark? And you really didn't know who he was when you met?"

The look on the man's face as well as the words bring a laugh from Chace. He wonders why people find it so hard to believe that he had no clue who his Master was. "I saw him twice and knew after the second time I wanted more. No, I didn't know. I found a name on the member card of the club and Googled him." Chace smiles softly as a shoulder comes up. "For long as he'll keep me, I guess."

"Do you love him?"

Chace's stomach suddenly falls and ends up around his big toe. It's a question he didn't expect and one he's honestly not sure how to answer. "Yes sir, but I'm not sure he's interested in my love as much as he is in my loyalty to him."

"And what about your loyalty? How loyal are you to him? I've heard mention of you being seen with some of my other wrestlers at the arenas."

His anger begins to rise and he can feel his cheeks heat up. "I am only with ones that my Master says for me to be with. I am a trained masseuse and Master lets me help some of the wrestlers after the shows."

"And what's going to happen if someone sees you, asks you who you are and you won't tell them? Someone sees you with Mark and starts to ask questions? What happens then?"

"If someone sees me with Master, as I'm sure some already have, then I trust him to answer their questions and..." Chace breathes out slow, trying to keep a handle on his temper, "if they do not know me already then they don't really need to unless Master says otherwise."

"I'm not talking about in the company. I'm talking about the fans, the press. People who run the websites."

"It's Master's decision to keep me and I rarely go anywhere that he isn't with me. I'd imagine that he would handle any questions that come up. As far as the press goes, that's something I'm not sure on considering I don't see me being allowed to address them anyway."

Vince stands up and paces. "This company is literally my life. It's let me take care of my family, it's carrying on what my dad started. We've weathered some storms in the past and made it through. But this is different. This is something I hardly know anything about." He stops, looking down at the boy. "Don't cause problems for my company, young man. Or as much as I like and need him, I will take it out on Mark. The fans might not realize it, but he will."

Throat and chest suddenly tight, Chace's eyes focus on the floor and he furiously tries to blink back the tears. "No sir," he says, voice quiet, "there won't be any trouble. I wouldn't do that to him." His mind immediately goes back to the trouble in the hallway and how his Master and Glenn handled it and he suddenly grows nauseous.

"Okay, so long as we understand each other." He take out his Blackberry and types something in it. "We're going to need to have something to call you. Tell Mark that. Or he could let me do it. Got a few suggestions already." A slow smile crosses his face. "You ever wanted to be on television? I know about you being in Kane's promo, by the way."

"This boy doesn't plan on causing any trouble for his Master, sir. None." Chace looks up, studies the man in front of him. "Something to call me? I'll let Master know what you said, sir. And no sir, being on television is my Master's place, not mine. Being in his promo was fun, but it's not something I'd like to do all the time." The idea of another man picking a name for him to be called is more than a bit unnerving.

"Well, if you change your mind-"

"Vince." Linda's arms are crossed as she stands in the doorway. "Leave him alone. You have that meeting anyway."

"Already on it." He holds up his Blackberry. "Okay. Remember what I said and we'll get along." He walks down the hall, sticking his head into the room for a minute before he and Linda leave.

"Boy!"

Chace watches as the man and woman make their leave, more than a little thankful for Linda and her ability to take the man's attention off of him. The breath of relief doesn't last long, however, as Chace hears his Master's voice from inside the room. Does he always have to sound like I'm a puppy that's just pissed on the floor? Not sure if he's simply being called or if his Master's already irritated, Chace moves into the room and immediately goes to his knees.

"Close the door and come here." Mark is sitting on the bed, elbows on his knees. He takes a deep breath, a slow smile as he shakes his head. "What did they tell you?"

Looking back, Chace realizes that he's actually went to his knees with the door still open and a flood of color fills his face. "Sorry 'bout that, Master," he mutters as he stands, closes the door then goes to kneel by the bed. "Tell me, Master? Neither told me much of anything. They asked a lot and the man says he needs something to call me. Asked me if I wanted to be in television."

"Yeah, Linda said he would. I was waiting for him to suggest you be on the show. Might still have to talk him off the idea. I could see the wheels spinning in his head. And you need a name, huh? He offer any ideas? He would want to."

"He said he saw me with Glenn's promo. I think the size of Glenn had sort of made me forget there were actual cameras nearby." Chace watches Mark for a moment; his Master doesn't seem upset or angry so maybe things went well after all. "He said he had ideas but didn't elaborate on them." He takes a deep breath, holds it then lets it out slow. "Master, he asked me something, said something that...has me worried."

Mark's eyes narrow as he sees the boy's reaction. "What about?" He stands up, taking a step toward him. "What did he say?"

If there's anything in the world that will make a grown man nearly piss himself it's a well-over six foot man staring down at him while he's moving toward you. Chace can actually feel himself shrink - or try to - as his Master looms over him and he wishes desperately for the ability to rewind time. "He asked if the fans or press got wind of me, asked me who I was, what would I say. He said..." he pauses, forcing himself to breathe, "your boy doesn't want to cause you trouble, Master."

"He threatened you? How? Tell me exactly what he said!"

FUCK FUCK FUCK! The voice that echoes in the room tells Chace that he's very near seeing 'that look' on his Master's face and this is why his eyes are firmly fixed on the floor in front of feet that he's sure are twice the size of his own. "He didn't threaten me, Master. He made it known that he could make life miserable though."

"Miserable how? Exactly I said, boy!"

Please don't make me do this! Chace knows he shouldn't have said anything but knowing that now and knowing that a few moments ago is a difference Chace can't change. "He said he's built this company and that he could make your job miserable if I...if I make trouble. Master, your boy could say he's your massage therapist. It wouldn't be a lie."

"FUCK!" Mark knocks the chair Vince was sitting in across the room. "He had no right to do that. If he was going to say it, he should have said it to me. He didn't even hint at it like usual. That fucking-" His rant is stopped as his cell goes off. He grabs it, meaning to throw it as well when he catches sight of the name. Frowning, he reads the text. First a smile, then a laugh comes from him. It takes him a minute for him to text back. "God I love you, Linda."

Not even daring to move from the spot he's in for fear of drawing Mark's anger toward him - toward any moving target - Chace bends forward to his forearms, palms flat on the floor as the chair goes sailing and crashes into the wall on the opposite side of the room. Forehead pressed to the floor between his arms, Chace wonders just how far those hands, that power, could actually sling a guy his size. Shit! Fuck! Son of a... The laugh takes him off guard but he doesn't look up.

Mark walks over, grabs the boy by the hair and hauls him onto his knees. His hand goes down his face before he leans down and kisses him. His hand shoves roughly down the front of the boy's shorts and catches his balls in a painful grip. "There's no time now. But when I'm done tonight and get back to the hotel, I will have your tears."

Chace's cry is clamped off by the sudden and hard kiss from his Master and, for the life of him, he still can't tell if the man's furious with him or still angry at the other man. "Nnngh!" The near scream is choked off as his air leaves him, the grip to his balls immediately bringing tears to his eyes and he wonders if his Master means to remove them right in the middle of the room. "Yes Ma..." What little air had remained leaves and he stares upward.

"Don't worry, boy. That's an order."