jeriendhal | Fic: I Fought the Claw (and the Claw Won)

Part One
Part Two
Part Three

I will admit, with a touch of embarrassment, that this wasn't the first time I'd woken up naked, with a hangover, and tied to a chair. Though admittedly the previous time had been with considerably friendlier company.

I spun in freefall a bit before I regained my equilibrium and my eyes focused again. I was in the Red Vixen's cabin, the lovely lady herself sitting on her throne in front of me, her petite pet bruiser standing beside her with a stunner pointed at me.

I smiled. "Ladies, honestly, is there any reason to be pointing weapons at me, especially since I'm seated so snugly?" I gave a friendly wave of my paw, at least as much as I could with my wrist strapped down and all.

"Because shooting you is fun?" Pet replied, her aim not wavering a millimeter. Really, for someone so cute and small she had an absolutely terrifying eagerness when it came to personal violence.

"He's not about to hop up from that, I don’t think," the Red Vixen noted dryly. "Put your stunner away, Ali."

"Yes, milady," Ali said reluctantly. The stunner disappeared into her waistcoat and she took up a parade rest position beside the Red Vixen's chair. The lady herself propped her footpads on a red velvet ottoman and looked me over.

"What you did was very rude you know," she said. "Here I give you a cabin better that you'd find on most luxury liners and you spurn my hospitality."

"Well, there is the small matter of having no ransom money and facing the possibility of being either a pirate's slave or being sold off to some unscrupulous individual looking for warm bodies to crack rocks," I answered, shrugging as best I could. "So I thought it behooved me to take my leave as soon as could be managed."

"A point," she granted amiably. "Nevertheless, you came dangerously close to actually getting away from me. Stealing Ali's clothes was a nice gambit, and if there were more foxen aboard than just myself and her, you might have been able to get away with just marching to the landing bay and taking your leave in a fighter. That would have upset me to say the least."

"Well, fighters are expensive pieces of equipment." I wiggled a little in my straps, trying to get comfortable. There was exactly one part of me that was not secured tightly and, just as a hint, it wasn't my tail. "Honestly though, what did you expect me to do?"

"Sit tight, so to speak, and wait for some charitable soul to ransom you."

"Being a male of action, that really wasn't a very good option for me."

She nodded. "I can see that now. Unfortunately, you did violate the rules I laid out for you, so there will be consequences."

"Ten lashes of bastinado?" I said lightly.

"If only," Ali muttered, rolling her eyes.

"I don’t torture prisoners," the Red Vixen said, giving her pet a sharp look. Ali's ears flicked back and she lowered her eyes. "However, you will be punished. I'm afraid you're going to be wearing some extra jewelry for the rest of your stay. Hope you don't mind."

"And if I do?"

Ali glared at me again, patting her waistcoat where her stunner was still hidden. "Feel free to complain. Please."