Gratitude arrived later - two days later. It dawned on him as he visited Marina Lvovna to tend to a swollen, inflamed wound on his arm - a result of Bright's attack with the sharp end of his shoe. As Daniel watched in astonishment at Marina Lvovna's nimble fingers skillfully stitching the wound, a sense of gratitude washed over him. Perhaps it was the pain jolting the consciousness awake or simply the passage of time allowing him to rationalize. The arm was swollen, fingers stiffened with inflammation - absurdly puffed up, resembling a child's elongated balloon from which a magician crafts toys. Yet, despite the discomfort, the fingers throbbed with life, just as he did. And it was all thanks to Sennoy. Tears welled in his eyes, breathing grew labored, and Marina Lvovna, without lifting her gaze, sternly cautioned, "Be patient, I'm almost done."

"I am," Daniel said, smiling stupidly.

She trimmed the ends of the threads with scissors, sprinkled streptocide on the scarlet, oozing yellow-pink blood, and straightened, exhaling.

"The scar will remain."

Daniel shrugged, resting the back of his head against the wall - it felt euphorically good to savor the wonderful sensation of breathing, feeling, living. He didn't care about the scars.

"Not on the arm, but on the eyebrow," Marina Lvovna poked the vape towards his eyebrow and blew out a chemically fragrant misty stream. "It's a pity that such a beautiful face was spoiled."

"I ain't regretting," Daniel grinned. If it wasn't for the looks, he wouldn't be stuck here. "Scars or not, it doesn't matter. Key thing is I'm breathing."

"True," Marina Lvovna slurped her tea noisily. "You got it rough, little Prince. Usually, the shamed like you get left alone. But you keep comin' to me for repairs."

"No luck," Daniel reluctantly peeled himself off the wall. Didn't want to get back to work, but didn't want to chat with Marina Lvovna either. "Thanks, I'm out."

Sennoy caught up with him at the sewing shop, or rather, he was waiting there, who knows for how long. He hummed with a grin, meeting Daniel's gaze filled with gratitude, and said.

"Let's roll."

The pantry carried the scent of musty, dusty air. Sennoy silently made his way to the window, pulling the bolt up through the grate and pushing open the creaky, rusted window, allowing in the fresh air tinged with recent rain. He turned, resting against the windowsill, leisurely surveying the surroundings from top to bottom. Daniel, without awaiting instruction, unbuttoned and lowered his pants and underwear, retrieving the cream from his pocket and bending over, all the while keeping his gaze fixed on Sennoy. It was unlikely that Sennoy wanted a blowjob - his split lips still crusted over - and Daniel had become adept at discerning Sennoy's desires. A brief glance was all it took to discern Sennoy's current mood. And by the eager glint in his gray eyes, it was clear that Sennoy craved energetic sex tonight, not a mere blowjob. Sennoy nodded in approval, a faint satisfied smile gracing his lips.

Daniel swiftly stretched himself, teetering on the edge of pain, his gaze still fixated on Sennoy - he sensed instinctively that this was what Sennoy desired at the moment. Unlike before, this posture didn't evoke the same unpleasant sense of pressure; the gratitude was too profound.

"Strip completely," Sennoy commanded, sliding off his pants and sitting on the bed, leisurely stroking his stiffening cock. Daniel hesitated for a moment, processing the directive, then unlaced his boots, stepped out of his pants and underwear. With his teeth, Sennot tore open the condom packet, rolled it onto his cock, and motioned for Daniel to approach.

It was only then that Daniel comprehended that he was expected to sit on the cock, and he faltered - this was uncharted territory for him. Offering himself up willingly, face-to-face, unable to mentally detach from the act, and fully engage in a consensual yet coerced transaction was overwhelming, even with the desire to express gratitude for the rescue. Daniel stuttered uncertainly, swallowing hard as he glanced down at the latex-covered, engorged head, while Sennoy, reclining with his hands behind his head, clarified, "What's the hold-up?"

"I'm not sure how to-" Daniel muttered.

"Sit," Sennoy adjusted his position to make it easier for Daniel to sit down. Biting his lip, Daniel clumsily swung his leg over Sennoy's hips and hesitated.

"Can we do it from behind?" Daniel suggested.

"No, I want to see your face," Sennoy impatiently slapped his exposed thigh, which was surprisingly pale despite the summer, dotted with blond hairs. "You won't contact me this way. Just don't grab me with your hands. You can lean against the wall."

"Okay," Daniel lowered himself slowly, almost breathless, flinching as the head nudged against his buttock and pressed firmly into the opening.

Sennoy, tilting his head for a better view, gripped his cock, directing with his stiff thighs to enter. For some inexplicable reason, he whispered, adding to the discomfort, "Lower yourself slowly. Did you stretch properly?"

Daniel squeezed his eyes shut as he descended, feeling the walls press against the cock, resisting entry. He gritted his teeth.

"Not really, it would've been easier from behind."

"It's too late," Sennoy pushed deeper, his voice hoarse. "But I'll be careful, don't worry."

Daniel winced until the redness flooded his eyelids as he felt the sizable, rigid shaft penetrating him, causing sharp, almost tearing pain, yet he persisted with his movements. In this position, the cock seemed larger and longer than before, overwhelming Daniel, who couldn't bear it any longer and let out a brief moan as he pushed forward completely. His own cock and scrotum tingled against the damp, rigid pubic hair, the warmth of the other man's abdomen pressing against them as Sennoy advanced without physical contact. Now, he was breathing directly in Daniel's face - the scent of nicotine unmistakable.

"Feeling better?" Sennoy hissed.

"Y-yeah," Daniel stuttered, moving up and down tentatively. His insides still burned with pain and heat, pressing against the walls, while the nicotine-laden breath scorched his lips - he had never felt their convergence so vividly and intensely. It was as if he had been forcibly laid bare, stripped of the defenses he had erected.

"Look at me," Sennoy reached across his waist, pulling the towel closer, urging compliance. Daniel reluctantly opened his eyes, momentarily fixed on the darkened steel where Sennoy's pupils pulsated eagerly. Sennoy thrust his hips suggestively, and Daniel began to move, wrestling with the discomfort of the oddly intense visual connection that made him ache, yearning to end the ordeal as quickly as possible.

However, Sennoy seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself. His breath came in intermittent bursts, his gaze misty and blurred as it roamed over Daniel's face, lingering on his parted lips. Sweat gathered on his forehead and upper lip, his cheeks flushed with excitement. With his hands pressed against the wall for support, Daniel lifted himself up on trembling legs and then lowered himself back down, sliding up along the entire length and then sliding down to the base of the cock. The soreness had somewhat subsided, but the dull, stretching friction continued to irritate, tugging at his nerves.

He wanted to push away, to disengage from the situation, or at the very least, to shut his eyes and pretend he wasn't there. Sennoy tightened his grip on his loins, using the ends of the towel wrapped around his fists, and began to thrust his hips upward with a steady rhythm. He leaned forward abruptly, causing Daniel to groan and press his hands against the bed to steady himself, and then pulled himself back up. The towel struck forcefully against his groin, and his cock struck deep inside, sending a spasm through his body. Daniel grunted, feeling a heat building in his lower abdomen, a mix of sweat and arousal enveloping him in a strangely intoxicating sensation.

Sennoy gleamed with recognition, seizing the shift in dynamics, and began to thrust with rapid, shallow movements, eagerly observing their entwined bodies as his cock penetrated the stretched yet still tight entrance. Daniel fought to maintain his balance on his outstretched arms, resisting the instinctual urge to wrap his legs around Sennoy to prevent himself from toppling over, all the while gritting his teeth against the discomfort. The unpleasant mechanical sensation intensified alongside the burning shame, and Daniel, exhaling ragged moans, cast a disdainful glance at the disheveled, wheezing Sennoy. His own cock, bouncing with each movement, was partially erect. Sennoy, witnessing Daniel's feeble, drained response to him, reveled in triumphant satisfaction, his euphoria mounting with each chaotic jerk until he finally groaned and released the towel gently.

Daniel slumped to the bed, his tailbone knocking against the hard surface as he quickly turned to the side to conceal his shameful reaction. He shielded his face with his hand, exhaling in self-disgust, and clenched his teeth as Sennoy, now dressed, squatted beside him.

"You would've blown your load if I'd kept going a bit longer," Sennoy remarked, sounding satisfied and content, like a cat that got the cream. "Don't beat yourself up about it, it's normal to react that way when your erogenous zones are stimulated. I just hit the right spot."

"You don't need to search for it anymore," Daniel muttered, pulling up his pants. "Just fuck me like you used to."

"I want you to cum too" Sennoy objected stubbornly. "You need release as well, don't you?"

"I get my releases in the bathroom solo," Daniel retorted dryly, growing increasingly irritated. "Not from getting fucked in the ass, which I tolerate for protection. It's a simple deal, right?"

"You're my rooster," Sennoy shot back plainly, making a face. "So, you'll do what I say. Don't stress yourself out. You'll feel better if you start enjoying it."

"You don't get it," Daniel sighed, wrinkling his nose as if he smelled something foul. His sore anus and rectum throbbed as usual, and any lingering arousal had faded, but now, fully dressed, he felt relieved and more confident. "It's not pleasure, it's humiliation. Would you enjoy getting off from a cock up your ass?"

"I ain't you," Sennoy snapped. "And I'd never swap shoes with you. Understood?" he narrowed his eyes, meeting Daniel's gaze head-on, and Daniel mumbled a hesitant, furrowed response.

"Understood."

"All right then," Sennoy grinned. "Quit scowlin', Dashka, ain't nothin' catastrophic happenin' to you. And overall, life's lookin' up - minus Bright, it'll be smoother for you even when I'm not around. I'll talk to Stakhan, he'll sort you out."

"Is that what they call it now?" Daniel tiredly smirked, but inwardly acknowledged the offer wasn't that bad in the end. Better one guy fuck him than the entire gen pop.

"So," Sennoy twitched, furrowing his brows at the bridge of his nose. "If you think I'm happy about Stakhan takin' you, you're dead wrong," Sennoy snarled, his upper lip curling like an agitated dog's. "Let's hope I can get you outta here quick."

"Let's hope," Daniel echoed, puzzled, not grasping why Sennoy was so riled up. And just to cover his bases, feeling like the pale, ragged-breathing Sennoy was about to sock him for some goddamn reason known only to him, he added, "Thanks."

"Get to the shop," Sennoy hissed, pulling out a pack of cigarettes. "Now!"

Outside, the lingering mental unease dissipated into thin air - the summer sun beamed too brightly, too jubilantly, too splendidly, the azure sky devoid of even a wisp of cloud. Daniel tilted his head back, basking in the warmth of the sun's rays, and strolled leisurely towards the workshop. Life was unquestionably looking up. The shadow had lifted. And the prospect of Sennoy's crew, cooling their heels in the hole for "Bright's unfortunate tumble down the stairs," as the prison honchos had dubbed it, emerging with axes to grind didn't faze him. They'd curse him, wear sour faces for a spell, then move on - he hadn't called the shots on roughing up Bright, that was Sennoy's handiwork. Sennoy would be walking free in five and a half months, and if he kept his word in the glow of his release, Daniel would be next in line. A swell of joy surged from within, spilling out with a radiant smile, casting rainbow halos on his sun-kissed retinas. Everything would be just fine, he just had to bide his time.

At the close of the workday, a gritty and grimy atmosphere mingled with an enduring sense of subdued contentment. Spotting Palka, coated in crimson construction dust, stationed by the shop entrance near the guards, Daniel cast a nonchalant glance his way, casually observing that Palka had probably landed a position exempt from strenuous labor by performing oral favors – his trained eye instantly detected the swollen, cracked lips as telltale signs. As Palka trailed silently behind him, Daniel realized he was the one Palka had been anticipating – he had even resorted to such demeaning tactics just to have a word with him. Clearly, he had brought yet another unpleasant matter to discuss.

"What do you want?" Daniel quickened his pace toward his barracks to shake off the follower.

"Just want to chat," Palka replied amiably. "We're in this together, Dashka, why be at odds all the time?"

"There's nothing to chat about," Daniel retorted flatly. "Find someone else to talk to."

"Don't be like that, you can trust me," Palka muttered, struggling to keep up with Daniel's brisk pace. "I've got something to share with you if you promise not to rat me out to Sennoy."

"I am not going to promise anything," Daniel eased up, sensing that Palka was in some trouble and seeking cover. Why bother getting mixed up in this mess for an idiot like him? Let Sennoy handle his own shit. And if it means buttering up Sennoy with his body, well, that didn't sound too bad. If Sennoy split his horny attention between them, it'd make Daniel's time here a whole lot smoother.

"Just talk to him yourself."

"Ain't got nothin' to ask him," Palka chimed in, sounding friendly and serious. "I got a secret to tell, and it's about you, straight up."

"Go ahead then," Daniel urged, picking up his pace and kicking a pebble aside.

"Hold it right there!" Palka, breathing heavily and stopping abruptly, sneered from behind. "Go ahead, Dashka, keep walking if you don't want to know who ordered to downgrade you."

Daniel halted, feeling a surge of anger. If this jerk was trying to mess with him again, he'd regret it. Clenching his fists tightly, he warned coldly, "If this is some bullshit again, I'll deck you."

"That's if I don't deck you first..." Palka muttered uncertainly. "Let's go over there, behind the barracks. I don't want to be seen, unlike you, I am not privileged."

"So, what is it?" Daniel tensed, eyeballing the grime-covered face. Even the dust stuck to his long, blond lashes, making his troubled blue eyes stand out.

"Promise you won't rat me out to Sennoy," Palka said, his demeanor shifting as he straightened up, fixing his gaze on Daniel, awaiting his response.

"I promise," the words slipped out involuntarily.

"You're sucking up to Sennoy 'cause he gives you protection," Palka grinned sneakily, satisfaction evident. "He kept you from getting pounded by the gen pop, shielded you from Bright," Palka paused dramatically, while Daniel listened intently, the humid air catching in his throat, hoping he was wrong about where this was going. "And he's the one who ordered to downgrade you. I heard it myself when he and Stakhan were whispering. He threatened me when I tried to tell Svetka, said anyone who spilled would meet his end. So, we all kept quiet, we all want to live. But I've had enough of staying silent! You strut around the zone like you're top dog, you idiot, let Sennoy fuck you, but in reality..."

Before Palka could complete his sentence, he gasped for air - Daniel lunged at him, wrapping his fingers around Palka's sweaty, grimy neck, and snarled in his ear.

"If you're lying, I'll end you myself, right here, right now."

"Let go of me, you bastard," Palka wheezed, attempting to pry Daniel's fingers from his neck. "I swear I'm not lying!"

Daniel reluctantly relaxed his clenched fingers, stumbling backward, his head throbbing like a hangover, his hatred burning fiercely. He could have lived relatively peacefully; Stakhan had made it clear that he was off-limits. He wouldn't have endured so much mental and physical agony, wouldn't have suffered through days of intense humiliation. He would have remained intact, albeit stressed and weary, but intact. If Sennoy hadn't suddenly concocted the wicked, cruel idea to downgrade him to the lowest caste and then coerce him into seeking protection, knowing he had no other options. To approach him willingly, to gaze at him with reverence as he gave him blowjobs, and then to offer himself up.

Daniel cursed under his breath, clutching at his hair, swaying unsteadily like he was drunk.

"Just... Dashka, keep it to yourself, all right?" Palka's cocky demeanor faltered, replaced by a fearful sulk. "I told you nicely, I could've kept quiet."

"Get lost, you rat, get lost!" Daniel snarled, stomping away, and Palka scurried off.

With a pained grunt, Daniel ripped off his jacket, collapsing onto the dry, meager grass. He gazed up at the dimming sky, tinged with pink hues of twilight, a sky that once brought him solace. Inside him, rage surged and pounded, desperate for release. Living like this was unbearable, utterly impossible! He couldn't continue bowing to Sennoy, who had toyed with him cruelly, relishing his gratitude. A fleeting fear of the consequences flickered warningly before being consumed by raw, seething anger. Fuck consequences, nothing else mattered. Let Sennoy suffer too - even a fleeting moment of victory before his death would suffice. He would meet his end swiftly anyway - Bright hadn't suffered long, so neither would he.

Daniel stood up from the grass, taken aback by the serene twilight that surrounded him, with a cricket chirping peacefully somewhere beyond the towering wall. His determination surged within him, urging him to take action while it still burned bright.