Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"How much for that pretty mouth, gorgeous?" The black and white-haired man asked. Harry smirked, but internally rolled his eyes.

"A hundred. One-fifty if I can make you cum in under three minutes" he replied in a flirty voice.

He'd been working at a nightclub in the city, and would occasionally entertain paying guests in the back, especially when it was slow.

The the older, but not super unattractive guy at the bar bought him a drink, and Harry agreed to meet him in the back after last call, a half hour later.

Harry hardly remembered closing the bar that night. It was a snowy, freezing night in January. He woke up in a room that he didn't recognize.

It was almost pitch black, but there was sun trying to peek through a curtain over his head. It showed the intricate carvings in the chestnut wood on the walls. He could see a dresser, a tv, and nothing else. He felt like he was moving, but he was lying down.

When he tried to sit up, he realized his hands were shackled over his head. As he became increasingly alarmed, he pulled at them, and started thrashing his feet, realizing those too were restrained.

"Hello?! Can anyone hear me?!" He shouted, his voice sounding urgent and terrified.

After screaming for help for what felt like hours, and trying to slide his hands from the cuffs that bound them together, he was running out of energy. Confused and scared, he steadied his breath, and tried to keep his shit together.

Someone would be looking for him soon. They'd have to. His co-worker and roommate Niall would know he didn't come home last night. Maybe he'd go into work and they'd watch the security footage the next day, and it would be there.

Even if Niall didn't think much of his disappearance, his boss Randall would notice that he was missing the next night for sure. Harry was a good worker and hardly ever missed a shift, and would always call if he was going to.

Trying to keep himself calm with those thoughts, he decided to stop screaming for help, knowing if anyone were coming, they would have by then.

He waited.

He waited so long, he had to pee. He started whimpering and whining frustratedly.

"Hello?! What the fuck?! Please! Someone help! I'm gonna piss all over your bed! I don't want to but I can't hold it much longer!" he shouted, jingling his shackles. When he looked down at his body, he was wearing only a pair of sweatpants that he was sure weren't his.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching, then a key jingle, and the clink of a lock unlocking. When the person opened the door, their image was totally overtaken by the intense, bright backlight.

The figure entered the room, and Harry's hair stood on the end of his neck. He couldn't make out any details of their face or body as they approached and unlocked the shackles on his feet.

"Up. If you even think about fighting, I'll break all of your toes one-by-one, you little bitch" a man's deep, raspy voice snarled. Harry was already full of adrenaline. He stood up, and chose to comply for now, still blinded and at every other disadvantage.

"Where am I?" Harry asked as calmly as he could. "I won't fight. Know it's useless. Please tell me what's happening" he asked, trying to sound direct, to the point.

A light turned on in the room. It wasn't very bright, and didn't require his eyes to adjust for long. Taking in as much of his surroundings as he could, given the size and style of the room, he assumed he was in a boat.

When his eyes finally landed on the person who'd just unchained him, it wasn't what Harry was expecting. The man was a little bit taller than him, but older and scrawny. He had dirty blond hair, which had quite a few grays, and was pulled back into a thin, greasy ponytail. With his mustache and cutoff Harley Davidson shirt, he did not look friendly.

"You've been abducted. You're on a yacht in the Caribbean" the man told him, like he was telling him what the weather was like. Harry couldn't process the words. "Won't have to deal with me too long. Gonna get bought tonight. Let's get you to the bathroom so you don't piss yourself on boss's floor" the man said, grabbing Harry roughly by his wrist, and pulling him closer to him.

Harry was so full of adrenaline, he thought he was going to smack the guy, until he realized he was guiding him to the bathroom right behind him. He gave the man a dirty look, but went inside the small water closet. Even though it was tiny, it was modern and decorated. There was not one single seam in the walls, ceiling, or floor. There was nothing he could see that would help him in the slightest.

After relieving himself, he thought about not opening the door. What was he in a hurry for? To be chained to the bed again? 'Won't have to deal with me too long. Gonna get bought tonight' the man had said. 'Piss yourself on boss's floor'.

He wasn't the one who took him, or the one who was apparently selling him. He seemed like he was just supposed to watch him, and didn't have any particular interest in harming Harry himself, though he couldn't be sure of course.

Deciding that not pissing this guy off was the best chance he had at finding something useful, he decided to act as obedient as possible, knowing he was on a boat in the open ocean, and there was nowhere to run even if he could fight the guy off. He took a deep breath, and tried to prepare himself for what he was sure was going to be an awful, awful day.

"Come on, now. Back on the bed. Don't make me make ya" he said. His accent was southern, like he was from Texas. Harry lived in Virginia.

He did as he was told and sat on the bed, taking in as much as he could of the basically empty room. When he looked through the crack in the curtains, he could see a deck right in front of him, a long, horizontal, white railing, and the most beautiful, blue water he'd ever seen, for miles.

"Who's gonna buy me?" He asked in as aloof of a voice as he could muster. He put his feet back near the chains, hoping the guy might leave them a little looser, if he wasn't going to be a pain in his ass. He got the sense that being super emotional wasn't the way to go with this guy, either. He was jaded, but not aggressive.

"Depends on who wants ya, duh" the man said, as if it were obvious.

"What do they want from me?" He asked, aware his voice sounded a little more terrified than he wanted it to.

"What do ya think? You special or somethin'?" The man asked, gauging Harry's face, as if he might have his IQ written on his forehead. The answer was disconcerting.

"Just...a little out of my element" Harry replied casually. The man hummed, grabbing his arm, with a little less force, and placing the cuff around it again. "I'm...never going home, am I?" He asked plainly.

The man looked at him questioningly. He even quirked his head to the side a little. Harry could swear he saw a flash of something resembling pity on his face, but it was gone in an instant.

"No. You're never going home, kid" the man said. Harry knew it was a bad sign that the man's voice was just a little softer, a little more somber. Harry had a feeling this guy was going to be the friendliest he'd meet that day.

'Never going home, kid'. The words rang in his ears. He signed deeply. He was hardly a kid. He'd just turned twenty-five. He never thought he'd be the victim of something like this. The threat was never on his radar. Children and college girls on spring break get trafficked. People looking for jobs who get lied to and taken advantage of. Not adult, male bartenders in Richmond.

"Thanks for...telling me the truth" Harry said, his voice breaking. It was finally sinking in what a terrible, unpredictable situation he'd found himself in. Never going home. Though he was estranged from his parents, he still had a life. He had a great group of friends, he'd gone back to college after dropping out for a few years, he had a good job at one of the most expensive clubs in the city.

"My advice, stay as you are now. Obey. Accept it. They like it when you fight. They want you to try to escape. Most 'em got more than one of yous. Keep your head down, you'll fall to the background after a week or two" the man told him matter-of-factly. He turned out the light.

"Thanks for the tip" Harry said coldly, turning his head away. While he appreciated that the man didn't want to torture him, he wasn't doing anything about the fact that he was about to hand him over to people who would.

Now that he was alone, he cried freely, thinking about his friends. Thinking about the cute guy he'd gone on a date with the week before. He was going to think Harry was ghosting him, which he'd promised to his face he wouldn't do. He thought about the apartment he'd worked so hard for. About how he and Niall and his boyfriend Liam would never be able to double date with them.

Harry cried so hard for so long, he ended up falling back asleep.

❧

"Get up, kid" the same grumpy voice from earlier said. He was unhooking his arm from the bed, having already freed his other limbs. "Don't try anythin' stupid. Never ends well" he warned. Harry stood and held out his hands when the man showed him the zip ties he was holding. He motioned for him to turn around, and tied Harry's hands behind his back.

"Where are we going?" Harry asked as calmly as he could. The man rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Theatre room. Showing is now" he stated, pulling Harry along. Barefoot, and only wearing sweatpants, it was colder than Harry thought it'd be on deck, but it was beautiful outside. He walked up a flight of stairs, with the blond guard right behind him. Harry's heart was racing. He didn't see any other person on this damn boat. No other boats in the water, in any fucking direction. He was totally screwed.

"Through the door on the left" the man ordered. Harry followed his command, and went into the small hallway. There was a different man waiting there in a tuxedo. He had black, scary eyes and an evil smirk.

"This must be Harry..." the guy said. He had a posh english accent, and a huge gap in his teeth. He appeared to be in his mid-forties. The way he looked at Harry made his stomach churn. "Oh, yes. Those curls. The iconic butterfly tattoo. You're going to be in high demand for sure..." he said, playing with the end of one of Harry's shoulder-length locks. It took everything he had not to shake the man off. He just kept his eyes on the floor.

"Yep. Take care, kid" the blond man said. "He's been nothing but compliant. Think he's in shock, but...no reason to hurt 'em" he told the dressed-up man.

"Thanks Dev" The guy replied. His hair was dark brown and had clearly been dyed recently. He looked at Harry like he was a meal. "Come on in, Harry. Glad to hear you've been a good boy. No need to be nervous, doll. Going to take good care of you. Just gonna get you into something a little more comfortable...." His wicked voice told Harry he was probably not half as kind as his colleague had been.

He pulled Harry into a room that had plush, red carpet, and red-velvet wallpaper on the walls. There was a chaise-lounge chair, and a long, white table in the room. There was also a three-way mirror in the corner.

Harry could see himself in it, looking like hell. His hair was a mess, but looked like it'd been washed by someone who didn't dry it properly, and his eyes were bloodshot. The creepy man over his shoulder was watching him like he was a fish in a tank.

"Let's brush out these curls, hmm? So, so pretty. You'll clean up alright. Not a fighter, so no marks to even patch up, look at you! You are a prize, indeed" the man went on, pulling a brush out of the drawer built into the table in front of them.

"Did you buy me?" Harry asked, his voice genuinely detached, knowing this was going nowhere good regardless of the answer.

"Oh, no. I wish, dear. I wish. I'd take such good care of you. But you're not quite...in my budget. Just getting you prepared. I know this must be scary for you, but on the bright side, you're going to the richest of the rich. You're absolutely beautiful. As long as you do as they say, you may even land yourself a relatively comfortable life. Some people don't even get that opportunity"

The way the man spoke was unsettling. It was as if he was trying to sell a story to Harry, that whatever that goes on in this world was completely acceptable, as if the man believed it himself. At least the other guy seemed to know he was a piece of shit. It felt like this creep was a cruise director on the trip to hell.

"Lucky me" Harry said dryly.

"Sorry for getting fresh, darling. We need to get these off. You're almost up" he said, tugging Harry's pants off so they pooled around his ankles. Harry sighed, sending a scowl the man's way, but stepping out of them. "There, there. Don't be cross with me. You're going to do just fine...someone very, very rich is going to give you a brand new home" he tutted.

After running the brush through Harry's hair again, the man disappeared through the door they came in, leaving Harry standing in the middle of the room, stark naked with his hands tied behind his back. He considered trying to break free of them, or to escape out of that same door, but it seemed far too simple, as if this were a test to see if he'd try to escape. He had to keep his cool. Minutes later, the creep returned.

"Follow me, doll" he said, pulling Harry through a door hidden in the wallpaper. He cursed himself internally for not taking better advantage of his time, to look at all of his surroundings. He was beginning to panic, as they walked down a long corridor.

"Next up is 32247RA. Harry, a 25 year-old Caucasian male. Bartender. Student. Homosexual. Submissive in nature. Tattoos, long, curly hair, sexually experienced" A woman's voice said through an overhead speaker.

"That's you, sweetheart. Smile, be charismatic, show them you want to go home with them!" The campy man said way too enthusiastically, then pushed Harry forward, until he was standing alone in a dimly-lit room full of mirrors, on a rotating platform.

"Bidding starts at one-hundred-thousand dollars" the woman's robotic sounding voice spoke again. Harry stood in the room looking around him confusedly. "one-hundred-and-forty-five-thousand. We can do better than that. Don't hurt the boy's feelings..." the woman teased.

Harry then realized that there were people behind the mirrors. They could see all of him, and he could see none of them. When he looked at just the right angle, he could see the faint shadow of a head moving slightly, but not in any detail.

"Get on your knees, boy. Can someone get him hard?" A man's voice cracked through the room, startling Harry. He gasped, then decided to get on his knees and keep his eyes on the floor, praying this was all over soon.

"Two-hundred-thousand dollars. Can we get two-fifty? You can make him get hard as many times as you want, as soon as you buy him. He's big enough flaccid, in my humble opinion" the woman's voice continued.

Harry couldn't believe this was happening to him. He was being sold off to the highest bidder. He was clearly not going to a new, loving home. Knowing there were men on the other side of the glass wanting to see him hard, somehow turned him on, as badly as he didn't want it to. He'd always been a bit of an exhibitionist, but that was strictly at-will.

"Two-hundred-and-seventy-five-thousand. I know we can get to three" she went on. And it went back and forth like that, as Harry's cock continued to swell.

"Four-hundred-and-fifty-thousand going once. Five-hundred-thousand. Can we get six-hundred? Six-hundred-thousand for our Harry here? Look at that baby face, he'll be gorgeous for at least another decade and a half. Six-fifty! Six-hundred-and-fifty going once, twice..." the woman said, dragging it out at the end. "SOLD! To cube 4B. 4B, you may approach to collect your prize"

Harry's heart was beating out of his chest. Someone just paid six-hundred-thousand dollars? For him? He'd been bought? He belonged to someone now? As a 'prize'? He felt beyond ashamed at his continued arousal. He just wanted to lay his eyes on the guy to try to get a sense of how bad it was gonna be. He remained on his knees, until the mirror behind him opened, and in stepped a man in a black Armani suit.

Harry couldn't believe his eyes. He was expecting a fat, old, greasy, gross dude. He was sure he was hallucinating. Or this man was the buyer's assistant, perhaps. He was beautiful.

His blue eyes were cold as ice, and they froze through the mirror, his reflection both intimidating Harry, and peaking his curiosity. Harry looked to the floor again immediately.

"You gonna be a good girl, baby?" Louis asked, getting in front of him. "Look at me" he ordered, his voice firm, but shockingly warm. Harry looked up at the physical embodiment of an angel. His eyes pierced his soul, drowning him in their deep, aqua ocean. His complexion was perfect, and his high cheekbones and jawline looked sculpted.

"Yes, Sir" Harry replied, absolutely terrified, and now insanely turned on.

"Stand" the man ordered. Harry did as he was told. The man's brown hair swooped down to one side in the front, and the rest was a stylishly messy fringe. He was clean-shaven, and the way his eyes devoured Harry made him feel something he'd never felt before, and that he couldn't identify.

"Want daddy to take care of that for you?" He asked. Harry gasped, and electricity flowed through his body, looking around at the mirrors. Here? He figured he didn't actually have a choice, but he could have absolutely ended up with someone gross-looking, no matter what this guy's intentions with him were.

"Yes, daddy. Please..." Harry replied in a shaky, scared voice. While he was still in danger, and totally not okay with having just been bought like cattle, he couldn't lie to himself and say he wasn't thrilled that the man had gotten on his knees in front of him. Harry belted out a moan, as the sexy stranger wrapped his lips around his cock.

"Oh, thank you, daddy" he whined, as the guy blew him perfectly. His intense gaze didn't leave Harry's eyes the whole time. This was too insane to be real. It felt like he was in one of his kinkier dreams, not at sea with his new gorgeous owner.

"Um...I'm gonna cum..." he warned. The kneeling man gave him an encouraging look with his eyes. He released into his mouth, and when he pulled back, getting sensitive, the man swallowed and stood immediately.

He then took something out of his jacket, and did the last thing that Harry expected him to do, which was cut his zip ties with a pocket knife. He put the knife in his pants pocket, and slid his suit-coat off, then tied it around Harry's waist.

"Thank you for your time. Harry and I here are going to go enjoy the rest of ours. Branding will be done privately, and available to be inspected upon departure" the man stated clearly, pulling Harry along with him towards the section of mirror he'd come through.

Branding? Harry had no clue what to make of anything that had just happened. He just knew he had the hots for this guy, and he'd just purchased him for over half of a million dollars.

———————-

Chapter Text

"Put these on" The man said, when he brought him inside of what Harry assumed was his room, which was far more spacious than the one Harry had been chained up in. He handed the curly-haired man a pair of gray sweats and a white t-shirt. Harry looked at him gratefully.

"Th-thank you" Harry stammered, not knowing at all how to approach any of his thousands of questions. The man got lost in something on his phone for a moment, then returned his attention to a fully-clad Harry.

"You alright? Has anyone hurt you?" The man asked. His voice wasn't exactly harsh, but it wasn't super inviting, either. Harry just shook his head 'no'. "Good. No one will, okay? I know it's easy for me to say, but just have a seat. Try to relax. I'm going to get us some food. You must be starving. If anyone comes to this room, don't open the door.

"If they demand you do, you say your master forbade you from opening it for anyone but me. They'll need to come find me if they want to come in here, understood?" He said, looking into Harry's eyes seriously.

"Okay" Harry replied timidly. The man was trying to tell him no one was going to hurt him, yet he'd just bought him. For half a million bucks. When the blue-eyed man disappeared, Harry tried to slow his thoughts. His heart was pounding out of his chest. He felt dizzy and scared and trapped.

He'd just had the sexiest and scariest blowjob of his life. And the man would be back. With food. He was ravenous, but hadn't realized it before Stranger-Danger asked.

Minutes later, he returned, unlocking the door from outside, and coming in without knocking. He had a plate with five mini cheeseburger sliders, green beans, asparagus, and potato skins.

"They didn't have much else. Strange mid-day appetizers. Eat up" he said, taking a potato skin with bacon and eating half in one bite. Harry grabbed a slider and inspected it, but quickly took a bite, knowing it didn't really matter if the food had been poisoned or not.

The man sat in one of the two arm chairs across from the bed, and he turned on the TV in the corner, which had some shitty sitcom on, but took away from the painfully awkward silence.

"Thank you. Um. W-what's going to happen? Like...to me? I'm not going to fight you. I'd just...like to know..." Harry made himself ask, after sipping some of the bottled water his owner pushed his way. The man sighed, and seemed to consider how he wanted to respond.

"You're going to have a choice to make. And that's a whole lot more than anyone else who's been brought on this boat against their will ever gets. It's likely a no-brainer for you. And I will respect your decision. No one will touch you without permission again, including me. You've got my word on that" the man told him. "You're Harry, right? I'm Louis. I bought you because I'm looking for a submissive. You...stood out to me" he revealed. Harry nodded.

Louis. Louis, Louis, Louis. Harry was in awe. He what? He was looking for a submissive? And bought Harry? The answer could have been more disturbing. What choice did Harry have?

"I bought you with intentions to give you your unconditional freedom. When this boat docks, you may return home, if you so choose. You have until then to decide. Whether you want to do that, or if you want to come with me. You can't have both. And as sure as you are right now that you want to go home, I'd like to ask that you don't decide until we stop tomorrow night" he told him like he was explaining a football game.

Harry had no clue what to say to that. His mouth hung open in confusion. He's letting him go home? Or go with him? He can't have both? Why not? Why did it make him sad?

"Oh. Um. Okay. I understand...kind of. I mean...hypothetically speaking...why couldn't I have both?" He asked. Though the man was intimidating, he didn't seem like he wanted to hurt Harry. It was of minimal comfort, but it was something. He began to feel a little more relaxed.

"Because I'm not looking for a slave. I'm looking for a submissive. I want someone who chooses to be with me. Not someone who is forced to be. If you choose to come home with me as my submissive, all of your needs will be catered to. Making you happy will be my priority, and I expect the same from you.

"I'll answer all of your questions, okay? I get that this must be scarier than I could fathom, but you are safe now. You're actually probably one of the safest people in the world, now that you're mine" the man told him.

Harry was in shock. He couldn't make himself swallow the bite of the burger he took, his throat was so thick with anxiety. The man was beautiful, of course. If these were normal circumstances, he wouldn't have thought twice.

Just as Harry was going to open his mouth to speak, he heard an absolutely agonized scream, which sounded masculine, coming from a few doors down. There was some rustling around, then a door slammed. He looked to Louis, horrified. As far as he knew he and Louis were only two of like five people on the boat.

"I know. Try not to listen. There is absolutely nothing I can do for him" The man stated, his voice still soft, but rather void of emotion. Harry couldn't wipe the concern off of his face. How many other people like him were on this boat? Who'd been captured against their will, taken from their lives and sold to sick, rich sadists? And Louis was basically one of them.

"Why....why do I have a choice? Sounds like he doesn't..." Harry asked defensively, his voice sounding more accusing than he intended. Louis sighed, but nodded.

"I know how it looks. Well, I know that it IS...exactly what it looks like. But...I came here with a co-worker, who brought me along under false pretenses. As I've said, I'll answer all of your questions. I just need you to answer one of mine first" the slightly older man stated.

Getting frustrated, Harry just nodded, hugging his arms around himself, feeling childlike for some reason.

"Where were you before this? Who had you? Did they hurt you?" He asked seriously.

Harry quirked an eyebrow. Where was he before this? He couldn't think. No one else has had him. Have they? His stomach twisted with anxiety and horror, realizing he actually had no clue. He didn't know how long he'd been asleep. He wasn't in pain anywhere on his body, and aside from some fingerprint-shaped bruises on his forearm, there wasn't a mark on him.

"Um. Dunno. I don't know how long they've had me. What is today's date?" He asked.

"January 20th. It's 2025"

"Okay. Worked Sunday the 17th. Last thing I remember, I'd told a guy I'd meet him...in the back...after last call..." Harry told him, then became cautious about exactly how truthful he wanted to be. The way Louis' eyes froze over completely with jealousy, told him honesty might not be the best policy. "I don't remember ever...going to the back. I...woke up here..." he added sheepishly, looking at the floor.

Louis sighed, and ran his hands through his hair on both sides of his head, dragging his palms over his face in frustration.

"What arrangement did you make? Do you remember what he looked like?" He asked. Harry didn't want to tell the man something so personal. Especially something that made it seem like he was accustomed to this kind of life. But he didn't want to lie, either.

"I was gonna blow him. For a hundred bucks. I hardly remember. He was a bit older. Not completely disgusting. Had a wedding ring. Figured he just wanted some...male attention. Before going home." He told the man truthfully, keeping his eyes on the floor.

"My boss will send some...needy patrons my way. It's all at-will. Or, it was, I guess. We just have the option to do it, if we want a few extra bucks. Isn't required, but most of the guys do. It's where we make our real money, especially on weeknights" he added.

"Fuck, Chet! Fuck my fucking life. What has he done...." Louis muttered to himself. Harry dared to look up at him confusedly. After a long few painful moments of silence, Harry was growing annoyed.

"Your turn then" Harry demanded, suddenly feeling emboldened. "You clearly have some....reservations about this whole thing. How did you end up purchasing a whole person, under false pretenses?" He asked with a hint of attitude.

Rage flashed through Louis' icy blue eyes, but was gone in an instant. He flexed his jaw, then relaxed, and chuckled humorlessly.

"I was told this was...voluntary. That you were all prostitutes. Made it sound as though you were all sort of rolling the dice, hoping you'll end up with one rich man, rather than risking it on the streets with someone new and scary every night. Like...I'd be...saving you from a miserable existence. And you'd be thrilled with the opportunity. He...had me fooled. Withheld just enough detail to make it seem like that was the case. But...after hearing things like that..." he gestured to the door.

"After hearing screaming and begging, then laying eyes on them at the showing, I realized...none of you agreed to be here. I wanted off the boat immediately, but it is not that simple, okay? I know you have no reason to trust me, but I'm...all you've got. Until we dock, I'll protect you with my fucking life. But you need to promise me you'll do as I say. These men are not normal. They are...connected. This operation is....protected in ways that even I don't understand.

"Regardless of what you choose, you will need to be branded. I'm...terribly sorry for that. If it were avoidable, I wouldn't do it. It needs to look like I'm accustomed to this. That I'm used to all of this, or at least...tolerant of it. I may have to...yell at you. Talk to you like you're my slave, but only for the amount of time we are on this boat" He told him, his eyes wild with an intense emotion that Harry couldn't identify.

"I'll do whatever you say, Sir. I'm scared..." Harry said, his voice cracking. He cursed himself for his eyes welling up with tears. He wanted to go home. He didn't want to be on this boat with the world's scariest men. He wanted to go to work tonight. It was Niall's birthday that weekend. He'd planned a surprise party. He had a date with the guy he really, really liked. "I'm s-sorry. I wanna...wanna go home..." he whined.

Louis' expression didn't change much at Harry's outburst of emotion. He looked like he pitied Harry, but still didn't seem to understand exactly how urgent the situation felt to him.

"I know, darling. I'm gonna get you home, okay?" Louis said, standing up, and grabbing Harry a tissue from his bathroom. "Do as I say until this boat docks. Don't try to pull anything. Don't try to contact anyone, and don't try to escape. Do you trust me, Harry?" He asked, sitting on the bed next to him, leaving him plenty of personal space. He went to put a comforting hand on his shoulder, but decided not to.

Harry looked up at the man who'd just purchased him. He couldn't get the ring of the scream from down the hall out of his ears. There were other people on this boat who were not a fraction of as lucky as he was. Looking up at the man next to him who'd been nothing but gentle with him so far, he knew he didn't have a choice but to trust Louis. He was his only hope. The way he called him 'darling' made his heart flutter.

"Yeah. I trust you, Louis" He said, wiping a tear from his eye. "I won't call any attention. I can't...imagine there is anyone more kind than you on this boat"

"There isn't. And that's saying something. Ask any one of my friends, I'm insufferable. A total stuck-up asshole. A sellout. A soulless, corporate douchebag. But...I'm really not all that different than you. I didn't grow up like this. I don't come from money. I've been raking in big bucks since my idea for a wellness app took off. The guy who brought me along, he took me out for drinks one night.

"He introduced me to his submissive, who seemed to just...adore him. They seemed to adore each other. They never went into details on how they met. Seeing all of this, I can't imagine the circumstances were much different. Some of the others, they're...hurt. Scared. The things I saw them do...I'm gonna...gonna have nightmares for eternity.

"I would never do those things. I didn't want to do what I did to you in there. I'm sorry for that. I am. Once I realized what was going on, I'd intended to leave here pretending no one peaked my interest enough. Act too snobby for all of this riff-raff. Whatever wouldn't make me seem like I was capable of trying to get this ring shut down. There's a reason we're in the middle of the ocean, Harry.

"There is no help for any of these men. We are on international waters. We're far from America. Even if the Feds found out, or are even already aware of this operation, I'd imagine there isn't much that can be done. So, I planned on leaving empty-handed. Until I saw you. You...looked so...scared. Not that the rest of them didn't. The guy who was trying to out-bid me, he'd already bought two of the six men on this boat.

"I couldn't...let him have you. You were too...beautiful. Too...exactly what I was looking for. I felt conflicted bidding. But you're better off in here for the next day and a half with me, than any other person on this boat. I only did what I did, because you're expected to put on a show. Not wanting to do so, would call attention. Not branding you in front of everyone called enough already.

"I figured if I could tell them I'll do it privately, you could have time to wrap your head around it. You can pick where it goes, too. It'll be small, but it will be there forever." He went on. Harry shrugged. That was the least of his worries.

"You were hard. Since they were expecting a show, I sucked you off because it seemed like the least....invasive activity I could think of. The things they were saying....doing...to the others...makes my blood boil just thinking about it. I'm sorry for what you've been through, Harry. I'm going to help you. That's a promise. Whether you want to be mine or not"

Louis spoke with such sincerity, it was impossible not to believe him. Harry couldn't believe his luck. He couldn't imagine the horrors the other men on the boat were being put through. He felt beyond grateful to belong to the only bleeding heart aboard. Knowing Louis hadn't intended to buy a slave, and once he found out that's what was happening, almost didn't, was of some comfort. He saved Harry. Because he wanted him.

He bought him, fair and square, in the eyes of everyone on board. And he was telling him he'd be free once they were out of sight from these lunatics. His tears of fear, slowly turned into those of relief, as he looked at his handsome savior.

"Thank you" Harry blurted out. "Thank you for buying me. Thank you for...sparing me. I can't even...imagine from what" he added. "I believe you, okay? That you didn't want to. You can brand me all over. Suck me off whenever you want, as long as you get me off this boat as soon as fucking possible. I'm...shocked. That you seem...like a good person"

Louis smiled weakly and shrugged.

"I'm not. Or I wouldn't be here at all. But I appreciate the kind words. Making me feel like I'm not an absolute piece of shit" Louis replied in a softer voice than Harry had heard from him yet. "There is a dinner tonight. If I could leave you in here, I would. Everyone is going to bring their 'pets' as they call you.

"You need to act like you're afraid of me. Like I've hurt you in some way. Do not negate anything I say. Don't speak unless spoken to. Don't look anyone in the eye. Try to keep your eyes on the floor. You're going to see some awful things, Harry. These people are not fucking normal. Laws of humanity do not apply here. These men have bought themselves out of any kind of trouble you can imagine. They are the kind of people that there are no consequences for.

"There is no authority who can help the others. I've already called suspicion to myself, letting Chet see how visibly outraged I was when it sunk in. Buying you got my cred back with him. If they find out that I'm treating you like a person, they'll think I'm here to save you, and gather evidence. That I'm a spy or a narc or whatever. Kill us both. Like, tie cement blocks to our feet and throw us overboard, and never think about it again.

"I'm going to give you a suit to borrow for dinner. Why don't you hop in the shower, and we'll try to leave early. Maybe skip dessert. Tell them I don't want you getting fat or something. I don't know much more than you do, now. I don't exactly know how to act, myself, but it's best to just try to blend in, in this world. We can do that, yeah?" Louis said, standing up.

Harry heard himself breathe a laugh. He was feeling much more at ease. He wasn't so scared anymore. He believed everything Louis was saying. As long as he wasn't going to hurt him, he was mostly grateful to have someone he semi-trusted.

He thanked Louis again, then went into the bathroom that the man had gestured to, and took off the clothes he'd lent him.

Still unable to fully process anything going on, he felt as close to safe as one could expect, after being abducted, auctioned, and sold at sea. His new owner was beautiful. If they'd met under any other circumstances, Harry would be all over him.

Thinking about how the man had spent six-hundred-and-fifty-thousand dollars, just so Harry wouldn't be bought by one of the monsters on board, made his heart flutter. He'd said he stood out to him. He'd said Harry was exactly what he was looking for. He wanted him to be his submissive. He was giving him the choice.

Remembering how he'd been stripped and told to kneel in a room full of people who he couldn't see, who were all trying to get a piece of him, he began getting hard again.

Thinking of how Louis bought him, called himself daddy, and sucked his cock in front of a room full of elite scumbags, how he'd competed with someone more powerful than him, so Harry wouldn't have to endure the same fate as his peers on board, he started jerking off. He pictured the man's pretty, thin lips gliding up and down his cock. He imagined him bending him over a dining room table and fucking him in front of twenty of the world's richest men.

When he was almost going to cum, he was startled by a knock on the door. He unhanded himself, and made sure the shower curtain was closed with no gaps. Fuck. Of course he'd get caught like this.

"Yeah?" He called out. He heard the door open.

"Just leaving you this to put on. They just announced a half-hour until dinner is served. I gotta hop in there after you, so I don't mean to rush you, but we don't want to call attention by being late. They consider it rude, ironically enough..." Louis said.

Harry was so turned on it was insane. This man owned him. He belonged to him. He'd saved him. He felt indebted to him, yes, but that wasn't his sole motivation in his next move.

"Um. Wait" Harry said as he heard Louis open the bathroom door again. "You could always...join me. Um if you wanted..." he heard himself say shyly. There was a long pause where he couldn't hear a sound.

Worried that he'd pissed Louis off with his advance, he peeked one eye out of the curtain. Louis wasn't looking at the shower. His head was thrown back in frustration, frowning at the ceiling, while he appeared to have an internal debate.

With his hand shaking, Harry pulled back a corner of the curtain so that Louis could see his face. The man seemed surprised, but not displeased. In seconds, a slight smile formed.

"Do you want me to join you, Harry?" He asked seriously.

Harry nodded, then decided to do something bold. He peeled back the rest of the shower curtain, electing to show off his hard-on, to the man who'd purchased it. Louis gasped, and licked his lips at the sight of a fully-erect Harry.

"I want you to join me..." Harry confirmed. "...daddy..." he added with mischief in his eyes.

All of the uncertainty was gone from his face. Louis looked ravenous. Borderline scary, which only turned Harry on more. He began shedding the layers of his suit. Harry pulled the curtain closed again, noticing the water spilling on the floor.

Seconds later, Louis was in the smaller-than-average shower. Harry's eyes consumed the smaller man. He was in awe. He had tattoos up and down his arms, not unlike Harry's. His own hard, uncut cock was much bigger than Harry expected of someone his size and stature. He couldn't have picked a more textbook beautiful person to be sold to.

"Were you being naughty?" Louis asked darkly. He grabbed Harry by his waist, and pulled him flush against him, then began stroking both of their cocks together. Harry glanced at his lips.

"Yes. So naughty. But...was thinking about you..." he admitted, watching what Louis was doing between them with a moan caught in his throat.

"Mhm. Suck up..." Louis teased, making Harry giggle. Though he was loving the attention, his face fell. He felt almost disrespectful, enjoying himself while he knew others were being tortured in the rooms surrounding them. "What's wrong, Princess? Thought you wanted daddy to come in and help you" he asked, not releasing his grip on Harry.

"Oh, fuck" Harry moaned. "I do. I want you. You bought me. You saved me. I'm yours..." Harry said, staring at the other man's lips. Louis looked up at him wondrously.

"I'm going to tell you this once, and then not again, understood?" He asked softly. Harry nodded vehemently. "You do not have to do anything at all to appease me. You owe me nothing, Harry. You have your freedom, regardless of if we're all over each other for the rest of this nightmare of a trip, or if you ice me out completely until we dock. Anything you choose to give to me is mine. Is that perfectly clear?" He followed up. Harry just kept nodding, looking at Louis' lips with desperation in his eyes.

"Yes, daddy. Want you, Lou. Want you to...own me. Wanna please you. Wanna make you happy. Like you said. I don't know about long-term. I can't wrap my head around it. But while I'm on this fucking boat, I'm yours. I'm your slave. I'll be so good for you..." he whined, not taking his eyes off of the other man's mouth.

Louis threw his head back, and didn't suppress his moan. He looked to be in some disbelief at Harry's words, but they were absolutely music to his ears. Everything he wanted was at his fingertips.

"Good boy. Do you know your colors?" He asked, bringing his face closer in to Harry's. The other man nodded again. "Use them. Unless I hear one, you obey my every command. You don't fucking dare question me, or talk back. I'll take care of you. Protect you fiercely. In return, you do exactly as I say..." he went on. Harry was getting dangerously close to his orgasm.

"Mmm! Mhm. Crystal-clear, daddy. Understood. All of it. I'm going to be so fucking good for you. Get your money's worth out of me. Be your little whore...I'm close..." he replied in a high-pitched, needy voice.

"Good girl, baby. So good for me. Come here" Louis said, cupping Harry's chin, letting go of his aching dick. Harry leaned down, and their lips locked. Louis kissed him slowly, softly, sweetly. He'd half expected him not to kiss him at all, and to instead just tell him to bend over. Harry would have done it unquestioningly.

As they stood there under the water, making out slowly, the world outside ceased to exist, as did the insanely unprecedented power imbalance between them. Electricity flowed through Harry's veins. They wanted each other desperately.

"We don't have long, Princess. Be good for me. Suck daddy's dick" Louis moaned, putting his hands in Harry's long, wet hair, wrapping it around his fist and pulling the man down onto his knees. Harry complied with his movements easily.

Without hesitation, he grabbed ahold of Louis' huge girth, and licked up and down the veiny shaft. Louis moaned lustily, and used the grip he had on Harry's hair, to guide his pace. Harry started blowing him masterfully.

"Oh, fuck yeah. God, baby. So good at that" Louis praised. "You're going to show me before you swallow. I'm gonna fill your mouth up with cum, angel" he warned, right before he did.

Harry looked up at him, blinking innocently, as he did as told, pooling the warm liquid at the front of his mouth, before he had to close it, out of fear of losing a drop. Louis smiled down at him adoringly. "Good girl. Up" he commanded.

Harry got on his feet, and Louis started kissing him again. Harry was captivated by the man who'd paid a fortune to keep him safe. He couldn't believe he got so lucky. He felt an attachment towards Louis that he'd never felt towards anyone before.

"You like it, don't you? You like that I bought you? You like that you're mine?" Louis asked knowingly. "Mmm I knew you were going to be fun, Princess. You wanna know something?" He asked, lowering himself onto his knees in front of Harry, for the second time today.

"Yes, daddy. I love it. I love that you own me. Please tell me. I'll be so good..." Harry cried, watching Louis in wonder as the man stroked his cock slowly.

"You're the only one who got hard. You liked being on display, didn't you? Liked being naked in front of people you couldn't see, knowing they were all competing to buy you? Liked being scared?" He asked. Harry whimpered. He hadn't been hurt by anyone. He'd figured whatever was going on wasn't good, but he couldn't help the parts of his psyche that were turned on by it.

"Yes. Yes, I did" Harry admitted, knowing that it was pointless to deny. "I'm the only one? That's...embarrassing...oh, fuck" he asked, right as Louis took him into his mouth. He didn't answer him, just looked up at the other man with humor in his eyes as he blew him. Harry was entranced. He wanted what Louis wanted. He wanted to be his. "Gonna cum" he moaned.

Louis didn't stop until Harry released into his mouth. When he pulled away, starting to get sensitive, Louis stood up.

He reached for the washcloth hanging from the wall, and lathered it with soap. Harry watched on curiously as the other man washed him from his neck down to his feet, then began cleaning himself.

"Bend over. Show me my hole" Louis ordered. Harry felt his cheeks flush. There was not a lot of room to do as his daddy asked in the small shower. Realization that he hardly knew the man set in, and he felt scared and vulnerable. His sensitive dick twitched in front of him, and Louis looked at it amusedly, but chose not to give him shit. "Well?" He asked impatiently.

Harry laughed at himself, but turned around, putting his hands on the tiny ledge meant to hold a bar of soap.

"Mmm. Can't see too well from this angle, darling. Spread 'em" he commanded. Harry couldn't look back at the man. This was so humiliating. He was willingly in the shower with this guy. He'd asked him to join him. There were other people on the same boat having a much, much worse day. Harry reached behind him, and pulled himself apart, watching his own cock re-stiffen between his legs.

"Like this, daddy?" He asked coyly. Louis moaned as he continued to scrub himself clean.

"Mmm. Just like that, baby. You're so good" he praised. "Stay just like that until I get out and get you a towel" he said.

Harry kept his eyes on the floor, where he could see his own feet under him, and his owner's through his spread legs. After a minute, his thighs were starting to burn from the unnatural position and his legs began to shake. Mercifully, the water turned off seconds later, and he heard Louis get out.

"So, so pretty, angel. Up for now, as torturous of a sight as it is for me to pass up, we really need to get ready" Louis said. Harry was beyond grateful to be out of the awkward position, and his face lit up when he saw Louis' loving smile. The man was looking at him like he was the most precious thing in the world. Harry couldn't get enough.

The older man dried him off from head to toe, giggling at how turned on Harry was again, but also making himself hard from gawking at him, and cupping his beautiful, round ass, before drying between his cheeks. Harry laughed shyly and shrugged.

When Louis stepped out of the bathroom, Harry wrapped his hair up in the towel, and tried to figure out how to put on the fanciest suit he'd ever worn.

—————

Chapter Text

"Woah" Louis said. His eyes traveled up and down his Princess's body. Harry didn't know what to say. He was carrying the black and dark blue tie with a checkered, diamond pattern, holding it up helplessly. "Come here, gorgeous. Let me show you..." he said, taking the garment from him, and tying it around his neck. "You look incredible. It's going to be hard, but try not to smile. Need you to look miserable.

"Flinch if I raise my hand too fast. Cower if I look like I'm losing my temper. I will not let you out of my sight. You are going to see some things that are beyond upsetting. I'm not even sure what to expect, myself. You mustn't react. You mustn't try to save anyone. There is nothing you can do for them. There's nothing that anyone can do. It's terrible to say, but you have to think of yourself right now, and get off of this boat.

"Obey my every command. Do not obey a single order from any other person on this boat. Fuck. You look...way too content. Way too beautiful. Unharmed. They know you're not a fighter, but they're all sadistic. Maybe we'll...untie this. Shit...that makes you look even better..." Louis said, beginning to panic. Harry was becoming concerned with his level of concern.

The curly-haired man was listening to every word of what Louis was saying, and he understood why. He wanted to help. To take some of the pressure off of his daddy, who was so focused on making Harry comfortable, he hadn't even considered harming him.

"Hit me" Harry said. Louis looked at him confusedly. "Go on, it's okay. Punch me in the face. I know you don't want to hurt me. I know it isn't your fault, okay? You can hit me in front of them if you need to for any reason. Treat me however they want you to. Humiliate me. Degrade me. Whatever won't make you stand out. I'm not going to be upset. I know that you don't want to" he added.

Louis took a deep breath and nodded once reluctantly. Already looking apologetic, but accepting the solution.

"Go on, it's okay. Don't hesitate. It'll make it worse" Harry said, when Louis looked at him hopelessly.

Louis got on his tip-toes to kiss the younger man, who welcomed the affection. Louis then looked at him with sorrow in his eyes. Harry just nodded and closed his.

Louis then punched him in the mouth, and punched him hard.

"I'm so fucking sorry" Louis whined. "You're such a good girl. Thank you for being a good sport. This isn't...easy for me. I know it's...much worse for you. But, I'm being forced, too. In order to save us both. I'm going to have to say some stuff I don't mean.

"I don't want it to hurt you. It's taking everything I have not to clean this up, but we'll let it bleed for the dramatic effect, yeah?" He said, wiping at the blood leaking from Harry's split lip with his thumb.

"It's okay, Louis. I know. I'm...I owe you everything. I'm going to try to make this as easy as possible on you. I know you feel badly that you're even here. I...I um. I wanna take care of you, too" Harry replied earnestly, making Louis smile brightly.

Harry was obsessed with looking at him. He was so beautiful. Starting to ponder the pros and cons of the choice he had to make, it was somehow becoming increasingly difficult to decide.

"Come on. Let's get this over with. We'll sleep through breakfast, but have to endure another lunch with them tomorrow. Then, we dock before dinner time. I...I'm really starting to hope...you'll choose me..." Louis stated, showing just a hint of vulnerability in his eyes.

When Harry gave him a somewhat subtle, but apologetic look in response, Louis' smile fell.

Just like that, he was stoic again. All of the positive emotion was gone. There was an undercurrent of anger under this otherwise neutral eyes. Harry's stomach twisted in an anxious knot as Louis led them out the door. Did he piss him off? Hurt his feelings? He couldn't tell. Probably both.

❧

Harry's adrenaline spiked, as they walked down a long, empty corridor. The floors were black and white marble with little gold flakes, and the walls were chestnut. The style was the same in the large, open room he was led into. There was no one inside of what looked like a lounge area. There were a couple of couches, a bar and a TV. All of it was fancier than Harry's whole apartment.

There was a staircase leading to the floor below, straight ahead. Harry followed behind Louis like he was a mother duck, taking in as much of his surroundings as he could.

When they were almost down the flight of stairs, it smelled of cigar smoke so strongly, Harry's nose wrinkled. There were voices coming from behind the wall to Harry's left. A waiter walked by, not looking at either of the men.

"Okay. Follow me" Louis whispered. He led Harry into a huge dining room. Harry couldn't believe his eyes. The room was extravagant. The long dining room table was set. The chairs all had a lot of space between them. When Harry's eyes reached the end of the long table, he understood why.

At the far end on the right, a man who looked to be in his sixties was sitting down. There was a naked man behind him, who looked to be about Harry's age. He was pulling his chair out for him. The man snapped his fingers, and pointed to the space next to him. The guy with freckles and short, brown hair obeyed immediately, and kneeled where he was told.

On the other side of the table, there was a man who looked closer to Harry and Louis' age. He didn't have anyone at either side. He looked happy to see Louis.

"Over here, Lou" the man called. He looked way too enthusiastic. He was way too old to have frosted tips in his short, spiky hair. His teeth were blindingly white. He waved Louis over.

Louis nodded and started walking towards him, Harry trailing nervously right behind, trying to keep his eyes down. When they reached the seat next to him, Louis turned around and looked at Harry, seeming annoyed.

"Well?!" Louis growled, gesturing to the chair. Harry realized immediately what he was supposed to do, and hurried to pull out the chair for him.

When Louis went to sit, he caught sight of someone under the table. He couldn't see his face, but he was only wearing boxers, and his head appeared to be in his master's lap. Harry forced himself to look away.

"Good girl. Kneel" Louis ordered. He immediately did as he said, kneeling on the floor next to him, with Louis now between him and the scarier man.

"See you've warmed up to the idea. You like your pet, don't you?" the man asked Louis in a teasing voice. "Got him pretty well trained already, I see. Feels good to be in control, hmm?" He went on. Harry didn't budge. More people filed in the room. He kept his eyes on the royal blue tablecloth in front of him.

"Warmed up to it alright. He's paid more money for that one, than I did for the two of mine. Hot commodity." The man across the table said, looking at his watch, like he was bored. "Aside from that one guy who seduced Martin at the last showing, he's the only other person I've seen go for so much. I hope he's still nice and tight for you, after spending such a pretty penny..."

Harry tried to keep his composure. Louis had impressed the man with how much he'd paid for Harry. Harry thought he went for relatively cheap, if he were being honest.

Louis cleared his throat and forced a laugh. A man pulled a chair next to Harry out, and Harry didn't dare look up. Across the table, on the end closest to where they'd entered from, he heard a smack, then a yelp.

"Every fucking time! Every single time, I get a fucking numbskull. What I get for going for looks. PULL OUT MY CHAIR AND KNEEL, YOU USELESS FAGGOT!" A man screamed. Harry flinched, and couldn't help but look up just slightly. He could see the disgustingly overweight man sitting down, and the beautiful boy behind him. He was probably younger than Harry.

He was wearing a dirty, white t-shirt, jeans, and a black collar with a chain around it, wrapped around his owner's hand. The whole scene was making Harry even more grateful that he had Louis.

"Jesus, Wally. Gonna blind the kid. Look how scared he is" Someone at the end of the table, out of Harry's view said. "He might be useless, but at least he's trainable. Got myself another dud. Dick is limp as a noodle. Definitely made me regret not outbidding Lou, on Curly over there..." the voice said. Harry's stomach flipped. He didn't move an inch. He could tell the person had Louis' attention, the way he shifted his body to the side.

"Well, sorry you're disappointed with yours, gentlemen. I'd all but given up on finding anything that would suit my needs. Harry here was just what I've been looking for. He cleans up nicely, doesn't he?" Louis said, stroking Harry's hair. Harry reacted like he was afraid, recoiling from the touch, but keeping his eyes on the table.

"Now, now. Fear not. It's just as I told you, gorgeous. If you listen to me, I won't hurt you. Disobey me, and I'll fuck you up again, and offer a turn to everyone at this table who is having a bad day. Is that understood?" He said with more authority and hostility in his voice.

"Yes, Sir. Understood" Harry replied sheepishly.

"Wow, Lou. Massive turn around. Glad you didn't let a technicality get in the way of enjoying this. He and Fabian are going to get along famously. Still not so sure about this one..." the man who seemed most familiar with Louis said. Harry felt the tablecloth in front of him lift up slightly, and could tell everyone on the other side of the table was leaning over to get a peek.

"He's got one hell of a baby face. And quite a hog on him. What's wrong with him? He for sale again?" A man Harry hadn't heard from asked.

"Not quite sure yet. He's definitely a looker. Not a bad cock-warmer either. He's got a bit of an attitude, but nothing the cattle prod can't sort out" the man said, like he was talking about a new car, sharing the pros and cons of the purchase with friends. "Why don't you go put your mouth on Louis here for a while, blondie. Maybe he'll be kind enough to return the favor...give me a turn with Curly over there..."

Louis cleared his throat, and his leg started bouncing anxiously under the table.

"No can do, Chet. As appealing as the offer sounds, Harry's mouth and hole are exclusively for me. One smack to the face, and he's the most obedient thing I've ever seen. Just perfect, so far. Gets hard in milliseconds. He's all mine, fellas. Sorry to rub it in. Blondie down there is gorgeous, and seems to be adjusting well. Maybe when we get home, they can have a play date, and I won't feel so...territorial..." Louis replied.

He put a protective hand on Harry's head, who was trying to hold back his sigh of relief.

"Respectable, I suppose. Sucking him off was an interesting choice for a show. Is his cum made of liquid gold, too?" Chet teased. "Well, you might be too selfish to share, but I insist you let blondie here keep you warm. Unless of course, you don't wanna make your new boyfriend jealous..." he continued. Harry felt Louis tense up next to him. He squeezed Harry's shoulder three quick times. Harry's heart broke. It was an apology.

"Fine, if you insist. I can't keep him for long. Can't keep my hands off my pet. My dick is already raw and it hasn't even been four hours" Louis laughed, unbuckling his belt under the table.

Harry's eyes landed on his daddy's lap. Seconds later, he saw a familiar face under the table. He gasped, then cursed himself. It caught everyone's attention who was nearby.

Except for Niall's. Harry's best friend. The man he was supposed to be throwing a party for this weekend. He was one of the other poor souls on this god-forsaken boat. Harry wanted to cry when he saw his friend's teary blue eyes, as he took his owner's flaccid cock into his mouth. He had a huge black and blue bruise surrounding his eye, and was bleeding from a gash under his brow. He looked absolutely terrified.

"Alright everyone, if you all could please take your seats. They'll be serving salad shortly. Your drink orders are coming right out. Let me know if there is anything else at all you'd like, to make you more comfortable" A woman's overly-cheerful voice said, making the room go silent except for some feet scuffling and chairs dragging across the floor.

"Alright, blondie. Very good boy. You can head back over to your master" Louis said, pushing the blond off, and putting himself back in his trousers. Niall's panicked eyes caught Harry's, and the blond gasped. Harry made his eyes wide and pleading, making a 'shh' motion as subtly as he could with his mouth. Niall didn't heed his instruction.

"Harry?! What the fuck?!" He practically shouted from under the table. There was absolute silence in the room, and Harry locked his eyes onto the tablecloth. He had no clue what to do. He couldn't realistically do anything.

"Get up here, you" Chet demanded, grabbing Niall by his ear to stand. Niall whimpered in pain as he strained to comply with his master's movements. "You know our Harry here? Hmm?! In what capacity?!" he demanded. Niall whimpered and Harry was sure he was staring at him. He could do nothing to intervene.

"Not well, Sir" Niall cried. "Hardly at all, really. We work together. Cross paths trading shifts, mostly. That's all. I was just shocked to see him. I'm sorry for speaking without permission, Sir..." he added. It was a lie. They'd been best friends since the eleventh grade. They knew everything about each other.

"Look at me" Louis ordered. Harry's eyes snapped up at his daddy, who looked irate, like seriously scary. "Is that the truth? You know him? From work? Where you were both picked up, from all of your whoring around?" He asked in a harsh, cold voice. Harry wanted to cry. He didn't have to act afraid anymore. He officially was.

"Yes, Sir. It's as he said. I hardly know him, but we do work together. I couldn't tell you how long for. Please don't hit me again, Sir..." Harry begged, knowing he sounded convincing. Louis' eyes burned holes into Harry's. He looked blind with rage.

"Up" Louis ordered. Harry complied immediately, keeping his eyes glued to the floor. No one around the table made a peep. "You ever fuck him?" Louis asked angrily. Harry looked down at him, confused.

"No! No, Sir. Nothing like that. I don't even think he's gay. I...it's as he said. Only in passing, Sir" Harry assured, terrified at seeing this new side of Louis.

"You gay, blondie?" Louis asked, looking at the blond. Harry dared to look up. Chet had a firm grip on his friend's waist, like firm enough to leave bruises. Niall was so afraid, his legs were trembling. Seeing him standing there, Harry realized his body was littered with bruises. From head to toe.

"Yes, Sir. He wouldn't know that. Keep my private life away from work. Been with my....my...my...boyfriend..." Niall bursted into tears. Harry's heart shattered again. Poor Niall. "F-for for four years, Sir. Oh God, why the fuck is this happening?!" He cried.

"Back on your knees, slut!" Chet shouted, smacking Niall on the back of the head. Niall fell to his knees, and was out of Harry's field of vision again. "Aww. Blondie misses his boytoy. Even though Louis here is shit at sharing, surely one of you can spare a pet for him to play with. Have them put on a show while we eat. Think that'll help with his heartache..." the monster suggested.

Louis didn't say anything, and Harry didn't budge. All eyes at the table were on them and they knew it. After what felt like an eternity, someone spoke.

"Take this one. He's not good for much else" the morbidly obese man said, grabbing ahold of his slave's leash, and holding it out for anyone to take. The younger man looked like he was in a transe. His eyes were vacant, staring in the direction of the table, but clearly not seeing it.

"Go get him, then. You wanted attention. You got it. Now your non-friend can watch you fuck your non-boyfriend" the man laughed. A sob escaped Niall's chest. He didn't stand. "I SAID GET UP!" Chet screamed, startling everyone at the table.

Standing slowly and crying, he walked towards the other man at the other end of the table, and everyone's eyes were on him, aside from Harry's. He'd never felt so helpless. He stared blankly at the blue cloth in front of him. He could see Niall's legs walking back towards his master's, a chain jingling, and another pair of skinnier legs in blue jeans, following behind.

"You can look up, bitch. He's putting on a show just for you" Louis snarled. Harry didn't look up. "Okay. This is actually a teachable moment" he sighed deeply, acting impatient. "It's called gentle parenting. I'm going to pretend you didn't just deliberately defy me, and you aren't going to take your eyes off of blondie until they're done. Is that perfectly fucking clear?" He asked sternly.

"Yes, Sir" Harry said sadly, looking at Louis, who looked as cruel as he was acting, then up at his best friend, who was across the room with the robotic-like submissive. Niall looked at him with defeated eyes, realizing Harry was literally in the same boat, and they couldn't help each other.

Harry couldn't disobey Louis again without him needing to make Harry do something very, very bad. He kept his head and eyes facing Niall, but looked through him, blurring his vison while he looked ever-so-slightly up, and to the right of them. There was nothing else he could do to protect either of them.

People around the table began talking amongst themselves, while salad was placed in front of everyone sitting at the table. Everyone dug in, and Niall had the other guy undressed, and whispered something that Harry was sure was an apology in his ear. The kid’s jaw tensed, but he nodded once, and arched his back. Mercifully, no one noticed the exchange, all caught up in their food now. The things people were saying around him were abhorrent.

After a minute of pretending to watch what he was supposed to be watching, he looked down at Louis, who must have felt his gaze, because he looked up at Harry with a flash of anxiety in his eyes. He pulled him closer to him by his pant leg and took hold of his hand while everyone was distracted. He traced letters into Harry's palm slowly, under the table, while sipping his wine.

'SRY' He wrote into his skin. Harry had no doubt that he was, but it was still fucking brutal. He pushed on Louis' hand to force his palm up. Louis let him.

'BFF' Harry drew the letters slowly and firmly. Louis' gaze returned to him, alarmed. Harry looked at him pleadingly, his eyes misty with tears. Louis' concern shifted to remorse. He sighed.

"Come here, Princess. Sit on Daddy's lap. You can watch from here" Louis said, pushing himself away from the table slightly. Everyone in the room looked at him like he had six heads, including Niall, who was so stunned he stopped his movements briefly. Harry obeyed the command, uncomfortable with how much he appreciated it. None of this was okay.

He knew he was kidding himself if he thought Louis was a good guy. He'd gotten himself on the same boat with these same animals. He played the part too well, he fit right in with them. Harry didn't know what to do. When he sat down, he faced his friend again, who burst into tears when their eyes met, and Harry saw him very clearly, doing something he desperately didn't want to be doing. His heart ached.

How could Louis have anything to do with these people? How could he not have known that this wasn't voluntary? Was Harry being too trusting? Was he just trying to butter him up, because he wanted Harry to want him? Make it seem like he has a choice, like he's merciful, so he'd be grateful, and always blame himself when things go sour?

Harry let several tears fall. Louis put his hand on his thigh, and rubbed it soothingly with his thumb. Harry couldn't look at him.

"Well, this is a first..." Someone at the other end of the table piped up, their voice sounding light and intrigued. "Don't usually allow pets at the table. Guess we've never had a lapdog around though" a flamboyant-looking, stick-skinny guy said, making the table erupt in laughter. Harry felt humiliated. Lapdog. He was kidding himself, indeed.

He wasn't free. He couldn't possibly be. Louis wasn't going to let him go. It was all an intentional mind-fuck to get him to feel indebted and ever-so-grateful. Harry was pissed.

"Well, Alfie, if my pet and I aren't welcome to dine as I please, shall I excuse myself?" Louis asked, his voice defensive, but attempting to sound playful. All eyes were on them once again.

"Oh. Sensitive, are we? I'm just teasing, cupcake. Please, don't deprive us of our eye candy" the man said, putting his hands up in surrender. Louis tensed up, but forced another smile.

"I wouldn't be so cruel. No worries. You enjoying the show, Princess...?" Louis cooed into Harry's ear. Harry didn't have to fake flinching away this time. His jaw flexed and he tried to calm himself down, knowing it wasn't a good idea to disobey him regardless of his intentions.

"Yes, daddy" Harry said absently, as Louis ran his fingers through his hair.

"Is he hard again?" The first man that he saw, asked with a sinister cackle. Harry wasn't. He was absolutely seething mad.

"Mmm. Matter of fact, think he is" Louis said proudly, shoving his hand in Harry's pants, and stroking his flaccid cock to hardness. Unfortunately, it didn't take much.

"Prove it!" Someone said loudly, a man who Harry hadn't noticed before. He was much, much older than everyone else. He must have been in his eighties. "One thing not to let us touch, but Goober over there has his in the buff. You have the Adonis of the party wrapped up like a mummy. Loosen up, kid. Only live once..." the elderly man barked. Harry was fucking appalled.

"Man has a point, I suppose, Princess. You liked everyone's eyes on you earlier, did you not? Made daddy spend a pretty penny, indeed, to lock you down..." he said, his voice overly-infantilizing. "Chin up, love. Things could be worse. You could be the poor bitch in the collar, dealing with Wally's gingivitis breath, hmm?" Louis said teasingly, making everyone else laugh.

"Yes, daddy" Harry replied in the same monotone, detached voice.

"Go on then. Strip. All of it. Fold those pants, and hang that jacket up. Those are designer" Louis ordered, his voice sounding light and amused. "Nobody fucking touches him. Not one hair on his head. Or I break each of your fingers and toes one-by-one" he added, his eyes serious, and scanning the whole table. "Go up there. Stand next to your friends until they're done" he said, shifting his focus to the steak that the waitress had just put in front of him.

After doing as instructed with the suit, Harry walked up to his best friend in the world with a full hard-on, while he was being forced to fuck some other innocent soul.

'I'm so sorry' Harry mouthed, then turned to face the table, seeing almost two-dozen eyes on him. There were catcalls and whistles. People started throwing money at him. He stood there stoically, and kept his eyes on the floor in front of him. After a few minutes, his gaze drifted up to Louis, who was already looking at him worriedly. Harry absolutely glowered at him.

Louis gave him a pleading, apologetic glance. Harry rolled his eyes, and didn't look at him again, as they started to well up with tears. He'd never been so embarrassed. At least earlier when he'd been bought, he didn't have to see all of their faces. It didn't mater how attractive or unattractive they were, they were all fucking monsters. Including Louis.

"Harry, love. Come kneel next to me again. Show is over. You're a star. Just like I promised" Louis said, waving him over right after Niall and the other slave finished their task. Harry had gone nearly flaccid, while standing there, seething with hate.

"Aww. You're going to deny him, and us like that? Lame. Thought you'd at least let him jerk off for us" Chet complained with a laugh in his voice. Niall didn't look at Harry when he walked past him. This was torture for both men. Their best friend, their lifeline was right there, and they couldn't reach each other.

"Think you greedy vultures have been graced enough with his presence. I'm going to take care of him again. Don't you fret about that. Maybe if you worried less about mine, and took care of your own, they wouldn't try to stray" Louis retorted, challenging Chet. The other man didn't bother to respond. "Matter of fact, grab the suit, Harry. Don't mean to be rude, but we'll be skipping dessert.

"I have a tree-nut allergy. And a long, fun night ahead of me. Plenty of toys to try on my new pet. Have a good night, everyone. Harry, be a good girl. Say goodnight to everyone" Louis said, standing up, and guiding Harry out of the room.

"Goodnight everyone" Harry said blankly. Everyone got one last good look at him, before returning their attention to their meal or their own slaves. Harry walked back the way they came in, covering himself with the folded suit, with Louis behind him. He'd never felt so hurt, so betrayed. He hated the man who bought him.

—————

Chapter Text

When they got in the room, things were painfully awkward. Louis sighed exasperatedly, and plopped down on the couch. Harry stood there in the foyer, looking detached and indifferent.

"I know...I know how fucked up that all was. I know you're angry. You have every right to be. Your friend was a curveball we couldn't have seen coming. I'm...I'm so sorry, Harry. I...tried my best. I couldn't seem too attached to you" Louis said desperately.

"'S fine" Harry snipped coldly. "Can I please go get dressed, Sir?" He asked with a venomous bite. He watched Louis shiver from Harry's freezing change in attitude. The taller man then looked at the floor.

"Of course you can. Please don't...do that. You know you don't have to act like that when we're alone..." Louis said, the confusion and hurt apparent on his face.

Harry's eyes pooled with tears, and he sent Louis daggers once again, before ducking into the bathroom that he'd invited the other man to join him in earlier, completely of his own accord.

When Harry closed, then locked the door behind him, he pulled on the sweatpants Louis had given him earlier, and then fell to the floor. He put his head between his knees and started wailing. He cried so hard, he was hyperventilating. How was this happening?

Why was Niall there? Harry just wanted his friend. He wanted to be able to knock on their door and hug Niall. Tell him it was going to be okay. But he knew that it wasn't. Nothing was ever going to be okay again.

He stayed there on the floor for a long time. Louis didn't bother him, until hours must have passed.

"Harry? Harry. Can I please come in?" He asked, knocking lightly. "Come on, please. Open up. I'm...I can't imagine how you feel after all of that. I can't. I...was trying to spare you from having to do anything with your friend. I couldn't fucking...shake their attention. It kept landing back on us. Gonna fucking muzzle Chet all day tomorrow. I'll get him to back off while they arent all staring at us, okay?"

Harry didn't respond. What was he supposed to say to that? Of course, no worries? Just treat me like a dog. Humiliate me in front of a bunch of sadistic millionaires who get off on hurting people who can't fight back? Like an actual piece of shit?

He knew he'd given Louis permission to treat him how he needed to. He wasn't sure what was bothering him the most. Probably the fact that Louis was so shockingly convincing. Harry had no way of knowing who the real him was.

"Harry, please. Please talk to me. I feel....fucking terrible. I know that was brutal. I didn't want to do any of it. You said to treat you how I needed to. I did what I thought would call the least attention to my...real feelings for you, while trying to spare you as much as possible. Was all I could do to keep their filthy fucking hands off of you. Please, baby. Let me...take care of you..."

Harry lifted his head off of the towel it'd been resting on, on the floor. Louis' voice had broken at the end, and he heard what sounded like him sliding against the bathroom door, onto the floor outside of the small room. He was crying?

Did he genuinely want to take care of Harry? Or did he just want to know that Harry wasn't mad at him, because he's a manipulative, rich lunatic, who only cared about finding an 'adoring' submissive? He laid his head back down on the towel.

After a few minutes, he heard Louis get up, sighing, then sniffling.

"I'm...I'll leave you alone. I'm so sorry. I...fucked up, Harry. This is...impossible to navigate. Maybe it's...too complicated. Maybe we just...get through the next twenty-four hours, then...I get you a plane ticket home. I'm going to go lay in the bedroom. You're...more than welcome to come join me, or sleep on the couch, of course. Hope you don't sleep in there on the floor..." he said, then walked away immediately.

Harry's thoughts were racing a mile a minute. He wanted to walk out of this room and jump ship. He was in a kind of pain he's never known. It wasn't from being naked in front of a room full of desperate, pathetic narcissists. That didn't bother him. It was from thinking he could trust one.

Somewhere inside, he knew he wasn't being fair to Louis. He'd told him what to expect. He couldn't have known one of the other boys was Harry's friend. But the fact remained. Louis' psycho buddy who'd brought him along, whether he'd lied or not, had Harry's best friend captive. And he was treating him like a slave for real.

Panic washed over him at the thought of what Louis had just said: then I get you a plane ticket back home.

If Louis doesn't want Harry anymore, that's no problem for either of them. He just goes home. But the persisting problem was now Niall. Once he was away from this boat, Harry had no way of knowing where they were going.

Unless he was with Louis.

Jumping up off of the floor, realizing he might be sabotaging his best friend's only chance at walking free, he hurried to pull himself together. He could do this. He could do this for Niall. He'd tell Louis he was taking his deal. Choosing him. Long enough to get him to arrange a 'play date' as he so bluntly put it, with his best friend, so they could plot how they'd both get home. He just had to be patient.

Closing the bathroom door behind him, Harry tip-toed into the bedroom in the spacious suite. Louis looked like he was asleep on the queen-sized bed. Harry climbed in next to him, and hugged him from behind. Louis gasped and sat up, wiping a tear from his eye.

The way he looked at Harry broke the man's heart. He knew that Louis didn't want to hurt him. It didn't change the fact that he had. Still, now that they were alone again, and mean, scary Louis was nowhere to be seen, he couldn't help but feel his guard start to slip again, at the display of raw emotion. Louis was visibly tortured. Perhaps even more so than Harry.

"I know it's not your fault, okay? Was...the best you could do. As you said..." Harry said softly. Louis' eyes were illuminated by the full moon outside of the window above their heads. It was otherwise pitch black all around them. "I'm just so upset that Niall is here. He's my best friend, daddy. Since high school. I...can't leave him..." Harry cried.

Louis rolled onto his back, and Harry curled right up to his chest, as if they'd known each other forever, instead of for one day, during which, terrible events had unfolded that neither man could fully comprehend.

"I...don't know what to say. Don't know what to do. I've wanted someone to...care for..to protect. My whole life. Now I have someone who I can't do any of those things for, because I let Chet from fucking marketing drag me onto this ship of horrors. I don't know what I'm doing, Harry. How did we get here?" Louis said, still crying softly. "I'll...never forgive myself for that. Was awful. Tell you I'll protect you, then completely traumatize you myself?! Almost immediately?" He went on.

Harry had no clue what to do either. All he knew was he needed Louis on his side for whatever was to come. He wanted to comfort the man somehow, able to tell he was genuinely torn up.

"I forgive you" Harry heard himself say. He realized he meant it, too. Louis was undoubtedly sorry, and doing his best to get them both out of a terrible situation. "Wasn't so bad. Kept your promise. No one touched me" Harry said, then got punched in the gut by the reminder of what Niall had been made to do to Chet, then to Louis, then to that poor boy they didn't even know the name of.

"You did protect me. Think I'm having...a hard time with the guilt. No one is protecting Niall. Your friend is a fucking nightmare. He's...alone with him right now. While I'm in here cuddling with you. It just feels so...wrong" he added.

Louis nodded in acceptance. He hesitantly wiped at Harry's tears. The younger man decided to lean into the touch.

"There is absolutely nothing I can do for him tonight. It is what it is, and I'm so sorry. If I could go in there and take his place, I would in a heartbeat. Chet absolutely sucks, and is no friend of mine. I'm going to have to act like he is, to keep us close to Niall. He's a piece of shit, but he's also a blow-hard. He likes showing off in front of people, but my bet is he'll mostly ignore him when they're alone.

"He left his favorite pet at home. He doesn't treat that one how he just treated your friend. In front of me, anyway. Hopefully he isn't that attached to Niall, and I can convince him to let me buy him...it's the only concept of a plan I can think of..." Louis replied.

Harry knew he was right about there being nothing they could do tonight. The idea of Louis buying Niall's freedom just because Harry cared about him, made the curly-haired man’s heart swell with affection. He decided to let Louis off the hook, the best way he knew how to.

"I know. I know, daddy. Just wanna...wanna be close to you. You got me so hard again. Mmm feels so good. I was half-hoping you would make me jerk off in front of everyone. I was only upset about what you let happen to Niall. I know it was out of your control. Please don't cry. Please just...touch me..." Harry begged.

Louis inhaled sharply, and picked Harry's chin up, to look at his face. The man still appeared distraught, but seemed relieved that Harry wasn't icing him out anymore.

"Oh, Princess. I'm so sorry for your friend. I'm so sorry you couldn't color out. If this were normal, if you were home with me, that would never be the case. You're not a slave, Harry. You have a choice, the second we step off this boat. Let daddy do his best to take care of you til then, hmm?" Louis purred into his ear. Harry's mouth opened lustily, and he nodded vigorously.

"Please, daddy. Take care of me. Tell me what to do. Just wanna be good..." Harry said.

"Let's get these pants off hmm? This dick is the talk of the whole town. And it belongs to me..." Louis said, pulling the gray sweats down. Harry's sensitive cock bounced out. Louis' hands on him felt incredible. "Loved that too, didn't you? Have yourself a little humiliation kink, hmm?" Louis asked knowingly, his voice thick with desire.

Harry gasped while the older man kissed his neck and stroked his cock. He was still pissed off, but he was also in heaven. He was joking himself if he thought he could walk away from this man.

"Yes, daddy. Loved it. Loved you controlling me. Not used to it, but needing to obey you...to save our lives. Something intoxicatingly sexy about it. Do you agree?" Harry moaned, his heart rate picking up as Louis hand ventured between his legs.

"Suppose there's no point in denying that I do, is there?" He asked rhetorically. "Turns me on that you obey. That you're so, so submissive by nature. You can't know how sexy that is to me. I do not at all like that you have to obey me, when I have to act like I'm one of them. But I'll admit, the imminent danger does...add something..." Louis confessed. Harry hummed in acknowledgement.

"I don't know why, but I feel like I've known you my entire life. I'm...so glad you're my daddy. That you saved me from those monsters. That you're even considering trying to help my friend. You're nothing like them, Lou. Think it was just a shock, seeing everything. How they treat people. You were...convincing. Scared me. But I can tell you genuinely care about me. Him by extension.

"I'm...so endlessly grateful to you, daddy. Let me prove it, please? Tell me what you like. Tell me how to please you. I'd do anything for you, Louis" Harry asked as Louis continued to touch and kiss him everywhere.

"Plenty of time for me to treat you like a slave. I'm just Louis right now, okay? Mmm, I've been dying to fuck you, gorgeous. Is that what you want?" He said, his voice much softer, almost sounding shy, even. It gave Harry instant butterflies.

"More than anything" Harry replied breathily.

"Want you on your stomach, angel. Going to make you feel so good..." Louis ordered gently. Harry did as he said, and Louis started trailing kisses down his spine. Harry needed to grind his aching cock into the bed to get some relief. He was loving this adoring side of Louis. He couldn't wait for him to fuck him.

When Louis parted his cheeks, Harry's face turned red, but his shyness didn't last long. As soon as Louis started gently tracing his rim with his tongue, he arched his back, giving him easier access to his eager entrance. When Louis dipped the firm, wet muscle inside of him, Harry didn't bother to tame his wild-sounding moan.

He looked back at his daddy incredulously. The other man smiled with his eyes, with the lower half of his face completely entombed between Harry's cheeks, as he worked a finger in next to his tongue. Harry's leg flew up involuntarily, when Louis eased in a second, and began scissoring him open.

"You taste incredible, Harry. On your back, baby. Wanna look at you" Louis said, giving Harry's ass a playful smack. Harry happily did as told.

Looking up at the beautiful, kind, merciful man above him, Harry felt bad about giving him such a hard time earlier. He was beyond worried for his friend, but he could do nothing for him. Keeping Louis happy was his best bet at saving Niall. He prayed that the brutal man would leave his friend alone for the night, then pushed the blond out of his mind. He smiled up at Louis adoringly.

"Want your cock, please. Want you to fuck me so bad. Wanna be so close to you. Do anything for you, daddy" Harry said honestly, making the older man smile warmly.

"You got it, Princess. As much as you're mine, I'm yours. Daddy's dick is just for you. You want it, baby?" Louis grunted, ripping open a packet of lube, and lathering his raw cock liberally. He lined himself up, and assessed for any sign of protest from Harry.

"Need it. I'm all yours daddy. Take me when you want me. Need you to fuck me with your bare cock, please. I'm yours. I'm your slave. You own me..." Harry chanted, bucking his hips up frustratedly. Louis finally started easing inside, giving him plenty of time to adjust, before he started moving.

"Oh, fuck. You're so tight, Harry. Feels so good" Louis grunted. He started thrusting into his boy gently. The younger man winced in pain briefly, but quickly started moaning, squirming under Louis, trying to hit his prostate dead-on.

"Yeah, daddy. Just like that. You're so fucking good to me" Harry raved. "I love your cock. I'll never get enough. Please. Fuck me harder. Fuck me until I fall asleep from exhaustion. Make me forget where we are, daddy" he begged shamelessly. Louis picked up his pace immediately.

"Mmm. Okay, Princess…" Louis groaned. "Oh god, you're so fucking sexy, Harry. So fucking perfect. The most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I want you to choose me. Don't say anything right now. I just want you to know. I'd make you so happy. I'd take care of you in every way. Treat you like gold..." he continued as he dicked into his boy.

Harry obeyed, and didn't say anything, but he felt himself give Louis a more assuring look with his eyes, than the one he'd given him before dinner. It earned a satisfied smile. Harry was somehow considering it more seriously now. Especially since he'd almost definitely need to, in order to help Niall. But once he did that...how would he leave his life? How would he leave Louis? How could he choose?

"I want you, Lou. I want you so bad. I don't know what I'm going to do. I can't conceptualise the future until I'm off this fucking boat. But I just met you, and I'm finding it very hard to think about you not being in my life. That's...all I know. Oh, fuck! Oh god, please don't stop. I'm getting close".

Louis seemed to accept his response, and didn't give him any shit for disobeying him, reinforcing the idea that Louis didn't want him to think of him as his owner right now.

"Good boy. You don't have to decide now. Just be here with me. Want you to cum, gorgeous. Cum all over me. Make a mess. I'm going to fill you up..." Louis huffed in a strained voice. The pure determination in his eyes, combined with his command, brought Harry over the edge. He was suddenly catapulted into a euphoric climax, which ushered Louis' out of him right after.

After Harry felt the warmth of the other man's jizz spread inside of him, Louis pulled out. He hadn't taken his eyes off of Harry's the entire time.

Collapsing next to him, Louis looked concerned, until Harry rolled over to face him, smiling from ear to ear. Louis mirrored his expression, reaching up and pushing a curl out of his face.

"Was so fucking good. I'm so, so tired, daddy" Harry said, fighting off a yawn, until he gave in to it. Louis chuckled, and nodded in agreement.

"Let me clean you up, sweetheart. Then we'll get some rest. We just have to get through lunch tomorrow. Then, we'll figure out where we go from there. Together..." Louis said, getting up and grabbing a wet cloth from the bathroom.

He began cleaning between Harry's legs, then wiped the remainder of his cum off of both of their stomachs. When he tossed the white cloth on the floor, he laid back down next to Harry.

Harry rolled over, briefly concerning Louis, until the boy threw his ass back towards his daddy. Louis chuckled when he realized he was asserting his preferred position as little spoon. It wasn't long at all until both men drifted off to sleep.

❧

"Morning, Princess. We need to get up. We slept in. It's nearly eleven" Louis said, stirring Harry gently.

The younger man woke, but looked around confusedly, forgetting where he was completely. When he saw the worried look in Louis' eyes, his heart skipped a beat, but his stomach also churned with anxiety. It was all coming back to him.

Last night's events were too much for Harry to think about as he tried to force a smile. Remembering that his best friend was on this same boat with a sociopath, woke him right up. They'd successfully slept through breakfast. Louis was likely rousing him for lunch. He hoped he might be allowed some table scraps or something. He was absolutely starving.

Knowing that he was about to have a repeat of the dinner the night before, Harry braced himself the best he could, as he sauntered into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Louis told him to hurry. He'd already showered and gotten dressed himself.

When he was done, he dried off, and wrapped a towel around his waist, wondering what he was supposed to wear for the day. He went back into the bedroom, and looked at Louis confusedly.

"Completely up to you which one, love. I personally think you'd look incredible in either. I have a feeling this one is speaking to you..." Louis said gesturing to the two outfits that were laid out for him on the bed.

One was a pair of jean shorts, and a tropical-colored, button-up shirt. The other was a short, pink, spaghetti-strapped sundress, with a steep, plunging neck line. Harry cleared his throat, and knew he was flushed, which clearly tickled Louis.

Harry had never worn a dress before, but couldn't take his eyes off of it for some reason. Being given the option was almost too much for him. He wanted Louis to make him wear it. He didn't want to admit he wanted it. Deciding on a middle ground, he looked at his daddy shyly.

"Can I um...can I...try it on...?" He asked coyly. Louis smile widened, and he nodded approvingly.

"Of course, Princess. You want daddy to watch, don't you?" He asked. Harry swallowed hard, his ears stinging with embarrassment, but he definitely did want Louis to watch.

"Of course" He replied, doing his best to look innocent and adorable. He dropped the towel, and watched Louis' eyes devour his body in the bright room. It looked beautiful out the window. The open ocean, the cloudless sky. In this room, he and Louis were equals. When they went and joined everyone else, he was his slave.

Pulling the dress on over his head, he was surprised at how soft the material was. He turned around immediately, to look in the full-length mirror hung up on the bedroom door behind him. When he saw his reflection, he gasped in awe.

He knew the short, pink dress was going to start tenting towards the middle, just at the sight of himself. While he should have been humiliated, as a grown man turned on at the sight of himself wearing a dress, he was the opposite of that. He felt confident, sexy, beautiful.

He frowned, realizing that if he chose to wear it, all of the vicious men he'd met yesterday would be all over him, making the nastiest, crudest comments. He caught Louis' concerned, but equally turned on expression, in the mirror, over his shoulder.

"What's wrong, baby? You don't like it? You look...absolutely fucking stunning..." Louis said, coming up behind him, kissing his neck. Harry exhaled roughly. Louis' eyes caught what was happening between his Princess's legs. "Oh. I see. You like it a lot. Worried about what the rest of those bastards are going to think? Or just your friend?" He asked knowingly.

"Niall wouldn't make fun. He's a nice person" Harry said defensively. "Worried about yours. They listened to you yesterday, but what'll happen when they get a load of me in this?" He said, going to pull the dress off. Louis' hand stopped him.

"I told you. They're not my friends" Louis stated adamantly, narrowing his eyebrows. "It's your choice, love. You'll look hot in either outfit. No one is going to touch you. They will quite literally have to kill me. The dress comes with these" he then whispered sexily into the taller man's ear, then put a balled-up, red, lacy garment in Harry's hand. When he unraveled it, his already stiff cock twitched, making both men giggle.

He stepped into the underwear, and secured them around his hips. The front of the thong constricted his leaking, desperate cock. Louis licked his lips, still looking at Harry's reflection from behind him.

"Turn around, angel" He commanded. Harry did as told. When Louis ran his hands up the other man's thighs, then exposed his perfect, perky butt with the red fabric wedged between his cheeks, Harry looked back at his reflection in awe. He gasped at the sight of himself, then faced forward, looking deep into the other man's smoldering eyes.

It dawned on him that this was the first time he'd really seen Louis in the daylight. He was even more beautiful than he appeared yesterday.

Overcome with lust, he bucked his hips forward, grinding his cock into Louis' thigh, and pressing his lips to his daddy's. Louis sank into it immediately, his tongue prying Harry's lips open, exploring Harry's mouth with it, who enthusiastically let him in.

As their hands roamed each other's bodies, Louis sucked a big, fat hickey into Harry's neck. He then pushed him violently towards the bed.

"Bend over. Daddy needs to fuck you. We have to be quick, Princess. Don't put up any fuss..." Louis said in his mean, scary voice. Harry whimpered. He didn't think he could possibly be more turned on than he was. Louis got on his knees behind Harry, pulled the panties down, then spat directly on his hole, before licking it open. "Fuck! You taste so good, baby. It's like a drug. How am I gonna give you up?" He whined.

Harry had no clue. He had no clue how he was going to give Louis up. If he chose not to, it meant that he couldn't return home. Choosing to go home without Niall wasn't an option.

Unable to think about anything else, when Louis eased a finger inside of him, Harry pushed the worry to the side.

"Oh, fuck! Oh, God. Mmm, please. Please fuck me, daddy. I won't fight you. I'll be so, so good" Harry whined. "I'm sorry I was an ungrateful brat yesterday. I'm sorry that I made you feel even worse than you did, when you were only trying to keep us alive. Take it out on my ass, daddy. I was so, so naughty" he cried.

The noise Louis made from the back of his throat sounded inhuman. It was a deep, lustful, husky growl. After a second of fucking him with two fingers, he couldn't wait anymore.

"Mmm. You were a little naughty, Princess. But not for what happened downstairs. What do you say we make this look believable, hmm? Get these cheeks a nice, deep shade of red?" He asked as he lined himself up, and pushed into Harry steadily. The younger man grunted in pain. "Color, Princess" he demanded.

"Green! I'm so fucking green. I love it. Please. Tell me what I did. Please tell me how to fix it, daddy. Smack my ass until it bleeds if you need to. Still mean what I said yesterday. Treat me how you need to. Do what you need to do. I won't give you any shit. I'll be so, so good...."

"Fuck, Harry. You drive me absolutely insane..." Louis said, pausing to let him adjust to his full girth inside of him. "You know exactly what you did. You're going to tell me, and I'm going to lay a smack down for every second you take to think" he roared, raising his hand and leaving a stinging slap on Harry's ass.

Harry couldn't think. The pain and pleasure combination was something out of this world. As Louis landed blow after blow, it dawned on him.

"I...I shut down after you told me you hoped I'd chose you, daddy" Harry shouted through gritted teeth. "I'm sorry. I don't know how I'm going to choose. I want you. I want you so bad. It's starting to border on need!" The other man started at a hard, fast pace, forcing Harry to shout at the end.

"Bullshit! You're just sucking up now because you know I'm your only hope at saving your little boyfriend, aren't you?! Think I'm fucking stupid?! Huh?!" Louis snarled, landing another hard smack down. Harry yelped out in pain, but shook his head no as the other man started fucking him harder, more brutally.

"No! No. That's not it, I promise, daddy. I'd...just met you. I still...just met you, but I'm becoming more sure by the minute that I want to be yours. I just didn't want to make any promises I couldn't keep. Would never want to lie to you, daddy. But I do want that! Don't understand why I can't have both still. I...desperately want to save Niall. But you need to know, daddy...

"Need to know I'll figure out how to save him with or without you. He's my best friend. All of our friends, his boyfriend, they're supposed to come to our place and throw a surprise birthday party for him. Instead, they'll be posting flyers and Facebook posts with our faces on them. But I wouldn't lie to you, daddy. I wouldn't lead you on like that. I care about you too much" Harry said honestly, gripping the royal blue blanket underneath him.

Louis' pace slowed, and the relentless smacks on his stinging ass stopped. Harry looked back at him, worried he was in BIG trouble now. All of the rage was gone from the older man's eyes. In its place was raw sympathy. He rubbed soothing circles into Harry's raw ass, while he found a slower, but still forceful pace that made his boy moan from his diaphragm.

"Good girl, baby. So good" Louis cooed, blanketing his torso over Harry's back, pulling his long locks to the side, and kissing his neck. "We have to hurry now. Need you to cum for me, angel. God, I love this fucking hole so much...gonna fill you up. Gonna be walking around in this pretty little dress, hmm? Dripping daddy's cum through your slutty panties?" He continued.

It was all Harry needed. He reached between him and the mattress, pulled his cock three times, and he shot his load down the side of the bed he'd slept on the night before. Seconds later, Louis' astonished moans slowed, as his warm cum was injected into Harry. When he pulled out, he tucked his dick back into his waistband, and collapsed on his stomach next to his boy.

Harry smiled at him lovingly. He was obsessed with angry, daddy Louis, almost as much as he was becoming obsessed with sweet, soft Louis. Choosing to leave his side was becoming extremely difficult to imagine.

"You alright, Princess? That was...a lot. Goes without saying that you don't have to wear the dress if you're not comfortable in it..." Louis said, still out of breath.

"More than alright. I've...wanted someone to fuck me like that since I figured out that I was gay" Harry giggled. "And oh, I'm wearing the dress. You can show off your punishment easier. Better yet, tell them it's part of the punishment. They don't need to know that I feel so, so sexy in it..." he added. Louis breathed a laugh, and looked relieved.

"Good girl. So fucking good. I love it. Let's go. Get this over with. It's literally just a few more hours, then it's just us. Figuring out how to save Niall without all of these twisted fucks in our business" Louis said, standing and helping Harry up. "If you choose to go home, I intend to pay for round-the-clock security for you. Armed guards. If these people find out that you're free, they'll send someone to scoop you right back up.

"I...live in London. Moved there over the summer. Lived in New York before. I don't do long-distance. It just never works out. If you don't want to come home with me, I'll understand. But...I'd feel so powerless. Much rather have you where I can see you. Even if you didn't want to be mine. I'd still...look out for you. Get you a place nearby. You could call me if you ever needed anything....

"So...that's why you have to choose. I understand it's difficult. I'll understand if you choose to go home. I'm going to do everything in my power to help your friend. Regardless of what you decide. That's a promise. I don't want to control you. I want to...take care of you. Just some more...food for thought, I guess. Shit. We really have to go..." Louis explained, then looked at his watch nervously.

Harry couldn't believe what'd just happened. After fucking him so perfectly, Louis was explaining why there was a choice. He didn't know how he didn't realize that the people who took him could easily find out he got free. That they'd worry he'd tell people the things he's seen. It made an anxious pit in his stomach.

At the same time, Louis was giving him the choice, at great personal risk. Telling him he's going to pay for literal body guards to keep him safe. But he lived across the ocean. If Harry went home, he'd never see Louis. Louis would find someone else. It would be over between them, even if he insisted to pay for security. The food for thought was overwhelming.

"Thank you" Harry said. "Thank you for...considering that. All of it. It's...making my choice...just a little bit easier" he decided to say honestly, then pressed his lips to Louis'. The absolutely smitten smile on the shorter man's face was visibly past his control. Harry would not be cruel to him again. No matter what he'd have to do to him in the coming hours.

Hand-in-hand, the pair left their comfortable little love nest, and stepped back into the nightmare world they'd been shielded of, while every other boy on the boat who was sold, had to endure it.

—————

Chapter Text

Harry was surprised to be going out on the deck. Louis was leading him up a flight of stairs. His cum had been dripping down Harry's leg, and was starting to dry there. The temperature was perfect outside. It was almost noon on a clear, sunny day. The water was the clearest blue, and there were no other vessels in sight.

"Psst. You're supposed to be miserable" Louis hissed, before they reached the landing. Harry hadn't realized he was smiling, thinking of his morning with his daddy. He forced his face into a scowl, and braced himself for whatever fucked up shit he was about to see.

When they were at the top of the stairs, there was a huge, white, half-circle couch. There were a few faces Harry didn't recognize from the night before, and almost all of the ones he did. About a dozen men were scattered all over the large, open, canopied area.

"There they are. Woah..." Chet said, smiling at Louis. Harry trained his eyes to the floor, knowing this was gonna be bad. "Holy shit, Lou. This is quite a treat, huh? He makes such a pretty, pretty girl..." he teased. Harry's face reddened, as the other men surrounding him laughed and whistled. "What do you think, Blondie? Your non-friend make a pretty girl?" Harry had to look up. It was impossible not to.

Kneeling on the floor in front of Chet, Niall was looking at Harry with empathy in his eyes. He had a huge red mark on his cheek, and was wearing only the same boxers as the day before, but not much else appeared wrong with him. Aside from being kept as a sex slave against his will, obviously.

"Yes, Sir" Niall said in a jaded voice. Harry could feel all of the eyes on him as he glued his to the floor again.

"Are we late? Didn't mean to be rude. This one was being naughty" Louis said, putting his arm around Harry's waist and pulling him closer.

"Nope. Right on time" The skinny, flamboyant man from the night before squeaked. "My word. Such a pretty, pretty girl, indeed!" He shouted in his campy, feminine voice. "Turn him around, show us the back!" Everyone around them made noises and gestures of approval. Harry looked up, and a boy who he hadn't seen before was rubbing the small man's shoulders, standing behind the couch.

He was wearing what looked like orange swim trunks. His complexion was a little darker than Harry's, and he had equally as striking of green eyes as him. His inch-long dirty blond hair was messed up a bit from the wind. He didn't exactly look happy to be there, but he didn't appear to have a scratch on him.

The boy who had been with the morbidly obese man the night before, who had been at the head of the table with him and Niall, arguably getting the worst end of the stick, was not so lucky. Harry had to avert his eyes immediately. The boy had two black eyes, swollen so badly, they were nearly shut. He had 'SLUT' burned into the middle of his chest, and burned into it deep. How could these animals be casually eating lunch?

"You heard the man, darling. Why don't you bend over that coffee table there. Lift your pretty dress up, let everyone see what a bad girl you were" Louis said lightly, pinching his ass. The boy in the dress did as his owner said, grateful he had him facing Niall, so he wasn't forced to look.

The guilt Harry had from feeling turned on by the degrading act, was adding to the helplessness he also felt. He was going to walk away free. Even if Louis could eventually help save Niall, there was nothing he could do for the others.

"Ooof. Nice work!" Chet cheered, standing up and holding out his fist for a fist bump. Louis pounded it and forced a smile. Harry could tell he wanted to knock him out. "You know how to pick 'em, huh? This little bitch is useless. Can't suck dick for shit" he complained.

"I'm sure that's trainable. Fabian will surely be able to give him some pointers. That one is....talented" Louis laughed. Harry felt like he’d had the wind knocked out of him. Louis knew that from experience? "You can stand, now, Harry. Good girl. Why don't you kneel down there next to your non-friend while the grownups talk, hmm? I'll get you something to eat, like daddy promised" he ordered.

Harry forced a scowl, but he was internally grateful. Chet appeared to be putting up no protest to the command, seemingly excited by Louis' interest in speaking with him. Harry kneeled next to his friend, as close as he could without being called out on it.

Louis walked over to the buffet-style table with silver drums of food in a long line, and Chet followed him like a lost puppy. It was perfect. Everyone in the area surrounding, let their attention drift elsewhere.

From here, Harry could see two other boys he hadn't seen before, sitting next to a muscular bald man with a mustache. They were both on the couch, naked, jerking each other off with vacant expressions.

He wanted to stand up and scream asking 'what is wrong with these people?", when he saw a taller, younger, shirtless man with bad acne and black, thick-rimmed glasses, shamelessly jerking himself off and watching, sitting directly across from them. The man then commanded the one on the left to open his mouth, and he started fucking his face.

"Harry...what the fuck. How did we end up here?" Niall whispered. Harry glanced up and looked around. It didn't seem like anyone heard. It was windy up on the deck, and though they were under a large canopy, it might have distorted the noise even further.

"I don't know, Ni. What is the last thing you remember? Before they took you?" Harry asked in the same hushed voice.

"Went to see Randall after my shift. It was 2pm. Said he had a guy for me. Real easy, in and out. I don't remember anything after I left his office. Woke up here. You?" Niall asked.

Harry told him the circumstances he'd been in, which were eerily similar to his best friend's. He didn't know why it didn't dawn on him before, but he realized their boss likely had something to do with it. He was always so nice. Harry kind of looked up to him as a father figure. He had such a hard time believing that he'd have anything to do with this.

"Fuck. Fucking scumbag. What I wouldn't do to just make one phone call. Poor Liam. He must be so worried, Haz" Niall said. Harry glanced at his friend, and saw his eyes pooling with tears. "I'm scared that I won't see you after we get off the boat. I don't know how much longer we'll be on here, but this asshole keeps talking about his own boyfriend like some lovesick fairy. Said not to get too comfortable.

"That he's selling me to his friend as soon as we're home. I was so...heartbroken to see you. You do look stunning, by the way" he said, breathing a pained laugh at the end.

Harry smiled slightly at his friend's attempt to comfort him, even in the worst possible situation either of them could imagine. The idea of Niall not being in the same place as Harry, had the man spiraling.

"I have something brewing, hopefully. Or I'm going to die trying. Try to stay calm. Obey. Survive. We'll get out of this. Just...hold on, okay?" Harry said. He felt Louis and Chet re-approach, and returned his gaze to the floor. Niall fell silent, too. Louis put a plate of baked ziti on the floor in front of him, and sat next to Chet, several feet away. If only he could talk to him like a person right now.

"Eat up, slut" Louis said with a laugh in his voice.

"Thank you, daddy" Harry replied, picking up the food and forcing a bite down. He was definitely starving, but had no appetite whatsoever.

"Anyway, what were you saying? You're gonna give him to who?" Louis asked casually, looking at Chet as he ate. "Knew you were a closet softie. Was surprised you got bored with Fabian. Not that I wasn't tempted to take Blondie, myself. Must give pretty terrible head..." he added, teasing both of the other men. Harry felt an inkling of something resembling hope. Was this happening already? Was he going to try to buy Niall?

"Gonna see if Holden wants him. He likes blonds. Probably has the patience to train him better than I do. And shut up. What can I say? I'm a hopeless romantic. The heart wants what the heart wants…" Chet replied. His voice oddly sounded like it had genuine longing in it, even though it was masked by sarcasm. Louis laughed, maybe a little too loud, but convincingly.

"Should have been a better sharer, Lou. Would sell him to you for cheap, if you'd been just a little more generous with me..." he taunted. Louis laughed again, but Harry heard the anxiety in his voice. He didn't dare move a muscle, but on the inside he was screaming. He knew he needed to let his daddy handle this, and trust that he was all over it.

"Hmm. And why would I want to purchase your sloppy seconds, exactly?" Louis asked. It took everything Harry had in him not to turn around and balk at his owner. What was he doing? He'd just set him up perfectly to make an offer. It could not be a more opportune time to pull the trigger.

"Well, for one, just because he sucks at blowies, doesn't mean he's entirely useless. He gives pipe just as well as he takes it. And you've seen how big he is. You gonna tell me you wouldn't wanna see it get thrown into your little pet?" He asked smugly. Harry couldn't breathe. Niall was just as still and silent next to him.

"I wouldn't lie to your face like that" Louis said through a laugh, making the other man cackle like it was the funniest joke on earth. "What'd you pay for him again? Sounds like he's been giving you your money's worth, for your insultingly low bid" he went on, his leg began bouncing anxiously.

"Two-hundred grand. Half of what I paid for Fabe. I just wanted a cute, obedient thing on the side, but he's too big of a pain in the ass" Chet said. "Say...since it clearly isn't about the money for either of us, maybe you'd loosen up on your rules, for everyone's benefit...if you're actually interested..."

The pair went silent for a moment. Harry couldn't tell why. He wanted to turn around and tell him 'by any fucking means necessary.' Harry would do anything. Do anyone. He just wanted his friend to be safe.

"Guess it depends on what you have in mind..." Louis replied. His voice sounded just a little more hostile than Harry could tell he'd intended.

"Easy, tiger. Was merely going to suggest you let them try each other out. Make sure they...get along alright" Chet said. "Only got a few hours 'til we're back in Fort Lauderdale. If I'm going to part with him, I wouldn't mind doing it now, so I don't have to deal with the cold shoulder from Fabe. What do you say? You give me one last show to add to my spank bank, and the little twink is yours? I'll sign him over right now…

"Let us watch him fuck your girlfriend here, and you can have him for one-fifty" Chet said in a tempting, sing-song voice. Harry couldn't believe his ears. He could tell from his voice that Chet was dead serious. One more indignity to get through, and Niall would belong to Louis, too. Louis was taking WAY too long to answer for Harry's liking.

"Jesus, Chet. And you were giving me shit for going light on the boy? While you're jumping through hoops so you don't piss off your betrothed?" Louis poked. There were scattered chuckles from the people surrounding them. It was becoming more quiet by the second. "What do you think, Princess? You want someone to share your crate with at home? Someone to play with while daddy's at work?" Louis asked.

Harry turned his head around, probably too fast. He caught Niall's concerned eyes. This didn't sound like as good of a deal as it was to him, but he had to recognize that they were way better off together, no matter what the cost, even not knowing that Louis is a good guy. Harry was making the executive decision for his own good, and couldn't spare a second to debate with his friend.

"Um. Well...I...I've always thought he was kinda cute. I'd share with him, if it were up to me..." Harry said timidly. Louis was searching the entirety of his face, which Chet could only see half of, from where he was sitting. Harry was keeping as neutral of an expression as possible, while also silently screaming, pleading with his eyes.

"Hm. Well...I suppose if I'm buying him for you to play with, the rules wouldn't apply to him, anyway. Kinda an exciting idea innit? Can't believe I was against this at first. Might even start shopping for a third if you two hit it off, hmm?" Louis said with a convincing, evil twist in his voice. Harry wanted to start jumping up and down in victory.

"Ah, what the hell. Yolo, right? What you said when you talked me into this depravity?" Louis said, holding out his hand for Chet to shake. Harry could have cried happy tears, when their hands locked. "You sign him over up front. Don't think that I don't know your slick games, Chet From Marketing" Louis added. Harry wanted to pounce on him and attack him with kisses. He would have, if it wouldn't have been horribly counterproductive.

"Deal" Chet agreed. Everyone paying attention cheered with excitement. The catcalls and whistles started again, but Harry couldn't hear any of it over his blood rushing to his ears. "They can at least get started, while we have Mac run and grab me his title. And your checkbook" he added, waving Mac over and giving him his room key.

Louis handed his over, and told Mac where his checkbook was absently.

"Fair enough. Go on, sugar. Give your new bestie a kiss" Louis ordered, apologizing profusely with his eyes, while Chet was distracted. Harry gave him a grateful smile in return. He was getting him off of the boat WITH Niall. He'd do anything for Louis. Anything. Ever.

Happy that Louis looked relieved, Harry looked at his best friend of over a decade.

Niall looked...torn, which surprised Harry. He put his hand on his face, and kissed him before he could say anything stupid to blow it. Niall kissed him back, but did so stiffly. Harry relaxed his body and his lips, in an effort to show Niall that he was unbothered by the less-than-ideal task. It was the final hurdle, until they were home-free.

"See? Practically lifeless. Loosen up, you fucking faggot. You know you want him. Now you're rid of me. The least you can do is put on a good show, ungrateful twat..." Chet spat, sipping his whiskey. Harry didn't realize that the man was a bit drunk until he smelled it on him over his shoulder.

Needing Niall to cooperate, Harry put his hands on his waist, and started kissing the side of his neck that Chet and Louis couldn't see.

"Do it" he whispered as quietly as possible. "We'll pretend it never happened. Need to stick together. Don't leave me, Ni…" Harry pleaded as close to his ear as he could get, planting kisses in between. He grabbed Niall's hand off of his thigh and put it on his own. Niall grabbed Harry's chin, and started kissing him again, with much less hesitation.

Harry was so relieved, when he felt Niall's hand slide up his leg, and brush his hardening dick. He'd never kissed Niall before. Never even really considered it. He was surprised by how natural it felt, now that the other man had let go.

"There ya go. That's the spirit" Chet said, palming himself outside of his trousers. "Fortunate he's still open from earlier. Why don't you two get up on the ledge right here, so everyone can see" he ordered, patting the triangular platform hovering over the edge of the circular couch. It was small, but they'd fit. The pair stopped kissing, and stepped onto the couch to do as they were told.

'I'm sorry' Louis mouthed, when Harry was able to look at him. Mac was coming back with what Chet had asked for.

'Don't be. I choose you, Lou' Harry mouthed, grateful his back was turned to the room full of a dozen onlookers, so they couldn't see the adoring dimply smile he shone down at Louis. There was no way he could live without him after all of this.

Louis sighed with relief, apparently genuinely thinking Harry was going to give him shit for this. He then beamed a brilliant smile of his own, before forcing his face back into a menacing smirk. Harry stepped up onto the platform, getting on his knees next to Niall. They started kissing again, while Louis now had to watch much more up-close-and-personal, not looking thrilled about it.

Chet was drunkenly scribbling on a piece of paper, spilling a bit of whiskey on it in little droplets, then handed the pen to Louis, who was holding his checkbook open. The paper was signed. Louis was signing the check. Harry and Niall rutted into each other, both deciding to commit, and perhaps even indulge, given they didn't really have a choice.

"Pleasure doin' business with ya. Get some of those fucking clothes off, you sluts. Don't be shy. You're going to get very familiar with each other" Louis said, folding the piece of paper, and putting it in his suit pocket. He then reached up and pulled at Harry's dress, who took it off over his head. More catcalls, more whistles. Harry couldn't give a fuck. He wanted them to watch. He was on top of the world.

Niall's eyes scanned Harry's body in the lacy red thong, his eyes locked on his dripping cock head leaking from the tip, which was bursting out of the waist band. Harry's eyes in turn roamed Niall's bruised, toned, pale, beautiful torso. His boxers were tented in the middle.

Niall grabbed Harry by his waist, and started kissing his neck on the side not visible to the viewers.

"I'm so fucking sorry, Haz. I don't want to. I know you know..." he whispered between kisses. Harry shook his head 'no'. He didn't want his friend to think twice about it. This was to save them. To save each other. In Harry's mind, Louis was getting the worst of it, needing to watch at his own command.

"Don't be. Want you to, Ni" Harry whispered, pulling him closer. "It'll be our little secret" he added, wanting to alleviate any and all guilt associated with this specific task. He'd never utter a word about it to Liam, if they ended up going home together. Not that he didn't know that Liam would understand that it wasn't cheating. It was just up to Niall what he'd choose to share with his boyfriend from their horrific experience.

Niall pulled his face back to look at Harry. He then looked down at Louis. When Harry peeked over his shoulder, he saw his eyes aflame with jealousy, bordering on hate. When he saw how scared Niall looked, he softened his expression.

"How should...how do you want us, Sir?" The blond asked Louis shakily. Louis seemed caught off guard by the question, but didn't pause long.

"However you want him, bitch" Louis replied overly-casually. "Use my cum as lube to fuck your non-friend with, for everyone's entertainment. One more show with that massive dick, Blondie. Then we'll get you downstairs to clean you up before we dock.

"Don't want my housekeeper thinking I'm bringing in some street whore. You're going to have much more fun with Harry and I. Won't have to compete for my affection with Chet's loving boyfriend. You're not getting a bad deal, cupcake..." he said, looking the man up and down with feigned distaste.

"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir" Niall replied.

Already on their knees, Harry fell onto his palms, deciding for Niall. He could pretend he was Liam for all Harry cared, while he fucked him from behind. He arched his back and looked over his shoulder at Niall, biting his lip sexily. He watched it turn his friend on, as he ditched his boxers.

"Sheesh! Look at Curly. He actually wants it! Gotta tell me your secrets, Lou. First one I've seen in a while that doesn't look like a lifeless doll, or someone having their fingernails ripped out every time you let 'em cum. How do you make them...grateful?" One of the grotesque men shouted. Harry wasn't paying them any mind. He just hoped Niall was able to tune them out, too.

"Oh, it's simple, really. I mean, I'm very new at this. Curly here is my first little pet. I'm finding that a less abrasive approach than some of you gentlemen take, is the key difference. Let me ask you, Sterling. Do you only punish them when they're bad, or do you reward them when they're good, too?" Louis asked, as if he were talking about literal dogs.

"Reward them? A slave?" The man asked, looking sincerely confused. Harry's stomach twisted with anxiety. "Sure. Reward them by letting them live…" he laughed, causing a chorus of laughter from all of them men watching.

Harry kept his eyes on the floor as he heard Niall spit on his dick, then felt him pull the thong down past Harry's knees. He got super close, and put a thumb inside of Harry's sore, puffy hole, trying to brace him for the stretch.

"Oh, fuck" Harry moaned as his friend eased inside. Chet palmed himself while he watched. Louis was purposely averting his gaze.

"Well, no offense fellas, but a little reward seems to go a long way, as far as Harry's attitude is concerned. He's grateful to be mine. Especially after seeing how much more cruel I could be. They're aware they have to obey to avoid pain or punishment. If you inflict pain regardless of if they obey or not, it's less incentive for them to behave, because they're getting hurt no matter what.

"You save physical punishment for big no nos, and not only are they grateful, knowing that you're fair. They might even start to actually like you...start to feel like they're choosing this. The illusion of a smidge of dignity goes a long way, when you have power over someone. I'm not a very violent person. No need to damage your property if it's serving its purpose. Do you just kick, key, break the windows of your Porche?

"No. Because you want it to be presentable. Your property is a reflection of you. That includes your pets. Not telling you how to handle yours, obviously. Just my perspective" he stated matter-of-factly.

Harry tried not to smile. Niall began thrusting into him at a slow, steady pace. He started moaning, and when Harry looked back, he appeared to be relaxing, perhaps beginning to sense that Louis was nothing like Chet.

The rest of the men were looking at Louis like he was an alien. They all appeared shocked at his mentality.

"Interesting approach" One of them said. "What do you think, boy? You think you should be rewarded when you're good? Or you think you're going to start acting like a spoiled, entitled little shit?" He asked one of the two naked men on the couch.

"If you're asking my opinion, Sir, I'd have to agree with Curly's Master" the man replied, flinching in anticipation of pain. "I'm going to do as you say regardless, but rewards would make my role a little more bearable. His point about expecting to be punished whether you're good or bad, makes sense. Makes it difficult to understand when I'm actually pleasing you, Sir" he added timidly, still wincing.

Chet looked at Harry with evil in his eyes. He seemed much less enthusiastic about all of this than he did a minute ago.

"Suppose we could give it a shot. The minute you start acting out, rewards are revoked. You two have been good this morning. How would you like to split a soda?" The man offered, seemingly considering not being overly-cruel to his pets, for the first time ever.

Both men's eyes lit up with genuine hope, proving Louis' point. Chet looked at Harry, then at Niall. He frowned. Uh oh.

"Yes please, Sir. That sounds nice" the same slave answered. His Master snapped his fingers at one of the waitstaff in the corner, who brought over a can of Pepsi. The men took turns sipping it like it was the elixir of life, their faces showing the slightest hint of relief.

"Thank you, Sir. Very kind of you" the other boy chimed in, looking intimidated, but cautiously hopeful. Their gratitude seemed to appease their owner.

Harry hoped the man would seriously take Louis' reasonable advice. There was nothing Louis could do to save them from their Master, but his words were quite possibly making their lives just a smidgen more bearable.

"Hmm" Chet said, looking at Niall again. "Maybe I should try that with Blondie. See if he warms up to me a little. Maybe if he wasn't such a whiner, Fabe won't mind sharing as much..." he considered aloud. Harry's eyes became wild with panic.

"Would have been an interesting experiment. But you're forgetting one critical detail, Chet From Marketing..." Louis replied. Suddenly, the kindness and easy-going attitude was gone. He looked pissed. "He's mine now. You gave him to me. A deal is a deal. You can give it a go with your next pet" he said coldly.

Chet squinted, looking suspicious, or challenging Louis. Harry couldn't tell which. Neither were good.

"Aw come on. Isn't written in stone. What are you even going to do with two? You were so against it at first, when you found out they'd been scooped, instead of volunteering to be enslaved" Chet laughed, making everyone else crack up as well. The comment made several people look up from whatever was distracting them, and almost all of their skeptical eyes were on Louis.

Niall was pounding into Harry's prostate. It felt incredible, but he couldn't help but feel uneasy about the shift in energy. He could do nothing to help.

"You were acting all holier-than-thou about it. Like we were some degenerate cult or something. Now you're shopping for everyone else's?" Chet added with a more accusing tone.

Louis appeared concerned for a moment. He looked up at the pair. Harry looked down again. He had to let Louis handle it.

"Because as you pointed out, there's hardly a difference. What's the difference between being a willing whore, and a forced one, really? Both pitiful existences. At least with me, he'll be around the finer things in life. I started to think of it as you said, as a favor to the boy. I know what's best for him. He's going to learn to trust that, whether he likes it or not. Both of them are.

"I was only shopping for yours, because I'd wanted him to start with, as I said. Neither are for sale. Sorry, Chet. Go home and test minimal decency on Fabe yourself. Then start with the same approach with your next one. I'm willing to bet Blondie here already resents you" Louis growled, clearly becoming defensive.

"That feeling is hard to shake. But now for me, he's going to be even more obedient than Harry here. Because now in his eyes, I've saved him from you. He'll get to play with a friend. Earn privileges, which will get revoked the moment he steps out of line. Just drop it, buddy. Let's get another round of drinks" he added harshly. It didn't make Chet any less aggressive.

"You're an asshole, you know that? I bring you here to give you what you wanted. A submissive of your very own. You insult me by insinuating that what everyone on board is doing is wrong, then you buy the hottest, most submissive one. You don't share him. Now you buy mine, and won't sell him back to me? That's fine, then. He's still mine. Has my brand on the back of his neck. Where's Curly's?" He spat.

When he asked, his drunken hand reached up, and pushed Harry's curls out of his face, inspecting the side of his neck. Harry flinched, then heard a loud slap.

Niall stopped moving behind Harry. When Harry looked up, all eyes were on Louis and Chet, and both men shot up out of their seats.

"You keep your fuckin' hands off of him. I've made myself very, very clear. Think you need to go lay down, guy. You're drunk, and getting on my last nerve. You touch him again and I'll break your wrist over my knee like a twig. And I'm the asshole?!" Louis roared, then scoffed at the end.

"His brand will be available for the host to view upon departure, as promised. I will not explain myself to you. You keep your grubby hands off my property and go home to your wife. I've had enough of your shit!" He shouted. Louis' face was crimson. The veins in his neck and forehead were bulging out.

Harry was getting close to his orgasm as Niall hurriedly started moving again, not wanting to get in trouble. The curly-haired man couldn't believe how sexy his daddy was when he was mad.

"Your property?! Ha!" Chet mocked. "On a technicality! Give me that" he snarled, reaching into Louis' coat pocket and pulling out the slip of paper. He tucked it into his own pocket, and pulled out the check that Louis wrote, shoving it back at him. Harry wanted to cry when he saw Louis' worried eyes, and Chet's smug smirk.

When Louis looked at Harry, all of the worry was gone from his face. A fierce protectiveness took over, when his disgusting co-worker dropped the check, which fell on the seat next to Louis, and he grabbed both sides of Harry's face. He then planted a fat, wet, kiss on his lips. Harry recoiled away, making a disgusted face, wiping the whiskey off of his lips.

"Oh that's it!" Louis screamed. Chet was still awkwardly hunched over the couch, trying to get his footing after kissing Harry.

Harry watched the man's head fly back, when Louis suddenly upper-cutted him with everything he had. The force was impressive.

Clearly stunned, likely never having been punched before, Chet looked at Louis like he was actually hurt that he'd hit him, which was laughable. He cocked his fist back and swung, hitting Louis in the eye. Harry heard it connect, and could tell how bad it hurt, but Louis wasn't letting it slow him down.

Chet went to land another blow, but Louis caught the second one. Now having a firm hold on Chet's wrist, Louis glanced at Harry, who was still getting fucked by his friend in front of everyone, at Louis' command.

"Let go of me, you little shit!" Chet bit back. When he began to struggle, Louis held onto the man's wrist like his life depended on it, and although the drunken man was at least a foot taller than him, Louis was quicker. He pulled the arm behind the man's back painfully, forcing him to turn, and comply with his movements. Harry watched as his daddy decided to commit to what he'd promised.

With all of his pent up rage, Louis put his foot on the couch right behind Chet, and snapped the appendage over his kneecap at the wrist, with the man's palm facing up. Chet let out a blood-curdling scream. Louis let go of him, ready for whatever the asshole wanted to try next. Chet looked absolutely stunned. Tears formed in his eyes, and he dropped to his knees, looking at his deformed, dominant arm in horror.

"ANYONE ELSE WANNA FUCK WITH ME?!" Louis screamed, scanning the faces of the other men, and the one woman who'd called them to dinner. Almost every one of them were watching on the edge of their seats, including the slaves. No one spoke, though a few men shook their heads 'no'.

Full of an insane amount of adrenaline, Louis reached his shaking hand into Chet's pocket and grabbed Niall's paper, replacing it with the check.

Chet hardly even noticed. He was too busy crying and cradling his wrist, clearly in shock. Niall had stopped moving inside Harry again.

"Finish up boys. Think we've entertained everyone else enough for one day. Need you both to cum. Now" Louis commanded darkly.

Niall didn't hesitate to resume his pace, looking absolutely terrified. Harry was doing his best not to smile. He kept his eyes on the floor, and focused on finishing their task at hand.

"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir. I'm close, Blondie. Fuck, that feels good..." Harry belted. Niall was also shaking with adrenaline. He was more tense than he had been, but was letting out quitet little moans, after he'd been silent for a while. "Gonna..." Harry warned.

"Me, too. God, thank you, Sir. Thank you. I'll be much happier to be at your service, as you said." Niall said breathily. "Gonna fill you up, Curly…"

Both men let out intense moans, as they climaxed at virtually the same time. Harry painted white lines on the white platform underneath him. When Niall pulled out, Louis got in Harry's face while he was still on his knees.

"Good girl. Don't be rude now. Clean up your mess. Eat it" He ordered. Harry had to suppress another moan. He did as his daddy said, and licked his cum off of the floor underneath him without thinking twice about it. He absolutely loved it. "You. Spread his cheeks. Turn him and show everyone where you just fucked him. Then get dressed, both of you.

"Where is our gracious host? Is there a medic on board?" Louis asked all of the men whose eyes were glued to Harry's gaping hole. The tall, skinny flamboyant man stood. "Oh, there you are, Alfie. Apologies for the drama. I'd like to express my gratitude for your hospitality, and for allowing me to participate in the auction. I'm going to bring my pets back to our stateroom, and brand them before we dock.

"I hope you're able to see that Chet's remarks about my initial hesitation are no longer an issue. I'm just a very territorial man, as you know. I'd like to invite you to my vacation home in Miami. Open invite, you are welcome anytime, Sir" Louis stated, as though he was exiting a normal business brunch. He extended his hand for the other man to shake.

Alfie was absolutely tickled by Louis paying him any attention whatsoever. Harry would have guessed the host was one of the slaves, before he'd think it was Alfie. He was a string bean, a total dork, but also likely the second or third most civil person he'd been around. The man smiled brightly and shook Louis' hand.

"Not a problem for me. Looks like Chet's at-home pet is going to have his work cut out for him. You broke his jerk-off wrist!" Alfie giggled, and everyone else laughed. "You are welcome any time, Sir. And I do appreciate you reconsidering partaking in the fun. You've got two lovely pets, who are going to a merciful home. Almost warms my ice-cold heart. Let me ask, do you want to brand them?" He questioned.

Louis paused. He didn't know how to answer that. He didn't want to brand them at all, of course, but Harry had already agreed. Hoping it wasn't a trap, he thought of an acceptable alternative.

"Mmm. If it weren't agreed upon purchase, I personally wouldn't choose to brand them, no. I'd prefer to have them tattooed. Curly already has so many beautiful ones. Branding can distort the image if they flinch, then they need another so it's clear, representing a lack of control over their movements forever. It's also an infection risk, which I'd rather not deal with nursing. But, I gave you my word, so if you insist, they will be branded per request" He replied, acting completely indifferent.

Harry was in absolute awe of his daddy. There was no doubt in his mind that Louis had his best interest at heart. He couldn't fathom leaving his side. He'd be the most loyal pet anyone's ever had.

"Well. Since I don't want to end up with a broken wrist, I think I'll allow you to handle your property how you see fit. Perhaps if you intend to bring them along to your vacation home, you can show me their new tattoos then. I'd love another chance to watch these two in action" Alfie said, waving Louis along like he was done with him. Harry was pulling his dress on, and Niall had his boxers secured around his waist.

The blond was watching the interaction with an incredulous look on his face. He seemed to sense that something was up, but wasn't about to speak on anything, ever, clearly not wanting to piss Louis off, and end back up with Chet.

"Was great to meet you, Mr. Tomlinson. I look forward to seeing more of you" He said, practically pushing past him. "Can someone go grab Rhonda? She'll need to put this on a splint. Tell her to bring him a Vicodin. Maybe make it two..." he stated, shuddering at the sight of the limp, swollen wrist.

"Let's go boys. Daddy needs his cock sucked. Bye gentlemen, it's been a pleasure meeting you all. Apologies again for the disruptions. Mind your manners, bitches. Say goodbye, thank the nice men, and this lovely lady for watching you fuck" Louis said, guiding Harry and Niall to walk in front of him.

"Goodbye Sirs, and Madam. Thank you for watching us fuck" They both said in unison. Niall still looked terrified. Harry was doing his best to appear frightened, but he could feel the facade slipping, as he thought of the million and one ways he was going to thank his daddy.

He didn't have to control his expression for long. Once they descended and walked through the corridor to their room, his and Louis' energy changed dramatically.

—————

Chapter Text

"Holy fucking shit, Lou. Thank you. Thank you so much..." Harry said, the second the door closed behind them.

He turned around to assess his best friend, who'd been through a much worse hell than Harry had. He threw his arms around the blond, who still looked beyond frightened, and widened his eyes as if to ask Harry 'are you crazy?'. He was tense in Harry's arms, and didn't hug him back.

"It's okay Niall. He isn't going to hurt you" Harry assured. Louis walked past them into the bedroom. Niall appeared confused. "He's not like them. Not at all. He's not going to make you do anything you don't want to do. When we got back last night, I told him who you were to me. Felt so helpless, knowing you were with that maniac. He'd planned to try to buy you from him once we got off the boat.

"Chet gave him an opening and he took it, not knowing if he'd get another opportunity. The second we're off this boat, we're no longer slaves. He just bought you your freedom, Ni. No one is going to hurt you again. We dock in like an hour" Harry said excitedly. Niall's confused expression turned skeptical, as he watched his new owner re-approach.

"You alright, Blond-I mean, Niall? He's telling you the truth. I won't hurt you, okay? If any one of these inbreds ask, I've beat you senseless the second we got into this room, but everything he just said is true. You're safe with me. We're almost out of this nightmare" Louis said, reaching out to put a comforting hand on his arm, then thinking better of it, not wanting to invade his space any more than he already had.

The skepticism turned into a look of disbelief. Harry turned and threw his arms around Louis, while Niall digested the news.

"Oh my god, Lou. You are...the sexiest thing I've ever seen. I'm so fucking...touched. Smitten. I know that was so, so risky for you. You're...you're nothing like them. Nothing at all. You did what you had to do to get us out, okay? I meant what I said. If you want me...I'm yours..." Harry said, pressing his lips to the smaller man's.

Louis let out a relieved sigh, and sank into the kiss.

"Thanks for saying that. Hard to feel like it's true. I'm...I'm sorry you two had to do that. It was...the best I could do. To make sure he didn't end up with someone I wouldn't be able to manipulate half as easily. I hope you don't think I'm a monster. I've just had to play one. I...didn't see us getting a better opening to buy you..." Louis said, directing his attention to Niall.

The blond was still clearly wrapping his head around all of the positive news. He was visibly beginning to relax, but was not fully comprehending, after the insane few days of torment he'd endured.

"A-are you serious?" He asked, his eyes welling up with tears, as the blue orbs bounced between both men's faces. They both nodded, clinging to each other like their lives depended on it. "Th-thank you, Sir. Holy shit. Is this real? He won't hurt us? He...bought me? Because you told him we're friends?" Niall asked, taking a step closer to both men.

"I'm Louis. Just address me as Sir in front of these degenerates, and once we're off this boat, never again" Louis replied. "We'll explain everything. Answer all of your questions. Hold out just a little longer, bud. As soon as we're at my vacation home, you can call your boyfriend and let him know you're alright. I don't know...where we go from there...

"I just...made it even more complicated, too. Ugh! He's just...such a bastard. Come here. Can't believe he touched you. Was about to catapult him behind the sea, I swear to god..." Louis ranted, his body still pumping adrenaline. He pressed his lips to Harry's again, rubbing his sore butt under the sundress. Niall took another cautious step forward, looking like he wanted to say something, but didn't know what.

"I...can't believe this. I can't thank you enough. I woulda fucked every single person on that deck if it meant being with you over him. Please don't feel guilty about that. I don't understand...why you're here. If you're not like them. But...I have absolutely no doubt that you aren't. Harry trusts you, so I do, too" he stated, putting a hand on Louis' shoulder and squeezing.

The smaller man reached his arm out, causing Harry to do the same, and they pulled the blond in for a group hug.

"He told me you guys were...willing participants. Like offered to be sold to some rich asshole who wanted a sub, and you figured this was better than risking it with new people every time. That this way you had someone steadily taking care of you in return. He had me fucking fooled, the way he treats his other one. Made it seem more like they were lovers. That everyone who was coming...wanted the same thing as me.

"I had NO interest in a slave. Once I figured out what was going on, I was going to leave empty handed. I...couldn't let Harry get bought by that fat bastard with the kid on a leash. So I bought him. Told him he was free once we dock, no strings attached, that I'd buy him a plane ticket home, but that I hoped he'd maybe...wanna come live in London with me. I'm so thrilled you said you chose me...

"But...after all of that, the more I think about it, the more impractical...you going home seems. Planned on buying round-the-clock security for him if he went home. Like...for the foreseeable future. Now...if you both go home...it's only a matter of time until they find out you're back. Especially now that I've made a real enemy out of Chet. I...I don't know...how to get you home, Niall.

"I will do everything in my power to do so, but you're probably going to have to be patient. I don't imagine you're keen on coming to London with us. Maybe...you can stay in Miami for a bit. Invite your boyfriend, until we think of a plan to get you back to your old life. We should...table it until we're outta here. Can I get you anything? Would you like a shower?" Louis explained, then offered.

Niall looked to Harry, not that he'd doubted a word the man said. Harry nodded vigorously, confirming it was all true.

"I can...see how that could happen. I'm sorry you ended up in this mess yourself. I'll do everything I can to protect you too, Louis. When we were up there, I was telling Harry I'd do anything just to be able to call Liam. As long as I can hear his voice. Tell him I love him, that I'm okay...." Niall's voice broke.

"It's more complicated that you even think though. Like...way more complicated. I don't know how we could possibly go home either. I'll fight god to get back to Liam, but Randall, our boss...I'm ninety-nine percent sure he's behind us disappearing. He'll find out we're home the second we step foot in town" Niall said. Harry's heart sank. He hadn't even considered that.

Louis appeared to be at a loss for words as well, running a frustrated hand through his hair. His knuckles hurt from hitting Chet's face so hard, and he was really starting to feel the punch in the face that his co-worker managed to land.

"I'd...love a shower. Thank you. A million times over. I'm going to be thanking you for the rest of my life. I...whole-heartedly approve of this, by the way" he said, gesturing between the two other men, earning a smile from each of them. "Bathroom is in there?" He asked, pointing to the door behind him.

"You got it. And yep. I'll come leave you some clean clothes in a second. Make yourself at home in here, for the next hour or so, okay?" Louis replied.

Niall kissed his savior's cheek, and excitedly bounced into the bathroom. The relieved look on his face was worth what they'd just gone through by itself.

"I. Am. Completely. And. Utterly. Devoted. To. You..." Harry said, drawing out every word, pushing Louis into the bedroom. "I can't believe how well you played all of them. You almost effortlessly saved my best friend. Days before you thought you'd even be able to try. You...fucked him up. Punched him. Broke his wrist, like you said. For kissing me. The sexiest thing I've ever seen. You've got your submissive.

"Might require some training, I'm not...too educated on the topic. But I want to devote all of my time to making you happy. However you want..." he went on, crawling on top of the man, grinding himself into him. "I'm...sorry you had to watch. I know it wasn't easy on you. It's like I told him. We'll pretend it never happened. It was...necessary. To getting us both out. You're...so fucking selfless, Lou.

"I just wanna be good for you daddy. I'm sorry I'm such a slut. Thank you for saving my friend. Can I please suck your cock?" He said, shifting gears a little.

"Well, if you insist, Princess..." Louis laughed, unbuttoning his pants. "Not your fault. Never happened. You're so beautiful, Harry. So trusting, so loyal. I'd do absolutely anything for you. I know we don't know each other, but I'm...really excited to be able to get to start” he said seriously. “Go on baby, nice and slow now. Make daddy cum..." he ordered, guiding Harry's head as he wrapped his lips around Louis' leaking dick.

"Oh, fuck. So good for me, baby. Such a little slut. You liked it. Don't lie to me. You've wanted him to fuck you forever, haven't you?" He growled, grabbing a fistful of Harry's hair. He stopped, bracing himself, so that Louis could fuck his face. He started to brutally.

Harry's concerned eyes shifted to those of mischief. He let a twinkle of humor show, while Louis thrusted roughly into the back of his throat.

"Mhm. God, Harry! You drive me absolutely wild. Hold still. I'm going to cum" He ordered. Harry waited until he felt him splash the back of his throat. When he swallowed, Louis told him to stand.

"Open" he commanded. Harry obeyed immediately. Louis collected a wad of saliva, and spat it into Harry's mouth.

A little shocked, the curly-haired man let out a wild-sounding moan. He swallowed it, then opened his mouth again.

"Good fucking girl. Mmm. You're going to make the most perfect little slutty submissive that ever lived. All mine...." He carried on.

"Yours" Harry confirmed, collapsing on his stomach next to his daddy. His dress was hardly covering anything. Harry had almost forgotten he was wearing it, with everything else going on.

A few minutes later, Niall emerged from the shower, wearing the other outfit Louis had laid out for Harry that morning. He cleaned up the cuts on his face. While he still looked like he'd been though hell, he definitely had some pep in his step, realizing that he was a million times safer than he'd been.

"Attention, all guests. We will be docking in Fort Lauderdale shortly, then will make our final stop in Key West. If you are planning on getting off in Fort Lauderdale, please make your way to the stern within the next fifteen minutes" The same woman's voice on the loudspeaker said.

"Alright, that's us. You wanna wear this, Princess? Or you want a pair of shorts and a shirt?" Louis asked.

"Which do you prefer, daddy?" Harry asked teasingly, knowing the answer. Louis chuckled and rolled his eyes. "I'll wear this. Keep up appearances and all..." He said.

"Psh. You love it too, and you know it" Niall teased, playfully messing up Harry's hair. "Alright. Let's get the fuck outta here. These people are...so fucking sick. At least they're all terrified of you now, Louis"

They made their way down the long empty corridor, and when they were close enough to swim to the dock, if need be, the three emerged onto the stern.

Dev, the man who had been decent to Harry when they met the day before, was standing there, waiting to open the gate, and tie them to the pole. When he finally did, Dev told them to have a nice day, looking at Harry genuinely regretfully, when Louis' back was turned.

The second Harry stepped off of the boat, and onto the dock, he looked back at the man who gave him straight answers as to what fresh hell he'd found himself in, and beamed a bright, dimply smile the man's way. Dev seemed shocked, but sent a hint of a confused smile back at him, then looked down hurriedly and returned to work, likely protecting Harry more than himself.

The three walked off of the dock and all sighed with relief when their feet hit the pavement.

"This is me" Louis said, walking up to a shiny, black Mercedes. Harry got in the passenger seat and Niall got in the back. "Three days on that damn boat. Never going on a yacht for any fuckin' reason ever again..." he muttered, as he backed out of his parking space, and sped out of there, headed for Miami.

❧

"Oh, thank god..." Louis said, stepping into his home with both boys trailing close behind. He slammed the door and locked it. After their relatively quiet, half-hour ride to Miami, they were on the 17th floor of a high-rise luxury condo building. The place was massive. "Make yourselves at home. You're welcome to anything there is. There cant be much.

"I'll be right back. Then we can order some food. There's beer, water, soda in the fridge. Liquor in the cabinet. Help yourselves to anything" Louis said, heading up a floating staircase on the far left wall.

Having a moment alone, Niall and Harry stood in Louis' foyer, and looked at each other. Harry laughed nervously, feeling awkward.

He was wearing a dress. Voluntarily. Niall had just been forced to fuck him in front of a dozen people. He had no clue what poor Niall had gone through aside from what he'd seen. He wanted to ask, but didn't know how to.

"I...couldn't believe it was you. My heart broke. Before I saw you, my only comfort was knowing Liam had you to help him. Was such a weird, terrible feeling. Helpless. Could see you, but couldn't get to you. But...felt shitty, for selfishly being relieved. That I wasn't alone. I still don't think I've processed that we're safe. He's an actual angel. I'm...happy for you" Niall said, shifting uncomfortably on his feet.

Harry gestured to the white couch across the bright, open room. It was a welcome change of scenery from the dark, scary chambers on the boat.

"I felt the same" Harry replied. "Felt guilty seeing what you...had to deal with. Even though he treated me like shit because he had to, the guy who bought me treated me like an equal behind closed doors. Yours was a monster. I...wasn't leaving without you. Told Louis I would figure out how to save you with or without him. He told me he'd already been thinking about how to buy you, for me.

"I hope you're...okay. I mean, I know you're not. None of us are. But I mean, that he wasn't too terrible in the few hours he had you before dinner, then all of last night. I was...physically worried sick...helpless doesn't begin to describe it..." Harry said as sensitively as he could. Niall shrugged. "And thanks for saying that. I mean, we don't know each other, but...feels right so far.

"I was an asshole to him last night. Made him feel terrible. He did what he could to do minimal damage. The attention just kept falling on us. Don't think he's forgiven himself for it, so thanks for not holding it against him..." he added.

"I'm okay now. Thanks to you guys..." Niall said. Harry always adored his friend's optimistic attitude. "He was worse in front of the others. Especially when he bought me. Fucked me right there. I was expecting it, but it wasn't...great. He was rough. But, thankful that was the worst of it, honestly. Roughed me up a bit when he brought me to his room. Laid out his sick 'rules'. Made me fuck him.

"But...after dinner last night, he locked me in a cage and pretty much avoided me. Texted his boyfriend all night. Woke me up by barking at me. Made me suck him off. I wasn't enthused, so he was pissed. Hit me again. My head game isn't that weak, I swear" he told him, his voice somber, until he made them both giggle at the end.

"He just saved my ass. Bought me. Stuck his neck out, and far, just because you care about me. I'd never hold anything that happened on that boat against him. I'll make sure he knows it, too. He's a...scary good actor, but I have no doubt he's a genuinely good guy. I mean, buying a willing hooker still isn't the BEST look, but at least it's consensual. And if he hadn't gone to do that...

"Both of us would be in the hands of completely separate monsters right now. So, yeah. He's off the hook for all of it. I um...dunno how to...say this..." he continued shakily. "I know you said you were fine with it, but it was still so, so fucked up. I know that you know I'd never...willingly hurt you. But...still felt wrong. In a way, anyway. Once you said what you said, it made it a lot easier.

"So...thanks for that too, H. I...I love you. I'm so glad we're okay. That we have each other no matter what. Thanks to him" he said, smiling shyly at the end.

Harry wasn't sure how to reply to that. He sighed and sat back in his seat, forgetting he was in a dress, until he felt the cool breeze between his legs when he opened them. Then, he sat back up and crossed them.

"I'm...really sorry that happened to you. That he did that to you. It'll take time to heal, but at least we can...talk to each other about it. I...had zero reservations, Ni. I was worried I was pressuring you to do it. But I was sure that if you knew what I knew about Louis, you'd have wanted to. It was...the best fucking case scenario. So...wasn't a problem for me. I love you too, Nialler.

"You don't tell anyone anything that you're not ready to talk about. I'm positive Liam will understand all of it, but you don't...owe that information to anyone you don't want to give it to. And I'll never breathe a word. I've got your back. Always" He said earnestly, pulling his best friend in for a long, non-awkward hug. Both boys had tears in their eyes when they parted.

"I wanted to. Before I knew about Louis. I was just worried about you. Maybe um...well actually, I know....that part of me always has wanted that..." Niall seemed to make himself say, wiping at a tear. "And thanks for that. I'll tell him eventually, but...might not lead with it" he said through a chuckle.

"Guess I've nothing to feel guilty about there, then" Louis said, walking down the floating staircase. Niall gasped and his face turned red. His eyes were screaming with remorse. "Good to know. Did you know your bestie here has the biggest humiliation kink that anyone on that yacht full of sickos has ever seen? Wasn't being cruel when I told you to show him off at the end.

"Was giving him exactly what he wanted. Isn't that right, Princess?" He teased, approaching the other two, holding out a cellphone.

"Yes, daddy. I fucking loved it" Harry replied cheekily. Niall looked between the two smiling men and clutched his chest, relieved.

"Here. You've been with your man for four years. You trust him?" Louis asked, handing Niall the cell. He nodded almost violently. "Good. Go give him a call. Block the number. This is the address. He is welcome here, but you MUST tell him that he cannot tell a single soul, not even your mother, well, 'specially not her. But no one can know you're safe. Tell him to get in his car and start driving.

"Please stress the seriousness of that. That all of our lives and freedom are at risk. He cannot tell a soul where he's really going, so make up something believable" Louis told him seriously. Niall just kept nodding until his neck was going to snap off. He shot up out of his seat, and he kissed Louis on the cheek again.

"Thank you. Thank you. I...anything you ever need from me is yours, Louis. I will make sure he doesn't tell anyone. Thank you isn't a strong enough word. You're a saint..." he said, walking towards the kitchen for some privacy. Louis smiled and nodded, sitting down next to his Princess.

Harry nuzzled himself into Louis' chest, when he lifted his arm.

"Well, at least we can relax for a while. You're safe now. We'll figure the rest out as we go..." Louis said, visibly exhausted. He closed his eyes as he rested his head on the edge of his couch.

"Safe thanks to you. Can't stop seeing you fucking him up. You're my hero, Lou..." Harry replied in an adoring voice, pushing some of Louis' fringe away from his eyes.

"Yeah. Honestly didn't know I had that in me, either. I'd just been so angry. The whole time, since I figured out where I was. How could I have gotten myself wrapped up in something so terrible? The things I said on the deck...you know that's not how I feel, right? Not quite sure your friend does..." He said sadly.

Harry ran his fingers up and down Louis' chest soothingly, looking at his daddy with nothing but appreciation and understanding.

"Of course I know that. I know you don't really think that way. Those people...you can tell they were raised differently than you. They're used to that kind of behavior. Because they've likely been around people who think it's acceptable their entire lives..." Harry assured. "You gave them a lesson about being decent, while pretending you fit right in. Even though we can't save the others, at least not right away, you seemed to have made an impression on them.

"The way it was going, for all we know they're competing about who can show their slave the most mercy right now. Guy's eyes lit up when they thanked him for the soda. When they looked at him gratefully for not hurting them for no reason, it...reached him. In a way he'd wanted. You did far more good than harm being on that boat, okay Lou? I'm serious about that.

"Wouldn't even matter to me if you HAD come looking for a slave, but changed your mind when you saw what that actually looked like. Niall is still digesting that he's safe. I'm sure he doesn't quite believe it yet, but I can promise you he wouldn't have said that he trusts you because I do, if he didn't mean it. He sure as shit wouldn't have said he supports us together, if he didn't mean it.

"If he was mad at you about anything that's happened, he'd never have hugged you. He loves to hold a grudge, and isn't subtle at all about doing it. Was a good thing he didn't know you're a good guy until we were below deck. Otherwise he'd probably have exacted his revenge on Chet, without thinking of the consequences for any of us.

"He's a bit of a hothead. But he's undoubtedly grateful, he's on the phone with his boyfriend right now. I'm sure Liam's getting in the car as they speak. You saved his life, Lou. You have nothing, nothing at all to be sorry about. To either of us, okay?" Harry said seriously, grabbing Louis' chin and looking into his eyes.

"Thanks for saying that. Think we're all digesting all of it. I don't expect him to be any more considerate of my position than Chet was of his, so the fact that he said all of that means a lot to me. We'll order some food in, yeah? You two must be starving. We can get a little drunk. I just realized...I don't even know where you guys live...how long do you think it'll take him to get here?" Louis replied, then asked.

"We live in Virginia. Not far from Virginia Beach. I'm not sure how long it actually takes. Probably 13-14 hours. Knowing Liam, and how worried he must be, he'll do it in ten" Harry said, breathing a laugh. Louis hummed in acknowledgement. "God, never thought I'd say this, but I miss my phone" He realized sadly, realizing he couldn't simply type the question into Google Maps.

"We'll get you a new one tomorrow, okay? I know I didn't get a chance to explain much...of the lifestyle with me that you'd said you choose. Um...I know this is all super complicated, and we're all going to have to make some compromises while we figure out how to get him home undetected. Goes without saying, I'd pay for round-the-clock security for the both of you without flinching.

"But...if your boss really does have any role in this...buying you guys your own army wouldn't even help. Even if you just never showed back up at work, word would get to him that you're back eventually. He'd immediately tell the big guys, and an hour later you'd be on another boat. Going somewhere I have no access to, or knowledge about.

"The good news is, now that we're not under a microscope, maybe we have a shot at finding out if the FBI is aware of this particular ring. Chet isn't the biggest problem when we get home. Everyone else on the boat, especially Alfie, is. Don't let his meek appearance fool you. He's as sick and twisted as the rest of them. He's not particularly sadistic, from what I've seen...

"But he orchestrated that entire auction. He told everyone they're encouraged to begin breaking in their pets as they see fit for the remainder of the trip. He was getting off on it too, in a different way. It was his boat. He has dirt on every single one of the buyers and he isn't afraid to use it.

"That...includes me. Aside from the proof that he has that I've bought and sexually assaulted not one, but now two slaves, he also...has something else. It’s...pretty bad. Um, I didn't want to have to tell you this. I'm not at all proud of it. Actually makes me sick to think about..."

As Louis was visibly becoming uneasy, Harry sat up, concerned. He had a bad feeling about whatever this was. Louis' leg bounced up and down anxiously, and he sat up from where he was slouching on the couch, now that Harry was no longer resting on his chest.

"Chet offered to buy me a ticket on that boat for a reason. After I'd gone out to drinks with him and Fabian, I went over to their place. Our boss was already there, as was his assistant, and both of their 'pets'. I'll spare you details, but I was...genuinely confused about the nature of their relationships. They looked like pretty standard BDSM couples. I seriously thought they were just...really kinky.

"None of the pets showed any sign of discomfort or even hesitation. They smiled and laughed, drank, flirted with me. So um...after telling them I wanted a pet of my own, they all insisted I take theirs for a 'spin'. So I um...I think I...raped...three different people. Without knowing it. And um....its all on camera. In Alfie's possession" Louis revealed, looking like he might actually puke.

"I was drunk. High on life. The things that they were saying...they didn't seem so fucked up. No one was getting hurt. The pets seemed happy to...entertain me. Like I promise you, Harry, they...begged for me. It didn't even dawn on me that they could have been forced to do so. When Chet told me that in order to get me a ticket, I'd need to give the host something to prove I wasn't a narc...

"Him sending him a copy of an orgy I was involved in, didn't seem so bad. Prostitution is illegal, yeah. But no one enforces that for the rich. I thought it was just a precaution. Like, I guess I thought it'd be used against me if I did anything to call attention to their prostitution ring. It seems like such a fucked up distinction in hindsight. Like...it was wrong either way, I know...

"But since the people who I'd...done things with that night seemed happy, willing, and insistent, the idea that it was trafficking wasn't even on my radar. Seemed like I was giving them dirt on me, just so I could join their club. And Chet absolutely knew what he was doing, misleading me like that. Looking back at it with clear eyes, it's painfully obvious. But, I was naive, thinking whoever I might buy when I got there...

"Would be thrilled for the opportunity to have someone like me. Someone who...cared for them. Someone who eventually loved them. Who was going to provide them with a lifestyle that they'd never dreamed of. Was I aware that not everyone would be as interested in caring for their 'pets' as I was? Sure. But I never in a million years thought it'd be anything like it was. If there's audio in the tape, then it'll help, but I doubt there is.

"For that reason, because I'd...asked each of them for a color. All of them said green. Enthusiastically, too. Not like there was a gun to their head, like everyone on that fucking boat looked like, doing literally everything. I can't...unsee a lot of the stuff. It tears me apart that I had to expose you to it. If I'd gotten what I wanted out of the trip, I'd have you as someone who got on that boat on their own accord.

"Someone who was willing to do anything for someone like me. Someone who wanted someone like me to take care of them. Support them financially. Yeah, I'm a pretty kinky guy, myself. I like...the idea...of a lot of the things we were doing. But ONLY if everyone was enjoying themselves. ONLY if they wanted to be there. So...I just thought you should know that...I'll probably...get arrested, too.

"Charged with more things than I'm even aware that I did, most likely. I only even know all of this, because when I pulled Chet into his room, after I figured out what was going on, and told him how NOT okay I was with all of it, he told me to get my shit together. Told me I was being a prudish little twat, but even if I wasn't going to partake, or buy my own, I needed to pretend to be okay with all of it.

"That they were absolutely capable of killing me, throwing me overboard, without thinking twice about it. But he said they would likely opt for ruining me first. I'd lose my job because my boss wouldn't trust me anymore. I'd lose all of the money I have left in legal fees. Even though it's my app, I invented it, I...sold it. For a pretty penny. I still work on the team, but it isn't in my name anymore. I don't have any rights to future profits.

"So if the feds are aware, or they find out, I'll probably get sent to prison. For years, if not decades. I'm not telling you this to deter anyone from speaking out on anything. I just want you to fully understand what I'm up against" he told him. He'd started to tear up at some point, but Harry was still trying to let all of what he'd just said sink in.

While he wasn't thrilled to hear about the tape, he did believe Louis whole-heartedly. He'd seen with his own eyes how torn up Louis was over the things he'd seen, the things he was forced to force Harry to do. It didn't change the fact that he'd still done all of those things for survival of not just himself, but Harry, and eventually Niall as well.

"I need you to hear me when I say this, Louis..." Harry said, his voice quiet, but firm. "I said I'd choose you, because I did. I had a life before I was dragged out there, yes. The most important person in my life ended up being on that boat with me. I had a job that I really enjoyed, even some of the less-pleasant aspects. I never would have been there, if I didn't agree to blow a stranger for a few extra bucks.

"Yes, I was abducted. No, I didn't want to be there. Yes, everything that occurred on that boat was illegal, immoral, and reprehensible. Except for the things that went on in your room once the door was closed. Those were all me. I invited you into the shower with me after you came in while I was jerking off thinking about you. I had no fucking clue what was going on. No idea who I was going to end up with.

"If you never got on that boat Lou, Niall and I still would have been. We'd been drugged and kidnapped after agreeing to do sexual favors in exchange for money. That is also illegal. We were trafficked, and I'm not victim-blaming ourselves by any means, it is still not okay to kidnap people and sell them, but we weren't exactly innocent school children either.

"It's not your fault that we were on the same boat you were tricked into getting on, okay? Not at all" Harry assured. "It is one-hundred percent because of you, that we're off of it, and that we have our freedom. I'm so sorry all of this has happened to you, too. I agree, what you came looking for, and the dark reality of what it ended up being, are not the same thing. Not at all.

"I'm not sure what our next moves are, either. What I am sure about, is that if I'd met you in any other capacity, and you offered me what you came there to offer me in the first place, I likely would have accepted it. Even if you were a John that'd come to pay me to suck him off, then told me what you wanted, I'm positive I would have considered it. I don't want you to feel guilty about anything.

"The only thing that I'm sure of, the only certain thing in my world right now, is that I'd do anything to protect you, too. I have your back, no matter what happens, Louis. You risked everything to save me. And to save someone else because I cared about him. I'm in college. I'd dropped out, and gone back after a few years of whoring around. I couldn't have my job back even if I wanted it, which I no longer do.

"I'd met a guy a last week online. I liked him. I'd planned to see him at Niall's surprise party this weekend. I havent thought about him once, since I laid eyes on my new daddy. Leaving Liam and Niall and my other friends is going to be hard, but I'll be a free man. I can see them from time to time. I imagine there's a school in London that I can transfer to for computer science.

"Now that we're off that boat, I'm right where I want to be, because I'm with you. If the FBI is looking into this ring, they're taking their sweet ass time. If they don't know about it yet, then that works in our favor. If we speak to them together, you get ahead of it. You get to tell your side of the story first, before they see any evidence. Niall and I will corroborate your story, because it is our experience of you.

"You're a good person, Lou. We've all done some stuff we're not proud of. Sounds to me like you got thrusted into this world, not truly understanding what kind of people are in it. How they all enable and blackmail each other, going around in circles, so no one ever gets saved, no one gets held accountable for anything they've done. So don't...dwell on that tape too much, okay?

"You single-handedly broke a cycle of cooperation. That's how I see it. You had some moral dilemmas, but you came out of that situation a fucking hero. I can't wait to hear more about what kind of...relationship you wanted to have with me. I can't wait to give it to you, either. I'm not like Niall, I don't have a family. My dad bounced before I was born, my mom took off when I was six.

"She left me with her sister, my aunt. She wasn't exactly cruel, but wasn't particularly warm. Always kinda felt like a burden on her. When I told her I was gay when I was seventeen, she told me I needed to be out of her house on my eighteenth birthday. I finished high school while crashing at the Y. I've always wanted someone like you, Lou. Someone who wanted to care for me.

"Someone who had my best interests in mind. I don't care about money. I don't care if you lose everything defending your name. You won't lose me. I...care about you. A lot. I want to make you so happy. This isn't over, but we did buy ourselves some time to breathe, so let's just...enjoy that for the night. No one could possibly know anything yet.

"Liam is a lawyer. He deals with real-estate law, so this is going to be far over his head, but hopefully he'll be able to help us navigate this in the smartest possible way. We're safe, we're together. We have to keep calm, because we know in our hearts we've done nothing wrong, okay? Especially you, Louis. You asked those men for a color.

"Something I'm sure none of the other assholes they've been exposed to, even considered asking for. They consented to you. Regardless of it was because they were afraid of their owner, it doesn't change the fact that you didn't know. I sincerely hope there's audio on the tape, but I'd venture to guess that even if there isn't, one of those 'pets' would be willing to confirm that you did ask.

"Because they'll be free. And that will be because of you. You need to let yourself off the hook for all of it. You heard Niall. He wasn't upset about your command earlier. He was just concerned about me. When I told him that I wanted him to, he committed completely. You helped him save his own life, and he'll be forever grateful that you did, as will Liam. As am I..." he told him, letting his voice trail off.

Louis smiled weakly, and pulled Harry close to his chest again. They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, until Niall came back in the room. His eyes were red and puffy, but he was smiling brightly. They were tears of relief.

—————

Chapter Text

"He's coming. He won't be here until tomorrow morning, but he's on his way" Niall told them, giving Louis his phone back. "He's so happy we're okay. He won't tell anyone anything. He's been in touch with my mom like…every hour since they realized I was missing. He's going to tell her that he has to go away for a work emergency, but will be back in a few days, and to keep him updated.

"It's...so fucking hard knowing that she's still worried. But he knows better than to say anything to anyone. This is way out of his wheelhouse, but he understands that there are angles to this that are keeping us in danger. He told me to thank you. That he's so grateful you saved me. Kept me and Harry together. I'm like crawling out of my skin. Just wanna fast-forward to the morning" he rambled.

"I'm glad he's coming. I can't imagine how hard it is to not contact your mom. Hopefully when we're all able to sit down and really think this through, things will become more clear. Feels like there's no end in sight right now. I'm ready to start drinking until that changes, personally" Louis replied, standing up and stretching.

"Sounds perfect to me" Niall said, flashing a huge smile. Harry hated seeing the bruises on his face. He knew Liam was going to lose his mind when he laid eyes on him. He'd always been so protective of Niall.

They ordered in some Chinese food, and all of them started drinking wine. Louis and Niall split a bottle of white, while Harry sipped on a Pinot Noir. He couldn't help thinking about the fact that if not for Louis, he'd be on his way home with one of those other assholes on the boat. His mind flooded with guilt about the other boys who were still captive.

When they were out at sea, it was easy to tell himself that he couldn't possibly help them, at least until he'd helped himself. Now that he was safe, happily eating and getting a little drunk, he still felt helpless. They weren't out of the woods yet, they were just at more of an advantage. They were still up against forces they didn't even fully understand the power of.

He'd almost forgotten he was still in the dress Louis had put out for him that morning, until he had to go pee. He was then painfully aware of it. After cleaning himself out in Louis' bathroom, he returned down the floating staircase, where Niall and Louis were talking, laughing about a TV show Harry had never seen. Both pairs of eyes landed on Harry as he descended, making him feel self-conscious.

"Oh don't be shy, darling. You look absolutely lovely. If anything, think you're too covered up..." Louis said in a teasing voice. Harry flushed immediately, running a hand through his long curls, but smiling shyly at the compliment.

"Thanks, daddy" Harry replied coyly. He didn't want to look at Niall, but he couldn't not. When his gaze drifted over, the blond was also flushed, but literally devouring Harry with his eyes. What had happened earlier seemed to have sparked something between them both that neither had noticed before.

"Come sit on my lap, Princess" Louis commanded, his eyes bouncing between the two other men with jealousy, but also some amusement. Harry happily obeyed, trying to keep his eyes off of Niall, who was in the armchair across from the couch they were on. "Arms up, babygirl" he said. Harry confusedly did as told. He gasped, when Louis ripped the dress off, over his arms.

Now sat in his daddy's lap, wearing just a lacy, red thong, he looked towards Niall, concerned. Niall was in disbelief at the sight, but clearly not in a bad way. He seemed like he was trying to make himself look away, but his eyes followed Louis' hands as they ran down his boy's torso, down his thighs, then back up again.

Louis repeated the motion, feeling a little tipsy and horny. He then shoved his hand into Harry's thong, and began stroking his already-hardening dick.

"Color" he demanded casually, knowing they were all still a little uncomfortable with the dynamic.

"I'm green, daddy. I'm yours to do what you want with" Harry replied sheepishly, watching what Louis' hand was doing, while he felt the man's boner poke into the back of his naked thigh. "Wanna be good for you. Want to please you, daddy" he added, looking over his shoulder at the older man, who had trouble in his eyes.

"Color, Niall" Louis demanded. Niall chuckled awkwardly and scratched the back of his neck.

"Green" he replied simply, which surprised Harry, who wasn't sure if Louis was asking to make sure he wasn't uncomfortable, or because he had more activities in mind. Niall then decided to offer up information that was never really clear to him. "Li and I are...open. I'm not consumed by guilt over what happened. He's been fucking some twink that he works with, for months.

"I'll occasionally join. He's always known what I do at work on the side. Only rule is that we can't fall in love with anyone else. So...green" he expanded, winking at Louis, who was clearly both shocked and turned on.

Harry was less stunned by that fact. Niall had never exactly told Harry any of that, in those words, but had seen both men be overly-flirty with other guys. He knew Niall was entertaining for money the same way he was, and though he'd never been told, just assumed that Liam knew. Niall and Harry had been friends for so long, that they'd just never considered each other that way.

Niall was actually the first person Harry came out to, when they were in their senior year of high school. He recalled some light flirting and curious glanes between them, but they were too good of friends to risk complicating it. Now that things were very, very complicated, it seemed like he'd decided to throw caution to the wind and indulge, as long as Louis was welcoming him to.

"Well, well, well...wonder what would have happened if your buddy didn't think fast, and lie about your relationship. He was...very convincing. Until Harry traced the letters 'B.F.F' into my hand, I completely believed you, Ni. Thought that I was sparing you, Princess. Didn't realize I was interfering. With something you both said you wanted..." Louis said thoughtfully.

Harry couldn't focus on Louis' words anymore. Being practically naked and on his lap, with his daddy's hand working his cock, the taller man threw his head back lustily, wondering what Louis was building up to. Harry was down for whatever.

"Mmm feels so good. I love it. I'm yours, daddy. I'll do anything you want. I won't disobey you. You bought me my freedom, but I don't want it. I want to be your slave. I want you to control me..." Harry moaned, keeping his eyes closed.

"Such a good girl, baby. Let's get these off. Want you to stand right there and jerk off. Don't cum, or I'll make you do it four more times in a row" He ordered, helping Harry out of his thong. The younger man did as told, his ears stinging with embarrassment as he stood there naked in front of two grown, fully-clad men.

"What do you think, Blondie? Did you know your sexy bestie here was such a humiliation whore?" He asked, as both of their pairs of eyes remained glued to Harry. Niall giggled awkwardly, clearly feeling his wine.

"Not like this. Knew he was a submissive little bitch, just by looking at him, but never imagined he was this into it..." Niall responded. "You technically own me too, you know. Green means go. Just wanted to...make that clear, Sir" he added. Harry couldn't believe his ears. He was consumed by an intoxicating combination of jealousy and desire.

"Thank you for the reminder, cupcake. You're going to pretend that I don't own you, for the sake of this little role play. See, in your absence, I was trying to tell Harry here what I'd hoped to offer him, before I realized what was going on. What I'll expect of him as my submissive, in return for my undying, adoring loyalty and protection..." Louis replied.

Niall cackled, adding to the blissful humiliation Harry was now experiencing. He had to stop touching himself so he didn't cum, as he waited for Louis to expand. His tummy twisted with excitement.

"So for right now, you are my slave, like you're oh, so desperate to be. Niall here is a friend of mine from school, who I haven't seen for some time. You're going to make sure he feels very, very welcome. You're going to do anything he asks of you, without pause. Unless we hear a color, you obey each of us. Understood?" Louis said, taking his dick out and stroking it.

"Understood, daddy. I'm at your service, both of you" Harry said, looking at Niall unashamedly, letting him see how fucking insanely into this he was. Niall inhaled sharply, palming himself outside of his shorts.

"Good girl, baby. Now he's had a long, stressful journey. I'm sure he could use a release after his ordeal. Why don't you go give his big dick a kiss, baby" Louis directed. "Crawl over to him on your hands and knees, you dirty slut. Let him see how desperate you are for cock"

Harry dropped to his hands and knees, feeling humiliated and controlled in the best possible way. He approached his best friend, who was looking down at him, amused and painfully turned on.

"Go on, slut. Take it out" Niall ordered, gesturing to his crotch. "It's had a rough couple of days, while yours has been coddled the entire time. If you think this is bad, wait until you see what we're going to do to that tight llittle ass later" he added wickedly. Harry breathed a weird laugh, unsure what to say to that.

"Yes, Sir" Harry replied. He unbuttoned the shorts that he'd had the option to wear that morning, and pulled his best friend's dick out. The veiny monster was rock-hard, and dripping pre-cum. Harry licked at the glistening tip, before taking the whole thing in his mouth.

"Fuck, thats good. Nice piece of ass you've bought yourself here, Lou. Think I'd like to hear about what his life is going to be like from here on out. If it's anything like this, he'll be in heaven" Niall said, putting a hand on top of Harry's curly head of hair and using it to guide his pace.

"Gonna look an awful lot like this, yeah. I've never been into being cruel for the sake of being cruel. Praise and rewards when he's good, punishments reserved for bad behavior, which will usually involve spanking, with or without a paddle, orgasm denial, and forced over-stimulation. Those are just my personal favorites. Depending on how naughty he's been, the punishment would be equivalent in severity.

"He's just told me he's in school, which is encouraged. He'll have a car to get to and from classes. He won't work while he's in school. Daddy will buy him everything he needs. He will be expected to be naked, and plugged when I arrive home each day, unless otherwise instructed. He'll be nude for the majority of his life, for the foreseeable future, and expected to keep himself in the same shape as he was purchased in.

"He'll accompany me on business trips, waiting patiently for daddy to come back from his meetings, and entertaining any friends I bring over, in any way I command. He'll be allowed to go over hard limits, and I will never press on those. Outside of those limits, we use the color system, as you've seen. If he doesn't use one, he will obey me, whether I order him to sit on four different dicks in a row,

"Or if I tell him to go to his room and do his homework, while I entertain the guests. Monogamy is not exactly my thing, but similar to your own relationship, neither of us will become emotionally involved with anyone else. I have a specific and consistent sexual appetite. He'll be expected to meet those needs. In return, he gets to live a lovely life with full autonomy.

"He'll have the car, have a cellphone, and have an allowance to purchase whatever he wants, while he's in school. Once he graduates, he'll only have a job if he wants one. He's able to go anywhere, do anything, and I won't try to stop him. But if I express that I'm displeased in any choices he makes, there will be punishments carried out, especially for things he does without consulting me.

"My aim is to make him happy. I want to be with him, and I want him to want the same for me. Those are the only terms I have myself, but we'll go over what he wants from it as well..." Louis told Niall casually, while his princess sucked the blond's cock to perfection. Louis sat up from the couch, and while still stroking his own dick, pressed a firm thumb to Harry's sore rim.

"Oh, fuck, Haz. That feels incredible" Niall grunted. "What do you think, hmm? That sound good to you? I think you're gonna be in heaven. You've always been such a little bitch. I think you love it. You love the idea of being owned by someone, don't you? Fuck, I'm close..." Harry nodded urgently with his eyes, but only slightly with his head, so as not to accidentally scrape his teeth. He loved all of it.

Niall let out a soft series of moans, after pulling himself out of Harry's mouth at the last second, and painting Harry's face with cum. Harry kept his mouth open until the blond was finished, like a good girl.

"Sounds...absolutely perfect..." Harry said, turning around and smiling brightly up at Louis. Every word he said was music to Harry's ears.

"Mmm. Thought so..." Louis responded, petting Harry's head. "So fucking slutty baby. Coming up to me with another man's jizz all over your face? You look so pretty, baby. Daddy's gonna take a picture..." Louis said, reaching for his phone, then looking at both men for any sign of protest. Their cheesy smiles told him they were down. He snapped a few pictures of both of them.

"Wanna get him open for me, while he sucks me off?" Louis asked Niall, who'd been tucking himself back into his waistband. Upon Louis' request, he decided to leave his dick out, likely thinking he'd be ready to go again in no time.

"Sure do. Can I jerk him off, too? He he's so hard. He loves all of the attention..." Niall said, getting on his knees behind Harry and spitting on his hole, before inching a pointer finger inside.

"Sure. If you make him cum, he has to do it four more times, so...knock yourself out" Louis replied with a sick twist in his jovial voice. Niall asking Louis if he could touch him, instead of asking Harry himself, drove the curly-haired man wild. He loved being talked about like he had no say. He loved that Louis was getting off on sharing him. He couldn't wait to start his new life with his daddy.

As Harry choked himself on Louis' cock, Niall fingered him open, while stroking himself slowly. Though he was a bit sore from earlier, he was also still a little dilated.

Harry also loved that he wasn't in control of his own orgasm anymore, making it so he'd be punished if Niall so chose, instead of self-restraint saving him. He wanted as little control over his mind and body as possible. He trusted his daddy to take care of him.

"That's good baby. Want you on your hands and knees on the couch" Louis said when Harry's mouth brought him to the edge. "You're not wearing anything for the rest of the night. Most of tomorrow, too, though I'll let you put on a slutty dress for when his boyfriend comes. You have such a perfect body, Harry. Need to see as much of it as possible at all times..." Louis said, licking Harry's hole, when he got up on the sofa next to him.

Niall had to clear his throat. He was beyond turned on at the idea of being able to see as much of Harry as he wanted, while he was taking refuge in Louis' home. He pulled himself back up onto the armchair, and watched the other two while lazily pulling his dick.

"Yes, daddy. Understood" Harry groaned as Louis made sure he was open enough to take him. Deciding he couldn't wait anymore, Louis lined himself up. Harry whimpered in pain at the slow, steady stretch, but he loved it when his daddy was rough with him.

"Good fucking girl" Louis growled. He started fucking him fast and hard after giving him very little time to adjust to his girth. "This one's about daddy. Taking what I want from you, given I had to watch your friend fuck you, thinking neither of you wanted it. Now look at you, hmm? Practically begging me to let you two play. You're keeping my cock warm for the rest of the night, gorgeous.

"After I fill you up with cum, Niall is going to use you to make himself cum again. You are going to make yourself available to him in whatever way he wants. After I scrub you down, you're going to wear a vibrating plug to bed, and I'm going to have the remote. You're going to wake up to it going off in the morning. You'll come downstairs wearing only that and a smile, and you'll eat breakfast.

"If you finish your meal without cumming, you'll be rewarded. If you can't handle it, and you blow your load before then, you'll be punished. You won't know what either is until it's over. So, that darling, is just a little taste of the life you so adamantly chose. Any reservations?!" He explained through labored breaths with each thrust, nearly shouting by the end.

Harry was watching Niall watch them, almost the entire time Louis was speaking. Louis' cock was pounding into his prostate harder than anyone ever had before.

"None whatsoever, daddy. Makes me so happy. I love this. I'm completely yours. I'm your fuck-doll. Use me however you want. Anything you want. Ah! Fuck! I'm sorry, daddy, I'm so close. I don't know if I can take it..." he said, whimpering at the end.

"You can take it. So good for me Princess. Wait until daddy is finished...you can take it, gorgeous. You were born to take cock. Dirty little whore..." Louis hissed in a quiet but rough voice. Niall made himself moan.

"Mmm. I'm a good girl. I can take it..." Harry repeated, wincing as Louis slammed into him four more times, then briefly stilled inside of him.

"See? Cum. Now. So fucking good..." Louis demanded, filling Harry's hole with jizz, thrusting a few more times than was actually comfortable after his sensitive cock started rebelling. Harry's climax started, just as Louis' ended. He came all over the couch underneath him.

Niall was loving the show, sitting back and relaxing while waiting for his turn. When Louis sat back down and caught his breath, Harry stayed in position, looking to Niall for direction.

"He's all yours, Blondie. Make it embarrassing and he'll purr like a kitten for ya" Louis said apathetically. Niall looked at Harry, and smiled wickedly.

"Get over here. Crawl" he demanded, in a more stern voice than he'd ever heard from the blond. He scurried to do as Niall said. "Want you to sit on my dick, facing your daddy. I'm not gonna fuck you just yet. You're going to keep me warm until I decide to start moving. Get comfy, it might be a little while..." he added.

Harry stood, and went to sit before the blond held out his hand, stopping him. He had Harry bend over and touch his toes. Then dipped two fingers into his open hole.

"Now sit" Niall directed. When Harry was finally all of the way down on the Irish man's cock, Niall shoved the two fingers into Harry's mouth. The curly-haired man sucked his daddy's cum off of them eagerly. "Good girl. You taste yourself, hmm? Fuck, you're tight. No moving, now..." he warned. Harry was struggling just a little. He was still coming down from his climax.

Taking Niall in his sensitive hole, keeping his huge, angry dick pressed to his spot, it wasn't long before he started to stiffen between his legs again. There was no other noise in the room. No distractions. Niall was running his hands up and down Harry's body, while Louis sat and watched. It was so intense. The lustful, jealous smolder Louis was observing him with was beyond intimidating.

After what felt like ten minutes, Niall finally started to move. No one had said a word. Harry and Louis just looked at each other, while Niall watched their interaction from behind. When he started thrusting up into Harry, the taller man started letting out surprised, high-pitched moans. After just a minute, Niall came inside of him, mixing his and Louis' jizz together for the second time today.

"Good girl. Go on back to your daddy now" Niall ordered, tucking himself back into his pants, like Louis had already done. Harry got on his hands and knees and crawled over to his owner. Louis was frowning just a little, given how blissed-out Harry looked. The younger man put his head in his daddy's lap and looked up at him, blinking innocently, desperately craving praise.

"Mmm. You think you're a good girl?" Louis asked. Harry nodded enthusiastically.

"Yes, daddy. Think I'm good. I'm a good girl"

"Then turn around" he ordered. Harry did as told. Louis pushed two fingers inside the same way Niall had, and told him to face him again. When he saw the fingers waiting, he opened his mouth. Louis' eyes lit up when Harry licked their cum off of them, like he was savoring every drop.

"Niall, I do hope you've enjoyed yourself. I am looking forward to meeting Liam tomorrow. The guest bedroom is right over there. Please make yourself at home. I'm going to go clean this little slut up, then we're gonna go to bed. Don't be afraid to let us know if you need anything" Louis said.

Niall thanked him again, and seemed relieved to have a place to lie his head that wasn't a dog cage. When Louis got up, Harry went to stand as well.

"Ah, ah, ah. Hands and knees unless daddy tells you that you can walk" Louis tutted. Harry gave him just a hint of a dirty look, but obeyed, crawling up the floating staircase with his open hole on display to Louis, who was right behind him.

❧

The rest of the night panned out exactly how Louis laid out for him. After scrubbing Harry down in the shower, he told his boy to get on the bed on all fours. Once he was in position, Louis spat inside of his freshly cleaned hole, and inserted the medium-sized black vibrating plug.

He had Harry hang out under the covers for a while with his mouth around his flaccid, sensitive cock, while he scrolled through his phone and answered some more e-mails. Harry was in heaven, elated to be in Louis' big comfy bed. He'd happily sleep just like that, if Louis told him to. He liked having his daddy's cock in his mouth. He was becoming obsessed with the appendage.

Every once in a while, Louis would turn the plug on for just a few moments, forcing a shocked moan from Harry, while he tried to keep his mouth where it was supposed to be.

"Alright, Princess. Very good girl. Get up here" Louis said after an hour. Harry crawled up and smiled at him lovingly, unable to think of a time in his life when he'd been happier. "Good night, angel. Were so good for me today. Daddy's so glad he found you..." Louis cooed, wrapping his arms around Harry from behind.

"Night daddy. So fucking glad you found me." Harry replied, smiling to himself as he fell asleep cuddled up to the man of his dreams.

—————

Chapter Text

Harry woke up exactly how Louis told him he would. The plug began vibrating, rousing him out of a sound, content sleep. It increased in power and intensity the longer he took to get up, until he'd reached what seemed to be the highest setting. Just when he thought it couldn't feel any better, it started pulsating inside of him.

He was already hard from just waking up, and all he wanted to do was cum. But those weren't daddy's instructions. Remembering that he's not allowed clothes, he sauntered down the stairs sleepily and fully-erect.

"Woah" Niall said, sitting on the couch, eating a bowl of cereal and looking anxious. Liam should probably be there soon, Harry thought.

The naked man's face turned pink. He was a little drunk when they'd taken turns with him the night before. Now that he wasn't anymore, it was a fresh, new kind of embarrassment, that being the only one naked made him feel. His cock twitched while the plug continued to vibrate inside of him.

"Morning, Princess. Wow. You look...incredible..." Louis said. He gestured to one of the three barstools at the kitchen island, and put a plate of eggs and bacon in front of him. "Eat up, babygirl. We don't know what time Liam will get here. If he walks in, he walks in. We'll be powerless to stop it..." Louis said menacingly.

Harry started choking down his food. He was hungry, but the vibrating plug was making it hard to focus. It felt amazing. He also felt so humiliated, so slutty and dirty, being the only one turned on, at least visibly.

Thinking about his friend's boyfriend, who he's known for years, walking in on him in this state was driving him wild. The thought of the look on his face, taking in the peculiar situation, was going to make him cum.

"Um. Can...can you turn it off? I...I don't think I can..." Harry said, cutting himself off when a moan got caught in his throat. Louis and Niall snickered, sitting and watching about ten feet behind him, which only added to the intensity.

"No can do, angel. You love it, don't lie. Feels so good doesn't it? You're not going to be able to help it. You're about to cum untouched first thing in the morning, in front of your daddy and your best friend, because you're so fucking slutty and pathetic. So desperate. So sexy, Harry. You need that pretty little hole filled at all times, don't you? Come on angel. Just give in..." Louis taunted, dangling the remote in the air.

"Oh fuck. You're so right, daddy" Harry practically shouted. "I'm so pathetic. So dirty. So naughty. Can't help it...gonna....cum" He whimpered, gripping the edge of the island counter to stabilize himself as his climax caught up to him.

"Turn around. We need to see" Louis demanded. Harry did as told. He turned around on the rotating stool, right before his cock erupted right in front of him, most of it landing on his lap, but some shooting onto the dark, wood floor beneath him. Niall and Louis looked insanely turned on, sitting next to each other, watching at the edge of their seats. They pointed at him and cackled, nudging each other, making it all the more intense for Harry.

"Wow! So fucking slutty. So fucking desperate. Can't even get through breakfast without blowing his load. What a bitch!" Niall laughed. Harry had no choice but to laugh at himself when it was over, and he was on the other side.

"Alright, alright, baby. Get over here" Louis said, pulling himself together. Harry did as told, crawling like he knew he was supposed to. The impressed look Louis gave him was worth it alone. "So, punishment it is, hmm? Why don't you choose, since it's your first one. Keep in mind, it's very, very early. You're going to cum an awful lot today. So, would you rather take ten hard smacks to that pretty ass? Or have Niall here suck your dick until you cum again?"

Harry didn't know which one to pick. The humiliation of getting spanked by another grown man in front of his best friend was daunting. Knowing what kind of day he was likely in for, he decided to opt for that, rather than making himself too sensitive first thing in the morning.

"I'll take the spanking, daddy" Harry sighed, looking at the floor with rosy cheeks. Niall looked a little disappointed, but still endlessly amused.

"Okay, Princess. Come lay over my knee. You're going to watch Niall watch you take it like a good girl. He's going to tell me if you take your eyes off of his" Louis ordered.

Harry's mouth fell open in shock, and he almost protested. He'd been planning on avoiding his friend's gaze completely. Still, he knew he had to do it, and didn't want Louis to think he was too delicate.

"Yes, daddy" Harry said, as he laid over Louis' knee, looking at Niall's humored face. The blond blushed a little himself at the intensity and intimacy of the moment, but he didn't look away either, as Harry counted all five smacks aloud. Niall giggled at him, but also palmed himself, assuring Harry that he was getting off on it, and not just making fun of him.

"Such a good girl. Up" Louis said. He kneaded both of Harry's pink butt-cheeks soothingly for a few moments, commenting on his beautiful ass, showing him off to Niall like he was a toy. Harry couldn't get enough. "Let's go get you dressed for the day. Be back in a few" Louis said, pulling Harry along, who was grateful to not have to crawl up the stairs again.

"How are we doing, Princess? That wasn't too much, was it?" Louis asked. He had a teasing ring to his voice, masking an undercurrent of concern. Harry giggled adorably.

"No, daddy. I love it all. Just wanna be good for you..." Harry replied. Louis smiled brightly, and gave his boy a kiss, before leading him into his huge, walk-in closet.

He let Harry look at a rack of several different types and color dresses, but assured him that there was a much larger selection at his home in London. There was a short, strapless black one towards the back. Harry pulled it on, and felt incredibly sexy. When his eyes caught his legs, he frowned.

"What is it, baby? Don't like that one?" Louis asked, checking him out from all angles.

"No, I do. Was just wondering, daddy. Can I shave my legs? I think they'd look sexier all silky and smooth. So soft for you. But I don't know how" He asked with genuine excitement and innocence, which melted Louis' heart.

"Of course, angel. I think that's a nice idea. Let's slip this off and head into the bathroom. Daddy's going to do it for you. Don't want you to hurt yourself now..." he said. Harry's heart skipped a beat. He was going to shave his legs for him? And it made Harry's dick twitch? He was starting to wonder if he might need help. He was so horny in Louis' presence. All of the time.

After Louis shaved both of Harry's legs, and trimmed up his pubic area, Harry admired himself in the dress once again, loving the smooth, shiny look. He felt so pretty.

"No need for panties, baby. Gonna plug you back up, and you're going to sit on my lap whenever I say. You look absolutely incredible..." Louis said pulling him out of the room. Harry was certain that he was falling in love, and it'd hardly been two days.

❧

When the pair returned downstairs, Niall complimented Harry's dress instead of making fun of it, making Harry smile genuinely.

They all waited anxiously for Liam's arrival, which should have been any minute.

After about twenty minutes of idly watching the news, the buzzer buzzed. When Louis asked who it was from the intercom, to make sure, Niall stood up excitedly at the sound of Liam's voice. After Louis hit the button to let him up, and Niall opened the door, there he was.

His chestnut hair was grown out to a medium length. His urgent, golden-brown eyes landed on Niall immediately, and he gasped in horror at the sight of the man he loved. Niall's face was pretty badly bruised, and Liam couldn't yet see the extent of the damage done to his body. Niall pulled him in for a hug, and both men started gently sobbing into each other's shoulders, right there in the doorway.

"Niall, baby. What happened to you? Who did this to you? It took every ounce of restraint I had not to tell anyone anything. Seeing you now, makes me wish I had..." Liam asked tearfully. Niall shook his head 'no' and guided him inside.

"I know. Looks worse than it feels. Come in. We'll explain everything. You'll understand why" he said. Liam's eyes widened at the sight of Harry, who now felt even more embarrassed, given how upset Liam looked. His confused expression thankfully became tickled, scanning Harry's beautiful body in a dress for the first time ever. He stood to give his friend a hug, watching Liam look at the cut and bruise on his lip with concern.

"I know. You missed a lot. It's so fucking good to see you, Lima" Harry said, pulling away and sitting back down. "This is Louis. He's the only reason we're not where we were. Or worse" He added proudly.

"Nice to meet you, man. I'm sure this has been...unimaginable for you. I'm glad you could come be with Niall while we wait for this to play out" Louis said, standing and holding out his hand to shake.

Liam looked at Louis oddly for a moment, like he was stunned that there was another person in the room. Just when Louis was getting nervous that his handshake was being rejected, Liam pulled him in for a hug.

"Thank you, Louis" He said, squeezing the stranger tight. "I don't understand this at all, but I know you saved them. I can't...thank you enough. I was...worried doesn't begin to cover it. Felt so helpless...I'm...so grateful" he added, backing off and reaching behind him for Niall again.

Louis smiled cautiously. He was aware that the details of the story he was about to hear, didn't necessarily paint Louis out in the best light. He gestured for the man to sit, and offered him something to drink. After grabbing waters for everyone, Niall began explaining what they'd been through. He told Liam about when he and Harry realized they were there together.

When he got towards the end, and explained that Louis bought him from his owner, in exchange for getting to watch Niall fuck Harry, deciding to rip the band-aid off, Liam's astonished expression turned nearly hostile. His jaw flexed and Harry's stomach churned. He didn't look happy.

"When we got back to the room, and Harry hugged me, I was fucking terrified, thinking Louis was going to beat the shit out of us. Harry told me he wasn't going to hurt us. After some convincing and a shower, I believed him. We just had to act like his slaves until we were off the boat, and then never again. Well-I mean, Harry still does, but that's...consensual. Like Louis had said he was looking for.

"Anyway, he told me once we got here that I could call you and invite you here to help us figure out how to get me home. Once he'd let me do that, I was positive that he was a for-real good guy. He bought Harry to spare him going to someone evil, then saved me simply because Harry cares about me. I'm...forever grateful. He and Harry have a thing, obviously, which I'm all about.

"So yeah. I know it's a lot. Take a minute to process, but...I am okay. We are..." Niall he said, holding Liam's hands, letting his voice trail off.

Liam's borderline angry expression remained. His eyes locked on Louis, studying the man closely. Louis was lowkey terrified, but tried not to let it show. He took a deep breath, and Harry started to worry that this could be bad.

"So...you were on that boat...thinking that they were willing prostitutes? After seeing the man who beat Niall to a pulp, and publicly raped him, tortured him, after seeing that guy treat his other slave kinda nicely beforehand? Thought he was a good guy to get involved with, who just...had access to people for sale on speed dial?" Liam asked directly. His nostrils flared, and his speech was shaky. Not out of fear, but out of restraint.

Harry had only ever seen Liam mad two or three times. It was a rarity, but when it happened, it could get pretty heated.

"You did everything that you could to protect them, yet still punched the person you bought in the face? Made his best friend fuck him? Because that guy told you to? I'm just...having a hard time wrapping my head around this. I appreciate that you helped them off of the boat, and don't doubt that you never intended to buy a slave, but...you were still there to buy a person to control.

"You bought two of them. They're both now forever indebted to you, as am I. Was that intentional? We can't tell anyone what's going on, because they're too powerful to touch, yet there you were, as a part of the club. Humiliating them while claiming you were doing what was best for them. It just...sounds bad" he stated firmly. Harry grimaced, trying to think of what to say in Louis' defense.

Louis sighed deeply and ran an anxious hand through his hair. He nodded in acceptance, and decided to agree with Liam, rather than defend himself.

"I know. It all...sounds bad. Because it is bad. It was a shady, weird thing for me to do. It wasn't at all what I thought I was signing up for. When I figured out they were there against their will, I was fucking appalled. I totally lost my shit. The guy who brought me there told me I needed to keep my cool. That they'd feed me to the sharks without thinking about it, if they thought I'd narc.

"I was...blending. Trying to keep my head down until it was over. But when I saw Harry...he was so scared. A really, really bad man wanted him. I outbid him. I couldn't let him have him. I sat and watched what they did to your boyfriend, and four other men helplessly, and by the last one, I couldn't take it anymore. I was outraged, but I was also vastly outnumbered. I'll never forgive myself for not being able to intervene.

"But I promise you, Liam. If I'd interfered at that point, I'd be fish food right now, and they'd be in some lunatic's basement in a dog cage for the rest of their lives. I am not excusing myself for being on that boat. It was not a good look, even if they were what I thought they were. It...just so happens that Harry is who I thought they were, he just...didn't know it.

"I completely understand and accept that you're going to have some reservations about me. I'm hoping I can earn your trust over time. I make no excuses for being on the boat, but I can assure you, I'm not one of them. I was decent at pretending that I was because all three of our lives were at stake. Before Harry saw Niall, I had prepared to offer the choice he told you about.

"After I bought Niall in front of everyone, breaking my co-worker's wrist so he couldn't steal him back, I realized how...complicated it was, or so I thought. Until Niall also told me that he thinks their boss sold them. Then I realized how impractical either one of them going home was, at least until we can figure out how to get rid of that guy. I...I've welcomed you both into my home.

"I let him call you despite the numerous risks to all three of us, because I have zero intention of controlling any one of you. No one is indebted to me. I want to make that perfectly clear to the three of you. No one owes me anything. I did the most decent thing I could in a shitty, insane situation. I kept them together, and I kept him safe until you could get here. We're going to have to work together to do the rest. I know it isn't super easy to like me right now.

"I don't like myself right now at all, either. I just want to be able to co-exist until we can safely get you two home. Then you never have to see me again, if you so choose. Personally, I hope by that time, we might be able to become friends. You just have to tolerate me for a while..." he said, hoping a direct, reasonable approach, taking accountability up front was the best course of action.

Liam took a while to let it all sink in. He looked to Harry, who gave him a pleading look with his eyes, feeling fucking ridiculous in his dress during such a serious moment.

"Okay" Liam said simply, breathing out a huge gust of air. "I can...accept all of that, I suppose. You did save them. Bought Niall before he sold him to someone else. I get that the other guy needed something in return, for him to even consider it. He's...one twisted animal. But you physically fought him for Niall. Kept him safe. Let him contact me, knowing this might not go over well with me.

"I can tell you're not a bad guy. Some questionable judgment, but they were insane circumstances. I'd like to be friends, too. I'm just feeling...insanely protective obviously" Liam conceded, knowing deep down that the man did what he could for them. "Why are you in a dress, Harry? Not that you don't look...good..." he directed his attention to the taller man.

"Um. He gave me the choice. What Niall is wearing, or a dress. I...chose it" Harry replied timidly, still a little on-edge from the tense conversation.

"It suits you" Liam said kindly, making Harry's face light up. He'd have been turned on if Liam made fun of him, but instead he was smitten by the compliment. "Got yourself a daddy, hmm? You're cute together" he added, helping to relax the atmosphere even more.

"Thanks. I like him a lot. He's a good guy. I...like this. I want it with him. What he came there for. I get that it seems insensitive, especially given what Niall went through. But...I can't deny the connection I feel towards him. He did everything he could to get us out alive. Everything else was out of his control. You'll see for sure over time..." he added, wanting to reinforce that he really is a willing participant.

Liam seemed to feel badly that it felt like they were all walking on eggshells around him, because he was now being almost overly-friendly.

"It doesn't seem insensitive. Makes sense. He's young, beautiful, rich. You deserve someone who adores you, Harry. Might as well be the guy who came there looking for someone to adore" Liam replied kindly, winking at Louis. Niall kissed him sweetly, and laid his head in his lap on the couch.

They all kept talking about the crazy forty-eight hours they endured. Louis eventually made everyone pasta, and they all started drinking wine again. Liam asked questions, trying to understand as much as he could. They discussed most of the angles, and then the reason why Louis could be arrested came up.

Figuring that it was best to just be honest about everything, as Liam had law experience, and they were going to need it, Louis winced through explaining the tape. With his jaw clenched again, Liam was very clearly displeased to hear about it, but mercifully chose not to speak until he was finished.

"So...do we wait it out, or try to get ahead of it, is the real question" Liam said, after they'd all beat the topic to death. "Both come with risks. Both come with pros and cons. One holds Louis' fate in the air. The other keeps us sitting ducks. This is fucked..." Liam said, downing his third glass of wine, holding onto Niall tight. He gave Louis another dirty look, but decided not to say anything else.

"I know. It's a lot to consider. We wanted your input, before we made any moves" Louis replied. "I just wish I knew if the fucking tape had audio. We don't know what to do. I know I'm going to have to face it eventually, but offering it up before we've really thought it through isn't smart. I wish I had enough evidence to put everyone on that boat away, myself. I just couldn't do it. There were cameras in all of the common areas.

"If I were recording, someone would have caught it eventually. They'd have killed me. I know the tape sucks, and I'm willing to face the consequences for it, but if the difference is a slap on the wrist for fucking a prostitue, and going away for a long, long time for rape and false imprisonment, I'd like to mull it over a little before jumping to that" Louis stated firmly.

Liam huffed in acknowledgement, and they all fell silent for a while.

"So. You finally fucked Styles. Was it everything you'd dreamed of, darling?" Liam asked Niall after another glass. Niall turned red instantly. They had to fess up about what'd happened the night before. One last reason for Liam to absolutely loathe Louis. The blue-eyed man with Harry on his lap had been turned on for hours, but was terrified to do anything, for fear of this conversation.

Both Harry and Louis kept their mouths buttoned closed, while they sat back and watched as panic wash over the blond.

"I...didn't hate it" Niall replied evasively. He was physically shying away from Liam, looking ashamed. "Got a little drunk last night, too. Had some steam to blow off. He looked sexy in his dress. Did it again. After Louis did..." Niall admitted, closing his eyes and bracing himself. Louis' leg was bouncing up and down anxiously.

Liam wasn't readable for a few seconds. Then he sent Louis absolute daggers.

"At his command again?" Liam asked in a deep, angry voice.

"Um. His suggestion. He...asked me for a color, daddy. I said green. Missed you terribly. But they were...all over each other. He offered to share Harry again, if I wanted. I...did" he confessed, still flinching away.

"So you bought my man, and made him fuck Haz in front of a dozen people. Then, you suggest they do it again when they're home. You ask for a color like you say you did with the subs on the tape that they required you to make, as blackmail to board a ship that you misunderstood the purpose of? It seems insane! Do you realize how traumatic what they've been through is?

"Especially for Niall!? Did you think that maybe it could be triggering, to do the same exact thing that they had to do, to save their lives earlier? How could you be sure he actually wanted to, and wasn't just scared, wanting to keep you happy!?" he pressed. Louis' jaw flexed.

He was clearly getting tired of explaining himself. Instead of looking apologetic, he let mischief form in his eyes. They squinted, and he chuckled dryly, pissing Liam off even more.

"I could be sure, because I went upstairs when we got home for a few minutes. When I came downstairs, they were telling each other that they wanted to, that they were just worried for each other." Louis replied smugly. "I absolutely understand that what they went through was traumatic. I was there with them. I had to orchestrate half of it so I didn't call attention. Harry was hard basically the whole time we were there.

"Doesn't mean that he wanted to be there. I ended up on the fucking boat while looking for something similar, but with a vital distinction. I fucked three subs beforehand, who not only clearly consented to me, but fucking begged for it. I'm understanding of your point of view, but I'm not taking anymore shit for it without clarifying my position. I was traumatized as well. In reality, Harry and Niall got the least of it, compared to the others.

"These men were sick. The things they did to some of them...I'll never be able to unsee them. I only personally know Chet, who did something fucking abhorrent. Inexcusable. There are no words to express how much I hate the things I saw. I couldn't intervene, so now I have to live with them. But aside from me, Chet was probably the most decent one.

"As big of a waste of space as he is, I'd made a good enough friend of the host to be able to treat my 'slave' in a way that they consider abnormally kindly. I wasn't yet in a position to do the same for your boyfriend. I jumped on the first opportunity I had to get him under my wing. I've never felt so helpless in my life. There were armed guards everywhere, Liam.

"These people are used to treating slaves like the scum of the earth. Extending one little kindness can cast suspicion all over you. You heard what I suggested to those parasites on deck. It was the smallest, little thing I could do for the others. Chet had also already called attention to the fact that I was uncomfortable with the scene. Twice.

"Speaking up could have easily gotten me killed. I wouldn't be here right now, and neither would they. I'm going to have to justify my actions from over the past week, probably on repeat, for the rest of my life now. I can't be doing it every twelve seconds with you. Harry is the submissive little slut I've been looking for. We were exploring that last night in Niall's presence, after a very, very long fucking day.

"And as long as we're speaking candidly, I didn't feel all that guilty about it either, after he told me you're in an open relationship. That you've been fucking your co-worker for months. When I found that out, I no longer felt I was crossing a boundary. He wanted to play, so we played" Louis stated very clearly and directly. His voice then became slow and sexy.

"Now the question is...do you want to play, Liam? Because Curly here isn't wearing any panties..." he added, with a lustful intensity in his eyes, as he slid his hand up Harry's thigh.

Liam swallowed hard while his eyes followed Louis' hand, as it reached under the dress. The other three watched while Liam lost his internal debate, about caving or fighting. There was no point in fighting. He recognized it wasn't productive. But caving sounded like fun to him. He grinned amusedly, then started rubbing Niall's thigh, re-capturing the blond's attention.

"Don't be mad daddy. I told them I wanted to play and I meant it. Doesn't mean that I wasn't wishing you were here the entire time. Now...you are..." Niall said, kissing Liam's neck. Liam sucked in a breath through gritted teeth, then started kissing his boyfriend.

"True, baby. Why don't you tell me what your favorite part was..." Liam demanded breathily.

Niall told him what Louis had Harry do that morning, right before he got there, and told him about the night before, when Louis had explained what his rules for Harry were.

"He's just SO obsessed with being humiliated. He likes it. He's probably itching to get out of that dress. He only put it on because the sight of him earlier would have been a much bigger...shock...for you..." he said teasingly.

Liam peeled his attention off of his boyfriend, and looked up at Harry. The curly-haired boy was on his daddy's lap with his legs crossed, nervously. Until he spread them open, smirking at Niall's boyfriend devilishly.

"Well, if you keep your bitch naked, you shouldn't have him cover up on my account. Let him show himself off. We'll give him the attention he wants..." Liam suggested stuffing his hand down Niall's pants.

Liam smiled at Louis with a hint of apology in his eyes. Louis seemed relieved, and Harry was excited to take the attention off of his daddy.

"You heard him, babygirl. Got what you wanted, hmm? Step on out of your pretty dress, and do a twirl for your friend" Louis ordered. Harry did as he was told, and shed his only garment. He was already painfully hard. As if that weren't embarrassing enough, once he was twirling in place, the plug started vibrating on low, making him moan deeply.

"Jesus..." Liam said in awe, looking Harry's perfect body up and down.

"Good girl, baby. Bend over the chair there. Actually, better yet, hands and knees. Up on top of the coffee table. Arch your back. Liam here had a long, stressful drive. I'm sure he'd like to see what's got you moaning without even being touched..." Louis ordered, tugging on Harry's hard, leaking cock as he did as told. When he was in the requested position, Liam stood, to get a look at the black plug up-close and personal.

Basking in the humiliating glory of being the only one nude again, and now in front of Liam, too, Harry stuck his ass in the air and wiggled it a bit, looking at Liam seductively.

"Mmm. Such a little slut, Styles. Then again, we always knew that, didn't we? Didn't I warn you boys about blowing strangers for cash? You're both so insistent on doing it. Trusted that scumbag Randall not to fuck you over, after I warned you that he was a sketchy prick. So, so glad that you're back safe.

"Wonder if your new daddy might let me touch you, given all of the emotional turmoil your whoring around has caused me..." Liam said, looking at Louis with mirth in his eyes. Louis laughed loudly and nodded.

"Sure. You can touch him anywhere you want. Make him do anything to you. As long as I am present, he's at my guest's service. That includes you..." Louis replied casually. He pulled his hard own dick out of his waistband and started stroking. Niall watched in wonder, as Liam pressed a firm thumb to the plug vibrating inside of Harry.

"Oh, Fuck!" Harry whimpered. He loved, loved, loved Louis deciding what was acceptable and what wasn't. He loved being offered up to his guests. It drove him crazy.

"Don't be rude now, darling. Offer our guest here one of your holes. You're going to stay like that on the table unless told otherwise" Louis ordered, looking at Niall, who was desperate to touch himself, but also knew better.

"Would you like to use one of my holes, Sir?" Harry asked in a strained voice, unable to believe what his life had become. Offering himself up to Liam at Louis' command. He was on cloud nine, especially loving the way the man looked at him.

"Hmm. Well, if you're open for business, baby...think I might just fuck this slutty little hole, given everyone else sure has..." Liam said, pulling at the plug, until it popped out, leaving Harry's open hole fluttering, for the world to see. "Have you properly thanked Louis here for saving you, Niall?" He asked, shifting his attention to his boyfriend. Niall turned bright red, but couldn't contain his excitement.

"No, daddy. Not yet..." Niall replied, watching Louis watch him. "Would you like to use one of my holes to make yourself cum, Sir? I'm happy to be at your service. Kinda been hoping this would happen..." Niall said to Louis overly-shyly.

Louis looked to Harry for his reaction. Liam was behind him, pressing two fingers inside and pushing on his prostate perfectly. Louis quirked an eyebrow, apparently asking permission, which Harry hadn't anticipated at all, but definitely appreciated.

Harry nodded, fighting off some jealousy. He trusted Liam and Niall. He knew they were all just having some fun. He wanted Liam to fuck him. He was going to have to give a little in order for that to happen. Plus, he had a feeling Louis would do it regardless of how Harry felt, but it was nice to know he cared to check in.

"So kind of you to offer, sweets. Why don't you come sit on my lap so we can watch your daddy fuck Harry. While I'm ambivalent about taking the fact that he's the only one who's naked away from him, let's get you undressed. Such a gorgeous body..." Louis said with pure sex in his voice. Niall stood up and walked over to him. Liam bent down to spit in Harry's hole, then lined himself up.

Harry's shins were digging into the coffee table under him, so his ass was far enough off of it for Liam to reach. Liam moaned gutturally when he pressed inside steadily all at once. Harry groaned in pain at the stretch, but was determined to be a good girl, and pressed his ass back at Liam so he didn't worry that he was being too rough.

When Louis took Niall's shirt off of him, the man who was fucking Harry gasped in horror. He paused inside of the curly-haired man, while he adjusted to the painful stretch.

"I know, baby. It's really not so bad. I'm just grateful to be outta there and back here with you. We can talk more about it later, but...just wanna have fun for now" Niall said reasonably. Liam smoothed out his shocked expression, and nodded. He started fucking Harry at a slow, decadent pace, while watching Louis take the rest of his boyfriend's clothes off.

"There's a good boy, hmm? Take a seat, handsome. No wonder you were so desperate to get back to him. Look at that hog. He's so gorgeous too, isn't he? You like watching him fuck your best friend?" Louis said, guiding Niall to sit on his lap, then running his hands gently up and down his badly bruised body, carefully avoiding the purple spots.

He jerked Niall's cock for a few seconds, but kept letting go after two or three pumps, making the blond whine in frustration.

"Mmm, yes Sir. My daddy is gorgeous, indeed" Niall replied fondly. "Thanks for letting me watch. Harry is such a whore, isn't he? He's everything you were looking for, right? So pathetically desperate for cock..." Niall teased. He and Louis snickered at the curly-haired man, who was being fucked harder and faster now in front of them, likely fueled by Liam's jealousy.

"Right you are, dear. Look at him take it. He was born for it, hmm?" Louis cooed into Niall's ear, as he slid a slick finger between Niall's cheeks, making the man moan. "Is this tight little hole okay? Would you rather I just fuck your face?" Louis asked, a little worried, though the puckered entrance didn't feel too puffy or swollen.

"You can use my asshole, Sir. I'm fine. Whichever you prefer" Niall assured. Louis stared thrusting a finger in and out, while stroking the blond's cock, with him still sitting on his lap. "Fuck. Feels so good..." he whimpered.

"Oh, God, Liam. What the fuck. Feel so full of you. Thank you for fucking my ass, Sir! I'm getting close" Harry cried, his voice shaking with every rough thrust.

"Yeah, atta girl. Knew you were a freak, Styles, but genuinely had no clue. Glad you have a kinky daddy of your very own, hmm? One who shares and spoils this perfect, pink cunt? Oh, fuck. Cum for me, Haz..." Liam growled, not taking his eyes off of Louis, who was scissoring Niall open on the couch next to him.

Harry came with a beautiful, exhausted moan. Liam filled his hole up seconds later. He then helped Harry up off the table, whose shins were killing him, but didn't want to complain. There were deep creases in his skin when he stood. Louis looked at him adoringly.

"Good girl, baby. Why don't you go clean yourself up. If you hurry, you can watch some of what I'm about to do to your friend here. Wouldn't make you go, love. But you're dripping cum and you know the rules. If Liam insists I keep you in the state I want you in, you're in your birthday suit all night" Louis ordered. Harry scurried into the bathroom, giggling at himself while the other two men looked at Louis in wonder.

"Be good, Niall. You do what he says. I'm so glad you found a new friend to play with. He seems like loads of fun. Why don't you give him some nice kisses, hmm?" Liam said, sitting down on the chair across from them, and enjoying the show.

Niall looked to Louis to see if he wanted him to. The older man's fingers fucked into him gently, while Louis gave him a flirty look, glancing at his lips. Liam put his hands on the back of his head, and leaned back to get comfortable as an observer, while the two of them made out. Harry didn't take long at all.

When he saw his best friend in his daddy's lap, kissing him, he got jealous. He went and sat next to a fully-dressed Liam on the chair next to him. When they stopped making out, Louis caught Harry's seething eyes. He was giving the pair the dirtiest look he could, completely consumed by envy.

"Now, now, Princess. Drop the fuckin' attitude. You just got to play with his man. Don't put up a fuss about this, or you'll be watching me deep-throat Liam next. When daddy's all done, you'll have my full attention back. Be a good girl" Louis warned, pushing Niall to stand slightly, so he could line his absolutely aching dick up with the hole he'd been working open.

Niall looked at Harry tauntingly, daring him to act up, likely knowing what kind of punishments Liam might suggest that he deserves.

"Yes, daddy. I'll be good" Harry replied, pouting. He couldn't deny that the sight was getting him excited again. His dick twitched, despite his still-evident attitude, as he watched Niall moan like a wildebeest while bouncing on his daddy's dick.

"Good girl. Ask Liam to put your plug back in for you. I want you ready for me when I want you. Fuck, Blondie. So, so tight. Worth every penny..." Louis commanded, then got lost in his current task.

Harry frowned, but decided to obey. He grabbed the plug from the coffee table and bent over the chair next to Liam. The brown-eyed man admired how Harry was presenting himself to him and while he took the plug from his hand, he sat back and stared at Harry in his vulnerable state. Harry couldn't do anything but wait for him to decide he'd had enough of looking at his open hole.

The other pair began giggling, when they realized what Liam was doing and why. Harry was delighted that all three pairs of eyes were on him again. He loved being ogled by everyone, though he personally didn't understand how they weren't sick of looking at him yet. He stayed as Liam had him, while watching the other two.

"Mmm. He's such a good little bitch, isn't he? So eager to please, so desperately slutty...look how hard he is. I don't doubt he was like this the entire time he was on the boat. Ask me for your plug, baby" Liam commented. Harry gave him an annoyed look, but then faced forward.

"Please, Sir. Will you put my plug in for me? I need something filling my needy hole at all times, or I get cranky" Harry said. Liam finally obliged and inserted the black device. Niall's moans were becoming louder and more consistent.

Harry finally sat back down, wiggling himself on the plug as subtly as he could. It felt incredible. He knew better than to touch, but he was becoming desperate for his daddy's attention back.

"Oh fuck. I'm close, Sir. I'm going to cum..." Niall warned, his eyes glossed-over with lust.

"Good boy, baby. Look at you take it. Go on. Cum for me" Louis ordered. Harry sat with his arms crossed over his chest angrily, but was erect again, so he wasn't fooling anyone. It turned him on, just as much as it pissed him off. He watched both men climax, nearly in unison, then watched the blond stand with shaky legs, dripping his daddy's cum.

"Okay, Ni. Go clean your slutty little ass out, then come out and get dressed. Harry is sick of you having his daddy's attention" Liam ordered. Niall seemed relieved to oblige, clenching his cheeks tight, all of the way over to the guest bathroom.

Louis beckoned Harry over to him, who still had a grumpy expression, but was also relieved to be back with his owner. He was glad his condo ran warm, given how much time he'd be spending nude.

"On your knees, baby. Want you to keep my cock warm until I say" Louis directed. Harry didn't hesitate to take the appendage that had just fucked his best friend, into his mouth, though he wasn't super enthused about the greasy, cherry-flavored lube.

Still, wanting to be a good girl, he cradled the flaccid dick in his mouth, and made himself comfortable. He was pleased to find out how much he enjoyed this particular activity. It made him feel useful, and connected to his daddy.

"Well, that was fun then" Liam said with his eyes on what Harry was doing. "I shouldn't have given you such a hard time. I wasn't there. I don't know what it was like. You saved them, and plan to keep helping us. That's what counts. I'm not...judging you. I know nothing about you, or why you were looking for what you were looking for. Wasn't my place to imply you were being careless with them" he added plainly.

Harry was surprised. In his experience, Liam wasn't so quick to cool off from something getting heated. Louis handling him how he did, respectfully putting him in his place, was more than attractive. It was clear that Liam liked him. He'd just been through this whole ordeal on the not-knowing end. He had to hear what happened. Louis couldn't imagine how frustrating it was for him.

"All good. I didn't expect you to immediately trust me. You seem like a reasonable guy. I can't even fathom how protective you feel. I'm happy to have you here with him" Louis replied, smiling. He looked down at Harry and ran a hand through his soft curls, gazing at him adoringly.

When Niall came back out, the four men fell into conversation. Well, everyone except for Harry, who had his mouth full. They kept sipping their wine and chatting about things unrelated to the horrors the three had experienced, needing a change in topic. It wasn't long before they were ready to go to bed.

Niall brought Liam into the guest room after they said goodnight. Harry had been allowed back on the couch for the last hour or so. Louis pulled him along upstairs, where he fucked his boy nice and slow after watching another man have him hours before. It was slow, passionate, jealous sex which Harry was happy to fully immerse himself in.

They drifted off to sleep not too long after, completely intertwined in each other.

——————

Chapter Text

The following morning was a lot less tense. All four of them hung out all day again. They began to strategize while Harry waited on them hand and foot, wearing nothing but a black, leather collar.

The men all pinched and pulled at him, making him hard whenever they felt like it. Louis said he had to wait to cum until after lunch, at which point, he fucked Harry while Liam fucked his face, and Niall sucked the curly-haired man's cock simultaneously. It wasn't a particularly long event.

By dinner, they had a plan. The following day, they'd use some of Liam's connections to contact the Feds. The four of them would go in and explain what happened.

Louis would get ahead of the tape, explaining his side, in case there were no audio. This way, he'd take full accountability for what he did do, without the implications of what it looked like he might have done, being as difficult to prove, especially with his full cooperation against Chet and the rest of them.

Satisfied enough with the solution, while they were all worried about the repercussions of contacting the Feds, they knew the longer they took to decide, the longer the other men on the boat would be in the hands of those monsters. There really wasn't any other feasible option.

After another whole day-long fuck-fest, the men went to bed, none of them getting the best night's sleep, all far too anxious about the next day. Harry and Louis stayed up until two in the morning, just talking, getting to know each other.

Harry was most worried for Louis, though he had no clue what to expect for himself, either. What if the Feds were in on it, too? What if they all ended up back in the hands of the party-goers, and this time with Louis on the same end as them, powerless to help?

They decided to try to keep their thoughts positive, and eventually drifted off to sleep, holding each other close.

❧

When the pair sleepily made their way downstairs the next morning, Niall and Liam were already awake. They were sitting up, drinking coffee, each of them looking lost in their own thoughts. Louis gave Harry a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt, knowing the morning was likely to feel a lot less fun and flirty than the last day and a half in the vacation home.

They all mumbled good morning to each other, and Liam told them that he'd called in a favor with a co-worker. He'd gotten the number for a Federal Agent who deals with missing persons cases, and left a voicemail. They were waiting for a call back.

It was nerve-racking, knowing that they now had to commit, but Harry was relieved to be getting on with it. The not knowing was torture, especially with Louis' fate up in the air.

"Hold on, it's your mom, Ni. I'm going to go take it in the other room" Liam said after a while, when everyone's adrenaline had spiked, thinking it was the call they were waiting for. Louis went back to idly playing with Harry's curls, while Niall's leg bounced anxiously, desperately wanting to grab the phone out of his man's hands, and tell his mother that he was okay.

Minutes passed, which felt like hours for each man, for different reasons. When Liam finally came back, he looked shocked and confused.

"What? What is it? Everything okay?" Niall asked urgently. Liam seemed almost frozen, to the point where Niall had to stand up and look him in the eye to get him to speak.

"Um. I...have no idea. I don't know what's happening. Doesn't make any sense..." Liam said, now fully capturing Harry and Louis' attention as well. "She said the Feds conducted a raid last night at Foxtail. Randall's been arrested. They told Niall's mother they think he's behind yours and Harry's disappearances. No news yet on where you are, but they're looking..." Liam stated, in a bewildered voice.

Everyone was in disbelief. Their stunned expressions mirrored each other's as they each looked around the room for anyone with a flicker of an idea what to do with this information.

"We need to...get to the Feds now. No time to wait for a call back that we're not sure is even coming. Think we should...go to the state police. Get it on record that you guys are here safe. Hopefully there are people on our side there, but I can't think of another plan. If they have Randall and they think that he knew where we went...we're going to get attacked by both sides. Well, at least Louis will.

"Here. Call your mom back, Nialler. Tell here the cliff-notes version. That you're okay. That we're going to the Florida state police. That you two have been taking refuge with a good samaritan. Don't offer any other information about him. It's not going to stop anyone from finding out he has you, but it'll buy us some time, and she'll contact the detective that she's in touch with" Liam ordered, tossing Niall his phone.

The blond caught it, but looked around at everyone nervously. Harry's stomach was sick with anxiety. This was all happening way too fast. They were supposed to be getting ahead of it. How were they suddenly ten pages behind?

"Go. Now. We gotta leave right after" Liam directed. "We're all going to be questioned. We all offer up what we know, knowing that our stories align. Neither of you two will be facing charges, so...The only exception is...Louis" Liam said sighing, rubbing the back of his neck anxiously. "I'm still hoping that it won't go this way, but in the event that you get arrested when we get there, you say you want a lawyer immediately.

"If they bring you in a room alone for questioning without any one of us present, you ask if you are being detained. If they say anything other than 'no' you don't utter another word besides 'lawyer'. Doesn't matter what they say, if they threaten that it'll look bad to a jury, you'll have to take that risk. Don't respond unless you have a lawyer present. We all know you're innocent of what you could be charged with.

"But we don't know how much they know about you or your role on that boat. They'll twist your words, make you second guess yourself. I'm positive that the guy you beat up will sell you out without thinking about it. If they say 'no' you're not being detained, you don't tell them anything, no matter what they say. No matter how bad it looks. You say 'if I am not being detained, it means I am free to go. I'll come give a statement when I have a lawyer present.'

"If they tell you you're being detained after you say that, lawyer. Lawyer, lawyer, lawyer. No matter what. Understood?" Liam stated seriously.

Harry hated this. He was getting overwhelmed. He could be calm, cool and collected when his life was on the line, but something about the way that Liam was speaking to Louis seemed ominous.

Harry saw fear in flicker Louis' eyes. When he looked into Harry's, he seemed damn near terrified. Harry couldn't even think about the possibility of being separated from him.

"Okay. I understand. I'm...I'm scared, Liam. If they take me, you need to look after Harry. No matter how long. I don't want him alone. Please promise..." Louis said timidly. Harry watched the innocent, vulnerable side of Louis, warm the cold spot that Liam still had for him, right up.

"I promise. Let's hope it doesn't come to that, okay?" Liam replied, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. Harry hugged his daddy around his waist, hoping he could hold off a panic attack.

"Alright, guys" Niall said. He had tears in his eyes again, likely from hearing the relief in his mom's voice that he was okay. "She is going to call the Detective. She said we need to go to the state police here. Let's get going before they figure it out" Niall said, ushering everyone towards the door.

Harry and Louis hung back, hugging each other tightly. Louis pushed a tear out of Harry's eye.

"I'll be fine, okay? He's right. I need to lawyer up right away, but I am...innocent. Lawyer will help me find the best way to prove that. I have you and Niall. Possibly one of Chet's pets. I...I'll be okay. You just be honest. Tell your whole side of the story, okay? Be honest about the things that happened, but include what you and I discussed behind closed doors. They'll believe us. We just have to be patient"

Harry just nodded to all of Louis' instructions. He was going to be honest, alright. He couldn't wait to give his side of the story. But he didn't expect it to happen like this, not so fast.

The guy they were plotting on how to get rid of was suddenly giving his side of the story first. They had to move. He kissed Louis three quick times.

When they parted, there was a loud knock on the door. A BANG, BANG, BANG, followed by muffled shouting that Harry couldn't understand.

"POLICE, OPEN UP!" a loud, deep, manly voice boomed very, very clearly. Liam looked back at Louis worriedly. "POLICE! WE HAVE A WARRANT! OPEN UP!" he shouted again. Adrenaline washed over Harry, who'd already been at his breaking point. It was starting to get hard to breathe.

"Get on your knees. Hands up. All three of you. When they take you two, tell them your names. Tell them we were just coming to them. Tell them Louis, this man right here saved your life. Then don't say another word unless it's confirming you're alright. Louis. Lawyer. We've got your back. I have to open the door..." Liam said in as hushed of a voice as he could.

All three men did as he said. They got on their knees where they were standing, Louis and Harry inches apart, their legs locked together behind them, since they couldn't touch hands. Niall was right behind Liam in the foyer. Liam took his phone out of his pocket, and hit record, then put it back in. He looked through the peep hole to make sure they were officers.

"My name is Liam Payne. The men you are looking for are in here, all unarmed, on their knees, with their hands up! I am going to open this door. There is no need for violence. Everyone is going to cooperate, fully. Do you hear me, officer!?" Liam shouted through the door. Harry couldn't help but think how sexy he was in that moment. So confident and in-charge.

"HEARD! NOW OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR, ASSHOLE!" The officer shouted back. Harry heard Liam take a deep breath, and open the door.

Three officers came storming in with their weapons drawn. They almost seemed confused by the scene as they scanned the faces of all four men.

"Louis Tomlinson? Which one of you is Louis?!" The angry-sounding officer barked.

"It's me. I'm Louis" he whimpered in a shaky, scared voice.

"Is there anyone else in this condo?" The officer asked directly.

"No, Sir. These are the men you're looking for. Harry and Niall. Niall's boyfriend, Liam. No one else is here" Louis replied. The officer waved two more officers in, and the two that had been at his flank began searching Louis' vacation home.

"Stand up, hands behind your back, Mr. Tomlinson. You are under arrest for assault, sexual assault, battery, rape, false imprisonment, trafficking, and racketeering..." The officer stated, putting the man's hands behind his back. He continued to read him his Miranda rights, as Harry watched in horror. When the female officer came up to Harry, she asked his name.

"Harry! I'm Harry Styles. Believe you're supposed to be looking for me. I'm okay! Louis hasn't hurt me! Or Niall! He saved us! We'll prove it! Please, don't hurt him! He hasn't done anything wrong!" Harry shouted, his voice increasing in decibels, as the officer pulled a cooperative Louis towards the door, way more roughly than was necessary.

"Alright, Sir. I need you to stand. I am going to put these zip ties on you until I can verify your identity and that there is no one else here. And you? Name?" The lady officer stated in a dominant voice.

"I'm Niall, Ma'am. Niall Horan! I was kidnapped, trafficked, and then saved by Louis. He hasn't hurt me! You don't need to be so rough with him, asshole! He's complying!" Niall said, then started shouting, as the officer pulled on Louis even more roughly by the handcuffs behind his back. The uniformed man rolled his eyes at Niall, and he and Louis disappeared out the door.

The chaos inside the condo began to slow down, as the other officers confirmed that there was no one else in there with them, and once all three men were restrained, they were able to confirm their identities via photos provided by Liam and Niall's mom.

Once she was sure they were who they said they were, they released their hands from the restraints, but the men were told to come with them down to the station to give their statements. Harry left the comfort of feeling at home with Louis behind, as they were ushered out the door.

❧

Harry, Niall, and Liam all gave their statements, over several agonizing hours. Harry pleaded for an opportunity to see Louis, and about lost his shit, when he was told that he couldn't see him until his arraignment, at which point he'd plead not guilty, and likely be able to post bail. The problem was that he wasn't able to get in front of a judge for five long days.

Niall and Liam were torn. They wanted to go home, but they knew they didn't have a prayer of getting Harry to leave the state. They were able to stay in Louis' condo after it'd sufficiently been torn apart by Federal Agents for no reason.

Niall's mom, Madelyn, said that if they weren't going home, she was coming to them. They decided it was a good compromise, since he was dying to see her.

She got there the day after Louis was arrested. Sparing her as many details as possible, Liam still needed to assure her that he'd had the same initial reaction to Louis being on the boat at all, but told her that he now saw the big picture.

He was able to convince her that just because he didn't sound like a particularly good guy at first, it didn't mean he was a bad guy. After a while, she was able to wrap her head around it all, given how insistent the men were that he was young and reckless, but ultimately did all of the best things he could for them. She ended up being brought to tears, when she realized how much he'd put himself at risk.

For that reason, she ended up being another person who could attest to his innocence. She knew both men, she was able to tell they genuinely cared for Louis. She said she was happy to convey what she knew to the detective she'd been working with. All three boys spoke with him, too.

The second night in Louis' condo without him was rough for Harry. He and Louis had been allowed a single, ten-minute phone call the day before. They hadn't had any contact since. He was out of his mind with worry.

Louis' explained that his lawyer, Dobbs, assured him that he did the right thing, and they were going to get them to drop the charges. He'd told them Harry's and Niall's statements were a big help to an already rather solid defense.

Louis told him that there was news on why they arrested Randall, but he didn't have time to get into detail. He said that it was good news for him. That his lawyer was sure he'd be out soon. Harry was initially hopeful, but the more he thought about it the next day, the more he wondered if Louis was being overly-optimistic to keep him from worrying.

"It's going to be okay, Harry. He's going to get out. It's just going to take a little while" Liam tried to assure, the third morning after Louis' home was raided.

Both he and Niall's mom had been trying non-stop to get a whisper about a break in the case, but no one would tell them anything. They were all getting frustrated, and Harry could tell that even Liam was getting concerned.

"Here, it's the county jail. Must be him, Haz!" Liam said out of nowhere that afternoon, when the four of them were eating lunch.

Harry snatched the phone and answered the call, hurriedly accepting the charges the lady informed him of.

"Louis? Lou?? Baby?" Harry asked worriedly.

"Hey, Princess. It's me" Louis said in a calm, mischievous voice. Harry's eyes welled up with tears. Oh how he'd missed being called that. "Can't talk long. Someone is going to come say hi to you soon. He's going to look familiar. Trust him, okay? I think he could help" he told him. Harry couldn't concentrate. He wanted to jump through the phone and give Louis a million kisses.

Forcing himself to focus on his daddy's words, since they sounded important, he was confused. Someone he'd recognize was coming to say hi? He had something that could help Louis? Why was he speaking in riddles?

"What do you mean? Who is it? What should I ask for?" Harry asked rapid fire. "I miss you so much, daddy. Want you to come home..." he said in a much quieter voice, wanting to give Louis something sweet to think about after they hung up, but not wanting Niall's mom to hear.

"It's someone you'll recognize. Someone you think is bad. They aren't, okay? Hear them out. I don't think they're going to be particularly motivated to help me, but it's because they haven't heard our side of it yet" Louis told him.

"I found out who took Randall down, there's been an active investigation into Alfie for months. Guess they've been keeping it pretty hush-hush until they could round up the rest of the buyers. This guy is going to fill you in. Likely will be with a friend. They're coming to the Condo today, hopefully. Tell them your side. When they tell you what they have, you need to ask them to put you in touch with the source.

"It could be the difference between clearing my name completely, and me staying behind bars for a while longer. Or a lengthier trial, depending on what the judge says after my arraignment. Just...I can't say too much. I've only been able to communicate with them through Dobbs. You'll be able to figure it out when you talk to him. Okay?" Louis replied. Harry couldn't understand. He'd do anything for Louis.

"Um. Okay. Im...confused. But I hear you. I'll do as you said. Anything to get you home" Harry choked out. "I miss you. So much. This isn't fair. You should be home..." He complained, tearing up.

Liam, Niall and his mom were all waiting to hear what was going on, all on the edge of their seats. Harry was growing more anxious by the second. Someone who he thinks is bad isn't bad. They're coming to check on him. The idea sounded daunting.

"I know. It's alright. I'm alright, okay? I gotta go. I don't know when I can talk to you next. But I'll see you at the arraignment, yeah?" Louis asked hopefully.

"Of fucking course. Liam said you should be able to post bail. Hopefully your lawyer agrees. Then we can at least be together while we wait it out. You can come home..." he said. "I...I can't wait to see you. I...miss you so much, Lou" Harry had to stop himself from saying what he desperately wanted to say.

He wasn't going to drop the L bomb with so much going on, but he undeniably felt it. He was absolutely positive that he was in love with the man on the other end of the phone.

"I miss you too, Princess. I'll see you soon, okay?" Louis said. "Can't get you off my mind. Think that means I'm falling for you, darling..." he added with a smile in his voice. Harry's heart skipped a beat, and he got butterflies all over.

"Think I'm already there, daddy" He whispered, cheesing from eat to ear. Harry had never felt like this about anyone. "I'll see you soon. I'll...do as you said. Do what I can to help. Stay positive. Don't lose your shit in there, okay?" He added.

The pair said goodbye again, and when Harry hung up, handing Liam's phone back to him, three anxious sets of eyes were on him, waiting to hear anything at all.

"Um. Guess there's been some developments. He didn't have long to explain. He said someone I know to be bad, isn't really bad, which doesn't make a lot of sense. He said they're going to be coming to the condo, probably later today. That we should tell him our side of everything, and he said to ask him to put us in touch with the source..." Harry told them.

Their reactions were all similar to his own. The anxiety turned into confusion on all of their faces. Harry couldn't think of anyone who could be good, that he thought was bad. It seemed like such an odd thing to say.

"I sure as shit hope he isn't talking about Chet...I...don't know who the fuck that we mutually know who we think is bad, and actually isn't. If it's Chet, I can't be here to talk to him. I'll break his other wrist and both of his kneecaps" Niall stated, clearly mulling over who Louis could possibly be sending their way, who fit that description.

"He couldn't possibly be talking about him. I don't care what he could have to help. If he shows his face here, I'll kill him. Quite literally tie him to a chair and make it long and painful. There's no way it's that guy" Liam said.

Harry had to admit, Chet was the first person he thought of, fitting that description. No one who did the things Chet did, could possibly not be bad. Louis would know better to imply that he wasn't.

Sighing heavily, Harry sat back on the couch and they all waited for anything to happen.

It wasn't until hours later that someone finally rang the doorbell.

Watching Niall and Liam's bored expressions become hostile and defensive, Harry decided he should be the one to buzz the person up. After asking who it was, a vaguely familiar voice said 'you'll know me when ya see me'. Trying to place the male voice, Harry decided to buzz him up, growing sick of the mystery.

When there was a knock at the door a minute later, he peeked through the peep hole, and couldn't believe his eyes. It wasn't Chet, so he opened the door to be sure that the man in the baseball cap was actually who he thought he was.

"Hey, kid. Glad to see you're alright" Dev, the man who was guarding him on the boat said, when he opened the door. He was followed by another man that Harry thought may have been another guard, but hadn't interacted with him, and couldn't be sure. "This is...awkward, I know. I'm sorry for whatcha been through. I know ya might not wanna hear that, but I am.

"Was wonderin' if I could come in. Explain myself. I'm...not who you think I am..." Dev said. He pulled what looked like a wallet out of his pocket, and showed Harry his badge, with a photo of the man he knew to be named Dev, who worked for the worst people on the planet, directly above it. The licence had the name 'Tucker Miller', and the badge read 'F.B.I'.

The shorter, heavier man next to him smiled half-heartedly, holding out his own. Harry didn't have much trouble believing that this was who Louis told him to expect. He'd been decent to Harry, borderline kind, for that world. Remembering the smile he gave him upon his departure, solidified the decision that he'd at least hear the men out.

"Had a feeling you weren't who I thought you were. Come on in. Fair warning, the atmosphere is likely to get a bit...tense, given what we've been through. But I'd like to hear what you have to say" Harry replied, ushering him inside.

When Niall saw the man's face, Harry could tell that both men recognized each other. Tucker gave Niall an apologetic look. Niall's scowl was firm. He locked eyes with the one over Tucker's shoulder, and sent him daggers.

"The fuck?" Niall nearly shouted. "What are you doing here? No. No...I can't...be here..." his outraged expression almost became panicked. He shot up out of his seat. His mother Madelyn immediately looked concerned.

"Niall, I'm...sorry isn't a good enough word. There are no words. I don't blame you for hating me. I don't blame you for not trusting me. I know it's difficult to believe, but I am on your side" the man who Harry didn't know the name of said. "I'd like to explain myself, but I don't want to make this harder on you than it's been. I'll go back down and wait in the car if you'd prefer." He added.

Harry looked back at the blond, and his face was red. His face always got red when he was angry, but he didn't have his usual pissed-off scowl. He looked...terrified. His eyes welled up with tears which immediately spilled over. Madelyn gasped at the sight of her boy, who'd been through hell. Liam stood in front of his boyfriend protectively, with his arms crossed over his chest.

"On my side?! How can you...possibly say that to me? You treated me like I was nothing! No one. You were...cruel. You...hit me. Handed me over to Chet like you were glad to be rid of me. Why should I believe a fuckin' word you say?!" He balked, becoming more angry by the second. It was apparent that he was in fight or flight mode, as his whole body shook with adrenaline.

"I know, I know. I...didn't want to. Can't sleep. Some of the things I've done are terrible. They were also necessary. For all of us to get here right now. I've read the statements you provided to the police. I know you are trying to help your friend. I'd like to be able to assist in that. Nothing I can do will take back what I've done, but if Tuck and I were not on that boat, this would be a lot more complex.

"Like I said, I'm happy to wait in the car if you want. But I'd prefer the opportunity to explain..." The shorter man replied. Niall was clearly too upset to even look at the guy. Harry couldn't blame him. At least Dev, or Tuck, apparently, didn't hurt him. He felt even more guilt over how much abuse Niall had endured compared to himself.

Liam kept his protective stance, but seemed to soften up just a little. He looked back at his boyfriend worriedly. The blond pushed his face into his mother's chest as he shook and sobbed quietly. Madelyn was rubbing his back, 'shh'ing him, and giving the man at the door a death glare.

"'S fine. He can come in" Niall said in a quiet, but unfriendly voice, after a few long, awkward moments of silence. His mom was helping him to calm down. Liam decided to sit back down on his boyfriend's other side, so he'd feel sufficiently protected.

"You can come in to say what you have to say, but you will stay fifty feet the fuck away from him at all times, asshole" Madelyn growled. Harry was impressed. He'd never seen her so angry. Though her son was in his mid-twenties, she was in full mama-bear mode. The man nodded in acknowledgement, looking repentant.

Harry offered them a seat at the island counter, which was less than fifty feet from Niall, but far enough to not be in his personal space.

"Alright, well...we're all ears..." Harry said tentatively, moving the armchair across from the couch, turning it around so he could see both men standing in Louis' home.

"Okay. We've been watchin' this operation for almost a year and a half. We're with the F.B.I. Been with the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force for four years now, myself. Gary here has been in this department for almost nine. I get that it doesn't seem like an officer of the law should be able to treat a person, the way we treated yous and the others.

"But we were there for a reason, obviously. They weren't about to just let a couple of Federal Agents come with 'em on their trip to collect evidence. We had to go undercover. Had to spend months at sea with those animals. Gain their trust. Had to get our hands dirty, just like everyone else who enters that circle does. Had to...play the part. It wasn't easy, but it was needed.

"Ya were a lot different than a lot of 'em. You'd seemed to just...accept your fate. I...had a soft spot for ya, after ya told me ya knew fightin' was useless. I didn't realize until then, that I'd been holdin' onto some resentment towards the ones who did fight. Not for hurting me, but for making me hurt 'em. Not their fault, obviously. The guilt...it sticks with ya. When I realized I wouldn't have to hurt ya,

"I was relieved. Can't just stand there and take a beating from what they call a 'slave', when they think you're guarding 'em, when they think you're one 'em. I wouldn't pretend to know how either of ya feel about what ya been through. I'm not asking ya to forgive me, but I am here to get yer side of it, in yer own words. And to answer yer questions. So...maybe you'd like to...go first? Ask us anything" Tuck said.

Harry had figured when he'd seen him at the door just now, that he was an undercover. Harry understood why Gary's presence was triggering for Niall, but his own experience with Tucker had been oddly comforting. He wanted to find out what Louis wanted.

"Okay. I understand. Please understand that my friend's experience was much, much different than mine. I was able to tell that you didn't want to be there, Tuck. I just...couldn't put it together. Given Niall's reaction, I think it's safe to assume that you two didn't have the same kind of...rapport. He's been through hell, so his needs come first right now. Ni, are you okay with them staying and me asking questions?" Harry said, then asked.

Niall had calmed way down. Harry figured that seeing the man who was ensuring he stayed in his room, chained to his bed, was triggering, and caused him to panic. Being between his mom and boyfriend, he seemed to be receptive enough of what they were telling him.

"Yeah, fine. Fire away. Apologies for not being very welcoming, but fuck you, dude" Niall sneered towards Gary, who merely nodded again in acceptance.

"Okay. As I'm sure you saw in our statements, the man who bought us is not who he was pretending to be either. Both of us believe him completely, when he says he was unaware that the people up for auction, were there against their will. He believed the lies fed to him by the man who insisted he come, who'd used his sub at home to convince him they'd be auctioning on people who wanted to be bought" Harry explained.

He went on to tell the men his entire perspective, in hopes they'd give him more concrete answers. He'd explained what Louis had told him when they entered his room right after, and said that what had happened to him was not a sexual assault, as he'd technically consented, and wouldn't press charges regardless. He explained what he knew was on the tape, and the worry that there was no audio.

After telling them about how he'd immediately told Harry he'd bought him his freedom, if he wanted it, he told the officers that a consenting, romantic relationship developed.

He explained everyone's reactions when he and Niall realized they were in the boat together, leading with the fact that Louis had told Harry he was already brain-storming how to buy his friend as subtly as possible, before he'd even asked him to. The men were clearly listening intently to every word.

"I'll answer any questions you still have. But...I'm supposed to ask you...to put me in touch with the source. I don't even know what that means, but it seems to be key to clearing Louis' name for what is on the tape. I'm not sure if they've dropped the trafficking charges on our statements alone, but he deserves to be free, Sir. He saved us, knowing that this exact thing might happen to him.

"On that boat, when I asked if I was ever going home, and you confirmed I wasn't...I believed you. Now here we all sit, I'm guessing you had a huge part in that. So...I'd really, really appreciate hearing your perspective. Anything you know at all that could possibly help Louis. He's innocent. Just as innocent as the two of you are. He was playing a part, for survival..." Harry said, hoping he'd advocated for his love enough.

The air in the room was still tense, but everyone could feel it begin to relax, when Tuck began speaking again.

"Yes. We had a big part in the arrests. Of Mr. Tomlinson included. We've done a thorough investigation of each of the buyers, and gathered evidence with the assistance of an informant, who I believe ya may have heard of. Does the name Fabian Harrison mean anything to ya?" Tuck asked. Harry's anxiety picked up. Fabian. Chet's submissive.

"I know of him. The bastard who bought Niall. His sub, as far as I know. How Chet was able to convince Louis that he was there willingly. Why?" Harry asked, arching an eyebrow.

"He was not there willingly. Was sold in the same way yous twos were. Picked up on the streets after his pimp had a job for him with some rich asshole. That person was on the boat, too. We have all the offenders in custody. Fabian earned Chet's trust over time. He had him wrapped around his finger after enduring some horrific abuse. That guy is a clueless degenerate, but he's also full of shit.

"Talks a big game, but the kid played him like a fiddle. Chet has been treating him like a partner since weeks after he bought him. He'd hurt him on the boat, and brutally. Before Chet moved to London, Fabian put in an anonymous tip, providing names, dates, locations. His initial tip included enough evidence to spark an investigation, which is no easy feat.

"Gary and I have been on that boat for far longer than we'd planned to be. Those guys are thorough. We had to be sneaky about the evidence we gathered, and it pails in comparison to the work Fabian continued to do on Chet. Once he'd fully had the man's trust, Chet told Fabian everything. He texted him constantly on the boat, telling him how he regretted even coming.

"How no one could compare to him and blah, blah, blah" Tuck continued, making a face of distaste. "The point is, he was also unwittingly providing both text and voice evidence which incriminated nearly everyone on that boat, to someone who was mainlining it to the Feds. Above Gary and I. Unfortunately, some of that evidence includes Louis. It...doesn't look good. The tape that he's worried about...

"It has no audio. I understand that Louis plans to plead no contest to soliciting a prostitute, but will deny rape allegations. As of now, Fabian has no reason to extend any kindness to Louis. If he did ask for consent, it's something Fabian left out. Yer statements have the potential to free him of the trafficking charges, but the prosecution may be less willing to take them into consideration, given what is on the tape.

"I've seen it myself. There is no force. There is no violence. The victims were smiling and laughing and drinking. The...encounters...with all three of them are there. In high-definition, at several different angles. I'd imagine Louis asking ya to get in touch with the source has to do with him. If he'd attest to the fact that Louis did indeed ask for consent, the rape charges are dropped, making yer story sound much more believable.

"As I said, Fabian has no reason to do Louis any favors, in his mind. As far as he's concerned, Louis is just like the rest of 'em. Louis wasn't the only person he'd been made to entertain, and possibly manipulate, who knows.

"He is a deeply, deeply troubled individual, who has been devoting all of his time to taking Chet down. He likely will not concede easily. He is here. In Florida. Has been since before you docked. If you're telling me that ya believe Louis is innocent of all charges, that yous twos are in a consenting relationship, I...owe it to ya to have your back. Louis' statement aligns with both of yers, and none of the buyer's. That helps.

"I'll...also include that I believe that when ya smiled at me, when ya were on the dock, that ya were silently telling me that ya were alright. Because it seemed to me, that part of ya knew I wasn't happy to be there. I...have to detach myself as much as possible, to play Dev. Ya...saw through me. Immediately. I'm supposed to be stone-cold. Capable of anything. I've done terrible things, Harry.

"On a personal level, I'll never forget that smile. It made me remember why I was doing this. It reminded me that I'm not Dev, no matter how used to playin' him I became. For that reason, I believe Louis is who ya say he is. A judge is going to worry he's either brainwashed ya, or threatened ya enough to think you have to lie on his behalf. D.O.J wants to pin all of the buyers with the maximum, which could easily be life.

"There's also the matter of the video evidence of the show that ya claim was voluntary. That itself, is currently a sexual assault charge, as are the things that happened at dinner. Ya likely have the power to get those dropped, but it will do little good, without Fabian confirming that Louis clearly asked for consent. I'm going to give ya the address of his hotel. Ya should try to get to him before the arraignment. The sooner, the better for Louis.

"The other two men Louis also had...encounters with...before the boat, are now free. They were not working as informants, nor were they aware that Fabian was. Convince him to attest to Louis' innocence. Get him to ask his friends if they will back him up. The texts between Chet and Fabian paint Louis as a monster, which is backed up by the actions Louis took against him while buying Niall.

"Yer story is believable, but the evidence isn't in yer favor. He has a good lawyer, who will prolly be able to get him cleared of the more serious charges over time. Fabian can do it by himself, all at once" Tuck explained matter-of-factly.

Harry was completely dumbfounded. While Tuck had done a good job explaining their positon, he still couldn't quite grasp how essential Fabian's attestation was to clearing Louis' name.

"Niall, I believe ya have a better shot at getting through to Fabian, that Louis is a good guy. Ya been through the same things with the same maniac. He'll relate to ya more than anyone. He loathes Chet, and has been pretending to be in love with him for a long, long time, to make damn sure his tormentor, and everyone who had anything to do with that operation, are behind bars for life.

"He might not be easy to persuade. He's high on vengeance. His younger brother was on the same boat as him. The things he's experienced do not leave much room for empathy with these rich bastards. My advice is the two of ya go alone, and go as soon as possible" Tuck added.

Gary didn't offer up much more, but when he chose to speak again, Niall was slightly more receptive.

"I...was playing a part. Not unlike you say Louis was. I know I hurt you. I...warned you that I'd have to. You swung first. Understandably, of course. I was holding you captive. But..like Tuck said...couldn't just let a 'slave' beat me up with no consequences. We had to...play the long game. You've both been through a nightmare. I hate my role in it. But we were fighting for the greater good.

"We couldn't pick and choose individuals to save first. It doesn't work like that. I...hope that it helps that we now are undoubtedly on your side. Never easy to hear or watch any of it. My only comfort in participating, was the hope that you'd all be okay, once we had enough. What you had to endure while we did our jobs was disgustingly unfair. There are no words to express how hard it was not to tell you all who I am.

"So that you'd understand why I'm doing what I'm doing, but it's way too risky, and ultimately only counterproductive. I'm going to get out of your space now. I just wanted to personally apologize, and check on you. I'm sure it's of minimal comfort, but it's the truth. I hope you two are able to heal from this ordeal. We have your back from here on out..." Gary said, his voice timid and somber.

The shorter man was looking at Niall and his mother nervously, waiting to see if they'd respond, or if he should just leave. Madelyn was giving the man the same death glare she had been since he walked in the door.

"Your job...fucking sucks." Niall said sternly. "I guess I can see your perspective. But I was...terrified. I'm...not sorry for hitting you. But I...I can forgive you. Given how many other people were at stake. I get there was no way for you to help me. And that you had to be believable. I appreciate that you came to apologize to my face. Takes a man to take accountability like that." he added.

Harry was always astounded at how reasonable Niall could be. While he was absolutely capable of holding a grudge, he also had a decent read on people, and ability to put himself in their shoes. He hadn't expected Niall to say anything kind, and would have never suggested that he should, but he found himself a little happy that he did.

"Thank you, Niall. I'm very glad that no matter how this plays out, you two are safe. I'm grateful that you heard me out. Ma'am, thanks for letting me explain myself. I...I'm sorry I couldn't protect him..." Gary said, his voice breaking slightly at the end. Tuck immediately put a comforting, empathetic hand on his shoulder.

"You make damn sure that the monster who put him on that boat in the first place, and the one who bought him first, never walk free. I imagine it must be difficult enough to live with yourselves. You hurt him, you detained him, and you did nothing to intervene, as he was being violently violated, and beat to a pulp by some sicko billionaire. I don't know how a mother is supposed to forgive you for that..." Madelyn said simply.

"So long as the ends justify the means, that is what will ultimately speak to your character. As does coming here to face us. I'm a kind, understanding woman. I can't forgive you for your inaction, but I can understand it. That's all you're getting from me" She added, knowing the man was genuinely torn up.

Harry felt guilty, but he had an entirely different relationship with Tuck. He understood his position, because it really wasn't all that dissimilar from Louis'. He forgave him, and he decided he wanted him to know it, not knowing if he'd ever see him again.

"Thank you. Thank you for your help with Louis. Thank you for treating me decently and for the work you've done in order to bring it all down. I understand how it's traumatic for you as well. I have no clue how you do it" Harry said honestly, looking up at the taller man, who seemed unsure of how to receive such a sentiment. "I'm glad we're all off of that boat. I'm glad you turned out to be a good guy" Harry said genuinely.

He couldn't be sure, but Tuck's eyes seemed to be misting a bit. Harry hesitantly held his arms up for a hug. He was pleased to feel his former jailer wrap his arms around his shoulders and squeeze him tight.

"Thanks fer that, kid. We'll get your boyfriend home to ya. Just be patient. Hope to see ya around" Tuck said, wiping a single tear from his eye, then turning to lead Gary out the door they'd come in.

—————

Chapter Text

After several minutes of discussion, Liam agreed that Niall and Harry should go talk to Fabian alone. They didn't want to bombard the man after all he'd been through.

Given that they had the keys to Louis' Mercedes, they had no choice but to drive there in style.

The man's hotel was only fifteen minutes from where they were. When they got there, they nervously went up to the fourth floor, and knocked on the door to room number '407'.

"Who is it?" A flamboyant, but presumably male voice shouted. He sounded anxious, despite trying to sound annoyed.

"Um. My name is Niall. I'm looking for...Fabian...?" He asked.

A boy with light, chin-length, wavy, brown hair, which was held back by a purple headband, opened the door. It only opened a crack, as the interior chain-link lock was still secured.

He studied the blond, and told him to expand with his intense eyes, attempting to come across as intimidating. He had some neatly-trimmed scruff, but also was wearing eyeliner and dark red lipstick. Harry silently wondered if thats a look Louis might like on him.

"I...uh, well...we...got off a yacht three days ago. One that we understand...you were on at one point, yourself?" He asked like a question, assuming by his description that he was Chet's pet, who the asshole wouldn't shut up about.

Fabian quirked his head to the side, observing what he could of both men. He closed the door, and opened it wider a second later, after removing the interior lock.

"Well, well, well...if it isn't the twink that the bastard threatened to replace me with..." the man said, with too much humor in his voice for their peculiar situation. "And you?" He asked, directing his attention to Harry. Now that the door was open wider, he could see a large purple bruise on his temple, and a huge gash on his forehead that'd been stitched up.

"I'm um. I'm his friend, Harry. The man who bought me...also bought Niall off of Chet..." he told him, unsure how much he should say, right here in the doorway.

"Hmm" the man squinted, then pulled the door the rest of the way open. He started scrolling through his phone like he was looking for something specific. "Yes, you were the one who had everyone's attention. With the curly hair. Chet kept cursing himself for not outbidding Mr. Tomlinson on you..." he stated, confirmed by whatever he was looking at.

"Yes. He is. May we come in? Hate to bother you, but...we need your help. More of it. I hear you've been helping all along..." Niall said. Harry kept his head down and decided to let Niall at least get them inside the room.

Appearing entertained, at the very least, by the men's company, he ushered them inside and gestured for them to sit on the couch inside of the standard-looking hotel room. He was wearing a white, see-through, mesh crop-top and camo cargo pants. It was an interesting look, but the guy was beautiful, and managed to pull it off.

"What can I do for you fellas?" He asked, sounding overly-aloof.

"Um. Well...kinda hard to...know where to begin. Um, I guess....I wanna ask what you know about Mr. Tomlinson? Louis. What your experience with him was?" Niall decided to ask. Harry was intrigued by the approach, but wasn't about to say anything.

"Hmm. Well, he's definitely one of the hottest of those fuckers..." he seemed to ponder, looking like he was reaching to the top shelf of his memory. "Wasn't cruel. Definitely not violent. Seemed almost...innocent. Kinda...sweet, in a way. Never know what anyone is like, once they get on the boat, but he was...I'd dare say almost gentle, 'specially compared to some of 'em.

"Chet wasn't completely convinced that he was down for it, until they got on the boat. Guess when he saw the shows, he decided he definitely wanted his own pet. Ended up with two of them. You two..." he said, seeming to actually realize who they were for the first time. "Why do you ask?" He inquired, tilting his head to the side.

"Louis isn't...one of them. He might have thought he was. When you met him. But...he was naive. Chet told him it was a boat of voluntary whores..." Niall said, rolling his eyes, but playfully. "He bought Harry his freedom. Then bought me from Chet, just because we're friends. Before anyone was arrested, we were all at his condo with my boyfriend, who he'd allowed to come be with me while we decided how to approach...reporting it.

"Brute squad arrived right as we were on our way out the door. He's got a laundry list of charges against him, but he's a good person. He didn't do anything on that boat, aside from the bare minimum to keep suspicion off of him. He put his neck on the line, to make sure we didn't disappear with some real sick fucks. The charges against him for what they think he did to Harry, will be much easier to get dropped, if the ones that he's up against with you, and the...other guys involved...didn't exist.

"Um. Forgive me for asking something so personal, but his life, and reputation are on the line. When you all made the collateral tape with him, do you think it coulda seemed possible that Louis may have been under the impression that you were there under your own free will?" He asked cautiously.

Harry couldn't tell if Fabian understood the question. He seemed puzzled by something Niall had said. Then he almost looked concerned.

"I know that he was under that impression. I told him so, myself. Chet brought me to meet Mr. Tomlinson at the bar, before I knew that we'd be recording with him" he replied, questioning and a bit of alarm ringing in his voice.

"You're saying he didn't hurt you? I've seen a lot of what happened when you two were on the boat. Including...both of your showings. He...blew you. Hm. Interesting..." he continued, sounding like he was figuring out a calculus problem. Harry was beginning to feel cautiously hopeful.

"He didn't hurt me" Harry blurted. "Didn't hurt either of us. He assured me that he wasn't going to the second we got back to his room. If you saw the dinner, that was me and Niall realizing that we were there together. I was able to tell Louis who he was to me, so when Chet tried to get us to fuck, he was trying to spare something...awkward...between Niall and I.

"Chet wanted to get rid of Niall before he came home, so Lou jumped on the possibility of buying him. Chet only wanted one thing in return, so I'm assuming you've seen that too. Louis punched him for kissing me, and broke Chet's wrist for trying to steal Niall back. He really is a good person. Who saved us. He was a bit...misguided. I'm not making excuses for him. But...you said that you told him you were willing, yourself? How?" He asked

Fabian listened, and while there was some lingering skepticism, he seemed to be able to tell their story matched up with what he saw on the CCTV footage.

"Aside from allowing Chet to refer to me as his boyfriend, Mr. Tomlinson was also the only person that I've encountered while with Chet, who cared to ask me for a color. The bastard even made fun of the guy for doing so. I was...all over him before that, too. I was surprised he even asked. It made me...more relaxed. So I became even...friendlier.

"Chet always tells me he'll make me eat, sleep, piss, and shit on a leash outside, if I don't look absolutely thrilled to be entertaining his guests" he continued, rolling his eyes. "The atmosphere was how Louis described. He thought that we were in a consenting relationship, because Chet made me pretend we were.

"Wasn't just when guests were around. When I figured out that he wanted someone to obsess over him, I started doing exactly that. Just...not in the way I may have led him to believe. Oopsie" he said with an evil giggle at the end. "I quickly learned that disobeying was not going to help me. So I started to earn his trust. As long as I was a good boy, he stopped hurting me, for the most part.

"He could still get randomly violent, but it was much less often. Started letting me sleep in the bed with him, instead of the cage. I was playing a part. One that it sounds like may have fooled Louis, into being forced to play a part of his own. Hmm..." he said pensively. Harry's chest filled with hope and he wanted to reach out and hug this complete stranger.

"That dinner did not look good. Especially the end. But no audio there, either. Hardly ever is. Mostly for the opposite reason of Louis' problem. Alfie doesn't record audio because he doesn't want to capture them verbally NOT consenting..." he continued thoughtfully. "The next morning, though, on the deck, I saw what happened. He looked almost...pained. Most of the time.

"He was talking with his back turned to you, while you two...preformed. Was he....somehow the reason that Sterling gave his slaves a Pepsi?" He asked, almost looking amused to be putting together the pieces.

Harry could have started jumping up and down for joy in the middle of the kind, broken stranger's hotel room.

"Yes! Oh my God, you can really help him!" Harry said excitedly. "That's exactly what happened. It's what made Chet want Niall back. Wanted to try being nice, to see if he could get Ni to like him. He tried to steal his paper back off of Lou.  That's why things got violent. He's a good guy, Fabian. I'm so glad we're getting revenge on all of the people on that boat, especially Chet. But Louis isn't one of them, I promise you..." he added, with pleading in his eyes.

Fabian tapped his upper lip, looking like he was debating, but he still had an amused twinkle in his eye.

"I believe you" he said after a long few moments. "In that video, it was like a switch flipped when Chet touched you. Louis snapped my tormentor's arm like a twig. It was one of the highlights of my life, watching that. Before you told me all of this, I could tell he cared about both of you in a way that none of those people have ever cared about anyone. I should be able to help your little boyfriend..." he expanded, making Harry sigh with relief.

"Leave me your number. I'll make some calls. See what I can do. He's definitely not their prime target. I'll make sure they drop the charges from the recording with me. I haven't spoken to the other 'pets' who were with me that night, but I can't imagine they're holding a grudge against him, enough to ruin his life, anyway. Regardless, I'd attest to the fact that I heard him ask for a color from all three of us.

"It's the truth, because Chet and his friends both ridiculed Louis mercilessly each time. If it comes to it, I'll testify that as far as I know, there's no reason not to believe you guys. I'll do what I can to try to stop it from getting that far. Sound good?" He asked. Fabian's intense eyes scanned both men's faces.

Harry tried to ignore the voice in the back of his head, screaming not to trust him. While he'd been more than receptive of their perspective, it was almost suspicious, how actually on their side he was.

Still, there was something quite likable about the man who'd been enslaved by Chet for so long. He had a sassy attitude, but also radiated a warm, caring energy. Even though he didn't owe Louis anything, he seemed to appreciate that he'd been kind to him, when he'd become completely unaccustomed to decency. As it was, he was their only hope. They had to put their faith in him.

"Thank you. So much. That's absolutely perfect. I'm...so sorry for what you've been through. I'm glad you're getting the justice you deserve. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this..." Harry said honestly.

Fabian seemed completely tickled. His lips curled over his slightly crooked, but beautifully white front teeth. There was a constant flirty look in his eye, that had been present since they got there, but it wasn't super genuine. It was tactical. Harry figured the guy had learned to be as charming as possible, to avoid as much cruelty as it could buy him.

"I'd like to...give you a hug. Would that be alright?" Harry asked sweetly, not knowing how sensitive the man might be to strangers, or physical touch.

Fabian looked at him curiously, but smiled brightly, seeming perfectly content with Harry's request. He pulled him in for a warm embrace, and held his other arm open for Niall to join.

After the men gave him their info and said goodbye, Harry and Niall got back in Louis' Mercedes. They headed back to the condo, feeling much more optimistic than they had when he left.

❧

That night, when Niall and Harry returned from talking to Fabian, Madelyn had told them she needed to go back to Virginia, to go back to work. Niall spent over an hour convincing her that he'd be fine, and would be back home as soon as this was all over. She wasn't exactly happy about leaving him, but now that he was out of danger, and with his best friend and his boyfriend, she decided to accept it, and left the next morning.

It was going to be another long, boring, painful two days before Louis' arraignment. Harry was crawling out of his skin with restlessness. He wanted to talk to Louis desperately, but wasn't too hopeful that he'd hear from him until they were able to see each other at the court house.

Liam, Harry and Niall were all getting a bit of cabin fever, and ended up going for walks on Miami Beach, and eating out at some local places. None of them were particularly in the mood to go out to the bars.

The night before the arraignment, the three men got drunk on Louis' booze, and started giving each other curious, flirty looks. After a while, Liam felt emboldened enough to poke some fun at Harry.

"Gonna have to tell your daddy what a naughty girl you've been, while he's been away. Understandable not wanting to walk around in the buff with Nialler's mom present, but I think he'd have liked to hear that you had at least been in one of your pretty dresses..." he teased. Niall snickered, but looked at the floor when Harry casted him a dirty look.

"Good thing you're not the boss of me then, hmm?" Harry retorted, but was secretly hoping that Liam would press.

"Interesting point. I wonder if he'll agree when he comes back, though" Liam replied, tapping his lip, pretending to think. "He did ask me to 'look after you'. One could argue that he meant for me to take over his role in his absence..." he continued. Harry's dick twitched in his gray sweatpants that belonged to his daddy. He'd been sleeping in his bed every night since he'd been arrested, and wearing his clothes.

"I mean, he got to play with mine before I could be here. Tell me that you don't miss being told what to do, Harry..." he said knowingly. Harry's scowl remained firm for all of ten seconds, before he fell into a contagious giggle fit, which both other men immediately caught, too.

"I wouldn't lie to you like that, Sir" Harry replied, rolling his eyes playfully, knowing damn well that he'd lost.

"Why don't you get out of all of those clothes, then, hmm? Can't imagine how restricted you've been feeling..." Liam suggested. "Why don't you join him? It's nice and warm in here, and he's not quite used to seeing this side of me. Yet. Yeah, let's get all of this off of you, Princess..." he commanded, pulling at Niall's sweatshirt.

Now that Harry and Niall had gotten more familiar with each other the last few times, Harry didn't feel awkward with the blond at all. They looked at each other a little cautiously for a moment, but when Niall smiled brightly, Harry beamed an excited smile back, and the pair shed their clothes hastily.

With his dick achingly hard in front of him, Harry sat back down on the couch, waiting for more instruction. Niall sat next to his daddy, perhaps a bit begrudgingly.

"So. You two were forced to fuck, basically at gunpoint. And you haven't been able to keep your eyes off of each other since. What are we to do with that?" Liam thought aloud. "Have either of you thought about a little role reversal? You wanna fuck him, Harry?" He asked casually, like he was asking what time it was. Harry chewed on a cuticle nervously.

When he looked up at Niall, the blond had an almost hopeful look in his eyes. Harry's expression gave his answer away before he was able to speak.

"May have...crossed my mind" the curly-haired man replied. "If I were ordered to...I'd have no choice. If you're standing in for my daddy, then I'm obligated to do as you say. So...just so you know, if Louis asked me to fuck Nialler, I certainly wouldn't use a color..." He added mischievously.

"Sounds like a plan to me" Liam shrugged. "Let me get him open for you. Feel free to fuck his face in the meantime" he said. "On your back, baby. Spread these legs far and wide. You've been so, so naughty. So, so slutty..."

Niall looked insanely embarrassed, but also excited. He got in the position he was told to, and Liam immediately started licking his hole open. Harry decided that since he had a smidge of power for a change, he might as well enjoy it.

"Open, darling" Harry slapped his leaking cock against Niall's closed lips three times. Niall looked up at his friend and opened his mouth. "Mmm. Good girl..." He praised. The blond was making intense eye contact while he held himself still, as Harry started fucking his face steadily. His friend was humming out short, loud moans, caused by the motions Liam was making between his legs, which added to the sensation beautifully. "Fuck, that's good..."

"Alright, that's all the prep you get, you fucking whore" Liam sneered, motioning for Harry to come closer to him. Liam got up and moved to sit on the armchair across from the couch, where he started jerking off, while watching the other two.

Harry felt a little intimidated. Niall was his best friend, of course. Getting fucked by him proved to be an activity they both enjoyed. But as the younger man lined himself up with the blond's hole, he realized that they hadn't done it like this before. It'd been from behind both times.

He didn't want to piss Liam off by giving Niall too much of a loving look, but there underneath him, after what they'd gone through together, Harry had to appreciate how special the moment was. He'd always loved Niall, and while they were tapping into a more fun, sexy side of their friendship, it was an entirely different kind of love than he had for Louis.

Easing himself inside, Harry paused about halfway, after Niall let a pained whimper escape him. When the taller man bent down to kiss him, allowing some time to adjust to his size, the blond kissed him more passionately than he'd been expecting. It was easy to let go, and sink into him completely as he steadily pressed himself the rest of the way inside.

"Fuck, H. You're so big. Feel so full. Go on..." Niall grunted, swirling his hips lightly. Harry began at a slow, gentle pace. He didn't break eye-contact with the man underneath him, all too aware that Liam was burning holes into his face with his eyes. For some reason, he felt he couldn't look away.

Niall looked so sweet, so innocent. His bruises were finally beginning to heal. Harry smiled to himself thinking that all of the physical evidence of what they'd gone through, would soon no longer be there as another reminder.

"Fuck, you're so tight, Ni..." Harry groaned as he picked up his pace a bit. The way Niall looked at him somehow reminded him of how he felt when he recognized him under the dinner table. The intense protective feeling, which had been impossible to act on, became prominent once again. He couldn't quite shake the memory from spiraling.

He decided to guide his train of thought towards what had happened on the deck, if his brain was going to insist upon making him relive it. Remembering the excited feeling he got in his gut when Chet told Louis what he wanted, he was suddenly turned on again. The part of the memory that included Louis was making him sad, at the same time. He should be there with them right now. It wasn't fair.

"God, look at you two. Knew you always had a crush, Nialler, but I had no clue. Shall I...just leave you two alone then?" Liam asked, trying to sound like he was teasing, but he wasn't able to conceal the genuine hurt and jealousy in his voice.

Niall's eyes widened, and his attention shifted to his daddy. He gave him a dirty look at first, then his expression softened.

"No, daddy. Stay. I'm getting close" Niall responded. "Want you to watch him make me cum. Nice to be able to do this with him, but not the same as with you...he's not my daddy. No one is but you..." Niall replied. Harry was a little relieved, but there was still some tension suddenly suffocating the room.

"Go on then" Liam said with some hostility lingering in his voice. "Both of you. Now" he ordered. The dominance and the tone he used, brought Harry that much closer. Niall's whimpering noises became more consistent.

"Oh, fuck. Okay. I'm gonna cum, daddy. Thank you for letting me play with my friend" Niall whined. Harry felt his sneak up on him at nearly the same time.

"Mmm! Fuck, gonna fill you up, Ni. So fucking good..." he panted. Seconds later, while catching his breath, he flopped over onto the couch cushion next to him. He was afraid to look up, but knew that he must. Liam's cold gaze sent shivers down his spine. He grimaced, but didn't know what to tell him. He'd literally told him to do it.

Liam got up from his seat and walked over to where Harry was sitting. He put his hands on the back of the couch behind the curly-haired man, and was hovering over him with an unreadable expression. Harry had always been lowkey terrified of Liam. He decided that taking no action at the unexpected move was his best bet.

Just when he thought the other man was going to start yelling at him for fucking his boyfriend, Liam cupped his chin instead, and planted three delicate kisses on his lips. Harry heard himself gasp, but he leaned into it. It was the last thing he'd expected him to do.

"You're an angel. Thank you for saving him. I know you woulda done it, with or without Lou" Liam said sweetly. "Whatever sparked between you two is cute. I get it. Must be strange after all this time. I trust you, Haz. Just please don't make me regret it" he added. Harry smiled radiantly up at the man with the golden-brown eyes.

"I'd never hurt you, Lima. You know that" Harry replied. Liam nodded. "I'm glad you're so cool about everything. Thank you for helping Louis, too. For seeing him for who he is" he added. "Now, would you like to use one of my holes to make yourself cum, Sir? My daddy wouldn't want me to forget my manners"

Liam and Niall both barked a laugh, and Liam nodded again with more enthusiasm. His hard-on was still hanging out of his waistband, and the position he was in required hardly any movement, to push his dripping cock-head past the curly-haired man's lips, who eagerly welcomed him in. Holding still like a good girl, he tried not to gag while Liam fucked his face.

"Good fucking girl, baby. You like fucking my boyfriend? Hmm?! You like choking on my cock?!" Liam grunted, thrusting into Harry's mouth violently. Harry peeked at Niall out of the corner of his eye. The blond was sitting with his fingers laced behind his head, grinning from ear to ear.

"Mmm! Mhm! Mhm!" Harry tried to confirm, while keeping his head as still as possible.

"Hah. So fucking slutty, baby. Want you to give this to your friend over there" Liam ordered, right before releasing into Harry's mouth.

The younger man collected it, and did as he was told, scooting towards Niall. His bestie moved to lean into the sloppy kiss, as they swapped his boyfriend's cum back and forth.

"That was fun, then. Come here you" Liam said to Niall, sitting back on the armchair, and patting his lap. The two fell into a sexy, jealous, angry, steamy kiss. Harry smiled to himself, but the sight was bittersweet. He was happy for his friend, but still terrified for his boyfriend. He just wanted him to come home.

Exhausted, and ready to see Louis at his arraignment tomorrow, he told the pair that he'd see them in the morning. They needed to be at the courthouse by noon.

Harry felt restless and antsy. He was excited to at least be able to lay eyes on Louis, but he had an uneasy feeling in his stomach. After tossing and turning for several hours, he finally drifted off to sleep.

❧

The day before Louis' arraignment was by far the most challenging day behind bars for him. When he woke up that morning, he'd been in the same cell in county jail that he'd woken up in for the last three days. The cell was meant to hold up to six people.

In the days prior, there had only been one other person in there with him, Lenny, who arrived hours after Louis did, drunk as a skunk, but not overly-menacing.

If anything, Louis pitied the man who'd been wailing nonstop about his wife taking his kids away, and the police allowing them to do it. Apparently, in his drunken rage, he'd hit an officer, after a bartender called the cops on him for becoming irate, when they told him he was cut off.

The pair shared the cold, damp cell for three and a half days. They'd even had some decent conversation the day after he arrived, when the man sobered up, and asked Louis what happened. He'd told Lenny everything that the man had told him the night before, which was all he knew. Lenny didn't seem particularly surprised, but was definitely feeling a fresh, new kind of despair.

About an hour before lunch, on the day before his arraignment, the guards told both men to stand against the wall with their hands behind their backs. They did as told, and another guard led a line of three other men into the block. Louis didn't recognize the first two, but he did recognize the third man. His heart sank at the sight of Chet, and his blood ran cold. What was HE doing there?

Clad in the same orange jumpsuit that Louis and Lenny were in, Chet took the bunk directly across from Louis', as assigned. How was this possible? Why would they put them together? Didn't they want them separated? Didn't this compromise the entire investigation?

When the cell door slammed shut, the guard told Louis and Lenny they could return to their bunks. Louis stayed with his back against the wall and his eyes glued to Chet's smug smirk. The man had stitches under his chin, and his right arm was in a cast and a sling. One of the other new inmates ignored him completely, and the other looked at Louis like he was a rodent.

"Hey Louis. Long time, no see" Chet said with a sick twist in his voice. Louis couldn't move. He couldn't breathe. He was frozen. "Oh, calm down, will ya? We're in the same boat. Don't get me wrong, I still want to kill you for this" he said angrily, gesturing to his arm. "But for now, we should all stick together. Alfie is worried. All of 'em are. Not sure how we're going to get out of this..." he told him, looking seriously scared for a moment.

Louis blinked hard. He tried to focus. He was saying they should stick together? After finding out what Louis had done? We should 'all' stick together? Who else was in this jail that was on that boat? Why was he in there with him, but not Alfie?

"I'm not sure either" Louis forced himself to say, gauging Chet's every movement. The blond man was looking at Louis like he was seriously confused as to why he seemed so terrified.

"Well it's not me that you need to be scared of. Or Randall, here. Have you two even met?" He asked, pointing to the short, heavy man who must have been in his fifties, and was still staring at him menacingly. Realization hit Louis. This was Randall. Harry and Niall's boss.

If he weren't in the world's most confusing predicament, he'd have started chewing the bastard out right there in the middle of the cell. Instead, he just shook his head no.

"Randy, this is Louis. Louis, Randy" he introduced. "You two actually have an unlikely bond, come to think of it. This is the guy I was telling you about. The one that ended up pushing past his moral dilemma, to buy both of the pets you provided us with. Guess it was a good thing you took Blondie after all. One less charge on me" he added.

Louis began to relax. The way he was speaking, it was apparent that Chet didn't yet know that Louis had freed the slaves that their old, ugly boss sold to them. He breathed out a huge gust of air, and walked over to his bunk.

"Hey" Louis said to his boyfriend's asshole boss, as casually as he could muster. "Not that I'm not glad to see you, Chet. I'm just so confused. How are you here? Why would they...put us all together? Surely they're worried about us all talking, during an active investigation..."

Chet chuckled lightly under his breath, and even Randall had some mirth in his iced-over hazel eyes. His thinning hair was slicked back with grease, and he had food crusted onto the belly of his jumpsuit. Louis tried to control his face of disgust.

"They moved us here from Key West. I have some connections. They have Alfie in another block, but when I found out you were here, Dwight said he'd put us together, so that I don't tell his buddies that he has his own little pet locked up at home" he explained, his voice thick with dark humor.

Louis breathed a fake laugh, which was actually probably pretty convincing. He laid his head on his shitty prison pillow and tried to remember how to play the part.

"How did we get here? What happened?" Louis decided to ask, knowing that he probably knew more than either of the other men.

"Feds have been gathering evidence for a while my lawyer says. They finally had enough to go after the big guys. Guess you're officially a part of the club" Chet said.

While he still seemed a bit smug, he also smiled weakly, and Louis thought he might have seen a flicker of sympathy behind his eyes. If he had, it was gone in an instant.

"Does the tape we made for Alfie have audio? Lawyer wants to know" he decided to ask, using the time with his enemy to his advantage. Chet seemed taken off guard by the question.

"No. None of 'em do. So you can't hear the little bitches screaming or saying to stop" he answered, like he was telling him what channel the news was on.

"I always thought that was so stupid. If they get their hands on the video, you're busted anyways. Sometimes the sounds are the best part" Randall chimed in, making himself comfortable in his bunk by the far wall.

Louis tried to hide how appalled he was. This was the guy that had sold Harry and Niall to Alfie, to be auctioned off. He wanted to walk over there and smother him with his pillow.

Aside from now being jailed with two monsters, the morning had shockingly gone fine, after Louis found out that they didn't yet know he wasn't on their side. He was able to relax and eat lunch with the other men, which sucked, but was definitely better than them finding out who he really was.

He was desperate to call Harry, and missed his Princess terribly. Unfortunately it wasn't easy to get a phone call, and even if he could, he wouldn't want him to worry, knowing Chet was in there with him.

When they all came back into their cell from the cafeteria after dinner that evening, Chet kept walking with the guard. He told Louis he was going to call Fabian, which made his heart sink. Had Harry spoken to him yet? What happened?

Becoming increasingly anxious, he avoided Randall's stone cold stare like the plague. He rolled over and faced the wall of his cot, hugging his arms around himself and thinking fondly about Harry.

It felt like hours later that the blond man returned, and his eyes had a SEETHING, fiery intensity behind them, not directed to anyone in particular.

Chet whispered something to the guard, who was unlocking the cell to put him back in. The guard looked hesitant, but nodded, and walked away after securing the door.

The way that Chet was looking at Louis, was nothing short of terrifying. He didn't know what to say, or how to act. Trying to disguise his fear as concern for his dear friend, Louis sat up and leaned forward.

"What happened, then?" He asked. "You get ahold of him?"

Chet ignored the question. He motioned to Randall to come towards him with his pointer finger. The heavier man rolled his eyes, but got off of his cot. The blond whispered something in his ear, and spoke for a concerning amount of time. Randall's eyes were frothing with hate, staying fixed on Louis, as he listened.

The large man then gave Chet a knowing smirk and he nodded. To Louis' surprise, he turned around, and started talking to one of the other men in the cell, who he still didn't know the name of. He was speaking in too quiet of a voice, for Louis to hear.

"Yeah. I got ahold of him" Chet finally responded. "Guess he had some visitors today. A boy with long, curly hair, and a blond twink. Your pets, Lou" he continued. Louis swallowed hard. Uh oh. "They had no clue they were barking up the wrong tree, when they asked him what you'd asked me earlier. If there was audio on the tape. I was confused as to why he was telling me all of this.

"Until he told me that the two bitches are campaigning to prove your innocence. He said that according to Curly, you bought him his freedom, and gave it to both him and blondie right after we docked. Was an...awful foolish move on their part, going to him. Fabe is still completely devoted to me. I guess they figured that he'd be cooperating by now, having such disdain for me and all. But they were mistaken.

"Not that they even know that, of course. Fabian can be a fantastic actor. Especially when there's even the slightest amount of pressure applied. He convinced your boyfriends that he'd help them. Attest to your innocence. Tell them that you insisted on using your silly, out-dated color system. Little do they know, he's actually telling investigators the exact opposite.

"Telling them that you were no better than any of my other guests, and that the poor, sweet boys who'd been kidnapped were probably suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, thinking that you're anything but another monster. That you must have convinced them to lie for you, even after you'd been arrested. Told 'em that they're doing so, only out of fear of what you could do even from behind bars, or heaven forbid...if you ever got out..." Chet told him, drawing out every word painfully slowly.

The news hit Louis like a ton of bricks. Fabian fucked him over. Hard. It'll be his word against Louis'. His heart rate accelerated, as Chet stood from his bed, and stalked over to the smaller man angrily.

"Your little boy-toys think that Fabian is saving you right now, but he's seeing to it that you'll never get out of this. Might as well fess up to everything yourself. Plead guilty. When is your arraignment? Tomorrow?" He continued, now standing right in front of Louis, who was listening, dumbfounded, with his mouth agape. "That's what Fabe said anyway. So, here's what's going to happen....

"You're going to go to the courthouse tomorrow, and you're going to plead guilty to all of the charges against you. You're going to tell them that you didn't think you were doing anything wrong. We're all going to be behind bars together for a long, long time. You can forget the idea of going home on bail tomorrow, too. Fabe is also working on convincing the judge that you're a flight risk.

"You're never going home again. Never going to see that beautiful, innocent curly head of hair again, Louis. I'll fucking see to that. You had everyone on that boat fooled. Not me. Not anymore" he spat. While he'd seemed almost amused, taunting Louis with all of this horrific information, there was a sadness in his eyes, a look of hurt, of betrayal. He also seemed much more anxious than he had all day.

Louis had no clue what to say or do. He thought he was going to puke. Every single thing that he had in his defense was gone. Fabian's lies were going to cancel out Harry and Niall's testimony. He was going to be behind bars with these animals forever. A slave to the men he'd protected his lover and his friend from.

"Alright, ladies! Lights out. In your bunks. Now!" The guard shouted. Louis' stomach twisted with anxiety, when Chet didn't get in his bunk, and the guard looked into the cell, like he was checking on his rounds, and walked away, very clearly seeing the man hovering over Louis menacingly.

Seconds after the guard was gone, Randall sauntered over. He stood at the foot of the bed, as Louis backed up against the wall to brace himself. The heavier man laughed, and reached between the steel bars to grab both of his legs, and pin them down onto the thin mattress. Once he had them secure, he nodded at Chet.

The blond man, who was the reason that Louis was in this mess in the first place, lunged at him, grabbing both of his arms. Louis tried to fight, but without the use of his legs, it was helpless. Chet used his good arm, to pull at Louis' arm until it was hanging over the metal bar at the head of the bed. He belted out a wicked, vengeful laugh, as he pulled the appendage straight.

"Please! Please don't, Chet! Please!" Louis begged, earning another terrifying laugh. He knew he was screwed, in every possible way. Not wanting to give the man the satisfaction of his fear, Louis took a page from Harry's book, and stopped pleading, accepting his fate. "AHHH!! FUCK! OH, FUCK!" He cried, when Chet snapped his arm in half, almost bending it backwards, like the middle of his radius and ulna was his new elbow.

The pain was all-consuming. He couldn't think, couldn't breathe, he sure as fuck couldn't attempt to put up a fight. Chet began punching him with his left hand, striking both of his eyes, and landing several more, before becoming frustrated that he couldn't use his full strength due to the sling on his dominant arm.

He then opted for kicking Louis in the chest and abdomen, standing on the bed, and using the top bunk to keep himself steady, as he stomped on the man underneath him. Louis was completely defenseless. He had to take it all. And from knowing Chet, he knew that the worst was yet to come. He prayed that he would pass out from the pain, pinching his eyes closed, and trying not to make too much noise, now knowing that Randall literally gets off on it.

"Roll him over" Chet ordered, as if he could read Louis' mind. Randall flipped Louis over onto his stomach like a rag doll. The whimpering man looked around the cell. Each of the other cellmates were minding their business.

Lenny's bunk was behind Louis', and he watched the man roll onto his side, facing the wall, pulling the pillow around both sides of his own head. He looked almost as pained as Louis, as he forced himself to tune out what he knew was happening.

"You wanted to convince those pretty little bitches that you were just like them, right? Weak, pathetic, miserable?!" Chet shouted, ripping the orange jumpsuit pants down until they ran into Randall's hands. The evil man laughed maniacally, when Chet climbed on top of Louis and straddled him.

Louis actually felt himself losing consciousness, his brain protecting him in the only possible way that it could at that point. He'd never known pain like he was experiencing in his arm.

"Well congrats, Lou. You're officially one of them. A slave. A body. A hole. A whore...nothing more, you absolute fucking snake. Gonna make such a perfect little bitch. Alfie will be absolutely thrilled with this tight little cunt..." Chet growled. "Don't cry now, Louis. You're going to have to get used to this. We're all going to be together for a long, long time..." he cooed in a mocking voice.

Louis felt a finger press inside of him. He thought of Harry, who he'd likely never see again, and that bright, dimply smile was the last thing to enter his brain, before he was consumed by darkness.

————

Chapter Text

Louis awoke in the worst pain he'd ever been in. He had no clue how long he'd been out for. As the events prior to him passing out came flooding back to him, he sat up, panicked.

Confused, he looked around. He wasn't in his cell. Chet and Randall were nowhere to be seen. He breathed a sigh of relief, but was still full of adrenaline. He felt drowsy and weird. One arm had an I.V. in it, and the other was wrapped in a white cast, and put into a sling, which looked just like Chet's. He was in a paper-thin, blue hospital gown, with a white blanket draped over his waist.

Everything that his former co-worker told him, after his phone call with his submissive came back to the forefront of his mind.

Out of all of the physical pain that his broken body was in, nothing hurt worse than the punch in the gut from realization that just because he was out of immediate danger, didn't mean everything was okay. It was far from it.

With one phone call, Chet had shattered Louis' entire defense. He was supposed to be going to his arraignment later. The large, white analog clock on the wall read six AM. He was due to be at the courthouse at noon.

The day before, he was excited to at least be able to see his Princess. Now he was dreading it. He couldn't let Harry see him like this. It was absolutely soul-crushing. He was never going home. He wouldn't even be able to post bail. He was never going to get to cuddle with Harry again. He was never going to get out of prison, at least not until he was an old man.

Having never felt so low, Louis looked around the room. He was in a bed. It looked like he was still in the jail, because although he wasn't restrained, there was a line of beds on both sides of him, all of them had tan leg and arm restraints on the bars along the sides.

He watched the clock change, with no other movement in the room whatsoever, until over four hours later. When it was almost half-past ten, the silent room echoed with frantic footsteps approaching.

Not sure who to expect, Louis covered his face with the blanket. He hadn't realized until then that he'd been crying, for who knew how long.

"This is ridiculous! Absurd!" A somewhat familiar voice boomed. "You take me to my client right this minute, or I will see to it that you never work in medicine again. Absolutely fucking barbaric! Wait until the judge hears about this" Louis didn't want to get his hopes up, but the voice sounded like his lawyer, Dobbs. He sat up a little in the bed, and every inch of him began rebelling in agony.

The door swung open, and he saw a man in gray scrubs who looked annoyed, but concerned. Right behind him, there he was. Dobbs gasped in horror at the sight of his battered client.

"Dobbs! Dobbs! What's happening?! Ow! Ow! Fuckkk!!! OW!" Louis asked, trying to use his broken arm to shimmy himself up the bed, which was already sat up at an awkward angle. "Dobbs, please! He's lying! Rat-faced little twink is so full of shit, I swear! Fuck! Fuck my fucking life. It hurts so bad..." Louis cried, his agonized sobs filling the room. The doctor rushed over to check his I.V.

Dobbs was still clearly stunned by the state Louis was in. He stood there with his mouth open, as the other man injected something into his client's I.V. bag. While he was still in pain, a kind of calm, fuzzy warmth spread through his veins, and seconds later he felt much more at ease.

"Dear god, my boy. This was Chet? What the fuck was he even doing in there with you?" Dobbs asked, still sounding alarmed. Louis nodded, feeling weak and floaty all of the sudden. "When will he be okay to be discharged?" His lawyer asked the Doctor.

"He could go back now, his arm is set. I've done what I can. I wouldn't advise he goes back to the cell for a week or two, at least. Probably longer, given he can't defend himself with that arm" he told the other man, grimacing.

"Okay. That's good. Grand. He'll need some pain meds. You'll write him something strong, remove his I.V. and then leave us" Dobbs commanded. The Doctor seemed a little put off, but the tall, arrogant, but competent lawyer was intimidating. He scribbled something down on his script pad. Louis hardly felt the I.V. slip out from under his skin. His nose was cold and itchy. Whatever he'd given him was good.

Once the Doctor left the room, Dobbs sat on the man's gray, rolling stool. He looked almost....excited? But also had pity in his eyes. Louis was too exhausted to ask why, so he waited, deciding it didn't matter much anyway.

"Louis. I'm...so sorry this happened to you. I'm going to make sure someone answers for this, I promise you that..." Dobbs said. Louis scoffed. While he appreciated the thought, that was the least of his worries.

"I have some news for you. I pictured delivering it under much, much better circumstances, but you're free, Louis. As of last night, you've been cleared of all charges!" he informed him excitedly.

Louis blinked hard, and tilted his head to the side. While that was very good news indeed, he didn't believe it for a second. His lawyer was somehow mistaken. He didn't offer a smile or even a questioning glance, he just stared at the man vacantly.

"This is fantastic news, Louis. It's possible that you could run into another charge for soliciting a prostitute down the line, but to my knowledge, no one is pursuing that. You don't have to go in front of the judge. As soon as you're feeling up to it, you and I are walking out of that front door. You're a free man. Are you...are you able to hear me, son? Christ, what did that asshole give you?" He said, then muttered to himself.

Louis felt a glimmer of hope rise in his chest, quickly stomped out by the thought that this must be a dream. Not only had Fabian NOT agreed to help Louis by telling the truth, he was going to twist the knife by telling damning lies. He couldn't be free. It was impossible. Louis sighed, thinking Dobbs probably didn't even know about Fabian's intentions yet.

"I can hear you" he answered weakly. "That would be...fantastic news. But...I don't think it's going to be that simple. Do you know why this happened to me?" he asked.

"I know it was Chet, and that fat fuck who sold those poor boys to begin with. I'd assumed it was due to your...cooperation" he answered cautiously.

"They didn't know I was cooperating, until Chet spoke to Fabian last night. Guess he's still hopelessly devoted to the bastard. He lied to Harry and Niall. He's not going to help me. He's going to lie. To make it sound worse than it is" he informed him. Dobbs appeared confused.

"No. That's not what's happened, son. I'm not sure where you got that information, but it's bullshit. Fabian called up the investigators at D.O.J. yesterday evening. I guess one of the other men from the tape called with him. They confirmed that you'd asked for consent. Told them that you'd seemed different to them. Kind, gentle. Fabian told them that his perspective matched Harry's and Niall's.

"I have no clue why he'd tell Chet otherwise, but that is what happened. All on record, so it's not like he can take it back. When the investigators shared the evidence with the prosecution last night, they agreed there was no reason to pursue charges, if there were no victims. Though there's video evidence of you assaulting Chet, it was self-defense, with at least two credible witnesses.

"They have no reason to hold you. They'll insist you stay in the country while the investigation continues, but otherwise, you're a free man, Louis. I would not mislead you after what you've been through. I really am...so very sorry. Terrible, terrible timing. I rushed right over here when I heard from the DA first thing this morning. I was appalled when they told me what'd happened.

"It's not too good to be true. I wouldn't give you false hope. Like I said, there's some concern for that one charge to come back around, but even if it does, we can deal with it outside of this hell-hole. I can't imagine how tired you are, or how much pain you're in, but I will wait here all day if you need. I'm here to bring you home" he responded enthusiastically, waiting for it to sink in.

And it finally did. Louis had no reason to believe the lawyer would lie to him. None of it made sense, not at all. Fabian must have lied to Chet about what he was going to do, maybe out of fear. There was no way for him to know that they'd be in the same jail, let alone the same cell.

"Please, please tell me you're not fucking with me" Louis stated plainly, still trying not to get his hopes up.

"I'm not fucking with you, Louis. You're going home" he repeated, smiling warmly.

Louis' eyes stung with tears of relief. He still wasn't convinced that this wasn't the best dream he'd ever had, but he was becoming more sure. The silent tears quickly turned to heavy sobs.

Dobbs reached out to put a comforting hand on Louis' shoulder. It hurt a little bit, but Louis wasn't about to complain.

None of what Chet said was happening, was actually happening. The opposite was. He wasn't going to prison. He was going home. He was going to be with Harry.

His stomach sank at his next thought: 'if Harry still wanted him'.

"Th-thank you. Thank you so much, Dobbs. I can't...can't believe it. I thought I was fucking done for. Holy shit. Does...does Harry know?" He asked, looking at the man like he was his hero.

"No. I thought I'd let you tell your friends and family yourself. Unless of course you'd rather I do it for you?" He replied. Louis shook his head 'no' and wiped at his tears.

"I want to leave. Now. I have pain meds at home to hold me over until I can fill these. Can you find a wheelchair, Dobbs?" Louis decided, already sitting up, then regretting it, as his arm was engulfed in flames of agony. His sides ached, as did his chest and abdomen. He was sore between his legs. He was a mess. But a very, very relieved one.

Dobbs rushed out of the room to find the Doctor and a wheelchair. He returned moments later and helped Louis onto it. Every single movement sent a different kind of pain through his body. At least when he was finally in the chair, and could remain as still as possible, it wasn't so bad.

Louis looked up at the clock, and it was quarter after eleven. Harry would be on his way to the court soon, if he wasn't already.

"Can you bring me to the courthouse instead of home? I'll have a ride from there" he asked.

"You got it, kid. Let's go get your things and get out of this dump. Gonna get this place shut down after what happened to you..." he replied, mostly muttering to himself at the end.

Once he was processed out, which Dobbs was able to help expedite, he was given a bag of his belongings, and was free to go. Dobbs helped him change out of his hospital gown, into the clothes he'd been wearing the day of his arrest.

Once he wheeled him through the dark cold building and out the front doors, he looked up at the beautiful, blue sky, truly consciously appreciating the feeling of freedom for the very first time.

❧

At the condo that same morning, when Harry woke up, he had anxious butterflies in his tummy. He was going to see his daddy today. And hopefully, regardless of the results of the arraignment, he'd be able to come home on bail.

He hurried in the shower, and got dressed in a sheer black button-up, which was almost see-through, but not quite. He buttoned it up to his sternum, and found a pair of Louis' black slacks that fit. He also wore black socks that went up to his shins, given the pants were a little too short for him.

Knowing he was as satisfied as he was going to get with his appearance, he practically ran down the stairs. Niall and Liam were awake, and drinking coffee on the barstools in front of the island. They both smiled weakly, knowing they had no clue what to expect, but excited to finally get any kind of news.

"Are you ready?" Liam asked. "I'll drive, if you want" he added. The way he offered made it sound like it was out of consideration for Harry, but both he and Niall knew he'd been itching to get behind the wheel of Louis' Mercedes.

"Yeah. Sounds good. Let's just go. I hate just sitting around and stewing in anxiety" Harry responded, clearly antsy to get going, the way he urged Niall to hurry with his coffee wordlessly.

"I know. It'll be okay. No matter what, he'll get out of this, okay? Worst case scenario, it just takes a bit longer than is ideal..." Liam tried to assure. Harry nodded, but gave Niall an annoyed look, as he took his time putting on his sneakers.

Moments later, they were out the door.

❧

"What the...what the fuck?" Liam said as they pulled up to the courthouse. It caught Harry's attention immediately, and his eyes landed directly on what Liam was talking about. He was insanely confused by what he was looking at.

Being a little bit early, they'd been planning to wait in the car for a few minutes. When Liam pulled into the parking lot, there was someone sitting on the curb in front of the building, hunched over himself, with his face buried in between his knees. Though they couldn't see his face, the man was wearing the same outfit that Louis had been arrested in.

The second that Liam had the car in park, Harry was out of the door. He ran up to the clearly distressed man, not understanding what he was looking at, at all.

"Lou?!" Harry called. Louis' head snapped up. Harry gasped in horror as he ran up to his daddy. "Louis! Baby! What the fuck? How are you out here?! My god, what happened to you?!" He asked, his voice shaking with worry.

When he was finally close enough to squat in front of him, Louis' black and blue eyes were misty and bloodshot. The sight of Harry was apparently upsetting, because he buried his face back in his knees, cradling himself around his throbbing arm, as he started sobbing gently. Harry had no clue what to say or do.

"Louis, baby. Please. What happened? Who did this to you?" He asked again. He hadn't noticed that his arm was in a sling. Harry was afraid to keep pressing, as the man was clearly in a delicate state, but he wanted to shake him to make him talk. "Look at me, please..." He begged.

Louis reluctantly looked up again. He looked like he'd been used as the prison punching bag.

"Hey, Princess" he said, forcing a smile. "Has anyone told you anything?" He asked, looking up at Harry, his face dripping tears. There was a small line of stitches under his eyebrow.

"No. Nothing at all" Harry replied. "We talked to the guys you said were coming. They put us in touch with the source. We haven't heard a damn word since..." he replied. "If you don't tell me what's going on, I'm marching in there and demanding answers from someone. Anyone..." he went on, getting frustrated.

Louis sighed. Liam and Niall came running up seconds later, both letting out their own horrified gasps at the sight of the man who'd saved them.

"Hey guys" Louis said. "I'm um. I'm free to go. Cleared of all charges..." he told them, then fell into another fit of sobs, wincing when he cried and grabbing at his sides. "I'll explain everything. Please, Princess. I need to get out of here. Need to go home. Can someone pull the car around? I'll tell you everything on the way back" he begged.

Liam nodded and immediately ran back to where he'd just parked the car. Harry sat next to Louis on the curb, while Niall stared awkwardly with his mouth open. No one said anything until Liam brought the car around a few painful seconds later. Harry stood immediately, and Niall helped him, to help Louis to stand.

They eased him into the seat behind the passenger's side. Niall took shotgun, and Harry got in on the other side, once he secured Louis' seatbelt. The man groaned in pain at nearly every movement. Once everyone was in their seats, Liam started driving slowly, looking back at Louis in the rear-view, clearly astonished by the state of Harry's man.

Louis didn't offer up any information. He just cried silently. Harry wanted to know what happened more than anything, but it was clear that Louis had been through something horrific. He decided not to press for the moment.

He scooted as close to Louis as he could, and after a few seconds of stubborn stiffness, his daddy melted into his touch, sinking into the taller man, then falling sideways slightly, landing his head in Harry's lap. Niall looked back at Harry with concerned eyes. He had no clue what to tell him.

Comforted by the fact that they weren't about to go through a whole court ordeal before they learned of Louis' legal fate, he decided he'd try to be as patient as possible, given it didn't seem like Louis would be returning to where he'd just been released from.

No one spoke the entire twenty-minute drive back to Louis' condo. When they arrived there, Niall and Liam gently lifted Louis from the car. Liam had Louis wrap his good arm around his shoulder, while Niall held him steady on the other side, avoiding his injured arm, but stabilizing him by his waist. Harry trailed behind helplessly as they brought him into the building and the four of them rode the elevator all of the way up.

❧

"Ow! Oh, fuck!" Louis yelped, as Niall and Liam eased him into his bed, after carefully helping him up the floating staircase. Harry told him he would help him shower as soon as he felt up to it. "Sorry. I know you're all dying to know what happened. I can tell you. Just gotta...pull myself together a...a little bit" he said, speaking calmly, until his voice broke, and he fell into another fit of sobs.

Harry crawled into bed in his usual spot right next to his daddy. Niall and Liam stood in Louis' room, looking worried and unsure of what to do. As big as Louis' room was in his vacation home, there was nowhere to sit aside from the bed. Harry pleaded with Niall, using his eyes, to gesture to the empty space near his feet. Niall shook off all of his uneasiness, and sat where Harry was asking him to.

"Take...take your time, okay? No rush now, right?" Liam asked, still standing at the end of the bed awkwardly. "Is there anything I can...do? Anything I can get you?" He asked, but his eyes kept traveling to the vacant spot next to his boyfriend, at Louis' feet, on the king-sized bed.

"Sit, Lima. Please" Louis said in a strained voice, realizing the bigger man's internal dilemma. "Want you to feel at home. There's nothing you can get me right now. Just wanna tell you all at once, so I don't need to...keep talking about it" he added. His voice was becoming more steady, and his tears were easing up, now that he was still.

Harry snuggled up close to him, but with extreme caution, not knowing where, or how badly Louis was hurt. The way his daddy sank his weight into him, he figured he wasn't hurting the man at least. Liam sat where he'd been told to, putting his hand on Niall's.

"This happened last night. I'd gotten some new cell-mates at the beginning of the day. At first, there were only two of us in this huge room, then suddenly, there were five of us. Enclosed space. Communal shitter. Bunk beds. Very as-seen-on-TV" Louis began, his voice strained and pained. Harry was near tears, but was desperately trying to be strong for his daddy.

He told them what happened in the last twenty-four hours, basically minute-by-minute. Harry's eyes widened in horror when Louis revealed what Chet told him that Fabian said. He was fuming with rage and protectiveness. When he got to the brutal beating, and what came after, Niall put his face in both of his hands, and wiped at his tears, trying not to call attention to himself.

Liam looked absolutely horrified. His gaze kept shifting nervously between all three men as Louis went on, telling them about his roller-coaster of emotions that morning, how he'd spent hours thinking that he was going to prison for the rest of his life.

"I've never known relief, like I did when Dobbs told me I wouldn't be going to the arraignment. That because of the evidence you guys and Fabe were able to provide, I was cleared of all charges. I might run into some trouble for soliciting a prostitute down the line, but as far as he knows, no one seems to care about that. I'm...free" Louis said excitedly, but his face contorted in agony seconds later.

"When I got out this morning and checked my phone. It's bad...I'm...completely ruined. Chet's lawyer has been telling the whole inner circle about my...cooperation. I'm a snitch, an untouchable. Alfie is connected to the most elite people in the UK. Most of Europe, really. I'll never work in tech again, definitely not over there. And that's just the surface of it. There will be cash rewards posted for my head.

"I've got some money saved, but I'm sure I'm already fired. My entire lifestyle...gone. I...don't wanna...lose everything. I...loved my life, for the short amount of time that I had it...but...I'm most afraid...I'm gonna lose you, Harry" He wailed, then winced, when the breath he breathed out, hurt both of his sides.

Harry couldn't process a fraction of what he'd just heard. All he knew was that he was going to kill Chet with his bare hands. Force Randall to hold his legs and watch, before he killed the man he'd once looked up to, just as slowly. He'd never experienced this level of rage before.

"Don't be fucking ridiculous" Harry stated firmly. "Lose me? I'm not going anywhere. I don't give a shit about your money, Lou. I just want you. Just wanna be able to be with you. If anything, I'm...glad you'll be away from that world, those people" he assured. "My god, baby. I'm...I'm so sorry they did that to you...I can't see straight, I'm so fucking pissed. I'll kill that fucking twink if I ever see him again.

"God, how could they put you two together? Don't they specifically NOT want any of you together? So you can't get your stories straight? How could they let this happen, Lima?" Harry asked, needing something to focus on. "I'm so sorry, baby. You're alright. You're home now. We'll figure out the rest as we go. I'm calling Randall's wife tomorrow, giving her an earful. What is he even doing in Florida? He was arrested in Virginia..."

Liam seemed to be deep in thought for a few moments, though his face was still full of empathy. Niall looked almost like he was in shock. He wasn't moving or saying anything.

"Well, we didn't go to the state police immediately, because some of them are in on it, right? I have no clue how they got in the same cell as you, Lou. They're both...connected men. I just can't believe it. There's gotta be something that can be done about it, too. You were jumped the night before you were cleared of all charges. Someone is liable for that. You're innocent. We'll...table all of that for now, I guess.

"I'll talk to Dobbs, see where his train of thought is on how to keep you safe from their friends on the outside. I'm...just so sorry. You're in so much pain. It isn't...isn't fair. You were almost out of there..." he added, equally as frustrated as everyone else, by the timing of it all.

"I know, I know. But it's not so bad. Especially after thinking I'd be going away for the rest of my life, all morning. Thank you guys. Seriously, thank you. For going to talk to Fabian, not knowing how he'd react. For...stomaching talking to those guards. When Dobbs told me they were Feds, I got hopeful. I couldn't speak with them directly, had to talk to them through Dobbs. But I doubt it was a super comfortable conversation.

"I agree about tabling it. I've had a rough fucking few days. I don't think my mind can take much more worrying about what's going to happen. I just wanna relax. Shower. Sleep. God, Harry. I missed you so much. I'm so sorry you have to see me like this..." Louis cried.

Harry started to tear up at Louis' vulnerability. He'd do anything he could, to take the pain away.

"I missed you. So fucking much, Lou. We'll table it. Try not to talk or think too much about it. Nothing we can do tonight anyway, and you need your rest" Harry agreed. "Do you want me to get you anything? Wanna shower first?" He asked, needing to busy himself so he didn't feel so helpless.

"Can one of you go downstairs? There's a stash box inside my coffee table. Help yourselves to whatever, but I'd really, really like an Oxy right about now. Doctor at the jail was shit, but Dobbs got him to write me more meds. I'm going to a real one tomorrow, make sure he didn't miss anything. Maybe he can put a better cast on, too"

Liam jumped up immediately to assist with the task. Niall sat there, frozen. He looked like he'd seen a ghost. Harry wasn't quite sure what was up with him. They were all obviously shaken up, but he almost looked like he did when he was under the table at dinner on the boat. Vacant. Empty.

"You alright, Ni?" Harry asked. The blond didn't move. He was staring at Louis with his mouth slightly agape. Harry was staring to get worried. Just when he was about to start shaking his friend, he seemed to snap himself out of it. When Niall took a deep breath, he let out a pained sob through the exhale.

"Wouldn't have happened if it weren't for me..." he said sadly. "You put everything on the line to save me, and this is what it got you. Made worse by the fact that Harry and I would have been rescued soon after, regardless. I'm just...so sorry, Lou. I know...how brutal he is. I understand not wanting to talk about it right now but...anything you ever need, Louis. I'm here for you.

"No one, not one single person, is ever going to give you shit for being on that boat again. Anyone who does, will have to answer to me. I owe you so much. You're a good person, Lou. Chet did this to you...because of what you did to him. For me. And Harry, obviously. But I'm...just so fucking mad. Randall's bitch ass. Gonna kill that bastard. All his fault..." he went on, talking through a tearful voice.

Harry was relieved that he hadn't gone catatonic, at least. He felt awful for what both men had now been through. All at the hands of the same monster, backed by their former boss.

"Hey, now. None of that..." Louis tried to soothe. "No one's fault but theirs. They're terrible people. We're going to see to it that they get what they deserve for it. I don't want either of you feeling guilty, okay? Not for a second..." Louis replied. "Come here, Nialler. It's over. We're all safe. I'd do it all the same exact way, okay?" Louis said, lifting his good arm for the blond to crawl up to.

Niall wedged himself between Harry and Louis, carefully embracing the man who'd gone through hell to protect them both. Liam re-entered the room seconds later with the pain meds and a glass of water. He seemed to shed most of his awkwardness around the man who came into their lives in the most bizarre way, and he hopped back into the bed where he was sat before, resting a comforting hand on Louis' shin.

They all sat quietly for a few moments while they waited for Louis' medicine to kick in. Liam helped Harry to help the smaller man into the shower and out of his clothes. Liam looked heartbroken at the sight of Louis' badly beaten body. He smiled weakly, and told the pair to holler if they needed help getting him back into bed.

❧

After Harry carefully scrubbed Louis down from head to toe, his cast wrapped in cellophane to keep it from getting wet, he held him in the steamy, hot water for a few minutes as the two men gently cried together. As the meds started to kick in, Louis looked less pained, but a lot more tired. Harry was able to help him into bed by himself, neither of them bothering with clothes.

"Can't tell you how much I missed you. Was going crazy. Felt weird, sleeping in here without you..." Harry said, gazing into his daddy's eyes. Louis lifted Harry's arm, and the curly-haired man was surprised, but delighted, when Louis rested his head on his chest. He'd never curled up to him like that before.

"You're all I thought about. Last night, when I thought I'd never be able to be with you like this again...and all of this morning. It was the worst anxiety I've ever had. I'd take a hundred more beatings from Chet if it meant I could be right here, right now..." he said. "Was worried you wouldn't...want me anymore. If I lost everything. Or...after you found out what he did. I know you're going to say it wasn't my fault...

"But hard not to feel like I kinda...had it coming. After everything I sat by and watched happen to the others. Niall included. I...just don't want you to think I'm...weak. Dirty. Broken. I knew he was going to do it, the second I realized that he knew. Knew it was useless to fight, especially with his new best bud. Just had to lay there and take it. Was over before it started really.

"Made me worried that I'd lose you. Over 90 seconds of the bastard forcing himself on me. Just didn't want you to think I...wanted it. Because I didn't fight. But then...I thought of what you said to me. When we first got back to the room, and you asked me what was going to happen, told me you wouldn't fight, that you'd just like to know. Helped a little, knowing you know that helpless feeling..." Louis told him.

The older man was falling into a much sleepier state, now that he was safe, medicated, and had a soothing shower and someone to take care of him. Harry wanted him to know how much he cared about him.

"Look at me" Harry said quietly, picking up Louis' chin. His tearful blue eyes landed on Harry's emerald ones. "You need to let yourself off the hook for being on the boat. Niall and I both have completely. Chet is a monster. I'm so fucking sorry he did that to you. Not your fault in any way. He's sick. And you're so very, very brave..." he soothed. "You're nothing like him, and have never even acted like anything close.

"It took almost no convincing to tell Fabian who you were. He offered up the information that you told us, on his own accord, after we asked if he had any reason to believe that you thought they were there under their own free will. He said you were kind, gentle. That you seemed almost innocent. That's because you are. All of those things, Lou. No one deserves what happened to you and Niall.

"I don't think you're weak. He had a broken arm and still needed to break yours, and phone a friend, to help him carry out his vicious attack. Sometimes not fighting is your only defense. I know that better than anybody. None of it is your fault. None of it. You're as innocent as Niall and I are. We're all going to get through this together. I don't want you to worry that you're going to lose me.

"I love you, Louis. I love you a lot. I know it's soon to say it, but I've never meant anything more. You are a good person. You're everything that I didn't know I needed. I love you. Don't say it back if you don't feel it. I just want you to know. You're the man of my dreams. You're not dirty or broken. You're...perfect" he said, still cupping Louis' chin.

Once he finished speaking, he pressed his lips to the older man's gently, to keep him from answering that too soon. He was pleased to feel Louis' lips tighten against his, unable to fight his smile.

"I love you" Louis blurted, the second they parted. "I'm so in love with you, Harry. Took everything I had not to let it slip through the phone the other day. You're so fucking special. Thank you. For...everything. For believing in me, even when it didn't look good at all. For trusting me. For...choosing me..." he said, whimpering a bit at the end. He rested his head back on Harry's chest and Harry played with his hair.

Neither of them spoke for the rest of the night. They both just held each other until they fell asleep, both of them finally free.

——————

Chapter Text

Over the next several weeks, after the men had picked Louis up from the courthouse, things had finally started looking up for all of them.

Every single one of the men who'd been arrested in association with that ring, were planning to plead guilty, in exchange for the possibility of parole, years, if not decades down the line, so they'd heard.

A week after Louis came home from jail, Liam announced that he needed to go back to Virginia to get back to work. Niall had been conflicted about leaving Harry and Louis, but decided he probably should return home, too. They were planning on going back down to Miami the next month, and had told the lawyers they'd be available sooner, if needed.

No longer having a job to go back to, or anything worth returning home for immediately, Harry decided to stay in Miami with Louis for the time being. His belongings were safe in the apartment he shared with Liam and Niall.

Harry and Louis were starting to get used to each other. While it'd still be weeks until Louis' cast could come off, the Doctor that he'd seen after the shitty jailhouse medic, did a much better job treating his injuries, and was able to put a new cast on after taking some clearer x-rays of his broken arm, and bruised ribs.

He told Louis that the arm was broken in two places at his forearm, and they were both a clean break. He said that they should heal nicely, and with luck he wouldn't even need any physical therapy to get it back to its normal function, once the cast came off.

Louis told the Doctor that he'd had a rape kit done at the jail. He wasn't too worried about anything, given everyone on the boat, both slaves and Masters, had to give a sample for testing (which obviously had been forcibly taken from the drugged, chained men).

After being tested again, just to be safe, the Doctor asked if he intended to press charges on the men responsible for the attack. Louis somehow hadn't even considered it. With everything they had going on, he wasn't sure he wanted to go through the motions of that.

He had called and asked Liam later that night, if he thought the charges would stick. Liam had told him that they absolutely would, and could definitely help to keep them behind bars for longer.

He also advised talking to Dobbs about suing the state of Florida, given that the attack happened to an innocent man on their watch, there was plenty of argument for gross criminal negligence, at the very least.

A few days after Liam and Niall had left, Harry had decided to go back to Fabian's hotel to demand answers. He'd knocked on the door furiously.

While the guy did clear Louis' name as promised, it sounded like he was also the reason that Chet attacked Louis, and Harry needed to get to the bottom of his role in it.

The flamboyant man wasn't too surprised to see him. He'd told Harry that his lawyers told him what happened, and claimed that he'd intended to visit, to explain and apologize to Louis personally. He told him that he hadn't done so already, because he'd just had no clue what kind of shape Louis was in, or if he would be in a place to hear from him at all.

Once Fabian told Harry his side of it, the curly-haired man was slightly comforted, and decided to ask if Fabian would be willing to go with him to tell Louis, just so his daddy could have some closure on the matter.

Fabian was grateful for the opportunity, looking relieved to get it off of his chest. While Harry still wasn't entirely pleased with him, the truth was much different than the tale that Chet had spun to Louis.

❧

When they got to the condo, Louis was surprised to see Chet’s former pet. Even though it seemed that Fabian had something to do with what'd happened to him, he was also a big part of the reason that he wasn't still in jail. Louis welcomed the man inside, and offered him a drink.

"Thank you, Mr. Tomlinson..." Fabian said, coming in and sitting across from the couch that Louis was on. His voice was much more timid, and his whole demeanor much more humble, than either of the other men had seen him display before.

"It's just Louis. No more Mr. Tomlinson shit. I hated it, even then..." he said with genuine annoyance, then smoothed out his expression.

"Listen, Louis. I'm so, so fucking sorry. I was so...excited to help. Chet had been calling me non-stop since he was arrested. I hadn't answered..." he began cautiously. Louis sat up, encouraging him to go on with his eyes, already intrigued.

"After Marsh and I went and spoke to the DA, and explained everything that we knew about you like I'd promised, Chet called me again. I finally picked up..." Fabian told him, crossing his legs, which still managed to bounce nervously.

"You have to believe me, love. I had NO clue he was even in the same jail as you. Let alone the same cell!" He whined, actually beginning to tear up. "Was all my fault. I feel terrible. As soon as I picked up the phone, I NEEDED him to know that I got him. He knew that I'd been cooperating. He didn't know to what extent, or for how long, but he was aware.

“I...um...I rubbed it in. Told him how you two played him like a fiddle. That he'd sealed his own fate, and that the man who bought Niall and Harry was going to walk free...because of me..." he continued. His mascara was running, and his voice was shaky and somber. "It wasn’t my place. I shouldn't have done that, regardless of if I knew you two were in the same vicinity.

“I'd have never...put you at risk like that, if I'd had even an inkling, I promise you. It was just so...hard. He was behind bars. I was free, but I was also lonely, and bored. I'd been with him so long, been so fucked up for so long...it...felt good. To have the last laugh. To hear the confusion in his voice. The hurt, the betrayal. It was...selfish of me.

"I...never, ever meant for you to get hurt, Louis. Like I said, I was excited to be able to help, when Harry and Niall told me that you were a good guy. Chet was always so pathetically desperate for you to like him. I'm still not sure why that was, either. I wanted him to know that while he'd be behind bars forever, you were going to be a free man. Cleared of all charges" he added. Harry handed him a tissue from the coffee table.

Louis was visibly baffled. He never would have guessed any of that. While he believed the man's word over Chet's any day, the scenario was still beyond confusing.

"Hey, it's alright" Louis tried to assure kindly. He gave Harry a look that said 'he's been through a lot, be nice', which Harry acknowledged, but he was still struggling to forgive him. "I believe you, okay? There was no way for you to know. He pulled strings to get in the same jail and the same cell. It's not that I don't think you're telling the truth. I just don't understand why he lied to me. And so...fucking convincingly. Like why even bother?" he pondered aloud.

Fabian smiled weakly and shrugged. He wiped at his tears and took several deep, dramatic breaths, trying to calm himself down. Though Harry understood the basics of the answer to Louis question, it still wasn't easy for him to accept.

"I don't know for sure, but based on what Harry told me that Chet told you, I'd say he was just trying to get under your skin. Break your spirits. A feeble attempt at getting you to plead guilty, so he could make you his new pet. At least for a little while. He's...sick. I know you know that. But...I honestly think it's deeper than that. Ever since he bought me, I could tell he longed for something that he didn't have. His...infatuation with you is rather telling, if you think about it.

"This is just my personal opinion, after spending so much time with him, but I think that he was...jealous of you. In more ways than one. I think he was upset that I seemed so comfortable with you, especially after you asked me for a color. He desperately wanted the genuine affection, fondness, even, that I'd had for you that night. He never got anywhere close to getting it, either.

"While I was able to suck up enough, to refrain from getting my ass beat, I knew I wasn't FULLY convincing at hiding my distaste for him. The fact that he’d wanted Harry so bad, to have something you wanted, highlighted that. Also trying to buy Niall back, after you treated them decently. Almost seemed like something clicked. That he'd never considered that not being cruel, was a good start to any relationship, consensual or not.

"I mean, I've met most of his family. While I can't prove it, I know that where he comes from, this kind of insanity is completely normal, owning slaves. After meeting his father, I'm sure Chet thought that he WAS being kind, compared to that animal. I'm the last person on this planet that would make any excuses for him, but it almost feels like there's a part of him that wants to be...good. Something that he's never known, and something he'll never be able to reach.

"Which is why he wanted you, Lou. Wanted to bring you on the yacht, to bring you down to his level. Why else make fun of you for asking me if I was okay with what you were about to do? Like a child, pointing and laughing? He emotionally never got past the third grade. And there was no one to teach him how to. I'm not saying that to try to make him a sympathetic character, because he's not. I'm saying it because I think it's true.

"So...I'm willing to bet that finding out that you and Harry were a legit couple, like he wanted to force me to be, I think it pushed him over the edge. Think he wanted you behind bars with him, like I said, as a pet. Maybe he'd figured that if you'd lost hope before the arraignment, you could decide a plea was the way to go, like the rest of them who didn't have a defense.

"If I were a betting woman, I'd say that's why he lied like that. Phycological warfare, however ill-conceived" he went on, dabbing at his puffy eyes. "Again, Louis. Harry. I'm...so fucking sorry that this is what me and my big mouth got you. I was just so....angry. Felt like I finally had something that would really, really hurt him, really twist the knife. Never woulda considered saying any of that, if I knew you'd be hurt, too" he cried.

After he'd just pulled himself together, Fabian fell back into another fit of sobs. Louis sighed deeply, and looked to Harry, who was softening up himself, just a little. While the guy had fucked up, it wasn't intentional, and he ultimately wasn't responsible for Chet's actions anyway.

"Listen, Fabe. You've been through so much. I honestly can't even imagine…" Louis responded gently. "I agree with everything you said. Makes sense. I know that you didn't mean for me to get hurt. And I..." he continued. Then, his face contorted, and his eyes became misty. "I just hope you know that I didn't mean to hurt you, either. I mean, I know that you know it on some level, or I wouldn't be here right now,

"But I guess I just wanted you to hear it from me. Just because you told me you were consenting, doesn't mean that you actually were. I'm...grateful you recognized the distinction from my point of view. It's because of you that I'm out. Especially so early. I don't want you to beat yourself up over this, alright? Want you to let it go. It isn't your fault. Also, he'd have found out that I wasn't on his side eventually.

"Maybe even woulda had one, or a few of his friends find me on the outside, and do worse. Everything...worked out, in the end. He's going to prison. For what might as well be forever. We're not. And you're no longer in your own prison. I want you to live the life that you deserve, after all of the lives that your selflessness saved. All of the moms, dads, wives, children, girlfriends, boyfriends, all of the families, of their other pets. They all get their loved ones back because of you, too.

"You've done so, so much more good than harm. It's not easy to do. Trust me, I know. You're a good person, Fabian. I'd like to be able to call you a friend…” Louis sniffled. “So what do you say? One last way to get back at the bastard. One last thing that he never had, that he never will..." he asked, patting the empty seat on the couch next to him, motioning for him to come sit.

Louis' kindness provoked more tears from the man. Harry could tell that the relief he felt from Louis letting him off the hook, lifted a hundred pounds off of Fabian’s shoulders. He went and sat on the opposite side of his daddy, and they both carefully embraced the repentant guy in a group hug.

"I'd...literally love that. You're very kind. Thank you. For saying all of that. It means a lot" he replied. "You two are about the cutest couple I've ever seen. I'm glad you found your pet after all, Romeo" he teased, sniffling and making the other two laugh lightly. "You must be exhausted, and I left my delicates hanging out. Don't want the maid getting sticky fingers. She's been eyeing my shit for weeks.

"Gonna get an uber back to the hotel. But Harry has my number. Text me anytime, alright? I'm here for you guys. Both of you" he said, walking towards the door.

A few moments later, he waved a huge rainbow in the air, then pulled both of his hands into a heart shape, before he started skipping down the hall towards the elevator.

Harry was on board with everything Louis had said. It was also his decision. In the end, Fabian still did right by all of them. He was glad to be able to call him a friend, too.

❧

In the days to come, Louis slowly learned of his financial fate. He'd been fired from his job, which he had been anticipating.

His boss claimed that they recognized that he was cleared of all charges, but said they couldn't employ anyone associated with the crime ring, which was laughable, given the company was paying for Chet's lawyer. Louis didn't want to go back, anyway.

He wasn't too nervous, knowing that he did still have an absurd amount of money, and a bunch of assets he could always sell. The injured man was taking his time to heal from his ordeal, before worrying about what he was going to do long-term.

One silver lining, was that thanks again to an unlikely ally, the men didn't have to worry about anyone coming after them for snitching.

Harry had been surprised when Tuck came by again to check on them, after he'd heard what happened to Louis, through the grapevine. Louis and Tuck hadn't officially met, they'd only seen each other in passing on the boat.

After hearing what Chet and Randall did, from Louis' point of view, Tuck became irate. Harry was shocked at the emotional response, as was Louis, who'd never spoken to the man. They watched in awe, as the guy went into full mama-bear mode, ranting and raving about how ridiculous the system is, for allowing that animal anywhere near him.

Louis had told Tuck that he was considering pressing charges against both men, but admitted that he was afraid of the consequences of that.

When the much older man had heard his concerns, he adamantly told Louis that he, Harry, Niall and Liam never have anything to worry about with any of those men again, so not to worry about retaliation. He told them that he'd take care of it.

Harry and Louis expressed their gratitude, but secretly kind of figured that Tuck was just talking some shit, maybe blowing off some steam, and couldn't actually do much of anything to help. It wasn't until a few days later, that they found out they were wrong.

After visiting the county jail that Chet, Randall and Alfie were still being held at, Tuck called Harry. According to him, all three men were now in separate cells. And also according to him, he'd gone up to visit each of them, face-to-face.

Harry felt beyond grateful that he'd gotten on the guy's good side, when Tuck reiterated that they'd never have to worry about any of them, or their friends, hurting or threatening them ever again.

"Told 'em I got connections in every prison in this country. That if I ever hear that any harm came to any of ya, or if any of ya ever die of anythin’ other than natural causes, decades from now, that I'm holding the three of them personally accountable. Regardless of if they actually have anything to do with it or not. Told 'em not only do I got C.Os more powerful than anyone that they could blackmail,

"But I also got some inmates that are already doin’ life, who owe me a favor. Men who are bored, lonely, with nothin' but time on their hands, and nothin' to lose. Sadistic, evil fuckers just like 'em. Told 'em that they'd make 'em the slaves that they'd tried to make out of yous twos. That they'd be the prison bitch, for the most ruthless gangs in the world, and that's only if they're able to convince 'em to let 'em live. Told 'em it don't matter who's sentenced to what.

"That we know they're all going away for a long, long time, but if some way, some how, any of 'em ever get out on a technicality, I told 'em I have even more connections out here. The best detectives in the world, on speed dial. Can find 'em faster than they could yell out for help. Given the terrified looks on their faces, and each of them givin' me their word that no harm will come to any of ya, I'd say they believed me.

"That fat, greasy fucker looked the most spooked, surprisingly 'nough. He told me yous wouldn't be worth the trouble. Tried givin' me a sob story about how he'd gotten himself into so much gamblin' debt, is why he sold ya, and it 'broke his heart' to do it" he scoffed. "Chet and the small one there, they was shitting bricks. They were already a bit scared of me, back when they hired me as Dev, so they know I'm no one to fuck around with" he told him proudly.

Tuck seemed to have been delighted to explain all of that, and Harry and Louis were beyond grateful to hear it.

Harry was coming to adore his unlikely ally. Their bond was something special to him, and he couldn't even explain why. Perhaps because the man had been a glimmer of good, in the otherwise evil world he'd been sold into.

Though what they'd all endured was traumatic and challenging for each of them in different ways, the kinky couple had made two new friends, and also met the love of their lives. While they were still recovering, and would be for a long time, they were also pleased to find that they were finally on their way to happy, especially now that some of the bigger obstacles were out of the way.

❧

As the weeks went on, Louis healed slowly, but steadily. His bruises faded day-by-day.

He was excited to be able to get rid of the sling, but he was totally over the cast. It would need to stay on for a while longer, which meant that Harry needed to help him shower every day. A job that the taller man didn't mind in the slightest.

"How does that feel? Still sore?" Harry asked, gently scrubbing the area on Louis' abdomen that was by far bruised the worst. The last few times he'd gone anywhere near them, Louis would wince in pain. He seemed to realize that it was no longer sensitive to touch.

While healing physically had its challenges for Louis, healing emotionally was proving to be more difficult. He had nightmares, nearly every night. Sometimes he'd be in the jail cell, sometimes he'd be on the yacht, but it was always the same one. He was a slave, and Chet was his Master. A lot of the time, he'd be able to see and hear Harry and Niall, but couldn't reach either of them. They were often in cages of their own.

He woke up screaming, sometimes a couple of times a night. Harry was always right there, easily roused out of slumber those days. He'd always make Louis some tea, and help to soothe him back to sleep.

"It's a lot better. Thank you, Princess..." Louis replied, looking up adoringly at the man he loved.

He stood up off of the bench in the shower, and started kissing the other man with passion and intention. Their tongues tangled together, while Louis stroked them both to hardness with his good hand. When it began to cramp, Harry swiftly took over.

"Want you, Harry" Louis breathed, looking at his Princess in a new light. He'd been so perfect, caring for Louis in every possible way. He decided that he wanted to give him something in return.

Since he got home, he hadn't fucked Harry. They'd gotten each other off a bunch, obviously. But he’d wanted to wait until he had his full strength back, for that particular activity.

"I'm all yours..." Harry whispered between hot and heavy kisses.

"No. Want you to fuck me..." Louis declared, almost sounding pained. There was desperation, desire, and fear in his voice. His eyes completely changed shape. He looked so sweet, so vulnerable, so trusting.

The request made fireworks go off in the pit of Harry's stomach. He'd obviously fantasized about it, but wasn't super hopeful that Louis would ever want that from him, especially after what had happened.

"Yeah?" Harry asked excitedly. Louis just nodded with urgency, then surrendered control completely, trusting that his Princess would take care of him. "You sure?" He asked, scanning the shorter man's eyes. Louis simply kept nodding, until he pulled Harry's lips back towards his.

"So sure"

Harry smiled radiantly, and turned off the water. He got out and toweled them both off, which Louis had to allow him to do for weeks now, much to his frustration.

"Go get on the bed, baby. Lay on your stomach" Harry ordered softly.

The smile immediately fell from Louis' face. His eyes got wide, and he almost winced a bit. He directed his gaze to the floor, and gently shook his head 'no'. He was too afraid to look up.

"Actually, scratch that. Wanna look at you. On your back, gorgeous" the taller man corrected, picking up the hint.

He guided Louis, as the smaller man walked backwards towards the bed. Harry eased him down onto his pillow. Seemingly relieved, all of the fear was gone from Louis' eyes, and had been completely replaced by reckless lust.

Harry took his time, kissing the other man slowly, sensually, before drooling all over his fingers, and sliding one between Louis' legs to trace a delicate circle around his rim. He then started slowly trailing sloppy, wet kisses down the other man's torso, all the way down his happy trail.

After teasing the delicate skin over his hipbones, then his inner thighs, he took Louis' leaking cock into his mouth, solely to savor the salty pre-cum dripping from the tip. He then gently lifted his balls out of the way, after sucking on each of them briefly.

"Oh, oh fuck..." Louis moaned, as Harry's tongue explored the space between them and his hole, before circling his rim. He then dipped inside of the smaller man and worked him open with his warm, wet muscle. "Mmm. That feels incredible..." Louis whimpered. "...daddy" he added with a whisper that was so soft it was barely audible.

Harry had heard him loud and clear. A different kind of arousal he'd never quite experienced before set in. He suddenly felt so sure, so confident and in-control. Louis was giving himself to Harry completely, and Harry was determined to make it special for both of them.

"Oh, Princess. You're such a good girl for me" Harry said through a bright, genuine smile. He pulled himself up Louis torso, so he could kiss him again, while he eased a finger in, followed by another soon after. Louis was making the sexiest, most submissive little moans that the taller man had ever heard. "I'm gonna take such good care of you..." he promised.

Louis looked nervous., which surprised Harry. Even when they'd been fighting for their lives on the boat, heck even when Louis' apartment was invaded and he was told he was under arrest, he never really looked nervous. Harry had a feeling that what they were doing was a big deal for him, but he'd actually had no clue.

"I didn't want Chet From Marketing to be my first. But...since I couldn't...you know...help that, I want you to at least be my last..." he said with such sweet innocence and authenticity, Harry's mouth fell open in shock.

The man who was always so dominant and in control, now looked up at Harry concerned, and sincerely apologetic. His expression made it seem as though he actually thought that he'd given something special away, instead of it being brutally taken from him.

"Look at me" Harry demanded, picking up Louis' chin. His misty eyes made Harry's heart shatter right in half. He wanted to march down to that jail and kill the man who'd violated the love of his life. "That does not count" he said seriously. "That doesn't count at all. Not for a second. Don’t want you ever thinking that it does…" he assured.

He wiped at a stray tear streaming down Louis' cheek. The smaller man looked surprised, but relieved by the words.

"I'm...thrilled that you want this from me. But I want you to give it to me in your own time. Want it to be what you want. Is it?" Harry asked.

Louis started nodding before Harry had finished speaking.

"Yes. What I want..." Louis confirmed, squirming himself down onto Harry's hand. The taller boy kept scissoring him open gently while looking into Louis' deep, blue, loving eyes.

"Good. Mmm. You want daddy to fuck this tight, little, virgin hole, hmm? Saved yourself just for me, Princess?" Harry asked in his slow, sexy, raspy voice.

"Yes. Want you to. Please. Please fuck me, daddy. Wanna be good for you..." Louis replied. He gave Harry a grateful look for his words, and seemed to relax even more than he had been.

After slicking his cock up with lube, the taller man eased himself between Louis' legs. He kissed him sweetly, sensually, as he pushed inside inch by inch, pausing momentarily when Louis winced and grunted in pain.

"Mmm. Being so good. So tight for me baby..." Harry cooed. "God, Lou. I love you. So much. Best thing that ever happened to me. Look at you. Taking all of this cock. So good..."

Louis wiggled himself down onto Harry, with a bashful, surprised smile. Harry felt the thick ring of muscle tighten, then loosen around his dick.

"Fuck! Oh my god. Feel so full of you, Harry. Go ahead. Start slow..." Louis urged.

Harry began thrusting at a slow, steady pace. Louis' eyes got wide after a few seconds, and Harry stared getting concerned. When he slowed to a stop, Louis whimpered and writhed, pushing his ass down Harry’s shaft even further, and pleading with his eyes.

"Mmm! Oh! Oh fuck, daddy. It feels so good. Please don't stop..." he begged. "Harder. Faster, please. Oh my god. Didn't know it could feel this good. I love your cock so much…" he babbled, his eyes rolling into the back of his head, as a determined Harry picked up his pace.

Enthralled with the new sensation of his prostate being slammed into perfectly, Louis tangled his fingers in Harry's hair, and desperately tried to pull him closer, clawing into his shoulder with his other, casted hand.

"Yeah? You like that baby?" Harry growled lustily. "You like daddy's dick fucking this perfect, tight cunt? Hmm?! So fucking good. So sweet, Princess. Wish I could stay right here forever..." he went on, looking into Louis' euphoric, dazed eyes, as he rapidly drove each of them closer to their climax.

Neither of the men tried to tame the noises that their bodies wanted to let go of. They completely surrendered to their deepening need for each other, showing their partner sides to themselves, that neither of them were entirely familiar with.

"I fucking love it. My god. Gonna make me cum with your huge daddy dick, baby. I'm so close..." Louis whimpered.

"Go on. Cum for me baby. You're so, so sexy Louis. Love this hole so much. Gonna fill you up..." Harry encouraged, right before they both fell into a fit of loud, heavy, indulgent moans.

Once both men stilled, Harry laid his head on his daddy's chest. His curls were still damp from the shower, but his forehead was also lined with tiny beads of sweat.

"Thank you. For making that so nice. So special..." Louis said when he finally caught his breath. "I love you so much. Dunno what's gonna happen. I'm just glad you stayed. Glad you...chose me..."

Harry smiled so big, he had to scrunch his nose to try to contain it. He was more in love with Louis, than he realistically thought he could ever be with a person.

"Always want you, Lou. You're everything that I didn't know I was looking for. I'm...really happy you trusted me enough to do that with me. I love you..." Harry replied, kissing him sweetly.

Both men knew that in the weeks and months to come, things were likely to become a lot more complicated.

After Harry's ordeal, he decided to take the next semester off of school, having had some money saved up, and his daddy to support him while they planned their next moves.

Although neither of them had a plan, or any real idea what they were going to do, they had each other, which was more than enough for now.

______

Chapter Text

One Year Later...

"We still doing a class tonight?" Harry asked Louis. The older man looked up from his laptop, hummed, then nodded absently.

About six months after Harry, Louis, and Niall got off the boat, everything started coming together, after Louis had a brilliant idea when brainstorming one night.

He knew that he'd need Harry's help, but he wanted to create another app; a matchmaking service for BDSM couples. After the pair bounced some ideas off of each other, about what that might look like, they ended up with an entire plan to bring to fruition.

After just a few weeks, with the help of Liam, Niall, and Fabian, their new business 'Little Freak' was booming. Louis had easily been able to engineer the new app, which Harry had helped to build.

Although at the time, the curly-haired man still had one semester left of school, he was a natural at programming. He was able to do both with ease, given he could usually make his own hours.

The service worked sort of like Grindr or Tinder. You'd build a profile, include photos and a bio, and you could select Dom, Sub, or Versatile, and swipe through whichever variation you were interested in.

To their surprise, the app ended up being only half of the business's success.

Open to all ages over eighteen, and any and all genders and orientations, they were delighted to find that there was enough business within a fifty-mile radius, to allow room for the other part of the idea. They had plenty of interest within the first several weeks, to at least to get it up-and-running.

Having had no real ties to Miami, after Louis brought Harry with him to clear out his home in London, the older man took his submissive all around England for two long weeks, taking the younger man sight-seeing by day, then bringing him back to the hotel for some insanely hot, kinky sex, by night.

The pair had an incredible time on their trip, especially Harry, who aside from during his abduction, had never left the country.

Instead of going back to Florida when they left London, they'd had all of Louis' belongings shipped to Harry's hometown in Virginia, where the older man bought a rather extravagant estate, and insisted that Harry move in with him as soon as he was comfortable. It didn't take too long.

Once Louis' body had fully healed from the attack, the older man was back into full-dom mode, which was more than fine with Harry.

Although it looked a little different than Louis had originally intended, given he'd lost his job and a consistent income, their relationship really wasn't all that different than what he'd described to Harry and Niall, the day they'd gotten off of the yacht. Which meant that Harry was in heaven.

Aside from work, where he was mostly around Louis anyway, Harry was almost always at their new place. He was also, as promised, nearly always nude, including when he was doing homework, or working on his app.

There was no exception to that rule, without reason that Louis deemed acceptable. Not that Harry often wanted any.

The curly-haired man loved his new way of life, and found that nothing on the planet made him happier, than making his daddy happy.

In their shared, walk-in closet, he had a selection of pretty collars, which each had a matching plug. Occasionally, he was allowed to go without the latter, since Louis did quite enjoy prepping his Princess himself, rather often.

But unless otherwise instructed, Harry was to meet his daddy on his knees at the door when he got home, prepped and ready to go. Being hard upon Louis' arrival wasn't a requirement, but Harry nearly almost always was anyway, much to Louis' delight.

The couple had an incredible time on their trip to England, and although Louis still had security round-the-clock for them, as well as for their friends at home, no one had seen any signs of trouble from the people who they'd helped to put behind bars.

Not only did the charges that Louis had pressed against Chet and Randall stick, but with the help of Dobbs, Louis was also able to sue the state of Florida for what happened to him. They were still waiting on a settlement, but Dobbs had assured him that once they got it, it would be more than substantial.

After liquidating some of his assets, including the Miami condo, Louis decided to purchase the bar that Randall had lost to the bank.

They transformed it into a couple's education lounge. The idea was that those who used the app, were required to purchase at least three training sessions per year, so long as the relationship lasted long enough.

Niall and Liam conducted background checks on each participant, and occasional follow-ups from both parties were a requirement for a year after a match had been made.

With Liam quitting his job to act as a one-person legal team to the invention, he had all of his eggs in Louis' basket, and trusted him completely to run the business within legal boundaries (on paper, anyway).

The training sessions were light, fun, and super fucking sexy. Often demonstrated by Harry and Louis, and/or Niall and Liam, with Fabian acting as an instructor, the classes were a huge hit.

Consisting of instruction and demonstration on how to nurture a safe, consensual BDSM relationship, the trainings were sort of like a hot yoga class, but for super kinky people.

Harry and Louis were initially worried that they were going to have a difficult time keeping the longe up-and-running, given the lack of consistent business for the classes.

Much to their delight, their sexy demonstrations turned out to be quite a hit. They found that more often than not, the couples would return for more than their required number of trainings.

Just a few weeks after the initial launch, not only were the couples regularly coming back for more, but they also helped to get the word out about the unique service. It wasn't long before couples who had met elsewhere, with no relation to the app, began showing interest in attending.

It was Fabian's job to keep coming up with topics to go over. After just two months of being in business, the trainings had become so popular, that they ended up needing a 'basic' training class and an 'advanced/specialized' training class, which varied in prices, as well as the amount of hands-on learning.

Their unlikely friendship with Chet's former pet was something both men had come to cherish. Surprisingly, Harry and Louis found they'd had a hard time leaving Fabian behind, when it was time for them to leave Florida.

Before the pair had left for London, they wanted to see the charismatic man, at least to give him a hug goodbye. Their new friend was thrilled to see them, but seemed almost devastated to see them go.

Fabian pulled at Harry's heartstrings when he told him that he didn't know what he was going to do, and that he didn't really have anywhere to go, once the investigation was over.

He'd finally been able to locate his brother, and save him from the bastard who bought him. It'd taken a little more time to find him, since the asshole who took him went into hiding when he'd heard what happened with the operation.

Aside from his brother, who was still recovering from his own ordeal, he didn't have anywhere to go, or any other living family.

It didn't take much deliberation on Harry and Louis' part, after hearing all of that. As soon as the app began to take off, they reached back out to the man who'd helped to save their asses. Fabian decided to take the men up on their offer for a job, and moved himself and his brother to an apartment in Richmond.

They were more than satisfied with their choice. Not only was the campy, energetic man tons of fun, he was way more experienced than any of them, including Liam, which was saying something.

For that reason, Fabian's role ended up being that of the main instructor. Typically, either Louis and Harry, or Niall and Liam, would demonstrate an activity to a room full of their clientele, at Fabian's directon.

The man had a wide variety of topics and activities to teach. Harry was silently happy to be able to learn along with the rest of the class, even though he was usually naked on the stage at the front of the room, kneeling at Louis' feet, while doing so.

It hadn't taken too much redesigning to turn the old night club into an appropriate training setting. Much to Niall's delight, they even managed to keep the upstairs bar in-tact, though drinks prior to trainings were not allowed, there were no rules about an afterparty.

The monthly parties were not open to the public, but they were available to members of the app, and came with an invite on the ticket to most training courses.

Louis also made it very clear to both of the submissive men, who'd worked at the establishment previously, that sexual favors in exchange for cash were strictly prohibited, for more-than-obvious reasons.

Downstairs, they had torn out the main bar, but kept the stage that the bands and dancers used to preform on. They changed the dark, bleak, industrial, millennial-gray look of the former nightclub, to a more appropriate vibe.

Matching the red-and-black theme of the app, Niall and Fabian collaborated to decorate the lounge area, on Louis' generous budget.

There were one-sided, red and black, leather booths, with a removable table in front of each, lining down two rows of six, all facing towards the stage. There were also couches and arm chairs of the same color-scheme, in the event that the classes exceeded their anticipated number of attendees.

The walls were lined with patterned, red-velvet wall-paper, which was not unlike the walls of the display room inside of the yacht that Fabian, Niall and Harry had all been auctioned from.

It had been Harry's idea to include that detail, with the consent of the other two affected men, who both admitted it added something special, dark, and intense to the already-kinky atmosphere.

Niall suggested an abundance of mirrors lining each wall in the lounge/instruction area, so everyone was able to see everything going on in the room, from all angles.

Louis was obsessed with the finished product, which included sleek, black, marble floors, and four black, built-in dog cages on the training floor, as well as two on stage.

There was also various types of equipment available for other couples to practice with. Things available for rent such as collars, leashes, sex swings, and specialized machines, were all made of the same easy-to-clean, silicone material.

More personal items such as dildos, plugs, whips, and other sex toys, were made available for purchase, both individually, and in bundles relating to upcoming training courses. Fabian LOVED putting the bundles together, and found they inspired many of his future topics of discussion.

One of Harry's favorite demonstrations to date, had been during an advanced class, in which he acted as Louis' submissive, as per usual.

The topic was sub-sharing and trading. Liam and Niall were also present, standing in the corner of the stage, waiting to be told what to do by their fearless leader.

With Fabian instructing Louis to get both himself and Harry erect however he pleased, Louis commanded Harry to worship his cock, which the taller man was delighted to do.

Completely nude, at the front of a room full of his peers, with all of their full attention on him, Harry rested his chin on Louis' thigh, who was fully-clad, sitting on a dark-cherry-colored, wooden chair.

"Your cock, daddy. So perfect. So beautiful..." Harry moaned with characteristic enthusiasm. "Please, daddy. Can I see it? Just for a minute? Just want a lick. Just a taste. I'll be so, so good..." he begged.

When an amused Louis gestured to his crotch, Harry sat up and excitedly unbuttoned his black dress-pants, then took his huge dick out, looking at it in awe.

"Go on then, slut. Give it a kiss. Only one" Louis commanded. Harry was endlessly turned-on by how much Louis obsessed over showing him off. He planted a wet, sloppy kiss on the head, and backed up, waiting for further instruction.

Louis raised an impatient eyebrow, telling him to keep worshipping, with his piercing, blue eyes.

"Such a beautiful cock. My daddy has the best dick in the whole world. I'm so, unbelievably privileged to be in its presence. Mmm. Wish I could kiss it some more, daddy. You know how I like to make you feel good. I've never seen such an amazing dick. So fucking big. I love looking at it, I love sucking it, I love getting fucked by it..." he went on.

"Good girl, Princess. Open" he ordered. Harry excitedly did as told, holding his tongue out in anticipation of what he knew was coming.

Louis spat a fat wad of saliva into the kneeling man's mouth, and after swallowing it and licking his lips, Harry eagerly opened again for more.

Pleased with how quickly Louis was able to achieve his goal, Fabian turned to the other two men on stage.

"Liam, you're up. The four of you are at a club, and you've taken a liking to our beautiful Harry here. Why don't you educate us all on how to approach another Dom about sharing, or trading Subs?" Fabian said, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

"Gladly" Liam replied, his juicy lips pulling tight over his perfect, white teeth in a twisted smirk. "Strip, bitch. All fours, on the floor" he ordered his submissive, in a stern, sexy voice.

Niall looked at Harry excitedly, and Harry nodded subtly, sending him a sexy grin.

Once the other pair was in the same position, with Liam sitting in his own wooden chair, and with Niall undressed between his legs, Harry was so turned on, that he had to recite the Greek alphabet in his head so he didn't cum untouched.

"Pretty little slut you have there. Do you ever let her play with anyone else?" Liam asked Louis. Although he wasn't the best actor, his confidence and dominance were perfect for their demonstration purposes. Louis looked him up and down sexily and bit his lip.

"Guess it depends on what you have in mind. Cute little twink you have there, yourself" Louis replied, looking at Niall longingly.

Harry gave Louis the slightest hint of a dirty look, but he knew better than to be a brat, having done this privately with the other pair several times since their return to Virginia. He was at least used to it by now.

"Thanks. She's game for whatever. All plugged-up and ready to go. Definitely wouldn't mind seeing that curly head of hair bouncing up and down in my lap..." he responded.

Though it sounded like they were in a bad porno, the class was hardly paying attention to the dialogue. They were always encouraged to practice what they were seeing with their partners, so long as they felt comfortable. There were almost never any couples who strictly observed, especially during advanced trainings.

"Sounds like fun. Any hard limits, Blondie?" Louis asked, daring to use the nickname he'd acquired on the slave boat, which he'd recently learned turned Niall on like crazy.

"No, Sir" Niall answered, looking at the floor. Harry tried keeping his gaze glued below himself too, but found his eyes traveling up to admire Niall's dripping, angry hard-on between his legs.

"Color, Princess" Louis demanded, looking to Harry and cupping his chin. The older man started stroking his own cock to keep himself ready.

"I'm green, daddy. So, so green..." Harry replied, looking up at Liam with a hint of trouble in his innocent smile.

"Go on, then. Go get him, you filthy little whore" Louis growled. Something about his daddy bossing him around in public hit the curly-haired man different. His eyes rolled into the back of his head as he tried to fight his impending climax.

Harry scurried to do as told, him and Niall snickering at each other, as they both stayed on all fours, but traded spots.

Already prepped, Harry spun around on his hands and knees to face the room of eight other people, who were all doing their own versions of what they were being taught.

Throughout the training sessions, Fabian always paused occasionally to ask if there were any questions, which didn't arise very often, but were usually both informative and entertaining when they did.

"Good form, boys. It's almost like you've done this before..." Fabian encouraged teasingly, admiring how naturally the scenario came to all four men on stage.

After Liam and Louis removed each other's submissive's plugs, they each guided the men to sit on their lap, still facing the crowd.

Harry wouldn't say it out loud, but he LOVED when Liam was allowed to fuck him. They'd never done it publicly before, which added to the exhilarating sensation three-fold.

The least-pleasant aspect of the training was a rule of their own making: condoms were required for anal and vaginal penetration. No exceptions, if only to set a good example. Liam helped by noting that it was also a liability issue.

By the end of that particular training session, all four men had climaxed, then were returned to their daddies.

"How we doing, Princess?" Louis asked Harry, patting his lap for him to sit on. He looked up at the man he loved like he'd never loved anyone before, adoringly.

"Better now" Harry replied, blinking innocently, looking down lovingly at the man who'd saved him. Louis scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"Mhm. Suck up" he teased, making Harry giggle.

That was one of many of the immersive trainings the pair had demonstrated together, and from there, they had only become more frequent, to the point where they began scouting the crowd for new, willing demonstrators.

One whole year after Louis' release from jail, things were better than ever.

After pleading guilty to all charges, including the ones Louis had pressed, Chet and Randall had each been sentenced to thirty-two years, without the possibility of parole.

As the brains of the operation, Alfie received forty years, without the possibility of parole. All of the other brutal slave owners on the boat were sentenced similarly, with the exception of the morbidly obese man, Wally.

The injuries to his 'pet' were so severe, so brutal, that the judge sentenced him to life, with the possibility of parole after thirty years. The man must have been fifty, and didn't seem likely to live long enough to ever be released.

With all of their tormentors behind bars for a long, long time, they'd afforded themselves some peace of mind.

Harry was enjoying working for his daddy, especially with his friends.

Once they were able to find two new sets of instructors, Harry and Niall could focus more on their original job, which was conducting monthly follow-ups with people who'd matched on their service.

Needing to have provided a verified identity to be able to build a profile, clients also needed to provide their consent to meet monthly either virtually or in-person. Most commonly, they were held at one of their post-meeting training sessions. The follow-ups were just to check in, to be sure both parties were doing well, and happy in their relationship.

If they didn't come to the trainings, and hadn't informed the company that they were no longer together, representatives of the company would go to the verified address of both parties to asses their comfortability, usually Niall and Harry.

It wasn't a perfect system, but given the shared experience that provided the inspiration for their business, the men recognized there was some responsibility on their part to make sure that the relationships formed on their watch remained safe and consensual, for at least three months, on a monthly basis.

After those required follow-ups, annual check-ins were required, until both parties reported they were no longer in a relationship at all.

It was a learn-as-you-go kind of thing. There was no handbook on how to smoothly run such a unique, legally-and-morally-gray business. The men's ability to adapt to changes and curveballs as they came, served them well.

Having only been up-and-running for less than six months, the possibilities for expansion were endless. Louis was determined to keep the business as transparent as was realistic, and wasn't shy about his disgust for corruption, not that opportunities for such hadn't presented themselves left-and-right, since the app had launched.

Though the business was keeping both men busy, Harry lived for the days that he could work from his and Louis' home. His days off typically consisted of finding new and exciting ways to please his daddy, both in and out of the bedroom.

The younger man was set to graduate with a bachelor's degree in computer science the following month, and Louis couldn't have been more proud. Harry often impressed him with easily solving tech issues, which would have crippled Louis and the business for days, if Harry weren't so tech savvy.

While Louis insisted on giving Harry more money of his own for his expertise, Harry didn't care much about that, already having more than he'd ever imagined himself having.

The curly-haired man craved one thing, and one thing only: to please his daddy.

❧

"There's my good girl" Louis praised one rainy afternoon, after he'd just come home from the lounge.

Harry was already kneeling on his plush, red cushion right by the door, wearing his pink and black collar, and matching, vibrating plug. He was holding the remote for it between his teeth, which he'd placed there when he heard his daddy pulling up their long driveway.

"I'm a good girl, daddy. Wanna be so good for you. Please let me make you cum..." Harry begged shamelessly as soon as Louis took the remote from his boy's mouth.

"Mmm. Patience, Princess. Daddy had a long fucking day..." Louis responded. "Hands and knees, arch your back. I want to see everything, my love" He ordered.

Harry obeyed with an adorable eagerness to please, making Louis chuckle lightly. The man then pressed a firm thumb to the plug, before turning it on to the lowest vibration setting, forcing a surprised moan from his submissive.

"Oh, fuck..." Harry blurted, then yelped, when Louis laid a hard smack down on his bare ass. "Ow! Sorry, daddy" he grumbled.

"Now, now. We've talked about this, hmm?" Louis tutted with exaggerated disapproval. "We're trying to have more control over our slutty responses, especially in the company of others, correct?" Louis asked.

"Yes, daddy" Harry responded, somewhat begrudgingly. His attitude earned him another hard, swift smack on the ass. He grunted in pain, but didn't allow any words to escape him this time.

"Good girl, baby" Louis praised, patting Harry's head, then stroking his stiffening cock between the kneeling man's legs. "Go crawl upstairs and get into bed. I want you to lock your right hand in its restraint, then wait for me patiently to do the rest. No fucking touching, you little bitch. Daddy will be up soon" he ordered.

Harry immediately did as told, wagging his ass excitedly as he pranced on all fours up the grand, oak staircase.

Their new home was incredible. Built in 1902, the estate had so much character, Harry couldn't really believe it. He and Louis had compromised. While Louis preferred something brand-new, and move-in-ready, Harry didn't like the cold, cookie-cutter style that Louis' new lifestyle had spoiled his tastes with.

They managed to find the home they'd both come to adore, as a happy medium. Though it was an older mansion, it was well-maintained.

The main kitchen, living area, bedrooms, and bathrooms had all been recently renovated by a professional, who specialized in home upgrades that spared as many details of the original craftsmanship as possible.

After months of supervising other smaller renovations, decorating, and re-organizing, both men were more than happy to call the place home.

With his dominant arm restrained as instructed, Harry waited patiently for his daddy. The seconds turned into minutes, with Harry's cock absolutely throbbing in anticipation of whatever was to come.

After what felt like an hour, but was likely only five minutes, Harry couldn't help it anymore. Desperate for friction, he had to touch, and once he started jerking off, he physically couldn't stop.

"Oh, that's so fucking naughty..." Louis stated, appearing out of nowhere at the foot of their bed. "Do you want to sleep in the cage tonight?" He asked, raising an accusing eyebrow. Harry's eyes widened, and he immediately unhanded himself.

He looked at the dog cage next to the bed dauntingly, which Louis had threatened to get for months before he actually did. Harry had spent one night in it so far, while his daddy slept comfortably in the bed.

That night, he was being punished after Louis caught Harry and Niall jerking each other off on the job, which nearly blinded Louis with rage, given his no touching without permission rule.

Harry had thought he'd found the perfect loophole by sharing the forbidden activity with his friend. Louis wasn't amused at all by his reasoning, and as promised, had surprised the younger man with the crate the next day.

Since then, the cage was mostly there as a looming threat, and occasionally used for brief punishments, rather than actual seclusion throughout the night or day. Louis reminded him frequently that sleeping in the bed with him was a privilege, which was one that Harry didn't ever want to risk losing.

Smaller offenses, like disobeying his daddy's commands, or not consulting him before making what Louis considered a 'big decision', business-related, or otherwise, earned Harry time-outs in the crate. Those of which he was slowly becoming more and more turned on by, especially after his last punishment.

He'd been made to stay on all fours in the cage, while Louis fucked his face until he came. His daddy then sat on top of the square, metal bars over Harry's head.

Harry's mouth had watered with desire, when Louis ordered him to eat his ass from below, until his daddy was hard enough again, to fuck his ass through the bars. So while he wasn't keen on the idea of sleeping in the cage, its endless other uses were growing on him.

"No, daddy. I'm sorry. You were gone so long...couldn't stop thinking about you..." Harry responded, putting his head down in shame.

"Mhm" Louis responded, disbelief clouding his voice. "What are we going to do with you, Princess? Touching without permission. After being specifically reminded not to? Almost seems like you want to be punished..." Louis observed aloud.

A wicked smirk took over the man's face, and he began assembling the restraints at the bottom of the bed, to Harry's ankles.

Harry waited patiently to learn of his fate, fighting every fiber of his being, not to reach down and start touching himself again. Louis was taking his sweet time as well.

Thinking he was being good, putting his other hand up near the last remaining restraint for easy access, Harry was clearly confused, when Louis didn't strap that hand in.

"You were being greedy, hmm?" he asked.

"Yes, daddy. Greedy and impatient. I'm sorry. Just wanna be good for you..." Harry pouted.

"Well, you knew you were being naughty, just now didn't you?" He asked. Harry huffed, but nodded. "Now usually, what is the punishment for touching without permission?" He followed up, taking his own clothes off slowly while he taunted his Princess.

"I can't cum for the rest of the day, daddy..." Harry whined, looking up at him with pleading eyes. Orgasm denial was by far Harry's least favorite punishment.

"Correct, darling. But like daddy said, I have had a long, long day. I've been so looking forward to coming home and ravishing you until you fall asleep. Since I've got my heart set on that, why don't you go ahead and finish what you started, hmm? Go on, babygirl. Jerk off" he ordered.

Sensing a trap, Harry looked at his daddy skeptically, who was now standing at the end of the bed stark naked, slowly stroking his own cock. The taller man hesitantly reached down and grabbed ahold of himself again, looking his daddy in the eye as he began pulling.

"Good girl. Make yourself cum" Louis commanded. He picked his pants up off of the floor, looking for the remote to the toy that was nestled inside of Harry, and when he found it, he turned it all of the way up, and put it on Harry's favorite pulsating pace.

"Mmm! Oh!" Harry whimpered, then winced, unsure if he was allowed to make any sounds.

"Go on, my love. It's just the two of us. Make some noise for daddy. Wanna watch you make yourself feel good"

Relieved, Harry began writhing in his restraints while moaning shamelessly as he followed orders.

With the movements his hand was making, combined with the vibrations, it wasn't long at all until the younger man blew his load all over his abdomen. After his release, he looked at his daddy worriedly. The vibrating didn't stop, or lighten up at all.

"Ugh. Mmm!" He cried in pain. Louis grinned at him menacingly, watching his boy fall to pieces in front of him. "Argh! Fuck! Fuck!" He continued.

Still coming down from his insane climax, the plug vibrated like a sandblaster inside of Harry's sensitive hole, forcing his sore dick back to hardness in under a minute. The aching appendage twitched in front of him, and he didn't dare move a muscle without being told to.

"Atta girl" Louis praised, walking up to the remaining restraint, and pulling Harry's only free hand through it, then securing it. "Color, my love" he demanded.

"Green! I wanna be good. I'm a good girl daddy" Harry insisted. The pain and pleasure combination that the over-stimulation was causing, was already consuming the younger man completely, and he had a feeling they were just getting started.

Louis immediately hopped onto the bed, straddling his boy, with his ass hovering ever-so-slightly over the laying man's dick. He leaned down and planted three gentle kisses on his lips. Harry looked up at him affectionately, desperate to please his daddy in any way he wanted.

The dominant man straightened his spine, so he was now hovering over Harry's torso on his knees, and he just looked at his Princess, while he stroked his own huge cock. He did this for a torturous amount of time, turning the plug on and off periodically, offering no physical touch between Harry's legs.

"You're so fucking desperate, baby. So slutty. Come on, daddy knows you wanna cum again. Cum untouched for me, and you'll only have to do two more, before I untie you" he demanded. "Would it help if I fucked your pretty little mouth, Princess?" He asked.

He pried Harry's lips open with his thumb, then spat directly into his boy's mouth. Harry gasped lustily, swallowed, then eagerly opened again, hoping for more. After Louis obliged, and sputtered another wad of saliva out, he gently pushed Harry's chin up, to close his mouth.

"Yes, daddy. Definitely couldn't hurt..." Harry replied honestly, breathing a laugh and winning him a sweet, radiant smile from the man who he lived to please.

He opened his mouth once more, and waited patiently for Louis to push his head past his lips. When the older man had Harry's mouth around him, he grabbed a fistful of his hair, and began thrusting into his throat.

Louis looked down at his man in awe, as he chocked on his dick with pure determination in his wet, bloodshot eyes.

Beautiful tears streamed down his cheeks, and when Louis turned the plug back on high unexpectedly, the taller man's eyes widened in shock, before a guttural moan escaped him, which felt absolutely incredible on Louis' cock.

"Go on, baby. You can do it. You gonna cum for me? Gonna make a mess for daddy, you filthy little whore?" Louis growled, steering himself towards his own climax. Harry made sounds of affirmation, but didn't nod, out of fear of grazing Louis with his teeth. "Good fucking girl. Ready for your reward?" He asked.

Harry made more gurgling noises of approval, as he felt his daddy's warm cum splash the back of his throat.

It was all he needed, to be sent over the edge of his second climax. It was the first time he came untouched, after having another orgasm so close. He wasn't even sure he'd thought it was possible, until Louis made it a reality.

"Ooh! Oh God, daddy. Please..." Harry begged, when the smaller man pulled himself out of his mouth. His sensitive dick was in agony, and after allowing a brief pause, so Harry could semi-enjoy his second climax, Louis blasted the plug once again, still hovering over him.

He observed all of Harry's movements carefully. His Princess was visibly in pain, but desperately trying not to complain.

"Two more, pretty girl. You think you can take it? Hmm?" He asked, cupping Harry's chin, assessing his reaction. Although he was clearly dreading another round, it wasn't enough to stop him from wanting to please his daddy.

"O-oh. Argh! Mmm! Mmm! I...I don't know, daddy! I don't think I can take it..." he wined, looking terrified that Louis would be disappointed. Sincerely worried, Louis turned off the plug, and hopped off of the bed. "No! Wait. I'm okay. I'm green, daddy! I can take it. I was so bad. I want to take it. Wanna be good for you..." Harry pleaded, worried that Louis wasn't going to follow through with the punishment after all.

Louis chuckled darkly, but looked at his boy with sincere fondness.

"Oh, I know you can take it, baby. Open" he ordered, spitting into Harry's waiting mouth when he obeyed. The restrained man happily swallowed it, and eagerly opened for more.

"And you're going to. Daddy is just going to flip you over. Be good for me" he informed, releasing one arm and one leg at a time, to turn Harry onto his stomach. "Let's take a look at this slutty little cunt, yeah? Bet you'll be glad to be rid of this for now, hmm?"

After a gentle tug, the accessory popped right out. Harry grunted in relief. He had a love/hate relationship with the plug. After that intense ordeal, he was definitely glad to be rid of it, indeed.

"Yes daddy. Thank you daddy" he grunted.

"Good girl. Want daddy to kiss it until it's all better? Hmm?" He asked, gently circling a slick finger around the open, sore rim.

"So bad. Please daddy..."

Louis dipped his head down between Harry's open legs, his eyes level with the round globes of his boy's perfect, perky ass. He planted gentle kisses around the orifice, before licking circles around the tight, pulsating ring of muscle. Harry moaned in blissful agony.

"Tastes so sweet, darling. How we doing down here?" He asked, reaching between Harry and the mattress, delighted to find that he was already sporting a semi. When his hand grazed the appendage, Harry held back a pained whimper.

"I'm good, daddy. I'm a good girl. I can take it" he repeated insistently.

Louis hopped off the bed once again, and returned with the tie he wore to work, and a bottle of lube. He covered Harry's eyes with the tie, knotting it behind his head, and planting a wet kiss on his cheek. There was one other object he'd grabbed, and this one was a doozy.

"Ugh! Argh! Oh, fuck! Ahhh! Daddy, fuck!!" Harry groaned, sounding genuinely distressed. Louis had taken a vibrating wand, put it on the medium speed, and planted it under Harry's cock, between it, and the mattress.

The younger man recoiled from the sheets under him, arching his back, trying to get away from the torturous device. Louis pressed his knee into the small of his Princess's back, forcing him back down.

"So fucking good for me baby. You can take it..." he growled lowly into Harry's ear, pressing his re-stiffening cock into his boy's asscheek, and rutting ever-so-slightly. He easily glided over the light traces of sweat pooling between the two of them. "I love you so much Harry. You can take it. Give me a color again, gorgeous" he said, a little more sweetly, as the pained moans below him increased in decibels and consistency.

"Green. I'm green. I can do it. I'm a good girl, right daddy?" He asked pathetically, making Louis smile.

"So fucking good for me. Cum for me baby, then just one more time after daddy fucks your tight little hole..." Louis confirmed. "Then I'm gonna take such good care of you, Princess. Get you all nice and clean, scrub you down with your favorite body wash, shave these long, pretty legs, just like you like...then I'll let you curl up in the bed and pick a movie, while daddy goes and makes us something to eat..." he promised.

All of that sounded like music to Harry's ears. He felt himself slipping, as he approached his third orgasm. In a complete daze, he nodded mindlessly and closed his covered eyes, leaning into the inviting warmth of sub space, rather than fighting it.

His body did the rest of the work for him, lulling him in and out of consciousness as the wand forced his cock to twitch, before dribbling out what little he had left, underneath them.

"You still with me, babygirl?" Louis asked worriedly. Harry nodded, but winced in pain, again trying to get away from the violent wand. Louis quickly reached underneath him, removed it, and turned it off.

"I'm still here, daddy. You can finish. I just wanna be good. I can hold on" he promised. "Starting to feel nice again. Probably because I'm such a greedy little slut. Please fuck my hole. Please use me to make yourself feel good. I was so, so naughty. Teach me a lesson..." he pleaded, his voice soft and transe-like.

"You let me know if you're going dark, okay? I know you want to be good, but you know daddy doesn't like to fuck you when you're unconscious, no matter how much you beg..." Louis ordered, trying to mask the concern in his voice.

Deciding to give Harry a little break, without calling attention to that fact, Louis started kissing across the back of his shoulders gently. He took his time, planting soft, little kisses over nearly the entire surface-area of Harry's beautiful, toned back.

When he got down to the dimples right above his ass, Louis licked up and then down his boy's entire crack, which made him moan from his diaphragm. The sound comforted Louis, as evidence that he wouldn't lose him completely during the middle of the end of his punishment. He decided to proceed cautiously.

"So, so fucking good for me. What did daddy do to deserve such a perfect, pretty, Princess, hmm?" He asked, lining his slick cock up with the gaping, fluttering entrance.

Harry was fully hard once again, but was at the point where he was hardly able to react, growing tired, and getting used to the painful over-stimulation. Louis eased himself inside all at once. After hissing out a labored breath, Harry adjusted to his girth rather easily, having had the plug in for hours before Louis got home.

"Oh, fuck! Woah..." Harry yelped, as Louis started to thrust at a steady, relatively rough pace. He didn't want to hurt his Princess any more than he had, but also knew that Harry would beat himself up if he didn't follow through with the entirety of his punishment.

Somewhat regretting the final part of the consequences he'd laid out, Louis focused on how much Harry's unwavering loyalty and need to please him, turned him on. As he fucked into his Princess steadily, the sexy noises escaping the man he was blanketing were only that much more incentive to hurriedly reach his own climax.

"How we doing, baby? Gonna cum one more time for me, angel?" Louis panted, running out of energy himself. Harry had laid his head on the pillow and surrendered to his fate, as soon as Louis began moving. He lifted it only slightly, and nodded lazily.

"Mmm. I think I can, daddy. Can you...touch me, please, daddy? Gentle. Rub my cock, please? Gonna be dry, but I'm kinda close..." He asked shyly. The request touched Louis' heart. The sexy innocence with which Harry asked for the otherwise obscene task, was beyond enticing.

Louis would never get enough of the man who'd so easily given himself to him completely. He could never love anyone or anything more than he loved his boy.

"Such a good girl, asking daddy for what you need. Arch your back just a little more..." he ordered, reaching underneath Harry and softly stroking his dick at a pace close to the one he was fucking him at. "Mmm there's a good girl. Want daddy to fill you up with cum? God, you're so fucking tight Harry. You feel so good. I'll never get enough. So, so perfect, baby..."

"Argh! Ow! Ah, fuck, daddy!" Harry whined. "Don't stop. I'm gonna cum. Please fill me up. I love your fucking cock so much. Have the best daddy in the world. Knows just what I need. Especially when I'm bad. Especially when I misbehave. Fuck! Ah!" Harry wailed, finally climaxing with an agonized, blissed-out moan. Seconds later, he felt Louis' warm jizz spread inside of him.

When the older man pulled out, he immediately removed the blindfold from Harry's eyes, then hurried to free his limbs from the restraints, while still trying to catch his breath.

After Harry was freed from all angles, Louis collapsed on his stomach next to Harry, who forced himself to roll onto his back, needing any and all pressure around his completely spent dick, to cease immediately.

He'd been delicately toeing the line of sub space for the past two rounds, and after the last climax, finally allowed the warm, fuzzy feeling to consume him. Louis looked at him adoringly, stroking his cheek as his boy closed his eyes.

"Take your time, Princess. That was a lot. You were so, so good for me..." Louis soothed, watching Harry's glossed-over, unfocused eyes close. He lost consciousness briefly, and when he came to, he looked at Louis with concern all over his face.

"Did I do it?" He asked, unable to immediately recall the last few minutes of his punishment.

"Fuck yeah you did, baby. Was...incredible. You are..." Louis assured, pulling the larger man closer to his chest. Harry sighed with relief, then gave Louis a bright, dimply, fond smile, which lit up the otherwise relatively dark bedroom.

"Mmm. Told you I could take it, daddy. Was so fucking hot. I love you..." he babbled. Louis ran his fingers through the long, soft, sweaty curls. "So sleepy. We still gonna shower?" He asked, secretly dying for the tender, loving aftercare that his daddy never failed to provide.

"Of course. Just like I said, Princess. Why don't you rest for a minute. Was wondering if you might prefer a bath after all of that, but totally up to you..." he offered, making Harry tear up, for reasons he couldn't explain if he'd tried.

Coming out of sub space, Harry was nearly always overly-emotional. Louis had learned not to even ask why he was crying after sex anymore, unless Harry wanted to offer the information up, accepting that he often likely didn't even know why, himself.

"A bath sounds really, really relaxing. Thank you..." Harry replied through a sniffle. He loved any form of washing up after sex, but a bath in their large, black, jetted tub sounded divine at the moment.

Louis kissed his forehead, and disappeared into the Master bathroom. He ran some bath water, and came back to check on Harry a few moments later, who was now stable enough to join him.

After they had a nice, long bubble bath, Louis dried himself and his Princess off. He'd finally been able to take the task back over, the day he got his cast off, many months prior.

He helped a very sore Harry back into bed, and brought him up a glass of wine, before he returned downstairs to find something to make them for dinner.

Sipping on the perfect red blend, Harry smiled to himself, thinking about how he'd worked his way back to a new-and-improved version of the life he'd been kidnapped from the year before. His favorite difference was the incredible person he met, who'd shown him mercy and empathy, in the ruthless, merciless world that had been foreign to both of them.

He thought back to the first time he realized what was going on, terrified to find out what kind of monster was going to buy him. The memory shifted to the first time he laid eyes on his daddy's perfect, deep, blue ones.

Harry remembered how terrified he'd been of the man, and how he felt when he'd gotten on his knees and sucked him off in front of a room full of invisible strangers, having just paid over a half a million dollars to do so.

He thought of the shock he felt, when Louis seemed distressed after they got back to his stateroom, then the skepticism, followed by the absolute relief he felt, when the man told him he wasn't going to hurt him, and that he'd bought him his unconditional freedom.

His heart fluttering with more love than he could possibly feel for anyone else, he then thought of the horror that befell him when he'd laid eyes on his best friend, who was in the same, but also a much worse boat.

Remembering the moment that he realized Louis was buying his best friend's freedom, without him even needing to ask him to, his smile grew, realizing that was the moment he'd decided he wouldn't be able to live without him, without at least giving the relationship Louis had wanted a shot.

Grateful didn't begin to cover the intense emotion that he felt towards his savior. There were no words that could express the magnitude of his undying love and loyalty to the man.

He remembered how he felt when Louis revealed that he could be implicated in more ways than one, once they went to the authorities. How his instinct was to believe him, and to go through whatever lengths necessary to protect him, to save him, the way that his daddy had instinctually saved them.

His wistful smile suddenly fell to a frown. He couldn't help but still feel twinges of guilt over what had happened in the following days. The heartache of having Louis ripped from his arms, at the same moment they were about to go explain everything to the authorities.

He'd never, ever say anything, especially after so much time had passed, and after how close they'd all become, but there was a part of him that couldn't fully let go of the resentment he felt towards Fabian, for what had happened to Louis behind bars.

Aided by Tuck's threats towards the evil men, which had proven to be effective thus far, he'd been able to let it go, as much as a partner realistically could be expected to, in that kind of situation.

He was happy to call both men a friend, and although he hadn't heard from Tuck in some time, he knew he could always reach out if he needed him.

Before his abduction, Harry had been doing alright for himself, so he'd thought. When it turned out that the man who'd mentored him and almost acted like a father figure at times, was the one who sold him and his best friend off to the world's cruelest people, he was able to see more clearly that he'd been floating around, mostly getting by on God's good graces.

Before his ordeal, he had no clear goals or aspirations. He had no clue what he wanted from life, but he had been on his way to figuring it out in his own time. In some ways, the kidnapping had been a wake-up call. What he'd been doing to make ends meet wasn't safe, and ultimately it wasn't who he wanted to be.

Now that he had an entirely new perspective on life, he recognized how extremely blessed he was, to have been able to return home at all.

Getting to keep the healthier aspects of his old life, like his best friend and his boyfriend, (and exploring new and exciting ways to connect with the pair), as well as finishing the degree he'd set out to complete after dropping out, he had to acknowledge that all of the changes that'd happened since, ended up being decidedly good.

Louis returned upstairs, holding out a bowl of chicken and rice with teriyaki sauce, which was one of Harry's favorites. He sat up and took it from his daddy gratefully.

"What're you up here cheesing about all alone, Princess?" Louis asked, plopping down next to the taller man and digging into his food.

"Just thinking about you. About us" Harry replied fondly. Louis gave him a suspicious, albeit smitten look. He arched an eyebrow and silently asked him to expand. "Just...thinking about how happy I am. How much better my life is...with you in it" he added, making Louis flush, which was a rarity.

"Good to know, Princess. Starting to look like you're stuck with me, yeah?" Louis replied, wiping at some sauce on Harry's cheek. "Can't wait for this weekend. Gonna be so nice, just you and me in the Bahamas. Nothing to do but swim, eat, drink and fuck..." he mused.

Harry was beyond excited for their little getaway. The pair had been looking forward to it for months, and Harry had been packed for days. They were set to leave that Friday, and were going to explore the Caribbean over two long weeks. It was the longest vacation the younger man had ever had.

What Harry didn't know, was that with Niall's help, Louis had bought him a ring. He planned to propose at sunset on the water, their first night on the beach.

Harry would say yes, of course, and their vacation in the tropical paradise would be better, and more romantic than the curly-haired man could have ever dreamed of.

They would go on to get married in Mallorca the following year, in a small, beautiful alcove behind the sea.

With Niall as Harry's best man, and Liam as Louis', who would actually tear up when Louis asked, the couple would be delighted to ask Tuck to officiate the ceremony. The much older man would be absolutely tickled that the couple would want him to be a part of something so special.

After planning the entire thing, Fabian and his new boyfriend would be in attendance, as well as Fabian's brother, who would be doing much, much better, after some in-patient treatment.

The two men from the same boat, who none of them had expected to befriend, ended up being some of the best friends that the close-knit group of men would ever have.

Their business would continue to flourish, and the men would all continue to work hard, and work together, to keep it that way.

Liam and Niall would go on to marry several months after Harry and Louis' wedding, with a beautiful ceremony of their own, which Louis would pay for in full.

Louis, Harry, Liam, and Niall would all continue to hang out outside of work, and continue to have crazy, kinky sex. They'd all learn to trust each other with their partners completely, after swapping together for so long.

Each of them had a special bond in much different ways, and they'd agree to give each other room to explore that, with the understanding that they'd be completely transparent with everyone, should any unexpected feelings arise.

It would never end up happening though, as they would all be far too happy in their individual couples, to entertain anything else half as serious.

All because Louis had boarded a yacht, looking for a pet, during the same week that Harry had agreed to blow a stranger for some quick cash, both men ended up leaving the yacht with much, much more than they'd bargained for.

They would all go on to cherish each other, their friends, their livelihood, and their freedom, for the rest of their lives.

Each of the men involved in the same ordeal, would forever remind each other to never take any of those things for granted, ever again.

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