Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Nice looking place, fellas.” Trouble flashed a grin at the waiting pair dressed all in black. “I’ve heard a lot of stories about the, ah...various dishes you cater here. Is all that true?” he asked, cocking his head to one side. 

“Would you like to hear what’s on the menu tonight?” the one with longer hair and a fading shiner asked, smirking indulgently.

“Yes, please, I’m absolutely starving.” The longer haired man introduced himself, Kiv, and his colleague, Sahota. Trouble let his gaze wander as he listened to Kiv’s eager descriptions of what was waiting behind closed doors nearby. He pretended to take in the room while he silently cataloged the marks he could see on his hosts. They were both appealing in their own ways, and his mouth watered over a few of the details Kiv gave about Benji, Kaius, and Hunter.

“So, what’s sounding appetizing for you tonight?”

“Hmm. Gosh,” Trouble tapped his chin, brows drawing together, “it all sounds so delicious. How do I choose?”

“We’re happy to provide additional details. Do you have questions about any particular offering?” For as rough as he looked, Kiv was smooth with his task.

“Maybe.” He planted his hands on his hips. “Am I allowed to request whatever utensils I want, no matter which morsel I select?”

“Be as specific as you like, we’re happy to accommodate preferred dining styles.” Kiv’s eyes seemed to light up at the prospect.

“I enjoy taking my time when I’m sampling something new. Give me a few things to explore with, but nothing too sharp. I want to poke and prod a little to see what my food is made of.” Trouble winked, then added, “oh, and I don’t mind my food squirming around, but I would like a way to make sure it can’t get off my plate.”

“That can all be arranged. So, have you made a selection?” Kiv asked.

“Yeah. I’d like the special.” 

“What?”

“You know.” Trouble moved closer to Kiv, holding his gaze. “I want what’s not listed. Something off the secret menu.” He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. “You’re kinda mean, aren’t you Kiv. The smell of it’s all over you. I like that.” He chuckled as Kiv’s professional-face slipped. “I’ll have you. Give the stun-pistol to your friend.”

“Wait--” Kiv tensed

“Playrooms are down that hall?” Trouble asked, shifting his gaze to Sahota. He felt a satisfying lick of heat under his sternum at the way the man stiffened. It took a moment for Sahota to recover enough of his composure to nod. “Perfect.” He looked back at Kiv and raised an eyebrow. “I said, ‘lose the stun-pistol.’ Let’s go. I’m sure if you’re a good boy for me, you’ll get it back later.” His smile was all teeth as he watched Kiv pass it to Sahota with a trembling hand. “There we go. C’mon, tall and handsome,” he cooed, gesturing for him to lead the way.

...

“Huh.” Trouble followed Kiv through the door at the very end of the hall, kicking it closed behind them. “Only a bed? That’s not very creative.” 

“If you’ve changed your mind--”

“And miss out on all your cringing?” He deliberately stepped into Kev’s space and laughed when he shied back. “Not a chance.” Trouble kicked off his shoes, moved around Kiv, and sprawled on the bed, arms crossed behind his head. “You’re a little overdressed. Strip for me, nice and slow.”

Kiv closed his eyes for a few moments, then started unfastening his holster.

“Who knocked you around?” When Kiv looked up sharply, Trouble chuckled. “What, are you not allowed to kiss and tell?”

“Tonight is...about you.”

“Aren’t you well trained. That’s fine, I was just curious.”

Kiv looked away again as he unlaced and removed his boots and socks.

“Is your name really Kiv?” 

“Yes.” Kiv hesitated, then unfastened his belt.

“I’ll take that.” Trouble sat up and scooted up the mattress until he had the wall at his back. 

Kiv froze for a heartbeat. His mouth was a tight line as he pulled his belt loose.

“Bring it to me.” He smiled as Kiv obeyed, approaching and holding it out. Trouble accepted, then patted the mattress. “Sit here.” 

Kiv’s shoulders drew up as he faced away and slowly perched on the edge of the bed.

“You're out of words and smiles all of a sudden.” Trouble gently brushed Kiv’s hair aside, nosed his neck, drawing in a deeper lungful of his scent. “You were ready to burn any of those others for me. What happened to all that fire?”

Kiv didn’t pull away; he shivered.

“Cruelty and fear. Mmm.” He moved his lips to Kiv’s ear. “You smell good enough to eat.” Trouble gave his earlobe a gentle nip, then resettled back against the wall. “You may stand. Pants next, obedient boy, and look at me while you do it.”

He flinched like he’d been struck, then woodenly went through the motions he’d been told to.

“This is all too easy. All I have to say is, ‘now your shirt,’’’ Trouble paused as Kiv pulled that off, too, “and it’s done. A gourmet meal, no hunting or prep work required.”

Kiv lifted his arms, as if to cross them, then stopped halfway through the motion. He kept his arms limp at his sides, the bruises on his chest and thighs on full display.

“Your rope burns.” Trouble tilted his head, eyes still drinking in the livid marks. “Are they from being restrained too tightly, or from struggling?”

The muscles in Kiv’s jaw flexed before he answered. “Both.”

“Well aren’t you a dream come true.” He toyed with Kiv’s belt, then frowned. “I asked for supplies. When will they arrive?”

Kiv lowered his gaze. His fingers twitched.

“I want them.” Trouble’s smile grew watching Kiv fidget on the spot. “Get them for me.”

After taking a breath, Kiv moved deliberately to a stretch of wall. He reached out and a compartment opened under his touch. He went still, staring at the contents revealed there.

“That’s handy. I can’t imagine why you didn’t mention it earlier.” From where he was relaxing, Trouble couldn’t see the contents of the hidden alcove, but he could taste the wave of dread that rolled off Kiv. “What’s the matter? I asked you to fetch.”

Kiv gathered the items into his arms and slowly retraced his steps to the bed.

“Oh, wow.” Trouble shifted to his knees, eyes alight as he picked up, examined, and set out on the bed, one by one: a bottle of lube, a neon orange dildo, a neon purple cock ring, a neon green vibrating plug with remote control, what looked like an adjustable black leather thong, and four neon-colored, bundled ropes in purple, green, blue, and pink. “I’d say we’re almost ready to begin this feast.”

It looked like all the blood had drained from Kiv’s face. 

“Poor little thing. Nervous already?” Trouble rose, smirking. “Take off your boxers and lie down on the bed, face up.”

Chapter Text

“I don’t bite.” He stayed planted between Kiv and the bed. As Kiv edged around him to obey, Trouble wrapped an arm around his waist and kissed his shoulder. “Not at the start of things. We have time.” He smiled, feeling the way Kiv had to force away the tension that flared up at the handling. 

”I…am at your disposal.”

”It’s sweet how you do that.” Trouble let Kiv move, palming the small of his back instead as if he needed guiding onto the bed. “Fear I’m used to, but I haven’t even tied you down and you’re saying what you think I want to hear.”

Kiv eased onto his back and swallowed, gaze going anywhere except the array of supplies. His expression was schooled to blankness. Mostly.

”You don’t have to do that,” Trouble murmured into the quiet. He slipped off his suit jacket and folded it over his arm.

”Do what?”

“Try to hide what you’re feeling.” He untucked his shirt. “Look at me, Kiv.” Trouble sat on the bed, one leg on the floor, the other bent before him on the sheet. “I’m not human, and I can smell the truth on you anyway.”

”Okay.” Kiv shivered, brow furrowing. “That’s…that’s extra. Servicing inter—“

”Interspecies clients. Yeah.” Trouble chuckled. “I’m aware. Listen. Do you need my permission to show me what you’re feeling? You have it. You can say what you like, too; I didn’t ask for a gag for a reason.”

After a moment, Kiv nodded. His fingers curled for a moment, but he kept his arms at his sides.

”This is a first for me.”

”With a human?”

”Paying for what I want.” Not that it was his money. ”Once I’ve chosen someone, it’s rare that they try to turn me down.” Trouble traced Kiv’s collarbone with his knuckles, then trailed the backs of his fingers down Kiv’s chest. ”After I get them alone, I take what I want.” He shrugged one shoulder. “I’m stronger than I look.”

Kiv shuddered, then went rigid.

”It’s alright,” Trouble soothed, moving his hand from Kiv’s skin to hover poised over the toys. “I don’t hurt boys until they force me to. There’s no reason for you to leave this room with more bruises than you came in with.”

“W…what are you…just do what you want.”

”Kiv.” Trouble laughed again, looking away from the toys to meet his gaze. “Did you mean to ask about what I’m gonna do to you?”

Kiv winced. “Yes,” he breathed.

”Good boy.” Trouble reached out slowly, then gently cupped Kiv’s cheek. “Be honest. I’ve no reason to hurt you for that and I’m not planning to. Yeah?”

”That’s…what you said.” Kiv didn’t lean into the touch.

”But you’re waiting for me to drop the act?”

The muscles in Kiv’s jaw flexed.

”There are things I want out of you, things I’ll take even if you fight.” He smoothed his fingers into Kiv’s hair, combing with care. “But you can be honest. You can’t hide that from someone like me anyway.”

Silence stretched between them. 

“Believe me, or don’t. I get it if you can’t. I know that trust is like that.” He clenched his own teeth for a moment. “I do get it.” Trouble switched from finger-combing to tracing Kiv’s features with a fingertip — eyebrow, cheekbone, nose, lower lip. 

Kiv squirmed. “What are you going to do?”

”I’m going to make sure we both come tonight,” he promised, still gently tracing the lines of Kiv’s body.

Kiv swallowed.

“Nervous again?” Trouble grinned, tongued the inside of his cheek rather than laugh. “I’m more experienced than I look, too.”

”You want me to...? Why?”

”It’s better for me if you come.” Trouble cocked his head to one side. “Whatever happens inside humans when they orgasm makes it easier for me to feed.”

Kiv jerked away from Trouble’s touch, staring, frowning.

“Easy,” he coaxed. “I’ll make you feel good.”

“‘Feed.’” Kiv drew his arms in, pressed his elbows into the mattress, but froze instead of sitting up. “What does that, w-what do you mean?”

Trouble huffed a laugh, tongue running over his teeth. “Exactly what it sounds like.”

The rise and fall of Kiv’s chest halted for a beat, then sped up.

“It’s not like I’m going to carve you up. Relax.” His last word came out as a command and he held Kiv’s gaze as he resumed caressing him, palming over his sternum, up the side of his neck. “It doesn’t hurt. You’ll be coming so hard you probably won’t even feel it.”

A small sound caught in the back of Kiv’s throat. He closed his eyes.

“You don’t want to?” Trouble raised an eyebrow, hand stilling.

“Like I have a choice.”

“You could try to stop me, if you like.” He closed his eyes and breathed in. “The way you smell now,” Trouble looked at Kiv, “you’re on the verge of trying. Am I right?”

Kiv’s exhale trembled. He slowly slid his arms back into place at his sides.

“You’re not gonna fight?” Trouble shifted fully onto the bed, sitting cross legged, looming over Kiv. “Even if I don’t rope you down, you’ll let me do anything I want?”

“It’s what you paid for.”

“Huh. Just like that?”

Kiv looked away, scowling.

“We’ll see.” He gave Kiv’s hip a tap with the backs of his fingers. “Feet apart and lift up.” Trouble grabbed the lube and plug.

“T-that won’t...get what you want.” 

Trouble smirked. “Oh yeah?” He rolled his eyes and shook his head, chuckling again and he moved down the bed on his knees. As he went, he gripped the vibrator and bottle in the same hand.

“Wait.” It was barely audible.

With his free hand, he stroked Kiv’s shin, took a gentle hold of his ankle, and moved his leg. 

“I don't...” 

“Oh?” Trouble met Kiv’s gaze and didn’t look away as he did the same for his other leg. “Pretty sure this thing’s long and curved enough to hit your prostate.” He popped the cap on the lube and drizzled it over the toy. “Lift up for me.”

“Iwon’tcomelikethat!” 

“Good. We’re just getting started, sweetheart.” Trouble winked at him, grinning. “I wouldn’t want you bowing out after the first course.” He pumped his fist up and down the plug, smearing the lube into an even coating as he got between Kiv’s legs. “You promised me a sumptuous feast out there, remember?”

“But you said--”

“Don’t worry your pretty little head. I need you to come, so you will. If you want to be a sobbing, shaking, drained mess, all you have to do is let me.”

Kiv squeezed his eyes shut; his teeth had chattered before he could clamp them together.

“Aww, hey. I’m not here to mark you up. I’m not here to be rough.” Trouble’s voice was a low, steady purr. “I’m not gonna rope you down unless you need me to. Kiv. You’re a dish I plan to savor.” He tossed the lube aside and settled his palm on Kiv’s thigh, ignoring the way he jumped. Trouble stroked a slick thumb back and forth on the soft skin of Kiv’s inner thigh. “Let me be good to you, mean boy.”

The air left Kiv’s lungs in a rush. He planted one foot on the bed, then the other, and pushed up.

Chapter Text

“Good.” Trouble planted a kiss on Kiv’s knee, then rubbed the tip of the plug between his cheeks. “Ready for the appetizer?”

Kiv closed his eyes and pressed his lips bloodless, but kept his body in place.

“Kiv, my honey,” he chuckled. “There’s no need to be so tense. This won’t hurt. Open up.”

“I don’t--” Kiv broke off as soon as the words were out, fingers curled into the sheet.

“A place like this and I find inexperience?” Trouble didn’t bother keeping delight out of his tone.

“No.” 

“No?”

Kiv’s eyes opened, but locked on the ceiling. “I have.”

“Hm. It’s something you enjoy on your own, or am I not the only one that dines off-menu?”

Color crept up Kiv’s neck and back into his cheeks. “You can...do what you want.”

“I plan to, but that wasn’t what I asked.” Trouble grabbed the lube and this time dribbled it onto his reluctant partner.

Kiv breathed in sharply and raised his head to stare, reddening even more.

“Oh, no. You aren’t interested in anything going on down here. Right?” he taunted, smirking. Trouble tossed the lube aside and flapped his hand at Kiv. “You can lie back. This won’t hurt.” Trouble dabbed his first two fingers into the oil pooled on Kiv. With his wrist gliding along the groove of Kiv’s leg, he painted with the pads of his fingers. He caressed the base of Kiv’s not-yet-erection, along one side of his sack, gaze intent on the sheen he was spreading. 

Kiv clenched two fistfuls of the bedding, but kept his teeth together.

Trouble dipped up more lube then resumed, delicately oiling up the other side of Kiv’s handful to match. He took his time massaging an even glaze on Kiv’s balls, enjoying the give and slip of parts under skin and the way it got Kiv breathing faster. 

He smiled as flesh firmed under his feather-light strokes, slowly thickening the coat of oil around the base of Kiv’s cock. With a pleased hum, Trouble slid his fingers up the now-full length of Kiv’s cock for the first time, tracing the bulge of a vein to the swollen head.

“Kiiiv,” Trouble whined softly, sounding scandalized. Batting his lashes, he met his victim’s gaze. “If you keep staring like that you’ll make me blush.”

A choked noise accompanied Kiv’s sudden glare, then he tensed, shoulders shrugging up to his ears while his lips parted.

“Good boy.” With only his thumb and first two fingers, he ringed the head, giving Kiv something to push through but without enough squeeze to make it satisfying. “Finding something to your taste?”

“I...” Kiv licked his lips, panting, brow furrowed. He gave the slightest headshake.

“Really? You’re looking quite flushed.”

“Y-you’re--”

“It’s fine, shhh. I don’t mind the mixed signals.” Trouble gave him a sudden pump with his whole fist and laughed when Kiv’s hips jerked in response. “Mmm, mean boy, you’re doing beautifully for me.” Trouble circled and squeezed the head, providing the first rhythm of the evening and eating up the soundless protests Kiv mouthed. “Close your eyes if you want,” he purred, “pretend I’m someone else.”

Kiv let out a grunt that sounded pained.

“You’re shaking,” Trouble noted, his handjob not letting up in the slightest. “Little shivers in your thighs. Are you going to be able to stay up for me, Kiv?”

He kept his lips closed over a groan, breathing hard through his nose.

“How he suffers, poor little lamb. You don’t have to speak. Nod if you can stay up. If you can’t, I think I know a position I can rope you into that will work.”

Kiv started nodding and didn’t stop.

“Good.” Trouble chuckled and rewarded Kiv with a full pump down and back up his erection. Then, he nudged the plug between Kiv’s cheeks again, smoothing the lubed tip back and forth over his entrance. “Keep being good for me.”

His groan was out loud this time, and his gaze shot right to Trouble’s. Kiv’s eyes were overly bright, but he stayed up, and he didn’t beg.

“Your body likes what I’m doing. Focus on that,” he coaxed, pressing with the plug. “I’ve got you, mean boy.” Trouble stepped up the handjob until the muscles in Kiv’s neck went lax and the plug slipped a fraction deeper. “There we go...nice and easy...”

Kiv bit his lip, but it did nothing to contain a wavering moan.

“Say anything you want.” It came out as a purr. “I don’t have anything against bloody kisses, but I don’t want you holding back.” Trouble smiled, both hands pumping now. “I picked you because you smelled vicious. Give me everything, Kiv.”

“Hnnn...get off me.”

“I can’t do that, I made you a promise, beautiful.”

“Stop,” Kiv wheezed, unable to keep his legs from shaking.

“How could I do that? The smell of you,” Trouble pulled in a deep breath, “the look on your face, the heat of you.” He swallowed against the urge to growl. “You’re mouth-watering.” 

“I-I...” Short, soft grunts started to sneak out in a pattern that mirrored the movements of Trouble’s hands. “I hate...hate this.”

“I believe you.” Trouble smirked; Kiv was opening up well with the extra attention. “I might’ve lied when I said I was starving, but I can always eat, Kiv. You’re gonna give, or I’m gonna take.”

“Not,” he panted, banging a fist on the mattress, “notinme.”

“When you’re almost there? I wouldn’t dream of ruining our dinner date.” He sped up the handjob and was rewarded with Kiv stabbing up with his hips. “C’mon, mean boy, only a little more to swallow.”

“F-fuck you!” His panting was louder than his words. Then Kiv cried out, his body locking up mid-arch.

“Fuck me,” Trouble agreed, squeezing an asscheek now that he had a free hand again. He licked his lips, then slowed and stopped the handjob. “The plug is in. You’re doing so goo-- ah, no.” When Kiv’s ass started to dip down, Trouble gave him a smack. “Up, up, up, mean boy. We’re gonna have all seven courses together, you and me. Can you stay ass-up or do I need to rope you that way?”

Kiv groaned through his teeth, quivering body-wide as he forced his hips as far off the sheet as possible.

“That’s it, handsome, stay riiight there for me.” Trouble took his eyes off his meal to survey the remaining options lying in a row and grinned. “Two more adjustments and you can have a quick rest. How’s that sound?”

Kiv glowered, his breathing uneven.

“That’s my little dish.” He lubed up the cock ring. “Tell you what. I feel how bad you wanna fight me. I will tell you when you can.” Trouble took Kiv in hand, giving the head of his cock enough attention that Kiv covered his own mouth to smother a moan. Trouble stretched and placed the ring, tucking it with care under Kiv’s balls. “Would you like that, obedient boy?”

“Yes.”

“It will be difficult for me to be gentle...” Trouble went for the strappy leather harness next, turning it in his hands, brow furrowing as he oriented it. “Here we go. Stay still.” He secured the waist strap around Kiv first. “I told you there was no need for you to get hurt today. If you fight me, I will try not to, but I may hurt you. You have been...” Trouble ran a dangling strap through Kiv’s legs, drawing it skin-tight along his crack to measure. 

“Ah, don’t!”

“Easy, you’re good, you’re being so good for me,” he muttered absently, readjusting the holding pad on the strap. “Hey.” He looked up, finding Kiv’s eyes and smiling. “We’re barely into this and I’ve never had anyone act like you. I do not,” he spoke slowly, hitting each consonant, keeping his meal’s gaze, “want to hurt you. Nod if you understand.”

“But--”

“If you fight, I might hurt you. Nod if you get me.”

Kiv winced, nodded.

“I will let you choose. As soon as I have this on you,” he tugged the leather belt for emphasis, “I will give the word and you can fight me if you want. Nod.”

Kiv’s brow furrowed. After a moment he nodded.

“That’s my boy.” Trouble put his focus back on the harness, belting two straps tight, one over the top of each asscheek; the pad was pressed snuggly over Kiv’s hole. “Trading one holster for another, huh?” He grinned. “I don’t want you pushing anything out before I’ve had my fill.”

Kiv slammed his head back on the mattress and shuddered all over.

“You can relax now, lie down.”

Kiv’s feet instantly slid out from under his weight. He grimaced as he touched down, squirming.

“Better, right?” Trouble stroked Kiv’s thigh. “I won’t say the hard part’s over, but you did good and I plan to reward you for it.”

“Don’t want you to.” Kiv opened his eyes. “Please.” His hands were fists again.

“Aww. You’re gonna struggle, aren’t you?” He sighed. “It’s okay.” Trouble got off the bed and unfastened his slacks, stepping neatly out of them. “I think I’m ready for a ride.” He stroked between his own legs, grey boxers visibly soaked under his fingers. “You can fight me, or let it happen. What’s it gonna be?”

Kiv moved wincing to the edge of the mattress, facing Trouble. Eyes on the prize, he slowly felt out where his belt was. It was doubled over, and as he grabbed the center of it, he lunged.

Trouble’s grin was all hunger for Kiv’s decision. His opponent was broader across the shoulders, taller, heavier. He preferred to hunt by guile or ambush, but he wasn’t afraid of a brawl. He caught the belt as Kiv brought it down, cheek lighting up from the glancing blow he’d taken to get it, and wrenched the leather away from him. 

The skin around Kiv’s eyes pinched as he lost the belt, but he was already drawing his empty hand back for the next swing.

“You don’t do this enough,” Trouble laughed, backing out of range, pivoting to keep empty space at his back. “Used to letting other men do your hurting for you, huh?” 

There was no breath wasted on returned banter. Rather than punch himself out of stamina in a chase, Kiv threw a kick next, meant to fold his opponent in half.

Trouble jumped back to avoid it, and the one that followed, laughing as he let himself be angled into a corner. Kiv wasn’t the fastest fighter, but he knew how to use his reach well. Trouble couldn’t wait to find out what else he knew how to do well. Feeling the walls grow close, he winked at Kiv and let himself shift. His jaw broadened, teeth grew sharp and thick; his ears lengthened and furred to match his tail. 

Kiv’s eyes went wide, his body recoiling enough that he stumbled, aborted punch forgotten in the space between them.

Under the more obvious changes, Trouble looked as lean as he had before. The more profound modifications were invisible, but they gave him everything he needed to bring down whichever prey he chose. With a grip that bruised to the bone, Trouble was a blur, twisting as he heaved Kiv off his feet to slam him into the wall. The low purple lighting immediately above them flickered briefly after the impact.

Kiv dropped like a stone. He was still and senseless for a moment, cheek resting on sealed duracrete. Then his body curled as he gagged silently, lungs too shocked to refill yet.

“I can see why you had the stun pistol.” Trouble chuckled and fiddled with Kiv’s belt, drawing the end through the buckle. “You should make time to practice.” He sank to one knee, cradling Kiv’s head off the floor to guide it through the leather loop. “Let’s get you back on the bed...” Trouble straightened with a smirk, yanked the belt tight around Kiv’s neck, and started dragging.

Eyes bulging, Kiv’s hands fumbled at his throat, nails catching on skin and leather as he struggled. He kicked, heels banging and sliding on the floor. 

The room was small and easy to cross so Trouble paused beside the bed, watching Kiv strangle a few moments more. “You’re free to keep fighting me.” He drew the other man up by the belt, then shoved him belly-up onto the mattress. “You won’t be able to stop me, but the choice is all yours, mean boy.” 

Kiv coughed and gasped, all his fingers curled under and around the leather as if that could keep it from choking him again.

“Shh, rest, catch your breath.” Trouble shook out the purple rope then wrapped and knotted a cuff around Kiv’s wrist. “A little breath play is good for gentling you down, huh?” He patiently worked one hand free of Kiv’s deathgrip the belt, then stretched his arm out across the bed with the rope. He tied it off at an anchor point, then circled around to the other side, shaking the pink rope from its bundle as he went. 

“G...gck--” Kiv coughed again, eyes still watering.

“Easy,” he coaxed. “You might not remember this, but you hit your head. Twice.” Trouble tied another cuff around Kiv’s other wrist with the efficiency of practice. 

“Get,” he rasped, “off me.”

“Yeah, I get it, you’re a tough little thing.” He knotted off the pink rope, leaving Kiv’s other arm limp and straightened out across the sheet. “Even if I was willing to let you up, you’d probably fall down before you took a step.” Trouble stroked the smooth underside of Kiv’s wrist, following veins with his fingertips up toward Kiv’s shoulder. 

“Fuck.” Kiv pulled against the ropes, then threw his head back against the bed, gritting his teeth. “ Fuck .”

“You made this necessary.” Trouble reached out to stroke Kiv’s hair back from his face.

“Don’t,” he growled, jerking away from Trouble’s hand. “Stop touching me.”

“Alright. I suppose you’ve had enough.” He smirked, glancing briefly at Kiv’s erection, still bound by the cock ring. “Besides, I did say I was ready for some attention.” He pushed his boxers down and climbed back onto the bed, straddling Kiv’s chest. 

Kiv tensed, his gaze going to Trouble’s face, darting down to his groin, then back up again.

“While I have given you permission to resist from this point forward, I’m hoping you’ll be good for me.” He picked up the plug remote control and dangled it over Kiv’s face. “You weren’t planning to be naughty, right?”

“I...”

“I got you warmed up, it’s only fair that you return the favor.” Trouble chuckled, then scooted forward in a slow grind along Kiv’s sternum. He bit his lower lip and hummed for a moment before rising onto his knees. “You can do that for me can’t you, mean boy?” He sank the points of his kneecaps into the mattress above Kiv’s arms, pinning them under his shins.

“I don’t know.” Kiv’s voice was low and rough. 

“Aww.” He ate up the way Kiv gulped hard. “Shy or inexperienced?”

Kiv flushed. His mouth opened, then closed. He shook his head once.

“Something else for you to practice,” Trouble teased, chuckling. “Tell you what, I’ll teach you. Experiment if you like, but don’t forget this is supposed to be a dinner date. I expect you to work for it and eat, Kiv. If I need you to...dig a little deeper for me? I’ll start playing with the settings on your vibrator.”

“No, please, I--”

“Oh, one more thing.” He raised an eyebrow. “No biting unless you think I’ll like it. All I did was daze you a bit earlier, but if you’d like me to start breaking things, I am more than happy to.” He grinned. “I don’t need blood or marrow out of you, but I’ll take them if you push me. Got it?”

The soft sound Kiv exhaled had a tremble to it.

“Take a deep breath, mean boy,” Trouble cooed, lining himself up, “you’re gonna need it.”

Chapter Text

“But I don’t know--”

“Wanna know how much I don’t care?” Trouble mashed a button on the controller.

“Ah!” Kiv yelped and tugged against the ropes. 

“Ready now?”

“I don’t,” he panted, eyes shut tight, “don’t know how to...what to...” Kiv squirmed, twisted his wrists in the cuffs.

“I know you haven’t already forgotten what I did for you.” Trouble stroked his fingers up Kiv’s forehead and into his hair. He clenched a fistful, tangled knuckles tight to Kiv’s scalp, and sank down. “You’re about to do the same, but with your tongue instead of your hands.” He closed his eyes and hovered, smiling as the heat of Kiv’s exhales loosened the tension between his shoulders. “Lick me,” Trouble murmured, brushing his own lips across Kiv’s with a shallow scoop of his hips.

Kiv flinched.

Trouble thumbed the intensity switch, sliding it upwards from the bottom of the controller.

“No!” Kiv’s mouth went as wide as his eyes. With zero hesitation, he lapped what he could reach, clutching the sheet.

“That’s a start,” he chuckled. “You can push harder, mean boy, you’re not gonna hurt me. I can’t believe I’m your first.” 

Kiv raised his head, alternately wetting his nose and chin as he licked longer streaks.

“Mmm.” Trouble sighed, releasing Kiv’s hair. He tipped his face up to the ceiling. “So you can be sweet.” He sank lower and rubbed against Kiv. 

Kiv drew his knees up, but didn’t stop.

“Oh. Like that, yeah.” Trouble’s eyes drifted closed. “Right there, stay there.” His lower lip dimpled under the points of his teeth. “Good boy. More.” His rubbing intensified to a grind. 

“Hnm!”

“You’re okay.” Trouble idly caressed Kiv’s arm, feeling the way his muscles bunched. “Keep going.” He ached to roll his hips faster. “Try sucking...”

Kiv obeyed.

“Shitfuck!” Trouble smacked Kiv on the head. “Not like that.” He rose back onto his knees and glared. “What in the hell was that?”

“What? I did what you s--aah!”

Trouble angled the remote so Kiv could watch as he slid the switch up and up and up.

“Ungh, no!” Kiv writhed between Trouble’s thighs, arching against his weight. “T-too much, please, I’m sorry!” He yanked against the ropes, breathing gone staccato. “ Fuck , stop!”

“See?” he deadpanned, then returned the switch to where it was before. 

Kiv went limp, gasping and shuddering. 

“Ease into things.” Trouble held Kiv’s gaze. “Not all at once, yeah?”

“Usually they--” Kiv flinched and snapped his mouth shut.

“You can say it,” he prompted into the silence. “I promise I won’t tattle.”

“...” Kiv frowned, looked away, gritted his teeth, looked back. 

“‘They just shove it in.’ Is that what you were going to say?”

Kiv tensed.

“I bet they did.” Trouble shrugged. “I’m not them. I already told you my plan, what I came here to do with you.” He reached behind himself, found and fondled Kiv’s ringed erection. “I was slow and gentle with you. I’d like it if you would do that for me.” 

“Unh.” Kiv pressed his lips together, but the moan had already slipped out.

“You brought me a dildo and that plug. Remember?” He kept his eyes on Kiv as he toyed with the head of his cock. “You’ve felt how strong I am like this. If I wanted to use either to rip you open or make you choke, I already would have.”

Kiv flexed into the massage, then flushed.

“I’m not gonna hurt you, Kiv.” He gave Kiv a full pump with his fist, then milked the head with his fingers. 

With his teeth clenched together and his eyes shut, Kiv pressed his cheek into Trouble’s thigh.

“I want you to try again.” Trouble nudged Kiv’s head back to center, then lowered himself back into position. “Touch me how I touch you,” he purred, still playing with Kiv’s erection.

Kiv started how he did before: all tongue.

“Close your eyes, and listen,” he breathed, voice thick and deep with want. Trouble rocked his hips to set the rhythm for Kiv. He sank deeper as the slack picked up. “Hear what you’re doing...to my breathing.” He ground slow, small circles on Kiv’s mouth. 

When Kiv churned with his tongue, Trouble’s head lolled back.

“That’s it.” A groan hummed in his throat. “Keep listening, mean boy.” He smiled, panting open-mouthed. “You’re doing so w--”

Kiv sealed his lips against Trouble and sucked, gently, briefly.

Trouble gasped, frozen.

Kiv did it again, and again.

“Fffffffuck. Oh, fuck...” Trouble whined, resisting the urge to force all of his weight onto what Kiv was doing. The quality of his handjob dipped considerably. “Fast learner, huh?” His chuckle was breathless, tamed; he could hear it himself. Shit. Maybe he’d waited too long to try something like this, someone who couldn’t refuse. Trouble needed to regain his edge over Kiv. He fumbled, almost dropping the remote control. 

“Show me how clever you can be, handsome.” He thumbed the switch toward the next intensity level. He had to concentrate to draw out the transition. The motion was so minute, barely perceptible to the eye, but he knew it wouldn’t feel that way to Kiv. “And don’t stop.” 

“Mmmm!”

“No.” Trouble squeezed with his thighs to hold Kiv steady. 

Kiv tried to buck, to kick free.

“No. Look at me.” He waited for Kiv to obey, then waggled the controller. He stared, drank in the way that alarm warred with discomfort in and around Kiv’s eyes. “There we go. You have more important things to do than squirm and cry. Unless...you want to bore me.” Trouble’s gaze flicked to the device in his hand. He mashed one of the smaller buttons, cycling to a different pattern of vibrations.

“Nngh! Nmph, mmm!”

“As fun as that feels,” he laughed, pretending to shiver. “I want more. Better.” 

Kiv blinked back tears, wincing in time to the clustered pulses firing off inside him.

“Keep your head in the game, mean boy, or I’ll give you more than you could ever adjust to.” Trouble smirked, giving the barest roll of his hips while Kiv twitched beneath him.

Kiv glowered and the moment stretched between them. Then he took a deep breath and buried his nose in his task.

“Shit.” Trouble’s breathing hitched. “Oh fuck.” It felt like he only had time to blink, and then had both hands in Kiv’s hair, holding him close and riding his face in earnest. “Good boy...good boy...ohshitshitshit!” The pressure pooling between his legs was bright and red and almost painful. He wanted to bite down, to sink his teeth into flesh and blood, to crunch bone into a mess of splinters and gore. A pity he’d tied Kiv’s arms down, out of reach.

He shook his head, throwing off the urge. He dimly felt a knee thump into his back and looked down. Kiv’s face was flushed. The whites showed all around his eyes while tears spilled unchecked.

“MMM!”

Terror on a beautiful face wasn’t anything new for Trouble. He kept grinding for a few moments, only now processing the faint creaking noise was Kiv pulling and pulling against the ropes. 

“You beg so pretty,” Trouble half-growled, letting up enough to let Kiv breathe. He disentangled his fingers from Kiv’s hair, tucking his hands safely behind his own neck. He could wait. He would wait -- they had all night. “I love that in a man.” 

Kiv coughed and sputtered and gulped down air.

“I’m gonna need a second helping of that,” he teased, panting too much to actually laugh. “Ready?” Trouble was already sinking back down.

“W-wait!” Desperation was the only reason his plea was more than a gasping squeak.

Trouble scanned the bed to one side of their bodies, then the other. It took feeling around to locate the controller, black shiny case hidden under disheveled black hair.

“I can’t! I--”

“I’m willing to bet that you can, with the proper motivation.” A single press cycled the vibrator to a new pattern.

Kiv went rigid and cried out.

“Should I turn up the volume, too, or do you remember why we’re here?”

Kiv instantly lifted his head, muffling the sounds he was making in wet heat.

“Mm, that’s my good boy,” Trouble cooed. He palmed the base of Kiv’s skull and groaned, low and throaty. Had he ever climaxed without his mouth on his meal? He didn’t know. He grinned and let his head tip back. He didn’t care.

Chapter Text

“Keep doing that,” Trouble whimpered, pressing rather than grinding down. 

“Mmph!”

Trouble was aware of if unmoved by a knee thumping into his back. Most of him was shaking with the urge to move his hips, to work more of what Kiv was doing out of him, to push it deeper inside and squeeze.

“Mmmmmmmm!”

“Ah, c’mon,” he whined. It hurt, teetering right on the edge of what Kiv had built up.

“MMMMM!”

Fuck. But screaming wasn’t what Kiv had been doing with his tongue. Ugh, not even close. Trouble rose onto his knees with a growl.

Kiv traded all his struggles for gasping in great gulps of air.

“I’ve killed for less.” Trouble panted, his narrowed eyes focused on Kiv’s wet, reddened face. He sighed, then lifted each shin carefully off Kiv’s arms as he moved down Kiv’s heaving torso. 

Kiv’s face screwed up. His mouth stayed open, but no scream came out. He snapped his teeth closed over a groan, banged one heel into the mattress, drew the other knee halfway up.

“You’re lucky that you were good,” he purred, low and husky, “and that I know I can’t have more if I rip your throat out.” Trouble paused his descent down Kiv’s body when he felt something hot press against his inner thigh. He stayed on all fours and played with the contact, letting Kiv’s erection slide across one asscheek, then jab an impotent dip into the other.

“Uhn!” Kiv turned his face away, but there was nowhere to hide.

“Want something?” 

Kiv’s head flopped back and forth on the mattress.

“Don’t lie to me, mean boy.”

“I don’t.” Kiv said it quietly, but his hands were fists again.

“Part of you does,” Trouble laughed, reaching behind to fondle Kiv’s tip. 

“Stop.” The word was a hiss between gritted teeth.

“I’ve never enjoyed an entree quite like you, Kiv.” He gave Kiv slow pumps with a loose fist. “You’ve given me a bit to think about. Let me reward you.” 

“You d-- Hngh.” Kiv strained against the ropes. “Don’thaveto,” he forced out, sounding squeezed and breathless.

“I want to.” Trouble lined himself up, held Kiv steady, and backed onto the tip. 

“Mmn!” His lips were a thin line, eyes squeezed shut, body rigid.

“You’ll faint if you don’t breathe,” Trouble teased. He swayed on the mattress, rocking forward and back, taking Kiv deeper as slowly as he could manage. “You tempt me to draw this out...like I never have before.”

“Getoff!”

Trouble sank fully onto Kiv’s lap with a low growl. He dropped onto his elbows, his chest on Kiv’s, nudging his temple into the side of Kiv’s neck. He ground slow circles on Kiv, then scooped with his hips, slipping along and back down Kiv’s length with a groan.

His captive let out a choked noise.

“Let it out,” he coaxed, nosing Kiv’s throat as he drew deep into his lungs a heady mix of desire and despair. 

Kiv grunted behind closed lips.

“Well, if you’re not going to open up without encouragement...” Trouble grabbed the remote and pressed the button for a new vibration pattern.

“Fuck!” 

“Keep going.” He thumbed the switch for intensity level up and up and up.

Kiv yelped, then started to buck and kick.

“Atta boy.” Trouble shivered; Kiv’s struggles were translating into uneven, surprising thrusts. 

“Fuck you!”

Trouble pushed down onto Kiv’s thrusts, more than able to match his strength and ride it out with satisfied moans. 

“No, stop!”

He grinned when a longer slide that ended with a loud slap of their bodies meeting forced a wavery groan out of Kiv. “Mmm, good booooy.”

“Get off of me!” Kiv twisted and yanked against the rope cuffs. His fighting was disjointed, interspersed with grunts that came out on the heels of thrusts. Until he tensed up all over, hips pushed up off the bed. All at once, the strength ebbed from his limbs and Kiv groaned.

“That’s it,” Trouble gasped, smiling, then bit down between Kiv’s neck and shoulder, thick teeth cutting skin to clamp onto bone.

There was a frozen, silent moment. Then Kiv screamed, kicking so hard he lifted both their bodies off the bed.

The urge to crunch through bone and rend away chunks was there, as hot and real as Kiv’s blood on his tongue, but Trouble wrapped his arms around Kiv’s torso and kept scooping with his hips instead. With his mouth on his food, he didn’t even have to think about pulling the vital humming sensation out of Kiv -- it poured down his throat, raging and swirling into his core. 

“NOOOO!”

Trouble felt the rushing buzz up his spine, out to his fingers, and down to his toes. He was dimly aware of Kiv’s writhing dwindling down to squirms, his yells weakening into whines. Even knowing he could have more soon if he didn’t take everything, it was hard to unlock his jaws. He released Kiv’s shoulder and relaxed on top of him, giving the weeping punctures an affectionate lick.

“Ungh...”

“Mmm. You taste so fucking good, mean boy,” he praised, basking in the afterglow of their orgasms, from drinking so deeply of that hum that only living prey could yield. “You were right to be afraid of what I meant by ‘feed.’”

“P...p-please...”

“Shhh.” Trouble put a palm over Kiv’s mouth. “You feeling floppy is normal. I promise it’s okay.”

“M-mm.”

“Yeah.” He smiled, eyes still closed. “I know, but you’ll be fine, and I don’t like to move right after.” Trouble uncovered Kiv’s mouth to stroke his hair. “Don’t fight to stay awake, or I’ll have to find a way to put you under.”

“Plug,” Kiv gasped. Tears spilled over when he blinked.

Trouble grumbled as he pawed around for the remote. He squinted at the controls, then turned the vibrations off. “Now hush.”

“Are...are you--”

“Shh. You’ll be fine. I’m not gonna kill you.” He licked over the tooth marks again, then pressed a sticky kiss to Kiv’s throat. “Wanna know what’s even better than dining in a fancy restaurant? Getting to take the leftovers to enjoy again at home.”

Kiv whimpered as he wept, limp in his restraints and bleeding onto the mattress.

“You don’t like it here anyway.” Trouble pushed up onto one elbow and beamed down at Kiv, petting him again. “Do I need to stick my head out the door to ask for more toys, or is there a way to signal your pal down the hall from here?”

Kiv’s gaze wavered, but only for a moment.

“Oh?” When Trouble followed the trajectory of the aborted glance. It went to the wall, near where the hidden compartment had been. He rose languidly and stretched on his walk over. He ran his hand over the glossy wall, triggering the compartment and closing it again. Trouble patted around more until a rectangle of touch screen brightened to a light purple against the black. There was a single button beside a digital hourglass with neon purple pixels draining from the top. He threw a smirk over to Kiv on the bed, then tapped the button.

“Yes?” The tone of the voice was cool. Empty.

“Hey, I need a sedative and some gauze bandages. Oh,” Trouble turned sideways and winked at Kiv, “and something I can use to freehand a brand.” Trouble waited for an affirmation, but when the silence stretched out he shrugged at Kiv. “Is that all it takes?”

“You...y’can’t...take--”

“You know,” he interrupted, though he enjoyed watching Kiv struggle to get the words out, “you’d recover faster if you slept.” Trouble’s ears swiveled. Was that...? He frowned and slid his hand along the wall until the compartment opened again. Inside, there was a loaded syringe, something that looked like a shortened stun baton with a tipped point, packages of gauze pads, and a roll of neon-purple self adhesive bandage wrap. Trouble whistled, grabbed it all, and returned to the bed. 

“N-no.” Kiv’s eyes locked on the syringe, then jumped to Trouble.

“The transport I came in has a passenger seat and a storage trunk. Be good and you’ll get to ride up front with me.”

“Don’!” Kiv made a sad attempt at worming toward the opposite side of the bed.

“Fine, you can be cargo.” Trouble pinned Kiv’s head down by his hair, pushed the needle into his neck, and pressed the plunger until the barrel was empty. He tossed the empty syringe away into a corner and picked up the branding pen next. It didn’t take long to figure out how to turn the tip orange hot. 

“Hopefully with whatever was in that shot, you won’t feel all of this.” Trouble clamped his free hand over Kiv’s mouth anyway before using the tool to cauterize each tooth puncture.

Kiv squeezed his eyes shut. His first cries needed to be muffled, but before Trouble was even half done, Kiv’s intermittent whines were soft and weak. His eyes were glossy and vacant. 

Trouble used the roll of purple wrap to blindfold and gag Kiv. The ropes used to cuff Kiv’s wrists only needed to be tied together behind his back. A third rope went around his chest to keep his arms pinned down. The last rope bound Kiv’s ankles together. He hefted his prize into his arms, then tiptoed out of the room and back down the hallway. He could only imagine how loud and boastful most customers were when they strode back into the lobby.

Sahota certainly hadn’t been prepared when Kiv’s body was launched at him, knocking him to the ground so hard the back of his head cracked loudly against the flooring. A single shot from the stun pistol ensured that Sahota wouldn’t be rising anytime soon, much less calling for backup.

“Don’t mind him,” Trouble murmured to Kiv as he lowered him gently into the trunk beside the body of the original owner of the transport. If Kiv had been more conscious, he might’ve recognized the deceased, former client. Trouble knew the man had been brutal to Kiv on his last visit to Midnight. Humans tended to spill all sorts of juicy secrets when they thought it might save their lives. “I’ll be ditching him and the transport once I have you tucked away.”

“Sleep tight.” Trouble closed the trunk and gave it a pat. “Home’s a looong way from here.”

Chapter Text

Trouble yanked the door closed, turned the deadbolt, and sighed. Shoulders low, eyes closed, he tilted his head back and scented the air. The apartment smelled stale, dusty. The air recyclers obviously weren’t the best, but he didn’t need them to be. So far as temporary homes went, the place had everything Trouble needed. Not too high-tech, so no alarms or cameras. Basement level, which meant thick walls and few windows -- and he’d checked that they were all too small to fit out of, locked shut, and covered by blinds. 

“Perfect spot, huh?” He looked over at the couch where he’d laid Kiv out, trussed up, gagged, and blindfolded. While he was out, Kiv had curled onto his side. “Still out cold?” He tilted his head and clicked his tongue. Maybe after feeding, the sedative had been overkill. Trouble knelt beside the couch and palmed Kiv’s chest, feeling the rise and fall of his breathing. 

“I’ve never had someone offer himself the way you did.” He moved the lank strands of hair out of Kiv’s face, tucking them behind his ear. “We’ll have to see how willing you are outside of that place.”

Kiv’s next inhale hitched. 

Trouble pulled his hand back, staring intently as Kiv’s forehead creased.

“Mm.” The first sound was open and quiet. Kiv straightened one leg, which forced the other out, too. He took a deeper breath, rolled onto his back, pinning his bound arms under his weight, and groaned.

“Yeah, I bet your shoulders are pretty sore by now. I could give you a rest, retie your wrists in front.”

Kiv squirmed, small, slow movements against the ropes.

“Let’s try that while you’re still so out of it. C’mere.” It didn’t take much to lift Kiv and flip him face down. 

“Mph!”

”I hear ya. Keep still for me,” Trouble murmured absently, picking at the rope knots. “I’ll take a look at your love bite once I’ve got you resituated.”

Kiv lifted his head briefly, then rubbed his cheek against the couch cushions.

”Hey.” Trouble chucked. “Not sure you’ve earned the right to speak yet. Quit fussing.” He removed the rope cuffs, then turned Kiv faceup again with more care, positioning his arms for him while Kiv moaned in pain.

”Aww, you’re alright.” He picked up one of Kiv’s hands, then massaged it between his own. He kneaded lightly with fingers and thumbs, gradually working up Kiv’s wrist and forearm, over his bicep and up to his shoulder. 

“Mm?” Kiv whined into his gag and flexed his fingers. “Mmn.”

“That pins and needles thing will work itself out.” Trouble repeated the massage for Kiv’s other arm, careful to avoid the burned-over punctures. 

He crossed Kiv’s wrists and reused one of the ropes to bind them together, leaving enough room to not cut off blood flow. As soon as he finished, Kiv pulled his hands away.

“Mph?” Kiv tried to twist free of the ropes, tugged weakly a few times, then let his arms flop back down. “Hnnn.”

“Yeah.” Trouble watched Kiv pant from his brief exertions, then ruffled his hair. “Must be frustrating.”

“Hnph!” Kiv turned his face away, which didn’t do much to dodge Trouble’s touch.

“Even without whatever that drug was, you wouldn’t be up for much. When I eat, it drains away whatever fuels the fight in people.”

Kiv grunted, then brushed the side of his head against the cushion. “Mn?”

“What’ll you give me to take the blindfold off?” He smirked and traced along the layers of bandage wrap with a finger. 

Kiv went still, apart from breathing harder.

“Know where you are, Kiv?” he asked, still smirking.

Kiv tried to raise his knee, but the rope around his ankles halted the movement early. He jerked against the wrist tie again, still breathing fast.

“Maybe I will let you see. Lift your head for me? That’s it.” Trouble unwound the wrap until it sprang away from Kiv’s skin, tangling in the air.

“Mmm!” Kiv squinted at first, then blinked as his eyes watered against the dim overhead lighting.

“There he is. You’ll need another nap and something to eat before you start feeling more like your old self.”

Kiv glared at Trouble, then scanned his surroundings. He inhaled sharply, then held his breath, eyes going wider the longer he stared.

“Yeah. You’re all mine, now.” Trouble caressed Kiv’s cheek with the backs of his fingers. “No more Midnight for you, mean boy.”

Kiv shivered and squeezed his eyes shut, keeping still under Trouble’s touch.

“I drained that guy’s account booking you for the night, and you tasted too sweet for me to leave you behind.” Trouble cupped Kiv’s cheek in his hand, leaning over him. “You’re done with that place, yeah?”

Kiv’s gaze flickered to Trouble’s, to the ceiling, then to rope around his wrists as he lifted his arms.

“I can’t let you go.” Trouble took Kiv’s jaw in gentle fingers and turned his head until their eyes met. “This doesn’t have to hurt, but you do get a choice.” He held Kiv’s gaze, even as his eyes filled and overflowed. “Nod if you understand what I’m saying to you.”

Kiv shook his head without pulling free of Trouble’s grip. 

“I’ve never fed off someone like you. You forced yourself to give in to what I wanted.” His smile warmed, softening his gaze. “You would’ve done it without me having to break something, or tying you down.” Trouble tilted his head to one side. “That’s new for me, and I like it.”

Kiv swallowed hard enough for Trouble to hear it.

“I don’t have to hurt or kill you to feed, but I will if you fight me. Or? You could be good and and I’ll be good back.” Trouble pressed a kiss to the bandage wrap over Kiv’s mouth, then kissed the dip behind his ear, whispering, “it might not seem like much of a choice, but it’s the best thing I have to give you, mean boy.”

“Mmmm.” 

The movement was over as soon as it started, and so slight that Trouble felt it more than saw it. Kiv had not nodded, had not agreed to the reasonable terms. Trouble smiled and held Kiv’s face in both hands, staring through Kiv’s tears into his eyes. He gave Kiv another, heavier kiss over the gag, then sighed.

“Wrong answer.” He tugged Kiv upright by his arms, then hoisted him over one shoulder.

“Mph?! Mnn!”

“Shhh.” Trouble gave Kiv’s ass a slap and a squeeze, then pinned Kiv’s legs securely to his chest as he walked. “Time for you to sleep again.”

Kiv yelped, fumbling for a grip despite the ropes and his world turned upside down.

“This...” Trouble stopped outside the bedroom and turned sideways to let Kiv have a look. There was a bed more than double the size of the one in Midnight, with dark, plush covers and pillows. Apart from the bed were two end tables, an armoire, and two closed doors. “This is where a good boy might sleep.” Trouble grinned and gave Kiv another, harder spanking, then kept walking.

“Hmgh!”

“But that’s not you, is it?” He carried Kiv through the kitchen and opened the door to a small, dingy room. 

The reek of garbage hit them both before Trouble palmed a switch on the wall. A painfully white light flickered to life, revealing a stained duracrete floor. There were two lidded canisters along one wall, a raised square door to a chute on the far one, and a narrow metal cabinet across from the canisters. A key protruded from one of the two handles on the cabinet doors.

Trouble yanked Kiv off his shoulder, but caught him before he could hit the floor.

“MMH!”

“This is you.” He sat Kiv on his butt, facing him. “Knees up,” he ordered, shoving Kiv into position before he could comply. Trouble pulled two short bundles of rope from his pocket and shook one out. “Chin up for me, mean boy.” He looped one end of the rope around Kiv’s neck and started to knot it off. 

“Mnh?” Kiv’s breathing sped up. He tried to lean back. “Mm-mm!”

“Quit,” Trouble snapped, giving the rope a yank to bring Kiv close again. He finished off the knot, gripped it tight, and slid it snug to the soft skin below his captive’s Adam’s apple. “Don’t fight too hard, yeah? I’m not coming back to loosen anything you tighten until morning.” Trouble dropped the free end of the rope and grabbed Kiv’s wrists next. “Under your feet.”

Kiv squeezed his eyes shut as he obeyed-- tried to obey. He whined, dizzy and unbalancing himself whenever he tried to keep his bound ankles raised.

Trouble sighed, hauling down on Kiv’s wrists and not-so-gently guiding his ankles over and between them. 

Kiv gave an experimental tug, but the rope on his wrists wasn’t giving. With his hands bundled up under his knees, he looked up at Trouble, breathing hard.

“Don’t give me that look. I’ve seen how wiggly you can get, and I can’t have that.” Trouble winked, then grabbed the other rope. He used it to bind Kiv’s wrist tie and ankle tie together, then knotted it off at Kiv’s shins, away from his fingers. 

Kiv frowned up at Trouble, but didn’t struggle. 

“Almost done, then you can rest.” Taking the end of the rope dangling from Kiv’s neck, he passed it under Kiv’s knees, wrapped it once around them, then pulled, forcing Kiv’s face down toward his kneecaps.

“Mmm!” 

“No, you let me or you’ll strangle yourself.” Trouble threaded the loose end through the loop around Kiv’s throat, drew it taut, then knotted it off. 

“Mmmmmph!!!”

“Yeah, you’re breaking my heart, mean boy.” Trouble moved a step away to open the cabinet doors wide, then scooped Kiv up and tucked him inside. “I asked you an important question earlier and you fucked up. Now I know you’re groggy, and drugged, and upset, so I’m gonna give you the night to think things over.” 

“Mm!” Kiv shook his head and stared up at Trouble, tears spilling over as he tried to lean out of the narrow cabinet as much as he could. “Mmmm!”

“I’ll run that question past you again in the morning, alright?” Trouble patted Kiv’s cheek, then gave him a shove against the back of the cabinet. He slammed the doors shut and turned the key to lock them closed.

“MMMM! MMMMMPH!” Kiv squirmed against the bondage, knocking into the sides of the cabinet with every movement he tried.

“All wrapped up,” he called over the noise Kiv was making. “Sleep tight, mean boy, I’ll see you tomorrow!”

Kiv screamed and screamed.

Trouble closed the door to the garbage closet, stretched, and headed for bed.

The muffled screams turned into muffled sobs, and eventually, into silence.

Chapter Text

He’d meant to sleep in, leave Kiv tied up and squashed inside the trash room for as long as possible, but wasn’t the suffering more fun if he got to enjoy watching it firsthand?

Trouble hopped off the bed and backtracked to his prisoner, bare feet soundless on the floor. He left the door wide open behind him, nose scrunching at the smell permeating the room. He knocked out a rhythm on the metal of Kiv’s cage. 

“Ready to come out and try again, mean boy?” he called, not bothering to keep the amusement out of his voice.

”Mm.” 

The sound was weak enough that Trouble's ears swiveled to catch any other faint noise Kiv cared to make. He huffed after a stretch of silence and unlocked the handle, drawing both doors wide open.

Kiv’s nearer eye — crusted with gunk from tears — opened a slit to look up at Trouble. Face pale and hair damp with sweat, a visible spasm through the muscles of his upper back, triggering a soft, choked groan. 

“I’ll take that as a, ‘yes, Trouble, I’ve had enough.’” 

Eyes screwed shut, Kiv inhaled sharply and shuddered.

”Fine, fine…” Rolling his own eyes, Trouble set his hand on the back of Kiv’s neck, stroking over the fresh, red rope burns there and tugged.

Kiv let out a scratchy, muffled scream as he tipped out of the cabinet and onto the floor. There was another stretch of quiet before Kiv could breathe again enough to sob. Trembles chased all over his skin as he stayed where he fell, roped into a huddled ball of misery.

”You definitely look sorry,” Trouble chuckled, squatting down beside his captive to untie him. He drew the ropes free with as little skin-scuffing as he could, and even gave Kiv’s back a warming rub with his palm. “Bet you’ll do a lot to sleep with me in the bed tonight, huh?”

Kiv’s only response: hitched sniffles and broken whimpers.

”This next part is going to hurt, mean boy. I gotta straighten you out and get you in a bath. The water will help, but you’re in for a world of hurt before you get any of the good feelings.” Trouble’s rubbing grew brisk, then ended with a firm pat. 

Wide-open and weeping, Kiv’s ceilingward eye fixed on Trouble.

”Even if you weren’t on the menu, I bet you woke up hurting like this more than you’d ever admit.” Trouble sighed. “Here we go.” He gathered Kiv up gingerly, feeling stomach flutters at Kiv’s strangled wails under the gag, at the involuntary muscle quivers. 

“Shhhhhhhhh.” He moved smoothly, holding Kiv tight to his chest as he carried him to the bathroom. “Lucky for you this place isn’t up to code.” Few buildings that didn’t meet rationing specifications were left standing, but conservation edicts tended to reach the most impoverished districts last.

With some juggling, Trouble got the stained luxury tub filling while keeping Kiv cradled close. He kept up a soothing murmur as he climbed in and repositioned Kiv in his lap, moving his boneless, rope-imprinted limbs for him. He’d slept nude, so it was an easy pleasure to not have to break skin-to-skin contact for a moment. 

“There we go.” He pressed a kiss to Kiv’s temple and gave him a brief squeeze. “Shhh. It’s gonna be okay. You’re in the worst part, but it’ll stop soon.” If spending the night bound in a knot hadn’t caused permanent nerve damage. At least he’d left the ropes loose enough to spare Kiv a dead hand or foot.

Kiv stayed limp and sobbing.

”I’ve got you,” Trouble promised, nuzzling him gently. “The water will help.” As much as it could; he had no plans to give Kiv a quick, watery exit. Warmth soothed aching flesh, and that would have to be enough. It wasn’t like he’d had time to scrounge around for painkillers after killing and disposing of the previous occupant. “Shhh. Good boy, that’s it, close your eyes. Sleep if you can. I’ve got you.” 

Once the crying tapered off, Kiv’s breathing evened out gradually.

Trouble was grateful the tub had been maintained. The water level stabilized on its own and programming kept it refreshed and at temperature without any effort on his part.

The quiet they’d settled into was comfortable enough that Trouble almost regretted breaking it.

”Gonna move you again,” he warned. “Bet you’ve wanted that gag off for ages.” Trouble kept Kiv’s head supported as he unwound the bandage wrap and tossed it away. “There,” he crooned, “that’s better, huh? Don’t try to talk right away.” He brushed a kiss against Kiv’s cheek. “You can have something to drink once I’ve got you all cleaned up.” 

“Get--”

“You don’t pick the smart path very often, do you?” Trouble pressed wet fingers to Kiv’s lips to cut him off. “Honestly, you should be grateful.”

Kiv scoffed, but didn’t struggle.

“You hated that place.” He smiled. “And the man who had you before me, the one who left you all marked up? I hurt him so, so much before I killed him, mean boy.” Trouble caressed Kiv’s cheek. “You’re welcome.”

“What?” The rasped question sounded painful.

“How do you think I found Midnight in the first place and knew to ask for you?” He cupped Kiv’s chin and tilted his face up for a kiss. “He thought I’d look good covered in bruises, too.” Trouble grinned and gave Kiv’s lower lip a gentle bite. 

Kiv’s breathing picked up. His fingers twitched.

“He said a lot of things once he realized he couldn’t get away from me. They usually do.” Trouble laughed and released his grip, letting Kiv face forward again. “What do you say, Kiv,” he kissed the soft dip behind his captive’s ear, “got any secrets to tempt me with?”

“I-I...”

“I’m teasing.” He chuckled and stroked Kiv’s chest. “It’s not secrets I’m after, not from you. If you’re good -- and we are playing for keeps now, mean boy -- maybe I’ll be nice. You’ve made the wrong choice twice now and all it got you was rough handling, back at Midnight and here in that cabinet. What do you think happens if you choose wrong a third time?” Trouble reached over the edge of the tub.

Kiv flinched so hard he nearly went under. As it was, water sloshed in the tub, splashing him in the face.

“Easy,” he chuckled, arm tightening around Kiv. Trouble lifted his other, offending hand, but all he held was a washcloth. “No need to be jumpy. You haven’t given me a reason to hurt you again.”

Kiv’s next exhale trembled.

“The choice is yours.” Trouble dipped the cloth in the water, then began to gently wipe Kiv’s face. He cleaned Kiv’s throat next, and his shoulder -- the cauterized-bitemarks-free one.

“Good.” 

“Hm?” Trouble gave Kiv a brief squeeze around his middle. “I’m all ears, little sweetmeat. What about, ‘good?’”

“I’ll...be good.”

“Oh?” With Kiv in his lap, he couldn’t see if his jaw was clenched or his eyes were squeezed shut, but he could picture both perfectly. Trouble buried his nose in Kiv’s hair and inhaled his scent. 

“P-please.”

“Let’s finish your bath, and get you something to drink.” Trouble kissed Kiv’s temple, his cheek, then nuzzled him. “There’s plenty of time for you to show me what you mean over breakfast.”

Kiv shivered and gave the smallest nod against Trouble’s cheek.

“Good boy,” he praised softly. “Okay. I’m gonna keep being gentle, but you’ll have to brace yourself for this next part. Time for soap. You can handle a little stinging, and it’s better for you in the long run.” Trouble paused, giving Kiv time to process the meaning behind his last words. “Sound alright?”

After a stretch of silence, Kiv nodded again.

“Alright. Think you can sit up for me? Take it slow. I won’t let you go under. That’s it, good, now lean forward. A little more. I’ve got you, mean boy.” The dispenser built into the wall was easy to reach, and working up lather one-handed was something Trouble had practice with. 

Kiv twitched for the first few strokes, shallow breaths catching high in his chest.

“Shhh. You’re okay.” Trouble didn’t mention the fading bruises, welts, or scars as he rubbed Kiv down. When his captive started to tremble and sway, he drew Kiv back to his chest for support. He couldn’t help smiling at the way Kiv sagged against him, panting. “Almost done. You’re doing so well.” He held Kiv’s limbs above the water for him as he cleaned each one, blotting carefully over the rope burns.

When it was time to get out, Trouble lifted Kiv easily. He brought Kiv straight to the bedroom and settled him onto the foot of it. Not remotely concerned about leaving Kiv alone and unrestrained, he ducked out of the room. A quick rummage in the bathroom cabinets turned up a pile of towels, and as expected, Kiv was still exactly where he’d been placed. 

“Here, lemme sit you up.” He draped one towel over Kiv’s lap and, though he hated to cover any more soft pinked skin, wrapped a second around his shoulders. “Stay up a little longer.” Trouble climbed onto the bed behind Kiv with a third and, starting at the tips, toweled his hair. 

“I...” Kiv’s body shook harder with each second that ticked by. His scratchy voice was strained from the effort of trying to use muscles that had cramped up throughout the night. “I can’t...”

“I’d say you’re dry enough.” He tossed the damp hair towel aside, spread a fresh one across the pillows, and resettled Kiv there. “Better?”

Wilted and unmoving on the bedcovers, Kiv opened his eyes to look up at Trouble.

“Yeah. Baths are nice, huh?” He smiled and adjusted the remaining towels until Kiv was well cocooned. “You wait here and I’ll get you a glass of water. We’ll see if you’re up for eating after that.” 

Chapter Text

“Wanna show me how good you can behave?” Trouble reappeared carrying a water glass. He climbed onto the bed, settling in with his back against the headboard and his side squished into Kiv’s. He held his upturned fist out and uncurled his fingers to show off the two capsules on his palm.

Kiv’s gaze shot to the painkillers.

”You get the water for nothing, but these you gotta earn.” Trouble set the pills aside on the bedside table. 

“Earn?” Kiv whispered, frowned.

”Little sips.” He brought the glass to Kiv’s lips and tipped him one measured trickle at a time. He didn’t stop until the water was half gone. “You can have the rest, but let’s see how that much sits in your stomach. Better, right?”

Kiv relaxed back onto the pillows, tongue barely showing as he licked his lips. He nodded, gaze refocusing on Trouble.

”You can talk now.” A smirk played at the corner of Trouble’s mouth. “You’ll have to if you want the meds. What?” He tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. “You’ve got a question on your face, mean boy. Spill.”

”The card—“ Kiv broke off and cleared his throat. “The card you used to get access to Midnight. You stole it?”

”And aren’t you glad that I did?” Trouble lifted his chin, pleased. “Or did you enjoy your time with that older guy? I didn’t catch his name.”

”No.” Kiv looked away.

”He picked you because of that.” Trouble twisted and reached over Kiv to idly finger comb his lank hair out into a fan on the pillow. “I’m guessing he made that clear with everything he did to you.”

Kiv tensed up, but he didn’t shy away.

”He said someone sent him a message that you were on offer.” Trouble felt his pulse jump, watching Kiv’s jaw clench in response to his words. “He dropped everything to have those three hours alone with you.” He waited for a beat, then asked, “How come?”

Kiv winced, then shrugged one shoulder.

”No,” he chuckled, shaking his head, “not, ‘how come he picked you.’ I meant, how come you were in one of those rooms. He told me you were already tied down on the bed when he showed up. If you’re a whore, why were you on guard in the lobby when I showed up?”

Kiv went rigid, then closed his eyes.

”Answer five questions for me and you can have the pills.” Trouble stroked Kiv’s hair, starting with a gentle nail graze along his scalp. 

Kiv squirmed.

“C’mon, mean boy. I won’t tell anyone.” He froze the instant he felt a tangle and carefully began to pick the knot loose. “I wasn’t planning on taking you back there, either. No one’s going to find out anything you tell me. I promise.”

“I…” Kiv gritted his teeth, crossed his arms under the towel.

”Uh-huh?” Trouble prompted, back to combing and detangling.

”I fucked up.”

“Must’ve been one hell of a mistake.” He kept his eyes and hands on Kiv’s hair. “I didn’t think citizens could be forced into sex work.”

Kiv jerked like he’d been hit.

”Not a citizen then. Off-worlder? You look human.”

Kiv flushed and looked anywhere but at Trouble.

”Worse?” he teased. Trouble cupped Kiv’s cheek, waited until their eyes met, and smiled. “It’s not like I’d hold something like that against you.” He curled both furred ears forward right at Kiv. His tail thumped the mattress. “There’s nothing wrong with being more than human.”

”I’m…” Kiv trailed off, gaze sliding away.

”You can say it. I know someone was able to whore you out as a punishment. That’s one. Tell me why, and then it’s only three more answers to go. I bet your back’s already starting to hurt again.”

“I’m human.” Kiv’s breathing went high and fast. 

“So tense all of a sudden. Are you waiting for me to hit you?” Trouble brought his face closer to Kiv’s and inhaled deeply. “Ah, I see. Smells like you’re a liar, mean boy.”

“I am, I, I-I’m human!”

“What aren’t you telling me?” Trouble swapped Kiv’s cheek for his throat, gripping but not yet squeezing. “Is the truth worth all the pain you’re feeling now?”

Kiv made a choked sound, legs churning weakly against the bedspread.

“You think it won’t go on and on? Your friend with the stun pistol isn’t outside the door and down the hall. No one’s coming for you.”

“You--” Kiv glared at Trouble, cheeks burning.

“You’re all mine, Kiv.” He tightened his grip, smiling down at Kiv while he coughed. “Would you rather I tuck you back in that cabinet until I’m hungry again?” Trouble eased up and felt Kiv swallow against his palm. 

“N-no!”

“I don’t need to feed everyday, you know. I bet you could last two days in there before I need to check on you. You humans can last for quite some time on only water. Did you know that?”

Kiv shook his head. His eyes filled as he strained to draw in air. He got one arm disentangled from his towel and batted at Trouble’s wrist.

“So, what do you want?” He let go of Kiv’s throat to grab his face instead, fingers digging into his cheeks. “Should I tie you up and stuff you back inside that dark, smelly box?”

Kiv whimpered and pawed at Trouble’s arm with both hands.

“Or will you tell me five true answers and have painkillers with your breakfast in bed?” 

“‘one,” he cried, kicking and writhing and getting absolutely nowhere.

Trouble straddled Kiv’s waist and pinned his wrists down on the bed. He stared while his victim wept and fought to catch his breath.

A sob slipped out before Kiv could swallow it back down. He turned his face away, shaking all over but no longer struggling.

“Well?”

“Clone,” Kiv repeated quietly, his eyes shut tight.

“...what?” Trouble freed Kiv’s wrists and straightened, frowning.

“Human clone.” 

“Look at me.” He held in another sigh and softened his tone. “Kiv? Eyes open.”

Kiv shuddered, then did as he was told.

“You’re saying...you were made, not born.” 

Kiv nodded once, blinking furiously.

“Question three. You’re technically human, but legally you’ve only ever been property?”

Kiv cringed, gasped, and held his breath. His face screwed up like he meant to swear or scream.

Trouble rose onto his knees, taking his weight off Kiv, and moved back to his former spot.

Kiv covered his face with his hands.

Keeping his movements calm and slow, Trouble fixed Kiv’s towel for him, wrapping it back around his shoulders and covering his chest. Then he gave Kiv’s wrist a gentle nudge with his fist.

Kiv yelped, shying deeper into the pillows.

“Here.”

Kiv moved his fingers apart enough to peek up at Trouble.

“Do you still want the meds, or not?” He opened his fist and laid the back of his hand on Kiv’s chest, revealing the two capsules where Kiv could see. 

Kiv lowered his hands, but his shoulders stayed hitched up. He made no move to touch the pills.

“It’s not a trick.” Trouble tipped his palm, depositing the painkillers on Kiv’s chest. He twisted to retrieve the water glass, then held that out to Kiv, too.

“I...” 

“I know you’re hurting. Take them.”

“For three answers?”

“It’s just you and me, remember? We’ve got time for lots of questions and answers.” Trouble tilted his head, studying Kiv’s face. “And maybe if I’m good to you, you’ll be good back.” He shrugged. “Your choice.”

Kiv picked up the pills and, with Trouble helping to steady the glass, washed them down.

“Good boy.”

Chapter Text

Trouble wriggled down onto his own pillow and rested an arm over his eyes. “Lemme know when the pills kick in for you. I’m not into spoon-feeding my guests, so you’ll hafta stay upright for your meal.”

He was dry, warm, and drifting off when Kiv decided to start fidgeting beside him.

”What’s up, mean boy?” he asked, not bothering to uncover his eyes.

“You’re not…taking me back?”

”Nah.” After a moment, he smiled and added, “Why? Should I have given you time to pack your bags and say goodbye to that other guard? Shota, was it?”

”Clothes would’ve been nice.”

”What for? I've already seen all of you anyway.” He raised his arm enough to give Kiv a one-eyed look. “You’re pretty to look at, too, so I wouldn’t wanna miss out.” He closed his eyes and covered them again. “What you had on back there didn’t hide that, you know.”

”I want my stuff.” 

Trouble could hear the way Kiv stopped breathing after the words slipped out. He sniffed, holding in a laugh. “It’s okay. Wanting things is free, mean boy. Go ahead and dream if you like.” 

“How…” Kiv sighed

Trouble felt a tingle on the back of his neck at the sound Kiv’s fingers made brushing through his long hair. He made himself wait, hoping Kiv would find the words without prompting.

”You’re keeping me?”

”I guess I am.” He hadn’t thought of it that way. His prey always seemed…past tense in his head. He’d taken Kiv. Kiv was already dead. Trouble took care to hide that from his meals when he thought they’d last longer than a day. He’d decided back at Midnight that Kiv would be one of those rare extended dining experiences.

”How long?” 

He flicked his ears when Kiv started grinding his teeth together. “Dunno yet. Don’t worry about it, okay?”

”But—“ 

Trouble expected a sigh, the sound of arms crossing, some frustrated noise — but Kiv had stopped breathing again. He lowered his arm and turned his head to catch Kiv’s expression. 

“Honestly? It depends on you. I said you could choose, and I meant it. I’d like to hang onto you for a week or two. Three if you’re extra good.” He grinned.

”And then?” This time, Kiv gulped before he stopped breathing.

”You don’t have to keep strangling yourself. I told you it was okay for you to talk. If I want you to shut up, I’ll tell you, mean boy.”

”When you’re…done with me, I can go?”

Trouble raised an eyebrow, but he’d been ready for the question. “Is that what you want?”

Kiv looked away, fidgeted under the towels.

”Did they try to raise you not to want, or did they just beat it out of you?”

Kiv flinched.

Trouble took a deep breath in, and let it all out before he nudged elbows with Kiv. “I shouldn’t have said it like that. You’ve been good.” He looked up at the ceiling. For one cruel moment, he saw antiseptic-white tiles and long, fluorescent lights. It only took a grimace to bring the low, stained reality back. “You don’t have to answer that. Really.”

Kiv fidgeted, shying away as much as he could without actually scooting.

”Have you ever been outside of that place before?” It took a larger effort than he expected to keep from glancing over, reading meaning from the smallest movements.

Two quick rustles.

”Use your words for me.” He paused. “Do I need to tell you not to lie?”

Kiv worried at the edge of a towel with one hand.

“Easy,” Trouble murmured, touching his fingertips to the back of Kiv’s hand. “I bet you won’t want to talk once you have food in front of you.” He made himself look away again. “You don’t have to say all of it at once.”

His shoulders lowered a fraction when Trouble took his hand away. “At first. I’d be out all day. They said I didn’t have to do anything but be seen.” Kiv swallowed hard. “I was bait. I wanted to. I told them I wouldn’t fail.”

“Did you?” He kept his voice quiet, so Kiv could talk over the question if he was caught in the story.

“It happened fast. They took his body away so fast, but...they didn’t know what to do with me. I was supposed to die, too.”

Trouble frowned, repressed the urge to sit up, to ask anything else.

“I got back on my own.” Kiv ground his teeth again while his breathing went uneven.

Looking out of the corner of his eye, Trouble watched Kiv rub at a spot on the side of his neck. 

“I...belong there. Midnight’s...it’s...”

“They made you so they could send you out to die?”

Kiv flinched, clenched the towel in both fists when he noticed Trouble staring, and glowered. “It was important.”

Trouble looked away, but didn’t roll his eyes. He sat up and slid off the bed. 

“I was the only one who could do it.”

“Wait here. I gotta heat up your breakfast.” He headed for the door.

“He needed me!” Kiv yelled, voice cracking.

Trouble froze. He turned to see that Kiv had locked up, too, his face flushed. “He?” 

Kiv tried to shrink into the bed and pillows, under the towels. 

“Is he the one that had you made?”

Kiv started breathing fast out of his nose, lips tightly pressed together.

“He hurt you.” It wasn’t a question. Trouble wondered if he, whoever he was, used his own hands, or simply had Kiv put in a host’s room to play the whore.

Wide-eyed, trembling, Kiv gave the tiniest head shake.

No real home for you either, huh? “Your breakfast,” he said finally and turned away. He didn’t like seeing that look on Kiv’s face, a look some other man had put there. He’d have to fix that. “Stay here.” Trouble walked out of the bedroom and closed the door between them.

...

It was easy to retrieve the take out containers he knew were waiting. The former-owner of the cheap apartment had used the promise of a quiet, private dinner as an additional hook after buying Trouble drinks at the club. He’d already gotten into the stranger’s transport by that point. Trouble had hidden his amusement as he browsed a menu on a tablet built into the dashboard. He’d already chosen his dinner, but that didn’t stop him from tapping on the most expensive dish the restaurant offered. 

The stranger had put his hands on Trouble the moment they were inside his place. Rather than let himself be backed into the bedroom, he’d flounced off to the bathroom, stripping as he went to entice the man to follow. He had. 

By the time Trouble was sated, the man was barely conscious. The bathwater was a warm, bubbling soup, red and rich. When the food picked him, they were usually solitary brutes and Trouble preferred to get them into a shower or tub; it made cleanup that much easier after he fed. 

Usually he didn’t pay much attention to what they said toward the end. They begged, they bargained, they cursed, and none of it varied all that much. He knew how to go through a wallet and ransack a room. It was luck that the man had brought up the invitation to Midnight. He’d said that Trouble would be able to do whatever he liked to the hosts there. 

He’d brought up his own most recent indulgence there, Kiv, and described all of the ways he’d taken his pleasure from the unwilling host. Trouble could have that, too. He could have more than one of the hosts at a time, even! The stranger would pay for it all. He’d been considering purchasing one of the hosts, been saving up for it, but he would let Trouble have the night of his life instead -- in exchange, all the man wanted was to live.

Trouble had left the man alone to answer the door. The bagged meal delivery was waiting and he’d only needed to crack the door to fetch it in. By the time he’d put the food away and returned to the bathroom, the stranger had finished bleeding out. 

He found a dish to dump the leftovers into, and stared off into space while it reheated, which didn’t take nearly long enough. Trouble sighed as he retraced his steps to the bedroom. From how their conversation had turned, he doubted that Kiv would be pleasant or pliant, even after painkillers and a chance to eat. 

His hand was on the handle when he heard a strained cry and a thud. Throwing the door open, Trouble saw Kiv had made it out of the bed and over to the large wardrobe against the wall. 

Right where he’d fallen on his ass, Kiv turned his horrified look on Trouble. 

“What’s with that face?” But Trouble was smirking as he went to place Kiv’s meal on the bedside table. “You didn’t even give me a chance to warn you first. I told you to wait on the bed, impatient boy.” He rounded the bed to Kiv’s side, and paused with raised eyebrows as his captive tried to scramble backwards.

“Please don’t...”

“You don’t,” he shot back, chuckling. “You know how fast I am. Knock it off.” Trouble scooped Kiv up and tossed him back on the bed.

Kiv yelped, flailing as he landed.

“Shh.” Trouble eased the double doors of the wardrobe shut over the contents that had alarmed Kiv. “See? All better. Besides, it’s time for your breakfast, remember?”

Chapter Text

“W-what is all that?”

“It’s quite a collection, isn’t it?” Trouble chuckled when Kiv scrambled to the far side of the bed. “If he could’ve overpowered me, I imagine he would’ve used most of those ‘toys’ to beat me bloody.”

Kiv took a shaky breath, clutching two fistfuls of blanket as he stared at the closed wardrobe doors.

“He was strong for a human. Was he really experienced with torture, or was that all boasting?” Trouble studied Kiv, his head cocked to one side. “He said that he beat and whipped you, and I’m guessing he wasn’t your first. So?” He held a hand out, inviting his captive to share. “How was he?”

The color drained from Kiv’s cheeks. He shuddered and looked away.

“Huh. Then I guess Midnight did a heck of a job cleaning you up for me.” Trouble retrieved the dish of steaming leftovers and set it down near Kiv’s hip. “Eat up, mean boy.” When Kiv only eyed the food, Trouble sighed. “It’s not poisoned or anything.” He smirked. “And it was pretty expensive.” He picked up the dish and set it on Kiv’s lap next.

Kiv gasped, lifting it clear of his bare skin.

“Oh come on,” he laughed, “it’s not that hot.” He watched Kiv’s attention drift from the meal back to the wardrobe. “Hey.”

His latest meal flinched.

“If you’re not gonna eat, we could try out a few of those toys, since you seem so interested...”

Kiv stopped breathing again. The metal fork rattled on the dish when his hands shook.

“I’m fucking with you, just eat already.” Trouble scoffed and got back onto the bed, stretching out next to Kiv. “Look, this isn’t complicated. Be good for me, and I won’t have any reason to hurt you. I don’t need to feed off you for a day or two. Relax. ”

A loud, angry grumble from his empty stomach made Kiv flinch.

“If you stop being weird and eat your food, I might go find some clothes for you to wear.” Trouble glanced up and right into Kiv’s eyes. “That guy has to have more here than just towels and sex toys, right?” He knew there was some sort of stash -- he could smell a few things under the fresh blood, even if the traces were faint.

Kiv took a tentative bite, chewing carefully, then went still. In the next instant, he lifted the bowl closer to his face and started wolfing the pasta down.

“Easy.” Trouble smiled indulgently as he let himself relax. If Kiv wanted to inhale his food, what did it matter? Unless he made himself sick. “No one’s gonna snatch that away from you, and there’s more in the kitchen. You’ve got time, remember?”

“Could--” Kiv finished chewing, swallowing, and cleared his throat. “Could I get it myself?”

Trouble smiled. “You wanna test the limits of your cage, mean boy?”

Kiv lowered the plate and poked at what remained with his fork.

“I’m not sure that you want you to do that yet. Painkillers can mask some of being pretzeled in a cupboard overnight, but you’ll need rest to regain what I pulled out of you. An escape attempt would be the opposite of rest.”

“I--”

“You’re welcome to try, but there would be consequences.” Trouble set his hand on Kiv’s thigh and stroked gentle circles with his thumb. “Let me enjoy you,” he entreated, voice a low purr.

“Or you’ll hurt me?” Kiv’s voice was quiet, too, but so full of bitterness.

“I don’t need to. I don’t...want to.” He softened his expression before looking at Kiv, gave his leg the barest squeeze to ask for eye contact. “I liked the sounds you made when you were turned on, the faces you made. Touching you,” he nuzzled Kiv’s bicep, leaned in closer to lip at his chest, “making you want it?” Trouble felt it against his throat when Kiv’s arm trembled, so he settled back down on his own pillow. “That could be our time together.”

“And if I don’t want it?”

“Would it be so terrible if you did?” He crossed his arms behind his head. “No one would know but you and me. I would be good to you, and no one else would be allowed to touch you.” Trouble smiled. “If anyone from Midnight came looking, I’d protect you. Kill for you.”

Kiv let go of the plate and hid his face in his hands, breath hitching.

“Easy.” He looked away, snuggled further down the pillow, into the bedding. “Breathe, Kiv. Don’t answer now, okay?” He closed his eyes. “You have time. You can finish eating,” he promised. 

A small whine snuck out as Kiv shook his head.

“Does that mean you’re full?” When the only thing Kiv did to reply was stop breathing, Trouble opened his eyes and sat up. “Hey. Shhh.” He pressed his thigh into Kiv’s, kept the pressure up while Kiv shuddered and gasped. “That’s it, breathe. You’re okay. Do you want me to put the rest away for later?”

His words were more airless than muffled, as if his lungs and vocal chords couldn’t agree on how to answer. He didn’t lower his hands.

“Here.” Trouble lifted the dish away and set it on the bedside table. He rose and peeled back the covers from his side. Letting Kiv stay cocooned in his towels, he gathered Kiv up and transferred him onto the sheet. 

Kiv yelped, both hands automatically going for Trouble’s, gripping his wrists. He panted into Trouble’s face while their gazes locked.

“You should sleep.” Keeping his movements slow but firm, he peeled off Kiv’s fingers. Trouble broke away first, eyes on his work as he settled Kiv’s arms at his sides, one at a time. Then he covered Kiv up, tucking the blanket snug under his chin. He rested a hand on Kiv’s chest and looked at him as he whispered, “wait here,” before disappearing from the room with the plate.

He was pleased enough on his return -- Kiv was exactly where Trouble had put him -- that his tail wagged. Maybe Kiv was breathing a little too hard and his eyes were squeezed shut, but Trouble hadn’t expected his captive to drift off. He’d only been gone long enough to toss the entire dish in the fridge, and nothing about Kiv suggested that he would transition easily or quickly to a well-behaved pet. Not without persuasive handling...

Trouble lifted the blanket from the other side of the bed and climbed under.

Kiv went rigid when Trouble curled up against him.

“Tense much?” he teased. “Relax. Isn't this better than the cabinet?"

“Clothes?” Kiv asked tightly, teeth clenched.

“Hm? Oh. Later.” Trouble snuggled into Kiv, throwing an arm and a leg over him. “A nap will be good for you.”

“I sleep alone.”

Trouble bit back the first words he wanted to say. “Not while you’re with me. The heat will be good for your muscles,” he added, burying his nose in Kiv’s hair to get a lungful of his scent. “Even if you don’t sleep, this’ll help. Promise.”

...

A faint whimper made Trouble’s ears flick. He scrunched up his nose and buried his face into the warm spot where Kiv’s neck and shoulder joined. “Early,” he grumbled, readjusting the limbs he had thrown over Kiv to snuggle him closer.

“Ah!” 

“Wha...?” Trouble blinked back sleep and lifted his head with a soft groan. 

“Bite,” Kiv hissed between clenched teeth.

“I didn’.” He frowned, surprised and a bit irked to be accused just out of a nap. Right as he began to notice that the arm he’d thrown over Kiv, specifically his wrist, felt not only warm, but sticky, he remembered Kiv’s injured shoulder. 

Kiv was breathing fast and shallow. 

“Oh.” He lifted his arm away and rolled onto his back. He didn’t see blood, but his wrist was wet and smelled like a wound. “I forgot.” He sat up and rubbed his face, then noticed that Kiv had gotten free of the blanket but also the towel that had been wrapped around-- Shit. “I didn’t bandage your shoulder after the bath. Did the towel get stuck?”

Visibly swallowing back any other yelps, Kiv nodded, his eyes squeezed shut.

“I unstuck it, didn’t I. That’s why you woke up whining?”

Another nod.

“Lemme go look around.” He scrambled off the bed. If he wanted Kiv to last, he’d need to make more of an effort than avoiding his jugular. “I’m really not good at stuff like this.” Not like him. Trouble shoved the memory away and chewed his lip as he tugged open drawers and cupboards in the kitchen, and then the bathroom.

...

“Can you sit up?” He dumped an armload of supplies onto the bed and climbed up. 

Kiv groaned softly as he pushed up onto one elbow. The moment he tried to get the other under him, he sank back onto the mattress with a whine.

“I should’ve figured.” Trouble worked an arm under Kiv and lifted easily, disentangling him from the towels above his waist, then leaned him against the headboard. “Drugging you after feeding off you probably wasn’t the best thing to hit you with.” 

“I...” Kiv’s gaze wandered over the assortment of first aid things. He closed his eyes for a moment and rested his head back. “I can do it.”

“You look pink.” He frowned and leaned in closer to sniff. 

Kiv opened his eyes and flinched, though there wasn’t any room to shy away.

“And sweaty.”

“I’ve done it before.”

Trouble smirked, then backed off.. “You’re a tough little thing, huh?”

“Can take care of m’self.”

“Alright, mean boy.” He flounced down on his side, leaving the wound care pile between them and eyeing Kiv over it. “Let’s see you work.”

Kiv swallowed, blinked a few times, then scanned the offerings again. When he reached out to pick up a little box, his hand trembled. He tried to open one end, the contents shaking from his efforts, until he dropped it and cursed.

“I could open that for you,” Trouble offered, batting his lashes as he gave Kiv his most innocent look.

“I’ve got it.” Kiv snatched up the box, picked one end open, then fumbled the tube as it slid out. The tube bounced off his chest to land further down the bed. Kiv stretched for it, but let out a groan halfway through the motion.

“Guess those painkillers wore off.” And then some. Trouble planted his cheek on his palm. “Are you sure you don’t want help? I might be better at breaking things than fixing them, but my hands are steady and you’ve felt me be gentle.”

Kiv huffed and let his head tip back against the headboard, good hand fisted in his lap.

“I bit you pretty hard,” he lied. A fever so early on wasn’t a good sign. Maybe Kiv, however interesting, was only meant to be a short-lived feast. “But it’s your choice,” he lied again. 

“If--” Kiv broke off, sagging while his gaze went out of focus.

“...iiiiif what?” Trouble raised an eyebrow, both ears pricked forward.

The color leached out of Kiv’s face while he ground his teeth, making the pink in his cheeks stand out even more. “Help.”

Good boy. 

Chapter Text

“It says it’s for burns,” Trouble muttered, reading the instructions printed on the tube. 

“Fffeels like it’s burning.”

“I bet.” He frowned, looking at the burned puncture marks. “They look...puffy.” Gooey, too, but Trouble didn’t think Kiv needed to hear every little detail. At least his captive only smelled ill -- not rotten. “Hold on.” He left the room, returning with a hand towel wrapped around a bundle larger than his fist. 

“S’that?” Kiv slurred, lashes fluttering as he fought to open his eyes.

“Something cold. This might hurt, but it’s gotta be the best way to cool off something hot.”

“Hurt?” Kiv’s fingers twitched on the blanket, but he stayed slumped against the headboard.

“Shhh.” Trouble sat down beside Kiv and worked an arm around his waist to hold him steady. “It won’t hurt you for real, it’ll feel really cold, that’s all.”

“Don’,” Kiv whimpered, eyes on the bundled towel. His breathing picked up, but for once he didn’t try to pull back.

“Close your eyes, mean boy.” He kept his voice soothing, gave Kiv the barest squeeze, then pressed the wrapped ice to Kiv’s shoulder. “I’ve got you.” 

“Ow, ow! Stop!” He squirmed and gasped, eyes flooding all at once. “Get off!”

“You’re hot all over.” Trouble frowned, holding Kiv tighter and keeping the ice firmly in place. “This will help cool you down.”

“It hurts,” Kiv sobbed. His head lolled into Trouble, teary cheek squished against his captor’s collarbone. “You’re h-hurting me.”

“Only for a bit.” He always liked how soft it made his victims seem when they broke down in his arms. “I’ll stop soon.” Trouble kissed Kiv’s hair, lingered with his eyes closed. Even if there was a touch of fever to his scent now, he still smelled good. Less sharp than he had back at Midnight. “You can take it.”

“I-I can’t--” His breathing hitched as he fought to keep from sobbing again, breath coming out in a strained wheeze. “I don’...”

“It’s okay,” Trouble soothed, tucking Kiv’s head under his chin. “You’re okay. Almost done, I promise.”

“I don’ w-wan’ this.” The words came out as a squeezed whisper. 

“I believe you. You won’t have to for much longer.” He wished he’d thought to give Kiv more painkillers as soon as he was awake. “You can go back to sleep after your shoulder is wrapped up.”

Kiv groaned as he started to shiver, tears running unchecked down his face.

“Poor pet,” he crooned. “You’re being so good.” Trouble couldn’t shake the odd desire to draw Kiv fully onto his lap. He’d held and rocked victims before when they’d asked -- the special ones, at least. A last wish granted as their time together ended. Had it even been a day with Kiv yet? “Keep nice and still for a little longer, then you can have more medicine.”

He could keep his lips together, but his breathing didn’t settle and he shook with the sobs he refused to let out.

“You won’t hurt anymore soon, and you’ll sleep.” Trouble’s brow furrowed. If Kiv only got worse, he’d do his best to kill him gently. Kiv had been good. Better than most. “It’ll be okay. Kiv?” He craned his neck, trying to catch Kiv’s gaze. “I’ll take care of you.” His captive didn’t open his eyes. Trouble kissed the damp hair over his temple. “I promise.”

...

By the time Trouble lifted the ice away, Kiv was shivering uncontrollably, teeth chattering. He’d huddled against every inch of Trouble’s body, seeking warmth and relief.

“I’ll get rid of this and be right back,” he called over his shoulder as he headed for the kitchen. He’d have to get Kiv and himself dried off all over again; the melting ice had soaked them both. Hopefully the towels wrapped around Kiv had caught the worst of it. He wasn't sure if there were other blankets. 

When Trouble returned to the bed, he had two fresh towels under one arm and two pills clutched in his fist.

Kiv was flopped over onto the pillows, loosely curled on his side, sniffling and shaking all over.

“Want your painkillers?” He grabbed Kiv’s water glass and slid onto the bed beside him. “C’mon, sit up for me.” 

Kiv grimaced and shook his head once.

“You’ll feel better,” he coaxed, stuffing another pillow under Kiv’s head. He opened his fist and held the capsules under Kiv’s nose. “See? Open up.”

Kiv whimpered and turned his face away.

“Don’t make me start forcing things down your throat. You,” he paused, eyes narrowing before he carried on more slowly in a low voice, “will be very sad if that happens, mean boy. You think you’re in pain now. Did you already forget about your night all roped up in that cabinet?”

A broken sob parted Kiv’s lips, and he kept his mouth open, trembling harder than ever.

“That’s it.” Trouble tipped the pills in, then touched the glass to Kiv’s lower lip. “Take a sip and swallow.”

The instant the cold water dribbled in, Kiv spat it out, recoiling violently.

Trouble settled the glass between his own thighs, then grabbed a fistful of Kiv’s hair to wrench his head back while he patted around for the capsules. 

“Pleeeease,” Kiv wailed, his whole face screwed up in pain. “Don’t, don’t, don’t...”

“The water’s not even cold,” he snapped. Trouble gave Kiv a single shake. “Open your mouth.”

Kiv mostly obeyed; he couldn’t keep it shut with how hard he was crying.

Trouble forced the pills in and clamped a hand over Kiv’s mouth to keep them there. The water came next and though most of it ended up on Kiv and himself, he was confident that enough had poured in to wash the painkillers down.

“Swallow,” he ordered, both hands clapped over the lower half of Kiv’s face. 

Kiv writhed, eyes wide and rolling back as he struggled to cough and gag.

“Swallow or choke.” Trouble pinched Kiv’s nose shut for good measure, silencing him. “If you ever want to breathe again, you’ll take your medicine.”

Kiv’s limbs jerked against the blanket and towels rather than flail. He made no attempt at all to push Trouble’s hands off. Tears spilled over before his Adam’s apple finally bobbed up and down.

“Finally.” Trouble let go and scowled as Kiv coughed and sputtered. “Was that necessary? As if you weren’t enough of a mess already.”

As soon as he had the breath to, Kiv started to sob again. He tried to turn away on his side and cried even harder when he couldn’t manage it, burying his face in a pillow instead.

“Quit,” he muttered, “I barely touched you, and it was to help.” Trouble huffed, watching the uneven rise and fall of Kiv’s chest. After a few moments, he cocked his head, listening harder. Kiv was mumbling something between sobs, though it was too muffled to make out. “What?” He gripped Kiv’s shoulder. “Look at me.” When Kiv didn’t obey, Trouble grabbed him by the throat and lifted him out of the pillow.

“M’sorry,” Kiv cried, tear-blind and shaking, “I-I’ll do a-anyth-thing.” 

Trouble’s scowl faded. He loosened his hold and cupped Kiv’s cheek instead. “Then sleep. Do that for me.”

Kiv nodded, continuing to sob. 

“Here.” Trouble got Kiv out of the damp towels and patted him dry with the fresh ones, being especially gentle with his shoulder and face. “Good boy,” he praised, noticing that Kiv had started to quiet down. “You’re okay. Sleep will help you feel better.” 

He tossed the towels off the bed, then started looking for the first aid supplies that had gotten scattered around. He scooted to the edge of the bed to see if the packet of bandages had gone over the side, when he felt a nudge. The nudge turned into a hot, weak circle around his wrist.

Eyes half-closed, Kiv was watching Trouble. The longer he held on to his captor, the more his hand trembled.

“Easy.” Trouble hesitated, then covered Kiv’s hand, helping him maintain his grip. “I’m not leaving, mean boy. I gotta fix your shoulder, remember? I’m right here.” He smiled and stroked Kiv’s hand. “Close your eyes. You’re supposed to be sleeping for me.” He turned the wrist Kiv held and pulled away only until he could twine their fingers. “I’ve got you. Sleep.” 

As the silence stretched between them, Kiv started to shiver again. 

“Time for bed.” Trouble guided Kiv’s hand back to his side, then covered him with the blanket. He left Kiv’s injured shoulder bare, but tucked the rest of him under. “You’re okay.

Kiv’s lower lip trembled, but he closed his eyes.

“You’re mine now,” he murmured, smoothing Kiv’s hair back from his face, “and you’ll still be mine when you wake up.”

...

Trouble thought the skin looked less swollen and red after being iced, but he wasn’t sure. He got each burned tooth mark coated in ointment and covered it all with two layers of taped-down gauze. If Kiv was lucky, the fever smell on him would fade and the punctures would scab. 

He curled up next to Kiv on his uninjured side, idly stroking his hair and listening to his deep, even breathing. “I hope you get better, mean boy,” he whispered, “even though that means I like you too much.” 

He watched Kiv sleep, not eager to close his eyes when his memory had been conjuring up faces he wanted desperately to forget. 

...

“No.”

Trouble’s ears twitched.

“S...stop.”

He groaned in his throat and tried to curl up further under the blanket.

“Let go.”

“The fuck,” Trouble grumbled, ears pulled back against his head. He let out a yelp when he caught smack across his covered cheek. He pawed the blanket off and sat up.

“Don’t.” Kiv was covered in sweat. The pillows he’d fallen asleep on were gone and he’d kicked off most of the blanket. “No. No!”

Trouble caught Kiv’s arm when he lashed out again, thrashing in his sleep. “Wake up, you,” he grumbled, pushing the offending limb away.

“Don’t touch me!” Kiv sat up, too, swaying. He needed both arms planted on the mattress to stay upright.

“I wasn’t.” He raised an eyebrow, then blinked; Kiv’s gaze looked hazy, and it was wandering.

“I’m not a host.” Kiv took an unsteady swipe at empty air and nearly went over the edge.

“What are you doing?” Trouble hauled Kiv back from falling by his upper arm.

“I won’t let you!” He tried to wrench away from Trouble, head lolling on his neck, shoulders drooping. “Let go of me!”

“The fuck.” It was Trouble’s turn to stare wide-eyed. “Hey, mean boy, are you awake?” He tugged on Kiv’s arm.

“You can’t make me!” Kiv tried to pull free, clawing at the blankets and panting, getting a foot on Trouble’s leg and trying to push off. “Stop it!”

“You stop,” Trouble shot back, though it came out more startled than irritated. “I’m not trying to hurt--”

“I don’t want this,” he yelled, gritting his teeth as his eyes welled with tears. He glared at Trouble unsteadily and gave another fruitless yank against his grip. “Don’t do this. I’m n-not like them, please!”

“Something’s wrong with you.” Trouble frowned, taking hold of Kiv by both of his upper arms. “Lie down, now.”

“Ow, stop!”

“You need more medicine, and--”

“I kn-know who I am!”

“Actually, I think you might be a little out of it.” Trouble shook his head, then forced Kiv down on his back.

“Nooo,” Kiv wailed, squirming and crying. “Get o-off!”

“If you won’t stay down, I can always tie you back up.”

“No, don’t!” His head flopped back and forth; he couldn’t move his arms or torso with how hard Trouble was pressing him down. He couldn’t get his feet under him and sobbed. “L-let go!”

“Wish I could.” He rolled his eyes, then looked around. Fuck. Glancing at the door, he remembered that he’d left the ropes back in the trash room. The wardrobe, at the far corner of his vision, drew his gaze. That could work. He looked back at Kiv and gave him a shake. “Hey. You gotta snap out of it. I need you to stay on the--”

Kiv spat in Trouble’s face.

Trouble’s jaw went slack for a moment, then he sat up and caught Kiv’s cheek in a hard backhand.

Kiv’s head snapped to the side and all the fight melted right out of his body. He stayed splayed on the bed, moaning softly.

“Stay there,” Trouble growled, climbing off the bed. He wrenched open the wardrobe doors and scanned the gear inside. Long straps of leather dangled from a row of tiny hooks that went all the way to the back of the wardrobe. He handled one, twisting it back and forth in his hands, then smiled. “Perfect.”

Chapter Text

Trouble retraced his steps to the bed, trailing two fistfuls of belts — so many that a few slipped unnoticed and unneeded from his fingers. They whispered against the sheets as he moved up the bed on his knees; the blanket was on the floor with the towels.

“I let you live.” He sniffed and straddled Kiv’s waist, letting the leather straps slide into two writhing piles off to either side. Hands free, Trouble grabbed Kiv by the hair and twisted.

“Ooow,” Kiv whimpered, arms flopping on the mattress like fish out of water. “Stooop.”

“You’ll get one more chance, after.” Trouble clenched his teeth, then forced Kiv’s head to turn, wrenching until he rolled facedown to stop the pain. 

“Mmph!” Between the grip on his hair and how Trouble bore down with it, Kiv couldn’t speak, beg, or breathe. He kicked and slapped at the mattress, jerky and uncoordinated.

“I know you’re not feeling well, which is why I’ll allow you to keep breathing.” He waited until Kiv’s movements grew more violent, desperate, then jerked his head up.

Kiv gasped, again and again. 

“But this is the cost.” He drew Kiv’s head back more, then a little more.

“Ahh!” His breathing shook, but the rest of his body was unresisting. “Hnngh!”

“When you’ve had enough, I’ll let you rest.” Trouble gently lowered Kiv’s face back to the bedding.

Kiv turned his face to the side and sniffled. Whimpered. Curled his fingers into the sheet.

“You better survive,” he whispered, lying down along Kiv’s back, pinning him under his weight, “or I swear I’ll find a way to go back for your little friend.” He nipped Kiv’s ear, smiling. “He will die screaming and I will make sure he knows it’s your fault.”

Kiv shivered. “I-I—”

“Shh. Try not to fight, little pet. I’m angry enough that a struggle might leave you...broken.” He rubbed his lips back and forth on the soft skin below Kiv’s earlobe. “Parts of you, at least.”

“Hnn.” Kiv’s foot flexed, his arm shook as he dug into the mattress with the heel of one hand. “Unh...”

“Easy.” Trouble grinned and pushed up. “Remember what I said.” Then he reached for the first belt, ready to work. 

He crossed and bound Kiv’s wrists behind his back, and cinched another belt above his elbows. Another went around Kiv’s chest and upper arms. Three more belts went around Kiv’s legs, pinching and biting into skin at mid-thigh, above the swell of his calves, and at his ankles. Trouble shushed all whimpers that arose while he bound his captive tight. 

“Don’t be scared,” he cooed, petting Kiv’s cheek and brushing the hair back from his face.

“Please,” Kiv whined, face wet with sweat and tears. “N-ahh!”

“It’s okay.” Trouble eased the metal ring between Kiv’s jaws, then kept the slack in as he brought the gag straps behind his head. “You’re okay.” 

The leather creaked for the first time as Kiv twitched, legs tensing, wrists trying to turn. 

“Shhh. You can still breathe and cry.” He fastened the strap, then tickled Kiv’s sides below his floating ribs. 

Kiv yelped, then whimpered, turning his head to look behind at Trouble.

“See? I’ve got you, mean boy.” Trouble patted Kiv’s unbitten shoulder. He grabbed the longest strap still on the bed, worked one end under the belt below Kiv’s knees and the other under the belt around Kiv’s upper chest. “Even when it starts to feel like you can’t breathe, you’ll be able to.” His brows furrowed as he drew the ends of the long belt together, forcing Kiv to arch up off the sheet. 

“Aaaah!” Kiv’s eyes widened while all his twitches went still. He started to pant, but broke off in a grunt when his chest was suddenly wrenched back even further.

“You were bad for me.” He picked up another belt, doubling it over in his hands and giving it a snap by Kiv’s ear.

“Noh,” Kiv cried, shaking his head back and forth.

“You hit me. You spat at me.” Trouble wrapped the tail-end of the belt around the one binding Kiv’s ankles and knotted it off.

As soon as the first sob was out, Kiv’s breathing caught.

“You’re not going in the cabinet this time.” He slipped the next belt tail under the gag strap, through its buckle, then all the way tight, leaving the end to tickle the small of Kiv’s back. 

“D-don’!” Kiv’s chest heaved as he wept, straining against the arch he couldn’t get out of.

“Aww, you know what’s coming? I hate that someone got to do this to you before me,” Trouble huffed, voice pouting despite the smile on his face. He grabbed the buckle-end of the belt dangling from Kiv’s ankle tie and the tail-end of the one tightened around Kiv’s gag strap, and pulled them closer and closer together.

“Noooooh!” It was a low, squeezed-sounding cry, as if Trouble was sitting on his lungs instead of forcing his head and ankles up and toward each other.

“This is one of my favorite things to do to boys who are bad for me.” Trouble had to focus while he connected the ends of the belts. “There.” He put a hand on Kiv’s ass and squeezed. “Tight enough?”

Kiv groaned, eyes screwed shut. 

“Good.” Trouble dropped onto his side next to Kiv and drank in his expression. “No more spitting for you.” He plucked stray tendrils of hair off Kiv’s cheeks, tucking them behind his ears. 

His next exhale came out slow and strained. He found Trouble’s gaze and fought to hold it as tears pooled and fell, as the muscles in his back started to shiver here and there.

“Do you not know what to do with your mouth unless you're told?” Not waiting for a response, Trouble poked two fingers into Kiv’s mouth and mashed his tongue down.

Kiv gagged, eyes rolling back.

“You can breathe well enough to make all that noise?” he taunting, raising his voice to be heard. He kept his fingers in place for a few moments, then pushed them further in, relishing the uptick in the tears spilling down Kiv’s face. “Let’s fix that.” He left Kiv’s mouth alone and sat up. 

Kiv sobbed, then coughed until drool trailed down his chin.

“Better take a deep breath.” Trouble fiddled with the long, lower belt, then drew it a notch tighter. “Actually, I take that back. You’re supposed to starve a fever, right?” He went for the upper belts next.

Kiv’s eyes bulged as his knees left the mattress. He rocked in the brutal hogtie, unable to blink, to gasp.

“Aaand this one, too...” Trouble tightened the joined belts by two notches, forcing Kiv’s head back, tilting his face up to the ceiling. “That looks good.” He shifted on the bed, putting himself in Kiv’s line of sight. “You can answer, mean boy.” Trouble palmed Kiv’s throat. With how tightly he was constricted, it looked like his neck had swelled. “How sorry do you feel?”

“Ah!” The sound was faint from breathlessness and on the fine edge between a groan and a sob. Kiv’s fever pink began to spread and then darken until his whole face was red. “Unh!” 

“I was good to you earlier, bringing you that ice and holding you while you cried about it.” Trouble traced Kiv’s bottom lip with a finger. “Guess you forgot I could be mean.” He ran his fingertips across Kiv’s cheek, smoothing lines through the tears there. “Do you think I should leave you like this for as long as I iced your shoulder? Will that make this lesson stick?”

Kiv’s strained breathing hitched. He wheezed.

“I’ll have to think it over.” He ruffled Kiv’s hair and rose. 

“Noh!”

“You wait here.” Trouble practically skipped to the door, grinning; he could see the terror in Kiv’s eyes without even looking.

“Don’! ‘Ease, ‘ease don’!”

...

Trouble checked through the sparse fridge contents twice, rearranged what remained in the bathroom medicine cabinet, had a glass and a half of water, and barely ten minutes had passed. 

He bit the inside of his cheek as he glanced at the closed bedroom door, willing himself to stay away. If he closed his eyes and let his ears swivel in that direction, he could hear Kiv’s unintelligible pleading and pathetic weeping — real and imagined.

He barged back into the bedroom, slippery wetness creeping down and smearing between his thighs, a lie about exactly how long he’d left Kiv alone braced at the forefront of his mind.

“Hey, baby.” He crawled onto the bed, Kiv’s distress thick and cloying in the air. “Did you miss me?”

Kiv moaned, and the cost of producing the sound was palpable.

”Fever or no, I bet you won’t risk that bullshit with me again, huh?” he cooed, palming Kiv’s jaw, thumbing through sticky, drying tear tracks.

The sob that bubbled up Kiv’s throat was weak. Half-dead.

”Poor little love. You want me to let you down so bad, don’t you.” He dragged a fingernail along one strap of the gag. “Never forget that I can do this to you. That I want to do this to you, every moment we’re together.” 

Kiv’s eyes were half-lidded and pain-bright. Agony had burned away the deep red from earlier. Even the fever-pink that clung to his cheeks looked dulled from how much the hogtie had drained away.

”That’s my gentle boy,” he murmured, sitting up and tackling the upper belts first. He unfastened them then snuck a hand to Kiv’s forehead to take his weight for him. “Good boy.” 

The agonal inhale Kiv took was chased by the fine hairs on his neck and arm rising. Rage and fear were debris lost in the contaminated flood of relief that sparked tingling across his neck and back.

”That’s it.” Trouble fumbled the long belt undone with one hand, unwilling to relinquish supporting Kiv’s head while his body, long past surrender, crumbled onto the mattress. “My beautiful Kiv. Let’s get that gag off you...”

Kiv’s eyes rolled white as he sobbed, consciousness well-wrung by bondage, reduced to embers by infection. 

“Would you believe,” he murmured, tossing the gag aside and turning Kiv belly-up, “I can make you come like this?” Trouble straddled Kiv’s hips and groped between his legs. “It’ll put you under.” He sucked Kiv’s lower lip into his mouth, bit down with one canine until he tasted blood. He found the lube, squeezed out far too much and didn’t care, lost track of the bottle as he fondled his victim. “Give me all of you,” he demanded, all pink teeth and milking hands. 

“No,” Kiv breathed, lashes fluttering. “Nnnno, mmm.” Fresh tears built and spilled. “No more,” he rasped, barely audible.

“There, that’s my big boy,” Trouble crooned, lining himself up. He sank onto Kiv with a moan and ground away on his lap. “Good boy,” he whined. “You’re so good.” He rolled his hips, lips slick and insides squeezing. “Come for me.” He covered Kiv’s mouth, opened it under his own and tongued up everything his prey could no longer withhold. Humming spiraled into him, onto his tongue and into his core. Fuck, yes...

“Kiiiv,” he groaned, coming in sync with his dazed and disoriented captive. 

“My Kiv.” He had to force himself to rouse when he came to, removing the rest of the belts with clumsy fingers. Trouble dragged the blanket back onto the bed, spooned up to Kiv and kissed his neck, limbs coiling around his senseless body. “Love you ‘til your last breath,” he promised, blissed out, lips never leaving Kiv’s skin as he drifted off.

Chapter Text

Trouble paused in the doorway and set a hand on the frame. Kiv looked smaller, curled up and tucked under the covers. The hint of his smile faded as his captive’s brow furrowed.

Kiv moaned softly, limbs twitching under the blanket.

“It’s time.” He sighed and went to the bed, leaning over to extricate Kiv from the covers and gather him up. 

“Unh.” Dark, sweat-soaked hair clung to Kiv’s forehead and cheeks. He grimaced at the cold, groaned at being jostled.

“Shhh.” Trouble retraced his steps to the bathroom. “Even with your medicine, you’re still running a little too hot. I’ve got a plan, though.” The tub was filled again. Trouble crouched as he lowered Kiv into the tepid bath.

Kiv’s eyes shot open. He jerked, lips parted, breathless.

“It’s okay,” he soothed, one arm locked around Kiv’s shoulders, his other palm pressing firmly against Kiv’s sternum. “Easy. This’ll help.”

He kicked and flailed, splashing them both, then gasped. A weak scream rasped up Kiv’s throat. 

“Shh.” Trouble smiled as he knelt. “I won’t let you drown. You’re okay, mean boy.”

“Sss...” Kiv’s eyes rolled. He whimpered, unable to push himself up. “S-stop!”

“It’s only for a few minutes.” He pushed Kiv deeper, ignoring his disjointed thrashing and turning his face away from the splashes. “The water isn’t even cold. Don’t be a baby.”

“Please,” he begged, tugging at Trouble’s wrist, “please, please...”

“Could be worse.” He grinned, bending further to force Kiv under the water up to his chin. “See?”

“Noo!” Kiv sobbed, tilting his face up.

“This isn’t my fault. I gave you medicine. You’ve gotta do the rest and get better for me.”

“I’ll do anything!”

“Yeah?” He chuckled. “Then think cool. And stop squirming. You’re the one who needs a bath, sweaty boy, not me.”

“Killing me,” he whimpered, reaching for Trouble’s face.

“Quit that.” Trouble turning his head away from Kiv’s trembling, dripping fingers. “You’re fine. If you start to shiver, I’ll take you out.”

“Hurts.”

“That’s just the fever,” Trouble soothed. “The pain will stop, I promise. Relax for me.” He brushed a kiss over Kiv’s forehead. Still hot. 

Kiv’s shoulders rose each time his breathing hitched. Tears ran hot and unchecked down his cheeks.

“Shh, that’s it, you’re okay. Stay nice and still.” Trouble eased his hand on Kiv’s chest, ready to push him back if he tried to sit up. “You’re being such a good boy for me,” he cooed, stroking Kiv’s hair. “I’m glad I picked you. Get better,” he whispered, sitting on his heels, free arm braced on the tub. “I want days and days with you.”

Sniffling, Kiv’s eyes drifted away from Trouble to the ceiling.

“There’s something about how you taste.” His smile turned fond. “Like burnt sugar.” 

Kiv closed his eyes, squeezing out still more tears as he sobbed.

“You lived a mean little life in that place, didn’t you?” Trouble caressed Kiv’s cheek with his knuckles. “But it’s over. I know what that’s like and you’re never going back. Okay?” 

“P-please,” he mumbled, cringing with his whole body, “stop, it h-h-hurts...”

“You won’t hurt forever. I’ll give you more painkillers once you’re cooled off.” He sighed and settled his free arm back on the tub, watching Kiv weep. “You’re okay. The only man who’ll ever touch you from now on is me, and I’ll be good to you if you let me.” He hesitated, rested his chin on his arm. Then he breathed, scarcely audible, “you’re more than they said, Kiv.”

Kiv slowly shook his head from side to side, crying all the while. 

“You are worth more than any human.” Trouble smiled. Maybe you’ll last longer than any of the others.  “You’ll see. I’ll take care of you. Get better for me.” 

...

“Uhnn…”

”Good boy,” Trouble cooed, cradling Kiv in his arms. “You were perfect. I know you don’t feel better, but you really cooled off.”

”N-no—“

”No more,” he agreed soothingly, giving Kiv a brief squeeze as he carried him back to the bed. “The bath is over, I promise.”

Kiv whimpered as Trouble laid him out on the sheet.

”I know, you’re cold.” He flipped over Kiv’s pillow to a cleaner, dryer side, supporting his neck as he eased it into place. “The blanket’s dirty though.” Trouble scooped it off the floor with a wrinkled nose. “You can have it after it’s washed.”

A weak sob followed Trouble out of the room.

”You’re alright,” he called back over his shoulder, a pitying, indulgent smile on his face. He got the laundry going without too much fuss; it was an older, slower model, but at least the drum would self-cycle from washing to drying. The cheery jingle that played at the cycle start sparked an eyeroll and Trouble pulled the closet door closed on the machine.

”I bet you’re ready for your next dose of painkillers, huh?” He called the words out at a volume he thought Kiv could hear while he fetched a glass of warm water from the sink.

Kiv was huddled into as much of a ball as he could manage. He dragged one of the other pillows over and hugged it to his chest, but shivers chased across his shoulders and down his spine.

”Poor thing,” Trouble murmured once he had eyes on his captive again. “Gimme one sec.” The tip of his tongue showed as he worked the cap off the pill bottle. “These will help.” Trouble crawled back on the bed and cupped the two pills against Kiv’s lips. “Open up,” he coaxed, “that’s it, good boy. The water won’t be cold this time. I need you to drink some for me, okay?” 

“Mmm!” Kiv squirmed under the hand clamped down over his mouth.

”Shhh.” He sat next to Kiv and drew him to his chest before twisting for the water glass. “I’ve got your water. I need you to take your medicine. Do not try to spit out the pills or you can find out what it’s like to get waterboarded with a fever. You got me?” Trouble gave Kiv’s head a little wobble.

Kiv whimpered against Trouble’s palm.

”I’m gonna choose to believe that you said you’ll be a good boy.” He replaced his hand with the rim of the glass. “You’re okay. C’mon, a sip will help you get the capsules down…”

Kiv drew his legs up, feet planted on the mattress. While he kept his lips closed to the water, he didn’t try to spit out the pills. 

“The water’s warm, mean boy. Drink some for me. There, see? Good,” he praised, free arm around Kiv’s shoulders to keep him from worming away. 

The glass fogged up with how hard Kiv was panting. He cringed into Trouble’s chest as water dribbled down his chin and throat. His fingers scrabbled for purchase. One hand gripped a wrinkle of sheet, the other curled around Trouble’s thigh.

“That’s barely half.” He sighed, then lowered the glass. “You need more water than that.”

Kiv coughed, then hid his face in Trouble’s neck, whimpering against his skin. “Please?”

“Are you tired?”

He nodded, nose gently brushing along soft skin. After the silence stretched between them, Kiv tightened his grips, squeezed his eyes shut, and held his breath.

“Quit,” Trouble said softly, covering Kiv’s hand on his leg. “You’re okay. Breathe, Kiv. It’s alright. No more water for now.” He shifted them both down the bed, his hands gentle on Kiv as he repositioned him. 

Kiv was tense, unable to help shivering as he was turned on his side, then held with his back to Trouble’s warm chest.

“The blanket’s not clean yet, but I’ll stay with you.” He tucked Kiv’s head under his chin and stroked his arm. “I know you’re cold, but try to sleep. By the time you wake up, you’ll feel better.” And if not...  “I promise the hurt will stop, okay? Sleep.”

...

“...didn’...”

“Y...you....”

“N-nnno...”

///

Kiv woke to his temples pounding. He clutched at the sides of his head and bit back a groan. Hangover? Fuck. Probably? He needed a drink. 

“I hate you.”

What? Kiv forced his eyes open and pushed up onto an elbow. His vision swam while the room around him began to spin. Fuck.

“How?” a low, frustrated voice growled. “How could you do this?”

He blinked hard, turning his head toward the accusation. Benji? He rubbed at his eyes with the heels of both hands. “What?”

“He hasn’t woken up.”

Kiv could see Benji’s mouth move, in time with what he was saying, but everything was still so blurred.

“Two doses with the stim gun and nothing. After what you did, he’s lucky to be breathing!”

Benji’s face sharpened into focus in time for Kiv to watch his tears spill over. 

“Why Hunter, huh?” Benji demanded, glowering. 

He looked away before Kiv could answer, and Kiv followed his gaze downward. His stomach flipped at the sight of Hunter’s head pillowed in Benji’s lap. The fading bruises and half-healed split lip stood out starkly in his still, gray face.

”Why do I fucking bother. You don’t give a fuck, you’re just like the rest of them.”

”I…” Kiv had to swallow back bile twice. “I didn’t—”

“Is this what the rest of us have coming the next time you get strung out and need to let off steam?” Benji sniffled. 

”You don’t,” Kiv looked away as he pushed himself up to sitting, “don’t know what you’re talking about.” His skull felt like cracked glass. “You don’t know anything.” He covered his eyes against the light, trying to remember leaving his dorm, or going to the brothel. He couldn’t remember anything from before he’d passed out. He needed to leave.                                                

“How much gem did you take, huh?”

Kiv uncovered his face and glared back at Benji. He hadn’t; he was out. Maybe he’d had a few too many at the bar, but there was no way he— Unless. Stomach sinking, he turned his arm, elbow down, and scanned over his veins.

And there it was. His mouth fell open. A single dot of brown-red over blue. 

No! He hadn’t…he couldn’t have taken—

“What do you mean, ‘no?’” Benji seethed, his voice tight with tears. “Hunter sure as fuck didn’t do this to himself!”

///

“...didn’...”

“Y...you....”

“...n-nnno...”

“Nooo!”

“Wha?” Trouble mumbled. He rubbed his captive’s back, blinking himself awake as he cleared his throat. “Hey. Wake up, mean boy.”

Kiv gasped, flinched back from the heat he’d burrowed into as he slept.

“You were having a dream.” Trouble stayed where he was, pushing down the impulse to draw Kiv back to his chest.

Kiv shuddered, then yelped as something touched his cheek.

“Easy. It’s just me.” He laid his arm over Kiv’s waist -- on top of the clean blanket. “You were talking in your sleep.” Trouble rested his head back on the pillow. “You...you’re crying.”

Kiv hurriedly rolled onto his other hip. Even facing away from Trouble, he still wrenched the blanket over his head.

“It’s okay.” He bit his lip, fidgeted, forced himself to go still once he realized he was. “You’re not there anymore. You’re here with me.”

Kiv bit down on his hand while he shook with silent sobs.

“You gotta breathe.” Trouble touched Kiv’s shoulder -- avoiding his healing bitemark -- through the blanket and didn’t pull away when he twitched. “You’re okay.” He sighed, stroked down Kiv’s arm and gave his bicep a brief, gentle squeeze. “You’ll be okay.” When Kiv only sobbed in reply, Trouble tentatively resumed rubbing his back. It didn’t seem to change anything. He had to give himself a shake when he felt himself starting to nod off. 

“You want to go back to sleep?” His voice was a slurred murmur. While he listened for a reply, eyes closed, it clicked that he’d stopped petting Kiv. He tucked his arm under the blanket and stroked Kiv’s skin, following his spine up and down, up and down. “They can’t get you here. I’ve got you.” 

Still balled up under the blanket, Kiv hiccuped.

Trouble’s ears twitched. Then he yawned until his jaw cracked, but kept on with the backrub. At least it sounded like Kiv was down to sniffles. From experience, he guessed that Kiv would cry himself back under before long. “That’s it. Shhh. Sleep for me, good boy. I’ll keep you safe.”

Chapter Text

Trouble opened his eyes as the rhythm of Kiv’s breathing changed. Half his smile showed above the swell of the pillow. He kept stroking Kiv’s hair until he felt his captive stir.

Kiv’s brow furrowed and he tried to scrunch completely under the blanket. A low grumble hummed in his chest as he tucked in closer to the warm contact with—

Trouble held back a laugh, but his teeth showed at Kiv suddenly going stiff.

Kiv stopped breathing as he tried to cringe away from Trouble’s chest without disturbing the mattress or blanket.

”You’re alright,” Trouble whispered, amusement evident in his tone. “And you don’t have a fever anymore.”

Kiv scooted back until he was out from under Trouble’s arm. 

“Even without it, you’re a little heat seeking missile,” he teased, chuckling at last. “I don’t mind, you know. Even if you’re taller when we’re standing, you fit nice in my arms here.”

Kiv closed his eyes and shivered.

”Really?” Trouble scoffed. “Would you rather I left you back where I found you, mean boy? You wanna be some little dish for whichever guy can afford to lock you in a room that day?”

”I wasn’t,” he seethed, teeth clenched.

”I didn’t even have to ask.” Trouble buried his elbow in the pillow and set his cheek on his hand. “All I had to do was flash a card to lie my way in and pat my thigh. If you could’ve said no,” he smirked, “you would’ve. Instead, you were down to your boxers and on your back before I even offered to buy you a drink.”

Kiv tensed, eyes narrowed at everything but his tormentor.

”Hey.” He put a finger under Kiv’s jaw, waited, then guided his chin and gaze upward. “That’s where you’d rather be? You wanna die strapped down spread-eagled on a little cot under purple lights because that’s all they think you’re good for?” Trouble withdrew his hand before Kiv could flinch away. 

Feeling heat creep up his neck, Kiv whipped his face away like he’d been hit. He stayed on his side, back to his kidnapper.

“That’s all?” Trouble huffed. “Look at me.”

Though Kiv’s breathing picked up, he did not obey.

“Ask me to take you back.”

Kiv froze.

“Or walk back on your own. You’re not tied up. You weren’t sick long enough to become that weak.” When Kiv still hadn’t moved, cursed, or even breathed, Trouble sighed and flopped onto his back. “I imagine you’re familiar with opening doors. Get lost, mean boy.”

“You’re lying.”

“You fed me well enough.” He closed his eyes and crossed both arms under his head. “Little clone.” Even with the show of disinterest, the ear nearest Kiv stayed curved toward him. 

After a minute, maybe longer, Kiv slowly sat up.

Trouble kept his breathing deep and even. He listened while Kiv set one foot and then the other on the floor.

Kiv stood and the bed protested loudly.

He couldn’t help smiling, imagining the way Kiv had probably cringed.

“I can go?”

“Give me one thing first.” He kept his eyes closed. “A keepsake.”

Kiv’s exhale trembled.

“No.” He chuckled. “Not your body. Like I said, I’m not so hungry anymore.”

“I don’t hav--”

“You do, though. You have something special. Say I can have it, and you may leave.” Trouble grinned. “I want...your name.”

“What?”

“You want to go back to that place?” Trouble opened his eyes. “Fine, but go as a nameless human whore. Names are for people and they don’t think of you as one, right?” He sat up and stretched, then settled back against the headboard. “So go back to them as nothing. Whores go by whatever the customer picks anyway. Leave the best of you behind. I will keep it safe and free. What do you say?”

“I-I...”

“Hm.” Trouble kicked off the blanket and rose, stretching carelessly, his eyes never leaving Kiv. “I suppose if I’m to take your only possession, you deserve a little treat.”

Kiv instantly backed away, hands balling into fists.

“None of that,” he scoffed, closing the space between them with a smirk. “I know exactly how wobbly you are, whore.” Trouble laid his palm on Kiv’s chest and backed him into the armoire. 

The cool touch of the wardrobe door brought a gasp out of Kiv. He didn’t lash out or resist, but he didn’t unclench his fists, either. 

“Try it and you will crawl out of here broken and bleeding.” A touch of concentration and Trouble’s nails thickened to black points. He drummed them against Kiv’s skin. “Or, you let me give you a little something to remember me by. Be honest -- was all this time with me so terrible?” he asked softly, trailing his hand down Kiv’s ribs. His nails shrank back to human ones by the time he reached Kiv’s stomach.

The armoire door rattled as Kiv flinched against it.

“Easy.” He leaned in, hand on his captive’s hip, smiling face tilted up to his. “Say that your name is mine, and I’ll let you go back to that place. Unharmed.” 

Kiv turned his face away, knuckles pressed white against the door.

Trouble rolled his eyes, cupped Kiv’s cheek, and brought them nose to nose. “Breathe,” he coaxed, giving Kiv a gentle kiss. “Say it’s mine.”

“Fine.” It came out as a hiss, Kiv’s face twisted in a grimace.

“Good whore.” Trouble drew back and grinned. “Was that so hard?” He tugged open the other door of the wardrobe. “Now, what to give you...” Crops, canes, and paddles swayed against the velvet lining the interior of the door, dangling from their hooks.

“I don’t--”

“Shhhhh. I know.” Trouble scanned the tools and toys rather than meet Kiv’s gaze. “You don’t need anything from anyone. Right?” He smirked. “Such a fierce, mean little whore.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“It’s the only thing you have that I can call you.” He picked up a rattan cane and gave it a swish.

Kiv jerked against the wardrobe again, making the contents swing on their hooks again.

“Hm. No. This isn’t really enough, is it? I never let the boys I bite live to talk about it. This needs to be...more.” He replaced the cane. Looking deeper into the wardrobe, Trouble inhaled sharply, eyes bright. “Yes, perfect!” He snatched the tool up, ignoring how his movement made Kiv cringe again. Trouble set the twin prongs on the taser to Kiv’s sternum.

“No.”

“No?” he asked, trying to sound surprised by Kiv’s reaction.

“Please don’t,” Kiv whispered, his breathing gone quick and shallow.

“But I want you to have it.” Trouble kept his eyes trained on Kiv’s face as he groped for his victim’s wrist. He gave Kiv’s fist a swat, worked his fingers apart, then guided them to close around the grip of the device. “You know how these work.” When he was sure Kiv wasn’t going to drop the taser, he stepped away, heading for the kitchen. “I’m sure you’ll think of me when you put it to good use on the other whores. It’s not like you can afford to be mean to anyone else. Come on.”

Kiv looked pale and unnerved when he finally emerged from the bedroom.

“Off you go.” Trouble leaned his hip against the counter that divided the cooking space and the living area. He nodded at a door across the room. “It isn’t locked.”

Kiv shifted his weight from foot to foot, frowning.

“Get going.”

“Like this?” Kiv crossed an arm over his bare chest. He had the taser clenched in his other hand.

“You don’t have to pretend to be shy on my account.” Trouble smirked, then let his eyes wander over his victim. “What does a whore need with clothes? Besides, I’m sure you’ll be covered all over in bruises soon enough.” He flapped a hand at Kiv. “Don’t let me keep you.”

Flushed up to his ears, Kiv moved slowly, stiffly to the apartment door.

“Better hurry. You don’t want them to think that you were hiding away with me on purpose...”

Kiv stretched out for the handle, but his hand stuck in the air, hovering, impotent.

Trouble raised an eyebrow, still smiling.

“If...”

“I’m sure someone will give you a ride back to your glowing cage. Offer to pay with what you’re good at.”

“What if I--” Kiv cut himself off, but he turned around. His eyes went over the sparse room. “Will I die if I stay?”

“Eventually, we all die, whore.”

“Because you’ll kill me?” Kiv shivered and closed his eyes. “If I stay, you’ll kill me.”

Trouble crossed his arms over his chest. “What would I want with a human whore?”

Kiv looked down at the weapon he still clutched.

Sighing, Trouble pushed off the counter. He stopped in his tracks when Kiv shied back a step and raised the taser.

“I...”

“Yeah?” He cocked his head to the side, eyes on Kiv’s face. He frowned when Kiv only stood there, trembling. “Talk to me.” The hardness ebbed from his expression and his voice. “I told you that you could say the truth around me. Why should I hurt you for it now?”

“I don’t...I don’t know what I...”

“Well. What if the whore leaves his taser by the door for now, and Kiv can stay here while he thinks it over?” Trouble waited until Kiv darted a look at him. “I could use the time to think, too.” He took a single, cautious step toward his captive. “I know what to do with humans. I always have. But you’re different, aren’t you.” He took another, smaller step forward, then slowly held his hand out. “I won’t promise not to touch you, but I’ll try not to hurt you. Stay and think with me, Kiv.” 

Kiv looked down at the weapon in his hand, tightening his grip as time and quiet stretched between them. With a shaky exhale, he set it down on a small table nestled beside the door.

“Come on. Let’s find something for you to eat. Food always makes things better.”

Chapter Text

“Again?”

“I don’t go grocery shopping or cook.” He flashed his teeth at Kiv. “If you don’t want the leftovers, I can use whatshisname’s phone to order something.”

Kiv made a face, then dug into the pasta leftovers. He huddled on the edge of the barstool as he ate, staring off into space.

“Hang on.” Trouble headed for the bedroom and returned with a blanket. He wrapped it around Kiv’s shoulders, ignoring the way his captive tensed, then sat down on the other barstool. He folded his arms on the counter.

“Clothes would be easier.”

“I don’t usually pack a bag for the guys I bring home, remember?” He glanced sideways at Kiv and shrugged. “Want me to go hunt down someone who wears your size?”

Kiv’s next forkful of food stuck in the air halfway to his mouth.

“I could, if you want. What? I’ll kill him clean.” Trouble raised an eyebrow. “Like you don’t hurt people to get things you want.”

“The blanket’s fine.”

“You know, you whine an awful lot for someone I only bit once and let walk around free.” 

“I can’t want my stuff?” Kiv muttered, stabbing at his meal. “I didn’t ask for this.”

“I bet you didn’t ask to be a piece of ass in a purple room.” He frowned, slumping forward to rest his chin on crossed arms. “You didn’t ask to get made, either, huh?” Trouble glanced at Kiv, then away. He traced a scratch in the countertop. “No one gets asked about that.”

It took a few moments for Kiv to resume eating.

“Okay, this feels weird to ask, but do you know how old you are? Like, since they made you, I mean. How long have you been ‘Kiv?’”

Kiv lowered his fork. His breathing picked up. He swallowed, pushed his plate away, and stared at the countertop.

“You okay?” he asked, ears pricked forward as he watched.

After a moment, Kiv clapped a hand over his mouth and stumbled off his stool. He turned, shedding the blanket, and doubled over the sink, bringing up everything he’d eaten.

For once, Trouble tensed up. He stayed seated and looked away, only listening while the faucet ran.

Kiv rinsed his face and mouth. His breathing hitched and his body shook, but he stayed facing away from Trouble. “Fuck. Fuck !” With the water still running, he slowly sank to his knees on the floor.

He’d never been good at waiting. All the gasps and hiccups grated against his nerves, making his ears twitch. Sighing, Trouble rose and went to the sink. He turned off the water, then fetched the blanket. He shook it out, wrapped it around Kiv, and scooped him up. 

Wordless, Kiv shivered rather than fight.

“You really didn’t want those leftovers, huh?” he teased softly, bringing Kiv back to bed. Trouble settled him gently on the pillows. “I’ll get you something else--”

“I was weak.”

Trouble frowned and curled up on his side, leaving space between their bodies.

“Confused.”

“Confused about what?”

“What I woke up into. Knowing without remembering. Feeling how he saw,” Kiv grimaced and shook his head, “it. How disgusted he was, how pathetic it w--”

“Wait. Woke up? You woke up to some guy telling you that you were going to die for him?”

Kiv squeezed his eyes shut and shuddered. He rolled onto his side, facing away and wrapped up. “I didn’t die.”

“Because you’re not weak, or pathetic, or anything else he said.” Trouble put his hand on Kiv’s arm. “And you’re not there anymore.”

“So you can kill me instead of him?”

Trouble kept his palm where it was.

“Do it, then.”

“...I don’t want to kill you, Kiv.”

“You just want to torture me?” His laugh was cold and raspy.

“I hunt humans. I took you because I thought you were one.” Trouble gave Kiv’s arm a brief squeeze through the blanket. “But you’re different. You’re not like me, but you’re not like them, either.” He slid his hand to Kiv’s spine, ignoring when he cringed, and stroked his back. “Why should you have to die for that?”

“I didn’t die. I wasn’t dying.”

“Weren’t you?” Trouble had to close his eyes and breathe deeply to shake off the anger that rose like a tide in his chest. “I was. Living how they wanted me to.” He gritted his teeth, scooted closer to Kiv, and kept rubbing his back. His throat ached sharply, but the contact made it easier to swallow. Staring at the tangle of Kiv’s hair, he could ignore the impulse to wipe his eyes. “After I left, it took time to...figure things out. I starved at first, but it was worth it.” Tentatively, he wormed closer, settled his arm over Kiv’s waist. For a moment he felt dizzy, waiting to feel Kiv jerk away. “Don’t you want to know a free life, Kiv?”

“...is that what this is?” Despite the blanket, he was shivering. Another weak, bitter laugh. “Am I ‘free?’”

“Do you want to be?” Trouble squeezed his eyes shut and lifted his arm off Kiv, tucking it against his own chest. “Think it over. Isn’t that why you stayed?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t have to know yet.” Trouble tipped onto his back and sighed. His jaw worked as he stared up at the ceiling, arms crossed. He flinched at a tickle and scratched his arm -- only to brush against Kiv’s fingers. His gaze snapped to Kiv in time to watch as he jerked his hand back. Trouble could only gape. He hadn’t heard Kiv turn or reach out. “You’re okay.” He frowned and chewed his lip, then went still. “Wait,” he breathed, getting up and padding over to the armoire. He pulled both of the doors open, scanned, then snatched up a length of black cloth. 

“Don’t.” Kiv pushed himself up to sit, tensed and already leaning away.

“No,” he sighed. He stopped halfway between the foot of the bed and the wardrobe, shaking his head. “Look.” Trouble held out the silk so Kiv could see, then raised it to his own face. It was long enough to wrap twice around his head and more than wide enough to cover his eyes. Once he had it tied in place, he reached out for the mattress, feeling out the way and slowly climbing back into his spot. Curled on his side, Trouble slid one hand along the sheet toward Kiv, fingers splayed. “Better?” he asked softly.

When it came, Kiv’s touch was light and hesitant.

Trouble kept still, biting his lip to keep from smiling. As fingers closed around his wrist and lifted, he didn’t resist. He felt the mattress dip in front of him, then a warm exhale on his cheeks. When his arm came down, it was onto Kiv’s blanket-wrapped side. 

“I...”

Trouble couldn’t help flinching when heat ghosted over his cheek, his eyelashes.

Kiv inhaled sharply, and the warmth preceding touch vanished at once.

“You can,” he coaxed after a moment. “I won’t move.” Trouble squeezed his eyes shut in anticipation, but the touch, when it came, tickled his ear. He held his breath, blushing. 

His ears were long, pointed, and furred in what he thought of as his hunting form -- his real body. Once his victims understood they were in for more than a sleepover, Trouble didn’t bother to hide. Usually, the non-human differences -- his thick teeth, broader jaw, and longer ears -- made his chosen meals shy away. 

As fingertips traced the curve of his ear, Trouble let out a soft whine and melted under the caress. His heart beat faster when the touch lifted away, and he whimpered when it returned for a second, surer stroke.

“You’ve always had...?”

“No. Not until I was older.” He hummed and risked leaning into Kiv’s petting. “That feels nice.” After basking for a few more moments, Trouble started rubbing Kiv’s back through the blanket.

“Then you left after you changed?”

“No. I hid it. I was...afraid.” His pillow shifted as another head nestled close. Trouble smiled and lengthened his strokes, hand smoothing from Kiv’s hair on down to his lower back. “I could look human, but it didn’t feel right anymore.”

“When did you leave?”

Trouble gulped, nuzzled closer until their noses touched. “You can’t tell anyone.”

“Okay.”

“You won’t?”

“I won’t.”

Trouble licked his lips. “I took too much medicine. On purpose.” He pressed his forehead to Kiv’s, his breathing shaky, voice low. “The people I lived with found me before I...” Trouble kept petting Kiv, eyes burning with gratitude when he didn't flinch from the contact. “After that they watched me, so I pretended until I was ready.” He clenched his teeth, broke off rubbing Kiv’s back to hold him closer for a heartbeat. Two heartbeats. Three... 

The longer the hug went on, the less Kiv was able to hide that he was shaking.

“Then I left.” Trouble sniffled as he forced himself to pull back. He took deeper breaths, then resumed Kiv’s backrub. “I...I hate how long I waited.” He blinked against the blindfold, glad that it sucked up his tears. “I can’t take that back.”

Kiv shuddered and curled in on himself, drawing the blanket tighter around his shoulders.

“Kiv?” he asked, still whispering. He waited, but the trembling under his hand only worsened; Kiv’s breathing grew more shallow while picking up speed. Moving slowly, Trouble felt the way from Kiv’s back, up his neck, and around to cup his cheek. “You...you get to have time, okay? They can’t hurt you here, and I won’t hurt you, either.” 

One hand shot out from under the blanket to seize Trouble’s wrist.

With his ears pulled back flat against his head, Trouble whined low and long as his arm was pushed down to the mattress and held there. “You’re shaking.”

Kiv groaned like he’d been hit and withdrew his hand.

“Okay.” Rather than try to touch Kiv again, Trouble pushed his hand under the pillow. “I...I’ll get you food, and clothes. It’s okay.” He gasped as fingers grazed his temple, hooked around the blindfold, and pulled down. It took a few blinks to adjust to the light, to focus on Kiv’s face, inches from his own. “You’re crying,” he murmured, frowning.

Glaring through his tears, Kiv shook his head and put a finger to Trouble’s lips.

Trouble gulped, feeling his own eyes sting again, nodded, and gave Kiv’s fingertip a gentle kiss.

Chapter Text

While he watched Kiv seemed to cave inward, shivering under the blanket and pulling in short, quick gasps. Trouble bit back a whine, aching at the grimace on Kiv’s face.

“I,” he gasped, “I can’t--” Tears spilled from his widening eyes. He pulled the blanket away from his throat, but it didn’t ease his breathing in the slightest.

“Got an idea,” Trouble whispered, slipping out of bed. “Wait here.” He ducked out of the room. Cupboard doors thudded and glasses clinked, then he jogged back into the room clutching the neck of a bottle. He let it tip onto the sheet while he helped Kiv to sit up against the headboard. “This’ll help.” He fumbled to crack the seal and remove the stopper one-handed, his other arm wrapped around Kiv’s shoulders. 

The instant it was offered, Kiv seized the bottle in both hands and raised it to his lips. He took a gulp of the amber liquid, coughed and panted, then took another, longer pull. 

“Whoa.” Trouble marvelled for a moment, watching Kiv down booze easier than oxygen. “Hey.” He gave Kiv a squeeze, then reached for the bottle.

Kiv winced and coughed again, a trickle of alcohol running from the corner of his mouth. He twisted to dodge Trouble’s hand and had the bottle back to his mouth as soon as his body allowed it.

“Okay, that’s good,” he muttered, snatching the liquor away and ignoring the coughing fit it gave Kiv. 

Eyes watering for a whole new reason, Kiv sat up, sputtering and groping for the bottle.

“You can have it back in a sec.” Trouble placed it on the bedside table -- out of reach -- and pressed Kiv back against the headboard with a hand on his sternum. “Easy. Breathe, Kiv.”

“Liked,” he wheezed, glaring, “you better,” another cough, “blindfolded.”

“I bet.” Trouble chuckled. “You know, I’ve never done that for anyone before. Feel special about it, mean boy.”

Kiv’s next inhale wavered, but at least it was deep.

“There you go.” He frowned and moved to brush the tears off Kiv’s cheek, then hesitated. He blushed when Kiv clocked the gesture and lowered his hand. “You’re just needing all kinds of medicine, huh?” Trouble rambled, avoiding Kiv’s gaze. “Looks like it helped.”

“Don’t wanna talk.” 

“Yeah.” Trouble frowned. He scooted down onto the pillows and swiped an arm across his eyes. “Thanks for…listening I guess. I’ll shut up n—oof!“

Kiv, stretching out for the bottle in the instant it became visible, lost his balance and fell — right onto Trouble. Chest to chest, nose to nose, so close everything blurred, he went absolutely still.

”You alright?” he asked, forcing a laugh and ignoring the heat he could feel in his cheeks. Trouble blinked, nose flooded with the alcohol on Kiv’s breath. “Must be strong stuff to bring you down this fast.” He gently tucked the dangling hair tickling his cheek behind Kiv’s ear. 

”I’ve had worse.” Kiv shivered, then let his head loll into Trouble’s hand.

”I believe you and I can taste it from here.” He felt Kiv work an arm under his pillow, and swallowed hard. Trouble’s hand drifted as he shoved down the urge to clutch Kiv closer and bite down hard. He palmed the back of Kiv’s neck, managing not to tremble as he stroked soft skin and fine hairs with his thumb. 

“You...you can?”

“More or less.” The heat of Kiv’s breath on his face somehow managed to raise goosebumps on his neck and arms.

“Want more?”

“Up to you, handsome. You’re on top.” Trouble smiled. “It might not be a bad thing to wait before you take any more medicine. I can help with that...”

Kiv rose onto his elbows, brow furrowed.

“Kiv.” He stroked Kiv’s neck, ran a thumb along his jawline. “The bottle’s yours. You don’t have to earn it. Like I said, you get time here.” 

The suspicion on Kiv’s face contorted. He shut his eyes tight and gasped sharply, hair falling in both their faces as he winced. 

“Hey, whoa.” Trouble’s expression fell with Kiv’s. He tried to stroke his hair aside. “You okay? Do you w--mm?” For the first time that he could remember, a kiss caught him off guard. He closed his eyes and opened his mouth under Kiv’s, letting him lead. The kisses grew deeper, more demanding. Trouble whimpered and wrapped both arms loosely around Kiv’s neck. 

“Hurt?” Kiv asked, giving them both a moment to pant all over each other. 

“No,” he replied at once, “you?” Trouble gave Kiv the lightest tug, trying to draw him back into more kissing. 

Kiv kicked free of his blanket to settle fully between Trouble’s legs. His elbows sank into the mattress, framing Trouble’s shoulders as he covered his mouth again.

Trouble moaned into Kiv and hooked an ankle over his calf. He scarcely noticed the grip on his wrist, or his arm being placed on the pillow over his head. His head came off the pillow when he felt his captive pull back, chasing the hint of alcohol coating Kiv’s lips.

“No biting?”

“What?” He blinked up at Kiv, his ears going from relaxed to pricked forward. Trouble ran his hand down Kiv’s throat to rest on his collarbone. “Get back here,” he purred, eyes bright with want.

“Say you won’t bite, and I will.” Kiv stroked Trouble’s wrist -- the one he had pressed into the pillow above both their heads. 

Trouble scoffed and flopped back on the bedding.

“What good is time if I get sick again? I...” He bit his lip and gently traced the curve where Trouble’s ear met his skull. “I can’t do as much if you hurt me.”

“Uuuunh,” he whined, eyes drifting closed. “Tha’s not fair.”

“If you don’t bite, I...I’ll be--”

“No,” Trouble interrupted. He opened one eye and grinned up at Kiv, “don’t say you’ll be good.” He sat up suddenly, stealing a quick peck and chuckling when it made Kiv gasp. “You don’t owe me that.” He glanced sideways and fetched the liquor bottle. Still smiling, he raised it to Kiv’s mouth. “No one owns you here. You don’t owe, mean boy.”

Kiv shivered, then allowed Trouble to tip him a mouthful of the alcohol. He stared, studying his captor before swallowing.

“And fine.” He carefully tilted another sip for Kiv, then brought the bottle to his own lips. “You’re not food. I can keep my teeth to myself.” He took a swallow, winced, then fumbled to put the bottle back on the bedside table. “Whoa. That stuff. How are you not dizzy?” he asked, laughing.

“Who said I wasn’t?” Kiv re-caught Trouble’s wrist and pinned it back onto the pillow, then claimed the other to match.

“Like to be in control, huh?” Trouble beamed up at Kiv, not resisting. “You can be rough, but warn me if you’re going to hit. Violence isn’t a smart way to surprise me, okay?”

“No biting, no hitting.”

“No hitting, no biting.” Trouble licked his lips. “Now come here already. I want so much more of you.” He raised an eyebrow when Kiv hesitated. “What’s the matter? I know at least some of you is ready,” he cooed, arching his hips up and grinding against the heat firming up between Kiv’s legs.

“Fuck.” Kiv tensed against the pressure for a breath, then turned his face away from Trouble’s gaze and bit the inside of his cheek. His hands clenched tighter around Trouble’s wrists.

“They really did a number on you,” he murmured, frowning. “Kiv? Put the blindfold back on me if you want.”

“Could I do more?” The words came out sudden and soft.

“Like what?” A hint of Trouble’s smile returned as he rolled his hips, rubbing wetness along Kiv’s length. “You want me in chains and a muzzle first?” He chuckled when Kiv’s eyes rolled back and his mouth hung open. “The wardrobe and all those toys are so very far, far away from this bed. You sure that’s what you want?

“J-just,” Kiv gasped, “just rope?”

Trouble huffed; he had to go and promise a thing like time. “Alright. Go get some.” He stilled underneath Kiv to give him half a chance, then watched with a grin as Kiv scrambled off the bed.

Kiv staggered toward the armoire, knocking some of the contents onto the floor as he snatched up what he needed and turned back to face his captor.

“Let’s see your knot work, then, mean boy.” Trouble patted his thigh to call Kiv over and winked. As Kiv approached, he scooted further down the mattress and stretched his arms out toward the corner posts.

Kiv went for the closer arm.

“Ah, ah, ah.” Trouble dodged the rope in Kiv’s hands and patted the mattress. “I need a distraction while you’re busy so I don’t get squirmy. Come on up.” 

He swallowed hard, then climbed up on his knees.

Holding his hips, Trouble guided Kiv into straddling his chest, then let his arms rest back where Kiv needed them. “Go on.” He deliberately kept his upward look on Kiv’s face. “I promise not to pull away.”

Kiv shook out a coil of rope, doubled it over, and wrapped the end around Trouble’s wrist. Then he gasped, taking one hand off the rope to grip the headboard so he didn’t fall into it face-first. His gaze snapped downward.

Trouble gave Kiv’s erection another firm lick, gazing up through his lashes at his captive. 

“W...what ar--ah!” He inhaled sharply, fingers curling around rope and headboard both.

With the tip in his mouth, Trouble tongued the slit again and moaned softly. 

The next sound out of Kiv was somewhere between broken and wanting. He straightened and hurried to finish tying the rope cuff.

Though it sent tingles up his spine to let Kiv draw the rope taut and anchor it to the bedpost, Trouble kept his attention where it mattered. He closed his eyes as he bobbed his head, basking in Kiv’s shuddering breaths and strangled groans. Even without looking, he was positive Kiv dropped the second rope altogether when he finally swallowed him deep enough to gag.

Kiv was red-faced and sweating by the time he finished knotting off the second rope. A low sound snuck out as he felt and heard Trouble pull off with a wet pop.

Trouble turned his head to spit out the phlegm that got too thick to swallow and cleared his throat. He smiled when Kiv moved down to bed to meet his eyes, lips red and wet. “Looks like I’m all yours.” His heart banged against his ribs as Kiv kneed his thighs apart. “Gonna make me regret it?” he asked, wishing he didn’t sound so breathless.

The barest touch lined him up and then Kiv was thrusting into tight, slippery heat. He had his mouth on Trouble’s in time to smother the noise he made.

Whimpering at the apex of each stab, Trouble tugged against the ropes. He inhaled groan after groan and wrapped his legs around Kiv to draw him in deeper. He gasped for breath when Kiv finally let them both breathe. Trouble blinked back tears and moaned, low and throaty, “Kiiiiiv!”

Swearing, chest rising and falling as his lungs desperately heaving in air, Kiv gripped Trouble’s hips and yanked up, drawing his ass off the mattress. He waited until their gazes met then slammed back in.

For a few moments, even with his mouth open, no sound came out. With the new position, his arms were fully extended and useless. The rope bit into his wrists, sweet and burning. He couldn't even breathe until Kiv ground against him. Trouble moaned as pressure pooled inside him, swelling where Kiv stirred. He squeezed Kiv between shaking thighs, eyes pleading.

Kiv’s brow scrunched, teeth showing, as he tightened his hold on Trouble and started pounding into him.

Trouble whimpered, body squirming while his head rocked on the pillow. He twisted against the ropes like it would help him hold onto a single thought. “Kiss me,” he begged, over and over between gasps and moans. 

Their teeth clicked together with how hard Kiv got his mouth back onto Trouble’s. He didn’t loosen his grip or slow down. 

At the barest taste of copper -- Kiv’s blood? his own? -- Trouble’s eyes rolled to the back of his head. A moment later, his entire body trembled. There was an urge to pull, to feed, and instantly a familiar humming stared up where their tongues met. He sensed more than he saw Kiv’s orgasm as it burst. It was instinctive to draw the feeling of it all from Kiv into himself. It flared through his veins, intoxicating, and consuming, and vital, and perfect -- And Trouble broke from the kiss and the humming, turning his face away. He gasped and whimpered, going boneless. 

Kiv let Trouble slide from his hold back onto the mattress then sank down on top of him, his chest heaving.

“Mmm.” His breathing was still a touch too fast, but he was too blissed out to care. He was even...glad that he hadn’t fed. He’d let Kiv have control, as much as it was possible to. He smiled, nuzzled Kiv’s neck, and let out a contented sigh.

Chapter Text

“As good as this feels, you’re a warmer blanket than I’m used to.” Trouble pressed a kiss to Kiv’s shoulder. Plus, if you lie down on your side of the bed, I’ll be able to pet you.” 

Kiv grumbled something that sounded an awful lot like, “fuck off,” as he extricated himself. 

“What?” Trouble snorted a laugh. “It’s not like anyone but me will know how much you like it.”

Slumping facedown into his usual spot, Kiv shivered. Then he groaned and looked up at the nearest bedpost and wormed toward it to fumble with the rope knotted off there.

Trouble blinked in surprise at Kiv’s back, then scooched and twisted until he could get his teeth on the other rope. It only took a moment for his jaw and teeth to thicken, and very little pressure to bite through the synthetic braid. Free from the bedpost but still cuffed, he examined the tie Kiv had used.

“Ffffffuck.” Kiv’s head drooped into his pillow, the knot still snuggly tied. 

“See, this is why I tried to give you food first instead of booze,” he teased. 

“Gimme a sec.” He’d turned his head to get the words out.

”You’re good, mean boy.” Trouble already had his right wrist free. “Decent knots,” he complimented. Needing the slack for his other wrist, he spooned up to Kiv. His jaws were almost on the other rope when Kiv chose to glance over his shoulder.

Kiv gasped and froze in a cringe.

Trouble’s smile shrank at the fear in Kiv’s eyes. He frowned, shoving down the impulse to glance away. “Why look at me like that? I already said I wouldn’t bite.”

“Y-you...”

“Yeah?” Trouble frowned, then raised the rope cuff to his mouth. He made himself stare right back at Kiv as his teeth went through the rope with a loud snap.

Kiv winced.

“Why d’you wanna go and ruin things, huh?” He put his arm around Kiv, palm sliding up Kiv’s sternum to rest against his throat. “You know, I never fully untie the human boys I take,” he murmured, bringing his lips to Kiv’s ear. 

Kiv whimpered, shuddering.

”Unless I feel like running them down.” He smiled, let his jaw shrink back to human proportions, and gave Kiv’s earlobe a gentle bite. “I usually only risk that if we’re in a warehouse district and it’s after business hours. I like to keep things intimate with my food.” He brushed his nose up the V behind Kiv’s ear and drew in a slow, deep breath. 

He swallowed, his Adam’s apple butting against Trouble’s loose hold. 

“I’m greedy that way about their screams. And it doesn’t hurt that there are usually industrial-sized dumpsters around for after. Depending on how much they upset me before I told them to run,” he traced Kiv’s jugular with a thumb, “usually determines how messy it’ll be when I make the catch.” 

The first thing Kiv managed to get out was a breathless squeak.

“I don’t need blood, flesh, or marrow, but I enjoy the mouthfeel and taste. Disrespectful boys have the best crunch.” Trouble kissed the soft spot below Kiv’s ear.

“I-I--”

“Yeah, mean boy?” he purred, then kissed Kiv again. Trouble released Kiv’s throat to wrap an arm around his waist, keeping their bodies flush, Kiv’s back to his front.

“I’m n-not like them.”

“You’re just as warm.” He trailed deeper, wet kisses down Kiv’s neck, along his shoulder. “And soft.”

“You.” It came out a whimper. Kiv gulped. “You said that you w-wouldn’t--”

“I said I didn’t want to hurt you, not that I wouldn’t.” Trouble grazed the point of Kiv’s shoulder with his teeth. 

“B-but--”

“When you look at me like they do,” he growled, hooking his chin over Kiv’s shoulder, “I don’t need to hear you call me a monster, or a freak -- I can feel it.” Trouble worked his other arm under and around Kiv’s chest to clutch him closer, tighter. “If you’re gonna act human, why shouldn’t I treat you that way?”

“Please don’t? I...I’m not--”

“Oooh, no. I don’t want to hear it. You’re done.” Trouble looked around, scanning the bed until he saw what he wanted. He let go of Kiv to fetch up the blindfold, then sat up. Stretching the black strip of fabric taut between fists, he straddled Kiv’s hips and glared down at him. “Open your mouth.”

Tears spilled over as soon as Kiv blinked. His breathing went unsteady as he fought not to whimper.

“Open,” he ordered quietly, smiling, “or I'll do it for you.”

With his mouth open, Kiv couldn’t help sobbing.

“This is what you’re used to. Head up,” he snapped. Trouble’s hands shook as he fought to be gentle, winding the strip of silk twice around Kiv’s head before knotting off the cleve gag. He rubbed Kiv’s lower lip with his thumb and pressed until his head lowered onto the pillow. He straightened with clenched teeth, fists on his thighs. “This is what I’m used to. Happy now?”

Kiv shook his head, still crying.

“That’s right, I forgot. They strap you down first.” One at a time, he placed Kiv’s arms to either side of the pillow. He smirked when Kiv shot a wide-eyed look at the rope still dangling from a bedpost. “We both know I don’t need that,” he whispered, gripping Kiv’s wrists firmly but not painfully. “Should I squeeze until you bruise? Will that complete the picture?”

Kiv shook his head once and sobbed into the gag.

“No?” Trouble’s lip curled in a silent snarl. “Ah. Now I remember. I skipped this step when we first met. I don’t always, but you were so biddable and sweet.” He leaned in and kissed Kiv over the gag. “I tend to save it for the boys who deserve it,” he murmured, slowly tilting his head from side to side, lightly brushing their lips together. 

He inhaled sharply around his gag, tense and shaking.

“The ones that think they’re stronger than I could ever be and they can’t wait to get me alone.” He closed his eyes when the limited contact made something pinch behind his ribs. Trouble knew he was being too rough when Kiv whined into his mouth, but he couldn’t bring himself to let up until he needed air more than Kiv’s taste.

Kiv gasped, going limp as the kiss came to an end; he’d been squirming against Trouble’s hold.

“Is...” Trouble pulled back to catch his breath, to blink back the haze that had settled over him. Seeing the flush in Kiv’s cheeks sent a tingle to where he was already wet. “Is that what you want from me?” When Kiv only laid there trembling, his face a mix of fear and confusion, Trouble’s eyes narrowed. “We are alone. Want me to stick it in you? Fuck you bloody?”

Both offers earned flinches. Holding Trouble’s gaze, Kiv shook his head. “‘E-ease noh.”

“No?”

“Noh,” Kiv begged, voice thick with tears.

Glowering, he finally tightened his fists. The moment Kiv grimaced and bit down on the gag, Trouble let go and straightened, resting his weight on Kiv’s lap. He crossed his arms, still scowling, then uncrossed them and looked away. 

It took a few shaky breaths before Kiv risked moving. He touched trembling fingers to Trouble’s hand and, when no violence came, covered it.

The rigidness eased from Trouble’s shoulders as Kiv’s thumb glided back and forth on his wrist. His gaze flicked to Kiv’s, then he sighed. “That...looks uncomfortable. You should take the gag off.” He climbed off Kiv and settled back on his own side of the bed, staring up at the ceiling while he listened to Kiv obey.

“I d-d...” Kiv broke off and fiddled with the damp silk cloth.

“Yeah?” Trouble’s voice was soft. Tired. He ran a hand down his face and sighed. 

“I didn’t mean to...look at you how I did.” The words came slowly and in a whisper, so they didn’t waver. “When you shifted.”

Trouble closed his eyes. “Yeah.” He cleared his throat, but the stinging lump remained. “It’s fine.” He sighed again, frowned. “I shouldn’t have...been shitty to you.”

Kiv’s breathing hitched.

“I’m not human.” When his eyes burned even behind closed lids, Trouble turned onto his side, facing away from Kiv. He tried to keep his breathing even, but the ache in his throat only grew.

Kiv hesitated as the silence stretched between them, then he set the silk gag aside and cautiously reached out.

Trouble flinched in surprise when Kiv’s fingers found his ear. As the touch turned into a caress, his shoulders hunched. 

The gentle stroke came again. And again. 

The lump swelled until Trouble thought he would choke on it. He covered his face with both hands and sniffled. 

The caressing paused. 

Trouble rubbed at his eyes, then turned his head enough to glimpse Kiv out of the corner of his eye. “Kiv?”

Kiv gulped, hand stuck in the air where Trouble’s ear had been.

“You don’t have to.” He looked away again before Kiv could see him cry. “I’m not gonna hurt you. I said that stuff to scare you.” Trouble swiped at his eyes. “I’ll get up and figure out something for you to eat, I just need a minute.”

The gentle ear strokes resumed. 

Trouble bit down on his own fist as he silently wept. The sharp ache in his throat and chest seemed to dim as he concentrated on Kiv’s touch. He tilted his head after a while, leaning into the soft stroking. He whined when Kiv’s caresses lengthened to include his head and neck. 

The petting slowed gradually. The lines on Kiv’s brow deepened and his arm shook harder the longer he kept at it.

“You’re tired,” he mumbled. Though he wished it could go on forever, he made himself add, “You don’t have to, Kiv.” 

“I don’t mind.”

Trouble sniffed, a hint of his smile returning. “Even a human could smell the lie in that. It’s okay to stop. Really.” He closed his eyes when Kiv finally let up and sighed. “You shouldn’t have to suck up to me. When I change, every human looks at me the way you did. My real ears and teeth. My tail.” He shrugged one shoulder. 

“I was surprised.” The admission was hesitant.

“Yeah. It’s okay. I don’t know why I can’t get used to it.”

“You can,” Kiv’s inhale was deep, “make yourself get used to something, and still hate it.”

Trouble eased onto his back and looked at Kiv. “Maybe we both need to try something else.” He looked at the ceiling when he noticed Kiv tense. “Something we won’t have to get used to.”

Chapter Text

“You don’t want any?”

“Nah.” Trouble shrugged, leaning against the counter. “It smells alright, but I don’t get much out of food that humans eat anymore.” 

Kiv went still -- mid-mouthful -- and raised an eyebrow at Trouble.

“What?” He chuckled. “You know what I eat. Even if you’re not fully human, I know you felt what I did. Anyone I’ve ever fed on has.

“It’s really good.”

“...what?” His ears pulled back, smile gone. No one pretended the sensation of being drained was anything but terrifying. What was Kiv trying to pull?

“The food.” Kiv finished chewing and nodded at the myriad of carryout containers scattered in front of him. He had chopsticks in one hand and a spoon in the other. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”

Trouble ducked his head, ears relaxing, relieved. When he looked back over at Kiv it was to roll his eyes. “It means more for you then, mean boy. And don’t look too grateful, it’s not like I had to pay for any of that.”

Instead of rolling his eyes, Kiv only held Trouble’s gaze.

“Quit.” He looked away first, nose wrinkling. “He had it coming and until someone realizes it’s not him making the purchases, we can spend whatever we want. It doesn’t last,” he added, though he kept his eyes off Kiv. “Never does.”

Kiv resumed eating. 

“You can slow down. Like I said, I don’t want any.”

“You said I could have clothes,” Kiv said around a mouthful.

“Yeah, yeah, I remember.” Trouble sighed. “I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but you should be thinking about what you want before that time comes, since you can’t live the way I do.” He risked a glance at Kiv and caught his glare. “Well you might not be human but you aren’t like me, either. I don’t have an answer.” He shrugged. “It’s not like I planned this.”

Kiv left the spoon in a dish of soup and set the chopsticks on the bar. “You took me.”

“To eat, not to keep!” He made a face, started for the bedroom, then turned around halfway there. “You’re cute, mean boy, but do you really think someone like me should have a pet?”

Then they both heard the lock on the front door click. 

Kiv shot off his barstool so fast it fell over.

Fuck. Trouble looked from the door to the fright written all over Kiv’s face. Teeth bared, he hissed at him, “bedroom, now,” before stalking toward the door.

...

Trouble went for the lights first. With an underground apartment the previous owner had no doubt been counting on privacy — especially sounds not carrying. That also meant pitch blackness dominated the space with the artificial light sources off; the tiny windows that existed high up on the walls had long since been permanently covered over.

He’d dealt with security before. More often than not they weren’t heavily armed or armored, and they wanted engagements that ended without fuss or paperwork. Trouble was usually happy to leave when told, well before anyone got a good look at his face. It wasn’t like he wrecked the places he crashed in. He just…left a few extra cuts of meat behind in freezers, down garbage disposals, and inside trash compactors. But those were problems for next of kin and realtors, not him.

Stealing victims and identities had short-term issues he’d learned to live with. In urban areas, crimes he committed tended to blend in with more of the same. So long as he didn’t mind staying mobile, it was easy enough to adapt and take advantage of whoever strode across his path.

Kiv was the first sex worker he’d ever taken, but he hadn’t thought much of it. The novelty of experiencing a place like Midnight was fun. So what if his exit had burned bridges behind him? It wasn’t as if he ever doubled back to revisit the places where he’d scored a meal. Bars and clubs were everywhere, with similar horizontal menus for him to peruse. Only the layouts changed.

Trouble shifted for the hunt in a blink. He waited, coiled to spring, as the door slowly eased inward. He stayed well out of the dingy light spilling in from the hallway. He could taste his own heartbeat as he watched the silhouette of the door, waiting for the shape of what was to come. This wasn’t outsourced security called in to check a residence by the building manager; they announced themselves and knocked loudly. 

With the night vision his hunting mode offered, the muzzle of the intruder’s weapon was clear and unmistakable. Maybe Kiv was nothing more than a clone to his owners, but apparently he was worth retrieving without the bother of missing notices or legal enforcement services. It didn’t matter to Trouble if the weapon was for killing or stunning -- either was unacceptable. Even before there was enough of his opponent showing around the door, Trouble struck.

He went for the gun -- pistol -- and the arm holding it. He kept one hand around the muzzle to ensure that any fire would hit only the floor, and seized the wrist attached to it. Pressure alone could separate the tiny, unstable bones there, but Trouble had always been a sucker for the snap and crack of bone. He wrenched hard enough that he brought the intruder to the ground as he their wrist. He opened his mouth, ready to mangle flesh from shoulder to throat, but all that Trouble got to do was scream.

...

His world turned upside down as pain exploded in his arm, but he’d been trained through worse. Even on the ground with the air out of his lungs and one weapon down, Sahota was ready. Eyes that could see in the dark did so by reflecting what little light there was. The flash of two yellow orbs was all the target he needed for the stun baton in his offhand. 

He held the trigger while his attacker cried out and writhed. A stray flailing limb knocked into his broken wrist, but Sahota only bit the inside of his cheek until the spinning in his head and guts slowed. By then, the body under his was down to whimpers and twitches. Huh. Must not have been fully charged.

Sahota let up on the shocks. When his attacker stayed limp on the floor, he holstered the baton and rose. He cradled his broken wrist to his body as he kicked the door closed and brought out his flashlight. He trained the beam on his opponent first. It was him. Not the Mr. Claasjen that Midnight had on file as a rare client, but the guy on the ground was the same person who’d taken Kiv. Whoever he was. 

A soft gasp drew Sahota’s instant focus. He raised the beam of light and watched as Kiv raised both hands to shield his eyes. Thank fuck. Fifth was the charm this time. He was grateful that he wouldn’t have to check the remaining six residences belonging to Mr. Claasjen, or receive the beatings between checks that accompanied failures back at Midnight.

“You’re alive.”

Kiv gasped again. “S...Sahota?”

Chapter Text

“S...Sahota?” Kiv blinked furiously, first against the bright flashlight, then from the afterglow spots that filled his vision. “Why are you...?”

Sahota scanned the room as he retrieved his gun; it was awkward to holster with his left hand. He moved around Kiv to check the rest of the space, starting with the kitchen beyond the countertop: only Kiv and himself. Bedroom: empty. Trash room: empty, but smelling of decomposing...meat.

Kiv found the lightswitch for the kitchen. He debated going to the bedroom to get the blanket, couldn’t decide if facing Sahota cocooned in it or naked was worse, and ended up straightening the stool he’d knocked over earlier. Even with the counter between them, Kiv couldn’t help flinching when Sahota reappeared.

“It’s clear.”

“I know.” Kiv could feel himself flush as Sahota stared. 

“Are you...”

“I’m fine.” He glared, refusing to look away. “I...” Kiv turned, his gaze drawn to Trouble’s still body on the floor. “What did you do?”

“He’s down. Stunned,” Sahota added, clarified, panting. One-handed, he tugged a set of metal cuffs from his belt. “I can carry him. If... Can you walk?”

“Stop.” Kiv planted both hands on the counter, but couldn’t stop them shaking. “Shut up.” When Sahota frowned and moved closer, soundless even in his boots, Kiv backed away, one hand up as if that meant anything, could stop anything. “Don’t!”

Sahota froze, frowning. He followed Kiv’s gaze to the handcuffs and blinked. “Not for you, for him,” he explained slowly, quietly.

“No.” Kiv shook his head. “No, I know what you meant.” He swallowed hard, looked away. “Don’t...do anything.”

Sahota’s breathing grew heavier as silence stretched between them. “It’s late.”

“I-I want time.” Kiv wrapped his arms around himself. He glanced over his shoulder at Trouble again, still unmoving, then back at Sahota. Only then did he notice the way Sahota was favoring his arm, the sheen of sweat on his face though his expression remained neutral. “You’re hurt?”

“Broken maybe.” 

It was, he knew it; Sahota looked gray.

Sahota shrugged his good shoulder. “It’ll keep.” Sahota held up the cuffs for Kiv to see as he gingerly approached the counter and set the restraints down. “It’s getting late.”

“I don’t--” Kiv frowned, looking over the sea of food containers spread out on the bar. His stomach churned at the thought of eating anything else. He’d been so hungry...was that seconds ago? Minutes? 

“I’ve been looking since he took you.”

Kiv winced, fidgeted in place. Maybe he should’ve grabbed the blanket. He hated feeling sick and naked, especially while Sahota fucking stared at him, and with his broken fucking arm, too.

“Morning isn’t far off. That would’ve made it five days.” Sahota looked at the carryout containers, then around the kitchen, at the few open cupboards.

Four days. Kiv gulped. Only four? He raised a hand to his head, gripped his own hair. It had seemed like--

“I checked four other places before this one.”

Kiv stopped breathing. He met Sahota’s gaze, shifting his weight guiltily from foot to foot. Four failures. He cringed, wishing he couldn’t imagine exactly how Vik handled those. Clients could be cruel. It was part of the attraction of a place like Midnight. But Vik? It was always more brutal coming from his hands. He was in your head before the first weapon appeared. There was no point in resisting whether he ordered you to stand or kneel, or whether he rigged you into an exposed, helpless position. The punishment would be that much worse if you tried...

“Kiv?”

Sahota’s voice made him startle so bad he stumbled, stubbing his toe on the other barstool. Kiv swore. Then he noticed Sahota had come closer, had started to round the bar. Kiv backed toward the bedroom, eyes huge. “Don’t!”

“Wh...” Sahota stopped, grimaced, got control over his face and breathing, then found Kiv’s gaze again. “We should go. I didn’t take this long at the other sites.”

“I don’t w-want--” Kiv bit his lip, cutting himself off. His gaze wandered. There were towels and sheets strewn on the floor. The armoire doors weren’t fully closed, and there was a short leather flogger on the floor in front of it. Had he knocked it there? He didn’t remember--

“Kiv?” 

Kiv looked up, saw that Sahota had noticed the flogger. “I...”

Sahota hit the lightswitch and scanned the room. The liquor bottle on the bedside table. The ropes dangling from two of the bedposts.

“It’s not--” Kiv shook his head, cheeks burning. “I...he...”

“It doesn’t matter.” Sahota shook his head when Kiv winced. “It’s over, and you won’t be in trouble.”

“You can’t say that.”

“You were drugged and bound.”

Though the emotion in Sahota’s voice was restrained -- like all of him was in “mission mode” -- Kiv couldn’t help gritting his teeth. “I’m...staying.” As much as he didn’t want to, he risked a glance at Sahota. The open shock on Sahota’s face was somehow worse than the indignant anger from a moment before.

“What...?” 

“I s...I said I’m staying. Here. I’m not going back. I don’t want to--”

...

With Sahota’s attention on Kiv, it was nothing for Trouble to sneak up close. He used both hands to slam Sahota’s head into the doorframe hard enough to crack his skull. Clenching a fistful of hair, he yanked Sahota back out of the bedroom and down to the floor. 

Sahota wheezed, eyes rolling in his head. He gritted his teeth as he went for his gun.

“Wait!” Kiv yelled, frozen in place. 

“Asshole.” Trouble straddled Sahota’s chest, planting his knee on the pistol and Sahota’s broken wrist, pinning both to the floor. He got both hands on Sahota’s other arm and wrestled it to the floor. “You waltzed into the wrong place.” Thick teeth bared, Trouble lowered his head and opened his jaws wide.

“Please, don’t!”

One of Trouble’s ears flicked in Kiv’s direction. His eyes flickered to the trembling hand holding his shoulder. Growling, he shrugged off Kiv’s hold. “Stay out of the way.” 

Sahota’s books scuffed against the floor as he bucked against Trouble’s weight. 

“No, stop, this isn’t--”

“He’s not taking you back there,” Trouble growled

Sahota cried out, losing his grip on the pistol when the broken bones in his wrist ground against the floor. 

“He won’t.” Kiv knelt where he could see Kiv’s face and Trouble’s. “He’s not. Please!”

“Go wait on the bed.” He shot a glare at Kiv, ignoring Sahota’s disjointed thrashes. A shiver ran down Trouble’s spine, even with his hackles up. “I’ve got this, mean boy. Don’t watch.”

“Baton.” Sahota barely got the word out, struggling to twist out of Trouble’s hands. He looked at Kiv, eyes watering, face bloodless with pain. 

“Stop!” Kiv had both hands on Trouble, one on his arm, the other on his cheek. He turned Trouble’s head to face his own and held his gaze, stroked his ear. “Trouble, stop, don’t hurt him. I-I trust him.”

“Him?” Trouble snarled and jerked back, though he didn’t break contact. “He came here to drag you back! He zapped me unconscious!”

“He won’t do it again. Vik made him like this,” Kiv pleaded, holding Trouble’s face with both hands now, “made me like this. Please let go of him. Please. Trouble?” 

Trouble cursed, jerked out of Kiv’s hands, and gave Sahota’s an elbow to the temple. Then he let go, opting to snatch up both the gun and stun baton. Keeping his eyes on his opponent, Trouble threw an arm out to keep Kiv behind him as he backed up.

Sahota sat up, swaying in place for a moment before he got to one knee.

“Sahota, stop, just...just stay there.”

Trouble watched how it took a few seconds for his opponent’s vision to steady, noticed as it focused on Kiv. He growled low in his throat and edged sideways, putting his whole body between Kiv and Sahota’s gaze. “Try it. C’mon, human. Give me a reason...”

“...he’s not hurting you?” Sahota cradled his broken wrist against his body before standing. He leaned his good shoulder into the door frame, breathing heavily.

“No.” 

Trouble wanted to whip around and stare at Kiv, but his instincts prickled at the thought of taking his eyes off Sahota. For a human, he was tough.

“You can’t stay here. It’s...” Sahota’s jaw worked as he considered his words. “I found it. Anyone could.”

“If we go, are you gonna show up out of the blue again?” Trouble readjusted his grip on the stun baton. He wasn’t really good with guns. “You’re not a whore or a guard, are you?” He twitched, feeling Kiv’s hand settle on his hip.

“What are you gonna tell him?” Kiv asked.

“If...you both leave before I do, I can say it’s empty. No sign of Mr. Claasjen. No sign of you.” Sahota’s gaze shifted to Trouble’s. “Evidence of restraints, and of the smell of decomp.”

“His name was Claasjen?” Trouble smirked. “The place was like this when I got here. I swear .”

“And then?” Kiv pressed, looking over Trouble’s shoulder.

“Then...” Sahota closed his eyes. More of his weight sagged into the door frame for a moment. Then he straightened up completely, feet spread for balance, knees locked. “Then I check the six other residences rented and owned by Mr. Claasjen. I check for you and the target, to retrieve you both. Alive if possible.”

“Over my dead body,” Trouble seethed.

“That is one outcome,” Sahota replied, his tone neutral.

“He...he’ll know, won’t he?” Kiv swallowed back a whine.

Trouble put his hand over Kiv’s. “Whoever he is, he can go fuck himself.”

“If I don’t retrieve you in the next few days, it would be...dangerous for you to ever find your way back to Midnight.” Sahota backed up until he could brace one hand against the kitchen countertop.

A knock at the front door made them all jump. Not far from Sahota’s elbow, a cell phone chimed an alert.

“C’mon,” Trouble murmured, taking Kiv’s hand. He tossed Sahota’s weapons at the bed, then led the way to the front door. He opened it wide enough to snatch up the delivery bag waiting outside and thrust it at Kiv. “Get dressed. If it doesn’t fit you, it’s for me.” Crossing his arms over his chest, Trouble glared over at Sahota. “I’ll make sure you never see him again.”

Sahota frowned and nodded.

Kiv rifled through the packages, not looking at anyone as he pulled on the first things he unwrapped.

“You know how fucked it is that you willingly work for a guy who’s happy to sell you to the highest bidder, day in, day out? That you let him send you to hunt down someone who got out?”

“Midnight is dangerous for you, too. They got your face on camera.”

“Not my real one.” Trouble flashed Sahota a toothy smile. He accepted the clothes Kiv passed over without looking at them. He hopped into the pair of pants, tucked the shirt under his arm, and opened the door. “You first, mean boy.”

“B-but--” Kiv glanced back at Sahota as Trouble put a hand as the small of his back to help push him out the door.

“You’re alright.” Trouble pulled the door closed behind himself. “I’m not gonna leave you in a box on some corner. I’ve got you,” he coaxed, taking Kiv’s hand again before heading for the nearest exit sign. 

“We aren’t even wearing shoes.”

“I’ve done more with less and I’m guessing that you have, too.” He grinned at Kiv. “You worry too much. We can work on that until you’re ready to go your own way.” 

Kiv stopped moving halfway up the flight of stairs.

“Hey.” Trouble gave Kiv’s hand a gentle squeeze. “You’ve got time, remember? It’s okay.” He waited for Kiv to move on his own, then walked in step with him. “Kiv? You’re the guy who met me and lived.” Once they were out on the street, Trouble slung an arm around Kiv’s waist. “You can do anything. Trust me.”

Chapter Text

“Home sweet home,” Trouble muttered, holding the door for Kiv. His nose wrinkled as the stale air hit him full in the face. 

Kiv turned on the lights and scanned the rented room before moving cautiously inside.

“Not the worst I’ve ever been in.” Apart from the poor air circulator, he could smell that the bed linens had been washed. 

“Tired,” Kiv muttered. 

Trouble closed and locked the door, then watched as Kiv went through the only other doorway. 

A moment later, Kiv turned the light back off and re-emerged. He looked pale, his expression drawn. 

“We’re alone,” Trouble assured him, making a show of lifting his nose and sniffing the air. “No one else has been in here for hours.”

“The whole time we were walking?” Kiv made a beeline for the bed and collapsed onto it.

“Probably.” He smiled and shook his head, but moved to join Kiv anyway. He sat on the edge of the bed, opposite the side Kiv had claimed. Glancing over his shoulder to make sure Kiv was still facedown and unmoving, Trouble lifted his shirt and looked down at his side. There. A red, raised mark from the stun baton. He scowled at the bruising around it. Sahota had jabbed a lot harder than was necessary.

Trouble bit his lower lip as he gently touched the edge of the bruise. He tensed as pain bloomed in his side, radiating out from the injury, but didn’t make a sound. Lousy asshole.

“You okay?”

“What?” He yanked his shirt back down and twisted to look at Kiv, breathing in sharply at how uncomfortable the movement was. “Yeah.” Trouble turned away and rubbed his face. “I’m tired, too. We should sleep.”

“D’you...want help?”

“Nah, I’m not hungry.” He sighed. “I told you, I don’t need to feed everyday.”

“...”

“Hey.” Trouble sighed again; Kiv was holding his breath. “What’s up?” He held back a sigh at the sound of rustling fabric. He could picture Kiv fidgeting in place. “Look, I know we walked a lot further than you’re used to.” A corner of his mouth curled up as he recalled Kiv’s top complaint while they walked. “And we did it shoeless. But we needed to put some distance between us and that apartment.” And your old pal Sahota. “You get that, right?”

“I get it,” Kiv replied softly. Eventually.

The rustling continued. Feet still on the floor, Trouble let himself flop backwards, head landing on the squashy pillows. “You can say what’s on your mind.” Kiv had complained freely for most of the walk. Until he got too winded to do more than grumble. How was it different now that they were done walking?

After a long pause, Kiv sat up and slid off the bed.

“Or not.” Trouble watched him duck into the bathroom. He pushed back the blanket and, wincing, tucked his legs under, not bothering to take off his shorts. The stun baton burn would heal faster if he fed, but Kiv didn’t need to know that. 

He closed his eyes and crossed his arms under his head. So long as he didn’t bump or scratch it, Trouble knew the burn would be fine after a few days. 

“Um.”

Trouble’s eyes flew open; Kiv’s voice was right above him. He popped up on his elbows, frowning.

Kiv backed a step away from Trouble’s side of the bed, holding out a first aid kit like an undersized shield.

”Oh.” The tension bled out of his shoulders. “Uh. They’ll charge for anything we use out of there.”

”…but until the cred-stick gets deactivated, why not spend it?”

“Never thought anyone would use my own line against me.” Trouble’s nose wrinkled, but at the discouraged look that flashed across Kiv’s face, he relented. “Thanks,” he said, holding out a hand to Kiv.

Kiv swallowed, hesitating before he tightened his grip on the kit. “I can do it.”

”You’re hurt?” 

“No.” Kiv stared, deadpan. “I can help with your burn.”

”Oh.” Trouble blinked. “Uh…thanks.”

Kiv set the kit down at Trouble’s side and rummaged through the contents.

He rucked his shirt up and relaxed back on the bed. He looked away, pretending to study the terrible abstract art hanging on the walls as color rose in his cheeks. 

“This will numb the pain,” Kiv said in warning before he dabbed gel onto the raised burn.

Trouble closed his eyes and nodded. He sighed when Kiv’s light touch brought instantaneous relief. 

“You didn’t say you were hurt.” 

“It’s a small burn.” His ears twitched as Kiv tore open a package. He pressed his fingers into the mattress to keep still while Kiv taped a bandage in place. “I only saw the pistol, so I wasn’t thinking about any stun baton.” He huffed. “It’s been awhile since someone got the drop on me.” He opened one eye to look up at Kiv. “He’s human?”

“Sahota?” Kiv frowned and nodded. “Yeah.”

“Ugh.” Trouble made a face. “I’ve never let a human drop me like that.” He watched as Kiv closed the case and straightened. “How come you didn’t want me to hurt him? Were you friends back at that place?”

Kiv tensed, then headed for the bathroom with the first aid supplies.

“I was just curious,” he mumbled, tugging his shirt back down and pulling the covers up. He stared at the ceiling. There were three stains. Shit. Trouble sat bolt upright.

Kiv gasped and froze, nearly back to his own side of the bed.

“Your food. You barely got to eat anything before he showed up.” He frowned. “Are you hungry? There’s a tablet over there on the desk. Delivery wouldn’t take long.” 

“I...I’m more tired than hungry.”

“Breakfast in the morning then?”

“...isn’t it almost morning?”

“Food when we wake up, whatever,” Trouble chuckled. 

“Shoes, too?”

“Yeah.” He looked away as Kiv tentatively peeled back the covers and eased onto the bed. “Boots if you really want them. We probably shouldn’t stay here for longer than we need to, though. Sleeping, new shoes, and you eating.”

“Okay.”

Trouble glanced over at Kiv. “Is there any place you want to go?”

“I don’t really...know many places.”

He let out a low whistle. “They kept all of you on lock down, huh.”

Kiv closed his eyes. 

Trouble could hear his teeth squeak as he clenched them. “Kiv?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks, for the bandage.”

Kiv nodded and drew the blanket up to his chin.

“And I’m sorry your friend came after you, instead of leaving that place with you.”

He stopped breathing and stiffened, then turned onto his side, facing away.

Trouble’s ears drooped. He picked at the blanket. “You don’t have to sleep right on the edge like that. I’m not gonna hurt you.” He stared at the back of Kiv’s head. His hair looked tangled. “Kiv?” His brow furrowed as Kiv gulped, then sniffled.

“Need a sec,” he muttered tightly.

Waiting was never Trouble’s style. He chewed his lip, trying to be patient for Kiv’s sake. The scent pouring off Kiv was sharp: grief, and anger. And a touch of something sour: shame. It made Trouble’s nose itch. He shivered, then curled on his side to wiggle closer to Kiv. Keeping the blanket between his touch and Kiv, Trouble set his hand between Kiv’s shoulder blades.

Kiv jerked, but he didn’t shoot off the bed. Or shrink away.

Slowly, he rubbed Kiv’s back in gentle circles. He didn’t stop when he felt Kiv start to tremble, or when his breathing went uneven.

“I--” Kiv’s voice sounded pinched. His breathing hitched. 

“I’m not gonna hurt you, or bite. Okay?” Trouble put his arm carefully around Kiv, then paused, giving him a chance to react. When Kiv only shook harder, gasping in air and choking back sobs, Trouble drew Kiv to his chest. He tucked the blanket closer around Kiv and held him tight, his forehead pressed to the back of Kiv’s head. 

Trouble wasn’t sure how long it took Kiv’s scent to soften. Hugging Kiv wasn’t entirely selfless on his part; it was a different kind of relief to be so close to someone else. Someone who wasn’t going to lash out, or run, or beg to be let go. He felt when Kiv reached up to hold his arm. When Kiv stroked his thumb back and forth near his wrist, Trouble had nearly purred. He’d nearly drifted off when Kiv cleared his throat.

“How much time?” 

“Hm?” It took Trouble a moment to open his eyes. His sleepy brain didn’t seem to want to unscramble Kiv’s scratchy-sounding question. 

“H-how much time do I get?”

Once he understood, he gave Kiv a brief squeeze and kissed the bump of his shoulder. “S’much as I can give you.” Trouble nearly dozed off again.

“You won’t hurt me?”

“Mm-mm.” Trouble smiled and touched his nose to Kiv’s neck. “Nah. You’re Kiv, not food.”

“No hitting, no biting?”

Trouble chuckled and gave Kiv another squeeze. “No biting, no hitting. We’ll figure it out.”

“Okay.”