by Heather
Hearing Colin coming back from the kitchen behind him, Ryan held up one hand until the cool bottle was pressed against his palm. He took the beer and brought it to his mouth for a sip, nodding his thanks to Colin, who was just sitting down on the couch beside him. Colin gave him a little sideways grin and took a drink from his own bottle, wincing slightly.
“Damn watered down American beer,” he said, making a face.
“Don’t knock it, it’s free after all,” Ryan replied, trying
to look stern and failing completely. He
was fairly buzzed, and Colin wasn’t far behind.
They were relaxing in Ryan’s home, watching a
little TV and just generally winding down from the day’s taping. They had another one scheduled tomorrow, and
they tended to spend as much time together as possible during the busy taping
season. With Colin spending a lot of his
time in
“You were pretty good today,” Colin commented as he slowly ran his finger down the side of his beer bottle, leaving a smooth line in the condensation.
“Not so bad yourself,” Ryan grunted, smiling sleepily. “Although I don’t know how a dinosaur impression fit into that one game--“
“Don’t even start,” Colin said with a grin.
“I think you just threw it in there because you couldn’t think of anything else and you knew it’d get a laugh,” Ryan said slyly, raising an eyebrow.
“So? It worked, didn’t it?” Colin was smiling, feeling very relaxed -- and it wasn’t just the alcohol. Their little routine of hanging out, watching TV and just talking was probably his favorite part of the taping season. He had a lot of friends, but no one like Ryan -- the guy he was closest to, who he felt tthe most comfortable with, who could always make him laugh.
“Only worked cause your fans just *love* to see that dinosaur impression...I guess there’s no accounting for taste, huh?”
“Yeah, I guess that explains your fan base, doesn’t it?” Colin retorted, ducking when Ryan threw a cushion at him. Colin was laughing in that quiet way he had, when his smile got really wide and his chest shook with laughter, but he barely made any sound. Ryan could never look at that without laughing himself, and he snickered, putting a hand to his mouth and crinkling his eyes at the corners.
“I’ll have you know,” Ryan said, between chuckles, “that my fans love me.”
“I bet you just write yourself fan letters so the rest of us won’t feel sorry for you,” Colin said, still giggling.
“Don’t worry
They spent the rest of the evening that way, just talking about nothing, teasing each other and making fun of old, bad movies. It was pretty late when Colin left, still grinning as he walked away from the house. As far as he was concerned, life didn’t get any better than this.
* * *
Ryan woke up the next day still feeling relaxed and cheerful. He knew the taping was going to be fun -- working with Colin always was. He stretched lazily in bed for several minutes before finally dragging his long, slender frame into an upright position and shuffling into the shower. After getting clean and dressed, he made his way downstairs, one long-fingered hand trailing along the wall as he walked. His mind was already ticking over various ways to out-tease Colin today, and he chuckled softly, remembering their silly conversation of the night before. Their easy banter was probably the main foundation of their friendship, and Ryan felt lucky for it. Colin wasn’t just the guy he could always trust and depend on, not only the one who was always there for him, but he could always make Ryan laugh, too.
As he walked through the living room, headed for the kitchen and already anticipating the first cup of coffee, something odd caught his eye. Pausing, he cocked his head curiously and stared for a moment before walking over and picking up the envelope lying on the floor. Wondering vaguely if Colin had dropped it last night, he turned it over in his hands a few times before shrugging and opening it.
* * *
A few hours later, Ryan was leaning against the wall in a back hallway of Raleigh Studios, staring at a piece of paper in his hands with a troubled look on his face. He had read the letter several times already, but the uneasy feeling it gave him didn’t fade with familiarity. When he caught a glimpse of his best friend walking by out of the corner of his eye, Ryan looked up quickly and put a hand on his shoulder. Colin turned and looked at him curiously, an unspoken question in his dark brown eyes.
“Hey
“Sure, what?” Colin replied, frowning a little when he saw the tension on Ryan’s face. Instead of replying, Ryan simply handed him the letter, nodding at him to read it. Colin glanced at it quickly, shot a look of confusion at Ryan, and then looked back at the letter again, reading it carefully.
Ryan,
I always watch your shows, and you’re just
amazing. I think you are very attractive
and sexy as hell; I'd like you all to myself.
But your friend Colin would probably have something to say about that,
huh? I mean, are you two a couple or
what? You sure act like it. But that’s okay, I love seeing you, and I’m
really looking forward to seeing you again.
Real soon.
Chris
Colin rolled his eyes slightly at the familiar insinuation about his relationship with Ryan, but he didn’t see anything in the letter that would put that worried look on his best friend’s face. True, the tone was a bit different from the usual adoring fluff, but it was still a pretty standard fan letter.
“So? It’s a fan letter. Probably some teenage girl with a crush on you...what’s the big deal?” Colin was smiling, half-expecting to hear that Ryan was kidding around with him in some way. His mind was already flicking back to the conversation they’d had the previous night about fan mail, and he couldn’t help wondering if this was all some elaborate joke Ryan was setting up. Colin knew his friend would do anything for a laugh, although writing a weird letter was a bit above and beyond.
“Actually, I think it’s a guy,” Ryan answered seriously. He was not smiling, and Colin felt his own smile fade in reaction to Ryan’s strangely tense attitude.
Glancing at the letter again, Colin said, “Chris? Well, that could be either, I guess. But you know most of our fans are girls. Why do you think it’s a guy?”
“Because of that thing he said...you know, about us being a couple.”
Colin shrugged, rolling his eyes again. “Everyone says that. Just because you can’t seem to resist kissing me on stage...” His teasing tone failed to raise a smirk from Ryan, and Colin trailed off, wondering just what he was missing here. “Okay, so lets say he’s a guy. So what?” Colin asked, still thinking it was probably some girl, but humoring Ryan anyway. Ryan seemed upset, and Colin thought it would be better to just go along with him until he could figure out what the real problem was.
Ryan seemed to consider the question as he fiddled with something in his inner coat pocket. “Well, it’s weird enough that a guy writes me a letter to say he’s attracted to me, but ordinarily I wouldn’t really care. The thing is...” Ryan’s eyes flicked up to meet Colin’s concerned gaze before dropping to the floor again. Wordlessly, he pulled an envelope out of his coat pocket and handed it to Colin. The shorter man took it, and quickly examined it before giving Ryan another confused look.
“Um...Ry, this is just a blank envelope. What are you getting at here?”
“That’s what the letter came in this morning.” Ryan was watching Colin carefully, gauging his reaction. Still not understanding, Colin looked at the blank, open envelope again before shaking his head in perplexity.
“But there’s nothing on this. How did it get mailed to the studio?”
“It didn’t. I found it slipped under my front door. At home.”
Understanding flooded Colin’s features as he realized why Ryan was acting so antsy about a simple fan letter. Ryan was looking at him, waiting for a response, and Colin frowned slightly, trying to come up with something reasonably reassuring.
“Well...okay, yes, that is a little freaky, but he doesn’t seem to mean you any harm,” Colin said, tacitly accepting Ryan’s assumption that the writer was a man. For some reason the writer now seemed more threatening, since he knew where Ryan lived, and therefore Colin’s mind automatically saw him as male. “It’s not like he’s threatening you or anything--“
“Isn’t he? I mean,
that thing where he says he wants me all to himself, or that he loves seeing
me...
“Well, maybe he just means seeing you for the taping. Look, I know this is weird, but he probably just put the letter under your door to get your attention, that’s all. He wants a reply or something.” Even before the words left his lips, Colin saw the flaw in his reasoning, but hoped Ryan wouldn’t notice it.
“No, because he didn’t leave any return address...or any last name, or any way of knowing who he is. The letter is even typed, not handwritten. This is a guy who wants to stay anonymous.”
Colin’s lips tightened ruefully; he should have known Ryan would catch such an obvious logical flaw. He put a hand on Ryan’s shoulder, rubbing gently at the tension he felt there. The last thing he wanted was for Ryan to be all distracted during the taping, which was due to start in less than an hour. Colin thought the whole thing was probably no big deal, just some fan who wanted to play a joke and didn’t realize how it would affect Ryan. All the same, it would be better to take it seriously, just in case.
“All right, what do you want to do?” Colin asked, keeping his voice calm and reassuring. Ryan seemed a little surprised by the question, and he shrugged slightly, lifting his hands in a gesture of helplessness.
“I don’t know...there’s not really anything we can do. Even if he does know where I live, you’re right, he’s not threatening me. It just...makes me feel weird. The first thing I did when I got this letter was to close all my curtains and lock all the doors.” Ryan shook his head, slapping a fist into his palm in frustration. “I hate not feeling safe in my own home!”
“Maybe we should tell someone. Just so someone knows what’s going on in case of...something,” Colin finished vaguely, not really sure what could happen but wanting to cover all his bases. Colin slipped the hand on Ryan’s shoulder down to the small of his back, applying light pressure to show his support. Ryan nodded in agreement, smiling faintly at his friend.
“All right,” Colin agreed, “and then you can come stay with me for a little while. This guy doesn’t know where *I* live.” At the invitation, Ryan’s face broke into a relieved grin, and he felt better than he had all morning. Together, they set off down the hallway towards Drew’s office.
* * *
“So that’s the situation. There’s not a lot we can do, but for now, Ryan’s going to be staying with me. We just thought you’d like to know, and...well, it seemed like a good idea to tell someone,” Colin finished, shrugging and looking slightly sheepish. Ryan nodded in agreement with Colin’s explanation, and watched as Drew looked at the letter again. The chubby comic shook his head, smiling ruefully.
“Man, what is it about you guys that makes people so crazy? I sure don’t get this kind of fan mail.” Colin shrugged in response, and Ryan snorted derisively, ready to make a comment about just why Drew didn’t get that kind of mail. Colin, seeming to read his mind as usual, placed a hand on his arm to stop him, and Ryan subsided with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. Drew’s eyes flicked back and forth between his two friends, and he got a pretty clear picture of what had just happened. He’d known these two long enough to understand some of how their friendship worked, and pick up on a little of that silent communication that always seemed to run between them.
“Go ahead, Ryan, I know you want to say it,” Drew said invitingly, his face calm but his eyes laughing.
“Who, me? I wasn’t going to say a thing,” Ryan replied, sounding all too innocent. “Well...maybe a little something about how I’m irresistible and sexy, and you’re...well...Drew.”
Drew made that scrunched up, trying to look insulted, trying not to laugh face, which only made Colin grin and Ryan’s eyes light up as he saw the opportunity.
“See? That face, right there, that’s what I’m talking about!”
Immediately grinning, Drew shook his head and said completely without rancor, “Well fuck you and the horse you rode in on.”
Ryan only smiled, well accustomed to Drew’s mannerisms, and turned to Colin, raising an eyebrow and saying, “Oh, if we’re very quiet, he may confess more of his sodomy and bestiality related tendencies.” He spoke in that nature documentary voice he often used on stage, widening his eyes and exaggerating his gestures. Colin looked at him, refraining from laughter only with the help of his many years of practice. Ryan paused, and then leaned in close, widened his eyes ever so slightly, and quirked his eyebrows in the way that he knew was guaranteed to make Colin lose it. Colin’s mouth tightened as his eyes grew bright with laughter, and after a few seconds he gave in, giggling in that quiet way he had.
Drew rolled his eyes and shook his head at the two chuckling men, deciding there were some things about that friendship he didn’t want to understand. Glancing down at the paper in his hands, he was reminded of the reason they had started this whole conversation in the first place, and he cleared his throat, bringing things back on track.
“Well, staying at Colin’s place sounds like a good idea, but if you get another letter or any threats, we’ll have to go to the authorities.” Ryan and Colin nodded in acceptance, and Drew continued. “I’ll keep this quiet like you asked, and it’ll probably all blow over. Once this Chris guy realizes he doesn’t get a reaction, he’ll quit bothering you.”
Everyone agreed on this, although Ryan still felt a bit uneasy. The tone of the letter was suggestive but harmless, and yet underneath the simple words he seemed to see a hidden malice. Deciding it was all in his head, Ryan shook himself slightly and followed Colin out the door. It was time to get ready for the taping. No one considered Chris to be anything more than an inconvenience.
* * *
Ryan turned the key in his front door and opened it for Colin, who gave him a quick nod of thanks before entering the house. Ryan followed, and shut the door behind him, then turned to the keypad mounted on the wall nearby. He entered the six-digit code that disarmed the security system, which had been triggered when the door opened. Colin was already heading upstairs, and Ryan locked the door again before following his friend. He didn’t bother to re-engage the security system -- they were only going to be a minute. He just wanted to get a few clothes and toiletries before heading to Colin’s house.
The taping had gone well, despite Ryan’s slight nervousness. He had scanned the audience more often than usual, looking for someone who seemed to be behaving strangely. It felt odd to think someone in that crowd might be the same person who had slipped a letter under his door that morning. Colin had noticed his tension, but instead of confronting Ryan he had simply concentrated on cracking the taller man up. Colin always could make Ryan laugh, and he made a point of doing it more often than usual during the taping. By the time it was over, Ryan’s sides hurt and his face almost felt sore from grinning -- but the tension was gone.
Being in the silent house was unnerving him again though, and Ryan found himself hurrying more than seemed necessary. He was pulling clothes out of the closet and tossing them on the bed, not really seeing what he was picking out, his mind whirling with nervousness and irritation at the situation.
//This is ridiculous.
I can’t believe I have to feel unsafe in my own home! I’m overreacting to this, right? I mean, sure I am. He’s just some fan. He said he thought I was amazing. So that’s good. It’s not like he would want to hurt me or
anything. So why am I so damn
nervous? God, I hate this. At least Colin’s letting me stay with
him. I think I’d go a little nuts if I
had to stay here, knowing some weirdo could be watching me. Shit, what if he’s out there right now? Okay, that’s just too freaky to think
about. So stop it. You’re fine, everything is fine, you’re
letting a stupid little letter get to you, knock it off. Just slow down and breathe a little bit. Nothing is going to happen.//
Despite his resolution to stay calm, Ryan continued to pull clothes out, ending up with far more than he needed, moving faster and faster. Colin noticed and stopped putting the clothes in suitcases for a moment. He moved to Ryan’s side and put a gentle hand around his friend’s wrist, looking up at him with concern. Ryan chuckled sheepishly, shrugging and taking a deep breath.
“Guess I’m being kinda silly, huh?”
Shaking his head, Colin slipped an arm around Ryan’s shoulders. “No, it’s understandable. If some crazy fan knew where I lived, I’d be scared too.” Ryan smiled at him gratefully, and Colin smiled back, enjoying the moment. It never failed to amaze him just how close he and Ryan were. He didn’t know what he would do without the tall, skinny goof -- and he didn’t want to find out.
“You’re going to be fine, Ryan. That guy probably won’t even come back.” Ryan nodded in agreement; he was glad he had someone who he felt comfortable enough with to admit his fear.
That was when the sound of breaking glass reached them. Ryan and Colin stared at each other in alarm, and then towards the front of the house, where the sound had come from. Colin quickly walked to the doorway and stuck his head out, looking down the stairs toward the living room and the front door. His gaze caught the sparkling pile of shattered glass on the floor before moving up to see someone dressed in black slipping in through the slowly opening door. Pulling back in a sudden jerk, he turned to Ryan, white-faced and wide-eyed.
“The front door is opening,” Colin whispered. “Someone’s breaking in!”
Ryan swallowed, frozen for a moment, before the obvious
occurred to him. There was a phone on
the table beside the bed, and he picked it up, already reaching for the buttons
to dial
Shivering at Ryan’s unfortunate phrasing, Colin turned frantically back to the doorway, hearing the voices of men on the stairs. Ryan looked helplessly around the room for a place to hide. His mind had already leapt to the conclusion that the intruder had to be the man who had written that strange letter, but he couldn’t seem to think beyond that. Fear and confusion were slowing his reactions, making him stand still in the middle of the messy bedroom like he was waiting for someone to come save them. Finally seeing the open closet door, he grabbed Colin by the arm and yanked him inside. They pushed the folding door shut bare seconds before the men made it to the top of the stairs. Wondering if the soft click of the door shutting had been heard, they both held their breath and waited. The door had horizontal slats that gave them a partial view of the bedroom, and both men stiffened when they saw a stranger enter the room.
He was not especially tall, but rather stocky and solidly built, with sandy brown hair and uniformly black clothing. A piece of nylon stocking was stretched over his face, giving his features a strange, distorted appearance. He paused, taking in the disheveled room, with the clothes strewn across the bed and the half packed suitcases.
“Hey Chris!” he called, his words muffled by the nylon pressing against his lips. “Looks like he was going somewhere.” A growled curse echoed in the hallway, and another man stalked into the room angrily.
“You fucking idiot! I told you no names!” Chris was taller, but still not as tall as Ryan, or even Colin. His head was completely smooth -- shaved, judging by his obvious youth. He also had a nylon covering his features, but his body was that of a young man -- one who exercised quite a bit. He shot a menacing look at the other man, who nodded rapidly, lowering his eyes and cringing into a kind of hunched-shoulders submissive posture. Ryan and Colin exchanged a look of fear as they realized this must be the same Chris who had sent the letter.
“Hey, Be -- um, I mean...oh hell, just come over here. I found some money!” This third voice came from somewhere else on the second floor, and the two intruders in the bedroom responded, leaving Ryan and Colin to let out a long held breath. Finding Colin’s hand in the dark closet, Ryan laced their fingers together in a gesture of mutual support. Colin looked at him, and even though Ryan couldn’t see his friend’s features in the dim light, he knew Colin was smiling. The shorter man rose up on his tiptoes and placed his mouth nearly on Ryan’s ear so he could whisper very softly.
“We’ll be okay. Let them take what they want, and they’ll go.” Ryan nodded his assent, and then both men jumped at the sound of something large crashing to the floor elsewhere in the house. The heavy thud was followed by the tinkle of breaking glass, and the raucous laughter of the men.
“Those assholes are tearing up my house!” Ryan whispered in indignation. Colin placed a hand on the taller man’s chest, and a finger across his lips.
“Sssshh! Better your house than you!”
Gritting his teeth in frustration, Ryan grudgingly agreed to the wisdom of this, and kept quiet. Colin stroked his back consolingly, and they both tensed again as the voices got closer.
“They’ve gotta be here, their cars are out front.” This drifted in from the hallway in the unmistakable voice of Chris. He sounded different from the others, with a surprisingly smooth tenor and a slight accent.
“Both of them? Ryan *and* Colin? That would be SO great!” This sounded like the short, sandy-haired man they had seen earlier. His low, scratchy voice was raised in excitement, and Ryan and Colin found themselves edging a little closer together.
Leaning over to whisper in Colin’s ear, Ryan said, “Ben? Bert? What do you think?”
Colin shrugged, knowing Ryan was just trying to find a way to distract himself from his fear. Deciding to play along, he replied, “Let’s go with Ben. It’s nicer.” Ryan stared at him in disbelief for a moment before snorting laughter. Colin immediately clapped a hand across the taller man’s mouth, and Ryan quickly stopped, his eyes wide. Both men stood frozen in place, not daring to breathe.
“Did you hear something?”
“I dunno...we already looked in here.” Ben said this, as he followed Chris into the bedroom. Behind them was the third man, clearly older than the other two, with thinning salt-and-pepper hair and a rather gaunt frame. He seemed to have a permanent leer pasted on his face as he stared around the bedroom, paying special attention to the bed.
Nudging the man Ryan and Colin had decided to call Ben in the side with his elbow, the third man nodded toward the bed and wiggled his eyebrows, which looked rather silly through the nylon over his face.
“You think that’s where they do it?” he asked, his voice dripping with innuendo. Ben giggled, until Chris shot both of them a look that clearly said ‘shut the fuck up.’ Ryan and Colin stood frozen in place, breathing shallowly and clinging together as Chris turned slowly in a circle only a few feet away.
“Come out, come out wherever you are...” The childlike singsong of Chris’s voice was even spookier when combined with the predatory grin on his face. He stared at the clothes and suitcases on the bed for a moment, and then swept them to the floor with a snarl.
“He was running, all right. But he didn’t count on us getting here so fast. I knew he’d freak out over that letter -- I know my pet so well. I know everything about him -- I’ve been preparing for this so long. And just like I predicted, he’s trying to run away...probably going off to stay with his little friend. Like I didn’t see that coming. I’m so ahead of him -- he doesn’t have a fucking chance. I know they’re in the house somewhere, and we’re not leaving till we find them.”
Ryan felt a shiver run down his spine at those words. His mind kept coming back to that phrase Chris had used -- ‘my pet’ -- what the hell did that mean? And apparently their clever plan to have him stay with Colin hadn’t been so clever after all. However bad the situation seemed right now, Ryan had the sinking feeling that it was actually worse.
“Hey...seriously, do you think Ryan and Colin have actually done it on this bed? I mean, can you imagine that? We’re in the room where they’ve actually --“
“Would you shut the fuck up already!” Chris snapped, cutting Ben off in mid-gush. “It doesn’t matter now, don’t you get it? Everything they are, everything they’ve done, it doesn’t matter anymore. They’re mine now...he’s mine.” Chris paused for a moment, an almost feral smile stretching his lips and a faraway, intense look in his eyes. “If you two behave, I might let you play with the other one a bit,” Chris added, with the air of one conferring a great favor. Ben and the still unnamed third guy nodded and grinned enthusiastically, ducking their heads and chortling like kids playing a prank. Chris rolled his eyes at them, and in a sudden movement, flipped the mattress off the bed. It was large, specially made for Ryan’s long frame, so the easy lift was very impressive. Watching wide-eyed from the closet, Ryan and Colin both swallowed nervously.
“Um...why’d you do that, Chr -- uh, boss?”
“To see if they were under the bed, you idiots. Now keep looking!” As his minions scrambled to obey, Chris cast his raptor gaze around the room. Ryan tightened his grip on Colin’s hand, and felt an answering squeeze. He wanted to put his arms around the shorter man for reassurance, but was afraid the movement would give them away.
“They’re not in here. Should we check the rest of the house again?” Ben asked meekly, looking nervously at the toppled dresser.
“We will...but we’re not quite done in here yet. There’s one more place to check.” Eyes trained on the closet door, Chris slowly stalked forward. Ryan felt Colin trembling at his side, and he swallowed again, biting his lip. Chris put his hand on the door for a moment, his fingertips lightly tracing the wooden surface as if he was reading Braille. He was literally only inches away, and Ryan squeezed his eyes shut as if that would help hide them somehow. He shifted ever so slightly, leaning a little closer to Colin so that their arms brushed together. Colin returned the gesture, feeling Ryan’s trembling echo his own. He felt sure that everyone in the room must be able to hear his hammering heartbeat, and the way his breath quickened with fear. Colin found himself wishing the crazy bastard would just open the door already and get it over with -- the tension was killing him.
With a confident smirk, Chris dropped his hand to the door handle, gripped it firmly, and pulled.
End Part 1 (I’m so evil :-D)
* * * * *
Part 2
When the door was yanked open, everyone stood still for a long moment. Ryan and Colin, standing close together with their hands still joined, stared at Chris. Colin’s eyes darted around the room, taking in his first clear view of the intruders, and he swallowed nervously, not sure what to do. Ryan was holding himself to his full height, using his size to feel less intimated. He was scared, but his eyes narrowed in a show of stubborn defiance as he looked down on the three men. They had no right to be in his home, and Ryan set his jaw, glaring at them in an effort to hide his fear. Chris stared right back at them, and the nylon covering his face did nothing to disguise the intensity in his eyes. His thin lips slowly curved into a smile as his cold eyes fixed on Ryan, and the taller man shivered, leaning back instinctively. Ben and the other man simply gaped, practically salivating at the sight of the two performers.
Colin stepped forward quickly, some half-formed plan of getting away and going for help running through his mind. This plan was quickly altered by the way Chris effortlessly grabbed him and twisted an arm behind his back, making him yelp in pain. Ryan stiffened, clenching his fists angrily, ready to jump forward and punch that bastard right in the face. He froze when a knife seemed to materialize against Colin’s throat. Chris held it with the ease of long practice, and he smiled at Ryan over Colin’s shoulder.
“Now, now, pet...such aggressive behavior! That’s against the rules...but you’ll learn soon enough.” His gaze swept up and down Ryan’s body, and he licked his lips hungrily. He seemed content to stare at Ryan, and the moment stretched out until the third guy stepped forward, giggling in excitement.
“Holy shit, it’s really them! Benny, look at this, we got ‘em!” Despite his fear, the pain of his arm being twisted and the feel of the sharp knife at his throat, Colin felt a tiny smile twitch at his lips when he heard the name. Apparently, his guess had been accurate. He met Ryan’s eyes, and they shared a meaningful look. Ryan had caught the name too, and his green eyes flickered with the barest hint of humor before he focused on Chris again with a frightened, watchful expression.
Shoving Colin into Ben’s arms, Chris moved quickly to Ryan’s side and brandished the knife at him threateningly. With his other hand, he grasped Ryan’s upper arm possessively, staring up into his wide eyes with a crazy fascination. Painfully aware of the way Ben had his own knife trained on Colin, Ryan had no intention of making any sudden moves that might endanger his friend. Seeing that sharp blade against his best friend’s throat was both scary and frustrating -- Ryan wanted nothing more than to run across the room and yank Colin away, but he didn’t dare. He stayed still, sharing a helpless, frightened look with Colin before Chris recaptured his attention by tightening the hand on his arm. They locked eyes for a long moment, and despite his height advantage, Ryan felt intimidated. The man just had something, a kind of powerful presence that inexplicably made Ryan want to lower his gaze. He stubbornly refused to do so, trying hard to look angry instead of scared. Chris smiled slightly, nodding in a way that almost seemed approving, before breaking the staring contest to nod to his men, gesturing as if they should know what he meant.
Rope was produced out of the third guy’s backpack, and Colin and Ryan were quickly bound, hands behind their backs and ankles closely linked. Prodding Ryan into the lead, Chris shoved him toward the door and ushered him down the stairs. Ben and his buddy followed with Colin, touching him as often as possible. Most of the contact came from the older, gaunt one, as Ben seemed too timid. The touches were verging on gropes by the time they got to the front door, and Colin had to suppress a cry of protest when the unnamed third guy screwed up his courage and grabbed possessively at the comedian’s crotch. Holding on for a moment and staring at Colin smugly, he finally released the frightened comic with a lecherous smile. Ben giggled nervously, licking his lips and darting his gaze rapidly between Chris and the other kidnapper, hunching his shoulders in anticipation of a reprisal. Colin was reminded of a dog that has been kicked too often, crawling on its belly in helpless, loyal servility to a cruel master. Chris, watching the whole thing, laughed coldly at Colin’s expression.
“Oh, you ain’t seen nothing yet...Captain Hair,” Chris added derisively. “That’s just the beginning.” As he spoke, Chris slid one hand along Ryan’s side, firmly grabbing his ass before slipping between his legs to stroke the inside of his thigh. Ryan pulled away from his captor in frightened revulsion, only to be yanked back by the ropes and given a stern warning look. When Chris turned his attention to opening the front door, Ryan gave Colin a sympathetic look as the unnamed man grabbed his friend again. He wished he could do more, but their captors kept them from touching, so Ryan put as much reassurance in his eyes as possible, and smiled slightly when he saw Colin do the same.
Carefully sticking his head out the door, Chris looked in both directions before pulling back in. He tugged at his captive’s ropes to get their attention and gave them both a warning look.
“All right, here’s how this works. You,” he said, pointing at Ryan, “come out with me first. You make any noise, or try anything stupid, and your buddy here pays for it.” The third kidnapper nodded in agreement, pressing his knife against Colin’s throat again for emphasis. Ryan swallowed and nodded quickly, hating the sight of that sharp blade at his best friend’s neck. “Okay,” Chris continued, “then you stay with me in the van while my boys here bring him out.” He indicated Colin with a nod. “He tries anything funny, and you’re through. Everybody clear?”
“As crystal,” Colin answered, and then immediately wished he hadn’t. Sometimes his mouth tended to work faster than his brain, and he winced, expecting another flare of temper from their obviously unstable captors. Chris only smiled grimly at him, though.
“Glad you’ve still got your sense of humor,” Chris said. “You’re going to need it.”
* * *
Moving from the house to the van went exactly as Chris had described it. Both captives wanted to yell for help, but they were each restrained by the threat on the other. The operation was perfectly smooth, and Colin and Ryan were helpless to do anything about it. Obviously, this had been planned out in advance.
The van was stripped on the inside, with a large empty space in the back separated from the seats up front by a wall. Colin and Ryan were placed in the back, which was entirely sealed in and windowless. The three men got up front, after making sure their charges were securely tied. When the doors closed, darkness descended on them, but Colin and Ryan still felt relieved to be out of the presence of those crazed kidnappers.
As the van rumbled to life and began to move down the road, Colin edged himself over until he was resting against Ryan. Leaning back up against the shorter man, Ryan sighed raggedly and closed his eyes, trying to gather his wits. The whole series of events was so crazy, and it had all happened so quickly. He felt like he was still trying to catch up.
“Are you all right?” Colin asked, turning his head slightly against Ryan’s shoulder.
“Yeah...are you? That bastard was really twisting your arm.”
“M’okay.”
Silence fell again as the two men tried to come to terms with their situation. Some light managed to find its way into the back of the windowless van, so the darkness wasn’t complete, but it was still rather depressing. The only sounds were the low rumble of the engine and the sound of their breathing in the dim space. Ryan didn’t mind the quiet, though, as it gave him a much-needed chance to think. Shivering as he remembered the predatory way Chris had looked at him, Ryan pressed against Colin a little harder. Colin responded with equal pressure, turning to the side and placing his legs across Ryan’s lap. While Ryan faced the side, Colin was turned toward the front of the van, and he leaned forward so his shoulder was against Ryan’s chest and his head fit snugly under the taller man’s chin. Ryan dropped his head until his cheek was resting against the back of Colin’s neck, and took a deep breath. The position was about as comfortable as they were going to get, tied up the way they were. Although they usually weren’t this touchy-feely, they were comfortable enough with each other to sit close like this when the situation seemed to call for it. Ryan thought briefly that if a situation ever called for being close to his best friend, this was certainly it.
Colin’s eyes were wide, looking around the bare space as if he would find some miracle item to get them out of this situation. He kept remembering the feeling of that stranger’s hands on his body: trailing along the side of his neck, over his chest, and taking a possessive grasp on his inner thigh. He shuddered, squeezing his legs together involuntarily as he recalled the invasive feeling of that hand on his groin. He wasn’t sure which he hated more, feeling it happen to him or watching helplessly while it happened to his best friend. These sickos, especially the leader, Chris, seemed to have some kind of sexual fascination with them. Well...that wasn’t entirely true. Chris was virtually ignoring Colin, focusing all his twisted attention on Ryan. And it hadn’t escaped Colin’s notice that Chris seemed to have all this planned out perfectly. This wasn’t some crazy prank or rash act, this was a carefully orchestrated abduction, and Chris seemed to know exactly what he was doing. Colin only wished he knew what was going to happen to them...no. He didn’t want to know. But he was afraid he had a pretty good idea. Afraid that the little groping session by the front door was only a tiny preview of what was to come.
Ryan could feel Colin’s tension, the way he shivered every so often, and he figured the shorter man was probably thinking the same way he was. He could still feel that bastard’s hands on him, and the sensation made him want to scrub at his skin until the sickening, crawling feeling was obliterated.
Ryan was reminded of a time when he had been building a campfire as a child. He had been about twelve, camping out with his family, and he’d been gathering deadwood for the fire. After picking up one rotting branch, he’d carried it for several minutes before the odd tickling sensation on his skin make him look down. To his horror, his hand and arm had been totally covered with ants. He'd dropped the branch and immediately started wiping frantically at his arm, which only agitated the ants, making several of them bite. The pain fed his panic and he wiped harder, scrubbing at his whole body without thought, making scared, revolted little choking noises in his throat. It had taken several minutes of this frantic motion to remove the ants, several of which had gotten into his clothes. For a few hours after that he couldn’t seem to sit still, shuddering and wiping at his skin, still able to feel the nasty little things crawling on him.
Ryan felt the same way now, and he wished he could wipe at his skin now, but was stopped by the rope around his wrists. He could feel panic trying to chip away at the edges of his mind, and Ryan bit his lip, shutting his eyes and taking deep breaths in an effort to remain calm. It wasn’t working. The tense silence in the back of the van wasn’t helping either, and Ryan spoke not so much because he had something to say but just to hear the reassuring sound of his own voice.
“We’ll be okay,
Colin didn’t even lift his head to look at Ryan. He just nodded automatically against Ryan’s shoulder, even though he didn’t believe a word of it. He was sure Ryan didn’t believe it either. It was just what you say in a situation like that. Right up there with ‘it’ll be all right’ and ‘don’t be scared.’ Just what you say to keep yourself from panicking. Just what you say to reassure the other person when you’ve got nothing better to offer.
Colin could feel Ryan’s slightly ragged breathing, could feel the tremble in the other man’s body, and he frowned, trying to come up with something to distract them both from their fears.
“We’ll figure something out. We’re improvisers, its what we do,” Colin added with a forced smile. “Besides, people will be looking for us.”
Ryan nodded, rubbing his cheek slightly against Colin’s hair in the process so his friend could feel the gesture even if he couldn’t see it. People would be looking for them. People with money and resources -- like Drew!
“Hey, we told Drew about that letter! When we don’t show up for the taping tomorrow, he’ll know what’s going on!” Ryan was excited, already anticipating a rescue. Colin didn’t seem to share his optimism though, shaking his head gently against Ryan’s shoulder.
“No he won’t. He’ll see the trashed house, and know something happened, but how is he going to find us? And even if he did somehow track us down, a lot can happen between now and then.” Colin was whispering again, not so much to avoid being overheard but just because he suddenly felt very tired. He let his eyes droop shut and relaxed against Ryan.
Feeling the change in his friend’s body, Ryan nudged him quickly, trying to get his attention. “Colin? What’s wrong? Did they hurt you or something?”
“No...I just...I can’t pretend this is okay, y’know?” Colin lifted his head so he could look Ryan in the eyes. “I think some bad things are going to happen to us, Ry. We need to face the reality of that. Those guys...they’re not playing. They’re serious. We can try to get away...but that just might get one or both of us killed. This is all...it’s really scary.” His voice trailed off again as Colin pressed his face into Ryan’s shoulder, breathing roughly and blinking rapidly in an effort to stay in control.
“Stop it! Stop talking that way! We’ll be all right.” Colin nodded automatically, but kept his face hidden. Ryan clenched his fists as he felt a rush of anger at their captors, at his inability to fight back, at the whole situation. Being tied up, helplessly trapped in the back of the van, was probably the most frustrating. Ryan had always hated waiting, and now he had no other choice. Thumping a foot against the floorboards in agitation, Ryan blew an angry breath through his teeth. Colin lifted his head again and gave his friend a questioning look.
“This just really pisses me off, y’know?” Ryan snapped in answer to Colin’s unspoken question. “Those assholes come into my house, break my stuff, and threaten my best friend with a knife...I wish I could do something to make them pay for this... Fuck! I hate being so damn helpless.”
“I know, Ryan. I hate it too, but getting mad won’t help anything.”
“Well, neither will getting all depressed! I don’t want to hear you talking that way anymore, you hear me?” Ryan gave Colin the best stern look he could manage, considering that the shorter man was very nearly sitting in his lap. Colin held his eyes for a moment before looking away and nodding.
“All right, deal. You stay calm and I’ll try to be more optimistic, okay?” Colin’s voice was flat, but his eyes held the faintest hint of a smile. Ryan felt himself grinning slightly in return, and he marveled at the way his best friend could always make him smile, no matter what the circumstances.
“You know, if someone had to be here with me, I’m glad it’s you.”
You’re glad I’m tied up in the back of some whacko’s van?” Colin asked, raising an eyebrow.
“No, that’s not it, I just meant you’re the one I would want to have with me for something like this, so I’m glad you’re here. I mean, not glad that you’re here, but...Colin?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re fucking with me, aren’t you?”
“Yep,” Colin replied, biting his lip to keep from laughing. Shaking his head in disbelief, Ryan rolled his eyes and nudged Colin’s shoulder with his chin. Smirking at the taller man, Colin giggled softly and relaxed against Ryan’s chest again. They both felt slightly more relaxed, due to the easy, familiar banter. However, the smiles slowly melted off their faces as the quiet stretched out and both men worried about what was to come.
“What do you think they’re going to do to us?”
“Don’t, Colin. Let’s not talk about it, all right?” Colin looked at him in puzzlement, frowning slightly. “All I mean is, we’ll find out soon enough. Until then, there’s nothing we can do. So...in case something happens to us...let’s just take this time we have to be together. Because I’d really miss that if anything happened to you. Okay?” Ryan sounded a bit defensive, but Colin simply nodded in agreement and let his head drop again.
Ryan shut his eyes, not so much to rest but to block out his bleak surroundings, and rested his cheek against the soft fringe of hair on the back of Colin’s head. The swaying motion of the van was hypnotic, and they might have dozed. It was hard to tell, in the dark, with no way to mark the passage of time. It wasn’t until the steady rumble of the motor suddenly cut out that they realized they had come to a stop. The ride might have been twenty minutes or a few hours, for all they knew.
Colin and Ryan squinted as the back doors were thrown open, admitting bright sunlight into the van. One of the men climbed in and quickly shut the doors again, plunging them back into darkness. Using a flashlight to assist the process, the man put blindfolds around both their heads, getting in a few quick gropes and pinches in the process. The captives were roughly escorted out of the van and down what felt like a gravel path. There were no sounds of city traffic around, and the air felt cool and clean, which gave them the feeling that they were in the country somewhere. They had no way of knowing exactly where though, and there wasn’t time to analyze the surroundings further.
Ryan yelped involuntarily as a hand firmly grabbed his ass and steered him through a doorway. He tried to pull away, only to find an arm across his chest, restraining him. He was pulled close against someone’s front, and a chin landed on his shoulder as the man whispered in his ear.
“Mine…” The hissing, whispering voice was unmistakably Chris, and the young man snaked his tongue along Ryan’s earlobe. Ryan shuddered in revulsion, trying to pull away again, but to no avail. Chris laughed at him, and lightly slapped his ass before bringing a hand around in front to grope him thoroughly. “You’re already shaking? This is nothing...but by all means, do keep trying to get away, it won’t change a damn thing and then I get to punish you. I’d like that...but I don’t think you’ll enjoy it nearly as much as I will.” Ryan could hear the other two men laughing as Chris released him, and he stood shaking with anger and humiliation for a moment before being pushed along again. He stumbled slightly, his legs unsteady with fear. The way that bastard had touched him...and he’d been helpless to stop it. That was the worst part, that he couldn’t stop it. Ryan swallowed nervously, shaking his head. This just couldn’t be happening.
Colin heard the whole thing, but was unable to see it. When he heard Ryan’s cry of protest at the beginning, he had immediately tried to move forward, but had been held back by the other two men. When he heard them laughing at his best friend, Colin gritted his teeth in anger, but kept quiet. He had no intention of provoking these psychos into further acts of violence.
Being shoved forward with a blindfold on through what felt like a house was very disorienting. The rope binding their ankles together made progress slow, and it was hard to tell just how far they had walked when Colin suddenly bumped into a wall. The two men snickered at him, while Chris only smiled wryly, considering such childishness beneath him. Colin realized they had let him hit the wall on purpose. He swallowed a curse and somehow kept silent, his eyes blazing behind the blindfold.
“Colin? You okay?” Ryan had heard the soft thump, followed by the derisive laughter, and he had no idea what had happened. For all he knew, Colin might have just been knocked out or otherwise hurt. Ryan found himself wondering if their captors were deliberately trying to lower his spirits.
“Yeah, I just--“
“Shut up! You two have to *earn* the right to talk,” Chris snarled, giving them both a hard shove. Ryan was glad he had spoken though -- hearing Colin’s voice, alive and unharmed, was very reassuring.
They heard a door opening, and a breath of cool, damp air wafted out at them, tinged with an old, musty scent. Chris took the lead, guiding them carefully down some steep, narrow stairs. The rope between their ankles barely allowed enough slack to make the steps, and they had several near falls. Every time, one of the men would catch them, making sure to feel them up a bit in the process. Maybe it was this added humiliation, or the hindrance of the ropes, but the stairs seemed to go on forever. Colin thought grimly that he might as well be descending into hell.
The floor at the bottom felt strangely uneven, and it took Ryan a moment to realize it was hard-packed dirt. Which wasn’t surprising, really, since the whole place felt like a basement. The air was very chilly, and both men shivered a bit, turning their heads to look around even though they were still blindfolded. Tethers were attached to their bound wrists, and the ankle ties were removed. Then the blindfolds were slipped off, but the sudden light was just as blinding and both men blinked furiously, trying to clear their vision. Slowly, their eyes adjusted, and their surroundings became painfully clear.
They stood in the middle of a large underground space, tethered to a thick pole that rose from the dirt floor and ran to the low ceiling. A single bare bulb hung overhead, illuminating the place where they stood but leaving the rest of the basement in shadows. Standing in front of them were the three men, Chris, Ben, and the older one with the thinning hair. As Ryan and Colin watched, the men slowly and deliberately removed the nylons covering their faces. The captives moved closer together, exchanging a look of fear. Years of watching movies and reading books had led them both to the same conclusion. If a kidnapper shows you his face, he doesn’t care about you identifying him. Which means you won’t be alive to do it.
With a shark-like grin, Chris nodded at them as if he knew exactly what they were thinking. Gesturing to his companions, he said, “In case you’re wondering, this here is Ben, and he’s Jack. And as I’m sure you already know, I’m Chris. And you...you don’t have names anymore. You don’t exist as people anymore.” Here Chris paused, and then took a step forward and cupped Ryan’s chin in his palm, forcing the taller man to meet his eyes. “You’re my pet...and I’m going to have SO much fun with you...”
End Part 2
* * * * *
Part 3
Ryan and Colin stared nervously at Chris for a moment, and then Ryan jerked his head to the side, pulling out of the other man’s grasp. He took a step back and to the left, instinctively moving closer to Colin. With the same vague idea of safety in numbers, Colin leaned closer to his friend, allowing their sides to touch. Ryan’s eyes were defiant, but he pressed against Colin nonetheless, lifting his chin stubbornly but still frightened. Returning the gentle pressure, Colin adopted a similar pose, narrowing his dark eyes and straightening his back, trying to look unafraid.
Chris only smirked at them, his eyes lingering on the way their sides were lightly pressed together. His suggestive gaze made the friendly, supportive contact seem dirty, and Colin automatically pulled away, feeling oddly guilty at first, and then angry because that bastard had made him feel embarrassed for something that was really innocent. Feeling stubborn, Colin lifted his chin and leaned back against Ryan, earning a slightly surprised look from his friend. Colin just looked up at him, his eyes hard, and Ryan nodded after a moment, understanding. They weren’t going to let Chris influence their behavior -- not if they could help it.
“You like that, hmmm?” Chris asked, his voice thick with innuendo. “You like touching? Just how close are you two, anyway?” Ben and Jack sniggered at their leader’s question, knowing looks on their faces.
“Not that it’s any of your fucking business, but we’re just friends,” Ryan snapped, pulling slightly away from Colin despite his intentions to not let Chris influence him. Chris raised a skeptical eyebrow, the smirk still firmly in place.
“It’s true,” Colin supplied, with the slightest tinge of wistfulness. It was that look, that ‘we’re not together but sometimes I wish we were’ look, that convinced Chris. A speculative look lit his cold blue eyes, and he gave his two captives a chilling smile.
“So...you’re really not fucking, huh. You sure act like it.” He paused for a moment, and Colin could almost see the wheels turning in his mind. Shrugging, Chris said, “Doesn’t matter. Nothing you’ve done in the past matters anymore. You’re mine now, and you’ll do exactly what I want.” Or suffer the consequences, he didn’t say, but still managed to imply.
Chris watched them both for a long moment, seemingly lost in thought. Ryan and Colin exchanged a quick, nervous glance, subtly leaning a little closer together again. Chris raised an eyebrow slightly, and appeared to come to a decision. Stepping back, he nodded at the other two, who seemed to understand the gesture. They moved in behind Colin, pulling him away from Ryan’s side and holding him tightly.
Jack trailed a hand over the Canadian’s face, tracing his lips with the tips of his fingers, which made Colin struggle to pull away. Jack put a stop to that by pulling out his knife again, dragging it lightly along Colin’s throat. He used just enough pressure for Colin to clearly feel how sharp and cold the knife blade was, and how easily it could slip through his skin. Jack shot a meaningful look at Ryan, who had been moving forward to help his friend, but froze in place when he saw the clear threat in the other man’s eyes.
“Yes, you see?” Chris asked, nodding his approval, a satisfied smile on his face. “You learn quickly...good. I despise stupidity.” Chris paused for a moment, giving his pet a little time to react as he prepared to move on to the next step of his plan.
Ryan stared at his best friend, a stricken look on his face as he watched the thug run his hands over Colin’s body. Ben stood to the side, looking...envious? Was that it? Like he wanted to touch Colin too, but didn’t quite have the nerve.
Seeing the expression on Ryan’s face, Chris snorted laughter, and said, “Don’t look so upset! He’ll be fine...as long as you cooperate. I’ll even give you a break, and start out slow.” Chris fell quiet for a moment, considering the wisdom of implementing his plan so quickly. On the one hand, he had all the time in the world, and it would be fun to drag out the tension. Tell his pet what was coming, and then let him worry about it for a while. Let the fear grow. But on the other hand, the thought of his pet, the long-desired object of his obsession, giving him the pleasure he wanted so much... Now that was an appealing image. Chris could just picture it: his pet, on his knees, sweet mouth open, taking everything he had and then some...oh yes. Waiting was for idiots.
Chris made up his mind. The amused tone left his soft voice, to be replaced by cold command. “Come here. Now.” Taking a quick glance towards the knife at Colin’s throat, Ryan moved obediently toward Chris. The tethering rope stopped him short, and he ended up still a couple feet away. Chris obligingly stepped forward, until he was nearly pressed up against Ryan, who leaned back reflexively. Cold blue eyes met Ryan’s green ones, and they held the stare for a few moments.
Chris snapped his fingers and pointed down, his gaze daring Ryan to pretend he hadn’t understood. Ryan understood all too well, and he swallowed, shaking his head in denial. This whole thing was just too unreal, and it was happening so damn fast. Ryan felt like he was watching the whole thing in a dream -- or a nightmare.
Colin suddenly sucked in a gasping breath, and Ryan turned to see a thin trail of blood dripping down his friend’s arm. The point of the knife was still in the skin, piercing it at that soft place on the inside of the elbow. Colin was biting his lip, obviously struggling not to cry out, his eyes filled with pain. As Ryan watched in shock, Jack carefully bent down and licked at the blood, slowly and deliberately. When he rose, the man who had previously looked so harmless and ineffective grinned, showing bloody teeth.
Ryan shuddered and looked back at Chris, silently pleading with him to stop this. Instead of mercy, he got a hard punch in the stomach. Ryan doubled over, gasping, and Chris shoved down on his shoulders. Stumbling, and then dropping to his knees, Ryan glanced back at Colin again. His gaze pleaded for help, but Colin was trapped, and only stared back at him with wide eyes.
Ryan noticed briefly that the knife had been removed from Colin’s arm, but his mind barely registered that fact as he frantically struggled to get up. Steely hands on his shoulders kept him down, and as Ryan kept fighting against them, Chris nodded at Jack again. Jack responded by putting his bloodied knife to Colin’s throat and pressing until a bead of crimson appeared at the tip.
Ryan stared at this, seeing the fear and pain in his best friend’s eyes, and gritted his teeth in frustration. He was directly on eye level with Chris’s groin, and he couldn’t pretend he didn’t know what was happening here. This bastard was actually threatening his best friend’s life to make him perform...he couldn’t finish the thought. He didn’t *want* to finish that thought. Ryan could feel the panic trying to take over, and he clenched his fists, looking around frantically for a way to escape. It seemed like he could already feel the violation that was coming, and thinking about it was only making it worse.
Colin made a tiny sound of pain, and Ryan’s eyes darted his way again, staring into the deep brown eyes with helpless fear. He would do anything for Colin, sure. Of course he would. But this...it couldn’t be real. It wasn’t fair to ask this! Ryan was frozen, his thought and reason lost in the swirl of emotion.
He could still feel the hands on his shoulders, holding him down, and he still pushed up against them slightly, but the hard struggling was over. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Ryan realized he’d already made his decision. He knew damn well that Colin’s life depended on it, and when you think of it that way, it’s not such a hard question, is it? He would give in, do what the bastard wanted, that choice had already been made. Now he just had to make his body obey his mind. Ryan closed his eyes for a brief moment in the futile hope that he could somehow make all this go away. Then, slowly, he forced his legs to relax, setting more firmly to his knees, a look of helpless resignation on his face.
Chris watched all this with a calm, slightly curious expression. He had been relatively sure that his pet would succumb, to save the other’s life, but it was always interesting to see it happen. Congratulating himself on the cleverness of his plan, Chris smiled slightly, anticipating how much he was going to enjoy this. This particular pet was one he’d wanted for a long time, and he was certainly living up to Chris’s expectations. Pets that broke easily were boring, but this one was going to be fun. Chris grunted his approval and began to unbutton his pants.
The motions were slow, teasing...he did so love to play with his pets. To see the growing fear, the helplessness...fun. His eyes traced over the kneeling form, taking in the long, smoothly muscled torso, the softly tousled hair, the terrified green eyes...Chris had to catch his breath slightly. He’d waited for this so long! He could feel himself responding already, and Chris reminded himself to take it slow with this pet. After all, he could only break him once, and then the really fun part was over. Of course, he could keep the pet around for a long time after he was broken, another toy to play with, but he would soon become bored. Toys were never as much fun after they were broken. But right here, right now, this was the best part. Seeing the denial change to understanding as his pet realized he had no choice. Seeing the terror, the resignation, and after it was over, the shame...so nice.
Chris really wanted to drag this out, but his body was demanding that he move faster. By the time his pants landed in a rumpled heap around his ankles, there was a noticeable bulge in his underwear. Ryan was unable to avoid seeing it, since it was right in his face, and he felt his stomach lurch as revulsion crawled along his skin. He could feel his breathing quicken and his body tremble. Ryan was aware of everything around him; the musky scent of Chris, the way the dirt floor felt under his knees, the feeling of those iron hands on his shoulders, the chill as cold sweat broke out on his skin, and the sound of his own terrified heartbeat rushing in his ears.
“Take them off, pet. Gently...if you hurt me, he pays for it.” Chris nodded toward Colin when he said this, and Ryan didn’t doubt the threat for a second. The sight of his best friend’s blood in that bastard’s mouth had dispelled a lot of his illusions. Since his hands were tied behind his back, Ryan had no choice but to use his teeth, much to his disgust. He carefully removed the underwear, holding his breath in an effort to keep from smelling or tasting anything, and then shot another angry, disgusted look up at Chris. He only smiled wryly, and then reached down and turned Ryan’s chin, forcing him to confront what he so wanted to avoid.
“Now, I trust that you know what to do? You’re a smart little pet, I think you can figure it out,” Chris added, looking knowingly down at him. Ryan looked away, still not quite able to make himself do this. He knew he had to, he’d already decided to, but when it came right down to it, the thought of actually opening his mouth and letting that bastard put his...no. Just...no. Better not to think about it. Just do it and get it over with.
Colin was staring at Ryan, his dark eyes wide and pleading. He wasn’t sure what he was pleading for though -- he didn’t want Ryan to do this, but he didn’t want to be cut again either. His arm still stung from the first cut, amazingly painful for such a little thing. He didn’t want to find out what a larger slice would feel like.
Colin shook his head slightly, feeling ashamed of himself for even thinking that way. How could he be complaining about a little cut when Ryan was being...well, let’s face it, raped, right before his eyes? Colin wanted to struggle, wanted to get away, but reason told him it was useless. But it wasn’t just reason, was it? No, if we’re facing things here, we might as well tell the whole truth. Logic was part of it, maybe a big part, but there was also selfish fear, and the desire to avoid more pain. Colin bit his lip, looking away...he felt suddenly unable to meet Ryan’s eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Ryan squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, and then took Chris in his mouth. The man was already hard, and when he felt Ryan’s lips close over him, he gasped and thrust forward. Ryan was caught by surprise and he pulled back, gagging. Chris grabbed Ryan’s hair, lacing his fingers through the dark blonde curls and pulling painfully. He pressed Ryan’s head back where he wanted it to go, and continued to control his movements with that punishing grip on his hair.
//Fucking disgusting asshole, this can't fucking be happening. No FUCKING way! Oh God, I have to get away. Make him stop, someone, please. I can't stand this. Let me go, let me go, damn you! I'm trapped... How can this happen to me? I've got a fucking DICK in my mouth! It's in there...I can taste it. God I'm going to be sick... It's making me so sick...please, please stop it! Colin! Don't let him do this to me! You can't let this...I have to do something. I can't just let this happen! It hurts... please, no more. Please? Can't you see that I don't want this? How can you force someone like this? No! Fucking stop it you bastard! I... Oh, God, please just stop. It's enough... No more... please...//
Ryan kept his eyes closed, and breathed through his nose, trying to control his reactions. Chris was not overly long, but he kept forcing himself to the back of Ryan’s throat, triggering his gag reflex. His stomach was already unsteady and Ryan had to focus a lot of energy on keeping his lunch down. Although he had to admit, the thought of throwing up all over this fuckhead had a lot of appeal.
Colin shut his eyes and looked to the side, unwilling to watch the gruesome scene playing out in front of him. The cold, smooth surface of the knife blade pressed against his cheek, forcing his head back to its former position. He kept his eyes squeezed tightly shut, and wished he could shut his ears to the sounds of Chris moaning and Ryan gagging helplessly.
“Open your eyes, honey,” hissed a voice in his ear, but Colin refused to witness the brutal rape of his best friend. The knife still resting against his cheek turned so the sharp edge was pressing against the skin, not quite hard enough to cut. “Do it now, or else...” Jack didn’t need to finish the threat. Colin unwillingly opened his eyes again, catching a glimpse of Ryan on his knees, disgust and fear written all over his face, his eyes flashing furiously, while that bastard forced himself into the open mouth with rough, careless thrusts. Colin immediately averted his eyes, swallowing hard as nausea shot through his body. His stomach was actually so tense it hurt, and his fists clenched helplessly behind his back.
“Ah ah ah…that’s a no-no,” Jack chided, driving his admonition home with the point of the knife. “I want you to watch...don’t you want to? Doesn’t it turn you on to see him like this? All helpless and submissive...it should. After all, he is doing it to save your life.” Colin gritted his teeth, clenching his fists in frustration. The pain of his fingernails digging into his palms helped to clear his head a little of the dizziness that threatened to overtake him. He was breathing carefully, taking little sips of air in an effort to control the nausea rising in sickening waves up his throat. Ryan was doing this to save his life. These crazy bastards just had to point that out.
**Oh God, Ryan no.
I can't let this happen! I need
to do something... Make this sick asshole let go of me so I can rip the other fuckhead's throat out!
I sure as fuck can't just stand here and watch! Those bastards are fucking getting off on
seeing this! They're not going to get
away with this! I swear I'll make them
pay if it's the last fucking thing I do!
Shit, I can't stand the sound of him gagging. Oh Ryan... I'm so sorry... I can still feel
that knife-edge on my skin... it fucking hurts!
If only it wasn't there... God damn it, I can't watch this, can't
watch... I can't... I'm so damn sorry.
If I wasn't here, you wouldn't do... God you fucking asshole just stop
it! Stop doing that to him! Stop making me watch! The look on his face... hang
on, Ryan, I swear I'll help you somehow.
Those gagging sounds... you bastard, can't you at least slow down? You... you've got no fucking right! I'd
rather be dead Ryan wouldn't have that look on his face... wouldn't have
that... thing in his mouth. God, Ryan...
no, this can't be happening. Why
me? Why you? I'm going to kill every last one of them,
just give me an opening. Just a chance
and it'll be over... Ryan I'm coming, I promise...**
Colin’s furious thoughts were interrupted when Jack thrust a hand down the front of his pants, suddenly and without warning. Ben, who was watching his boss, and apparently his role model, force himself on Ryan, didn’t seem to notice as Jack slowly moved his hand, staring gleefully into Colin’s eyes. The pressure on the knife at his throat slowly lessened as Jack concentrated on his groping, and Colin stood perfectly still, waiting for his chance. Seeing the lack of response as a sign of welcome, Jack leered and leaned in closer. The look of self-important superiority on his face would have been funny under other circumstances, but Colin wasn’t thinking about that. He couldn’t stand to watch the brutal assault for a moment longer. His only thoughts centered on getting away from this idiot so he could do something -- anything -- to take THAT look out of Ryan’s eyes. The pain, the humiliation, the revulsion...he just couldn’t take it anymore.
Colin was concentrating on showing no reaction as Jack’s hand crept further into his pants. He could feel the bastard’s fingers curling around him, cold and hideously invasive. His legs tensed, the adrenalin making him want to leap away. Colin wanted to punch this asshole, to yank his hand away, break his fucking fingers, but he couldn’t. He had to stand still and wait for his chance. For Ryan.
Jack smirked, thinking he had Colin so cowed he could do anything he wanted. Pausing one last time to stare smugly into the dark eyes, he pasted a sloppy kiss on Colin’s lips. Inspiration struck and Colin opened his mouth. Jack smiled in triumph and quickly stuck his tongue inside, lacking technique but apparently trying to make up for it with copious amounts of saliva.
Colin tolerated this for about two seconds before snapping his teeth together on the intruding tongue, slicing deeply into the surface. Howling in pain, Jack yanked himself away, his hands going up to cover his heavily bleeding mouth. Not even taking the time to spit out the blood, Colin wheeled, and charged straight for Chris.
“Shit! Fucker bit me! Oh Christ, that hurts! You fucking -- I’m gonna -- oh you’re fucking through!” Jack continued to howl incoherently, causing Chris to pause in his movements and look up. Feeling the punishing grip on his hair loosen slightly, Ryan leaned back reflexively, spitting the invading flesh out of his mouth in revulsion. He turned to see Colin rushing forward, murder in his eyes.
Colin met Ryan’s gaze for a split second, and that was all it took. Understanding passed between them in the space of a heartbeat, and Ryan threw his weight backwards, pulling out of the younger man’s grasp and clearing a path for Colin to tackle Chris. Fury powered Colin’s movements, and his vision seemed narrowed to a single target. Chris was standing still, looking helpless. Colin felt powerful, unstoppable, and invincible. Then, he felt a sudden sharp yank on his wrists and shoulders, as the tether rope pulled him up about six inches short of his target.
The force of his charge translated into a powerful recoil that pulled Colin off his feet, and he landed hard on the dirt floor. Jack, still screaming and cursing about his mouth, ran forward and began viciously kicking the dazed man. Ryan started to his feet, intent on stopping the attack, but Chris yanked him back without even thinking about it.
“Stop it, you bastard, leave him alone! God damn you, you fucking little -- when I get my hands on you, I swear you’re going to fucking regret ever being born!” Ryan was shouting at the top of his lungs, trying desperately to escape Chris’s iron grasp. Jack was still screaming too; his words were muffled by his injury, but the feeling behind them was perfectly clear. Colin was writhing helplessly, crying out in pain, trying to get up but hampered by the ropes and the constant blows from Jack. Ben stood to the side, his jaw hanging open in confusion, eyes darting from one man to the next. In the midst of the chaos and noise, Chris cocked the pistol that was suddenly in his hand, and the soft ‘click’ froze Jack in mid-kick.
“I swear to fucking God, Jack, you kick him one more time and you’re dead.” His voice was perfectly calm and even, absolutely devoid of emotion.
“But...but he bit me. I was just--“
“I don’t care what you were just. We need him to control my pet, you get me? Now, back...the...fuck...off!” Each word was emphasized with a slight twitch of the gun, causing Jack to flinch nervously. He nodded and backed away, shooting hate-filled glances at Colin, who was still lying on the ground. Replacing the gun in its cleverly hidden shoulder holster, Chris smiled in satisfaction and looked back at Ryan.
“This has all been very exciting, my pet. I love the unexpected...it’s a challenge. Now, finish your job.” Ryan stared at him; he was unable to connect the smooth, cultured voice with the man who had just calmly, seriously threatened to murder one of his own people -- just so he could have a way to control his ‘pet.’ Swallowing as he realized just how obsessed Chris was, Ryan cast a worried glance at Colin, who was still curled on the ground. Chris raised an eyebrow impatiently, and drew his fist back in an obvious threat. Ryan narrowed his eyes and set his jaw stubbornly, staying on his feet. He refused to be terrorized, especially by such a sick bastard. He also refused to go back to his knees. There was no way he was letting that fucking thing get put back in his mouth. Shaking his head and smiling wryly, Chris said, “And here I thought you were a fast learner. Pity.”
The fist swung forward before Ryan could tense his muscles in preparation, and caught him just below the ribcage. His gasp of pain made Colin look up in time to see Ryan being forced to his knees again. All the scuffling had changed their positions somewhat, and now Ryan was facing Colin directly, with Chris between them. As Chris grabbed his hair and began forcefully thrusting into his mouth again, Ryan shared a long glance with Colin. The shame and anger in the taller man’s green eyes was perfectly clear, and Colin got the message. He nodded once, and then looked away, knowing Ryan didn’t want him to witness this.
Squeezing his eyes shut and once again wishing for this to be over, Ryan concentrated on controlling his gag reflex.
//No, not again.
Not anymore, please! Get that
fucking thing out of my mouth! Oh, I
hate you so much... God, please, someone stop this! That dick in my mouth... the taste of it,
he's fucking loving this, loves that there's nothing I can do to stop it. Oh God, there IS nothing I can do. I just can't stand this and he knows it. I want to get away so bad... I want to bite
him, to hurt him like he's hurting me!
But... Colin, God I hope he's okay... fucking bastards! I want them to suffer for this! Get the fuck away from me! I feel so sick... God DAMN it! Someone take me away from here! He's just going at it, tearing my hair, just
USING me, like I'm not worth anything anymore.
And Colin's seeing me, seeing how I just let this go on. He's seeing me being used and humiliated and
not doing anything against it. God, why
did he have to be here? If he wasn't
here, I sure as fuck wouldn't be doing this!
Why did any of this have to happen?
I feel so damn sick... You just wait, motherfucker, you just wait. You're NOT getting away with this... oh God
it hurts... And I'll hurt you back. Just you wait... God please make him
stop.//
Ryan’s fists were clenched behind his back, chafing restlessly at the tight ropes. Chris was picking up speed, moaning softly under his breath. Ryan stared up at him, hate darkening his emerald eyes. Chris smirked at him, seeming to enjoy the sight.
“That’s right, pet, look at me. I want to see your face...I’ve wanted this for so long.” When Ryan heard this, he tried to look away. Chris kept him firmly in place, both hands clutching at the back of his head. Ryan stubbornly refused to meet the younger man’s eyes, just as he refused to give him any stimulation with his mouth. He kept it open and didn’t bite, but that was the limit of his cooperation. Chris obviously didn’t mind, judging by his rapid breathing and the flush that was creeping up his cheeks.
“I’m...I’m very close now. When I come, you’re going to swallow what I give you. If a single drop of my come hits the ground, your friend’s blood will follow it. You get me?” Ryan’s eyes flashed furiously, but he nodded, steeling himself.
If the thrusting into his throat had challenged Ryan’s ability to fight nausea, the feeling of swallowing that bastard’s semen nearly obliterated it. He gagged hard, taking shallow breaths through his nose and pressing his lips firmly together in an effort to hold it down. After what seemed like forever, Chris finally released him, and Ryan remained still for a few moments, trying to process his reactions. The experience had left him dazed and emotionally numb, for the moment. An eerie sense of unreality settled over him, and he felt like he was watching the whole crazy scene from somewhere outside himself. A muted whimper of pain from Colin pulled him at least partway back to the real world, although he still felt strangely empty. He moved to Colin’s side, crouching down beside him and trying to check for serious injuries -- hard to do, with his hands tied behind his back. Chris was slowly refastening his pants, a lazy, satisfied smile on his face.
“Benny, fix them up with ankle chains and undo the hands. That little escape attempt was so amusing, they’ve earned some down time.” Seeing the smug look on that bastard’s face just made Colin even angrier, but there was nothing he could do. Ryan had his head down, concentrating on Colin so he didn’t have to think about what had just happened, and didn’t catch the look. Chris slowly sauntered up the stairs, pausing as he reached the heavy metal door at the top. He produced a key on a chain around his neck and turned it in the lock, opening the door slightly. Casting one last smirk down at his two captives, he said, “Get some rest. You’re going to need it.”
* * * * *
Ben obediently fastened heavy metal ankle cuffs to Ryan and Colin, so that they each had a chain running from their right ankle to the post. Then he removed the ropes from their hands as Jack looked on, covering them with the knife. The older man kept his other hand over his still bleeding mouth, and continued to stare hatefully at Colin. Colin looked right back at him, and then slowly grinned, showing his bloodied teeth. Jack didn’t seem to appreciate the irony. He stepped forward and raised a fist, but paused when Ben put a hand on his elbow.
“Chris wouldn’t want you doing that, Jack.”
“Fuck Chris! Little fucker bit me -- I’m gonna knock all his teeth out!”
“No. Chris said I could have him when he’s done, and I want him whole. You mess him up, and I’ll tell.” Ben’s gaze was calm and implacable, and Jack subsided, giving him a dirty look. Pressing a hand to his mouth again, Jack stalked up the stairs and out the door, muttering angrily all the while. Colin wasn’t sure whether to be grateful or worried. The thought of being passed around like a possession irked him, and he narrowed his eyes, blowing out a frustrated breath.
“Now, you make sure he’s okay,” Ben said to Ryan, indicating Colin with a nod. “You just check him over, cause if he dies sudden-like, Chris is gonna be pissed. And believe me, you don’t want to see him mad.” Ryan nodded at the instructions, since he had planned on examining Colin anyway. With one final check to make sure the chains were secure, Ben left, and the two friends were once again left alone.
“Are you all right?”
They blinked and looked at each other in surprise, realizing they had both asked the exact same question at the same time.
“No.”
The answer was in unison as well, and Colin snorted, shaking his head. Ryan shrugged and leaned forward, gently patting the shorter man’s torso.
“Let me see. Did that bastard break anything?”
“Nah, I think I’m okay. Hurts like hell, but I can breathe just fine. He kicks like a girl.” Ryan rolled his eyes and pulled at Colin’s shirt anyway, wanting to see for himself.
“What about you?” Colin asked, looking at his friend with concern.
“What *about* me? They barely touched me. You’re the one that got hurt.” Ryan kept his eyes on Colin’s chest, refusing to meet his gaze.
“But you’re the one who...well, you know.”
“Yeah. I know.” Ryan felt his shocked, numb feeling beginning to fade, and he clung to it, sensing the emotions that were hiding behind it. He didn’t want to deal with the fear that was reaching out to claw at him. Fear that he would never be the same, that he was damaged somehow, and most of all, terror that it would happen again. The sense of helpless despair swallowed him like some strange, dark, undersea monster, and Ryan started shuddering as reaction began to set in. The invasive feeling of a stranger’s dick in his mouth kept coming back to haunt him, and Ryan felt his stomach lurching once again. He lived it all over again: the sense of helpless desperation as Chris thrust into his mouth, the sickening salty taste that he’d had to swallow, the way Chris had moaned as he forced himself ever harder and faster...it was all adding up and Ryan’s body was rebelling. Colin stroked a hand down his back, his eyes widening with concern as Ryan’s shaking got worse. His normally ruddy complexion was chalk-white, and little hitching noises were starting to come from his throat.
“Oh shit, I’m gonna be sick,” Ryan murmured, just before he clamped his mouth shut in a struggle to control his gorge.
“Go ahead, Ryan, sick it up, you’ll feel better,” Colin said, still rubbing the taller man’s back. Ryan rose to his feet and staggered as far away as the chain would let him go, then finally lost the battle with his stomach. Colin patted his back helplessly, looking away from the sight.
When Ryan was finally done, he leaned against the older man weakly, feeling light-headed. Colin helped him back to the post, and they sat down, leaning against it. Ryan was still trembling, and he pressed against Colin’s side, resting his head on his friend’s shoulder. Colin slung an arm around him, holding him tight and letting his own head drop onto Ryan’s. They stayed like that for a few minutes, staring at nothing in particular, simply trying to sort through their thoughts.
Ryan felt like he was sinking in quicksand. The memories of his violation kept running around in his mind, circling again and again. Shame, anger, fear and guilt all seemed to feed off each other, growing stronger by the minute. Ryan shook his head, lifting his hands slightly in a gesture of helplessness. He felt like he should say something, but he had no idea what it would be. He didn’t want to think, or feel anymore. He just wanted to hide from everything. Ryan drew his knees up close against his chest, curling into a tight ball, arms covering his head.
//Oh, God, make it stop...I don’t want this to be
real. I can’t...what did I do
wrong? Why couldn’t I stop it? I wanted to so bad, I just wanted to get away
and I couldn’t -- no! I don’t want to
see it anymore! Please, just let me go
to sleep, let me get away. I just...I
couldn’t get away. I should have done
something! If I had just fought a little harder, or said the right thing,
or...I don’t know... Shit! Stop it!
Stop thinking about it, stop feeling it...I hate feeling this way! It’s not fair...please, just let me
hide. I’m so scared of him coming back
-- of this happening again...I don’t think I could stand that. This is all so...I can’t think anymore. I can’t feel anymore, I just can’t! Let me stop feeling...please...//
Ryan felt himself drifting into darkness, into a place somewhere deep inside where there was no fear, no shame or anger. It was quiet, safe and warm; and most importantly, dark. Dark so no one could see him. Dark so no one could find him.
Colin shifted slightly, trying to ease his bruised ribs. The physical pain was unpleasant, but fleeting. The mental anguish was the real problem. He kept seeing it all in his mind, and it seemed to get worse with repetition. Not only had his best friend in the world been sexually assaulted before his eyes, he had to deal with the fact that Ryan would never have complied if it wasn’t for him. Colin’s guilt was like a heavy weight on his chest, and he swallowed hard, unable to look at Ryan. That wasn’t all, though. Oh no, that was only the beginning. Things were already so bad. Colin shuddered to think what might happen next. Despair threatened to overwhelm him, and he spoke just to break the depressing silence.
“Do you...do you want to talk about it?”
Ryan didn’t answer. Colin frowned in confusion, staring at his best friend. Ryan was still tightly curled, his body tense, and he was rocking slightly. Colin put a hand on his shoulder, shaking him gently to get his attention. Ryan didn’t respond at all, and Colin felt the first touch of fear in his chest. Something was clearly very wrong here.
“Ryan? C’mon, talk to me. Please? What’s wrong? Ryan? Ryan!” Hearing the edge of panic in his own voice, Colin forced himself to take a deep breath. Unfortunately, deep breaths simply weren’t cutting it. The whole situation was just too much. He had been snatched from a place he’d thought was safe, forced to witness the rape of his best friend, groped by a leering, violent asshole, and now to top it all off, something was seriously wrong with Ryan. Colin was losing control, and he started pleading desperately with Ryan to come back.
“Wake up! Please, you have to be here, Ryan, you just have to! I can’t do this alone...how can you be so selfish? How could you let him use me against you? What the fuck is wrong with you?” Colin paused, breathing hard and struggling to blink back tears, as he realized what he had just said. For a moment, he hoped that Ryan was too far withdrawn to have heard those words as the guilt came crashing down on him all over again. “Oh, shit, I can’t believe I just said that. I’m so sorry, Ryan, so sorry, this is all my fault. If I wasn’t here they couldn’t force you to cooperate; I should have done something! I should have made that bastard stop, God, Ry, I’m so sorry. Please, please come back to me. I can’t...I need you here. I can’t do this...oh Ryan, please!?”
Colin held Ryan close against his chest, rocking him and continuing to murmur senselessly into his hair. He wasn’t sure when the pleading turned into tears, but it didn’t really matter. Ryan was still curled up tight, unresponsive, and Colin couldn’t handle it anymore. He sobbed helplessly against the taller man’s shoulder, lost in his emotions. It wasn’t until Ryan actually put his long arms around Colin’s trembling body that he realized his friend was awake.
“Ryan?” Colin asked tentatively, staring into the familiar green eyes. “Are you...are you here now?”
Ryan ran a soothing hand down Colin’s cheek, gently wiping away the moisture there. “Yeah, I guess I am. I was just...I don’t know. I had to get away for a little while there. I’m so sorry I let this happen--“
“No! Don’t you dare be sorry! We both know this isn’t your fault -- it’s mine. They used me to make you...make you do that.” Colin pressed his forehead against his friend’s, carefully keeping their gazes locked. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I should have done something to stop it.”
“At least you tried to do something! You bit that bastard, tried to get to me, and all I did was sit there and... I let it happen...if I had fought back better, or resisted, or...something, maybe this wouldn’t have happened.” Ryan’s voice was tired, defeated. He looked at the ground, too ashamed to meet Colin’s eyes. With a gentle touch, Colin lifted his friend’s face until they were staring at each other again. He tried to pour as much reassurance and understanding into his dark eyes as possible.
“Now you listen to me, Ryan Stiles. You couldn’t have done anything differently. This was NOT your fault. Are we clear?” Ryan didn’t nod, but he didn’t look away, either. Realizing this was the best he was going to get, Colin sighed in resignation and asked, “Do you think you’ll be all right now?”
“I don’t know. I just...I don’t know. I can’t think right now. I want to get away...I don’t want any of this to be real.” Ryan paused and stared at his hands, which were still trembling. Colin nodded in understanding. “I just...I hate this, y’know? All of this!” Ryan smacked a fist into his palm in frustration, biting his lip. Colin felt the same anger, the same confusion and desperation, but he couldn’t help but wonder what was going through Ryan’s mind. He knew how it felt to watch something like that, but to actually be forced...
Ryan was still staring at his hands, unable to meet Colin’s eyes. His emotions were all piling up on him; his breathing was becoming short and ragged, and he hung his head, closing his eyes briefly. His whole body was still trembling, and he could feel his throat getting tight. Blinking rapidly in an attempt to control himself, Ryan concentrated on the anger. It was familiar and safe, at least.
“I’m gonna fucking kill that bastard for this! I swear, he won’t get away with it...”
“I know, Ry. When I get my hands on him, I swear to God I’m gonna tear him apart. I want to rip that fucking smirk right off his face. I want to cut off his balls and feed ‘em to him. He fucking deserves it.” Smiling grimly at the image this brought to mind, Colin looked worriedly at Ryan, who was conspicuously silent. “Ryan? You okay?”
“I just wanted to make him stop,” Ryan suddenly said, his voice choked with emotion. “But I couldn’t...they kept hurting you, and he just wouldn’t stop! And I...I couldn’t...oh, God, Colin...” Words turned into racking sobs as Ryan dissolved into tears. He drew away, hiding his face in shame, but Colin pulled him close again.
“It’s all right, please, let me help you. I’m so sorry, Ryan. So sorry...”
Ryan hid his face in the crook of Colin’s neck, wrapping his arms around the shorter man’s back. Colin held him, stroking his back and carding his fingers through the soft hair at the nape of his neck. It was heartbreaking to hear Ryan sobbing like this, but Colin preferred it to the eerie withdrawal his friend had gone through first.
Ryan cried for a long time before finally tapering off, subsiding into little hiccups and long, ragged sighs. Colin felt his eyelids drooping, and wondered what time it was. They had no way of knowing, really, but it felt late. A wistful look came across Colin face as he thought of his watch, lying safely on the bathroom counter in his home, where he had forgotten to retrieve it after his shower. Both the shower and his home felt very far away now.
Ryan was making little smacking sounds with his lips as he nuzzled against Colin’s neck, already half-asleep. Colin smiled softly at his friend, thinking that this cuddling could be downright pleasant under different circumstances. Now, though, it was absolutely necessary. They both needed the comfort, and in the chilly basement, they also needed the shared body heat. Shivering slightly, Colin pressed his body more firmly against Ryan’s, rolling until the taller man was nearly lying on top of him. The warm, solid weight sent a strangely sweet pulling sensation through his chest, and Colin closed his eyes. Ryan was already out, exhaustion having overpowered his mental turmoil. Colin could feel fear poking at the edges of his mind, but he held Ryan a little closer and concentrated on how good the steady rhythm of his friend’s breathing felt against his chest. His body’s need for sleep asserted itself, and Colin drifted away.
They were sleeping too soundly to notice the basement door opening slightly. Chris stood there, looking down at his pet, and the other one, the one he needed for control. Interesting how they were all snuggled together. He smiled softly, cold intelligence lighting his blue eyes. It’s good then, that they’re close. He knew that giving them this time together, after his first use of his pet, would make the pet even more dependent on the other one. That will make what’s coming all the more painful. All according to plan.
End Part 3