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Kevin watched Jean frown at the tie in his hand.
"Just do it," Kevin said.
The Master was angry today — everyone in the Nest felt it, but no one more so than Riko, who had been summoned three hours ago and still hadn't returned. If he was able to walk when he was finally released, someone was going to pay the price, and Kevin would far rather it be him than Jean, who'd quickly become Riko's favorite toy to break for reasons Kevin would rather not think about.
"You are an idiot," Jean said, but he moved behind Kevin to bind his wrists anyway. "You won't be able to defend yourself."
"That's how he likes it."
Jean's fingers twitched against Kevin's skin. Kevin didn't like to think about the reason for that, either. This wasn't like that. Letting Riko use him like this had been Kevin's own idea, and something that only ever happened when he offered himself up; never when he said no. For whatever reason, Kevin's no mattered to Riko more than anyone else's. Whether that was because Riko saw him as the closest to an equal he had or some other reason that only made sense in his own twisted brain, it was the truth.
"I've — I've never hated anything he's done," Kevin said. He was almost able to convince himself he wasn't lying. "Not like this, at least."
He heard Jean's heavy sigh, but Jean finished tying his wrists and let Kevin test the knot.
"That's good."
Jean grabbed Kevin's pillow from the bed, shaking his head. "You are still an idiot."
Kevin let Jean guide him to his knees on the pillow; he didn't need the help, not really, but he did need the last gentle touch before Riko found him. Jean tilted Kevin's chin up with his fingertips, searching for something on his face. Regret? Fear? Was it worse, and he was searching for the part of Kevin that did look forward to what was to come?
"You should go," Kevin said quietly. "He won't be happy if he catches you in here."
A whirlwind of emotions burned in Jean's eyes — he'd never been able to block them all out no matter how often he was beaten for it. Kevin saw all the maybes he was thinking: Maybe someday things would change. Maybe someday Kevin could get on his knees like this for Jean instead, let Jean take what he needed instead of Riko. Maybe someday neither of them would ever have to worry about the other being hurt ever again.
Kevin scoffed to himself. Sure. And maybe someday the Ravens would lose the championships.
"Jean," Kevin said, firmer this time. "Go. I'll be okay."
"Idiot," Jean repeated, and then he was gone.
The room was too quiet with only Kevin there. He wished idly that he'd turned on the fan just for the white noise, but it wasn't worth the trouble now.
Belatedly, Kevin remembered that sometimes Riko didn't bother to stop by his own room before finding a human punching bag, and that there was a chance Kevin would be here on his knees while Jean was hurt anyway. He'd check the halls for noise if Riko wasn't back within the half hour. Despite Jean's worries, Kevin could get his wrists out of the tie if he really needed to. He'd practiced. Just in case. Jean always tied him a little too loose, anyway.
Waiting was always the worst part. Kevin needed to be alert and ready for Riko when he got back, but he didn't know when that would be, and the longer he waited, the more likely he was to zone out and get himself punished.
This time, he needn't have worried. Riko's angry stomping and muttering could have woken him from a dead sleep. Kevin watched him slam the door open and freeze, taking in the sight before him.
Kevin had felt a little silly when he'd done it, but seeing the look in Riko's eyes now made him grateful he'd worn Riko's practice jersey rather than his own. Riko was a possessive man; of course that extended to sex.
"What's this?" Riko asked. A rhetorical question, and one that Kevin knew better than to answer. He hadn't been addressed.
Riko locked the door behind him and twisted his fingers in Kevin's hair, pulling just hard enough for his eyes to water. Riko's gaze darted back and forth between the jersey and Kevin's face, but Kevin held kept his eyes on Riko's. Riko liked eye contact. He liked watching the glaze form over Kevin's eyes as he was used, liked seeing the desperation build as Riko refused to touch him.
He couldn't see anything properly, but in his peripherals Kevin noted the poor shape Riko was in. They had a game tomorrow, so there were no marks where they'd show under a uniform, but Kevin could see the pain in the way Riko was holding himself: his weight was all to one side, his breathing just a little too shallow, and there was a barely noticeable shake in his arms. Despite being gone for so long, Riko had gotten lucky. The Master couldn't have his star pupil in anything other than peak condition for a game. He'd been forced to hold back with his cane — which only meant that for all the physical pain the Master couldn't bestow, Riko had been hurt mentally instead. It was good that Kevin had prepared himself, then. The game tomorrow might not have been enough to save Jean's life.
Riko dropped Kevin's hair. "I don't know why I do this for you," he said. "If you want to be a sex doll so badly the rest of the team would be more than happy to fuck you."
That was the other thing Riko liked: pretending he didn't need this more than Kevin did. Kevin enjoyed this most of the time, he never denied that, but Riko was at his most vulnerable here and he refused to ever admit it. Riko needed the control he held over Kevin in these moments to make up for the lot he'd been given in life as the useless second son. As much as Riko loved Exy, he'd never been given any option but to play, and to be the best. He could do anything he wanted, but only as long as he kept his pretty head down. He ranked higher than the rest of the team but he wasn't immune to the Master's scorn. He lashed out because it was all he could do. Kevin understood, even if he hated who Riko had become, so he gave him as much as he was able. The boy Kevin used to know deserved the grace.
"Hell," Riko continued, kicking his shoes off, "most of your fans would be more than happy to fuck you, too. I should leave you behind after the game tomorrow, see if anyone lucky finds you. Would you like that?"
No, Kevin thought. Only you.
Maybe Riko could see the answer on his face, because he curled his lip in disgust.
"You are pathetic," he said. "You don't deserve what I give you. But you know that, right Kevin?"
"Yes, Riko," Kevin answered.
"I indulge your repulsive desires because we are partners, and I am a generous man, right Kevin?"
"Yes, Riko."
Riko grabbed Kevin's chin, grip tight enough to be painful. "And you are grateful for it, right Kevin?"
"Yes, Riko."
Satisfied, Riko nodded and released Kevin's chin to undo his pants. Instinct and muscle memory both had Kevin's mouth watering, his dick hardening. There was a high chance he would not be allowed to come at all, but he couldn't stop the way his body reacted to Riko and the power he exuded during moments like these. In a way, Riko wasn't lying when he called Kevin pathetic — he did like to be used. He liked not having to think. Sometimes, he wished for a more equal playing field where he didn't have so many rules to follow, so he didn't need to fear any punishments, but he didn't mind being punished very often anymore.
Kevin's eyes wanted desperately to drop to Riko's dick when he freed it, but breaking a rule so early could end this here and now, and he couldn't let that happen.
Riko nodded in rare approval at the maintained eye contact. "Prove to me that you are grateful," he ordered, stepping right up in front of Kevin and holding his dick to Kevin's lips.
It was almost a relief to allow his mouth to fall open, letting Riko in. Kevin's gag reflex was long gone; Riko pressed a hand to the back of his head and shoved, his throat relaxing easily around the familiar intrusion. There was no warm up. Riko wasn't gentle, never was and never would be, but he was smart enough not to risk Kevin's oxygen for too long. Even as he held Kevin still against his pelvis he was alert, waiting for the moment Kevin's body seized. Then and only then did Riko pull him back to let him gasp for a breath before repeating the process. Riko controlled everything: Kevin's wrists were held in place for him, Riko moved his head where he wanted. Kevin just knelt there and took it. He didn't have to do anything except for keeping his eyes locked on Riko's, difficult though that was at the angle he was at.
His mind did drift, somewhat, curious about what the Master had done for Riko to give in so quickly. Most of the time, Kevin had to beg. He had to endure a punishment for daring to even ask for something so beneath his partner before Riko would take what he'd craved the entire time. But Kevin had merely had to get on his knees, today. The Master must have done something horrible, and Kevin wanted to know, wanted to be able to tell Riko that whatever he'd said wasn't true (because Riko was many horrible things, but he would never be worthless), but they hadn't been confidants in years. Riko would never tell him anything. Kevin could only comfort him like this, so this was what he would do.
It was already working, he was pleased to note. There always came a moment where Riko's mask would fall and he'd be Kevin's again, where his eyes would flutter shut and he'd finally let out soft noises of pleasure, where his grip would soften just enough for it to be mistaken for a caress if Kevin was in the mood to delude himself. Riko was there now. Kevin had gotten him there so easily. He didn't dare hope that it meant anything, but he still felt a sense of pride for being a good partner.
Riko's hands cupped Kevin's jaw, holding him in place as his hips thrust forward mindlessly, slow and deep. Drool was dripping from Kevin's chin. The room felt quiet again, despite the wet noises from Kevin's throat and Riko's breathy moans. Riko's face was relaxed as if in sleep. He was beautiful even in a terrifying rage, but like this? He looked like the god he wished he was. He looked like the boy Kevin cared about so much.
"Kevin," Riko whispered.
It wasn't a call to respond — even if it was, Kevin wouldn't be able to reply around the dick down his throat. It was just his name. Just an acknowledgement of who was making Riko feel so good. A slow tingle ran through Kevin's spine, settling in his crotch and lighting him on fire. He hummed, softly, which had never specifically been against the rules but was a risk nonetheless.
"Kevin," Riko whispered again, almost needy, so Kevin hummed again. Riko sighed in contentment.
Kevin's knees and wrists both ached, as did his jaw. He didn't know how long he'd been down here. He supposed it didn't matter much. Even in a normal practice Kevin had endured worse for longer; this was nothing. This was good, even. This was him and his partner where they both belonged.
The only warning he got that Riko was close was a twitch in the fingers against his jaw. Kevin hummed once more, focusing on a deliberate flicker of his tongue on each thrust, and it was only another minute before Riko came with a cry, hips jerking as if he couldn't decide whether to bury himself as deep as he could or pull out to make sure Kevin tasted every drop. It wasn't a good taste, but Kevin was happy when he got it anyway. Riko knew that. He gave it to him, today, coating his tongue in come. Kevin swallowed it all greedily.
It was only when Riko cleared his throat that Kevin realized his eyes had fallen shut.
Riko's softening dick was still in his mouth, so Kevin kissed it on the way out in an attempt at an apology. Riko sneered at him — gone again, mask back up. Damn it.
"Can't even follow one simple rule, can you?" Riko demanded, shoving himself back into his pants and wiping his hands off. He didn't mention that the rules had never actually been said, only found out through trial and error. "Think you're above such things, do you Kevin?"
"No, Riko," Kevin rasped. He hoped his voice would recover before interviews tomorrow; he'd had a suspicious increase in "allergies" lately.
"No?" Riko repeated, cocking his head. "Then why did you look away from me? I do so much for you, Kevin, and you can't even do one thing for me? Ridiculous."
Riko stalked over to his bed, reaching under the pillow. Shit. Kevin knew what was under there, and he didn't like it.
"You are going to learn one of these days," Riko said, pulling out the lighter.
Kevin didn't bother to try and hide the fear in his eyes. Riko liked seeing it.
"On your back," Riko commanded.
His legs were stiff, but Kevin stood the best he could and only hesitated a second before he walked to Riko's bed and laid himself down, head on the pillow and legs spread wide. Riko set the lighter down on the nightstand and roughly tugged Kevin's pants and underwear off. The clothing was tossed carelessly to the floor.
"Hm," Riko mused as he took his place between Kevin's bare legs, "you don't deserve to be untied, but I need that jersey off of you. Any ideas?"
Kevin didn't respond. He'd already broken one rule, he couldn't afford to break another, especially not with the lighter in the picture. Fire was worse than punches and kicks, worse even than knives.
Riko fisted the jersey and brought it up to Kevin's lips. "You can hold it for me. You can manage that, right?"
Yes, he could. Kevin let Riko push the fabric between his teeth and bit down. Having something to clench his teeth around would probably be helpful in keeping quiet.
Lighter back in hand, Riko ran his eyes over all of Kevin's exposed skin, no doubt checking on the marks he'd left last time and debating where he could still hurt Kevin without impacting his game. His gaze locked in on Kevin's dick, still interested but flagging with his fear, and Kevin almost threw up. Riko wouldn't. Not there. Would he? As discreetly as he could, Kevin shifted his wrists beneath him, trying to ready himself to run if that lighter came anywhere near his dick. He could let Riko hurt him, could even convince himself he liked it, but he would rather risk humiliation by running out into the halls nude than let fire touch him there.
Riko could see him starting to spiral if the sick grin on his face was any indicator. "No? Not here?" he asked, his empty hand coming to press Kevin's dick against his abdomen. The sudden stimulation almost made Kevin drop the jersey when he gasped. Riko dragged his hand painfully slowly up and down, watching Kevin squirm until he was fully hard again.
"I guess you're right," Riko said. "You'd probably be too much of a bitch to play tomorrow if I lit you up here. Oh well. Maybe next time."
He flicked the lighter on and brought it up to hover over Kevin's chest, instead. The flame wasn't close enough to touch, not yet, but Kevin felt the heat just fine. Riko kept his hand steady and let the anticipation build.
He never stopped that slow drag of his hand.
The first touch of fire to skin was light and brief, not enough to cause damage but enough to make Kevin jump. The second touch was longer, and tears came to Kevin's eyes faster than he could register the pain. His body was betraying him, that scared, jittery breathing pushing his chest up into the flame again and again. Riko tracked all these reaction with eager eyes.
"Hurts?" he asked, patronizing and cold. "Poor little Kevin. Should have been better."
Riko moved the lighter around in a figure eight from Kevin's collarbone down to his stomach and back up again, just slow enough to for the heat to hurt but quick enough that if he was lucky, there wouldn't be permanent burns. Still, he kept up the movement of his hand on Kevin's dick, two different rhythms maintained simultaneously. If he wasn't too busy trying not to move, Kevin might be impressed with Riko's coordination, might think that he should try out the piano. As it was, he was just trying to keep from breaking the rules again. The tears in his eyes were making it hard to keep eye contact, and the stimulation was making it hard to keep his hips still. The pleasure was slowly overriding the pain, but Kevin was not allowed to take his own pleasure. Riko had to give it to him.
"I can't believe you're enjoying this," Riko said, easily seeing the switch in Kevin's gaze. "Are you going to come like this? Do you like it when I hurt you? Nod."
Kevin nodded.
Riko shook his head. "Of course you do. You're a freak, Kevin. I don't know why I indulge you. This is perverted even for you. Are you grateful? Nod."
Kevin nodded.
"Do you want to come? Nod."
Kevin nodded. He did. He really did.
"Do you deserve it? Shake your head."
Kevin shook his head.
Riko flicked the lighter back off, which was the last thing Kevin was expecting. He pulled the jersey from Kevin's mouth and smoothed it down against the new burns on his chest, making him hiss.
"Hush," Riko scolded. "You just admitted you like it when I hurt you, so don't bother complaining now. Open up."
Kevin stuck his tongue out. Riko flicked the lighter back on and held the flame to the tip, just for a moment, before flicking it off and again and tossing it. He switched hands, his right now gripping Kevin's dick and his left covering Kevin's mouth to muffle the whines coming out.
Riko jerked him hard and fast, staring him down with an unreadable expression on his face. Kevin didn't understand why Riko was allowing him to come — or, no, he hadn't given permission. Kevin had to hold it back. He was going to get edged. He was going to be left hard and aching. That was the punishment, wasn't it?
But no. "Come," Riko demanded. "Right now."
Helplessly, Kevin obeyed, shattering in his partner's hands. Riko watched the come splatter onto his own jersey with satisfaction. Wave after wave of pleasure crashed over Kevin, but he kept his eyes open. He kept staring right at Riko.
When it was over, silence fell over the room one more time. Kevin tried to bring his breathing back under control, but his body was still in hyper-drive, not understanding that the danger had passed for the moment. Riko just gazed at him, looking bored. He wasn't bored, though. Kevin knew that Riko got off on these punishments even more than he did. And Riko hadn't dismissed him yet, anyway. They weren't done.
"Flip over," Riko said. It wasn't a demand anymore, but Kevin did as he was told anyway, flipping over onto his stomach and gritting his teeth against the pain. "Good."
Riko untied Kevin's wrists with hands that were suddenly shaking again, and Kevin frowned in concern. These mood swings were going to give the both of them whiplash one day if Riko wasn't careful.
"Sit up."
Kevin did so, turning back around to face Riko again as he did. The mask was gone again. Riko reached up to cup his jaw, using the grip to bring Kevin's face close to his.
"Tired, Kevin?"
He didn't even have to lie. "No, Riko."
Riko nodded, closing his eyes and pressing their foreheads together. "Touch me?"
The request was almost scarier than the lighter had been. Kevin slipped his left hand down Riko's pants to gently bring him off, his right hand moving to hold Riko's hip in what he hoped was a comforting gesture. He was desperate, now, to know what the Master had told Riko to make him act like this. Riko was not someone who ever asked to be taken care of — he demanded, and Kevin gave. If Kevin was a braver man, he might try and reassure Riko with words, too, but the dynamic had already shifted too much too quickly that he didn't dare. This would have to be enough.
Riko came silently with his hands buried in Kevin's hair and his face hidden in Kevin's neck. It was the closest they'd been in... months? A year? Kevin wasn't sure. Riko's easy touches from childhood had long since been replaced with violence, and any affectionate touch these days was either calculated for manipulation or just for show. This was Riko broken down. Kevin had never hated the Master more than he did today, and while such thoughts normally felt sacrilegious, today it felt justified. He wrapped Riko in his arms and held tight.
"Kevin," Riko whispered.
"Riko," Kevin answered. He didn't know how long Riko would tolerate this before he built his walls back up, but Kevin would rather hold on a second too long and get punched than a second too little and leave his partner alone when he clearly needed him.
He didn't end up with a new bruise. What he did end up with was Riko asleep in his arms, and nostalgia threatening to eat him alive. This was what Jean would never understand. He'd never seen the boy that Kevin had grown up with, only the violent man he was now. No one but Kevin ever saw anything other than Riko Moriyama, number one of the Perfect Court. But Kevin? Kevin could only see Riko, his best friend. The day Kevin was dropped off at the Nest after his mother died, they'd fallen asleep together much like this, only with Riko holding him. It was one of the last gentle moments they'd had before Riko changed. It was Kevin's favorite and least favorite memory for that very reason.
Kevin shifted to lay them both down, careful not to wake Riko up. Tomorrow, they'd be back to normal, but tonight? Tonight, Kevin had his partner, and he was going to soak up as much of the feeling as he could.