I saved up all my pennies and I gave them to this special guy

[fabricatings]

He's not feeling himself. Not right. Something's scratching, clawing, and it's not because of the pain he imagines. It's not because of his life. It's because he needs something--anything. No oxy? Vicodin. No vicodin? Tramadol. Hydromorphone. Pethidine. All that mattered was that they were opioids and they were strong.

He tricks himself into thinking he can last at least a day with one pill. Briggs is convinced someone stole his tranquilizers, and even rounds on Mike. That's what sets it off--junkies aren't exactly ones for a stable environment. Briggs and Mike are both paranoid, powerful individuals who know how the other operates. It starts off as a fist-fight, Briggs claiming Mike took his drugs for drug money. Mike isn't exactly calm when he uproots the small table and begins yelling right back. The fact that he was thinking about it never comes up, but he goes for a walk.

He's still feeling it, the scratching inside his head. Like an insect, wanting to crawl out of his ear. And on top of that, he swears his gut feels like it's being stabbed. Like that knife is being sliced into him, over and over again. His lip is bleeding but he doesn't care--that pain is nothing compared to the flare in his abs, or the way even his teeth seem to be on fire instead of their usual numb state.

It's late by the time he tracks down his dealer after the other doesn't answer his texts. Slams him against the wall, demanding what he wants. Of course his dealer is out. Turns out, by the time Mike has actually beaten the shit out of the guy, the dealer is right. He's out.

"I know a guy, though," He says. "Hangs out at so-and-so a bar."

Mike's going to have to work for his meal, it seems, and he gives one last kick in the ribs to his dealer, tells him pleasantly he'll see him tomorrow and he'd better have some oxy squared away just for him.

To the bar he goes. He looks like shit--hasn't shaved, long hair--but he also doesn't care. All he cares about is the scratching, the pain--he needs that to go away. He just needs to track down who the fuck his dealer was talking about.

Comments

[heroeswork]

Billy waited while Mike was silent. Watching the junkie, silent and stern, with a raised eyebrow. Waiting to see if Mike would actually say it. That one word that made him fight so very hard.

The most satisfied smirk stretched over Billy's lips, growing slowly as Mike spoke. He wasn't just breaking. He was falling apart at the seams. Desperate and frantic, still trying to hold himself together. Just enough to try and side step that word.

He let go of Mike's chin so he could open the bottle and shake out a few pills into his hand. The bottle was set aside and he turned his attention back to his very special pet. "And just what do we call that, Mikey?" His smile twisted, condescending as ever. "Answer correctly and you get not on the two I promised..." he held up the two white pills between thumb and forefinger, "but a third as a bonus." The third he held up with the other hand. All right in front of Mike's face. "Answer wrong and the number drops to zero."

[47redbirds]

It was cruel. Cruel and humiliating, and Mike felt like he was a goddamn dog. An animal, a pet. He'd be more ashamed if he wasn't eyeing the pills. Three. If he took them properly that could get him until tomorrow evening. That could get him a lot of shit.

The numb relief. The fact that nothing mattered. That could come to him, easy as pie, and Billy wouldn't even register as a problem.

All pulled back for what. Pride? Mike wasn't a proud man. Wasn't ashamed, just angry and in pain. "I told you," He said, louder. "I'm addicted. I already said it. Just give me the pills, Colin. Give me the pills."

[heroeswork]

Billy pulled a pained grimmace, as if he had truly expected the right answer. "Ooh, I'm sorry, that's not the right answer." He closed his hands around the pills and stood up, snatching the bottle as he went.

"Because you, Mikey, are far from addicted." He focused for a moment, to get the pills back into the bottle. "You passed addicted long before our paths crossed." He screwed the cap back on, making sure it was secure. "But when you beat up dealers and follow strange men into their vehicles in the middle of the night just on the hope of getting a pill? That--" he gestured with the bottle, making it rattle, "--is full blown junkie territory, my friend."

Finally he slid the bottle into his pocket. "We'll try again in a few hours, shall we?"

[47redbirds]

"Colin--" Mike's words were sharp. Not a warning, this time, though. Frustration had given way to something else: desperation. Those pills were slowly being taken away and after what he'd endured, how he'd fucked up by punching the other, this--this wasn't good. If he doesn't fix it now, he can't mellow himself out for whatever the fuck was coming.

His heart is hammering in his chest and he's trying his hardest not to panic too much. "Wait. Wait, wait--I didn't--how was I supposed to know you wanted those exact words? Admitting.. Admitting is the first step. Right?"

'So don't I get something?'

[heroeswork]

"Well..." Bill drew the word out, and the silence that followed after, his chin dipping toward his chest. "You knew I wanted a different word. That much I made clear. As well as the fact that it's an all-or-nothing game."

He gave a shrug, as though he weren't worry at all. It was out of his hands, and Mike had failed his test. "But.." he said, suddenly, as if he hadn't been planning this at all and it only just now occurred to him. He'd been trying to think of a way to get what he really wanted, and so far Mike was playing right into it. "I'm willing to give you a final chance. A different test. Pass it and I'm willing to give you the whole bottle. Think you're up to the task?"

[47redbirds]

Oh, God.

Mike lowers his gaze, scanning the floor like it held the answers. Hesitating, feeling like a wounded animal that's been offered something. The scorpion's tail.

The whole bottle. It's too good to be true. Too good, but that would last him--shit. He's doing the math in his head. He has to pass some fucking test and he gets the whole bottle.

As for what it is... Mike can't even imagine at the moment. All he can see is the bottle. Distracting him. He wants to ask if he can have a pill, just one, in preparation of whatever is going on. Now he's not so sure. But does he have a choice?

"Okay," He says finally. "Okay, yeah--yeah, whatever test. It's... It's fine. I'm up for it."

[heroeswork]

Mike was lucky he didn't ask for just one to get him through, because that would have been an automatic failure.

"Should you pass, I might even be willing to wipe your debt of what you did to my eye." Oh, had he said he'd forget about that? He'd kind of lied. He fully intended to hold it over Mike's head at every possible chance, until it healed.

The bottle was pushed into his pocket to free his hands. "What you're going to do, is knee right here..." he pointed to the floor in front of his feet. "And prove you can behave without turning violent. And perhaps we'll but be...happy by the time it's over." Even before Mike could move, Billy's hands moved to unfasten the button of his pants.

[47redbirds]

All he has to do is kneel. That's all he has to do. Mike licks his lips again, throat feeling far too dry, and glances down at the floor once the pill bottle is put away.

Fuck Billy's eye--Mike doesn't care about that, just cares about the pills and all he has to do is kneel. That's all, just kneel, even though the other's hands are near his pants.

Prove he can behave without turning violent. Mike's not stupid, he knows what's coming. His nostrils flare, jaw tight as that button on the top of Billy's jeans come undone. Again.

Slowly, carefully, he moved to his knees, ignoring the discomfort from the last session as best as he could, though he does half-hiss as he lowers himself.

"That's it?" He asks, though there's a note of caution in his voice. "Just...this one thing? And the whole bottle?"

[heroeswork]

"That's right," Billy said, one hand moving to Mike's hair, his fingers running through it. "Just this one thing...until I'm satisfied with your performance. Then the bottle is yours.

It was a trade off to see just what Mike thought was too demeaning. He wouldn't tolerate being forced to admit he was a junkie for three pills. But for a whole bottle, would he do this?

His hand moved back to his fly, so he could tug down the zipper slowly. His tone dropped to be far more suggestive, as if this were just a bedroom game. "Is that something you're up for, Mikey?"

[47redbirds]

Mike closes his eyes, screwing them shut, tight, and lets out a breath he didn't even know he had been holding. This was the fucking worst.

But the whole bottle. The whole bottle, not just one or two pills. It wasn't like it would last long. It wasn't like Billy was the one touching him. He could do this. Mike had to do this.

He doesn't realize his hands are slowly starting to shake, but not from withdrawal--from nerves. From humiliation. The room felt hot, too hot, as that hand moved to his hair, pushing it back.

"Just fucking do it," He manages. Keeps his eyes closed. If Billy hesitates for too long, Mike will psych himself out. Simple as that.

[heroeswork]

Billy's hand returned to Mike's hair, unable to stop himself from smiling. So demanding. So nervous. So...misguided.

"What are you expecting me to do?" Billy asked with a slight laugh. "This test isn't about enduring something. It's about...obedience." The fingers on Mike's scalp were gentle and encouraging. "You're going to both both those hands and that mouth to proper use."

[47redbirds]

Mike clears his throat, but it's not in preparation for anything--he looks to the side, face red and not because of anger. He's already getting cold feet. Second thoughts. Even with those fingers in his hair, surprisingly calming.

"Don't--" He sounds, for a moment, like he's going to be irritable. Quiets down, and doesn't say what he actually wants to say.

Don't laugh again.

For some reason, for some fucked up reason, that's what Mike doesn't want. He's willing to do it, if hesitating now, and he starts to fidget.

"Okay," he manages, ears burning red, "so--what, you want me to suck you off?"

[heroeswork]

At that terse word, Billy raised an eyebrow, his smile falling completely away. Were they already going to have problems with this? When he'd given mike so many chances... But the obvious heat in Mike's face was so incredibly satisfying.

But he stayed silent, giving Mike the time he needed to work through it. He wanted his new pet to know how to behave when it really came down to it. And that required patience.

So when Mike finally caught on, the smile returned, slowly creeping across Billy's face. He let out a low, deep chuckle. "You're finally catching on! Yes, that's exactly what I expect."

[47redbirds]

Mike looks pointedly at the floor the moment the chuckle happens. It's not quite a laugh, but it's close and Mike is willing himself to do it. Just go ahead and do it. He just.. Has to do it.

He drags his hands down his face, and there's some part of him that understands. That knows this whole thing is a line that they haven't crossed before--even with that bar between his feet, even with being fucked--Mike didn't instigate it. This was something he was willingly doing.

"The whole bottle," He tells himself. Doesn't realize he's said it out loud as he takes a deep breath and moves his hands to the other's jeans. Slowly, hesitantly, reaching to pull Billy's cock out, fully aware of those hands on the top of his head. His knees were already starting to hurt, most likely because of the way he'd been laid out beforehand. He fully expected bruises.

[heroeswork]

Billy licked his lips in hungry anticipation. He was already most of the way hard just from staring down at Mike like this. Coercing him into doing this. Knowing just how much Mike didn't want it, but was doing it anyway. It was thrilling, frankly.

"That's right..." he said softly, a gentle moan escaping with his breath. "The entire bottle..." A shiver ran through him, feeling those fingers on his cock. His breath hitched slightly, eager to feel Mike's mouth without the gag.

[47redbirds]

Maybe this would be over soon. That moan was a good thing and Mike was getting the entire bottle--all of those pills--enough to keep him numb through whatever the fuck was happening. He could do this. He had to do this. Even if he's never done this in his life.

Billy is half hard and Mike finally picks up enough courage to just do it, now that Colin is, already, giddy and anticipatory. It's a good sign. He tries to tell himself such, at least.

Mike, with just the barest hint of stubble as he does so, slowly takes a bit of Billy into his mouth. It's hesitant, unsure, and Mike's eyes are closed the entire time, but he's doing it. Sucking like he would a lollipop--he can barely remember what he likes courtesy of his girlfriends. Especially when in this drastically different situation.

[heroeswork]

Billy let out a soft groan, his head falling back, the moment he felt the warmth of Mike's mouth. Damn, it felt good. Better than he could have ever imagined. Better than he'd ever had before. But that might have something to do with the situation.

But it became clear incredibly fast that Mike really had no idea what he was doing. What guy didn't know what to do? Had drugs fried Mike's head that bad, or was he just incredibly unlucky?

"Easy..." he cooed, lifting his head. He grabbed Mike by the hair, pulling his head back. "Gentle."

[47redbirds]

The whole bottle.

He just has to keep reminding himself that that's what he'll get. The whole goddamn bottle. He has to do a job, do it well, and then he can get back to feeling numb.

He just has to shut everything out.

Mike exhales, those hands surprisingly gentle on his hair, and he wonders how the fuck Paige does this so readily and easily. Then again, Paige isn't held captive by a drug dealer and desperate for a hit. He tries to relax and hums low his throat, tongue beginning to experiment. To see what Billy liked. He moves it in circles around his shaft, still not taking all of it--unable to at the moment--and reminding himself over and over again that this is just for the drugs. He just has to behave.

[heroeswork]

"That's it..." Billy breathed out, his fingers staying light on Mike's head. It felt good, and he made that known, letting out soft moans whenever Mike's tongue hit just the right spot.

He let it go on, letting Mike get comfortable and think he was the one setting the pace. But it was light a feather-light touch when he wanted a proper massage. It was far from enough. But to get what he wanted, he needed to be patient. Let Mike relax. Feel somewhat safe. "Just like that..." he said softly. He was starting to breathe harder, visible in the movement of his chest. But that was more from restraining himself than what Mike was actually doing. What he wanted was so much more than this.

Unable to hold back for long, his fingers found their way to the back of Mike's head. And each time he took as much as he could tolerate, Billy forced his head just a little closer. Not enough to really choke him, but not allowing him to hold back. "Don't be so timid..." he said in a gentle but chiding voice. "If you want the whole bottle, you've gotta take the whole thing."

[47redbirds]

The whole bottle. Mike can do this, can listen to the guy moan and coax and do whatever he wants for the whole bottle. But something else happens, too.

Colin is talking, urging him and he almost feels at ease. Almost. He still knows what he's doing and what's going on, but he's doing as he's told. On his knees. Even if he can't pull back if he's too uncomfortable.

He murmurs something, not exactly words but a hum, throat muscles vibrating on Billy's cock as he suddenly finds himself grunting in protest. Billy pushes far--too far--and Mike gives a small noise of distress, trying to relax his throat. Taking all of Billy is going to need a gag reflex of alarming proportions.

The whole bottle, though. Mike gets the whole bottle.

He braces himself, tries to relax the back of the throat as best as he can, and manages to wrap his lips around the base of the other's cock, unable to say anything but a deep groan.

Just think of the whole bottle, Mike.

[heroeswork]

"There you go," Billy said, more moan than anything as Mike's lips reach the base of his cock. It was so much better without the gag. All of that cold metal. This was nothing but glorious warmth. And then that moan, vibrating him. His head fell back with a hard groan. That was exactly what he wanted to feel. "God yeah..."

But he wasn't letting go. In fact, his grip tightened, forcing Mike's face closer still. Crushing his face against his crotch, fingers digging hard against his scalp. Billy lifted his head to look down at his captive, breathing harder than ever. "Now that's what I like to see," he said with a wicked smile.

[47redbirds]

Mike's face was moved closer and he makes a small noise in the back of his throat as protest, fingers curling into fists, knuckles white as he knows--knows-- that Billy's giving that stupid fucking smile.

His lips are around Billy's dick, and he tries to shift, nose buried in the other's thick curls, breathing heavily through his nose. Billy's cock hits the back of his throat and he lets out not another groan, but instead a small, tiny whimper.

He has to do this. Mike has to do this right, and so after a few laboured breathes, Mike begins to move his tongue again. Doesn't want to start moving his head back and forth, not since Billy's hands are woven into his hair, tight and telling him to stay.

Just has to obey for this little bit....

[heroeswork]

That whimper sent a shiver through Billy. It seemed for a precarious moment that it would be enough to send him over the edge. He panted hard now, groaning and fingers digging into Mike's scalp.

But something was still missing. Something wasn't quite right. He knew exactly what he needed, but how could he make it happen? Mike was already proving to be a tough one to break properly. He'd had to go to extreme measures before to draw out a few tears. But could he do it here?

As good as that tongue felt, Billy seized a fistful of Mike's hair and dragged the captive's head back hard. "Still not quite good enough," Billy said, sounding a bit disappointed. "If you don't step up your game, you're not going to get anything." Despite the threat, he held Mike's head firmly, not letting him move closer.

[47redbirds]

Mike's grabbed by the hair and feels his heart plummet to his chest. He has to step up his game. That's not right. That's not, but Billy has pulled him away and he's gasping for air, tongue moving to lick his lips.

He goes to move closer--silently wanting to go at it so he could figure out what the fuck Billy wanted that he can provide--and finds that he can't. Billy is holding him there, forcing him to look up. Mike's reminded of how that damned accent haunted him for so long after their first meeting.

"Okay," He manages, breathless, and his eyes aren't on Billy now but on the breast pocket of his shirt where the pills had disappeared to. "I'll do whatever you want, I told you. I've never done this." For some reason, even to Mike, they sound like weak attempts at explaining himself.

[heroeswork]

Billy arched an eyebrow as if he didn't quite believe that. Perhaps offering an entire bottle was too good of a reward. But there were things he could do to make the game more desperate. Perhaps it would be more degrading to Mike if the reward were reduced to just a few pills. Or continually telling him it wasn't enough. What would make him cry more?

"A willingness is all I ask," he said, as if completely exasperated. "But if I continue to be so...dissatisfied, you'll only get half."

Without waiting for a response, he dragged Mike closer again. Not giving him time to accommodate or adjust. Just dragging him crushingly close again.