Brenn nodded furiously, among his tears and shudders of pure terror, "A-anything besides that, sir." He added as his tears slowly began to stop and he moved a little bit to look up at Sebastian, his eyes red and bloodshot from crying to hard, "I-I would sir, anything over that." He said quietly, looking away from Sebastian, doing the thing he had done before, where he would avoid the man's gaze, "T-thank you sir." He said quietly, wanting more than anything for this to be over and for that collar to be gone and out of his sight.
This truly was strange. Sebastian put the collar away, moving to sit down on his own bed with Brenn in his lap. He picked up a tissue, lightly wiping at Brenn's tears.
"All you have to do is behave," Sebastian murmured. "And I won't hurt you, okay? Good boy…"
Brenn didn't particulary care for the option given to him, but as he had said before, anything was better than that collar, anything that he could do to keep himself from that level of imprisonment and that level of degradation he would do. He nodded to what the other man said and moved a little closer to him, feeling slightly more secure. It almost seemed as though the old brenn who had been cheerful and happy and headstrong had been replaced with a more meek and timid one, almost as if the boy had finally been broken, as if Sebastian had gotten what he had want which was a pet. Brenn had no more intentions of running away from this place, no more intentions of going home or anything. The boy that had been speaking and playfully teasing the other boy earlier was no longer there it seemed and it didn't seem like he would come back for a long long time.
Sebastian had thought this was what he wanted. He'd been trying to gently manipulate Brenn to this before, after all. But now that he had it… Sebastian felt empty. Why did it hurt to see Brenn like this? Sebastian leaned his head on Brenn's, so very close to apologizing for this, for everything. Then, he finally did.
"I'm sorry," Sebastian said softly to Brenn. "I'm so, so sorry…" Sebastian pulled back a bit from Brenn. He didn't like to be touched, right?
Brenn smiled a little bit at him, as to say that it was alright. He felt just a bit scared to actually say something to the other man, but he knew that it would be rude to not say anything to the man, and he might get in trouble for doing that, "I-its a-alright. . ." He said quietly, his voice soft and mellow, "Please don't be upset." If anything, it wasn't anything that Sebastian had done though, all his past memories from his childhood to his life before this had sort of put him in shock for a little bit. Also, the fact that he had thought that he might have been beaten to death only a short hour before was still imprinted in his mind. But, he could tell that Sebastian was upset by this change, so he tried to force a smile for him and pushed himself to sit up, still wincing in pain a bit. The spots were he had been hit, or thrown against something were now aching, but he wanted to just please Sebastian, even if it was only for a second. "I-I'm alright. . ." He said quietly, still trying to smile for him, and he ever so slightly moved closer to him, trying to comfort the other boy.
Sebastian shook his head.
"No, no," he said softly. "I'm sorry, Brenn, I-I let my anger get the best of me, I hurt you. I- I actually tried to break you, Brenn…" Sebastian felt horrible. Why did he feel horrible? He had done this hundreds, thousands of times, but… this was different.
"B-Brenn…" Sebastian saw the wince, saw how much his actions had actually hurt Brenn. He stood again, holding Brenn to himself as moved towards the bathroom. There must be something in there to help Brenn feel better.
Brenn shook his head, as they moved to the bathroom, "N-no, I'm alright, you don't have to help me. I'll be alright. I can just walk them off." He said hastily, not wanting to bother the man anymore than he had already, "You did a nice thing for me, and I had to spoil it." Brenn said quietly, trying to get Sebastian to stop, but knowing that the boy wouldn't, they both knew that those bruises or whatever had really happened to Brenn was something that the boy couldn't possibly walk off or anything, but he still wanted to believe that. "Please, Sebastian, I know you want to help me, but I'll be okay. I promise."
"That doesn't mean I should have hurt you like this, Brenn…" Sebastian set Brenn carefully on the cool bathroom counter, already looking for something to help. He eventually grabbed a couple cold compresses, wrapping them before lightly pressing them to the bruises forming to help with the pain.
"Please, Brenn. I-I'm the one who did this to you… please, please let me be the one to fix this."
Brenn sighed shaking his head a bit, "I-I, you're not supposed to help me, you're supposed to do what you're supposed to do which is whatever a guy like you does to a guy like me, I disobeyed you, I hurt you, I betrayed you, so you acted on instinct, although you should know that I never would have turned you in, at all." He winced when he felt the cold compress press against his skin and he tried to hide the pain that he was feeling, "Please sir, I-i"ll be alright, I-you have things t-to attend to anyway, that must be more important than me."
"Brenn," Sebastian said softly. "Right now, there's nothing more important than you to me right now. And there's no way in hell I won't help you right now." Sebastian's touch was gentle against Brenn, so much different than before.
"I'm not going to do that to you ever again, Brenn. It doesn't matter how hurt I am, I'm not going to try to do the same to you ever again."
"No, y-you can't do that Sebastian, people will come back expecting to me half dead and completely yours, you doing this, that'll change everything," Brenn mumbled, not trying to stop the other boy. He knew his arguing was futile and that Sebastian wouldn't listen or even care about what he had to say, but he was still going to try. "Sebastian," he started lowering his voice a bit, "If anyone ever found out about this, they may not even want you as their leader anymore. They won't trust you to do what you're supposed to do if you were willing to help what they think of as a toy, a worthless pet." He sighed, not wanting to have to say this, but he was just hoping that Sebastian might just stop if he did and that he wouldn't get angry again. "You need to believe them. I am just a pet to you, nothing that truly matters, and you need to treat me that way." Brenn mumbled, now looking up at Sebastian. He slowly reached up and moved Sebastian's hand off him, "Please, I can take care of myself for now."
Sebastian had tried to ignore Brenn's words, he really had. He faltered the more Brennan continued, though, hands shaking just a bit as he let them be pushed away.
"B-brenn…" There was no way in hell Sebastian would hurt Brenn again. He couldn't do that. But… perhaps this was enough. Enough to convince his friends. He closed his eyes a moment.
"We could keep pretending," Sebastian said softly. "They'd never have to know…" They'd need to lay it on thick, Brenn doing every little thing Sebastian said when his friends were around, but they could do it.
Brenn looked slightly confused, "Could that really work again? Would they buy that?"
((I know it's short, so sorry))
(It's okie! As long as it furthers the plot!)
"I… it wouldn't be like before. We'd… it would have to be what I had said earlier. You'd have to do *everything * with me, always ask for my permission." Sebastian opened his eyes, looking at Brenn.
"Could… you handle that?" Sebastian kept his hands at his sides, watching Brenn a moment before looking away. He just wanted Brenn to be safe.
Brenn nodded a little bit, a sad smile on his face, "I-I could do that. . ." He said quietly, fixing the cold compresses on him. "I-I'd do what it takes, sir." He mumbled a bit, moving off the counter of the sink, "I-i'd do anything." He gently patting Sebastian's hand, "M-may, I go back to the l-library?"
Sebastian watched Brenn, nodding just a bit.
"I- yes, of course," Sebastian said softly. "Do… you you need anything else?" He asked. He wanted to help Brenn, to keep him safe. He'd do everything he could to never hurt Brenn again.
Brenn nodded fixing his shirt a bit, "N-no, I'm alright. . ." He said softly, then he got an idea, "I uhm, do I have to sleep in your room now?" He asked quietly, knowing the answer already. "I-if I do, should I start moving my things here then?"
Sebastian looked down a moment.
"Just at night," Sebastian said softly. "You're room is still yours. We just… can't afford to have anyone see otherwise." Sebastian put his hand on the back of his own neck, still not looking at Brenn.
"I'm sorry."
Brenn nodded, "O-okay. . ." Then he stepped forward and hugged Sebastian gently, then out of instinct he gently kissed the boy on the cheek before pulling away. "T-thank you." He said softly before stepping away. "I really appreciate this." He didn't think that this was possible, or that Sebastian would actually want to help him. It was odd in a way, and Brenn found himself wishing more and more that he hadn't run, and that he had just stayed with Sebastian that day. Things would be so much better right now for him, and he wouldn't be in pain either, or be feeling so lost.
Sebastian hugged Brenn back, his touch light and cautious. He didn't want to hurt Brenn, to touch the injuries he himself had inflicted. He was surprised by the kiss, but he didn't show, he couldn't show it. He hated his inability to show what he was feeling in this moment.
"I…" Why was Brenn thanking him? Sebastian was the reason Brenn was going through all of this.
Brenn smiled slightly at him, trying to show that he was okay, or would be okay soon. He stepped out of the bathroom and walked back to his room rather shakily and closed the door behind him. Brenn sighed quietly, not even looking at Moose who was cooing and squeaking at him. He was in pain, but he wasn't wanting Sebastian to see him like this. He just needed to rest for a bit and he'd be alright.
Sebastian let out a shaky breath. He moved to the living room, sitting down with his head in his hands. Sebastian was trembling a bit. Why had he done this? He'd been too hard on Brenn, he'd done too much, and now Brenn would pay for it. Damnit, damnit, damnit!
Brenn just laid down on his bed, curling into a ball. He sort of just felt numb at this point, well, not numb but not himself -he could feel the pain rather acutely-. He just needed some space, some time to just rest a bit, but again, it seemed like it wasn't meant to be either. There was a loud banging on the door, and although Brenn didn't want to get up and go over to Sebastian, since he knew quite well who it was, but he did anyways, seating himself next to Sebastian, not having seen the boy in his previous state, "S-sebastian?" He said quietly taking the boy's hand, "W-what should I do?"
Fabian and the woman from earlier were waiting outside the door, looking nervously at each other, there had been a few complications, and some people had seen what had happened to Brenn, and had alerted the authorities about it.
Sebastian's head shot up when the bang came at the door. He had been about to go get Brenn when he came out on his own. Sebastian gave Brenn's hand a gentle squeeze.
"Keep quiet," Sebastian said softly. "I'll take the lead." Sebastian stood, picking Brenn up and holding him close. He made his way to the door, opening it.
"Sebastian," the woman said quickly. "There's been some… complications." Sebastian raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean, CC?" CC shook her head quickly, staring at the man in Sebastian's arms.
"Someone saw us, and they told the police. It's already reached the ears of someone we don't control. We need a cover story." The woman was quiet a moment.
"We might need to get rid of him. I'm sorry, Seb, I know you must have been having your fun with him, but we can't let them find him here. We'll get you another one soon, though, kay?"
Brenn nodded, not wanting to get Sebastian into trouble with those people. But hearing what the woman was saying sparked a memory of a promise he had made Sebastian, that he would have to sing their praises, and although, he hated to do something like that, and probably go against some laws, he also cared about Sebastian, and he didn't want to see the boy in trouble. Brenn bit his lower lip, waiting for a moment of silence, before looking up Sebastian, "U-uhm, Mr. M-merrow?" He s-said quietly, "I-i would be willing to say something to cover t-this up. . ." And I really don't want to be given away to one of his other friends, or killed. He thought with a shudder, Please. . .m-maybe, could t-this work? Brenn leaned his head against Sebastian's chest, looking up at him with pleading eyes.
CC's eyes widened a bit. Sebastian hadn't expected this either.
"Are you sure you can handle it?" He said softly. "They'll have to talk to you alone, and if they don't believe you they won't let you go…" Sebastian set his hand on Brenn's head, holding the man close.
"We can't trust him!" CC said quickly. "You ovbiously just got done beating him, and he's already tried to run! He doesn't care about what happens to us."
Brenn furrowed his eyebrows a little bit, thinking about this, "I-I made a promise to you, that I would do this for you. I won't take away a promise like that." He said quietly, "I-I'll make it believable." He added, "I don't want to see you get in trouble." He said softly for only Sebastian to hear. "I wouldn't say anything about this, I-I want you to stay safe. . ." He said glancing over at the other woman, " I wouldn't betray you at all."
"I'm sure you promised not to run away, either," CC snapped. Sebastian held up one hand.
"I'll deal with him. You two, make sure all the evidence has been erased. Try to get our agents to sabatoge the investigation." Sebastian closed the door on Fabian and CC, holding Brenn close a moment before setting the other man down.
"We need to come up with a believable lie together," he said softly.
Brenn bit his tongue, not wanting to say anything else and get himself into more trouble. "I don't know what would work, or what would be believable. Maybe we could say it was a prank or something?" He said quietly, moving to sit on the couch more comfortably. "Whatever you think is best, I'll repeat, so you don't get in trouble, I don't want that to happen." He added the last bit quietly, eyes looking down at the floor. He felt so bad of what he had done, and all the trouble he had gotten Sebastian into.
Sebastian moved to sit down with Brenn, nodding a bit.
"I think prank might work," Sebastian said softly. "We could say we met on the street, and that we hit it off from there. Then… you were in a bad place mentally, so I offered my home to you.We've gotten to know each other over the month, and when you went to go pick up your things to get more comfortable, I asked my friends to help me prank you. Do you think that would hold?" Sebastian pursed his lips a bit. He wanted it to be.
