A/N: I'm sorry (*drops chapter and runs*) 

Not really. General content warning for more of the same - massively undernegotiated scening. More in depth content warning at the bottom.

He whimpered as he rolled over onto his back, a flash of agony and ecstasy from his bruised butt. He didn't roll away, though. The sparks that his sore flesh were sending through him felt too livening. He didn't know when he'd ever felt so refreshed, despite the dry mouth and sleepy eyes.

He listened for sounds in the apartment but there were none, and the bright light behind the blind made him think it was probably later than usual, and Sawyer must had already gone to work. He wondered if he'd get into trouble for sleeping so late, but somehow, now, the idea of trouble made him bite his lip in anticipation instead of worry, which he allowed himself to contemplate could be dangerous.

Regardless of any soreness, it had been the best night's sleep Gabriel had had in months, and he even allowed himself a little wriggle into the mattress before he reached over to the nightstand for his phone to check the time. It wasn't there, and he had a moment of confusion before he remembered yet again that he'd handed it over to Sawyer, and never got it back.

He got up with a wince, all his muscles aching – not just his butt – which must have been from how tense he'd held himself through his belting. He'd probably have to get a little fitter if he was going to be in that position often.

He took a quick shower to ease those muscles and pottered into the kitchen, thinking of breakfast. The clock in there told him it was ten, which wasn't as bad as it could have been. He could still do all his chores, even if he'd have to move slower than usual. But then he saw the folded note underneath the fruit bowl, addressed to him in Sawyer's sharp, lawyerly hand.

He hissed when he read it: Sawyer reminding him that he'd agreed to go back to school now, and had a class at twelve which he wasn't to miss. Sawyer would pick him up afterwards, so he really couldn't do anything but get ready – fast, because it would take ninety minutes to get all the way across town – and head out.

Despite standing on the subway, he was constantly reminded of the bruising ache in his behind the whole way, and that only got worse at school, when he sucked in a breath at having to sit on a harsh wooden chair to begin practice.

"Are you okay?" River leaned over with a concerned expression in his light eyes.

"Yeah, I, er, bruised myself walking into the counter."

River raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything, and he let himself get lost in the practice for the two hours.

It wasn't until afterward, when Ellis approached – his blue eyes glistening with barely concealed tears – that he felt truly uncomfortable.

"I'm so sorry," Ellis whispered, pulling him into a hug.

"I'm okay." He really didn't want to get into a discussion here, surrounded by their classmates, but Ellis wasn't getting the memo, even though he kept his voice low.

"Where have you been staying? Not in the apartment...? Mr. Brubaker told me what had happened – well he told everyone that Mr. Humpert had, um, died, and I got him to give me some more information."

"I've been staying with a friend."

Ellis must have heard something in his tone, because he looked shocked for a moment, but then his face eased.

"Good," he said. "I'm pleased. You, er, you deserve a friend. I hope he's being good to you."

Gabriel blushed, looking at his feet, and Ellis laughed, hugging him.

When he escaped into the weak afternoon sunshine, Sawyer was waiting for him, and he jogged over, hoping he wouldn't be annoyed at the delay from talking to his friends. Henry was always annoyed when he ran late – especially if it was from something so frivolously distracting as friends – but Sawyer didn't say anything, just pointed him to the passenger side before walking around to slide elegantly into the driver's seat. Gabriel was far less smooth, the dull ache really making him not want to sit down, but at least the seat was soft.

"How do you feel?" Sawyer asked once he'd pulled out into slow-moving traffic.

"Sore," Gabriel admitted, and Sawyer laughed.

"Lucky we're going straight home. I have plans for you."

Gabriel winced, not sure if his butt could take any more so soon, but Sawyer turned and winked.

"Don't worry, we'll have to build you up to take consecutive days of impact, though we'll get you there. No, I have plans for that pretty mouth of yours."

They spent the rest of the journey in silence – Gabriel wanting to ask about the plans but not wanting to risk annoying Sawyer by speaking out of turn. Sawyer seemed aware, because he kept a smug smile on his face the whole time, and when he guided him to the elevator, Gabriel was sure the hard press against his backside was intentional.

"Strip."

They'd only just walked into the apartment – the door barely closed behind them – when Sawyer gave the order.

"Yes, Master."

Gabriel still felt weird about saying that, but he liked that it had Sawyer letting one of his rare small smiles onto his lips. He removed his clothes, folding them neatly and placing them on the arm of the couch. At first, embarrassment made him try to cover himself, but a stern look from Sawyer had him awkwardly dropping his arms to his sides.

Sawyer went to the same drawer as the day before and pulled something shiny out, and a bottle of clear gel.

"Stay still," he instructed as he crouched in front of Gabriel, who had a visceral reaction to the suggestive position. "Oh, no. Not now, little whore."

Gabriel yelped at the sharp pinch on the sensitive skin at the base of his half hard cock, which dropped instantly. Sawyer didn't waste time, sliding the metal object – a series of connected rings – cold with lube, onto his softened dick and clicking it closed with a tiny padlock.

"We'll build you up to the urethral plug."

"The what?"

"What?" Sawyer slapped the inside of Gabriel's thigh, hard, and his cock jumped. He let out a tiny scream at the unexpected piercing pain.

"Sorry, Master!" he panted out.

"Better. And, yes, it's spiked. The cage I used last night wasn't really going to cut it with you. I'm your Master, and remember your pleasure belongs to me now."

"Yes, Master," he managed to breath out, trying to focus on not getting hard.

"Anyway, onto the next stage of your training."

Gabriel's eyes went wide. He thought this was it. Though he remembered what Sawyer had said about his mouth. That was okay though. He could do that. Liked it a lot in fact. But then Sawyer went to the drawer again, and return with another metal object, though this one was a circle of metal, with leather straps hanging off it.

"Open wide."

Gabriel opened his mouth more in shock than anything, but Sawyer wasted no time in pushing the ring gag into place, fastening it tightly before Gabriel could respond with anything more than a confused murmur.

"On your knees."

Gabriel dropped slightly clumsily, painfully aware of his nakedness and the vicious spikes of the cage as it bounced sharply against his sensitive flesh.

Everything was happening too fast, too uncontrolled. Gabriel was lost in emotions that he hadn't known existed. He was feeling a continuing thrum of desire as Sawyer demanded action from him without an ounce of kindness in his voice, and it scared him that he was reacting that way. He didn't like the trepidation, but it was too wrapped up in the other aspects until he wasn't able to tell where pleasure ended and fear and disgust began.

What made it worse was that he knew this was only the beginning. He'd accepted Sawyer. He was already beginning to need the way Sawyer made him feel good, even with the little they'd done. He liked the way he hurt him. Despite how wrong it was; how it made him flush with shame. He needed it so much he was shocked he'd managed to go so long without it – wrapped in the safety of his closed, quiet relationship with Henry. Sawyer had opened a new window in Gabriel's soul, and it wasn't closing any time soon.

Sawyer didn't warn or wait, just pushing his semi hard cock through the ring. Gabriel could feel it rubbing along his tongue, but it didn't stop, pressing against the soft flesh at the back of his throat, making him gag and try to move his head away. But Sawyer grasped his hair tightly enough to send sharp sparks of pain around his head and make his cock jump again, right into the savage barbs. He yelped, the sound blocked by the thick intrusion of Sawyer's cock.

"Look at me whore." He punctuated his words with another sharp tug, which had the exact same effect as the previous one had. "I like those desperate noises. So needy, the way you love how much it hurts."

Gabriel looked up, his eyes leaking tears. It wasn't just the pain, or trying to hold down his urge to gag. Sawyer's eyes were cold. Staring down dispassionately; the smirk on his lips cruel. Gabriel felt it in his heart. The contradiction between the way the actions made him feel and the way Sawyer didn't seem to care made him want to wriggle away – to run to his room and lock the door. Hide away with his dirty thoughts and the rejection he felt. But Sawyer wasn't letting go, his grip getting tighter as he began to work into a rhythm, pulling back just far enough for Gabriel to get some air before thrusting forward hard enough to make him hack.

Gabriel lost track of time. He was getting lightheaded with Sawyer only allowing him limited air, but he had to keep his body taut or his hair would be getting ripped out. His brain wasn't getting the order, aching to sink away, when Sawyer thrust forward for the last time, holding Gabriel hard against his crotch until he had black spots in front of his eyes, and he finally felt the burning heat of the bleachy fluid flowing down his throat. Sawyer let go of him and he fell back, hacking; spit and cum and worse splashing from his spread open mouth.

Sawyer crouched by him, bringing him back into the room with a sharp slap to the cheek.

"You are a good boy," he murmured as he unfastened the gag, letting Gabriel weakly wipe away the mess from his lips. He'd changed again, no longer looking empty and cold – his eyes were back to their usual hue and his smile a little more sincere-looking. "You did good, darling. I'm pleased with you. Now, clean this mess you made up and you should probably have a short nap before you make dinner."

Gabriel took several deep shuddering breaths before managing a smile in response to those words that proved Sawyer cared. "Thank you, Master," he said, as Sawyer stood and stalked away to his bedroom. 

As usual, I'd love to hear your thoughts, particularly on Sawyer. How do you feel about the line between his coldness and cruelty and him giving Gabe what he wants?

If this is *a lot*, which I understand it may be, I'm writing two ONC 2021 novellas that you could give a try, which are far less painful than this is - check them out on my page: The Patience of Ashes and Stranger on the Cliff

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A/N: the content warning promised above:

Sawyer chokes Gabe - a high risk activity that should never be done without negotiation and enthusiastic, informed consent. He also intentionally hurts him without warning or prior discussion (the cage)

Gabe has a lot of conflicting emotions about the whole thing - he has convinced himself that a) Sawyer does care about him and b) this is what he wants - but it also hurts his heart that Sawyer is so cold

Please do let me know if you think it needs more/different content warnings