thomas aka jealous girlfriend // for beastthatbearsme, illscreaminstead

[makemebow]

[ Thomas won't lose Chris.

(not to Kaito)

He won't lose, and so he times things. Times it so that when Kaito is due to meet with Chris (and he knows, he always knows), he'll be entering Chris's office to find that Thomas is already there.

(already there and straddling Chris's lap, kissing him almost aggressively and sliding his hands over Chris's torso)

(Chris is his)

(he intends to make sure Kaito knows) ]

Comments

[andstandtall]

[ IV's breath comes in sharp, tense gasps as he stares at the blood on Kaito's neck.

(good, it's good)

(Kaito backed off, submitted to IV)

(and if he tries to touch again, IV is still on guard. still ready to fight him off and stake a claim over V and Chris both)

He doesn't even relax when V's hand rests on his cheek, doesn't look away from Kaito. He's like a wild animal, ready to fight for what belongs to him at the expense of all else. Tense lines and sharp, shallow breaths, practically baring his teeth when he hears V's words. ]

He touched you. You didn't give him permission.

[ Kaito doesn't deserve to touch him.

(not even with permission)

(he doesn't deserve to get that permission because he's not good enough, because he doesn't have the right to dirty Chris and V with his touch)

(Thomas is Chris's only brother, in this place)

(and IV is his favorite cherub)

(nobody else should touch V without permission)

(and V shouldn't need anyone but him)

(Chris doesn't need anyone but him, does he? why should V be any different?) ]

[beastthatbearsme]

[He lets the hand on IV's cheek slip up into his hair, massaging his fingers into his scalp, trying to calm him.

(he doesn't want to punish IV for this, even for damaging Kaito without permission)

(even if V himself had no problem with the kiss)

(because he will not break Thomas)]

That's true, isn't it?

[He waves one hand at VI--]

Kneel.

[--then returns his attention to Thomas, as Kaito follows orders.

(the hand still on IV's ass moves so that V can idly undo the button of his pants as he speaks)]

Should there be a punishment, IV?

[Speaking to IV, this time, not Thomas exactly.]

[andstandtall]

[ He trembles, beneath V's touch. Tense and shaking and almost Thomas, there.

(but he needs to be IV, he needs to fight and Thomas is weak)

V is asking whether Kaito - whether VI - should be punished, and IV-- IV knows how he should be punished, but

will V allow that? ]

He--

He should leave. He should leave and he shouldn't be able to touch you. He shouldn't be able to look at you without permission.

[ He pauses.

(trembles)

(isn't this too far? but) ]

Without my permission.

[beastthatbearsme]

[Yes.

Yes, it is too far.

If Thomas is to become IV, there are certain things he needs to be taught, and this is one of them.

(he loves Thomas, he loves IV)

(and this is for their own good)

The hand slips out of IV's hair.]

IV.

Strip and kneel next to VI.

[The order comes with warmth, love, not the coolness and detachment with which he commands VI, but it is an order, there's no mistake about that.]

[makemebow]

[ All at once, with that order, IV is gone again. Back to Thomas.

(even with the way he said it, even with the warmth and love it's still--)

('kneel next to VI')

(putting them on the same level)

(no no no no no he isn't the same as VI, his number is for their safety not because he doesn't deserve a name like Kaito, he's better than Kaito or VI, he's better because he's Chris's brother and V's best and he won't be like VI)

He barely even registers, gripping at V desperately (searching for Chris with his tight grip), that he isn't following orders. That there was an order and he's disobeying.

(he can't remember the order)

(he can't remember what prompted this line of thought, the desperate insistence in his mind that he's not like VI he's better than VI)

(he can't remember any of the things leading up to it clearly, either)

(remembers them behind frosted glass, disconnected, like he watched someone else do those things in his body) ]

[beastthatbearsme]

[This isn't good, is it?

He loves Thomas, but a cherub has to follow orders. A cherub has to obey. A cherub has to kneel when he is told to kneel.

(and so does a five, for that matter)

He doesn't seem to react to Thomas' clinging.]

IV.

[He speaks and his voice is steady, calm, cool.]

Kneel next to VI.

["Trust me", says his voice.]

[makemebow]

[ The order, again.

(it doesn't seem to

want to stay)

(like trying to catch water between his fingers) ]

I don't--

[ It's too far but he

shakes his head. ]

No, no. Please. Not with him.

Nii-sama, please. Please, I'm not the same as him. I'm not him, I'm not, I won't I won't I won't!

1/2

[beastthatbearsme]

[There is a sudden change.

(thomas does not deny him)

(thomas does not tell him no)

He speaks and the warmth is gone from his voice. It is sharp, cold, like cracked ice.]

You won't, IV?

[He's still smiling.

(it's not Chris' smile)

(it's V's)]

[illscreaminstead]

[He doesn't want to see this.

He doesn't want to watch this.

He doesn't like IV by any means, but he knows how breakable he is and he knows that Chris breaks things when he gets angry.]

[makemebow]

Nii-sama...

[ It's a plea.

(for Chris, rather than V)

(he needs his brother)

He trembles in V's lap, draws in on himself. He's scared, he knows he should give in but-- but he needs Chris, he needs Chris.

Chris... Chris will understand, won't he? He'll understand why Thomas can't kneel with VI. Why it's wrong to order Thomas to do that.

(Thomas is better than VI)

(even IV would be better than VI, wouldn't he?)

He clutches at his arms, embracing himself as he shakes in V's lap.

(he's smiling, though)

(through his tears)

(Chris will understand)

(he just

needs

Chris) ]

[beastthatbearsme]

[Chris does not come.

It's V, who raises his hand, who strikes Thomas across the face.

(he needs to learn)

(he needs to be punished.)]

1/3

[makemebow]

[ He doesn't ]

[makemebow]

[ understand.

(it

hurts?) ]

[makemebow]

[ Chris--

(no, V)

V hit him?

There's a long moment, where Thomas does nothing at all.

(he doesn't understand)

(why didn't Chris come?)

And then, finally, he lifts himself from V's lap. Sinks to the floor.

(but still, he doesn't

obey)

(still, he only

hides

behind Kaito)

His fingers dig into Kaito's ribs, sharp and trembling.

(he doesn't understand)

(he needs protection but)

(this is his brother)

(except not)

(why does he need protecting?) ]

1/2

[beastthatbearsme]

[He stands up, abruptly, and fastens his jacket again.]

I expected better of you, Thomas.

[He walks stiffly towards the door, talks as he moves.]

He will stay with you tonight, VI, and consider his choice.

I will return in half an hour. I expect both of you will be gone by then.

[And then he's out the door and it slams shut behind him.]

[illscreaminstead]

[He doesn't know what to think, right now, with IV clinging to him like this.

(it was easy to hate him when V seemed to love him so much)

(but now, even if it's nothing compared to what Kaito gets from him, it's)

(different.)

He turns his head to look at IV, at a loss.]

[makemebow]

[ Thomas trembles against Kaito, shivers that don't stop.

(like he's encased in ice, like he's freezing to death)

Clinging on like this, shivering and holding back sobs while tears drip unhindered down his face, he looks younger than he is. Especially when he shifts, scrambles around to put himself in Kaito's lap the best he can manage.

(this thomas is something more broken than the one who is put out in the ring, the one who's clung to Chris in the face of competition)

(Thomas has never had to fend for himself, not really. Chris has always been there)

(he's always had Chris, Chris had been the one who he ran to as a child and the one who'd taken care of them after tou-san had disappeared and the one who'd taken care of him and hurt the people who hurt him and now--)

(Thomas has never been alone)

(and so thomas clings onto Kaito and shivers, and past the tears and the trembling he leans up to try to capture Kaito's lips in a desperate kiss)

(that's the kind of language that the underground understands, isn't it? he needs someone to look after him because he doesn't know how to even consider doing it himself any more)

(he has to be looked after so that he's still here and alive when Chris wants him back)

(but if Chris never wants him back he) ]

[illscreaminstead]

[Thomas is in his lap, and he's leaning in and kissing him and shivering and scared, he's crying.

(something shattered him, something broke him)

(V)

(no, V is the one who hit him but Chris did this part)

(this was Chris' fault)

His heart hurts.

So he kisses Thomas back as gently as he knows how.]

[makemebow]

[ Thomas clings onto Kaito even more tightly when he returns the kiss, but it's not

right.

(this isn't the kind of kiss that marks the underground)

(this isn't the kind of kiss that will bring him sanctuary, salvation)

(that will earn him protection)

So he presses in, tries to deepen the kiss almost desperately. ]

[illscreaminstead]

[He...thinks he understands.

(he started young, just like Kaito)

(so this is his affection, too. this is his love)

He accepts it, when Thomas deepens that kiss, returns it equally. But there's no roughness to it, no biting, nothing made for a show. Nothing to counter the wounds on his neck.

(because they're the same, really, even if Thomas has love and VI has hate)

(when V hit him he remembered something, remembered the night they were going to be free, together, except when Chris came in something had twisted on his face and Kaito had left with bruises)

(he remembered that he would have hurt for him too)

When they break for air, he speaks, without pulling his body away, because there's something he's realized.]

...I want to do something for you.

[makemebow]

[ Thomas drags the kiss out for as long as he can manage, hands running over Kaito's chest - a promise, of what he'll give if he's asked, in exchange for protection, for someone to stand by him and hold him up while Chris won't do it.

(he doesn't know how to stand on his own two feet, not any more)

(as IV, he thinks he could, but IV is

flighty)

(in his mind)

He presses himself in more closely when Kaito speaks, ducks his head down to kiss at the scratches on Kaito's neck. Like he's trying to undo what he did, like he's trying to drown his shivers in the warmth of Kaito's body. ]

What do you mean?

[illscreaminstead]

[He keeps him close, shivers back a little at the kisses at his neck and the hands sliding over his chest, mirroring.]

When he calls you, you're always pleasing him, right?

[He doesn't know that for sure, but...he knows that their time in service hit Chris harder than it hit him. He knows that V...wouldn't remind himself of that, if he could avoid it.]

So...let me do that for you.

[He doesn't know exactly what he's trying to accomplish, with this.

(but he doesn't want him to go back to V still blind)]

[makemebow]

[ When Kaito says that, makes that offer, Thomas lifts his head.

(startled)

(almost scared)

(he needs Kaito to protect him and so Kaito is the one who needs to be pleased but

he should give Kaito what he wants, shouldn't he?)

(and something like this, while they're here, here where Chris could hear...)

He shakes his head sharply. ]

Nii-sama wouldn't like it.

[ He's already displeased Chris once today. He can't...

He needs to be good, now, and then maybe-- ]

[illscreaminstead]

[He raises an eyebrow.

(the fact that IV looks frightened, at that, that makes his stomach knot up)

(but he can't show that)]

...He wouldn't like it if you felt good?

[State it plain, like that. That's what Kaito does with himself. One of those things that keeps him grounded.

(because Kaito knows this isn't how things are suppised to be)

(Chris showed him, when he was still Chris, before his lessons made him V)]

[makemebow]

[ He shakes his head, again. ]

He wouldn't... wouldn't like it if I only took.

[ He wants Kaito's protection. If he were to take pleasure from Kaito, too, that... that would be too much.

(thomas can justify any pain)

(all it takes is one word from Chris, one gesture)

(one jerk of his strings) ]

I have to-- I have to give back to you.

You shouldn't encourage something like that. You don't deserve his attention if you don't know how to behave right.

[ The words are more himself, but the tone...

(it's like he's reciting something memorised)

(dancing in his sleep the steps of a dance he knows better than breathing) ]