An exercise in trust: Mick and Len, probably nsfw

[hottestrogue]

Mick sits on Len's bed, his head in his hands. The smell of smoke and burning books still clung to his clothes. He had been helping that woman burn the books in the library, not because he cared for the books or her in anyway but because of the call of the fire. It could have gone bad. Really bad. They were on a spaceship, but once he had seen that flame it had been too late.

This was getting out of hand, he felt like he couldn't help it. He isn't sure how to put it into words, but for once in his life, Mick is scared. The timemasters had turned that need for chaos and the desire to watch the world burn in to a weapon they could point at people. With the legends it was less a weapon and more a controlled fire. Here on the Barge he doesn't have either of those two.

He licks his lips when he hears Len's footsteps and glances up at his partner. "Len..."

Comments

[hottestrogue]

"No. Not until I've tried getting you help. If nothing works and you're still like him, then yes."

Mick doesn't bother to lie to Len.

"People can break out of any conditioning, I should know, Len. So trust me, I'll try to get you help if that happens." He licks his lips. "But I won't let you hurt anyone, not Summers, not Lisa, not me, nobody."

[chillestrogue]

There were a few good things standing in Len's way of becoming his father, he reasoned. He wasn't a bully; he wasn't interested in hurting people for his own benefit, but rather, for Mick's; and Mick could take care of himself. He trusted him to tell when too far became too far.

And maybe he needed to give himself more credit, too.

"Good." He said, tightening his hug for a brief second before letting go and sitting up.

"You're freezing, by the way. What did you do, take an ice bath?"

[hottestrogue]

"Got the shower as cold as I could. I figured I'd try that to see if it gave the same reaction. It... numbs it a little but not the same way."

He moves to pull Len close for a hug again. He wants the warmth

[chillestrogue]

He shivers, but likes the cold, and is okay to have his warmth sapped by Mick. Cold is at the edge of the bed now, his usual sweater on, knees curled in close to himself.

"Sounds to me like you've got a plan."

[hottestrogue]

"They are nothing like your plans." Mick just holds him for now, stroking his back gently. He knows there are marks. He has seen plenty of them, and he needs to find ways for Len to hurt him that doesn't bring back those memories.

"I figure we should make it somewhere special, just for the two of us and it only happens there." That is about as far as he's gotten.

[chillestrogue]

He shuts his eyes, relaxing in small increments when he feels Mick's hand at his back. Mick's ideas...sounded promising. If it only happened in one room, that would make escape for both of them an easy path.

"I like that idea. So long as it's private." He could be showy, but not when it came to things deeply personal.

[hottestrogue]

Of course it would be. Mick did not show weakness and he isn't about to start now. It had taken years for him to trust Len enough to show him any.

"We'll find an empty cabin. Find a way to bar others from coming in. It should be neutral ground. Not either of our cabins. And it is not something we talk about unless it is about if we go there or not."

[chillestrogue]

"Agreed." He liked the sound of that. Cold, exhaling a little, sat up and withdrew from Mick's arms in the process. Looks like they were doing this; he'd have to dip in slowly, make sure neither of them were going to add to their collection of scars.

"Looks like we're in business. Start thinking of safe words, I'll scout out cabins."

[hottestrogue]

Mick leans in to kiss him softly. "Thank you Len." He sounds like he means it. "I'll get a kit together. firstaid stuff, water, whatever you'll need. What is it you say? Better to be over prepared..."

[chillestrogue]

He smirks, kissing back, reaching his hands out to draw Mick in closer, before breaking it off. It was...scary, to be sure, and his heart thudded about it, but at the same time it was a tiny bit exciting.

"Than under." He finished. I'll get some playthings."

[hottestrogue]

"Whiteout." He whispers. "That is a good safe word. Not one I'd ever actually say." Not that he thinks he'll have to use it with Len either.

[chillestrogue]

He snorted a little, nodding, already feeling better to have that in his pocket.

"Got it."

Len stood up off the bed, stretching his arms over his head, before reaching for his boots.

"I'm good at reading your signs. If you start getting antsy, I'll know. And we'll do this thing."

[hottestrogue]

Mick looks up at him and nods, smiling and then leans back with a sigh. It is going to work out, Len is going to help. Just that is enough for him to visibly relax.

[chillestrogue]

He smirks, and leaves the room.

Later, when the cabin is picked out, he'll have gathered a special bag, packed with what he might consider essentials. There was a basin with clean water, a few towels, and a bedframe that he himself was spread out on, looking up at the ceiling and thinking things over.

[hottestrogue]

Mick comes in not too long after. He has his own kit in a bag. First aid kit, water, pain meds. And a few bottles of beer and snacks. He places the bag by the door and then his flamegun on top of it. He hesitates, looking over at Len.

He still isn't entirely sure he should do this, ask this of Len. Would it be too much for his partner. He knows he can take anything Len can dish out, but can Len handle dishing it out? He isn't sure. The safe word is as much for Len's sake as his own.

He comes over, sitting on the bed. "Hey partner."

[chillestrogue]

He sits up when Mick comes to join him, looking him over, making sure neither of them are wearing any jewelry.

Len points at the door, all business.

"When that door closes, we stop becoming partners. I'm the guy in charge. If that's the way we're playing it, that's the way we're playing it."

[hottestrogue]

Mick is actually wearing jewelry. It is Len's ring on a chain around his neck. He never seems to take it off. But when he sees Len's eyes on it, he takes the chain off and moves to place it with the gun. Then he turns, nodding.

"Yes, Boss."

[chillestrogue]

He nods back, giving Mick a serious look.

"Whiteout. I mean it - use it if you need to." Len stands up, walking to the door to close and lock it, for privacy's sake.

[hottestrogue]

"I know, Boss." He glances at Len and then moves to strip off his jacket and shirt. "Where do you want me?"

[chillestrogue]

He gives a considering look around, before waving his hand vaguely.

"The bed. Face down."

Len'll keep his clothing on. It gives him a sense of safety and purpose, anchors him when illustrating the difference between the two in this room.

[hottestrogue]

Mick studies him for a second more, making sure Len is alright. At least as much as you can expect. Then he nods, walking over to the bed and stretching out. He kicks off his boots and folds his arms before he rests his head on them.

[chillestrogue]

Len is nervous, but he does seem all right, all things considered. It's like a job in a new place; something that he's planned out in his head, but hasn't put into action yet.

He walks over to the bed, kneeling down close to Mick's head.

"Restraints or no?"

[hottestrogue]

Mick licks his lips. Part of him wants them, they allow Len to go harder on him. He takes a breath and looks over at Len, studying his face, trying to guess which one will make Len most comfortable.

"Either way I won't move until you let me, Sir. But maybe without, since it is our first time." That way he can prove to Len he wants it. That Len isn't hurting him more than he can handle.

[chillestrogue]

He nods, his face that usual unreadable mask, indicating that he's thinking hard to himself.

"I can go along with that." Len stood up, reaching in the bag to take out a blindfold. This he tied around his partner's eyes, shrouding him in darkness.

"Can you see?"

[hottestrogue]

That makes Mick's heartrate go up instantly. That is new and unexpected. He blinks , trying to look around. "No, Cold." He reaches out grabbing the edge of the mattress. The nervousness of not being able to predict what is going to happen already having him on edge.