Smack the Dog

Smack the Dog 29: Fearful Symmetry
Author: Foofy
Rating: NC17
Summary: Karl gets first hand experience of exactly what it’s like to be under Viggo’s control. Warning! BDSM at play

*

The shock of being invited back to Viggo’s house for Sean was probably only excelled by the shock of all of them arriving back at the house for Orlando. The younger man had been hovering in the hallway when they had walked through the door, the phone still in his hand, the question dying on Orli’s lips as he recognised the fact that Karl was with them.

Shocked brown eyes turned immediately to Viggo, who inclined his head towards the lounge in an instructive manner. Orli glanced at Sean once before turning and padding obediently towards the requested room as quiet as a mouse in a house full of cats.

The weirdness of the day did not stretch to refreshments being offered, but it was still an odd experience. Sean found himself sat on the familiar sofa, Orli curled up next to him in a silent offer of support. Karl had elected to remain standing, and was leaning against the wall near the door, as though expecting to have to make a quick exit.

Viggo himself was also still on his feet. He was prowling the room, occasionally pausing to look out the window, a seemingly carefree figure who apparently didn’t know that three sets of eyes were trained upon him.

Karl’s patience was less skilled than either of the other two. He cleared his throat and folded his arms in what Sean assumed was an aggressive I-take-no-shit manner. Of course, this never worked with Viggo. The man seemingly could never be intimidated, although this would probably change should Karl come equipped with an electric shock system and random other torture devices. As it was, folding arms just wasn’t going to cut it.

“ You know, for someone who has attempted to ruin my social life, you could afford to be a little more polite,” Viggo spoke mildly as he looked out the window. Karl let out a hiss through his teeth.

” Don’t you think you’re exaggerating just a little? Sure, I’m not proud of the fact that you’re getting problems from this group, but that’s hardly ruining your social life. And I note you say social not love, incidentally,” Karl looked defensive. Sean couldn’t really blame him.

“ No? Has David told you nothing of what has happened in the last few days?” Still the serene questioning continued, Viggo completely ignoring the L thing. Karl’s eyes slid towards Sean, then back again.

“ I thought that was because you didn’t want Sean harmed, keeping him out of it, that sort of thing,” Karl was determined not to be repentant about the break-up. Viggo glanced towards him, raising an eyebrow.

” And the blackmail? The photographs? That was just a bit of a laugh for you?”

“ You knew damn well I wasn’t going to show anyone those photographs, and Sean enjoyed himself. Didn’t you?” The question was hurled towards Sean on the sofa. Not entirely knowing what to say, Sean opened his mouth and shut it again. Viggo glanced at him once, then looked back at Karl.

“ So he’s not disagreeing with you. I don’t hear him agreeing with you, either,” There was a shrug inserted here. “ Either way, whether he liked it or not was presumably a happy coincidence. Or would you have just let him go if he asked you to?”

“ He never asked me to,” The defensive behaviour had increased dramatically.

“ That wasn’t the question,” Viggo looked at him. Sean was sure his voice didn’t change, but equally he was sure that suddenly Viggo sounded a lot more dangerous. The older man prowled towards Karl, his eyes fixed on him. “ And if the answer was yes, I want to know why you needed David to be there to help. Hmmm?”

There was another hesitation. Karl’s eyes slid towards Sean in a mute appeal of help, where the habit of hesitation was suddenly shared. Again, Sean had no idea what to say. Sure, he had enjoyed himself for a lot of it. The prospect of sleeping with Karl under nice normal circumstances was not completely abhorrent to him, although to admit this to Viggo would probably change that assessment easily. However, the thought of the first time with Karl, of essentially being held down on the sofa… Sean felt a shiver down his back and fought against the feeling that he should be looking away.

“ It wasn’t that bad, Vig. I mean, it wasn’t torture,” mumbled Sean, not even sure that Viggo would be able to hear him. Viggo glanced towards him once again with a neutral look that Sean was sure meant Viggo disbelieved him, but prayed that this was just his pessimism getting into the act again.

“ All in all, Karl, I think I can have a right in feeling more than a little pissed off with you,” Viggo shrugged. “ Or would you still like to accuse me of abusing Orlando?”

Sean noticed the little look that Karl gave to Orlando at this point. Orli had been watching the two with his mouth slightly open, his eyes flickering between them like a spectator at the Wimbledon tennis matches. At his name being mentioned, Sean felt Orli edge closer to him, the warmth of his leg pressed up against Sean’s thigh. It was surprisingly comforting.

“ You beat him-“ Karl began with a little more strength to his words.

“ I do,” Viggo seemed as though this was a minor acknowledgement, as though he had simply commented on whether he was hungry.

Obviously this hadn’t been expected. Karl paused in his carefully planned speech and narrowed his eyes, obviously trying to search for a new script. Orli’s hand rested on Sean’s leg as Sean began to straighten in case Karl … well, he wasn’t sure what Karl would do. Obviously neither did the man himself. But once things were straightened out in people’s minds, yes, *then* he would be in a position to do something!

“ You admit it?” Sean wasn’t sure what Karl was aiming for with his tone, but what he achieved was a feeling of bafflement. Viggo shrugged.

“ Well, of course I beat him. He likes it and asks for it. Buys me new and occasionally worrying toys to assist, mostly with a black leather theme to it. Why, in your world does this make me automatically an abuser?”

” Well… yes… on the whole,” Karl seemed to be struggling with the whole thing. Viggo snorted laughter, and with more self control than Sean had ever known he glanced carelessly out the window again, leaving his younger companion to look completely bewildered.

Sean began to get up but Orlando’s hand on his leg stopped this, the younger man watching the discussion carefully. Sean glanced at him in confusion, which apparent prompted his leg to be stroked like a kitten. Oh well, affection where you can get it he supposed.

He looked back at the ‘fight’ with a mixture of apprehension and anger. This was going too neatly, too calmly and bloody hell, far too quietly. Karl was going to get off with what was essentially a verbal slap on the wrists? Why the hell didn’t he ever get a slap on the wrists for this sort of thing? On the plus side, Viggo’s neutrality seemed to be causing more confusion and discomfort in the younger man than any aggression could have produced. It was far too clear in Karl’s eyes that he had been expecting shouts, fists, possibly threats. A calm discussion in a living room obviously hadn’t been considered. For god’s sake, they were almost at the point of tea and biscuits.

“ Orli,” Viggo addressed the younger man on the sofa. Orlando’s hand stilled on Sean’s leg. “ Would you like to tell Karl exactly what we do together in the bedroom?”

“ You might as well just show him the gym,” Sean’s comment was out his mouth before he realised it. He slammed his mouth shut. However, Viggo’s eyes had a definite look of consideration in them.

“ That might not be a bad idea,” he mused.

“ Really?” Sean was stunned. Orli’s hand stroked his leg again, this time possibly in pride rather than calming. Karl looked from Viggo to Sean then, obviously softer, at Orli.

“ Gym?” he echoed.

“ Metaphorically, anyway. It’s certainly where most of the exercise is,” Viggo stepped past Karl and opened the door to the hallway. He made a gesture towards Karl, which Sean was startled to note was of directional value rather than anything rude. Karl stared at him sullenly, obviously unhappy about allowing Viggo to follow close behind him.

There was a heavy sigh and Viggo disappeared from view into the hallway, Karl close on his heels. After only a few moments, Sean and Orlando followed.

*

“ You have to be fucking kidding me, right?”

Ah, the gym’s effect was always so wonderful on first timers. Karl was slowly looking around the room, his mouth mostly open, his eyes so wide that they were in danger of falling out completely. There was the briefest tilt of the head as he took in the mirrored ceiling. Viggo simply leaned against the wall as Karl walked further into the room, bending slightly to allow his hand to trail over the smooth surface of the bench where Orli had his knife experience.

Orlando himself seemed to be almost excited, which seemed a little odd to Sean’s mind. However, the fact that Karl was now finding more ammunition to aim at them was also odd to his mind, as was the fact that Karl was still able to walk. Obviously someone had altered the universe when he wasn’t looking.

Orli slipped past Sean and walked to sit on the bed, watching Karl in interest as the man poked, pulled and stared around the room, finding more and more ‘horrors’. Sean wondered idly to himself whether he should advise that Karl look in Viggo’s Black Bag of Entertainment and discover the wonderful world of whips, but he had a nasty feeling the man wouldn’t be able to take it.

However, Viggo had no such fear. He walked into the room and opened one of the drawers, a drawer which Sean hadn’t yet explored. He still couldn’t see what was it in from this position, but by Karl’s noise of shock obviously it had something fun and probably plastic in it.

“ I’d like you to note Orli’s position at this point in time,” Viggo commented. “ Does he look stressed to you? Scared?”

Karl glanced towards Orlando who was lounging on the bed as though he didn’t have a care in the world.

“ Well, not as such. But that doesn’t prove anything, Viggo, and you know it,” Karl was obviously taking the angry route, which was probably one he had scripted well. Sean growled softly as Karl took a step towards Viggo, which actually had an effect on the universe other than just on Sean’s throat; Karl glanced over his shoulder at him and paused, obviously aware that Viggo had backup and he had none. Viggo’s smile widened a little further.

“ Actually, it does. I don’t have a huge hold over Orli, and you are well aware how easily he could escape my … what would you call them, ‘clutches’? If he was worried, he wouldn’t be here. He’d be more like Sean over there, tense and nervous. But he’s not,” Viggo folded his arms.

Sean was aware of being scrutinised.

“ You’re nervous in this room?” Karl asked, as though hoping to find at least one person who agreed with him about the scariness of the surrounding area. Sean’s eyes flickered nervously towards Viggo, not entirely sure of the correct answer. Or at least the official answer anyway.

“ He’s nervous of this room,” sighed Viggo. “ He does have a problem with taking orders and authority and in here there’s so many toys that make him unable to be in control. However, he goes in willingly enough, don’t you Sean?”

Sean opened his mouth to speak, then shut it again. Right. Next time he was getting a script. Viggo seemed unconcerned at this, and simply looked back at Karl who was staring at Sean with a mixture of surprise and sympathy. Sean wanted to die of embarrassment.

“ What he definitely doesn’t like is the whip,” confided Viggo, and Sean was just about ready to burn with shame as Karl’s eyebrows rose and he stared back at Viggo as though not believing what he just heard.

” Whip?” Karl echoed. “ You use a whip on him?”

“ Whip or paddle. Works better,”

“ Oh,” Obviously Karl wasn’t certain what to say. Neither was Sean. He felt the tale-tale signs of flush rising to his cheeks at Karl’s next assessing look at him, and had to look away entirely.

“ However, he kicked up a lot of fuss when I used it on Orlando. It was quite sweet really. At first, he was desperate to make sure that Orli didn’t suffer from anything, weren’t you Sean?”

Sean’s voice box had obviously vanished in sheer humiliation. He felt his cheeks burn redder. Viggo continued as though Sean had simply confirmed it.

“ But then Sean worked out that the only person distressed about what we were doing was him. And now it takes quite an unusual punishment to get a squeak out of him. Well, on Orlando anyway. Sean still squeaks enough if it’s his skin under my paddle,” Viggo had a musing quality to his voice as though he was reminiscing about some holiday experience. Sean wanted the floor to open up and swallow him, especially as Karl stared at him again.

“ Then why the hell are you still here?” Karl’s voice had completely forgotten the anger in his haste to be incredulous.

Sean was suddenly aware of three people turning their attention directly onto him. He squirmed. He fidgeted. And still that didn’t get him off the hook.

“ Well, technically I’m not,” he mumbled. “ I got dumped, remember?”

“ Yeah, but that’s temporary, isn’t it?” Karl looked back at Viggo, who was silent. Sean risked a look up, and was faced with Viggo’s expression on him, the type of expression that parents had when their child had suggested something that they knew was probably going to end in tears but suspected they were going to have to do anyway. Out of the corner of his eye, Sean could see Orlando watching Viggo as well, tense, waiting for his response.

Almost a minute ticked by without Viggo saying anything. Karl’s expression had entered a little more of the shocked period, the man obviously not having considered the fact that the break up was of a permanent nature.

“ We’ll see,” said Viggo finally. Well, it was better than no, Sean supposed, although it was the answer spoken by parents everywhere when no was meant.

This was not good enough for Karl, apparently.

“ What d’you mean, you’ll see? Didn’t you break up with him to stop him going after Ma.. er.. these men?” Karl demanded. Viggo’s eyes slid to the younger man, and Sean could see the coldness entering them.

“ He failed to do as I asked. Again,” There was a definite I-don’t-want-to-talk-about-it tone to his voice. However, this still wasn’t good enough for Karl, who seemed to have a death wish.

“ What did you ask him to do, then?”

Viggo stared at him silently. Again the point was missed or at least blatantly ignored as Karl looked at him, then at Orlando. Orli cleared his throat a little.

“ Not to get involved,” he offered, and shut up again at the stern look that was being aimed at him by Viggo. Karl stared from one to the other, then across at Sean.

“ You’re punishing him for caring about you?” Karl was incredulous again. Viggo raised his head slightly.

“ I’m not punishing him for caring about me. I’m punishing him because he cannot trust me to take care of things. In fact, he won’t trust me at all,”

“ Is there any wonder if you go off on one about that?!” Karl snorted laughter, and looked at Sean again as though Sean was a slave for sale. He looked back at Viggo. “ And do you trust him?”

“ That is beside the point,” growled Viggo.

“ Bollocks,” Karl folded his arms. “ If the man can get in this room with you for any length of time without going crazy, then he trusts you. Millions wouldn’t. *I* wouldn’t. In fact, I’d be bloody scared,”

“ Would you indeed,” Viggo’s voice was soft and gentle, his eyes fixed on Karl in a manner that reminded Sean of a hungry tiger. Karl seemed to sense the danger finally as he hesitated and stared back at him, his posture tense. A glimpse of what sort of revenge Viggo had planned suddenly flashed into Sean’s mind and made a little home there. The blonde swallowed. There wouldn’t be a gag good enough to shut Karl up.

“ Why have you brought me here?” Karl asked slowly. His eyes slid towards the door, but Viggo had already strolled towards it, barring the way. And it was incredible. It was as though Karl finally realised exactly who he was up against, and finally worked out that Viggo wasn’t exactly a push over.

“ Thought you needed to have a little more first hand experience of what Orlando goes through,” Viggo smiled. Karl gave a shaky little laugh.

“ Stupid thing was, that’s what we were planning to show you. What it would be like on the receiving end. Well, that’s what it started off at,” Karl’s eyes slid to the door again and then back at Viggo. The older man cocked his head to one side.

” Your suggestion?” he queried.

“ Not exactly,” Karl looked suddenly cautious. Viggo nodded in understanding, a casual look on his face.

” Dave’s then,”

Three pairs of eyes turned to him in shock. Karl opened his mouth to say something, possibly a denial, then shut it again.

“ David?” Orli leaned forward, looking at Karl. “ As in David Wenham? As in the man who’s been looking after Sean since pretty much the attack? *That* Dave suggested it?”

Karl glanced at him, then moved his eyes back to Viggo. There was suddenly a more dangerous air to him.

” The suggestion was made after Sean started throwing around threats. He wasn’t too happy at that point. But he’s turned into one of your fans, you know that,” Karl growled, mostly towards Viggo. “ So leave him out of it. Dave wanted them to back off long before the attack,”

“ He knew about it long before the attack?” Sean butted in here, unable to believe his ears. Sweet, innocent David. Okay, so no one could be quite as sweet as Dave seemed, and he had said he wanted to make something up but … no, this couldn’t be. To show Viggo what the ‘receiving end’ would feel like based on their assumptions of what went on would pretty much be a vicious rape. With toys.

“ Oh, Dave’s been involved in this from the start,” Viggo spoke again, his voice quiet. He looked towards Sean who was staring in absolute horror, Orlando not much better. “ What, you think he was just roped in? No, this little scheme suggests that Mr Wenham has a lot to feel guilty about,”

Guilty. Trying to make it up to them through help and assistance and making sure Sean didn’t kill himself through drink and accidents…. Oh, dear lord.

Karl looked slightly ashamed at this point. “ We didn’t think they’d do anything. They promised they wouldn’t do anything,”

“ But they did,” Sean wrenched his mind back to the conversation.

“ Yes, thank you. We noticed,” replied Karl dryly. “ Well, they won’t do it again, and that’s not just wishful thinking. I’ve already told them I’m going to go straight to the police if they try again,”

“ Police?” Orli pricked up his ears at this and looked a little more strained than normal. Karl eyed him thoughtfully and glanced towards Viggo, who shrugged. Sean stared at them all. Fireworks were still failing to be produced. What the hell was wrong with the world?!

“ You know, I should really be smashing your face in right about now,” Sean commented after a pause. Karl stared at him in surprise.

“ I’d infinitely prefer it if you didn’t,” he replied, although he didn’t look too worried about the prospect. And Sean knew why; Viggo, leader and holder of the metaphorical chain around Sean’s neck, wasn’t looking that grumpy. At all. And what Viggo didn’t want to happen didn’t tend to happen, especially in this room.

” We’re not just going to let him off with this are we?” Sean appealed to Viggo directly, waving a hand towards Karl, who finally was looking a little more cautious. There was a click as Viggo locked the door – was this room lockable? Sean had never noticed – and wandered towards him. Suddenly Karl wasn’t the only one looking cautious. Viggo’s hand touched Sean’s shoulder gently and ran its way along it, all but stroking him. Sean stared back at him in confusion. However, Viggo wasn’t even looking at him. His eyes were fixed on Karl, who seemed transfixed by the little show of affection in front of him.

“ Of course we’re not. I just like to think I’ve progressed further than marking my successes by how many teeth I’ve managed to knock out,” Viggo’s hand was now caressing the nape of Sean’s neck idly. Sean tried to get his mind to focus a little harder. Viggo had been angry with him, he knew that. This was … well, this was just odd. They weren’t together, and people didn’t tend to start getting this affectionate when that had happened. However, Viggo hadn’t finished speaking. “ Orlando, the handcuffs,”

Orli slid off the bed and scampered across the room to rummage in one of the bottom drawers. Both Karl and Sean’s eyes were drawn to it. Viggo smiled sweetly at Sean as the blonde returned his gaze on him.

” Viggo,” he said slowly. Viggo raised an eyebrow.

” What, you’re not planning to be a good boy?”

Sean didn’t want to think about what sort of expression would be on Karl’s face for that little comment. He simply gazed at Viggo, taking in the look the older man was giving him, the silence. Orli had already appeared at Viggo’s shoulder and had his trademark submissive expression on, his head bowed. The only reason why his body wasn’t the same was presumably due to the injury to his arm.

Finally, Sean came to a decision. The reality of the time was only about a couple of seconds, but to him it seemed like eternity. He heard Karl’s exclamation of surprise seemingly in the distance, but Sean wasn’t paying much attention to it. His eyes were on Viggo, and Viggo’s eyes, for a change, were on him too as he slowly knelt at Viggo’s feet. Viggo’s hand traced up his cheek as he moved, where it ended up resting on Sean’s head, soft blonde strands being played with. The look of approval and pride wouldn’t have been clear to anyone who didn’t know Viggo like Orli and Sean did, although Dave probably would have had a damn good stab at it. Sean resisted the urge to grin back and tried to get into a mindset of the dutiful servant.

Meanwhile Karl sounded like he was about to go into a frenzy.

“ You are fucking with me, right?” there was definite alarm in his voice. Sean could almost feel the man’s horrified gaze on the back of his neck, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was the fact that Viggo was actually pleased with him and he didn’t need to have the instruction spelt out to him. Viggo gave him another smile, and looked back to Karl.

“ That depends. If you mean metaphorically, I suppose the answer would be no,” Viggo’s hand continued to caress Sean’s hair idly.

“ So you’re threatening me-“ there was definite panic in Karl’s voice, and that was more satisfying than any fist in his stomach would have been. Sean grinned to himself.

” I am no more threatening you than you threatened me. And you certainly did more than a threat to Sean,” Viggo’s voice was calm as it usually was at this stage. “ Why, can’t you take it?”

“ You’re sick,” Karl spat, although Sean noticed he didn’t bother to try the door. Key or no, it was hardly Fort Knox in here. Viggo shrugged.

” Possibly. Orli? I want you to escort Karl here to the bed,” Viggo’s eyes were fixed on Karl as he spoke. Sean couldn’t see Karl to gage his reaction, but at least there was a silence. Orlando moved forward obediently, his eyes glittering with either relief of being forgiven or excitement. Possibly both, knowing Orli. However, he was soon out of Sean’s field of vision as well.

“ You cannot expect me to just take this, Viggo,” Obviously Karl hadn’t quite finished in his rant. Sean felt fingers caress his scalp idly.

” Actually, I can. I might not go to the police, Karl, but I might very well go to Peter. And I think they might have got bored of searching for new actors to play Aragorn at this stage, don’t you think?” Viggo’s fingers found a wonderfully sensitive spot behind Sean’s ear and began rubbing it gently. Sean was all but purring against him. “ So get on the bed, Mr Urban. Before I get annoyed,”

“ You wouldn’t dare,” growled Karl, who was obviously stuck in a loop. Viggo sighed patiently.

“ Possibly. Then again I might very well dare. Can you imagine the fun we’ll have finding out which one of us is right, Karl?” Carefully patient. “ I can be nastier, Karl. Well, you’re a bright boy. You know this,”

Karl was silent for a few moments. “ And Dave?”

“ I’ll deal with Mr Wenham when I’m in the mood to deal with him,”

Wenham. Sean suddenly froze against Viggo’s leg, the desire to turn into a puddle at his feet suddenly delayed by a few minutes. The last thing he had asked Orlando to do was to phone Dave and ask for his advice. And knowing David’s efficiency, this was more than likely going to be interpreted as a request to come over to help. After all, David knew Sean was there, and knew damn well that there might have been a little bit of a verbal and possibly physical battle on his hands. David was too annoyingly nice and considerate, regardless of his past suggestions. Blast the man!

Apparently Viggo had noticed the stiffening of his little servant as the fingers paused, before continuing slowly.

“ Anyway, I suppose I should be thankful that there’s at least one person in this that you actually care about,” Viggo commented. “ Get on the bed, Karl. Orlando will make you comfortable, won’t you Orli?”

No doubt there was a nod there. There was an amused noise from Viggo, followed by sounds of movement, although admittedly slow. The sound of metal on metal indicated the use of the handcuffs against the metal headboard. Viggo gave Sean one last rub before moving to one side and snapping his fingers lightly as an indication that Sean should follow him.

Knees were protesting as Sean stood up slowly and looked round, trying not to look too shocked at the scene in front of him. But it was difficult, bloody difficult. Not even in the most sadistic of his dreams had he quite managed to reach this picture; Karl lying on the bed, hands handcuffed to the headboard, his eyes almost pitch black staring angrily at Viggo. To one side of him knelt Orli, his arm still in his little sling, his eyes on Viggo whilst his hand was caressing Karl’s chest as though checking he was still there.

Karl’s furious eyes met Sean’s briefly as the blonde obediently followed Viggo, but they then returned to the source of their irritation. Sean found he couldn’t quite pull his eyes away. The ease that Viggo had managed to engineer the situation was incredible. Sean himself hadn’t considered it would have been possible even with the whole of the Gondorian army, and certainly not with Karl under control of his mouth or, for that matter, the rest of his body. Sean had been expecting threats and struggling. Karl might not have held onto his anger but at least dignity hadn’t entirely gotten away.

Or was this down to the youngest member of the group instead? Heaven knows how angry Karl would have been without Orli there to hold his hand and soothe his stresses away.

However, even Orlando’s influence was strained as Karl spotted Viggo’s camera making an appearance.

“ Not a fucking chance, Viggo!” there was a brief struggle against the handcuffs. However, they were sturdy enough, as was the bed itself. Karl stopped for breath, his eyes full of fury and mild panic. Viggo glanced at him idly, then back at Sean who had been watching him carefully.

” Sean, strip the top off and go make sure he doesn’t injure himself,”

” Mine or his?” The words were out before Sean could stop them. He flushed slightly. Good servants weren’t supposed to ask questions. You were supposed to know the answers, just know them as though the answer appeared as if by magic in your head. Viggo eyed him, then shrugged.

“ Both would work,” he replied. Sean gave a little nod.

” Yes, sir,”

The amusement in Viggo’s eyes at that didn’t escape Sean’s attention as the blonde moved towards the bed, pulling off his own top in one fluid movement. Karl simply looked at him, obviously having worked out that either patience or planning was called for in this situation.

“ Sean, please,” Karl said in a low voice. Sean almost hesitated, but he could feel Viggo’s eyes on his back. And he knew damn well Viggo wouldn’t hurt the man. Just one unnecessary bruise could cause so much shit to land on their heads that they would need a JCB just to move it.

Thankfully Karl’s top was a button shirt, one that wouldn’t need serious surgery before it would part company with his body, although the sleeves were going to be a little bit of a nightmare. Sean slid onto the bed and started to unbutton it with increasingly shaky fingers, trying not to catch Karl’s eyes. The younger man let him work without protest. Sean could see Orlando’s eager attention to his actions out of the corner of his eye.

Karl stiffened his entire body as Viggo wordlessly passed Sean the shears that he had retrieved from one of the top drawers. Sean was aware of hazel eyes looking at him in something that was very close to fear, and felt a stab of sympathy. He knew damn well what it was like to be bound and helpless with people waving scary items close to your body, and it wasn’t recommended for those with a heart condition.

Cold shears carefully slid into position; Sean began to cut cautiously, thankful that Karl decided to wear a loose top this morning rather than one of the tight t-shirts he seemed to favour. Once the shirt had been thoroughly ruined on one side, Sean moved on to the other.

And then it was off; the shirt fell harmlessly to the bed. Karl took a deeper breath and tried to look calm as the colder air hit his naked chest. He didn’t quite pull it off. Sean ran his hand down to Karl’s stomach idly, before looking back over his shoulder at Viggo and the next instruction.

“ Got you well trained hasn’t he?” came Karl’s bitter question. Viggo stepped forward and surveyed the helpless man on the bed with a critical eye.

“ Sean could do with a little work, but he’s almost there certainly,” he replied as though it was a serious question of discipline. “ Shush, Karl,”

“ Shush? SHUSH? Are you out of your fucking mind, Viggo? You have me tied to a bed in a room that looks like it should be illegal in most countries!”

“ All the more reason for shushing, I would have thought,” remarked Viggo mildly. “ Sean, off the bed and take off those jeans. By the cleanliness of them I assume Dave’s been attacking your laundry.”

Sean shrugged offhandedly as the required clothing vanished. He could see Orlando watching him eagerly, the usual shine back in the young man’s eyes, a slight tremble of excitement through his limbs like an eager racehorse at the starting box. However, the sling certainly wasn’t usual, which was probably the reason why Orli’s clothes were still firmly on his body. Much to the young man’s obvious frustration.

Orlando wasn’t the only one who was paying him attention. Karl was watching him silently but intensely, his hands wrapped around the bonds that held him. Sean couldn’t really blame him. He himself had felt more than a little tense when Viggo did it to him, and that was at a point where Viggo actually liked him. For Karl, knowing this little scene was run by his current enemy, the tension must be at an impressive level indeed.

Said current enemy was lounging around as though he hadn’t a concern in the world. Viggo had also managed to pick up his favourite riding crop whilst Sean had been focused on other things, and was idly playing with it in his hands.

Karl’s attention had also spotted this little alarming detail.

“ Viggo…,” it was presumably a warning against something, although what the return threat was Sean had no idea. Viggo didn’t seem to give it a moment’s thought either. He nodded to Sean.

“ Back on the bed and give Orli some attention before he explodes. But keep his pants on,”

Trousers *on*? Now that wasn’t a phrase you normally heard in any self respecting porn film. Sean got himself back on the side of the bed he had been occupying previously and grinned at Orlando, leaning over to seize hold of Orli’s t-shirt and pulling him gently towards him to ensure that the more wounded parts of the young man were not bothered.

“ What happened to you?” murmured Orli after a gentle kiss. Sean looked puzzled for a moment. Orlando gestured with a nod towards Sean’s legs. “ The bruises.”

Oh yes, the bruises. Coffee table wasn’t it.. or was it side table Dave said he had the argument with? Funny, they didn’t really hurt at all, although a quick glance told him they were going interesting colours already. It looked as though someone had been a little fresh with the blues and purples of the paint box on him.

“ Accident,” he whispered back.

“ Funny how many of those manage to turn up with Viggo around,” came Karl’s dry response from below them. Sean gave him a glare that was so solid you could slice it, and turned to kiss Orli again, a little deeper. And from then on it was a little bit of a race to see who could take control and possession of the kiss. Sean was reminded again how completely un-submissive Orli could be when he put his mind to it as the younger man’s tongue explored his mouth with boldness. There had been no further comment from Karl which Sean was only half aware of, his senses almost entirely focused on Orlando. He could have sworn there was a soft whimper from somewhere other than Orli, but that too was simply background noise to the embrace.

Sean gave a little possessive growl as Orlando laid his hand on Sean’s chest, almost to keep himself from falling over as they leant over Karl, trying to find more and more from each other. Orli’s hand fingered Sean’s left nipple. Sean moaned into the younger man’s mouth and tried to resist getting his own hands busy. Orlando, after all, was an injured puppy. Patience was the key, although patience had almost been completely abandoned as soon as Orli’s hand started to drift south…

“ Orlando,”

Shit, damn and buggeryfuck. Occasionally, just occasionally, Sean would give his right arm for Viggo not to have such perfect timing. Although not when he was intending to use it, that was. The kiss was reluctantly broken off, both participants glancing towards Viggo who had moved towards them again, his arms folded, whip still held in one hand.

Sean suddenly remembered who they were leant over and glanced down at Karl, who was looking a little flushed. His breathing was less relaxed, more hurried as though his body was desperate to expel the air in his chest. Sean’s eyes slid to Karl’s groin, where jeans hid whatever growth there had been. Good lord, perhaps this was going to be easy. Karl was going to be begging them within the next ten minutes if this went on.

Orli was all but squirming on his side of the bed. Viggo wandered over to him, lifting his hand to Orlando’s chin and stroking down his neck to rest his hand on Orlando’s shoulder, Orlando shivering beautifully as he did so. Viggo leant into him for a slow and relaxed kiss that almost melted Orli to the floor, before Viggo moved slightly to be able to unbuckle Orlando’s trousers. Orli was almost overly helpful in moving himself to allow Viggo to peel off the material layer from young, strong thighs.

The t-shirt, once again, was left to fend for itself. Which was good, in a way. At least Sean would never forget where his hands were or indeed that Orli should be treated with a lot more care and gentleness than Orlando actually wanted.

There was another hitched breath from the bed at the sight of a half naked Orlando, but Karl managed to get himself under control remarkably quickly. Viggo caught Sean’s eye and a nod was motioned. And this was a fairly obvious instruction as well. Sean was getting quite chuffed about it all. For a long while he had believed he was more likely to be able to read Chinese than read Viggo’s subtle instructions.

Choosing ease over dignity, Sean dropped to all fours pretty much across Karl, Orli kindly moving himself into the best position for both Sean to suckle him and Karl to watch. Oh, and Karl would be watching. Sean would have put money on it. Orlando gave a breathless gasp as Sean’s mouth enclosed his flesh, arching his back in a manner that suggested careful artistry. Sean felt a hand drop to his head and start caressing his blonde hair, but such a way that implied that Orli was being careful to make sure that arms didn’t block Karl’s view of Sean’s mouth carefully working Orli.

And Sean couldn’t deny he was being careful as well. He deliberately went slower than he knew Orlando preferred, but it would be so much more frustrating to their little audience. Every so often Sean would pull almost off of Orlando to allow his tongue to swirl around the head of Orlando’s cock, flickering and playing, before taking Orli’s length as deep as it would go. To all of this was the accompaniment of gasps, moans and the occasional plea.

The gasp from Sean as Viggo moved behind him, placed his hands on Sean’s waist and manhandled him into a different angle across Karl’s body was completely genuine. Having focused so hard on Orlando in front of him, Viggo’s prowling had completely gone unnoticed. However, once put into a Viggo pleasing position, Sean found himself left alone again to focus on pleasuring Orlando as best he could, still on all fours but this time his rear more visible to Karl.

Well, that boded well, didn’t it?

Sean resisted the urge to glance towards their captive audience, who had been remarkably quiet ever since tongue met cock. There had been occasions where Sean was sure soft groans had not come from Orlando himself, and a quick glance to Karl’s crotch told him of possible discomforts that Karl might indeed be feeling at this point. Yes, for a straight laced kind of bloke, Karl definitely had his kinky streaks.

After another half a minute of gentle but artistic torture on Orlando, Sean suddenly felt a familiar cold, hard, leather dressed crop pressing against his buttocks. Hmmmmph. Already? Sean had half been hoping that the more painful aspects of Viggo’s usual bondage wardrobe would be kept away for another day, preferably a day when Orlando wasn’t quite so injured and therefore would be able to take Viggo’s complete whipping attention. Sean tried not to squirm but he knew the expression that must be on his face at this point, although he was faintly proud that he still continued with his instruction barring one initiation hesitation.

“ I thought you said he didn’t like it?” And that was Karl, his voice almost hoarse. There was an amused noise from Viggo, the crop slowly stroking down Sean’s backside in a faint trace of a pattern.

“ He doesn’t like severe punishments, certainly,”

“ Then why are you doing that? He’s done everything you’ve asked of him,” Karl’s voice was getting stronger. Sean was a little startled by his words. Obviously he had a vague type of fan in the building.

“ Because I’m not planning to punish him,” Viggo seemed undisturbed about the questions, and seemed to treat it as almost a learning experience. Sean resisted the urge to look at Karl’s expression again, and contented himself on Orlando. Orli’s hand was still on his head, playing with his hair, tickling his ear like a man petting a family dog.

“ Funny. Looks completely the opposite to me,”

“ Yes, and I believe that’s the reason why a lot of the problems have arisen, don’t you?” Viggo’s voice had become more and more polite. “ You jumping to conclusions. Allow me to give you a little instruction, the science as it were. A physical blow causes warmth to flood to the area. It alerts the nerves, it causes tension, it increases sensation. It is, in many ways, extremely satisfying. It’s not a weird tickle. It’s not an ache or a growing sensation. You want this sensation, it’s yours at the touch of a belt, a cane, a hand. Trust me, there’s worse things out there,”

Karl struggled slightly then gave up again. “ And you’d know about that, would you?” he almost spat it out.

“ Yes. I would,” Viggo’s voice was mild. Sean straightened his back again as the riding crop slid across his muscles as though seeking a good spot to strike. He had had to stop teasing Orli, finding he needed all his breath and strength to stay perfectly still. He had previously considered the blow to be the painful part. Now he knew. It was the bit where he was teased and tormented, trying to work out when the strike was coming.

Orlando’s good hand was still playing in his hair, stroking him, almost giving him a head massage. Sean didn’t need to look up to know that the younger man’s eyes would be on Viggo, waiting with baited breath and shining eyes. Orli could come from simply thinking about this sort of thing. And to think at one stage Sean was actually trying to defend him from it. Bless.

“ Would you prefer if I used my hand?” Viggo queried in an almost chatty voice. “ No possible damage there. Just a bit of redness,”

“ You’re going to do whatever the hell you want anyway,” growled Karl, but his voice was breathless and wobbly again, as though it was focused on something else entirely. “ I don’t see why you’re asking,”

“ You want to just be a spectator then? To be let out when the games have finished? We can do that for you, certainly,” Oh, the wickedness. There was no question of Karl’s enthusiasm to be included in certain parts of the game. The man was doing well to keep himself still, but Sean knew he was going to be squirming inside, the desperate longing being stamped down with an elephant sized foot.

The difference in sensation between the riding crop and the warm flat of Viggo’s palm against him was incredible. Sean had to bite back a gasp at the change over, and prayed that no one heard it. Orli’s hand stroked him slowly, its owner obviously taken by the circumstances that surrounded it. Sean almost groaned again as he felt Viggo move his palm over Sean’s skin, moulding it around the muscles, almost cupping him on occasion. Fingers darted briefly into the cleft of his buttocks without actually doing anything that Sean would consider productive, and this was becoming frustrating.

No, no, *more* than frustrating. Agonising. Sean’s patience had never been the greatest but now it abandoned him swifter than a rat leaving a sinking ship, his body desperate for more contact than Viggo was giving him. Sean nudged back once before he managed to resist again, a frustrated growl issuing from his throat.

“ Seems keen to me, wouldn’t you say?” Viggo was still talking to Karl, as though both Sean and Orli were out of the room. “ Or would you like to claim something new? After all, I could have hypnotised him. I might have threatened to harm Orli if Sean didn’t do as I say,” Viggo’s voice dropped lower. “ I could have threatened to ruin his career and that of his friend’s if he didn’t do as I commanded, by, say, releasing compromising photographs into the media,”

That was a little below the belt. There was an angry growl from Karl. However, Sean wasn’t really focusing on that. Friend? Is that all Viggo thought they were to him? Just good, close friends with whom Sean had a more novel hobby to share?

However, Karl dragged Sean’s mind back to the conversation.

“ Is this sort of thing going to continue all night?” Karl’s voice was bitter. “ Okay, so some decisions might have been a little hasty, I admit it, but no harm came to him.”

“ He didn’t sit on my sofa for several days because of what you did to him, afraid of it,” Viggo’s voice was suddenly sharp. “ What did you do, Karl? Force him whilst you were downstairs? Couldn’t resist to take him before you’d even got to the bedroom?”

Sean could feel Orli’s hand still its movement on his head and sighed inwardly.

“ Vig-“ he began when he quietened as a light slap applied itself to right buttock. Shush. Okay. There was a snort of laughter from Karl.

” At least I allowed him to speak, Viggo!”

“ So you don’t want to watch this? This could upset your delicate sensibilities?” Viggo’s hand trailed across Sean’s rear again. Sean jumped as a harder slap landed on him, hard enough for a stinging discomfort to spread on his skin. He lowered his head a little further, trying not to get involved, his mind almost entirely fixed on his now tingling backside.

There was a pause from Karl. “ I’ve seen worse,” he allowed after a while.

” And, no doubt, you’ve done worse. In fact, I’d be prepared to bet-“ Viggo stopped entirely and glanced towards the door to the room in faint surprise. Sean glanced up and round, accidentally meeting Karl’s eyes as he did so. Karl looked flushed already, a slight sheen to his skin, his eyes unmistakably hungry on the two men still balanced in front of him but mixed with a shameful anger, before they too turned to Viggo.

Someone was knocking on the front door.

TBC