Quiet - drabble
Damien bows his head and hands Jack a whip. Jack stares at him blankly. “.. thank you?” That’s apparently the right answer, as Damien nods. Jack sits down at his desk. Starts his paperwork. He puts the whip on his desk, in a little place of honor. Damien sits beside his chair, on his knees. That’s weird. That looks like it hurts. “You okay?” Jack asks. Damien nods, still silent. “Thank you for the gift.” Damien nods. “You’re being kinda quiet.” “I’m sorry.” “It’s okay! I’m just worried about you.” “.. Okay.” Jack frowns and sets down his paperwork. “Damien, what’s wrong?” “Nothing.” “Dami?” “I’m just waiting.” Jack’s frown deepens. Uh-oh. “Waiting for what?” “For you to punish me.” Everything clicks at once. The whip. Damien’s position- kneeling, he’s kneeling, head bowed submissively. Back ready. His jacket’s off, too.. Jack shoves himself back from the desk on instinct. Disgust reels through him. Damien handed him the weapon himself. Made it himself, if there’s any look of it. Made it. Sat in his bunk and thought about it- Jack presses a hand to his mouth. He’s going to be sick. “Oh, Damien- Damien, get up.” Damien does so and Jack hugs him. Holds him tight. Close, and warm. As enveloping as he can. “You’re safe, do you hear me?” Damien doesn’t move. “I’m not going to punish you. No one ever is again. I love you and I’m here for you. I’m not leaving, understand? I won’t hurt you. I will never hurt you.” Slowly, slowly, Damien relaxes. Rests his head on Jack’s shoulders. He breathes. In, and out. In, and out. “Thank you.” Damien says. His voice is so small that it’s almost a whisper. “You don’t have to say thank you. This is.. it’s what you deserve. You deserve to be treated with basic kindness, Damien.” He pauses, then adds, “I promise.” Damien presses his face into Jack’s shoulder.