A Family Man's Expectation
TW: whipping/belting, non-sexual nudity, manhandling, mention of starvation, long-term captivity, non-healthy family dynamics.
A/N: I'm back! I might add later to this, but for now I'll leave it as is! Let me know if I missed any warnings! Also, this is very much unedited and I did not even read it twice, so be warned!
Masterlist
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“Do you have any idea how disappointed I am in you?” Theodore hissed, grabbing at Jace’s arm as he tugged him upstairs into his room.
Jace gritted his teeth, dragging his feet into the floor, “Let go!” Finally, Theodore released his arm, leaving angry marks on his shoulder and letting Jace fall back from the sudden release, hitting the wall.
Looming over Jace, Theodore looked down at him with almost a manic look, chest heaving with deep breaths. His usual business-casual clothes were ruffled and his hair was puffed out around him like a mane. “I swear to God, Jace…”
Jace looked up at Theodore feeling like a rabbit trapped in a bear’s trap. The last time Theodore was this angry… Jace could feel his heartbeat thumping in his ears. Jace froze, practically holding his breath, as Theodore slowly crouched in front of him.
“Jace,” Theodore finally began, trying to reign back in his temper, “you disrespected my family. I brought you to them with the intent to introduce you into my family and you spit on my efforts.” Theodore paused again, his voice increasing at the end. “You have no idea how important this was!”
Jace’s eyes were wide, shining with unshed tears. His hands pressed into the wall as if trying to maximize distance between him and the man in front of him. “I already have a family,” Jace managed to squeak out timidly, flinching as Theodore slammed a hand next to his head.
“That could be fixed easily,” he scowled, “so I suggest you don’t force it to come to that.”
Jace’s face paled at that, “No, Theodore, please. I’m sorry.”
Theodore prompted,“Dad.” “...Dad.” Jace forced out.
“Good,” Theodore replied, starting to calm down. “Now, I’m going to have to punish you. You can spend 3 days in the basement again or I can hit you ten times across the back with my belt.”
Theodore raised a hand as Jace began to protest - Jace flinching in response. An offended expression painted over Theodore’s face, “Don’t. flinch. Stop acting like - like I’m some sort of monster. All I do is look out for you, take care of you, love you, and I-,” he cuts himself off, biting his lip as his face contorted in pain, “If I can’t get you to love me then you will respect me. When you disrespect my family, you disrespect me. Now… choose before I give you both.”
“B-but Dad!” Jace tried, floundering for a verbal way out. Sure, Theodore was crazy, but he was usually pretty lenient as well, always handing out a first, second, third, even a fourth warning before acting. And even then he typically folded if Jace apologized. However, this time it looked like Jace had finally crossed the line. Theodore raised an eyebrow, getting up, “You choose both? Okay, fine.” “Wait,” Jace yelped as Theodore pulled him up, “I’ll choose! I’ll choose!”
Theodore paused, looking intently at Jace, “Well?”
Jace grabbed his stomach. Since he pulled such a ruckus with Theodore’s family, he was pulled away before he could eat anything and, fuck, he couldn’t do three more days in the basement all alone, hungry and cold… How bad could ten hits hurt? “...I’ll take the belt,” Jace settled on hesitantly.
Theodore nodded, wrapping an arm behind his back, guiding Jace through the halls and straight to the master bedroom. Theodore let Jace enter first, shutting the door behind him, “Shirt off.” Theodore made his way deeper into his room, trusting Jace to be obedient. He took one pillow off of his bed, throwing it down onto the floor. Turning around, Theodore was met with Jace meandering close to the door, his shirt anxiously gripped in between his fingers. Theodore softened slightly at that, but remained firm. Jace needed this. Even if he didn’t know it. “Come on. Kneel on the cushion.” Silently, Jace eased down on the pillow, trembling. Smiling, Theodore walked behind him, “Good boy. I want you to count.”
Unclasping his buckle, Theodore slid his belt out of the loops of his pants. He twisted the belt, tugging on it, testing its durability. With a quick snap of his belt, Theodore watched Jace try and fail to suppress a flinch.
With your blood, you shall find repentance. He remembered his father’s words. Yes, he had to do this, Theodore confirmed. Otherwise Jace would never be accepted into his family. And Theodore doesn’t want to know what would become of Jace then.
Tightening his grip on his belt, Theodore struck down once across Jace’s back, eliciting a muffled grunt. Pausing for Jace to count, Theodore sighed when he didn’t hear anything. Theodore struck once more, but harder, forcing Jace to cry out in surprise.
Jace snapped his head back, tears pricking his eyes, “What was that for?!”
“Everytime you forget to count, we start over. Now begin,” Theodore retorted, hitting Jace on the lower back, smiling with pride when he heard Jace start to count.
Theodore continued striking Jace across the back, alternating between his lower and mid section, occasionally pausing for Jace to fix his posture. In the beginning, Jace tried to hold any noise in, refusing to let Theodore see him break, but as the hits continued and he accidentally lost count one, two times, Jace had begun to crack. Now near the end, Jace’s attempt at remaining stoic was completely abandoned. Tears freely flowed down his cheeks, connecting at his clenched jaw. His hands firmly tore into the cushion under him, leaving him unable to wipe his runny nose. Screams easily tore from Jace’s throat and he was panting, almost dry heaving, from the pain.
Finally, Jace counted the full ten. His face felt hot, but it was no comparison to the absolute blaze he felt scorching his back. He barely heard as Theodore dropped his belt, only feeling a cold hand grab and pull him up slowly. Watching Jace continue to cry, Theodore pulled him in, making him lean on him as he brought him to his bathroom, carefully avoiding the glowing marks on his back. He maneuvered Jace out of his pants and underwear before carrying him into the bathtub with one hand under his knees and another gently settling on his upper back.
Dazed, Jace watched as Theodore filled up the tub with warm water. Then Theodore reached under the sink, taking a variety of herbs with him before sprinkling them into the bathtub. Finally, Theodore took off his shirt and pants, leaving his boxers on and started approaching Jace. Jace, snapping slightly out of his dissociated state, began to protest through his tears, but was promptly ignored by Theodore.
Theodore sat across from Jace, reaching up to rub his thumb over Jace’s swollen eyes. He leaned his forehead against Jace, peering into his eyes, shushing Jace as he started to sniffle again, “You’re okay, sweetheart. You did so well, I’m so proud.” He pressed a kiss to Jace’s rosy nose. “I forgive you.”
Jace’s heart clenched in disgust. Not at Theodore, but at himself. He tried to will himself to feel something, anything, but he couldn't even feel the beginning sparks of hatred. All he felt was empty defeat. He broke so easily. Again.
Theodore pressed a warm washcloth to Jace’s back, cooing at Jace’s sharp hiss, “I know, I know. You’re almost done, baby. You can sleep in my room tonight after I wrap your poor back, okay?”
Jace, at a loss, nodded, whispering out a practiced thank you.
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TBC? maybe?
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