Need You to Need Me
Fandom: “Saw” movies
Pairing: Adam Faulkner Stanheight x Lawrence Gordon (chainshipping)
Word Count: 1713
Synopsis: Lawrence saves Adam from a bar fight. Adam makes a drunken confession. For @sawlentines2026 prompt: codependent.
CW: emotional manipulation, dub-con, drunken manipulation, pov of someone taking advantage of someone being drunk
Since his divorce, it wasn't unusual for Lawrence to go out drinking with some of his residents after a long week. After a particularly challenging day on the floor he drove out to their usual dive bar and wasn't surprised to find a group of his residents waiting there for him. He paid for their first round and then let them get as out of hand as they pleased. He felt it was good for them. They need to blow off a little steam and that's what people came to these dive bars to do anyway. They weren't hurting anything.
Lawrence's attention was drawn to the end of the bar when he noticed a group of his students shifting as if they were gathering into a fight. He walked into the middle of the group, pushing them apart and was surprised to find a young man strung out between them. Adam. He hadn't expected to see the photographer here. Lawrence had always kept Adam as a separate and distinct part of his life, never to interfere with his "real" life. The sight of him now irritated him. Two of his residents were holding the younger man, while a third was punching him.
"Hey, lay off." Lawrence grabbed Adam by the collar and pulled him away from the rowdy residents.
"But…" One of the younger ones began.
"But nothing." Lawrence countered.
"He was talking shit about you." An older resident informed him. "Said you were a cheater and liar."
Lawrence rolled his eyes, but tightened his grip on Adam's collar. This was getting out of hand.
"I'll handle him." He assured his students. "He's just some drunk asshole."
"We can take him." The youngest resident said, puffing up with pride.
Lawrence shook his head. "I've got him. You all stay out of trouble. I expect this week's records on my desk by Monday."
They nodded solemnly.
"I mean it, stay out of trouble." He warned them as he pushed Adam towards the exit.
Adam resisted as he was pushed out the door.
"Let go of me!" He hissed. Lawrence realized how slurred his words were. Adam was drunk, very drunk. He pushed him onto the hood of his car while he unlocked it.
"Get in." Lawrence said, gesturing through the passenger door as he opened it.
"Make me." Adam slurred back.
Lawrence grabbed Adam by the hair and unceremoniously shoved him into the car. He didn't say anything until they had pulled out onto the street and were driving at a good clip.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Lawrence asked.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Adam countered ineffectually.
Lawrence rolled his eyes.
"You never go to that bar. Why were you there?" Lawrence asked.
"Are you saying what bar I can't go to now? You're not my dad, Larry."
"I'm not saying you can't go. I'm saying you don't. So why were you there tonight? And why were you harassing my residents?"
"I wassint harrassin anyone." Adam huffed. "Jus tellin' em the truth 'bout you."
Adam narrowed his eyes at Lawrence, and it was difficult for the doctor to keep a straight face. The young man looked so ridiculous, he was fabulously drunk. Drunk in a way that sent a shiver down Lawrence's spine. He reconsidered taking Adam back to his apartment and instead turned onto the highway towards his own home. Adam didn't seem to notice.
"Are you trying to ruin my reputation?"
Adam shrugged. "Maybe." He huffed.
"Why?"
"Why are you out wi' them anyway?" Adam glared at him.
Lawrence laughed. "Are you jealous?"
"Me?!" Adam forced a laugh. "Nah. I'm not jealous. What the fuck do I have to be jealous of? If somebody wants your washed up, sloppy seconds ass, they can have it. That's pathetic."
"Mmhmm." Lawrence nodded.
"I'm not jealous Larry." Adam hissed.
"Good. That's good." Lawrence agreed.
"Yeah. It is good."
"Mmhmm." Lawrence smiled as he pulled onto his street.
Adam now seemed confused. "Where the fuck are we?"
"I'm bringing you home."
"This isn't my apartment building."
"I know, it's my house." Lawrence said simply as he pulled up his driveway and into his garage. He was thankful for his connected garage in case Adam decided to make a scene getting out of the car.
"Why did you bring me to your house, you fucking creep?" Adam hissed.
"I don't know where you live." Lawrence lied as he stepped out of the vehicle.
He absolutely knew where Adam lived, but he couldn't let Adam know that he knew. Lawrence had ways of finding these things out, and he kept tabs on Adam's activities. Adam didn't need to know that though, and right now it served Lawrence well not to tell him the truth.
Lawrence opened up the passenger door and gestured for Adam to get out. Adam didn't move. He crossed his arms stubbornly and stared straight forward. Lawrence sighed heavily and reached in. He grabbed a fistful of Adam's hair and pulled him out.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you like be yanked around by your hair." Lawrence cooed.
Adam pulled away. "Let me go!" He stumbled over his own feet as he stepped back.
Lawrence lifted an eyebrow. He's so drunk, he thought, he's adorable.
"Should I call you a cab?" Lawrence asked.
Adam just stared at him blankly.
"Hello?" Lawrence asked as he stepped closer. "Should I call you a cab?"
"Fuck off." Adam huffed.
Lawrence snatched him by the throat, pulling him in roughly against his chest.
"Don't get yourself in over your head." He purred into Adam's ear.
When Adam didn't resist he led him into the house. They were both quiet as they entered the kitchen. Lawrence gestured into the connected living room.
"You can take a seat."
Adam stayed close to Lawrence. Lawrence cornered him in against the counters and stroked his hair back, he smiled. Adam glared at him, still playing the part of the angry drunk, he wasn't softening to Lawrence's advances.
"You're drunk." Lawrence commented.
"Could be drunker." Adam huffed.
"Then let me pour you a drink."
Lawrence pulled away. He moved to the cabinets and poured Adam a glass of whiskey. He pressed it into the young man's hand. Adam seemed to sense that this was a challenge and tipped the glass back into his mouth. He took the glass down in two swallows. Lawrence was impressed but also a little concerned. He wouldn't have poured so much if he had known Adam was going to drink it so fast.
"You should really sit down." He said as he peeled the glass out of Adam's hand.
Adam rolled his eyes. "Whatever." He huffed as he flopped back into an arm chair.
Lawrence didn't bother calling a cab, he just waited, giving the alcohol a little bit of time to work its magic. He washed the drink glasses. When he immerged from the kitchen Adam was looking significantly more pliable. He had tipped over from being an angry drunk to being the level of drunk that turned him into soft putty in Lawrence's hands.
"You look a little warm." Lawrence said.
Adam's eyes were heavily lidded. He had slumped into the seat, his shoulders relaxed back and his knees dropped open to the sides. He barely lifted his head to address Lawrence when he spoke.
"You should take your jacket off." Lawrence pressed.
Adam stared at him for a moment, his eyelids drooping, before he reached for the zipper of his jacket and slowly began peeling it off. That's much better, Lawrence thought as he approached. He couldn't help the smile that spread across his face. Fortunately, Adam seemed too drunk to notice. He can't even see that he's losing.
"Take off your shoes." Lawrence's tone was commanding, he was testing what Adam would tolerate in this state.
Adam just grunted and pushed his shoes off. Lawrence smiled and when he reached the younger man, he pushed his hand through their hair. His fingers became tangled in the messy curls. Adam needed a haircut, Lawrence would figure that out later. Adam leaned his head into Lawrence's body, giving himself up. Lawrence was so enthralled with Adam's sudden submission that he almost didn't hear Adam mumble something unintelligible against his thigh.
"What's that?" Lawrence asked.
Adam shook his head, refusing to answer. He brought his arms up to wrap around Lawrence's waist, but the older man stepped back away from him. This upset Adam's balance and in his drunken state he lurched forward off the chair and onto the floor. He was on his hands and knees, grasping at Lawrence's pant legs.
"Wait! Please don't leave! Please…" He begged drunkenly.
Lawrence remained firm. "What did you say?"
"I said, 'I need you'." Adam sat back on his heels and tried to look up at Lawrence, his body swayed as tried to maintain eye contact with him.
"Oh." Lawrence said quietly, as if embarrassed.
"I need you." Adam closed his eyes. "Please, I need you. I don't…I can't…"
Lawrence kneeled in front of him so they were eye to eye. He grasped Adam's jaw and pulled him slightly forward to make him look at him. Adam's eyes opened, he struggled to keep his balance and ended up on his hands and knees, head in Lawrence's hand.
"Can't what?" Lawrence pressed.
Adam shook his head, but Lawrence tightened his grip on his jaw, making him wince.
"I have no idea who I am without you. Please…" Adam's voice became quiet and worn, "please don't leave. I need you."
Lawrence pondered this for a while, thinking over the consequences of accepting this. He knew he shouldn't encourage Adam. He knew he shouldn't enable the worst of his habits. He knew he shouldn't allow Adam to foster a reliance on him. but Adam was here on the floor, on his hands and knees, staring up at him with his incredibly large eyes. The truth was, Lawrence needed him too, in his own way. He felt powerful with Adam's head in his hand, having brought the man to his hands and knees. Alison and Diana were gone, he needed someone to live for, someone to achieve for. How could he possibly turn him away?
