Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/5652361.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, Rape/Non-Con, Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      Sherlock_(TV)
  Relationship:
      Sebastian_Moran/Jim_Moriarty
  Character:
      Sebastian_Moran, Jim_Moriarty, Jim_Moriarty's_Father, Charles_Augustus
      Magnussen, John_Watson, Carl_Powers, Victor_Trevor, Augustus_Moran,
      Sherlock_Holmes, Mycroft_Holmes
  Additional Tags:
      Military_School_AU, RP, Child_Abuse, Hand_Jobs, Teacher-Student
      Relationship, Blackmail, Psychological_Torture, Torture_Simulation,
      Dubious_Consent, First_Time, Drug_Use
  Series:
      Part 1 of Survival,_Evasion,_Rescue,_and_Escape
  Stats:
      Published: 2016-01-06 Completed: 2016-01-10 Chapters: 15/15 Words: 107899
****** SERE: Survival ******
by Magpies_Treasury
Summary
     Sebastian Moran is a student at Magnussen's military boarding school
     where he meets Jim, the son of one of the instructors. Together they
     are pulled into Magnussen's blackmail games, seeking freedom and
     hoping to survive his plans for them.
***** A Little Bit of Breaking is Not Enough *****
Chapter Notes
     Welcome! This is an RP written by myself and Stormy! This is our
     longest ever RP and it will feature as part of a series. This is also
     our darkest fic so far, if you are familiar with our previous
     submissions you have an idea of what is ahead. I'll be updating the
     tags as I go along and each chapter will have an individualized set
     of trigger warnings in the end notes. If you are worried about any
     TWs check there first, and please let me know if you feel that I've
     missed something and want it added in.
     This story deals with a corrupt military academy, styled after the
     boarding schools in America. My father served in the American Air
     Force as a survival instructor with the SERE program. That is where
     we got our title from. Some of the torture or interrogation
     techniques were from stories he told me about his training and I took
     a lot of knowledge from his old text books. This school is owned by
     Magnussen as a way to control the children of important people, he
     blackmails the children into working for him or turning on their
     parents in exchange for freedom. As you can imagine that leads to
     some pretty dark content in a school environment where abuse is
     called training. We hope you enjoy and feel free to comment with any
     concerns and questions you might have!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
"Men do not naturally kill." Magnussen said, his knife slowly chopping through
the steak on his plate, "It's not... a normal urge. Not a usual thing."
Sebastian gave what he hoped was a polite nod, pushing around undercooked
potatoes on his plate, trying to avoid his father’s eye. “To make a man kill,
to turn a man into a soldier, you have to break him down.” Magnussen finished
cutting his steak and then delicately placed his knife and fork on the plate,
facing forwards, signaling he’d finished, “Break him down and then take the
component pieces and build them up into something that can fight, can kill.”

Augustus Moran gave a laugh that sounded awkward in the silence. “Well. I hope
you won’t need to break my Sebastian!”

Magnussen’s eyes turned on him and Sebastian forced himself to stare back, to
the milky white eyes behind glasses that hid them from the world. He forced
himself to sneer to say, “He won’t.”

Magnussen’s expression didn’t flicker and Augustus managed another false laugh,
“Well, maybe a little bit of breaking would not be a bad thing, eh?”
The waiter stepped forward to take the plates, Sebastian moodily dropped his
knife and fork down, Magnussen covered his glass with his hand as another
waiter stepped forward to pour wine and Sebastian scowled as he was only
allowed water, still too young to drink. “Sebastian, you may leave the table.”
Augustus said eventually. 
Magnussen watched him get down, and then held out a hand to stop him as he
walked by and murmured, “No.”
“No what?” He was being rude now, deliberately, and knew he’d pay for it later
but didn’t care.
Magnussen’s breath was warm in his ear “A little bit of breaking is not
enough.”
===============================================================================
 

It was popularly believed that Sebastian Moran had been sent to Military school
as a punishment. He might have been bright, but was chronically lazy, always in
trouble, expelled twice from separate private schools, and almost arrested on
numerous occasions.

The first time he arrived Sebastian thought it was a punishment as well. Then
they’d barked some orders at him, handed him a rifle and suddenly he was home.
The problems he’d faced in school just didn’t exist here, in a world that
seemed to have been built with Sebastian Moran in mind. Bullying was
practically encouraged, fights were ignored, and he hardly had the energy in
the evenings to go out and cause riots. At home, he’d been in trouble for
shooting family valuables, here they taught him how to use a gun. His initial
wariness at the sergeant turned into a mutual respect when he realised that,
unlike his father, the man could recognise his potential and seemed impressed
by it.

It didn’t stop Sebastian getting in trouble, not even military school could do
that. But when the sergeant tore him a new one he listened, when he was sent
out for punishments he took them, and when the sergeant occasionally briefly
mumbled the name of a new recruit who could maybe do with a bit of a slap
Sebastian was happy to oblige. He thrived, developed, grew, even when put in
with bigger boys he emerged on top – using strength, a certain amount of
cunning, the arrogant entitlement of aristocracy and sheer bloody-mindedness to
gain control. He stopped going home for the holidays, his father didn’t
complain.

The only irritation in an otherwise perfect existence was that sometimes
Magnussen visited the school. It was owned by him, after all, and Sebastian
supposed he had every right to visit it but he truly hated the man. The
sergeant did too, and it was another point on which they bonded. There was
nothing either of them could do though, as Magnussen watched the men, and
watched Sebastian.

“He’s dangerous that one.” The sergeant said, as Sebastian scrubbed his way
industriously through the mess hall for shooting at Magnussen’s car as he’d
left. “Head down and don’t get his attention.”

“I already have his attention.” Sebastian pointed out. “And when do I keep my
head down?”

The sergeant sighed and slapped the back of his head, making him grin, “Never.
You’re bloody hopeless. I want this bastard hall shining by the time I get
back.” He gave Sebastian a quick smirk and nodded to the office door. “If you
don’t want to do it on your own, saw a scrawny young lad arrive an hour ago.
He’s still in there... might be willing to help you with a bit of...
persuasion.” He left to go on manoeuvres and Sebastian looked at the shadowed
outline behind the door and grinned.

Jim starred dully at the wall, even after sitting here for an hour waiting it
still hadn’t hit him yet that he was really here. His mother had died just
twelve hours ago, killed herself probably but his understanding was that the
doctors had called it an accidental overdose. How thoughtful of them. It
couldn’t have been more than a few hours after she passed that men in uniform
came to take him away, he’d fought them of course – even knowing why there were
there for him, that didn’t mean Jim wanted to go. But they’d dragged him back
to the flat he shared with his mother, told him to pack a bag. When he was
through they’d searched it and thrown out half the stuff, books mostly. They
weren’t allowed books that weren’t part of the curriculum at the school. It had
taken them a long time to drive him here, from Ireland they’d taken a ferry to
cross the water. Now Jim was here with his bag sitting at his feet, still
wearing the same clothes stained with his mother’s vomit and desperately
needing a sleep or shower. They brought him here because his biological father
served as an instructor at the school and he was Jim’s only remaining family.

Jim had been conceived in Ireland when his father had been active in the
military and traveling, before he became an instructor. James Moriarty had a
fling with Jim’s mother and then left her when he found out she was pregnant.
Her parents effectively disowned her from what little they had and she was on
her own. When Jim was born she still gave him his father’s name, something he
would later hate her for a little bit. His mum had to work to take care of the
two of them on their own. Jim knew she resented him, even though she rarely
showed it outright. It was true though. She’d tried to hide it, but Jim was
bright and insightful. It wasn’t difficult to work out.

Later his father had wanted to be in the picture and his mother had been happy
to have him back if it meant a steady pay check and a place to live. She’d left
him four, maybe five years later and at least had the decency to take Jim with
her. He hadn’t seen his father since then – it had been about six years. He
couldn’t believe this was happening and Jim curled up into a ball, tucking his
knees up to hide his face – god damn his mother, she knew this would happen to
him, knew what she was leaving him to and hadn’t cared. Or maybe at one point
she had and everything had just gotten to be too much for her.

Finally a door opened and Jim looked up from his defensive position in the
chair, dreading this confrontation – but it was just one of the cadets, a
student. Jim sat quietly and didn’t say anything, assuming the other boy wasn’t
there for him.

Sebastian frowned at the boy inside. They got some weedy ones joining the
school - sometimes he suspected as part of Magnussen's higher designs to punish
their fathers, but he'd never seen anyone as small and skinny as Jim before.
Maybe the boy was just there delivering a message, although he had a bag with
him that seemed half full of clothes and small worthless belongings. Either
way, he could probably clean a floor. He cleared his throat and then held out
the scrubbing brush, "Hey - don't suppose you could give me a hand? Floor needs
cleaning." He practically loomed over Jim, "Sure you wouldn't mind helping,
it'll only take a minute or so."

Jim ignored Sebastian, not even turning to look at him – just staring at the
wall blankly. “Fuck off, I’m waiting for someone. I’m not doing your chores.”
His voice was pretty monotonous but Jim thought he managed to get his point
across. The boy was just looking for someone to bully into doing his work and
Jim made it clear he wasn’t an easy mark.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow and then gave him a little slap round the face -
more as a warning than aimed to hurt. "Yeah, well you can wait while cleaning
the floors." He knocked Jim on the back of the head with the brush. "Anyone
vaguely senior is out on manouvres with the older kids. Won't be back for a
while, you might as well help me." He smirked, "It's your easiest option right
now."

The boy slapped his face and then knocked him in the back of the head with the
wooden brush, Jim turned on him furiously but his expression was still blank,
everything just built under the surface. He looked the boy directly in the eye
and growled out, “You don’t scare me.” He was meant to wait here and he wasn’t
going out of his way to help a bully who was too lazy to do his own goddamn
chores.

Sebastian sighed and rolled his eyes, feeling irritated but also a little
impressed that the boy hadn't just folded, "That's because I'm not being scary.
The scary part is when I threaten to tear your balls off while repeatedly
smacking your head against the wall with your nose bleeding. This is the non-
scary part." He backhanded Jim's face, a little harder, "C'mon, it's just a
sweeping brush, I'm not asking you to suck me off."

Jim’s face turned with the blow and his rage spiked but smoldered. “This is the
part where I’m being polite. Hit me again and I’ll stop being polite.” He threw
Sebastian’s words back in his face. If the boy spent half as much effort as he
put into trying to get Jim to do his chores for him as he put into actually
scrubbing the floors he might have been done by now. Jim wouldn’t back down
though, he was angry and hurting and if he caved once then they’d never let him
get away with telling them no again.

"Oh, what will you do?" Sebastian gave a laugh, part of him genuinely curious.
"Let me guess - you'll tell daddy. That one doesn't work in here. Your father
can be the Lord of Fucking Berkshire and you'll still clean the bloody floor
when I need you to. Maybe you think you can tell the sergeant. Go ahead, be my
guest, and I'll be given another damn floor to clean while you spend the next
week in the hospital ward." He backhanded Jim again, pleased at the flush of
red developing on his cheek. "I mean, you'll do it eventually. It’s up to you
how much I get to hurt you first."

Sebastian hit him again, harder this time and Jim stood abruptly, eye level
barely coming up to meet the boy’s shoulder as his face twisted with rage
before he lunged for the secretary’s desk, grabbed the stapler, flipped it open
and crashed the thing into the side of Sebastian’s ear. He hit him with it
again in the mouth and once more over his eyebrow. Jim threw the stapler away
before taking up a fancy pen, perfectly happy to stab the boy with it next if
he couldn’t move fast enough to stop Jim first.

Sebastian gave a roar of pain as the staple stamped into the side of his head,
and then suddenly there was blood in his mouth and a cutting pain over one eye.
Grabbing at the front of the annoying little prick's shirt he slammed him up
against the desk, swearing again as a fancy fountain pen dug into his shoulder
and grabbing the wrist that held it, crushing it in his fist. His head crashed
forward to head-butt Jim hard, the staple above his eye still sticking into the
skin, "You little fucking bitch!"

Jim struggled violently as Sebastian bent him over the table, the sharp corner
of the desk digging into his back viciously and he bit down on his lip to keep
the pained noise down while Sebastian crushed his wrist in his hand. He saw
stars as Sebastian head-butted him and the back of his head cracked back
against the mahogany desk and for a moment he went limp and dropped the pen.
Suddenly Jim brought his knee up hard into Sebastian’s crotch and grabbed for
anything he could use as a weapon on the desk – paperweight, some kind of
marble ball – Jim picked it up and hit Sebastian in the shoulder with it. He
could have hit him in the head but he wanted to avoid doing any permanent
damage if he could help it, Jim would be in enough trouble as it was but he
wasn’t going to lie back and take the abuse from another student either.

Sebastian doubled over with a whine as the pain exploded between his legs,
gasping and swallowing desperately to prevent himself from being sick, he fell
hard as the paperweight crashed into his shoulder, still struggling to breathe
and orient himself as he struggled on the floor. The strange boy appeared to
have stopped hitting him at least and he managed a few deep breaths, rubbing at
his balls gently and looking up. He was warier now, but there was no way he
could lose to a skinny little scrap like that. "You are going to pay for
hitting me in the nuts." He growled, pushing himself back up and keeping a wary
eye on the paperweight. Part of him knew that the most sensible thing to do
would be to go right back to scrubbing the floors, but his pride was wounded
now.

“This is where you get scary?” Jim kept hold of the paper weight cautiously,
really hoping the other boy didn’t attack again. He didn’t want to use it
repeatedly because it was effectually a rock but he didn’t want to put it down
because the other boy would take it up and bash his brains in. “I suppose you’d
best hope you’re scarier than me then.” Jim wasn’t sorry he’d kneed the boy in
the balls, he didn’t observe standard rules for fighting, for him it was just
not wanting to be hurt. He could already feel a pretty severe headache coming
on and his nose and mouth was bleeding from the head-butt. Jim kept his injured
wrist close to his side in case he needed to fight again and defend it.

"This is where you get fucked." Sebastian snapped viciously back, reaching up
to rub at his ear and hissing as he felt sticky blood. Not a huge amount,
thankfully, but more than he could go back to camp with leaving his dignity
intact. He shifted his weight a little and then lunged forward, one hand aiming
to grab, or at least buffer, the paperweight, the other swinging around in a
fist aimed straight for Jim's nose. All he needed, he knew, was one lucky shot
and the boy would be out - this was getting far too dangerous to tease with, he
just wanted Jim to stop challenging him.

Jim tried to dodge out of the way but he hit the desk again and Sebastian’s
blow landed. He groaned dizzily and could already feel his eye swelling. Jim
let the paperweight fall out of his hand but he stumbled forward, just
colliding with Sebastian but it was enough that he lost his balance and they
ended up rolling on the floor together.

Sebastian swore as he was knocked to the floor again, pleased that he'd managed
to get the paperweight out of the picture and rolling them both over to press
Jim's face hard into the tiled floor, "Alright now you little cunt - maybe now
I can really make you pay for... Sir!" The pressure on Jim was suddenly lifted
as Sebastian scrambled to his feet, standing to attention and saluting smartly
as the Captain walked in with Jim's father, looking surprised and confused at
the scene and barking out, "What the hell happened here, why is there blood all
over my desk?"

Jim couldn’t help yelping as Sebastian pressed his swelling eye and bleeding
nose into the ground and he bucked and wiggled hard trying to get free until
suddenly the weight was gone and Jim could breathe again. When he spoke it was
with a heavy denasality. “This one attacked me.” He froze over when he saw his
father and kept his eyes on the ground furiously, not able to look at him
without wanting to light something on fire. Jim quickly got up off the floor,
thinking it was a bad idea to be underfoot.

The Captain turned to Sebastian angrily, "You attacked this boy?"

Sebastian stared straight ahead and barked back a "Sir, yes Sir." Not really
seeing the point in denying it. Clearly someone had attacked the boy, and there
was nobody else here.
The Captain looked at Jim and then waved his hand at Sebastian, "Dismissed. We
will discuss this later." When Sebastian had left he turned to Jim, looking him
up and down, "You better get to the medical tent, you look pretty damaged.
Would you like your father to take you there?"

“No,” Jim answered immediately, feeling pretty sulky about his situation just
now. At least he wasn’t being punished for fighting. “Just tell me where it is,
I’ll find it myself.” Jim bent over slowly to grab his half empty duffle.
“…Sorry about the mess.” Jim added as an afterthought, still looking anywhere
but at his father.

The Captain frowned, glanced at Moriarty and then stood back from the door.
"Head along the track down the hill, first left in the wooded area. Our medical
wing is there, ask for the doctor. He'll get you all patched up... then head to
reception to pick up your locker key and uniform." He hesitated, putting a hand
on Jim's chest as he headed out, "I'm sorry your first experience here was so
unpleasant, but I'm sure you'll settle in soon enough." He managed a smile with
his face and then let Jim go, turning to Jim's father once he'd left. "There...
might be a problem there. With bullying. If your son can't stand up for
himself, although the cadet he was fighting seemed fairly injured I must
admit."

Jim didn’t catch the rest of whatever the Captain had said to his father just
stared straight ahead while rage burned inside him and ate away at his organs
like acid. It was maybe lucky that his bag wasn’t very heavy because his body
wasn’t in the best shape. The captain’s directions were good and Jim was able
to find his way easily. The building was pretty small and seemed to double up
as the locker room with bathrooms and showers down the hallway. Jim knocked
cautiously on the door frame when he saw the man inside, reading a book. He was
short, only a few inches taller than Jim, with sandy blonde hair. “Uh… I’ve
been sent in for medical treatment?” He just really hoped his nose wasn’t
broken.

The man inside looked up, his eyes widening in shock as he saw Jim, hurriedly
putting down his book and coming over, "Hi - John Watson, come on in, goodness
what happened to you?" He frowned at the injuries, closing the door of the
little medical room behind them and running a bowl of water, handing it over to
Jim with a flannel. "Wash your face for me, then I'll see if anything needs
stitches, or setting. You look like you've been in the wars. What was it... or
maybe I should ask who it was..." He gave a pained little sigh as he noticed
the way Jim was favouring his injured wrist. "What other damage is there?"

Jim settled down in a chair, not feeling the need to get up on the cot for
examination. “Got in a fight. Slapped me around for a bit then he grabbed my
wrist, head-butted me in the face… he might have gotten a few extra hits in.
Can’t really remember.” The incident was a bit of a blur to Jim who had a head
injury and adrenaline mixing with the panic at seeing his father again. “You
should have seen the other guy.” Jim grinned and his lip split open.

"Yes, well I wish I had, I'd have a good few words for him." John balled up
some cotton wool and gently pushed it into Jim's nostrils, looking at his nose
and nodding as he noticed it wasn't broken, just badly bruised. "Nose is fine,
let’s see your wrist, ahhh." He shook his head, "That looks bad. Stay there."
He turned to get more bandages and then sharply turned back as Sebastian Moran
sloped awkwardly and sulkily into the room. "Moran, wait outside! I've already
got someone in here..." He frowned at Seb, "Is that a staple in your head - I,
you know, I don't want to know. Wait outside, you're not in immediate danger of
expiring and I'm busy."

Jim tensed up when Sebastian came in although he felt the warm glow of
satisfaction when he saw the state of the boy’s face. “I hope I ruptured his
testicles,” Jim growled low enough that only John would hear. “If he broke my
wrist I’m going to kill him.” Sebastian left and Jim let himself relax again,
“I imagine I’ll be seeing quite a lot of you, uhh… Dr. Watson?” Jim wasn’t sure
if he was a doctor, or if he should address him by his military title.

"Sebastian Moran did this to you..." John hesitated and then looked out the
door slightly incredulously, "You did that to Sebastian Moran? Please be
careful - that boy is the reason I see half the patients I do. He's a true
fighter, unfortunately he spreads it about, and isn't afraid of repercussions.
Not that I'm allowed to deliver any repercussions myself, if I could I'd have
expelled him long ago." He pressed Jim's wrist a few times then shook his head,
"Not broken but it is sprained. You'll need to keep it bandaged and try not to
use it. Yes... Doctor Watson. I'm not a soldier, although I have had basic
training."

“I don’t appreciate getting smacked around,” Jim was a little disappointed that
the one person who was at all sympathetic to him wasn’t allowed to punish
Sebastian. “Can’t you make him clean bedpans or something?” Jim asked
rhetorically and groaned a little as he reached up to poke at the lump on the
back of his head. “Tomorrow is supposed to be my first day… shit.” Jim wasn’t
looking forward to the strenuous exercise when he was injured.

"If you need a note I can give you one." John replied, shaking his head at the
thought of punishing Sebastian, "No... punishments come from his sergeant only
- and Sebastian gets on very well with him. Not to say he goes easy on the boy
but he's spared some of the worst of it. I really would try and stay out of his
way if you possibly can." He finished bandaging Jim's wrist and then frowned as
Jim's father walked in. "Captain Moriarty, can I help you? One of your boys
isn't... damaged again, are they?"

Jim frowned and shook his head, eyes glazing over as a wave of dizziness hit.
“Uh, no that’s alright. I’m sure they’ll understand.” He sighed and stared at
the wall blankly, “My mother just died.” He didn’t know where that came from,
but it was the first time he said it out loud and he blinked hard as his eyes
got hot. Jim tensed up and shook off John’s hands as his father came in through
the door, looking Jim over slowly from his black eye to his swollen nose and
mouth and finally his bandaged wrist before looking back at his face.
He spoke measuredly, with ice in his tone. “Come along James. Doctor Watson
needs to see to the other cadet and you need to get your head shaved before
classes tomorrow.” Jim’s breath caught and he swallowed hard. “There’s a lump
on my head… sir. I’m not sure it’s a good idea.” Jim looked to the doctor
imploringly, he didn’t want this at all. It was completely dehumanizing.
"Oh..." Was all John managed before Moriarty entered. He hesitated at the man's
orders and then finally gave a little shake of the head. "I'm afraid you'll
have to shave him in here, if he does pass out I want to tend to him instantly
and he may still have a concussion. I need to write an explanatory note as well
- he's in no state to do much physical at the moment, and I really don't want a
semi-conscious vomiting cadet on my hands. Moran!" Sebastian sloped in, looking
confused to see the place so crowded. "Sit down, I'll get that staple out your
head and make sure you're disinfected." Silently he handed a razor and wash
bowl over to Moriarty.

Jim’s finger’s automatically twisted into the material of John’s medical coat
sleeve but his father noticed the action and Jim let go before ducking his gaze
again. Sebastian came in and Jim glared fiercely, “You’ll have to check him for
testicular damage I’m afraid. I swear I heard one of them pop.” Jim sneered,
hoping to further humiliate the other boy. It didn’t make him feel any better
when his father casually slapped the back of his head and Jim inhaled sharply
as he aggravated the bruises.

“Be quiet James.” Moriarty found an outlet and plugged the electric clippers in
before running them briefly to test they were working. Jim hunched in on
himself, struggling not to reach up and touch his curls one last time before
they were sheared off. He didn’t beg or fight it though, he knew that he didn’t
have any say in this discussion.

Sebastian gave a snarl and stuck his middle finger up at Jim, collapsing
irritated down onto the chair and glaring at Jim as Watson tugged the remaining
staple out of his eyebrow, "Yeah, yeah, you're bloody lucky Captain Moriarty
came in when he did, or you'd not be sitting there so upright, that's all I'm
saying." He got a cold glance from Jim's father and a furious one from Watson
and quietened down, still sneering across at Jim as John wiped down his
injuries with disinfectant, "You just want to see my balls you little pervert,
don't you. Get off on it would you?"

John pressed a little harder than he needed to at Sebastian's shoulder and
snapped, "Keep still - how can I feel if your shoulder's broken if you keep
waving your hand about?"
“Did you just threaten to rape me?” Jim asked coolly glaring and doing a pretty
remarkable impersonation of his father’s look.

The Captain pressed John out of the way and squatted down in front of
Sebastian, boxing him in with his arms and leaning against the armrests of the
chair. “Moran if you imply my son is some sort of faggot again I can promise
you that you’ll be helping me with demonstrations in class for the rest of the
week, are we clear?” Moriarty gave a little smile and gave him a pat to the
side of the head, over the injured ear. Jim kept his eyes on the wall ahead of
him and couldn’t even take joy in his father’s threatening Sebastian. Moriarty
turned the clippers on and started shaving Jim’s hair abruptly without setting
any kind of towel around him to keep his clothes or the floor clean. Jim
startled but sat still as he clenched his jaw hard and twisted his hands into
fists. He jumped and hissed when Moriarty nicked him with the clippers. “So
sorry,” he muttered insincerely before dragging the clippers over the bump and
bruised area of his scalp.

"What? Fucking no, why the hell would I want to get my dick anywhere near you?
I just threatened to break your legs you crazy bitch..." Sebastian fell silent
as Moriarty Sr. approached him, scowling at the floor and then hissing as the
hand patted over his ear. So far the work they'd done in Moriarty's class had
been survival based - managing in the forest, underwater training, Sebastian
had done well and enjoyed it, even the tougher moments. He'd been warned by the
sergeant though, that it was about to get a lot harder. "Well don't look at me,
your son was the one who wanted to look at my balls - wait, that's your fucking
son?" He gave a disbelieving laugh and then winced as John banged down his hand
on the table.

"That's enough! With all due respect, Captain, I would ask you not to threaten
anyone within the safety of the medical unit. Moran, you will remain silent
until you are dismissed." Sebastian scowled but did as he was ordered, shooting
Jim a smirk when his father wasn't looking.

Jim didn’t even notice Sebastian’s glare he was focused entirely on not wincing
and keeping his hands from shaking. He was a tough little bastard but in the
last twelve hours he’d lost his mother and his hair, he’d been forced to move
to another country and attend a controversial military academy where his
abusive father worked, and he’d gotten the snot beaten out of him by one of the
other cadets. It had just been a rough day. His father was thorough with the
clippers, leaving only dark stubble behind for his buzz cut. He was sure he
looked a mess with his bruised and swelling face and clipped hair. Moriarty
brushed his hand over the stubble once, dusting off some spare clippings before
bending down and pressing a sardonic kiss to the top of Jim’s head. “Now come
on Jimmy, time to get you into your uniform.”

It was all mocking of course and Jim got his back up, trying to quell a shudder
and not react at all. “Thank you, Doctor Watson.” Jim muttered dully as he
stood and brushed the hair clippings off his shirt and onto the floor. He
wanted desperately to reach up and touch his hair, like when he was a kid and
lost baby tooth and poked at the gap obsessively with his tongue, but he
wouldn’t give his father that satisfaction. Jim was exhausted and emotionally
drained and just wanted to shower and go to sleep.

Sebastian watched him, starting to feel just a little sorry for the new boy,
who looked completely battered and yet determined not to fold or break.
Moriarty Sr. nodded at Watson, gave Sebastian an annoyed glance, and then
shepherded Jim out. Sebastian frowned as they went and then gave a chuckle.
"Fuck, imagine Moriarty having a son, that didn't quite click first time I saw
them. That means someone actually agreed to have sex with the prick - oww hey!"

John poked at his shoulder and then shook his head, "If I were you Sebastian,
I'd leave both of the Moriarty's alone. The father has the power and ability to
do you quite a lot of damage and the son has already injured you more than
anyone here except yourself. No... shut up." He raised a hand as Sebastian
opened his mouth to protest. "You’re not my favourite cadet, but I'd still
rather not have you in here on a regular basis with stationary embedded in your
skull. Now drop your trousers, I really should take a look at your balls - just
to check there's nothing more than bruising."

Moriarty Sr. stayed silent as they left the medical building, glancing sideways
at his son as the reception area came into view. "I thought you should know."
He said formally, "That even though you are my son I can offer you no special
favours here - no preferred treatment. That is not how we work. You are
incredibly lucky to get a place here, every other boy has had his parents
paying a considerable sum to stay. I hope you'll take advantage of this
opportunity - maybe it'll make something of you, god knows your mother never
did."
Jim couldn’t help a snort at that, feeling braver somehow now that they were
alone and no one else was around to see if he got smacked. “Right. Because you
were always going out of your way to do me favors.” He hadn’t seen his man for
years, hadn’t heard from him once since Jim and his mom had left – which was
good because that was the whole purpose of running. He tried to keep a sneer
off his face as Moriarty insulted his mum, “She’s been gone barely twelve
hours, the least you could do is show some fucking respect. She did the best
that she could.” Which wasn’t a lot. Jim tried not to be resentful, but he was
allowed to criticize his mother. He wouldn’t allow it from this man who had
definitely contributed to making her worse.

Moriarty gave a sneer and slapped the bruised back of his head as he spoke. "If
you weren't so close to being old enough to fend for yourself I'd have been
happy to stick you in a foster home and forget about you. As it is I'm allowing
you into a prestigious private school." He didn't say that it was no choice of
his own. Magnussen had read through all of Jim's records with pale inscrutable
eyes and then pretty much ordered him to take the boy on. "If you expect me to
show respect to a whore who got herself knocked up with my child you seriously
underestimate the kind of things I believe worthy of earning my respect." He
dropped Jim off at reception with a nod to the cadet who was waiting there. "My
son. Jim Moriarty. He's almost sixteen so he'll be going in with Division
Delta, he's practically their age." Everyone in Division Delta was seventeen or
eighteen but Jim didn’t know that. Moriarty gave Jim a condescending little pat
on the head, "I'll see you in lessons, try not to get yourself any further
injuries."

Jim didn’t reply after the smack to the back of the head. He felt the need to
push Moriarty, not in classes where he had a lot of power but as his son, to
see what kind of treatment he could expect here – if he would be better in his
work environment or all the worse because he already had more protection and
power. “You can’t despise her for being a whore when you were the one that paid
for her,” Jim sneered anyway. He was eternally fed up of this man punishing his
mother for choices that she’s made when she was young and trying to support
herself. When they reached the reception hall Jim was interested to hear he’d
been moved up a year – probably less to do with his grades, which weren’t
great, and more to do with his test scores which were a better reflection of
his intelligence. Moriarty wanted to push him and see him do well. He didn’t
answer his father’s goodbye and just followed after the cadet with his head
down. “I want to shower and sleep, how can I make that happen?”

"You're Morairty's son?" The cadet asked in amazement, shaking his head, "Wow,
you'll be popular. There's communal showers attached to the sleeping barracks -
nobody's in them at the moment so I guess you can use them. Wash and change
into your uniform. You don't really need to do anything until classes start
tomorrow. I'll show you your bed. You'll get Lewis's. He folded. Moran beat the
shit out of him every morning and now he's running back home to mummy." He gave
a snigger and opened the door to the sleeping barracks. "At the end on the
left, the one with the trunk open. You keep all your stuff in the trunk and you
keep the trunk under the bed. That's your personal stuff. It's all you're
allowed."

“Popular?” Jim asked in confusion, not sure if he was hoping the boy was being
sarcastic or not. “Thanks then. I think I’ll just… turn in.” The hall was full
of row upon row of uncomfortable looking bunk beds, Jim had managed a bottom
bunk somehow, which he tried to be pleased about. He was not pleased, but not
surprised, that there was zero privacy in the barracks. Or the showers, it
turned out. Jim had taken a ‘sleep uniform’ out of his trunk, just a plain
white shirt and grey sleep pants before making his way to the showers. He
sighed and was grateful that at least no one was around this time. He had
shower sandals on to avoid fungus on the floors and turned the water on hot
before grabbing up the bar of soap they’d given him and starting to lather up.

Sebastian sloped back to the barracks when Watson had finished examining and
scolding him, tugging his shirt over his head with a groan and flinging it on
his top bunk before noticing in surprise that the trunk of the bottom bunk was
now full and under the bed next to his. He heard the showers running as well,
frowning and sauntering over, leaning against the open door and watching Jim,
"What are you doing in here, squirt? There's no way you're the right age, you
look fucking twelve. Piss off before the big boys get back and I'll smack
around whoever thought it was a funny joke to stick you in here." He didn't
hold any long term grudge against Jim, being far too self-centered and lazy for
grudges. As far as he was concerned, their fight was over and he'd won.

Jim whirled his head around, scowling and resisted the urge to cover himself.
He refused to be embarrassed since he’d have to get used to being seen like
this regularly. “What the fuck did you call me? You’re more than welcome to
have a go at my father – this was his idea.” Wanker. Why the fuck he put Jim in
with the Moran boy he couldn’t guess. Probably wanted him killed off so he
wouldn’t have to deal with him anymore. Jim turned back around and shampooed
his hair, deciding to ignore Sebastian for now. Maybe he’d go away.

"Yeah well even if he did you shouldn't be in here." Sebastian watched him
washing his hair, giving a little smile as the suds slid down to a cute little
bum and then shrugged, heading back into the barracks and swinging himself up
onto the bed. "Well it's none of my business if a dumb skinny little fuck like
you wants in here. How the hell did your dad even get laid? He's miserable as
sin, ugly as hell and pretty fucking sadistic. What was your mother, a mental
patient?"

Jim rinsed out his hair and stepped out of the showers with a towel around his
waist as he dug through his things for some clothes. He slammed the door of the
trunk down hard, trying to work out if he could smother the other boy with his
pillow in his sleep without drawing attention. Not fucking likely, you couldn’t
have a wank there was so little privacy here. “Shut the fuck up Moran.”

"I'd say 'make me' but I'm actually pretty sure you'd try." Seb propped himself
on his elbows, looking down at Jim and smirking, shaking his head as Jim
changed into his military issue clothes. "Look at you, look the same as the
rest of us, only smaller and more like a plague victim. Mags's own little toy
soldiers. Ha." He shook his head, looking around at the room, "This is the kind
of deprivation only the very rich can afford, you know? How much is old
Moriarty taking home to get you in here? Didn't realise choking kids and
dropping them in the middle of Dartmoor to find their own way home earned you
so much."

Jim scowled at him a little as Seb criticized his appearance and then smirked,
“Funny, you didn’t seem to mind so much just a minute ago.” He pulled on his
sleep clothes, hurting and exhausted and just sad. “You’re all fucking crazy
sending your kids here willingly. I’ve no idea how much he makes. I wouldn’t be
surprised if there’s some kind of discount.” Jim crawled into bed and pulled
the taunt covers over himself, having a difficult time with the blankets when
they were tucked in against the mattress so tight. “Now leave me alone, I want
to sleep.”

"Fine, sleep. I'm having a wank." Sebastian grinned, imagining the face of the
boy below him and then peered over the edge to look at the curled up figure in
the bed below. "Ask me nicely and I'll go into the showers for it..." he
teased, reaching down to poke Jim, "Jesus, Moriarty's son and a skinny little
bastard, and you don't want to be here. You'll be eaten alive. I'll have to get
you your own stapler. You could keep it in your trunk, bring it out when the
boys start pissing around." He laughed, his usual good mood returning. Right
now annoying Jim was more fun than hitting Jim, so he was happy to do that.
"What's your name anyway, James was it? I can't keep thinking of you as the
little Moriarty."
“His name is ‘James,’ I’m Jim.” He didn’t especially want to talk to this boy,
but this was something he would insist on. Going by Jim was his act of
rebellion and he didn’t want everyone to get in the habit of calling him
something else. “Fuck off, don’t call me bastard, and if you take your cock out
in my presence I’ll cut it off.” It came out sounding a bit more sulky and
sleepy than he meant it to. “I can take care of myself, as you worked out.
Fuck, goddamn this bed!” Jim just tore the blanket up and off of the bed,
ruining the pristinely made sheets. At least now he could fit himself under the
blanket instead of feeling trapped between the taunt covers and the mattress.

Sebastian laughed again, swinging himself off the bed and yanking the bottom of
the blanket out from the bed before lying it down to cover Jim properly, "I
call everyone bastard. If you can't deal with that you'll last even less time
than I thought. Get some sleep Jim, you’ll need it." He patted the little
shaven head and then grabbed at his towel, "I'll take a wank in the showers
then, last thing I need is my cock stapled to my leg, Watson might have a
facial expression." With that he sloped off to the showers.

Jim almost smiled at the joke but couldn’t quite manage it. For all his bravado
he was genuinely not sure the he’d be able to make it in this environment and
tried to resign himself to wandering around with injuries all the time and
trying to both keep his head down and not bow to anyone. He settled down and
his eyes drifted closed as he heard the shower start up. The water on tiles
could have been rain on a window and for a moment he could pretend that he was
still in Ireland and that the last twelve hours had just been a dream.
Sebastian turned on the shower, slid his trousers down, and started to stroke
himself. He usually defaulted to men he'd seen in films and television - the
strong growling action hero's or sun-roughened Wild West cowboys. But today, as
well as that, there were flashes of a pale curved little bottom with soap suds
running down the crack, the snarl of a dark haired little crazy thing rushing
at him with a paperweight. He gave a groan, closing his eyes and using a hand
to support him leaning forwards against the tiles. He could not have the hots
for Moriarty's son, not least because the sergeant would probably be all in
favour of roughing the kid up until he was sent home in a cast.
Chapter End Notes
     TW: violence, mentions of suicide and child abuse
***** Making a Complete Pig’s Ear of It *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Jim slept so deeply that he didn’t even wake up when the rest of the cadets
came in from the library and study hall to shower and get to bed. An alarm went
off before five, everyone got up and began getting ready quickly, throwing on
their uniform and making up their beds perfectly. “What the fuck is that
ungodly noise?” Jim cracked his eyes and rolled over, pulling the blankets over
his head. It was way too fucking early for this shit.

Sebastian swung himself out of bed as soon as the bell started, his muscles
moving almost automatically to make the bed and fold his sheets. He grinned at
Jim; the only person in the room looking confused and disheveled, "Morning
bell, skinny latte. Get up, get dressed, fold blankets. It's your first day so
maybe you won't be punished for folding them wrong. Maybe." He smirked and
finished dressing, standing formally in front of his bed to attention, ready
for inspection, making sure his uniform was completely straight.

Jim groaned in response and stayed under the blankets for another thirty
seconds while he tried to push himself to wakefulness. Eventually he kicked his
feet out and stood wobbly, hissing as the cold from the floor seeped into his
toes. Jim stripped quickly with his eyes still half closed, shivering in the
cold before trying to work out how his uniform worked. He’d never worn one
before but it couldn’t be all that difficult to manage. By the time the
sergeant came around for inspections Jim was still trying to lace up his combat
boots and he hadn’t even started on making his bed.

Sebastian sighed as the sergeant came through, shaking his head, "Bad luck
Jim." He shut up then, standing to attention as the man walked down the row of
beds, occasionally stopping to bark orders at people or punishments.

When he got to Jim and Sebastian he hesitated and frowned then shook his head,
"Bloody mess, bed is a disgrace. Moran, show him how to get it done, repeat it
ten times perfectly then you can go to breakfast." He muttered at Sebastian as
he passed, "Moriarty's son - Moriarty's got you this afternoon so take it out
of his hide now."

Sebastian didn't show a flicker of emotion until all the boys had left and then
groaned, turning to bang his head against the bed, "Fuck sake. Tell you what -
I'll make your bed ten times and you smack yourself in the face, then we can
both get to breakfast quicker."

“Obviously I didn’t get to it… how the fuck are you meant to get ready that
quickly…” Jim was not a morning person by any stretch, he couldn’t remember the
last time he was up this early. He started getting to work on making the bed
now that his boots were on and laced up properly. It was difficult though to
work out how to recreate the folds in the sheets and blankets even though he
remembered exactly what it should look like. “This is wrong… you might as well
show me unless you are planning on making my bed every morning.” Jim gave
Sebastian an alarmed look, “Why would I smack myself in the face, it’s fucked
up enough as it is.” The swelling in his nose and mouth had gone down some but
the areas were all bruised and blotchy and both his eyes were blackened,
although the one was more damaged than the other – luckily it hadn’t swelled
shut. His wrist still twinged painfully and Jim had a pounding headache. He
certainly wasn’t in a hurry to take any more injuries.

"Oh lord, you are making a complete pig’s ear of that, here..." Sebastian took
the blankets away from him and showed him the quickest way to fold them, the
cheating ways to tug the edges under, to pull the sheet away. "Alright, have a
go. Have ten goes and then I'll straighten your uniform. Yeah your face is
fucked up but... the sergeant doesn't like Moriarty." He said it as if it
explained everything and then added, slightly softer, "You look like shit. Shit
having a bad day. 'S a pity about your hair. I used to have awesome hair, all
fucking curled as well, my mum adored it." He sighed and then gave a shrug with
a twisted smile. "Hurry up, I'm hungry."

Jim scowled but paid attention as Sebastian showed him how to make the bed
properly. Once it was done he got started, not especially wanting breakfast
this morning but Sebastian seemed to be hungry. “That’s not an explanation. If
Moriarty was a dick then he should just punch him in the face and leave me
alone.” Jim watched Sebastian skeptically, wondering if Sebastian would go
through with hitting him or not. “Yeah well… it’s not a fucking beauty
contest,” Jim said eventually, not really wanting to talk about the haircuts.
“You don’t look bad with it like that though.”

"Yeah, well you won't look too bad once your face sorts itself out." Sebastian
pointed out, watching him make the bed, correcting him as he went along, and
glancing at the door. "Look just do it five times if you need to - if we're
down late they won't serve us and I'm not hacking through till lunch on an
empty stomach. Nobody punches Moriarty in the face, besides which they're
colleagues. They aren't meant to behave like stupid teenagers. We are."
Reaching up he gently rested the knuckles of his fist against Jim's cheek.
"There you go. If he asks, say you cried, now hurry up - just make sure you can
do it alright tomorrow or we'll be scrubbing the damn floors again.”

Jim clenched his jaw and almost flinched back when Sebastian went to hit him,
but he only pressed his knuckles against unbruised skin. “So what, you only hit
people when you feel like it, not when you’re told to?” Jim scowled and
collected his bag filled with new school books. “I never scrubbed any floors.”
He stuck his nose up and followed Sebastian towards the mess hall, watching all
of the other cadets scarf down their food while they got in line. “They look
like animals,” Jim commented.

"Well do you want me to hit you or not?" Sebastian asked, laughing and patting
Jim's face with his knuckles again. "I aim to please. And you certainly will
scrub floors - and carry out all sorts of tasks. It's a rite of passage." He
watched the cadets eating and shrugged, "Nah... not unless it was very well
trained animals. My father’s dogs never ate that sensibly. Fucks sake I'm
starving, I bet we'll be left with all the stale bread and mangy porridge."

Jim frowned and shook his head, watching all of them eat like they thought
someone was about take their food from them if they didn’t put it away fast
enough. “I had a little dog once, I think it was a pitbull mutt.” She had been
Jim’s friend when he was younger. He glanced about and checked the room for his
father, feeling a little relieved when he didn’t see him. Jim didn’t see any of
the staff eating though so they probably took their breakfast somewhere else.
His stomach cramped up nauseously at the idea of food. “You can have my portion
if you want it, I’m not hungry.”

"Really? Excellent, people'll think I’ve commandeered it from you." Sebastian
served himself, put a pile on Jim's plate and then steered them over to the two
spaces that had been left for them at the table. Eating order was the same as
sleeping order. Giving a smirk, he helped himself to both trays while the boys
around them finished eating, some of them reading books or hastily doing
homework. There were no staff present apart from one bored sergeant, not
theirs, and a few cleaning ladies.

Jim handed over his plate without comment and settled down at the table with
the other boys who looked at him curiously but mostly focused on their work.
Rumor mill would have already been hard at work – Jim hadn’t spoken to any
other cadets but it didn’t matter much, not with how cut off everyone was here.
There was some internet – it was required for classes, but educational websites
only, no one had cell phones, no radio, no mp3 players. Jim never really had
much of that anyway but he was sure these rich brats missed their luxuries. He
looked at the unappetizing food and he was glad he wasn’t eating any. Jim
pulled his course schedule out of his back pack and tried to make sense of it –
it was rigidly structured, but he didn’t recognize any of the buildings or
places referenced, or even some of the classes. “We have… physical education
classes in the morning?” That seemed to be how it was structured – military
training in the morning, normal academia between lunch and dinner and then
study halls and chores between dinner and bed.
"Yeah - then books at lunch, study hall, then your dad gets us alternate days.
There's also the weaponry, that's in the other days. Not a huge number of
chores, there's hardly anything to clean and there's plenty of us. I use that
time to train as well usually." Sebastian smirked, he hardly needed to explain
to Jim how he got off his chores. "'S a full schedule, 's good. I got into a
hell of a lot of trouble back before for pissing around, now there's no time
and I'm too exhausted." He finished eating Jim's food and then sat back,
looking satisfied, "Watson's got you off physical anyway after I smacked you
around. You should be grateful."

“Wonderful.” He smirked and put the schedule away. “Somehow I think I’ll manage
to find some trouble anyway, want to tell me what the fastest way to get kicked
out of this place?” He’d been in and out of trouble with the law and with
school for years, he doubted that would suddenly stop. Even when his body was
exhausted his mind still forged ahead. Jim shook his head and reached down into
his little folder with loose papers including his doctor’s note. “Just says I’m
meant to avoid any exercise that involves my wrist – like press ups, and if I
start feeling dizzy or nauseous I’m meant to sit down for a while.” Jim’s mouth
tightened irritably, he wasn’t looking forward to the physical education but he
was coming in in the middle of the year and as one of the upper years, many of
these guys had already been keeping up the exercise regimen every day for
years. “Christ I’m fucked…” he muttered quietly enough that only Sebastian
would be able to hear him.

"Well... most people just ask their parents when they want to leave and they
get taken out. Sometimes I help." Sebastian laughed again, reaching over and
rubbing his little fuzzy head before pulling him in for a one armed hug, "Oh
yes! Fucked hard, and utterly and completely." The boys around them laughed,
some kindly, some with malice, and Sebastian let him go, tugging out his own
work, "Christ, I was meant to do maths this morning, someone slap Hooper for me
and get his results passed down here."

Jim knew he was going to be all over the place in the curriculum but he glanced
over at Sebastian’s maths sheet and relaxed, at least he was far ahead in that
subject. It looked like his father had at least put some thought into what
classes he was signed up for. He had two extra languages classes and a heavy
focus on maths and sciences. He wondered how many of those classes he’d share
with Sebastian. All of the military classes were the same, as well as the core
classes but the electives were different depending on what you wanted to study
and had students of all ages in them, whoever could keep up with the work. Jim
startled as Sebastian wrapped his arms around his shoulder and tensed up
unhappily as the others gave Jim assessing looks. “Get the fuck off me, you big
moron. Take it back.” All he needed was a pronouncement like that getting back
to his father.
Sebastian grinned and ignored him, turning to his maths instead as a rustle of
paper and an unhappy noise signaled Hooper’s work getting to him. He copied
down half the answered then stared at them and scowled, scrunching up both his
and Hoopers paper and dumping them in Jim's porridge. "They're fucking wrong
you twat - do I have to be the brains here as well as the brawn?" Another bell
sounded and the mess hall became a seething mass of activity, everyone getting
up and moving and Jim being herded along with the rest outside to the training
grounds.

Jim followed the other boys to the locker rooms and they all started to strip
out of their uniforms quickly so Jim did the same. Next to Sebastian was a free
locker with a sweatshirt, tee, and sweat pants all with the schools logo on
them and his name printed on the tags inside. “Fucking lovely.” He thought it
was stupid they made them dress in uniform only to eat breakfast and then strip
out of it again, but that’s how things were done.

A tall big man came in, uniform pristine and started yelling at them, “Alright
you lazy bastards, get your arses on the field in five minutes. I want you to
stretch and then you’ll start with three loops around the track to get
yourselves warmed up.”

Jim pulled his sweatshirt over his head – it was a bit nippy out and it hid
some of his thinness. “I’ve got a doctor’s note here.” Jim passed it over to
him while he re-laced his boots. “I’m new.”

Darren frowned, coming over and looking Jim up and down, "Moriarty's boy?" He
looked Jim up and down and his face twisted, "He sure about that? That apple
fell a hell of a long distance away." He raised an eyebrow as Jim handed him
the note, read it and shrugged, "Says don't use your wrist. So don't use it.
Alright ladies fucking move it, that track isn't running itself."

“Thank you, sir.” Jim said sincerely with a snide edge to his tone. He didn’t
especially want to be anything like his father, Jim was proud of the ways they
were different. He sighed and got moving, somewhat pleased there had at least
not been any mocking about his wrist injury and wanking. He got outside and
started stretching in the cool air, feeling out of place as the other boys
seemed to have a standard stretching regimen. Jim figured running was probably
the area he was strongest, he was fast and agile but as they started their laps
Jim discovered being able to outrun an overweight cop or dodging and dashing
short distances through the streets of London did very little to help him
against all these boys who exercised properly every day for years. He was
having trouble already on the last lap, he’d kept up even if it had cost him
more than any of the other boys, until now when he started to lose momentum and
his breath.

Darren watched them running, occasionally shouting out insults or
encouragement. He watched Jim but said nothing as the boy staggered in last,
but not too far trailing behind. "Alright, assault course, slow as you like."
He said with a clear exaggeration that made even the worst of the slackers pick
up. He followed with Jim, giving him a poke as he stumbled, "First days the
worst. What's happened to Moran? Nobody hits Moran. Did the sergeant's Golden
Boy have a falling out with his dear leader? FUCKING MOVE WESLEY". He sighed
and shook his head, seemingly having decided that Jim was in a halfway house
between student and staff. "Alright, get through as much as that assault course
without using your wrist as you can. I'll cut you out of the netting if you get
stuck. And tell your Da we need to discuss the Zeta Division because they won't
make soldiers at this rate unless we give half of them a full frontal
lobotomy."

Jim was already out of breath, he knew he wasn’t going to be able to finish on
a good note - he was frustrated and his nose was running from the cold and he
didn’t appreciate all of these reminders of who his father was. “Right, I
recommend you pass along your comments to my sperm donor in person. Sir.” He
tacked on at the end and then got out of there fast in case the man decided he
was angry about Jim’s comment. He did okay on the course, hopping through tires
and Jim even made it through the netting. He tripped up a little on the monkey
bars, there was a pool of water underneath, Jim didn’t see any way to go around
and Darren wasn’t paying attention to give him directions so Jim grabbed the
first bar, wincing as he did a pull up and swung his leg up over the top. When
he was squatted on top of the monkey bars he crouched and walked quickly along
one of the support bars, careful not to lose his balance and scowling all the
while since his accommodations weren’t being met.

Darren scowled at Jim's last comment but was pretty soon too taken up with
bullying around other people to bother. It wasn't until he saw Jim scuttling
along the support bars that he rolled his eyes and then gave him a push,
smirking as the boy landed in the water, "That is not how you fucking use the
equipment. You've got another wrist haven't you?" There was some laughter and
he allowed it for a few minutes before rounding on the boys, "Alright, training
rounds, stop bloody complaining, one minute on each station. Moriarty the
younger, back to the beginning of the assault course."

Jim came up gasping for air, shivering and soaked as the nasty water threatened
to get in his eyes and mouth. “You can’t use the bars with only one wrist, you
dumb fuck!” Jim’s impulse control was notoriously bad when he got angry or
upset and he was fucking steaming over the unfair treatment. Besides, it was
his goal to get kicked out so acting out wasn’t all that bad. Technically the
bars couldbe done one-handed but Jim wasn’t nearly strong enough to hold all of
his weight on one arm, propel himself from one bar to the other and hope that
he caught the next one while he was in free fall. Darren could maybe do it but
Jim was in no way physically fit enough, even without the injuries.

Darren's face snarled, dropping completely as he grabbed Jim by the shoulders
and gave him a shake, "Oh really? That's how you think you can talk to me?
MORAN!" Sebastian jogged over and Darren sneered at him, "C'mere..." Grabbing
Sebastian's wrist he used the ties of his hoodie to roughly tie it to his body
while Sebastian frowned in confusion. "Across the bars. Now. And you'll be
cleaning the toilets all night if you fuck it up." Grabbing back at Jim he dug
his nails into Jim's shoulder and turned him around to watch, hissing in his
ear, "By the end of the year I want you fucking doing this, alright? Watch..."

Sebastian’s wrist was tied inside his sweatshirt, Jim turned to Darren and
sneered, not really interested in seeing Sebastian display his physical
prowess. “I’ve no doubt he can do it with one hand, but unless you’re blind as
well as stupid you’ll have noticed that we aren’t the same size I don’t have
the muscle mass to physically do it. By the end of the year I could have it
down but expecting me to complete it now is only going to injure me further.”

Darren looked at him coldly and then snapped, "You have no doubt? I'm
interested to see. Let's call it a scientific experiment. But you fucking
watch him and if he does make it you can spend the night cleaning the toilets
out. I give an order, you obey it, understood? Doesn't matter if it's
impossible, you damn well try with every fiber of your fucking body to get it
done. You do not insult me and bloody backtalk. And right now I'm ordering you
to watch Moran." Sebastian twisted his shoulders, winced at the bad one, took a
few breaths and then ran at the bars. Catching the first with one hand he
managed to tug himself up, swing, launch himself at the second one, catch it,
swing his screaming shoulder at the third and brush passed it, landing with a
yell in the water on his bad shoulder while Darren watched and then shook his
head with a chuckle. "What do you know? It is impossible. Moriarty, do laps
till the session is over."

“That’s cause I bloody bashed his shoulder in last night and he’s too thick to
get a note. I’ll scrub your fucking toilets, but I’m not running anymore and
that one needs to go see the doctor.” Jim stared Darren down and lowered his
voice, unconsciously doing an impression of his father, “Unless you’d like to
risk permanent damage to his joint. Bit of a career ender that. I wonder how
much his father would sue you for.” Jim stood tall in his sopping clothes and
tried to look down at the man who was a full head taller than him and about
twice as heavy.

Darren looked down at him and gave an uncertain sort of sneer. "Well I can't be
arsed with this lot. Moriarty do laps, Moran go and see Watson, you'll both be
cleaning fucking toilets after your afternoon session with Moriarty Senior. Is
that clear?" He turned to Jim with exaggerated care, "Or does that not suit
your fucking needs?"

“Whatever,” Jim sneered trying to hold back the involuntary shivering brought
on by his soaked clothes. He gave Darren one last condescending look before he
took off at a light jog, determined to be disobedient and not run very fast. By
the end of their morning physical activities Jim was absolutely miserable and
ready to drop, his legs shook with strain and he had a horrible stitch in his
side. Jim had to stop a few times during his laps for dry heaves, there just
wasn’t anything in his stomach and only bile came up. It had been smart to
forgo breakfast but he was hurting for exercising more than he ever had before
on his life on an empty stomach. Jim stripped off his sodden uniform and threw
it in a hamper before stepping under the shower spray and making it as hot as
he could stand it. Sebastian was already standing there. “So why the fuck do
you get targeted every time I piss someone off?” He paused and continued to
gasp for breath, taking a minute to try and get his heart and breath regulated.
“…is your shoulder okay?”

Sebastian pulled himself up from the water and didn't look at anyone before
stomping off to John Watson looking moody and quiet as the man lectured him,
tried to get him to speak and eventually gave up on him in disgust. He stayed
in the study hall until the bell rang and then went to the showers, moodily
turning away as the rest of them trooped in. He gave Jim only the smallest
glance before turning away from him, "I helped you this morning because I share
a bloody bunk with you. Darren chose me to show off for you because I'm the
strongest. I should've been able to make it. It’s just a fucking coincidence
that you keep turning up in my perfect bastard set-up and fucking around."

Jim could tell that Sebastian was sullen about something so he just let it go
with a nod, focusing on washing himself and trying to warm up without melting
into a pathetic pool of strained muscles on the floor. It was lunch time now
and Jim dressed in his uniform again as he stepped in next to Sebastian, “You
can have my lunch portion. To make up for getting you into trouble. Wasn’t my
intention.” They stepped in line together in the mess hall.

Sebastian gave another moody shrug and then shook his head, "Nah. You need to
eat something. And you didn't get me into trouble, did you? If I'd managed to
actually do what I train for I'd be sitting here fine. I'll have your dessert
though." He added after a quick think. After all, the boy was offering it.
There were two choices - some sort of stew and a pasta bake. While Magnussen
might not have cared how the boys were treated, clearly even he realised that
food needed to be nourishing enough to keep them going through the day.
Sebastian took large portions of both and then sat down, ignoring Hooper who
was winging about his maths being destroyed.

Jim let them load his plate up but just sat with it, not wanting to get sick
after all of the dry heaves he had this morning. He should be hydrating but Jim
had fallen into a bit of despondency and didn’t feel like taking care of
himself just now. He could drink from a water bottle in class. “Has anyone ever
successfully starved themselves out?” He asked, hoping that the school would
let him go if he just went on a hunger strike. Jim rather doubted his abilities
to stick to it with all of the exercising they were doing but it might be worth
a shot if there was any chance of success.

Sebastian turned to him, frowning to notice that Jim was looking genuinely
miserable and putting his own ill temper aside for a moment. "No. I told you.
They just run home. We don't usually have homeless vagrants dossing here."
Picking up a piece of bread he soaked it in the juice of the stew and then held
it out to Jim. "Eat that or I'll slap you. First week is always the hardest. I
almost fell apart first week. Your body gets used to the work outs, eventually.
Now fucking eat."

A little bit of heat returned to Jim’s eyes and he glared warningly, “I’m not a
homeless vagrant. I’ve just not got anywhere else to go – legally or whatever.”
His irritation and anger increased as Sebastian tried to stick food in his
mouth. “No. I’ll eat at dinner.” Probably. “If that’s not good enough for you
then go ahead and slap me.” He challenged.

Sebastian gave him an exasperated look but the boys around them had already
heard, sniggering and urging him on. Rolling his eyes he threw the bread at
Jim's shaven head, "Fucks sake, this is what I get for trying to be nice. The
door isn't exactly locked, if you want to leave fucking walk out of here." The
boy next to Sebastian started a chant of "fight, fight, fight" until Sebastian
smacked a fist hard into his mouth. "Fucks sake why is everyone so determined
for me to hit the cunt? We'll be facing his dad this afternoon I'd rather not
have to explain why his son is back with Watson."

“You mean you would rather not end up back with Watson.” Jim glared prissily
and took a napkin to wipe away some of the soup that was soaked into the bread
that splattered over his head and face. “Maybe you haven’t noticed because you
spend as much time as you can stuffing your face, but you’re actually
not allowed to leave the mess hall until meals are over.” They structured out
where each student was meant to sit, no way were they just going to let kids
wonder around without permission. “Quit bringing him up, fuck’s sake.” Jim was
used to not having to be reminded of his father, except in his own mind. No one
had known him in Ireland and now it was like every few minutes someone was
rubbing it in that his father was a colossal arse.

The boys around them were starting to form a circle, goading and laughing, and
Sebastian looked even more annoyed. His only hope now was that the sergeant on
duty would intervene, but he knew from experience that unless someone was
actively dying they tended not to. Giving an irritated little noise he swung a
hand around and knocked Jim off the bench. "For fucks sake, just shut up and
eat something. And get used to people mentioning your dad, he bloody well works
here and is a complete cock into the bargain. I hope you do bloody well leave,
I'll even give you money for a train out of here if you like, how does that
sound? You've lasted a day, that's more than anyone was expecting."

Jim was busy warily watching the other boys who were circling them and didn’t
see when Sebastian swung at him and knocked him backwards off the bench.
Normally a hit like that would have just been embarrassing but he fell and hit
the back of his head on the floor, about the same area as his bump from the
night before. Jim gave a little gasp and saw stars and groaned a bit as the
room started spinning. Slowly he sat up, feeling nauseous and sick as he
touched the back of his head and checked for any blood. Between the extreme
exercise on an empty stomach and his minor concussion getting aggravated Jim’s
stomach suddenly cramped hard and he gave another dry heave. Nothing came up
but the other kids started to laugh and one of them stepped on Jim’s fingers.

Fuck... Sebastian had forgotten about the other injuries, but he noticed Jim
swaying, and his eyes closing. He scowled as Jim gave a dry heave, whirling
angrily on the boy who'd stepped on Jim's fingers and slamming a fist into his
face, watching him go down and then reaching down to swing Jim into his arms.
"Fuck all that, you little bitches - this skinny little twat got three staples
embedded in my head last night - have any of you shits ever done that?" There
was some laugher now, which hastily died as Sebastian snarled around ferally,
before heading to the doors, kicking them open and pushing past the sergeant
outside, "He's about to fucking pass out, piss off." He knew he'd be in trouble
for this, and rather elatedly didn't care, keeping Jim held in his arms as he
headed back down to the medical unit, complaining the whole time, "Watson is
going to have my fucking hide if you have concussion, you know that? When he
asks you how many fingers you better get it right or I'll screw that many
fingers up your fucking arse, alright?"

Jim groaned again as Sebastian picked him up too quickly and the ceiling spun
above him, “Ow…” He muttered quietly in Sebastian’s ear, closing his eyes
tightly in the hopes that it would curb his nausea – but it didn’t. “Mmm, no.
Don’t fuck me I don’t feel well.” Jim was floating a bit as his mind decided
whether it would rather stay conscious or not. “I don’t like being carried…” He
flushed a little in embarrassment and started trying to wiggle free. Sebastian
was warm though and it was still cold outside, Jim shivered and then settled as
he closed his eyes and decided to just leave it. It wasn’t worth the effort.

Sebastian looked down at him, small tough little body wrapped in his arms, and
quietly whispered, "Fuck". He had fallen for the kid, and this was unlikely to
end well. He carried Jim down to the medical centre, hoping fervently that
nobody would see who could report to Jim's father, and shouldered open the
door.

Watson turned on him, taking in the scene and looking furious, but motioned
Sebastian to lay Jim down on the small analysis table, hesitating and then
lowering it first and putting a blanket on it. "What happened? Did he hit his
head?" He tugged Jim's eyelids back to look at his eyes and then patted his
shoulder. "He's probably not in any immediate danger, but I'm not letting him
out of this room until he's had a good sleep, a decent meal, and a few days
recovery. Go and fetch some blankets and his trunk, and I’ll be taking this up
with your sergeant for all the good that will do."

Jim was a little more settled now that he’d had a few minutes to decide if he
was going to pass out or not. “Accident. It was my fault, I slipped on the
floor. Fell in the water during the monkey bars and my shoes were still wet.”
Jim’s shoes were still wet, less on the outside and more sodden on the insides
but his point still stood. The room was still spinning slowly and Jim had an
awful headache but he felt alright, the nausea had passed at least. “Thought
you weren’t supposed to sleep with a concussion anyway… Maybe I should go to
class.” The academics were the only part Jim was actually looking forward to
and he wasn’t too keen on staying in the med ward to be mothered by Watson.

"Don't be a bloody idiot you're in no state to go anywhere." Watson snapped,
reaching down to take Jim's shoes off and shaking his head at the cold wet skin
underneath. Taking out a pair of long woolen socks, he put them on Jim, "you're
not meant to pass out with concussion - the way you look sleep would be the
best thing for you." He looked at Jim's unhappy expression and sighed. "Rest
today, sleep here tonight, recover during the physical session tomorrow morning
and you can join your classes tomorrow after midday, alright? You won't be the
first lad spending your first day in my medical room, and you certainly won't
be the first put here by Moran." He glowered as Sebastian came through the door
with Jim's trunk and the required blankets and snatched them off him, turning
to lay them over Jim, "Now maybe he'll stop shivering. You go back to your
lessons, and try not to damage anyone else. I've only got the one bed."

Jim couldn’t say that he minded missing out on his da’s lesson today, but he
had counted on the general student populace to deter the man from being too
horrible. “Just don’t let my father in here. Or at least wake me up first.”
That was all he needed, wake up to find him hovering over his bedside. Jim’s
feet were warm for the first time though and that was nice. He tucked the
blanket tighter around himself and rolled on his stomach away from the pain in
his head. Jim looked up at Sebastian, still feeling a little disoriented and
muttered, “I am ow.”

"I won't let anyone in here." John said gently, glaring at Moran.
Sebastian replied, "You are a fucking pain." And gave Jim a gentle pat on the
non-injured part of his stubbly little head.
"I said out Moran..." Sebastian sighed and headed back to the mess hall,
politely listening as the duty-sergeant shouted at him and then knocking a few
heads together to stop sniggers as he went back to his lunch. He spent lesson
times trying to work out how to explain if Moriarty asked where his son was -
he didn't want to say anything that would send the man storming off to the
medical ward, not when Jim had been clear that he didn't want to see him.
Chapter End Notes
     TW: None
***** Wanking is not a Survival Step in the Regulation Handbook *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
“Today we are going to be covering how to treat head injuries when you are away
from civilization.” Moriarty’s eyes landed briefly on Moran before looking
again through the cadets and not seeing his son. He’d been notified of course
that the boy would not be in class but he still intended to make Moran squirm
over it. “The groundwork for the management of injuries and illnesses should
begin long before you ever step into a survival environment. You need to begin
with your body in optimal condition, that includes cardiovascular conditioning,
good muscle strength and tone, and good nutritional status. Physiological and
nutritional status will markedly influence the rate and degree of healing in
response to injury. That means if one of you lot gets injured then your healing
rate will be much faster than say – a civilian who doesn’t receive the physical
conditioning and nutrients you boys do.” Moriarty looked over Sebastian again
ominously. “Now I want you all to break into your partner groups and come up
with a plan for how you would treat a head injury in a survival environment.
After you’ve settled on your answers we will compare notes and see who actually
did the readings. Now.” As the cadets broke into their pairs Moriarty watched
Sebastian coolly as he sat awkwardly by himself and began to write. “Moran.
Where is your partner?” He asked, knowing exactly where he son was.

The bunk-beds formed an ideal system for partnering people off, which meant
that Sebastian found himself partnerless and, muttering about irritating Irish
boys, settled down to write. He was pretty jumpy already from the events of the
day, and his shoulder was starting to seriously ache but he jumped to his feet
and to attention as Moriarty addressed him, gazing into the distance and
standing ramrod straight, "He didn't do very well in physical, Sir, and he's
still recovering from the altercation yesterday. Doctor Watson recommended he
spend the rest of today resting." Well, technically it was true.

“I see,” he started slowly, watching Sebastian try not to squirm. “I heard that
you were the one who brought him to Watson after he fell at lunch. Such a
clumsy boy.” James had received both reports, from the sergeant at the mess
hall and the one from Watson. The doctor wouldn’t lie to him so that meant one
of the boys had lied to Watson about what happened. And now Moran was lying to
him. Interesting. “So convenient that the curriculum covers head injuries
today. Perhaps you boys would like a practical? I could arrange it for the two
of you to spend the night outside. Of course you’ll be perfectly fine if you
did your reading…” James smiled coolly, “I could even offer you extra credit.”

"He didn't fall at the mess hall Sir, I slapped him one." Sebastian answered,
feeling his heart-rate speeding up. A night outside; he could manage that, he'd
done it before and knew a few tricks. What he wasn't sure was whether Jim could
- particularly if he was ill and struggling enough already. A day on lack of
sleep was punishing enough when he was used to the routine, for Jim it would be
torture. This boy was already proving far too much trouble and Sebastian
couldn't help a scowl flickering across his face before he calmly answered,
"Would be happy to do a practical if required, Sir." And then, rather
recklessly, "You might have to get the Doctor's approval for Jim though..."

Moriarty’s smile grew as Sebastian taunted him and accepted the practical.
“Wonderful. I expect as much from one of our best students. Come along then,
and you won’t be needing your pack.” The cadets all kept survival packs that
they normally took with them on any wilderness training, but it wasn’t unheard
of to send upper class men without them either. You wouldn’t always have
matches and a med kit and MREs after all. “The rest of you finish up with your
assignment, I’ll be back to check them shortly.” Moriarty walked Sebastian from
the classroom back to the medical centre and smirked as he startled Watson.
“I’ll be taking my son, thank you. He’s needed for a SERE practical.”

Sebastian gave a nervous little swallow as he left his pack behind, glaring at
the ground and following Moriarty, his plans already changing in his head.
Shelter, warmth, particularly for Jim. At least they would have two bodies to
help keep each other warm, and just for an overnighter could manage without
food. Watson, frowned at Moriarty, as the door opened, glancing towards the
curtain behind which Jim was sleeping and shaking his head, "I cannot allow
that, Captain Moriarty - your son is in quite a dangerous position right now.
He has possible concussion, the start of frostnip, he's nauseous and dizzy.
Moran had to carry him in here passed out. There's no way I can sign him off,
particularly not for one of your practicals. I'll keep him in for observation
overnight." Sebastian felt his throat go dry, looking between them nervously,
praying that it would be enough.

Moriarty grinned sharply, shaking his head lightly. “And as his instructor
perhaps that would be enough, but as I’m also his father I can remove him from
your care against medical advice. I’ll even sign a waiver if you’d like.” He
clapped Sebastian on the back and nodded, “And don’t you worry, I’m sure Moran
here will make sure that nothing happens.” He moved to throw the curtain open
and startled Jim, who was sleeping. “Time to rise and shine, you useless twat.
Get your shoes on, you’re going camping.” James grinned widely, keeping his
tone deceptively light and friendly.

"You're going to leave your son, in a tent, overnight, in an incredibly
dangerous state of health, with a boy who has already twice beaten him up..."
John managed, looking steadily at Moriarty. "Do you know what'll happen if he
dies? You'll lose your job at the very least, this school will have to go
through an enquiry. And believe me I will have no hesitation in telling a court
exactly how much I counseled you against this. I'm not letting him out of this
room unless you can give me a rock hard reason why he can't do this the day
after tomorrow."

Sebastian looked anxiously at Moriarty and finally croaked out "Two nights. Let
him recover today and we'll stay out two nights over the weekend. That way
we'll have to find food as well, survive the day, get through two nights...
just... not now. Not if he's got a fucking concussion." He could feel his heart
hammering wildly as he spoke out of turn, but in a way it was exhilarating.
He’d fallen into a pretty steady routine where he never got into trouble, and
now he was sticking his neck out again. He still wasn't entirely sure why.

Moriarty’s face went suddenly blank and Jim swallowed hard, still horribly
confused about what was happening. “I’m revoking my consent to have you treat
him. He’ll be sent to class since he no longer has permission to be here.
Which, incidentally is my class, and his partner has volunteered them to go on
a practical for extra credit. Besides…” He started and ran his hand over the
stubble on Jim’s head again. “He wants to go, don’t you Jimmy?” Jim tensed up,
swallowed back the impulse to move his head away and just nodded. “From what
I’ve heard the boy hasn’t eaten since early yesterday morning, you’ll have to
find food anyway. No, it will be now. Now get up and get your shoes on.” Jim
stalled for a moment before pulling off the woolen socks John had given him and
pulling on his drying standard issue ones, along with his shoes before sticking
the woolen socks in his pocket. No sense wearing the warm socks when his shoes
were still wet.

Sebastian stared at Moriarty in shock for a few seconds and then his face
twisted into a sneer as he watched Jim get dressed. "Right. So we've got until
tomorrow morning, yes? No pack, no supplies..." Suddenly this wasn't just a
silly school exercise anymore, it was a true survival game, which meant, as far
as Sebastian was concerned, nothing was off limits. He watched Jim get dressed
into his cold clothes, felt the small packet of pills that Watson carefully
slid into his back pocket (after a confused moment where he thought the Doctor
was groping him) and started to reel off lists in his head. First stop: steal
new clothes for Jim. Second: steal food, find a place to bunk down, shelter —
branches would do. Warmth: steal blankets, dig a hole... He carefully blanked
his face and stood to attention, "Where would you like this exercise to be
carried out, Sir?"

Jim pulled his uniform jacket on, buttoning up the front and watching everyone
warily. He was not fucking interested in going camping but he knew that tone of
voice and figured his father would make it worse if he didn’t comply. “I’ll
drive you out of course; I wouldn’t want Jim to have to exert himself by adding
a long hike to the assignment. You know how to treat head injuries now so that
shouldn’t cause any problems.” He missed John slipping Seb the paracetamol but
he caught Jim’s unhappy look and he grinned. “Come on then lads. Out to the
jeeps. You’ll want to move quickly as I read it might rain tonight.” He gripped
Jim’s shoulder, grinned and nodded at Watson before leading both boys out of
the med center and towards the jeeps. “I’ll drop you off and come back for you
tomorrow morning. I don’t suspect the drop off point will make for ideal
shelter so you’ll have some hiking to do. Just be sure to make it back to the
extraction point on time or I’ll leave you until after dinner.” He pulled out
his keys and unlocked the doors, settling himself inside before he started up
the jeep. Jim winced a little at the loud engine but climbed in the back
anyway, hurting and too tired to resist much when he knew it would only make it
worse for himself. “Your sergeant isn’t very good about disciplining you, is he
Moran? I think someone else taking you in hand for a bit would only help your
development.”

Out of the grounds was harder, no chance to steal anything, shit, they were
pretty fucked. As they headed to the jeep and sat in the back he was already
thinking furiously, working out what they had. Both of them were in their
uniforms but Jim did have a spare pair of socks. After checking that Moriarty
couldn't see them in the car mirrors, he carefully slid his hands around the
jeep. One paperclip, a pencil, a piece of half used chewing gum, they all went
sneaking into Seb's pocket as the car drove onwards. "Do you want us to get
back to the drop-off point tomorrow morning or shall we just take a signal with
us?" He asked above the engine roar.

Moriarty rolled his eyes, “Cadet, were my instructions unclear? I’m leaving you
at the drop off spot. You can stay there if you’d like but I wouldn’t recommend
it as it’s unsuitable for shelter. You shouldn’t stay there overnight. However,
if you decide to move then you must be back at the same site by breakfast or
I’ll leave you behind and come back after dinner. Is that clear enough for
you?” Jim was staring out the window and had pretty much resigned himself to
sleeping on the wet ground for the evening and not doing much else. At least it
was only one night. They drove on a dirt trail, far enough that Seb wouldn’t be
able to get them all the way back to the academy, not with an injured civilian
in tow anyway. The trail ended at a dirt clearing, no trees in the immediate
area for shelter. “You can see why it’s not suitable for shelter, at least not
in this weather. There’s no water here either. I’ll be nice and let you know
there’s a stream about two and a half kilometers north of here. Have fun, I’ll
see you in the morning. Don’t be late.” As soon as Jim and Seb were out of the
jeep he gave a little grin and a wave before turning the car around and leaving
the way he came.

“No, you were not fucking unclear you fucking bastard." Sebastian muttered
under his breath, not at all caring if Moriarty heard him. He saved his breath
further though, simply saluting as they were dropped off and then looking at
Jim, who was drooping slightly. Looking up at the sky he swore. It did indeed
look like rain. "Ah well, at least we'll have something to drink. Right... we
need to get shelter, then hunker down and keep you warm." Looking around the
clearing, he headed for a spot under a tree with fairly low branches and then
undid his jacket, attaching the bottom to the branch and putting rocks on the
sleeves to keep them close to the ground. It would be enough to keep the rain
and the worst of the wind off. Reaching into his back pocket he pulled out the
paracetamol and then the chewing gum, which he rolled between his fingers.
"Chew this, take two pills, keep chewing, there'll be some sugar left in it. It
looks like it's about to piss it down so there's no need for me to trudge all
the way to a bloody river. Before it does, grab as many dry leaves as you can
find and get them on the ground under my jacket." He waved at the most
sheltered area under his jacket and then started sifting through the
underbrush, trying to find something dry they could use to start a fire. "We'll
light a fire, cuddle up under your jacket, and try and sleep through as much of
the night as we can. When we wake up we'll jerk off, get the fire back on, then
if it's not raining I'll get into my jacket and we can wait for your sodding
pissing bastard of a father to come and get us."

Jim glared lightly but wasn’t going to waste his energy on fighting. “Did you
really volunteer? I’d have thought you knew him better than that.” Jim sighed
and wrinkled his nose at the gum. “I’m not putting anything he’s had in his
mouth anywhere near me. I’ll take these dry, thanks.” Jim swallowed the little
pills but didn’t put the chewed gum in his mouth. You weren’t meant to take
them on an empty stomach but this wasn’t exactly an ideal situation and Jim
could tolerate it for now. The hunger wasn’t at the forefront of his attention,
it had worked its way back to fog the edges around his mind and left him
feeling distant and weak but the nausea kept him from being actively hungry. He
was very thirsty but decided not to mention it. Sebastian was doing everything
he could and Jim wasn’t able to help much. “All right…” Jim glanced around and
started picking up some dry leaves, trying not to bend over and stand up too
much as that gave him horrible vertigo. He managed as long as he didn’t move
his head too quickly. Jim wrinkled his nose in disgust and hoped that the boy
was joking about jerking off.

"You need the sugar..." Sebastian growled. "It was in the back of the jeep, not
the front, it's not fucking his, is it?" He cleared the ground under his jacket
and scrapped a shallow hole there, turning to Jim and his expression turning
from irritation to alarm when he saw the boy wobble. Taking the leaves out of
Jim's hands he lay them in the scrape, and then patted the top of them. "Sit.
Conserve energy, stay warm." Without his jacket, Sebastian knew he was best for
him to keep moving, so he continued searching for dry twigs, old leaves,
anything that could burn. Most of the stuff around was damp, but he managed to
make a little heap of kindling and then reached into his pocket with a grin,
tugging out a gold plated lighter with "SM" engraved in fancy swirly lettering
on the side, "You ever tell your dad I have this and I'll choke you." He
warned, flicking the flame and trying to light his little kindling heap before
it rained.

Jim was trying not to be too irritable but some of it couldn’t help expressing
itself, like wrapping the chewed gum up in a leaf and putting it off to the
side. He wanted to throw it away but Sebastian might want it so he saved it –
sort of. Before Jim sat down he covered the low hanging branch with his jacket,
weighing the sleeves down with rocks so they wouldn’t blow in the rain later.
It was chilly so Jim took off his wet shoes and socks and laid them out in what
sun he could find before settling down under the shelter and pulling his woolen
socks on. He curled up and wasn’t sure how both of them were going to be able
to fit under the jacket. Very closely. Jim shuddered or shivered with cold, he
couldn’t really work out what sensation had inspired the reaction. “Like I
fucking tell him anything…” Jim was glad they had a lighter at least and could
only hope Sebastian could get the little fire going. He had very little energy
and that scared him distantly but he was fairly sure it didn’t have anything to
do with his concussion and more to do with all the exercising he’d done today,
his grief and depression over having to move here and losing his mother, and
the hunger and dehydration.

Sebastian gave him a sideways glance, but concentrated on getting the fire
going in front of the little shelter they'd constructed and then bit his lip,
slightly worried about Jim. They needed blankets, ideally, but they had no way
of getting them. They'd have to just huddle together. Scouting around he
started to pull sticks and branches over his jacket, shaking his head at Jim's
jacket and untying it, throwing it back on top of Jim, "Keep that on you
cretin, we only need one shelter. Lie down, curl up, and stuff the rest of the
leaves under your jacket, they'll keep you warm." Next to Jim he started piling
reasonably dry sticks, blowing on the kindling to keep it going. "You want to
get as much warmth inside you as possible before the rain starts, trust me."
More twigs and branches then went over his jacket, creating a wall that was
starting to look a lot more sturdy. "If I build this up enough I can rescue my
jacket as well... help keep us warm. You watch the fire, alright? And when the
sun hits the horizon take another two paracetamol."

Jim nodded and worked to keep his eyes open, the low levels of adrenaline were
helping to keep him awake and the paracetamol had some caffeine too so he
managed alright. He tried to remember everything Sebastian told him to do and
sorted it through in his head. Jim knew some things about surviving in a
situation like this, whatever his father had managed to cram into his head when
he took him camping as a child. Jim fucking hated those trips. “You know this
is actually rather pleasant compared to some of the camping I’ve done… I
suspect that’s cause he’s not here though…” Jim zipped his jacket up and
stuffed leaves inside it, wishing he had some news-paper. The ground was a
little damp but he managed to get himself tolerably comfortable while he
watched the fire like he’d been told. The light hurt his head some but the
drugs were helping with that. “I fucking hate this place.”

"This particular place or the whole school?" Sebastian kept building up the
shelter, clearing the ground around the fire so it wouldn't spread and even
managing to build a little wind-blocker to protect the fire from going out. At
the first drops of rain he hurriedly balanced a branch over the top of the
wind-blocker to keep the fire protected as long as possible and then scurried
into the shelter, crouched down uncomfortable. "Alright... moment of truth. If
the whole thing falls down you can blame me..." He undid his jacket from the
branch and removed the stones covering the sleeves, giving a sigh of relief as
the branches on top of it stayed upright. Bundling leaves inside his jacket he
lay down, spooning himself around Jim and watching the fire, "We'll keep that
going as long as possible, yeah? Fall asleep as soon as you can, it'll make the
time go faster."

“The school. I want to go back to Ireland…” Jim scowled but sighed and let the
anger go. He watched Sebastian make up their camp efficiently, his father would
have been pleased but not impressed. He held his breath as Sebastian pulled his
jacket away and the shelter held. “Adequate.” He frowned a little as Sebastian
wrapped his body around his. Jim wasn’t used to physical contact, even hugs
left him feeling stand offish and uncomfortable but he buttoned his lip and
tried not to complain. “Isn’t it warmer if you’re naked?” Jim asked
regretfully. “Better hope we don’t get that fucking cold because I’ll ruin your
ability to have children.” Cuddling up like this was basically pointless
besides conserving space because their clothes genuinely did prevent them from
sharing body heat.

Sebastian gave a grin at Jim's judging of his building skills, "Yeah well,
usually I have a survival kit. And we've only got to last the night." He
laughed at the suggestion of nakedness, "You better hope the Fucking Bastard
doesn't hear how eager you are to get into my pants. It would be warmer naked —
if we had an insulted sleeping bag and several blankets. As it is, all the heat
you currently possess is bundled up inside your jacket. Taking it off would be
suicide. And my ability to have children is absolutely fine thank you, what I
lack is the inclination and the orientation." He smirked and gave Jim a poke.
"There's still enough heat working between us, if you start shivering we'll
need to think of something else, right now you seem fine." Jim had the fire at
his front and Sebastian Moran at his back, Seb just had to hope that the leaves
below and the shelter above were good enough.

Jim thought about hitting him but in the end he just didn’t have the energy.
“I’m not eager to get into your pants. Do you think he wouldn’t want me anymore
if I did?” Jim asked, suddenly a lot more interested in the idea. Not right
now because being trapped out in the cold and rain with a leaky shelter was not
at all sexy. He could always find some other faceless cadet to get naked with
and get in trouble. Jim had already gotten Seb into quite a lot of shit
situations since he’d gotten here, the boy wouldn’t appreciate being used just
so that Jim could get kicked out of school. “You know this isn’t exactly an
ideal time to mention you like men, alright?” Sebastian was pressing up behind
him and Jim wasn’t reading into it – it was just most blokes probably would
have and Sebastian didn’t seem to have an ounce of self-consciousness. Jim’s
eyes closed against the light of the fire, trying to get his headache to calm
down. “Shivering increases your body temperature by four degrees every hour…
burns a lot of calories too.” Calories Jim didn’t have. He’d eaten yesterday
morning and when his mother hadn’t made an appearance he’d gone upstairs to
find her. He didn’t eat at the hospital and they hadn’t fed him when the men
from the school came to pick him up. Right now he really hated his father.

"Calm the fuck down I'm not going to jump your skinny arse." Sebastian snapped,
"And I have no idea what your father would do, although he did look ready to
rip my face off when I insinuated it. By the looks of things he doesn't want
you at the moment, this is basically attempted murder." He sighed, wrapping his
arms around Jim and feeling not so much warmth but certainly an absence of cold
at his front, while his back was starting to feel the chill. "Sundown take two
more paracetamol. If you wake up in the night take another two. If you wake up
cold, dizzy or in any way compromised, wake me as well. Four degrees an hour
won't be good enough if this shelter starts leaking, the fire goes out, and you
run out of energy entirely. I wish you'd eat the damn chewing gum, some sugar
is better than none."

“I didn’t think you were, I’m just saying someone else probably would think
that.” Jim winced as little as Sebastian raised his voice and the noise in his
ear caused his head to throb. “Don’t exaggerate. He knows I could take it. He
even sent you with me just in case.” Jim wouldn’t have done nearly as well on
his own and he probably would have contracted pneumonia but survived if he’d
been left on his own. Jim’s front was getting chilly despite the little fire so
he slowly rolled over and pressed up against Sebastian’s chest, daring the boy
to say anything. “He’s just making a point. Point that he can do whatever the
fuck he wants and no one is going to stop him. Not the protective nurse or my
new friend.” Jim poked Sebastian’s ribs to indicate him, “He’s saying it
doesn’t matter what kind of allies I make, he can still hurt me.” Jim sighed
but nodded, not willing to work out how he was meant to know when the sun went
down when the sky was so overcast. He figured the pain would wake him up when
they wore off. “Its mint, chances are its sugar free anyway and I don’t want
fucking second hand gum.”

With Jim rolled to face him Sebastian became acutely aware that they weren't
sharing heat in the most efficient manner and so gave a little nod, ignoring
the Moriarty family drama. "Alright, I think you're right about the body heat,
and this ground is cold. I'm going to undo my jacket and roll it over the top
of both of us. When I'm done, you undo yours and we'll slide it underneath both
of us. Leave the leaves in there for insulation and keep your shirt on
obviously — extra layer. I'll wrap my arms around you as well." He looked at
Jim, a little softer, and gave him a smile that aimed to be comforting. "I just
want to keep us warm and dry and stop you freezing to death. That should work
out till we wake up. Once the sun rises we'll wank then try and re-light the
fire."

“Mate I promise you wanking is not one of the survival steps in your regulation
handbook.” Jim sighed regretfully and unzipped his jacket, and laid it out on
the floor, sorting the leaves for insulation before lying back down facing
Sebastian like he’d been told. He grinned mischievously and pressed his cold
nose against Sebastian’s shoulder. “I’m not going to freeze to death, as long
as it stays above zero degrees we shouldn’t have to worry too much, except
about getting sick.”

"Oh yeah, not much at all." Sebastian said sarcastically, wrapping his jacket
around both of them and giving a grin as the cold little face touched his
shoulder, his arms curling around the skinny body, protecting it with tanned
muscled skin that gave off heat like a radiator. "And it may not be a survival
step but if we wake up cold to the bone it's the quickest way of warming up I
know. Learnt it off the Women's air-force ladies — course they do it in their
sleeping bags before they sleep, lucky twats, to get the warmth in. 'S a good
way to wake up though, and sorts out morning wood."

Jim huffed a breath at Sebastian’s sarcasm, “You’re still not wanking next to
me, I’ll rip it off. Make it into a necklace like the Americans did in Vietnam.
Although… I think they used enemies’ ears… ear necklaces…” Jim started trailing
off and struggled to keep his eyes open. This was warmer, but some of the cool
air got in and it was taking a while to warm up. Jim started shivering as he
closed his eyes.

Sebastian kept his arms wrapped around Jim, rubbing his back and trying to warm
the little body up, despite the hard cold ground underneath and the dampness
all around. The rain hammered on the roof of the shelter and Sebastian drifted
off with a sleepy little "Wake me if ANYTHING happens yeah? Poor little sod,
got to fucking well watch out for you, god knows nobody else is..."

Jim woke again in the middle of the night, the fire had gone out and it was
dark. He was disoriented and shaking, he’d woken up because of the pain in his
head and the cold. His mouth and throat were dry and he desperately needed a
drink. There was — a puddle starting underneath them and it was spilling over
on top of Jim’s jacket — the one they were sleeping on top of. “Ah fuck,” he
hissed as his body shook harder and the left side of his vest went see through
as it got wet. “Seb… fuck get up, you’re going to get wet…” Jim’s lips were
blue and his fingertips felt numb. “Wake up you — ugh, idiot.”

Sebastian gave a little mumble and rolled over, almost squashing Jim, before
waking up and realising they were wet. The rain was still falling harder than
ever and he shook his head to clear it, eyes widening in alarm as he saw Jim.
"Shit ... shit." The boy looked blue with cold, his body shivering, and they
were lying in a small puddle. Everything was wet, the fire was out. The only
thing that could be said for their shelter was at least it was keeping off the
torrents of rain from above. "C'mere..." He squirmed himself into a sitting
position and then tugged Jim into his lap, wrapping the dry inside of his
jacket around Jim's body and then pushing his own hands through Jim's wet
jacket, thankful for once it was a bit large for the boy. It was still too
small for Sebastian but he wrapped his arms around Jim and pressed the little
body into his chest, tensing his arm and leg muscles to try and get some heat
going. "Take your paracetamol. Two more of them, help your head."

“’S okay…” he slurred as Sebastian situated him in his lap. “You know if you
wanted to get in my pants you didn’t have to get us sent out to the middle of
nowhere…” Jim grinned tiredly and pressed his bruised face into the crook of
Sebastian’s shoulder and neck. Sebastian’s back was leaned against the tree
trunk and Jim straddled his lap, pressing against his heat. “Shirts wet, should
I take it off?” it was difficult to think around his headache and the hunger
and cold but he managed to reach into his back pocket for the medication.
Luckily they came in the plastic baggie and stayed dry. Jim swallowed them down
with a grimace as they stuck in his dry throat.

"No, don't take anything more off." Sebastian said gently, noticing how Jim
struggled with swallowing, leaving Jim in his lap, he reached out cupping his
hands to collect rainwater and then held out his cupped hands to Jim's mouth,
"Drink. Go on. Then get back to sleep." He had no idea what time it was - it
might be nearly dawn or it might be still before midnight. He knew he wouldn't
be able to sleep, too worried that Jim would actually get frostbite.

Jim drank greedily from Sebastian’s hands and washed his pills down, not caring
at the moment that he needed help. “Just don’t miss him. I can’t make it till
after dinner.” That would be three days without food and twenty-four hours in
the cold and rain without adequate shelter. Jim settled back down again, short
enough that he could press the non-bruised side of his face against Sebastian’s
chest and close his eyes and fall asleep. When he woke up the next morning it
was only drizzling lightly and the sun was up, Sebastian shook him awake
lightly muttering that he needed to pee and Jim should wake up.

Sebastian dozed off slightly in the night, waking as the sun rose and watching
their surroundings. For a few moments it was almost peaceful - the rain had
died down, the sun was rising through clouds turned pink, and there were birds
singing around them. In his lap was a little warm body, eyes closed, looking
softer and younger in sleep. It couldn't last though and he eventually woke Jim
up, wrapping his jacket more securely around the small body, "Alright, up you
get soldier. Wait at the check point, keep walking around it, otherwise you'll
cool down. He'll be here any minute unless he's left us." He grinned, "No time
for a wank unfortunately. Keep that jacket on." With that he disappeared into
the undergrowth for a pee.

Jim groaned a little and zipped his jacket up, trying to get his legs to work
underneath him since they’d fallen asleep. He kept moving slowly, stumbling
slightly and walked the short distance to the clearing. At least there he
wasn’t likely to trip on any branches or slip on the wet leaves. Jim was weak
and was so cold he’d stopped shivering but he moved like Sebastian told him to,
hyper-focusing on shuffling his feet along as he walked in a circle around the
trail.

Sebastian took a piss and then headed back, giving a little chuckle at the
sight of Jim shuffling around and coming up behind him, wrapping arms around
him and nuzzling the back of his head, "Good work soldier. I'm so fucking
pleased you’re alive." He let go and started stretching, groaning a little in
the cold, "Ugh, now let’s stop playing silly buggers and get you back to John
Watson to sort you out."

Jim groaned a little again and let Sebastian support his weight for him. When
Sebastian started stretching Jim just sat on the floor and tried to keep
himself alert. After about fifteen minutes Moriarty pulled up in the jeep with
a grin, “Sorry I’m late – you’ve missed breakfast unfortunately but you’ll be
there just in time to head to your morning classes. Get in.” Jim stared in
incomprehension for a few moments, thinking he must have misheard, before he
just sagged and then got to his feet and climbed in the car obediently. He
didn’t have the energy to fight or argue and he certainly didn’t have the drive
to make it through morning exercises. His body hurt from working out yesterday
and then cramped while sleeping out in the cold. He didn’t feel rested, even
though he’d actually slept most of the night.

Sebastian gave a grin of relief as the car drove up, assuming Moriarty was only
talking to him and shaking his head as he hauled himself into the car, "Huh -
no dinner, no breakfast, I'm going to be fucking collapsing by lunch." He
tugged Jim's soggy jacket off as soon as he got into the jeep, flinging it over
the middle seat and snapping his seatbelt in place, locking his hands behind
his head and grinning - high from lack of sleep and success, "Aren't you proud
of us Sir? 'S the first time I've done it without a survival kit, and I kept
your son alive for you."

“You’ve certainly earned your extra credit,” he drawled out, turning the car
around and heading back to camp. “It’s not my fault that you didn’t make any
attempts to feed yourself. Watson will check you over, Moran, when we get back
to school. If he decides that you aren’t fit for classes then you won’t argue
with him, understand?”

"Why wouldn't I be fit for classes?" Sebastian challenged, still grinning like
a maniac. "Besides, he's only got one bed and Jim needs that one far more than
I do. I'll make it through till lunch; you might not be impressed but Darren
will be."

Moriarty shook his head dismissively but didn’t say anything. Jim turned to
Sebastian and looked at him incredulously, “Weren’t you listening? I’m going to
classes.”

Moriarty grinned up at them in the rearview mirror. “He’s a tough kid for a
civilian, I’ll give him that. Don’t you agree Moran? I do hope you’re able to
make it across that pond today with your bad wrist. You’re looking a little
blue around the edges Jimmy.”

"What! You're fucking not." Sebastian looked at both of the Moriarty's angrily,
feeling rage building up inside him and leaning forward in his seat to hiss at
Moriarty Sr. "You dragged him away from the hospital to do this fucking stupid
exercise and he did it. Now you let him go back to the fucking doctor to get
himself well, alright? You'll fucking kill him at this rate!" His voice was
getting louder, "And if you don't, I'll get Darren to send him to the medic,
and if he won't I'll get the sergeant to because he's not going to die on the
word of some bastard fucking cunt like you. He's tougher than you'll ever be
and you fucking well know it, because you're just a sad useless washed up old
bastard who gets his kicks torturing kids younger and weaker than him."

Moriarty’s face went disturbingly blank for a moment before the carefree grin
was back, “I think you’ll not be going to morning classes Moran. You’ve earned
yourself a day in the detention center. Have fun convincing anyone of anything
when you’re sitting in a cement room by yourself. Perhaps next time you’ll
learn to keep that mouth of yours shut.” He grinned as Sebastian realized he’d
just left Jim alone with Darren. The boy sighed tiredly and rubbed at his face
before he tucked it away against his knees, just trying to block out what was
happening. He’d been broken down pretty badly over the last few days and it was
taking its toll on him psychologically. The jeep pulled up to the academy and
Moriarty got out, “Alright Moran, with me. Jim get going. I’ll know if you
aren’t at classes.”

Sebastian glared and then threw himself back into the seat, not saying anything
to either of them and keeping silent as they headed back to camp. He watched
mulishly as Jim trudged off in the direction of Darren and then gave Moriarty a
glare of pure hatred. "You really do want to kill him, don't you? And I'm not
entirely sure why managing to actually get some kip in solitary is a punishment
for me. But it's not, is it? It's a punishment for him. Your own son. You
fucking cunt." He was seriously overstepping the line now, but he barely cared.
He was full of a dark wrathful hate for a man he couldn't hit and was
determined to express as much of it as possible.

Moriarty raised his eyebrows and the expression came off as condescending,
“Just because I ejaculated into his mother’s worthless cunt doesn’t make him my
son. I’m very aware of whom this is a punishment for, and I’m thinking that
you’re more likely to behave if I make it worse for him, aren’t you?” He
reached forward and brushed his hand over Sebastian’s hair, giving him a gentle
push into the little room in the detention center. “Enjoy your stay, maybe I’ll
remember to have them send you lunch.” With that he shut the door and quickly
made his way to classes – he didn’t want to be late.

Sebastian glared at the closed concrete door and then sank moodily to the
floor, wiping a hand over his face. Now that the exhilaration of surviving was
passed he was feeling a backwash of adrenaline and didn't find it too hard to
drift off, curled up on the stone floor with Jim's still soggy jacket folded
under his head.
Chapter End Notes
     TW: Child abuse, abusive punishment
***** A Best Which has Failed *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Darren barked at Jim as he saw the boy approaching, shaking his head, "Dear,
oh, dear, look at the state of you. Did Moran not look after you last night?"
There were some sniggers and a few knowing glances from the boys and Darren
grinned, "Right, let’s see if you can manage that bloody assault course yet.
Where is Moran - don't tell me you've killed him?”

Jim glared lightly as he was finally able to change clothes into his sweats. He
ignored their chortles and insinuations as he shivered hard. “Yes, sir. He’s in
the detention center.” Jim wasn’t interested in arguing or giving anyone shit
today, he’d push himself until his body stopped and hopefully if he got hurt
bad enough they’d send him away after it was shown what an unfit parent James
was.
John had called Magnussen as soon as Moriarty had taken Jim and Sebastian away,
leaving three messages on the man's mobile before giving up. He hadn't slept
much overnight, worried about Jim out in the wild and listening to the rain
with worry. When morning had dawned he'd hurried to Moriarty's room, angrily
demanding to know where his son was and had still been arguing with him when
Magnussen arrived. The three of them had headed quickly to the training grounds
after that, somehow without raising his voice Magnussen seemed to get things
done.
Jim was ready to drop after the laps, even though it warmed his temperature up
some. He hadn’t eaten in three days now and he was severely dehydrated. Jim was
in the middle of the assault course, wincing as his wrist was tugged as he
swung himself across the bars but was determined to press through when Dr.
Watson called him over urgently. He was standing there with his father and a
man Jim didn’t know, everyone looked pretty angry. Jim quickly finished up the
bars and sort of jogged, sort of stumbled over to them. “Yes, sir?”

Magnussen looked tight lipped as Jim stumbled over, pressing lightly over the
cold parts of his body and saying quietly, "This is very interesting. I asked
you to bring your son here, Moriarty, after looking over his files. I told you
I wanted him. I'm not sure if I was unclear. Did you assume I wanted him ill?
Emaciated? Injured and damaged? Should I make myself clearer that I wanted him
alive?" John started to speak and then abruptly silenced himself as Magnussen
raised a hand, his gazed fixed on Jim, "You. Tell me what has happened. Why are
you shivering?"

Jim quickly glanced between his father and the new man before tucking his
shaking hands into the front pocket of his sweatshirt, “It’s a chilly morning
sir.” He answered evasively. Jim desperately wanted out of morning exercises
but he didn’t want to piss off his father either.

Magnussen looked him up and down, his gaze shifted to Darren, who looked away
nervously. There was absolute silence and then Magnussen turned to Moriarty,
speaking softly, but the whole practice area could hear it. "You spend your
time with a whore. You degrade your cock with her body. And when the one
worthwhile thing you may ever have produced in your life finally comes into my
clutches you do your best to destroy it. A best which has failed." Reaching up
he slapped Moriarty around the face, giving a small smile as the man twitched.
"Doesn't that make you feel silly?" Another slap, "You're fighting a war
against a fifteen year old child." A third, "And he's wining." He dropped his
hands and waved to dismiss both Watson and Moriarty. "Go. You..." He pointed at
Jim. "Have a shower then come to my office. That one." He pointed the building
out helpfully and then with a curious raised eyebrow look at Darren he stalked
off.

Darren growled, "Do as he says."

Jim was not surprised by much but he openly gaped as he watched the new man
slap his father repeatedly. Had he just lost his goddamn mind and started
hallucinating? His father leveled a glare at him and Jim snapped his mouth shut
so fast his teeth clicked together. Jim waited for Darren to give him
permission, turning to leave quickly before anyone else could give him
instructions otherwise. Jim managed to make it to the shower but his legs gave
out on him and he sat on the tiled floor while he shook in the warm spray of
the water. He struggled to work through everything he’d heard – the strange man
had authority over his father somehow, the man had seen something in Jim’s
files that interested him. Jim had not been able to work out why his father had
enrolled him in school here – only figured that he couldn’t be arsed to take
care of Jim himself and a discounted boarding school where he could keep an eye
on his son was an ideal place. But now it seemed like this stranger had
told James to do all of that. Because he wanted Jim. He shivered again,
thinking of the man’s cold eyes and didn’t think he wanted to know what the
man’s intentions were. Jim didn’t like the man, he might have seemed like an
ally against his father, but he’d said awful things about his mother, he wanted
Jim for something.

Doctor Watson followed Jim into the locker rooms and Jim didn’t even have the
energy to feel self-conscious. “Do I have to go with him? I’m tired and hungry
and he gives me the fucking creeps.” Jim managed to stand without slipping on
the wet tiles and turned the water off, before he dried himself and then sat on
a bench so that the doctor could look him over. His head and wrist still hurt
something fierce but mostly his body just felt numb with exhaustion and
deprivation. “Thanks for those pills by the way. Saved me.” Jim leaned back
against the lockers, too exhausted to keep his head up. He had no idea how he’d
make it through this meeting with the stranger. 

"I'm afraid you do, yes." John answered quietly, "Magnussen owns this place,
and he's got far more power than just the owner of a slightly suspect private
school should have. Be very careful around him." He filled up a mug of water at
the tap, added two spoons of sugar and handed it to Jim, "Drink that down, you
look terrible. I'm so glad you survived the night, show me your hands and
feet." He nodded in admiration as he noticed there were no signs of exposure
and then took out another packet of paracetamol. "Take two more for now, just
to get you through the next few hours. I've no doubt Magnussen will send you
straight back to me and you can rest in the hospital bay, but if he sends you
back to your room eat these." He handed across two snickers bars, "And then
sleep."

Jim would just have to hope he’d be sent back to John, there was a lot more
privacy and he’d feel a lot safer without any number of boys coming and going
around him while he slept. Jim tried not to drink the water too quickly but he
was so thirsty he ended up guzzling it down anyway. He coughed as John
inspected his fingers and toes and gave him the sprained wrist he’d been
hurting to check over, Jim didn’t think it was broken but there could be a
stress fracture or something. “Sebastian took care of me, it was freezing but
we stayed warm enough somehow.” Jim swallowed down the extra pills and tucked
the candy away to eat during his meeting.

"Oh he took care of you, did he?" John sounded skeptical, suspicious of the
boy’s motives. Pressing gently on Jim's wrist he shook his head and then tugged
a bandage out of his pocket. "No more physical until this heals - and I will
physically attack the next person who tries to make you do any." He wrapped the
bandage tightly around Jim's wrist and tucked the end neatly away, then pulled
a clean pair of slacks and a white vest out of his bag, "These might be a bit
big, but you need something warm to wear. Come on, I'll help you get to
Magnussen's office."

Jim glared at John’s skepticism, mistaking it for the sneering innuendo that
everyone else had sent his way over his little camping trip with Moran. He
hissed when John pressed and prodded at his wrist but stayed still until it was
wrapped up. Jim looked up at John suddenly, determination in his face. “He
abuses me, my da. Or at least, he did. I’m rather expecting he’ll start up
again. My mother took me back to Ireland because he was hitting us—and other
stuff.” Jim wasn’t sure exactly what he hoped John would do, but he knew the
other man was soft and he’d already tried to stand up to Moriarty at every
point possible. Jim wanted someone like that on his side. He gave a little
sniffle and wiped at his eyes, just to add that extra little bit of pity while
he got dressed into the clothes John gave him.

John's jaw tensed at the confirmation of what Moriarty was really like, but he
just nodded, gently helping Jim up as he stood. "Magnussen may be able to help
with that. Hopefully you won't have to live in fear of him here." When Jim was
ready he helped him up, and then helped him over to Magnussen's office.

The door was open and Magnussen was sitting in front of a desk, gesturing Jim
to sit in the empty chair in front of the desk. "Thank you Watson. Please go
now. Jim will be returned to your care once we have had a little chat." He
turned and gave Jim a calculating look as he sat, looking at the damage to his
body.

Jim had to hold back a little sigh at that, he wasn’t afraid of his father.
He’d just – rather not have to live with him was all. They managed to make it
to Magnussen’s office and Jim plopped down in the chair a little nervously, not
wanting to be left alone with this man. He still hadn’t worked out what he
could possibly be trying to use Jim for. It was a relief though to know he’d be
allowed to go back to John and not his bunk. As Magnussen watched him Jim
tilted his chin up and stared back defiantly. “You wanted to see me?” He
prompted, pulling out a candy bar to chew on.

Magnussen nodded, giving a slight smile as Jim started eating the chocolate and
leaning forward a little, still looking over him, "You are well? Well enough? I
am very angry at your father right now. I might not look it, hmm? Sometimes I
can be very, very angry without people realising." He paused for a second,
closing his eyes and then looking at Jim from behind the protective lenses of
his glasses. "You are James Moriarty, correct? No... not correct. I see. He is
James Moriarty. You are Jim. Let us both agree that James Moriarty is someone
who... we could both manage without. I have the power to make that happen."

Jim felt his skin crawl but he was very good at hiding his unease from other
people. “Well enough… I figure you’ve got about thirty minutes before I start
getting dizzy and pass out.” It was best to be honest about his physical
limitations at the moment, no sense trying to hide it and then embarrassing
himself later. “You are angry because he disobeyed you?” Jim prompted. There
was more to it than that, and he wanted to know what it was. He stilled in
shock as he realized what Magnussen was saying. “…I wouldn’t disagree with
that.” Jim started neutrally. “Why did you hire him if you could manage without
him?”

"Thirty minutes... in that case I will be brief. You are very exact. I like
that." Magnussen gave him an appraising look, watching Jim's reactions, seeing
how he responded. "He has been a very useful part of this school, he has
performed well, and taught excellently. However I'm sure it would not be too
difficult to find another like him. But you... you are something different. I
have seen your records. You have potential, a large amount, and I would very
much like to see that develop and grow. I am not asking you to like me, or to
enjoy my company, or even to respect me. Just to be able to work with me. As a
first task - I would be happy to see that an accident happens to your father.
Quite what that accident is will be your choice. Something humiliating,
something painful, something that would retire him from work, maybe even
permanently and... terminally." He looked at Jim levelly. "You may spend some
of your thirty minutes deciding whether you would like that. Then we can
discuss what I would require from you in return."

Something about the way Magnussen chose his words had Jim’s hair sticking up on
end. “My records are pretty shit, definitely not the kind of thing that the
head of a school would find promising.” He knew what Magnussen was suggesting,
but Jim didn’t leap at the thought like the man probably suspected he would.
Jim had tried to kill his father before, he’d been seven and nine years old
each time but the idea still seemed just as impossible now. He knew logically
it wasn’t that he could do this—he had a few ideas brewing already, but there
was still something that had been beaten into him that left Jim doubting his
own abilities against his father. “What do you mean? It sounds like I would be
doing you a favor.”

Magnussen raised his eyebrows, "I think you misunderstand what records I mean.
Not academic ones but... all your records. Social services files, medical
records, truancy reports. Please lift your mind away from thoughts of schools
and lessons. You are far bigger than that. The 'favour' I will be doing you is
carrying out whatever you wish to happen to your father. You choose what
happens, I will carry it out. I was possibly unclear - English is not my first
language."

“Those are private.” Jim tried to keep the scowl off his face but he couldn’t
help his mouth tightening around the corners. Even as part of the
administration here he shouldn’t have had access to all of those. “…I suppose
it depends on if you want it to look like an accident or not.” This was crazy.
Jim wasn’t sure what kind of game this was but he didn’t know how to ask
without sounding childish.

"I can make it look like whatever you want. I can make sure that there are no
police scurrying around." Magnussen gave a small smile and stood up, heading
towards his bookshelf and staring at it, "Please do not underestimate the
amount of power I have. I have read all the records there are about you, and it
just so happens they fit what I am looking for. A young man I can give tasks
to, who can carry them out, get things done for me. In return, I can get things
done for you, with the power I possess. The first thing I can do for you is
remove your father, or hurt your father, or do whatever you like to your
father. I just ask one thing in return."

Jim was not especially comfortable around government types but the idea that
this man did not answer to them at all didn’t sit right with Jim either. What
really put him on edge was the power involved in this kind of thing, it sounded
like bullshit but he could tell the man was being serious. Jim didn’t think
that he liked the idea of being this man’s errand boy but he liked the idea of
being with his father even less. “If my father dies then I don’t have to stay
here anymore.” Magnussen knew that of course, Jim was just confused about what
he perceived as a loophole in this plan. He took another bite of the snickers
bar, hoping to keep his blood sugar up long enough to finish this conversation.
“What is it you want in return for this favor?”

"If your father dies you will have no living relatives, and you will still be
underage." Magnussen pointed out, "You will either be sent to foster care in
some shitty little home in London - no money to help you along, no relatives to
bring you favours or take you out. You will start in the world with nothing.
Or, we can see to it that you remain here, under the foster care of..." he
paused, long enough to let Jim think through all the people here who he could
be placed in the care of and finishing with, "John Watson, who I believe you've
met. In return? Well… first I want to know if I am wasting my time with you. If
you would rather go and live in London, spend your life in some shitty low-
level job, or turn to crime and live in and out of prison?"

Jim had been in the system a couple of times when he was younger, never for
very long and he was always given back to his mother once she’d proven that she
could fix whatever arbitrary concern the social worker had brought up. Those
times were enough to put him off the idea entirely, he’d really rather not take
his chances. But Jim didn’t like the idea of being this man’s slave either.
John wouldn’t be bad, he didn’t think. Jim didn’t trust him of course, but he
didn’t trust anybody. Al least he knew the man wouldn’t let him get sent on
trips out into the woods. “I don’t want to go into the system again.
Hypothetically, Watson would make an adequate guardian. Why wouldn’t you take
me yourself?” Jim certainly didn’t want him to, but it seemed very strange that
he wouldn’t, if he was going for control. “Now tell me what you want. Before I
decide anything else.” Jim rubbed the heel of his palm against his eyes, trying
to focus and stay present.

Magnussen gave a small laugh at that, which sounded as if he'd been taught how
to laugh by a language coach. "I would very much love to be your one sole
guardian. It would make me very happy, and would make you far more pliable.
However I am not a stupid man, and I doubt you would agree to such a condition
because you are not a stupid boy. What I want..." He stopped looking at the
bookshelves and turned back to the desk looking across at Jim. "Do you know
there are so many ways to destroy a man? Killing them is really only a small
part of things. Far better to leave the man alive and malleable. If you do...
accept the offer to work for me, you will find yourself destroying many men,
each one a scalp, a kill, earning you respect of your own, as well as my
worker. Would you agree to do that for me? To take men and destroy them, to
turn them into what I want, what we need?"

Jim squeezed the empty candy wrapper in his hand, “You aren’t talking about
physically hurting them – you have other people to do that. You mean hurting
their reputation, finances, that sort of thing.” Jim was exhausted and honestly
would have agreed to just about anything if it meant he could have a lie down.
Which, he was sure, was exactly Magnussen’s intention. “I’d want Watson as my
guardian. Anyone else and the deal is off. And I want the ability to refuse a –
a target or method.” Jim figured he could gamble, the worst Magnussen could
tell him was no.

Magnussen raised an eyebrow and then nodded. "For each... target, I will give
you a reward. Refuse the target and you will not get the reward. Your first
reward is to have your father taken care of, in the manner of your choosing.
Your first target is Augustus Moran. And our first method is Sebastian Moran. I
want complete power over that boy, to break him how and when I choose." He
raised a hand to stop Jim talking. "Think. Don't waste words. Think about your
father. Think about your mother. Sleep and be looked after by John Watson. Then
let me know your answer."

Jim clenched his jaw tight but nodded to show that he’d heard, even if he
didn’t entirely understand. “My father put the Moran boy in the detention
center after our little camping trip last night. He kept me alive, he shouldn’t
be punished.” Jim was testing Magnussen to see how much give the man was
willing to let him have. Jim stood and wobbled, gripping onto the back of his
chair hard as his legs trembled underneath him but he worked to hide it.

Magnussen looked at him behind his glasses for a while and then nodded, his
hands stroking the back of his chair, "Yes, you should let him out. Then return
to John Watson. Rest and get some sleep." He looked at Jim pointedly, "I think
you understand that until we have an agreement on this you will not discuss it
with anyone, including the good Doctor." Reaching over the desk his hands
brushed by Jim as he tugged open a drawer and pulled out a small plastic card.
"Give this to the sergeant on duty at the detention centre, he will release
Sebastian for you."

Jim frowned a little but nodded, agreeing not to discuss it with anything – he
took the little card and mumbled a goodbye before heading out of the office as
quickly as he could without betraying himself. Jim gave a sigh of relief as
soon as he was outside, letting the oppressive atmosphere slide away. He
shuffled over to the detention center and handed over the card while he tried
to keep his eyes open. Almost done. The door to the little cement room was
opened and Sebastian was inside, standing to his feet quickly. “Sorry to
interrupt your nap, I thought you’d be more comfortable in the hospital wing.”
Jim muttered sarcastically.

Sebastian stood up, frowning, his eyes widening in surprise as he saw Jim
waiting for him, looking as if he were about to slump down on the spot.
Hurrying over he wrapped an arm around Jim's shoulders, letting the boy rest on
him and shaking his head, "I don't need the bloody hospital wing, you do, what
the fuck did they do to you?" He gave a grin, "Don't worry about me, my
seargant came and brought me food and gave me a ding around the ear for
mouthing off to your dad. Can I please take you to Watson now?"

“M okay. Just fucking tired. Started morning classes but after a bit Magnussen
pulled me out for a talk in his office.” Jim was aware that he couldn’t tell
Sebastian what had happened, but it would look suspicious if Jim tried to cover
up his relationship with the man entirely. Besides, it would be common
knowledge with the way all the boys were listening in on the field. “Watson
called him apparently. We should go.” 

Sebastian gave a shiver and then a scowl, "Mags gives me the creeps. He's a
friend of my dad from way back, well, not friend. Colleague. They work
together. My dad's in government." he kept his arm around Jim, helping him back
to Watson's and still talking, "He groped me once behind a potted plant at an
embassy thingy. Then he peed in the plant. He's just fucking odd." He hesitated
and glanced at Jim nervously, "Please don't tell him I said that. Here we go.
You stay in the medical centre and get Watson to fucking well bolt the door if
the Fucking Bastard comes back and has any more stupid ideas about you going
camping. I'll get back to class before Darren rips me a new one."

Jim tensed up, not liking the picture Sebastian painted and everything it could
imply. “Yeah well I think he’s on my side for now. I’ll take creepy over the
man apparently actively trying to kill me.” Jim held still for a moment with
Sebastian’s arm still around his shoulders before he sighed and moved away,
eternally relieved that he could rest now. “Go on then you crazy bastard. I’ll
be here – probably until I turn eighteen if Watson has his way.” Jim clapped
him on the shoulder before turning and heading in. The first thing he did was
face plant on the open bed, closing his eyes blissfully and enjoying the moment
before tugging off his boots. “I’m back.” He called out so that Watson would
know he was there. “Home sweet home…” Jim muttered more quietly and with a fair
bit of sarcasm.

Sebastian ruffled his hair, looking impressed, "Wow, if you've got Mags on your
side that's fucking amazing. He's probably the only person here who can tell
the Fucking Bastard what to do." He was rather liking referring to Jim's dad as
'the Fucking Bastard' - it saved him having to constantly remind both of them
that Jim was related to him.

Watson gave a sigh of relief as Jim returned, looking not too much worse and
having eaten his chocolate. He came in to look at Jim and put his hands on his
hips, "Right. Stay in bed." He tugged a blanket up over the boy, "I'll get you
some food when you wake up but for now you really need to get some sleep.

Jim settled in as John pulled the blankets up over him and his eyes could
barely stay open. “Would you adopt me?” As soon as the sleepy question was out
Jim flushed and got his hackles up. He’d meant to double check of course –
there was no way he would make a deal with Mags if someone else was going to
get custody of him, so he knew he needed to ask John first. But he hadn’t meant
to ask like that. “Just take custody of me, I mean. I don’t have family. Fuck,
never mind.” Jim practically growled and pulled the blanket up higher so it
partially covered his face as he rolled over away from John. Fuck he felt
stupid.

"Would I - oh dear is that what Magnussen asked..." John sighed, looking at
Jim's embarrassed and flushed looking face and then said gently, "I have
clearance to be a foster parent and I have done it before. I would be more than
happy to foster you, however unfortunately I won't be able to adopt you. I'm
afraid you'll still be in Magnussen's clutches however I will be legally
responsible, and will try to protect you as much as I can." He rather awkwardly
patted Jim's shoulder. "However as your doctor I recommend thinking and
recovering before agreeing to anything Magnussen offers you."

Jim nodded non-committedly, not sure how much he was allowed to share and not
especially wanting to get on Magnussen’s bad side this early on for a bit of
indiscretion when he was not well and not thinking clearly. “’S all I meant. I
get it.” Jim didn’t like the insecurity of fostering, the idea that if he did
anything Mags didn’t like he could be shipped off to anyone else on a moment’s
notice. “Yeah, alright…” Jim meant to say something else but he was so worn out
that his eyes closed against his will and he passed out, letting go of all of
the stress and everything that had happened that day.

Sebastian headed straight back to Darren, who seemed oddly subdued, and
continued with his day, catching up on sleep and food that evening. The next
morning he headed straight to the medical rooms, knocking politely on the door
and grinning as an irritated John Watson opened it, "He's fine Moran... please
tell me you haven't brought grapes..." Peeking over John's shoulder, he could
just about see Jim's shape on a bed, covered in blankets and decided to leave
it at that, trusting Watson with his patient. He really wanted to speak to Jim,
mostly to gauge how bad the evenings session with his father was likely to be,
but there were already a good few rumours spreading about him and the new boy,
and repeatedly heading to Watson's rooms to check if he was awake probably
wouldn't help. Instead he went for breakfast, keeping his head down as he saw
Magnussen stalking around the buildings, relieved when the man didn't try to
talk to him.
Chapter End Notes
     TW: discussions of child abuse and murder, mentions of sexual
     harassment of a teen by an adult
***** You Just Want to Wank Together for All Eternity *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Moriarty had been brimming with anger over the last two day since that little
scene Mags had caused on the field. And there wasn’t anything he could
reasonably do about it, he was on a very tight leash right now. He stopped by
the hospital wing and asked Watson how his son was doing, playing every bit the
regretful father who had just taken things a little too far in his need to
establish a relationship with his son, he’d been so sure the boy was faking to
get out of things, spare the rod and all of that. Watson had watched him with
clear dislike and informed him that he wasn’t allowed to see his Jimmy. The
doctor let slip that his son wasn’t actually even here, that he was in a
meeting with Magnussen. Moriarty had nodded and made his way to the window in
Mags’ office that he sometimes left open, he could clearly hear voices from
inside even though they were speaking quietly. They were just getting past the
pleasantries when he saw the Moran boy walking by, he waved him over and
pointed to the window with a gesture to be silent.

Sebastian had been expecting to really get it in the neck at his lessons with
Moriarty but too his surprised the man was strangely subdued or, as he put it
more crudely to the other cadets, "Like a dog with it's knackers done." He was
heading to Darren one evening for some extra training when he was surprised to
see the man wave at him, scowling and coming over, biting his tongue to whisper
"What is it Sir? I'm a bit busy." He could hear Mags's voice coming out of the
window, saying something about mutual respect and jobs carried out and lowered
his voice.

Moriarty shushed him again and pointed to the window before shaking his head.
They could clearly hear Jim reply, dancing around and giving some kind of vague
agreement. “Of course. I’d like to have a clearer idea of your goals and
methods before I sign on with you. You understand of course. As tempting as
your favor might be I won’t sell my soul to the devil for it.”

Sebastian's eyes widened and he immediately crouched down, leaving space for
Moriarty and shooting the man a slightly grateful glance. He had no idea why
Moriarty had wanted him to listen in, and part of him was highly suspicious of
it, but it still seemed like a nice gesture considering Sebastian had shouted
at him the day before and then had his punishment revoked for it. He pressed
his ear against the wall to hear Magnussen say, "My goal is to break Augustus
Moran. To do this, I need to you get closer to his son. Close enough to find
out... secrets. Family gossip, that sort of thing. Do you understand what I
mean by this?" Sebastian looked up at Moriarty with wide eyes - a little
shocked and a little amused as well. Grinning he murmured under his breath,
"Any idea why old Mags is whoring your son out to me?"

Moriarty scowled and quickly cuffed the back of the boy’s head. “You shut your
fucking mouth Moran, that’s obviously not what he means.” But obviously
Sebastian wasn’t the only one with that concern because a moment later Jim
spoke up clearly, “Are you insinuating that I’ll need to start up a
relationship with him? Are you telling me to fuck him? Fuck his father? Am I
going to have to do this every time you need blackmail material?”
Sebastian smirked, ducking his head as Moriarty's palm knocked against it,
knowing the man couldn't get away with doing much worse without making a noise.
"Course it's what he means, heh, heh." He murmured, but was still a little
surprised when from inside the room Magnussen answered clearly, "Yes, I am
asking you to start a relationship with him. Not necessarily to fuck him - I
just need you close enough that he'll invite you back to his occasionally.
Whatever you need to do to get there. Please do not attempt to fuck his father,
I doubt it'll work and it'll raise suspicions. If I ever need anyone to be
caught in a compromising position with a little dark-haired slut believe me,
I'll hire someone infinitely more talented than you. I need eyes and ears in
Augustus's household, and having at least an amicable relationship with
Sebastian is the best way to get it."

“Fine, are all of these jobs going to be like this? And you know of course that
I’m only going to be working for you until I turn eighteen. After that you
won’t have a hold over me anymore.”
Moriarty snarled silently and whispered, “What the fuck, I should have taken
him from his mother years ago if he was just going to turn into a little slut.
That’s fucking disgusting.” He sneered at Sebastian and whispered, “Lucky boy
to have a father so important that people are sending you whores.”

"Of course not." Magnussen snapped, heading towards the window and giving a
small smile as he heart the furious sounding whispering below it. "Different
jobs require different strategies. Of course you may leave when you turn
eighteen, but I hope by then you'll be interested enough to want to stay.
You'll see what I can teach you, and you want to learn. Moran is an easy target
for you to start with - he's easy to read, simple to manipulate, and very
predictable once you know him."
Sebastian couldn't help a wider grin as Moriarty got more het up, "I know, I'm
surprised as well, nobody's ever sent me whores before. Now every time you
shout at me you can imagine all the wonderful noises I'm going to hear from
your son when I screw him..."

Moriarty reached out and gave Sebastian’s throat a little warning squeeze,
trying to hold back like Magnussen had warned him to. “My son is not a fucking
fag.”
Jim spoke from inside, “Alright… I think we have a deal then. As far as your
favor goes… just do it in the way that’s most convenient for you. But I want it
done.” There was a sound of chairs scraping on the floor as Jim stood. “Watson
has agreed to your little proposal, although I imagine you already knew that.”

"Good - Deal" Magnussen gave a small lukewarm smile, holding out a hand and
then taking Jim's wrist instead of a handshake stroking the inside gently. "I
will speak to Watson, and yes, of course I knew it." In the safe knowlege that
the two of them were coming out soon Sebastian stuck his tongue out around the
hand threatening to choke him, "You want to bet? I give it a month before we're
fucking - he seemed pretty eager for it when you sent us on that little camping
trip together. If he hadn't been concussed I would've done the fucking deed
there and then." The words about his father he'd have to think about later, but
right now he was enjoying riling up Moriarty.

Moriarty released his throat and gave the boy a smack to the face but he stood
as soon as Jim and Mags stepped out of the office. “If you touch my son I’ll
kill you. I won’t have you turning him into a cocksucker.” With that he turned
and left quickly, not wanting to get caught out. Jim was pale and genuinely a
little afraid over what he’d just agreed to do – this job was simple, he was
already close to Sebastian and he didn’t even have to have sex with him as long
as he could get access to the house. It was the future that concerned him, the
proprietary way that Magnussen touched him, and the certainty in his voice when
he assured Jim that he would want to stay after he turned eighteen. For now he
was going to head back to the hospital wing where he could think about all of
this some more.

Sebastian gave a little groan as the back of Moriarty's hand knocked across his
face but grabbed at the hand quickly before the man could leave, "Alright,
before you start threatening me maybe you need to realise I'm the only person
in the whole sodding world who knows what your son is up to." He hissed
dangerously, eyes sparkling, "So think about that the next time you maybe want
to find out more hmm? And the next time you decide I need to spend some time in
solitary." He scooted off quickly as he heard doors starting to open, frowning
as the full impact of the conversation set in. It sounded like his father might
be in trouble, however more worryingly it sounded like Jim was getting involved
in Magnussen's deals and schemes. He gave a little growl of frustration,
feeling slightly jealous. Jim had just arrived, whereas Sebastian had been here
for years and never once had Magnussen approached him other than for the
occasional creepy grope.
 
===============================================================================
 

The next day of classes went more smoothly, Jim finally got to try out the
academics classes and they were surprisingly good, much better teachers than
the shit hole school he’d come from. He was behind a lot but Jim liked a
challenge and he was rapidly catching up. His head felt better and John had
eventually gotten fed up of Jim having to run until he puked every morning so
he’d drafted a more realistic morning exercise routine. It was still brutal but
Jim wasn’t throwing up anymore and he wasn’t waking up with his muscles so sore
he could barely walk. Jim was surprised at how much of their activities
involved their partner, Jim saw quite a lot of Sebastian and he couldn’t help
but think that being placed with him was no accident. Still there was almost no
privacy until evening chores. They were given inventory duty in the supplies
house, checking through everything quietly until Jim finally spoke up. “Thank
you, for the other day. I don’t – I was just kind of shit and unhelpful so
thank you for building the shelter and everything.”

Sebastian had thought through the conversation he'd heard for much of the day.
He'd also tried to sort out his feelings for Moriarty Senior - a man who he'd
previously rather respected and now thought far worse of. He's dithered with
the thought of writing to his father, but knew that any letter would be read
and censored, so for now he was content to leave it. Besides, no Magnussen-
related plan seemed to be revealing itself. He also still felt the odd stab of
jealousy at the thought that Magnussen had run to Jim for help, rather than to
Sebastian. Other than that he just stayed vaguely friendly and aloof with Jim,
looking up as the boy spoke to him while they were stock taking. "Hmm? Oh yeah
well... it was good practice. I'm glad we did so well with it. You're looking a
fuck of a lot better now, Darren even gave you a nod at training this morning,
for him that's high bloody praise."

Jim could tell that there was something between them that hadn’t been there
before, some kind of block keeping things cool and distant. “Yeah, I’m…
adjusting, I think. I still don’t want to be here.” Jim swallowed, feeling a
little uncomfortable. He had a few plans, nothing concrete. Jim didn’t want to
be clumsy about this but he also didn’t have a lot of experience in doing this
kind of thing so he just made an opening bid. “I’m still looking to get kicked
out or sent away though. Fuck I hate it here. I’ve been thinking of a few plans
and everything… contraband is monitored but there’s still plenty of trouble to
get up to, you know?” Jim set the scene, drawing Sebastian in.

"You want to leave?" Sebastian turned to look at him, frowning. He couldn't see
how Jim leaving would advance his plans any, or help Magnussen. Was he maybe
trying to get sympathy? "Nah, don't do that, you're getting on well. Your
trainings improving, and none of the lads are knocking you about, I've seen to
that. Darren and the Sargeant have got used to you, and even the Fucking
Bastard isn't doing badly. Besides, isn't Watson trying to foster you? There
was a rumour going around. He's fostered a bloke before - his parents passed
away and Mags wanted him to stay on so he stayed with Watson. He's in the civil
service now." He added encouragingly.

“I don’t like it here. Everything is so – fucked up and structured. I don’t do
well in that kind of environment.” Jim leaned forward and tried to reach for a
box that was up higher than he could reach. He could get the step stool or –
“Do you think you could get this down for me?” Jim smiled self-consciously and
planned to press back against Sebastian when he reached over him for the box.

"Yeah, course." Sebastian reached over him, still frowning and trying to find a
way to put it that wouldn't give him away, "You know... if Mags wants you to
stay you really should..." he tried, doing his best to keep it seemingly light,
as if he were talking on general terms. "You should, you know, he can give
people great opportunities. For work, or support or... all sorts really. He's
incredibly clever and very well connected. So, you know, if he's supporting -
if he were to support you it would... well it would be worth thinking about
staying..." he finished in a mumble.

“I’d rather take my chances with outside,” Jim muttered, getting nervous now
that Sebastian was bringing up Mags. “I wouldn’t want to bend over for someone
just to get their support. I don’t want a leash.” It wasn't something he wanted
to do but Mags had given him orders and he wanted his father dead very badly.
Enough that he'd sacrifice his dignity and his body this one time. Jim turned
around suddenly now that Sebastian was at his back, stepping in close to his
personal space. “So what do you want? Want to help me do something that will
get me in enough trouble to get kicked out?”

"I... what?" Sebastian couldn't help the big silly grin spreading over his face
now that Jim was close to him and seemingly proposing something that he very
much wanted and that Magnussen wanted him to do. He tried to appease his
conscience by reminding himself that this was the best way to keep Jim in good
favour with Mags, but he also knew that if Jim was being coerced into this....
He gave a little whine, squirming slightly and reaching up and pushing a piece
of hair out of his fringe, "Y-you wouldn't bend over for someone just to get
their support - that's, um, that' good. Just as long as you're not. You know.
Just for me ... support." God but the boy was close and hot and beautiful and
all skinny and pale. It was setting off a desire in him to protect Jim and also
a more immature and emotional desire to screw the kid stupid.

At least Jim knew that the boy wanted him, it hadn’t been a difficult guess but
it was pretty fucking clear now. “No,” Jim lied easily, “You’ve been kind to me
and you want me, it’s uh – expedient. More expedient than finding someone
else.” Jim realized that was not a very good answer and he had to take a little
breath and try again, “I do – uh, like you. Sorry I’ve not really done this
much before.” He reached out daringly to start undoing the front of Sebastian’s
uniform jacket, his white vest peeking out from underneath. Jim bent forward
and pressed his mouth against Seb’s exposed collarbone, nipping at the skin
there.

"You... wha-?" Sebastian was taken over by surprise, quickly glancing at the
door to check it was shut. Closing his eyes to took a deep breath and a final
attempt at decency by mumbling, "You - please don't think you have to do
this..." in a rushed voice before sticking his hands straight down Jim's
trousers, moaning gently and squeezing at his cock inside."

That sentiment was all well and good, but the fact was that Jim did kind of
have to do this. He’d asked if he had to do it, and of course Magnussen had
reassure him, winking and nodding along. Jim knew how these things worked. This
job was too fucking important, it was his first one and it involved Mags’
favor. Jim needed to prove he could be dedicated. He did like the boy, Jim just
maybe would have waited, or not wanted to do this in a storage container.
“Fuck!” He yelped and whined as Sebastian stuck his hands down the front of
Jim’s uniform trousers and groped at his cock. “Uhhh, right…” Jim undid
Sebastian’s button and zipper quickly, trying to reciprocate and get this
moving along.

Sebastian moaned into his neck, gently kissing and licking at it and murmuring,
"Fuck... I wanted you from the first night in that shitty shelter. Didn't -
didn't think you'd be arsed with me though. Thought you'd have enough on your
plate, with - with everything..." Grinning up at Jim he tugged the front of the
boys trousers open and then shoved them down, stroking him with one hand,
wrapping practised fingers around his cock. Unlike Jim, he was used to having
to get off in cramped spaces incredibly quickly, "Mmmm... fuck you feel
amazing..."

“Uhh, wanted you too.” Jim muttered and pressed against the other boy. “As long
as you’re okay with me, you know, leaving. After.” Jim reminded Sebastian of
his plan. He was pretty sure even if it was completely against the school code
Mags wouldn’t let him go anyway. “Uh, leave some marks on my neck. High up so
the collar won’t hide them.” It was possible someone would walk in on them but
just in case Jim wanted some kind of insurance - proof for Magnussen. “Oh, uh,
fuck thanks.” Jim whined low back in his throat and bucked his hips up
helplessly as he started to get hard. His hands were not nearly as practiced
but he was enthusiastic and clever with his fingers over Sebastian’s cock.
“You’re so big,” Jim muttered as his face flushed a little and he ducked his
head to look down and hide his face some. He’d never had to say things like
this before and it was a little humiliating but he pushed through.

"I-if you want to leave I guess you should." Sebastian moaned sadly, his hands
still working, his hips bucking into the cool clever little fingers. He could
feel Jim's cock growing in his hand and nuzzled at his neck, "C-can't mark you.
Everyone'll see, you'll get the snot beaten out of you and your father will
kill me. Fuck wish I could though... really do you hot little thing..." He
grinned again as Jim complimented him, kissing up his neck and under his eyes,
"Mmmm like it? Heh heh. God I never knew, never knew you'd be like this, so...
fucking hot." Magnussen hadn't even ordered Jim to do this, he argued furiously
with himself as he jerked the boy off. In fact, he seemed to remember Magnussen
specifying Jim didn't have to do this. So Jim must want to and it must all be
alright.

“Do it or I’ll find someone else that will,” Jim snarled suddenly. It was
getting a little bit confusing, what was really going on and how much of this
was his own choice and he wanted control. If Sebastian wasn’t going to do what
he was told… Jim moaned and pressed his back against the shelving unit,
thrusting into Sebastian’s hand and trying to remember to continue touching the
other boy when his hand felt so good.

Sebastian frowned nd drew back at that, "You'll find someone else who... what?"
He wasn't used to people shouting at him during sex, or at least not in a way
that sounded genuinely angry, and his hand drew away from Jim's cock, wrapping
around his wrist to keep him still, his heart plummeting, "Is that all you
want? Some horny fucking soldier boy to put marks on you so Magnussen will let
you leave, think you can't do a simple task properly?" He snapped out. "Yeah...
maybe you should find someone else then." He wasnt sure how the boy had managed
to get to him so quickly, but somehow he didn't just want this to ba a fuck of
convenience.

“What? No.” Jim thought quickly and squeezed Sebastian’s cock gently, trying to
get some friction even while he was holding his wrist. “Sorry, I thought you’d
like that sort of thing – orders, you know. My bad.” Jim smiled a little and
tried to work his wrist free. “Will you start touching me again? That felt
good, and I want you to finish.” They were both very hard, it was going to be
supremely awkward if Sebastian called this off and both of them had to finish
their chores with hard dicks.

Sebastian hesitated, but there was no way he was going to back out now, not
with a hard cock and Jim's fingers squeezing it. Relaxing a little he forced
his mouth into a grin, pushing himself close to Jim and gently nibbling his
jaw. "Heh... seems like you know me already. Course I like a bit of orders -
I'm going to be a squaddie aren't I? Just... you know... bit of a hit to the
ego, thinking I was some interchangable big rough lad to mark you up." He
nuzzled at Jim's neck again and then sighed, "Unh... y-yeah. Alright. Tilt your
head sideways. Above the collar-line, yeah?"

Jim relaxed with relief, leaning back harder against the shelving unit and
smirking a little as Sebastian moved in closer to box him in. “Right, my bad
then.” Jim was not experienced with this kind of thing by any means but he’d
learned a few lessons from his mother over the years, and pacifying a customer
was always important if you didn’t want to lose them. Still, he needed to maybe
keep it simple until he established the relationship a bit more. Sebastian
nuzzled at his neck, pressing his nose against Jim’s jaw and he tilted his head
to give the boy more room and access. Sebastian had let go of his wrist and Jim
started to stroke the other boy again. “Yeah, that’s good. Thank you.”

"Heh... strange little thing..." Sebastian nuzzled and worried at his jaw-line,
nipping skin between his teeth and moaning gently as Jim's fingers worked over
his cock again, releasing the boy's wrist and starting to stroke him before
biting down into the skin, feeling a shiver go through him. "N-never left marks
before... n-not visible ones Do, heh, do you want to leave one on me?" he
wasn't sure if he wanted it, but it seemed only polite to ask. And leaving
little love bites on Jim would be worth it just to see Jim's father trying not
to explode in anger at the next lesson, with Sebastian smirking at him and
making the odd obscene guesture when he thought nobody was looking.

Jim’s breath caught a little as Sebastian started touching him again and he
shook his head, “No – no bad idea.” He let his free hand wander up Sebastian’s
chest before letting his hand settle on the back of the boy’s neck and gripped
him there. “You need to, uh suck the skin between your teeth. That’s what
breaks the blood vessels. It’s easier to bite then as well.” Sebastian was
leaving little nibbles on his neck that were going to fade before the morning.

"You've done this before, huh?" Sebastian gave a little gasping laugh. He was
pretty used to being given instructions during sex, after all his first few
times with the sergeant he'd been naive and clueless, but it seemed strange to
get them from a skinny little twig like Jim. He realised as he sucked gently
then harder at the skin around the bite that he didn't know Jim at all - what
sort of experiences he had or what knowledge he'd picked up. His free hand
reached up to cup the tilted side of Jim's face as he worked, his other hand
stroking, squeezing and rubbing at the hard twitching cock in his hands.
"Mmmmm..."

“Uh huh,” Jim grinned and nodded, pleased with the sounds he was wringing out
of Sebastian. He wasn’t actually all that experienced – just sticky fumblings
in the back seat, there were a couple of boy’s he’d experimented with back home
but none of them had turned into anything serious. Not that Jim had wanted
that. He groaned quietly as Sebastian sucked harder at his neck, reaching up to
cover his own mouth to stifle the noise as his face flushed and his legs
started shaking. Fuck, he hadn’t expected this would feel so good.

"Heh... mmmmm oh fuck..." Jim's hands were moving fast now, and Sebastian
started on leaving a second little love bite, pushing his knee up to press up
gently against Jim's balls as his hand started to work, rubbing around in
circles, sliding a thumb over the head, feeling slick sweat make the whole
process easier, and flushing as he looked down to see Jim, trembling and
gasping, covering his mouth, his legs shaking, leaning into Sebstian for
support. He worked a little row of sucked marks up to Jim's ear and then bit on
the earlobe murmuring, "You are fucking gorgeous.... want to see you cum for me
lovely, want to see how good I can make you feel." Some of them were cliches -
words the sergeant and grunted when he'd finally gotten Seb on his knees and
taught him how to give a man a good blowjob. But right now with Jim they
suddenly seemed meaningful and he moaned and whimpered, his hips thrusting
forward into Jim's palm.

Sebastian was pretty good at this, better than either of the boys Jim had
experimented with. He bucked his hips up into Sebastian’s hand, trying to keep
quiet and still enough. The bite marks on his neck stung wonderfully and Jim
worked his little hand around Sebastian’s length furiously, trying to make up
for lack of skill with sheer friction. “Ugh, yeah I’m going to – fuck!” The
lights went out unexpectedly and Jim startled badly as he was suddenly unable
to see anything except for the faint glow from the lamp outside through the
window on the door to the supply building. “Shit,” Jim hissed before grabbing
the dusting rag and cleaning himself up some and doing his pants back up before
he handed it over to Seb. There was an outline at the door and then the sound
of the door locking echoed in the room.

"S-shit... don't... shit..." Sebastian moaned and slid down to the floor as Jim
suddenly moved away from him, grabbing his hard cock and giving a pleading
whimper as the lock clicked over the door, "Oh fuck, are we... fuck there's no
lock on this side... give me a minute... shit." He closed his eyes, getting a
small tingle from the thought that Jim might have organised this, having him
locked up in a compromising position. He looked up, saw Jim looming over him in
the dark and moaned, stroking himself harder, "S'S it al-alright to cum Sarge?"
he gasped, mostly out of habit, but also in a bad attempt at a joke.

“What? Uh – hold on, sorry.” Jim crouched down in front of Sebastian and
accidentally stepped on him some but Jim found the boy’s ankle and he stroked
up Sebastian’s leg in the dark, trying to find his crotch while he undid his
own pants again now that he knew he wasn’t going to get walked in on. He
grabbed Sebastian’s free hand and directed it to his cock before Jim started
stroking him off again, Sebastian’s and his hand both working the other boy
over. He’d basically ended up crouched overtop of the other boy and it wasn’t
the most comfortable position but no one was tipping over in the dark so it was
manageable.

"Ow, fuck!" Sebastian yelped as Jim's foot stepped on his instep, giving a
laugh as they fumbled around in the dark, and reaching up to grab Jim's wrist
as soon as the boy was positioned, tugging him down in a mess into his lap, "A-
ahhh oh shit we are in so much trouble..." He was laughing now, his mouth
finding Jim's face and kissing the side of his eye, working it's way down to
Jim's mouth where he pressed against soft lips, trying to press his tongue
inside while his hand guided Jim's back to his crotch.

“Shit,” Jim hissed as he tumbled over slightly but Sebastian was just pulling
him into his lap. He stilled a little as Sebastian kissed him but didn’t pull
away and after a moment he opened his lips to allow the other boy to work his
tongue inside. Kissing was a little more intimate than what he’d been planning
on but he could roll with it. Jim finally got a grip on Sebastian’s cock again
and he stroked him off quickly, pushing hard for them both to finish soon since
they had this little problem with the door to deal with. Someone could realize
their mistake and come back any moment. “Uhhh, fuck Sebastian. Moran. Gods
that’s good…” Jim thrust up into the boy’s hand a few more times before he
came, gasping and moaning as he tried to avoid getting any of the mess on their
uniforms.

He whimpered as Jim said his name, hugging him tight and moaning against him as
he came, shaking, and whispering "shit" as he realised that they were both
making a mess. After a few seconds of heavy breathing he pushed himself
upright, taking the rag from Jim as he eyes adjusted somewhat to the gloom,
cleaning himself off and tugging his trouser up. "Well fuck this, now what?" He
grumbled, stumbling over to the door and giving the handle a shake.

Their clothes actually fared quite well which was a huge relief. As it was Jim
was going to have to sneak the rag back to the bunks where there were laundry
baskets. Seb got up and Jim took a moment to try and calm himself down and
still the shaking in his hands when it started to hit him what he’d done. “Uh –
they’ll notice we’re gone at bed check. We could bang on the door? We might end
up spending the night here.” Jim shook his head in frustration when he realized
that he’d only spent one night in his own bed all week.

"We could indeed bang on the door." Sebastian leered at him, then realised the
affect had probably been lost and kicked the door in frustration, reaching up
to pound against it with his fists, "Alright whichever fucker locked us in
here! Get us out, or I'll beat the fucking shite out of you. Come on, stop
being a dick." They would be noticed missing at the bed check, but it would be
somewhat embaressing to be dragged out smelling of cum.

Jim picked up on the innuendo in Sebastian’s tone and he flipped him off even
if the other boy couldn’t see it. “Not without condoms you fuck, and I doubt
you managed to sneak any of those in here with that lighter of yours.” Jim
paused and sighed out a breath before continuing, “I might be able to weasel
some out of Watson.”

"Weasel what - condoms - wait, seriously?" Sebastian hesitated, a little
impressed but also slightly panicking. He'd never really thought about taking a
relationship to that level before. With other boys he'd only ever been in the
realm of quick fumbles in the dark, or snogs behind bushes. Jim seemed
incredibly secure and certain that this would progress a lot faster. "Well,
yeah, of course." He bragged, not wanting to seem naive in front of Jim.
Turning to the door he slammed his fist against it again, "Hello? Anyone there?
Let us the fuck out."

Jim frowned and looked over at him, “Well yeah unless you just want to wank
together for all eternity. If you don’t want to do anything else that’s fine.”
That would actually be a bit of relief, there’d be no pressure to continue
after their condoms ran out or if they didn’t have one on hand. Jim’s mother
had been religious about condom use, except that one time she wasn’t.

"I - well I hadn't thought about eternity yeah? Can we get out of this sodding
room before you propose." Sebastian bashed on the door fruitlessly and then
sighed, leaning against it and running a hand through the short buzzcut of his
hair. "Just - that was nice, yeah? Like to do it again. And, heh, your dad will
fucking lose it." That thought cheered him up, enough to make him stumble
sideways in surprise as the door clicked open and slid out, the sergeant behind
it looking stern and confused, eyebrows raising as he saw them, "Sebby! And
Moriarty's lad. What are you... oh? What are you doing?"

“Fuck off,” Jim hissed, feeling scrutinized in a way he didn’t like at all.
This whole job felt strange and he knew he was being clumsy but Jim was
inexperienced and there was only so far his bullshit could take him. “Yeah…”
Jim bit his lip and shivered at the thought of what his dad would do. Fucking
lose it was right. Hopefully whatever protection Magnussen was offering would
circumvent some of that. They were interrupted when the sergeant came in and
Jim stood quickly, blinking as the lights switched on, “We were doing our
chores, taking stock of supplies, when someone turned the lights out and locked
us in. Probably didn’t realize anyone was in here.”

The sergeant looked around, taking in the smells, their rumpled appearences and
then smirking, "Well... I think the CCTV footage of the room should confirm
that, hmm?"
The man watched Jim's face until Sebastian rolled his eyes and gave him an
awkward cuff on the soldier, "C'mon Sarge, there's no CCTV in here. Stop
pissing around. We just fooled a little bit, yeah?"
The sergeant was still looking at Jim, almost predatorily as he wrapped an arm
around Seb's shoulders and then reached down to squeeze his cock possessively
while Sebastian squirmed, "Oh? Did Sebby here want a try with someone else?
Yeah, he does that occasionally." Sebastian tried to laugh it off, not looking
at Jim at all until the sergeant let him go with a pat on the shoulder, "Both
of you scram or I'll stick you both in solitary." He looked at the marks on
Jim's neck and shook his head, "Shouldn't have done that to him Sebby -
Moriarty'll murder him."

Jim felt at a little sick at what the sergeant was so casually implying. He’d
have to think about what to do later. Jim frowned and didn’t say anything
though, he felt like if he opened his mouth he’d start yelling or get sick.
“Thank you,” he muttered before grabbing the towel, rolling it up, stuffing it
in his pocket, and dragging Sebastian away by the arm towards the bunks. “Fuck.
Lets just… shower and go to bed.” The Sergeant had been right though, Jim was
fucked as soon as his father saw the marks. That hadn’t been his best idea.

"Oh? Going to shower right now? You've still got chores to do." The sergeant
gave a smirk which was wiped off his face as Sebastian suddenly rounded on him,
"Yes we are going to fucking shower - and before you start barking out orders
or threats you should know that Jim here is pretty damn close up with Mags. if
I were you I would be careful what you get involved in." The sergeant frowned
at him, the two of them facing down before Sebastian allowed himself to be
dragged into the showers, shutting the bunkroom door and wrapping his arms
around Jim for a second before the rest of the boys arrived, "Don't worry..."
he whispered fondly, "He's just being a bastard. He is sometimes. But mostly
he's pretty alright. Mags'll protect you from your dad, you know that. And
Watson's looking out for you as well."

Jim tensed up when Sebastian said that he was close with Magnussen. It could
have just been a guess based on the rumors going around and the story of Mags
slapping his father and taking Jim to his office. He didn’t think that
Sebastian knew about his job, it wouldn’t make sense for Magnussen to out
himself like that. Still, it gave Jim pause and it was difficult to stay
relaxed and pliant. Especially with all of the tension between the sergeant and
Sebastian. When they got to the showers Jim took a minute to lean into
Sebastian’s chest, letting the boy comfort him despite the awkwardness he felt
at the hug. “And I have you too, don’t I?” Jim asked innocently, calculating
how much that little stunt had just bought him.

He felt Jim tense up and wasn't sure why, awkwardly patting him a bit and
smiling at the question. "Course you have me. I'll beat the shite out of anyone
who tries to hurt you, and I'll protect you on exercises, make sure you don't
get trapped or hurt." He broke away as noise outside signalled the rest of the
boys returning from chores and gave Jim a grin and a wink. "Don't worry about
the Sergeant, I'll take care of him. He's just all sulky that I've made a new
friend."

Jim wasn’t exactly looking for a protector, he had more than enough of that in
Magnussen, but he was glad that Sebastian wanted him safe at least. “Thank
you,” he muttered before they broke away. Jim stripped quickly and threw his
dirty uniform and the rag into a laundry bin before stepping under the water
and scrubbing at his skin with soap. “Maybe I won’t leave.” Jim said, leaving
another hook for his story.

"You'll do alright here." Sebastian murmured, then turned as the boys entered
the shower, laughing and joking with them.
He had to cuff one around the head as he bumped purposefully into Jim with a,
"So where were you and Moriarty anyway?"
"What do you think, we were locked in a cupboard giving each other a handjob."
Seb laughed taking refuge in audacity and the others sniggered and laughed
along with him, giving Jim sidelong glances and clearly not believing it for a
moment. They dried and dressed into night-clothes and then stood by the bed for
inspection, Sebastian studious ignoring the irritated glance of the sergeant
and knowing that some of the boys would already be starting to wonder about
Jim's love bites.
Chapter End Notes
     TW: Student/teacher relationship, mentions of sexual abuse by a
     teacher. Blackmail of a minor into a sexual relationship, dub-con.
***** Be a Miracle Worker for Me *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Jim slept through the night, he always slept well now because of how exhausted
he was. The next morning he made his bed well enough to pass inspection. In the
breakfast hall people were starting to whisper and stare but Jim ignored them,
for the most part enjoying his little rebellion. He actually ate a good portion
of his breakfast as well and before they knew it Jim and Seb were hustling to
the locker rooms to change for morning drills. “Sleep well?” Jim asked
pointedly as he started stripping. He was taking a bit more time than he needed
to, taking off his clothes and making too much eye contact with Sebastian to be
appropriate, bending over as he untied his boots.

Sebastian swallowed as Jim bent over, wondering whether he'd be allowed to
leave more little marks on the pale tight arse. Particularly bite marks. He
turned away quickly and concentrated on his buttons, "Yeah. Had some good
dreams..." he smirked, then scowled at a boy who looked about to mention
something about Jim's hickeys.
It wasn't until they got to PE that it was mentioned, Darren giving Jim a cuff
around the head and sniggering, "Awww... looks like little Moriarty's found
someone special to suck. Either that or we've got some pretty fierce flees
now." He looked at Jim and shook his head, "Silly little bollocks you're dad'll
loose it, I'll leave you for him. Get stuck into your training, FUCKING ALL OF
YOU." He barked and the boys started the work-out with a jump.

Jim reached up to grab at his head where it was hit, scowling fiercely as he
started his laps. On John’s orders Jim was to avoid the obstacle course until
his wrist healed so he mostly jogged laps, did sit ups and that sort of thing
in an effort to get his cardio up to snuff. Jim was a little bit irritated that
Darren hadn’t given him a punishment, it probably would have been an act of
mercy. His father’s class was at the end of the day, right before dinner and
they all filed into their seats and Jim took his assigned seat next to
Sebastian, trying to scrunch his neck up so that the marks would be more
difficult to see.

Sebastian felt on fire - the thrill of what was coming, the joy at having done
something that would drive Moriarty mad, sent adrenaline pumping through him,
and his mornings workout when went well. He gave Jim a little grope at lunch,
not caring who saw, and even managed to keep his excitement through the normal
classes. He sat next to Jim in the class, staring brazenly forward and giving a
huge smirk at Moriarty as he appeared, raising an eyebrow challengingly, hands
crossed over his chest.

Moriarty noticed Sebastian’s smirk and knew what it was about, he’d had plenty
of his colleagues come up to him today and remark on the hickies on his son’s
neck. He’d flown into a rage once already but it was cooled now, under control.
He had thought it through and James wasn’t going to be provoked by an arrogant
boy. The way his son sat cowed in the seat was enough to help him keep his
temper for now. He started his lesson on basic POW conditions and what to
expect while he waited patiently for the right moment.
It was almost an anticlimax when Moriarty just glanced over them and said
nothing. Sebastian was tempted to goad him but Jim was looking so small and
worried that he bit his tongue and concentrated on listening. Whatever happened
nobody would accuse him of loosing his place at the top of the class. Halfway
through he needed a piss, giving Jim a pat on the shoulder and asking slightly
insolently to be excused, rather surprised when he was allowed.

Moriarty grinned as Sebastian left and turned to fill up the large plastic sink
with water. His room had all kinds of little modifications because he needed
them for lessons. “Now, part of being taken as a POW is interrogation. You are
only to give your name, and your ID number and that is the only information you
will allow to fall into enemy hands.” Moriarty lectured while the sink filled
behind him and he turned to dig something out of one of the trunks. “Jimmy here
is going to give you lot a demonstration, because he has some experience with
this, don’t you? Come up to the front, now.” Jim stood on weak knees, already
knowing what this was and desperately wanting to sit back in his chair. But he
stood and made his way to the front of the class, holding his arms behind his
back obediently when he saw the length of rope his father had fished out of the
trunk. “Good boy. Now, I’m going to ask you some questions and you’re going to
only give me your name and your student ID number.” Moriarty pressed briefly at
the hickies on Jim’s neck and grinned before he grabbed Jim by the back of the
neck and dragged him to the full sink before dunking his head in and holding it
under water. This was one of his favorite methods to get Jim to talk when he
was little and thought he could hide something from his father. No pain, no
marks, it was mostly used to terrorize someone into revealing information. Jim
struggled hard but Moriarty came up behind him and bent him over the lip of the
sink while he held his head under the water. “Very good. Do you see the
bubbles? He’s blowing air out of his nose so that he doesn’t inhale any water
by accident and choke. Doing that gets harder the longer this goes on for.” He
dragged Jim’s head up so that he could gasp for air and asked, “Who were you
fucking then slut, hmmmm? Give me an answer and I’ll make it stop.” Before Jim
could answer Moriarty dunked his head down again, holding him there while he
struggled. He pulled him up again and gave him a chance this time, Jim only
gasped out his name and school ID. After that it went a bit mad, Jim continued
to try and keep the water out but the longer he was held under the more often
he choked on it and the more got into his lungs. Moriarty continued to ask the
question and eventually Jim stopped responding because it was better to use the
time to breathe. His struggles were controlled by his tied hands and Moriarty’s
weight pressing him down. The class looked pretty stunned and uncomfortable but
they were trying to hide it as they watched their teacher torture his son. “Who
fucked you?” Moriarty screamed in Jim’s face as he shook him.

Sebastian took a piss, grinning at the thought of Moriarty squirming under the
knowledge of what him and Jim had done. He froze though as he sauntered back
and heard the noises, frowning and then his eyes widened as he realised that it
was Jim with thin arms tied behind his back, Jim being harmed and struggling.
Giving a growl he strode forward, pushing Moriarty backwards and yanking Jim
out of the water, putting a hand on his chest to move him protectively
backwards and spitting into Moriarty's face, "I bloody well fucked him. Student
ID: 24069 name: Sebastian fucking Moran. I fucked him and if you hurt him again
I will beat the shit out of you, alright?"

Moriarty glared as he was pushed back and rounded on the other boy, “Cadet you
are interfering with a simulation, you can either let him go and take your seat
or I will send you to the detention hall.” He grabbed onto Jim’s elbow and
pulled, “Let him go now, you’re in enough trouble as it is.” Jim wheezed and
coughed in exhaustion, all of his limbs shaking with adrenaline.

Sebastian stared at him, the fear hammering through his veins and shooting off
more adrenaline before he hauled back and punched Moriarty right in the face,
knocking him down and standing over him, sneering, while the rest of the pupils
backed away. "You? You are fucking NOTHING! Just some sadistic Irish fucker who
sucks Magnussens cock for a job. I am the son of Augustus Moran. I am a fucking
LORD. And you stand there with your weedy little body and your cunning little
sadistic mind and you think you're better than me?" He saw Darren and the
Sergeant running over out of the corner of his eye and knew dimly that he was
probably a hairsbreath away from getting expelled which was why when he stomped
down his foot he stopped it an inch away from Moriarty's face, "I could've
maimed you here and now." He hissed, "Don't fucking forget that."

“Fuck, Seb stop,” Jim hissed as he felt his hands start to go numb. His wrists
had been tied too tightly and water still soaked into his uniform from his head
and neck.
Moriarty stood slowly and dusted off his trousers, appearing unaffected and Jim
shrunk away from Sebastian, not especially wanting to be in the fallout zone.
Moriarty smiled and took Jim back to stand by him, “You’ve made your decision.
I’ll see you expelled, Moran. There are clear rules and you’ve broken enough of
them to be kicked out three times over you little fuckwit. I hope you enjoyed
it while it lasted.” He brushed his hand over the stubble on Jim’s head,
grinning at the innuendo.

Sebastian stood shaking in rage and helpless anger, glaring at him and watching
Jim standing next to his father looking small and diminutive and so vulnerable.
He heard Darren swearing behind him and ripped off a perfect salute before
turning stiffly, letting the Sergeant lead him away to the detention centre
without looking back. Once there he stared at the wall, glowering as the
sergeant locked the door with them both inside it. "We'll see what Mags says,
yeah, although he's not the best person to have your fate in his hands. And
either way boyo you are in a shit-ton of trouble."

Darren took Jim back from Moriarty as soon as Seb was out of the room and
untied the boy’s hands, giving Moriarty a warning glare when it looked like he
was about to protest. There was enough shit flying right now and Darren was
going to do the smart thing and took Jim to the hospital wing.
Jim was still shaking and coughing occasionally, everything was shiny and
unbearably bright with all of the adrenaline running through his veins. His
father hadn’t done anything like that since he was ten. Jim tried to pull
himself together as he reached the hospital wing, wondering if he’d make it
through a single day without winding up there. “Watson,” Darren barked out,
looking for the other man.

Watson came out, eyes widening when he saw Darren holding Jim, and knocking his
head against the wall. "What the hell happened?"
Darren shrugged uncertainly, looking behind to check that Moriarty hadn't
followed them. "Moriarty used him for a demonstration. Water-torture for POWs.
Moran... fucking lost it. Smacked him in the face. He's cooling his heels in
detention now."
John sighed, taking Jim as Darren pushed him towards him and helping him back
to the bed, "I don't know why I let this boy out of my sight, I really don't.
Everyone out there is mad. What was Moran thinking?"
"Don't think was." Darren shrugged, "It would be a pity for him to get
expelled, he's a fucking good cadet, and he could take a punishment if Mags
threw the book at him. Moriarty was pretty damn angry though."

“Sorry,” Jim muttered as he was sat down on the bed. “Fuck, I’m okay. It’s
fine.” It had just scared the hell out of him. “Passed the exercise anyway.”
Jim had some experience with getting checked over after this kind of thing and
automatically moved to remove his shirt and vest so that John could listen to
his lungs. “S okay. M not hurt or anything. I didn’t mean for Moran to do
that.” He was still trying to get control of the tremors.

John grabbed his stethoscope, feeling his heart clench as Jim automatically
breathed in deep for his lunch to be checked. He didn't want to poke at that
particular wound though in case far too much was revealed and so clenched his
teeth and checked Jim's lungs. "You are hurt, you look terrible. And you
certainly can't be responsible for any stupid thing Moran does." He frowned and
reached up to the marks on Jim's neck, "Please don't tell me your father is
responsible for these as well?"
Darren gave a half smile, "No... those were from Moran."
John looked up at him gaping, going to the worst possible conclusion, "How dare
he - fucking - how do you know?"
Darren shrugged, "Partly because he's a randy little sod and partly because he
screamed 'I fucked him' at the entire class several times. If I were you I'd
give his arse a check as well." He sniggered.

Jim just turned off in response to the stress, everything that had happened and
John jumping to the wrong conclusions and Darren harassing him was a little too
much for him at this point. “Make him leave.” He kept his eyes down and to the
side so he didn’t have to look at either of them. Jim wouldn’t have Darren
there to mock him and laugh. “He didn’t fuck me,” Jim whispered roughly, his
throat hurt something awful after inhaling all that water.

"Oi you watch it you little-" Darren started, stepping forward and then
retreating at John's fierce glare, with his hands up, "Alright. I'll - yeah."
He scooted off and John looked at Jim sadly, shaking his head. "Who didn't -
Moran?" He sighed and finished the examination and then let Jim lie down,
switching on the kettle and getting out a sachet. "I'll give you a drink
that'll help your throat. Rest now, and you'll be back at lessons tomorrow..."
He hesitated. "I am now legally responsible for you so... if you want me to
strongly recommend to Magnussen that you only attend intellectual lessons I'd
be more than happy to. Although I suspect he'll have several words with your
father. And Moran. Fucking hell." He took a few deep breaths, shaking his head
and staring at the floor, "Not this bloody mess again."

“Yeah,” Jim croaked, “There was – no penetration. I’m doing a job for Mags.
That’s part of it.” Jim wasn’t sure exactly how much he was allowed to tell
John so he kept it vague enough. “Father wasn’t pleased of course. He waited
until Sebastian left and then he – tied me up and held my head under water and
they all sat and watched him. The other cadets. Seb went mad.” Jim watched John
move around curiously, “What do you mean again?”

"I - I really shouldn't tell you." John sighed and then sat next to him, his
jaw clenching as he heard what he'd suspected, that this was all being done for
Magnussen. "Magnussen collects people, particularly those useful for whatever
little rings he's running. He's messed with a few other pupils but there was
one a few years ago - Holmes. He had a terrible time, bullied, knocked around,
terrible at the physicals. Magnussen offered to get him out of them in order
for 'jobs' done. He did a few, never told me but I used to treat him afterwards
and, well, I can spot a pattern. Then he did something... unforgivable.
Involving his brother. It was very... calculated. Very cold. I certainly never
forgave him for it. Magnussen was delighted, less so when his very next act was
to undercut Magnussen and walk away with a large amount of money, and a
considerable amount of power. I believe they now have a sort of truce. Even so,
I still remember picking him up after every attempt, patching him up." A dark
and furious look passed over his face. "Magnussen uses people and he changes
them, and in my opinion always for the worst."

Jim frowned, piecing the story together. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve got… limited
options and the alternatives are worse.” Jim had John as his legal guardian
now, which was something. “Could you – ugh fuck. Do you have any condoms I
could take with me? I’ll hide them, I promise, it’s just-“ Jim frowned and
debated whether he should share what he’d seen but decided that because
Sebastian hadn’t told him anything it was just observations. “I think
Sebastian’s been sexually active – with the sergeant and later he’s going to
want—sex and if he’s been with other people I would rather not put myself at
risk if I can help it.”

John blinked then his eyes widened, "What? The Sergeant? That's a huge
violation of trust, the sergeant is his teacher for gods sake..." He shook his
head, teeth clenched and looking at Jim, shaking his head, "Ordinarily I'd
refuse to even contemplate supporting what you're suggestion. Not least because
I seriously suspect your motives for wanting sexual intercorse - particularly
with Moran. However... I know he certainly has been with other people, in some
capacity, and I'd rather not treat you for syphilis on top of everything."
Tight faced he walked over to a drawer and tapped it. "You'll find them in
there. Take them whenever you need them. I suspect he has some in his trunk."
With that he left the room, finding it all a bit to hard to cope with at this
moment, the sort of things he was finding himself having to support.

Jim frowned, not appreciating what he saw as pity, but ultimately John had
shown him where the condoms were and that was all that really mattered. Jim
hopped off the table and got dressed before he grabbed a couple from the drawer
and snuck out the front. John wasn’t supervising him and he’d technically
suggested that Jim stay the night but he needed to see Sebastian and make sure
he was okay. So Jim snuck into the detention center and found the solitary
rooms. He walked along the hall and peeked in each one until he found
Sebastian’s door. Jim opened up the grate near the floor and hissed,
“Sebastian!” Quietly, trying not to draw any attention to this area of the
building.

Sebastian was slumped down on the floor, but he stood up as he heard Jim's
voice, quickly going to the grate and trying to see him through the little
grill, "Jim! Fuck, are you alright? Are you allowed in here? I can't get you
into any more trouble, I shouldn't have said anything to the Fucking Bastard I
know just couldn't fucking watch that. Not after I'd promised to look after
you. You sure you're alright? Has Watson seen you?"

Jim grinned tiredly and sat with his back against the door to support himself,
“Yeah I’m okay. It’s not meant to do any permeant damage. I snuck out to check
on you, yes Watson’s seen me. He’s my guardian now, my father no longer has
custody.” Jim sighed and relaxed some against the door. “You shouldn't have
done that, what am I supposed to do if you get expelled? You know that’s what
he wants, unlimited access to me and no one to watch my back.”

"I know." Sebastian snapped, not wanting to be reminded that what he'd done was
incredibly stupid. "The sergeant had a few words with me. Quite a few words.
Rather loud words. And slapped me a few. Nothing too bad though, he wants me
able to get through any punishment Mags throws at me if he takes that route."
He sighed, sliding down to sit on the other side of the door. "How was I meant
to watch that? His hurting you. You'll always have Mags to watch your back, he
can't prevent that, and Mags won't do any damn silly things like try to knock
him out." He grinned, "He'll have a bruise there though. And everyone will see
it. And know that I put it there." He hesitated and then dropped his head into
his hands, "Fuck I am in trouble."

Jim winced a little when Sebastian brought up the Sergeant but soldiered on,
“Uh, John gave me condoms so there’s always that to look forward to if you make
it through.” Jim was very sure that Magnussen wouldn’t let Sebastian be
expelled but he’d just have to see. “You got a thing for leaving bruises on
Moriarty’s, hmmmm?” Jim gave a grin and tried to lighten the mood. “You’re
alright. Just be a good boy and nod and smile and tell them how sorry you are.
Spout some nonsense about loyalty to your comrades and not being able to let
that go undefended. You’ll be fine.”

"Heh - looks like it." Sebastian paused. He really wanted to ask Jim to ask
Magnussen to let him off but that would involve revealing a lot more of the
overheard conversation than he wanted to. "Yeah, yeah, I'll be a model of
contrition. Give the Fucking Bastard a nice long apology, head down, all sorry.
They'll never believe I did it out of loyalty though, usually I just laugh. 'S
all round the camp that I gave you love-bites anyway so just... watch out.
Specially while I'm in here." He pressed his fingers up against the grate and
grinned, "Where are you... I can't believe you got condoms off Watson."

Jim smirked and reached an arm behind his back to press the backs of his
fingers against the grate so that Sebastian would know where he was. “Watch out
for what? Are they going to want to beat the piss out of me or leave a few love
bites of their own? You know they thought you raped me?” Jim’s tone was a
little accusatory by the end, trying to suss out what the boy had done to earn
their mistrust. “Yeah, it wasn’t that hard to be honest. Watson doesn’t want me
getting sick so… it was a pretty easy sell.”

"I dunno..." Seb felt a bit uneasy at the possibility, "They'll joke and
snigger, maybe some of the older ones might feel you up a bit - they thought I
what?" His voice ended in an aggreived squawk. "Fucking hell I've beaten guys
up before, pretty badly, but never done that. Why the hell would I? My
reputation would get shot and I'm pretty sure a group of the guys would gang up
and take me down. You don't piss in your own pool like that."

Jim frowned but was satisfied with the righteous indignation in Sebastian’s
voice, the boy genuinely believed he’d never forced himself on anyone. He
accepted his answer, even if the reasoning seemed a little weak to him. “I’ll
keep that in mind if I ever decide to be a rapist,” Jim muttered sarcastically.
He coughed wetly, still trying to get some of the residual water out of his
lungs.

"You don't sound good." Sebastian's voice softened a little and he rubbed his
fingers against Jim's, hesitating as he heard the main door open.
The sergeant entered, looking at Jim and giving a grin, nodding at the door to
Sebastian's little cell room. "That's very sweet of you, coming down to see
him. I've just been to see Mags - he wants a word with you. After he's finished
talking to your dad."
"Has he decided about me?" Sebastian called from inside.
The sergeant rolled his eyes, giving the door a kick and ruffling Jim's shaven
head, "Well he hasn't asked for you to get thrown out, but yes, you will have
to see him. Just behave, alright?"

Jim dropped his hand away and stood as quickly as he could when the sergeant
came in. He nodded when he was told to go see Mags, he wasn’t looking forward
to that conversation at all. The sergeant touched his head and Jim couldn’t
help flinching away from his hand, not after what had just happened to him and
what he knew about the man. “Behave,” Jim reiterated to Sebastian before he
gave a little pat to the door and left for Mags’ office.

The sergeant kicked the door again when Jim left, "Behave? You'll listen to him
but not me?"
Sebastian smirked and kicked the door from the other side, "Calm down, fucks
sake. Yeah, I've got the hots for him. I don't care who's son he is."
 
===============================================================================
 

Moriarty was angry and nursing a bruise on his face but he was still in control
enough to knock on Magnussen’s office door before coming in, not willing to
risk that level of rudeness. “Sir, I’m assuming you’ve been made aware of the
situation? I demand that you expel the Moran boy. He assaulted me during class
today, he’s been fucking my son – he said it, there are witnesses to all of
this. He spoke to me with unacceptable rudeness again.That’s enough for him to
be expelled three times over.”

Magnussen watched him come in, staring at him politely as he spoke and then
standing up from behind his desk, coming over and putting a hand on Moriarty's
shoulder as he walked passed him before bending a little to murmur in his ear,
"I have indeed been made aware of the situation. You lost control of your class
and were assaulted by a student. I've never heard of you having this problem
before. Mostly the students are too scared of you to react. Are you losing your
touch?"

Moriarty frowned briefly and then grinned back at the man, trying to hide how
angry he was. “I had perfect control of my class. They were pissing themselves.
Besides, what better way to put the fear of god in them than expelling a
influential student? If you keep him on it will send entirely the wrong
message. Buggery is enough of an offense to get expelled. The boy has a
vendetta against me, fucking my son just to taunt me and then assaulting me in
my own class.”

Magnsusen turned to look at him, dragging a finger down the bruise on his face,
"If I expel him it will show the class you cannot cope with him." He murmured
gently, "Sebastian Moran is here for one reason and one reason only, so that I
can have control over his father. Sending him back home will lose me a valuable
piece in a very important plan." He moved his finger away and then looked down
at Moriarty, frowning, "If you cannot control him in your own classroom I will
have to find a way to replace you with someone who can. I know you overheard me
asking your son to get close to him, I've no doubt your boy will be buggered,
repeatedly and often. If any of the cadets in your care misbehave the way
Sebastian did again then I will see to it that you are as well."

“I would have a much easier time controlling him if you ever actually let me
punish him. Instead you pull him out of solitary and give him special favors,
you let him shoot at your car last week and all he got was a slap on the wrist
for it.” Moriarty flushed and snarled at the threat, going incoherent with rage
for a moment. “That won’t be a problem you sick fuck. Don’t bother sending
anyone who you care about to do your dirty work because anyone you sent to
touch me is going to lose at least one vital part of their anatomy.”

"Then punish him." Magnussen replied mildly, patting Moriarty's shoulder and
heading back to his desk. "Do what you need to. Whatever you need to. I need
him here and I need him alive. That is all." He looked down at his paperwork
for a minute and then pointedly back up at Moriarty. "I said that is all. You
are dismissed. Your son is outside, would you be able to send him in without
landing him back with Doctor Watson. And-" He spoke up again just as Moriarty
reached for the door. "Please don't fuck up again. You have been an excellent
teacher and a very useful member of this establishment. I would hate to have to
lose you."

Moriarty grinned finally, falling back on the cheerful façade. “Of course, I
understand sir.” He opened the door and gave his son a smile before reaching
out and cupping the back of his neck where just an hour ago he’d been holding
him down by that same spot. “Alright Jimmy? You’re a tough little bastard. Knew
you could do it of course, you had plenty of experience. One of the other kids
might have panicked, you know how it is.” He released his neck and left him
with a light slap to the side of his face.
Jim winced as his father tapped the side of his face and scowled after him, not
buying the bullshit for a second. He stepped inside Magnussen’s office and shut
the door behind him. “You wanted to see me, sir?” Jim wasn’t sure when he’d
started calling Magnussen sir.

Magnussen looked at him and then gave a smile, looking down at Jim, his fingers
gently flexing and moving, "Yes. I wanted to thank you, for how well you've
done so far. Moran already is clearly very attached to you - well done for
managing to get him so close and for finding away to test it." His fingers
tapped against the desk and he looked up slightly reprovingly. "Of course that
was a bit of a dangerous test for you to implement. And I know you implemented
it - it would be incredibly... disappointing... if you had that little control
over what happened to you. Sebastian will have to be taken to task for behaving
in such away. I will naturally allow you to comfort him afterwards." He gave a
small smile at the table and then looked at Jim again, the smile fading. "When
he goes home for Christmas you need to be going with him, understand?"

Jim knew that Magnussen was aware he’d not in any way planned or
implemented what his father had done to him in class this afternoon but he
wasn’t suicidal enough to voice it out loud. “I’m glad you are pleased, sir.”
Jim muttered vaguely, feeling vindicated that he’d made the right choice in
starting up a physical relationship with him. “Not dangerous, not really. He
wouldn’t have hurt me badly in the middle of his class, and I’m – uh, used to
it.” He sighed lightly and shook his head, “I understand sir, obviously I would
have liked him to think through matters before acting but I’m not a miracle
worker.” Jim swallowed when Magnussen stared him down, “I understand sir. From
what I’ve heard he’s never invited a guest home?”

"Ah, if you are used to it then that's fine, it's good to know you can cope."
Magnussen watched Jim's face, seeing the slight fear behind it. The boy was
still a beginner after all. Coming over he gently pressed a finger against one
of the love bites, stroking against it and murmuring, "Become a miracle worker.
For me. A certain amount of convincing may be required." His finger pressed
harder against the bruise, "I have absolutely no doubt you will manage it. If I
had any doubts, I would have let your father kill you. Now go back to Watson,
stay away from the detention centre and from Sebastian until your father is
happy with how he's been punished."

Jim frowned as Mags pressed against the hickey on his neck, aggravating the
bruise and reminding him of Sebastian’s mouth on his neck and the way it felt.
When the other man pressed harder Jim leaned forward, away from the hand, and
covered his mouth while he coughed, water still rattling around in his lungs.
“Yes of course sir.” Jim stood, feeling faintly regretful for how John was
going to lecture him for sneaking out of the hospital wing. It was perhaps
rather callused but Jim wasn’t especially worried about Sebastian. Anything his
father came up with wouldn’t do any permanent damage, in all likelihood it
would carry some nebulous poetic justice, and Seb would still be able to attend
morning classes. Jim had been taking punishments like that since he was half
Sebastian’s age, the other boy would be okay, although Jim doubted very much
that it would be pleasant.
Chapter End Notes
     TW: water torture simulation, discussions of sexual assault, threat
     of sexual assault. Mentions of past child abuse.
***** I Can do Whatever I Want with You *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
The sergeant stayed by the cell for a little while, telling Seb off in an
exasperated tone of voice and rolling his eyes as the snark from inside
eventually faded into a highly sarcastic series of "Yes Sir - oh of course Sir
-" Shaking his head he knocked his fist against the door, "You better sound a
lot more meaningful when you have to say that to Mags..." He jumped and stood
properly to attention as Moriarty walked in, Sebastian falling silent as he
heard the footsteps and as the Sergeant loudly exclaimed "Captain Moriarty!
Would, uh, would you like the keys? I assume Magnussen wants to see the silly
little sod?"

Moriarty smiled and gestured for the sergeant to unlock the room, “I’m afraid
he’s not interested in seeing Cadet Moran, no. He’s been left for me to deal
with, Magnussen is far too busy. Come along then Moran, we’re going back to my
classroom. Have a good evening, Simon.” Moriarty nodded to the sergeant before
he turned on his heel and walked away, expecting Sebastian to keep up.

The sergeant opened the door and gave Sebastian a warning glance as he let him
out. Sebastian gave a little nod and then followed Moriarty stiffly. By the
sounds of it he wasn't getting expelled, but he was pretty sure that Moriarty
wasn't going to be in the best of moods. Still, after seeing all the punishment
he'd put his son through it was almost a relief just to have to face it himself
rather than watching Jim suffer. And he brightened a little at the thought he
might get to join Jim in the hospital wing afterwards. Jim and the condoms. He
followed Moriarty quickly, standing to attention once they reached the room,
staring straight ahead.

James gave a little smile and turned on the water in the sink before plugging
up the drain so that water began to fill in the basin. “You missed my lecture
on water torture while you were in the toilet Moran. It was a very important
lecture, something I imagine you’ll need to know in the future.” Moriarty dug
through the chest and pulled out a set of metal handcuffs before twirling them
around on his finger. “What you interrupted earlier was a simulation. How would
you like to experience the real thing?”

Sebastian felt his heart rate speed up, not even trying to hide the fear that
briefly passed over his face. He closed his eyes for a second and then opened
then, looking Moriarty straight in the eyes, "You know, before I met your son I
fucking respected you." He said quietly, "You were the dogs bollocks - wanted
to impress you more than my own dad sometimes." He stepped forward, pushing his
arms up behind his back ready for the handcuffs and turning around in front of
him, "Any tips to give me... Sir? Before we start?"
Moriarty smirked and shook his head regretfully, “I can’t help you if you don’t
listen to my lectures Moran. Turn around.” When Sebastian complied Moriarty
tightened the cuffs around his wrists tightly. “I am sorry that you feel let
down. It’s a good lesson to learn though, everyone in your life will disappoint
you. Especially people like my son.” He felt safer to antagonize the boy now
that he had submitted and his hands were tied. “I used to have hopes for him
too, that he’d impress me one day. But instead I got this scrawny little boy
who could barely look me in the eye one minute and was wild and uncontrollable
the next. It’s clear to me now that he’s a whore, just like his mother was.
It’s a shame, he got my brains, he really could have made something of himself
but instead he’ll suck cock for Mags until the man doesn’t want him anymore.”
Moriarty sighed regretfully before pushing Sebastian over to the sink and he
turned the cold water off. “Right. I’ll ask you questions, you’ll try to only
answer with your name and student ID. Good luck.” He punched Sebastian hard,
aiming for his diaphragm and knocking the wind out of him, leaving him gasping
for air as his lungs spasmed before shoving his head under the water.

"It wasn't your son that disappointed me, it was you..." Sebastian managed a
tight smile as he was pushed over the bowl, "When I saw how fucking amazing he
was... and the way you treated him. He's the toughest little shit I know and
you fucked him over and over and he just kept taking it. He's a survivor -
unh..." the punch caught him off balance, and the sudden immersion into water
had him spasming and twitching, his body struggling with no air left in lungs
that were desperately trying to inflate. Eyes closed his head jerked about, for
moment he felt a rushing in his ears a blind panic as his body was convinced it
was about to die, right here, right now.

Moriarty held his head under the water for about thirty seconds before pulling
him up for air. “Good. You didn’t pass out, that’s good.” He brushed his hand
over the stubble on Sebastian’s head a few times while he let him catch his
breath and rally a little. “You know, I thought for sure that Magnussen would
expel you. Find some other way to get at your father, but no he surprised me.
He’s given me permission to kill you here.” He felt Sebastian tense up and
Moriarty continued with the story, “It turns out he thinks he can get more
leverage over your father with you out of the way. He’s just going to attack
him directly now. I can do whatever I want with you.” Keeping a sneer off his
face Moriarty slowly ran his hand down Sebastian’s shivering back. “You know
normally the prisoner would be kept nude? I expect you would like that though.
After you pass out I’m going to bring you around and then I’m going to rape
you. If you come then I’m going to kill you.” Magnussen dunked Sebastian’s head
underwater again, holding him down for longer this time now that he’d given him
a few moments to compose himself and breathe.

Sebastian felt his lungs expand desperately as soon as he was out of the water,
shivering and shaking at the words as he gasped for breath. While his body
panicked his mind felt a frission of excitment because this was something
completely new. He'd never been so close to actual death before, with someone
who had every right to kill him and a small part of him almost appreciated
being given the chance to see how he reacted to such a situation, to learn how
to prepare his body. He couldn't stop the fear though, the vulnerability he'd
been catapulted into, the panic starting to spiral around his brain. And then
he was underwater again and his body was screaming at him for air.

Moriarty hit him again, this time in the kidney and held him under for another
fifteen seconds after that before pulling him up again. “What, you don’t have
anything to say to me? No threats or witty comebacks? I should have started
this on you years ago, lord knows it did wonders for Jimmy. He was always so
well behaved after one of these little sessions.” He smiled and tilted his
head, giving Sebastian’s face a little slap and squinting at him to test his
reflexes, “Now, I want you to say that he’s a whore. Say it and I can give you
a break. If you don’t then I’m going to put you back in the water.” This was
Moriarty’s dig back at Magnussen, these memories would be bright in Sebastian’s
mind due to the extreme emotions associated with them, getting him to verbalize
negative thoughts about his son would root them in his mind and make Jim’s job
more difficult and therefor Magnussen’s plan less likely to succeed.

Sebastian gave a snarl, hissing through his teeth and then spitting out "Cadet
Moran 24069." His adrenaline was high and the memory of Jim's coughing at the
front of his mind. If Jim could survive this, he could. but it was more than
that, more than Jim surviving it. It was him and a bastard in a room and the
entire weight of Moran and the English establishment at his back. He felt a
grin starting to spread and tried desperately to hide it, breathing quickly
through his mouth to try and get as much oxygen trapped in his muscles as he
could.

Moriarty shook his head regretfully and held Sebastian’s head under water and
slowly started choking him while he was under, although he was careful not to
leave any bruises that Watson would have his hide over. He was good at not
leaving bruises. It was just to scare the boy further. After almost a full
minute Moriarty pulled him out again and smacked the side of his head to make
it more difficult for the boy to focus. “Say he’s a whore. You aren’t even
giving me information I don’t already know. All you have to do is say this one
thing and we can move on to the fucking. I hope you’re as excited as I am. Are
you going to think of him while I rape you?”
 
Sebastian staggered sideways as he was pulled up, desperately trying to throw
himself out of Moriarty's clutches, just to get a bit more breath. His throat
hurt, and he knew soon his lungs would start trying to take in air even while
underwater, meaning that he'd still be fighting drowning even when pulled out
the bucket. "C-cunt." He managed to gasp and then stubbornly, "Cadet Moran,
24069."

“Mmm, close but that’s not what I told you to call him.” Moriarty punched him
in the ribs this time, careful not to break anything. “I’ll give you one more
chance. If you won’t say it after this then I’m going to fuck him instead, and
I’ll do it in front of your while you watch like a helpless little bitch. If
you tell me what I want to hear then I’ll just finish with you.” James knew all
of the tricks, all of the ways to play two prisoners against each other. It was
just a matter of finding the right button to hit. He punched Sebastian in the
balls and enjoyed the noise that got out of him before shoving him under the
water again.

Sebastian whined at the punch in his ribs, then doubled over as the fist
smacked into his balls, his gasp of pain coinciding with being pushed under. It
was almost with a sense of relief that he inhaled his first deep lungful of
water, thrashing and choking under Moriarty's hand before his eyes rolled up
and the world sparkled and broke up in front of his eyes.

Moriarty felt Moran go limp and quickly pulled him out of the water and laid
him on his back snd tilted his head to the side so that the water he inhaled
could drain to the side. “Fucking pussy…” James muttered while he waited for
the water to drain out while he checked the boy’s pulse. When the water drained
Moriarty put his head back in position and pinched his nose before breathing
deeply into the boy’s lungs to sort out whatever water was left. On the third
breath something sparked and Sebastian rolled onto his side and coughed up the
rest of the water. “That’s it, you stupid fuck you aren’t supposed to inhale
it.” James patted his back cheerfully, feeling much better now that he had
extracted his pound of flesh. “Now you aren’t going to hit me again, are you?”

Sebastian coughed and spluttered, gasping for breath as he tried to recover and
giving a groan. He looked up at Moriarty, feeling more vulnerable and scared
than he had in a very long time, shivering in his wet clothes. His eyes
narrowed at the question, and as he remembered Moriarty threatening to fuck his
own son to try and get him to break. He glared back at him, arms wrapping
protectively around his body and eyes glittering as he said back deliberately
"Cadet Moran. 24069."

James snorted and smacked the back of Sebastian’s head. “Well you held up
fairly well for your first time. As expected of one of our top students. I
understand you’re not going to believe me, so here.” He got up and fished the
handcuff key out of his top drawer before kneeling down and unlocking the
handcuffs, helping rub some circulation back into his limbs. “Good boy,” he
praised quietly and ran a hand over his hair. “Come on, you’re spending the
night in the hospital wing. Get up and move.”

Sebastian found himself shaking a little as James praised him, part of him
unable to believe it was all over, that this wasn't some other strange trick.
He rubbed his wrists and rolled his shoulders as he was let free, giving a
small smile as Moriarty stroked his hair and then hesitating before saying, his
voice lowered, "I didn't, Sir. Didn't fornicate with your son. You think I want
to betray my own father like that? I overheard it too, remember." He pulled
himself upright and stumbled against a wall, coughing a bit and rubbing his
throat before heading for the door, "Do - uh - what do you want me to tell
Watson?" He asked, rubbing at his balls and whimpering a little.

He shook his head ruefully, “Moran you aren’t a very good liar. You should
stick to denying everything. Come along now, we can tell Watson together – you
seem a little addled still.” Moran gripped his shoulder possessively before
leading him to the hospital wing and giving a little wave to Jim who was just
getting to his feet when he saw Sebastian. “Doctor Watson? I’ve got another
patient for you, I’m afraid. Don’t bother getting angry with me, it was Mags’
alternative to expelling him. And he was very grateful for his second chance,
weren’t you boy?”

Sebastian couldn't help a shiver as Moriarty grabbed his shoulder but let
himself be led down to the medical unit, not sure whether to be pleased or
irritated that Moriarty didn't seem to have believed him. He let Moriarty do
the talking, merely nodding dully when the conversation seemed to require his
response and then taking a breath before managing, "Yes Captain Moriarty, it
was very instructional." He certainly wasn't about to promise not to misbehave
again. Watson gave Moriarty an irritated glare, then nodded at Sebastian.
"Alright, sit down, take your shirt off. Any chance you can let me know what
you did to him?" He was pleased at least that other than looking pretty grey
and shaken Sebastian didn't look too badly injured, certainly not physically.

“Just the demonstration he interrupted in class today. I hit him a couple of
times but I didn’t break anything. It was all very controlled. Silly sod got a
lungful of water and passed out on me half way through but I fished him out and
administered mouth to mouth. He shouldn’t need any treatment, just observation
overnight since he did get water in his lungs.” James stepped over to his son
and gave him a little smack over the ear. “I was told to sign over custody of
my son to you, Watson. I hope he’s not giving you too much trouble already. He
seems rather… attached to you.” He gave a little smirk and raised his eyebrows
skeptically. “Is he your reward for good behavior. An apology for the last one,
that Holmes boy? What a mess that was. You seemed very close with that boy
too.”

"Breathe in." Watson instructed Sebastian, listening to his lungs and frowning
at Moriarty. "You did sign over custody to me, and as such I'd like to ask you
to stop hitting him. Deep breath Moran."
Sebastian gave a grin and breathed in deep, "Didn't make me break though." He
challenged, mainly to show off to Jim, "Didn't get anything but my name and
number."
John flushed as Holmes was mentioned but managed to stop his voice from
shaking, "The boy went on to occupy a particularly good place in the English
Government, I wouldn't say that was a mess for one of our alumni's to told such
a high position." He said formally, moving the stethescope over Sebastian's
back, "Breath in again Moran. I was his Doctor, and he ended up seeing me a
lot. He had his own parents to care for him. Jim is my foster-child as he has
no fit parents left alive."

“Believe me, his mum wasn’t a fit parent either. Are you still afraid of
closets, Jimmy?” Moriarty somehow managed to sneer and smirk at the same time.
Jim flinched at the comment and glared hard but didn’t say anything. Any
reaction would just be seen as insubordination and Jim wasn’t interested in
taking any more punishment today. Moriarty noticed John’s flush and tilted his
head like a hunting dog that caught a scent. “He saw a lot of you… did you see
a lot of him as well?” Moriarty came up behind John and brushed his fingertips
along the exposed skin at his neck. “Do you miss him John? He had the prettiest
curls before I shaved them off.”

Sebastian watched them steadily, he still felt shaky and really, really wasn't
sure how much more he could get away with. On the other hand, biting his tongue
now would seem like Moriarty had won. John twitched and jerked but managed to
recover with a small smile, "I know what the rumours were, Moriarty, but
believe me, unlike you I manage to keep a professional relationship with all my
students."
"Unlike you..." Sebastian drawled, watching Moriarty as he moved, "You promised
to fuck me after I passed out. I was all kinds of disappointed when I came
around and you just stopped at a kiss." He frowned and then shifted on the
table, "Unless... unless you did fuck me and you've just got such a small cock
I didn't feel anything..."

Moriarty rolled his eyes and stepped away from both of them, heading towards
the door. “An interrogator will say all sorts of things to get you to talk,
Moran. I suggest you start learning the difference between a promise and a
threat. I wouldn’t lower myself to your level, cocksucker.” He’d heard the
sergeants bragging of course, “Or next time if you’re that desperate I could
always bring your Simon along. I’m sure he’d be more than happy to oblige.” He
gave a final smirk and nod to John before he turned and walked away. Jim
settled in a chair tiredly and shook his head, just feeling relieved that he
was gone and that Sebastian wasn’t really hurt.

Sebastian kept his grin up, pushing two fingers up in Moriarty's direction as
soon as he'd left and then collapsing back down on the table, rubbing his eyes,
"Fucker. I didn't break though..."
"I'm sure you didn't." John said with an eyeroll. "And it's good to know that
at least you aren't expelled. Now... deep breath."
Sebastian managed a small smile at Jim, which faded a little as he saw how
tired and frail the boy looked, "Aww c'mon. It turned out alright! I got to
sock him in the face, and I'm still alive and here." He turned to John with a
smirk, "What exactly were the rumours about you and Mycroft Holmes...?"

Jim dredged up a grin and nodded, “Don’t worry, I passed out my first time too
and I managed to get sick all over myself. I’m pretty sure I had confessed to
just about every bad thing I’d ever done by that point too, so you managed
better than I did.” He tried to joke even though it hadn’t been a funny
experience and he’d only been a child at the time, maybe eight years old. “I’m
glad you’re still here…” Jim muttered reluctantly and pulled his knees up to
his chest. “Sebastian, are you seriously accusing him of pedophilia because I
can tell you right now my dad was just being an ass. John’s not like that.” Jim
didn’t think he was anyway. He hoped not.

Sebastian felt a sudden rush of hate for Moriarty at the thought of a poor
young Jim being put through that, as well as a rush of shame for the even
momentary desire he'd felt to impress the man, his weakness in telling him the
truth, that he hadn't slept with Jim. Tired, he rubbed his eyes and then hopped
off the table, "Well if I'm not about to expire I should head back for chores."
John threw his hands up as Jim replied, "For goodness sake - I didn't have sex
with either of the Holmes's alright!" Sebastian grinned but didn't argue,
pulling on his damp shirt. "Mycroft Holmes was about as far away from cadet
material as it's possible to be. He spent less than a year here, most of it in
my medical room. Moriarty's just trying to... get to Jim, isn't he. Making him
think I'm not to be trusted. I suspect he's more than used to being looked
after by... well..." He sighed and then poked Sebastian hard, "Don't you go
anywhere. You can clean out the shower next door if you're desperate to do
chores but I need to keep you for observation overnight."

Jim pulled off Sebastian’s shirt again irritably, “You know you have serious
risk for pneumonia after getting water in your lungs like that? You can’t put
damp clothes on again, moron. Here.” By now Jim was disturbingly aware of how
the hospital was run and he grabbed a sweatshirt in Sebastian’s size and pushed
him back towards the bed. “Lay down or you won’t get your reward later.” Jim
wasn’t sure that he would be able to perform to standards after today but he’d
had a few hours to rest and he thought he could manage. Jim checked over his
shoulder for John and gave the man a conflicted smile, acknowledging what he’d
said about not being out to molest him.

"What reward? Hey?" Sebastian grinned as Jim manhandled him and, as Jim looked
away, grabbed him and tugged him down on top of him, giving a smirk and
squeezing him, "Mmmm... this kind of reward?" John glanced at them and rolled
his eyes but he seemed caught up in thought, looking upset at the memories.
Moriarty had brought back a few, thinking about Mycroft brought back even more
and he took a few breaths before managing to snap out. "Sebastian stop being an
idiot. Don't... don't break anything. I'm just going to take a walk."

Jim flushed defensively as Sebastian embarrassed him in front of John, Jim was
– very much not into voyeurism. Years of sharing a single room apartment with
his mother when she worked from home was enough to cure him of that. When John
left Jim looked down at Sebastian with a frown, “I can’t tell if he was talking
about breaking me or the equipment.” When he was settled more comfortably on
top of the other boy Jim rubbed his thigh against Sebastian’s crotch
invitingly, “I do have condoms now. We might not have a lot of chances to be
alone together. If you aren’t well enough, I understand.” Jim wasn’t feeling
especially randy himself but he needed to make more headway if he was going to
secure his position in time for Christmas which was rapidly approaching.

"W-what?" Sebastian would've been more than happy for another mutual wank but
he wasn't sure that he was quite ready to dive into losing his virginity here
on John Watson's medical bed with his lungs half full of water, and memories of
what he'd almost believed he'd be getting from Jim's father so close in his
mind. His cock twitched but he squeezed Jim's thigh ruefully. "Nah...
unhygenic. John looked sad enough, give the poor bloke a break." He sighed,
lying back and thinking over the day, it had certainly given him a lot to think
about. "Well. Mags must be pretty pleased with me, I should've got kicked out
for that little stunt."

Jim tried to keep the relief he felt off his face, “Okay, yeah you were right.
Stupid idea.” Jim settled again with his face pressed into Sebastian’s neck
where the skin was still slightly damp but warm. He snorted and shook his head,
“Maybe you have a guardian angel. Just promise me you won’t pull anymore shit
like that okay? What do you think it would be like for me here if you got
kicked out, hmm?”

"'S not a stupid idea at all." Seb stroked his back gently, pleased Jim was
staying close, "Just not the best idea for now. Fuck..." He felt very close to
telling Jim everything - that he'd overheard him with Mags, that he wanted to
protect his father, that he'd let Jim's father know they hadn't had sex... but
something still kept him back. He couldn't lose the only information he had,
not yet. Instead he just stroked Jim gently, rubbing his back, "He's a bastard,
seriously, I never realised how much. Absolute fucking bastard, to think he put
you through that. I mean I was fucking asking for it, but you woul've been just
a kid."

Jim felt a little less embarrassed over the rejection now that he’d been
reassured and Jim closed his eyes, not able to keep back his exhaustion. “I
turned out okay. Pretty sure I was asking for it at the time, I was a wild kid.
Never had any structure or rules to follow and then suddenly this tall burly
man shows up and I’m afraid neither of us knew what to do with each other. I
didn’t hit him but I stole from him, swore at him, spit in his face, scratched
and bit. I wouldn’t clean myself or eat well and I don’t think I’d ever made my
bed before. Nothing else really worked but the first time he dunked me I think
I about pissed myself. I behaved pretty well after that, at least for a while
anyway.” Jim grinned and sighed, letting the memories go.

"Good..." Sebastian murmured sleepily back as he heard that Jim had at least
tried to give it back - as much as a small scrawny kid could give anything
back. He half turned, wrapping his arms around Jim and kissing his litle
stubbly head. "Stay here..." it came out half as a whine, he was still
trembling a little from the ordeal but part of him was already assessing -
working out which parts he found the hardest, where he needed to improve, how
he could've done better. He reflected with slight shock that the only time he'd
really let his guard down was at the end; with Moriarty stroking his hair and
growling how well he'd done.

“Pretty sure John’s going to blush when he comes back…” but Jim just grinned at
the thought and started stroking Sebastian’s head, trying to sooth him to
sleep. “You’re not going to sleep well tonight. Try not to deck me when you
startle awake, yeah?” His words trailed off into a sleepy mumble and he
tightened his arms around Sebastian’s waist. “M not going anywhere idiot.”

"Would never deck you, fucking gorgeous little thing." Sebastian yawned and it
didn't take him long to drift off. As Jim said, it was a bad night, waking the
first time when John stumbled back drunk and threw a blanket at them, the
second when Jim stirred in his sleep. He had dreams of drowning, but didn't
startle away, just clutched Jim closer and stroked him until he fell back into
sleep.
Chapter End Notes
     TW: Psychological torture, threats of sexual assault, past child
     abuse mentioned.
***** I Always Wanted a Puppy *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Jim woke up half falling off the medical cot but Sebastian was holding on to
him so tightly that his ribs ached and Jim supposed he probably wasn’t going
anywhere. John was sitting there reading a book and drinking a morning cup of
tea. “Hey,” Jim croaked, frowning as the events of last night came back to him.
“Sorry – about my da. He’s a pillock. He’s good at what he does but he was just
fucking with you, trying to get your back up.” Jim stayed curled up against
Sebastian because he wasn’t really ready to wake up yet.

Sebastian grunted a little, shifting to make a bit more room for Jim but
clinging possessively onto him, not wanting to let go until he'd woken up. He
was usually a morning person but his throat was aching and he'd slept
incredibly badly and Jim was warm. John looked up and gave a wan smile, "No...
goodness me you of all people don't need to apologise. It was a while ago now.
But please be assured I never engaged in anything unprofessional with Mycroft
Holmes. He was my student. I shouted at him, in the end, rather a lot, but that
was after he'd left." He managed a small smile. "Both you and Sebastian can
skip physical this morning if you want." Shaking his head as Sebastian muttered
a stubborn sleepy little, "No..." from under the blanket.

Jim scowled down at Sebastian and pinched a bit of the skin on his neck and
twisted, “You are not doing physical this morning. If you go then I have to go
and I’d much rather stay here and sleep in till lunch.” Jim’s hand skimmed down
to Sebastian’s cock under the blankets. “Besides, there’s no point tiring
yourself out this early in the day. You won’t have the motivation to do –
anything else.” Jim smirked a little bit and stopped pinching Sebastian and
moved his other hand to a more appropriate spot on his stomach. “Go back to
sleep,” Jim whispered before looking up to watch John tiredly. “I believe you.”
That wasn’t easy for Jim to say, and his tone showed a little bit of his
reluctance. If he said that he trusted John and then it came back to bite him…
it just seemed easier to be suspicious and wary, but Jim had enemies everywhere
at this school and it was exhausting to try and keep everyone at a distance.

"Oww ... unh..." Sebastian jerked his hips a little sleepily as Jim touched his
cock and then curled up a little, drifting off back to sleep. John shook his
head with a small fond smile, "Never thought I'd see anyone telling Sebastian
Moran what to do - certainly never thought I'd see him listen." He could hear
the relucatence in Jim's tone but also realised what a big thing it was for the
boy to say, "Thank you. Don't worry, I've got the next few years to show you
that you are in no danger from me. As soon as I feel less... hungover... I'll
get you some breakfast."

Jim smirked at John’s comment and patted the top of Sebastian’s head. “I always
wanted a puppy.” He sighed and settled back down, pressing a leg between
Sebastian’s thighs and curling against the other boy’s chest. “Kay. Just so
long as you realize if you fuck with me I’m pretty sure my new guard dog will
tear your arm off.” It was novel being able to rely on someone else, even only
tentatively, even if it only lasted until Sebastian realized Jim had fucked him
over. Jim smirked and tisked reprovingly when he heard the man was hungover.
“Doctor Watson… has a vice after all. Don’t worry about breakfast I’m going
back to sleep, this one’s not going anywhere and I think he’s confused himself
for my conjoined twin.” The last words were a bit of a mumble and Jim sighed
before drifting off again.

Sebastian's thighs pressed into his leg happily, his arms adjusting to wrap
around Jim and keep him snuggly close, making a happy little noise as the hand
patted at his head. It felt strangely comforting, being allowed to snuggly and
hug with no pressure to be something angry and snarling, or to give or recieve
sex. Watson sighed, picking up the blanket and smoothing it out over the two of
them, "Oh I've got plenty of vices. It's just none of them involve harming
other people. Just myself." He patted Jim gently on the head and then headed
into his office, already feeling stupidly guilty for getting drunk the night
before.

Jim caught John’s final little comment just as he was drifting off, hoping that
he’d be able to remember it when he woke up. He didn’t stir again until
Sebastian started moving next to him but it was enough that Jim startled awake.
Besides that one time in the woods Jim hadn’t slept next to someone since he
was a very small child, before he’d ever met his father. He wasn’t used to it
now and someone stirring next to him was enough to wake him up quickly. Jim
glanced at the clock, it was almost time for lunch, they had slept for a long
time but that was to be expected after what their bodies had gone through. “You
okay?” Jim muttered, his voice thick with sleep and damage from inhaling water
yesterday.

Sebastian woke up as John stirred next to him, pushing himself into a sitting
position and rubbing his eyes, giving Jim a little cuddle and then kissing his
head, "Fuck I've overslept. Urgh, throat feels rough, doesn't it?" He grinned
and pushed himself down from the table, beginning to stretch and wincing at the
ache where he'd been hit, "Let's see what fun we've got coming next week, eh?
You know I was never in this much trouble before you joined. Trouble, yeah, but
not this much."

“Little bit,” Jim muttered and coughed into his elbow. “Fuck I’d kill for a
drink…” Sebastian seemed excited about the state his body was in and Jim
watched him warily, trying to work out if he was actually human or not. “You’re
a fucking weirdo, you know that?” Jim gave him a smack to the ear as he sat up
on the bed. “I was always in this much trouble, although usually that just got
me suspended. Before now getting in trouble at school never meant going to the
hospital wing.”

"Ow! Fucking brat." Sebastian grumbled, heading to the faucet and grabbing a
paper cup, filling it up and bringing it over almost automatically - so used to
obeying orders at this point it never really occurred to him that Jim wouldn't
expect him to jump on command. "I'm not wierd, just I've never been tested like
that before. And... I pretty much passed." He frowned, "Sort of passed. Didn't
do too badly anyway."

Jim took the water with surprise but drank it down gratefully all the same.
“It’s not a test you moron. He tries to legitimize his shit by coming up with
some excuse for why it makes you better, or why you need it. It’s bullshit.
It’s not a test, it’s not some – measure of your capabilities, it’s just him
getting off on hurting other people.” He tilted his head and watched Sebastian
coolly, “Or was it a test, do you think, when he did it to me in class? Or do
you think that maybe he just wanted to punish me and exert power?”

Sebastian shrugged, still stretching, and starting the first cycle of his
workout routine that he'd missed with the physical. "You really think I'm going
to get through my entire life without needing to know how to survive that kind
of shit? The better I get at taking it, the more control I get over my body,
the better a soldier I'll be, the better a bodyguard I'll be." He grinned at
Jim. "Of course he gets off on it, fucking bastard. And he wants to punish and
exert power. But there will be people like him everywhere, and if I know how to
deal with them without fucking spewing... besides. it bloody well impressed
him." He still remembered the hand stroking his head, Moriarty telling him how
well he'd done, and it made him scowl and blush a bit to think that he'd been
so vulnerable at that moment. If Moriarty had kissed him, as the sergeant had
done, he probably would have melted into the mans arms there and then.
Thankfully he was too much of a sadistic homophobe to have thought of it.

Jim’s jaw dropped a little as he noticed Sebastian blush and he managed to put
two and two together. He clenched his jaw shut and looked away as he started to
fold up the blanket John left him. “Right. And I’m guessing he wasn’t the only
one that got off on it then.” Jim sneered a little and started getting angry,
“He wasn’t impressed with you. He’s incapable of giving a shit, or feeling
anything. You’re never going to be happy if you chase your tail trying to get
his approval.”

Chasing approval was pretty much how Sebastian had lived his life and he
scowled at the floor, annoyed at Jim's anger. "You really think I did that? Got
hard with him drowning me? Fuck off. I might be a bit weird but I'm not that
weird. And he fucking well was impressed. I'm not chasing his approval just,
you know, it was damn good to hear I hadn't done too badly." He started pulling
on his uniform, looking at the time, "Fuck - straight to lunch then. Then
lessons. Look calm down I'm not trying to fuck your dad, alright? I hate the
fucker."

Jim wasn’t sure exactly what his fucking problem was. It made him angry that
Sebastian was so hung up over getting that bastard’s approval, but it made him
more angry to think that his father had given it. If he was honest with himself
he was aware that his father had hoped for a son more like Sebastian, someone
that was interested in the same things he was, who was capable of meeting his
unreasonable expectations. “He was not. Impressed. You think he doesn’t
understand how your head works and he doesn’t play to every insecurity you
have? Don’t flatter yourself.”

Sebastian just shrugged, looking sideways at Jim. He knew the boy was probably
telling the truth, but he also knew Jim would have an ulterior motive for
lying. Magnussen wanted Jim to control Sebastian, so it was in Jim's interest
to be the sole source of attention for him. "C'mon." He said after a pause, "We
should get to classes." He was already thinking of the germ of an idea -
whether he could get Moriarty to give him another training session, whether he
could try to get all the way through this time, without letting anything slip,
rather than letting his guard down after it was over. He also dimly remembered
they had an exercise this weekend, and didn't want to fall out with Jim before
that.

Jim watched Sebastian suspiciously, not buying that he was just willing to drop
the subject. It left him feeling irritated and keyed up for the rest of the
day. He was starting to pick up traction in his academic classes and it was not
surprisingly a lot easier to focus when he wasn’t exhausted from morning
exercises. The other students were giving him looks, probably because of the
scene his father had made yesterday in class. Jim didn’t share many of the
academic classes with Sebastian and the other students harassed him during
those hours, throwing things at his head when the teacher had his back turned,
making obscene gestures or kissing noises at him, one student even groped his
cock in the hallway but it was crowded and Jim hadn’t been able to pick out for
sure who had done it. He was tense and irritable when he finally sat down to
dinner with Sebastian, just pushing his food around while he frowned at his
plate.

Sebastian sat next to him, gave him a grin and then shrugged as it wasn't
returned, figuring Jim was still annoyed at him from the morning. Once they'd
finished eating the sergeant had them line up by the bunks, checking their
uniforms and then barking out "Alright - this weekend you'll be out on an
exercise. You're spending the whole weekend in the wild, groups of two, with
targets to be set once you arrive. Rather than chores you'll spend the evening
packing and preparing - the targets could be anything, so make sure you're well
prepared." With that he left, leaving a sense of doom behind him as the boys
groaned and tugged out bags. A few were excited, but outside exercises mostly
meant being muddy, wet, cold and overexhausted for a weekend.
Sebastian gave Jim a wink, clearly one of the excited ones, "Well this should
be easy - I mean we're allowed a tent and you're not concussed - simple yeah?"

Jim sighed and nodded, he was pleased that he wouldn’t have to spend any more
time this weekend around the other cadets or sadistic staff, even if it meant
that he’d probably be getting buggered half the weekend. Jim put on a
suggestive grin and muttered quietly, “I’ll make sure to pack protection.
Keeping safe is very important out in the wild.” He sighed and shook his head
as he sat on his own bed, content to let Sebastian pack their gear. “It’s still
going to be fucking miserable and cold. It’s December. I suppose that just
means we’ll have to think of some way to stay warm. Did your airforce ladies
have any other suggestions?” Jim grinned and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"We didn't even try their first suggestion." Sebastian grumbled, but with a
smile, pleased that jim seemed to have recovered. He smirked and nudged against
Jim's shoulder as he tugged out both their bags and started packing, flipping
off the few boys who made suggestive noises at Seb packing for both of them.
"Piss off." And then quiet to Jim, "If I only need to pack one sleeping bag let
me know now, it'll save room for firelighters and night vision goggles"

“We still need two sleeping bags,” Jim hissed back. “One to sleep on top of and
one to cover us. You’re a big lad, no way can both of us squeeze in one, even
if we’re cuddled up. Besides, the sleeping back goes on the outside of your
pack.” Jim indicated the clips and straps hanging underneath the packs.
“Shouldn’t take up any extra room. In fact you might be able to fit some stuff
in the rolls. Am I going to starve this weekend?” Jim watched the other boys
warily, not exactly pleased to be receiving their attention. “They’re driving
me up the fucking wall. I’ll be glad to not have to deal with that lot for a
few days.”

"I know how to pack a fucking rucksack" Sebastian hissed back, scowling at him,
"I have done this before. No you're not going to starve because a) I'm bringing
food and b) if we're forced to hunt I can hunt for food. Or 'forage' in
someone's holiday cottage, heh heh." He'd certainly done that before, and not
been caught. "I won't let you starve, don't worry. Or get cold. And yeah, these
bastards piss me off as well."

Jim pouted and rolled over on his stomach to face away from Sebastian in
response to being yelled at. He wasn’t angry or anything, just had his fill of
conflict for the day. “I trust you, it’s fine. Just make sure my pack isn’t too
heavy, I’m smaller than you.” He glanced at a few of the boys who were still
watching them from their bunks. “They’re afraid you’ll beat the piss out of
them if they make you mad though.”

"They should be. I will do." Sebastian looked at the packs, hesitated, and then
started moving a few possessions from Jim's to his, "If it's too heavy let me
know when we stop, I can take a bit more. This is your first time out like
this, so don't try killing yourself, just get through it. Fuck, it'll be fun."
He grinned, now rather excited about the possibility of actually having sex,
and hoping they weren't worked too hard to get around to it. "Wonder what
targets we'll be given? My first orienteering one I got lost as all fuck,
stumbled to a motorway and hitch-hiked back. The sergeant was mad as fuck you
should've seen him." He patted Jim's head, glancing down at his body.

“I should be okay. First time is going to be rough but I’ve been adjusting
alright.” Most of the other boys were still packing their bags and pissing
around, Jim squirmed a little under Sebastian’s graze and grinned up at him. “I
think I’m going to take a shower.” Jim raised his eyebrows invitingly. He stood
and stripped down to his trousers and vest before grabbing his towel and
heading away from the rest of the group.

Sebastian looked at him, quickly glanced at the rest of the boys and then moved
to the shower in a noncholant manner, scooting through the door and wrapping
his arms around Jim as soon as he saw him, "So we are sharing a sleeping bag,
hmmm? You'll be all warm and hot and pressed against me." He cuddled the little
wriggling body and kissed hotly at the side of his mouth, "Fuck I can't wait.
Never been this excited for a hike. Please bring the condoms."

“It seems expedient if I don’t want frost bite.” Jim was grinning though and
reached up to tug Sebastian’s hair. “More like cold and shivering but yes,
that’s the general idea. You’re a nut.” Sebastian kissed at the side of his
mouth and Jim started stripping off his clothes – it would look weird if they
came into the showers and were fully dressed. He extricated himself from
Sebastian’s grip and managed to get his trousers off too and when all of his
things were tucked away in a cubby Jim turned the hot water on and stepped
under the spray, “Come here, this will probably be your last chance to shower
before we get back. Just keep an eye on the door.”

Sebastian tugged his shirt over his head then went over to the door and jammed
a doorstop in the back of it to stop it being opened, dropping his shirt and
then his slacks by it before heading over to Jim, wrapping arms around him
uncaring about the spray dampening his underwear and wrapping his arms around
to stroke Jim's arse, "Mmmm... Well I'll keep you warm, fucking brave little
thing like you." He kissed the top of Jim's head, stroking his bottom gently,
"You know... when we fuck... it doesn't just have to be your tight little arse
taking it. I'd let you..." He murmured.

Jim watched Sebastian curiously, he’d seen the boy with his trousers half down
before but he’d never seen him entirely naked before. The boy still had his
pants on for some reason but Jim stuck his hand down the front of them anyway,
figuring they should hurry if they were going to steal a few moments together.
“You’d let me what? Suck your cock too? Gee, thanks.” Jim misunderstood what
Sebastian was asking for and just assumed he’d been talking about Jim’s mouth
when he talked about somewhere else he could take it.
Sebastian gave a little laugh, canting his hips forward as Jim's hands slid
down his pants and murmuring, "Go on... take them off you silly little sod.
Slide them down over my arse. The arse I've just offered you a fuck of, only to
be turned down." He pushed backwards until Jim's head was under the spray and
fondly murmured "Little shite..." his hands still carressing and stroking Jim's
wet body.

“Oh,” Jim was surprised and his hands stilled under Sebastian’s pants but he
caught on a second later and set to stripping the soaked clothes off his body.
“Not this weekend. But sure.” Jim wouldn’t fuck the boy with only spit, he’d
need extra time to steal some olive oil from the kitchens or something. Jim
gasped and Sebastian pushed him under the spray and he blinked water from his
eyes as he wrapped a hand around Sebastian’s cock and started to chase the
water droplets with his tongue as they slid down the boy’s chest.
"No?" Sebastian felt a little disappointed but also slightly relieved. It had
been a big offer, and he was definitely curious, but he was also happy just to
keep fumbling with Jim and maybe even getting to sex. Either way it would be
far more enjoyable than just his own hand and he pressed a finger down between
the curves of Jim's arse gently rubbing and tapping at the little entrance, the
way he knew felt so good when he did it to himself. Jim's tongue was sliding
over his chest, and he closed his eyes, moaning gently into the spray, well
aware he couldn't be too loud.

“I will though, if that’s what you want.” His tactic for getting Sebastian’s
invitation over Christmas was giving the boy everything he wanted, and the only
thing Jim had to offer the little rich boy who excelled in all his classes, was
his body. It wasn’t a chore, Jim liked him and so far Sebastian had made him
feel good – more than he’d made him feel bad anyway. It hadn’t been a difficult
decision. Jim pressed his mouth against Sebastian’s skin and gasped when the
boy touched him, he was starting to get hard and Jim worked his hand faster
while his other hand trailed down and groped at the boy’s balls, fondling them
gently after the abuse they’d suffered the night before.

"We'll... unh... see how it goes..." Sebastian gasped, finding it harder to
think with Jim licking and touching him, whining in pleasure as Jim stroked and
fondled him, continuing to stroke and tap at his entrance, not even hinting at
sliding inside. He didn't want to hurt Jim, even as his hips bucked his hard
cock into the boys hand. "O-or some other time yeah... we-we'll definitely,
fuck. Do everything."

Jim could tell that Sebastian had maybe promised more than he was willing to
give in regards to the sex but that didn’t bother him. He kept part of his
awareness on Sebastian’s finger, just so he’d get a bit of warning in case the
other boy thought of pushing it inside. After a minute Jim took used his extra
hand to start stroking himself, keeping the tempo the same for both of them. It
wasn’t very satisfying though so he tried something new and pressed their cocks
together, stroking them both with one hand. Jim moaned a little too loudly at
the new sensation, he’d never done this before and it felt amazing.

Sebastian gasped as he felt his cock against Jims, even more so at the happy
noise Jim made, immediately wrapping his own hand around the two of them and
stroking as well, grining as his hand and Jim's got mixed and tangled, bumping
against each other as he whispered "fuck, fuck, fuck," gasped into Jim's ear.
Everything was so hot, so now, so intense, and it wasn't long before he
spilled, letting Jim rest against his body and stroking him tight, continuing
to stroke them both as he came down.

Jim was half crawling up Seb’s body, trying to chase more of the sensation. He
was gasping and moaning as Sebastian came, their noise echoing off the tiles.
Jim groaned low in his throat and bent up to kiss Sebastian’s neck as he came
shortly after, just as there was a loud noise and a few of the boys burst into
the showers as the little door jamb gave way. Jim flushed, feeling embarrassed
and sick at having such an intimate thing witnessed by other people.
One of the boys started laughing loudly while another one pretended to get sick
in the corner. “Seriously, Seb? That’s fucking gross you twat. He’s probably
got crabs or something.” Jim hunched in on himself as more boys filled the
doorway, wanting to see what everyone was laughing at. Jim’s hands shook as he
washed their come off his hands in the shower spray and bit the inside of his
mouth furiously.

Sebastian blinked, looking up in shock and then suddenly starting to see the
funny side as they spilled into the shower, grinning and giving Jim a quick
grope. "Oh fuck off you poufs - can't I get a bit of time to myself anywhere
here?" Grabbing at the nearest showergel he flipped it at the head of the first
lad in, laughing as he failed to duck. "Go on - bend over and pick that up,
I'll have a fucking go at you next." Picking up his shirt, he held it over his
groin with as much decency as he could manage and shouldering past them,
turning after he left the bathroom and pointing back. "Oh - and anyone gives
Moriarty a hard time over this and I'll staple their balls to their fucking bed
then pull them off, understand?"

Jim tensed up in indignation as Sebastian groped him in front of his mates,
gripping his arse and digging his fingernails into the skin. He startled as
Sebastian threw something at one of the boy and the noise of it landing on the
floor and bursting open echoed around the walls. He let his face go blank when
Sebastian suggested he’d fuck one of the other cadets and he left Jim there,
still standing naked and watched as he cautiously turned his back to them to
preserve some amount of modesty. Jim was still flushed red, feeling angry and
humiliated.
One of the boys stepped forward, as close as he could get without stepping into
the water. “You look fucking wrecked when you come, I wish I had a picture.” He
reached out and flicked one of Jim’s nipples, watching him get angrier. “I
wouldn’t mind a taste, you seemed pretty desperate for it.” The boy grabbed at
his own crotch lewdly and Jim snarled, turning the water off before grabbing
his towel and clothes and storming back to his bunk to change. He didn’t care
if there were more people around to see him, he didn’t want to be around that
other cadet any longer than he had to.

Sebastian raised an eyebrow as Jim stormed back in, looking red and miserable,
scowling as there were a few laughs from the bunks. He wanted to cuddle Jim and
reassure him, but the best he could do was backhanding Hooper as the boy
smirked, "Awwww has Sebby found a new little bumboy?" He hurried back to his
bunk then, as he heard the sergeant approaching, tugging on his uniform and
putting their two packs by the side of the bed, shooting Jim an anxious look as
he got ready for the evening inspection. Still, they had the whole weekend
together, and he could apologise then.

He tossed his uniform in the laundry basket, still fuming as he dug through his
trunk for his sleep clothes. He flinched as another boy whistled at him and
Sebastian slapped him one. This just made it more clear than ever that he’d
cast his lot in with Sebastian, if he pissed the other boy off at this point
all he’d have to do was throw Jim to the wolves. Jim didn’t have time to get
dressed into his sleep uniform and the best he could do was pull a towel around
his waist and stand at attention with his hair still dripping as the Sergeant
came by to inspect them.

The Sergeant walked past, hesitating when he got to Jim, looking him up and
down. "Oh? Someone thought to have a shower did they?" Reaching forward he
yanked the towel away and let it drop on the floor, grinning as a few sniggers
went around the room. "Let me guess - Moran packed your bags and you went to
paint your nails. That's inappropriate uniform cadet - So I think you can give
the kitchen a full scrub before sleep. In the uniform you're currently wearing,
as you obviously think that's sufficient."

Jim was very uncomfortable around the sergeant, knowing what he knew about his
relationship with Sebastian. He clenched his jaw as the man ripped his towel
away, focusing on letting his hands stay loose at his sides so that he wouldn’t
be tempted to hit the man or cover himself. His face turned red again but he
managed not to flinch or look away. “Sorry, are you jealous?” Sebastian didn’t
seem to be interested in being abused by the sergeant anymore and that had to
make the man angry.

"Jealous of what - standing naked in a fucking room about to spend half the
night cleaning the kitchen in the buff - fucking MOVE IT." The Sergeant
shouted, while Sebastian clenched his jaw. The Sergeant looked at him and then
said quietly, but still audibly, "You were instructed to pack your belongings
Moran, not help out your fellow cadet in his beauty regime. My office. Now."

He grabbed his towel and wrapped it around his waist again, fuming at how
unfair this was. He stopped and froze over some as Sebastian was ordered into
the sergeant’s office. Jim grabbed him by the collar and quickly whispered,
“You’re mine.” Before he let go and walked to the door, glaring at any of the
cadets who smirked or sniggered at him. The boy who had harassed him in the
shower licked his mouth as Jim walked by and he shuddered.

Sebastian watched him go then ripped off a textbook salute and headed to the
sergeant's office.
 
===============================================================================
 
 
The bunks were quiet and dark when he returned, and Jim's was still empty, so
he stripped, carefully, and then bundled himself into Jim's bunk. The blankets
- cleaned and starched every day - didn't smell of Jim any more, but Jim's
abandoned night uniform was still there and so Sebastian hugged onto it,
curling up around it as he drifted off to sleep.
It was maybe an hour before morning bell when Jim finally stumbled back into
the dorms, freezing his balls off because a towel was not enough to be wearing
in the middle of winter. He tried to keep his chattering teeth quiet so he
wouldn’t wake up anyone else. His body smelled like bleach and his hands were
blistered and red from all of the scrubbing he’d done that night with harsh
chemicals. Jim stepped into the showers again, rinsing himself off quickly of
the chemical residue and trying to warm up. He grabbed a fresh towel and dried
off before shuffling back towards his bunk and pulling on some sleep pants. A
noise startled him and he hit his head hard on the underside of the bunk when
he found someone else in his bed. It was only Sebastian though, still asleep,
and Jim sighed heavily before crawling underneath the warm blankets and
pressing up against the other boy. “Hey,” he whispered as he pet a hand over
Sebastian’s head.

Sebastian gave a groan as he was disturbed, blinking sleepily and then
whimpering, pretty much grabbing Jim and cuddling him close, wrapping his body
around the little freezing one. There was something he'd wanted to say... ah
yes... "Still yours." He muttered, strong arms pressing against Jim's back,
trying to warm him up, "Fuck your toes are like ice. you alright?"

“M okay. Just chores.” It had been humiliating and dehumanizing, the sergeant
had been in a fucking mood – presumably after Sebastian left his office and
he’d screamed insults a lewd comments at Jim while he scrubbed the floor and
the tables and whatever else the man wanted while he watched. He’d left though,
after a while, not wanting to miss out on his own sleep and threatening to fuck
Jim the next morning with the toilet brush if he went to bed before it was
clean. Sebastian was warm and Jim cuddled in closer to him even though he felt
scraped raw from stress after this evening. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

Sebatian gave a little chuckle, rubbing Jim's cold hands between his own and
kissing his forehead gently. In the dark he knew Jim wouldn't be able to see
the bruised side of his face, "Just gave me a few slaps that's all. Nothing I
couldn't handle. Almost all of them when I refused to give him a blow-job.
Did... he didn't hurt you did he? He said he might... but, well, everyone
does."

“He didn’t touch me,” Jim whispered as Sebastian warmed his fingers between his
hands. “Just tried to get me to piss myself. I grew up with my da, that stupid
fucker doesn’t scare me.” Jim lied. He was somewhat immune to psychological
intimidation, at least at the sergeants level, but his father had never
sexually abused him and Jim was plenty aware that the sergeant didn’t have any
problems with doing something like that to him. He hadn’t but that didn’t mean
Jim still felt keyed up and violated just from the man’s comments and threats,
the way he watched Jim work, told him to get on his knees, put his back into
it. He was absolutely sure the man had gone back to his rooms and touched
himself thinking about Jim on his knees in front of him and scrubbing the floor
naked. “I’ve got Watson now, he was probably scared of pissing him off – he
never hurt me.” Jim frowned and tried to keep his voice even, “Sorry he hurt
you. Glad that you didn’t – that you didn’t have to do anything else. I keep
getting you into trouble.”

"What? No - fuck no. I keep getting you in trouble - with your dad, with the
sergeant." Sebastian kissed him gently and nuzzled at his neck, swearing softly
into the night as the action rubbed his bruised face against the pillow. "Try
and get some sleep in before tomorrow - that's all he wanted, for you to start
off exhausted and hammered. Don't panic and don't fucking worry - in a couple
of hours we'll be in the middle of fucking nowhere with nothing but a tent and
two sleeping bags, yeah?"

Jim nodded and whispered back argumentatively, “I’m not fucking panicked.” His
fingers and toes were warmer and he knew that he shouldn’t let Sebastian sleep
in his bunk but Jim still felt strained and watched and he didn’t want to wake
up with the sergeant standing over him or that cadet groping him under the
sheets. He fell asleep, still tense and sore but it was enough to get a little
bit of rest.
Chapter End Notes
     TW: Abusive student/teacher relationship, abuse of power by a
     teacher, sexual harassment and hazing between students.
***** I'm Not Your Wife *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Morning bell went off and it was the most unwelcome sound Jim could think of
right now as he groaned and sat up in bed, hissing when he saw the state of
Sebastian’s face now that the lights were on. “Fuck.”

Sebastian gave an unhappy groan as the lights went on but quickly tugged
himself out of the bed, resting his arms on the top bunk and looking down at
Jim with a grin, "That bad is it? Yeah well, he wants everyone else to see
doesn't he - most importantly the Fucking Bastard who'll be taking us on this
little camping trip. Get yourself dressed, I'll make your bed seeing as mine
didn't get slept in. Ow fuck ..."

“I’m gonna fucking report him. We’ll stop by John’s before we head out this
morning.” Jim let Sebastian make his bed since he still wasn’t the best at it,
and he wanted to focus on making sure his uniform was pristine. He’d hear from
the sergeant if the kitchen was clean enough too. He folded his blistered hands
behind his back when he was ready, not wanting them commented on by the
sergeant who came in looking bright and cheerful.

"Report him to who? My dad? Like fuck - the old bastard would have me out of
here in a heartbeat. Believe me we won't have time to stop by anywhere."
Sebastian fell silent as the sergeant walked passed, looking at their uniforms
and nodding, mentioning absolutely nothing about their respective punishments.
"Alright - pick up your bags and head down to the gates. I'll leave you in the
tender care of Mr Moriarty so don't fuck up and jump when he tells you."
As the turned around and quickly grabbed up their bags Jim winced a little as
his hands came in contact with the rough canvas of the bag and he resolved
himself to finding some kind of material to wrap his hands with later if he was
going to be expected to use them. All of the boys shuffled outside, the boy
from the showers – fuck Jim didn’t know his name.
Powers was stitched into the front of his uniform, bumped Jim hard with his
pack and turned around quickly, “Oh, sorry Jimmy.” He glanced around to make
sure none of the staff was listening before he leaned in and muttered, “Maybe
I’ll come find you during the trip. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

Sebastian headed out, giving Jim a quick smile and then putting on a good-cadet
poker face as they approached the gate. Moriarty was there and he could
practically feel the man looking over his face and Jim's hands. He looked
quickly away, not wanting to meet the mans eyes, not wanting to deal with the
rather troubling way he felt about him. Instead he resolved to focus on Jim
this trip, to make sure the boy was safe and relatively unharmed. The first
stop of which would involve bandaging the boys hands from the first aid kit.
Moriarty grinned and nodded to greet all of them. “You have a long day ahead of
you, so you’d better get moving. You’ll be drawing targets from this hat, each
group must complete your objective by the end of the trip. You all know how
this works.” He ignored the fact that Jim didn’t, Moriarty was sure his little
boyfriend would explain. He passed the hat to the first group and they took a
slip of paper and passed it around.
“What is he talking about?” Jim muttered quietly to Sebastian.

"We get a target from the hat." Sebastian muttered back, not entirely sure how
that could be misinterpreted. He took the hat as it passed by, taking out a
slip of paper, reading it and passing it to Jim, "There you go. We have to
achieve that by the end of the trip, make sense?" He lowered his eyes
unchallengingly as Moriarty looked at them, wanting to appear subservient to
the man. This was clearly no time to act out, he didn't want to make things any
worse for Jim.

“I’m not fucking stupid,” Jim hissed back but he shut his mouth before his
father walked by. “We have to… steal another groups supplies? Fuck’s sake.”
Sebastian grinned, "I love the illegal ones. That'll be piss easy - we just
need to make sure noone messes with us, then we'll find Hooper and co, beat
them up, nick their stuff, and bunk down over the night. No problem."

Jim was still nervous, especially when he didn’t know what the other group’s
goals were, but at least he wasn’t trying to fumble around on his own. He could
strategize and help Sebastian keep them safe and taken care of during this
trip. And somehow find time and energy to fuck because Jim didn’t know when
he’d get another chance before Christmas break. “Dismissed.” Moriarty snapped
before coming over and brushing his hand over Jim’s head. “Be careful out there
Jimmy. There’s more than just your boyfriend out there what will bite you in
the ass.”

Sebastian grit his teeth as Jim's father came over to them, concentrating on
getting their bags and not rising to the challenge. Part of him felt a bit
miffed that the man hadn't even mentioned Sebastian's injuries - he'd expected
a smirk at least - and a bit let down that Moriarty hadn't heard about his
punishment from the sergeant. Still - there was a whole weekend in the outdoors
to look forward too, along with robbing some fellow cadets and sex with Jim up
for offers. It wasn't worth making a fuss now and potentially ending up in
solitary.
 
===============================================================================
 

There was no jeep to drop them off in the woods this time, they had to walk
themselves and Jim was exhausted from hardly sleeping at all the night before.
After an hour of hiking he threw down his stuff and started digging through his
bag for his water bottle. “Fuck. How much more are we walking today? What’s our
strategy?”

Sebastian sat down next to him, pulling the water bottle out of the side pocket
and shrugging. "We've got to get to the woods, but there's no rush. If you want
to lie down and have a nap while it's not raining we can do that. I want to
stay low for the first day anyway, then nick someone's stuff and make it home
without getting into too much trouble with the rest of the lads. Fuck knows
what they've been asked to do."

Jim took his water gratefully, trying not to drink too fast and to conserve it.
When he was through he wiped his mouth and took a minute to breathe and get his
wits about him. “I’ll wait until we can find or make adequate shelter. I don’t
want us to get fucked over.” Jim rubbed at his eyes trying to stay awake. Part
of the problem of being in the wild was it meant no caffeine to keep him awake
when he needed it. “I’m not used to carrying the pack and it doesn’t help that
I haven’t slept. I can go further though.” Jim stood and grabbed his pack,
handing the water over to Seb.

"Don't kill yourself." Sebatian warned, putting the water back and helping him
up. "Don't keep going till your last strand of energy, otherwise you'll have
nothing left if things go tits up. Sleep if you need to, nobody'll do much on
he first day, they'll all be setting up camp and working out how to achieve
whatever damn stupid target they've been set. We're in no rush."

“Yeah, alright.” Jim didn’t really like not knowing as much as Sebastian did
but it wasn’t exactly as though he was given ample time to curl up with a book
and catch up on the survival training he’d missed. Jim would just have to learn
to rely on Sebastian. They walked for another hour or two before Jim was ready
to drop and they finally found somewhere comfortable to pitch their tent for
the night. “Fucking finally,” Jim breathed. His stomach growled but he didn’t
mention his hunger – Sebastian would already be more than aware that they’d
need to eat soon.

Sebastian tugged out the tent - a quick assemble one, lightweight and state of
the art, and constructed it, shaking his head at Jim as he heard the boy's
stomach growl. "You should have fucking said. Look. There's something you have
to know about survival, and it's something that people don't associate with the
SAS fucking thing. You have to talk about any single weekness. You get hungry,
you get tired, you get injured you have to fucking say. The earlier you say,
the quicker it can get fixed, the longer we'll survive. One of the first times
I came out, I was a hell of a lot younger, but I twisted my ankle. Didn't say a
word, just walked on it the whole day. Got back and the sergeant slapped
several kinds of shite out of me: what would have happened if we'd been out all
week? By the third day I would've been holding the whole group back. Whereas if
it was bandaged and supported there would have been no trouble. Now - foil
packets are at the side pocket in your bag - cheese pasta or chilli con carne."

Jim frowned and scowled, he didn’t like being lectured. “I just noticed, okay?
Sometimes I forget I’m hungry.” He got distracted or hyper-focused and he
forgot to eat or didn’t realize he was hungry. At home maybe that wasn’t a
problem but out here it was dangerous. He sat and dug through their bags and
tugged out the supplies they would need while Sebastian set up their tent. Jim
pulled out the cheese pasta packet and found the small pot they could use once
they got a fire going. “I’ll set up our sleeping bags and organize everything
in the tent if you get the fire started.”

"Like I don't know that - skinny little thing like you needs all the food they
can get and you barely eat." Sebastian grumbled, but fondly. He was pleased to
be away from all the angst and trouble that seemed to have been happening at
the camp lately, particularly with Jim's father and fuck knew who else. When
the tent was up he got a fire going with his secretive lighter, sticking the
small pan over the top and throwing his packet into it. "Alright, little home-
maker, you get the tent tidied away. I'll go find some water then we can eat.
There's fibre biscuits in the top section of your bag if you feel about to keel
over."

“I’m not your wife,” Jim snapped back and then bit down on the rest of what he
wanted to say. He was still pissed about the night before and getting walked in
on and harassed last night. “I’m not your weak civilian fuck hole to impress
all your friends with.” There was more but he held back, reminded of his goal
of getting Sebastian to take him home for Christmas. Jim shouldn’t be starting
fights, especially when Sebastian could easily abandon him here in the woods to
fend for himself, but he was too prideful to take his words back.

Sebastian grinned, a grin which faded as he realised that Jim was looking
seriously affected by it. Reaching down, he stroked the little fuzzy head, "Hey
- it was just a joke. Of course you're not weak - when have I ever said that?
The night I got waterboarded I seem to remember telling your da multiple times
how strong and amazing I thought you were. And they aren't my friends, they're
just wankers. You're the only one who's anything like a friend to me - you
tried to staple my head when we just met, remember?" He tipped his water
container into the pot so that the foil packets could start cooking. "Alright,
I'll go refill this. You rest, you look fucking terrible."

“That’s not waterboarding. Waterboarding is when your body is on a diagonal and
they like put a cloth over your face and pour water into your nose and mouth.
Water shouldn’t get into your lungs because your head is pointed towards the
ground. The real bastard is taking a shaken soda bottle and shooting the
carbonation up someone’s nose. Like a champagne bottle but the bubbles aren’t
so soft. Soda in your lungs and nose is really shit.” Jim was rambling, that
happened sometimes when he got too tired. If Sebastian had reacted in anger Jim
probably would have yelled right back but the other boy was almost apologetic
and that was enough to curb Jim’s anger. He flipped Sebastian off for insulting
him on principle but did as he was told and settled himself in his own sleeping
bag in the tent. It should have taken him longer to fall asleep in a strange
and uncomfortable environment but he was out as soon as he curled up on his
side and closed his eyes.

"I know what waterboarding is..." Sebastian shuddered at the mention of other
ones, figuring he'd probably been quite lucky just to have his hair washed by
Moriarty. Still - the little germ of an idea of asking Moriarty for another
test wasn't extinguished by the knowledge. He grinned as Jim flipped him off
and then crawled into the tent, very tempted to crawl in after him, but he knew
the boy needed the sleep. Instead, he headed off to the nearest river,
following it upstream to a place where the water was moving swiftly enough.
 
===============================================================================
 
 
Jim slept until Sebastian shook him awake an hour later, shoving food into his
hands. Jim reached up automatically to run a hand through his hair to check for
bed head when he realized there was just stubble there now. He sighed and took
the plate of pasta and a funny little utensil that looked like a multi-knife
but had a fork, spoon, and knife attached instead. Jim was still feeling pretty
groggy but he was determined to make it through the meal at the very least.
He’d take another quick nap after that – he was likely to be pretty sore and
tired after tonight. It was really the only time they’d have for sex though if
they wanted to focus on getting their task completed by tomorrow evening when
they all had to be back at camp. “Everything’s alright? You don’t need me to do
anything?” Jim winced as the blisters and chemical burns on his hands scraped
against the fork handle. He still wanted to pull his weight. Jim wasn’t just
there to warm Sebastian’s bed.

Sebastian fetched the water, scouted out a little to see if he could find any
other camps, then headed back to the tent. He grinned as he pulled out the food
and opened the foil packets, shaking his head as he saw Jim's hands, "See -
you're still fucking well suffering in silence. Come here, we need to bandage
those up for a start. I'll stick some cream on them as well. It'll sting a
bit." His fingers moved over the sore skin, shaking his head in anger. He'd
seen the sergeant being cruel to weaker boys before, but had always figured it
was their hard damn luck and they could always leave. Jim didn't have that
choice. He wrapped the bandage around Jim's hands once he'd finished, keeping
it close so as not to restrict movement.

“Sorry,” Jim muttered back automatically. It didn’t occur to him to ask for
help, even before he’d come here he’d basically been on his own with just his
mother who had been more of a burden than a help. “Forgot about that too.” He
winced tiredly as Sebastian spread the cream around – he’d scraped the skin of
his hands away on the brush and then the chemicals and bleach got in the open
blisters, it had fucking hurt. Sebastian was surprisingly careful though and
Jim softened towards him a little. The boy was brash and stupid at times and
the physical side of their relationship was still a conflict for Jim but
Sebastian himself wasn’t that bad. Jim rather thought he liked him. “It’s okay…
I should probably get come calluses anyway.”

"It will get easier." Sebastian grinned and then tugged out his own eating
impliment and lay back in small amount of sunlight that forced its way through
the clouds, propped up on his elbows to eat, "Your hands are still pretty soft,
not in a bad way, just not used to all this shite. He really is a bastard isn't
he?" He said of the sergeant, a little sadly. The man had been his friend, in a
rough and incredibly exploitative way, and it was a bit of a trial to find out
that both the sergeant and himself were rather bad bullies. "Ah shite. He might
warm to you. Once you've been here a while. S'just hazing isn't it?"

“It’s not ‘hazing’ it’s sexual abuse and exploitation of a minor. I don’t
want him to warm to me, if that means getting the piss beaten out of me when I
don’t feel like sucking his cock.” Jim bit down on the inside of his mouth,
he’d been avoiding the topic with Sebastian and wouldn’t have wanted to bring
it up that way if he had. “…I just mean he’s a pervert and I don’t want to be
around him, that’s all. I wasn’t trying to say anything against you.”

Sebastian froze as Jim talked, looking down at his food in silence for a moment
before speaking, "Look. It's just fucking around, OK?" He was unconsciously
echoing the words he'd been told himself. "It wasn't that I didn't feel like
sucking him off, it was that I was being insubordinate, yeah? That's why he hit
me. He didn't force me, did he? Just gave me a slap for being lippy and
refusing him." He reached up a hand to gently stroke the bruises from the
'slap'. "Besides, I thought that's what you wanted? When you said, you know,
that I was yours. Thought you wanted me to refuse him..."

“I did, and I appreciate that. I didn’t know he’d hurt you.” Jim had basically
wolfed down his food and now he set the plate to the side and curled up in
Sebastian’s lap, pulling the sleeping bag around him. “Slaps don’t bruise your
face that bad. He was absolutely punishing you for not sucking him off – you’re
lippy to him all the damn time and I’ve never seen him hit you before now.” Jim
was realizing that Sebastian had a very difficult time keeping an objective
viewpoint when he was the one being hurt or indeed doing the hurting. “If he
had tried to make me suck him off and I told him no and he left bruises on my
face like that do you think that would be my fault then? That it’s just fucking
around?”

"I would rip his fucking nuts off if he laid into you like that." Sebastian
growled, cuddling Jim close and snuggling under the sleeping bag with him,
rather whistfully wishing that he could spend every evening like this, curled
up with Jim alone and surviving rather than lined up and being counted. It felt
a bit like Jim was stripping away everything he'd enjoyed as a cadet by
pointing out that it was all fucked up and abusive bollocks, and he wasn't
quite ready to admit that the last few years of his life hadn't been the
truimphant success he'd been assuming. "He doesn't hit me like that often." He
tried weakly, "He was pissed at you as well. Thinks I'm your fuckboy now." His
face twisted at the language the sergeant had used. "Probably yelling to the
whole camp that we'd fucked was a bad idea..."

“See?” Jim muttered as he let his eyes drift closed. He was only resting them.
“If you wouldn’t want him doing it to me then he shouldn’t be doing it to your
either. He’s way old and it’s super gross what he’s doing. Next time he tries
to hit you just pull a Draco Malfoy and threaten to tell your dad. If that
doesn’t make him back off, Mags will. He doesn’t want anyone fucking with his
neat little system.” Jim sighed and scooted over so that Sebastian could fit
better and they could get comfortable. “Yeah I got that he was pissed when he
threatened to fuck me with the toilet brush.” Jim threaded their fingers
together so Sebastian wouldn’t think he was angry. “It wasn’t your brightest
idea, that’s for sure.”

"He threatened to what!" Sebastian yelped, hugging Jim closer and deciding he
needed a serious talk with the sergeant when they got back. The thought of Jim
being in that kind of danger made him shudder, and of course completely
reassess what had happened to him. "Git..." he muttered, giving another low
growl, a bit annoyed that his happy perfect cadet world had been so brutally
shaken up so quickly. "Yeah, well. I'm sorry. It was you who decided to go into
the fucking shower. Ah fuck, it's not your fault. None of it's your fault.
You've just been chucked in and I'm piss poor at looking after anything. Had a
dog once. It died. Mags fucking ran over it. My dad went fucking starkers but
him and Mags have... issues.”

Jim flinched as Sebastian yelped in his ear but settled down quickly when he
pulled Jim tighter against his body. It chafed that Jim needed protection but
it really was better than the alternative. Besides, he was basically pimping
himself out for Mags’s protection so this shouldn’t be all that different. He
was intensely curious when Sebastian mentioned his father’s and Mags’s
relationship but knew better than to ask so instead he leaned up and kissed the
other boy briefly on the lips. “Sorry your dog died. That’s shit. But I’m not a
pet, I can take care of myself. Most of the time. He wouldn’t have seriously
hurt me, Watson is going to flip his shit when he finds out the Sergeant made
me clean in the nude just so that he could watch me.”

"Oh you are nothing like a pet - pets do what I fucking well tell them!" He
laughed, and slid a hand under Jim's shirt to stroke at his stomach. "You're a
mad little thing and more than perfectly capible of looking after yourself.
Hell you fucked me up first time I met you. 'M just trying to tell you all the
tips to survive in this crazy place." He gave a grin and stroked Jim's fuzzy
head before giving it a kiss. “I was only seven when the damn dog died, I've
got over it now.”

Jim made a happy little affirmative noise when Sebastian insisted he could look
after himself. He squeezed Sebastian’s wrist understandingly when he talked
about his dog. Jim was sure that it was still something that had been hurtful
as a child and Jim could feel some sympathy for seven year old Sebastian seeing
his pet hurt like that and still feeling responsible for it almost ten years
later. “M gonna sleep now. We can fuck later, mkay?” Jim was already half
asleep, warm and mostly comfortable despite their outdoor conditions. He wasn’t
so hungry anymore either and that helped too.

"Heh... course. You need sleep so sleep." It certainly made no sense to
Sebastian to self-regulate desires - certainly not at a time like this when
they could get away with whatever they wanted. He gave Jim's head another
little kiss and then murmured softly, "I still can't believe you do actually
want to fucking sleep with me. Specially when you're so fucked over from the
Sergeant. You're a bloody beautiful creature and I'm here whenever you want
me." He reached into his bag and tugged out a small blade, grinning as he hid
it under the sleeping bags incase of any unwanted night time guests.
 
===============================================================================
 

When Jim woke up again it was dark and Sebastian was no longer curled around
him. He grumbled a little and had no way to determine what time it was. Maybe
he’d ask for a watch for Christmas. He couldn’t believe he’d be asking for such
outdated technology. “Sebastian?” Jim called out quietly when he didn’t
immediately see the other boy.

Sebastian had dashed outside the tent at god o'clock in the morning, desperate
for a piss. He hopped back in, quietly swearing and shivering, jumping as he
noticed Jim was awake and tumbling down to join him, wrapping cold muscled
limbs around the little body and giving a nip at Jim's ear, "You alright?
Didn't have a nightmare?" He didn't say it flippantly - knowing Jim had plenty
to have bad dreams about. "Needed a fucking piss. Watch out, there's someone
else out there as well, could hear them scurrying around. Fuck knows what
they're doing, but if we wake up and the tents gone that'll be it.

“Ugh,” Jim hissed reproachfully as Sebastian climbed in between the sleeping
bags and pressed his cool body against Jim’s. It was dark and Sebastian must
have put the fire out so it would be more difficult for the other groups to
find them. Jim could barely see Sebastian’s outline above him. Good. This would
be easier in the dark. He steeled himself a bit and pressed the heel of his
palm against Sebastian’s cock, rubbing gently but quickly. “I’m okay. Let’s
just get you warmed up, alright? We’ll just have to be quiet.” Fuck they didn’t
even have privacy in the woods.

"Gwah -" Sebastian hadn't been expecting Jim to start groping him but certainly
wasn't about to complain, grinning in the dark and licking his earlobe.
"Mmmm... woke up horny did we? Hot little thing. Mmm you are hot." He squirmed
his body back, rubbing chilly hands over Jim's back, feeling down the nobbles
of his spine as he went.

Jim couldn’t help a little grin as Sebastian responded to his touch, even if
everything else was rather nebulous Jim did enjoy getting reactions out of him.
He liked to see him happy and relaxed. “I suppose. You said something about not
ignoring my needs on this trip, right? I need your cock inside me.” Jim’s mouth
twisted but there was no way Sebastian would see it in the dark. Jim managed to
choke out a laugh though. “I am hot and you are cold.” He liked Sebastian’s
hands on his skin and Jim moved his hand away from Sebastian’s crotch to remove
his own uniform jacket and shirt. “Undo my trousers.” Jim started stripping
Sebastian’s top.

Sebastian laughed quietly as Jim gave the order, murmuring a, "yes sir."
against the skin of Jim's stomach as he fumbled the trousers open, kissing and
then sucking gently at the skin, leaving the odd nip as his mouth trailed down
to Jim's hipbones. "I'm cold now but there's one bit of me that is ragingly
warm." He hesitated. "My cock." he clarified, and then giving up on poetry
entirely, "I really want to fuck you."

Jim still liked when Sebastian called him sir, even if it was probably a
residual reflex from when he was with the sergeant. He gasped and bucked his
hips as Sebastian mouthed over the skin surrounding his naval, leaving little
marks there that would probably fade by morning. “Mmm, I can feel that.” Jim
teased as he gave Sebastian’s cock a quick grope before he rolled over onto his
stomach. Jim being on his knees or his stomach would be better, even if it was
already dark. “Touch me then. I put the condom in the front pocket of my bag.
It’s in a little baggie, keep that because you’ll need to dispose of the condom
later and I’d rather not have come smeared all over my bag.”

Sebastian had been hoping to have a taste of Jim's cock and was therefore
rather disappointed when the boy rolled over. Still, now he had Jim's arse in
front of him and he certainly wasn't about to complain about that. Giving a
happy little mew he licked around the edges, bit down on the plump skin, rubbed
his hands up over Jim's back and the back of his neck, loving every inch of the
beautiful backside in front of him. "The best thing." He murmured into soft
skin, "Will be watching you walk tomorrow, knowing I've been up inside this."

Jim grimaced and bit his lip at the reminder, they didn’t have lube and more
likely than not he’d be left limping tomorrow. For now though Sebastian wasn’t
trying to push anything inside him, he was just touching his skin and that felt
good. He’d intentionally only brought one condom because he only wanted to do
this once tonight, it was possible that Sebastian would have chosen to suck him
off but Jim was still working through the idea of Sebastian and the sergeant
being together. Jim settled with his legs bent underneath him and his arse
sticking out, figuring it would probably be easiest on his hands and knees.
“Just – use as much spit as you can, yeah?”

Sebastian sat back, confused a little as Jim seemed to be just levering himself
into position and letting him get on with it. He'd assumed sex would be more...
gropey. More giggling and twisting. More 'oh god please yes' rather than 'just
try and use lube'. He scowled, squeezing hard at Jim's arse. "Don't be a silly
sod, I've got lotion yeah? Not taking you dry." There were a few seconds of
fumbling around in his bag and cursing and then he tugged out the little bottle
triumphantly, sliding some on his fingers, and then rubbing them against Jim's
entrance, "Mmmm... wish it was light enough to watch you blushing. Bet you look
gorgeous."

Jim shook his head and crawled away from Sebastian’s hands, “What? No you
can’t… Seb you can’t use lotion with condoms like this they won’t work.” Jim
felt around and found his bag and dug around until he found a hand towel. He
wiped any of the lotion that got on him and handed it over for Sebastian’s
hands. “Just spit is fine.” Jim muttered as he settled back down into position,
closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.

Sebastian hesitated as Jim moved away, frowning, "Why the hell not, does it
make the condom explode?" He grumbled. He looked down at Jim's body, feeling
slightly uneasy. Sure the fact they were in a tent probably reduced the amount
of flailing and acrobatics they could do but he felt sure, somewhere deep
inside, that Jim should be enjoying this more than he currently was. Irritated
he gave Jim's arse a slap, "Fucks sake we don't have to do it. I was about to
suck you off before you stuck your arse up like an offering." Slightly
apologetically he rubbed gently at the handprint. "I mean I want to, fuck knows
I want to, but not if it's going to hurt you. Shouldn't hurt..."

“Ow,” Jim yelped and then quickly covered his mouth, wary of the other students
still prowling around. “Sorry. I only brought one condom, and I want to do
this…” Jim made himself relax and he ground himself back against Sebastian,
trying to entice him to continue. “It won’t hurt. Just trust me, I’ve done this
before.” Jim lied. He assumed that Sebastian had done this before and he didn’t
want him thinking of him as a virgin.

"Yeah? Well let me know if I'm doing it right then." Sebastian managed a
breathless laugh, and that was about as close as he was willing to go in
admitting he was a complete virgin. Licking his fingers he gently pressed one
of them into Jim's backside, gasping a little at the tightness, "O-ohhh... this
is going to be... oh wow." The finger slid in and out, twisting around,
watching in fascination as the little ring of muscle tensed and clenched away.
"Mmmm..." Reaching down he kissed at Jim's back while is finger worked. "L-lift
your arse up... a-ahh yeah. Like that... mmmm niiiiice."

Jim exhaled slowly and tried to relax his muscles, the single finger didn’t
hurt but the chafing was uncomfortable. He had some concerns about the condom
breaking but there was nothing he could reasonably do at this point. He took
Sebastian’s words to mean that he wanted Jim to tell him if he was pleasing him
right, not that he didn’t know how to do this and he was only guessing. Jim
raised his arse higher and lowered his head down to the sleeping bag so that he
could rest his cheek against the material and close his eyes. “That’s good,” he
muttered encouragingly, hopefully he could just wind Sebastian up and watch him
go after he got involved.

Sebastian gave an unhappy little frown, Jim sounded less like someone lost in
sexual ecstasy and more like someone attempting to train a particularly dim
puppy. He fell silent, a little miserable that he couldn't pleasure Jim the way
he wanted too - particularly given Jim knew what he was doing and Sebastian
very much obviously different. With a little sigh he pushed a second finger in,
twisting it around and looking at Jim's arse again. Quietly he said, "Look I -
I know I'm probably shite at this. Just... I mean... what do you usually do? Is
it usually... better?"

Jim frowned a little and wondered why Sebastian was asking about his supposed
previous sexual partners. Then he pushed another finger in and Jim clenched
around it painfully while he gasped for air. It sounded sexy though right? Sexy
gasping? He had so much more respect for his mother. “Uhn, look this first time
doesn’t have to be mind blowing, I’m not going to drop you and find someone
else if you aren’t a legendary pornstar in bed, yeah? We’ll be able to do this
plenty of times again. All we can do is make it the best we can. It’ll feel
good as soon as you’re inside me, promise.” Jim’s cock was soft and he quickly
reached down and started stroking himself off, he suspected that if Sebastian
found out then he’d probably just storm out of the tent.

"Yeah." Sebastian answered miserably, feeling even worse when he noticed Jim
stroking himself. Great. Not only was he a crap sex partner, he was so crap
that Jim couldn't even keep it up. He pushed a third finger in, forgetting in
the moment that he hadn't really lubed it up any, and looking sadly at the
single condom. Only one. One chance. That was clear as fucking daylight and he
appeared to be fucking it up royally. He sat up, twisting his fingers around
are realising how crushingly ridiculous it was, him crouched in a tent with
three fingers up someones arse. At this rate his cock would be joining Jim's
pretty soon.

Jim could hear how miserable Sebastian sounded and he bit his lip and felt like
crying in frustration. Why did everything have to be so fucking hard, it was
like he couldn’t catch a goddamn break. Sebastian pushed his third finger in
and it was completely dry, Jim’s whole body tensed and he bit his lip near
bloody trying to keep a noise in. When he felt like he had more control Jim
moaned and made himself rock back against Sebastian’s fingers. “Yeah that’s
that’s good. You’re doing good. Just uh – why don’t you use the lotion on your
other hand and help me? I liked what you were doing earlier with your mouth.
Have you been stretched before? It doesn’t always feel good initially but the
sex is amazing.” Jim jerked suddenly as Sebastian got a lucky hit on his
prostate. “Oh fuck – god, that was…. Can you do that again? Find my prostate?”
Jim knew what that had to have been but he’d never felt it before himself. He
hoped to god Sebastian knew what a prostate was.

"Find your what now?" Sebastian was completely at sea, and chuckled a little
miserably as Jim asked the questions, "Ha, no... I haven't been stretched
before. Haven't done any of this before, which is clearly why I'm so shite.
You... you liked that?" His finger had been dry and Sebastian grinned, thinking
he was now possibly on the right track. Bending down he shoved his fingers in
harder, licking behind Jim's ear as his other hand groped at the lube, "Dirty
boy, you like it when I shove it up you all rough and dry, hmm? Well I can do
that..."

Jim flinched but it could have been mistaken for another jolt of pleasure, it
was funny how the two got such similar reactions sometimes. He whined as
Sebastian forced his fingers inside him harder, clenching the sleeping bag
material in his fists. It was on the tip of his tongue to insist that no that
was most definitely not what he meant. But Sebastian was grinning, Jim could
hear it in the sound of his voice and the way his teeth pressed against the
shell of his ear. “Ye-yeah. I was embarrassed about it before so I didn’t say
anything. Fuck I can’t wait to have your cock inside me.” Jim kept his voice
light and excited, using the strain he felt from the pain to come across as
eager.

Sebastian flushed, pleased to have found where he was going wrong, and licking
and nuzzling at Jim's ear again, "Don't worry - I'll make it good, promise." At
least he could understand where Jim was coming from. He could see the appeal of
hot rough sex, and the idea that Jim might also reciprocate later on, and
grinned, tugging his fingers away and fisting his cock a few times before
sliding on the condom, being careful to get it the right way as they only had
one. "Alright..." he growled bending low and biting the back of Jim's neck,
"Mmmmmm I'm gonna fuck you so hard you won't sit straight." And with that he
forced himself inside.

“Fuck!” Jim pressed his forehead against the ground and screwed his face up,
trying to remember to breathe and desperately tried to relax hoping it wouldn’t
hurt so much. Nothing seemed to really make it stop hurting. “Give – give me a
second.” He pleaded, still biting his lip and just trying to breathe. The pain
on the back of his neck went unnoticed next to the pain in his arse, like he
was being split open. He’d never had more than a few fingers before and this
was fucking excruciating. People did this for fun? After a few moments where he
caught his breath and steeled himself, already starting to disassociate some.
“Okay. Move. You’ve imagined this before right? I want you to fuck me the way
you imagined it.”

Sebastian stopped moving instantly, watching Jim's face closely. Even in the
dark he could tell the boy was in pain, whimpering and looking unhappy.
Angrily, he grabbed Jim's hips and thrust forward, once, twice, three times,
before pulling out and landing a harsh slap on Jim's arse. Tugging the condom
off he threw it in Jim's face, all but snarling. "Yes I do imagine it. I
imagine you fucking enjoying it - not acting like I'm forcing you to go through
with it. Just... fuck that was the only condom... just fucking wank off
alright? Then you can run back and laugh with Magnussen about how shite Moran
was on his first fuck."

Jim wiped at his eyes furiously when they betrayed him and started leaking. It
just hurt was all. Maybe he’d gotten something in his eye. His face was flushed
in humiliation and he started grabbing his clothes quickly. He wasn’t hard
anymore which was something, at least he was spared that betrayal of his body.
Sebastian’s dry cock fucking his arse, actually moving, was one of the most
painful things he’d ever experienced and the added humiliation was not helping
him keep calm like he knew he should be. Magnussen would be so angry. Jim
stilled at the thought, the dread he felt in his gut when he realized how badly
he’d fucked up was almost enough to make him apologize and beg Sebastian to
start fucking him again. Almost. He was furious and hurt and something else
that was nebulous and dark and tied into the things that he’d always heard his
father say about his mother.
Jim stood on shaky legs and refused to wince, steeling his expression as he
tugged on his trousers. “I fucking hate you,” Jim spat, but his voice cracked
and ruined the effect. He flushed again, snarling and grabbed his shoes and
vest before storming out of the tent. He would rather spend the night in the
cold than share a tent with Sebastian. He’d thrown a used condom at his face.
He moved as quickly as he could while he was limping away from the tent, just
picking a direction and going. After a little while the adrenaline wore down
and Jim felt how sore his feet were from walking through the underbrush. He
stopped and leaned against a tree as he pulled his shoes and socks on and
tugged his vest on over his head to try and warm up some. It was fucking
freezing. Leaving the tent with no supplies had been stupid but he wasn’t going
to try and go back either. Jim was suddenly very very tired and he slumped down
against a big tree that did a good job of blocking the wind but not much else.
He gave an unhappy yowl when he sat on his arse and Jim quickly gave up on
that, curling up on his side so that he’d only be in moderate amounts of pain.
It occurred to him that he could die of exposure – if one of the other groups
didn’t find him the next day there was no telling how long he might be out
here. Jim had thought he’d walked in a straight line from their tent but now he
thought maybe he hadn’t and it would be impossible to find the tent in the dark
anyway. If he died now it would probably be a mercy to what Magnussen would
have in store for him when he heard about what a clusterfuck this was. He
didn’t hold out hope that he could somehow salvage his and Sebastian’s
relationship in time for Christmas. Jim rubbed his face before tucking his
hands under his armpits, content to wait out the night under this tree. If he
survived till the morning then he could figure something else out.

"Fine, fucking LEAVE." Sebastian snarled after him, feeling miserable and
confused. He'd tried to do what Jim wanted and had only hurt him. Then he'd
lashed out and hurt Jim even more. Miserably he curled up down in the tent,
trying to conserve the heat for when Jim got back, his cock now completely
soft. That was it - he'd fucked up his first chance of proper sex and by the
sounds of it Jim wasn't planning on giving him another go. Jim had bought one
condom, and Seb had wasted it. Swearing, he scrubbed at his eyes, still really
confused as to how he'd managed to fuck everything up so badly.
Chapter End Notes
     TW: dub-con
***** Move *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Carl Powers almost stumbled over Jim in the early morning light - curled up and
shivering. Staring for a while he frowned, and then realised just how lucky he
was and quickly tied Jim's hands behind his back with cord before he could
wake, wrapping his jacket around Jim's front and tying the sleeved behind him
to restrict him further (and also hopefully prevent him dying of exposure)
before giving his face a slap to wake up. "Wakey-wakey. Did Sebby throw you out
already? He'll go crawling back to the Sergeant's cock, he always does. This is
probably the quickest target I've ever achieved, get on your feet and fucking
walk. Don't try anything or I'll knock you out and drag you there."

Jim was so exhausted he didn’t wake up, even when Powers tied his hands. His
lips and fingertips were tinged blue with cold and Jim wanted to cry again for
how unlucky he was. Technically getting found at all was probably actually good
luck unless he’d thoroughly committed to the whole actually dying thing. Still,
Powers certainly wouldn’t have been his first choice if he was going to be
rescued. Jim startled awake when Carl slapped him, automatically pulling hard
at the cords around his wrist to free his hands but Carl had done the knots
well. Jim was disoriented and confused but he was aware enough of his situation
to know that he was in tight spot and he shouldn’t make things more difficult
for himself. It was easier said than done though and his legs were sore and
stiff from sleeping curled up on the cold ground all night. When he finally got
to his feet Jim winced and made an unhappy sound when his realized his arse
still hurt pretty terribly. He didn’t respond to Carl’s taunts though, he
didn’t think he had the mental capacity currently to think of something witty.

Carl smirked, pushing him towards the bed and watching as Jim winced and
stumbled, "Oh my god - you actually put out for Moran? Are you mad? Didn't you
see him in the shower? Your father will fucking eviscerate you." He kept up the
mocking insults until they reached the tent, where if gave Jim a kick to make
him fall inside.
Carl's partner jumped as Jim stumbled inside, grabbing his sleeping bag and
struggling out of the way, "Powers, what the fuck..."
"I've done it." Karl replied smugly, "Achieved our target, pretty damn quickly
too. We just need to stop him running."
The partner looked at Jim and chewed on his fingernail a little worriedly,
"yeah, and stop Moran rescuing him."
"Rescuing him? Moran fucking chucked him out. I don't think we need to bother."

Jim was too cold to flush but that didn’t mean Carl’s comments weren’t
degrading or making him angry. After a few moments he tried to ignore it by
focusing on working the stiffness out of his body and the pain he felt at every
step. It was almost a relief when they reached the tent, at least it was a bit
warmer in there. Jim still had Carl’s jacket tied around his upper body and
that kept what little heat his body produced from escaping. Jim’s legs gave out
as Carl kicked the back of his knee and sent him tumbling to the ground,
huffing out a pained breath when he couldn’t catch himself because his hands
were tied. “I don’t suppose you’re going to feed me?” Jim asked with no real
hope.

Carl frowned and looked at him, then looked at his partner, Victor, who
shrugged, still chewing his nails, "Target was to kidnap Moriarty alive. I
suppose we should give him some food."
Carl frowned and then shook his head, "The weaker he is, the less he'll be able
to run. Give him some water though, wash out the taste of Sebastian's cock.
I'll tie him to the inside of the tent and then we'll just keep low and
concentrate on getting ourselves through the weekend."

Jim didn’t really have any intention of running, it wasn’t like there was
anything better waiting for him out there. At least here he was starting to
warm up and they were going to give him water. Carl lifted him by the elbow and
dragged him to sit against a metal pole stuck in the ground before tying him
off to it. There was a few inches of slack and Jim would be able to curl up on
his side later and sleep if the mood took him. Victor brought the water and Jim
choked as it was tipped into his mouth and he tried to swallow down as much as
possible before Victor took the bottle away again.

Carl watched and then rolled his eyes, slapping the back of Victor's head and
making him give an outraged noise and spill the water down Jim's front. "Have
you forgotten all your lessons. You're meant to be giving him a drink, not
waterboarding him. Remember helping with dehydration? And don't get my fucking
jacket wet, in fact, here..." He snatched the bottle away and started properly
letting it trickle into Jim's mouth. "Go and find something to eat and try and
see if anyone's targetting us. I can't believe you forgot to bring proper
food."

Jim shivered as the water tipped and chilled his front as it got wet, but it
was worth it for water. Probably. He’d die of dehydration before exposure in
these conditions. Jim was actually grateful when Carl took the bottle and more
gently tipped it into his mouth. It was an intimate thing and Jim didn’t like
it. After a few moments Carl took the water away and Jim curled up on his side
again so he wouldn’t have to sit up. He’d only meant to lie down in a more
comfortable position but he worried he might be getting sick.

Carl watched Jim as he curled down, pulling a blanket over him and then bending
down to whisper, "That was our target you know. Not just to kidnap some random
twat. To kidnap you. Your dad really has it in for you, so you might like to
behave if you don't want me telling him that you got fucked and then thrown out
by Sebastian Moran." He gave Jim a little kick for the look of things, then
headed out to start making a fire.
 
Jim was disturbed by Carl’s words but didn’t know what else he could do, he was
already being a model prisoner. Of course his father had fucking made that a
target, it was such a petty thing to do on his first real trip out and he could
just wave it off as hazing the new kid. Jim didn’t want his father finding out
about Sebastian because there was nothing to stop him from running to Mags and
telling him as soon as he could just to rub it in his face. Jim pressed his
face against the dirt and closed his eyes, letting schemes and plans run
through his mind until he accidentally fell asleep.

Carl watched him lying there, then realised that sleeping Jim was recovering
Jim and gave him a poke with a stick, "'S weird isn't it. Everyone else is here
because their fathers want the best thing for them. You're here because your
father wants the worst for you." He poked Jim a few times idly and then
smirked, "So tell me, just for interest, what is Moran actually like in bed?
You know Victor gave him a hand job once, lazy pouf. Was it awful? All grunting
and rutting like fucking pigs in a sty. Did he slap you? I bet he slapped you.
The Sergeant always slapped him. He's had these little 'infatuations' before
you know, and he always gives them up in the end." He gave a mocking laugh,
"I'm sorry if you thought it was true love..."

Jim glared hard when Carl started poking him with a stick. Carl’s tactics were
so plebian it was pathetic. “We’ve known each other a week and the first time
we met I used a stapler on his fucking face, so no, I didn’t think it was true
love.” Jim shook his head in irritation, “Are your comments supposed to bother
me?” They didn’t really, the only thing that bothered him was that Mags was
going to lose his shit, Jim had fallen into a bit of a crazy place where he
knew that he was going to be killed, unpleasantly, very soon. That left him a
sort of freedom most people never have. Everything else, all of Carl’s comments
were like gnats in comparison to that knowledge.

"For Sebastian Moran that's practically a proposal." Karl sneered, more
accurately than he perhaps realised. He sighed and dropped the stick, turning
back to the fire. Jim was being no fun.
 
===============================================================================
 
 
About an hour later Victor came back, looking pale, glancing at where Jim lay
tied to the pole and shaking his head in fear, "Oh fuck, Sebastian Moran is
ripping the damn forest apart. He heard from Hooper that someone's meant to
kidnap him - he's beaten the shite out of Hooper and two other teams already.
We need to get out of here, and preferably back to the fucking check point." He
shot a worried look at Jim and then turned angrily on Carl, "I thought you said
he'd chucked him out? He's gone fucking nuts."

Jim grinned bitterly and shook his head, “He didn’t chuck me out – I left.”
Basically that was true. He was still surprised that Sebastian was apparently
looking for him but Jim didn’t let that thought grow J.us because he was
looking for him didn’t mean that he wasn’t still pissed off or that he still
wanted him. “Just got lost in the woods and couldn’t find my way back in the
dark. Worst luck.” That was almost true too.

"He got lost, he got lost." Victor repeated hysterically, running around
scattering his belongings everywhere as he tried to pack until Carl hit him
again.
"Calm down. What exactly is Sebby upset about?"
"Moran, Moran, don't call him Sebby. He's furious, he's threatening to rip
peoples heads off. Oh fuck."
Carl grabbed him and gave him a shake. "Look just calm THE FUCK down. Just
because Moran's got his knickers in a twist over his lost boyfriend doesn't
mean we have to. Pack your stuff and get the tent down. Take him off the pole
for now, he's not about to go anywhere."

As soon as Victor distractedly cut him away from the pole Jim waited until they
were both occupied with getting the tent down before curling up in a ball and
pulling his arms underneath him so that they were now tied in front of him
instead of behind his back. He grabbed Powers’ jacket to cover it but it was
entirely possible that they wouldn’t notice he’d switched his hands around when
they were nervous and rushing. A plan started formulating in his mind, a way to
get free and complete their objective. Sure, if it didn’t work it wouldn’t be a
huge deal but Jim didn’t really want the extra punishment that would come with
not completing their objective. But Jim couldn’t carry both their sets of bags
and didn’t in fact know where the academy was. So he’d wait. Jim watched them
carefully, watched Victor put the knife he’d used to cut Jim away from the pole
in his back right pocket. He could be patient.

Victor cut him away, being careful not to cut Powers's jacket, and tightening
the sleeves again behind Jim's back. He couldn't remember which way around
Jim's arms had been tied, and was quite frankly more preoccupied with trying to
escape Sebastian than with the tired and hungry prisoner. Carl doused the fire
and swung his bag up onto his back, "C'mon, get the tent rope around him and
just pull him along. He can walk... I think... fucking can't believe Sebby
actually fucked him. Come on!" Victor grabbed his pack and did as he was told,
letting Jim trail along behind him and feeling grateful that at least the other
wasn't trying to scream or draw attention to himself.

Jim let Victor get in front of him and trailed along behind, limping along.
Some of the limping was exaggerated but for the most part it just fucking hurt.
He was trying to be patient but he was getting very tired of Carl’s shit. “Why
is it that unbelievable that he fucked me?” It made him angry to be dragged
along like an animal. It would be stupid to yell and try and draw Sebastian’s
attention, there were no guarantees that he was still in the area and Jim
wanted them to let their guard down as much as possible – nice as it would have
been to be carried when his muscles were stiff with cold and his arse stung
like fire.

"Because he doesn't fuck anyone..." Victor piped up, as Carl glared at him.
He'd been hoping to come out with something more snide, but he was more worried
about getting them safe and far away from Sebastian Moran. "He's still got to
be all proper and non-pouffy for Mags and his father. Yeah he'll have the odd
fumble but he's never fucked anyone..."
"Shut up..." Carl hissed, "You would bloody know you snivelling little wanker.
Just shut up and we'll get back to the checkpoint."

“Are you jealous?” Jim’s tone was incredulous and he couldn’t help a little
laugh. Then Victor gave a hard tug on the line holding his hands and Jim fell
on his face, “Ow. Fuck. I was just taking the piss mate.”

"Jealous?" Carl stopped to stare at his fallen form, giving him a kick, "Why
the hell would I be jealous of some useless pouf like you? What I am is
surprised. Surprised that Sebastian fucking Moran, son of a lord, decided to
give up being the Sergeants fucking bumboy in order to roll around in a tent
with a useless skinny little shit like you. What I'm surprised about is why he
hasn't already grown tired of you, why he didn't throw you out after he'd used
you, and of course I'm wondering when he inevitably will get fucking tired of
you, and leave you out for the rest of them. Now keep walking and shut up."

Jim didn’t exactly have anything to say to that. It was true. Jim just knew
that the answer was because Jim had seduced him for Mags. He’d fucked it up,
obviously but if Jim was going out there wasn’t much point taking Sebastian
with him. “I’m limping because I twisted my ankle you stupid fuck. There’s a
reason it sounds unbelievable, stop jumping to conclusions.” Jim followed after
them for close to two hours, until the academy was directly in view and Jim
could see his father standing there looking like a smug fuck because Jim’s
hands were still tied. Now was his chance though. Jim brought his arms down,
snapping the zip ties away as his elbows brushed against his sides and the ties
broke against his stomach. Jim pulled the rope hard, tugging Victor off balance
and Jim ran up and kicked him in the back of the knee. When the boy went down
Jim fished his knife out of the back pocket and flicked it open, pointing it
under his collar bone. “Right. Powers I’ve taken your partner hostage. I want
you to walk forward to the camp and don’t move or I’ll cut him. Victor I want
you to stand slowly and pick your pack up again. MOVE.”
 
===============================================================================
 

Sebastian had woken dozily - going from unaware to confused to scared to angry
in a matter of five minutes. Packing up the tent and supplies he'd strapped his
pack to his front, Jim's pack to his back, and then gone out searching for the
boy. A few broken noses and threats later and he'd discovered that Jim was a)
alive and b) captured. In the absence of finding anyone to blame he'd just torn
through the rest of the woods - ripping apart and scattering belongings, and
finally stealing the last possessions of a terrified cadet, strapping them up
behind Jim's bag and staggering to the pick up place, knuckles bloody, clothes
wet and muddy where he'd occasionally fallen and face snarling. He'd stopped
stock still when he'd seen Jim - brandishing a knife by a terrified looking
Carl and Victor, with his father looking displeased next to them. His mouth
dropped open and he felt a sudden rush of love for the boy, tugging the bags
off his back and throwing Jim's at Carl's head. "Oh that's where you fucking
got to. I thought we just had to steal some other buggers belongings - not
their entire group." He gave a grin at Jim that was relieved, loving and highly
excited. "You little shit - I've been carrying your fucking belongings all the
way around the damn forest. What did you pack in there - bloody rocks?"

Jim glanced over quickly at Sebastian and put Victor’s knife away in his
pocket. “You packed my bag you twat.” His tone was softer than what he’d
intended, Jim was still furious and now overwhelmed with Sebastian’s apparent
overnight forgiveness. He didn’t know what to do, he hadn’t planned for this
set of circumstances and Jim decided he needed some time to himself. “If we’ve
passed the exercise?” Moriarty nodded, still feeling a little sullen but also
proud of his boy for that stunt. Maybe he wasn’t totally hopeless. “Then I’m
going to medical.” Jim grabbed his bag since Sebastian was complaining about it
and hooked one strap over his shoulder while he limped determinedly to the
hospital wing. He wasn’t terribly injured but he wanted access to a medical kit
and John’s advice.

Sebastian's face fell as Jim mentioned medical and he closed his eyes in horror
a little, looking up to meet Moriarty's gaze. Now he was fucked, he knew. Jim
would tell John Watson that Seb had as good as assaulted him in a tent and John
Watson would tear him in half. He'd never seen John properly angry, but
according to the Sergeant, Watson had once punched Mycroft Holmes so hard the
young man had fallen through a French window. He wasn't so much afraid of the
pain, but of Watson thinking that about it - thinking Sebastian was capable of
hurting Jim. The guilt and anger thudded against him and he turned to Moriarty.
"Sir - can I have a word?"

Moriarty watched his son limp away suspiciously and then turned his eyes on
Sebastian. The two of them were a huge pain and it was interesting to see them
apparently fighting. “Not going to hold your girlfriend’s hand in medical? What
did you do, buy her the wrong kind of flowers? What the fuck do you want
Moran?”

Sebastian swallowed down the automatic snapped reply, sliding the final bag off
his shoulders and looking at Moriarty in the eyes. "The extra training you did.
As my... punishment. I thought I'd passed it, but I've been thinking and I
didn't. I didn't pass it at all. I told you what you wanted to hear right at
the end. I wasn't prepared for that kind of... backwash after you'd stopped.
I..." He hesitated, bit his lip and then plunged forward. "I'd like another
session, Sir. Another training session. Thought I'd ask you, rather than go the
traditional route of punching you in the face to get it."

Moriarty stared at him for an uncomfortably long time and from his expression
made it perfectly clear that he thought the boy was fucking crazy. “Well
Moran,” he drawled out with exaggerated slowness “I can’t say I’ve ever had
anyone stupid enough to ask me to torture them.” He shook his head impatiently,
“You don’t build up a resistance to this. Doing it over and over again isn’t
going to completely prepare you for a real situation because it’s real. You
can’t fake the hopelessness and the certainty you are going to die. Not over
and over again. This just doesn’t work like that.” He stopped and thought a
moment when he saw Sebastian’s determined face, realizing the boy wouldn’t take
no for an answer. “Fine. Friday night at the end of the week. If you are a
model of good behavior until then, are we clear?”

Sebastian nodded quickly. His heart thudding frantically in his chest. Part of
his brain was screaming at him that he'd just done a phenominally stupid thing,
but he could hardly back down now. He didn't believe Moriarty could be right
either, that he couldn't become better at knowing his own body's reactions,
better at responding when things got tough. "Thank you sir, I understand." He
resisted the urge to take a look at Jim, limping over to the medical centre and
faced forward instead. "Friday night. I'll be there."
 
===============================================================================
 

Jim pushed into the medical room feeling pretty sullen and worn out. He was
still limping after that two hour march through the woods and somehow he was
still cold. He’d not so much come to have John fix his body as help him work
out what he should do now. Jim dropped off his bag and limping over to the bed,
the one he was nauseatingly starting to think of as his own, and laid down on
his front. “Watson?” Jim called, nervously glancing around when the doctor
didn’t immediately come in and still half expecting Sebastian to come storming
in after him.

John had been busy in his office, frowning as he heard Jim come back and
rubbing the bridge of his nose quietly. Then he stood, took a breath and came
through, shaking his head, "You know just once I'd like you to come back from a
class or an expedition without needing patching up. Are you all right? What
happened..." he looked at the way Jim was lying, a little worriedly. "Was
there... an accident?"

Jim grinned at that and shook his head, “but then you’d never get to see me and
ask how I’m doing in school and bring me a batch of biscuits.” Sarcasm dripped
off of his words as Jim sneered at the idyllic picture. “M not hurt bad. My
hands are hurt and my wrists are bruised. Got tied up. Uh… I’m fucking cold
because I got lost outside and spent the night under a tree. That probably
accounts for everything.” Everything Jim would let him check anyway. “Mostly I
came to – ask for advice, I guess.” Jim watched Watson warily, expecting to be
mocked or laughed at. He’d been entirely self-sufficient from an early age and
asking help now was… grating and made him feel childish. It was just that he
didn’t know Magnussen very well, he hadn’t seen him use other boys like he was
using Jim. John had. This was just as tactical decision.

John raised an eyebrow, looking him over professionally, and bringing over a
warm damp cloth to wipe his wrists, as well as some disinfectant. "Well, I
suppose it could be a lot worse, although I am surprised Sebastian didn't look
after you better. Of course I'm more than happy to give advice. You know I'd
much prefer to be a - uh - foster parent who gives you useful advice than a
foster parent who gives you bandages." Taking Jim's wrists he wiped the cloth
over them and then dipped it into the disinfectant and repeated, looking at
Jim's wrists thinking the boy might find it easier to talk without too much
intense eye contact. "What's on your mind? Other than... all the shit
obviously. What specific thing can I hopefully be useful for?"

Jim swallowed and hissed as the disinfectant stung at his hands. “Uh –“ he
stalled and decided to tattle first. “The sergeant is sexually harassing me.
And Sebastian. Isn’t there anything you can do about that since you’re – you
know, my guardian?” Jim wasn’t quite ready to talk about his failing and
humiliation in the tent just yet.

John looked up, looking grave. "The Sergeant is sexually harrassing you?" He
swallowed his rage with difficulty and then gave a short nod. "That is
incredibly serious and I will bring it up immediately with Magnussen,
threatening to take it higher if he doesn't respond. We can stop that straight
away. His... dalliances with Sebastian not so much. Sebastian would have to
admit to them for a start - and a defence would be able to do something with
the fact that Sebastian was of age and consenting, despite the position of
responsibility. However I can certainly protect you from any more of that
behaviour." He hesitated and then gave Jim a small smile. "Thank you for... for
trusting me enough to tell me."

“That’s how my hands got all fucked up. He had me cleaning the dining hall by
myself all night. He wouldn’t give me gloves. He didn’t touch me but – he
wouldn’t let me get dressed and he watched me. He was angry because Sebastian
told him no. He hit him.” Jim rubbed at his face, “I don’t know – I think I was
getting through to him. To Seb. I don’t think he’s going to do that anymore. I
don’t know, he might go back to him.” Jim exhaled and rested his face against
the crook of his arm so he didn’t have to look at John. “I fucked up. I think
Magnussen’s going to kill me. But I might be able to salvage it, I don’t know…”
Jim’s voice was muffled by his arms.

"Shhhh ..." John wrapped his arms around Jim, having pulled away the last of
the makeshift bandages on Jim's hands he was shocked at the damage and gently
rubbed his back. "I'm sure it's fine. Moran does... genuinely seem to care for
you, in an odd way, and I'm sure you haven't screwed everything up. I won't let
Magnussen kill you, I'll stand in front of him and look as fierce as I can."
Jim had spent far too long with the weight of the world on his shoulders, and
John felt desperately sorry for him, still gently stroking his back. "Tell me
what happened." The boys had just returned so he didn't even have any rumours
to get along with.

Jim held incredibly still and his mind went completely blank as John held him
and rubbed his back. His first instinct was to pull away but – it probably made
John feel better. So he let him continue. It was just strange. No one had held
him since he was little. “We were supposed to have sex because it was the only
chance we were going to get and – and I needed to get invited back to his for
Christmas. I thought if we were fucking he’d be more likely to invite me.” Jim
hunched over some, feeling trapped. “It didn’t go well. I was bad and he got
angry – I fucked it up. I think he knows somehow, about what Mags asked me to
do. I was really bad.” Jim wasn’t used to failing at anything and discovering
that he was bad at sex was rather a blow for him. Not that he was in any kind
of hurry to try that again, he still couldn’t believe people did it
recreationally. “He’s going to kill me when he finds out.”

John pulled back a little as Jim hunched up, not wanting him to feel trapped or
surrounded - and in particular like he was imposing. "There are many, many
negative things I could say about Sebastian Moran, and I suspect you could join
me in them. But I don't think he's going to drop you just over a night of bad
sex. In all probability he's just as panicked as you about it." He looked out
the window, frowning as he saw a little line of cadets outside with various
injuries. "Um... and something seems to have happened to about half of your
fellow cadets. I'll see to them in a minute. Really though - bad sex is not
going to tear apart a whole relationship, although it might make it
excruciatingly embarrassing for a while. Magnussen will not kill you for having
bad sex with Sebastian, partly because he never needs to find out. He... well I
don't know what he wants, but from the rumour mill I'm guessing he wants you to
ingratiate yourself into Sebastian's family. If the worst comes to the worst,
tell Magnussen you've been invited to see them, buy yourself a train ticket,
and bump into Sebastian in Waitrose 'by coincidence.' You'll find a way."

Jim nodded miserably, but he didn’t think John really understood. “No it – it
wasn’t embarrassing. I couldn’t fake it well enough, I didn’t know what to
expect… I just fucked up. Now he’s angry because it hurt so much and his pride
was hurt… neither of us could find any lube that wouldn’t deteriorate the
condom. I thought it would be better to be sore than catch something from him.
He will dump me because he knows I’ve been lying to him. Mag’s is going to kill
me if I can’t do my job because Sebastian hates me. He’s going to know – I’m
limping everywhere and Sebastian’s pissed at me. It’s not difficult, Powers
figured out what happened in about thirty seconds.”

John looked at him, debating between giving him another hug, hard and
comforting, and just slapping him around the face. In the end he gave the boy a
helpless pat on the shoulder. "You tried to have sex for the first time, with a
young man who is also a virgin, without lube? You tried to have sex with a
young man who is highly protective of you and you thought it would be a good
idea to fake the enjoyment? I - well - god knows what he's thinking but I
wouldn't conclude he hates you until you've had a chance to talk with him. Find
out what he actually feels. And if he hits you he'll have me to answer to. Yes
you have fucked up, but probably not in the way you think. If I were you I'd...
well I'd probably shoot both magnussen and your father in the fucking head...
sorry." He took a deep breath and gave a smile, shaking his head. "If I were
you I'd wait. Sebastian is probably angry and confused, not a good combination.
Once he calms down he'll talk, you can discuss things, you can see how he feels
about you."

Jim nodded and was able to relax a little bit more now that his situation
didn’t feel quite so dire. “When you put it like that it sounds rather ill
thought out…” Jim had just felt so fucking desperate that he’d latched on to
the idea and run with it. “Next time you’re mad at him you should sit down and
give him some proper sex ed. He didn’t know what a prostate was. Or how to use
the condom properly.” Jim wasn’t judgmental, Sebastian’s lack of sexual
education was a failing of the school and his parents, not his fault. “Are you
going to bandage my hands again or do they need to breathe?” Jim sighed and
hung his head a little, “Can I – do you think I should have a note for morning
classes tomorrow? It really hurts. I don’t think I could do my laps tomorrow
and with my hands still fucked up…” Jim hated asking for special treatment but
he didn’t want Darren making lewd comments at him the whole time either.

John blushed at the thought. "I am not going to teach Sebastian Moran, of all
people, about the birds and the bees. I could... leave a book in his trunk?
You're right though. His sexual 'education' such that it is will have come from
his father's gossip, porn magazines and the sergeant. I'll bandage your hands,
and of course you can have a note for tomorrow. At the very least it will make
Sebastian Moran feel guilty, which is an emotion he doesn't feel nearly as much
as he should considering what he gets up to. You just have a rest now and try
to heal quickly. I'll pull the curtain across while I deal with all the other
injuries."

Jim actually laughed when he saw John flush, “You’re a prude! No it’s okay I
wouldn’t want to teach him either he can be pretty thick about some stuff.”
John finished bandaging his hands and wrote him a note. Jim steeled himself and
hopped down from the bed, hardly wincing at all. “Nah it’s all right, I’ll just
go have dinner while they are still serving it. I’m fucking starving.” Jim had
only eaten the one meal in two days. “You have other patients, no worries.” Jim
bit the inside of his cheek and bounced his weight from foot to foot for a
moment before muttering, “thanks.” And leaving quickly so that John wouldn’t be
able to reply in that sickeningly sweet tone that he used sometimes like he
thought Jim was a hurt animal he’d found outside.

John hesitated at asking if he could review Jim's arse, and decided wisely
against it, seeing as the boy could still walk. For the rest of the day he
spent hearing about the various rampages that Sebastian had been on, deciding
by the end of the day that a) Sebastian Moran was still completely besotted
with Jim Moriarty and b) Sebastian Moran should probably be put down.
 
===============================================================================
 
 
Seb froze as he saw Jim limp into the hall, his eyes darting around for signs
of John Watson vengeance before looking back down at his food. He had no idea
what to say or where to start and decided just to awkwardly concentrate on his
food for now. He had a feeling he'd missed a meal somewhere along the line and
beating people up did give him an appetite.

Jim had to sit next to Sebastian because it was his assigned seat and it would
look suspicious if he didn’t. He tried not to wince as he sat down, just
wanting to pretend like it hadn’t happened. Jim choked down his food as quickly
as he could, starving and chilled and he just wanted a long sleep in his warm
bunk. After he’d finished most of his food he glanced at Sebastian’s knuckles.
“You should really get John to look at those. Something might be broken, at the
very least you should get them disinfected. Although you might want to wait a
bit as there seems to be a line for the infirmary right now.” Jim teased
hesitatingly.

Sebastian twitched a little as he saw Jim wince, poking miserably at the food
and then giving a small smile as the slight teasing, "Yeah well... I heard
you'd been kidnapped. Did you think for a moment I wouldn't tear the whole
place apart trying to find you again?" He muttered back, slightly embarrassed
about being so open in his loyalties. He bit his lip, hesitated and then
ploughed forward. "Did you - did you tell Watson? Please fucking tell me you
didn't tell Watson. You know that I - that I raped you in a tent. Because I'm
fucking dead if you did and... well. I don't want to be dead..."

“What? No!” Jim winced at his volume and then quieted down, he just – Sebastian
was weird. Jim’s feelings were rather hurt by the suggestion and he bristled.
“Do I really seem like the kind of person who would lie about something like
that just to save myself a little embarrassment? Fuck off.” Jim didn’t realize
that Sebastian legitimately suspected he’d raped the other boy and only thought
he was being suspicious about Jim having the power to get him in trouble.

"It would be a lie?" Sebastian asked, rather hopefully, confused by all of
Jim's reactions and realising that he was probably coming across as
monumentally self-centred - more concerned about his own health than Jim's. "I
mean - you were hurt. I hurt you. Fuck that wasn't meant to happen." He pushed
his food around the plate with his fork and grimaced, "I know you only wanted
to give me one chance, you know, one condom, but... I didn't mean to fuck it up
that badly. Maybe... maybe another time you could give me another chance?"

“Yes, it would be a lie. Did you not hear me telling you I wanted it?” Jim
clenched his jaw and started pushing his food around on his plate with his
fork. “You didn’t hurt me that bad, okay? And I wanted it, I was the only
trying to convince you so don’t go throwing words like ‘rape’ around unless
you’re ready to report the sergeant.” Jim glanced up in surprise and frowned.
“No, I – fuck that wasn’t why. I only brought one because I figured… you’d want
to have sex more than once and I knew it would hurt… you didn’t fuck it up, you
just did what I told you. John wanted to smack me for being so stupid.” Jim’s
mouth twisted a little and then relaxed and smiled. “Maybe next time we could
use lube? It’s just so difficult to get contraband from outside the academy."
Jim steadied his nerves with a deep breath and then took the plunge. "…What are
you doing over Christmas break?”

"Why did you want to do it if you knew it would hurt?" Seb managed a relieved
smile as Jim explained matters and gave a little scowl to hide the overly
pleased feeling bubbling up inside, gently knocking a fist against Jim's
shoulder, "If John smacks you I'll take him down. Silly little bastard. Oh I'm
back home for Christmas. Dad's career is picking up and there's some big fancy
political expensive dinner thing that I have to sit at, bored to death and
being the Good Son. Foods usually pretty tasty though."

Jim shrugged and didn’t answer Sebastian’s question. Explaining why he did it
anyway – he just didn’t want to have that conversation. Sebastian bumped his
shoulder and Jim grinned tentatively, relaxing into their usual comradery.
“Don’t take him down he’s the only decent adult here, if he smacks me it’s
probably for my own good.” He paused and set his fork down, “…If you want then
maybe I could go with you? I’m not doing anything for break and we’d have
access to proper supplies if you wanted to try again.” Jim didn’t especially
want to, or at least he was still nervous about it hurting like this but Jim
had already resolved himself. “Sorry – I’m really sorry that I fucked
everything up so bad.” Jim rubbed at his eyes and felt a little sick. Probably
this shitty cafeteria food. “I just wanted it to be good for you at least.” He
scowled as he remembered how angry Sebastian had been. “Have I been punished
enough or are you going to stay pissed at me?”

"What - how the fuck can it be good for me if you're in pain?" Sebastian
answered, low and gentle, mostly to stop the rest of the cafeteria hearing.
Reaching under the table he rubbed and squeezed Jim's leg. "How have I punished
you? I've barely seen you? I ripped a whole forest apart looking for you, fuck
I was so angry." He patted the leg gently and continued, still low, "I was
never pissed at you. I was angry I couldn't have sex right. Fuck don't you dare
tell a fucker I said that." He grinned, and then thought about Christmas. "I -
I dunno." Alarm bells were ringing in his head, regarding Magnussen and his
father, "I'd fucking love to have you there but it'll be a big political wank -
all top nobs and fuckers. You'd have to sit in the kitchen and it'll be boring
as hell."

Jim shrugged lightly and looked away, his mum never seemed to like sex but her
clients did. He figured it would be similar somehow, that he could fake his way
through. Jim snorted and shook his head, “You haven’t punished me, I meant
sleeping outside and freezing my arse off and then being held as their hostage.
Why were you angry?” Jim frowned and scooted his leg away from Sebastian’s
hand, “Dunno you seemed pretty angry when you smacked me and threw a used
rubber in my face.” He sighed and smiled, pushing his knee out so it rubbed
against Sebastian’s thigh. “It’s alright, I’d still get you in the evenings,
wouldn’t I? It would be nice to get away for a bit. Have some privacy…” And
lubricant.
"That wasn't angry at you that was just..." Sebastian sighed, looking away and
feeling a bit shite. It hadn't been the best way to behave, "I'm sorry..." he
scowled at the food, "I was just upset and fucked up. Wasn't thinking." He felt
a bit better as Jim's leg rubbed his thigh, "I was angry because I'd hurt you,
and left you in danger and I didn't know what to do. Then I found out some
shite had kidnapped you and fuck I was raging." he thought for a bit, his face
twisting. He didn't want to refuse Jim, but he also didn't want to compromise
his father. "It would be pretty epic to get some time together." He admitted,
"And I'll do a much better job of fucking you."

Jim shrugged and sighed out the last of his resentment over the issue. It
wouldn’t do to hold on to it when he needed to get back in Sebastian’s good
books. “We’ll work it out. It’s not like I didn’t know you can be a mean little
sod. I’m not much better.” Jim grinned and pushed his leg against Sebastian’s.
“It wasn’t really a kidnapping. I went with him willingly because they had food
and water and shelter. I was so lost I didn’t know how to make it back to our
tent. And then I stole their shit… sort of. Father couldn’t complain anyway.”
Jim grinned and nodded, “You didn’t do anything wrong last night. Just need
something to make it more comfortable is all. Although I’m getting out of
morning classes for a few days so maybe I should let you bugger me more often.
I’d like to go with you… otherwise it’ll just be me and da and Mags. Cheery
family time.”

The thought of Jim being left alone with Magnussen and his father made
Sebastian scowl, "Well that's decided then. I'm not leaving you here - I'll
come back and find they've buried your corpse in the forest. I'll get dad to
send you an invitation and pretend you're the son of an earl or something." He
patted Jim on the head and finished eating. "Alright, well I better try and
clear this bloody homework then, seeing as I don't have mornings to do it in,
alright?" He hesitated on the verge of telling Jim about his rather stupid plan
for Friday evening, but decided against it. "See you at lesson."
Chapter End Notes
     TW: discussions of sexual assault
***** Try and Break a Little Bit *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Moriarty had actually taken some time to plan and work out the best way to
teach Sebastian his lesson. After this the stupid boy would not be running
around asking people to torture him. It was Friday, after dinner and today had
been the last day of classes before the children left for break the next day.
Moran was more than aware that he couldn’t leave marks on the boy, not with him
going home the next day. He thought he’d worked out a method that would
hopefully not damage him too badly but should scare him straight. He waited
patiently behind his desk, entirely too pleased with himself and ready for the
boy to show up. It would be a shame if he didn’t.

Sebastian felt nervous all day, the hardest part was hiding it from Jim, who he
ended up snapping at to fuck the fuck off when the boy started chatting at
lunch. He lurked in the bathroom after chores and then scuttled over to
Moriarty's office, muttering as he went "stupid, stupid, this is stupid" until
he reached Moriarty's office. Straightening his uniform he entered and ripped
off a salute before coming over to the desk, trying to keep his breathing
light. "Sir?"

Moriarty noticed his nerves and grinned. “Thank you for being on time. Let’s
get right to it then. Put your arms behind your back, press the backs of your
arms together. It will be a little uncomfortable but it should lower your
chances of accidentally dislocating anything.” Moriarty pulled out a roll of
duct tape and began binding Sebastian’s arms like that, from elbow to wrist
over his sleeves so hopefully it wouldn’t mark too badly if he struggled. “Now
sit over there on the floor. I’m going to do your legs up the same way.”
Moriarty indicated the patch of floor he wanted him to sit on and got to work
on his legs too.

Sebastian hesitated for just a moment, getting himself mentally into the right
place. Moriarty wasn't a competent if sadistic teacher, he was an enemy
combatant - this was all illegal, insane, uncharted. He obeyed, glowering,
locking his arms behind his back and feeling his heartrate rising as the duct
tape locked him in place. He sat and let the man do the same to his legs,
licking dry lips and rehearsing his name and number in his head like a mantra.

Moriarty grinned and gave the side of his thigh a companionable slap. “All warm
and cozy? Can’t get free? Good. It gets dangerous if you move around too much.
If I agree to do this then you need to promise not to hurt yourself, I won’t be
happy with you if you get me in trouble, understand?” Moriarty puttered about
the classroom, turning off half the lights and making it dimmer. “If you’re
very dedicated to this training, Moran, the thing you need to know is what your
weaknesses are. Now you’re a stubborn bastard, I’ll give you that. That’s not
one of your weaknesses, not on it’s own. You see I could beat you bloody and
you probably still wouldn’t tell me a thing.” Moriarty went and opened the
classroom door and the Sergeant came in carrying a little figure over his
shoulder, gaged and blind folded with his arms bound in front of him. “This is
your weakness. Caring. I’m not going to waste my time trying to get you to talk
by hurting you – instead I’ll hurt him.” Jim thrashed and screamed into the gag
as the sergeant put him down and Moriarty locked the door behind them. Jim
kicked at the sergeant but he couldn’t see where he was and his blows were
easily dodged.

"I won't get you in trouble." Sebastian muttered, already having grave
misgivings about the whole thing. But it was too late now, now he just had to
get through, to survive. He frowned and then his jaw dropped open as the
Sergeant came in, and as he realised exactly who he was carrying. For a second
his eyes closed in terror, but then he opened them, staring at Moriarty in
disgust. He wanted to rage at the man, to shout and scream, but he needed to
keep as much information away as he could so instead he just stared forward,
biting his lip hard and hoping Jim would not realise he was here, let alone
that he had asked for this.
The Sergeant gave Moriarty a nod, shooting a serious glance at Sebastian, shot
through with a slight disappointment. "Alright Moriarty, here he is. Put up a
hell of a fight, I'm taking that out his fucking skin for a start."

Moriarty grinned and reached forward to pinch Sebastian’s cheek, mindful of his
teeth if he should turn on him and bite. “No objections then? Good, you’re
learning to control your impulses. That’s a start anyway.” Moriarty turned
around and gave Jim a hard slap that shut him up immediately. “This boy
snitched on you to Watson, didn’t he? And he stole your little fuck boy. Simon
you’ve got a bit of a personal grudge, don’t you? Make it count.” He turned
back to Sebastian. “Cadet, tell me your address, to start with. Sergeant, if he
doesn’t tell speak then you may begin.”

Sebastian snarled but was far too busy trying not to lose it completely to
think about attacking Moriarty in any way. His mouth was dry and he flinched as
Jim was slapped across the face. Thanks to any god there was - Jim didn't know
he was here yet and he focused on that small mercy, biting his lip and snarling
at Moriarty, shaking his head obstinately. The sergeant reached over and
sighed, rubbing at Seb's head before he backhanded Jim hard across the face,
knocking him to floor, "How far can I go? He shouldn't even be here - he
doesn't want to be a soldier, doesn't have any backbone."

“Do what you want with him,” Moriarty knelt down in front of Sebastian smirking
a little bit. “This one decides what gets done. How easy he gets it. He is a
good whore for you, isn’t he Sebby? My son? His mother was a good whore too. Do
you want to tell me anything Sebastian? No? Well then…” Moriarty stood and
grinned at the Sergeant as Jim squirmed. “Go ahead and fuck him then. That
seems fair since he’s taken your boy.”

Sebastian's eyes closed as the sergeant finally mentioned his name. That was it
then, and he felt the bottom drop out of his stomach, looking away from Jim.
Maybe he should just do it. Break now. Tell them. This was only a stupid game,
he was the only one hurting Jim - and at that the anger flared back and he was
suddenly Sebastian Moran - with the whole weight of the British Establishment
bolstering him up. He gave a sneer at Moriarty, "Why the fuck would I tell you
anything? Why is it any of my business how many of your relatives you treat
like whores?" He was slightly reassured when the Sergeant shot Moriarty a look
of deep disgust, manhandling Jim around so he was bent over the table, arse
facing away from Sebastian at the Sergeant gave it a few pats and gropes. "I
never fucked Sebastian." He said mildly. Giving Jim a few more pats. As far as
he was concerned this was a lesson Sebastian definitely needed to learn, but
that didn't mean he thought Moriarty was anything other than a fucking bastard
for doing it this way.

Jim stilled when he heard Sebastian speak, shuddering and trying to squirm away
as the Sergeant bent him over the table. He screamed into the gag and did
everything he could to fight the Sergeant off. Moriarty grinned as Sebastian
got his back up and nodded. “That’s good. You can’t care. You won’t care after
I make you watch. You aren’t going to want to touch him ever again. Not that
he’d want you to, after getting him in this mess. This is your fault Sebby. But
you can make it stop if you talk to me.”

It wasn't what Moriarty was saying that bothered him, it was that Jim could
hear it. That Jim could hear it was his fault - but then the inner Lord Moran
raised it's head and sneered. "My fault? I'm duct-taped to the fucking floor.
You're the one playing your stupid fucking games." Leaning forward as far as he
could he spat into Moriarty's face, adrenaline thudding through him, and
grinning as the Sergeant couldn't help a small approving grin as the spit hit
it's target. "I'm talking now you fucker - does that count? Shall we start a
dialogue here?"

Moriarty wiped his face passively, knowing that such a childish tactic was
expected. “You are making this more difficult on him. Maybe you cared less than
I assumed? Or you’d like me to think that anyway? Being a smartass isn’t going
to help him, Moran. Simon, take his trousers off. Make sure Sebastian here gets
a good view.” Moriarty knelt down again and petted the top of Sebastian’s head.
“Will you get hard do you think? You hurt him, didn’t you? Everyone saw him
limping. And you like a man in uniform, don’t you?”

The sergeant whispered into Jim's ear and then wrenched his trousers down,
forcing the material over the thin hips without bothering to undo any buttons
or anything. Sebastian snarled up at Moriarty like a feral dog, knowing he'd
never felt less like going hard, not with Jim here about to be in pain and the
terror that he was still fighting with. "What are you hoping to achieve? Yeah
this'll make me feel shite, and him even worse, but it's not about to make me
tell you my fucking address."
The Sergeant gave a smirk, slapping at the pained arse in front of him and
flicking at Jim's explosed hole, "Sebby likes big men in uniform, not little
skinny fucks like this. Are you certain this one's yours mate? He looking like
fucking plant that's been grown in the dark."

Moriarty shrugged, “This is just an exercise Moran. I don’t actually give a
fuck about your address. But since you don’t know any military secrets I’ll
stick to something boring. Often times you start soft and as they give more
answers you make the questions harder.” He stopped and glanced over as Jim
shrieked as the Sergeant stripped him. “He’s mine alright. His mother never fed
him right.” Moriarty laughed, “He was practically grown in the dark. Before I
showed up his mother would keep him in the closet when she had a client over. I
saved that boy’s life and instead he ran off with his mother.”

The sergeant shook his head, "Kids. They break your heart. If I were you Sebby
I'd stop fucking around and just damn well tell him."
Sebastian sneered, disgust clear across his face, "Can't believe you're
actually doing this. Fucking a kid. Raping a kid. You actually going to go
through with that? All the way? Just because Moriarty's pulling your fucking
strings?" He smirked, "You suck his cock? I can sort of imagine you both going
at it... Moriaty's clearly a roaring pillow-biter in denial." His shoulders
were starting to ache and suddenly the whole situation seemed faintly
ridiculous. This was an exercise, a game, and Moriarty was clearly mental.

Moriarty rolled his eyes, “Your petty insults are childish. You don’t have any
power here Sebastian. Except to stop this, if you wanted to. Are you actually
going to go through with this? Let him be hurt and raped? Perhaps you think I’m
bluffing?” Moriarty stood and gestured to the sergeant, “Do it. I’m going to
get a coffee, do you want a cup? I’ll expect you to be done by the time I get
back.”

"I'm not fucking letting anything. Duct taped to the floor remember?" Sebastian
snapped, turning his attention on the sergeant, furious, who simply rolled his
eyes with a good natured grin and then shook his head.
"Nah, no drinks." Undoing his zipper he scratched his nails down Jim's arse,
reflecting that this wasn't really his type either and then snapping his hips
forward.

“You could stop this if you’d just tell me your address. But you won’t, because
your pride is more important to you than his body.” Moriarty gave a little wave
and nod to the sergeant and left the room, heading to the back for his coffee
pot. Jim tried to wiggle away from the sergeant’s nails as he scratched him,
keening pathetically and screaming into the gag when he pressed into him.

Sebastian looked at the sergeant, who he'd previously admired, fucking Jim, his
little Jim and his eyes widened and he was suddenly terribly sick all over the
floor. The sergeant looked at him, eyebrow raised and gave a little smile,
quietly murmuring, "You're doing well..." his hips still thrusting up hard
against the shrieking boy in front of him. Sebastian closed his eyes and leaned
back against the wall, closing his eyes and letting the noise wash over him,
chipping away at his soul bit by bit and running hot poison through his veins.
He wished he could wipe his mouth, but the ache in his shoulders confirmed that
was impossible.

Jim couldn’t fucking see or speak or move and he fucking hated all of this,
hated his father so fiercely that he burned white hot with it. Moriarty came
back with his coffee and smelled the sick on the floor and rolled his eyes,
“Fuck’s sake you’re a pussy. You can’t even watch? He’s managing, on his own.
And you can’t even watch to make sure he’s okay.” He shook his head and sat at
his desk, pulling out papers to grade while his son was violated on one of the
tables. “Maybe I was wrong about you. You’re a fucking cold hearted bastard
Moran. Weak but stubborn. Finish up will you? I’d like to salvage some of my
evening.”

Sebastian rolled his head sideways, looking at him dully, "Sebastian Moran,
24069." He murmured through lips that tasted of bile, watching Moran marking
while he heard the familiar sound of the Sergeant cumming to the side of him.
Jim's horrible sounds, the smell of sick and the horrible terrible feeling of
slight twinging pride that refused to go away. Right now, he just wanted to
crawl into a hole and die, but at the end of the day, he'd fucking managed.
That was something. Stubborn was better than nothing. He suddenly never wanted
to see Jim ever again, let alone at Christmas, or in the company of anyone
better than Sebastian, which right now he was certain included the entire
living world with the marked exception of James Moriarty.

Moriarty looked up when the Sergeant finished up, setting down his pen and
pulling a pair of scissors out of the drawer. Jim laid limp against the table
and breathed carefully, too scared to move until he was told that he could.
"Sebastian you should be proud of yourself. Even if your a piece of shit you
will make a good soldier. You should be loyal to your country above all else.
You showed real promise today." He muttered as he cut away the tape, "if you
really want me to continue training you I'll consider it." When Sebastian was
free Moriarty backed away quickly. "You can go to him now. Take him and get out
of here. I'll see you when you come back from break."

Sebastian stood up, stretching, looking at Jim on the table and breathing
heavily. He turned to Moriarty, his voice still and measured. "Last time I made
the mistake of fucking breaking once you'd finished. I'm not going to make that
mistake now. You had your son raped. For no reason. And you."
He turned on the sergeant who rolled his eyes and snapped, "Fucking go to him
Sebby, look at him!"
Shocked, Sebastian came over, feeling sick again, walking behind Jim and
looking dully at his arse, untouched, unfucked, just a little reddened where
the sergeant had slapped it. He blinked, feeling stupid. "You - what? What the
hell? Did -" He closed his eyes and bit his lip harder, before he did something
stupid like asking did Jim agree to this?

"Your a bright boy." Moriarty sneered, "did you really think I'd risk Magnussen
flying off the handle at me over some training I agreed to do for you? It was
just a simulation. But even with a simulation you know now what you really are.
And you chose to let him get raped. He knows what you are Sebastian Moran. Go.
Take him and get out." Jim was shaking and then reached up to pull the
blindfold and gag off as he stared at the floor and gasped for air.

Sebastian stared at Jim, bile raising in his throat again as he turned to look
between Moriarty and the sergeant, feeling no anger, just a kind of dull shock.
The sergeant gave a laugh, reaching up and batting the back of Seb's head,
"C'mon Sebby. Fair dos. You should've seen your fucking face and god knows
you've been needing a lesson like this. I can imagine you're probably not too
keen on seeing the little bugger right now, and you know my office is always
open..." he grabbed Seb's arm and almost felt surprised as Sebastian pulled
away from him, turning to hiss like a cornered wild animal.
"I'm not yours." he spat and then turned to Jim, looking at him and then
finally dropping, collapsing to the floor on his knees, head bowed, right in
front of Jim.
The sergeant stared at him, even more surprised, and then started laughing
again, "Oh fuck, fuck, this is priceless."

Moriarty watched impassively and shook his head before taking his coffee and
left. Jim dragged at his pants, trying to get his trousers up to cover himself.
"I don't want to be here anymore." His voice was dull and numb as his hands
shook. "Just... I want to go to medical. Seb." Jim was uncomfortable with
Sebastian kneeling and he tugged at the boy's collar with his bound hands.
"Come on. Let's go get you cleaned up."

Sebastian stood up, starting to shake. The Sergeant looked at him and shook his
head, "You dumb little fuck Sebastian. Don't trail after him waiting for his
cock, there's no way you're going to-unh-" He staggered backwards with a groan
as Sebastian suddenly whirled around and thumped him hard in the face, putting
all the rage and tension behind that fist and striking out fast as a whirlwind.
"I don't give a fuck about his cock..." he hissed, venom and malevolence
filling his voice. "I don't give a shit if he never puts out at all - after
what's just happened I doubt I'll ever deserve it. And if you ever even think
of doing anything like that to him again I'll cut your throat." The sergeant
gave a yelp and then Sebastian was on him, pushing the larger man up against
the wall with the sheer force of rage and nutting him hard in the face. "I'm
not yours anymore. I'm fucking his. And this isn't about cadets anymore, or
exercises, or stupid fucking kids games. This is about me, and him, and my
father and Magnussen. Alright? So if I need to slit your throat for him I
fucking well will." He stood back as the sergeant reached up to his face
cursing and strode back to Jim, his whole body shaking as he took the boys
bound hands gently, leading him out, "C'mon. Lets get back somewhere... safer.
Then you can decide if you want to order me to fucking kill myself."

Jim had been holding himself together fairly well until this point. The
sergeant had dragged him from the library, tied him up and taken him into the
classroom, he’d had no idea what was going on until he heard Seb’s voice and
worked out what must be happening. Jim hadn’t known it wasn’t real until the
Sergeant pulled his trousers down and told him to fake it and scream because if
he didn’t sell it then the man would rape him for real. It had still been
terrifying and Jim felt violated and unbalanced, still shaking and wide eyed.
He hadn’t been hurt too badly, he’d been hit a few times and the sergeant had
rubbed his skin and molested him but he hadn’t been raped. Sebastian hadn’t
known that though. Sebastian would have rather seen him hurt like that then
tell Moriarty his home address which was listed in a fucking file his father
could have accessed anytime if he really wanted it. Jim knew that it would have
happened anyway, that even if Sebastian had caved they would have kept going
just to teach him a lesson. But Sebastian hadn’t stopped and that was fucking
terrifying. They reached the hospital wing and Jim slid down in a corner and
curled up while he took big ragged gulps of air and his heartrate accelerated.
“Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.” Jim latched on to his distant anger because
that was easier to deal with than his fear. “I can’t believe you. Your pride is
worth more to you than I am? Are you that fucking desperate for approval that
you could just sit there and watch? I wouldn’t have even been in there except
you had to go and run your fucking mouth. I thought you hated him, you know
what he’s like and you still asked him to do this and you didn’t even try to
bail me out.” Jim was screaming by the end, covering his chest with his bound
hands and lashing out verbally from his defensive position in the corner. “If
it had been you I would have told them whatever they wanted to hear, I would
have fucking tried but your stupid pride got in the way. Well you did it, he’s
fucking proud of you, you achieved what I never could and I hope it was fucking
worth it.” Jim spat out and then curled into a tighter ball when John stormed
in. Jim face was red and blotchy from screaming and trying not to get upset
while he was still half way to a panic attack. He’d forgotten John was likely
in tonight and that he’d overhear. “Fuck, Seb. Do I really mean so little to
you?” Jim’s voice was quiet and tired as all of his anger drained away and gave
way to despair.



Sebastian watched him, still feeling dull and distant and nauseous. He watched
as Jim slid to the floor and then went to the secret cupboard under Johns desk,
pulling out a half empty bottle of whisky and a shot glass, pouring and gulping
down two shots just to get rid of the taste of sick. "That wasn't about fucking
pride." He said eventually. "Is that what you really want? For me to fucking
break and let people know that if they want a secret from Sebastian Moran they
just need to find Jimmy Moriarty and rough him up a bit?" He sighed and knocked
back a third shot. "You're working for Magnussen. You know - when I first saw
your arse, all untouched, I thought you might have been in on it. Helping your
father fuck with me. Helping Magnussen fuck with my father. Is that what you
want now? For me to just do everything in my fucking power, including damaging
your reputation, my reputation, any chance we have of fucking surviving, just
to save you getting fake-molested?" He shut up as John entered, looked at the
two of them and then went straight to Jim, curled up on the floor.
Gently he looked the boy over, pressing a cool finger against the bruise on his
hip and saying quietly, "Jim, are you alright? Do you want me to throw him
out?"
Sebastian watched them sullenly, pouring out another shot and snapping, "You
mean fucking everything to me, and your father bloody knew that."

If Jim only listened to his pretty words then he might have been convinced but
he saw the boy’s actions as well and they didn’t match up with what he was
saying. Sebastian knocked back shots and each one spelt out the guilt he was
trying to cover up. “I hope your secrets are worth it to you then. I thought I
was more important to you than that.” Jim paled when Sebastian brought up
Magnussen, Seb had mentioned it before in the woods but he hadn’t known for
sure. “Yeah? So what if I am? Apparently I can’t rely on anyone else around
here. You don’t want me, you don’t trust me, what have we even got then, huh?
You knew the whole time and you still let me trip over myself – run myself into
the ground just to make you happy?” By now Jim was shouting again even though
he hadn’t moved from his position on the floor. He ignored John as he came in,
“You didn’t know it was fake. You thought it was real and you still let him do
that to me over a practice exercise. Don’t touch me!” Jim snarled and pulled
his limbs in closer to his body, away from John’s hands. “No, I don’t want you
to throw him out because he’d probably go out and bloody hang himself and of
course that’s somehow my responsibility too!” He turned back and sneered at
Sebastian, “My father bloody assumed that and you proved him wrong.”

"Do you really think I had any fucking power in there?" Sebastian spat back.
"If you believe that then you're taking in his fucking lies as well. There's no
bloody way you can blame me for the fact that he decided to have you damn well
raped. You really think if I'd given my address he would have stopped? Do you
have any idea how fucking interrogations work?" He threw the shot glass at the
floor and snarled at it, "Of course you damn well do. He subjects you to them.
So fucking think. He was going to do exactly what he wanted to you in that
room, what I said made no fucking difference. So it could have been you getting
fucked while I snivelled and cried and spilt my guts out, or it was going to be
you getting fucked while I shut the hell up and watched it all." He grabbed the
whiskey bottle, staggering sideways a little as John stood up, slapped him
around the head and took the bottle away. "I fucking do want you and I fucking
do trust you. What I can't do is protect you while I'm duct-taped to the
floor... which I asked him to... oh shite..." He'd drunk too much, far too fast
and was suddenly sick again, dry retching and heaving as John looked on in
disgust.

“You could have tried. You should have fucking well tried.” Jim flinched and
covered his head with his bound wrists when the glass shattered near his body.
“You couldn’t even watch,” Jim sneered back when Sebastian made himself out to
be this bastion of stoicism. He’d been blindfolded but the sergeant hadn’t
wasted any time describing everything to Jim, whispering in his ear. Jim
noticed that he didn’t deny being perfectly happy to use Jim’s vulnerability
with Magnussen to his own advantage. It was almost satisfying watching him get
sick. He felt like everyone should hurt as much as he did. “Are you sorry?” He
asked very very quietly. “Because I haven’t even heard you say it.”

"Tried how?" Sebastian snarled while John's mouth dropped open in horror as he
started to piece together what had happened. "By breaking? By debasing myself,
in front of him and you? Did you want me to cry? To fucking spill my guts at
him? Tell him all about me, and you, and us? I'm not sorry for what I did,
because the only other fucking alternative was to watch your fathers face while
the sergeant fucked you and I cried and told him I fucking love you-" And then
he crumpled, falling into a little miserable shaking heap on the floor, arms
wrapped around his body, tears leaking out as he rocked back and forwards,
"Fuck I - I don't ever want to see that again."

“You could have fucking talked to me! You didn’t say one goddamn word to me the
whole time I was there, not even when you thought he was hurting me. He did
hurt me and you cut yourself off from me because you’re too weak to handle it.”
Jim wasn’t feeling strong, or steady, at the moment either. Jim flinched back
hard enough to hit his head against the wall when Sebastian said that he loved
him. “You don’t mean that.” It came out breathy, like the wind had been knocked
out of him. Jim stood helplessly, wanting to run but he couldn’t, he wasn’t
leaving the safety of the medical building with his hands still taped together.
He was uncomfortable with Sebastian’s tears because he wasn’t feeling cruel
enough to mock him for them or charitable enough to comfort him. Jim looked at
John instead of Sebastian and wordlessly held out his hands so that the other
man could cut away the tape.

John stared at them both, frozen in shock until Jim's movement made him step
forward, stepping over the shaking Sebastian and cutting the tape free, gently
peeling it away from Jim's arms. "I - I'm not sure what's happened." He said
eventually. "But it looks like Sebastian's tried to play silly buggers with a
bit more than he can cope with and you've both clearly been through far too
much in one evening. Sebastian..." He looked at the huddled form on the floor
and then sighed, stroking the top of Jim's head gently and then helping him up
and onto the bed before barking, "Cadet Moran get up. Get up right now,
apologise for the fucking godawful mess you've made of this evening, for the
pain you've put your superior through, and then clean this fucking sick off my
floor. You know where the mop is."

Jim tried to shy away from John’s hands but he had been watching Sebastian and
hadn’t been quick enough. He was just having an off day. John got a grip on him
and lifted Jim in the air and that got his heart racing and his face went pale
but he had enough self-control to keep from lashing out and hurting him. He
didn’t want to be touched, he didn’t want to be picked up and carried again,
couldn’t stand the loss of control. But he managed without hurting John or
getting sick all over himself so that was something. Jim still flinched when
John barked out orders, but he watched with some interest too. It was an
interesting approach to take but Jim thought it might work. “I’m okay. Just
bruised a little. No internal damage.” Jim swallowed back bile and gripped the
blankets hard. “Seb’s having a bad reaction to psychological manipulation and
torture. He’s uninjured.” Jim’s father was good at that, leaving behind
devastation without leaving marks. “There was some – gaslighting? Involved.
Everyone’s fine.” Jim took the bottle from where John had left it and took a
drink.

John gave him a little glare and waved a hand to encompass both of them as
Sebastian shakily stood up, "Everything is not fine. Believe me I've dealt with
the aftermath of your father's little 'teaching' sessions before. You stay
there, don't worry, I won't touch you again. Sleep when you need, eat when you
need and we can have a quick talk through when you're ready and if you want to
discuss things. And YOU."
He shouted at Sebastian, who saluted almost on automatic, turned to Jim and
stared at the floor as he mumbled, "Fuck I'm sorry for fucking everything up
completely." John glared at him until he went and got the mop, filling the
bucket and starting to methodically clean the floor up.
John sighed and rubbed his forehead tiredly. "Don't let him have any more
alcohol. Gods sake the mess that man leaves behind him. It's probably best if
Sebastian sleeps in the office tonight, unless you'd rather he was as far away
from you as possible."

Jim had dealt with the aftermath too, too many times and usually alone. He
wasn’t impressed. “It’s not personal.” Jim muttered and looked away when John
assured Jim he wouldn’t touch him again. Jim didn’t think he’d be sleeping or
eating anytime soon, he still felt half sick and coiled up like a spring. “He’s
a bastard. He fucks with your head, believe me I get it.” Jim sort of accepted
Sebastian’s apology – it was the best he could do so soon after the incident.
Jim glanced away from John to watch Sebastian clean while he thought. “…no, he
can stay. But maybe get him his own bed, if you have one? Just a camp bed would
do.” Jim did not was to be alone right now and he was still feeling skittish
around John because he was an adult and held a lot of power over Jim. He might
have been angry at Sebastian still but he trusted him enough to let him sleep
in the same room as him. Jim still couldn’t share a bed right now though. He
took another longer swig from the bottle and grimaced a little.

"I know it's not personal." John went to get the camp bed from the office and
Sebastian looked down at the bucket full of sick and dry-heaved again. He
stayed silent as John left, wiping the tears away with the back of his hand,
and reflecting that it had been a long time since he'd cried. Biting his lip he
muttered, "I did mean it..." picking up the bucket and heading to the sink,
washing it away and spraying bleach on the floor to disguise the smell.

Jim sighed and hid his face between his knees where he pulled them up to his
chest. He couldn’t deal with this right now. Sebastian was too fragile at the
moment and needed delicate handling. Jim didn’t have the emotional or
psychological resources to handle that right now. So, embarrassingly enough he
took a page out of John’s book and just gave him a hug. “Don’t ever do anything
so stupid again. He might have seriously hurt you, dumbass.”

Sebastian stiffened in confusion as Jim's arms wrapped around him, sitting on
the side of the bed and letting his head drop against Jim's shoulder. His hair
was damp with sweat and he was still shivering, but at least he'd stopped
throwing up. "'M... fuck... I really didn't mean that to happen." He muttered
into Jim's shoulder, not bothering to move as John came back with the camp bed
and struggled with the unfolding of it, pleased to see them both in contact at
least.

“Yeah, I know… I’m okay. I’m not hurt. I don’t want you hurting yourself. It’s
alright.” It wasn’t, at all, but he could pretend for Sebastian. Jim reached
his very limited capacity for comfort and patted Sebastian’s back awkwardly
before pulling away. “Will you be able to sleep now?” Jim couldn’t help
watching John’s movements, tracking him so that he couldn’t be snuck up on.

"Not really alright..." Sebastian sighed, sniffled and stood up as John
finished fighting with the camp-bed, taking the offered blankets and, again
mechanically, starting to make the bed. He was fighting with this unpleasant
new discovery about himself - still not sure whether he'd been weak of strong.
One thing was clear, he needed to learn to bend more. He should have been
playing Moriarty - giving him enough information to stop him hurting Jim, yet
not enough to condemn them both. He'd been right when he said he'd had no
control in the room - but that shouldn't be something to be proud of, it should
be something he should work on changing. The the thought of sheer amount of
effort required to steal himself to do that - to bend a little, inch at a time,
working Moriarty as hard as he could, almost made him collapse and wail.
Clearly though, he was in no fit state to be Jim's at the moment. "Yeah, I'll
sleep." He lied.

Jim settled back on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. “I want you to wake me
if you need anything or if you wake up during the night.” Jim knew how bad the
nightmares could be and while he wasn’t exactly sure what he’d do, he
remembered wishing there was someone to go to when he’d had a bad dream as a
child. Jim was nervous over Sebastian’s apathy but hopefully it would sort
itself out. He just wasn’t equipped to deal with this in any way as an
emotionally stunted teenager talking to another emotionally stunted teenager.
Jim turned and watched John, swallowing back his misgivings about bringing the
topic up at all. “I thought you said that he was going to leave me alone. The
Sergeant.” Jim didn’t want to be at this school anymore. He’d never wanted to
come in the first place but now he was really feeling desperate. If he didn’t
think Mags would hunt him down on principle he might think about trying to run
when he left for Christmas.

"I meant it." John said grimly. "I'll see to it that he loses his job for
tonight's little stunt." It was a big thing to promise and as soon as he said
it John realised that he had to make it come true, otherwise Jim would never
trust him again. Sebastian lay down on the bed, flat on his back, closing his
eyes and knowing he wouldn't sleep a wink, not with the memories of Jim's
muffled cries and screams echoing in his head.

Jim nodded but didn’t believe him – no one kept their promises it turned out
and he couldn’t even really blame them for it. It wasn’t usually for lack of
wanting, but for lack of power, and Jim was tired of not having power. He
muttered a goodnight and when John left them and turned down the lights Jim sat
for a few minutes, just listening to his and Sebastian’s breathing in the dark.
“I am sorry too, for my part in this. He told me that if I wasn’t convincing
enough he would do it for real. But I wasn’t in on it.” Jim felt like that
needed to be cleared up explicitly or Sebastian would always suspect him.

John closed the door, took a breath and said "right..." then headed straight to
his own bedroom to call Magnussen.
Sebastian lay in the dark, wondering when Jim could fall asleep so he could
move, and startled a little at the voice from the darkness. "What could you
have done?" He murmured, "You had your mouth taped up. You couldn't have told
me. You're a damn good actor." He added bleakly.

Jim didn’t really know what to say to that so they sat in silence for another
minute. “…Am I still coming to Christmas with you? You – uh, know that Mags
wants me to go. I can stay out of your way if you don’t want to see me.” He was
worried about what consequences this might have for their relationship and he
couldn’t help but try and cover his bases. “I’m sorry. For all of this shit. I
wouldn’t be doing it if I really didn’t have to.” Moriarty was a menace and Jim
wanted him gone. All he had to do was this one job.

"You really are working for Mags, aren't you?" Sebastian managed, just as
bleakly, still not quite ready to face the huge terribly crushing reality of
what had actually just occured. But enough spirit rose up in him to spit out,
"Fucking hell, you think I'd leave you here? After that? You're coming back to
the Moran Manor to spend the holiday eating good food, relaxing in safe
surroundings and maybe if I manage not to fuck up - thinking about - oh god -
oh fuck - Jim..." he took a gulping breath and started crying again. "I'm a
fucking real bastard, aren't I? Why the hell would you want to hang around with
a fucked up bully like me but I couldn't Jim - I couldn't break, not in front
of him, not when he knew you were my weakness..."

“Yeah, I am. He made my da bring me here when he got custody after my mum –
passed. Magnussen is the only thing keeping him from outright killing me. He
made John my new guardian. He’ll take care of me as long as I do whatever he
asks.” Jim couldn’t bring himself to mention Mags’s promise to have his father
killed, admitting to asking for murder wasn’t really in his best interest. He
sighed happily, imagining enjoying his break even if he would be doing some yet
unknown work for Mags and trying not to get caught. Then Sebastian started
crying and Jim got out of bed quickly and sat by Sebastian’s head and started
petting his stubbly little hair. Jim’s mother had done that once when he was
sick and had a fever. He was pretty sure she had anyway. The fever had been
very high, technically he could have hallucinated it but he didn’t think so.
“Shhhh, you’re going to wake John. It’s – you’re fine. I shouldn’t have said
all that shit to you earlier. It’s their fault, not yours.”

Sebastian took a breath and managed to calm down, feeling incredibly silly for
loosing it like that and... was Jim stroking his head? It felt good, and he
felt his muscles finally, finally, starting to relax, unclenching and calming.
"Course you should've said it. It was true. I fucked up." He gave a sigh and
then rolled over, wishing he could draw Jim onto the camp bed and cuddle him.
"I - I don't suppose you'll ever let me touch you again..." he mumbled, "But if
he pulls that shit again I-I'll do it. I'll just give him what he wants, hold
back as much as I can. Try - try and break a little bit. Won't put you through
that again just for being an arse." His hand carefully and gently stroked Jim's
hair back and he whispered quietly and miserably, "I still fucking want you.
Still fucking want to be yours. But... yeah."

Jim felt no small measure of relief when Sebastian finally relaxed and was able
to stop crying. “You’re only sixteen, he’s trained for at least that many years
and he’s creative enough to be very good at what he does. No one can predict
how they’ll react in a traumatic situation. You didn’t make it worse.”
Sebastian starting stroking the stubble on his head and Jim took a breath and
made a conscious decision to stay still and allow it even if being touched set
the hair on the back of his neck on end. He didn’t want to reject Sebastian
right now when he was already struggling. “I’m working on it, yeah? Just give
me a few days. I don’t – really get it. He didn’t hurt me, he barely touched
me. It’s fucking irritating, reacting like this over nothing.” It had been
pretend, unlike Sebastian he’d known it was pretend. Still, he was affected.
Jim shushed the other boy again and put more pressure in his little pets, “It’s
not going to happen again. Don’t worry about that. Just try and sleep.”

He felt Jim pause and tense up as he stroked him and moved his hand away,
feeling anger, "Look. Ugh, this is not fucking the time. You don't have to do
this for Mags you know? You can walk back to the barracks right now and I'll
still let you crash my dad's over Christmas and, fucking fool that I am, I'd
probably still let you fuck me as well. He's spent your whole damn life hurting
you, and it's not nothing. Just... just go to sleep. Stop making me hurt you
and I'll promise to stop managing to find ways to hurt you as well, yeah?"

Jim smirked even though he felt that odd mixture of shame and rejection that he
felt whenever he’d not managed to hide something like this from Sebastian. It
was something deeply rooted because he’d learned early that you needed to hide
pain or it would just get that much worse for you when you exposed a weakness.
It also made him feel insufficient, that he couldn’t tolerate being touched
right now. Still, “Pot meet kettle? Like you’re any better about admitting
anything, at least I go to the fucking hospital wing.” Jim joked quietly and
kept petting Sebastian’s hair, content to sit where he was. “I’ll agree if you
try and sleep. I’m not going anywhere.”

"Heh. I guess not. We're both screwed up." This was important though, and
Sebastian wanted to make it clear, curling up in the direction of Jim and
looking him in the eyes. "I mean it. I don't want to hurt you - well - not in a
way that makes you miserable. Don't try and fucking act through it. Otherwise
it'll just fuck me up when I do find out. And I'll try thinking before acting
once in a while." He closed his eyes, trying to still his breathing and at
least drift into half-sleep.

It was dark but Jim could still see Sebastian’s eyes catch the little bit of
light when he looked at him. “Okay,” Jim promised. He’d try anyway. It wasn’t
in his nature but he could see that it did hurt Sebastian to do it so he would
try and be better. Sebastian seemed to doze off and Jim sat there for a while
so he could continue petting his head and by the time morning came around Jim
had fallen asleep sitting on the floor with his head and arms pillowed across
Sebastian’s chest.
 
===============================================================================
 

Sebastian half woke at night, feeling Jim's weight accross him and curling an
arm over him protectively, tugging the blanket down so that Jim wouldn't get
too cold. With the warmth of the other body he found it much easier to sleep,
and drifted off a lot deeper, not noticing as John came in and gently shook jim
awake, "Jim? Um... Magnussen wants to see you."

He startled awake, feeling confused and disoriented until he remembered what
had happened. It was a little embarrassing to wake up like that but John just
looked concerned. “What happened with Mags? Is everything okay? You called
him?” Jim made an educated guess, based on what John had said last night about
getting the sergeant sacked. He spoke quietly so he wouldn’t wake Sebastian and
carefully disentangled himself from the other boy as he rubbed sleep from his
eyes.

"Magnussen is fine, yes I did call him, and he's asked to speak to you. I -
don't think you're in trouble." He looked at Jim worriedly, "Can you face him?
If you want some tea first, or a chat, I don't feel I'm being a wonderful
foster father for you. I mean you did spend last night being given a simulated
rape in front of your boyfrien- uh, sorry. I wouldn't presume on your
relationship - I just..." He stopped, breathed, and finished, "I could look
after you better."

Jim shrugged and muttered, “tea would be nice.” If only because he wanted to
put off seeing Magnussen and wanted to wash the taste of last night’s whiskey
out of his mouth. Jim stood and walked into John’s office, taking a look around
while he waited. He’d never really been in here before and it was interesting
looking at what John kept in here. “You’re fine,” Jim excused when John came in
a minute later with the tea. “As my guardian I mean. You’re already better than
anyone else I’ve had so…” He shrugged. “You know I was already placed in foster
care a couple of times. I’m sure it’s in my file. Never for very long but –“ He
shrugged again, not knowing how to explain that empty feeling that came from
imposing on another family when yours couldn’t get their shit together. “My mum
killed herself, you know. That’s how I ended up here.” Jim’s voice was
conversational, he kept it casual because he didn’t want John to think he was
looking for pity. “Sometimes I think I hate her but then – she never had an
easy time of it. Doesn’t seem fair to her after all she did for me, you know?
But yeah you’re – you’re the best I’ve had so don’t go beating yourself up too
much.” Jim muttered and sipped at his tea, glancing out the window as he
enjoyed the flavors.

"The best so far really, really doesn't give me a very high standard I'm
afraid." John sighed, making the tea and pouring two cups, shaking his head as
he heard Sebastian start to snore. "I'm pleased you've made up with Moran. The
boy is an entitled brat with a head made of wood, but he's not unintelligent
and he does genuinely seem to want to do well by you. I don't like him, but
he's not necessarily evil, just... very, very misguided. And violent. Magnussen
did say he would think very seriously about getting rid of the sergeant by the
way. I did the best I could, but I honestly think he's thinking in very
different criteria to me."

Jim shrugged and glanced at John warily, “You don’t mind then? That your –
ward, or whatever I am, that I’m gay? It doesn’t bother you?” It didn’t seem
like that because John seemed fairly supportive but Jim wouldn’t make any
assumptions. He wrapped his thin little hands around the mug and spoke quietly,
“I don’t want to do this anymore. Work for Mags or be at this school.” He took
a breath and desperately tried to squash down any hopes that he might have. “Do
– do you think that you could pull me out? As my guardian you decide where I go
to school, don’t you?”

John looked at him in amazement and shook his head, "Do I mind? Dear god, of
course not. Not at all. I mind that you're abused and mistreated, but I
certainly don't mind that you fancy men. It would be highly hypocritical for
one thing." He sighed sadly at Jim's words, giving a nod and a wry smile, "If
there was a way I could get you out of here believe me, they wouldn't see you
for dust. Unfortunately that's beyond my power. I'm fostering you, but foster
care can be removed very quickly, and Magnussen has more than enough power to
accuse me of something to get you taken from my care." It was a wrench letting
Jim down, but he knew he had to stay truthful in order to keep Jim's trust.

He nodded unhappily with John’s pronouncement but he’d expected as much. It’s
what he would do if he wanted to manipulate an abused teen into complying with
his demands. “Don’t tell him I said that then.” Magnussen scared Jim, he knew
that if he could have someone important like his father murdered then it would
be an easy thing to make a kid like him disappear and just find someone else to
replace him. Jim drank down the rest of his tea to avoid thinking of the
anxiety building in his gut when he thought of the meeting they were about to
have. He did file away John’s hypocritical comment though. What was most
important was that he wasn’t homophobic like his father. “Sorry you’ve been put
in such a shit situation. I know I’m not an easy kid to look after.” Jim stood,
leaving his mug on the table and gave John a little nod. “I’ll be leaving then.
Thank you for the tea. If Seb wakes up before I get back then ask him to pack
my trunk for me?”

"Of course I won't tell him." John answered, watching him drink the tea,
"You've been a great kid - it's everyone else who's being a shit about you at
the moment. I'll get Moran to pack your stuff up, do you want me to give him a
slap as well?" It was said half jokingly, but he did mean it. “He should be
able to get through them."

Jim nodded and checked on Sebastian briefly before he left for Magnussen’s
office. He knocked on the door quietly before cautiously opening it. The man
was sitting there, looking inscrutable as always and Jim tried to hide his
nerves. “You wanted to see me?”

Magnussen looked up at him, remaining blank and severe for a few seconds before
his lips stretched into a smile. "I hear you have an invite to the Moran family
Christmas. Well done. You are doing very well." He stood up. "Come here. I hear
also, from your foster father, that you have been treated abominably by a
member of my staff. As you have done so well, I am willing to offer you a
favour in return." He came around the desk and stalked around Jim, two fingers
dragging deliberately across his lower back. "The Sergeant. One favour. What
would you like me to do to him? I can cut off his cock if you'd like?"

Jim stood cautiously, not wanting to take a seat when he hadn’t been offered
one. “My relationship with Moran is developing and solidifying.” He was
relieved that Magnussen was not angry at him for last night, he had been angry
before when Jim had problems with his father. Jim shivered in revulsion as
Magnussen touched him over where some of his bruises from last night were. He
had to think about the favor. “I want him gone. He shouldn’t be placed in a
position of authority over minors. Preferably he’d be placed on a sex offender
registry. He couldn’t work here if you did that, right?” That seemed like the
best use of his favor. Jim would still have to see him and deal with his anger
if he was mutilated.

Magnussen raised an eyebrow, "Such an honourable and legal young man. I can of
course have him put on a registry, and he won't work here, or anywhere else,
ever again. When you return from your Christmas break you will find him gone."
He moved away from Jim, "When you return from Christmas I also want something
from you." Going back to his desk he opened a drawer, pulling out a small hard
drive. "I would like you to go into Moran's study, find his computer, save as
much on it as you can onto this. Particularly things labelled "Operation
Somerset" - but ideally as much as possible. It will be Christmas, he will be
drunk, you are his son's friend. Do this, and we will talk further about your
father."

Jim sneered in response to Magnussen’s criticism, “I’m not. But I haven’t got
time to watch him and make sure he behaves – I might as well let the state do
it for me. Kill him if you want. Cut off his cock and let him bleed to death, I
don’t care. But I want my father dead and two of your staff dying around the
same time does draw unnecessary suspicion. I just don’t want him near Sebastian
again.” Jim listened to Magnussen and took the little flash drive. “How will I
get into his computer? It’s going to be password protected – files encrypted –
the whole nine yards. I don’t know that much about computers, how to hide my
presence on his computer…” This seemed like a terrifically bad idea and Jim was
not enthusiastic about it in the least.

"You don't want him near Sebastian?" Magnussen's eyebrows rose high on his
forehead but he left it there, filing the information away in his mind-palace.
"Augustus Moran is not a secret agent, he is a government minister. Two weeks
ago, many folders of sensitive government information hit the new headlines
because they had been left on a laptop left on a bus. There will be passwords.
Work them out. Then copy - right click, hmm? Ctrl-C? And paste onto this hard-
drive. If he finds you stammer and tell him you got lost looking for porn. If
he ever bothers to have someone check his computer and they do find it has been
tampered with it will be far too late."

Jim rolled his eyes and suddenly felt brave enough to talk back to Magnussen,
“Yeah I don’t want him near him, do you know how hard he’s made it on me?
Getting close to Sebastian was challenging enough during the time frame but
when he already had a possessive bastard using him it just got harder. Or did
you not know that one of your staff has been using your prized student for his
own sexual gratification?” Either way, Magnussen shouldn’t see Jim as soft – he
just wanted a potential rival out of the way. Of course. Jim huffed a breath as
he listened to Magnussen’s directions, “Yeah, alright I’m not that dense. If
they aren’t encrypted I shouldn’t have any trouble getting in so long as I can
work out the passwords.” Sebastian might even tell them to him if he decided to
help Jim. He wouldn’t hold his breath though.

"Of course I knew." Magnussen said quietly, his voice still sounding calm and
measured, although one eyebrow quirked up in surprise at Jim's response and he
looked pleased that the boy actually seemed to be acting like a proper agent he
could trust rather than just a horny scared teenager out of his depth.
"Sebastian Moran is best controlled with a fist and by his cock. He despises
me, only natural, so I had to find someone else to take command of him. And
don't look at me like that - I'm sure you have already worked out for yourself
the best way to guide that boy and it isn't by his brain." He nodded at Jim's
words. "Well - you will go, you will collect this information for me, and I
will make sure the sergeant does not return. Enjoy your Christmas break, I know
the Moran's hold very lavish dinners, and the food will be good for you."

Jim raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment on Magnussen’s assessment of the other
boy. Sebastian was controlled by orders and by his ego. If you held him, told
him he was special, petted his hair quietly like the way Jim had done last
night then he was more much more likely to respond to you long term. Somehow
while Jim was fumbling for a hold he could get on the other boy Sebastian had
been falling in love with him and only time would tell if it would last or not.
Jim was rather uncomfortable when Magnussen mentioned fattening him up –
Sebastian had made a similar comment but it was far less creepy somehow. He
stood and gave Magnussen a nod and said goodbye before he turned and left. Jim
hated to be in the man’s presence and right now he just wanted to go back to
Sebastian and John. He was hungry and the mess hall wasn’t open during break so
he was hoping that John actually lived on campus – it made sense since he was
the only doctor and would need to be available for emergencies. Maybe he could
talk John into letting him cook something up for breakfast.
Chapter End Notes
     TW: Simulated rape, threats of violence
***** Just the Usual Fuckery *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Sebastian woke up to find Jim gone and a very disapproving John in his place,
who snapped at him and told him off and then made him clean the rest of the
sick away. After that, he went straight back to the dormitories, packing up
both his and Jim's belongings, and also filching some food from breakfast,
coming back to John's room with two neatly packed canvess bags and a napkin
full of food which he laid out on the table, looking anxious as Jim entered.
John looked at Jim quickly to check he was alright and then sighed, rolling his
eyes. "Sebastian you look like a puppy that's just widdled on the carpet. Both
of you eat and then go and have a bit of a break without people continuously
hitting you. Jim - I'm down on your contact form as next of kin, if I receive
any phone-calls from Moran about you requiring medical attention over the break
I will be most displeased, understood?"

Jim gave a bit of a smirk, the puppy comment was a little funny – mostly
because it was accurate. He rolled his eyes a little as John lectured him,
“Believe me, no one will be more displeased than I if I end up in the hospital
again.” He hesitated briefly and then took the plunge, “I can find my own
financing for the trip if I need to.” Jim was pretty good at stealing, he
didn’t have any money but somehow it would seem – weird to take money for
either John or Sebastian but he would need to get a train ticket.

Sebastian gave him a confused sort of look, "What? What financing? Driver's
coming in an hour and if we ever want to venture out of the warmth of the damn
house I'll take my dad's card. Here, get into your uniform and try and look
less... bruised. I've just told dad you're a mate from school - if he asks who
your parents are just say 'you wouldn't know them' all he wants to know is
whether they'll support is bloody politics. Right. I've got all your stuff,
Watson's done the dad thing. Let's fuck off home."

Jim gave him a look and just held back the “you have a driver?” comment. It
never occurred to him that they would be getting picked up, the school was so
remote. He started pulling on his uniform then, suddenly feeling very out of
his depth and feeling too tired to do anything other than do whatever Sebastian
told him. “Does your family know – I mean are we just going to be mates on this
trip or…” Jim didn’t know what the diplomatic way to ask Sebastian if his
parents knew he was gay or that he was with Jim – if that would be okay even.
He was plenty happy not to talk to Sebastian's father about his parents or
living situation. Like it wasn’t going to be obvious enough he was poor and
underfed and bruised like some sort of rescue Sebastian brought home from the
dog pound. Sebastian said they had to leave and Jim frowned sadly at the food
before grabbing his pack and the grapes and left the rest. He didn’t suppose
he’d be able to eat in the car but the grapes wouldn’t make a mess and maybe
he’d be able to eat enough of them before getting in the car to stop the ache
in his stomach. “Goodbye John,” Jim muttered and even managed a smile for the
other man before following Sebastian out the door.

"What? No, my dad doesn't know, he thinks we're just mates, but don't worry.
The house is massive, we can get into each others rooms easily enough, as long
as we don't physically shag over the fruit-bowl when the guests are present I
doubt he'll give a damn." He scowled as Jim left the food and grabbed the
napkin as they headed out of the door, towards a sleek black car and formally
dressed driver waiting outside. "Look I know you think you can survive on three
grapes and a crust of bread but it's a long drive. At least try to eat a bit
more during it, yeah? Dad's always going on at me to bring mates home - mostly
because he wants to contacts, but also because he wants to have an excuse to
get rid of me when the talks get serious and 'fuck off and have wank' sounds a
bit patronising."
He nodded at the driver, who nodded back, shaking his head at the state of them
both, "Get into a fight Seb?"
Sebastian flipped him off and swung into the car, leaning back and sighing,
"Just the usual fuckery. Wake me up when we get home. This is Jim, by the way,
if he needs a piss or more food or anything, stop off at a service station for
him."

“I think I can survive on three grapes and a crust of bread because I can.” Jim
said snidely but he took the napkin from Sebastian possessively even as he gave
the car a wary look. “Are you sure I can eat in here? It’s nice. I can be
careful about crumbs.” He’d never been in anything so nice and the class
difference suddenly left him feeling self-conscious. Jim settled into the car
though and carefully looked over the scone, grapes and few scraps of bacon Seb
had salvaged for him. Mostly Jim was just looking forward to sleeping – he’d
dozed off in an uncomfortable position last night and his sleep hadn’t bene
especially restful.

"Just eat." Sebastian said, leaning back with his eyes closed, "Don't worry
about the mess, it does get cleaned."
The driver looked at Jim in the rear-view mirror and gave a grin, "Don't worry
Mister Jim, the car gets done over regularly. Trust me after the things Master
Augustus leaves in the back a few crumbs will be no trouble."
Sebastian made a face and snapped out, "For fucks sake Basil, do I look like I
want to know what my dad gets up to in here when I'm trying to sleep? I spent
last night being beaten up while duct-taped to the floor and being forced to
watch Jim here being tortured alright?" The driver rolled his eyes but didn't
reply, giving Jim another smirk in the mirror.

“It sounds so melodramatic when you put it like that…” Jim grumbled as he
picked his food over quickly. He grinned though as Sebastian seemed embarrassed
by his father’s sex life. “It’s okay, my mum and I lived in one room flats our
whole lives. Zero privacy for anyone.” Jim watched the driver warily and
frowned a little as he smiled at him. He couldn’t tell what his motive was.

"I don't want to think about anyone's sex life. I'm trying to sleep." Sebastian
grumbled, still with his eyes closed.
The driver grinned and stayed silent for about an hour, then quietly said to
Jim, "Alright, what's up? You aren't one of those posh wankers - your eyes
popped when you saw the car. Scholarship or something is it?"

Jim had polished up the entire breakfast by that point and was feeling a lot
less hungry. He could wait until they got wherever they were going. When the
driver spoke to him Jim got his back up and glared back. “Yes I’m poor what
amazing powers of deductive reasoning! Yes I’m poor, no I don’t want to talk
about it. Yes I am on scholarship. Is your curiosity satisfied or do you need
something else to gossip with the other help about?” Jim wanted to sleep too
but had to work out the best way to do it. Normally he’d just press against
Sebastian but he didn’t actually want to give the driver anything else to
gossip about so instead he leaned his head against the door and closed his
eyes.

The driver raised an eyebrow and gave another grin, "Calm down lad, this isn't
about gossip. There are just people keeping an eye on the folks that end up in
Augustus Moran's house and I happen to be one of them. I've nothing against you
- scholarship myself to Westminster. You have a good time at Moran's, and rest
assured, anything that happens in this car is all hush-hush from Moran."
Sebastian started to do a very fake-sounding snore and he instantly shut up.

Jim was eternally tired of other people always telling him to calm down like he
was a small child or a very excitable dog. He was almost sixteen. “Thank you
then, I appreciate your concern.” Jim muttered back in a voice that made it
very clear that he didn’t. Jim glared a little and then decided to be a bit of
a bastard and stretched his legs across the seats so his boots could rest in
Sebastian’s lap and his head could lean against the door. “If you’ll excuse me
I’m rather tired.”

"Who are you working for then?" Sebastian said drowzily. "Jim - who did he say
he was working for?" He gently stroked the legs in his lap and then murmured,
"There's a cushion under the seat, and a wrap... somewhere. S'comfy. Da doesn't
have whores in here any more but he does nap between appointments."
With that he dozed off again and the driver smirked and added, "There's
champagne behind you as well, in a cooler. It's a nice car."

Jim frowned and shook his head, “He works for your dad?” Jim didn’t really care
if there were other people like him at the party as long as he could get what
he needed. He didn’t care if Moran lost everything. Jim was already falling
asleep and he didn’t want a blanket or a pillow or champagne. “I’m too young.”
He groused like that actually ever bothered him before.

"Wanker." Sebastian said sleepily, with no real indication as to who he was
talking about. He woke as the car drove up into the large gravel driveway,
completely forgetting the conversation from earlier and giving Jim a small
shake, "C'mon Jim, I want to show you my place. And your room. And how to get
from your room to my room." It was late afternoon by now, and the lights were
on in the house, a butler having a cigarette outside in the company of a rather
giggly young waitress, both of whom straightened up as the car arrived and
tried to pretend they were meant to be there. As well as a few cars in the
drive there was a large gold-painted jaguar and Seb's mouth dropped open as he
saw it.
Jim came awake rather slowly and nodded sleepily as he opened his eyes and his
jaw dropped. “What the fuck… I mean I knew your da was influential but I didn’t
know he was that rich…” He scooted out of the car following hot on Seb’s heels,
not wanting to get left behind or lost in this huge house that he so obviously
didn’t belong in. “How to get from my room to your room is very important.” Jim
agreed quietly and rolled his eyes at how obvious Sebastian could be. In a way
it was soothing.

"She's fucking here, that has to be here, oh my fucking god he'll have a
coronary." Sebastian muttered exitedly, heading to the house and grabbing Jim's
hand as he turned to the car boot, "Don't worry about the bags, someone will
have them bought up, look, look at that." He waved at the car proudly, now
almost buzzing with excitement. "She's here. Nobody else would own a bloody
awful car that... gold. C'mon." Letting go of Jim's hand he hurried inside,
straightening his uniform as he went. Scurrying past the entrance hall he
strode into a large lounge, following the sound of voices, managing to rip off
a smart salute before being completely engulfed by a tall and curvaceous woman
in a shimmering gold dress surrounded by a large white fur stole and a huge
gust of perfume.
Everything about her seemed large and determined to be made larger, "Sebastian!
You've grown so much, you look wonderful my darling, who's been hitting you.
Tell your father and he'll have them shot."
Behind her were a collection of rather awkward looking guests - and an
irritated looking man who looked a lot like an older and greying Sebastian and
snapped, "For gods sake sit down Seraphine, the boy's only just arrived."

Jim didn’t understand what Sebastian was muttering about or why he was
practically running through the house until he saw her. This had to be
Sebastian’s mother. Jim didn’t think they looked very much alike but he could
see it all the same. He hung back towards the doorway, feeling happy for his
friend and the obvious delight he showed at her appearance. Jim also felt a
deep pang of loss seeing them embrace. His mother couldn’t have been more
different from the woman standing before him, she had been tiny like him and
thin as a rake. She’d never have worn anything so lovely as that and Jim missed
her fiercly for a heartbeat as he hung back in the doorway, already stepping
away so that he could find someone to show him to his room. He didn’t want to
intrude and suddenly he didn’t want Sebastian’s mother to see him when he
looked so grubby and half starved.
Seraphine gave a laugh, a genuine laugh of delight that her son was here and
that her ex-husband was so angry, and then let Sebastian go, embracing Jim with
a gush of, "And who is this, another dashing young cadet from that terrible
school he sends you to?" Her necklace banged against Jim's face and she moved
it with a "Terribly sorry, darling, do enjoy your stay. Ignore Augustus and if
you fuck my son over they'll never find your remains darling." She gave him an
air kiss and gently stroked his head with a fond smile before ushering him into
the room.
"I don't 'send' him there, he wants to go and I can't persuade him to go
somewhere sensible, like Eton."
Seraphine had her arm around Jim's shoulders as she indicated the guests with a
hand covered in chunky rings, "These are the Holmes's darling. They've arrived
a day early, Mrs Holmes has some frightfully important conference nearby and
wanted to stay the night here. Didn't Mycroft go to your school?"
She gave a mischevious little smirk as Mycroft forced a smile and replied,
"I... used to. Yes. It's... lovely to meet you again Sebastian. And this is?"

Jim couldn’t help skittering back as the woman embraced him, still not used to
being touched so familiarly and especially not by strangers. She was…
overwhelming and Jim had never met anyone like her. Sebastian must take after
his father. Jim took note of Augustus’ comment about Eton as he looked the man
over. It was startling how much Sebastian took after him. He did perk up in
interest when she announced the Holmes and he looked them both over curiously.
Jim wanted to ask Mycroft – but this was entirely the wrong setting and
honestly he wasn’t even sure what he’d ask. Please tell me how you survived
being Magnussen’s trained dog seemed like it might not fly with the imperious
boy. Jim wasn’t sure how old the man was as he seemed to have aged poorly. Jim
ducked closer to Sebastian, looking for protection from the boy’s mother and
all of her touching. He did give off the appearance of a skittish stray staying
near the stranger that fed him scraps. “Jim Moriarty.” The name was a rather
unfortunate way to introduce himself but there was no helping that.

"Jim who? Moriarty?" Augustus looked at him suspiciously, "I've heard the name
'Moriarty.'"
Sebastian waved a hand with a grin and a "He's nobody you'd know, nothing to do
with politics. Relax."
Mycroft gave Jim a hard look and a voice snapped out from the corner, "James
Moriarty is a teacher at Magnussen's school. He has a wife who died recently
and one son. Illegitimate." There was an embarrassed pause and everyone turned
to look at Mycroft's younger brother, curled up on a single sofa with a thick
book and a scowl, looking like a large spider. Mycroft looked furious, Augustus
disgusted.
Seraphine rolled her eyes and headed over to the dresser, pouring out a large
glass of something, "Well done Sherlock, what a wonderful place to air dirty
laundry. Sebastian darling do your or your guest want a drink?"

“They were never married, that’s what illegitimate means you ingrate.” Jim
sneered back at the lanky boy. “My mother died recently but she was never tied
to him. I’ll thank you to observe the distinction.” He was definitely not used
to these kinds of things where people got embarrassed over bastards and pretty
much dealt with the problem the way he always would – by sneering and making
the bully out to be an idiot and sometimes with fighting and kicking. But he
knew enough not to hit the other boy. “I think I’d like that drink.” Jim
muttered quietly to Sebastian.

"Just get back to whatever you're reading, Sherlock." Mycroft snapped, while
Augustus looked suspiciously at Jim.
Sebastian gave a groan and went over to his mother, leaning against her. "Two
drinks. Thank's for coming." She poured out two generous measures of red wine
and handed the glasses to him with a smile, murmuring something in his ear that
made him blush scarlet, scooting back to Jim with the drinks while Mycroft and
Augustus started up a stilted conversation about the weather, clearly trying to
hide mutual embarrassment. Sebastian handed Jim the glass and clinked it with
his own, "Less than ten minutes and he's rattled. Personal best. My mum likes
you."

“I have a gift.” Jim sipped at the wine and it was one of the best things he’d
ever tasted – worlds away from the boxed stuff his mom kept in the fridge that
he’d filch on a bad day. “Just wait till he hears I stapled your ear to your
head when we met.” He didn’t like the looks he was getting from Augustus or
Mycroft but chocked it up to his introduction and obvious shabbiness. After the
awkward conversation continued painfully and slowly for another few minutes Jim
leaned over to Sebastian and muttered, “You know it would almost be worth it to
let Mags put me in the ground, fucks sake I feel half dead already.” Jim
grinned and took another drink of his wine. He was having a hard time
remembering to pace himself.

Serephine had pulled out her phone half an hour ago, and Sebastian smirked,
leaning over to murmur in Jim's ear, "Watch this..." standing up he headed over
to Sherlock, looming over him and knocking the book off the chair, "Alright
Holmes the twattier? Don't read, be social! Any reason you had for making my
mate look bad then, or shall I just put that down to you really liking the idea
of me smacking you around later?"

Jim rolled his eyes and tugged at Sebastian’s sleeve, “Down boy, I can handle
my own fights or do I need to remind you? Weren’t you just saying last night
that you were going to stop bullying people, hmmm? Besides, he wasn’t insulting
me, just telling the truth.” Jim gave Sherlock a look that made it clear he’d
regret it if the boy made him regret his generosity and calling off his guard
dog.

"Was I? Fuck I don't remember." But the reminder of last night slammed down a
momentary block on his high of happiness and excitment and wine and he rubbed a
hand over his face, "Fuck, just... just felt glad to be home and away from all
that shit and now there's more shit." He grinned and wrapped an arm around
Jim's waist, bending low to whisper in Jim's ear while Sherlock scowled at them
both, "Look at my dad and Holmes. They're both so bloody miserable. And they
have to stay here being miserable together for another hour at least before
dinner. Let's fuck off and find the bedrooms."

Jim may have felt more comfortable standing in Sebastian’s vicinity but the
physical grabbing and holding still sent his heart going after last night. He
squeezed Sebastian’s wrist and disentangled himself from Sebastian’s arm as
discreetly as he could. The other boy had told him not to just let him do
whatever he wanted. Jim could help him with that. “That sounds good. Is your
bedroom as ridiculous as the rest of the house?” Jim teased quietly.

"My bedroom is my fucking place, but you should see your bedroom." Sebastian
smirked, nodding to his father and quickly hustling Jim out of the room, "Four
posters, en-suite bathroom, bath you could drown a grown man in, don't get any
ideas yeah?" He grinned and then hesitated, "Damn, we forgot to bring the wine.
Cellar first then. You're used to drinking aren't you? You're certainly getting
through it. Heh."

“It’s been a while…” Jim had plenty of experience with alcohol but he wasn’t
what anyone would consider a mature or responsible drinker. Back home no one
had cared if he drank until he made himself sick. He had finished his glass but
carried it down with them to the cellar, trying to appear cool and unaffected
by how much wine was down here and how much money it must all be worth. He was
already feeling a little bit lighter, which probably had something to do with
his hunger and the wine. “Big enough to drown a grown man? I suppose that means
there’s room for two then?” Jim gave Sebastian a smirk and grabbed at his belt
teasingly. Alcohol usually made him like this – flirty and playful and totally
ready to ignore boundaries that had been put in place for a reason. If he was
drunk enough then maybe he wouldn’t shy away from Sebastian’s hands.

Sebastian's eyes widened as Jim grabbed his belt, spinning around to look at
him, with a bottle of expensive wine in each hand, "Oh there's room enough for
two, don't you worry. Room enough for two in the bed as well, room for two to
get up to all sorts." He grinned happily back, assuming Jim was just being
freer now they were alone and unbothered by the surroundings. "I'm so fucking
glad you still wanted to come here. I'd have died in there talking dull wank
with the Holmes's. Straight up the stairs, the other stairs. Room's on the
right."

Jim grinned and followed Sebastian up the stairs and wasn’t able to hide his
shock when he saw his room, “Holy fuck. This is mine? It’s like the size of my
flat!” It really really wasn’t even an exaggeration. There was a huge bed and a
living room sitting area with a fireplace and a huge bathroom. “This is
amazing…” Jim opened one of the bottles and poured himself another glass that
he drained a little bit faster now that they were alone and he wasn’t being
judged for how quickly he drank. “Can you get the water started? Fuck I don’t
even know what all those controls are for? Are there bubbles? I always wanted
bubbles in my bath…” Jim rambled happily as he drank more of the wine.

"There's a fucking jaccuzzi setting." Sebastian said smugly, downing his wine
as well, and pouring out more for both of them. Setting the glasses on the side
he put in the plug and started filling the bath, stripping off his uniform at
the same time, "Fuck me Jim, I - god I'm so glad you came here. Wanted to show
you this, wanted you to like it, and really, really want you to live like this.
For you. Something comfortable and happy and fuck..." he knocked his wine glass
into the bath and had to fish it out again, laughing, "There you go, you can
even swim in champagne."

Jim giggled at Sebastian’s joke and it really wasn’t that funny. He started
taking off his clothes too, and pouring them both more wine. He avoided his
reflection in the mirror where a bruise sat high up on one cheekbone from where
he’d been hit repeatedly last night and he had dark bruises on the sides and
bottom of his hips where he’d been held down between the sergeants hands and
the table. Jim didn’t want to look at himself so he stripped quickly and
brought his glass and the bottle into the bath so he could face Sebastian. “I’m
glad too. Everyone seems alright.” Jim snorted and shook his head while he
laughed, “It’s a nice dream. Maybe I can leach off of Magnussen for long enough
I could afford some of this stuff. Somehow I don’t think John has one of these
hidden in his rooms.”

Sebastian gave a scowl at Magnussen's name, sliding into the bath opposite Jim,
trying not to get angry at the bruises on Jim's waist. "What is Magnussen
actually paying you for?" He asked, curiously, "Is it Watson? I bet it is. He's
wanted information on that bastard for years, John is the only one who doesn't
lick his arse." Shifting he tangled his legs around Jim's and blew him a kiss,
"I'm seducing you with my rich and glamerous life-style. Think about this next
time we're sleeping in a puddle in the middle of a forest."

“Well it’s working. I think I’m too pretty to be a trophy wife though…” Jim
shrugged and watched Sebastian warily, “No he’s – paying me with Watson. He –
because our relationship progressed he gave me Watson as my guardian. For doing
well.” Jim was confused because Sebastian had definitely mentioned that he knew
about Magnussen and the work with his dad. Maybe he didn’t know about the files
Jim was supposed to get but he knew his father was Magnussen’s target anyway.
Jim took a long drink from his glass and tilted his head back as the hot water
rose up around them. “Fuck this is so much better than cold showers.”

"Watson's your reward?" Sebastian gave a chuckle, pleased that at least Jim
hadn't taken the easy way out of lying. He didn't feel up to challenging the
boy with what he'd overheard so he just flicked a bit of water at Jim and
grinned. "Oh yeah? You ain't seen nothing yet. Watch this." Reaching behind Jim
and being sure to brush as much wet skin against him as possible, he pressed a
small chrome button. The water beneath them began to bubble and fizz and
Sebastian gave a wide grin, sliding to sit next to Jim and keeping one arm
behind him. "Jaccuzzi bath."

“He’s my guardian now. Magnussen could have just left him with my dad. I mean
it’s not all that much better in reality because my father does whatever he
wants anyway but… I like John. He’s not been awful to me.” Before last night
Sebastian reaching around him and pressing against him would have been teasing
and exciting but now Jim just felt boxed in and pressed against the bath edge.
It only lasted for a second though as he pushed the button and when the jets
started up he realized what Sebastian’s intentions had been. The other boy
settled next to him instead and Jim didn’t mind that so much and he leaned
against him dizzily as he polished off his third glass of wine that hour.

Sebastian made a face, "Alright lets stop talking about Mags right now before
just the thought of him makes my dick want to fall off." Jim was resting
against him as the water bubbled around and Sebastian felt deliriously happy.
His mother was here, Mycroft was angry, Jim was close. His hand fumbled down to
stroke and squeeze at Jim's thigh, "Mmmm... you are a hot little thing when
you're drunk." He murmured wickedly into Jim's ear.

“I thought you liked me all the time,” Jim groused as he glared teasingly. He
reached around and started to pour himself another glass as he polished off the
first bottle. Jim reached down under the water and gave Sebastian’s dick a
quick squeeze, “Nope. Still there. I’m not sure how we would go on if you lost
it.”

"Nah, nah I fucking love you all the time." Sebastian said sloppily, giving a
groan as Jim squeezed his cock, and humping his hips up a little, "Just...
just... really really want you when you're all hot and horny and wicked and
wonderful." He gave a little whine and then moved to sloppily kiss the side of
Jim's mouth, spilling his wine into the jacuzzi again as his glass tilted.

Jim wasn’t sure how he felt about Sebastian insisting that he loved him all the
time now. His mother had only said it a few times and she was the only one to
tell him that before Sebastian. It just seemed strange. Jim knew he meant it
though which was weird and difficult for him to understand. He liked that
Sebastian had never kissed him on the mouth after that first time in the
storage shed – it was just a peculiarity of Jim’s. He grinned and rescued
Sebastian’s wine, sipping it down quickly while Sebastian kissed at the side of
his neck and Jim’s hand fondled at his cock some more.

Sebastian moaned, his hips thrusting up weakly, his eyes closing a bit, the
kisses working their way across the side of Jim's face and down his neck,
stopping to nibble at his ear, "I - fuck - I can stop saying it if y-you like
but s'true you hot little crazy little bastard." He murmured, licking and
worrying at Jim's ear and then at the skin beneath it, "J-just keep your hand
there, y-yeah, oh fuck..."

Jim liked watching Sebastian when he was like this, he liked taking note of all
the reactions his body had to Jim. Having the other boy’s hands on him was a
little bit overwhelming but Jim drank more wine and after a few minutes that
feeling went away too. “I’m not going anywhere,” Jim muttered as he leaned his
forehead against Sebastian’s shoulder and had to set the wine glass down on the
fat lip of the tub. He was feeling dizzy with the steam and the wine and this
thing with Sebastian that he didn’t know how to quantify or even start
dissecting. Jim was heavily flushed and wasn’t sure that pressing harder
against Sebastian’s warm skin was going to help with that but he was
comfortable to prop himself up against. Jim was starting to fumble Sebastian’s
cock so he wrapped a firm hand around it instead to keep up the friction.

Sebastian groaned again, humping his hips into Jim's hand until he couldn't
stand it any longer. The water was too hot, the bubbles were hiding Jim's body.
Moving Jim aside he stood up, and then swung Jim into his arms, bridal style,
giving him a resounding kiss on the forehead, "Right... you are too fucking
gorgeous. If I'm forgiven I want to fuck you right here in this four-poster
bed. Shhh..." Silencing Jim's words with another kiss he dumped him down in the
bed, covering Jim's body with his own and pressing wetly into the sheets.

Jim gasped as the room spun when Sebastian picked him up suddenly and he clung
to Sebastian hard because he was afraid he’d be dropped. “Wha-?” Jim made a
confused noise at Sebastian’s proclamation but then he was kissing him and the
dizziness intensified. He shivered as Sebastian laid him down on the bed and
the sheets stuck to his skin since they hadn’t even stopped to dry off. Jim’s
heart started hammering hard as Sebastian pressed him down into the mattress,
trapping him with his body. At least he wasn’t on his stomach, if he was held
down like that again Jim thought he would scream. He spread his legs
unconsciously, trying to make room for the boy’s hips above him while he tried
to chase down the misgiving he felt and work out what they were. Jim shouldn’t
be nervous about this, there was no good reason he could think of for why he
shouldn’t let him but it had hurt so badly last time and the night before had
been frightening for no explainable reason. He hadn’t been hurt. Jim was okay.
So this was fine. He’d feel better if he wasn’t so dizzy.

Sebastian moaned as Jim spread his legs, taking it as a tacit admission that he
was allowed in. Giving Jim another kiss he flipped him over, reaching down to
squeeze hard at his arse and rub his cock at the base of his spine, "Mmmm...
fuck don't you worry this is going to be fucking good... mmm..." He was too
drunk to pick up any subtle signals, and far too horny to want anything other
than sex, and assuming quite happily that Jim felt exactly the same way. His
hand squeezed firm and harsh at the rounded curve of Jim's arse, "FUCK me...
god... wanted this for so long..."

Suddenly Jim was moved too quickly again and he knew he was on his stomach. He
made a high noise of distress when the words didn’t come immediately and the
sheets bunched and wrapped around him, twisting his legs up and constricting
him further as Sebastian rutted against him. Jim started squirming, trying to –
do something. Maybe get the sheets unstuck from him skin, maybe he didn’t want
to be touched anymore. When nothing really happened Jim closed his eyes and
gave a big sigh as he resigned himself to being stuck. He was too drunk to be
truly afraid but he knew something was wrong and he couldn’t remember what –
then it came to him. “Cundums…” With great effort he was able to get the word
out – more or less with the slur.

"Mmm... whut?" Sebastian moaned, humping Jim harder, still groping his arse but
starting to slide a finger down between the cleft, pressing and poking at the
little twitching entrance, "Nahhhh we're both virgins aren't we? Well... I
dunno about you, but your clear, bet you are. I trust you. S'not like you'll
get pregnant..." He gently bit at the centre of Jim's shoulder blades, loving
the wet feeling of skin pressing down against the scrawny body below. "Don't
need'em, don't worry, I'll prep you really good, yeah?"

Jim was not sleepy anymore, he was disoriented and scared. He couldn’t see who
was touching him. He could hear Seb’s voice but he had heard his voice the
other time too when the Sergeant touched him. He shuddered and bit his lip as
the man groaned and pressed down against him, rubbing his cock over Jim’s body.
“L – fuck, lube.” Jim just wasn’t able to get the words out and he went cold as
Sebastian pressed a dry finger against his entrance. He bucked and started
twisting and fighting, Jim didn’t want to be fucked by that man. His hands
weren’t tied, which was weird, but he was already naked and that froze his
insides. He wasn’t very effective with slow limbs but the man was slow to
respond too so he managed to get a few hits in.

"Jim... fuck what the fuck?" Sebastian laughed, rolling away as Jim started
punching at him, giving a smirk and slapping his arse hard, "Oh... you want it
rough again?" He froze as he saw Jim's face, blind and panicked, and suddenly
felt a lurch of nausea. "Oh fuck..." Staggering upright, he stumbled over to
the bath and dunked his head in the water, switching off the jacuzzi and
emerging, hair dripping wet, "Don't tell me I've fucked up again... Christ you
were groping my dick a few moments ago - does that not mean you want sex then?"

Jim flopped down onto the soaked sheets as Sebastian got up and left the bed,
relieved that he was able to get his feelings across even when he was so drunk
that words had failed him. Now that there wasn’t a lead weight pressing against
him the words came easier, “You – ‘s gonna hurt me. No. Fuck.” He took a breath
and shivered in his bed while he tried to keep his eyes open. “My fault. Got
confused, no biggie.” His words slurred together but at least he could find
them now when he wasn’t so goddamn lost.

"I'm not going to hurt you... christ, you were the one started hitting me."
Sebastian took a swig from the wine bottle and came back over to the bed,
reaching down to pat Jim's cheek and looking at him unsteadily, "'M not going
to hurt you, just want you to have a good time, c-cn I fuck you or not, or,
hey, you can fuck me yeah?" He wasnt sure about that at all but pushed on
blindly, "Yeah, I'll lay down and you can get my arse, you want that? Just...
yeah prep it okay because that looks like it could hurt..."

“Said I got confused, sorry.” Jim watched him warily, trying to keep alert but
he could feel himself fading fast. “Hurts. Fuck it hurts. No.” He wasn’t going
to let anyone get buggered again without lube, Jim didn’t expect he could sit
up without assistance he wasn’t going to try and fuck someone in this state.
“Not gonna hurt you ven if you’re a bastard.” Jim wiped at his eyes and
frowned, frustrated with his fucked up head.

"It hurts..." Sebastian looked at him uncomprehendingly, groaning and letting
go of him, turning to knock his head against the wall, "If it always fucking
hurts why do people fucking do it? I don't want to hurt you, want to be good,
all loving and fuck. Like... oh I don't fucking know. Like something nice. For
you." He squeezed his eyes shut and slumped to the floor, remembering the
noises Jim had made that night. It had been an act - but an act from someone
who knew what it sounded like, and the thought he'd been about to do what the
sergeant had done made him want to tear his skin off. "Don't be sorry, fuck,
s'not your fault... god I..." He rubbed his eyes tiredly and mumbled, "Was I
really about to do that... to you?"

“Lube…” Jim groaned, frustrated that Sebastian didn’t seem to get this. “Hurts
without lube. We haven’t got any. Or condoms. If you – uh – try and run a car
with no petrol it fucks up your engine?” Jim’s metaphor was severely lacking
but it was the best he could do under the circumstances. Sebastian slid to the
floor and Jim got out of bed and stumbled into Sebastian’s lap. Sebastian
stopped him feeling so dizzy. Jim petted his head again like he did last night,
it was clumsier than usual but Jim was a determined little thing and he didn’t
want Sebastian to be sad. “You stopped. ‘S good.” He realized Sebastian was
still hard and he breathed out a sigh, “Can finish you off?”

Sebastian let Jim fall into his lap, petting him awkwardly and sniffling a bit,
"Ah fuck... fucked up... nah, 's okay. I've... gone down." He groaned and
hugged Jim tightly, then looked up with a jump as the door slid open.
Serephine was framed there, looking a lot smaller without her large white fur
stole, and with a red satin dressing gown covering her dress. She raised an
eyebrow as she saw them, moving into and shutting the door and then taking two
towels to drop next to them before turning to look out the window, giving them
some privacy. "Sebastian." She said eventually, "You are a terrible drunk."

Jim groaned when the woman came in and he ducked his face against Sebastian’s
neck so she wouldn’t see him. He wasn’t someone who embarrassed easily but it
was Sebastian’s mother and he thought it was allowed in this situation. Jim
quickly grabbed up the towel and crawled out of Sebastian’s lap so that he
could cover up. The towel was precariously wrapped around his waist but he
spotted his bag and happily went over to dig through for some civilian clothes.
Getting dressed was hard. His limbs did not respond the way he wanted them to
and Jim kept listing to one side. Eventually he managed to get some sweat pants
on though, the first civilian clothes he’d worn since he was tossed into that
school. Mostly he just didn’t want her to see the bruises on his hips but he
couldn’t manage a shirt so he just pulled the wait line up unusually high to
cover them. There. Jim was actually pretty proud of himself for managing that
much. “Sorry – made a mess. I’ll clean.” Jim stumbled for the bathroom and
started to put their glasses and the bottles on the counter while he tried to
drain the tub but he was pretty close to falling in and his fingers kept
slipping against the stopper.

"Oh your poor boy..." Serephine came over, gently taking his shoulders and
steering him away from the bath, before ferreting under the pillow for a set of
pyjamas. They were far too big for Jim, but she tugged the shirt over his head,
noting the bruises and staying silent about them, "Don't worry about cleaning,
goodness me, there's barely a mess." Sebastian stood up and tugged on the
matching trousers from the pyjamas, still looking unhappy. "You're both drunk
and in no state for this." Sitting on the bed she patted the space next to her
for Jim to sit and stroked his hair gently, just once, "You're not used to
drinking are you? You're going to have a terrible hangover tomorrow. For now
though, you need water. And a bucket. And possibly my son as well. Both of you,
go to Sebastian's room now, just stagger along the hallway. I'll get the bed
cleaned and dried." She looked up at Sebastian, a little severely, "Have you
been hurting him, Seb darling?"
"He attacked me with a stapler..." Sebastian muttered and Seraphine let out a
peel of laughter.
"Oh my dear boy - did you try to bully him?" She looked at Seb fondly and shook
her head, "Terrible boy. Come on now, help your friend stand up. And if he asks
you to sleep on the chaise, you do so, understood?" Sebastian muttered a sulky
'yes...' and then flung himself into a hug with her, while she shushed him and
petted him and eventually said, a touch severely, "Yes, yes, I know you feel
terrible, but you'll ruin this gown if it gets wet. Sort it out with him
darling, I'll find a bucket."

Jim wasn’t sure what to make of the woman – he didn’t like that she fussed over
him. Jim very suddenly felt like crying for his mother. He’d never cried for
her. He was a bad son. He should have checked on her. Jim said at much to
Serephine. His eyes were wet but even drunk he was determined not to cry,
especially because when he was so out of control like this Jim was afraid he’d
never stop until all of the water in his body was spent and he would just be
bones and flakes of skin. “Sorry, sorry… It’s that tall twat. It’s none of his
fucking business. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” Jim didn’t even
know what he was apologizing for but he suddenly didn’t want to be here anymore
and he stumbled away out into the hall.

Seraphine watched him go and then stood, looking at Sebastian a little
severely, "We don't molest the guests, Sebastian, not now your father's career
is on the ropes again. With that she swept out leaving Sebastian gaping liks a
fish and finally hurrying into the hall to make sure Jim staggered in the right
direction, "Fuck I'm sorry about that she's... she's sort of unstoppable. Look
it's... yeah... this room." Sebastian's bedroom was more modest, with a desk in
one corner, a set of combat gear on the floor, and a king sized bed rather than
a four poster. The room was big enough for a large sofa as well, and Sebastian
staggered over to it, "Do - do you want me to sleep on this?"

Jim was still trying to rein everything in but it was much more difficult when
he was compromised by the wine. “You’ll get a horrible crick. Com’ere.” Jim
flopped on the bed and pulled the blankets up and over his head just in case he
really started crying. Fuck he was a mess. “I’m a fuck up. I’m a bad son and a
bad spy and a bad cadet and a bad – whatever I am to you. I’m not used to
fucking up.” Jim’s eyes were closed and if a few tears leaked out then he
certainly couldn’t see them. It was just leftover water from the bath.

Sebastian gave a growl. Standing up he went to his door and bolted it, then
came back to the bed and tugged the blankets down, looking at Jim's pale face,
red-rimmed eyes, in a shirt far too big for him. "Fucking hell - you say that
as if I didn't just try to assault you. Again. This time in my own damn house.
Fucking - c'mere..." He sat on the bed and looked at Jim awkwardly, hoping he
wanted a cuddle but not ready to just pull him into one after all that had
happened. "You're a perfect son with a shitty father, you're a fucking good spy
I mean you're here aren't you? You survived almost a whole term as a cadet and
I'm fucking besotted with you even though I know Mags is paying you to screw
over my father. So you haven't fucked up anything. And I don't give a shit if
you have."

He flinched as Sebastian pulled the covers away and sulked when he realized he
wasn’t going to be allowed to grieve in private. Jim shook his head but it made
him dizzy again. That wasn’t what happened. “It was my fault, I couldn’t
remember how to say no. Shouldn’t have hit you. Told you I’d say no, remember?”
Jim had promised last night. He got up like he was told and sat in Sebastian’s
lap again, trying to balance himself alright and just ended up leaning most of
his weight on the other boy. “No. my mum. She swallowed all those pills and I
didn’t even know until I found her. I should have – done something, I don’t
know. She fucking left me with my dad.” Jim still thought he might hate her but
he also felt incredibly guilty for not seeing the signs, for staying out of the
house at all hours of the night and not noticing when she got worse. He sniffed
and pressed his face against Sebastian’s shoulder and whispered, “He’s not
paying me. Mags is going to kill my dad for me. He’s not going to hurt me
again. I just can’t fuck it up. Don’t tell anyone.” Jim shushed Sebastian and
pressed a finger against the boy’s lips.

Sebastian wrapped his arms around Jim, stilling as there was a knock on the
door and then relaxing as Serephine murmured, "I'll leave the bucket outside,
don't kill each other." And then thankfully left.
His hand stroked Jim's back, petting gently and enjoying the heavy weight of
the other against him, "Fuck, I-I didn't know that about your mum. S'okay. It
wasn't your fault." He stilled again as Magnussen was mentioned, at the thought
of Jim's father being actually killed, and then clenched his jaw. "Good. You
won't fuck it up. We'll make sure Mags gets what he needs." He gently kissed at
the finger against his lips, his hands still stroking Jim's back, "Won't tell a
soul. Not even Watson."

“Your mum is nice but she makes me sad.” Jim was relieved and he sighed while
Sebastian petted his back. “You’re a good friend. Don’t know if I love you but
you’re my favorite person in the world.” He passed out or fell asleep after a
minute, still straddling Sebastian’s lap and leaning against his chest,
completely dead to the world.

"Why does she make you sad?" Sebastian looked confused, but Jim seemed to have
passed out. He let the boy sleep in his lap for a bit and then, groaning, laid
him down in the bed. Heading to the door he unlocked it and bought the bucket
in, making a face as he saw his mother had helpfully stuck a little tub of lube
and three condoms in the bottom. Quickly, he hid them in the drawer and then
put the bucket on Jim's side of the bed, getting in himself and cuddling Jim
back against his chest.
Chapter End Notes
     TW: Attempted drunk sex w/ dubious consent due to intoxication
***** Try on the Westwood *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Jim woke up with a warm body pressed up behind his and his stomach rolled hard
when he leaned over the edge of the bed and grabbed the bucket before getting
sick. “Ugh – oh fuck.” He got sick again and rubbed at his head as it ached and
throbbed. “What the fuck..?” He was in a shirt he didn’t recognize, in a room
he didn’t remember going to and he looked back quickly to see who he was in bed
with. It was only Sebastian though, and he was fully dressed as well so
probably nothing had happened. Jim was still too tired and half asleep to piece
together much of what went on last night but it would come back to him. Fuck
that rich wine fucked him up. He groaned and got sick one more time before
getting up on wobbly feet and stumbling to the bathroom with the bucket so he
could clean his mouth out and wash the bucket. For now he’d just rinse it out
really well and clean the bathtub with bleach or something later. Right now he
just needed it to be functional in case Sebastian or he was sick again. When
Jim was presentable he came back out with the freshly washed bucket and climbed
back into bed, hoping to fall asleep again if it wasn’t too late.

Sebastian heard Jim wake but his head was throbbing and his stomach felt queasy
so he just lay face down on the bed and waited for it all to pass. He reached
up to pat Jim's head as he got back into bed, missing and patting his side
instead, "'M going to die, you okay?" He mumbled, fractured memories of the
night before mixed up with dreams all coming back to him at once.

Jim made an unhappy sound and curled into Sebastian’s side to block out some of
the light that was streaming through the windows. “Think I’m going to die
first. I drank more than you – and you’re twice my size. Fuck that was stupid.”
There was a sharp knock from the door and Jim groaned as the sound reverberated
around in his head. “Go away!” The knock sounded again. “Seb it’s your bloody
door you can answer it.” Jim was perfectly content to just curl up in the
blankets for a little longer.

Sebastian rolled out of bed, swore unhappily as he hit the floor and then
staggered upright, pulling himself up with the doorknob. "If you're not either
someone with breakfast or a fucking prostitute then piss off." He shouted
horsely at the hinges. "If I have to open this door I swear I will eat or fuck
whatever if behind it. We're ill. There was something dodgy in the... wine..."

“I suspect what was dodgy in the bottle was wine. You don’t have to let me in,”
Sherlock groused from the other side of the door. “In fact I would really
prefer not to. Lunch is being served in fifteen minutes. The Moriarty boy is in
there, I assume? Let him know too. I have been given a job to do after all.”
Apparently because Sherlock was the closest to them in age he was now their
personal liaison between the children and the grown-ups. It boggled his mind a
little to think that he was a full ten years older than they were.

"Lunch can go fuck itself." Sebastian growled, banging his head against the
door to try and wake himself up and then, in deference to both his mother and
Jim, "Alright, you've done your job, we'll try and drag ourselves down there.
Course Jim's in here, we stole two bottles of wine and got absolutely rat-arsed
together - it's what you do with your mates. Not that you'd know." He didn't
really care if Sherlock knew the truth - and from what he remembered they
hadn't slept together anyway. Stumbling back to the bed he collapsed over it
and gave Jim a poke. "'M going for a shower. We can get food bought up if
you're not up to moving but I should probably show my face."

“Oh my god,” Jim groaned and covered his face. “Your mum saw me naked. In your
lap. Fuck well there goes any pretense we had. Jim sat up blearily and tried
not to move too fast just in case he got sick again. “I’m coming with you. I
need a shower and if you’re there and I slip and crack my head open it’s okay.”
Jim was getting bits and pieces of last night – he didn’t remember coming to
this room at all but he had fairly clear memories of the most – emotional bits.
That’s how the brain remembered things after all. But other parts were foggy or
gone entirely. He remembered their almost-fuck though.

Sebastian gave a grin, "My mum knows, and she wont tell. Last night she even
whispered in my ear that she thought you were a good choice to get into bed.
She'd see through it anyway. She knows me. He doesn't." Sebastian gave a
sniffle - his head was throbbing and he did miss his mum. "C'mon then, into the
shower." He stuck the water on and leaned heavily against the tiles. "Urgh,
fuck. We drank far too much without any food. Thought you said you were good at
drinking? Why the fuck does it smell of bleach in here?"

“I’m not sure how I feel about that – your mother has strange tastes.” Jim
followed Sebastian into the shower and grimaced a little at being caught out.
“I did some cleaning after I got sick this morning. I am good at drinking, did
you see how much I managed? I never said I was good at holding my liquor.” Jim
felt shit but the warm water was wonderful. “I’m sorry again about last night.
I kinda led you on for a while, didn’t I?”

"What? Nah... don't be silly. 'S not leading me on, is it? Leading me on would
be... you know... saying you wanted sex with me when really you wanted to knee
me in the balls. Wanting me to fuck you and then finding it too sodding awful
at the actual moment isn't leading me on, s'just the universe being a wanker."
He managed a tired grin and grabbed the shampoo, dumping floral-smelling gel
onto Jim's hair. "Stay still, 'M washing your hair. My mum has perfect taste,
she only likes all the loud trashing bling because it annoys people. She knows
what's good for me. You are fucking obsessed with cleaning, we have people to
do that here."

Jim pressed against Sebastian tiredly and started kissing at his chest lazily,
“It wasn’t awful. I just got disoriented. Thought you were the sergeant until I
got turned around and was able to see that it was just you.” Jim ran his tongue
over one of Sebastian’s nipples before biting on it sharply. “There. Awake
yet?” Jim grinned and wrapped his arms loosely around Sebastian while the other
boy washed his hair. “This is where being the shortest has its perks. I could
barely reach your head if this was the other way around. I’m not obsessed. I’ve
been in foster care before I know how it works when you’re staying in someone
else’s house…” Be small, don’t take up space, don’t leave any sign that you
were there so as not to be an inconvenience.

Sebastian yelped as Jim bit his nipple, sending a painful tingle through him,
although he was far too hungover to get aroused, "Owwch! Little shit." He kept
washing Jim's hair though, sighing and shaking his head, "No... this isn't
foster care. You're a guest. You don't worry about anything - cleaning cooking,
s'all taken care of. Treat it like a hotel." He wiped the foam away from Jim's
forehead and grinned at him, enjoying the wet, and the contact, and just having
someone else here with him. "It'll be hell down there you know. Stilted and
jilted Holmes's and our hangovers and my dad."

Jim managed a little smile, enjoying the privacy and how relaxed everything was
– even if they did both feel shit. “That’s alright. It won’t be worse than
school. And I’m really hungry.” Jim rinsed his hair and then stepped out of the
shower with his towel around his waist and headed back to his room where his
clothes were. He only had what he’d thrown in that duffle all those weeks ago
and none of it was suitable for meeting people like Sebastian’s family and
friends. Still, Jim was not putting that uniform back on. So he settled for his
best jumper. It was a little threadbare and tattered but it was clean and
smelled like his laundry detergent back home. He had jeans too but they all had
holes in the knees from running around and falling down or being pushed around
at his last school. It was the best he could do and nothing Sebastian had would
fit him. He stepped out of the hall to meet Sebastian so at least he wouldn’t
have to go down alone.

Seraphine was already up and wearing a pair of tight white jeans that showed
off her hips, coupled with truly terrifying white wedge heals and a lavish dark
cashmere jumper that seemed to be supporting a huge amount of jewelery. She was
also carrying a shopping bag, and hurried over to Jim in alarm. "Oh my
goodness, I am so glad I caught you darling, before you went down." Flinging
bouffanted hair out of her face she handed across the bag, "Now you don't have
to wear it, of course you don't, but Holmes is a complete snob and I don't want
you having to face him sneering at you unless you don't mind it. Try on the
Westwood, it'll suit you perfectly, just don't let Sebastian ravish you all
over the table. Where is my darling son?" Blowing Jim a kiss she strode into
Sebastian's room, causing a surprised yelp from inside, "Seb darling, get
dressed, you're not sculking up here all day."

Jim took the bag in shock and clung to the little handles. She bought him
Westwood. What the fuck? Still he couldn’t bring himself to let go so he pushed
back into Sebastian’s room, feeling overwhelmed. “Er – Ms – uh.” Jim realized
too late that she most likely was separated or divorced from Moran from what
Sebastian had said. “Shouldn’t I save it for Christmas when there are more
people? The Holmes don’t bother me. It’s really okay.” He still didn’t set the
bag down. He didn’t like charity but he liked the gift – he hadn’t even seen it
and he knew he would like it.

"If you like I can wrap it and put it under the tree - it's a Christmas gift
for you darling, but you might as well open and wear it now. Sebastian don't
wear that, you'll look like a blond Andy McNab still in the desert. Put on a
suit darling, no Sebastian." Seb growled and hissed a swearword but tugged out
a suit. "Call me Serephine, please, my last name changes so often nowadays I
can barely keep track of it." Sebastian made an unhappy noise as he tugged on
the suit and his mother fussed over him.

“No, that’s fine. I’ll wear it now.” Jim did rather regret the loss of his
comfortable clothes during his hangover but he did know it would be ungracious
to refuse at this point. He took it in the bathroom and changed as quickly as
he could – some of it was difficult to manage and he grappled with his tie for
a while before just accepting it would be crooked. Jim came out eventually
feeling very silly even if he could recognize the beauty of the suit. With his
frame and the hair it was almost a lost cause but he did look worlds away from
a homeless person. “Ms. Serephine – thank you for the suit and shoes. They’re
wonderful.” He still looked hungover and half-starved but it was certainly an
improvement.

Sebastian's face was a picture as Jim emerged and as Serephine raked finger's
through Jim's hair and straightened his tie he gave a little whistle, "Wow. You
look good. I mean suits look good on you. You look like a smart fucker in a
suit. I just look like a bouncer." He squirmed as his mum straightened his tie,
knocking it crooked as soon as her fingers moved out the way, "All right! it's
just lunch. No biggie. Are you coming down."
She gave a laugh and shook her head. "I've eaten. Going shopping again now, I
can't stand this bloody house in the middle of nowhere, not when I can drive to
a decent boutique. Don't punch any Holmes's while I'm away, they're delicate
and bleed easily."

Sebastian looked at him like he didn’t see any of Jim’s flaws and that was all
at once as heady as the wine and terrifying. The other boy straightened his tie
and Jim worked not to look too pleased with himself. Fuck but he didn’t even
know how to pay her back. There wasn’t anything she could want that he could
give her – Jim supposed keeping Seb safe and getting the Sergeant away from him
would have to be enough, although he wouldn’t ever tell her about it. Jim stuck
close to Sebastian’s side as they went down. Everyone was still seated around
the table but they seemed at least half way through their meal. Jim felt
awkward like he was borrowing someone else’s skin even though his suit was
tailored well. He sat next to Sebastian and tried to just focus on serving
them.
Sherlock watched them with some mixture of curiosity and distain, “I don’t
suppose either of you have heard the news. That Sergeant at the school you go
to was just fired for sexual misconduct with students. One would hope that the
board would be more careful not to hire pedophiles at their prestigious school.
Lord Moran did you hear about the scandal? Did you know him?”

Sebastian choked on his first mouthful of food as Sherlock started talking, his
eyes widening in disbelieve as he heard the news. He gave Jim a shocked glance,
not entirely sure what to feel. True, the sergeant had been a proper bastard,
and Sebastian knew that how the man had treated him was shameful but still...
he'd been Sebastian's closest ally. And giving blow-jobs hadn't felt too bad at
the time, they'd felt special, a privilege.
Augustus glared at Sherlock, wiping his lips with a napkin, "I knew of him, but
not personally. I think it's completely shocking for a school to hire such a
man and more should be done to ensure rigorous standards at our private schools
to ensure no child is taken advantage of."
Mycroft gave a discrete cough and murmured, "Of course, of course. Brother-mine
much though we appreciate you coming out of your room and gracing us with your
presence that's not perhaps the most... suitable of lunchtime conversations."

Jim tried not to look too pleased or too guilty as Sherlock prattled on. It was
good to know though that the man was gone. Magnussen had kept his promise then.
Jim pressed a hand against Sebastian’s thigh under the table, trying to calm
him down and get him to relax so he wouldn’t give away something that would
send Augustus on a war path.
Sherlock glared lightly at Mycroft, knowing how uncomfortable talking about his
old school made him. “What about you then, Myc? Did you know any of this was
going on when you were there at school?”

Sebastian felt a bit better with Jim's hand pressed against his own shaking
lag. He knew that the sergeant had probably fucked him up in some deep way that
needed sorting, but it couldn't be worse than how fucked up Jim was. Mycroft
gave Augustus a slightly apologetic and exasperated look, "Well that was ten
years ago Sherlock. They probably have different staff now. I certainly never
heard of any such thing."
"Staff are the same." Sebastian spoke up helpfully, enjoying the twin looks of
rage. "He might not have been your Sergeant, but he would still have been
around then. Doctor Watson said he remembered you." Mycroft went white and
Sherlock's expression suddenly slammed shut. There was an awkward pause.

Jim watched Sebastian, not sure what the other boy was doing. “It’s true he did
mention you to me.” It was telling to see their reactions. Sherlock stood
quickly and just left with a slight shake in his hands and Jim watched him go
with some trepidation.

Sebastian raised an eyebrow in surprise as Sherlock left. He'd know there was
bad history between the Holmes's and Watson, but never just quite how bad. "Oh
well done Sebastian." Augustus growled.
Seb speared a piece of toast slightly annoyed before replying, "What? I was
just trying to move the conversation on from kiddie fiddling. Sherlock's the
one that stormed off."
Mycroft gave an ingrating smile, his food pretty much untouched, just pushed
around the plate and cut up, "I'm sorry my brother always finds social
situations a little difficult. Please convey my own greetings to Doctor Watson
when you return, he was an excellent Doctor and a good teacher as well."

“He’s my guardian,” Jim said a little more quietly than the current volume of
the conversation. Suddenly he wasn’t very hungry and Jim mirrored Mycroft in
pushing around his food. “John mentioned you to me – he seemed to think that we
had certain similarities.” Jim glanced up and met Mycroft’s eyes for a moment
from across the table and then looked back down at his plate. The comment was
harmless enough, hopefully Jim and Mycroft would be the only ones to understand
what the comment meant.

Mycroft's eyebrows raised through the roof at the suggestion and Augustus gave
a rather nasty laugh at the thought of Jim and Mycroft sharing anything. After
a quick searching look at Jim, Mycroft quickly changed the conversation,
mentioned someone in politics that Augustus knew, and steering things to the
comparatively save area of the man's dodgy accounts. Sebastian got his appetite
back, finishing off breakfast and then giving Jim a poke. "Alright if we're
excused till the evening? I want to show Jim all the boring historical bits of
the house."

Jim was unsurprised by Mycroft changing the subject but his jaw did clench when
he was laughed at. Fucker. It was strange being in this world where manors were
the most important thing and god forbid if they didn’t follow them. He could
only hope that Mycroft had understood his hidden question and would be willing
to help. Yes, Jim wanted to do this job so that his father would be out of his
life, but he didn’t want to work for Mags forever. This was the only job he
would do. He hoped Mycroft knew how to get himself out. Jim did end up eating a
little bit more after the tension of the last conversation wore off but he
didn’t eat too much just in case he was sick again. Jim didn’t wait for
Augustus’ permission to leave breakfast, he just stood and walked away. Jim
didn’t really like the man and he didn’t want to set a precedent of doing what
he was told.

"You stay here." Augustus snapped as Jim left through the door, "We need a
serious talk young man, about where the hell this bloody school is taking you."
Mycroft raised an eyebrow at Seb, gave a small polite smile, and hurried from
the table, entering the hallway moments after Jim and quickly steering him
without touching him into an empty room. "We need to talk." He murmured into
Jim's ear, "We need to talk urgently, privately, and without that horrible
woman bearing down on me like an unstoppable perfumed blimp. There's not a
single thing that we could have in common except one, and I'm very much hoping
that you haven't been ensnared in Magnussen's clutches already."

“We have more than one thing in common,” Jim groused but nodded and followed
along to the empty room. He felt a little defensive when Mycroft insinuated
he’d fallen for Magnussen’s scheme already. Jim hadn’t had a choice. Jim
crossed his arms and tilted his chin up a little while he shrugged, “He had me
brought to his school so that he could use me. He approached me the first week
I got there. I can’t say there was a lot of pussyfooting around what he wanted.
He’d very direct.”

"So far, so very much in common." Mycroft locked the door and then sat down in
a chair where he slumped, fingers wearily rubbing at his temples. "What has he
sent you here for - revenge on Sebastian or information from Moran? Or are you
spying on me?" He looked at Jim with slightly more esteem than he had at first,
knowing Magnussen had chosen him from the first, "You look very smart like
that, by the way, much better than yesterday. Not that Augustus will care, the
man's a complete snob."

“Thank you.” Jim muttered automatically as he stuck his hands in his pockets
and sat down in another chair. “I don’t know that I should tell you that… You
aren’t involved though. I don’t think Magnussen would be very happy we’re
talking and I don’t trust you.” Well, Jim trusted him enough or he wanted free
from Magnussen enough that he was willing to bring this up at all. Mycroft
looked tired all of a sudden and it made Jim deeply uneasy that he could look
so tired just thinking about Magnussen all these years later. He sneered
suddenly, feeling like Mycroft was judging him for falling in with Mags so
quickly. “I didn’t have a lot of fucking options, you know how he operates.” If
Jim was honest with himself he knew he’d never had a fucking chance but that
involved recognizing how little power he had in this situation and that was an
uncomfortable truth he didn’t like to look at too closely.

"I am involved, believe me, I am always involved." Mycroft gave a deep sigh and
then looked at Jim frankly, "Having no options plays to your advantage, please
remember that. I had options. I chose the wrong ones. It's always much harder
to back away from a position you've talked yourself into. Of course you have no
reason to trust me, the only real card I have to play right now is that you
probably trust Magnussen a lot less because you know how terrible he is. You've
met him." His phone buzzed and he tugged it out, frowning, starting to tap away
with an apologetic grimace. "Sorry - bit of a situation. In Uruguay. I don't
like the Moran family, you might as well know. I never particularly have done.
But the reason I'm spending my entire Christmas here with that wretched man and
my emotionally stunted brother is because however much I dislike him the last
thing I want is him falling to Magnussen." He finished typing and put the phone
away, looking back at Jim. "That's the position I'm in at the moment. I don't
suppose you'd like to share a little more of yours?"

Jim listened and put to memory everything Mycroft had said but he still didn’t
actually give him very much information. Still, it was enough. Jim didn’t think
he had a lot to lose at this point. “My father is – well you know him. He’s not
exactly pleasant. He showed a – grievous lack of concern for my care and
Magnussen told me that if I did him a favor he would give me protection. That
favor does involve Augustus Moran. Magnussen was pleased when I started up a
physical relationship with Sebastian and had custody given to Watson.” Jim
tried to keep it vague while still leaving Mycroft with a clear enough picture.
He felt like he was playing a game with giants and he didn’t even know the
rules.

"You're in a physical relationship with Sebastian?" Mycroft asked - not with
shock, or surprise, just as a man clarifying details, his expression growing
graver. "I doubt you'll answer if I ask you if this relationship is real for
you or simply real for Magnussen but either way you do need to be careful.
Magnussen will exploit, and ruthlessly, any close relationship you have. And
Sebastian... well... he's not nearly as dangerous but he has a tendency to
violence, especially when he's angry or hurt." He leant back in his chair,
"However your relationships are your own concern, as are your arrangements with
Magnussen. My concern is the information Magnussen receives. If you've been
sent here to get some I would be incredibly grateful if you would let me supply
it."

Jim shied away from the distinction, it was too uncomfortable to look at and
Jim himself wasn’t sure anymore how much was put on for Magnussen and how much
was for Seb. It felt like less was for Magnussen every day and that concerned
him especially with Mycroft’s warning. “I know how Sebastian is,” Jim snapped
back as he rubbed unconsciously at the wrist he sprained the first day they
met. He watched Mycroft warily as he made his suggestion, trying to figure out
if Mycroft was genuinely trying to help him or cover his own arse. “…If I give
him bad information he’ll know. He’ll kill me. I can’t trust you.”

"It won't be bad information. It will be good information. Good enough for
Magnussen, trust me." Mycroft looked at Jim gravely, a very small part of him
wondering if there was something wrong with him, that he could only see Jim as
a playing piece rather than a person. Jim's welfare, even Jim's life, didn't
matter nearly as much as the potential parts Jim could play in getting rid of
Magnussen. He managed a small smile, "At any rate, you have the entire
Christmas holiday to decide for yourself - that's quite a luxury in terms of
time..." His phone rang again and he pressed a button, "I'm terribly sorry, I
do have to get this. Just remember, I have been where you are now, I know it's
a difficult place to be in. Do not make the mistake of trusting Magnussen - I'm
sure you won't, you look far too clever for that." He stood up and held the
phone to his ear, moving closer to the window, "Hello? Yes? Sorry I'm in the
middle of nowhere here... have you been in touch with JB he has all the notes
from the Defence session including the ones that weren't actually... uh...
noted."

Jim left, thinking Mycroft’s offer over and trying to work out if he was being
led into a trap. He was tired and feeling lazy so he changed out of the suit
and hung it up in Sebastian’s closet before crawling back into the other boy’s
bed in just his pants. Jim just didn’t have enough information to make an
informed decision. His thoughts went round and round until he fell into a light
doze, spread out on his stomach and resting his face against his arms.

The conversation between Sebastian and his father started private and ended up
loud enough to make Mycroft wearily apologise to the person on the other end of
his call. Sebastian stormed upstairs afterwards, slamming his bedroom door open
in a huff and hesitating at the sight from inside. Jim, beautiful skinny little
Jim spread out arse up in his underwear half covered in a duvet. Quietly he
shut the door, mentally thanked his mother for the condoms and then came over
to the bed, shrugging his jacket off and loosening his tie before lying down
next to Jim, watching his face and smiling.

Jim peeked his eyes open as Sebastian came in to the room just to check who was
there before closing his eyes again. He traced Sebastian’s movement around the
room just by listening to the soft sounds his feet made on the floor. The boy
was angry, obviously, but he seemed to be calming down. When he laid down next
to Jim he reached out blindly and touched Sebastian’s hair very briefly, “Okay?
You seemed pissed.”

"Nah, same old shite. Stupid bastard." Sebastian was about to go it a 'you know
what fucking dads are like' rant before remembering that Jim's father was about
a hundred times worse and just shrugging instead. "It's an old argument and it
gets older every fucking time. You looked good in that suit, although..." he
gave a leer, "You look better without it..."

Jim rolled over onto his back and smirked, deciding to bring up Mycroft later,
if at all. They hadn’t had sex since that disastrous night in the woods and Jim
hadn’t come since their little scene in the shower. He didn’t want sex, not
right now, not after last night, but fuck he wanted to come. He started
touching himself tentatively through his underwear watching Sebastian’s
reaction to see if this was really what he wanted right now. “Do you want to
watch me?” His ears turned a little pink, he’d never done anything like a
performance before but he wanted to touch himself and he wanted Sebastian to be
there so it seemed like a natural thing.

Sebastian's jaw dropped at the suggestion and his eyes lit up. He nodded,
giving a mischevious little grin, but really this seemed like the best option.
Every time he touched Jim things managed to bollocks themselves up, so letting
Jim get on with it might be the best idea. "Yeah... fuck... course I do..." he
smilled, propping himself up a bit higher and loving the little pink blush over
the top of Jim's ears.

Jim continued to masturbate over his clothes for a minute just to get himself
hard enough before he stopped and reached out to stroke the exposed skin around
Sebastian’s collar. “I want you to finish stripping me, will you help?” This
was a little bit of a test to see how far Jim could push things before
Sebastian would start touching without asking. He started playing with his
nipple lazily instead, smirking and lying out across the bed languidly still
feeling warm and fuzzy around the edges from his nap.

"Unhhh..." Was all Sebastian managed before sliding downwards, hesitating then
laying a warm kiss just above Jim's bellybutton and then gently taking hold of
the material of his underwear, sliding it slowly down his legs and laying
another little kiss on his inner thigh as he did so. He looked up at Jim when
he reached Jim's feet, seeing him all spread out and beautiful, "Just... you
know... if -uh - if you need any more help?" He added hopefully.

“I think I’m good for now, thanks.” Jim’s smirk grew when he saw how effected
Sebastian was already. He left one hand to touch his own chest while the other
lazily worked over his cock, denying himself as much as he was Sebastian. He
liked this, having some control instead of just giving it over to Sebastian.
His breathing started to get uneven and he was fully hard now, Sebastian
watching him made Jim feel self-conscious before but now it just added to
everything and made it better. “I feel underdressed,” Jim breathed out. “Leave
your suit on though. It looks good.” Even with the jacket and tie gone Jim just
liked the fine shirt material and the way it ghosted over Sebastian’s skin when
he breathed.
Sebastian sat back, watching him and groaning as Jim requested he remained
dressed. He felt a bit better at least with the tie off and his jacket gone -
completely smart just wasn't him. "D-do you want me to put your tie back on...
Sir..." he managed, biting back a moan, his skin shivering just at the sight of
Jim.

Jim startled and stopped, watching Sebastian expressionlessly. “Don’t call me
that.” He didn’t like the word and tried to get away without using it as much
as possible. Moriarty had made Jim call him that when he was little and he knew
Sebastian called the sergeant that. The idea of being tied to that man in
Sebastian’s mind was just disturbing. “You can stay the way you are.” Jim
started to touch himself again, building up the friction and he leaned his head
back against the pillow and watched Sebastian with heavy eyes, “I’m wondering
how long it will take before you start touching yourself. How long do you think
you can wait?”

Sebastian hesitated, afraid that once again he'd fucked things up, and mentally
mourning the loss of one of the words he'd always enjoyed saying and thinking
about when it came to sex. He lay back again, giving a relieved smile as Jim
continued, quickly moving his hands away from his crotch and resting his head
on them, "Mmmm... I'll wait as long as you want me to."

Jim huffed a little breath, still kind of shocked Sebastian was just doing
whatever he told him to. It might not last but Jim could see from the set of
his jaw that he was feeling stubborn about this. Jim stopped and bit at his lip
for a minute while he internally debated with himself. “I want to suck you off.
Like that. In your fancy clothes with you all stretched out underneath me.” Jim
rolled over so that he was hovering over Sebastian and he brushed his hands
over the fine material of Sebastian’s clothes.

Sebastian gave a helpless moan at him, unsure as to what he'd done to transform
Jim from a snarling and snappy little thing terrified of loving contact into a
desirable sex-kitten but not about to question it now. Locking his hands behind
his head he rolled over, looking up with bright eyes and huffing gently. "W-
won't move my hands. Promise. Oh fuuuuck..."

Jim unbuttoned and zipped Sebastian’s pants, carefully untucking his shirt.
Sebastian looked unsure and Jim wanted to explain, “Seriously, it’s okay. It’s
– better when you’re doing what I ask you to. I feel more relaxed and
comfortable.” Fucking incredible who would have thought that sex could be good
when he wasn’t being hurt or forced? Jim huffed a little laugh at his own
internal sarcasm. “I’ll tell you if it’s not good, okay? And I’ll teach you how
to put on a fucking condom while you give me some tips for giving head.” Jim
pulled out Sebastian’s cock and started stroking it with a smirk. “To apply a
condom your cock needs to be fully erect. I don’t think you’re going to have
any problems with that. You do have condoms, right? Where are they?”

"I-guh-yeah... top drawer. A-and lube..." Sebastian got his breath back as he
watched Jim and gave a grin, "I-yeah - much better when you tell me what to do.
'M not giving tips, that's what he... just... you'll be fine. Yeah? I mean I'm
practically cumming from you looking at my cock at the moment I'm pretty sure
your tongue..." He had to close his eyes just at the thought, and opened them
giving Jim a smile. "This is... this is good." He tried tentatively.

Jim crawled over to the drawer and held it up, “Here you go, stored in a dark
cool dry place and it’s not expired. Congratu-fucking-lations.” Jim was trying
to keep it light so that Sebastian didn’t feel condescended to but fuck someone
needed to teach him this shit. “Don’t keep it in your wallet because the
friction wears it down and it will break. Now your cock looks pretty fucking
hard, yeah?” Jim gave him another playful grope and opened the condom and put a
few drops of lube inside it before pulling it on just a little past the head.
“Now you leave about half an inch of room here at the tip for when you come,
that way it doesn’t burst the condom. And then you just… roll it down.” Jim put
the condom on, squeezing Sebastian’s cock a little as he went. “See how there’s
no ripples? It’s pulled taunt, that’s good. Now you’re ready to go.” Jim was a
little more nervous about this part, he’d only done this for someone once and
had only done it as a way to finish another boy off after he’d used his hands
it had only been for about a minute and hadn’t required much skill. Still, he
took the head in his mouth and looked Sebastian in the eye while he tried to
decide if he liked the taste of plastic in his mouth. Sebastian was of a
substantial size and Jim would have to take it kind of slow if he didn’t want
to choke himself.

"F-fucks sake could you be more unsexy this isn't a damn lesson..." Sebastian
groaned, although to be honest the sudden unexpected lecture and the wrapping
of plastic were doing wonders for stopping his cock from going off straight
away as slender little fingers wrapped around it and a warm mouth suddenly
closed over it. Fingers clenching his head arched back with an "Uh FUCK
yessss... god Jim. Fuck..."

Jim smirked evilly and pulled his mouth away for a moment to pace himself, “You
know what’s unsexy? Genital warts. I’m sure you’d rather learn all this from me
then from your mother and a cucumber. She’d do it too. Maybe even find a dildo.
Now stop complaining and just enjoy yourself.” Jim wasn’t angry, Sebastian
needed to know the information and he’d appreciate it more if he was getting a
blow job out of it rather than just learning. Sebastian had seemed to like what
Jim was doing before so when he went back down on him Jim took a little bit
more in his mouth and then twirled his tongue around experimentally, working
out what bits felt good for Sebastian and got a reaction while he was using his
hand on the rest of what he couldn’t fit in his mouth.

"Oh fuck - please don't suggest it to her." Sebastian closed his eyes with
embarrassment just thinking about it. Jim's wicked little smirk wasn't helping
much either, and he gasped again as Jim's head bobbed down, taking even more
in, "Nnnnnn... f-fine I-I'm listening, I know how to use t-them anyhow. T-
that's amazing..." The sergeant had given him a bj occasionally, but he'd
stayed very much in charge the whole time, making it clear he was getting a
massive favour and slapping Seb's hands away if he tried tentatively to join
in. Now he felt part of it, rather than just being used for someone else's
pleasure.

He said he knew how to use them, but he’d also thought it was fine to use the
wrong lubricant with them too so Jim thought that maybe a refresher was for the
best anyway. It soothed his nerves. Jim started bobbing his head and
occasionally working some tongue in while he stroked Sebastian. With his free
hand Jim reached up and took Sebastian’s hand and guided it to the top of his
head, showing him that he trusted him. There wasn’t much hair there to grab but
he could still control his head if he was feeling like an arse. Jim didn’t
think he would though.

Sebastian was more than pleased to be allowed to join in, smiling and gently
stroking Jim's head as he moved back and forth. He opened his eyes as well,
wanting to see the beautiful boy on top of him. His hand slowly moved down to
cup just above Jim's ear, his fingers still stroking at the fuzzy head, and
suddenly loathing Jim's dad for cutting it off. "Can't wait till your hair
grows out..." He murmured, "It looked beautiful."

Jim grinned and popped his mouth off and gave his sore jaw a break while his
hand kept moving. He thought his hand jobs were pretty stellar, Jim started
with all of his little fingertips together on the head and then pushed down,
twisting his wrist as he went and squeezing on his way back up. Certainly
nothing to complain about. “Oh? You noticed I looked beautiful while I kneed
you in the balls?” Jim grinned and reached into Sebastian’s trousers to give
them a fondle and roll them in his palm. “Not too damaged I hope? Do you need
me to check?”

"A-ahhh..." Jim was doing something... fantastic with his hands and fingers and
Seb found his hips jerking up, biting his bottom lip with a moan as Jim's hand
slid around inside his trousers. He free hand grabbed at the sheets and he
squirmed, "Yuh-yes... c-check... n-no damage ..." He panted. This was very,
very different from any sexual experience he'd had before, because he wanted
Jim so utterly and completely and because every word the boy said drove him
insane. Also because he knew, he knew that if he hadn't wanted it, he could
have rolled over and thrown Jim out the window and yet Jim was still in
control. That was a new one.

Jim tugged Sebastian’s trousers down to his thighs, allowing himself better
access to all of the other boy. He continued stroking him but moved his cock
some so that he could bend down and mouth at his balls. At this point probably
just breathing on them was going to be sensitive. Jim had never really
pleasured another man there unless it was a quick grope for a hand job but he
figured it wouldn’t hurt to try. Jim gave him a lick and looked up, “Is that
good?” before trying to fit them in his mouth somehow. Exploring like this was
strange and Jim didn’t want to do anything stupid but he also liked finding new
ways to pleasure the other boy.

Sebastian moaned at the lick, gasping and grabbing the sheets as suddenly his
balls were surrounded by wet eager heat, the occasional knock of teeth, the
press of them together as Jim tried to seemingly swallow both of him. He
preferred Jim's mouth on his cock, truth be told, but everything at the moment
was new and exciting. His legs spread open eagerly and he gasped and nodded,
"FUCK yes, unh... c-can you... umm... inner leg... just, maybe, bite a
little..." He flushed, not at all used to asking for favours during sex, but he
was flying pretty high and the thought of those perfect white little teeth
nipping away at sensitive skin gave him an urge to try new things.

Jim was pleased in an odd way when Sebastian responded so eagerly underneath
him, vindication in the bedroom was not a bad feeling. He popped them out of
his mouth and wiped the corner of his lips where some saliva had gathered,
“Yeah, course I can do that…” Jim scratched lightly at the inside of
Sebastian’s thigh before leaving a little lick and then biting down sharply. He
just took a bit of skin in his mouth and didn’t even think the marks would last
overnight. This was fun, finding out how Sebastian would react and getting
tricks. He continued stroking his own cock and with a quiet moan he finished in
his own hand.

The nip was harder than he'd expected, his skin more sensitive, and Sebastian
gave a yelp, his leg twitching away before returning to press against the side
of Jim's face with a gasped, "Oh FUCK yes..." It send a tingle right down to
his balls, his hard cock twitching against Jim's hand, his fingers sliding over
Jim's skull while his other hand scrabbled desperately at the sheets beneath
them.

Jim grinned at Sebastian’s reaction even if it was a tad bit startling with his
head between Seb’s spread legs. He gave two similar nips to the inside of his
other leg before stretching his mouth around Sebastian’s length and taking him
in, bobbing his head while his hand worked quickly. Jim held onto Sebastian’s
hip with his other hand to remind him to keep still and basically went to town
– figuring that Sebastian was close already and a final push could send him
over the edge soon.

Sebastian kept slightly more control at the two nips on the other side, now he
knew what to expect, and then his whole body jerked as Jim's mouth was covering
his cock, wet heat working around the condom as he strained to stop his hand
clamping down on Jim's head and fucking him hard. It didn't take long through
before, embarrassingly quickly, he was shaking, moaning and cumming inside
Jim's mouth

He continued sucking until Sebastian would be almost too sensitive and then
pulled away as he stretched his jaw a little and binned the condom. Jim plopped
down on top of Sebastian and closed his eyes as his hangover headache spiked
and he closed his eyes to block out some of the light. “I think that’s the
first time I didn’t outright fuck it up.”

Sebastian whimpered as Jim continued to suck him, his hand falling over his
eyes and then reaching up to wrap around Jim as the young man collapsed on top
of him, "You? - oh god Jim you are always perfect, you were fucking wonderful,
's the first time I haven't tried to force you too far - unh..." He hesitated,
"Do - do you want me to do you?" There were a few more condoms but Sebastian
didn't feel capable of moving much right now, and certainly not of returning
mind-numbing blow-jobs.

Jim shook his head as Seb’s arms wrapped around him, “This hangover is murder,
rain check though.” Seb didn’t seem interested and Jim wasn’t bothered, he felt
pretty miserable physically right now and just wanted to take a nap but there
were things they had to discuss. Jim tilted his head so that his little chin
pressed into Sebastian’s chest while he watched Sebastian. “You trust me right?
And you keep saying that you – love me or whatever. What if I told you I want
you to go to Eton like your father wants?” Jim started brushing Sebastian’s
side with his fingertips so that he wouldn’t feel rejected.

Sebastian stilled as Jim said the words, not sure what he was meant to react to
more - that Jim wanted him to leave the school he loved, or that Jim wanted him
to do as his father said. He tilted his head back and closed his eyes, trying
to force his brain to think and feeling the stirrings of anger thudding through
him. So this was what it was all about. A leaden sort of weight dropped into
his stomach and he didn't even feel secure enough to manage a sneer, just
replied weakly and wearily. "Is that it then? That your assignment completed?
Well done double-0-Jimmy. Go home with him, fuck him, get him to leave, were
those Magnussen's orders?"

“What?” Jim asked, completely poleaxed by how wrong of an idea Sebastian had
gotten. “No. What kind of plan is that, huh? It’s Magnussen’s school, he could
have kicked you out over a hundred different things. He doesn’t need my help to
do that.” Jim bent down and pressed a kiss to his ribs, trying to get Sebastian
to calm down some. “It’s better for you to be at Eton. You already have a
strong military background now, I’m sure if you wanted to enlist after you
graduated you wouldn’t have any trouble but Eton looks good on your transcripts
too. You know that you’ve been rethinking the academy anyway, with all this
shit going on. It’s not – safe to be there. Fuck.” Jim was trying to work out
how to explain this without making Sebastian all the more determined to stay.
“You know how my father tricked you during that simulation? Magnussen will use
that same tactic against me but I’m not a bastard like you,” Jim grinned
shakily and kept up the soothing motion of his fingertips. “Right now you are a
liability, not because of any flaw but because Magnussen will use you against
me anytime I don’t agree to do something for him or I fuck up. I don’t want
that – I feel shit enough as it is for this situation I’ve gotten you in. Do
you understand why Eton makes sense?”

"I'm a liability..." Seb tried slowly, to see if that made any more sense. He
knew he should be throwing Jim away from him and storming off right now but
instead he just hugged the boy harder. "I won't be... I promise. I won't be any
kind of liability at all, I swear. If they do anything like that to me I'll -
I'll tell you. With my eyes. I'll tell you they aren't really fucking me.
Besides, my father would go nuts." he gave a swallow and his hands tightened
over Jim's body, "Please don't. Please don't make me fuck off to some dull
school where I can't even hit people when they piss me off, especially not
knowing you'll be stuck there, with him, and I won't be allowed to do anything
about it." It didn't seem to register that of course Jim couldn't force him to
do anything.

“No Seb. Shit…” Jim was getting upset and doing his very best to hide it
because he needed to come off as strong and confident. “Seb they wouldn’t
pretend. They’d do it for real or Magnussen would really have you hurt somehow
and I would just fold. Because it’s not – you know, worth it. I’d just do what
he wanted instead.” Jim took a calming breath and tried again, “If you weren’t
in the picture than this wouldn’t be a problem because I’d just tell Magnussen
to fuck off and if he kills me then I’m dead and that’s the end of it. I
wouldn’t have anyone he could manipulate me with. It’s not about you being weak
or inadequate it’s about Magnussen being too fucking powerful. If I don’t end
this now I’m afraid he’s going to own me for the rest of my life.”

Sebastian stayed silent for a while, still not really certain how much of this
was coming from Jim and how much from Magnussen before he said, rather
miserably, "If you want me to go to Eton I'll go to Eton. I'll just fucking
miss that school, it was the only place I've actually done well in, where they
were impressed with what I could do and... where I didn't get constantly into
trouble for pissing around. I don't want to think of you being dead, or hurt,
or injured, with me hundreds of miles away and unable to do shit about it." He
scowled and hugged Jim tighter.

“I have John,” Jim muttered even though there was fuck all John could really do
if Magnussen decided he wanted Jim in the ground. “He promised to glare at
Magnussen until he felt guilty if he tried to kill me. I was in a bit of a
state when we got back to the woods. You were so angry and I thought you were
never going to speak to me again and Magnussen would just bury me in the
woods.” He sighed and crawled up to press his lips against Sebastian’s briefly,
it was the first time Jim had ever initiated a kiss on the mouth. “Sorry. I
know its shit. The academy isn’t good for you though. Think about it, you
should decide by Christmas or so if you want to get in to another school before
the new term. You could do rugby or football, or er – there’s probably some
rich boy sports to play.” Jim grinned teasingly. “You’d have to promise to send
me a picture of that funny hat.”

"Yeah, yeah, fuck you." Sebastian mumbled unhappily, returning the kiss with a
sigh. He guessed it was probably time to move on to proper schooling but still
- no more survival trips, no more trips at all, no more training. His body
slowly turning back into a desk body, loosing the strength he'd built up.
Stupidly, he felt tears building up behind his eyes and kept them tightly
closed because it was fucking embarrassing. Annoying as well, that the one boy
he'd fallen for somehow didn't want him to continue doing the thing that seemed
to make his life worthwhile. "Send me a picture of you starving in a ditch."

Jim bit his lip and sat up some, feeling shitty and inadequate. He’d gotten
what he wanted and he didn’t understand why he still felt so crap about it. “I
wish you could stay with me. I wish Magnussen was decent enough to leave you
out of this, but he’s not. Believe me, I’m not thrilled either but this is the
best way to keep both of us safe. I’ll do everything I can to get out from
under his thumb yeah? Fuck I’m – I’m so fucking sorry for getting stuck in this
mess.” Jim felt his already unsteady stomach clench up as the stress made him
more nauseous. “It’s better this way,” he muttered quietly. “I could have just
made you hate me. Would that be easier? I could do that.”

Sebastian groaned quietly, not wanting to think about it, to think about any of
it. How much he'd been played, how much choice Jim really had. "Would've been
easier from the beginning, 's too late now." He muttered. "If you'd continued
stapling bits of me to the wall it would have been easier, although Mags was
right, you'd have never got me to leave the damn place that way." He sat up,
pushing Jim off him and clenching the back of his teeth to stop his voice
hitching, scrubbing over his eyes and pretending it was tiredness. "'S not your
fault you're stuck here. It's his. Just wish I could help you out of it, rather
than being fucking banished. 'M going to get a drink of water, want one?" He
padded towards the ensuite bathroom.

Jim rolled as Sebastian pushed him off, watching the other boy go unhappily. He
pulled on his jumper and jeans from this morning, not wanting to bother with
the suit. “We shouldn’t lie around all day. Let’s hydrate and you could show me
the house? Or the grounds? Maybe you should see your mum.” It had been long
enough that it was entirely possible she was back by now. Jim came up behind
Sebastian and wrapped his arms around the boy’s waist loosely. “I know its
shit. You don’t have to make a decision now. But you know the Holmes’ and how
much they hate each other? Magnussen did that, I think because Mycroft did what
I’m trying to do. I don’t want that to happen to you or to me. If you want me
to piss off and go back at any point over break just tell me, okay?” Jim gave
him a little squeeze and then grabbed for a cup of water and drank it down.

"Course I don't want you to go." Sebastian kissed the top of his head and then
grinned. "ALright, lets stumble around the house. Nah, mum won't be back once
she's started a shopping binge. She loves to spend her boyfriends moneys on as
much as possible. She'll probably buy you a new wardrobe. I'll - I'll show you
my dad's study, I think you'll need to know where it is."

Jim groaned and pressed his face between Sebastian’s shoulder blades. “The suit
is too much already. Please tell me you’re joking.” He stilled a little when
Seb mentioned the study but nodded. The sooner he could take a look at the
computer, the better.

"I'm not joking." Sebastian laughed, "If it's any consolation it's not her
money either - it's some rich Holywood fucker. She loves buying things. Always
did. You should see my baby clothes I'm kitted out in fucking miniature Gucci.
C'mon." He gave Jim another kiss and wrapped his arm around his shoulders,
before tugging on a poloneck and jeans, figuring they'd be warm enough inside
the house. "There's a lot of house to get around..."
Chapter End Notes
     TW: None
***** I've Gotten What I Want and I Don't Need You Anymore *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Jim and Seb spent the next few days with tensions running high. They’d gotten
in a few more fights, lots of yelling and Jim threw something in a particularly
frustrating moment. They always settled again though and usually ended up
rolling in the sheets afterwards. They hadn’t tried for sex again after the
first night there but they found plenty of other things to try now that they
had almost unlimited privacy after a whole month of hiding in broom closets.
Seb had just taken him down to see the stables and the other boy was going for
a shower when Jim was on his way to the library. It was Christmas Eve and he
had a few hours before they would all meet for dinner and a small celebration
before the big party tomorrow. Jim was wearing a hoodie and jeans and his old
trainers because he hadn’t been able to justify wearing the things Serephine
bought him out to the stables. Jim knew he should have thrown these old things
out by now but at this point they were all he had left of his life in the
single room flat with his mother.

Mycroft was in the library, browsing a book with a look of bordom, and looking
up as Jim entered, giving a small smile, "Mister Moriarty, this is an
unexpected pleasure. Please don't wear that to dinner." Crossing quickly over
to the door he shut it and then reached into his pocket, pulling out a USB
stick. "Merry Christmas. I thought I'd give you your present now to save
embarrassing scenes tomorrow. It's the files you need. From Augustus's
computer. Well... it's the files Magnussen would be best placed to receive." He
put the stick on a small walnut table and pushed it in Jim's direction. "Don't
feel you have to get me something in return." He added dryly.

He was surprised and a little dismayed to see Mycroft there. Jim had been
thinking about his offer of course but in the end he just couldn’t see anything
to gain by helping Mycroft. He wasn’t a fan of Magnussen but he was invested in
staying alive. Jim took the stick and slipped it into his pocket quickly. “Why
should I do this for you and risk my neck? It’s all risk and no reward. I could
give both drives to Magnussen and he’d reward me further. But I’m willing to
hear an alternative offer.”

"That honestly depends what game you're playing." Mycroft said with a small
humourless smile. "If you want to remain loyal to Magnussen then you're playing
the short game. You're also an idiot. He'll kill you, in the end, or break you.
I got out eventually, but only at huge personal risk and loss. I'm offering you
a way out now, right at the beginning, with no loss at all." He nodded as Jim
pocketed the USB drive and then gave a little shrug, "You could give both
drives to Magnussen. But the day will come where you'll need protection against
him, and it might be nice if when that day came you actually had someone you
could call on. Someone other than John Watson, who is a highly principled man
with no power whatsoever."

“I don’t want to work for Magnussen, I’ve made that clear. However, I’d rather
keep my skin more, that’s how I got into this mess in the first place. How do
you propose to get me out with no loss at all? It’s not as simple as just
handing over your drive and walking out the front doors. Forgive me if I don’t
trust you without knowing the particulars.” Jim wouldn’t trust Mycroft even
knowing all the details but it was still a risk he was willing to consider.

"There are too many particulars." Mycroft snapped, then took a deep breath and
gave a smile, or at least managed to stretch his lips. "There are ways. I'm not
asking you to trust me - I'm just asking you to keep your way out happy, and
right now I am your way out. So far I've offered you information." He nodded at
Jim's pocket, "Help, and a certain amount of dubious friendship. Magnussen had
your father pretend to rape you in order to scare your boyfriend. Just... worth
considering. And Magnussen allowed that to happen when he liked you."

Jim tilted his head and smiled humorlessly as if seeing Mycroft for the first
time, “You’re just like him except you let Magnussen do your dirty work instead
of making threats yourself. If I do this will I be tied to you then? Expected
to keep you happy.” Jim paled when Mycroft brought up the simulation. “You
couldn’t have known about that. It was just the five of us that knew which
means you’re either in direct contact with my father or the sergeant because I
know Sebastian, John, or I didn’t tell you.” Jim didn’t like the idea that
Mycroft was friendly with either of those two men.

Mycroft looked at him, then raised his eyes. "Jim, if you're going to play this
game you need to get better. If you're not going to play this game you need to
attach yourself to the safest person and accept that you'll have to take their
word for things. Magnussen told me. The sergeant told him. Eventually. I do not
have direct contact with your father, we did not part on the best of terms. I
do expect you to be tied to me, and believe me, it will end up far, far more
pleasant for you than being tied to Magnussen." He hesitated and then added, "I
did try and get it out of Sebastian, just out of interest. He threatened to
push me out of a window, which did rather confirm that something had happened.
You might want to have a word with him about subtlety."

Jim snarled, “Why would Magnussen tell you? He doesn’t seem like the kind of
man who brags about shit like that. Shouldn’t he want to draw your attention as
far away from me as possible if he doesn’t want you interfering with my job?”
That didn’t make sense to him but while Jim understood logic he didn’t
understand the complicated game the two men were playing. It was a relief that
his father wasn’t in contact with Mycroft at least. “What do you mean,
‘eventually?’ Did Mags really cut his cock off then?” Good. He deserved it. “I
understand what you’re saying and I do think that you’re my best bet but I need
to know what I’ll be asked to do to keep you happy in the future.” He gave a
grin when Mycroft said that Sebastian hadn’t told even if he hadn’t handled it
the best way possible. This was why Magnussen had approached Jim and not
Sebastian. “I’m not going this kind of job again – not going to fuck anyone for
someone else again. I’m not anyone’s pet prostitute and besides I’m not very
good at it anyway.”

"Eventually was the word Magnussen used, so it's the word I'm using." Mycroft
watched him with an expression of mild surprised as he continued, and then gave
a little shrug. "I'm not asking you to, uh, 'fuck' anyone. I'm not even asking
you to stay with Sebastian although he's frighteningly loyal so if I were you
I'd consider it. All I'm asking is that whenever Magnussen asks you for
information, you let me supply it. In return I'll give you a number - whenever
you're in trouble call it, or ask Watson to call it, and I'll see to it that
you are removed from Magnussen as swiftly as possible with as little harm
delivered to you as I can manage."

Jim paused and watched Mycroft warily, thinking through his offer. “I want John
Watson to legally adopt me. He already said that he would except Magnussen
won’t let him. You have strings to pull, don’t you? I don’t want to get passed
around or run the risk of Magnussen taking me as his ward. I was under the
impression that this information exchange was a onetime thing and then you pull
me out. What happens if I decide to stay and continue doing it? What will you
give me then?” Jim had nothing. Literally he had nothing except Sebastian and
now John but he could be taken away at any whim of Magnussen’s. He needed to
start considering his future because even if he was immediately pulled from
harm he still had a shit record, less than stellar grades, no parents and no
prospects. Mycroft could give him some of that if he played his cards right.

Mycroft looked at him, considering. "John Watson and I are... not on the best
of terms." He said finally. "However from what I do know of him, he won't let
that get in the way of what he believes it the right thing to do. It will all
have to be done in secrecy, Magnussen can't know about it otherwise he will
trace it back to me but... yes. I think I can see a way to having you legally
adopted by John Watson, if you'd really want such a thing."

Jim tilted his head and sat down in a chair across from Mycroft. “Why wouldn’t
I want such a thing? Do you really think that leaving myself open to being
passed around by Magnussen is a good thing? Watson doesn’t hurt me and he’s on
campus, which I need because the students have such limited access to the
outside world. If you have another suggestion though, I’m all ears.”

"Oh, no I can see it's the best thing for you at the moment. It keeps you safe,
it looks after you, it gives you a little home, which I'm sure you're missing
at the moment." Mycroft had another go at the little smile. "I just... is it
really the best thing for you in the long term? To have a... father? Legally
responsible for your actions and of course the automatic recipient of your
possessions upon death, barring a will. Not that I have any plans to kill you
but if I were you I'd consider your position in the world at the moment. You
are unattached, completely. And..." He hesitated and then finally added, "You
are clearly already close to Sebastian. Becoming close to John Watson gives
Magnussen another hold over you."

“What possessions?” Jim asked with blank incredulity. “I’ve got nothing except
for what Sebastian’s mother recently bought me. My birthday is coming up soon,
I’ll be sixteen then. That’s only two years until I’m eighteen.” Something else
occurred to Jim and he felt something like the last bits of childhood fall away
at the idea. “You could clear me to get emancipated when I turn sixteen. I
don’t need anyone so long as Magnussen can’t pass me around to his mates as a
reward for them or to punish me.”

"I'm not terribly concerned about John Watson inheriting child-sized Christmas
clothes." Mycroft snapped at him. "Are you really this short-sighted? Would I
do better simply threatening to hit you, or have your precious Sebastian be
sent to a dull boarding school in Cornwell? Are you honestly planning on having
no possessions whatsoever for the rest of your natural life? No dirty laundry,
no people who might think that family is a source of weakness to exploit?" He
took a breath and got a bit of control of himself. "I can certainly do that -
it would be a lot easier in fact. I'll even set you up with a bank account and
benefits - you'll have spare cash and a social worker who can pay as little
attention to you as you'd like."

Jim smirked apathetically and shook his head, “I suppose it’s good to know that
you can lose your patience eventually. I was starting to think you weren’t
human.” He let his expression go blank and continued on more quietly, “I’ll
stay away from John Watson until you can pull your strings.” Jim frowned and
shook his head, “I don’t care if you hit me and Sebastian’s already going to
Eton. He’s going to tell his father tonight at dinner.” Jim stood and walked
over to the fire to try and warm up. “Everything sounds amendable then. I never
told you but Magnussen was especially interested in a file called Somerset. I
don’t know if that has any value to you of if you were already aware but that’s
all I have. I don’t expect you thought he would tell me much anyway.”

"Sebastian's going to Eton?" Mycroft sounded surprised, "That's... unexpected.
Probably for the best for both of you." He looked Jim over and gave what was
actually a real smile, "Please change into a different jumper for this evening
- Christmas Eve is rather a thing, and while there won't be as many guests as
tomorrow there are still several important people joining us. Don't even try to
pretend that the great and terrible Serephine Moran has restrained herself from
buying you a Christmas jumper. The Somerset file. Well... I half suspected.
That USB should see you through."

“I know it’s for the best that’s why I made him agree to it. I wouldn’t want
what you did to Sherlock to happen to Sebastian.” Jim grinned mockingly, even
as he knew it was a bluff. He was aware of course that there was tension
between the two and it probably had to do with Mycroft’s ‘great personal loss’
but it was still a guess even if it was a good one. “Yeah I was exploring
outside, Sebastian’s mother will probably try and dress me again don’t fucking
worry about being embarrassed on my behalf or anything.” He muttered out
sarcastically, “Oh he’s poor and a bastard how fucking embarrassing.” Jim gave
Mycroft a final angry look and then practically ran upstairs to his room. He
hadn’t used it much because he’d slept with Sebastian every night. After being
together virtually all the time for a month suddenly having different rooms was
weird but Jim wanted a bath so he turned the water on very hot and sank down
into the warmth, hissing as his skin turned red. At least here he could have a
sulk without anyone criticizing him for it.

Mycroft stilled as Jim continued, his face going blank as he immediately
assumed that Watson had spilt a lot more of the dirt than he'd thought, no
wonder Jim didn't trust him. "She doesn't dress you because she feels sorry for
you, she dresses you because she likes purchasing clothes." Was all he had time
to murmur before Jim bolted. Taking a breath he sighed as his phone buzzed,
automatically looking around as he saw it was from Magnussen. "Yes? Oh? Yes -
yes I am at the Morans. Well. Goodness, how strangely thoughtful of Moran, I
suppose the Christmas spirit has started affecting him. Oh I'm sure we can be
civil for one day." He closed his phone and then stared at the wall for a few
moments, "Well - this'll be even better than usual." He eventually murmured at
it.
 
===============================================================================
 

True to Mycroft’s predictions Sebastian’s mother did try and dress him and she
did buy him a Christmas jumper. Jim didn’t even fight her on it, not seeing the
point at all with everything else going on. He already had enough conflict in
his life. Jim tried not to show how sullen he was feeling but he’d never
celebrated Christmas much before, even so it would still be his first holiday
without his mother and that was something he didn’t want to think about at all.
He just couldn’t respond to the celebration with anything approaching genuine
enthusiasm but he still tried not to bring attention to his bad mood. No one
asked him about it so he was probably doing acceptably well. They were eating
dinner and Jim sat quietly while other, more important people talked, feeling
out of place and uncomfortable even with Sebastian sitting next to him. Still
at least he had one saving grace. “Could you pass me the wine please?” Jim
muttered quietly to Serephine who was sitting on Sebastian’s other side and she
was closest to the wine.

Sebastian looked anxiously at Jim as he sat sulkily. He'd been like this a few
times so far, and at a posh dinner, with new guests as well as the Holmes's he
didn't really feel there was much he could do. At least he looked smart and
respectable, and although he'd got a few glances nobody paid him much
attention. Sherlock was being far more of an embarrassment - still curled up on
the sofa but with pinprick pupils for eyes as he rapidly read his way through a
book on comparative geology in a day-old suit. Serephine passed the wine over
and generously poured him a glass murmuring, "You look stunning Jim darling, I
knew that colour would bring you out."

Jim drank from his glass, not planning to get as drunk as he had at the
beginning of the week but hoping all the same that he wouldn’t feel so shit if
he could just relax. “You look very beautiful this evening. Thank you again for
everything you’ve done. I can’t thank you enough.” Jim would keep Sebastian
safe and send him away, that was the best thing for it. Jim should try and
enjoy this time while he could but he couldn’t bring himself to care much about
what he was going to lose when it felt like he’d already lost it. “Are you
going to tell you father about Eton?” Jim murmured to Sebastian quietly.

"Oh goodness me all I've done is picked up a few clothes." Serephine blew him a
kiss and then added gently, "I know it's a big deal for you, I know how much
more money means to you. But do try to see darling that for me money matters
very little. I have far too much of it and I enjoy spending it."
Sebastian scowled as Jim mentioned Eton, he'd wanted to survive as long as
possible without having to face up to that. "Alright, alright. I can't just
announce it over the fucking fish course can I?" And then, with a scowl, raised
his voice. "Father I've been thinking about what you said and I agree. I should
go to Eton. It'll be better for me." With that he went calmly back to eating
fish while half the table gaped and Mycroft hid a smile.

“I understand,” Jim muttered back and he decided not to mention anything else.
Anything more would go past politeness into being friendly and that seemed like
a bad precedent to set in his current situation. Jim almost rolled his eyes
when Sebastian announced their plans to the whole table but instead he reached
out and took Sebastian’s hand under the table and squeezed his hand
encouragingly. “Thank you.” He whispered, one of the few genuine sentiments
he’d had today. It was a huge relief for him to know that Sebastian was going
to be kept out of the way. For what, he didn’t know, but at least he wasn’t
going to be stuck like Jim as a rag doll between two fighting children.

"What." Augustus snapped out in response, his anger mollified by the rest of
the table but he gave Sebastian a suspicious look as his son stared back at
him.
"What I said." Sebastian responded, trying to keep his voice light and not
despairing. "I'll do it. Go to Eton for the remaining school time I have left.
Starting next term if you like."
Augustus stared at him a little longer, suspecting a trap and then replied.
"Yes. Well. Excellent. Obviously they're all on their winter break right now
but I shall, yes, get in touch with the school as soon as I can. Well done."
There was a somewhat awkward pause and then the chatting resumed. Sebastian
ignored Jim and continued with eating.

Jim took his hand away after a minute, not letting the rejection hit him. It
was good that Sebastian resented him, he was all the more likely to move on
after he went to Eton. That was for the best, as Sebastian had said. After a
minute Jim gave up on dinner because the choice was between sitting there for
fuck knows how many courses or breaking something. So he stood and made his way
over to Sherlock, still holding his wine and he sat down on the couch without
asking if he could. “Sherlock, right? I’m Jim.” He didn’t especially care if
the boy was an arse, at least he wasn’t angry at Jim right now and he didn’t
want anything from him.

Sherlock glanced up at him, let his eyes flicker over to the table and then
said "Yes, I know. Jim Moriarty. Very much not James Moriarty."

Jim let himself smile a little, trying to be encouraging. “Good, I’m glad you
remember. This party is very dull isn’t it?” He sipped at his wine and avoided
looking at the table. Sherlock didn’t seem like the kind of person who would be
interested in small talk so Jim figured he could do away with subtlety. “You
don’t get on very well with your brother. Would you like to do something that
will give him a splendid headache?”

Sherlock looked at him dubiously, not entirely sure what Jim was getting at, "I
don't give a damn about my brother, and I'm not about to get myself mixed up in
his nonsense no matter how much of a headache it causes him." He turned back to
the book and added with a little smirk, "Besides, I'm sure you're far more
interested in causing Sebastian Moran a headache, which again I couldn't be
less interested in. Your jumper cost about £200 by the way, so don't spill
anything on it."

Jim looked down at his sweater with barely concealed horror. “It’s a jumper.
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me…” He couldn’t believe she’s spent that
much. Jim gave a little huff as Sherlock turned him down but he wasn’t
deterred. “What are you interested in then? Whatever you’ve been shooting in
your arm? Care to share? Just one time, I’m feeling lousy and it’ll piss your
brother off. I can do you a favor later but I don’t think the money is going to
hurt you any.”

"You don't want to know how much her dress cost." Sherlock said dryly, his eyes
flickering a little as Jim mentioned drugs. "That's my party trick over - price
of clothes. Most people leave now, before I start delving a bit deeper." He
looked up at Jim and shook his head, "Just one time? It doesn't really work
like that. I'm not about to get you hooked as well, it's an expensive habit and
impossible to break." He hesitated and then gave a little shrug, "I've got some
weed upstairs if you're determined to drug yourself up one way. I don't think
anyone will miss us."

Jim grinned but it didn’t reach his eyes, “I like deeper. You can tell me more
about your party trick upstairs.” Jim squeezed the inside of Sherlock’s left
elbow where his marks were hidden. “You’re so fucking chivalrous. I’m
interested in whatever you have. They won’t miss us, they don’t want anyone
around who isn’t exactly like them. Come on, show me to your room?” Jim stood
and finished his wine before leaving the glass on the little table next to the
couch.

Sherlock shivered a little as Jim pressed against the needle-marks, turning in
disgust and putting the book away. "You work for Magnussen don't you?
Wonderful, I wonder what he'll do to me this time." The table were mostly
ignoring them, although Augustus gave a curt nod as they stood up and left the
room. The guest quarters were upstairs and Sherlock's was an attic room,
lavishly converted but still one of the smaller rooms. "My brother doesn't want
me around because I embarrass him." He said, fumbling around under the bed for
a small box, which he brought out. "He doesn't like seeing what's happened to
me. He thinks it's his fault. Have you done this before?"

Jim frowned and followed quickly behind him, “If Magnussen has any plans for
you he hasn’t told me and I’m certainly not involved. You just seem like the
only person who actually has anything interesting going on.” He looked around
Sherlock’s room which was surprisingly messy for all the work the cleaners did.
“I’ve never injected anything before. I snorted it before though, had it on my
gums a couple of times at parties. Just a little is fine.” Jim sat down on the
bed and leaned back on his hands, posture relaxed and open.

Sherlock looked at the box for a while and licked his lips, then pushed it back
under the bed. "Line of charlie then. That's safe enough. Ought to wake us both
up after that mind-numbingly dull dinner." Opening the side drawer he tugged
out a little bag of white powder resting on a metal tray and started trying to
ineffectually tug a blade out of the razor next to it. "Magnussen's finished
with me. There's not much left he can do with me, I mean I'm already addicted
to most chemicals under the sun and all my prospects are gone." He looked at
Jim steadily through red-rimmed eyes. "What on earth does he want with you? My
brother had status and power. You have nothing."

Jim watched him with vague curiosity, noting his behaviors and the carefully
concealed desperation he acted with and hoped to god he never ended up like
that. “That sounds good then. You don’t normally share with other people do
you? Does that make me special?” Jim tilted his head and smirked. “Dunno, you
can tell me how much an item of clothing costs just by looking at it – that has
to be valuable somehow.” Jim joked weakly. Sherlock’s gaze was unnerving and if
Jim wasn’t already feeling so shit he might have looked away. “I don’t really
know what he wants with me. I was vulnerable and he used that. Apparently I’m
Sebastian’s type as well, I expect that had something to do with it. Here, let
me help.” Jim broke open the top of the razor and carefully handled a blade and
gestured to the bedside table.

"Who would I share with? I'm clean if that's what you're asking." Sherlock
responded, letting Jim take the razor and watching him line up the powder.
Opening his wallet he pulled out a crisp fifty pound note and rolled it up in
preparation, hesitating and then handing it to Jim with a small smile. "Only
the best here - you first then." He took the razor and marshalled his own
little line. "The clothing really is a party trick. It's a safe thing to say
and it unnerves people enough to make them move on to find someone else to talk
to. I can tell a lot about people. I'm always amazed nobody else can. it's like
living amongst the blind, like people's brains are clouded by cotton wool." His
voice sounded frustrated. "It's... marginally better when I'm doped up. Easier
to concentrate on just one thing. Sebastian just wants to fuck you. Or did you
mean Magnussen?" He frowned and looked away, "I... I don't even want to guess
what he wants. I can't read him very well."

“I meant Magnussen, I can’t read him very well either.” Jim shook his head and
almost cracked a smile, “Not what I was asking but that’s good to know you are
clean.” He brushed Sherlock’s fingers with his before taking the razor and
sorting out their lines. Jim was pleased somehow when Sherlock gave him the
first go. He held the rolled up note carefully and inhaled deeply exhaling hard
as it hit him pretty much instantly. Jim sniffed and rubbed at his nose with
his sleeve to make sure there wasn’t any leftover powder around his nose. He
listened though as Sherlock talked about his trick, “Do me then. What can you
tell about me?”

"Are you sure you really want to hear? Most people don't." Sherlock took the
note off him and then hesitated, glancing over him. "Most I know already, I
knew when we first met. Poor, obviously, mother recently deceased, but you're
not living with your father because your father's abusive - instead you're
being looked after by someone else, although... you're still getting hit by...
someone? Probably not him given that I now know he's John Watson. Sebastian
Moran is completely besotted by you, he wants to fuck you, so far you haven't
put out - although the two of you still fool around, hmm, your father is
psychologically bullying you but hasn't been physically bullying you for a
while, he certainly used to, your mother was neglectful, but physically,
mentally and emotionally, you still miss her, probably more than you should."
He glanced at Jim and raised his eyes, "Not properly vaccinated, got through a
few childhood diseases, that's interesting, still it adds to the picture... ah.
Suicide. Your mother committed suicide."

“Very good,” Jim was impressed even if he felt a little sick and he was
resisting smacking the boy on principle. He had asked. “Mostly right. We did
have sex. And it was the Sergeant that hit me.” Jim sat back on the bed and
patted the spot next to him, no reason Sherlock should have to sit on the
floor. “You’re very bright. That’s kind of incredible. I can work out what
tipped you off about most of it but some of it had to be guesswork.” Jim’s
heart was racing and between the coke and the alcohol he was feeling pretty
good.
"I don't guess." Sherlock said bleakly, "Everyone thinks I do, but I don't. I
misjudged the sex though, it was the way you were walking. I'm... not good at
judging sex. Not really my area." He pulled himself up onto the bed and lay
down, his legs dangling over the side and his feet touching the floor, letting
his eyes close. "I'm not just very bright, I'm incredibly bright. Thank you for
not hitting me. Sebastian did."

Jim could see that Sherlock was irritated about his guessing comment, “That’s
even more impressive if you aren’t just making assumptions.” Jim turned his
body towards Sherlock and laid down next to him before reaching out and
fiddling with a button on his shirt that was undone. “What do you mean it’s not
really your area?”

"I don't do sex." Sherlock replied, putting an arm over his eyes to block out
as much light as possible and not reacting to Jim touching him. "It's an area I
find more difficult to deduce, I need to read up more on the theory,
obviously." He pushed his arm back and then opened his eyes, looking up at Jim,
"How about you?" He asked curiously, "Have you got cotton wool over your eyes
as well? Have you tried reading me? Or Mycroft? Sebastian is far too easy -
he's a standard issue upper class bully with the unfortunate combination of
brains as well."

Jim shrugged lightly, briefly touching Sherlock’s chest with his fingertips
while he continued to mess with the button. “I don’t think I could do as well
as you. You’ve obviously worked at your – deductions and made it into a skill.
I think I’m better at working out what other people want rather than who they
are. I could help you though, with your theory. No sex, just – science.” He
wasn’t sure exactly what he was doing but he had a general plan in mind and if
Sherlock turned him down completely then it would only be a minor setback. He
just wouldn’t get the same flare in his results.

Sherlock looked at him, turning with a confused glance and then looking down at
the fingers playing with his buttons. "Are you sure you haven't been sent my
Magnussen?" He asked, but with curiosity more than suspicion. "It would be a
good move for him, to try and trap me with another clever mind, someone he
thought I could maybe 'relate' to, someone I would be intregued by. If it
wasn't for the fact that Mycroft has already shown he's more than happy to
throw me under the bus... go on then." He looked at Jim, slightly imperiously.
"Kiss me. Show me this 'theory'. At least I can trust you not to do something
stupid like think you're in love with me. You can even take a picture if this
is for blackmail. Are you pretending to be underage?"

Jim grinned and crawled on top of him but was careful not to lean over him in
case he felt boxed in. “No, no no… see you aren’t very good at working out
people’s motivations. Try harder. I’m not going to hurt you or fuck you over,
but I am using you. And giving you a little something in return for your
trouble. But can you work out why?” He reached down to start unbuttoning
Sherlock’s shirt, “Are you intrigued by me? I won’t be insulted if you aren’t.
You don’t strike me as a person who cares about very much.” Jim bent forward
and balanced a hand on Sherlock’s chest while he kissed him, trying to show him
what technique he knew. After a minute he started stroking the man’s sides as
he freed his shirt from where it was tucked in to his trousers. Jim rocked his
hips carefully – the sensation maybe wouldn’t be a lot through their clothes
but it was a promise or an invitation. Jim was too caught up in not having to
think for a few minutes to work it out. He didn’t really know what the
pretending to be underage comment was about, Jim was underage, Sebastian was
only sixteen, how old did Sherlock think he was? It didn’t really matter, Jim
found it more of an amusement than anything and rather wished he could see
Mycroft’s face if he worked out what they were doing.

"What are you giving me in return?" Sherlock asked, a little confused, "Using
me - to annoy Sebastian? Is that really it? I'm insulted. Last time I was used
it was to fuck over the entire system of English government so this is a bit of
a step down." He opened his mouth as Jim kissed him, his eyes flickering a
little and giving a small gasp as his cock jumped in response to the movement.
"Oh I see. Yes. That - that does make sense." He looked at Jim steadily as he
moved, although a slight flush marked his cheeks. "I don't 'care' about things
but I do find them fascinating. Just not people. People are dull and boring and
really crushingly irritating. You're slightly less dull although this, this
is... disappointingly normal. Fooling around with a house-guest to annoy your
boyfriend."

“The pleasure of my company?” Jim replied sarcastically. “You’re close but not
quite there yet. It’s all a bit more dramatic than that. I’m not trying to
annoy him or make him jealous. I’m trying to hurt him. Can you work out why?”
Jim ran his hand through Sherlock’s hair, curious about the texture of his
curls. Fuck Jim missed having hair. Sherlock open his mouth and Jim slipped his
tongue in, careful not to use too much since Sherlock seemed kind of uptight
and not like he’d enjoy playing tonsil hockey. Jim sucked his lip into his
mouth until it was red and swelling. Coincidentally like other parts of him. He
bent forward so that he was balancing on his knees and reached back to fondle
his cock through his pants. The drugs were probably helping with that. “You’re
fucking beautiful, you know that? But your face looks like someone shoved shit
under your nose.” Jim chuckled under his breath and moved his mouth to
Sherlock’s neck and then his chest.

"H-how can I be beautiful if I have a screwed up face..." Sherlock gasped,
feeling the pulse of blood in his lip and indeed the swelling feeling of his
cock and suddenly this all seemed very... wrong. Pushing himself up onto his
elbows he looked down a little disapprovingly at his own cock and then shook
his head. "You're underage. I can't. I'm a good ten years older than you -" His
voice trailed off at the word ten years... realising that he would have been
Jim's age when Magnussen had been twisting him around and he gave a shudder.
"John Watson isn't quite as pure white as he thinks he is." He managed, his
face twisting even more. "Keep kissing me. I like it. But we're not going to
have sex. I have no idea why you want to hurt your boyfriend, but I suspect
because he likes it. He enjoys getting pain almost as much as he enjoys giving
it."

Jim grinned and bent down to mark Sherlock’s neck while he gasped, “You’re
beautiful when you look like that.” He straightened up quickly when Sherlock
sat up, trying to work out what the hang up was. He was a little surprised to
hear that Sherlock was that much older than him, he looked about twenty.
“What’s John got to do with this? And just for future reference bringing up
someone’s parents or – guardian is probably not something you should do in
situations like this. Theoretically. And I already said we weren’t going to
have sex, I doubt you have any supplies.” Jim sighed and shook his head, “Wrong
again. I’m hurting him so that when he goes off to Eton he’ll move on and not
get me in trouble with Magnussen, see how that works?” Jim was pleased at least
that Sherlock enjoyed kissing him and Jim gripped the back of his neck and
pulled him towards him so that he could oblige his request.

Sherlock closed his eyes for the kiss again, letting himself relax as far as he
could with the powder twitching through him, "I'm not bringing up Watson in his
capacity as your parent." Sherlock sighed, making a mental note that all
relationships were complicated and insane, "But in his capacity as my... as
what he felt for me. What he wanted to feel for me. What he wouldn't let
himself feel for me. Did you know he punched my brother through a door?" He
gave a little frown, pushing back to sit up against the wall and almost
unconsciously stroking over Jim's wrist and forearm, enjoying the smooth touch
of pale skin. "I see it's all incredibly complicated. You're hurting him
because you think it's better for you to hurt him than for Magnussen to hurt
him? Well. He may prefer that. I don't know. I don't really care. I don't
particularly like Sebastian Moran." His hand slid up as far as it would go and
then Sherlock bit his lower lip, bruised and full from the kisses. "Could
you... would you take your jumper off? Would that be alright?"

Jim relaxed as Sherlock did, enjoying this for how uncomplicated it felt. There
were no ugly emotions tied in, he was showing Sherlock how to enjoy something
and enjoying himself in the process and that was all there was to it if he
ignored how torn up Sebastian was going to be at the end. He pulled away though
when Sherlock started talking about John, “He what? You’ve got to be fucking
kidding me. I guess I asked him about molesting the wrong Holmes.” That was
weird thinking about John and Sherlock but honestly it was none of his
business. He thought it was nice that Sherlock wanted to touch him back, wanted
to see him and Jim pulled his jumper off over his head and tossed it on the
floor. The bruises on his hips were still fading but they did look better than
they had when he’d first gotten here and Jim didn’t think Sherlock would mind
them.

"He never molested me, he wouldn't be so crude. He... felt for me though."
Sherlock sighed and looked down. It had been nice, nice to find someone who
seemed impressed with him rather than annoyed, someone who seemed to genuinely
want to help him, and for him to be happy. But Magnussen had far more power,
and the drugs had far more power, and John Watson hadn't wanted to get too
close for fear of a relationship that couldn't happen. He watched interested,
as Jim stripped the jumper off, tugging his own shirt away so he was topless
and reaching out with long cool fingers to stroke the bruises. "This wasn't
your father." His eyes darted around the area. "Bent over, held down, by
someone stronger, taller... taller than Sebastian... oh." His fingers fell away
and his eyes widened in shock. "Were you... I'm sorry."

Jim thought Sherlock was being honest and that eased some of his misgivings
about John. It didn’t matter though anyway, he’d only be his guardian for a few
more weeks. Jim clenched his jaw and resisted the urge to get up or look away
as Sherlock touched his bruises and drew his own conclusions. “He didn’t hurt
me. Just tried to scare me a little. Still got him fired for it though. This is
also probably not something you should talk about if you’re trying to get
someone into your bed.” Jim rocked down again, not wanting to talk anymore. He
rolled over on his back and tugged Sherlock along until he was on top of him.
“Do you know how to make someone feel good?”

"I'm not trying to get you into my bed." Sherlock answered helplessly, looking
down at him with confused and drugged eyes, "No, not really. Why would I want
to make someone feel good? Usually I just make people feel uncomfortable." His
hands ghosted over the bruises again, lightly, drawing away as if the area was
hot to the touch. "I'm... I'm really not sure I should be screwing around with
an underage boy who's been threatened with physical abuse." He looked down at
Jim warily, "You're very short, I sort of preferred it when I wasn't squashing
you. Can we kiss again?"

Jim rolled his eyes and took Sherlock’s hand away from his hip and moved it
closer to his crotch encouragingly. “You make others feel good because a lot of
the time it makes you feel good too. And if it isn’t enough a good partner will
return the favor. For Christ’s sake I’m turning sixteen in three weeks and you
aren’t going to fuck me, I don’t think you’re really sex offender material.” He
snorted, “You aren’t squashing me, and I can’t help it that I’m short. Kiss me,
touch my chest, you can touch me down there if you want to but if you’d prefer
not to I’m hardly going to force you. Stop thinking so much. Relax. Just do
what seems natural. Experiment.”

"None of this seems natural." Sherlock grumbled, patting his cock a few times
and then sitting back, looking down at Jim's body curiously. A few more pats to
his crotch and then Sherlock's fingers were exploring his skin, running over
old scars and occasionally murmuring the name of whatever he thought had caused
them, right every time. "Drugs make me feel good. Reading people makes me
feel... fairly satisfied. Finding out new information makes me feel satisfied.
Patting the crotch of an underage boy with bruises doesn't do much for me." He
moved his hand away, "You can touch it though. I've had people wank over me
before. It usually works out for the best that way. It's... um... it's easier
to kiss you when you sit up."

Jim huffed an exasperated breath, “That’s because you’re doing it wrong. This
isn’t a body search, you have to be more forceful about it or else you aren’t
going to get enough friction.” Jim took Sherlock’s hand again and showed him
how to do it properly while his breath caught and his eyelids fluttered
briefly. “It might be easier to kiss that way but it’s not nearly as fun.” Jim
pulled him down closer so that Sherlock was laying over top of him, “You aren’t
going to squish me, just balance on your elbows. Like that. Good.” Jim bent up
and kissed Sherlock, rolling one of the man’s nipples around with the pad of
his thumb and trying to see if he could coax him out of his formal shell.

"I ..." Sherlock made a bit of a face as Jim tugged his hand down to rub around
his cock. It was the first time he'd touched another cock, even through layers
of material it felt odd, hard and curved in a way that was clearly different to
any other body part, "I need friction? Why do I need friction? Should you have
friction as well?" It was fairly interesting watching Jim's eyelashes flutter
but his hand dropped away as soon as Jim stopped holding him, trying to follow
the instructions until he was above Jim, "Can we kiss again now - ah good..."
he opened his mouth eagerly as Jim's lips met his, closing his eyes and
enjoying the wet soft sensation, opening them and freezing as the door opened
and Mycroft appeared, looking completely stumped to see them both half naked
and on top of each other.

Jim was in the process of pressing his hips up against Sherlock’s and rubbing
against him as he ran his hands over the man’s back and through his hair. When
Mycroft came in Jim was in a rather unfortunate position with one hand buried
in Sherlock’s hair and the other gripping his arse and his tongue in the man’s
mouth. Sherlock froze above him and Jim figured being walked in on by your
brother was probably a bit of a mood killer. “Hello Mycroft,” Jim grinned and
watched him with dazed eyes, head spinning from the drugs as it mixed with the
alcohol in his blood. “I surprised you! Ha!” He let out a little laugh and
poked at the hickey he’d left on Sherlock’s neck.

Mycroft looked at them both and then came over, sitting primly down on the edge
of the bed and dabbing a finger into the line of coke before dabbing it into
his gums, giving a little sigh, "Well done Sherlock, just when I think you
can't find any new lows, you manage to hit one. Doing drugs with Magnussen's
underage prostitutes is far, far below where I thought you'd hit."
Sherlock pushed himself back up, leaning against the bed sat up and petulantly
pulling Jim up with him. "He's not a prostitute."
"He's fucking Sebastian Moran for money and information, and he's fucking you,
quite possibly for the same reasons." Mycroft said, dabbing onto a bit more of
the cocaine. "And it's illegal. Drugs and illegal hookers in Moran's house,
with Holmes's brother. Magnussen must be breaking out the champagne by now.
Hmm? Do you ever think Sherlock?"
His voice turned into a vicious hiss as Sherlock petted Jim protectively and
stubbornly repeated, "He isn't a prostitute."

Jim almost felt bad hearing Mycroft go on – he hadn’t thought it was a big
deal. Sherlock did drugs anyway and they hadn’t done anything except kiss. It
was rather odd he thought that Sherlock was acting almost protectively, not
doing anything to defend his actions, only insisting Jim wasn’t a whore. Not
because it would make him look better to Mycroft but because Sherlock knew Jim
wasn’t. “I’m really not a prostitute. I just wanted a bit of fun, everyone’s
dressed.” Mostly. Jim grabbed his jumper and pulled it over his head as he
handed Sherlock his shirt. “Nothing inappropriate happened, don’t get your
panties in a twist.”

Mycroft watched him steadily, eyes flickering between the two of them as
Sherlock grumpily dragged his shirt on and muttered, "Don't worry, brother
dear, if this does get into the press and they start snooping about I'll be
sure to insist I'm adopted." He pulled the shirt over his shoulders but didn't
do the buttons up. "I'd storm out but this is my room. Don't have him killed.
You can't just have people killed when they do things you don't like."
"I'm not going to have him killed." Mycroft snapped, glaring at Jim, "At the
moment, if he really isn't collecting this for Magnussen, although as yet I
have no reason to believe he isn't, he's more useful to me alive and
functioning."
Sherlock languidly stretched himself passed Jim and over to the bedside table,
where he started marshalling another little line of coke, "He's not. He's just
trying to irritate Moran. The younger Moran. That's really all he's here for. I
mean it Mycroft."
Mycroft started to calm a little, nodding slowly and breathing deep, "If he
wants to irritate Sebastian Moran there are far, far, easier ways to do it. For
example, I irritate Sebastian Moran by simply inhaling oxygen."

Jim rolled his eyes, “I told you I’m not trying to irritate him. I’m trying to
piss him off enough that he doesn’t want to see me again after he goes to Eton.
I thought you’d approve of my plan even if you don’t like my methods, Mycroft.”
He was high and starting to get irritated as Mycroft continued to get pissed
over some kissing. “Seriously we weren’t even doing anything. That mark on his
neck is going to be enough to make Sebastian mad. I didn’t take any photos or
push him. Everything was consensual.”

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry - clearly I'm being far too paranoid about Magnussen.
He's used my brother to get to me before and -"
"And it failed before." Sherlock snapped, grabbing at the rolled up bank note
and re-rolling it tightly before inhaling another line. Collapsing back onto
the bed he tugged at Jim's jumper, "Can I kiss him again or have you both
finished with me." Despite his age he sounded like a sulky child.
Mycroft rolled his eyes, "One more, one more kiss if you both have to. I take
no responsibility for Sebastian Moran's actions when he finds out. I... do
approve of the sentiment, even if I really don't approve of my brother being
used to carry it out. I'm not sure it'll work though - Sebastian Moran is not
very predictable and there's a high chance it'll backfire on you."

Jim moved obediently to lay overtop of Sherlock again as he was tugged by his
jumper. “You don’t approve of me using your brother? Does that mean you are
volunteering, Mycroft? And I fucking know my own bo- Sebastian. If he beats the
shit out of me he beats the shit out of me, it’s not like he hasn’t done it
before. If you approve of the sentiment then maybe you’d be so kind as to go
back downstairs and make some insinuations about where I am right now and leave
me to ruin my life in peace, please.” Jim took the note and snorted the last
line of coke, tightening his hand around Sherlock’s wrist at the head rush and
bend down to kiss him feverishly just to make Mycroft uncomfortable so he would
leave.

"If this ends up in the newspapers you can forget about any kind of
independence from foster care." Mycroft said gravely, "I'll go down and prime
Sebastian, please don't come running to me if he explodes in your face.
Sherlock, don't go all the way, you'll catch something." With that last snarky
remark he left, as Sherlock gripped Jim's upper arm and kissed him hard,
starting to get the hang of this form of affection and rather hoping Jim
wouldn't get the shit beaten out of him so he could have it a few more times
before the boy left.

Jim gave Mycroft the finger but his eyes were closed and he thought Mycroft
might have turned his back. He kissed Sherlock, pleased that he seemed to
finally be getting into it. Maybe one day he’d be more open to trying a
relationship with someone like John. That thought was just too weird and Jim
let it go before he had to dwell on it any longer. After a minute Jim pushed
him away and ran a quick hand through Sherlock’s hair. “Alright, I’ve got to go
cause a scene. I’m really sorry if he hits you. You might want to lock your
door after I leave.” He stood and checked his reflection in a nearby mirror,
jumper rumpled and red lips with a little bit of white powder still around his
nose. Jesus, Jim fucking hated himself. It was too late though, Mycroft was
already stoking the flames and Jim had to commit to this to keep Sebastian out
of the crossfire. It was a kindness. He still felt fucking empty. Jim left
Sherlock’s room and headed back down to the party.

"I'll lock the door. You are very odd, wanting him to hit you, to hate you."
And then he added a "Good luck." As Jim left. Standing up, he crossed the room
and locked the door then lay back down on his bed, steepling his fingers as he
tried to work his head around what had been going on, and how relevant feelings
were to the whole business.
 
===============================================================================
 
 
 Serephine was in front of the drinks cabinet when Mycroft got back so he slid
into her seat, giving an ingratiating smile to Sebastian, who glared sullenly
back at him. "Oh dear, I can't find Sherlock anywhere. It is so awkward when he
disappears at things like this. You - you don't know where Jim is I suppose?"

Jim was displeased to see that everyone was still eating. That wasn’t an ideal
environment for this so hopefully they could get up to a bedroom because
Sebastian lost it. Mycroft was sitting on Sebastian’s other side and Jim
plopped down in his own seat in time to hear Mycroft’s question. “Your bother’s
in his room. Leave him alone Mycroft, you know he doesn’t like these parties.
At least he isn’t embarrassing you when he’s not here.” Jim was too wrapped up
in what was going on with himself to thank Mycroft for running interference.

"Where did you sneak off to." Sebastian turned to him with a laugh that died
away as he caught Jim's appearance, rumpled and flushed, coked up and buzzing.
Uncertainly he frowned, giving Jim a poke and lowering his voice. "Where did
you fuck off to, and where's the magic dust? Didn't know you took that sort of
stuff." He glanced uncertainly at Mycroft, "What's up?"

Jim steeled himself and took the plunge, “It’s none of your business, yeah?
Sherlock and I got bored so we went up to his room.” He smirked humorlessly,
“You don’t actually know very much about me, do you? I mean you’ve known me for
what? Less than two months? And that school isn’t really a great environment to
get to know someone.”

Sebastian's frown deepened in confusion and Mycroft rolled his eyes. "For
goodness sake Sebastian." He snapped, glancing sideways at Jim with an 'I-hope-
you-know-what-you're-doing' look, "Jim's been upstairs fucking his head over
while turning his trick on my brother."
Sebastian's confusion if anything deepened and he looked at Jim nonplussed,
"You've been, what? Doing drugs with Sherlock? Why the hell would you, he's a
twat..." He looked over Jim, taking in his rumbled appearance and gave a little
growl, "Alright, that the fucks going on." He kept his voice low, above the
chatter of the table. "Jim?"

“Fuck off Mycroft,” Jim snarled as he continued the game. “He wanted to.
Sherlock’s an adult and he can make his own choices. You don’t know anything
about it.” He turned to Sebastian half angry and half condescending. “Nothing’s
going on, Mycroft’s just running his mouth like usual.”

"He wanted to what..." Sebastian gripped Jim's upper arm and, making a face at
his father, steered him off the table, shuttling them both into the lounge,
"What's Sherlock making his own adult choices about... sorry." He let go the
tight grip on Jim's arm and managed to give a grin that was half a smirk, "What
are you up to - are we fucking with the Holmes boys? Can I join in? There's
fuck all else to do."

Jim resigned himself as Sebastian gripped his arm and dragged him away from the
table. The lounge was as good as anywhere Jim thought. God fucking damn it why
was Sebastian determined to make this so difficult? “You stupid stupid boy do
you really not get it? I was upstairs with Holmes, using his drugs and then I
sucked him off. Mycroft worked it out in about a eleven seconds how long is it
going to take you?”

Sebastian stared at him, confused and uncertain and then gave an awkward laugh,
"What? You were... what?" The laugh stopped as it hit him that it wasn't a joke
and he took a deep breath. "Fuck. Well. Why are you telling me? Is that it
then? You're chucking me for Sherlock Fucking Holmes?" He gave a little growl
and scowled at Jim, "What, finally found someone to be insanely clever with,
did you?" His fists were clenching and unclenching by his sides, "No. it's
fine. This works well. Because you know what? If you've decided to cuddle up
with Sherlock Holmes I don't have to go to fucking Eton, do I? I only went
there for you. To protect you. I was happy to give up the only thing that's
ever made me feel fucking worthwhile. But now I don't suppose you'll give a
shit if Magnussen kicks my balls in. Oh thank fucking god I can go back." The
words didn't quite fit with his anger and misery, but they were genuinely
meant.

“No…” It was out before Jim could stop it and he clenched his hands at his
sides as he resisted the urge to reach out and shake Sebastian for being so
stupid. “I don’t want to see you again. Do you still not fucking get it?” Jim
thought he was going to be sick but he was desperate now and not trying to
mitigate the damage. “It’s not about Sherlock it’s just that I can’t fucking
stand you. The – the only reason I was with you was because of Magnussen. It
was just orders. Now I’ve gotten what I want and I don’t need you anymore. What
did you – did you really think it was a fucking coincidence that I ended up as
your bunk mate? What – what kind of normal person lets someone else hurt them
over and over again and still keeps coming back like a well behaved dog? It
wasn’t real. It was just an act. I – I hated you the whole time and I never
want to fucking see you again. Go to Eton, I don’t want you.” Jim was shaking
and trying to keep from losing his shit here, he just had to hold out until
this conversation was finished and he could go – drown himself in the bath or
something.

"Shhh, shhh, fuck Jim calm down." Sebastian reached forward and took his
shoulders, holding them and gently stroking them, "Alright, alright. What's
fucking happened? Is it Mags? Has he contacted you?" He couldn't get his head
around it, couldn't get his head around any of it apart from the fact that Jim
was clearly upset, and freaked out and acting strangely. "What have you taken
and who gave it to you? I'm not making any decisions about Eton or any fucking
thing until you tell me what the fuck is going on and where the hell this is
all coming from."

“Don’t fucking tell me to calm down!” Jim wrenched his shoulders away and
stumbled back a few steps. “I already told you what’s happened, please don’t
pretend you didn’t hear me – this kind of denial is pathetic. I sucked Holmes
off – I had his cock in my mouth and I loved it. I don’t want you, I was lying
and pretending. Why – why would I want you? You’re a bully and you’re stupid
and weak. Everything was to manipulate you into bringing me here. That scene
with my dad and the Sergeant was panned, I agreed to it. I understand this is a
lot to get your thick head around but this is not ‘all of a sudden’ for me.
Don’t you fucking get it?” Jim tried to shut down, go cold and angry to make it
harder for Sebastian to reach him. Eventually he’d give up. This was so much
more difficult than he thought it would be, he’d assumed Sebastian would go mad
with jealousy but he had to go and be fucking logical. So Jim hit him, shoved
him really, trying to goad the boy into hitting him back.

It was crazy and it was insane but the message was definitely starting to get
through and Sebastian stumbled backwards starting to look hurt and angry rather
than concerned. "You planned it? With your dad? And did you plan afterwards as
well - all the hugging and holding and crying - fuck I must have looked
weak..." There was a bit too much confusion and sadness mixed up right now for
him to want to attack Jim. For some reason this was hitting him in a new way,
twisting his insides up rather than just unleashing his anger. Trembling he
looked at Jim and said, "Right. Right. Fine. Message understood. Listen to
this." Striding out of the room he opened the door to the dining room, leaving
it open as he announced, "I've been having a think, father, and you know what?
I think I will go back to Magnussen's school after all. And unfortunately Jim's
just told me he has to leave tomorrow straight after lunch. After all, his
father is there waiting for him."

Jim watched Sebastian stride back into the dining room, watched him through the
open doors and fucking shattered as soon as he had his back to Jim. He didn’t
really give a fuck if Mycroft or anyone else saw his face just so long as
Sebastian couldn’t. Did that count as hate then, wanting him to go back to his
da? His face twisted up and a tear slipped before he could blink it away and
Jim turned sharply and left to go to his room, not wanting anyone to see him
break down any further. He hoped Mycroft was happy anyway. Jim was afraid for
Seb now though, worried that he wouldn’t be safe at the school even if they had
a falling out and Magnussen was unlikely to target him. Jim would be perfect
for Mags and then maybe he wouldn’t even need to worry about it.

He'd sort of hoped Jim might say something, but there was no sound from behind
him until Jim left. His father scowled at him, "For gods sake Sebastian, can't
you make your mind up? Sit down and finish eating." Mycroft gave him a look but
Sebastian just ignored him, poking at his food and then standing up with an
"Apologies father, I'm not feeling very well." With that he left the room,
growling as he got into the hallway and immediately charging up the stairs to
Sherlock's room, knocking frantically on the door, annoyed that it was locked,
"Open up you fucker, open up so I can rip your fucking head off." Perhaps
unsurprisingly, there was no response from inside.
Chapter End Notes
     TW: drug use, kissing between an adult and a minor
***** I Won't Break Anything Else, I Promise *****
Chapter Notes
     Awesome, part one is complete! This series will have four parts and
     just a reminder the whole story is already finished. I have to edit
     and format but everything is written. I hope you have enjoyed it so
     far!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Jim spent the rest of the night not crying because it would make his eyes puffy
and red and that would look suspicious the next day. He didn’t really
understand all that he was giving up because he’d never gotten to experience
any of it fully in the first place. He couldn’t miss what he’d never had and
all that. Jim had gotten soft and spoiled and it wouldn’t happen again. Jim
didn’t come out of his room the next day, waiting for a knock on the door to
tell him that someone was taking him back to the school. He was packed and
dressed in his own clothes, the beautiful suits and other clothes Serephine
bought him hung up in the wardrobe, perfectly cared for – but he wouldn’t be
taking them with him. It wasn’t right and he didn’t have any use for them at
school anyway. The USB drive from Mycroft was kept safe in his pocket and Jim
just laid curled up in bed fully dressed and staring at the wall while he
waited for his ride. He didn’t normally celebrate Christmas much but this was
definitely a new low. Finally the knock came and Jim stood slowly, picked up
his duffle and unlocked his door, not feeling very surprised to see John there.
“Thank you for driving all the way out here, you didn’t have to do that.”

"It's fine. I got a call from Mycroft." John said, looking at Jim a little
sadly, "I heard you and Sebastian had a bit of a falling out and, well, I
didn't think he'd be up to sending you back with a driver." He watched as Jim
picked up his belongs and then gave his hair a quick ruffle, "Well... I hope
you managed to have a bit of a break at least. You're more than welcome to
spend the rest of Christmas with me, I mean, we don't have to go back to the
school. We could book into a bed and breakfast? Have a city break maybe? You
wouldn't be able to really do anything, not in this weather without any money,
but it'll be more comfortable than the medical rooms."

“What did Mycroft say?” Jim side eyed John warily, figuring he probably hadn’t
told John about the drugs or making out with John’s boyfriend or whatever he
was or else the man wouldn’t look nearly so cheerful. He had a terrible
hangover today and it didn’t help his mood. “Thank you but I don’t think that’s
a good idea. I have something I need to give to Magnussen as soon as possible.”
Jim needed to put distance between him and John fast if he wanted to keep the
man out of all of the shit in his life and that definitely meant no holidays
away together. “The medical rooms will be perfectly comfortable, thank you.”
Jim was genuine and polite but he was distant and quiet.

"Mycroft said you'd had an argument and Sebastian had told you to leave." John
took Jim's bags unhappily, he'd rather hoped the boy would be pleased at the
idea of getting away for a bit, and it certainly would've been good for him.
Instead it was straight back to the school. He headed out the door, hesitating
as he saw Sherlock, who'd come to say goodbye, at the end of the corridor.
"Um." He wet his lips, "Good afternoon Holmes. I'm just here to pick up Jim,
take him back to school."

Jim could tell that John was disappointed but it really was for the best. If
John couldn’t back off maybe he’d tell him the same thing he told Sebastian
about him and Sherlock. John wouldn’t want anything to do with Jim after that.
Jim saw Sherlock standing at the end of the hall and was pleased to see that
Sherlock didn’t look bruised. “What do you want, a kiss goodbye?” He grumbled
out sarcastically.

John frowned as he heard what Jim said, "A ... what sorry?" Sherlock looked at
them both and then looked at the wall, "No. I - I didn't. Never mind. Enjoy
school. Watson, nice to see you. I'm sorry you didn't get your payrise." And
with that he scuttled off back down the hall.
John stared after him for a bit and then shook his head, "Right. I suspect you
told him that, yes? Although... I don't think I told you. Anyway. Let's go
shall we? Got everything you need?"

“It was – um, sarcasm. You know, because he’s not the friendliest person.” Jim
felt bad suddenly, John was bound to find out either through Sebastian and the
school gossip mill or from Magnussen when he heard it from Mycroft or – fuck
who knew that man just seemed to know everything. “You should be getting money
for taking care of me, aren’t you? Is that not enough?” Jim felt his chest
tighten uncomfortably, “I’m coming into some money soon, I’ll pay you back I
promise.” He shook his head, scolding himself for letting those old
insecurities come up again. “Let’s go. I don’t need to say goodbye to anyone.”

"What? Oh look, it's fine. I didn't foster you to earn money; and that money
more than covers everything I need for you. I just, well, Magnussen's a tough
bastard to get anything out of. I don't need much." He forced a smile, his eyes
following the corridor Sherlock had vanished down, "Are you sure you don't want
to say a final goodbye to Sebastian?" He tried helplessly, trailing after Jim
towards the front door, "I mean, whatever happened surely can't have been that
bad and you will still be together in the same dormitory - it might be best if
you can get along."

“You don’t need to spend much on me – everything is mostly covered by the
school but if you ever need anything for yourself you can use the money you’re
getting for me, I have everything I need.” Jim went ahead and wanted to get out
the door before anyone else could stop them and mention the night before. “It
really really could have been that bad, and I don’t want to make up with him.
That would completely defeat the purpose. Stupid bastard was supposed to be
headed to Eton.”

"Eton? Why would Sebastian Moran go to Eton?" John looked incredulous, "His
father's been trying to persuade him for years, it would take some sort of
supernatural force to get Sebastian Moran into Eton." He stopped as he saw that
Jim was serious, and not himself, and headed to the car, opening the boot and
putting Jim's bag into it.
He hesitated as Serephine Moran, respendant in a bright red cocktail dress and
golden heels, tottered out at a high speed wobble, throwing her arms around Jim
and infolding him in a large pink cashmere shawl, "Jim! Darling! Leaving
already it's such a pity." She wrapped her arms around John as well, who
cleared his throat awkwardly as she kissed his cheak, leaving lipstick behind,
"Oh my poor boy, I heard about your tiff with Sebastian. Please don't worry -
he's stubborn and silly - he takes after his father. I know the two of you will
muddle through it. I forgot to give you your Christmas present darling, here."
She pushed a small box into his hand, wrapped up in golden metallic paper with
a bow. "Now don't complain, please, not after leaving all your clothes behind."
She winked at him. "Have a safe drive back Dr Watson!"

“I wanted him to do it, he agreed to it and everything then changed his mind.”
Jim flinched when Serephine hugged him and shook his head when she tied to give
him the package, “Please, I’m not dating your son anymore it really wouldn’t be
appropriate. I’m sure he told you what I did, I don’t mean to seem ungrateful
but I really don’t deserve or want anything.” Jim desperately wished she would
stop showering him with gifts when he already felt guilty enough. He smirked
suddenly, “Unless it’s poison. Maybe a live grenade? Didn’t you tell me if I
fucked him over they’d never find my body?”

"If I only gave people gifts when they dated my son I'd never be able to buy
anything." She replied archly, and smirked back at his words, "My darling boy -
I'll save my poisons if you damage him before next term, and I would never use
anything as coarse as a live grenade. Blowing up bodies is a very messy
business. Now take the gift, it'll be useful. If you don't take it I'll give it
to Dr Watson here and make him give it to you and I don't think the poor man
could stand the shame."

Jim hesitated for another few moments and then finally took the box and
muttered, “Thank you very much for your hospitality.” Before turning and
quickly getting in the car so that he wouldn’t have to talk to her anymore.
She’d been so lovely and – anyway, it was all for the best. Jim couldn’t have
ties to people. He sat in the front seat and curled up with his knees to his
chest and wrapped his arms around his legs while he rested his chin on his
knees. “Your break has been good? We saw about the newspaper article. I can’t
believe you really did it, thank you for getting him fired.” Jim was of course
talking about the sergeant and it had been his doing more than John’s but he
thought the man deserved something.

Serephine blew them a kiss then toddled back to the house, while John shook his
head again and started to head off. "I'm guessing that was Sebastian's mother?
She looks a bit like him. Certainly almost as unstoppable and determined." He
gave a smile as Jim mentioned the sergeant. "Yes, well, I think you might have
had more to do with that than me. I'm pleased he's gone, anyway. He caused a
lot of trouble. His replacement starts next week."

Jim smiled a little, “Yeah, she’s wonderful…” before letting the moment go and
buckling himself into the seat. “Er – yeah. I might have. Still that was…
really decent of you to do. I’ll stay out of your hair this week, you enjoy
your vacation, yeah? If you really wanted to do your bed and breakfast you
should go.” Jim took a breath and closed his eyes as he rested his head back
against the seat. “There might be some rumors when school starts up again. None
of it true. Vicious lies, all of it.” Jim grinned a bit manically and rubbed at
his face some, trying to get rid of his headache.

"I'm not leaving you in that place alone - god knows what I'll come back to."
John managed a smile as he saw Jim was looking slightly more relaxed now they'd
left. "Oh I'm sure there will be plenty of rumours - a lot of the boys and
their fathers occupy the same circles as most of the Moran guests. Just keep
your head down and get on with your schooling - if you've any inclination to
listen to me." He sighed and gave a fond laugh, "I was watching the phone
everyday waiting to hear the Moran residence had gone up in smoke. I'm very
glad both you and it are still standing.

“Well I wouldn’t burn the place down, if that’s what you’re thinking.” Jim was
a little bit resentful that John didn’t seem to think he could take care of
himself and that he couldn’t be trusted. “Uh – some stuff changed while I was
away. Mycroft is going to get me emancipated by my birthday. I’m sorry I just
can’t be in the system with the way things are right now. Please don’t tell
anyone, Magnussen can’t know. If you still need the welfare checks I can
compensate you for them so you aren’t inconvenienced.”

"What? Oh no, of course I don't need them, that's wonderful news." John gave
him a smile in the rear-view mirror, "And of course I won't tell Magnussen,
won't let him suspect at all, um..." He hesitated and then ploughed on, "Look,
Jim, I know that's great news for you, and it's really wonderful that you're
taking steps to get independent but... I just wanted to check you haven't...
promised... anything to Mycroft. Anything that would compromise your health or
safety. Not that you can't make your own choices, it's fine, I respect that,
it's just that Mycroft has almost as many problems caring for people as
Magnussen and I would really hate for you to gain independence from him just to
fall into someone elses clutches."

“He told me I don’t have to have sex with anyone I don’t want to which is a
step up. But then last night he called me a prostitute so I don’t know.” Jim
didn’t really care, Mags or Mycroft it wasn’t that much better. “I don’t get to
choose to be on a leash, I can only choose who gets to hold it. Mycroft seems
like the better bet by a hair. Thank you for your concern but I’m taking steps
to make sure that if anything happened to me there won’t be any negative
repercussions.” He sighed and curled up tighter. “This is a good thing,” he
said but couldn’t manage to sound like he believed it. “I don’t have any
prospects or money. If I’m going to get fucked over I might as well benefit
from it somehow.”

John didn’t have anything to say to that, no magic adult help to fix the
situation so Jim just sighed and leaned his head against the car door so that
he could sleep. Before they even got back to the academy John’s phone rang and
he seemed tense about it. When he hung up John told Jim that Magnussen wanted
to see him as soon as they got back. Fucking fantastic. He had planned to go
right away but now that it was Mags’ order the situation seem more dire. When
they got back John waved him off when he tried to help with the bags. Now Jim
was waiting outside the office with Mycroft’s USB in his pocket, he’d already
knocked about five minutes ago but Magnussen was making him wait. Finally he
heard Mags call him in and Jim stepped inside.

Magnussen looked up as Jim entered, raising and eyebrow and watching him
speculatively. Standing up he came across and then guestured at his seat behind
the desk. "Sit. Sit there. It's cold weather and the seat will still be warm."
He kept his eyes on Jim, his face giving nothing away, his voice a little cold
and distant. "You're back early. Without Sebastian. I don't think that's what I
asked of you, is it?"

Jim hadn’t spoken with Magnussen more than a handful of times so his frame of
reference was small and Magnussen was notoriously difficult to read but he
could see that he was angry. Which was fucking unfair, but whatever. Jim sat
down in Magnussen’s chair and felt his stomach clench up. He didn’t want the
seat warmed by Magnussen’s body heat, it was too weird and intimate. “Sir, what
you asked of me was the USB drive, which I brought to you. Remaining friends
with Sebastian was never part of our deal. My only instructions were to get
invited to his house over break and then get the files you wanted.”

Magnussen's eyebrows rose at the words, and he looked down at Jim and then
suddenly smiled, or rather his lips stretched out over his teeth. "True. That
is very true. I asked you to get me a USB." Heading over to a cupboard he
opened a drawer, taking out his laptop and handing it over to Jim. "Open that.
Show me what files you bought me. It is clear that I was simply not precise
enough. I told you to become friends with Sebastian Moran. That his father was
important, and we needed information from him. I told you to stay close to
Moran - by whatever means necessary. Clearly, and obviously, you were not to
know that I meant this in a... long term sense." He watched as Jim opened the
laptop and then said softly, "Would you like to try and guess, Mr. Moriarty,
what use I have for stupid people in my organisation?"

Jim swallowed back his nerves as Magnussen hovered around behind him, clearly
angry with him. That was fine though. It was worth it if Sebastian wasn’t a
target anymore. He pulled out the little drive and plugged it in, opening it as
soon as the computer loaded. He was incredibly nervous about this part, Jim
hadn’t had access to a computer so that he could check what Mycroft put on
here. “I suppose you would use them for jobs they couldn’t screw up. If you
used them at all.”

"Well done. I do indeed use them for jobs they can't 'screw up'. Would you like
to try another guess? As to what sort of jobs those are? And while we're at it,
would you like to have a think about what sort of rewards I offer them. Hmm?"
He watched as Jim opened the files, his eyes skimming over them. "Open the
documents, one at a time. And..." he reached forward and pinched the back of
Jim's neck and said slowly. "When you have opened them all, do NOT destroy the
computer, jump up and down on it, then run outside of the hut screaming. I feel
that I have to make this clear to you now."

Jim had stopped breathing by now, thoroughly aware of how thin the ice was that
he walked across with this man. “They are easily replaced so you give them the
dangerous or uncomfortable jobs. Ones where they are very likely to be arrested
or hurt. Pawns. I can’t guess at what kind of rewards you offer them sir,
surely nothing as good as what you’ve offered me.” Jim still determinedly kept
himself separate from the stupid people. He wasn’t stupid. Magnussen was stupid
for leaving him loopholes to wiggle through. Magnussen pinched the back of his
neck and Jim’s face turned red but he didn’t squirm or make a face. He started
to do as Magnussen said, opening the documents so that he could peruse them.

"Dangerous? Maybe, maybe not." Magnussen's eyes skimmed over the documents,
removing the focus from Jim as he did so, his mind automatically reading,
reviewing and cataloguing each piece of information. "I run more than just a
school." He said eventually, motioning at Jim to keep opening and scrolling
through the documents, his pinch grip relaxing so his palm could spread out
over the back of Jim's neck. "I run whole organisations, many of them. I
control a lot of people. As you know, the people who work for me want rewards,
and I will always give them. Some of them want material things, others more
personal things. There is a man who used to work for me, here at the school. In
order to reward another I destroyed him; lost him his job, his position, his
future. But... he still works for me. He still wants his rewards. He has a...
liking for a certain type of young man. A young soldier, a young cadet, to
service him and provide his needs. Run those files now." His finger jabbed at
the screen.

Jim stayed loose and relaxed, disassociating his body from the situation so
that he wouldn’t show how his skin crawled when Magnussen stroked the back of
his neck with his sweaty palms. Jim could only hope that Magnussen was
threatening him with giving him to the sergeant and not threatening Sebastian.
It would be fitting. There was a certain poetic injustice to it. He’d lost the
man his job and now it had come full circle and Jim was the one fucking up.
Last he’d heard the sergeant hadn’t exactly been into boys his size but to have
a go at the boy who’d ended his career, when he was unlikely to get a better
offer? Jim thought the sergeant was just smart enough to capitalize on it. He
did as he was told, opened the files as Magnussen asked, hoping for all of
their sakes that Mycroft had given him enough information because Jim was
already in deep shit.

Magnussen gave a small nod of approval as the boy kept quiet. "Can I assume
that your silence means you understand?" He murmured, bending low to whisper
into Jim's ear, his eyes still fixed on the data rolling past on the screen.
"Sebastian will be returning here after the holidays. You will either spend the
spring holiday at his house, or with the sergeant, understood?" He made an
approving noise at a certain piece of data and then stood up, shutting the
laptop suddenly. Pulling out the USB he handed it gravely back to Jim. "There.
We understand each other. Believe me when I say I do not enjoy punishment. I am
a business man, not a sadist." His eyes fixed on Jim and he gave a small smile,
genuine this time, "I employ others for that. Please take this USB to your
father and tell him to destroy it. I believe he wants a word with you."

Jim shuddered as he felt Magnussen’s wet breath against his ear. Sitting in his
chair hadn’t worked, Jim was still chilled to the bone. “You told me that I
could stop doing this when I wanted to…” Jim started cautiously. “There’s no
other rewards I want. I don’t think I want to play this game with you anymore.”
He still took the USB though, giving it to his father was part of this job and
he’d have to do it. But Magnussen had said he could refuse other jobs. He
wouldn’t go back to the Moran house in the spring. If he had to spend a week or
two with the sergeant that was fine. Jim wasn’t going to get Sebastian mixed in
with this again, not after getting him out.

"Oh? How convenient for you that you can just leave whenever you want."
Magnussen said mildly, watching him. "I thought you wanted your father to be
removed? I'm pretty sure you would not like me to change your foster care away
from John Watson and into the house of a man that may have many... visitors. It
is no longer a game, James Moriarty. It is your life. Now go and see your
father. Get that USB destroyed, and maybe learn a lesson as well. I am very
disappointed that you are no longer friends with Sebastian. For your sake and
his."

“I understand,” he muttered and got up from the chair as he left quickly
through the front door. Fuck. Just… fuck! Jim made sure he was out of eyesight
of the building before sitting down on a bit of ground where there was no snow
and curling up into a ball. He didn’t know what to do, different options raced
through his head – things like compliance, just taking his punishment, killing
himself or calling Mycroft. Jim had choices but there really wasn’t much of a
choice at all. Not if he wanted to limit Magnussen’s damage and let just his
life be ruined instead of letting Magnussen get both him and Sebastian. Jim
wiped at his face and brushed off his trousers before heading towards his
father’s building where his classroom was. Whatever happened happened. It was
better to get hurt by his father than to be pimped out of some strangers house
for the foreseeable future.

James Moriarty was waiting for him, face angry and drawn, having had a rather
intense meeting with Magnussen the day before. He held the door open as he saw
Jim approaching, giving him a cuff around the back of the head as he entered,
"Get inside. You need to have a serious think, boy, about what you're doing
with your life and who you owe your allegiances to. See this is what I fucking
tried to teach you, but would your mother listen? No! Stupid cow. She wanted to
treat you nice, to soften you up, even if she was no bloody good at it."
Grabbing Jim's shoulders he gave him a little shake, "Look, I know you hate me
and you know I hate you. But for once in your life I am actually trying to help
you here. Curling up in the snow will get you nothing and nowhere. You need to
sort your head the hell out."

Jim didn’t wince as he his head got smacked, that was practically a greeting.
He wasn’t surprised that his father was lecturing him. He’d done it a lot when
Jim was a kid, explaining how holding his head under water or his hand over a
live flame was helping him. Somehow that message had never sunk in. He should
have been more careful to have his breakdown in private. “And you’re going to
help me sort my head out by trying to cave it in. Typical. Here’s the USB
drive.” Jim pushed past the rest and tried to keep this professional.

Surprisingly, his father let go of him, taking the USB and pulling on a pair of
workman's gloves. At the back of the room was a small bucket, the UBS was
picked up and dropped into it, making a fizzing noise as it his the liquid
inside. "Just be thankful I'm not dousing your head in this - that'd sting
alright. I personally don't care if you spend the rest of your life being
buggered by every man Magnussen pays, but it does nothing for my standing
having my own son so far down in the pecking order. You got the sergeant sacked
- I think I might almot have felt proud of you for having that much influence,
except now you've fucked it up somehow. If you don't want to spend the rest of
your life fucking things up you're going to have to change your attitude."
Using a pair of tongs he pulled the USB out of the bucket and then picked up a
hammer, pointing it at Jim. "That evening we taught your stupid rich boyfriend
a lesson - he learnt. He learnt that he can't control the shite that happens
around him, but he can control his own reactions to it. If it'd been him there
- getting a good hard fucking, and you taped to the floor, would you have
learnt? Or would you have squealed your guts out." The hammer slammed down onto
the USB, cracking it with a sound that echoed around the room. "Would you have
broken, cried, begged? You owe him nothing. You don't owe anybody anything
except your contempt." The hammer smashed down again. "I taught you to hate me,
that was a good first step. You seem incapable of applying that lesson anywhere
else."

“This is your fault,” Jim sneered, “Everything is always your fucking fault. If
you weren’t working for Magnussen I never would have been brought here. I could
have kept my head down and aged out of the system. Instead I’m here being
threatened with rape from every man on his pay roll he can think of who likes
little boys.” He watched his father with the hammer, wondering distantly if he
was about to be his hands getting crushed by the tool next. “I hate him plenty
too. It’s not fun getting buggered for Magnussen’s assignments. He’s not my
boyfriend, he was just a job.”

Jim's father gave him a sideways look, "Did he fuck you then?" It did feel odd,
treating his worthless son as an equal, but if the boy was working for
Magnussen as well they were technically on the same side. The hammer crashed
down a third time and then Moriarty put it down, picking up a blow-torch and
giving Jim a sideways smirk. "Remember this?" He picked up what was left of the
battered and damaged USB and turned on the blowtorch, holding it in the white
heat of the flame. "I see. It's not your fault you're working for Mags, but it
is my fault I'm working for Mags. Do you learn nothing? It doesn't matter you
stupid little bastard. It doesn't matter who's fault anything is. It wasn't
Moran's fault I decided to fool around with the sergeant. It wasn't the
sergeant's fault he got fired. It wasn't Watson's fault he got landed with you.
But big grown men, Jimmy-boy, they play with whatever cards get thrown at them,
and they still try to net a win. It's little snivelling boys that complain
about what's fair and try to throw the blame around." He switched the blow-
torch off and pulled his gloves off, tapping one against his palm. "Alright,
stand still, can you manage that?"

“He told you that he did. Shouted it to the whole fucking classroom, I didn’t
realize that was still in question.” Jim didn’t have anything to say to his
father. He was right. Either Jim needed to keep a stiff upper lip and wait it
out until he could free himself from Magnussen or he would have to end his life
now. He wasn’t a quitter though. Jim wanted to live, desperately so he would
try and get through all of this. He looked at the blowtorch impassively. “I
remember. I liked the stove top better.” He let his body go lax and he stood
still like he’d been told to, figuring he should just get this punishment over
with. He could go back to medical later and lick his wounds.

"You were good at taking punishment, tough little scrap." His father said,
almost fondly, and then snapped the rough workglove hard against the left side
of his face. One slap, two slaps, and he nodded in approval at the small
trickle of blood coming down from Jim's cheekbone. "There we go. That should
keep Mags happy. One more for luck." Drawing back he hesitated, just a second,
giving Jim a small grin and then whacked the glove hard across his cheek again.
"Alright then, go and cry to Daddy-Watson. Try not to fuck up again."
Jim hated himself for the little warm flame of pride he felt at his father’s
praise. He only flinched a little bit but he stood still while his father
slapped him with the glove and the coarse material scraped the side of his face
until it bled. The gloves wore away his skin and the left side of his face was
red and scraped raw. At least his father’s hand hadn’t been in the glove. Jim
was so sure he was going to get beaten with the hammer or have the bottoms of
his feet burned with the blow torch so this was a slap on the wrist in
comparison. It was even likely to be mostly healed by the time break started
up. Jim flipped his father off defiantly before turning and walking back
towards the medical building. Magnussen watched him from the window and Jim had
a hard time not flipping him off too. Jim reached down and grabbed up some snow
for his cheek, holding it against his face as he pushed through the door into
the chilling hospital wing, hoping for some antiseptic.

John was waiting for him, rushing forward and giving a sigh of relief as he saw
Jim wasn't too badly injured. "Thank goodness, Magnussen was a massive
arguement with your father yesterday, I'm glad some of it seems to have sunk in
and you can still walk at least." He bit his lip at the sight of Jim's cheek,
turning at once to get some antiseptic wipes, "What was it - it'll leave a
bruise, but there's no massive damage." He groaned, "This is what I've come to,
pleased that my foster charges are only bruised and bleeding rather than
seriously maimed. How was your meeting with Magnussen?" He didn't want to crowd
Jim with questions but he had been feeling ill for the last few hours during
it.

Jim’s disassociation had gotten worse through the meeting with his father and
he was having a difficult time shaking it now. It wasn’t really a bad thing
though, he was supposed to be cold and distant with John anyway. “Just slapped
me with a glove. I don’t think he’s used anything so light since I was about
five…” He could tell that John was eager to hear how everything had gone and
Jim just decided to lie to him. John couldn’t help him, not with this. Jim was
on his own and he needed to put space between them like he had with Sebastian.
Jim was suddenly lashing out, knocking a jar and a clear glass container that
held tongue depressors onto the floor where they both shattered. “Why the fuck
do you care? I’m just some kid you met a couple months ago! I’m not going to be
your foster kid much longer so you can just fuck off.” He felt daring and
stupid and took the final plunge, twisting the knife. “You know I met Mycroft’s
brother, Sherlock? Last night we snuck away from dinner and we snorted his coke
then I sucked him off. All he did was talk about you the whole time. Maybe you
should focus on your own life and fix that shit up. At least I’m not pathetic,
pining after a man ten years younger than you, one you knew as a boy. I knew
you were a pervert.” Jim’s face started to crumple and he turned and ran off,
back through the door to the outside, feeling angry and horrible. He jogged off
into the tree line, hoping that he could find somewhere to hunker down for a
while and that John wouldn’t following him using his tracks in the snow.

"Jim - Jim!" John shouted after him as he left then sighed, staring at the
floor. He closed his eyes, trying not to see the face of a young man he'd cared
for an admired, and desperately trying not to see it change - from an uncertain
scowling young teenager to a coke-fuelled twitching twenty year old. He tried
not to remember the last words he'd heard, I'll suck you, you want that? I just
need the cash, please, I know you want it tried not to remember how useless,
how helpless he'd felt handing over a fifty and just telling the boy never to
offer his body again. Watching him shrug and turn away, knowing that all of
that intellect and vulnerability was gone, wasted and shattered. Because
Mycroft Holmes valued his job more than his brother. Now it seemed that even
that last bit of advice had been ignored, that Sherlock was more than happy to
offer his cock to anyone he'd just met. Bending down he picked up a shard of
glass, looking at it dully. He understood the urge - to want to break and hurt
and scream but instead he went over to the cupboard and mechanically pulled out
a dustpan and brush, cleaning up the mess before it became dangerous.
 
===============================================================================
 

Jim came back after night fall because he got too cold and hungry to stay out
any longer. The library, the barracks and the cafeteria were all locked up, the
only buildings that were open were the ones being used by staff and Jim didn’t
want to see any of them so he stayed outside until he couldn’t anymore. He
shuffled into the hospital wing quickly, stomping his shoes to clear the snow
off in the entry way. The glass had been cleaned up and Jim held back a sigh.
He’d spent hours in the woods thinking about what he’d done to both John and
Sebastian, knowing it was for the best, imagining what Magnussen would do if
John wanted to give him back. Jim wouldn’t blame him. Maybe it would be for the
best.
John heard Jim returning and came out to meet him, not managing a smile but at
least keeping his voice soft if a little distant, "There's food in the fridge
and cupboard, please help yourself whenever you need it. I've left your bag on
the camp-bed in the lounge, that's where you'll be sleeping until term starts."
Reaching in his pocket he pulled out a key and put it on the side-table.
"That's for you, to let yourself in and out in the evenings. You can access any
part of the medical area and my quarters, except for my bedroom. That is
private. I'll thank you not to try and enter, whether locked or unlocked." He
hesitated, but couldn't bring himself to raise anything else and so just gave a
little nod and patted his pockets. "Right. well. That's everything. I'm turning
in."

Jim’s mouth twisted a little as he saw how distant John was now but he just
nodded and cleared his throat, wanting it to be steady when he spoke. “Are you
going to give me back? That’s okay. I can manage for a few weeks.” Jim could
manage for a few weeks. He remembered suddenly that today was Christmas and he
rubbed at his eyes.

John frowned, initially confused, his eyes widening in shock as he realised
what Jim was saying, "Give you back - God no. I'm hardly going to abandon you
to an abusive father just because you've had a perfectly normal sexual
encounter. I could caution you against having them with a man significantly
your senior under the influence of drugs but really, it's your own decision
and..." His jaw clenched, "You have done nothing wrong." He hesitated again and
then opened one of the kitchen cupboards, pulling out a lumpen package. "I
might as well... Merry Christmas. I got you this several days ago although... I
can understand if you don't want it." He put it next to the keys. "Serephine's
present is still in your bag. There's sherry in the cupboard and half a pack of
mince pies somewhere. I'm going to sleep. Please don't break any more of my
equipment."

Jim had to look away and he blinked furiously when John pulled out the package.
“I didn’t get you anything.” He was determined not to cry over some stupid
fucking present. He sniffed and rubbed at his nose – it was just cold from
being outside. “I won’t break anything else, I promise. Thank you.”

John thawed a little, seeing how screwed up and hurt Jim was, managing a small
smile. "It's fine, I wasn't expecting anything. If it helps it's in our foster-
carer's leaflet. Page six. Always get a present for Christmas and birthdays."
He thought about giving Jim a pat on the shoulder but hesitated, feeling it
would be too awkward, and just nodded instead. "Good night, Jim." He left for
his bedroom, picking up a bottle of brandy as he went.

Jim watched him go, feeling a little less shit now that John didn’t look so
hurt. He’d smiled. But Jim saw him grab the bottle – that answered why he was
going to bed so early anyways. Jim felt too sick for the mince pies but he had
no problem grabbing the sherry and drinking from the bottle as he sat down on
the pull out bed with his gifts from John and Serephine. He decided to open
hers first and he sniffed as he tore at the paper carefully, not wanting to
make a mess. It was a multi-knife, and a good one too. Well-made and obviously
expensive. It had his name engraved. Jim, not James. He set it aside carefully
on the end table, thinking that giving him something sharp probably hadn’t been
the best decision, but she couldn’t know what state his head was in. He thought
about leaving John’s gift unopened… why torture himself? But John would be hurt
if he didn’t and Jim couldn’t bring himself to hurt John anymore today. He
opened it carefully and a pair of gloves fell out. They were black and
fingerless but they had an outer shell to protect his knuckles. Apparently John
thought he needed to hit something. There was also a thermal scarf, the tag
said that it could be worn in a multitude of different ways and it would keep
him warm. Jim tugged the scarf around his neck and curled up on top of his bed
as he cried quietly in the privacy of the dark room. He missed his mother and
hated himself for missing her. He missed Sebastian and he wished John wasn’t
angry and cold and that they could eat dinner together or just sit in the same
room and stand to look at each other and then he hated himself for wavering in
his decision. It was for the best. Wishing for anything else was selfish. He
fell asleep like that eventually, the sherry bottle empty and his little hands
gripping the material around his neck tightly.
 
===============================================================================
 

Sebastian stayed in his room for most of the afternoon, emerging with bad grace
for the Christmas meal and spending it glaring at all the guests, making
himself as small as he could in his smartest cadet uniform and letting politics
happen around him. He dragged up a minimum standard of graciousness to open the
presents, getting steadily drunker throughout the dinner and finally at the end
of it catching the younger Holmes brother as he sloped off, following him and
pressing him against the wall with one hand against his chest, the other hand
waving a half-empty glass of whiskey, "Alright, alright. Calm down, I'm not
gonna thump you. Just want to know about Jim. Not about you and Jim, fuck,
nobody wants to know about that. Was he in trouble, you notice shit, although
fuck knows whether you noticed it with his lips around your cock, but was
something up with him? Is he in danger?"

Sherlock had sulked since John Watson left with Jim, supremely regretting his
decision last night. When Sebastian Moran grabbed him and shoved him against a
wall he had thought the inevitable was about to occur. Sherlock wouldn’t have
blamed him – Jim had been made his own decisions but Sherlock was still ten
years older than him and he knew how the situation looked. He didn’t trust
Sebastian’s assurances that he wasn’t going to hit him. The boy was drunk and
Sherlock was a little jealous. He couldn’t help the way his eyebrows shot up to
his hairline when Sebastian said that Jim had given him a blow job when
Sherlock was sure he would have remembered that. The man pressed his fingers
against the little hickey Jim had left on his neck, irritated that Jim had left
him to deal with this mess when it really wasn’t any of his business. Sherlock
didn’t correct the misunderstanding. Obviously Jim had told Sebastian that they
had been more intimate than they were for a reason. “If you’re asking if he was
scared then, no, he wasn’t. I’m not you, I can see when my bed partners are
coerced into being there.” Sherlock sighed and was a tiny bit concerned about
the dead look he’d seen in Jim’s eyes this afternoon when he met up with them.
He could share something at least. “He seemed fatalistic. A little bit manic
maybe. That could have been the drugs though. Is it really so difficult to
accept that he was faking his relationship with you that you’re considering the
idea that he faked a fake relationship? For what purpose? No, you should
consider getting over your crush Moran. I’d wager the person you think you fell
in love with doesn’t actually exist.”

Sebastian pretty much slumped. His last hope, which the alcohol had bouyed up,
was that Jim might have been acting, coerced into breaking up with him, but
Sherlock's words seemed to confirm that he hadn't. "The person I felt in love
with? Nah, he doesn't exist. But I bet he wants to." He took another gulp of
the whiskey, ignoring the snide implication that he'd forced people into bed,
in his current mood it seemed a fitting accusation. The most likely explanation
was simply that he'd been duped embarressingly easily by some whore kid working
for Magnussen. Sighing he turned back to Sherlock. "Don't suppose you want me
to suck your cock? No? Huh... not sure I'm even that desperate. Merry Christmas
Holmes." Letting go of Sherlock's chest he stumbled drunkenly towards the
stairs.
 
Chapter End Notes
     TW: Threats of rape. Mentions of past child abuse.
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