Gavin whined softly as he was roused from a restful slumber, desperately trying to hold on to the deep voice and silvery eyes that often haunted his dreams. He reached out, grasping for the warm hand he knew was no longer there, a name on the tip of his tongue until wakefulness swept it away. An ache of loss filled his chest as he opened his tired eyes and stared at the same blank, white wall he'd been faced with for the past...however long it had been. He'd stopped even trying to count. Between sleeping and waking, there was no way of knowing.

What he did know was that he was laying naked in bed with an equally naked body pressing up behind. He took in a slow breath, stretching and arching against the man behind him. A powerful arm had looped around his waist beneath the sheets, and warm breath assaulted his neck and shoulder as he leaned in to press gentle kisses across his skin. A lazy smile crossed Gavin's lips, tired eyes lidding as he tilted his head to give his captor better access.

"Morning, Gav." Two simple words. Two words he'd heard every morning for what seemed like months. They were familiar, but still flooded his senses with a sense of wrongness. The words were familiar. It was a voice he knew. Jack's voice.

"Morning, Jack." It was the expected response. He ignored the wrongness of it. He had to. If he acknowledged it, the doubt would fester. If he allowed the doubt to grow, Jack would notice. That was bad. It led to bad things. Things like that room. Things like-Gavin gasped, spine arching as Jack bit his shoulder and kneaded the soft flesh with his teeth. He didn't need to think about that. This was better. The sensation of Jack's cool fingers stroking a path up to his chest, where they lingered to tease his pecs before latching onto his nipples. His second hand crept beneath his arm, allowing him to pinch and tease both buds at once, leaving Gavin's ass squirming against his pelvis.

"Feeling a little energetic this morning, I see." Gavin whined at the teasing, unable to fight it as Jack tossed the white duvet aside to reveal his morning wood. Jack couldn't exactly take credit for that; it was a bodily reaction. He could, however, take full advantage of it. Soft lips and sharp teeth returned to his shoulder, tongue licking the abused flesh as those deft fingers continued rubbing and teasing. Little sparks shot down through his twitching pelvis, going straight to his dick as he bucked his hips. He outright moaned as he felt Jack's cock nudge between his cheeks. It seemed he wasn't the only one with wood that morning.

"J-Jack..." It still felt strange saying it. There was another name that should be on his lips. Different hands should be sliding up and down his body. The cock between his thighs should be bigger. The murmur of his name seemed to please Jack, at least. He hummed softly, stroking down his body to caress his hip and thigh. Gavin was surprised as the hand slipped beneath his knee and lifted, allowing Jack to sneak a leg between his thighs. He hooked his knee over his thigh, propping him up on his side. It was a little uncomfortable to be spread sideways like that, but the discomfort was soon forgotten as a hand grabbed his ass.

"Are you going to be good for me, baby?" Jack purred in his ear, sending a shiver down Gavin's spine. He whined softly, cock twitching as the hand on his ass stroked and teased his perineum and cupped his balls. The fingers on his nipple remained relentless, too, twisting and tweaking as he squirmed.

"Good-I'll be good-I'll be good!" Anything to stay in the bed and out of the tiled room. Jack hushed and soothed him softly, as if sensing his fear. He murmured gentle assurances, telling him how good he was as he rubbed his nipple and stroked his cock. Gavin whined in relief, bunching the sheets with one hand and grabbing Jack's thigh with the other. He wanted to be good. To show Jack he was good. Jack pushed himself up a little, the gap between them telling him he was looking for something on the bedside table. The pop of a cap a moment later told him what it was.

"That's it, Gav...You're my good boy, aren't you?" Gavin shuddered and nodded as cool fingers touched and teased his entrance, prodding and circling the tight ring of muscle. He took a sharp breath as two slick fingers worked their way inside. It felt familiar. It felt good. Pleasure coiled in the pit of his stomach as Jack stroked and teased his passage. "Good boy..." His cock twitched at the praise, pearly release beading at the slit and dripping on the mattress.

"Phck...Jack, I-phck!" He rocked his hips slowly, impaling himself on the searching fingers. Jack chuckled against his naked shoulder, clearly pleased as he bucked and writhed. It was a little hard, propped open on his side as he was, but once he got an arm under himself and held his body up, it got a little easier. Jack pushed up with him, still tweaking his nipple as he leaned on his arm, thoroughly fingering him open with his free hand. In the back of his mind, Gavin was disgusted with himself. This was wrong. A sick reenactment of his most private fantasies from a long time ago. In the forefront of his mind, all he could focus on was the trickle of pleasure filling his pelvis.

"You have no idea how good you feel, baby...You're so warm and loose for me...Fuck, I could slide right in..." Gavin whined softly at the teasing, tensing a little as those probing fingers were replaced with the much wider tip of his leaking cock. "Oh-fuck yeah, baby...You feel so good..." Gavin shivered as he was breached, feeling Jack lift his leg higher as he slid forward. A moan slipped out, his passage filling until his ass was flush against Jack's firm pelvis. Held open as he was, he really had no control as Jack rocked his hips. Gavin moaned loudly, a dart of pleasure shooting through his chest as Jack's cock ploughed his ass. He didn't pull out all the way, but he gave himself enough room to pound in with a firm clap. "Is that good, baby?"

"Y-yea-ah!" Gavin could barely get the word out between moans. He bounced hard, breath sticking in his throat as his cock twitched and slapped his pelvis. He turned his upper body closer to the bed, supporting himself on both arms as Jack kept him spread sideways and snapped again. The angle was hitting him in just the right place to build him up without ever being touched. His cock was already dripping, leaving smears on his thigh and pelvis with each bounce. Jack leaned closer, resting his head on his shoulder as he snapped his hips. "Ph-phck!" He was like a jackhammer. A jackhammer with an endless amount of fuel. Gavin gripped the sheets tighter, a moan forced out with each pounding thud.

"Are you coming for me, baby?" Gavin nodded, unable to get a word out as he was rocked and bounced. Jack chuckled against his shoulder, nipping and kissing his way up to his neck. Jack's name was torn from his lips as he spilled, pleasure and shame flooding his stomach and making it churn. White smeared the sheets, drips splashing his thigh and pelvis as Jack continued the relentless pace. He was almost limp in Jack's arms when he finally came, pushing in deep to ensure he received the bulk of his load. "Good, doesn't that feel good? Fuck, I could look at you all day..." Gavin whined softly as his leg was finally lowered to the soiled sheets and Jack pulled out, holding him open to watch his own release spill out again.

"I feel dirty." In more ways than one. Jack chuckled softly, pressing a kiss against his clean shaven cheek before leaving for the bathroom. Gavin shuddered as he left, burying his face in the pillow and repeating over and over that it was fine. It's Jack. It's just Jack. This is what we do now. This is how we are. There's nothing wrong. Everything's fine. If he repeated the lie enough, he hoped it would stick one day. He outright flinched when Jack returned and touched his shoulder.

"Come and clean up, Gav...He's coming today." Ice filled his stomach at the gentle warning. Jack huffed softly, prying him from the bed with gentle, coaxing hands and walking him through to the bathroom. He shivered despite the warmth of the water as he climbed in and set about cleaning himself. Jack left him be, trusting him to clean up with no accidents. Gavin had never been one for giving up, so he needn't worry about his safety.

His visits with the Hickory Killer had been fleeting since his arrival. After being confined, he was pretty much left in Jack's hand. The Hickory Killer had come to see him occasionally since then, but never for longer than a few minutes. It was like he was waiting for something, like his sick little game hadn't played out all the way. Gavin couldn't even imagine what it was all for at this point. Guessing and trying to adapt was giving him no answers either. It was like he knew. Those sickeningly soft blue eyes stared at him through the mask, assessing him, picking him apart, and then he was on his way.

He didn't seem to have a problem with the way Jack treated him. In fact, he seemed to encourage it. The day he'd broken down and given in to Jack, the Hickory Killer had rewarded him with a gentle pat on the head and a fine meal. Gavin didn't understand it. Why bring him here just to make him shack up with an andr-with Jack? At first, Gavin had expected the Hickory Killer himself to show such an interest in him, but apparently, that didn't fit his personality. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised. The fucker only gets off on killing people! He pushed that thought back in the box it came out of. Such thoughts were dangerous. They festered, encouraging resistance. He needed to be good. He needed to please them. If he didn't, they'd put him back in the room.

Gavin was still trembling by the time Jack came in to check on him. He hadn't moved from his place in the tub, clean, but still shivering as the water cooled. Jack coaxed him to his feet and lifted him out to wrap him in a fluffy towel. The softness was familiar. It made him feel safe. It was expensive, like the ones at Elijah's house. Memories of using the shower sprang to mind. Trembling in fear. Dripping wet. Tears. Softness on his skin and muscular arms embracing him. He could almost smell the familiar thirium scent as he closed his eyes, and then it was gone. Chased away as Jack's hands rubbed him dry. That wasn't right. That wasn't how it was supposed to feel. He looked up, blinking as Jack's lips caressed his own and he was led across to the sink so he could brush his teeth.

When he returned to the bedroom, his clothes were laid out, waiting. The same as always. A navy V-neck, jeans, and his leather jacket. He wasn't going anywhere, so his tan boots remained under the bed where they'd been neatly placed weeks ago. It was a little easier to pretend as he shrugged into his leather jacket. The leather layer made him feel safe. Brave. He could pretend he was still himself so long as he was shrouded in leather. At the breakfast table was a bowl of fruit and porridge, still steaming hot. Jack must have left earlier while he was in the bath. There was a mug of coffee, too. He cradled it greedily, savouring the sear on his skin as he breathed it in. It smelled so fucking good, and yet a tiny part of him hesitated.

"Go ahead, you must be thirsty." He was thirsty, but he still hesitated. Why doesn't this feel right? Blinking, he remembered he'd almost given up coffee. That's probably why it felt weird. He wasn't supposed to drink it unless-Unless...He frowned, staring into the steaming cup. There was something he needed first. "It's not like you need permission to drink, Gav!" Jack's tone was teasing, but in Gavin's mind, he'd hit the nail on the head. Someone was supposed to tell him it was alright first. It was the funniest feeling. He forced a stiff smile as he took a sip, forcing the wrongness aside as he swallowed it down.

His stomach churned as he set the mug aside and mixed the bowl of porridge. There were red berries in it, the type that grew in the spring. Spring? Had he been there for over a year? The very thought made him feel sick. Despite that, he spooned it into his mouth and chewed. He needed all the energy he could get, never knowing when or if he'd be returned to the tiled room. Keeping his strength up was a necessity. If there was an opportunity, he needed to be ready to take it. He shook his head. That would be dangerous. He needed to do as he was told. I need to be good.

Gavin barely noticed what Jack was doing as he ate, though he could hear the gentle humming. Music from the early 2010s. Songs he always used to hum when they were on a case. His skin prickled at the wrongness, green eyes dropping to his bowl. Jack changed the bed and neatened the room as he ate, getting things ready for his master to arrive. He was always prompt when he said he was coming, and it wouldn't do to leave the place untidy. He'd barely finished and taken up a place behind Gavin when the door clicked open and the Hickory Killer entered.

Gavin's stress levels shot through the roof, dropping the spoon in his bowl with a clatter. It was a wonder he didn't clatter out of the chair. His heart pounded as the masked man walked towards him with measured steps. It was like he hadn't changed his clothes. He was wearing the same black outfit as usual, his hood over his head and a mask covering his face. Aaron's deep chuckle rumbled from his lips as he walked over and took a seat at the table. Jack ran a hand through Gavin's hair, unsurprised as he scooted closer, swallowing hard.

"I'm glad you finally seem to be appreciating my gift," the Hickory Killer said as he waved a hand at Jack, who smiled warmly as he continued fingering through his hair. Gavin couldn't move under the scrutiny, not even to nod his agreement. "Let me look at you." Gavin balked as a leather clad hand reached across the table and took his chin. His fingers were firm but gentle as he turned his head this way and that, looking into his terrified green eyes. The Hickory Killer's eyes were unreadable. He could see the gentle blue, but they were sharp and calculating, assessing him for something. "You look much better."

"Thanks..." Gavin was surprised he didn't choke on the word. He felt anything but better, though he knew he must look better than when he first left the tiled room. He'd been eating and regaining weight, and Jack had even been training with him. His muscle mass was back around where it had been before, and his fighting skills were sharp. Why they were letting him train was beyond him, but then, it's not like he'd be able to beat Jack in a fight. He was an andr-

"Yes...so much better." A shiver ran down his spine, cutting off his previous thought. "I think you're about ready to begin." That didn't sound promising. The Hickory Killer sat back, either ignoring or missing how wary he was. "I've told you before, Gavin...We're not so different, you and I. I know, I know. You like to think you're better than that. That there is no thrill in the kill. No...allure to delivering the gift of death, but I know you, Gavin...I've seen you. The potential is there. All I need to do is nurture it." Gavin felt sick, especially hearing it in Aaron's gentle voice. His heart raced; chest tight with indignation at the suggestion he was capable of such horror.

"You're wrong...I'm not like you-I'm not a killer." He hated the fact he sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than the Hickory Killer. The Hickory Killer sat back and laughed softly, looking at him like a naïve child. What makes him so certain? Why does he think I would do that?

"You are like me. You've already had a taste." Killing in the line of duty wasn't the same thing! He did that out of necessity, not because he wanted to! "You remember her, don't you?" His stomach churned as he thought of Chloe. Her screams and tears, the look of desperation on her face. That wasn't his fault either! She asked him to! She'd even said so afterwards! "I know you can do it, Gavin. I just have to give you the right...incentive." Gavin shuddered at what sounded very much like a veiled threat. "Gently." Gavin frowned, confused as the Hickory Killer looked up. An arm locked around his throat and squeezed. He panicked, pushing to his feet and sending him and Jack stumbling back against the wall. It didn't help a bit, nor did it loosen the hold he had on his throat. His eyes burned as he choked, desperately trying to take in a breath. It was a futile effort with the arm still locked around his throat. He could already feel his body weakening, going limp in Jack's arms as his head span.