When You're Broken On The Ground

Chapter 12

Now that we're heading away from the first story arc, I may need some time to get my plot lines in order, so updates may seem like filler (because they are...) but don't worry, that shouldn't last very long! So sorry this is so short and kinda late!!

ALL CREDIT FOR THE PIC GOES TO THE ARTIST, WHICH IS MOST DEFINITELY NOT ME!

EDIT: I'm not going to be able to update this weekend. I'm sorry, things have been hectic and it just won't work out. I've had a crazy emotional roller coaster these past couple days so I just need some recovery time to sort myself out and finish the next chapter. Sorry again and I hope to see y'all soon next Saturday.

Word Count: 946

Trigger Warnings: talk of emotional and domestic abuse, suggestions at past sexual activity (kinks are named but not discussed in depth), intrusive thoughts.

If you don't want to read the sexual talk, read up to the first page break and then continue after the second page break. It's a small part, a couple lines, nothing much and the conversation isn't really important for plot.

After the 'press conference', they go their own ways, promising to go to Patton and Logan's for dinner next week. Dee drives Remus and himself home before changing into some casual clothes.

"Remus?" Dee calls out from their living room.

Remus looks up from the cutting board, where he was chopping up peppers for dinner. "Yeah King Cobra?"

"We need to talk." Dee stands at the doorway to the kitchen, pretending to be causal, but Remus can see his fingers gripping his sleeves in a death grip.

"Okay," Remus sets down the knife and wipes off his hands without breaking eye contact, "about what?"

"Can we sit down? Please?"

"Of course snek boy."

They sit on the sofa, Dee obviously a bit nervous. Remus frowns, starting to get worried over what Dee wants to talk about.

"Some things came up after the 'press conference' which made me realize I never voiced some concerns I've had." Dee fidgets with his sleeves a little, a tick he picked up from Virgil.

"Please tell me we're not breaking up," Remus blurts out.

Dee looks shocked. "Of course not! Remus," he grabs his boyfriend's hands and squeezes them tight, "I love you. Never doubt that. There's just some things I want to talk with you about."

"I love you too. Now, what'd ya want to talk about?"

"My parents abused me and Patton, but they also abused each other. And I know we've gone over this before, when we started dating, but our relationship has grown a lot since then and I worry-"

"That you'll go too far," Remus finishes, seeing the pain in his partner's eyes. 

"Yeah."

"Dee, snek boy, the rotting banana peel to my garbage can," Dee wrinkles his nose at that name, "you could never take it too far. We both know our limits-"

"But I hit you and I know it's meant to be friendly but I worry that you don't. I don't want to be hurting you because I know you'd be the one to hide it instead of just telling me."

"Un-"

"Don't even try, you and Roman are more alike than you think."

"Fine, so I usually hide my pain, whatever. Only exception is that I don't hide from abuse. I know if I said stop you'd stop. If you carried it too far, I'd tell you."

_*_

"Stop doesn't always mean actually stop  with us rat man,"Dee deadpans. "We went through that a while go."

"Ah, the kink talk. That was fun!"

"More like embarrassing and awkward."

"You already knew most of my kinks anyway," Remus replies flippantly.

"I had my suspicions about the hair pulling and bondage."

"Oh." 

_*_

"We never set up a safe word though."

Remus shrugs. "Never felt the need I guess."

"Could we make one now?"

"Sure."

"It's really just for my peace of mind- wait what?"

"I said sure. We should have one, it was kinda stupid of us to not establish one sooner."

"You're okay with it? You don't think I'm being stupid?"

"Of course not babe." Remus secretly is worried about what Dee'd gone through to make him think that, but that's a problem for another day. One issue at a time. "Honestly I feel stupid for not doing it sooner."

"That's because you are," Dee deadpans. Remus grins, knowing Dee's back.

"Aww thanks danger noodle."

Dee scrunches his nose in distaste. Naturally, Remus smirks. 

"I boop the danger noodle." Fast as lightning, Remus bobs his boyfriend on the nose. Just like in actual snakes, Dee instinctively bleps. 

"I hate you."

"Nah you love me corn snake dear."

"Where do you keep getting these nicknames for me?!"

"It runs in the family. Roman does it too."

"Yeah but his are creative."

Gasping, clutching at his shirt in shock at such a betrayal, Remus manages to whisper, "Et tu Brute?"

His boyfriend rolls his eyes. "C'mon Remus, we still need a safe word."

"Fiiiiiiiiiine. How about whale pe- no, no," he digs his nails into his hands, "not gonna happen."

"Did you take your meds when we got home?" Dee asks worriedly.

"Um..."

"I'll grab them." He stands up and heads to the kitchen. 

"Do you ever just, think about what would happen if you grew four more arms?"

"Sorry darling, but never," Dee calls from the kitchen.

"Oh. Well I think you'd look good with 'em." Dee reappears, handing him a pill and a glass of water. He dry swallows the pill and then takes the water.

"It should take affect in a couple minutes; I'm surprised you didn't show symptoms sooner."

"Held 'em back, thought it was nothin'."

"You self-sacrificing idiot," Dee mutters lovingly.

"Hey here's a safe word: Altoids. Ya know, like the mints in those tin cases or something? We never have those, so it'd be perfect."

"Wow. That's- that's actually good!"

"See, I can have smart ideas."

"Alright, if at anytime you feel uncomfortable or want me to stop just say Altoids."

"Same for you."

"But I-"

"I know you too, let it happen."

"Fine."

"Love ya."

"... Love you too."