Elliot took off his shirt. To get away from all of this. The coldness. The sense of paranoia coursing through his veins. The inevitable human contact. That every touch he felt resembled his mother's cold, harsh hands, making him feel worthless. Making him feel like nothing.

Humiliating, dehumanising a child who felt so fearful of standing up to anyone that he might get pushed back down again.

He arched his back, trying to get comfortable, but every attempt to do so left him more fearful, unattached. Everything seemed to spasm, and Elliot's eyes rolled back as he tried - again in vain - to stop this feeling of constant upset.

He was concentrating so much on this that he didn't hear the door creak open, nor did he see a tall, handsome figure make his way towards him.

Until he felt something strange.

It was a finger trailing across his stomach. He felt like choking, but somehow a laugh bubbled up and escaped his throat. He didn't know what this feeling was, but the bundle of nerves on his stomach seemed to react in a way that made him laugh. He didn't understand it.

The fingers moved to his sides now, walking up and down in a fast motion. Elliot bit his lip, trying not to laugh. He looked up at his tormentor. It was none other than Tyrell Wellick.

"Bonsoir Elliot," he murmured in his ear. Elliot gulped. He started to laugh again since he'd stopped trying not to laugh. He tossed and turned, trying to get out of Tyrell's grip, but something had him hooked. Something...different. Mysterious.

Creepy.

The word flashed in Elliot's mind and he gulped again before bursting out into laughter, moving to get away, but Tyrell just chuckled.

"Ticklish are we?"

"Wait, wha-stop!" Elliot gasped for air, but laughs escaped his mouth again. Somehow, this was even better than morphine, even if it did seem torturous.

Over time, Elliot reduced to silent laughter. Tyrell was just having the time of his life, grinning as his hands ran over Elliot's stomach. "So Elliot. You said you weren't vulnerable."

Elliot shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut as he tried to resist. He let out a slight laugh, arching his back.

"Are you sure about that?" Tyrell asked. His voice was deeper and more hypnotic now. Elliot struggled underneath his touch, gasping at how suddenly warm his hands were. The CEO just smirked, looking his captive up and down before pulling away. Elliot was gasping for breath, his chest rising and falling. Tyrell watched him for a moment before chuckling. "I should do that to you again sometime. Maybe even more." He saw Elliot stare at him in disbelief, heat rushing to his cheeks at what he was implying. The CEO just chuckled again before walking swiftly to the door and going out, slamming it behind him.

Elliot stared up at the cceiling, almost denying what he'd just experienced.

Almost.

And what do you know? The sensation gave a high greater than any drug had ever done.