Caroline couldn't sleep with all the banging and moans and screams coming from Max's bedroom. It's been a month since Max found Caroline on the subway and let her stay at her place, and almost everyday since then Caroline heard the noises from Max's room.
Everynight Robbie came to their place, when Robbie first met Caroline he even flirted with her, Caroline couldn't believe the audacity and she told Max about it, but apparently she had no need to worry because Max wasn't a slightest surprised at the news. She acted as if it was a normal thing for Robbie, and that was concerning for Caroline and the blonde had straight out told Max she deserves better, again, the brunnette only shrugged her off and asked her to mind her own business.
Some nights the noises were more violent, with slaps and spanking and sounds of gagging or muffled screams; the first time it happened Caroline was worried sick but when finally the session ended and Robbie came straight out and went home, Caroline sneaked a tiny peak and widened her eyes at the ropes and cuffs and a light bulb lit up in her naive mind, it was a BDSM play.
Curious and still worried, Caroline had done a lot of research on the topic. The more she read into them, the more worried she got at Max's well being. It wasn't the action that scared her the most, it was the fact that Robbie wasn't taking care Max the way he should after these plays. He left straight after as if Max was only some sort of sex toy. Not for the first time, Caroline hurts for Max. The brunnette deserves so much more but Max wouldn't listen to her. A month later, the tough and cold brunnette still has not warm up to her.
Caroline tried to sleep but one painful scream jerked her awake, she stared at the bedroom door in worry. More sounds of struggle and painful screams came out from the door. Caroline was sticked between checking if Max was hurt for real or if it was one of their role play.
"Stop!" The sound of warning strains out in a broken voice and Caroline's heart dropped.
Enough.
Caroline decided, she stood up in a determined demeanor and walked up to the door, she knocked on the door and the sounds stopped but Caroline could hear a sniff. Caroline's heart pained at the sound, ever since she knew about Robbie and more and more about Max's background, she had grown super protective of the broken brunnette but she was always hesitant to 'mind Max's business's because the tough brunnette always acted as if everything was okay the next day and would not let Caroline in.
Everything is changing today.
Caroline decided and stilled her voice, long gone was the timid and afraid little princess when she lost all everything, not when she was living with someone so strong and tough like Max, who had worse life than hers. Max saved her from the subway, but Caroline had long realized it was Max who needed saving.
"Is everything okay?" Caroline asked with a frown. She heard muffled sounds and a scream before she heard a slap.
Oh, you're fucking done. Robbie Hank.
Rage filled Caroline, she didn't care if this was some sick play because long ago Caroline had figured out herself this was not a healthy d/s relationship if it even was one.
The door opened and Robbie's mindless smirk appeared, "Hey Caroline. Nothing's wrong, what's up? You wanna join?"
"Get out." Caroline growls, arms crossed.
Confusion set on Robbie's face, Caroline knew Robbie was a dumb, ignorant douchebag whose only harm was because he didn't know what the fuck he was doing, or right now, dealing with.
"I'm sorry, Caroline, Max and I-"
"I said get the fuck out." Caroline growls again and this moment she seemed to grow a few inch taller, her confidence and authority returned back to the Queen she used to be who got everything she wanted.
Robbie stubbled back at the change of dynamic power, he frowns deeper and glanced behind the half closed door.
"Listen to me, fuckboy." Caroline growls again and puts her right hand around Robbie's throat in a threatening voice. "One day I will have a talk about what you have done with MY Max, but for now I want you gone."Woah, Caroline. Chill. We were only playing, you can ask Max." Robbie laughs, not seeing Caroline as a real threat in his ignorant state. Caroline glared at him, she will everything else in the future but for now she only need to know one thing.
"What's your Safeword?" Caroline asked and tightened her grip, Robbie widened his eyes. Caroline glanced at the slightly ajar door and saw that Max was looking at then intently. Caroline focused back on Robbie who was startled.
"Safeword? What's that?" Robbie lets pit another mindless smirk. That seemed to switch on an explosion in Caroline.
"WHAT!?" Caroline lets out a deep growl and swing her hand in anger and frustration, Robbie wasn't expecting the strength and fell to the ground. He clutched his throat.
"Bunch of bitches!" He said, now finally taking Caroline seriously, he stormed into the room, grabbed his things and rushed out the door.
"I'm not done with you, HANK!" Caroline grabbed his wrist as he rushed past, he looked at her, surprised for the second time, swung his hand free and went out in a huff and a slam of the door.
Caroline waited a second to make sure he was not coming back, locked the door and rushed into Max's room. Max was unlocking herself from her cuffs on her all four position, her hands struggling to unlock herself with both hands cuffed and a key in her right fist.
Caroline gasped and the breath was held in involuntaryly at the sight. There was bruises everywhere on Max's creamy skin, some new and most old ones. Tears rimmed her eyes as she walked to Max who was again, acting she was totally fine and nothing horrible just happened. Wordlessly, Caroline takes the key from Max's fist. Max flinched.
She mumbled some things from her gagged mouth. Caroline took away the ball gag from her mouth and saliva dripped down from Max's dry lips. Max glared at Caroline.
"I'm fine, go away." Max said in a hoarse voice.
Heart in extreme pain, Caroline tried to hold her tears at bay. She bit her lips, ignoring Max's glare and words, she unlocked Max's wrist from the cuffs and took both red wrists in her hands as if she was holding diamonds. Still speaking no words, Caroline took each wrist one at the a time to place a gentle kiss on the red spots. Max flinched at the gentle touch and tried to jerked back but Caroline held them firmly, not harshly nor tightening them to avoid further pain.
After she placed two kisses on Max's inner wrists, she took a pocket knife from her pocket in case she needed to protect themselves from Robbie and climbed to the back, cutting the ropes loose. Max only stared ahead, confused and all kinds of feelings mixed together. When she was physically free, Caroline held her hand and lead her outside to her own Murphy bed.
Max, numbed but feeling too much at the same time just allowed Caroline to lead her to the bed.
"Stay here." Caroline whispered and kissed Max's forehead, she let Max sit up in the middle and covered her with the comforter. Caroline switched on the lamp on her night stand so that there was enough light to see Max. Max didn't make eye contact with the blonde, she stared ahead and gripped the comforter tightly to her.
Caroline came back shortly from the toilet with a small basin of warm water and a towel soaked in them in one hand, and some sort of oilment in another. She sits next to Max and gently pried away the comforter from Max who refused to let go.
"Shhhh...It's okay." Caroline whispered and puts a strand of hair behind Max's ear. She pried away the comforter and this time Max lets her still refusing to make eye contact. Wordlessly, Caroline started to clean her up, rubbing her gently with the warm, soaked towel. Max wanted to protest and she seemed to have lost her voice and her courage. Caroline gently wiped at her breasts and her flat navel, travelling downwards.
"Spread a little." Caroline whispered and Max was filled with shame and embarrassment. She laid back onto the pillows and slowly spread her legs a little.
"Good girl." Caroline smiles softly and wipes her inner thighs and her red pussy. Max trembled at the intensity of the soft touch. Once Caroline was done, she turned her around and moves to wipe her back.
Finally, Caroline lets her tears dropped and did not attempt to wipe then away from her face, Max could feel drips of water on her back but only thought it was the towel dripping. After she was done, Caroline started to apply the soothing oilment on each and every bruise very gently.
"What's that?" Max finally said and sighed at the wonderful feelings.
Again, Caroline's heart hurt for Max for not even knowing what the oilment was, even after god knows how long Max had been together with Robbie before she met her.
Caroline replied softly "It's a soothing oilment, it will help your bruises. Turn around."
Max turned around in all her glory, the warm light casting shadows on her creamy but bruised body. Max glanced at Caroline as she starts to apply then on her breasts, she frowned at the sight of Caroline's teary eyes.
"Are you crying?" Max finally asked, her voice still hoarse.
Caroline shook her head and finished up applying oilment on Max, when she was done with all the care Max physically needs, Caroline asked softly, looking into Max's eyes.
"Do you want some hot chocolate?"
Max frowned and since she knew nothing about after care (or taking care of herself for that matter) she thought that was a random question to ask.
"You don't know how to make one, Blondie."
"I do, Max." Caroline said shortly and went to make two mugs of hot chocolate for them. The two women basked in the silence of the place, ocassionally the sound of kettle and utensil were heard. Max watched Caroline from the bed in the dark living room only ignited by the dim lamp, she didn't what to say, what to do or what to feel. What would she do for a joint right now.
Caroline came back to the bed and passed her the hot chocolate, one sip and Max moaned. That was fucking ambrosia for her weakened and cold body, and after whatever shit that just happened, it was really comforting. Max was grateful as they both sipped the drinks in silence.
After a while, Caroline spoke softly, looking ahead before looking at Max.
"How can you have let this happened, Max?"
Max swallows and wished the warmth from the hot choc wouldn't dissipate so fast. "What do you mean?" She knew how Caroline meant but asked anyway.
"How could you let him hurt you this way?"
"He wasn't hurting me, Caroline. It's a kink, search it up for God's sake." Max snapped, defensive.
Caroline knew the brunnette's walls were up but she needed to break them down.
"Bullshit, what kind of play is that when both of you don't even know what a fucking safeword is or aftercare? You know it just blows my mind when he asked me what was a Safeword! What if he hurt you too much? What if you didn't like it? What if you wanted him to stop?"
I wanted it to hurt. Max thought and didn't realize she said it out. "I want it to hurt so much I forget myself."
"Max..." Caroline puts down both of their mugs and place a hand of Max's cheeks to face her. Caroline is met with dark green eyes that have long lost its spark. "Is that why you do it? Is that why you are still with him, you want to self destruct? Because every morning I see you, I feel like you died a little." Caroline whispered. Max's eyes hardened to hide the fact that Caroline was right with each words, and she was secretly crumbling inside.
"I'm going to sleep." Max mumbled and started to get up but Caroline held her down.
"No, stay." Caroline said into Max's eyes. "Stay with me tonight, let me take care of you."
Max's heart throbbed painfully, "I don't need anyone to take care of me."
"Let me do it anyway." Caroline pleaded and tugged at her hand, "Let me take care of you, Max."
Max's eyes showed hesitation and helplessness for a moment. She was so so scared right then. Caroline tugged gently again and Max was weak to the pull, to the idea of Caroline wanting to take care of her. Max laid back down and faced away from Caroline, Caroline slowly, to not scare the broken brunnette away, wrapped her arms around Max's waist. Max tensed up and squirmed but Caroline runs her thumb in circle on her navel to calm her down.
Max stared ahead, clenching her jaw in an indignant way.
"I want to be the one you loose yourself to, Max, not some dumb douchebag who doesn't what he was doing. I want you to place your trust in me knowing I will never betray your trust, I want you to feel the pain but know that I never ever hurt you. I want you to be vulnerable with me knowing that I'll take care of you after." Caroline said softly and Max heard every single word, she wished she hadn't.
"Just leave me alone." Max said and clenched her jaw harder upon hearing her voice waver. Caroline only tightened her hold on Max.
"No."
Max tried to struggled but her body was too tired and comfortable at the position.
"Go away, Caroline. Let me go." Max said again, but her waver didn't go away but only got stronger.
"No."
"Caroline." Max warned and was desperate to hide away but her body and heart wouldn't listen. Max held onto Caroline's hand on her stomach, wanting to slap it away but their fingers only intertwined. Max's shoulders started to shake, the end of her fingertips started to tingle and her eyes started to water.
"Caroline..." At this point only a desperate whisper came out, Max curled into herself, and involuntaryly clutched Caroline's chest to her heart. Damn Caroline for molding right behind her as if they were some dumb puzzle pieces that fit together perfectly.
Caroline responded by placing butterfly kisses on her shaking shoulders, Max took deep shuddering breath to stop herself from breaking down but was scared out of her mind that she couldn't.
"I'm right here, Max. I'm not going anywhere." Caroline coos and Max squeezed her eyes really tight and bit down on her lips hard.
But when she finally broke down in Caroline's arm and later fell asleep from exhaustion, Caroline was still right there with her.