*******Trigger Warning for physical/emotional manipulation and abuse*******
Chapter 2
Lotor closed the door and double locked it. Keith doesn't have time to react as he felt his body being shoved to their living room forcefully. The strong hold Lotor had on him still present. "Who was that!" Lotor said, raising his voice.
Keith tried to remove himself from Lotor's grip at the shoulders, but Lotor kept his grip firm. His nails pinched at Keith's skin. Finally after a good tug Keith got away. "It was nothing, he's nobody, you heard him, he's just the new neighbour, introducing himself."
Lotor stood tall crossing his arms, Keith felt so short compared to him, so small. "He didn't look like just the new neighbour," Lotor said using quotations with his fingers. "He was checking you out, he was looking at you."
Keith let his bangs fall over his eyes. "I, he's just overly friendly. I went to high school with him."
"High school?"
Oh that had been a mistake Keith realized. He never should have mentioned that one.
"So you have a past?"
"No, no it's not like that Lotor, he, we never even talked. My high school was huge you know, and he was popular, I was the loner, it isn't anything you need to worry about." Keith was babbling, Lotor hated it when Keith babbled.
Lotor marched forward and Keith flinched expecting the impact, but never feeling it. Instead he felt Lotor caress his cheek. Keith opened his eyes, Lotor staring at him. "I just get nervous, you don't belong to other guys, you belong to me," Lotor said, the lull to his British accent making Keith swoon a little. He liked nice Lotor a lot better than the guy who'd been coming home every day.
Lotor sat on the floor and leaned against the couch. He patted the floor in front of him. Keith sat down in Lotor's lap, and Lotor began playing with Keith's hair, un-wrapping his ponytail and tugging at the ends. He was being gentle, undoing the knots playful.
Keith stayed still, breathing in as Lotor moved from his hair to his back. He reached under his shirt, his hands playing along his recent injuries. Keith tried to keep as still as possible, the stinging nothing to last week.
Lotor moved back to Keith's hair, his nails dragging through the locks. "Your motorbike is parked different today," Lotor said. Keith felt a large tug on his hair, the action hurting more than attracting.
"I went out," Keith mumbled, Lotor pulled at his hair more forcefully, letting Keith groan. He was a lot stronger than Keith, Keith knew that well firsthand.
Lotor stopped pulling rigidly on Keith's hair. "I don't like the way you've been treating me as of late Keith, you're so rebellious when I give you so much." Lotor dragged a hand through a particularly tough knot in Keith's hair. "You know you're supposed to ask permission when you go out."
Keith crossed his legs, his face blushing as Lotor moved his other hand down his back and then even further down. "I haven't ridden my motorcycle in a while, and I wanted to go for a ride." It was quiet; he didn't want Lotor to pick up on any ill-intent from his voice. He just wanted a calm afternoon.
The only reason he'd gone out had been to pick up some more painkillers for his headache. That wasn't something he could ask Lotor to buy for him so his only choice had been leaving that morning for the trip into town.
If only Lance hadn't shown up today, then Lotor would be in a good mood, then Lotor wouldn't be mad at him and instead be happy he rode his motorbike that his boyfriend had gotten him for Christmas. What was the point in having a motorcycle if he was never allowed to ride it? He knew Lotor didn't like riding it, he didn't like helmet hair— but Keith loved the feeling, he'd always wanted a motorbike, and when Lotor had gotten him one he'd been so happy. He was never happy anymore.
Lotor moved his hand even lower, and Keith stiffened. He really wasn't in the mood.
"You should be disciplined, for going against me." Lotor brought his arm around Keith's chest. Keith stiffened more, this time Lotor noticing. He pushed Keith down on the floor, Lotor's chest overtop Keith's back. Lotor pushed into him fully clothed. "You know I'm the only person who will ever love you."
Keith didn't answer, instead turning his head. His hair getting in the way.
Lotor pushed his weight on Keith more, causing Keith to grunt. The bruise on his stomach was sore, and his head was still hurting from last weekend.
Running his hand through Keith's hair some more Lotor stopped at the bruise by his brow. He pressed a hand into it. Keith yelped.
"It's so ugly, petty even, how easily you bruise," Lotor said, he moved back up, but instead of getting off Keith he stayed sitting on his back. "You don't seem very receptive today," Lotor said.
Keith tried to push himself up, but Lotor kept him pinned to their carpet floor with his fingers pressed into his back. He used his hands to push Keith further into the carpet, the force really just upsetting Keith's stomach. Lotor stopped after a feat beats, the force had made it hard for Keith to breathe, but now it was easier.
Lotor moved his hands down Keith's back, he grabbed at the side to Keith's jeans and began pushing them downward slightly so Keith's boxers were showing.
Keith moved his head so he could face Lotor, their eyes staring into one another. There was a glare, an annoyance present in Keith's eye. That had been his mistake, he really should've been better, more accepting, shown a helplessness to himself—Lotor liked that. But instead he was just annoyed; he hated the positon he was in.
The slap to his cheek came quickly, the brunt force stinging, and the fact that his arms were pinned down so he couldn't rub it hurting even more. Lotor slid off Keith's back.
"I'm not in the mood today," Lotor said as he got up. Keith pushed himself onto his knees, fixing up his pants he didn't have time to defend as he felt his hair being pulled with a large force.
He knew that he wasn't getting off the hook that easily. "You can sleep in the closet tonight," Lotor said.
Oh the closet, it'd be his second time this week.
Lotor dragged Keith by the hair, and Keith had to keep himself from muttering "ow," every few second as they go into their bedroom. Lotor opened the door to their walk-in closet. He shoved Keith inside. Keith didn't fight it; he didn't feel up for it as Lotor shoved him onto the floor. He heard the click of the lock seconds later.
Lotor hadn't grabbed his work clothes for tomorrow, so Keith knew it wouldn't be a long time he'd be locked in. He hadn't done anything majorly bad either, Lotor was more angry at Lance, and that was better than the anger being directed at him.
Keith leaned against the wall to the closet, their clothes hanging on the hangers. He seemed to get locked in the closet a lot lately.
Keith remembered the first time it happened, a month after they'd moved in together. Keith hadn't even realized the closet could be locked from the outside; Lotor had been the one to change the locks. Keith had screamed, and yelled, but no one came. It hadn't been till the next day that Lotor unlocked the door. He apologized, and then slept with Keith to apologize more.
He had tried to run away a few times. Keith never got far though, Lotor usually found him. Calling the police was no help, Lotor had ties with the police, he had ties with everyone, plus a good trust fund his father had given him.
The furthest Keith had gotten was two towns over to a motel room, but even there Lotor found him the next morning and dragged him back. He'd locked him in the closet for days after that incident.
But even that hadn't been as bad as the time last month. Keith had gotten into a really big fight with Lotor, it had been so bad Lotor had broken one of Keith's ribs—along with all the table-lamps in their apartment. That's what he got for standing up for himself.
When Lotor stormed out he'd forgotten to lock Keith in, so Keith had left, and with nowhere to go he'd ran to Shiro, only telling Shiro he'd gotten into a really bad fight. Shiro had been overly concerned, except then Lotor had shown up, explaining that he'd been out looking for Keith everywhere after he'd 'apparently' called him about the street fight he'd gotten into.
When they got home Lotor had been so mad he'd gone to his older brother. If he ever went back to Shiro he promised he'd find a way to have Shiro murdered, and that it'd be easy. Lotor was a defense criminal lawyer; he helped criminals escape punishment for killing people every other month.
Maybe after that Keith really stopped trying to fight it. Besides Shiro Keith didn't really have any family. And he'd almost lost Shiro before, the car accident that took his arm; Keith didn't want to feel that again. He'd thought Shiro died. And after Shiro recovered Keith didn't want to be a financial burden on Shiro anymore, so he'd found himself a boyfriend—who just happened to be Lotor.
Lying on the floor Keith shivered. He grabbed one of his jackets from the hangers and dripped it over his shoulders. Putting his head on the ground Keith gave a soft sigh.
His mind focused back on the Hemingway book near the front door. Keith kind of wished he could read it. It had looked interesting despite the way Lance had dropped it on his foot.
Keith frowned, thinking back to Lance and that Hunk guy. They'd been Shiro's friends in high school, and despite the multiple invites Keith had never drifted close to any of them. He was shy and didn't really want to get close to anyone. He'd already moved school after the way James had treated him at his last one, so maybe he was just too scared to make any new friends.
Maybe things would have turned out differently though if Keith had been friends with that group, maybe he never would've had to have started dating Lotor.
When Lotor turned off the light to his bedroom and Keith was elapsed in total darkness now that nothing was coming through the crack, he let himself drift off. His hunger more than anything getting to him and not allowing him to sleep, luckily the dark helped him shut his eyelids.
In the morning when the door was unlocked light shined into the closet—Keith had to use his hand to block it. Lotor stood highly above him and Keith had to push away his groggy feeling to get up.
"Well," Lotor said as Keith rubbed some sleep out of his eyes.
"I'm sorry," Keith said. He couldn't remember what Lotor was upset about, but he hoped the two word apology was enough. Sometimes when Lotor asked for a reason and Keith said the wrong thing Lotor would keep him locked in the closet for the day.
Lotor kept staring down at Keith. He wanted a reason.
"For the way I acted, and leaving the house without permission yesterday," Keith said. He hoped he didn't have to apologize about Lance, he had a feeling bringing up their new neighbour might just make Lotor more upset. The smile on Lotor's face told Keith he'd given the right answer though.
"Thank you for your apology, I hope you've learned your lesson." Lotor dropped down and wrapped Keith in his arms. He kept his grip tight around Keith's side. Keith hugged back, the action irritating his stomach a bit.
Pulling back Lotor petted Keith's head. "Now I've made breakfast, it's on the counter for you. Why don't you go eat it while I get dressed for work." Lotor kissed Keith's forehead, and Keith gave Lotor his fake smile.
"Of course," he said, as Lotor and him got off the floor of the closet. Lotor rubbed the side of Keith's face.
"I love you," he said. Keith kept his fake smile.
"I love you to," Keith said.
Leaving the closet Keith felt a slap to his butt getting out. He didn't turn around to give one back, knowing Lotor liked to show his dominance.
Sitting at the island to their kitchen Keith saw the plate of eggs over toast and the orange juice beside it. Keith knew what was in the orange juice and eggs before he started eating it.
Sleeping pills, or whatever drug Lotor liked to use to keep Keith lazy for the day. On days he was upset with Keith for leaving the apartment he'd often give Keith the sleeping pills. Either forcefully or hidden in his food. Today Lotor wanted to pretend like everything was normal, that he hadn't sprinkled some sort of drug dust in his food.
"Something wrong with breakfast?" Lotor asked, fixing his tie as he left their room.
Keith shook his head, grabbing the fork he started eating the eggs off the toast. He could barely taste a difference, but he did notice the hint.
Eating it quickly Keith finished off with his orange juice getting the full gulp in. When Lotor was satisfied with Keith finishing he went and put the dishes in the dishwasher.
Keith could already feel the dizziness as he sat at the bar stool. He might have actually fallen if Lotor hadn't come up from behind him and hugged him. "Now let's let you get some more sleep."
The sleeping medication usually didn't work this quickly; Keith wondered how much of a dose Lotor had put in the breakfast.
"I have a dinner meeting that starts at nine tonight, so I probably won't be home till after midnight, but I know you've learned your lesson from yesterday." Lotor kept his grip, helping Keith off the bar stool and onto the floor.
Keith could barely stand. Usually it wasn't this bad, but the late meeting explained things. He'd probably dumped more than the recommended— or even had gone with a full out anaesthetic.
Helping him into the bedroom Lotor laid Keith on their bed. He kissed him on the lips roughly before getting over top of him. Keith could barely see he was so dizzy, though he did feel Lotor's hand stroke from his leg upward.
"Oh gosh I wish I had time, I was really feeling it yesterday before you ruined it." Keith felt a tight pinch around his thigh, and if he wasn't so tired and dizzy maybe it would of hurt, but it tingled more than anything. "Guess you'll make up for it later. I know I can make you. I'll even grab the toys for us."
Keith stomach dropped a little. Gosh he hoped the sleeping meds would still be affecting him at midnight tonight. Even now it was a struggle to keep his eyes open.
Lotor kissed him roughly on the lips again, even biting at his lip playfully. Finally getting off Lotor went over and turned off the light. "Night my love, I'll be home tonight for some fun."
Keith had no words of goodbye; everything was already so out of focus as he let his eyes fall closed. Looks like he'd be getting his daily dose of twenty hours of sleep today.
Except the next time Keith awakened it's not dark out, in fact the sun was still alive and Keith's clock next to him says three o'clock. And there's an absurd knocking at his door. It's so irritating. Keith groggily pushed himself up. He rubbed at his eyes, hearing the guy on the other end. "Hey Keith are you there?"
Shaking his body Keith stretched. He felt a little out of it, but nowhere like this morning. Slowly walking to his front door Keith undoes the lock and opened it. Lance stood on the other side wearing a green jacket and some jeans. He actually looked kind of attractive.
"Yo, I knew you were home, your bike is still here."
Keith blinked, he was still half asleep. "Ah yeah," he answered.
"Were you asleep dude, it's like three in the afternoon."
Blinking again Keith tried to awaken himself a bit more, he still felt fuzzy but he thought he was coherent enough to hold a conversation.
"Ah yeah, just tried," Keith mumbled. At least Lance wasn't blurry like Lotor had been this morning. "Ah what did you want again?"
Lance smiled, he had gorgeous teeth Keith noticed. "Well I'm having a house warming party tonight and I wanted to invite you and your boyfriend to come by."
Lotor too? Gosh Keith hated it when Lotor ever brought him to his parties, and Lotor would never say yes to a party Keith was invited to, but "Lotor's at a work meeting tonight, he probably can't make it."
Lance shrugged. "Well I was hoping for the prettier of the two of you, but I guess the mullet hairdo will have to do for my party," Lance said.
Keith jaw dropped slightly. Him invited to the party by himself, not even in high school had he been invited to a party solely just him without Shiro being the one offering. It actually made Keith really happy that he'd been the one invited.
Except what if Lotor found out. He was upset that Lance had been staring at Lotor, imagine what he would do if he actually went over to Lance's house. Lotor might actually kill him.
But Lotor wouldn't be home tonight, not till late anyway. And if he said midnight Keith expected even later. He didn't have to stay long, and Keith was right next door. He could quickly jump back at 10pm, two hours before Lotor was supposed to get home. There was no way that Lotor would even know.
"Well?" Lance said.
Keith smirked. It wasn't actually going out if you were just going next door, now was it. "What time?" Keith asked, Lance keeping his same smile.
