Cutter recovered quickly. Thankfully, it had just been a cold, requiring rest and hydration. Otis cared for him as the Firefly family had for him not so long ago, ensuring that he was comfortable.

Once Cutter was well again, they resumed their usual activities.

Otis was moaning loudly, something Cutter wasn't entirely used to. He usually stayed relatively silent, but God, the noises he could get out of him sometimes drove him absolutely mad. That day was one of those times.

Mischief sparkling in his eyes, Cutter trailed a hand up Otis's chest. Otis shivered, whimpering in pleasure. He loved those warm touches from those large hands.

Cutter cupped his cheek, running his thumb over Otis's lips. Otis bit down on the finger, licking the tip with his tongue.

"Nnn...Little angel..." Cutter moaned, still thrusting. He wrapped his hand around Otis's throat and squeezed, pushing him into the mattress.

Otis came alive, struggling violently under Cutter. He gasped wildly for air, fear taking over him. Cutter ignored him, lost to his own pleasures. Otis gagged, flailing.

Finally, survival instinct kicked in, over riding the pure terror. He grappled for something to defend himself with.

He cursed internally. Cutter always made him hide his knife away when they were about to have sex. Cutter knew that in situations like that, Otis could easily panic, and didn't want to be staring the albino down with a knife in his hand if the situation ever came to be. This situation would have been one of those, if Otis could stand up, walk over to his clothes and dig out his knife. Hell, if he could do that, Cutter would be dead.

His fingers wrapped around the lamp on the table, and he pulled it, smashing it against the older clown's head.

Cutter fell limply on top of Otis, releasing his grip. Otis gasped desperately for air, relishing in the sweet taste of the first breath.

Then he regained his senses. Cutter was passed out on top of him. He had knocked him out with the lamp. 300 pounds of clown were currently lying on top of him, and he was having trouble breathing again. But he was also petrified that Cutter would be beyond pissed at him and start beating him.

"Cutter! Cutter, wake up! Wake the fuck up!" He shook him violently, finally making him come to.

He reared back, sitting up. Otis began to shake, fearing the worst. "What the FUCK Otis?!"

"I...I...I...I...Y...You c...can't...You can't...d...do that...t..to me...I...I..."

"God, I don't get a warning!? I just get a lamp against my fucking skull?!"

"Uh, in case you didn't know I couldn't fucking talk when you were choking me!"

"Shit...Damn, kid..."

"I...I...P...Please..d...don't be mad..."

"I...I'm not PLEASED with you!"

Otis flinched back, unable to scurry away from Cutter. Finally, Cutter stood and went to the bathroom.

"Fuck! I'm bleeding!"

Fear over taking him once again, Otis hid behind the headboard of the bed, like he used to do as a child.

"Otis? Otis where are you?"

Otis began to tremble, shifting the bed and drawing attention to himself.

"What the fuck?"

"P...P...P...P...Please d...don't h...hit me...Please..."

"Otis, come here." He reached behind the headboard, grabbing Otis by the arm. He shrieked in fear, struggling violently against Cutter, but eventually let himself be drug out from his hiding place.

The albino shook violently, muttering pleas for Cutter not to harm him.

"Shhh..." Cutter pulled him into an embrace, stroking his back. "I'd never hurt you. You know that...Shhhh..."

"P...P...Please...D...Don't..."

"It's okay. It's okay. It's both of our faults, Otis. I should never have done that to you. I know what you've been through. I know you've been abused. Why would that be okay? But at the same time, you could have hit me with your hands before you hit me with a fucking lamp."

Otis nodded, fear widening those maroon pools.

"I'm not going to lie though, I am kind of pissed..."

"F...fuck..."

Cutter felt Otis tense, and knew that fear was building to a much stronger threshold than he had ever seen. "Don't you fucking DARE hit me with something else."

Otis just trembled, whimpering in fear. Cutter had a hold of him, and wouldn't let go. He was petrified. What could he do? There was nowhere to hide, and he couldn't very well run with Cutter's grip on him.

Cutter had never seen Otis like this. Not even when he had tried to push him away. He was scared, quite honestly. He had never expected this. Someone as strong and independent as Otis, reduced to this quaking mess, begging someone not to hurt him. Otis always slightly let his guard down around Cutter, but he had never, ever seen this.

Curling into a ball, guarding his face, Otis began to sob.

"Hey, whoa...Whoa...Shhh..." He moved his hand to stroke Otis's hair, but he flinched wildly, scrambling away from him once Cutter had released his grip. "Otis...Calm down...It's okay..." Cutter knew now he had triggered something terrible in Otis, something he usually kept so locked up and deep within him that it usually never saw the light of day. But Cutter had put the key in that lock and twisted it open.

"G...G...God...I...I...I'm s...Sorry...P...P...Please...Please d...don't...be mad at me..."

"Shhhh...Otis, come here. Come here. It's okay."

"N...N...No...Y...You'll hit me..."

"No, I won't. Come here. It's okay." He grabbed Otis and pulled him into an embrace.

Otis shook, burying his head in Cutter's chest. "P...Please..."

"Ohhh...Little angel...Calm down...Otis..." He kissed Otis's forehead, stroking his hair.

Otis sobbed into his chest, still shaking violently.

"I'm mad, but I'm not going to hurt you. God, Otis...I would never do that...Shh...I know it scared the hell out of you. I know that your first reaction is to do anything to survive. I wouldn't hurt you for that."

"W...W...W...What...W...would y...you hurt me for...?" Otis looked up at him, still trembling, tears streaking down his face.

"Nothing. You don't deserve that."

Cutter held Otis until he stopped sobbing.

"Little angel..." He kissed his forehead. "We're okay. You know that, right?"

"Are we...?"

"Yes. We're okay."

Otis stood shakily, sighing. "I'm...I'm...gonna go home."

"But it's dark. You can't drive-"

"I...I'll be okay. I can get home."

"Otis, you don't have to go."

"I...I know..."

Cutter sighed. "get home safe, okay?"

He nodded, heading out to his car.

When Otis came into work the next day, Cutter was shocked.

Yeah, he had a big goose egg on his bald head. But Otis had a large bruise around his throat.

"Otis..."

"I'm okay." He grumbled. His voice was hoarse from the strain of Cutter choking him.

"Oh god...Otis..."

"I said I'm okay."

Cutter pulled him in for an embrace, and Otis relented, sighing contentedly.

"I'm sorry..." Otis muttered.

"Me too..." He kissed Otis's forehead.