"You wanted to see me, Mr. Tassiter, sir?" Tim called out, knocking politely on Jack's office door. Harold didn't often show up on Helios, so he had no office there; he wouldn't until Helios was nearly complete. He used the offices of someone lower on the ladder, or conference rooms when he needed to meet with business associate. On this particular day, he took over Jack's office when the brunette went on his lunch hour.
"Ah, yes. Mr. Lawrence, I presume," the much older man spoke, lacing his fingers together on his desk. Of course, he already knew it was Timothy - he'd called him there, afterall. He'd been watching him very carefully, now that Jack seem to have a vested interest in him. "Please, have a seat."
The ginger swallowed hard and stepped forward, doing as he was told and occupying the chair opposite of Tassiter. He gripped his knees as tightly as he could, but tried to give the older man a convincing smile.
Oh fuck, what did I do? Oh my god, he's gonna fire me! My life is so over! Does he know I'm sleeping with my boss? Did he just now notice I sorta lied about my high school GPA?! Oh god, oh god, oh god . . .
"No need to look so nervous, Mr Lawrence. You're in no trouble. Not that I can say the same about that idiot, playboy boss of yours . . . but that's beside the point."
Harold held in his smile when Tim noticeably bristled at the insult hurled in the direction of Jack; the redhead taking offense meant that there was some sort of emotional connection between the two. This was a perfect opportunity to get revenge on the heterochromatic man who had wronged him in the past. Tassiter had, afterall, told Jack that he'd regret betraying him in lieu of another board member who offered Jack a much more lucrative career path - and he meant it. He hadn't ever particularly liked the cocky younger man, anyway, but having spent as much time and effort grooming him like he had, hoping that the programmer would become his right-hand man, only to be rejected enraged him. Now that something important to Jack seemed to exist, he was going to snatch it away, no matter what it took.
"Th-thank goodness, sir. I was really worried!" Tim admitted with a sheepish smile and a sigh of relief.
Tassiter wanted to vomit. God, he fucking hated all of the people who associated with John; why did they always have such undistinguished backgrounds, much like the man he hated with such a fiery passion? It seemed like the clever fox of the programming department was surrounding himself with more of "kind." None came from families with names that mattered. Not a single one went to a finishing school. Absolutely none of them were ever going to be proper board member types.
"The board has been very impressed with your dedication to your work and we have decided to offer you a deal - John's position, in exchange for some simple data collection; there have been rumours about some rather unsavory deals being made, money being allocated inappropriately, bribes, improper conduct with employees - it's a rather long list. After that, I would be willing to personally take you under my wing, if you will. I would offer tutelage on how to properly hold such a position and how to move on from there. This would allow you to rise in the ranks fairly quickly. You'd surpass even John's rather swift ladder climb."
"N-no," the freckled man flat-out responded. "I-I mean, n-no thank you . . . sir! I'm . . . I'm really, really flattered that you noticed my hard work, but I . . . I can't."
Tassiter furrowed his brow and scowled.
Ridiculous! Who in their right mind turns down such an easy path to the top?! He's the only one in years who has seemed like he might actually be able to compete with that goddamned mongrel! I need him on my side! Think, think . . .
Seeing the flash of anger on the older man's face scared Tim, despite the fact that it quickly faded into Tassiter's usual, prim and condescending expression.
"Might I inquire as to why? You do realize how huge an opportunity this is, do you not?"
"I do! Of course . . . of course I do, sir," Timothy responded, exclaiming the first bit of his answer before nipping his lip and quieting his voice. "I'm really, super grateful sir. Really, I am. I hope you don't think I'm trying to insult you or anything. It's just . . ."
GET TO THE POINT, YOU PATHETIC MOUSE. I don't have all day! WHY am I always surrounded by such imbeciles?! And why are these computer geeks always so wordy?
"I want to make my way up the ladder with my own hard work. I told Ja - um, John, the same thing before my last promotion. I don't want to get ahead by riding someone else's coat tails. I won't use someone else's name to build my future. I . . . I want to write my own story, ya know? Also, I just couldn't do that to Ja - John. I'd never stab him in the back like that after everything he's done for me. I'm sorry. I hope you understand."
Tassiter had absolutely did NOT know. What kind of fresh hell was he living in? Where the hell did these people get their ideas about how things worked?! Very few men and women became powerful without using the names and offers of others to their advantage. This was sheer lunacy!
"I certainly do not, Mr. Lawrence. This is a golden opportunity to become a rising star amongst the ranks of the Hyperion hierarchy, and to cut out a cancerous cluster of cells."
"I know it probably sounds really stupid to someone as powerful as you. I really hope you aren't insulted. I just . . . I don't want things handed to me, and I don't want to hurt someone to get them, either. Jack really is a good boss, too. Maybe you don't like him, but I've never seen anything that would lead me to believe he was doing anything he shouldn't be. I couldn't live with myself if I just . . . if I just . . ."
God, trying to word this while he was so fucking tense made Timothy feel like a blathering idot. Even Jack had never made him this nervous - the power dynamic was so much greater between him and Tassiter.
"I'm sorry, sir. I can't accept your offer. I really do hope that someday I can actually earn the right to work beside you. It would be an honour, really," the green eyed man apologized, getting to his feet and offering the other man a shallow bow. He wasn't really sure what to do in situations like this.
"Earn?" Harold questioned the freckled man, rising from Jack's squeaky chair and stepping around the cheap, fiber-board desk. He circled the ginger coloured guppy like a shark that wasn't actually hungry, but was incredibly bored. "Earn . . . yes. Of course. Earn . . ."
Despite looking thin and frail, the man with black and white hair was agile and shockingly strong. It wasn't common knowledge, but he had practiced martial arts since his boyhood, and was extremely skilled in them. With a series of fast, graceful movements, Tassiter had his prey pinned to the furniture, both pale wrists snatched in one powerful hand, slammed into the wood over Timothy's head. The aforementioned cranium bounced hard off of the hard surface, stunning the dorky programmer as his unpredictably lithe overlord stepped between his legs, trapping him as he tore open his shirt with his other hand.
"Earn your place. You want to earn your place. I'll allow that."
Timothy's vision went black for a few seconds before stars started to speckle the dark canvas. He hadn't hit his hard enough to get knocked out in years! Hearing his shirt buttons clatter across the desk and floor had him terribly confused, the other man's words not yet seeping into his clouded mind.
Tim groaned as he was rolled over, his chest getting pressed into a surface that was cold against his bare skin. He was familiar with the slightly bumpy, painted texture, since Jack had gotten a little frisky with him on top of it before.
"This is how you earned your place as John's assistant, isn't it?"
How I . . . how I . . . earned . . . my place . . . by Jack?
"That's just fine. At least this time, you'll be treated more like a skilled entertainer in a high class brothel," the Hyperion higher-up assured the stunned man he had pinned to the desk. "I am a gentleman, so rest assured that I won't slobber all over you like a mangy dog in some alleyway. This is a business transaction - I won't pretend feelings are involved."
"Nnngh . . . wh . . . whu . . ."
Tassiter grunted in the redhead's ear as he thrusted sharply against the clothed buttocks pressed to his groin.
"I'm sure you're tighter than the rest of his whores," the older man hissed through his teeth, making sure he kept a firm hold on the wrists that were trapped in his hands and he felt Timothy stirring back to life. "Isn't that right, Mr. Lawrence? Shall I strip off your clothing for you, or would you rather do it yourself?"
Tim froze in fear when he realized what was going on. Several more rocks of a bony set of hips had him coming to the frightening realization of what was exactly meant by "earn." This wasn't the first time that someone violating his personal space without permission had him completely paralyzed in a screamless horror, but the first time it had happened, he'd been a frightened, naked child. At only ten, he hadn't known what the other person was doing to him; he'd just known that it was painful, shameful and absolutely terrifying. As an adult with a happy, consensual, sex life, he couldn't believe that, even fully clothed, he felt just as raped, and he was ashamed that his body was reacting in the same, cowardly manner.
"Better than some dark elevator. With that filthy, foul-mouthed . . . animal!"
Tassiter humped the low-level programmer into the centerpiece of the office, making sure he was making his point with both his words and his actions.
"You dirty little incubus, we already did it this afterno - what the fuck is going on here?"
The lanky higher up felt the hair on the back of his neck prickle as he heard the voice of the "animal," he'd been complaining about. He certainly hadn't expected Jack to return so quickly. He withdrew from Tim, tucking his hands behind his back.
Timothy's legs gave out and he slid down the desk, limply propped up by the furniture.
"Business . . . negotiations," Tassiter assured Jack as he raised his brow and dared the lowly programmer to challenge him. "This is how you go about it, isn't that right? How your employees earn promotions?"
Timothy heard Jack's voice and he wanted to call out to him, but none of his muscles were functioning. This was the way he awakened from some very rare nightmares - still hallucinating, seeing, hearing and feeling awful things - being completely unable to do anything about all of it. He hadn't had one like this in such a long time! God, he wished he would wake up. What a truly awful scenario.
"Get out of my office," the brunette spoke with a shocking calmness to his voice.
"I do believe our discussion is over, Mr. Lawrence. Do, get back to me about my offer. Now that you've earned my attention, at the very least."
Knowing that Jack wouldn't dare lay his hands on him, Tassiter passed by him uncomfortably closely as he took his leave.
The only noise in the room after the door clicked behind him was Timothy's shaking breaths and Jack grinding his teeth and cracking the knuckles in his fingers just by balling them into individual fists.
"I said get out," the brunette finally growled, stepping past the shivering man lying up against his desk with his clothing disheveled, "so get the hell out."
Tim didn't understand. Hadn't Tassiter left?
"J . . . Ja -"
"GET OUT! GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT! Are you deaf?! GET. OUT!"
The pale man felt his muscles trying to spring to action, reacting to his lover's shocking outburst. He found the strength to pull his shirt closed and he got himself up on his feet so he could see the man he so adored. He didn't understand why he was reacting this way.
"Jack, he just . . . I didn't - I'd never -"
"Sure didn't look like you were fighting him off!"
Tears streaked out of completely shocked emerald eyes and Jack knew that he should feel something besides rage . . . but he didn't. It wouldn't be the first time that someone used phony tears to manipulate him, and he was sure it wouldn't be the last. Tim was just desperate because he'd been caught. He laughed and pulled his hand through his hair before crossing his arms over his chest; he wouldn't be fooled. Not like this.
Timothy squeaked, cowering like he'd done before Jack had built him up, wrapping his arms around himself.
Pathetic attempt at sympathy, check! Come the fuck on, Timmy. Disgusting . . . and you thought he was different, John. You fucking tool. He had you wrapped so tightly around his goddamn finger you couldn't breathe. I'll forgive your stupidity this time. Don't make this mistake again. You know we can't trust anyone . . .
He was different. I thought . . . I thought he was different. God, I AM a fucking tool! How could I be such a fucking idiot?! I'd do the same shit if I was a pathetic, pansy ass, little loser like him. How the hell else would I make my way up? I'm so stupid.
We MADE him. We can destroy him. Do it, Jack. Take away what little he has left. STRIKE THE FINAL BLOW.
"I get it. You got me good!" Jack said with a cackle. "Got me real good. Used me as a stepping stone. Really, I get -"
"When I got raped," Timothy choked out through the thick phlegm in his throat, cutting off his admission with the 'r' word; it was so fucking hard for him to say. He sloppily breathed out and felt a snot bubble pop under his nose. Jesus christ, he felt fucking disgusting for so many reasons right now. Wiping his nose on his sleeve, he forced himself to continue. "Th . . . the first time . . . it happened, too. I couldn't - my body wouldn't - I couldn't . . . I wanted to fight, but I was . . . I was scared. I WAS SO SCARED, Jack! I was so scared!" The redhead sobbed, utterly destroyed inside. "How . . . how could you . . . think that *I* . . . he wanted me to spy on you and take your job. I said I'd never . . . I'd never betray you, and you - Why is everyone I meet so awful?!"
Clutching his shirt as closed as he could, Timothy made a mad dash out of the office. He'd escape to his room and lock everyone else out, then wait for this nightmare to end. His alarm would go off at some point and he'd wake up next to a gentle faced, sleeping Jack softly breathing in his face. This definitely wasn't real. There was no way any of this was real.
Raped? Wait, what? Someone -
When the anger inside of Jack hit a new level of fire, like an absolutely out of control inferno, it was no longer directed at the pale-skinned man who had been keeping him company at night.
You total piece of shit. Why would you just assume that he would be like that?! After everything he's gone through to show you that he's completely devoted to you - like a fucking brain-damaged puppy . . . you would STILL treat him like that?! What the fuck is wrong with you, Jack? You're a fucking monster . . . you aren't human.
Animals like us are better off without lovers, anyway. You know it's true - they're a liability. A weakness. Did you hear yourself just now? Losing your temper like that just because someone else put their hands on him? Not good, dude. . . that is noooooo bueno, my man. Stick to sowing those wild oats wherever you like, but you gotta stop with this emotional crap.
What. The. Fuck. This isn't happening. None of this ever happened. I'm dreaming! Hahaha, what a fucking stupid ass dream! Are you hearing this shit? What a fuckin' load of - whooooooo! What a soap opera. Wow. What pills did I take? 'Cuz I don't wanna do them again. This fucking sucks. I feel like shit. Man. What a roller coaster!
As the night wore on and minutes turned into hours, both men came to the sickening understanding that they weren't dreaming - reality truly was a nightmare.