It's always nice to return to a familiar routine. This is what Houdini thought as Ocelot snapped the cuffs shut over her head. He took a moment to palm her smooth skin, pressing his mouth to hers. Gooseflesh rose where he touched, and the taste of him sent a ripple of warmth through her.

He stepped away, and Houdini smiled as he planted his feet, eyes roving over her.

"Head back, eyes closed."

She complied. This was the first time they'd tried it this way, with her facing him, and her pulse thrummed in anticipation. The end of the crop grazed her nipples, her long neck, tickled the sensitive contours of her stomach, and traced the line of her hips and legs.

"Ready?"

She nodded.

"Huh?"

"Yes."

It touched her thighs, drawing a pink line across them. Houdini giggled.

"Does that hurt?"

"No."

Another on her left hip. She wriggled away from the sensation, still smiling.

"How's that?"

"Good."

"Then stay still. This is a more delicate operation than before."

She brought her legs together and stood straight. The crop trailed its way down her neck again and tapped her on the collarbone. Houdini made a small noise, but otherwise was not bothered. A harder one across the stomach and she moaned.

"Ok?"

"Yes."

"Can I continue?"

"Yes."

He was being careful with her. Oh, so careful. The way he punctuated it with firm raps made it all the sweeter, so that she demanded more. Then, with a confident swing he missed his mark, and caught her just under the breast. Houdini cringed this time, for there was nothing pleasant about it. In fact she was certain he had broken the skin.

The crop hit the floor and he was across the room in a shot. "I've hurt you."

He touched the wound and Houdini tried not to wince as it stung. "It's fine."

"No, I lost focus and cut you. It's not fine."

"I'll survive."

"But the pleasure of it's been ruined this time…"

He was right about that. It didn't hurt that much, but it hurt enough that she didn't want it to happen again. Houdini met his gaze, allowing him to see the admission in her eyes. He stepped away and she opened her mouth to draw him back. However, only he bent down to retrieve the crop, and he tilted her head curiously as he unlocked the handcuffs.

Grinning, Ocelot handed both to her and knelt down. "You can get me back, if you like?"

"Get you back?"

A wink, and his shirt landed over the desk. Houdini took in the glory of his naked torso, realisation hitting her.

"Go on."

"You're sure?"

"Absolutely."

She didn't need any further encouragement. She stepped past him, so that his back was to her, and waved the crop experimentally.

"Come on, then. Show me what you've -"

The crop cut him off. He groaned, rolling his shoulders against its bite. "Again."

She obliged.

"Again. Harder."

Slap.

"Unf..Yes!"

Slap.

"More."

Smack.

He hissed. "Good girl."

Again, the crop came.

"Harder. Hit me harder!"

It sang this time.

"Ah!"

"Do you want to -"

"No! Harder!"

She stepped forward this time with her swing. He moaned an excited. "More." With laboured breath.

He was enjoying this, she noted, smiling. When she approached him and looked down, she saw just how much he was enjoying it. Inspired, Houdini reached out and grabbed him by the hair. He yelped in surprise when she pulled his head back, and grinned up at her.

She nudged his leg with her toe. "Get up."

He did, grunting slightly as she dragged him over to the bed, picking up the cuffs along the way. She threw him down and pinned him on his back, shutting the cuffs around his wrists, securing to the bed frame. He was following her every movement with apparent delight, and when she straddled him he tilted his head, curious.

"Eyes closed."

They fluttered shut. With a quick twitch of the wrist, Houdini brought the crop down on his stomach. He jerked. "Oof." For her next trick, she ground her hips into him, and he gasped. The crop again.

"Don't move."

He stilled, and she did it again, treating him to pain, followed by pleasure, until he was sweating, muscles full of tics. Dying for her to have her way with him.

That's when he told her. "If you keep doing that I'll come in my pants."

Houdini chuckled, and got up. Ocelot's flew open, and he looked at her forlornly as she crossed the room. She spun the chair around and sat down, putting the crop on the desk. He strained against his bonds.

"Ah-ah-ah!" she scolded. "Don't move"

He could only stare, helpless, as she moved her hands over her body squirming in delight on the chair. When her hand dipped between her legs he groaned desperately. She looked at him then, saw his muscles pulled tight with the will not to move. His eyes were fixed between her legs. He licked his lips.

"Sit on my face."

She stopped. "What?"

"I want you to sit on my face."

Her mouth pulled into a smirk. "Ask nicely."

His tongue ran along his lips and she almost laughed, thinking how much like a man lost in the desert he looked.

"Please would you sit on my face."

"If you want."

"Yes."

He hummed in delight as Houdini perched above him. In such a position, it was difficult not to feel self-conscious. Was she smothering him? What if she moved? Could she hurt him?

Ocelot, as though hearing her thoughts, muttered: "Relax."

She stopped for a moment and took a few calming breaths.

"Hold the bed frame."

She did, using it to hold herself above him. The position made it so that she could easily direct his tongue to where she wanted it, and in spite of her worries, she ended up swaying and wriggling this way and that, seeking the right points, knuckles turning white as she gripped the iron bed tighter and tighter.

"Wait." she got up and turned. This way, she could touch him, could make him moan against her when she pinched his nipples, and grunt when she caressed the bulge in his trousers. His concentration lapsed as she reached into his briefs, taking him into her hand in order to stroke him slowly. He reintroduced his tongue with renewed vigour, and Houdini bucked slightly, bending over him to suck on his cock.

"Ah!" Houdini gasped, closing her mouth around him tightly as her peak approached. Then, suddenly she removed herself from him. This time he protested loudly, until he saw her intention.

"No, no, no!" He panted. "Turn around, I want to see you!"

Houdini did so, grinning as she lowered herself onto him. Ocelot hissed with delight, moving his hips to meet her. She slapped his thigh. "Don't move, or I'll find something to tie your legs with."

"Can't say I'd object."

"Right now?"

"...next time."

She giggled, rolling her hips slowly against him. He closed his eyes with a pleasant. "Oooh…" At the sensation. Encouraged, Houdini went on. Slowly, deliberately. Moving in such a way that he stayed sheathed in her as her clit ground against his skin. It was intense, and a sheen of sweat soon covered her skin. He, too was slick with it as he lay watching her, both so intent on the feeling that all sound evaded them. Until Houdini broke their silence with a long moan. She kissed him, lying over him as she spoiled herself. He thrust against her then, and she met him, kissing him harder, more desperately, nipping at him as she grew tighter.

Something in Russian, a string of affirmations in Irish, and she stayed on him, devouring him with languid kisses. Until he broke away asking. "Could you… unlock me now?"

"Nope."

An uncharacteristic pout. "Why not?"

"You're not going anywhere."

"I most solemnly swear that I am not. But my arms are starting to cramp."

Houdini tutted and fetched the key. Released, Ocelot grabbed her and pulled her down with him. Combing her hair away from her features, he frowned.

"What?" she asked.

He shook his head. "Nothing."

"What, Ocelot?"

"I was just wondering if the name you gave me, that first day, was real."

She snorted. "Of course not."

"Does Sato know it?"

"What?"

"Your real name."

"I don't think anyone does. At least I hope not."

"Why not?"

"I'd rather people not know my personal business."

A pause.

"Do you have family?"

Houdini hesitated before answering. "Brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. Yes. I've got family."

"Why did you hesitate, just now?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"I'm curious about you."

"Why?"

"Because…" Ocelot searched her face. "Because I am. It's normal, you know. When people get close. They want to know these things about each other."

She thought. "Do you have family, then?"

"No."

Houdini propped herself up on her elbows. "No?"

He shook his head.

"That's...wow."

"I did meet my mother though. But I was already an adult at the time. And I didn't find out who she was til after…"

"Did you try to contact her, when you found out?"

"No, she was already dead."

"Oh… Sorry."

He shrugged. "What about your parents?"

"They're both gone."

"Both?" He looked at her. "But you're only… thirty-five?"

"Yeah but I'm the youngest of six."

"Six?!"

She laughed. "It's not that unusual where I'm from."

A long pause, in which he looked first at her, then to the wall. Back to her. She cocked an eyebrow.

"Do you.." He spat out eventually. "Do you have any kids?"

"Do you?"

"No… no that I know of. But I asked you first."

Houdini sighed. Slowly, she rolled out of bed and retrieved a small wallet from her trousers. Ocelot's stomach sank. She removed a photograph from one of the pockets. It was a boy. About ten years old. He stood with her in front of an old house.

"His name is Rónán." She offered. "I suppose he's about twelve now."

The Commander opened and closed his mouth mechanically, searching for the right words. "His father?"

"I met him on assignment in Okinawa." She explained. "He died in action when Rónán was about seven."

"I see…"

Houdini observed as he studied the photo. He seemed to be drinking in her son's features. She'd never shown Rónán to anyone. But she could trust Ocelot… right? After a while, he handed the photo back. She took a moment to stare at it. He's so much like his father. It went safely back into the wallet, then into her pocket. She glanced back at Ocelot, who was clearly trying to process this information.

"If this makes you uncomfortable -" She ventured.

"No." He interjected. "Of course it's a bit of a shock. But it's not really that big of a deal."

"It isn't?"

"I don't think so." He reached out a hand. "Relax. Come back to bed."

Houdini breathed a sigh of relief as she nestled into his arms.

"Houdini?"

"Hmm?"

"I shouldn't have pried."

"It's alright. You were just curious."

They lay there a while in their individual thoughts. Ocelot fell asleep first, and as soon as she heard him drift off, Houdini allowed her mind to wander back to her family. To her son. She pictured him as she'd seen him last, almost a year ago now; setting off for school, the grey uniform hanging baggy on this slender frame. Had he grown into it yet? What were his grades like? Was he okay?

Suddenly, the idea of being stuck on Mother Base sent a jolt of panic through her. She turned to Ocelot, sleeping soundly, and whispered: "Now you understand why I can't stay."