Soooo, Dark Chuck returns for a minute. I'm afraid he seems like the biggest break from (this fanfiction's) reality so far. But it isn't as if Chuck doesn't have the capability to take more serious measures if necessary. The fact that (you can likely tell) I'm not a huge fan of Lester and Jeff's sexual harassment antics probably factors into the harshness, I will admit. But one good clip from their footage getting to the general or other people in the know (because they have to have some extra surveillance of their own, or at least have people monitoring internet activity or something) and Casey is gone. It would be really easy for this whole thing to end before it has a chance to begin, and that scares Chuck.

I probably shouldn't have had a long rambling explanation, but part of why I love Chuck is that he's a great guy who likes making people happy and wants to do the right things. Especially this early in the series, he's that sweet, honest, hapless nerd I love.

Anyway, maybe this is all unnecessary and you're totally down with Dark Chuck. My main point is: I hope you keep enjoying this. Love ya, people.

P.S. I apologize for the delay; I have fallen prey to self-doubt and second-guessing, which really doesn't encourage speed. In the end I must remind myself of the words of Cyril Connolly: "Better to write for yourself and have no public than to write for the public and have no self." So, if you don't like Dark Chuck and Round 3, I hope you find something that suits you better, because this suits me. C=

(-)

"Charles, you can't keep our laptops forever." Lester was trying to be ultra-civil and polite to get what he wanted. Since Chuck had taken them, the dynamic in the Nerd Herd corral had shifted. Lester and Jeff were treating Chuck with at least half the fearful reverence they gave to Casey. Chuck was decidedly cool to them.

"Not forever. Until I'm done with them. You guys leapt out of line on this one, and I have to handle it accordingly." Chuck felt like he was disciplining children. Which he essentially was.

"We could go talk to Big Mike," Jeff said in his more laconic negotiation tactic.

Chuck's eyes narrowed and he gave the alcoholic, drug-addled idiot a sideways glance. "Feel free. I'll be sure to let him see what you've been filming with the BuyMore logo plastered everywhere. I'm sure he'll be a big fan."

Lester lightly smacked Jeff and rolled the human sloth's chair away so he was next to Chuck instead. "He just meant that we aren't able to work to the best of our ability without them."

"They were your personal laptops. The work ones are perfectly capable of doing everything you need for your job." Chuck sighed. "Look, I've found the best thing in my life at last. And you are threatening to ruin it. If I can fix it by taking your laptops for a few days and destroying the problem and if everything blows over, we'll be cool." The nerd fixed his coworker with a cold stare. "But if you wreck what I have with Casey, I'll destroy you."

Recoiling and giving Chuck a wary look, Lester said, "We don't want to ruin your relationship with Casey, although I'm not sure how it would since he knows too…"

"I know you don't understand, and I know you aren't trying to hurt me. I'd rather we go back to being friends. It's why I took everything, so we can get rid of your mistakes and fix things."

And it was a huge hassle. The most convenient/irritating thing so far was that after all his deducing while watching the DVD, the other employees who had contributed footage were listed in the credits at the end. At least he had the satisfaction of knowing he got it all right. They were all green shirts, so he left Casey the task of "persuading" them to destroy their footage.

Adding to the hassle was that Chuck had decided not to destroy everything. Part of his mutually assured destruction: he was keeping a good portion of their videos and putting the Tweedles' full names, addresses and phone numbers across the bottom of every frame. From there he had any number of options: show Big Mike and get them fired, send it to the police and get them arrested (though he'd need a good way to prove for sure it was them who were filming), and the third option (which was by far the most dangerous and damaging) was to anonymously release the footage to websites frequented by people who lived in Burbank.

That, he realized, had a slim outside chance of getting them killed. Chuck wouldn't sic the Internet on the Tweedles lightly. When all the women found out they'd been taped, who knew what they would do, or what the people in their lives would do? Hell, the Internet was crazy enough that some stranger might decide to right the sexual harassment wrongs in a dangerous and possibly permanent fashion. Unlikely, but not impossible.

Option C had the compounded effect of including Options A and B. Chuck only planned to use it if Lester and Jeff kept taping and that got Casey sent away. If they stopped but had already ruined it anyway, he'd decide then between A or B.

It had been two days since Round Two, and Chuck had been trying to deal with the mountain of data he had to comb through and mostly destroy. He was hoping to ask Casey over their lunch break if they could fit in Round Three tonight. Chuck had won two rounds already, but it wasn't like that would stop them from continuing. And, eventually, Chuck hoped, it would lead to the end of the game so reality could finally set in.

Speak of his devil and he appeared. Lester rolled his chair to the far side of the corral with Jeff so swiftly he nearly fell over when Casey showed up on the other side of the desk. The big man spared the two clowns an idle glare before his eyes met Chuck's. "Think I made it clear to all the traitors that their videos and pictures get destroyed or they'll need to find new holes to breathe out of."

Chuck laughed. "An interesting image. Want to get some lunch?"

The agent graced him with a smirk that was almost an honest smile. "Pancakes?"

"Sounds good to me." Chuck got up and grabbed his messenger bag before looking back at his coworkers, making a concerted effort to keep his face neutral, if not friendly. "Think you can handle this while I'm gone?"

Lester looked offended. "We're good at our jobs, Charles." He was still affecting the lofty air to his speech.

The nerd smiled then. "I know you are, at least when you actually do them. I'll be back after lunch."

Casey took Chuck's hand and they left. There was a decent pancake place in the mall, so it wasn't a far walk. Once they were seated and their orders had been taken, the nerd gave the agent a mischievous look.

"So, I've been busy the past two nights wading through disgusting amateur pseudo-porn while you do reports. I thought tonight we might take a break."

That brought a sly grin to Casey's face. "And do what?"

"I've got a great idea for a new sandwich that I've been wanting to try-" Chuck was cut off by a growl, and started laughing. "I guess we'll just have to start a book club, then. Aside from that or sitting around knitting socks, I have no idea what we could do with our time."

He got a glare that just made him smile wider. "I don't knit."

"Book club it is."

Sitting forward with a smirk, Casey said, "Sure, you can just read a book while you lay across my lap and I pet your back and pull your hair and grab your ass. Sounds good to me."

Chuck felt far too warm discussing this in a public place. "You have to read too."

"Oh, I can do all that one handed while reading. I'm talented."

Sighing, Chuck said, "Fine, you caught me. I don't actually want to start a book club with you."

"Then why not just say what you do want to do with me?"

"Round Three. I may have won two out of three already, but we could go three out of five. Then I just need to win tonight, and I'll win both of those." Chuck kept his tone as cheeky and self-assured as he could.

Speaking in a low tone only for Chuck's ears, Casey said, "My kitten has gotten a little too brazen for my liking. I think he needs to be taught a lesson."

Heat thrilled through Chuck at that idea, and he forced himself to calm. They were in public. Speaking of, the waitress came and set down their pancakes. They ate for a few moments in peace before Chuck said, "So, that sounds like a 'yes' to Round Three."

That blue gaze crashed into him when he looked up, and he was breathless beneath the onslaught. That growling voice didn't help. "Yes, I think it's time to put my kitten in his place."

Oh fuck. "Tonight, then."

"I'll make dinner for us first. Can't have my kitten fainting on me." Casey sounded smug.

"I don't faint!" Chuck protested but quieted down as a couple at the table nearby looked over. "Roofie poison doesn't count."

The agent smiled softly. "You haven't eaten enough the past two days. It's my job to take good care of you, isn't it, kitten?" The big calloused hand set down the fork it had been holding to reach across and cover Chuck's free hand.

As Chuck gazed back, his chest was a little tight, but not like it was trying to collapse in on itself, no. It was too full, and straining against the confines of his ribcage gave him that tight feeling. There were so many reasons to love John Casey.

(-)

After dinner, they headed upstairs. Casey turned to his dresser to get out and change into the thin pajama pants and a T-shirt. Chuck just stripped down and dressed in a hurry. Casey's promises at lunch had been haunting him all day. And, lucky for him, tonight was the night his plan required him to lose to Casey. He would have to put on a good show so it wasn't obvious he was throwing the fight, but instinct told him that the agent had something planned that would make losing easy.

When Casey turned around, he didn't hesitate before he threw Chuck to the bed. Moments later Chuck's hands were pinned together against the pillows above his head. "My kitten has a bad habit of using his hands."

Chuck smirked. "So you never want me to use my hands? Sounds like you'll be missing out on a lot."

"Only when I give permission."

"We're competing right now, and your kitten doesn't need permission. Right now, I only can't use my hands as long as you physically stop me. Time to prove how talented you are with just one hand."

That free hand flipped Chuck onto his front as the one around his wrist slid to adjust without hurting the nerd. So focused was he on that carefully calculated force that the hand smacking his ass took him entirely by surprise. He yelped, even if it didn't hurt very badly, and his face burned. It would be a lie to say he never imagined it, but it was humiliating. Pleasantly so.

A pleased chuckle slipped free of the older man. "Naughty kittens need discipline. And you are the most willful kitten I have ever seen. Are you ready to be a good boy?"

Hell no. Not when Casey had just started this. "I'm going to beat you," Chuck said with determination. "I'm going to make you lose control and cum hard." He had no intention of doing any such thing but the answering swat that made him whimper was the point of saying it.

"And here I thought you were a smart kitten. I'm in control right now. Can you get free?"

The grip on his wrists was gentle iron, unbreakable, and while he could thrash and kick, he knew Casey would have him under control in seconds. He was helpless…and he loved it. "No, sir. But you wouldn't want a kitten who can't challenge you. Or would you prefer a kitten that is meek and always listens?"

A hand stroked down his spine before he felt more of Casey's weight settle on top of him. Teeth at his ear made him mewl and tilt his head to offer more. "I love my kitten just how he is. The only thing I want him to always listen to is to stay in the damn car, but that just isn't happening, clearly."

Even in the middle of what they were doing, Chuck laughed a little. "Your kitten is willful. Can't trap him."

More weight pressed Chuck into the mattress. "I have you pretty trapped right now, kitten."

"Shame we can't do this in the car then." Chuck smirked when that got him an eager growl and a brief hair-pull.

"If I didn't know better, I would say my kitten likes being held down and spanked. You aren't putting up any resistance."

Chuck said nothing and, as he anticipated, the weight on him lifted and a harder smack than the others hit his ass. He cried out a little, which became a moan when Casey's hand slid underneath to stroke up his very hard cock. When fingers played around the tip to feel the wet spot already forming there, Chuck mewled and tried to thrust into it. The hand withdrew.

"Anything to say for yourself, kitten?" Casey's voice was smug, and Chuck knew he would have an expression to match.

"Just that for such a big strong man, that was a weak spanking."

He knew Casey would answer that right away. A sharp slap resounded, and he cried out as tears stung his eyes. When more followed, he kept crying out freely, pushing his hips into the mattress. God, it hurt and felt so good at the same time.

"I have a kinky little kitten. Getting off on getting spanked. Is that why you're such a naughty boy? You want me to hold you down and abuse your sweet little ass?"

Holy fuck, Casey was into this too. And his words had Chuck's face flaming with shame. One didn't spank kittens, they spanked children and Chuck suddenly felt like a disobedient little boy. But he couldn't help but wonder how it would feel if Casey would pull his pants down and lay into his bare skin.

"Yes. I like it." And, since he felt close to tears and he wasn't looking to get that into it tonight, he said, "I like being trapped by you too. You have to be aching. Press down on me. Your kitten wants to feel all of you."

"You won't win like this." Casey was hypervigilant of any ploys Chuck might try.

"I'm so close, Casey. I'm probably not going to win at all." It was true. Though he sniffed as he said it, his hips were humping into the mattress eagerly, and the mix of pleasure and pain had him closer to orgasm than he expected.

And then that weight covered him, firm cock rutting against his tender ass, only two thin layers between them. Chuck hissed in delight and moved his hips back against Casey as well as forward into the mattress. He was shocked when his wrists were freed so the older man could use one arm to keep all of his weight from crushing Chuck, and the other went to Chuck's hip to control his movement.

"Do you feel good, kitten? You feel so good against me," Casey said. He didn't seem afraid of Chuck doing anything. With good reason: Chuck had just twisted his hands into the pillows, too focused on getting off to do anything competitive.

"You feel great. I love your dick against my tender ass. God help me if I ever get real punishment from you."

A kiss to the back of his neck and a hand threading into his hair to tug lightly. "Guess you'd better be a good boy for me then. Even if you are willful, you like being my good boy, don't you?"

Their hips were getting frantic now. Chuck was so close. "Yes." He had to moan before he could continue, "I love it. I love being your good boy, Daddy."

Chuck had scarcely used the few brain cells he had left functioning to process what he had just said when, with a gasp and a groan, that muscular frame tightened and shook above his, hips thrusting hard before stilling. The nerd could feel some of the warm wet leaking through the layers, and it only took a few more thrusts for him to cum as well. After a few days of being pent up, releasing it all while trapped beneath Casey's pleasure-softened body was blissful.

As he came back to himself, he suddenly felt more embarrassed then he had from being spanked and enjoying it. He had called Casey "Daddy", which was outside their pet play. Well, pets were sometimes equated to children, but still.

"I, uh…guess I win?" Chuck said to diffuse the tension he felt regathering in the older man as he fell to the side to let Chuck up.

"Guess so," Casey said.

Chuck turned to look at the agent, sliding out of his pajama pants as he did. When he cleaned himself off a bit with some tissues, he could wait so Casey could have the first shower again. "I wasn't trying this time."

"That kind of makes it worse, Chuck."

With Casey lying with his back to him, Chuck was getting increasingly nervous. "I just kind of slipped. If you hate it that much, I'll be careful not to say it again."

"Are you an idiot?" The agent still hadn't rolled over to face him.

"Um, apparently?" He'd been stupid enough to say it after all.

Casey rolled onto his back and propped himself up on his elbows, scowling at Chuck. "If you think that you saying that and me losing control and cumming so hard I bite my lip till it bleeds means I hated it, your brain is clearly in your ass and I smacked it too hard."

Chuck was taken aback for a moment, and flicked his eyes to see that Casey's lip was a little red. "So…you like that sort of thing then?"

Sighing, the agent said, "I'd never thought about it, but I definitely liked hearing you call me that."

"Then why do you seem upset?"

"Because you don't even have to try in order to beat me."

Seemed a tad dramatic. "Come on, I know you're competitive, but losing this is not a big deal."

The agent shook his head and got up. "It's about more than that." And he left the room, the shower starting a few minutes later.

What should have been a rousing success had been turned into a confusing emotional quagmire. Casey had seemed…annoyed, Chuck supposed, but he wasn't mad. More…thoughtful. That wasn't good, because when Casey got to thinking too much, he tried to pull away, and Chuck was not going along with that shit anymore.

Casey came back several minutes later with just a towel around his waist and said, "Shower is yours."

Chuck looked at that beautifully scarred flesh and said, "Round Four tomorrow?"

The agent gave him a slight smile. "Yeah, Tomorrow."

It sounded to Chuck like Casey wasn't done overthinking things. It got Chuck over thinking things, and his shower was plagued with doubt. But when he got back to the bedroom Casey was waiting shirtless in bed, and the doubt melted. When Chuck climbed in beside the older man and was immediately turned and made into the little spoon everything negative melted. If Casey started second guessing, they'd deal with it. Whatever happened, they'd deal with it. Being loved by Casey made Chuck feel invincible.

(-)

So, spanking and 'Daddy' were behind the delays here. If this isn't something you enjoy, you might look elsewhere, because I know more is coming. I will take the words of Cyril Connolly to heart and keep writing what I want to.

That said, I do hope you enjoyed this. It would be magic and rainbows if you did. I've just also made my peace with losing readers due to more/specific kinks. To anyone still hanging in here, I love you, and hope you love the next chapter as well.

Feel free to let me know how you feel if you have the time/inclination.