A/N: Okay, there is a major warning for adult content, so if you don't like it, do your best to skip over it but otherwise, i'm telling you now...
"Okay. Tell me."
"I-I don't know where to start…." Travis said quietly with a frown, swallowing hard as he looked at Ryan with big eyes.
"Why don't you start by telling me this person's name?" Ryan just asked quietly, watching him calmly.
Travis hesitated, thinking hard, his emotions messing with him, trying not to cry anymore, embarrassed to be crying in front of Ryan.
"His name's Liam….Liam Andrews." He fibbed, avoiding Ryan's gaze.
"Alright. And where does Liam hurt you?"
"At-At the bar…" Travis rubbed at his fingers nervously.
"Is it always at the bar? The same bar every time?" Ryan questioned, watching Travis nod quietly.
"So why does Liam hurt you?"
Travis frowned, trying not to look vulnerable. "I-I dunno….he's got it out for me I guess…." He shifted uncomfortably.
"You can't think of a particular reason?" Ryan remained patient and calm, talking in his soft, caring voice.
"I-I dunno…." Was all Travis could say, it practically coming out as a whimper, frowning deeply.
"That's alright. Now, if you don't mind me asking, why not just stop going to this bar?"
Travis stared at the floor, not sure of what to say, frowning as he hoped Ryan couldn't tell he was lying. "I-I shouldn't have to stop goin' just cause of some guy…."
"I see." Ryan nodded slowly. "And how long has this been going on? Vic told me it's been quite a while now."
Travis scowled a little, frowning at the floor. "Vic doesn't know what she's talking about. She keeps bugging me…." He huffed.
"I'm pretty sure it's just because she cares, Travis." Ryan said calmly and Travis frowned at him with a narrowed look. "She doesn't have to care. I wish she'd jus' leave me alone."
"Since when? I thought you two were best friends…." Ryan watched him closely.
"We was…." Travis frowned. "Now we ain't."
"Why is that?"
Travis looked to him. "I told you, she keeps bugging me."
"And she's bugging you because….?"
"I-I-I dunno, she-she's asking me all these damn questions all the time….!" Travis frowned.
"Why is she asking you questions?"
"I dunno! She keeps thinking I'm hurt."
"But you are hurt." Ryan stated.
"So what if I'm hurt?! Don't mean it's everybody's business! Just cause some guy keeps hitting me and telling me awful stuff and threatening me, I—" Travis realized what he was saying, going a little wide-eyed, frowning.
"I-I-I mean….." His voice trailed off quietly, hanging his head, hoping Ryan couldn't tell.
"This man's been threatening you?" Ryan just asked calmly, Travis swallowing as he nodded slowly.
"Can you tell me what he's been saying to you?"
Travis shifted again. "I-I don't want to tell you…."
"Well you told me everything else now didn't you? You did tell me everything right?" Ryan asked with a knowing look, sensing Travis was obviously hiding something but not wanting to let him on that he knew just yet, watching Travis who just nodded again.
"Alright. Well Travis, I'll track down this Liam Andrews for you and have a word with him and hopefully you won't be bothered by this man anymore. But I would like to still suggest that you stop going to the bar so much, okay?"
Travis slowly nodded, frowning sadly as he hung his head, wanting Ryan to just leave already. "O-Okay."
"You did a great job Travis," Ryan said calmly as he stood. "Maybe you could try talking to one of your friends as well, like Vic."
Travis just shrugged. "Thanks Ryan…."
"Of course. You can give me a call if you need anything else. Have a good day now and stay safe." Ryan stood with a nod, walking out when Travis didn't say another word.
Travis remained sitting on the bed, frowning to himself sadly as he thought, thinking of how he had just lied to a cop, his friend, wondering what would've happened if he had actually told, maybe his whole life could've been saved…..oh god, why didn't he just say anything?
Vic caught up to Ryan on his way out. "Ryan, what-what did he say? Did he talk?"
"Well he talked," Ryan nodded, glancing back. "Though I'm not sure if he told the whole story….he seemed pretty discreet about it. But, I did get a name. That's a start."
Vic nodded, looking concerned. "Okay, I'm glad. What else did he say?"
"Not much." Ryan shrugged. "But maybe try talking to him, see if he'll open up anymore."
"Yeah, of course." Vic nodded with a frown, looking over to see Travis slowly come out. "Thanks again, Ryan. I really hope this clears things up."
"Of course. Glad I could help. See you around." Ryan nodded, turning to leave, Vic going over to Travis slowly.
"Hey, how you doing buddy?" She asked softly, frowning when she rubbed gently at his arm and he flinched.
Travis just shrugged with a sad look. "O-Okay."
"You feel better after talking to Ryan?"
"No cause I didn't want to talk to Ryan…."
"I know sweetie but he can help you….trust me, it's going to be alright."
Travis just shrugged sadly, not believing her. After all, he was the one who couldn't even tell the truth to a cop and if he couldn't do that, he'd never be able to tell anybody.
After shift he was at the table with Jace and Zack eating dinner, it being Jace's turn to feed him, Travis keeping quiet as he ate reluctantly, ignoring them and their stupid side conversations.
He had a far-off look, thinking hard, chewing slowly, much to the annoyance to Jace.
"So I said to the guy, just take her home with you and treat her right and then when she least expects it, rip her heart out right in front of her." Zack went on, telling some ridiculous story.
"The guy's a fool. I think he needs counseling. Maybe he should try hypnosis and-"
"I want to tell someone." Travis suddenly interrupted, it quickly going quiet as the two's eyes turned to him, Travis glancing between them, nobody saying anything for a minute.
"What?" Zack was the first to speak, eyeing him closely.
Travis hesitated, shifting a little in his seat, looking down. "I said I want to tell someone….I don't want to keep it a secret anymore." He said slowly, watching them frown.
Jace just looked quiet, Zack looking like he was doing his best to keep calm, though his green eyes looked cold with anger.
"As in…tell someone about us?" He questioned slowly and Travis nodded, Zack's mouth forming into a scowl. "Like who?"
"Like-Like Vic….or-or Jack." Travis said with wide eyes, frowning softly as he was being serious, knowing this was something he had to do.
"Thought we told you they don't care about you…?" Jace joined in with a knowing look, frowning softly.
"No, no, I-I want to tell them." Travis insisted, watching them share a glance and seem to nod to each other, it quiet for a moment.
"We'll talk about this later." Zack just stated. "Right now, let's just finish dinner."
Travis just frowned softly but seemed to accept it, continuing to eat quietly, hoping they would at least talk about it after supper instead of the usual antics they liked at the couch.
Well afterwards, Travis thankfully wasn't brought to the couch but instead was taken to the bedroom, making him wonder if they were just going to tie him up again, frowning.
"Come on, Trav…." Zack led him in, Travis being untied, frowning softly at them, Jace closing the door.
"What are we doing?" He asked slowly, looking at Zack who just grinned. "You'll see."
He frowned when they removed his shirt but he was used to that but what caught him off guard was when Jace grabbed his arms and held them behind his back, Travis gasping when Zack starting taking off his belt.
"Whoa, whoa, what are you doing?!" He pulled back but Jace was holding him still, Zack grinning as he continued removing Travis's belt, eventually starting to undo his pants as well.
Travis quickly cried out and tried to get away, protesting immediately, instantly frightened and panicked. "Stop! Stop! Wh-What are you doing?!"
Zack ignored him and pulled Travis's pants down so he was clad in nothing but his briefs, Travis freaking out as he was standing there practically naked in front of them, wondering what the hell was going to happen, protesting as he nearly started crying, trying to get away as he struggled desperately but Jace wouldn't let him.
"Let go of me, let me go! G-Get away from me! Stop!"
The two were just ignoring him, Travis completely freaking out, Zack eventually grabbing him by the chin, looking him in the eye. "Travis, shut up, okay?"
"Make sure to gag him good." Jace huffed from behind Travis, who shook his head no with big eyes, watching Zack reach in his pocket.
"No, no, no no no no no! No!" He shouted as he struggled desperately, squirming and kicking at Jace best he could but Jace held onto him, Zack getting out a handkerchief and reaching for Travis's face.
"Come on, Travis, open up."
Travis shook his head no quickly with a whimper, refusing to open his mouth, Zack growling with a glare. "Come on now…!"
Travis would not open his mouth, frowning with big eyes at them and Zack just growled, pinching Travis's nose so he would have to open his mouth in order to breathe. Travis quickly whimpered, trying to jerk his head around, crying out when he could no longer breathe and finally opened his mouth, Zack quickly getting the cloth in.
He got him gagged with two cloths instead of one and Travis cried as he reluctantly bit down, flinching as Zack finished tying it behind his head, squirming and jerking around but Jace just tightened his grip on him.
He tried to whimper to them urgently, weak and scared, but all that came out were muffled sounds which Jace and Zack completely ignored.
"Lie him down," Zack gruffed suddenly and Travis's eyes went wide, crying out when they each grabbed him and started getting him onto the bed.
Shaking his head no and trying to scream, Travis jerked but they laid him on the bed and Jace held him down while Zack went to the other side of him, Travis shoving and fighting against Jace the best he could but Jace was stronger.
They grabbed at his arms harshly and while he jerked and kicked around to get away, they just growled at him and each started trying to get his arms tied to the bed posts, Travis crying as he pulled and fought them the best he could but it was no use.
They were each so much stronger than him and they got one arm tied to each post, Zack yanking the rope around Travis's wrist so tightly Travis cried out in pain, it obviously hurting, whimpering as he started tugging at it to get his arm away but it was useless; both of his arms were stuck there, it tiring trying to struggle when they were spread out like so.
Travis cried out and yelled at them as he continued to kick and try to pull free, but then they each grabbed at his legs to tie them to the bedposts as well, Travis screaming as he sobbed, absolutely frightened of them.
A million thoughts ran through his head as he thought of what they were going to do to him, panicking as his chest heaved, shaking his head no endlessly, yelling out through tears when they got his legs tied too, completely unable to move, his limbs all spread out.
Zack and Jace would just merely look down at him as if nothing were happening and Travis looked between them with fear, terrified of what they would do next, trying to squirm away with a cry when Zack reached down for him.
Zack put a hand to his bare chest and patted him gently as he smirked. "Awww, just relax….no one is going to hurt you." But Travis obviously didn't believe him, looking up at him with huge eyes as he tried to talk to him, pulling against the ropes weakly.
"Mmmm mmm mmmm!"
"Awwww!" Zack just laughed again at him, patting at Travis's chest who flinched.
Jace got off the bed and shared a glance with Zack who gave him a nod, Travis watching them, trembling all over with fear.
Jace gave a sort of huff as he looked at Zack and began taking off his shirt, Travis's eyes widening even further, his muffled crying getting lost in his throat. Quickly he began to shake his head no as he watched Jace, screaming when Jace started taking off the rest of his clothes, knowing what was going to happen.
He struggled desperately and screamed but was entirely ignored, except for Zack who just laughed at him, Travis completely panicking, struggling to breathe as he cried and shook his head no, pulling against the ropes on his limbs as much as he could despite it hurting him badly, still unable to get away.
Jace got his pants off so he too was only clad in his underwear and not looking at Travis as he screamed, began to remove those too, Travis squeezing his eyes shut as he sobbed loudly and tried to yell, praying some miracle would happen and someone would come and save him.
Jace came over to the bed and started crawling on top on him, Travis opening his eyes but not looking down, crying out loudly as he shook his head no desperately, tears rolling down his face, his hands and fingers already turning red from the lack of circulation and how much he had already been struggling.
Jace just ignored him and got on top of him, Travis squirming and trying to move his legs around as much as possible, Jace just pinning them down with his own legs as he brought his face closer to Travis's.
"Shhhhh, hey, we've done this before…..just pretend it's like that." He grinned a little and Travis looked at him incredulously as he cried out, shaking his head no as he could hardly breathe he was so frightened, shaking everywhere, looking up at Jace with desperate eyes, praying he wouldn't do this.
"Oh and by the way, this is so you won't tell anyone about us." Jace stated, Travis continuing to cry, yelling at him to please stop but it was all muffled.
Jace started to shift and Travis continued to try and struggle, desperate to get away but there was nothing he could do and then it happened….
Travis was still crying when it was over, tears rolling down his face endlessly, trembling everywhere, Jace just getting off of him and putting his clothes back on wordlessly.
Travis lay there completely traumatized, just crying nonstop, entirely overcome with a helpless, broken feeling, whimpering out as it felt like his entire life had been ruined.
Unable to open his eyes cause he was crying so much, he heard Zack and Jace murmur to each other quietly and then heard the door open and close, Travis knowing they had left him alone, continuing to sniffle and cry, just clad in his briefs.
Thoughts of Michael ran through his head, and he was all Travis could think about, even while it had been happening, Travis crying as he remembered the first time they had slept together, how it was nothing like this not only because it was consensual between the both of them but because Michael actually loved him.
Nothing like that could even compare now to being raped and never having gone through something so awful, Travis felt worse than ever.
Like his entire life had just changed in a matter of minutes, and by the one he once thought was his boyfriend no less…..
Travis didn't know how long he cried for but all he knew was he was hurt more than ever now in a way he never once imagined could hurt him.
Hours must have passed and Zack came into the room, Travis opening his sore, puffy eyes to dare look up at him, lying there motionless, frowning deeply at him under his gags.
Zack just grinned as he slowly came over and sat himself down on the edge of the bed. "Hey. How ya doin'?" He asked softly and Travis nearly rolled his eyes, giving him a look that just said, 'how do you think I'm doing?'
"Awww, don't take it so personally…." Zack smirked, reaching over to put a hand on Travis's chest, who quickly flinched. "We never woulda had to do it if you weren't gonna tell….but it worked, didn't it?" He chuckled down at him, slowly beginning to run his hand over Travis's chest smoothly.
Travis closed his eyes tiredly, letting out a sort of tired moan, trying to shift away from him but quickly gave up, his limbs completely sore after all that struggling. Zack just smirked as he watched him, his hand going up and down Travis's chest.
"We told you….if you tried to tell, we'd either hurt you or Vic and personally I think you were the better choice. Just look at you, you're beautiful!"
Travis looked at him tiredly with dull eyes, frowning at his hand on him but he knew he couldn't get away.
Zack's hand ran over the birthmark on his shoulder, slowly going up to his face, Travis whimpering softly as he pulled away, Zack's hand then going back down his chest.
"You're definitely not going to tell now though, heh….not that anyone cares about you either way….and no one would help you if you did…." Zack chuckled and Travis frowned at him sadly as he listened, closing his eyes tiredly.
"Hey, lemme take those out for you…" Zack started taking out his gags which Travis let him with gratitude, his jaw very sore, frowning deeply as he felt like crying but he was too tired to cry anymore, just closing his eyes again.
"You…..you really think they wouldn't do anything? If-If I told?" He asked slowly, thinking of his friends. He heard Zack scoff at him, whose hand going up and down his chest was getting gradually rougher.
"Please…..they don't care about you! When did anyone ever care about you?"
"M-Michael." Travis opened his eyes with a frown, thinking of his husband sadly, wishing he could be with him right now, wishing to have his husband's arms around him, wanting one hug, just one hug from him.
"But did Michael really care about you?" Zack grinned, hand groping at him.
"He married me." Travis huffed.
"But anyone could marry you. Jace could marry you…."
Travis quickly frowned at the thought, remembering Jace ontop of him only hours ago. "I never want to see him again…." He muttered quietly, Zack just chuckling.
"Tough love, huh?"
Travis thought hard to himself. "Michael loved me you know. I-I know he did."
"Or so you keep telling yourself….I mean it's your own fault he died, right?"
"St-Stop saying that." Travis frowned, feeling his eyes tear up. "And get your hand off me."
Zack ignored him and just kept groping him, smirking. "Perhaps he never loved you….ever think about that?" He watched him as he tried to get inside Travis's head and twist his thoughts, especially now when he was the most vulnerable.
"Of course he loved me…." Travis shook his head a little, stammering faintly. "He loved me from the start. I-It was our fifth date when he told he loved me." Travis frowned as he remembered it. "And we had already known each other for so long before we started dating." He let out a sigh as his voice shook.
"He was my mentor when I was just the rookie. He-He helped me fix my mistakes and taught me how-how to be the best. He-He saved my life. Countless times."
Zack was listening, just grinning. "But that was his job. Doesn't mean he loved you."
"Sh-Shut up," Travis scowled at him with teary eyes, looking away as he thought hard. "Michael loved me….wi-with all his heart."
"Okay so maybe one person cared about you. But he's dead now so you're still alone regardless…."
"Alright I get it," Travis snapped softly, crying a little. "Michael died and it's fault and none of my friends care about me, I get it."
Zack smirked to himself at that, pleased, knowing that getting into Travis's head was working and it would only be a matter of time before he became truly broken.
"See? That's what we've been telling you." He huffed as he ran his hands over Travis's body, who at this point barely noticed, it being nothing in comparison to what Jace had done to him.
Travis's eyes were closed shut, crying silently as he frowned.
"I-I'm not going to tell anybody anymore….." He stated sadly, thinking hard, his emotions messed up, still feeling completely numb. He knew he couldn't tell anyone now, how-how could he? Not after this had happened.
"I-I mean, like you said, wh-what would they do anyway?" He thought of Vic and Jack, how he wanted to tell them. "V-Vic would just freaking call Ryan again and Jack….h-he-he would prolly just…." Travis had trouble thinking, crying. "I-I don't know what he would do, maybe even nothing…."
"That's right. And why?" Zack nodded as he listened.
Travis sighed, his face scrunched up as he frowned deeply, pained. "C-Cause they don't care about me I guess…..a-an-and why should they?" He started to whimper as he cried, more tears running down his face, feeling like any hope he had left was gone.
"I'm glad you finally came around…" Zack grinned, taking his hand off him, getting up. "I'll leave you now. Get a good night's rest now." He grinned and Travis watched him as he left, sniffling to himself, completely pained and exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally, more upset now than ever, feeling like his entire life was officially ruined.
He had already lost Michael and now he had lost everyone else, now completely alone.
Travis was reliving another beating from Zack and Jace, getting punched and shoved and hit everywhere, blood running down his face as he sobbed and cried out but couldn't do anything else, giving up.
All of a sudden Michael burst into the room, well the ghost of Michael anyways, who came marching over, looking furious.
"Get your hands off my husband!" He practically roared, coming over to Zack and Jace who stood frozen, Michael first punching Zack and then Jace, knocking them both unconscious.
Travis stared wide-eyed and mouth agape, not only cause he had been saved but because he was being saved by his husband, who hurried over and embraced him in a tight hug, looking more concerned than ever.
"Travis! I was so worried about you, thank god you're safe!"
Even though he was a ghost and Travis knew it, he could still feel his hug as if it were the real thing, quickly hugging him back, whimpering. "Y-You saved me, Michael, YOU saved me, you always save me…."
Michael pulled away, his hands cupping Travis's head gently as he looked him over, his face etched with worry as he frowned deeply, eyes teary. "Travis, I've missed you so much, I can't believe how much they hurt you…."
Travis sniffled, gazing at him with love, his arms wrapped around him as well. "I-I-I've missed you too, Michael…."
"I'm sorry I let this happen, no one is ever going to hurt you again, baby, not ever. I'll keep you safe." Michael looked at him sincerely with care, his hands on Travis gently, Travis sniffling as he smiled through tears.
"Oh Michael….thank you. N-No one else cares and you're the only one I have left now and I couldn't be happier. I-I love you so much…."
Michael's eyebrows suddenly furrowed and he pulled away a little. "Whoa, whoa, you love me?"
Travis frowned in confusion. "O-Of course."
"As in love me, love me?" Michael frowned, looking a little angry and Travis frowned back with big, teary eyes.
"Michael, don't-don't you love me?"
"Of course not. I've never loved you!" Michael sneered at him and Travis felt his mouth fall open, eyes widening, horrified.
"B-But you-you married me, we've always been together, I-I loved you."
Michael shook his head no, his look of sympathy having vanished. "Nope, sorry."
Travis whimpered, heartbroken, crying. "M-Michael-"
"Well what am I supposed to do Travis? What, this?" Michael leaned forward and pulled him into a kiss, kissing him deeply.
At first Travis felt Michael's passion from the kiss as his lips met his, but all of a sudden the kiss felt like Jace's kiss and no longer his husband's, Travis whimpering as he pulled away, looking at his husband through tears.
"M-Michael, I-I don't understand-"
"Well maybe I did love you once," Michael huffed as he wiped a hand at his lips in disgust. "But then you never saved me from the flashover and you left me to die."
Travis shook his head no quickly, whimpering. "No, no I-I tried to get to you, I did, but-but it was too late and I couldn't get to you! I-"
"It should have been you who died, Travis," Michael glared at him, shaking his head in disapproval. "It's all your fault I'm gone when I should've been the one to live."
Travis frowned deeply as tears rolled down his face. "Michael, I-I-I'm sorry! If-If I could've saved you I would've! I-I would've died for you!"
"But you didn't. And now nobody cares about you. And you don't matter…..goodbye Travis." Michael huffed, starting to fade away.
Travis sobbed as he shook his head no desperately. "No no, Michael please don't leave me, don't leave! I need you, I LOVE YOU!"
But Michael ignored him and completely vanished into nothing, Travis suddenly awaking with a start, gasping. He started to jolt up but the ropes held him back, panting heavily as he came back to reality, still lying on the bed from last night, wide-eyed from the nightmare, remembering.
Quickly he began to sob, frowning deeply as he couldn't stop, not even able to move around from the ropes, traumatizing him further.
All he could remember was Michael, Michael leaving him, Michael not loving him.
"But you didn't. And now nobody cares about you. And you don't matter….." That's what his husband had said to him.
And now Travis believed it, lying there and crying until he could cry no more.
The next day, Travis was completely miserable and even though he was able to take the longest shower he had ever taken, though through half of it he was just crying, not even a shower could make the awful feeling from last night go away.
He could still feel Jace on him, shuddering, traumatized completely, especially after hearing from his ghost husband that the man he married never loved him either.
When Travis did see Jace that morning he could hardly look at him and the two barely made eye contact, Travis wanting to avoid him at all costs.
Luckily Zack was the one he saw the most of, him being the one to feed him and tie him up, which is where Travis spent half of the day, tied up again in that lowly chair.
But this time he hardly even cared, just sitting there crying, feeling completely hopeless, like nothing mattered anymore.
Zack kept giving him the 'your friends don't care about you' speech over and over again to engrave it into Travis's head and Travis became even more miserable, just heartbroken.
Zack went to Jace with a grin, watching Travis from the living room. "Jace, it's working….he's completely breaking." He grinned, chuckling.
Jace looked over, watching Travis cry. "Yeah."
"Soon he's going to be completely broken. Especially after last night." He smirked, elbowing Jace softly, who stepped away with a frown. "Right." He said after a minute, walking away.
When Travis got to be untied, he didn't make a run for the door, something he hadn't even bothered trying for a long time, instead starting to go upstairs, glad when neither one of them followed.
Going into the guest bedroom, he opened the closet, getting out the box of Michael's pictures again, going through them with a frown, gazing at each one as he held them up.
"I know you love me…." He said aloud quietly with a frown, some of his teardrops landing on the broken frames, Travis crying softly as he ran a thumb over Michael's face tenderly.
"Of course you loved me, you-you had to…." He began to cry harder as he looked through more and more pictures, eventually dropping the one he was holding to the floor as he broke down, bringing his hands to his face as he practically sobbed.
He remembered their wedding, Michael's proposal to him, the first time Michael had saved his life and vice versa, even remembering the first day he met Michael who had stood up for him when all the other firefighters were picking on him as the rookie…..
But none of that mattered now, not if Michael never loved him to begin with.
Crying, trying to wipe the tears away unsuccessfully, Travis reached for his pocket for the picture Jace had let him keep from the day Zack had hit him.
He unfolded it and held it in his hands tenderly, gazing at it lovingly, missing his husband with all his heart.
"Oh M-Michael…." He broke down again and cried, hugging the picture to his chest tightly, not letting go.
And Travis just sat there, crying some more…..
Eventually, he did have to go back downstairs, wandering sadly over to the couch where Zack and Jace sat, plopping down between them as he kept his gaze at the floor, Zack grinning as he watched, glancing at Jace with a pleased look, nodding.
Jace just looked away, pulling out his phone.
Travis just sat between them with a miserable look on his face, his eyes dull and lifeless, staring at the floor or the tv, nobody saying a word, it practically silent save for the tv show.
Suddenly Travis's phone started ringing and Travis looked to it on the coffee table to see Jack was calling.
Quickly his eyes widened and he almost gasped as he leaned forward to grab it so he could tell Jack to help him, Zack quickly getting ready to pull him back as he watched him, Travis's shoulders then slumping.
He remembered what Zack said about his friends and thought about it, his eyes quickly going narrow with a frown, setting the phone back down crossly, leaning back on the couch as he ignored it.
Zack slowly smirked happily and sent a sly, knowing look to Jace on the other side of Travis, Jace just looking back at him with hard eyes, getting up to leave the room.
Later that evening Travis was tied up again as usual and Zack had to leave to go and get more groceries, Travis frowning when he was left alone with Jace.
But Jace just stayed in the other room, leaving him be, Travis glad as he remained in the chair where he cried quietly, his head lowered, frowning deeply as there was nothing for him to do but cry.
Zack had insisted before they had tied him up that they take his shirt off, Travis's chest now bare and still red from Zack's hands on him again earlier, Travis miserable as he was once again exposed, hating how much they abused him and his body.
He sat there crying, suddenly hearing Jace come over, blinking his eyes open to look up at him, quickly looking away again, keeping his head lowered, not wanting anything to do with him.
Jace came over and gently began taking out his gag, Travis opening his eyes to frown at him with a sort of narrowed look, quickly looking back to the floor with a sniffle, Jace stepping away again, leaning against the wall close by.
Travis could feel him staring down at him and he frowned deeply as he looked up at him a few times, Jace just staring at him with a sort of far-off look, Travis hating it, wanting to tell him to leave him alone but he refused to talk to him, keeping his gaze to the floor.
His teardrops fell to the carpet and Jace watched, eventually speaking. "Don't take last night so personally…." He said quietly. "I-I wouldn't have-I….Zack, he-….I-I-I never meant to hurt you." He stuttered.
Travis's eyebrows furrowed, daring to look up at him teary-eyed, angry. "Oh really? You-You didn't want to hurt me? Well, you-you did."
"Look, I….I guess I'm just sorry." Jace slowly came to him, Travis moving his head away so he couldn't look at him, Jace squatting down in front of him.
"I-It's just that, you-you have such a beautiful body, Travis," Jace cupped Travis's head in his hands gently, looking up at him with wide eyes. "And-and any guy would be so lucky to have you…" His hands ran down to his shoulders and to his bare chest, his touch soft and caring, Travis flinching, letting out a cry, shaking his head no. "S-Stop it!"
"J-Jus' look at you: your freckles, your hair, your birthmark, your eyes…you're so handsome and beautiful, Trav…." Jace talked quietly, his hand running smoothly over Travis's chest, who whimpered and cried, flinching.
Jace watched him closely and then reached a hand up to his face, Travis moving his head away quickly with a gasp, Jace gently taking his thumb and wiping away one of his tears.
"Plus we had sex before….Oh and by the way, Zack never paid me." He stated and Travis peeked an eye open, looking at him. "Not once, not for any of it. I never wanted it."
Travis's eyebrows furrowed at him and he frowned at him in confusion, Jace opening his mouth again, his eyes wide, looking sincere, his face close to Travis's.
"Travis, I…..I-"
"I'm home!" Zack suddenly opened the door and came in carrying groceries, Jace's eyes widening as he quickly stood up and turned around, clearing his throat, composing himself.
Zack started coming inside, frowning as he spotted Travis. "Why is he not gagged?" He looked to Jace, who cleared his throat.
"I-I was just reminding him about his friends, Zack, how worthless he is." He stated quietly, a far-off look in his eyes.
Zack grinned, nodding quickly. "Oh good, good! Good to know my good boy was being taken care of while I was away!" He smirked, patting Travis's cheek as he walked by, Travis flinching with a whimper, sniffling.
"Uh Jace, help with the groceries!" Zack yelled from the fridge and Travis watched Jace head outside hurriedly without another word, frowning when he saw Zack coming back over, a bottle of beer in his hand, smirking down at him.
"Now, he had your turn with you while I was away, now time for mine."
Travis just frowned deeply at him and hung his head again, more tears running down his face silently.
The next day as Travis walked into the station, he still had that lonely, broken feeling and it was clearly evident on his face as he looked sadder than ever; even his eyes looked sad and broken.
Frankly, it looked like all the life and happiness had been sucked right out of him, as if nothing mattered anymore.
Vic quickly spotted his state and immediately knew something was wrong, slowly coming over, frowning at him. "Hey, Trav….how you doing?"
Travis just sighed tiredly, trying to walk past her, not wanting to talk to anyone right now. "Please Vic, just don't talk to me right now."
Vic followed him with a deep frown. "What is that supposed to mean, Travis?"
"It means," Travis whipped back around with a narrow look. "Leave me alone. Don't talk to me now and don't talk to me later. I don't want to have to keep saying it. It's not like you would care about me anyways." He muttered as he turned to walk away, shaking his head.
"Of course I care….!" Vic called after him with a frown but Travis just kept walking, going upstairs to the beanery.
He ate breakfast quietly with the others, though barely, Vic watching him as he stared down at his food with a sad look and hardly took three bites, pushing his bowl away with a deep frown, not interacting with any of the others, even when they tried to include him.
Travis was just miserable; he avoided the others and did his chores alone, frowning deeply as he sniffled now and then, trying not to cry, occasionally taking out the picture of Michael he kept in his pocket, gazing at it sadly.
To make it worse, Jace came to visit him, Travis frowning deeply at him as walked by and saw him at the door, Jace carrying flowers and a box of chocolates in his hand.
Wordlessly, he just went to him, taking them reluctantly, frowning as Jace was talking to him but he wasn't listening.
"Jus' so the rest don't get suspicious of anything," Jace nodded, going on.
Jack was walking by in the garage and spotted them through the window, slowing down as he watched, eyes going to Travis, who just stood there not saying anything, looking as sad as could be, staring at the floor.
Jack stood there and watched a moment, his eyes slowly narrowing as he looked between them, seeing how sad Travis looked, watching him and then looking at Jace, frowning as he began to think.
He started to walk in and come over, watching them both. "Hey Jace," He greeted, Jace looking over with a grin.
"Oh hi, Jack."
Travis glanced once at Jack out of the corner of his eye and quickly turned around to walk out, keeping his gaze lowered.
Jace frowned as he saw him leave. "Uh, see you later, Travis!" He called, grinning a little as he looked back at Jack, who was eyeing him closely, hands on his hips.
Jace cleared his throat, feeling Jack's hard eyes on him. "Um, well, I guess I should be going then."
"Yeah. Maybe you should be." Jack just stated, not taking his eyes off of him until he had left, quickly walking out to try and find Travis again but couldn't find him, frowning.
Travis had just left the chocolates on the table for everybody else and gave the flowers to Vic, who frowned at him, not understanding, Travis just telling her to take them, walking off so he could be alone again.
The day dragged on and on and still things didn't get any better.
Vic was working on tool maintenance with Miller when Maya came and told her Ryan was there, Vic quickly finding him by reception, perking up a little. "Ryan."
Ryan nodded to her in greeting, looking a little somber. "How's Travis doing?"
Vic shook her head sadly, frowning. "He's not good, Tanner. I think he's actually getting worse, there is definitely something going on with him."
"Well I'm afraid I can't help you much. The name he gave me the other day, I interviewed him and he said he's never met Travis before, only seen him a few times."
Vic's eyes widened. "H-He didn't tell you the truth?"
Ryan just frowned. "Afraid it gets worse. He said Travis is hardly ever at the bar. I asked around and others gave the same statements so it checks out: Travis is definitely not going there like he's been saying he has."
Vic's concern grew even more, frowning deeply with worry. "Oh my god, I can't believe he lied to you, lied-lied to us, he-he's been saying he goes to this bar all the time!"
Jack walked in, coming over. "Hey Tanner. What's going on?"
Vic turned to him. "Travis lied to Ryan and apparently he's been lying to us too. Wherever and whoever's been hurting him they definitely haven't been doing it at the bar. I-I don't get it Jack, why would Travis lie about this?"
Jack frowned, talking slowly. "I might have an idea why…."
Vic's eyes widened. "You do? What is it?"
"I wanna ask Travis about it first, just to be sure."
"But Jack, Travis could just lie again."
"Can you at least give me a name?" Ryan raised a brow.
"Not yet. I want to hear Travis tell me himself." Jack insisted with a nod, Vic frowning at him.
"Jack, you really think he's going to talk to you? He snapped at me again earlier."
"Just let me try talking to him. Then we'll see."
"Hey Travis, can I talk to you?" Travis heard Jack call to him as he came over, Travis looking up at him with a frown, sighing.
"Does it have to be right now, Jack?"
"Jus' come with me, okay?" Jack nodded, grabbing at his arm gently and pulling him into one of the bunk rooms, Travis flinching at his touch, frowning as Jack closed the door.
"What is it?"
Jack looked at him expectantly. "Nothing. I just wanted to talk."
"Talk about what?"
"I dunno. Maybe there's something you'd like to talk about?"
"Jack, there's nothing to talk about, trust me." Travis looked at him dully, not interested in this. "Now please, I'd like to get back to work." He started to go to the door but Jack stepped in front of him to block his path, Travis's eyes widening at him, trying again.
"Jack…..Jack!"
Jack kept blocking him, standing tall. "I'm not letting you by until you talk to me."
Travis was getting angry now, glaring. "Talk to you about how much of an ass you're being right now?"
"Maybe. I just want to hear you talk."
Travis scoffed in frustration, not seeing any point in this. "Well what the hell am I supposed to be talking about?"
"I dunno." Jack just shrugged, keeping his cool, talking calmly. "How's your relationship with Jace going?"
Travis was caught off-guard by the question, looking away with a frown, stammering. "I-I-I dunno….th-that's what you wanted me to talk about, my boyfriend, I-I mean Jace?"
"So Jace isn't your boyfriend?" Jack watched him closely, listening carefully.
"No, no, of-of course he is!" Travis huffed, wide-eyed, frustrated. "Now can you please just leave me alone and let me go back to work?"
"Maybe. You know Travis, I noticed you're pretty stressed out right now, which may or may not be because of Jace, who knows, but you know what always helps cheer people up is a hug."
"A hug?" Travis frowned at him angrily but Jack had already stepped forward, embracing him into a bro hug.
Travis was immediately startled by the touch and flinched as he cried out, thinking of Jace and quickly he reacted, shoving Jack away, punching him before he could even think.
Jack cried out in surprise as he stumbled and reacted too, punching Travis back before he realized it, immediately regretting it when Travis fell to the floor with a yelp, looking up at him with wide eyes, horrified.
Jack frowned down at him with big eyes himself, completely guilty. "Travis, I-I'm so sorry, I-I didn't mean to-"
Travis whimpered when he saw Jack reach a hand down to him to help him up, pushing it away angrily as he got to his feet, beginning to cry, walking out, hurt by his friend's actions.
Zack was right: Jack had hurt him, his friends really don't care….
Jack hurried out after Travis, frowning when he could hear him crying. "Travis! Travis, wait!"
Travis wiped at his eyes as he cried, accidentally bumping into Maya, who immediately frowned at him. "Whoa hey, Travis, what's the matter?"
Tears rolled down Travis's face who frowned deeply, sniffling. "J-Jack punched me…."
"Jack punched you?!" Maya's eyes widened as she looked back at her boyfriend, who was still trying to catch up, Travis trying to go upstairs now, wiping at his eyes furiously as he couldn't stop crying, feeling completely betrayed by his friends.
Suddenly he bumped into someone again, making him gasp, looking up to see it was Sullivan, making him freeze, immediately embarrassed.
"Travis!" Jack hurried over with Maya now too, Sullivan looking between Jack and Travis with narrowed eyes as Travis tried to wipe away his tears.
"What the hell is going on here?"
Jack came over, looking at Travis who sniffled. "I'm sorry sir-"
"I'm not asking you, Gibson, I'm asking Montgomery, he's the one crying, now Montgomery, what happened?" Sullivan looked at him, Travis swallowing hard, shaking, frowning deeply as he saw the others were gathering.
"J-Jack punched me." Was all he could say, hearing the others immediately murmur and look to Jack quickly, their eyes narrowing, mostly in confusion.
"Gibson," Sullivan started with a sort of scowl, looking angry. "Need I remind you fights are not encouraged here."
Jack was frowning, eyebrows furrowed at everyone's reactions. "Okay but did it even ever occur to you that Travis was the one who punched me first?" He huffed and quickly the eyes went back to Travis, who quickly shrunk, wide-eyed.
"Montgomery, is this true?" Sullivan questioned and Travis looked around at everyone staring at him, suddenly realizing what he had done, that he hurt one of his friends too.
Quickly he became teary-eyed again, frowning deeply, guilty of what he had done. "Y-Yes. I'm-I'm sorry….ex-excuse me." He turned away, walking out quickly, beginning to cry quietly again, his sadness quickly returning…..
As Travis got home after shift, he clearly was just as miserable there as he was at work, sighing with a deep frown when Zack called him over to the couch.
He wandered in from the kitchen slowly, his eyes sad as he sat down, Zack grinning at him. "Thatta boy. Now let's have some fun, shall we? Let's take off your shirt."
Travis sighed as Zack grabbed his shirt and started taking it off him, just complying with him and lifting his arms, at this point not even caring, pretty much used to it at this point.
Zack tossed the shirt aside, grabbing some rope. "Arms." He watched Travis put his arms behind his back wordlessly, Zack grinning as he began tying his wrists together, sharing a look with Jace.
Jace was just watching silently, his mouth a thin line, watching Travis willingly open his mouth for Zack when he was told to, Zack gagging him happily, clearly pleased that Travis was so willing to let them tie him up now.
Quickly he pulled Travis onto his lap and immediately got his hands on him, Travis just closing his eyes tightly and letting out a sort of sigh, flinching at Zack's roughness, whimpering faintly.
Zack squeezed at him harshly, groping him everywhere, starting to get too handsy as his hands slid below Travis's waist, Travis crying out at that and shifting to get away, Zack just chuckling, sliding his hands back up. But other than that, Travis didn't bother to struggle: it didn't matter to him to struggle anymore.
He had already been raped and now nothing mattered to him, not even how badly he was getting touched everywhere.
His skin was quickly going red from Zack's hands, who was purposefully being as rough as he could, Jace frowning as he watched.
"Jesus Zack, don't you think you're being a little too rough?"
Zack was currently rubbing his hands all over Travis's chest, whose eyebrows were furrowed, whimpering quietly, Zack glancing at Jace with a sort of narrowed look. "What's that supposed to mean? Being rough is the whole point."
"But you're hurting him…." Jace pointed out as he watched, Zack quickly scoffing, one of his hands sliding up Travis's shoulders and to his neck, giving his throat a little squeeze before his hand travelled back down to Travis's chest.
"That's the idea, genius. What are you saying I'm not doing it, right?"
"Give him here, I'll show you." Jace huffed, already grabbing at Travis, pulling him into his own lap, Travis just frowning at the new set of hands that roamed up his chest.
But Jace's hands were smooth and gentle, not at all hurting him as they slid down his chest and to his stomach slowly and with care. Travis just flinched, there nothing to whimper about now, his eyes closed.
Zack quickly sneered. "Come on, you're not even hurting him. Give him back, I'll show you how it's done." He grabbed Travis and brought him back into his lap, squeezing and pinching at his chest as hard as he could, Travis quickly letting out a yelp, startled.
Jace frowned as he watched Zack's hand travel up and down everywhere. "Well if you really want to hurt him, you should do this." He grabbed Travis and pulled him close, beginning to take out his gag.
Travis frowned and opened his eyes only to be met with Jace leaning in and kissing him on the lips deeply, him cupping the back of Travis's head gently, kissing him passionately and slowly, not at all harshly.
Travis just frowned, whimpering a little faintly underneath him, not kissing him back. Zack's lips formed into a scowl as he watched, looking away quickly.
"Please, give him back so I can really give it to him." Zack grabbed at Travis's arm and began to pull but Jace wouldn't let him take him, pulling Travis close, giving Zack a mean look.
"No, not yet." And then he started kissing Travis again, his hands now cupping Travis's face gently, just kissing him.
Zack frowned again and scooted closer. "Oh yeah? Well I can play at that game too." He huffed, putting his hands on Travis's stomach and up to his chest, groping.
Travis whimpered at his touch and that they were both touching him at the same time, quickly shifting uncomfortably, whimpering as he tried to pull away from Jace's kiss but Jace wouldn't let him, not taking his lips off his.
And Zack kept groping him while Jace kept kissing him, Travis frowning deeply as he began to panic as both of their hands were on him, whimpering out as he nearly began to cry, neither one of them stopping.
They were each practically ontop of him and Travis was starting to freak out when all of a sudden they heard the doorbell ring, everybody going frozen, their heads whipping around to face the door.
"Aw sh**," Zack swore, quickly angry. "Not again. Quick, get him untied, hurry."
Zack and Jace scrambled as they untied Travis, Zack helping him get his shirt back on, them making it seem like nothing had even just happened, Travis just frowning as they each leaped to their feet.
"You answer the door, but don't try anything or I swear to God-" Zack growled, pointing a finger as he darted off to go hide, Jace following suit to go to the kitchen.
Travis heard a door close as Zack hid in his bedroom, frowning as he went to the door, opening it, seeing Jack. "Jack."
"Travis." Jack nodded to him, quickly looking him over to see if he was hurt. "Is Jace here with you?"
"Uh yeah, he's here." Travis just frowned. "We were just having uh, date night." He fibbed.
"Great. Can I come in?" Jack almost seemed to huff, looking a little impatient, seeming anxious.
Travis closed the door a little further. "Uh actually-"
Jack then pushed past him, going inside, making Travis frown, watching him. "Jack-"
Jack wandered inside, immediately looking around, spotting Jace in the kitchen, who stood up straight from leaning on the counter. "Oh hi, Jack." He just greeted, acting as if nothing had happened.
Jack just nodded, glancing between them, looking as if he knew something, hands on his hips, putting on a fake grin. "What are you two up to?"
"Oh you know," Jace started, grinning softly. "Date night, sort of things."
"Mmmhmm. Like what?" Jack huffed, eyeing him.
Jace blinked, just grinning. "Um, kissing….you know, intimate stuff. Sharing a few beers."
"Well hey, maybe I should join you. With the beer part, not the kissing. Trav-"
"Jack, I think you need to leave." Travis stated to him with a frown, catching Jack off guard.
"What?" He frowned down at him, eyebrows furrowed.
"I said, I think you should go." Travis stated again and Jack's jaw set, his green eyes flickering.
"Jace, may I speak to you for a minute?" He almost growled, his narrowed eyes glancing at Jace, who shrugged, starting to come over. "Sure."
They went to the living room past the couch where Travis had been getting groped by Zack and Jace not five minutes ago, Jack suddenly shoving Jace up against the wall.
"Alright you little son of a b****, what did you do to Travis?" He demanded, glaring down at him.
Jace blinked, frowning up at him. "Wha-? I-I don't know what you're talking about."
"The Travis I know would not ask me to leave when I stop by, he'd ask me to stay and have a beer, even if it is date night. And what guy does not look happy when his boyfriend brings him flowers to work?" Jack almost growled, his voice firm.
Jace blinked up at him, trying not to show that he was intimated. "Jack, I think you're out of line here."
"Don't play stupid and innocent with me," Jack huffed, pointing a finger at his chest. "Something's going on and I know you're the one behind it. Now what did you do that made Travis so sad?"
"Travis is fine. He's just going through a little rough time right now. Our relationship is just a little unstable now…." Jace stated, quickly trying to come up with things to say.
"Oh yeah?" Jack growled, not buying it, glaring down at him angrily. "Well then why don't you tell me where the hell Travis's pictures of Michael are." He gestured to the bare walls, having saw right away they were all missing.
Jace just frowned, keeping calm. "He took them down."
"Oh he took them down? Or did you tell him to take them down?" Jack demanded, growling.
"Jack." Travis came into the room, making them both look over. "I think you should go."
Jack frowned, glancing back at Jace and then Travis, who came over. "I think I should stay."
"Why? So you can be a part of our date night?" Travis just frowned, coming over to Jace, who pulled him close gently.
"I don't care if you two have your date night." Jack shrugged, huffing.
"Oh so you don't mind if we make out…." It was Jace's turn to huff, who pulled Travis into a kiss, kissing him deeply. Travis knew Jack was watching and wanting to convince him to leave, he closed his eyes and just kissed Jace back, though not as passionately, Jace wrapping his arms around him as they continued to kiss.
Jack quickly wrinkled his nose a little and looked away, not wanting to watch his friend kiss another man, scowling to himself, sure that he discovered Jace was the problem but not if Travis was willingly kissing him.
"Better go before we rip our clothes off…." Jace murmured under Travis's lips, giving Jack a smug look out of the corner of his eye, his hands slowly sliding under Travis's shirt, Travis holding back his whimpers, trying not to flinch.
Jack again quickly looked away, scowling as he went to the door. "Fine, I'll go. See you next shift, Trav." He closed the door loudly, Travis quickly pulling away from Jace, looking at the door wide-eyed.
He sighed, huffing, walking back to the kitchen. "I thought he'd never leave."
Suddenly he was shoved to the floor, landing hard on his chest, quickly looking up in shock at Jace who had shoved him. "Wha? What'd you do that for?"
Jace almost looked furious and he grabbed Travis off the floor by his shirt, punching him hard.
"You little son of a b****!" He snarled as he ignored Travis's cries of pain as he kept punching him, finally dropping him to the floor where Travis curled into himself, crying in pain.
Jace stood above him, his eyes narrowed with a new sort of fire in his eyes, panting angrily, looking up when Zack walked in.
"Finish punishing him," Jace snarled. "So I don't have to." He sneered and then walked off angrily, Travis looking up wide-eyed in fear, gasping as Zack reached down for him…..