Chapter Six: Tony's Mistake
Warning: brief homophobic language
Empty. Tony looks around; it's all the same, yet not. One weekend and the quiet without Tim's dominant presence is suffocating. Furious, Tony stomps to his bedroom. "If he gets to go out, then so do I," he grumbles under his breath. He's not to going to wait in his lonely, suffocating apartment like some pathetic housewife for Tim. Tony throws off his suit jacket and tears off his tie.
Not bothering to scope out the women per usual, Tony settles on a bar stool at his favorite bar. He signals the bartender and orders a drink. The alcohol doesn't erase the unwelcome feelings in his chest. The change of location did nothing, the music and noise are as suffocating as the silence of his apartment.
"Hey there, handsome."
The woman presses against his side but her body leaves him feeling cold. The last thing he needs is to add a woman to the already confusing and complex situation. "I'm taken." He feels Tim's claim all over him despite being ticked off at him. No one in the bar is likely to challenge it tonight.
"Just the way I like 'em."
Tony sips from his drink before turns toward the woman. "Yeah? Well, my boyfriend doesn't share." Boyfriend. What the actual fuck? I'm announcing that now?
Tony's thoughts are interrupted when the woman's expression turns to disgust, "You're a faggot?" She doesn't wait for his answer, just rushes away from him.
"What a bitch." Apparently, cheating is okay but two guys fucking is disgusting. Fuck her. Tony slams back his drink. He signals for another, sipping this one slower. He settles back into his pouting—er—brooding.
TM*TD*TM*TD
"Do I need to get you a leash, Pet?"
Tony jumps at the question. Ah, shit. Feeling a bit too much like a little boy being scolded, he tries to keep his cool. "Tim, ah, what are you doing here? How did you find me?"
Tim sits down, crowding Tony. "What did I ask of you?"
Forcing a laugh, Tony says, "You're not the boss of me." Boyfriend echoes in his head. Shut up brain. When Tim laughs, it's dark and sends liquid fire through his body.
"Yeah, I am, Pet. That's the way you like it."
The whispered words in his ear make his hole clench and cock harden. Boyfriend. Tony doesn't resist when Tim pays his tab and leads him outside.
"You'll follow me home."
Tony opens his mouth but Tim stops him with a gesture. Boyfriend.
"Get in."
Unlocking his car, Tony drops into the driver's seat.
"Stop pouting."
"I'm not pouting!" Tony turns away from Tim's knowing look.
"You will follow me home."
Tony stares straight ahead. "Yes, sir." Watching Tim walk to his flashy car in his rearview mirror, he goes back to pouting—brooding. I can't believe I called him my boyfriend.
TM*TD*TM*TD
Finding Tony's apartment empty had not pleased him, although Tony wasn't hard to find. The disobedience of his Pet was a disappointment. However, the sight of Tony pouting with a drink in hand erased his anger. My jealous Pet. Tim smiles to himself, glancing back at Tony following behind him. He wants me all to himself. Greedy boy. As sweet as that is, Tony has to learn he doesn't make the decisions. That's what I'm here for.
"Inside," Tim barks, hiding the smile at Tony scurrying to the door. Calm and steady, he unlocks the door and lets them inside. 3...2..1…
"I didn't do anything wrong!"
Tim waits.
"I can go to a bar if I want to."
Tim follows Tony's anxious pacing.
"I didn't do anything wrong." Tim's silence infuriates him further. "This is stupid! I'm not your little wife." Tony looks adorable with his arms crossed and an angry pout on his face.
"No." Tim takes hold of his shoulders. "You are not my little wife. You are more important than a wife or a husband. You are my pet, my heart, my life, my everything." Tony's bravado crumbles. "My sweet boy." Tim brushes his hair back. "One day you'll trust me, Pet. No more pushing me away; no more testing me. Until then, I will have to keep proving myself to you." Tony wants what he is offering but his past tells him trust is what makes him vulnerable. Damn DiNozzo Senior.
Pushing thoughts of Tony's father aside, Tim focuses on the problem at hand. "I love you and I promise not to leave you but disobedience comes with consequences, Pet."
"What?" Tony's shock is almost amusing.
"I tell you to do to something, I expect it to be done."
Tony steps away from him, expression defiant. "What, like an obedient puppy?" He sneers. "Just like dear old dad, aren't you? As long as I do everything you tell me to do, I'm a 'good boy' but as soon as I step out of line—" He cuts off in disgust. "You'll throw me aside like he did."
Tim hugs Tony from behind. "Shh, love." His heart aches as Tony struggles against his secure hold until the fight goes out of him. "Never, Pet. I won't throw you away like he did. I expect you to step out of line and disobey, that's what punishments are for. To wipe the slate clean."
Tony turns in his arms, a look of utter confusion on his face.
He pictures little Tony DiNozzo Jr. and wishes he could erase his sorrow. The little boy whose mistakes were marked and never forgotten or forgiven. Young Tony could never escape his sins. Real or imagined, they followed him wherever he went.
"Punishments are for you to acknowledge your mistakes and through them, you are forgiven."
"Yeah, right," Tony scoffs.
Taking his chin in hand, Tim vows, "I don't lie to you and I won't. Punishments are not a way for me to hold something over you. Hear me, Pet, they wipe the slate clean." It tears at his heart to see the disbelief in his eyes. Tony wants to believe but can't. "Shall we wipe the slate clean?"
Tony nods hesitantly.
"Good." Tim pecks him and lips and leads him to the corner of the room. "I want you to stand here facing the wall, silently, until I tell you to stop." He allows the brief annoyed look before pointing to the wall. Tony rolls his eyes but turns toward the wall with an exasperated sigh. "Cut the attitude, Pet, or this punishment will lead to another." He huffs once but bit by bit loses his sass. "I want you to think about why you disobeyed me and why that displeases me. I want you to think about what would have happened if you'd have listened to me. I want you to think about what your life would be like if you trusted me to take care of you. I want you to remember the promise you made me, to remember the pleasure that I give you, before you run. "
Tim leans back to watch his boy, silent for a good period of time. A pleased smile rests on his face at Tony's thoughtful posture. Despite his persistent avoidance of examining his choices and his life, Tony is taking his punishment seriously.
In the silence, he lets his own mind wander to the future he hopes they will have. Tony's eyes full of love, trust, and happiness. Nights full of passion. Lazy weekends of snuggling. Taking care of his pet for the rest of their lives. Sap. Unashamed of the goofy grin on his face, Tim can admit he is a romantic at heart. It's why he wants a sub to care for, why he wants to take care of Tony.
Sensing Tony is reaching his limit, he goes over to end his punishment. Tony jumps at Tim's hand on the bare skin of his lower back before relaxing into the touch. "You did well, Tony." Tim caresses the soft skin under his fingertips. "All is forgiven and forgotten. Let's get ready for bed, we have work in the morning."
TM*TD*TM*TD
Tim fights to keep his expression bland.
The past week had been perfect. Coming home to Tony, his eager and insatiable submissive, was everything he'd dreamed of. Drowning Tony in pleasure he'd not experience before kept his pet from running. The state of bliss couldn't last long but Tim had hoped for more. Tony's past and insecurities were too strong not to rear up and ruin their paradise. They had broken through Tony's resolve.
Tim chains down his snarling Dom side as he watches his Tony grind on the dance floor with a gorgeous ginger-haired woman. It takes all of his hard-learned restraint to keep from striding over and ripping Tony away from the woman's wandering hands. Possessiveness simmering under the calm exterior, he sips his drink and waits for his pet to notice his presence.
"You wanna talk about it, suga?"
Tim doesn't look away from Tony to answer the bartender. "No." He feels her lean close.
"Closeted boyfriend?"
If only it was that simple. He grunts non-committedly.
"Perhaps a naughty submissive?"
Tim turns in surprise. D.C. has a thriving community, it's a city filled with powerful Doms and Subs needing a place to unwind from stressful jobs. Rarely is it mentioned out in the open.
The bartender smirks. "Like recognizes like." She explains with a shrug.
He looks her over carefully. She's what outsiders would consider a stereotypical submissive type. Sweet, innocent girl next door kind of look. Petite, barely making five feet tall. Wouldn't take much for her to fool someone into thinking she was simply a sweet young woman, eager to kneel at someone's feet. But one look into her eyes shows him different. Like recognizes like as she said. She doesn't kneel at anyone's feet.
Tim relaxes, willing to open up to someone from his world. It explains how she saw past his mask when few are able to. "Pet's a newbie. He isn't quite ready to fully accept his place is at my feet. His first true rebellion," he explains, nodding toward Tony. He isn't counting the already punished and forgotten disobedience. That was pouting, this is more.
"Ah," she says with a fond smile. "The risk of taking on a newbie."
"He's worth it." He is ready and willing to put in the work to earn Tony's trust. It will be his most treasured gift.
The bartender looks behind him. "Looks like your boy knows you're here."
Tim turns slowly, his eyes finding Tony's horrified ones. He takes one last sip before standing up, calm and sure. Tony is frozen, panic in his eyes as Tim approached him. He feels the confused stare of the woman Tony had been dancing with. Tim stops in front of his boy, intimately close. "Hello, Pet." He's satisfied to see Tony is too shocked to say a word.
"What's going on here? Who are you?"
At least he didn't pick one of these horrible, catty women. "Ready to stop this foolishness and come home?"
Trying to find his words, Tony stutters, "I—I—" His head frantically moves between the woman and Tim.
"Oh, well, ain't that something," the woman says. Her eyes light up with interest. "You boys wanna have some real fun?"
Tim almost chuckles at how wide Tony's eyes go at the invitation. "I don't share."
"Pity." The woman sighs and heads off to find someone else to have fun with.
"Pet." As if approaching a skittish feral cat, Tim moves slowly. He lays a possessive hand over the back of Tony's neck and feels the tension flood from his body. The touch seems to make a switch go off in his brain. The submissive in Tony recognizes he's where he needs to be: with Tim. "That's it. Let's go home."
His glare warns several grabby drunk women away. Outside, Tim pushes Tony against his car. Fear radiates off his Sub. Tony's impulsive nature has come back to bite him again. Leaning close, Tim orders, "Breathe."
Tony sucks in a breath, surprised to realize he'd been holding his breath long enough for his lungs to burn.
"In and out." Tim coaxes Tony into taking easy breaths until his Sub has calmed.
Shame floods Tony, his body slumps against the car. His head hangs down while his eyes avoid Tim's. "I'm sorry." The soft apology full of regret.
"I know, Pet. I'm disappointed but not surprised."
Tony's lip trembles at the word disappointed.
Tim gently guides Tony's head up with a finger under his chin. "I don't expect you to be perfect. You'll make mistakes and so will I."
A spark of hope lights Tony's sad eyes.
"You hear me, Pet? You don't have to be perfect. I told you before, I'm not your dad. I won't set you up for failure. I won't give up on you." 'Like everyone else' goes unspoken. It hurts to see the fear and hope warring in Tony's expressive eyes. If I ever meet his father, I don't know if I would be able to restrain myself. Anthony DiNozzo Sr. is a selfish bastard and a neglectful, judgmental father. The majority of Tony's trust issues stem from his father. "I don't expect you to believe me right away but you are mine now." Trust, true and solid trust, will take time to establish. "Come on, let's go home."
TM*TD*TM*TD
While Tony needs to be punished for running and for his lack of trust but first, he needs reassurance. Tony plods into the apartment with a downtrodden posture.
"I'm sorry."
Tim reads the fear buried beneath the regret. "I know you are, Pet. We'll deal with your punishment later but first, into the bedroom."
Tony's eyes look up from the floor in surprise.
"Come on." Shocked, Tony is guided into the bedroom without resistance. Tony's face in his hands, Tim tips it up and encourages him to meet his eyes. "Look at me, Pet."
Reluctant, Tony's eyes make a slow path up to Tim's.
"You belong to me. Now and forever. You are my pet. Mine to care for. Mine to love. Mine. I am not your father. I am not like any from your past. I will never leave you. Never abandon you. My word is my bond, Pet. My heart is yours. I will do anything and everything to be worthy of your trust." Tim shushes him with a finger over his lips before Tony can speak. "Not now, Pet. All you need to do is listen this time. You'll listen to how much you mean to me and how dedicated I am to you. Can you handle that? Or should I gag you?"
Tony's lip trembles, beautiful eyes swimming with tears about to fall. "I—"
Catching a tear with his thumb, Tim asks, "Do you trust me, Tony?" His pet searches his eyes for honesty, something Tony hasn't experienced enough of. Too many people in his life expected too much and given him too little. Tim will prove he is different. "Just for tonight, can you trust me?" Tony stares at him. His eyes are unusually serious, eyelashes wet with tears. He's so fucking beautiful. Trust me, Love. Give me a chance.
"Okay."
Tim can barely hear the whispered answer over the roar of his heart. "Then let me take care of you tonight. Show you how much you are loved."
"Ye—" Tony's answer is stifled by Tim's lips.
Kissing Tony pliant, Tim murmurs against his lips, "No speaking, Pet. You don't need to do anything but what I tell you to do. I am going to show you that everything you are belongs to me."
"Bu—"
Tim shushes him with a finger over his lips. "Don't move." Tony's trust in him will be pushed to the limit tonight. Uncertain green eyes follow Tim as he moves around the room. "Do you still trust me?"
Tony swallows, staring wide-eyed at the blindfold. This isn't like last time. Accepting the blindfold this time means a level of trust he's never given anyone before. Tony disobeyed Tim's order; when he fucks up that's when he gets fucked over. Allowing himself to be vulnerable to Tim will require true trust. Can I trust him with my body and my heart this night? Can I trust him not to take advantage of me?
The blindfold sits on Tim's open hands. An offering for him to take or refuse. A choice. Tentative, graceful fingers reach out and take it. Tim's chest feels as if it'll burst with pride. "Thank you for your trust." It's more than a submissive trusting his new dominant. It is Tony, a man who has been taught not to trust, trusting Tim with his body after making a mistake. It's a monumental step. One day he'll trust me with all of him. Body, Mind, Heart, Soul. Without doubt or fear.
A little shudder goes through Tony as the blindfold covers his eyes.
"If you need me to stop, say red and everything will stop. I will take off the blindfold and any restraints. Nod, if you understand."
Tony's head jerks up and down.
"Breathe, Pet. Just breathe." Long, soothing strokes up and down Tony's body help him relax. "All I want you to remember is you're mine now." Muscles tense under his fingers. "You are mine and I won't let you go." Tim slowly removes Tony's clothes until he is laid bare. "You have nothing to hide from me, Pet. Don't hide your body from me." Tim caresses the areas Tony tries to hide from him. "All of you belongs to me now. Show you what belongs to me." He kisses Tony's covered eyelids. "What you've trusted into my care tonight. What one day you will trust me with for the rest of your days."
Tim kisses and caresses every inch of Tony's bare skin. "Feel my love in my every touch." His boy trembles, the emotion of the moment bubbling up.
Giving a small, soft unseen smile, Tim chides, "You don't have to hold back, my love. Let go. I have you."
Tony gives a valiant effort but a single tear escapes and the damn breaks. Tim cradles him in his arms as he sobs. "Let it out. If you need to talk, talk."
"No one—" He clings with a desperation that makes Tim's heart hurt. "No one's stayed. Not after I fucked up."
Removing the blindfold, Tim wiped his eyes clear of tears. "I know, Pet, and that makes my heart ache for you. You deserve better than you've received in the past but everything is different now. You have me and I am not going anywhere. Ever. My beautiful boy for always." The doubt in Tony's eyes hurts but isn't surprising.
"Yeah, sure. Until I fucked up too many times."
Tim laughs. "Never. Remember what I said about punishments wiping the slate clean. That's the way it will always be between us. I know earning your full trust won't be easy but I won't give up on you." He crowds Tony toward the bed until he sits down on the edge. "Look at me, Pet." Letting the full force of his possessiveness glow in his eyes, Tim vows, "You are mine, forever. I. Will. Not. Leave. You." Spinning away, he finds the marker he was looking for and stalks back to bed with determination.
"Lay back. Starfish." To his pleasure, his boy scrambles to obey. Green eyes watch him write all over his body. Words of possession. Tim's Boy. If found return to Timothy McGee. Mine. Belongs to Timothy McGee. Mine.
Tim feels a burning satisfaction at the words. "Turn over." He works in silence, marking his boy all over.
Done, Tim steps back and admires his work. No doubt who Tony belongs to. The marks won't last forever but long enough to be a good reminder for them both. Tony turns and their eyes meet. It takes everything in him not to tear off his clothes and fuck Tony unconscious. "Who do you belong to?"
Tony blushes.
Fuck, his blush gets me hard.
He glances down at the words written bold and clear over his body. "You."
"Damn right, Pet." Tim strips out of his restricting clothing and climbs into bed with his pet. He gives Tony's ass a gentle slap, the unsubtle jut toward him an invitation he has to refuse. "As tempting as you are, pets don't get rewarded for disobeying and running away."
Before Tony can get worried about his punishment to come, Tim snuggles close. "Sleep, Pet. Tomorrow, punishment."
Thank you to all who volunteered to beta for me. Thanks especially to Hannah and Sophie! You helped make this chapter better.
Feel free to make suggestions for punishments for poor Tony. At this point, I'm thinking he's getting caged for a while (cock caged, I mean). Hannah gave the cock cage idea the thumbs up.