Note: Thank you for the reviews. This chapter is a bit random and inspired by the odd couples initials and the fact that I was stuck on the and earlier without a book.

Chapter 16 S&M

As the weeks went by the new segregation of the groups became more and more normal. The Demolition Boys stayed together, Rei spent most of his time with the girls across town (only really seen in lectures) and everybody else who were kind of biased towards Rei anyway.

The Demolition Boys; now completely removed into one flat tended to go about their business without disturbing the rest. Nobody wanted to rock the boat too much concerning Kai and tuition money and the proud Demo Boys would not allow themselves to be snubbed twice.

Bryan had reverted back to his pre-relationship ways; save for the small amount of regained maliciousness (mostly indicated in cruel practical jokes that often went happily violently wrong); Ian was in mourning over his lost relationship and his lost winnings that he'd wasted chasing 'hot tips'; Kai was still suffering from whatever the hell it was that made him act the way he did; Tala had already suffered his heartbreak at the hands of his orderly so he was generally happy.

But this chapter is about Spencer.

Spencer lay relaxed on his front his head resting on the half stuffed cheap hotel cushion. He wore a contented half smile and a blue flannel bath robe that was pulled up and bunched at the small of his broad back.

His red and bruised bottom was being attended too by Matilda who was carefully rubbing salve into the blemishes and wounds that she had earlier inflicted as part of their 'games'.

The room was silent save for Spencer's contented sigh as Matilda rubbed on the cooling cream. Worrying her lip slightly and bending forward Matilda inspected her work.

"This will be uncomfortable for a while" she commented. Her voice was harder when she was with him, more assertive she sat up and abruptly flicking her pink hair from her face and adjusting her pink silk nightgown over her black buckled corset.

"Good. Every time I sit down I will think of you." Spencer loved the feeling of his bruises after his 'sessions,' he loved the reminder that sometimes he could give up control. Loved knowing that he had something the rest of his team didn't have; a loving, trusting relationship. He only wished that he could tell everyone.

In the beginning the secrecy was helpful; the first few months were nervous and difficult as the couple struggled with their desires and tried to find their feet .But now it was the war that kept them apart. Like Romeo and Juliet they met across a great divide of hatred. Their friends; still split over Bryan and Rei's break-up could not be trusted not to over-react.

"I need to be gone by 11:00 or Mariah will notice," reminded Matilda as she walked towards what the brochure called 'the tea and coffee making facilities' (An old kettle, a few chipped cups and a random assortment of tea bags with small milk and sugar packets. The coffee always seemed to be mysteriously absent.)

"I need to be back by…oh who am I kidding I live with Bryan the drug addict, Ian the gambler, Kai the slut…my only real worry would be Tala's sudden need to keep his friends within sight so that he can't be all alone again." Spencer moved to sit up and thought better of it propping himself on his elbows instead and watching Matilda work.

"Fucked up," commented Matilda not really pausing in her activities. "This would be so much easier if Rei and Bryan just made up."

"Well if Rei would just tell Bryan why he dumped him in the first place…"

"You don't even know?" asked Matilda turning to him shocked.

"Nobody bothered to tell us," complained Spencer making a face "We can't read minds."

"If you take that tone with me again then I'll get the kane back out."

"Promise?" asked Spencer hopefully.

Matilda seemed to consider it before her eyes darted back to the clock. "Next time, when we have enough time to enjoy it ," she promised setting to work again "So Bryan really has no clue?"

"None of us do. Everyone is ignoring us, kind of bitchy when you consider who pays their way."

Matilda bit her lip, "No one can find out it come from me" she cautioned.

"I promise."

"If you say anything I'll never punish you again," she threatened.

"O.K really I promise," promised Spencer frowning.

"Rei found out that Bryan cheated on him with Kai."

"What?"

"A couple of days after Bryan promised to only sleep with Rei Bryan slept with Kai."

Spencer paused, "Are you sure?" he asked as she brought them two (chipped) cups of tea.

"Positive. He used Bryans orgy camera rig to spy on you guys and heard it from Bryan's own lips."

"When?"

"When what?"

"When did he watch? Why was he spying?"

"I dunno when you guys threw him out for some Abbey thing."

Spencer sat up angrily and winced, "that bastard."

"Well I can't say that I'm shocked I mean Bryan and Kai were always at it weren't they?"

"Not Bryan, Rei! That little bastard had no right."

"He wanted to know if Bryan was cheating on him," Matilda defended taking the default battle role.

"So he was allowed to spy on all of us at a really private moment? Is that what you would do?"

Matilda cringed the shouting shifting the power and making her wilt. "No" she whispered. No I wouldn't invade your privacy like that."

"That fucking stupid bastard. We asked for one night of peace. One night away from his judging…arsy..." Spencer looked up and saw Matilda cringing on the side of the sofa. She never heard him angry before, she was scared.

"Matilda I'm sorry" he said patting the sofa next to him in invitation and throwing an arm around her shoulder as she scooted closer. "it just makes me feel violated."

"I'm sorry" she whispered burying her face into his shoulder.

"It's not your fault…so Bryan cheated? I guess I'm not that surprised. I don't know if you've noticed but sometimes he does things without thinking."

Matilda giggled a little, "Yeah."

"Maybe we should start packing up, it's twenty to eleven and mother Mariah will worry."

"Fuck mother Mariah I'm staying here…I'm tired of this Boo-hoo Rei shit anyway."

"Good because I obviously scared you and that shouldn't go unpunished."

Matilda stood up undoing her belt and letting her bathrobe flutter to the ground. "Your right. Assume the position."

And in the dorms across town Mariah snored soundly.