"Boss?"
He whimpered in reply.
"Boss," I tried again, stepping closer slowly.
"Don't..call me that," he gave heavy sigh, his dark accent rolling like chocolate through my veins. "You should know that tiger," he laughed in a low chuckle.
"Jim," I whispered, kneeling beside him and cupping his cheek in my hand. He had a light stubble and his whole appearance look disheveled. He leant into my touch and I could feel the dampness on his skin. He'd been crying?
"Jim, look at me," I half pleaded. Times like this were not the time for raised voices. The last time he had skittered away from me like a frightened animal, refusing to let me near him as he hyperventilated.
He looked up at me through heavy lids, obviously half out of his mind.
"What did you take?"
He gave me a cheeky smile and let out a long sigh, resting his head back against the wall and leaving his throat exposed. I felt a pang of guilt when I saw the finger marks and bruising around his neck. I had been too rough with him. Dammit, why didn't he just speak up when I hurt him? Someday I would end up doing real damage.
You want to don't you?
Be quiet, now is not the time for this.
"Jim, I need you to tell me what you took," I shook him gently as his eyes closed. My heart gave a trill as he seemed to slip into unconsciousness.
"Jim," I tried, shaking him. He slowly opened them again, bleary eyed and confused.
"I just wanted to sleep," he moaned as I searched his pockets finding a small empty pill bottle.
"How many," I said, louder to get through to him. He didn't respond.
"How many," I practically roared, startling him and causing him to whimper.
"All of them," he whispered deviously.
Oh God.
"I'm sorry," I whispered to him, kissing him on his clammy forehead. He blinked at me, watching me warily and trying to understand my apology.
"I'm sorry Jim," I told him again before forcing my fingers down his throat. He writhed against my hold and gagged, the sound of it filling the small room. It made my stomach roll but I carried on. I had to. I held his tiny, fragile frame as he threw up onto the floor, a number of small white pills amongst it. He wretched again and gave a strangled sob as I rubbed my hand over his back, holding him close to me and wiping at him with my sleeve.
"It's okay," I hushed him and he collapsed into me, panting loudly.
"Seb," he whined. "I was so close," he sobbed. "So fucking close."
"I know love but not yet, yeah? You can do better than that."
He gave a slow nod and closed his eyes, soon falling asleep against me.