Hello, everybody! A long time ago, I mentioned in an AN that Jarjarblinx1 and I had another story written out and we were looking for titles and all that. Well, this story's been written for months. I was just waiting until I had someone draw cover art for it for me, but all of my friends kept flaking on it...and I may or may not have forgotten this story even existed. Sorry... Well, now that I've remembered, I'm posting it with or without the cover art. Hopefully that will eventually come, but if not...oh well. For those of you who haven't seen some of my notes, if you see this "ZZ" between two lines, treat it as a horizontal line/scene changer. I'm tired of putting them all in and FFnet not keeping them. This works better.

Without further pointless words, here is the latest story from your two favorite co-authors, RandomTendencies13 and Jarjarblinx1...The Parameter of the Puppeteer.

ZZ

"Do you know why you're here, Jack?"

Blue eyes looked at him dully. "I do not."

"Not even a clue?"

"Not at all."

A tall man stood up from his desk, his crisp grey suit matching his grey hair well. "Who is your master, Jack?"

"You, sir."

"And I consider myself to be a good master." The man ran a finger down Jack's cheek. "Am I a good master, Jack?"

"Of course you are, master Bunnymund." Jack put on a fake smile.

"Then why do you insist on embarrassing me?" He slapped Jack hard across the face, knocking the other man down to the floor.

"I...I do not know what you mean, sir. I have not done anything." He put a hand to his swollen cheek with a wince.

"I saw the way you were acting around that Jamie fellow. Like a little slut." The man kneeled down, wrapping a hand around Jack's neck and squeezing.

"I was only t-talking to him, I swear!" Jack clawed at his hand, trying to get free.

"I hate it when you lie to me." He picked Jack up by the neck and threw him across the room. "It makes me angry when you lie to me."

"I am not lying!" He cried out when he slammed into the edge of the desk.

"Don't raise your voice to me." Bunnymund pulled his belt loose from his pants and folded it into corners. He towered over Jack as he brought the leather down over the man's body, each strike making a loud slapping noise and causing Jack to curl in on himself and whimper in pain. The man yanked Jack's pants down, only bothering to unzip his own.

Through the door, cries of pain could clearly be heard. The secretaries and employees blushed and coughed to hide their embarrassment, choosing to ignore whatever they heard. After about an hour, E. Aster Bunnymund dropped Jack to the floor and lit a cigarette. "Who is your master, Jack?"

"Y-you are, sir." Jack sat up shakily, slowly pulling his wrinkled clothes back on.

Aster took a breath, blowing out a large puff of smoke. "Jack?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Stop moping around. I hate it when you mope." Aster took another deep breath, holding the smoke in.

Jack nodded, forcing a well-practiced smile onto his face. "Of course, master."

Bunnymund blew the smoke into Jack's face. "Get out. You make me sick." Holding back a cough, Jack left without another word. He slowly made his way towards the exit, too embarrassed to meet anyone's eyes.

A soft hand landed on his shoulder and pulled him to a stop. "Poor baby. Come on, I'm gonna make you feel better." Jack didn't answer, only looking down at his feet. "Come on, Jackie. You're bleeding." Tooth took his arm and led him into a bathroom. Toothiana was the only secretary to care about Jack. She sat him down, wetting a cloth. "Turn over, dear."

He slowly turned away from her, his expression completely broken. "Please do not be nice to me."

"Why not? Poor boy like you deserves better than what he puts you through." She put the cloth over his rear, slowly and gently washing the blood away. "If I didn't need the money, I'd quit on the spot."

"It only makes it worse when he finds out."

"Smear some ketchup on. Big oaf won't know the difference." She wrung the cloth out, getting it wet again. "Why don't you leave?"

"He controls me." He reached back, slowly fingering the robotic contraption embedded into the back of his head. "I cannot get more than a mile from him. Even if I did, as soon as he found out, he would knock me out and bring my body back again. Staying makes it less painful."

Tooth sighed, wringing the cloth out again. "You poor boy. You're so nice too. You deserve someone a lot better than him."

"We all have our own fates, I suppose. I guess this is my lot in life. Better me than someone else..."

"Don't you have dreams, though? You can't just want to stay here all your life."

"I wanted to be a musician, so I became one. That is what drew his attention to me. Look where that got me." Jack pulled his pants back up, sagging against the counter.

"And what happened? That sounds like such a nice dream."

"This happened." He pointed to the metal in his head again.

"I think there's someone who can help you with that." She opened her purse and rummaged around inside. "Now where did I put...? Oh, here it is!" She held up a business card. "This guy runs a factory that produces dreams. He might be able to give yours back to you."

"I do not dream. I have not in six years."

"He can give them back to you. His name is Kozmotis Pitchner. He'll be able to help you!"

"I have been there before with Bunnymund. It is a nice place, but it is extremely expensive. I do not get paid for my pain, and I would never be able to get there anyway."

Tooth sighed. "Take the card anyway. You never know."

"Thank you, but it will never happen. I am stuck here for good." He took the card from her, folding it and tucking it away in his pocket. "I should go. If I am not in his room by the time he gets back, it will not be a very good night for me I think a small walk would be nice to fit in before that." He turned and left the bathroom, his shoulders slumped and his hands shoved into his pockets as he left the building.

ZZ

Overhead, thunder rumbled, and a lightning bolt cracked across the sky as it started to rain. Through the noise of the weather and the traffic, the sounds and groans of pain reached Jack's ears from down an alleyway. Jack looked down the dark path, squinting out from under his umbrella. "Hello? Is somebody down here?" He took a cautious step down the path and pulled his hoodie over his head.

"P-please...help m-me..."

"Who are you? What is wrong?"

The man groaned, his head hanging. "I...I think my ribs are broken."

Jack kneeled down next to him, gently looking him over. "What happened?"

"Four of them...they wanted my money." The man groaned, clutching his side. "Help me."

"Of course. Here. Put your arm over my shoulder." He slipped his arm around the man's waist.

The man flinched, wrapping an arm around Jack's shoulders. "Please, can we go...to your place?"

"I am sorry, but I cannot do that. Where is your place? Is it nearby?"

"Too far. I need a phone."

"I..." Jack gritted his teeth. "I do not have one. I am sure there has to be somewhere near here, though, that will let you borrow one."

"Your place is quicker. Please..." His legs buckled, and he had to balance himself with one hand to the wall.

"I told you I cannot take you to my place.

"Then take me to a phone."

"Alright. I think the restaurant across the street should have one. We can try there first." Jack gently hobbled along with the man, being careful not to let the umbrella stray from over their heads.

Once near a phone, the man dialed, speaking quietly into the speaker. He hung up after a few minutes and leaned heavily against the wall. "My ride should be here soon."

Jack looked worriedly at the clock on the nearby wall and then to the storm that was only getting worse outside. "You are sure?"

The man looked up for the first time since he was found, piercing gold eyes looking at Jack from under wet, dark hair. "Am I...keeping you from something?"

"I...I do not want to leave you here by yourself, but I really need to get back." Images flashed across his mind of the many things Bunnymund would do if he were late

"If you want to go you can. You've...done your job." He groaned, sliding down the wall to flop heavily down on the floor.

Jack bit his lip for a few minutes before caving. "I am very sorry, but I have to go. I cannot be late. I hope you are alright and you heal well." He gave the man a tiny smile before running from the restaurant, opening his umbrella again and hurrying out into the raging storm.

ZZ

When Jack opened the door to Bunnymund's room, he came face to face with a deceptively calm Aster. "Well, where did my slave run off to, hmm? You're late."

"I...I-I am sorry. There was a man in the street who was attacked. I stopped to help him." He tried to calm his heaving breath.

"So you spent time with another man." Aster clicked his tongue, slowly stepping forward. "Jack, just who is your master?"

"I-It was not like that, I swear." Blue eyes widened in fear. "You are my master, sir."

"So many excuses." Green eyes looked up at Jack, glinting dangerously. "I hate when you make excuses."

"They are not excuses. He was attacked in an alley, and I only helped him get to a phone. That is it." He backed up a step.

"Excuses, Jack." Aster slowly pulled his tie off his neck, letting it hang loose in his hand. "Only more excuses."

"I promise. I did not do anything." Jack eyed the tie warily, his eyes glancing back and forth between the tie and the man.

"I don't believe you." He grabbed Jack's wrists and tied them together. "First Jamie, now this stranger on the street. I really can't let you off your leash, can I?"

"N-no. Please, please. I did not do anything, I swear." Jack started to panic, trying to wiggle out of his bonds.

"When will you understand, Jack?" Aster tugged the man closer, his fingers pulling the white hair harshly. "I do not have to listen to you. You are mine, don't forget." He threw Jack down on the floor, the sound of a zipper being lowered filling the otherwise silent room.

Jack suddenly heard the click of a button, and his body shut down. Blue eyes stared blankly ahead, unable to move himself as Bunnymund had his way with him. But that didn't stop him from feeling every last little moment. Tears sprung to his eyes. It was times like these that were always the hardest. When he had utterly no hope, and it was literally impossible to fight back even in the slightest. He could only lie there and hope it ended sooner rather than later.

Aster finally pulled away, sitting back and lighting a cigarette. "Any more excuses, Jack?" He pushed a button. "Answer me."

Jack took in a shaky breath. "N-no, sir."

"Good boy. Clean yourself up. You're getting the sheets dirty."

"Yes, sir." With a frown, Jack slowly moved around the room, fighting back tears as he limped slightly. I can't take this...not this anymore.

ZZ

Tooth looked up, shock filling her violet eyes. "You're actually going? I thought you said you couldn't."

"I just cannot take it anymore Tooth." He looked at her sadly.

"What did he do to you this time?"

"I...I do not want to talk about it." His eyes quickly darted away. "All I know is that the next chance I get, I am going."

"Go now. He should be in a meeting for a few hours. Run, Jack."

"But what is to stop him from bringing me back after he finds me?" Jack frowned.

"If you can get that thing off, it won't matter. You can run and hide and start over. Isn't that what you want?"

"I cannot just hide." He sighed. "This thing does more than just stop me from dreaming. Far more..."

"You need to try, Jack. You won't know until you try."

"I do not know what to do..."

"Maybe you should go take a walk. Get some fresh air. You look like you need some."

"Yeah. Maybe...I will just go walk around the gardens for a bit." Jack gave the shorter woman a gentle hug. "Thank you, Tooth. You are the only person who has ever been kind to me here."

"You deserve it, babe. Someone's gotta have your back!" She returned the hug, gently kissing his cheek.

"I will see you around...maybe. If I am not dragged back here after I eventually...you know." He shrugged slightly, giving her the tiniest of smiles before heading out to the gardens.

With a sigh, Jack continued on through the gardens, finally collapsing on a stone bench. He rubbed his temples. I don't know what to do...is it really worth it to leave?

There was a beeping in Jack's head, alerting him to an incoming message. "Jack, come in here. I want your body."

Jack wiped a hand down face. He stood up defiantly with his shoulders straightening out, but he didn't say anything, knowing the other man would be able to hear him. He knew that his only chance to escape would be before Bunnymund knew he was really gone. He had to find some sort of computer-smart person to jam the signal.

The man turned and ran from the gardens, leaving Bunnymund and that wretched mansion far behind him. When the clouds above him rumbled with the sound of an oncoming storm, he cursed himself under his breath for not bringing his umbrella. I...I'm coming, sir. I'll be there soon.