Authors note: hello my lovelies, you're looking rather beautiful today. That outfit makes your eyes look all sparkly: 3

I've had a couple of questions since the last chapter, and here be the answers!

How old is Brendan?: Mid thirties.

Stendan?: The Stendan you shall witness will be unlike any Stendan you have witnessed before. So stay tuned for that if nothing else :D

Tumblr?: I have two! My AU Tumblr (a-whole-new-au) and my general nerdy-cry-about-TV-shows Tumblr (remembersoufflegirl). I post regular updates on both, as well as some of my other stuff (which is mostly Klaine and Johnlock)

Everything was total blackness, everything spinning into it as I felt myself falling to the floor, sinking into a dark whirlpool of unconsciousness.

Soon enough, however many minutes or hours later, I came around, feeling groggy and drowsy, like I'd just woken up from a nap. I could taste chemicals on my tongue. My eyes flickered open gradually to reveal a dim-lit room, with a cheap bed in the corner and an old dresser beside me. It took several moments for me to realize it was a hotel room, and a crappy one at that. The wallpaper was pealing and damp crept along the ceiling. I inhaled, but all I could smell was the chemicals which clung to my lips and nose.

I was alone, or so it seemed.

The wooden chair I had woken in was stiff and uncomfortable, but I didn't have the strength to move myself. I thought of Brendan.
'Brendan, yes…' my mind soothed through the fog which clouded it, 'He must have come back for me… he came back… Brendan came back for me…'

"Brendan… B-Brendan!"

Panic surged through me, urging me to stand. Only when I couldn't did I realize my hands and feet were bound tight, restricting any movement. Fear cut through my chest like a knife, piercing through my out of control heart as it climbed up my throat.

"Brendan!" I cried out again, struggling against my bonds like a pig tied for slaughter, "Brendan! Brendan, where are you!"

"Brendan isn't here, Steven." Came a cold, quiet voice from somewhere in the room. Blood turned to ice in my veins.

A figure came into view; his lank, brown hair pulled back by either gel or grease, cold eyes sunk into his head, untidy stubble on his cheeks. His presence made the room turn very, very cold and very still. "He can't help you now."

I found myself transfixed on his eyes, like a cobra, waiting to strike, "… Where is he?"
"I wish I knew, Steven." The man's voice was so calm, almost friendly, it only made me want to get away from him more, "But I will, soon… now I have you…"
"Who are you?" I demanded, but there was no hiding the tremor in my voice.
He grinned, "An old friend, hoping to rekindle the flame."
"No… no, you're lying!" Suddenly, the terrible, horrifying truth seeped into my mind like a poisonous gas, "You… y-you're him… you're Walker!"
The smile remained, but whether Walker's eyes betrayed amusement or rage I could not tell, "So, told you all about me, has he? Told you about how he threw me to the lions, protecting his own precious skin?" he spoke slowly, carefully, voice rising with every word, the last of which rang painfully in the air.
"… Y-yes… yes, he… he did say, actually." I stammered, hoping to appear braver then I actually felt.
His stare grew harder, his smile fading, "Then I need no further introductions, then." He began to walk towards me; each step which creaked on the cheap floorboards sent a ripple of fear through me. "Allow me make this easy for you. You are going to tell me where Brendan Brady is, and in return, you will continue to live. Do I make myself clear?"
Bile rose in my throat, "I-I don't know… I don't know where he is. And anyway, if I did, why the hell should I tell you? You're just some… freak!"
A flash of anger lit up his eyes, "Steven… lets not say anything we might end up regretting. I am going to find out where Brady is hiding…" his hand began to withdraw from his pocket, a gun held tightly within it, "… one way or another. Your death will mean less then nothing to me…"

I wasn't listening. All I could see was a gun, pointing directly at my chest. All it'd take way a twitch of his finger… one wrong move… one wrong answer…
"I'll ask you one more time, Steven. Where. Is. Brendan. Brady?"
My words were stuck in my throat, "I… I-I…"
The gun clicked.
"I don't know!" Like vomit, the words fell from my mouth, "He left me outside and he drove away, d-didn't tell me nothing, I swear! I swear!"
He gave a slow nod, as if considering my words, "You must understand that if you don't tell me, he will only suffer more. You both will…"
"I don't know!" I screamed, tears spilling uncontrollably down my cheeks, "I swear I don't! You have to believe me, please! Please!"
A smirk began to form on his pale lips; he began stepping closer and closer towards me. I felt his leg brush against me, the cold end of the gun pressed against the moist flesh of my forehead. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think, I was frozen solid save the unstoppable stream of tears and sweat. "Such a pretty boy…" I heard him whisper, the gun tracing along the side of my cheek, resting softly against my lower lip, "look at those cheekbones… be a shame if my bullets ruined it…"
"I don't know where he is!" I screamed louder, "Please, don't hurt him, I'll do anything, a-anything!"
"… Anything, Steven?"
"Yes, God yes, anything! Please!"
The gun lowered slowly, and something softer and warmer brushed against my cheek, "Tell me, Steven. Has Brady fucked you yet?"
I shook my head, the sick feeling returning to my gut, "No…"
"Stupid man… to waste such a pretty boy…"
"Y-you can fuck me…" I whispered, "You can… I-I'll let you do anything to me… just please… please…?"
"Tempting… so tempting… but what is to stop you killing me anyway? I could fuck you, empty your brains all over the floor, bring your head to Brendan myself…"
"Don't hurt Brendan!" I screamed, "Please, I'm begging you… take me, take me instead!"
The hand slowly left my cheek, "What are you offering me, young Steven?"
I swallowed, unable to believe these words were leaving my mouth, "A-anything. I'll do anything you want, anything… anytime…"
"… I'm listening…."
"If… I let you fuck me… use me… I'll be anything, I'll do anything and I won't argue and I won't put up a fight. I-I know you could fuck me anyway, b-but I promise you I will fight. I will kick, scream, fight so hard and never stop. You can kill me, but what use am I then?"
"… And in return, I give you..?"
"Your word that you won't hurt Brendan, or do anything to hurt him." Overwhelmed by my determination to save Brendan, I felt a sort of courage I'd never felt before. "You won't hurt him, his friends or his family. You will leave him alone, and in return… I'll be yours…"
Walker began to pace before me, "I hope you understand what you're offering me, Steven. If I need a nice mouth around my cock at three in the morning, you must be there. If I need an innocent little face to be a drugs mule that will be you. If I have to pleasure a room full of… business partners, I expect you there on the dot, on your knees with your mouth open. Do I make myself clear, Steven?"
I nodded, "Yes."
"… You have one week, Steven. One week to prove your loyalties to me. If you do this, you will become my slave, and Brendan will be allowed to live. If I do not wish to keep you, or you dare to disobey me… I'll kill you both."
"I understand." I said, though my insides were turning to water.

How could this be happening, why was this happening, dear God, what did I ever do?
"Good boy, Steven. This is going to be the start of something…" he dropped to a whisper, "beautiful…"

A fist collided hard with my face. There was a flash of pain, and I sank into darkness once more.