"How's the hand?" Billy asked as he sat Alan down; tying a rope around Alan's torso again.
"It's fine," Alan muttered; even though it actually really hurt, burned, and itched.
"Hmmm," Billy said sitting down and taking Alan's right hand in his, "Why don't we have a look anyway."
Alan felt the gauze being unwrapped, and tried to pull his hand away; his stubbornness kicking in, "I said it was fine."
Taking a firm grip on Alan's wrist, Billy held it still and continued unwrapping the bandage. "You have also been shielding it, and if you did manage to bump it, you winced and grimaced in pain," Billy stated matter-of-factly.
As Billy gently peeled the bloody gauze away, it pulled at the drying scabs; making Alan's palm began bleeding again, "My wrist and ankles are also hurt, how'd do you know they weren't what made me wince?" Alan griped.
"I know," Billy began, gently prodding Alan's palm; causing him to hiss and try to pull his hand back again, "Because, your hand is in rough shape. I'm going to guess that it's painful and burns. Tell me, am I wrong?"
Alan frowned and turned his head away, so what if it does! My brothers have had worse, I can handle this…Billy touched his palm again, drawing another hiss. Breathing through his nose, Alan let out an annoyed sigh, "What does it matter? It probably needs more help than you can give it."
Billy took out the antibiotic and began applying it, "It matters because I need to tell whoever wins the bid. Because the injury happened after they could see it, I may need to give some money back, so they can treat it…or not."
"Sorry to decrease in value," Alan said scornfully.
Wrapping a new bandage, Billy chuckled, "You really have a wide range of attitudes. You started tense and scared, became more scared, then resistant. Next you were complying, though a little unwilling, then you became really pissed then stubborn, back to tense, showed a little hope, and now you are being stubbornly resistive."
When Billy finished, Alan pulled his hand back and held it protectively against his stomach, "And that is a good day," he finally responded, "You should see me when my temper really flares."
"I'm sure it is very entertaining," Billy said standing and patting Alan's shoulder.
Alan heard Billy open a door and walk out of the room. Really tired of ropes holding him in place, he started pulling and twisting, trying to loosen the rope around his chest and upper arms. Where'd you learn to tie ropes, the boy scouts? He thought angrily as there was no give. Grinding his teeth in frustration, Alan stopped struggling.
Billy had been watching from the door and smiled as he walked back to the seething blonde, "You get rope burn yet?" He taunted.
"No," Alan grumbled, "Thought you said you didn't have to tie me to a chair again."
"Well," Billy mused, sitting again, "That was more along the lines of sitting you in front of a camera tied to a chair. This was more so you wouldn't try running around, you aren't as compliant as you were earlier; so I couldn't give you the opportunity." Taking out another cream, Billy began putting it on the red spots where the electrodes had been; starting on Alan's left shoulder.
Alan flinched from the touch, "What are you doing?"
"Calm down," Billy said firmly, and continued to rub the cream into Alan's shoulder, "This will help with the burns from the electrodes, and will relax your muscles."
Alan shivered from the cold cream, "And how bad are these burns?" Alan asked, flinching again as Billy moved to his right shoulder, I really don't want to be touched!
"Just first degree," Billy explained, "Like a sun burn. This will keep the burns from itching and peeling."
Alan couldn't stop the whimper that escaped his lips as Billy began applying the cream to his back, through the slots in the chair, "Really, I can live with itchiness," he said weakly. Clearing his throat he spoke more confident, "I mean…I've had bad sunburns before, this is nothing."
Billy stopped applying the cream to Alan's back and stepped in front of him. Billy looked at Alan's face and saw him biting his lower lip nervously, "It isn't only for the burns, Alan, it helps your muscles relax after so much stimulus and clenching," he tried to calm the blonde.
"My muscles are fine," Alan muttered, "Please, stop," he finished weakly. I can't even tell him to back off! What is wrong with me? He thought.
Billy watched Alan try to suppress another shudder and sighed, this has just become a tricky balancing act, great, he thought shaking his head, kid's scared of being touched but this cream is a necessity for the burns to heal and not leave a mark…sorry kid, but got to make you look as 100% as possible… "Alan," Billy got the boy's attention, "I have to so this. It isn't only for you."
Alan turned his head towards Billy and took a calming breath, "Meaning you have to make me look as healthy as possible," he swallowed.
"Yes, Alan," Billy responded; impressed with how perceptive Alan was, "That is what I mean. Some things I have to do whether you like it or not."
"I could do it," Alan tried.
"No, you can't," Billy said firmly, "Now I'm going to finish," Billy warned before putting cream onto the right side of Alan's chest.
Alan bit his lip again, to stop another whimper, and tried not to shudder. Only two more, I can handle this…this is nothing, he told himself.
Billy moved to the left side of Alan's chest silently, feeling small tremors under his hand. Alan involuntarily jumped as Billy move to his stomach; then tried to stay as still as possible. Billy could tell, even with the blindfold, Alan had his eyes squeezed shut and was clenching his jaw; trying not to cry out.
"I'm done, Alan," Billy said wiping off his hands.
Alan took a deep, shuddering breath before nodding. Billy left to put away his supplies, giving Alan time to compose himself.
Sitting back down, Billy gave Alan a long look. "I got to hand it to you Alan," he finally spoke, "You are one of the few kids that has stayed this strong willed."
Alan tilted his head, gauging Billy's words, "How do you mean?" He wondered.
"Most of the time the kid is crying, begging me to stop, screaming to be let go, or silent and withdrawn, having lost all hope. Course the screamers I had gagged the whole time, except for feeding. And the criers I had to constantly clean their faces…" Billy paused with a sigh, "But you have done little begging, your crying was pretty well justified, and your screaming usually happened when the gag was going to be in anyways. You haven't withdrawn yet though. Mind if I ask why?"
Alan dropped his head, contemplating how to answer, finally deciding on, "It has never been in me to give up, I guess," Alan lifted his head, "Giving up means I have no control of the outcome," he added, thinking of his earlier dream.
"Interesting," Billy muttered, "Got to admit, you are one of a kind, Alan."
Alan shook his head, "There is a whole family of men stubborn and continuously fighting the odds."
"Let me guess," Billy said standing, "Your brothers?"
Alan nodded, "Had to learn it from somewhere."