Surprise update! And things get much, much worse...
John sat silently in the cafe for another minute or so, still trying to wrap his brain around the hurt that was bubbling inside of him. He felt hollow and empty; a complete fool. He finally rose to his feet and soon found himself back in bed, curled under the covers in that now familiar position. He wanted to cry, but he couldn't. He was too hurt, too humiliated, too drained to cry, and so he just lay there silently, wishing he would just die.
Sebastian got home and walked in, darkly looking at Jim. "Well, I did it. Just hand over the award for best actor now," he said dully. He would never stop hating Jim for this. He burned loathing hatred from his eyes.
Jim smirked. "Oh darling, and didn't you do phenomenally well?" He gave Sebastian a slow clap as he walked behind him, then wrapped his arms around Sebastian's waist. "Just wait until tomorrow, lover. You'll get to put your acting skills to the test again." He lightly kissed the back of Sebastian's neck.
Sebastian stiffened. "You don't get to touch me," he said through clenched teeth. "Ever, ever again. I hate you."
Jim smiled against his back. "I can do whatever I want."
Sebastian yanked away from him. Of course Jim could do whatever he wanted. "What do you mean, I have to act again tomorrow?" he spat. "What more could I possibly say to ruin John?"
Jim's eyebrows went up. "Oh, you won't have to say anything, and neither will he. In fact, I imagine it would be fairly difficult for you two to have a conversation while he's sucking your cock and I'm fucking his tight, sweet, arse. Now, doesn't that sound like fun?" Jim smiled brightly.
Sebastian's eyes widened slowly. "No. No, Jim, you can't be serious, no. I'm not, I can't. He hates me!" he babbled. "He won't ever agree. He would never—I won't ever do that to him—"
Jim's expression suddenly turned dark and he roared, "HE DOESN'T HAVE TO AGREE, AND NEITHER DO YOU!"
Sebastian punched Jim, knuckles connecting with Jim's nose. Blood spurted from Jim's nose. "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO, JIM? RAPE US BOTH? You wouldn't even be able to take me against my will!" Ohh, sure, he'd struggled against Jim before, but Jim had never seen him really put up a fight. He wouldn't stand a chance.
Jim held his bloody nose and whipped his furious gaze back on Sebastian. "I said you don't have to agree, but you will, because if he doesn't, his friends and family die, and if you don't, HE dies."
"I hate you," Sebastian said, walking past him. "And I'm leaving. I don't have to kill you. I just have to leave. You'd be nothing without me anyway."
Jim's head tipped back and he laughed, then was suddenly serious again, blood still dripping, ruby red down his face. "Sebastian, I think you're forgetting a few things. I didn't hire you at the beginning of my career. To say I'm 'nothing' without you is a simply comical. Secondly, if you don't participate in our little rendezvous together—guess what happens then? JOHN DIES! I thought that by now you'd understand that."
Of course Sebastian understood it. Everywhere he turned, that was the consequence. "Jim, please. I'll do anything. Don't make me rape John. Please."
"You won't be raping John," Jim said lightly. "He'll consent. He knows what will happen if he doesn't. He'll consent. It'll be dubious consent of course, but consent never the less."
"It's still rape. He won't want it. I'll be raping him," Sebastian said sharply. "I don't know who he loathes more at this point, you or me. It'll be rape, and nothing you say will change that. So. What time is this happening? Because I swear to God, I will kill myself as soon as it's over. So long as that's all right with you, of course," he said.
"That's fine with me, but if you die, so does John. I'm thinking in the evening. Mm...yes. Just after dinner would be nice, don't you think? Maybe I'll have him bring us some food. What do you think you'll be wanting to eat?"
Sebastian went to his gun room without replying. He was done humoring Jim in any way other than he had to. He grabbed his favorite gun. He was already a horrible person. He might as well kill some more people today. "I'll see you later," he growled, heading for the door to carry out his latest assignment.
The next day, John got a text.
Dinner date tonight. I've ordered catering from the address below, dinner for three, and a selection of wines. Pick them up-they're already paid for. See you at 8 sharp. Look presentable. xxx JM
John didn't respond to the text, just silently and woodenly went about his day before heading to pick up the food and then Jim's townhouse. Dinner for three. John was fairly certain that he knew what that meant and he dreaded it. He rang the buzzer at the door and walked in a minute later, laden with bags. He carried them to the kitchen and silently set them down on the counter top. Jim was darkly smiling at him from across the room. John looked away and started to unpack the food.
"Well done, Johnny. When I didn't hear from you I got a bit worried. Seb will be down in a moment. He had to find something more suitable to wear than his normal rags. You know how he is. Light candles when you're done." The table was already set with wine and water glasses, candelabras, salad and entree forks, and fine china. It looked like a fussy meal at a romantic restaurant.
John swallowed, feeling sick at the praise, but set about lighting the candles on the table when he had finished. He was wearing his suit again. It was the only one he owned, the one he had worn to meet Sebastian on their first date. He loathed how reminiscent this was of the whole thing.
"Pour yourself some wine and sit down, John," Jim said once John had finished. "Tonight's a very special night." He grinned widely, eyes cold.
John didn't want to know what that meant and silently poured himself a glass, taking a seat behind one of the plates.
Sebastian straightened his tie in the mirror. It was dark red against his black suit and shirt. Jim had picked it, of course. He was putting off going downstairs as long as possible. His heart had begun hammering in his chest as soon as he'd heard the door open and shut, and now it was lodged up in his throat. He finally sighed and turned to head downstairs, using every last once of his military training to try and separate his emotions. All of that crumbled, however, when he walked in and saw John at the dinner table in the same suit they'd worn on their very first date. God, he'd been so happy. He remembered how the sight of John had made his heart flutter and his stomach twist in excitement. Now he just ached when he looked at him.
John heard Sebastian walk in but didn't look up from his plate, determined not to look up at him. He swallowed hard and clenched his hands in his lap, feeling the wave of horribleness and heart-ache from yesterday wash back over him. He was just a toy. Just a game for the both of them; a pawn and nothing more. He had expected that from Jim, but not from Sebastian, never from Sebastian. He couldn't even be mad at Sebastian; he was far angriet at himself for being such a blind fool.
"Aaah, Sebby, come to join us, finally? Take a seat and I'll bring over the food. John, be a doll and poor Sebastian some wine."
John didn't look up as he poured Sebastian a glass. Sebastian sank into his chair and stared at his plate as Jim ordered John to dish them up food. He wouldn't be able to stomach any of it, and he doubted John would either. Once they were all settled in and eating or, in Sebastian and John's case, staring at their food, Jim leaned over and stroked his hand up John's wrist. Sebastian shook with rage, unable to look away as the man's fingers crawled over John's flesh. "Sebastian told you the truth, did he? He told me all about it. Honestly, John, I'm amazed you believed it for so long. Sebastian's quite the actor when he wants to be—" he looked over meaningfully at Sebastian. John had no idea what sort of actor Sebastian was. "It's better for all of us now that you know the truth and we are all clear with each other. Which is why I have a proposition for you, John."
John continued to stare down at his food as Jim's fingers lightly caressed him. "What is it, then?" he asked in a strained, quiet voice.
Jim stroked the back of his fingers down John's cheek. "Baby, I think it's time we took our relationship to the next level. You're moving in with us."
"WHAT?!" Sebastian started, nearly dropping his crystal wine glass. Jim had never said anything about that to him. Stuck here with John, John who hated him, John who would see nothing but misery all day? His one consolation in this whole scenario had been that John might find some solace with Sherlock, with work, with his friends. Now Jim was taking that all away.
"Ooh, don't be jealous, kitten," Jim laughed at Sebastian, leaning in to lick up John's ear. "There's plenty of me to go around."
John's head swung up to look at Jim in shock, a look of utter misery and desperation on his face. Sebastian's shock just barely registered and John's mouth hung open. "Wha? Please...please don't make me do that...please—just...just let me have some semblance of a life—" John begged.
Jim winced theatrically. "Ouch! So a life with me is no life at all? Johnny, just because you'll be a slave doesn't mean you can't find some sort of fulfillment! I'll give you work to do. I have loads of men who need patching up on a regular basis, including Sebastian here. I think it would be better for all involved if you became a permanent part of my staff. And obviously you wouldn't be allowed to contact Sherlock ever again. We'll work out the details tomorrow: What to tell your work colleagues, giving your two weeks' notice at the clinic, what you'll tell Sherlock, etc. Blah blah blah, paperwork."
Sebastian seethed. "Jim, you can't do this," he blurted out.
John didn't even hear Sebastian. Everything was falling to pieces. There was a loud roaring in his ears, everything becoming dull and hazy around the edges. He'd never see Sherlock again? Sherlock was the only person he had left, the only person who actually cared about him.
Jim glared at Sebastian and hissed, "I can do whatever I want—I thought we went over this last night. Now behave or there will be consequences." He looked pointedly at the ruined man that was once John Watson before looking back at Sebastian.
John wasn't sure how loud he said it, but he was fairly certain that his words came out. "And...and if I do this...you won't hurt anyone I love?"
"No, of course not," Jim said, and Sebastian's heart wilted. He was no longer in that category. "Darling, of course not. You'll belong to me, even more than you did before, at my beck and call, and everyone you care so much about will safe, far out of my way."
John felt the last of his willpower and soul, everything that he was, drain out of him. "Okay..." he said at his plate, barely loud enough to hear. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, he wondered if Sebastian was enjoying this. Poor, pathetic John Watson. Well, if he wasn't pathetic before, he was now. Sebastian had him pegged.
"Bravo!" Jim chirped. Now that we've agreed on the arrangement, I call a toast!" He raised his glass, not caring that John and Sebastian sat numbly and said nothing. "To my new pet!"