#{zander}

“Which of these looks better?” Cain asked, and Zander looked up to see he was holding his hand out to him, he had a ring on three of his fingers, each set with what had to be real gemstones. One of them was a simple band, with some kind of stone inlaid in the middle around it, the other had a large red gemstone, Zander found that one to be somewhat gaudy, and the other had a sapphire on an ornate silver band- or maybe it was “white gold”, they looked identical to Zander but the last time he said that Cain gave him a lecture that nearly put him to sleep.

“I really, really don’t care.” He said bluntly. Cain rolled his eyes, turned back to his ring case and considered them carefully. Zander looked at Wren, trying to silently convey through his expression alone that this was exasperating, and Wren had to suppress a laugh, looking away from him.

“What about this one?” He turned back around, showing Zander a diamond ring.

“Dude, it doesn’t fucking matter, just pick one.” He told him. He just wanted to get this night over with so they could get home and be done with it, he wasn’t looking forward to another night of being grabbed and talked about like he didn’t exist, merely an accessory to Cain, a scary guard dog to stand at his side or kneel at his feet, but he was also not in the mood to sit there while Cain tried on every piece of jewelry he owned. Unfortunately, Cain wasn’t in the mood for his attitude, abruptly backhanding him across the face, the diamond ring splitting open his cheek. He grit his teeth, raising his hand to touch the bloody scratch, and when he looked up he saw that god awful look on Cain’s face, like he’d just had an idea.

“You know what, I think I know how you can be more helpful.” He said, picking through his rings again. Zander had just straightened up when Cain backhanded him again, again he felt the stinging pain where his skin split over his cheekbone.

“What the fuck?!” He snapped, and Cain grinned.

“Oh, that one was good for sure.” He said, slipping another ring onto his finger. “Come on mutt, look at me.”

“Fuck off!” Zander growled at him, he threw his arms up to protect his face when Cain tried to hit him again.

“Hey- hands down.” He ordered.

“No! You’re just gonna hit me again!” He said, and Cain grabbed him by the hair, shaking him roughly.

“Maybe I wouldn’t have to hit you if you could just be pleasant for once!” He said, punctuating the sentence by slapping him, Zander’s face burning from the impact as well as his anger.

“You’re such a fucking child.” He snapped, which just got him slapped again before Cain let go of him, holding his hand out to Wren.

“Pup- give me your tie, now.” He ordered.

“I just fixed that!” Zander said, indignant as ever.

“Wren, now.” Cain told him.

“Yes sir…” He murmured, fumbling to undo the knot Zander had just done. His hand shook as he handed the tie over to Cain, who had to wrestle Zander’s hands to tie together, leaving only a short length of the tie between his wrists. It was different from how Cain usually bound his hands, and Zander quickly learned why when he lowered his hands, Cain stepped on the length between his wrists and pinned his hands to the floor.

“Fucker.” Zander growled up at him, but of course Cain just backhanded him again, this time slicing up the other side of his face.

“Wouldn’t have to do this if you just played nice.” Cain said, the next hit caught his mouth, splitting his lip. Zander could feel blood running down his face, he considered himself lucky his shirt was black instead of white like Wren’s. If he stained one of his dress shirts with blood, Cain would actually throw a fit. He could tell, Cain wasn’t even really angry now, he was just having fun. Zander hated it when Cain started having fun.

Cain went through several more rings, hitting Zander hard until his face was bright red and sliced up. Zander grit his teeth against the pain, resigned to just bearing it like he always did. It was annoying, humiliating, but nowhere near the worst Cain couldve done. It really was the little things sometimes. Once Cain seemed to think Zander had been suitably cut up and demeaned, he untied his hands, dropping the tie in front of him.

“Fix that for him, and then you can clean up.” Cain told him, and Zander picked the tie up off the floor, turning to Wren who had stayed dead silent this whole time. He kept his head down, maybe to stay unnoticed, maybe so he wouldn’t have to watch. Zander appreciated it either way.

The two stayed silent after that, Zander knew that opening his mouth would just rile Cain up again, and Wren wouldn’t meet his eye. He fixed his tie for him before he got up, leaving for Cain’s bathroom so he could clean his face off. As he stepped inside, he thought about it for a second, before slamming the door as hard as he could behind him, knowing it would get on Cain’s nerves. He never could resist just one more little act of defiance.

***

“Oh, you poor thing!” Vanessa said, absolutely delighted as she held Zander’s face in her hands. Of course she had to be there too, she was always there when he least wanted her to be. “He really did a number on you, huh?” She said, brushing her thumb over one of the cuts just to make him flinch.

“What he gets for running his mouth.” Cain said, not really paying attention to the other owner who was attempting to touch Wren’s hair. He’d been drinking already, Zander knew he didn’t really care about much of anything by this point. He’d have to try and keep an eye on Wren, while also trying to avoid Vanessa’s wandering hands. It was exhausting.

“Aww, I’m sure you were just being too hard on him! Maybe he should come back with me, I think he needs a break.” She said, possessively tangling a hand in his hair.

“No thanks.” Zander said bluntly, going ignored, but thankfully Cain waved his hand dismissively.

“Can’t, I need him for tomorrow night.” He said, Zander more focused on the other man who was petting Wren like, well, a dog. “Not only does he have a fight but I think I like having him around while I get ready too- he helped me pick my rings out.” Cain extended his hand to her, showing off the diamond rings he’d settled on after cutting Zander’s face open with them. Zander wanted to snap at his hand, but he didn’t.

“He doesn’t need a break, what that mutt needs is an ass kicking.” The other owner said, smirking at Zander when he glared at him. “Look at him, all cut up and he’s still trying to act like he’s anything more than a stupid mutt!”

“This mutt will rip your throat out if you don’t shut the fuck up- and stop fucking touching him!” He snapped, unable to ignore the way he seemed fixated on Wren. This only caused him to laugh though, while Wren shot him a desperate look, like he was begging him not to make this worse. Much like his owner though, begging of any kind never seemed to make Zander back down.

“Oh that’s cute, he’s a territorial one, huh?” The man said to Cain, who laughed.

“Ohh yeah, the way he talks you’d think he owned little red over there.” He said. Zander wanted to slap the both of them now.

“Adorable, what, did you mark your territory on him? Huh?” He sneered at Zander, which finally set him off. Without thinking he tried to jump to his feet, only to be abruptly grabbed by the collar, choking as Vanessa yanked him back down. This only made the three of them laugh more, which made Zander angrier. His face burned from the embarrassment, his hands shook from rage, and the trio just kept laughing and talking like neither pet was even really there.

Zander wanted so, so badly to just go home.

***

I’m starting a tag list for them again! And I’m gonna organize it way better this time! So let me know if you’d like to be tagged :)