#man handled

Remington Steele 1x13

Hello, my lovelies, hope you’re having a great day. Love you all lots! ^-^

Prequel here

"Send them to the nearest station," Bounty Hunter said, looking at the gang leader. "[Villain] can stay just a little longer."

The leader’s protests amounted to nothing as they were whisked away. Villain would have fought again if it wasn't for the knife that traced across the artery in their neck. Bounty Hunter's expression remained cool and, if anything, amused. Their cheek stung from where they had punched them only momenta earlier.

"If you've hurt them I swear it will take more than a knife-"

Bounty Hunter cut that same cheek, only a shallow swipe, but it sang with stinging pain. It got the message across enough. 

"You were saying? Gag them. Let's make this a bit of a surprise, hm? I'm sure [Sidekick] will be thrilled. I know I am."

Villain could do nothing to stop them shoving that horrible muzzle into their mouth again and fastening the leather, even tighter than before, which made them wince. Then they tied their hands behind their back, and they didn't make the same mistake with the knots. They tied their hands in a way so that their arms were crossed behind them, and the knot settled in the middle, well out of reach.

Villain felt the urge to drop their head in defeat, to give up and try to ignore the blood dripping down their face and slipping under the leather. They kept their head up, making every effort to stay strong, defiant. They were Villain, and they gave into no one. 

They walked on their own accord down the hallways, the guards at either side barely guided them. They'd be patient for now, keep things as easy for themselves as they could but when they got their opportunity they'd strike- and they would get their opportunity, they had to… 

A door opened at the end of the hallway and laughter poured out of it, harsh mocking laughter. Villain felt their stomach knot in dread. Not that door, please not that door. Their pace faltered and Bounty Hunter smirked. "Nervous? You know, usually, I'm fair to my... guests, I stick to the laws, but you? You and that sidekick of yours are different. You've taken things very dear to my heart, and for that, well, figure it out yourself."

Villain rolled their eyes. It was the same old speech, and they didn't have the time to let it get under their skin.

They were shoved inside the room and at once screamed.

They screamed Sidekick's name, only for it to come out as a long hum. That gag was horrendous, pinning their bottom jaw to their top, and the wooden bit stopped them from moving their tongue. They wanted so desperately to interfere but they could only watch Sidekick. Their hands were tied in front of them and they were blindfolded, surrounded by people and getting pushed from person to person. They laughed and agitated them, tugging their hair, slapping them, whatever they felt like in the moment that they had a hold of them. 

Villain could only see the terror on the bottom half of their face. Their rambling whispers as they begged for them to stop. Even with their hands behind them, Villain clenched their fists. They turned to Bounty Hunter and so desperately begged them to stop it, but their words came out as only grunts and whines. This wasn't fair. It wasn't fair!

"Woah, there," Bounty Hunter finally spoke up when Sidekick fell to the floor. The crowd went quiet, still snickering. "Let them catch their breath, hm?" Two from the group forced them onto their knees. They looked exhausted, and Villain was sure they could see bruises on their face. Sidekick sat limp, looking thoroughly defeated. 

"I've a surprise for you, [Sidekick]," Bounty Hunter laughed. Sidekick tensed but said nothing. "Take off the gag."

The cloth came away and Sidekick blinked hard. Villain was sure to keep their head up, hoping somehow that it would reassure them.

"No!" Sidekick cried when they saw Villain. "Let them go! No!"

They struggled so badly they had to be punched in the face to snap them out of their anger. They slumped back down, struggling to keep their eyes open. They spat blood.

Villain's gag was removed and they coughed. "Easy, [Sidekick]. Easy."

Bounty Hunter smirked and stood in between the two. "I really am so happy to finally have caught both of you. Do you know how much people are willing to pay for you?" They looked at Sidekick. "And now I have the complete collection."

"How much?" Villain said flatly. "I’ll be able to cover the cost of whatever they’re offering, more in fact. Hell, then you get the chance of catching me all over again and getting twice as much." 

"Ha! Oh, if only you knew," Bounty Hunter smirked, rubbing their hands together vigorously. "No, I’m more than happy with your price tag."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, the person most interested in buying you has hacked into your funds, you’re paying to be sold. A painful thought, hm? Besides, with you, I don't care about the money. I just want you, suffering, like you deserve."

Villain hissed, "Save your sob story. Who's hacked-"

'Sob story' may not have been the wisest term to use. Bounty Hunter swept in and hurled a jaw rattling uppercut into their torso. Villain wheezed and dropped to their knees. Their eyes grew wide and they had to force themselves to take deep breaths.

"Hold your tongue or I'll gag you again. Don't worry, there’s plenty of time for all of that. I’d rather not give you up you right away, of course. We’ll see if we can knock some of the fight out of you., I've earned some retribution, and seeing you beneath me like this really does make me feel better. 

"You can only knock fight into me, hunter. I don't care what you throw at me. This is wrong!"

Another strike to the gut. "Indoor voice, [Villain]." Bounty Hunter warned, taking out their knife. "And really? Wrong- coming from you?"

Villain expected them to come closer to them with the knife, press it against their throat so firmly that they wouldn't dare breathe, but they turned their attention to Sidekick. "You hurt me by taking away the one I love. I think it's only fair I hurt you," the knife settled itself neatly under Sidekick's jaw, like a scorpion raising their tail. "by hurting them."

Painting by Unknown Artist

Coworker: You initiate a lot of passing physical contact with certain people.

Me: Gotta keep from getting touch starved somehow.

Coworker: A significant other?

Me: No. I’m just waiting to find a friend who occasionally wants to carry me around and let me be a lazy little shit in their presence and maybe likes taking a nap together.

Coworker: So a significant other.

Me: No! No, that implies an expectation for romance and/or sex. It’d be more like.... kind of like being a pet, for lack of a better term.

Coworker: That’s kinky.

Me: NOT LIKE THAT!!!!! That. No. You’re missing the point. It’d JUST be a friendship, with cuddles when I can handle it and definitely being picked up because that’s fun and food.... and sleep.

Coworker: So a significant other.