thedifferencebetween

[There's a sense of water, rushing through his hands. He can try and try and grasp it and pull it tight, but it just slips out of his grasp. Handsome Jack is not happy. His own body double was playing dangerous games with him. He's not getting answers from people he ought to be.]

[And then there's Rhys.]

[It's both fortuitous and a pity that the former Hyperion employee remained where he was. Ecruteak is the one place that Jack can travel to in minutes. And it doesn't take much to charm Rhys' room number out of the night desk clerk.]

[Jack slips inside the room silently. There's Rhys, his back to the door, absorbed in the view or some deep thoughts. Who does this kid think he is? He thinks he can play on the same level as Jack, thinks he's strong enough to say 'no'. It's about time he learned differently.]

[Without warning, Jack grabs Rhys from behind and clamps a large hand over his mouth.]

Did you really think I'd just go away, after you talked to me like that?

[ He doesn't hear Jack sneaking up behind him. So when a hand flies over his mouth, Rhys almost literally jumps out of his skin. Both hands fly up to the larger one, his heart going from zero to a million in a little less than a second. And then he hears that voice.

Rhys liked to say that he wasn't afraid of Jack. After talking to him, he wasn't at all, just for a moment or two. It felt...pretty great to be honest. It was stupid, some dumb fantasy now that he's here. How did Jack even get in?

He's scared now. He really is.

Swallowing hard, he takes a harsh breath through the nose. Rhys can't talk, can't get Athena. Not good. Not good not good not good...

Rhys will try to fight, though! He'll wrench himself one way and then the other, trying to get that hand off of his mouth. ]

Shhh, shh, shh.

[Jack grapples, pulling Rhys against his broader frame. They're pretty evenly matched in the height department, but Jack's reasonably sure that Rhys doesn't spend an hour working out every morning.]

[His mouth is close to Rhys' ear when he speaks. He can feel Rhys' hair against the edge of his mask. Feel the way the kid's squirming and twisting. That's all fear. Pure, raw fear. And it feels so good to be squeezing a struggling mess of fear and understanding. This was power. Real power.]

Just relax, pumpkin. This won't take long. See, I had a whole plan...but it occurs to me now, that'd be pretty messy and loud. And I don't want anyone interrupting us on our magic night here.

[No, screw the wrenched off weed whacker blade Jack had intended to use. Now that he has Rhys in his grip, one arm so close to against his throat...]

[It's been too long and this feels so good.]

So we're gonna go with a classic.

Edited 2016-09-01 18:06 (UTC)

[ This is crazy. Jack is crazy.

He did nothing to deserve this. Could you blame him? Jack couldn't let him go, wanting to punish him for the stupidest of things. It wasn't long since he got a hold of Jack before over the shirt thing. Was this happening all because of that?

Rhys clenches his jaw, more or less hyperventilating through his nose. Where is Athena? Where is anybody?

Classic. Oh god, classic what? Rhys' little squirms turn into full blown body thrashes, absolutely desperate to break away. And duh, he has a robot arm!

He'll attempt to elbow Jack as hard as he can. It's kind of hard to think of consequences when you're absolutely scared out of your mind. ]

Christ you're scrappy!

[The words follow a grunted 'oof'. That had been a jab from a cyber elbow to his ribs. Not cool.]

[But Jack has been to the trenches and back. He's kept his feet after being riddled with bullets and half bleeding out while Vault Hunters destroyed his Warrior. He can handle...a...struggling....Rhys!]

[The hand not clamped over Rhys' mouth finds his throat. It's trembling from the kid's thready breaths and Jack can feel his pulse thudding against his palm. He presses, ignoring Rhys' windmilling arms. His feet are planted far apart, bracing himself and Rhys' body against him. Handsome Jack is a man who knows how to strangle someone.]

You're giving me a challenge. That's cute. But the more...you fight me...the worse this is gonna go, cupcake!

[ This is bad. This is bad, this is so so bad...

His panic only grows when a hand wraps itself around his throat. And then it starts to press in, to the point where it makes sucking in oxygen a real chore. All the while Jack is talking like he's having a normal conversation, talking to his neighbors. Not like he's about ready to commit a murder or anything.

Rhys is so happy his Pokemon aren't here right now. Or Vaughn. Or shit, even Fi.

He coughs into Jack's hand, pushing as hard as he can to make Jack stagger. Rhys isn't sure what's behind him, if anything at all, but anything to make Jack lose his balance so he can run. He's practically radiating desperation. ]

[Son of a taint!]

[Jack grunts as he bends his knees and leans back, trying to keep his feet. He can do this just as well flat on his back, but the sound of them falling might draw attention.]

Just stop...fighting! You brought this on yourself, Rhys! I warned you. I gave you chance after chance. No more Mr. Nice Jack. Next time you think about talking back, you're gonna remember what happens!

[Oh god, he can feel Rhys' throat flexing under his hand. That little give. The press of all the tubing and cartridge inside. Each little rumble and gasp, right against his palm and fingers. There's few better feelings in the world.]

[His feet are slipping. Rhys just won't stay still! Pretty little bastard.]

[ Rhys wants to say something, he really does. But when your mouth is covered and it's getting harder to breathe, it's a challenge. A really, really big challenge.

His chest hurts, quite a lot actually. Jack is slowly pushing against his windpipe, making breathing almost impossible. The sound of his heartbeat in his head is deafening, but he knows he's choking. Something inside of his throat literally shifts, and he makes some kind of strangled whimper.

He has to fight, he has to try... But his arms are getting heavy, and the pain in his chest is so bad now he can barely even see. Rhys is merely scratching at Jack's hands; trying to do anything else is asking for too much. He can barely even hold himself up anymore.

Not good... ]

[Jack has killed a lot of people. He's lost count of the numbers. He's done it in so many different ways, but there's something special about strangulation.]

[He can feel Rhys' strength ebbing out of him. Literally feel it. He's holding the kid's life in his hands. And he's slowly crushing it. There's just nothing better. There really isn't.]

[But Jack's been here long enough to know what happens if he goes all the way with his wayward employee. Rhys will wake up in the hospital, fine and dandy after just a day. That's unacceptable.]

[So he loosens his grip just a little, as he feels Rhys' fingers scrabble against his hand.]

There we go...oh god, you're so close, Rhys. Are you getting that black at the edge of your eyes? That kinda dizzy feeling? Everything's getting heavy? That's your brain dying, Rhys. Do you understand that all I gotta do to kill you is just clench my fingers? Just nod, don't try and talk.

[ Just when he thinks it's all over, the grip on his throat loosens. Rhys would think that shows a sign of something worse is going to happen, but his brain is foggy and his thoughts are a clouded, jumbled mess. The second Jack gives Rhys an ounce of an opportunity to breathe, he's gasps for air against his hand, body shaking with the effort.

It's hard to hear, but Jack talks...and holy hell is it scary. With every gasp he can make out a little more, but the weakness is still there. His head lols against Jack's hand, his shoulders sag. There's hardly any fight in him anymore.

When he's told to, Rhys listens. He nods only once, throat on fire, neck searing with pain. There's not much more he can do.

Except for one thing. Against Jack's hand, sounding all horse and muffled, he'll whisper 'please'. ]

That's right, beg me. Now we're getting somewhere!

[Jack keeps the pressure consistent, allowing Rhys just enough breath to comprehend him. He turns, propping himself against the wall, holding the younger man tightly. What shampoo does he use? That's nice. Smells good.]

[Or maybe that's just the sweet scent of terror.]

And you understand how easy this was for me? This? This is a warning, sweetcheeks. This is the tip of the iceberg of pain that I'm capable of causing you.

[He gives one more firm squeeze and then releases, ready to grab Rhys if he falls. Which Jack is expecting. Rhys...looks pretty red in the face. Wow. That's a good look on him, all breathless and ready to piss himself in fear.]

[ He would again, but he has no breath. Why hasn't he passed out yet? This hurts. Everything right now, every cell is starved for oxygen and they're telling him so.

Something moves him, his back suddenly props against something solid. It had to have been Jack who did that, who else would? His legs are shaking, just like the rest of his body; if it wasn't for Jack, Rhys wouldn't be standing. Rhys' head is against the wall, where he stares at the older man in front of him with a glassy, half lidded stare.

He's conscience enough to comprehend what Jack was saying. Things can get worse. Things will get worse. This was a punishment that honestly, Rhys wasn't expecting. It was stupid of him, so, so stupid...

Then there's enough pressure on his throat to make the black dots that had been swimming in his vision come back tenfold. His lungs explode with pain and he lets out a strangled moan, and then-

nothing. ]

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Replying on mobile I can't help it

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FINALLY i can reply to this right if you want me to fix/redo anything let me know!