Put On A Leash (Phoenix)

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Ever since the incident with that sneaky, shifty-eyed pedo woman - where Phoenix nearly got shanked in an alley and then followed some stranger home for pie - Oriel had promised to come pick up and walk his boyfriend home every time he had to work and got out after dark. What was he supposed to do? Not worry? Like hell, if something like that was going to happen when Oriel wasn't looking, then what made anyone think that he was going to let his boyfriend anywhere out of his sight. The only reason Oriel wasn't hanging around the pet shop all day every day was because he had other things he had to do, like classes, dance practice, plus the manager, while a very understanding guy, didn't want him scaring away the customers...

Oriel was going to get an ulcer from all this worry.

The sun was going down later and later as the days approached those of summer. It was cool enough in the orange-red evening, but warm enough for Oriel to be venturing out comfortably in a mere white tank and jeans. Oriel waited outside the small pet shop, his arms crossed in front of him as he leaned against a blue mail-box.

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Phoenix liked seeing Oriel after work. He really did. He missed the boy during the day while he was working, and had always leaped into Oriel's arms when they were reunited as though they'd been apart for weeks. He was a very dependent boy, yes, and he needed that affection and comforting presence of the younger boy in order to feel alright.

But... Even he had a breaking point. Phen hadn't realized it until now, but he did have some small need for independence, which he was starting to feel was being repressed by his over-protective boyfriend.

He checked out for the evening, wishing his manager a good night before walking out into the cool air, peeking around as though checking to see if he was alone. Nope, not the case. As soon as he caught sight of Oriel, a smile crossed his face, and he strode up to wrap his arms around the boy, pressing his face into his chest and taking a deep breath in of the familiar scent. "Hey," he murmured, blinking tiredly up at the taller boy. "You come t'take me home again?" You don't have to do that, he wanted to say, but decided against it. "I wasn't gonna run any errands tonight, I would've just come straight back t'Hammel..." Unless he got distracted by something, which was entirely possible.

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Oriel’s face brightened once the door opened and that wonderful visage that was his boyfriend emerged from the small pet shop. He stood up straight and opened his arms in anticipation of the hug he expected Phoenix to receive him with. “Of course,” he replied as a matter-of-fact as the shorter boy pulled away from their initial embrace. “I love you.” Oriel smiled down at his squishy-love. “It’s alright, I have time anyway, so it’s no problem for me.” He settled his lips upon the asian boy’s forehead.

With barely another word, and as casually as if he did it every day, completely normal, Oriel pulled a thick collar from his back pocket and strapped it around his lover’s neck. Not tight, mind you, because that would be cruel. It hung more like an oversized necklace than it did a choker, the inside lined with felt so as to prevent chaffing. And on the back of it was clasped a small chain attached to long, thin black leash.

“Okay, we can go now,” he beamed. He flicked the leash.

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Phoenix's expression, if it had any hardness at all, softened completely at those three simple words that never failed to turn him into a ball of mush. "I love you too," he mumbled, almost guiltily. What had he had any problem with Oriel coming to get him? This was... Normal. No, it was extra special. That his boyfriend loved him so much that he was willing to go so far out of his way to make sure he was safe. Yeah... "As long as it's not any trouble," he murmured, meeting their hands together and giving Oriel's a squeeze.

His face turned quizzical as Oriel went to reach for something, and Phen gawked as he pulled out... A leash? "Wh... Huh?" he frowned, looking around as though expecting to see a puppy before he found the collar being snapped around his own neck. He made a sound of bafflement. "Wh... What're you doin'?" he demanded, tugging at the loose bind. Phoenix slowly made the connection, and he stumbled to the side a little, looking sad and hurt.

"I'm not gonna wander off without you!" he protested. "This... This isn't necessary!" This was embarrassing. What if someone saw them? Phen winced a little as Oriel flicked the leash, and pouted, shoulders hunched. "Oriellll!" he whined, tugging on his restraint.

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Of course, this was all for Phoenix's own good. For his own protection. At least if something happened this time or in the future, Oriel would be there to take care of things and curb stomp any motherfucker who dared to threaten his Squishy. Unfortunately, while Oriel had been walking the boy home every day, Phoenix still had a bad habit of wandering off like a little kid over the smallest stupidest little things. Like a cat in an alley, or something interesting on display across the street. There had been times when Oriel had kept walking and talking only to turn around and find out he'd been walking by himself a good while with Phoenix nowhere in sight. Oriel had to backtrack a couple of streets before he found the wandering boy buying a bomb pop from the ice cream truck he chased down for two whole streets.

Oriel had enough. If Phoenix couldn't stay in one place, then Oriel was going to make him stay exactly where Oriel could keep an eye on him. "No complaining," he ordered curtly. There was a little hint of a smile as Phoenix was actively tugging at his bindings. It was just a collar, not handcuffs or a straightjacket with a lock and key. If Phoenix really wanted out of it, he could just take it off himself. The fact that he didn't was quite positively the most adorable thing he'd seen out of his meek lover in a while.

"Oh, you'll be fine. The sooner we get back, the sooner it comes off," he reminded Phoenix. Oriel flicked the leash again staring down his shameful Squish with domineering eyes. "Now walk."

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It wasn't Phoenix's fault that he got distracted so easily! ... Okay, maybe it was, but... His brain was still functioning like he was hallucinating sometimes, so whenever something caught his attention, he automatically followed after it, intent to find the source of the sight or sound or smell and squee over cute things. He couldn't help it! And that ice cream had been really good! Didn't he deserve a treat after working hard all day?

... Okay, he probably should've let Oriel know about that one but... Phoenix wasn't always the brightest or most aware of his surroundings. It was amazing he'd survived as long as he had.

He whined again when Oriel told him not to complain, but hushed obediently, his only discontent shown in his pouty scowl and crossed arms. Phoenix was too dumb to realize he could snap the thing off himself... Or maybe just too submissive to even try.

"Fine," he grumped, grimacing as Oriel flicked the leash again. He wilted under the younger boy's gaze and began walking, keeping his eyes on the ground without a word. He managed to keep that up for a few minutes before movement caught his attention as they reached a corner. Automatically, Phen's eyes brightened and he started off in the direction of the movement, thinking he'd caught sight of the back end of a kitty going into an alley. He'd passed by that street enough times, he knew some strays lived in there. Leash forgotten, he bolted until he reached the end of his line, and let out a strangled gurgle as he was halted by his boyfriend. It didn't hurt, but.... Ugh!! "Kitty," he complained like a five-year-old.

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It was the ice cream incident that did it, that made Oriel think that he needed to take these kind of extreme measures. Really, how in the world had Oriel fallen for such a ditz? Oh, well, too late to think about that now, now he just had to make sure what was his stayed his and unharmed. Oriel had nearly had a heart attack when he found out Phoenix had taken off like that. What if that dealer had swiped him behind Oriel’s back or while Phoenix was off chasing a kitten or whatever? Didn’t Phoenix even consider these things? Obviously not.

“Good boy,” he offered his boyfriend when he finally gave in and started walking. Maybe he was going a little far but…Oriel was honestly a little amused by this as well. He wouldn’t have done it otherwise…okay, no. He would have done it if he felt it necessary even if Phoenix wasn’t so entertaining to see mope around like a dejected puppy. Oriel was going to have to make sure to give him lots of love once they got home.

Aaand, there he went again. Oriel watched as Phoenix seemed to catch something in his eye and start to follow it, while Oriel kept walking forward, giving the line a light tug once it was pulled taut. “Yes, I know there’s a kitty,” he said in his talking-to-crazy-people voice, his eyebrows raised to a patronizing height. “But we’re trying to get back home before it gets dark, remember?” Oriel pointed in the direction that led to the school. “That way.” He gently tugged again.

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Phoenix was fiiiiiine! He'd survived his drug and gang days in Seattle, he could survive a small town like Pilot Ridge, no problem. As easily as he got into trouble, he always managed to seem to be able to squirm out of situations, one way or the other. Of course, back in Seattle he'd always made sure he had some sort of sharp object on him, but... Whatever! As long as someone didn't try to drown him or something, he was fine.

His sulking increased at the 'good boy'. Phen wasn't a dog! Granted, puppies were cute and all, but... No! He was a nearly nineteen-year-old man, for goodness sake's! He didn't need his teenage lover to... To treat him like a complete dope!

.... So why didn't he fight this more than he was? Mrrrrr....

He pulled on the leash stubbornly when it became taut, but there was no way Phoenix could make the larger boy budge even if he used his full strength. Dejectedly, he watched the area where he'd seen the animal disappear before turning back with his head drooping, his expression having changed from being sulky to... A little more frustrated and maybe a little angry. "It would've taken two seconds," he grumbled, falling into place beside Oriel again as they continued walking. Every once in a while, something would catch Phen's attention again, and he'd perk up and start to head that way before remembering his limits and crumbling back in on himself, growing more frustrated each time. By the time they'd gotten closer to the school, a dark scowl was on his face, and he was lagging behind, if only to be a bother. "... I'm not a kid, you know," he mumbled under his breath, though it was likely Oriel could hear his complaints. "Don't need t'treat me like a fuckin' mental...."

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Oriel didn’t know exactly the kinds of things that Phoenix had gone through back during his drug days, but Oriel was certain that Phoenix wasn’t that person anymore. When they’d first met, Oriel might’ve been able to see that face of defiance, the one which didn’t take shit from people and saw the world as just something to disdain. But Oriel had also seen how different a person he’d become over the several months since they’d been together. And even if Oriel was wrong(which was ridiculous, Oriel was never wrong) that didn’t mean that he wasn’t allowed to worry about his boyfriend after he gets attacked in the middle of the street!

Phoenix was his and he wasn’t, he couldn’t allow anything to happen to him! Not again, not ever! He wasn’t going to risk losing Phoenix after all this time…

Oriel sent Phoenix a glare as he protested. “You say that now,” he said darkly. But Oriel was certain that Phoenix was going to go wandering again eventually. At least another couple of times before they got to the winding street that led up to Hammel. And sure enough, Phoenix didn’t disappoint. Or rather, maybe Oriel should say he did disappoint.

When Phoenix started lagging, Oriel should have started feeling bad…but nope. He wasn’t yielding an inch and Phoenix was honestly only making himself look more pathetic by lagging like he was. He didn’t bother to respond to Phoenix’s complaints. At least by now he seemed to get it, and maybe this one time was all they needed for him to keep getting it from now on. They got a few glances from other straggling students who were still wandering outside the campus as the twilight started to fade into the sky. There were even a few who pointed and snickered at the two. Oriel didn’t care they could all go fuck themselves. Finally, they made it back to Oriel’s bedroom, where Oriel finally started taking the collar off. “There. Now that wasn’t so bad, now was it?”

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Okay, so... Maybe Phoenix had changed a little. Or a lot. Yeah. But... Instinct didn't go away! Although, Phen's instinct kinda sucked, it was more just luck than anything else.... Bah. He'd always been pretty gullible, at least. There were countless times he'd been talked into doing things over shitty reasons and excuses. Maybe if he started carrying around a little pocket knife again or something...

He glared right back as Oriel looked his way, any trace of amusement gone as they continued their 'walk'. It wasn't too often that Phoenix was torn down to such a state, but this whole leash business was really doing a number on his already low self-confidence. Still, he couldn't help but lag behind like a tantruming child; he didn't want Oriel to get the satisfaction or whatever of seeing him looking so submissive and dejected.

Phoenix almost wished Oriel would snap back at his complaints, so he could snark right back and release some of this tension that was building up in him, making his shoulders ache and head start to hurt. When they reached the school, Phoenix caught up to Oriel and cringed against him, face flushing in shame and embarrassment as people laughed at them - or, really, him. "I don't like this..." he whispered, a slight whimper in his voice. He hated being laughed at.

It was a relief when they finally got to Oriel's room... Sort of. Rather than becoming the happy, bubbly, silly (albeit tired) boy Oriel was used to messing around with when Phoenix got back from work, Phoenix's face was dark and stiff, his arms held tightly around his chest, as he glared at the ground. His cheeks were still pink from the other students' reactions. ".... I didn't need that," he finally said, slowly lifting his gaze to his lover. "That w... That wasn't fair. Now everyone's gonna be mockin' me tomorrow!" Phoenix took in a sharp breath and added,"I'm not a little kid! I would've been fine on my own!"

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By the time they’d gotten back to the school, Oriel was almost expecting Phoenix to break down. Maybe cry. Yelling back at him was definitely on the list too. Whatever happened, it was plainly obvious that Phoenix was not at all happy with the extremes that Oriel had taken to get his point across.

He had sympathy for his boyfriend, he really did. Having the school see him tied up like an animal, like Oriel own personal pet. As something that he needed to keep on a leash. Nothing in this world said “mine” more than a collar. And the the owner was obviously the person on the other end of the leash.

Oriel tossed the contraption onto his desk as Phoenix began his little rant. “If you ain’t a kid, then maybe you should stop acting like one so I don’t have to treat you like one,” Oriel said firmly, turning back to face his angry lover. “If you can manage to not wander off again every time you see some stupid animal, maybe I’ll consider keeping it off.”

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Phoenix felt like crying, actually. He hated being seen as stupid or weak (apart from in front of his boyfriend, usually), couldn't stand being in the spotlight for anything, especially something so degrading and stupid. But for some reason, today, he was feeling more angry than just upset. It was Oriel that had made him look like such an idiot. Over something so stupid!

He didn't mind wearing a collar letting people know he was taken (as though it wasn't obvious enough). Hell, Phen had taken public ridicule before - it was how Oriel was, and Phen had come to accept that and love him all the same. But this was just.... Too much, even for him.

"You're not the boss of me," he growled, standing straight and rigid. "You... You don't get t'tell me how t'act. I can do what I want." Still sounding like a tantruming child? Check. "I told you, I'm fine on my own. I don't need a leash like... Like a fuckin' dog or somethin'!" He was starting to tremble with his rage and frustration. "I'm almost nineteen, I can take care of myself. I don't... Need you to watch my every fuckin' move!" He reached out and shoved against Oriel's chest, though of course, it likely did very little to actually move the younger boy.

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Oriel could relate to those feelings of shame that Phoenix was probably feeling right now, even though what would make Oriel completely break down would be something completely different. So theoretically, Oriel should have been sympathetic to Phoenix’s plight, and in a way he was, but….really, Oriel had told him over and over to be careful, not to wander off, he’d told him he was worried, how could Phoenix not see how his mindlessness was affecting Oriel? It was stupid and selfish of him to not expect any sort of recourse for his irresponsible actions, to not consider how crushed Oriel would be if anything happened to his boyfriend. Didn’t Phoenix know how much Oriel needed him? How much he needed him to be safe, hadn’t Oriel freaked out time and time again when something horrific had happened to Phoenix?

Phoenix was just being a little kid. Everything the was protesting was just…stupid and ignorant and inconsiderate!

“You’re right!” Oriel snapped. “You are almost nineteen, so why don’t you fucking act like it for once and quit being a fucking idiot instead of quibbling like a goddamn five year old!” Oriel was steaming, slowly but fiercely. “If you’re as much an adult as you say you are, them maybe you can make your own meals from now on.” Then maybe Phoenix would realize just how much he needed the younger boy to take care of him.

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Had their positions been reversed, Phoenix might have acted the same way. Perhaps not as dramatically as snapping a collar on his boyfriend, but certainly panicking and freaking out when he couldn't find Oriel if he'd wandered off without warning. But he was one-sided in this situation, and was only seeing things from his own perspective.

And his perspective was making him snappier and angrier than he usually dared to be with the younger boy.

"Don't... Patronize me!" he snapped back, taking a moment to remember the right word. "I have a job, at least! What are you doing, layin' around all day and waiting until I get home so you can.... Can fuck me until I can't move!" Phen's breathing was starting to get sharper, shorter. His narrow chest heaved under his thin sweater. "F... Fine!" he yelled. "I don't need you t'cook for me, I can do that shit myself!" That was a complete lie and both of them knew it. In an act of pure, childish defiance, Phoenix grabbed a pillow from the bed and threw it at Oriel, aiming for his head (which meant it would likely hit about a foot below, if it connected at all). "I'll stop goin' t'the bakery on the way home an' gettin' you your stupid danishes," he growled. "You can do that yourself."

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Well, if it was going to be like that, then maybe Oriel needed to be a little harsher in his lesson plan. Like maybe disappear for a while and see how long Phoenix could get along by himself. “Fine! You can go back to your own fucking room, do your own laundry, your own homework! You know, you wouldn’t even be graduating if it was for me getting on your ass and making you read the fucking assignments.”

Oriel let the pillow bounce off his chest. “Oh, ouch, I’m so hurt. He threw a pillow at me! Maybe you should learn how to throw a fucking punch and fight your own battles from now on!” Phoenix wouldn’t last 2 seconds in a fight against Kodi, and maybe 5 against the deceptively fierce lasher that was Erik.