Vincent’s POV:

I flinched slightly when I heard the loud slam of my front door. I peek out of my bedroom window, which conveniently overlooked the parking lot, and saw Roy get into Markus’s car and watched them drive off. I think I jumped the gun sleeping with him today. Maybe we weren’t in a place where we were ready to take out relationship to the next level. But then again, I guess I never did explicitly say that I wanted to be in a relationship with him before today. I sighed again.

A few minutes after Roy left, I heard the pinging of my phone receiving a text message. I picked it up from the nightstand to read it.

“Let’s talk, Ragazzo.” Markus said.

I quickly typed out my reply, “I’d really rather not talk to you right now. And to give me a pet name.” And hit send without thinking twice about it.

“Don’t be bitchy. Ragazzo isn’t a pet name. I just wanted to explain some things I don’t think Piccolo ever actually will. I really am rooting for you two, you know?” I could almost hear his eyes rolling as he typed out the ‘don’t be bitchy’ part.

“You’ve peaked my curiosity. When and where?” I replied. I knew deep down, I shouldn’t accept the Old Man’s offer to talk about Roy without telling him, but I desperately wanted to know why Roy was the way he is.

“Tomorrow at Chains, I get off at 6 so let’s meet at 630.” He said. Chains was the only club that was all about BDSM in the area. People of all depths of the lifestyle went there to enjoy the company of others who were also into that sort of thing. It was a whole community of people, and it was a great place over all. I enjoy going there just so I could watch, I did enjoy see others looking like they were enjoying themselves in the comfort of a no judgement zone.

“See you then.”

It’s finally time to go to Chains. I’ve been antsy all fucking day. I have been dying to know exactly what it was that the Old Man wanted to share with me. I was far too nervous about whatever it was he was going to share with me to dress up nicely like I normally would. But honestly, I wasn’t going there looking to hook up with anyone, so what did I care if I looked appealing.

When I arrived at the club, I walked around the dimly lit room until I found the Old Man sitting in a rounded booth looking out into the main section of the club where there were a few exhibitionists putting on a show. I sat down in his booth but did not watch the show.

“Drink?” The Old Man asked.

“Sure why not. Does Roy know you’re here doing this?” I questioned.

“Does he know you’re here doing this?” He countered.

“Touché.” I rolled my eyes.

“What do you want?” He asked, lifting his glass to the bar tender to signal them he needed a new drink.

“Whatever you’re having is fine.” I said, and Markus held up two fingers to the bar tender.

Markus was staring very hard at one specific couple sitting across the club from us. I had noticed them as I walked in, but nothing they were doing was out of place in Chains, so I didn’t really take a second glance at them as I walked toward Markus. I finally couldn’t handle the weird silence anymore as he stared rudely, and admittedly angerly in the couples direction.

“Okay serious, what is it?!” I blurted.

“Do you see that man over there, sitting at the table with his sub on the floor next to him?” Markus pointed to the couple he’d been staring at. The guy noticed Markus, and gave him a strange, almost fearful, look. But I couldn’t be too sure about that since it wasn’t well lit in here.

“Yeah? What about him?”

“Would you believe it if I told you he used to own Roy?” Markus asked, as the waiter sat two drinks down in front of us. “Thanks.”

“Welcome, honey.” The waiter winked at Markus.

“Own him? Roy’s a Dom though?”

“So are you. And how did he respond yesterday? Who was the one who submitted?”

“He… was…” I said, starting to put pieces together in my head.

“That man there is a sadist. His name is Charles Goodman, ironic last name for a man like him. He gets pleasure from causing his partners way more pain than they can tolerate. He’s got a bad name for himself. He goes through subs like he changes his jock straps. And abuses them the entire time he has them. Every single one of them leave him beaten, bruised, scarred, and traumatized.” Markus explained. The scars across Roy’s lower back flashed through my mind.

“So then Roy’s back?” I question, sort of already knowing the answer.

“That man is the last person Roy ever trusted enough to submit to before declaring himself a dom.” Markus said. He took a sip of his drink, never letting his eyes leave that man across the room. He was intimidating the man, and the man was clearly terrified, but knew he couldn’t leave or Markus might actually follow him out. “It was about seven years ago. I had just gotten off work, when I got a call from Roy that would change our friendship. See, I was the Dom who trained Roy as a sub when he was still doe eyed and bushy tailed. Don’t worry he was of legal age when we met. But we decided that he wasn’t ready for commitment at the time and so we broke up. But we had this understanding and trust between us still. So when he called me to ask for help, I was there to help him. I went to his house and found him covered in whip marks. His skin shredded like he was mauled by a beast. The walls, the sheets, the floor, everything was covered in blood splatter. And when I took a closer look, past the gruesome flesh, that man there had gotten off on Roy’s back, AFTER whipping his ass until he couldn’t even move. Then he just left Roy there, alone, in pain, and bleeding.” Markus had a pained look on his face as he recounted the memories.

“Who would do that to someone?!” I all but shouted, pushing my drink away as I began to feel nauseous. A couple club goers looked our way, and I apologized for my loudness.

“Roy was terrified. He had passed out in the time it took me to get to him. Naturally I wanted to take him to the hospital, but when I went to call an ambulance, Roy had woken up, and begged me not to call anyone else there. So, against my better judgement, I listened to him. I tended to his wounds myself. Now, I’m no doctor, but I cleaned him up, and stitched up what I could. I did my best. And the entire time it took to heal, he hid from Charles at my place. I took care of him until he could do things on his own again.” He explained more.

At this point all I could see was red. What kind of human could do that to a person, and then spread his cum all over him afterwards?! I wanted to get up and go and beat the life out of that man. But I knew I would not win that fight. I’m strong, but I’m small. And that man clearly has a ton of muscle. I stared at the man angerly, then looked down at the poor guy kneeling by his feet. The look in his eyes was completely devoid of any emotion, like he’d completely given up on his life. That man had done something to that younger partner of his. I wondered how long they’d been partners. How much damage has that horrid man done to that kid who doesn’t look old enough to have enough life experiences yet.

“What about that boy?” I nodded my head in the direction of the kid.

“What can anyone do? None of his partners have ever filed any kind of complaint against him with police because he violates them in a way that’s too embarrassing for them to want to go to the law. Not even Roy wanted to go to police about it.”

“There’s gotta be something we can do for that boy! He barely looks like he’s even twenty yet. How could anyone who knows what that man has done in the past, let him get away with it doing that to such a young partner?!” I shouted, getting too much attention again. “Sorry.” I said to the other club goers again.

“He’s nineteen. And we’re not just letting him get away with anything. That’s actually why I wanted to meet here. That kid is probably the bravest one I’ve ever met. He knew Owen in high school. I guess Owen was a senior when he’d just started high school. He called out to Owen to ask him for help, and has officially filed charges for domestic violence and sexual assault. He told the police the extent of the abuse he’s been suffering, and they made a plan to arrest that man tonight. It’s been a quiet operation since that kid’s life could very well be at stake here.” Markus said, covering his mouth to keep anyone from reading his lips.

“Well look at him.” I smiled at the boys bravery.

“But we aren’t here to talk about them. He’ll get what he has coming. Let’s keep talking about Roy.” Markus said, getting my full attention back on him.

“What about him?”

“Roy has been a Dom since he decided to get back in the scene here. It’s been years since he’s willingly submitted to anyone, and yet, somehow, you managed to have him do that again.”

“I made sure he knew beforehand that I would never force him to do anything he didn’t want to do. And We did an informal one time only kind of contract just so we knew what each other was okay with. He specified he was not okay with impact play, neither giving nor receiving. I guess that makes sense now.” I over-explained. Markus smiled a gentle smile.

“Ragazzo, you missed the point of what I said. Roy hasn’t trusted anyone enough to willingly submit to them since that man nearly killed him. If Roy hasn’t shared this information with you, it’s not because he doesn’t trust you with it, though he’d rather you think that is the reason. It’s because he’s scared to scare you off. He trusts you so much more than I think you realize, and he definitely wants you to be a part of his life. But it’s hard on him when he loses people he trusts. I mean hell, he trusted Dominic for a time, though it was never enough to share this type of information with, but they did have a trust in each other. And look where that got him. He can’t stand being near Dom, or talking about him. It hurt Roy a lot when he had to admit to himself that he had to let go of Dom. So how can he be sure anymore? What if he were to share all this with you and you decide it’s too much and leave him? That would destroy him. He may not show it, but he’s very in touch with his emotions.” Markus explained. A warmth spread through my chest as he told me what I had been too clueless to realize. But then my dumbass self went and said something stupid.

“Wait if you two used to be an item, is that why you call him Piccolo?! That’s not something a prospective partner would enjoy knowing. I’ve heard him call you Papa before too. Are you two sure there’s nothing left there between you?” I squinted my eyes at him accusingly.

Markus chuckled at me, “Nothing but friendship, I assure you. We’ve been through a lot together. It’s just terms of endearment for one another, out of that friendship. If you prefer, I will stop calling him that, but you’ll have to talk to him yourself about him calling me Papa. That’s a conversation for the two of you. Vincent, he needs a strong partner who can handle his type of baggage, I think he found that in you, and I want to trust that you’ll be the kind of guy he can depend on, the way he used to depend on me.” I nodded in understanding. Markus and Roy were just really good friends, I think if they hadn’t had a once intimate relationship, I would equate their friendship to more like brothers than anything else. I can see now that Markus wasn’t someone I needed to be so audaciously jealous of.

“Alright. Well, why don’t you head out and go find that lover boy of yours. Oh and by the way, Roy does know I’m here, and he knows that you’re here too. He also knows exactly why we’re here together.” Markus smirked and winked at me as I got up from the booth.

“You really like to get under my skin, don’t you, Old Man?” I shook my head at him. He smiled and shooed me away. “You gonna stay here?” I asked.

“Oh yeah, There’s a special show I’m hoping to catch tonight. Oh, I haven’t told Roy about this Charles situation, so maybe tell him for me?” Markus gave an evil grin, and looked over toward that man and his partner. I immediately understood he meant he wanted to see that man get arrested and taken away in cuffs. I quietly hoped that news of this event would make Roy step forward to incarcerate Charles, if not for himself, for the sake of that boy who needs this man to stay behind bars for as long as possible.

I left, and saw several cop cars in the lot with all their lights off. It was going to happen any minute now, and I was happy I was able to get out of there before it got crazy. Though, one cop did stop me to ask me for my name, I guessed they were making sure I wasn’t connected to the guy they were here for.

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A/N: So now we know Roy's secret trauma...