"WOAH! WOAH! Slow down a little beforehand! You need to be patient. Don't be frightened."

"I can't do it," Dakota replied, "I'm not experienced enough, and I'm scared."

"Hey, Hey, don't be scared! I'm here with you okay? I won't let you screw this up," he said, "Just ease forward, next time. Okay?"

"I tried, but it didn't work!" Dakota panicked. 

Nick reached over and patted Dakota's hand on the steering wheel, comfortingly. 

"You just have a lead foot," Nick replied, "That's okay. We'll work on it. You'll learn to drive just like everyone else. There are tons of people with a lead foot."

The light ahead of them turned green, so Dakota- not wanting to be too jerky- slowly eased out into the intersection. Someone behind him beeped.

"A little faster, dear," Nick reminded, "The middle of an intersection is a dangerous place to hang out."

"But you just told me to slow down!" Dakota protested.

"Slow down before you stop. Speed up when you go," Nick replied, as they crossed over to the next street, "But don't go too fast because then you'll get pulled over. Also, see that forest over there?-" Nick pointed to the trees as they passed them- "Watch out for animals when you see a forest or any other place that might have living things. Animals like to pop out and wreck you some times. Especially deer. Those ***holes are suicidal. Birds are daredevils too, but they usually wait until you are super close, and then fly away. Deer wait until you are super close and then step out in front of you."

"Thanks for that encouraging fact, Mom," Dakota replied, now paranoid that a deer would pop out any second.

"I'm just trying to keep you safe," Nick replied, "You never know what could happen while driving."

"Nick," Dakota snapped, "You're not helping." 

"Kota, honey, you just need to relax. And stop choking the steering wheel to death," Nick said. Dakota realized his knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel so hard, so he loosed his death-grip. "It's not as scary as it feels, trust me. You are not doing bad for a beginner."

Dakota felt better from that, but he was still frightened.

"Thanks," Dakota mumbled.

"Watch out there's a jaywalker!" Nick suddenly screamed, and Dakota quickly slowed until the person ran all the way to the other side of the street. "Jesus Christ! They're crazy!"

Dakota was too busy dying of fear.

"Mom, if I run over a jaywalker- even though they were breaking the law, and I wasn't- would I still be charged for murder?" Dakota asked, trying to take his mind off the fact that he almost ran someone over.

"Charged? Maybe. Found guilty? Probably not unless they charged for accidental murder," Nick replied, "Then who knows."

"That's messed up," Dakota replied, building up to normal speed again. 

"Yeah," Nick replied, "Anyway, take this next left. We need to go home. I don't like leaving Mrs. Jenkins with the young ones for long. They can be wild for an older woman, you know?"

"Oh definitely," Dakota replied. They were wild for everyone.

~{()}~

When Dakota and Nick got home, they were greeted by the neighborhood maid and babysitter, Ruthy Jenkins. The fifty-year-old woman was all smiles, and she had taken it upon herself to be a mothering figure toward everyone in the neighborhood. Anyone who hated that woman was a monster.

"Oh! Nicholas! Welcome home!" she greeted with a soft smile. Dakota swore he smelled an aura of food in the air. In fact, the kids were eating at the dining table. "I made them some soup for lunch. Everyone seems to enjoy it. However, I'm afraid I still can't fully understand Maria, but I'm trying to learn!" Nick smiled happily at her.

"You don't have to learn sign language, Mrs. Jenkins," Nick replied, "But that's very kind of you to try for my kid. It's why I trust you so much."

"Oh, please! It's just my job," Mrs. Jenkins replied leading him and Dakota to the table. But, before Nick sat down, she gave him a motherly hug. Dakota always caught a surprised hesitation by Nick when someone showed him genuine affection, as if he wasn't used to it. Especially from other adults. 

Nick was one of those foster kids that never got adopted, due to his difficulty. 

Dakota remembered him and Nick sitting on his bed, having a talk together after Dakota ran away. Unlike other adopted parents Dakota had, Nick didn't take him back to the orphanage. He didn't even yell at Dakota. Nick simply just told him to take some food the next time he left so he wouldn't go hungry.

"Why won't you give me up?" Dakota had asked that day, "I'm a horrible kid."

"Good," Nick replied. That's what Nick always said. Dakota wanted to know why.

"How is that good?" Dakota had asked.

"Well, I was a difficult kid once," Nick had replied, "And no one wanted me. I...I don't want anyone to end up like me. No kid is perfect, Dakota. But you are still my kid, and will always be my kid- no matter how imperfect."

That was the day that changed Dakota's life. Sure, he still ran away after that- it was how he dealt with his problems a year ago. But, after that, he made sure that Nick knew he was leaving so that Nick wouldn't worry. He genuinely cared about Nick.

"I didn't know you took in another kid," Mrs. Jenkins smiled, patting Lucas on the back, "He's a sweet boy. And Avil? Oh, he showed me his makeup art today. It was gorgeous! Why, if I painted on my face I'd look like a clown." Avil blushed from being complimented.

"I know right?" Nick smiled at Avil, "I'm so proud of him."

"And Dakota's learning how to drive? How is he?" Mrs. Jenkins continued.

"He's doing a great job for a beginner," Nick replied honestly, "We'll have to work on that lead foot though."

"Oh well, that's nothing that can't be taken care of, " Mrs. Jenkins shrugged off, still smiling. Dakota only wished that Mrs. Jenkins could be around all the time. "Speaking of which, my granddaughter is transferring to their school soon. She's a beautiful young girl. I thought she and Dakota might want to hang out."

Dakota almost choked on his potato soup.

"Uh," Nick stumbled with his reply, "We'll have to see. I'm sure she's a lovely lady."

"Oh, she is, darling. However, Samantha is a bit nervous about school, you see. She was bullied at her last school," Mrs. Jenkins sighed sadly, "That's why she's getting a transfer. I knew Dakota and Avil went to a school nearby so I suggested it. I was hoping they would be kind enough to befriend her. She needs friends."

"Well, that's up to them, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind," Nick replied politely.

"Of course," Dakota replied, while Avil nodded supportingly. Both Avil and Dakota couldn't judge Samantha for anything.

"Is Lucas going to school too?" Mrs. Jenkins asked. After Nick explained that Lucas was too old for school, Mrs. Jenkins told Nick that Samantha would be transferred after a few months. Something about holding court cases against the bullies for hate crimes and suing the school for not taking action.

Soon the nice lunch was over, and Mrs. Jenkins headed home. 

~{()}~

That night, Lucas got dressed up. Instead of waiting until his coat was covering his body, he came out of the bathroom dressed in his gear- that gear being the extremely short shorts and a fishnet top. Peaking above his shorts was the lacey underwear Lucas was wearing on his first day in Dakota's- their room.

Lucas also wore a harness around his torso under his fishnet shirt that had a loop around the chest- what for, Dakota could only imagine. On the straps of the harness, it was sewn in- Master.

Dakota blushed. Lucas winked at him, smiling.

"Like what you see?" he asked, "You must if you keep staring so much."

"I don't like the implications," Dakota replied, "Are you going to the club again?"

"Yeah," Lucas replied, stealing Dakota's coat. Then, he bent over his box, picking out things from them to stuff in his pockets or hold in his hand. As he turned around, Dakota noticed a bruise on his back. He decided not to ask.

"What's your schedule?" Dakota wondered. Lucas shrugged.

"Just depends on who takes up my offers," Lucas replied, "Some guys are gentle and sweet, while others ram, bruise, and bite. Sometimes I've got to let wounds heal. Sometimes they tap my hole a little too hard, and then I have to recover for a few days. Why? Are you interested?"

"No. Just concerned. That sounds awful," Dakota replied. Lucas shrugged again. "You should stay home." Lucas looked up at him and smiled. "I mean it. I don't want you to get hurt."

"Jealous much?" Lucas replied jokingly. But Dakota didn't laugh. He wasn't jealous...was he? No, he was just concerned. Or maybe both. "It's my job, Dakota. I gotta go to it."

"You don't have to," Dakota replied, "Please stay here."

"Listen," Lucas replied, "I'm not just doing this for a job either. I get pretty stressed without sex because it helps me release pent-up emotions. It also makes me happy, and feel- Nevermind. I just can't live without it. Okay? So please stop begging me."

"I just don't want you to do that with strangers," Dakota replied, "You can't trust strangers with that stuff."

Lucas eyed him for a moment.

"Let me go tonight," Lucas replied, "And then maybe I'll think about it. But you'll owe me."

"Um, sure," Dakota agreed, not wanting to see him go- not wanting to let him go and sell his body. But one more night was better than fifty. "Anything."

"Anything?" Lucas raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You'd really do anything I want to keep me from doing this?"

"Yeah," Dakota replied. He didn't want Lucas to put himself at risk. Not only were there diseases he had to worry about in his line of work, but he also had to worry about not-so-nice customers. Dakota didn't know much about prostitution, but he knew what it was like to fear it.

Lucas looked as if he was losing his mind.

"Never promise anyone 'anything'," Lucas warned, "That will get you in deep trouble."

"I know. It's happened to me before," Dakota smiled his wonky smile that Dakota hated, but he was proud of himself. He just repeated what Lucas had said to him. Lucas looked suspicious, but he smiled as well.

"Fine then," Lucas replied, walking out the door, "See you tomorrow."

The door shut behind him.

Dakota stared after the door for a while, feeling helpless as to what Lucas was about to do, but he felt better that Lucas had agreed to stop. Dakota just had no idea what he owed Lucas in return.

He had made another deal; but hopefully, he won't regret this one.

~{()}~

Dakota was awoken by a loud groan. To Dakota's displeasure, it was still dark out, but- even in his sleepiness- he knew exactly who had made that sound.

"Lucas?" he asked the darkness, and waited for his eyes to adjust.

"S**t," he heard Lucas say, "You're awake?"

"Turn the light on," Dakota demanded, "I can't see anything."

"Good," Lucas replied with a waver in his voice.

"Lucas," Dakota got more stern. He knew Lucas was hiding something at this point. He heard Lucas chuckle darkly.

"And you say you're not a dominant," he replied.

"Lucas," Dakota repeated.

"Fine! Fine! Just don't get mad at me," Lucas replied, switching on the light. Dakota's eyes blinked from the sudden brightness, but they adjusted quicker to the light than to the dark. Suddenly, Lucas was there, taking off his coat and throwing it on the bed. He was covered in bite marks.

"What the hell happened to you?" Dakota asked, getting concerned and rushing over, scanning Lucas's body for more injuries. Lucas slowly sat on his bed with a groan. Dakota sat with him, afraid to touch Lucas. Lucas's hair was a mess; his lip was swollen and a bit bleeding; and his arms were bruised a bit.

"Just a foot-long dick with a biting kink," he groaned, laying down behind Dakota, "I could sleep for ages."

"He hurt you?" Dakota frowned, feeling his anger rise.

"It's okay," Lucas replied, "I wanted it. I like when it hurts...but God, that dick slayed me."

Dakota examined his pained body.

"Do you need a massage? Would that help?" he asked. He didn't want Lucas to be hurting. As Dakota examined the trail of bite marks, his blush rose as he noticed some that ventured past Lucas's waistband.

"Ugh, you are a saint," Lucas groaned, "Tomorrow would be great for a massage. Today, I just need a change of clothes."

Dakota quickly got up to fetch Lucas some clothes. Lucas seemed surprised that Dakota was helping him out- as if he expected Dakota to just shame him for being used as a sex toy.

"Here," Dakota replied, handing him some of his softest pajamas, "You should sleep well in these. Also, if you want to sleep in tomorrow, I'll let Nick know where you are at breakfast."

Lucas blushed for the first time.

"Well," he said in response, "If it means anything- you would be a good dominant, if you chose to be one. I would envy the boy who got your aftercare."

"Aftercare? Like as in-"

"Care after sex," Lucas nodded, "Yeah...you are...admirable. You know that?"

"No," Dakota replied, "No one's ever told me that before." They stared at each other for a moment, and Dakota felt as if he could finally see some sort of unidentifyable emotion in Lucas's eyes. "Thanks," he said. Lucas smiled again, this time wider.

"Of course," he replied, then held out a hand, "Help me up. I need to go change."

Dakota heaved Lucas- who was decently light for an adult male- up onto his feet and watched him sort-of limp to the bathroom door.

It was then he knew he cared too much about Lucas.

Enough to do anything to stop him from hurting himself again.