Augusnippets, Day 19: Collar + Brand
cw: slight pet whump vibes, branding
for the @augusnippets challenge // word count: 529
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“So you're one of those types, huh?” Louie grumbled under his breath as the woman buckled the black leather collar around his throat.
“Hold still.”
He did, more because he didn't want to deal with any other bullshit she could potentially throw at him than because of any real desire to listen.
“Guess I shoulda seen it coming. You look like a wannabe domme.”
“And you look adorable.”
He grimaced as she pinched his cheek, uncertain if the gesture was mocking or genuine. Looking at her scary red-lipped smile, he assumed the latter. Fucking fantastic.
“So is that why I'm here? Because I'm cute?” It had already been a longass day when Lou’d gotten nabbed. Stuffed in the trunk without anyone caring to ask if he was claustrophobic. He wasn't, but that didn't make it any comfier. His current digs were hardly a step up, and he assumed as soon as this bonkers woman was done with him he'd be tossed back into the closet, but hey, at least the handcuffs were padded.
“Don't be silly.” Two manicured fingers curled into his new collar, tugging him into a kneel. Louie tried not to curse the woman out loud, already feeling the flareup of knee pain on the horizon.
“I know who you work for, and I'm sure they'll pay good money to get you back.”
“Will they though?” His patellas were already aching, fucking beautiful.
“If they don't, maybe I'll just keep you.” She gave the collar a sharp yank, throwing him off balance. Louie managed to land on his side instead of his face, the floor meeting his body like the world's worst high-five.
Somewhere above his head, the door opened.
“Oh Antoinette, I was wondering when you'd be ready!”
Another woman had joined them, holding a metal tray between mitted hands.
“Hold him still, will you?”
Antoinette set the tray down and Louie saw… something steaming. Hot as all hell. He squirmed uncomfortably as he was rolled onto his back, Antoinette’s knee digging into his gut. Whatever this was, he didn't like it one bit.
The woman donned a leather glove, grabbing a skinny metal stick from the tray. Well. One end was a stick. The other was what he could only assume was some overdesigned family crest, two inches wide and glowing neon orange.
Louie almost choked. “Hey. Hey, you're not serious.”
“Maybe I'm not. What's that have to do with anything?”
It was hard to gesture when his hands were pinned beneath him. “That. I thought you said you weren't keeping me.”
“I thought you said they wouldn't ransom you.”
It was getting closer. He had to force himself to breathe deep, not wanting to trigger an asthma attack on top of all this other bullshit. “I was kidding,” he spat out. “Can't a guy banter?”
She really was taking her damn time closing in with the thing.
“You’re overcomplicating this for no reason. Isn't the collar enough proof of ownership?”
She ignored him, smiling as she finally brought it down. Searing metal hit his chest, the pain taking a few seconds to set it.
When it hit, Louie screamed like he'd never screamed before.