The Boots
“Oh…oh Robert, look!” Simon exclaimed, walking through a crowded market as they passed an army surplus shop. “Look at those boots!”
“Don’t you have two pairs already?” Robert sighed, turning and trying to tug Simon away from the window. The younger man was pressed up against the glass, drooling.
“You can never have too many boots! Pleeeeeeease?” he begged.
“I’m not your mum.” Robert relented. “But you’re paying for them – not me!”
With an exclamation of joy, Simon bounced into the shop and over to the cashier. “I want those boots in the window!”
The man behind the counter looked at them, then at the boots, and then pulled them over. “These? Are you sure, young man?”
“Yeah!” Simon grinned. “How much, please?”
“I keep selling these, and then I always get them back…” the man pursed his lips. “I think they’re cursed.”
The bassist only laughed. “For certain! I’ll take them anyway. How much?”
“For you…fifteen pounds. No refunds.” He added darkly. Simon squealed like a small child in an ice-cream store, fished the money out of his tight jeans, and handed it to him.
“Here you are.”
The man wrinkled his nose lightly and put the money away, handing over the boots. “I never want to see them again. Don’t bring them back.”
Simon wasn’t really paying attention; he was purring over his new prize. Robert gave him an odd look: “You all right, mate?”
“They’re all shiny and new and – “ he paused to sniff the leather. “Smell it! Oh Robert I’ve always wanted boots like these!”
Robert took a whiff and almost retched, gagging and leaning away. “Gah! They smell like blood!”
Simon snorted indignantly. “Not they don’t!” Robert wrinkled his nose again.
“Phwoah, those smell like blood, Simon.”
Simon took another sniff. “No they don’t! They smell of leather! Proper leather!” he danced about. “Can I wear them now?!”
“I suppose.” Robert shrugged, putting his hands in his pockets. “Put them on.”
Squealing again with excitement, Simon sat down on a chair in the store and took off his buckled boots, pulling on the new lace-ups and doing them up nice and tight. “Oh Robert! They’re perfect!”
The older man grimaced. “If you say so.”
“Don’t they look nice?”
Without a split second’s hesitation, Robert opened his mouth. “Yes.” Then he paused, blinking at himself.
The bassist giggled and got up, holding his old boots, bouncing around. “They’re so springy!”
“Can we go back to the house now?” Robert groused. “I’m getting tired of shopping…”
“Oh! All right.” He tucked the boots away in a different bag. “Thank you again!”
“Get the fuck out of my store and don’t come back.” The man said with a growl. Simon stopped bouncing and left sadly.
“Si? You all right?” Robert took his younger friend by the hand.
“Why was he so mean?”
“I don’t know.” Robert got into the car, fluffing his hair out in the mirror. Simon regarded his new boots, still pouting a bit, but feeling happier as they drove.
“I can’t wait to show Lol my new boots!”
“I’m sure he’ll be delighted.” The older man looked out the other window.
“Now Robert, you know he won’t…I just want to show everyone!”
“Why, though?”
“I love new things! Especially new boots.”
“Huh, I might have known.” Robert sighed, as they pulled up in front of Simon’s flat. Simon smiled widely as he helped gather the shopping and bounced in. “Lol!”
“What?”
“I have new boots!”
“Fantastic.” Lol said in a bored voice, and then went back to watching the television.
Simon gave him an annoyed glare. “Look at them!” he stood in front of the drummer, putting a foot on his knee. Lol stared at the boots for a few seconds, and then his eyes began to water. He wasn’t able to blink, couldn’t force himself to close his eyes.
“Ow…I can’t…”
“Simon, stop messing about.” Robert was putting the groceries away.
“Hee. Lol likes my boots!”
“No I don’t!” Lol protested, still staring wide-eyed at them. “I can’t look away!”
“Stop being Silly, Lol.” Simon grinned, and then stood up, walking away. Lol shut his mouth and closed his eyes, rubbing them viciously.
“Ah…I’m seeing spots…”
“You’re always making fun of me!” Simon pouted, biting his lip.
“I’m not!” said the drummer, hurrying off.
“Simon, leave him alone. He’s probably hung-over.” Robert said, walking into the living room.
“Yeah, probably.” Simon gave him a hug. “Love you…”
“Love you too, Si.” He gave the bassist a little kiss on his forehead. Simon hummed contentedly.
“Shall we watch some telly?” he leaned back and looked at Robert, with a dirty wink. “Or something else?”
“What do you want to do?”
“I wanna snuggle…”
Instantly Robert had Simon in his arms, pushing him down on the couch. Simon giggled, but the older man seemed more surprised than pleased at his actions. He purred against Robert’s throat, and relaxed.
“Hmmm…” Simon slid his hands lightly down Robert’s back, kissing him gently. Robert kissed back, not moving, still only snuggling tenderly.
“Undress me?” Simon looked up, eyes darkening.
“Yes…” the older man began to strip Simon of his clothes, slowly undoing his shirt. Simon bit his lip with a grin, watching. Robert leaned down as if to kiss, but he didn’t; the only thing he did was to continue stripping the younger bassist.
Simon tried to kiss him, smiling. “Teasing Robin…”
Robert shook his head. “Simon – I can’t – I can’t stop…” he pushed Simon’s trousers down, and then went to take off the boots. “These won’t come off…” they were indeed stuck fast, as if with glue.
The younger man tilted his head. “You should’ve said earlier if you’re wanting me this badly…”
Robert had gone white. “No, I mean, I CAN’T STOP.” He was trembling, still physically trying to yank Simon’s trousers off around his boots.
“Hey, be gentle!” Simon whined. “I wanted this to be romantic…” he sat up, tugging at Robert’s hands, which seemed to have an almost inhuman iron grip on his trousers. “Robin, stop it!”
The older man instantly let go, yanking his hands back, staring at them as if he didn’t know them, as if they weren’t his own. “Oh God. Simon, I couldn’t control myself…”
Simon giggled, and then frowned. “I don’t mind that…you were just being a bit rough. I was starting to get a burn from the denim…” then he smiled again.
Robert shook his head again, backing away. “No. Simon, I mean, I couldn’t physically stop myself…my hands were moving on their own…I couldn’t stop if I wanted to…”
“Why would you want to anyway?” Simon raised an eyebrow, then sighed and waved his hand dismissively at Robert’s worried expression. “You’re going mad.”
“Am I?”
Trying to watch the telly wasn’t doing Simon any good. Robert had gone off to take a nap, claiming he was exhausted from their previous shopping excursion. The younger man smelled a rat, but he hadn’t protested. If his band-mate wanted some privacy, he was entitled to it. However, Simon was getting hungry, so he clomped up the stairs in his new boots, intending to ask Robert if he wanted some dinner.
To his surprise he found Robert asleep on the bed. Perhaps he was tired after all? Simon gently shook him awake.
“Robin…Robin, wake up…”
Robert rolled over slowly, blinking. Then his face split into a smile full of such perfect happiness that it confused Simon for a moment.
“…Master…”
Now that definitely confused Simon. “Robin? Are you feeling all right?”
“Yes, Master…”
“Why are you calling me…never mind, this must be some odd kink of yours…” Simon shook his head with a sigh, grinning. Robert was always coming up with new ideas on how to spice up their sex life. Sometimes it was amusing, but sometimes it was annoying. “Not now. I was getting hungry, wondered if you wanted to get dinner…”
“I am hungry, yes…but not for food…”
“Uh…are you sure you’re feeling all right?”
“I am hungry for my Master…”
Against his better judgment, Simon swallowed softly. There was a low, seductive purr in Robert’s voice, something that refused to be denied. “Ok. I’ll play along...let’s go downstairs shall we?”
“Anything you wish…” Robert took his hand, following him down to the couch in the living room. Simon flipped off the television then pushed his older band-mate to the cushions, straddling him. Robert seemed sleek and smooth, purring underneath him like a cat. Simon slowly stroked down his belly to his hips.
“Nice kitty…” Simon joked, stroking lower.
Robert gasped, and then whined softly. “N-no, Master, no...you shouldn't...”
Simon paused, only his fingertips in the waistband of Robert’s trousers. “Why not?”
Robert looked down, ashamed. “I’m…I’m not worthy of your touch…”
Simon slipped his hand inside. “Yes you are.”
Robert arched and whimpered sharply. “Please! Please, Master, no!”
Simon rolled his eyes. “Five minutes ago you were practically begging for it. Now you don’t want my touch?”
“I…I am sensitive, Master, I have not had your touch before…”
Now Simon was very confused. “Yes you have. Of course you have.”
Robert was bright red, embarrassed and tearing up. “Master! Certainly not! I would not have allowed you to touch such unworthy flesh…”
With an unimpressed sigh, the younger man took hold of Robert’s cock gently. He gasped and arched upward. “Oh!”
“You shouldn’t think that I’m any different from you…” he leaned down, kissing Robert’s nose sweetly.
“But you are d-different! You are my Master!”
“Stop thinking that.” Simon continued with his long, slow, soft strokes. Robert closed his eyes, moaning gently. “You like that, then?”
“Ohhh…it feels so good!”
“Uh huh.” Simon grinned again, getting back into the rhythm of it. But then Robert began to cry. The bassist paused, beginning to get irritated with Robert’s game. “Quit acting like that.”
“Master…what…what is this pleasure?”
“You’re so weird.”
“You shouldn’t…you shouldn’t do this…” Robert was panting, gasping by now. Arching, he cried out, shaking. “No…no!” he yowled as he came into Simon’s hand.
“Why no?” Simon paused, laying down to snuggle up a bit, trying to comfort his lover.
“I…I…forgive me!” Robert blurted out, covering his face in shame.
“No…no, shh.” Simon used his free hand to stroke Robert’s face. “You did good. I’m pleased.”
“Y-you are?” he had a hopeful little smile on his face. “Then…I am grateful.”
Simon smiled, kissing his forehead again. “That pleases me more.”
Robert sighed, settling into the couch. “Thank you. But you should not do this; I am but an unworthy slave...”
“Don't talk like that. You are worthy.”
Robert shook his head. “No.”
“But I don't like you talking like that…!” Simon protested, getting angry again.
“It is the truth, Master…”
“Fine…” he removed his hand, pulling the smallest of faces of disgust, and then used some tissue to wipe it away.
Robert began to cry again. ”See? You see? You are disgusted by me...you should not touch me...”
“I'm not... guh... Robert... it's spunk... no one likes spunk on their hands.”
The older man simply shook his head. “I have never...so I would not know.”
“It’s all in your trousers...”
“I...I shall clean them....” Robert bit his lip.
“No, no…just take them off.” Simon decided to make the best of this odd situation.
Robert blushed harder. “But Master! You'll see me!”
“Oh, and that matters?”
Robert blushed, then stood up, taking off his trousers. He curled back up on the couch, ashamed.
“No…here.” Simon patted his lap. The older man obeyed, trembling. “Are you ok?”
“Master, I am scared...”
“Why?”
Robert bit his lip. “We have done...unspeakable acts...you should not do more, I have no right!”
Simon sighed. “Robert…”
“Yes, Master?”
“Shush.” Simon pushed him down, sitting on his hips. Robert lay there, confused and silent. After a few moments, the younger man began to rock his hips back and forth, holding onto his band-mate’s thighs. Robert squirmed slightly, getting hard again. “You are good at this…”
“M-master...please...let me...let me go, so that I can relieve myself somewhere...”
“No. You’re staying here, now.”
“Master…”
“What?” Simon asked tersely, anger taking hold of him again as he started taking off his clothes.
“Please, Master! If you don't let me go, it’ll…it’ll happen again!”
“Oh, and what a threat that is.” Simon kissed him harshly, straddling him. They were both naked now, and Robert seemed more alarmed than pleased.
“M-master! What do you intend to do?” Robert yelped with fear.
Simon took his shoulders. “Hey... calm down... nothing you won't like... it's ok. Stay still.” Robert obeyed wordlessly again, staying still as Simon kissed him. He moved back, sliding against the older man’s arousal. Robert promptly went white with fear.
“Master! You couldn't think of...”
Without another word, Simon lowered himself onto Robert, so that they were touching. “Master, no! You mustn’t!”
“Shhh…it’s only touching.” The younger man stroked Robert’s face. He then slid his hand down, wrapping his hand around both their cocks.
Robert cried out, writhing. “No! Please, Master, it’s going to happen again!”
“It’s all right…it’s all right…” Simon kissed his face repeatedly, beginning to rub against his lover softly. They gradually moved faster and faster, Robert’s hips bucking upward. Simon gasped. “Oh! Oh Robert…”
“M-Master…please…”
Simon paused, looking at Robert’s face. “God you’re beautiful…” his eyes were full of tears, though. “Tell me that…”
“What?”
“Tell me you’re beautiful…”
“You are beautiful, my Master…”
Simon shook his head, his hair and cheek brushing against Robert’s face. “No…you. Tell me you are beautiful…”
Robert’s expression clouded with further confusion. “You are beautiful, my Master.
“No. Say, ‘I am beautiful’.” Simon’s voice was low and whispering with lust.
“I…I am…I am…” Robert’s face fell. “I can’t say it…”
“Say it…” Simon commanded, pressing his belly against Robert’s.
“I can’t! It’s not true!”
Simon let the anger show through his lust now, biting his lover’s ear. “Say it!’
“I can’t lie to you!” Robert yelped in pain.
“It isn’t a lie...please…say it for me…”
“For you…” the older man’s face fell sadly. “I…I am…I am beautiful.”
Simon shuddered, pushing his hips to rub against the singer’s. “Again.”
“I…I am b-beautiful…” Robert closed his eyes, crying in shame.
“Ohhh…” Simon slipped forward. “Again…”
Robert was choking, crying, and near hysterics by this point. “I am beautiful!”
Deciding, the bassist sat back, gasping as he impaled himself on Robert’s arousal. “Oh! Again!!”
Covering his face in shame, shaking, and blushing in humiliation, Robert dissolved into hysterical sobs of ‘no!’ Simon rocked his hips madly. “Yes! Yes you are!” he groaned, holding his lover’s face and kissing him desperately.
“No I’m not!”
Simon bit the hell out of Robert’s lip, half shouting, half groaning, nearly convulsing a he came. Robert followed soon after, crying bitterly, turning away to cover his face. “Master…Master…why do you find such happiness in making me humiliate myself?”
“Ohhh…” Simon took Robert’s face in his hands, holding it tenderly. “Robin, Robin look at me…” the older man looked up obediently, fearfully. “I... I love you Robert. This isn't humiliation... I ... I love you…”
“I am sorry you feel that way towards me, Master...I shall try not to evoke that emotion in you...”
“What?” Simon paused, and then sighed again. “No. Oh, Robert…”
“I am so sorry…”
“Don’t be. This is good.” The younger man tried to reassure him.
“No, it isn't. This isn't the way things are supposed to work...I am your slave, you are my Master...”
“What do masters do Robert?” Simon was too tired to argue. He decided he might as well play along as best he could. Might, after all, figure out where Robert was going with this whole thing.
“They do not love their slaves.”
“Some do...” Simon pointed out. “I do.”
“No. It is wrong.”
Simon rolled onto his back, playing with his lover’s hair. “This is the 21st century Rob... I can love who I want.”
“No. I will not allow it.” He shook his head sadly. “It will only bring you hurt.”
Simon chuckled, raising an eyebrow. “You won't allow it? Who's the master here?”
“…you are.”
“And what I say goes, right?” Simon teased, poking Robert’s nose.
“Yes, Master.” He hung his head in shame.
“Stop worrying.” Simon kissed him. “Everything will be just fine.”
“I wish you would not lie to me, or force me to lie to you…”
“I’m not lying!”
“When you lie and say I am beautiful…it makes me so sad.”
“Robert, you are!” Simon shoved his shoulders playfully. “So stop arguing.
“I apologize, Master.” He was still crying a little.
“It’s all right.” Simon gave him a gentle kiss. “No, stop crying.” Robert sniffled and did his best to obey. “What will it take to make you happy, Robert?”
“Pleasing you, Master.” He paused. “Being able to please you in a way that will not hurt or humiliate me.”
“Is that it?” he sighed. “Ok. Go have a shower, get dressed, and then run me a bath, please.”
“Yes – yes of course!” Robert bounded up the stairs in the nude, happy as a clam, and turned on the shower.
“I’ve got to figure out how to stop this…” Simon sighed, turning on the telly once more.
As soon as he was finished in the shower, Robert quickly got dressed and ran the bath before heading back down the stairs. “Your bath awaits you, Master.” He said, with a little modest bow.
“Thanks, Robert.” Simon pulled up his jeans, and then remembered his boots. “Oh, fuck.”
“Hmmm?”
“How will I have the bath with my boots on?”
“I don’t know.” Robert admitted, putting a hand on his chin and rubbing it. Simon sighed.
“All right. I’ll just hang my legs out the bath or something…”
“That’ll look silly, Master…” Robert grinned slightly, covering his mouth.
The younger man laughed. “I don’t want them to get ruined or else the guy at the shop won’t take them back. He said no refunds…but the money doesn’t matter, I’ll just give him them. But hmmm…how did they come to be smelling of blood…”
“Is it important?”
“No, not really.” Simon shrugged. “You do what you want while I’m in the bath ok?” he started up the stairs.
“Thank you Master.” Robert rested on the couch with a book.
The bassist wrestled out of his trousers, tugging the bottom of the legs out of the boots and trying to yank them over the boots, falling into the bath as he did so. Robert heard the noise and went up the stairs. “Master? Are you hurt?”
“I banged my head, but I’m fine now.” He replied. With a nod, Robert went to wait in his own room, taking out some sheets and writing lyrics down. Eventually he could not ignore his rumbling stomach, so he put down the music and knocked on the bathroom door.
“Master, I was thinking about making dinner. What would you like to eat?”
“Uh…dunno, whatever you like.” Simon blew some bubbles off his chest, lathering up with the soap.
Robert pouted. “At least give me some ideas…”
“Uhhh…” the bassist paused for a moment. “Pie.”
The older man giggled. “We’ll certainly have pie, but I meant, for dinner.”
“Fish n’Chips then.”
Robert wandered off to the kitchen giggling to himself, starting to get out pots and pans. He hummed to himself as he thawed out some frozen fish and a big bag of chips, putting a pie to warm gently in the oven.
Simon, on the other hand, was having a difficult time trying to get out of the bath. He pulled a towel off the rack to dry himself with, but when he tried to pull on his boxers, the boots made it awkward and he tumbled to the floor.
The older man jumped, and then rushed upstairs. “Master Simon! Are you hurt? I heard a bang!”
“I can’t get me shorts on!”
“Oh!” Robert blushed, then hurried in. “Oh, I’m sorry; ummm…do you want some help?”
“Please…”
“Of course.” Robert helped Simon into his clothes, trying not to stare or giggle.
“Dinner smells nice…” the bassist sniffed the air, walking down the stairs.
“I hope so.” The older man grinned, taking out the fish and chips from the oven, putting them on plates. “Salt? Vinegar? Catsup?”
“Yes, please!”
Robert got out the condiments, putting them on the table and heating the pie a little more. “Doesn’t it look yummy? Go ahead!”
Simon picked up a fork, then paused, grinned, and put it down again. “Well?”
“What are you waiting for? Go ahead, eat!” Robert flushed with pride.
“I…” he hesitated, then grinned again. “I want you to feed me, Robert.”
“Oh!” Robert blinked, and then smiled. “All right.” He shuffled his chair closer, cutting the food into bite-sized pieces, and then lifted one to Simon’s mouth.
The younger man blew on it and then opened his mouth, taking it in. “Mmm! This is really good, Robert!”
“Th-thank you…” he smiled to himself proudly. When Simon opened his mouth slightly, waiting for the next bit, Robert quickly inserted the fork. The younger man grinned devilishly, causing the elder to raise an eyebrow in confusion as he fed him more.
“Why aren’t you eating, Robert?”
“Because it’s hard for me to feed you and myself at the same time.” Robert pointed out.
“Let me do it, then.”
“Oh! Oh, Master, you shouldn’t.” the singer blushed.
“Hush.” Simon lifted the fork, picking up some food. “Open up.”
Wibbling and then bursting into ashamed tears, Robert opened his mouth. Simon ignored the tears, moving closer with the fork, then quickly put it down and kissed the older man. He jerked away, crying harder. “Master – you tricked me! Why did you do that?”
“You’re overreacting Robert, stop it.” Robert tried to obey, sniffling softly as Simon continued. “I can do to you what I want. And if I tell you to enjoy it, you will.”
“Yes, Master.” He murmured, utterly miserable.
“Good.”
Robert began to shovel food into his mouth, swallowing quickly. Simon shook his head and knocked the fork out of his hands. “Stop it! Kiss me.” With a tender little kiss Robert obeyed, but it wasn’t enough. “No. Do it properly.”
“Define ‘properly’.”
Simon pulled Robert to him, kissing him heavily, near-swallowing his tongue. Robert gasped and moaned lightly, then paused and kissed back, in the same way. The younger man moaned deeply as Robert moved deeper, holding Simon’s head in his hands gently.
“Hmmm…” Simon broke the kiss, breathless. “I want you now…”
Robert blushed shyly. “Master…”
“Now.” It was a growl. Robert shrank a little, tears welling up.
“Master, we shouldn’t…I’m not…”
“We should and you are.” Simon said insistently, rising to his feet and pulling Robert up. He pressed him into the kitchen table. The older man bent over submissively, tears streaming down his cheeks. Ferociously pulling off Robert’s clothes, Simon kissed him harshly, and the singer could do nothing but kiss back, totally compliant, totally helpless.
“You’re beautiful…” Simon took Robert’s thighs and hoisted him up onto the table. The older man had a sad look about him, biting his lip and trembling.
“M-Master…”
“You want me?” Simon slid a hand down between Robert’s legs, pressing at his entrance. “Do you want me…here?”
“I want you to be happy…”
“Stop this!” Simon growled. He removed his hand and gave Robert a good hard shake. The older man yelped and cowered, but when Simon stopped, he was gentle again. “Robert please…I don’t want to do this if you won’t enjoy it…”
“Don’t you see, Master?” Robert pleaded with tears coursing down his cheeks. “I will say and do whatever it takes to make you happy, whether or not it is the truth.”
“I don’t want you to do it just to make me happy!” Simon shook him roughly with every other word. Robert yelped in pain. Then Simon softened. “Please Robert…I want to do it because you want me…”
Robert lay quiet for a moment. “My only purpose in life is to make you happy, Master Simon.”
“What is wrong with you?!” Simon gave him a harsh slap across the face. Robert yelped and winced, shying away in tears.
“Nothing is wrong! I have always been this way!”
Simon shoved him down onto the table, holding his shoulders roughly. “You haven’t!”
“But…” he continued on, confused. “I’ve always been a slave. Ever since I was born…”
“You haven’t!”
“Master…” Robert was growing dizzy by this point. “Why are you hurting me?”
“I’m trying to knock some bloody sense into you!” The bassist snorted.
“There is no sense to be knocked in…”
“Shut up!” Simon eventually covered Robert’s mouth. “Shut up! I don’t want to hear another word from you!” and with his free hand, he unzipped his jeans. The older man looked terrified, but lay still and didn’t struggle.
“I need you so much Robert... but this isn't you... I'm sorry...” he pulled up Robert’s hips and pushed in. The older man gasped, eyes falling shut, and shuddered deeply. Simon panted softly, leaning over to kiss and bite his lover’s lips. He moaned in his throat, slowly beginning to move his hips.
Robert ran his hands up and down Simon’s back and sides softly. He watched as the younger man broke the kiss, looking down on him, touching their noses together. Robert let himself show a tiny little hopeful smile, trusting, cheeks wet from crying.
“You know I love you…” Simon whispered.
“I know, Master.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“What would you have me call you?”
“Just call me Simon.” He was still leisurely moving his hips, gasping every now and again.
“Simon. I love you, Simon.”
“Oh! Oh yes…” Simon began to move a bit faster, closing his eyes.
Robert, much encouraged by this reaction, clung to the younger man. “I love you, Simon!”
“Oh…God…yes…” he kissed at Robert’s neck, moving faster still.
“God, I love you, Simon...I love you so much...I need you, you feel so good…” Robert moaned, arching up.
“Oh!” Simon grunted as he thrust in, pausing between each movement.
“Fuck me, Simon...” Robert growled in his ear. “Fuck me so hard I won't be able to sit down without feeling you deep inside me...”
“Oh!” Simon moved faster, almost pounding. Robert cried out as he came, Simon muffling his own shout through a bite on the older man’s shoulder as he soon followed. “I…love…you…”
When they had both gotten their breaths back, Robert lifted up his head. “I am pleased you are happy, Master. What I said, did it make you feel good?”
“Yes, it – what did you call me?”
Robert blinked. “Master. I said those things so that you would be happy.” He paused. “You didn’t assume I…meant it?”
“Wha…” Simon pulled up his jeans jerkily, twitching. Robert sat up, still naked, to see the younger man in tears. “What’s the matter?”
“I…I made love…” he closed his eyes, sobbing, tears falling like rain.
“Uh…yes…yes, you did. Why are you crying? Wasn’t it good? Didn’t my body please you?”
“This isn’t you!” Simon yelled, slapping Robert hard.
“This is me!” the older man yelped in pain, hands up to protect his face. “What are you talking about?”
Simon was thrashing at him wildly, as if possessed by some great madness. “You’re not my Robert! You’re some stranger!”
“Stop it!” Robert finally cried out, cowering under the table. Simon fell backwards over his chair, landing on the floor with a hard thud.
“I want my Robert back…”
“Please don’t hurt me…”
“I have no right to hurt you.” Simon hung his head. “I don’t even know who you are…”
“This is me…” Robert paused. “Don’t I make you happy?”
“No…”
“But…d-don’t you want me to be like this?”
Simon got up slowly, and he didn’t say anything for a long time. “Just leave me alone.” He finally said, before going upstairs and shutting the door to his bedroom.
Robert huddled under the kitchen table for a while longer, then stood up, wandering over to the oven. He opened it, removing the baked-to-perfection blueberry pie from the rack. “You didn’t even try it…” and with a sob, he sat down at the table, picked up a fork, and began to eat it miserably.
Alone in his room, Simon stared at his feet. “Fucking boots…this has something to do with them.” He could hear clattering downstairs, and sighed. “Robert…”
A soft belch. “Yes?”
“I need your help.” Simon stood at the top of the stairs, leaning on the railing and calling down into the kitchen. “I want you to go to the shop where we got these boots and ask the owner what he meant when he said the boots were cursed, please.”
“Of course, Master. I’ll be back in a little while.” Robert acknowledged, getting dressed and walking out the door. As he made his way to the shops, he wondered about what Simon had said. Were the boots really cursed? Was something going to happen to his Master? He shuddered at the thought, and then puzzled for a moment over the younger man’s strange behavior towards him. Could the boots…have something to do with it? He quickened his pace…
“Master Simon! Don’t do it!” Robert burst through the front door, not even stopping to take off his shoes as he rushed up the staircase.
“Don’t do what?” Simon walked out of his bedroom, hands on his hips. “Took your time, didn’t you…”
“The store owner said the boots only come off when the person wearing them dies! He also said they’re the things making me…um…a slave…” Robert trailed off in utter confusion.
“I had a feeling.” The younger man said glumly. “Wait…I have to die?!”
Robert nodded tearfully. “There’s got to be some other way!”
“Did he say there was?”
“Um…no.” the older man hung his head.
“I don’t want to die…I’m too young!” Simon protested, hugging himself lightly.
Robert put his arms around him. “We’ll work this out…somehow…I…but doesn’t being a Master make you happy?”
“No…Robert, you’re my friend…not my servant! I don’t want to tell you what to do…”
“It really doesn’t please you? You don’t want a slave…?”
Simon sobbed softly, and then took Robert’s hand. “No, I don’t. I don’t want a slave…I just want you. Robert, I love you for who you are. You don’t need to be anything else.”
Robert wobbled slightly on his feet, then took Simon into a crushing hug. “Oh God! Oh God, Simon! Simon I love you!”
“I love you too…” Simon was in tears. “But I can’t love you when you’re like this?”
“…like what? Silly Subbie.” The older man ruffled Simon’s hair playfully. “I see you like your new boots! Have you shown them to Lol yet?”
“…what? Robert?”
“Yeah?” a belch, then a frown. “Why does it taste like I’ve eaten an entire blueberry pie all by myself…”
Simon’s bottom lip trembled, and he was frozen for a moment, but then pounced on Robert in a massive hug. “OH GOD ROBERT!” they toppled to the floor.
“Owch! Simon, what’s the matter with you?” Robert laughed and ruffled Simon’s hair again. The younger man was in hysterics, and he laughed, cuddling him. “What’s wrong with you?”
“YOU’RE BACK!”
“I never left, silly.”
“It seemed like you did.” Simon had his face buried in Robert’s hair, holding him as if the world were ending.
“Uh…sorry?” Robert kissed his lover’s eyelids tenderly.
“It doesn’t matter; you’re back!” Simon squeezed him. Robert hoisted them up onto their feet, and then carried him to the bed. Then he frowned.
“You didn’t leave me alone with dessert, did you? Because it feels like I ate an entire blueberry pie.”
“I…I think you did.” Simon said with a sob.
“Honestly, Simon, the things you let me get away with…you should try and control me more often!” This triggered a long stream of sobs from the younger man, and Robert curled up with him on the bed.
“Oh. I love you, Robert…”
“That’s not a problem, that’s a wonderful thing.” Robert grinned. “Here, you shouldn’t be wearing those boots inside.” He undid the long laces, taking them off. They slipped from Simon’s feet as if filled with warm grease. Simon wriggled his toes.
“I thought I’d be stuck in those forever!” he wailed.
“Why, because you didn’t take them off at the door?”
“They were cursed!”
Robert’s eyes got big, and then he laughed even harder. “Cursed? You have such a wild imagination, Simon!” When he saw the hurt expression in his lover’s eyes, he softened, kissing Simon’s hair. “Silly little Subbie. You shouldn’t worry so much! That’s my job.”
“They were cursed…” he curled up in Robert’s arms. “You kept doing exactly what I told you…”
“Oh pshhht, why would I do that?” Robert teased. “Let’s just get some rest, all right? I’m exhausted…”
“You did…” Simon was sad, but feeling oddly happy inside, cuddling closer. “All right…”
“Sweet dreams, Si.”
A yawn. “S-s-sweet dreams…my Robin…”
“Zzzzzzz…”