Duchenne (DSMP Superhero AU)

Chapter 3

Huios pushed the door to the cafe open, a cheerful gingling accompanying his appearance. The man working behind the counter looked up, grinning as he recognized the boy.

"Tommy! How's my favourite customer?"

Tommy yawned and leaned on the counter, dramatically sighing.

"Oh Wilbur, I'm sooooo tired-"

Wilbur rolled his eyes and flicked his forehead, earning an indignant squawk from the boy. He started busying himself with the machines, humming to himself.

"I assume you want a Mocha then?"

Tommy nodded enthusiastically, grinning.

"Hell yeah! Thanks Wiiiill~"

Wilbur scoffed.

"No problem gremlin child."

"Old man."

Their exchange was cut short by the arrival of another blonde man who glared at Tommy. The boy noticeably tensed, not dropping his smile. Wilbur noticed the sudden silence and looked up, a sour glare crossing his face.

"Clay."

"Wilbur. Thomas, why weren't you at home?"

Tommy shrugged, the smile not leaving his face as he shifted his weight uncomfortably.

"Sorry Clay, I was just-"

Wilbur butted in, glaring at Clay.

"He doesn't need to explain himself to you, he's 16 for prime's sake. Let the kid have freedom."

Clay started forward, grabbing Tommy's wrist to drag him out of the cafe.

"See Thomas, this is why you don't go places without me. He's trying to take you away from me."

Tommy panicked and ran to catch up to him but Wilbur vaulted over the counter and pulled Tommy away from the taller, his eyes narrowed angrily.

"Manipulating a child? Just how much of a scumbag are you?"

"Wilbur-"

"Wilbur, give me back my Thomas."

Tommy wriggled in Wilbur's arms, beginning to panic.

"He's not your Thomas, you have no right-"

Tommy broke out of Wilbur's arms and ran to Clay, clinging onto him. Wilbur watched him go with a confused look on his face, alarm bells in his head blaring as Clay hit Tommy across the face.

"Idiot. Come, a few hours in The Maiden will teach you to be good."

Tommy accepted the hit and nodded, that smile still fixed on his face.

"Of course Clay."

Clay lead Tommy out of the cafe, leaving Wilbur to stare after them with a shocked expression on his face.

He needed to save Tommy.

----<>----

Clay opened an iron maiden, moving to the side so Tommy could get in. He did it without much of a fuss, noting that he'll need to get new clothes when he gets out. As Clay closed the door Tommy braced for the pain that came next. He yelped as a few longer spikes broke his skin, feeling his blood sliding down his legs. Gently, he pulled himself off the spikes so he was just brushing the spikes on the back, then turned and sat down on the bottom of the casing.

He was just skinny enough to slot in-between the spikes, he made sure he didn't eat much for this specific reason. Clay had brought the Iron Maiden home when Tommy was 6, and ever since he'd use it as punishment whenever Tommy did anything wrong.