Leather and Lace

Snap, snap, snap!

"You two better shut up, I just got her to sleep," Dom quietly hissed, not even glancing at the men staring by the entryway of the living room. His eyes focused on the rose-haired angel wrapped up in a fluffy grey blanket as he cradled her in his arms.

"What happened to you?" Xavier waved a hand toward Dom's face. He was sporting a black eye, had scratches all over his face, and his left cheek was swollen. "You look like you got into a fight and lost."

"Because that's basically what happened."

"Don't tell me Muffin beat you up." Dom blankly stared back at Oliver, causing him to put his fist in his mouth as his shoulders shook and little snorts of laughter managed to escape. Dominique merely rolled his eyes but quickly shushed the body in his arms and gently rocked her when she stirred.

Oliver's laughter eventually subsided as he took a deep breath and looked up at Dom with a sheepish grin. "Sorry, I just can't help it sometimes," he said, still chuckling softly.

"Do you usually help her out like this?" Xavier asked, his eyebrows furrowing in concern. He knew the two had a special bond and that it was Dom's duty as family lead to ensure each member was well enough to work as a unit. However, at the cost of having these kinds of injuries every time, he didn't think it was the greatest approach.

Dominique gave him a knowing look. "We usually would spar, but due to having a couple of unseemly guests, she's started to go back into herself and close everyone else off. I noticed she was close to having a breakdown, so I suggested she use me." He looked at the bundle in his arms adoringly. "Just not the way I hoped."

The other man still looked unconvinced. "I'm alright. Really." Dominique reassured. "All of us have different ways of coping. This is the same as when I help you and Oliver. Sure, I'm getting a few more cuts and bruises than normal, but again, it isn't always like this."

Xavier sighed and gave up before smirking. "So, Luke?"

"I got carried away," Dominique groaned quietly, being mindful of the sleeping bundle in his arms. A tinge of red appears on the tips of his ears and the other two didn't dare mention it. "He just responded so beautifully. I got distracted by how his skin reddened, and he just felt so good. I couldn't help myself."

"Yeah, I thought we were supposed to actually teach them something, and what's up with the basically no aftercare?" Oliver asked. They all knew that aftercare was essential in any BDSM scene, and he couldn't understand why Dom didn't provide it.

"You saw how he reacted. It was his first time doing something like that with a man and in that position. I don't think he expected to like that sort of thing. He would have freaked out if I had tried to coddle him. The best that I could do was give him the numbing cream and let him know if he needed help he could come to any of us."

"He's right. When I first discovered I also liked being dominated in bed, I thought badly of myself. I knew for a long time that I liked being dominant over my partner, and to then suddenly like the opposite made me think that I had to be a sub and that I was wrong all along." Xavier shared. "Give him some time to get his head together, if we see he's spiraling too much, we can step in and help."

Oliver turned to the man standing next to him. "You never did tell me how Domikins helped you figure out that part of yourself."

Changing the subject, he disregarded the other man's confused gaze. "I'm assuming it hasn't worked for you either?" Dom merely pointed out his discolored eye at Xavier's question, making the latter huff and turn to the youngest of the three men.

"You saw how she treated me. I'm like any other dog to her." Oliver pouted and crossed his arms. "Just a small little puppy in need of some petting."

"At least you have a bigger advantage than the two of us," Xavier huffed.