Slaughterhouse

Didn't Listen

Back at the hotel, Rhea is lying on the bed with her leg propped up on a pillow. Raquel nearly dislocated it, but Carmen stopped her just in time. Instead, it's swollen and mostly just bruised and sore to the touch. Carmen pulls the leg of her sweats up and gently sets a bag of ice wrapped in a towel on her knee.

Rhea sucks in air through her teeth at the initial contact, but sighs in relief once the cold gets to it. Carmen lies next to her on the bed and wraps her arms around her. Rhea pulls her closer so Carmen's head is on her chest and holds her.

"I'm sorry we have to go back to Orlando so soon." She says.

"It's not your fault. And Carmen?" Rhea replies.

"Hmm?"

"Don't think that me cuddling you right now means I forgot everything you've done lately and won't have my hand wrapped around your throat again tomorrow." She says, looking at her eyes.

Carmen smirks up at her.

"Something to look forward to then." She retorts. 

Rhea shakes her head and strokes her hair.

"Go to sleep our flight is early. And Buddy's gonna be there. His match got canceled this week." Rhea yawns.

Carmen smiles and snuggles in, closing her eyes and falling asleep quickly.

When she wakes again Rhea is already up and getting their things together. She sits up in the bed and smiles.

"Does it hurt to walk?" She asks.

"No not really. The swelling's gone down but they still want me out of the shows this weekend so we're still going home." Rhea answers.

Carmen stands from the bed and pulls her hair up into a bun before grabbing some of the bags and helping Rhea carry them to the Uber. She overslept so there wasn't time to get ready.

Once the bags are in the trunk they climb into the backseat and buckle up, riding in silence on the way to the airport. Carmen glances at Rhea now and then and she looks deep in thought. She pushes it from her mind for now and they arrive at the airport, following the routine of making their way through before finally settling in their seats.

Rhea is staring out the window when Carmen grabs her hand and intertwines their fingers. She looks over and smiles softly, but it's a smile that's hiding something. Sadness maybe. Over Raquel?

"Hey..don't think about it right now. We'll deal with her later. Just relax." Carmen smiles and squeezes her hand.

Rhea nods and kisses her cheek before leaning her head back and closing her eyes. It's the fact they just got up that makes Carmen wonder if she even slept the night before.

*that evening*

Carmen and Rhea walk into the house and both drop their bags by the door at the same time, sighing at having been on the plane all day. Buddy comes walking out from the kitchen and smiles at them, walking over and enveloping them both in a hug.

"Long time no see." He chuckles and Carmen laughs a little.

Rhea just smiles and he lets them go, turning towards her and holding her shoulders.

"How's the knee? I saw everything." He asks.

"It's fine now I think. I'm just pissed they wouldn't clear me. I'm going to get a drink." She says before walking into the kitchen.

Buddy looks at Carmen who shrugs lightly and smiles at him. He gently takes her hand in his and kisses it.

"Come with me. I know how we can cheer her up." He says before leading Carmen into the bedroom.

She follows him and smiles as he turns towards her, pulling her to him and kissing her softly. Carmen gasps a little in surprise but kisses back, wrapping her arms around his neck. He puts his hands on her waist, rubbing around to her back and gently pulling her shirt up and over her head.

Following his lead, Carmen pulls on his shorts, dropping them and letting him step out as they continue to kiss, the moment getting hotter as they take each other's clothes off. Leaving them both in their underwear. Buddy pulls back some and smiles at her.

"I see Rhea fixed your attitude." He smiles.

Carmen raises an eyebrow and rubs his arms.

"What do you mean?" She asks.

Buddy stops and looks in her eyes. When he sees she has no idea what he's talking about, his lip twitches and Carmen can see his entire mood shift. He goes from soft and gentle to the almost emotionless look he's had so much lately and steps away from her.

"We're not going all the way until you've been punished." He speaks flatly.

Carmen scrunches her eyebrows and reaches for him.

"What? Noo!" She whines and Buddy shakes his head. "Come on. I want you. Don't you need me?" She practically begs.

Buddy suddenly steps back towards her and grabs her by her shoulders. He roughly shoves her down to her knees on the floor. She lands with a thud and grimaces at the pain that shoots up through them. She looks up at him in shock at the sudden roughness.

"You need to learn to fix that attitude before expecting things from me." He talks down to her. "Stay there and don't move." He adds.

Carmen nods slightly, too afraid to challenge him. She looks to the door and sees Rhea walking in, looking straight at Carmen on her knees. Her eyes are only just looking to Buddy when he quickly crosses the room to her. Carmen sees the way Rhea's eyes widen just before he makes it to her and wraps his hand around her throat tightly. He holds her back against the wall and she gasps lightly, gripping his wrist. She's standing on her toes from how he's lifting her slightly.

Carmen doesn't know what to think. She's in complete shock but she doesn't know what's more shocking. Rhea looking so vulnerable, or Buddy being so rough.

"You didn't listen to me." He growls at her.

"I-I-" Rhea stutters but he cuts her off.

"Shut up. You didn't punish her like I told you to. So guess what Demi?" He says.

Rhea is just looking at him, gripping his wrist and shuffling on her toes. She knows better than to try and talk, and Carmen observes closely.

"I'm going to punish you now," he whispers before looking over his shoulder at Carmen and adding, "both of you."