Chapter 301: Sam, I am not going to be your kink partner
Cass reached for Sam, tentatively placing his hands on the other man’s shoulders and Sam just went for it. He wrapped his arms around the waist of Cass, tugging him against him and tucking his head into his shoulder.
Cass had never seen Sam behave like this with him. Sam had been more of a scared chipmunk. They did get close, but never...this kind of close. He assumed it had to be Byron’s influence, and Cass suddenly was upset that he hadn’t been able to watch over them as their relationship developed. Had Sam given in? Or was he still playing with Byron’s heart?
"Sam, it’s not as if I expected to be staying this long in the city. I expected that we would be back home shortly, but..." Cass let out a heavy sigh, patting the other man’s back. "Things have happened that made me summon both you and Byron to my side here. Sir Forsythe has been sent back to the manor. For several reasons." Cass explained softly, carefully. Sam sniffed.
"That...didn’t answer if I displeased you or not, my Lord." Sam sounded small and miserable. Cass sighed. If he had been in a more stable state, he might have rolled his eyes at the theatrics, but he wasn’t. He was exhausted from work.
"Sam, I’m not displeased with you. Why would I summon you to my side if I was?" Cass asked the other man and Sam finally pulled away from Cass enough that he could look in the other man’s face.
Sam’s eyes were spilling over. Cass hadn’t even realised he had been crying into his shoulder. His clothes were too thick. Sam sniffed again, and he tried to compose himself.
"B-Because that’s what you’re used to? I was trying to understand your words and why you would wait so long to summon me. Do you need someone to act as a...pin cushion? Someone to hit? I’m not that sturdy, but I can manage a few hits as long as you don’t use magic." Sam was mustering up courage for something that was churning Cass’ gut.
"Are you insane? Why the hell would your mind go in that direction?" Cass demanded, absolutely horrified by the words coming out of Sam’s mouth.
"W-Well, I just-" Sam started and Cass growled. He gripped onto the other man, causing Sam’s eyes to widen as Cass leaned in until their noses were touching. Byron was keeping a close eye on them from behind, and the door was still open to onlookers.
"Sam, while that may have been the case in the past, I want to make something crystal clear. I will not, and am not going to hit you in the future. You should not experience violence from the person who is paying you. That is an abuse of power, and I have matured enough to know that I should not be taking that out on you. I have plenty of other people to take that anger out on now." Sam’s eyes were wide as he stared at him, before they started to water again.
"B-But that’s my job! I’m supposed to be your servant! You’re supposed to hit me!" Sam was wailing. He was so loud that Cass was actually shocked. What the fuck? Sam!
"I did not hire you to hit you!" Cass exclaimed, horrified, and Sam started sobbing.
"Yes, you did! What’s my purpose if you aren’t going to do that? Who are these other people? Who are you taking your anger out on?" Sam was a mess, and pulled away from Cass’ arms to sob into his hands. Cass was in shock.
What the hell was going on?!
Ser Hune, along with Edgar came rushing down the hall and came to a stop as they witnessed the scene before them. Ser Hune had been away to grab a bite to eat, since Cass had no plans to leave his office, and Edgar had been doing the same.
Ser Hune took in the scene, the giant blue haired Byron, the sobbing Sam, and the stunned Cass, before she sighed and crossed her arms. Edgar scanned the room before he came to stand beside Cass. He had a strange look in his eyes, and Cass didn’t have time to ponder that. He was too busy trying to understand what the hell was happening right now.
"Sam, did I hire you and tell you that I was going to...beat you and pay you for it?" Cass asked carefully, and that seemed to stun Ser Hune and Edgar. Sam nodded miserably.
"You warned me that it was a possibility. I was so excited to be someone you could rely on that way." Byron was looking at Cass with such disappointment, like he was a monster taking something from Sam that he had been looking forward to.
Cass was stunned. They hadn’t ever had this discussion. At least, not Sam and Cass.
"Sam, I haven’t hit you for the last two months." Cass told him and Sam let out a choked sob.
"I know that. I know. I just thought you were recovering, and then you were being so nice to me that...how was I not going to assume you were getting tired of me?" Sam sobbed and Cass felt like his soul was leaving his body. He sighed.
Cass pressed his hands against his face, just fully unprepared for this situation.
"You’re going to need to adjust, Sam. I’m not hitting you anymore. Not ever. Not even if you fuck up." Sam wailed at Cass’ firm words.
"How will I know that I messed up then? Violence is a clear answer!" Sam was nearly inconsolable. Cass knew that Sam was a good villain henchman, but he didn’t fucking know that he liked getting beat up this much. This was waaaaaay past kink territory. This was something Cass couldn’t even comprehend.
"Sam, I swear, I have no idea where this came from, or why you never brought this up before, but I can just tell you with my words that you messed up." Cass told him, exasperated. Sam hiccupped, his face still in his hands.
"A-Are you at least going to be mean about it?" Sam asked and Cass uncovered his face to stare at the hunched man in disbelief. What in the world was going on? Cass turned to look at Edgar, who also seemed to be in shock over Sam’s behaviour.
"Cass, I didn’t know that you kept Sam around because you liked to hit him. You’ve been rather gentle with us. Have we not been fulfilling you?" Edgar asked, and Cass let out a gasp. He felt betrayed, because as soon as the words left Edgar’s slightly smirking lips, Sam’s head shot up.
Such a look of betrayal on his face as he glanced between Edgar and Cass.
"Is it him? Did you turn to the pretty boy instead of me? Is it my looks? Is that the problem? I-I can change!" Sam started rambling and Cass let out a frustrated sound.
"Oh for fuck’s sake, Edgar! Look at what you’ve done! And Byron! What the hell have you been doing, letting Sam spiral like this? Do you even care for him?" Cass’ shouting at the others only seemed to make Sam even more upset. Sam’s eyes were already swollen with how hard he was crying.
"S-So it is that? You don’t need me, you don’t like me, and you’re going to replace me. A-At least you’re firing me in person." Sam sobbed, giving a warped smile before his face crumbled. Cass shoved his fingers angrily through his hair before he stomped towards the idiot man and grabbed him by the upper arm.
"Would you shut up about me trying to fire you and replace you and at least listen to me? I have never heard of someone who is supposed to be a servant who rambles on as much as you do when your Lord is trying to speak!" Cass froze the instant he spoke to Sam like that.
So did Sam.
Before a wide, happy smile split his face.
Cass scoffed loudly, shaking his head.
"I am not speaking to you like this regularly. I’m not a monster, Sam. I am trying to, for fuck’s sake, stop looking at me like that!" Cass snapped and Sam’s smile only grew more giddy.
"You aren’t firing me?" Sam asked softly and Cass wanted to shake the man, but now understood that he fucking wanted that.
"Sam, you fool, why on ea-why in the world would I fire you? Do you understand that no one else has been able to brew me a pot of tea to the same level as you have been able to?" Cass turned to look at Ser Hune, who did look a little hurt. "No offense, Ser Hune. It was delicious, but..." He trailed off. Ser Hune shook her head.
"I’m a knight, not a servant. I’m not upset." She said, her silver eyes sparkling. Cass wanted to smash his head against a wall. This was a damn insane situation to find himself in.
"So...you like my tea?" Sam asked and Cass had to take a deep breath.
"Sam, for the love of everything holy and unholy, have you lost your damn mind while you’ve been away from my side? I swear Byron, you’re not innocent in this. How the hell did you allow him to get to this state, and not tell me about it?" Cass growled, glaring at the idiot dragon.
Byron had a rather serious expression, and he shrugged.
"I did attempt to tell you, but the mage at the manor apparently didn’t send it to you." Cass growled. Great. Another problem he had to deal with. Edgar’s hand touched Cass’ shoulder.
"I’ll deal with that." Edgar whispered softly, in support, and Cass let out another heavy sigh.
"Sam. I am going to make something clear, again. I am not firing you, however, I will not be treating you in an abusive way moving forward. Do not expect that from me. If you want that, get it from somewhere else. I am sure Byron would be willing to be your source of that kind of punishment." Cass declared and watched as Sam looked demolished by Cass’ words and Byron turned three shades redder. "Now, for the love of my sanity, can I please just debrief you on the situation we’re in right now? Fuck. I’m too tired to deal with this level of excitement right now." Cass muttered, and Sam sniffed.
He scanned Cass, taking him in as he wiped his face with his sleeves.
"You do look...rather worn down, my Lord. When did you last sleep?" He asked, repeating the question he’d already asked earlier. Cass shook his head.
"You’re not going to be happy with my answer." Cass told him grimly, and watched as the wailing, upset Sam slowly faded and was replaced with the Sam that he was familiar with. Good. He was terrible at handling the other one.