Page 92 of The Toymaker
“And you’ve always been the submissive, right?”
“Yes. Erm, he bottoms in bed, but I wasn’t allowed to dominate him with kink or anything. I always did what he said for the most part.”
“How old were you when you first had any kind of sexual activity with him?”
“Nearly twenty.”
“Who made the general decisions in life for most things?”
“Him.”
“Why did you first want to leave him? You said you fought this morning, and there was some stuff about you wanting to start your own business.”
Riju looked at the dolls in his lap. “I want to live without him and open a toy shop for children. I think he just wants to control me and keep me at home like a pet he's trained. I don’t want to live like that.”
“I don’t see you as guilty in this because you’ve been his submissive for years,” said Nawson. “You know right and wrong, but considering how he treated you this morning, I think your relationship together grew into one where one partner makes more of the decisions regardless of what the issue is. The other gets used to obeying. This happens in relationships at times when no kink is taking place. Since Trig is older, and you were quite young when this started, it’s easy for the dominant to ignore the other and continue to control everything.”
Trig started to speak.
“Didn’t I say to shut up for a minute?” snapped Nawson. “Anyway, he’s always had the upper hand, and since he also employs you, that’s another form of control. Abusiverelationships usually involve one who decides everything, and if there’s disagreement, they push and push until the other gives in. Have you felt like that?”
“Yeah.”
“So far, it seems like you’ve mostly done what he wanted, and when you finally tried to stop, he snapped.”
“Whenever Riju argued against something, Trig would interrupt him a lot,” said Kit. “He’d say he was overreacting and treat him like he was being dumb over an opinion or a dislike. Trig would push him on certain things even if Riju explicitly said no. I didn’t realize it at first, but the signs were there. Riju and I respect each other, and we don’t constantly interrupt the other because one of us doesn’t like what the other is saying or thinking.”
“If one party doesn’t give in, the abuser will do something anyway, or it might grow violent,” said Nawson. “It took years for it to happen, and since you fully refused something he wanted, it finally happened. I’ve seen a lot in my time as a guard here, including abuse between couples, and some abusers tend to wear down the other over a period of time. It’s so gradual, the other doesn’t realize it, and younger people are more prone to being hooked. The abuser might snap one day and do something rather drastic too, and if they reach that threshold, they’ll likely do it again.”
“I didn’t abuse him!” exclaimed Trig. “You’re filling his head with crap.”
“You can tell the lord when he’s ready to hear your case. Do you think this is the first time I’ve seen violence between couples?” Nawson folded his arms. “The facts are pretty clear here. Kit and Riju had a good reason to run. Also, the fact that Riju took Kit away is in his favor. He felt your pleasure slave was in danger, and while he may have obeyed you on the contract, Riju himself doesn’t seem to have done anything harmful to Kit.With everything they’ve said and the proof we found, it’s not looking good for you, Trig. You’ll wait in the jail until you’re brought to the lord in a few days. It might be a week or two depending on things. I’ll talk to Riju and Kit for the moment, and you can go to a cell for now.”
Trig glanced at the guards. Fighting wouldn’t get him far, and Kit almost wanted to sigh in relief. He wasn’t entirely sure what was going to happen next, but he wouldn’t be going back to the shop with Trig. He and Riju were safe from him.
One of the guards told Trig to stand, and he turned to Riju and Kit. “I hope you both like being on the street. That’s what liars get.”
“I have access to one account,” said Riju. “Also, we’re going back to the shop tonight, so we won’t be on the street, and I don’t know why you think we would be. I’m on the license, and since Nawson said it’s not looking good for you, you won’t be permitted to live or work in The Edge again. Kit and I can work to keep ourselves from being on the street later. I’m not retarded even though you pretend I am, and neither is Kit.”
Trig turned away without another word.
“You own the shop too?” Kit asked.
“I’ll explain more later.”
At least they’d have a place to stay for a bit, and they’d have time to figure out the future.
“The Edge can take care of the licensing and information,” said Nawson. “I’ll be sending a report to them so they know what’s happening, and you can deal with those legalities. You’re not to leave Raven’s Landing until you’ve presented your case to the lord, and we’ll send you a message for when that will happen.”
“We can go now?”
“We have a guard on duty who can heal, so we’ll get him first if you like. Then you can leave.”
***
Kit and Riju walked down the street toward The Edge, and Riju started sniffling. Kit moved to put his arm around him.
“I’m sorry,” mumbled Riju. “I’m tired, and it’s been a shitty day.”
