[ laurent watches it unfold as if he doesn't know sasuke at all, as if he has never felt the tenderness of his kiss, the heat of his mouth, the glide of his fingers across warmed skin. his expression is neutral, almost bored, at the display of cruelty before him. no part of his face changes even at the pang in his chest when he sees the fleeting look of fear pass through sasuke's eyes, something he has never borne witness to before.

some naive part of him thought sasuke might have been incapable of fear, after everything. he sets the thought aside, his eyes settling heavily on him when sasuke makes the mistake of speaking. laurent hears it. the guards hear it. he wants to curse him for being so short-tempered. so short-sighted.

laurent crosses the room, unhurried, lowering himself to an elegant crouch before sasuke's pallet. cool fingers grip sasuke's chin, his thumb whispering across the line of his lower lip. ]

You will see the Regent. You will bow for him. My dear uncle will be so pleased to meet the cock that's fucking me. [ laurent nods to the guards. ] His hands, too.

[ shackles of gold are summarily fastened around sasuke's wrists, his hands chained behind his back. laurent's grip tightens, his nails digging into the bruised skin of his cheek. ]

You will perform for him in whatever way I see fit. Do you have objections? Here, let me address them for you. [ in the same moment he releases sasuke's chin, he backhands him hard enough to bloody his mouth. laurent feels the sudden chill of snow, the memory of broken bones, but feels no satisfaction in this. he stands, stone-faced, lifting a dismissive hand to his guards. ] I think we're finished now.