Learning the Hard Way
It didn’t take much to pin Tim in place. He could act tough and composed, but with the way Jack was looking at him his feet weighed down like lead and suddenly he was very interested in spot next to the big window behind the desk. He couldn’t look out the window—what was it with these corporate types and needing such high views? He felt like he would be sick just looking out at Pandora from this distance sometimes.
Jack narrowed his eyes, his smile taking a hard and unpleasant edge as he stared his double down. He laughed with Tim, but it was as cold as the minty breath it rode on. He ran his tongue over his teeth, a twitch of his sneer shining through with the action and betraying his irritation at not being taken seriously. When he finally talked, his tone was clipped.
“Think I’m real funny, do you?” He tugged the doppelganger closer, to the point he was basically plastered against the other and Tim would have to bend back pretty far to get away from him. “Having a good laugh there, champ?” And really, as fun as watching a bunch of tin cans run into each other sounded, he could think of several different activities that would be way more fun right now. For him, anyway. He’d see just how hard his double was laughing after he’d beaten his ass black and blue. But hey, if the kid got off on corporal punishment, who has he to judge, right?
He started to fiddle with the buckle between his fingers, pleased when the other didn’t try to fight his grip. He’d need the belt for something fun he was planning later. “Y'know, the fact that none of my shithead employees can seem to follow simple instructions is uh, well, I’m gonna be honest kid, it’s a little upsetting .” He pulled the leather slowly free of it’s loops while he spoke, yanking hard on the last word. Any protests from Tim were ignored in favor of continuing his little lecture. “How am I going to run this company if none of my precious little cogs can spin smoothly, huh?”
Jack sighed dramatically as he rolled the now freed belt around his fist. He brought his other hand back up to the younger man’s collar, resting it there with a gentle touch, but just as threatening as a loaded gun. He let his eyes wander over the other, like he was looking at the inside of a machine that needed working on, trying to figure out just what the problem was. “Hmm. Maybe you just need a little… oiling up or something.”
He ducked his head to get a better look at Timmy’s face, his smile dripping with a condescending version of sympathy. “Now, are you going to be a good boy and go sit in the chair?” His fingers twitched against the double’s throat. “Or are we gonna have to play this the hard way?”