You Do What You Have To - 23

 

 

Apparently getting what Micky didn't actually ask, Robin said, "Connect with Mackenzie in a way that makes him trust me? One of his men picked me up off the street, offering me food and shelter. That's how they get the kids they use."

 

"But you're not a kid," Micky pointed out.

 

"I can pass for seventeen, eighteen, when I put my mind to it, which I did."

 

Micky studied him and nodded. "It's the hair and your size. You said I was thin. You're bordering on anorexic."

 

Robin chuckled. "I've always been on the lean side. I used to hate it, until I got into the organization and learned how to use it to my advantage. No one expects me to be strong and…well, able to take care of myself."

 

"I sure didn't. When you grabbed me, I figured you had to be some burly thug until I saw you. Looks can be deceiving."  

 

"That's what keeps me alive."

 

"So you managed to catch Mackenzie's eye and he chose you for his… What? His harem?"

 

Robin grinned. "I'm not sure it's called a harem when it's men, but yeah."

 

"Now what happens? You can't go back there," Micky stated adamantly.

 

"Sure I can. He doesn't know I found you. No one does. You stay here and I go do my job."

 

"But you have the list. Can't you—I don't know—turn it over to your organization then pull out? If you go back, he'll keep…torturing you for his own pleasure." Micky frowned. "Unless you don't consider the pain as torture. Do you like what he does to you?"

 

"Fuck no!" Robin spat out before reiterating quietly, "No, I don't."

 

For a moment, the distress in Robin's eyes made Micky want to pull him into a tight embrace to let him know he understood, but he refrained. It's not my place to do that. He'd hate it if I did. Besides which, Thor might take umbrage. "I was only asking because I had to know what kind of man you are—if that makes sense."

 

"I suppose it does," Robin replied with a small smile. "Being hooked up with a pervert wouldn't make you feel any safer."

 

"Well…" Micky smiled slowly. "In the world we live in, we're both considered perverts by too many people."

 

Robin chuckled. "True enough." He yawned and stretched, the move resulting in the sleeves of his shirt pulling back.

 

Micky looked at Robin's wrists in dismay. "Is that…?" He took one of Robin's hands before the man could react. "He ties you up?"

 

Robin shrugged. "Part of the 'game', if you will."

 

"I won't. I don't. Damn it, Robin. What does the rest of you look like?"

 

Robin lifted an eyebrow, tugging his hand free of Micky's grip. "That's a pretty bad seduction line."

 

"I'm not…" Micky scowled.

 

"I know." Robin rubbed his eyes. "It's not as bad as you're thinking, so stop worrying."