Chapter Text
Easterman had developed the little habit of surveying the cameras during Trials, even when it wasn’t actually necessary. He could easily push it off onto someone else, but he didn’t want to; he didn’t trust anyone else to do it, and he enjoyed the voyeuristic nature of watching everyone without their full knowledge.
He’d seen everything from violence to sex, but today he saw the type of violence he didn’t particularly favor. A team of four reagents had teamed up on Franco and Coyle during prime time and pelted them with throwable after throwable; shards of broken bottles penetrated flesh, and bricks bashed against skin.
They both knew how to take a hit to an extent, but they weren’t particularly equipped to deal with emotional turmoil. There was laughter, derogatory insults, and crudely sexual comments hurled at the two downed prime assets; and that wasn’t something they knew how to cope with. He couldn’t help but feel bad for his favorite killers, and he ordered the guards to escort them to his office once the Trial ended; he was hoping he could make them feel better.
They both had a quick stop at the infirmary to get their wounds tended to and properly patched up, but it wasn’t long before there was a knock at his office door. “Let them in, and then be on your way,” Easterman called out. The prime assets were ushered into his office by hesitant looking guards, who quickly closed the door and took their leave.
“Oh, my poor boys,” Easterman walked across the room, cupping both of their faces upon reaching them. “Don’t need your damn pity,” Leland snarled; he looked away in an attempt to hide his wounds. “I’ll gladly take your pity,” Franco stared up at him, fully displaying the damage done to him. “It’s not pity,” he gently touched Franco’s bandaged wounds, and he winced. “It’s sympathy, it’s concern, it all comes from a place of love,” he purred. “I hate seeing either of you upset,” he caressed the waxy burns on Leland’s face.
“You’re both safe in here,” he walked them both over to the couch; they took a seat on either side of him. “You both deserve better treatment than that, and daddy’s so sorry about how cruel they were being to you,” he pulled them down against him, forcing them to rest their heads on each of his shoulders; the mobster nuzzled closer against him, but the other man was still hesitant. “That goes for both of you,” he rubbed Leland’s back, and he reluctantly relaxed.
“You should invite us up here more often,” Franco wrapped his arms around the doctor, and one of his hand’s grabbed Leland’s; he squeezed the man-child’s hand in turn. “I’d love to, but I so rarely have the time,” Hendrick lamented. “Ain’t we worth clearin’ your schedule for?” Leland jested. “I would if I could, pup,” he would love if he could just keep them both in his office at all times.
“Was our own fuckin’ fault for lettin’ our guard down,” Leland grumbled. “No, that’s not true,” he pulled the officer closer. “You both did the best you could, and sometimes accidents are unavoidable,” he soothed. “Even despite your injuries, you both still completed the Trial with flying colors. I watched you both vigilantly hunt down those reagents even as blood dripped into your eyes,” he cooed. “Wanted those dumb whores dead,” Franco hissed.
“You both did so well for me,” Hendrick hummed. “Keep talkin’ all sweet, and you’re gonna get me goin’, Doc,” Leland chuckled. “I second that,” Franco added. “Not yet, just let me appreciate you both for a little while,” Hendrick smiled. “Neither of you seem to get the praise you so desperately deserve,” the doctor allowed Leland to hide his flushed face in the crook of his neck. “Don’t tell me the big, scary police officer is flustered,” Franco snickered. “Shut up,” he mumbled. “You just like to be praised sometimes,” Hendrick shrugged. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“You’re allowed to be praised too, you know,” he squeezed Franco. “You don’t always have to seek degradation,” he spoke matter of factly. “Take a good fuckin’ look at me,” Franco glanced up at him. “Comes a lot easier to people to say hurtful shit ‘bout me,” he huffed. “I’m not saying anything mean to you,” Hendrick spoke softly. “Whatever…” he buried his face against the doctor’s chest, crinkling his suit jacket. “Now look who’s all flustered,” Leland teased. “Fuck off,” the runt murmured. “Boys, let’s not fight,” Hendrick clicked his tongue.
“I brought you here so I could let you know how proud I am of both of you, even if the Trial wasn’t ideal,” they both looked at him, as though they were uncertain about that. “You’re skeptical,” Hendrick sighed. “You shouldn’t be, I’d never lie to my favorite killers,” he reassured. “Bullshit,” Leland barked. “If I’ve ever lied to either of you, it was absolutely necessary and done in your best interest,” he wished they trusted him more. “This isn’t a lie. I hold both of you very dear to my heart,” he reiterated.
“The point is, you both had a bit of a rough day, you didn’t deserve any of that, and daddy is still very proud of how hard you work,” he traced small circles on both of their backs. “What’re you tryna get outta us?” Franco finally asked. “Nothing, nothing at all,” he promised. “Sometimes, I just want to remind the both of you how much you mean to me,” they both cuddled closer to him. “You both always work so much, and you receive such little appreciation for it, and I’m sorry that I failed to express that sooner,” he leaned back further against the couch.
He looked over at the cop; his lip was busted, and he was covered with bandages. “Poor puppy,” he traced his thumb across Leland’s wounded lip. “I wish I could’ve helped you,” he watched the officer’s face turn red. Satisfied, he shifted his attention to Franco. “My baby boy,” he gently cradled his face; he wasn’t even entirely sure which injuries were new- the mobster seemed to have a tendency to get hurt rather easily. “You don’t deserve the cruelty you’re so often met with,” he gave home a gentle smile, and the runt’s skin grew flush.
Leland shifted, pressing himself against the doctor. “How ‘bout you really show us just how much you care ‘bout us, Doc?” Leland’s arousal pressed against Hendrick’s leg. “C’mon, do it for baby,” Franco grinned. “You’re both so terribly needy,” he unlatched the officer’s belt first, before undoing the runt’s belt. “You’re lucky that daddy enjoys your company,” he laughed under his breath.