These characters are from my Company-Verse series. Check it out - there's a link in the signature to all my stories!
This was the sight that awaited me when I got home that day. I sighed. Loudly. And then I called out, "ANDYYYYY!"
The two young men hogtied on the floor of my garage squirmed and began protesting into their mouths - I could tell they had been gagged with the other's sock - when they realized I was not making any moves to free them. These protests faded into muffled apologies when I leveled an uncompromising stare at them. "Srrrmph, mpphrrr Mmpphphh."
They rested on a white sheet, surrounded by coils of rudimentary bondage tools - white rope, duct tape, bungee cord, bandanas and rags, and some handcuffs I had brought home from work. I didn't recognize either of them, but I assumed they were students from my sons' high school.
Well, it hadn't even been a full year since something like this had last happened, although it was the first surprise since the Rodney incident. That time, I had come home to find a buff high school football team captain trussed up and tickled within an inch of his life. He had been a "present" from Andy to Evan for his high grades in his last year of middle school as well as his birthday present (although I was aware that Andy spent more time playing with Evan's present while I brought the kid out for a party with his school friends. Now Evan was in his first year of high school with Andy at the end and heading into college. All this really meant was I'd have to be on the lookout for the "just wanting to spend some time with my little bro before leaving" excuse.
Andy sometimes accused me of playing favorites, since Evan didn't get punished nearly as much as he did for these little escapades. To which I responded that when Evan took a prisoner, he usually was too smart to not get consent first. Andy just took what he wanted. And I was tired of being the dad that just let his kids run amok. It was time to administer some fatherly discipline.
Finally, though, my eldest son slunk into the garage, mustering his blushing face into a look of mild disinterest. "Oh hey, Dad. Glad you're home."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? Care to explain this, Andy?"
The little shit (I say little, but the kid was seventeen and nearly as tall and big as me) had the nerve to give me a quizzical look. "Uh... explain what, Dad?"
I gestured towards the two struggling young men in their underwear. "Hmmm, take a gander around the garage and see if you can't figure out what I mean."
Andy did so, studiously avoiding the boys, who were starting to protest again - until they earned themselves a glare from me. Finally Andy had no choice but to look at them. "Oh, that. Uh... there is a reason for that. And it's a good reason, too."
The boys gave protesting squeaks, which I allowed. I put my hands on my hips. "Enlighten me, son."
"Uh.... I don't suppose you'd believe it was an accident?" Andy shrugged, wincing.
"Good try. Keep going." I challenged.
Andy sighed. "Okay, well... Carson - he's the brunette - Carson was being a total dick to Evan at school, so I kinda tricked him into coming here with Paul and we kinda wrestled him down and tied him up."
"Paul?" I turned and squinted at the blonde teen, my son's best friend. "No way, that's little Paulie?"
Paul blushed and wiggled his fingers at me from his handcuffs. "Hrrmmo, mmphrr Mmpphphh."
"Wow, all grown up. I haven't seen him since he was younger than Evan!" I marveled.
"Daaaad." Andy groaned. "You're being totally embarrassing."
I raised an eyebrow and my son shut up quick. "More embarrassing than tying up your best friend practically naked with a bully?"
Carson whined, and I shushed him.
"Dad, it wasn't like that!"
"Tell me what it was like?"
Andy sighed, knowing this was a dead end for him. "Well, it's not like he doesn't like it!"
I glanced over at Paul, who shrugged. "Did you tie him up against his will, Andy?"
"Uhhhh... yeah. We were arguing over how we'd punish Carson for how he treated Evan, and then he said I was too controlling, so Evan and I kinda tickled him and then-"
"Wait a minute, Evan was involved, too?"
"Shit." Andy blurted.
"Language." I insisted. Despite Andy's annoyance over my alleged favoritism, he always did his best to take the blame for everything so his brother wouldn't be punished. I knew this went on, but I allowed it - it's always good to have brothers be allies instead of enemies. But this time, I need to make a point - my kids needed to know there was a time and a place for roping down guys.
On a side note, I did feel kind of hypocritical, considering my line of work, but you know what? Work was work, and it was going to pay for Andy and Evan's college, so I was comfortable letting that part slide.
"Dad, I tricked him! I told him Paul wanted to try being kidnapped, like in the games we used to play when we were little!" Andy protested.
I nodded. "Right... and Evan just assumed that when Paul protested and struggled, he was roleplaying?"
"I... uh... crap." Andy must have seen some hint of what I was thinking because I could see him tense up, see him get ready to turn and call to his brother.
"You're awfully flippant with taking prisoners, Andrew." I told him, interrupting his train of thought. "I think you and your brother need a lesson."
Andy's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to warn his brother, but in a flash I had my son in a headlock and was wrestling him down onto the sheet. He yelped, but my arm around his throat kept him from drawing in enough air to cry out. Andy was already big and strong, but not only was I bigger and stronger, I was much more experienced. In no time, I had him pinned, and was quickly stuffing some bandanas into his mouth before starting to strip him down to his boxers, just like the other boys.
Andy grumbled, but eventually he gave up resisting and let me cuff his hands with rigid cuffs like Paul's, and wind the leg chain over them before finishing the hog-cuffing.
I ruffled my son's hair. "Good kid. You're gonna take your punishment like a man and make me proud, right?"
Andy glared at me before giving in and nodding, the flap of bandana not tucked into his mouth flipping about.
I smiled and stood. Time to take care of the rest of business.
