Stop."
Virus's and Trip's hands drop away from him in an instant, and Aoba barely allows himself to believe it. They'd been getting careless with him lately -- probably thinking they'd finally broken him for good -- but he never imagined that he would get this far. A chill ran down his spine, a sick feeling of hope and relief that he thought he'd never feel. He can remember the tiny flash of surprise in Virus's eyes before he spoke, and realises he'll probably remember it for the rest of his life.
He backs away from them first. He doesn't want to be anywhere near them, doesn't even want to risk accidentally brushing against them of his own accord. He can still feel their hands all over him, and Trip's come is still running down the inside of his thigh and pooling on the sheets beneath him. Aoba licks his cracked lips, takes a deep breath and speaks again.
"Kneel."
Virus and Trip do as they're told immediately and without a single word spoken. Aoba can feel himself shaking now. His breath is coming in shaky pants, and he's smiling for the first time in what feels like years. It makes his cheeks ache.
Aoba tries to stand up, but he's shaking so hard that his legs give out beneath him and he falls back onto the bed. He feels like crying until he notices that Virus and Trip are still watching him. His face burns with shame.
"Stop looking at me!