Bondage is of the mind; freedom too is of the mind. (Slayer!verse, post rescue)

[with_aprice]

She was afraid.  his wife wasn't afraid of many things, but he was one rare exception.  She wasn't afraid of him, but rather for him.  Afraid that he was fragile, or worse, broken beyond repair.  Afraid that she, with her strength, could hurt him in his weakness

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[onceaheroine]

Belle was something of a restless sleeper these days. Before his disappearance, she slept the deep sleep of the innocent, in spite of everything she'd seen and done. Once she'd had to relearn how to sleep alone, it was fitful, and now, eternally conscious of his presence and injuries, she slept lightly in case he needed her.

It wasn't long before her inability to turn over onto her side registered enough that her eyes blearily fluttered open, and shied away from the light to look at him... and then up to her bound wrists.

Confusion and lust coiled together, and Belle swallowed before finding her voice. "Nick?"

[onceaheroine]

She moved to embrace him --

And the fucking restraints held her arms pinioned. Belle lightly nipped at his lips and nuzzled back, guiding him to give her a breath's more space. Carefully, carefully she rolled her wrists just so, muscles tensing and working. Thread by thread she could feel them start to give...

[with_aprice]

He'd needed her attention and he'd needed her not to be able to run away, physically or emotionally. He could feel the cracks and fissures, now, in the wall that separated. It was at last beginning to crack.

"Let me, love." He had the scissors ready, on the nightstand, and didn't give a damn about the ties. He only cared that her muscles strained to be released. He kissed each palm as he cut her free, far enough along the tie to keep his trembling hands from clumsily hurting her. Once he cut the second one he let the scissors fall to the floor.

[onceaheroine]

The scissors clatter to the floor and she's already sitting up to reach for him. Grasping hands find fabric, skin, and Belle presses her face into his neck. She's still shaking all over but she can actually touch him.

"Nick. Oh, fuck, Nick."

[with_aprice]

Nothing has ever felt better than her arms wrapped so tightly around him. He holds her as tightly as he can with one arm, and strokes her hair with the other. "We're going to be okay, Belle. I promise we are."