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anonslash · 2 months

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Something Mutual

Ace’s HoffHeightDon AU - Part 1

Fandom: “Saw” Franchise

Pairing: Adam Faulkner Stanheight x Mark Hoffman x Lawrence Gordon (HoffHeightDon)

Synopsis: Adam falls apart when he finds out that Lawrence and Hoffman are dating. An infected wound brings things back together.

Word Count: 2788

CW: PTSD, undefined relationships, possessive/obsessive relationships, polyamory, dub-con polyamory, poor relationship communication, stab wound, infected wound, canon-typical violence/graphic depictions

Tag-list: @defectivehoffman @anonsleap @anonslash

Life after the trap had been difficult for Adam. He worked diligently to avoid John’s watchful eye, but he hated his work as an apprentice. When the man looked at him, it was as if John could see every imperfection, every flaw, and, worst of all, every doubt. The trap was supposed to give him a new appreciation for life, but really it just made him afraid. He worried that John could sense this.

Adam worried about his usefulness to John as an apprentice. He felt that proving his worthiness was not only a matter of pride, but of survival. Lawrence was a doctor with the surgical skill to bring more complex traps to life. Mark was a cop with inside information and the detective experience to help keep their work hidden. Amanda had a special connection to John’s past and served as the daughter he never had. Adam felt like a puzzle piece in the wrong box - unneeded and likely unwanted. He worried that he would get discarded like so many other victims with puzzle pieces carved into their flesh.

Lawrence tried to assuage his fears. The pair had dinner together at least once a week. Usually take out in Adam’s apartment. Lawrence affectionately referred to the time as “date night”. Adam wasn’t sure what it was but he liked it. It had been hard adjusting to life after the trap but getting to spend that time with Lawrence made it a little easier. Initially, Adam had been angry but Lawrence was hard to stay mad at. “Date night” had started when Lawrence offered to buy him dinner and talk about what happened. Adam was broke and hungry and took the bribe for a free dinner. It was a few dinners before they moved the conversation to the bedroom. Lawrence fucked him to an inch of his life, and Adam forgave him that night.

After that Adam relied on Lawrence as his shield. Adam only felt comfortable hiding in the shadows, so being in Lawrence’s shadow felt like the most natural place to be. Lawrence tried to assure him that John wasn’t plotting against him. That was easy for Lawrence to say. He was the golden boy of John’s experiments. He seemed to take a certain pride in his role in John’s plan. Sometimes he even talked as though he believed that they were helping people. Adam had nightmares on those nights. Even after a game, he got to return to his large home and his important job as an oncologist. He was practically a celebrity at the hospital, even more so now as a Jigsaw survivor. Adam was just thankful that he got to bask in his glow during their weekly dinners.

It was devastating when Adam found out about Lawrence and Mark. He thought he was having a nightmare when he saw Lawrence kiss Mark before the detective went out to capture a player. He got confirmation about the situation from Amanda: Lawrence and Mark were officially, and publicly, dating. He had always assumed that he and Lawrence had a special relationship, a unique bond. Now he felt stupid and used. He cried that night, alone in his shitty apartment, he fell apart. He took up smoking again.

After that he did his best to avoid the warehouse at all costs. He took photos when asked, developed them at home, and left them on a table by the backdoor of the warehouse for Amanda to find later. Lawrence sent him texts asking to meet for “date night” and he never responded. After a few weeks Lawrence stopped texting. He barely went out. Other than his work as an apprentice, he only left his apartment to get more cigarettes. If anyone noticed his withdrawal, they didn’t mention it. After a few weeks of this, he got an unusual text from Amanda.

AY: Help me make a grab?

She was asking him to help abduct a new player. This was something he had never been involved in, and certainly Amanda had never asked him to help. Hoffman had asked him to join him on a stake out once. Adam had vehemently declined. Even then, before the mess with Lawrence, Adam had avoided him like the plague.

Adam responded quickly. He knew Amanda spent most of her time with John and she reported directly to him. He feared what would happen if he was too delayed in getting back to her.

AS: Sure. No Hoffman?

She was equally fast in her response.

AY: I wouldn’t be asking if Hoffman were around.

“Right, of course.” Adam rolls his eyes, he should’ve known he’d be the second choice.

AS: He on vacation or something?

AY: Yeah. With Gordon.

A pit opens in the bottom of Adam’s stomach and hot tears well in his eyes.

AS: Where should I meet you?

Amanda texts him an address and a time.

Adam gets there early and passes the time with a cigarette. When Amanda gets there, she seems to materialize out of nowhere. Adam quickly snuffs out his cigarette, he doesn’t need news of his habit getting back to John. If Amanda notices, she doesn’t say anything.

“Hey.” He says awkwardly.

“Put this on.” She hands him a pig mask and a black robe.

“Standard uniform.” He mutters but puts it on.

“You know who we’re looking for?”

Adam nods, he had taken the photos, he knows exactly who they’re looking for. Unfortunately, things do not go as planned. While Adam knew who they were looking for, he was entirely unprepared for the physical task of actually abducting them. The target put up a significant fight and after being cornered in the kitchen they managed to stab Adam in the leg. Even Amanda showed concern about the wound.

“You should have Gordon check that out.”

“It’s fine and you said he’s on vacation.”

“It looks deep. I’m sure he’d come back if you called.”

“I don’t need him!” Adam snaps at her. Frustration bubbling to the surface.

She seems unphased at his outburst. “Suit yourself, but that looks bad.”

By the time Adam had limped himself home he could feel the blood pooling into his shoe. He needed to bandage that wound somehow.

The trip to the pharmacy was excruciating. The pain in his leg radiated up his spine and made it difficult to walk. Gathering what he needed took more than a little time. The cashier looked at him with disdain when he checked out. That disdain turned to contempt when he asked for a pack of cigarettes as well.

Back at home, the bandaging proves a lot more difficult than Adam expected. The pain of rinsing the wound with hot water was unbearable, causing him to nearly lose consciousness in his bathroom. He settles for applying an antibiotic ointment and wrapping it the best he can. He collapses on the couch for some rest.

The next day, the situation had gotten much worse. Adam was glad he had fallen asleep on the couch and not his bed. There was yellow liquid oozing through the bandage. The wound itself was raised, puffy, and dark red. The edges of the tissues appeared to be blackening. He tries his best to rinse the wound and rebandage it. Icing the area seemed to help with the pain some but it wasn’t perfect. He was starting to get worried about how it would heal. Briefly, he considers reaching out to Lawrence. The thought of him lounging on a beach somewhere with Hoffman stops him. He didn’t want to disturb Lawrence’s vacation and more than that he didn’t want to make himself look like a fool in front of Hoffman. He was sure Hoffman would only use his weakness to leverage Lawrence away from him. No, he would take care of it himself.

The next day, Adam knew something was wrong. The wound had become a blackened maw in his leg, the flesh appeared to be melting and peeling away. Yellow and green fluid oozed from the depth of the wound. It made Adam vomit. His whole leg had become swollen, red, and painful. He was sure he had a fever based on the dizziness and clammy skin he was experiencing. Again he considers contacting Lawrence. Hot tears well into his eyes and down his face as he imagines how disappointed Lawrence would be at having to leave his vacation. He imagines how critical Hoffman would be, slowly turning Lawrence against him until Lawrence kicked him out like a stray dog. He might as well die like a stray dog. Cold, abandoned, and sick with an infected wound. He slumps against the floor of his bathroom. The familiarity of the scene made him sick to his stomach. The cold floor soothes the heat of his skin and he rests, quietly slipping into unconsciousness.

Adam hears the footsteps before anything else. He becomes acutely aware of someone else in the apartment as he regains a semblance of consciousness. The vibration of the footsteps on the floor helps him track the intruder’s path. They pace the living room first, then down the hall to the bedroom, then back towards him. Slowly, he tries to sit up, he doesn’t make it far. His trembling body is too weak to sit up. He’s helpless as the door to the bathroom opens.

He can’t even look up as the intruder enters. He stares straight forward at their feet. Practical but scuffed dress shoes and black slacks.

“I found him.” The intruder kneels into view. Hoffman. What the fuck is he doing here? Adam thinks through his fevered haze. Who’s he talking to? How did he get into my apartment? He tilts his head back and sees the phone pressed to Hoffman’s ear.

“I think so. Yeah he’s breathing. He looks fucked up. …I don’t know, Lawrence. Hold on.”

Hoffman reaches down and peels the towel away from Adam’s leg. Adam groans in pain. Hoffman gags.

“Jesus. Fuck.” He coughs. “No, it's his leg. It’s all fucked up. I think…I think I should bring him by. It’s really bad.”

There’s a frantic voice on the other end.

“No, I can handle it. I don’t know…I’ll stuff him in a duffel bag if I have to. I know…I know…we’ll get it sorted. Okay…okay see you soon.” Hoffman hangs up the phone and tucks it in his pocket. He reaches down to cup Adam’s face.

“Hi, handsome, you still with me?”

Adam shudders. “Fuck. Off.”

“I figured you would say that.”

Hoffman stands and disappears from view. Adam lets his head drop back to the floor. He presses his forehead into the cool tile and lets consciousness slip away.

Flashes of sensation seem to flicker by. Adam is dimly aware of being carried down the stairs of his apartment building while being wrapped in a blanket, then the vibration of being in a car, then the cold air of being outside again. There’s a voice.

“Oh my god. What happened to him?” Lawrence. He sounds panicked.

Lawrence? If he’d had any energy left Adam would’ve burst into tears.

“Okay. Set him down on the table.”

“You got it.” Hoffman carefully lays Adam out on the dining table.

“What happened to him?” Lawrence’s voice is accusatory and demanding.

“Amanda told me he got stabbed. Look at his leg. It’s all infected.”

“Stabbed? By who?” Lawrence sets to work unwrapping Adam’s bandages.

“I don’t know.”

“How did that happen?”

“I don’t know.”

“When did that happen?”

“I don’t know.”

“Why didn’t he call?”

“I don’t know, Lawrence.” Hoffman sighs, frustration bubbling to the surface of his voice. He pinches the bridge of his nose.

Lawrence peels the final layer of bandage away, pulling with it a tissue paper thin layer of flesh and a thick layer of yellow and green mucoid debris. Hoffman gags and retreats to the kitchen. Adam can hear him retching over the sink.

Lawrence takes a moment to assess the damage. “Okay. He’s going to be okay.” His voice is confident and clinical in a way that’s soothing to Adam.

“Is he?!” It’s Hoffman’s turn to sound panicked.

“Yes. Stay with him. I need to get some things from the basement.”

Adam wants to beg him to stay but he’s powerless as he hears Lawrence walk away. Soon after he feels a cool cloth spread over his forehead and he sighs in relief. Time passes, someone’s holding his hand. He’s not sure who it is but he’s thankful for it. He holds onto their hand tightly. He swallows but his throat feels like sandpaper.

“Where’s…Lawrence?” He murmurs.

“He’ll be back soon. Just relax.” It’s Hoffman speaking. Adam is confused. Who’s holding my hand? It can’t be Hoffman. He’s sure it can’t be Hoffman.

Lawrence’s footsteps return. “Keep holding him.” There’s a sharp prick in Adam’s forearm and then, blissfully, nothing.

Someone is holding his hand again when Adam comes to. This time he has enough strength to look over. It’s Lawrence.

“Hi handsome.” Lawrence smiles.

“Lawrence.” Adam‘s voice cracks with tears. “My leg…”

“I know. I got it taken care of.” Lawrence shifts to sit on the bed next to him. Adam notes that he’s been carefully tucked into a large bed. He hears the shower running in the attached bathroom.

“Why didn’t you call?” Lawrence sounds hurt.

“You were…on vacation…”

“I would’ve come back for you, silly.” Lawrence leans down to kiss him.

Adam pulls away. “Be careful, your new boyfriend might walk in on us.” His voice is full of venom.

Lawrence looks taken aback. “Is that what this is all about? Mark?”

“Does he know? Does he know we were…involved?”

“‘Were’? I certainly hope you mean ‘are’. He knows. It was a non-negotiable. I’m not giving you up.”

Adam is confused. “Wait so he’s…he’s willing to share?”

Lawrence hesitates. “Something like that.”

“‘Something like that’? What does that mean?”

“He likes you. He’s hoping this could all be…mutual.”

Adam makes a face in disgust. “Well I don’t like him.”

“I know.” Lawrence deadpans. “I told him that.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Well…truthfully, I was concerned about how you would take it. I just…I needed some time to figure out how I was going to explain it. Then…well, things got away from me a little and you stopped answering your texts. I kept trying to arrange a date so we could talk about it but you wouldn’t meet with me.”

“Oh.” Adam falls quiet. “You still should’ve told me.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

Adam nods.

“I think you’ll like him, with time.”

Adam huffs. “I fucking doubt it.”

“He’s not so bad once you get to know him.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

Lawrence smiles and kisses Adam’s forehead. “Get some rest.”

Adam closes his eyes and settles into the pillows. The warmth and softness of the bed, along with the separate but still felt warmth and softness of Lawrence’s presence soothes him. Sleep is quick to claim him.

The shower stops and soon Hoffman appears in the doorway. He’s leaning heavily against the doorframe. Water droplets slip off his hair and onto his rounded abdomen. Lawrence’s eyes trace their path over his skin and into the cotton waistband of his sweatpants.

“How’s the patient?” He asks casually.

“Better now. He’s resting.” Lawrence leans down and kisses Adam’s forehead.

“That’s good to hear. Is it still okay if I stay tonight?”

“Yes.” Lawrence looks concerned. “Yes, please, I don’t know…if something happens…I can’t carry him by myself.”

“Right. I’ll stick around.” Hoffman makes his way to the other side of the bed but hesitates at the edge. “Is this okay?” He gestures to the space next to Adam on the bed.

Lawrence nods. “Yes. I’m going to get freshened up for bed. Keep an eye on him.” He stands and limps his way into the bathroom. His gait is stiff. His legs are sore from sitting for so long. He goes through his usual night time routine.

When he exits the bathroom he’s greeted with a warm sight. Hoffman has Adam pulled against his chest, gently spooning the smaller man as they both sleep. Hoffman has his nose buried in Adam’s hair. Adam has his fingers gently curled around Hoffman’s. Lawrence smiles, admiring his two boys before crawling into bed beside them. He lays with his forehead resting against Adam’s and his arm wrapped around the both of them. A soft chuckle bubbles up from his throat as he thinks of the fit Adam will throw in the morning when he finds out that Hoffman had been spooning him. He drifts off to sleep. Rest comes easy knowing that, for now, they’re all safe. Safe and together at last.

#plEASEEEE AAAAAAAA #I love this ship so much #and I love your takes on hoffheight and chainshipping so I knew this was gonna be great #but I was not PREPARED #there’s something so wrong with all three of them and I love how you write it soso much

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