"Much better," but he didn't sound happy about it. A cruel twist in his words, sounding more disappointed than anything. As if lessons like this shouldn't be necessary. Teaching a high school senior how to add and subtract. He pats Mike roughly on the cheek, before his fingers drag up to grab a fistful of the junkie's hair.

His free hand slides up, fingers stopping at Mike's throat, dragging his head back against the bed by his hair. "I'd hoped to give you some sort of reward today, that maybe. Just maybe. You'd be good enough. But I see now I was wrong. Unless you want me to keep punishing you. Is that what you want, Mikey?" With the name, his fingers started to squeeze. Not enough to stop Mike from breathing, but enough to make it rather difficult.