Mother In Command. Part 2. Fiona by manual- barber

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FIONA steps in.

The summer air hung heavy with the scent of freshly cut hay and earth as Fiona stepped out of her car. Her heels clicking sharply against the gravel driveway.There was no hesitation in her stride, no uncertainty in her voice. She was there with a purpose. A week before the wedding, she had come to ensure everything was in order-incuding him. The moment she stepped into the house, her piercing eyes scanned him, and a small, knowing smirk curled her lips.
-You look unkempt!- she stated plainly, tilting her head as if examening a farmhand rather than her fiance.-That last haircut was clearly not severe enough! Call your aunt. We`re taking care of this today.-
His stomach clenched. "Not again". He had barely adjusted to the last shearing, the starkness of his scalp still fresh in his mind. The thought of another even harsher session made his throat dry.- Fiona, I....he started, but her sharpe glanze silenced him.
-I said call her,you`re not walking into our wedding looking like this.It will be proper this time!- He swallows hard, nodded swiftly, knowing he had no say in the matter.His hands trembled as he dialed the number to his aunt, already feeling the phantom bite of the clippers against his scalp


The Small windowless bathroom carried the same oppressive heat that filled the rest of the room. The same crackled plastic cape was draped over the counter, its surface stiff and worn, a relic from past humiliations. The dim yellow light buzzed faintly overhead, illuminating the row of manual clippers lined up on the counter, each varying in size, each glinting ominously under the glow. His aunt arrived promptly, as if she had been expecting this call. She carried herself with a sense of duty, nodding approvingly at Fiona before turning her attention to him.
- Sit!.- The metal stool was already waiting in the center of the room, its surface cool against his naked thighs as he lowered himself onto the it.The moment he sat Fiona moved to the door, leaning herself against the frame, arms crossed, her expression unreadable but firm. There would be no stopping this.
The plastic cape was fastened around his neck, tighter than before, its stale aged scent filling his nose. A mixture of sweat, old plastic and something rather unpleasant. The fabric rustled against his shoulders, sealing him in, making escape impossible. His aunt adjusted it with practiced precision before picking up the first pair of clippers, the largest set, their blades gleaming with merciless efficiency.
His pulse thundered in his earas she took hold of his head with one firm hand, tilting it sharply forward until his chin touched his chest. - This will be much shorter this time!-

He barely had time to react before the maual clippers dug into his nape.The teeth bit into his skin, their metallic crunch reverberating through his scull. She sheared with brutal precision, stripping away everything in long ruthless strokes. The cold steel scraped harshly over his scalp, yanking at the remnants of his already short hair.
His nape burned, raw from the relentless pressure of the blades. He felt the skin lighten, each ruthless stroke leaving behind nothing but sandpaper-like stubble. The bathroom air felt cooler against his exposed scalp, intensifying the sensation of vulnerability.
His aunt was quicker, rougher this time,forcing his head in different positions with no care of his discomfort. He had no control. his body was merely something to be adjusted, positioned, processed. The second set of clippers was smaller,sharper. She dragged them up behind his ears, their razor sharp teeth scraping against the sensitive skin. He clenched his fists underneath the cape, sweating. His breath coming out in shallow gasps. His ears,now completely exposed, stood out even more than before. Fiona shifted slightly, her gaze unreadable, though there was a glint of approval in their eyes.- Better!- she murmured.
The final touch came when his aunt picked up the smallest most precice clippers, the 00000 set. She tilted his head back, pressing his head firmly against her hand. - I want it to the bare skin!- Fiona`s voice was calm, unwavering. His aunt obliged.
The clippers rasped directly against his scalp, erasing even the faintest shadow of hair. His nape, his sideburns, his entire head was left raw, stripped completely bare. The skin was left red, irritated and exposed,the once familiar weight of his hair reduced to a lifeless clumps on the tiled floor. Fiona stepped closer, inspection him with clinical detachment. She ran her fingertips along his scalp, the sensation making him shudder.
- Now this is proper, finally!- His aunt unclasped the cape, shaking it out, sending the last remnants of his shearing fluttering to the ground.

He stood shakily, his legs weak, his scalp tingling with fresh exposure. He caught a glimpse of himself in the fogged-up bathroom mirror. A stranger stared back. His nape, completely smooth almost glowed under the harsh light. His ears stuck out more prominently than ever, making him look comical almost ridiculous.His skin felt strange, sandpapery, as if his own touch didn`t belong to him anymore. His aunt simply nodded. - A month from now then , Fiona ?- Fiona had stepped behind his back, nuzzling the bare skin of his nape. - Yes, but i`ll call you in advance.- Fiona lingered, her fingers trailing over the back of his neck once more, as if savoring the finality of the moment. - Now you look like a groom, she said, and for the first time since she entered the house, a small smile curving her lips. But he didn`t feel like one. He felt stripped. Powerless. Owned.
And for the first time, he wondered if he was truly ready to stand at the altar next saturday-or if he had alreadt been reduced to her toyboy before even saying," I do ".

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