June Of Doom Day 6

June of Doom day 6

 “you’re doing great” (injection/nightmare/duct tape)

“Don’t worry baby, I’m going to get you out of here…” Caretaker made sure to keep their voice a low, calm whisper. They kneeled before Whumpee, carefully cutting away at the duct tape keeping them bound to a chair in Whumper’s basement.

Whumpee stared at them with wide, panicked eyes. Their eyes were dilated, pupils nearly entirely engulfed in black. It seemed like they were teetering on the edge of delirium, fighting a losing battle against whatever Whumper had given them. It made Caretaker furious, but they didn’t dare show it. Whumper would get what they deserved, but for now Caretaker had to focus on keeping Whumpee comfortable. 

Whumpee did not speak as Caretaker worked. Their eyes nervously tracked their each and every moment, body twitching in half realized jolts whenever Caretaker moved to quickly. They flinched whenever Caretaker touched them, though they did not pull away.  All Whumpee did was breathe, short and quick and terrified. 

Caretaker wasn’t sure they were in any state to understand them. They weren’t sure if Whumpee even recognized them. Caretaker spoke anyway. “You’re doing great. Just a little bit more, and we can go home.”

Whump Series

Eyes--status complete. 8 parts. TW: kidnapping, self-sacrifice, coma?, blood, weapons, honestly this is magical shit so i have no idea how to tag it, some team elements, but not overt team whump

Roadtrip--status complete. 12 parts. TW: kidnapping, restraints, drugging, sexual assault, rape, non-con, stabbing, blood, hospital, dehumanization, gagging, creepy/intimate whumper, escape attempts (I hope I got all the tags). Has some team elements, but not overt team whump

Annoyed--status complete. 6 parts. TW: captivity, torture, whipping, blood, creepy/intimate whumper, sexual assault, noncon, videotaping, rescue

Fit--status complete. 5 parts. TW: kidnapping, captivity, restraints, muzzle, noncon, sexual assault, physical assault, drowning, collapse, broken bones, implied hurt/comfort/hurt/aftermath/hurt/recovery

Nothing--status complete. 7 parts. TW: emotional manipulation, noncon, dissociation, physical violence, broken bones, bruises, choking, suffocation, emotional whump, caretaker and whumpee

See--status complete. 5 parts. TW: captivity, restraints, torture, blood, rescue, hospital, hurt/comfort, hurt/aftermath, hurt/recovery. Has team elements, but is not team whump

Where--status complete. 4 parts. TW: blood, torture, captivity, emotional whump, hospital, unclear character status at the end

Mutual--status complete. 7 parts. TW: kidnapping, captivity, restraints, whipping, blood, knives, beating, bruises, wounds, suffocation, choking, rescue, explosion, self-sacrifice, video tapes, emotional whump

Prepared --status complete. 3 parts. TW: mcd, blood, emotional whump

Know--status complete. 6 parts. TW: blood, kidnapping, torture, restraints, two whumpers, rescue, hospital

The Gift--status complete. 7 parts. TW: captivity, torture, physical violence, blood, noncon, buried alive, two whumpers, hurt/comfort, hurt/aftermath, hurt/recovery, hospital

Alive--status complete. 5 parts. TW: torture, captivity, restraints, water torture, electrocution, hospital, emotional whump, self sacrifice, hurt/comfort, hurt/recovery, hurt/aftermath, rescue. Has team elements, but is not team whump

How--status complete. 6 parts. TW: captivity, torture, restraints, whipping, blood, wounds, botched escape, actual escape, two whumpers

Take--status complete. 5 parts. TW: captivity, torture, rescue, scars, hurt/comfort, hurt/aftermath, hurt recovery. 

Dearest Forsaken--status complete. 10 parts. TW: captivity, torture, restraints, blood, wounds, gore, knives, physical violence, electrocution, drowning, choking, white torture, sensory deprivation, rescue, hurt/comfort, hurt/aftermath, hurt/recovery. Has team elements but is not team whump.

Late--status complete. 2 parts. TW: drowning, kidnapping, cpr; rescue. Has team elements, but is not team whump

Dramatic--status complete. 4 parts. TW: hostage situation, self sacrifice, guns, gunfire, gunshot, blood, mcd. Has team elements, but is not team whump.

Choke--status complete. 5 parts. TW: captivity, choking, strangulation, drowning, passive suicidal ideation, temporary character death, cpr, rescue, hospital, hurt/comfort, hurt/aftermath, hurt/recovery

Rescue--status complete. 5 parts. TW: captivity, failed rescue attempt, torture, blood, wounds, sickness, rescue, hospital. Has team elements, but is not team whump

Bloody Valentine--status complete. 6 parts. TW: mcd, blood, gore, wounds, kidnapping, physical violence, hospital, yandere whumper

Hunger--status complete. 2 parts. TW: captivity, torture, starvation, cruel whumper, fawning, feigned fawning

Ice--status complete. 3 parts. TW: captivity, escape/rescue, drowning, hypothermia, cpr, mcd. Not team whump, but has team elements.

Secrets--status complete. 5 parts. TW: kidnapping, restraints, blood, torture, forced to watch, rescue

Want--status complete. 5 parts. TW: captivity, restraints, kidnapping, yandere whumper, physical violence, drugging, sexual assault, noncon, rescue (x2), MCD, knives

Good Times, Bad Times--status complete. 6 parts. TW: captivity, restraints, torture, noncon, two whumpers, sadistic whumper, creepy/intimate whumper, rescue

52 Weeks--status complete. 8 parts. TW: captivity, restraints, torture, blood, wounds, video tapes, rescue. Not team whump, but has team elements.

In Plain Sight--status complete. 5 parts. TW: captivity, torture, blood, wounds, burns, restraints, medical care, hospital, caretaker and whumpee

Not of This World--status complete. 10 parts. TW: kidnapping, captivity, blood, murder, death (not mcd), noncon, aliens

Say It--status complete. 5 parts. TW: captivity, restraints, knives, blood, wounds, unconsciousness, emotional whump, escape, hospital, hurt/recovery, hurt/aftermath, hurt/comfort, caretaker and whumpee. 

Morning --status complete. 5 parts. TW: referenced captivity, referenced torture, hurt/comfort, hurt/aftermath, hurt/recovery, caretaker and whumpee

Reaper at the Gate--status complete. 7 parts. TW: restraints, blood, torture, captivity, botched escape attempt, physical violence, electrocution, drowning, illness, fever, rescue, caretaker and whumpee, unclear character status. Not team whump, but has team elements.  

The Sea Inside--status complete. 9 parts. TW: blood, wounds, stabbing, potential drowning, captivity, torture, cruel whumper, hurt/comfort, hurt/aftermath, hurt/recovery, caretaker and whumpee (mostly comfort tbh)

Legends Rise--status complete. 8 parts. TW: public humiliation, whipping, torture, restraints, blood, stabbing, knives, unconsciousness, defiant whumpee, threat of death. 

Song of the Siren--status complete. 6 parts. TW: yandere whumper, captivity, magic, soul sucking, manipulation, drowning, implied mcd. 

Awake--status complete. 6 parts. TW: head injury, drugging, broken bones, noncon, yandere whumper, unclear character status. 

Come On--status complete. 5 parts (including epilogue). TW: captivity, blood, wounds, infection, bandages, drowning, knives, stabbing, mcd, grief, mourning, hurt/no comfort, caretaker and whumpee. 

Every Breath--status complete. 5 parts. TW: referenced torture, referenced captivity, sick fic, medical whump, yandere whumper, drugging, creepy/intimate whumper, unclear character status. 

Royal Pain--status complete. 6 parts. TW: torture, restraints, bruises, blood, wounds, emotional whump, cruel whumper, self sacrifice, mcd, caretaker and whumpee, hurt/no comfort. 

This Means War--status complete. 8 parts. TW: kidnapping, torture, choking, strangulation, restraints, unconsciousness, rescue, caretaker and whumpee, hospital, unclear character status (multiple)

Secret Agent Man--status complete. 7 parts. TW: captivity, torture, restraints, broken bones, bruises, wounds, injury, blood, knives, hospital, hurt/comfort, hurt/aftermath, hurt/recovery, rescue, caretaker and whumpee, two whumpers

On a Limb--status complete. 3 parts. TW: captivity, torture, rescue, broken bones, amputation, hospital, hurt/aftermath, hurt/recovery

Lethal Weapon--status complete. 7 parts. TW: conditioning, manipulation, captivity, hidden injury, gunshot, blood, wounds, unconsciousness, hospital, self sacrifice, hurt/comfort, hurt/recovery, hurt/aftermath. Team elements, but not team whump

The Night We Met--status complete. 4 parts. TW: captivity, torture, restraints, noncon, blood, wounds, drugging, mcd, two whumpers, creepy/intimate whumper, cruel whumper

At Last--status complete. 4 parts. TW: captivity, torture, wounds, blood, bruises, unconsciousness, hospital, escape, hurt/aftermath, hurt/recovery, hurt/comfort, caretaker and whumpee

Words--status complete. 2 parts. TW: emotional whump, threats, torture, captivity, restraints, wounds, blood, stab wounds, mcd, grief, hurt/no comfort, caretaker and whumpee

Once and for All--status complete. 7 parts. TW: kidnapping, restraints, gags, physical violence, torture, blood, bruises, broken bones, noncon, choking, unconsciousness, mcd, two whumpers, hurt/no comfort

Forever--status complete. 5 parts. TW: yandere, drugging, magic, poisoning, unconsciousness, self sacrifice

Stuck On You--status complete. 3 parts. TW: captivity, torture, broken bones, escape, hospital, hurt/recovery, hurt/aftermath, two whumpees

Quake--status complete. 3 parts. TW: earthquake, head injury, blood, unconsciousness, rescue, hurt/aftermath, hurt/recovery, hospital. 

Undercover--status complete. 3 parts. TW: blood, gunshot, wounds, hurt/comfort, hurt/aftermath, hurt/recovery, blood, gunshot, mcd, hurt/no comfort

Grateful--status complete. 3 parts. TW: referenced torture, referenced captivity, scars, hurt/comfort, hurt/aftermath, hurt/recovery, caretaker and whumpee

Chatter--status complete. 5 parts. TW: restraints, torture, exposure, hypothermia, unconsciousness, noncon touching, noncon, escape, defiant whumpee, creepy/intimate whumper, hurt/aftermath

Higher Love--status complete. 7 parts including epilogue. TW: captivity, torture, drugging, noncon, sexual assault, rape, hospital, rescue, dissociation, hurt/aftermath, hurt/recovery, hurt/comfort, caretaker and whumpee, yandere whumper, cravings, substance abuse, recovery.

Sweet Nothings--status complete. 2 parts. TW: injury, hospital, unconsciousness, hurt/comfort, hurt/aftermath, hurt/recovery, caretaker and whumpee

Hook, Line, and Sinker--status complete. 8 parts. TW: captivity, restraints, gag, self sacrifice, torture, stabbing, blood, gun, gunshot, mcd, hurt/no comfort, caretaker and whumpee

Touch Them--status complete. 7 parts including alternate ending. TW: captivity, restraints, torture, unconsciousness, blood, head injury, forced to watch, choking, strangulation, suffocation, begging, noncon, rape, broken bones, mcd, caretaker and whumpee, creepy/intimate whumper. Alternate does not have MCD

Are You Scared--status complete. 2 parts. TW: captivity, torture, restraints, buried alive, temporary character death, cpr, rescue, hospital, hurt/comfort, hurt/aftermath, hurt/recovery, caretaker and whumpee

On Three

Thin Ice

Good Things Come To Those Who Wait

Ready, Set, Go

Two Birds, One Bullet

Compass--status complete. 3 parts. TW: captivity, torture, restraints, hunting, cruel sadistic whumper, pursuit, gun shot, unclear character status

Close

Unhand

In Your Arms--status complete. 3 parts. TW: kidnapping, torture, restraints, bruises, beating, rescue, gun fire, gunshot, blood, wounds, bleeding out, unconsciousness, temporary character death, cpr, hospital, bedside vigil, emotional manipulation, self sacrifice, lies, caretaker and whumpee, hurt/aftermath, hurt/recovery

Antidote

Still With Us

Make Me

You're Awake

So Tired

Miss Me?

Strength in Your Bones

Tender is the Night

Again and Again

We've Had a Good Run

Lovely

Shake and Shiver

Silence

Electrify

Frozen Tears

Heavy Burden

What Have You Done?

Walk

Devil's Advocate

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

Thin Ice--status complete. 3 parts. TW: captivity, torture, brands, burns, restraints, cruel whumper, hurt/no comfort, mcd

You're Doing Great

On Three

Twenty-Three and Me

Strength in Your Bones

So Tired

All Quiet

Let Me Help You

Another catatonia request--TW: referenced torture, referenced captivity, catatonia, caretaker and whumpee, hurt/aftermath, hurt/recovery

Dangerous Game--status complete; 3 parts. TW: captivity, restraints, torture, threat of death, pursuit, escape, stabbing, blood, mcd, hurt/no comfort, failed rescue

Lonely Place of Longing

Electric Feel

🌈 Pride fantasy prompts

Pride writing ideas no. 1

(Little to no angst or whump here, I wanted to focus on happier stories this time around.)

Mages use transformation spells as a magical method of gender-affirming surgery. One mage who specializes in such magic travels across the land, helping anyone from tiny fairies to gigantic dragons be their true selves. Nothing brings them more joy than giving their client a mirror after the spell is done and watching their face light up. And when someone needs that spell, the mage will find a way to do it, no matter who or what they have to challenge in order to do so.

Asexual succubi and incubi find non-sexual ways to seduce their targets. A character hears a noise in the middle of the night and goes to the kitchen to find a demon-like creature baking them a cake that reads, "Come to the darkest pits of the underworld, please? 🥺" With the layers upon layers of chocolate fudge, how could anyone resist?

A gay mage learns a teleportation spell to bring their crush on a date without anyone else seeing, because they are worried about what people will think. However, the spell backfires and ends up teleporting them to the wrong place. As they work together to find their way home, the two overcome challenges for each other and realize that their love really does conquer all.

A trans character finds out that they're trans by accessing some sort of magic that only another gender is supposed to be able to access. For example, a transfem sailor thinks she's a cis guy until she is the only one on the ship who can see an island that is magically hidden from everyone except women. She had always felt a bit "off" but kind of pushed it to the side, attributing it to literally anything except being trans. The island beckons to her and confirms the feelings she had ignored for years. (I thought there was an island like that in the Odyssey but I can't find anything about it so I may be wrong.)

When a gay couple adopts a child, they weren't expecting to bring home a dragon egg. But, that won't stop them from being the best adoptive parents anyone could have. They spend nights deep in the library, set on learning everything they need to raise their dragon child. (Or, alternatively, a dragon couple ends up adopting a human or otherwise non-dragon child.)

Due to their association with rainbows, magic, and self-expression, unicorn derbies become widely celebrated events during pride festivals. A particularly clever unicorn escapes right before the derby, and magical shenanigans ensue.

While others their age are asking their crushes to dances and peeking at raunchy magazines, an aroace teen is busy training swordfighting with a dragon that they keep hidden a little bit away from their house. Their parents find some evidence of their teen sneaking out and assume it's with some romantic partner. When their teen reluctantly agrees to introduce them, they weren't expecting to come face to face with a gigantic reptile. They said they wanted their teen to be with whoever makes them happy... But this is awkward.

Immortal characters who've been around for centuries don't necessarily understand the newer labels and identities, but they're excited that their children are able to express themselves in ways they weren't able to a few hundred years ago. They do their best to support their kid's identity... Possibly to the point of embarrassing their kid with their enthusiasm. They mean well though.

A genderfluid character who can shapeshift uses their ability to transition on the spot whenever and however they feel like it. They kind of take this ability for granted, until their non-shapeshifter friend wants to transition and can't just do so by snapping their fingers. This shapeshifter does their best to help their friend find clothes and hairstyles that might have the same effect. They end up having to be a bit creative with what they have, but it's a lot more fun than either expected.

To represent the strength of their relationship, a gay swordsmith forges a sword as a surprise present (or proposal, like a ring but cooler) for their beloved. They decide to gather gemstones from the place they first met (or some other place that is significant to them), but getting the gemstone proves to be a difficult quest. They end up asking for their partner's help, all while keeping it a secret why they need it. When they finally get the gemstone and forge the sword, the colorful pieces in the hilt tell a story of their journey together.

Elves and other androgynous creatures completely demolish outdated standards of what each gender is "supposed to" look like. Some people are frustrated with how hard it is to assume an elf's gender, but lots of trans and nonbinary people are inspired by the magical genderfuckery. (I know I am, lol. Legolas was my first gender envy.)

(Feel free to add on!)

😭👍❤️

theatrical/comic relief/otherwise clownpilled whumpee who's last words are "alrighty folks, show's over. go home."

Bite Down

Warnings: field med, blood, wounds, crossbow, crossbow bolt, gore, unconsciousness

Whumpee screamed as the bolt pierced the skin of their right leg. Screamed as they collapsed forward, their leg no longer able to bear their weight. And they screamed as they landed, further pushing the bolt into their leg.

"Whumpee!" Caretaker called out as they turned around to face Whumpee.

"Go....go after Whumper," Whumpee called weakly. This was bad. They knew it was bad, but they couldn't let Whumper get away. They tried to avoid jostling the bolt as they turned over. Whumpee felt nauseous as they looked as the bolt poking through their skin. Looked at the blood flowing from the wound. Looked at the injury that could cripple them. "Caretaker, just....just go."

Caretaker shook their head. "I'm not leaving you behind."

"But Whumper--"

"The rest of the team can handle it. Let me help you." Caretaker dropped to their knees next to Whumpee. "How bad is the pain?"

Whumpee swallowed against the nausea before answering. "Pretty......pretty bad." How were they going to walk out of these woods? How was the med team going to get to them.

Caretaker surveyed the wound with a cold, calculating gaze. "Can you walk?"

Whumpee shook their head. "I don't think so." The forest spun around them. Whumpee closed their eyes against the pain, against the dizziness.

"Mhmm. Thought so." Caretaker patted their pockets a moment. "Whumpee. Whumpee! Open your eyes. Are you with me?" Caretaker's voice was urgent, but soft.

Whumpee opened their eyes. "'m 'ere, Caretaker."

"I don't like this. I don't like this at all, but it's the only thing I can come up with. If I pick you up now, it's just going to jostle the bolt even more." Whumpee winced at the thought. "So I'm not going to do that." Whumpee sighed with relief. "We need to pull it out and wrap your leg. Then I can carry you."

Whumpee's mouth went dry. "There has to be something--"

"Whumpee, we are in the woods. The car is half a mile away from here. You can't walk there. You can't crawl. I can't bring the car here. This seems like the only option to me."

Whumpee nodded. "Do it."

Caretaker pulled off their belt and held it to Whumpee's mouth. "Bite down on this." They tore the bottom part of their shirt off and into strips while Whumpee put the belt in their mouth and bit down.

"Ready, Whumpee?" Caretaker's eyes softened for a moment. They didn't want to hurt Whumpee any more than Whumpee wanted to hurt them. But this was the only way.

Whumpee nodded again. They looked up at the canopy of branches above them. They couldn't watch the bolt go through their leg. Couldn't watch Caretaker work. Couldn't watch any of it. But they could watch the sky. Could watch and hope that it would be quick.

"On the count of three then." Whumpee felt Caretaker put a hand on their thigh. "One," and Caretaker pulled on the bolt. Whumpee's world whited out with pain and then they knew no more.

Lonely Place of Longing

Warnings: cut, wound, blood, hurt/aftermath, caretaker and whumpee, living weapon whumpee, i guess captivity and restraints?

“Welcome to Organization, Caretaker,” the Chairman said.

“Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity,” Caretaker said enthusiastically. Caretaker had always wanted to make a difference with their life. They knew that Organization—with their unprecedented efforts to keep the world safe—was the best way to do so. Though they had limited military training, and absolutely no background in technology management, somehow Caretaker had managed to get the job.

“Let me take you to your team. You’re going to be assigned to Alpha Team. They’re our most active. I’ll let Team Leader fill you in on your duties. They are your direct superior and you are to report to them.”

“Understood. Thank you, Chairman.” Caretaker hurried along to follow the Chairman.

“There are several teams. But Alpha has the most unusual members. Ah, Team Leader, there you are,” the Chairman stopped in the hallway as they almost collided with a hulking figure. Team Leader easily stood a head taller than Chairman. And a head and a half taller than Caretaker. They looked down at Caretaker with warm, dark eyes.

“You must be my new medic.”

Caretaker nodded vigorously. “Yes! I won’t let you down.”

“I’ll introduce you to the rest of the team. They’re in our portion of Base. What have they told you about our team?” Team Leader walked quickly. Caretaker had to half jog to keep up.

“That you are very active as a team. And that you have…” Caretaker’s voice trailed off. How would Team Leader take to having their team called unusual?

“We have a pretty big team. I’ll introduce you to them all in time. But I have to warn you. We have something assigned to our unit that makes us indispensable. Your job will be to manage and take care of that thing.”

“I won’t let you down. I promise,” Caretaker said eagerly.

“Do you know what a living weapon is, Caretaker?” Team Leader asked, completely ignoring Caretaker’s promises.

Caretaker stopped walking. A living weapon. They had heard of them of course. But never in their wildest dreams did they think they would ever see one, let alone work with one. They were supposedly the most dangerous assets Organization had at their disposal. Their enemies, of course, also had living weapons. A great number of them. Weapons were allegedly easily corruptible. Weapons were typically very, very evil. They had to be kept under lock and key at all times. Caretaker nodded. “They’re a human, well they were human to start with. And they’ve been imbued with…”

“With powers that make them more dangerous than an army of regular soldiers.”

Caretaker swallowed. So it was true. Living weapons really could level a city by themselves.

“We have one. They’re called Whumpee. Your job is simple, Caretaker. Keep Whumpee alive. Patch them up when we bring them back. And keep them in their quarters. They aren’t to be trusted with any freedom. No matter how much they ask, you can never let them out of our quarters unsupervised. Do I make myself clear?” Caretaker nodded.

“And, Caretaker, please remember they are dangerous. They are deadlier than any gun, knife, or projectile you will ever see. Please remember that.”

Caretaker nodded again and continued to follow Team Leader. They half heartedly listened to Team Leader introduce them to Alpha Team. Over a dozen names and faces to memorize. But none of them were the weapon. And Caretaker’s mind kept drifting to the weapon. What were they like? What were their powers? Would they hurt Caretaker? Would they try to escape and hurt the rest of the team?

After what felt like hours of introductions, but Caretaker realized it may have only been half an hour, Team Leader was leading them away from the rest of the team. “Whumpee’s room is down this hall. I hope you don’t mind, it’s where we had to put your room.” Team Leader looked a touch embarrassed. “No one wants to stay down here near them. I’ve put in a work order to repurpose our library into a living quarters. Once that’s nearly ready we can convert your room to the library and then you can move. I’m sorry.”

No one even wanted to sleep near the weapon. How evil were they? “It’s ok. I’m sure it won’t be that bad. Thank you.”

Team Leader knocked loud and hard on a door at the end of the hall. “Whumpee! Open up!” Team Leader called gruffly. “You have a new keeper. Come meet them!”

The door swung open to reveal a small, spartan room. A bed was tucked into a corner, blanket neatly tucked in. A desk was not too far from there, a small stack of books and papers in the center. Caretaker could see a small balcony opposite their door that overlooked Base’s grounds. Caretaker swallowed as they realized the balcony was caged in. The other window had bars. There was no escaping this room.

Team Leader strode into the center of the room and turned to face the door. “Whumpee, meet Caretaker. Caretaker this is Whumpee.” Whumpee leaned against the wall. Their pale blonde hair curled softly at their collar and they watched Caretaker with icy blue eyes. They were tall and lean, though their build didn’t betray the power that lurked beneath. Their clothes were plain—black shirt tucked into black pants, with black boots. The only thing adorning them were the silvery cuffs at their wrists—cuffs that Caretaker knew kept them from accessing their power.

“Nice to meet you, Caretaker,” Whumpee said, their voice surprisingly soft. Caretaker fully expected their voice to be low, grating. They didn’t expect a soft, pleasant sounding voice.

Caretaker swallowed twice before replying. “Nice to meet you, too.”

“I’m going to leave you two to get acquainted. Whumpee you are to give Caretaker a run down of your medical history and what they may need to know to be better than your last keeper. Actually, you can also let them patch up that cut from our mission this morning. It’s a small one, Caretaker. Won’t take you that long. I’ll check back in with you, Caretaker, in,” Team Leader looked at their watch, “an hour. I have a briefing with Delta Team to get to.”

Before Caretaker could protest, Team Leader left. Caretaker stood in the center of the room, their heart in their throat. Team Leader left them alone. With a living weapon. A being so dangerous they were kept in a room that was essentially a cage. And they had their powers suppressed at all times.

“Are you afraid of me?” Whumpee asked quietly. They hadn’t moved. Hadn’t attempted to get closer to Caretaker. Hadn’t tried to run out the door behind Team Leader.

Caretaker licked their suddenly dry lips. “Yes.”

Whumpee nodded. “Good. You should be.” They crossed the room and flopped onto their stomach on the bed. Caretaker could see a long, still bleeding cut, running the length of the weapon’s back from their left shoulder to their right hip.

The weapon propped their head up on their arms. “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you unless Team Leader tells me to.”

“Do you always do as Team Leader asks?”

The weapon lay their cheek on their arm. “Yes. I am to always listen to Team Leader.” The weapon sighed. “The last one didn’t last long. There’s no shame in quitting. I won’t blame you.”

“What?”

“My last keeper. They quit after three days. It’s ok if you are too scared. You can quit. Everyone does eventually.” The weapon seemed to say the last more to themself than Caretaker.

“Where’s your first aid kit?” If they got to work they could ignore the weapon and their ice cold eyes.

“In my med bay.”

“You have your own?” This unit was much fancier than Caretaker thought. Each member got their own private med bay. Just how large was this space?

The weapon closed their eyes as though they were suddenly very weary. “No one wanted to share with me.”

Caretaker was silent. What do you even say to that? They looked around for the door to the med bay.

“You don’t need to dress it, Caretaker. It will clot soon. Probably.”

“You’ll ruin your sheets.”

“Isn’t the first time. Won’t be the last time.”

Caretaker very much did not want to be alone in the room with the weapon any longer. But they had a job to do. So they crossed the room to a door that they thought might lead to another room. They were right. The med bay was well stocked. They grabbed some gauze and anti septic so they could dress the wound.

Caretaker worked in silence. And the weapon was silent. Caretaker expected them to fill Caretaker in on their medical history while they worked. Expected them to say anything. But the weapon merely lay there and let Caretaker clean and dress the wound. “I don’t think it needs stitches. But I could glue it if—“

“It’s fine, Caretaker.” The weapon pulled their shirt off and over their head. Their back and chest were littered with scars, some older, some newer. “Here’s my medical history. I can’t get sick. I can’t remember if I did before…before I came here.”

Caretaker marveled at the scars. How was the weapon still alive? Some of them were serious, grievous wounds. “Anything else I should know?”

The weapon shook their head. They opened another door to reveal a small closet. They tossed the soiled shirt into a bin. They pulled another shirt from the drawer and put it on. “I am glad to meet you, Caretaker. No matter how long you stay here.”