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livelaughwhump · 4 days

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Valentine's Day

The Valentine's Day collab is finally here!

This is Elliot's POV. Cedar's POV will be on @ofclrosewriteswhump 's blog, but I will be adding both to the Worthless Masterlist.

I hope you enjoy!

Content: sickfic, an obscene amount of fluff, overwhelming gayness

Elliot had begged Lyra not to text Cedar. They'd been planning their Valentine's date for weeks and Elliot couldn't bear to be the reason it was ruined.

He'd woken up that morning feeling achy and lethargic. His throat was sore, his nose was stopped, and beads of sweat continued to appear at his hairline, no matter how many times he tried to wipe them away.

Of course, Lyra had noticed right away that something wasn't right, despite how hard he tried to hide it.

“Please, Lyra. I'm fine, I swear!” Elliot begged. “Just don't tell him, please.”

Lyra already had their phone out with Cedar's messages pulled up. “Sunshine, you're sick. Your date isn't for another week, it's no big deal.”

“But if he finds out, he'll cancel it! He'll be too worried about me. He always—” Elliot coughed and gagged as he was forced to swallow back down the phlegm that had traveled up his throat.

Lyra sighed. “I'm sorry, sunshine, but I can tell you feel awful. It's only gonna get worse if you don't rest.” They sent the text and Elliot felt his heart plummet. “Now, let's get you to bed.”

That's what led to Elliot laying in his bed, sobbing quietly into his comforter with Dumpling curled up against his side, but that was several days ago. Since then, Lyra had been doing everything they could to help him rest and heal enough before their date. However, it wasn't enough. It was the day of Valentine's, and Elliot was still bedridden. That morning, Lyra had informed him that they were going to run some errands, but that Marlie was on her way over to keep him company. That eased his worries a bit, until all that was left was the guilt of ruining Valentine's Day.

Elliot was cuddling with Dumpling while watching a movie on Lyra’s computer when the door to his room suddenly opened. He glanced up to see Marlie standing in the doorway and instantly brightened up a little.

“M-Mar—” Elliot dissolved into a coughing fit, his throat burning as he did so. His eyes watered and he reached for a tissue, only to find the box empty. Elliot groaned and laid back down on his bed.

Marlie rushed to his side, mumbling a quick “be right back,” before returning with an unopened roll of toilet paper. “Sorry, Bluebell. I wanted to be quick. Do you need water?” she asked softly, sitting next to his bed.

Elliot nodded. “I'm sorry, Marlie. You-You don't have to d-deal with this.” He ripped off a square of toilet paper and blew his nose.

Marlie put a gentle hand on his shoulder, comforting him the best she could. “I don’t mind. I want to help you.”

Elliot sniffled and threw away his makeshift tissue. “Are you sure? You-You don't h-have to.”

Marlie nodded. “Of course. I brought a couple bottles in my bag. Here, Bluebell.” She handed him a water bottle before thinking of something. “Do you want help with anything?”

Elliot shook his head. “Can-Can you just k-keep me company? I-I don't know where L-Lyra went and-and I don't wanna be alone.”

Marlie nodded, knowing he was overthinking. “Of course! Do you want to watch anything?” She offered to hold his hand, knowing she’d get sick anyway with her weaker immune system.

Elliot shrugged. “I was just watching some m-movie that Lyra had saved. I'm not really p-paying attention.”

“Okay, want to keep watching it? It's fun being with you. Is it okay that I’m holding your hand?” Marlie spoke softly, hoping to comfort Elliot. She giggled when Dumpling’s whiskers tickled her hand.

“Are-Are you sure?” Elliot asked. “I-I don't want to g-get you sick.”

Marlie nodded. “It’s okay. I've always gotten sick easily but it’s worth it for you.” She smiled at him gently.

“O-Okay then. Um…can-can you h-hold me while-while we watch the movie?”

Marlie smiled and immediately climbed into bed next to him. She opened her arms. “Of course, Bluebell. I'm always happy to hold you.”

Elliot smiled and crawled into her waiting arms. He snuggled into the warmth of her embrace as Dumpling curled up beside the two of them. Just as Marlie repositioned Lyra’s laptop, the sound of her phone buzzing startled them both. Elliot looked up at her, confused. “Who is it?”

Marlie reached over with one hand, keeping her arm around Elliot. “Lyra, they want to know how you're feeling. Are you doing okay?”

Almost as if on cue, Elliot broke into a coughing fit, his lungs and throat burning. He reached for the glass of water Lyra had left him and downed half of it in a matter of seconds. Once he was finished, he wiped his mouth dry and set the glass back onto the bedside table to his left. His voice was raspy and nasal as he said, “N-Not r-really.”

Marlie rubbed his back. She tried her best to comfort him and make him feel better. “Do you have any cough medicine?” she asked after sending a quick text to Lyra.

“I-I'm not sure,” Elliot answered. “B-Broderick was supposed to g-get some, but-but I don't know if he's b-back yet.”

“Want me to text him?” Marlie asked, holding Elliot close and offering the comfort she could.

Elliot nodded. “If-If you don't m-mind.”

Marlie nodded. “I don't mind at all. Want me to keep holding you?” She asked, pulling out her phone to send the text. “Done.”

Elliot nodded. “Y-Yes, please.” He shivered and curled up to her.

Marlie held him close, trying to warm him up.

“Can-Can I have a blanket?”

Marlie nodded, “Of course!” She wrapped a blanket around Elliot, holding him close in her arms. “Now we wait for a response.”

It was a few minutes later that Broderick finally responded, the text reading, “Just picked up some cough medicine. Should be back in a couple minutes.”

Marlie looked at her phone, once again startled by the sudden noise. “Broderick says he'll be back soon.” She sent back a quick response, thanking him.

Elliot nodded. “Th-Thanks, Marigold.”

Marlie held him closer. “Happy to help, Bluebell.”

Elliot was still shivering, though much less so than before. “You're so w-warm.”

“I’m happy you think so.” Marlie smiled, relieved to feel Elliot relax. “Want me to ask Broderick for another blanket when he gets back?”

Elliot nodded. “Yes, please.”

Marlie brushed his hair, knowing how much he liked the feeling. “It should only be a few minutes. He’ll be here soon.”

Elliot closed his eyes and reveled in the gentle touch at the top of his head.

Marlie smiled, humming quietly until she heard footsteps approach the door.

Elliot opened his eyes just in time to see Broderick peek his head into the room. “Hey, guys,” he greeted. “I've got some cough medicine and an extra blanket.”

Marlie smiled. “Thanks.” Not knowing what else to say, she resumed brushing Elliot’s hair.

Broderick stepped into the room, set the medicine beside Elliot's bed, and handed the blanket to Marlie. “How are you feeling, sweet?”

Elliot briefly glanced up at the medic and shrugged. “N-Not great. S-Sorry for-for causing so much trouble.”

“It's no trouble at all, sweet. This is my job. Just take one of those tablets every six hours and let me know if there's anything else I can do for you, okay?” Elliot nodded, and with one last friendly smile, Broderick left the room.

Marlie helped Elliot with his medicine; the tablet being small helped. She wrapped Elliot in the fluffy blanket and held him close.

Elliot cuddled up to her and laid his head in her lap. “Marlie?” He asked.

Marlie responded with a quiet hum, continuing to gently brush Elliot’s hair while he rested his head on her lap.

“Do you think Cedar's m-mad that-that I ruined our date? I-I haven't s-seen him in almost a-a week.” Tears flooded Elliot's ocean-blue eyes as he imagined the worst. “What if he b-breaks up with me?”

Marlie looked at him worriedly. “He's not breaking up with you. He's been trying to find a way to make your date fun while you're sick. I don't know exactly what he's planning but he's been trying lots of Spanish recipes.” She gently brushed his hair.

The worry and fear in the pit of Elliot's stomach didn't fade. “Then-Then why hasn't he come to s-see me?”

“He wants to perfect it. You know how you were going stargazing? He's going to bring the stars to your bedroom. Want to call him to feel better? I'm sure he wouldn't mind. Lyra’s helping him out with the finishing touches.” Marlie softly brushed Elliot’s hair. “It was going to be a surprise so I can't tell you what exactly Cedar’s bringing for food or how he's going to make a stargazing date for the both of you. I just know he's been tracking stuff down at thrift shops and astronomy places.”

Elliot felt even more guilty. “I-I ruined the surprise?”

Marlie shook her head. “Not at all. You know the basics of it but you don't know what Cedar is bringing here. That’s not ruining the surprise.”

“O-Okay,” Elliot said. “Um…when-when is he gonna be here?”

Marlie glanced at her phone. It was around late afternoon or early evening. “About an hour. I think he wants the sun to be down before coming.”

Anxiety swelled in the pit of Elliot's stomach. “Do-Do I look okay?”

Marlie nodded, not wanting to overwhelm him. “You look great. How about putting on a skirt or your new dress if you want. I can do your hair while you're in bed too.”

Elliot nodded and quickly jumped out of bed to go change.

Marlie followed, ready to catch him if he slipped. “Careful, you're still sick. You don't have to dress up a lot. Just do what you can, okay?”

Elliot ignored her concern and quickly scanned his closet for something nice to wear. “I just wanna look nice,” he said. “If he's putting all this effort into a n-nice date, I-I don't wanna look like I've been sick.”

Marlie nodded in understanding, walking over to Elliot to help him find something he liked. “What about your flower dress?”

Elliot examined his black, floral-patterned dress. It hung to his knees and had puff shoulder sleeves. He'd gotten it recently on a trip to the mall and had yet to wear it. “Do-Do you think he would like that?”

“He’d love it.” Marlie smiles at him. She was so happy to see him excited for a date.

“O-Okay.” Elliot grabbed the dress and bolted into the bathroom to get changed.

Marlie waited patiently, petting Dumpling while Elliot changed.

When Elliot emerged, he gave a twirl to show Marlie the whole thing. “What do you think?”

Marlie beamed, eyes glowing at how happy Elliot looked. “You look amazing!”

“R-Really?” Elliot asked, giving himself a once-over in the mirror. “Do you think I need shoes or anything?”

Marlie shook her head, standing next to him. “No, you guys are staying home. Kinda like a movie date but better.”

Elliot nodded, his breathing quickening.

Marlie looked at him worriedly, guiding him to sit. “Bluebell, he wants to bring stargazing inside. You’re safe, I promise.”

Elliot's breathing didn't slow. “I-I just w-wanna be g-good enough for-for him. Wh-What if he doesn’t l-like this? What if he gets m-mad at me for-for being sick? What if he's doing this just to b-break up with me?”

Marlie brought him into a hug, knowing his past relationships were horrendous. “You're perfect to him. Bluebell, he's so happy with you and will love this. He's not mad and he won't break up with you. I promise. Want me around for support?”

Elliot melted into her embrace and tried not to cry into her shoulder. “N-No that's-that's okay. I-I don't want him to-to get m-mad.” Elliot flinched when the distant sound of the doorbell rang. He gasped. “That's-That’s h-him.”

Marlie took his hand. “He wouldn't. Want to walk to the door with me?”

Elliot nodded and shakily reached for her hand.

Marlie gently squeezed his hand. “It’s okay, he’ll be so excited to see you.”

Elliot nodded once more and nervously followed her down to the front door.

...

Marlie opened the door, Dawn helping Cedar carry a box of food.

Elliot's breath caught in his throat. He felt like it had been months since he'd seen Cedar, even though it had only been a week. Anxiety churned in the pit of his stomach at the sight of his tall boyfriend.

“Love? How are you feeling? I'm so happy to see you!” Cedar smiled. “Happy Valentine's day.”

Elliot couldn't help the way his cheeks warmed and the dorky smile that grew across his face. “I'm f-feeling better now. H-Happy Valentine's Day.”

Cedar’s smile matched Elliot’s eyes, smiling as he saw his boyfriend. “Ready to start the date, Love?”

Elliot nodded. “I've m-missed you.”

Cedar set the box down in Elliot’s room, Dawn and Marlie following him. “Same to you, Love. I'm so happy to see you.” Cedar smiled as he opened his arms.

Elliot smiled back and practically collapsed into his boyfriend's strong arms. He had to stand on his tiptoes in order to kiss Cedar, but it was worth it. He just hoped Cedar wouldn't end up sick after this.

Cedar caught Elliot and kissed back. “I love you so much.”

Elliot's cheeks began to ache with how wide he was smiling. “I love you too.”

Cedar’s smile grew. “Ready to start, my Love?”

Elliot giggled and nodded before dissolving into a coughing fit.

Cedar put an arm around him, rubbing his back until it finished. “Do you need to lay down, Love?”

Elliot nodded. “S-Sorry,” he croaked.

Cedar lifted him gently onto his bed. “No worries. How about starting dinner?”

Elliot nodded. “Th-That sounds good.”

Cedar smiled, opening the containers of food that he had brought. “Take your pick, my Love.”

As Elliot's eyes scanned the multiple containers of food, his cheeks warmed. He couldn't believe that Cedar had done all this for him. “I-I can't decide. Everything looks a-amazing. Did-Did you m-make all this?”

Cedar blushed and nodded. “I packed so many. Maybe a little bit of everything? Is that okay with you? I just made our date sick safe, my Love.”

Tears began to prick the corners of Elliot's eyes at the sound of those words. “I-I just can’t believe you d-did all of this for me.”

Cedar gently brushed his tears away, kissing his forehead. “Of course, Love. I knew it would break your heart to miss out and I wanted to see you. I'd come over even if it meant cuddling and falling asleep.”

Elliot's lower lip started wobbling. “Can-Can I have a kiss?”

Cedar replied by gently kissing him, holding him close.

Elliot melted against him, heart pounding. He couldn't believe the lengths his boyfriend had gone just to make him feel special on their first Valentine's Day together. As he looked up into Cedar's forest-green eyes, he whispered, “I may or may not have just gotten you sick.”

Cedar brushed Elliot’s hair. “That’s okay. Seeing your smile makes it worth the chance.”

Elliot's cheeks warmed and he couldn't help the giggle that escaped his throat. “You try to make me blush on purpose.”

Cedar matched Elliot’s smile, chuckling. “I try to make you smile on purpose, my Love.”

Elliot tried to force himself to stop smiling, but it remained stuck to his face. He couldn't help it. Something about looking into Cedar's eyes made him indescribably happy.

Cedar smiled back, happy to see his love smile. “Ready to start eating?”

Elliot nodded, unable to take his eyes off of his boyfriend.

Cedar kissed Elliot’s forehead, serving multiple dishes for the two of them. “How about some candles? I brought some scented ones.”

Elliot nodded, cheeks beginning to ache from the smile that wouldn't leave his face. “That sounds nice.”

Cedar kissed his head gently. “That’s great. I’ll light them.”

Elliot giggled and watched as Cedar lit the candles. As nice as they were, the sudden aromas initiated a round of several sneezes and a few coughs. He reached for a tissue, his face burning with embarrassment.

Cedar looked at him worriedly, rubbing his back. “Do you need anything, Love?”

“Can-Can you hand me my w-water?” Elliot asked as he tossed the tissue into the trash. He sniffled. “I hate being sick.”

Cedar passed the water to Elliot, rubbing his back gently. “I know, Love. It’ll be over soon. I'm just happy I could get everything ready in time for our date.”

Elliot nodded. “I-I was so worried when you d-didn't come to s-see me at all. I thought m-maybe you were b-breaking up with me.”

Cedar kissed his boyfriend’s cheek softly. “I’m sorry I didn't reach out. I wouldn't break up with you, Love.” He felt guilty, knowing how he hurt Elliot.

Elliot nodded again, blushing. “I-I know. I just o-overthink sometimes, I guess. Marlie helped c-calm me down.”

Cedar smiled at him. “She’s good at that. I'm happy you guys have each other. You're amazing.”

Elliot smiled and took a bite of the dinner Cedar had made. He was still in awe of all his boyfriend had done for him. He'd never felt so loved before.

The smile on Elliot’s face made the whole evening worth it. Cedar smiled back, eyes so full of love and adoration.

As Elliot ate his fill and set down his plate, he said, “So, M-Marlie said you were gonna b-bring the stars to me. Wh-What did she mean?”

Cedar smiled, getting up to open a suitcase and take out a few star projectors. He plugged them into the wall and the ceiling mirrored a starry sky. “This is what I did to bring you the stars, my Love.” He kissed his boyfriend’s head, lips brushing his fluffy hair.

Elliot stared in awe at the starry sky projected across the ceiling. Never, in his wildest dreams could he have imagined a date like this. “This-This is the most incredible thing anyone has ever done for me.”

Cedar held Elliot close. “Anything for you, Love. You are the best boyfriend a man could ask for.”

Tears welled in Elliot’s eyes. “Can I have a kiss?”

Cedar brought his boyfriend into a loving kiss.

Elliot melted against him. He couldn't remember the last time he felt so happy, if he ever had before. He felt safe and comforted and so, so loved. In that moment, nothing else mattered; not his illness, not Christian. If only for one moment, Elliot let himself be happy.

I hope you enjoyed this! This was so much fun to do because I'm absolutely obsessed with Elliot and Cedar's relationship.

Please be sure to go read Cedar's POV!

Not tagging the taglist because this isn't whumpy Worthless content

#writing #nonwhump writing #fluff #fluff drabble #fluffy Worthless drabble #sickfic #whump blog #whump community #whumpblr #drabble #collab #my first collab!#original story #original writing #original characters #Elliot Cordova #Cedar Nightshade #Marlie Briarwing

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livelaughwhump · 4 days

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ANNOUNCEMENT!!

The long-awaited Valentine's Day collab between me and @ofclrosewriteswhump is finally finished!!🥳🥳🥳

Elliot's POV will be out either tomorrow or sometime this week😊

#update

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livelaughwhump · 5 days

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Whumpee slips a note into a stranger’s palm, hoping they’ll understand the cry for help hastily scribbled on the scrap of paper.

But the stranger only smirks and hands the note to Whumper. “You should watch them a little closer.”

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livelaughwhump · 8 days

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prompt that gave worthless vibes:

A whumpee that was barely fed in captivity, and once they're rescued by Caretaker, they have to start getting used to regular meals. One day, they get food poisoning, or their stomach is so adjusted to living off of nothing that they throw up everything they ate. They sob silently, wondering why Caretaker promised they wouldn't be punished if they were going to be poisoned.

Haha it does give worthless vibes and I love it!!

I'm a little confused though. Are you asking me to write it? And if so, as a general whump fic or as a Worthless drabble? Just want to make sure I don't mess it up😊

#anon #whump prompt #worthless ask #ask #whump blog

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livelaughwhump · 8 days

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Buttercup

"You sell…cookies?"

Whumpee nodded. A genuine smile plastered on their face. Their arms carried a basket full of packages of cookies. Whumper pondered for a moment. They were not too fond of sweets, especially cookies. But, seeing the innocent look on Whumpee's face made their heart slightly tingly.

Whumper looked around the neighbourhood, making sure nobody saw their interaction before turning their attention back to Whumpee.

"Won't you come inside? We can discuss more about your sweet little cookies." Whumper's lips curled up slightly, eyes wandering all over Whumpee.

Whumpee hesitated, they suddenly felt uneasy by the request. "Um, I'm not really supposed to enter the customer's house." They explained, fingers gripping tightly on the basket holder. Whumper looked over at the packages inside the basket, noting not even half of the cookies had been sold yet.

"How unfortunate, I might change my mind once we are inside. I might even buy all of your cookies, you know?"

Whumpee eyes widen in shock and excitement. Whumper chuckled at the sight, they were so desperate to get customers, huh?

"So, what do you say?" They raised an eyebrow at Whumpee. Whumpee thought for a few seconds before they nodded their head. Whumper grinned, they led Whumpee to the living room as they locked the door shut.

Whumpee sat on the couch. The basket on their hands now on the coffee table. They looked a little nervous, but it's okay, because Whumper liked the sight of their prey being nervous and scared. They took a seat across from Whumpee, waiting for them to talk.

Whumpee fidgeted with their fingers before explaining, "Um, so…I only sell two flavours here. Chocolate chip cookies with almond cream on it and Strawberry—"

"What is your name?" Whumper suddenly asked, interrupting Whumpee's train of thoughts. Whumpee blinked their eyes a few times.

"...what?"

"Your name, little one. What is it?" Whumper leaned back on the couch before crossing their legs. Whumpee felt intimidated by their cold gaze.

"My name is…Whumpee."

Whumper hummed. "Are you sure you want to keep selling cookies for the rest of your life? It's not really worth it, you know?"

Whumpee got speechless for a moment at the sudden question. They have never been asked before, especially by their customers.

"I'm only helping my mom…" Whumpee said, not wanting to share any more information. Whumper watched them intently, they chuckled when Whumpee kept evading their gaze.

"Aww, how kind. Helping your mommy, hm?"

Whumper extended their hand to the basket, taking one of the packages inside. "Do you mind?" Whumper asked as they took one of the cookies and brought them to their lips.

"Go ahead." Whumpee said. They watched as Whumper bit the cookie with their teeth while maintaining eye contact with them. Their eyes flickered for a second on Whumper's lips, as they licked off the crumbs so so slowly for Whumpee to watch.

"It's…delicious." Whumper commented, licking each of their fingers to clean it. Whumpee sighed in relief.

"So, do you wanna buy it?"

"Hm? Oh, no no no…the cookie is delicious, yes. But, that's not what I want." Whumper chuckled.

Whumpee shifted slightly in their seat, confused. "Then…what is it that you want?"

Whumper smiled at the question before they stood up and walked across the table to Whumpee. They leaned their body to them before whispering right into Whumpee's ear.

"You."

"...M-me?"

Whumper chuckled, "Yes, you. I want you, darling."

They wrapped their hands gently around Whumpee's as they looked straight into their eyes. Admiring those confused, vulnerable gaze. It was cute.

"Would you let me…?" Whumper asked softly. Fingers trailing up until they reached Whumpee's neck, thumb brushing the side of their neck delicately. A smirk plastered on their face as they caught Whumpee's flushed face, what a delightful sight indeed.

"You are blushing, sweetheart…am I making you flustered?"

Whumper asked. They chuckled softly as Whumpee remained silent. "I know how to make you blush even more."

Whumper tightened their grasp around Whumpee's neck. Whumpee yelp at the sudden pressure, they grabbed Whumper's wrist as they were struggling to breathe. Their face turning to a darker shade of red, almost like the content inside their head were trying to burst through their skull.

"S…stop.."

"Shh…just feel it, darling."

Whumper pushed their thumb against Whumpee's throat, resulting a gorgeous sound of pain escaping from their little friend. They leaned closer to Whumpee's ear, whispering with a malicious tone dripping on it,

"I bet you'll look so pretty tied up, with bruises and scars all over your body. I wonder what kind of sounds you will make when I carve your skin, when I make you mine…"

Whumper grinned sadistically at Whumpee's pitiful whimpers.

"Would you…like that?

Whumpee shook their head many times, tears streaming down their face from fear. "N-no! Please…please! Let me go!"

Whumper hummed, "Hmm…someone's eager to be mine." They said as they dragged Whumpee from their collar to the basement. Whumpee thrashing and struggling in futile behind them.

"No! Please! Please!"

Whumper closed their eyes, smiling softly. "God, I love that sound."

They opened the door to the basement and threw Whumpee inside before they locked the door. Whumpee's crying and screaming were muffled as they were banging the door desperately. The basement was dark and cold, they couldn't even fathom how someone could live in here.

Whumper made their way upstairs again before they sat on the couch. They beamed up at the sight of Whumpee's cookies in the basket. They took one of the packages, opened it, and put the cookie inside their mouth one by one in glee. Their evening was filled with the sweet cookies and adorable little sounds of Whumpee's misery from the basement.

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livelaughwhump · 8 days

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Commission for @oddsconvert of their boy Josh!!! Had a blast painting in those scars<3

Full will be available on my alt account <3

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livelaughwhump · 8 days

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Whump prompt

"Please don't- please just... just tell me what you want me to do, I'll do it - I'll do it please!" The whumpee sobbed, panicked words tumbling from their lips.

The whumper smiled, "You're already doing it, love," they placed a finger under the whumpee's chin and pulled their head up, wide, tear-filled eyes met with unwavering malice "All I want is to see you like this."

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livelaughwhump · 12 days

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what about elliot´s teammates having to restrain him for his own good, maybe he got flashbacks and got violent, like hitting his teammates and won´t calm down, i feel a lot of whump potential

i understand if its not your cup of tea in case you dont feel like writing it

Masterlist

Oooh, this is an excellent idea😈🥰 Thanks so much for the request!!

Content: flashback, knife violence, brief mention of blood, self-hatred, restraints, former pet whumpee

If I missed any content warnings, please let me know

The team wasn't unfamiliar with Elliot's flashbacks. They were typically triggered by small things, like loud noises or dark rooms, and they all manifested the same way; with Elliot frozen in place, tears leaking out of the corners of his wide, unblinking eyes and unintelligible mumbling followed by intense trembling of his whole body.

The team had witnessed many of these, and they'd learned a few methods to help bring Elliot out of it. The first was that Elliot seemed to respond best to physical touch, usually in the form of someone gently holding his hands. The second was kind words spoken softly and calmly into his ear. Finally, the third was patience. It wasn't easy to bring Elliot out of a flashback, especially when it was triggered by something larger. So, in order to bring him out of it, it was important for whoever was with him to be patient and calm throughout.

But nothing, not even the gentle methods the team had learned, could have prepared them for just how bad his flashbacks could get.

Nothing was out of the ordinary. The day started the same as always; the team ate breakfast together in the living room, Elliot sitting on the couch with his single slice of plain toast and cup of peppermint tea. He ate quietly, while the rest of the team chatted happily, making jokes and laughing with each other. Normally, he'd only eat about half of it, but on this particular day, he ate nearly the whole thing and drained his entire cup of tea.

He handed Landon the small sliver of toast he hadn't eaten, just like he did every morning, and stood up to take his empty mug to the kitchen. Elliot liked the routine. It was familiar and easy. Not much was expected of him, but it was just enough that he still felt useful. He liked making his own breakfast and doing his own dishes. He liked not being expected to talk when he didn't want to. As hard as it was to admit to himself, he liked his life with the team. They were nice to him. He trusted them.

As he was washing his mug in the sink, he couldn't help but stare out the window. Spring was swiftly approaching and Elliot couldn't look away as the morning rays of sun spilled through the gaps in the tree branches. He longed to go out there, to feel the warm sun on his face and the gentle breeze whistling through his hair.

Elliot couldn't remember the last time he'd been outside. It felt like years ago. It wasn't like he wasnt allowed to go outside. Of course he was...right? He'd never explicitly asked, but surely his friends wouldn't deny him that right. It's just that it was too cold before, that's all. There couldn't possibly be another reason.

"Elliot?"

The sound of another voice in the quiet kitchen pulled Elliot out of the endless spiral that was his thoughts. He started and gasped, only then realizing that the sink in front of him was quickly overflowing.

"Ah! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Elliot exclaimed, quickly draining the water. His muscles tensed as he prepared to be hit.

"No need to be sorry, sweet," Broderick's voice said from behind him. Chills scurried up the back of Elliot's neck as he felt the looming presence of the medic but didn't turn to look at him. "It was an accident. Did you get distracted?"

Elliot suppressed a flinch. "Y-Yes, Sir. I'm so sorry. It-It won't happen a—" Elliot's mind went white as he felt Broderick's presence grow closer, the wood creaking beneath his feet. Elliot's whole body froze.

"El?" Broderick said. "You all right? You look a little pale."

Dull images flashed through Elliot's mind, none of which he could comprehend. They swirled together and dissolved like salt in the sea, invisible but impossible to deny the lingering taste. The sudden influx of repressed memories left a rotten taste in his mouth; memories of Christian softly approaching him from behind, touching him, dragging him to the bedroom, stripping him of his dignity. He couldn't take it. The panic set every nerve in his body on fire, and as Broderick's gentle hand fell upon Elliot's stiff shoulder, all hell broke loose.

Elliot swiftly turned and slapped Broderick's hand away. "Don't touch me!" He shouted, tears stinging his eyes.

Broderick backed up, eyes wide with confusion. "Okay, I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't mean to startle you."

The next thing Elliot knew, there was a soapy knife in his hand. He didn't remember how it got there, but he shakily pointed it at Broderick regardless. "Get away from me!" He demanded, voice quivering almost as much as the knife in his fist.

Broderick was dumbstruck. "Elliot, I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm just trying to—"

"Shut up!" Elliot interrupted. "D-Don't come any c-closer! I'll k-kill you!"

Broderick took a small, risky step toward the panicked boy before him. His voice was gentle and soft as he said, "Elliot—"

Elliot didn't waste a second before he swung the knife, slicing a thin gash across Broderick's forearm. Broderick gasped and hissed and stumbled backward just in time for the rest of the team to spill into the room.

"What is going on?" Karine questioned. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight before her. "Elliot?"

Tears were steadily trickling down Elliot's face. "L-Leave me alone! I w-won't let you t-take me! I won't!"

"Darling, no one is taking you anywhere," Yvonne tried to reassure him. "Please, put the knife down. It's just us."

"I don't think he's seeing us, Yve," Karine whispered. "Landon, I'm gonna need you to try and discreetly sneak up behind him and grab the knife. The three of us will distract him."

Lyra was frozen in place, unable to process what they were seeing.

As Landon soundlessly slipped away, Karine held out her hands placatingly. "Elliot, buddy? I'm gonna need you to put the knife down, okay? We're not gonna hurt you."

Elliot took a step back, arms shaking. "I w-won't let you t-take me!"

"We're not gonna touch you, I promise," Karine said. "We just wanna talk. Please put the knife down. You're gonna hurt yourself."

Elliot stood his ground, completely unaware of the giant man looming behind him. In one swift movement, Landon grabbed Elliot and plucked the knife out of his hands.

Elliot screamed in what could only be described as pure terror. He kicked and flailed, his fist nailing Landon right in the mouth before Landon caught both of his wrists and manhandled him. Elliot fought with every ounce of strength he could muster.

"LET GO OF ME! LET GO! YOU CAN'T DO THIS!!" Elliot cried.

Landon wrapped him in a tight hug and whispered soothingly into his ear, "It's okay, it's okay. You're safe, buddy. You're safe." Over and over again.

Elliot's struggling didn't cease, and eventually, Karine had to grab hold of his flailing legs as well to prevent him from injuring anyone else, most of all himself. "Set him on the ground!" Karine shouted over Elliot's screams.

Lyra watched, tears blurring their eyes as Elliot was restrained and wrestled to the floor, all while sobbing and screaming and begging. The sight made their insides churn and their throat tighten.

Elliot sobbed and squirmed, but his fighting did little to free him. "P-Please, l-let me go. Wh-Why are you d-doing this?"

"You've gotta come back to us, buddy," Karine said in the most gentle voice she could. "You're home, safe and sound. No one is going to hurt you anymore. Just take a deep breath." Karine glanced over her shoulder at Lyra, who was still as a statue. "Lye? Can you grab us a weighted blanket please? Lyra? Lyra!"

Lyra snapped out of it, their focus shifting from Elliot to Karine. "Y-Yes. I-I'll be right back." They hurried into their room and grabbed the heaviest weighted blanket they had. When they returned, Karine had released Elliot's legs and Landon only had a loose hold on Elliot's upper half.

The boy had ceased his struggling and had instead dissolved into a sobbing mess. As Lyra handed off the weighted blanket to Karine, Landon released Elliot. The blanket was draped over Elliot's shaking body.

"Lyra? Maybe you should try to talk to him," Karine suggested.

Lyra nodded and kneeled down beside him. "Sunshine? Can you hear me?"

Elliot kept his eyes trained on the floor and the droplets of crimson that Broderick had left behind. The smallest nod of his head was the only response he gave.

"How are you feeling?"

Lyra didn't expect an answer, or really any kind of indication that Elliot had heard them. They weren't surprised when Elliot remained completely frozen in place, eyes unblinking and skin as pale as bone.

Lyra didn't push Elliot to speak. Instead, they sat beside him as he watched Karine wipe up the blood. Once the kitchen floor was no longer peppered with red, Karine excused herself and left Lyra and Elliot to themselves.

Moments after Karine's departure, Elliot said, in the tiniest voice possible, "Did I h-hurt him?"

His voice was so small and meek that Lyra wasn't even completely sure that they'd heard him. "What was that, El?"

Elliot took a deep breath and repeated his question, a little louder this time. "D-Did I h-hurt him?"

Lyra didn't know how to answer. They didn't want to make him feel worse by being truthful, but they couldn't stand lying to him either. "It was just a little cut," they answered, keeping their voice soft so as not to frighten him. "Broderick will be fine. He's a medic, after all. He's used to dealing with this kind of stuff."

Those words did nothing to ease Elliot's grief. "I hurt him," Elliot mumbled, his voice quivering almost as much as the rest of him. Tears flooded his blood-shot eyes and he sniffled. "I'm a b-bad dog."

Lyra didn't know what to do. It had been nearly a month since Elliot had last called himself a dog, and the last thing they wanted was for him to regress. Internally panicking, Lyra said, "It wasn't your fault. I don't know what happened, but I know it wasn't your fault."

Elliot's tears started to fall. "H-How do you kn-know?"

"Because I know you," they asserted. Elliot finally looked up at them, eyes watery and filled with regret. Lyra gently wiped his tears. "You're a good person, Elliot. A good person that's gone through some terrible things. You've been hurt and taken advantage of and abused, but you are still a good person and you always will be. You'd never hurt anyone on purpose, let alone one of us."

Elliot looked away. "Is he m-mad at me?"

Lyra shook her head. "He could never be mad at you. No one here could. We love you too much."

Elliot sniffled again and leaned his head on her shoulder. Lyra opened her arms and gathered him in a tight hug. He laid his head on her chest, his remaining tears soaking through the fabric.

"I've got you, sunshine," Lyra whispered. Elliot snuggled against her, curling up on her lap like a child after a nightmare. There was no place on Earth he felt safer than in her arms. She rubbed gentle circles into her back and carded her fingers through his hair. "I've got you."

Thanks so much for the request! I hope you enjoyed this! Also, please let me know if I have any typos. I didn't really get the chance to proofread this.

If anyone else has any drabble requests, suggestions, or questions for me or my characters, please send me an ask!

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