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pigeonwhumps · 24 days

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Battle

Taglist: @painful-pooch @i-eat-worlds @a-funeral-romance @rainydaywhump

Angstpril: alt prompt 1: troubled mind

Inspired by these two prompts by @hurtmyfavsthanks and an anon ask she received. I saw the more recent one and just wrote this straight up within a couple of hours, unable to resist it.

CWs: living weapon, outcast whumpee, magical whumpee, low self-esteem, betrayal kinda, mentions of battle and casualties, mentioned past discrimination

Whumpee doesn't remember much of the battle.

It went by in a haze. They remember red, people falling, screams, unsure which side they were on. They remember the glee, the euphoria, of using their magic. The high of it all.

Now they're starting to come down from that high, and they can see the fear in people's eyes. The injuries, the casualties. Vaguely, they wonder who caused them. Was it them again?

Hands cup their face, gentle, calloused. The only ones that will ever touch them anymore.

Caretaker's.

"Hey. Look at me, now. Not the camp. Me." Whumpee looks up hesitantly, into their loving, warm eyes. One day they'll change. One day... one day they'll harden. Fear, hatred. From all the people they've hurt, on all sides. One day it'll be too much. They're afraid of the day they'll see that, of what will happen then.

But it hasn't happened yet.

Caretaker wipes their cheek softly. "It's okay. Come on, rest. Lay your head down. You're done for today. Close your eyes and rest."

Whumpee crawls into Caretaker's lap. They vaguely register being carried, head being lifted until it meets Caretaker's neck. Whumpee nuzzles into it.

"Shh. You did so well. You're doing so well, Whumpee. I'm proud of you."

Whumpee doesn't want to be. They want to grow flowers. But this is what their magic likes, this is what their king likes, this is what makes Caretaker say those words of praise in just that voice, so they can't stop.

(They ignore the small voice in their head that says that they have no idea what Caretaker's reaction to flowers would be. This is exhilarating, even if they feel an ever-growing bubble of shame at the endless, ruthless violence.)

Caretaker runs a hand through their hair, combing out the knots from the day's work, using a little water to clean the worst of the blood. Whumpee has been through this so many times that they know what to expect without even a glance. He won't hurt them with those eyes. They know his expression, his feelings, and they curl their arms and legs closer around him.

He's so warm.

"S'okay buddy. I'm here."

"Hmm."

Whumpee closes their eyes. It's so... so... they don't think they can sleep yet but they find themself drifting on the exhaustion the magical high always brings.

The next morning is... the next morning. As it always is with a new squad, it is very different to the first one.

And as it always is, Whumpee feels a sharp stab of hurt.

The soldiers know who they are, what they are. Have done since the very beginning .They've worked with Whumpee on the preparations, the journey here, for weeks. They know them. Sat around the campfire, shared meals, joked and talked and laughed. They'd been wished good luck yesterday morning, hair ruffled, smiles and reassurances in abundance. Soldier had even fixed their horse's saddle after the straps started to break. Now...

Now, they won't come within arms length of them. Soldier ladles out breakfast to the rest, leaving an empty bowl several feet from Whumpee, not looking them in the eye as he leaves them to fetch their own. He flinches along with several others as they approach the campfire, more whose hands jerk towards their swords. As if they're going to attack. As if they're so out of control that they'd attack their own side on purpose.

They reluctantly let go of Caretaker's hand so he can fetch their breakfast and the healing potion alone. At least he looks them in the eye. At least he sits with them, and talks, and touches them. Helps convince them to take the potion, even though it's bitter and rancid and no-one will improve it for the likes of them, and they won't need it once the adrenaline and euphoria of tomorrow's battle kicks in.

The kindness is only for now. It will change, sooner or later.

Nobody helps the pair of them take down their tent, or pack their saddlebags, and the Sergeant looks about to stop Whumpee from replacing the emergency set of daggers they carry in their boots at all times. A gift from Caretaker.

It's like they have the plague. Or the Devil's Touch, as their old villagers used to say.

They're pretty much alone in the clearing now, the rest of the squad staying as far away as they can without letting Whumpee out of their sight. Just in case they explode or something.

Without a word, Whumpee settles down on the ground beside the smoldering fire, Caretaker sitting on the log behind them. It's a sharply cold morning, dew dampening their breeches, but their leather armour keeps them surprisingly warm.

Caretaker braids their hair quickly and simply, just enough to keep it out of their face. Battlefields aren't the place for complicated hairstyles. Which is a shame, because Caretaker takes pride in that skill, and Whumpee delights in being allowed to display the results.

Whumpee dries their face with the cloth Caretaker hands them wordlessly. They need to get it together. It's not like it's the end of the world or anything. They try to summon the ease by which they sometimes prepare, the eagerness instead of dread that comes with a lot of battles.

It doesn't come. Today is a day for dread, then, and there's nothing they can do about it but pray for a miracle. And a break in the hatred and fear, the violence with which everyone rejects them.

They can't help thinking, though, that the amount of damage they've done, it's no wonder people want them locked away. They are a weapon, after all.

Yes. Definitely one of the bad days.

Caretaker's their handler. They try not to think about it but it's true. He's the only one who might see it, might offer them a brief reprieve. So they summon up all their courage.

"Please..."

Caretaker finishes the braid and kisses their temple. "I'm so sorry, Whumpee. I really am. But you need to do this. We need to do this. The kingdom needs you."

Whumpee nods. They don't blame Caretaker, not really. They need to win this war. And Whumpee needs to use their magic.

But gods do they wish they could stop.

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stoic-whumpee · 2 years

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Prompt #95

A character who has been used and exploited too many times, who has been pushed into doing terrible things without another option. A character who every single choice they were forced to make made had led to more downfall, who is never offered a second chance. They don't believe they deserve a chance to be happy anymore.

#whump #whump prompts #whump prompt #outcast whumpee #villain whumpee #villain whump #guilt #regret #emotional whump #helplessness #despair #r prompts

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way-of-the-whump · 1 year

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God team outcast whump is the best. The angst that comes with the exclusion from activities, the side eyes, Whumpee crying behind closed doors with nobody noticing, or maybe somebody does but they don’t care. After all, nobody likes Whumpee.

I just have a soft spot for this whump trope. Especially when Whumpee is an Ex/Reformed Villain <3

#emotional whump #whump tropes #whump ideas #outcast whump #outcast whumpee #team whump #whumpee #whumper #whump blog #polyesters rambles

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lumpofwhump · 2 years

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Whumpmas in July Day 17: What trope do you adore that you wish there was more love for?

Outcast Whumpees! Especially whumpees whose outcast status isn’t their fault and is based on a morally neutral characteristic, but that people often treat as a sign or a result of a personal failing.

Examples of this include:

Whumpees who aren’t conventionally attractive.

Fat whumpees.

Whumpees coded as lower-class.

Neurodivergent whumpees who most others read as “weird” or “difficult” or even “scary” rather than sympathetic.

Gender-nonconforming whumpees.

There’s a lot of ways that this can make someone’s existence extra-whumpy, such as:

Whump justified as being “for their own good,” such as forced medical treatment/drugging, nonconsensual body modification, or food deprivation.

Humiliation, including from unsympathetic bystanders.

Outsiders believing the much more attractive, charismatic, and/or polished Whumper over the Whumpee if Whumpee ever complained or tried to escape.

Whumper gaslighting Whumpee into believing that no one else would want or care for them.

Heroes treating a minor or redeemable villain whumpee as not worth saving because of the stigmatized trait.

If forced to choose between several whumpees, a would-be Caretaker leaves the outcast Whumpee behind.

…Or a Reluctant Whumper chooses Whumpee as the most acceptable target.

Internalized prejudice, including that which predates the whump in a story, enough for Whumpee to feel that their suffering is deserved, or the best someone like them can hope for.

Recovery arcs where a (good) Caretaker fully accepts Whumpee for who and what they are… and will fight anyone who does otherwise.

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whumperofworlds · 1 year

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Most of my OCs don't get the whump treatment in the main story, only in AUs I do with my friends, because I'm too soft for it on my own

....A few do, though. Cw for child death (temporary)

I have one character who's descended from the Phantom of the Opera('s brother), and is destined/cursed to repeat his ancestor's story. He grew up outcast and alone, like Erik did, because of his scarred face. But then, after he found his Christine (ace-spec princess who'd rather ride dragons than sing or be protected), things started going very wrong. Namely, he gets captured by a ghostly necromancer who wants to take over his body and use it to come back to life! Then his Christine gets captured too, and he nearly dies getting her to safety.

I have another OC who gets murdered at about age 10, which messes up her entire family for awhile :D and then she comes back to life at 19 or 20 and her twin brother is majorly fucked up now oops and SHE has trauma from, yk, getting killed, which she's gonna have to deal with later but not yet because they're sort of in the middle of a war and it's a bad time for a mental breakdown

I'm trying to be meaner to the characters in the newer drafts but I still love them so much it's hard. Makes for better story tho :D

DAAAAAAAAAAMN. That's brutal. I really like how it's connected to Phantom of the Opera too! (Never watched/read it though).

And I know how you feel about being soft on OCs to the point you can't whump them. I have a few that no matter what, I just. Can't whump them. They're cinnamon rolls.

And yes, be meaner to your chatacters!!

#wow answers #whump #child death tw #murder #captured #outcast whumpee #others' ocs

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dismemberment-on-a-tuesday-night · 11 months

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Whumpay day 19 & 16 - carewhumper/team outcast whumpee

A plot idea that won't stop leaving me alone.

• Whumper captures Whumpee, trying to get information out of them.

• Whumper employ kindness rather than torture.

• Whumpee is used to neglect at the hands of their team and finds this twisted form of care addictive.

• Team Leader decides that Whumpee isn't as important as their mission, and leaves them behind.

• Whumpee eventually grows to trust Whumper and spills their secrets.

•Whumper has grown to love Whumpee, in a deeply creepy way, and continues to take care of them even while using the secrets against Whumpee's old team.

• Whumpee doesn't hold it against Whumper, especially after finding out that they were intentionally left behind.

• Whumper captures Team Leader and leaves their fate up to Whumpee, who is far less compassionate than Whumper.

Event: @whumpay

Taglist: @elim-flower @devourerofcheesecake @heavenly-whumper @whumpshaped @whumpsday

#whump #Whumpay #Whumpay day 19 #Team outcast whumpee #Creepy/intimate whumper

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whump-in-the-closet · 1 year

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cw stitches, injury mention

We really need more of Whumpee having to stitch or bandage their own wounds, only to have Caretaker accidentally walk in

A Caretaker who stares in shock and then looks away. They don’t ask any questions as they fix the bandages that were so badly done.

A Caretaker who rolls their eyes and uses sarcasm to hide their concern. “God, Whumpee, did no one teach you basic first aid?” and then fixes the bandages

A Caretaker who muffles a curse before gently telling Whumpee that it’s okay to ask for help. Whumpee saying, “I might need a little help”

Alternately, a Whumpee who snaps at Caretaker and tells them they have it under control. “Leave me alone!” Caretaker leaves Whumpee cursing as they yank at their bandages.

#not thinking about valian. not thinking about valian. not—#whump #whumpblr #whump prompt #whump writing #whump community #whump ideas #social outcast whumpee #kinda #defiant whumpee

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aceofwhump · 2 years

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duke-of-whumpletion hit a really specific whump area for me and I thank them for it so much! Outcast whump gets my feels going. Especially if the whumpee were once a respected team member. Burn Notice has a bit of it in later seasons, do you know of any other shows or media where it occurs?

Right!!! Same here!!! (post referenced)

It's a trope I didn't even realize I liked so much until I saw that post and wanted to squeal lol. Oh man outcast whump is gooooood. So angsty. Burn Notice does do that doesn't it! Love it.

Um other shows. Graceland has it on and off throughout the show. The Loki series as well. Loki is definitely an outcast in that show. I feel like the Umbrella Academy is good for this too. Oh Legends of Tomorrow! Mitch betrays the team and then comes back and no one trusts him.

Uhhh crap that's all that's coming to mind. Followers help me out?

#ask #anon #mod replies #outcast whumpees #whump

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whumperfultime · 4 months

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Tarot-Inspired Whump Prompts

I'm enthusiastic about both whump and tarot and those interests were bound to collide at some point. So I wrote a list of writing prompts inspired by the Major Arcana! Five prompts for each card, so there should be something for everyone. Enjoy!

(Also, if you happen to write anything based on any of these, feel free to tag me! I'd be honored to read it.)

The Fool: Accidental whump. Misplaced trust. Leap of faith. Taking a risk. Falling from a high place.

The Magician: Magical whump. Manipulation. Mind control. A charismatic and confident character. A table full of tools for inflicting pain.

The High Priestess: Keeping secrets. Blindfolded whumpee relying on their other senses. Guarding something or someone. Intuitively noticing when something or someone has changed. Cult setting/dynamics.

The Empress: Gilded cage. Lady whump (if you're into that). Comfort in material things. Gentle caretaker. Whumpee not used to experiencing abundance and safety.

The Emperor: Strict whumper and/or strict rules. Royal whump. Wartime. Stoic leader trying to remain calm for the sake of their team. High security.

The Hierophant: Religious whump. Institutionalized whump. Punished for questioning authority. Pressure to conform. Power leading to corruption.

The Lovers: Yandere whump. Sadistic choice. Forced to watch. Protectiveness. Multiple whumpees, whumpers, caretakers, etc.

The Chariot: Car crash. On the run. Kidnapped and forced into a vehicle. Lost and stranded. Unwanted and distressing thoughts.

Strength: Whumpee turned caretaker or whumper. Monster character. Patient caretaker. Animal attack. Emotional support animal.

The Hermit: Isolation. Sensory deprivation. Neglect. Feeling like an outcast. Going into hiding.

Wheel of Fortune: Bad luck. Time heals all wounds. Long-term captivity. Painful anniversaries. Wrong place, wrong time.

Justice: Whumper being arrested. Detached/indifferent whumper or caretaker. Wrongful imprisonment. Privileges vs. punishments. Shutting off emotions so logic can take over.

The Hanged Man: Stress position. Caught in a net. Restrained and abandoned. Hanging. Standing cuffs.

Death: Grief. Recovery milestones. Immortal whumpee dying over and over. Left behind. Visiting a grave.

Temperance: Drugged whumpee. Personality changes due to trauma. Angel character. Poisoning. Mad scientist whumper.

The Devil: Demon character. Sadistic whumper. Addiction and unhealthy coping mechanisms. Pet whump. Collared.

The Tower: Building collapse. Struck by lightning. Drastic change. A character being overpowered. Shocking revelation or betrayal.

The Star: Bathing (whether this is peaceful or whumpy is up to you). Drowning. Finally being able to rest. Anything having to do with recovery. Dehydration.

The Moon: Nightmares. Lost in the woods. Werewolf character. Illusions or hallucinations. Running on pure survival instinct.

The Sun: Sunburn. Public figure whumpee. Forced to perform. First time outside after being held captive. Heatstroke.

Judgement: Revenge. Sound torture. Deity character. Punishment. Resurrected from the dead.

The World: Endings (positive or negative). Breaking the cycle of abuse. Overwhelmed by choices. Regaining personal autonomy. Closure and acceptance (or lack thereof).

#whump prompts #whump ideas #whump community #whumpblr #this was really fun to make and i'm very proud of the finished result #if i get really brave maybe i'll post a scene or story of my own someday

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whumpees · 20 days

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My dearest (2023) whump list

Synopsis: Yu Gil Chae is a pretty, bubbly, and a bit spoiled young lady who's called the 99 tailed fox of Neunggun-ri. She is also a bit of an outcast because other young ladies are jealous of her. They seem to think she's too straightforward and her behavior is inappropriate for a young lady, while young noblemen think highly of her. Gil Chae knows how to get men to fall for her but fails to capture the heart of the person she likes. Lee Jang Hyun is a mysterious man who suddenly appears in the Neunggun-ri social scene. Nobody really knows anything about him. Young nobles don't like him, but the elderly are wrapped around his finger. He's been dating around a lot, but he becomes curious about a certain 99 tailed fox, and one day, the said fox quite literally crash lands into his arms. Once war is brewing, the pair finds themselves separated before they could even start to make sense of their feelings.

Whumpee: Lee Jang Hyun played by Namkoong Min

Episodes: 21 (divided into two parts: 10 for the first, 11 for the second)

Very whumpy show damn

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Contains spoilers

Ep1: flash forward: the show starts out with the male lead on the shore covered in blood and panting holding his sword and an army of people waiting to charge at him :: slashed in the arm, somebody wraps his wound

Ep5: everyone paying attention to their injuried love interest and rushing to help him but the male lead is standing there watching them with blood dripping from his arm but no one is paying attention to him (my baby boy 😭) :: Later female lead is arguing and screaming at him and he just leaves her but then she notices the blood on his hand and commands he sits down and wraps his wound and says it's severe and not gonna heal easily so he needs to rest for a month :: Blood through his bandage :: Someone throws something at his face & the cut drips blood on the ground

Ep6: contracts a disease but is unaware, later while waking he puts his hand on his head and sways (dizzy or a headache), coughs up blood, fighting with the enemies, slashed in the side, "from this point, nobody is getting past me" (HE'S FIGHTING WHILE SICK to protect fl), fought dozens of soldiers and when there's just one remaining he's finally getting weak and has blurry vision and gets slashed in the back

Ep7: his enemy pushed him and he falls down in pain, laying on the ground, somebody kills the enemy for him, the fl is near him but she doesn't see him!!! Fuck. he cries then passes out on the ground alone in the forest, wakes up on the ground, panting and trying to get up and is weak, walking unsteadily, waving to his friends that he's there then passes out and falls down, unconscious in bed and being tended to, woke up

Ep8: having a conversation with fl and he was reaaaally hurt by her words he started tearing up and was about to cry :: In a prison cell

Ep10: crying and hurt (he acts hurt so well)

Ep11: rememberd fl and cried (seriously i love it when this actor cries he depicts so much emotion in his face and this scene was adorable)

Ep12: sword pointed at his neck leaving a cut :: Tearing up while telling a personal story to someone

Ep13: crying in shock and absolutely heartbroken (I'm a sucker for this man's tears)

Ep14: hit on the head and knocked down, tries to move but ends up passing out, woke up startled, gets up immediately and kinda unsteady :: Tearing up :: Crying again :: On his knees begging to be punished instead of fl and saying he's ready to do anything or even be a servant for the rest of his life to let her go (bear in mind this is not like him 😳 so it means it shook his core to see fl humiliated like that) :: Shot in the back by an arrow to protect fl, passes out on top of her, unconscious in bed, tended to by his friend and fl, wakes up

Ep15: wakes up and caresses female lead's face then passes out again and his hand drops, wakes up, lifts his head and smiles and it causes him pain :: Pretends to still be passed out so fl doesn't leave :: Fl takes care of him while he's still pretending to be unconscious and she sees his scars :: Pretends to limp & collapse & be in pain :: His friend tells him to not pretend to be in pain but this time he actually is in pain

Ep16: unwrapping his bandages :: Wants to cry :: Teary eyes :: Teary eyes again

Ep17: teary eyes

Ep18: crying :: Hit over the head and collapses unconscious and his friend catches him but he also gets hit and they both fall to the ground :: Walking blindfolded and swaying (hasn't recovered from the blow to his head), in a prison cell hands tied and blood on his face :: Interrogated and kinda dazed while answering and looks weak, beaten :: Blood A LOT of blood dripping from his face, more beating, collapses, passes out :: On the ground bloody and helpless trying to reach out to the ring the fl gave him :: Put on a cart while blindfolded and unconscious and drops the ring (gosh i love when their hands are extended out when their unconscious it showed in multiple scenes in this ep), carried out of the cart and put among a pile of the dead, fl finds him and lifts the blindfold and ooff he's SOAKED in blood it looks so good, shakes him to wake up but he doesn't, half opens his eyes and reaches out to grab her clothes but doesn't have the strength to

Ep19: she helps him to walk by supporting him by his arm but is basically dragging him cuz he's unconscious, 2 ppl holding him by the arms, put to bed in fl's house, half awake briefly and back to unconscious, doc checks his pulse and gestures that he's in hopeless situation, coughs while unconscious, trying to get him out of the house cuz soldiers are looking for him and again grabbed by the arm to walk and is unconscious, ryang eum takes him on a horse and runs away, unconscious in bed, nursed, having a traumatic flashback and fighting in his sleep, woke up and doesn't remember anyone (for fuck's sake this is so unnecessary), pulse checked while asleep :: Awake and ok, fl feeds him, head pain :: Again having flashbacks in his sleep :: More flashbacks and head pain, fl feeds him (he's baffled bc of the attention he's getting from her cuz he still doesn't remember 😂) :: Fl tends his injuries, has a lot of big bruises (also he's now very shy when she touches him he screamed at her to stop 😂) :: Starts getting his memories back and flashbacks from when he was beaten and his head hurts, rememberd fl

Ep20: crying out of happiness (it's a beautiful scene) :: Knife pointed at his neck

Ep21: emotional confrontation with his dad and cries :: Cries again :: Finally back to the very first scene in ep 1 where dozens of people are trying to kill him, crying, getting up with difficulty, unsteady, blood dripping from him, collapses on one leg, status unknown but someone he's probably dead cuz he was bleeding a lot :: Flashback: It's night time and he's still walking on the beach while injured, staggering, passes out and falls on the ground, found by an old man, lost his memories again (is the author actually insane?), crying :: Crying reaally hard at the end

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Extra: not whump but the relationship between Jang Hyun and Ryang Eum is adorable 😭 In ep 9 jang hyun says that he doesn't belong on anyone's side, then ryang eum says to him while he's sleeping: "you don't belong to anyone, but i belong to you" and moves jang hyun's arm to sleep on it 😭😭😭 and in ep 11 ryang eum watches a slave being punished and looks at jang hyun with a horrified and pleading expression and without having to say a word jang hyun immediately stops them from punishing the slave just cuz his friend was hurt by it even tho he normally wouldn't give a shit 😭😭😭 that scene was so freaking adorable 😭 he always cares if the people he loves care. And in episode 15 he was crying his eyes out bc jang hyun got injured and was fighting with fl to nurse him 😂😂😂

(Ok i had my suspicions especially after ep 14 where the old man told ryang eum that jang hyun only considers him as a younger brother and "not to be greedy" but after ep 15 I'm now pretty positive it's not platonic anymore dude has feelings 😂 his jealousy was annoying it got in the way صورم انا اول مرة اشوف راجل بصورم 😒)

#my dearest 2023 whump list #namkoong min whump #whump lists #asian whump lists #very whumpy shows #whumpy dramas #nam koong min whump #nam joong min whump #nam goong min whump

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shywhumpauthor · 1 year

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So you know the “A redeemed villain joins the team of heroes” trope?

And the “supervillain captures the team of heroes and tortured the weakest” trope?

And also the “whumpee is scared that no one cares about their suffering because of their past mistakes” trope?

What if you smushed them all together

Redeemed villain joins the Heroes team, and though they’re good now, they’re still a bit of an outcast among the ranks. The team isn’t outright mean or ignoring to them, but after battles and such Villain is always the last to get checked over in the medbay, their wounds are downplayed, they’re made to work through pain and illness because “come on, it’s not that bad, we’ve all dealt with worse”

So they start hiding injuries, tending to their own wounds behind the locked door of their bedroom. They stop attempting to socialize with the group, and instead isolate themself, and the heroes are fine with that, they don’t care. “If villain wanted to talk, they’d come to us. We’re not going to go in there and bother them.” Of course, whenever villain tried to talk, their worries were pushed aside and discarded without a care, so it doesn’t make a difference when they stop trying.

Then a mission goes south, and they all end up in a big cell, chained and cuffed with ability restrictors. Supervillain takes them all out one by one to interrogate them, and after each return the person is always injured and bleeding. Youngest is the first to be tortured, so after they come back, no one even notices as Villain is dragged out of the cell, they’re too busy tending to Youngest.

Bonus points if the heroes get mad at Villain and accuse them of conspiring with Supervillain, plotting this capture.

Edit: I suppose there could be a nice comfort scene after this where the heroes apologize after realizing how awful they are but where’s the fun in that

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pigeonwhumps · 5 months

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Aftermath

Immortal Cannon Fodder masterlist

Taglist: @extrabitterbrain @wolfeyedwitch @painful-pooch @i-eat-worlds @a-funeral-romance @whumpinggrounds

Direct sequel to A Late Night Discovery by @i-eat-worlds, a crossover with their series Alex and Friends in which Joseph, their medic, finds Phoenix injured.

In this sequel, Aaron discovers more worrying things, and tries to take care of them.

2.7k

CWs: immortal whumpee, hero whump, abuse, mentioned child abuse, medical whump (past and current), painful wound care, being kicked out, team whump, fear of punishment, whumpee believing they're undeserving, low self-esteem, exhaustion, starvation, outcast whumpee

"You said you'd come to me if you were injured."

Phoenix cringes away from Aaron's disappointment. "I'm sorry, sir. I thought that, um, I could deal with it myself. It's not even bad."

"Hey. I'm not mad. But you've got a decent-sized gash on your side and you were going to attempt to treat it yourself. I suspect not too well either. Let me decide how bad your injuries are in future, alright?"

Phoenix nods. "What, um, what happens now? Am I free to go? It's really not that bad. It'll heal. I've had worse and, um, not gone to medbay."

"I don't want you heading back to your flat yet, not when there's a very real chance your teammates will make your injury worse. I estimate you'll be mostly healed by the end of my shift, and then you can go. Is that alright?"

Phoenix nods. It's unnecessary, but then so is a lot of what Aaron does for them. And Joseph too, apparently.

It's weird. They don't understand why Joseph's helping, he barely even knows them. But it makes them feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

"Thank you." Aaron squeezes their shoulder. "I'd better get back to work now. Please don't leave before I get back."

After Aaron's left, Phoenix curls up on the bed. The main problem with him visiting them when he's not busy is going to be fooling him into thinking they have somewhere to go. That won't be the case for months, if ever.

They spend most of the hours that Aaron's gone trying to think of an excuse to get them off their back so they can return to their hiding place in the corner of the supply cupboard. But it's... well. They have no idea what to say that would be convincing.

But if they don't... they've fucked up. They know they have. Indigo and Segun kicked them out, and they must've had a reason for it, even if they weren't exactly clear with Phoenix (and even if it is only temporarily). And now Aaron will be angry about it, and they don't think they can stand that.

They're starting to feel rather hungry. Maybe they can have a snack after Aaron discharges them. That's sort of the same way as their flat.

Well. It can be.

They could just leave now. They're tempted. But they promised Aaron they'd stay, and they can't break a promise. That would be worse.

Aaron returns several hours later, clean bandage in hand. He smiles tightly as he enters the treatment area.

"Okay Phoenix. I'm going to check your injury and then rebandage it. It might hurt a bit. Is that okay?"

"Yes, sir."

Aaron winces as they bend down beside them. "No need for all the sirs." Gently, oh so gently, they unwind the bandage around Phoenix's waist. Honestly, it's too gently, they don't deserve it. They don't understand why Aaron is being so, so gentle.

"It doesn't look too bad, it's starting to close. I'm going to touch it quickly to check for infection." Aaron's as good as his word, touching for a few seconds at most. "It doesn't feel hot, that's good. I think you're safe. Let me just rebandage it. Hold onto the bed if you need to."

Phoenix doesn't think they'll need to at first, it's not like it's that bad, they're hurt all the time without professional medical care, but the bandage pressing down hurts and they end up with the pillow in a white-knuckled grip.

Maybe it hurts more if they're professionals.

He's so gentle, but it still hurts. But then, the pain is only what they deserve, after all.

"There you go, kid. It should be finished healing sometime tomorrow. Are you in pain?"

Phoenix swallows. The honest answer is yes, but they deserve it. Aaron will try to give them painkillers if they say yes, and they don't need them. Those can go to other heroes who need them, who deserve them, because they certainly don't.

"I, um, don't need painkillers. I'm okay, really. Other, um, heroes deserve them more."

"That wasn't what I asked. But it still answers my question." He heads across the room and pops a couple of painkillers, handing them to Phoenix with a glass of water. "I want to make it absolutely clear, Phoenix. You deserve painkillers just as much as anyone else here, and anyone telling you otherwise is just manipulating you. We have plenty of medicine, we're not running short, and even if we were, that doesn't mean you wouldn't deserve them. Alright?"

Phoenix nods. They don't believe them, but they don't want to know what'll happen if they disagree.

Aaron nods. "Alright. Alright." He strokes their hair gently and they close their eyes involuntarily. They're so tired. Sleeping in a storage cupboard isn't exactly conducive to good rest.

"You're free to go now, if you like. There's no rush, but so long as you come back in the morning for a check-up I'll discharge you."

"Yes please." Phoenix hops off the table, overbalancing slightly and catching themself on Aaron's arm. It doesn't matter. If they leave now, alone, before Aaron has a chance to change their mind, maybe they can get to their cupboard without them finding out.

"Woah. Are you sure you're okay to go back on your own? You don't need me to walk you?"

Phoenix nods. "I'm fine. Thank you."

And they take the packet of painkillers that Aaron presses into their hand and walk out of the treatment area.

Aaron frowns after Phoenix as they exit the treatment area. They don't look well. The bags under their eyes are even more pronounced than normal, and that's saying something. And they look scared. They're stumbling into things, like they're going to collapse.

Aaron doesn't trust that they'll make it back to their flat alone.

He shouldn't, it's probably breaking their trust in some way, but he follows. And that... that isn't the direction of their flat.

He's not going to say anything. Not even going to approach, just keep an eye. But then Phoenix stumbles, and staggers, and trips into the wall, starting to slide down.

And Aaron runs. Fuck, no. They're not letting Phoenix hurt themself more.

They put an arm around their waist, lifting them upright. They'd rather carry them but they were so adamant about not wanting to be accompanied earlier, the least they can do is attempt to accommodate their wishes.

"Hey, hey. Easy. You're okay."

Phoenix shakes their head frantically. "No, no, please, I'm sorry. Just let me go, please, I didn't, um, mean to be an inconvenience, I'm sorry, don't, um, don't hurt me, don't punish me, I know I deserve it but please."

"Woah. Easy Phoenix. I'm not going to hurt you. Aside from anything else, it'd be a waste of my efforts in healing you, hmm? Come on, take a deep breath. That's it. I'll walk you back to your flat, yeah? Are you okay to do that?"

Phoenix sniffs. "I– I– I can't– I'm not allowed– please just– I don't–"

Their voice cracks and they break off, bursting into hoarse, racking sobs.

"Please."

They flinch as Aaron touches their shoulder, and he squeezes it once before letting go.

"What can't you do, Phoenix?"

"I can't– I'm not 'llowed– Indigo 'n' Segun kicked me out. 'Cos 'm useless and only Abbie's apprentice and they don't need to waste resources on me. Please, don't be angry, I'm sorry."

Aaron swallows down the instinctual rush of hot fury at that statement. "I would never be angry about that. Not at you, at any rate. It's not your fault they're unwilling to fulfill anything more than the exact wording of their contractual obligations. Hmm? Where are you staying at the moment?"

Phoenix eyes him warily, like they don't believe a word of it, and he tries not to feel hurt. This isn't about him.

"Storage– storage cupboard," they whisper. Aaron shakes their head.

"That won't do, especially now you're injured. Want to come stay with me instead?"

"I, um, don't deserve that."

Aaron raises an eyebrow. "You can't heal in a space as small as the cupboards you must be using."

"Can. Have. Lemme go."

"Let me take care of you."

"Don't need that. Can't pay you back for it. I'll mess up. Don't wanna... please."

"You don't need to pay. I'm just trying to help my friend. You. I mean, you can do some chores if you really want to, but it's not compulsory."

"Flatmates? Don't wanna make people angry."

"I don't have any. Medics have studio flats. Which you know, you've visited before. Let me help you. Please. I'll worry for ages if I don't."

"Shouldn't. 'm not worth it."

"Hey. I decide who's worth worrying about."

And he doesn't know why. Maybe it's the emotional side in him. Maybe it's the way they get so tearful, so disbelieving, whenever anyone's kind. How could anybody not want to comfort them?

"Can I give you a hug?"

Phoenix nods, looking startled. Aaron puts their arms around them properly, carefully, one wrapped fairly tightly around their shoulder. And Phoenix...

Phoenix crumbles. Leaning against their chest, head pressed against them, sobbing their heart out as they grip his scrubs like their life depends on it.

Maybe it does. Aaron wouldn't put anything past their team.

"Hey. Shh, you're okay, it's okay, you're safe. I won't let anyone hurt you. Just let it out, that's it, there you go, kid."

A nurse turns the corner into the corridor, immediately retracing her steps when she sees them. Aaron's grateful. Phoenix needs their privacy, even if it's hard to get here.

"Sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." They murmur it like a desperate litany, a prayer, and in response Aaron hugs them tighter.

"Let me help you. Please."

Phoenix looks up, confusion creasing their face. "You're, um, not going to give up, are you?"

"No. I'm not leaving you in a supply cupboard. Or anywhere else that you won't be taken care of. I'm off shift now, so I can do that."

"O-okay then, I guess. Where, um, where are you taking me?"

"To my flat. If that's okay. Can you walk?"

Phoenix nods and clears their throat, putting one foot down properly on the ground, preparing to stand.

And promptly starts to slide back down.

"And that's a no. Arms around my neck, there you go. When did you last eat a proper meal, kid? You're getting towards skin and bones."

"I, um, I had some biscuits yesterday. They were good biscuits! I had nowhere to get proper food from anyway!" they add defensively. Aaron tucks a lock of hair behind their ear, stifling a sigh.

"Cafeteria?"

Phoenix blinks up at them. "We have one of those?"

"Well, yes. Did no-one give you a tour?"

"Abbie said I didn't need one. That everything I could need was in the flat, and if I thought I needed anything else either I wasn't looking hard enough or I didn't need it. And it hurt when I asked for unnecessary things." Phoenix tucks their head in the crook of their neck. "'m sorry."

"Nothing to apologise for." Aaron doesn't know why they're surprised by anything Abbie and her team do anymore. Not giving Phoenix a chance to meet other heroes is the perfect way to keep them isolated and abuse them with no fuss or suspicion. And yet. "Once you're healed, fed and rested, I'm giving you a tour. You live here, you should see everything. Alright?"

Phoenix nods, already half-asleep. They must be exhausted.

"Good."

Aaron lifts them more steadily into his arms. "Where are your belongings? So I can fetch them after we've got you settled down."

"You, um, you don't have to do that. I'm fine."

"I know I don't. But I'm going to."

"Supply cupboard 14," they murmur.

"Thank you. You're not fine, though."

Phoenix makes a noise of disagreement and grips Aaron tighter as they pass a doorway. Aaron rubs their back, and it's not far before they reach his room. It's a struggle to unlock his door, and to be honest Phoenix's confused attempts at helping only make it worse, but eventually he makes it through, placing them on the bed. He gets some pyjamas out of the basket and folds them next to them.

"You don't have to change, but if you want to, there's some clothes here. I know you, you won't get any out yourself. Use the bathroom if you want too. I'll be back soon, okay?"

"Okay."

Aaron gives them a tight smile and heads back out to the medical corridors, trying to compose themself as they go. The worst part of all this is Phoenix's complete obliviousness to anything being wrong. And why would they think it was? Their whole life they've been abused, why would they think its continuation wasn't normal?

But they shouldn't, and he hates it.

They don't have many belongings, just a small rucksack which presumably isn't everything (and worrying bloody smudges on some of the shelving that he tries his best to ignore), and Aaron slings it onto their back, avoiding the no-doubt-curious doctors and nurses. Best fetch a snack while they're out too. A sandwich or cereal bar will do.

He pushes the door to his room open as silently as possible and heaves a quiet sigh. Phoenix, predictably, is on the floor, curled around their stomach. They haven't changed, or washed, or done anything except move somewhere very uncomfortable.

"Why?"

Phoenix flinches. "I, um, I don't want to make your flat dirty. I can use a bucket, I don't mind, really."

"Well I do. This was going to wait until your birthday, but I guess..." Aaron rummages around in a drawer and pulls out a folded green rough-ish fabric, with something like ears at the top. "Happy early birthday."

Phoenix frowns at it, visibly confused, and unfolds it like it's the most precious thing they've ever received.

"Is this... is it, um, is it a Yoda bath robe?" they ask quietly, astonished.

"Baby Yoda I think, technically."

"Grogu," corrects Phoenix absently, and Aaron feels a little relief that at least they feel relaxed enough to do that. "I've always wanted... thank you."

"That's okay. I bet you'll look adorable in it." He ruffles Phoenix's hair, and they pout. "Now. You have a wash, I'll help with the bandages, and then I've brought you something to eat. I know you're exhausted, but you'll pass out from hunger if you're not careful. And you're not sleeping on the floor."

"Can I, um, sleep on the sofa?"

"No," says Aaron flatly. "You're taking the bed."

"But, um, but I'll make your flat dirty. I'm not too bad, I can sleep on the sofa. Let me, um, sleep on the sofa."

"Not with those injuries, and that exhaustion."

"But, but once, um, I'm healed, I, um, I can?" they ask hopefully.

"Yep," lies Aaron. It's always polite to let the guest sleep on the bed, after all, especially when they've spent their life being abused by those who should be helping them. "But take the bed tonight."

"Where will you sleep though?"

Aaron shrugs. "The sofa. Or I can share the bed, it is massive after all. And you'd better sleep as much as you need to."

"Oh."

Phoenix doesn't seem to know what to say to that, as Aaron helps them to the bathroom. He's already planning. When they wake up, they'll take them on a tour. Most of the medical staff know Phoenix. Have guessed some of what's happening. They won't mind swapping a shift with him.

Some will, but they'll just have to deal. Aaron is going to take Phoenix on a tour as soon as they feel up to it, whatever anyone else thinks.

That ends up being two days later, after they've slept for close to 24 hours straight, and then rested reluctantly for another day. Aaron only just resists shaking them to ensure they're still alive.

They will be, though. They always are.

#whump #whump writing #immortal cannon fodder #phoenix oc #aaron oc #whumpee and caretaker #immortal whumpee #hero whumpee #hero caretaker #hero whumper #hero whump #fear of punishment #abuse whump #medical whump #team whump #outcast whumpee

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