AlysCat

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LOOKY LOOKY!!! AN UPDATE!!! 😱😘 HAPPY MONDAY!

cw:/ recovery, rescue whump, trauma response, vampire caretaker, bloodbag whumpee, whumpee thinks caretaker is new whumper, reference to previous torture/abuse/captivity, paranoia, medical interventions, loss of speech, loss of autonomy, disability/immobility (please let me know if I have missed any!)

Thank you to the ever-so-brilliant @alyscat for her amazing job beta-ing this and for rallying me on! 💞

What did the sky look like?

Declan realised he had forgotten. Something so simple, so painfully mundane. An everyday certainty the rest of the world took for granted, but he starved for even a fleeting glimpse.

No matter how hard he clawed at the edges of his mind, straining until a dull throb pulsed behind his eyes, he couldn't grasp hold of it. Rotting in the darkness of Vince’s basement had truly snuffed out the light. 

A wash of blue here. A blinding glare there. Colours warped, bleeding into each other like ink and water.  The more Declan fought to anchor the image, the faster it sank back down into the murky depths. 

Bleary eyes drifted over to the drapes, now pulled completely shut, overlapping perfectly in the centre to seal out even the strayest, thinnest thread of morning light. That was the vamp’s doing. As long as those curtains were drawn, August could walk in whenever he pleased - at any ungodly hour.  The sun was the only line of defence Declan had left, and now that was taken from him too. 

What he wouldn’t give to steal a peek out the window, to check that the world hadn't vanished entirely from existence - maybe it was still out there, waiting patiently for him. Arms open and ready to embrace him like a long-lost lover.

Years. He didn't know how many - not anymore. He’d lost count somewhere along the way.  Years wasted breathing in damp rot and mould instead of fresh air. Years spent choking on the blood Vince didn't drain from him, but chose to beat out of his lungs instead. 

​Now, the outside was right there. A few meagre feet away, just hiding past the glass. A whole world close enough to touch. He longed to see the light of day. Was that too much to ask? 

But still, it was denied. Perhaps the vampire knew exactly what he was doing. Keep Declan in the dark long enough, and the memories would completely dissolve. He would stop looking for a way out; would accept these four corners as his entire earth.

​And he would learn to worship August as his god.

In Her Keep, chapter one, is finally here!!!!!

TW: Kidnapping, restraints, emotional abuse/manipulation, infantilization, religious trauma/themes, noncon dressing, escape attempt, failed escape, vampires, blood, biting, confinement, injury, blood. (I think that's all, but if I missed anything, let me know!)

Masterlist

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Consciousness returned slowly, bit by bit. The first thing that caught Amelia’s attention was the pain in her shoulders. Then, the chafing in her wrists. A soft, feminine voice hummed nearby, accompanied by the brush of fabric on fabric. “This was her favorite gown,” the voice whispered. 

Amelia felt a light touch on her arm. So brief, so featherlight, that she wondered if she imagined it. Something tugged on her waist. After a beat, Amelia realized someone was clasping buttons up her back. She pried her eyes open, feeling as if her lids were weighed down. The light stung her honey-brown eyes, though she couldn’t even lift her head. It was so… So heavy. 

As she adjusted to the brightness, Amelia was stunned by what she could see of the room. It was completely unfamiliar and made up of such jarring contrasts that it had to be a fever dream. The room looked as though someone had taken an old manor house and stuffed it full of modern life. Dark wood paneling climbed the walls, interrupted every few feet by ornate gold-framed paintings and sconces that looked old enough to belong in a museum. Heavy velvet curtains pooled against polished hardwood floors. An enormous fireplace dominated one wall, its carved mantle crowded with photographs in antique silver frames.

And then there was a massive TV that hung above the fireplace, like a technological parasite invading a cathedral. Nearby sat a velvet couch with elegant clawed feet and embroidered cushions, a phone charger trailing over one arm. A Kindle lay face down on one cushion beside a pair of reading glasses and what looked suspiciously like the remains of Chinese takeout.

The coffee table looked hand-carved, all twisting vines and polished oak, the sort of thing that belonged in a castle. Someone had abandoned a half-empty iced coffee on it beside a stack of mail and a glossy beauty magazine with Seraphina smiling from the cover. Amelia's eyes snagged on a smart speaker sitting beside a brass candelabra.

An Alexa, she thought numbly. She tried to move, tried to just lift her head again, with no luck. But she could look down at the bottom half of her body. Her jeans were gone, replaced by what appeared to be a vintage, light-blue gown. The dress was cinched at her waist and went all the way down to the floor. She couldn’t see her feet, but it felt like her sneakers were gone. What was happening? Where was she? The last thing Amelia remembered was leaving work. She stayed at the daycare late because a parent got a flat tire on their way to pick up the kid. By the time the mom got there, it was raining. Amelia planned to walk home despite the weather. It wasn’t far and wasn't worth calling an Uber. As Amelia set off down the sidewalk, a car slowed beside her with Seraphina inside. 

Seraphina was super wealthy, gorgeous, and so far above spending time at a place like Sunshine Center Daycare. Heck, she was the founder and CEO of the multimillion-dollar beauty company, Forever Young! But they met six months ago, when one of Seraphina’s drivers almost ran Amelia over. The millionaire woman not only sent an entire box of luxury skin care products to Amelia’s house, she had been so involved at the daycare. Whenever they had a fundraiser, Seraphina was there, and she was always the biggest donor. She had promoted the daycare on her own platforms. Within a week of their chance meeting, Sunshine Center had enough funding to get better products for the kids. They could afford new toys and extra mats. Outdated supplies were replaced. These were little things that didn’t sound like a big deal, but to the underfunded daycare? It was a miracle, a dream come true. 

When Seraphina offered to take Amelia home so she didn’t have to walk in the rain, she didn’t even hesitate before climbing into the backseat next to her. But then the driver didn’t make the correct turn out of the parking lot. Amelia had leaned forward, intending to correct him, when there was a sharp pain in her neck, and… Are you biting me?” Amelia demanded, eyes wide in shock. “Ow, what are you—that hurts!”But Seraphina didn’t stop. She grabbed the side of Amelia’s head and pulled her closer, digging her teeth into the soft flesh of Amelia’s throat. The longer she held on, the heavier Amelia felt…. Like her limbs were filled with concrete, or something…. The car didn’t stop. The driver didn’t even turn around. 

When Seraphina finally pulled away, there was blood smeared across her lips. Her bared teeth—were her teeth pointed? Sharp?—were covered in a red as bright as her hair. Amelia tried to move, to scream, but couldn’t. Her vision blurred as Seraphina leaned down to press a kiss to Amelia’s forehead. “Shh… Hush now. We’ll be home soon, and I’ll explain everything, little one.”And then nothing.

Amelia’s heart raced. Had Seraphina kidnapped her? No way. No, no, Amelia was a nobody. She was a 20-year-old nothing who worked at a daycare, and couldn’t even afford to pay rent by herself! She tried to move in her bindings, tried to scream, but all she could manage was to look around wildly as her breathing turned ragged. The person behind her stirred. A telltale click-clacking of high heels announced the woman’s approach, and then a soft, cold hand was grabbing her chin.

None other than Seraphina, CEO of Forever Young, stood before her. Her mesmerizing, fiery hair was let loose today, going all the way down to her waist. Pale, flawless skin, blood-red lips, and hazel eyes accentuated by insanely long eyelashes. Already tall, Seraphina’s imposing figure was even more exaggerated by the high heels she never seemed to be without.

“Good morning, baby!” Seraphina squealed, booping Amelia’s nose with her free hand. “I was beginning to get worried. You must have been really tired, sleepyhead.” Her Cheshire-cat grin spread ear to ear, and, before Amelia’s very eyes, she saw it. Canine teeth slowly extending into razor-sharp points. Her eyes must have widened because Seraphina gave a cheery laugh. “Oh, don’t you worry, I won’t bite! I had to last night, just so you didn’t fight. But so long as you’re a good little pet, we will be just fine.” She dropped Amelia’s chin, giving her cheek an affectionate pat. Vampire. A vampire…. Some people talked about them, but vampires were always a rumor. A conspiracy, like aliens, or claims that man never walked on the moon. More than once, Amelia and Emily—her roommate—had talked about them. Emily was a huge conspiracy theorist; she even had a blog about her beliefs. She would sometimes share her theories with an entire slideshow presentation that Amelia would sit through, and then they’d discuss it. Most of the theories Amelia didn’t buy. Some, Emily would admit, were far-fetched, but she always thought vampires were out there. 

You can doubt, but there’s no harm in being prepared. What if they ARE real, and one day, you come in contact with one? What would you do? 

I think I’d admit myself to a mental institution, Emily. If I’m seeing vampires, I have bigger things to worry about than whether or not I have a wooden stake with me.

Now here she was, face to face with a vampire. No wooden stake. No silver dagger, garlic, or a crucifix to wave in the air. 

She finally managed to lift her head and saw the cause of the massive ache in her shoulders. Her arms were tied above her to a ceiling fan by rope. Seraphina was humming again as she marched purposefully to a bookshelf, where she grabbed a hairbrush that looked like it should be in a museum. It was just…. Weird, seeing Seraphina in a business suit and black stilettos in this contradiction of a living room, holding that ancient-looking brush. 

“You are almost done, love, I just…” The vampire walked behind her again, shaking Amelia out of her stunned thoughts. This time, the faint tugging was on her hair. Seraphina gently undid her French braid, then brushed out her wavy ebony strands. Her hair stopped just past her shoulders. Seraphina made a tsking sound. “Your hair is a little bit shorter, but I suppose times have changed, haven’t they? And with the times, so has style.” Sighing mournfully, Seraphina arranged Amelia’s hair so that it draped over her shoulders. Her footsteps faded slightly as she hurried to the other side of the room. A heartbeat later, Seraphina had carried a full-body mirror to position right in front of Amelia.

Amelia’s eyes widened. Now that she could see the entire dress, it… It froze her. Shock and horror battling for attention at the forefront of her mind. Amelia was dolled up in a gown that looked straight out of some old-time film. Weird, puffed sleeves, and lace around the collar. A flipping brooch was clasped onto the front of the dress! Her lips parted in a silent O. 

When Seraphina stepped back to look at her, she pressed a hand over her mouth. Something like a sob seemed to escape her, before she composed herself. “There you are,” she whispered. Stepping forward again, her hand trembling, Seraphina cupped Amelia’s cheek. 

But Amelia could move now, at least a little. Her head and lips obeyed her. Whipping her head to the side, Amelia tried to bite Seraphina’s finger. Seraphina snapped her hand away just in time. “What are you doing? Why am I here?!” She screamed. 

A flicker of pain seemed to cross the woman’s face. She bared her teeth, caught herself, and straightened. Her face settled into a mask of composure. “Those are rather big questions, and it would take some time to answer them,” she said lowly. “But we don’t have to figure everything out right now, my love.” She took a small step forward, then traced her finger down the side of Amelia’s neck. The bound girl winced when Seraphina’s nail circled the bite mark. “You have spent all your life caring for others. I’ve seen you at that daycare; you run yourself ragged. It is your turn to be cared for now. That’s all you need to know for the time being.” Seraphina’s hand drifted down to her waist, making Amelia whimper. “Hm. You’re still spooked.” Leaning forward, her nose teased the side of Amelia’s neck, where her pulse thumped rapidly. “You are scared. Aren’t you, love?” “Yes,” Amelia whispered, squeezing her eyes shut. Her arms twitched above her, desperate to pull away but unable to. 

“Will it help if you’re untied?” Seraphina offered, eyes glinting with pleasure as Amelia nodded rapidly. Humming faintly, the vampire’s gaze drifted to the ropes. “If you promise to be a very good girl, I’ll let you down. We can get you changed into more comfortable clothes, and I have human food for you. How does that sound?” Silence grew, tense and heavy. After a long moment, Amelia realized that Seraphina expected a verbal answer. She swallowed. “That…. That sounds good?” 

"Great!" Seraphina clapped excitedly, bouncing back on her heels. "I knew you would be good; I'm so proud of you."

Amelia barely had time to process the words before Seraphina reached upward. The knot had looked impossible from below; a tangle of loops and twists that belonged on a ship. Yet the vampire slipped one finger beneath a strand of rope and tugged. Just like that, the entire thing unraveled, and Amelia dropped.

Cold hands caught her around the waist before her knees could hit the floor.

"Easy, darling,” Seraphina soothed.

Amelia jerked away from the touch on instinct. Pins and needles exploded through her arms as blood rushed back into muscles that had hung uselessly for God knew how long. Her knees buckled, and Seraphina steadied her again. "There now."

Every instinct screamed at Amelia to pull away, but disorientation made her limp. By the time feeling returned to her fingers, Seraphina had guided her onto the ancient velvet couch.

Amelia sat stiffly on the edge of the cushion, wary eyes darting around the room. The distance to the door seemed to stretch for miles, but windows… There must be windows behind those thick, dark curtains. Those were maybe ten feet away.

Seraphina bent to press a kiss to Amelia's forehead, and Amelia flinched. The vampire either failed to notice or didn’t care about Amelia’s disgust.

"I'll be right back," Seraphina said brightly, turning to walk towards the doorway. Her heels clicked along the polished wooden floor. "I have some things that will be more comfortable for you."

As her manicured fingers wrapped around the doorknob, she paused. 

Amelia tensed. But all Seraphina did was say, "Stay here and wait for me, alright?"

Not a question. Amelia swallowed. "Okay."

Seraphina beamed. "Good girl." She blew a kiss, then she was gone, the door thudding softly behind her. 

Silence settled over the room as Amelia stared at the doorway, her ears strained for any sound. Nothing.

No footsteps. No humming. No click of heels against hardwood.

Slowly, she stood. Her legs trembled a little beneath her, but Amelia herself couldn’t tell if it was from her former bindings, or the adrenaline rushing through her veins. She took one step. The floor creaked, and it felt like a gunshot firing in the silence.

Amelia held her breath. Froze. Waited. After five seconds, she dared to move again. Her first few steps were slow and cautious. Then she surged towards the curtains, closing the distance in two long strides. She threw the velvet aside. Concealed behind the fabric was the most glorious sight Amelia had ever seen.

The sunrise. A window that she could open. Even better, this room was on the first floor. She paused only to look along the window pane for any hint of an alarm system, but there was none that she could see. 

Her heart was in her throat as she unlocked the window and lifted it up. Kicking off the vintage heels, Amelia climbed outside. The layers of skirt on the dress got caught on the window pane, but she tore it free. No time to figure out how to take off this monstrosity. She landed on the damp grass outside and took off running. 

The mansion was enormous.

Gardens blurred past in streaks of green and gold. Wooden paths twisted through hedges on either side. She barely saw any of it, all Amelia cared about was the road she could see through the front gates. It was so close. 

She could make it. She just had to make it. She tripped on the skirt, almost fell but regained her footing. Amelia fisted the fabric of her absurd dress and hoisted it up, forcing her legs to move faster than she’d ever run before. The gate was close. Grass turned to pavement as she reached the driveway, and she picked up her pace. Was that a car coming down the road? Her lips parted, gasping, but she found enough air to scream, “Help! Help me!” Did they hear her? She was flying towards the gate. They would see her, they had to. She could make it, just had to—

A mountain slammed into her from behind. Amelia crashed to the driveway, her jaw skidding against the concrete. The cry that escaped her lips was more animal than human; a desperate, keening sound that tore from her throat.

The car drove by. Amelia sobbed, thrashing beneath the figure, but her arms were twisted behind her back. Whoever tackled her held her wrists in one huge hand. “Miss Seraphina will be worried about you,” came a male voice. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if I have to.” He hauled her to her feet. The grip on her wrists was cold, and when she turned to look at the towering figure, Amelia could see a hint of fangs. Vampire. Seraphina had vampires employed. She let her head fall forward in defeat. Blood trickled from her scraped chin, and the man just dragged her along. 

It wasn’t until they reached the front door that Amelia tried to pull away. If she went back in there, would she ever walk out again? “Please,” she begged, straining to break his iron grip. “Please, just… Just say you didn’t catch me in time, please, please let me go you have to help me, please!” “If you’re good, Miss Seraphina will take care of you,” he said simply. When she didn’t go willingly, he gave a sharp tug on her arm to force her inside. “She cares for you. You’ll have a good life here, if you just play along.”

When the front door slammed shut, the foyer was shrouded in darkness. Amelia had the eerie sense of entering a waiting predator’s mouth. Swallowed whole. She should try to pay attention to where they were going, but now that she was inside again, she was crying. The salt of her tears stung the wound on her chin. What if she never got out of here? She was surrounded by vampires, how could she escape? They were faster than her, stronger than her, could paralyze her with a single bite.

What if this had been her one chance? If Amelia had just been faster, if she didn’t wait before running… Maybe she should have hid first, waited until the coast was clear before trying to run out. Maybe she should have tried to climb the fence. A million options, a thousand different outcomes, but Amelia had failed. She might never get another opportunity.

By the time Amelia was dragged back into that living room, she was a sobbing mess. Fear and self loathing had made a wreck of her. What did she do to deserve this? Why was this happening to her? It wasn’t fair, unless…

Was this a punishment? A divine retribution for her choices these last few years? 

The thought sent an icy chill down her spine, but before she could explore the possibility, Seraphina was in front of her. Amelia expected screams. Pain. But instead, the ginger pulled her into a strong embrace. “Oh, you sweet, stupid thing… I should be furious with you. This was a very foolish choice, do you have any idea what could have happened?”

Between her own revelation and the shock over Seraphina’s reaction, Amelia was frozen. She tensed in the vampire’s arms until she was pulled at arms length. Tsking, Seraphina cupped Amelia’s bloody chin. “Look at this! You’re hurt! Amelia, you’re lucky this is all that happened.” Hazel eyes flashed darkly. The look Seraphina sent Amelia was scolding, but not mad. Almost… Disappointed.

“What if you had reached the road, Amelia? You could have been hit. I told you to sit here and wait for me, but no. You had to be impatient.” 

“You… You kidnapped me,” Amelia said bluntly. “Of course I tried to run.” The vampire rolled her eyes, thumb caressing the wound on her chin. Seraphina released her grip and licked the blood from her finger. “Kidnapped? That’s a very harsh word. I just want to spoil you, love, you’ll realize that one day.” Her head tilted as she hummed thoughtfully. “It’s already stopped bleeding. You’ll be alright, but after this little excursion of yours, you need some time to cool off and think. Let’s get you changed.”

Amelia’s lips parted to protest. Time to cool off? Kidnapping is too harsh? But one sharp look from Seraphina silenced her. The vampire gripped her by the shoulders and spun her slowly. Another tsking sound filled the room. “This was one of her favorites.” 

Sharp claws pricked Amelia’s shoulder until she yelped. “You really should be more careful with other people’s things,” Seraphina scolded. “We’re going to have a talk about this after you have time to cool off, but I hope you know I expect a proper apology.” “An apology?” Amelia spat. “No! No, I’m not going to apologize for your hundred year old dress being torn up after you abducted me and dressed me up like a freaking doll! You’re in—” Seraphina’s expression darkened a split second before she moved.

A sharp slap across her cheek. The sound echoed through the room. Amelia’s ears rang, and she crashed to the floor from the impact. Tears pricked her eyes again. Through blurry vision, she saw Seraphina kneel in front of her. That fiery hair spilled over Seraphina’s shoulder as she grabbed Amelia by the chin with a shocking tenderness. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be,” she warned. “I’m going to take these clothes off of you. I will dress you. Then, you are going in time out for that little escape attempt of yours. Do you understand?” Amelia swallowed. There was so much wrong with this. So, so much wrong…. “I can get changed myself,” she whispered, her voice small. “I know.” Seraphina stroked her cheek, almost tenderly. “But you’re going to be a good little pet and let me.”

And Amelia did. Seraphina expertly stripped the layers of fabric off of her, undid the corset and whatever else. Amelia tried not to squirm when she was left standing naked. Since she woke up in these clothes, Seraphina had already seen her. That knowledge didn’t really help.

The vampire pulled a pair of panties up Amelia’s thighs. She strapped on a bra. Lifted an oversized sweater over Amelia’s head, and guided her into a pair of stretchy leggings.

By the time she was changed, Amelia was shaking so badly, she didn’t trust her ability to walk alone. Seraphina wrapped an arm around Amelia’s waist, and she didn’t pull away.

She was scared. She wanted to run, to scream, but didn’t dare. 

Her cheek burned. 

The guard’s strength as he dragged her body into the house.

She was surrounded by monsters. A sheep among wolves. No, not a sheep. Sheep had shepherds.

You did this to yourself, Amelia. You ran from the flock. 

You rejected the shepherd.

Seraphina led her to a closet in a dark, secluded hallway. Amelia whimpered as the door was opened. “Pl-please…” “It’ll be alright,” Seraphina soothed, a hand combing through Amelia’s hair. “This is just time for you to calm down. You made a bad choice, and I need you to think about what you’ve done.”

A shiver ran down her spine, and she barely bit back a sob. Seraphina placed a gentle hand on her back, nudging Amelia inside. The space was small and completely bare. No shelves. Nothing on the floor. Not even a lightbulb overhead. “I’m going to lock the door so you can’t make another stupid choice, but I promise, love, I’ll be back.” Smiling sweetly, Seraphina patted Amelia on the head. “It will all be okay.” She blew a kiss. The door shut. There was a click, and the lock slid into place, leaving Amelia alone in the dark.

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Declan, my bloodbag whumpee from my series 'Shattered'! 🩸⛓️

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“she was going to medical school, just finishing up her undergrad, how many days did you have left?”

“…17” whumpee would reply, clenching her jaw, looking away, unable to hide her disdain for him

one the others is smirking, raising an eyebrow like they think it's a joke - like whumpee is doing some kinky stuff and playing innocent about it. but friend doesn't think that's it. whumpee's face isn't full of mischief or innuendo. they just look... uncomfortable and confused. it hurts, they'd said. about sex. sex hurts. who wouldn't cry?

like that was normal. like they had experience, and that experience involved pain. enough pain to cry.

"why are you looking at me like that?" whumpee asks. they seem embarrassed, like they regret saying anything. "does nobody talk about that part? we were talking about sex before, why are you... stop looking at me like that!"

"what do you mean it hurts?" friend asks. they wave the others quiet. they're not helping. if whumpee thinks they're being judged, this is just going to get worse. "do you mean like-"

"i mean every time i've had sex it's been painful and horrible and i've just gritted my teeth and got through it! and now you're all looking at me like i'm crazy, and it-"

"you're not crazy," friend says. they feel bad for interrupting, but whumpee was starting to breathe quick and shallow. "i just- we're worried. it's not- unless people talk about it first, and they want that, it's not supposed to hurt. if it hurts. you should talk to the person you're sleeping with so you can figure out how to make it better, so they can touch you how you want."

whumpee laughs. it's sudden and sharp. "how i want? that's not how it works. if it was about what i wanted, it wouldn't happen at all."

OH BOY, DO I?! 😍

Feast your eyes on these magnificent works of art!!! ((These are some of my FAVEEE whump series and I have a horrible feeling I'm forgetting some!))

In no particular order!

'Six Months Free' - @alyscat - hero/villain whump, yandere whumper, living weapon whump

'Worthless' - @livelaughwhump - pet whump, recovery whump

'Brother's Keeper' - @darkthingshappen - nsfwhump, kidnapped as payment/revenge, sadistic whumper

'Chimeras' - @melpomenelamusa - pet whump, non-human whump, dehumanisation

'Kane & Jim' - @whumpsday - whumper turned whumpee, vampire whumperee, bloodbag whumpee, recovery whump

'Magnamious Moonrise & Savage Sunset' - @not-a-space-alien - vampire whumpee, hurt/comfort

'Darkness Falls' - @turn-the-tables-on-them - hero/villain whump, hurt/comfort, whumper turned whumpee

'Burning At Both Ends'- @angst-after-dark - BBU, pet whump, intimate/creepy whumper, disabled whumpee

'Behaviour Modification' & 'The Kennel' - @whumpcereal - pet whump, dehumanisation, captivity, sadistic/intimate whumpers, nsfwhump

'The Warehouse' - @sparrowsage - industrialised slavery, pet whump, defiant whumpee

'Cat & Mouse' - @t0rture-me - vampire whumpers, bloodbag whumpee

'Seven' - @whump-queen - servant/slave whump

I also created this recommendation post not too long back that has AMAZING choices to pick from!

TA-DA! BEHOLD A LIL FLUFF/RECOVERY DRABBLE FOR JOSH AND ALEC! 🎉😍

*!*!*!*!*!*!*

Josh was still buried under the warmth of the covers, eyes squeezed shut in a blatant lie of sleep. He heard the soft rustle of Alec smoothing his tie and tucking in his work shirt, then the mattress dipped as Alec hovered over him.

A careful, barely-there peck landed on Josh’s cheek - extra mindful not to stir him.

As soon as Alec's lips left Josh’s skin, his eyes flew open. Arms shot out from under the duvet, latching his arms around Alec’s neck and yanking him straight down to his chest - like the kraken dragging an oblivious, passing ship to its doom.

“Gotcha!” Josh giggled victoriously, his legs snaking around Alec’s waist to anchor him firmly in place.

Alec let out a startled gasp. “I thought you were dead to the world!”

“Nope,” Josh popped the ‘p’ obnoxiously, “And you’re not going anywhere,” he said, his voice thick with sleep but full of mischief. He laced his fingers through the curls of hair at the back of Alec’s neck, reeling him in another inch. “Call in sick. Tell them you’re trapped. It’s a hostage situation”.

“Josh, I have a meeting in forty minutes,” Alec half-groaned, half-chuckled, though he wasn’t making much effort to untangle himself, no sign of a struggle. Rather, he kissed the tip of Josh’s nose.

“Don’t care. Didn’t ask. Meeting’s cancelled”, Josh teased, rolling them over until he was pinning Alec into the pillows, a confident smirk playing on his lips. “You’re staying in bed with me allllll day.”

Previous

TW: Noncon kissing, noncon touch, post-punishment, punishment, conditioned whumpee, creepy/intimate whumper, insectphobia, mentions of previous whump, references to past lab whump (I think that's it????? If I missed any let me know!!)

Note: In this chapter, Diana switches between referring to herself as Diana and EI427. They are the same person. If you haven't read previous chapters, EI427 was her 'name' at the institution where she was born and raised to be a living weapon!!!!

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Damien had a Table Room, like the REIA did. This Table Room was messier than the REIA’s, but it still had a metal table in the center. There were counters and shelves with different bottles, shots, IVs, scalpels, and things EI427 had never been given the names for. EIs didn’t need to know the names of medical objects, after all. Damien had all of those things, but his Table Room was a little different. For example, in his Table Room, the entire back wall was covered with dead insects pinned in place. Each insect had a careful index card beneath it with neat, tiny print. She couldn’t read what it said from her spot on the table, though. His Table Room smelled like cigarette smoke. It also had strange green lighting instead of the too-bright lights of the REIA Table Room. 

When Damien carried her into his Table Room, he set her on the metal table before going to the counter and lighting a cigarette. Only then did he begin to work. He wrapped her shattered foot in white gauze, then strapped a brace around it. He was talking while he did this, maybe, but Diana’s ears were ringing, and she couldn’t hear him. When he was finished, he slipped out of the room again.

At the REIA, when EI427 would be brought to the Table Room, it was for experiments and operations, and things that were always painful. So Diana was no stranger to pain. It was simply that over the last few months, she didn’t have anywhere near as much pain. Maybe that was why it hit her so hard. Because lying here, as she felt her body begin to tremble and her head swim, she knew she wasn’t responding well. The Academy trainers would have been disappointed.

The room was so cold.

The door swung open, and Damien returned with a hoodie and a water bottle. He took a drink before setting it down on a counter. Seeing the water made her lick her lips, though she knew better than to ask. She was just… So thirsty, and her stomach was cramping with hunger, but the thought of eating made her nauseous. Pain did that to you, as EI427 had learned while in training. 

He stepped towards her. She was still shaking, goosebumps on her skin, and she tried to stop but she couldn’t. The metal table creaked as Damien sat beside her. “Here, try to sit up now, love.”

Her head spun as Damien’s hand settled on her back, guiding her actions. But she did as told. She was a good girl. She knew how to be a good girl. Her limbs robotically moved as Damien directed. He pulled the sweater over her head. It was warm. Soft. A light gray, with black swirls on it. When she looked down to study the fabric, her icy eyes widened. The swirls were moving. It was covered with ants. 

“Good job. That’s better, isn’t it?” Damien cooed, his thumb tracing circles on the back of her neck. 

Her trembling intensified, and she could only be grateful as Damien let her fall back against the table’s surface. It was cold. Hard. Her head thudded on the metal. But if she looked at the hoodie any longer, she was going to be sick. Don’t look at the sweater. At least if she didn’t, Diana could pretend her skin was crawling with fear rather than literal bugs. She squeezed her eyes shut against the green-tinted light overhead. There were probably bugs in the lightbulbs, too. They were everywhere. Everywhere, every….

Something caressed her jaw. More bugs? God, make it stop, make it—

The table creaked. She forced herself to look up. 

Damien was crouched over her, his knees straddling her hips. It was hard to tell what he was thinking. Her powers were blocked again, and his face was unreadable, but… But Damien was smiling down at her. The sensation on her jaw returned, and she realized it wasn’t bugs. It was Damien’s thumb. Caressing her jaw, tracing up until it drew across her lips.

Despite herself, Diana recoiled. Her shoulders hunched together as she crossed her arms protectively over her chest. Immediately, the ants shifted to climb over her forearms like they were a new skyscraper to explore. Stop, stop, stop….

Say something, Diana. Fucking say something!

“You’ve been so good for me, Diana,” Damien sighed, his thumb exploring the curve of her lips. Her eyes burned with unshed tears as the tip of his finger slid into her mouth. “I know that pain seems like punishment to you. After everything you’ve been through… It makes sense. I understand, baby. But I want you to know this isn’t punishment. You just don’t know what’s good for you yet.”

His nail scraped against her teeth. Diana’s breath hitched, and she turned her head away, squeezing her eyes shut again as she tried to curl in on herself. But her mummified foot shifted on the table, and it shot fire up her leg, and she couldn’t help a small cry as she froze again.

Where could she go? She could try to avoid Damien touching her, but she was stuck beneath him on a table. In his territory. Even if somehow Diana could walk, his creatures would be upon her in seconds.

Say something. Speak, just… Just say you’re tired. It was true. She was tired, beyond exhausted, but dammit, she couldn’t force her mouth to work yet. She tucked her chin against her chest and lifted her shoulders, as if that could somehow shield her.

The weight of Hive’s body settled on her hips as he sat on her. Ants crawled up the sweater; she could feel them on the back of her neck, and she couldn’t breathe. Maybe Diana was imagining it. 

She knew she wasn’t.

“Diana,” Hive sighed, and he was disappointed. It was in his voice. Sad and disappointed, his hand settled on her shoulder. His other hand fisted in her hair, forcing her to look at him.

Her eyes stayed tightly squeezed shut. It was all too much. Couldn’t he just… Just leave her alone, please? Diana just… Just needed to be left alone, needed to sleep and breathe and not feel him touching her, he was touching her, and the bugs were on her and….

“Diana,” he repeated, his voice sharper this time. He gripped her hair tighter, until her scalp burned, and she kept her eyes squeezed shut.

She needed to look at him. She was supposed to look at him; that’s clearly what he wanted, wasn’t it? But why didn’t he say so? Tell her what she was supposed to do, he should tell her, cause Diana wanted to be a good girl, but the hand on her shoulder was moving now. It was soft. Featherlight as it drifted lower, to where her arms were crossed over her chest. He tried to peel her arms away, and she didn’t want them to move; she didn’t want him to touch her, but her limbs obeyed Hive’s unspoken command.

Fingers squeezed her breast through the ant-covered sweater. “Look at me,” he breathed, and her eyes opened at the command just as he leaned forward to press his lips against hers.

Ice filled her veins. The hand in her hair softened, still holding her in place, but not quite as painfully. He was kissing her. He was…. His tongue probed her lips, and without thinking, Diana opened. 

She was a good girl. She knew how to be a good girl, and he wanted her mouth open, so she opened her mouth. 

And then Damien was kissing her harder, his tongue sliding in her mouth, and then he was biting her lip, and it was all sharp and teeth and claiming…. Yes, claiming. That’s what it was. And she was frozen, paralyzed, as he was kissing her and his hand was on her chest, sliding under the sweater, groping her breasts. Damien sighed against her mouth. His hips began to rock back and forth, grinding against her….

It was too much. She wasn’t meant to do this, it… It didn’t feel right; it felt wrong. The realization clicked into place. Wrong. This was wrong. She didn’t want to do this; it was wrong. 

Diana jerked her head back and shoved at his chest with both hands. She was panting, eyes wide, and spit covered her mouth, and she immediately began to swipe at her lips in disgust. “No. No, Damien.”

He was still straddling her, and she couldn’t go far. Her foot made sure of that. But Diana pushed herself to a sitting position despite the throbbing pain in her leg and head, her heart racing. Damien said he wasn’t her new handler. If he wasn’t a handler…. She could say no. 

Right? No one had kissed her before. Handlers didn’t do that, but… But she was supposed to listen, but it felt wrong. She didn’t want him to touch her like that. 

His dark eyes flashed as he climbed off her trembling form. For a moment, silence hung between them. The tension was sharp enough to cut with a knife. Then, just like that, it snapped. Damien was shaking his head as he knelt beside the metal table, his hand immediately stroking her hair. “You’re right. You’re absolutely right, baby… I shouldn’t have done that so quickly,” he soothed. 

Her eyes widened. She squirmed slightly, but his hand moved with her, incessantly petting her. “It isn’t your fault. You still haven’t been away from them for very long… You don’t know how to accept love, poor thing. I need to be more patient. It isn’t your fault.” Skin crawling. Panting. Trembling.

Bugs buzzing. Ants crawling over her.

Moths fluttered around Damien’s head. Damien leaned closer, nuzzling against her neck and planting soft kisses on her collarbone. The moths followed him. Two landed on her face.

His hand pet her hair.

Diana shook her head, and he didn’t move. She whimpered, and he didn’t stop. Stop. She wanted him away, she hurt, she was tired, he was touching her, and it was wrong.

He was touching her. 

It was wrong.

“No!” Diana said again, and this time, it was a scream. She shoved him as hard as she could, and he stumbled back, finally releasing her. His hands were off. His hands were off of her. “No, don’t touch me! I want-I want you to leave me alone!”

The understanding and devotion vanished from his face in an instant. Fury contorted his features.

Her heart raced. Mistake. This had been a mistake. Damien lied…. He was like the REIA. Like her handlers. It didn’t matter what she wanted, even though it should have mattered. She was supposed to be like a person. She was supposed to be a person. That’s what she learned after she fled the REIA. That’s why she escaped, why she tried to be free. 

It wasn’t fair.

“You want to be left alone, baby?” Damien said lowly, cocking his head to the side. He flicked his wrist, and the ants that coated the sweater and her skin all crawled off at once in a swarm. Every insect in the room followed. The moths, the spiders, the fireflies buzzing around the ceiling. “Did they break you that much? You’d rather be alone?” His voice broke on the last word, before hardening again. A hand stretched out towards the open door. “Fine. I’m not the villain here, Diana. I will give you what you want.”

Three giant wasps came flying in. They were the genetically engineered ones—twice the normal size, with inflated, green-striped abdomens. The wasps that drained her powers away. Her eyes widened at the sight, and she was left silent again. Voice fleeing her because good girls don’t beg.

Good girls accept their punishment.

With a crook of his finger, the wasps flew towards Diana. They landed on her shattered foot. Just the slight pressure of their tiny bodies made spots swim in her vision, and Diana shoved her fist in her mouth. Don’t scream. Good girls don’t scream, good girls don’t scream… The insects moved, probing between the wrapping until they found bare skin. 

Their stingers pierced her skin, one after the other. She bit down hard on her hand as she fell onto the table again, back arching, a silent scream begging to escape. Her vision turned black. Nausea churned in her gut, and she was going to throw up, she was going to throw up. Damien’s hand gently stroked her sweat-slicked forehead. “I’ll leave you alone now, love. You don’t see it now… But this isn’t a punishment. This is for your own good.”

A strangled sob escaped her as she writhed on the table. She couldn’t breathe, and the door slammed shut. The click of a lock followed. 

Even the quiet hum of the insects was gone. They had left with Hive. The only sound in the dim room was her own pants and sobs.

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I don’t like writing kidnapping scenessssss it’s boring for me!!!!!!! I just wanna jump straight into the whump😩😩😩

Is a kidnapping chapter necessary, or do you think it can sort of be implied/skipped? And if you enjoy writing the kidnapping scenes, what tips do you have? What do you like about writing them?

TW: Child whumpee, lab whump, procedure done without anesthesia, manipulation, emotional whump, electric shocks, living weapon in training, comfort object taken. (Let me know if there's anything else I should add!)

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The table was cold beneath EI427, especially in the paper gown she had to wear. It was a rule in the Table Room. Whenever she was in here, she had to wear the paper gown. It was okay, though, because she was allowed to have her comfort item when in the Table Room, too. Goosebumps covered her skin, and she hugged her stuffed bunny tightly. She hadn’t seen a bunny before, but when she chose her comfort item, the scientist told her that’s what it was. A bunny. Her bunny was soft, like the cotton balls they used to stop blood after a shot, so EI427 had named it Cotton. Cotton had an actual name, like the scientists. Cotton wasn’t an EI Subject like EI427 was. 

Shifting uncomfortably, EI427 stared down at Cotton. It wasn’t the same, pure white color as actual cotton balls. She didn’t quite know what color it was. The closest comparison EI427 had was to old bandages. When wraps were first put on someone, they were clean white. After some time, though, they were dirty. It was like… If brown, yellow, and white were mixed together. That was similar to the color of Cotton’s fur. 

Doctor Crabtree turned to face EI427. He wasn’t one of the scientists she had met before, and he had a mask over his mouth and nose, so she couldn’t really see his expression. There was also a funny-looking hair net on his head. All EI427 could make out were big, fuzzy eyebrows, and he was big beneath his Scientist Outfit. Broad shoulders, muscly arms, and big, meaty hands that held a clipboard. “EI427, we’ll be performing a bone marrow biopsy and aspiration today.”

She expected his voice to be rough, but it was really soft. Gentle. Slowly, EI427 eased the death grip she had on Cotton. “What does-”

“Hush now, I will explain,” he scolded. While his voice was still calm, his eyebrows tightened in an angry line. Her shoulders hunched together as he continued, an edge entering his tone. “In this procedure, we will collect samples from your bone. The needle will enter here—” 

The hand that didn’t hold the clipboard patted his hip. “We’ll use this to look at how your body is making blood.”

From behind him, EI427 saw one of the nurses prepping a needle. It was really, really big. Her eyes widening, she recoiled from Dr. Crabtree and hugged Cotton as tightly as she could. It was going to hurt. She really didn’t like needles, but when they took blood, it was a tiny needle. This one was big.

Seeing her fear, the doctor patted her knee. The paper gown made a crunchy sound at his touch. “You will be still,” he said softly. “It will be uncomfortable, but it won’t last long. Do you understand?”

Her lower lip trembled, but she forced herself to nod. “Yes, sir,” EI427 whispered.

“Good girl.” Doctor Crabtree stood from his stool. He was really tall, towering over her. She found herself relieved when he turned away to pull on the blue gloves. “Lay down on your stomach. You will be restrained for this procedure, so you cannot hold your comfort object. Would you like the nurse to position it where you can still see it?”

She couldn’t hold Cotton? A tear rolled down her cheek as she squeezed her bunny so hard, her arms trembled. “I will stay still,” she pleaded. “I’ll be so good, I promise, you don’t-you don’t have to tie me. Just let me hold it, please.”

But the door opened, and two more nurses entered the room to join the nurse prepping the needles. There was a second needle now. EI427’s entire body was shaking now, and she hugged her knees to her chest, squeezing Cotton between her legs and her belly. One of the nurses was a woman. She was plump, dark-skinned, and had a kind face. She was smaller than Dr. Crabtree. 

The nice nurse knelt in front of EI427’s table, smiling softly. Another tear escaped her eyes, and the nurse wiped it away. “I know, it seems scary,” the nurse said. “But you’re a good girl, aren’t you? Everyone told me that EI427 is a very, very good subject.”

“I….” The subject nodded, sniffing once. “I am.”

“I thought so. See, I know you’re scared, but I need you to be brave. This is just one of your checkups.” She smiled at EI427, then scrunched up her face and stuck out her tongue.

A little giggle escaped EI427’s lips. Smile growing, the nurse shrugged. “That’s it! We need to see how strong you’re getting. You want to be strong, don’t you?”

The nurse stood as EI427 nodded. Slowly, she unclenched her trembling body. One of her fingers anxiously rubbed Cotton’s fur. “I do, I just…. I want to hold Cotton.” 

“I know you do, but strong girls also need to be brave. It might hurt a little, but heroes are brave. Heroes don’t argue, and they stay quiet when it hurts.” Her eyebrows weren’t bushy, like Dr. Crabtree’s. Her eyebrows were little lines. She raised one in a question. “Aren’t you a hero?” 

She was supposed to be. Swallowing, EI427 nodded again. Heroes don’t argue. Heroes stay quiet when it hurts. She… She could do that. “I can still see Cotton, right?” EI427 whispered. 

The nurse patted E I427’s knee as she gently pried away the comfort object. “Of course, you can still see it. Cotton will be safe. Now, can you be a good girl and lie down on your belly?”

Her eyes darted around the room. Nice Nurse was the only other girl. The other nurses were big, strong people, like Doctor Crabtree. EI427’s powers were weak because she was still weak. She wasn’t strong enough for her powers. Not strong enough to fight the scientists. Some of the other EI subjects tried to fight the doctors, but it never worked. If they tried, nurses forced them onto the table. They still had to do the procedures, and then they were punished afterward. EI427 didn’t want to be punished. 

She lay down. There was a little opening in the table for her face, so she could see the floor. Nice Nurse’s shoes. A gentle hand pet her hair, then Cotton was set down on the tiled floor right beneath her head so EI427 could see it.

Cotton wasn’t an EI subject. Cotton had a name. Cotton would never have procedures done. But…. But EI427 shouldn’t be jealous. Cotton would never be a hero, and if she was a good girl, she’d be a hero. That was a very important job. So it was okay that she had to do procedures.

The back of her gown was untied, making goosebumps rise on the bare skin. Rough hands grabbed EI427’s wrists. She didn’t fight as they pulled her arms back, and fastened them to the side of the table. Then her ankles. Then, finally, a restraint that pulled over her back to keep her in place. Her breaths were coming too fast. 

Focus on Cotton. 

Be a good girl. Good girls have to be brave.

Heroes are brave. Heroes don’t argue. Heroes stay quiet. 

Something cold swiped over her hip, and EI427 stiffened, squeezing her hands into tight little fists. It was going to hurt a little. But she could be good, she could sit here and be good, and—

The needle pressed into her skin. This wasn’t unusual; she’d had a lot of blood taken before. It hurt, but it was the kind of pain she was used to.

Except this needle kept going. It didn’t stop. 

Her fingers twitched against the restraints. A small, startled breath hitched in her throat as the pressure grew, deeper and deeper, pushing against something really hard, like stone. What was it doing, why didn’t it stop, shots always stopped!

But this didn’t. It pushed and pushed until it broke into something inside that wasn’t supposed to give—and then it kept pushing anyway.

The pain changed. Sharp and deep, it wasn’t like a needle in her skin it was…. It was under her skin, something that wasn’t supposed to be touched, and the needle stayed there—

A broken cry tore out of her before she could stop it. 

Her body jerked against the restraints, panic flooding her chest as the sound echoed too loud in the room. Heroes stayed quiet when it hurt. Good girls acted like heroes. Her eyes flew open, blurring with tears as she sucked in a shaking breath, trying to swallow the rest of it down—

“EI427.”

Doctor Crabtree’s voice was calm. Disappointed. The needle shifted slightly, like he’d let go of it, but it was still inside her hip. The small movement made another little cry escape her, despite the terror churning in her belly.

“You were given clear instructions.”

Her stomach dropped. She couldn’t breathe. “I—” The word came out in a sob. “I’m sorry, I’ll be good, I’m sorry—”

Something cold snapped around her neck. For a split second, nothing happened. Then electricity tore through her.

Her back arched violently, a strangled scream tearing through her throat as the shock ripped through her muscles. She strained at the restraints, screaming and crying, and the pain just kept growing until it stole the air from her lungs. 

“Quiet,” the doctor said.

She bit down hard, until her teeth hurt. Blood filled her mouth but the scream stopped. Slowly, like turning off a faucet, the current cut off. Her whole body was trembling. Her lungs burnt for air, but she was so scared of making another sound. She tried to breathe through her nose.

“Maintain control.”

The needle was still inside her.

Tears fell down her cheeks. 

They made little puddles around Cotton beneath her.

Maintain control. Her mind reeled, trying to catch up, trying to remember—rules, rules, what were the rules—

Heroes don’t argue. Heroes stay quiet when it hurts.

A sob hit her chest. She swallowed it down, choking on it, forcing her lips shut so tight they hurt. If she opened her mouth, she’d cry, or scream, and then the electricity would come back.

“Good,” someone murmured.

Then there was a pull.

It ripped through her where the needle was in her skin, deeper this time, a hollow, dragging pain that made her vision flash white. Her body jolted. A small gasp escaped her—

The shock was weaker this time. A warning as the noise passed her lips, and her mouth opened, every instinct screaming to cry out, to beg, to stop it—

She clamped her lips shut. Nothing came out.

Her breath broke instead, silent and shaking, tears spilling down her face as she stared at Cotton on the floor, clinging to the only thing she had left to hold onto.

Another pull.

Her fingers curled tighter, nails biting into her skin, her whole body locked in place as she forced herself to stay still, to stay quiet, to be—

“Good girl.”

The words blurred together with the pain, distant and warm and wrong.

The needle finally withdrew.

She thought the pain would stop, but the ache stayed, deep and throbbing, like something inside her had been taken and left empty.

Her breaths came in small, silent gasps as they bandaged her hip and she didn’t know what else they did. Tears and black spots swam in her vision. The doctors left Cotton on the floor. They left the collar on her neck. She wanted to hold Cotton. It would make her feel better.

EI427 couldn’t stop shaking. Through the ringing in her ears, she heard Dr Crabtree’s voice as he spoke to a nurse taking notes. “Subject required correction, but compliance was achieved.”

She didn’t dare make another sound.

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