Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!
Really big fan Confining Care, like probably one of my favorite whump series I've read.
I was wondering how Theo would react if Jace was like, seriously hurting himself. Not just digging his nail into his skin. Things like cutting himself or banging his head into a wall for example.
Wow, thank you so much for thinking so highly of my work! Confining Care was honestly the first time I tried to write a story, so I know that the quality in writing varies quite a bit throughout the masterlist. Still, I'm glad to hear that others find it enjoyable! And ughhh, I love this ask. Jace would totally do something like that!
Summary: whumper catches whumpee self-harming
TW: Self harm, mentioned attempted SA (briefly and not by parental whumper), parental yandere whumper, captivity, threats, and a depressed angry whumpee, manhandling, lack of healthy boundaries
Theodore's brows furrowed as he tried to focus on the screen of his computer. Finally relenting, Theodore rose from the couch to get his reading glasses only to pause as he spotted the despondent manner Jace was slouched over the coffee table. Pencil crayons were splayed about messily, some having rolled off the table and onto the oak floors.Â
Slowly, as if trying to not startle a wild animal, Theodore kneeled beside Jace, "Sweetheart, what's the matter?" He reached for one of the papers Jace was working on earlier, swallowing a grimace at the messy and morbid scribbles all over said page. There was an alarming usage of red and black. It looked similar to the drawings those possessed kids in horror movies would draw...Â
Theodore fought to keep his smile on. What did the parenting manual say again? Something about encouraging hobbies by showing an interest...?
"Wow! That is quite the imagination you have, munchkin!" Theodore pointed to a random scribble that kind of looked like it had a smiling face, "Is that Papa?" Theodore paused waiting for a response.Â
"Oh! Or maybe that's you? Sorry, baby, I didn't mean to insult your artistic capabilities! What a smart, talented boy I have!" Theodore was quick to ramble on, showering Jace's horrifying pictures with praise.Â
Burying his face into the coffee table, Jace barely held back the urge to scream. It was humiliating enough when Theodore pulled out his laptop to get some work done, telling him to "go play" with pencil crayons as if he were a fucking child, but having to listen to Theodore, his kidnapper, call himself 'papa' was somehow infinitely worse.Â
He hadn't realized he had started to tug at his own hair until thicker hands wrapped around his, gently pulling them away. Finally, Jace lifted his head enough to meet the concerned ones of Theodore. A cool hand pressed to his forehead, "You feeling sick, hon? Why so glum?"
There was no way in hell Jace would open up to Theodore about how he was feeling right now. "...The pencils are dull," the lie flowed past Jace's lips freely, an easy diversion.Â
Theodore perked up instantly, practically jogging into his office with only a light reminder for Jace to "stay put" until he came back. Jace glimpsed at the thick cuff locked around his ankle and glowered. As if he had a choice.Â
Theodore returned with a pencil sharpener in one hand and his glasses in the other. He handed the pencil sharpener to Jace, ruffling his hair, then plopping back onto the couch to finish his work. "Tell me if you need help sharpening, okay Jace?"
Jace's hands were sweaty as they wrapped around the pencil sharpener. He was alone in his room for once (probably because it was the middle of the night and Theodore had long since put him to bed.)
He had somehow managed to keep it after he finished colouring. Theodore must've forgotten to collect it back, or maybe he was simply oblivious to what else an innocuous pencil sharpener could do. But Jace knew.
Using a stray coin he found lying around the house, Jace's tongue poked out in concentration as he carefully twisted the screw holding the blade of the pencil sharpener off. The blade was thin, but sturdy and sharp. Exactly what he needed, something easy to hide that could still get the job done.Â
Jace had learned of more pain than he thought possible at the hands of Theodore and his demented "family." He couldn't look in the mirror without seeing the jagged scars of a whip running down his back and along his shoulders. He couldn't take a step forward without feeling the irritating chaff of iron against skin and, oh, how he hated the sound of the chain dragging after him.
He had no freedom. He couldn't do anything without someone watching him, belittling him, and hurting him if he acted out beyond a ruse of childish disobedience.Â
And the worst of it all? If he didnât play along to Theodoreâs delusions, thenâŚthen he might be given to Cameron instead. The man who almost raped him. So, essentially, he had to choose between being sexualized or infantilized, and that wasnât exactly a choice Jace wanted to make.Â
He didn't want to die, but... he just couldn't stop himself from dragging the blade across the skin on his thighs. It started small, with just the faintest white line appearing.Â
Then, he drew the blade back and forth, spots of red oozing out of the cuts now, and with it relief flooded his system. The sting grew and grew, but he was in control of it this time.
For once in a very long time, Jace felt like his body belonged to him.Â
The next days followed in an ordinary fashion. Theodore tried to play the role of a typical dad, while Jace tried to keep his sanity as he played along the best he could.Â
His little hobby hadnât been discovered yet. Jace was careful about where and when he cut, and after he was finished, he hid the blade. Every few days, he made sure to change the place he kept it.Â
Luckily, Theodore at least let him shower and change by himself (although that didnât stop Theodore from offering his help).
Jace had been sitting on the couch, reading one of the fantasy books Theodore gifted to him when a shadow came over him.Â
Theodoreâs eyes looked different than usual. They contained something dark, something feral, something that made Jace want to curl away and hide. That look only promised pain.
Running over his behaviour the last week, Jace couldnât come up with a reason as to what he could have done to anger Theodore so greatly. Besides cutting himself, of course, but there was no way Theodore could have found out about thatâ
"What is this?" Theodore seethed, holding up something thin and white andâ
"HâHowâ?" Trying to flinch away, Jace's words were cut off as Theodore grabbed his hands tightly and pulled back his long-sleeved shirt, searching for any evidence the blade could have left.Â
"Where." Theodore demanded when he was met with blank skin, staring intensely into Jace's frightened eyes. "Tell me, Jasper. Where the hell was it?" He was shoved back onto the couch, and then Theodore was climbing on top as he began to rip off the star-themed shirt Jace had picked out that day.Â
Jace could feel his heart drop to his stomach at the uncomfortable weight of another body on top of his own. "No!" he flailed like a fish out of water, "Wâwait!"
"I swear to God, Jasper, you better show me where you've been cutting yourself before I have to find it myself, because I promise if I do, there will be more of those cuts by the time I'm done with you."
Hands grabbed at his pants and Jace could no longer contain the tears from escaping. "I'll show you, I'll show you, just please, stop!" he hysterically blubbered out, trembling hands reaching down to pause Theodore's.Â
Theodore leaned back just enough for Jace to move his hands. Shakily, he rolled the legs of his pants up until they revealed the angry red marring his thighs. Jace could hear the sound of a sharp inhale coming from above him.Â
"How could you do this to yourself?" Theodore's voice was horrified as his fingers ghosted the wounds, "Why, Jace? Why?" Theodore's hands trembled and a hint of wetness sparkled in his onyx eyes, "You... You're my baby. I...I can't lose you."
"BecauseâŚ" It helps me feel in control, it lets me feel like myself again, it keeps me grounded, it's my body, if I want to hurt myself I will! You hurt me! You hurt me every day and worse, so don't you dare look so mortified!
"BecauseâŚ" Jace trailed off, unable to get himself to say what he really wanted to say, knowing that the words will only get him into more trouble. Finally, he gave up, simply shrugging his shoulders as he cast his gaze back to the couch.Â
"I see," Theodore's voice turned cold. Grabbing Jace's chin, Theodore forced eye contact. "From now on, you don't leave my side. When I sleep, you sleep next to me. When you need to shower, I will be in the bathroom with you. In fact, I think I might just remove the door from your room and your bathroom to be safe."
"Dadâ"
"No," Theodore hissed, holding a palm over Jace's mouth. "You had your chance to speak. Now, it's time for you to listen. I see I have greatly overestimated your ability to critically think, so I will be thinking for you from now on."
"Until you are ready to tell me whatâs going on with you, you won't be doing anything."
Jace regretted ever looking at that damned pencil sharpener.Â
 Extra! (TW: heavy bondage)
Jaceâs hands were tied behind his back with a leather belt, encased by thick gloves. His ankle cuff had been replaced by a shorter chain that kept his legs tied together instead, leaving him immobilized without Theodore. In his mouth, a cloth gag kept him from speaking without Theodoreâs permission, and unless he needed to eat, brush his teeth, or reply to Theodore, it generally stayed on.Â
A week of this treatment and Jace felt like he was losing his damn mind. Theodore eventually returned to his pleasant demeanor, but still didnât ease up on the strict treatment. Honestly, it felt as if Theodore was enjoying having Jace depend on him moreâŚ
Jace sat on the seat of the toilet as Theodore stood above him, untying the mouth gag. âOkay, baby, say âAh~â,â Theodore coaxed as he pressed Jaceâs toothbrush inside his mouth, brushing his teeth as the boy stayed still and silent.Â
After finishing and re-tying the gag, Theodore picked Jace up, past his bedroom (that was now doorless), and into the master bedroom.Â
He tucked Jace under the sheets, brushing away his bangs to lay a kiss to his forehead. Then, he turned off the light and climbed in beside Jace, holding him chest-to-chest. Jaceâs heart was pounding so loudly, he almost didnât hear Theodore whisper, âI love you., sweetheart.â
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