...
Whumpee tightly grasped Caretaker's hand as he was led into the apartment. Caretaker led him over to the couch and went into the kitchen. He panicked at being left alone, and let out a small cry.
"I'm just in the kitchen, okay Whumpee? I'm making us some dinner," Caretaker acknowledged. Xe didn't even recognize xyr friend, he had changed so much over the past few months. He used to be so confident, so sure of himself, and always tried to keep a clean look, even with his stained hoodies and messy but handsome hair. Now, his hair was grown out and stringy, and he acted as if a fly could startle him. Xe worried about him, from the first time xe had seen him today, tied up and bleeding.
Whumpee found a blanket and wrapped it around himself as Caretaker searched the cupboards for anything that could be turned into a meal for two. Xe found twin cans of soup, lit the stove and set a pot on top, then poured the soup in.
A few minutes later, the soup was ready. Caretaker poured it into two bowls, grabbed two spoons, and brought dinner out to the living room. There, Whumpee was shaking and huddled in on himself; Caretaker sat next to him and set the bowls on the coffee table.
Whumpee pulled Caretaker into a sudden hug. Xe returned it as he started sobbing. Xe had never heard him cry before, a testament to the horrors he had gone through.
Caretaker held on a second longer before pulling away and offering Whumpee a bowl. He accepted, and let it warm up his hands as the soup cooled down. Caretaker picked up xyr bowl and took a spoonful, only to realize xyr mistake when the soup burned xyr tongue.
Caretaker also waited for xyr dinner to cool, and tried to initiate conversation. "Are-are you okay, Whumpee, after everything that's happened today?"
Whumpee just shook his head. Caretaker didn't know how to respond, and xe didn't know how to fix him. Xe wanted to be there for xyr friend and help him heal, but where to begin? What now?
Caretaker, caught up in xyr own thoughts, was startled when Whumpee spoke. "I...I-I...I don't w-want to talk about it. I want you to help me, and t-th..thank you, but it hurts too much right now to ta-talk."
"Okay. That's fine," Caretaker whispered, wondering when Whumpee developed a stutter. "I'm here for you, alright?"
Whumpee nodded. He sipped at his soup, deciding it to be cool enough to eat, and dug in. He hadn't had so much warm food in so long.
Caretaker could only pick at xyr food, too worried about Whumpee to eat. The two sat in silence except for Whumpee's eating, and when he was done with his bowl Caretaker wordlessly handed over xyrs, and he accepted, internally rejoicing at the extra food, not processing that Caretaker barely touched xyrs.
They didn't know what to say to each other, there was too much and not enough between them all at once. Whumpee felt drowsy after two helpings of warm soup, and his eyelids grew heavy. Caretaker yawned, and thought it might be time for bed, after such a crazy day.
"Hey, do you want to sleep with me tonight? If not, that's fine, you can have the couch or I have an air mattress; you can stay for as long as you like too, if it makes you feel better."
"Yeah, I'd like that. Would you mind if I slept with you? It-it'd help me feel safe, y'know?" Whumpee smiled.
"Sure. No homo though, right?" Caretaker laughed, lightening the mood.
"No homo."
The two stood up, Caretaker putting xyr arm around Whumpee's shoulder, headed for bed. Both felt safe under the covers that night, far away from Whumper and the events of that day, and finally together again.
