#beating

The atmosphere shifted at that. Whumpee hesitated and glowered at him.

“Don’t make me come get you.”

Caretaker and Team Leader shifted closer, ready to shield them. But Whumpee kept them away. “It’s okay,” they said. “I’ll be okay.”

They didn’t say anything, keeping their eyes on Whumper, but reluctantly stepped aside to let Whumpee pass.

Caretaker’s hand snapped around their wrist as they walked towards Whumper, but very loosely, letting their hand slide through, giving a light squeeze in reassurance, and he only let go when Whumpee’s middle finger slipped from his fingers.

Whumpee had no illusions that this time it was going to be a fair fight.

But maybe… they could slip away, run off? Or distract him so the others could run.

Those plans were dashed as soon as they stepped through the door.

One of Whumper’s henchmen was leaning casually against the wall, and pushed off as soon as he saw Whumpee step into the hall. Without a word, he blocked their path and closed the ranks, keeping them between him and Whumper.

“Where are we going?” Whumpee asked, as Whumper closed the door to their room—cell.

“Not far.”

And indeed, he only took a few steps to a room just on the other side of the hallway, one door down.

“I still need them to be able to hear you,” he said casually, unlocking the door.

Whumpee paled.

“I’m not going to scream for you,” they growled.

“Yes.” Whumper opened the door and let them walk past him into a dark, empty room. “You will.”

Something tingled over the heavy sensation of fear settling in their chest; something prepping them, for what was to come. It was making them even more antsy. Their fight response? Getting them ready? Better not waste it…

They didn’t wait for Whumper to come at them.

Whumpee launched themself at him. Raised an arm, clenched a fist. But before they could strike, a hand clamped around their wrist, pulling them back, stopping them. That goddamn henchman.

Whumper let out a taunting, triumphant little chuckle, but his laugh quickly shifted to an alarmed “Whoa!” when Whumpee, despite being held back, managed to kick him in the stomach.

Not as hard as they would have liked, but hard enough to make him reconsider his odds in this two on one thing.

They slammed an elbow back at the henchman at throat height, and bucked free before he could pull them in and really trap them.

Unfortunately, that kick was a reminder for Whumper not to underestimate them again, and he too struck before Whumpee could come after him. He closed the distance in a step. Two hands tightened in the front of their shirt. Tilted them off balance—

Their world spun as Whumper slammed them hard against the wall with a loud thud to grab the attention of his audience across the hallway. The grunt it punched out wasn’t enough to satisfy his demands for a scream. Not yet. But he could whittle them down. Daze them with a quick barrage.

The tactic worked. Unable to do more than flail against him, Whumpee crashed against the door again, this time with their head, disorienting them even more.

A brutal backhand crashed against their face. They fell back. Stumbled, barely able to stay on their feet. But something caught them. And they landed hard against Henchman’s chest.

They couldn’t break free from Henchman’s grip this time. And didn’t see the punch coming until it connected hard.

Whumper punched them full in the stomach.

It slammed the air from them in a shocked grunt. No screams. Not yet. And they wouldn’t.

They tried to push Whumper away. Regroup. But he didn’t let up.

He grabbed their arm, twisted it to their back in one fluid movement, spun them around, and slammed them face first against the door.

A sharp pain shot through their shoulder as he twisted their arm further up, taking them by surprise, and they let out a yelp.

“Come on…” Whumper tutted. “You can do better.”

His hand was tight enough on their wrist to make the bones crunch against each other. His other was on their face, thumb bruising their cheekbone and pressing their head against the door, while keeping them in place with his body. They bucked against him, fruitlessly, and he responded by twisting their arm tighter.

Slowly, very slowly, he forced their arm further up.

Whumpee squeezed their eyes shut against the pain. Held back a warbled little cry behind grit teeth.

It slowly build up; from uncomfortable, to concerning, to painful, to unbearab—

“No! N-ghh—Let go!” A strained exhale, closer to a grunt than a yell.

“Almost… keep going.” Spurred on, Whumper pressed up tighter against them.

Whumpee barely registered how he pried their fingers apart until it was too late.

A sharp pain exploded. Their little finger snapped sideways, out of its socket.

And at the same time, he forced their twisted arm up between their shoulder blades in a sharp tug.

Their surprised cry at the sudden sharp pain warped into a scream. Followed by a loud explement.

Immediately, Whumper let go, satisfied. They hoped. Immediate relief washed over them. But Whumper grabbed them forcefully by the shoulders and spun them around, slamming their back against the wall, forcing out another cry.

He got up close with a vicious grin. And covered their mouth with his hand, to their surprise. They panted hard against his palm. He brought a finger to his lips. Then pointed up; behind them.

A muffled banging sounded from outside, across the hallway, accompanied by angry shouting.

“Whumpee?! Whumpee, are you okay?!”

“Whumper you bastard, if you hurt them—"

Fists continued ramming against the door in a frenzied desperation.

“Must be nice, to have your team so concerned about you,” Whumper crooned and removed his hand.

"It is. Not like you would know anything about that," Whumpee spat back.

He sneered a smile. "Let's continue..." He grabbed Whumpee by the front of their shirt and pulled them in close. "You need to know how loved you are."

They teetered and their legs wobbled, pain still zapping through them. But as Whumper let go of them, they struck.

They bit him hard in the wrist.

Whumper roared.

Their cue to bite down even harder and they shook like a rabid dog. To their satisfaction, his howl raised a pitch.

A fist connected hard with their cheekbone and he literally punched them off him.

Whumpee stood, hunched over, breathing hard, but they straightened up a little. They twisted their shoulder, massaged it lightly, testing it. And flashed a smile with bloodied teeth.

Over the panting, they could both clearly hear it.

"Get him, Whumpee!"

"Get his ass!"

The cheers were louder than their concern. Whumpee broke out into a wicked grin.

Whumper looked from his mangled wrist to Whumpee and back. Shock quickly turned to a frenzied rage.

Whumpee spat out a bit of blood. Wiped a thumb over their mouth.

So gross. And definitely life-shortening. Not improving their chances at all. They stood straight, and baited Whumper with a little come-get-me flick of their hand.

… but so worth it.

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