Anon again, consider: Caretaker tries to comfort Whumpee with some cuddles. Unbeknownst to Caretaker, that was one of Whumper's favorite things to do after a nice, long torture session At some point I will probably come off anon but gimme a bit, I'm shy,
Hi Anon, no pressure at all!
I'm imagining Whumpee would flinch or maybe just completely freeze up. Go limb. Maybe so subtly that Caretaker doesn't even notice. Maybe Whumpee has learned not to show their discomfort. Would Caretaker feel guilty if they realise they accidentally triggered Whumpee?
Would they eventually be able to cuddle again? Maybe after a long time of building trust Whumpee just comes into the room one day and cuddles up next to Caretaker without saying a word. Caretaker is so so relieved but they don't show it, worried to break the delicate moment. It would be nice if the dam just kinda broke and after a long time of no touch at all Whumpee now is so deprived of it that they always wanna be cuddling. Caretaker is more than happy to oblige. You could make this heartbreaking by having something happen that makes Whumpee regress too, where they suddenly can't handle cuddles again.
Or maybe Whumpee has a more outward reaction when Caretaker initially cuddles them. They are shaking and they start stuttering: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'll be better, I promise." Caretaker has no idea what's going on, but Whumpee is stuck in a flashback. Caretaker tries to comfort Whumpee with soft circles on their back and comforting words, but they don't realize they are doing and saying the same things that Whumper had always done and said.
Another way this could play out! A scenario where Whumper cuddled with Whumpee to comfort themselves, to lessen their guilt. So when Caretaker snaps at Whumpee in a bad mood Whumpee just immediately gets all cuddly with them, the way that Whumper needed it, and Caretaker is confused why the normally touch shy Whumpee is suddenly doing this and why now of all times.
The whump image is also so good!! I really am a sucker for the quiet terror of a post torture cuddle session. The dichotomy between the soft gentleness and the horror of the situation. Whumpee just sitting there in their own fear and trauma. They feel so vulnerable and scared and just want to get away from Whumper, more aware than ever of what Whumper is capable of. But no, Whumper is wrapped around them, and even though the touch doesn't hurt, it might as well be burning. Whumpee's heart is racing no matter how much they try to calm down. To their brain it doesn't matter that they are cuddling because all that they know is that these are the arms that just hurt them beyond belief.
