I swear this was supposed to be fluffy and short, but it got angsty and long instead. It’s so long it deserves a title AND I’m tagging people! Today Apple bakes a pie and we learn a bit more about Benji. 🍏 I’m not 100% satisfied with it but it’s still pretty good.
I should probably also note that everything I’ve mentioned so far is basically canon, besides a few minor details. Like, yeah, Jimmy’s canon, y’all.
CW: Broken whumpee, clueless whumpee, crying, food, implied captivity, neglect, pet whump, referenced past loss of consciousness, referenced past punishment, referenced past whipping, Stockholm Syndrome, unhealthy habits, yelling
Tagging: @sideblogformindtrash, @unicornscotty, @milk-carton-whump, @happy-whumper, @whumperfulart (Let me know if you want to be added or removed from this list! <3 )
Apple Pie
Apple doesn’t think your humor is broken at all, although admittedly he doesn’t get the joke. At the suggestion, he smiles. An apple pie would be a great idea to win back Master Clay’s affections, especially after yesterday!
Of course, to get his ingredients, Apple needs Master Clay to go to the store, and to get his ingredients on Master Clay’s list, he has to visit Benji. Apple hasn’t even seen them since their unconscious body was carried out of the extra bedroom last night. Still, Apple knows that for the next week, whatever Benji asks for, they’ll get. That’s how it always goes.
So Apple moves to sit up, but the instant he does, his back flares with sore, stinging pain. Ow, ow, ow! He freezes, biting back a whimper as his shirt settles against the raw skin. The sting fades into constant but bearable discomfort.
This time when he moves, he goes slower, and the pain feels like less. Apple feels overwhelming relief when he makes his way down the hallway and the hurt is tolerable.
Benji doesn’t talk, eat, or sleep much after a punishment, and this time is no different. When Apple nudges open the door to Master Clay’s bedroom, they’re laying on their stomach in the dark with the shades drawn, illuminated only by the haunting light of the TV. Master Clay always moves it for them on days like this.
They’re looking at the TV, red-rimmed eyes staring but unseeing at the colorful reality show playing on screen. When Apple sees them, he kind of wants to go back into the living room and wait until Benji’s okay again. He hates seeing them like this, so sad and quiet and small.
Maybe this treat will help cheer them up, too!
Apple pushes the door all the way open and crawls into the room, careful to shut it quietly behind him. “Benji?” His own voice is hoarse from yesterday, too, so he clears his throat and tries again a little louder when Benji doesn’t move. “Benji?”
Benji shifts on the bed, just enough for Apple to know they heard him. Apple crawls closer and kneels in front of them on the floor. It takes a moment for their red eyes to meet Apple’s, but when they do, Apple smiles.
“I need some stuff from the store today.” Apple grabs the pen and notepad sitting on Benji’s nightstand and offers it to them. “For an apple pie for Master Clay.”
Benji shakes their head slowly. Not now, Apple. He can see it on their face. They’re hurting today. Apple feels bad for pressing, but he’s sure Master Clay and Benji will both appreciate it later!
“Please? It’s only a little.”
Benji looks angry and exhausted all at once, and Apple thinks if Benji says no this time, he might just drop it. But Benji just sighs, then squeezes their eyes shut.
Rarely ever does Benji take a punishment worse than Apple, but this was one of those times. If the deep, bracing breaths are any indication, Benji’s thinking the same thing.
Apple doesn’t know what they’re doing until they let out a long pained hiss. Benji pushes themself up and moves around until they’re laying on their side and facing Apple. Benji takes the notepad, then motions with the pen. What do you want me to write?
Apple grins. Thank you, thank you, thank you! “Apples and brown sugar and cinnamon and a lemon. We need more flour, too. Oh, and ice cream!”
Benji writes everything down slowly, probably so they don't hurt themself more, and Apple watches mystified. Even though their hand shakes, their writing is still so pretty and swirly.
When they’re done, Benji peels the top sheet off the notepad, gingerly folds it up, and puts everything back on the nightstand. Then they settle back onto their stomach on top of the duvet.
From this angle, Apple can see the edges of angry red marks peeking out from the bandaging wrapped all around their back. Master Clay was kind to take care of Benji’s wounds like that. Maybe if Apple hadn’t tried to steal that apple, he would’ve gotten the same treatment.
When Apple looks back at Benji’s face, they’re staring at the TV again. He takes that as his cue to leave, being careful to shut the door quietly behind him.
***
When Master Clay returns with the ingredients, Apple is a little disappointed to find that he forgot the ice cream, but not ten minutes later, Master Clay passes through the kitchen grumbling about it. Apple’s pulling his ingredients together on the floor when Master Clay snatches his keys off the counter and leaves again.
Did Benji tell him that he’d forgotten it? Or maybe Master Clay noticed how disappointed Apple was and realized what he had forgotten! Regardless of the reason, Apple can’t believe Master Clay would drive all the way back to the store just to pick up some ice cream for him!
Apple feels a stab of loneliness every time Master Clay walks out the door, but it’s good that he’s gone. If he’s quick, he’ll have this pie done before he gets back. He can hardly imagine his surprise!
So Apple doesn’t waste any time. He mixes together all the dry ingredients for the dough and then cuts in the butter, careful not to overwork it before tossing it in the freezer. The apples are next. He cuts them nice and precise, and he makes sure the measurements are just right. Who knew that cooking show Benji watches would’ve come in handy like this?
Apple gets so into it that he starts to hum a little tune under his breath. He doesn’t remember what it’s called, but it’s soft and uplifting and he starts it over again as he lines the tin with the pie crust and layers in the apples.
Finally, Apple pulls together a streusel topping. It’s really easy, and it’s a touch of his own personal flavor since he’s not using the traditional lattice. By the time it’s in the oven, he’s forgotten all about his raw back, but he gets a harsh reminder when he leans up against the bottom cupboards while he waits. He winces and twists so that he’s leaning on his shoulder, not his back.
He doesn’t realize he’s fallen asleep until the oven beeps.
Apple wakes with a jolt, frantically trying to orient himself with his eyes. Right, he’s in the kitchen, on the floor. When he looks up, there’s a pint of vanilla ice cream sitting on the countertop, half-melted but still ice cream.
Apple smiles groggily to himself and eases onto his knees. It’s hard reaching into the oven from here, but he manages it. He uses a dish rag to pull the pie out from the heat and sets it on the floor in front of him.
The smell is heavenly. It takes all Apple has not to dig into the pie right then and there, because he made the pie for Master Clay and Benji, not himself. He barely ignores the way his stomach growls when he catches a whiff of buttery crust and spiced fruit.
Apple cuts a big slice for Master Clay and another for Benji, he scoops a spoonful of ice cream on top of each, and then he crawls over on his knees with the two plates and spoons in hand back to Master Clay’s room.
Apple gives the door a gentle knock before entering just in case Benji’s asleep.
“Master Clay? Benji? I brought you some pie.” Apple doesn’t know if he’s just surprised or fully disappointed that Master Clay isn’t in the room with Benji, but he supposes it’s a mix of both when he sees Benji propped up against the headboard of the bed. “Master Clay…?”
Benji shakes their head, eyes still glued to the TV. Not here.
Apple lets the flutter of disappointment go and instead crawls over to the bed, placing one slice of pie on the blanket and offering the other and a spoon to Benji. “I brought pie,” Apple says again.
Benji looks from the TV to the pie, and for the first time all day, a ghost of a smile passes over their lips. Apple can hardly believe it! He did that! Only as quick as it comes, it’s gone and replaced with a far more somber look.
“Benji, are… are you okay?”
Benji looks like they’re about to nod their head, but they must think better of it because they get impossibly quieter and more withdrawn.
They silently take the plate from Apple and break a piece off with their spoon. Apple’s excitement comes back full force. Hopefully Benji’ll feel better once they’ve eaten!
Benji is about to take the bite when their hand comes back down to the plate and they whisper, barely audible, “I want to go home…”
Apple doesn’t know what to say to that. How could Benji want that? With everything they have—pretty clothes and tender touches and everything they could possibly want—how could they ever want to leave Master Clay?
“You don’t mean that,” Apple murmurs. “That’s just the punishment talking. You have everything here. You can have anything.” At that, Apple feels a pang of something in his chest, but he keeps going. “This is your home, Benji. Master Clay—”
Benji hurls his plate of pie at the wall with a crash.
“THIS ISN’T HOME!”
It’s so loud and Benji’s voice sounds so raw and tearful, and Apple doesn’t know what to do besides bow his head in submission. So he does. Because Benji yelled at him. They’ve never done that before, no matter how exasperated or angry they’ve gotten with him.
The room goes quieter than it’s been all day. Of course the people on TV would choose now of all times to have a quiet moment.
When Apple dares to look back up again, there are tears streaming down Benji’s cheeks. Apple can’t think of anything to say, so all he says is, “Enjoy the pie…” Then he gets onto his hands and knees and crawls out of the room again.
Behind him, Benji’s silent tears turn to sobs, and they continue to whisper, “I just want to go home…”
> Tom, scratch your name on the wall. Maybe it gives you a better grip on reality, or makes you feel less lonely?
Tom studied the book before adding the next letter to the wall, careful to get it just right. They smiled as they sat back, their name looking perfect. A small part of them was happy to see their name, the one they loved and had given them something to hang onto. Yet, another part of them felt empty while looking at it.
"Does.... does anyone even know you're here, Tom?" They asked themselves.
"No.... no I don't think anyone does." They replied.
Alek freezes when he hears Lexus’ voice behind him. She’s confused, he can hear that in her voice, but he’s relieved that someone found him before anything else happened. He opens his mouth to speak as the command is given.
Lie.
“I... uh, I...” The words are frozen in his mouth, and his jaw suddenly feels like stone. How could he lie about this to her? He wasn’t even sure how he was going to explain the truth. His heart is pounding as Lexus came up and knelt down in front of him.
“Alek, are you listening to me? Why do you have a blindfold on?”
“I... am... uh, testing myself,” he stammers over his words, “I, uh, I just wanted to see how well I could get around the ship. Just wondering if I could get by on memory.”
He can hear Lexus frowning at him. “You were testing yourself? And you’re on the floor because...?”
“I, I tripped.”
“And did you break your finger while you were ‘testing yourself?’“
“Yyyyyyes. Slammed it in a door by accident.”
Lexus is silence for several moments. Alek knows she isn’t buying it. He’s a terrible liar and she can read him like a book. He feels her hands reach up to untie the blindfold, and squints as the lights hit his eyes. His wide blue eyes meet her light green, and she knows immediately something’s wrong.
“Alek, please, I want you to tell me what’s happened. Whatever it is, we can take care of it.”
Alek shakes his head and his voice goes quiet. “No... It’s... No, there’s nothing.”
Lexus sighs with worry and slight disappointment. She takes his injured hand in hers to get a better look. “C’mon, let’s get this taken care of.”
She helps him stand up and they walk together to the med bay. Alek keeps his eyes forward and unfocused, hoping he doesn’t see the hammer on the way out.
> Tom baby, look for a way to get out of that chain. Surely your old visitor installed a failsafe in case they weren't back for a while.
Tom's eyes brightened.
"You... you might be right. Um.... hmm." They said as they went to inspect the the chain.
As they followed it back to it's source they started feeling around the floor and nearby wall. They found nothing, not even a way to get the chain off. It was hopeless.
> Tom, you should make a surprise for the visitor for when he comes back. I’m sure he’d appreciate it. :)
Tom took special time with this, it was important. Their visitor was someone they'd been waiting on forever and they hoped that with his return, they'd be able to get the attention they had so desperately desired.
Folding the last bit of paper until the ripped out pages became an entirely new book. They smiled excitedly, eager to give it to the visitor upon his return.
Five years passed as they sat by the door, waiting.
I have returned with another command for my boi Apple :D
▶️ Apple, break something from Clay :) *because he is a dick and that's what he gets for neglecting the bebe*
Oh Tabea, I know you meant well, but oof.
No real CW. Just some crying (and I guess underlying Stockholm Syndrome)!
Apple hates this. After hours, hours of trying to fight this command, he kneels quaking by Master Clay’s nightstand, where his master keeps his most cherished items.
Apple opens the drawer with trembling hands, fighting back burning tears because he knows exactly what he’s going for. It’s hiding in a little box under Master Clay’s underwear and socks. After a little bit of sorting, Apple finds it tucked in the corner beside a big wad of cash that Master Clay must’ve replaced since Benji last stole it.
Apple’s hands are shaking far too much, but he manages to wrap them around the small box and pull it out. It fits so nicely in his hands. He wishes there was any other occasion for him to be holding it.
Apple’s vision blurs with tears as he eases the top off the box and reveals what’s inside: A watch, gold and with a blood red face and pretty deep green numbers. That first time he and Benji found it in Master Clay’s drawer, Benji said it was too ugly to sell.
Apple thought it was beautiful.
That’s why it hurts him so bad to pull it out of where it's nestled, far too gently for what he’s about to do.
Apple takes it and smashes it on the floor.
He’s crying hard now, mourning the loss of something that was never his. Minding the broken watch, Apple drops to his hands and knees and crawls to wait by the front door for Master Clay to come home. When he does, he can confess his deeds.
Man, what the heck happened to my short answers to command asks? XD On the bright side, I finished it! The ask explains it pretty well. Benji bites Apple. :)
CW: Biting (worrying about drawing blood, breaking skin), broken whumpee, clueless whumpee, pet whump, punishment, sadistic whumper (kinda), slapping, Stockholm Syndrome
Benji groans and pushes back their chair. A nibble wouldn’t hurt Apple, not really, although gross.
But Benji doesn’t get up just yet. They glance at Apple from where they’re sitting at the kitchen table, curled up on the floor by the sofa sleeping peacefully. Now they really don’t want to do this.
But it’s a command, and even though they’re not nearly as eager to fulfill those as Apple, they find themself obeying anyway.
Benji gets up from the table and creeps up to him, dropping down to their hands and knees when they get close so they don’t wake him.
Apple’s lying in the fetal position, legs tucked against his chest and with his arms extended in front of him. As gently as they can, Benji eases his left one from by his head and brings it to their mouth.
Nice and easy, they tell themself, because if they’re gentle enough, Apple won’t realize a thing.
Except they overestimate just how hard they have to bite. It’s not enough to break skin, sure, but Apple jolts awake with a shriek and they can see the bite mark indented on the skin of his forearm.
Apple looks at his arm and then up at Benji with wide, incredulous eyes. “You—You bit me!”
“Uh… yeah.” What are they supposed to do, lie? The evidence is staring them in the face anyway.
That doesn’t stop Benji from jumping when Apple cries, “Master Clay!”
The look Benji shoots him is equal parts horror, anger, and pity—horror because yeah, they definitely bit Apple and the evidence is on his arm, anger because they wouldn’t have pegged Apple as a snitch but they should’ve because here they are, and pity, because even after everything Clay’s done to him, far worse than any bite, he’s still calling to him like he cares.
“Master Clay!” Apple shouts again.
Finally, Clay walks into the room, looking more pissed than anything. “What do you want, Apple?”
Apple beams like he does any time he’s acknowledged, then holds his arm out for Clay to see. “Benji bit me!”
For Benji, horror starts to win out. They don’t think Clay will hurt them, not over something like this, and still their heart beats a bit faster and their palms grow sweaty with nerves.
And then Clay looks at them. Benji wishes they could disappear when the two of them make eye contact. Only Clay doesn’t look mad at all.
Annoyed but amused nonetheless, Clay says, “You bit him, Benji? I wish you’d waited for me to show up...”
The way he’s talking, Benji knows he’s not done yet. Apple seems equally confused. Benji isn’t sure what he wanted out of this exchange, but it surely wasn’t this.
“I’ve got it,” Clay says after a moment. He’s wearing a big smile. “Bite him again, Benji.”
Benji can’t help but stare at Clay. Is… is he serious? But yeah, he’s got that look on his face that says there’s no use trying to argue, and his smile says it’d be better not to test him.
So Benji reluctantly turns to Apple and takes his arm in their hand again, flashing Apple a look they hope says I’m sorry clearly enough. And then they bite him, hard enough that Clay won’t complain or make them do it again. Almost hard enough to draw blood. Thank goodness it’s only almost.
Apple stays silent, just like he always does. But he’s grinning, too. Benji notices it when they finally work up the nerve to look at Apple again.
Quiet, barely distinguishable from a breath, they ask, “Apple...?”
Apple ignores them, instead taking a hold of Benji’s hand and shouting, “My turn!”
His turn? Benji frantically shakes their head. “Wait, wait, wait—!” Apple doesn’t listen. He bites Benji, hard enough to hurt, deep enough to burn.
Benji barely manages to stay quiet, but they do—for Apple’s sake. Not that it does much good.
Clay slaps Apple across the face before he’s even had a chance to pull off them. “What the hell do you think you’re doing!”
Apple stares wide-eyed up at Clay, touching a surprised hand to his reddened cheek. “You told Benji to bite me again. I thought… thought we were playing...”
Playing. Despite the throbbing in their hand, Benji lets out an exasperated huff. Of course Apple’s being punished for something he didn’t even know was wrong, even though he should’ve. He should’ve known.
Now, Benji just stares hard at the ground. There’s nothing they can do about what’s happening anyway.
Clay growls out a barely restrained, “Get out of here, Apple.” From the corner of their eye, Benji watches Clay crouch down next to them and gesture for them to give him their hand.
Benji feels the confused look Apple shoots them when they do, those eyes desperate for answers. Benji doesn’t look up. Really, Apple should be focused on the relief. This could’ve gone so much worse for him.
At Benji’s silence, Apple nods to himself. “Thank you, Master.” Then he crawls away, off to some corner, most likely to convince himself that what Clay did just now came from a place of love.
