"Let's Play"
This is absolutely not pointed at anybody in particular, so if you read this and think it was inspired by you... um, don't :)
Whumpee winced as Whumper started setting up the chess board again. “No,” Whumpee mumbled weakly. Whumper paused, glanced at Whumpee on their mattress on the floor and grinned.
“Good morning, Whumpee. What exactly are you protesting today?”
“No chess,” they begged, their voice croaking from sleep.
Whumper straightened and stepped around the table, walking towards Whumpee slowly. Giving Whumpee enough time to fear his advances and back up on the flimsy mattress, cornering themselves against the wall. Whumper kept coming and stopped at the edge of the bed. He crouched and grabbed the chain that attached to Whumpee’s ankle cuff. Whumpee’s heart raced as they stared wide eyed at the monster.
Whumper clicked his fingers and pointed at his feet. He curled the chain around his hand in warning, come here or be dragged here. So Whumpee bit back a whimper as they crawled towards Whumper’s feet and sat back on their heels, kneeling before him, head bowed. Whumper kept wrapping the chain around his fist so Whumpee couldn’t get away as he leaned a hand down and tapped two fingers under Whumpee’s chin.
Whumpee bunched their hands into fists as they turned their head up to meet Whumper’s almost fond expression that curled their stomach.
“Now, pet, what was that no about?”
Whumpee trembled as they stared at Whumper. They swallowed to try and clear their throat but they were scared to speak so boldly with Whumper this close. They looked away but flinched when Whumper clucked his tongue twice and looked up at him with pleading eyes.
He put his hand under their chin again to make sure they couldn’t look away. “Come on, darling. You know I don’t ask twice,” he purred. Whumpee’s heart raced against their chest. “Are you going to make me ask twice?”
“N-no! No, sir. I just… please, no chess today.”
Whumper’s horrible blue eyes looked concerned as if Whumpee was a child who had fallen during play time. “Why, pet?”
“I never win,” Whumpee replied mutinously. “It’s— it’s not fair. I don’t- I never played before you—“”
“I taught you the rules,” Whumper supplied.
“The rules, but not plays. And everyday it seems you use a different one and I can’t adapt and—”
Something simmered under Whumper’s skin that terrified Whumpee and they quickly tried to appease their kidnapper. “I mean, I am grateful you taught me, sir, it’s just— I can’t— it’s frustrating.”
“Hm.” Whumper’s hand moved to Whumpee’s head and patted it lightly. Whumpee struggled to repress the shiver dancing down their spine. “So you want to forfeit your chance at freedom today?”
“No!”
“But you know the rules.”
Whumpee knew the rules. They knew the rules alright. They knew that everyday Whumper would come down and set up the chess board and they would play. If Whumper won, he got to do whatever horrible torture he thought up to Whumpee that day, and if Whumpee won they’d be granted their freedom. Which was a sick twisted game in and of itself because Whumpee didn’t play chess.
“I do, but I—”
“And now you’re interrupting me, pet. My, my, you really have woken up on the wrong side of the bed. Perhaps it’s the mattress. Perhaps, I’ve treated you too well.”
“No! Sir, no, please sir. I’m sorry.”
“I like playing chess with you everyday, pet. You’re improving so quickly.” Probably because torture’s a great motivator, Whumpee thought dismally.
“What’s the point if I can’t win?!” Whumpee snapped. The words flew out of their mouth in pure frustration, their hands coming off their lap in a helpless gesture at the futility of it all. It was cruel. That with every move Whumpee thought that maybe, maybe, they could win and go home today.
They realised their mistake as soon as the words left their lips. Terrified eyes went to Whumper’s face, which had lost all softness and warmth, replaced with a cold fury.
“I’m sorry sir. Please. I’m— please sir—”
“We will play chess today,” Whumper said, grabbing Whumpee under their arm and pulling them to their feet roughly. “We will play multiple games, to help improve your skills.”
Whumpee blanched. “M-multiple games?”
“Yes!” Whumper replied brightly. “I may even teach you an opening.”
Multiple games meant multiple losses. Whumpee dug their heels into the ground, resisting. “But, sir if I lose more than one game, do I get punished t-twice?”
The question nearly stole the air from their lungs as Whumper stopped by the table and grinned at Whumpee who shrunk back.
“I think that’s only fair, don’t you? Considering you’re getting multiple chances at freedom.”
And Whumpee had the sudden, awful feeling that even if they won, Whumper would never let them go in that moment. His eyes were too bright, his smile too twisted. Helpless anger bubbled up inside them as they spat, “none of this is fair!”
Whumper raised their hand and Whumpee’s head whipped to the side with a soft gasp. Gentle fingers turned Whumpee’s cheek to face him again, his expression sympathetic, his eyes anything but.
“Let’s play.”
***
Commander Tag-list - get it instead of general hehehe *clears throat* ahem, anyways: @sunflower1000 @scoundrelwithboba @distinguished-ruler