Whumpee eyed the cakes as they walked past the bakery.
Caretaker hurried a few feet in front of them. Not paying any mind to the weapon's pause on the sidewalk.
Whumpee took one final glance before hurrying to catch up with Caretaker.
"Was there something you wanted to look at?", Caretaker heard the weapon's quick approach.
"Oh, uhm", Whumpee thought about the cakes in the window for a moment, "n... no handler", Whumpee tried to forget all interest they had for the cakes. A weapon should never show interest in something. They didn't need a cake, Caretaker already gave them more than they deserved. Why should they ask for more?
"I apologize handler for causing you to stop", Whumpee straightened up.
"Don't apologize", Caretaker looked over their list, "are you okay with a few more errands?"
"Yes, of course handler. I'm ready to assist you as well if you like", Whumpee smiled weakly.
"Well okay, if you say so", Caretaker nodded.
Whumpee carried in several bags for Caretaker.
"You can set them in the living room please", Caretaker followed while carrying one bag, "you didn't have to take them all, I could have helped."
Whumpee turned and saw the one bag. A sad expression crossed their face.
"Please, you quite literally left the lightest bag for me. I'm completely alright", Caretaker waved their hands, "I appreciate all of your help. Please, go get some rest, I'm just going to get some of my work done now."
Whumpee nodded and watched Caretaker grab a bag from the floor.
"Can I move those to a better spot for you handler?", Whumpee frowned.
"No, go rest... that's an order", Caretaker turned to leave the room.
Whumpee sighed sadly... resting wasn't something they knew how to do yet. They were constantly on alert. A constant mess of nerves. "I'm not trained to rest", they whispered.
Caretaker was finished with putting the items away. One last item, a calender needed to be rehung. It had fallen earlier in the week, Caretaker was finally able to get a better hook to hang it up again.
"Perfect", Caretaker smiled once the calender was up.
They adjusted it to the correct month and almost walked away. They paused, and felt their heart sink.
"Wumpi berfdey", was shakingly written with crayon.
"No, no, no", Caretaker hurried to look at the date on their watch.
Whumpee looked up nervously when Caretaker came into the room.
"Whumpee, is it your birthday today?", Caretaker paused a few feet from them.
Whumpee nervously stood.
"I-I'm sorry... I-I shouldn't have written on your calendar. It w-was... I didn't... I-I'm sorry", Whumpee stuttered.
"Whumpee, I'm not upset. I'm sorry that I didn't see it until just now", Caretaker reached for Whumpee's shoulder.
Whumpee whimpered as Caretaker gripped them softly, "I'm sorry", their voice cracked.
"I'm not mad, please believe me that I'm not mad", Caretaker smiled, "so it's really your birthday today?"
Whumpee looked down and nodded, "I was, uhm, practicing writing. I had seen all of your schedules written down... I just wanted to see my birthday marked. Then I realized what I had done. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have wants like being noticed and celebrated. I'm only a weapon."
"You don't have to apologize. I'm so sorry I didn't see that until now. I had you busy all day today when we should have been celebrating", Caretaker smiled, "it's a little late now. Would you be okay if we celebrate tomorrow? We will do whatever you like."
"I'm sorry handler, but that's not necessary. I'm only a weapon, we don't celebrate things like birthdays. I was honored to spend the day with you today. It means so much to be allowed to go out with you for errands", Whumpee continued to look down, "I don't have any wants, and all of my needs are met. That's more than any weapon could ask."
"Are you certain that there is nothing you would like for your birthday. I promise, we will do anything you like. You can also pick out some presents that you like", Caretaker smiled, "come on, I know there is a human somewhere in there. They're hiding behind your weapon training. I know they have been hurt very badly, and you are protecting them. You are not there anymore. I promise they will be safe to come out. I'm the one protecting you now, and I know you have a hard time accepting that. I'm here to help you Whumpee, both of you."
Whumpee nodded, but their eyes continued to look down.
Caretaker sensed how uncomfortable Whumpee was getting.
"I won't push any farther, I can tell you're uncomfortable. But, if you do think of something, please, let me know."
Whumpee nodded again, "yes handler."
Caretaker stared into the darkness that night. They normally waited for Whumpee to stop tossing and turning in the other room.
"I'm a horrible caregiver for allowing their birthday to get past me", Caretaker sighed, "that's not fair to them at all. I also should have known they wouldn't ask for anything", Caretaker whispered to themself, "I'm an idiot."
Whumpee finally stopped moving.
"Oh good, no nightmares yet", Caretaker relaxed a little more, "I wish I had seen what caught their eyes in town today. I know they saw something they liked."
Caretaker tried to settle, but their eyes opened quickly with an idea. "I know what I can do", Caretaker grinned.
"Whumpee, would you be okay with going on a few errands today", Caretaker peaked in at Whumpee, who sat rigidly on the side of their bed.
"Yes, handler", Whumpee nodded.
"Great, we will get breakfast out today", Caretaker smiled, "lunch as well."
"Oh, uh, okay", Whumpee nodded.
Whumpee's eyes wandered the crowd as they followed behind Caretaker.
They hated feeling so open, they would rather be back at Caretaker's home. Though they would only really relax after the house alarms were turned on.
They wouldn't leave Caretaker though. Caretaker was so trusting to everyone. They brought Whumpee, a complete dangerous stranger, into their home. Whumpee swore they would protect Caretaker.
Caretaker's eyes also wandered, they needed to catch what Whumpee had wanted the other day. This was their only chance.
Caretaker traced their steps, they did exactly what they had done the day before.
Whumpee didn't seem to say anything about the errands being repeated.
Caretaker sighed in relief. Whumpee did follow one rule very closely from their training.
"Don't ask."
Whumpee saw the bakery again, they couldn't help but pause momentarily to see what the display was.
Caretaker turned just in time to see Whumpee's eyes light up.
"Bingo", Caretaker whispered, "this is about the spot as well. I'm buying you a birthday cake."
Whumpee turned to get caught up with Caretaker. They frowned when they saw Caretaker was already walking toward them.
"I apologize handler", Whumpee looked down shamefully, "I've bothered your routine again."
"No actually, I planned this. I had hoped to see what caused you to pause yesterday", Caretaker smiled, "you don't show much interest in things, and you don't like to let on to any interest either. I had to catch you in the act."
Whumpee's frown deepened, "please forgive your weapon for...", a tear formed in the corner of Whumpee's eyes.
Caretaker saw how Whumpee's body slightly shook.
"Whumpee, do you want to go pick out a birthday cake", Caretaker squeezed Whumpee's shoulder gently, "we can go home. You can set the alarms, and have the entire house on guard. We can enjoy the cake, I've already got dinner going as well. I know that is what you really want to do. You can let that inner Whumpee out in the safety of my home. I promise to keep you safe, even if you'll let me do it for this one night."
Whumpee sniffled, their hardened shell was crumbling.
"I... am... only", Whumpee choked out, "only... a we..."
"Whumpee, you don't have to be, not right now. You don't have to be", Caretaker smiled comfortingly.
Whumpee sniffled a little more and quickly wiped their eyes.
"I-I don't deserve cake", Whumpee whispered.
"You do deserve cake... everyone deserves cake. Especially on your birthday", Caretaker gently pulled Whumpee so they would take a few steps, "come on, lets see what they have."
Whumpee shyly looked at the displays while Caretaker talked with the staff.
"Do you see any that you like?", Caretaker smiled comfortingly, "I'll buy you anything you like."
Whumpee shamefully nodded. There was one. It had caught their eye the other day, and here they were even closer to getting it.
"That's the one?", Caretaker watched as Whumpee pointed.
"Y-yes handler. I don't require it though, honest", Whumpee whispered. How dare they ask for such a gift.
"We'll take that one please", Caretaker looked up at the staff, "it's was their birthday yesterday. Believe it or not, this is the first time in a long time we will be celebrating."
Caretaker glanced at Whumpee while they drove home.
Whumpee stared at the box sitting on their lap. Confusion twisted their face.
"What are your thoughts Whumpee?", Caretaker questioned curiously, "how does this moment feel to you?"
"I was trained to not require much. If my basic needs were met, I was lucky. I shouldn't have any wants or desires. I'm only a weapon. We are not supposed to have those. The only need and want I should have is serving my handler", Whumpee sighed, "to have someone so interested in caring for me like how you do... it's... it's confusing to explain. To have sudden human feelings again is complicated.
Whumpee looked to Caretaker.
"You some how figured out what I... what I was interested in. Even without me saying", Whumpee frowned, "to have someone who works around my training and conditioning like how you do."
Caretaker smiled, "I have to get a little creative. You are not easy to break."
Whumpee let out a small grin.
"Oh, I got a grin", Caretaker pulled into their driveway, "alright, let's go inside. You can turn on the complete home armory so you can let down your guard. We can have a small taste of the cake, and after dinner. We can eat more."
"You're allowing me to turn the entire system on?", Whumpee looks at the house, "you only allow that when it's time for bed."
"Yes, how else will I get you to relax", Caretaker chuckles, "yes, you can turn on the alarms. That way, you might be able to be more comfortable."
Whumpee types the code into the computer.
"Code recognized... alarms set", spoke from the computer.
Caretaker set a small slice of cake beside Whumpee.
They glanced at it, before looking up at Caretaker.
Caretaker smiled as they saw a small glimmer in Whumpee's hardened eyes.
"You get the first bite", Caretaker smiled showing they also had a small piece, "happy birthday Whumpee."
Whumpee felt tears well up in their eyes as they picked up the plate.
Caretaker watched as they cautiously took the fork and gathered the first bite.
Whumpee's face changed from confusion to bliss after the cake filled their mouth.
"I haven't tasted anything like this in a long time", Whumpee choked out, "it's so good."
Caretaker watched as Whumpee quickly got another bite.
Caretaker took their first bite.
"You did a great job picking the cake", Caretaker smiled, "this is very good."
Whumpee looked at them curiously, "m-may I have more?"
"How about after dinner? I'm getting dinner prepped right now", Caretaker took the plate, "we can have a bigger slice even. How does that sound?"
Whumpee thought for a moment before nodding.
"Thankyou Caretaker, I-I am so.. uhm, happy right now", Whumpee smiled slightly.
"I am so happy to hear that Whumpee. I'm glad we were able to do something special for your birthday", Caretaker let out a happy laugh, "you deserved this."
"I did?", Whumpee stared back them.
"Yes", Caretaker nodded quickly, "you absolutely did. I promise, you will have more day like this as well."
"But why? I'm not doing anything", Whumpee frowned.
"Because we have a lot of birthdays and celebrations to catch up on", Caretaker grinned, "you don't have to do anything to earn it", Caretaker looked to the the kitchen, "and because I said so, that's an order."
Whumpee let a small grin cross their face.
"Everything is so different here", Whumpee whispered, "but I'm learning to that."
Taglist. As always please let me know if you want to be added or taken off of the list. It's not a problem at all.
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