“Okay, let’s get you cleaned up.”
Whumpee stiffened, tears starting to form in his eyes at just the thought. He was already so cold…
“Here, follow me, it’s just down the hall here.” Caretaker led the way, and Whumpee followed, confused.
In the house? Wouldn’t that make a mess?
Caretaker opened a door, and he looked around for a hose, maybe a stall or something but-
“I think a bath will do you some good,” Caretaker was already leaned over the tub, getting the water started, “It’s not like we’re in a rush.”
He paused, eyes flicking around from Caretakers hand, testing the water, to the tub, to the rest of the room. He knew what a bath was, theoretically, but…
Wasn’t it a waste?
“Is that…okay?” Caretaker had seen his expression, and he hurriedly nodded.
“I’ll do anything you’d like me to do, sir.” He was ready with his answer, this question was easy-
Wait.
Caretakers brow furrowed and they straightened up. “Well, that’s fine, but I’m asking about you, bud. You okay?”
He swallowed hard. “I- I mean, you could just, spray me off with the hose, I don’t need- I don’t deserve anything special or anything, sir…” He tried not to let on how much he wanted this... That wasn’t important.
“Spray you- What? No, no no no,” Caretaker waved their hands, shaking their head, “You’re not a dog, you- You deserve a bath, a real bath, for Christ’s sake.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you or-or anything, sir…”
“None taken, just…” Caretaker turned off the water, now that it had risen over halfway up the sides of the tub, “Just take your time, get warmed up, and- and get used to it. No more hoses, okay?”
He tried to speak but his words got stuck in his throat, so he nodded frantically and hoped it was enough.
Thank you, thank you thank you thank you…
“Alright. I’ll leave some clothes outside the door for you.”
And with that, they were gone, and he was alone.
His numb hands struggled with his shirt buttons, so after undoing the top one, he just pulled his shirt off over his head, the rest of his clothes joining the pile soon after.
Carefully, one hand gripping the edge of the tub, he stepped into the water.
Two tears hit the waters surface as he climbed the rest of the way in, the warmth soaking all the way to his bones.
It was better than he had even hoped.
The water lapped at his shoulders, easing the ache in his knees, his hips, across his back. He leaned against the back of the tub and let his head fall back, eyes closing.
He could have stayed like that for hours.
But, he knew he didn’t have that kind of time, and he wasn’t about to push his luck any further.
It was still luxurious though, to scrub the dirt and grime from his skin slowly, carefully around cuts and bruises, instead of just trying to get as clean as possible under the cold spray. To work the soap through his hair and rinse till it came clean, to not be half blinded by water and soap in his eyes.
Caretaker knocked, calling through that they’d found him some pajamas.
“Thank you, sir, thank you so much-“ his voice cracked, and he wished he had a better way to express just how grateful he was.
He’s done too soon, the water gone grey, but he sits for just one more moment. Just a little longer.
His eyes rest on the door. On the other side of it, there were clean clothes for him to wear… and someone who had been very very kind to him for no reason.
The smarter, more cynical side of him knows he should be suspicious, but…
Please… please let me be enough to stay.
He’d do anything they wanted, he’d go so far, it was already worth it, please just let them want something he could give.
Anything.
Reluctantly, he pulled himself up and out of the water, shivering as he dried off and dressed. The pajamas were warm, only slightly too big, and soft, softer than anything he’d ever worn before.
For a moment he stood in the doorway, bracing himself. No matter what they did to him, wanted from him, took from him now, he was better prepared for it, and he was grateful.
