#ruined map

[blackseafoam]

[mj-iza-writer]

Whumptober Day 17

Nowhere else to go - Ruined Map - Shipwrecked - "We had a good run"

"Yo ho, yo ho... a pirate's life for me", Whumper hummed as they entered their ship's office.

They stomped on a hatch that led to a secret room under their office.

"Are you awake, ye scurvy dog?", they called down to their prisoner.

"Who could sleep in accommodations like this you bastard", a voice yelled at them.

"Watch it or else you won't get dinner", Whumper stomped on the floor again.

"Do you have any idea how many times I've puked today", the voice called up again weakly, "I can't eat anything right now."

It was silent for a moment.

"If you are looking to reward me, I'd love to come upstairs. I'll even stay in your office. It smells down here", they called up, "please."

"Whumpee, yeh drive a hard bargain", Whumper chuckled.

"Please my back hurts from being tied up like this please... plus the whipping I received..."

"Whipping?", Whumper paused.

"Yeah, this morning Captain. You didn't know?"

"No, I didn't know. Please tell me it's not on your back", Whumper started to pull out their keys.

"Back and ass", Whumpee answered.

"Shit", Whumper started down the stairs.

Whumpee nervously watched them come closer.

"I didn't do anything to receive the punishment. I think they were drunk. They staggered down the stairs as a drunk would", Whumpee explained.

"Do you know who they were", Whumper's hands were on their hip, "let's see the damage."

Whumpee cautiously turned their back towards Whumper. They groaned as Whumper lifted their shirt to look.

Whumper had had a tattoo done on Whumpee's back a few islands back before setting off. Whumpee was a prisoner from a different ship. A cruise ship. Whumper had taken a few things of value and sunk the ship with the crew and guests. Whumpee was deemed useful. The tattoo was of a treasure map Whumper had discovered. They were currently on their way to find it. No one except Whumper's best crew mates knew that tattoo was on Whumpee's back. The map and inhabitants of the island were destroyed, so no one would follow Whumper's ship.

Whumpee whimpered as Whumper pressed a firm hand against their back. Blood oozed out from the slash marks.

"The map is almost shredded", Whumper frowned.

"I didn't do anything. I was somewhat asleep when they came down here", Whumpee tried to look back at them, "I didn't try to damage your map."

"I believe you. Do you think you can pick out who they were?", Whumper lowered the shirt, "I'll let you upstairs for a while if you do."

"I can captain", Whumpee nodded, "anything to get out from under the floor. I'm so nauseous."

"I can see that", Whumper sighed at the piles of puke covering the floor.

On top deck, Whumpee took in the sunlight and fresh air. Salt water splashed up at them, causing them to laugh lightly.

They were tied to the railing near the captain's wheel.

Whumper had the anchors hoisted.

They tried to make do with their destroyed treasure map. They didn't want to chance Whumpee's wounds getting infected before they found the treasure. Scurvy would make the map even worse.

Whumpee suddenly cowered away when a newer member walked past them.

Whumper watched as they grinned evilly at Whumpee.

"Is that them Whumpee", Whumper frowned when Whumpee nodded nervously.

"Captain?", the second in command hadn't been made aware of what happened yet.

"Jones, watch the wheel. Keep us going straight", Whumper stood aside.

"You" Whumper pointed at the sailer, "come here slime."

"Yes sir?", they turned worriedly.

"Who gave you permission to go under me office and punish me prisoner. Because of your acting out of line, our entire journey may be worthless", Whumper took dangerous steps towards them until their finger poked right into their nose.

"It's a prisoner. I didn't think anything of it. I was drunk and angry I figured I could take it out on them", they explained.

"You destroyed the vessel for a treasure map is what you did. It's barely legible because of you", Whumper grew more and more angry, "I out to take your hide for bruising theirs."

"I-I didn't know.. .... I-I'm sorry" the person backed away fearfully until they met the railing.

"No one touches me property. You had to go into me quarters to get at to 'em", Whumper continued toward them.

"Please.... I had no idea", the sailer shrunk down. They knew what Whumper was capable of.

Whumpee burried their head into their arms, also knowing what Whumper was capable of. They didn't want to see anything more than what they had already witnessed.

Whumpee heard more pleading, then screaming, then a loud splash..... then a gunshot.

"Dead men tell no tales", Whumper frowned as they caught Whumpee looking up at them.

Whumpee weakly stood, but didn't dare look over. The seagulls were diving. Those buzzards told them exactly what they would see.

Whumper took over the wheel, Jones walked over to Whumpee and harshly lifted their shirt.

"No", Jones stated in disbelief.

"We will try to push on", Whumper frowned at Whumpee, "even if they die from infection. We will use their corpse."

Whumpee shuddered, "I think I'm gonna be sick."

"Puke over the side. I might lose it if you throw up on my ship again", Whumper frowned.

"I don't want to look", Whumpee frowned as they leaned their head against the wood.

It was late in the night when Whumpee felt a blanket cover them. They had sat down earlier, and apparently dozed off

"Captain?", Whumpee looked up.

"What?", Whumper had gone back to the wheel.

"You're still awake?", Whumpee frowned.

"Aye, I've been dreaming of this treasure for a long time. I won't let anyone be in my way of achieving this", Whumper sighed, "it isn't my first time pulling an all-nighter. I use to run an entire ship deck on my own at night when I was a mere mate. Everyone else would sleep while I worked", Whumper sighed, "I rather sail by the moon and stars, they be your only friends sometimes."

Whumpee looked up and saw the sky, "it's beautiful. You don't see it like this in the city."

"Aye, the city is always awake. Not a place for a seaman", Whumper sighed, "get some rest."

"Did you mean that earlier? Do you think I'm going to get sick and die?", Whumpee's lip quivered, "I don't want to die."

"I don't know, unfortunately you're already sick. I'm not a doctor, nor is there any on the water. I don't think the tattoo is healing. Plus, those whip markings are opened wounds. Unfortunately, you may meet an untimely end" Whumper seemed to be quite saddened to deliver the news, "I've kind of grown to enjoy our back and forth banter. I even considered keeping you alive to be my pet."

Whumpee frowned, "what if I do live though? Maybe there are things I can do to keep from getting worse."

"I suppose you will be allowed to live... as long as you behave yourself", Whumper grinned.

"Do you have any cool stories about your times at sea?", Whumpee looked at Whumper with puppy dog eyes.

"No, now go to sleep", Whumper sighed.

Days passed...

Whumpee weakly watched as Whumper and the crew rolled away from the ship to land.

"From what I can tell, the treasure is here. They were growing weak and would slow us down. That's why they were left on the ship", Whumper told Jones.

"And you're sure your fondness for the creature has nothing to do with it. There is clearly an infection, they may be dead by the time we return", Jones made a knowing glance, "I like them too, they've grown on me, but we have to accept we are seamen we don't get things like that."

"We can certainly try Jones", Whumper grinned weakly.

After some time they finally found the markings, the 'X' if you will.

"It's here Jones... it's really here", Whumper celebrated.

Cheers amongst a few crew members caused Whumper to look their way.

The trusted crew men... the ones who would be living to enjoy their earnings stepped away from those premarked for death. Whumper only allowed their most trusted crew to live.

"I'm sorry mates, but I'm afraid ye sailed your last sea", Whumper pulled out their pistol.

Jones followed.

Whumpee jumped at the sound of gunshots.

"Captain", Whumpee whispered.

"Dead men tell no tales", Whumper frowned.

Whumpee laid on the deck. They lifted their head slightly when the Captain, Jones, and crew climbed aboard.

"Whumpee?", Whumper hurried to their side and knelt.

"I heard the... gunshots", Whumpee coughed, "I was nervous."

"We found the treasure... it's here see", Whumper held a gold coin close to Whumpee's eyes, "you helped us find it."

"That's good", Whumpee blinked slowly, "I don't feel good."

"It's okay, just hang in there. We are going to sail to another island. I think there is a village there. I'm making the decision to save you. I've not done that for anyone before. You can't waste that", Whumper held Whumpee up and watched their skin get paler, "you can't die on me."

"Whumper they've been dying since that tattoo was done", Jones held Whumper's shoulder, "you've fallen in love with something that you marked for death."

"Don't fucking remind me", Whumper yelled, "dang it you scurvy dog... you can't die."

"I'm.... sorry..... Captain", Whumpee's breathing more labored, "can you tell me a story, I'm really tired."

Whumper shook their head to try to fight away their tears. Captain's can't cry.

"There once was a brave soul who came aboard my ship and put up with this old captain's stupid ideas. They never acted defiantly... even allowing a map to be tattooed on their back by a questionable source. Never complaining about how sick they've grown from it", Whumper sighed, "you're dying because of me. You said you didn't want to die."

"Dying isn't as scary as big thought', Whumpee winced, "I think I'm now afraid of being alone."

"You will never be alone", Whumper hugged them close, "never."

After a few moments Whumpee took their last breath.

"They're gone", Whumper sighed as they felt Whumpee's lips for any breath, "the first person that I grew to like. That wasn't disposable to me, and I let them die."

Jones sighed, "you couldn't control it. You didn't know that this would happen. That person that did the tattoo knew what was planned. I fully believe they did this on purpose. To get back at you for destroying their village."

Whumper only nodded, "I know, but I didn't care. Now I do care and they're dead."

"The damn seagulls are already overhead. What do we do with the body?", Jones knelt down.

"I'm not burying them at sea", Whumper lifted up Whumpee's body, "I promised they'd never be alone."

"I'm not sailing with a dead body", Jones frowned.

Whumper sighed, and started toward their office .

"Where are you going?", Jones frowned.

"We remain anchored here for now, bring the treasure to my office. I need to do something first. We will divide the bounty tonight."

Whumper wrapped Whumpee in a blanket and carried them down under there office.

"I know you hate it down here, but I have no other choice", Whumper carefully laid the body on the floor.

Whumper set down to a long piece of paper and, to the best of the memory, drew out a new map. They had planned to find an uninhibited island to call home. Whumper and Jones planned to settle there after the treasure was found. They only needed to find it.

Jones came in and handed a cup of coffee to Whumper.

"Captain, my Captain. You need some rest", Jones leaned in against Whumper, "you didn't know this would happen. You worry me."

"I know, but Whumpee didn't deserve it. I grew to love that bastard. I think they were okay with me too. Just the other night, they asked if they would be allowed to live if they survived the infection. I already knew the infection was there, but I didn't have the heart to tell them the whipping sealed their fate. They would be dead soon, that's why I pushed to get us here. I can't rest yet either, I promised the crew we'd divide the treasure."

"They all agree we can wait until tomorrow. They are celebrating", Jones smiled, "so what are you doing. I can see you've drawn up the map that was on Whumpee. There is a lot of extra space. May you be deciding where our town may be located? You do still love me right. After what you said about Whumpee being the first thing you've grown to love, I was a little concerned ."

"I loved you from the start. The moment I saw you Jonesy", Whumper smirked.

"Aye, I wonder the lads and lasses care to turn back for home tomorrow afternoon. We can come back and find our island. Do ye think you'll be okay sailing with a corpse for a few days? I want to burry them in a fitting grave. On our island."

"Yes, my love", Jones nodded, "now that we have our normal crew back, I have my love back."

Whumper finished hammering Whumpee's cross at the head of their grave.

"There we go a fair grave, better than any I've ever given anyone else. Ye even get a good view", Whumper knelt down, "you'll see my ship leave whenever I go collect up my crew for an adventure. Every time we come home, you'll see us again. I am very sorry you died. I hope this is an acceptable grave for you."

A giant wave came up and sprayed Whumper in the face.

Whumper chuckled, "ye scurvy dog."

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.

@villainsandheroes @the-beasts-have-arrived

@sacredwrath @porschethemermaid

@monarchthefirst @generic-whumperz

@bloodyandfrightened @freefallingup13

@notpeppermint @cyborg0109

@idontreallyexistyet @painfulplots

@whumpbump @everythingsscary

@skittles-the-whumpee @expressionless-fr

@theforeverdyingperson @legendarydelusiongoatee

@candleshopmenace @whumpanthems

@lavndvrr @ivymyers

@starfields08000 @a-living-canvas

@lumpofsand @watermeezer

@indigoviolet311 @whumpy-mountains

@3-2-whump @risk606

@electrons2006 @paperprinxe

@whumprince @kaz-of-crows

@mis-graves @decaffeinatedtimetraveler94

@sausages-things @ragin-cajun-fangirl

@isikedmyself878 @daffyduckcommittedtaxfraud

@valravnthefrenchie @glennemerald

@jasperthecapser @does-directions

@deafeninglittlecrown @jumpywhumpywriter

[cosmicobubisi]

Cosmic's Malleyuu Whump vs Flufftober: 17

NOWHERE ELSE TO GO ruined map / Only One Bed

Icy sheets of rain pelted down on Yuu like heavy chains, and they realized their extraordinary string of bad luck had finally run out.

The request had to have been sabotage. The desperate plea by a group of inexperienced adventurers to Yuu to save one of their own who'd been stuck in a dungeon on this side of the fence after a quick expedition had gone horribly wrong sounded faker and faker as Yuu had run around in circles, trying to make sense of the cryptic map.

In addition to humiliatingly losing all of their supplies in one fell swoop to an unfortunate encounter with a chimera, their map had also disintegrated in the rain, the inclement weather coming on too quickly for them to stuff it into their jacket.

Their waterproof jacket had been the one thing from their supplies they'd been able to run away with. Not food, or fresh water, or even a compass, or any of their potions. Just the map and their jacket, and now their map was gone.

It had been three days of wandering and looking for the dungeon. Yuu knew these lands pretty well, but the secluded Briar Valley was too large for them to have memorized it all before they'd been barred from visiting anymore.

Yuu shoved their head between their folded legs, wanting to hide away and sleep off their horrible luck.

It was no use, however. No one was coming to rescue them, at least not anytime soon. They were on the wrong side of the boundary between the fae and the mortals illegally.

Yuu squeezed their eyes shut.

They had one other option. He was in the area, they believed, but it was a humiliating option.

They'd been up in this tree for hours, though, hoping and praying for the rain to let up.

It hadn't been so bad at first up here. At least there was water now, but as the day became night, the mild warmth had departed for the bone-chilling cold that was slowly freezing them whole.

Yuu had tried to ball themselves up to conserve heat, and that was helping a little, but not very much.

They were shivering quite hard now. Yuu thought they could survive the night, perhaps if they were able to get to sleep, but if the rain kept up, they knew they'd be waking up poorly rested and half-starved, and still have to search for a way home.

The hit to their pride, though, might also kill them.

Yuu allowed themselves a few more moments of cocoon time to debate their options and stew in their anger before finally coming to a decision.

After looking in the dark haze of rain to make sure they knew where they were going, they gave themselves a countdown before leaping out of the tree and onto the ground.

Uncurling let their torso feel the full brunt of the cold air, and Yuu scrambled to get their jacket shut before it got any worse, and cone they did, Yuu took off.

They didn't have the energy to run, but they were desperate to get out of the rain, so they jogged as far as they could on an empty stomach.

Yuu almost slipped a few times in the mud, and each time they cursed loudly, taking advantage of the near-total isolation.

Nervousness was burning a hole in their stomach, and they hoped for a moment that the castle would be abandoned.

No such luck. As they parted the last few bushes on their path, Yuu was able to see the lights were on.

It was, unfortunately for Yuu, not unusual for the royal family to be at Wild Rose Castle at this time of year.

Though a bit early in the season, Wild Rose was where they tended to celebrate the winter season. It seemed they were hosting the end of the harvest feast here, as well.

Yuu knew that guards would be sparse this far from the castle, so dodging them was relatively easy. Once they arrived at the floodplain, however, it was a different story.

There was a watchtower, with a special window Yuu knew was only visible one way and that simply reflected the sky to outside viewers. There was another visible armed guard posted nearer to the castle's back entrance that, despite the torrential rain, probably would have a good view of Yuu if they walked out of their hiding place in the bushes.

Yuu saw the shed and got an idea- one that would preserve their pride and keep them dry.

They crouched behind the sparse greenery to make their way across the floodplain, thankfully with ripe vegetables in tact, and plucked a fistful of carrots to snack on, careful not to be greedy despite their all-consuming hunger.

Yuu was able to make it across without being spotted to the shed, and though the door creaked, they slunk in without any fuss.

It was still quite cold, being a leaky old shed, and the moist walls were no comfort, but it was certainly serviceable for Yuu to screw their head back on straight and make a plan.

They used a drip in the ceiling to wash out the dirt from the carrots, then bit into the crunchy vegetable with gusto.

Their stomach finally stopped hurting as Yuu devoured the carrots, down to the leaves, and they were finally able to relax their body.

Yuu closed their eyes and told themselves it was just to soothe their stinging.

They couldn't fall asleep. Judging by the size of the vegetables, it was almost harvest, and someone would be by this shed sooner rather than later.

But this wasn't just an ordinary day. This was the worst day ever, so of course, right then, the door opened.

And because this wasn't just a bad day, but the Worst Day Ever, it was the very last person Yuu was trying to see.

Staring back at them, for some inexplicable reason, was Prince Malleus.

The crown prince of the Briar Valley, the heir to the Witch's Throne, and their ex-boyfriend, Prince Malleus, was rooting around the farm shed in the freezing rain for reasons Yuu could only believe were because they were cursed.

Super, super cursed.

Malleus's shock rendered the pupils of his eyes little slits, allowing the green to wash over them.

Yuu was totally frozen. They had no idea what the best move was in this scenario.

At this point, they'd rather have been discovered by the Queen, his grandmother. Being rendered to ash in an instant by a magic lightning bolt was better than whatever the hell this was.

He stepped forward, hand outstretched, but Yuu finally regained motion in their limbs as they tried to crawl away.

It was no use. Malleus grabbed onto their shoulder and the next thing Yuu saw was his bedroom, or at least that's what they assumed.

They felt bad for dripping water on the carpet, but Malleus picked them up and dragged them to his washroom and shoved them in there, closing the door.

Yuu was paralyzed for a few moments. Were they trapped? They jiggled the doorknob, and found it was indeed locked.

They sat down on the edge of the bathtub. Yuu hadn't actually been in here before, but it was a nice bathroom.

A terrible idea suddenly popped into their head, and before Yuu could think, they were stripping off their clothes and hopping into the shower.

Best-case scenario, Malleus would just let them go again and they could be clean for that. Worst-case scenario, they'd be comfortable while they died.

Yuu scrubbed down with his soap, relishing in the hot water, before hopping out of the shower and grabbing one of fluffy towels to dry off with before taking one of Malleus's robes.

A small plus, Malleus would be annoyed.

To their surprise, the door opened just as they were tying the rope, and Malleus snatched their hand.

"Hey!" exclaimed Yuu, but Malleus wasn't listening as he yanked them in front of him.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, almost entirely monotonously. He sat on the edge of his loveseat, perched like a predator.

"I- none of your business," they said, cursing the poor start.

"You're on my land. It is my business," he retorted, clenching his jaw.

"What are you gonna do?" they bit back.

He rolled his eyes.

"You can stay here tonight, if you'd like," said Malleus.

"In... here? Like, your room, or in the castle?"

"The court is downstairs. You cannot wander the halls, so yes, in my room."

"No way!" burst out Yuu.

"Fine. I'll turn you into Grandmother. You've racked up too many offenses. You'll be executed."

Yuu felt a lump in their throat at how plain their imminent death sounded.

"How... long do you want me to stay here?" they asked.

Malleus let his head loll to the side. "The court is going hunting tomorrow. I can take you to the border then, but not any sooner."

It was a better option than dying, at least. Live to adventure another day and all of that.

"Ok," they conceded. "I can sleep on the floor."

Malleus stood from his perch on the armrest to shove Yuu backwards onto his bed.

"Ok," they said again in defeat.

Yuu righted themselves on the bed as Malleus got on the other side, summoning a throw blanket to create a little barrier.

"Stay on your side," he said, and the lights went out.

Yuu huffed. They didn't want his stupid side, anyway.

[psychologeek]

Whumptober #17: The Cyclist AU

Background: Jason never came back to Gotham. There's no Red Hood.

During his Brucequest, Tim gets assistance from an unfamiliar person.

The map is destroyed.

Kid's staring at it like it's a crowbar, and Jason can't help feeling a twitch of compassion for him.

“Well,” he put his hand on the kid's shoulder. “We had a good run.”

The kid looks wrecked, honestly. His eyebags got bags, and there's this glimmer in his eyes that makes him wonder if part of the reason B took him was to prevent him from becoming a future raugh.

(Kid managed to set up a clone lab, become an international thief, and there's this whole thing with Ras he very carefully doesn't think about.

And that's just in three months.)

“It's over, Kiddo,” he tells the boy. “There's nothing we can do now. This was your last shot. You said it yourself.”

“No!” The kid says. “No, no, no, no. No. It's not– no, it can't. I'm not– this isn't over. This isn't. I can't. You can't make me. You can't – I'm not going. I'm not. You can't make me–”

“Wow, chill there,” Jason stops him. “I don't know what you're talking about, but it's like. You said it yourself. This was the last shot to find your - whatever cave or something.”

“It's not a cave,” the kid spits. “I've already told you - it's an ancient site used to worship a bat-like deity, which seems to be a local version of Pazuzu, that was discovered in –”

“I get it,” Jason stops him. “It's some important Batshit thing. But the map is gone. What are you gonna do? You said it yourself. No one's been there for over 70 years. What are you going to do? Get an Ouija board and start questioning the last archaeological team?”

Uh.

Oh no.

Jason recognises that look

This Look™ 

There's something sharp in the maniac smile on Tim's face.

“I mean… I bet you always wanted to break into a nuclear weapon factory in North-Korea.”

That crazy bastard.

Jason REALLY likes him.

(Like it? I have more mini-fics Whumptober index | And full size fics on ao3. )

[crazy-dane-art]

Totally lost

[acidic-eye]

Whumptober day 17: Ashes, ashes, dust to dust.

Whumptober day 17 prompt: NOWHERE ELSE TO GO| Ruined Map | Shipwrecked | "We had a good run." -

“A what?” Legend asked, looking at the stick carefully, “a hinox on the island, where we need to fight it with sticks?!” 

“It works.” Wild defends, holding the stick tightly in his hand, “sticks have saved me during my mission.” 

“A stick.” Warriors repeats, sick filling his mouth as he did such, “I am not fighting with sticks.” 

“You should get used to it, we got a long way to go and these swords on the island are terrible.” Wild shrugged, grabbing crab from the ground curiously,  “I hope everyone likes crab, this is going to be our meal for a while.” 

“How long are we talking?” Legend asks, working on grabbing his own twig from the ground. 

“Depends on whether there is black blooded monsters here.” Wild shrugs, “unless the puzzles changed, then it should be easy for me to—“ he made a strangled choking noise, eyes widening as he brought his hand to his throat.

“Wild?!” Warriors grasped at his shoulder, only to be met with his hand going straight through wilds shoulder, the dragon disappearing moments later, only leaving behind a loud hiss as he faded into nothingness. 

The stick sat where wild once stood, now leaving the two remaining chain members gawking at the now lack of a guide that they had.

- OR: legend and wars are stuck on eventide island and have to survive together, even through the fighting. from panic about being trapped on an island again, to near deaths, they deal with it all on this little lost island. - TItle from Curses by the crane wives

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[fantasyismyonlyrealescape]

Whumptober 2024: No. 17 - Nowhere Else To Go/Ruined Map

Title: Stitch Me Back Together

Fandom: WWE (Professional Wrestling)

Characters: Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens (Zowens)

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 816

A/N: Welcome to another addition to Whumptober, Day 17. Cheers!

Summary: Kevin Owens shows up at Sami's door in the middle of the night, injured and lost. As Sami tries to tend to Kevin's injuries, he reflects on what brought them to this point.

Cross posted on AO3 under user wrestlinginjeans.

A battered Kevin Owens showed up at Sami’s door late into the night, dejected and broken. Blood was strewn across his face, down his arms and chest, his black t-shirt torn. Sami could see bruises blossoming under his collarbone and across his shoulders. Sami’s eyes widen, immediately reaching out and grabbing Kevin by the shoulders, his hands moving over Kevin’s body, probing his limbs to determine if he might have any hidden injuries.

Wincing and taking in a harsh breath as Sami’s hands find a particularly sore area of his right wrist, Kevin takes a staggering step back to escape Sami’s searching hands. Sami immediately closes the distance between them again and Kevin holds up a shaking hand.

“Sami, please. I need to sit down…” Kevin manages to gasp out, swaying on his feet as Sami grabs him by the arm.

“I’ve got you…” Sami says quietly, transferring part of Kevin’s weight to his own by slinging one of Kevin’s arms over his shoulders, just in time as Kevin’s knees begin to buckle. It’s slow going, but after a few minutes Sami has settled Kevin in his sparsely furnished apartment, the dark-haired man collapsing heavily on Sami’s couch.

              Sami lingers just outside of Kevin’s line of vision for a moment, wringing his hands together nervously before running a hand through his hair as he observes Kevin’s body language. His partner was in a considerable amount of pain, that was certain. Kevin rarely showed anybody he was operating at less than one hundred percent. He had grown more comfortable with showing Sami over the years, but he was still not as open as Sami would like. So, seeing Kevin in this state was doing a number on Sami. Taking a steadying breath, he approaches Kevin and stops in front of him.

“Kev…” Sami prompts, noticing that Kevin had closed his eyes. After a heartbeat, Sami sees grey orbs appear from underneath sluggish lids. “There you are, Kev… I’m going to need to take a look at you, see if you have any hidden injuries.”

Kevin gives Sami a tired nod, his eyes closing once again.

Sami nods in response, knowing that Kevin couldn’t see him. Crouching down beside his friend, his eyes and hands begin to brush over Kevin’s skin, his heart aching at the amount of damage done to his partner’s body. Kevin groans every so often at the redhead’s probing and Sami notices Kevin was biting his lip to keep from crying out as Sami presses on his body.

“Kev, what happened?” Sami asks, trying to distract his injured friend with conversation as he continues his examination.

A shuddering breath escapes Kevin as he opens his mouth to speak, a cry ripping itself from his throat. As Sami presses down on the right side of Kevin’s ribs to check the extent of the damage, Kevin tries to shy away from the contact. Sami immediately starts whispering reassurances in English and French as he makes quick work of the rest of his examination. Standing swiftly, he bends down to give Kevin’s arm a gentle squeeze.

“I’m going to go get some supplies from the bathroom. I’ll be right back, okay?” Sami explains gently before dropping his hand and striding towards the bathroom to get the required items.

Half a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, a roll of gauze, a box of band-aids and a bag of cotton balls later and the pair are utterly exhausted. The supplies, strewn across the floor next to a bowl of bloodied now cold water and several bloodied towels accompanied the medicine cabinet items. Sami had stripped Kevin of his torn t-shirt, tossing it into the corner before he started tending to Kevin’s wounds. So, Kevin was laying back heavily against the throw pillows, bare chested except for the wrap of gauze around his ribs.

After Kevin got some rest, Sami knew that he would have to get checked out by a proper doctor, his knowledge only stretching so far, but for now Kevin seemed to be out of harm's way. Sami’s emotions were completely shot, reaching out a bloodied shaking hand to adjust the blankets around Kevin. Sami knew that Kevin’s anguished cries while Sami tended to his wounds would haunt him for longer than he cared to admit. Sami’s eyes rake over Kevin’s prone body, his eyes coming to rest on Kevin’s face. For now, his partner appeared to be asleep, his face only slightly pained. For now, that would have to be enough.

Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens have been and always would be intertwined, two connecting puzzle pieces, two sides of the same map. Over the years, their friendship had had its fair share of challenges, creating tears in the fabric of their friendship, but they had always found a way back to each other. Even a ruined map could lead two wounded souls back to each other.

[chaotic-orphan]

Whumptober No. 17

Nowhere Else To Go

Ruined Map // Shipwrecked // “We had a good run.”

Is it whump or is it comfort?

*~*~*~*~*

“Captain!” Captain Thorne looked up, squinting against the rain that belted down upon him. “We can’t out sail it. The beast is—”

A swell of water cut into the ship just as a loud cry from the beast wailed at the starboard. The ship turned up against the tides and Thorne lost his footing, his head slapping off the deck. He grabbed onto his lifeline, gasping as the rope tightened around his waist, almost cutting off his air supply.

The screams of his men sounded all round and Thorne grabbed the rope keeping him anchored to the ship and pushed himself to his knees as the ship began to turn on its axis. He looked up and he could see the stars and the rain across the deck and he gasped.

Was this the last time he’d see the stars? When they were so close?

“Captain!” He turned his head to see the red coat of his first mate. He smiled at him. That was the last thing he saw before the ship capsized. The salt water was freezing and hit his back like a rock that the waves crashed against along the cliffs of his home.

Home.

Home was the sea.

It was always the sea, and he was returning home.

The ship and the black waters submerged them below its surface, and Thorne realised he was at peace as he lost the strength in his limbs to hold onto his lifeline. To the locker, then. A new adventure.

Thorne gasped awake, coughing up salt water from his lungs. He gasped as he turned and vomited the bile and salt from his chest. Expunging death and breathing in life. He blinked as his fists submerged into the sand, birds cawing above.

Sand?

Birds?

Was this— was he—

“Captain,” a voice rasped behind him. Thorne turned his head over his shoulder. He had only made out the vibrant red dulled by the water before he lunged forward and wrapped his arms around his first mate.

“I knew it,” Thorne whispered, holding his first mate closer. “I knew it, I knew it, I knew it.”

“Cap—”

“There is no need for formalities anymore, First Mate. Not in the afterlife. We can finally cast aside the shackles of—”

“Captain—” First Mate protested, pushing back from Thorne’s embrace to look him in the eyes. “This isn’t the afterlife. We’re not dead. I cut your tether to the ship and swam us to safety.”

Thorne stiffened. He glanced down at his waist to see his lifeline, in fact, in tatters. Which meant… oh.

Oh.

By the Gods.

Was he really just about to confess his undying love to First Mate? What would he think? What would he say? He thought for certain he was in heaven, and heaven would be with First Mate by his side.

Alas.

Thorne pulled away and cleared his throat. “Excuse me, First Mate. The sea water must have made me temporarily mad.”

“That’s allowed, Captain. It was a long trek here.”

“You must be exhausted.”

“I am.”

“You should rest.”

First Mate hesitated. Thorne’s heart thumped against his chest. “I didn’t save the map, Captain. I couldn’t— in the panic, all I thought about was—” First Mate coughed, cutting himself off. “I mean, all I considered was getting you to safety. I didn’t even think until it was too late and the ship—”

“First Mate, do you seriously expect me to chastise you for saving my life?”

First Mate’s cheeks flooded a delightful pink. “No, sir.”

“Good. Otherwise I would have called you a fool.”

“But the treasure, sir—” Thorne waved him away.

“We had a good run. That is in the past. Now, we will retreat beneath the forest canopy and find shelter for the night. We can consider next steps when we are both more rested.”