ugh when leaders have to give an update on one of their team members' condition.
casually. trying to strike the balance of not making a big deal out of it, but not downplaying the seriousness of the situation either.
when it's worse than anyone thought, and there's only one person who can tell the people that look to them to keep them safe that one of their own might not make it.
making the formal announcement to the team. they've spoken with the doctor and now the responsibility of breaking the news rests with them.
without enough information, but when they're painfully aware that pacing back and forth in their quarters just isn't good enough, and isn't helping them or the team.
after the whole team watched them go down and they know just how bad it was. the echo of metal hitting bone is still ringing through their ears.
quietly, outside of a hospital room. pulled to the side and trying to find a way to explain that the person inside might not be the person they remember.
"I told you he wasn't up for the job," Hero heard one of them whisper. He cleared his throat.
"We'll start small. Just patching up things. I know the fact that I'm in charge now isn't ideal, Superhero should be here, but..."
"We know," someone else said, sounding annoyed. "Just tell us what to do now."
"I'm, I'm trying to," he stammered. "Look, I'm as shaken as all of you—"
"You shouldn't be! You're in charge now, shouldn't you be, like, exuding confidence? So we don't freak?"
"Yes, yes, of course. Of course. Sorry." He took a deep breath. Exhaled slowly. "I don't have a concrete plan—"
"What do you mean?" somebody asked, borderline hysterical. "Superhero always had a plan! She was prepared for everything! Why did she even choose you as her replacement in case of an emergency, if you can't even come up with a plan?"
"Can everyone just shut up?" Hero snapped. The room fell silent. "We'll do this. Somehow. Someway. I'm in charge, for better or worse. And we'll manage."
What about a team whump scenario where whumpee and a teammate (bonus if Teammate is the youngest/most innocent/most fragile/the one the others all try to protect) are captured.
They KNOW the rest of the team isn’t going to get there on time to save both of them and Whumper is forcing Whumpee to choose who lives and who dies between them and their teammate.
They want to choose teammate to live. Whumpee is seconds away from telling Whumper to kill them and leave their teammate alone.
Only… Whumpee realizes then that they can’t be the one that dies or it puts everyone else— possibly the world— in danger. Somehow, them being alive is the thing keeping others safe. And if they choose to save Teammate, they doom the rest.
Perhaps they realize they’re the only one with the information that can stop Whumper for good. (And does Whumper know this? Does Whumper want to see them struggle to choose between saving everyone or saving Teammate, right now, in front of them.)
Or maybe (in a superpower au) their rare powers are the only thing that can stop the bigger threat.
Or perhaps they’re the only one with long lost knowledge that can save millions.
Does Teammate also realize this? Do they know Whumpee has to choose them to die? Is Teammate begging Whumpee to choose them for the greater good or for the rest of their team?
Does Teammate not know of the information/power/etc that Whumpee holds and inevitably Whumpee chooses them to die so they die thinking Whumpee betrayed them? (Not that they wanted to see Whumpee die either, but Whumper was sure to plant the seed of Whumpee’s selfishness and betrayal in Teammate before they kill them.)
Whumpee doesn’t want to live if Teammate is the one that dies. They’d be willing to lay their life down in a second for any one of their teammates. But they also know they can’t do so without many more people dying or dooming the rest of their team. So they’re forced to watch as the person they long to protect is killed.
Or does Whumpee choose to die and hope the rest team can somehow, impossibly, figure out how to save themselves/everyone else that were doomed along with them in their death.
I feel like Whumpee’s survivor’s guilt, if they choose to survive, would be so much worse knowing 1) that they CHOSE Teammate’s death and 2) if they had a choice, Teammate would have been the one here instead, but something out if their control forced them to essentially kill teammate. They still feel selfish even though they never wanted to be.
something i’ve always loved is a whumpee with very rapid healing who never hesitates to throw themselves in harm’s way, to act as a shield. Why shouldn’t they? it’ll all heal soon enough, and sure it hurts, and sure some of these hits wouldn’t have landed anyway, but better safe than sorry. especially when they’re first paired with a team that takes full advantage of this, then moved to a second team that, for some unknowable reason, cares about whumpee’s wellbeing
#390
content: team whump, guns, shot, immortal whumpee, hero villain whump, needles, past trauma, comfort
It was so easy.
It was so rewarding.
It was such a no-brainer.
Sure, it hurt for a little bit, but that was a small price to pay for being a literal meat shield that kept their teammates safe.
Wasn't it?
Everyone on their previous team took it for granted. That Whumpee would jump before a bullet, or a sword, or a dagger. They took full advantage of Whumpee's healing power, and there was never really a discussion about how maybe that wasn't all that ethical, how maybe heroes should've had a stricter moral code, and really, Whumpee didn't mind, Whumpee was just glad to be useful, it was fine if it hurt—
"Whumpee, move!" their new leader screamed, but it was too late. The bullet embedded itself in Whumpee's back, and they stifled a groan, knowing their new team would likely also think the noises were annoying. "Fuck! Everyone, pull back! Whumpee got shot!"
What?
Their previous team would've just carried on as usual. That was Whumpee's purpose: to take one for the team. To take two for the team. To take ten for the team. To take and take and take until they were nothing but a bloody heap on the floor, barely breathing, but always regenerating.
Before they knew it, Caretaker had picked them up in a bridal carry to rush them back to the team vehicle. But the battle wasn't over yet. Villain was still at large, and Leader and the team needed to stop them, and Whumpee was helping in that, they had done well, so why—
"Shit, Whumpee," Medic said once Whumpee was gently set down on their stomach. "You'll feel a pinch — it's a local anaesthetic. I'll need to dig out the bullet."
"Can you work while I'm driving?" Leader asked, already starting up the engine.
"I'll try."
None of this made sense. They abandoned an entire mission because Whumpee got shot, and now they were wasting anaesthetics on them?
"It's okay, Whumpee," Caretaker said quietly, just barely audible over the sound of the engine. They were holding Whumpee's hand like they were something precious instead of expendable. "I'm sorry this happened. You'll get better, okay? I should've paid closer attention to you out on the field."
"I don't get it," Whumpee finally said. They felt some pressure around the wound, but no real discomfort; they assumed the anaesthetic was working as intended. "Why are you all... Why are you..."
"Why what?" Caretaker asked gently.
"This is my role in the team. To take bullets. To act as a shield. This has always been my role."
Caretaker furrowed their brows. "Whumpee, what are you talking about?"
"With my previous team, it was all so natural. We never really had a talk about my role, but it was just... sort of obvious. I'd heal. They wouldn't. So I was cannon fodder."
Caretaker looked horrified. "You'd heal, sure, but it'd still hurt."
"I'm used to it."
They looked even more horrified. They squeezed Whumpee's hand. "Monsters, the lot of them. On this team, we look out for each other. Even if you heal. Even if you think it's useless."
Whumpee couldn't find the words to explain what they were feeling, so they kept quiet. But deep down, deep in their heart, there was something dangerous blossoming. Something they shouldn't have felt towards a teammate, or an entire team, when they knew their power made it so that they would always be required somewhere else. Maybe they'd be moved in a week, maybe a month, maybe a year. But they'd be moved.
content: team whump, death, murder, major character death, hero villain whump, emotional whump, medical whump
"It's time to call it, Medic," Hero said. "You've done everything you can."
Medic was dishevelled from having done CPR alone for the past thirty minutes. It was a workout and a half, but they couldn't stop. They couldn't let Whumpee die. They just couldn't. "Another round of epi, I need another round of epi—"
"It's been three rounds. Medic, stop."
"No, there's still a chance—"
"Even if you did get a heartbeat, Whumpee is brain-dead. Medic, it's time to stop."
Medic didn't know whether it was sweat or tears trickling down their cheeks. They had never lost a team member before. This was the first time their medical training had failed them. They slowly came to a stop, letting the low, constant beep of the heart monitor fill the room. Flatline.
"I don't understand," Medic stammered. Caretaker and Youngest were waiting outside medbay, and Medic would have to tell them they'd failed. They both loved Whumpee so dearly. Everyone did. "I don't understand. I've done everything. I tried. Why… So why…"
Hero placed a hand on their shoulder. "Medic, this wasn't your fault."
"Who else's?" they asked, and now they were sure it was tears. "Who else has the job of putting you guys back together after missions? Who else is tasked with caring for you? Keeping you alive? It's my fault. I failed. I failed Whumpee, I failed you, I failed the team. I—"
"Medic," they cut in gently but sternly. "Do not start spiralling. Whumpee died because of Villain, not you."
Medic swallowed. "I don't know how to tell Caretaker," they whispered.
"You don't have to. As the leader of this team, it's my responsibility."
The monitor was still beeping. Medic finally turned it off. They gingerly took a hold of the thin medical blanket and pulled it up so it covered Whumpee's face. They bit their lip, trying to distance themself from the idea that they were in the room with a lifeless body. That it had been their fault. Hero could say whatever they wanted, it had been their fault.
"I've seen death before," Hero went on. "Not once. Not twice. You never really get used to it, but you learn to place the blame on the appropriate source."
"I don't just want to… leave them," Medic said quietly. "It feels wrong."
"We'll hold a proper burial, after Caretaker and Youngest had the opportunity to say their goodbyes here."
"The previous medic… Did they lose a lot of patients?"
Hero looked away. "They lost three. The third one was them."
Oh.
Medic felt something akin to fear crawling up their windpipe, choking them. They'd thought their job was safe, a cushy little position where they got to support the team from inside base. But there was a possibility that it would be them on the operating table next time?
"I'll go tell the others," Hero said after a little pause. "You take a moment and collect yourself."
Medic nodded. They watched Hero leave, and they soon heard a commotion. Caretaker and Youngest barrelled into the room, both crying, both beside themselves. Medic was afraid their grief-fuelled wrath would be directed at them, but both of them seemed to be in agreement that this was entirely Villain's fault. Medic only half-listened to their pained list of things they would do to Villain if they were to catch them tomorrow.
Team Leader saying "Leave. That's an order." hits twice as hard, when they're the kind of person who hates hiearchies and avoids giving direct commands.
Something something, mission going wrong, Leader guiding half conscious and injured medic whumpee out of the field but all whumpee can think about is how the rest of the team is doing. Like, whumpee is the worst injured one and is still trying to do their job. Or was that done before, I dunno. (• ▽ •;)
#379
content: team whump, medic whumpee, loss of consciousness, aftermath of whump
"Everybody, fall back!" Leader yelled while supporting Medic off the field. The enemy had gone straight for them — clearly, they knew who Medic was, what their role in the team was, and they had taken advantage of that knowledge.
"No!" Medic rasped, but it turned into coughing. They were coughing up blood. Even without medical training, Leader knew that was bad. "You can't compromise an entire mission because I—"
"I said, everyone, fall back!"
"Okay," Medic gave in. "I have to— I have to tend to Whumpee's arm, that was a nasty wound I saw there, and I have to, I have to look at your abdomen, the enemy got you quite good—"
"Medic, shut up," Leader said sternly. "You're not looking at any injuries when we get back."
"It's my job—"
"Your job right now is staying alive," they said. "I won't have you arguing with me. I'm the leader for a reason. And you of all people should know better when to order bed rest for someone, even if that someone is you."
Medic coughed again. Leader felt them placing more and more of their weight on them. They were about to pass out, Leader realised in the back of their mind before Medic slumped against them. They picked them up in a bridal carry.
"Idiot," they grumbled as they swiftly carried Medic back to the team vehicle and laid them in the backseat.
"What happened?" Caretaker asked once they got back as well, and Leader just pointed to the unconscious Medic. "I saw the enemy fire a shot at them, but I didn't think—"
"You're driving. As fast as you can. The stupid idiot was talking about treating others even as they collapsed, so ideally, we need to make it to base and treat them while they're unconscious. If we don't, they'll fight us all the way."
Caretaker nodded. "Whumpee still isn't here—"
"For fuck's sake!" Leader hit the top of the car. "Where are they? We need to move fast!"
"There," Caretaker pointed out timidly. There, in the distance, was Whumpee, stumbling towards the car.
"Caretaker, go and bring them here," they barked the order, and Caretaker was immediately off to help them while Leader stayed behind, guarding Medic's unconscious body. Once everyone was in the car, Caretaker took off, and just like instructed, they broke several speed limits on the way back to base.
Whumpee was sobbing all the way there. Medic had been right — that wound on their arm was gnarly. "What do we do without Medic?" Whumpee asked hysterically. "My arm, I can't move it—"
"We do what we have always done before, before this team ever had a medic on board. We treat it ourselves," Leader said, constantly looking in the rearview mirror to see if they were being tailed.
"I don't know anything about medicine!"
"Caretaker will take care of it, then. But I don't have time for a breakdown, Whumpee, keep it together."
There was some mumbling from the backseat, and Leader immediately turned to Medic. They were mumbling the names of different medicines, half-passed out. They must've distantly registered they were talking about Whumpee's wound.
Leader pursed their lips. It would be difficult keeping Medic on bed rest. They might have to take out the restraints.
