"Whumpee asked for you specifically, A. I'll let you in to see them," Whumpee's medic and lover, Caretaker, said.
A couldn’t believe it. Whumpee wanted to see them? Before their best friend, B? After they sacrificed themself and were tortured by Whumper for months because of them?
They followed Caretaker, refusing to let them down, even as their face burned with shame, guilt gnawing at their insides.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leader Whumpee sat in the wheelchair, whiteboard sitting across their blanketed lap as Caretaker opened the door for A, the younger, sibling-like member of Team. A's breath hitched, eyes widening.
"They’re okay, A," Caretaker assured them. "Their throat is still healing, and they're still weak, but they're going to be okay."
A nodded, Caretaker letting out a deep breath. "Now, if you excuse me, I'm going to give the two of you some privacy. I have some things to attend to." The door shut behind them, leaving A standing before Whumpee, unable to meet their eyes at the sight of matching wounds from Whumper.
Whumpee's eyes burned with the shame of being unable to even give A a hug, or tell them that none of this was their fault. They attempted a smile, scribbling on their board.
"I missed you."
A's eyes welled with tears. "I'm so sorry, Whumpee," they whispered, hands curling into fists.
Whumpee shook their head vigorously, scribbling big letters on the board before tapping it when their marker. A looked up, hiccuping when they saw the message.
"It’s not your fault. They would've just killed you and taken me anyways. It's not your fault."
As A sank to their knees, they wrapped their arms around Whumpee in a hug, holding back tears as they pressed their face into the blanket.