befuddled-calico-whump

[befuddled-calico-whump]

Ice Cream

fanfiction for and taking place within part nine of @befuddled-calico-whump series Total$hit$how

cw: abusive situations, beating, implied worse violence, adult language

X X X

Ruebin was next.

Sahota didn't expect much from the kid- didn't expect much from any of them, truthfully- but even less from Ruebin. The thief's fumbling, nervous conversation from earlier had told him all he needed to know: a petty criminal ill-suited to these violent ends. Even the way he entered the room was hesitant and Sahota suppressed a yawn. Here we go.

“This is not my strong suit,” Ruebin said as a greeting, almost apologetic.

Sahota blinked at him. “Well, don't admit that,” he snapped. “At least pretend like you're competent.” Ruebin flinched at that, as if stung by the words, and Sahota almost felt sorry for him. Almost. “What information are you after? Start there.”

“Oh, um.” Ruebin came closer, forcing confidence into his stride. Better. He knew how to act the part if nothing else. “I was thinking, I already know your favorite food, so it should be just a little thing to tell me more.” He tried a smile. “What's your favorite dessert?”

Sahota's face betrayed nothing even as the question jolted through him like a shock. It was an innocent piece of information; a silly, simple thing even easier to admit than what he'd let slip to Ruebin before. The memory that came with it, though, sent his pulse racing.

It had been years ago, the early days of his captivity work with Vic. Not the earliest, when he'd been afraid even to breathe wrong around the older man, but still early enough to test the limits of his freedom until it- or he- broke.

Then it was a surveillance mission, the kind that came with hours on hours of tedious watching in which one or two useful things might happen. Sahota had carefully tailed the target in his nondescript sedan, following her to her workplace downtown. The target went inside, to her corner office, and Sahota settled in to watch and wait.

Waiting was Sahota's specialty. Patience had been drilled into him by his schoolteachers long before Vic got ahold of him and made him an expert at it. Six or eight or ten hours in a hot car watching an executive scroll for pornography on her work computer was nothing to him.

And yet. The day was hot; the sun rolling high in the sky with not a cloud in sight. It was the kind of day that Sahota would have loved when... Well, in another life. More than once he found his gaze drifting to the wide blue of the sky. This was not the first solo mission Vic had entrusted to him, but the novelty of being alone and outside was still fresh. He was trusted now: with a vehicle, with solitude, with a mission. He had worked and been worked over to gain that trust and he would not betray it.

And yet.

Sahota heard the music before he saw it: a cheerily painted ice cream truck trundling up the avenue. It parked and was immediately clustered with children and adults. It was a good day for it, hot as it was. Sahota looked up at the target, now dozing in her chair after a liquid lunch of bourbon, and then back at the truck. It was so close. Only a few yards.

He knew the idea was foolish. He could remember vividly the terror of the early days, how he never would have dared to even think about something like this. He knew better. Now, though, it was different. He was almost a person again. And, after all, he was alone on this mission. Vic would never even need to know. A dozen steps, a bill from his wallet, five minutes. It was such a little thing. Sahota's eyes drifted again to the gaily colored advertising on the side of the truck. It had been so long. Surely he could...

Sahota was doing it before he'd even fully decided to. A dozen steps, a bill from his wallet, five minutes. It was as fast and easy as he had hoped. The target didn't even move in the time that it took Sahota to secure a target of his own. The ice cream bar started melting almost immediately, but he didn't care.

Sahota ate it quickly and carefully, savoring the treat as much as he could without getting it everywhere the way he used to as a kid. Almost he could hear his mother's voice chiding him about the mess he was making and his heart ached for her. The ice cream tasted like home and suddenly he was sick with it. He made himself finish it and tucked the trash away for later disposal. He couldn't decide if it had been worth it.

Eventually the mission was over. Sahota's careful surveillance yielded enough information to proceed to the next phase; more even than they had expected to find. It was early enough in his career for Sahota to still feel pride about these things, for satisfaction to bloom in his chest when Vic gave him even faint praise.

“You did well,” Vic told him. Sahota didn't smile, but it was a near thing. Praise on his mentor's lips was a rare and precious thing. His back straightened even further and he nodded his thanks. “So well, in fact,” Shepard continued, “that I think you deserve a treat.”

Sahota sensed the trap just before it closed, but was helpless to stop it.

“What about...ice cream?”

Sahota's breath froze in his lungs. He knew, fuck, of course he knew, Vic always knew everything, why had he been so fucking stupid- Shepard was moving faster than he could believe, seizing Sahota by the hair and slamming his face against the desk once, twice. His nose cracked and Sahota swallowed a cry.

Sahota slid to the floor, trying to quiet the gurgle of his breathing through the blood flooding his nose, his mouth. His head was fuzzy with pain and panic and he scrambled desperately for some way to fix this. “Sir, I-” Vic kicked him viciously in the gut and Sahota retched.

“What did you think was going to happen?” Vic's voice was still softly casual, even as he kicked Sahota again and again. “Did you really think you could hide anything- anything- from me?” Sahota reached out blindly; half a defense, half a plea for mercy. Shepard's boot came down heavy on Sahota's hand, crushing the fingers under his weight.

Sahota screamed; a short, bitten-off sound that he couldn't quite help. Screaming only made it worse. “I didn't... Please...” Vic's weight shifted and Sahota writhed, doing everything he could to pull his hand free. Everything, of course, except touch his master's boot. Even now, he didn't dare.

“And here I thought you were doing so well lately.” Shepard lifted his foot and allowed Sahota to snatch back his bruised hand. “I suppose you really weren't ready after all.” Vic crouched next to Sahota and touched his cheek. In any other place, in any other life, it would have been loving. “Looks like we'll have to learn some lessons over again, mhm?”

Sahota bit back a sob. Excuses raced in his mind, a thousand ways to try and explain his actions. None of them reached his lips. He knew from bitter experience that the more he pleaded, the more Vic hurt him. This was his own fault, after all. He'd known better. The best he could do was take the punishment he'd earned in silence. This was the price of his own foolishness. Sahota cleared his mind into a careful blank and nodded into his master's hand.

“Yes, sir.”

Hours later, covered in his own slime and left bleeding in the dark, Sahota could say categorically that it had not been worth it. Not at all.

“Sahota?”

His eyes flicked back up to Ruebin. The guy was staring at him, chewing on his lip nervously. The silence was unnerving him. Good. Sahota kept his gaze steady, pushing the memory of the long-ago punishment back and down. Even if Ruebin managed to work up the nerve to lay a hand on him, it wouldn't- couldn't- be worse than that day.

In the end, Ruebin gave up early. Sahota watched him go with something like pity. Two down, three to go. Hopefully at least one of the others would prove more diverting.

But he wasn't optimistic.

[befuddled-calico-whump]

As a side note, what’s the policy on fanworks? I ask because I may have written 1400 words on Sahota but don’t want to be an ass.

WHAAAAAT NOW I WANNA SEE

I'm all about fanworks! I love when my stuff inspires others to make things, it's so cool 😭♥️♥️

[befuddled-calico-whump]

another one

man I haven't actually written a song in forever, just added on to/rewritten old ones. But! that's fun too, and it's actually really nice and fun to come back to years-old wips with an answer. Anyways, this is an oldie from the pandemic, and I imagine it's about a lil friend group based on the different styles (ignore my discount 21 pilots rapping)

[befuddled-calico-whump]

previous // T$$ AU Masterlist

(everyone pictured used he/him)

[befuddled-calico-whump]

I just finished binging T$$ and just wanted you to know that aside from the whole thing being excellent, Sahota has bewitched me body and soul. Cannot stop thinking about the guy; absolutely obsessed. Thank you so much for sharing this world and these folks with us all. 💙

(Went to the gym yesterday with a friend and when it came time for sprints, I was like nah I don’t feel like it. And my friend looked at me and went ‘bet Sahota would do it without complaining’. And fuck her very much but that did work lmao)

Thank you for reading!! 🥰🥰♥️

(and also AHHHHHH I'm glad he could help you with your workout skfjrjrjrjtj)

[befuddled-calico-whump]

dam…….. that website “you feel like shit” (it’s like a questionnaire / troubleshooting guide for when you feel like shit) really works………………….. im not even all the way thru it and i even half-assed a lot of the suggestions and i already feel loads better

[befuddled-calico-whump]

i love characters who could get the absolute Shit kicked out of them and still be fine but as soon as someone touches/handles them gently it’s like “ah. im going to shatter to pieces now thanks”

[befuddled-calico-whump]

t$$ AU but they're chickens escaping from a farm a la Chicken Run

lolol

you can probably make one Ginger by combining Joy and Jericho together

[befuddled-calico-whump]

A whumpee who HATES being pitied, coddled, or even treated just softly. Gets angry when they feel like people act like they’re made of glass. Experienced what if felt like to be weak and will never put themselves in that position again. Any possible sensitive emotion comes out as rage and aggression so no one can see them vulnerable.

Or…

A whumpee who craves that kind of tender care from others. Who’s had their lifetime’s share of being treated terribly and just wants to be held and treated gently....but doesn't quite know how to ask for it/feels shame over not being "independent" enough in their recovery.

[befuddled-calico-whump]

more whumpees who are the dramatic equivalent of a cartoon villain's kicked-dog loser minion pls

[befuddled-calico-whump]

The best emotional whump trope is the one where the main cast/team gets separated and each one is stuck in a room/mind palace/whatever with their worst fears, change my mind

[befuddled-calico-whump]

t$$ is like a harem romance except instead of a harem it's a patchwork spy team and instead of a romance it's "holy fuck we need to save this sad man"

[befuddled-calico-whump]

he's displeased

[befuddled-calico-whump]

come on, he's not a complete monster

[befuddled-calico-whump]

Takes a guy who's obsessed with saving people even if it risks his life and a guy who is literally allergic to asking for help in any situation and puts them in My stew puts them in my fucking stew and stirs it

[befuddled-calico-whump]

do you have a list of character profiles for riot kings

I do not 😅

the closest thing I have is the artfight pages for Mel, Wes, and Nabi, but maybe I should make some for everyone else 🤔

not sure who all should be included/what information to collect though so I'd have to think on that lol

[befuddled-calico-whump]

tag list:

@daddy-cowgirl-boots , @shywhumpauthor , @caughtinthera1n , @distinctlywhumpthing , @randomlifeunit , @sodacreampuff , @demondamage , @whumpcomica , @orions-probe , @dont-look-me-in-the-eye , @cepheusgalaxy , @violets-whumperflies , @whimpity-whumpity , @ladyjaye13 , @diamond-blade , @oddsconvert , @starfields08000 , @lord-harley-beloved , @snakebites-and-ink , @mysidaesm , @charlotteandthechocolatefactory , @whump-is-love-whump-is-life , @ladyblogofficialreporter , @light-me-on-pyre , @whumpcateyes , @sacredwrath , @daffyduckcommittedtaxfraud  @goldenstrawberry7100 , @the-winged-whumper , @ablatheringblatherskite , @adventure-who , @yassifiedinformation , @hellodecisionparalysis , @scatteriskity , @wonderwhump , @whumpyworld , @dreaming-awayy , @heyitskkhere , @pen-for-sword , @the-whumpster-dumpster

Riot Kings, page 239

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