#cw suffocating

[sunnynwanda]

for a moment i forgot how to ask and was going to send a message by accident..

ok so i forgot if i sent that idea or not but this is how it goes CPR but with hero x villain (m\m) where Superhero(they're a character by themselves right?) tries to get rid of Hero by drowning them in a river because Hero found out that the agency is corrupt from the inside and are collecting powered people to take control of their minds to control the whole city but few powered ppl are immune to that (how? idk i havent thought of why) and Hero is one of them (ppl who cant get mind controlled) and wants to find the ppl like him so they can fight off the agency even if that labels them s villainns to the public so they (the agency) will kill them (Hero and other powerd ppl ) off\get rid of them and villain will save him (please?) by doing (ik there's another word for doing but i forgor..) CPR

i just like cpr (and hero x villain)I had fun memories learning it as a medic and i just think it would be nice to read about it?

Breathe

Warnings: drowning, suffocation, attempted murder, mentions of bleeding. Please do not interact if any of those might be triggering for you.

Hero’s back hit the ice with a loud thud, cracks spreading like lightning bolts around them. Despite the wind being knocked out of their lungs, they manage to catch a thought that floats through their mind – this is bad. Hero tries to keep their movements slow as they crawl away to stable ice, still sprawled out on their back, but one heavy breath proves enough to shatter the ice beneath them. Their body is submerged in the freezing lake instantly.

They try to hold their breath, but the cold water is such a shock against their burning skin that it rips their lips apart, filling their lungs with water. Hero tries swimming up, but their head feels dizzy from the rough contact with the surface of the ice seconds ago. Their eyes sting as they try to orient in the darkness of the water, losing precious time.

Gods, this is such a wasteful way to go.

Their one consolation was that they managed to send a message to Villain – their long-time nemesis – concerning the information they acquired about Superhero’s master plan. At least the city would have a chance after they’re gone. If there was one thing Hero was sure about, it was Villain’s relationship with dictatorships – they knew for a fact Villain would put hellfire out in order to stop Superhero.

Hero gurgles on water, trying to orient - and finally determining where up and down are. They swim up but hit the thick ice, having drifted away from the hole that their body punctured in the surface. They try breaking it, then attempt to locate the hole, but upon failing that as well, simply punch the ice in a final futile attempt – just for the sake of not giving up.

This is the end, isn’t it?

Hero’s fist collides with the ice again, strength beginning to abandon them. They had a fun ride. They hit again, their knuckles beginning to bleed and their limbs giving out.

No regrets. Well, except maybe one.

They feel the darkness enveloping them, drawing their consciousness away from their body. They wish they ended that message with ‘Love, Hero’. It would do nothing to express how truthful that single word was, but it would still be better than nothing. Their body goes numb and light, like they are floating in the water, something warm washing over their spine.

Hero doesn’t register the arms that wrap around their torso, dragging them out of the water and onto the shore. They are unconscious when their body hits the ground, someone’s trembling hands pinching their nose to make their mouth fall open and tilting their head back to check their airways. Villain’s movements are precise despite the suppressed panic that will overwhelm them once everything is over. Right now, they need to focus on Hero. They place their crossed hands against Hero’s chest, pressing with all their strength, trying to get the water out of their lungs while muttering a song to keep the rhythm correct. On the right count, Villain turns to Hero’s face, pinching their nose before pressing their lips to Hero’s.

“Come on,” they demand, returning to chest compressions, pressing hard enough to break a rib or two and trying not to lose count when their eyes start to prickle. “Hero, come on! You can’t do this to me, you infuriating proud stupid little thing!”

They attach their mouth to Hero’s again, blowing as much air into their lungs as they can before reverting back. “Please, H- baby, please…” Villain’s voice breaks into a plea, their eyes glazing over, their tears drip over Hero’s face when they go back to rescue breaths.

“Please, stay with me. Breathe... Breathe, you insufferable idiot!” They growl, beginning to lose it but maintaining the compressions to Hero’s chest nonetheless. Villain hears Superhero whimpering nearby - either from hanging from the tree head down or the many cuts on their body. Villain pays them no mind. No one could survive their wrath, not even the mightiest of heroes. Superhero had made many mistakes, but tonight was the gravest of them all. The moment Villain saw Hero’s body sink into the water, they became ruthless.

“Come on, baby, do it for me…” They mutter, leaning over for another breath when Hero coughs, water spilling out of their mouth.

Villain pulls them up by the arms, hitting their back with an open palm to help them cough the water out. The moment Hero wheezes, inhaling a lungful of air, Villain slams them against their chest, holding Hero close as the reality starts settling in.

Christ, they almost lost them.

Villain cups Hero’s jaw, tilting their face up. “You’re okay. You’re okay.” Hero nods, unable to talk yet. “Let’s get you out of here, alright?”

They nod again, staring up at Villain with such wide eyes that Villain’s heart clenches painfully in their chest. Hero’s breathing is still laboured, and they’re still very much soaked and shivering from the cold. Villain scoops Hero up, holding them to their chest as they start rushing towards their car. Superhero’s whimpering cuts through the air again, alerting Hero. They look up at Villain with a question in their gaze.

“Don’t worry about that bastard,” Villain answers without the question being voiced, their tone gravelly.

“Did you get my message?” Hero asks and, when Villain hums in confirmation, adds. “Thanks for coming for me.”

“Always, love,” they mutter, pressing a kiss to Hero’s temple before setting them in their car. They pull a blanket from the backseat, draping it over Hero’s tremoring body.

Villain’s past as a medical resident – albeit cut short – was enough to understand there was no imminent danger to Hero’s life. But they also knew Hero was in need of proper medical attention, and they were in need of making sure Superhero had fully bled out. For the sake of Hero and everyone they cared significantly less about.

A/N: Hello, darling!

This request has been sitting for some time, but it just struck me today. Thank you for this amazing idea. I'm not sure how much this corresponds to your idea but I hope you (and everyone) enjoy reading it. Let me know if I messed up the medical point of view xD

P.S. Messages are fine too :)

Love you 💛

xo Sunny

Masterlist

Taglist: @marvellousdaisy @alltimelowing @lateuplight @surplus-of-sarcasm @betwist @excusemeasibangmyheadonawall @enemies-to-idiots-to-lovers @miaowmelodie @thatonerandomauthor @hhabaddon @burningoutlikeicarus @daemonvatis @weepingcowboywolfbat @thelazywitchphotographer @kaiwewi @soul-of-a-local-bard @pigeonwhumps @aflyingsheepnamedrose @thatneptune @ohwellthatslifesstuff @worldsfromhoney @thiefofthecrowns @crow-with-a-typewriter @qualityrabbitsoup @stargeode @villain-life @villainsblood @whumpifi @glassthedumbass @silviathebard @misskowe @ayeshaturnedtoashes4444 @m4iloblu3

[blueequin0x]

Goretober 2022 - 8] Computer Virus // Art + Speedpaint

They probably shouldn’t have opened a file named ‘Virus.mp3.exe’ …

Can you tell by the total time that I’m not used to drawing Protogens? Also this is my 3rd attempt at this prompt because I kept hating the idea I had, then completely changing the concept of the drawing lmao. I had far too much fun making the glitched bluescreen with the repeating text, it’s basic but it just feels fun to do lol

CONTENT WARNINGS: character suffocating/choking, some blood, possible animal death? [animal in question is a protogen], a murderous computer virus // please tell me if I missed any :]

First image is the version without blood, Second image is the version with blood

IMAGE UNDER BREAK

DO NOT REPOST // DO NOT REMOVE CAPTION AND CONTENT WARNINGS

total time taken: 11 hours 40 minutes + however long it took me to do the on-paper sketch

link to the speedpaint: https://youtu.be/iiqVbWx0DAU

zoomed in versions:

[conspicuous-clown-car]

pushing boundaries

[paintingpuff]

When there's not enough official Outer Wilds merch so you make your own poster

[sprunkimortality]

Saves? Is something going on? I think we're all worried about you.

Sprinkles: "But Grandpapa Black, I wanna see if Grandpapa Saves is okay!"

Black: "This is a grown-up matter, Sprinkles. Just stay here and...go play with your toys."

Sprinkles: "I can't play when I'm worried!"

Black: "Then try to distract yourself, kid."

[The door closes shut as Black leaves the home. Sprinkles pauses, looking towards the door for a while.]

Sprinkles: "...hrrmphh!"

[She frustratedly hops on the floor.]

Sprinkles: "It's not fair! Why can't I go see Grandpapa?! He's my family too!"

[Sprinkles let out a huff, clenching her paws.]

Sprinkles: "...hrmph...I wanna find a way to help...I just need to figure out how..."

(CONTENT WARNINGS IN TAGS. PROCEED WITH CAUTION)

.

.

.

Saves: "...hgh..."

Saves: "Hrk-! Ghhk-!!"

Saves: "HHGGKK--!!"

???: "Saves-!"

Saves: "AAAAAAAHHH!!!"

Simon: "Saves! A- Are you okay? You're breathing all weirdly...!"

Saves: "Hfff...hfff....hff...."

Saves: "S...S-S...Samson?"

Simon: "It's...Simon, actually...hey, at least your breathing is slowing down now!"

Saves: "..."

Simon: "...do you wanna tell me what's wrong?"

Saves: "...n...n-no..."

Simon: "Oh-! Uh, that's okay!...maybe I could cheer you up somehow? I've got some little thingies you might wanna check out, if you want...?"

Saves: "...o-okay."

Simon: "Alright...!"

.

.

.

[stale-trash]

Hi, of that's, can I please have yandere Jade x reader who tries to break up with her? (Headcanon). How would Jade react and what would she do in this situation?

I am assuming you mean Jade from Honkai Star Rail. If not, I'm sorry!!

cw: yandere/possessive behavior, very questionable behavior, implied violence, possible ooc

A/N: I have yet to play any of the quests she's in (╥﹏╥). I hope I did her justice!!

Bold of you to even assume you have the option to break-up with her. No matter how you end up in a relationship with her - willing or unwilling - your fate is sealed. 

Jade knows every aspect of her desires, from their depth to their origins. When she sets her mind to something, precious little can get in her way.

How she acquired you determines how she reacts to your ill-advised statement. If you are in a contract with her, she would take some time to remind you of your position - how truly nice you have it.  

It'd start small, like having you organize paperwork in the pawnshop where you'd get a first hand look at Lady Bonajade's dealings. Many desires are laid bare in front of you; some are honorable, others deplorable, and both are equally pondered upon by the lavishly clad woman. It’s hard to understand the logic behind most of the dealings, yet you remembered the time you occupied their positions - the way your desires slipped past your lips to be scrutinized by Lady Bonajade. 

You also get to see what happens to those who step out of line - more specifically, the bureaucratic aftermath. The written records of their punishment, outstanding debt, and next steps are so clinical regardless of the situation. It doesn't matter if they were fighting for their life or attempting to pull a fast one - there was no leeway. 

There was no reason for Jade to drape you in expensive fabric and opulent jewels. There was no reason for Jade to have you by her side doing menial tasks. There was no reason for Jade to suffocate you in her cold embrace and colder favor.

There was no reason for Jade to treat you like a lover. All the contract specified in its convoluted wording was that you're hers to use as she sees fit. 

If you somehow aren't apologizing for your behavior and willingly accepting whatever humiliating punishment she has in mind within a week, Lady Bonajade has no problem pushing you further. 

You'd lose all of her "favor" slowly until you're nothing but another IPC grunt. You won't be in any threat of dying, but there are many things worse than death prowling the cosmos. Don't worry, it won't be anything Jade can't fix given the appropriate price. 

All you need to do is apologize, and beg for her favor once again. Of course, a benevolent woman such as her would be more than willing to reevaluate your contract - though, it is in your interest to note that this is a one-time offer. If you were to repeat this mistake again, the punishment wouldn’t be so light. 

If you aren't in a contract with her, that would change. This relationship wouldn’t just end because you will it. But she'll let you slip from her embrace for now.

Jade is not above dismantling every aspect of your life piece by piece until you come crawling back. You can choose how much is destroyed - your social life, finances, career prospects, or even the lives of your close ones - by walking back into that pawnshop of hers.

She doesn't ask for what you seek nor what you desire - those are irrelevant in the face of her own. No, she asks if you've come back to your senses, a pet name rolling off her lips oh-so-naturally as if she hadn't constructed your downfall.

A contract is placed in front of you, the written words melting together into an indecipherable mess. Her signature was the only legible word in the entire document, with a blank spot ready for your own. 

You may gain everything you've naively wished for many years ago with a few strokes of ink - insurmountable wealth, a lavish lifestyle, and a lack of mundane worries - but gilded chains are still chains.

[heelkenny]

Kota Ibushi casually attempts murder on his opponent and the ref - 8/25/2024

[twentyfivemiceinatrenchcoat]

Hiyaaa I saw your recent post about hunter + kitsune geto and I’m curious. How would hunter! Geto go about infantilizing reader?

😭😭😭 WELL . forgive me to the people who get squicked out by infantilization but there is. lots and lots of it in the yan!sugu (= hunter!sugu) fic ……

it ties into his reasons for kidnapping you in the first place but . in short he babies you in a way that feels demeaning and also very Literal. like he truly views you as His Baby. a bumbling fawn. in his mind he’s doing what’s best for you because you can’t think for yourself, can’t keep yourself safe without him. i won’t spoil too much about the fic but hunter!sugu is a man who has reached his breaking point lmao. and this view of you manifests both in how gently he treats you, how eager he is to take care of you, along with like …. him rocking you in his lap and reading you bedtime stories and cooing at your outbursts because to him you just don’t know any better.

basically: his view of you is infantilizing in nature because you are this tiny helpless thing . in his mind. he’s gentle and sweet and coddling to a sickening degree and essentially playing house with you

[aarontveit]

GRACELAND | S02E01 The Line

for @gingerpeachtea

[patheticpretending]

This song really reminded me of James for sum reason..... So I made this,,,

[whumpisgoodwhumpislife]

Febuwhump day 1

Vocal cords

CW suffocation, left to die

When Whumpee woke up, lying down on a hard surface, his breath hitched in his throat as he tried to look around. In the dark, feeling like the walls were closing on him, a scream bubbled up in his throat, but only a hoarse whimper escaped his parted lips. He raised his hand, bumping into another wall above him. His breathing quickened, getting more and more hysterical as he realised where he was; some kind of wooden box. A coffin.

Whumpee wheezed, desperately trying to scream, to make some noise, but the only sounds escaping his throat were soft, strangled gasps. He raised a shaky hand to his neck, and immediately withdrew it, a flash of pain coming from his throat.

Whumpee tried to keep his cool. Surely his team was already searching for him, they would be here soon, he just had to be patient. Most importantly, he had to save his air. How long would it take in such a cramped space before he started to suffocate ? Long enough, he hoped. So he focused on taking slow, deep breaths, feeling his pulse slow down.

Hours went by, slowly. He faded in and out of consciousness, each time struggling more and more to breathe. It felt like the air was heavy, and it was as if he had to fight for each inhalation. Whumpee had never been one to give up easily, but he couldn't help but think that this was the end. He was gonna suffocate in this hellhole, alone and silent.

Suddenly, a noise reached him. Sound, finally. Footsteps, far away, as if several feet above him; but echoing like detonations in the silence. Voices too, even if they were too muffled for him to make out words, whumpee could've sworn they were his friends'. They had found him, they were coming, and the man allowed hope to wash over him again.

He waited. Each breath more shuddering than the previous. Why were they taking so long ? He didn't know where exactly whumper had locked him up, but surely a coffin was noticeable enough? Maybe he was in a basement, and the door was locked. It had to be that; and his team must be looking for a key, or something.

Silence fell. No more footsteps. Whumpee tried to stay calm, but his breathing was turning frantic again, as he struggled to draw in enough air. They were leaving. They were leaving. He opened his mouth in a muted scream, as he was left in the silence again.

@febuwhump

[jacklesraised]

Chica and her cupcake

[m-kuprum]

I love the ocean. it makes me Think Of Things.

it made me think how it works in tma because, honestly, there's so much you can do with it.

it's deep, it's almost endless in a way, sometimes it's so very empty, you feel lost, not even know where is up. it is the vast

it's also choking. the water is everywhere, it embraces you from all sides, burying in tons of water, taking out your breath. it is the buried

it's unexplored. it's unexplained sometimes, there, where the light doesn't reach. it hides so many secrets, so many terrifying things. it is the dark

have you ever been in the open ocean? have you seen the unending waters? it's as lonely as it can get.

I wonder if I could fit all other fears here? the desolation with it's destructive nature, the corruption with a hundred crawling things on the ocean floor, the slaughter with all the myths about danger in the waters (or are they myths really)

it's all to say - I love the ocean guys :)) I think it's nice!! come on, the water's warm!

- a.m. kuprum

[candyswirls]

Lion in the Dark

He clawed at the darkness, small rays of dim light were barely visible. Just out of reach. Like he was underwater. He stifled as he tried fighting his way back.

The Watchers had warned him. Don’t go in there. You won’t make it. Don’t go in there. All that awaits you is death.

Of course his hubris and pride got the better of him. He couldn’t even remember exactly what happened. Just trudging through the dark mist. Then he was drowning.

His hearts cried out. Begging for forgiveness. Begging for just one more grant of mercy.

Father please! Don’t abandon him! Not again.

He felt his whole body tremble as the darkness consumed him. Like it was trying to tear out his very soul. His knees have out as crushing pressure forced him to the ground.

Regrets filled his mind.

I’m sorry. I’m sorry Guilliman. I’m sorry Leman. I’m sorry to the Fallen. I’m sorry Calth. I’m sorry Luther. I’m sorry Father. I’m sorry to the imperium. I failed you. I failed you all. And I’m sorry Sanguinius. I let you die. I failed you most of all.

Please forgive me as I endure my final moments.

As he was about to consign to his fate, something reached out. Grabbing the fingers of his outstretched hand. It pulled and willed him forward. Somehow with their grip he was able to move forward. Out of the grasp of the darkness.

He clambered to his feet, his fingers still being held by the tiny hand. He could not see but there was a distinct low glow coming from the one leading him. Shining through the fog.

It guided him through the darkness, the rays of light becoming more defined. Their own glow getting stronger.

He could breathe easier with each step he took. Sparse but growing.

The darkness was fading. He looked around as familiarity grew. They came to a wall of rippling air. Iridescent and melding with shadow.

The person stopped at the edge and he looked down at them.

They were small. A child. Proportionately so to him. They glowed gold. Wispy ghostlike hair floated around them. Their eyes were large and bright. They looked like a branch of humanity. But their ears were animal like and long. Like a gretchin’s. They had a tail that split in two. They looked to be made of metal. Similar to Ferrus Manus’ arms. Their torso was emanating light and looked glass like. An orb placed inside an automaton. Outlines of organs could be seen in the swirls of light. The most notorious thing was how they looked uncannily like his brothers. Especially Sanguinius. So much like him.

“Who are you?” He asked.

They didn’t answer, they just stared up at him, still holding onto his fingers.

He crouched to his knees to be on their level.

“You look like my brothers,” he said. “Thank you for rescuing me. Who are you?”

They beamed then pushed him into the wall. He tumbled out and found himself in the forest, next to the river.

He looked around quickly for his little rescuer. She was no where to be seen. Neither was where he came from.

He blinked as he slowly stood. Trying to shake the things he’d witnessed.

What was the nature of the little one? Who sent her? How did she find him? Who was she?

He realized something was in his hand. The one she’d been holding.

He held it out. A biscuit. Round and glittering with crystallized sweetener. Speckled with some type of fruit throughout it.

No matter what he thought he knew, the warp always seemed to have more surprises and secrets. More revelations to give the knight. More mysteries than questions answered.

(I wrote a sequel called Crying in the Dark)

[behindthescreamz]

leigh whannell as adam stanheight alongside shawnee smith as amanda young and director darren lynn bousman filming adam’s death scene in “saw iii” (2006)

[chaotic-orphan]

Febuwhump: day twenty-five

Prompt — waterboarding ( @febuwhump prompts)

PLEASE BE WARNED THAT THIS SNIPPET IS VERY GRAPHIC, VERY TRIGGERING FOR CHOKING, SUFFOCATING AND GENERALLY VERY DARK!

TW: waterboarding (VERY DETAILED) interrogation, team Whump, leader whumpee, interrogator Whumper, nonchalant torturer, traumatic event, suffocating, choking, gagging, vomiting, spewing, dissociation

PLEASE AGAIN READ THE TAGS MIND THE WARNINGS

Henchmen led Whumper down into the basement where they held the Hero team. Whumper followed, hands in the pockets of their black combats, eyes skimming the cold stone walls as they waited for Henchmen to open the door.

“Supervillain said they refuse to talk,” said Henchmen to Whumper, looking back over their shoulder at them and frowning. “Said you’re the best interrogator in the city.”

“Yeah?” Whumper asked, tilting their head, tone bored. “High praise from Supervillain.”

“You don’t look like a good interrogator.”

Whumper let out a small hmph of a laugh which Henchmen went pale at. “I— I mean, it’s just— you’re young. You look younger than me.”

“Looks can be deceiving,” said Whumper with a shrug, half lidded eyes on Henchmen and the door. “I get paid hourly, so if you want Supervillain to pay me more, which I would appreciate—”

Henchmen shook their head and turned their attention back to the lock. “Right sorry.”

Whumper leaned their back against the wall and repressed a sigh. They weren’t a very patient person, which probably came with the job description but how many times had they had this same conversation with other employers.

The lock finally clicked and Whumper pushed off the wall, grabbing the door as they passed Henchmen. They met Henchmen’s eyes, looking up at them with the same blank expression they usually wore.

“Listen, henchmen, it gets pretty bleak when I’m interrogating. You sure you can stomach it?”

Henchmen nodded, though their face expressed their hesitance. “Supervillain said I had to accompany you.”

Whumper blinked, then glanced back at the stairs up to Supervillain’s house before sighing.

“Fine. If you want to impress him so damn much.”

Henchmen blushed, flustered. “I— I—”

Whumper was already walking down the stairs to the Hero team, ignored Henchmen’s embarrassment.

“You coming or what, sycophant?”

“Uh, yes!” Henchmen said and closed the door after them.

Whumper stood at the gate of the powered cell, frowning at the Hero team inside. Their eyes passed over each of them, Whumper knew some of them from the news. Especially the tallest one, Leader. One look at them and Whumper knew they wouldn’t talk if Whumper broke every bone in their body. The rest of them… well, Whumper had more faith in their own talents than the other member’s resilience.

Whumper’s eyes landed on a familiar face sitting furthest from the door, their lips twitching as they met Rogue’s eyes from across the room. Henchmen was getting to work opening the gate when Rogue spoke.

“Whumper?” Rogue asked, their voice a mix of confusion and fear. The rattle of chains as Rogue shifted forwards in the dimly lit cell, squinting.

“Hey, Rogue. Funny meeting like this, huh? How have you been?”

“Good,” said Rogue in that same guarded tone.

“Rogue?” Leader asked. “Who is this?”

“An old friend,” said Rogue, swallowing, their eyes going back to Whumper as Henchmen opened the gate and Whumper stepped through. “We grew up in the same neighbourhood.”

“Mmm,” Whumper hummed fondly. “In the Grouts of the city, eh, Rogue? How’s your mum?”

“She’s good.”

Whumper smiled. “Good, good. Tell her I say hi. She’s a lovely woman.”

“I will.”

“Good to see you, I hope you know this is all just business,” Whumper said gesturing to the cell and themselves with their hand.

“You don’t have to hurt us.”

Whumper’s smile melted from their face, eyebrows raising. “Oh? Your team are all loose lips, huh? You’ll just tell me about Superhero and his secret weapon?”

Rogue went quiet, so did the rest of the cell. A humourless smile crept onto Whumper’s face. “Yeah… I didn’t think this job would be that easy.”

“What do you want?” Leader asked. Whumper flicked their gaze to Leader who was on his knees, hands cuffed to a ring in the wall behind him like the rest of the Hero team. Yikes, what kind of sicko was Supervillain to have metal rings embedded in stone? Whumper supposed it didn’t matter.

“I want to get paid,” said Whumper, stretching their arms above their head. “Ugh, then I want to go home and watch TV. That sound good to you, heroes?”

“I think he meant… like what do you want with them,” said Henchmen quietly to Whumper. Whumper frowned and made a verbal “huh!” in exclamation.

“I just told them,” said Whumper. “Supervillain wants information on Superhero’s secret weapon, I’m here to get that information and get paid.”

Leader curled his lip back into a snarl. “Good luck with that.”

Whumper shrugged. “Thank you, Leader. However I am a professional, I don’t need luck. I’m trained to get stoic people chatty.”

“You really think Supervillain hasn’t tried? Torturing us, depriving us of food and water? Leaving us down here to starve and then when that didn’t work going back to torturing us? We’re built to endure,” said Leader with a mirthless smirk. “We don’t break.”

Whumper nodded. “Okay. We can do this the hard way then.”

Whumper turned to henchmen and asked them to grab a cloth and a hose to attach to the tap. “Oh, and a chair, please, henchmen.”

Henchmen left the room, their footsteps ascending was the only sound permeating the cell. Whumper walked over to the girl sitting directly opposite Leader. The only person on the Hero team that Whumper didn’t recognise. Maybe a new recruit? Leader lurched forward, but Whumper just cocked an eyebrow at Leader.

“What’s your name?” Whumper asked her. “This isn’t the interrogation yet, don’t worry. You don’t have to tell me. Just trying to diffuse the tension.”

Whumper looked at Rogue who kept their eyes trained on Whumper. “How long have ye been down here?”

“A while,” Rogue told them with a huff.

Whumper nodded. “Supervillain really starve all of you?”

“Yeah,” said Rogue, a little sheepishly.

“Nothing you’re not used to,” said Whumper with a little laugh. Rogue joined in, although a bit awkwardly. Whumper’s eyes scanned the other people in the room who looked a bit dazed at the flyaway comment. Then they reclined their head against the wall. “Oh. Sorry. You never told them.”

“It’s okay,” said Rogue with a shrug. “They were bound to find out eventually.”

Whumper nodded again. Then let out a sigh. “You don’t want to tell me Superhero’s plan, do you? Save you all some suffering.”

Rogue laughed. “Not a chance.”

“Well, god loves a trier.”

The door to the basement creaked open and Henchmen came down the stairs and left all the things Whumper asked for at the front of the cell, near the gate. “Ah. Wonderful. Thank you henchmen.”

Whumper stood in front of the team of heroes and cleared their throat while Henchmen attached the hose to the leaky tap.

“Okay. For my first trick, I need a volunteer. Leader?” Whumper asked with a smile. Leader scoffed but nodded. “Sure.”

“Excellent.”

Henchmen freed Leader from the wall, the cuffs staying on and led Leader over to chair that Whumper stood at.

“Sit down,” said Whumper. Leader obliged them, and Whumper grabbed Leader’s arms and brought them up over the back of the chair. It was all very gentle, very professional, as if Whumper wasn’t trying to hurt Leader. It sent warning bells off in Leader’s head, but all he could do was follow along with what Whumper was doing.

Henchmen handed Whumper another pair of handcuffs and Whumper thanked them. Whumper attached one of the cuffs to Leader’s cuff chain, and the other to the chair so Leader couldn’t move his hands away.

“Henchmen will you get the legs?”

“Of course.”

Before long Leader’s ankles were cuffed to the chair as well and Leader couldn’t get up from the seat.

“Alright, people. Last chance.”

“Do you worst.”

Whumper smiled. Then they tipped Leader’s chair back. Leader let out a soft oomph as the chair fell back the rest of the way until Leader was facing the ceiling, Whumper and Henchmen standing above him.

The last thing Leader saw was a towel coming down over his head. Leader would be lying if he said he wasn’t scared of what happened next. None of Supervillain’s men had taken his sight, or tied him to a chair just to force him awkwardly onto the ground. The top of his head was the only thing on the ground, that and his arms that were pinned beneath Leader’s weight on the chair, his legs in the air.

Another towel added to the initial one on top of Leader’s head, then another and Leader could feel his heart in his throat when he heard tape being ripped. The towels were wrapped in a single layer of duct tape over Leader’s eyes and another layer below his chin.

Leader swallowed, his hands balling into fists behind him that was already causing pins and needles in his arms.

There was a moment of silence: the atmosphere balanced on a precarious edge of fear and tension. Whumper nodded at henchmen to turn on the tap and picked up the hose.

“Any takers?” Whumper asked again. They weren’t usually this nice to the people they were torturing, but Rogue was an old friend. “No? Okay. Sorry Leader.”

That was all the warning Leader got before he was inhaling water. It was slow, trickling into his nose and Leader realised with a sickening beat that Whumper was water boarding him.

Leader held his breath on instinct, shaking his head, his arms trapped uselessly behind him. His legs were kicking at the cuffs that kept them locked to the chair.

“Leader?!” One of their team asked, voice shrill. Leader couldn’t tell who, and his lungs were aching with how much he was struggling to get the towels off his face, turning away from the hose that was relentless.

“Leader!”

“Wait! Stop! Stop!”

Whumper stared impassively at all the team members, eyes half-lidded, one hand in their pocket as they regarded them all as if they were all just waiting in line for a coffee.

“You can stop this,” said Whumper matter-of-factly.

One of the members beside Rogue spoke up: “Leader wouldn’t want us to.”

Whumper dropped their head, a sardonic expression crossing their features. “Are you serious? Do you really think Leader is thinking about his ideals right now?”

Leader gasped, unable to hold his breath anymore and he started gagging on the air, gurgling water and retching, his body spasming and limbs pulling at the restraints. Whumper didn’t even blink at the change.

“The instinct when being water boarded,” Whumper began, “is to hold your breath. Which Leader here just learned is a bad idea because eventually your lungs want air.”

“Whumper,” Rogue said in warning, yanking at the chains holding them back.

Whumper’s impassive eyes met Rogue’s. “Leader’s body needs air, except he was inhaling water which triggers his gag reflex and is effectively scorching his throat as we speak.”

“Stop it!” One of the members cried. “Stop narrating your torture!”

Whumper shrugged. “Fine. We can sit in silence if you prefer.”

Whumper did just that. They fell silent and so did everyone else. Leader was choking, convulsing, fighting, gasping, all very wetly, the water pooling around Leader’s head as his body tensed. Leader pushed against the chair, his body going stiff as he tried to tilt the chair back up to stop the easy onslaught of pain.

His brain was screaming at him, his body fighting and not understanding that he should stop trying to breathe but his mind wouldn’t let him stop panicking enough to let him hold his breath.

Leader threw his body weight into his legs forward and to his shock the chair went upright. Then Whumper caught the chair and Leader gasped in sweet sweet air, gasping, gasping, not getting enough air and started choking and spluttering on it.

“You had enough Leader?” Whumper asked, their voice matching their face that was a cold, emotionless thing.

Leader was still breathing in air, trying to get his heartbeat under control, drunk on oxygen.

“Leader?” One of the team asked.

“No… don’t—” Leader rasped, then descended into a coughing fit. “Don’t tell them anything.”

“Oh,” said Whumper, letting the chair fall backwards again. “Sounds like you got a bad cough there Leader. You need some water?”

“No! Wait!” Leader protested.

Whumper let the hose fall over Leader’s face again, and Leader held his breath again like an idiot. Whumper stared down at Leader’s chest, wired so tight, trying not to let drowning bother him.

Whumper looked back at the other members of the team. “This is the easiest way to get answers from people, in my professional opinion. Plus it’s not disgusting, no lasting damage on Leader or you guys, except you know, trauma and psychological damage, but you know what I mean.”

Four horrified expressions looked at Whumper. Whumper glanced back to Henchmen who stood at the tap, their jaw tight.

Whumper knew it was a professional, practical reason why they didn’t really react to inflicting pain on people, but at times like this, when even Supervillain’s right hand was uncomfortable with Whumper’s methods… that made them feel inhuman. Wrong.

Whumper’s eyes found Rogue’s that were burning into them from across the cell. Strangely, they were the only eyes that Whumper really cared about. So funny how the past can creep up on you.

Well, a job is a job at the end of the day, Whumper might as well do one that they’re good at. The people in this room were Heroes because it was their talent. Whumper’s talent was pressure point and pain, and knowing just how far to go to get someone to snap.

Leader gasped below Whumper, bringing their attention back to the writhing worm on a hook below them. “Ah. There we go. The inhale. Human anatomy fucks you everytime, huh, Leader?”

“You’re a sadistic bastard!” One of the team members screamed.

Whumper frowned. “I don’t enjoy this. It’s just a job. Same as you Heroes, and your Superhero. Ask yourself this, if Leader was in your position and you were in his, would he protect you or would he protect Superhero?”

“You’re a bastard!”

Leader wheezed, trying to push himself up again, but Whumper had placed a foot on the chair by Leader’s head. “Ah, ah, ah. Leader. You’re not breathing again until someone starts talking.”

Leader convulsed erratically under the water, trying to lift his head up to try and get some air in his lungs. He craned his neck up, but the air attacked his senses and Leader gasped and fell back again. The hose mercilessly flowed over his nose again.

Whumper looked up suddenly. “Hey, do any of you know if Leader has asthma? Cause if so you need to decide faster, this is not a good thing to do to people who are asthmatic.”

“And it’s a good thing for normal people?” One of them asked and Whumper scoffed.

“Semantics,” they said.

“We have to tell them,” said Rogue quietly.

“What?!”

“We can’t Rogue.”

“Listen,” Rogue said, their voice edging on desperate. “I know Whumper, okay?! They’re not going to stop until they get what they want. They can sit here all day and torture Leader and not feel a thing.”

“Rogue’s right,” said Whumper with a sigh. “I get paid by the hour, so really this whole debate back and forth is good for me. Financially I mean. Take your time. Leader, do you mind if they take their time?”

Leader gurgled and choked and spluttered.

Whumper smiled at the team. “See? He’s fine. Take your time.”

“Oh shut up, Whumper,” said the quiet girl. Whumper looked at her, the new one that sat opposite Leader and wouldn’t offer her name. When she looked at Whumper now her eyes burned with a sizzling hatred.

Whumper smiled at her, recognising that level of hatred as their own. Whumper remembers being where she was, powerless to stop bad things from happening to the people they loved.

It felt full circle, that moment, and it ignited something within Whumper that was a little feral, and broken, and wrong. Whumper’s eyes flashed at her, whose glare was unbroken and burning a hole through Whumper’s head, or it would if it could.

Below them, Leader was still spluttering and choking and gagging and wrenching and writhing but Whumper’s attention was fixed on the new girl now.

“Huh. You’re chatty now? Wanna share your name?”

“No,” she said. “I want you to die.”

“Thats a little forward, considering we’ve just met,” said Whumper, glancing at Rogue, whose wide eyes were fixed squarely on the girl. “They always like this, Rogue? Little rude for a Hero.”

“I don’t care,” she said. “I don’t give a fuck what you think of me.”

Whumper hummed to themselves. They moved the hose away from Leader’s head and smiled wanly at the sounds of Leader gasping and coughing on air again.

“Still with us, Leader?” Whumper asked, not taking their eyes off of the angry girl.

“Go… go ffu—urself,” Leader wheezed between laboured breaths.

“Waterboarding is special, huh, Leader? You need breaks in between or it’s not as effective.”

“You—”

Whumper pressed the hose back to Leader and Leader immediately started coughing. Whumper smiled at the girl whose jaw tightened at Whumper’s blasé style of interrogation.

Whumper took the hose off of Leader again, to more coughing and spluttering.

“How’s the cough, Leader?”

“Ff—” Leader didn’t even get a syllable out before Whumper pressed the hose down on his nose again.

“Leader!” One of the other teammates exclaimed, but Whumper had their gaze trained on the girl. Watching her muscles tightening.

Whumper smirked.

Oh they just found the weak link. Maybe they had a special relationship with Leader.

Whumper told Henchmen to turn the tap off and dropped the hose to the floor. Things just got interesting.

“You can put Leader upright,” said Whumper to Henchmen as they walked to the angry girl. Whumper crouched down in front of her. She glared up at Whumper.

“Whumper,” said Rogue in warning. Whumper smiled down at the girl and said: “Rogue, if you try and dissuade me again I will have Henchmen gag you.”

The girl’s eyes flicked briefly to Leader who was pushed to an upright position. Leader spewed some water from his lungs onto the floor in front of him, head lolling forward and groaning.

“What’s your name, little Hero?” Whumper asked.

“Little Hero,” she replied, eyes hard as she stared at Whumper.

Whumper grinned. “Funny.”

Whumper got to their feet and walked over to Leader, purposefully. They ripped the towels from Leader’s head and grabbed one, coiling it meticulously into a shape resembling coiled rope. Then Whumper shoved it between Leader’s teeth, thankful that the towel was long enough to tie it behind Leader’s head and double knot it.

Leader groaned behind the gag.

“Okay,” said Whumper. “Because you all seem like good guys, I’m giving you a bonus last chance to tell me what I want to know before I really traumatise you all.”

Leader wasn’t even really there behind the eyes anymore, just trying to focus on breathing, on surviving. He wasn’t even pulling at the cuffs anymore.

“How can he answer?!” Rogue demanded hotly. “You just gagged Leader!”

Whumper’s smile seemed to suck all the coldness from the room. “I’m not asking him questions, Rogue. I’m asking all of you. Now then. We go again.”

This time, Whumper left the chair upright and just yanked Leader’s head back. Then Whumper grabbed the hose and grinned at everyone.

He stuck it on Leader’s nose. After a few seconds it was as if Leader was being electrocuted, his body convulsing violently against the chair to the cries of his teammates.

“Stop!”

“Stop it!”

“WHUMPER!” Rogue screamed, all of them struggling and pulling on their restraints. Whumper didn’t react. They didn’t even look at any of them.

“Stop please!” One of them cried wetly, oh yeah. Good. Tears meant they were almost there. On the verge of telling Whumper what they wanted to hear.

Leader’s hands and ankles were bleeding from how hard he was pulling and straining at the cuffs. Whumper had to commend the team, they don’t think they could withstand seeing someone they love and trust being tortured like this.

“THE WEAPON IS A PERSON!” Whumper pulled the hose away immediately, head swivelling to the confessor. Whumper grinned when they saw it was the little Hero. Oh, Whumper knew she would snap first.

Whumper smiled sweetly while Leader coughed and vomited water from his lungs pathetically. Whumper pulled the gag from Leader’s mouth and more water pooled out, Leader’s throat expanding and vomiting water onto the ground. Well, Whumper wouldn’t be a good interrogator if they let their leverage die.

“Who?” Whumper asked softly.

The entire team was shivering, chests heaving, emotion running heavy through them, as if they were all getting water boarded. Hero’s wide eyes were on Leader who had appeared to go unconscious. Whumper didn’t care.

“Who?” They asked again, more firm this time.

“Let him go.”

“Tell me who or I’ll slit his throat right now, Hero.”

Hero pursed her lips at Whumper, eyes burning.

“Oh,” Whumper said, glancing between Hero and Leader. “Oh… you’re not in love with him, are you? No. That wasn’t loving forlorn glances that was… that was guilt, wasn’t it?”

“Whumper please—” Rogue begged but Whumper held up a hand that effectively silenced them. Hero sniffed, eyes glued on Leader in the chair.

Whumper smiled. “Oh Supervillain is gonna laugh when he realises he had Superhero’s secret weapon locked in the basement this whole time.”

“Henchmen, will you be a dear and check Leader’s pulse for me?”

There was a few seconds of silence, the team waiting with bated breath that turned into a collective sigh when Henchmen said: “still alive.”

“Wonderful,” said Whumper. “We need to bring him upstairs with us—”

“No!” Hero yelled, struggling against her own restraints. “Leave him alone! It’s me you want, take me,” she pleaded, tears streaming freely down her face.

“To make sure he’s okay,” said Whumper pointedly. “When waterboarding goes wrong sometimes people get hypothermia, so we have to be careful. But don’t worry, Hero. You’re coming too.”