You Were, and Always Are, Mine.

"Come here, pet. I want you to see something."

Whumpee's chin lifted off the floor slowly- in harsh anticipation. They were never pleased when Whumper wanted to show them something.

"Hurry, now. You know I have little patience."

Yes, they did know. Whumpee simply tried forgetting the fact of impatience as they also tried forgetting their own existence in such a sad life.

The pet crawled toward Whumper's desk, falling onto their rear as they approached the chair.

"Up," Whumper said. "On my lap."

Whumpee obeyed, standing with a hunch as they settled themselves on their captor's lap.

Three orbs sat atop the desk, glowing just enough that Whumpee felt the need to squint.

Whumper pointed to the furthest left orb. "Past," they said, then pointed to the centre orb. "Present." Finally pointing to the third, Whumper said, "Future."

Nodding with understanding, Whumpee shifted, reaching toward the orb in the centre. It brightened at their touch, causing them to flinch back into Whumper's chest.

"You see yourself, yeah? All tucked into me?" Whumper's chest bounced for a moment before they instructed Whumpee to touch the 'past' orb.

The past orb showed Whumpee when they were first found by their captor. Whumpee didn't need a reminder of that time. They nestled further into Whumper's chest- almost seeking comfort. "Other one," Whumpee murmured.

Usually, they'd have been berated for speaking. 'Pets don't speak,' Whumper would have reminded, but not this time- thankfully.

"You want to see your future?"

Not particularly, but it must look better than...than the past and present. "Do you already know what the future holds for me?" Whumpee's voice was raspy from having spoken so little.

"Don't answer a question with a question."

Whumpee nodded in acknowledgement. "I want to see."

Whumper leaned forward, bringing Whumpee along with as they touched the last orb. As with the others, Whumpee's form appeared within the glowing glass.

Staring for some time, Whumpee finally whispered, "But- but it's the same as the present. It's the same." They didn't understand. Had Whumper made a mistake? Grabbed the wrong orb?

"Your future is the same as this moment," Whumper explained, wrapping their arms around their pet and taking in a big whiff of their hair. "You were," they breathed, "and always are, mine. Always, you hear me?"

Fetch.

“They think you died,” Villain said over the newspaper in their hand. They lowered the paper only to reveal their crooked grin.

Hero’s face remained impassive as they stared at the wall over their shoulder. It was easier to maintain their emotions when they focused on a blank surface. They struggled, now, at hearing the news, but that spot on the wall captured their eye and- well-

“Did you hear me, Hero?”

They nodded.

“And what do you think of what I said?”

Hero shrugged. They tried not to think too hard on what Villain said. The more they thought, the more it hurt, the more they considered doing something drastic- like insulting Villain. It had happened before, on multiple occasions, and Hero always regretted it.

“Words, Hero. Use them.”

“I don’t wish to speak,” Hero replied.

“That’s a shame because I do want you to speak. I want you to tell me how you feel about this paper.” Villain tossed the news across the table so that Hero could see it for themselves, so that they could properly respond. Villain hated when the little hero gave such dull reactions. It made keeping them nearly pointless.

Hero picked the paper up, analysed the page- read it through all the way because, surely, Villain would quiz them on it. "I'm afraid," they said.

"Afraid?"

"Yes."

"And why's that?"

Swallowing first, Hero laid the paper down. They stared at Villain's coffee mug- what they wouldn't give to have a mug of their own.

Villain pressed. "Why are you afraid, Hero?"

"Because," They took a shaky breath. "If they declare me as dead..." Goodness, Hero's mouth was a desert. It was becoming harder and harder to hold back the sobs they'd been containing for so long. Not just from today. They had been holding back for so, so much longer than this horrid morning. "If they think I'm dead, then they will stop looking for me. I'll never-" Hero coughed, trying to hold back a loose cry. "I'll never be free."

"Good news, isn't it?" Villain took a sip of their coffee and hummed with disapproval. "Fetch the cream, would you?"

"Yes, Villain." Hero rose with a bow. By some miracle they were able to withhold their sniffles until they made it into the kitchen. Although it wouldn't matter, would it? Villain would see the red eyes and puffy cheeks.

Prompt #39

Whumpers who already have pets before they get a pet whumpee.

They have one or more aggressive dogs who snap at anything at their level. Whumpee is forced to be on their knees all the time, which means they often get bitten by the dog/s.

Prompt #20

Whumpers who treat their whumpees like actual pets. Not just muzzling them, but:

Pet whumpees. Actual pet whumpees.