#have also shamelessly inserted a few plot clues that will make sense later

[distinctlywhumpthing]

hi:) I have a question: how old is Aiden really? It's quite strange to think of him as a child, even though Leo only thinks of him that way

— Masterlist —

@alittlewhump beta reads everything and fixes my last lines <3

CW: Institutionalized slavery, dehumanization, conditioning, panic attack, PTSD, typical Aiden.

“How old are you, Hon?”

The question sent a shiver down Aiden's spine. 

Leo took a sip of his coffee like he wasn’t in a hurry but his eyes never left Aiden’s face.

Aiden knew the Correct answer, could feel it like it had been punched into him like one of those label makers with the adhesive strips of blue plastic. Each letter turning the plastic white with the strain of absorbing its shape but it would never break. It was made to take it. Aiden swallowed and shook his head. It hurt worse to get it wrong than it did to say nothing at all. Even with Leo staring at him expectantly. He did his best to swallow the dread but he couldn’t dispel the crawling sensation that seemed to burrow under his skin. 

Leo sighed softly. “Okay, okay. Uhm, I know you can’t—I know speaking isn’t easy, but do you think you could write it down?” He opened a drawer where he stood on the other side of the island and pulled out a pad of square yellow papers with a pencil. 

What? His Master had to be joking. This was a test? Did he think…had he been misinformed? Aiden tightened his fist until the cut on his palm felt white hot and numb at the same time. He wasn’t aware that his breathing had kicked up a notch until Leo pulled back the paper and pencil. 

“Hey, never mind. Okay?” He shut them back into the drawer and took another sip of coffee that was deliberately slow.

But Aiden couldn’t seem to relax. All he could think about was the pounding of his own heart and he couldn’t even hear his breathing over it. 

“Easy, easy.” Leo was coming around the island with his hands raised. “It’s okay, it’s not important.” 

He couldn’t bring his shoulders down from nearly touching his ears, he couldn’t stop the rushing and pounding, he couldn’t stop himself from flinching away, nearly folding onto the counter when Leo’s palm came to rest between his shoulder blades. 

More rushing, pounding, hushing, shushing. As soon as recognized himself rocking to match the sound, his throat was closing and he was choking on the cry that came with the realization. His vision blurred and he thought the room was spinning, was sure he was falling.

But after he blinked away some of the tears, he realized Leo had turned him and held him in a proper hug.

It was Leo sushing him. It was Leo rocking him.

Aiden melted into the embrace like he deserved it. Just for a second, he told himself. It didn’t really matter. He was already broken and had already fallen apart. He wasn’t staying but he wasn’t going back. 

The sobs seemed to hitch from the exact center of the empty, aching void pressed against his ribs. 

He could only cry harder at the feeling.

— Masterlist —

@octopus-reactivated @maracujatangerine @nicolepascaline @mazeish @whumpy-writings @in-patient-princess @meetmeinhellcroutons @briars7 @thingsthatgo-whump-inthenight @jo-doe-seeking-inspo @neuro-whump @painsandconfusion @wolfeyedwitch @skyhawkwolf @haro-whumps @onlybadendings @peachy-panic @fillthedarkvoid @rabass @crystalquartzwhump @dont-touch-my-soup @jadeocean46910 @mylifeisonthebookshelf @hold-him-down @guachipongo