A.N: Sorry for the first go, but that was just a fluke, woops! Ahaha. I like this version a lot better. To me, Rocky isn't the type to due trauma so he plays it off. And here's take two!
Disclaimer: I don't own the 3 ninjas or the back ideas that I'm gonna work into the story. It's from the wonderful makers of the movie of whom I owe my life. .
Claimer: Any character that you've never heard of or whatever and the plot itself is mine. Yay!
Chapter 1.
Is that them?
I can hardly see in the car, is she alone?
Why did my Mommy bring me here. I'm hungry!!
The crowd began to murmur when the green station wagon got closer to the driveway. Rocky bit into his tongue to keep from screaming. At first he thought that the voices he heard were his thoughts trying to figure out what to do now that he was free. But when he got closer to the house he heard things that he was sure weren't his self. The nosey housewives and their husbands and some of their children that weren't aren't school because of this very special occassion of a missing, young adult coming home.
"Jessica!" A woman yelled over the noise for his mothers attention.
Rocky's in the back seat; blanket over his shoulders, which hid the fact that he had undone his seatbelt. He was feeling too clostrophobic with it on and being in something as confining as a car didn't much help that.
These people are unbelievable. His mother's thoughts pressed into his mind as well.
Rocky chewed harder on his tongue trying to make the pain stifle the voices but they just kept coming in. How did Maria stand it! He sneered at the name. She did this to him, she opened a part of his mind that he was sure he had shut up forever and now that it's reopened and he's older, stronger, it's much clearer and more painful then when he was a kid. He never told his parents so many things that were going on with him, simply because he was afraid that they wouldn't understand. Young Rocky had come to this conclusion when he showed a kid at the park and the boy ran off screaming. He was sure his parents would do much of the same. Back when he was young these abilities, that Rocky thought everyone had, never bothered him. He used them in secret to entertain himself when he was alone and bored. But as he got older, he started to see the problem. He wasn't normal and no one would understand and worse, they might try to experiment on him. All that fear, all his families beliefs about such things had silenced the voices and the gift, leaving him seemingly normal.
I'll never be normal again. Thinks the green ninja. With the gates open... How can I silence them now? I'm not even really sure I know how it is that I'm using them... It's all just sort of- happening! He bares his teeth, hand to his head as a headache comes on. And now the headaches are coming back! Rocky jumped out of his skin when he heard the carhorn vlaring at someone blocking his mother's way into the driveway.
"Please I need to get into the driveway!" Jessica yells out the window.
Looking out the window through the peek of his left eye, Rocky sees that nearly half the next neighborhood has shown up since he didn't recognize a lot of the peoples faces. Not to mention, a bunch of other people he was sure just came because the news crew had a van parked across the street. What were they hoping to do? Get the scoop on what happened? Ask him about the psychotic woman and why she would grab someone as boring and not the best looking in town. Rocky would be the first in line to consider his self a 'plain-Jane' and wouldn't hesitate to change the mind of a females wandering eye. He didn't want people interested in him, and whenever he took a liking to someone, they would either find better- or find his brother Colt.
When the car came to a complete stop, Jessica pressed down on the horn again to move the people from the doors so they could get out.
What is her problem?! We're just trying to make sure her son is ok! A low tone growled. Does she think she's better than us now?
How can my mother think she's better than someone because her son has been through a traumatic moment? He just didn't understand that comment at all. Women have a weird way of thinking. Rocky shot his attention at the door when it pulled open, breathing uneven, though, it's only his mother. He was still apprehensive of hers and anyone else's touch.
After his hospital visit he had covered cuts on his body, due to Maria's knife fit the night he tried to break out with Noelie, his shoulder has a large bruise on it from when she popped it out of place. He told the doctor that his arm was alright enough not to need a cast. They had given him all kinds of test and asked him humiliating questions. He refused to answer a lot of them then shut off, until they caved knowing they wouldn't get a word out of him so they allowed his mother to bring him home.
Jessica slipped an arm around her sons shoulders and helped him out of the car- big mistake. The crowd pushed in toward them, all wanting to touch the once missing male that most of them knew, and others only saw a picture of due to the flyers that were hung up all over the place and the comercials put on tv. Rocky pressed his back to the car feeling sufficated. Closing his eyes, he let his trembles take over but he quickly calmed them down.
Don't show that you're afraid and they'll leave you alone. Swallowing, he opens his eyes and looked out over the crowd. The news woman from channel 4 was standing not far away from him with her crew rolling for live footage; her short-cut brown hair blowing in the slight wind that swept up from nowhere.
Running a hand through her hair trying to salvage anything that might have moved out of place she speaks when her cameraman points at her. "This is Nina Post with the channel 4 news, and I'm outside of the Douglas home where the missing eldest son of the family has just been brought back to his loving family and friends. A group of neighbors and well wishers have come as well to see that the boy is ok. Let's see if we can get through the crowd," she begins to shove a woman out of the way. "To ask that same question ourselves. Excuse me! Excuse me! Jessica! Rocky!! Rocky!!!"
And that was another thing. He had heard so many people he didn't even know or consider a personal friend calling him by his ninja name. He wasn't sure if it were embarrassing or annoying. People claiming to be so close to him just because they saw his picture around and maybe thought that he was cute or something, and now this.
"No! Just back off! Let my son get inside and see his family!!" Jessica yelled at the news woman. "Everybody just back off!!" But the crowd kept moving in.
Rocky had to pinch his arm just to calm down because his breathing was starting to hitch again. All these people, so close to him. Why doesn't everybody just go the hell home!? Rocking, he begins to whisper, unaware that he's doing so.
"Go away, go away, go away, go away..." his voice began to get louder. "Go away, EVERYBODY JUST GO AWAY!!!!"
The crowd silenced at the boys outburst; Nina licked her lips with hunger making sure to give the cameraman a good view of the disgruntled teen. That's right, make him a speculation now.
Shaking his head, he lowered his voice. "Please, just leave us alone... You can, come talk to me tomorrow. Right now I just want to go inside an be safe..."
Oh that poor boy! A woman declared. Rocky could tell which one because a blonde slapped her hand to her chest as she thought it.
What have we done? Of course the poor boy can go inside where it's safe.
I knew it. My wife just had to drag me out here.
Does this mean we can go noooowww? A child whined.
"We're very sorry, Jessica, Rocky." The boy winced at that. "We're going to bring by a casorol so," waving a finger she used a teasing voice. "Don't you go making dinner dear, you just shower that son of yours with attention."
Nina seemed apprehensive, but at the same time she didn't want to look like a monster. So, waving a hand the camera turned off and they went back to the news van. Rocky knew they wouldn't leave. The media would get their scoop no matter what memory that had to dredge up to do so. Rubbing her son's shoulders, Jessica steered him towards the house.
Everything looked so different to Rocky. The air was cold, like no ones lived here for a long time. Didn't help that the weather was near rainy today. Guess it didn't know it was supposed to shine because life's little miracle has come home.
"Rocky." Colt said.
"Rocky." Tum chimed in.
His brothers left the sofa and barreled into him. Rocky coiled away from their touch as if it were just as icy as the house and he were metal absorbing all of it. He didn't hug them back for all the thirty seconds of it, just stood there waiting for it to end. When they moved away, both with sad looks on their faces, he knew he had hurt them and had to say something.
"I'm cold." That wasn't it.
"I'll go get you another blanket." Says Jessica.
"I'll get it!" Both his brothers insisted. Giving each other a glare, they tried again only to end up saying it together again. "I'll get it."
Great. Now I have to worry about people being my Gophers. Thinks the psychokinetic teen. "I know where the blankets are, I'll get it myself." He said in a calm voice.
"No sweet heart, you go sit on the couch and rest a bit."
Doing as he was told, because he knew he would feel the- NOW, if he didn't, Rocky took a seat on the arm chair, curled his legs in and wrapped the blanket tighter around his body. He's so very cold...
The house was silent, almost like you could hear dust forming on top of unmoving objects. Rocky sat on the couch, keeping to himself, eyes closed, bundled up inside his blankets. He could feel his brothers attention on him, he could feel his mother trying to get him back from the darkness she thinks he's in. Truth was, Rocky wasn't in darkness, he was fine. That's what he decided when he woke up in the hospital and saw his parents. He is fine. Jessica flocked all over him, he refused to touch her or let her touch him. His father wasn't exactly welcomed to try either but he did and received the same cold glare that his mother had got. But, Rocky is fine.
I wonder if he fell asleep like that? This was Colt. It's amazing how different he looks now, it been about four months since he went missing, but the change is so drastic!
Poor Rocky, Tum tum. He's probably been through hell, and thinks we're gonna act all weird around him.
Won't you? Thinks the elder Douglas boy. After all, I'm the freak boy who got kidnapped and raped, abused by a woman that he could have easily escaped from physically if not mentally... Sighing, he shook his head, opening his eyes. Is this what Maria went through all her life? Hearing peoples thoughts because she couldn't turn them off, losing her mind because her abilities did it to her... I won't be that way, because I'm going to deny everything. So what if I hear voices, so what if I see dark shadows of people who have passed, it means nothing.
Looking at his younger brother, he frowned. Will you act weird around me? Wondered the silent ninja. "You can talk if you want to."
"Hm?" Both boys chimed.
"Nothing." He replied quietly. Hoping to remove the awkwardness in the room, he cleared his throat. "So... How are you guys?"
Tum and Colt just looked at each other then back at their brother. This is what he asked them? How are they doing? They should be asking him that! He was the one who was in a comma like state for half a month. How is he!?
"We're good," Colt licked his mouth, voice hesitant and stammered. "Better now that you're home... How are you?"
"Fine." He quipped, quickly and tight. "I'm fine." Moving the blanket back he checked the digital watch on his wrist. 11:43 am. "Did you enjoy Christmas?"
Tum tum swallowed, again, glancing at Colt before he looked to Rocky he spoke. "Rocky, we didn't celebrate. It wouldn't be right without you."
Rocky nodded. The room was quiet again. At least to the two occupants that couldn't hear the inner static floating through the air.
This is really uncomfortable. Is Rocky serious about being ok? Colt looked toward the kitchen. Maybe he said something to Mom, or they talked on the way over and he really does feel better.
I'm not buying this for a second, something is up. Just as Tum tum opens his mouth to talk, their mother cuts him off.
"Lunch boys, come and get it."
"Alright!" Jumping to his feet, Tum tum hurried into the kitchen like a small child that was promised cookies if he ate all of his lunch.
Rocky snickered at it. His brother hadn't changed a bit since he hit the teen years. His voice may be a bit different but as far as personality he's still that same hungry little seven year old living up to his ninja name.
Colt stood but looked back at the poor boy. "You want me to tell Mom you're eating in here?"
"No. I'm coming, I just wanna warm up a bit more first."
Unsure of whether or not he should leave, he nods. "Alright." Leaving the room, he made sure not to glance back otherwise he might have ended up saying something embarrassing that might upset Rocky.
Letting out an audible sigh, he felt the tight air in the room dispell. His chest was killing him and it felt a bit like his headache was coming back as well. He wondered if his mother still kept advil or tylonol in the bathroom mirror. Standing, he goes into the bathroom downstairs. Turning on the light, the tiny pink colored bathroom lit up before him. He looked at his reflection in the mirror for a second. It was like looking directly into the face of his alter who claimed to go by his ninja name. Since the night he had escaped, the manic boy was surprisingly silent. Rocky wondered if he were plotting something, somewhere in the depths of his mind there's a raw nerve active and waiting to unleash itself upon his family and friends; trying to bring horrible truths to his family and friends. He wouldn't allow it.
He had to keep his nerves calm and his mind centered. He will stop the voices from broadcasting theirselves for him to hear and he'll stop the radiating neurons that somehow managed to keep ejecting the cd's his mother played in the car, on their way home from the hospital, and the changing of the radio station. Jessica ended up turning it off all together. When they were in the hospital, she asked him over and over, how he was- if she could get him anything. In the end, he wanted a watch and she came back with a digital and a hand time telling watch. He wore them both. It was better that way. One might get broken and he needed to know what time it was- all the time. He was very glad that the digital had the date over it as he needed to check that as well.
Remembering why he came into the bathroom in the first place, he pulled open the mirror and reached for the bottle of asprin in the medicine cabinet. Popping the bottle open, he shook a tablet into his palm then tossed it into his mouth. Ducking his head under the faucet he turned on the water and took down a few full gulps. Wiping the back of his hand across his mouth, he stood up and quickly staggered back, banging into the door.
Holding a hand to his chest, he looked past his reflection at a dark shadow behind him, it faded just as quickly as he saw it. Shaking it off, he cursed his self for being born this way, and hoped that he could bury it like he had when he was a child. If not... maybe he wasn't as fine as he thought he was.
