Temporarily using my old CPU, so if this is kind of sucky, sorry. I'm not used to big consoles like this. And I got Kingdom Hearts! (THANK YOU THEWICKEDWIZARDOFOZ) It's the Recoded one and I'm in love. I'm switching off so there's an hour of typing, hour of playing, etc. Wish me luck~ I beat the big boss thing in six minutes though… I feel so accomplished.
Disclaimer: Nothing be mine 'til I turn 18…
It was barely three in the morning, so the only light shining down into the room of slumbering orphans was the light from the moon, but most of that light was blocked by Wally. The eleven year old orphan was curled up in the window frame, one leg set against the cold window screen and the other just barely the grazing the broken wooden floor beneath him. This was how every night went for him. Ever since he turned four, he hadn't been able to get to sleep, no matter how hard and long he cleared his mind and kept his eyes shut. He just accepted his Insomnia and took to finding other things to amuse himself in the early hours.
Down below him, the other five kids were sharing cots to keep warm. Why would Mr. Zucco waste his perfectly good money on unwanted snot-nosed kids? They could deal with little sheets. If they froze, less effort on his part. Kaldur and Conner shared a cot, same with Artemis and Megan as to avoid awkward situations when they woke up. Dick always slept alone though. He often preferred it. Every night though, he scooted over so he only took up ¼ of the bed with his small form, telling Wally that if he ever wanted to try to get to sleep, there'd always be a spot for him in the cot.
Tonight, it was positively freezing, especially by the window where Wally had been people-watching, so he decided to finally take up the little ebony up on his offer. He wasn't tired though; at least no more than usual. He slipped under the thin sheets, shivering in the slightest before pulling his 'little brother' to his chest, hoping to warm them both up so they wouldn't be popsicles for Mr. Zucco to munch on in the morning. It helped, but just barely, not to mention that Wally was bored out of his mind. Lucky for him, Dick was a heavy sleeper and Conner who had the sharpest ears on the planet was on the opposite side of the room so he had a huge list of possibilities.
Tonight, he closed his eyes, pressing his forehead into Dick's messy hair, surprised at the warmth it provided. He tried to think to himself, but his mind was racing and he couldn't pick a particular string of thoughts to follow. He made a mad grab for one though. It was the song he had heard Dick sing to himself when he thought he was alone.
Sure, let's sing. Not like anyone will care…
Before he opened his lips, cold arms that quivered from the chilly temperature in the room wrapped around his back. It was probably just Dick's body's way of adapting to the cold; latching onto the nearest source of warmth. He didn't care though. It was easier than having to sneak out and find a hairdryer to thaw his best friend out. Then he fought to remember the words to that sweet little song.
"Maybe far away… or maybe real nearby… He may be pouring her coffee; she may be straightening his tie… Maybe in a house all hidden by a hill… She's sitting playing piano; he's sitting paying the bills…" he started slow as the words began to fall down in front of his eyelids.
He was sure to keep his voice just a breath so that only Dick's unconscious mind could hear it.
"Betcha they're young. Betcha they're smart. Bet they collect things like ash trays and art," Wally tangled his fingers in Dick's hair, wishing his hair was like that. Oh, how he'd kill for hair that soft! "Betcha they're good. Why shouldn't they be? They're one mistake?"
Dick stirred lightly, muttering under his breath, but it was nothing more than sleep talk. He shifted, but only just so his neck was comfortable again.
"… was giving up him…"
Wally had no faith left in his parents. He had watched them shoot each other. They had always fought, but one night, momma had snapped and pulled the trigger. She had tried to kill him too, but he had ran as fast as he could, sobbing his heart out. Dick on the other hand was convinced. He just knew that his parents would come back to take him home, the other half of the crummy locket that was always clasped around his neck around their neck, tears in their eyes. Wally didn't have the heart to shoot Dick's dreams down, so he just let his little ebony dream.
"So maybe now, it's time, and maybe when he waits, they'll be there calling him, 'baby!' Maybe…"
Dick stirred again, whimpering under his breath. He started to thrash, his arms flying and his legs kicking violently. His eyes were still screwed up tight though, and he was obviously sleeping. Wally frowned, doing his best to bind the bruised bony arms to their sides by just hugging tighter. It managed to stop him from thrashing, but his whimpers of fear got louder and louder. Suddenly, scared blue eyes flashed to the world.
"Wally," Dick sobbed, moving his hands so they covered his tears.
Wally smiled, playing with Dick's hair in a way that usually calmed him down.
"It's okay," Wally whispered, repeating it over and over.
He leaned his head up, gently pressing a brotherly kiss to Dick's forehead. They had been friends for a year now, suffering and working together under the same torturous roof. He had full right to pretend Dick was his brother. Besides, the kid was only nine. That was still pretty normal for kids their age.
"It was just a dream… it's all over now," Wally promised.
Dick still bitterly sobbed, tears staining his cheeks. He was so scared! It had been so real!
"Shut up! How am I supposed to get any sleep around here?" Conner angrily grumbled from across the room.
Dick and Wally ignored him. Artemis didn't. He had woken her up and she was a little more than very pissed.
"Dick shouldn't even be in here! He's a baby!" Artemis whined obnoxiously, 'accidentally' kicking Kaldur as she stood up in her bed.
He let out a cry of pain, jumping back and hitting Conner who winced something awful.
"He cries all the time!" she continued, carefully avoiding Conner's arm that intended to trip her.
She stepped full on Megan's stomach, causing the ginger to sit straight up and scream in pain, hugging her stomach. Artemis kept right on walking, not bothering to give a shit about her 'roommates'.
"I-I do not!" Dick sat up, wiping at his eyes.
Wally sat up with him, still holding him close. Megan, Conner and Kaldur got up, pillows in hand, obviously in sour moods now.
"You're the one who shouldn't be in here!" Conner claimed, madly swinging his pillow at her.
It swept her legs out from under her and she hit the ground with a pained, 'oof'.
"You brat!" Megan pouted, swinging her pillow and bringing it down on the blonde's face.
True, she wasn't very strong, but Kaldur was and he hit her in the same spot seconds later.
"You are going to get us in trouble!" Kaldur stated, more anger than fear to his voice.
The simple accusations quickly changed to hateful swear words as the hits got harder and Artemis started to scream because of them. Dick squealed, scared sick, burying his face in Wally's neck, holding onto his 'big brother' for dear life. Wally's eyes narrowed.
"Be back," he breathed into the boy's ear, sliding out from under the hug.
He was at the others' side in a literal flash, snatching their pillows from them even faster.
"Stop it!" he cried over their shouting, "Do you want Mr. Zucco to come in here?"
Everyone stopped, their eyes wide.
"Get back to bed," Wally said again when Artemis got out of the bed, glaring him down, "Or you'll have me to deal with."
The blonde snickered at even the thought of the ginger being a challenge.
"Blow it out your ass," she shrugged, walking away with a smirk.
Dick pulled the sheets up to his chest, using them to angrily scrub at his face. To his surprise though, Wally backed down and dashed back to his side, claiming his spot back beneath the covers. He wrapped his arms around the pale shoulders beside him, letting the tear-stained ebony rest his head on his shoulder.
"Close your eyes Dick," Wally glared Artemis' direction. "Think about your folks… you're the only one of us who really has any."
The ginger's fingers lightly tugged the silver chain out from under Dick's shirt, bringing half of the locket up in his hands. Dick weakly glanced down at it, smiling softly.
"You could try thinking of your folks," he offered hopefully, "You could tell me about them?"
Wally shook his head weakly, sadness falling over his face.
"My folks are dead. I've got you though. What else do I need?"
Dick blushed happily, curling his cold toes.
"Don't you want to have parents again though? You know, someone who wants a little ginger with pretty green eyes?"
Wally thought about it, but he shook his head.
"I already had a chance with parents. I blew it. I don't want to mess up again… Besides, long as we got each other, who needs dumb ole' parents?" he said sweetly, hiding how bothered he really was.
Dick closed his eyes, bringing Wally back so they were resting against the headboard.
"My parents… Betcha he reads… Betcha she sews… Maybe she's made me a closet of clothes," Dick sang softly.
He had such a perfect little voice, unfazed by the world. Artemis pressed her head deeper into her pillow, biting her lip gently. Wally didn't care about her though.
"Maybe they're strict; as straight as a line," Megan grabbed a fistful of her pillow, blinking fast. "I don't really care. As long as they're mine."
"Damnit," Conner mumbled, screwing his eyes up tight.
Kaldur turned so he was facing Conner. They exchanged saddened, hopeless glances before he turned back over.
"So maybe now these prayers… the last one of its kind… Won't you please come get your baby?" Wally whispered softly, but before he could finish, he heard a loud thud outside the door.
He let out a cry, hugging Dick tight for a moment before he actually began to think. He pulled Dick down so they were on their sides again, pulling the blankets up over their heads. He hugged his 'little brother' tighter than a little girl would hug her teddy bear at a scary movie.
The door to their 'room' was kicked open and the floors began to creak under the strain of Mr. Zucco. His tuxedo jacket could never be buttoned, but this time, its sleeves were strained from the effort of containing his massive arms. He reeked of vodka and weed, definitely out of his mind at the moment. He looked like he was suffering from the mother of hangovers. The light was snapped on and he cried out in pain, but he kept staggering into the room.
"Did I hear…" he belched loudly, "screams in here?"
He was obviously referring to the pillow beat down earlier. Everyone's heart stopped and they tried their best to seem asleep. Mr. Zucco disgustingly licked his lips before staggering towards the line of beds.
"You all seem so…" he ripped the blankets off of Conner and Kaldur's bed, "AWAKE!"
The scream caused them to jump, cursing heavily under their breath as they realized they were busted. They weakly got out of bed, scampering away.
"Get up! Get out of bed!" he screamed at Artemis, Megan, Dick and Wally.
Megan slipped out from under the sheets, flying to Conner's side instinctively. Artemis had to be dragged by her ankle. Mr. Zucco had sharp nails for a man so she howled in pain, especially when her face struck the wooden floors.
"Clean this mess!" Mr. Zucco demanded, weakly limping to Dick and Wally's' bed. "Get dressed!"
He yanked the covers away from the pretend-sleeping pair, scowling at them.
"This room had better be regulation clean before breakfast or… kill, kill, kill!" that was always his threat.
"B-But… i-it's the middle of the night!" Wally claimed, surprised that Mr. Zucco hadn't realized by now that he wasn't a regular attendee.
He was a pretty bad drunk though. That probably explained a lot.
"It's the middle of the night!" Zucco mocked, going to pick up Wally by his shirt front.
Dick let out a cry, jumping in front so it was him that was yanked into the air. Wally's eyes widened and he fought to free his savior from the dirty hands that held him. Dick was pulled close enough that he could smell the Tonic on Mr. Zucco's breath. Everyone else in the room could smell that though.
"If this floor don't shine like the top of the Chrysler building," the heavy man paused to hiccup, "… your backsides will. Understand?"
Wally wrenched Dick out of the hateful arms, hugging him protectively, backing up. Everyone nodded though, in hopes that Mr. Zucco would leave faster.
"Yes Mr. Zucco," they all chanted in unison, dashing off to replace their feeble pajamas with shirts and shorts that made them shiver even more.
Mr. Zucco stepped closer to Dick and Wally, his eyes narrowed.
"What do you say… Dick? Wally?"
They both gritted their teeth, glaring down at the hardwood. Wally kept holding tight though.
"I love you, Mr. Zucco," they chanted, shaking in anger.
Mr. Zucco sized them up, scowling harder.
"Why any kid would want to be an orphan… is beyond me," he mumbled, leaving the room as he scratched his head with the head of his bottle.
Dick held back a silent growl, leaning back into the protective hug before Wally let go. Then they dashed off to get dressed.
I love this movie… I can't wait 'til the roller coaster scene! And the huge staff dance! Should I do all the sing songy stuff or no? It's an option. I'm not a big fan of it, but it added more words to this chapter (: review?
-F.J.