DISCLAIMER: I do not own Victorious or the likeness rights to Victoria Justice and the rest of the Victorious cast. But, I do bother Dan Schneider for the rights to the show on a weekly basis, so maybe he'll cave eventually! I can only hope, right?
Sorry for the long wait everyone, I had the flu :(, but don't fret! I feel better now. I'd like to continue to thank everyone who's been reading this story. I hope you guys like Chapter 3!
Broken, Beat & Scarred
Chapter 3
[Robbie's POV]
The living room is quiet.
The living room is dark, the only light in the room being illuminated from the television in front of us.
And I'm scared half to death.
Tori and I have done absolutely nothing today, from watching cartoons earlier this morning to watching her vast collection of movies, and let's not forget the most important thing: eating every ounce of food in that she has stored in her house.
Seriously, I don't know how someone could possibly eat as much as Tori Vega does. She's a bottomless pit, it's kind of frightening at times. It's also even more confusing to see that she's skinner than I am, and I'm a scrawny guy.
Right now, though, my eyes are transfixed on the screen before us. Tori thought it would be a great idea to have a movie marathon, and, don't get me wrong, it was a great idea. We've watched many things today ranging from chick flicks to documentaries.
It's been a fun day, that's for sure, and I feel like this was a good bonding experience for the both of us. If I'm going to live here, we might as well be able to get along. I think the fact that I don't have Rex anymore is a big advantage in my corner. He hasn't been able to ruin the day.
Now that the sun has set on Los Angeles, Tori thought it would be a good idea to watch a horror movie in the dark. I didn't want to argue with her, but right now, we're both acting kind of pitifully.
We're currently watching Paranormal Activity 3, and let's face it: I have zero courage in my body. Every five seconds I find myself wanting to jump out of my own skin. I control the urge to do so, because I don't want Tori to think that I'm not a guy, oh wait, never mind...
All of the thoughts that are rushing through my head are ripped from my existence when something horrifically terrifying on the television screen happens. The main character and his friend hear a strange sound coming from a closet. When they drag the closet door open, a screaming woman leaps forth.
All I can really process is the deafening screech that escapes Tori's throat. Before I know what else is happening she's clinging to me for dear life, escaping the movie by burying her face in my chest. I'm freaking out right now too, but unfortunately for me, I don't have anywhere to bury my face.
I definitely welcome this feeling though, the warmth from Tori's body heat emitting from her and seeping into me is infinitely more comforting then any pillow I could bury my face into. This is the closest I've ever been with a girl, not to mention a beautiful girl. I'm at a standstill here, not knowing whether to truly embrace this or not.
I keep expecting her to realize just exactly who she's cuddling with and breakaway from me, but it doesn't happen. She continues to keep her face hidden from the scary movie on the television screen, and although I'm probably more scared than she is, I try my best to comfort her.
So I just sit there, trying with every fiber of my being to keep the both of us from screaming any further.
As time goes on, I feel my eyelids begin to droop and eventually, sleep involuntarily blankets me...
In what feels like only minutes have passed, my eyes flutter open and I'm awoken to the sight of the living room being filled with sunlight. I try to take in my surroundings, looking around the area before I get up, when I'm greeted by some nasty glares.
Mr. And Mrs. Vega are standing in front of the television, which still has the Paranormal Activity 3 menu plastered upon it. Tori's vain older sister Trina is standing right beside them. It seems as if they're trying to achieve physical harm with the stares that seem to be directed towards me.
I want to say something, to greet them from their trip back from Santa Barbara, but when I unlock my jaws to talk, nothing can seem to find it's way out of my mouth. That's when I realize Tori still has me in her death grip from last night, her head still buried in my chest.
I put two and two together and I can tell what's going on. The Vegas probably didn't know that a boy was staying over with their lonely seventeen year old daughter while they were gone.
To make matters even worse, the Vega's don't really care for me to begin with, so I can tell they're even more angry when they see that Tori and I are in a position that's definitely not to their liking.
Finally this awkward silence is broken, by Mr. Vega, an unhappy looking overprotective father, who by coincidence is a cop. I'm more than likely going to be shot.
"Robbie Shapiro, why are in you in my house? Alone. With my daughter?" Mr. Vega walks from the television and closer towards the couch I'm currently residing on. He's an expert interrogator for the Los Angeles Police Department, I'm so screwed.
"Uh, well, you, um, you see.." I trail off. I'm so scared right now that I can't even form a coherent sentence. If I'm going to live here, then we've just gotten off on the best of terms!
I decide now is the perfect time to wake Tori up so she can talk her dad out of killing me. I give her a good shake, she shuffles in her seat, and mumbles something incoherent. I give her another shake, and I can see her eyelids open and give way to those big brown orbs of hers.
It takes her a minute to realize what's going on, but once she does, the expression on her face becomes priceless, and she jumps out of my grasp and off of the couch almost immediately.
"Mom, Dad! You're home!" The screech that comes from her mouth is so high pitched that only a dog could hear exactly what she said. Her parents do not reply, they only continue to stare. Mrs. Vega doesn't look as angry as Mr. Vega does, she has a look of confusion and disappointment on her face.
"Victoria Dawn Vega! What is going on here?" Speaking of Mrs. Vega, I guess it was her turn to question us, and by the sound of her tone, she didn't want us to beat around the bush. She wanted everything short, straight, and to the point.
"Guys," Tori's demeanor has changed from inaudible screeching, it's completely calm, soothing almost. "I promise, this isn't what it looks like." It looks like she's picking up some of her father's interrogation tricks, trying her best to weave out of us a bad situation.
Her parents look at the both of us, look at each other for a few seconds, and then their gazes turn right back on us. Finally, after what seems like an eternity, Mrs. Vega opens her mouth and speaks again.
"We just want to know what's going on, why Robbie is here, and why you two were, you know, together the way you were." Her tone is no longer one of disappointment or confusion, it's more calm and reasonable now.
"We can explain that, but we'd like to talk to you guys." Tori puts her hands up and waves them as if she's trying to hold off a riot, her voice still calm and collected. Noticing the elder sibling hasn't moved an inch, she then points her gaze towards Trina and opens her mouth once more. "Alone, please."
Her facial expression and body language make it well known that she doesn't want Trina here, and to be honest, neither do I. It's going to be hard enough to tell my story to Tori's parents, so I'd like to keep it from Trina as long as I can.
Mrs. Vega motions Trina up the stairs, and Trina obliges by huffing and puffing her way there. She's very nosy, always trying to keep herself in the know.
Once Trina whisks herself to her room and we here her bedroom door shut, I know it's time to open up and tell the truth. Tori also knows what time it is and takes the initiative by pointing her parents to the kitchen table, and we all sit down, Mr. and Mrs. Vega sitting directly across from Tori and I.
Time feels like it's slowing and ot seems like we're getting comfortable in this awkward silence we've found ourselves in when Mr. Vega takes it upon himself to break it.
"I just need to know something, so tell me the truth." He lowers his gaze at the two of us, like we're two crooks sitting in an interrogation room. His experience at the police department is shining through like a hot summers day on Venice Beach. "Are you two dating?" The raspy sound suddenly emits from his throat, throwing Tori and I immediately off guard.
The question lingers between the four of us as silence fills the room. Tori and I look at each other with same look of uneasiness, but it's Tori who answers the question, a little faster than what I would've wanted.
"Me? Robbie? God NO!" She jumps and flails her hands a little too enthusiastically, like the two of us dating is something that would defy the laws of physics. For some reason, that hurt a little more than I expected it to. I mean, Tori and I had played a couple on Sinjin's game show, and I didn't get overly offended when she kept saying that we were just friends. She's going through so much for me already, but there was something about her tone that just cut through me like a razor blade.
If I had to guess, though, I'd say she saw the saddened expression on my face, because when she looked at me after the fact, there was guilt and apology plastered upon her features, like she didn't really mean what she said, like she was asking me for forgiveness.
Seeing her facial expressions, I finally find the courage to talk and end this misunderstanding. "I think I can straighten this up." I boldly state. I finally feel as though it's time to tell them my story, to tell them why I'm here, and why I don't want to go home. I look at Tori, who nods and grabs my hand, which gives me strength.
"When I was about ten years old, my father was deployed to Afghanistan." It's hard reliving these memories over a third time, but I decide that I'm only going to have to explain myself more in the future, and I continue.
"My mom had a difficult time coping with the fact that her husband was putting his life at stake, so she turned to alcohol. It was a difficult time for all of us, but it was even worse when my mother would just lay passed out on the floor or on the couch or wherever she landed. Some nights, she wouldn't even come home." The memories come in like someone has opened up a floodgate, and unfortunately, it feels as if I'm drowning in them.
The horror begins to take over and I can feel warm liquid traveling down my face. I assume they're tears. I want to lose control, but I feel Tori's hand snaked across my own, and it keeps me grounded. It let's me know that I'm here and nobody's going to hurt me.
The look on the Vegas' faces have turned from anger and confusion to compassion and sympathy, I try not to pay attention to the expressions on their faces and more on the story that's plagued my life for so many years.
"My dad came home after three long years where sometimes I didn't know if my mom was going to live to see the next day, much less my father." I struggle out. It feels as if my chest is collapsing on itself. I'm trying to figure out why it was so easy to tell my story to the younger Vega, but then I realize that I was under the influence of narcotics. It all makes sense now.
Tori must've seen that I was having major problems because she came to my rescue, again. I feel her squeeze my hand with this unmatchable compassion and she opens her mouth to speak.
"Guys, Robbie's dad hits him, if you can't tell by the bruises and cuts on his face. It's been going on for a long time." Tori lifts the hand that's not interlinked with my own is now patting my back. The revelation brings forth gasps from Tori's parents. Mr. Vega puts his hand over his mouth and Mrs. Vega jumps up and gives me a hug. The hug's not tight enough to hurt me, but it's got that motherly embrace, something that I haven't felt in years.
"He showed up on the patio Friday night after my date. You should've seen him. If you think he looks bad now, you should've seen him on Friday. It broke my heart." Tori continues on. Once Mrs. Vega sits back down in her seat, she just looks at Mr. Vega, like they're speaking some unspoken married couple language.
There is a long silence between the four of us, and eventually, Mr. Vega opens his mouth as though he's ready to speak.
"Robbie, being on the force for so long, you see a lot of this." His voice is no longer of one of intimidation but one of sympathy and compassion. "Is there anyone you can stay with? Is there another family member that can take you in?" His fingers begin to nervously tap the table we're currently sitting at. I wonder if he's trying to avoid the subject of taking me in as one of their own.
I realize that taking me in isn't on the top of their priorities, but I honestly didn't have anywhere else to turn. Grandma, for lack of a better term, hated me. Aunt Lisa doesn't even know I exist, and I don't think I have any other relatives, y'know, outside of my pitiful little parents.
"No sir, I really don't. My grandmother just says the war did a lot to my dad, and that I should be a better son, by trying to help him in his time of need." I try to avoid all eye contact with, well, everybody really. "The only person outside of her is my aunt, but she doesn't even know I exist, not to mention she lives in a completely different state." I begin to feel like there's no hope.
The Vegas wouldn't want me, I'm damaged goods. I come with too much baggage. I'm not even worth their time. Hell, I'm not worth anybody's time, to be honest.
I feel pretty much worthless to the world, if my parents don't even want me, why would someone else's parents want me. I guess it looks as if about I'm about to lose it, because Tori interjects our conversation, being motherly figure that she is.
"Mom, Dad," Her voice is so soothing and coercing, this is pretty much the moment of truth. "I was wondering, you know, if Robbie could live here, with us." The look on Tori's face is the most pleading thing I've ever seen, almost like her life depended on it.
The Vegas' reaction to the request was one that I'd wished had gone a bit more smoothly. They didn't really say anything, but they did have one of their now-famous unspoken married couple conversations.
"I don't know..." The sound coming from Mr. Vega's voice box seems to be comprised of pure apprehension. I know I come off as a weird little nub, so I can kid of understand why he'd be questioning taking me in.
The look on Tori's face widens, as if she didn't expect convincing her parents to let me live here would be as difficult as it had turned out to be. She looks at me and stands up from the kitchen table.
"Please, guys. I'll do anything!" I wonder why she's begging so hard for me. I kind of feel bad that I can't do this on my own, that I always have to have someone put their neck on the line for me.
Mr. and Mrs. Vega look at me with this concrete gaze that I can't seem to shake, it's very uncomfortable. Not feeling comfortable to meet their gaze, I continue looking down at the table top, running my fingers over the smooth wood. Finally, after what seems like an eternity, Mr. Vega breaks the silence that had befallen us.
"Robbie, you've been through an awful lot in your life. A lot more than a boy your age should ever go through." The tone in Mr. Vegas voice is softer than it's been all day, giving me a longing hope for what he might say next.
"I know what it's like, being on the force. I see this more often than I ever should, and it kills me every time." The slight glimmer of hope for me being able to live here is becoming larger and larger, like a faint light breaking through a wall.
"Because of that, I know something has to be done. You've been dealt a bad hand, son, and as a police officer and a good father, I think it'll be in all of our best interests if we extend an invitation of residence to you." There it is. Confirmation. All doubt that's clouded my mind is erased and the light that was once faint and indistinguishable is now brighter than everything that's ever been in my life.
I can't suppress the huge grin the takes residence on my face. I get up from my seat to shake Mr. Vega's hand, to show him that he won't regret this. I want to tell him, man to man, thank you. Instead of reciprocating the handshake, he does something that I'll forever cherish.
He pulls me into a large hug and I can feel the fatherly embrace take over me. I'm so shocked by the hug I don't even feel the tears start to roll down my face and by the time the hug is over, I'm openly sobbing. It's at this point Tori pulls me into hug and tells me everything is going to be okay, and she's right.
I live with the Vegas now, and everything is going to be okay.
There is Chapter 3 everybody! I hope you had as much fun reading it as much as I had writing it. It's been a blast to write and I can't wait to get into the meat of the story. Also, I'm starting my first new job in months tomorrow, so updates may get a little more sporadic, but this story is at the top of list.
While I have you here, I really want to give some shoutouts, because I love shoutouts.
Everybody should go read Jonathan 81's stories. There so good. They have a little bit of everything for everybody, so things never get boring. If you're looking for a great read, go read Bound and Unbound, two of my all-time favorite Fics.
Maybewolf also rights some of the most descriptive, chaotic stuff ever. Misery Loves Company is also one of my all time favorite fics, and I'm kind of devastated it's ending soon, and the other stories are just as good.
Robbie's Fate by SuperNeos2 is an amazing story. It's Victorious mixed with survival horror, and it's a Rori, you can't go wrong!
Seriously if you haven't, head over and tell these guys how good they are, I'll appreciate it, and I'm sure they will too! Thanks!