Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans.
Aftermath
Willow did not wake up to the sound of Peggy banging on the doors, yelling at her and the other kids to get their asses moving. In fact, Willow was awake and upright before dawn had touched all of Jump city. With her breath caught in her throat, Willow forced herself to be silent. She didn't need an audience to witness her distress. What had happened to Ellwood? Leaning over her bed, Willow uses her left hand to feel along the floor. Seconds later, a practiced ease allowed her to find her glasses and slide them onto her face without conscious thought. Appropriate considering that her mind was currently whirling. She knew something had happened to her twin. That much was evident when her heart started to race last night. Despite the fact that she had been lying still at the time. She had been watching Marie hide the mustard bottle under her pillow before Daisy and Lola filed in. She had had no reason to be worked up, so that must mean Ellwood was.
And then there had been that raging burning hot pain that ignited in her right knuckles. It was so sudden, so unexpected, so strong that it had Willow curled up in a fetal position as she bit her lip to keep herself from crying out. At the questioning looks of her roommates, Willow had shrugged them off with the explanation of a bad case of cramps. Whether they believed her or not was unclear, as Willow was already distracted with worry for a twin that was on the other side of the city. Was he being attacked? But why had she only felt pain in her right hand? That was a bit random. Was Ell doing the attacking? Where were the titans during all of this? Willow had thought for as long as Ellwood was staying with them, he wouldn't be put in volatile situations. After all, the Titans were heroes. They wouldn't hurt her brother. But what if the Titans had been attacked? What if one of those villains from the news had attacked the Titans and Ellwood was being forced to defend himself? At that point, Willow had been ready to spring out the window and down the fire escape to her brother's aid. But the fear that she has known all her life kept her in place. To go now, acting on impulse, without any way that a normal person would have known there was trouble would expose the twins. Sometimes it really sucked that they didn't have cell phones.
That day Willow was the first one to use the bathroom. Roughly pulling a clean shirt over her head, and forgoing brushing her hair in all of her haste. She ignored Marie who tried to get her attention as she and everyone else were getting ready to leave for the school day. So distracted by the unknown cause of her brother's stress Willow also failed to see how her agitated behavior was making Daisy shake, Jacob avoid her like the plague and Lola's scrutinizing glare. She barely recognized Oliver as she obnoxiously squeezed passed him in order to be the first one out of the door. However, she did notice Dan when she brushed up against him in her hurry. At the first brush of contact, Dan had leaped back, yelling "I'm burning! I'm burning". Something like that is hard to miss. Even when you have more pressing things on your mind. But Willow did not stick around to wonder why this particular foster dad was such a nut case or why he only seemed to be put off by her. She raced down the stairs, taking them two at a time. She'd be on the first bus possible to start her commute to Jump City Academy. She would stand outside the front of the school until she saw Ellwood pull up in that overly fancy car of the Titans'.
Raven returned to the common area forty-five minutes later. She had her hood pulled up to hide her expression. Even Beast Boy when he needed to get splinters removed was not as difficult a patient as Ellwood had been. "He'll be fine," Raven said as she floated over to her teammates. All of them were sitting together on the couch. "His cuts are clean" she went into detail but left out the information that she had to dig out the debris of plaster from said cuts. "He broke two of his figures. His hand is wrapped, and he should be healed in about a month". Raven finished just as she reached all of the rest of them. "He is also refusing to take any pain medication", she admitted with a frown.
"Where is he now?" Robin asked, looking over his shoulder at Raven. His shoulders were tense, and this was without pulling something during his early morning workout. He had just spent fifteen minutes trying to explain the concept of self-harm to Starfire, who had never heard of such a thing on her planet. Another ten minutes on the phone with Ellwood's school explaining why he would not be attending today. Which turned out to be difficult because being excused for an injury required an explanation. And Robin did not have an answer for them. The last twenty minutes had been spent brainstorming with the others. They were trying to come up with what they should do in light of current events. Of course, brainstorming is just a productive way to describe coming up with more questions. Why was his file inaccurate? Had Ellwood done this before? Would he do it again? Did anyone know? And Why? Just Why?
"His room" Raven answered, remembering how the boy had practically run from her the moment she let him. "I told him to go back to bed".
Beast Boy glanced at the older members of the team. "Is it okay for us to …. Leave him alone?" He asked, uncertainty creeping into his voice. All of this was because he had… done something that made Ellwood scared. Him! Beast Boy who usually was trying to get people to laugh. No one had ever been scared of his human form before.
"I should not have left him alone last night," Starfire said in a downtrodden voice as she recalled Ellwood yelling at her to leave him alone. Why were earthlings so difficult?
Cyborg sighs, as he takes in each of his teammates; Robin's pinched expression, Beast Boy's guilt, and Starfire's gloom. It seemed like himself and Raven were the only ones not completely distracted by their emotions. "We can't have this conversation in front of him" Cyborg reasoned. "I'll check on the kid in a bit, make sure he's actually sleeping".
Robin nods, pulling himself out of his turbulent thoughts. A plan. Good. He can work with a plan. "His injury and what happened last night has to be connected" Robin stated logically, ignoring the 'you think' expression Raven sends his way. "We figure out what caused him to panic" Robin continues.
"We'll figure out how to stop Ellwood from doing this again in the future" Cyborg finished with a frown. When Ellwood's self-harm injury first reached his knowledge, Cyborg's knee-jerk response was to wrap the kid up in bubble-wrap and ship him out to responsible adults how actually knew what they were doing. But what if that was the problem? What if every time something bad happened Ellwood was passed on to someone else? Maybe that was how Ellwood ended up working for Catwoman. No one had cared enough to give Ellwood a better option.
Robin nods, arms folded across his chest. Answers, Robin just needed to get answers. "I'll talk to him after he gets some sleep. I'll make him be upfront for once" Robin declared, but more to himself than anyone else. The rest of the Titans were very much used to Robin's self-declarations by now.
Beast boy looks around at his teammates. All of them were thinking about different things. He could see it in their eyes and in their posture. He knew Robin was focused on getting answers. Cyborg was more concerned about how to stop this from happening again. Starfire seemed to be oscillating from confusion and concern, unsure what her role to play in all this was. And Raven, well Beast boy always struggled to read Raven. He knew that she was irritated by this, but he wouldn't be surprised if she was worried too. Raven was a whole bag full of complicated after all. "That spaghetti" Beast Boy mumbles. Finally, able to form his thoughts into words. His teammates look at him, not making the same connection he was. "The spaghetti from last night. Ellwood didn't eat any of it". Beast boy clarified.
His line of thought sparks within Starfire. "And he did not break the fast this morning either". She said, looking over at the kitchen counter where the apple, cheese, and deli meet Ellwood had taken out of the fridge sat. It looked like he was making a lunch. Did he not plan on eating this morning? Even though he didn't eat last night? Meals were never skipped on her planet. Was not eating a common earth thing? Starfire did not think so. After all, her male team members seemed to inhale food whenever they had the chance.
Cyborg nods, seeing that they would need to prioritize differently than when they were trying to solve a crime. "We have to feed the kid before you can interrogate him," Cyborg said to Robin.
The boy wonder frowns. If he was being honest with himself, he would have to admit that Ellwood's food intake was not something he had been thinking about. But if they were supposed to be responsible guardians that fell on their shoulders too. Robin suddenly had a greater appreciation for everything Bruce and Alfred had done from him when he was still living in Gotham. "I wasn't going to interrogate him," Robin said.
No one on the team decides to contradict him on that statement. "he will probably be out of it for the rest of the day." Raven reasons. Recalling the dazed look in the boy's eyes as she had wrapped his hand. "Interrogation should wait until tomorrow.".
Starfire, Cyborg and Beast boy nod in agreement. "We'll just have to watch him closely until we know what's going on," Cyborg said, even if that was just restating their original plan regarding Ellwood. Back when they had first decided on taking the kid in. But this time, the plan was being applied to a different context.
"I wasn't going to interrogate him" Robin repeats in a mumble. But he concedes.
Willow couldn't focus. She was sitting in second-period Biology, staring at a frog diagram in her textbook. She was supposed to be sketching it and labeling the internal organs they would be trying to find when they did the dissection next week. Instead, she sat slouched on her stool, drumming her fingers anxiously on the table top. No prompting from Mr. Gunther could convince her to even pretend that she was doing the work. It also didn't help that Willow had no homework to turn in, and she had been late. Right after first-period geometry, Willow went to the front office to inquire why her brother was absent. The same prissy admin from yesterday was sitting behind the desk. She promptly told Willow that she had no business knowing the personal information of other students. Even if they were siblings. She then ordered Willow back to class without a pass, hence why she had been late.
When the second period ended, Willow was the first out of her sit, beaten up backpack slung over one shoulder. She was out the door before the bell had finished ringing, leaving a concerned Mr. Gunther to stare after her fleeing form. Willow makes her way to the first floor. She was not going to wait anymore. Something was wrong with her brother and his foster home. And for once she was close enough to actually be able to do something about it. But first, she needed an easy exit. Pausing by the first-floor lockers, Willow glanced around at the commuting students. One stands out from all of the others. A boy with slicked back blonde hair who is fervently trying to jam his backpack into a junk-filled locker. Willow recalled seeing the same boy in their computer science class. He'll have to do. Willow thinks as she approaches the boy. "Hi," she said, sliding up against the locker next to his. Making it easy for the blonde to look at her.
"Um hi," he said with a brief look of surprise. Willow guessed he wasn't used to girls randomly approaching him. "Am I in your way?" He asked, gesturing with his eyes to the locker directly below his.
"No". Willow said, drawing his eyes back to hers. Focusing her energy on their eye contact, Willow forms the thought she wants to plant into the blonde boy's brain. "I have a suggestion for you".
"Oh", and suddenly the boy seemed intrigued.
"You really want to pull the fire alarm". Willow said in her normal voice. Only she can feel how much force she is putting behind her words.
The boy gaps at her with wide eyes as her suggestion sinks in. "Yeah," he said after a while. "I do want to pull the alarm".
Willow smiles at him, ignoring the light throbbing in her head. "You should do it now. Before the next class starts".
The blonde smiles back at her as he closes his locker. "I'll do that. Thanks", he said before walking off. Without looking back, Willow heads for the front exit. Five seconds later the school lights up in flashing red lights and the obnoxious tilling of an artificial bell bounces off the wall. Willow makes it off school property before the mass exodus from the building even starts.
Ellwood lies flat on his back. The lights are off and the curtains are drawn. But even in darkness, he could make out the dented wall when he looks to his left. Raven hadn't said anything. But she must have suspected what he had done when she had cleaned and wrapped his hand. Ellwood tried to flex the fingers of his right hand. Though he could only get his thumb to move. Raven had done a good job setting his broken fingers and binding them. Glancing up at the ceiling Ellwood sighed and forced himself to close his eyes. He had really screwed up. As far as he could tell the Titans weren't mad at him. If anything, they actually seemed put out that he had been injured. He wondered if that would change when they realized that he had damaged their wall. Ellwood inhaled deeply through his nose and held it; trying to get his muscles to relax just a little. The lack of sleep was catching up to him now that the initial fear-driven adrenaline had worn off. If they had allowed him to go to school, Ellwood could have been napping safely next to the one person he trusted to watch his back. But the Titans had done the unexpected again. Had changed the rules on him again. They decided that he needed to stay home. Rest, Robin had said. The last time he had a rest day was when he was in solitary at juvie. Ellwood could feel himself slipping. This time he chooses not to fight it. If the Titans wanted to play mind games, he might as well take advantage and sleep now. And if they beat him for it, at least he would finally know what game they were playing.
The hour passed with Ellwood dozing in and out of sleep. His throbbing right hand pulling him back to consciousness whenever he shifted it. Thoughts of his freak out and of Willow float across the forefront of his mind whenever he is lucid. She was probably panicking. Ellwood thought, his eyelids opening and closing on their own accord. She would have felt him punching the wall last night. She would have missed him in their dreams. And now she'd be worrying about why he wasn't at school. She was going to be pissed when she learned that all of this could have been avoided. Ellwood runs his good hand over his face. Christ, maybe he should be more afraid about what Will would do to him and not the Titans. A knock on his door pulled Ellwood from his musings. But he didn't get a chance to tell whoever was on the other side to fuck off, as seconds later Cyborg enters. Sitting halfway up, Ellwood scowls. If he was just going to come in anyway, why bother knocking? Briefly, Cyborg glances around the room, finding the spot where Ellwood had slammed his fist into the wall. Before his eyes land on Ellwood. "Hey man," Cyborg said as soon as he made eye contact with the younger boy. If Ellwood had been asleep, Cyborg would have back out. But the team had agreed. If Ellwood was awake, he shouldn't be left to his own devices. "you done sleeping?" He asked. Trying to sound normal. Like Ellwood hadn't fractured the bones in his hands. Like he didn't see Ellwood in a different light. "If you are, we want you to come out and try to eat something. We promise that we won't let Starfire cook". Cyborg, said trying to keep things light. Ellwood flopped back down on the bed with a heavy sigh. Cyborg hadn't worded it as an order. But it wasn't a request either. The lack of response had Cyborg pushing just a little bit more. "You didn't eat anything this morning or last night" he reasoned.
Ellwood stared up at the ceiling and felt how empty his stomach was. He also had not eaten lunch yesterday. If they were going to feed him, he better play along. "No mustard." Demanded Ellwood with a huff as he hauled himself up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.
Cyborg forces a laugh that would otherwise be genuine if not for the serious situation hanging over his head. "no mustard" he promised. "But don't be surprised if the green bean slips tofu onto your plate". Cyborg, said before to lead the way to the common room.
Lunch turned out to be a simple affair. Consisting of chicken noodle soup from a can and heated up on the stove. The universal sick person food. So the Titans must really think something is wrong with him. Ellwood ate slowly, using his non-dominant hand to spoon the soup into his mouth. He'd never admit it, but the warm sensation of the broth sliding down his throat and into his stomach was making him calm down. It also helped that no one asked about last night's freak out or his injured hand. Even though he caught all the Titans at some point in time staring at him. After lunch, Ellwood found himself corralled over to the sofa. With the lack of sleep still tugging at his consciousness, Ellwood did not even think about protesting. Beast Boy and Starfire ended up sitting on either side of him, with Cyborg somewhere in the background as they argued about what they should watch on the TV. Ellwood lost track of where Robin and Raven were. And for once, not knowing where everyone was didn't make his hair stand on end. But only for today. Ellwood promised himself. Just for today. He'd take it easy for today only. He couldn't leave the fight for too long after all. It was too big of a fight for one person, and he would never force Will to fight alone. Ellwood thought as the sounds of an intro to a nature documentary pulled him back to the present. "So, this is it?" He asked himself as he watched a sea turtle swim across the TV screen in an underwater shot. Ellwood was surprised that he actually said it out loud.
"What man?" Cyborg asked from behind him. Ellwood chooses not to react to the fact that there was a giant robot standing behind him. He reminded himself that for today he wasn't going to be afraid. For today he was going to let things go. He was going to take it easy.
Without looking away from the screen Ellwood elaborated. "I threatened you with a fork and punched a hole in your wall". His voice was flat, void of his usual anger. This was how Miss Selina taught him to talk to cops. His statement drew Starfire's eyes to him. While Beast Boy was trying hard not to get drawn into the serious subject matter. "No retaliation?"
Starfire blinks in confusion. Retaliation? "I break walls all the time," She said, wanting Ellwood to make eye contact with her so that she might reassure him. But he never looks away from the screen. So, instead, she looks over her shoulder at Cyborg. "Is that bad?"
Cyborg shakes his head at her. Busting walls was common enough when you had super strength. And was just something you had to deal with until you learned how to control it. But it was different for Ellwood. Without the protection of super strength or Robin's scary skill set, the kid could seriously hurt himself if he punched things whenever he got upset. "You're not in trouble if that's what you mean". Cyborg answered. He was picking his words carefully, as Ellwood's own words echoed in his head. Retaliation? Did the kid honestly think they were going to hurt him? The teen titans?
Ellwood hums back at him. Expressing mild disbelief at Cyborg's statement. He says that know. But the moment Ellwood does something that rubs them the wrong way, he bet they would use the hole in the wall as an excuse get back at him. But maybe they would let the fork thing go. Ellwood thought as he took in a panoramic view of an underwater ecosystem. After all, what good would a fork do against five superheroes?
"We're the good guys you know" Beast Boy said. Also not looking away from the TV. "we only beat up the bad guys, but only when we have too".
"Yes" exclaimed Starfire as she nodded her head furiously. "we only fight to protect those who cannot". She made a fist in the air to show her determination. Cyborg nodded his head in approval. His friends' sentiments were spoken childishly but they rung true. And it was something Cyborg wanted the titan's charge to believe in. But it was clear to Cyborg that the kid was a long way away from anything resembling hopeful ideology.
Ellwood snorts. But ultimately decided to accept their answers for now. One easy day wouldn't hurt, right? "Sure" Ellwood mumbled, neither agreeing or disagreeing with the Titans.
"Where's my brother?" Willow growled out as soon as the Titans' front door slid open. The youngest titan blinks at the sudden intrusion. This sure was not the mailman. At the lack of response, Willow steps forward. Getting face to face with the changeling, she gives him her best glare. Using their close proximity, Willow forces eye contact. "What did you do to my brother?" Willow's hands ball up into fists as a meager attempt of self-restraint. Goody-goodies are never as perfect as they seem. They probably beat Ell up, or made him clean their stupid tower from top to bottom or… or….
Beast Boy takes a step back and raises his hands with an innocent expression. "Ellwood's fine!" He exclaimed, wide-eyed.
Willow doesn't give him time to explain himself. "Then why wasn't he at school?" If Ellwood was fine, he would never have left Willow on her own. Not when they were so close, geographically speaking. And she knew that Ell didn't sleep last night. If he had, they would have been together as they dreamt.
"Uh… Uh" Beast Boy stutters. Why wasn't Cyborg or Robin dealing with this? They were the ones that made all the decisions regarding Ellwood. Willow pushes herself further in at Beast Boy's pause, her hackles raised in suspicion. "He didn't sleep very good, so Robin thought he should stay home today". Beast Boy forces out.
That can't be good. A foster home keeping someone indoors was code for hiding something. Usually bruises or burns. But with superheroes, who knew what they would want to hide. Maybe they were using Ell as a practice dummy. And Willow knew that he had hurt his right-hand last night. Willow's eyes widen marginally at the thought. "I want to see my brother" she demanded, maintaining eye contact with the green Titan. She was prepared to force her way in, using her powers if she had to. Of course, it was a risk, but none of that mattered if Ellwood was in danger.
Beast Boy shrugged, not really seeing why the strange girl was getting so worked up. "Sure," he said. Turning away from a threat he wasn't aware he was facing. "He's upstairs," Beast Boy said as he led the way to the elevator.
Now it was Willow's turn to blink. Really? Just like that? All of the other homes they had been in never allowed them to have guests. There's no way it would be this easy. Willow creeps forward with caution, entering the elevator a step behind Beast Boy. What if they were planning to do to her whatever they did to Ell? What if she was walking into a trap?