Rating: R
Warning: The rating should be enough of a warning.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of Beyblade.
Summary: Saint Ann's Hospital is a place for mentally ill young adults, and when a new patient is transferred to their facility the world there is turned upside down for a handful of the other patients. Can they overcome their problems and be deemed cured, or will they become yet another slanted mind?
A.N.: I know some of you have already read up to this point when I had this story up before.. but can you please, please review? I'm looking for some inspiration here.
Slanted Mind
Chapter V - A Look Through Clouded Eyes
A single orb of glossy azure opened only to squint as the dull rays of light shined into it. With a reluctant sigh Tala made a glance at his watch, which read fifteen 'til noon. I've never slept in this late before, and I could've sworn I was having a nightmare last night…I wish those memories would go away and stop tormenting me like they do. Opening both eyes as he sat up he made a move to glance around his dully-lit room only to pause as something warm and gently fragrant fell onto his lap. What's this? Looking down his azure eyes fell upon the blank panther plushy; it's plastic bright green eyes staring up at him from its position on his lap. Lifting Midnight slowly Tala brought it to his nose, giving a careful sniff before inhaling deeper of the plush's scent. Aromatherapy…clever. It's relaxing; a calm wild berry and vanilla scent.
I remember now, I was having a nightmare. Earlier in the night Kai had stopped by to drop off the stuffed animal so Damian wouldn't be upset when he woke up. A slow sweep of the room revealed the pale powder blue haired boy to still be curled up on the floor with Tala's comforter. It was after lights out, and I had decided to still keep trying to read even after Kai visited shortly. I must've fallen asleep, and then I remember having the nightmare. It was the same as all the other nights I had them, but something warm was put into my arms, and I remember the smell of those wild berries and vanilla. Damian must've woken up and put Midnight in my arms only to fall back asleep. A soft, if barely there, smile played on his lips as he watched Damian sleep quietly on the floor in front of him. It's been so long since I've slept so nicely and haven't woken up from the nightmares.
Looking over at the untouched tray of food on his desk Tala's stomach gave a growl of hunger, as if being demanded that it was fed immediately. We both need to get something to eat, and lunch is soon. Scooting over to where Damian lay on the floor Tala carefully, as not to wake him just that moment, put the black plushy under the other's arm. "Damian, it's time for lunch." He didn't mean for his voice to sound so…cold, but it was a habit to keep people from bothering him. It was near quickly regretted when aquamarine eyes fluttered open looking forlorn and partially frightened.
"Judy will want to see you before you eat." Rising to his feet Tala watched as the teen nodded mutely and went about getting up only to put the orange and black comforter back upon the bed where it belonged as well as slipping his shoes on. "I'm sorry I was a burden.." The words were spoken so lightly that Tala barely even caught them before Damian slipped past him and out the room's door only to walk with the soft scuffs of his shoes on the floor down the hall towards Judy's office.
"Scare him away already?" It was Kai's voice that came to Tala's ears, turning to find that Kai was leaning against the now opened door's frame with his arms crossed at his chest. Deep red eyes watched his friend closely, trying to find any sort of hint that the red head hadn't liked his choice of words.
Offering a brief shrug Tala met Kai's eyes with his own azure ones, their stares unnerving to everyone but each other. "He's just another patient in this hospital, and if Tyson would be doing his job I wouldn't have to clean up after him."
"You're lying to yourself Tala, and you and I both know it. He's not just another patient because you don't pay attention to just anybody much less offer to watch over them. Face it, you get along with him because he seems to understand you better than most." Keeping their eyes locked Kai refused to be the first to back down.
"Understands me better than most? No one understands me Kai. No one. I wouldn't be in this hell hole of a place if people even partially understood me." Narrowing his eyes Tala seemed to be just daring Kai to say anything back to him, unfortunately Kai could hold his own against him.
"Then why don't you at least give Damian a chance to try to understand you? Get to know him and let him get to know you, as you're the only one at this point that he seems to be at ease around. Look, it's time for lunch and we both need to eat. Just give it some thought, Tala. Not everyone is out to get you." Turning away from Tala and being the first to break eye contact Kai started walking down the hall only to be just moments later followed by the red head.
"There's just something about him though, Kai. Haven't you seen something just-" Not getting a chance to finish his statement Kai stepped in, finishing it for him. "A tad bit off? I really don't think the doctors are looking at his case the right way. They are looking through a mirror and seeing their own reflection instead of what's behind it, and it's showing in why they don't know what the hell Damian has." With a light shrug Kai turned the corner, heading down the hall towards the cafeteria. "I got a hold of his file last night, like I always do when new kids come in here so we can see what they aren't going to tell us and what we shouldn't ask about. Because of his file I even went to go talk with Dr. Tate. The kid is an orphan and has been shuffled about from place to place like this hospital most of his life, but the strange thing is that there is a few years of his life where he dropped off the face of the world. There's nothing on him at all from that period of time, nothing."
"I take it this has something to do with Boris and those drugs that are being stolen?" A nod from Kai was all the answer Tala received. "It would only figure, and you want me to play babysitter. You're going to end up getting us all into deep shit Kai if you keep nosing around as much as you do. Let things settle down before you start going off on your little escapades in the middle of the night."
"Don't worry about me Tala, I can take care of myself. You just worry about getting yourself together and straight enough so we can get dismissed from this place." Arriving at the opened doors of the cafeteria Kai came to a halt, crimson eyes falling onto the table where Rei, Tyson, and Damian were sitting. The sudden stop nearly made Tala walk into him, narrowly missing his Russian friend. "Why the hell did you stop Kai?"
"Look over at the table where the others are at…Just watch." The words were almost a whisper, as if in awe. Wanting to know what had taken Kai's attention away from what they had been speaking about Tala looked over at the table where the three sat away from everyone else.
Over at the table Rei sat across from Damian with Tyson to the left of the plushy hugging teen. Busy chowing down on his food Tyson didn't pay much attention to the deal that the two were sorting out among each other. Damian's tray of food was untouched before him, yet it was pushed halfway across the table with the silverware facing the Chinese boy across from him.
"Midnight and I agree that if you eat a spoonful of each item on the plate that we'll eat our lunches. If not we won't eat at all." An affirmative nod was given by the aquamarine-eyed teen as he offered a gentle yet determined smile. Rei on the other hand didn't look to be very comfortable with the situation or the arrangement of being pushed into eating. "Damian you haven't eaten since yesterday, you really should be eating your lunch."
"Not until you take a bite of everything for us. If you can go without food so can we, and this is final. I'm sure Tyson would be glad to have the food if nether of us eat it." Reaching out with his uninjured hand Damian pushed the tray all the way across the table so it was now in front of Rei. "Just one bite of everything and Midnight and I will eat the rest."
Heaving a sigh Rei slowly reached out, picking up the spoon and proceeding to glare at it with all his might as if he wished it to be gone. Turning his attention to the tray he looked at the mixed vegetables to the steamed white rice over to the cherry cake desert. Only three bites of food, but it was more than he'd eaten in a long time. He didn't want his friends to starve because of him, but the ultimatum he was given wasn't easy to decide on. First came the spoonful of rice, and a good few minutes later were the vegetables. Opting for the milk rather than the cheery cake Rei set the spoon down, pointing towards the small carton of milk. "I'll drink all that if I don't have to eat the cheery stuff."
Smiling brightly Damian took his tray back only to slide the carton of milk over to Rei. "Deal, but I'm not eating it either. It doesn't look exactly all that edible. Here, Tyson, you can have it." Taking the small plate of cherry cake off his tray Damian slid it to his left and over to Tyson only to snatch a few of his grapes while he was at it.
"Hey! Those are my grapes, so keep your paws off them kid." All Tyson got in response was a tongue being stuck out at him and a grape tossed at him. Holding out a grape to Rei he tried just to get him to eat one. "They're good for you Rei, and they're sweet this time of the year. Just one grape, please?" Giving Rei the puppy-eye look Damian shook the hand holding the grape out to Rei.
"Stop eating my grapes already you grape-swiper you!" Tyson reached out to snatch the second handful of grapes that Damian took only to miss when the teen stood from his seat. Missing the table and Damian completely Tyson ended up as a grumbling heap on the floor. It didn't take long for both Rei and the other teen to burst into a fit of laughing in which they both shared the new game of tossing grapes at Tyson while trying not to get caught.
Soon enough a food fight had started in the cafeteria, all the nurses and orderlies trying to stop the kids as they tossed food at one another only to get caught in the mess themselves as they tried to break up the fight of food. Standing at the doorway Tala and Kai watched in amazement as a group of unhappy depressed teens turned into a laughing crowd of normal average day kids. Tyson was chasing Rei and Damian around the tables while they attempted to duck flying food, though it didn't seem like it was working well because by the time things died down they were all three covered in sticky and messy foods.
"Alright which one of you ungrateful punks started this mess!" The fun and happiness seemed to just drain from everyone's faces as Boris demanded to know the answer upon entering the messy cafeteria. His dark eyes glowered angrily, promising something unpleasant for whomever had started the food fight. Almost immediately several of the younger patients pointed in the direction of Rei, Tyson, and Damian.
"You! I should've just figured it would've been you to start this whole thing Pierce. You've been nothing but trouble with that childish stuffed creature of yours since you've gotten here. This is the last straw, you're going into the solitary confinement room." With his face red with anger Boris stalked towards Damian, Rei and Tyson wisely backing off as their faces paled. They all knew what solitary confinement was and what it did to those who were put into it, but Damian looked indifferent with his gaze wandering off here and there as if nothing was going to happen.
Reaching out to snatch Midnight Boris was irritated by the fact that Damian took a step back and put the pushy behind his back where it couldn't be reached. The hand that had reached out was pulled back only to swing forward to catch the teen on his already bruised cheek in a harsh slap. The other nurses and orderlies stood and did nothing of it, though. They seemed more interested in getting all of the other kids out of the cafeteria.
"To each his suff'rings; all are men,
Condemn'd alike to groan,
The tender for another's pain,
Th' unfeeling for his own.
Yet ah! Why should they know their fate,
Since sorrow never comes too late,
And happiness too swiftly flies?
Thought would destroy their paradise.
No more; where ignorance is bliss,
'T is folly to be wise."
Though Damian's aquamarine eyes never looked towards Boris the quote was very well directed towards him, the words falling from his lips as his gaze continued to wander aimlessly. Where he had been struck again throbbed painfully, but that was pushed to the back of his mind at the moment. He had more important things to pay attention to, like Boris as the man grabbed his shoulder and started to drag him out of the cafeteria. The others watched helplessly as he was dragged away.
"Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark: and as that fear in children is increased with tales, so is the other." Not seeming to like the pale powder blue haired teen's words Boris tightened his grip on the shoulder, the very one that had nearly been dislocated. It was a warning to be quiet, but Damian didn't seem to take notice of the warning, instead he kept on reciting quotes.
"In a word, neither death, nor exile, nor pain, nor anything of this kind is the real cause of our doing or not doing any action, but our inward opinions and principles." The quote was met with another slap to the face, the bruised area of skin at the cheekbone growing a darker shade of dark purple while a slight scratch from a fingernail produced a sticky deep red liquid.
As if finding the whole event to be amusing Damian waved to Tala and the others behind him, his aquamarine eyes dancing with something akin to mischief it almost seemed, yet the quotes kept on coming:
"Farewell! A long farewell, to all my greatness!
This is the state of man: to-day he puts forth
The tender leaves of hopes: to-morrow blossoms,
And bears his blushing honours thick upon him:
The third day comes a frost, a killing front,
And when he thinks, good easy man, full surely
Hiss greatness is a-ripening, nips his root,
And then he falls, as do I. I have ventured.
Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders,
This many summers in a sea of glory,
But far beyond my depth: my high-blow pride
At length broke under me and now has left me,
Weary and old with service, to the mercy
Of a rude stream, that must forever hide me.
Vain pomp and glory of this world, I hate ye:
I feel my heart new opened. O, how wretched
Is that poor man that hangs on princes' favors!
There is betwixt that smile we would aspire to,
That sweet aspect of princes, and their ruin.
More pangs and fears than wars or women have:
And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer,
Never to hope again."
As the two forms turned the corner Damian's voice faded, yet the others looked at each other with a raised eyebrow. The thoughts were all the same: he really was mad. Some of the other kids were chuckling to themselves and laughing at the quotes, as they found it entirely amusing that someone would actually act out against Boris nearly every day he had been at the hospital so far.
"Dude, where is he getting all these quotes from? It's like he's a walking book of quotes from all over the world. Here I was beginning to think we've seen them as crazy as they came, but obviously not. How long will he be in there anyways? He was starting to be fun to hang around, and the first one to actually start a food fight." Cracking a smile Tyson brushed some of the food off of his shirt, yet both he and Rei would have to go and change their clothes unless they wanted to walk around in food-covered clothes all day long.
"His last quote was from Shakespeare, Tyson. One of his plays or something. As for how long he's going to be in there I don't think it will be long after Judy finds out. Boris knows he's not supposed to put patients in there like that." With a light shrug of indifference Tala turned his eyes to looked around the messy cafeteria before turning and starting to walk down the hall. It didn't take long for the other three to fall in step behind him.
Turning into one of the smaller gathering rooms that they were usually in everyday Tala made himself comfortable sitting against the far wall, the book The Catcher In The Rye being pulled from his pocket only to flip to the page he had left off and to start reading. Behind him Kai entered the room, sitting on the love seat and swinging his legs up onto the cushions. The other two went to change their clothes, and as they turned it into a race not too far down the hall it only took about four minutes for them both to come racing back into the room out of breath.
"If I wouldn't have known you two were racing I would say that Boris was walking down the hall and coming after you two for starting the food fight." Crimson eyes watched as Tyson made himself comfortable on the floor, comic in hand while the raven-haired teen came to sprawl out next to Kai. Amber eyes looked up at him thoughtfully.
"Actually now that you say that I would've been thinking that he would've came after me and Tyson after he put Damian in the solitary room. It's like him to do that, but I didn't even see him in the halls. It's a bit odd if you think about it, and we all know he doesn't go lenient on kids despite anything." Resting his chin on Kai's chest Rei watched as the duel-haired teen's brow furrowed.
As if answering the question the handle of the door turned, and after a pause it opened. Everyone was expecting Boris to come barging in, yelling and demanding this and that yet to their surprise a head of pale powder blue peeked in, aquamarine eyes looking cautious as they looked from person to person. After a moment's hesitation Damian stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. Now that he didn't have Boris to be strong in front of he could feel the tears from being slapped several times starting to sting his eyes.
"Damian? Dude, we thought Boris was dragging you off to solitary confinement. Did Judy find you before you were put into the room?" Blinking his dark blue eyes Tyson looked Damian over. His clothes were even changed into something clean, though they still seemed too big for his light frame. Tyson could've swore he saw a slight smirk on the teen's face.
"I thought he deserved some…alone time instead of me." The words were calm, as if it wasn't anything that Damian had indeed put the head orderly into the confined room instead of himself being put there. Tyson looked as if he found it quite hilarious, his laughter filling the room while Rei merely smiled slyly to show him amusement and Kai simply offered a light affirmative nod of his head. Tala on the other hand didn't look as if her was paying the slightest bit of attention of what was going on. In fact he was oblivious to the fact that Damian had taken a seat next to him on the floor. It was only when another quote drifted to his ears that he even turned to look.
"What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff— I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I'd do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all."
Forcing himself to look annoyed rather than intrigued Tala glared at Damian, watching as the aquamarine-eyed boy fell silent and scooted a few more feet away from him. Rather than going back to reading the Russian watched Damian, noting that he still hugged Midnight with his good arm, and that he was trying to keep from crying as he dabbed his cut cheek with his shirtsleeve. At some point the finally turned his eyes back to the book, half reading and half glancing over at Damian at the same time.
Getting up from resting sprawled next to Kai on the loveseat Rei made his way over to Damian, smiling softly at him before slipping off the headband that he wore and dabbing gently at the bleeding bruise on the teen's face. Nearly every time there was a flinch away from the touch, but Damian never made any noise or sound of pain. "You should get some ice for that so it won't swell so badly. Maybe one of the nurses or Dr. Tate will give you a band aid for your cheek so it won't bleed everywhere. Would you like me to take you to get some ice?" There was a pause as Damian glanced at Tala only to nod his head and rise to his feet to walk with Rei.
"I'll be back in a few Kai. Damian and I are just going to go find Dr. Tate real quick. She shouldn't be in any therapy sessions yet." With a nod from Kai Rei was Damian out into the hallway. As soon as the two left the crimson-eyed Russian sat up, peering over the loveseat to look at Tala, as if expecting an explanation of some sort.