As Dennis regained consciousness, the cover of night enveloped him, with concerned faces looming over him, questioning his well-being. Being encircled by strangers was overwhelming, particularly when his singular focus was finding Yugen. Gathering his composure, he assessed his surroundings amidst the inquiries of his condition and Yugen's whereabouts. Ignoring the crowd, he swiftly retrieved Yugen's belongings strewn on the ground and made a beeline for the van. Directionless and without his glasses, he was driven. He embarked on his journey, only to be interrupted by the faint ringing emanating from Yugen's purse.
Yugen and David strolled a few blocks toward his son's apartment.
"Dad—Whoa." Joseph dashed out to greet his father, halting abruptly when he noticed Yugen standing beside him.
She trembled in her scanty attire, but relief washed over her as he produced a blanket and water. He regarded her for a moment before offering them.
"Um, I brought these out for you," he said, extending the blanket and water.
Gratefully, Yugen accepted, swiftly uncapping the water and taking a long drink.
"I'm Joseph."
"Yugen."
"Oh, I know. I've been to a couple of your shows. You're awesome."
Yugen sensed his attraction, reciprocating the sentiment though unable to act on it. She chuckled nervously and expressed her gratitude.
David rolled his eyes. "Joseph, she needs to use the phone," he grumbled before heading inside.
"Right," Joseph mumbled, retrieving his phone from his pocket and handing it to her.
The phone rang a couple of times before a deep, unfamiliar voice answered, sending a shiver of panic through Yugen. Had they harmed Kevin, or worse?
"Kevin?" Yugen's voice trembled.
"More or less. It's Dennis."
The name struck a chord of recognition, but Yugen breathed a sigh of relief nonetheless.
"Are you okay?" she asked, her concern palpable.
Dennis raised a skeptical eyebrow at the question.
"Yeah, we're okay. Are you?"
"Yeah, I'm just glad you're not dead," Yugen replied, her relief evident.
A faint smile tugged at Dennis's lips before his usual scowl returned. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of gratitude that she cared, even about him.
"Where are you?" he inquired.
"425 Brentwood Avenue."
"I know exactly where that's at. I'll be there in 15 minutes." With that, Dennis hung up.
In Kevin's mind, Patricia led Hedwig to the train tracks, briefing the beast on the unfolding situation, which filled him with anticipation as the appointed hour drew near. Holding the stone Yugen had left behind, he addressed Patricia.
"Yes, I've witnessed her power. She's unaware of her true potential. It's your task to reveal it to her." The beast handed Patricia the stone, closing her fingers around it.
His massive hand enveloped hers, and she gazed up at him with reverence. "When the time comes, you'll know what to do."
As the beast departed, Patricia knelt before Hedwig. "Listen, Hedwig, you possess a unique gift, one that can aid our cause. We'll need you. Are you ready?"
Hedwig nodded reluctantly, attempting to muster courage despite his youth. Patricia sensed his fear but knew it was time to set it aside, to prepare for the unveiling of their true selves to the world.
"Are you ready?" she asked once more.
"Yes, Ms. Patricia," Hedwig affirmed with newfound determination.
"Good. Remember, when the beast arrives, no one will make fun of you anymore. Everyone will see how special you are."
Yugen and Joseph lingered outside, engaging in conversation as they awaited Dennis' arrival.
"So, um... what happened tonight?" Joseph ventured cautiously.
"Well, uh... my boyfriend and I were attacked, and your dad found me and offered his help," Yugen replied tersely.
"Oh." Joseph's gaze dropped awkwardly, a mix of embarrassment for asking and disappointment upon learning of her relationship status.
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude. I just don't want to talk about that," Yugen clarified.
"It's okay, I understand," Joseph offered in response.
"So, how long have you and your dad been... doing this sort of thing?" Yugen inquired, changing the subject.
Joseph raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What sort of thing?"
"You know, rescuing random people," Yugen clarified.
"Oh!" Joseph chuckled. "Not often. He just senses when something's wrong and acts on instinct. He's a good guy." He smiled at her, appraising her appearance.
"Is the poncho a security blanket or something?" Yugen joked, noting his Dad's attire.
Joseph laughed nervously, unsure of how to respond. She seemed to be onto them, and he debated whether to reveal the truth or concoct a plausible explanation. Feeling the pressure of her expectant gaze, he scrambled for an answer.
"Ever heard of the Tip Toe Man?" he blurted out, his cheeks reddening at the absurdity of the name.
"The Tip Toe Man? No," Yugen replied, amused.
Joseph's embarrassment deepened. "Let's just say he's good at stopping bad people."
"Ah, so he's like a vigilante?" Yugen quipped, half-jokingly.
Joseph raised his eyebrows suggestively. "Kinda."
"Intriguing," Yugen remarked.
"Too bad you have a boyfriend," Joseph teased in response, attempting to lighten the mood.
Yugen laughed, her mouth open in a mixture of embarrassment and amusement at his teasing.
The flirtatious banter ceased abruptly as Yugen's van pulled up, and Dennis leaped out of the vehicle. A glimpse of his true form flashed before her eyes as she caught sight of him.
"Are you alright?" he grasped her shoulders, sensing her disorientation.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm okay," Yugen replied, attempting to shake off the daze.
Dennis gently lifted her chin, compelling her to meet his gaze. "Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Just my wrist," she whispered.
Examining her wrist, Dennis winced; it was definitely broken. Glancing over at Joseph, who had stood there awkwardly throughout the exchange, Dennis spoke up.
"Uh, thank you for helping her," Dennis acknowledged, extending a hand for Joseph to shake, which Joseph accepted.
"It's no problem," Joseph replied, offering Dennis a tight-lipped smile.
Despite the gratitude, Joseph couldn't shake the feeling that something was a bit off about him. Yet, he reminded himself that this guy was Yugen's boyfriend, and Joseph hardly knew her well enough to judge their relationship dynamics. Yugen handed Joseph the blanket and thanked him before retreating into the van, leaving Dennis to shoot Joseph a glare, which unsettled him.
Dennis escorted Yugen to the hospital, where she received a cast for her wrist. As they left, they overheard a conversation among a couple of cops discussing four dead men found in a van. The perpetrators remained unidentified.
"Stay close to me, okay?" Dennis whispered to Yugen.
Yugen nodded in agreement. "Okay."
With a protective arm around her, Dennis guided her while they hurriedly navigated the streets to avoid the police. Upon reaching the van, they drove back to the zoo, where they noticed someone tailing them. After successfully evading their pursuer, they parked near an alley close to the zoo.
"We'll stay parked here for tonight, then we'll retrieve some of your belongings tomorrow," Dennis declared.
"Thank you," Yugen responded with a small smile.
They locked eyes for a moment, a strange sense of familiarity enveloping them. They had seen each other, inside and out. In that fleeting moment, Dennis savored the connection they shared.
Barry's voice echoed in Dennis's mind, urging them to seek refuge indoors where it was safe. Despite his longing to remain in the van, basking in the light and gazing at Yugen, the vulnerability of their exposed position outside was undeniable.
With a resigned sigh and a shake of his head, Dennis conceded, "We'd better get you inside."
To his surprise, Yugen leaned in and pressed a light kiss against his lips. As she stepped out of the van, Dennis swiftly followed suit. He cornered her against the building, their bodies close as he deepened the kiss. His fingers tangled in her cherry red hair, and she moaned against his mouth while she gripped his back firmly. Eventually, they reluctantly broke apart.
"We really should get you inside," Dennis murmured, his breath mingling with hers.
"Okay," was all Yugen could manage to say in response, her voice barely above a whisper.
While Yugen luxuriated in the shower, Dennis reluctantly relinquished the light. Though parting with it saddened him, he found solace in the assurance that their separation was only temporary. Shudder, switch, gone! Dennis vanished from the light, yielding the space to Barry. Making his way to the bathroom, Barry knocked before entering.
"Yugen, hon?" he called out.
Recognizing Barry's voice, Yugen responded from behind the closed door, "You can come in, Barry."
Peeking out from behind the curtain, she inquired, "Are you going to join me?"
"I can, if you're comfortable with that," Barry replied, his concern evident in his tone.
Ever the considerate one, Barry couldn't shake the unease stemming from not knowing what Yugen endured when those men took her. However, he could only assume the worst.
"Yeah, just don't get my cast wet," she quipped with a smirk, a familiar expression that Barry knew all too well.
It was disconcerting how composed she remained in the midst of everything. Yet, as the water cascaded down their bodies, he found himself unable to resist being swept away in all the pawing, the grabbing; her yearning. They bathed each other, and Barry washed her hair. Once they were done showering, Yugen wanted more. She pulled him close to her, kissing and grabbing, urging him toward the bed. But he insisted on having a conversation.
"Babe, can we chat for a moment?"
Yugen loosened her embrace from around his neck. "Sure, what's on your mind?"
Barry arched an eyebrow, his expression puzzled. "It's about tonight," he began, his tone uncertain.
Yugen settled onto the bed, Barry joining her, their closeness fostering an atmosphere of intimacy.
"Baby girl, I'm worried about how calm you are about this." He brushed her hair behind her ear, "will you tell me what happened?" He said gently. "Did they—rape you?"
Yugen sensed his impending question, steeling herself for the inevitable. The memory of the ordeal still haunted her, but what followed was even more daunting.
"They did," she confirmed, her voice tinged with the weight of recollection.
"Oh, sweetheart, I—" Barry began, his concern evident.
"But," Yugen interjected firmly, halting his words. "Something else occurred."
As she prepared to divulge the next part of her story, Yugen deliberated her words with precision. Barry had already glimpsed her complexity, but to what extent could he truly comprehend?
"All those men are dead." She looked at him for a moment, waiting for a reaction. When she didn't get one, she continued. "I don't know what happened exactly, I just know I did it. Like that man when I was 9, I think I did something similar."
"Yugen, sweetie, you were raped. Chances are you checked out and the man who helped you did it."
Yugen was taken aback by Barry's response. After all this time, he seemed to genuinely believe her. But a seed of doubt crept into her mind. Was he merely pretending? Rising from the bed, she fixed him with a piercing glare, though her outward demeanor remained composed.
"You don't believe me," she accused, her voice tinged with frustration.
Barry stood up, his expression earnest. "No, no, I do believe you. But I also understand that you've been through significant trauma, and sometimes the mind can conjure up ideas that aren't reality."
"Did you believe me when I showed you the painting?" Yugen questioned, perplexed by his apparent contradiction.
"I believe that you're a talented and intuitive woman," Barry clarified, his tone gentle yet firm. "But I can't subscribe to the notion of supernatural gifts. Yugen, that mindset can be dangerous."
He reached for her hands, seeking to reassure her amidst their differing perspectives.
Yugen had never raped before, and the shock lingered, clouding her thoughts. Perhaps it was just trauma, she reasoned with herself. Maybe exhaustion was playing tricks on her mind. If she could just rest, maybe clarity would come with the dawn. Despite her attempts to rationalize, a pang of hurt gnawed at her.
Suddenly, a wave of longing for Dennis washed over her, and a single tear traced a path down Yugen's cheek. Barry tenderly brushed away the solitary tear from Yugen's cheek, his touch a gentle reassurance amidst the tumult of emotions.
"Baby, let's call it a night. We both need some rest," Barry suggested, his concern evident in his tired voice.
"Yeah, okay," Yugen murmured softly, feeling the heaviness of sleep pulling at her eyelids.