is it bad that I wrote a role in my head specifically for Raphael Luce but hes a government weapon that doesnt know anything except following orders from the expansionist regime?
Henry stepped out of the shower with the clothes his old friend gave him, sliding himself in a sweater way larger than his size. Obviously, he wasn't in the mood to complain, even though he always kept the mindset of looking the best in front of people. It never left him after decades of being drilled into his head by his mother, and then his papa. He haven't seen his reflection in ages, especially not in this state.
His face, neck and chest were chiseled with scars, a reminder of his past that never goes away. He brushed his hair, which is way longer than he Brenner liked, with his left hand. Maybe he forgot about his sharp nails, or was desperate to see his eyes, but blood came out of his scalp either way. Right - who could forget his brilliant blue eyes? Henry barely remember what it looks like. Even if he thought - knew - he was a monster, he would never forget about those eyes. As insecure he is of his appearance, Patty's complements on them are etched in his heart.
"Oh, Patty, why can't I stop thinking about you"
He must've muttered that out loud, as that attracted a curious voice, one of his sister's.
"Henry are you ok? How do you feel?" As Jane's head peeked through the door, with her twin behind her long wavy hair.
"I'm fine" He responded with the driest tone possible, crossing his arms on his midsection. As he marched through the carpets to the other end of the halls, the twins followed.
"No, you're hurting" El blurted out, "a lot." Oh right - she can read any of his waking thoughts, how can Henry undermine that? Why did he waste his effort on acting? He must be sick out of his mind.
Henry didn't respond. Jane squeezed her oldest brother's hands slightly harder.
They lead him to the basement, where Karen made a rudimentary bed with a mattress and a couple of pillows. "I'm not gonna bother your rest," the woman stated, "if you need anything please let me know," as she ascended the stairs. She took the twins with her as well. It was getting late, anyway. The rest of the party must've left.
He curled up in the bare mattress, staring into space. His sister was right. He was hurting. His body was riddled with scars that just gets thicker everyday. His system can't even get used to the food he used to eat. He did have a sensitive stomach since he was younger, but it's not to this degree. It's rumbling to protest, so he tried to rub circles to sooth himself, but he ended up scratching his skin with his otherworldly hand. That's what a monster deserves, right?
So he wept, silently. Like he used to do in the lab - alone.
The mage and the sorcerer had other plans.
El and Will were camping outside the basement door, they knew something like this would happen. She can sense it, perhaps due to her abilities. Will doesn't have superpowers, ever since he disconnected with the hive mind, but he had been in a similar enough place to knew how he felt.
His sister immediately rushed in for a hug. Her brother stander back at an awkward distance, a look of concern hanging over his face.
Henry didn't reciprocate in the midst of his incoherent words between the sobs. "Why do you even care! I'm a monster!"
"Cause...cause I know you're not in control. He made you do things, just like he did to me" If anyone understood his situation, it had to be Will.
"And Papa, Papa would torture you for his own amusement. It's not your fault" Jane added.
"No...you're...you're all wrong. I did everything out of my own agency." the lie tasted bitter in Henry's mouth, "I joined it because I wanted to."
It's all my fault, El's abilities told her what he was thinking of. Maybe...maybe that is the truth, it lines up with the narrative, right? All her senses told her this is what happened, that he chose to join the Mind Flayer's side due to his own free will, but her heart said otherwise.
"You were too young. Way too young to have a choice." Jane replied, trusting her gut.
All his words he were using as a shield were stuck in Henry's throat. When he tried to cast it, only tears came out instead.
"There's nothing wrong with being helpless," Will followed, now sitting closer to the duo," it took me a long time to realize, I know it's hard to move on, cause even though the guilt will eat you up inside, you have to accept that there's nothing you can do at that point."
"But...I killed Patty... and our siblings..." Henry rambled in between his sobs.
"It took control of you. That's why we call it the Mind Flayer," Will defended. "I think we should give him some time, El," his sister nodded, "but remember, you always have us."
"And you're not weak for admitting your vulnerabilities," El said softly, right before closing the basement door, "unlike what Papa had drilled into your head."
Henry didn't think so. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get past the walls he built to accept he's a mere puppet of the shadow. But a part of him is glad that someone understands his trauma, and that there's people who actually cares about him despite who he is. His heart warmed up after that thought, involuntarily.
