Chapter Text
He was the monster. Who was the creator?
Barty was a whirlwind. He could never understand himself or how to stop it. He hurt others, he scared people.
"Do you think I'm crazy?"
Evan looks at Barty like he *is* crazy. "What kind of question is that?"
Barty continues, not letting it go. "Do you think I'm ruined?"
The Rosier household goes silent. Barty was staying with Evan and Pandora, desperate to get away from his father for once. The walls of Evan's room is dark blue, leading into the purple of Pandora's connected room. The door between the two rooms is currently shut, giving Barty and Evan some privacy. "What the hell are you talking about?", Evan says sternly, looking into his best friend's eyes.
Barty's brown hair falls flat, dragging down sadly with his usual hectic energy. "That's what they say. That I'm crazy."
Evan is shocked, never having seen Barty care for what others say. "Fuck them!"
"But they're right. Evan, they're right, something is seriously wrong with me."
Evan frowns, unsure of what to do. "Come on, let's go talk to Pandora, she'll help". He take's Barty's hands and pulls him up, dragging him to the door to Pandora's room. He knocks twice. "Panda? Can we come in?".
He waits until he hears a soft "mhm!" come from inside the room.
Pandora immediately notices the tension. She sits up in her fluffy lavender bed. "What is the matter with you two?"
Evan cringes, unsure of what to say: "Barty needs your advice, I think."
The two of them wait for Barty to explain. He catches the hint. "I just feel insane."
Pandora frowns. "And you want to feel sane? I don't think I can help with that."
"I want to be normal." Barty says harshly, making Evan harshly suck in air.
"And what does it mean to be normal? What do you really want, Barty?", Pandora questions.
"I want to feel good. I want to stop being a burden on people. I want to be likable and lovable. I want to make others feel good."
Pandora nods. "Okay. That's a start. Barty, do you want to go on a walk with me?" Pandora nods to the trail by their house. Barty nods in agreement and stands up, following her out.
"Wait-" Evan starts, but Pandora cuts in.
"Evan, don't worry about it. We'll be okay."
Barty puts on his shoes and goes outside with Pandora, deep in conversation with her.
Evan watches through the window as the two walk along the trail, disappearing behind the trees. An hour later, and the two never returned. It wasn't until Evan noticed the two sitting outside that he knew they were safe. They seemed to be meditating of some sort. Evan chooses to let them continue, not letting his curiosity ruin something good for Barty. Thankfully, within ten minutes, the two were coming back inside. "Barty? How are you feeling?"
"Better. Tired." Barty says before crashing into Evan's bed. Evan sighs and pulls the blanket over him.
"You really worried me earlier, you know that?", Evan asks. Barty nods in response. "Okay. get some sleep. We'll talk in the morning".
Evan goes out to the dining room and sits in the chair across from Pandora. "hey."
"I knew about Barty's past with... *that man*. But I didn't realize that he still didn't understand it himself. He hasn't healed. He hasn't had any help."
Evan breaks from his short silence: "I knew he wasn't doing well."
"Don't blame yourself. We all knew something was up. There is no way you could have known it had to do with... this. With his trauma".
Evan scoffs. "Of course it was this! What else would it have been? He was taken advantage of for a third of his life!"
Pandora goes quiet. "You need to cool off. Go take a shower, if you want to talk after, we can".
Evan doesn't argue. He knows she's right. He takes a towel from the cupboard and brings it into the bathroom. He strips, dozing off at the white bathroom tiles. With a turn of the faucet, the sound of running water fills the room. Entering the cold shower, Evan's worries slip away. Once he's cooled down, he heats the water, making himself comfortable.
Once satisfied, he wrapped himself in a towel and retreated to his bedroom. He looks over at Barty, who is fast asleep in his bed. Opening his wardrobe, he picks out some pajamas and gets dressed. Then he walks over to Pandora's door and cracks it open. "Thanks, Panda... sorry for yelling."
"Good night, Ev. Go sleep."
Evan nods and makes his way over to his bed, finding a spot next to Barty. He looks at him for a moment longer than he should before rolling over and falling asleep.