Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

The drive-in near the north of Denver was a much loved spot for most people. A large space located at what was once a parking lot for a mall that had long since been torn down and then was repurposed for entertainment purposes. More often than not it was frequented by teens who were old enough to drive and families who brought their kids to come watch movies on nights where something kid friendly was playing. The place was run by an older couple who have taken care of it for years and people liked the place enough that they made sure to respect the space. It was open only three nights a week; Fridays, Saturdays and Wednesdays. Fridays were set as family night, Saturday was the rated-r night and Wednesdays were couples night.  

Robin Arellano has been coming to the drive-in ever since he moved to Denver with his family when he was nine years old. His tio was a big fan of the spot after he found it while exploring and he said that it was their tio-and-sobrino time. Usually they came when a scary movie was playing and there was always a childish thrill in coming on those nights, knowing his mama wouldn’t approve but his tio took him anyways with a conspiratorial wink.

Tonight Robin was coming to the movies on his own though. 

He had seen a flyer posted up about how the drive-in was doing a trial run of no-car-needed kinds of nights for those unlucky souls who didn’t have access to a vehicle of any kind. Robin thought it seemed like a good idea, and was coming to check it out to see for sure, but he was confused on what the plan was for seating. Was everyone just going to bring blankets and sit on the ground? Had to be what they were doing since he didn’t see the owners buying and putting out chairs all by themselves. They were pretty old.

When he got to the drive-in it was still a good fifteen minutes before the flyer said the movie would start and there were only two other people there. Robin climbed over a small fence that surrounded the parking area and he glanced over at Pinball Vance Hopper who was sitting on the same fence on the opposite side of the parking lot. He didn’t know the guy much at all beyond the reputation he had for kicking the crap out of anyone who pissed him off for whatever reason. Even the way he sat now had him looking like he was a second away from swinging, face in a scowl as he stared at the ground and occasionally looked towards the screen.

As Robin got comfortable on the top of the fence his eyes flickered over to the other boy who he didn’t know the name of. He looked around Robin’s own age and around the same height, he had sandy blond hair and some athletic looking jacket on. He was hovering somewhat in the middle of the parking area and his eyes were flickering around the empty space around him with a frown. His confusion was justified.

Robin thought the place looked dead, more so than he had ever seen it before for sure, and he absently adjusted his bandana as he thought that over. He had been certain plenty of people would be drawn in for a night where one didn’t need a car, especially kids their age; too old to want to come with their parents but too young to be able to come by themselves. But that was not the case, the parking lot that was normally packed with cars was now eerily empty and it was probably the first time Robin was able to see the entirety of the space without anything blocking his view.

His eyes landed on another boy he hadn't noticed at first and Robin was more surprised just for the fact that the kid did look young. At a first glance his smaller stature had Robin thinking he was maybe younger than even Gwen but a closer look had Robin amending that to the kid being maybe a year or so younger than them if not the same age. He was sticking close to the fence not far from Robin but closer to the screen and he had a cozy looking sweater on that didn't help his young appearance, his hair blond and somewhat curly while his hands twisted together.

“What’s going on?”

Robin jumped a bit at someone suddenly speaking to him and his head darted to the right where Bruce Yamada, a rather well known baseball player around school, was approaching him with confusion on his face as he eyed the drive-in. Robin wasn’t exactly friends with him but Bruce probably didn’t know any of the other three boys here either— or, he would know Pinball Vance but the kid wasn’t exactly someone people felt comfortable just approaching.

Shrugging his shoulders, Robin said. “I don’t know. I just came ‘cause I saw a flyer that said they were trying out a no-car-needed night to see the crowds they would get. Plus the movie playing is supposed to be The Exorcist."

His tio would be appalled that Robin watched it without him but that’s what he gets for having plans tonight as far as Robin was concerned.

Bruce made a face at his reply. “That’s not what I thought was playing, I wouldn’t watch that,” he said with a shake of his head. “But I saw the flyer about the new Sunday night plan they were testing too.”

With a frown Robin recalled the flyer he saw and it was pretty apparent from it just what movie would be playing tonight. He ignored that for the time being as he glanced behind Bruce but found no one coming in behind him, which was odd. Bruce was a pretty popular kid who was usually accompanied by a couple of people all the time. “Where’s your friends?”

Now it was Bruce’s turn to shrug as he said. “I’m not sure. They were supposed to meet me here to watch The Godfather.”

Definitely not a movie Robin would have picked to watch, wasn’t a terrible choice but not one he’d go out of his way to check out. Maybe Bruce saw a flyer with the wrong date? But then again he said it was for Sunday night.

Shaking his head Robin glanced across the empty parking lot to where Pinball Vance was still sitting on the fence. He gave a low whistle and when Vance looked up Robin asked. “Do you know what’s supposed to be playing tonight? If anything?”

He added the last question just because of how empty the place was. Robin couldn't even see the owners and they were usually puttering about or had a little snack stand next to the building they sold tickets in. The same building that sat near the entrance and didn’t have any lights on inside which was just another thing that had Robin feeling confused. If they were trying a new type of movie night, or even just doing a regular night, they should have been selling tickets already. The movie should be starting soon, Robin had been cutting it kind of close with his arrival only fifteen minutes before the things was set to start. The trailers for other movies should have been playing already.

Vance had a scowl on his face when he looked at Robin but he jerked his head in the direction of the entrance. “Sign said Jaws.”

“Well this place clearly doesn’t know what it’s playing,” Robin said with a twisted expression. He looked over at the other boy he saw earlier still hovering near the middle area but looking more like he was planning to bail. “Kid, you know what’s playing?” With a small jump that Robin politely ignored the kid looked at him with a hesitant face. “You here to watch Jaws, The Godfather or The Exorcist?”

His face said he was scrambling for an immediate answer but the kid cleared his throat and said. “None of them. That’s not what the flyer I saw said was playing.”

Brows furrowing, Robin looked to the last boy not too far from him. “How about you, kid? Any of them?” He got nothing but a silent shake of the head as the boy’s eyes darted between Robin and then Vance.

“Well shit,” Robin said with a huff. “What’s playing?"

Bruce was already moving over to the front stand that normally had the flyers for movie nights. As Robin craned his neck he could see a few scattered there and Bruce picked up one and read out. “The Black Phone.”

“What’s it about?” Robin asked curiously, already hopping off the fence to move closer to Bruce.

Vance was watching on with a curious scowl while the two other boys tried to look like they weren’t watching as avidly. They were also eyeing the exit and Robin wondered if they would bail now since whatever movie was playing was now up in the air.

Licking his lips, Bruce eyed the description and read it out loud enough for the other boys to hear as well. “Finney, a shy but clever 13-year-old boy, is abducted by a sadistic killer and trapped in a soundproof basement where screaming is of little use. When a disconnected phone on the wall begins to ring, Finney discovers that he can hear the voices of the killer's previous victims. And they are dead set on making sure that what happened to them doesn't happen to Finney.”

A very ‘interesting enough’ look crossed Vance’s face while the younger boy looked more than ready to leave and the other boy seemed more open to sticking around. Bruce only frowned, the description told him this wasn’t his type of movie, and Robin frowned too but for another reason.

“That’s a coincidence, my best friend’s name is Finney.”

Bruce shrugged one shoulder. “It doesn’t seem like that common of a name but maybe it’s a common nickname.”

Robin snagged the flyer from Bruce to get a look at it himself. There was a picture of a guy wearing a creepy mask and it definitely set the vibe for what kind of movie this was, if the description alone hadn’t already done that. “Looks scary enough," Robin said and he glanced back over his shoulder towards the big screen. “When’s it supposed to start? Are we early as hell?”

As if prompted the screen flickered to life and a couple of the boys jumped in surprise. “I guess now,” Robin murmured and his eyes flickered for a spot to sit. He certainly had his pick with only four other kids in attendance and eventually he decided to sprawl out on the ground not too close but not too far from the screen.

Vance got comfortable on the fence and, after a visible debate, Bruce eventually moved to sit beside Robin, taking one last look for his friends but coming up empty. The two other boys sat down too, the one next to Robin earlier perching himself on the ground by the fence while the other boy sat not far from Robin and Bruce, though a bit closer in Vance’s direction.

Robin suddenly glanced over at them. “What exactly are your names?” He asked as his head turned from one side to the next to see them both.

“Billy,” the boy sitting closer to them said as he tried to get comfortable.

With a little awkward wave of his hand the younger boy near the fence said. “Griffin.”

Feeling better having a name for both boys, Robin left it at that and looked back to the screen, absently wishing Finney had been able to come with him tonight. Finney was his best friend, had been for years with the two of them in the same grade, and while normally he would have been all for coming to this movie night, tonight his father wanted him to stay home with his sister while he went out. Robin had been bummed to hear it, hadn’t even gotten the chance to actually invite Finney, but he planned to tell Finney about every detail of the movie when he saw him the next day. 

Something he always did with Finney after watching movies at the drive-in.

There were birds chirping, the sound of happy shouting in the distance, then a loud crack as a drink was opened. A hand lifted and a man took a sip from where he was sitting on a bench and there were a good amount of people seated around him. The camera panned back and immediately a simple but nice looking baseball diamond was shown. A bat strikes a ball and cheering starts.

“Come on! You can do it! Get in to second!”

There was a lot of chatter but none of it was clear enough to follow a conversation. Then along the bottom of the screen came big words.

North Denver 1978

“That’s where we are and this exact year,” Billy commented suddenly but he was quick to cover his mouth with a wince at the stupid comment. Obviously they all knew where they were and the year. Vance rolled his eyes behind his back and ignored Billy as he focused on the screen.

“Come on, guys! You’re giving this game away! Come on! Pick it up!”

A girl with pigtails was sitting on the stands with friends on either side of her and she was clapping her hands. “Come on, Finney. Come on.”

Robin sat up a bit in brief surprise at the girl's likeness to Finney’s sister but he held back a comment as he convinced himself it was a coincidence. Just because a girl in a movie looked like Gwen that didn’t mean Robin had to say anything, at least not to any of these boys who didn’t know her and therefore wouldn’t really care.

A boy was standing at the pitchers mound, his head ducked as he twirled a ball in the inside of his glove, and when he glanced up a ‘D’ could be seen on his blue hat, matching the uniform he was wearing.

“Let’s go. You got this.”

“That’s Finney,” Robin couldn’t resist saying in shock and he didn’t mean he looks like Finney, he meant it was Finney-Finney.

The boys all glanced at him and it was Bruce who slowly said. “It looks like him?”

“No, it is him,” Robin countered, barely sparing Bruce or the other boys a glance as he stared up at the screen. He was wondering why the hell Finney was on a movie screen. Even if he did act, which he did not, there was no way Finney wouldn’t tell Robin about this. He didn’t get a chance to say anything more as the movie continued on.

Next there was a boy standing at bat, hands twisting around the handle as he looked at the pitcher.

Now it wasn’t just Robin sitting upright and their eyes darted over to Bruce, the Bruce watching the movie not the one currently on the screen playing baseball with Finney.

“What the hell is this?” Robin questioned, no longer making an effort to sit comfortably and instead pushing himself until he was sitting more upright.

The batter did a few practice swings, shaking off any nerves, and he readied up.

“Play ball!” The umpire called out behind him.

“You got this, Finney!” A voice called from the crowd and soon more voices joined, whooping and calling out encouragement to both sides of the game.

Finney wasted no time in winding up, letting out a grunt as he sent the ball forward with great speed to the batter. A swing was made, the batter missed.

“Strike!”

Bruce’s face went surprised. “Damn, his arm is mint.”

Smiling briefly at the comment, despite his continued confusion, Robin said. “Yeah, baseball is pretty much Finney’s only sport to play. He’s great.”

Shit knew Finney wouldn’t touch any other sports with a nine-foot pole, his gangly form making them an at times difficult task. Even the hitting side of baseball wasn’t a favorite of his though Robin felt certain he had enough hidden strength to hit a home run if he really wanted to. Pitching though, pitching came to Finney as easy as breathing and after the coach started praising his arm Finney stuck to it.

“Yes, Finney! Nice, Finney!” The girl with pigtails cheered from the stands.

A girl in the crowd smiled and started to clap while the batter made a face and shook off the miss. The ball was thrown back towards Finney for the next pitch.

“Let’s go, Finney. Two more strikes.”

“Swing, batter, batter. Swing, batter, batter.”

The ball was thrown again, just as fast, and the batter swung then— missed. 

“Strike two!”

Laughter and cheering rang from the crowd, some enthusiastic people calling out “yeah!” and more shouting followed.

“He’s got you on the ropes,” Robin muttered as he watched and Bruce huffed. Not in anger but more in interested amusement as he leaned forward to watch the scene more closely.

The batter paced a bit, Finney readying once more, and the batter’s face went determined. Finney’s eyes flickered over the crowd and the girl who was smiling earlier is seen.

Robin narrowed his eyes as he tried to place a name to her but he came up empty.

A man called out. “Eyes open out there. Eyes open.”

When the ball went sailing for a third time the batter swung and— hit! The ball went flying through the air as the batter threw the bat to the side and started to jog around the bases. Cheering broke out all the while.

Bruce grinned as he watched, saying a quiet “yes” to himself that had Robin rolling his eyes a bit.

“Oh, no. Oh, no.” The girl with pigtails muttered.

The ball continued to fly through the air until finally… it went over the fence.

“Home run!” The umpire called out.

Sighs rang out and the girl from earlier looked disappointed while the coach threw his hat down on the ground.

There was more cheering and the players on the home run team started changing. “Bruce! Bruce! Bruce!”

Finney sighed in disappointment and he made eye contact with the batter, Bruce, who was still jogging around the bases. Bruce tipped his hat to Finney as he continued his run with a pleasant smile and Finney left the pitcher’s mound. The game winning team didn’t stop their chant of Bruce’s name and when he made it home they all jumped together as the crowd cheered.

Finney walked across the field as the crowd began to disperse and the rest of his team came in from the field soon after. Next came the shaking of hands, both the players on each team and coaches lining up and calling out “good game” each time they met someone. 

“Hey, dude,” Bruce called as he approached Finney. When Finney turned around Bruce grinned and said. “Your arm is mint. You almost had me.”

His words had Finney smiling and all he said was. “Good game.”

“Good game,” Bruce echoed with a smile, turning back to join his team again and getting yet another happy tackle. It was a sight Finney glanced at one last time before leaving, the sound of cheers following him out.

“Well, aren’t you a good sport,” Robin murmured in a wry tone, smiling despite Finney losing the game.

Bruce sent him a sunny grin. “It’s about the love of the game in the end.”

It was a sunny day and the next scene had Bruce riding his bike down the street with a happy smile on his face. He waved at a mailman as he passed him and an upbeat song played in the background. Bruce came up on two girls around his age walking on the sidewalk. “Hi Bruce!” They called and he smiled back at them with a faint nod. He continued biking down the street and glanced back at them once which had them both giggling, all the while the music continued to play.

Vance let out a scoff. “This is a fucking corny-ass movie moment. Why the fuck are we watching you?”

Not even blinking at the aggressive tone— Billy did look at Vance nervously since he was sitting closest to him, though they were a good few feet apart— Bruce only shrugged. “You’re guess is as good as mine.”

That got a huff out of Vance but he didn’t make another comment. 

As the music continued to play the scene changed to Finney setting up a model rocket in the baseball diamond. He backed up hurriedly and readied his remote before pressing a button and… blast off! The rocket went soaring up high as Finney watched on with a smile.

Griffin sat straighter at that part, a delighted smile on his face as he watched Finney’s rocket.

Back to Bruce an explosive pop was heard and Bruce glanced back to see the rocket’s parachute opening. The sight had a grin breaking out on his face and a laugh escaping him. He turned to look forward and his smile faded to confusion.

A black van pulled up onto the street Bruce was on and the screen faded to black along with the song.

Robin suddenly started. “Do you remember what this movie is supposed to be about?”

“Some serial killer,” Billy said quietly.

Glancing over at him, Robin corrected. “Some serial killer who abducts Finney. Plus,” he adds on pointedly to their whole group. “It said something about previous victims. That van was sketchy as hell,” he said more to Bruce than anyone else.

The words had Bruce looking nervous but he forced himself to wave off the concern. “We don’t know what this is about. Maybe someone just filmed some short movie they made.”

“Without you knowing?” Griffin asked and then winced after he said it but Bruce didn’t reply.

A montage of scenes started up now. Random parts of the town, cars driving, different houses. Kids and adults, someone putting on a bandaid, a bandana. A swing, a fence with a bike abandoned in front of it, a single shoe burning in the grass. A neighbourhood, missing poster signs on a pole, one then another; Vance Hopper and Billy Showalter. A bunch of other missing posters signs falling, moving too quickly to see properly. Then finally a mundane looking house.

Now all the boys were sitting upright and they glanced over at Vance and Billy after seeing their missing posters.

“Is this movie about the future?” Robin asked.

“No way in hell!” Vance snapped.

Robin had a dubious look on his face and he didn’t hesitate to tell him. "You're better off thinking it is, so you’re prepared. Hopefully this movie explains more about whatever happened to the missing kids.” To Vance and Billy both.

While Vance clenched his jaw in clear anger he didn’t make any more biting comments. Billy didn’t say anything at all during this exchange, instead staring at the screen with barely hidden fear.

There were empty beer bottles and cornflakes resting on a countertop. A man grabbed a cup of coffee before moving to sit at a table where Finney was eating a bowl of cereal and reading something in front of him. The man opened up a newspaper while Finney slurped at his cereal. Then slurped again. And again.

Robin huffed in fond amusement at Finney’s habit of slurping his food.

The man looked over the paper at Finney with an annoyed expression while Finney kept eating, unaware of his piercing stare. “You think you can slurp that a little louder? I don’t think they can hear you up in Boulder.”

Finney didn’t reply beyond looking at the man briefly and in came the girl with pigtails. She crossed the kitchen and opened up the breadbox on the counter, the door of it slipping from her fingers and landing with a clattering noise. Finney looked over at the man who groaned softly and the girl squeezed her eyes shut before looking at the man apologetically with her hands still frozen in the air.

“Sorry, Daddy.”

Both Finney and the girl watched their father but he didn’t say anything. Eventually the girl grabbed bread and she shared a look with Finney where she made a jokingly scared face that had Finney smiling.

“They close in age?” Bruce asked.

Robin hummed. “Gwen’s two years younger than him.”

Finney and Gwen walked down a path in their neighbourhood that was between the fences of two different yards. It was early in the morning and the two were clearly headed for school.

“I don’t know. Everyone says Fonzie or Richie. Millie says Potsie, but I don’t think anyone should ever trust anyone who wants to grow up and marry Potsie. I think I’ll just stick with my current plan and marry Danny Bonaduce.

Finney smiled as he adjusted the strap of his bag. “You’re not gonna marry a member of the Partridge Family.”

“He’s so crucial. I love his voice,” Gwen earnestly. 

While Gwen kept on walking Finney paused, his face going serious as he looked at a nearby fence, his sister unaware that he stopped. “It’s new,” Finney said.

His comment made Gwen stop and she turned to see what he was talking about. “What?”

“The flyer,” Finney pointed out.

The flyer Finney was talking about was posted on a board standing against the fence. There was a single picture front and centre of the boy Finney played baseball with and above that were the bold words; MISSING CHILD. Below the picture was the slightly smaller but still just as bold words; BRUCE YAMADA. Following all that was a bunch of information to help people find the missing kid.

“How likely do you think this is real?” Bruce asked slowly as he stared at the missing child poster with his face on it.

“I dunno,” Robin said. “I wouldn’t rule it out entirely. Not for something this serious.”

“Mr. Yamada is putting them up again,” Finney said quietly. A pause. Gwen didn’t say anything as she looked away from the poster and eventually Finney looked at her. “You don’t think they’re gonna find him, do you?”

Gwen looked at Finney with a frown. “... Not how they want to. Come on. Let’s go. We’re gonna be late.” She turned without waiting and Finney stopped to look at the poster one last time before following after his sister.

“I wish they’d put up dates for this,” Billy said suddenly in an anxious tone.

“His poster said he went missing September 23rd,” Griffin told him with a point at Bruce. He gestured to Vance next. “His had July 18th and yours had May 4th.”

With raised brows, Robin said. “Shit, you’ve got some good eyes.”

The comment had Griffin flushing as he ducked his head.

Finney and Gwen were coming up on the end of the path when the sound of a commotion could be heard. Gwen started running immediately and after a beat Finney quickly followed her.

“Come on!” A boy cried.

“Hey, come here!” A girl yelled.

“Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!” A group of kids chanted and a crowd of them could be seen gathered around two boys facing one another.

“Who’s fighting now?” Bruce wondered out loud.

“You think you’re so tough, huh?” One boy asked in a sneering tone.

“Let’s find out,” another boy retorted unworriedly.

There were two boys, a bigger boy with dark curly hair and a twisted expression who was glaring at another boy dressed in a brown tank top with a black bandana strapped around his head and an unafraid expression.

“Guilty as charged,” Robin said in an unapologetic tone as he watched himself and Moose. Finding it slightly disturbing to see something about himself that he didn’t remember living through. Don’t get him wrong, he’s fought Moose before, but not in the exact setting depicted on the screen.

“I will pound you like a nail, you scrawny little beaner,” Moose threatened with clenched fists.

Robin stared him down with narrowed eyes. “Then do it. Unless you’re scared.”

While a few kids chuckled and started murmuring to one another, Moose swung rather suddenly. Still Robin ducked out of range from the hit with ease and slammed a punch into Moose’s stomach. Moose ducked down at the blow and Robin spun on his heel and sent a sharp kick at Moose’s face that had him flying into a nearby pole.

Bruce, Billy and Griffin all winced, the latter glancing at Robin nervously, while Vance only tilted his head in silent approval of the move, his eyes narrowing as he watched the fight continue.

The kids started exclaiming at the move and more excited chatter broke out. Moose came back once more, swinging more angrily now, and Robin blocked his arm and sent a series of punches into Moose’s stomach again. Moose let out a grunt at each unrelenting blow.

“Get him, Robin!” Gwen called excitedly.

Robin smiled at Gwen’s enthusiasm. She always was the more blood thirsty of the two siblings. Her and Finney were both fighters when it came down to it though, just in different ways.

Robin and Moose kept fighting on screen while the kids around them watched. Moose tried and failed to get an upper hand and Robin spun him around and caught him in a hold by his neck, baring it to the sky. Robin wasted no time in swinging Moose down and throwing him to the ground where Moose let out a loud grunt. The onlookers groaned and Robin got on top of Moose and started punching his face harshly, over and over again, the kids around him only encouraging it.

“Get up! Hit him harder!”

As the excited chatter continued Finney touched his sister’s arm. “Come on.”

“Holy shit,” Gwen said as she watched the fight continue.

Gwen resisted leaving at first, wanting to keep watching the fight, but finally moved at Finney’s urging. “Let’s go. Let’s go.”

“I don’t think I would have been able to walk away from watching a fight that bad,” Billy said quietly as he watched Finney and Gwen walk away.

Robin made a quiet noise. “Finney’s not a fan of when I get into fights,” he said in reply.

Robin continued on punching Moose before finally stopping, dropping him to the ground unceremoniously and getting up to walk away.

By now Finney and Gwen were a good distance away from the fight and Gwen looked at Finney. “What the hell? That was Moose.”

“I don’t care,” Finney replied with a huff.

“Moose is a giant asshole,” Gwen pointed out to him.

“I know.”

They were further down the street and Gwen reminded him. “But last year, when he made your nose bleed—”

“Gwen,” Finney interrupted her.

“He bullies Finney,” Bruce assumed pointlessly.

With a scowl on his face, Robin said. “Yeah, but I made sure he got the message not to do it again.” Which was partly why he wasn’t so wide eyed at seeing himself give Moose such a beating.

“He had it coming,” Gwen told Finney firmly.

Finney gestured behind them with a sweeping hand, not even looking back. “No one has that coming.”

“Finney, he beat you up.”

“I know, Gwen,” Finney said with a tired voice. “I was there, remember? I… I just don’t want to think about it.”

Gwen watched him for a beat but then said. “Well, he was stupid to fight with Robin Arellano. He’s the toughest kid in school since The Grabber got Pinball Vance Hopper.”

“The Grabber,” Griffin repeated in a scared tone and Vance was already sitting up more with a fierce expression on his face at the reveal. Of course they knew Vance was missing but it was different hearing the name of whoever caused him to go missing in the first place.

Finney made a face. “I wish you wouldn't call him that.”

“Everyone called him Pinball Vance,” Gwen said.

“No, I mean—”

“I know who you mean, jerkface,” Gwen interrupted him. “Even the papers call him The Grabber.”

Finney made another face as they kept walking down the street. “Just… I wish you wouldn’t say his name.”

Gwen looked over at him. “You don’t actually believe that story, do you?”

“No,” Finney said at once.

Narrowing her eyes, Gwen told him. “Because he can’t hear you. He doesn’t really take kids that say it.”

“I know that,” Finney said in a higher voice.

Bruce couldn’t help but smile at Finney’s higher tone. “It sounds like he’s lying.”

Already smiling, Robin confirmed. “That’s Finney’s lying voice.”

“Finney,” Gwen said in a pressing tone.

“I said I know,” Finney assured her in that same tone of voice.

Gwen narrowed her eyes. “Then say it.”

Finney smiled at her pointed expression and he laughed. “No.”

“Are you chicken?” Her questions has Finney’s smile dropping and Gwen immediately looks contrite. “I didn’t mean it.”

“I know,” Finney promises, nudging her gently as he says it and the two walk out of screen.

Behind them the same black van that Bruce saw came up the back street behind them, green writing on the side.

“That’s the same van,” Billy pointed out as they watched it drive out onto the street. “The one Bruce saw.”

“Must be the fuckers van,” Vance spat out as he watched the screen. Getting a nervous look from Billy that went unseen.

The next scene was in what was clearly a science class. A teacher was standing in front of a slideshow that showed a picture of the earth’s layer split up. The class was dark and the teacher pointed to one part of the slide. “The inner core is solid. The outer core is molten. The next layer, called the mantle, is mostly solid.

Robin groaned. “No way we have to go to school while watching a movie.”

He got a grin from Bruce but no one said anything as they watched on.

Finney was in the class, idily playing with a rocket pen with a light on the bottom. “However, the thin outer zone of the mantle is partially molten. Next slide,” the teacher called. Finney glanced around the class and nearby the girl from the baseball game was sitting in the same class. She spotted him looking and smiled a bit as Finney looked away.

“I don’t know who she is,” Robbin said suddenly with a frown as he stared at the girl Finney kept spotting. “Who is she?”

Bruce raised a brow at him and shrugged but Billy was the one to tell him. “Her name is Donna.”

The offering of a name didn’t seem to please Robin in the slightest and he got a few curious looks but no one said anything else as they kept watching.

“The surface layer is called the crust. It is solid and very thin. As the Earth separated into layers, it began to cool slowly, but the interior was still very hot.”

The school bell rang, interrupting the teacher, and all the students stood up as one. They were already murmuring to one another and Finney bypassed all of them to head out into the hall.

Predictably the hallway was filled with students going between classes and Finney didn’t talk to any of them. He moved swiftly down the hall, no one really acknowledging him until three boys who were leaning against a wall, clearly waiting for Finney.

The boy who was visibly the leader called out tauntingly. “Hey, Finney.”

Finney didn’t even acknowledge the greeting as he kept walking but the three were quick to follow close behind.

“He gets picked on often,” Bruce assumed quietly as he watched the scene.

Robin nodded. “Yeah, wouldn't be so bad if he fought back once in a while but Finney avoids fighting.”

“Can’t fight,” Vance assumed next and though his voice was derisive his expression was mostly neutral.

That was the only reason Robin told him. “I’m certain he could put up one hell of a fight if he wanted to. He just won’t do it.” Then again him against Matty, Matt and Buzz wasn’t a fair fight to begin with.

Finney slipped into a room after leaving the main doors and as he stepped further into the bathroom he was quick to hide in the furthest stall. He put his bag up and climbed up onto the toilet to hide his feet.

The sound of the door opening and closing was heard, along with another. “Hey, Finney.”

The three boys from the hallway came inside together. One with dark afro-like hair, Matt, one ginger, Buzz, and the last boy— the leader, Matt— had bangs that were almost over his eyes. 

“Come on out, dickweed,” Matt called out.

“Not fooling anyone, noid,” Buzz said next.

Finney’s face was filled with resignation and he slowly exited the stall. The three boys watched him all the while with sneering expressions. 

“What are you doing in our bathroom? Huh?” Matty asked threateningly.

Matt was quick to point at the door. “See the sign? It says ‘boys’.”

“Yeah,” Buzz was quick to agree. “Boys, not fags.”

A few brows raised at the insult and they glanced over at Robin who was only scowling at the screen.

The door opened again and all four boys turned to the door where Robin stepped inside. His eyes roamed over the three boys bullying Finney who all went quiet and avoided eye contact.

Bruce was grinning now. “They’re not going to try anything now,” he said brightly and it made Robin grin viciously. 

“Dipshits, move.” Robin ordered and the three boys hurried to get out of his way as Robin crossed to the sink. “Hey, Finn. What’s happening?” He asked as he gave Finney a nod and turned on the tap.

Finney glanced over at the bullies. “You know, just keeping on keeping on, I guess.” Buzz looked at him nervously now and Robin glanced at the bullies again as he started washing the blood still on his hands.

“Not so tough now,” Billy muttered under his breath, watching the three boys who followed Finney just to bully him now all but cowering.

“They’re pussies,” Vance said with a scoff. “Three against two, or one since the kid doesn't fight, and they still can’t make a move.” His tone was as scathing as it got and Robin only nodded in agreement.

“Uh-huh,” Robin said with a nod, wiping at his hands. “Moose got some damn sharp teeth. Knuckles bled all first period.” His words had the three boys exchanging looks before silently turning to leave the bathroom. “Wait,” Robin called out and they all froze then turned to look at him again. Robin stared at his reflection. “Fuck with Finn again…” he looked over at the bullies now, his face unrelenting. “I fuck with you.”

Bruce’s brows lifted at Robin’s sharp tone, having yet to hear him sound so serious, and he couldn't help but think Robin was a great friend to Finney. From what he’s seen so far odds were Finney would get hurt a lot more if Robin wasn’t in his corner fighting anyone who tried to go at him.

The three bullies eyed each other in silence as Robin went back to drying his hands. When they didn’t leave after he was finished he looked at them again and waved a hand. “You can leave now.”

They didn’t need another word, each one ducking out just as fast as they had ducked in to threaten Finney.

Vance scoffed again as he watched the three boys all but scurry out of the bathroom but he didn't make another comment.

After the boys left Finney crossed to the urinal, saying a quiet “thank you” all the while.

Robin was still rubbing at his hands when he glanced over Finney briefly. “You’re gonna have to stand up for yourself one of these days,” he told him.

“Yeah, I know,” Finny said quietly. As Robin started the task of taping up his knuckles Finney asked. “Hey, why’d you fight Moose?”

“He was just shittalking,” Robin told him. “Pretty sure he’d back down. Nope.” 

The last word had both boys laughing after sharing a quick look.

Even Bruce, Robin and Billy laughed along with them as they watched, Griffin hiding his own amused smile.

“I was so surprised when he swung, to be honest,” Robin went on to say.

Finney looked at him as he moved to grab a paper towel and towards the other sink. “I mean did you have to?” He asked as he started to wash his hands, Robin backing away to stand by the stalls. “Looked like you really hurt him.”

“I was just gonna knock his ass down,” Robin told Finney as he fiddled with the tape on his hand. “Whale on him a bit. But that wouldn’t drawn no blood. In a situation like that, the more blood the better.” When Finney turned to look at him, finished with washing his hands, Robin made a vague gesture with his taped hand. “For the crowd, you know? It makes a stronger point.”

Finney nodded silently to his words though he didn’t look completely convinced.

“Interesting idea,” Bruce commented slowly.

“It is true though,” Robin countered with a shrug. “If you make a strong enough point then you don’t need to do it again.”

“Strike once and strike hard, then it’s not your fucking problem anymore,” Vance said in not quite an outright agreement but close enough.

Robin only nodded and he knew Vance would get the point though Robin was firm in the fact that he and Vance weren’t the same. Pinball Vance whaled on everyone over every little thing and Robin only beat up those who had it coming. The people who tried to start shit with him or Finney.

“I’ve seen Texas Chain Saw Massacre Friday night. You seen it?” Robin asked with a grin.

Finney was already smiling before Robin finished his question and he emphatically said. “That movie’s rated R. My dad would never take me to see that.” Finney even waved his hands in a no-way motion to further his point before shooting his paper towel into the stall toilet.

“My uncle takes me to the drive-in,” Robin told him. “We see everything. But, man, that movie…” Robin shook his head slowly. “It’s the best ever.”

“You’re big on scary movies,” Bruce assumed, remembering that Robin had initially come to the drive-in tonight to watch The Exorcist.

Robin looked up at the sky and declared. “Love them.” As if it were important that he announce it to the whole world which made Bruce huff a soft amused noise.

Finney narrowed his eyes at Robin. “Better than Enter the Dragon?”

Making a face, Robin conceded. “Well, okay. Maybe second best.” 

Both boys smiled and laughed at Robin’s quick admittance and Finney said. “You know, I want to see a Bruce Lee movie one day. Like, um, maybe if it comes on TV, you know?”

“Yeah. Yeah, you will,” Robin said in a sure tone before he stepped closer to Finney, changing the subject somewhat abruptly. “Hey, um, you got time to stop by my house after school?”

“Is it math again?” Finney asked, not looking overly surprised at the request.

With a nod Robin moved closer. “Mr. Johnson talks too fast. He doesn’t explain it right. Not like you,” Robin said, sending Finney a small smile. “Can you walk me through it? If I get another ‘F’, I’m suspended.”

Some curious looks were back at the small exchange. While it didn’t seem like much there was a certain undertone to the short conversation that had the other boys wondering what exactly kind of relationship Robin and Finney had. Robin had said they were best friends but how exactly did that start? Was Finney Robin’s tutor and Robin repaid that by taking care of Finney’s bullies? Or did it predate those two things? Also on mind was the one name the bullies called Finney when they first came into the bathroom. Despite the curiosity no one voiced a question right away as they watched on. 

Finney sent Robin a fond smile and he nodded a bit. “Yeah, sure.”

“How did you and Finney become friends?” Billy asked, not able to help his curiosity.

Robin shrugged. “I was new to Denver and Finney was assigned as my partner in my first class by a teacher. We got along well. Finney’s a great friend to have.”

Three of the boys nodded silently at his reply and nothing more was said.

They were in a different classroom now, the kids looking younger, and the teacher was giving a lesson as her student wrote notes. “So, when we subtract six from 11, we find that the value of ‘X’ is five.” There was a knock on the door and a woman stepped into the class, making the teacher pause.

Next they were in the principal's office and their principal was in there with two men. One with dark skin and slowly greying hair and the other with greyish hair that was disappearing at the top of his head and a bushy mustache. 

Gwen came into the office slowly, eyeing the three cautiously. “You wanted to see me?”

“Gwendolyn Blake,” their principal greeted her evenly. “This is Detective Wright and Detective Miller.” She gestured to each man as she named them and it was Wright, the dark skinned man, who gestured Gwen towards a chair. 

“Miss Blake.”

“Why are they talking to her?” Bruce wondered with a frown and even Robin was confused.

“... I’m not sure,” Robin said slowly.

The principal moved behind her desk while Gwen sat in one chair with the two detectives sitting in chairs in front of her. “They would like to talk to you about something,” their principal told Gwen.

Detective Wright sighed. “Is it… is it true you’re friends with Amy Yamada?”

Bruce sat straighter at the mention of his sister and worry quickly grew in his gut.

“We have homeroom together. Is she okay?”

“She’s fine,” Miller told her firmly. “You know what this is about.”

There was a breath of relief let out by Bruce. Even though it was all boys who had apparently been taken he still couldn't help but be scared something happened to Amy. He was glad Gwen had asked after her first thing.

“What did you say to Amy about her brother Bruce?” Wright asked Gwen.

Her eyes flickered between the two detectives. “Just that I had a dream about him.

“What kind of dream?” Wright pressed.

“Just a weird one.”

“These fuckers really questioning a little girl about her dreams?” Vance asked incredulously. “No wonder they haven’t found any of us.” The others couldn't help but agree, frowning at the two detectives questioning Finney’s little sister about whatever the hell was going on.

Wright, clearly the more softer of the pair, quietly asked. “What happened in your dream?”

“He was taken. That’s all.” Gwen told him.

“By a man with black balloons in a van,” Wright added.

“Yes.”

“What else can you tell us about your dream?”

Gwen stared at him with a dubious face. “Why? It was just a dream.”

“Who else knows about the dream?” Miller asked in a more firm tone than his partner.

His tone and question had Gwen making a face at him. “Nobody.”

“We found two black balloons at the scene, Gwen,” Wright told her.

Gwen nervously crossed her feet. “... Oh.”

“Wait what?” Billy questioned at once. “How did she know that?”

“Maybe it’s their dad behind this…” Griffin offered quietly.

Robin let out a scoff. “No way. That hijo de puta is a drunk. He can’t stay sober long enough to kidnap four kids without getting caught,” he said in a scathing tone. It was an opinion that had the others eyeing him for a beat but they let it go for now in favour of watching the rest of the scene.

“We also found one black balloon at the scene of Griffin Stagg’s abduction,” Wright told her.

All their eyes widened at the reveal of Griffin also being kidnapped. So far they had only known of Bruce, Vance and Billy.

“Is that what this is about?” Bruce asked. “Were we all kidnapped?”

“I haven’t been,” Robin countered.

“Yet,” Billy said quietly and Robin looked over at him.

Miller spoke up again and he never took his eyes off of Gwen. “And we never released those details, so…”

“So the question is, where did you hear about the balloons?” 

“I didn’t,” Gwen told them firmly.

Miller clearly wasn’t sold. “I’m gonna ask you again,” he said and Gwen looked at him again. “How did you know about the balloons?”

“What aren’t you telling us, Gwen?” Wright asked in a soft voice.

“Either there’s a leak in the department, or—”

Gwen pulled an incredulous and condescending face at Miller. “Or what?” She interrupted him. “I’m The Grabber?”

“No,” Wright said at once.

Robin and Vance both snorted at the jump and even Bruce was shaking his head at the ridiculous leap, though that was clearly not what the cops were thinking.

Gwen looked at Wright with a face that said she was doubting both of their intelligence. “You think I kidnapped Vance Hopper? Is that it? Vance got held back twice. I’ve seen him fight, and trust me, he could kick the shit out of either of you blindfolded!”

Vance smirked viciously at both her words and the sharp tone she used, not caring about talking to cops like that in the slightest. Robin was shaking his head fondly at what was a very unsurprising choice of words from Gwen.

Miller's face turned surprised while the principal's eyes widened. “Gwen, watch your language,” she ordered.

Gwen was undeterred and kept looking at the detectives like they were stupid. “Yeah, I took him down ‘cause obviously I’m The Grabber, you dumb fucking fart knockers!”

A loud laugh left Robin at the creative insult and the others had varying reactions from incredulous, shocked and amused.

The principal stood. “Gwendolyn Blake!”

Wright wasn’t offended or even distracted by her words. “Gwen. What aren’t you telling us?”

His even tone seemed to finally calm Gwen’s anger and she started fiddling with her hands in her lap. “... that sometimes my dreams are right.”

The humour that had encompassed the drive-in quickly melted into a serious air as they all frowned at the screen after what Gwen had just said.

“What does she mean?” Vance asked Robin.

Robin shook his head with a frown. “I don’t know, Finney’s never mentioned anything about Gwen’s dreams being… true.”

Gwen was running her hand along a fence absently, her and Finney walking down the street together on their way home from school. The bullies from school were standing across the street and spotted Finney.

“There he is,” Buzz told the other two.

“Those pendejos better not even try,” Robin muttered under his breath as he watched the three boys from earlier watching Finney.

“What was that?” Gwen asked her brother.

Finney looked away from the three as he and Gwen kept walking. He let out a sigh. “Nothing.”

Gwen didn’t press the matter and instead said. “I’m staying over at Susie’s tonight. It’s Friday, so you know what that means.”

Finney was already nodding as Gwen started heading off in a different direction. “I’ll look after Dad.”

“I’ll be home in the morning. And you better not eat all the ice cream,” she said firmly but the smile on her face took any real threat out of the words. Finney didn’t even reply, walking away with a smile on his face.

“Look after Dad,” Bruce repeated in confusion.

Robin shrugged. “Like I said, guy’s a drunk. Can barely take care of himself some days.”

“You know him well?” Vance questioned neutrally.

Shaking his head now, Robin said. “Just that he’s a drunk and a mess most days. Finn would never let me meet him and I never go around their place.”

Music started playing and the inside of a house was shown. It was dark inside, with the tv on and Finney’s dad asleep in an arm chair. He had a beer bottle in hand which Finney took away with gentle hands. He then moved to turn the music off and the lights out. Finney put the beer bottle in the kitchen and grabbed some ice cream, parking himself in front of the tv and watching a scary movie. He covered his mouth at one point to avoid yelling and quickly checked if his dad was still asleep in the next room. Soon enough Finney fell asleep in front of the TV which was now playing an endless drone.

The other boys were seeing a bit of what Finney had meant about taking care of his dad and a few had frowns on their faces at a grown man needing to be taken care of by his children. 

“Where’s his mom?” Griffin asked quietly.

Robin looked over at him and made a face. “She died years ago.” Three of the boys had sympathetic eyes at that but Robin didn’t say anything more as he turned back to the screen.

It was daytime next, dogs barking in the distance and Finney was still asleep by the TV. He was quick to wake up though as the sound of his father yelling and Gwen screaming broke the quiet of the house. Finney pushed himself up fast and ran to the other room.

Gwen was standing by a counter and Finney’s dad was behind her with a belt in hand, swinging it down with an unrelenting force.

“I’m sorry!” Gwen cried.

“Dad, stop!” Finney shouted at the same time.

Their dad points at Finney furiously with the belt still in hand. “Hey! You stay out of this!” He screamed before looking at Gwen.

Their eyes all widened and Robin’s face was shocked and furious. He was not entirely surprised, Finney had mentioned this vaguely in the past, but seeing it first hand was something else entirely. He was starting to understand why Finney never wanted him at his house.

Each of the boys looked appalled and even Vance was glaring at the screen. While he whaled on people it was always people around his age or older than him. No way would he be a grown ass man beating a child, let alone his own child. That every act was why his ma left his dad when Vance was a kid. After one instance she cut off all contact, not giving Vance's piece of shit father a chance to ever hurt Vance again. Something Vance would always love her for.

He’s got anger issues, he knows that, but his ma always did right by him. Vance’s anger was a thing of its own making sometimes and he found it difficult to control in the best of times but he would never be this kind of angry. He knew that much.

“Gwenny, they came to my work,” their father said loudly over Gwen’s whimpers. “Why did the police come to my work?” He accompanied his question with another harsh strike. 

Gwen screamed and cried out. “I don’t know! I’m sorry!”

“You need to tell me when you know about this investigation—”

“Nothing!”

“Tell me what— what?” He asked when Gwen interrupted his sentence. 

“He’s talking about the dreams,” Bruce realized, his voice vaguely horrified as he watched the brutal scene. 

“Nothing,” Gwen said again. 

Her dad raised the belt threateningly. “Huh?” 

“Nothing!” Gwen yelled out in a shaky voice. 

“What?!” Her dad screamed once more. 

Gwen abruptly backed away from the counter, grabbing a large bottle of liquor while she did so, holding out in the air. “Nothing!” She screamed at him with a teary glare on her face. “Hit me again, and I’m dropping it!”

Robin and Vance were both nodding approvingly at her finding some leverage that would affect the drunk more but Robin was also worried about it backfiring. 

Her dad paused for a beat and gave her a threatening look as he raised the belt again. “You drop that, and I will beat your ass twice as hard,” he hissed through clenched teeth. He made a threatening lunge towards her and Gwen didn’t hesitate to drop the bottle. 

It hit the ground and shattered instantly and her dad let out a disbelieving and furious yell. He reached forwards and grabbed Gwen, throwing her to the ground before he started swinging the belt again. 

Gwen screamed.  

“No, Dad!” Finney screamed. 

Their dad didn’t even hear Finney as he shouted. “That was an eight dollar bottle of goddamn vodka!”

The boys all braced themselves for what they knew would be a renewed beating and Robin’s hands were in fists once more as he ached to start swinging at Finney’s piece of shit dad. 

Their dad struck Gwen again and Gwen sobbed as she stood back up. He pointed at her angrily. “Oh, now listen to me. Listen to me. You are not your mother!”

Robin frowned at that particular key note and his mind tried to strum up any mentions Finney gave about his mother beyond how she died. He came up empty. The time Robin met Finney was just after Finney lost his mother so it wasn’t a subject he was willing to bring up for a long time. Still wasn’t really. 

“I know,” Gwen cried to him. 

Their father kept on screaming. “That means you do not hear things that are not there. You do not see things that are not there!”

Gwen was still crying as she said. “Okay.”

“They’re not there, Gwenny!” Their father reiterated. 

“Okay.”

Their dad raised the belt again and Finney watched on with teary eyes. “And your dreams…” their dad said in a firm voice. “They’re just fucking dreams. Do you understand me?”

“Yes!” Gwen yelled at him. 

“Do you understand me?!”

“Yes!”

“Say it.” Their dad demanded. “I want to hear you say it.”

Gwen started to sob again, never really stopped. “My dreams are just dreams.

Bruce slowly shook his head at what this man was doing to his daughter, hardly able to believe it. Unable to imagine his parents treating him or Amy this way. 

Their dad raised the belt. “Say it again!”

Gwen was sobbing even harder. “My dreams are just dreams!”

“Say it again!”

While she was still crying Gwen’s voice was furious as she spoke through clenched teeth and a glare on her face. “My dreams are just dreams!”

They all froze after that, their dad panting in the wake of all his anger while Gwen still whimpered in pain. Eventually their dad looked away from Gwen. “Go watch some television or something,” he told her and as Gwen walked away holding her backside he looked at her again. “And no ice on the bottom, young lady. I want you to think about what you did.”

He was panting as Gwen left the kitchen, crossing to grab some juice and sipping on it. Finney was still in the doorway, watching him in furious silence.

His dad stared him down. “Did you know anything about this?” He asked in a low voice. Finney clenched his jaw but shook his head. His dad pointed to him now. “Same goes for you. You got that? You got that?” He asked louder when Finney didn’t answer. “Now, get out.” He ordered just like he had Gwen, going back to sip at his juice. 

Finney went into the room with the tv, sitting next to a still whimpering Gwen. She silently put her head on Finney’s shoulder and he put his cheek on top of her head. 

“Did you know he was like that?” Bruce asked quietly. 

Robin nodded silently. “He’s like this with the both of them. Just depends who sets him off,” he told them in a dark tone. 

The next scene had Robin walking alone through an empty parking lot behind a large building. The further he got the more that was seen and soon a black van was spotted parked ahead of him. Someone got out as Robin approached, dressed in red and black and wearing some kind of cape that blew in the wind.