V & V - Rageous Rageon Rise

I Don't Want To Go Back

Veneer POV:

I kneel next to Kid Ritz, seeing how hurt he is.

Veneer: "Carino, what happened?"

He looks down, defeated.

Kid Ritz: "I... swerved to avoid hitting a monster. I... crashed my car."

I gasped, horrified at the prospect of him getting into a car crash all alone.

Ven: "Oh, sweetheart! Do you want me to try healing you? I've got it down to where it won't hurt as mu-"

Kid Ritz: "No. I deserve what happened. Especially... especially after what I did to you."

Ven: "What? It was my fault for being in the way. I thought I saw Dom, so I went up to him and was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Kid Ritz: "There should have been no wrong place or time. I should never, ever, have put my hands on... on my b-best..."

His voice cracks, the immense pain he's feeling showing through.

Fred: "We don't have to think about that right now. What we need to do is get you up and away from here. Veneer had visions that you'd be here, and we're worried if we found out, Dom did as well."

Fred puts his hand out, offering for Kid Ritz to take.

Kid Ritz: "How can you even talk to me... after what I did?"

Fred: "Because I love you, and you had every right to be upset. We'll talk about it later. Now, come on."

Kid Ritz takes Fred's hand, groaning in pain as he stands. Fred walks him back to the truck, and Rollie and I follow behind. Fred helps Kid Ritz into the backseat, and Rollie climbs into the front passenger side.

As they get situated, I look towards the alley of the grocery store. I picture Velv running to get me medicine... my heart hurting as I think of my sister. As I stare at the alleyway, I see... oh shit.

I watch as Dom's face morphs; his blue eyes just as gentle as they were back in the apartment.

Dom: "Veneer... come here. I won't hurt you. It's me... come on. You remember... how exciting everything was when we met. I can bring that back... just walk over here."

I stare at him, not believing anything he says... yet it sounds so nice. To go back to life before the fall of Mount Rageous, before I became addicted to ring pops, before Velvet dis-... before Velvet disappeared?

I... I don't want to go back before she disappeared... because she was mean then. She wasn't happy... because she was living scared and defensively. I don't want to go back... because I wouldn't have met and eventually become boyfriends with Kid Ritz. I don't want to go back because I wouldn't have gotten Jewels, become best friends with Rollie... gotten my ring from Fred... met Orchid, and joined a band with her... or have role models like Roman, Dixie, and Cade...

Ven: "I don't want to go back."

I walk away from the truck and straight for Dom. His face falls into shock and confusion.

Ven: "I don't want to go back... because you can't give me everything that I've gained... everything I love, everyone I adore... that isn't something you can give me. It's just not, Dom."

Dom: "You don't have the majority of those things anymore. They are gone, leaving you abandoned and alone. You need me. I can take care of you."

Ven: "If I go back, I'm back to my old self."

Dom: "It's what you want. I know it is, deep down."

Ven: "No, it's not. I like who I am now."

Dom: "Really? The lying Veneer, the addicted Veneer, the going behind your boyfriend's back Veneer. You like him?"