The Realm Hero Chronicles: Round 2

Chapter 5: Overcomer (Part 4)

"After the rescue, I was kind of in and out," Wilbur added, "I did fight in Roma, that's where I got my Electrobolt Switch. I saw Tyler's death. Somewhere after that, I passed out and didn't wake up again until after we'd arrived back in Chima. I'm assuming you know the rest."

There. It was off Wilbur's shoulders. All there, nothing hidden. He felt a little free, perhaps for the first time in forever. It was a strange feeling, freedom.

Wilbur wished he could say the same about the rest of his family, as they looked horrified. Shocked. Startled.  Tallulah and Laszlo were both huddled next to each other. Great Uncle Fritz was mumbling to Petunia and hugging her tight. Grandpa Bud had his arm protectively around his wife. Franny's eyes, wide with sorrow, stared back. Cornelius had his arm around Franny, matching her stare. Uncle Gaston and Uncle Art looked absolutely wrecked. Uncle Art ran a sweaty hand through his hair and tapped Uncle Gaston's meatball cannon. Uncle Gaston himself caressed his cannon while breathing heavily. It was if they wanted to strangle or shoot any Tigion within eye shot. Even C.A.R.L. seemed sorrowful. The other Robinsons were wide-eyed. No one said anything, except for the mumbles.

C.A.R.L. was the one who spoke first, "Oh, little buddy, why didn't you tell anybody this?"

Now was the hard part. Wilbur swallowed hard, blinking back the silent tears, which had been forming since the rescue flashback. "I initially wanted to forget," he explained, "I don't want to forget now. I want to bury the memories deep, never to see daylight. I say this because it was my fault for my capture. I'm the one who abandoned the team. I should've stayed and waited for Robin's signal. The torture, the bruises, the scars, the pain, all my fault." Wilbur paused to blink back a few tears, each one shimmering like a diamond rolling down his cheek. "I think what's worse is that I broke my promise. I promised you that I wouldn't be hurt, that I'd be brave. I promised that I would aid the Realm Heroes no matter what. Instead, I nearly died in prison, I was afraid, and I let the Realm Heroes down when they needed me most." He gulped, tears flowing faster. " I- I failed you, I failed them. I understand that you want me to feel happy, I mean, I made the Realm Council. I also understand you know that I think I don't fail, that I think I'm the living embodiment of our family motto. But I can't be happy because of the guilt. I can't move forward when I don't know where to pick up the pieces. How am I supposed to keep moving forward when this guilt holds me back? How do I pick up my broken pieces? How can I be the Realm Hero you want when all I see is a ghost of who I used to be?" Wilbur sniffled a little, then met his parent's gaze. "I'm so sorry. I know that I'm crazy. Please don't be mad."

Franny and Cornelius exchanged shocked looks before getting up from the couch and approaching their son. "Oh, Wilbur," Franny whispered, "How can we be mad at you? You have nothing to apologize for."

"Terrence and Tyler were the ones who hurt you," Cornelius placed his hand on Wilbur's shoulder, "They did the damage."

"It's not your fault you were bruised," Franny whispered, "And you're not crazy. The emotions that you have now are perfectly normal for a kid with trauma to handle."

"I still walked away," Wilbur responded stubbornly, his breath hitching in his throat.

"But you came back," Franny brushed a few stray tears from her son's cheek, " The fact that you still fought even though you were wounded says something. It says that even though things didn't go to plan, you still fought for everything. You have the heart of a Realm Hero inside you. I believe it."

"A-are you sure?" Wilbur asked. By now, the dam the Wilbur had built to keep his true feelings hidden was on the verge of total collapse. A few more tears trickled their way down.

"She's right," Cornelius nodded, "You still fought in RAC. You still made us proud. After the torture you were subject to, you still fought."

Wilbur's eyes shifted around, his tearful deep brown eyes like muddy pools of sorrow. How was it that even after everything he put his family through, they still didn't think he was weak? Wilbur remembered Terrence's cruel words. Weak, weak, weak. Wilbur's slight smile vanished as his breath grew sharper. Another round of tears slipped out. The dam of emotions burst.

 "Come here," Cornelius whispered. He and Franny wrapped their arms tightly around Wilbur, who began sobbing as if his heart was breaking into a million pieces at once. His shoulders heaved with each breath as everything that Wilbur had bottled up inside of him rushed outward like a flash flood. All Franny and Cornelius could do was hold Wilbur tight, as only parents can, to comfort their grieving child.

Grief is a curious thing in terms of a family and when one member is affected, all are affected. This was no different in the case of the Robinsons, although Wilbur would be the only one who cried aloud. Starting with Grandma Lucile, every member of the Robinson family got up and joined Franny and Cornelius on the floor. Silently sobbing themselves, the rest of the Robinson family all wrapped their arms around each other with Wilbur in the center, a type of shield, stronger than anything the Realm Heroes could wield. Spike and Dmitri bowed their heads in sympathy toward the gathering on the floor. No Tigion would ever hurt Wilbur again, everyone swore in their minds.

Eventually, Wilbur's intense sobs faded. He leaned his head against Cornelius' shoulder. He felt his mom's hand glide toward his shoulder. "I promise you, Wilbur," Franny whispered, "We will do everything within our power to help you.But you have to let us."

"I will," Wilbur promised. He smiled a little at his mom.

Franny cupped his cheek. "We'll help you get through this. It won't be easy, but we'll do everything that we can to help you."

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"And have they held true to that promise?" Black Canary asked.

"Actually, yeah," Wilbur smiled, leaning against his chair. "Everyone has been helping. Sometimes, it's a kind word. Other times, it's a gesture like a hug. Mom's got me back on my regular schedule again. Dad and C.A.R.L. both let me make choices where I can. The others have shown as much love and support. I told the Realm Heroes and Lewis what happened. They promised to help me as well, Lewis especially." Wilbur sighed, "I don't think I can forget Deadlock. I do think that I can work toward accepting that it happened. I just need to keep moving forward."

"Just like your father," Black Canary stood up, "I need to speak to your mom. Same next Thursday okay?"

"Okay, sounds good," Wilbur nodded. He opened the door and escorted his mother inside. The two women exchanged names, then got right to business.

"I want to thank you," Franny began, "For helping my son. When he told me that you were offering your services, I was a bit hesitant. Now I see that you don't disappoint."

"Thank you for that," Black Canary smiled, "Understandingly, PTSD is not something we would want our children to deal with."

"Agreed," Franny said, "I knew he had it."

"You knew?" Wilbur couldn't believe it, "How long have you known?"

"Since your nightmares began," Franny reached into her skirt pocket and pulled out a notebook, "About a week after the Realm War was over. You're not the only one who did some research."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Wilbur asked.

"One of the tips I read suggested that parents shouldn't force the kids to speak," Franny answered, looking into her son's eyes, "The parents should let their kids speak when they're ready. And praise them for being strong when they do." She smiled at him.

"I guess that makes sense," Wilbur's eyes shifted thughtfully, "Can I still work with BC?"

"Yes," Franny nodded, "You may still work with Black Canary."

"I still have one thing," Wilbur began, "When I had Terrence in my grasp that night, I felt nothing but happiness as I drove the Electrobolt down. Then after he left, I felt regret like I had touched the line. I'm not sure which emotion was right. Was I right to let Terrence go or should I have killed him? I had him. I could've killed him. I wanted to kill him. I didn't kill him though. I don't know if I was too weak to do or if I was strong enough not to. I guess what I'm asking is was I right to set him free?"

Eyes wide with surprise on this matter, Franny and Black Canary reacted with the same speed. "I don't have easy answers, Wilbur," Black Canary began as she and Franny both laid their hands on his shoulders, "But I can tell you this; admitting what happened is always the first step."

Then, for the first time since his rescue from Deadlock Prison, Wilbur smirked. A true, I'm-back, watch-out-world, Wilbur Robinson smirk.