Capsized (Metaphorically): A THQ Fanfic

CHAPTER 5: Braindead

Dashlie sat in her room, adjusting her mesh top in the mirror over the table. None of her clothes would do any good to hide the pink scutes along her skin, and she hadn't packed any Halloween costumes to make her look a little less suspicious as a siren. She remembered teasing Don when he packed an outfit, but now she wished she had been as smart. Either way, her outfit would have to do, even if it was barely a change from the clothes she wore yesterday.

Just then, the adjoining door opened, and in walked Don, Richard tailing behind him like a duckling to its mother. Dashlie scoffed at Don's wizard outfit, though she was jealous she couldn't fit in as inconspicuously. The woman took a moment to think of how Richard managed to change into the clothes he wore now, but she didn't want to think too deeply about it. She knew Don struggled to do it instead of the image in her head of Dick throwing clothes on himself in the state he was in.

"This is ridiculous," Dashlie sneered. "Why do they get to go out and I'm stuck with the babysitting job??"

"Because that's part of being a team. There are some things you don't want to do but have to deal with in order for things to work out," Don deadpanned, flipping the brim of his hat. Dashlie rolled her eyes at his words despite the fact he was spitting, well, facts.

A minute or so had passed and Dick had discovered the mirror. Dashlie yelled at him not to touch it, but it was already too late. Richard slapped his palm on the glass and left behind a smudged, bloody handprint. "Why didn't you clean at least some of the blood off of him??" questioned Dashlie.

"I did, actually," confessed Don, heading over to Richard and gently removing his hand off the mirror. "I don't know where he keeps getting the blood from."

As he said that, Richard reached up and lazily swiped at the blood dripping from his mouth. Don scrunched his face up at the sight of his friend: bloodshot eyes staring but not seeing, blood drooling out of an open mouth and crooked jaw, the gargled groans he'd make every once in a while. "God, this curse thing really did him dirty," sighed Don, patting Richard's face. "He used to be so pretty before."

Dashlie slunk in beside Don. "What did you just say?" she questioned quickly.

"Mm— uh— nothing?" stammered Don, refusing to look at Dashlie. He instead pushed past her smug face and dragged Dick behind him, sitting Richard down in the chair at the table and kneeling across from him.

"What are you doing?"

"Seeing if I can get Richard back." Don then reached into his cloak and pulled out his Nintendo Switch, holding it up for Richard to see. "Remember this, bud? You beat the sh*t outta me in Mario Kart and rubbed it in my face? But it's okay because I let you win after you got butthurt you kept losing?"

Richard blinked slowly and opened his mouth a little, a string of blood falling down the side as he let out a soft groan. Dashlie sighed exasperatedly. "As much as I would love to sit here and watch you try and bring Richard back, I've gotta go," she said, turning and heading for the door. "Remember, don't let room service in!"

"Wait, you're supposed to stay here and watch us, remember?" said Don, turning to look at her. Dashlie flashed a smile and grabbed her purse.

"You can watch yourselves," she said. "You are grown men and don't need supervision. Just don't do anything stupid, it shouldn't be that hard, okay?" Before Don could fully get back to his feet and tell her to stay put, she was already out the door and cheerfully wishing them two goodbye.

The room fell silent apart from the raspy breathing of Richard. After a bit, Don turned back to look at him and see Dick staring up at the ceiling light with big, round eyes, unblinking. Don waved a hand across Dick's face, but he got no type of response. He sighed, clicking his tongue agitatedly. "What gives her the right to go out and not us?" Don thought aloud, making Dick slowly look at him. Don furrowed his eyebrows and gave Dick a determined look. "We can go out and be just as efficient, right?"