FIC: Superstitions
FIC: Superstitions
Fandom: Re-Animator
Pairing: References to Dan/Herbert
Rating: K
Summary: A few boys talk about the legend of Herbert West, with a surprising twist at the end.
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It wasn't an uncommon thing for children to do, tell stories that is. Especially this time of year, when superstition runs high, and a child's imagination can reach it's true potential.
The traditional place for storytelling was the afternoon school bus, when all were assembled, and relatively unmonitered.
"They say that he used to live right here in Arkham!" a young brunette boy said enthusiastically. "That he even worked at the hospital here, and nobody ever suspected him!"
"I don't believe that Aurther," another, this one blonde, remarked. "you expect me to believe that nobody was even the least bit concerned about missing body parts? Or dug-up graves?"
"Sure they were David, but nobody could ever figure it out. The only reason he ever got arrested was because one of his zombies got loose before he could kill it himself!"
The cluster of boys seemed to shiver at the idea of loose zombies. After all, this was Arkham, strange and unexplainable things happened all the time, this fear was rational.
Of them consisted two blondes, David and Jerome, two brunettes, Roger and Aurther, and one redhead, John. They were all native to Arkham, and grew up with these strange happenings. This did little to aid their understanding or coping with such instances. However, they made great stories.
"How many zombies do you think Dr. West made?" Jerome asked hesitantly.
"Oh, I'm sure he made hundreds of them. He's been bringing back the dead since college." Aurther answered.
David's nose wrinkled as he retorted a quick "How do you know that?!"
"I heard it from my Aunt Francesca. She said she knew Herbert West once. She doesn't really like to talk about it though." he explained. "She said he was deranged."
"You're aunt's full of crap." the blonde one remarked.
Aurther shoved David with a glare before shouting out a whiny "Shut up!"
"Well, it makes sense. None of this stuff happened all that long ago. You figure Dr. West got arrested around thirty years back. If it's true that he didn't die in the prison fire, than he probably is still alive." Roger finally spoke up.
The boys all went quiet, each one entertaining the idea with their own individual flair.
"But he did survive it. He's the only one who's name isn't on the death records. They say he came back to Arkham after his escape. That he went back to the old house by Potter's Field, and is still working on his reagent."
"'Your aunt tell you that too?" David teased.
"No, I just heard it around, y'know? They say that he used to to have a partner too. But one day they got into a huge fight and he left. That's when his work got sloppy, and his zombies started escaping." Aurther went on.
"On really quiet nights, they say you can hear the dead scream when they see him!" Jerome blurted, eager to add to the conversation.
"I think it's all superstition. Herbert West was just a weirdo who loved to stitch together body parts. He never created zombies or any supernatural nonsense like that. He was a lunatic, and he went to jail for body-snatching. He died in the prison fire like everyone else. All the rest is just embellishment." a girl two rows ahead countered, before returning to her seat.
"It's not superstition it's real! He's like Arkham's own Frankenstien!" Aurther proclaimed.
"Fine suit yourself. You boys just want to believe anything you hear that's weird or gross anyway." the girl snipped after them.
"...Does anyone know who his partner was?" Rodger asked wearily, not quite wanting to ask such a question.
All of the boys turned to face him, each on the edge of their seats.
"Oh...I never thought about that." Aurther pondered. "I mean, if he's still alive I bet his partner is too. Maybe he even still lives in Arkham! If we find him maybe he'll give us the gross details!"
Rodger backed down, looking out the window instead. His stop was coming up.
"Hey Rodger, does Herbert West scare you?" Jerome asked quietly, scooting over to the other away from the babbling Aurther and David.
"A little. I mean, who wouldn't be scared by that sort of thing?"
Jerome squirmed in his place a little. "Yeah I guess your right, but he scares the daylights out of me. He's kind of cool, but still the creepiness hits you like a train."
The two shared a laugh at the outlandish analogy, before watching the other two argue about what color Herbert West's alleged reagent was. David was convinced it was yellow, but Aurther made a compelling argument for the color purple.
Within a few minutes they reached their designated bus stop, and the boys gathered their things before leaving. It was Wednesday so the designated parent to walk the children home was Rodger's mother. However upon exiting the vehicle he was met with the face of his father instead.
"Where's mom?" he asked curiously.
His father swatted a piece of brown hair out of his face before answering, "She got called into work. Alright, c'mon let's get you guys home.".
The boys continued their argument on the way home, Rodger noticing the sudden distant look in his father's eye.
"It's yellow, like acid! Purple doesn't make sense, besides, that's a girl color!" David prodded.
"No it's not. I squashed a bug once that bled purple! You can't get much more boyish than that!" Aurther argued back.
Rodger watched as his father paused mid-step, the other's halting behind him curiously.
"Hey Mr. Cain? What's the matter?" Jerome asked.
The tall brunette man turned to them with a genuine smile.
"I know for a fact that Herbert West's reagent compound was a bright lime green!" he said with a chuckle.
"How?" Aurther inquired.
Rodger's father simply smiled. "I just do. Now David, your house is next. Aurther your's is right after it so I'm just dropping you guys off at your driveways. I trust you can walk to the door." he said.
The two boys shared a look before saying their quick goodbyes and scurrying off to their houses.
After a somewhat awkward walk they arrived at Jerome's house, dropping him off before crossing the street to their own house. Rodger threw his backpack on the kitchen counter before sitting down at the table with a Capri-Sun.
"Dad?" he asked.
"Yeah?" His father turned to him still smiling, obviously pleased with having impressed his son's friends.
"How did you know what color Dr. West's reagent was?"
The smile fell. Daniel Cain sat across from his son, before sighing deeply. After a long moment a nostalgic smile graced his features.
"Because a very long time ago I knew him." he answered honestly.
A silence fell.
"...Was he as bad as everyone says he is?" Roger asked, before patiently sipping on his juice again.
Dan thought for awhile, before smiling again.
"No, I guess not. He was very odd, and a little crazy, but he wasn't really a bad person...I've got a picture of him somewhere if you want to see what he looked like." he smiled.
Rodger looked up, curious. "Can I?"
He watched his father get up and retreat to his bedroom, before returning a few minutes later. He placed an old photograph on the table, which was eagerly snatched up by his son. Rodger's eyes met the face of Herbert West and his father.
He was a lot shorter than he thought he'd be. Dr. West was small in stature, with dark hair and large glasses. He was sitting on a couch with the much younger face of his father. Dan's arm was around his waist, and his head was resting on West's shoulder. He was smiling, though West looked strangely content...or agitated. Either way he was in that position. He was clothed in a white collared shirt with a black tie and black slacks. Dan was dressed in brown slacks and a teal sweater.
In a strange way...the two looked happy.
"He looks...really not scary." Rodger said. "He's not scary at all."
"Well, he wasn't. He couldn't hurt a fly without a gun...or a shovel." Dan muttered.
"What?"
"Nothing. Anyway he was a terrible roommate. He never cooked, never cleaned, and you wouldn't even know he was there if you didn't well, know he was there." he continued. "He hated it when I hugged him. He would squirm and fuss. It was hilarious."
Dan looked a the picture for a bit.
"So there, now you know. Your old man knew Herbert West. Actually lived with him too. But I'm going to ask you to keep this between you and me." he asked. "Its not the kind of thing you want to tell people. It might stir up some unwanted attention, y'know?"
"Okay Dad. I won't tell anyone." Rodger promised.
Dan looked down at his son, who smiled at him proudly.
"I think it's cool that you knew Dr. West. I'm not scared of him anymore." he bragged. "Thanks for helping me.".
Dan's gaze darted to the photograph, then to his son. "Sure kid, anytime. Now what do you have for homework?"
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END.
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BOOM! Irrelevant Post-Beyond fic! XD
Hope you all enjoyed this random HOORAY I GOT MY COMPUTER BACK SO I CAN WRITE FANFIC fanfic.
I may or may not write a sequel where Rodger goes and visits the house by Potter's field to find Herbert. He does, and the two share an interesting conversation.