The door opened without a sound, though Joshua likely heard your chains rattling from before as the door was slightly cracked. The room was just like the one you had just left. Stark white brick walls, papered table, no windows, and Joshua alone in the room.
He sat on the table with his back to you. He was slightly hunched over so you could barely see the top of his head which had been recently cut to the point where he had no hair at all.
The straightjacket that bound his arms to his body looked uncomfortably tight, even though he looked like all the fight had left his body. Maybe it was a ploy to try and lure someone in, maybe not.
You stepped into the room and let the door shut silently behind you, though the chains around your ankles definitely announced your arrival. He made no reaction, he just stayed right there, he did not even tilt his head slightly.
You wanted to open your mouth and say the thanks that you had been wanting to give. Nothing came out though, you did not even open your mouth.
Words were not what he needed nor wanted right now. The silence in the room was soon very awkward and uncomfortable. You often shifted your weight between feet as the minutes passed by.
He still did not react, it was like you were not in the room at all. You wanted to comfort him for some reason, even if he had been mean to you the entire time he was here. Maybe it was because you were used to comforting Elliot a lot.
Maybe it was because he had just lost his brother and it was just instinct for you to try and comfort him. Or maybe that is just what you had to do right now. If only you knew how.
You racked your memories to try and think of ways that you could possibly do it without words. Maybe there was something you could do.
You remembered oftentimes in the courtyard or free time where Jack and Joshua would sit back to back in complete silence. No word was spoken between them, but the proximity said more than words could.
You took small baby steps forward before climbing onto the table yourself with shakey hands and legs. You tried to keep your breathing steady so it was not obnoxious in the quiet room. The papers crinkled underneath you as you shifted around so you were facing away from Joshua while seated.
You did not press your back to his though, it was close, but no contact was made. You did not want to set him off by trying to do something he and Jack did when you were not even close. You just... wanted him to know he was not alone here. After all, in Willy's sinister words from a long time ago, you were all family now.
That was it, It stayed silent in the room. You kept your hands on your knees as you looked down at the ground. Everything was painfully bright in this room. There was only the table in this room, no Doctor's desk and nothing to decorate the walls either. It was like they were trying to make their patients feel trapped.
You went stiff as the sound of Joshua's straightjacket shifted slightly. You could feel his eyes on you now, staring down at the back of your head.
You did not turn to meet his gaze though, not sure of what would happen if you looked him in the eyes. Now that he was looking at you, what would he do? Would he shove you away and scream at you? would he start a conversation?
The answer came shorty when you heard the fabric shift again, and you did not feel his eyes on you anymore. Minutes upon minutes of silence passed in the room. The two of you only speaking in your thoughts.
You wondered what he was thinking right now. Probably thoughts about Jack. You hoped that you being here was helping in some way shape or form instead of just irritating him. Suddenly a nurse walked in and gasped as she saw you.
" What are you doing in here, Out with you right now!" She scolded. You flinched at her tone, You quickly scooted off of the table and walked out without a single glance back at Joshua.
The door was closed with a loud clang behind you and you were suddenly left alone in the quiet hallway again. Soooo what were you supposed to do now? You just hoped that the nurse would not get you in trouble for finding you where you technically should not have been.
Maybe you should try and find the nurse that you were looking for in the first place. You walked down the hall where you remembered hearing her voice, calling out to her a couple of times. Your voice sounded extra loud in the silent hallway, no one responded to it.
Ok, seriously this was by far the shittiest mental institution that was alive today. The guards were absolutely useless, the nurses sucked at their jobs considering they were willing and trusting to let a patient wander the halls by herself. Plus when they were calling out for one of them they just ignored them.
Your Doctor was ok, but you never knew why he thought it was a good idea to bring Benjamin into the group. Well... it was not actually his fault considering he never knew about Ben until the last minute, there really was not anything he could do.
You huffed an irritated breath and decided to just make your way back to the main room to find the cafeteria where everyone was probably having dinner by now.
- -
The next day at group, between the Doctor, Willy and you, was one of the most frustrating group sessions you had ever had. The nurse that found you in the room with Joshua apparently made a huge fuss about it to Valeski, and you indeed had gotten in trouble for it.
You tried to explain that you were just looking for the nurse when you had found him, but they would not hear any of it. The entire session was nothing but your Doctor freaking out at you because of your actions that could have had bad effects.
Like for instance 'what if Joshua had decided to push past you and make an escape attempt?' Again you tried to tell him the door was already open and he was alone when you found him. 'You should have gone to the nearest authority' No one would freaking come when you were calling out to them!!
Willy looked generally interested as he listened to all of this go down. His head was tilted slightly and he had an intrigued expression in his eyes. If you looked closely you could see the lines of a smirk behind his barred muzzle.
You kept sending him confused looks throughout the session, unsure of what he was thinking and just a little worried about what it was. Though that was only on a small part of your mind right now.
It went on like this for the whole group session, Dr Valeski chewing you out and you trying your hardest to not just lose your temper at him. It was pure bliss when the guards came and took you and Willy away for lunch.
When you reached the cafeteria and the guards set you loose you went straight for the line. Eager to get something in your stomach as all this anger made you hungry.
All the people behind the counter smiled at you as you went down the bar. They had a few options to choose from today, From sandwiches to pasta and soup. Personally you felt like having some pasta so you went for that.
You took your tray to your table and sat down, not even getting a bite of anything before two hands were suddenly placed on either side of you from a presence so close they were almost pressed up against your back. A chill froze you in place and you almost dropped your fork.
"You're a different breed you know that?" A cold breath fanned across the back of your neck from a sly voice. " Trying to help people that would have no problem with hurting you when they meet you. Maybe it's for selfish reasons or maybe that is simply who you are. Either way, I admire how you look insanity in the eyes and smile. It reminds me of someone from what feels like a lifetime ago."
And with that, they were gone. You turned your head to see Willy walking away from you to sit down at his own table. What... What the Hell was that?!
What the Hell did he mean by someone from a long time ago?! would you ever get a break in this place? The answer of no came to you as you turned your head and saw the dark-haired girl murdering you with her eyes again.
Ok now you were just angry, you could not even eat in peace anymore without little miss I hate you for no reason over there staring me down the whole time for lunch, break, and freetime!!
You know what fuck it. You were done with everything! You were done being this asylums bitch. You threw the girl an equal glare and the finger before shoving your tray away and stomping towards Willy.
You grabbed him by the shoulder, even though he was a little taller than you and pulled him back to look at you. you were almost shocked when he turned with an all teeth smile flashing at you behind his muzzle.
" Yes?" He asked innocently with a tilt of his head.
" Why do you do this? Why do you torment me, then try to help me then freak me out again? why do you like doing this?! what do you want from me?!" You practically screamed at him.
The cafeteria was dead silent now as all eyes were on you. To you though the only two people in the room where you and the Cannibal. His smile disappeared and he took a deep breath, straightening his back and looking at you with stern eyes.
" It's not about what I want Y/N, that has not mattered for twenty years. Now I hope you don't mind if I turn the question around." He leaned in so close your noses knocked. " What do you want?"