WARNING: this is a chapter where Red has flashbacks to his past, when he lived with his parents. So if you don't like child abuse, get out.

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Red and Barney were at the zoo. Red had never seen animals before. A dog or two on the streets in Seattle, but never so man, all the varieties laid out before him. Red really liked animals.

They were in the reptile house. A large building that was very warm and humid on the inside. Red looked at the various lizards and snakes, noting how much they looked like dinosaurs. Red liked dinosaurs. Barney liked teaching Red new things. He was so cute and innocent. He thought that unicorns and dinosaurs were real and alive. Barney didn't have the heart to tell him yet.

Red stopped on a cage full of little reptilian creatures.

"What are these?" Red pointed at them.

"Oh! You'll love these!" Barney said excitedly. "They're chameleons. They change color, just like you!"

Barney had expected Red to be delighted. But that wasn't the case. His face ran pale, and then turned Purple. Purple was hyperventilating and wide eyed. Immediately, Barney was panicking. He pulled his boyfriend into the nearest bathroom, pushing him into a stall where no one could see him transform.

"Red?! Purple?! What's going on?!" Barney shook Purple's shoulders, but he was unresponsive. Tears falling down his face freely as he stared off into the distance.

Blue looked down at his hands. Tears glistening in the dips between his palm and fingers. His parents were home. He wasn't sure which was worse, being alone, or being home with them.

"Help Blue." Blue whispered. "Please help Blue, Red."

I can't take over until you calm down. Red said.

"Please." Blue whimpered. "Blue can't calm down. Blue is scared!"

"What did I tell you about talking to yourself?!" His father shouted, slamming the door to his bedroom open. Blue shook and cried, he saw his hands flicker to purple.

"Stop changing!" He shrieked. "God, you're a freak! I can't believe I had a chameleon child!"

Blue winced. He didn't know what a chameleon was, but he was sure it was some kind of hideous monster. That's what his father thought he was.

"Oh, shut up, freak." His father hissed. "Or I will beat you until you can't speak."

Purple squealed in terror, curling into a ball and going completely purple.

He screamed as his father pulled his up by his hair. Lifting him into the air and bringing him to eye level with his enraged father. Before Purple could process what was happening, he was thrown to the ground. All the air left his lungs on impact. As he struggled to draw breath, he felt a sudden, excruciating pain in his arm and heard a sickening crunch. He screamed at the top of his lungs as his father stomped on his fragile arm, breaking the bone instantly.

"DADDY!" Purple screamed.

"SHUT UP!" His father roared, another kick landing directly on his chest. His ribs cracked under the force and Purple had lost his wind again. "You are not my son!"

Barney continued to shake Purple desperately, but he seemed to be locked away in a world of terror. All he would do was scream. He just kept screaming. It was a horrible sound. Like he was being murdered. Eventually, Barney gave up on trying to reach him. He just held onto Purple as he screamed, tears stinging his eyes. He hated this. He hated that he couldn't help his boyfriend.

"No!" Purple sobbed. "Please!"

"SHUT UP!" His father shouted, grabbing onto Purple's hair and beginning to smash his head into the floor. Blood ran out. It was warm, sticky, and red. Red as Red was. Purple wished that he was just Red. That Purple didn't exist. That they were all just the son that their parents had always wanted. If they were like that, maybe his father and mother would be happy.

Maybe he deserved what he got.

This was his punishment for not being Red.

He went silent, just letting his father beat him into submission. Soon, he found himself dizzy and drifting off into a tempting unconsciousness.

Purple came to his senses wrapped in Barney's arms. He was holding onto Purple so tight it felt like he was being crushed. Purple... Was crying. He was crying. And so was Barney.

Purple returned Barney's embrace, clutching onto him and holding for dear life, letting lose his feelings. He felt safe to do so for the first time in his life. Safe to show another person the pain he was in. Barney hadn't abandoned him. He would never abandon him.

People were banging on the bathroom door, demanding to be let in. Purple felt another pang of fear shoot through his heart. He couldn't calm down, not like this. And he couldn't show himself as Purple. Both of them knew this. Barney held Purple back, far enough so that Purple could see his face. Without even saying any words, Purple knew that Barney had a plan.

He followed Barney silently. At the end of the sinks and stalls was a window. It was small, rectangular, and close to the ceiling. But luckily, Purple was thin enough to fit through. Slowly, Barney helped to carefully push him out of the small opening. And in turn, Purple helped to pull him out of the bathroom. They ran, not looking back and keeping their heads down. Nobody was paying attention to them anyway. They were more concerned about what all the yelling was about.

That night, Blue cried himself to sleep in Barney's arms. Barney didn't ask. He just held him and kissed him and prayed that he was okay.