Chapter Text
A few weeks after Claire had taken Tobey home after his first therapy session, the woman had been thinking deeply about her actions going forward. Honestly, the conversation she'd had with Dr. Roseburg still left her shocked.
She hadn't expected this particular turn of events. She really hadn't.
Low self-esteem, hiding from his feelings, and an attachment to those two girls. And the attachment to Wordgirl might be making her son worse. Honestly, she'd expected it to be a superiority complex. She wasn't sure if this jumble was better or worse.
Still, the psychiatrist had helped Claire far more effectively than anyone else had to connect with her son, so it had made sense to continue Tobey's appointments. During the last session, the doctor had suggested that another problem that Claire’s son had was his distinct lack of social life outside the villains, who, despite their surprisingly kind social skills, were not too great for Tobey in one on one.
To solve the problem, Dr. Roseburg had suggested that Claire find Tobey a friend.
It sounded like a simple thing to do when she said it like that, and really, it was. But it wasn't going to be easy, given how gated Claire was realizing Tobey's personality was. Especially given how busy she was going to be on her latest case.
Her investigation into the Best home was bearing fruit, and Claire was very close to getting concrete proof that the parents were actually mind controlling their children.
Her fists clenched at the thought so hard, her hands went pale white. The idea that any parents would be so conditional with affection, and so controlling of a child's life as a result…
While Tobey was frequently getting himself into trouble, Claire loved her son unconditionally. She always would, no matter what, and the idea that anyone would try to make their children have to earn love was infuriating.
The woman pursed her lips as she turned her mind back to her son for a moment. What would she do with him while she was busy with this? While Claire had some faith that whatever his current project was would keep him busy while she worked, she also knew that it would be best to do as the doctor said, and find him a new friend. And in her mind, the sooner the better; strike the iron while it was hot.
Claire thought about it for a moment… before the obvious solution came to her.
"You want me to do what?!"
In a rare moment, Tobey lost his accent as he yelped incredulously. Claire had essentially ambushed her son with her… "request", after she'd taken him out with her for her job. She knew it would be hard for him to refuse her as a norm, but even more so if they had already left the house.
"While I'm working on my case at the Best house, I want you to spend some time with Victoria and Victor."
Tobey slid down in his seat. "But Mom! Those two are just so… irritating! They turn everything into a competition!"
Claire smirked. "And you haven't? I seem to recall a certain someone making quite a few competitions with Wordgirl and Becky Botsford!"
Her son scoffed as he pushed himself back up. "That's different! When I do it, I just go big! Those two… escalate things," he explained.
"Yes, but they don't try to destroy the city every time they lose,” his mother countered. “Despite the evil things they do, at least they have constructive evil tendencies."
Tobey's mouth dropped open at that. "That's not- I'm- They-," he stammered, before crossing his arms, glaring out the window, grumbling.
Claire smirked while he wasn't looking. It was always too easy to counter her son in verbal battles. Maybe it was a little immature of her, but she did enjoy it. He was definitely showing improvement in many prior arguments, so she was going to feel good all with the wins she could get.
Her smirk fell as she went deep in thought. Internally, she prayed to whoever would listen that her plan worked out. For now, though…
"Tobey, listen," she began, pulling her son's attention from the window, "I know it can be hard, but when you get there, I need you to really try and be fair with Victoria and Victor, alright? I know you don't understand right now, and I'm not fully sure if I want you to, but I think you all can do something for each other."
"I'm not telling you to go into this expecting anything," Claire said, cutting off her son before he opened his mouth, "But I'm telling you to go into this and just watch the going ons with that big brain of yours. Can you promise me that?"
Tobey stared at his mother, confusion on face. "Mother?"
Coming to park in front of the Best's house, Claire turned to look her boy in the eye. "Tobey. Please. Promise me."
The young evil genius didn't really know what it was in his mother's eyes. The… emotion she was hitting him with. All he knew was that he couldn't refuse her, not out of fear, but an emotion he couldn't identify. "Okay. I promise."
"That's my boy."
The duo exited the car, and made their way to the door.
Claire sighed. Watching Tobey fidget uncomfortably, she knocked on the Best family's door. While she knew how the Best children acted, she also knew that the parents were some of the snootiest people she'd met. Quite honestly, even before she'd gained evidence of the two manipulating their children, she hadn't liked either of them. Too often they got in the faces of herself and others. She truthfully understood why Tobey didn't like the family, but if things were to change for the children, she had to try.
Eventually, Mr. and Mrs. Best opened the door. "Well, hello there, Mrs. McCallister. How lovely for you to visit our home. It's the best, isn't it?"
Forcing a smile on her face, Claire greeted the duo. "Mr. Best. Mrs. Best. It's a pleasure to see you. I hope it's no trouble, but I brought my son, Tobey."
The other woman giggled into her hand. "Of course not," she assured, "we're the best with company!"
Claire did her best to maintain a civil mood. The duo before her did make her feel anger, but she couldn't let that rule her. Even in Fair City, where the intelligence of civilians and even some of the villains was subpar, Claire was still of sound mind.
She knew that she was on a… sensitive path, and enacting her plan would be tenuous, to say the least. But Claire McCallister was very similar to her boy- she was never one to back down. And, knowing the Best parents and her son as well as she did? She was still confident.
“Well,” Claire began, patting Tobey on the shoulder, “I hope you don't mind if he plays with your children?”
Tobey had to fight the urge to growl as Mr. and Mrs. Best laughed. “Of course not,” Mrs. Best said, running a hand through her hair with a flourish and a laugh. “Our kids are the best at playing!”
Tobey glanced at his mother, the boy’s eyes sending her a clear message: Please don't leave with those two, his look pleaded.
Claire's eyes spoke right back. I have to deal with these two blowhards, she glared. You can handle the others in the meantime.
Given that she wasn't wrong leaving him without a leg to stand on, Tobey turned, and pouted.
While they were doing this, Mr. Best called out for his children. “Victoria! Victor! Come here!”
Just like that, the duo appeared, standing at attention next to their father. “Yes, father?” The duo spoke in unison… or so Claire and Tobey felt.
Mrs. Best tsked, waving her hand at her son. “Victor, you were 3 milliseconds slower in response than Victoria. You need more effort to be the Best!”
While Victoria preened at her victory, Victor dropped a bit at his mother's words. Claire noticed this reaction. Deep within the pit of her stomach, she felt her anger beginning to build.
It took everything she had not to react and respond to the other woman, but Claire fought it down. With a neutral look on her face, she spoke to her son without breaking her line of vision with the Best family.
“Tobey, you go on ahead,” she instructed, her voice not relaying her strong emotions. “I'm going to… get to work.”