#odicyh

Summary: To everyone's shock, the prison riots worked. Phillip Turpin is arrested himself and Benjamin is free after fifteen years of a false charge. He begins taking back his life, beginning with his daughter. However, the word "father" tastes like poison in Johanna's mouth after what her guardian did her to and a flighty girl remains with her wings outstretched. Or: Benjamin gets his daughter back, but he's used to being the parent of an infant. Not a traumatized teenager. Chapters: 18/18 Warnings: anorexia (restrictive type), past sexual assault, trauma, mental health issues, past imprisonment. Read on: Ao3 Chapter Preview:

Her father wraps an arm around her, kissing her forehead. “It’s all worth it. I got to be with you. Got to be your father.”

She got a father. 

Two years ago and for the rest of her life. 

“Thank you,” Johanna whispers. “For being my father. I know I wasn’t the easiest daughter. I wasn’t good at it. But you stuck with me.” Through every hospitalization, through every nightmare, through every argument. “I guess I don’t really know what I’m saying but… thank you. I’m glad we got to meet again.”

He doesn’t reply at first and she’s too scared to meet his eyes. Her gaze stays steady on the view outside. They’re settling into London now. To the church, to the chapel, to her husband. 

Summary: To everyone's shock, the prison riots worked. Phillip Turpin is arrested himself and Benjamin is free after fifteen years of a false charge. He begins taking back his life, beginning with his daughter. However, the word "father" tastes like poison in Johanna's mouth after what her guardian did her to and a flighty girl remains with her wings outstretched. Or: Benjamin gets his daughter back, but he's used to being the parent of an infant. Not a traumatized teenager. Chapters: 16/18 Warnings: anorexia (restrictive type), past sexual assault, trauma, mental health issues, past imprisonment. Read on: Ao3 Chapter Preview:

“Who am I?”

“Benjamin Barker.”

He stretches out the name. A great satisfaction upon his lips at recognizing the face. He doesn’t smile, doesn’t attempt to explain himself. Just sits on that knowledge and tries to move on. 

“Yes,” Benjamin says with a cut to his tone, “Benjamin Barker.”

“The last time I saw you, you were attempting to throw me into prison, was it not?” Turpin speaks of it as if he mentioned they bumped into each other at the grocer’s. “It’s difficult to forget the face of a man who testified against you. But you would know all about that, wouldn’t you?”

Benjamin takes a breath. Weaponless, but there has to be something. He’ll gladly bloody his own fist if it means justice. He could throw Turpin to the ground, throw his fist in his face, throw–

Summary: To everyone's shock, the prison riots worked. Phillip Turpin is arrested himself and Benjamin is free after fifteen years of a false charge. He begins taking back his life, beginning with his daughter. However, the word "father" tastes like poison in Johanna's mouth after what her guardian did her to and a flighty girl remains with her wings outstretched. Or: Benjamin gets his daughter back, but he's used to being the parent of an infant. Not a traumatized teenager. Chapters: 8/21 Warnings: anorexia (restrictive type), past sexual assault, trauma, mental health issues, past imprisonment. Read on: Ao3 Chapter Preview:

June 11th. 

“My brother’s girlfriend is a reporter. She’ll be there.”

“Are they broadcasting it?”

“I don’t know but they’ll write about it…” 

Johanna doesn’t realize that she’s clenching a fistful of curls at her scalp. 

June 21st. 

She’s been safe. The judge has been behind bars for the past seven months. Safe months. 

Things may not be so safe anymore. 

Summary: To everyone's shock, the prison riots worked. Phillip Turpin is arrested himself and Benjamin is free after fifteen years of a false charge. He begins taking back his life, beginning with his daughter. However, the word "father" tastes like poison in Johanna's mouth after what her guardian did her to and a flighty girl remains with her wings outstretched. Or: Benjamin gets his daughter back, but he's used to being the parent of an infant. Not a traumatized teenager. Chapters: 11/21 Warnings: anorexia (restrictive type), past sexual assault, trauma, mental health issues, past imprisonment. Read on: Ao3 Chapter Preview:

She glances back at Benjamin Barker. 

It’s the most afraid she’s ever seen him. 

“I’m not hurt…” (What does she say to that face?) “I’m not in any pain at all.”

Anthony glances at Benjamin Barker, who says nothing. He looks back at her. How did he become the adult in this situation?

“They want to make sure you don’t have a concussion. That happens sometimes, you know?”

Even Anthony sounds defeated. 

Johanna looks at Benjamin Barker. “I want to go home.”

(It’s the first time she’s ever called it that. It’s the first place she’s ever called home.) 

“Not now,” Benjamin Barker finally says. “Not yet.”

Summary: To everyone's shock, the prison riots worked. Phillip Turpin is arrested himself and Benjamin is free after fifteen years of a false charge. He begins taking back his life, beginning with his daughter. However, the word "father" tastes like poison in Johanna's mouth after what her guardian did her to and a flighty girl remains with her wings outstretched. Or: Benjamin gets his daughter back, but he's used to being the parent of an infant. Not a traumatized teenager. Chapters: 7/21 Warnings: anorexia (restrictive type), past sexual assault, trauma, mental health issues, past imprisonment. Read on: Ao3 Chapter Preview:

They retreat back to their silence. 

Will they ever know what to say to each other? 

“What part are you at?” Benjamin Barker asks. 

She glances at the book, now on her lap. “The fire… it just happened.”

He nods. “Have you gotten to the hospital yet?”  

“Not yet.” Johanna gently blows on the rim of her cup before taking another sip. “I don’t much like hospitals. Reading about them is alright, I guess, though.” 

“You were in hospital for about a month after you were born.” 

Another sip. “Really?” 

These aren’t really the stories the Judge had for her. Or could even tell her. It isn’t as if he was there. Like Benjamin Barker was. 

Summary: To everyone's shock, the prison riots worked. Phillip Turpin is arrested himself and Benjamin is free after fifteen years of a false charge. He begins taking back his life, beginning with his daughter. However, the word "father" tastes like poison in Johanna's mouth after what her guardian did her to and a flighty girl remains with her wings outstretched. Or: Benjamin gets his daughter back, but he's used to being the parent of an infant. Not a traumatized teenager. Chapters: 10/21 Warnings: anorexia (restrictive type), past sexual assault, trauma, mental health issues, past imprisonment. Read on: Ao3 Chapter Preview:

The first time he ever touched her was when she was running. He reached for her wrist, desperate to keep his daughter now that he finally found her. Her hand turned into a fist. Ready to strike? He towers above her, has seen the cement of prison walls. But it didn’t seem to matter to the stubborn, afraid girl. He blocked her path to escape. He had lost his wife already. He couldn’t lose his daughter again. 

And now, Benjamin is trying to get her to leave the flat. A few months ago, she spent as much time away from it as possible. A few months ago, she tried running. 

She’s practically locking herself up now. 

The judge is on the streets. He can’t possibly know where they are now. 

Leaving London is impossible now, that much was true. But Benjamin did not tell his daughter part of the reason they have to stay is so he can make sure the judge won’t touch her again. 

Should he go tonight? 

Knife at the ready? Scouted and positioned? 

Summary: To everyone's shock, the prison riots worked. Phillip Turpin is arrested himself and Benjamin is free after fifteen years of a false charge. He begins taking back his life, beginning with his daughter. However, the word "father" tastes like poison in Johanna's mouth after what her guardian did her to and a flighty girl remains with her wings outstretched. Or: Benjamin gets his daughter back, but he's used to being the parent of an infant. Not a traumatized teenager. Chapters: 6/21 Warnings: anorexia (restrictive type), past sexual assault, trauma, mental health issues, past imprisonment. Read on: Ao3 Chapter Preview:

“Barker…” Mrs. Lovett pulls the rolling pin from her pocket before it can fall onto the floor. She points it towards them. “Your father’s Ben, eh?”

"Benjamin Barker, yes.” Johanna doesn’t like the name Ben. It feels too youthful for him, anyway. 

“Benjamin Barker ,” Mrs. Lovett whispers as if it is just as sacred as the name of God. “I heard the old bloke just got out’ jail, but… is he coming back?”

“Coming back…?”

“Home. Here.”

Summary: To everyone's shock, the prison riots worked. Phillip Turpin is arrested himself and Benjamin is free after fifteen years of a false charge. He begins taking back his life, beginning with his daughter. However, the word "father" tastes like poison in Johanna's mouth after what her guardian did her to and a flighty girl remains with her wings outstretched. Or: Benjamin gets his daughter back, but he's used to being the parent of an infant. Not a traumatized teenager. Chapters: 1/? Warnings: anorexia (restrictive type), past sexual assault, trauma, mental health issues, past imprisonment. Read on: Ao3 Preview:

In a few days, she’ll be meeting her father. 

Father. 

The word rings in her ears as she creeps towards the facilities. That’s what her guardian told her to call him once. Father . While she never did or ever even consider him to be anything more informal than “sir” or “guardian,” she imagines him when she hears that word. 

Not whatever stranger is waiting for her. 

She bends to become level with the bath’s faucet (which isn’t terribly difficult for a girl her height), but before she can turn it, she hears,

“Another? You’ll use up all the hot water.” 

Heart stops in her chest. It’s not Mrs. Fogg. Just one of the other foster girls.