Friends with "that Niccals kid" | Gorillaz High school AU

Runaway

"Baby, we both know
that nights were mainly made
for things you can't say
tomorrow day"
-Do I wanna know - Arctic Monkeys

FRIDAY

Murdoc's POV

I go to school earlier than intended, since Stuart and I decided to go together, it's better for the both of us. I put a toddler leash onto Ace and head off. I meet up with him and take out a cigarette, offering the box to him. He takes a cigarette out with a lighter, putting his hoodie's hood on. 

"Any plans for the weekend?" I ask

"Rot inside and maybe paint, or read smut, I dunno" he says

"You read porn? Wow, I didn't expect that from you, Stuey"

"Smut's better than porn, A and B is have you seen me in 9th grade? I was a total ladies man!"

"Whatever, yeah, about that, what happened that you've gone all innocent?" I say as he looks at me blankly, as if to say "sod off"

"Well, I and Paula were together, we broke up, I shagged a couple birds, got back together, and at the end of year prom, got close and personal with 6 different girls. I stopped understanding the hype and decided to focus on my grades instead, much to the teachers' surprise"

"Well, good for you I suppose" I say, putting an end to the conversation

We arrive to school and sit down for physics class, Stuart is obviously the first one asked to write the problem onto the board, I roll my eyes as the teacher utters his name.

After playing browser games during IT, despite Stuart protesting it, the third class, which was simultaniously my favourite, is coming up, psychology. 

We talk about the current lesson, which is children and their developing minds. Mrs. Lopez taught it, and she made me realise that whatever I was going through wasn't normal, that's why I started attending therapy.

After the day was over I walk Stu home and head home myself. My father is particulately angry with me today, but Satan knows why. 

"WHERE'S MY CYLINDER? I'M GOING TO THE BAR FOR SOME DRINKS AND BIRDS." He yells, he loves to be vocal about the vulgar things he'd get into.

"I DON'T KNOW, FATHER, MAYBE IT LEFT LIKE MUM DID" I join the yelling after getting Ace to sleep, although it probably won't last long...

"MUM? YOU MEAN SOME STUPID BIRD? IF YOU HAD A PROPER MOTHER YOU WOULDN'T 'AVE TO BE A PAIN IN MY ASS"

"I NEVER ASKED FOR THIS SHIT, FATHER, I HATE IT HERE, I HATE YOU, THIS WHOLE FAMILY SUCKS. YOU ONLY KEEP US AROUND FOR THE CHILD SUPPORT AND THE ORPHAN SCHOLARSHIPS 'N SHIT"

"WELL, IF YOU HATE IT SO MUCH, MAYBE THE STREETS WILL TREAT YOU BETTER" 

He slaps me across the face, I look up to him as he takes a sigh and pinches the bridge of his freakishly long nose. I stare at him, and he eventually looks back at me.

"Just, I don't know, go to your room or something, don't be a pain in my ass like always, alright, faggot?"

"Yes father..." I say, defeated

I then decided I'd take his recommendation. I pack some bags and set my alarm to 4 AM.

Stuart's POV

It's the weekend, and I feel the need for adventure, and as a newfound artistic nerd kid, the only adventure was going out at night. The last time I did it was when Murdoc took me to the pub, and despite my memory loss, I remember the thrill of it, so I set an alarm for 4 AM and prepare some outside clothes.

The alarm rings at a low volume, so mum doesn't hear it, and I immediately jump out of bed so as to not accidently fall back asleep and ruin my plan.

I dress up, put on my shoes, and, still lacking the ability to tie my shoelaces (don't ask), I just tuck them into my shoes. I silently unlock the door and leave the house, locking it back.

As I keep walking I decide to head to a nearby park, sitting down onto a bench near the playground. I lit a cigarette and admire the dark.

It's all quiet, the slightest movement of the branches moving due to wind can be heard, and I suddenly hear footsteps, I panic a bit, before I hear a high-pitched, child-like voice yell.

"BLUE!" Ace yells as he runs towards me. I stand up in shock and he hugs my leg

"Ace! What are you doing here?" I laugh

"Our bastard father kicked us out" Murdoc appears with a backpack on his back, gym bag and bird cage in his hands

"Oh, I'm so sorry"

"Don't bother, sleeping on a bench is better than that hellhole anyway"

I sit back down as he sits next to me, telling Ace to go play on the baby slide and setting a scrawny looking crow onto the bench next to him. He lights a cigarette, everything is silent.

"Y'know, my father wasn't always like that" he says, looking at Ace slide down the slide, laughing "I remember back then, way before Acey was born, he actually tried to be a good father, y'know, go where no Niccals has gone before and break the cycle, be a good father."

I listened patiently, it was rare for him to open up, I nodded along to his words

"At first he would actually raise us right, but then started drinking alcohol. He'd hit us sometimes, Hannibal was always there to protect me, and after every beating he'd take us shopping and buy us everything we wanted"

He sighs, takes a couple of drags, and after a minute of silence, spoke again.

"He stopped the shopping thing and no longer cared about our feelings, Hannibal caught on, and at about 8 years old, I was the center of attention... no good attention though"

I don't know how to react, I know he hates hugs, and lame comforting attempts, so I just kept listening, pulling out a second cigarette.

"I kept this teddy from when I was 4, I named him Hannibal Jr." He says, pulling out a teddy from his gym bag. "I got it after father beat Hannibal, I thought he deserved it for defending me, but that's... old news"

I put a hand on his shoulder, rubbing it with my thumb as he leans forward, resting his elbows on his thighs.

"Whatever, I guess it's best we get used to the bench, until I find some part-time job and a dirt cheap, rat infested apartment" he laughs, putting his cigarette out on where the teddy's heart would be, leaving a hole in it.

"Or... you could live with us, mum barely has any company besides me, she'd love it!"

"Eh, I'd hate to be a bother" he says

"No, I'm not letting a friend and his toddler brother be street rats, you're coming home with me" I say with a stern look on my face, looking into his eyes.

I was never too keen on eye contact, so this was the first time I noticed how beautiful his eyes were. His right eye was dark brown, almost black, and his left eye was an unnatural reddish color. His eyes were like a beautiful storm, you might admire it, but can't help to wonder about the tragedies that happened behind them.

"Fine... If you insist" he gives in