Band One Shots! (Mostly Linkin Park so far...)

12 - Brad the Hero (a Linkin Park Brad Delson fanfic)

Running... Running... Running... You're always running.

Around the corner, destination: the bridge. Of course. It's cold. It's so very cold...

The bridge isn't over water anymore. It's just over dry land now, it's a very old bridge. People still use it though. It leads to the highway. You put your hands in your pockets. It's so cold, so cold... you can see your breath. The guy is behind you. Oh no, is he gaining on you? You run, run, run... If he notices where you are going he's going to know where to find you! Oh no, you've got to change your destination. If he knows which bridge you stay under overnight it's going to be hell for real.

You take a turn and head for the city. The guy appears to be getting tired. You are too. You hide between buildings and see him walking by. He's so close... Does he see you? No. No he doesn't see you. You are safe again.

"Dumb bish..." he mumbles. You breathe a sigh of relief and sleep there for the night.

"Hey, are you okay?" Someone is shaking your shoulder. Oh no, is it him? You scream.

"Hey, I'm not going to hurt you, I'm not going to hurt you okay?" The male says. You look at him. This isn't Mason from your school. This guy has a buzz cut, dark hair and deep brown eyes. He looks nothing like Mason. You're going to be okay. "I promise."

"Oh...kay..." You say to him slowly.

"What are you doing here? Did you sleep here? Let me buy you some breakfast..." You stand up and walk beside him as he leads you through town to a little coffee shop. You decide to trust him, he's been so nice.

When you are in the shop he offers to buy you whatever you want. You choose the cheapest donut and he goes "no, whatever you want..." he is looking at you with such concern that you choose another one as well. Then the two of you sit down to eat.

"Are you supposed to be in school?" He asks you.

"I could ask you the same..." You say. He doesn't appear much older than you.

"Well I skipped." He replied. "But uh that's not a very good thing to do so I'm asking."

You giggle. You can't help it. "Why'd you skip? Me too."

"I just get sick of the repetition... I'd rather stay home and play guitar." He grins. "But I wanted to leave and get something to eat this morning and found you so that's why I'm here."

"Oh." You grin. "You play the bass? That's so cool..." It is. You've wanted to play an instrument but all you do is write lyrics. Anyone could do that, right? They're not even lyrics, more poems... You tell him this. He smiles at you and tells you he would love to read them sometime and maybe you can be in his band if you want to provide lyrics. You've always wanted to sing but don't tell him this because you know you might shy away. Instead your thoughts are interrupted by Mason walking by staring at the two of you. He walks in the door.

"Listen, this was nice but..." you don't know what to say to this boy. You don't even know his name...

"What? What's going on?" He asks, obviously confused about why you're trying to shy away from the world. You know it's too late but you are hunched down in your seat anyways. Mason is walking towards you, you can feel his demonic eyes on you.

"What's this, a little play date?" Mason walks up and shakes the table. You are telling yourself not to cry. Run, you've got to run... You push past Mason and try not to look at him. You catch his reflection anyways. He looks angry.

Running. Running. Running. You're always running. Someone picks you up. You scream.

"I don't know what the hell is going on but I'm getting you away from that idiot, okay?" You are in the stranger's arms.

"What's your name?" You think to ask.

"Brad. Brad Delson. Yours?"

You tell him y/n. He compliments it. You smile. He's still running. He is much faster than you and Mason. He makes it to the same bridge you were going to stay at the night before. Mason doesn't notice, he's far behind.

"So... why is he after you? Do I want to know? Do you want to tell me?" Brad is asking. You assume he's never been in a situation like this, he looks so lost. You tell him about how much he hates you, he's been your bully for years and how it just keeps getting worst. You tell him how you are afraid of him pushing his way onto you because he has grabbed you before. You are crying so hard... Brad hugs you. He is still holding you, you didn't realize you had been crying. When you stop he pushes the hair out of your face and tells you "everything is okay now" until you calm down for good. You sit back on the ground in front of him.

"And why were you sleeping on the streets?" he asks you calmly.

"My dad hates me..." you say to him. "He's an alcoholic, he kicks me out... often. Especially when he has girlfriends over. I don't try to interfere, I just sit and write I'm not sure why he hates me..." You forget who you are talking to you are so mad and upset. You start to cry again.

"Listen I know we just met but I think you're really sweet and in a horrible situation that you don't deserve to be in..." Brad says to you. "You can come by and stay anytime you want to..." He starts to say. He is blushing. "I mean, we have an extra room if you would like to stay with me and my family... My mom would love you." He chuckles. "I had a friend who was in a similar situation before and he kept turning down my offer until one day his dad beat him up bad... he ended up staying a couple years at my house and we took him in until he could get on his own feet... he's a few years older than us though. And I know this is a big decision, you don't have to..."

You hug him and say that you would love to. You are crying again and it's highly uncomforting to you. You have never cried this much, there is something special about this boy. You look up at him again and he is so cute. Living with him is going to be so much better... he has saved you. You run to your home with Brad, holding his hand as you run. You run inside and grab your clothes and books. Brad is standing at your front door making sure that your dad doesn't try anything. He doesn't, he is asleep on the couch with a blonde chick. Still you admire how much of a hero Brad has been for you.

Weeks passed with you living in absolute comfort. Brad's mom treated you like a daughter of hers and you had your own room to write in. Your dad for whatever reason gave her the permission to take care of you. It was evidence that he didn't want you anymore but you were just glad that he did give her permission. Brad was teaching you guitar on his extra instrument and you would come home and play every evening. Brad made you nervous but you loved his company. Both of you started going to school regularly again. (Brad had only skipped the day that you had and his mom wasn't pleased but you let her know that he was taking care of you instead and she let it go.)

Months passed and the two of you became more and more inseparable as the days went by. Everywhere you went he did as well and vice versa. You thought that it was just a strong friendship to him until one day he took you back to the place where he'd found you... pushes you against the wall lightly and asks to kiss you. You nod and he kisses you with such passion you forget where you are for a moment. You are confused but he explains that he wants to try and take away any bad memories you may have of staying there in the street. You guess he assumed that you stayed there often when really you stayed in a few places, mostly under that bridge. You decide to talk about that day again and your past with him later. You are ready to let go and start over.