Run For Your Life

Taking Over

Song: Kids With Guns by Gorillaz

April 28

Bill allowed Stanley Uris to crash at his apartment. He set up the couch for himself and let the younger boy take his own bed. The crazed boy had been begging to leave and take a stroll. Bill, being the more responsible of the two, had made it clear that that was not allowed.

Stanley would always pout, sometimes even giving him the silent treatment for fifteen minutes or so. He'd always end up caving, though. It's not exactly like Bill could do anything. And it was not just to keep the boy safe.

Now that would be crazy...

At least that's what Bill told himself. He tried to convince his inner demons that it was to keep himself safe. For if the police found out he was storing away an unsafe patient, then what would happen to him? He can't be connected.

Luckily he's not. There's no tie between the two. There's no way they could've met. It was simple, really. Stanley would stay until the whole thing settled down. Maybe then Bill would allow daily strolls. Possibly nights on the town.

He'll never admit he's having those thoughts aloud. He's not even sure how long the boy will want to stay. From the looks of him it could be awhile. Somehow Bill doesn't seem to mind.

Bill can't really say it's been simple. Not when Stanley has been talking and plotting and going on and on about saving this Richie.

Who the hell even is that guy?

Apparently the boy's best friend. Also the "only one the voices can stand besides myself." Stanley's words, not Bill's. Though he did find that interesting. What voices? Was this a stable individual? Should he have him in his place?

To answer the questions in Bill's mind-...

1. Who cares...
2. He hopes not!
3. Obviously.

One minor problem. Richie. He hates that the younger man won't shut up about him. It's Richie this and Richie that. In fact, Richie is the conversation at this very moment.

"It was so cool. He slid on his knees and was all like 'wham! whack!' And then I was like 'woaaaah' while jumping over him in like slow motion. Totally badass. I didn't think Richie could get any cooler-..."

"Is he your boyfriend?" Stanley flicks his cigarette ashes.

Stanley looks up in surprise. He also puts away his hands, which were acting out the scene. "What? No. I would never. Yuck!"

Bill's lips tilt upwards. "Good boy."

Stanley can't deny the heartbeat in his chest. He hadn't felt that since-... "Derek."

Bill squints his eyes before leaning forwards. He knows this Derek guy all too well. He'd been placed as the victim. So had the parents. When in reality Stanley was the one going through hell. Oh yeah, Bill knows the whole thing all too well.

The younger boy gulps before continuing. "The reason I bring up Richie so much is because he was the only one the voices liked. They never liked Derek. I didn't listen. Obviously that caught up with me, huh?" He offers a smile before going on. "Well Richie is my only good memory. He would laugh at Derek's pain, which would bring me joy. And he always listened. That was nice. Not many people listen, you know? When did the world get so selfish?" There's a chuckle at the end. "But that's why I talk about Richie. Cause I don't wanna remember anything else."

Bill feels guilty. That same guilty, empty feeling that consumes him most days. He thinks of his brother now. Bill only ever talks about him or brings him up in conversations. Perhaps that's what Richie is to Stanley. The same sweet brotherly memory that he too had. The same guilty feeling for leaving him behind. The only one he's ever really cared about in life.