Within these Walls

Author's Note: Another OC has joined the gang due to Chaos' Mistress! Say hello to Nero (who I don't think is a Gary Stu anyway, but I'm just a crappy fanfiction author who's written sues before, herself, so I have no real right to talk)!

I received the concept art for the doujinshi. It. Is. Gonna. Be. So. Uh-may-zing. This is one of the few ways a little 15-year old girl like me can get totally squealing and shit. Especially one that's an otaku in the first place. Doujinshi ….jeez, I'm just as excited as you folks, if not moreso.

The chapter titles are something I thought I'd bring up in this stupid little author's note. If you're not aware, they're all songs from Foster the People's 'Torches'. You should listen to it. Because seriously, what says tear jerker cyberpunk more than ALL THEM OTHER KIDS WITH THE PUMPED UP KICKS

Ahem. Anyway. I'm gonna try to make the rounds to the OCs I haven't included yet to here, those being Kuran, Bell, Finn, and our newest addition, Nero. We'll also be seeing more of the mentioned-once 'Little Red' within this chapter, and quite possibly Lilac as well in the next chapter. Oh – and this is somewhat of a breather chapter (hence it being short and shit), next one will be heavy again.

On another note I'm sorry for giving the goths names, but I can't go with Kindergoth, Tall Goth, and Red Goth. Bwah. That makes me go 'NO THEY NEED NAMES'. So I named them (crappily) so I wouldn't have spasms :D

And so. Let's begin!

Chapter 4: Color on the Walls (Don't Stop)

The Black household happened to be the largest one on the lot, and the most heavily guarded. Of course, there was little to no reason to have it be guarded so well – although Bell and Token were both deliverers, the two could handle most anything that crossed their path, to be entirely honest – and that was exactly why and how the Blacks became wealthy and stayed wealthy. It was, undoubtedly, a hostile method, but it was one that worked, albeit with Token constantly feeling guilt about it.

This afternoon, both Bell and Token were running back to the home, trying to see who could make it there first. She ran ahead, although Token quickly caught up, grinning widely. Bell merely yawned, and started walking, apparently tired of the game. Token pouted, slowing down and walking next to her.

"What happened?"

"I'm tired." Bell stated simply, and trudged on ahead, scratching her head. "No use running when I'm tired."

"…But we were having a race…." Token went on.

"You win." Bell said, and clapped her hands, then shot both of them into the air. "Hooray for Token."

"….What would you do if I were Stan Marsh wanting your package?" Token tried to snap, although he, notably, was a failure at this discipline thing.

"I'd give it to him. We get more than enough, so the poor kid can have something." Bell stated once again, and yawned. Token sighed, shaking his head.

"You need to get a hang of this 'taking care of your packages' thing." Token frowned.

"You need to not be so uptight." Bell nodded, and then walked on ahead.

"….Why do I keep you around?"

"Because you love me."

"Not likely."

"Good." Bell shot off one of her rare smiles, and continued walking, whistling a tune slowly. Suddenly, a blue-haired girl jolted ahead, holding a shotgun in her palm and a red cloak around her, shooting off her gun, and then flipping back, pointing the gun straight at Bell.

"The package. Hand it over." The blue-haired girl spoke, adjusting the shotgun so it pointed directly at Bell's heart.

"And who are you to tell me what I should do?" Bell crossed her arms, seemingly calm, although her eyes widened a bit.

"You may know me by many names. Bloodcloak. The First. Wolf-Slayer. Above all, I prefer the title Little Red." The girl spoke. Token stared, slowly pulling out his set of smoke bombs. Little Red apparently noticed, and readied her finger on the trigger. "Throw, and I shoot."

Bell grimaced. "Oi. Who said I'm any damsel?" Pulling out one blade, then two, she readied herself against the dangerous assassin, shooting Token a small glance.

Help me.

Meanwhile, the McCormick crew was ready to go out for another run. Karen looked down, looking at the nunchuk in her hands.

"…Are you sure I'll make a good postmortem man, Kenny?" She asked quietly. Kenny only nodded, sighing quietly.

"Karen, we have no other choice. We either use you as defense and have a excuse for you to come along with me, or we use you as offense, and let you most likely die at the hands of Craig, or Token, or even Jimmy or Timmy. I'm not letting that happen. As your big brother, I'm saying that you have to take on the identity of Rapunzel, or else." Kenny sighed. "Oi, Monday. Come on." He motioned to the special deliverer the McCormicks owned – Nero – who nodded, smiling gently, running over to Kenny and hugging him tightly. "…Affection later. Let's get that goddamn package." Kenny pulled away silently, then took Karen's hand and ran out, not even glancing back at the home he was destined to return to.

Because who would want to return there, where a mentally-challenged psychobrat is treated as a human being, and the real children, the true ones, are merely forgotten?

Pulling around the corner, Kenny noted the commotion going on, seeing Little Red, Bell, and Token. Sighing slowly, he pulled out a shuriken, aiming for the back of Red's head, and motioned for Karen to try to get close, slowly, and choke her to make her pass out. Nero shook his head, but pulled out a dart, aiming for the correct spotting. He sent Kenny a small smile, as if to say

I know what I'm doing, brother. Please trust me! I'll knock her out, and we'll get the girl and the boy out of here! Yeah!

Kenny nodded slowly, holding Karen back as Nero threw a dart, hitting Red in the middle of her back, making her fall to her knees. She grunted, trying to move, but unable. Bell blinked, surprised by their good luck, but frowned, seeing the dart.

McCormick. One of those who seemed to like the Stotches – the weak bastards who were barely trying to make a name for themselves, aligned with the Valmers. Creepy bastards, all of 'em. She sighed, giving a thumbs up as to say thanks, then grabbed Token's hand roughly and ran off, glancing behind her ever-so-often.

"I thought you said you didn't want to run…."

"I lied, okay? Running is the best thing to do at this moment. We need to get away."

"….If you say so."

Yes, he'd definitely question her about this later.

Kenny shook his head, but walked off once again, taking Nero and Karen's hand, walking towards the Stotch home, having little-to-nothing-else to do, and in need of more shurikens.

The door jingled as the three walked in.

"Stotch's Weaponry! We make me—oh, hey, Kenny! And hey, Karen and Nero!" Butters grinned, being familiar with the three as a strange girl popped out from behind the counter as well. Kenny raised an eyebrow, but then shook it off.

"My name's Peter Piper during business hours, Little Boy Blue. That goes for Monday and Rapunzel as well." Kenny stated, motioning to the other two. "Anyway. How goes it? Who's the chick?"

"Oh, this is Skyla." Butters introduced her. Skyla nodded.

"Sup." Skyla said, raising a hand, although not smiling. She pointed to Nero. "You're pale."

Nero nodded quietly, raising an eyebrow as if to say 'And?'

"You don't talk." Skyla once again stated the obvious, nodding as if she'd figured something out. "You're really odd, but I like it." She then glanced over at Kenny and Karen, and then looked down at Nero, covering her mouth slightly, whispering. "Why are you involved in the drug gang?"

"Oi, that's not what we are." Kenny frowned, glaring at Skyla. It was pretty obvious he didn't like the brunette already, but Skyla merely shrugged, popping the gum in her mouth.

"Oh, and boss, boss." Skyla held up a hand of a person on the ground, smiling. "This guy was passed out in the backyard. I think he wants to join us. We should adopt him."

"…Um….do you even know that for sure?" Butters blinked.

"He said something that sounded like 'Butter' before he passed out. Might've been 'water'." Skyla shrugged. "Either way. We should take him into our family. I'll be the mother, and you'll be the pet dog."

"W-WHY AM I THE DOG?" Butters yelped, jumping back in surprise. Skyla smiled.

"Go woof."

"….Woof?" Butters blinked. Skyla clapped her hands.

"A good dog!" Skyla patted Butters head, smiling brightly. Butters sighed.

"….Um, can we skip the rest of the comedy club's showings and just get what we came in for? Shurikens?" Kenny smiled weakly, obviously not too adjusted to the way everyone seemed to be around this location. Butters smiled, seeing it as a way out, and nodded, pulling out a box. Of course, however, Kenny just couldn't help it. "Hey, Butters. Remember that one time that I damn near well ruined your eyesight due to one of these?"

"….Y-Yeah." Butters frowned, remembering, looking a bit worried all over again.

"Well, that'll happen again if you ever betray me!" Kenny grinned widely, and then kissed Butters on the cheek. "See you next time I need more stock!" He took Karen's hand, walking out, as Butters blinked, sighing, watching as Nero left and looking up at the still patting Skyla.

"Quit it!"

"A bad dog!"

By nighttime, the streets were nearly empty, and there were only a few souls on the street - Puck, known better to his friends as Kindergoth due to hating his own name (although he was in fourth grade now, so he wasn't exactly fitting this name anymore), Anderson, known to some as 'Red Goth', Henrietta, and Rikki, the tall goth of the four. Puck crossed his arms, lighting up a cigarette and taking a puff.

"Wonder if any information's coming in today for you." He glanced over to Henrietta. She shrugged, leaning back against the brick wall that they usually hung out by.

"We can hope, I guess." She stated, and that was that. The fifth member of the team – Kuran – walked over, his hands in his pockets. He waved a small hello, and the other goths nodded in greeting.

"So. Any info?" Henrietta was the first to ask – a bit straightforwardly.

"Nothing really. More or less they're still trying to get all the streets cleaned. It's not working, but I think they're going to try to change that. Antigone's coming up with some ideas."

Antigone happened to be the mayor's youngest (adopted) daughter, and her favorite. Apparently, she seemed to be the more-or-less brains of many operations, charging in on matters that a girl her age usually wouldn't know.

In other words, Antigone was a pain in the ass.

Henrietta coughed, and then shook her head. "Oh, fuck. Bullshit, that's what it is." She sighed, then crossed her arms. "Great. Conformists trying to crack down. Again. It's going to take a toll on me. God dammit. So glad we're all non-conformists."

"Totally." Rikki spoke up, nodding. "Your brother's gonna be in deep shit."

"As if I care." Henrietta stated. Kuran shrugged, and then took his usual seat, fitting inbetween Anderson and Rikki. All five simultaneously took drags off of their cigarettes, and sighed.

Life was a neverending twisting void of pain and despair.

At least, apparently for them.

"So, did you hear about the suicidal deliverers?"

"I don't watch news."

"Well, neither do I, but I just….heard." Puck covered it up quite easily, blinking, staring up at Rikki. Rikki sighed, but then spoke.

"Right. Worst fuckin' thing since Amsterdam for those conformists." Rikki stated bluntly. "'Least it doesn't concern me."

"…Right, unless you're killed by one."

"Shut up, Puck."

"Don't call me that!"

"Both of you shut up." Anderson stated, and that was that.

No sound was left on the street besides the panting of breath, the sound of a few footsteps, and the sound of a blade hitting the pavement…