Hello all. I'm not really focused and i think i'm overthinking this story but maybe i won't anymore and I'll get it done quicker. I think it's near its end anyway.

Squeeky714 asked "I'm wondering why you titled this "Death on the Stairs." Are/were you going to kill someone off?"

The answer is its named after a Libertines song. If you've heard the song... well it's a clue to how the story will probably end. I just like it. That being said, I'm not going to kill anyone off. Not physically anyway. Thanks for the question! :)

When Russel had met Murdoc for the first time, it was to audition for what would later be Gorillaz. Initially, Russel didn't think much of Murdoc, though he had observed some histrionic tendencies.

As Russel played for Murdoc, he noticed that Murdoc seemed to look on at him in rapture. Russel hadn't found this too odd, he knew he had some pretty dope skills, but it did leave him with a sort of unsettling feeling. A feeling that suggested to him that he was getting himself into more things than he bargained for.

The two celebrated Russel's joining the band later that night at the local pub. Though Russel had a liberal amount of drinks that night, his mind was still sharp and he hadn't ignored how Murdoc would tip-toe around some of his questions or just outright change the topic of the banter at hand when it seemed to suit him. Russel's confirmation of Murdoc's dodginess came right as he waited for him to come back before closing time and found himself paying the whole of the tab.

Against his better judgment, Russel decided to meet Murdoc the next day at their agreed time, just as they'd discussed before Murdoc had stuck him with the bill. Murdoc welcomed him in to Kong Studios and mentioned some of the things they had discussed the night before. He'd even introduced Russel to the other members of the band; a tall lanky man named Stuart and his girlfriend Paula. Russel noticed that Murdoc never mentioned, apologized for, or acknowledged having skipped out on the bill.

In the end however, Russel decided to go with it as he was just too entertained by Murdoc. From then on he'd come up with a protocol for living with him as it had become necessary when he moved in to the studio.

Russel lived by the cardinal rule that Murdoc had no real feelings to speak of and was thereby impossible to take seriously. He could remain stoic in the face of Murdoc's over-the-top criticisms and ridiculous demands. This in turn, made Murdoc feel somewhat insecure and inadvertently fostered a mild fear of retribution from Russel in him. Murdoc would later go on to learn that his fear was not unfounded.

...

Cut to the present day.

As Russel mulled over his memories, he quietly sat in front of the television in the den and gently shook his head. As he remembered the present day nuisances, a more recent memory had just come to mind.

...

It happened about a week ago during a particularly stressful rehearsal. In fact it had been so stressful that he had involuntarily rolled his eyes as he thought about it that moment.

The band was completely bushed after nearly 8 hours in the studio, 4 of which consisted of Murdoc delivering his latest polemic against 2D and why he was so utterly useless.

This didn't really shock Russel, he'd been privy to many of them in his time with the band. The key thing that stood out at him from that dreadful evening was the bat-shit crazy behavior that he'd witnessed following it.

About two thirds into Murdoc's rant, Teresa walked by the doorway to the studio and waved at them as she passed by.

Murdoc stopped mid sentence and turned towards her.

"Wait right there, I need to talk to you..." Murdoc said looking at the doorway, as though expecting her to reappear.

She did.

It was at this time that Russel had noticed that the others seemed to conveniently become enthralled in other things. Noodle was focused on her hand movements as she practiced her finger exercises and 2D stared out a nearby window. Russel felt as though he was missing something.

"What? What is it now?" Teresa snapped, rolling her eyes.

"Come here love..." Murdoc said, motioning her closer. His expression was now that of a shrewd appraisal.

"I'm sort of in a hurry so what do you want?" Teresa asked tersely. She shuffled over reluctantly and crossed her arms.

"2D told me that you were trying to get off with one of his mates last night..." Murdoc began but seemed to falter when he saw that Teresa's eyes had narrowed and were now focused on 2D. The situation was beginning to make Russel feel both very uncomfortable and angry.

"Can we talk about this later?" Teresa muttered. Russel felt as though he was back in high school watching an argument go down between a couple. Noodle and 2D seemed to become even more interested in their own activities and fervently ignored the awkward situation.

Russel feared that his recent suspicions of the two fucking around with each other were true. He had been noticing some strange behavior from the two for a while now and this seemed to speak to the motivation behind it.

"Well is it true?" Murdoc quizzed incredulously. His hand was now firmly gripping her arm.

"Well no, it's not true because I DID get off with him, as you call it." Teresa replied dryly. She violently pulled her arm out of his grip. At this point Russel noticed that 2D and Noodle could no longer ignore what was going on. The two had joined in the silent staring.

"I can't believe you're being so casual about it!" Murdoc exclaimed angrily.

"Yeah, so? Why does this even matter? We'll talk about it later..." Teresa said, apparently ignoring Murdoc's glower.

"TOUGH SHIT, WE'RE SETTLING THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL!" Murdoc snapped, apparently irritated at the fact that Teresa continued to act so unfazed.

"What EXACTLY is there to settle then, Murdoc?" Teresa asked, no longer encumbered with the presence of the rest of the band. Conversely, now that Teresa had given in to his demands, Murdoc was beginning to nervously eye the rest of the band.

Russel caught Murdoc's eye briefly. He was sure he knew where this conversation was going and that Murdoc now regretted having it in front of everyone.

"Well Murdoc? What was so FUCKING important that you couldn't wait until later when everyone wasn't here to watch?" Teresa asked impatiently.

"Err... well, it's just that..." Murdoc began feebly, much to Teresa's annoyance.

Russel had decided he'd had enough of this and decided to end it once and for all.

"Hold up, are you both dating each other?" Russel asked. The two looked towards Russel but Teresa spoke up first.

"Hell no, we aren't dating!" She exclaimed, as though she couldn't believe that anyone could think that way. Murdoc did a double-take and looked back at Teresa.

"Yes we are actually, and I'm fucking sick of you pretending otherwise," Murdoc retorted.

"Look, I don't really give a fuck if you guys are dating or not, but ya'll can't be doing this shit at practice. Are ya'll fucking kidding me with this? Teresa, Murdoc... I warned you both about fucking around with each other. This practice is fucking over, I'm so sick of this bullshit..." Russel grumbled. He got up and left, he was tired and hungry and didn't see the point of continuing after the major interruption they had experienced.

...

As Russel placed his focus to the present time once again, he sighed and leaned back into his seat. He wasn't quite sure how this shitshow was going to pan out.