The alarm went off and as usual, Murdoc kicks the clock off. He grumbles under his breath to sit up, stretching his arms and back out. Stuart yawns a bit before blinking open his eyes.
"Another shitty morning with more shitty school." hissed Murdoc.
"Least it's Friday." said Stuart, stretching.
Murdoc huffed and got out of bed, wearing only his underwear. Stuart looks at him to raise an eyebrow.
"Did you seriously see in your undies?" asked Stuart.
"It was hot last night." argued Murdoc, grabbing some clothes.
Stuart gets out of bed to do the same, it was his turn to shower while Murdoc took care of his other bathroom needs.
The Satanist gets to the bedroom door to pause.
"Stu, did you forget to lock the door last night?" asked Murdoc.
The bluenette looks up in confusion to walk over to the door and looked.
"I guess I did, but I'm sure it's nothing bad, my folks know I lock my door at night." said Stuart.
"Eh, if you're sure." said Murdoc.
The two leave the bedroom too sneak to the bathroom to get ready. After a bit, the two emerge and get back into the bedroom.
Murdoc is now wearing a black T-shirt with a white inverted cross on it, dark jeans and his usual black boots. Stuart was dressed in a blue flannel button shirt with a black T-shirt underneath, jeans.
"Okay, I'm heading down, see you in a bit." said Stuart.
Murdoc does a salute and climbs out the window with his bag. Stuart walks down the stairs and turns into his kitchen to see his father eating his breakfast, no paper in sight.
'Uh oh, the only reason he doesn't read the paper in the morning is if he wants to have a talk.' thought Stuart.
Last time this happened, Stuart had been eleven and got told on for glue all kings of shit to this girl's hair. Murdoc got a talking too but he just rolled his eyes.
Stuart is now on guard and walks into the dining room.
"Morning." he greets.
"Hello Stuart, how'd you sleep?" asked Rachel.
"Good, still wish I was asleep." said Stuart.
The question was normal, but there was something behind it. His parents knew something.
Just as Stuart was about to make a comment, he hears the familiar rumble of Stylo's engine.
"Sounds like Murdoc has arrived." said David.
Again, a normal comment but there was something behind it. Rachel leaves the room to let Murdoc in, who as always takes a seat next to Stuart. The bluenette leans over.
"My dad isn't reading the paper and there is something with them, they know something." whispered Stuart.
"Act natural, and remember from middle school, deny, deny, deny." Murdoc whispered back.
Breakfast is served and the four eat in silence. The silence is disturbing, and Murdoc knows shit is about to go down.
Once the food is eaten, Murdoc and Stuart stand up.
"Welp, thanks for another meal, we better head off now." said Murdoc.
They only get as far as the archway.
"Not so fast you two, we need to talk." said David.
The two curse and slowly walk back to take their seats again.
"What's to talk about, we haven't broken any laws." said Stuart.
"This time." muttered Murdoc.
"This isn't about any law breaking, and I should hope you aren't breaking any." said Rachel.
"Course not." smirked Murdoc.
The parents raise an eyebrow but ignore it.
"If there was anything going on, you would tell us, right?" asked Rachel.
"Ya we would, but nothing is going on besides tests and stuff." said Stuart.
"Yep, we're fine." said Murdoc.
The two share a look and Stuart knows something is going on.
"Murdoc, I came home late last night and I saw your car, parked at the end of the street." said David.
Murdoc's eyes widen and he nervously gulps.
"Y-ya, you sure, could have been someone else, some cars are common." said Murdoc.
"No, this was yours, you were the only one to spray paint stars on the doors." said David.
The Satanist looks away, drumming his fingers.
"Could have been a coincidence." said Murdoc.
"Oh, well is it also coincidence that last night we checked on Stuart to find you sleeping in his bed?" asked Rachel.
The bluenette swallows, realizing they had looked in the room last night.
They were caught.
"Now, we want honesty, how long have you been living here, Murdoc?" asked David.
Murdoc is silent to cross his arms.
"Since I was ten." muttered Murdoc.
He couldn't deny anything, they had evidence. He was caught.
"Five years, does your father know about this?!" demanded Rachel.
"No he doesn't, there was no harm in this." said Murdoc.
"Except he may be worried sick about you." said David.
Murdoc snorts, if he was worried, then Hell was experiencing it's first winter. Rachel shakes her head to stand up.
"I'm calling your father, he can help us sort this out." said Rachel.
Murdoc was silent and Stuart rushed up. Just as his mother got the phone, the bluenette slams it back down.
"You can't call him!" yelled Stuart.
"Stuart, what has gotten into you, and why shouldn't I?!" demanded Rachel.
The teen looks to his friend who is glaring. The glare said it all, 'you promised, you promised on our friendship'.
'Sorry Murdoc, but this is more important than a promise.' thought Stuart.
He takes a deep breathe to look at his mother. She was looking at him but he could see the worry.
"You can't because Murdoc's dad is an abusive, drug addicted, alcoholic." said Stuart.
His parents were stunned and Murdoc was furious.
"You fucking promised!" yelled Murdoc.
"I wasn't going to keep it if it meant sending you back, he'd killed you." said Stuart.
Murdoc growls but stops to see the eyes were on him now. He sits back down, exhausted now that they knew.
"Your father abuses you?" asked David.
"It's why he's living here, his father actually strangled him." said Stuart.
"Why didn't you tell us?" asked Rachel.
"Because I promised Murdoc I wouldn't, but when you said you'd call him..." started Stuart, tears slipping.
The Satanist watches his friend to feel bad. He put his friend in a tough situation, all because he was afraid of what was to come.
Stuart was only looking out for him, always was.
"Murdoc, was there a reason you never told us?" asked David.
"I tried before, but because I'm a Niccals, no one would help me, so I was on my own, but after meeting Stuart, my first real friend, I was afraid that I'd be put in the system, forced to travel from place to place and never see him again." sighed Murdoc.
He sent a look to the bluenette who was still crying but the tears have slowed. Murdoc knew Stuart understood the look.
He was forgiven.
"Murdoc, the system is there for a reason, it helps children like you." said David.
"No, it fucks us over." said Murdoc.
Rachel shakes her head to look to her son.
"We do have to call the system, as well as confront Mr. Niccals." said Rachel.
"What,you crazy, my dad kills people, you'll just get added to the body count." said Murdoc.
"No, I own a gun." said David, getting up.
The two teens are silent to look at each other. David owns a gun?!
"Go dad." cheered Stuart softly.
A few minutes later and they were all in the Tusspot's car, driving down the road.
"Do you really have to call?" asked Stuart.
"Yes honey, we'll be calling them after we talk to Mr. Niccals." said Rachel.
Murdoc sighs sadly, looks like he really was going to lose his best friend. Stuart looks at him to frown, sadden by all this.
"I'm sorry, but I had to, they were going to send you back." said Stuart.
"Nah, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have put all that shit on you to keep quiet." sighed Murdoc.
The two look at each other to smile before clapping their hands together in a shake. They reach the old house, seeing it looked even more rotten.
"Man, five years and it only got worse." said Murdoc.
Stuart nods and they get out of the car. David walks to the front door with Rachel staying with the teens.
"Hopefully my dad is too drunk to get his rifle." said Murdoc.
"Is he ever sober?" asked Stuart.
"Only when he's about to take another hit." said Murdoc.
Rachel shushes them and looks to her husband. He's knocking on the door to then push on it.
The front door was open.
He walks inside and the three hold their breathes.
"Everyone, get in here!" called David.
Stuart and Murdoc share a look to walk across the lawn and inside. Once inside they're stunned at what they see.
Nothing, there was nothing inside.
No ugly stained couch, no dining table or dishes. It was just an empty house.
Sebastian and Hannibal were gone.
A/N: Another chapter done, the aftermath of Rachel and David finding out Murdoc has been living with them. And now they get ready to confront big bad Sebastian Jacob Niccals and low and behold, he's gone. What's to happen next? Stay tuned and plz review.