Four Brothers
Feb. 12th, 2009 10:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
veiledndarknessTitle: Another Life 8/?
Author: veiledndarkness
Rating: R
Pairing: None
Summary: You can change your name, but you can't change who you are.
Disclaimer: Not mine, no harm intended, no profit made.
Four Brothers/Death Sentence Cross-over
For![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
littlewitch34 cause she's all kinds of awesome.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
xx
Billy crept down the stairs, his sweater in hand. He tip toed down each wooden step, exhaling at every squeak and creak of the stairs. He darted a quick glance back and then slipped off the stairs, hurrying over to the boot rack by the door. As he tugged his boots on over his jeans, he slowly became aware of a figure on the couch nearby.
"Quiet as a mouse but not quiet enough," Bobby chuckled at the look on Billy's face. "Take those off an' sit down here with me."
"I...uh, I was jus'..." Billy stuttered. He toed the boots off, heat rising up his neck and cheeks. "I wasn't gonna..."
"Mhm," Bobby patted the couch cushion. "Go on, sit down."
Billy sat on the couch, twisting his fingers in the fabric of his sweater. He swallowed and stared at the carpet. Bobby turned the television off, the muted set dimming in the darkness. He looked Billy over for a long moment, silent and contemplative.
"So, you gonna tell me what got in your fool head an' made you decide to try leavin'?"
Billy shook his head. "I wasn't," he said, the lie springing to his lips reflexively.
"God, you seriously think I fell off the turnip truck yesterday?" Bobby snorted, amused. "If you're gonna lie to me, at least look convincing, yeah?"
"I...I need to go back," Billy's cheeks burned with shame. "I don't belong here, an' I'm fuckin' things up for Jack."
The smile dropped from Bobby's face in a flash. "You belong here as much as any of us do. Don't think for one damn second that you don't deserve better than before."
"The longer I'm gone, the worse things are gonna be when I get home," Billy twisted his fingers harder in the sweater. "Last time, he damn near beat the skin offa me. An'...an' them kid people filin' against him...he's gonna be so fuckin' mad, Bobby."
"Let him be mad, he's a sick fuckin' perv. He's a bad man, Billy. He did horrible things to you an' God knows, probably other kids," Bobby clenched his jaw, his fingers curling into loose fists. "You don't deserve to live through that. No one does."
Billy swallowed hard. "I ain't innocent. I've done bad shit for so long."
"So? I ain't perfect either. I've done a lotta bad shit too, but Ma still loves me and wants me around."
Billy rubbed his thumb over his chin, near his mouth, a habit he'd never grown out of. "But...I'm still...I do, I did stuff, I don't fit. An' I hurt Jack," he admitted, his voice fading to a whisper. He cringed, waiting for the slap.
Bobby put his hand over Billy's, loosening his grip on the sweater. "Yeah, I know you did. Couldn't prove it but I knew what you did. You notice that neither me or Ma talks about it? We understand, she really does understand, Billy. She knows where guys like us are comin' from."
"I wasn't gonna...y' know, physically hurt 'im," Billy offered. "I jus'...I dunno."
"You were threatened by him," Bobby sighed and rubbed a tired hand over his forehead. "You don't hafta fight him for my attention or Ma's. It's not a competition."
Billy bit down on his thumb, nodding. "Yeah...It's kinda like, well he's little an' those big eyes, he's cute like a puppy or somethin', an' guys like him, everyone wants them. They get the presents an' the food, they don't get treated as bad sometimes..." he trailed off, squirming under the weight of Bobby's gaze.
"You get food here without havin' to do anything to anyone, you got clothes now, nice warm clothes that fit right," Bobby gripped his hand firmly to keep his attention. "You get that cause we care about you, not cause of what you do for us, not for any reason other than care an' concern. You see that now?"
"Yeah..."
Bobby leaned in and hugged him carefully. "I know...it's damned weird, isn't it? So different, it's nothin' like what's normal and then one day, it starts to feel normal and before was a bad dream."
"Bobby," Billy held on to him, his chest hitching. "What if, what if Bones comes for me? He'll find me, he found me once b'fore. He'll find me, I know it."
"Then he has to go through me," Bobby soothed. "I ain't afraid of nobody, so this Bones guy doesn't scare me either. Sounds like I could outrun him if push came to shove."
Billy laughed a little, wiping at his eyes with the heel of his hand. "He's too fat n' sweaty t' run after you."
"Right, so stop panickin', ok? Besides, you should be in bed right now. You got school in the mornin'."
Billy pulled a face. "Aww...I dunno, I don't wanna go. All them kids...they already gonna think I'm a moron, the principal even said I was stupid."
"Who gives a shit what that old fart thinks?" Bobby scoffed. "He's a dumbass. You go in there Monday mornin', and you show them how smart you are. Show 'im that they're all wrong."
He sighed. "I guess. I never...I never went to no real school. Eddie taught me enough t' get by on."
Bobby rubbed his broad hand up and down Billy's back. "Listen to me, ok? I didn't know how to read when Ma took me in. She taught me and put me in school to help me along. You'll learn, I promise."
"She already gave me a talk 'bout how she's proud that I'm tryin'," Billy sniffed and pressed closer to Bobby, reveling in the comfort he was giving. "Didn't sound like lies or nothin'."
"Ma doesn't lie. She never does," Bobby set Billy back down on the couch. "Upstairs, your butt needs to be in bed."
Billy nodded and trudged back up the stairs, his sweater still dangling from his left hand. "Uh...thanks. For, um, well for takin' me home wit' ya," he offered shyly. "I'm damn thankful, honest."
"Yeah," Bobby followed him up the stairs. "You're gonna be ok, kiddo. No matter what happens, you're gonna be ok. You're a Mercer, even if you don't think of yourself like that yet."
Billy stared at the carpet in the hallway, testing the name over in his head. He gave Bobby a small smile and walked into his room. He curled up in the bed, the sheets tugged up over him securely.
When Bobby closed the door, Billy scrunched his eyes shut and whispered, "Billy Mercer."
He shivered. He kind of liked the way that sounded.
xx
Evelyn tucked the paper bag down, folding it into a smooth crease. She picked up the marker from the counter and wrote the name across the paper, the letters written in a flowing script. She set the bag on the counter with the others, humming along to the music on the radio.
"Jack!" she called. "Your breakfast's getting cold, c'mon now."
He appeared around the corner of the kitchen, panting. "Sorry, sorry," he slipped into his chair and grabbed his spoon and bowl of porridge. "I couldn't find my notebook at first. It was under my bed."
"Eat up," Evelyn sprinkled some brown sugar over the bowl for him. "And where is Billy? I swear the pair of you are such dawdlers. Billy! Downstairs right now."
"He was in the shower," Jack mumbled through his mouthful of porridge. "Bobby was hoggin' it 'fore he got in."
"Swallow before you speak," Evelyn tapped his shoulder. A rapid set of footsteps echoed above them and down the side of the house, ending in a muffled groan. "Billy, for heaven's sake, don't run down the stairs."
Billy sat up, a little dazed from his tumble down the stairs. "Fuck..." he rubbed his head, scowling. He limped over to the kitchen, sniffing the air hungrily. "Sorry, I tripped comin' down."
Evelyn slipped another bowl onto the table and drizzled sugar over the porridge as well.
"It's fine, I want you to be careful though. No running down the stairs. You're likely to break something and the last thing you need is to start your school day with a broken bone, now eat up, Bobby's driving you both to school in a half hour."
"Bobby needs coffee before he goes anywhere," he yawned from the doorway. He smoothed one hand over his damp hair, slicking the strands back. "Coffee..."
"A zombie without his coffee,” she rolled her eyes and passed him a mug.
He took a sip as he sat down. "Mm, bliss."
Angel followed behind him a moment later, yawning loudly.
Billy ate a mouthful of the porridge, his knee bouncing up and down. It had taken some time for him to get used the hustle and bustle around morning meals in the house. The boys came and went to the kitchen at different times, each eating a decent amount under Evelyn's watchful gaze.
He licked his lips, unable to sit completely still. The idea of going to school made him damned nervous. He took another mouthful of the porridge, enjoying the sweet hint of sugar. Jack dug in as well, pushing at the messy hair that hung in his eyes.
Billy looked at his bowl, sighing inwardly. He'd been very careful to watch his attitude around Jack, very aware that how he treated Jack affected how Bobby treated him. It still burned him that Jack was the 'baby' in the house, and that Evelyn fussed over him in a motherly way that made Billy seethe with jealousy, but Bobby did pay a lot of attention to Billy, more so over the past few days.
The discovery that Billy knew an awful lot about cars had been met with great surprise and delight to Bobby, who had then dragged him out to the garage to discuss the state of his car and to work on the repairs together. Billy grinned. It had been very relaxing; to go and do something he knew for sure how to do in a house where he felt completely out of place.
"Finish up, Billy, you still need to brush your teeth," Evelyn admonished him with a smile. "You can daydream on the way to school."
Billy fought the blush that tried to rise. "Yes'm," he mumbled into his porridge, ignoring the snicker from Angel.
Bobby drained his coffee in three big gulps. "Alright, you two chuckle heads, go get ready, huh?"
"Bobby," Evelyn eyed him. "Go easy on them both, hm?"
"Yeah, yeah," he rinsed his coffee mug out and yawned again before kissing Evelyn's cheek. "I'll grab ya after work for groceries, ok?"
Evelyn nodded and sipped her tea, her thin fingers wrapped around the delicate cup. "That's fine. I'm only working until four today. Pick the boys up, make sure they're home and then come pick me up. No rushing though, Bobby. No more speeding tickets, clear?"
"Aww, it was only a couple, Ma," Bobby flashed a charming grin at her. "An' the cop had a hard on for nailin' me."
"Bobby, honestly, your mouth would put a sailor to shame. Angel, you too, up and finish getting ready."
Angel swallowed the last mouthful of porridge and rinsed his bowl. "Yeah, I'm gonna be late tonight. Got practice an' I'm gonna see Sofi 'fore I head home. Probably eat with her, that cool?"
Evelyn nodded. "That's fine. Tell her to come by Sunday for dinner. She's such a sweet girl."
"Bullshit..." Bobby drawled. He ignored the glare that Angel was leveling at him.
Evelyn slapped him upside the head lightly. "You had that one coming, Bobby. You behave yourself around her or so help me, I will wash your mouth out."
Billy snickered under his breath and crept up behind them. He rinsed his bowl and stacked it with the others. He had come to understand that their bantering was simply that. He understood that Evelyn wouldn't actually hurt them, but she would discipline.
Bobby and Angel sparred on a regular basis. They rough housed and fought and bickered back and forth. When Jerry was there, it was no different. He would join them before long, the three of them laughing after a thorough scuffle. Jack still cringed back from the fighting, even if no one was ever seriously hurt by it all.
"C'mon," Billy grabbed Jack's arm, tugging him up and off the chair in one quick movement. "'Fore they start goin' at it."
Jack hurried with him, eager to be away from the increasingly loud bickering in the kitchen. "I hate that...they're so damned loud," he muttered.
Billy jogged up the stairs, chuckling. "That's nothin'. This one guy pissed off Eddie, an' they took him out back with a strap an' a can o' salt. That fucker screamed somethin' fierce."
Jack shuddered and crossed his arms over his chest. "Jesus..."
"Eh, he had it comin'. Eddie's one of the better guys, so the guy musta really pissed him off t' end up like that." Billy nudged the bathroom door open and grabbed the bright green toothbrush from the holder. "Where's yours?"
Jack turned a faint shade of pink. "Um...I left it in my room."
"Ya brush your teeth in your room?" Billy stared at him, both eyebrows raised. "Why?"
"No," Jack snorted, "Of course not. I...never mind." He ran off to his bedroom and returned a moment later with his red toothbrush, his face still pink.
Billy squeezed the toothpaste out on his brush and passed the tube over to Jack. He scrubbed at his teeth, making a face in the mirror. Jack did the same, watching Billy's movements. Billy glanced at him and flashed a foamy grin.
"Pfft," he spat in the sink, the two of them snickering at the sound.
Billy nudged Jack with his elbow. "I know ya can beat that. Show me whatcha got, huh?"
Jack spit as well, making quite the production of it. "Eww," he said, wiping his mouth with the back of one hand.
"Nice," Billy laughed. "Ya gotta put some real spit behind it. Hock it up."
Jack wrinkled his nose. "That's disgustin', Billy."
"Aww, don't be sucha pussy," he rinsed his mouth out and washed the toothbrush off. "Boys are s'posed t' be all gross an' shit. Not prissy, y' know?"
"I guess..." Jack rinsed, considering the idea. "But I like cookin' and helpin' Ma with stuff. That doesn't make me no pussy, right?"
"Someone's gotta cook," Billy shrugged. "Long as ya ain't wearin' a frilly apron, I think you'll be jus' fine." He squeezed Jack's shoulder when he brushed past him. "Don't worry so much what anyone thinks, 'k? It don't matter one bit what anyone else thinks."
Jack nodded silently. As Billy left the bathroom, Jack moved closer to the toothbrush holder. He hesitated for a moment and then placed his toothbrush back into the holder with the others. He was pretty sure Billy wouldn't steal it from him.
xx
Billy curved his fingers into the straps of his backpack, twisting until the skin on his thumbs began to ache. His knee bounced up and down in the back seat, the school building looming ahead of them.
Jack glanced at him. "What? You look like you wanna puke or something."
"Nothin'," Billy bit the inside of his cheek. "Do I really hafta do this...? We can say I went, tell Evelyn I did an' I can go work or whatever."
Bobby flicked his cigarette over the ashtray compartment and exhaled, a thin trail of smoke curling above him. "Not a fuckin' chance, Billy." He pulled up along the sidewalk and turned the engine off. "She finds out I lied an' covered for you, we're both screwed. It's not that bad in school. It's a matter of attitude. Don't let them push ya around but for the love of God, don't start nothin' either. That Terrin fucker's just waitin' for you to try startin' something so he can say he was right. But he ain't right an' he doesn't know shit."
"Yeah...some of it's pretty good. Like..music or art, stuff like that," Jack chimed in. "It's not half bad at all."
"If it's so great, how come even you got into fightin'?" Billy mumbled.
Jack's smile faded. "Never mind."
Bobby glanced back at Jack. "I know you talked to Ma about it. How much longer do ya think you can avoid talkin' to me?"
"We'll find out, won't we?" Jack snapped at him. He shoved the passenger seat up and pushed the door open, slipping out of the car easily.
Bobby sighed. He took a long drag off the cigarette and gestured with his free hand. "Go on, follow Jack into the school. He'll show you where to go."
Billy gripped his bag and slipped out of the car. He took a deep breath and walked up the path. The ache to dive back into the safety of Bobby's car was powerful. He felt safe with Bobby, a feeling he'd never felt at home. Evelyn gave him the same feeling, a protection, a sense of care and love. Billy let a mask of indifference cover his face as he walked up to the building.
He could act like he didn't give a shit. He'd done it countless times before.
xx
Billy sat on the hard plastic chair, a pen clutched between two fingers. The teacher, Ms. Susan as she’d insisted he address her, stood by the chalkboard, a purple stick in her fingers. Billy squinted at the board, his forehead creased with frustration.
The words looked so…odd to him. They didn’t look like any words he’d seen before. They were squiggly and lopsided looking, almost like scribbles. He glared at the chalkboard, ignoring the occasional stares from the other kids in the room with him.
“Billy, could you read this sentence out for the rest of us?” Ms. Susan pointed to the board, a kind smile on her young face.
“Uh…” Billy licked his lower lip. He could feel the stares on him. “I dunno.”
A few snickers echoed behind him. Fury flashed in his eyes and Billy whipped around, his face heavily flushed. “Shut the fuck up, ya fuckin’ bitch!” he hissed at the boy behind him.
“Billy! We do not use that kind of language in this school,” Ms. Susan appeared at his side, dismayed. “Apologize to Sam, please.”
“Are ya fuckin’ kiddin’ me?” Billy sat back in his seat, staring at the both of them.
Sam scowled at him, his freckled skin paling despite his bravado. “God, would ya listen to him? You sound like a fuckin’ retard, like ya got marbles in your mouth.”
Billy lunged at him, pushing the pen against Sam’s neck. “Say it again,” he crooned. “I fuckin’ dare ya.”
“Billy!”
He darted a quick glance at Ms. Susan and then at the others. The look of fear on their faces, the horror in Sam’s wide brown eyes…it hit him like a slap. Billy dropped the pen and backed away from Sam, his chest hitching. He took in several shaky breaths, his hands trembling.
“Billy, please,” Ms. Susan approached him slowly. “It’s alright.”
“S-sorry,” he whispered. “I…I can’t read nothin’ on the board.”
She nodded. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know. It’s called cursive writing. Think of it as a fancy way to print your words. We’ll….we’ll talk about this incident after class, ok? Please…sit down now.”
Billy swallowed and edged closer to his chair. He avoided the stares from the frightened students and hunched over in his seat. Ms. Susan smoothed her hands over her blouse, her fingers fluttering along the material.
He closed his eyes, breathing in and out like Evelyn had suggested he try a few days before. Billy let his mind wander. He zoned out, retreating within himself, away from the class, away from the fear and anger.
xx
"He's gone? The fuck do you mean he's gone?"
Billy sat on the top of the stairs that night, his head resting on his knees. He cringed when Bobby shouted, the words putting the fear of God into him. He hugged his legs tightly to his chest, listening to the conversation below.
"Bobby, hush! Billy's sleeping, don't you wake him up with that shouting. Especially after the…well problems he had today."
"How the hell could he be gone?" Bobby hissed. "Someone musta tipped him off."
Evelyn sighed. "That's what I've been told. The arrests were to have taken place yesterday, but when the police arrived, the warehouses were empty, the buildings vacated along with the chop shop. There's no evidence, nothing to imply that Bones Darley ever occupied them."
"That son of a bitch!"
"Bobby...hey, look at me. Focus, alright? If Bones is gone, then Billy needs to be protected. He knows what's happening now, that much is obvious."
Billy gripped his legs, his fingers trembling. "Shit, oh shit," he whimpered.
"If he puts one fucking foot near this house..."
"Bobby, sit down!"
"Ma, you don't even know how bad this is. That...Darley is a sick man. Most of those scars on Billy, they came from him! You know that weird scar behind his ear? He heated a fuckin' penknife and held it to his head until he passed out. Bones locked him in a trunk for three days when he was six! The shit they did to him...Ma, Darley's gonna come lookin' for Billy and I'll be damned if I'm gonna hand him over."
Billy got up, his body on autopilot. He walked silently down the hallway to Bobby's bedroom and closed the door behind him. He looked around the dark room, the doorknob across from him gleaming obscenely. Billy crossed the room and tugged the door open. He stepped inside and yanked the door shut, the hinges squealing quietly. He sat down in the small, dark space and curled up onto his side, waiting.
xx
Author: veiledndarkness
Rating: R
Pairing: None
Summary: You can change your name, but you can't change who you are.
Disclaimer: Not mine, no harm intended, no profit made.
Four Brothers/Death Sentence Cross-over
For
littlewitch34 cause she's all kinds of awesome.Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
xx
Billy crept down the stairs, his sweater in hand. He tip toed down each wooden step, exhaling at every squeak and creak of the stairs. He darted a quick glance back and then slipped off the stairs, hurrying over to the boot rack by the door. As he tugged his boots on over his jeans, he slowly became aware of a figure on the couch nearby.
"Quiet as a mouse but not quiet enough," Bobby chuckled at the look on Billy's face. "Take those off an' sit down here with me."
"I...uh, I was jus'..." Billy stuttered. He toed the boots off, heat rising up his neck and cheeks. "I wasn't gonna..."
"Mhm," Bobby patted the couch cushion. "Go on, sit down."
Billy sat on the couch, twisting his fingers in the fabric of his sweater. He swallowed and stared at the carpet. Bobby turned the television off, the muted set dimming in the darkness. He looked Billy over for a long moment, silent and contemplative.
"So, you gonna tell me what got in your fool head an' made you decide to try leavin'?"
Billy shook his head. "I wasn't," he said, the lie springing to his lips reflexively.
"God, you seriously think I fell off the turnip truck yesterday?" Bobby snorted, amused. "If you're gonna lie to me, at least look convincing, yeah?"
"I...I need to go back," Billy's cheeks burned with shame. "I don't belong here, an' I'm fuckin' things up for Jack."
The smile dropped from Bobby's face in a flash. "You belong here as much as any of us do. Don't think for one damn second that you don't deserve better than before."
"The longer I'm gone, the worse things are gonna be when I get home," Billy twisted his fingers harder in the sweater. "Last time, he damn near beat the skin offa me. An'...an' them kid people filin' against him...he's gonna be so fuckin' mad, Bobby."
"Let him be mad, he's a sick fuckin' perv. He's a bad man, Billy. He did horrible things to you an' God knows, probably other kids," Bobby clenched his jaw, his fingers curling into loose fists. "You don't deserve to live through that. No one does."
Billy swallowed hard. "I ain't innocent. I've done bad shit for so long."
"So? I ain't perfect either. I've done a lotta bad shit too, but Ma still loves me and wants me around."
Billy rubbed his thumb over his chin, near his mouth, a habit he'd never grown out of. "But...I'm still...I do, I did stuff, I don't fit. An' I hurt Jack," he admitted, his voice fading to a whisper. He cringed, waiting for the slap.
Bobby put his hand over Billy's, loosening his grip on the sweater. "Yeah, I know you did. Couldn't prove it but I knew what you did. You notice that neither me or Ma talks about it? We understand, she really does understand, Billy. She knows where guys like us are comin' from."
"I wasn't gonna...y' know, physically hurt 'im," Billy offered. "I jus'...I dunno."
"You were threatened by him," Bobby sighed and rubbed a tired hand over his forehead. "You don't hafta fight him for my attention or Ma's. It's not a competition."
Billy bit down on his thumb, nodding. "Yeah...It's kinda like, well he's little an' those big eyes, he's cute like a puppy or somethin', an' guys like him, everyone wants them. They get the presents an' the food, they don't get treated as bad sometimes..." he trailed off, squirming under the weight of Bobby's gaze.
"You get food here without havin' to do anything to anyone, you got clothes now, nice warm clothes that fit right," Bobby gripped his hand firmly to keep his attention. "You get that cause we care about you, not cause of what you do for us, not for any reason other than care an' concern. You see that now?"
"Yeah..."
Bobby leaned in and hugged him carefully. "I know...it's damned weird, isn't it? So different, it's nothin' like what's normal and then one day, it starts to feel normal and before was a bad dream."
"Bobby," Billy held on to him, his chest hitching. "What if, what if Bones comes for me? He'll find me, he found me once b'fore. He'll find me, I know it."
"Then he has to go through me," Bobby soothed. "I ain't afraid of nobody, so this Bones guy doesn't scare me either. Sounds like I could outrun him if push came to shove."
Billy laughed a little, wiping at his eyes with the heel of his hand. "He's too fat n' sweaty t' run after you."
"Right, so stop panickin', ok? Besides, you should be in bed right now. You got school in the mornin'."
Billy pulled a face. "Aww...I dunno, I don't wanna go. All them kids...they already gonna think I'm a moron, the principal even said I was stupid."
"Who gives a shit what that old fart thinks?" Bobby scoffed. "He's a dumbass. You go in there Monday mornin', and you show them how smart you are. Show 'im that they're all wrong."
He sighed. "I guess. I never...I never went to no real school. Eddie taught me enough t' get by on."
Bobby rubbed his broad hand up and down Billy's back. "Listen to me, ok? I didn't know how to read when Ma took me in. She taught me and put me in school to help me along. You'll learn, I promise."
"She already gave me a talk 'bout how she's proud that I'm tryin'," Billy sniffed and pressed closer to Bobby, reveling in the comfort he was giving. "Didn't sound like lies or nothin'."
"Ma doesn't lie. She never does," Bobby set Billy back down on the couch. "Upstairs, your butt needs to be in bed."
Billy nodded and trudged back up the stairs, his sweater still dangling from his left hand. "Uh...thanks. For, um, well for takin' me home wit' ya," he offered shyly. "I'm damn thankful, honest."
"Yeah," Bobby followed him up the stairs. "You're gonna be ok, kiddo. No matter what happens, you're gonna be ok. You're a Mercer, even if you don't think of yourself like that yet."
Billy stared at the carpet in the hallway, testing the name over in his head. He gave Bobby a small smile and walked into his room. He curled up in the bed, the sheets tugged up over him securely.
When Bobby closed the door, Billy scrunched his eyes shut and whispered, "Billy Mercer."
He shivered. He kind of liked the way that sounded.
xx
Evelyn tucked the paper bag down, folding it into a smooth crease. She picked up the marker from the counter and wrote the name across the paper, the letters written in a flowing script. She set the bag on the counter with the others, humming along to the music on the radio.
"Jack!" she called. "Your breakfast's getting cold, c'mon now."
He appeared around the corner of the kitchen, panting. "Sorry, sorry," he slipped into his chair and grabbed his spoon and bowl of porridge. "I couldn't find my notebook at first. It was under my bed."
"Eat up," Evelyn sprinkled some brown sugar over the bowl for him. "And where is Billy? I swear the pair of you are such dawdlers. Billy! Downstairs right now."
"He was in the shower," Jack mumbled through his mouthful of porridge. "Bobby was hoggin' it 'fore he got in."
"Swallow before you speak," Evelyn tapped his shoulder. A rapid set of footsteps echoed above them and down the side of the house, ending in a muffled groan. "Billy, for heaven's sake, don't run down the stairs."
Billy sat up, a little dazed from his tumble down the stairs. "Fuck..." he rubbed his head, scowling. He limped over to the kitchen, sniffing the air hungrily. "Sorry, I tripped comin' down."
Evelyn slipped another bowl onto the table and drizzled sugar over the porridge as well.
"It's fine, I want you to be careful though. No running down the stairs. You're likely to break something and the last thing you need is to start your school day with a broken bone, now eat up, Bobby's driving you both to school in a half hour."
"Bobby needs coffee before he goes anywhere," he yawned from the doorway. He smoothed one hand over his damp hair, slicking the strands back. "Coffee..."
"A zombie without his coffee,” she rolled her eyes and passed him a mug.
He took a sip as he sat down. "Mm, bliss."
Angel followed behind him a moment later, yawning loudly.
Billy ate a mouthful of the porridge, his knee bouncing up and down. It had taken some time for him to get used the hustle and bustle around morning meals in the house. The boys came and went to the kitchen at different times, each eating a decent amount under Evelyn's watchful gaze.
He licked his lips, unable to sit completely still. The idea of going to school made him damned nervous. He took another mouthful of the porridge, enjoying the sweet hint of sugar. Jack dug in as well, pushing at the messy hair that hung in his eyes.
Billy looked at his bowl, sighing inwardly. He'd been very careful to watch his attitude around Jack, very aware that how he treated Jack affected how Bobby treated him. It still burned him that Jack was the 'baby' in the house, and that Evelyn fussed over him in a motherly way that made Billy seethe with jealousy, but Bobby did pay a lot of attention to Billy, more so over the past few days.
The discovery that Billy knew an awful lot about cars had been met with great surprise and delight to Bobby, who had then dragged him out to the garage to discuss the state of his car and to work on the repairs together. Billy grinned. It had been very relaxing; to go and do something he knew for sure how to do in a house where he felt completely out of place.
"Finish up, Billy, you still need to brush your teeth," Evelyn admonished him with a smile. "You can daydream on the way to school."
Billy fought the blush that tried to rise. "Yes'm," he mumbled into his porridge, ignoring the snicker from Angel.
Bobby drained his coffee in three big gulps. "Alright, you two chuckle heads, go get ready, huh?"
"Bobby," Evelyn eyed him. "Go easy on them both, hm?"
"Yeah, yeah," he rinsed his coffee mug out and yawned again before kissing Evelyn's cheek. "I'll grab ya after work for groceries, ok?"
Evelyn nodded and sipped her tea, her thin fingers wrapped around the delicate cup. "That's fine. I'm only working until four today. Pick the boys up, make sure they're home and then come pick me up. No rushing though, Bobby. No more speeding tickets, clear?"
"Aww, it was only a couple, Ma," Bobby flashed a charming grin at her. "An' the cop had a hard on for nailin' me."
"Bobby, honestly, your mouth would put a sailor to shame. Angel, you too, up and finish getting ready."
Angel swallowed the last mouthful of porridge and rinsed his bowl. "Yeah, I'm gonna be late tonight. Got practice an' I'm gonna see Sofi 'fore I head home. Probably eat with her, that cool?"
Evelyn nodded. "That's fine. Tell her to come by Sunday for dinner. She's such a sweet girl."
"Bullshit..." Bobby drawled. He ignored the glare that Angel was leveling at him.
Evelyn slapped him upside the head lightly. "You had that one coming, Bobby. You behave yourself around her or so help me, I will wash your mouth out."
Billy snickered under his breath and crept up behind them. He rinsed his bowl and stacked it with the others. He had come to understand that their bantering was simply that. He understood that Evelyn wouldn't actually hurt them, but she would discipline.
Bobby and Angel sparred on a regular basis. They rough housed and fought and bickered back and forth. When Jerry was there, it was no different. He would join them before long, the three of them laughing after a thorough scuffle. Jack still cringed back from the fighting, even if no one was ever seriously hurt by it all.
"C'mon," Billy grabbed Jack's arm, tugging him up and off the chair in one quick movement. "'Fore they start goin' at it."
Jack hurried with him, eager to be away from the increasingly loud bickering in the kitchen. "I hate that...they're so damned loud," he muttered.
Billy jogged up the stairs, chuckling. "That's nothin'. This one guy pissed off Eddie, an' they took him out back with a strap an' a can o' salt. That fucker screamed somethin' fierce."
Jack shuddered and crossed his arms over his chest. "Jesus..."
"Eh, he had it comin'. Eddie's one of the better guys, so the guy musta really pissed him off t' end up like that." Billy nudged the bathroom door open and grabbed the bright green toothbrush from the holder. "Where's yours?"
Jack turned a faint shade of pink. "Um...I left it in my room."
"Ya brush your teeth in your room?" Billy stared at him, both eyebrows raised. "Why?"
"No," Jack snorted, "Of course not. I...never mind." He ran off to his bedroom and returned a moment later with his red toothbrush, his face still pink.
Billy squeezed the toothpaste out on his brush and passed the tube over to Jack. He scrubbed at his teeth, making a face in the mirror. Jack did the same, watching Billy's movements. Billy glanced at him and flashed a foamy grin.
"Pfft," he spat in the sink, the two of them snickering at the sound.
Billy nudged Jack with his elbow. "I know ya can beat that. Show me whatcha got, huh?"
Jack spit as well, making quite the production of it. "Eww," he said, wiping his mouth with the back of one hand.
"Nice," Billy laughed. "Ya gotta put some real spit behind it. Hock it up."
Jack wrinkled his nose. "That's disgustin', Billy."
"Aww, don't be sucha pussy," he rinsed his mouth out and washed the toothbrush off. "Boys are s'posed t' be all gross an' shit. Not prissy, y' know?"
"I guess..." Jack rinsed, considering the idea. "But I like cookin' and helpin' Ma with stuff. That doesn't make me no pussy, right?"
"Someone's gotta cook," Billy shrugged. "Long as ya ain't wearin' a frilly apron, I think you'll be jus' fine." He squeezed Jack's shoulder when he brushed past him. "Don't worry so much what anyone thinks, 'k? It don't matter one bit what anyone else thinks."
Jack nodded silently. As Billy left the bathroom, Jack moved closer to the toothbrush holder. He hesitated for a moment and then placed his toothbrush back into the holder with the others. He was pretty sure Billy wouldn't steal it from him.
xx
Billy curved his fingers into the straps of his backpack, twisting until the skin on his thumbs began to ache. His knee bounced up and down in the back seat, the school building looming ahead of them.
Jack glanced at him. "What? You look like you wanna puke or something."
"Nothin'," Billy bit the inside of his cheek. "Do I really hafta do this...? We can say I went, tell Evelyn I did an' I can go work or whatever."
Bobby flicked his cigarette over the ashtray compartment and exhaled, a thin trail of smoke curling above him. "Not a fuckin' chance, Billy." He pulled up along the sidewalk and turned the engine off. "She finds out I lied an' covered for you, we're both screwed. It's not that bad in school. It's a matter of attitude. Don't let them push ya around but for the love of God, don't start nothin' either. That Terrin fucker's just waitin' for you to try startin' something so he can say he was right. But he ain't right an' he doesn't know shit."
"Yeah...some of it's pretty good. Like..music or art, stuff like that," Jack chimed in. "It's not half bad at all."
"If it's so great, how come even you got into fightin'?" Billy mumbled.
Jack's smile faded. "Never mind."
Bobby glanced back at Jack. "I know you talked to Ma about it. How much longer do ya think you can avoid talkin' to me?"
"We'll find out, won't we?" Jack snapped at him. He shoved the passenger seat up and pushed the door open, slipping out of the car easily.
Bobby sighed. He took a long drag off the cigarette and gestured with his free hand. "Go on, follow Jack into the school. He'll show you where to go."
Billy gripped his bag and slipped out of the car. He took a deep breath and walked up the path. The ache to dive back into the safety of Bobby's car was powerful. He felt safe with Bobby, a feeling he'd never felt at home. Evelyn gave him the same feeling, a protection, a sense of care and love. Billy let a mask of indifference cover his face as he walked up to the building.
He could act like he didn't give a shit. He'd done it countless times before.
xx
Billy sat on the hard plastic chair, a pen clutched between two fingers. The teacher, Ms. Susan as she’d insisted he address her, stood by the chalkboard, a purple stick in her fingers. Billy squinted at the board, his forehead creased with frustration.
The words looked so…odd to him. They didn’t look like any words he’d seen before. They were squiggly and lopsided looking, almost like scribbles. He glared at the chalkboard, ignoring the occasional stares from the other kids in the room with him.
“Billy, could you read this sentence out for the rest of us?” Ms. Susan pointed to the board, a kind smile on her young face.
“Uh…” Billy licked his lower lip. He could feel the stares on him. “I dunno.”
A few snickers echoed behind him. Fury flashed in his eyes and Billy whipped around, his face heavily flushed. “Shut the fuck up, ya fuckin’ bitch!” he hissed at the boy behind him.
“Billy! We do not use that kind of language in this school,” Ms. Susan appeared at his side, dismayed. “Apologize to Sam, please.”
“Are ya fuckin’ kiddin’ me?” Billy sat back in his seat, staring at the both of them.
Sam scowled at him, his freckled skin paling despite his bravado. “God, would ya listen to him? You sound like a fuckin’ retard, like ya got marbles in your mouth.”
Billy lunged at him, pushing the pen against Sam’s neck. “Say it again,” he crooned. “I fuckin’ dare ya.”
“Billy!”
He darted a quick glance at Ms. Susan and then at the others. The look of fear on their faces, the horror in Sam’s wide brown eyes…it hit him like a slap. Billy dropped the pen and backed away from Sam, his chest hitching. He took in several shaky breaths, his hands trembling.
“Billy, please,” Ms. Susan approached him slowly. “It’s alright.”
“S-sorry,” he whispered. “I…I can’t read nothin’ on the board.”
She nodded. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know. It’s called cursive writing. Think of it as a fancy way to print your words. We’ll….we’ll talk about this incident after class, ok? Please…sit down now.”
Billy swallowed and edged closer to his chair. He avoided the stares from the frightened students and hunched over in his seat. Ms. Susan smoothed her hands over her blouse, her fingers fluttering along the material.
He closed his eyes, breathing in and out like Evelyn had suggested he try a few days before. Billy let his mind wander. He zoned out, retreating within himself, away from the class, away from the fear and anger.
xx
"He's gone? The fuck do you mean he's gone?"
Billy sat on the top of the stairs that night, his head resting on his knees. He cringed when Bobby shouted, the words putting the fear of God into him. He hugged his legs tightly to his chest, listening to the conversation below.
"Bobby, hush! Billy's sleeping, don't you wake him up with that shouting. Especially after the…well problems he had today."
"How the hell could he be gone?" Bobby hissed. "Someone musta tipped him off."
Evelyn sighed. "That's what I've been told. The arrests were to have taken place yesterday, but when the police arrived, the warehouses were empty, the buildings vacated along with the chop shop. There's no evidence, nothing to imply that Bones Darley ever occupied them."
"That son of a bitch!"
"Bobby...hey, look at me. Focus, alright? If Bones is gone, then Billy needs to be protected. He knows what's happening now, that much is obvious."
Billy gripped his legs, his fingers trembling. "Shit, oh shit," he whimpered.
"If he puts one fucking foot near this house..."
"Bobby, sit down!"
"Ma, you don't even know how bad this is. That...Darley is a sick man. Most of those scars on Billy, they came from him! You know that weird scar behind his ear? He heated a fuckin' penknife and held it to his head until he passed out. Bones locked him in a trunk for three days when he was six! The shit they did to him...Ma, Darley's gonna come lookin' for Billy and I'll be damned if I'm gonna hand him over."
Billy got up, his body on autopilot. He walked silently down the hallway to Bobby's bedroom and closed the door behind him. He looked around the dark room, the doorknob across from him gleaming obscenely. Billy crossed the room and tugged the door open. He stepped inside and yanked the door shut, the hinges squealing quietly. He sat down in the small, dark space and curled up onto his side, waiting.
xx
