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Piper paces his closest and best friends room as Len starts to get dizzy watching him walk in cricles. "I just dont get her issue! I still passed the stupid test, 85% was the highest in the class anyway! Ughhh" Piper yells as he falls face first onto Lens bed. "The motives of your mother are a mystery not even god can solve Pip." Len responds in his usual overdramatic fashion as he lies on the bed next to Piper. Pipers black and red mullet mixes with Lens long dirty blonde hair like the meeting of two oceans while they stare at the ceiling.
"What about a tattoo? My brother knows a guy who'd do it cheap" Len suggests, sitting up on his elbows. It would be the most satisfactory choice. After Peppers last exams where he got nothing lower then an 80% yet his mam still had a massive problem with it, he got his lip pierced. She hated it, said it made him look like a nacker. So obviously Piper loved it. "Yes! Great idea man! You are a genius!" Piper laughs. 10 mimutes later they're waiting for the bus as Len looks online for this tattoo parler. "We getting matching ones?" Piper asks, looking at inspiration online. "Eh depends ,you go first and i'll make my choice after seeing if he mawls your arm." Len says dead panned making Piper laugh.
Their bus finally arrives and they sit in the back joking about the elusive tattoo artist. Len seemed a little precautious about something and when the laughter died Piper couldnt help but notice. "You all good Len?" Piper asks eventually. "Yeah just...my brother did say this guy was real weird pip. And i cant find nothing online. Maybe this wasnt a good idea..?" Len explains as he fidgets with his brightly coloured bracelets. "We dont need to go if you dont want to?" Piper susurrates. He wouldnt be mad either way, Pipers happy to do anything once its with Len. Len takes a moment to think then shakes his head. "no ,no its ok. Im alright"he smiles ,Piper does too just knowing he's ok.
The bus pulls up to their stop and the two get off. Piper had decided on getting a tattoo of an electric guitar on his bicep. It wasnt going to big and would probably only take an hour. Len had decided if he worked up the courage to get one then it would be drums on the opposite bicep to Piper. "Speaking of drums and guitars. We have practise on thursday, right?" Len asks as they strole leisurely down the path. Piper nods "yea Kelly said she may not make it though. so no vocals apparently" he says shrugging a little. The two played in a crappy underground band called 'the misfits' Piper was the guitarist and Len was the drummer. They'd hate to admit it but they really where such stereotypes. Who'd ever heard of a teenager who played the drums with a loosercore style 4 peirceings and shaggy dirty blonde hair like kurt cobain. Or an emo guitarist with an i hate you mom attitude, a black and red mullet, 10 peirceings and the style of a more masculine alison from the breakfast club.
As the two walked through the door that read 'bricks tattoos' in bold jagged letters, they where hit with a putrid smell. The place was a mess, it could rival a junkyard. The shop had dishes pileing high but they did not look like they ever had food on it, there was far too much blood for starters. Before either could turn on heel and run for the hills a guy covered head to toe in tattoos that made him appear more like a walking scribble, cut off their only visible exit. "You must be the two who called." He says in a tone that suggested things neither 17 year old liked.
Before Piper can even respond the walking scribble grabs his wrist and drags him to a chair. "You boys gonna stay calm" the man, presumably brick says in a horridly goverl demand. Piper wanted to scream ,hit this creep or just fucking run. By the look of Len he was thinking the same thing, but neither of them did anything. Instead they nod and grow quiet. "You want a dolus?" The man said as he gets the tattoo gun out. Piper didnt want the greek god of manipulation on his body forever. Piper wanted to scream or cry or just do something! But often what we so desperately want isnt what we get.
So Piper does nothing, he cant. Its like his body is actively working against him. So while he attempts to fight tooth and nail to even lift a finger the tattoo slowly progress's. It appeared in the blink of an eye for Piper. Between the seering hot pain and this horrible freaky man making him unable to control himself. Piper didnt have the stength to focus on the time. Len on the other hand ,frozen in supernatural fear all he could do was watch his best friend get bruttally butchard while looking dead behind the eyes. The session ended for Piper in a blur of agonizing pain, unsteady footsteps, strong arms stableising him and the bitter cold air of the fridged winters day cutting through him like a knife to the heart.
The two stumble down the block to the bus stop in a panicked run. Pipers steps where growing sluggish and his shoulders slack from pain. He throws himself onto the bus stops bench and endeavours to take deep breaths which turn to ragged gasps for air in no time. Piper trys to ignore the stare of the wailing gods terror stroke form but it was hard when the tattoo felt less like a stain on his body and more like a stain on his soul. As Pipers panic turns into a full on fit of tears ,hyperventilation and chocked screams he feels Len hug him tight. Neither wanted to think about the unique looks they where most definately getting. Who cares? No one here could understand the horror story they'd just experianced.
The bus rolls up slow and steady like a boat on a river. Len and Piper get on, Piper hugging Lens arm for both support and comfort. They sit side by side in the middle seats, Len gives Piper his hoodie to hide the tattoo. Even though it was winter and most sane minds tend to venture into the cold cruel world with a coat on at this time of year, Piper was not most people and was always too stubborn to wear one. This practically always ended with Len feeling bad and giving piper yet another jumper he'd most likely only catch glimpses of in the darkest corners of Pipers room. Or on Pipers instagram where they could most commonly be seen being worn whilst Piper studied or drank hot chocolate acting like something out of a cozy pinterest bord.
As Piper rests his head on Lens shoulder continueing to hug his arm, he attempts to keep his head clear of any nasty thoughts by watching the buildings rush by the window past Len. The tattoo burned deep in Pipers arm, deeper then just skin and flesh, deeper the bone. Piper was doing his best to ignore how horrific that felt. Just as he began to dose off the bus reaches their stop. Len helps Piper off the bus and they begin to walk home. "My mums gonna be fucking pissed" Piper says drowsely. "Maybe hide it till you feel up to dealing with her.. you know 'passion'" Len responds helping to guide Piper down their street. "You could always stay at mine? Your practically the favourite child in my house" Len jokes, Piper shakes his head slowly and sadly. "She wants me home for some stupid family dinner thing she's oppressing on me and the poor dog."he says sullenly. Len nods and starts walking down Pipers road, dread fills Piper as he see's his house appear, he doesnt want to go home, he doesnt want to be alone with her. "Pip im so sorry about all this... its all my fault, if i listend to my gut- or i dunno didnt suggest it at all!" Len says guilt and frustration swamping his voice. "Dont be you couldnt of known, this is my fault as much as it is yours." Piper states, standing a little taller. Piper rests his hands on Lens shoulders to make eye contact with him before hugging him close. "Thanks for walking me lenni" Piper says trying to add levity with a nickname he knows adorably both annoys and endears Len. Len rolls his eyes playfully and smiles slightly. Piper takes a deep breath then slowly approaches the door before unlocking it and waving his final goodbyes to Len.
Piper enters the house and immediately hears his mam yelling at their dog, Lucy. Piper didnt have siblings and his dad had jumped ship years ago. So it was just him and Lucy that she could take her draconian wrath out on. Lucy runs over, jumping up to greet him. Piper bends down to pet her "hiya Luc" he says lovingly. He could already feel the hairs on the back his neck standing on end and his hands begining to shake as his mother stormed around in the kitchen yelling at who knows what. Home felt like a warzone to Piper, he had to be on gaurd ,he had to be perfect and he couldnt be a burden or his mam would make his life somehow even worse, she always found a way, It was her secret talent. "Piper! Where have you been! I need you to do the dishes! Its the least you can do after that dissappointment of a test! Got your poor mother slaveing over a stove all day and you cant even be bothered to do the little things to help can you?? Cant get good grades! Or help me at all!" She howls from the kitchen. "Mam i got the highest in my class..." Piper says quietly trying to reason for maybe the 18th time that day alone. Though he knew it was in vain. Nothing was ever good enough for her.
"And it could of been better! Jaqulinns son was getting nothing higher than 80 and now he's jobless and a junkie! Do you want to end up like him! Make my sacrifices worthless!? I gave up everything to raise you! I could been something Piper!" She yells ferociously. marching into the hallway her footsteps felt like a death sentance. 'Yea and i didnt ask to be born plus david is a druggie cus he burnt himself out so much on grades and had so much preassure he jumped off the school after his maths leaving cert but cool yea lets just skip over that' Piper thinks full of rage to himself. But before Piper can try apologise, fight back, defuse the situation or do anything. she slaps hip hard across the face. He falls scilent and looks down, he hated the house. "Im too tired to be dealing with your bullshit Piper Fitzgerald! Do the dishes or you can sleep outside." Shes says calously through gritted teeth, eyes cold and cruel. "Incompetent child" she mutters to herself as she storms up the stairs. Each thud feelling like a lump in his chest, Piper cleans the dishes but he also sweeps the floor, whipes down the counter and puts away any clutter hopeing to appease the unmerciful god that rules this unforgiveing domain.
Piper goes to his room puts on his headphones and takes refuge in the safety of his room and the loudest metal he could find on his playlist. It doesnt take long for his mam to slam his door open and cut his safety short. "This rooms a mess! Why are you wearing that Queer friend of your's hoodie!? Have you even started studying for that physics test!!" She yells furiously. Piper couldnt stop himself from getting mad, after the day he'd had it just wasnt fair. "Mam can you stop!?" He yells trying not to cry. "Im-im doing my fucking best ok!!" He notices his mam is completely frozen. Frozen until she falls limp to the ground.
Piper runs over "mam!?!" He yells confused worried and scared. Yea he hated his mam but did he seriously want her dead?? He checks her pulse and her breathing. She had neither but she'd stopped mid breath and nothing had loosened or shown any other sign of death. Piper was freaking out what had happend. His mind goes to the tattoo but that would be stupid, right? Piper calls Len because what else was he ment to do. "i-i need you to come over!" He says panic and fear pouring through his voice like a waterfall. "ok, ok i'm on my way. Whats wrong? Is everything ok? Are you ok?" Len asks worried. "Please just please get here i need you!" tears break through his voice and he begins to sob. Piper hangs up the phone before sitting in a ball on the floor sobbing. Len gets to Piper's house in no time, using his spare key to let himself in and running up to Piper's room. The door swings open and Lens worry quickly turns to a parade of negative emotions. "We need to call an ambulence Pip." Len says kneeling next to Piper, talking softly even though he looked terrified. "No! They-they're gonna think i did it!!" Piper says fear clear in his voice.
Len stills a little, face full of a new terror. "..P-Piper what did you do..?" Len says sounding scared- he was scared of him. "I-i dont know!! I didnt mean to I'm sorry I'm sorry" Piper sobs, hands tugging on his hair as he starts to hyperventilate and shake his head. He'd murdered his mother somehow and now he would rot in prison forever. Piper feels a gentle but shakey hand hesitantly rest on his cheek. He stops and opens his eyes. Len looked terrified but he looked worried too. "Pip whatever you did you need to tell me, I'll understand. She was horrible to you it makes sense that you'd snap, everyone has a breaking point. Tell me what happend and we'll figure this out, together" Len says stareing deeply into Pipers eyes, expression filled with love, care and fear not of Piper but of what may happen to him. His eyes spoke a millon words his lips never could and its the only reason Piper blinked away the tears. He hugs Len tight burrying his head in Lens arms. "I didnt mean to" his voice quivers as the fabric muffled his words. "What happend Pip.." Len says softly, gently.
"She was being difficult...I-I had enough and I yelled at her to stop." Piper says and Len looks at him seeming to expect more. "Pip you need to tell me if there's more." He says carefully. "There isnt. I know it sounds insane! I dont know how but i know its my fault" Len gives him that look of pity, concern and sympathy. The look that he gives piper when he tells Len that its ok his mam doesnt love him cus he doesnt need it or when Piper asks to sleep at Lens cus he hasnt slept in days due to non stop studying.
"Just shut it ok! Im not crazy!" Piper pushes Len away trying not to start crying again, he hadnt snapped. He wasnt crazy. Then Piper hears muffled screams coming from Len. He turns around confused and worried and guilty. Len was clutching at his throat lips closed tight together, he looked like he couldnt breath. Then it clicks ,Piper runs over to Len, movements flooded with worry."Len! Len! Breath, breath! please!" And with that simple word Len gasps for air clutching onto Piper for support. "Are you ok?? I'm so sorry I'm so so sorry Len. I-I didnt mean to! I swear I didnt mean to! Please dont leave me I'm sorry" Piper starts to sob, too much in one day, too many traumatic experiances in one day.
"I'm-I'm not going anyway Pip. I'm all good now aint I?" Len states breathlessly. "Christ that was terrorfying." Len says after catching his breath, stumbleing to sit on Pipers bed. "That-that felt like what that Brick guy did Pip.." Len says more serious now. Piper feels fear and nausea wash over him as the tears subsided. He dizzies a little before steadying himself with his desk "I feel like I'm gonna throw up" he says weakly. "Well dont. Tell your mam to start first" Len says ,standing up. He moves Piper to face his mam, for a moment Piper just stares, terrified. "Start." He says unsure of himself, nothing happens. "Start!" He says again. "Start breathing! Have your heartbeat! Wake up! Be alive! Why isnt it working?!" He yells frustratedly. "Maybe it only works if your brain is on to recieve the words" Len says putting a hand on Pipers shoulder.
"So shes gone. I murdered her." Piper says fear seeping into his voice again. "What if we rip it off from the source? Find Brick and you know, deal with him. Whats one more body for the pile" Len says casually as if suggesting they eat another sweet or order take away for the second night in a row not murder a man. "What it is, is the difference between manslaughter and murder Len! How are you so calm about all of this i would really like to know!" Piper says laughing, ok now he might of snapped. "I dunno maybe all the weed fucked up my head" Len says patting Pipers shoulder. "You used to play baseball right Pip"
Piper and Len sat on the bus with his old baseball bat awkwardly waiting to murder a man. Piper was a fizzy bundle of nervs the whole ride there, he couldnt believe he was doing this. What if his mam was dead forever, what if he going to prison, what if he was like this forever, a monster. Len seems to notice Pipers anxiety and quietly takes Pipers hand rubbing circles on the back of his hand with his thumb, this seems to distract Piper enough for him to calm down.
The bus eventually arrives and the two get off, they start walking to the shop with a faux confidence that could inspire the opinon that they knew what they where doing. Len opens the door to scilence which was good they guessed. "What do we do if he does the spooky thing again" Piper whispers. Len shrugs, Piper gives him a 'this was such a bad plan' face before thoroughly questioning theor choices. They start to hear humming coming from one of the offices. It wasnt the sound of a tattoo gun or the regular hum of a electricity but instead mary had a little lamb. They slowly approach the open office door ,Piper had his bat raised over his shoulder, there was no point both of them going down for murder, so Piper was doing the murdering. The floor boreds creek and Brick slowly turns to look at them, not in a wipe of panic but with certainty.
"Cute" he says with a manical almost curious grin. "Your going to-" Brick trys to say but gets cut off by Piper hitting him in the head with a baseball bat. "Shut the fuck up you filled in tester page" Piper yells, Brick lies limp on the floor. Piper swings the bat at Bricks thump of a body. He swings and swings and swings till its not even about Brick or the tattoo. Its about everything and nothing. Al the stupid little things and all the big things, like his grades, shitheads in school, his mam just hating him. Shes despised him for ruining her body, her work, her relationship, her everything. Everything in her life is shit because 17 years ago he was born and because to this day he's still kicking and making her life miserable by the minute. If he's such a burden to the world to his own mother the women who should love him no matter what maybe he should just die. Wipe the world clean of its stain.
Piper feels a hand on his shoulder as his chest moves to produce ragged breaths. He turns to see Len looking at him with those big beautiful blue eyes that had waves of fear and concern crashing down in them like a tempus. Pipers panting breaks through the eire scilence of the room. "I think he's sorted Pip.." Len says his hand shaking a little. Piper looks at what used to be Brick or bricks tattoos who was more ink then flesh. The man was a bolognese at this point. The bat falls to the floor and Piper stumbles a little, he feels searing hot tears fall down his face and he realises he's crying. "I think I finally snapped" he says quietly falling in Lens arms who holds him close, protectively as if it could protect him from the worlds horrors.
The two take the bus home, Piper falls asleep on Lens shoulder for the majority of the journey. They walk up Pipers road then open his front door. His mother screams not a moment later "there you are! You shout at your poor mother then-" shes cut off by Len closing the door. "Lets go home" Len says softly, taking Pipers hand. Tears well up in Pipers eyes but he'll be damned if he crys again today so he whipes them away before they can make their grand escape. Home had always been at Lens house, where there was no shouting or ghosts of hurt, where the people in the house didnt act like he had to earn the right to breath in their home but instead welcome'd him and treated him as if he was wanted.
Home had always been with Len.