"I didn't know you had a pet."

Murdoc, now dressed, was petting Cortex lovingly, as Stuart looked at the bird carefully from the bed.

"Yep," Murdoc replied. "I found him when I was little. I'm convinced he's immortal, because since I found him, he's never died and he's never left." Murdoc plucked a Halloween gummy eyeball out of a bowl on his desk and slipped it into the birdcage, where it was quickly devoured. "Plus, he feeds on the eyes of my enemies as an added bonus. Pretty restrictive diet, but he'll live."

Stuart laughed and got up, petting the bird's head softly. "This is sweet, Murdoc. I want to come to your house more often."

"Trust me, you don't." Murdoc frowned and slipped a vinyl under the needle of his record player. Music drifted from it, interrupted occasionally by flashes of white noise, indicators of how many times it'd been played. Stuart had never known any high schooler to have a collection of vinyls.

Any high schooler but himself, of course.

"My brother should be gone soon, so don't worry about that. I can drive you to Russel's place."

Stuart pecked him on the lips, a reassuring kiss, as well as their first since their date. "I don't want to leave until you do. You're not getting rid of me that easily."

Murdoc laughed and put his hands on Stuart's waist, swaying softly to the music. "I know... look, I had a nice time with you last night." Murdoc blushed and smiled a little. "You made me really happy."

Stuart understood how much last night really means to Murdoc. He pressed his forehead against the other's, closing his eyes. "I'd love to do that all the time..."

"You mean... date, right?" Murdoc looked up.

"If that's what you want..."

Murdoc lowered his voice to a whisper. "I'd love to, more than anything. But I can't tell them that." He then raised his voice loud enough that the whole house could hear him. "Are you kidding?! That's disgusting! This was a mistake!"

Stuart understood the charade, but he clutched Murdoc's hand like a lifesaver. He didn't like to hear those words, even if they were fake.

The door to Murdoc's room swung open. "I thought I'd still find you faggots in here."

Murdoc scowled and replied before Stuart could even process the situation. "Back off, Hannibal. I was just telling this thing to leave." Murdoc squeezed Stuart's hand, hidden behind his back.

His older brother chuckled. "Sure you were. Man, I can't wait until dad finds out about this. You. Are." He leaned forward, looking into Murdoc's eyes. "Disgusting."

"Tell that to me when I was five, why don't you? Remember everything you did to me? Back when I couldn't defend myself?"

"Shut up!" Hannibal pushed his brother back into the record player, knocking the vinyl off its needle. Murdoc stayed down, and Stuart bit his lip at a new realization.

This has been going on forever, he thought.

"And you." Hannibal stared Stuart down, chilling his very blood. "Don't ever come here again. Get out!"

Murdoc gave him a subtle, barely detectable nod. Stuart ran out, down the stairs, and kept running until he was several streets away. That's when he got a message from Murdoc.

Don't leave me alone forever, it read.

Stuart tapped out a reply.

Wouldn't dream of it.