You consider that you're picking up the habits of the men you're living with. You realize that people are pretty adaptable and you're fitting in very well. You've won the respect of these rough men because you never whine, always do your best and treat them with as much respect as they give you... which is a lot.
You finish watching the latest action hero flick and you and Richie leave the theater and go around the back of the building. It's a part that's often deserted.
You both get around the back and you and Richie notice there's three young men about your age picking on a kid of about ten or eleven.
Richie growls and before you know it, he's in the middle of the three kicking the crap out of them. One runs off like a coward and the others continue to attack Richie. One of the bullies picks up a fist sized rock and he's going to crack Richie in the skull while he's dealing with the other one.
The bully raises his hand to strike and never lands the blow because you kick him swiftly and hard in the crotch from behind.
He lets out a strangled cry, drops the rock and falls to the ground clutching his crotch and moaning as if his guts had been ripped out.
Richie lands a sound blow to the remaining bullie's face and his nose blooms with blood.
He grabs his nose and swelling lip and runs away, deserting his 'friend'.
Richie looks over the kid who's cowering in a corner. He seems to be fine.
"You OK kid?" Richie asks.
"Uh... Yeah..." The kid says.
"OK, I don't think you'll be bothered by these ass wipe punks soon, but you better watch yourself and avoid them if possible." Richie says.
With that you and Richie leave.
"You were pretty fuckin' fast back there." You say to Richie.
"I wasn't fast enough Bro, I almost got my fuckin' brains splattered." Richie says. He stops and looks you in the eye with incredible intensity. "I owe you... big. That punk could have killed me because I was slow and stupid. I charge in without thinking and it almost got me killed. You're my bro now for sure, just one thing left to do..."
"What's that?" you ask.
"Blood brother ceremony bro, you saved my life, my life is yours. That's big fuckin' shit to my family. Dad's gonna shit his pants when he hears." Richie says.
"Let's just get back home, maybe we don't have to tell anyone." you say.
"Can't do that Gus. Look bro, what you did is too important not to be told... besides, dad would find out anyway. He knows about a lot of shit that goes on in this town. Let's get home and see how it goes." Richie says and he pats you on the back and you head home on your dirt bikes.