Noodle leaned back against her car seat, tapping the glass quietly, the radio low from the station 2D last set before Murdoc slapped his hand away, growling with a threatening fist until the singer shrunk back into his spot in the back seat, Russel snoring away as Murdoc ran the light.
They had been driving for hours, the Geep hunkering, the wind flying, tangling her hair.
She craned her head slightly, the car slowing to a dead stop in the deserted canyon, kicking up the dust, from behind, 2D hacked, his coughs waking Russel.
From under her bangs, her eyes met Murdoc's, his micro-expression slight.
She would go soon.
Noodle looked up at the clear sky, the sun beaming hot and sweltering.
Tonight.
She clambered up the flying island, windmill giant and impressive, red paint chipping from sloppy work, the turbines going, turning, lifting her off rocky. It was filming day, dual music videos to be shot consecutively. Murdoc shoved a fighting 2D through the tiny door of the second shoot, disappearing into the dark tower.
Noodle settled on the grass, the ground going further and further from view, the busy sound popping her ears.
The stereo sounded from all round and she sat in cue, waiting, letting the motor and the instrumental play, 2D's voice slinked into the air and they were on.
Two songs and she would go.
Hidden in the thumping bass, they had missed the undercurrents from afar.
Malice brewed.
They were followed.
Helicopters roared around her, guns shooting the falling island with malice, aiming at her like a curse. She ran inside the windmill for cover, listening for a sign that the danger had stopped.
Steps light, she tip toed outside, looking for the tower she had been circling earlier, finding nothing but angry clouds.
She was off course.
Had the others been attacked?
A bullet flew past her ear, erasing the attempt to mull over the others, barely missing getting hit by the rapid fire, she ran back once more into the windmill, seeking cover.
The floor creaked angrily causing her to trip, heart thumping unsure, wildly flailing.
The island was falling, speeding down, the helicopters flying as the windmill caught fire all around, blaze coming into view, smoke scenting the air in dark smog. From above, the windmill interior began to crack, the constitution failing; Noodle crawled from her spot, the walls crashing, wood splintering on contact.
She wrapped her arms around her legs.
This wasn't planned.
Tears burned in her eyes.
This wasn't planned.
Noodle was scared.
This wasn't planned.
She was going to die.
The island was hot, scorching, she couldn't see, her lungs wheezing struggling to breathe, heart racing. From beside her, the speakers played on weakly, 2D's voice unaware, freezing as the melody faded, the bullets no longer raining down.
She could hear cracking, rubble dusting her skin, she looked up and choked, her voice caught in her throat.
Planks fell around her, pain stinging, batting the top of her messy hair, she fell back, knocked and oh so tired, blood slipping as she tasted iron.
Was this how 2D felt?
Bludgeoned?
Blurry vision whirling, smoke and smog and pain and fire and blood shouting, her head pounded angrily, excruciatingly, sucking at her conscious.
Noodle took a rattling breath and she was gone.
"-oodle?"
Who?
"Russ! I found-"
Noodle groaned from her shifting form, eyelids fluttering, eardrums blown. Large hands lifted her up tentatively, careful, grip lessening when a whine escaped her lips.
"Sssh."
Her hand twitched.
"I got you, Noodle."
Her vision focused, the unmistakable blue hair acting like a beacon, sunlight shining down like a halo. Noodle's lips trembled, tears welling once more, gripping his shoulders like a vice as he walked them carefully towards the opening.
"-urry! The building-"
The building churned once more; the ground quaking in huge fissures, forcing 2D to stumble, long legs bending at the knee to keep them both upright.
He treaded carefully, his breath coming fast and hard. Noodle watched him quietly, cheeks stinging from littered cuts, tears drying as she tried to calm, watching the sweat and grime roll off the singer as they ducked into the light.
The island was decimated. Ruined earth sat in large crumbles, faults and fractures from the collision, upturned grasses set alight with fire still whirling, smoke tunneling from the windmill ruins. The broken construction buried under the disaster, gasoline streaking the air as it leaked from the smashed engine.
2D walked them over to the edge of mass of the crashed sight, trying to find a way down. Russel and Murdoc sat meters below in the Geep, the engine purring, making their way towards them as a shadow casted over them. Noodle watched as Russ looked up, his white eyes widening, his mouth loud and booming.
As if planned, as if it were some kind of horrible joke, some kind of ruthless punchline she had yet to learn of, she looked up in to the setting sky, her heart falling away from her like a punishment.
A bomb.
Next to her, a strangled grunt came out of 2D as he too looked up, she could hear the way his frantic heart hammered before simmering, he looked down at Russ, sparing Noodle a quick glance before catching Russel's attention once more, his eyes darkening further than ever before, determination branding itself, a plan formulating and with dread she felt an inkling of what that plan was.
He was going to throw her.
He was going to stay.
Danger hurtling closer, he acted quick, a shout ripping from his throat and striking her ears as she released a sobbing plea.
"Russ!"
"Please-"
With a strange sort of force, her grip of him slackened, releasing him with shock as he tossed her down. Eyes locked, the sight of him, resigned but happy, tear slipping, hitting her as he dropped her, a smile blinking, blinding her until he was gone from her sight.
"Catch her!"
She fell, helpless the falling bomb hitting it's mark, setting alight with a deafening boom, Russ's arms cushioning her fall as Murdoc raced them away, the tires screeching, burning rubber.
Tires blown and worn, the Geep halted to a stop, clunkering down, far from the burning sight. They clambered out, Murdoc scanned the residing explosion, cursing loud, Russel hit the back of the Geep with a clenched fist. The sun hung low, silence stretching them thin.
Noodle wobbled forward, her knees hitting the pavement, frozen stiff, gravity taking her prisoner once more, Russel's words bouncing off her ears unheard.
This wasn't planned.