Disclaimer: This story takes place in the current time frame. Noodle has just been rescued from Hades by Murdoc, and as a side-story, the band is working on their third album.

Darkness-----

The room was unusually cold, even for Kong. The small, Japanese girl pulled her pink covers up to her neck and was still shivering. Her big, green eyes were open wide as she tried to scan the room for any abnormal activity. She didn't know what it was, but something just didn't feel right to her.

Ever since she had escaped from Hell with Murdoc, Noodle knew she was not the same person. Even a slight crash like something falling would cause her to completely tense up . She had no desire to fight zombies at all anymore, and she had stopped practicing her martial arts all together. But that was nothing compared to what had happened to her body. Scabs on top of scars circled her limbs and he face. Her eyes, while still the same bright green, were hollow and faded deep down from all the horrors she had witnessed. Noodle was not the same girl, by any definition.

The night was the worst, though. She couldn't remember the last time she had a decent night's sleep. It was almost as though she had been sleeping with one eye open for the past three months.

Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. She angrily kicked off the covers and threw her pillow down on the ground, breathing heavily as she stood bare-foot on the cold floor. She needed to get away from here, but where would she go? It's not like she coud actually leave Kong, she didn't want to be alone at night in a city full of strangers. Noodle paced slowly into the kitchen with her head down and purple locks dangling in her face.

Noodle moved throughout the different rooms slowly, her legs weak and breathing was labored. She tried desperately to remember everything that had happened three months ago, but it would only come in as fuzzy frames. She could not remember the first two weeks she was back, and when she finally woke up, her band-mates had informed her that she was just barely alive.

The girl felt warm, tiny tears run down her cheek as she remembered seeing them all again for the first time. 2D had been standing over her on her right side, just looking down at her and smiling softly every so often. He looked completely shocked for the most part, she could tell he was starring at her in disbelief. The singer didn't say much during that time, but he was always there for her. There to hold her if she had a night-mare, and to squeeze her hand when she was in pain. There were even a couple of times where he sneaked her some of his strong, perscription pain-killers because she would stay up late, sobbing only loud enough for his ears to pick up.

Russell was a bit more open about the whole ordeal. He was almost always breaking down, but was somehow was able to be strong for Noodle. Whenever she needed him, he was there. He treated the horrible wounds that littered her body, helped her regain her strength and slept by her side almost every single night until she was well enough to be left alone.

Murdoc was....Noodle blinked as his name ran through her head. Murdoc....wasn't really around. She knew that he was ill as well, but she had barely seen him since she was back. And when they did cross paths, he didn't speak much or even at all. He seemed to have a bad limp on his right side and most of his wounds were still visible, even though they were healing. She had also noticed his age more, he almost seemed to hunch over a bit as he walked at a slower pace. There was no more bounce in his step, no more attitude in his voice. It was almost as if his soul was gone, everything that made him Murdoc had left his body and all that was left was the shell.

She blinked again as she broke herself out of the deep thought. Looking back and forth across the deserted hallways, she knew where she wanted to go now.

******

Murdoc flinched as he felt the wind at his back blow in through various cracks through his Winnebago. The air was so cold as it traveled up his bare spine, yet he didn't bother to cover himself. He could feel it now more than ever before, he noticed things more, even little slight things he would normally have not paid attention to three months ago. Everything was more defined; sight and smell, sounds came in clearer and anything he touched seemed to travel throughout his body and back out. He sat up with his back against the bedroom wall and his feet laid out straight in front of him. It seemed getting the energy for the smallest tasks was now impossible, he had to take deep breaths just to get up and walk out of the room.

Smoking was the only vice left remaining in his old ways. It was perfect, helped him with stress and took little to no effort to do. Since drinking and chases skirts was out of the question for the time being, he relied on 2D to grab him cigarettes any time he left the building, which the singer obliged to without question.

His head leaned forward slightly as shaking hands lit the cigarette in front of his face. Even the sight glow from the lighter seemed like too much light right now. Murdoc inhaled deeply, letting his poison of choice fill his lungs, and then watched as it swirled back out his mouth and nostrils. He sighed deeply and laid down on his back, facing the ceiling blankly.

Murdoc was not the same man.

After a few more long drags from the fag, he forced his eyes shut and slammed his head angrily into the beaten-down pillow. He would have to try and force himself to sleep, since he had been out it for so many nights now.

Finally, the room was completely still. No sound, no movement. Not even Cortez made a peep from the front of the 'Baggo. This was what bothered the Satanist more than anything; nothing. There were no distractions or voices or anything happening, all that was left was his mind and the demons he had to eventually face. He knew there was no escaping the dangers of his memories, and he remembered each and every horrifying detail of the journey to Hades. Everything was still so vibrant and fresh in his brain, even after months. He often wondered how Noodle had dealt with everything that had happened to her.

Murdoc rolled over onto his side, eyes sad and staring straight ahead at the dingy wall. It wasn't often that Murdoc Niccals felt sad, and even less often that he felt guilty. But the girl...she was something completely different. Part of him felt cowardly about how he had been acting towards her. He knew he had been intentionally ignoring her, avoiding seeing how she was doing, not even talking to her. He just couldn't bring himself to deal with all that just yet.

Especially with what had happened to them in Hell.

The Winnebaggo squeaked. Murdoc's head jerked up quickly, almost instantly. The small creaking sounds echoed in his head, and he felt every muscle in his body tense simutaneously. Ever so slightly, the sounds got louder, closer. It seemed as though whatever it was was just about to round the corner to his bedroom. Murdoc sat up completely on his bed, not daring to move or even breathe as he clenched his fingers into tight, white fists. He shut his eyes firmly, and then jumped up in a flash.

Silence.

Murdoc squeezed one eye open slowly and scanned the room. Then, he opened the other eye. He looked down and saw a very familiar figure, yet he had to do a double-take to make sure he was seeing it there in his room.

".....Noodle? Is'at yew?" he asked, voice a bit softer than normal.

The small Jap peered up at him, head cocked to the side in confusion at his stance. "...Allo. I'm sorry.... did I wake you, Murdoc-san?"

Murdoc blinked a couple of times, not really sure how to respond to her being there. Then, he shook his head. "Nah, couldn't sleep. 'M sure yew can relate.."

"Aie, I can..." The teen trailed off and studied her feet uncomfortably. She was starting to think this was not the best course of action now that she was here. But, her gut was telling she needed to press on. "I just...I know it is late. I am sorry if I disturbed you, I should have knocked...." She trailed off again and inwardly cringed. Noodle didn't like apologizing too much, especially around Murdoc. He just intimidated her more than she wanted him to know, she always felt like she was babbling in front of him.

Murdoc, starting to feel a bit awkward, rubbed the back of his neck and stretched, faking fatigue. "S'awright, luv." He was glad it was dark in the room so she couldn't see him visibly cringe. He was always calling her some cutsie little nick-name, it was totally out of character for him to do. But then again, he had always felt a bit...unsure of himself around her.

"Anyway," she carried on, not wanting to make things more uncomfortable than need be. " I was actually just wanting to know......how are you?"

Murdoc starred at the girl, then looked down at the ground. "Wull..... I been betta." he smirked. "Bit of a sore leg, haven't been drinkn' as much really." He exhaled deeply, almost feeling a bit better that she had asked. Which was strange, he actually hadn't realized no one had bothered to ask him that one, simple question before now. Before her.

"I noticed you limping. Do you want me to take a look at it?" she offered, slightly bending down on one knee and extending a hand toward his sore leg before he could even answer.

"No..I..nah it's awright luv. Yew got your own battle-wounds to worry 'bout." Murdoc jerked his leg back instinctively, not wanting to terrify the girl with his mutilated limb. Even the slight movement made his leg throb in a horrid pain. They stood in silence for a few moments longer, but not an uncomfortable silence. It was more like an unspoken understanding of their situation. They would be lying if they had said they weren't closer from the two-year ordeal, something like that they would never forget. And even though they had been avoiding each other, both had their respective reasons to do so.

"Soooo....yew been-" Murdoc went to ask the girl the same question, when he was interrupted by a sudden jab in the guts, which was Noodle's body thrusting into him. She was hugging him so tight and shaking violently, Murdoc thought he might actually fall over. "Shhh.........s'okay luv. We're safe. Shhhh..."The bassist gingerly patted the girl's purple locks to try and calm her down. He knew it would only be a matter of time before it happened, he was just grateful it was her who had broken down first. She was now sobbing into his chest, her body having mild convulsions from the emotions flowing out of her. Secretly, he smiled softly down at her. He had been given the thing he needed most tonight; a friend, a distraction, and most importantly, a reason to be strong. He was grateful, to say the least.

"'Ere, c'mover 'n lay down, hun." He guided her to the dirty blanket and convinced her to rest her body down upon it (something you couldn't pay her to do before). He stood over her protectively, watching her sob and cover her hands over her face. Then, she did something unexpected. Noodle grabbed Murdoc's wrist slightly, pulling the bassist down closer to her. She pulled on his shirt and at first, he resisted. He was confused, did she want him to sit down? Slowly, he set himself down on the very edge of the bed, sitting up rigidly. But Noodle was not satisfied, she grabbed his shoulder, sniffling and sobbing, trying to pull him down even further.

Murdoc felt his heart skip oddly in his chest. "Noods....I dun...think I..." he whispered, trying to convince the small, sad girl he could not lay beside her. He just...didn't feel right for some reason. It would have been one of the few things Murdoc felt awkward about, even if it were just innocent. Especially in his bed.

Eventually, she gave up and grew weary. He watched as she yawned in her cute way, trying to fight of the inevidabe until she did fall asleep. Noodle breaths were soft and shallow, but it seemed as though she was in a deep, peaceful slumber. Murdoc was glad, she deserved sleep more than him. And he had no complaints having her safe in his sight to watch over her tonight.

AN: So, first chapter of a new Gorillaz fan fic! This is going to be an on-going story with lot's of updates coming down the pipe soon. Thoughts?