Yo, guys! This is my first ever 2D/Murdoc Fic, so be honest but not too harsh with me, okay? ;O;
Warning: I probably won't be able to publish a new chapter every day, I'm really sorry about that.
I don't own Gorillaz even though that would be nice.
"Faceache! What the hell're you doing? Hurry up and move your little arse down here!" Murdoc yelled impatiently.
After a few moments you could hear quick paces on the stairs. "I'm coming!"
"About time too," The bassist muttered as 2D appeared at the tread. "What are you? A fucking girl?"
"I'm sorry, Muds," the blue-haired singer replied and looked down on his feet.
Murdoc rolled his eyes and turned around heading to the front door.
"Oh c'mon, dude, cheer a bit up, would ya? It's New Year's Eve!" Russel admonished him as the band went outside into the freezing air.
The bassist didn't even look at him. "Shut up, fat arse," he growled and pulled his collar up to protect his face from the ice cold December wind. "Just get in the fucking car."
"But he's right, Murdoc," Noodle said as she took her place on the back seat. "There's no need to be in such a bad mood," The young woman sighed. "This is going to be our first concert since the world tour, could you just enjoy it like we do?"
"Yeah, this is our first fucking concert in ages and we're already late." The engine made some really unhealthy sounding noises as Murdoc revved it, but the satanist, being used to it, ignored that.
Russel chuckled. "Since when do you care that we're late? I remember you used to say 'we are the bloody celebrities, we're always right on time'," he said, imitating Murdoc's voice.
Noodle and 2D couldn't hold their grins back.
"Fuck you," the bassist hissed. "Fuck you all."
Yeah, it was their first concert since the Escape To Plastic Beach World Tour in 2010. Actually, they had planned to take a break from all that. Again. They just needed it. The time around Plastic Beach had been really exhausting. They were happy that their little family was reunited and that they had found a nice place to live, so they didn't want to make music for a while, maybe never again.
The first exception was the deal with Converse in early 2012. And now, a bunch of young musicians had organised a New Year concert including a huge party at Hyde Park. About a month ago, Murdoc had received an E-Mail from them, requesting their appearance.
It wasn't like Murdoc wouldn't look forward to being on stage again, playing his bass, hearing the crowd scream his name. It was what he loved about making music. He loved losing himself on stage.
The satanist glanced at the dashboard clock. Half past six. They've been told to be there at six, but half an hour wasn't that bad, at least not for their standards.
He took a deep breath. What he needed was a cigarette. Now.
"Faceache, hold the wheel," he commanded and leaned back in his seat, starting to rummage in his pockets.
2D jerked foward, grabbing the steering wheel as the bassist let it go. "What the hell, Murdoc!" he screamed.
The satanist shrugged and lit his cigarette, then waved 2D's hand away again.
It took them ten more minutes to finally arrive at Hyde Park. When they got out of the car, a nervous looking young man who had probably been waiting for them approached.
"There you are!" he exclaimed. "We thought you wouldn't come anymore!"
Murdoc narrowed his eyes and looked over the guy. "Of course we came," he said after a few moments. "Who do you think we are."
The man flinched back and stuttered: "I- I'm sorry."
"No, we have to apologize," Noodle interposed as she sidelined Murdoc. "We're really late," She gave the guy an angel-like smile. "Should we go backstage then?"
"Y- yeah, sure," he blushed slightly and turned around. "Follow me."
The boys exchanged confused gazes and then trailed Noodle.
It felt a bit strange to get ready for a show again. By then it was almost eight o'clock; the concert had begun at seven and it was almost time for their performance.
Sighing, Murdoc reached for his bass, put it in his lap and stroked the bridge.
"A bit odd, isn't it?" The bassist startled up from his thoughts, staring up at 2D who gave him a gentle smile.
"Yeah," he muttered, too dizzy for one of his usual rude replies.
2D turned around and gazed at one of the walls which was full of slips and notes headlined with artists names. "We don't have one, do we?" he asked absentmindedly.
Murdoc got up from the unplugged speaker on which he had been sitting and gave the singer a confused look. "Don't have what?"
"A set list," the latter answered. "We're not organized... as usual."
Murdoc grinned amused. "We'll just play what we feel like playing, alright mate?"
Just then, they heard Russel shouting for them: "Stage time, guys!"
Murdoc gave a brief laugh as 2D winced and patted him on the shoulder. "C'mon, Faceache, let's get down to business." The singer gulped and nodded.
Even though there wasn't any wind on the stage, the air was freezing cold. How the people in the crowd survived only wearing T-Shirts or tank tops, Murdoc didn't know. As he turned around, he could see 2D and Noodle both having their arms wrapped around themselves.
His band mates looked nervous, but bright smiles flashed over their faces as the screams and cheers coming from the audience reached them.
Grinning, Murdoc put the belt of his bass around his shoulders. 2D came up to the mic, Noodle sat down on the floor to finally tune her guitar and Russel took his place behind his drums.
Some stagehands unrolled a huge banner saying GORILLAZ at the stage's back wall and the crowd screamed even louder as 2D cleared his throat plainly audible.
"What are we going to play?" Noodle screamed over the shouts after she'd finished her tuning and stood up.
2D helplessly shrugged but Murdoc knew an answer: "It's a party! So how about 5/4?"
His mates flashed him huge grins and nodded in reply and Noodle began to play those oh so familiar guitar riffs. At least when Murdoc joined in, everyone had recognized the song and the crowd screamed the lyrics along with 2D.
After a few seconds, Noodle stepped forwards until she stood right next to the singer and the air seemed to explode as they belt out the chorus.
It was an incredible feeling; and soon, none of them felt cold anymore.
When the song was finished, it felt like they'd drown in applause. 2D and Noodle turned around beaming at Murdoc and Russel and they grinned back.
"And now?" The drummer yelled. 2D thought for a few seconds, then nodded and raised his hand to tell the others that he had an idea.
He took a deep breath and started talking to the crowd: "How about something calm now? The next song is from our third album Plastic Beach. Hope you enjoy it!"
He put the mic out of its stand and walked over to his keyboard. On his way there, he mouthed "On Melancholy Hill" to his band mates. They all nodded in agreement.
Murdoc had always thought of On Melancholy Hill as one of their most beautiful songs. When he had got 2D to sing it for the first time, back at the studio on Plastic Beach, it had totally mesmerized him. And it still did.
Luckily, the bass part wasn't too complicated, otherwise he'd probably messed it up. He stared at 2D who was totally lost in playing and singing. His azure hair peeking out from under the knitted bobble cap Noodle had given him for Christmas, the leather jacket showing his thin figure, his long fingers pressing the keys gracefully... and his voice, oh that angel-like voice Murdoc loved so much.
He was kind of surprised when the song was finished and blinked dizzily. As he realized what he had been thinking, his throat felt constricted. What the hell had gotten into him?
He shook his head to get rid of the thoughts and yelled "Rhinestone Eyes!" over the stage.
Noodle glared at him. They all knew she hated that song because she had to sing the backing vocal part in the chorus that was originally Cyborg's, but Murdoc couldn't care less in that moment. He grabbed the rum-filled water bottle which was sitting on the floor next to his feet and took a huge gulp; and whenever he didn't have to play, he did it again.
The effect wasn't long in coming and suddenly he felt like he should make up to Noodle, so he approached her and said "Wanna do DARE, love?" into her ear. She looked at him in surprise, then gave him a big smile.
She literally hopped over to 2D, yelling "DARE, Toochi!". The singer blinked astonished – she hadn't called him that for years – then laughed and handed her the mic. She looked just like the little girl she had been when they first recorded what they called Noodle's Anthem.
Since Shaun Ryder wasn't with them, 2D took his part, Noodle cheered the whole time and made the crowd freak out with her famous dance moves; Murdoc was glad it distracted him from his thoughts about the singer.
After they were done with DARE, they had time for one more song, so Murdoc stepped forwards to the microphone and shouted: "That's gonna be our last song, what do you want to hear?"
A huge majority in the crowd screamed for Feel Good Inc, it was a clear answer.
"Alright then!" Murdoc yelled and turned around, walking back to his place. "Guys, you heard them, they want Feel Good Inc!" he said as his band mates just stared at him.
"Feel Good Inc without De La Soul? How do you imagine that?"
The bassist frowned. "Fuck it," he turned to Russel. "You can rap, don't you?"
Russel frowned back and was quiet for a few seconds, then he shrugged. "I think so, probably spent enough time with Del."
Murdoc smirked. "Good, good... we don't want to disappoint our fans, right?" He glanced around looking for a stagehand and signaled him to get another microphone for the drummer.
Noodle went backstage to get her classical guitar and Murdoc grabbed the mic from 2D's hands imitating De La Soul's insane laughter, then started to play the famous bass part.
2D grinned, joining in and Russel seemed to enjoy the idea as well.
Soon, the three guys totally lost themselves in the song, being awakened by Noodle coming back on stage, carrying her beloved guitar.
At least to the band, everything went silent immediately as the young woman started playing. Smiling, they watched her and Murdoc couldn't help but gaze at 2D just to find the singer looking at him, too.
They stared at each other emotionlessly until 2D finally realized it was time for him to sing again.
/
"God, that was so much fun!" Noodle yelled. "I almost forgot how awesome it is to be on stage." She was so excited that she almost spilled her water.
Murdoc laughed, putting an arm around her shoulders and kissed her hair. "I know, love, and the fun's not over yet, there's still a party ahead of us!" She nodded happily.
"But no alcohol for you, babydoll, got that?" Russel clarified in a fatherly voice.
Noodle frowned. "Oh, come on, I'm twenty-one!"
"No!" Murdoc retorted, lifting his index finger warning. "You're never gonna be an adult to us, you're our baby!"
The guitarist narrowed her eyes and stared at Murdoc's hand in front of her face – he was holding a beer bottle. "Sure," she murmured.
"Now, anyway!" The bassist exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air. "Let's celebrate this glorious night, Gorillaz!"
His band mates grinned and nodded in agreement and then they left the backstage area.
Soon enough, they found themselves surrounded by fans. Women clinging to the guys' arms, kissing their necks, and – to the great displeasure of Murdoc, Russel and 2D – men flirting with Noodle.
However, some hours passed with them just enjoying themselves, drinking, laughing, making out.
At around midnight, the young guy who had picked them up at the parking lot stepped on the stage to announce that it was time to start with the countdown and a giant 60 appeared on the large screen behind him.
"One minute 'til the new year's arrived!" he proclaimed and the 60 became a 59. Everyone cheered and started to count down.
58, 57, 56...
"Did you know," 2D heard a whisper next to his ear. "That it brings luck for the new year to be kissed at midnight exactly?"
He turned around and faced a girl, maybe in her mid-twenties, looking at him seductively.
51, 50, 49...
He gave her a grin. "Oh, really?"
She nodded, smirking and moved even closer. "I'm Cassie!"
43, 42, 41...
"2D," he replied, inhaling the sweet scent of her long dark hair.
"I know," Cassie giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm a big fan."
35, 34, 33...
He touched her hips gently and smiled. "Nice to hear that."
They looked at each other for a moment silently and 2D was just about to tell the girl how beautiful he found her eyes, when suddenly some one pulled him backwards by his arm.
27, 26, 25...
He stumbled and Cassie let out a small scream as she almost fell to the floor, surprised by 2D's sudden movement. The singer turned around, ready to ask the person who had touched him so roughly what on earth their problem was, when he realized it was Murdoc.
His face lost its angry look immediately and he blinked confused at the bassist. "Is everything okay, Muds?"
19, 18, 17...
The latter didn't reply, he just pulled him through the crowd jostling everyone away who was a bar to him. Murdoc ignored 2D's angry and protesting shouts from behind and with every try to get free, he narrowed his grab of the singer's wrist.
12, 11, 10...
Murdoc didn't let go until they reached the side of the stage scaffold. He pressed 2D against the wall and looked around to make sure they were alone. Back there, they could hardly hear the people counting and cheering, though, Murdoc came as close as possible to the singer's ear as he whispered: "Did you really want to get your new year's kiss from an ugly bird like that?"
7, 6, 5...
The singer tried to push the bassist away vainly. "M- Murdoc, what -"
3, 2, 1...
2D didn't hear the cheers. He didn't see the fireworks. He didn't feel the still freezing air. He didn't hear or see or feel anything.
All he felt were Murdoc's lips on his, Murdoc's thigh between his legs, Murdoc's cold hands sliding under his shirt, running up his sides.
It was overwhelming. He shivered and clung to the bassist's sleeves, unsure of how to react, but when Murdoc brushed his tongue against his lips, 2D's mind shut down and he opened his mouth willingly.
Minutes, hours, days – 2D didn't know how long they'd been standing by the stage like that. Exploring each other's mouths with their tongues, touching each other's bodies hungrily, until Murdoc finally broke away and left wordlessly like nothing had happened.