It was obvious to any and all who knew Murdoc as more than an icon that he wasn't himself. He was Murdoc Faust Niccals, but it wasn't him. Deep down, beneath the fame, the lust, the gluttony, the alcohol, the pain.. beneath it all he was still Murdoc Alphonce Niccals; a frightened, abused little boy desperate for the slightest show of affection.
Yet, no matter how hard anyone tried, they couldn't seem to find him. No matter how deep they thought they'd delved, there was still no hint of the true Murdoc. It was near-impossible to sift out the real Murdoc.
Who could have ever guessed..
That 2D had the exact same problem.
~+O+~+O+~+O+~
Murdoc slumped back against the couch on the right half of the tour bus; a can crushed beneath him left behind by some unknown donor. His gaze flickered about restlessly, hesitating every so often on the thin lad sitting across from him. Across from him... Never had the singer passed up an opportunity to sit beside Murdoc, no matter how foul his attitude was.
2D had sat back, legs crossed and one willowy arm stretched across the top of the couch. His other hand twirled about demonstratively as he explained some unknown topic to one of the groupies seated beside him. Though the subject seemed boring and casual to Stu, the gleam in the groupie's eyes showed otherwise.
He was either highly interested in the monlogue, or highly interested in the orator.
Either way, Murdoc was disgusted. All of the groupies, men and women alike, seemed to flock to the lad now that he spent much of his time alone. This particular one, Steven, if he remembered correctly, was forever pancaked to the singer's side.
His glasses, a nauseating fluorescent green, caught the light and forced Murdoc's dagger-filled gaze away as he replied in a nasally voice. "Oh yeah, I t'ink I've wread dat!" He was exclaiming, seemingly proud of himself.
2D merely nodded, having caught Murdoc's change in posture but keeping his head tilted as if looking elsewhere. He'd never look the man straight in the eye again. So, instead, he snuck looks from the corner of his eyes with indistinguishable pupils grazing over him every so often.
"Yeh, yeh, me too.. gunna 'ead out fo' a smoke, eh?" The singer sighed heavily, pushing himself up and snatching his Lucky Lungs from the table. His proposition was obviously false as he made no attempt to take his lighter; not to mention the fact that they were going sixty down the beltway.
Steven was oblivious to anything wrong with the world as he watched after 2D's scrawny frame with almost too eager eyes, calling, "I'll be waitin' here!"
Stuart had found out early in the tour that Steven's asthma didn't do well with his cigarettes' smoke, so whenever he needed to get away for a while he merely needed to bring up his fags and the groupy would wait like an obedient puppy. Murdoc felt ill.
"Fockah.." He growled, glaring harshly at Steven, who hadn't yet released 2D's slightly up-ridden shirt from his daring gaze.
"Scuse me?" Steven inquired, cocking his head over at Murdoc with a squint of one eye. Just like 2D always used to do when they messed around..
"Ah said shut tha fock up!" The bassist roared with sudden, unhindered rage; eyes burning and fangs bared as he lunged forward and braced himself on the table. Steven jerked back, glasses falling into his lap and uncovering beady eyes.
The bus fell completely silent, all eyes on Murdoc. 2D trailed back towards the couches again, eyes wide and expression full of confusing and distaste. The olive-skinned man's breathing was ragged and uneven, signalling he was either incredibly angry or on the verge of tears. Only Stu knew it was both.
Growling in frustration at both Steven and his weakness, Murdoc jerked up into a standing position and stormed towards the bunks. He didn't hesitate to throw Stu roughly against the wall on his way past witha fist to the stomach. A moment later the door slammed hard enough to break off the top hinge, everyone letting out a held breath and 2D slumping to the ground.
Noodle and Steven both hurried to his side, Russel and the various other groupies watched from the couches. 2D ignored them both, eyes wide and a hand tentatively brushing over his stomach. That was the first time Murdoc had layed hands on him since the airport.
