He looked at the window waiting. He knew any minute now that it was going to happen. It had happened every night for a month now, or at least he'd noticed it a month ago.
The car in the driveway started up and rolled off down the street to who knew where with Russel Hobbs in the driver seat.
The first couple of times he heard it he though it was Murdoc, he seemed like the type to have an "adventurous" night life. But then one he stayed up long enough to watch the tame drummer of their band leave with a duffle bag and not come back until after he had given up and gone to bed.
He had no clue what he would be doing, he considered Russel to be a pretty normal by-the-book sort of man. Except for Del and his long history of ghostly encounters. So maybe he wasn't so normal and definitely not a bland man, but still not the kind to have sketchy nighttime business.
He watched the car leave in what seemed like slow motion, curiosity bitting at him. He couldn't help it. He didn't have any idea as to what Russel was doing.
But tonight he was going to find out.
He ran down the stairs, almost falling, in order to catch up with the car. He took the second car and sped down to catch up. 2D tried not to think about what he could be doing, his mind would make up the most ridiculous answers. He knew that whatever it was it must be something simple that he hadn't thought of, Russel was a good man.
Right?
They came to a stop sign, giving him ime to catch up. Too much time, in fact, Russel sat at the stop sign even though no other cars were around them. It gave him chills.
After what seemed like years, Russel's car started moving again. It rolled down the street and pulled into the parking lot of a supermarket. 2D was really confused, be even more invested in finding out why. He tried to park behind another car so Russel wouldn't see him. However when he left the car, he watched Russel get out, lean against the bumper of his car and fold his arms.
He was looking right at him.
Shit he thought.
"Hello Stuart." Russel said. "whatcha doing up?"
He knew that tone. He knew when Russel called him Stuart he was fucked. He had to be careful with his words now.
"I could ask you the same." He said, trying to shift the pressure of the conversation onto him.
Without hesitation he spoke, "I'm getting something for Noodle. She came into my room and said she her head hurt and we didn't have any painkillers."
Now that stung. He knew exactly why they didn't have painkillers in the house. Whatever Russel was up to, he was not willing give up. He was warning him to back off.
2D first thought was to reply "and what about every night for the past month?" But he knew better than to push it.
"Ah." Is all he said.
"And why are you here?" Russel said, checking his watch.
2D wasn't prepared to answer that. "Uh...a light is my room is broken. Came to get stuff to fix it."
"at this time of night?" Russel said.
"It was bothering me lots." 2D, trying to avoid eye contact. "Sometimes ya just gotta get things done." He said with a weak laugh.
"Well okay." He said, straightening up "but we have spare lightbulbs back at Kong. In the garage. I can help you tomorrow if you'd like."
"Oh." 2D taking the opportunity to escape the conversation. "Well I'll go then... Uh good luck with Noodle I guess."
Russel nodded and watched 2D walked back to his car. He left the lot, but watched Russel through his mirror. He watched Russel get in the car, leave the lot, and drive in the opposite direction.
When he got home he passed by Noodle's room. She was fast asleep, smile on her face, no sign that she had even moved from her bed at all.
2D sat in his bed and stared at the ceiling, head swimming with possibilities.
in hindsight this probably shouldn't be multi chapter but I'm too lazy to finish rn so...