"Mu'doc, open da door." 2D said, knocking on the winne's door.
"'Ell no!" Murdoc shouted. "I'm not comin' out til that sod is offa this property!"
"Murdoc." Jacob said curtly. "Open the door. Now."
"….."
The locks began clicking open; a moment later, the door swung open.
"Wot do yew want?" Murdoc asked harshly; his hand was out of sight of the two, tightly gripping an intricately carved dagger.
"I want ta speak with yew." Jacob looked his son in the eyes.
Murdoc snorted, averting his gaze from the man. "There's nothin' ta talk about between us."
"Oh, I think there is." Jacob lifted his cane up and used the end to turn Murdoc's head back to him. "I think there is." He repeated. "And we're going ta 'ave a nice talk about all of et."
2D felt a shiver run down his spine; what was it about the way Jacob spoke that gave him an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach?
Murdoc gritted his teeth, glaring down at Jacob. "And if I refuse?" He asked.
"I don't think yew can." Jacob chuckled quietly, humorlessly. "The consequences will be the same as when yew were a lad."
"'E-Ey!" 2D interjected, putting himself between the two men. "Yew must be tired, Mr. Niccals! 'Ow about I knock us all up somethin' ta eat and wotnot?"
"…. Yes." Jacob lowered his cane. "A capital idea. Do you 'ave a place I can leave me belongings?"
"Oh, yew can put dem in me room fo' now!" 2D pointed. "Jus' drough dat door, can't miss et. Make yerself at 'ome!"
"Thank yew, laddy." Jacob picked up his bags and walked through the door.
"….." 2D made sure he heard the door snap shut before turning his attention to Murdoc. "Mu'doc, wot's going on?"
"Et's none ov' yer business, Stu!" Murdoc snapped. "I told ya I didn't want ta talk with 'im! Why the 'ell did ya let 'im in?!"
"W-Well, 'e wos yer dad…" 2D poked his fingers together. "I'm sorry, Mu'doc-"
"Sorry doesn't come close ta makin' wot yew did okay!" Murdoc stepped out of his Winnebago and started advancing on 2D; the latter began to back away, eyes widening. "Yew 'ave NO IDEA wot yew've done, yew stupid, dumbass, moronic asswipe!"
"I-I'm sorry!" 2D felt his back hit the wall, raising his arms up to protect his face.
"If yew 'ad any idea ov' wot that man is really like, yew'd REALLY be sorry! Yer not sorry at all!"
"W-Wot is 'e really like, Mu'doc?!"
"Yes, Murdoc."
Murdoc froze once again, hand raised to strike 2D.
"Wot am I really like?" Jacob tapped his foot like one would with a child. "Enlighten me."
"…. Yew know EXACTLY wot yer like." Murdoc hissed, lowering his hand. 2D breathed a sigh of relief, his own arms dropping down now that he was sure he was safe.
"'O-Ow about I make us somfink ta eat?" He said, smiling as brightly as he could.
"I'm not eatin'." Murdoc turned to go back into the winne, but Jacob caught his arm.
"WE would love that." Jacob said, smiling at 2D. "Just give us a few minutes and we'll be right there, alright?"
"Ah…" 2D looked from Murdoc to Jacob; Murdoc was motionless, making no move to pull himself from Jacob's grasp. "… Alright." He made his way out of the carpark.
As soon as 2D was out of sight, Jacob struck Murdoc upside the head with his cane, knocking the man down to the hard cement floor.
"Yew got very lucky, Murdoc." Jacob said, pulling off one of the pristine white gloves that adorned his hands. "But yer still goin' ta face the consequences." He smirked down at his son. "This reminds me ov' when yew were a young lad… Yer as stupid and ugly now as yew were then."
Murdoc was silent; he'd learned long ago to let Jacob do as he wished, because putting up a fight would only make things a hundred times worse.
/
"Wot's takin' dem so long…" 2D wondered, sitting at the table and looking at the untouched meal he'd cobbled together from the leftovers that had yet to grow mold. "Et's been like 'alf an hour already…"
Noodle poked her head into the kitchen and looked around apprehensively before stepping inside.
"Et's alright luv, 'e's not in 'ere right now." 2D gestured for her to come over to him, which she did so. He pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry dat our video game day got interrupted." He held her at arm's length, smiling brightly. "But as soon as I finish eatin', we'll get right back ta et. Alright?"
Noodle nodded, casting her eyes down.
"…. Wot's wrong, luv?" 2D cupped her chin and tilted her head up to look at him. He knew she couldn't speak English, so asking was kind of pointless, but there was something about that downtrodden look on her face that worried him.
Noodle shook her head, glancing over her shoulder as Jacob and Murdoc entered the room. She quickly pushed herself away from 2D and fled through the nearest door, practically tripping over herself on the way.
"Noodle…" 2D sighed softly before turning to look at the two men. "… Mu'doc, yer ac'ually wearin' a shirt." He was surprised; Murdoc usually chose to walk around shirtless.
"I told 'im ta put one on." Jacob commented, taking a seat at the table. "Nobody wants ta wotch 'is beer belly jiggle around. Now sit down, son."
Murdoc sat down as far away from Jacob as possible, folding his arms across his chest as he refused to touch his food.
"Nobody's goin' ta force ya ta eat." Jacob commented, taking a bite. "Mm… et's a bit cold. Sorry we took so long… Murdoc wos puttin' up a fight."
Another shiver ran down 2D's spine. Something about that didn't sound right at all. "Oh, et's alright! No 'arm done." He quickly began shoveling food into his mouth, sneaking glances over at Murdoc every few seconds.
Usually 2D was a good cook, but the food today was tasteless; the heavy atmosphere of the room ruined the entire meal for him. He had to find out what was going on between Murdoc and Jacob.
