Chapter Three. Pretty exciting.

To Think

The singer wasn't a moron; in the means to say that he didn't think about how he acted. Because he did every single moment of his life. He thought of every breath that he took in and every breath he let out. The singer thought about each time his heart beat and each time his temples lifted. Stuart thought of everything all the time because he knew that if he didn't he would regret that single moment that he didn't put thought behind an action.

Still though he knew that his thinking and other people's thinking were on very different wavelengths; in different universes. He put effort and emotions into his thinking and kept it to himself to be analyzed by what emotions he could feel behind it. That was always both a bad and a good thing for him because obviously he was thinking but he was thinking differently. Stuart didn't think logically or factually; he thought emotionally.

Maybe that was the reason as to why Murdoc was glaring daggers at him after he'd asked for a light. He remembered that the bassist hated questions and he brought that into account but instead of thinking about the outcome he thought about how he felt it was a safe move. And it had been until the lighter hit his shoulder painfully and the older man began glaring.

So he remained silent for the next four days until Monday when he was finally let out of his room and was sitting on the sky deck with his best mate. It was sunny, warm with a slight cool breeze that refreshed him. The only downfall to an otherwise perfect moment was the fact that 'to be safe' he was handcuffed the banister by a chain. Only downfall. The rest though was absolutely wonderful because even the scent of sea salt, heat and garbage was better than that musty old garbage smell in his enclosed room.

"See D, I'm nice to ya," Murdoc stated while he relaxed further into his fold out chair. "No one can eva' say Uncle Muds isn't nice." The bassist took a swig of rum from the bottle in his hand and sighed with satisfaction. A perfect day with his favourite living instrument and no malfunctioning android to ruin it. He didn't think days like those existed but he would take them as they were because they weren't often. Besides; if Stuart was willing to be quiet having him around wasn't so bad.

Murdoc obviously thought as well because if he didn't Stuart would have escaped long ago. Of course he thought very differently than the vocalist and other people. His thinking revolved around himself and how certain actions, words and situations would act upon him. If they were bad he didn't want to be part of it, if they were good he was the first one to act. In some way it was nearly genius because even if he got himself into a bad situation – such as the Paula one – he could always find a way out.

It was all about survival of the fittest in Murdoc's case; and he was the fittest. Stuart; he was someone who had happened to get in his way. Literally.

"Y-Yea," the vocalist muttered as he leaned against the banister and looked out at the endless expanse of ocean before him. Nothing but blue below, above or around. Minus the island but if one wasn't coming in towards the island they wouldn't see it; it would just be a pink spot in their peripheral vision. Stuart had barely any of that left due to the accidents and at times it hurt him but he'd learned to live without it.

Even so he felt uncomfortable with his back to the bassist because at any time Murdoc could snap and attack him without chance for reaction. Not that it was very probable because he was saying nothing and his captor was perfectly calm.

A sea breeze shifted his hair and he squinted to keep the blue locks from his eyes. It was peaceful to say the least without the nagging feeling in the back of his mind; a constant anxiety. Not that it ever went away but he knew he could ignore it and he did try his best to do exactly that at all times. Especially after the whole fake Noodle nearly shooting him in the throat; he still secretly blamed Murdoc for it.

"Well, at least ya got out o' your room righ? Thas more than ya can ask for my dear 2D."

"Uh-huh."

Another thing he had learned since the whole scenario with the gun; agree with Murdoc all the time. He had learned that lesson months ago but it had really stamped into his DNA after he stared death in its face. Stuart was beginning to believe that any children he had after the whole Plastic Beach phase would also know to follow the Niccals in every way; they'd inherit it from him.

Still; Stuart knew to always agree with Murdoc but he knew that he didn't always have to stay silent. So as a question nipped at his tongue he felt the urge to ask it but wondered if it would be allowed; instead he lit up. An inhale later and he could feel that he was ready enough to start questioning. "I have a question buh I dunno if I should ask," he stated as he exhaled into the fresh air. Toxins tainting the breeze to be carried elsewhere to poison other lungs.

"Don't," the bassist replied simply as he swigged from his rum. Seeing a fag light up and burn was enough to itch at his own craving and forced him to light up as well.

Obviously this was where Stuart would agree with Murdoc and keep his mouth shut like a good little captive. Obviously this was where Stuart did none of that because it wasn't a question. Stuart had been programmed to agree with Murdoc when it came to questions of his preferences or how good the bassist's ideas were. 'Do not' was merely a command he could ignore if he wanted to risk the options. Something inside of his gut told him he wanted to risk those options.

So he puffed one more time and spoke around life taking smoke. "Why ya run 'ere? To a pile of shite in tha middl' of no'where?" he questioned. Already his heart was pounding quickly in his chest and he knew that his even breathing too loudly could set his capturer off and he was waiting for it but he couldn't help it because he was thinking his way. His own emotions outweighed those of the outcomes or other people.

Murdoc sighed and though it annoyed him and set his teeth on edge that Stuart had asked it wasn't something he was avoiding to talk about; so he obliged. "Well dent'ead, it all started when the band broke up after the Demon Days phase. You'd all left with your money cuts and I was left alone with the share I'd made and whatever I could find still hiding in that blasted building of ours." Murdoc didn't miss the shiver that rippled over Stuart's skin. "So I did what I could with what I had but it didn't last very long and the hookers were getting more expensive as time went on. I needed booze and they were sucking me dry so I tried to sell Kong Studios." Again he didn't miss that longing, hate filled shiver.

"It didn't work and as months went on my money stash was shrinking faster by the day so I decided that since we had such a massive insurance claim on the place that I'd get my money from there. I burnt the place down – don't be such a baby Stu!" he tried to explain.

"Buh... buh Kong was our 'ome Muhdoc! I-I dun understan' 'ow you could burn it down!"

"I told you. I needed the money and burning the place down would get me what I needed alright? It was hard sure buh not as hard as going broke for the rest of yer life. Besides; that was our old hang out. It was over for Kong and if was falling apart so let's just say I saved it a painfully slow deterioration into nothing," Murdoc stated without a care in his voice. He dragged and licked his lips as his eyes lifted in thought.

"Righ'. So, I burned the place down and blamed it on some kids; took the money and decided I'd explore the world. Didn' really care where I went as long as they had booze and women so I went wherever whenever. It was going great and whatever until I again started to run out of cash; not the best of ideas. In the end I remembered that wicked party pad... What was it?"

"Feel Good Inc," Stuart filled; dredge pulling at his heart. A migraine was beginning to form against his right temple and he knew soon enough it would slice through his brain to the left.

Murdoc nodded, dragged and swigged. "I went back there and picked up some of those guns and bombs and sell them to people who would pay top dollar for them. I found some guy in Mexico I believe it was who coughed up quite a handful of cash and he sent me to this other guy who paid for the rest yea?" Murdoc continued; fully ignoring Stuart by this point. He was so wrapped up in his story that he didn't notice the pained shudder that shook the singer's frame.

"A few months later though one of the guys I sold to found me and demanded a little more than I could give so I handed him one of the copters from the video and he gave me enough cash to last the rest of however long I was going to live. Found out then that they were known as the Black Cloud or Black Hand or something. A group of pirates and what not and whossit and whatever."

Stuart by this point felt like knives and hammers and pins were all doing their worst to kill him. His brain felt like it was being torn to shreds and his vision was starting to blur. If things kept going he knew his already churning stomach would empty itself and leave him gasping for air over the banister.

"Well, it turned out that not even a month after selling the damn chopper the weapons were found fake and useless. I took that as my cue to leave so I packed up my money and headed off for the other chopper and searched for the perfect place to hide myself so they couldn't catch me. I found this place after nearly a day and half or looking and I knew it was perfect. Miles and miles away from land in the middle of nowhere. Absolutely perfect."

It was by this point that the Satanic Murdoc Faust Niccals noticed that his blunette vocalist was either going to pass out or throw up his organs. In an effort to save that and keep himself looking slightly tasteful he picked up a bottle next to him and tossed it at Stuart; effectively smashing the bottle into the back of the thirty-two year olds' head.

Though it blasted and caused shockwaves of pain to spread through his skull he bent down and gratefully picked up the bottle. He wasted no time in opening it and popping four of the little round white pills into his mouth and swallowing dry. It always took a few minutes for the medication to work and the pain to subside but he had felt better the moment the bottle was in his hand.

"Now that you're all better... I took the copter back and parked it in the tower to sit and wait until I needed it again; no use to me anymore. A friend of mine called up a boat driver he knew who would take me where I needed to go and I went along with it. Brought myself and my cash; was ready and rearing to go. Someone shot at me; boat went faster; came here. Not much left after that really," the bassist concluded with a sad frown at his empty rum bottle.

Stuart nodded and looked back over the banister; his vision cleared but hazed over. He felt better knowing something more about Murdoc's new lifestyle. Felt better still that he hadn't been hit for asking. "I see," he whispered into the air as he tossed the butt of his fag out towards the sea.

The bassist scoffed and dragged. 'Stuart is definitely a moron,' he thought while he watched the blunette. 'But at least he bothers to think at all.'

Thanks to those who Alerted:

CowsGurl

Wind Alias

Slashpirate

Atrusa Solaris

LunaManzia

Thanks to those who Reviewed:

CowsGurl- Thanks so much! I didn't know if I'd actually put the whole 'love him' thing. I thought people would think it slash but then I added that comparisson part. Hope this is fun to read too!

Wind Alias- I completely agree with you on the detail thing. There should be more but I do that updates will take more than two weeks. Less detail means less time means less writer's block. (The tenses actaully work out that way. Odd I know.)

Alice Everafter- I'm glad you're enjoying it. The whole Android Noddle thing only being able to say Noddle is true though. At least; according to Murdoc it is.

Slashpirate- I know. I feel bad for putting him through more in this one but I have to keep IC. (In Character) No OOC here. ^.^

Salioka- Hmmmm. What can I say to you that isn't already fricken obvious! I absolutely adore you for even putting up with me and you get cake just for your awesome comment yea? Not much awkward here because Murdoc Niccals is God and God doesn't feel awkward. Or does he? Would never know really would we? Oh well, Stu's feelings for everything on Plastic Beach is pretty much the same throughout the whole thing. Might change when it comes to Murdoc though. Bonding them is fun. (Not in THAT way of course.) And my next chapter has magically appeared so here you are. No more waiting; that is until the next one... right after this one.

The Adversary- Well, if it isn't you again? How you been? Good? Yea? Getting sleep? (Sleep is for the Weak) I'm glad you're glad that I updated. I'm glad I updated. Yes, things are still tense and will remain tense until such a time I deem it fit to not be tense. (Never. They're always tense.) You're review was fine and appreciated greatly. ILY.

Thanks to those who favourited:

Salioka

CowsGurl

Atrusa Solaris

(I don't deserve your favourites but they make me blush giddily and honour me. You guys should all be favourited just because your awesome! Wouldn't be writing were it not for you.)

Anah~