2D started to open the door. He didn't realize how early he'd gotten off work that day.
He looked at his wristwatch and shrugged.
Only 1:00? He's usually off at 4:30. If not later.
He stuck his key inside the door and turned the knob.
Inside he could hear Murdoc in his studio.
He knew he had to keep quiet or Murdoc would come down and strangle him with his bare hands.
He walked to the living room, sat on the couch, and closed his eyes.
He may not have been at work long, but he was tired.
Noodle came into the front door and toward the kitchen.
She passed the living room and stopped in her tracks.
She took 3 steps back and looked at 2D.
"Toochi-kun?"
2D jumped at gave a small squeak at the sudden sound of her voice.
"Sorry...yew scared me."
Noodle giggled at the squeak but then raised an eyebrow.
"Why are you not at work?"
"Oh, got off early today. Tha' kid in me' car took da wrong turn yew see, an' jus' went straigh' into a tree. Now t'ey 'ave to get tha' car fixed. I'll be back tomorrow."
Noodle laughed at his story.
"Well I've been on the roof with Russel-san. I came down to make us both some food. You want some food too?"
"Yeh, I'd love some!"
2D suddenly looked down at her torso and realized she was wearing his favorite T Virus shirt.
"Where 'as tha' been? I 'aven't see ih' fo' a while."
"Oh, it was on your floor. I hope you don't mind."
2D stood up and walked up to her.
He grabbed at the bottom of the shirt gently.
"Noodz, of course I mind!"
2D said while playfully tugging at her shirt.
Noodle pushed him gently.
"Well you don't get it back!"
2D grabbed her by the waist.
"But truthfully Noodz...yew look beau'iful."
Noodle blushed.
"2D-kun..it's just a T-Shirt..."
"But yew look beau'iful in everyfink yew wear."
Noodle looked into his dark voids.
He smiled at her with affection.
Noodle felt her urges coming back.
She couldn't take it anymore.
Noodle placed her small gentle hands on his face and stood on her toes.
She pulled him in.
There they stood.
Noodle was kissing 2D.
There lips placed together in what seemed like an eternal embrace.
Her lips were soft and moist.
They tasted like cherries.
They broke apart and 2D looked into her eyes.
"Toochi...2D. TOOCHI-KUN! WAKE UP!"
2D started to feel...wet...and...cold?
He suddenly woke up to Noodle sitting on top of him with a cup of ice in her hand.
"FINALLY! I had to get ice to get you up!"
2D blinked and seemed to be dumbfounded. He didn't seem to be processing everything correctly.
"2D-kun you're home so early...are you okay?"
"Ih'm fine! I jus' came 'ome early!"
Noodle raised an eyebrow.
"Why so early?"
2D scratched his head. He was still a little fuzzy.
"Oh...erm, I got off early today. A kid in me' car took da wrong turn an' jus' went straigh' into a tree. They 'ave to get tha' car fixed. I shoul' be back tomorrow."
"Oh okay then."
Noodle smiled warmly.
"Noodz...
"Yes?"
"Erm...yew're still on top o' me."
Noodle blushed and giggled.
"Whoops. I'm sorry Toochi-kun."
The small girl stood up and walked away.
"Oi! Where ya' goin'?"
2D jumped up and followed her.
Noodle looked behind her to realize he followed her to the kitchen.
She dumped the cup of ice into the sink then sat on the only empty corner of the table.
"So...what are you going to do with your free time?"
2D shrugged.
"Hang out wiff yew I guess."
Noodle sighed and look down.
"Wha'? Wha' did I say?"
"Nothing 2D. I just wonder...do you ever get tired of me?"
2D walked up to her and smiled.
"Why on earff woul' I get tired o' yew? Yew make me 'appy."
Noodle smiled.
"That's what little sisters are for right?"
The room grew silent. 2D felt a sort of stabbing sensation in his chest and Noodle regretted saying it the moment it came out.
"Well...you think of me like a sister...right?"
2D shook his head.
"No. Not anymore."
Noodle wasn't sure what he meant or what he was trying to say.
"Well...what am I? Be honest."
"Well to me yew are..."
Noodle held her breath.
"A frien'. A really close frien'."
Noodle suddenly grew angry...or sad...or a mix of so many emotions she didn't know what she felt.
"I'll catch you later."
Noodle began to storm out of the room when 2D quickly grabbed her arm.
"Yes?"
Noodle sounded more annoyed to him that she'd ever sounded before.
"Noodz...please don' be mad wiff me."
"I'm not."
She pulled her arm away.
"I just-"
"Noodle! I can' mess this up."
"Mess WHAT up? Aren't we just friends? According to you-"
"Noodz please."
She suddenly stopped and looked at his face. It was so full of desperation and seemed to be pleading her to listen.
"Tell me then. How do you feel?"
2D sighed.
"Noodle, I feel like yew're tha' mos' special person Ih've evah met. I don' wan' to 'urt yew of anyfink. Yew wan' honesty? Fine. I seem to be gettin' complica'ed feelin's fo' yew...but I can' do nofink abou' ih. Ih'm not worth ih'. Not only tha' but i's wrong fo' me to feel this way. Ih've known yew since yew were a lit'le girl. I saw yew grow up. To fink o' the fact tha' I used to fink o' yew like a chil' or a cute lit'le sister and now I want to be wiff yew is...odd. Not normal. Ih'm not normal. I'm sorry."
Noodle stood there shocked.
She didn't know what to say.
"How long have you felt this way?"
"Since you firs' came to Plastic Beach."
She cupped her hand onto his cheek and whispered.
"Stu...I...I feel that way for you too. The complication of it all. How odd it all is. I get it...but should that stop us from being happy?"
2D looked up into her eyes. The way they sparkled and danced.
He pulled her forward and they kissed.
It was just like in his dream.
The softness and tenderness of the whole thing.
How her lips really did taste like cherries.
How it seemed to send electric shock through both of them.
As the kiss broke apart it seemed to still be lingering.
2D looked at Noodle in shock.
"Wha' if Russ and Murdoc find out? They're goin' to smash t'e rest of my teeth in..."
"Toochi..."
2D looked at her.
"Stuart..."
2D suddenly realized.
The last person he'd ever cared about this much was Paula.
She's also the last person to ever call him by his real name.
The difference was...this time Noodle said it with love and affection.
More affection than Paula ever had for him.
"I jus'...Ih'm sorry."
2D left the kitchen and went straight to his room.
Noodle stood there in the kitchen.
Dumbfounded.
She wanted to replay that kiss in her head.
Analyse it.
She wasn't sure what it was going to start...
but she knew this was the beginning of something much bigger than they both expected.
