So sorry for the wait people! I've been really busy. Shooort little chapter.
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The tension in the room became thick and almost unbearable. 2D sat in monastic silence, trying to formulate a way to avoid the question; if there was any. It was too late, he concluded, she had already asked him: plain and forward. "Love?" the word was gritty on his tongue and left a terrible aftertaste. He could hardly believe he was having this conversation, being under the impression that Noodle confined all of her serious issues with Russel. Yet here she was, wearily awaiting for his opinion on the matters of the heart. He fled to the quickest excuse he could conjure up. "Uh, well….aren't you a lit'll too young to be finkin' bout that kind a' stuff?" He had a slight difficulty locating his voice, but eventually did. Shuffling on his bottom, he sank further into the mattress and chuckled.
Noodle sat, evidently unamused by his comical assumption. "Quit joking 2D-san!" I'm nineteen!" Damn, he suddenly felt older than he really was. "I mean, I watch the television……and….I see people my age. They…..do the dates with each other….and hold hands…..and even……" 2D listened as the word caught in her throat. "Kiss." Even in the dimly lit room he could see her lower her head and hid behind her bangs; an embarrassed gesture she did not do often. He felt terrible: he kept forgetting that, though innocent, Noodle was a young woman and need to be exposed to some things on her own. Still, the world was horrible. He had to discover that on his own and didn't want to…..refused to allow her to be subjected to what he went through. Was it greedy to shelter her from the hurt that awaited her outside the studio? Was he the enemy? He turned on his sidetable lamp, accepting the fact that the atmosphere would not lighten up any time soon. With deep rosey cheeks and eyes still hidden, Noodle hugged her knees and rocked back and forth. 2D had never seen her this nervous and insecure; even before shows she would dance around backstage listening to her headphones and then when it was time, she'd happily skip out on stage in front of thousands of screaming people, waving and laughing. "2D?" she asked quietly , "I haven't done any of that….." she refused to look up, "I'm getting old….and I don't think I know what this…'love' is…." They would defiantly hurt her; defiantly take advantage of a heart as pure that. He couldn't let that happen. He loved her too much. "That is why I asked you…." she finally looked up, her eyes faintly watery, "Have you ever loved someone?" He wouldn't let that happen.
"…….yes, I have….er do," he'd protect her, it was the only logical thing his heart would allow him to do. "I love you Noodle."
She gave him a sad smile, "I know 'D, but not like that. I mean have you ever really lov-"
During the course of her explanation, Noodle failed to notice the singer shift forward. He crawled close enough to seize her face in his hands and tenderly press his lips against hers. She never felt anything so warm before in her life; the feeling spread throughout her body like the deadliest disease. She closed her eyes enjoying the new stirring sensation; the warmth if his lips, the feeling of his hands caressing her face. She opened them once again as he stopped abruptly.
"Like I said," 2D whispered quietly and firmly, "I love you Noodle." Maybe it was a greedy thing to do. Maybe in the end he was the enemy. One thing was clear though, she wasn't going to suffer like he had and he was never going to hurt her.