A/N: thanks to chinarai and fuckyeahnerdstuff on tumblr for helping me out. btw, i draw too.
The change is immediate.
She sees him everywhere, talking and eating and laughing and practicing their music, he is all around her again. Chatting with Russ, acquainting with Ace, playing with Katsu, he's blooming in front of her with each blink and she almost can't believe it. But she takes it anyway because he is so happy and energetic and makes her feel elated to see the high rushing though him, the drive to push though the album stirring on his energy and everyone is recording long hours without complaint.
Watching 2D from behind the glass, his eyes closed, singing his heart out, Noodle finds herself praying the album will come without problems.
Break time is often unanimous, when the room gets stuffy and their throats get dry and her heart beats ungodfully off kilter.
Russel makes off down the hall, his phone ringing once more, an annoyed sigh and a pat on her shoulder he passes her, taking the cold bottle of water from her hands in a thankful expression.
She entered their sitting room, Ace waving at her from his spot on the sofa, a smoke dangling off his lips.
"Hey Noods!"
"Hey."
She made her way over to him, tossing him his drink, taking his wink with a playful smirk, as she flopped over the other loveseat. Taking a sip from her drink, she watched him twist open his cap, the sparking water bubbling.
Ace smacked his lips, gulping hard, "This recording stuff sure is the real deal. I didn't think it would be so tiring."
"Normally it isn't so rushed, but we got to this time. You'll get used it."
Ace nodded his head, his head turning slight as he spoke on, Noodle following suit to watch 2D's slim form enter in, his phone and drink in hand. The singer paid them no mind as he settled in the far corner, Ace's voice carrying back over.
"-I mean, I've played live for a while when I was a teenager but this is a bit different. It's so serious."
Noodle hummed in agreement, "It's just the industry aspect. You don't have to worry so much about it. It's all about getting the experience familiar, but like I said, you'll get used to it."
The green replacement bassist threw up is hands in a sudden wave, "Forget it! We'll do great!" He leaned forward towards her, resting his elbows on his knees, slipping his shade up his hair to wipe at his face, "No more worry from me. Let's talk about something else. Say, when we're done with this stuff, do you want to get dinner?"
"Only if I drive because when I let you the other day, you got like twenty-,"
"Three."
She rolled her eyes, "I'm sorry, three speeding tickets in an hour."
He pursed his lips in mock annoyance, arms cross and shoulders stiff, grumbling, "Fine."
She raised a brow, victory teeming, and punched Ace's shoulder playfully, laughing with him as he broke his faux anger.
The sun hung low, the studio staff wrapping up to send the day; Noodle washed the sweat off her face with a sigh, leaning against the bathroom mirror to touch up her make up. Reapplying her chapstick and straightening her shirt, she pulled open the door to leave, heels clicking against the quiet floor. She met Ace at the front of the building, taking the keys from his grasp.
From the diner table, her phone chimes, her eyes flicking down to see the popped up message, a quirking of her lips as she reads the text, fingers swiping quick before she slides her phone into her pocket, attention back to Ace as he finishes his story about a girl from his hometown, flowing back into the conversation.
2D: Do you want to hang out tomorrow?
Noodle: Sure! :)
Her heartbeat skips, this time without the bass.
She'll take this anytime.