"Thanks for the ride, Russ," 2D says, grabbing his bag. "I really appreciate it.
Russ puts an arm out to stop him. "Wait man, I heard Niccals yelled at you." 2D looks confused but then remembered the act he put on for Rachel. He sighs. "Who told you? Rachel?" Russel nods and 2D shakes his head.
"I wanted a better grade and he got mad," He responds simply.
"That's it? That got him mad?"
"Do you think he has a bad temper?"
Russel scoffs. "You think?" He moves his hand back and sighs. "Your music ain't rubbish, D."
"Really?" 2D asks, not expecting the compliment. Russel nods his head.
"You're the shit, bro."
2D smiles and opens the jeep door and hops out. "See you tomorrow, Russ."
He watches Russel wave and Noodle hop into the front seat before driving down the road. 2D enters his home and looks around, surprised to actually see his aunt home. "Ah, you're home." She turns around and smiles at him.
"Hello, Stuart," She greets before returning back to her cooking. "How's school?"
"Good- I got an A in music." He pulls out his report card and hands it to her.
She takes it and chuckles. "Oh, my...I haven't seen one of these since Mina was in school." She sighs and takes a look at it. "All Bs except Music?"
2D blushes and nods. "I really enjoy that class."
She smiles again before going over to the fridge and hanging it up. "Mina always got As until her junior year- she got Cs." She sighs. "It's nice to see that your grades are consistent."
"Thanks," He says, feeling embarrassed. "Aunt, can I go out with a friend tonight?"
"Sure, Stuart," She says. "Just be careful." She walks over to him and pulls out her wallet. She hands him a couple of ten dollar bills and nods. "Good job, kiddo."
2D smiles and gives her a hug. He notices Murdoc's car parked nearby, with the teacher smoking inside. The windows begin to fog up. "Why is he always smoking?" 2D thinks to himself. Even he doesn't smoke that much. That was probably a lie. He shakes his head and hurries over to the car, opening the passenger door and getting inside. The cold of outside instantly disappeared into warmth when he takes a seat. The heater had been running but Murdoc's window was open, making it the perfect temperature. "So why'd you give me an A if I'm such a pain in your ass?"
"You ARE a fuckin' pain in my damn ass," Murdoc sniffs. "Because you do good work,"
"What about Russel and Noodle?"
"They got As too."
2D scowls. "Did you give everyone As?"
Murdoc scoffs and starts the car. "Fuck no- I gave most of the twats Ds. Idiots don't know their way around a fuckin' triangle."
2D laughs at that and he couldn't help but agree. He looks out the window and puts his feet up on the dashboard. Murdoc glances over at him but remains quiet for the rest of the drive. It's not an awkward silence, it's a nice one; a comfortable one. He wasn't sure what suddenly changed his mind about Murdoc or what made him not feel so bad about being around him. But he did enjoy it. "Are you hungry?"
"I guess I could use a beer-"
"Not a beer," 2D says, sitting up straight. "Dinner."
Murdoc looks over at him oddly. "You're askin me out?"
"I mean, not at like...a restaurant," 2D says shyly. "Obviously. But maybe between just you and me."
"At your place?"
"No, my aunt is home."
Murdoc thinks about it for a moment. "You're talkin about my place, huh?"
2D blushes. "Not exactly- I'm just sayi-"
"You want to see my place," Murdoc says, more as a statement than a question. 2D nods and Murdoc sighs. "It's not nice and rich like yours."
"I don't mind."
"There's not much food at my place."
"That's okay, I'm not hungry anyway."
"You really wanna see it?"
"Yes," 2D confirms confidently.
Murdoc sighs again and shakes his head. "Don't try sayin' I didn't warn you."
Murdoc leads 2D through the apartment complex, up the stairs, and to the last floor. He unlocks the door and kicks it open, letting 2D go in first. A scent of musky cologne and beer hits him the instant he walks in. Murdoc. He takes a look the room, noticing brick walls and hardwood floors, his walls bare aside from a couple of posters hung up. He walks over to Murdoc's bed, finding it funny how different it was from how he imagined it. His blankets were a dark brown color with black pillows. One blanket, however, didn't exactly seem to match the rock-star theme of the room; it was colored a dark cinnamon color. It's quite out of place, actually. It seems as if someone else had bought it for him. 2D figures it's either an ex-girlfriend or a mother. He likes the blanket a lot, actually. It felt nice and soft under his fingers; as if it were made of rabbit fur. He looks at the tag and smiles knowingly. Polyester. That's why.
"Welcome to the loooove shack," Murdoc snorts as he goes to the fridge.
2D stares at him stupidly before just laughing. "Love Shack?"
Murdoc shrugs. "It's a joke." Murdoc sits down on the edge of the bed after getting them beers.
2D smiles at him fondly. "I like your room."
"Really?" Murdoc asks doubtfully, looking around. "This mess?"
"You've been in my room before- it's just as messy."
"Not like this."
"It's...homey," 2D compliments. "And it smells like you."
2D sits down beside him and admires his home. He looks over and gasps. "Guitars!" Murdoc raises a brow. "What? Never seen a guitar before?"
"No, I just never seen YOURS."
2D smiles and accepts one of the beers. "Do you..." 2D sighs and looks at Murdoc. "Do you really think my music is rubbish?"
Murdoc scoffs and lays back. "Yeah, that's why I gave you an A." 2D smiles and lays back as well, setting his beer on Murdoc's makeshift nightstand; Which seemed to be made of an old crate, painted over and nailed to the floor. "Don't worry, it was all just an act for your girlfriend."
"She's not my girlfriend."
"Bloody girl tried to lecture me about mistreating students. Told her to get out or I'd have a talk with her teacher."
2D turns to his side, facing Murdoc. "What'd she want?" Murdoc just shrugs.
"Don't know- kicked her out before she could say anythin'."
"I wonder what she wanted."
"I don't really care," Murdoc admits. "I don't care 'bout her."
2D suddenly remembers the CD in his bag and all too excitedly sits back up. He goes over to the door and goes through his stuff, looking for the case. "I have something for you."
Murdoc sits up as well. "What?"
2D comes back with a CD case and loads the contents inside Murdoc's stereo. He hits play and returns to Murdoc side. "This is a new recording Russel, Noodle, and I've been working on this past month," He says, taking off his jacket. He sets it down beside the nightstand, taking his hat off while he's at it. Murdoc had already taken off his jacket and was just downing his beer and watching 2D carefully. 2D looks back at him and stares.
"I like your home," He says again and Murdoc actually smiles but he just keeps quiet. It felt homey. Unlike his own room, which just felt cold; with his white wallpaper and light blue carpet. It felt lonely, despite all of the photos and clutter. This place is warm and almost comforting. 2D wasn't sure if It was the orange and red theme or the warm brown wood floors. Maybe it was just because it was Murdoc's because it smells of him and everywhere 2D looks, it's him. The posters on the wall, the guitar, the blankets; everything screamed Murdoc. It felt as if Murdoc bringing 2D here was him opening up; revealing his true nature. Warm but hard and stoic.
2D looks over and jumps a bit when he notices Murdoc staring at him.
"W-what?"
"Why're you so comfortable here?" Murdoc asks as if he were suspicious of something. Honestly, even 2D wasn't sure; he just was.
"I don't know. I like it here," He responds in almost a whisper. "It's not..lonely."
"Like...your room?" 2D nods slowly. Murdoc lays on his back and yawns. "Whatever. It's just a home."
2D sits up on his elbow and smiles at him.
"But's it's your home. Like a sanctuary or something."
"That I bring back whores to shag?"
"No," 2D frowns. "That you come to feel safe."
"Whatever you say, kid."
"Whatever you call me kid, it makes me not want to kiss you, you know."
Murdoc looks at him in surprise. "What?"
"Don't call me kid," 2D says. "I won't kiss you if you do." Murdoc stares at him oddly.
"What? why?"
"It makes me feel like a bloody child," 2D mumbles.
"You wanna feel like a big boy?" Murdoc mocks and 2D glares at him.
"I want you to treat me like an adult."
Murdoc sighs. "You act like one most of the time."
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"Well," Murdoc positions himself on his elbow as well. "You smoke well, drink well, " 2D began to feel shy when Murdoc got closer. "And you know what you want," He leans in. "Well, sort of."
When Murdoc kisses him again, 2D lets him in. in fact, he welcomes it. It was soft at first but when Murdoc pulls him closer, it deepened. It was harder, rougher; everything 2D imagined Murdoc's kisses would be like. Rough, hard, messy; just like him. His teacher wrapped an arm around 2D's side and easily pulled the boy onto his lap. He felt hot and his cheeks felt warm as he grabs onto Murdoc's shoulder. Their lips didn't separate during all of this, quickly becoming more heated. That is until Murdoc's doorbell rings.
Murdoc seems to just ignore it until theres a couple of more rings and then loud knocking. 2D shyly unstraddles him before he gets up. He practically swings the door open, glowering darkly at the woman standing before him.
"Murdoc!"
"I told you not to fuckin' come, Stacy."
She holds up a letter and looks at him oddly. "I just...wanted to give you this. Some dark haired lady gave it to me but it's addressed to you."
Murdoc slowly takes it and look it over. "Who gave it to you?"
She just shrugged. "I'm just as confused. She just said give it to you."
"W-who is it?" 2D asks and the woman narrows her eyes and peeks in, looking at him.
"You have him in your room? Really?"
"Go home," Murdoc ushers her out and just closes the door on her. He sits back down as he opens the envelope and pulls a paper out. 2D decided not to pry and wait for him to finish or tell him.
"What the fuck is this?" Murdoc grumbles, handing it to 2D. He looks at him oddly before reading it out loud.
"In your classroom, you'll find something to ruin your life unless you comply." 2D looked at Murdoc in confusion but he just shrugged.
"I don't really care," He says, grabbing it back and tossing it to the side. "Come out, let's go out for burgers."
2D just smiles and nods. "Alright, but you're paying."