It was a typical rainy evening in London. A day, were most people would stay at home and watch TV. But here, there was a lonely pub, with the doors open to welcome anyone who was out for a drink. From the inside came music from the sound of an electronic piano, while someone was singing gullible nonsense with a voice so mellow and soft it didn't even matter what was said, it was harmonic and welcoming.

After a while, more people started to appear in the lonely pub, looking for the source of the music. They quickly found a skinny young man with blue hair playing a keyboard in a corner of the bar. The people sat down for a drink and to watch him and listen. Murdoc was eyeing each of them with care.

When 2-D stopped to drink and rest a little, someone walked up to him to compliment.

"You're good."

"Thanks.", he smiled.

"What's your name?"

"2-D."

"That's an odd name."

"Murdoc calls me that, he said it sounds cool."

"Murdoc?"

2-D pointed at Murdoc. "I'm in his band, you know? He wrote the song."

"Oh, cool. What's the band called?"

"Uh… I don't fink we have a name yet…", 2-D said to the complimenting person and then screamed "MURDOC?" through the whole pub whilst only sitting one table away from him. Murdoc flinched and almost spilled his drink.

Then, 2-D asked: "What's our band called?"

"No need to yell.", Murdoc said grumpily. "Haven't got a name yet."

He stood up and joined the people who were interested in 2-D. He had overheard the whole conversation.

"But y'know what? We've only started today, but we're aiming to go big. Just need to find a few more members and we're ready to go. This blue haired train wreck is our singer and keyboarder and this handsome man-", Murdoc pointed at himself." Is the bassist. I'm great. Got lots of experience already, y'know? He was full of himself.

"Maybe you know some of my other bands: Crimson Backdraft, Stupid Name Gang, Durango 95..."

"Oh. Never heard of them."

"Burning Sensations?"

Someone else: "Those were terrible, your incomprehensive crooning sounds like a goat dying."

"Hey, take that back."

"Really. I'm glad you choose someone else to sing now."

"Ok, that's it!"

Murdoc hauled off for a strike, but missed. He immediately went off for another, but was stopped by a blow to the face from the offender. 2-D, trembling in fear, pushed himself into the corner of the bench he was sitting on. Unfortunately for Murdoc, the other guy was stronger and he landed a few hits on Murdoc, while Murdoc's hits appeared to do nothing. Finally, Murdoc gave up.

"You're all not worth my great singing talent!" Murdoc pointed at the offender. "We're going."

He grabbed the neck of 2-D's shirt and pulled him from the bench. He could barely hold his balance and stumbled forward.

"Ow, hey!" 2-D struggled to free himself from Murdoc's grip.

They were already on their way to the door when 2-D noticed: "Oi, the keyboard!" Murdoc finally let go of 2-D, who picked up the keyboard from the table.

"Hey, you didn't pay for the drinks!", shouted the barkeeper as they were on their way out.

"Got ya some customers, didn't I? Take that as payment."

"Bye, bye!", 2-D said while waving at the bar people.

The weather outside has gotten a bit better, but it was still cold and windy. The sun had already set and it was dark, not that there was any sunshine to begin with. The red sports car was nowhere to be seen.

2-D noted: "Uhh I fink your car is gone."

Murdoc was staring at the space where the car was parked before. After he processed what happened, he turned around towards 2-D and started hitting him repeatedly.

"Because you-" Murdoc slapped 2-D in the face, who immediately hid it behind the keyboard in response. "Ah!"

"-left-" 2-D got a heavy punch to his shoulder. "Ouch."

"- the bloody car open-" Murdoc drove his fist into 2-Ds side. "Aak."

"- you stupid idiot!"

Murdoc stopped and took a deep breath. 2-D wasn't fazed much by Murdoc's abuse. The painkillers were in full effect and he found that he kind of deserved that. "I'm sorry… ", he mumbled.

After letting out his anger towards 2-D, Murdoc shrugged it off: "Well, it wasn't even mine."

"I wanna go home…"

Murdoc left out a long sigh. "And HOW do you think we're goin' to do that without a car?"

"Walking?"

"60 miles?"

"Yeah."

"Through the rain?"

"Uh... yeah?"

"Good luck with that, I'm taking public transport."

"Oh, me too then!"

Murdoc put his fingers on his forehead. 2-D was just too much stupid for him to deal with.

2-D noticed that and asked: "Do you have a headache? You can have some of my painkillers."

"YOU are the headache."

"Oh..."

"C'mon then." Murdoc started walking down the street. He knew where the next underground station was, since it wasn't his first time at this pub without a ride home. 2-D followed him closely, holding the keyboard under his arm. While walking, 2-D started humming the melody of the song he played earlier and stared into space. After a while, he seemingly following things with his view, but there was actually nothing there. He seemed entertained. Suddenly, he tripped over a bag on the way and fell, giving him scrapes on both hands and knees. "Owww…" He turned around and looked at the bag.

Murdoc started laughing at 2-Ds misfortune and then commented: "Who the fuck leaves their trash on the sidewalk."

2-D was curious, opened the bag and looked inside. "These are my things!", he shouted happily.

"Oh. Yeah, I would've thrown that out too."

"This is my favorite shirt! Look Murdoc." He pulled out a white t-shirt with a red "T" on it with "Virus" written on it.

Murdoc crossed his arms and looked at him. "Great." He was not interested in his things in the slightest. "Now go pack, I want to get home before midnight."

2-D put the t-shirt back into the bag and threw it over his shoulder, but it was so heavy that he lost his balance and fell on his backside. "Dang it, that bag is really heavy.", he said while rubbing his bottom. He stood up and tried to shoulder it again, but this time more carefully and it worked. His skinny body was aching under the weight, making him breathe heavily.

He looked at the keyboard on the ground. "Uhm…"

Murdoc rolled his eyes. "Just leave that trash bag for Satan's sake."

"Can't you carry the keyboard? Isn't it yours?"

Murdoc gave 2-D a VERY angry look, but then, took the keyboard unwillingly.

"Fine, whatever. Thing's expensive."

They reached the underground station and Murdoc went straight towards the ticket barrier and looked around to see if any security guard was there. There was none, as this was a very small stop.

"Don't we need tickets?", asked 2-D, but Murdoc was already climbing over the barrier.

"Hurry up." he said to 2-D.

2D looked very uncomfortable, but had no other choice than to follow Murdoc, who had all the money. While trying to climb over the barrier, 2-D's foot got stuck and he fell over on his face. Murdoc grabbed him by his shirt, pulled him up like a ragdoll, back on his feet and pushed him forward.

"I said hurry, fuckface."

After they reached the platform to wait for the metro, Murdoc lit a cigarette, right next to a "No Smoking" sign. 2-D got nervous all of a sudden and looked to the ground while playing with his fingers.

"Uhm... hey Murdoc. Can I have one too?", he asked quietly.

"Here." To his surprise, Murdoc gave him one and the lighter, which made 2-D incredibly happy.

"Thank you!"

The tube arrived a few minutes later and they went aboard while the speakers shouted "Mind the gap." all over the platform. The car was full of people, but the managed to get two seats next to each other. It didn't take much time for 2-D to become tired. "I'm sleepy…", he noted with half closed eyes. Soon after, he started leaning towards Murdoc who didn't notice it as first. He was entertained by a mother whose children made her life miserable by complaining about all and everything. When 2-Ds head met Murdoc's shoulder, he pushed him away violently and 2-Ds face met the cold glass pane, but he didn't wake up. Murdoc placed the keyboard upright between them like a barrier and continued to listen to the children ranting about a smelly homeless, while their mother tried to explain that it's not nice to call out people. Meanwhile, 2-D was leaning to the window side, partly bent over, sleeping and drooling on his pants.

The further they drove, less people were on the tube and even Murdoc closed his eyes for a while. When they arrived at their destination, Murdoc tried to wake up 2-D.

"Hey uh… 2-D, we need to get off." 2-D made no reaction at all. Murdoc took the keyboard and nudged his shoulder. Nothing.

He then drove the end of the keyboard forcefully into the side of 2-D's head, which apparently woke him up. "Ack, what the -"

"We need to get off."

"Oh...okay." 2-D rubbed the side of his head and got up, still looking very sleepy from his nap and about to lose his balance any moment. He took his bag and Murdoc took the keyboard and they got off the tube, out of the station, climbing over the barriers once again unnoticed by the underground staff. After a short walk, they were back at Murdoc's 2-room rented apartment.

Back inside, Murdoc put the keyboard back to the other ones, while 2-D went directly for the couch and sat down. He was still very tired and exhausted from carrying his bag around. Murdoc entered the room and sat down next to him holding significant personal space distance. He was holding a phone.

"Callin' someone?"

"Nah mate, gonna order some pizza."

"Oh… yeah. Now that' cha say it, I'm really hungry." In fact, he had nothing to eat all day.

Murdoc entered the number and ordered pizza.

"Hey, Murdoc Niccals here, one pepperoni pizza, and make it extra hot. Yeah. Address is 23 Nodiea Street, London. And add a beer."

"Hey uh… Murdoc?" 2-D tapped Murdoc's shoulder. "I wanted a pizza too."

Murdoc gave 2-D a death glare.

"Yeah... uh wait. And add the cheapest pizza you've got…. Yeah... It's still THAT much? Urgh… Okay yeah. Bye."

"There. Happy?", he said to 2-D and put the phone back on the table, leaned back and turned on the TV.

"Yeah, kinda.", 2-D answered. "But I… I didn't even get to choose…", he mumbled to himself and looked down.

2-D changed into a cross-legged sitting position, which made him remember that his socks were still wet. He got up and searched his bag for new socks and changed them. When he went back to the couch, Murdoc was laying over the whole length of it, leaving no space for 2-D.

"Uhm… Murdoc, I want to sit too."

"Sit on the floor then."

"But…"

Murdoc looked at him angrily and 2-D realised that he wouldn't change his mind so he had no other choice as to obey.

"Okay..."

2-D sat down on the floor, leaning his back against the couch. They were watching TV for some time until the doorbell rang. Murdoc nudged 2-Ds head with his foot. "Hey 2-D, get the pizza. Money's on the table."

"But you ordered. Can't you go get it?"

"No. Look, this show is bonkers, can't miss any. So be a good boy and get the food, ok?"

"Oh. Hm. Okay."

"And don't give em a tip!", Murdoc shouted after 2-D who was on his way to the door. He opened it and got their pizza and paid the delivery boy.

"You can keep the cha-"

"NO tip!", Murdoc stood in the door all of a sudden.

"But-"

"No. Tip."

The delivery boy gave Murdoc the change and 2-D apologized. "I'm sorry… we don't have much mon-"

-WHAM-

Murdoc slammed the door shut, took his pizza and his beer and disappeared into the living room. 2-D was left alone at the doorstep. He opened the door again and shouted another "Sorry!" after the delivery boy, then got back into the living room to eat his pizza while watching TV. He made it only half through his pizza before dozing off.

The TV was turned off and 2-D woke up from a loud bang of a door being shut and crawled on the couch to continue sleeping there. He wrapped his arms around his body. Another night without blanket. If this continued, he might get seriously sick soon. He should've asked Murdoc to help him out.

Murdoc was in his room, walking in circles and thinking about what to do next. He had a figurehead, keyboarder and singer with lots of potential. Now all he needed was a studio, a percussionist and a guitarist. His focus was a studio right now, while watching the news about newcomer talents to fill in the other instrumental roles. Those people had to be perfect. But he had no money and still had to do lots of community service to do. It won't be easy.

2-D knocked on his door.

And, of course, he had to deal with his new dullard of a singer.

"What?!"

"Uh, Murdoc, could I get a blanket? I'm cold." He was shivering and rubbing his arms.

"I don't have any."

"Really? Awww man…" He looked very sad, but got a boost in confidence all of a sudden. "Be cool", he thought and straightened his back." You know what? I'm gonna go home. Whatever mom says, your place sucks. I dun wanna make music anyways."

"Wha- hey, after all I've done for you, you want to bail out? Y'know what? I'll get you a stupid blanket. You can't go anyways."

"What do you mean, I can't go?"

"You agreed to be in my band. There is no going back."

"Oh I didn't knew it was sum sorta agreement."

"It is bud. It is."

"Hm...Oh. Okay"

Murdoc searched through the whole apartment in search of some sort of blanket. 2-D was following him around like a shadow.

"Found one. Now go back to sleep and don't bother me any further. I have plans to make y'know."

2-D took the blanket happily and went back to the living room to finally get some rest. Meanwhile, Murdoc went back to his room and sat on his bed, lighted a cigarette and opened a beer. He was pretty tired but his head was full of ideas and plans that he had to think about.