Struggling with Time and Patience

Chapter 2: He's Home

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A dark shadow lurked around Kong Studios in the dead of night, throughout the hollow halls and rooms, redecorated and remade over the past 5 years. The home she once lived in but was now back again, after the long and difficult period of pulling her only family back together. It was hard but it was all worth it just to see their faces again. She would never regret it.

Noodle still wandered the lonesome Studio at night alone while everyone was sleeping. She needed to clear her mind and refresh her memory, replace bad thoughts with happy ones. But she still remembered that horrific day, the beginning of a series of horrific events. Finding out about her true past, it tore her up inside and how close they were to actually killing her… so close… But she was safe… for now.

Demon Days was a hit success. The best they had ever done and they planned to do more. They would be a band for longer and they were not going to let something as small and pathetic as a little argument destroy the hopes and dreams of a nice young girl. Not Murdoc. Not Russel. And defiantly not 2-D. He would never hurt his little love again. That day was the last time her would ever. He would never leave her. He promised.

-Flashback-

Noodle waited patiently in the middle of the 4 year deserted carpark. No car had ever been seen since that day but now, a new car was to arrive. And in it, would be the person that Noodle was just tearing herself apart to finally see again. After months of searching, she finally tracked him down. Her older brother. Stuart Tusspot. 2-D. Was coming home.

The Japanese girl had redone Kong Studios and fixed it up over the past year, with the help of her new monkey Mike of course, everything seemed perfect. The only things that were missing were belongings and family. But they were coming home at last. Noodle couldn't wait. She had changed so much.

Her short raven black hair had a new style. It was now a deep violet colour and she had a thick fringe that covered her eyes and the rest was layered. Her Asian skin had grown paler and her black eyes now revealed a new bright emerald green shine to them. She grew taller and once she found some money in Kong, bought more feminine clothes than what she usually had. She started wearing make-up and growing very close to her teenage years, which she hoped to live out in fame and fortune once again.

Finally, Noodle heard the gates of Kong creak open once again. She grinned her pearly whites and rocked back and forth slightly wondering what their first actual English conversation would be like. The verical drew closer and closer until the not-so-young-anymore Jap saw a small blue car drive through into the carpark. The first car in Kong for 4 years. The car, having a lot of parks to choose from, lazily swerved into a space next to Noodle.

Noodle peered inside the car anxiously but clenched her eyes shut whenever she saw movement. She wasn't so sure if she was ready to see 2-D after such a long time. She felt the most nervous she had ever felt in the past 4 years of her life. Seeing 2-D again. It was a dream come true but it was too great to be true. She felt like they were never meant to meet again and they were meant to be split up forever just like Russel said. But it was too late now. They both were already there.

The Axe Princess forced her eyes open but they stayed hidden behind her bangs as she waited for 2-D to appear. Then from the car, the driver's door opened wide, the sound echoing throughout the empty carpark making Noodle jump. Then, 2-D emerged. Grinning his toothless grin. Just like old times.

Noodle's heart melted and her stomach back-flipped as he shut the car door and started walking up to her. She couldn't take it. She couldn't believe it. It was really him. It was 2-D!

"… 2D-san?"

"Noodle!"

2-D squealed happily and ran up to her and before she could react, swiped her up in his arms and held her trapped in a tight hug while he swung her around in the air. Noodle was petrified. She didn't quite realise what was going on around her. Then after starting to feel a bit sick, she made loud noises of what sounded like in between a choked scream and hysterical laughing. Once Noodle caught her breath and managed to calm down, she smiled widely.

"Stuart!"

2-D stopped laughing immediately and stood still with Noodle still dangling above the ground in his arms. The young Jap turned to look at his face. He actually didn't look like he had aged a day. He was still the lovable, friendly, cute, zombie-loving 2-D he always was. The Ex-singer stared back at Noodle in confusion.

"… You called me Stuart"

"That is your name, is it not?"

2-D's hollow black eyes widened in shock as he gaped at her. Noodle smiled sweetly at him and wrapped her arms and legs around him to keep herself balanced. The Jap laughed at his facial expression like she always did. Good old times.

"Y-Y-You can speak English!"

"Yes Stuart, I can speak English. I learnt it while I was in Japan. Well… re-learnt it anyway. Apparently I already knew English but I had forgotten it. But now I remember! …Haha! You are funny!"

2-D stared at her gob-smacked and as still as a statue through blank eyes. He had missed so much that he had no idea what she was talking about. It would have made no difference if she were speaking in her mother tongue. Noodle giggled again and 2-D placed her back on her feet and smiled at her.

"Well I'm glad love. I'll be able to understand ya from now on!"

"And I will be able to understand you. Can you understand me? I still have an accent"

"I still know what you're saying love. Plus I like the accent! It's cute on ya"

Noodle blushed slightly and put on a small smirk. 2-D bent down on the hard concrete ground and shifted closer to Noodle so they were only inches apart. 2-D lifted a gentle hand and moved it over her face studying her features.

"You've changed so much love… I like you're hair!… Are you wearing blush?"

"Maybe…"

2-D chuckled softly and moved his hand to hold her hair out of her eyes. Her green eyes sparkled in the light.

"… You're eyes are so beautiful"

Noodle smiled innocently and her eyes started to well with tears from the comments he made to her. 2-D dropped his hand from her face so her hair fell back into place neatly. He stood up to his full tall leering height and lifted a hand over her head to measure how tall she was.

"You're 14 now aren't ya love?"

"You remembered?"

"I could never forget ya age love… Well ya much taller than last time I saw ya. Still a bit on the skinny side and a bit late growing in some places…"

Noodle's face burned fire truck red as her vision darted around the carpark, trying to avoid his eye contact. 2-D coughed nervously, not meaning to make anything awkward and restrained himself from tickling her to let her know it was a joke. He just remembered that she wasn't a little girl anymore. She was growing up and needed more space. He returned his gaze back to her eyes.

"But you'll get there my little love"

2-D smiled reassuringly and Noodle grinned.

"I have redecorated Kong and changed a few things, would you like to see?"

"You did? All by yourself?"

"Mike helped"

"Who's Mike?"

"Oh, Mike. He is a monkey I rescued from Japan. Sorry but over the last 4 years, he has sort of stolen your spot as my best friend so he might get a little bit jealous"

"I'm sure we'll get on fine love. Let's go meet him shall we? We need to catch up from over the years"

"Ok!"

Noodle grabbed 2-D's hand excitedly and started dragging him to the lift. They pushed the button and the doors immediately opened and they stepped in. 2-D quickly jabbed the button for level 2 before Noodle could. He laughed then his expression melted into a depressed one.

"Noods… You… You haven't heard from… Russel or Murdoc at all have you?"

Noodle's joy dropped also and unsuccessful memories hit her back hard like steel.

"Sorry 2-D. I tried but I failed… I found you though, that means that there is still hope in finding them"

2-D raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"What are you planning love?"

"I am bringing the band back together. The Gorillaz. We will be famous and play good music once again. I will bring them back and nothing will stop me! Are you in 2-D?"

2-D hesitated but then smiled at Noodle and laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Of course I'm in love. I'll help ya bring Russ and Muds back and then we'll create a new album aye? We could write songs together, how's that sound?"

"Oh thank you 2-D! That is excellent! A new album! It will be wonderful! …But… what about after?"

"After?"

2-D repeated confusingly as the lift doors opened to the second floor. Noodle glanced at him miserably before walking out to her room.

"What do you mean after love?"

They both reached her room and Noodle opened her door out wide and stared inside. It had mostly changed with the arrangements of furniture and various items. Out with the old and in with the new. The Japanese lanterns glowed above and the Armageddon clock ticked quietly on the same coloured pink walls. Noodle stared at it as though it was hell. 2-D cautiously looked inside it from behind her and gasped.

"Wow…"

"… You left me 2-D… Russel and Murdoc, but you of all people!… you left me behind… you didn't even say goodbye"

Noodle sighed depressingly and walked into her room and dropped down onto her bed and looked around her room for her pet monkey. But Mike wasn't there right now. 2-D whined unhappily from being neglected and went to sit beside her.

"I'm sorry love-"

"No sorry does not cut it Stuart! I was on my own and it was horrible… on the streets of Japan… wandering… no where to stay… no food… nobody… except Mike… and I missed you so much, why did you have to go?"

Noodle sobbed as tears started to form in her eyes the same way and feeling from when the band split up. 2-D hugged her and held her close while rubbing her back soothingly.

"Sh Shh… You're awright now love… I'm so sorry… I will never leave ya again. We'll never leave ya behind. We're still gonna stay with ya and give ya a home and food and you'll never be alone again… We'll still be a band… I promise"

"You… promise?"

"I promise love. We'll come back together again"

Noodle's salty tears ran down her face as she tried to smile them away. 2-D leaned back and rubbed them away and lifted her chin up to his handsome face. He bent down slowly and gently kissed her on her forehead like he used to. To know he was still there. And he was never going to leave.

"So… got any ideas for the upcoming album?"

"Well… a few… but I have thought of one song in particular… I call it… Demon Days"

-End Flashback-

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