Demons were an unavoidable part of life when you lived in Kong. Along with zombies, a heavy loss of hygiene, and the unspoken avoidance of the hell hole under the car park. If you wanted to stay alive, and 2D did, you accepted this.

He was having a hard time remembering why he ever had.

You could say he looked pathetic, huddled up under his blankets with a pillow over his head to try and drown out all the noise of the creatures prowling around his ceiling, but at the moment 2D didn't really give a flying fuck. Something, most likely a projectile, hit the end of his bed and bounced off his foot. He quivered, too insanely terrified to check. A slimy giggle followed after, making his heart rate shoot up, reverberating in his ears. He tried to make a noise, a scream or a whimper or a cry for help, but his throat was too tight and dry and all that came out was a choked squeak.

Then suddenly it all cut off, the thumps and the snickers and the gnashing of pointy little teeth. 2D held his breath and waited, utterly still. After an entire minute had gone by he relaxed, a relieved smile unfurling across his tight face.

Then he felt a tiny hand creep under his pillow and brush his cheek.

He shot out of bed and flew for the door, vocal chords almost ripping themselves in half. "MUUUUURRDOOOOOOC!"

He reached the Winnebago in record time, heavy breath whistling around his mouth. He flung himself at the door, pounding away at it with his fists. "OPEN THA DOOR OPEN THA DOOR MURDOC PLEASE OPEN THA DOOR – "

He could hear them laughing, all – lots and lots of them. Getting closer, and closer, and he practically couldn't breath now he was so scared –

And then the door burst open and Murdoc stood there, and 2D could have cried. He hurried forward to get inside and shower the man with his gratitude, it was so intense.

Then Murdoc's fist connected with his face, and the door slammed shut again.

2D spent a stunned moment standing there, and then he heard something shift behind him and his instincts kicked back into action. Blood was spattering onto his shirt, nose blood if he could guess from the feel of his face. He hesitated for just a moment, debating, then sprinted off to the lift.

Russell didn't seem entirely surprised to see 2D standing outside his door in the middle of the night, blood dripping off his white, gaunt face, but he did look irritated.

"D, what the hell…"

"Demons, Russ," he cried pitifully, quaking where he stood. "'ey're in me room!"

Russell ran a heavy hand over his face, entire body seeming to sag tiredly to the ground. "Man, it's probably just 'cause Noodle kicked 'em all outta hers. You know they can't do shit to you, just ignore them."

"But Russ, the wos touchin' me," he pleaded.

Russell stared at him for one long, unreadable moment where the only sound was the steady drip of blood to the floor. 2D shifted nervously.

"…get in," Russell said, resignedly throwing the door open. 2D happily complied.

The next day he sent Noodle to his room, and the demons never bothered him again.