YAY! Do any of you know how special today is!
That's right, you get the next chapter of Empire Ants, because you deserve it.
But that's not all that's special about today… It's officially my EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY today! I feel old XP
I don't expect presents =D
But, reviews would make me squeal with delight.
Have fun with your read. Enjoy…
Still in Russel's soft bed, Noodle rolled over onto her side, and opened her eyes slightly. She was still clad in her pajamas from earlier that morning, and still exhausted. Her body felt heavy and sore, but her head urged her to awaken, and her stomach demanded nourishment. She looked around the room until she saw the clock sitting atop the dresser at the side of the bed. It sat next to the picture Russel had shown her earlier. It was just of her, sitting on the ground with her guitar in her lap. 2D had snuck up on her and snapped the photo because he said they might as well try and make the good times last. At the time, Noodle had no idea what he had meant by that, and doubted if he did either… but he had been right. She returned her gaze to the numbers glowing on the shining black surface of the clock, opening her eyes slightly more. She blinked when she had barely made them out: 18:00. She did a double take: 18:01. "Irodori! Kusoo,"she moaned as she rolled over onto her back and sat up stiffly. She rubbed her eyes. "Gah, it is so late." She looked around –the room was empty. She shivered. Being alone was not a very comforting thought. That last attack had her wary –what if she had been alone when she'd seized? She shook her head, trying to empty her mind of the dark thoughts.
She threw the blankets to her side and straightened her legs out in front of her. She straightened her back, stretching her arms out above her head and closing her eyes. She took three slow, deep breaths, and leaned to her left, breathing slowly as she counted half a minute, relieving the tension and stretching out her sore muscles. She straightened herself out, so she was centre once more and took three more breaths. She then leaned to her right and repeated the gesture. Once she was satisfied, she turned to face the edge of the mattress and scooted off of the bed, hissing as her bare toes touched the cold metallic floor. She stood to her feet and took the four steps necessary to exit Russel's bedroom. She walked the short distance across the corridor and entered the lavatory to relieve herself, then rinse her face off with cold water. She patted her face dry, avoiding her reflection. She exited into the cold corridor and turned to her right so she could reach the end and press the small button on the wall. She waited all too long for the clang of the metal monster to approach and, eventually, the door of the lift opened to allow her entry. Once she stepped inside, she turned around and pressed the button labeled: study.
She considered just setting right down where she was and taking a nap, but that might have been an exaggeration of how sluggish the lift was. Instead, Noodle opted for leaning against the chilly wall of the lift, crossing her arms low in front of her stomach casually. She pondered convincing Murdoc to install another fine tune into this lift. Maybe something a bit less… well, something that wouldn't drive you crazy if you were trapped in the lift back at Kong for 10 minutes before you gave up on 2D finding you and deciding to kick out the screen in the ceiling, then climb your way to the next exit… which happened to be the roof, where, like in the elevator, there was an emergency exit door, but it took some maneuvering to get through. Who puts a door on the ceiling? Needless to say… that song drove her mad, though she had almost loved it again the first time she'd heard it after escaping the Hellhole.
Once the lift made its quiet, metallic screech, Noodle straightened her stance, her arms dropping to her sides, waiting for the doors to finally give way so she could enter the study. But as luck had it, Noodle stopped mid-stride when a shaggy mess of azure came into her view. There he stood: shirtless, smoldering cigarette hanging limply from his lips, his left hand deep in his jean's pocket, and he wasn't even looking at her. He was slouched over, staring at the ground. Once the door opened fully, he leaned forward, about to step inside, when he noticed a pair of tiny, bare feet. His eyebrows knit together before his left one was raised slightly. He looked up with his eyes, only slightly raising his head. When he saw her face, his own relaxed and he smiled warmly. She stared at him, slightly confused by his current demeanor. "Oh. 'ey, Noodle-girl. Yeh feelin' bettah? Y'sure slept a lot. Yew missed lunch…" He told her brightly.
"Hello, 2D-san," Noodle responded, trying to think of what else she was supposed to say. She rubbed her arm nervously, looking down.
2D raised his eyebrow, and reached for his cigarette. He crushed the burning end by rubbing it onto his jeans, and pocketed the last bit. Next, he began reaching forward to lift her chin up with the tips of his fingers. "'ey, now don' go back ta that' formal crap. Yew an' I bowf know t'at we're a lot closer t'en fo' yew t'be callin' me san."
Noodle's eyes shot up to meet his, astonished. "How did you –"
"I can remembah a fing or two… As I recall, I 'ad a pretty good Jap'nese teacha." He dropped his hand from her face, then winked. The gesture, though it had been like a bullet running through Noodle, was quickly followed by a cheeky, wide grin from the gap-toothed singer. He stuck his tongue out through his gap just to finish it off.
That did it. Seeing his ridiculous face, Noodle's cheek twitched, and she burst into laughter. Her eyes closed, she was grasping her abdomen, trying to catch her breath. As soon as she realised what she'd just done, she gasped, her eyes opened wide, and she stared up at 2D incredulously, who looked equally surprised. But 2D's surprise instantly melted into pure joy and he chuckled, grinning madly. He rushed forward and scooped up Noodle into his arms. She gasped, caught off guard. She latched tightly onto his shoulders, hiding her face against his shoulder as he spun her in a circle and lowered her down onto her feet, coming to a stop. He held his arms around her waist and pulled her into a tight hug.
Noodle pulled back slightly, looking up at 2D, her face now its normal, impassive state. 2D wanted to cry, he was so happy. But, he knew Noodle was curious as to what was going on, even if she said nothing. He sniffed, and decided to answer her eyes. "M'sorry, Noodle-girl, if I scared yeh a bit." She shook her head dismissively and grinned up at him, marveling his deep, black eyes. She'd not looked into them –actually looked into them, not just at them –in a frightfully long time. She'd forgotten how pleasant they were.
"See, tha's it," 2D interrupted her reverie. He lightly brushed his fingers along her bruised cheek. "Righ' there…" He looked into her emerald eyes, and hugged her close to his chest. She wrapped her own arms around him tentatively. His voice became strained, sadness and joy painting it. "Noodle. I've been waitin' t'see yo' smile… f'so long," he whispered. "Four years… I waited f'yew… t'see yew… Every day yew wos gone, I wanted t'see yeh…" His tears had finally won their escape. Noodle clutched 2D, wrapping her arms around him fully now, burying her face in his chest.
"An' I know ih's not much, Noodle, but ih's so much o'everyfin I've been missin… I know yeh not bettah," he choked, "An' I know yeh've still go' a long ways ta go… an' yew won' evah be te same." Noodle's own eyes were becoming hot now, her younger self slipping from her grasp, and she, like 2D, knew she'd never be that girl again. "But… I-I... I still want yeh here wiff me…" He pulled back and smiled down at her. He stroked her hair, his fingers tracing down until his hand cupped her bruised cheek. "I dun care 'ow diff'ren yew are… yo still my Noodle," his lips trembled. She sobbed lightly, sucking in a breath and biting her lip as grinned back up at him. "An' t'ere ain't nuffink yew can do about it," he poked, trying to lift the sullen mood. She chuckled momentarily, burying her face against his chest once more.
"You know, most people just say 'Good afternoon' and move on with their lives when they happen to run into one another," Noodle whispered.
2D chuckled, "Yeah… but we're not mos' people…" 2D looked away thoughtfully, not releasing Noodle quite yet. "Tha' song comes ta my min' righ' now, actually…"
2D shivered when he felt warm fingers brush along the right side of his abdomen. He looked down at her curiously. She stared at the place her fingers brushed along, "2D…" She looked up at him. "Where did this scar come from?" This scar was not the one fans had seen on the Demon Days album. This one was much more new, on the opposite side of his body, and lower down, closer to his gut.
He looked down at her fingers and released his grip. He sighed, pushing both hands into his jean pockets. "… life wosn' all too easy wiffout'chew 'ere, Noods," he told her, hoping she would drop the subject.
"I want to know… who hurt you," she pleaded quietly.
He sighed once more, "Story time, eh?" She nodded. He shook his head, "Not righ' now. Yew need te eat firs'." He reached forward with his hand, and wiped the fallen tears on Noodle's face away with gentle fingers. "Yew're awready thin as a needle, and yew missed lunch t'day. Russ wouldn' be too 'appy f'e knew tha'." he admonished. She bowed her head slightly.
"I've put on a couple of pounds," she mumbled.
He barely heard her. "So wot? That puts yew at, like, two an' a half stones now, right?" He chuckled. She scoffed. "'ey. Jus' a bit of a light joke." He poked her side, and she gasped. He quickly took hold of her hand before she could respond, and began leading her through the study. "Come on, now. Te food's just settin' there, so we migh' as well eat ih. Maybe it'll learn betteh, eh?" He opened the door into the lounge and waited for her to walk in before him. "… Whot if ih actually did learn 'ow ta go summehr, though?" He thought aloud.
"Well, then I guess we would be hungry," Noodle answered. 2D smiled. He loved that she considered his musings when both Russel and Murdoc did almost the opposite.
"So whot do yeh wanna eat, Noodle?" 2D asked, still smiling to himself.
She shrugged, "I don't really know." She rubbed her stomach, "Anything sounds good." Her mouth began to water as she thought of the many things she could choose from.
"How about some yogurt? An' maybe I'll make yeh a pancake," he offered.
She looked at him suggestively, "Since when do you cook?"
He smirked, "Had ta learn sometime. Couldn' jus' eat takeout awl te time."
"Sounds good," she nodded. She grinned slightly when she saw Russel snoring on the large couch pressed up against the wall of the lounge. "Do you think he'll wake up if you cook?"
2D shook his head, "Nah. 'E's knackered. Been talkin' ta Muds awl day, an' e' just ate anyways," 2D told her.
"What's the mattah?" 2D asked Noodle as the lift doors opened for the two of them to enter.
She was cradling her abdomen. "I think my stomach is having a disagreement with the food I ate," she sighed quietly, wincing when her stomach gurgled, but glad that her body seemed to be handling the food okay. She didn't feel as though she were about to heave, so she assumed it was fine.
He looked forward, his face blank. He pressed the button for the lift to descend. "Do yew fink yo' gonna retch?"
She shook her head. "No. I think I should be fine. It'll go away soon, I'm sure," she reassured him, moving her arms to rest at her side. He nodded. They waited in silence as the lift took them below the surface of Plastic Beach, down to 2D's underwater bedroom, which had acted as a prison to him for more than a year. Once the door finally opened, 2D walked out, assuming correctly that Noodle was right behind him. "Why did we come down here?" She asked.
"I got summfin t'at belongs te yew. I broke it, the frame, te night yew came back, but I 'ad anothah lying aroun'," he told her, turning to smile excitedly. She followed him through the door and looked around the seemingly organized mess of a room whilst he began looking through the few drawers in his dresser. Once he'd found what he was looking for, he lifted the flat square to his face, gazing at it lovingly. He looked up at her, with the same adoring expression, and walked towards her with deliberate steps. She looked at his face, until he stood right in front of her. He held out the picture-frame, and slowly, she reached for it. She turned the picture upright, looking at it carefully. The memory that came back to her from gazing upon it was very faded, and almost completely wiped out, but it still called out to her powerfully. She grinned, tearing up, looking at her most beautiful memory, full of love. It was the picture she had left behind for 2D, the day the El Mañana video had been shot. "S'me favourite pic'tcha', too" he told her, looking down at it as she held it in her hands. "I wan' yew ta have it. Ih's yo's." She nodded, looking up at him. She rushed forward and hugged him tightly around the waist. He returned her embrace with a sad grin.
"2D, I have something for you, too," she remembered. "I've had it a while, but I forgot about it." She let go of him. "It's in my bedroom."
He scratched his head as he spoke, "I dun remembah anyfink tha' ih could be."
She grinned slightly, anxious to be able to give him what he had left behind. "Put a shirt on. I'll show you."
He nodded, only now remembering he was half naked. He walked over to his small bedside dresser, grabbing a shirt that stuck out of one drawer. He hoped it wasn't too dirty, and pulled it over his head. After he was covered, he reached for the clear, orange bottle resting on its side atop his dresser. He pressed down on the lid, twisting it and popping it open with his thumb. He tipped the bottle so two pills fell onto his palm, and threw his head back as he popped them into his mouth, swallowing them dry. He closed the bottle and threw it onto his bed, turning to Noodle, who was wearing a small frown. "I'm awl set," he told her. She turned on the spot and began walking out of the bedroom, towards the lift. It took 2D a moment to realise he was supposed to follow, so he hurried towards the lift, and made it inside just as the doors were beginning to close.
"So whot's awl this abou'?" 2D's curiosity had gotten the better of him.
"I found things… I think you forgot them when you left," she explained. "I didn't want to… mess with Murdoc-san's belongings. And I never found anything that belonged to Russel-sama. Only you…"
"Oh, well tha' wos really nice o'you, Noodle," he smiled down at her. She nodded, facing the door. Realising that was all she had to say after a moment, he started again. "Whot abou' te Geep?" Noodle's eyes grew wide, and her shoulders hunched over. She rubbed her arm nervously. "Why're yew fidgeh'in' Noodle?"
She blushed, and held herself tighter. "Um. The Geep?" She bit her lip, not wanting to answer to that question.
"Yeah. How's te Geep doin'?" He asked again.
"Um…" She took a deep breath. "It is… kind of at the bottom of the ocean… about ten miles away… possibly further, because of the currents…" She pulled a strand of hair out of her face nervously.
His eyes grew wide, "Are yeh serious, Noodle-girl?" She nodded shyly. He laughed, and she looked up at him incredulously. "Aw, it's just a piece o'scrap, Noodle. Nuffink ta worry abou'... Though," he giggled, "I fink it bes' not ta tell Murdoc."
She sighed, "Yeah. I do not think he will be too happy about it."
"If 'e really wonts it… if 'e finds ou' tha' is –if 'e really wonts ih, then 'e can use tha' damn submarine o'his ta get it," he pondered.
"I suppose," she agreed quietly.
Once the metal doors budged open, the two of them exited the lift, carefully stepping over the piles of scrap and junk to get out of the entrance, and outside, where those two abnormal birds always seemed to rest. Noodle began walking ahead of 2D, but suddenly wanting her to be near to him, 2D took a long stride and reached out for her right hand as it swung behind her, enveloping it gently in his own. Her other hand still held her precious photo. She stared up at him, slowing her pace to walk side by side with him. They began to slowly descend the steps. Noodle kept her eyes on where she was stepping, looking forward and with her head slightly bowed, whilst 2D's gaze bounced from place to place, his free hand holding onto the railing for support. "Of all the colours 'e could'a picked, why do yeh fink Murdoc chose ta paint dis pile a'rubbish pink," he thought aloud, sure it was the cheapest colour of paint… but pink?
"I don't know, 2D," Noodle answered absentmindedly. "Why don't you ask him? Maybe it's his favourite," she joked lightly, looking at him with a faux grin and tired eyes.
"I fink I'm te las' person e'd tell," 2D replied, his feet coming into contact with the hard plastic ground.
"Why is that," she asked. She suddenly hissed, flinching as a sharp piece of plastic came into contact with the bottom of her bare foot. 2D grinned, and released her hand. He put his left arm around her shoulders and bent down sideways to swing his right arm behind her knees and lifted her off of the ground. He held her so she was almost in a sitting position, with her arms hugging his neck loosely. "Thanks," she mumbled.
"Do yeh fink we'll eveh go back ta the mainland," he changed the subject. His mood was slowly sinking, and his words reflected his longing.
Noodle's eyebrows scrunched together, wondering why 2D would've avoided her question, but this was 2D. His thoughts were always chaotic and had small attention spans. Though, he seemed to have gained more of an awareness of everything around him in her absence. He's much more careful with his choice of words now than ever before. "I do not know if we'll go back… do you not like it here?"
He sighed, his expression deep in thought, "Not exac'ly, no"
"Why is that," she pressed.
"Do yew like it 'ere," he reversed the question, looking at her sideways.
She caught the change, but shook it off. "I… like being with my family," her answer was broad.
"But do yeh like ih here? On te island, I mean," he asked pointedly.
She thought about it for a moment, piecing the best answer together. "It feels so… isolated here… it is… comforting… but, kind of ominous… I feel better around my family… but… I kind of miss Kong… the way things used to be…"
"Yeah… I miss ih too," he told her, staring forward as he walked. "But, maybe not the zombies," he added, stopping in place. He reached forward, maneuvering carefully, with Noodle in his arms, to open the door to the lighthouse, then carefully lowered Noodle to her feet, and followed her inside. Once she had entered, she went to her small table and placed the frame she held next to her other photo, and continued walking to her bedroom.
As 2D stepped through the doorway, and closed the door behind him, he could almost see the day he had first shown Noodle her new bedroom back in Kong. The way she looked at him, and how excited she was. She had jumped into his arms, hugging him close. He'd never felt so warmly before –the simple pleasure of seeing the smile of a child. A child he had befriended, as he watched her grow, and loved her more everyday… and then she was gone. Even though she was standing –rather walking –right in front of him, leading him through the comfortable space of her own personal lounge, to the stairs that led up to her own bedroom, she had never really fully returned. Something was still off. But who was he to make such a statement, even in thought? He isn't exactly the same man he used to be, either…
After he'd returned for their second album, he'd gained his confidence back, though he was still the same 2D. But, since Murdoc had found him and 'convinced' him to sing for Plastic Beach, he'd been drowned. He sunk deep down, cascading into a depressive and unrelenting state of panic that abandoned him in fear and left its scars. Sure, Murdoc was damn good at putting on a show, like that last pirate radio broadcast where he acted all buddy-buddy with 2D, then gone and snuffed him with chloroform, but 2D knew the truth –the drill of it all. Of course, Noodle's presence seemed to wash it away. She made it all right. She made him feel better.
They were already in the centre of Noodle's bedroom before 2D had time to register that they'd ascended the staircase. She walked over to her bed and crouched down on her hands and knees, reaching underneath the bed's frame and taking hold of the handle to the suitcase she'd left forgotten. She pulled it out with partial effort, and twisted it around her, so she could set herself on the ground and lean against the bed. She looked up at 2D, searching his eyes, and patted the ground next to her. He immediately stepped forward, almost tripping over his feet, and bent down close to her, sitting almost precisely where she had indicated. She studied him from the corner of her eye as she deliberately picked the lock of the suitcase, then unfastened the buckles, and once she had lifted the lid about an inch, she took a deep breath, and gently flung it open, so she no longer had to support the lid.
2D quietly gasped when he saw its contents, and he smiled reverently. He looked at her, still grinning goofily, and reached forward to grab an object that fans worldwide had longed to have themselves. He lifted the famed radio-helmet up and gently placed it on her head. "Well, look ah tha'. It still fits yeh, Noodle." She blushed slightly, and reached forward to pull out the rest of her aged outfit. She stood, and folded them, placing them in the bottom left drawer of her dresser. After, she took her place next to 2D once more, with her helmet still in place. He was staring incredulously at the things set before him.
He began digging through everything, and Noodle bent over the suitcase to guide him. She pulled out his old photo albums first. He sat back as she handed them to him. His grin was still etched onto his features as he looked them over. He opened the first one, and his smile wavered. He began flipping through it, pulling out a picture every now and then, and tore a few in places, placing the remainder of the torn bits back in their spots in the album. He stood, and walked over to Noodle's trash bin. He pulled his lighter out of his pocket, and lit the photos he held in his hand, watching them smolder until nothing but ash was left. He pocketed his lighter once more, and walked back to Noodle, sitting on the ground once more. He saw the astonishment in her eyes, though her face was impassive, and decided to explain. "She don' belong in there… She dun 'ave a place." She instantly understood, and was slightly surprised at his gesture. He had gone through his album and destroyed all of his pictures of her: Paula.
He turned the pages of the first photo album, going back to the first page. He scooted closer to Noodle, holding the book open in one palm. He leaned in close and showed it to her. She leaned over, peering in at the picture of a young man. He was obviously handsome, with spiky, azure hair and blue eyes –no scars, no bruising. The contrast was striking. He was standing in an open doorway, with a large duffle bag slung over his shoulder, and full set of teeth smiling at the camera. "Me mum took this pic'tcha, before I lef' ta work in tha' music shop. T'is is befo' Murdoc 'ad gone and smashed me face in," he told her. In a knee-jerk reaction, she looked up at him, her eyes wide, then looked back down at the picture, amazed at the damage that had been done. "I 'ad bettah days, I guess…" He sighed. He turned a couple more pages over. "T'is album's a bit old," he told her as he came to the page he was searching for. It was another picture of a young boy with shaggy brown hair and the same striking blue eyes. He was sitting in a tree, his eyes wild and he was smiling impishly. Her eyes drifted back up at 2D, and he was staring down at her.
"I like you better with blue hair," she spoke quietly.
He chuckled, "Yeah? T'is is before I fell at o'tha' tree an' me hair fell out… Ahtually, t'is is te tree I fell from, the very day I fell." He closed the album, and opened the second one, which was slightly bigger. "T'is is afta yew came," he looked at her sideways, going through the pictures and reminiscing. "Remembah when we blew up yo' island fo' the firs' time, an' we awl wen' on there wiff yeh?" He asked. She nodded, looking at yet another picture. She was clad in the same clothes they would later use to shoot El Mañana, and lying in the middle of the small plain full of grass and butterflies floating about. She had her head rested on 2D's stomach, sleeping as he stared into the sky. Russel took the picture just before Murdoc woke her up, complaining that they'd left the ice chest down on the ground and they needed to get down so he could get shitfaced –as he'd put it. After a few minutes of skimming over the many memories, he closed the album and put it to the side, stacking the three albums atop one another. He pulled out Noodle's old Les Paul –her very first guitar –and placed it to the side as well. She stood then, and took her guitars, hanging the larger one on the extra place to hang from the wall, and she leaned the smaller guitar against the wall. He pulled out his old diary and smirked, looking toward her as she walked around him again. "Yeh weren' goin' through me stuff, were yeh?"
She shook her head slowly, reaching to take hold of yet another object. She grabbed hold of her rucksack, and spilled its contents into an empty drawer as she answered him, "No. I only found them, and put them to the side," she stated truthfully, and then she moved to sit back down beside him.
His smirk grew wider, and he murmured, "Are yeh sure abou' tha', Noodle-girl?"
She grinned, playing along, "Darn... I guess you caught me. Now I know all of your dirty little secrets, Stuart."
His smirk was replaced by horror. "Wha'," he chirped as he opened the diary, "I didn' write nuffink tha' bad, did I?"
She giggled, "Relax, 2D. I was only teasing." He grinned in understanding, closing the diary and placing in on the stack of photo albums.
She placed something in his lap, and he took hold of it, bringing it to his face. His face became stolid, then snapped into unmistakable glee. He dropped it to his side and squealed, hugging Noodle close to his side. He kissed her forehead, smiling brightly, "I can't believe yeh foun' t'is," he picked his collectors' edition of Dawn of the Dead back up with a free hand, his other around Noodle's waist.
"There are a few more of your movies in there," she told him.
"I can't believe yeh wen' an' brought awl t'is stuff wit'chyeh…" He thought aloud. He shot his gaze back at her. "How'd yeh find ih?"
Her eyes grew sad. Watching her change in expression, 2D grimaced, confused. "When I… got back. My room… it had fallen apart… I could not stay in there…" 2D sighed, remembering how he'd watched it slowly fall apart… and hating how he could do nothing to stop it. "So I moved into your bedroom," Noodle continued. "It was the cleanest… and most familiar… I found these things in your closet…" she explained.
"How… why'd yeh stay… an' live awl by yehself? Weren'chyeh lonely, Noodle?" 2D asked her, his eyebrows knit together, their conversation moving onto a much darker subject than he had anticipated, but he didn't want her to stop. He wanted to know what she went through.
She closed her eyes, they were now becoming hot, and her vision blurred slightly. "Even after thirty long months in Hell," she whispered, her voice leaden with pain "I had never felt so lonely as when I had finally come home… and there was nobody there," she whispered, her throat feeling heavy and swollen.
His eyes grew small as his face reflected his grief for her. When the first tear escaped her eye as she blinked, he tightened his grip around her waist and pulled into his lap, and began rubbing her back, trying to offer comfort, but he knew it might be best to talk it out, like she used to have him do after he'd been hurt. He took a deep breath, and rested his chin atop her head, curling her into him. "When yew came back… from the Maldives, whot 'appened?"
She sniffed, telling him the gist of that day that her life had been destroyed, "I got back, and dropped my things off in my bedroom closet… I went looking for everyone, but... Kong was empty. I came to your bedroom, and… it was empty too." 2D squeezed Noodle, letting her know he was with her now. She swallowed back a sob, "I saw your laptop, and realised that you would all be back in about twenty minutes, so I decided to wait in the lobby… I went to the lift, but as it came down, everything got cold… and dark, and… I-I saw him… the Demon Boy… He smiled… and then, everything went black… and when I woke up…" she shuddered violently.
"He 'ad taken yew," 2D finished, his expression violent. After a moment of silence, he gulped. "Whot… whot's it like… there," he asked nervously, hoping he wasn't pushing her too much.
She shivered again, whispering ominously, "Time is frozen, so I never grew hungry… but I aged, because my body was still bound to the mortal world… I've never experienced so much pain and suffering in all of my natural-born life… It was truly… the lake of fire… the demons… every moment is torture and hate… they would come at me… and when it first happened…" she shuddered violently, sobbing, "I thought I was going to die… but it never came…"
2D kissed the top of her head, rubbing her back. "When yew came back… why didn't yeh smile? How come yew were so… lifeless."
"They left me moribund," she whispered. "In order for a living soul to survive in Hell, all emotion must be abandoned and forgotten… When I thought about you... or when I expressed my pain… or any emotion at all, they would sense it, and they would hurt me worse than if I took it quietly." He gently took her face in his hand, and turned her to face him. He stroked the bruising around her eye. Her face was stone, but her eyes were anguished. She knew he wanted to know why she'd come out with this nasty bruise. "Just a split second of emotion," she stated quietly.
He grimaced, "How bad did they leave yeh?" Noodle froze, shocked at his question. She pulled out of his lap, and his face dropped. Her face became stolid, her eyes blank. She stood, returning to her dresser. "Do you remember those surveillance cameras Murdoc had installed all around Kong?" She asked as she dug through the same drawer she had placed her old outfit in. He nodded, though she didn't see him, and he stood to his feet as she had. "They had still been working when I came back, and a still frame had been taken when I walked past…" She thought back, remembering that flash of light that had spooked her, and she pulled out the ghastly photo –one that she had only ever looked at once, and never thought about.
She pulled the photo close to her chest, chewing on her lips as she met his eyes nervously and she walked up to him slowly. She could feel her hands trembling, and she bowed her head, staring at the ground as she looked at it once more, then her face turned a slight shade of green with disgust. She stretched her arm toward him slowly, handing the photo to 2D, who took it cautiously. He gasped loudly, stepping back, his knees buckled from underneath him, and he sat on the edge of her bed. He lifted his hand to his forehead, rubbing it in shock. He looked back up at her, his mouth agape. She sat down next to him, waiting for his response.
"Bloody hell. T'is is… ih's ghastly," he whispered, tears building in his eyes as he looked upon the torn and battered woman, unbelieving as he studied the photo of what seemed to be taken right out of a horror film. In the corridor, down close to the entrance of the Hellhole, this young woman was leaning against the wall for support. Her clothes torn, her legs, abdomen, and arms exposed, she was painted in a thick coat of crimson. Her eyes were weary and lost, and her hair hung in dark, violet chunks halfway down her back. Even with blood covering most of her body, he could still see a deep gash on the side of her right leg. Even her mouth, opened and struggling for breath, was tinted with the crimson colour. Her face was swollen, and she looked like death, literally nothing but skin and bone. How she'd survived was far beyond a miracle of sheer will and strength. He moved his hand to his hair, the first of many tears now crawling down his face as he bit onto his lip painfully. "Y-Yew look like yew… sh-should 'ave been… dead," he whispered, the only thing he was able to compare her state to, barely able to choke the words out.
She looked away, curling her legs up to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs and resting her head upon her knees. "That's exactly how I felt… like I was dead," She whispered. "And once I found out that Kong had been abandoned, I felt… like I had lost my purpose…" She lifted her head, and faced 2D. "All I could say was… why had you forsaken me…" Tears streamed down her face as she thought about the loneliness she'd felt.
2D stood then, and turned to face Noodle. She could see the sadness in his face, though he grinned down at her. He slowly stretched out his hand, and stroked her hair, "I'm so sorry, Noodle. I promise I won' leave yew again," he vowed. He handed the photo back to her, and she extended her arm to drop it delicately in her trash bin. He walked over to Noodle's rucksack, and hung it over his shoulder. "Bu' fo' now… ih's late…" he told her, looking out the window at the dark sky, "I fink ih migh' be best ta get some rest, Noodle."
She stared up at him, pleading. "I do not want to be left alone…" she whispered.
"Why not," he asked, searching her eyes for the answer.
"I'm scared."
"Yeh've been sleepin' in 'ere by yoself fo' weeks," he said, puzzled by her sudden sense of distress. "Whot's so diff'ren' now?" She bowed her head, her eyes becoming tearful. It took 2D a while to realise what could have possibly changed, and he dropped the rucksack to the ground, winded with guilt. "Oh… I'm so sorry, Noodle-girl. I didn' realise –"
"It is fine 2D," she breathed, her head still bowed. "I understand…"
He sighed, "Tha's still no escuse…" He walked up to her, and lifted her into his arms without warning. She gasped lightly as he supported her weight in one arm, and used his other to move her blankets aside, and lye her down atop her bed, pulling the blankets back over her body. He shook his head, I can' believe I'm abou' ta do t'is… Russ is gowna kill me… "Alright," he chirped, defeated. "I'll stay t'night." He walked around Noodle's bed, the opposite side she was resting, and pulled his tousers down, letting them fall in a pool around his ankles. Noodle, who had been watching him from the corner of her eye, blushed and looked away. She felt the bed move, indicating that he was crawling into the bed behind her. After silence, when he'd crawled under the blankets of her bed, he spoke. "Ey Noodle? … I promised yew story time earliah, didn' I?" She rolled over, facing him, and nodded. "Yew awready know tha' I left… an' Murdoc, er, invited me to 'elp 'im wiff te Plastic Beach album…" She nodded once more. "So… whot do yeh wanna know?"
"...Why did you leave," she asked, her voice hesitant.
He sighed, coming to understand that this was going to be much harder that he had hoped. "I lef'… because… I couldn' stan' te be in tha' place… I hated watching ih fall apart… an' I hated… I hated… how empty ih wos wiffout yew… how empty I wos…"
She swallowed, "Why didn't you wait for me?"
"I did," his voice was shaky. "I waited fo' such a long time in Kong… I would'a stayed as long as it took… but Murdoc… 'e was always arseholed, and yellin' ah everyone… I couldn' stand 'im. 'E woulda killed me… He drove Russ off jus' befo' I wen' ou' on me own… I kno' tha's no excuse, Noods, but being in Kong was driving me off me rocker…"
"Why did you and Murdoc make another album, 2D," she fire another question, hurt.
"… I nevah wonted ta make anotha album," he admitted.
She blinked, surprised, "Then why did you?"
"Noodle, I… I dun fink yew'll wanna hear t'is…" he wheezed, brokenly trying to convince her otherwise.
She reached out, and placed her palm on his cheek. "Yes. I do," she whispered firmly.
He sighed, pulling her hand away from his face and held it between his own hands. "Noodle, before I tell yew this, I need yeh ta know… I only know jus' as much as yew do abou' Murdoc's intentions. I don' know anyfink."
"What does Murdoc have to do with this," she cut in.
"Noodle… Murdoc didn'... ask me ta do te album," he dropped the ball. "He knew I wouldn'... especially wiff 'at damn android o'his… Murdoc, he… he kidnapped me, Noodle. He kidnapped me, and 'ad me shipped ta this pile a'rubbish, and forced me ta sing for 'is album… He tortured me, Noodle," he choked. "He put on a mask fo' the world, but he tortured me. I wan'ed ta escape, but he tracked me down every fockin time… 'e gassed me and, I dun know how, but 'e paid a whale ta watch me… Ih scares the bloody crap out of me, Noodle," he whimpered.
She looked at his hurt face, unsure of how to comfort him. She placed her hands on either side of his face, stroking his cheeks with her thumbs. "The scars…" she whispered.
"Yeah, Noodle… 'e beat me real bad when 'e f'ought I migh' try ta escape again… aftah a while, though, I kind o' gave up… I lost meself fo' a while, barely makin' ih from day ta day… I just sorta took ih… an' Murdoc got bored wiff me when I stopped fighting back," his gaze seemed to be far away as he relived what his life had been like. "But… ih awl kinda… disappeared, when I turned aroun', an' yew were standin' righ' behind me..."
"2D… I… I can't believe that… Murdoc did that to you…" she spoke, overwhelmed. She grimaced, "I know he's family, but he had no right… to do that to you… I care for him… but, he needs to answer for what he's done," she choked, on the verge of tears of sadness and anger.
2D took hold of Noodle, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her against his chest gently. She went to him willingly, melting in the warmth of his embrace, resting her head against his chest. "I know findin' summfink like t'is makes yew upset, Noodle," he whispered to her. She could feel his warm breath on her face as he spoke. "Especially, wiff two people yeh care abou'... but what's been done 'as passed. Murdoc will answer fo' what 'e did ta me someday… but, fo' now, t'ere ain't nuffink we can do but le' it go… he's stopped now. An' ih's all because of yew… Yew don' need ta do anyfin' more… Me an' 'im will come ta terms eventually..."
"How can you forgive Murdoc so easily," she questioned him.
"I dun know, Noodle," he shrugged, only doing his best to try and calm her. "Ih's like, when yew came back, everfin tha' 'appened ta me didn' mattah anymore. I guess life's just too short ta ponder on te what's passed by us… even if ih haunts yew." She remained quiet, confused by his words. She understood what he meant, but, she didn't understand how 2D could just let abuse from his own family member go. They sat in the quiet room, and much time had gone by. When Noodle broke the silence with an exhausted yawn, 2D spoke again. "Do yeh fo'give me… fo' leavin' Kong, Noodle-girl?"
"There's nothing to forgive," her words were sincere. He grinned emotionally, and tentatively brushed the hair atop her head, pushing her fringe aside.
He leaned forward, kissing the skin close to her hairline tenderly. He hugged her close to him, resting her head underneath his chin. "Goodnight… love."
"...Oyasumi, 2D-kun," she yawned, relaxing in his arms. 2D began humming Hong Kong, hoping it would help her fall asleep quickly. As she succumbed to her exhaustion from this long day's events, she listened to 2D's humming closely, letting the pleasant reverberations take hold of her and lull her into a warm, deep sleep, with 2D following not long after.
All at once,
The world can overwhelm me
There's almost nothing that you could tell me
That could ease my mind
Which way will you run?
When it's always all around you
And the feeling lost and found you again
A feeling that we have no control
Around the sun
Some say it's going to be the new hell
Some say it's still too early to tell
Some say it really ain't no myth at all
We keep asking ourselves
Are we really strong enough?
There's so many things
That we go too proud of
We're too proud of
We're too proud of
I want to take the preconceived
Out from underneath your feet
We could shake it off
And instead we'll plant some seeds
We'll watch them as they grow
And with each new beat
From your heart the roots grow deeper
The branches, well they reach for what?
Nobody really knows
But underneath it all
There's this heart all alone
What about when it's gone?
It really won't be so long
Sometimes it feels like a heart
Is no place to be singing from at all
There's a world we've never seen
There's still hope between the dreams
The weight of it all could blow away
with a breeze
But if you're waiting on the wind
Don't forget to breathe
Because the darkness gets deeper
We're sinking so we reach for love
At least something we can hold
But I'll reach to you
From where time just can't go
What about when it's gone?
It really won't be so long
Sometimes it feels like a heart
Is no place to be singing from at all
Jack Johnson - All At Once