Within the hustle and bustle of the past week, I was fortunate enough to find time to finish this chapter between my studying and running and all that jazz, so I guess I'll post it now, since there's not much else I could do with it, except let it set in my flash drive, waiting, rotting among text filled documents...I hope you all like the chapter, and continue enjoying the story, though things have calmed down a bit for the time being. I don't know about you, but I am SO excited for the things to come later on. You know, it's kinda cool to see how this story progressed. I didn't have plans for anything, I just started typing and BAM, storeh! I wasn't planning on Noodle going a-wal, or 2D forgetting Noodle came back, or Noodle meeting either Connor or Kazuno. It's like this story just melded itself together and used me as its teller. I love it!
Hopefully, I can post my test scores with the next chapter, to let you all know how I did, for those of you interested. But for now, I'm still studying, and full of anticipation. LA's a fun place, when you know how to handle yourself in the city. Though I wouldn't recommend wandering around there by yourself, ever. People 'round there can be nuts, but it's still fun to explore and chat with the random folk here and there.
Now then, enough chatter, here you go, for being such great supporters.
Luvs ~Hazel
On this pleasant summer's day, it seemed as though the whole of Plastic Beach had taken on an atypically serene disposition. As the day wore on, and the gusts of heated wind blew over the island, it created a day filled with temptation for lounging outside the castle. Not being one to let herself become a passerby to such an opportunity, Noodle wandered to the garden patio, which had quickly become her favourite of places. She sat on one of the lounge chairs, a cigarette hanging loosely from her lips as she gave her complete utter focus to the magazine in her hand. She took the fag in her fingers lightly, taking a drag before she pulled it away and held her breath for a moment, then breathed out at a steady pace. She put the little death stick back in her mouth as she flipped through another page, enjoying the way the sun's rays licked her skin through her clothing. She curled her toes, pulling her legs to her chest to lean over them, exposing more of her back to the warmth. She pulled a few loose strands of hair behind her ear as the first bead of sweat made its presence known on her forehead, but she ignored it. It was nice out today, and it would be such a waste not to enjoy every moment it offered. Of course, she could think of many other things she'd rather be doing then having a smoke and reading, but that would require not being in the middle of the ocean.
Inevitably, just as the stress had finished its retreat from her body, Murdoc barged in, in nothing but his infamous thong. "Ey, gurly. When yew gonna come 'round n'fix me cyborg," he asked, his speech prominently slurred. He arched his eyebrow as she lifted the magazine to fully cover her face, seemingly ignoring him. He scowled, and marched up to her, quickly yanking the magazine away from her, to which she quickly lifted her hands to her face, looking to the side whilst she hid her eyes from view. "Whot the fock're yeh doin?" He asked, craning his neck as he tried to catch a glimpse of her face.
She cleared her throat, continuing to avoid looking at him. "I will get started today, Murdoc, but could you please put some decent clothes on if you are to continue watching over my shoulder as I do so."
He smirked, "What'sa matter, love? Don' like wathcha see," he cackled, then composed himself. … "I dun want yeh ta start tehday, I want yeh ta start now," he complained immaturely.
She exhaled heavily, annoyed now. "I would ask if you could be any more shitfaced, but I believe I already know the answer…" He arched his eyebrow, slightly confused. Was that supposed to be a joke? With another sigh, Noodle took her fag, and crushed the burning end between her fingers, before flicking it away carelessly. She turned, placing her legs out toward the ground before her, and stood to her feet. While avoiding letting her gaze fall below Murdoc's chest at all costs, Noodle looked up at him, then reached forward and snatched her magazine back from him. "I will do as you ask, but you will not complain, or I shall take pleasure in shoving my fist down your throat," she threatened him in a low voice, with an impish smile on her lips, though her words were anything but harmless.
As she turned and walked away, leaving Murdoc on his own, he pursed his lip, thoroughly baffled with her attitude toward him. He sat on the now empty lounge chair, laying out his body and resting his hands behind his head as he closed his eyes with a hoarse sigh. "Whot the fock is her problem… Me? Complain? Who's countin'…"
As soon as Noodle had entered the lift, she turned to face the doors, crossing her arms and tapping her foot impatiently as she waited for it to reach the entrance. Once it had opened she paced out, going towards her lighthouse, her sole focus on getting Murdoc to shut up about his cyborg. She sighed, knowing she was in for a long couple of weeks. Hell, everyday seemed long on this island, and being here only seemed to service in convincing her that they shouldn't really be here. She just wanted to be back on the mainland; back with Connor and, though it amazed her to admit it, she enjoyed the city, though maybe not the morbidly rude crowds of people messing about. The crowds had really gotten to her. She hated feeling surrounded and exposed, but other than that, it had been nice to get away, and she was sure 2D would have enjoyed it as well. In no time at all, Noodle was quickly pulled back into the present, and she had her briefcase in hand, with everything she needed to fix that damn computer properly. She grunted, annoyed that she would have to go back into that damn lift, but having no other choice, she went inside again. With a deep breath to calm herself, Noodle realised that many things, that had seemed like nothing to her before, were really started to annoy her now. She shook her head, wondering why everything seemed to be becoming so overwhelming lately.
The buzz of the engine room seemed to be a welcoming relief as Noodle walked inside of it, pleased to see that the cyborg, along with the laptop Murdoc had used to configure her function, was on what seemed to be an old operating table… go figure… After the initial shock wore off, Noodle slowly came toward her, adjusting the table lower so that she could a good look at it. When she was satisfied, Noodle skimmed her fingers along the cyborg's jaw line, and shrieked shortly when its face opened up, and revealed the android beneath the faux skin. With one hand now clamped over her mouth, Noodle bit her bottom lip as she steadily brought her hand back to its face, searching for… she heard an audible click as the metal was released, and she pulled more of its face away, revealing the circuitry she had seen the first time she had peeked inside the cyborg. She knew it was a robot, by any means, but it still gave her the chills. Sure, having a copy of oneself should have bothered her, but in all honesty, Noodle had never been the most piqued at that. For reasons even Noodle couldn't figure, it was the cyborg's teeth and eyes that really made her uncomfortable.
All thoughts aside, Noodle rested her briefcase on the cyborg's chest, knowing it wasn't a bother, and she really didn't give a damn anyway. She opened it, and reached inside, pulling out a pair of gloves, which she laid to the side if a need for them was to arise. Aside from the gloves, Noodle began to lay everything out that she knew she would have a use for first. She shifted, gazing into the circuitry of the cyborg, her wire cutters in hand. With a sniff, she began to examine everything minutely. There was a nick here, cut that way. She saw another loose wire, and cut that away promptly. With all the damage and burnt bits, she decided she'd might as well replace every wire in the damn thing, and tore out every last piece. She walked away after she'd tossed all the now useless wires into a bin, wandering into the cyborg's cupboard, smirking to herself when she'd found exactly what she'd been hoping to find. After she left the cupboard, Noodle unfolded the thick, blue paper, laying the blueprints out on another table close by.
Noodle looked over the schematics, resting her hands on each side of the table as she bent over it. She shook her head as she stared at it, studying every crossed wire, every switch, every last tiny detail, and her eyes widened in curiosity. He may not seem like it, but when he put his mind to work, Murdoc could very well be a mad genius. She stepped away, straightening out her back, and stretching her neck, hearing it crack as she did so. She cleared her throat, and decided that she was in no state of mind to be trying to deal with the complex wiring of such a weapon. She scratched the skin of her neck, then pulled her hair behind her ear as she decided her next best course of action, which was sure to have nothing in relation with the cyborg on the table. She cursed as she reached a decision, knowing she'd have to ride the lift again, but she supposed it would be worth it in a matter of minutes.
As she entered the kitchen, she realised she'd not been the only one with the enchanting idea of coffee on her mind. She grinned as 2D turned around from his place at the counter, and he smiled as he saw her. Quickly, he turned around again, reaching for a cup, which he handed over to Noodle. She smiled, taking it from him, and closing her eyes as she took a long sip. "Arigato, 2D-kun. You read my mind, kaaii-chan," she told him gratefully.
He nodded as he filled his own cup, then leaned against the counter, facing her. "A'course, love. Coffee's always a proper drink when you're a bit knackered in te head." She smiled, rolling her eyes at his words. He always said the strangest things, but then, that was one of the perks she seemed to adore the most about him. He was odd, unusual… and downright blatantly idiotic sometimes, but it was more endearing than it was annoying. He could put a smile on anyone's face just by stating where he'd just come from, because he never really sugar-coated anything with most people. No, he just came right out with it.
"Where have you been hiding all day, 2D. I haven't seen you at all until now," Noodle realised, looking up at him as he drank his beverage.
He swallowed, then froze for a moment before he looked at her a said, "I dunno really. Everywhere, I guess," he shrugged. She nodded to herself, seemingly relieved that he'd been acting normal lately, but he was still off. Of course, they'd all been off the past few years. There was no hiding it, but then, one could never really guess what it was.
As the effects of the caffeine began to make itself known, Noodle's mind began to race, going back to the pile of machinery on the table down below her feet, coming up with ways to which she would be rewiring it, how it would look, how everything would react to each other. As she continued to think, she placed her cup to the side, forgetting it as her feet began to carry her out of the kitchen, with a slightly confused 2D watching after her. He scratched his head, then continued sipping his coffee for a couple of minutes until he decided to investigate just exactly what she was up to. He hadn't heard her enter the lift, so one could only wonder what could have possibly been interesting enough not to just leave this level and go to another.
Once he had gotten to the lift, he saw Noodle coming out from behind the bookcase, and she swiftly closed it, staring at the surprisingly small hard drive she now held in her grasp. She pursed her lips, impressed by such a piece of advanced technology, that only made her further wonder how it was able to operate from what seemed to be such a simple device. She only seemed to notice where she was when she bumped into 2D, who took hold of her shoulders to steady her as she bounced backwards slightly. She looked up at him with an embarrassed blush, "Sorry, 2D-kun."
He grinned, "S'awright, love… Watcha got there?"
She grinned now, holding the drive carefully. She walked to the lift's doors, calling it by pressing down on the button. "If you want, you could come with me, and I will show you, 2D-kun."
He smiled, "Awright." They both walked into the lift together once the doors had opened, and 2D moved to silently stand behind Noodle as they waited for it to descend to the destination unknown to 2D, until the doors opened again anyhow.
"Whot are we doin' in te engine room?" 2D asked curiously, looking around for anything that could relate to the device in Noodle's hand, but he quickly gave up, knowing he would never be able to figure it, even if his life had depended on it. She remained silent, walking down to the lifeless body on the table, which sent uncontrollable shivers up 2D's spine. He swallowed, twiddling his fingers together as he walked up behind her, keeping her between him and the cyborg. "Y-y-you're jokin, righ' love? Yo' not really gonna 'elp Muds wiff 'at damn thin' are yew?"
She sighed, regretting that she'd made any offer to allow him to see her work. "Yes, I am doing this, to get Murdoc off my back, and give him someone else to pick on," she explained. "And, it's nice to have something to concentrate on outside of being stuck in the middle of nowhere," she added.
"Oh," was his only response, though he still didn't like it. How could she possibly stand to be in the same room with that thing? And be trying to bring it back to life, on top of that? All it spelled was bad news in 2D's eyes, and even Noodle could see that as she peeked at him from the corner of her eyes. He grinned at her, Whotever makes 'er 'appy, I s'pose… He found a seat, and pulled it up close, watching intently as Noodle's eyes switched from the schematics to the cyborg constantly. She picked out wires here and there, but 2D couldn't figure what each one's use was, or why it needed to be so specific. Noodle laid the wires out across the surface of the cyborg's face, measuring and cutting each piece, then sorting out its proper place. Once she found the right spots for the first couple of wires, she moved back to the briefcase, and pulled out two pairs of protective goggles. She pulled one pair over her eyes, then tossed the other pair to 2D, which landed on his lap as he flinched away from it. He picked them up, confused with what he was supposed to do with it, but he figured he was to put it on his face as well when he saw Noodle turn and slip her gloves over her small hands. She dug through her case again, and pulled out a needle-like tool. She proceeded to plug it into the outlet close by, then bent over the cyborg's face as she began soldering the wire's into place, her finger's becoming greasy as she maneuvered deeper into its panels, and searching for the exact spots for each wire to connect and cross.
Wanting to catch a glimpse of the action, 2D stood, bending over Noodle to see just what she was working on, and he was transfixed as she took another wire, then looked at the blueprints closely as she picked the next spot for this specific wire to mingle with the rest. It was awing to see it coming together after she tore it apart, as if she was placing the nerves in a human's face, each one having a specific purpose and function in controlling its face and movements. His mouth popped open as she soldered that wire into place, then swiftly connected it to another panel, and after hours of intricate work, Noodle was finally satisfied with her work, and decided to call it a day. With a tired sigh, she stepped back, only to find 2D standing right behind her, who had not been paying full attention.
She gasped, and he pulled back quickly. "Oi… sorry, love. Didn' mean ta scare yeh."
She turned with a grin, composing herself and removing the goggles from her face. "It's fine. I just forgot you were still down here," she told him, moving to close the cyborg's face, and then put her things away for the day. 2D handed her his goggles as well, and she closed the briefcase, with the hard drive safely inside of it. She folded up the blueprints, and left them on the table. When she figured everything was in order, she turned to 2D, "How about some lunch?"
He smiled, walked up to her and wrapping his arm around her waist as they made their way to the lift. "Lunch sounds perfec' righ' now. M' starvin," he complained lightly.
Later that evening, when the heat calmed and brought with it an enticingly warm sea breeze, the island seemed to be falling asleep along with the sky, now dimming with a retreat of the sun far off in the distance, but it would still be a fair couple of hours before it sank below the horizon. While the day still lazily held onto their side of the world, 2D was walking along the shore, Noodle's hand tangled in his as they moved side by side, wandering in the large circle of the beach aimlessly, not caring to stop anytime soon.
"Do yew remembah when when we firs' met, love?" 2D wondered aloud. Noodle nodded as she watched her feet, doing her best to avoid the random bits that stuck out of the ground that tried to trip anyone who got too close. "An' yew didn' speak a word o'English… I liked when yew were lil'… when everyfin wos easy, an' we kinda jus' knew whot we wos finkin 'bout each otha…"
"What? You don't like the grown up Noodle," she asked, faking her own hurt by his words.
He looked down at her with a smile, slowing his pace as he did so. "I like the grown up Noodle a lot… She's te only fing I like about me," 2D breathed.
Noodle blushed, grinning up at him. "I like everything about you, 2D-kun." As soon as those words left her lips, she looked away, astonished. Had she really just said that?
With a smile, 2D wrapped his arm around Noodle's waist, pulling her into him as they continued to walk. After a couple of minutes, 2D turned, going towards Noodle's lighthouse, and he stopped them just outside the door. He let go of Noodle, sitting down on the ground, resting his back against the wall. When he looked up at a confused Noodle, he grinned, and took hold of her hand, leading her in close to him, then pulling her down to sit between his legs, leaning her back against his chest. She looked around them as they sat, feeling odd in his embrace, wanting to leave, but at the same time, wanting nothing more than to stay that way for hours, or at least until she felt tired enough to go to bed. After a moment of feeling his warmth, Noodle finally relaxed against 2D, resting her head against his shoulder, sighing as the day's calm finally began to hit her. He sighed too, wrapping his arms around her as he rested his chin on her shoulder so his face was right next to hers as they stared out into the horizon.
"I really miss this, Noodle… I miss everyfin' we 'ad before… I miss not bein' 'ere, an' bein able ta go wherevah I wonted, an' yew would go wiff me, jus' ta hang out, and do nuffin," he spoke, his voice filled with longing, and she leaned her head against his.
"I miss it, too…" she told him, shifting her arm to hold onto his hand, and he entangled his fingers with her own, his eyes becoming heavy with weariness, but he didn't want to leave their spot. He loved where he was at right now. He didn't want to leave it, and have to let her go. He just wanted to hold on as long he could, not knowing if they'd be able to do this with each other in the weeks to come. With the way their lives had been since four years ago, he knew he could never again predict where their lives would take them, or if they'd have each other long, so he'd have to grasp onto this as long as he could.
The eleven year old Noodle ran as fast as she could along the unstable surface of the sand of the beach as she raced after 2D, who had walked out by himself minutes ago. She was desperate to catch up with him. How dare he just up and leave her by herself with those two other men and not say a word. Surely he should realise by now that she'd much rather be with him, than by herself. Those two others were incapacitated! Russel was in a food-coma, and Murdoc was passed out drunk. She smiled as she caught sight the man's lanky frame in the moonlight not too far off, and struggled to push her legs to carry her faster. She couldn't move quickly enough, but before she knew it, she had finally closed in on him, and with a smile from ear to ear, she jumped up onto his unsuspecting back, causing him to shriek as he crashed forward, landing roughly on the sand. He lifted himself with his hands, shaking the sand out of his hair and rubbing it off of his face. He looked around, stunned, but he grinned when he saw his little Noodle, smiling down at him. "Harro, 2D-san," she chirped, moving to help him to his feet.
"Ello, lil' love," he said as he stood to his feet. "Watchya doin' way out 'ere?" Her face dropped, and she looked back towards where she'd come from, down back towards their hotel. He followed her gaze, "Yew didn' like me leavin' yeh by yoself?" She looked up at him, and shook her head. He grinned, "Aw, I'm sowwy love. Yew wanna walk wiff me on te beach?" She nodded enthusiastically, smiling and taking his hand as he offered it to her. He chuckled, "Why yew like me so much, Noods? I ain't nuffin special."
She shook her head, "You speshahl to Noodle. Noodle love 2D… 2D treat Noodle nice, and-uh let Noodle play wit' 2D… Noodle like 2D-san know how Noodle feel, when Noodle can not find deh words," she told him, struggling to speak properly. He smiled, patting the top of her head.
"I love yeh too, Noods," he spoke brightly. "Yew're a really bright girl, yeh know? Yew make me feel…"
"…Normal?" Noodle asked, bringing her finger to her lips as she thought aloud.
He nodded with a grin, "Yeah, tha. Yew make me feel normal, like I ain't some freak wiff no eyes tha' girls jus' wanna piece of 'cos I'ma singer in some maniac's band." Noodle giggled.
"Where we go, 2D-san," Noodle asked.
"Huh? …Oh um, I guess find summere close to te pier. They're gonna be shootin' up fireworks in te sky at 'is time o' year. I guess ih's New Year's…. Lost track o' the time, again I guess," he scratched his head.
"Firework?" Noodle asked, her eyes alight with curiosity.
"Yeah. T'ey're like e'splotions in te sky, an' they're really pretty, like, they make bunches of colours an' awl tha' in te sky," 2D explained. He looked down at her. "Yew'll love 'em," he told her, squeezing her tiny hand as they walked along.
"Noodle love firework?" Her head tilted to the side.
"Yea, c'mere. Ih's dark 'nuff now tha' they migh' be startin' soon. Ih's almos' midnight n'eways," he said, sitting down in the sand, and the laying down on his back, resting his arms behind his head as he stared up at the stars, or the few of them that could be seen anyhow. Noodle laid down right beside him, but he pulled her onto his chest as she did this. She was now lying on his chest, with her head just below his chin as they both stared into the sky, and he move his hand to rest atop her stomach, wrapped around her in a half hug. Her face was blank as she studied the sky, wondering what could be so special about it, as 2D had described earlier. She got her answer moments later when 2D's hand left her stomach, and pointed into the air. "Look, love," he whispered in awe, the both of them now watching as a streak of light moved upwards into the night. Noodle shrieked, burying her face into 2D's neck as she heard a thundering boom, but he quickly repositioned her, "S'awright, lil love… Look… it's okay." She peeked into the sky again, and her eyes grew wide in wonder, gazing up at the colours the blast had left in the sky, and she watched intently as another streak flashed, exploding again to leave another array of bright, whimsical colours for the hundreds that watched to look at in awe.
She looked up at 2D. "Noodle like fireworks," she whispered to him, watching again as more beams of light flared up into the sky, and round blasts filled the air, reflecting enchantingly into all of those who's eyes watched the dance far above their heads.
He chuckled, petting her hair before moving his arm to wrap around her stomach once more. "2D likes fireworks, too."
They watched the magical show for what seemed like an hour, and when the sky seemed to finally calm down again, 2D noticed the very tired looking Noodle on his chest. He smiled as he shifted her in his arms, and turned her so her stomach was resting against his, and her head was against his neck, facing him. Slowly, he sat upright, holding onto her carefully as he stood to his feet, very well near losing his balance, but he was able to catch himself. He carried her carefully as he made his way back to the hotel, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "Sleep with Noodle?"
He smiled, "A 'course love. T'eres only three beds, and I dun fink I'd wanna share one wiff Russel or Muds…" She grinned, nodding in agreement.
He got to the rooms in no time, allowing Noodle, who was thankfully still awake, to dig for the key in his pocket and unlock the door for the both of them. He sighed as they made their way inside, glad to be out of the cold night, and in the warmth of a bedroom. He placed Noodle down on the covers carefully, kissing her forehead as he tucked her in for the night, and then moved to the other side to crawl in beside her. She scooted into him, grinning as she did so. "Oyasumi, 2D-san."
"G'night, lil love," he told her as he moved his arm over her body, on top of the covers.
When your mind is a mess, so is mine
I can't sleep, 'cause it hurts when I think
My thoughts aren't at peace
With the plans that we make, chances we take
They're not yours, they're not mine
There's waves that can break
All the words that we said, and the words that we mean
Words can fall short, can't see the unseen
'cause the world is awake so for somebody's sake now,
Please close your eyes
Woman, please get some sleep
…and know that if I knew all of the answers
I would not hold them from you
Know all the things that I know
We told each other, there is no other way
Well too much silence can be misleading
You're drifting I can hear it in the way that you're breathing
We don't really need to find reason
'cause out the same door that it came well it's leaving
It's leaving
Leaving like a day that's done and part of a season
Resolve is just a concept that's as dead as the leaves
But at least we could sleep, it's all that we need
When we wake we would find our minds will be free
To go to sleep
…and know that if I knew all of the answers
I would not hold them from you
Know all the things that I know
We told each other, there is no other way
Jack Johnson – No Other Way
Awe, look... no more chapter... It ran away! Sorry, m'just a bit off my mind lately. I think I've gone mental... I've been on an extreme edge lately. I feel like I'm gonna spontaniously combust! Anyhow, more should be coming very soon, within the week. I want to try and finish the main story before I leave, and then after the main story, of course it'll continue. I don't really know when this story is ever gonna end... ... ... stop rambling... -mutter mutter- I need some tea... I love tea... -there she goes again
Happy now? Look! Cutieness! There. Now get off my back!...
Just kidding. No one's been complaining, but really, who could? Don't take that seriously, please. I'm not looking for trouble XD
Anyhow, more fluff to make for happy readers, but don't worry… That's for later. Oh, but I am glad the two of them are getting along. It makes me feel speshahl! More to come... much more to come... People to drive insane -that one's for me- and other stuff for the story. Hmmm, where to begin... oh wait... I already know ^.^
Again, look for the next chappie 'cos it's gonna be coming 'round soon, and then I'll continue posting the story, being that my writer's block seems to have vanished into thin air, and I'm very happy about that.