She's My Collar

By: KKM

Disclaimer: I do not own the Gorillaz or any related characters/songs. Gorillaz are © Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett.

Last Time:

"Yessss, think wit your stomach Laaards. Le' teh carbs guide you." Murdoc snickered only to be flipped off as the bigger man made his exit. Then he turned his mismatched eyes to the couple who'd been silently watching in amusement. "Well? Wha' the fuck're you lot still doin' down here? You heard the man, let's eat!"

"Holy shit," 2D muttered as they watched him exit without so much as a punch. "I can' believe it. I got away with it!"

As Noodle giggled conspiringly with him she suddenly had the realization that they really did have the best friends. In that moment of banter she released they'd finally been accepted. They were finally free.

Epilogue: We Got the Power

The Sprint Center was completely packed. It was a full house with not a single seat left unsold. 2D's ears were practically ringing the crowd was so loud and abuzz. They were on one of the last few stops of their world tour and had been going strong for months now. It was incredible. With each place there were so many people; so many stories! Never in his wildest dreams had he thought that their little band could inspire so many people. It was unthinkable.

"Wot? You lot wan' more!?" he yelled into the microphone causing a new wave of excited screams. He gave an exhausted laugh that echoed over them. They'd already been going for at least three hours now. They'd played almost everything from their new album and even more hits from their others. It had been thrilling to listen as the fans joined him in every word. He looked back at his band mates with a gap-toothed grin. "Wha' yeh say, one mo'?" he asked them. Russel smiled ruefully and banged his drum hard in answer and Murdoc smirked, letting his abnormally long tongue flop from his sinful lips. "Well, Noodle love… LTES GIVE 'EM WOT THEY WANT!"

The screams were so powerful that his words were nearly drowned out and he swore he felt the stage quake a bit as Noodle joined him at the microphone with a conspiring gleam in her eye. Together their voice cut through the crowd like a knife as their fans roared in approval.

"WE GOT THE POWA' TO BE LOVIN' EACH OTHA' NO MATTA' WOT HAPP-UNS!"

Everyone in the stadium was chanting the lyrics. There wasn't a single person who didn't know the words. It was so empowering. As Noodle began to sing her first verse, 2D swore he'd never heard her sound so confident and commanding. She was truly in her element.

"Aaaand we dream of home!

I dream of life outta' here.

Their dreams are small,

My dreams don't know fear!

I got my heart full of hope,

I will chaaange everythiiiing!"

2D watched her sing with admiration. They really had started with just a dream, hadn't they? He remembered back to when they'd first started their relationship and how hopeful they'd been but scared and determined. They'd been so reckless and rebellious at the start. The song almost felt like and ode or an anthem to their strife.

"We did it before,

And we'll do it again!

We're indestructible,

Even when we're tired!

An' we've been here before,

Just you and I!

Don't try to rescue me,

I don't need to be rescued!"

He thought back to those uncertain times between when they'd broken up and yet both of them had been determined to keep things together. It had been a rocky start and sure they had bumps as they went along. But the important thing was that they were there for one another and loved each other. As he joined in the chorus it was as if he was declaring his love for her over and over again. They really did have the power! When it was his turn to belt out his lyrics, he got so into it that he missed the amused curve her lips as it was her turn to observe him.

"Get yo'self up to the silen' altar,

And call meeee.

Bu' don' forget the maaachiiines.

Cuz if ya' choice is chippin' it down on the M1,

Then you'll wake up in tha' morinin'

You'll be storming!

Oh-oh-ooooh!"

He arched his back a bit before leaning in close to Noodle as they shouted the remaining bits of chorus at the audience. The melody began to wind down and 2D added the final caress of his vocals.

"We go' the powa'!"

There was a dramatic pause and then the fans went wild screaming at the top of their lungs. "ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!"

"Now, now, loves!" 2D laughed breathlessly as Murdoc and Russel began to slowly exit the stage. "We alrea'y gave you an encore! Bu' seriously, we love you 'Ansas City! Good Nigh'!"

He was about to turn around and leave himself when Noodle suddenly stole his mic and bumped him to the side with her hip. "Ah, ah, aaaah, Stu," she shook her head waving her finger at him. She had a down right mischievous glint in her emerald eyes. He gulped nervously and glanced at the others in confusion. They merely shrugged back and watched from the corner of the stage in mild curiosity. Noodle took that as a sign to continue as she turned back toward the audience with the air of someone who had some juicy gossip to share. "Now, it's come to my attention that there's a rumor going around about a certain song?"

The crowd seemed to gasp in unison as it immediately seemed to get quieter as if they were hanging on her every word.

"She's My Collar!" a girl shouted from the front row and Noodle immediately nodded pointing at her.

"Yes! Exactly!" she agreed before looking out toward the whole complex again. "A little birdie told me that soooome of you think that song is reeeally about me and 2D shackin' it up behind closed doors," she laughed, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively before covering her mouth with her hand as if she'd just said something particularly naughty.

2D turned bright red and started to slowly back away.

"Oh, no you don't!" She grinned, as her hand bolted out grabbing a handful of his shirt and tugging him to her. He nearly tripped over his own two feet before their lips suddenly connected and his mind went numb. He was vaguely aware of their approving screams, but that was all fading away as he closed his eyes and leaned in deepening her kiss. There were whistles and hoots as she let him go just as quickly causing him to sway a little on his feet with a big dopey grin on his face.

"Does that answer your questions?" she challenged before doing a very deliberate mic-drop and strutting off of the stage.

2D blinked for a moment as he watched her prance away, his eyes lingering on her swaying hips before he seemed to suddenly realize where he was. His face flushed bright red again as he looked over the boisterous crowd. "O-oh, um. Bye!" he called, waiving at them all before running off stage to the safety of the others. He could still hear the excited jabbering of the fans all the back stage as he met up with the others.

"Didja' see tha', Russ?" Murdoc was trying very hard not to point and laugh as he slapped the bigger man on the shoulder and nodded his head at them. "We c'n see who wears tha' pants in their relationship. No' that it wos eva' a question teh begin with." He gave a dark chuckle. "Yo' really looked like a blithering idiot ou' there, Tusspot. You're lucky you're pretty," he teased, causing 2D to turn red again.

"Oh, be nice to him," Noodle narrowed her eyes, coming to his rescue and offering him a sweet peck on the cheek. "I think you were marvelous out there," she praised adoringly.

"You sure you know what you're doing, baby-gurl?" Russel asked, scratching his neck. "You thought we had no privacy before, now we really won't. By the time we get to Cali, TMZ is gonna to be so far up our ass-"

"I've go' something they c'n stuck up their arse," Murdoc interrupted, earning himself a smack upside the head and a glare. 2D now looked more amused than embarrassed as he listened to their bantering.

"You know what I mean," Russ grunted, shaking his head and muttering something about crazy moldy cracka's.

"It's okay," Noodle shrugged, leaning against 2D comfortably as she felt his long winding arms circle around her. He rested his chin on her shoulder easily as she continued to speak. "They'd find out anyway. It's better this way because at least we've broken the news on our terms. Who knows what kinds of weird stories they'd spin if they'd found us on one of our secret rendezvous."

"Good point," Murdoc agreed with a sneer. "We see enough of your pasty arses on acciden' at home. No need to ruin meh good tabloids too." She merely rolled her eyes as Russ shuddered next to them. He'd been the one to walk in on them last time. He'd never enjoy their gaming room quite the same ever again. That poor air hockey table…

"Anyways," his deep baritone cut through, trying to ignore the horrifying image that suddenly flashed through his mind. His baby girl wasn't really a baby anymore. "Ya'll comin' with us for the after party over at Power & Light? My homie Tech Nine is stopping by so it should be a good time." The Power & Light District or P&L as the natives called it was a giant strip across the street from the Sprint Center that served as the night life of Downtown Kansas City. It was lined up and down with various bars and clubs and in the very center was a giant dance floor complete with a simi-outdoor stage. This was where people went to get lit! It was always sure to be a good time.

Noodle and 2D gave each other a look before the singer gave his friend an apologetic smile. "Naw, Russ. You go 'ave yeh fun. Noodle an' I will probably be headin' back teh tha' hotel to relax."

"Alright, man. No biggie," Russ said before turning to the bassist. "What about you, ol' man?"

"I'm game," Murdoc said with a smirk, his mismatched eyes twinkling devilishly in the dim lighting. "Tha' birds 'ere are always fun. 'Specially in tha' one bar. Wot was it called, Russ? Oh yes, Angel's Rock Bar," he answered, licking his lips predatorily.

"Gross." Noodle deadpanned, causing them all to laugh. They exchanged a few more pleasantries before they parted ways; Russel and Murdoc heading over toward the now very busy Power & Light District and 2D and Noodle catching a cab to head over to their hotel.

They weren't staying too far away, just further down grand towards Crown Center. Their hotel room was toward the very top of the building and had a beautiful view of the twinkling city. After entering their room and slipping into something more comfortable, the couple headed out to the balcony with a few glasses of wine and sat down to enjoy the peace.

2D relaxed a bit as he inhaled a freshly lit cigarette. His ears were still ringing a bit as he glanced down toward the lit up area he knew Russel and Murdoc were trapezeing in. He silently wondered if they were having a good time out there among the loud crowds.

"We could still go down there if you wanted," Noodle's smooth voice interrupted his musings. He looked over at her with tired eyes and smiled reaching over to cover her hand in his.

"Nah, love," he shook his head, exhaling a small cloud of smoke. He watched in interest as it curled and twisted above them like a tapestry before disappearing in the atmosphere. "This's where I want teh be." He was rewarded when she gave him a warm smile. Then she looked out toward the city again, biting her lip a little.

"Are you really okay with what I did back there? I know you weren't really expecting that," She asked, repositioning their hands so that their fingers were locked together. He gave her a soft squeeze and she turned her head to look back at him again. Her eyes were twinkling from the city lights and her unruly bangs were blowing into her face a little.

"I'm no' mad," he promised her, a small smile tugging at his lips as he marveled at how cute she looked right then. He stubbed his cigarette out and tossed it over the edge of the rail before reaching his now free hand over to brush her bangs from her face before resting his warm palm against her cheek lovingly. "They'll need teh get used to it cuz I'm no' lettin' you go."

In that moment they didn't even need to utter the words. They could feel the love radiating from one another and like magnets they both leaned forward simultaneously with their eyes closed. Their lips touched as they connected breathlessly and relished in the feeling of one another's sweet caress. 2D tugged at her smaller form until she was draped across his lap and sighed as he held her close as they overlooked the city together. He really couldn't imagine anywhere else he'd rather be.

So, maybe she had him wrapped around her finger a bit.

But he liked to think he secretly had her collar too.

A/N: AHHHHHHH. I can't believe it's over! Do you know how long it has been since I've finished a story with chapters? I've also never written one as long as this! Murr I wish it could continue, but alas this is the perfect place to let them be free.

Thank you so much everyone for your encouraging words and reviews. I have truly enjoyed writing this story for you. It is my hope to now start writing one of my actual personal stories. I think this fanfiction has given me the courage to do so. I will still probably do a few short stories here and there but I have my book planned out so now I need to write it.

I embellished a bit with this epilogue and ended the story in my hometown. I thought it was pretty fitting since I'm super excited for September to come. The Humanz world tour is going to be awesome!

Love you all! Please tell me what you think!

P.S. Even though I'm marking this story as finished, you may still receive some update notifications. Sometime this week I'm going to go back and look for grammatical errors and fix them. I wrote most of these chapters in the wee hours of the morning so I'm sure there's plenty of junk for me to fix. Sorry in advance lol.