By the time the duo made it to the hotel they've been threatened to be kicked out of the Uber at least four times. Mostly Murdoc was the one who caused the problems as expected. First, he decided to comment on how rude their driver was as soon as they pulled out of the parking lot. Then he almost spilled their whiskey on the poor woman's seats. 2D felt ashamed at how Murdoc was acting; this woman was kind enough to give them a ride at one in the morning and he was the one that was really being rude.

When 2D told Murdoc to calm down he was met with fierce resistance. Their increasingly loud arguing about Murdoc's behavior didn't help the driver's mood much either. At that point 2D was also embarrassed with himself. The last noteworthy thing that happened was when the singer tried to take the bottle from Murdoc's hand which resulted in him flailing like a child on a tantrum. Because of that he ended up kicking the woman's seat a few times. At least he didn't try to hit 2D.

That hour-long trip to the hotel felt like the longest car ride of 2D's entire life, and he's traveled at least 12 hours on tour in the United States before. When they arrived, Murdoc had downed almost half of the bottle while 2D hadn't drank a drop. The singer lost his craving for alcohol when he heard how slurred Murdoc's speech was when talking back to their driver. He would much rather stay sober and make sure they lay low than have them both go to prison because they were both acting like drunk buffoons.

2D had to help Murdoc out of the vehicle and into the hotel lobby. After hobbling in with Murdoc dangling off his side, 2D sat him down on one of the couches. He put their bag full of someone else's goodies on the seat next to Murdoc. After looking the bassist up and down 2D sighed and said, "Murdoc I'm goin' to… Murdoc!"

Murdoc didn't seem to be listening and instead was feeling the potted plant next to the couch he was sitting on. After a beat he flicked his eyes up to the singer before darting them back to the green leaves, feeling them between his fingers, "Mmm, yeah?"

"I was sayin' that I'm goin' to go check in, stay here, alright?" However, 2D kept standing in the same spot and bit his lip, a nervous habit. "Alright, Murdoc?"

"M'kay," Murdoc said eventually. His head felt heavy, so he let himself fall slowly until his head was against the arm rest.

The singer glanced over to the check-in desk where the attendant was busy on her phone, not paying attention to them. He turned back to Murdoc, "Don't fall asleep, please. I can't carry you to our room."

"Your voice is so-" Murdoc waved his hand around while he thought of the right word, "different compared to your singing voice." He looked up to gauge 2D's reaction, that wasn't a horrible insult, right? He's trying to abide by the rules, but also point out bits of 2D that he's just now noticed.

2D straightened his mouth into a thin line, "Yeah you've told me that before, usually when your plastered. I'll be right back, like I said stay there please."

"Hang on… can I have your phone?" Murdoc held his hand above his face, waiting for the singer to put his phone there.

2D sighed once more, "That would be disastrous, Muds. You make terrible decisions when you're drunk and you just got out of prison. I can't have you postin' stuff on Twitter or nothin'."

"Nah I won't do nothing I just… I just want to play some music, I haven't heard music in years, 2D" Murdoc seemingly begged the man behind him.

"You've only been in there six months, you arse." 2D tapped his foot anxiously and looked around before speaking, "Alight then, but quietly or else I'll… Uh, be not happy with you."

"'Really, dad? Now give 'er here," Murdoc made more grabbing motions with his hand.

After unlocking his phone and opening his iTunes app he handed the phone to Murdoc. Before he could change his mind and stall anymore, 2D swiftly walked over to the check-in desk.

The girl who seemed to be scrolling through her Facebook page put her phone down to look at her customer. Her eyes widened a bit when she looked him in the eyes. It was more of a 'your-eyes-are-weird look' than a 'holy-shit-you're-that-guy-from-that-band look', he was used to both. She didn't say anything about his eyes, but the singer could tell that she was freaking out a little bit.

"Good uh, mornin' miss I called-" He clenched his teeth when he heard the unmistakable beat of 'Sweet Dreams' by Eurythmics. It was way louder than he was comfortable with. "I called and booked a room for two," It came out more of a question than a statement.

She looked away from his eyes and down to her computer. She was pulling up the check-in list when 2D heard the sing-shouting from the direction of the couch.

"Sweet dreams are made of this, who am I to disagreeeee?" Murdoc swung 2D's phone around with the beat. 2D bit his lip again and wished the attendant would go faster. He knew his face had to be as red as some cherries at this point.

"Some of them want to use you, some of them want to get used by youuuuu… Some of them want to abuse you, some of them want to be abuuuused," Murdoc was pointing in 2D's direction as he slurred the lyrics. The singer had no idea if he was implying that he was using Murdoc or if he wanted to be used by Murdoc. Both of those implications were some that 2D was not a fan of. He wonders if Murdoc even knows that he's looking at him right now.

The girl at least didn't say anything about his drunken partner's singing. She looked up after a few more seconds of 2D's public torture. "Are you uh… two-dee?" She asked while desperately trying to keep up her customer-service voice.

He nodded and took out his wallet. "Yeah, that's me," He said while doing his best to ignore the noise coming from his band-mate. The singer showed the girl his identification and paid for their room.

"Hold your head up, Keep your head up, movin' on-" The bassist sang those particular lyrics even after that portion had ended. He just kept repeating them to himself and the room like a mantra.

2D walked over and stood directly above the Satanist, watching him sing the lyrics off-key now that he doesn't have that part to sing along with. Murdoc watched him as well, unfazed with his new audience.

After a moment of them just doing this 2D reached over, grabbed the plastic bag, and said "You know you're not doin' very well for someone who's tryin' to hold his head up." He pointed at Murdoc's head which was now almost on the floor.

The bassist, hearing what the singer said, scowled and stopped singing. "It's a metaphor, dumb… ugh. It's a metaphor, not supposed to be literal."

2D was almost impressed that Murdoc kept himself from calling him stupid while he was as drunk as he seems to be. He couldn't help the laugh that fell from his lips, "I know what a metaphor is, Muds, I wrote half of them in our songs. It was only a joke." He grabbed for his phone back, to which Murdoc moved his arm out of the way, quickly avoiding 2D. "C'mon now we need to go to our rooms, It's two-somethin' in the mornin'."

The song faded until there was silence, but Murdoc refused to give the phone to the singer. A drum beat came from the phone that Murdoc didn't recognize. The bassist showed confusion on his face and asked, "What the bloody hell is-"

He cut himself off at the sound of the singer's voice emanating from the phone, "I'm on the high ridge looking down. While we're evolving, I get old. If I get back then I'll-" Murdoc stood up on shaky legs, hit the pause button on the phone's home screen, and put the phone back in 2D's hands. He suddenly felt very sober. Grabbing the whiskey bottle, Murdoc motioned for the singer to walk.

However, he stayed put, the phone felt heavy in his hand for some reason, heavier than the other things that he was carrying. 2D felt uncomfortable and he was sure that his face showed it too. He and Murdoc had another staring contest of sorts before the singer once again broke the silence, "Are you alright, Muds?"

"Fine, Dents."

"You need to talk about your feeling more, I promise you'll feel better! Now are you sure you're okay?"

"For fuck's sake, Yes!" He said louder than necessary. 2D instinctively flinched. They both looked behind them to see the receptionist quickly look back down to her phone, pretending that she isn't seeing this shit-show.

Wordlessly the pair with 2D in front walked past the desk and down the hallway to find their room. Murdoc was stumbling but could keep himself up. 2D would give glances behind him occasionally to make sure Murdoc was still following him. When they reached their room 2D unlocked the door and allowed Murdoc to go in first.

The bassist shimmied past 2D and let himself fall face-first onto the bed closest to the door. The sheets smelled like detergent and lavender, kind of reminded him of how Noodle would make him wash his sheets every three weeks or so. He misses her, even if he didn't like doing all the things she pushed him to do. She was the closest thing he had to a daughter or family member that cared about him. Murdoc sighed into the sheets when he thought about the fact that she contributed to the album that he wasn't a part of. At least she gave a shit about him while he was in prison. He turned his head to look at 2D who was locking the door behind them. 2D didn't care about him at all.

He has no reason at all to care about me now.

I've hurt tremendously in the past.

Noodle didn't like how I treated 2D either.

Murdoc groaned and shoved his face back into the covers.

2D gave the bassist a quick glance before going to his own bed and setting down their things next to him. He really wished that he had thought things through a little better; wearing his clothes again in the morning would not be fun. He also needs to come up with a plan for the morning. He can't just take Murdoc to the band, but he also can't leave him here alone either. Maybe he could buy them some time by telling the band that he's gotten very sick, but then they might come to them. 2D hummed in thought, laid back onto the bed, and put his arms behind his head.

Running out of air, the bassist turned his head to the side and took a deep breath. He squinted and flicked his eyes around his field of vision but refused to turn his head. "Are you still here, Dents?" He asked.

The singer turned his head to look at Murdoc, not surprised to see him facing the wrong way. "Yes, I am," He answered.

"It's too bright in here," Murdoc said, hoping 2D would get the hint.

He did and said, "You're closer to the light switch."

Murdoc whispered a curse and flipped onto his back. He flopped one of his wrists over his eyes, "I don't really feel like getting up."

2D looked up to the ceiling, "Well I don't feel like it either."

Finally, the bassist gazed at the singer. He was looking up, Murdoc has been with him long enough to know where his pupils would be. His blue hair has gotten a bit longer since he's been in prison, he noticed how long it was when they were at the lake and how it moved with the wind. For some reason he still looked quite young despite being in his 40s; he was still their pretty boy. Regardless of how pretty the singer may be, he hates looking 2D in the eyes for too long, it just makes him feel too many things at once.

The singer felt his band-mate's eyes on him but didn't move to meet them. Each moment made the singer more nervous, what could he be thinking about? Was he waiting for him to turn off the light? Well he didn't want to give Murdoc the satisfaction, so he's either going to do it himself or sleep with the light on.

"Do you ever feel guilty," The Satanist asked suddenly.

2D raised his eyebrow suspiciously. "About what, Muds?" He hopes that Murdoc isn't trying to make him feel guilty about the prison thing. The reason he didn't help him in prison was because he really enjoyed not being degraded every day. Getting Murdoc out of prison would have brought back that degradation. Well, he thought it would.

"I don't know do you just… feel guilty sometimes?" Murdoc asked with a shrug.

"Of course I do. Don't you?" He answered.

Murdoc paused while his thoughts were swimming in his head. He didn't know if he wanted to answer that, but he did anyway, "Yes, I do." Was that considered weak? If it was he can always blame it on his intoxicated state, he's done it before.

The singer brought his eyes to look at Murdoc's for the first time since they entered this room. For some reason the confession from him made 2D feel tight in his chest, like he was hit by something. He smiled playfully and said, "I didn't know you were capable of feelin' guilt." The bassist remained eye contact for a few moments until he seemed to not be able to take it anymore.

"Fucking hell," The Satanist said when he looked away. He's trying to literally see eye-to-eye with 2D, but for some reason it's very difficult for him. He has learned growing up that those who are below others are treated terribly and that he should always strive to be on top. His father made Murdoc personally know that he was below him at every possible moment. Why does he still act like his father? He hates him with every fiber of his being.

While playing with his hands 2D quickly said, "It was a joke, sorry. I didn't mean no harm by it."

Murdoc didn't say anything.

2D was quiet as well until he thought of a topic that he wasn't sure he should bring up, "So that song you listened to in the lobby… did you like it?"

After processing what he said Murdoc replied with, "It's a classic, mate."

"You know I didn't mean 'Sweet Dreams'," the singer said slightly relived that Murdoc wasn't mad at him.

The bassist looked at his hand while he fiddled with the sheets below him, "I didn't get to really hear all of it."

"Do you want to?"

"Not really."

"Can I sing one of the songs for you, right now?" 2D bit his lip as he waited for a response. He didn't know if he was ready to sing for Murdoc again, but he really wanted him to hear this song.

Murdoc hummed to himself, "I don't really want you to."

"Well I'm going to anyway," The singer said and suddenly sat up. He looked over to see Murdoc turn onto his side away from him. He held his arms around himself and looked like he was a scared child. However, he still seemed to be listening.

"It uh… It sounds better with the rest of the song, but I'll try my best," 2D said while tapping his fingers on his knee.

He started with humming the beginning melody to bring himself to the right key. Starting softly he began to sing, "LA why you're so complicated for me, twilight".

Between lyrics he glanced between Murdoc and the empty wall above him, "If loving you's a felony now, then I'm a renegade, riding".

He saw Murdoc relaxing his posture now and the singer gained some more confidence, "I'll be a regular guy for you, I never said I'd do that. Why you looking so beautiful to me now when you so sad?"

Beginning to sway from side-to-side with the song 2D sang the chorus, "I will always think about you, That's why I'm calling you back on my way through."

2D continued the rest of the song with a smile on his face and closed his eyes. Murdoc was reacting better than he thought he would. Not reacting at all was better than shouting and insults after all.

Coming to the end of the song he sang softly once again, "I will always think about you, That's why I'm calling you back on my way through."

Opening his eyes again, 2D looked at Murdoc once more and asked, "What did you think, Muds?" After a few seconds of no answer he tried again, "Murdoc?" Did he actually fall asleep? He felt his shoulders slouch from his disappointment

He heard someone on the other side of the wall shout, "Shut the fuck up!"

The singer clenched his teeth and felt his face get warm. He was trying to have a moment with Murdoc, but now he feels humiliated. He stood up and shuffled over to the light switch and flicked it down. The room was ingulfed in darkness. After feeling his way back to his bed, he crawled under the covers and huffed out a sigh. He feels like he might cry, everything is happening at once tonight and it might be too much. 2D's thoughts should have been about what he should do about Murdoc and himself, but all he can think about is how Murdoc might have felt about the song... His song.

On the other side of the room Murdoc, as slowly as he could, moved his hand to his mouth and covered it. Wet tears flowed from his eyes and down his face. His body was shaking while he tried to hold back sobs. He can't believe he has cried twice tonight, he has hardly cried this often since he was in his teens. what is happening to him? He closed his eyes to try and stop crying.

Murdoc really liked the song.