2D can tell that Murdoc was nervous, maybe not as nervous as he was with the boat, but definitely still nervous. The bassist was uncharacteristically quiet and has smoked seven cigarettes on their 45-minute ride to the airport. 2D could tell that their taxi driver didn't appreciate it. He gave the driver a generous tip when they arrived. Murdoc despite being obviously anxious, isn't reacting anything like 2D had earlier in the cargo yard.

When they were by the docks the singer had a little bit of a breakdown. He had never felt as much terror as he had right there, even when they were actually on Plastic Beach. Just the thought of being under the ocean again in a dark room with no way of escape gave him a panic attack. He was on the verge of tears and almost passed out from how much he was hyperventilating.

Murdoc was surprisingly considerate about the whole situation. The other man wasn't the greatest when it came to comforting someone, but the sincerity of his efforts wasn't lost on 2D. It was also confusing to the singer, Murdoc had never spoke to him in such a gentle and caring way before. Murdoc had watched him have panic attacks in the past, sometimes indirectly caused by Murdoc; he'd also seen 2D in so much pain that he couldn't move from his migraines, but he hardly cared as much as he had by the boat.

The two bandmembers are currently standing in line to go through airport security. Murdoc was picking at the edge of his passport with his nails; he had to do something with his hands. The line was going quicker than it usually does which is both a blessing and a curse. They were just a person away from the front. He still doesn't have a plan for when they check his items. Hopefully the security guards really like money, maybe 2D can offer them a bribe.

Murdoc is wishing that he could take back his decision to go on the plane. Being on the ocean for ten days with 2D wouldn't be that bad. The singer was somewhat pleasant company so far, despite being 'in charge'. 2D wasn't lying to Murdoc when he said that he's been nice to him, even making him laugh on more than one occasion. It was kind of nostalgic how they were behaving with each other now, kind of like equals. Murdoc hates it.

He showed too much weakness back at the docks. The Satanist put himself in potential danger so that 2D would feel comfortable and stop worrying. It's disgusting, he isn't supposed to do shit like that. He felt guilty about the past and what happened with El Mierda and he let that affect his decision. Looking in his singer's eyes though, those scared and wide eyes made him forget about his pride and insecurities for a little while. He doesn't want to call them insecurities but that's what they are, if he shows compassion, empathy, or any other sort of emotion towards 2D or anyone else terrible things could happen. If his numerous enemies see that he actually gives a shit about 2D they'll target the singer just so they can get to Murdoc. Also, if he lets himself get emotionally involved in 2D's life that's just another thing he'll need to worry about. He didn't want to harm 2D; he also didn't want to let himself care either, it's too scary.

The bassist felt the very man he was thinking about tap his shoulder twice and point at the awaiting security guards. He was next. Gulping nervously, he went to move forward but was stopped by 2D grabbing his arm and pulling him a step back. He was about to question the taller man but felt a breath on his ear instead; that made him shiver at the feeling.

"Don't worry, I won't let them take you again," 2D whispered. He doesn't really know what he'll do if they try to arrest Murdoc here, but he knew that if Murdoc said the same thing to him while he was in Murdoc's situation then he'd feel better. Hopefully the security guards are a nice group of people who will talk to them about their situation before going to the police.

Deciding to ignore that nonsense, Murdoc stopped hanging his mouth open like an idiot and moved forward. 2D definitely didn't have the same problems as him. He gave a half-hearted smile to the security lady and put his suitcase on the counter. She was about his height, which only made him more nervous. Her hair was tied into a tight bun which meant he can't pull it to help him get away if need be.

The lady gave him an odd look. Murdoc could feel the sweat on his back. "Are you that Murdoc from the band Gorillaz?" She asked with a tilt of her head.

With that Murdoc handed over his passport and ticket to the lady before saying, "Uh, yes, I am, are you a fan by any chance?" Were there any other handsome green-tinted men around? Well maybe if people considered Ace handsome. If she was one of the ones that chatted with him while he was in prison, then he might be in luck.

She smiled widely in response and took his things that he held out to her. "Oh my goodness gracious! I haven't met anyone famous before! I just started about two months ago," She seemed to have ignored Murdoc's question. She looked over to the other security line and said, "Oi! Megan lookie over here! It's that guy from that band!"

At this point 2D seemed to think it was a great idea to make his presence known as well. He took a few steps so that he was next to Murdoc and gave the girl a smile. "I'm in Gorillaz too!" He announced loud enough so she'd hear. Meeting fans was one of his favorite things about being in Gorillaz, they were always so nice the singer. Murdoc used to tell him it was only because he was pretty, and they didn't really like him for who he was. 2D was half-wondering if Murdoc would say the same thing right now if he asked about it.

"Yes, you are, I recognize you too!" The girl was practically running in place. It was obvious how excited she was. She didn't seem like a hardcore fan. 2D can appreciate the enthusiasm despite that.

Another girl showed up next to the security guard, the one probably named 'Megan'. After she looked the two up and down she smiled widely as well, "Holy cow, look at that you're right! Can we have your autographs?"

Despite the girls being elated at seeing them, Murdoc was still not calming down. They haven't looked at his passport yet and now there's two of them. He nodded and picked up a pen that was on the counter. The one girl who was unnamed looked around to find something for him to write on before settling on an envelope that she found behind the counter. Megan just held out her shirt below her uniform. Murdoc signed both before handing the pen over to 2D who happily signed as well. It wasn't the prettiest signature the bassist has ever done, but it'll have to do.

After the two looked at their autographs, Megan decided she was satisfied and went back to her line after telling the bandmembers a quick goodbye. Usually, Murdoc would be more appreciative to see his fans, but right now he isn't in the greatest mood.

Putting on her work voice, the security guard continued what she was supposed to be doing and said, "Alright now that that's done, please take off your shoes and put them in the bin along with any metal items on your person."

He obeyed her request and took off his boots. Then he took off his upside-down cross necklace and his belt and put those in the bin with his shoes. Murdoc looked up to see the girl looking at his ticket. She put the down next to his passport, deeming it real and picked up his passport. "Are you bringing a laptop or any other electronics with you today?" She asked without looking at him. All of that is currently on the boat except a phone; he's planning on getting a new phone when he gets to the United States.

"No, not today, love," He replied as smoothly as he could with his voice going deeper. The ladies usually liked it when he used 'love' in a sentence so maybe that will help his case here.

"Aren't you supposed to be in prison or something?" She asked and put his passport down. She wasn't affected by his flirting at all.

Murdoc knew that the color must have drained from his face. He coughed and tried to do some damage control, "Um well about that-"

"It was just a publicity stunt, sorry. Don't tell no one!" 2D said from behind Murdoc. He's surprised with himself how quick he came up with that. Usually his brain has trouble working that fast, so the singer was very proud of head today.

She nodded. "Gotcha, sorry to have made you ruin the magic like that, I won't tell anyone. Just to make sure though I got to make sure he isn't on the no-fly list since you're going to the US," She said and held up the 'ok' sign with her hand. "It's embarrassing to have to do that to a celebrity, but it's my job."

Murdoc would have been really proud of 2D in that moment if he wasn't now terrified. He looked back at the singer who in turn gave him a nervous smile and mouthed, "It'll be okay". Murdoc can tell he's full of bullshit. What the hell is he going to do now?

"Alright everything looks good, walk through the metal detector please," She said and handed Murdoc his passport and ticket.

Satan is real, and he must love Murdoc to death. Still shaking a little bit, Murdoc stepped through the metal detector with no problems. He couldn't contain his smile while he put his shoes back on. 2D did went through the same process, however, looking much less anxious than Murdoc had and more relieved. He doesn't understand why 2D still gives a shit about him. The Satanist is a horrible person and he understands that, but he isn't sure if 2D completely understands that.

After that mess was settled they finally made it to their seats on the plane. They will be arriving to the United States in approximately eight hours. The security guard even knew that Murdoc was supposed to be in jail and he still got through. Murdoc sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. The plane took off about 15 minutes ago and Murdoc is still coming down from his adrenaline high. Who needs cocaine when he's got the fear of going back to jail?

"I told you it would be alright!" 2D said from his spot next to the window. Murdoc can hear the smirk in his voice.

Murdoc glanced up to the singer through his fingers, "Don't give me that rubbish. I know that you didn't believe it when you said that."

2D looked away for a second. He was never that good at lying. "Well would you have rather I said somethin' like, 'Murdoc, they're onto us, we're screwed'?" He imitated in a slightly higher pitch.

"Well no. That would have definitely given us away." Murdoc sat back up and rested his back against the seat. "You still look ridiculous by the way," he said pointing to the singer's shirt.

"Why don't you like my shirt? Do you not like London?" 2D asked and put his head on his hand. His elbow was against the window.

Looking past the singer and out the window, the bassist replied with, "I do like London, but I don't 'heart'-" He did imaginary quotes with his hands, "London. I also don't like it enough to wear a t-shirt expressing my love for it."

2D shrugged and smiled, "Well I have lots of love to give."

Too much if you ask Murdoc.

"Where do you want to go when we're in America?" The taller man asked.

Groaning because he still needed to talk to 2D, Murdoc said, "Wherever the road takes us."

"That's kind of borin', isn't it? We should go and be proper tourists for once, we never go sightsee when we're on tour," 2D sat up and folded his hands in his lap. He didn't know why Murdoc never let them experience the places that they went to visit. Sometimes in the middle of the night Noodle would sneak out of their hotel and go explore, but that was about it when it came to the band's experience with tourism.

"I'm currently hiding from the police, 2D, I can't exactly go take selfies at every landmark we come across," Murdoc leaned over to say quietly so only 2D would hear.

The singer smiled, "Yes you can; you just can't post them online is all. Come on, you need to have at least one place that you want to go see." 2D is still in charge after all, even if it doesn't seem like it now. If he says he wants to travel and have a good time doing it, then they will do just that.

The Satanist sighed with annoyance and crossed his arms, "If I tell you a place I want to bloody go to will you let me take a nap or something?"

Smiling wider at this answer he nodded in response.

"The Great Wall of China."

"In the United States, Muds."

"The place with all the aliens then."

"Area 51?"

Murdoc gave 2D a disgusted look, "No you…! Americans can't even go in there, what makes you think that we can?"

2D crossed his arms now as well, "That's the place with the aliens!"

"Roswell was the one I was talking about. The alien place we can actually go to." The Satanist leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. "Happy now?"

"Yeah, I guess so," The taller man grumbled and looked out the window.

Throughout the long flight 2D had been slept on for about four hours. He's proud of himself for being able to not wake Murdoc during that entire time. Maybe he should have woke the shorter man up after about two hours because when he did wake up he was in a bad mood. The bassist hardly acted on his foul mood compared to how he did a year ago. The most he did was give 2D dirty looks, but that might have been because of his shirt again.

Towards the last half of their flight together, the two started watching a movie on the small screen in front of them. The description said it was about a couple going through a rough patch and then they fall in love again later after going on various adventures and learning new things about themselves and each other. It was terribly boring.

Eventually, they made it back on land. Their plane landed in New York City which was perfect because that is also where the boat will be docking in about ten days. These next few days they'll need to be careful and make sure not to alert others that Murdoc isn't supposed to be out with the public. Currently, 2D is doing a terrible job of this because the combination of his bright blue hair and his obnoxious shirt drew a lot of attention at the American airport. They've signed 12 autographs almost as soon as they exited the plane. 2D claimed that they would have been more hidden if Murdoc was also 'disguised' and if 2D hadn't lost his hat in the ocean.

After 2D found them a pleasant hotel to stay in the two grabbed their luggage and took a taxi there. The singer doesn't think he'll ever get used to getting on a plane at 4:00 PM in London and then arriving in the US at 7:00 PM. It's like the last eight hours were just three hours that went by really slowly. Time is really weird.

Currently the duo was in an elevator at their hotel. Their room was on the 22nd floor. The both of them were more than ready to just call it a night even though the sun is still out. In England it would be about midnight.

Murdoc stretched and leaned his back against the wall across from the door. "Should we get drunk tonight?" He asked casually.

"Didn't we do that last night?" The singer asked while he fiddled with the zipper on his suitcase idly.

"Yeah, but that's never stopped me before," The Satanist replied and then continued with, "Didn't you have fun last night?"

"Well yes, I think so, but we really didn't do anythin' did we? We just kind of sat on your couch… and then cuddled on your couch," 2D flicked his eyes between Murdoc and the numbers on the elevator. He wonders if Murdoc can tell where he's looking.

The Satanist frowned deeper and replied with, "You passed out on me, I wouldn't consider that cuddling. It's usually a two-way street."

The singer settled his eyes on Murdoc, "What about spoonin' though?"

"I'll be honest here, Dents, I've heard of it, but I'm not entirely sure what spooning is," He admitted and reached down to grab for a cigarette in his suitcase.

Now he was watching Murdoc's hands instead of his face. "It's like where one person is layin' down, like you do when you have a cuddle, and one person is called the big spoon and the other is the little spoon."

"Sounds childish." He lit his cigarette and put the pack and lighter back into his suitcase.

"Keep your comments 'till I'm done. Okay so the big spoon wraps their arms around the little spoon's back while the little spoon faces away from the big spoon." 2D finished and soon after the elevator dinged.

Murdoc grabbed his suitcase and followed 2D to their room. "So only one person is doing all the work?" He said it more like a statement rather than a question.

"I guess so if 'all the work' is just layin' there with your arms out." The taller man replied and put their keycard in the door. "I don't think you're allowed to smoke in here."

"Last time I checked I smoke whenever I want to," Murdoc replied and blew a puff of smoke away from 2D.

The taller man pushed open the door and went inside, "Well if they yell at us then you're puttin' it out."

Murdoc waved him off and closed the door behind them.

They both started putting their things away into their shared dresser. They've booked the room for ten days, so they might as well get comfortable. Hopefully they won't have to switch hotels before their time is up. If they lay low like Murdoc wants to then they should be able to pass by unnoticed. The bassist knows though that with 2D here it might not be that simple. He would never ask the singer to leave despite that. He hates that he wants him here.