Chapter .6.
I'll Sort It.
The side of 2D's face was still ringing with the feeling of Noodle's slap. Her words were still flying in his mind.
"You meant to help me! You're my Onii-chan! I want YOU to help!"
He sighed to himself as he lay back on his bed. He rubbed his dented eyes and curled up into a ball. Again, Noodle's words ripped through his mind.
"You meant to help me! You're my Onii-chan! I want YOU to help!"
He clenched his fist and hit himself on the forehead. Noodle's tear-filled face flashed into his mind, he felt her anger and pain. Small tears began to appear in his eyes, he felt he had failed his little sister.
"2D Onii-chan?" said a voice, accompanying a knock at 2D's bedroom door.
Quickly, 2D wiped the tears from his eyes and sat up on the bed.
"Yeah…come in love…" he sighed.
Noodle slowly opened the door a walked in. She made her way over to the bed and sat next to 2D. With her hands placed on her lap, she began to nervously play with her fingers. 2D glanced over to her but she kept her head down. An awkward silence fell upon the two; no one said a word until;
"Onii-chan…" sighed Noodle "I sorry…"
Without warning, 2D pulled Noodle close to his chest and hugged her as hard as he'd ever hugged anyone.
"Onii-chan, daijobu?" gasped Noodle
"I thought you hated me after all that…" sniffed 2D
Noodle stroked 2D's mattered, blue hair as she hugged him back.
"I would never hate you Onii-chan…" she smiled.
2D pulled away from the hug and silently sat next to Noodle. An awkward silence fell upon the two. 2D glanced briefly at Noodle before staring back at the floor, fiddling with his fingers. He knew he was going to have to break the silence.
"You're a good girl Noodle…" sighed 2D "You don't deserve to be treated bad."
Noodle said nothing. She simply rested her head on 2D's shoulder and hugged his arm. A small smile gleamed on her face as her cheek rubbed against 2D's tattered, navy blue shirt.
"You know what…" he added "tomorrow; I'm goin' down to the school and talking to ya teachers ok?"
All of a sudden Noodle's tiny smile turned into a huge Cheshire cat grin. She directed her beaming gaze up at 2D who was equally as glad to see his little sister smiling again. Half a minute passed and Noodle still had that same grin on her face. 2D laughed a little bit.
"You alright there love?" he smiled.
"…"
"Noodle?"
3, 2, 1, BOOM!
"2D ONII-CHAN!" laughed Noodle as she literally flew into 2D's arms, knocking him onto his back. She hugged him so hard he could actually feel his arms bruising in the process.
"Um Noodle love?" he laughed
"ARIGATOU! ARIGATOU-GOZAIMASU!"
"Noodle, I can't feel my arms." ^_^"
"ONII-CHAN! DAISUKI!"
"Noodle you really need to let go now darling."
Noodle loosened her grip but didn't let go all together. Before she finally released the imprisoned singer she gave him a sloppy kiss on the cheek.
"Cheers for that love (!)" laughed 2D as he wiped his cheek.
Noodle's smile slowly turned to a frown.
"D-demo…" sighed Noodle "what if they not believe you?"
2D paused…
"They will darling!" smiled 2D "I'll sort it! I promise!"
******************** The Next Day at the School of Evil ****************************
2D, Murdoc and Noodle sat out in the corridor, outside the head teacher's office. Murdoc was only there for back-up just in case the whole operation went belly-up. 2D was feeling really nervous. What was he supposed to say? "Um hi, I'm not related to this girl in any way shape or form. Could you tell the little chavs in your school to stop bullying her or I'll set our psycho bass player on you all!"? As nervous as he was, it was nothing compared to the suspense poor little Noodle was feeling at this time. If they bullied her bad now, how would they treat her knowing she's getting her big brother to fight her battles? Out of all three of them, Murdoc was the only one with a level head…for once.
"Sweet Satan…" growled Murdoc "schools smell worse than bloody hospitals!"
"Ssh!" hushed 2D "Do you want to get us thrown out?"
Murdoc said nothing.
The door opened. Standing in the doorway was an old, bony woman with black, thick framed glasses and a sensible black dress. She glanced over to Noodle who stared nervously back at her. The Head Mistress then pulled her glance over to 2D and Murdoc, curling her upper lip with disgust.
"Ah." She said coldly "you must be here about Noodle. Come in."
One by one, the three Gorillaz followed this old hag into the office. Once inside, they pulled up a chair for each of them and sat in front of the desk, directly facing the heartless looking woman. Noodle kept her eyes on the floor, almost scared to look this woman in the eye. 2D was secretly scared but he stuck to his word and was brave enough to keep full eye contact. Murdoc…well, he was just uninterested.
"Now." Said the Head Mistress "Mr. um-"
"2D" answered 2D
"I beg your pardon?"
"Oh! Um…Mr. Pot."
The snobbish woman stared at 2D, almost as if it was with disapproval.
"I understand Noodle is in a sort of band with you."
"Oh yes!" added Murdoc "World famous we are!"
"I'm sure you are…" snarled the Head Mistress. "Am I right in assuming that the girl's parents are ok with this?"
Noodle stood from her chair.
"Sensei…I tell you that I have no parents." She added. "I live with 2D Onii-chan and-"
"Be Quiet young lady!" snapped the Head Mistress "and you know that every student must show full respect and call me ma'am!"
Noodle was silenced. She sank back into her chair and felt 3 inches tall. 2D couldn't help but feel angry at the way this old witch had just talked to Noodle.
"We're not here to discuss Noodle's personal life ya know." 2D said angrily. "She's being bullied. What will you do about it?"
The old woman rocked back on her chair while fiddling with a pen.
"It doesn't really surprise me." She sniggered "She doesn't even try to fit in."
2D was shocked at her answer. He felt a slight bit of anger burn up inside of him and he was dying to stand up and give this stuck up cow a piece of his mind but he had to stay calm.
"What's that got to do with anything?" gasped 2D
"Yeah. No offence love but you're a bit of a cow." Added Murdoc.
"I BEG YOUR PARDON?" fumed the head mistress
"Murdoc! Shut up!" snapped 2D ad Noodle in unison.
Well, now that Murdoc was making the situation a little more awkward than it already was, 2D was ready for a head on confrontation with the dragon lady.
"Look, I know I'm not actually related to her or anything but I'm looking after her. I'm very angry at the fact you'd just let this carry on it's not right." Snapped 2D
The brittle old hag removed her glasses and cleaned the lenses with a yellow, satin hanky, as she did this she looked 2D in the eye with what seemed to be a death stare.
"If she'd only change a few minor problems in her personality…"
"She HAS no problems!" snapped 2D "YOU'RE the one with the bloody problem love!"
"Haha! Wow face-ache, you finally grew some!" laughed Murdoc
"Well, it's clear to see where the girl gets her attitude…" snarled the old hag
"I can't believe I'm hearing this!" 2D said loudly "You know what, sod you AND your bloody school!"
2D stood up and grabbed Noodle by the arm.
"C'mon you two, we're going!" he snapped.
He dragged Noodle out of the room with Murdoc following behind them. Now they were out of the office, 2D felt relieved. He had once again found courage through Noodle. Holding his head high, he and his band-mates made their way towards the school exit.
"Onii-chan…" sighed Noodle "What about school? Where should I go?"
Hmm…good point…where could she go? 2D thought to himself.
Suddenly, the sound of evil laughter filled the halls. Someone was walking behind them, laughing and sniggering as they went. 2D could tell there was more than one voice…a gang. Oh great…2D turned his head slightly to peek over his shoulder and sure enough, there were three chavvy looking boys walking behind them, laughing at Noodle.
"Oh my god have you seen them?" one of the boys laughed quietly.
"I know, right scrubbers aren't they?" smirked another. "Aren't they like a band or summat?"
"Yeah called the Gorillaz or summat stupid like that!" laughed the last one.
"They look like bloody gorillas!"
2D, Murdoc and Noodle listened to the pathetic insults…
"I've heard their music to!" laughed the first boy "They're shit!"
Murdoc stopped in his tracks. Uh oh… thought 2D they're for it now…
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST SAY?" screamed Murdoc.
One of the boys, a large, round lad with blonde, spiked hair and acne dominating his face, walked closer to Murdoc and stared him straight in the eye, their faces almost touching.
"You don't scare me you walking tub of doughnut batter!" snapped Murdoc "What did you say about my band?"
"I said you're shit!" smirked the boy.
Well…that was the last straw…
BANG! Murdoc head butted the boy, shattering his nose in the process leaving the bull rolling around on the floor, crying in pain.
"YOU MORON!" yelled 2D
"What?" barked Murdoc "He started it!"
"SO? YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO FINISH IT!" stormed 2D "NOODLE STOP IT!"
Noodle was happily kicking the tubby boy in the gut over and over and over again. 2D walked up to her and grabbed the collar of her shirt.
"We're leaving!" he ordered as he started to drag Noodle away.
Once they were outside, they climbed into the jeep and started to drive away. As they drove Noodle said something no one had ever expected her to say.
"Arigatou Murdoc Onii-chan!"
"Oi! You better not start calling me that you little bug!"
"Murdoc Onii-chan daisuki!" laughed Noodle
"SHUT UP!"
2D laughed at the fuss Murdoc was making over being called a big brother, it was kind of cute really. It's amazing how head butting a 12-year-old boy could make friendly bonds between band members…