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"So let me get this straight. We're starting with Sound Check, then 5/4, then 19-2000-"
"No," Noodle interrupted Russel. "After 5/4 we're doing O Green World. Then we're-"
"Alright, enough, we know! If you keep repeating it every five fucking minutes we'll dream it!" Murdoc snapped then.
Noodle shot him a glare. "The concert is tomorrow, Murdoc. It's our first concert since we've been away, we can't mess anything up!"
"We won't! We're Gorillaz, for fuck's sake, Noodle!" Murdoc exclaimed.
Noodle rolled her eyes. "That doesn't mean we can't make mistakes."
Murdoc frowned at her. "Of course it does!"
"Let's just stop this bullshit and get practicing!" Russel snapped. "D, you alright?" he then asked on a quieter note.
2D was just staring off into the distance, not paying attention to what was happening at all. He blinked when Russel said his name.
"Yeah, I'm fine, Russ," he then smiled, and turned away to grab hold of the microphone.
Murdoc stared at 2D for a long time, then turned his gaze to the ground, becoming quiet.
An uncomfortable silence rang through the studio.
Then Noodle started strumming out the notes for 5/4 and the rest joined, relieved. Afterward they went into the kitchen for a snack. Noodle put some popcorn in the microwave, and Murdoc and Russel grabbed a beer for themselves.
2D just sat down at the table, and lit a cigarette. Noodle glanced at him in distaste, but didn't comment. The three boys sat at the table in silence as Noodle waited for the popcorn to be ready.
"So, are you guys excited for tomorrows concert?" Russel then asked.
2D gave a nod, and Murdoc didn't reply at all. Noodle pursed her lips as she put the popcorn in a big bowl. The whole atmosphere in the kitchen was just awkward and horrible.
Noodle put the bowl of popcorn down on the table and sat down.
"You're awful, do you know that?" Noodle then said quietly.
The band glanced up at her in confusion.
"What?" Russel asked.
"Not you, Russel. Those two people who claim to be our band members, who claim to care for us, who claim to love us even, yet look at how they're acting. They are both so completely miserable, they have been for a while, and they're not telling us a thing. They're making us sit in the dark while countless things are going on between them. Are we even part of the family anymore? Is it just you two that matter? Who knows what's been happening and you're shutting us out of it completely. I didn't realize we are that unimportant to you. I though we were family," Noodle then said harshly.
2D and Murdoc blinked at her, at loss for words. Murdoc opened his mouth first.
"Noods, that's not how it is at all. We just need to sort a few things out," he exclaimed.
"And how long is that going to take, huh? Things have been weird between you two since we came here, and you haven't told us a single thing!" Noodle snapped.
"Noodle, please. We are family," 2D said desperately.
"Maybe you should start showing it more, D, instead of the two of you being completely wrapped up in your own little worlds and dramas. Maybe you should think about us a little more," Russel said quietly.
"Selfish jerks," Noodle spat. "We've put up with this long enough. We've been patient, we've been understanding, but I just can't take it anymore."
2D and Murdoc flinched back.
"I'm sick of it. We're finally all back together again and this is what's happening. We're more distant from each other than we were before we separated. I thought this would be amazing. I've missed you all so much, and everything's ruined. We're falling apart."
The last sentence was said in a whisper, and Noodle covered her face with her hands.
The boys stared at her, shocked. Noodle didn't cry. She just didn't. Crying was not something their Noodle did.
Yet here she was, sitting with hunched shoulders, covering her face and sniffing every now and then. Russel wrapped his arm around her shoulder, glaring daggers at 2D and Murdoc.
2D and Murdoc glanced at each other fearfully. Then they walked over to Noodle, and 2D put his arm around her, while Murdoc put his hand on her shoulder.
"Noods, we're not falling apart. We're family," Murdoc said soothingly.
"We all love each other, even if we're going through some rough times. Please don't cry," 2D said, stroking her arm.
"Yeah, look," Murdoc said, and waited for her to look through her fingers.
He then gave Russel a hug and gave a startled 2D a swift kiss on his nose.
"See? We're one, big, happy family," he then grinned, trying to ignore the redness in his face.
2D rubbed his nose and tried to grin at her.
"Yeah. Come on Noodle, don't be sad. We love you!" he exclaimed, wrapping his arms around her.
Noodle laughed through her tears and hugged him back. "I love you too. I'm sorry for acting like such a girl," she smiled, wiping her tears away.
"Well, you should be able to once in a while, huh?" Russel said, giving her shoulders a light squeeze.
"Instead of being such a mother all the time," Murdoc added.
Noodle shrugged apologetically, grinning.
"If it weren't for Noods who knows where we'd be," 2D remarked.
"We wouldn't be Gorillaz without Noodle!" Murdoc said loudly, waving his arms and accidentally knocking the bowl of popcorn on the ground.
"Fuck. I'll clean that up later," he muttered.
Noodle just giggled, and pulled the guys into a tight hug.
"Tomorrow's going to be wicked, it'll be just like old times. And.. I promise that everything will be sorted out at the end of the week."
2D jerked up at Murdoc's words. The bassist avoided 2D's confused eyes, instead looking at Russel's and Noodle's hopeful ones.
"Really? And then you'll tell us what's been going on, right?" Russel said.
Murdoc swallowed. "Yeah."
2D glared at Murdoc. "What are you on about?" he asked angrily.
"2D, not now," Murdoc growled.
They broke away from the hug, and Noodle sighed. "I'm off to bed. Please be quiet when you argue, and get enough rest for tomorrow," she said tiredly.
She gave them each a kiss on the cheek, then left. Russel waited 'till she was in her room, then rounded on the bassist and singer.
"You fucking dicks made my baby girl cry! I hope you're sorry!" he then snapped.
Murdoc and 2D shrunk back.
"We are, we are!" 2D yelled.
"If you two don't get your shit sorted out soon, there are going to be serious consequences!" Russel continued.
Murdoc scoffed. "What the fuck are you going to do, lards?"
Russel growled and picked Murdoc up by his collar. "Whatever I need to do," he said menacingly, shaking Murdoc all over the place.
2D covered up his mouth with his hands to stop himself from laughing.
"Hey, sod off! I already told you that everything would be fine at the end of the week!" Murdoc yelled.
Russel gave him another shake, then put him down. "It better be," he snapped, before turning around and leaving the room.
Murdoc pulled at his collar, coughing for a moment, then collapsed onto the chair.
"Why did you say that?" 2D then hissed.
Murdoc rubbed at his neck. "What?"
"What you just said! About everything being sorted out at the end of the week! Why did you lie?"
Murdoc bent down, and started picking up the popcorn. "Who said I was lying?"
2D was silent for a moment. Then he bent down and helped Murdoc with the spilled popcorn.
"How were you planning on doing that, then?" he asked quietly, avoiding his eyes.
Murdoc just gave a little smirk. "You'll see," he muttered, picking up the bowl and putting it in the sink. He threw the popcorn in the garbage, and wordlessly left for his room.
Since he hadn't been sleeping in 2D's room for the past few days, and he was sick of falling asleep in random spots in the house, he had cleared some space on the floor in his room. He had brought the mattress, blankets and pillow that he'd been using before and was now sleeping like that in his own room.
It wasn't exactly the nicest place to be sleeping, surrounded by the remnants of his room. Every time he looked at the broken TV, he cringed. At least now it didn't matter how many cigarette butts were lying on the floor since it was dirty anyway.
He missed being wrapped around 2D so much, though. He missed the butterscotch scent, he missed the tousled blue locks tickling his chin. He missed the slender figure pressed against him.
He groaned, and pulled the blankets up higher. Everything would be fine soon. Hopefully. He just had to figure out how, first. He had seemed to confident and mysterious just now, but in reality he just wanted to make 2D feel better. He wanted to make everyone feel better.
The bassist couldn't stand seeing Noodle like that. He had just blurted out the first thing that he could come up with. Murdoc gave a sigh and lit a cigarette, thinking hard. How would he be able to convince 2D that he wanted everyone to know about them?
Because he did. He wanted it so, so bad. Fuck his dad. Fuck his brother. Fuck anyone who didn't like the two being together. 2D didn't deserve to be treated like this. It was time for Murdoc to man up and face his fears.
Murdoc jolted up suddenly, cigarette flying out of his hand. Slowly his face spread into a huge smirk. He knew exactly what he would do.
Thank you for reading, please leave reviews and I'll continue!