Murdoc was leaning back on the couch, smoking as he heard Wadsworth and 2D talking. "Are you absolutely sure that you got everything?" asked 2D. "Of course Master 2D, after the sixth time asking, I have everything young Sasha needs to live, and I should as you were the one to buy it all." said Wadsworth. "Heh, true." laughed 2D a little.
The Satanist finished his cigarette and grabs his lover's wrist. "Calm down Stu, Wadsworth has this, she'll be fine." said Murdoc. "Alright Mudsy." sighed 2D. "Of course I am, now let's go, Russel and Noodle are no doubt waiting for us." said Murdoc.
2D nodded and grabbed his bag to kiss Sasha's head. "Be good." said 2D. Sasha giggled and looked to her parents. Murdoc then patted her head. "See ya kiddo, behave." said Murdoc.
With that, 2D and Murdoc were out the door along with Dogmeat and Cortez. "Shouldn't they be staying?" asked 2D. "They can smell the adventure, so no." said Murdoc, shaking his head.
Dogmeat barks as Cortez lazily rests on his head.
The four get to the gate but saw no sign of Noodle and Russel. "Where are they, I thought we agreed to meet at the gate at sunrise." said 2D. "They're probably still sleeping, but who knows, we'll give them five minutes." said Murdoc.
2D leaned against the wall and fixed his shirt a bit. The teen had decided to wear a sleeveless red shirt with faded jeans rolled up a bit at the bottom, showing off brown boots.
The boots looked similar to Murdoc's just a brown instead of black. A small gift from the Satanist.
Murdoc was getting annoyed as time went on. He was about to yell when he heard running footsteps.
"Toochi, Murdoc, we're so sorry." called Noodle. She stopped at their side to pant heavily as Russel arrived. She was wearing a lilac purple shirt with some weird cartoon on it, jeans, and white sneakers. Russel was in a white shirt with blue sleeves and dark blue jeans.
"Finally, what the bloody hell took you so long?!" demanded Murdoc. "Russel wouldn't wake up." said Noodle, glaring at the large man. "Sorry, I ate a lot of food before bed, full stomachs makes it harder to wake up." shrugged Russel. "When aren't you stuffing your face?" asked Murdoc.
Russel growled at him so 2D got in front of Murdoc. "So, we're finally all here, let's go." said 2D. Russel and Murdoc glared at each other one last time before turning away from each other.
Noodle sighed, hopefully they wouldn't be like this for the whole journey. The group left Megaton and looked to the bluenette.
"So, which way would be the quickest?" asked Noodle. 2D pulled up the map on his pip-boy to see the map. Murdoc peeked to as Rivet City blinked on the map.
"Looks like the quickest way would be to Southeast, past the Super Duper Mart." said 2D. "Isn't that place full of Raiders?" asked Russel. "Nah, Stu and I cleared that place out months ago." said Murdoc.
The small girl blinked as the two males made a plan of action. 'Those two get along great, but Murdoc is an ass, so why does he get along well with someone as nice and down to earth as Toochi?' wondered Noodle.
"Alright, I think there's a shortcut." said Murdoc. "Really?" asked Russel. "Ya, over the bridge that's close to the Super Duper Mart, there's an old metro station with tunnels, that should cut our travel time down." said Murdoc.
Noodle nodded, it sounded good. Russel was then shaking his head. "Hell no, we are not going there." said Russel. "Why the bloody fuck not?" asked Murdoc. "Two reasons, one, that station will take us North towards Georgetown, we need to go South, and second, that station is completely overrun with Ghouls, we'll waste all the ammo we have and still be swarmed." said Russel.
"Are you shitting me with this, it's a god damn metro station, they have tunnels going all over the damn place!" yelled Murdoc. "Not this one, it's the west metro station, if you want one leading South, then we need a different station that is probably further away from Rivet City!" yelled Russel.
The two were at each others throats and the teen was concerned. 'If they don't stop fighting like this, then we'll get no where.' thought 2D. Noodle was trying her best to calm the two down.
2D looked at the map to smile a bit. "Then we'll just go the normal route." said 2D. The two stopped fighting as 2D looked at them. "Are you sure, there might be a shorter route." said Noodle. "I don't know, but all we're doing is standing around and arguing, nothing is getting done." said 2D.
The three were silent as they looked at each other. The bluenette was right, nothing was getting done with them just fighting all the time.
"I'm sorry D, it's just this idiot doesn't know what he's saying." said Russel. "Yes I do, I've been down that station before when I used to wonder the Wasteland, there's a sealed door I used to take that took me Southeast, an old maintenance tunnel." said Murdoc.
"Wait, seriously?" asked Russel. "Ya, it's accessed only by an old terminal that I used to hack." said Murdoc. "Then, maybe we should try that route." said Noodle. "Ya, the worst down that tunnel is some Radroaches, but we can easily just stomp on the buggers." said Murdoc.
Russel sighed and looked away. "Fine, I guess it makes sense." said Russel. The older man grinned and wraps an arm around 2D.
"Then we're off." laughed Murdoc. "You're happy and excited now." noted Noodle. "That's because he got his way." giggled 2D.
The group then moved on, heading towards the Super Duper Mart. "Do you remember how long it took to reach the mart?" asked Noodle. "Took me an hour, seems far in the beginning but to the wastelanders, it really is close." said 2D. Noodle sighed, so they had to walk for an hour.
She then looked at Russel and Murdoc, why were they fighting? 'They got along great in the beginning, but now, they're at each others throats, what changed?' wondered Noodle.
She tried thinking but came up with nothing. Then, she perked her head up a bit, maybe that was why.
Nothing.
They hadn't done anything since they returned from the Pitt, they're probably on edge from the lack of action. 'Maybe they'll settle down once we get to Rivet City.' thought Noodle.
An hour passed quickly and the group soon found themselves at the Super Duper Mart. "Alright, should we see if there's anything we need?" asked Russel. "There isn't anything of good in there now, wiped out from the Raiders, plus when D and I were in there." said Murdoc. "Plus the only food they have has become a horrifying rotten mess in the fridge, I never knew mold could turn that color, yuk!" said 2D.
"Okay, what about water or leftover guns and ammo from the Raiders?" asked Russel. "They only carried small knives and hunting rifles, nothing special." said Murdoc.
Russel glared at the older man, he was shooting down all his ideas like Bloatflies. "Can't you agree on ANY of my ideas?!" snapped Russel. "Let me know when you actually have one." spat Murdoc.
The two glared at each other and 2D pulled Murdoc back. "Stop fighting, seriously, why not just let Russel explore the Mart, we can scout ahead for trouble, Noodle, stay with Russel?" asked 2D. "Of course." said Noodle.
With that, the group split up. "Damn that fat ass, why can't he just fucking listen, I KNOW what's in there, I've been there!" yelled Murdoc. "Mudsy calm down, why are you and Russel acting like this, you guys got along just fine before." said 2D.
"Things changed, mainly because of that fat bastard." snarled Murdoc. "What do you mean?" asked 2D. "After we came back to Megaton, Russel heard about how I used to make my caps and how I acted, all before we even met Stu." sighed Murdoc. "So he heard the old stories?" asked 2D.
"Yes, and then, he accuses me of using you to make myself look better when I was 'no doubt' still a womanizing, alcoholic asshole!" snapped Murdoc. "But you're not, you haven't even looked at a woman since we got together, plus Gob even says you started drinking a bottle less then usual." said 2D.
"Ya, well he doesn't believe me, thinks I'm bad news, that's why we're at each others throats, he doesn't get that I changed, that I'm not that ass anymore." sighed Murdoc. "Well, he also doesn't know why." said 2D. "I'm not telling him about Emma." said Murdoc.
Emma, Murdoc's first love. She had been a wonderful and beautiful woman with long black hair and smooth skin that glowed in the moonlight. She'd been pregnant with his child, he could of had a family, if it wasn't for the Raiders. They invaded Springvale and destroyed it and killed Emma along with his unborn child.
Murdoc wasn't the same after that night.
"But, if he knew, maybe he'd understand better that you changed because of such a terrible event." said 2D. "Ya, I changed after Emma died, but I also changed after I met you." said Murdoc. 2D smiled and hugged the Satanist.
"You got me, and you got friends, plus a bad ass bird, but maybe Russel would understand more if you let him in, you don't need to now, just when you feel ready, like when you helped me talk about the Vault." said 2D. "Fine, I'll think about it." said Murdoc. "And that's all I ask." beamed 2D.
They soon came to a bridge that over looked a river. "Think there are Mirelurks?" asked 2D. Maybe, but I've personally never seen them this far South before." said Murdoc.
They came to the other side when a part of the bridge crumbled. The older man stumbled as he fell into the river along with the debris. "MURDOC!" cried 2D.
Murdoc was under the water, twisting to avoid being crushed by the bridge pieces. He heard 2D call and went to swim up when he was halted.
Looking back, the Satanist's eyes widened as he gazed into the face of a Mirelurk. His leg was caught in it's giant claw. 'Shit, if it snaps it's claw close, I'll lose my leg.' thought Murdoc.
The mutant crab then started swimming down, dragging the struggling Satanist with it. 'Okay, so it wants to drown me, just fucking perfect.' thought Murdoc.
He looked for his gun but found it wasn't there. He must have dropped it back on the bridge.
He was soon at the bottom of the river and his air was running out. 'Shit, shit, shit, shit!' thought Murdoc. He tried finding something, anything to free himself, but for once, there was no junk.
Just as Murdoc thought he was going to die, a bullet pierced through the water, cracking the mutant's shell. It hissed, thrashing about.
While doing so, it released Murdoc's leg. Now free, he swam to the surface, gasping for air upon breaching it.
"Murdoc, quickly, swim!" yelled 2D. He spotted the bluenette and quickly swam towards him. He got out of the river, coughing and spitting up some water.
"That thing nearly drowned me." gasped Murdoc. 2D kissed Murdoc deeply and hugged him. "I'm sorry I couldn't help you, I couldn't see anything through the water." cried 2D. "Wait, but then who shot the Mirelurk?" asked Murdoc. "I did." said a voice.
The older man looked to see Russel, holding a smoking shotgun. "There was a good gun in there." said Russel.
Noodle came running and kneeled by the wet Satanist. "Are you alright?" asked Noodle. "Besides from almost being drowned, I'm good." said Murdoc.
The group relaxed a bit while Murdoc caught his breath. "Well, I'm alright now, let's move on, I'll dry while we walk." said Murdoc. "Are you sure?" asked 2D.
Murdoc smiled and ruffled his hair. "I'm fine luv, let's move on." said Murdoc. The teen smiled and got up and walked on with Noodle. Murdoc looked at Russel as he packed his gun.
"Hey Russ." said Murdoc. "What now?" asked Russel. The older man looked away awkwardly and sighed. "Thanks for saving my ass." said Murdoc.
The large man sighed to nod. "Ya, can't have a member of the group get killed." said Russel. "Oh, not friends?" asked Murdoc.
"Look dog, I don't know much about you other than the things 2D said, and that the people in Megaton said, I don't know who to trust about you, so till I get the real scoop, we're team mates, not friends." said Russel. "Fine, but let's cool the fighting, it's upsetting 2D and Noodle." said Murdoc.
"I'll try, but push my buttons and I'll bitch slap you into next week." said Russel. "No you wouldn't, you do that and it'll hurt 2D." said Murdoc. Russel shook his head and got his bag straightened.
"Ya, I wouldn't hurt D, he's a good kid, but kids are also naive, if I find out you are using him, it'll be the end for you." said Russel. "I would never hurt him, you should at least know that by now." said Murdoc.
The two glared but relaxed as they had promised not to fight. "Murdoc, Russel, let's go!" yelled 2D. "Ya, we want to get to the metro station before night." called Noodle.
The two then walked off, but Murdoc walked behind Russel. The large man only saved him to make 2D happy, and for the sake of their group.
There was nothing friendly about it.
But then, something hit Murdoc, making his freeze. 2D said he couldn't see anything through the water, so how could Russel. He gazed at the large man as he walked on. There was no way the large man could have seen the Mirelurk, unless.
'He didn't care, he didn't care if he shot me or not, he just aimed at the water and fired.' thought Murdoc. Luckily the Mirelurk's shell was so big, otherwise that bullet would have pierced his skull.
But the point remained, Russel might have been trying to kill him.
The large man has no trust for him, and now, Murdoc couldn't trust Russel to watch his back.
A/N: Well, they're off again, but now there's a problem: Murdoc and Russel are fighting and have zero trust for each other. And after this event, could Russel really be trying to kill Murdoc? Will they get over their issues, or will their fighting lead to disaster? Stay tuned and plz review.
