Their companionship is quiet, shrouded in the dark – simple. He meets her there, night after night, long after the others fall off to sleep. The moon shines still, waning with time. Sometimes he speaks, sometimes she does, sometimes they both do; sometimes neither do.
But that's okay.
Until it starts, but they roll with that, too.
At first they don't sit near each other, he's under the window and she's off to the corner a few feet away. He tracks her in the shadows, tracing her outline, her breathing, the light movement of her clothes as she settles. He's talking about something stupid, clouds and stuff, but it works because he's no longer tense and she's getting comfortable.
"Ther's a ni'e big one by teh stor' today. 'uffy, loo' a bit li' a dog."
The floorboards groan, catching his attention and suddenly she's there next to him; their shoulders brushing lightly when she leans against him. Her breath in his ear and his eyes close, shivering, a chill tracing down his spine.
When had she gotten so close?
2D looks at her, curious as she exhales once more, nervousness creeping. Her voice wraps around them gently.
"While I was gone…down there…"
She's shaking, stumbling on her words. He spies a tear leaking out of her eye, stubbornly holding on and he moves, taking her into his arms, gathering her to his chest. 2D runs his fingers through her hair, rocking them both.
"Hey," he coos, pressing a kiss to her brow, "i's okay."
Then it's over and he's standing there alone, his cheek burning, tingling. His ears roar, buzzing, the beat of his heart pumping wildly and something warm lulls at him deep.
"Thank you."
Her lips were soft.
She seeks him out often now, during the day. Her eyes heavy with sleep deprivation but there's a shine in them now that he likes to see. They don't talk about nighttime then, the secrets shared between the two locked away, forgotten for later.
They're eating breakfast when Murdoc stumbles in, a cigarette dangling off his fingers and curses when he sees 2D.
"Wha'chu loo'ing at Faceache? Keep staring 'n I'm gonna rip your eyes ou'!"
Murdoc clanks at the cupboard, cups clinking against each other; 2D flinches when one flies past him, shattering when it hits the wall on impact. Curling further in his seat, he turns slightly, catching Noodle's eyes. Shame crawling in him when he sees the pity in her gaze.
From under the table, Noodle reaches for him, ignoring the screech of the chair dragging across from her. Her hold is light and his fingers are limp when she laces his fingers with hers, but it's warm and reassuring.
She squeezes his hand, he squeezes it back grateful.
Her hand, too, is soft.
She joins in on his walks, when he's cloud watching or when he's making a trip to the store. She fills their small cart with treats for Russel who is still giant and too big to come inside. Noodle cracks a joke which makes him laugh and 2D nudges her playfully in the aisle. A fan interrupts them at the till, gifting them juice and a request for a photo. They oblige easily, thanking the girl, smiles holding for the flash, feeling light.
They're sitting in a field now, the sky bright and blue and the sun shining down at them. Noodle strums her guitar gently, mixing with his keyboard; he wishes he had brought his melodica, but it's lost in a box and he's yet to find it. Maybe he'll borrow hers next time.
It's nice.
Just them and the clouds and music and now.
So nice.