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Today has been a blur for Noodle. Sure, riding in the back of the Geep on a loopy highway had been fun, but all the excitement of the day wore her out. Between Murdoc screaming at 2D, Russel’s best attempts at reading the English to Japanese dictionary, and the overall chaos of a newly formed rock band filming a music video, they were all tired. Noodle tugs on the hem of 2D’s shirt.
“行ってもいいですか?”*
2-D glances down at her, his red-black eyes squinted.
“Wot ya say?”
“行ってもいいですか?” she insists, pulling his shirt harder.
2D stares down at her helplessly.
“Ehh, I- Russ, wot she sayin’?”
“Not sure.” Russel kneels down in front of Noodle to be eye level with her. “Hey, babygirl, what’s going on? Can you try to tell me in English?”
Noodle scrunches her face underneath her radio helmet long, shaggy bangs, trying to remember the English words Russel has taught her.
“We go,” she says with effort, pointing at the Geep. Russel sighs and nods.
“Yeah, we’re tryin’.” He stands and looks over at Murdoc, who is drunkenly harassing the music video director. “Murdoc, kid’s tired. Let’s go.”
Russell gently picks Noodle up and helps her into the back seat of the Geep, taking off her helmet and putting on the floor underneath her seat. He securely buckles her into the passenger’s seat as if she wasn’t hanging out the back of the vehicle upside down 15 minutes earlier. As Russel goes to collect Murdoc, 2D ambles over to the car, his long arms swinging. Noodle points to the seat next to her.
“Toochi!” she demands. 2D smiles and gets into the Geep, sitting next to her and ruffling her hair with his hand. Noodle doesn’t always understand what’s going on with the other members of the band, but she instinctively knows that 2D is safer in the backseat with her than anywhere near Murdoc.
“Oi, wot’s goin’ on ‘ere?” Murdoc stumbles over to the Geep, struggling to open the passenger door as Russel gets in the driver’s seat. 2D leans over the front seat to open it, only to be repaid by a harsh slap in the face. Noodle yells.
“No! Bad Ma-doku!”
Murdoc seems surprised by the young girl’s outburst, then shakes his head, his face returning to its typical greasy smile.
“Alright luv, sorry.”
The only word Noodle understands is “sorry,” and she can tell by his tone that he doesn’t mean it, but she lets it go, focusing on 2D as Russel starts lecturing Murdoc.
“Toochi, look me.” She reaches out to touch 2D’s face, where a red mark is darkening into a bruise. He flinches then relaxes into her touch once he realizes it’s her.
“I’s fine, luv.”
“You hurt.” She presses her fingers to her lips then to his cheek, the way Russel does for her when she’s hurt. 2D smiles and ruffles her hair again.
“Fank you.”
Noodle stares at the passing landscape as Russel begins to drive. It’s a long way back to Kong Studios. She hums to herself, a tune that floats in and out of her memory but she has no recollection of learning. Her eyes flutter closed, the rush of the wind a soothing lullaby.
A bump on the road shakes her awake. She blinks sleepily. The sun is completely hidden behind the horizon, and the sky is purple and hazy. Murdoc is quietly muttering to himself in the front of the car—an unusual occurrence, but welcome to say the least. 2D is nervously tapping his fingers together and picking at his nails. Russel is just driving.
“私たちは家にいますか?”** she asks to no one in particular. Russel peeks at her in the rear view mirror.
“What was that, babygirl?”
“Kong now?”
“Not yet.”
2D reaches over and pats her head.
“Jus’ close yer eyes, Miss Lady. We’ll be ‘ome soon.”
Noodle lets herself drift off again. She wakes up to Russel unbuckling her seatbelt and scooping her out of the car. He carries her into Kong, gently placing her on the couch. She blinks a few times, adjusting to the light Russel just turned on.
“Outta my way, faceache!” Noodle see Murdoc shove 2D into the wall as he goes into the kitchen to grab a beer. She wishes she could give 2D a hug, but she’s too tired to move. 2D straightens himself before going down to his room. Russel sighs.
“Mudz, at least try to keep it down, man. You’re gonna wake up Noodle even more.” He turns back to Noodle. “Give me a minute and then I’ll bring you up to your room, okay?”
She nods, closing her eyes and leaning on the arm of the couch. When she opens her eyes again, she’s being carried upstairs. She’s about to snuggle in when she realizes that the someone carrying her is decidedly not Russel.
Murdoc is muttering quietly to himself, something about “no one does anything around here” and other words that Russel has told Noodle to never repeat. Noodle thinks better of snuggling and just stays still, pretending she hasn’t woken up even though Murdoc’s long nails are beginning to feel like they’re stabbing her side. Murdoc gently places her in her bed and tucks her in. She can smell the alcohol on Murdoc’s breath as he awkwardly ruffles her hair.
“Goodnight, l’il tyke.”
He leaves her room without saying anything else, keeping her door slightly open so she can see the light from the hallway. She smiles to herself. He’d never admit it, but he cares about her enough to make sure she feels safe. All of them do. She may not speak their language, but their bizarre ways of showing love make it clear to her that this is where she belongs.