Work Text:
It was one of those days where Murdoc and 2D argued from morning till night for absurd reasons. This time, 2d completely forgot that the night before they had planned to write songs and practice together, and went to a pub instead. Murdoc felt anger building in his throat, forming a knot as he waited for Stuart to arrive home.
When 2D arrived in Kong, with a glass of something in their hand, they saw Murdoc with his bass in one hand and a cigarette in the other. He was sitting in a chair, in the dark, though a small light illuminated the long space between them. The older man's eyes shone in the light's reflection.
"It's fucking three thirty in the mornin', I'm surprised you arrived so early." Murdoc said with unsettling calm, like the calm before the storm. His gaze lingered on 2D's face, frightening them more and more, despite the excess alcohol coursing through their veins.
2D realized the situation and remembered what they had planned. "Oh, Mudz. m' sorry, I-... I completely forgot, m' sorry. Though we can practice if you want, or not..." Stuart gradually stopped talking when they noticed that Murdoc was getting closer and closer to exploding with anger.
"I don't want to know anythin' about practicin' with you, ever again. You always forget or 'ave things to do, I guess you like practicin' alone." Murdoc tried to sound nonchalant, but his tone of voice betrayed that he was broken inside. All because of that stupid thing. He felt pathetic as tears welled in the corners of his eyes. He immediately rose from his seat and walked to the parking lot.
"Mudz, wait!! Hang about, are you cry-" Stuart chased Murdoc until they uttered the last word. Murdoc stopped dead in his tracks and turned around.
"I don't cry for you, or for any stupid thing." He told them, who almost tripped on the flat ground. He threw the cigarette on the ground and crushed it, thinking about the head of the person in front of him. He kept walking, and the blue-haired man followed him. 2D realized what he had said a few seconds after he spoke for the last time.
"Mudz, I don't fink it's wrong." Stuart tried to catch up and put his arm around his shoulder. But before they knew it, they were already in the parking lot. Murdoc got into the Winnebago and slammed the door shut, the sound echoing through the parking garage.
2D pressed himself against the door so Murdoc could hear them more clearly. "Mudz, please. You know I luv practicin' with you. It was a long week an' I thought I'd relax a bit in a pub." They used to have a bad memory, Murdoc knew that. But he hated when 2D forgot about him. He thought he was important to them, ever since they started "dating," or something like that. It wasn't that Stuart despised him, it was just that they were very forgetful. But Murdoc had had too many problems in the past to believe that.
Stuart kept apologizing repeatedly, while saying that they loved him and that they really forgot about it. Murdoc still couldn't believe it, as he wept silently sitting on his bed, with a bottle of rum in his hand.
The only things that expressed sadness on his face were the tears and the short, low sobs. His expression was serious, with a furrowed brow. Little by little, he hunched over more and more, and his sobs grew louder and louder as he continued to drown himself in his thoughts.
"Mudz, I'm serious. I didn't do it on purpose, I'm so-" 2D stopped, when suddenly they heard glass breaking. Like a bottle. Then, a bang shook the whole Winne.
"SHUT YOUR BLOODY ASS UP FOR ONCE." Murdoc screamed, his voice showed that he had been crying all this time. Stuart remained still. The alcohol they had consumed that night prevented them from thinking clearly. They frowned, and then their expression changed to one of anger.
"You're so stubborn. Y'know what, Mu'doc? If you don't want to, I won't try. Don't expect me to apologise or anythin' tomorrow..." Stuart staggered to the elevator. Murdoc heard it open and close.
Murdoc froze, and suddenly, he lunged at the first thing he saw; a pillow. Without thinking, he grabbed it and in a fit of rage tore pieces off the pillow with his long, claw-like nails while he grunted and cursed. He bit the object with his teeth and tore the pillow in half. Thick tears streamed from his eyes. He lay back on his bed, face up. Tears continued to fall, but his face remained completely neutral. He turned his head and looked straight to the other side of the Winnebago. The steering wheel. Finally, his brain had a good idea after a long time.
___________________________________________________________
2d felt the sun's rays warming his face, as if warning them that it was time to wake up. Little by little, they opened their eyes. A hangover and a migraine were definitely not a good combination.
Their pills. Where were their pills? Stuart immediately rummaged through their drawer full of papers and empty orange plastic bottles. Until they found one that was full. They opened it desperately and stuffed a dangerous amount of pills into their mouth.
They got out of bed and dressed. They had forgotten everything from the previous night, so they wondered why Murdoc wasn't beside them when they woke up, or why they weren't in Murdoc's bed.
They left their room and went to the kitchen to have breakfast. Noodle sat with a worried look directed at her phone.
"Noodle? What's wrong? Why the long face?" Stuart sat down next to Noodle. They turned their gaze to the guitarist.
"Hi, 2D. Do you know if Murdoc's been mad or anything these days?" Noodle turned off her phone and looked 2D in the eyes.
Stuart frowned. And immediately, they began to recall what had happened the night before. "Oh, well, we 'ad a little debate yesterday that didn't end very well..." Noodle sighed and checked if any notifications appeared on her phone's lock screen.
"The thing is, the Winnebago isn't here... and neither is Murdoc." Stuart's eyes widened. Murdoc escaped? And it was all their fault.
"Wha'?" Stuart stared at Noodle, frowning and their mouth slightly open. Seeing that she didn't respond, they got up from their seat and went to their room to find some shoes and a coat.
"What do you think you're doing?" Noodle asked, sounding worried and confused.
"This is my fault, I'll find 'im." Stuart walked to the elevator and stepped inside. Before the doors closed, the last thing they saw was Noodle getting up from her seat, extending her hand.
When they finally reached the parking lot, they hurried to start their motorcycle and get on. They almost forgot their helmet, they're lucky it was leaning against the vehicle, otherwise they would have completely forgotten it. They sped off from Kong at an almost dangerous speed.
All the way there they wondered where Murdoc could be right now. He could be somewhere away from the crowd, or inside his Winne parked on any street. Or a pub. It was more likely that he was in a pub.
Murdoc's favorite pub was one that was always empty, except on Saturday nights. All the staff hated him, but he always went. Stuart needed to hurry before nightfall, as it was Saturday. It was almost 7 p.m., so they had an hour before the pub got crowded.
Unfortunately, their house was a bit far from the city. About half an hour away. So, they had to hurry to get to central London.
The weather worsened. It became cloudy and it looked as if the clouds were about to burst with rain. Stuart didn't care. They were almost downtown and had about 40 minutes left to find Murdoc.
___________________________________________________________
"Anuther..." The jet-black-haired man was completely devastated. His eyes were swollen and red, filled with dried tears on his cheeks. His hair looked dirty and disheveled. He had arrived at the pub at 4:51 a.m. and hadn't stop drinking. It had been empty all day and night. He even slept sitting there. The pub was completely empty, and Murdoc knew it would be crowded in a few minutes. He wouldn't leave, though, even though it irritated him.
"You've been here since I started my shift at 8 a.m., aren't you gonna leave the fuck already?" The worker looked at him with disgust and hatred, as he grabbed his empty glass and filled it for the thousandth time that day. "Y'know you'll have to pay for this, right?"
"I'm Murdoc fuckin' Niccals, I've got cash to burn...anuther" Murdoc tapped the table weakly with the palm of his hand, asking for another drink, while resting his head on the table.
The worker sighed and placed the glass in front of Murdoc's face. Murdoc raised his head, grabbed the glass, and drank it halfway. When a lot of people started coming into the pub, Murdoc regretted his decision to stay and left.
He got out with difficulty, but he made it. His caravan was parked a couple of streets away from the pub, so he walked.
"Mu'doc!!!" Oh, no. That irritating voice, the one that had shattered his soul the night before. Murdoc didn't hesitate and hid behind a parked car. He crouched down and tried to stay quiet.
The motorcycle stopped right next to the car where Murdoc was sneaking away. "Mudz, I know you're there. Please, you gave us all a fright."
"Don't call me that stupid nickname in public, twat." Murdoc remained crouched down, hands on his head, looking down, as if doing so would prevent 2D from seeing him.
Murdoc heard 2D's shoes hit the ground, and he heard their vehicle's engine cut out. He heard footsteps behind him, and 2D touched his shoulder. Murdoc yanked his hand off his shoulder, stood up abruptly, and ran off. 2d took a few seconds to react and followed him.
In the middle of the street, they remembered that their motorcycle was parked in the middle of the road, and they immediately headed towards it so as not to lose sight of Murdoc. Unfortunately, by the time they got on their motorcycle, they had already lost sight of Murdoc.
___________________________________________________________
Murdoc arrived breathless at his Winnebago. He started the engine and sped off. He didn't know where he was going, but he knew he was escaping, and he wouldn't have to turn back to do it.
Murdoc had left there about five minutes ago, when he turned the corner and a few seconds later he heard a horn.
"Mu'doc!!! Mudz!!!" How did Stuart manage to irritate him so much? Murdoc checked the side mirror, and sure enough, 2D was right next to his caravan.
Stuart overtook him, and stopped their motorcycle so that Murdoc could do the same.
Murdoc was fed up. He got out of the car intending to hit them, he'd had enough.
Murdoc was getting closer and closer to the motorcycle that was blocking his path. "I'm sick of your bullshit. I'm gonna make you shut up an' leave me the fuck alone."
2D grabbed him by the shirt to prevent him from hitting him and this ending badly. "Park your Winnie. We need to talk about this." Stuart gave him a serious look, and Murdoc was more than just angry, he was worried. Whenever he heard that, he got nervous and his body temperature suddenly rose.
Murdoc submissively parked his caravan and got out to talk to 2D. They looked at each other nervously. Murdoc felt very small in front of the singer. He felt vulnerable.
"Listen, I... I'm sorry. I really am. I know you don't believe me, but I can't show it any other way. I really forgot, an' if that bothers you, I'm sorry. I'll try not t' forget important dates. I don't even know 'ow I remember your birthday." 2D spoke honestly. Murdoc couldn't hold it in any longer and burst into tears. The blue-haired man immediately grabbed the other man and led him to a nearby alley.
"Mudz, tell me. What's wrong? You've been sensitive lately, you even ran away from home." Murdoc looked Stuart in the eyes. He could barely see them clearly because of the tears streaming down his face. "You can tell me anything, y'know I won't judge you. I know it's difficult for you, but 'm telling you the truth."
"It's just that... I was really angry yesterday. And I didn't believe you, and then I realized you were angry too. I got even angrier and..." Murdoc paused to catch his breath, then wept even harder. He rested his head on Stuart's shoulder and wrapped his arms around their waist. Stuart returned the hug, wrapping one arm around the shorter man's waist and stroking his jet-black hair with their other hand.
"Don't worry, I'm here for you. Even if I get angry, I'll always be there for you." They said, to reassure their partner. Murdoc squeezed 2D tighter and tighter with every word that came out of the blue-haired man's mouth.
Stuart stroked his hair until he finally calmed down. When Murdoc was breathing more easily, but still let out a few sobs, they placed a tender kiss on the top of his head. 2d rested his head next to the bassist's.
They stayed like that for a few minutes. Without realizing it, drops began to fall from the sky. And the rain began. Stuart took off his coat and covered them both.
"Do you think my motorcycle will fit in your Winnie's door?" Stuart asked, they both knew it was time to leave.
"Shall we continue talking about vehicles?" Murdoc replied mischievously.
"Gross!!" Stuart exclaimed, both of them chuckling.
They tried to fit 2D's motorcycle inside the Winnie, and it worked. They returned home in a comforting silence. Halfway there, Stuart sat next to Murdoc and put their arm around his shoulder.
When they arrived home, Russell was waiting sitting by the elevator entrance, waiting for the two missing people to return. When he saw them in the distance, he immediately called Noodle on the phone.
Noodle went down in the elevator and when she saw them she hugged them both. "You idiots, never disappear like that again."
"We're not promising anything, kid." Both men returned the hug.
___________________________________________________________
When the tender moment ended and Noodle and Russ went off to do their own thing, both men entered Murdoc's Winnie. They cuddled together for a long time and slept together there, repeating the process for a few days, almost a week.