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Waking up is always bliss. The breeze of the fan plugged in on the other side of the bed, the soft feeling of another person pressed against him, a thin blanket trapping a little of the warmth in with them. It’s summer now, but England’s not really known for getting “warm”. Not like some of the places the band has played at by now, considering all the years that have gone by. Murdoc slowly wakes up, the moment not rushed by anyone or anything. He’s got a thigh in one hand, hitched up over his own hip, the other pressed against the small of 2D’s back. His beloved spouse. 2D’s other leg is slotted between Murdoc’s, both arms looped lazily around him, chin on his shoulder. Murdoc could stay here forever, drifting back off listening to their steady breathing and heartbeat. The covers usually end up everywhere this time of year, so they probably pulled those back up to keep them both warm. Awfully nice of them. He sighs, letting his eyes close again as his face turns toward their neck to inhale the familiar faint scent of butterscotch.
“You up?” 2D asks softly, noticing the movement.
“Mmm,” Murdoc mumbles back, unwilling to fully accept his wakefulness if it means that he needs to let go of 2D. He squeezes their thigh lightly, hand on bare skin since they’re not wearing any trousers. Neither of them are.
2D smiles, Murdoc can just tell, saying, “Happy birthday, Murdoc.”
“Is it?” he makes the effort of removing his face from their neck, just now realizing that it might be the sixth already. How the time goes by.
“Happy if you let it be. It’s your birthday either way,” they point out, taking the opportunity to kiss Murdoc’s cheek, not distracting him completely from the sound of their phone clicking off behind his back, “Don’t worry, you’re hot for sixty. Aging like wine.”
Murdoc groans, rehiding his face, though he still grins, “You always say that. Flirt.”
“Well, you’re no better, waking me up with love songs every year,” 2D points out, content to stay like this. Both are, really, the conditions are perfect. The circulation of air, the warmth kept close, the near complete darkness from 2D’s blackout curtains. Good for migraines. And keeping them comfortable for hours past when they should be getting up.
“Complaining?”
“As if. One of the best ways to wake up, if you ask me. Now, get off of me for a second, I want a proper look.”
Murdoc shuffles around with a chuckle, not complaining either. He gets all his limbs free and flops onto his back on their shared bed. 2D clambers on top of him, slender arms caging him in, ivory eyes sweeping down the familiar body. They’d hardly spent a night apart since Murdoc last got out of jail. About eight years ago. So they’ve had all the opportunities in the world to look. Doesn’t change their mind now, that this is the best sight there is. He’s curvy, and this lovely shade of green. 2D thinks that he’s awfully pretty, even with all the things you’d expect to count against him. They find most, at least, of these things very attractive instead. His eyes, his nose, his thick hair that always seems greasy no matter how often he washes it. The nails he’s been doing a good job keeping in check, the hair growing almost all down his body. Guess that’s just what happens when you’ve been with someone for as long as they’ve been together.
“You’re proper fit, aren’t you? And you’ve gotta know it, since you go about shirtless all the time. Bet you like it when I look,” 2D teases, eyes tracing the curves before they readjust their weight so their hands can follow the same paths. The broad landscape of his chest, the soft shape of his stomach, almost to the wider curves of his hips, complete with these amazing love handles and hip dips, before Murdoc gently captures their hands.
“Don’t get too excited there, love. Plenty of time for that later. Any plans for breakfast?” Murdoc asks with a lilted smirk, enjoying the appreciation. 2D’s probably one of the only people that’d look at Murdoc and think ‘Yeah, he’s the one for me’.
2D playfully glares at him, but is evidently interested in the offer. They reply, “Russel’s gonna make pancakes for everyone.”
“Aw, you’re not making me breakfast? On my birthday? You’re breaking my heart, Stu.”
“We both know I can only really do eggs. And we’ve had eggs nearly every day lately. I thought you’d like a break,” they dip down to steal a kiss, their hands still imprisoned, body still seated on Murdoc’s thighs. Despite their playful demeanor, there’s a slight, underlying worry that Murdoc is being serious. Tones have never really been their strong suit.
Murdoc doesn’t make it too obvious that he’s reassuring 2D, that’d just make them more awkward about this weak point, but he does make an attempt to soothe this worry, murmuring against their lips as they barely pull away, “I guess it’s been a while, hasn’t it? But don’t think I’m getting sick of your cooking, you’re finally getting them right every time.”
2D smiles, and moves back in for another. It’s a proper kiss this time, their lips connecting and separating like the tide from the shore, a familiar rhythm building. Murdoc’s grip on their hands loosens until he lets go, hands instead going to the back of their head and their hair, while 2D takes the chance to rub his shoulders. Murdoc sighs, body relaxing as the moment of peace and quiet is stolen from their chaotic lives. His fingers slowly run through their hair, messing it up even more with every pass. They work their hands around his shoulders so they can properly massage them, soothing the tension and soreness that’s come with age. The kisses grow deeper and longer with each one, but remain loving and gentle. 2D pulls back, but Murdoc tugs them back down, for more. He can feel as their head tilts to allow for a more intimate kiss. This goes on for a while, neither is sure how long. Once they, eventually, split, both of them are breathing a little heavy.
“Time to eat then?” Murdoc asks, voice a touch rougher than usual. Even with some pretty awful morning breath, he wouldn’t trade these kisses for anything. Nothing but other moments with 2D hold up to them anyway.
“I guess. Promise we’ll finish later?” 2D grins, face flushed. He’d have to guess that his is too, but he can’t see it, now can he?
“Promise. Now, get off of me, you lump, before you crush me to death,” the teasing resurges, 2D is way too thin to actually flatten Murdoc.
They sit up, hands finding their way into his to help him up. The years have gotten the best of them in some ways, like this, so the help is appreciated. A laugh vibrates in their throat as they both get onto their feet, neither all that dressed. It’s more comfortable that way, and you didn’t really expect any better from them, did you? 2D digs some joggers out of their shared closet while Murdoc stretches sore limbs.
“I’m not kidding, by the way. About you being fit. We said some things that were kidding, but that wasn’t one of them,” they say, a little out of nowhere. Out of nowhere is kind of their specialty.
Murdoc smiles, closing the short distance between them, “Well innit that sweet of you?”
“Supose. Good to make sure you know, I reckon,” 2D smiles back, in that way that crinkles their eyes half closed, “Either of these yours? Closet’s a mess.”
“Yeah, these ones. But if you think I’m fit, you’re gonna need to take a look in the mirror soon. I’m not saying I got with you for your looks, but they really help,” Murdoc snags one pair and begins putting them on, taking the bit of modesty for once. It’s a rarity, really. 2D swats back at him with their newly freed hand before working themself into their own joggers.
“You are so cheeky, Muds. Dunno why I put up with it.”
“Bet it’s because you like hearing about how pretty you are,” Murdoc informs them, wrapping his arms around their waist from behind and pressing some wet kisses to their shoulder blades, making them laugh.
“Quit it! You’re- that is so gross!” 2D manages between bouts of laughter, half heartedly pushing at Murdoc’s hands. It’s exactly the reaction he was hoping for, so he stops. After one more kiss stolen off of nearly numb lips, he lets go too.
“Well, c’mon now, breakfast’ll be gone before we’re there at this rate. Or worse, cold.”
Once they’re both dressed, they leave the room. Murdoc still figures he’s too good for a shirt, but 2D’s gone and stolen one of his. It hangs off of them, both too wide and too short. Neither complain though. Murdoc thinks it’s a good sight, and 2D likes the smell. Along the way, their fingers lace together, a habit that’s managed to last all this time. By the time they’ve entered the kitchen, somehow having ended up talking about the video games they used to play together, they’re fully holding hands.
“Yeah, I’ll see if I can find them later. Maybe we can play if I do,” 2D decides, planting a gentle kiss on Murdoc’s temple.
Noodle glances up from her phone, poking fun at the couple with a smirk, “You two are so obvious.”
“So?” 2D replies, as sappily as they always do when they’re in a mood like this. They could probably help it, but they don’t want to.
“So? This is a lot of PDA for you guys,” Russel comments, smiling anyway. Murdoc and 2D only end up all over each other like this a few times a year, birthdays and anniversaries and all that, so Noodle and him usually just let them have it. Not without a bit of teasing, but less than usual.
The two of them sit down at the counter to chat and wait, Murdoc smugly replying, “Well, you’d better get used to it,” while resting his head on 2D’s shoulder. He’s only joking, of course, they’ll be back to their usual occasional kisses in the common areas of the house by tomorrow.
Their affection really doesn’t go much further than that, they just lean on each other and hold hands under the countertop. Soon enough, pancakes are done and plated, smothered in ungodly amounts of syrup and butter, and passed around. Murdoc is about to dive in when 2D distractingly nudges him.
“Er, yeah. Thanks for this, Russ,” Murdoc says, abruptly remembering his manners.
“Don’t worry about it, man. It’s your birthday, ain’t it?” Russel casually dismisses, sparking Murdoc to give his partner an ‘I knew it’ look.
2D shrugs, “Better to be polite, love.”
Murdoc snorts, but allows it. Playful bickering is reserved for the time they spend alone.
“You’re a nag. But I knew that when I convinced you to stick around, didn’t I?”
Noodle interrupts them, swatting at Murdoc, “Let’s just have a nice breakfast. You and 2D can do this another time.”
“Good point, Noods. Murdoc can call me all the names he wants when I wipe the floor with him later,” 2D agrees, contradictorily keeping the game going.
“Oh, you’re a cheeky instigator too. But I’m better than that,” Murdoc straightens up, beginning to eat as he lets things wrap up.
“Aww,” 2D pouts, trying to earn back his favor, “I didn’t mean it. Maybe you’ll win, honey. I mean, we won’t know until later, right?”
Russel and Noodle exchange looks at the display, but neither feel the need to intervene. 2D will have what they want soon.
“I’m booking a vacation this time next year. I’ve seen those lovebirds going at it more than enough for this lifetime,” Russel dryly decides.
“For us or for them?” Noodle replies, making a point he hadn’t considered while going for her own pancakes.
“That’s pretty smart, actually. We’ll see how today goes, I guess.”
Meanwhile, Murdoc’s been pretending to ignore 2D, even if he’s been clearly looking over in interest with every new thing they say.
“I can let you win. Does that make it better? Or if I promise not to gloat?” 2D offers, earning Murdoc’s proper attention at last.
“Mm, works for me. But we’ll see who’s gloating later,” Murdoc agrees, making 2D grin like an idiot now that they’ve finally gotten back on his good side.
“You bet we will. Love you Muds.”
Murdoc’s head at long last goes back to 2D’s shoulder, like that’s just where it belongs, “Love you too, Stuart.”