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Is it today? It has to be! Noodle said it’d take a week, two at most, and today’s nearly at the end of that window. Plus she called just yesterday, saying they’d be on the plane soon. So it’d be today that they landed and finished the trip back to the Spirit House. It’s just after noon right now, which means there’s about 11 hours and 54 minutes before it’s officially tomorrow, and Noodle is wrong about when she’d be back. With him! He’s coming home! Russel tried to convince 2D to have something to eat, he’s been jittery all day and hasn’t touched a bite of food, but he doesn’t think he could handle eating right now when his stomach is doing flips at everything. Every car he hears outside could be them, every passerby, it soon becomes imagined sounds too. Since he can hardly sit still either, 2D’s been running about doing anything he can think of that isn’t just sitting on his hands, he’s cleaned their room and made their bed and tried to put everything in the same places they were when he left. He was glad at first, when this all started, to have freedom in what he did with his bedroom and his studio and his album, but now he’d like things to go back to before a little. He took to wearing Murdoc’s clothes, while he was off in prison, and it’s brought some comfort. And that’s all he needed from it.
It’s an odd feeling, 2D decides as he sweeps the house. To be okay without someone who means so much. A complicated one too, he’d been so far into the habit of having Murdoc there that he made breakfast for two a few too many times before his mind caught on. But that just meant he ate with Russel and Noodle more often. Speaking of Noodle, she’s been off in South America, looking for Murdoc. 2D’s not entirely convinced he’d go there though, of his own accord. But Noodle was pretty sure, so he didn’t say anything. What time is it? Only 5 minutes since he last checked. Oh well, sweeping’s done. For those wondering how 2D could have possibly swept the whole house in only 5 minutes, he didn’t. It was more like 20 minutes, or more, with glances at the clock all the way through. And he didn’t actually do that good of a job. I mean, it’s a case of this is better than nothing, but that doesn’t make it that much better. So he puts away the broom, hands already twitching to find something else to do while waiting, because it drives him crazy knowing that Murdoc isn’t back yet, so he just keeps going. While looking for another problem to tackle, he finds Russel eating lunch with Ace. He swept the kitchen before they started, it looks like.
“You gonna sit down, D? Some food will do you some good,” Russel suggests, interrupting his conversation to make sure 2D doesn’t drive himself crazy. He’s a good guy.
“Well I wasn’t plannin’ on it. You reckon we’ve got that duster fin’? I figure I could do that,” 2D replies, glancing around the kitchen like it’ll be lying around here, and he just missed it completely the last time he came through.
“Oh, no you don’t. Last time you got your hands on that thing you broke a window,” Russel snags 2D by the shirt as he tries to walk by and drops him in the chair next to him.
Ace snorts, “Broke a window? Murdoc mentioned how clumsy you are, but that’s somethin’.”
“Please, Mu’doc’s done way worse on accident,” 2D remains in his seat, despite his urge to run off and make the house as nice as possible before Murdoc comes back. Russel gets a plate of food in front of him, and he eventually ends up mindlessly eating.
“Has he now? Don’t suppose you’d share some embarrassing stories about our mutual friend, would you?” Ace leans back in his seat, curious now.
2D rolls his eyes at “friend”, but you wouldn’t catch it if you didn’t know. But he’ll be back soon! “Depends, you want the big stuff, or the rest of it?”
“We all know there’s plenty of both,” Russel adds, satisfied to see 2D taking care of himself a bit instead of just panicking. Ace’s eyes gleam with mischief.
“What’s the big stuff?”
“Well, he’s nearly killed me a few times. Same goes for everyone else, ‘cluding him,” 2D says almost thoughtfully, clearly thinking.
“Oh. Uhh, not what I was expecting,” Ace is a bit put off. He knows every member of the band leads an absolutely insane life, but this is a bit extreme. Looks like Murdoc saved some of the details of how he met everyone then.
2D comes back to reality after a moment, connecting things better in his mind. “Er, you said embarrassing. You know he got himself stuck up a tree once? I don’t really know how, but I reckon he was sloshed. Anyway, he was scared to come down, so I got up there wif him. ‘En we were bof stuck. I can’t remember what happened next, but someone called the fire fighters.”
Ace, getting past the earlier shock, laughs, “Stuck in a tree? I’d pay to see that.”
“They were both wasted. Found them outside the bar clinging to the trunk and each other, crying.” Russel recalls, nodding as he remembers. “They wouldn’t calm down for nothing, so I called the fire department. Glad I was sober enough to remember it.”
Ace laughs harder, mental image building, but 2D shoots a glare at Russel. “We were not crying. I would ‘ave remembered if we were.”
“So, how high up were they?” Ace asks Russel, ignoring 2D’s contribution.
“Nowhere near high enough for how they were reacting, man,” Russel shakes his head, and Ace bursts back into laughter.
2D ends up groaning and burying his face into his hands while Russel properly tells Ace what happened, which is embarrassing for both Murdoc and 2D. Nobody’s really sure why Murdoc was in the tree, but he was, and 2D tried to coax him down from the ground. When that didn’t work, he had the brilliant idea to climb up himself, and the blurry vision they were both having did not do them any favors with how high they thought they were. Russel came out when he realized they were both missing, and found them up the tree, with 2D being surprisingly accepting Murdoc hiding his face in his shoulder while they both panicked. Russel recounts this all with some humor thanks to how easily they crumbled, and Ace laughs at the sheer thought of two grown men drunk and stuck in a tree. Fortunately, there’s a bit of a noise near the front door before Russel gets to the part where 2D was insisting that Murdoc should be helped down first, but Murdoc refused to let go. 2D, in the present, decides it’s better to deal with the burglar, or the more likely stray animal, than stay here.
“Ugh, you’re both the worst,” he says as he stands, going over to see what’s going on.
2D opens the front door and finds Noodle at the base of the steps up to the house, calling out “No, it’s in the glove compartment,” to someone 2D can’t see from this angle. She turns when she hears the door open.
“Noodle! You’re back!” 2D exclaims, stepping down to meet her. She wasn’t gone for all that long, all things considering, but it’s still nice to see her again. They hug briefly.
“It’s good to be back. I missed you, and not having to track a fugitive across a continent.” She hands him a bag, clearly meaning for him to bring it inside. “We’ll have everything inside in a second, could you tell Russel and Ace?”
“You bet,” 2D replies, returning inside. He sets the bag in the foyer and heads for the kitchen, interrupting again. Fortunately it seems like the topic switched.
“They’re back!” He exclaims, the realization that he let himself be bossed out of seeing Murdoc right away just now hitting. He hurries back to rectify this mistake. He sees Noodle first, again, setting down her stuff. Katsu, her cat, comes eagerly trotting up, and rubs against her legs lovingly. As cute as that is, 2D’s focused for once. And at that moment, Murdoc steps through the door with one last bag. It’s quiet, for just a moment. Everyone could hear and see and feel how complex everything 2D has been feeling about Murdoc is. Murdoc looks uncertain, like he isn’t sure of his welcome. Nobody’s really sure what’s gonna happen next, even the public has seen every extreme of their feelings for each other throughout this. It’s been a lot, this past year or so. There’s a thump when Murdoc drops the bag he was holding, and closes the distance between him and 2D.
“Stuart...” he breathes, gazing up at his face. His eyes are as white as moonlight now, rather than the abyss they used to hold. 2D can’t find the words, so he just smiles. Murdoc’s eyes shine with unshed tears as he pulls him in, hugging him so tight that you’d worry about him snapping the thin man. 2D presses into it, hugging back and burying his face way down into Murdoc’s neck. He breathes in deeply before he finally finds the words.
“You’re back. You’re really back,” he whispers, holding onto him. It’s been too long.
“I am, and I’m not leaving too easy next time,” Murdoc softly replies, the pair of them swaying slightly as the intimate embrace lasts longer than what’s dismissable as platonic. 2D is more than satisfied with this decision for both of them, but Murdoc continues, “Hang on, I gotchya something.”
They split only for that, but don’t really let go as Murdoc digs down into his pocket and draws up a rock. It’s all smooth and worn down, and feels nice when it lands in 2D’s hand. He traces his thumb over the surface, just gliding over it. It probably came from a river or something.
“You got me this? ‘T’s real nice,” 2D grins, touched as always that Murdoc thought of him long enough to return home with something just for him. He shoves back into the hug, slotting his body as tight as it’ll go into Murdoc’s, feeling the differences since last time they had this, snuggling him right there in front of everyone. This lasts, a fair bit longer than really explainable, but 2D eventually lets go, and they separate.
Murdoc smiles up at 2D again, relaxed like never before, “You like it? Figured you would, give you something nice to fidget with.”
“Well it is real nice,” 2D reaffirms, “An’ I do like it. Fanks.”
Murdoc eventually has to distance himself from 2D, to see Russel and Ace for the first time in forever, and to keep suspicion from arousing. There aren’t as many tender hugs going around anymore, but everyone knows that Murdoc and 2D are weirdly close. Which explains away why they sit so close when everyone settles in to catch up properly, let each other casually touch their knees and such, exchange small glances. The story of Murdoc’s imprisonment is fairly long, and he spends time complaining about sleeping arrangements and food, before going off on how he escaped a day before release, and was just in hiding. He admits to playing up his crimes so he wouldn’t sound lame to the public, but his regret at putting Noodle in danger. She forgives him. Everyone knows she could handle herself if she was in actual trouble. Everyone else can talk about the album, the process of making it and recording it, the trips they took to get it done, the week or so they spent on the beach split between working and goofing off.
“‘Course I listened to the album, what do you take me for? And it was brilliant, even if I wasn’t here to oversee it.” Murdoc can never give a straight compliment, but he drags 2D in for a quick side squeeze. But that’s his answer when Russel suggests that he hadn’t, with the idea he wouldn’t on principle. 2D smiles, feeling reassured about his writing.
“If how many times he replayed it is any indication, Souk Eye is his favorite,” Noodle says to 2D, with a teasing glance at Murdoc. He mock-glares at her.
“That was between us, Noods. And frankly, I’m offended you’d betray me like that.”
There’s more than enough laughter, everyone settling back into the idea of Murdoc being back. It feels like a lot less time has gone by than what really has, and eventually it’s dark. One by one, people head off to bed, Noodle scooping up Katsu before heading to her room, 2D leaving not long after to his. He doesn’t wait long before Murdoc’s left Russel and Ace to themselves, and is knocking at the door.
“It’s your room too, still. You don’t gotta knock,” 2D says once he sees Murdoc on the other side.
“Er, you sure? I mean, this is the first time we got right back together. I wasn’t sure,” he admits, allowing 2D to lead him in.
“More sure than anyfin’, Muds,” 2D reaffirms as he closes the door, following him back inside.
Murdoc smiles at him, an expression that’s so much softer and sweeter than what he’d soberly give anyone else. “You want me to stay?”
2D nods, both of them quickly finding their ways back into their rightful places, in each others’ arms, “Well, ‘course. I missed you. And it’s been way too long since we got to sleep together.”
“You’d better kiss me before that, I’m gonna go mad if I have to wait much longer.” Murdoc gazes up at 2D, wrapped up in his arms again. 2D thinks he’s adorable at this angle, but he’d get bitten for saying that. He doesn’t bother with any more words, just leaning down to kiss him. It’s a particularly loving kiss, between two people who have spent way too long missing each other. Their lips move together softly, building a rhythm they’ve found hundreds of times before. Murdoc runs his fingers through 2D’s hair, sighing contentedly when 2D’s hands wander down his back and settle on his hips.
2D couldn’t be happier, he’s been waiting for this moment for months. Almost a year. Murdoc raises up onto his toes, trying to close the distance better and deepen the kiss, which 2D eagerly accepts. It gives him the leverage to nuzzle their noses together, just to make the whole interaction feel even more loving than it did before. And they kiss like this for a while, a long one, as his arms wrap around Murdoc’s hips rather than just holding onto them, as nice as that is. It helps Murdoc balance, which makes the kiss better. Takes some strain off their necks. 2D knows that Murdoc doesn’t mind being shorter too much, but it’s created some unique problems for them, including kissing while they’re both standing. But 2D came up with a bit of an idea to help solve that, and he hopes Murdoc’s into it too. He sways forward just enough to make Murdoc lower back onto his heels, hands slipping down to his thighs, just above his knees. When he pulls back, he brings Murdoc up with him, tilting himself back to support his weight. The kiss splits when Murdoc gasps, fingers accidentally digging into 2D’s scalp in his surprise. 2D winces, but it’s not too bad. Murdoc’s nails aren’t even that long right now. Murdoc looks down at the ground, then back at 2D, who’s at the same level as him for once.
2D grins toothily, simply saying “Surprise.”
“Cheeky bugger. Been working on this? ‘Cause I know you couldn’t before,” Murdoc asks, relaxing a bit now that he’s adjusted to being held. It doesn’t happen very often, if you can believe that.
“Maybe a little. Thought it’d be nice if I could just take care of you when you got back,” 2D sort of shrugs, like this is nothing, but it’s clear he underestimated how hard it is to completely pick a person up.
Murdoc can see the struggle, and subtly gives him an out. “Well then, my strong, handsome husband, fancy carrying me to bed?”
“Glad to.” 2D is relieved, kissing Murdoc on the cheek as he carries him across the room and drops both of them on the bed, making sure Murdoc doesn’t hit his head despite that. He quickly climbs on top, hovering over Murdoc with his arms bracing himself on either side of his head. Murdoc takes his face in his hands, tempting him down.
“C’mon, love, don’t tell me that’s it.”
2D grins, letting himself be pulled down, “After all that? I’m not gonna let you leave. Er, like, in a romantic way. Not- not in a kidnapper way. You can leave, still, but- you know what I mean.”
2D cuts off his own embarrassment, quitting stumbling over his words by pressing his lips back to Murdoc’s, who’s laughing deeply. It’s not that easy to kiss someone who’s laughing like that, so 2D changes route to kiss his cheeks instead.
“Quit laughin’, you mix up words all the time,” 2D mutters, face flushed as he plants kisses bordering on sloppy all over the side of Murdoc’s face, starting near his lips and stemming out to his ear. Murdoc bites his lip, thankfully going quiet, but still grins and tilts his head so 2D has better access. As 2D takes this opportunity, the awkwardness fades. His lips ghost over the shell of Murdoc’s ear before he presses them to the soft part behind it, eliciting a soft sigh that he lives for. Now all the humor has gone as Murdoc makes these content little noises as 2D focuses on various points. Around his ear, like before, a couple spots along the side of his neck, his nape, even down to what’s visible of his collarbones before switching sides. Usually Murdoc likes to be in control, but this time he’s just moving his head so 2D can do whatever he pleases, satisfying them both. 2D finds some different points on the other side, kissing his Adam’s apple, the top of his neck, his jaw, up and around to his cheekbone, following that in to kiss the tip of his nose before their lips finally find each other again. And that’s where they stay, hands replacing 2D’s ministrations, this time Murdoc joining in, taking some agency on their kissing session. 2D strokes Murdoc’s hair and face tenderly, taking care of him like he said he would. Murdoc’s hands wander down, along 2D’s shoulders and spine, down his back to explore every inch of that perfect body that’s been kept from him. 2D parts his lips once Murdoc’s tongue begins seeking access, both of those quickly building into old habits, working with each other to create an even deeper, more intimate experience. It’s easy to say that neither of them will be forgetting this any time soon.
It’s once they can’t breath that they split, both flushed and panting. They wouldn’t complain though, that was lovely. Murdoc lays his head back, content and grinning while 2D remains over him.
“You wanna..?” 2D asks when he catches his breath enough to speak.
Murdoc opens his eyes, almost surprised. But he grins even wider and shakes his head. “Another time. Today took it out of me.”
And 2D can live with this answer. He gets off of Murdoc, laying down next to him instead.
“I bet. Wanna go to sleep then?” 2D suggests instead, holding Murdoc’s hand now that he’s in the position for it.
Murdoc nods, and that’s what ends up happening. After they can both be bothered to peel off their clothes and find something to sleep in, they return to bed and get comfortable. Once they’re cuddled up together so tight you’d need a crowbar or something to pry them apart, they get to chattering and properly catching up. Not the sanitized versions of the time spent apart they gave before. They go over every single detail, every time they felt lonely without the other, saw something that reminded them of the separation, all of the emotions that went into everything they did apart. 2D talks about the album, every secret he hid in it, hoping that Murdoc would hear how much he wanted him back when he listened to it. And Murdoc tells 2D about the first time he listened to it, on a “borrowed” CD player that he left running quietly next to his head as he eventually fell asleep to the sweet sound of his husband’s voice. It goes on for hours, probably, but they aren’t really watching the time. 2D only goes quiet because he realizes that Murdoc’s gone to sleep.
2D lays awake for a while, not as tired as Murdoc. He listens to his breathing. Feels his skin. Smells his hair. Can’t see him very well right now, he’s got his head nuzzled up under 2D’s chin. It’s a good place for it, all cuddly and close, but 2D can’t help but wish he could gaze at his beloved’s face. So he instead strokes his hair, slowly carding his fingers through the dark locks, listening to every little noise, and every tiny adjustment to the careful touch. It’s only natural that 2D ends up falling asleep like this, with a smile on his face.
And when the sun rises, peeking through where the curtains weren’t closed tight enough, 2D smiles to see Murdoc laying on his chest, as happy as could be. He hopes for this to be the sight he’s met with every time he wakes up, from now on.