Static Between Us - 2-D x Reader

Chapter 4 - Just Us, Yeah?

You stretch your arms as you step out of your room, only to nearly trip over a half-eaten cereal box left in the hallway. Classic. Kong Studios is louder than usual—somewhere in the distance, someone's blasting a demo on loop, and you swear you just saw Murdoc chasing Russel with a fire extinguisher. Business as usual.

You rub your eyes and make your way toward the kitchen, craving something that resembles breakfast. But just as you pass the control room, a familiar figure leans lazily against the doorframe, hands stuffed into his jacket pockets.

"Oi," 2-D says, his voice lighter than usual but laced with something a bit more... unsure. "Wotcha up to today?"

You blink at him, halfway to muttering something about toast and noise complaints when you notice he's staring at you longer than usual.

"Um... nothing important. Why?" you ask, tilting your head.

"Well," he starts, rocking on the balls of his feet, "thought maybe you and me could, y'know... hang out a bit. Just us."

You pause. "Is everything okay?"

He waves it off quickly, eyes flicking away. "Yeah yeah, s'just been a bit mad 'round here lately, innit? Could use a break. Thought maybe you could too."

It's a little strange, coming from him so early in the day. Normally you'd get this kind of random invite at 2AM when he's hyper-focused on a song or just wants someone to sit with while he watches cartoons. But now, he's standing here like he's been waiting for you to walk by.

Before you can answer, Murdoc yells something unintelligible from down the hall, and a crash follows. 2-D sighs, then looks at you again—this time with a softness you hadn't seen before.

"I just figured... you make all the noise here feel a bit quieter."

That gets you. Your heart jumps, and you feel heat creeping into your cheeks, but before you say anything, Russel pops his head out of a side room.

"2-D, I need your ears on a mix in like five minutes."

2-D groans, visibly deflated. "Course y'do..." he muttered to himself.

Before you could say anything back, a gravelly voice cut through the air.

"Oi, lovebird," Murdoc's head peeked around the corner of the hallway, smirking like he was up to no good. "You busy? I need ya for somethin'. Urgent."

2-D's hand twitched, and he instinctively stepped half in front of you, as if shielding you from a sudden draft of unwanted energy.

You blinked, confused. "Urgent?"

Murdoc gave a dramatic sigh and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Technical thing. Real boring. But you're the only one I trust with it."

2-D frowned. "Thought you told me this mornin' you were just loungin' today."

Murdoc ignored him completely, keeping his attention fixed on you. "Won't take long. Just a sec in the studio."

You looked up at 2-D, catching the tiniest flash of frustration in his eyes—barely noticeable, but it was there.

"I'll be back in a bit," you murmured to him, giving a small apologetic smile.

He nodded, slow and reluctant. "Yeah... alright."

As you followed Murdoc down the hall, you could feel 2-D's gaze at your back like a string pulling taut. And once you turned the corner, Murdoc leaned in closer, voice low and smug.

"Ya know, luv, you spend a lotta time with D lately," he muttered. "That all friendly? Or should I start keepin' an eye on that boy?"

You raised an eyebrow. "You dragged me away just to say that?"

Murdoc snorted. "Nah, nah. I do need help. Just also figured a little distance from 2-D wouldn't hurt. Bit clingy today, innit he?"

You said nothing, your thoughts tangled up in the look 2-D had given you—the way he didn't want to let you go.