Static Between Us - 2-D x Reader

Chapter 9 - Busted by Noodle

The morning passed in a blur. After you and 2-D finally managed to drag yourselves out of bed, you both dressed quickly and tried to act normal — whatever that meant now. He kept sneaking glances at you when he thought you weren't looking. You weren't sure what to do with yourself, honestly. Were you supposed to act like nothing happened? Like everything changed? Or both?

You were sitting on the couch in the lounge, quietly sipping tea when Noodle walked in, guitar case slung over her shoulder. She paused when she saw you, then squinted slightly as 2-D wandered in right after, his hair still a mess and shirt only halfway buttoned.

Her eyes darted between the two of you.

"...Did som'fing happen?" she asked plainly, blinking.

You choked slightly on your tea. "Wh–what?"

2-D froze like a deer in headlights, then turned to casually pick at a record shelf, trying very hard not to be suspicious. Which only made him more suspicious.

Noodle raised a brow, smirking now. "You're both are acting... weird."

"I don't know what you mean," you said quickly, cheeks heating.

"Uh-huh." She sat on the arm of the couch beside you, arms crossed and smirking like a little sister who already had her answer and just wanted to watch you squirm. "I'm not blind, ya know."

2-D shuffled awkwardly near the door. "Noodz, d-don't start..."

"I'm not starting anything," she said innocently. "Just saying. You both look like you've got secrets."

Before you could respond, your phone buzzed and she pushed off the couch with a sigh. "Gotta go meet someone down in the studio anyway. Try not to be weird when I'm gone."

And just like that, she disappeared with a grin, her footsteps fading down the hall.

There was a pause.

You slowly looked toward 2-D. "She knows."

"She definitely knows," he mumbled, finally stepping closer.

You laughed softly under your breath. "We weren't exactly subtle."

He gave you that crooked smile — soft, almost shy — before collapsing onto the couch beside you. "D'you think she's mad?"

"Nah," you said, scooting closer. "More like amused."

"Yeh... I get that."

You both sat in silence for a moment, the kind that wasn't awkward anymore. His hand brushed against yours, fingers curling in gently. He stared at them for a moment, like he still couldn't believe this was real. Like he'd been holding his breath for too long and was finally allowed to exhale.

You leaned your head on his shoulder, and he sighed — a sound full of something like relief.

"She really does know everything," you muttered.

"Mmhm," he murmured. "But... 's okay. I like not hiding anymore."

Once the coast was officially clear and Noodle's footsteps faded, 2-D nudged your side and muttered, "C'mon. Let's go somewhere we won't get bloody interrupted."

You followed him through Kong Studio, still wrapped in the blanket like some disheveled secret, until he pushed open the door to his room. It was dimly lit, a little cluttered, and smelled faintly like old vinyl records, incense, and something distinctly him.

But your attention was immediately stolen by the soft thump of paws on the floor.

"Prince!" you lit up, dropping the blanket in favor of crouching down and opening your arms. The medium sized dog, a Doberman to be exact, sprinted toward you like he'd been waiting for this exact moment all night. He licked at your face, his stubbed tail wagging wildly, snorting with excitement as you laughed and scratched behind his pointed ears.

"You're such a good boy," you whispered into his fur, holding him close like he was a stuffed animal. "Such a very good boy."

2-D stood by the door, grinning lazily at the sight. "Yeh, he likes you better than me now."

You glanced up at him, still holding Prince, or at least trying to, he was a heavy dog. "Can you blame him?"

2-D chuckled as he kicked the door shut and padded over to you, sitting down cross-legged beside you on the floor. His fingers drifted over Prince's back as he looked at you — more than just affection in his eyes. Something soft, unguarded.

"He's got good taste. Just like me."

You rolled your eyes, but you were smiling. "You're full of it today."

He smirked. "Maybe. Or maybe I just like seein' you happy."

You didn't respond right away — too distracted by the way he was looking at you, like he was soaking in every detail. As if this — the dog in your arms, the way your eyes crinkled when you laughed — was something he'd memorized and never wanted to forget.

After a moment, 2-D reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind your ear, his touch feather-light.

"Stay in here with me?" he asked, voice quiet.

You nodded.

Still holding Prince, you let him help you up, and the three of you climbed into his bed — you in the middle, a tangle of limbs and warm breath and sleepy heartbeats.