Chapter: 9

"Wanna join the band?"

It was like time had stopped. The whole world went silent. The smallest sounds made within a twenty-mile radius could be heard from here.

"Wanna join the band?"

So calmly asked. No hesitation in his voice either. Then again, you never took Murdoc to be the type to hesitate when it comes to anything.

"I- are you- Are you serious?" You chocked. Never in a million years would you think this would happen again.

Being in a band with your siblings doesn't compare to being in a band with actual musicians. Just because you sang moderately well while doing drunk karaoke doesn't make you a damn singer!

"Wouldn't ask you if I wasn't. I'm running a freak show Cheeks, not a circus." Murdoc told, giving a scratch to his bare chest. "I want to be the magician if you ever do." You said, letting out a laugh of nervousness.

"Y/n, you don't have to, there's no force into it," Russel said, sending a firm look to Murdoc, who leaned back in his chair with a satisfied smirk, presenting his sharp teeth.

"That's reassuring, but for right now...I don't know. I've been the maid for almost three weeks and just moved in the day before. So, I want some time." You said, avoiding the look of disappointment that bled into you from 2D.

Noodle looked to 2D, seeing his disappointed look, then his look of disappointment was matched on her face as well.

Russel's face stayed blank, unlike Murdoc's. He presented a confident look in his relaxed position, with his arms crossed behind his head and legs prompted up on the table.

"Uh-huh, whatever cheeky. Be a doll for me and get dinner set, in a mood for a feast." The tone in Murdoc's voice was cunning, it irked you.

Before you could meet him with a glare he turned away from you in his swivel chair and waved his greening hand. "Don't let the scotch warm, with that temper of yours.." He teased.

Your teeth charred against each other as you rushed up from your seat. Grabbing the tray, you marched out of the recording booth, slamming the door with a bam.

Pfft. Temper.

"What the hell is his problem? Flirt with me, make me live here, offer me a new position then degrades me? Says I have a temper! Like hell I do! At least I don't throw a temper tantrum when people don't know who I am!" You yelled behind yourself, not caring that you weren't even in the hallway of the recording studio anymore.

Stomping into the kitchen you swore and cursed, all to ease the tension you felt within you. Once you fell silent, every thought began to drown you in uncertainty.

Clearly, you'd be making music, live concerts, and interviews. Flashing lights, cheers, and boos, screams of wanting more, which will be the same screams that'll probably drive you mad.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but this opportunity could lead you down to the unknown. A sigh escaped your lips as you scratched at your head.

Probably it's best not to. You wouldn't be much of a difference, just another person who can play.

"Hey, Y/n?" 2D's voice pulled you from your thoughts. "H-Huh? Oh, yeah 2D?" You asked, letting go of the slim wooden handle of the spoon you used to stir the gently boiling pot of soup. God, how lost were you in your thoughts? Dinner is damn near ready.

"Are yew okay? You've been staring at the stove for a while now." He said. "Shit really? My bad, just thinking." You told, reading for one of the many spices to re-add into the pot and check the rising pot-pies in the oven.

"Is about joinin' us? Murdoc wouldn't stop talkin' about you comin' to ya "senses"." He said, bringing you to pause at his words. Closing the oven with a force of boiling anger, you whipped your gaze to 2D. Just seeing how startled he became, you bit your tongue and picked your next words carefully.

"Do you like pranks, 2D?"

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The prank was simple. 2D would get Murdoc wasted enough to miss the call for dinner. While you tampered with his servings by adding an unholy amount of hot spices. Lastly, he was getting no dessert either.

2D came back around the kitchen entryway, with a wide smile as he snorted a few giggles from excitement. It was just adorable to see. Perhaps he was just a bit tipsy himself from the pinkness to his cheeks.

"Don't blow your cover too soon DD." You teased, bumping your hip against his when he joined you at the kitchen counter.

"I-I just can't help it! It feels good to get him b-back for once ya know? Even if the prank is t-this lame." He said with a smile. Unable to hold back a laugh, your hand went up and pinched at his pale cheek. "If you weren't so cute, I'd do the same to you."

You watched his pink cheeks turn red as he gave a bashful smile and rubbed the back of his neck. "Aw don't say that.." He said with a soft chuckle. My, was he sweet.

With a sigh, you'd arrange the first three dinner plates for the finished meal, along with clean glass cups to receive the fresh peach iced tea you made. "I'd honestly join you guys if I wasn't too fucking scared and being a wuss." You'd chuckle at your self-deprecating joke.

"A wuss? I don't fink' you're a wuss. If anythin' you're one of the strongest girls I know. Right next to Noodle, she can kick real hard with all that fightin' she knows." 2D would lean his elbows against the counter, his hand holding up his head as he circled a finger into the black marble of the countertop.

You'd look to 2D with a gentle smile curling your lips as he kept his gaze focused on the marble. He really was a sweetheart, despite looking quite terrifying. But, in a cute way. You'd continue to plate the meal in silence before he spoke again.

"Why would be scared of joining us?" He asked. "Eh, I don't know. Yes, I do. I don't have the experience you guys have, so I don't see why I would be needed. No experience, no charisma, and no look." You shrugged, gesturing to his dark blue hair and void-like eyes as you moved on from plating the dinner to preparing the dessert. A simple ice cream sundae to cool off any hot spices, except for Murdoc.

"Oh, it's not that hard really. It comes to yew real quick too, it did for me. The only hard part would be dealin' with fans. Sometimes they aren't too nice unless they want to spend the night with you and shit like that." 2D mentioned with a shrug.

"Well, that's never happening. What about the cameras and flashing lights? Doesn't that get annoying?" You asked. "Yeah, really screws with mah vision for a bit. But we don't do shoots that much, or we probably do an' I just don't 'rememba'." He said, scratching at his head.

"Heh, I hear ya. Why did you join the band?" You asked. "Well, I kinda got ran over, twice. I only joined 'cause makin' music is what I wanna do, and I enjoy doin' it." He told you. You turned to look back at 2D, a look of bewilderment apparent on your face.

"You got fuckin' ran over? Twice!?" You sputtered in shock. "Uh yeah..I think? There was the uhm- first time, then the time afta' that...yeah, twice! Why? Is that bad?" He obliviously asked.

"If you're not alive! Who in their right mind thought a car crash victim should be on stage after damn near seeing god!? Let alone tell you that it's okay to run you over?!" You frantically asked, looking to the man who only had a look of confusion.

"Murdoc did! He said I should be front an' center for ma' looks!" He prided himself in that statement with a toothy smile that was just too adorable to say no too. "Ah, scratch the right mind then." You snickered, 2D not getting the joke.

Shaking your head, you looked at the singer with a new view of him. "Well, was he right?" You asked. "I'd like to think so!" There was a rise in his demeanor, then a visible decline. "Even though he thinks he didn't." 2D ended with a sigh.

That bastard. "Well, if it matters, I think he made the right choice. You're a great singer in my opinion." You told him. Out from your eyesight, 2D's lips curled into a smile as there was a pink tint to his cheeks.

Those black pools would slowly gaze up at you, nearly blinded a the glow you admitted with the sun. The warm light glowed onto you, shining your being as your absentmindedly prepared the desserts. Being a man with such blurry vision already, he could make out you features so clearly within the light.

He couldn't help but be mesmerized.

"About what you said earlier th- uhm.." 2D started, stuck in the next words to find. "Hm?" You hummed, turning to him with that gentle smile. "You were saying?" You said. His fingers rapidly tapped against he counter, his untrimmed nails added more hits to the taps. Did you really make him that nervous?

"U-Uh- fhank you!...thanks for what yew said about me eh being good a singin' means a lot." His stammered words made him want to kick himself in the ass for messing up something so simple. Yet, you didn't mind. "Any time DD, ready for phase two?" You beamed, showing the finished sundae bowls.

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"Dinner is served!" You sang, placing the last plate before the youngest within the building who cheered in excitement.

A simple spicy dish of Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup, with a glass of peach ice with a cut of lemon. For everyone else, you had just enough spicy to dish so it wouldn't be too unbearably spicy.

Noodle gave her thanks before indulging herself while you smiled and took a seat at the end of the table.

"Again, this looks great Y/n, thanks," Russel told, his smiling priding your ego even further. "Why thank you, Russ, now let's dig in-" A slurred swear echoed through the hall to the dining room. Perfect timing.

Murdoc would slug his way into the dining room, looking down at you all as he pulls out his chair at the head of the table. As he slumped down in his seat, he looked to the empty space before him and then to you bitterly.

"Oi, you squeakin' bird, where's my grub huh?" He grouched.

The metal spoon in your hand bent inward before you slammed it down onto the wooden table. You pushed yourself in your seat as you stood up, forcing a smile to him.

"Still on the stove, let me get it for ya. Rest your weary legs." You sweetly said, your tone having the essence of a mockingbird. You'd leave to the kitchen to retrieve his plate, his eyes following you before you completely disappeared.

"You know you can just get up and get it yourself," Russel told, his milky white eyes glaring to the drunk man, who just cackled and leaned back into his seat. He'd raise his legs onto the dining table, crossing one over the other.

His black snakeskin boots rubbed against each other, shining the yellow ceiling light of the dining room. "She said to rest my legs, can't go against the maid's orders can I?"

"Funny that you say that Mudzy." All heads would snap at you, surprised at the terrifying sight you managed to pull.

You stood in the hall dining room entryway aboding the flickering ceiling light with a joyful smile.

Pink mittens protected your hands from the piping hot bowl that steamed before you. Tilting your head to the side, your smile grew wider as you stepped closer to the Murdoc.

His elbow pressed against the chair's arm, with his chin resting in the palm of his hand as his fingers tapped against his temple.

He had the posture of a lazy, pompous, and deluded king, that excepted everything to be handed, even spoon-fed to him.

You wanted to pour this boiling bowl over him.

"Made with love, just for you, Mudzy. Eat up!" You bitterly said the mocking nickname as you pinched his cheek before taking your place across from him. Those vexing mismatched eyes, bore into you, mocking you.

He looked down to the bowl, before looking at you with a grin. "Remember, you can't go against a maid's orders!" You cheered as you took a bite of your meal.

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Dinner went on, swimmingly, for some that is. Murdoc isn't much of the smooth Casanova he thought was when it came to the flames of a Dragon's Breath pepper. You had to hand it to him though, he managed to eat the whole bowl before running into the kitchen to drink from the faucet.

The four of you laughed while enjoying the cool and relaxing treat of your homemade ice cream sundae. "Now I know to never piss you off," Russel said, with a chuckle.

"Oh don't sweat it Russ, you could never do such a thing, and neither can this cutie or my accomplice." You cooed, patting Noodle's hand and smiling to 2D.

2D would smile with his cheeks going pink as Noodle cheered with chocolate syrupy painting her cheeks. Once you four finished dessert, you cleaned the dining and the suddenly empty kitchen.

"Cheeky!" Noodle called as she handed you a clean glass cup to put away in the cupboard. "Thank you, sweetheart." You told, putting the cup away to see two whiskey glasses missing. We all know who took that.

Once all was set and done, you gave Noodle to Russel and wished the two a peaceful night while 2D waited for you at the bottom of the stairs. "There's my partner in crime!" You cheered, your hands tapping at the slim hips of the oblivious singer, scaring him.

You'd laugh through an apology as he bashfully tried to act as if you didn't scare him. "I wanted to thank you for helping me today, without you I wouldn't have been able to pull it off." You told him.

"I-it's no problem really, it was sure funny to see Mudz screamin' like a baby though." He snickered, you doing the same. Your laughs died down to silence with your hands behind your back and swaying side to side as 2D missed around in his jean pocket.

Looking closer at 2D, the lanky singer definitely grew on you. The ombre of his dark blue hair, his boney fingers, his adorable tooth gap, and his void-like eyes, were enticing and impossible to stop looking at.

You suddenly thought of a better way to thank him than just a simple ice cream.

"2D, can I give you my thanks?" His words confused you, but he nodded, eagerly. "You gotta lean down though, you're too tall." You giggled as you beckoned him closer with a single finger.

He would lean down, managing to reach your height with a simple bend to his waist. Your hands gently pulled his face closer as your lips pressed against his cheek.

A wavy smile would come across the singer's red face, your dark lipstick sticking out on his red face. You pulled away smiling at the sight of 2D, who stood up straight with his hand rubbing at the back of his neck.

"You look like you're about to short circuit, you okay?" You grinned. "Y-Yeah, I'm fine! I'm great, good, f-fine! Night Y/n!" 2D would bashfully scurry away, bumping into a wall in the process.

"Pfft- goofball." He was sure a sweetheart, you couldn't deny that. Other than your budding feelings for him, it was time to do a final clean check before sleeping. As you checked the rooms downstairs, you heard the muffled rhythm of music further down the hall.

It was coming from the sitting room.

One door to the pair was cracked open with the warm honey glow of light peeking out. You might as well let curiosity stab you in the back because that was enough to pique your interest.

Quietly, you entered the sitting room to find Murdoc, relaxing on a long velvet chaise couch. His legs were spread apart his arms hanging behind the couch, with his head leaned back.

The black tank top he was previously wearing was now disregarded somewhere, showing off his bare chest and waist.

Tattoos painted his frame, with dark hair coating his chest and lower abdomen. The gold to the Petrine Cross shined from the accompanied lamp of the side table. On the table, there were two whiskey glasses and a bottle of Hennessy that was half full.

Damn, even when you hate him, he still manages to look attractive.

"Keep starin', I might have to charge ya'." His voice chuckled as he lifted his head to meet eye contact with you. You'd roll your eyes and cross your arms over your chest in faked annoyance. "Tch, downing another bottle is just gonna make whatever working organs you have stop, you know." You told.

"Ain't too worried 'bout that, especially if I have a spicy lass to drink with." He grinned, grabbing the bottle of Hennessy from the slim top and an empty whiskey glass. A drink did sound good, too good.

You took a step forward, followed by another to the couch, and sat beside him. "Atta girl." He'd pour your glass and hand it to you. He seemed to be in a better mood than previously, but it didn't mean you had to share that feeling with him.

"What? Not even a thank you?" He questioned as he took a brief swig from the bottle, letting out a sigh after a few gulps as you keep your attention on your small pour. Rolling his eyes, his arm would slide behind your waist and hold your hip.

"Alright, alright, tell me what's makin' sooo, frustrated!" His hand tightened around your hip, pulling you further into him as he leaned closer in the crook of your neck.

Your skin shivered in excitement as a shocked gasp slipped through your tongue. Ugh, you can't let him get you flustered. Your hand halfheartedly pushed back Murdoc's head.

"Your breath in a minute." You grimaced, faking a cringe from the alluring smell of alcohol clashing with his cologne.

"Temper temper.." Murdoc cooed, watching you roll your eyes and huff with arms crossed over your chest, facing away from him, aggressively sipping from your glass

His curled index finger pushed under your chin forcing your attention back to him. "Aww, don't be like that. I know you have something to tell me," He sang teasingly, watching the tension stir on your face.

No shit you had something to tell him, but if can't be serious and so tempting at a time like this, why bother. "Tch, you've managed to orchestrate an entire band all while avoiding imprisonment, I'd assume you'd already know what I want to talk about." You sassed.

"It's sooo fucking simple love. Either you join, or you don't. Easy. I don't see what yer gettin' knickers twisted about." Murdoc would lean his head back, and pour down a stream of amber deliciousness for a few gulps. With an irritated groan, you slammed your glass on the coffee table and stood up from the couch.

"But it isn't that easy! Things need to happen with a reason and for a reason! What would be the reason for me to join, huh? Tell me!" You spat in tipsy hysterics. You can't hold your liquor for shit. Murdoc rolled his eyes as he watched you frantically mouth off about the hypothetical.

Standing up from the couch, he griped the slim bottle in his hands as he grabbed your face, pinching your cheeks together with his index and thumb. He looked at you with a tight frown that grew into a wide grin, presenting his sharp teeth.

"You women can't ever keep it down eh? Look, all this yapping about cameras, and what the hell yer' whinin' about is bound to happen. Ye' keep cryin' about it, then you'll fail. Besides-" His hand moved from your cheek to ring his finger around the loose belt loop of your shorts, pulling you forward to him as plopped back down onto the couch.

His pull was gentle, as you easily obliged to sit upon his lap, your knees being at each side of his hips with his free hand laid at the small of your back.

"I'll be there with ya. So whenever you start cryin', I'll find a way to make ya stop. Aughaawhaww!" He cackled, the hand that was at the small of your back slapped against your ass, priding himself in making you yelp.

With a flushed face, you raised your hand to wack him, yet the cool glass of the bottle grazed your palm. "Now what do you say dove, you gonna keep cryin' or drink up?"

His very words were like a paper-made contract that would bind you to a fantasy. One that you would dream to achieve, but now becoming your reality.

Taking the swig, Murdoc would howl a cackle with his hands running up the sides of your waist. Finishing off the last few gulps of the bottle you cringed from the final burn of the liquid swirled around your throat before putting the bottle on the carpet floor.

To his pleasure, your arms maneuvered around his shoulders, the mere gap between the both of you becoming a small slit.

He buried his face in the nape of your neck, taking in your intoxicating scent of honey lavender. Your body tenses in excitement, as your hands traveled from the mangled mess of Murdoc's hair and pull at the black leather string that held his necklace. "Mur- AH!"

Your body jolted in pure shock, followed by a trail of pleasure. Murdoc had sunken his teeth within the crook of your neck, leaving a red indentation that he dragged his tongue along to soothe the burn. His smirk was against your parted lips, that begged for him to take the leap.

"That's my girl."