The next few days just sort of...happened. Murdoc kept a close eye on Jacob and Hannibal, which meant no drugs, sex, limited amounts of alcohol, and no sleeping downstairs in his winne. But Murdoc would have done it a thousand times if it meant saving Noodle from the horrors that Jacob had done to him.

Except, Noodle didn't need saving. She seemed happy as always, and at no point was she alone with Jacob or Hannibal for an extended period of time. They both seemed to be being...nice to her. Murdoc spent the entire week pondering what Jacob could possibly be up to. Even if he did just want a place to stay and some of Murdoc's money and nothing more, he wasn't acting like himself. Murdoc had never seen his father so well behaved.

Except when he was up to something.

Unfortunately, this good behavior was strictly reserved for Noodle. Jacob took care to give Murdoc periodic reminders that he was still in charge, and not to get too comfortable. Every time Noodle escaped earshot, Murdoc would have to deal with a punch to the gut or a blow to his head from the old man's cane. But Murdoc couldn't exactly say that he wasn't expecting that. It wasn't a pleasant experience, but he could handle it.

Hannibal on the other hand, was as meek as always. He disappeared often throughout the week. This didn't worry Murdoc, however, as Hannibal often disappeared for days at a time throughout their childhood. Murdoc would occasionally receive an offhand taunt or jab from his brother, but nothing more. And he generally avoided Noodle as well. While Murdoc didn't particularly like Hannibal, he knew that his brother wouldn't do anything too bad. One could call it loyalty, or one could call it mutual respect and lack of interest.

And just like that, the week was over. Murdoc had made it, albeit with a few new bruises and raised anxiety levels, and Russel and 2D would be returning.

2D was driving away from his parents house and decided to pick up Russel from the airport on his way back to Kong, so they would be arriving together.

"Yo Muds! Noodle! We're back!" Russel's voice boomed throughout Kong as the two walked through the door. Soon Noodle came scampering down to the door to meet them. "Russu-san! Toochie-san! Okaeri!" She ran over to hug them.

2D patted her on the head. "'Ello luv. 'ow was your Christmas?"

Noodle nodded, "Good. Played with Murdoc-san!"

2D chuckled, "You got Mu'doc out of his Winnebago? 'e must really be feelin the Christmas spirit!"

Just then, Jacob and Hannibal entered the room.

"Oy Noods, who are they?" 2D asked.

Noodle smiled and pointed to the two men. "Murdoc-san's family!"

Jacob smiled, Let the games begin, he thought to himself. "Hello! My name is Jacob Sebastian Niccals, I am Murdoc's father." Jacob elbowed Hannibal in the side. "Oh, yeah I'm Hannibal. I'm Murdoc's brother." he muttered.

"Pleasure to meet the two of you!" Jacob held out a green hand to shake, but Russel gave him a high five instead.

"Yo, Muds never told us he had a family! Every time we ask him about it he usually gets pretty upset."

Jacob pretended to look sad, "Ah, yes, well, I'm afraid that Murdoc's childhood was not the best one. Having to deal with the death of his mother at a young age, along with being terribly bullied in school...not to mention that we never had much money in the house. It's understandable why he wouldn't want to remember it..." He paused for effect, "...which brings me as to why we're here. As you can see, I'm getting up in the years, and money is getting scarcer and scarcer. Hannibal and I were recently booted out of our apartment, so Murdoc reluctantly allowed us to stay here until we get back on our feet. I do hope that is alright with the two of you."

Russel smiled, "Ay, of course man! Murdoc's family is our family!"

"Yeah!" 2D agreed.

Jacob smiled once again, "Excellent!"

It was then that Murdoc also entered the room.

2D and Russel quickly noticed was that Murdoc was quite paler that normal and looked exhausted. He seemed to be a bit more skiddish than usual as well.

"Ello Mu'doc. You alright?" 2D examined the bassist, "Ya don't look too good."

Murdoc rolled his eyes, "I'm fine. I see you all 'ave met."

"Oh yes!" Jacob continued, "Murdoc, you must tell me what you did to get such nice friends!"

"'e 'it me with a car, and 'e kidnapped Russel." 2D said with a smile.

Jacob burst into laughter, not entirely sure whether the bluenette was joking or not. "Oh, Hannibal, Murdoc, be dears and help these two with their bags, they must be exhausted."

Murdoc and Hannibal, obviously not wanting to be bothered but not wanting to deal with their father even more, sighed and stood up. Russel and 2D chuckled at this once in a lifetime opportunity, and handed Murdoc their bags.

"Careful Muds, fragile stuff in there!" Russel laughed and threw his bag at Murdoc.

"Go ta 'ell." Murdoc grumbled as he caught it. He walked with Russel down one hallway, and Hannibal and 2D went down another.

Russel tapped him on the shoulder. "Yo Muds, seriously though, you alright? Look a little on edge."

"I'm fine." he lied. "Let it go." He walked into Russel's room, dropped the bags on the floor, and left without another word.

"Huh, what's his problem?" Russel said to himself as he began to unpack.

Meanwhile, Hannibal was closely following 2D to his room, carrying his bags.

"So..." 2D stared at Hannibal as they walked down the hall toward his room. "You're Mu'doc's brotha?"

Hannibal nodded. "Yeah."

"Wot was 'e like as a kid?"

Hannibal shrugged. "About the same as he is now, except even more of a pain."

2D chuckled. "Don't really see how 'fat one's possible."

"Trust me, it is." There was a pause. "So, why don't you have any eyeballs?" Hannibal asked him.

"Oh, I do, fey're just black." He pointed to his left eye, "Fis one is from when Mu'doc crashed his car into me local keyboard shop. Put me right into a coma it did." He pointed to his right eye, "And fis one is from when I slammed frough the windshield of Mu'doc's car after he forgot to strap me down before doin' some tricks to impress some girls. Brought me back 'round, though. That's when he started callin' me 2D, after the two dents he put in me head."

"Sounds like him, yeah." Hannibal replied as he put down 2D's bags in his room and leaned against a wall. "You must not like him very much then, huh?"

"Who Mu'doc? Nah, he's my best mate. If it wasn't for him, I'd still be boring ol' Stu Pot polishin' keyboards down in that ol' shop." 2D said as he plopped down on his bed and started unpacking.

That answer shocked Hannibal a bit. Had he been put in the same situation, he would not have been so forgiving. "So you and Murdoc are pretty close, eh?"

2D nodded, "Yeah, except when he hits me. Which is, a lot. But he doesn't mean it, he's just angry."

This came as no surprise to Hannibal. As much as he would hate to admit it, Murdoc had inherited quite a few things from his father, such as his aggressive and violent behavior. Hannibal was ashamed to admit that he had inherited a few things too.

"So...Hannibal, don't take this the wrong way but...why is your whole family...green?"

Hannibal blinked and scratched his head. "Uh, to be honest, I don't really know. Me and Murdoc are only green when we tan, but I dunno about Dad. He's always just been like that."

"Oh...by the way, are you really the reason Mu'doc's nose looks like it does?"

Hannibal nodded, "More or less."

"Did you really break it just cause 'e touched your turntables?"

Hannibal rolled his eyes, "That's always what he tells people. But I told him I would kill him if he touched them. He was lucky I didn't kill him, those things were the most expensive things I owned. I didn't want his grubby little mitts all over them." He scoffed, "I did him a favor too, you should have seen what he looked like before that."

"Really?"

Hannibal nodded, "His nose looked just like Dad's. All long and narrow. He looked like a bloody greenbean, let me tell ya'. You don't know how lucky I am to have gotten my mum's nose." He rubbed his normal looking nose thankfully.

2D laughed, picturing Murdoc with the long spindly nose of his father. Eventually, he stopped laughing and looked up at Hannibal, "Why is he so cranky all the time?"

"You ask a lot of questions, don't you?"

2D smiled, "Yep, sure do!"

Hannibal stared at 2D, suddenly understanding why Murdoc occasionally hits him. Hannibal shrugged, "I dunno. We had a piss poor childhood. Let's leave it at that."

2D nodded and furrowed his brow trying to think for a way to continue the conversation. "So what do you do?"

"I went into the family business."

"What's 'the family business'?"

Hannibal cleared his throat and recited what he did every time anyone asked that, "Becoming a notorious booze hound, gambler, womanizer, and a general 'Ne'er-do-well'. Always avoiding work, no matter what the cost."

2D had to laugh at that as well. Hannibal continued, "Or at least, that's what I do on the week days. In my free time I like to make music."

"You're into music too?"

Hannibal chuckled, "Heh, who do you think taught Murdoc everything he knows? When we were kids, I was the talented one, you know."

2D was stunned, "Really?"

"Yeah, watch this." Hannibal looked around and found one of 2D's keyboards on the floor. He picked it up and placed it on a stand and began to play.

"Cool!" 2D said as he joined in on another keyboard, and the two continued playing the song together.

When it was over, Hannibal and 2D laughed and bumped fists.

"I like you, Hannibal. You're like Mu'doc, but less grumpy."

"Thanks, I like you too, 2D was it?"

2D smiled and nodded.

Just then, Hannibal heard his father's voice from down the hall. "Oh Han! Mind coming here for a moment please?"

Hannibal sighed, he didn't want to leave. Not yet. He was just starting to enjoy himself. A rare occasion in his life. "Gotta go. Later 2D." He said as he began to walk out.

"Wait!" 2D called after him, "Since you're gonna be stayin' here, maybe we could jam some time?"

Hannibal's face lit up, "Sounds cool." He said as he left the room.

2D was nice. A simple guy, but nice. Hannibal tried not to get too attached. He never kept friends. That was usually his father's fault. His father usually made him betray his friends one way or another for his own benefit. And now that would no doubt happen with 2D.

He should probably go tell his father that his plan was working.