2D woke up with a roaring headache. His hands flew to cover his face from the light, as if trying to rub the pain away. After a few minutes, he gave up, stretching his arm out to grab his pills. Fumbling with the lid, he popped two of his migraine pills. He picked up his scratched and worn alarm clock, it read 7:03 A.M. After spending a few minutes staring at all the crap in his room, he put on shorts and t-shirt that may or may not be clean, and stuffed his feet into his worn out sneakers. Kicking random things out of his way, he managed to pull his door open enough to get into the hallway before it slammed shut behind him. The lights above his head flickered as he made his way to the kitchen for breakfast. Noodle was sitting on the counter, swinging her legs and eating toast. Russel was playing with his cereal, his head propped up on his hand.

2D pulled the cabinets open, looking for something that resembled an edible food item. Accepting defeat, he settles on toast. As usual, Russel's monstrous appetite got rid of the cereal and milk and pretty much everything else in the house.

Setting his plate with toast on the table, he slumped into a chair and stared at it with disinterest. Russel glanced at him and turned back to his own breakfast, now soggy.

"What's up with you, 'D?" Russel said into his bowl.

"Nofing. Jus' tired, thas all," 2D said, yawning. He ran a hand through his azure hair, shaking a few stray strands of hair onto his shoulders.

"We got practice today, 'D. Don't forget this time," Russel said, motioning to all the papers with scribbled lyrics and music on them that were strewn across the table, "you sure you feelin' alright? Don't wanna call practice and have to cancel again…you know how Murdoc gets."

2D shuddered at the memory of the last band practice. What had even happened? 2D was sure Murdoc had punched out another one of his teeth. "Don' worry, I'll be there."

Noodle shimmied off the counter and jammed her plate into the overflowing sink. "Who's turn is it to do dishes?" She said as she wrinkled her nose, "I did them last week."

"2D was week before, I was week before that. Must be Murdoc's," Russel said through his food, splattering the papers with milk and soggy bits of cereal.

"Where is Muds an'way?" 2D asked, turning around to put his plate on the kitchen counter.

"Not sure. In his 'bago?" Russel said, slightly annoyed at Muds' locational reference.

"Wan' me to get 'im?" 2D asked. He was hoping Russel said no, Murdoc was terrible in the morning. To his dismay Russel said, "Sure. Wake his lazy ass up. I sure as hell didn't want to do it."

Sighing, 2D stood, brushed the crumbs off his clothes, and headed out of the kitchen and out of Kong. He trekked through the car lot, the late-July air hitting him lazily. He leaned up against the door of the 'bago, banging on the door, yelling for Murdoc to wake up. The door swung in so fast that 2D almost fell in.

"Wha' the hell do ya think you're doin'?!" Murdoc growled. 2D has obviously woken him up, he wasn't even dressed yet.

"Wakin' you up," 2D mumbled, "Russel told me to."

"O' course," Murdoc rolled his eyes, "can ya come up wit a good reason to wake me up next time?"

2D stared at Murdoc blankly.

"Whas wrong wit you, face-ache?" Murdoc asked, his tone somewhat softer than before.

"Nuthin', Muds. Tired, thas all," 2D said, looking over Murdoc's shoulder with casual disinterest. He half-expected Murdoc to hit him. Murdoc always beat the living hell out of him.

"'m sorry," Murdoc said, way softer than before.

Murdoc? Saying sorry…? What the hell is going on today, 2D thought to himself. He shook his head slightly. "Well? Ya gonna get into Kong?"

"When 'm good and ready, face-ache," Murdoc grumbled, back to his sour attitude. He left the door open as he turned away, which was odd for him. "Well? Ya comin' in or wha?"

2D stepped inside, closing the door behind him. The 'bago wasn't as messy as it usually was, it almost looked vaguely cluttered, a giant step up, considering Murdoc's house keeping skills. Cortez perched himself on the nightstand, cocking his head and staring at 2D with beady, black eyes. "So why'd ya wan' me to come in?"

"I dunno. Ya gonna question everyfing?" Murdoc said as he rummaged through piles of clothes.

"Guess not," 2D muttered, leaning against the door frame, hands shoved in his jean pockets, "is' your turn to do the dishes."

"Okay?" Murdoc said, pulling on a pair of battered jeans, "'ll do 'em later."

"Awight," 2D said, "am I allowed at go now?"

"Not really," Murdoc said, buttoning up a purple shirt. 2D remembered him wearing it one of the first Christmas Eve's the Gorillaz had spent together. He looked cute in it.

Where the hell did that come from?! Checkin' out my own band members…an' Murdoc, no les'! 2D thought, hoping he wasn't blushing at his thoughts.

"Whas wrong wit ya, really?" Muds asked, stepping over piles of random objects and holding 2D's face in his, peering into his eyes.

Please don' blush, please don' blush…2D thought pleadingly. But his hands were so warm, and comforting. He resisted the urge to push his face into his mate's palm.

"Nofing, I told ya already!" 2D said, pulling his head back, but Murdoc caught him by the shoulder.

"Ya know, face-ache, ya can talk to me. Don' have to keep things bottled up, ya know?" Murdoc said softly. Where the hell was this side of Murdoc coming from? He had never seen him before, but 2D almost liked this side of Muds.

"Ya, ya, I know," 2D said uncomfortably.

Murdoc let go of 2D, his arms falling to his sides and his face twisted into a grimace for a brief moment. "Alright. C'mon, les' get inta Kong."

2D nodded dumbly, pushing the door open. He was all too aware of Murdoc walking behind him. He couldn't think straight.

Why the hell am I finkin' dis way…I can't, jus' can't.