#no ace

(Here’s another one CB! This one isn’t a reader insert one-shot. No Ace either. Whoops. I hope everyone likes it!)

It's four in the morning. The whole band was up and finishing breakfast. They were going on tour and had a flight to catch. Everyone was in the kitchen, still in pajamas with unbrushed hair.

“I’d kill for a coffee… Literally,” Murdoc rubbed his eyes.

"Mudz, you talk a big game, but I don't think you'd do it," 2D yawned.

"I'm making a pot of coffee. Don't start a fight so early in the morning," Noodle said.

"Does everyone have everything?" Russel asked, "We will not be back home for about four months."

"Russ, I lost my ticket," 2D sighed.

"No, I didn't give you a ticket. You always lose them," Russ responded.

"Coffee's ready," Noodle pulled enough mugs from the cabinet for everyone.

"How in the world are you not tired, Russ?" Murdoc quizzed.

"I adjusted my sleep schedule. I told all of you to do that."

Noodle rolled her eyes, "Alright, I'll drink your coffee if you don't need it."

"Ah hell no. Give me a cup."

2D's head plopped forward on to the table. He hadn't been sleeping well to begin with. He was barely functioning with only about a hour or two of sleep. Noodle pulled out a bigger mug and filled it with coffee. She set the giant cup in front of 2D and nudged him awake.

As he slurped his drink, she handed the other boys theirs. She sat next to Murdoc and sighed. "Are we going to split up at the end of this tour, like usual?"

Everyone froze. Often times, it wasn't planned, but she had a point. The band usually split. Nobody ever thought about how it might effect Noodle. The boys stared tentatively at her, nobody wanting to answer. At this point, they all just expected the parting of ways.

Murdoc cleared his throat, "Noodle, do you, uh, do you want to go separate ways?"

Noodle stared into her coffee, "No... But it doesn't matter what I want, does it?"

"It does," Russ stated.

"Yeah, Noods, none of us thought you liked hanging with us that much," 2D said.

"I do. You guys are my family," Noodle took a sip.

"Then it's settled. I, Murdoc Niccals, leader of the world famous band Gorillaz, has decided that we will not split up," Murdoc opened his newspaper, "Because Noodle wants it so."

(Well, I dunno what to say. I switched the pronouns and there’s an easter egg, but I feel like it’s lacking a little. So, please, please, please tell me if you want it rewritten or a different thing entirely written. I’m very sorry if it’s not what you hope for! I really like angsty Murdoc stuff. If I have to deal with bad mental health, so does he. I think there’s a lot of potential with his character, and I really like showing off his weak side or force him to try to change.)

46. She makes her happy. That’s something you can’t do.

A scream followed by a loud thud ripped through the air. Murdoc’s door swung open, hinges screeching. Murdoc, flushed and seeing red, stormed through the hallway and down the stairs.

Murdoc kept yelling unintelligible nonsense as he knocked pictures off the walls and kicked lamps over. 2D had found a boyfriend, Archie Sutton. He was a green haired bad boy with a heart of gold. They’d met backstage one night and 2D decided a one night stand was in order. However, when morning came and Archie wasn’t gone and already making plans for breakfast together, he’d found that he’d hit the jackpot. Even though the two of them were the closest to a perfect couple as can be, Murdoc was pissed. He couldn’t express his self doubt and jealousy, so instead he was lashing out. Things like slamming the door in Archie’s face and dogging 2D about his new boyfriend were now common, almost everyday occurrences.

“Murdoc, man, you need to stop doing this shit,” Russel said calmly. He stood behind the angry bassist, righting a lamp that’d been knocked to the floor.

Murdoc twisted himself around before unleashing on him, screaming, “Where is he? I know he’s with that guy!”

“Who are you talking about?”

“Do you have worms for brains? 2D! Where is he?”

“That guy is a load of rubbish! He’s going to derail our music writing process, just watch! 2D never know what’s good for him. That’s why he picked a guy with a green mohawk to go steady with!” he continued.

“Archie is a good guy. I like him. And so does 2D,” Russel shrugged, not letting Murdoc’s tone get to him.

“Well, I don’t!”

“He makes him happy. That’s something you can’t do. Something you never tried to do.”

“But I made him a star! I gave him this glamorous lifestyle! I’m the reason he even met Archie!” Murdoc exploded, trying to explain that he felt cheated. That for all their shared animosity, he still expected 2D to favour him above all else.

But Russel wasn’t having any of that. His closest friend was finally living life to the fullest. He was watching his buddy fall in love with someone who didn’t raise more things than his voice when angry. Russel wasn’t about to let Murdoc get in the middle of that.

“You do one thing to break them up, and I will fuck your ass up,” he crossed his arms. Murdoc seemed to shrink a little at the threat.

The air felt heavy and thick. The usually irate man was frozen in time, replaying mistake after mistake without stopping. 2D, standing bloody and dazed after the second crash flooded his mind. Then that night with Paula Cracker. He was getting lost in his horrific blunders. Remember the first time you hit 2D? And the look his parents gave me the first time I called him “faceache.” The time I almost choked 2D to death. The funeral. The messy goodbye. The chloroform. Plastic Beach. Car chase. Plastic Beach. Punch. Plastic Beach. Whale. Plastic Beach. Boogeyman. Plastic Beach. Gunfight. Plastic Beach. Missing. Plastic Beach. Humanz falling flat. Plastic Beach. That look on his face. Why can’t I stop thinking about Plastic Beach? I can’t get that image out of my head!

Russel shook his head, “I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours Mudz, but I’m pretty sure I don’t want to.”

Murdoc looked away. He didn’t have the words to communicate what he wanted and needed to say. Asking for help or admitting mistakes are out of the question. All he could hope for is that someone out there could understand. Understand the things he can’t. All the ruts he’s been stuck in, all the pain he’s caused, and how much pain he really is in.

He swallowed and said in a low and quiet voice, “I guess you think I’m flawed then, huh?”

Russ sighed. “You still can’t admit that you’re wrong.”

Russel walked away, leaving Murdoc alone with himself. He wanted to reach out and pull his friend back. Russ was the last person who still tried to reason with him, and it looked like he just gave up. But all he could do was stare, an almost angry look screwed on his face, and barely whispering the hardest thing he’d said to date.

(The first part of this is here, I hope you like this! I really liked this topic.)

Your scream shattered the peace. Your knees stung as you hit the ground. The rest of the world slipped away and you gripped your hair. Your entire world had disintegrated, and there was no way to put it back together.

Russel stepped into the room. He watched you for a second, trying to gauge your current state. He walked over to you and knelt. Russ placed a hand on your grieving shoulder, trying to ground you. You were rocking with each sob that spilled out.

"I heard. I... I'm sorry," he seemed a little unsure of that last statement. And how could you blame him? Murdoc was no saint. That man drove you mad, and pissed off the rest of his band to no end. But even though, you love him.

You really loved him.

"Oi! What's goin' on?" 2D stomped into the room. "You guys heard the news?"

Russ nodded and gripped your shoulder a little harder, as if a firm grip could protect you from 2D's distaste of your boyfriend. 2D had been acting really weird lately, especially when it came to Murdoc. He was loving the fact that Murdoc was locked up, even laughing at his latest mishaps, much to your disgust. But, he also would brood about it too. It was almost like he couldn't decide whether or not he hates Murdoc.

Russel, however, was very clear that he was glad your lover had been stowed away. There was no sympathy. Murdoc generally left Russ alone, but they've still had their own share of problems. But Russel understood where your heart was. You were madly in love with that boy, and while Russ would occasionally encourage you to pursue better options, he always contained his dislike for Murdoc around you. He's a lot more considerate then anyone gives him credit for.

"Hah, serves that old sod right, goin' out the way he did. I only wish I could've seen it!" snickered 2D. He wasn't really trying to be insensitive, but he wasn't thinking about what he was saying and how it would impact you. But it didn't matter if he meant it or not, he'd already crossed a line.

Murdoc had spent the last few months of his life in his own personal hell. His prison cell was dark and damp. His fellow inmates had it out for him, and he had given them a good reason to keep it going. The guards seemed to enjoy torturing him, what with his wired shut jaw and giving him demeaning tasks. It was Murdoc against an entire prison, and it had been taking a serious toll on him. You could be angry at him for jumping the gun. But instead, you were angry at one the guy who refused to acknowledge how messed up the situation really was.

You tore yourself away from Russel, with a fire in your eyes. You lunged at 2D, absolutely distraught and angry. Murdoc was the love of your life. He was your everything. And now some blue haired punk was laughing about his misfortune and your broken heart. It made something in you snap, as yanked at his shirt collar, trying to shake some sense into him.

"How dare you! Murdoc didn't deserve that, and you know it! I don't care that the two of you hated each other! I love him! I love him with ever fiber of my being! And now he's gone! He's- he's..." you couldn't say it. You just couldn't. It'd make it too real. So instead, you broke down again, wailing your heart out in front of 2D.

He took a step back, and adjusted his shirt. The stretched out collar hung limply off him. As he rubbed the back of his neck, he spoke, "Jesus, calm down, will ya? I doubt that Murdoc is dead. As if that bastard could be taken down that easily. His phone probably just got waterlogged."

He stalked off and you started to quiet down. That's right. He made you a promise, you reminded yourself, and Murdoc never breaks a promise to you. If he was still alive, he'd most certainly find his way back to you. You just had to give him some time.

And then your phone rang. You gasped and reached for it, crossing your fingers. It was probably too soon for the call you were now expecting, but if Murdoc was gonna get ahold of you, now would be a pretty good time.

You brought the phone to your ear and croaked out a hello. The person on the other end started to speak.

Love how it symbolizes the resentment towards societal romantic tropes pressurizing people (or at least that's how I interpreted it lol)

Love how it symbolizes the resentment towards societal romantic tropes pressurizing people (or at least that's how I interpreted it lol)