styrofoam stars 🌅| gorillaz + 2d x reader

༄ 8. {rhinestone eyes}

When you awoke, your eyes opened slowly, in such a way that exuded tranquility. For the first time in a while you'd actually gotten a good sleep. At least something in this place was good.

There was no one next to you on the bed. At first, you didn't see an issue with this, as it allowed you more leg room as you yawned and stretched out, but afterwards you remembered who had originally been in the spot. Your head turned away from the wall as you rubbed your eyes gently.

2D was in the floor nearbly, pencil in-hand, scribbling quietly on a crowded-looking page in a blue notebook resting in his lap. He looked preoccupied enough to not even hear that you'd awoken.

You smiled, letting out one last short yawn. "Whatcha doing, D?"

He turned quickly to meet your gaze after you'd spoken. "O-Oh, 'm sorry, heh. G'morning." He squinted somewhat in your direction when met with the reminder of the sun soaking the water right outside the window above you. "'m just writin'."

That explained a lot.

"Writing what?" You prompted curiously.

"Oh, just, uhh..." He glanced down at the notebook, then back to you. "Some songs...maybe for th' next album."

"Really?" Your face perked up as you sat up more attentively. "Can I see?"

He looked away shyly. "W-Well, this one isn't done yet, bu'...y'can see when I finish it. It's rubbish now, y'know, half completed 'n all tha'."

You smiled, nodding. "I'm counting the days." You stood up, feeling oddly refreshed, and threw on a new outfit. 2D made an effort to stare intently at his notebook the entire time. You chatted again briefly as you threw on a shirt. "Don't you have to go up to the studio today?"

"Fink so. In abou' five minutes."

"Jeez, shouldn't we be heading up right about now then?" You asked as you put on a comfortable pair of shorts; after all, the temperature outside was scorching as usual. 

"Probably," he replied. "Jus' got busy, tha's all. Wha's Murdoc gonna do if 'm late, 's he gonna beat me up?"

You shook your head. "Don't give him any ideas."

Come to think of it, it had been a minute since you'd actually seen Murdoc. He mostly got his cyborg to do things for him around the island, so you didn't see him around much unless it was time to record in the studio. Nevertheless, you were fully prepared to approach him with caution. The whole radio show fiasco of last night had not left your mind. 

Keeping these thoughts with you, the two of you took the lift up to the island and to the recording studio.

And oddly enough, when you opened the door, Murdoc was there at the recording table, fumbling with the different notches.

He turned to greet you two with his usual green-ish demeanor. "Ah, 'bout time!" He exclaimed. "Think I've just about got everythin' ready."

"You've got th' gain up way too high." 2D muttered, pointing to a switch next to Murdoc's hand. 

"Like I said! We're ready to go." Murdoc disregarded his response entirely, confidently stepping aside as you sat down in your usual chair at the table. "Well, go on, faceache, time is money in this business!"

"Yeh, I bet it is..." 2D muttered again, just shaking his head and heading into the recording booth. 

When he was settled and ready, you pushed the button that turned on the backing track. 

2D took a second to compose himself; it wasn't hard, as he already looked quite bored; and then began to sing.

"I'm a scary gargoyle on a tower

that you made with plastic power.

Your rhinestone eyes are like factories far away."

It was less like he was singing and more like he was speaking with a slight melodic lilt closely into the microphone, sending shivers up your spine in the process. His eyes mainly focused on the wall next to him as the music carried his voice along. Even when he sounded so completely disinterested he still sounded amazing.

To you, this showed the epitome of true talent. True talent of a truly beautiful person.

And that just about described him, didn't it?

"Your love's like rhinestones, falling from the sky."

He briefly glanced over at you as he said this line, then focused back on the wall.

As one of the accompanying synths of the backing track fell into a brief crescendo, your heart fell along with it, coming back up to greet you with a new wave of butterflies in your stomach.

This familiar feeling brought you back to last night, the memories of which were now swarming in your mind. The way he had rested his head on your shoulder and you could hear your own heart beating fast, the way the last thing you'd seen before you'd fallen asleep was him giving you one of his award-winning shy smiles. 

Your brain had finally caught up with your heart. The truth was becoming increasingly obvious.

You had ever so subtly fallen for 2D, and you weren't sure whether to be excited or terrified.

"Here we go again!"

Your thoughts exactly. The song came to a halt, bringing you back to reality.

"Wow," you marveled, almost in a sort of dream-like state. You looked over to Murdoc. "Wasn't that amazing?"

"Errmm..." Murdoc tapped his chin in thought. "No!" He shook his head. "It was rubbish, let's do it over."

The recording booth was fairly soundproof, but you could still hear 2D groan loudly in protest. You couldn't help but laugh. Then, suddenly, you got an idea. "Alright, we'll take it from here. I'll stay with him while we do the vocal over."

This seemed to satisfy Murdoc, and he left the two of you to your own devices. 2D left the booth to take a break for a moment after he left.  "Y'not really gonna make me do it again, are yew, Y/N?"

"Are you kidding?" You smirked. "No way! It was perfect the first time, Stu." You pat him on the back supportively. "When he asks we'll just show him the same vocal later. He won't be able to tell."

2D laughed, his laugh a sound that was pure music to your ears. "You're a bright one, Y/N."

Suddenly, the studio door opened back up rapidly, and Murdoc came charging back in. "Right!" He exclaimed in announcement. "Change of plans. We're gonna start doin' th' next track early."

"Early?" You repeated in surprise.

"The guest stars I had, er, brought over for me only just now got here, what else am I supposed to do?" Murdoc muttered, then let out his signature dry cough-laugh to quickly dismiss the subject. Speaking of these guest stars, they came through the door behind him; one wore a blue suit and had round sunglasses resting on his face, the other donning a cap and a dark gray t-shirt. They only looked slightly confused as to where they currently were.

"Woah!" You exclaimed. "You got Mos Def and Bobby Womack for this album too??"

2D shrugged. "Apparently."

Mos and Bobby shuffled into the recording booth and got ready. Now all that was needed was 2D.

You looked over at him with concern. "You sure you're up to doing another track, Stu?"

"Like it mattas t'him." He scoffed in Murdoc's direction, but then he looked to you softly. "But I'll be okay, Y/N. Don't worry 'bout it." He smiled meekly, then turned to join the others in the booth.

You watched as he cleared his throat and started up the next track.