The bassist and the singer ( a 2dace story)

chapter 5 : two men one public restroom.

      Ace hid in a stall smoking a cigarette as he slowly sobered up from the alcohol. He really didn't expect noodle to just so blatantly let out his secret at the table. Sure she was drunk but Ace really had never seen her so wasted to the point of no longer being able to keep secrets. Even during the times that the two had a beer or two with 2d noodle had never gotten this fucking wasted. Ace partly hoped that 2d would just take noodle's words as nothing more than drunk babbling. Though this hope for Ace would quickly get shot down as he heard the bathroom door creak open as 2d calls out genuinely worried that Ace might have headed to the backdoors of the restaurant to try to flee. " Are you here ace?"

Despite Ace not really wanting to confirm to 2d that he was here he could hear some slight concern in the singer's voice.....ace sighed taking a puff of his cigarette as he confirmed his hiding spot to the singer. " yeah i'm here 2d. Just taking a smoke break...sorry if I scared you or the other two when I ran off." Ace hunches his shoulders as he waits for a response form 2d honestly having no clue on how he thinks 2d will respond. 

   2d could tell just from Ace's tone that this was much more than just a smoke break. 2d would walk over to the stall. 2d would sigh as he looked at the door. " Ace, do you mind if I come in? I think we both need to talk...and I rather we both have privacy then have someone walk in on us." ace despite normally thinking of the idea of two people talking in a small stall together was kinda odd ... .agreed with 2d that it would probably be best for the two. Ace would use his free hand to unlock the stall door letting 2d in.

2d walks into the stall closing the door behind him. Due to the stall being quite cramped and small for the two full grown men 2d simply leans himself onto the stall door letting Ace sit on the toilet. Ace sighed as he finished the cigarette he was smoking making sure to not puff the smoke into 2d's face. Ace then looks at 2d and sighed for once breaking his cool guy exterior. " I'm really sorry about noodle 2d....me and her were talking and...well....i'm sure you heard about it."

2d sighed as he slowly nodded. " yeah...noodle isn't the best at keeping secrets when she's that wasted...." 2d felt slightly awkward not really knowing how to talk to ace about the giant bomb of news that had been unintentionally thrown onto 2d. 2d had not genuinely had anyone be romantic attracted to him in almost two decades at this point...and he honestly didn't know if paula was ever genuinely attracted to him or if she was simply just dragging him around and letting him be a lovesick fool while she tried to find someone else who she found much more romantically interesting. Paula made 2d honestly feel hopeless when it comes to love. Nobody wants to be with a socially anxious and trauma ridden fuck like him. 

   Ace would notice that 2d was becoming anxious as 2d slightly fidgets with his own fingers picking at some chipped nail polish on his nails trying to think of anything to say. 2d at this point wasn't even trying to give ace eye contact feeling much too overwhelmed to even concentrate on the man in front of him. Ace sighed knowing that if the two were going to have a talk that he would have to start the conversation able to tell that 2d was mentally tormenting himself.

Ace would clear his throat of any leftover smoke from his cigarette while also getting 2d's attention making the mentally overwhelmed singer look at him. Ace would feel his heart sink seeing 2d's eyes trying to fade to black due to how much his mind was tormenting him. He sighed knowing he needs to calm 2d down first. For once 'ace would use 2d's real name. He only knew it thanks to noodle mentioning to him at one point. " Stu come sit down. You're not ok pal and I can tell." Despite 2d normally being startled by anyone but murdoc using his real name he forces himself to listen to ace knowing he was correct. Ace quickly but quietly switches spots with 2d letting the singer sit on the toilet while ace leans onto the door.

Ace sighed looking at 2d through his black shades. " Stu, I can tell that you're struggling...and I understand that...and I'm sorry if you were made uncomfortable by noodle telling you about the crush- '' 2d shook his head as he mumbles out just loud enough for Ace to hear. " i-it's not that ace...y-you're not the problem....i-i'm...just ......not use to p-people having romantic feelings for m-me...sure f-fans of the band probably have f-feelings for me.....b-but....i'm just...not use to i-it when i'm off s-stage...." ace would listen to 2d's broken up voice as he tries his damn best to explain his response.... Ace felt awful for 2d....and he could only think of one current way to comfort the upset singer. Ace instead of giving a verbal response would gently embrace 2d into a hug mumbling out a quiet and comforting. " I'm so sorry that you feel that way 2d...."  

   2d would slightly flinch at the hug. Sure he was use to hugs from russell and noodle ... .but....him and ace really hadnt hugged before till now. 2d honestly...felt more comfortable in ace's embrace then he expected to...2d would hug ace back and lets out a shaky sigh as he looks at ace. " t-thanks ace...i really needed t-this. " ace nodded as him and 2d embrace each other platonically. " you're welcome stu. Take all the time you need to calm down. I can wait. "

 After another minute or two both men would release the hug . 2d takes a couple more deep breaths finally gaining his composure back . He looks up to ace. Ace felt slightly relieved as he watched 2d's eyes go back to the much more welcoming white hue. 2d sighed feeling more comfortable about talking with ace. 2d would question Ace as he forces his hands into the pockets on his shorts to stop himself from picking anymore at the nail polish. " so...was noodle right? Do you really have a crush on me ace? " Ace nods as he lightly jokes trying to bring him and 2d's spirits more up. '' I'm pretty sure I do. Either that or you're just really cute in that outfit."

Ace's adorable and smooth compliment would make 2d smile as a hint of pink covers 2d's cheeks. " well....i know it probably isn't normal but....i think i need some time to think about this ace....it's not you i promise i'm.....i just.....i haven't been in a romantic relationship in decades...and the last time i was in one...it didn't end well to say the least. '' Ace would quietly listen to 2d. He would nod as he let 2d finish his words. " I'm fine with that 2d. Take all the time you need. Sometimes past relationships just...make it hard to be in another relationship huh?" 2d nodded. " thank you ace ... .I'm sure soon enough that after we get closer...that I'll feel the same way. I just need time to figure out love again." 

   After a couple more minutes of the two talking ace would notice how long the two had been in the bathroom. They had been here for at least an hour if not longer. Ace would sigh lightly joking once more. " Russell and Noodle probably think that one of us got stuck in a toilet or something. " 2d as Ace joked would also now realize how long the two have been in here. 2d sighed with a slight chuckle as he got up from the toilet carefully . " we should probably go let russell and noodle know that where ok. "Ace simply nodded as he unlocked the bathroom door leaving with 2d behind him.

Meanwhile still in the booth Russell was letting a passed out noodle use him as a giant pillow. The poor girl was completely gone at this point. Russell raises his head as he hears 2d and ace walk over. Russell would sigh, feeling any worry that he had for the two leave his mind. " where you two alright? You were both gone for about one and a half hours. I was going to go check on you two but noodle ended up passing out over here and I didn't want to force her awake." 2d nodded as he and Ace grabbed any of their personal items from the booth. " Yeah, we were alright russell. We just had to have a talk that's all.'' Russell, despite knowing that it was probably more than just a talk, decides to not push it seeing as 2d and Ace seemed to be in good spirits. He sighed gently, picking up noodle and putting her over his shoulder. " Let's get back to the studio. It's going to be dark soon and I'm sure that noodle would be much more comfortable in bed than sleeping in this booth. " 2d and Ace nod as they follow Russell out of the restaurant. 2d would pay for the meal as the band head back to the studio needing to rest after this long day.