multi-fandom oneshots ( mostly gorillaz and undertale)

picking up the pieces

( hello hello readers! before you read this fic i need to warn you about a few tws along with encouraging you to read : rose tinted glasses, red flags, lit sparks, and A start to something amazing before you read this fic so you have the context you need to understand what happened before this fic took place. in this fic the tws are for : mentions of abuse/assult. if you are okay with reading on with this warning in place then please continue my lovely reader! ) 

        2d was thrilled to finally be out of the hospital that he and murdoc had called home for two months. He was even more thrilled about Murdoc's idea to start a band. He would finally be able to use his talents and not have them be used as something to entice him with to put him in danger. Due to murdoc and 2d not having much cash 2d had temporarily gone back to working at the music shop in comfort!village. Despite his still partial blindness after working the shop only two years ago he still knew the place like the back of his own hand. He would sit at the register waiting for customers due to it being still quite early in the day. He would hum to himself while taking the time he has without customers to organize the money in his register so he wasn't struggling with giving a customer their change or any other money issues.

As 2d got himself set up for the day a...not so friendly face would walk in the shop. As the bell on the door chimed, 2d would glance up. Despite his slight blindness...he could tell exactly who he was looking at. He would give Paula a slight glare as his chipper customer service demeanor went to a much more defensive one. Despite wanting to yell at paula to get away from him....he forces himself to take a deep breath holding it in his lungs as he does his damn best to be professional. Don't let her get to you...just do your job.

Paula, unlike how 2d and her had first met in the shop, was in much rougher condition. She had completely abandoned the horrid dresses and skirts that she could barely stand wearing in the club let alone outside and instead wore some baggy torn to hell bell bottom jeans along with a band t-shirt covered with a dark red flannel. Her makeup was still caked on her face after sleeping in it the night before and you could tell that her messy hair was certainly the least of her problems. Paula as she slightly limped in the store would notice 2d....she wouldn't say a single word ... ..after that phone call...she doubted that 2d honestly wanted to see her pitiful face let alone have to talk to her. She would shove her hands into her jean pockets as she would do her best to not waste time and get out as soon as possible.

2d as he silently watched Paula would notice...how hard she was trying to hide...her completely bent out of shape ankle along with some severely bruised up hickeys on her neck that the collar of her flannel was not big enough to hide despite her trying. You could also see faint tear marks under some caked on foundation coating Paula's face. Despite 2d hating the feeling....he truly felt bad for paula...she might have made his life pretty difficult...but even with her drugged influenced fight with him on the phone...he still had a big heart and still had at least a little bit of pity for her.

As Paula made her way to the register with some guitar picks she would just continue to stay silent as she allowed 2d to check out her purchase. 2d would watch Paula as she slightly looked away from him under her sunglasses feeling awkward as she continued to not let out a single peep from her messy red lipstick coated lips. As 2d would work he would attempt to break the silence as he slightly cleared his throat. " hey paula ... .are you okay? " Paula would glance over to 2d...she would force out a lie from her lips as she didn't need the much more innocent 2d in her personal business. "I'm fine...just tired. Needed new picks, that's all. "

2d couldn't help but frown as Paula blatantly lied to his face. Despite knowing paula wanted to get out as quickly as possible 2d couldn't help it but let his slightly mended soul show as he attempted to get the truth out of paula. " those hickeys say otherwise..." Paula would sigh as 2d pointed out her lie...she would attempt to pull her collar closer to her neck. " i'm fine stu...it was just a stupid decision of mine..." 2d despite being hurt by paula more times then he could count while living in bloom!lust city...felt his soul ache as he heard her try to defend other...horrible people's actions...he would sigh saying something that he honestly never thought he would say as he forced his grudge for paula aside. " ...do you want to get out of bloom!lust city and move in with me paula? I'm living with a roommate and...he has some extra space..I'm sure he wouldn't mind letting you stay for a bit."

Paula would fully give 2d her attention...despite the offer being tempting...she would force herself to at first shake her head as she sighed. " Stu it isn't a good idea...besides...id be a burden to you two anyways ... .i'd be jobless and I have no money or a way to pay rent at all- " 2d would gently cut off paula as he cleared his throat. " It's fine Paula ... .I'll pay for you to stay...I don't care if you pay me back or not... you need to get out of that horrible city. "Paula would force herself to listen to 2d...despite feeling like he was simply pitying her and forcing himself to give her another chance despite her not deserving it...she would sigh with a nod. "Fine ... .where is your apartment? "

After a long work day at the music shop 2d would make it back to him and Murdoc's shared apartment. Due to murdoc, wade, and gambit living in the apartment during college it was quite big. 2d would walk in taking his sweatshirt off and placing it on the coat hook attached to his bedroom door. As 2d worked on getting himself cleaned up from work murdoc would temporarily come out of his bedroom hearing 2d walking around. " heya stu. How was work? " 2d would glance at Murdoc as he grabbed himself a grape soda from the fridge to slurp down. "It was alright. I have some news too. " murdoc would give 2d a curious look as he made his way over. "Hm? What's the news about? " 2d sighed as he attempted to find the best way to explain what is going on to murdoc. " my ex...came to my shop today...and she was in...really bad shape...i know we haven't had the best relationship but...i invited her to live with us for a while...i know i should have asked you first but...i didn't think about it. "

Murdoc would listen to 2d doing his best to not react in a rude way as he heard 2d talk about his ex. 2d had a much more caring and forgiving soul then he does. After that phone call 2d had with paula in the hospital that nearly costed 2d's life from her horrid comments to him...he truly couldn't mentally understand how 2d could still care for her so much. Though murdoc would force his already bittered thoughts on paula before even meeting her down as he nodded. " it's fine stu...just...don't let her get under your skin like she did during that call alright? If you don't like how she's bloody treating you then you tell me and i'll put her in her place..." 2d would nod. Despite not wanting it to get to that extreme...2d appreciated how much murdoc cared about keeping the house a mental and physical safe space.

As the two chatted a knock would be heard at the front door. 2d would put his soda down as he went to answer the door for paula. Due to paula not wanting to spend more time then she had to in bloom!lust city she had only brought the stuff she could stuff in her car leaving all the bigger stuff from her home to rot in her old horrid apartment full of negative memories that she wanted to at least attempt to put behind her. 2d would take some of Paula's boxes from her hands as he would muster the same friendly smile he had given her the first time they had met two years ago. " I'll bring your stuff in paula. You just make yourself comfortable. Your bedroom is the one on the far left."

Paula would silently nod to 2d as she let him do his thing. As she walked into the apartment fully she would notice murdoc...despite her mind being blurry from all the horrid hard substances she had poisoned her body with for nearly over a decade at this point...she could swear that she had...seen murdoc before. Murdoc seemed to feel the same as he had to take a double take while looking at paula...hmph. Murdoc would break the silence as he would question. " Do I know you? " Paula would ponder as she attempted to figure out if she genuinely had an answer for murdoc...she shrugged with a sigh. " i've seen so many faces in my life...it wouldn't surprise me at this point...my name is paula..paula cracker..i'm stu's ex. "

Despite Murdoc having a name to go with her face...his mind was completely blank...maybe it was just a different person or something. Murdoc would slightly shake his head as he sighed. " eh it's probably just a different person or something like that...i'm murdoc. Stu has told me a little bit about you but not a whole lot. " Paula would sigh....she honestly wasn't surprised that 2d didn't want to talk about her...she couldn't blame him for wanting to shut her out of his mind. She nodded. " we didn't have the best relationship ... .i'm honestly surprised he even invited me to live with you two..." murdoc would listen to paula before nodding. " Stu has quite the big heart for folks...he even forgave me somehow after the car crash...he easily forgives. "Paula couldn't help but agree with murdoc...maybe this would be a good change in her life...at least she hoped.