The Better Pill (2D X Murdoc)

10

Stuart cocked his head and looked at Murdoc with a confused expression.

"Wha' is wha'?"

The older male quickly leaned towards the bluenette and picked something up off of the ground next to him. Stuart was still oblivious to whatever was going on, at least, until he saw what Murdoc had in his hand.

"This."

In his hand, Murdoc held up a small piece of wrinkled, folded paper. The same piece of paper he had been bullied for having a month ago. The same piece of paper that confessed his identity along with his feelings for Murdoc. The same piece of paper he had meant to throw out weeks ago. It was now resting in the hand of his crush who would surely be disgusted if he read it.

"Murdoc please! You c-can't read tha'!" Stuart shrieked, reaching towards the note to grab it but only for it to be yanked out of his reach.

In that moment, Murdoc was torn between loyalty and jealousy. He had, in fact, recognized this as the note he had grabbed when Stuart was being beat behind the school. It was indeed a love letter. But this whole month they had been together, Stuart never mentioned anything about the person it was for.

The fact that he had been holding onto it for so long must've signified that whoever he liked meant the world to him.

After all, Murdoc was the one who told Stuart to keep fighting for his love. He cursed himself for that now.

"Why can't I read it?" He questioned, trying to fight off the jealousy that was burning in his veins.

"You jus' can't! Please... I don't wan' you ta be mad at me." Stuart sighed, still trying to reach for the note.

Murdoc's expression of anger quickly switched to curiosity upon hearing the statement.

"Why would I be mad at ya?"

"You wouldn't understan', Muds."

"Why not?"

"Because you're not... Neva'mind. Jus', please give it back?"

"Let me read it."

"You'll neva look at me the same way eva again, Muds."

"I'm your friend, Stu. Nothin' will change tha'."

"Ya say tha' now, but you'll regret sayin' it."

"I promise, I won't. It's jus' a letter, how bad could it be?"

"If tha's really wha' you fink, I'll let you read it. I'll be waitin' in tha' park a few blocks from 'ere if you wanna chat afta'wards. If ya don' come, I'll take tha' as my answer."

Murdoc stared at Stuart as he stood to his feet (refusing to make eye contact with him) and walked out of the alleyway with his hands in his pockets. Once he left, Murdoc turned his eyes to the note, shakily unraveling it from its folded state.

A small gasp unknowingly escape him as he stared at the familiar handwriting. He froze as he simply thought about what it all meant. Stuart was the mystery person. He had fallen for Stuart long before he was even aware of it himself. The 'mystery person' had met him at the bar that night, but he had the audacity to say he was waiting for a bird right in front of Stuart's face. Murdoc began to feel sick.

-----

Hello Murdoc. It's Stuart. If you're receiving this letter, it means I finally decided to reveal who I am to you. It also means I wanted to reveal my feelings to you as well... That's right. I, Stuart Pot, am in love with you, Murdoc Niccals.

Originally, I never planned to tell you who I was, let alone actually meet you. You didn't even know who I was at the time and I knew that the fact that I was a guy would most definitely unsettle you. When you first walked into the shop I was working in, my heart stopped and I couldn't even tell you to this day how happy I was to officially meet you. But it scared me.

I knew if I was around you, I'd only fall that much farther for you. Giving you letters from a safe distance was one thing, but I quickly grew addicted to talking to the real you. Even if you'd never admit to it, you were sweet and kind; and unlike everyone else at school, you treated me normally despite my outward appearance. Those times when you would play bass with me at the shop were my favorite. You'd get so focused and entranced in the music that I just couldn't take my eyes off you. You were stunning. You still are.

It took everything in me to give you the note that asked you to meet me at the bar after school. You probably wouldn't believe either that after I slipped it into your locker, I desperately tried to get it back out but couldn't do it. I was terrified but there was no turning back.

The first time I ever saw you was in that bar. You were... twelve I think. You had a giant cut across your right cheek and your clothes were stained in blood. I remember just sitting there and watching you for the longest time. You have no idea how badly I wanted to talk to you that day but I was too shy. After that day, it was like I started to see you everywhere around town. Like it was fate pulling me towards you (as dumb as it sounds). I've seen you give up your meals to stray dogs and I've seen you at the cemetery crying over your mother's gravestone. And it broke my heart every time to watch you do it all alone.

It was when I was around thirteen years old that I finally figured out I liked you.

But it was only within this last year that I had the confidence to reach out towards you, even if you never knew of my existence beforehand.

Fast forward to the day we met at the bar, when you walked in those doors, it was like falling for you all over again. You dressed nicely and I could tell that you cared. It made me so incredibly happy and I'll never forget that feeling. When you walked up to me, my heart was pounding out of my chest. I just really couldn't believe that you came for my sake. Even if you didn't acknowledge me in that way, I was so happy you were there.

I care about you so much Murdoc. Even if you aren't gay or you just aren't interested, I understand. I just want you to know that I'll be there whenever you need me. I love you Murdoc. Nothing will change that.

-----

Murdoc found his eyes tearing up in spite of himself. It was a feeling he'd never felt before. He was loved. The words Stuart wove together on that simple piece of paper pulled at his heart strings like nothing else had ever done before.

The raven haired teen neatly folded the note into his pocket and looked towards the exit of his alleyway. He had a bluenette to go find.