Kitten

Chapter 5

It'd only been a few minuets, ten at most, Murdoc had reasoned with himself. So why hadn't he been able to find the boy yet, it's not like he could have gotten far and even if he did he didn't know the mall so it should have been second nature to stay and wait to be found. He'd passed by Russel once on his search, the two of them deciding to spilt the mall in two so they could search, though by the time he'd started to head back down the long hall it already felt like too much time had passed. Russel had assured him they'd find the boy, but even though he knew they would there was still the nagging thought that maybe they wouldn't, they'd be just a second too late to catch him.

Murdoc took a minute to calm himself down after his thoughts started to get the best of him, his head shaking quickly as he brushed off everything. It wouldn't do him any good to start panicking until they had to get the police involved. Which he hoped it wouldn't have to come to that, the kid was probably already scared half to death as it was. Once he was calm he tried to look from a new angle. He'd been looking up the entire time, searching for the shock of blue hair in the crowd assuming it'd be easy to spot with his height; though he hadn't thought of looking down. He knew 2D would probably be scared of his own shadow let alone a crowded mall, he'd probably been curled up somewhere Murdoc hadn't looked.

Sure enough it was only maybe five minutes later that he found 2D, hidden in a side hallway between two stores, looking like he'd had a rather harsh run in with another mall goer, though in the end he figured he'd rather not know. He sent off a quick text to Russel, letting him know the two of them were fine and once he calmed 2D down the two of them would head to the food court for lunch. Soon after he'd slipped his phone away to step closer, crouching slowly in front of the hybrid not wanting to spook him.

"Hey, kitten, you alright there?" He kept his voice soft, one hand moving to rest against 2D's arm a bit awkward in his comforting. It seemed to catch the kittens attention though as his head snapped right up, traces of tears still in his eyes.

"Mudz..." He whined out, reaching to grab onto the elders arm.

"That's right it's me, it's Mudz." Murdoc nodded, the nickname still somewhat new on his tongue.

"I..I got lost." 2D managed to mumble out, his voice still shaky. "I saw something...and I went to look but then I didn't know how to get back. I-it's so big here."

"It's definitely a big mall." He nodded, grimacing at the thought.

"Please don't be mad, I'm sorry." 2D was quick to spill out, gripping tighter against the elders arm when he didn't seem to react well. "I... I won't walk off again I promise. A-and I'll listen better."

"Ahh Doll I'm not mad, just worried. What's got you so worked up?" Murdoc hummed, his free hand moving to run through the kittens hair again.

"I don't wanna mm..." 2D trailed off slightly, nuzzling up closer to the elder with stubborn silence.

"You gotta talk to me here okay? Let me know what's on your mind."

"I don't want you to be mad at me Mudz..." He whined again, a small sniffle coming from the boy.

"So you're upset cause you think I'll be upset?" Murdoc hummed when the kitten nodded. "Why does me being angry worry you so much then?"

"I don't wanna talk about it here..." 2D mumbled out again, taking in a deep breath as he relaxed slowly.

"Alright, how about some food then we can head home for the night and calm down?"

"Food's okay."

Murdoc nodded a little bit at that as he stood slowly, helping 2D up to his feet along with him though he could tell the boy was lost in his own thoughts with how sluggish his movements were. Usually, while somewhat slow, the boy had a spark to him and though he was gaining most of it back Murdoc could tell there was still a heavier sense of tension in the kitten than there usually was and it seemed to be weighing on him quite a bit. Murdoc left it be for now though, knowing if he brought it up with the younger boy it would only make him more nervous around the elder and that was exactly the opposite of what the elder had wanted.