kids with guns // 2doc

Chapter Eight

 January 29, 1996

Stuart woke tangled in Murdoc's arms. He held the morning paper in his left hand, the other securely wrapped around his waist.

He admitted to himself that he didn't want to move so he decided to not make any noise. He closed his eyes again and lay for a moment taking in the scent that was Murdoc Niccals.

It surprised him how the smell of tobacco and cheap aftershave could be as calming as it was.

"Morning beautiful, ya just gonna lay there or ya wanna get up?"

Stuart momentarily froze, and the fact that chapped lips and a scruffy chin were on his forehead kissing him, didn't help his case.

He slowly sat up, a feverish blush taking over his face.

"G'mornin Mudz, how'd yuh sleep?" he decided to quickly change the subject.

"Lil ol me? Oh I slept like a baby. Did ya know that you're really great at cuddling and admitting your love to me in your half asleep state?"

Stuart's eyes widened but he mustered up his best smile that turned out looking more forced than he intended.

"Eh... how's breakfs' soun' tuh yuh?" he again made a miserable attempt at redirecting the conversation.

"Mmm... breakfast does sound nice yeah?"

Stuart felt a hand roughly grab him by the chin and was pulled closer to Murdoc's face not having a second to react.

"You sound quite nice to have this lovely morning too, don't ya agree?" Murdoc croaked out in his hoarse morning voice.

Stuart's stomach was tied in a knot. He wanted to shove Murdoc away but he couldn't. He just sat there holding his breath.

Murdoc flicked his eyes from Stuart's to his lips before hastily planting a soft kiss on Stuart's lips.

Stuart kissed him back. He didn't know what the hell he was doing, but he'd be damned if he didn't try.

Murdoc's other hand loosely cupped one side of Stuart's face, the other hand mimicking the action.

With hesitation Stuart pulled himself onto Murdoc, never once making an attempt to part their lips. He felt Murdoc's hands trail down and rest on his waist, giving them a slight squeeze.

It was a small action, but it covered Stuart's body in goosebumps. Murdoc was the first to pull away, but Stuart refused to look at him.

He was conflicted with his own thoughts. Not to mention he was burning up faster than he intended. Did he like the kiss? He thought he did. Was it just for fun? Did he want it again? He had no idea.

"What's on ya mind?"

"Uh dunno aneh muh..."

Murdoc cupped Stuart's face and rubbed his callused finger over his cheek in a circular motion.

"I'll stop if you want me to..."

Stuart shook his head no and put his hand over Murdoc's finally looking up and making eye contact.

"Mudz I'm sca'ed." Stuart said in a shaky voice.

"Why love?"

"I'm sca'ed tha' yuh gonna stop lyekin me and tha' I'll 'ave to look at yuh every day afteh tha'. I' sca'es me Mudz. I' really does."

Murdoc sat taken slightly aback. Throughout this entire time he had been under the impression that maybe the reason Stuart was scared was because he didn't see him like that.