𝚗𝚞𝚖𝚋 ; 𝟸𝚍𝚘𝚌

chapter five

*takes place about a week after the last chapter*

also i know nothing abt detroit bc i've only been once so i'm basing it around the place where i live.

also, i should note that everclear (the drink i'm mentioning) is about 95% alcohol, so yeah. (the article said "this grain spirit contains a suicidal 95% alcohol and is colourless, odourless and tasteless")

also note that this chapter reveals a bit about 2D and his life since leaving spirit house. just a heads up.

also, if i didn't mention it, this is going to have 15 numbered chapters

**

"2D, you're not trying hard enough!"

The bluenette frowned, furrowing his brows, and plucked another string of the guitar like it was a stray hair. "No... you know what? Gimme the damn thing. Watch how I do it," Murdoc said and 2D obeyed, sitting on the old leather sofa. He watched as Murdoc's calloused fingers moved effortlessly over the strings, the dirnts of the guitar filling the room.

"Murdoc, ya know... that would make my fingers bleed," Stuart said and Murdoc rolled his eyes. "That, my friend, is why you use a guitar pick," he stated with a sarcastic tone, handing the bass back to Stuart, who took it and immediately sat it on his lap. Murdoc handed him a blue guitar pick and Stuart stared at it instead of taking it from the Satanist.

Murdoc groaned. "Nevermind. Just... stay here for a second. I'll be right back."

2D nodded and placed his hands on his lap, tapping his foot and humming to himself. Murdoc returned with a small box and handed it to the bluenette, who stared at it in confusion. "Open it," Murdoc nudged and Stuart loosened the bow.

"I mean, you don't have to accept, but I just... I don't want you to be alone."

2D pulled the piece of folded paper out of the box and unfolded it, then began to read.

I know this seems sudden, but I want you to live here again. Noodle and Russel could live here too if they wanted, but I'm more concerned about you at the moment.

2D folded the paper again and looked up with tears in his eyes. He didn't know what to say. He wanted to live there again, but at the same time, he felt like it would be yet another toxic situation that he'd have no way of removing himself from.

"Lemme think about it... okay?" he asked and Murdoc nodded. "Take all the time you need. You know where I am if you decide to agree."

2D left the house and began walking, at the same time he kept looking back, feeling like he shouldn't be walking away. But, for his own sanity, he kept walking.

Upon walking into the city, he passed by the place he and Murdoc first reconnected. It had only been two weeks, but it felt like longer.

2D's phone began to ring and upon looking at the screen, he realized that the call was from Noodle. He didn't know whether or not he should answer, so he just let it ring.

He began to think about what would've happened if he hadn't seen the others. He had planned to kill himself when he got home, but thanks to Murdoc and Noodle and Russel, he was still alive. He didn't particularly like this being alive thing, but he didn't hate it.

He walked into the liquor store and purchased a bottle of Everclear before continuing on to his apartment. He wanted to drown himself in the drink in the hopes that he could avoid answering Murdoc's question about moving back in.

He did want to move back in, but didn't have the mental state in order to agree, so he'd said he'd think about it. Maybe, he thought. Maybe I won't fuck up if I say yes. But if I say no, I'll feel guilty.

Just say no, Stuart. Save yourself the guilt and just kill yourself. Say you can't, then kill yourself.

No. He couldn't have this conversation. Not in public. There were too many people around who would think he was crazy. He wasn't crazy. He swore he wasn't. But the voice – which sounded an awful lot like Murdoc and was most definitely a hallucination – sounded so real and so... vivid, making it seem like he was crazy. Which he wasn't. Or at least, that's what he liked to tell himself.

With the bottle tucked under his arm and his keys in his hand, 2D proceeded to unlock his door, then closed it behind him and sat on the sofa.

"What am I doing to myself?" he questioned aloud, pinching the bridge of his nose in mild distress. He opened the bottle and took a large drink of it before setting it down on the coffee table. Maybe the voice was right. Maybe he should kill himself. It had always been an option ever since Murdoc hit him with his car. He couldn't do it.

But, oh how he so desperately wanted to.

And as if by an unknown force, he stood up, walked to the bathroom, opened a random bottle of pills, and downed each capsule until the bottle itself was empty. He then swallowed an entire bottle of a different medicine, immediately making him collapse. In hindsight, this was a bad idea and he needed help.

He crawled out of the bathroom and towards the living room, tears beginning to rush down his cheeks at a rapid pace. He felt lightheaded and wanted to scream because he couldn't for the love of God find his phone. After a minute or so, he found it lying on the coffee table, so he grabbed it and fell to the floor, this time unable to even crawl.

Stuart dialed the only person he knew would pick up and held the phone to his ear in a shaky hand, continuing to cry. After two rings, Murdoc picked up.

"2D? What's wrong?"

2D choked out a sob. "I'm so-sorry. I- p-please. I f-feel like I'm d-dyin'," he said, shaking. He heard Murdoc gasp. "I'll be there as soon as I can, alright? Just stay calm," he said and 2D nodded. "O-Okay."

Murdoc hung up and Stuart dropped his phone on the floor. Maybe living with Murdoc would be a good idea. At least he wouldn't almost kill himself again. Maybe.

When Murdoc got there, 2D felt more on the brink of death than when he'd first called the Satanist. He was still on the floor, so Murdoc lifted him up, weirdly surprised at how light the bluenette was. All 2D did was groan when he was lifted, but allowed Murdoc to carry him out to the car, which finally had gas in it.

Stuart was laid in the backseat before Murdoc got in the driver's seat and sped off towards the hospital. 2D figured out how much lung capacity he had and began to panic because his lungs were slowly giving up.

"C-Can't breathe..." he choked out as they arrived in front of the hospital, the car screeching to a halt. Murdoc got out of the car and retrieved the bluenette from the backseat, then ran inside. Again, because 2D was so light, it was an easy task.

"We need a doctor!" Murdoc shouted, to which a female doctor came racing out. Another doctor – this one being a man in his early-30s – ran out with a pram wheeling in front of him. 2D was laid onto it and whisked away by both doctors. Murdoc was forced to stay back and wait while Stuart was taken away.

**

i'm watching the game grumps play skyward sword – which i've played only once rip. tbh i only got to the part where you've gotta find the kikwis

but anyways, the next chapter may take a bit because these do take a while to write.

anyways, if you enjoyed this chapter, please do vote and comment what you thought of it! this is sort of part 1 & next chapter will be part 2, but labeled '6'.

bye!