Back to school, a time of woe for some, but joy for others. Being able to meet up with your friends again is enough to make some people's day, especially if they couldn't hang out with their friends during the half term.

For this first week back, 2d was tasked with persuading Noodle and Russel to rejoin the band, which was no easy task. He decided to start with mildly implying that their act of leaving the band was no more than a temporary strike, and would soon be over. On the first Monday back, 2d hunted down Russel, and handed him the lyrics to Clint Eastwood, with the rap highlighted.

"Wh-... What's this?" Russel hesitantly asked, looking down at the sheet of paper. Of course he knew what it was, having recognised the title as one of Murdoc's songs, but he didn't understand why he was receiving it.

"It's the lyrics to one of our rap songs." 2d smiled, holding his hands behind his back as an implication that Russel couldn't hand it back. Russel raised his eyebrow at the word our, it sounded like 2d was working for Murdoc, which he sort of was. "They're for Del." 2d smiled even brighter, seeing the visibly confused Russel.

"What- How do you-?" In his previous schools, Russel used to get bullied about the ghosts. He was seen as weird and treated like an outcast, prompting him to mistrust others and easily isolate himself. Initially, he didn't even plan to tell Noodle about this, but Del wasn't too keen on secrets, and one day he just materialised himself in front of her. Russel was scared that Noodle would be afraid of him and they'd stop being friends, but Noodle found this cool, and immediately befriended Del. Russel was never fully aware of their relationship, as Del could only appear when Russel was at least half unconscious.

That's why Russel had mixed feelings about the sheet of paper 2d just handed him, because if he knew, then Murdoc also knew. Murdoc, in Russel's mind, was the sort of person who would exploit this sort of information, or use it as blackmail. Russel spent the entire day thinking about this sheet of paper, but ultimately ended up throwing it in the bin by his desk. It was a nice and clean bin, mostly for wasted paper or sweet rappers, and that's why Del didn't have a problem with taking the lyrics out, once Russel went to sleep. He liked them.

-

While 2d was coming up with new ways to make the band whole again, Russel and Noodle were on a quest of their own; finding out who Stuart Pot is.

They begun their search by simply asking around, but that wasn't so successful. When asked, most people responded with either confusion, or asked if they were talking about 2d -aka the guy who spent most time with Murdoc. Russel and Noodle grew more frustrated with every person they talked to, until they stumbled upon a certain someone. Or at least thought they did.

Word had gotten out that Russel and Noodle were trying to figure out who Stuart Pot is, despite being friends with 2d. This caught the attention of one of gossip girls minions, and he decided to approach them in order to find out more about what they're doing, and why.

"Excuse me!" Noodle piped up, looking at the boy on a secret mission.

"Do you know who Stuart Pot is?" Russel continued the question once they had the boys attention.

"What do you mean?" The boy asked, carefully assessing the situation.

"Y'know, Stuart Pot. The guy who hangs around Murdoc." Russel tried to explain, but didn't really know how to, seeing as they only knew so little about him.

"You mean 2d?" The boy posed the inevitable answer. Frustrated, Russel rubbed his face.

"No. Stuart Pot." He almost growled. "The guy that's dating Murdoc." He accidentally blurted out, to which the boy just stared at him in disbelief.

"You mean.... Stuart Pot and Murdoc Niccals are dating?!" The boy had shock and mischief written on his face, causing Russel to regret his haste words.

"Yes...?" Russel wasn't sure if he wanted to continue this conversation. Noodle looked over at him, just as unsure about this.

"What?! Is that really true??"

"Yeah, pretty sure it is." Russel mumbled, thinking that the damage was already done and there was no way to take it back. Maybe the kid would just forget?

"I've gotta tell everyone!" Or not. They boy run away, leaving Russel and Noodle with regrets, fully aware that they just ruined Murdoc's efforts to keep a gay relationship secret.

Once gossip girl found out about this, she wasn't pleased. Part of her job was to erase all traces of such dirt from Murdoc's name and she wasn't about to mess up. She ordered the minion to not spread the information until they received official confirmation from Murdoc himself, while she set out to find Russel and Noodle before the situation got out of hand...

-

Russel and Noodle found it extremely weird how no one could recognise Stuart Pot from 2d. It almost felt like they were running around chasing a ghost. It was frustrating. But that did not justify what they just did. Or rather, what Russel did, since he was the one who spilled the beans.

He was supposed to go to the canteen with Noodle at lunch, that's what they told Murdoc and 2d they'd do, but instead he set out for the haunted staircase, alone, to tell Murdoc what happened. What Russel saw when he got there, however, was not what he expected...

The sight was almost surreal, though not unexpected. Russel suspected this was secretly going on all along, but didn't expect Murdoc and 2d to slip up this quickly... When Russel walked to the haunted staircase he saw Murdoc pinning 2d to the wall, one hand holding both 2d's hands above his head and the other on 2d's body, harshly making out with him.

"What... the fuck." If Russel was holding anything at the moment, he definitely would have dropped it on the floor out of shock.

Hearing this, Murdoc pulled away from 2d and looked at Russel, though he didn't drop his stance. 2d, with his hands still pinned, looked down with a red face, embarrassed and ashamed. Unlike Murdoc, he wasn't bold enough to look Russel in the eyes. He felt like he was being kink shamed, pinned against the wall in a position that almost screamed 'I like to bottom'. And Murdoc loved embarrassing 2d like that, loved showing off that he was his property.

"What." Murdoc asked nonchalantly, as if the situation was completely normal. As if he wasn't just making out with his alleged best friend while at the same claiming everything's going fine with his crush.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Russel managed to say, his face contorted in a mixture of disgust, worry, and just plain ol' confusion.

"Well, mate, I think you'll find that's none of your bloody business." Murdoc almost chuckled. Russel stared at him in disbelief, before turning to 2d.

"2d, why are you letting him do this to you?!" He exclaimed. "Murdoc has a boyfriend!" 2d's head shot up.

"What...??" At first panicked, 2d begun thinking about what the hell that could mean. Glancing at Murdoc, he saw him equally confused and figured that maybe this was just a misunderstanding. Murdoc wouldn't cheat on him; not after all those 'I love you''s and hickeys and promises to never be with anyone else. That's when Murdoc burst out.

"The fuck are you on about?!" He was a confused angry, with his eyebrows furrowed. The last thing he needed was Russel and Noodle turning 2d against him, which they were already trying their best to do. Though 2d would never believe them, right?

"Murdoc's already dating someone. He's using you." Russel continued.

"Huh??" 2d looked back between the two, seeking an explanation.

"What?! No I'm not! I don't have a boyfriend!" Murdoc raged, loving the idea of dating 2d, but they weren't official just yet. It felt like a loading bar stuck at 99%, it was practically complete, but not done.

"Yeah you do~" Noodle suddenly appeared, materialising out of thin air like Del, giving Russel a scare. It was almost as if she could sense the gayness. Murdoc slowly moved away from 2d, giving up hope on continuing what they where doing after Russel left. 2d stood awkwardly against the wall, holding his forearms.

"Murdoc...?" He delicately asked, a bit intimidated by the tense atmosphere. "Do you know what they're talking about..?"

"I don't!" Murdoc threw his hands in the air and then turned to Russel and Noodle. "You better explain yourself and stop lying to my bird." He warned, though 2d thought that bird part was a bit unnecessary.

"You talked about him all the time in band practice." Russel smugly crossed his arms, as if he's already won the argument.

"Murdoc-san has huge crush~!" Noodle chimed with a grin plastered over her face.

"I do not!" Murdoc childishly protested.

"Wh-Who is it...?" 2d turned to Russel and Noodle.

"Yeah, who??" So did Murdoc.

"Well isn't it obvious?" Russel smirked. "The singer of your band. Stuart Pot." This left both Murdoc and 2d stunned.

"You love him~!" Noodle sang along.

"M-Mudz... i-is that true...?" 2d asked, blushing, as if he didn't already know it was. But then again admitting it in public always feels a bit different than when you're alone.

"Definitely." Russel and Noodle nodded in unison.

"Well, you know it is.." Murdoc rubbed the back of his neck and looked away from Russel and Noodle, in the general direction of 2d, who spotted a light blush on his cheeks.

"2d, are you alright with this?" Russel asked, seeing a gentle smile forming on 2d's lips. "With knowing that Murdoc's dating another guy?"

"Well I sort of knew all along." 2d shrugged, a bit calmer. "I knew it was going to happen sooner or later, but it's sort of reassuring to know..." 2d and Murdoc made eye contact, and gazed into each other's eyes.

"Reassuring to know what??" Russel questioned, not satisfied with the situations outcome. 2d was acting too calmly with this. "Murdoc is dating another guy! And you're alright with smooching him while still knowing so??"

"Look Russel." Murdoc sighed, turning to him, also calmer. "The situation's sort of... complicated, but you'll understand it eventually. For now, just don't stick your nose in other people's business, and mind your own." Russel was left speechless, and so was Noodle.

"You two are fucking weird." Russel complained, seemingly under his breath but wanting the other two to hear. "Does Stuart know about this?! Does he know you're cheating on him??" Murdoc sighed in exhaustion and looked at him in a way that implied that he just wanted him to walk away. "Fine. Fuck, fine." He muttered. "We'll leave. But don't come crying to us in band practice when they both dump you!" Russel yelled as he walked away with Noodle.

"For that you'd need to be in the band first!" Murdoc yelled after them, before turning back to 2d, and delicately placing a hand on his cheek. "So, where were we...?"

"At the part where you call me your boyfriend and then kiss me till our lips are sore." 2d smirked, heart hammering as Murdoc leaned in closer.

"Ah, right..." Murdoc mumbled, eyes hooded, feeling 2d's hands rest on his shoulders. "My beautiful boyfriend... I love you..." and then their lips connected.

-

"I just didn't think 2d was that sort of guy." Russel sighed, still not over this. Noodle pat him on the shoulder sympathetically.

"Weird love triangle." She admitted. "But which couple will prevail??"

"Noodle, this isn't a game show." Russel whined, though he was, admittedly, smiling because of her stupid joke. Not long after, the two were intercepted by gossip girl and her minions; surrounded by the observer students, and faced with the boss herself, and she didn't look pleased.

"So I've heard you've been spreading rumours about Murdoc Niccals and Stuart Pot dating..." She remarked, observing the two with narrowed eyes.

"They're not rumours, they're true." Russel sighed.

"How can you be so sure?" Gossip girl pushed on. If this went too far, she'd be forced to go to Murdoc himself, as the public would be demanding the truth.

"Murdoc just confirmed it." Russel simply stated, causing gossip girl to gasp. Uh oh.....! She thought, while her minions' eyes glistened.

"So it is true...!" She heard someone whisper, still too taken aback to comment, still thinking on a plan to get out of this. She didn't expect Russel to just admit it so easily.

"Yup." Russel once again confirmed, honestly a bit fed up with this whole situation.

"So that means 2d- -" Someone started saying.

"Is cheating with him." Russel cut in, causing everyone's eyebrows to rise.

"Wait, what?" Gossip girl suddenly regained her voice, looking at Russel like he was delusional. [well I guess you could say he's DELusional ;) sorry]

"Murdoc's cheating on Stuart with 2d." Russel stated, confidently enough to make everyone sure he believed it, and stunning them with the stupidity of this statement.

"You are actual idiots..." Gossip girl muttered under her breath. It was weird though, Russel and Noodle had clear evidence for this, so why was everyone doubting them? It felt like everyone knew something they didn't.

"Why?" Noodle asked.

"Never mind. Why are you telling us this? Aren't you friends?"

"With Murdoc? No." Russel snorted.

"You do realise that this information is going to spread like wild fire, right? It's going to be everywhere..." It was now that Russel and Noodle noticed the terror on gossip girls face. The terror of knowing that one of her friends was just outed as gay, and he, as well as his boyfriend, could be faced with some serious trouble.

"I can't believe we didn't notice before!" Someone exclaimed excitedly.

"Everyone must know!" Another one added.

"He's gonna be ruined!"

That's when Russel's conscience started eating away at him. Murdoc was only human. He might've been powerful in school, but...

Seeing the minions disperse to spread the information finally forced the situation to sink in. And the fact that even gossip girl seemed worried made things even worse.

Shit...gossip girl thought. Murdoc's gonna get pissed...... She walked away holding her head and biting her lip. There was nothing left but to confront the man himself, but it didn't matter what he'd say anyway. No one would believe it if he claimed there was nothing between them. The cat was already out of the bag.

"Fuck..." Russel mumbled. "What did we do?"

"We told the whole school that Murdoc's gay. And I don't think they'll take it as well as 2d..."

Heyyyyyyy I'm sorry

I feel like every a/n starts with a sorry nowadays hehe anyway exams are coming up and you don't even know how stressed I am. Whether or not I get into uni depends on this. This is my life.

But anyway! Hehe on a brighter note...

*brighter note machine broke*

Heck

But at least the story's not over!! Yay!
*small celebration noise*

*big sigh*

I'll try to update more 😔 I'm just so tired man, life is exhausting