TomTord // This Could Be Us, But You Playin'

CHAPTER ONE: The East-West Boogie

What had started as a small conversation on a summer night transitioned into something more. He once thought Tord was incapable of any sincere act towards him until he provided company on that very mournful day, even paying for the bill. Perhaps it was unfair to completely write the commie off as a heartless granted their past, but it was merely habit after years of being exposed to his bad side.

And since then things became a little uncertain. Everytime they passed each other in the house it would be small glances rather than petty glares. Sure the constant bickering ceased but Tom almost wished that things would go back to status quo. It was beginning to drive him up the wall, especially since Matt and Edd noticed. How embarrassing. Was Tord as embarrassed as him?

But one night Tom couldn't fall asleep for the life of him. He heaved a deep sigh and stumbled out of his bed, deciding to get a glass of water to ease his parched throat.

Big mistake. Seems he wasn't the only restless one.

"At least it's a Saturday." Tord spoke quickly, not even sharing a glance at the man who hesitated behind him. Instead he poured as much cereal out of the box as possible and somewhere in the deep subconscious of Tom's mind, he found it hilarious.

"What?"

Tord sighed. He grabbed his newly made bowl of cereal and sauntered over to the couch. "I mean it would suck to wake up for a shift so early. You seem to get stuck with those opening ones a lot." The TV was switched on to Professor Why and the seat right next to the Norsk was more than inviting.

Tom thought.

Then folded.

"Means I get to leave early," he shrugged, flopping down right next to Tord. "I guess you can't sleep too?"

Tord grinned that same grin he always threw specifically at Tom. "Guess so." And fuck, why was his heart beating so hard? That damned commie must've noticed his lack of reply so he continued, "what's gotten you so quiet?"

"Why do you care?"

Tord didn't answer. He'd just continue to munch on his cereal, leaving Tom to suffer in a one-sided awkward silence.

"Let's do something."

"Huh?"

"Let's do something." He repeated. "Go on a drive somewhere, anywhere. I'm bored."

Tom laughed with uncertainty. This all played out like some drawn-out fever dream. Or maybe some fucked up coming-of-age film. "Bloody hell. What's even open at one in the morning?" More importantly, why him?

"Seven Eleven, Duck and Waffle, uhh... McDonald's?" Tord shurgged. He sat his bowl down and grabbed Tom's wrists, already dragging the Brit down the front door before he could even protest. "C'mon kjekken, it'll be fun!"

Fun wasn't the problem for Tom.

"Fine, but I get the aux!"

-

"Buckled up?"

"Yeah."

"Good man. Here."

Tord tossed his unlocked phone to Tom, already preoccupied with backing out the driveway and unnecessarily speeding down the street. Tom had no complaints as he opened Spotify, surprised to see his own playlist on Tord's homepage already. But he said nothing about it and put it on shuffle, finding himself reveling in the night-time city view of London. Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all.

It just came out of nowhere. This seamless metamorphosis of their entire relationship in such a small insignificant amount of time. Tom wouldn't have dreamed of willingly hanging out with Tord. At least, in this day in age.