His New Wife

༺ ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕊𝕚𝕩𝕥𝕖𝕖𝕟 ༻

"Everything is going to be alright."

    Mona stops in front of Tord's door, asking everyone to wait outside while she speaks with the nurse inside. Tom glances at Paul, deciding to take the opportunity to ask him some questions. "So...Paul...how do you know Mona?" Paul glances back at Tom before shrugging. "Through Tord. We've been friends with him for a while and just became friends with Mona by default, with her being his future wife and all." Tom nods, looking around the hospital corridor awkwardly. Paul's tone wasn't the friendliest and Tom wasn't about to find out how much the man could tolerate. Soon, the door to Tord's room opens and Mona peeks out. "Okay...he's ready for visitors." She smiles. As Mona slips back into the room, Edd chews on his lip. He instinctively grips Tom's hoodie sleeve, following Paul, Tom, and Matt inside the hospital room.

    The sounds of machines whirring and the heart monitor beeping makes the scene before the trio of friends even more depressing. Tord's entire right side was bandaged, his visible slate grey eye staring blankly at the ceiling. Tears prick at Edd's eyes as they stare at their friend(?) in the hospital bed. There's silence before Tom makes his way over to Tord. Each step he takes to Tord's bed feels like he is made out of cement. Soon, his hand grips the cool metal of the bed bar, jolting Tord out of whatever trance he was in. Tord glances over, his eye widening. "Thomas...!" He wheezes, trying to scoot away but to no avail. He couldn't really use the entirety of his right side. "Wh-Who...?" He looks back at Tom, who had his head down. "...Tom...?"

   Tom looks up, smiling with tears falling down his face. "You stupid commie...I'm so glad to see you alive..." He whispers. Tord stares at Tom in disbelief, now turning his attention to Edd and Matt. They are also crying, Edd holding onto Matt's arm as they look at Tord. "What...are you three doing here...?" Edd steps forward, smiling sadly. "We...uh...had someone bring us..." Mona quietly steps out from behind Edd, having been standing with Paul. "Mona..." "I...couldn't stand seeing you the way you were the other day...so...I found Edd and the others." She plays with her hands. "...They were the ones who wanted to come see you. I didn't have to ask them." She stands at Tord's other side, smiling a little. "They were all worried about you...even Tom. He was the most relieved at the news." Tom's face flushes in embarrassment. "Y-Yeah...whatever." Edd bites his lip, stepping closer to Tord. "But...I do have a question, Tord..." He looks up at the Norwegian man, eyebrows knit together. "Why did you do it?"

    Tord seems to think long and hard about his next choice of words. "...Mona, could you be a dear and close the door? Lock it while you're at it." Mona nods, doing so. Paul sits up from his spot, eyes wide. "Tord, what are you...?" Tord weakly holds up his left hand. "I'm doing what's right and giving my friends an explanation they deserve." Paul stands, eyes wild with worry. "But you can't—" Tord shoots him a dangerous glare. "I can and I will. It's about time we do something about it anyway. Now stand down." Paul hesitates, then sits down. Edd, Matt, and Tom watch in astonishment before Edd gulps. "O-Okay Tord...what's going on?" Tord frowns, looking at Edd. "I haven't been completely honest with you...any of you...even when we first met." Tom's eyes narrow, moving back beside Edd and Matt. "What are you going on about?" Tord seems to gnaw on the inside of his cheek before speaking again. "There's something going on. Something I've been blind to." He smiles sheepishly. "I'm...actually thankful you shot me down, Thomas. It gave me time to think...and to plan."

   Edd looks at Mona, an eyebrow raised in concern. "Do you know anything about what he's talking about?" Mona shakes her head honestly, looking just as confused as the others. "I'm...afraid I don't, no..." "I do." Paul says suddenly, standing from his chair. Attention is turned to Paul and he sighs. "Mona knows this part, but whatever may have been said to you all was because she was instructed to lie." Mona looks away in embarrassment as Paul continues. "...My name is Colonel Paul van Dijk, and I am one of two right hand men for Red Leader...who is currently lying in this very hospital bed." He pulls a pack of cigarettes from his hoodie pocket, popping a cigarette out and putting it in his mouth. Edd's eyes are wide. "Aren't they...the ones wrecking havoc throughout Europe...?" "Yeah but..." Paul lights it, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "But what?" Tom snaps, causing Paul to glare at him. "But...he isn't the mastermind behind what you may have heard the Red Army doing." He takes another hit off his cigarette. "...Sorry to disappoint."

    Matt messes with his fingers for a moment before looking at Paul. "If Tord isn't the reason behind all these attacks...who is?" "My father." Tord says from his bed, frowning still. "I'm but a pawn for my father's wishes...everything I've commanded that damn army to do..." "Was because your dad told you to..." Edd finishes and Tord nods sadly. "Yes...I only go along with these demands because of the fear of what he might do to me...but my retrieval failure has surely already reached him..." Mona stands, frowning deeply. "So when we go back to Norway...you're going to be punished...?" Tord nods, staring at the ceiling once more. "I was careless. I didn't figure out the most secure plan and follow it. I was not only found out, but I also caused unnecessary damage." He grunts. "I only did what I did in a panic. I was on the path of disaster so I thought trying to take out Thomas or blow up something would get you off my ass long enough to escape..." He grits his teeth together, which causes Paul to continue talking so Tord didn't strain himself. "What Red Leader is trying to say is...he has finally understood the damage he's caused in the name of his father. And he wants to end it here." Silence.

   "So..." Tom starts, a sense of determination in his void-like eyes. Edd smiles, getting the same glint in his eyes. "What should we do?" Paul stares at them a moment before letting out a breathy sigh, a smile on his face. "What do we do?" He repeats.

"What we do...is plan."