Spare Changes

3 - Unscramble

Summary: Matt takes a TRIP down memory lane. Edd thinks. Overthinks.

Notes: Matt's memory is only plot relevant because i need him to be useful and coherent. I love him too much to sideline him completely. Also we need all the characters to be active and present for this story to work...

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Yeah, this whole thing sucks.

Tom can't help but sulk on the drive back to their flat. He's certain that everyone is feeling similarly right now. Well, maybe he's feeling the majority of the anger. He glances over at Edd, who's intensely gripping the steering wheel with a steely gaze on the road ahead.

Tom knows the brunet cares for Tord. Obviously, with how over the moon he was about the bastard 'moving back in'. Tom can't say he was all that happy to have been proven right about their old housemate back then, but... saying 'I told you so' was fun. Sometimes.

Now everything has been flipped on its head. Edd is the one who should be saying that phrase. Of course, they only have tenuous proof of this existence of a clone Tord running around (the lack of injuries is suspicious), but Edd's definitely going to take it and run with it. He'll make excuses for Tord all day. He always did.

That was part of the reason Tom and Tord didn't get along well. The norski liked to surround himself with people pleasers, those he could boss around, and Tom was stubbornly never that type. Their personalities just clashed.

He'd never harbored outright hatred for Tord (Most of the time). Just thought he was endlessly insufferable. Although... recent events had changed that opinion completely. It affected all of them. Matt didn't want to even think about what had happened. Edd got a far-away look when asked about the subject. It was bad for everyone. Something they'd rather bury away and forget.

Speaking of forgetting...

As soon as they ride the lift up to their floor, Edd puts up a finger, signalling for them to wait. "Just a tick. Stay out here." He unlocks his door and disappears.

Tom sighs. Matt looks at him questioningly.

"What're we waiting around for?"

"You know, whatever Edd has planned. He calls the shots," Tom responds. He could use a drink. He shoves his hands in his hoodie pockets.

Edd emerges back into the hall, carrying the small red memory gun.

"That thing survived?" Tom asks.

"Somehow. I think whatever Tord built it out of is pretty resistant to... uh... anything."

The fact that Edd kept it makes Tom nervous. An invention from someone who betrayed their trust... could be dangerous.

"Alright Matt. Ready?"

"For what?"

Edd doesn't even answer. Tom watches him fiddle with the side of the gun, a click echoing in the hallway before he points the invention at Matt's face and presses the trigger. Matt screams like a small child.

"Not the face!!! " He slaps his hands over his eyes after the blinding flash. "Not... the..." Matt blinks. "Hey..."

Tom watches him wobble, and puts a hand on the redhead's shoulder to steady him. "Edd, maybe give him more warning next time."

" You give him more warning." Edd fires back. "He'll be fine! How d'you feel, Matt?"

Matt's eyes are looking in two different directions. "Uhhhn... where are my fingers?"