Pack [Eddsworld]

CHAPTER ONE

After their house had been destroyed by Tord, each of the boys had moved into separate flats in the same complex. They may have lived right next door to each other, and even if they spent most of their time together, all three of them secretly missed each other's company.

Tom would never admit it out loud, but Matt made life slightly more bearable with his vain quips.

Edd eventually made the big decision to rebuild their house in the same place. He called Insta-House, told them their address, and within five seconds a new house had been dropped down on top of the wrecked remains of their old one. They spent that day moving all their things back in, trying to forget the bad memories by having new adventures.

Eduardo was less obnoxious and picked fewer fights after Jon's death; he seemed to have finally let go of his grudge against Edd after the battle. Of course, the ghost of Jon still floated around the green house, but it wasn't quite the same as having his physical presence there. Mark seemed a little lost without someone to back up his scathing statements towards the Eddsworld crew.

Tom was sitting on the sofa with his feet on Matt's back; somehow, he had lost a bet, meaning he had to become Tom's footstool for the rest of the day. Edd decided to make the most of this by resting his legs on poor Matt as well, all three of them watching Professor Why as it seemed to be the only thing on all the channels besides adverts for Bacon Cola.

"Oh no, Professor Why: we're surrounded! Whatever shall we do?!"

"Oh, don't worry, I'll just use my wrench which is magical and blast them away with lasers."

"Oh."

"Well, this show sucks." Tom commented after taking a swig from his canteen, slouching and being absorbed into his hoodie until only his glowering, empty eyes were visible.

"We could wake up Zanta and see if there are any adve-" Edd was cut off.

"No."

Matt lifted his head, trying to look at his friends. "We could go to the arcade and get me some more novelt-"

"No."

Edd groaned loudly, letting his empty can of cola fall from his grasp onto the carpet as he slid down the sofa until he was almost horizontal. "Why can't we go on any adventures, Tom?"

"Because we usually end up dying or in severe pain." The young man grumbled, his voice muffled in the fabric of his dark blue hoodie.

"Ooh, that sounds like fun!" Matt squealed with wide, bright eyes, dropping from all-fours onto his stomach and leaping to his feet as Edd slipped off the sofa with a thud. "Can we go on an adventure, please, Edd?"

"Yeah, please, Tom?" Edd picked himself up off the floor to stare at his grumpy friend with sparkling eyes, both of them hoping to persuade him.

Tortoise-Tom glanced between them, his expression still one of intense boredom. Hidden under layers of hoodie, his lips were secretly turning up at the corners in the beginnings of a smile. Just as their pleading faces grew too close for comfort and Tom couldn't resist anymore, their doorbell rang. As Matt rushed to answer it, Tom visibly deflated as he let out a soft sigh of relief, his eyes the only sign of him smiling.

A high-pitched scream followed by a slamming door caused the two boys to jolt up in alarm and sprint towards the sound. They entered the hallway to see Matt sitting with his back against the wall, his knees drawn up to his chest and his hands covering his face. He appeared to be shaking and flinched away when Edd placed his hand on the ginger's shoulder.

Tom turned to look at the door with a quizzical expression, his canteen held in one hand and his other inside the pocket of his hoodie. He reached door the door handle, only for Matt to peek out and screech negatively again, his shaking increasing. Edd helped the boy back to his unsteady feet, only for him to be crushed in a terrified hug that cut off his air supply.

"Yeah," Tom dragged out the word, "I'm just gonna open the door."

Almost immediately, he slammed it shut again with blazing eye-holes and gritted teeth.

"So, uh," Edd paused, trying to pry a quivering Matt off of him. "Who was it?"

"No one we should associate ourselves with ever again." The young man growled, downing the remainder of whatever alcoholic substance was inside his silver canteen.

Edd raised an eyebrow and shuffled closer to the door, Matt still stuck to him like a limpet. "So, what's the big dea-" his face blanked as he opened the door and saw who was standing on the other side. "Ah."

"Er, hello, old friends...?" The guest tried to smile in the face of many glares.

"What are you doing here, Tord?" Edd asked evenly, exactly the same time as Tom snarled: "We are not friends."

"Ah, I understand that our last meeting wasn't very, uh, civil, but I wanted to make amends for all the bad things I did." Tord raised his arms in a feeble attempt in a shrug, his grin becoming more of a pained grimace.

Edd crossed his arms and Matt leapt back to Tom for protection. "You had your chance, and you blew it."

"Literally!" The ginger added in a squeak.

"Yeah, literally!" He frowned in confusion and lowered his voice. "What does that even mean...?"

"Well... If you won't take me back, I'd just like you to meet my..." Tord paused, scanning the ground for a microsecond before looking back up and spreading his arms. "...wife! My wife."

"Wait, you're married?!" Tom approached the doorway, poking his head out with hostile curiosity.

A ginger girl stepped out from behind Tord, appearing a little timid, although she loosened up when her husband looped his arm over her shoulders. She leaned into him and blinked up at the astounded boys with innocent, blue eyes. The tense atmosphere began to dissipate as they stared at the sweet scene.

"So... You settled down after you left us?" Edd leaned on the doorframe, not yet fully trusting of their old friend.

"Uh, yeah... Paul and Patryk took my home and bandaged me up after I-" Tord let the words fade on his tongue with a sheepish flash of the teeth. "-well, anyway, Ylva and I met and it was love at first sight."

"Yes, and he's so good in bed!" Ylva added with thick enthusiasm, only to be shoved back behind an embarrassed Red Leader.

"Uhh." Edd looked mildly awkward, not quite meeting Tord's eyes.

"He's good at playing bed-trampoline?" Matt squeezed in the doorway, staring with a betrayed face at a very confused Tord. "Why did you never tell me, Tord?!"

"I don't think that's what she-" Tom trailed off upon realising his argument was being ignored.

Matt suddenly gasped excitedly. "You're ginger! Can we be friends?"

Ylva met Tord's eyes and he subtly nodded at her. She broke into a smile, titling her head slightly onto one side and beaming at her new friend.

"Of course! Can we go and see your novelty toy collection? Tord told me it's quite impressive." Ylva continued grinning at him while his eyes grew large and overjoyed.

They rushed off back inside the house together, Matt gripping Ylva's hand tightly and practically dragging her away. She glanced back and noticed Tord staring after her, and despite the fact that he was her leader she still flipped him off with a scowl. Tord merely smiled and waved back at her as Tom and Edd exchanged faintly suspicious raised eyebrows.

"This doesn't seem right..." Tom whispered to his friend, raising his hand so Tord wouldn't hear.

"It'll be easier to keep an eye on him if he lives with us." Edd hissed back, partially hoping that the Red Leader really had changed his ways.

~

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