Pack [Eddsworld]

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"That was a useless endangerment of my life!"

"Yeah, it was."

"I didn't even get any useful intel as to where they will be next!"

"No, you didn't."

"I could use some words of encouragement, you know." Tord glared at Tom, resting his face in his hand with an aggravated huff.

Tom quirked his eyebrow up, his lips barely twitching into a smile. "Yeah, you could."

Despite the situation, Tord found himself laughing -actually laughing- because of the Jehovah's Witness. He was shaking his head and grinning, his whole body shaking as he let out wolf-like barks of amusement. Tom, taking himself by surprise, chuckled a little as tears began to spill from the Commie's eyes and his giggles became silent gasps.

"Y'know, Tord," Tom started, motioning with his silver flask, "you're alright."

"Really?" The Norwegian was so taken aback he forgot to breathe.

The Englishman's teeth flashed in a casual, hasty smile. "Yeah."

There was an awkward silence. Tom and Tord stared at each other, as if seeing one another in a new, good light. They'd spent most of their lives hating each other and having a stupid rivalry, but now it seemed they were becoming friends and everything was all rather bizarre.

"So... What now?" Tord finally spoke up, breaking the uncomfortable tension.

"Well... These people, the Burning Tygers, they're looking for you, right?" Tom lightly placed his flask on the kitchen table, leaning forwards a little.

"Yes..."

He relaxed back in his chair, draping one arm over the backrest. "So, it would make sense if you had something to defend yourself with."

"I didn't train in an army for years for nothing, you know." Tord pulled a couple of pistols from the pocket of his familiar red hoodie, looking unimpressed.

"I know, but they know that just as much as I do." Tom elaborated, "they'll be expecting you to have guns, knowing about your arm, and anticipating your self-defence abilities. You need to take them by surprise if things take a turn for the worse."

"Wow, you're smarter than you look." Tord definitely looked impressed now, the corner of his mouth curving upwards in a smirk.

"Thanks," Tom stood up and tucked in his chair, "I think... Anyway, that room you entered when you, uh, blew up the house and ruined our lives last time you returned, it was in the blueprints we gave to the builders."

"So everything's still there?" The Norwegian excitedly got to his feet, suddenly having immense faith in the person who had been his rival for so long.

"Everything... Except the giant robot." Tom deadpanned, a warning note in his tone as Tord made a disappointed 'aw' noise.

They left the kitchen and headed down the hall to Tom's old room. Tord lifted the first painting off the blue wall and jokingly made as if to press the shockingly realistic image of a big red button, then took off that painting and pulled the convenient lever that dwelled beneath. The back wall of the room raised up with a white of machinery, revealing all the untouched technology and plans that had been helpfully replaced alongside the house.

Tom trudged into the room a little nervously, looking around for a moment before he stopped and noticed something. He narrowed his eye-holes at the blueprint sheet for what seemed like some kind of one-eyed monster next to a test tube with the ingredients of some sort of serum.