Crazy

After Effects

Edd and Matt stood in the empty cafeteria, there was no one around, so they could talk in peace.

"Have you noticed...That Tord had been acting different?", Edd asked Matt quickly, the two taking their seats at a random table.

Matt sighed and nodded, ruffling his messy hair, "I think it has something to do with what happened in there, it changed all of us.  Tom has that 'monster' side, Paul and Patryk haven't left each other's sides, same for Tord and Tom.  In fact, neither have we!"

"...Maybe some of it has been for the better...", Edd muttered.

Matt leaned forward, "What was that?  I didn't quite hear you."

"Never mind.  Have you seen Aibne recently?  Or is he still in the medical bay?", Edd asked Matt.

Matt thought for a moment, "I haven't seen him, but I don't think he's there anymore.  I mean, I just got my banadges off yesterday, so I would have known if he was there."

"Hmm...From what we know of him from Tord, he's normally always around, but he's kind of disappeared.  We should talk to Paul and Patryk, they seem like they'd know what's going on.", Edd said.

Matt nodded, "I may be ignorant, but I don't like being left in the dark."

The two stood up, making their way to Paul's office, where the couple would normally be found.  The two were silent, another thing odd for the both of them.  They knocked on the door and there was a crash and a frantic voice.

Finally Paul opened the door, his hair was messier than usual, his back in a purpetual hunch now, and his eye was a milky brown, his scar running up and down his face, "What do you two want?"

"Oh, uh, we were going to ask you something, about Aibne, because we hadn't seen him around lately, and frankly, we're quite worried.", Edd said, slightly taken aback by his rough voice.

Paul sighed and looked behind him, "Hold on."

He left the door open and went back inside for a moment, where some muttering was heard, too quiet for the two to decipher.  Matt and Edd stayed where they were, respecting his orders.

"Come in!", Patryk yelled.

Matt and Edd walked inside, looking around.  Patryk sat on the floor, a giant dragon sprawled out on the floor, his tail wrapped around itself, and its head resting in Patryk's lap.  Paul was standing not far from them, a sad look on his face.

Matt looked at Paul, then asked, "What is that!?"

"Quiet!  It took forever for us to get him back asleep!  That's Aibne.  He's not just human, and he's been panicked and unable to sleep or do anything since he woke up in the medical bay.  He's been having almost continuous panic attack, nightmares whenever he tries to sleep, and over all, his mind is fucked up.", Paul said solemnly.

As they looked at the beast Aibne was, they did notice that in fact, he did not look at all well.  He was skinny, and his scales were dull, and the glow in his chest and under his scales was faded, almost gone.  He was completely limp, and his breathing was ragged, he was sickly and very ill. 
Edd teared up, "Did he know this was going to happen?"

"Yes.  He's close to Tord, almost siblings.  He'd do anything for him, including risk his own mental and physical well-being for the sake of Tord's.  He almost killed himself afterwards when he remembered he hadn't gotten to Tord in time to save him from his...Torture.  He's too loyal to him, it's dangerous, but there is nothing we can do.  We can only comfort him, and Tord spends as much time as he can with him as well, but he's still heartbroken, and most of his wounds arents just bullet holes anymore.", Paul said softly.

Edd could see the giant gashes Aibne had along his body, and it looked like scales around the side were falling out too, "...Do his injuries in his human form transfer to this one?"

"Yes.", Paul answered simply.

Patryk was softly petting Aibne, who had finally settled, although his breathing was steady, it was still as if each breath was a struggle to breathe.  Paul pulled out his phone, dialing a number and waiting.  Matt and Edd stood beside him, both looking upon the peaceful scene before them, even if it was sad and pitiful.

"Tord, come here now, Abby needs you, and your friends are asking questions.", Paul said into the phone.

Edd and Matt looked at each other as Paul hung up with a short farewell, and inched closer to each other. 

They held hands, and Edd looked to Matt and whispered, "What the hell is going on?  First off, a dragon!  A god damned dragon Matt!  With mental problems!  And then we haven't seen Tord for days, and even when we did, it was a quick hello, goodbye!  We haven't seen Tom either, and these two have been busy with Aibne, I'm so confused."

"I have no clue Edd, but we'll find out soon.", Matt said, squeezing his hand encouragingly.

Tord burst through the doors, his eyes immediately landing on Aibne, "Shit.  He's gotten worse hasn't he?"

Paul and Patryk nodded.  Tord rushed over, almost crashing to his knees as he brought Aibne's head over to him, burying his face into his soft feathers.  One glowing purple eye opened, the orb glazed and unfocused.  Aibne let out a pained groan and shifted to make Tord as comfortable as possible, even in his sickly state.

"Aibne no.  Still yourself, you are sick, I am not important right now.", Tord protested.

Aibne huffed, "I do not matter, leave it be, and let me do this."

He shoved Tord next to Patryk gently, laying his head on their laps with a painful cry.  He went limp again, the little energy he had spent.  Tord buried his head into Aibne's ruff again, his body shaking with silent sobs.  Patryk attempted to comfort the both of them, settling to wrap an arm around Tord, and resting his head next to his, his hand on Aibne's snout.

"Oh Aibne...", Paul said, striding forward and kneeling next to them.

Two hands rested on Matt and Edd's shoulders, "Guys, let's give them some space."

Edd and and Matt turned around.  A solemn Tom stood behind him, surprisingly sober.  They both nodded and they exited the room. 

"Okay, I can't take this anymore, what the hell is going on?!", Edd exclaimed once they were outside.

Tom sighed, "I'm as clueless as you guys are.  When Tord comes back maybe we can get something from him, but be gentle, he's...fragile."

Edd and Matt nodded, and they sat down to wait.