Shouldn't Have [TomTord]

Chapter Twelve

It's awhile before Tom can bring himself to even stand up. He's been sitting on the couch and crying for who knows how long, but he's there and he's being watched.

"Tom, come on. Calm down. Please?" Edd is trying to reassure him everything is alright, all while petting him on the back and shoulder. He's whispering sweet, reassuring words that Tom has no energy to try to listen to. Meanwhile, Tord is there. Just there. He refuses to get up, even when Tom practically threw himself on the couch and thrashed around like a little kid on a sugar high. Tord has been staring at Tom, looking at the way his tears roll down his cheeks and the red, puffy skin that surrounds his sockets. Tom knows this because he can feel Tord's eyes on his face. He hates it.

"Go fucking look at your... anime porn. You fucking... ass." Tom is breathing heavily the moment he opens his mouth. He doesn't sound out of breathe, he just sounds like he's dying. And he could actually be dying. Who knows?

"Tom, stop. I'm trying to help you, I don't need you insulting Tord right now." Edd scolds him and Tord just continues to stare.

"I want him... gone, Edd." Tom is crying even harder now, hiccuping and wanting nothing more but to just have every problem disappear like they never were there. He's never been one to show his true feelings, always pushing people away and forcing them out of his bubble. But now he finds that life is crashing down hard and the weight of which is too much to bare on just his shoulders. All in all, it's safe to assume that Tom's plan to woo Tord is trashed now.

"Tom, stop it. This is why you're both going to a councilor," Edd scolds, "You're breaking apart and Tord is shutting himself out. This might be because of all your fights and it needs to stop."

So, apparently Tord is pushing everyone away, just like Tom. It's weird that Tom is learning this, because he usually isn't invested in the Norwegian's life at all, so much so that he is still unsure of how Matt and Edd became Tord's friends.

"When is the councilor?" Tord asks, all while Tom continues to shed tears, although they have dimmed down to only a few rolling down his cheeks.

"In an hour, which is why you," Edd turns to Tom and holds both his shoulders with a soothing grip, "need to calm down."

Maybe he isn't as sympathetic as Tom once thought he was, but Edd does care enough to deliver the hard truth. It's sad how he's being treated like a child, but it's the only treatment for someone who is acting like a baby. And so, Tom sniffs and wipes his eyes away of tears, going to sniff more and more until he decides that his tantrum is over.

"Good, good." Edd is speaking in a quiet whisper, calming Tom out of his nerves and bringing him to a safe zone. "Would you like to tell me what that was all about?"

"No." Tom sniffs again and he feels like the biggest disappointment. What ever happened to never showing his feelings?

"Why not?"

"I can tell the councilor." And even though everyone knows he won't, Edd doesn't pry. Instead, Edd straightens up and looks to both of the men on the couch, nodding his head approvingly. Tom has no idea what this means, but he just wants to no longer be the subject to look at anymore.

"Okay, you two get ready. I'll drive you to the councilor in 45 minutes." Edd leaves to the kitchen shortly after, leaving Tord and Tom on the couch alone. It's awkward, but they're both sitting there and refuse to talk, even though the silence is thick with tension. Tom even forced himself to stop sniffing, just so he wouldn't have to weirdly break the silence.

Eventually, Tord stands up without a word and leaves the living room. It's weird how he just moves swiftly and then he's gone, Tom can't help himself from noticing this.