survival (tomtord)

13

"A message from Red Leader, sir." A soldier entered the dimly lit room. Empty cans of Cola and bottles of Vodka littered the floor around Edd's desk.

"Oh? Is he finally man enough to make a move for his pathetic boyfriend?" Edd let out a harsh laugh, eyes flashing.

"Um.. I g-guess-"

"That was a rhetorical question, dumbass."

"S-Sorry, Green Leader."

"Give me it and leave." Edd reached out his gloved hand to the trembling soldier.

Nodding frantically, the soldier handed the paper to Edd, saluted, and scampered out of the room.

Edd's dull eyes scanned over the words. A malicious smile came across his face. Yet another laugh escaped his chapped lips. "This is gold!" He cackled. Soon realizing there was no one else in the room, he cleared his throat and tugged at his collar awkwardly. Whoops. Anyway, time to show Tom what his boyfriend sent me!

•••

Tom pushed himself up against the corner of his cell. He had been waiting for Tord to come save him.

Does he even care? He wondered, head leaning back against the cold cement wall.

He heard footsteps and got up, walking a couple steps to the cell bars, gripping them and trying to peek out. Curiosity, and a bit of hope, were the only things fuelling Tom to do this.

Disappointment and dread caused Tom's heart to sink when Edd turned the corner and faced him through the iron bars.

"Why hello there! Still alive, huh?" Edd smiled.

Tom flipped him off and stepped back, sitting on the stone slab jutting from the back wall. "What do you want? To torture me more?" He brought a hand up to a throbbing scar on his cheek.

"Yes, i'd love to," Edd nodded seriously. "Though i'm afraid I cannot. Well, not yet, at least." He pulled out a wrinkled piece of paper from his pocket and smirked. "I have this."

"What is that?"

"A message from Tord."

"What!?" Tom's heart sped up. He stood up a little too fast, causing darkness to ebb his vision and make him feel dizzy. "Is- Is it for me!?"

"Selfish piece of crap you are," Edd rolled his eyes. "It's not for you, idiot. It's for me. But I don't find it the least bit threatening, so here you go." He pushed it through the bars.

The paper fluttered down to the floor, Tom's gaze practically burning a hole through it. He picked it up and looked at Edd. "Why are you giving me this?" he asked.

"Just to give you hope. But you know what, Tom? No one's gonna come to save you." Edd sneered. "Pathetic." He shook his head, hands behind his back, and left.

"I hope you fucking die, asshole," Tom whispered, sitting back down and unfolding the paper. He read over it, eyebrows furrowing. He killed Paul!? That fucking idiot! He was probably our only leverage! He held his head in his hands and sighed. "We're so screwed."

--Back At The Red Army--

"Killing Edd is no longer our priority," Tord stood up from his desk, giving cold looks to the two soldiers standing in front of his desk.

Kayla frowned and pushed her glasses up to the bridge of her nose. "But, s-sir, why?"

"Because we need to rescue Tom."

"Sir," Jade spoke softly, "do you.. well, love Tom?"

"Wha-!?" Tord's face flamed up with a blush. "No!" He looked away, scowling.

Jade and Kayla exchanged a glance with each other, both girls trying not to smile.

"Anyway.." Tord continued, running a hand through his hair. "Once we get Tom, we leave back to the base. After that, no more bothering Edd. I don't want anything to do with him."

"Sir, are you sure? What about the army?" Kayla brushed a strand of hair away from her eyes.

"I don't care about the army!" Tord threw his arms in the air. Anger began to bubble up inside of him.

Kayla let out a small gasp of shock. Jade nodded solemnly as if she knew he felt this way.

"I-.. I just..." Tord covered his face with a hand, tears springing into his eyes. "I just want Tom back." He sniffled. The anger soon returned. "I said I wouldn't cry!" He slammed his fists down onto his desk before storming out of his office.