Tiny - Tomatt

Compromise

Tord took a seat at the table. He leaned back in it, arms behind his head, and smiled at Matt. Matt stayed on the opposite side of his tiny, glass enclosure, as far away as he could get. Matt continually glanced between the still unconscious Tom and the threat before him.

"Oh, Matt. You should understand I'm not going to hurt you," he said amicably.

"Th-then why did you trap me?" Matt squeaked. "And Tom?"

"Oh," he chuckled, "I didn't say I wouldn't hurt Tom." He shifted positions so that he rested his head on his arm again, leaning toward Matt. "If I let you just sit there, free to move around, who knows what you'd do? You might free Tom. Or damage my things. Or even get lost. And then, then I would have to hurt you."

Matt sat down on the glass floor, disheartened. He studied Tord. Tord studied him.

Tord looked pretty different from when he last saw him. Only one half of his smiling face actually looked normal. The other half... well... It was scarred. Almost as if the skin had been burned. It was pale and gray with light lines going across. The iris and pupil of Tord's eye on that side was red and moved with a series of strangely mechanical whirring and clicks.

Tord wore a black sweater, concealing his form. But it wasn't the same hoodie as their attacker had worn. It had a turtleneck rather than a hood and had a pocket. His right hand was covered by a black leather glove. Although Matt got only bad vibes from the traitorous friend, he couldn't help but think he did look a little attractive considering the situation.

Don't think that, Matt! He destroyed the house.

"Why do you want to hurt Tom?"

Tord's eyes darkened but he retained his smile. He took a deep breath. "A few reasons." Tord turned to look at the unconscious Tom. Matt noticed a strange glint in his gray eye. "One. He destroyed my robot." He turned back to Matt. "Two..." He suddenly laughed. "Well, reason number two's confidential. I'll let you find that out."

Icy dread made Matt's blood run cold. What could he mean? He glanced worriedly at Tom.

"Don't worry, Matt!" Tord said with a smile. "I won't hurt him that bad." He winked. "Just a little."

Matt's mind began to wander. Tom hates Tord a lot. He's gonna go ballistic when he wakes up. Matt looked at Tord. The subtle, crazed emotion in his eyes. I hope Tom doesn't do something that'll make Tord angry...

"I wanna go home... to Edd..." Matt sighed. "To Ringo... to my mirrors..."

"Mirrors, you say?" Tord inquired with a raised eyebrow. "I see you're just as vain as when I left you. How's your face, by the way?"

Matt didn't respond. Only looked away.

Tord laughed again and stood up. The movement startled Matt. It was as if Tord was now hundreds of feet tall and every bit as intimidating. "I have something for you. Stay there." He began walking away. "Oh, wait! I guess that's not really a problem, is it?" He tittered and exited the room.

Matt focused his gaze intensely on Tom. Maybe if I focus hard enough... with my mind... I'll wake him up. He narrowed his eyes and focused on one thought. Wake up, Tom! Wake up, Tom! he chanted in his mind as loudly as he could.

Matt didn't end up causing anything to happen except making himself feel stupid.

I had to try anyway, he thought with a shrug. Matt began to wonder what this "thing" was that Tord had for him. His wonder quickly turned to worry as his intentions were still unclear.