Don't Forget Me

Chapter Fifteen

[have some not-so-low key TomTord
What you all actually came for.
I'm an emotional mess]

"I'm not leaving." The words echoed in Tord's head. Tom wasn't leaving. He wasn't leaving. He was staying here with them.

"Why?" Tord mentally slapped himself for sounding so accusatory. Tom stared at him, an unreadable expression on his face. He wanted to look angry or hurt, but he seemed too numb to do much.

"What?" However, he definitely sounded hurt and angry.

"Why are you staying? Why did you change your mind?" Tord began to walk closer to him, but stopped once he noticed Tom physically recoil.

"I...I don't know," he whispered, looking down.

"Tom..I didn't..-"

"You didn't what?" He snapped. Matt and Edd glanced at each other, worriedly.

"Tom, calm down," he looked almost as if he wanted to say something else, but Tord continued, "I didn't mean to say it in a negative way, okay? Just, calm down."

Tord noticed the other Gods eyes loose their flame, meaning he had begun to calm down. Tord continued walking over to him, and stopped once he was directly in front of him. Sometimes, he forgot how much smaller Tom was.

"I wanted to know why you all of a sudden changed your mind."

"I said I don't know,"

"You have to know. There has to be something that's keeping you here." Tom subconsciously looked over at Tord's arm. The illusion a reminder of what he had done all those years ago. He lifted his hand and started to reach out to his arm, but stopped, remembering it wasn't real amymore. None of this was real.

He turned to look at Edd and Matt, repeating the same words in his head, "You didn't do this." They looked back at him, worried.

He felt a cold hand lightly touch his neck, and a shiver ran down his spine. He didn't move.

"There's more. Why are there more.." he heard Tord whisper. He knew what he was talking about. Tom usually used his hoodie to hide scars. For a while, no one even knew about them. He didn't do this to himself.

The monster did.

It covered him in scars everytime he transformed. But, whenever it got especially violent, the scars would grow in size and numbers. Sadly, Tord noticed. Tom felt his fingers trace them, slowly.

"Tom, why are there more..?" He asked again. Matt and Edd walked over to the two of them, to examine the scars. All three had scared expressions, mixed with worry.

Matt spoke up, "Its been getting worse? More violent?" Tom gulped and nodded.

"You need to tell us these things.." Edd muttered, not entirely sure Tom heard him at all. But he had. He heard loud and clear.

I can't. I can't tell you. It'll put you all in danger. I know how you all act. If you found out someone was in danger or pain, you would stop at nothing to make sure they were safe. You'd put yourself in danger. I know you would.

"I'm okay. They're just scars. I can't even feel them," he said, shrugging. But he lied. He could feel them. He could feel the monster clawing at his skin, ripping him apart. He could feel the blood trickle down his body as it tore into him. He could feel it all.

The other three looked at each other and made small sounds of agreement, although none of them believed him. They weren't going to press it and make him uncomfortable. They weren't going to.

««•»»

Later that night, Tom agreed to stay with Tord. He told the others he wasn't going to go back down, and he intended not to. For the time being, he'll just avoid going down there all together. So, right now Tord was setting up where Tom was going to sleep, but he refused help.

"You need to sit down. Don't overwork yourself...okay?" Tom reluctantly agreed, and sat in one of the chairs around the small table, and waited. Thankfully, it didn't take long. Tord walked out of his room, sat in the chair in front of Tom, and leaned back.

"You're sleeping in my bed," he said, stretching. Tom froze.

"Hold up, what?" There's no way. Tord would just...would he? No...right? Tom was confused, and probably pretty pink faced.

"Yeah, you're sleeping in my bed. I'll sleep on the floor or something." Oh. That's what he meant. Tom laughed nervously. Tord opened one eye, and stared at him, confused.

"Are you okay?" Tom nodded but tried to change the topic.

"The illusions," he started, "when are those supposed to...fade away.." He looked at Tord's arm, sadly. The other God, who had forgotten, abruptly slammed his chair on the floor, sitting correctly. He turned to the side so Tom didn't have to see his arm.

"Shit, I forgot about that," he muttered, tilting his head to face Tom.

"Its alright...just wondering.." However, Tord knew it was definitely not alright.

"They're supposed to wear off tomorrow, sometime in the morning. We didn't actually plan on you arriving so soon..." he frowned, "I'm glad you did, but..."

"It's okay. I know it isn't real. It just...it looks so real." Tom leaned across the table and grabbed his wrist. He gently pulled his arm closer to him, to see the damage he had caused. Tord glanced at his arm, then to Tom, frowning.

"Tom-"

"Shush. I want to see what I did to you before the illusion fades." Tord shut his mouth and let Tom examine it.

His hoodie was ripped up, revealing the horrid gash Tom created. Blood was everywhere, staining his pale skin, from his shoulder to his wrist. All of a sudden, Tord felt a drop of water on his arm. He looked up at Tom, who's breath was shaking. He was crying again.

"Tom!" He pulled away from him, and leaped up from his seat. He hurried to Tom's side, leaned down on his knees, and turned Tom's chair, to face him. Then, cupping his tearstreaked face, he said, "It's okay. It's not real, remember?"

"But I still did it!"

"No you didnt! We both know that wasn't you!" Tom didn't speak. Tord moved his hands to grab Tom's. He stood, pulling the smaller God up with him. Then, he pulled him closer, wrapping his arms around him, in a hug. Neither spoke.

««•»»

I'm fact, neither spoke when they decided to go to bed, either. Tord just lead the two of them to his room, and they sat on his bed, leaned up against each other. Tord yawned and stretched, but before he could say anything, he felt Tom's slow breathing against his chest. He looked down, to see him asleep, peacefully.

"When was the last time he actually got a full night of sleep?" Tord thought to himself. Either way, he slowly, gently picked Tom up, before standing himself, and laying him on the bed. He pulled the sheet from underneath him, and covered him up, before turning to go to sleep himself. He smiled.

"Night Tom."

[I hate the fact that the S and D keys are right next to each other.

"moves"
No, it's not present tense.
"moves"
I just said No!
"Moved"
thANK YOU

There are so many things I keep mentioning in the story that I probably should have said earlier but I forgot and all that so...yea.
Also, sorry this wasn't out sooner. I had to stay home from school anyways, so, I decided I wouldn't have you guys wait too long!]