When Worlds Collide (TomTord)

After All These Years

Tord:
I counted down and waited. Off in the distance the sound of an explosion sounded and the sound of someone running back came down the hall.

"Holy Shit! I- We could have been dead! What the hell!?"

"That's blue for you. He wasn't always like this you know? He used to be as sweet as honey. I swear he could have been so much better. I really think that when he joined the army he saw some pretty horrible things. Perhaps that's what changed him. I want to believe that he still cares. In one way or another. Maybe it's just my hope getting the better of me. With that Red leader with him? Things will only get worse. If you thought blue leader was bad? Red is a demon walking on Earth. We have our work cut out for us on this one. Me and Tommy especially."

"Who's Tommy?" I listened closely to this kid and I swear something sounds familiar about him. His voice... It sounds so much like Tom... Blue leader's voice before he lost his mind.

"He's a good man. Basically another version of me. There's slight differences. He's a bit more skittish than I am and has probably been trained to keep his head down. They can't break me. I'm already shattered enough." I struggled to move a bit and tried to get up, "I have to go. Work probably needs done and I shouldn't be just laying here when there's probably going to be another ba- FUCK!" Pain surged through me and I nearly crumbled from it.

"No, you need to recover. The rest of the rebellion can wait."

I groaned and laid back down struggling to breathe with how much pain I was in, "I- I suppose you're right. God I hate being like this... I'm sorry. I want to do what's best. It's all been a struggle. When this all started I thought if I stayed with Blue that I could change him. Maybe I could find a weakness and pull it out. I didn't want to admit he has set his ways." I winced as I shifted in the bed again and closed my eyes since I couldn't see anything anyway, "I am so sorry. I should have just been here all the time. Maybe then I'd have found my son... I should have never gave him up. If he saw me now he'd probably think I was a mistake, hate me for all that time I'd missed."

After a moment I paused and ran my hand over my face with a sigh of disappointment, "Why am I telling you this? I'm sorry... I just- It's been so much to handle lately."

"No, I'm sorry. I didn't really believe Matt when he said we could trust you." The kid I was talking to wrapped his arms around me and started crying on my shoulder, "I thought you just left. That no one cared. I don't deserve this. I really don't. I'm so sorry."

"Kid... What are you talking about?"

"You don't know? I'm your son. Torm..."

My muscles tensed hearing that name. No... This can't be true. I had to have died. There's no way my son would be this way towards me. I wasn't in his life at all. He'd probably hate me. This is far too good to be true.

"I- Are you sure? You seem too calm about this. I'm not dead am I? Is this a joke? It's not funny..."

The boy chuckled and hugged me tighter to him, "No. You're not dead, and yes I'm sure. Matt and Edd took over watching me. Of course it wasn't as soon as I was put up for adoption because they were only 16 and 17 but... I think they eventually knew you'd come back."

I hugged him nervously and shook my head, "I need a new pair of goggles. I don't believe this."

"I'll get you a new pair and trust me. You'll have no doubt afterwards." He let go of me and I held my head in my hands as he left. This can't be real. It can't be!

Someone else walked in with heavy steps and pulled up a chair beside me, "Hey Tordy. I knew you'd come back."

I instantly perked up hearing Matt's voice and smiled as brightly as could be, "Matt! Good God I missed you. How's Edd!? Is he doing alright? What about the old neighbors? I heard they joined you in the rebellion! It feels like it's been forever! We have so much catching up to do."