Paint The World Red With Me (An Eddsworld Tord x Reader)

Chapter 9: The Veil Starts Slipping

Holy shit!! 101 reads!! I never thought that would happen! And honestly, thanks to SpookyZombieKat! I wasn't sure if people really liked the book, but reading all their comments really put me in a good mood! 💚

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....Something's up.

How do I know?

Well, the initial clue was that I woke up at 11, if my own accord. No Tord, no banging on the door, no calling me a lazy shit, nothing. I decided that maybe he accidentally slept in. So I quickly grabbed a shower. 30 minutes later, I got out. But he wasn't there like I expected, scowling at me with that glint in his eyes.

Hesitantly, I slipped into the hall after getting my casual uniform on. It was just black sweatpants and a softer red sweater. The halls? Completely empty. The only forms of life I saw as I walked around were the patrol groups. Three or four soldiers marching along. They didn't even look at me. 

The black halls echoed with the sounds of my boots. It was strangely lonely. I had been in the base for a month now, and had grown accustom to the sounds of laughter from the lounge, the soldiers greeting me with a nod or wave as they passed. Happy grins in the mess hall when with friends. Red Army had always been full of movement.

Gray Army was never like that.

I shook my head at the thoughts creeping in. No.

I peeked into the mess hall. Not even the lunch ladies were in there. It was dead silent.

Chills settled over me as I ventured further into the base. My walk was cut short when I reached a dead end in the form of a door. It was huge, made of solid steel. A keypad sat on the wall beside it. Something pulled me toward the door. A strange tug on my soul, guiding my feet forward.

The temperature dropped the closer I got. A steady heartbeat pulsed in my ears. Sounds came from behind the metal. Whispers, prompting me to open the door. Let us free. I reached out a hand.

"(F/N)!"

A hand closed around my other wrist and tugged me sharply away from the door. The almost trance-like state I was in had been broken. Tord was standing over me, his expression unreadable. At the sight of my (E/C) eyes going back into focus, he loosened his grip.

"You need to be checked."

"What's behind there?"

He stood straighter and began to usher me away, gently pushing me by the back.

"None of your concern. But you must never go near the door again. Never."

I sighed but nodded as he led me to the medical bay. He whispered something in Norwegian to the doctor, who quickly gathered his equipment and told me to hop on the table. Unsure of why, I complied. I felt fine, albeit a little cold.

As the doctor went to go analyze my blood, I turned to Tord. He was leaning against the wall across from me, intently watching the checkup.

"Where is everyone?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean the base is practically empty. Where are all the soldiers? And where were you?"

"I had an early meeting today. The soldiers are all off training."

The forceful tone he used meant the conversation was done. The doctor returned and whispered to Tord, who nodded in return. He then turned to me.

"Follow me, I have something to show you."

Tord led me off. A million questions swam through my mind. What was the meeting? Why didn't he bring me along like usual? The soldiers don't train all at the same time, so why now? The red devil told me himself that he trained them in shifts to keep them energized.

What was going on?

***

The room we stopped at was a private training room. Soldiers could use it when they wanted to practice in their free time. The door slid open. Gunfire ceased. I could feel my jaw hit the floor at the two people that stood, saluting Tord. It couldn't be.

"Tom, Matt?!"

It was indeed the two men I had grown to see as family. Tom had an LED visor over his eyes. I recognized it from some of the blueprints on Tord's desk. Matt had a metal chin and eye. While Matt perked up when seeing me, Tom merely looked at me.

Before I could stop myself, I was running into Matt's arms. Much like the first day we met, he picked me off the floor and spun me in a hug.

"(F/N)! You're ok!"

Tears threatened his blue eyes. As he crushed me to his chest.

"We thought you had died!"

I laughed and fixed my hair after he set me down.

"No, I'm alive. Why are you guys here? And where's Edd?"

Matt's eyes grew sad at the name of the green hoodied man. My smile slowly sank.

"...Matt? Where's Edd?"

He swallowed thickly. A hand clamped my shoulder. I looked up. Tom had finally moved.

"Edd....passed away. Cancer."

Pain shot into my stomach. It felt like someone took a spear and twisted it through my body. Tom pulled me into a tight hug, a hand in my hair. Tears soaked the shoulder of his blue shirt as I cried.

Edd was gone. I'd never get to see him again. Never get to see him smile. Laugh. Make a pun. Complain about the boys. Drink a cola.

***

It had been a week since Tom and Matt arrived. I was currently sat between them in the soldier lounge. Tom, Paul, and Pat were playing poker while Matt did my hair. I was deep in thought.

Tord had been acting suspicious. He hadn't put me to work at all. Hadn't even let me in his office. Matt was the one who had been waking me up. Tom was the one I did morning exercises with. We helped each other with the pain of loss. Grown closer. Paul and Pat too. The five of us usually ate together, swapping stories about Tord. The trust allowed me to voice my thoughts.

"Have you guys noticed Tord's behavior?"

All four pairs of eyes were on me now. Matt paused his braids and the others out their cards down. Tom was the first to speak.

"Are you actually concerned about him?"

"What? No!"

"Well (F/N), maybe Tord is grieving still. He doesn't have someone to support him like me, you and Tom."

"Matt, that heartless Commie isn't capable of grieving."

"Tom, Edd was his friend too."

Pat nodded.

"Edd was always his favorite."

"I think he's planning something."

Matt gaped at me. Tom hummed in agreement. Paul and Pat shared a brief look. But I noticed it.

"Paul. Pat. Is Tord planning something?"

Pat swallowed. Paul laughed nervously and stood.

"Would you look at the time! We've gotta go do....paperwork."

He then grabbed Pat and rushed out. I sighed and rubbed my (S/C) cheeks. Matt finished my braids while Tom cleaned the cards. When that was done, they both wrapped an arm around me. They had become like protective older brothers. We were all we had left.

"What do you suppose he's doing?"

Tom scowled.

"Knowing him, something that isn't good for us."

Matt gave us a grin.

"Whatever it is, we'll get through it together. The three of us. Right?"

I leaned against them both.

"Of course Matt. Together. Always."

Sometimes we shouldn't make promises we can't keep.