Finding

(42) Missing

Summary:

Staring at the yellow and red leaves that fell, Tord was brought out of his thoughts when Edd's voice on the other end of the video call he had was calling his attention.

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Tord was watching the autumn leaves fall at his home's garden in Detroit with his horned hair short and silver while wearing a plain black t-shirt, a red jacket and denim pants accompanied by black sneakers. He was outside for snacks with his tablet full of code, plans and schematics discarded on the left side of the table and an open laptop at his front.

Staring at the yellow and red leaves that fell, he was brought out of his thoughts when Edd's voice on the other end of the video call he had was calling his attention.

"Tord? Tord, are you okay?"

Blinking his gem green eyes at the brown eyed male on the screen in front of him, Tord smiled, "I'm fine, Edd. Just got sidetracked by how beautiful things are here in my side of the world."

"You sure?"

"Yes, Edward. I'm sure," he intoned as he drank his chocolatey beverage and now eyed the green hoodied male.

"You know, me and the guys miss you," Edd shared as he also took a sip of his cola and leaned back on his chair.

"Indeed," Tord dryly replied before asking, "How are your and the rest of the guys' studies? Having any difficulties?"

"Well...There's not much new for me and Matt. I mean, things are a bit difficult but we could handle them."

"Tom?"

"About that," Edd hesitated for a moment after which was followed by him clearing his throat as if it helped him, "Tom dropped out of Uni. and for the past few months we can't contact him."

Stilling at those words, Tord placed down the mug of chocolate he held and pinched the bridge of his nose. "How can you not contact him? I mean, don't tell me that he ran away from your home or something."

"Actually, it was more of his mom and him getting an argument. Aunt Ciara told him to stop living with us if he doesn't want to finish his Business Management major. But, as much as my parents tried mediating and told Tom that it was fine if he wanted to transfer courses, Tom packed his bags and left."

"So...After that, you can't contact him anymore?"

"Umm...Yes?"

Now rubbing his temple, Tord took a deep breath and then expelled the air he collected. The silvernette then steepled his fingers as he leaned forward and inquired, "Have you guys tried filing for a missing person report to the police?"

"We did. I mean, I did a week ago."

"And when did he exactly leave?"

"I guess it was about a month after he found out that you went back to America," Edd confessed as he looked away from the camera.

Green gem like eyes then widened in surprise at the news and a frown now appeared at the Norwegian's face. "I left during May and Tom left during June. You do realize that it's September now and Tom had been gone for about nearly three months now!?"

"Look, I know you're asking why I haven't filed for the missing person report earlier. But you should consider how my family thought about things. If word went out that the nephew and adoptive son of the CEO of the Golden Sun Food Corp. was missing it'll be a field day for my Dad and the company.

So, my parents and aunt Ciara thought it was better to have a trusted private aide than the police find Tom. That said, what we didn't expect was that Tom was good in hiding. The detectives that we hired could find no trace of Tom and it's starting to worry us that something serious must now have happened."

"And that's the reason why you just decided to report the incident last week and even tell me that Tom was now missing," Tord quipped as he glared at Edd.

"Look, I'm sorry—"

"Shush you," the silvernette snapped and inquired, "How is Matt handling Tom's disappearance? Last I remembered, he ended up crying when he found out I was going back to America. Matt must be worried to have another of his friends gone."

"About that..." the cola addict faltered.

Obvious anger then portrayed itself in Tord's face as he snarled, "You better tell me the truth Edward fucking Gold or I swear to God or any other higher being out there that you'll regret being alive if you lie to me!"

The loud sound of gulping could then be heard from the brown eyed man's end and he stuttered, "We—well, I ended up telling Matt that Tom went on a vacation of sorts with a few of our 3rd cousins. That, and he'd be staying with them for a while until he gets back."

"So, you basically lied to Matt," Tord accused as he angrily shoveled a piece of his cake into his mouth.

"I—I'm sorry."

Swallowing the sugary piece, the Norwegian retorted, "Enough. Don't talk to me until were twenty-two. With the way you're acting, Edd, I am definitely finding myself disappointed."

"Wait, Tord, please..."

"Shut it. I'm serious here, Edd.

You better reflect about your mistakes during the time we aren't going to talk because the next time you pull this kind of shit again, things wouldn't end up good for you," the silvernette ordered as he finished the video call and placed the both of his hands on his face.

"(1) For kjærligheten til ... Jeg håper at du er trygg, Tom," Tord murmured as he ignored his now cooling chocolate drink and stared back at the falling Autumn leaves.

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Translations:

(1) For kjærligheten til ... Jeg håper at du er trygg, Tom [Norwegian] - For the love of...I hope that you're safe, Tom.