It was a rainy day in Eddsworld and the clouds above were darker than normal. Water droplets fell from the sky like bullets and landed in pre-formed puddles along the sidewalk in a rhythmic pattern. The whole neighborhood was silent except for the liquid, until something bigger fell from the sky. A large metal container broke the cloud positions and fell quickly towards the ground whilst making a high-pitch whiiirirrr.

It happened so quickly, the loud sound of the container crashing against a soft, green patch of grass echoed throughout the suburban area. After the dirt settles from flying several feet into the air, a small hatch (barely big enough to fit a person) opened up from the mess. Several grunts could be heard from the opening from the cold water hitting the person's face. As the figure emerged from the metal casing, two tufts of hair sprung up from the rest. A red, robotic arm gripped the side of the container as he hoisted himself up onto the steady grassy hill. As he turned to look at his environment, he started to realize where he was.

"I'm home." Was all he said to himself as he began to limp down the sidewalk to his old house.

His eyes scanned the area of the house, still some construction being done on the roofing from his 'incident' a couple years back. Even a couple of robotic pieces could still be seen shimmering in the light from between the grass and the dirt. The rain pelted hard against his hair and soon flattened it against his round face due to how far he walked. He continued limping to the door and he raised his fist to knock. But he couldn't bring himself to do it. How could he after all? After leaving for years, he just suddenly shows up just to lie to his so-called friends and now he expects them to take him in? He had no other choice. After all, the worst they could possibly do is slam the door in his face.

As he rapped his knuckles against the wooden door, he could hear the classic yelling between them as to who should answer it. The polite starting voice of Edd who probably was doing something called to his two friends to get it. Matt followed him, saying he was too busy cleaning his own photos. Then came Tom who just didn't want to get up from the couch. The arguing continued for a while until it was silenced by about 20 seconds of quiet. Then Tord heard footsteps approaching the door. His heart stopped when he realized it was Tom who was chosen.

"Hell-..." Tom stopped himself as soon as he saw the red hoodie, slamming the door.

Tord sighed and knocked again. He was only met with silence. Again, he knocked.

"We don't want you! Leave or I'll blow your brains out!" Tom screamed through the door in anger.

"Listen! I only need a place to crash for a- uh.. A little while!" Tord tried, grunting as his wounded, bleeding leg hit the ground. "I'm hurt!"

"And we care why? Just go. Nobody wants you here old friend." Tom mocked.

"Who is it?" Was faintly heard, belonging to the voice of Edd. "Wait, is it Tord?"

A few moments passed and then the door was opened to reveal the hurt-filled eyes of Edd, the dark-abyss of Tom's and a confused looking Matt peeking his head from the corner. Edd looked at Tord up and down and saw the blood dripping from his leg. Without a single word, he grabbed his 'friend' by the arm and dragged him into the bathroom inside, shoving him onto the toilet to sit down. The two others stood at the doorframe as Edd silently wrapped Tord's leg up tightly.

"I'm sorry." Tord tried, his voice cracking a bit as Edd tightened the bandages.

"You nearly kill Tom and that's it?" Edd said quietly, his eyes never meeting the others.

"I-"

"No. There's nothing you can say to justify hurting one of us." Edd stood up and looked at the side with his hands in his hoodie's pocket, "You can stay. I'll grab a pillow and some blankets and you can sleep on the couch."

"Thank you. I have nowhere else to go." Tord said, standing up with help from the counter.

Edd dropped the soft materials on the couch cushion and walked off, his eyes still reflecting pain from the past. Tord obviously wasn't stupid, he knew how much of an asshole he was. He knew he had no right to be here, and it was a miracle they let him in. But as he laid down, his leg still aching from the crash, he stared up at the dark ceiling and remembered all the good times they had. He remembered the times when he could truly call each of them his friend. His arm whirred with every fidget he made which only reminded him of how alienated he was from the three. He was no longer their Tord. He was a monster.

The following day wasn't more comfortable than the nighttime. He woke up by the smell of fresh, fat-filled bacon that filled his lungs with every breath. He would have slept longer, but nothing could keep him from something as delicious as bacon when he hadn't had it for months. Tord carefully sat up and limped his way over to the kitchen, only to see Tom standing at the stove. Confused as to why he was cooking and not Edd who usually took care of that job, he grabbed a plate and stood at the counter, clearing his throat to alert Tom that he was patiently waiting for the food.

"Why are you here, you traitor?" Tom asked, not even turning his head.

"Pardon?"

"I said, why are you here, you traitor?" He said a bit louder this time, turning to face the other and stare him straight in the eyes. "You have the nerve to show up here and you didn't even say why."

"My leg is hurt." Tord reasoned, stepping back slightly from the anger-filled man.

"No. How did you hurt your leg? Who were you running away from that you came back here? Who is after you?"

"W-what? Nobody is after me, my friend! And I hurt my leg when I crashed landed here!"

"Do. Not. Call. Me. Your. Friend." Tom said, growling through his teeth in a warning tone, "You are none of our friends. You nearly killed me, you punched Matt in the face, and you betrayed Edd. He is the most hurt of all of us, try and explain yourself to him first."

This silenced Tord, he didn't know what to say. Everytime he would think of something, it would just come out as some sort of lame excuse for his behavior. He just left his plate by the stove and grabbed an apple as he walked out of the kitchen. Walking down the hall, he went to the picture frame and slid it to the side, not knowing what he was expecting. All he got was the beige paint that covered the entire hallway. His footsteps made a soft creaking sound with every pace he took, his injured leg making a deep thumping sound with it. As he lifted his eyes from the ground, he noticed that he unconsciously made his way to the garage. An idea popped into his mind and he immediately grabbed the toolbox that they always left in there, using them to start work on his arm.

Almost the entire day passed when the trio realized that they still had a guest in their house. The only sounds audible throughout the entire afternoon that was made by Tord were the occasional hums of a blowtorch coming from the garage. As he emerged from the room, his hair was spread in every which way and parts of his face were dark from oil he used. He smelled like tar and when he approached the living room, it nearly made Matt pass out.

"Dear God! What happened to you?!" He yelled, waving his hand in front of his face to try and blow the nasty smell away from him.

"Oh, heh, pardon my odor. I was just eh… Upgrading my arm, if you don't mind."

"Upgrading?" Matt asked, tilting his head in curiosity.

"Oh, yes. It was malfunctioning earlier. Always making sounds, you know?" He moved his arm up and down, then side to side as it silently complied, "It isn't as loud anymore."

Tom watched as Matt interacted with Tord in a friendly way, obviously catching his attention. Matt was never the sharpest tool in the shed, but this was ridiculous. He elbowed Edd who was sitting next to him on the couch and nodded at the two a few feet away from them, rolling his eyes to emphasize how dumb Matt was being. Though, Tom didn't get the response he was expecting. He watched with wide and curious eyes as Edd calmly got up and walked to the backyard without saying a word.

With a can of cola opened and half-empty next to Edd, he sat outside while looking up at the starry sky. With each glimmer that the specks made, the more he was distracted. He could obviously hear the friendly laughter between Tord and Matt inside, but he chose to ignore it. Ignorance is bliss, he would remind himself; so it isn't Matt's fault that he forgot everything that happened before. As his back hit the wooden deck and his hair flattened beneath him, he felt the cool breeze calmly drift in and out of his hoodie. He felt the chill run along his spine and shivered when his skin chilled. Then the quiet hoo-ing of the owls in the distance was muffled when he heard the door behind him slide open and then slide close. He tilted his head and noticed it was Tom standing above him with his usual relaxed eyes watching him.

"You left." Tom started as he sat next to the smaller man.

"I did. I wanted some space." Edd said quietly while closing his eyes.

"I think we got enough of that from our adventures already." He replied with a joking tone, attempting to lighten the mood. When he was only met with silence, he tried again, "You can just tell him to leave."

"What kind of friend would I be if I kicked him out?"

"What kind of friend was he when he blew our house up?"

"Tom, I.. I can't do that!" Edd said a bit louder, sitting up and looking his friend in the eyes, "We've all been through so much, it wouldn't be right!"

"Why do you say it like that, Edd?"

"Like what..?"

"Like he would do the same if you needed help. Do you honestly think that if we all showed up to his place: bloodied, hurt, and needing a home, that he would let us in?" Now Tom was leaning forward and talking with a loud and stern voice.

"Because.." Edd said softly, "I know deep down that he really cares about us."

Author's Note:

Thank you for reading my story! I hope you enjoyed this first chapter! I would just like to point out: This isn't going to be some one-shot, smut-ridden, angsty sex kind of story. I want to build up on their characters, show that Tom, Tord, Matt, and Edd and more than just animations on a screen. They have feelings and they show it throughout the entire show. So when the smut does come, it's going to be realistic. I'm putting my own emotions into this, and hopefully the story turns out well.

:)

-K