Pour Toi: Chapter One
Oddly enough, it begins with that hat.
"I'm so fucking tired of his shit!" Nazz seethes as she slams her books on the table across from Kevin. He looks up from his textbook on engineering and raises an eyebrow, signaling her to continue and she does so eagerly. "So, who do I run into on the way to school today? Not only Double D and his little gang but Sarah."
Immediately Kevin's stomach twists uncomfortably, which is pretty pathetic when you think about it. Although Eddward Vincent, otherwise known as Double D, has never physically hurt Kevin, his friends certainly have and he does go out of his way to make the boy's life a living hell.
Kevin has always been the subject of bullying but never anything quite like this: no groping or ordering him around the way Edd does, mostly beating him up or stealing his homework. Edd is another class of harasser, however; he likes mindgames and uses words like other boys use weapons. He's actually smart - brilliant, really - and his intelligence makes Kevin feel like he's one big experiment to the boy, like a puppet and Edd has all of the strings.
He's never outright vicious to Kevin, never even really mean, more teasing and condescending but that's somehow much worse. At least with the other bullies Kevin knows what to expect, knows how to respond, but he never knows with Edd.
Kevin looks at his friend closer, takes note of the slight smear of mascara under her eyes and the messiness of her hair. His chest tightens. "Shit, Nazz… Did she fight you or something?"
Nazz sniffs, slightly indignant, but Kevin sees right through it. Maybe they didn't brawl but girls can cut deeper with words than even Plank can manage with his fists. He watches the movement of her throat as she gulps and the swell of water at the corner of her eyes.
Kevin puts up with a lot of shit but he can't sit back and watch someone hurt his friends - especially when she's not only his best friend but the girl he's been crushing on as of late.
He takes a shaking breath through his nose, jaw clenched and fists shaking with restrained rage. "This is too much," he growls closing the textbook.
She takes her seat across from him but doesn't meet his eyes. It hurts to see her like this, her brightness dulled by stress and fear. Her teeth abuse her already dry lips. "We should get payback."
He scoffs.
"We should!"
"And how do you propose we do that?"
She sighs.
"That's what I thought."
Nazz huffs and suddenly bites through the skin on her lip so that a drop of blood surfaces. Kevin becomes distracted as her tongue flickers out to catch up the blood and feels his stomach drop. Blushing, he grits his teeth.
"I wasn't supposed to… tell anyone," she says lowly and he shifts uncomfortably. Suddenly Kevin is very afraid that she's been hurt worse than she lets on. "You know how I'm friends with Marie?"
"Of course - clarinet girl," he replies, referring to the instrument she plays in band.
"Also, Edd's best and perhaps only friend."
That certainly catches his attention. "I'm listening."
"Well… one time this came up - I'm not sure how - but apparently he wears that hat for a reason."
"Shit, what do you mean?"
"I'm not sure. Marie said that-" she twists her lips in frustration. "I don't know how to explain it. She was extremely vague. It's like - I can't tell if he's hiding something or if it's like… a security blanket, or something equally stupid."
"Hiding something?" Kevin repeats.
She only shrugs. Kevin pushes it out of his mind for the time being.
Kevin pushes his glasses up his nose almost violently and rips a page out of his nearby notebook. "Okay, doesn't matter either way, we're going to do this."
As soon as the bell rings, Edd darts from class and heads for the pool, ignoring his gang and even Marie. On Wednesday, the pool is only left open until 4:30, leaving him with little time to get his practice in so it's important that he gets there as quickly as possible.
The changing room is empty when he gets there, as it usually is on weekdays. Edd slips out of his clothes and into his suit, not even caring to hide as he usually does. He's grown comfortable here after so many years, it's more of a home to him than anywhere else in the world. He doesn't even bother closing his locker, the label on it, "Property of DD", is more than enough to keep others away.
When he opens the door to the pool, the smell of chlorine hits him and he lets out all of the tension in his shoulders. Home - it's truly his home.
An hour after Edward gets in, Kevin returns from his house and approaches the indoor pool. Kevin watches the taller boy from the window, surprised the usually vigilant shark doesn't notice him. It seems like Edd always has his eye on Kevin. Somehow he knows all of the other boy's habits and even memorizes his classes every year so he can catch Kevin in the halls. There's never a day when Edd doesn't harass Kevin, even if it means he has to go out of his way to do it.
Kevin clenches his teeth thinking back to Edd's bullying today. He hadn't been very bad but Kevin still found himself pinned to his locker with Edd looming over him, entrapping him with his arms. He hadn't even wanted anything, not really. He asked Kevin what he was planning for the science fair coming up in April, just because he likes to scope out the competition, and then he teased him about the Valentine's Dance which is fast approaching.
Kevin's nonexistent love life is a favorite topic of Edd's, probably because it gets under Kevin's skin so easily. It's Kevin's fault for being so painfully transparent but he can't help it. He'd make himself feel better by thinking about Eddward's equally nonexistent love life but it would only him feel stupid considering Edd has girls all over him, meaning he's single by choice.
Sighing at his own thoughts, Kevin focuses once more on Edd. The other boy is in his element, it's written all over his face: focused and confident. When he's like this it's easy to see why all of Peach Creek is desperately in love with him.
"Hey!"
Kevin jerks his head away, face flushed. "Nazz, you got it?"
Nazz holds up the school paper's camera with a wicked grin, the tripod that goes with it in her other hand. Being a nerd certainly has its perks.
"You go snatch the hat, I'll distract him. Then when he gets out and finds his hat gone I'll be there to take a picture of him without it."
Kevin's stomach flutters with excitement and nerves. "And if he just wears a towel on his head - I mean, if he is hiding something-"
"I'll need you to rip it off."
"Okay," Kevin breathes, doing his best to steel himself. "Are you sure you want to be a part of this?"
Nazz rolls her eyes. "Duh! Now go in there! He'll be getting out in less than thirty minutes!"
Kevin slips into the room first, doing his best to hide as he slinks to the changing room. Luckily, Edd is too engulfed in his practice to notice either of them. Before he goes, Kevin looks back to Nazz who simply winks at him. It's not reassuring at all.
Nazz takes a deep breath and turns to the pool. She sets up the tripod and begins to angle the camera just as Eddward finishes his lap, emerging from the water with such grace it makes her stare. Asshole or not, he's one hell of a talented athlete and handsome to boot.
It occurs to her that he really never goes without his head completely covered; even when swimming he always has a swim cap on. "What a freak…" she mutters and opens the camera.
Edd slips his goggles off to hang around his neck and eyes her, looking every bit the vicious shark. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" he grouses, lip curled.
Edd and Nazz used to be friends but that was a long time ago; now they just put up with each other for Marie's sake, otherwise he reminds Nazz every chance he gets just how much he hates her.
"Unfortunately I've been asked to write an article about you for the school newspaper," she sighs, doing her best to sound uninterested.
"Oh really?" he chuckles and smirks viciously.
"Yes," she grits back, daring to meet his eyes. They glare at each other for a moment until she eventually looks away, feeling embarrassed to give in first but also not interested in bickering. "Now, if you will, please continue swimming."
He narrows his eyes slightly but doesn't object, instead slipping beneath the water.
There's something about his movements that is unnatural - it's the reason why they call him a shark, afterall. He's so lithe and swift that Nazz finds herself simply watching for a moment before actually taking some shots.
Glancing at the clock she sees there's 15 minutes before they get kicked out by the swim coach. She keeps herself from looking at the door to avoid alerting him but it's hard.
Kevin is about to puke when he finds Edd's locker. It's obviously easy due to the label on it.
He's actually shocked to find it slightly open and no lock in sight. Somehow he feels as if this is all a trick, like Edd knows exactly what he's doing right now and has set it all up - a test.
Glancing over his shoulder and then at his watch, Kevin turns to the locker and hesitantly opens it, flinching violently when it squeaks. Inside rests Edd's neatly folded clothes and, at the top of the pile, his hat.
Kevin's stomach roils and his mouth dries. Picking up the hat, his arms feel like complete led. He just about comes out of his skin when something falls from the hat, hitting his feet. It's Edd's dog tags. The same dog tags the quarterback once tried to steal from him, earning a concussion for his trouble. Cursing (and practically shaking), Kevin scrabbles to pick up the necklace and shoves it back in Double D's locker.
He may be playing with fire by stealing Eddward's hat but he isn't suicidal.
Kevin needs to get out and get out now. Time is running out and Edd will have to get out of here before 4:30, which is fast approaching.
Edd finally climbs from the pool and Nazz makes a show of snapping some more pictures. "Can you smile…?" Nazz asks warily. "Like, actually smile?"
Edd chuckles, the insincere smile he wears is half scowl, half smirk. "I already am."
Nazz groans. What an absolute prick. "Fine…"
After a couple more, Edd rolls his eyes and turns to snatch up his towel from the nearby bench. "Okay, that's enough."
"Come on, just a few more."
Eddward shoots her a sharp look. "I'm done."
Nazz gulps and begins to shut down the camera, staring as he heads to the door. "Um… Edd?"
He rolls his eyes, stopping halfway between her and the changing room. "What?" he bites.
"Uh… is Marie…" Nazz's face flushes violently and Edd chuckles.
"Say no more," he sighs, putting her out of her misery, if only for Marie's sake. "She's very single… not to mention bisexual."
The shock on Nazz's face makes him grin wolfishly before turning again.
"Ah- th-thank you!" she says hurriedly, too alarmed to realize what she's saying. Immediately she winces. "Eddward..." She slaps her hands over her eyes at her own stupidity.
He waves his hand to shut her up and enters the changing room.
Poor Kevin just about has a heart attack when he hears the door and quickly hides in one of the bathroom stalls across from the lockers, specifically choosing the one built to accommodate the disabled so he can crouch on the stool within it. Quietly pulling the curtain closed, Kevin makes sure he leaves just enough of a crack to watch.
Kevin jerks away when he realizes that Edd is heading first to the shower and nearly falls when Edd enters the stall right next to him. The rattling of the curtains sends a shock straight to his heart.
He listens intently as the water clicks on, the force of the spray so strong that it hits the floor and ricochets up to splatter along Kevin's pants. He lets out a soft huff of breath, unafraid of Edd hearing him over the sound of water against tile.
Looking down at the hat, Kevin rolls his eyes slightly. It's pretty pathetic for the most feared bully in the school to have a fucking hat for a security blanket (although it's also pretty stupid for his right hand man to carry around a piece of wood that serves as his imaginary friend).
Fingering the edges of the fabric, he almost laughs when he realizes there are bobby pins slipped along both sides.
What a… dork. Jeez.
He considers taking this chance to run for it, but he needs to stay. If things go south, at least seeing whatever may be beneath Double D's hat could serve as blackmail material.
Kevin actually feels warm at the thought of Eddward being under his control. Sure Edd has never really beaten him up and he's certainly never touched Nazz but he doesn't stop his friends from doing so and, honestly, his psychological games might be even worse.
He thinks back to their freshman year when even Nazz had a crush on him and, like the dick he is, Double D used it to his advantage in every way. They never actually dated or anything of the sort but Nazz, the girl Kevin has known since they were kids and loved for years, had become a totally different person.
Marie is the only reason she returned to normal, he thinks. They met through Edd and Marie brought Nazz back to reality. Now, they never talk about that period when her clothing changed, she pretended to like absolutely vile music and acted like a puppy, following Edd and hanging on his every word.
The water shuts off quickly and Kevin blinks, leaning so he can see through the space between the curtain and wall but he doesn't get too close, instead hanging slightly back. The first thing he sees is Edd's bare ass and he nearly chokes on air, quickly averting his gaze, but when he looks again he spots thin black hair, still dripping wet.
There's nothing particularly strange about Edd's hair at all and Kevin wants to smack himself. Obviously the hat is just another obsessive quirk, like so many other things about Edd.
Kevin is about to look away when Edd turns and, brushing his hair aside, a scar becomes visible. It's nothing horrific but strange nonetheless. It's small, hardly noticeable really, just a circle of silvery, taut skin on his temple. Just when he thinks that's all, Edd brings a towel to his hair drawing it back so Kevin can see the feathery marks across his forehead, curving from just above his right brow and inching up into his hairline so that it is lopsided in the oddest way. If Edd hadn't pulled his hair back the way he had, Kevin would have thought it was simply how it naturally lays.
Kevin suddenly feels… guilty. But it only lasts the briefest of moments. Any regret or shame is quickly replaced with the sick pleasure of vengeance. Or at least that's what Kevin tries to tell himself.
The dick probably got those in a fight or something equally cruel - for the other person, that is.
Edd deserved it. Probably.
Biting his lips harshly, Kevin twists the soft hat between his hands. It smells like baby soap for Christ's sake and it has a little tag in it with "Edd" stitched neatly onto it, old and worn. As ridiculous as it is, Kevin can suddenly picture Edd's mother stitching it there, years ago.
God, what has he done?
Even if Double D is a complete and utter bastard, Kevin can't just stoop to his level this way.
Suddenly, he feels like bolting but he's completely frozen, not with fear but this terrible, gut-wrenching embarrassment at his actions. He's so ashamed that his cheeks heat up and if he weren't such a coward he would go out there right now and apologize.
But he is a coward. And Eddward is vicious. Kevin stays where he is.
He lets his eyes fall only to quickly look back up when he catches Edd's genitals again, face aflame. Such a bad idea.
Edd looks much more delicate like this. His olive skin is so much more pale in the harsh lights and his blue eyes soft, his mouth and shoulders relaxed.
Oh fuck, there are more scars. One, a soft curl on his hip and another that stretches like lightning across his front, right from the harsh edge of his hipbone towards his genitals - fuck, Kevin did not just look at Double fucking D's dick. He softly presses the heels of his palms to his eyes.
There's that telltale squeak of Double D's locker. Kevin feels his chest conflict violently and squirms back, clenching the hat to his chest.
There's a long moment of silence. Rummaging, the shifting of fabric and knuckles knocking haphazardly against metal.
Kevin doesn't breathe but it doesn't matter as he's convinced his heart is beating so fucking hard he's sure Edd can hear it.
Edd growls lowly. "That…"
Bitch hangs in the air, more vicious and vile than if he had actually said it. Kevin's stomach drops like a fucking rock.
The slamming of metal and the inhuman noise of fury from Edd makes Kevin jerk back slightly, biting through the skin of his lip. The sudden burst of heat and iron in his mouth makes him even more nauseous.
"Kevin, I know you are in here," he grits out, his voice shaking with so much restrained rage that Kevin is tempted to curl up and never leave the spot he's in.
He's never heard Double D so fucking angry - that's part of what makes him intimidating: he never gets truly angry, he remains emotionally distant and pokes and prods like it's all one big experiment.
"If you are as smart as I've been led to believe, you will return my property immediately."
Shaking slightly, Kevin lets his feet meet the floor. Edd doesn't give him the chance to come out himself, the taller boy tears the curtain back and plants himself in front of Kevin's frozen form. Kevin breathes an internal sigh of relief at the sight of the towel around Edd's hips before Double D grabs him by his collar, picking him up and slamming him into the wall. Head hitting tile, Kevin's vision whites and his stomach lurches with the pain.
"I'm sorry!" Kevin yelps, almost crying he feels so afraid and guilty. "I didn't- I didn't-"
"Didn't what?" Edd barks. His thumbs press dangerously close to Kevin's throat and the boy gasps violently. Edd leans into his face so close he can see his scar in gorey detail, painful and thick cuts, yet it's somehow - elegant. From this angle, the one on his temple is not visible but Kevin somehow feels hyper-aware of its presence. "Stop looking at it!" Edd nearly roars. His voice is taught and high with nerves, with fear - God, that is fear in Eddward Vincent's eyes.
Kevin gasps somehow more afraid now than ever before, so much so that he's seriously about to piss himself.
"I'm sorry!" Kevin croaks, overwhelmed by the smell of Edd's skin, of his soap and the chlorine from the pool. "I'm sorry, Edd! Fuck! I didn't know! I- I was just- Nazz was so upset this morning, and- listen, beat the fuck out of me but don't lay a hand on her, please!"
"I don't hit women," Double D bites. "And I don't make a habit of hitting anyone, even…" he visibly clenches his teeth so hard Kevin thinks it must ache. The oddly straightlaced bully doesn't curse, once he actually hit Kevin's hand with a ruler for saying "shit" in his presence he's so anal about it, but Kevin can see the vicious words rising to his tongue.
Kevin starts to choke, Edd's grasp becoming too much as his thumbs slip from Kevin's collarbones to the delicate flesh of his neck. The smaller boy has to grab Edd's wrists, fighting to pull them away, to pull himself up or back or anything because the look on Edd's face right now is actually the most horrific thing he's ever seen and his eyes are- holy fuck.
Eddward Double D Vincent is on the verge of tears.
"Edd-" Kevin gasps, eyes like saucers.
Edd drops him and snatches his hat from Kevin's shaking hand before jerking it over his head. Kevin watches numbly as Edd takes a moment to remove the bobby pins just to put them back in, attaching hat to hair. They sort of stare each other down through the whole ordeal, Kevin blushing and well, fuck, so is Edd.
Finally, Double D sniffs haughtily, turning away and stalking to the locker to jerk it open once more. He pulls on his dog tags roughly and then his shirt, somehow keeping his hat on perfectly throughout the whole ordeal (Kevin assumes it's the work of the bobby pins). He glances back at Kevin, who is still standing stock still right where he left him, before removing his towel and setting it on the bench next to his suit. Kevin feels his face burning but he keeps his eyes locked with Edd's.
This is normal, after all. All normal. They're just two guys in the men's locker room. This is normal.
So, Kevin may have left something out earlier.
Nazz wasn't the only one with a crush. But that was three years ago, long before Kevin realized what an ass Eddward is - a jerk, he means, not an ass; stop thinking about it. Fuck, all he can think about is Edd's body. And that's how it started in the first place: all he saw was a suave athlete, so handsome and with such a cute smile (the gap really got him). Plus how Edd could somehow juggle competitive swimming and AP classes straight out of middle school made Kevin just about swoon. To top it all off, there was something so attractive about his quiet, aloof nature, something about it that drew Kevin in yet kept him distant.
And then Edd seemed to take notice of him, too, but in all the wrong ways.
The point is, jerk or not, Kevin still finds Edd painfully attractive. Once he lusted after Eddward's beauty but now it's simple jealousy. Never has he seen a person like Edd, at least not in real life, maybe on television. So dark and sleek… elegant. He's elegant, that's the only word for it.
The people around Peach Creek just aren't like Edd. They aren't educated, they aren't as well off, and they certainly aren't elegant by any means. It only makes sense that Kevin, like the rest of town, hate and love him in equal measure.
Edd pulls on his jeans and takes a seat to begin putting on his Vans. "Kevin," he begins and the other boy jumps, blushing violently when he realizes he's been staring. "If you ever… ever tell anyone what you saw-"
"I'd never," he says quickly, voice rough around the edges and deeper than usual. "I mean it… I'm really, terribly sorry for this… I…"
"Stop," Edd bites. "I don't give-" he chokes on the curse and his lithe fingers fumble with his laces.
Kevin's heart jerks. "Edd, I'm not saying it out of pity, but out of empathy."
Edd looks up at him slowly, his eyes uncharacteristically dark and unreadable. As vicious as Double D looks on a regular basis, with those heavy eyes and dark circles, his blue eyes are always alight. Kevin used to believe it was a physical manifestation of the other boy's wit, how bright and quick his eyes are despite the heavy, aloof nature that characterizes the rest of his being.
For whatever reason, Kevin's mind dredges up the image of Eddward when the two won the science fair together. Yes, together.
Eddward had forced Kevin to team up with him and even manipulated his way into Kevin's house a few times during their partnership. That had been hell on Kevin, it made him sick and nervous for weeks with the other boy just popping in, but in the end it had been one of the best experiences of his life.
They had built a small engine all by themselves using junk Edd had collected from the old dump and Kevin's father's tools from the car shop he works at. It had been the greatest moment of Kevin's life when it finally came to fruition. The feeling of finishing something so amazing that he had helped make with his own two hands, something so powerful, is indescribable.
And when they took first place Edd had looked to him with those eyes, eyes as blue as the sea, suddenly alight and alive, the most beautiful thing Kevin has ever seen. He had been too shocked by the emotion in Edd's eyes to even move yet when Edd was given the trophy, instead of giving Kevin the gloating smirk he expected, Double D had pressed it into Kevin's hands. "Yours," he had said and his smile was goofy and-
"Why would you do this?"
Kevin lets out a huff of air through his nose and leans away, not having realized he had inched closer in the first place. "I… don't you know?" he mutters. Guilt is eating away at his stomach and he has never felt more ashamed of himself.
He tries to think about all the times Edd has been a dick to him but the memories just don't come to him.
The taller boy ties his shoe with a flourish before rises to his feet, lips twisting into a scowl. He's shaking again, fists clenched. Kevin wishes he would just finish getting dressed and go. "How the hell would I know? I just helped your friend with her fucking article and her stupid fucking relationship problems just to-"
"It's because you've been a dick to us for years!" Kevin spits out, suddenly feeling defensive for no good reason. And it's true, Edd has been cruel. Even if his memory is failing him now, Edd has most definitely been a bastard to him.
Eddward moves to grab him and Kevin twists back and away from the wall just to have his legs hit the chair hard, sending him back into it. Gripping the handles in the shower, he gulps, left with nowhere to run.
"How the fuck have I ever been a dick to you, Pumpkin?"
"All of the harassment! The names!"
"What harassment?" Edd nearly roars. "How the fuck have I harassed you?"
"Cornering me every goddamn week and-and putting the- those fucking labels on me like I'm a piece of your property!" he cries and suddenly everything is spilling forth - every slight, every fear rushing back to him. "Fuck, there was one time you let me go around all day with one of those damn things on my back that read 'Property of DD' just like your fucking locker! That was the most humiliating day of my life!" Kevin bites, his voice now shaking with suppressed tears and his knuckles white.
Edd draws back slightly, eyes wide.
"The entire school was laughing at me until Nazz finally saw it and helped me out! I was called your 'girlfriend' for fucking months because of that, you asshole!"
"Kevin-"
"Or how about the time you stole my lunch for an entire semester!" he adds suddenly, his mouth now taking on a mind of its own.
"You-you said I could have it!" Edd cries, suddenly shocked. "And it's not like I took it all- just, like, your ice cream or some fries-"
"It was a hell of a lot more than that!"
"Language!" he gasps, suddenly aghast.
"And I let you," Kevin snaps, "because I was scared! You once broke fucking James Reagan's nose for no reason! James Reagan! The captain of the football team, the guy who is even bigger and badder than you, the same asshole who almost managed to break my nose the day before - that's fucking terrifying!"
"Are you really this ignorant?" Double D scoffs. His face is turning red with frustration and it makes the soft white lines of his scars stand out harshly in contrast; Kevin can see the soft indent and the ragged edges of the circular scar on his temple now. "Do you even hear yourself? No reason? No reason!"
Edd looms over Kevin who does his best to shrink. Edd simply stands there for a moment, breathing heavily, his eyes dark and wide.
Feeling wicked and hurt, Kevin croaks, "Why then?"
"For you, idiot…" Edd murmurs so softly that it takes Kevin a moment to make sure he actually heard him right.
"What?"
"An eye for an eye!" Edd barks. "There's a fucking reason I put my name on your back, dumbass! Tell me, did anyone touch you that day? Did anyone touch you that week? Has anyone really bothered you since that imbecile Reagan?"
A terrible sinking feeling begins in Kevin's stomach and the shaking starts anew. "You…"
"Yes, yes me."
Kevin suddenly can't meet his eyes. His head aches and his stomach flips, his vision suddenly so white and oh fuck. He jerks forward, shoving Edd back, and pukes in the middle of the floor.
Edd makes a high, almost feminine noise in the back of his throat and skitters back. "Pumpkin-"
Nauseous and disoriented, Kevin heaves again before shuddering and raising himself up to look at Double D - Double fucking D who looks all worried and soft around the edges. "Oh my god…" Kevin groans. "This isn't-"
Suddenly Edd is standing over him again and he tries to pull away but Double D's hands are gentle - if in a hesitant, unpracticed way. Edd picks him up like he's a kitten, slipping his large hands under his arms and depositing him on the other side of the mess. The action makes Kevin's stomach flutter and his heart quake pleasantly, too tired to be uncomfortable or even afraid.
"Sit," he orders but there's still a gentleness to him, to his voice and his demeanor. When Kevin hesitates, Edd presses a hand to his shoulder, guiding him down to the bench, in a way that could almost be described as tender.
With that taken care of, his attention returns to the vomit. "Messy, messy, messy…" he twitters and Kevin can only watch, feeling as if he's Alice falling down the rabbit hole the whole situation is so surreal. His head is foggy, feels like it's stuffed with cotton, so some of the questions and fears that he should be bothering him fade to the background.
As he watches Edd lean in and turn on the shower to wash the mess away he can't help but think over his words.
All of the times he's felt afraid or hurt are reanalyzed. How Edd used to try to get him to team up in physics or math so relentlessly that Kevin felt he was going to be decked if he were to refuse suddenly seem much more innocent.
God, had he blown every instance out of proportion? Those wolfish grins he once could remember so clearly now seem more friendly yet that can't be, can it? Kevin surely hadn't misread the entire thing.
He felt threatened. Afraid. And he did for a reason.
Then there was a week in which Edd would walk into class and past Kevin with a wink, stealing his bag from the floor (or from under his seat or under Nazz's seat or even right out from under Kevin when he had attempted to sit on it to stop Edd) to take it to the back of the room where Edd always insisted on sitting and set it in the chair in front of his own. Edd would grin like a wolf and pat Kevin's backpack, trying to draw him back there where Plank and Jonny lurked with vicious grins. Nazz wouldn't let him give in and join them but he'd be forced to trek all the way to the back of the class, his peers snickering around him, to convince Edd to return his bag.
What about the homework? Edd had first began stealing Kevin's homework late freshman year but here's the thing: he wouldn't keep it or even copy it, instead Edd would return it just before Kevin had the class in which the homework was due with notes and corrections written all over it in neat, dare he say beautiful, cursive. And this had become an almost daily ordeal, one that still occurs.
It always felt humiliating but now Kevin can't help but think about all of the times Eddward literally saved his grade.
Even before now, each time Edd returned his papers with "Good job, Pumkin: A+" or "Quite impressive" (once, written in Eddward Vincent's delicate cursive were the words "Your ability to solve such complex calculus equations at your age is sincerely sexy" and because it was written in bright red ink poor Kevin couldn't remove it; he swears Mrs. Hall still gives him strange looks) it made Kevin's chest swell with pride despite the twisted circumstances.
He groans softly, reconsidering the meaning of those notes Edd presses to his crotch on a weekly basis: "I can't do it without you", "Be my date?", or "I'll make it worth your while". He couldn't be… serious? Kevin can't help but make a derisive noise in the back of his throat.
That's still bullying, no matter what Edd tries to say.
Hell, this is probably just another mind game.
Kevin glares at the back of his head weakly, the nausea finally fading, as Edd turns the shower off once more. Turning to Kevin, the taller boy scowls slightly. "Are you ill or simply… stressed?"
"Stressed, I think," Kevin mutters.
Edd has never looked so pale and beautiful than he does in that moment, with his damp eyes the color of the pool and his hair curling softly against his cheekbones, and it hurts - it hurts to look at him. Kevin drops his head again, a wave of nausea overcoming him once more.
The door suddenly opens and Kevin jumps, slamming his hand on the metal bench. He clutches it to his chest with a hiss.
"You okay there?" the swim coach asks, peering at Kevin with confusion and concern mingling in his eyes. Coach Madison has always seemed somewhat confused by Kevin's presence around the swim team, not to mention Edd's infatuation with him, at least from what Kevin can tell.
"Yeah, we're fine, Coach," Edd replies with an easy smile and his ability to hide the tears that were just on the brink of spilling, the rage that had been bubbling beneath his mask, and his slight confusion makes Kevin scared. How can he hide his emotions with such ease? It almost feels like a lie. "Kevin here is feeling ill so I'm going to take him home."
The man hums as Kevin's eyes widen, wondering if Edd means it or is just trying to get Mr. Madison to leave. "Well, don't tell anybody but I'm going to shove off myself. Can you…?"
Edd laughs and it's beautiful; it's terrible. "Of course, Mr. Madison."
The coach throws him something - oh, the keys, Kevin thinks with another strange twinge in his chest. "There's a little lady from the school paper out here waiting on you two; seems pretty concerned."
"Don't worry, we'll get going in a second. I just want to make sure he's not going to get carsick."
Mr. Madison hums again. "Good work today, Vincent. Didn't think your butterfly stroke could get any better but it sure as hell has. You'll be in the olympics at this rate."
Edd glows, his happiness this time beautiful and sincere, and Kevin can't help but feel a little flushed. He never thought Eddward could look cute until now. "Thank you."
"I hope your friend gets to feeling better. I'll see you tomorrow then," he adds before leaving them alone once more.
Kevin shrinks under Edd's direct gaze. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine…" he murmurs standing and keeps his eyes downcast. "I'm… I'm so sorry for what I did today, Eddward. I don't expect you to forgive me but-"
Edd scoffs and Kevin looks up at him with huge, horrified eyes. "Pumpkin, you just don't seem to get it, do you?" Despite the harsh words his voice is warm and… fond, almost. Edd presses his hand to Kevin's shoulder, carefully guiding him back once more. "Please give me a moment to gather my belongings and then I will drive you and Nazz home. Is that alright?"
Kevin feels his face flush. "You don't have to do that. I'm not going to tell anyone, I promise. No need to… to do anything for me. I have my bike and Nazz usually walks."
"It wasn't a request," Double D insists with the smallest quirk to his lips. "Or some sort of pathetic attempt to suck up to you, believe it or not."
"But- Eddward-"
"Just relax for once and stop overthinking everything," he insists, now slightly irritated.
Kevin bites his lip, watching Edd fold his towels and suit with his brows knit together, but says no more. Edd has never felt more close or so far away. They live right across from each other and have for five years, they have had almost all of their classes together since sophomore year, and they've been paired up on at least two projects that have required working together outside of class (not counting the science fair) yet Kevin can honestly say he knows nothing about this boy. He used to think he did, actually up until this point he was still thinking that.
This entire event has left Kevin reeling from the implications and insanity of it all. The mere idea that Edd could have thought him a friend all these years is appalling and it makes Kevin feel even more the fool and yet, inexplicably, more furious than ever before - not because of how stupid Edd has made him feel but how Edd could have gone this whole time thinking they were good buddies or something.
Okay, perhaps that's a little dramatic, but it's close enough.
Kevin leans forward and cradles his head in his hands, releasing a huge sigh. "Why have you always been a dick to Nazz?" he finally grumbles. If they're going to do this, they're really going to do it.
Edd lets out a huff. "I will admit I've not been kind to Nazz but I've never been deliberately cruel to her either."
"What about when we were freshmen?"
"Are you referring to the period in which she had a crush on me?"
"Yes, what else?"
Edd hums. "I suppose my treatment of her was not particularly gentlemanly. I did somewhat lead her on but I never forced her to do anything."
Kevin scowls. "Might as well have."
Edd takes a deep breath rolling his eyes. Kevin can tell he's finally starting to really anger him. "Kevin, that was a long time ago. I was immature and I am sorry-"
"I'm not the one you need to apologize to," he says quickly but to be honest he's shocked Edd is apologizing at all. Maybe being away from those asshole friends of his makes him nicer.
"I somehow feel Nazz would appreciate it even less if I were to apologize now. Some memories are best left alone."
"Thoughtful of you," Kevin laughs darkly, looking away. "Why don't you ever stop your gang from hurting me? If you're willing to go so far as to beat up Reagan then surely it shouldn't be too difficult for you to stop Plank from doing it too."
When Edd doesn't reply, Kevin looks at him warily out of the corner of his eye.
"Plank has touched you?"
Something about Edd's tone makes Kevin's blood run cold. He turns his head fully to meet the other boy's gaze and is shocked by the furrow of his brows and clenching of his jaw. Kevin studies his face for a moment feeling more confused than ever. "Duh…"
"Don't get smart," Edd seethes. "What has he done to you and when?"
"How about last week when he slammed me up against my locker and stole my fucking earphones?"
There's something horrifying about the blank look that comes to Edd's face; it makes Kevin's stomach twist once more. Edd should be reprimanding him for cursing, they should be bickering over that study that found the more intelligent you are the more you curse, Edd should be smirking or rolling his eyes or something. "Those new ones… the…"
"Apple earphones? The really nice and expensive ones? Yeah, those were mine. I had to tell my dad I lost them and now I'm grounded into the next century. All courtesy of Plank."
Edd jerks his head away and stands mechanically. Kevin watches uncomfortably as the other boy begins to pace back and forth, rubbing at his jaw roughly.
"Edd…?"
"I'm…" he stops and lets out a violent breath through his teeth before turning to Kevin. The smaller boy lurches back at the dark look on his face. "Had I known, it wouldn't have happened. I'll get them back to you," he says sharply, his eyes fierce and unwavering. "I'll do it tonight."
Kevin blushes and finally looks away. "That's really not necessary… You don't-" he sighs heavily. "I don't know why you feel the need to do this or anything else for me but obviously… you don't need to do anything to keep me silent and… obviously you don't owe me anything…" Kevin mutters, eyes flickering to the hat.
"Pumpkin," Eddward groans and shoves his hands in his pockets, "if I didn't want to do it, I wouldn't. Do you understand me?"
"O-kay… but… why?" he persists, scuffing his shoes against the tiles. He can't bring himself to meet Edd's gaze.
For a long moment there's only silence. The tension grows between them with each passing second; Kevin fidgets, hand grasping at his elbows and fingers picking at his pants.
"Kevin," Edd says firmly and the boy jumps, blinking up at him owlishly. He gazes down at Kevin steadily for another moment before he finally speaks. "I never intended to harm you. I know… I come on strong. But please believe me when I tell you I never meant to harm you. Physically or, as it may be, psychologically. I am… more sorry than you will ever know."
Brow furrowed, Kevin bites his lip and curls his arms around himself, intensely suspicious. "But why? Why would you care… Just, why?"
"Obviously because I care about you," he snaps.
Kevin bristles. "But why do you care?"
"I have considered you one of the few students I can truly call my intellectual peer and… perhaps foolishly, my friend." If Kevin didn't know any better he would say that Eddward is embarrassed. "I must sound like an idiot - I went all of this time oblivious… Of course I recognized your discomfort and annoyance but - I didn't realize it was," his voice cracks a little, "like this..." he mutters and tugs on his hat a little.
Kevin stares, completely numb and on the verge of having a break down. Edd now refuses to meet his gaze, keeping his eyes downcast and oh god, now that wetness has returned to his eyes.
Finally snapping out of it, Kevin shakes his head robotically, as if he can dislodge these words from where it has taken root within him, filling him with a sickening hope that he can neither name nor explain. "You fucking… grope me on a weekly basis…"
Edd actually blushes. "Do you not mess around with your friends?"
"Mess around?" Kevin scoffs. "I somehow highly doubt you mess around with your friends by asking them out weekly."
Edd glares softly. "You're an idiot…"
Kevin feels like he's missing something here and casts a furtive glance around the locker room.
"No one else is here, Pumpkin. Just say what's on your mind," Edd sighs and moves to sit next to Kevin, making the smaller boy bristle. Edd gives him a weary look as if he's fed up with Kevin's bullshit but sits anyway.
The two boys eye each other warily for a moment before Edd scoffs and looks away. "Or don't."
Kevin licks his lips feeling flushed. "Do you remember the first time we met?"
Edd looks to him again, face soft once more. "Freshman year, honors geometry. That was the first class we had together, the first time we were near each other despite living right across from each other for a year."
"Oh, I was more thinking of English when we were partnered up for that assignment…"
"Ah, yes…" Double D murmurs, practically wistful. He leans a little closer, pretending to adjust. Kevin meets his eyes hesitantly to find them warm with amusement. "You had a horrible time with Shakespeare."
Laughing nervously, Kevin looks away. "English has never been my strong suit…"
"Oh, I know," he says teasingly. "I have been correcting your homework for years now, after all…"
Kevin can't help but let out a high, strained laugh, mostly out of surprise from the… kindness in Edd's voice and his nerves too, of course. "Why do you do that? It's so ridiculous…"
"It started with that 100 question take home test in English, if you recall."
Kevin hums.
"It was what? Twenty five percent of our grade?"
"Something like that."
"Well, I knew you were going to fail it."
Kevin lets out another high pitched giggle, flushing in embarrassment. "So what? You took pity on me?"
"Something like that…" Edd laughs breathily. The sound makes Kevin's spine tingle and his stomach flutter. He looks at Edd nervously and the boy grins, showing off that gap.
Kevin wonders what it would feel like to slide his tongue-
"It became a bit of a habit. Plus it's such fun seeing your reactions. You sure do get worked up…"
He rolls his eyes looking away. "Bully…"
Edd shrugs, smiling lopsidedly. "I know, I'm bad. But… Kevin…"
The boy looks at him closely, meeting Edd's eyes to find they have turned hard once more. "Yeah…?" he barely manages to get out, voice hoarse.
"I… If I had known you were- No, I go overboard. I know I do and…" he doubles over slightly and presses his palms to his face hard. "I'm sorry for hurting you. I'm not trying to make excuses. I know I'm a bad person-"
"Stop," Kevin chokes, his mouth and throat suddenly painfully dry. "I- I'm not going to forgive you, at least not right now, but… I don't expect you to forgive me either. Can we say… we're even?"
Eddward lights up but does his best to suppress his smile. His reaction of pure pleasure makes Kevin blush and quickly turn his face away. "I promise you'll have those earphones back by the end of the night."
God, his face is burning. "That's really not necessary-"
"It is, Pumpkin."
Edd falls silent for a moment. Kevin's skin prickles as he can feel those blue eyes searing into him. Finally Edd sighs, "You must think me a fool…"
"For what?" Kevin fidgets, plays with the zipper of his hoodie - anything to distract himself from the feeling of unease building in his stomach.
"For… not realizing how much you despise me…"
Kevin gulps, biting his lips. "I thought you hated me. You treat me like a plaything."
Edd makes an indescribable noise in the back of his throat, high and tense. "I- yes- yes, I suppose that's the best way to describe my actions."
Kevin squirms slightly. "Can we stop talking about this for now?"
"Yeah…" Edd murmurs. "So, feeling better now?" he asks, slightly strained. "Your stomach, I mean."
Kevin nods and forces a smile.
"Let's go then."
Edd stands, jerks on his leather jacket and slings his duffle bag over his shoulder, closing his locker with his shoulder. Kevin shuffles along behind him as they leave, turning out the lights when he's asked. As Edd locks the changing room, Kevin peers out the window to see Nazz peering right back with huge, scared eyes. So much for their plans. He tries to smile but he fears it appears as more of a grimace.
Edd sighs when he sees her but then pauses. Looking at him nervously, Kevin clears his throat. "What's wrong?"
Blue eyes pin him once more. "Do not tell her what you saw."
"I already promised I wouldn't. I mean it. I am sincerely sorry and I'm not about to… to do anything to add to it…"
Kevin does his best to maintain eye contact with him but that wetness begins to form in Edd's eyes, if only slightly - in all honesty it could be a trick of the eye, Kevin's glasses are splattered with water after all.
"You haven't asked me."
"What?"
"How I got them," Edd says lowly.
Kevin blinks at him, somewhat taken off guard. "It's none of my business…"
Edd lets out a sudden huff of breath; Kevin can't tell if it's frustration or amusement. "It's about time I get you two home, isn't it?"
With that, Edd turns back to the door and sweeps forward.
"Are you… okay?" Nazz asks when the two come out of the pool room.
Kevin nods sharply and manages to give her a proper smile. She visibly relaxes. "So… Edd has offered to give us a ride home…" Kevin begins carefully and all of the tension seeps back into her shoulders.
"It wasn't an offer, more of a demand…" Edd says offhandedly. He gives the door a tug before turning to them, smirking. "I insist."
"Uh, no thanks…" Nazz mutters and steps back.
"Fine, you can walk but I'll be taking Pumpkin here."
Nazz shoots Kevin an alarmed look and he smiles sheepishly.
"Here…" Edd reaches into his pocket and pulls out a different set of keys which he tosses to Kevin. "You guys know my car, right?"
"The Prius…"
"Yes, 'the Prius'. Do you have a problem with my car, Blondie?"
She rolls her eyes and turns away. "Come on, Kev."
"Wait - uh, Edd, where are you-"
"I'm getting your earphones, dweeb. Just go with your girlfriend."
"She's not my girlfriend," Kevin croaks out automatically.
"Oh, trust me - I know." Edd winks at him with a vicious smirk.
Kevin flushes, as does Nazz. And the teasing begins again.
Edd shoulders his bag and, with a soft laugh, heads to the main building.
Kevin feels horribly embarrassed by all of this and he can't even meet Nazz's eyes.
"What happened in there?" she demands, voice tight with worry. "Are you okay?"
"I… I shouldn't have done that."
Nazz scoffs. Grabbing him by the shoulders, she jerks him around to face her. "Kevin, we're talking about the guy who gropes you, shoves you around, and steals from you. There is nothing wrong with what we did."
"Yeah, yeah there is. It… was really bad, Nazz. He- fuck, I can't tell you. I feel like shit though, like I somehow managed to stoop lower than him."
Nazz gulps. "That bad?"
"Worse. I don't even know what just happened, to be honest. But- he… it's like he thought we were friends?"
Nazz barks out a surprised laugh. "'Friends'?"
Kevin looks over his shoulder at Edd just as he slips into the building. "Can we talk about this tonight? I need some time to…" he takes a shaking breath and closes his eyes. "I don't even know what just happened."
Nazz loops her arm with Kevin's, resting her head on his shoulder, and they head to the student parking lot.
The Prius is one of the few cars left in the parking lot, not to mention the nicest. Everyone knows that Eddward is from a pretty well to do family but no one really knows what they do for a living. Actually, Kevin rarely sees Edd's parents at all despite living right across the street from them. Usually their cars appear only after midnight and they are long gone by the time Kevin wakes in the morning. It's been that way for as long as he can remember.
"What about your bike?"
"You get in the car, I'll take care of the bike," Kevin explains, handing her the keys.
By the time he has his bike from the other side of the lot, Edd is at his car, waiting. Kevin slides off his bike and walks it the rest of the way.
When he spots Kevin, Edd grins widely and holds out his hand for Kevin to see his earphones. "Pour toi…" he croons and slinks over to Kevin.
Skin prickling, Kevin eyes him warily. "What are you up to?"
Edd's smirk widens so Kevin can catch a glimpse of that damn gap (it's still perfect, fuck) before sneaking his hand into the smaller boy's back pocket.
Flushing, Kevin shoves at his chest but Edd's hand, still in his pocket, unfurls from around the earphones to press into the flesh of Kevin's ass, forcing him to stumble forward and right into Edd's arms. "Stop it!" he gasps and blushes hotter at the sound of his own voice it's so high. "You said you'd stop!"
Edd hums, lips slightly upturned with suppressed amusement. "I apologized, I never said I'd stop."
Kevin's stomach sinks and his chest flares with fire. "Fuck you!" he spits but it comes out hot and shaking. "Fuck you for all of this, you prick! I-I-"
Edd's amusement is gone in the blink of an eye. He withdraws his hand and takes a step back. "Woah, woah- Pumk- Kevin! Kevin, I'm sorry! I was- teasing! Teasing, Kevin! I didn't-"
"Stop," Kevin bites. "Don't touch me. Not ever."
Edd is taken aback by the hardness in Kevin's eyes and the harsh edge of his clenched jaw. "Yeah," he gulps. "I'm sorry…"
"Just take us home. Then we can forget all about this."
Edd lets out a breath through his teeth. "Yeah, fine."
Kevin watches closely as Edd puts the bike in the back. "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt your baby…" Edd teases but Kevin can tell he's actually fed up with him.
Nazz is watching from the backseat, shaking with her anger. Kevin is quick to join her in the car when he's satisfied that his bike is safe.
Edd gets into the driver's seat before turning to the backseat with a sigh and an open palm. He looks at Nazz expectantly. She looks at Kevin then back to Edd nervously. "The keys, Blondie."
"Oh!" she squeaks and digs her hand into her pocket. "Sorry. I forgot."
Edd sighs, patience wearing thin. Nazz drops the keys in his palm and he gives Kevin on last pointed look before turning back to the wheel.
As soon as things fall quiet in the car it sinks in that Kevin just stood up to Double D. Legitimately stood up to him and told him to cut his shit and he had conceded. Holy fuck. That just happened.
The drive is painfully quiet but blessedly quick.
When they reach the cul-de-sac, Kevin lets out a sigh of relief just to tense once again when Edd pulls into Kevin's driveway instead of his own.
Kevin looks out the window at his mother's car, stomach roiling. "Uh… you don't…"
"Relax, Pumpkin," Edd says shortly and climbs out of the car.
Nazz and Kevin look to each other nervously before scrambling out of the back seat. Edd already has Kevin's bike out. Kevin is quick to take the handles from him (earning an amused smirk) and guide it into the open garage.
"Ever ridden a motorcycle?" Edd asks.
"Ah, no…" Kevin answers nervously, rejoining the other two in his driveway.
"I… really need to go home…" Nazz says nervously and the worst part is she really does. Kevin knows very well that Nazz has a babysitting job to get to so he's not going to have any back up until eight.
Kevin nods to her. She smiles weakly. "Text you later…"
"Bye, Blondie," Edd jeers slightly, stepping to Kevin's side.
She shoots him a vicious glare. "Don't fuck with him," she hisses lowly.
Edd only chuckles. "Just be sure to send Marie a text later, okay?"
Nazz flushes, totally taken off guard. "Actually…"
"Jeez, what now?"
"I don't have her number," she blurts.
Edd raises an eyebrow, reaching out to her; she hops back. "Your phone, Nazz, let me see it."
Reluctantly, she does. Kevin thinks her willingness attests to just how into Marie she is. Edd takes her phone and quickly inputs the number before tossing it back to her.
With that, Nazz sends him one last wary look and leaves.
"Why is she so uptight?" Edd grumbles under his breath.
"Hey there kids!"
Both boys nearly jump out of their skin, turning quickly to find Kevin's mother standing in the doorway beaming at them. "Mom!" Kevin says shrilly. "Uh, I'll be just a second-"
"Kevin," she admonishes. "I haven't seen Eddward in forever! Eddward, would you like to stay for dinner? Oh, where are my manners? Come in!"
Eddward grins broadly and loops Kevin's arm with his to drag him inside.
Kevin feels like he's going to faint. He doesn't know what he did to deserve this.
His mother, of course, adores Eddward with the same sickening intensity that the rest of Peach Creek does. She is always on Kevin's ass about him: "Why do you never invite Edd over?", "You go to his swim meets, don't you? That's so sweet!", "Kevin, you need to invite Edd over for dinner. I hate thinking about him over there all alone in that house.", and so on.
Kevin never listens. He may be a pushover, especially when it comes to his mother, but he can't be swayed the subject at hand is one Eddward Vincent.
Kevin thinks back on all of his mother's passive aggression and pouting over the years as he is swept towards his house the infamous shark himself.
There is something very wrong about this.
His mother is absolutely beaming at them and uh, so is Edd? And only adding to Kevin's discomfort his smile seems… almost sincere? Almost. There's still a teasing edge to it.
"It's been such a long time!" his mom says, absolutely gleeful, and - Jesus Christ, his mother hugs Double D and holy mother of god he hugs her right back. She pats Edd's back fondly, her head just barely reaching the taller boy's shoulder, before holding him out at arm's length. "It's been too long! Look at you!" she gasps in that uniquely "mom" way. "You've grown so much since the last time I saw you properly! Such a handsome young man!"
Edd actually lights up at all of the attention and Kevin can't help but feel a little bad for the guy. He realized just how badly Edd misses his parents back when they teamed up for the science fair and it was more through his behavior around Kevin's own parents that he figured it out.
He would practically preen under Kevin's parent's affections and it's… sad. It's sad how his cheeks would burn and he would look at Kevin's mother and father like they were his own parents, like he desperately wanted and needed their affection; how his eyes would just light up when Kevin's mother insisted that he stayed for dinner, when she simply set a plate in front of him or when Kevin's father insisted he take seconds or packed him leftovers to take home.
Kevin can't believe he almost forgot about all of that.
"Now, you boys just work on your homework or play some videogames while I get dinner going. I'll have it done in just a jiff!"
Suddenly, inspiration strikes. "Uh, mom?"
"Yes, sweetie?" she croons, face still lit up.
"Uh… Dad grounded me…" he says and could smack himself for how dumb he sounds. At least he'll be able to keep Edd out of his house.
She glowers at him.
Kevin feels a groan rising in his chest because that's his mother's "I don't care what your father said" face which means Edd is still getting in the house.
"Didn't you say he grounded you because of your earphones?" Eddward cuts in, voice mocking but of course his mother doesn't pick up on it. Kevin glares.
His mother sighs, "He lost them. Thirty dollar headphones and he loses them the first day he has them!"
Kevin's face flushes and his chest swells with anger but he simply casts his gaze away and keeps quiet.
"Woah, woah - but he didn't lose them, Ms. Barr," Edd interjects innocently and Kevin whips his head around.
Don't you dare he tries to convey with his eyes. He's sure that glimmer of amusement in Edd's is a fuck you.
She purses her lips, "What do you mean, sweetie?"
Edd slips his hand into Kevin's back pocket (ignoring Kevin's noise of distress) and presents the headphones. "A kid at our school took them. We just got them back today."
Surprisingly, Kevin's mother almost looks more frustrated. "Who stole them? Where did you leave them for them to get stolen like that?"
"Mom," Kevin groans.
"It wasn't Kevin's fault, really. He just straight up stole them from Kevin's pocket. I saw him do it, that's how we were able to get them back," Edd lies smoothly, voice laden with sickening sincerity.
Kevin feels sick watching this asshole lie to his mom like this but it's just a white lie, half truth really, and it actually feels good for someone to have his back.
It's beginning to sink in that his relationship with Double D is going to be very different from now on.
Kevin's mother makes a noise of distress. "Oh, honey… I'm sorry. See? Not grounded anymore."
Kevin forces a smile but on the inside he's throwing a fucking fit about this.
"You're such a sweetheart," she croons and pats Edd's cheek gently. "It makes me feel better knowing Kevin has a friend like you."
He beams and Kevin hides his face.
"You simply have to stay for dinner!"
"Actually, as much as I hate it, I can't stay long," Edd explains apologetically. Kevin's heart soars. "I have some chores that I need to finish before tonight."
Kevin's mother looks at him sadly. "Aw, that's okay, sweetie. But you should come over again soon! Our door is always open so you just come on in."
Edd suddenly looks to Kevin and the boy is tempted to shrink back under the combined attention of his mother and Eddward fucking Vincent. "The science fair is in less than two months."
"Uh, yeah-" Kevin stops himself. No he fucking isn't pulling this shit. "Actually, I wasn't really planning on participating."
"Kevin," his mother hisses.
Edd looks mildly annoyed yet still amused which is certainly a feat. "Come on, Pumpkin. Let's team up again."
Kevin's face is on fucking fire. This asshole seriously just called him "Pumpkin" in front of his mother. Jesus Christ.
Kevin's mom makes a high, delighted noise but says nothing.
"I don't know," Kevin grits out, hating the way Edd's lips quirk. "What are you even thinking about?"
"Let's make a robot."
Kevin grunts. "Let me think about it."
Edd waves his hand. "Sure, sure. Anyway, I should probably get going. It was really nice seeing you, Ms. Barr."
"Don't forget to come by soon!" Kevin's mom persists.
Edd smiles and promises he'll be by soon before getting back in that stupid Prius and driving the short distance to his house.
Kevin hurries inside, face burning, but before he can dart up the stairs his mom comes after him.
"'Pumpkin'?" she calls trying to suppress her laughter.
"Mom!" he groans stopping on the first stair. "Please don't."
"Kevin…" she pouts. "You could have just told me, sweetie."
"What?" he asks finally turning back to her.
She looks at him sadly. "Kevin, I've suspected it for a while. So has your father. And we are completely fine with it. We love you."
Now he is seriously confused; he ignores that little voice at the back of his head that says he knows exactly what she's talking about. "What are you talking about, mom?"
"Honey… Edd is a lovely young man. We're very proud of you."
"Mom…" Kevin murmurs, eyes wide with horror. "What are you talking about?"
She huffs, now annoyed. "Your boyfriend."
"Mom!" he yelps. Holy shit, his face hurts it is so hot. "I am not dating Eddward!"
She blinks. "You aren't?"
"Oh my god! No! We aren't even friends! Oh my god, mom!"
"Honey! I'm sorry - it just looks a lot like you're… together. Going to his meets, teaming up at the science fair… Pumpkin," she adds emphatically, trying to suppress her own amused smirk.
Kevin makes a terrible whining noise he can't stop and hides his face. "Oh my god!"
"Oh, come on, Kevin… you really aren't dating?"
"No! Oh my god!"
"Honey-"
"Mom," he huffs and holds up his hands like a shield. "I am going to be brutally honest with you for five minutes and then we're going back to acting normal."
"Okay?" she says hesitantly.
"I am not gay. I am-" he chokes a little, "bisexual."
"Oh! The one where you like both?"
He groans at his mother's complete and utter ignorance but he really doesn't feel like giving her a walkthrough on this. Ever. "Yeah, sure. But that's not the point. The point is, I am not dating Edd. I have never dated Edd. I will never date Edd. I can hardly stand Edd. He's a jerk. Please stop inviting him over because he makes me want to scream."
At this she crosses her arms and gives him another mom look which reads "you better not have said what I think you did".
"The kid who stole my earphones is his best friend. He hangs out with jerks and he is a jerk and this is what I get for associating with him."
"Maybe you should invite him over more and he'll stop hanging out with people like that," she snaps indignantly.
Kevin's mouth drops open. "Mom."
"Kevin."
"Mom."
"That is a boy who has been through more than you know, Kevin," she persists, voice suddenly hard so he knows she means business. "I expect you to be nice to him."
Kevin grits his teeth. "Did you not just hear me? His friends practically bully me, mom. He bullies me."
She scoffs. "Kevin, he is a lonely boy with no one to look after him."
"He has parents!"
"They are not like us, Kevin. They are not the type of parents to actually care for their child like we care for you. In many ways we've shielded you from the darker parts of life so I understand you don't realize just what's going on but that boy-" she chokes up a little and Kevin knows he's in trouble, "he needs someone. Be nice. Just try. You two seemed to get along so well when you worked on that project together…"
"It's fine as long as we're focused on work but he's…"
"Kevin, please."
They have a bit of a stand off but eventually Kevin gives in. "Fine."
He never calls Nazz. He's too sick with himself and his mother and Edd to talk.
Thank you for reading! Your feedback and constructive criticism are greatly appreciated!
