Double D moved sluggishly, feeling the pain from yesterday settle in his bones. He groaned internally, cursing his weak physique. Opening his locker, Edd shouldered his messenger bag and thought back to his assignments for the day. He gazed at his textbooks for a moment, suddenly he couldn't remember anything from any of his classes.
"How strange," he mumbled, staring directly at one spot in an attempt to remember. "Did I not write anything down?"
He searched his notes, indeed he had written everything down, and he sighed in relief. This behavior really wasn't like him. Smiling, put everything he needed into his bag.
Looking up, Edd noticed a shadow had fallen over him. He turned to face whoever the shadow belonged to.
"K-Kevin," he sighed in relief. "Do you not have practice this evening?"
"I do," the red head gave a cocky smile. "I was on my way to the field, are you heading home?" He asked, eyeing him curiously.
"Yes, I have to begin the biology project assigned."
"That isn't due in a while."
"I am aware, it is best to do it sooner rather than later."
Kevin nodded, smiling. "Alright, I'll come by later after practice to help out-"
"No, Kevin! I'll start tonight and then we can continue this weekend." Edd offered a smile, wanting him to believe him. "W-Well I shall speak with you tonight when you are finished with practice."
"Alright," Kevin gave Double D a quick peck on the cheek before heading towards the locker rooms. "See ya Double D!"
Edd smiled, despite of his current situation. Slowly, his smile faded and he shut his locker and began his walk home.
The air was crisp as Kevin jogged out onto the field, waving at his best friends.
"Yo, Kev!"
"Hey," he stopped short of the two, letting the chilly autumn air hit him. "How's the team lookin'?"
"Where's Double D?" Nazz asked, leaning against the iron fence in her uniform.
"Went home to work on a project." Kevin relayed easily, beginning his stretches. "He looked sorta out of it, ya know?"
"Out how?" a green haired boy ask, holding his helmet against his hip.
Kevin shrugged, "Just out, Nat, like he wasn't his usual dorky self."
"Maybe he's stressed," Nazz offered. "I don't doubt it, he's always working so hard."
The three went silent as the coach blew his whistle, "Let's go, let's go!"
Edd sighed, regretting not being able to tell Kevin what had happened. He rubbed his arm, glancing around his surroundings.
"Hey, dork,"
He jumped at the sound of his voice, turning slowly as fear slowly took hold of him.
"G-Greetings, isn't it a l-lovely day?" he stuttered, beginning to shake without his volition.
Double D stared up into the dark eyes of Joe, the cruelty of his personality seeping onto his startling features. His friends, Alex and Paul, snickered as Joe took hold of Edd's collar, wrinkling his shirt.
"N-Now, we don't need to resort to any v-violence."
"Who said anything about that?" Joe hissed, inching closer to the dork. He smirked, pushing the nerd onto the pavement.
Alex chuckled as papers fell out of Edd's bag, littering the ground at their feet. He stepped over and around Double D, cutting off his escape route.
"G-gentle-"
Paul took this time to kick Edd in the side, knocking the breath from him. He sneered, the menacing stare in his eyes forcing Edd to shrink back into himself.
"Go easy on the dork," Joe laughed. "He still needs to do our homework."
The smaller jock, Alex, snickered as Paul took another swing with his foot.
Edd gasped, feeling the searing pain that cut like a knife against him. He felt himself being lifted up and dared a peek to watch as the gangly jock punch him in the gut.
He felt like crying, the pain from yesterdays beating rising to collide with the one he was receiving now. Edd felt the blows stop as he fell to the ground, tasting the metallic liquid that dripped onto his hand.
"Oh dear…." he managed softly.
As soon as practice was over, Kevin took out his phone and called Edd. He waved at Nat who punched him in the shoulder on his way to his car.
"Calling Double D?" Nazz asked, pulling her jacket around her frame. "That's really sweet, Kev."
"He isn't answering," Kevin told her, still holding the phone up to his ear. "He usually picks up by the third ring."
"Maybe he's working on the project," Nazz offered. "Or something."
"Yeah," Kevin hung up and walked back towards the school with Nazz. "He doesn't like to be bothered when he's doing that stuff."
"See? I bet he's fine," She gave him a smile. "I'll see ya tomorrow, dude, later!" She trotted down towards the parking lot where her bug sat.
Kevin gave a nod before walking towards his own vehicle, he slipped his helmet on and started the machine. He smiled as it purred to life, revving the engine with the handle bars. Man he loved his bike.
He peeled out of the parking lot, the cold air biting at his exposed skin. 'Damn fall,' he thought.
When Kevin turned into the cul-de-sac he rode up into his driveway and looked up at the only room in Edd's house that was lit.
'He's still up?'
He pushed his bike into the garage before jogging down to see his boyfriend, putting his phone up to his ear as it dialed his boyfriends' number. Standing on the front stoop, Kevin was beginning to get pissed off. He hung up the moment he was hearing Edd's voicemail.
"What the fuck?" He hissed, ringing the doorbell.
Kevin leaned against the side, looking up at the sky.
He moved as soon as he heard Double D's voice from inside.
"Just a moment," Edd spoke through the door, unlatching the lock before turning the knob. "Hel-"
Kevin turned and barged inside, firmly shutting the door behind him.
"What the hell, man?" He snapped, focusing on taking his sneakers off. "Why didn't you pick up or return my calls?"
He looked up at the beaten dork, his hat was askew and he held a crimson tissue against his nose.
"I-I apologize for causing worry," he responded, eyes cast towards the ground and pretending as if this was normal. "I had not heard my phone…"
Kevin narrowed his eyes, squinting at the boy in front of him. He changed into his pajamas, flannel pants and a white shirt.
"What happened to your arm?"
"My what?" Edd questioned, alarm suddenly in his voice. "Oh, I-I uh, fell…"
"It looks like it hurt," Kevin told him, moving close. "How'd you fall?"
He kept his eyes down, shrugging his slender shoulders in apathy.
"I tripped over a root."
"And you fell on your arm?"
Edd nodded, moving to throw away the bloody tissue.
"So why is your nose bleeding?" Kevin asked, eyeing him closely.
"Do not worry Kevin, it's just an anterior nosebleed caused by the excessive cold air lately." Edd lied, surprised at how easily it came. Immediately he wanted to cry and run into Kevin's arms.
Double D took a deep, calming breath before moving his eyes to meet with Kevin's and immediately regretted it. He felt his emerald gaze pierce into his own, coaxing every little secret to come out from hiding.
He couldn't take it anymore, Double D could feel his gaze falter. His hard exterior falling under his boyfriend's gaze, he had been genuinely worried and all Edd had done was pretend like none of it happened.
Like none of today had happened. None of yesterday, or the day before.
Like the past few weeks had never been filled with dread of leaving Kevin's watchful gaze or protective side.
"Hey, you okay?"
He snapped back to reality at the sound of Kevin's voice, sweet and comforting.
"T-To the truth," Edd murmured. "No…"
Kevin rushed to his side as soon as the word was out and Edd had started to cry.
His arms snaked around Edd's frail shoulders, trembling from the sobs that escaped his throat. He picked him up with ease and moved into the living room, settling on the couch.
Double D clutched at Kevin's shirt, tears falling in abandon.
Kevin just held him, waiting out the hysteria.
"I-I'm so sorry," Edd cried. "I-I've been so frightened…."
He rose his eyebrows, surprised.
"Of what?"
"They n-never stop…"
"They?" Kevin repeated, anger beginning to rise. "Who's 'they'?"
Edd shook his head, unable to speak.
"Double D," Kevin spoke softly, an attempt to comfort the mess in his arms. "It's okay."
The dork nodded, trying to keep his tears under control.
"A-Alright…" he tried, voice weak.
"Shh," Kevin gave him a light kiss, making sure Edd put his focus on him. "I'm right here."
Double D's face flushed, tears smudged along his burning face.
The jock smiled at that and kissed away some of the tears that stained Edd's cheeks.
"You feeling better?"
Edd nodded, releasing his grip on Kevin's shirt.
"My apologies, Kevin," he whispered softly. "I should have informed you much sooner."
Kevin shook his head and kissed him again.
"This isn't your fault, Double D." He cradled Edd in his arms and fixed his sock hat.
"Thank you," Edd murmured, feeling his eyelids close.
Kevin stood with ease, holding Edd in his arms, and headed upstairs. He turned down the hallway and into his boyfriend's room, admiring how neat it was.
Slowly, he set him down in bed and tucked him in.
"Kevin?"
He stopped at the sound of his name, "Yeah?"
"Could you perhaps consider staying the night?"
Smiling, Kevin shook his head. "Where would I sleep?"
Edd was silent, causing Kevin to believe he had finally fallen asleep.
He shut the light out and was about to close the door when he heard his voice again.
"Good night, Kevin, pleasant dreams."