"You really don't have to walk me home," Tory said as they walked out of his house. "You know I can take care of any muggers out there looking for easy prey."
"I know," Hyde said. "But if someone attacks you, I can kick their ass without getting in trouble with the cops. And why miss out on that fun?" He grinned.
Tory smiled. "Well, I'd hate to ruin your fun," she said, kissing him briefly on the lips. She was grateful for the company back. It would give them more time together. And if she got him all the way to the Formans', she might be able to convince him to eat some food.
Hyde put his arm around her and pressed his lips to the top of her head. He had been particularly affectionate after she'd gotten him off. She wasn't sure if he was still in the after effects of a great orgasm or if he felt obligated to do so because she had said she loved him. She really hoped it was the first. She did love him, but she didn't want him to feel guilty about not loving her back. It wasn't like she expected him to.
"Are you cold?" Hyde asked as they walked down the street. He started to take off his jacket before she even answered.
"I'm fine," she said. She wrapped her arms around his waist underneath his jacket. "This is plenty warm."
He smiled down at her. He had been looking at her more and more with a strange expression on his face. It might not be his zen, but she still had no idea what he was thinking.
Hyde didn't let go of her until they got to the Formans'. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow," he said as he reluctantly removed his arm from around her shoulders.
"Nuh-uh," she said, dragging him into the kitchen. It was late, so they were luckily alone. She would be able to get him some left overs without Red scaring Hyde off. "Sit down."
He scowled. "Unless you're about to give me a sexy lap dance, I don't think so."
Tory went to the fridge and pulled out tupperwares of potatoes and vegetables. There wasn't any chicken left since the meat was being heavily rationed by Mrs. Forman, but potatoes and vegetables were better than nothing.
"Tory, I'm not hungry," he said.
"You haven't eaten since yesterday. Cut the crap."
"Maybe I don't want to eat regular food, man. I live off a diet of hatred, booze, and drugs."
"Mm," she said as she dished out the food onto a plate. She walked over and put it in front of him. "Well maybe if you ate real food, you would last longer."
His expression immediately became heated. Shivers ran through Tory's body when she saw the intense lust written all over his face. "I last long enough to get the job done," he said.
"Even with me drawing it out, you lasted like ten minutes. It's a good thing you took care of me beforehand."
Hyde growled and pulled her in for a kiss. "We'll see how long I last next time." Grudgingly he started eating the food. "I'm not eating this because of what you said."
"Of course not, babe."
Hyde grabbed her hand with his free one, playing with her fingers while he ate. Tory smiled, happy just to have even that little amount of contact with him. She watched him attack the food eagerly, all but ravaging it and then scraping the plate clean. She really hoped he had been telling the truth about how long he'd been without food. There's nothing you can do about it now. Just be glad he's eating.
Once he was done, Tory took the plate from him and put it into the sink. "Thanks for walking me home," she said as she hugged him.
"Thanks for feeding me," he said, burying his face into her hair. He held her tightly as if he was holding on for dear life. "Tory…" he whispered. "Thank you."
She smiled, knowing he was thanking her for more than just the food. "My pleasure," she whispered, kissing his cheek.
He looked at her, sorrow and shame on his face. She frowned. "Hey," she said. "Why are you sad?"
"Earlier, when you said-"
Tory quickly silenced him with a kiss. "I don't expect you to say it back. Relax. I said it because I meant it, not because I needed you to say it back." She smiled. "I just needed you to know, okay? Don't make it a thing."
He nodded. "Okay," he said, relieved. Hyde kissed her again, tenderly and leaned his forehead against hers. "You're gorgeous," he said. "You're so fucking, gorgeous." He pulled away from her reluctantly, leaving Tory a little cold from the lack of contact. "I should get back home," he said. "I'm beat." His eyes stayed on the ground.
She nodded. "Stay safe, okay?"
He managed a smirk. "I'm always safe. It's everyone else who needs to be afraid of me."
She rolled her eyes and smiled. "Then don't kill anyone, all right?"
"No promises. Later." He walked out the screen door a second later.
Tory sighed and went downstairs, thinking about Hyde. She hoped Edna came back soon. That bitch wasn't exactly mother of the year, but she at least paid the rent and put food in the house. Well, she usually put food in the house.
She stopped when she saw Eric on the couch in the basement. "Shouldn't you be asleep?" she asked.
He looked up at her and stood up. "Uh, yeah, I know. But… what's up with Hyde, man?" He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Was it just me, or did something seem weird at his house? I mean, his mom running off with a trucker?"
Tory sat down in Hyde's chair. "I know," she said. "That's actually why I stayed back, so we could talk." She clenched her jaw. "I don't like this either. He seems convinced that she'll come back, but I'm worried about him."
"So she's really gone, then." He started pacing the room.
"Yeah. She has been for a few days. He ran out of food yesterday, apparently. I made him eat leftovers when he walked me home."
Eric sighed. "This is bad. What should we do?"
Tory shook her head. "I don't know. Let's see if Edna comes back. If she does, cool, if not… we'll figure something out." Her stomach tightened. She already knew what to do if Edna didn't come back, but she knew Eric would never go for that plan.
Eric nodded. "You're right. Who does that to their kid, man? Who?"
Tory stayed silent. She knew plenty of parents who would do that to their kids. While her parents had never walked out on her, they sure as hell didn't care whether or not she was in the house. They never even reported her missing after she left. But it never should have happened to Hyde. He deserved so much better than Gross Edna as his mother. "Look, there's nothing we can do tonight," she said. "We'll figure it out tomorrow."
Eric nodded. "Well, uh, good night."
"Hey, Eric?" Tory said. "Why did Steven get into a fight with Kelso?"
Eric looked down at the ground, rubbing his neck nervously. "Kelso was just being a dumbass," he said. "It's nothing, really. Not important."
She frowned. "Tell me. I want to know."
He sighed. "Well, after you left, Kelso made a comment about your scars. He said you looked better with your shirt on than with it off."
"That's it? Hyde fought him over that?" Tory frowned. Since when was that a crime? She had said it herself earlier that night.
Eric looked at her, surprised. "That's pretty bad, Tory! I mean, are you really that surprised?"
"Uh, yeah. Kelso is one of his best friends. Why would he lose it over something stupid like that?" It must be his male ego or something.
"You really have no idea how much Hyde likes you, do you?"
She shrugged. Of course Hyde liked her. He thought she was hot and she also brought out the protective side in him. She also knew how to steal booze without getting caught, so that was a huge positive for him as well. But why would he care enough about her of all people to try to kill Kelso over a random comment? "I know he likes me. But trying to murder Kelso over that is just stupid."
"You make him stupid! He-" Eric shook his head. "I can't talk sense into you. You're the anti-Jackie but just as irrational."
She scowled. "That's hurtful and not true. I know the Fonz can't take Bruce Lee, okay? Jackie still doesn't."
Eric smirked. "Good point."
Tory grinned as she thought of something. "Wait. If Jackie is the devil, and I am the anti-Jackie, then am I Jesus?"
Eric threw his hands up in the air. "Okay. Well, I can't talk to you anymore. Good night!"
"How dare you walk away from Jesus, puny human!" Tory shouted up after him, laughing.
"Jesus is not the Hulk- okay you know what? Just… Night!"
Tory laughed and grabbed her bedding from the storage room to spread out on the couch. Her amusement faded as she curled up on the couch with the pillow and blanket. She already knew what she had to do if if Edna really left. She'd have to leave. After all, Hyde needed a place to stay. And the Formans could really only afford one stray orphan.