TWs: Med stuff/pain/aftermath of getting shot, words hurt (the series/j), and Tord goes through it (but Edd has it worse in this story). Stay safe :)
"He's lucky... any deeper, and it would've pierced his lung."
Tom groaned in pain; everything around him was blacked out by the bandages over his eyes. He noticed he was lying on his stomach, thin sheets covering his body. He tried to get up but felt a gentle hand push him back. His breath caught in his throat as he felt the stinging sensation writhing through his spine like an electric wire.
"Don't move, Tom." He heard a female voice direct, "It'll only make it worse."
"Can I-?" A familiar voice spoke up, one that Tom knew too well.
"Sure, just keep him from getting up."
One hand was replaced with a different one. Tom recognized the touch immediately, nearly shivering under the contact. He let himself relax, feeling the hesitant fingers circling his shoulder blade.
"How are you feeling, mon chérie?" He heard Matt ask.
"Better..." Tom rasped.
"Good," Matt smiled, "Tord should be here with your visor soon."
"Mmkay..." The bassist's eyes closed, hoping the pain in his back would cease soon.
Matt watched his husband rest, making sure he was no longer hurting, fingers running across his shoulders gently.
Katya hummed while she folded Tom's shirt and vest, placing them on a spare table. She began taking count of inventory, tapping away at her computer.
"Where's Kim?" Matt asked.
"Northeast Coast, looking to see if the King made any shipments from Russia," Katya answered.
The door of the medical unit slid open, Ringo padding inside as Tord followed behind. The cat went off to inspect everything in the room while Tord placed Tom's visor aside.
"Has he woken up yet?" Tord questioned.
"Only for a few minutes..." Matt uttered, adjusting the white sheets to cover his husband's back. Tord nodded, sitting across from the couple.
"Why would he go to the hill...?" Tord muttered.
"Edd goes there quite often," Matt replied. Tord's eyes widened, surprised.
Edd hated going to the hill alone; it brought bad memories for him. He brought Tord along, and they would usually go there to watch the sunset over the crumbled remains of the house. It would be just them, sometimes Ringo, watching the orange-hued sky turn into shades of dark blue.
Tord almost smiled at the thought of Edd not hating him despite the Norsk pushing him away.
He faintly heard the sound of Ringo's meow, pulling him back into reality as he saw the cat hop onto Tom's bed.
"Ah, Ringo, no!" Matt furrowed his eyebrows, carefully grabbing Ringo into his arms.
"Ow... what the fuck?" Tom mumbled, wincing at the faint stiffness in his lower back.
"Sorry, Tommy..." Matt put Ringo down, beginning to run his hands through Tom's hair. The bassist let out a huff in response.
"Tom," Tord started, smirking as he noticed Tom startle at the sound of his voice.
"Ugh, this couldn't get any worse..." He muttered.
Tord rolled his eyes, "I'm only here to ask what happened."
"What happened...?" Tom whispered, his eyebrows rising.
"Exactly! What happened, Tom?"
Tom hesitated, trying to find the right words, "Edd was there."
Tord leaned forward in his chair, "And...?"
"Something happened."
"Well, no shit." Tord scowled, rolling his eyes.
"He stood there while I got shot from behind."
Tord's face fell, "Come again?"
"He knew I was going to get hurt; he knew someone was behind me, and he didn't even sound like himself!"
"What exactly did he say?" Matt inquired.
Tom cleared his throat. He didn't like Tord; it was clear to anyone who saw them interact, yet Tom was reluctant to speak. Tom knew his limits; he wasn't going to shout Tord's insecurities to the world. He wasn't like that. Not anymore, at least.
"Tom, what did Edd say?" Tord spoke this time, noticing the hesitance within the bassist.
"He said he wants nothing to do with you," Tom sighed, "but worded it nicer."
A stillness took over the room; even Katya stopped to glance back at them. There was a shift as Tord turned in his seat.
"Tord...?" Matt uttered, looking at him worriedly as he noticed the burdened look on his friend's face. Tord's eyes looked at him yet seemed to gaze through him altogether.
Before Matt could speak, Tord left the room with a few quick movements.
"That went horrible, didn't it?" Tom muttered.
Tord held the ring in his hand, inspecting it, looking at the vows carved on the inside.
It was true. Edd wanted nothing to do with him. A part of Tord already knew this would happen. This was how things were meant to be.
Tord bit his lip, scowling at the object as his vision blurred. He reeled back his arm, preparing to throw it at the wall.
He wavered in his movements, his hand gripping the ring tighter, never letting go.
Was he really going to do this?
He looked at the ring clutched in his metal grasp.
Was he really going to throw everything away like this? Forget everything they've been through together?
He noticed a mark on the ring, a slight scratch he must've made.
Steadily, Tord set the ring on his bedside table next to his, 'I'm sorry.'
Edd wouldn't do this without a reason. Tord would figure it out eventually.
He could find him, talk to him, ask him why...
After what they've been through together, why now instead of then? The norsk didn't understand. He wanted to understand.
Why did Edd not want to be with him?
Tord knew he fucked up by pushing Edd away, by leaving Edd behind, but the brunette appeared not to let it get to him. He seemed to still love Tord despite their differences.
Tord frowned. There had to be a reason behind Edd's actions. There always were. He was going to figure it out sooner or later, even if he had to talk to him himself.
Even if the Norsk did manage to see him face-to-face, what would he say? What would he do? What was Edd expecting him to say?
Every scenario he thought of seemed to be too much or too little. He sighed as he glanced out the darkened windows. He hummed as he saw smoke in the distance.
There was a hurried knock on the door, opening seconds later. Pau rushed in, his breathing labored and his face scowling.
"We have a problem."
✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧Translations✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧
French =
Mon chérie - My dear
(Translations brought to you by Google Translate)