TWs: Highkey stalking, keeping secrets, body issues/dysmorphia, existentialism, choking, mention of death/killing. Stay safe :)

"Huh, there's more of you than last time." Larry started, staring at the three he didn't think he had met.

"Hope you don't mind." Arthur smiled, "This is Edd, Tom, and Tord."

Larry quirked an eyebrow at Tord, analyzing his appearance. He had a feeling he'd seen the guy somewhere before.

"You should know I'm not much help." Larry frowned.

"Just tell me if you recognize this guy." Arthur gave him the file containing the Mad Scientist.

Unbeknownst to them, they were being watched by an apparition, staring intently at the group.

Tord glanced behind him, feeling as if he was being watched as he felt the hairs on his neck rise and a pit in his stomach form.

Something about this was all too familiar to him.

When Larry glanced at the picture, he pointed, "He looks familiar."

"Have you seen him recently?" Arthur questioned.

"He came in the day I woke up." Larry spoke, "They gave me a misplaced IV or something."

"And you tell us now?" Tord asked.

"I don't exactly trust you guys." Larry huffed, his gaze lingering on Tord momentarily before returning to Arthur, "I also can't remember."

Arthur hummed, "Understandable... how about this? Does anything sound familiar?"

He handed the other the file on the Black Leader. Larry was quiet as he looked at the picture, reading through the paper.

"He's the one..." Larry muttered, "That shot me."

"Do you remember what he said to you?" The older asked.

Larry winced, trying to remember that moment, "He was... taunting me, I think."

Arthur frowned, thinking why William would 'visit' Larry to taunt him.

"If I may," Matt said, "Do you remember this by chance?"

The ginger handed him the woven bracelet. Larry examined it closely; his eye squinted at the design.

"Must've been handwoven..." He mumbled, "Probably by an amateur. Where'd you find this?"

"In your room," Matt replied.

Larry felt annoyance course through him, yet he said nothing as he focused on the bracelet. He fitted the piece of jewelry on his wrist.

He stared at the skull charm, noticing how familiar it felt.

This bracelet. The Black Army. Conspiracy...

"I think you guys should leave," Larry spoke, taking the bracelet off.

The group frowned, Matt's eyes widening as he took the bracelet back, "What- why?"

"I don't feel like talking anymore." He shrugged, turning his head away.

Before anyone could say anything, Arthur nodded, "Okay."

To say the others were shocked was an understatement.

"Let's go, everyone." He said, adjusting his cane as he left the room, the others following suit.

As they walked down the hall, Matt glanced at his father, "Do you know what that was about?"

"Unfortunately." Arthur sighed, "This is the part where Larry likes to keep secrets even if it will kill him. He most likely remembers the Black Army, but because he doesn't trust easily, he won't spill what he knows."

Tord was a bit ticked off by this. He wanted to know more about the Black Army and why his father wanted to take them out.

He hated playing the long game.

"What exactly did you give him, Matthew?" Arthur inquired.

"This bracelet." Matt gave the bracelet to him, letting him inspect it.

Arthur hummed, feeling the piece of jewelry, 'This is...'

"Of course." He muttered, "Can I hold on to this?"

"Sure."

A few paces behind them hovered the apparition that was listening in. Instead of sticking around with the intended target, he decided to follow the guy in red instead.

Slipping through the hospital entrance, Jon made haste as he focussed on Tord, forgetting his previous mission.

"Ah- I missed your cooking, Pat!" Clay raved as he finished his dinner.

"Pretty sure everyone has," Pat smirked as he glanced at Yan and You.

You groaned, "Shouldn't have had that third plate..."

Yan was also slightly uncomfortable, his head on the table as he held his stomach.

"Good thing I accounted for this happening," Pat muttered.

Pau smiled, albeit small. He was steadily feeling better about what was happening, yet he still hadn't told the others what he knew.

"Can I stay the night?" Clay asked, directing his question at Tord.

"What? Aren't you guys literally right down the hall?" Tord quirked an eyebrow.

"Well, yeah- but I want to spend the night here!" He whined, pulling on Tord's sleeve.

Tord patted his head, "It's alright with me, but you have to check with Pat and Pau."

Clay's head jerked to look at the couple, "Please, can I stay over!?"

"I don't know..." Pat spoke.

Pau shrugged, "I don't mind."

"Two against one- I can sleep over!" He exclaimed. Pat sighed, glaring at Pau, who snickered.

Yan huffed at the display, glancing at the clock on the wall as he nudged You, whispering something to him.

"We should get going," Yan spoke, clearing his throat.

"Both of you? That's surprising, especially for You." Pat said.

"Ah, well... we have a lot of stuff to do." You declared.

"This late...?" Tord inquired.

"Yes, this late." Yan sighed, getting up.

As they left, the table was silent. Tord, Pat, and Pau shared glances.

"Welp, that wasn't sketchy at all." Clay smiled as he picked up his plate to put in the sink.

Tord sighed, "They'll tell us what that was about eventually. You can't keep a secret even for the life of him."

Pau nodded, "True..."

In the corner of the room was Jon, silently watching the exchange.

'Is this really the Red Army?' He asked himself, 'They're just regular people...'

'Like you once were.'

He shook his head, noticing that Tord was getting up.

"I'm going to Edd's real quick." The Norsk said.

"Right, 'real quick,' he says..." Pau smirked.

Tord blushed, quickly leaving the flat. Jon followed after, phasing through the door and watching as Tord knocked on the door across the hall.

Once Edd opened the door, he couldn't help but smile upon seeing his boyfriend, "Can I help you, Tord?"

"You can help me in more ways than one," Tord smirked.

Edd huffed, "Tord."

The Norsk hummed, feigning innocence.

Edd allowed him inside and ensured Ringo's kitty door was locked for the night. Tord found the cat sleeping on a beanbag chair that Matt usually sat in.

Tord sat on the sofa, glancing at a sketchbook open to a random page.

"You're getting better." He mentioned as he looked at the practice sketches.

"I know." Edd smiled, going to the kitchen.

Tord flipped through the pages, seeing drawings of familiar people. Some of Tom, a lot of Matt... and Tord was surprised to see sketches of himself.

"Huh..." He muttered, "Do I really look like that?"

"I think you do," Edd spoke behind him as he cracked a can of cola open.

Tord was silent as he took in the sketched features. Was his scarring that stretched out? Did he really smile like that? It looked like he used one side of his face. His hair had stunted its growth after the explosion, causing his hair to look shorter on one side.

Running a hand through his right tuft of caramel hair, he frowned as he looked at the drawing.

"Hey..." Edd grabbed his hand, setting his cola aside, "You know you're attractive, right?"

Sitting beside him, Edd took his sketchbook and put it behind him. He looked at Tord, placing his right hand upon his cheek.

"I, for one, think that you're very handsome." He whispered as if it was a secret between them.

Tord's eyes widened slightly as he raised his hand to place upon Edd's.

'Should I go...?' Jon asked himself, looking at the two staring at each other longingly.

Soon as their lips made contact, the ghost was out of there.

The Norsk pulled him closer, wanting more contact from the taller one. Edd smiled into the kiss, feeling Tord's hands run across his torso and around his back.

"You're very touchy..." Edd muttered, breaking the kiss as he felt Tord's hands on his lower back.

"Only for you," Tord smirked.

Edd rolled his eyes, bringing Tord in for an embrace. It was silent between them as Tord debated what to say.

"Hey, Edd?" Tord spoke, his voice sounding strained.

"Yeah?" Edd ensured he wasn't holding him too tightly.

"What do you think would've happened if..." Tord trailed off as he hesitated, "If I never left England?"

The brunet froze, eyes widening at the question.

"Like if I hadn't gone home. If I stayed with you guys, perhaps it would've been better. Maybe I would've confessed to you earlier... and possibly Jon would still be alive."

"Tord..."

"Kill anyone that gets in your way," Tord muttered.

"What?" Edd glanced down at him.

"That's what my father told me." The Norsk avoided his boyfriend's gaze, "Kill anyone that got in my way, except..."

Tord clenched his teeth as he gripped Edd's hoodie.

"He was never in the way."

Tord eyed Pat and Pau, who were conversing quietly in the kitchen. Pat rested his head on Pau's shoulder, looking tired. Pau hesitantly wrapped his arm around his waist.

The Norsk peered at them momentarily, watching Pat laugh about something the other said.

Right. If he hadn't left England, he would be leaving his family behind, and Pau would still be under his father's control. He couldn't just let that happen.

Tord decided to leave them alone, going to his room instead. He saw Clay setting up a sleeping bag beside his bed.

"Hope you don't mind." The kid spoke as he fluffed out a pillow.

"Course not." Tord smiled, taking his red hoodie off.

They settled for the night, Tord ensuring that Clay slept soundly before he could relax.

When he heard the soft snoring from the brunette, the Norsk smiled and rolled over on his side.

Jon watched from the corner of the room. Figuring he had everything he needed to know, he phased through the wall and into the night, heading toward the Black Army base.

"What do you mean you didn't complete the mission...?" Corvidae hissed through his teeth as he peered from behind his respirator mask.

"Sorry, sir, but-" Jon was cut off by William.

"Is this some kind of joke?" He spat, "Are you a fucking moron? I gave you a direct order, and all you had to do was follow it."

"But-"

"No more excuses!" He yelled as he stood up from his desk and grabbed Jon's collar, "I told you what would happen if you failed me!"

Jon quaked in his grasp, yet didn't back down as he felt himself being choked by the leader, "I-I have... in-info..."

William's grip loosened as his eyebrow quirked, "Oh?"

Jon shifted, still feeling suffocated, "I know... where he lives."

Corvidae frowned, then let go of Jon. He sat back down, leaning his head in the palm of his hand as he looked at him.

"Go on then," He spoke, his frown turning into a smirk, "Jon."