TWs: Deprecation, Pau talking some sense into Tord, intrusive thoughts, referenced past abuse. Stay safe :)
Tord rested his arms on the table before him. He closed his eyes, starting to rub his temple. He heard Matt ask a question, his voice small for someone boisterous.
"What are we going to do?"
Tord wished he had an answer. He wanted to reply confidently, to assure Matt that everything would be okay, yet he had nothing. He felt the stares of everyone in the room. The leader felt warm, hot with shame, as he tried coming up with something to save everyone.
"I... don't know," Tord uttered reluctantly. Glancing at everyone, he silently knew he was letting them down even if no one said anything. No one spoke for what felt like hours.
Pau leaned against the wall as he noticed Jon slink away, disappearing through the concrete. He didn't question it, only gazing at Tord pensively. Matt and Clay left the room, Pat hesitating by the door as he glimpsed at Pau, a silent question. When Pau gave a brief nod, Pat left, closing the door quietly behind him.
The ruffled brunette stood, stepping over to where Tord sat, "Quitting so soon?"
Tord let out an exasperated breath, "What do you want, Pau...?"
"Out of the chair," Pau spoke.
"Wha- agh!" Tord's eyes widened as the taller yanked his collar, pulling the leader out of his seat.
"Stand straight." He directed. Tord went with it, a puzzled expression across his face as he followed the order. Pau placed his hands on Tord's shoulders, staring at him dead in the eyes, "You're pathetic."
Suddenly, Tord found himself in front of his father, who broke Tord bit by bit, saying how much of a disgrace he was and a pathetic use of a human being.
His shoulders shook, and Tord blinked, looking at Pau with a sulky expression, "Snap out of it. Do you really want to be like that guy, turn and kill everyone against you?"
Tord shook his head. He never wanted to be like him.
"I didn't think so." Pau glared at him lightly, squeezing his shoulders, "You need us just as much as we need you. Have you learned nothing from dating Edd? How about instead of bitching, you ask for help? Get it into that thick skull of yours that we're here to support you, and we're not leaving until we take the Black Army down, once and for all."
Tord was quiet momentarily, staring into Pau's eye as he processed everything.
"You are not your father, so stop acting like everyone is out to get you." Pau frowned.
"But-"
"But nothing! The Tord I know is confident, reckless, and an asshole. He didn't let his father's words get to him." Pau paused briefly, "And he's definitely not pathetic."
Tord glanced down, huffing as he smiled slightly, "You're right."
"So, are you going to let your father haunt you the rest of your life, or are you going to be that Tord?" Letting go of his shoulders, Pau gazed at Tord with arms crossed.
The Norsk stared at Pau, slowly nodding after a few moments, "Right... right."
"Good." Pau let go of him, crossing his arms, "How about we get something to eat and discuss what to do later?"
"Sounds good." Tord let himself relax, glancing at Pau with a small smile, "Thank you."
"No prob-" Pau stopped, feeling arms wrap around him, "lem...?"
"I mean it." Tord muttered, shoving his face in the uniform, "Thank you, pappa."
The ruffled brunette hugged back, placing a hand on the shorter's head, "You're welcome, føniks."
"What are you guys doing?" Matt questioned, noticing Jon, Mark, and Eduardo huddled together looking at a screen.
"Shush!" Mark glared, pressing a button a few times. Matt frowned, watching them momentarily.
"Wait, go back!" Jon spoke, pushing Eduardo aside as he tapped a key.
"Hey-!" Eduardo grumbled as his friend hovered over him, taking control of the monitor.
"There! What's that?" The apparition gestured to the screen, pointing at something.
"Uh- one of the King's drones?" Mark raised an eyebrow, "What about it?"
"Something's off..." Jon uttered, "When was this caught?"
"A few days ago," Eduardo replied.
Jon snapped his fingers, making the others look at him, "That's it!"
"What's it?" Mark inquired.
"Look on the top of it." Jon tapped the screen, pointing at something on the drone.
"An antennae?"
"Exactly! The drones must be transmitting some kind of signal across the whole country."
"You think they have the tech to do that?" Eduardo leaned back in his chair.
"Well, if Dr. John is still a part of this whole mess, then it would be easy for the Black Army to take over the country using mind control."
"Huh- I thought he'd be dead by now," Mark said.
"He's not that old." Jon averted his gaze, "I don't think so, at least... he's probably Arthur's age."
Matt gazed at the screen, humming as he got out his communicator, sending Tord a quick message.
Purple: Jon thinks he's found something; have the drones always had antennas on them?
Red: No
The one we shot down a while ago and scavenged didn't have one.
There was a pause as Tord texted something else moments later.
Red: It had an antennae?
Purple: Yea
Jon thinks the drones might be transmitting a signal
Red: Not a bad thought...
Looks like we'll have to shoot down another one
Purple: Can I do it?
Red: No offense
But your aim is shit
Purple: Ouch
Red: I'll do it
You check on Jehovah
Make sure he's not moving
Purple: Understood
Matt huffed, pouting, 'My aim isn't shite...'
Tord and Clay stood side-by-side in an alley. The younger bobbed on his feet, excited for his assignment.
"Alright, here, take this." The Norsk handed Clay a gun. It didn't look like one of the futuristic laser guns; it was more bulky, the barrel resembling a taser.
"Why's it got three muzzles?" Clay asked, looking at the gun carefully.
"Ah, this is one of my new inventions, TZR-94." Tord smiled.
"94...?" Clay quirked an eyebrow.
"Ah, y'know, the year I was born." The leader averted his gaze to the street, "It sends out an electrical shockwave so powerful that it can blow the fuses on anything within a hundred-mile radius. We're using it to blow the circuits on one of the drones."
"Wouldn't that cause a blackout?"
"Eh, only if you aim it at a circuit breaker or a powerline." Tord patted his shoulder, "No pressure."
"Right." Clay felt weary as he leaned against the wall.
"Come on, Clay, I wouldn't have brought you out if I wasn't confident you could do it." Tord brought him in for a side hug, "You've been training for years; I know you can do this."
Clay nodded, his smoky eyes glancing at the other, "I can do this."
"That's the spirit!" Tord ruffled his hair, "Now, let's catch ourselves a drone."
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Did you know there are two relationships that have been going on in the background? One of them is queerplatonic :)
Comments are appreciated! 3