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Edd stares longingly at the framed photo in his hand. It was a photo taken to prove they were all once incredibly close friends. Whatever happened to those days, Edd wonders.
Oh yeah, Tord. Or was it Red Leader now? Edd couldn't care less. Though as much as he doesn't want to admit it, he most definitely still cares about Tord. One of his earliest friends, the first non-English guy he'd ever befriended. They'd moved in together after high school, followed by Matt and lastly Tom. It was great.
Then Tord moved out. It got notably more lonely, but still great-ish. He definitely scrolled endlessly at the saved photos of Tord he had in his cellphone every night before going to bed and crying himself to sleep after. Okay, he totally does care.
Edd sat daydreaming of his past memories for what felt like hours, days. Eventually he snapped out of it, realising it was nearly time for his job. Something he'd been planning for a while. A surprise prepared exclusively for a certain somebody.
He puts down the frame back on top of his bedside table, fixing his coat and pulling up his mask to hide his face. He hesitates. On second thought, he might not wear it tonight. Just for tonight. Gotta make it special.
He steps out of his apartment.
--
Tord sits comfortably on a large couch in the lounge of his apartment, enjoying the news broadcast on TV. He pulls a cigar from the box in his pocket, and lights it up with the built-in lighter in his robot arm. Really convenient device.
He releases a breath of smoke, and leans his head on the couch, facing the ceiling. He hums a song to himself.
"Sunshine, lollipops and, rainbows..."
He hates that song. He's always had. But for some unknown reason, he feels like indulging in it's tune today. Has he lost his mind? If not, well, something's definitely off. Somewhere in the back of his mind is telling him that today might be different than usual. Maybe a rainbow'll appear in the sky. Haha. He continues.
"...just to know that you are mine."
A sudden miserable feeling wallows in him. He's longing for something. He's not sure what, but he knows it's probably not his ninety gigabite sized hentai file this time. Something a little more important. Someone.
CREEAAAK.....
He leans his head farther back towards the source of the sound. An upside down ruffian mess of a man dressed in a black coat stares right back at him. It's Edd.
Tord's eyes widen, either out of joy or disbelief. He's got a feeling it's a mix of both. He gets up from the comfort of his couch and turns off the TV with his conveniently built-in remote. He slowly walks towards Edd, hands behind his back, like a supervillain in a superhero movie. He's erratically excited. He's pretty sure he's been waiting for this moment for a very, very long time. A moment with just him, and his longest best friend. The man he hasn't seen personally in years, the man he's arranged a manhunt for after declaring him as a wanted fugitive, the man he once embraced in bed, the man he loves. Edd.
The two stare into each other's eyes, each with a longing expression. They both burst into a fit of laughter, even though nothing about it was funny at all. They catch their breath. Edd takes two steps closer. Tord takes three. Not close enough apprently, they each take one step more. Now they're barely a two inches from each other's faces. Although Tord is noticeably much shorter than Edd in height. Edd is visibly holding in his laugh. Tord couldn't mind less at the obvious insult to his stature. (He really HAD lost it...)
"It's been a while."
"Sure has."
"How have you been?"
"Terrible, honestly."
"..."
"..."
"I'm glad to know you're still alive. Thought you had already fleed the country by now."
Edd laughs. It's nostalgic. "Guess I just don't know how to move on."
"Then I hope this'll help you."
"What?"
Tord lifts up his mechanical arm and presses a finger on some device in his ear. "Guards."
A loud alarm goes off in the entire building. Edd's eyes widen. He snickers, "Really?"
"Yep." Tord flashes his iconic smirk. "Just for you."
Thud.
Before Tord could even see it coming, he is met with a tight, emotional hug. Tiny sobs could be heard. Unable to move, he only turns his gaze towards the man holding him so dearly. A soft whisper enters his ear.
"I'm taking you with me."
His eyes widen yet again. "Is there some sort of surprise you've got?"
"You'll find that out soon."
Immediately he is pulled away with a force holding onto his hand. He only watches the back of Edd's coat as they run. Footsteps could be heard from behind, likely his guards'. They run and run.
Tord has an small inkling that Edd might not even know where they are heading off to. But he doesn't resist the hand pulling him. They run.
Soon enough, Edd stops at his destination, letting go of Tord's hand. Tord follows behind, stopping after him. Oh. He's taken them here. He's definitely watched too many movies. This is the cheesiest location to be in during a chase. Of course, the rooftop. The drop from here is incredibly far down, so they've absolutely just doomed themselves. Or atleast Edd did.
"What the hell are you thinking?" Tord burst into a fit of laughter.
"I can't tell you, it's a surprise." Edd smirks.
Tord watches as Edd walks towards the edge of the rooftop. Close, but far enough to not accidentally fall from one mistakenly taken step. Just as Tord is about to follow suit, Edd stops him.
"Don't."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm still preparing."
Tord laughs. "What? What is it you're preparing?"
"Just give me...five." Edd lifts his hand up, counting his fingers.
"Minutes?"
"four, three,"
"Wait,"
"two, one-"
A set of fireworks shoot up behind Edd into the sky, exploding into a message.
'HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY FAVOURITE NORSKI, MY BEST FRIEND,' Tord could only watch in awe as one phrase follows after another. A few last fireworks shoot up. 'AND MY LOVE." It had a period on it's end, suggesting it was the final message. The norski feels something wet on his cheeks. There is no way.
Cackling through his tears, Tord yells. "You REALLY just CANNOT move on, can you?"
"I think you know." A somber smile lit up on Edd's face.
It catches Tord's attention. Tears still running down his face, "And why do you look so sad?"
Edd is caught off guard by the question, but replies regardless. "I think you'll know." He walks up to Tord. Tord has a unshakable feeling that it'll be terrible. He's going to regret it.
Edd pulls Tord into a warm, emotional embrace, similar as to the one they'd had just a few moments ago. But this time it's the norski crying. Tord feels like he should enjoy it, but the sinking feeling in his stomach doesn't help. He holds on anyway.
Edd lets go and pushes Tord onto the ground, then backs up slowly. "I'll miss you a lot."
"What do you m-"
A torrent of bullets hits the man before the norski, swiftly covering him in red. A drop splatters onto his face, followed by another, and another, and another, and another-
"Enough, he's already dead." The firing continues.
The norski grits his teeth, clenching his fists. "I SAID ENOUGH."
The silence rings.
The Leader stands up on his feet, slowly turning around to face his soldiers. His face is low but his gaze burns holes right through his men.
"You are all dismissed."
The soldiers don't question him, immediately leaving the premises, heading down the stairs. Once they've all left, Tord immediately drops down onto his knees. He sits there, as his head goes through every thought. He turns to look behind him. To look at him. One more time.
Losing all energy to get back up, he only uses his hands, and crawls- or more accurately, drags himself across the floor -towards what remains of the man he'd just talked to a moment ago.
He stares at the pool of red covering the man. Covering Edd. He caresses Edd's face in his red-stained hands. The man's still smiling. In a moment he breaks down, wailing. He laughs through his tears. He cries again. All gone, in a flash. All gone. This has to be the worst birthday present he's ever gotten.
In a strained voice, he screams. "Dangit."