Chapter Text
Eddy opted to start the story from the very beginning, with Derrick had just left for his phone call and Kevin following for drinks, which Eddy noted he did not bring back. Kevin let out a threatening noise before telling him to 'move on with the god damn story.'
With Edd's comment on how he hadn't known about the high school situation, Eddy grew irritated with the other. Nazz seemed to attempt to break whatever fight would end up happening, but it was already too late.
"Maybe you didn't know since you always find some dumbass book more interesting than your best friends," Eddy spat out, crossing his arms in a huff. Double D seemed to furrow his brows at the accusations, laughing out bitterly.
"Well my apologies if those 'dumbass books' as you so call them are more interesting than attempting to rob people of their money!"
"It ain't fuckin' robbery, how many times do I gotta tell you that?!"
"It was extortion under false pretenses, Eddy!" Double D snapped, throwing his hands up. "We were lying for money and almost harming other's in the process! As children it was usually stupid little pranks, but as teenagers and adults? It would've been disastrous! And perhaps I wanted to fit in with my peers more, did you ever think of that?!"
"Oh of course you did, cause everyone was just clamorin' to be up your ass. Y'wanna know why they were clamorin', Sockhead? Huh? Cause you're a god damn pushover! You'll do anything for just about fuckin' anyone, so long as they're nice to you! I mean look at that dumbass meat head you brought with yo--"
"You are free to insult me all you please, Eddy, but you should refrain from speaking ill of my friends," Double D's tone took a turn then, the harshness and quietness bringing a new type of silence in the room. "Derrick has done nothing but support me in my endeavors, and if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be back in Peach Creek to begin with!"
"Oh I'm sorry, did I insult your stupid little boyfriend?" Eddy faked a pout, fluttering his eyelashes and using a faux-sweet tone. "I'm oh so sorry, Eddward, whatever can I do to make it up to you?" He snorted, throwing his hands up. "Maybe you shouldn't have come back then! After all, it's not like you give a shit about me or Ed!"
"You are such a child, Eddy, sincerely! I have kept in frequent contact with Ed, you're the one who doesn't respond to my emails, texts, or phone calls! " the reply was louder than expected, and with all the pent up frustration, tears had begun welling up. As much as Double D had changed, he still cried when angry. Somethings hadn't changed, it seemed, and for some reason, it struck a nerve in Eddy. Maybe it was the fear of realizing he had gone too far this time, or maybe it was simply the fact he couldn't back down anymore, but he seemed to snap right back.
"Oh boohoo, is little Edd gonna cry? Huh? You haven't changed at all, Sockhead. Maybe there was a god damn reason I stopped answering those fucking texts, and emails, and all that shit! Y'ever think of that?" he growled, stepping closer. Rolf and Johnny grabbed his shoulders, while Nazz and Ed seemed to be attempting to calm down Edd.
"And pray tell, Eddy, what were those reasons? Perhaps then I'd understand instead of sitting here arguing with.. with a NEANDERTHAL!"
"A NEANDERTHAL?! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU CALLIN' A NEANDERTHAL, YOU GAP TOOTH HAVIN' ASS?!" Eddy shouted out, earning a hard glare.
"PERHAPS I HAVE GAP TEETH, BUT AT LEAST I'M TALLER THAN SARAH!" he yelled, earning an offended gasp. "I HAVE NO IDEA WHY I EVEN CAME HERE, IF THIS IS HOW YOU PLAN TO BE THE ENTIRE TIME! PERHAPS I SHOULD JUST GO BACK TO SCHOOL!"
"THEN GO BACK TO THAT STUPID LITTLE BOARDING SCHOOL FOR ALL I GIVE A SHIT!"
And now, Dru and Kevin had been caught up. Needless to say, the both of them were more than frustrated with the fight, and moreover Dru was quite ready to pound Eddy into the ground for the way Double D had been crying. However, he knew that adding physical violence wouldn't absolve anything, patting Edd's shoulder he gently asked Nazz to take the now calmed young man to the bathroom to clean up his face. He figured the rest of the group could have a chat with Eddy.
Kevin was the first to sit Eddy down, a little more forcefully than needed, but he was withholding his agitation. Ed seemed the most soft on the guy, seeming much more worried than he was angry. Sure, he was willing to scold Eddy, but he figured there had to be a reason. He had heard Eddy talk on and on about Double D, and the excitement of him coming back. So, he was the first to speak.
"Eddy, why are you fighting with Double D? Ed doesn't like it when you two fight."
"Fuck off, lumpy."
"Alright, dork, you're gonna tell Ed before you make him cry too," Kevin warned, grabbing the collar of the young man's shirt he leaned in with a low growl,"Or else."
"Go ahead, do it, Shovelchin. You don't have the fucking balls. You haven't had them since middle school," Eddy retorted with a smirk. Kevin raised his fist then, clenching it for a moment before he was stopped. Rolf patted the man's shoulder, which only prompted Kevin to drop him. It seemed to only boost Eddy's ego, smirking widely.
"I told--" and before he could get that sentence out, it was Rolf who threw the first punch. Surprisingly he packed quite the hit, earning Kevin, Johnny, and Dru whistling out at the way Eddy gripped his bleeding nose.
"Rolf holds no hesitation in beating you, tiny Ed-boy. You have brought the wrath of the son of a shepherd upon yourself!" the blue haired man moved, using his arm to headlock Eddy. No one would admit to finding it humorous as Rolf forcibly held Eddy in his elbow, earning groans and gasps before he shouted 'UNCLE! UNCLE! I'LL TALK!'. Dropping him, Eddy groaned out, rubbing his neck.
"Is it just wail on Eddy day, huh?!"
"It can be," Dru replied with a playful smirk, earning a glare before Eddy sighed.
"So, spill, dude. What's the shithead attitude towards Double D about?" Kevin questioned, crossing his arms as he watched the shorter.
Eddy seemed to twiddle his thumbs for a moment, sighing before he rubbed the back of his neck. He had a hard time expressing his emotions, especially when it came to Double D. The guy had managed to be an enigma to him even after growing up, which only furthered his frustrations. He didn't know how to really say it, so he shrugged.
"I don't know. I just get so weird whenever I see him, like I get angry and anxious at the same time. And then add on him bringing some meat head fucker from his prissy little prestigious private school, and it's even more god damn annoying,"Eddy groaned out, shrugging.
Dru rolled his eyes at the comment, but seemed to pause at the way Eddy described it. "Does your stomach get all knotted and shit? Like you're gonna puke?"
"Yeah, most of the time."
"And when he's all smiley, does it make you happy?"
"God don't make me answer that fuckin' question. I ain't no sap," he huffed out, but that only seemed to serve as a 'yes' in Dru's eyes.
"You sure you ain't gay, dude?"
Now that comment got Eddy silent, eyebrows furrowing in turn. He seemed mildly offended, before snorting out loudly and laughing. "Don't go projecting there, pal. I ain't into guys, and if I was, I wouldn't be into steroid injected hippies like you," he replied casually, kicking a leg over the other.
"Oh? So your type would be long haired, more feminine, lean guys?" Dru questioned, quirking a brow. Eddy seemed to stop, growling out as he stood up then, wiping the now dried blood from his nose.
"I told you, I ain't gay."
"Listen man, I dunno you, but what you're describing is exactly how I found out I was gay," the man's surprisingly almost caring way of explaining it, rather than insulting, seemed to make Eddy grow fidgety in the moment. "I'm not saying you are or aren't, but maybe there's a reason you pushed and continue to push Eddward away?"
"I can't be gay, I like girls. I liked Nazz for years."
"Bisexuality exists, man," Dru pointedly commented, shrugging. "I'm not telling you who you are dude, but maybe you should do some inner dialogue. Either way though, you're being a shit to Eddward because you're a coward. I'm not saying you have to figure yourself out or question yourself, that's your own journey, but don't drag him down with you because you're upset at your feelings towards him."
Eddy seemed to pause, taking in the comments for what they were. He never liked to admit when anyone else was right, but he knew well that Dru was probably telling the truth. Moreover, he had never even thought of bisexuality in terms of himself. He knew Nazz was, but he always assumed his feelings of lingering jealousy and agitation when it came to Eddward were merely because the guy was better than him. Smarter, leaner, taller, cuter. All of it.
He grumbled to himself for a moment, rubbing his temples as he tried to think. Whatever the reason was for what he was feeling, Dru had a point. There was no reason for him to take it out on Edd when the guy hadn't even done anything. He had tried, he had done everything right.
"You're right. I should apologize," Eddy grunted out lowly, earning a hard pat on the back from Rolf.
"Congratulations, short Ed-boy! You are now a man, accepting your wrong doings!"
"Yayyy, Eddy and Double D are gonna make up!" Ed called out, earning a groan from Eddy.
It seemed Nazz took that as a sign to come back out with Double D, having helped him wash his face from the tears and calm him down. His face was still a bit red, but one had to guess that was the alcohol taking it's own affect. Hair pulled back into a lazy ponytail to ensure it wouldn't get wet, he looked a bit more mature like this. Eddy swallowed dryly, thinking of what to say.
"Listen, Double D, I'm sorry. I was being a dick for.. Well, I guess it don't really matter, but I was being a dick," he grumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I get if you're mad, or whatever, you didn't deserve me being a shithead like that," he added on. He noted Edd's features pause, only to contort into a comforting smile. He held his breath, expecting rejection before the taller put a hand on his shoulder.
"Eddy, I'm glad you apologized. I apologize too for insulting you, it was immature of me. Shall we start the night over?"
"Sure," Eddy grinned, moving he picked the taller up, earning a surprised squeal. "Welcome home, nerd!"
"EDDY PLEASE PUT ME DOWN THIS INSTANT!"
"No can do, Sockhead! Ed, help me pick him up. We're gonna do keg stands tonight!"
"Woo! Double D does a keg stand!" Ed shouted out, with Edd squealing in surprise at the abrupt help.
"I REFUSE!! I REFUSE!!!" he yelled out, earning laughs and snorts from the group, especially when Double D slowly got into it, laughing out and attempting to squirm his way out.
Eddy had to admit, Dru was right. Edd's smile made him feel like he was walkin on sunshine.