Chapter Text
College was a new venture for everyone, but it especially seemed hard for the young adults of Peach Creek. Everyone had changed in their own ways, friendships settling or dividing in the time since their youth. To everyone's surprise, the Ed's had grown apart, with Edd even transferring out for his final years of high school. Kevin and Naz had attempted to date, only for it to end within a week. They joked about it frequently, and while some found it mildly uncomfortable, the two found themselves enjoying the teasing. They had grown closer with Rolf and Johnny, the two adding much more life to their little group. Much to Kevin's dismay, Naz began befriending Eddy. The two still bickered, but Naz tearing up and whining had gotten them to calm down their little feuds. Turned out, however, Edd was coming back. Ed had been the first to find out, happily coming to the group to tell them.
Naz had been the first to comment on making a 'welcome home' party, and while most of them didn't see the point since Edd hated parties, they humored her. It would be fun for them to have a little party before heading off to college, and it had been years since they'd seen the scrawny young man. Excitement filled the cul-de-sac during the time they prepared the party, with Ed letting Edd know what was going on. At the mention of him bringing a friend from his old school, the group grew even more excited. Well, most of the group. Kevin and Eddy seemed the most weary of the idea. Nazz didn't hesitate to tease the two for finally agreeing on something, earning them both waving her off. For Kevin, it had been the rekindling of old feelings. He wouldn't admit to the small crush he had harboured in middle school all the way to Edd leaving, but he certainly felt it. Edd bringing someone home had to mean something right? They had to be close, right? Eddy, on the other hand, felt a bitter spite. He knew he shouldn't, he had been the one to drift from Double D, and moreover pushed him away with fights, but the idea of him having made a friend he was close enough to bring home left a bad taste in Eddy's mouth.
The weekend had arrived and with it came Edd's arrival. The group waited anxiously, solo cups in hand as they sat in Nazz's home. Sure enough, there came a knock that was all too reminiscent of Double D. Two knocks, a pause, and three knocks. Perfectly in tune. Nazz jumped up, throwing the door open she went to say hello, but she was surprised as what she saw. Edd had grown, and in more ways than one. He was taller, though far from being the tallest, and while he had kept his lean physique, he had at least gotten a bit more muscular. Swimmer's bod, as Johnny would call it. Moreover, he didn't have his hat, letting black locks flow freely, right down to his shoulders. Then she got a look at who was behind him, the supposed friend. The guy was built like a shit brick house, an obvious jock, tan skin, with hair down to his middle back that was lazily pulled into a ponytail. Nazz caught herself staring, shaking it off she smiled.
"Welcome home, Double D!" she called out, throwing her arms around the other. He laughed in turn, hugging her back.
"Salutations, Nazz. I am very appreciative of you throwing this party," he smiled in turn, pulling back he noted her eyes flicking between him and the person behind him. "Ah, pardon my rudeness. Nazz, this is Derrick. Derrick, this is Nazz, the girl I have been telling you about."
"Oh sh--" the taller pauses, looking at Edd before smiling,"Shoot, it's a pleasure to meet you, Nazz," Derrick hums, moving to shake her hand. "But also, please call me Dru. Only person allowed to use my government name is Eddward here," he seems to be joking, but Nazz quirks a brow as she shakes his hand.
Ed seemed to be the next one to join, throwing his arms around Double D in an instant. "Oh Double D, I missed you! It wasn't the same without you!" he cried out, eyes watering. Edd notes that he had grown twice his size, and the added facial hair had given him quite the appearance. Edd laughs, hugging him back without hesitation, commenting it was alright.
The rest of the group made their greetings, welcoming Edd back and welcoming Dru in. Of course, Eddy and Kevin were the most callous and cold, but Nazz seemed to snap them out of it with a harsh few smacks to the back of the head. The two had never had much in common, but in this moment, they felt closer than ever. Sitting together, complaining about what was going on, they almost looked like friends. Not quite, but almost. They both got even worse when it became increasingly clear Dru was closer than Double D had let on. Kevin had to practically chug the vodka-cranberry he had when Dru would throw his arm around Double D or whisper in his ear. Eddy followed close behind, the frustration of dealing with Edd being so close to someone was enough to drive him up a damn wall. It was then Nazz hummed, clapping her hands.
"How about a little game of truth or dare, huh?"
"Oh hell yeah," Johnny grinned as he picked Plank up, setting the board next to him on the couch. "This oughta be good."
"I do believe that would be rather fun," Edd commented, surprising most of the folk in the group.
"Rolf will start first!" the blue haired young man shouted, slapping his thigh. "Short Ed-boy--"
"Watch what you're about to say here, you goat fucker," Eddy warned, earning an offended look.
"Rolf does not have coitus with goats, and for that, you will be punished by Nana's spoon before the night is done! However, truth or dare?"
"Dare, I ain't no fuckin pansy," Eddy grunted, crossing his arms before he heard an all too familiar expression.
"Language, Eddy, and don't go insulting Rolf like that," Double D chastised. The stocky man groaned out, waving his hands as Rolf seemed to think.
"Rolf dares you to eat something the tall Ed-boy makes," he said after a beat. Eddy's face twisted into a grimace as Ed jumped up excitedly, yelling about making his favourite snack for Eddy. Double D laughed out, with Kevin cringing.
"Sorry pal."
"Shove it, shovel-chin,"Eddy smacked Kevin's shoulder, sighing out as he waited. During the time, though, Edd seemed to opt to try and make conversation between the two.
"I didn't know you and Kevin were so close now, Eddy."
"Me? And Shovel-chin? You've gotta be blind, sockhead,"Eddy snaps. Kevin nodded in turn, groaning.
"I can't stand this twerp."
"Ah, but you two are sitting beside each other, joking, and drinking together. I made the assumption, my apologies,"the young man commented, waving his hands in defense.
Eddy groaned angrily, shaking his head at the idea. Kevin moved then, sitting beside Edd instead. He seemed to smugly comment on how 'there, now we're as far as can be in this tiny ass house', only to get scolded for his language. Kevin seemed to relish in the other getting irritated for the first time in years, breathing in as he sipped his drink. He had come out a couple years ago, and Eddy always had an inkling given the way he didn't seem to have any interest in any other guys, but Kevin was just making it far too obvious to Eddy. It was almost enough to get him taunting, but he was quickly cut off when Ed came back.
After attempting to force down the concoction Ed had made. A 'sandwich' with buttered toast, gravy, lettuce, popcorn, and hot sauce. Arguably, it could've been a lot worse, but the texture alone had been enough to get Eddy gagging. The group snickered at his suffering, though they were less inclined to when Ed offered to make them some too. After some convincing that no one else needed the disgusting creation, the group got back to going between one another in their little game of truth or dare. Soon, it fell on Kevin, who looked around to see who he would choose.
He paused at Dru, taking a swig he pointed the taller out. "Truth or dare."
"Truth," the other replied, seeming less than excited at the idea of eating something disgusting, much like the others had.
"Tell us your darkest secret," Kevin replied. He stared blank faced as he took another sip, though it seemed a bit tense. Double D looked between the two, quickly opting to comment.
"You don't have to, Derrick."
"Nah, it's good, Eddward," he replies, patting the shorters head as he seemed to think. He took a couple seconds before shrugging, resting on his hands he hummed out lowly. "Does being gay count? Cause that might be it, if this place is backwater," he jokes lightly, seeming to earn a surprised look from the group.
"You're gay, dude?"
"What, it wasn't obvious? But yeah, I am," he shrugged, running his hands through his hair, opting to take the ponytail out.
"Well, we already got a gay guy," Eddy joked, pointing out Kevin. The redhead rolled his eyes, opting to flip him off.
"Ay," Dru grinned, offering his fist. Kevin paused, but bumped fists. Truth be told, he felt awkward doing so, but he didn't want to make things even worse by leaving Dru hanging. He had to admit, it was odd seeing someone who was so willing to openly come out. It took him years to come to accept himself, but to open up? Far longer. Naz and Rolf had been the only ones to know for years, and even that was hell to do.
"Guess it ain't my darkest then if y'all ain't shit with gay people," Dru seemed to be joking, but he leaned back to think again. He groaned, tapping his temple as he thought. After a moment, he snapped his fingers quickly.
"Ah, I got it. I was dead for 10 minutes," he replied, earning dead silence. He looked between the group, raising a brow at the reactions.
"Dude, that's fucked."
"I do agree with Nazz that perhaps it wasn't the most pleasant thing to blurt out, Derrick," Edd commented. Dru paused, but he laughed in turn. He shrugged, moving to rest his hands behind his head.
"It happened, it's life. Besides, if I hadn't, I wouldn't have met Eddward. I mean I'm not sayin I'd like to experience it again, but I guess I am saying it did happen," he stated. Edd seemed to flush at that, sighing as he smacked the other's arm. After a couple moments, Nazz opted to be the one to ask.
"So, like.. what happened? I mean, to make it happen and for you to meet Edd," Nazz questioned. Dru seemed to smile a bit, sitting up as he crossed his arms. Double D sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Oh boy, here we go."
"Eddward doesn't like this story," Dru laughs, patting his back as he leaned back. "Well, startin' off, I wasn't always the.. best. I had a pretty shit history, truth be told. I was in fights, gettin on people's nerves, the whole thing. Needless to say, I stepped to the wrong people, and it got me shot," the man moved, pulling down the collar of his turtleneck to show a scar on his neck. "Eddward here found me, and called the police. Guess he felt bad for me, since he stayed the entire night."
"I was anxious I'd just witnessed a death,"Edd commented pointedly, earning a soft frown from Dru.
"I'm sorry, D,"he hummed, a gentle hand pressing on the other's face. Edd flushed, waving the hand away as the group seemed to exchange looks.
"Regardless, I've been following him since. Turns out we went to the same school--"
"Which you would've known earlier if you went to class."
"I go now,"Dru replied, smirking at the way Edd huffed. Nazz was the first to make the comment, seeming to be willing to take that step.
"So, are you two.. a thing?" she asked.
The way Edd's face flushed instantly, the deep scarlet and the way he choked on his drink only seemed to make everyone more sure. Kevin and Eddy exchanged looks, both feeling a special type of jealousy and anger, but it was instantly changed to confusion when Dru spoke up, moving to kick his feet up.
"Nah, he's already rejected me," he stated it so casually, you'd think he was actually confirming it. Edd didn't deny it, either, just sitting there wringing his hands out. It was easy to see the entire thing made Edd uncomfortable, but Dru was a harder book to read. The guy didn't seem bothered by it, instead playfully smacking Double D's back with a light 'relax', but who wouldn't be bothered by being rejected? Especially when he obviously still harboured feelings.
What exactly was he planning with Edd? Kevin and Eddy looked toward each other, seeming to have this exact same sentiment.