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“Your feet are freezing.”
“Well your knees are in my stomach.”
“That's because your cold ass feet are touching me.”
“Guys…come on, it's too early.” Edd sighs. He was laying on the right side of the bed, by the window. His arm was wrapped around Tords waist, who was comfortable in the middle of the bed. Sandwich between his two boyfriends, then there was Tom. On the left side of the bed, back facing the door. They usually sleep in Edd's room, since Tord and Tom get upset when someone messes with their things.
Besides, his bed is big for three people anyway. Tom sits up, Hair a mangled mess.
“I'm going to shower.”
Tord immediately sits up. “I'll join.”
“No.” Tom says sternly, he yawns walking into the bathroom. Promptly shutting the door.
Tord laid back down, a deep pout on his face. Edd wrapped his arm back around him kissing his cheek. Which quickly cheered up the Norwegian.
“Don't worry ‘bout him, you know he's not a morning person.”
Tord turns to him fully, body wrapping all around Edd's body. “Yeah, still a jerk though.”
Edd laughs. “But you're dating him.”
“That means nothing, besides, you're dating him too.”
“True, guess we both like jerks.”
“I can hear you two.” Tom yells from the bathroom.
The two laugh, resting their foreheads together. Edd kissed the bridge of his nose. “You want pancakes for breakfast today? And don't say you'll just drink coffee, that's not good for you.”
Tord rolls his eyes. “You brits and this breakfast junk.” He huffs. “I'll eat bacon and toast.”
Edd smiles. “Alright love.”
Tom gets out of the bathroom, toothbrush in mouth, hair still dripping wet. Tord gets up again, now annoying Tom, tightly hugging his waist.
“Get off of me.” Tom grumbled, but there was barely any force in trying to push Tord away. Edd smiles, resting his eyes as the two continue to bicker.
_
“Do you guys have any plans for today?” Edd turns to the three men that still looked like they were in bed.
“Not really, probably just play Susan.”
“Me and Matt are going to window shop.“
Edd hums, sitting down with his plate. “Guess it'll be a calm day then.” He stuffs his mouth with eggs.
_
“See ya.” Tord kissed Tom's cheek, Tom kissed back heading to his room. “Later.”
Tord moved to Edd giving him a goodbye kiss. “Be back.”
“You two stay safe.”
Tord and Matt left. Now it was just Edd, strangely, this odd feeling creeps into his chest. He doesn't know what it is. He's distracted though, when Ringo rubs herself against his leg. Edd picks her up, holding her like a baby.
“Hey Ringo.”
She meows purring, as Edd rubs her belly, it's like she hasn't aged a day . Edd sighs. “I don't know girl, something just feels off.”
Ringo tilts her head confused. Edd twists his lip to the side. “Maybe It's just me. Come on, you haven't had breakfast right?”
Ringo gets excited, jumping out of Edd's grasp. Running to the kitchen. Edd gets up to follow, then he stops. He looks at a corner of the house, an uneasy feeling creeps up again. Something is-
“Mewwwwo!”
Edd looked down, Ringo was pawing at his pants leg.
“Ok, ok, I'm sorry.” Edd laughs. Such a bossy cat.
Ringo happily eats her breakfast. Edd was leaning against the counter. His mind was blank, he doesn't know why he feels so weird. Did he sleep wrong? Couldn't be, he has the best sleep he always has. He doesn't feel sick or anything. Maybe he's lonely?
_
There's a knock at the door.
“Come in.”
Edd walks in Tom's room, it's as dimly lit as ever.
“Hey, what's up?” Tom didn't look up from his base.
“Nothing..kinda lonely I guess.”
Tom finally looks up. “You have two people sleep under you all night, every night and you still need social interaction.”
Edd shrugs.
Tom puts down his base. “Alright, come here.”
Edd makes his way to Tom, sitting beside him. Tom scratches the back of Edd's head.
“Come on, tell me what's wrong.”
“Something just feels off…”
“Are you sick?”
“No…I just, something feels wrong.” He shakes his head. “I don't know.”
Tom hums. “Well, best not to think about it. Come on, lay down.”
Edd does as he was told, laying on Tom's twin bed. There wasn't much room, so Tom lays on top of him. Edd looks up at Tom in awe.
“Uh…you good there?”
“Yea it's just, I can't believe I'm with you and Tord.”
Tom sighs. “Trust me, I can't believe I'm with that weirdo as well.”
“..yeah….” Edd's face changes to a confused expression. “Hey Tom…how did we end up together anyway?”
Tom looks at him, in this lighting and with his voidless eyes it was kinda unnerving. “What do you mean?”
“Like..I don't remember how we all ended up dating. I mean I remember in highschool that I liked Tord and he liked you, and you liked me…but after that we never said anything.”
Tom didn't say anything for a long time.
“Well-”
“We're back!!!” Tord yells from the living room. “Edd~ where are you?”
Tom sighs. “Oh boy, better go see what he wants.”
Edd blinks confused. “I-..ok..”
Edd walks into the living room, Tord lights up at the sight of him. Which is odd, sure they're dating it. But it's known that he was always more crazy for Tom. Tord hugs him, kissing his lips.
“Did you miss me?”
“Course, did you decide not to go window shopping?”
“What do you mean?” Tord looks confused.
“Well it's only been like what? 30 minutes?”
“Oh really? Huh, well I wasn't paying much attention.”
Edd blinks confused. “Uh huh…” He turns to Matt, who was already going to his room. Usually Matt always hangs around them. Now that he thinks about it, he doesn't remember Matt saying anything at all today.
“Edd~”
Edd turns his attention back to Tord. “I did really miss you, how about we go back to your room and-” Tord whispers in Edd's ear, and the things he was saying made Edd's entire body feel warm. And while Edd was liking what he was hearing it still felt so off. Tord, while flirty and even lewd. Wouldn't just burst in and come onto him so randomly. This was usually what he experienced in his dreams during highschool. When he was so obsessed with the Norwegian that absurd wet dreams kept coming into his mind.
“Hey…Tord..how did you, me and Tom all start dating?”
“Hm?” Tord tilts his head. “Uh..well..it was so long ago Edd. And I'm honestly so over the drama we had to go through to get here. Why not leave the past in the past?”
“Ok, well how long have we've been dating then?”
“Oh um…” Tord froze a little bit, like he didn't have an answer. “Pft, idk, we all argue about the date so I just stop caring.”
Edd moves away from Tord.
Tord looks concerned. “Edd?” He had that expression on his face. The one that pulled on Edd's heart strings so badly.
“Something isn't right..”
“Hey what's going on?” Tom walks in, he looks at Edd. But it all felt so calculated? Matt still hasn't come out yet- and just like that Matt comes out. They all looked at him worried.
“Hey, Edd, come here yeah? Tell us what's wrong.”
Edd kept backing away. Now he thinks about it, he can't remember anything from before. They were dating right? So why can't he remember a single date? Or a confession? Or when they had sex? All he remembers of them is this morning.
“Edd.” Tord calls. He slowly shakes his head. “Don't do it…come on you're happy right? Why care about little details?” He stands by Tom holding his hand. “Don't you love us?”
A tear falls. “I do…I love you all so much but…I want it to be real.”
Everything goes black. Edd's eyes slowly open. This time around he's cold and feels bruised, not as good as the warm comfy bed with his favorite people. His head felt sore, feeling around it, he discovered wires inside. In a panic he pulls them out, thankfully it seemed to not damage his brain in any way.
He got up, he was wearing his hoodie but it was all torn. He noticed his hands were aged. Wait a moment. He looks around desperately for a mirror, he eventually looks down at a metallic table. It shows his true age. He's in his 30s, stubble on his face, and deep eye bags that really showed his tired state.
Slowly, it all comes back to him. Tord, Tom and Matt's disappearance, the war. Painfully, Edd understands that his 'happy life’ was nothing but fake. Tord, or the fake one, was convincing him to not break the illusion.
But what good is an illusion? Edd remembers the real Tord, how he's been hunting him down like a dog. How he took Tom and Matt and changed them beyond who they were.
Why would he do this?
“I should've known you'd figure it out…”
Edd doesn't turn around, he doesn't need to.
“I tried my best to make it to your utmost fantasy, guess it wasn't enough?” Tord stands with his hands behind his back. “I don't want you to hurt Edd.”
“Then why would you put me in that horrible machine?”
“Because I knew it was the only way to give you what you truly desired. The reality where I never left, where you, me, and Tom got our issues out of the way, where we all will be with you forever..and where we are all happy. Just like old times.”
Tears fall from Edds eyes.
“But things aren't like the old days, and we can't go back. So, if you will just..go back, I'll tweak a few things to make it perfect for you, and you can finally be happy.”
Edd turns to him, he easily towered over him. “You don't understand…it's not.” He sighs.
“Just tell me what you want.”
“You. Tord. I want you. All of you. I don't care how many ‘perfect’ versions of your old selves you make.”
Tord tilts his head confused. “But, that's why you're upset right? You miss how things used to be?”
Edd shakes his head, he makes his way to Tord. Tord was on guard but didn't move. Edd grabs Tord by the shoulders, he gives him a deep kiss. Tord breath hitched, he was frozen still. Edd continued to kiss the other, hoping what he meant was getting through to him.
When the two parted they had to catch their breath. Tord didn't know how to react, his brain was going blank.
Edd looks down at him. “Don't ever put me in those things again.” With that he runs off, escaping from the red tower again. The alarms went off as Tord was sure his soldiers were chasing him down now. But they never catch him, even now it was a surprise Tord was able to capture him. He leans back, touching his lips. They felt electric…
Dropping his head with a sigh, Tord shuts down the simulator. Thinking about what Edd said, he now knows what he truly wants.
Unfortunately he doesn't think he'll be able to give it to him.