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Edd quickly and quietly make his way through the Red Army base that holds the time machine. He had planned out his route months in advance mesmerizing the guards' timing down to the second. He carefully stays out of the rang of the cameras that scatter the place.When he finally makes it to the room holding the machine as well as several other things the leader was working on he breaks the glass to open the door.
The alarms immediately go off but unfortunately for them, it already to late. He's already put in the time and place he wants to go to when he hears Tom's familiar voice, "freeze in the name of the Red Leader!"
"Yeah, if you comply he might even let you join. Working here isn't that bad." Matt added.
"I'm going to fix everything," Edd promises them without looking back. He considered for a while telling them about his plan but didn't want to risk Tom ruining it by being to rough with Tord. He presses the button and the portal appears and he disappears into it.
"Welp, we did everything we could, time to ask Tord for the extra time machine." Matt announces all to eagerly heading back.
Tom slaps the back of the ginger's head, "first of all, we're not even suppose to call him that even when where all you know how he gets. Second of all, this might be all fun and games for you but I have to watch Susan get destroyed again and tell my past self about the eye cancer."
Matt lets out a huff, "you're only jealous."
-
Edd appears in Tord's secret lair. He has so many questions he wants to ask his old housemate manly; why? One of the walls opens up revealing Tord who has confusion written all over his face. Alright, it was now or never.
Edd takes a breath to steady himself before saying, "I come from the future and I just have a few questions I must ask you." He pauses to let Tord process what he just said.
"You can stop any of the several genocides that happened or prevent slavery but instead you decide to go back to talk to me?" Tord asks sounding equally disappointed and intreged.
Edd approaches the norski and places a hand on his shoulder, "yes Tord because in the future you become a terrible tyrant who takes over the world and erases all culture in some crazed attempt at world peace and 'true equality'. I lead a rebellion to take you down." He explains.
Tord looks at him with absolute disbelief before letting out howling laughter. The brunette can't believe him, does Tord really think this all some joke? Or is he just that confident in his plans? Edd really doesn't know what's so funny but he refuses to stand down. "Very funny Edd. If this is some kind of prank then you might want to come up with a more believable story. Though I do recognize that machine as something I've drawn up, where did you get it from?"
"I stole it from you. What about the giant robot under the house? Heck, the fact that you even have a secret liar in the first place is super suspicious!" Edd stated his frustration showing.
"It's more of a laboratory then a lair, and I just wanted somewhere I could work on my projects in peace. The robot was just in case we needed protection but it's very hap-hazard, I was going to scrap it in it's entirety before I decided to leave." Tord explains.
Is Tord really playing dumb right now? "Why are you even leaving in the first place? Are you going to join the Red Army? Well I wont let you. I wont let them lead my friend astray!" Edd exclaims only to realize what he called Tord. Did he really still see the commie as his friend even after all he's done or is talking to a past version of him messing with his mind? Or did he never stop seeing Tord as a friend that could be saved silently hoping that things could return to normal even though he knows that could never happen?
Tord's eyes dart to the ground as his smile fades, has Edd finally gotten through to him? "I have no intentions of joining the Red Army, I don't even know what that is. I'm leaving because I don't want to ruin our friendship with my stupid feelings."
Either Tord was a really good at lying(which Edd knew he wasn't) or, "what feelings? Tord please talk to me so that we can fix this! Together we can stop that horrible future!" He half begs shacking Tord slightly.
Tord opens and closes his mouth several times not knowing what to say avoiding Edd's pleading eyes. He's never seen Edd go unshaven before and his attire is covered in holes and stains. He truly can't see himself doing any of what Edd described but he doesn't want to risk hurting Edd like that. He never wants to lose Edd's friendship so he reluctantly leads the future version of his best friend further into the lab. They sit in awkward silence as Tord tried to figure out how to word what he wanted to say. He wanted Edd to grab his hand and tell him everything will be alright but the artist kept his hands to himself looking around nervously. Future him really fucked things up, didn't he?
"I know this is a major breach of our friendship and I understand if this just makes you hate me more but I love you. I don't know when these feelings started but I only realized them while we were Killing those clones. I'm scared of how you'll react so I'm moving to New York to give these feelings time to go away so that we can stay friends." He admits quickly.
"I- what?" Edd stammered, he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Tord had claimed to hate him but now he's saying he loves him? Nothing is adding up, unless. Tord had been acting very strange when he came back, Edd had written it off being to happy to see the Norwegian again. That and the slight Russian accent he gained. Wait the clones! They had missed one of the Matts so what if? It's making so much sense now that he's thinking about it. "The you in the future that took over the world and destroyed the house is a clone!" He exclaims grabbing both of Tord's hands.
"Well yeah of- wait did you just say destroyed the house?!" Tord exclaims.
"Yes, but I know how to fix this and stop him." Edd states, Tord gives him an intense look ready for anything. "You need to tell past me about your feelings before I tell him myself. I promise it wont ruin our friendship, what even makes you think that?"
Tord once again diverts his gave, "but it's so intense and wired. I know you wont judge me but you deserve so much better."
"Don't say that. These are totally normal things to feel about someone you've known for this long. And I think I love you to and that's why my hart refuses to accept the fact that you did all those things. And why I wanted to talk to you in the first place. I think I was just to oblivious to see it." Edd explains sincerity in his voice.
"I know this is awkward but I might have overheard the start of your conversation and needed to hear it to the end because I refused to believe Tord would do that. And I'm glad it wasn't him. But I feel the need to interject. Also you left the wall open." It was past Edd.
Both future Edd and Tord jumped in surprise at his entry. "Shit, I thought you were of getting groceries today or did I miss remember?"
"That was yesterday." Edd clarifies before he sits on the opposite side of Tord who has no idea what to do. God, what will Edd think of him now?
Edd grabs Tord's face and turns it in order to kiss him. It felt nice but Tord wanted to make sure he meant it. But he couldn't help but melt into it kissing back eagerly. When the kiss ended Tord stated, "Edd please, I don't want you to date me just to protect the future. I don't want a relationship built on lies."
"But it isn't, I truly do love you. Future me is right, I was just to blind to see it. Please, stay I promise we can find a way to make things work between us." Edd ensured his eyes practically glowing with love.
Future Edd stood up, he was fading in and out of existence. "Welp, my work here is done. Besides I'm already back-to-the-futuring. Wait has that movie even come out yet? The point is you're already on track to a better future. If you'll excuse me I have to say goodbye to my friends before the end." He pushes a few buttons on the machine before disappearing through a portal.
"I prove to you how much I love you if only you'll stay." Edd promises.
"If there's a chance this'll work out I have to try. Let's forget about the future and focus on us." Tord stated confident that if that clone were to ever his face he'll kill the impostor that made his boyfriend's life a living hell on the spot. It fells nice to get to call Edd that.
"Also can we keep the robot, I think it'll be fun to use." Edd asked with a mischievous grin.
Tord lets out a humorous laugh with Edd quickly joining him going on until they both hurt. "Sure, we can keep the robot."
-
Tom and Matt return to the future after being told be there past selves that a future version of Edd had shown up a few days before Tord was suppose to leave to push Tord and his past self into a relationship causing the commie to stay. "That clever bastard. I can't believe not only that he did that but that it worked." Tom spat as the future crumbled around them.
"I thought the boss said that the timeline was more stable then this and that the worst thing that would happen was a alternate universe being created." Matt complained causing Tom to give him a confused look with the ginger quickly realizing what happened, "wait sense when did I know what half of those words mean?"
"I guess Tord not leaving means you never shoot yourself with the memory erasing gun." Tom reasoned.
"I promised you I'd fix things remember?" Edd stated standing across from them, "the future that'll replace this one will be much better then this one I know that for sure."
"But how?" Was the only thing Tom said.
Edd quickly explained the situation to the two them with Matt being understanding while Tom was still suspicious and angry. "This is so stupid. I'm not saying that I don't believe you because that is very possible, but if the Red Leader is just a clone of Tord that doesn't mean our Tord can't become something similar. You know what they say, 'the apple doesn't fall far from the tree'." The bassist spat.
Edd looks around at the destruction happening around them with something close to bliss in his eyes. "There's not nearly enough time to convince you otherwise so you'll have to disappear with that falsehood in your head."
Tom rolled the eyes on his visors wishing he had his vodka while Matt facepalmed. "How did neither of you realize something was up? At least I have the excuse of not being fully there! He even had a different accent for goodness sake!"
"I was to happy to have him back while Tom hated him to much to care." Edd pointed out.
Tom hated how obvious it was in retrospect. Clenching his fist Tom demanded, "so all of this was for nothing?"
Matt puts a hand on Tom's shoulders, "I wouldn't say that. I agree with Edd that this for the best; I don't get my memories erased, the house doesn't get destroyed, Tord gets to go on all of our adventures and the clone gets what's coming to him."
As the destruction grow closer the three friends stood in anticipation of the end with so much unsaid. "Hey Matt," Tom suddenly said, "there's something I want to do before we disappear."
"What is it Tom? Come on spit it out." Matt encouraged.
Tom looked unsure but he knew that if didn't do this now he never would so he grabbed Matt by the collar and pulled him into a kiss surprising the vampire. "Sorry but I had to do that. I love you."
Matt's eyes lit up, "Tom why didn't you say anything sooner?"
"Because you deserved better." Tom said simply.
Before Matt could say anything it was all over.