Tom stared at him in disbelief and a bit of fear. Tord was moving back in. He was going to live there. In their home. It didn't seem right. It didn't feel safe. The only spare room they had belonged to… belonged to Edd.
There was no way he’d let this f demonic creep into Edd’s room. No way he’d let him touch anything. No way he’d let him mess it up.
He opened his mouth to speak, but Tord cut him off.
“Oh, shut up Thomas. I’m not staying in our friend’s room. Matt is going to help me clean out my old room so I can stay there.”
Tom wanted to protest again, but was cut off by Matt this time.
“Oh come on Tom, you know this is for the greater good. We could both use some friendly company and… and honestly I don’t know how to help you, but Tom, you need help! Maybe Tord here can do something to make things better for you. Maybe he can help.”
“No.” Tom frowned, glaring at the two in stubborn anger. “I don’t want his help, I want him gone.”
Tord sighed. “I hear your concerns, Thomas. But I am not leaving. Not again. You need to suck it up and deal with it.”
Tom got to his feet, growling under his breath. “Fuck. No. He’s not staying. That’s final.” He pushed past them back to the stairs. “I’m going to my room.”
Tord moved to block his way and grabbed his arm tightly. “Sit down, Tom.”
Tom pulled away violently, growling openly now. His pitch black eyes flashed with something nasty. “Don’t touch me!” He lifted the poor demon by the collar of his red hoodie, uttering noises no human could possibly make.
Tord pulled a gun from his hoodie pocket and aimed it at the beast that held him, unafraid. He spoke calmly, that damned Norwegian accent making his words all the more infuriating to Tom. “Calm down, pup. You have no right to threaten me. You have no way to hurt me. Not really. Not in that weak human body. Don’t even try it.”
Tom’s face contorted with rage. His vision was clouded with red. His breath was uneven. This was something he couldn’t think rationally. He couldn’t see straight. It was happening again. He didn't have control of it. The anger was a part of him. It ran deep in his veins, in his very dna. He had been made a slave to it. But it wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t anything he could do something about him. It was not his fault. Edd had understood. He’d searched for days in his grandmother’s spell book for something to help. He was there for Tom. He made him feel like more than a mindless killing machine. Told him again and again that he wasn’t a monster. Made him feel worth it. And now he was gone.
Tord had left them as they were losing Edd. He’d left, because he was scared. He was a coward. A fucking coward! He was as good as dead to him. Tom couldn’t stand the thought of this coward, one that had left them in when they needed him most and hurt Edd when he never visited, back in this house. Back where Edd… where Edd had lived. He would never allow himself to let that happen. Never!
He tossed Tord to the ground viciously. When he spoke, his voice was a monster out growl. “F off! Get out of this place! Go back to your stupid goddamn Norway! Now!”
Matt looked... worried. Terrified, even. He tried to step in, but Tord calmly pulled himself to his feet and gestured for him to stay out of it.
"It will be fine, Matt. Tom here is just throwing a little tantrum. He needs to learn that you don't always get what you want by screaming and yelling."
Tom's body shook with pure rage. He let out a low, guteral growl and let at his chosen enemy, tackling him to the floor and knocking his gun out of reach. That's when Matt did step in. He rushed to pull Tom off of him and to his feet, trying to sooth him with calm words. He didn't sound the least bit calm.
Tord stood up and sighed. "There is no facing him like this. We'll talk when he's calm. I'm going to fix my room."
With Matt at his side, Tom's breathing became easier and his head less clouded. He stared after Tord, still glaring, but without that glint that threatened to kill. Matt held him by his shoulders, speaking rapidly and "calmly" to do what he could to sooth the boiling anger in his monster of a friend.
Tom sighed. He'd done it again. Messed up. Worried Matt. Made not only himself, but everyone else in the room uneasy and den right terrified. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to loose it like that."
Matt let him go, running a hand through his red hair. "It's fine, it's fine. Honestly, what else cukd we expect from smoke with your... issues? I just... Tom, I really believe having Tord back here might help you heal. Please, just-just give it a chance, okay? Just for a little while? For me."
Tom stared at him for a moment before letting out a heavy sigh. "Fine. Just for a little bit." He didn't show it, but he felt himself holding back a slight smile at the way his friend immediately brightened up. The nerves seemed to drain out of him. Worry was still there, but that nervous, desperate panic was gone.
"Thanks Tom."
It was at that moment Tord came back out, moving swiftly and quietly. He stooped down to pick up his gun from moments earlier and stared at them. "Well then. It seems all is back in working order." He glanced at Tom. "I see you've tamed the beast."
Tom glared at him. "Shut up you stupid commie." He turned on his heal and went back for the stairs. He could feel his blood beginning to boil again.
This time, it was Matt who caught him. By his hood rather than his wrist this time. "Tom please, sit down. Let's just talk for a minute, okay? All three of us. Like old times?"
Tom turned and snapped at him. "It can't be like old times, Matt! In the "old times" had Edd. In the old times, Tord and I could sit in a room together and not threaten the other's life. In the old times, I wasn't a rage ridden mess of an alcoholic monster!"
Matt looked hurt. Tord looked ever so slightly shocked, like he wasn't expecting that last line.
It was Tord that spoke first. "Thomas, you don't understand. We're just trying to-"
"I don't care!" Tom felt a terrible, all to familiar pain rush through his body, focused on his head. He buried his head in his hands and let out a pained growl as his ears grew more pointed and purplish. Horns edged their way up from his skull. His teeth sharpened and his hands looked like big, purple claws.
Matt rushed to his side, looking terrified. "TOM!"