Tom felt useless.
He sat down on the floor next to Tord, who was in front of Asha's room. The door was shut right in his face, the kids, hidden inside.

Tord sat there with his head lowered. He was ashamed of himself. Disgusted.

When wasnt he.

part of him was happy to see, happy to have color in his eyes.

the rest?
confused.
torn.
anxious.

the kids were afraid of him.
he didn't blame them.

now he sat there with his eyes closed.
He begged Tom to just rebandage them but Tom wouldn't do it.

"There's no need." he said.
" Its okay. "
"You don't need to be scared."

Tord didn't listen.
so many thoughts were running through his head. so many so fast it felt like nothing was actually there.

his mind was in a empty daze.

So Tom felt useless.
He couldn't get the kids out
couldn't get them to even say anything
Tord was miserable and He couldn't think of anything supportive to say because even he was confused.

just
his eyes are red.

they've been gray for years.
they didn't even fade to red
just
Bam
Red.

How do you explain that?
The answer is
You dont.

he wasn't sure how to feel.

Namki set down the phone
this wasn't normal, and never will be.
she placed her hands on the counter.
balled into fists, she slowly relaxed them.
looking at her palms, she saw her nails had dug into them.

small bits of blood began to rise.

she went over to the sink to wash them off.
She looked at the clock. 7:21PM

She could make it.

Tord laid face first into the couch. Tom sat on the ground next to where his head was, trying to talk him out of never moving from there.

"Tord."

The boy recognized the person. Though he didnt expect them to be here, he didnt question it. He turned his head to see the voice.

It was Laddi.

She had a sad look displayed.

She was the only one who didnt flinch at the eyes.

She put a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry."

He huffed.
Turned his head back into the pillow .

Tom tiredly smiled at Laddi.

"He doesnt like them?" Laddi said, in a tone that asked for confirmation. Like she expected it or something.

Tom nodded.

"Neither do the kids, their terrified of him."

Laddi showed a pained Expression.

"I'll try to work that out with them."

"Please."

Namki walked out of the kitchen. Swiftly picking up her purse and keys

"Let's, go." She called.

Tom tapped Tord, who only rustled more into the couch.

"Where?" Tom asked.

"Hospital. We're getting an explanation."

"How about a refund." Tord mumbled.

Tom ruffled Tord's hair.
"C'mon." He said, "get your sweater so we can get it over with."

Tord , with large amounts of procrastination beforehand, finally got up. Only to sit on the couch and look at a nearby window as an escape.

Tom tossed him a black hoodie.

Tord appreciated the fact it wasnt red.

Now, they stood at the doorway, Namki explaining some tactics Laddi could use to get the kids out, and telling her to help herself to the dinner leftovers.

Tom had gone back to his room to get something

Tord stayed by the doorway, his eyes just barely open and resting his head against the boarder, looking out at to the stars.

It took him a while to get used to seeing things
And the colors.

He hid his face in the couch cushions because he found the darkness comforting.

It was simple
And he couldn't remember much when it was dark.
Not like he wanted to.

He didnt want to look at faces or colors
As much as he missed them, he didnt want to embrace it right now.

The dark sky was a comfort to him.

The stars up there, only reminded him there were small things he missed out on in the darkness.

Small things that were so beautiful though.

He closed his eyes again.

He could do without the beautiful things, for a while.

Namki patted his face.

He didnt budge.

"Open up." She whispered.

He hesitantly opened his eyes to look at her.

She smiled.

"That's my boy."

That sent a pang to his heart.

She obviously didnt notice that, because she walked down the steps easily and got into the car.

Tom walked from behind, stood by Tord and sighed.

"The weather is getting colder." He said.

"The house feels colder." Tord responded

Tom knew what he ment. He frowned.

"Its only temporary, it shouldn't even be cold right now. Spring is nearing."

Tord shrugged.

Tom didnt know what to say.

He reached in his pocket for something.

"Open your hand."

Tord perked up, looked over.

He put his back against the doorway and opened his palm.

Tom took his hand in his.

"Promise broken. I'm in debt to you." He smiled, weakly.

"I dont know how to clear it, but I have something."

"I can't keep promises, none of us can." He added.

"But please promise me this." He said, looking distressed.

"No matter what,"

"You will remember what I told you Friday."

"You are valuable. "

"Nothings gonna ever change that."

Tord felt his insides twist.

How can you be so sure.

"-So, please."

"Dont cry."

And with that, he walked off.

Tord looked at his palm.

A hair tie.

He reached back for the loose strands.

When he was done, he put his hand on the doorknob.

'Y'know Thomas, I'll take it.'

'I'll believe you.'

'I wont let my thoughts drag me down.'

'They've got enough of a hold on me for too long.'

'Its all sunshine lolipops from here.'

'However '

'Things have a tendency to break.'

'Nothing is forever.'

'So when I break that promise in the future.'

'Just know why.'

'I'm not valuable compared what will be lost.'

'But you are.'

'That's all that matters.'

'They don't.'

~Red Army Base~

The red leader stomped around.

She would walk one path, pause, and stomp the opposite way.

Just walking around randomly,

A soldier walked up to her.

"The defenses have been checked, all intact. We added more of the team on lookout as you requested "

She huffed. "Good."

"May I ask why you requested all of this? Are we in danger?" The soldier sheepishly asked.

She patted his shoulder.

"Run down to prisoner 5, tell him things would have been smoother if he hadn't been an inconsiderate bastard."

"As for your question, I dont know, I hope not."

The soldier nodded and ran off to complete his newly given task.

She walked straight to one of the living quarters. She slid a card and the door opened.

The door opened and she pointed directly at Pau and Pat, who were talking about issues on the frontlines.

"You two-" she stated.

"My office, five."

She walked off, leaving them confused.

Two on looking soldiers sighed, watching pau and pat walk out their door in the same direction.

"Good thing you and me are on ground duty."

"Might aswell start digging their graves."

"You mean to tell me that other armies have been tracking our calls?" Pau exclaimed.

Tori clapped her hands together.

"I'm glad we're on the same page, but let's just throw the whole book away."

"I understand where you two are coming from," she said with a tired sigh. "-wanting to keep in touch with your child, but by my estimates, we could be raided at any second."

"Black and orange already have a list of possible coordinates."

"Pau, call off any soldiers in nearby fields, even if we lose the land it's better than the whole base. Put them up and ready for air support incase we're found out."

The soldier saluted and ran out to contact the generals on the other sides.

Par held his hands.

He was hesitant to speak. But the silence was killing him.

"You have a child?" He asked.

Tori frowned. She crossed her arms and looked away.

"I couldn't have one even if I tried."

He beat himself up for asking. He mumbled a quick sorry and looked back at the frame on her desk.

"You like roses?"

She softened

"I love them. Truly."

She looked at what he was looking at, she walked over and held the frame gently in her hands.

"Wedding day. I didnt wear white. I wore red."

She put it back on the desk.

Pat couldnt help but ask another question, hoping her answer would be happier than the last.

It was not.

"What were you looking at?"

She paused.

"The ring."

"It was a ruby. Bright red and sparkling, like starlight."

"I loved it so much."

"I loved him. But you know where that went."

Her hand dropped from the edge of the desk.

"I ripped off the part that showed my hands, and the ring, in my rage."

She sighed and sat down her chair.

"I would've ripped the whole thing, had I not decided to atleast remember how happy he made me."

Pau forgot about his habit of bad questions.

"Wheres the ring?"

She hummed for a second.

"Somewhere safe, I hope."

"I hope one day, i could bring it back."

"Back in my hands, back where my husband put it."

Pau walked over and patted her shoulder lightly.

"I'm sorry you went through that."

She smiled.

"Its alright."

Pau reached in his pocket, took out a small photo.

"I can't talk to him anymore, atleast for a while."

His thumb rubbed over the 9 year old's smiling face.

"I hope we can make it back safely."

Tori nodded.

"I wish the same."

It was silent.

Until the first bomb fell.

Everything in her office shook, the frame fell and the glass shattered.

Pau walked over carefully, pushing aside the glass and picking the photo out its frame.

He looked at her, then at the 9 year old.

'I guess it was an unrealistic hope.'

He opened the drawer that was under the frame, and put the picture inside.

He saw the torn piece, there was the ring.

Beautiful.

Pau walked back over to her, she wws stumbling to keep herself standing.He lent her a hand ti grab onto,his fear and concern of the situation was hidden well.

Another bomb hit.

Tori could barely hold the radio.

"Sector 5, Sash?" She said into the speaker.

"Yea boss?"

She coughed, before saying.

"How are things in the celltower?"

"We just finished the transmissions to all of our frontlines and generals, their coming for support.

"It was hard because of the loud booms, it sounds like thunder "

"I dont think it'll get any better, I suggest going into the shelters to avoid the booms, its deafening"

"The planes are being cleared for takeoff, all supplies are immediately being removed and packed with the airdrop crew. "

Tori smiled.

"Remember that time I told you to hide those X bombs?"

"Uh-huh."

"Tell the suppliers where they are, let the kids have some fun."

"As you wish."

Tori put down her radio, picked up a couple of canisters.

Pau struggled to hold them all, he quickly found a crate to organize them in.

"May I ask why you need these?"

Tori turned and put one more in the crate, tossing the other between her hands.

"The rain is here, but thunder is coming ."

"Let's go make some fog "

Tord watched the news reporter ramble on about the sounds of explosions and large amounts of smoke radiating from a far off land, explaining that many citizens and unidentified individuals caught in the crossfire are thought to be dead.

He didnt care. Instead took the remote and shut off the TV.

He was just tired. Annoyed.
At this point, he wanted to shatter a window.

Wanted his panel of stress to break into itty bitty bits that could be reorganized.

If you put a panel of glass in the sun, it is reflective, shiny.

If you break that panel, and put the shards together in sunlight, in a random fashion, it is even more reflective and shiny then before.

After you break something, it can obtain a new sense of beauty.

If you know how to do it.

Otherwise, those shards could cause pain.

It could make blood rise.

You never want to see blood outside of a body.

Never.

Atleast.

At first.

Tord swung his feet sitting on the stool. Tom and Namki were out talking with the doctor. He had took a blood sample and checked Tord's vision and all.

He felt as if he could see better.
Clearer.
Precisely.

Strange.

The bright white of the hospital room was very contradicting to the darkness Tord had been confined to for 3 days.

He hated it, seemed too bright and it took a little getting used to.

Tord sniffed the air.

Disinfectant.

Mandatory, for a hospital.

Tord never liked hospitals.
They always ment something bad.
That someone was hurt, or diagnosed with an illness, or, dying.

And everything was white.
Make sure you dont get blood on those walls.
It'll stain

It was ironic.
For a place that had the most chance of having blood stains or stains in general,

Why make it white.

Well, the whole building wasnt white.
The children's corner was full of color, to calm them down.

But you dont see white halls everyday
Endless your in a prison
Therefore, it is an unusual sight that is connected to two unpleasant places,

Prison,
And a hospital.

So, it causes panic to the patient.
To be in a place associated with a bad connotation.
Not something you want in a hospital .

Technically a hospital could be a prison
You are fed, confined, and you long to leave but you are not allowed to.

You may have visitors to an extent.
There is death involved.

Tord felt like a prisoner in the hospital.
He wanted to be home.
With the kids
With Tom.

He sighed and hopped off the stool, it was uncomfortable.

He patted the bandaid on his lower arm, where they had extracted blood. It hurt, but not badly.

Not how it used to hurt.

He walked over to a 1 seater couch by the window.

It was dark outside, could barely see a thing.

That was the point.

He wanted the darkness to welcome him in again, but as soon as he closed his eyes, the door opened.

He could see in the reflection of the window that it was Tom.

The teen took the stool and brought it over to Tords side.

He sat down and tilted his head.

"Tired?"

"Very."

Tom hummed. He looked away.

"Y'know, we keep our valuables safe. Make sure their in top notch condition, safe and sound."

Tord looked at Tom with a confused look.

"Do I need treatment or something?" He asked

"Glad you know I'm talking about you." Tom said with a gentle smile.
He then sighed and shook his head.

"You are perfectly healthy."

Tord felt as if he didnt process that correctly.

"Pardon?"

"Pardoned. You are perfectly healthy. "

Tord rolled down his sleeve over the bandaid.

"How so?" He said, suspiciously.

Tom shrugged and hopped off the stool.

He sat down on the smaller one with wheels that was by the door.

Pushing himself to the middle of the medium sized room, he started to spin in circles out of adrenaline from the information.

Tom was absolutely terrified.
There was no new data from the blood sample
Nothing new or unordinary
Nothing strange

Just
Normal

And that scared him.

Because the same thing was said about his eyes.

Long ago, he remembered being a child, brought to a new doctors office, they had never seen such a thing.

They tested him, but the data was completely normal.

It's just
Weird
Because Tom's eyes acted normally.
They looked different
But they worked.

With Tord, all of that could be said

But at the same time
Is it really the same?

Remembering the way his eyes seemed to hurt him.

Tom didnt think so for one bit

Tord thought about it.
It was off.
But he didnt care too much.
It was the least of his concerns.

He wanted to go back to normality

But, he guessed that being labeled as normal and completely healthy was a step forward.

Couldnt say that back with the grey eyes.

Blind.

But now he could see.
And much better.

Though, it wasnt really a welcome.
The kids were afraid of him, no doubt others at school would be too.

He didnt care.

Usually he did.

Not now.

Too much was lost.

He lost the kids in a strange way.

He missed them.

He got out of his seat and walked over to Tom.

He put his hand out to the chair and managed to grab the back just on time.

He leaned over the back seat and looked down at Tom, who looked over his left shoulder back at him.

Tom raised a hand poked Tord's nose.

"Bloop."

Tord smiled.

Tom thought he saw the red eyes gleam for a second.

'Totally normal. '

Atleast.

At first.

Laddi had no luck.
The kids let her in the room, but as soon they heard the car pull up, they pushed her out and locked the door.

Now, she sat there on the floor where she landed. A pout on her face and loads of disappointment running through her head.

She sighed and stood, patting off her pants and going to the door.

She opened it, Namki walked in looking confused and just whispered a thanks before going off to bed.

Tom shook his head.

"Shes tired and nothing is going through her ears right now." He said, with a sad smile.

"That's unfortunate." Laddi mumbled, reaching for a sweater.

Tord walked in and closed the door behind him, when he noticed Laddi putting on her scarf, he reopened it and stood at the door.

"How are the kids?"

The girl in yellow paused and shook her head sadly.

"They wont budge, I tried. And failed."

Tord's uncaring persona faltered into disappointment at the news. Tom patted her shoulder telling her it was okay.

She shook her head in disagreement and walked out, whispering a sorry to Tord before closing the door.

Tom checked the time.

9:34. Theres school tomorrow.

Tord knew what he was gonna ask.

"I'm gonna go."

Tom looked away from the clock on the stove. His face displayed uncertainty.

"Are you sure?" He asked, with reason being.

Well, Tom and his own situation could be used to parallel this.

That didnt go well.

"I dont think-"

"No."

"Its alright. "

"I can take it."

It wont hold me down anymore.

That's final

I dont need any setbacks.

Tom put down the keys on the kitchen island.

"Alright." He sighed.

"The kids arent gonna open up, obviously."

Tom took of his sweater and started to fold it neatly.

"I'll set something up for you in my room."

Tord hummed and sat down on the couch as Tom walked off with his sweater in his arms.

Tord heard faint rustling and Tom's attempt to supress a 'ow' from down the hall.

When he got up to check if he was okay, Tom had called out that he was fine.

'Strange.' Tord thought.

'Though, Its nothing new.'

He walked back and sat on the couch.

In a matter of minutes, Tom had managed to set up a small mattress in the corner of his room, kicking his knee into the wall in the process.

Tom had already thrown two pillows ontop, but what was lacking was the main source of warmth. The blanket.

He walked out his room to the closet on the other hall by the kitchen.

There were only two small halls with 3 doors in this house, but Tom still managed to confuse them.

After retrieving a soft dark red blanket they had, he doesnt remember buying it with Namki since they both did the furnishing, but it was whatever.

He walked over to the couch where Tord sat, bored but feeling in the same empty daze from earlier.

But this one felt more, spiteful.

"All done." He said, giving tord the red cloth.

He sat on the other side of the couch, he brought up his knees and hugged them, feeling sick.

Tomorrow was not gonna be good.
At all.
It never is.

Maybe Edd and Matt can make it better
Happier?

He hoped so.

Tom didnt like the silence.
Not one bit.
Usually Tord would be smiling or teasing him

'Theres a vase of roses behind us.
'Make a joke or something '
'Eat all the fruits in this house.'
'Throw something and hit another something precisely. '

'Just'

'Anything?'
'Please?'

'Show me your alive'
'How do I know your alive?'

You feel so cold and dead.

Tord stood up, holding the blanket.
"Goodnight Thomas. "

Ah...there it is again.
I thought you stopped doing that...
I hoped you did.

Guess I'm wrong huh?

Tord walked off into the hallway.

Tom turned his gaze from the leaving boy to the floor. He tightened his grip on his knees.

'Yes. Good night.'
'Night. The night is cold.'
'This house is cold.'

'I hope its temporary. '

Imagine Tord in a garden.

Theres sunlight pouring in everywhere. The flowers were just watered do the little droplets on the petals glimmer and shine brightly.

Theres small droplets that managed to get in his hair. He never liked getting wet. Never liked the rain, but it did beautiful things to the roses.

Made them grow. Helped them grow.

The grass is green and healthy. Short and soft. Gentle.

And hes sitting right there. Looking at the bright red roses.

He seems to have such an endearing attachment to them. Hes gentle with every single one.

And then finally, hes laughing. And he turns around, hes smiling.

And hes happy, and that's the best part.
It's the main piece.

The red eyes dont even matter.

There doesnt have to be roses.
There doesnt have to be sun.

It could be a cold night.

But if hes happy.
Its okay.

Imagine Tord in a garden

tom woke up in a cold sweat.

He ran his hands through his slick hair over his face.

He rubbed his eyes. Unsure of what he saw or if he saw it.

he sat up and looked over at Tord, down over the corner in the room, On the mattress, who rustled in his sleep.

Tom huffed and settled himself back down.
his heart still beating.
he knew his face was red.

'Just ignore it.'

'You always did.'

================================
====
Notes
Tord has to push away his emotions for future plans.

Hey friends
Wow look a chapter
The next one is gonna be a lot longer by the way

Soooooo
Ye
Um

Our good artist pal Tabbs
Aka
pink_turtle_punch
Drew
(Is that correct grammar-)
Thisss

Its cute
Isnt it cute
Damn well its cute
Uwuwuwuwuwuwuwuwu

FallenLeader drew stuffs too but it's not about this book and instead about some two Ocs I made out of boredom.

And now I love them very much
Check my artsy shitpost book for them
Their names are Cresent and Orion and their gay as fucK-

Enough of that
I hope you saw the banner
I hope to digitally make my banners again

AND MAKE BANNERS FOR THE CHAPTERS I SKIPPED OH GOd

Have this:

Ew the lineart is in different sizes
I JUST DO WHICHEVER SIZE LOOKS GOOD AT THE MOMENT

I'll start going by one consistent size I swEAr

I think that's all

Okie

Happy early Thanksgiving because no one gives a shit about it
Like fr
Damn
The Walmart at my house already put up a tree
THANKSGIVING HASNT EVEN PASSED?
LIKE
WTF BUT MOOD
okay I'll
Stop that

Ok

Thank you for reading and following the development of "For Him"
Cya next chapter!
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