Namki was walking back, Edd carrying the bags of food and Matt carrying Asha. Soke skipping backwards to make faces at Edd.

Namki smiled at the sight of everyone getting along. she nearly bumped into the doctor that attended Tord.

"Oh! I'm sorry." She glanced at the doctor, who was readjusting his glasses from stumbling back to not bump into the visitor .

"Its alright. You don't happen to be Tord's mother do you?" the man fumbled over his clipboard , checking the information about Tords guardians.

"Oh no, I'm not. Sorry." Namki frowned, now that she thought about it, Tord never really mentioned his parents.

" That's such a shame. The phone numbers attached as guardians aren't answering. And we need someone to y'know... "

"Be a parent in General. Get his medicine, make sure he's doing well, keep watch of him."

Edd and Matt had noticed Namki lacking behind, and had sat down on some chairs. Edd have her a thumbs up to take her time.

"I mean, He knows me well, I've taken care of him before."

The doctor hummed. "Yes, of course, I cannot assign you as a trusted member, his parents aren't available to ask permission. I'll just have to take a look at your records and get his consent about you before I can really tell you anything about his state." The doctor tapped his cheek with the pen .

"I have the time." Namki smiled.

The doctor returned the smile. "I'll check with him first then." He nodded her to follow and Namki waved a hand over to the kids to come aswell.

As they neared the room, Namki noticed how, unusually quiet it was, she'd at least expect some conversation between Tom and Tord, but it seemed to be silent.

The doctor, opened the door. a bit dazed by what he saw. He opened the door wide and slowly , Namki popped her head through and took two steps in the doorway after seeing the moment.

Tom had turned around, still rubbing Tords hand with gentle strokes, something he did to calm down Asha or Soke. He gave a sad smile at Namki and whispered something to Tord.

Tord, who was silent with his nose in the crook of Toms neck, looked up, managing to keep his eyes closed. He had gotten used to looking around with the bandage on and his eyes shut. But by instinct, he almost opened them.

"Namki?" He whispered , almost afraid that she saw him in this state.

"Hi baby boy" she smiled.

Before the doctor could say anything, Edd and Matt got curious and managed to peek in, Edd immediately dropped his bags and Matt carefully out Asha down, They both shoved through the doorway and ran over To hug their friend. Fortunately making him laugh as they whimpered like children.

The doctor smiled and reached in a nearby cabinet for bandages. He then waved over a nurse and said something along the lines of "An20gm" to her. She nodded and walked off.

"I think that's enough for me to classify you as trusted." His nametag read: Dr. Konji. Namki chuckled and looked over, Asha and Soke were now in the bed. Asha giving kisses on Tords cheek while Soke exploited Matt and how he was filling a cup and put in ice after filling the cup to the brim.

"You can't just keep him here?" Namki looked over to the the man in white.

He shook his head. "I could, but Mondays are usually our busy days, it's when most people come in bruised up from drunken fights that occur over the weekend."

He sighed. "Their a bit crazy, those paitents, they could potentially barge in rooms, I wouldn't want them getting to Larison and giving him a panic because he won't understand what's going on."

Namki nodded slowly.

"Besides, I don't think it would be mentally 'nice' for him to stay here. and all treatment is rather simple, and there's no need for him to be here."

The nurse returned, she placed a pen in the knot of her blonde ponytail and handed the doctor a small tube of ointment.

Mr.Konji walked over and lightly separated everyone to put fresh bandages on.

" I'll make an exception this one time, bandages are uncomfortable. " he said, referring to the fact they where gone and that's not something you should do.

"I needed to place more medicine on anyways. It only calms the stinging pain. eye drops wouldn't work." He chatted while he moved stray strands of hair out of the way. " Good thing you didn't open your eyes. Their still quite sensitive and I wouldn't want anything getting in them. But these bandages have to stay on for 3 days minimum. "

Tord nodded, though he hated the idea of being blind for 3 days, but if it was so little, than is there a chance he'd be okay?

Tom must've been thinking the same thing.

"will he be able to see?" He said, cautious .

The doctor hummed.

"Yes."

" He will. "

The sigh of relief that escaped everyone still danced in the air during the hugs and cheers .

The doctor smiled and closed the door, Namki silently wishing to be with the kids on the other side, laughing and releasing all the stress that built up in worry for Tord.

But when she saw the concerned look on the doctors face.

she knew it wasn't time for celebrating yet.

"Tell me the truth."

~~~
After what seemed like forever, Namki reentered the room, but she seemed distant and deep in thought.

she walked over to Tord and gave him a hug.

"Come on buddy. We're leaving."

Tord didn't think he heard right.

"Leaving?"

Namki sighed. "Yep. Your gonna stay with me,Tommy, Asha and Soke for a while."

The kids cheered, while Tom started to list his newfound responsibilities in his head. He didn't mind taking care of Tord. He wasn't obnoxious or rude so it was no problem.

"Someone's gotta supervise your health. No ones at your house right?" The doctor looked back to his clipboard as if that did anything.

Tord shook his head. "Parents are out on a business trip."

" mhm. "

Asha started getting her glove people, she gave Edd one of him and Matt, his. the rest she tied together like loose balloons with some string she found in a drawer.

The doctor took off the contraption on Tords wrist, and took out the needle. He put a bandaid in place of it.

They left the room to leave Tord to change, Tom took off his hoodie and gave it to soke, seeing as he left his sweater in the car. Asha did too, so as soon as Tord stepped out, cautiously, Asha went up to him for his hoodie, which he gave to her.

Tom walked over to assist Tord, who was being very careful with every step he took.

While the two were chatting away with what technique will be better to walk to not bump into things, Asha had put on Tords hoodie, Being baggy but comfortable for her. Soke with Toms, it went to his knees and his hands were covered by the sleeves.

Finally Tom just decided to guide Tord by the hand but he immediately stopped when he saw the red and blue kids hopping around.

Tom smiled at them, and he squeezed Tords hand.

"I wish you could see this."

Tord felt bad that he was missing something, but Edd perked up.

"He can! .....Later!" Edd reached in his pocket for his phone, which he handed to Matt.

Matt, Being tall, and in the front of the group, took a picture of himself and everyone behind him as they walked. He perfectly caught Soke and Asha in their hoodies and their smiles as Ashas string of glove people floated behind her. Namki holding a bag of food and a piece of paper. Edd covered his eyes with his hands as he walked by Tord, perfectly bumping into a doorknob, and Tom and Tords intertwined hand in perfect view of the camera.

Edd would be sure to send it to the group chat later.

~~~

While the kids played with the automatic door,testing out how much weight was necessary to set off the sensor, Namki went off to get the car in the parking garage, Tord sat by a small garden and took in the smells of the Earth and its flowers.

Tom watched him to make sure he was safe and not getting kidnapped or into some mess like that, he eventually looked away to Edd and Matt, who were chatting away about the reflective-ness of the inside of a cola can.

Tom walked over.

"Are you sure you guys don't want a ride?"

Edd nodded. "Ells coming to pick up me and Matt."

" hm. "

Edd noticed how distant Tom seemed to be, he noticed the same aura from Namki.

"somethings...bothering you?" Edd looked at Tom, who was looking off to the road far to their right, and its passing cars.

" something doesn't feel right, " Tom shook his head and looked back to Edd with a smile. "I'm probably over thinking something."

Namki eventually pulled up, Tom went to gather Tord and his kids, after everyone was in the navy blue truck, Tom got into the passenger seat and waved goodbye to Edd and Matt as the car pulled away.

For the first few moments the car was filled with childish giggles and Namki's munching. Now it was much more silent as Tord, Asha, and Soke fell asleep in the back seat, Tom took the opportunity to Ask Namki about what the doctor told her.

"Well, he told me the basics." she started in a whisper

"don't spare me." Tom frowned . "I don't need a repeat of knowing what pain he went through." Tom looked to Namki, where she met his gaze.

"just tell me...

...What's wrong with him?"

Namki hesitated.

"Nothing."

Tom froze.
" what? "

Namki sighed. "There's absolutely, nothing wrong with him."

Tom grew a bit suspicious, how can't you? How is there no explanation for Tord landing in a hospital?

Tom took a moment to calm his nerves. He managed to speak,
"...That doesn't add up. "

Namki shrugged, though her expression remained just as confused and perplexed. "That's what I said. It's like a sink that doesn't work but when you look at it, there's nothing broken."

She looked back to Tom, thinking that helped his confusion, but it seemed to only worsen it.

" They checked his eyes, nothing. Checked his nerves, nothing. There is nothing wrong with that boy. " Namki tried to explain, but even she didn't get it.

"But his eyes!" Tom protested

" There has to be some sort of reason he went through that. " Tom thought of the moment he had an hour ago in that hospital room. and the moment that happened hours ago in that school bathroom, or all the moments before when Tord would shut out the world and cover his eyes.

"everyday he was rubbing his eyes. "

"There's no way he can just, get temporarily blind from thin air!"

The car screeched to a halt,Namki eventually moved the car to the emergency lane. Rustling came from behind, Tom and Namki both looked back.

the sudden stop had disturbed Tord in his slumber.

"fem minutter" was barely audible as Tord mumbled it and went back into resting.

Namki didn't recognize the foreign language he spoke in, but that didn't matter right now.

" Tom... " she started, in a soft tone as if she was approaching a wild animal. she spoke carefully with her next words, knowing that they wouldn't help Tom at all.

"There's no trace of this whole incident ever happening in his system."

" It just happened. "

She stayed silent, as if waiting for Tom to get upset again or for one of the kids or even Tord to add in a statement, but they were fast asleep and Tom was quiet.

"for no reason." Tom said in a low whisper.

it was silent.

Tom was right
having your friend go through horrible pain and suffering
and then they're worrying their gonna be blind.

all that

and there's not even a proper explanation for it.

" He doesn't deserve that. "

Tom continued in his low quiet voice.

Namki sighed and placed a hand on Toms shoulder, the small gesture did not faze him, he remained with his head low and his mind distant.

"I'm not arguing with you, but there's nothing wrong with him, no virus, nothing."

" I thought you'd be happier. "

Namki remained gentle, after a moment of silence she patted Tom's shoulder twice before going back on the road.

"So he's gonna be okay?" Tom said, his voice slightly louder than before.

Namki nodded " He's gonna be okay. "

Tom sighed. "it just doesnt..."

Namki finished the sentence for him." it doesn't make sense. "

Tom gave a slow nod.

"But does it have to? If he's healthy and happy I don't care if there's an explanation."
Namki appeared a tad desperate to cheer up her boy.

it didn't work.

"I care."

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Notes
late
oppsies

sorry I've been busy and I got writers block halfway through this.

Banner is gonna come later
might change this song too because I can't find one I like

Ok
There's an update on the schedule.

it won't be persistent.

upload days are now twice a week, Thursdays and Mondays

but the chapters are gonna be longer

this won't always be the case because I see myself making short chapters for suspense

also, I would've made this longer, but it didn't feel right to have a sadish moment with a calmer one
felt too rushed I guess??

idk.

I think that's all.

thank you for reading and following the development of this story!
cya next chapter!
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