(Tom's POV)

One day passed, one day closer. I haven't seen Tord at all. I really shouldn't care, but I can't help it. Jehovah, it's like all the shit he's done to me, good and bad, has taken a toll on our friendship. If you could even call it that.

I sigh, rubbing my face tiredly. Should I just catch up on the months of no sleep I've had? Fall into a coma for a week? That would be great.
"No, host. Hold out on that coma for a few days." Kov says, monotonous.
"I'll take a nap, do I have permission for that?" I glare at the ceiling. I'm laying on my messy bed that I've missed for oh-so long.
"Granted," Kov says with a huff, finally falling silent.

"Thank you..." I mumble, closing my eye lids and letting darkness plus my consciousness fall instantaneously.

~Timeskip~

I blink open my eye sockets, awakening in my own room. I let out a large yawn, relaxing in my mattress. I feel like someone put me on a shit-ton of opioids, my eye lids felt as though they were glued shut, my limbs feeling like dead weight.

"Have a good sleep?" Kov asks with a bored tone. I slightly nod, my 'eyes' going half-lidded.
"Good for you." Kov coughs. "By the way, there's some humans outside your apartment. They've been saying your name a lot. You should probably check it out." Kov comments absentmindedly.

"Yeah, yeah..." I mumble with a groan before lifting myself up. I slide off my bed and trudge out of my room. I walk over to the front door, about to open it up, but I hesitate.
"We can't let him hurt anyone anymore! We have to do something about it!" A Norwegian voice growls.
"But what are we going to do? Get rid of him? He's a monster!" A British voice responds.

My heart sinks and I drop my hand from the door knob. No, it can't be them, right?
"It seems pretty obvious to me, host." Kov says. "Maybe we should do the favor for them, hm?" I sigh.
"We already are, aren't we?" I reply quietly, the conversation right on the other side of the door still going.

"We can do it now or tomorrow even." Kov suggests. "Better sooner than later." He adds on.
"Maybe..." I mumble, some thoughts piling on top of each other. "..I'll wait for one more reason. Just one, and that's when I..." I swallow thickly, still having a morning croak.
"When I'll do it." I finish.

"We'll wait and see then."

"..we can't let him get near Matt anymore, he's already threatened him before!" Edd exclaims. My heart drops. No- no, they can't take him away from me- I still have so many things to say- I never got the chance to appreciate him like he does—
"Stop them, then. They don't get to decide your life." Kov growls. I take a breath before opening up the door slowly, noticing the abrupt stop in their conversation. They both stop in their tracks, talking at the doorway of Edd's apartment. They stare at me with wide eyes.

Looking back at them with tired 'eyes', I walk up to them with an empty expression.
"Have you seen Matt?" I ask, shoving my hands in my pockets and glancing off to the side.
"Uh-" Tord gets cut off.
"No, he's not here." Edd answers firmly, though with a glint of fear in his eyes.

"He's lying," Kov hisses in my ear.

"Are you lying to me?" I ask quietly, no emotion in my voice.
"What? Why would you think—"
"Oh- hey, Tommy!" I hear Matt call from somewhere within the apartment.
"Hello, mon frère..." I greet gently with a small smile. I hear Matt walk over to the door, Tord and Edd stepping aside.
"What brings you here?" He asks, ignoring the fearful glances between Tord and Edd.

Flicking my eye sockets toward the pair, I look back at Matt.
"I just..wanted to talk. Alone." I say, observing Edd and Tord. Edd flinches and Tord clenches his fist.
"Ooh~ Looks like they don't like that..." Kov comments.
"Sure!" Matt exclaims. "Edd, dear, can you stay out here with Tord?" He asks kindly.

"U-uh, Matt, can I...go grab a can of cola? You guys can still talk- I won't listen, I promise." Edd asks with a nervous smile.
"Alone," I repeat, borderline glaring at Edd. He freezes, eyes widening.
"Sorry! It'll be quick, right, Tom?" Matt assures Edd with a returned smile.
"Yeah, can we talk now?" I respond, getting the slightest bit impatient. Matt nods as I walk inside.

"Matt, wai—!" Matt shuts the door.
"Soo...what'd you want to talk about?" Matt asks.
"I just...wanted to tell you that I'm..leaving," I start. "A-and that I won't be back for a while." I manage to force out. He looks at me, a bit stunned.

I walk over to Matt and wrap my arms around him, my breath becoming unsteady. He confusedly returned the gesture.
"You are? Where are you going?"
"'m gonna miss you..." I mumble, ignoring his question with tears threatening to escape my eye sockets.
"Aw, it's okay, Tom! You can always visit, right?" Matt says cluelessly with a smile. My breath hitches.
"Y-yeah..." I take a sharp inhale, trying not to cry. "I'll t-try to visit as often as possible."

"It's okay, I'm gonna miss you too." Matt says softly.
"Hey, frère, you know I love you, right?" I ask him quietly, letting go of the hug. "And I'd do anything to keep you safe, I won't ever try to hurt you, you know that?"
"Of course! We've protected each other from day one!" Matt exclaims happily. "Why do you ask?"
"I just...noticed that Edd doesn't like us being close. Or at least me getting close to you." I answer, looking down at the ground.

"Well, that's not very nice! I'll have to talk to him later." Matt huffs. I chuckle at Matt's childish speech.
"Yeah, that's..all I wanted to say." I tell him, looking at him with a smile. "I should probably get going, Edd and Tord must be waiting for you."
"Right! I'll see you later then, right?" He asks with a smile.
"Yeah...yeah, I'll- I'll see you later." I mumble.

"Oh- and..." I start as I walk past him. "I love you, Matt."
"Love you too."

A/n:
bROTHERLY LOVE OKAY-
ITS BROTHERLY, NOT ROMANTIC
I PROMISE—