~+Later in the Night: Tom's Apartment+~

Late that night, after Tom tucks the kids into bed up in their room, he went back down stairs to recollect what happened the rest of the day.

He simply sat at the island table on a stool while he taps his finger against the marble counter top.

The first thing he thought about was Storm, the now known Prince of Norway. Currently, said Prince is upstairs in the bedroom with Tika and Tomi. Tom had invited him to stay over the night after hearing he would be returning to Norway tomorrow with his fiancé.

Tomi couldn't hide away his sad expression during the conversation. Tomi merely clung to Tom's dress shirt and hid his face from the prince. Tom could tell his younger cousin felt unsure of the prince now that everything had been explained.

As for Tika... Tom was unsure of what plans the future might hold for her. She could become a princess of her cousin's family accepted her over to live with them. On the other hand, she could be a normal girl and maybe live with him and Tomi if she has the choice to stay.

He runs his hand through his hair and shakes his head. Tom wonders how things will fair from here.

His fingers brush against paper that is something he needs to bring his attention to. His black eyes look at the pamphlet he had taken out a couple days ago about the surgical removal for the hanahaki disease.

Tom picks it up gives it a look over with thought.

"Maybe... Maybe I should start thinking about getting it removed."

A tired yawn escapes from him as he sets the pamphlet back down.

"I'll call Matt later to ask him about it."

~+Next Morning: Police Station+~

After getting the kids ready for the day and dropping them off near his friend's house, he headed straight for work.

He got a certain look from Torm before he left, so he pats the boy on the head after giving him a brief kiss on the forehead.

'Have faith, pave your own path.' Tom remembers whispering to him. He gave the child a hug and left him with his charges who pull him towards his friends's house.

Tom parked in the designated parking area and headed inside once he got out of the vehicle.

Surprising, upon entering the building, he got taken down by a fast force who tackled him to the floor.

"BLUE!!! It's here! The Devil is here!"

Tom failed pushing the person on him off so he stopped struggling and tilted his head up a bit to get a glimpse of familiar blond hair.

"Reggie?"

Black eyes met frightened blue ones.

"The Devil is here."

Tom heaves our a heavy sigh, who else could his coworker be talking about other that the one Devil he knew. The brunet paused for a second to rethink that thought.

Never mind, he knew two.

"Let me up Reggie. I'll go deal with him."

Reggie scrambled off his commanding captain to stand and help him off he floor. The blond walked behind Tom all the way back to their department.

Opening the door, he got another surprise seeing his friend Jayden and exflatmate Tord locked in a staring contest. Jayden smiles normally while Tord's smile looked somewhat strained.

"Jayden? Tord?"

The sound of their names got them to unlock their staring contest. Tord uncrossed his arms visibly relaxed when giving his attention to him. "Hello, Thomas."

Tom sighs as he makes his way over to his desk where the two men stood. Reggie making haste to his desk cube next to his partner's.

"How many times do I have to tell you to call me Tom?!" He fumes gripping the strap of his messenger bag in a squeeze. 'Clam down Tom, your in public, remember,' He thinks to himself to relax. "Anyways, what brings the both of you to my department?"

"Well I came to hand you your pay from the higher ups about that job you accepted from them." He pulls out an envelope that's a bit bulky. Tom accepts in gratefully but didn't expect the amount of cash inside. For now he just stuffs it into his bag without a second thought. "They said they look forward to more of your help in the future."

"Of course they do. All the jobs they make me do is under cover stuff anyways, nothing too big I suppose." Tom sticks his tongue out like he tasted something yucky. The two men in front of his desk can't help but find the short sight cute. "Anything else?"

"Well..." Jayden expressed some shyness in his action when he rubs the back of neck. "I was wondering if you wanted to eat dinner with me tonight?"

Tom smiles at him warmly, "That would nice Jayden but I have plans later today." His friend visually deflated a bit at the turn down. "However, I'm free tomorrow night if you want to come over for dinner at my apartment. That's if you don't mind eating with Tomi and Tika there."

Jayden looks at him happily and nods his head in acceptance. "Yes, that's fine! I'll be there!"

The officer chuckles, "Alright then."

Their pure and warm conversation was interrupted when the third person with them wished to be noticed once again after being left out by clearing their throat.

"Oh, excuse me. I had something in my throat." Tord being painfully obvious he was trying to cut them out from their sickening conversation. He had come today to invite his old friend out for lunch to talk.

Tom merely rolls his eyes before looking back at Jayden politely. "Alright Jay, back to work for you. I don't want your secretary hounding me about you not finishing your work again."

"Yes, whatever you desire Thomas." Jayden says playfully, although getting a playful push away by Tom when he used his full name.

"Jay!"

The caramel haired boss Officer left with a chuckling wave of the hand out of the blue colored department. Tom then turned his attention over to Tord with his usual expression of dealing with his secret crush.

"So what brings you to my office Commie? Don't tell me you're admitting to a crime?" A teasing smirk from the officer that Tord wished mentally he could kiss off to exchange for a stunned expression.

Of better yet, the cute expressions Tom made back at that club.

"I've done nothing wrong, Witness." He says with a sigh. He raises a brow seeing how his crush looked different today. It was weird, not at all, but it was a surprise to see. "Are you wearing make up again?"

"Hm?" Tom raised his hand up to touch his cheek feeling for any makeup that Tord was talking about. "I'm not wearing makeup?" He said making it sound like a question. He remembered Tika putting makeup on him last night before she went to bed but he took it all off before going to bed himself.

Tord brought his hand up to cover his mouth before letting his gaze drift after the mistake. He really thought Tom was wearing makeup because he looks really beautiful today, more so than usual.

"W-Well besides he point, I was hoping to invite you out somewhere today."

Tom looks down at his papers needing to be reviewed. "I'm working," He said like it's the most obvious thing.

"I know, so here's the kicker," He leans down with a smug expression on his face. "I heard there's going to be a club just an hour away from here. They'll he handing out limited edition drinks of your favorite poison."

Tom scoff as he waves his hand to bat the man away. "You're lying."

The Norwegian man shrugs his shoulders while keeping a sharp grin. "Then you're missing out~" He turns to leave, taking a few steps away until he feels someone grab him by the wrist to stop.

"You're... You're not bluffing, are you?"

Tord hums with a thoughtful look.

"What do you think, Witness?"

Tom narrows his eyes at him before caving into his desires. "Fine, I'll go."

Tord mentally cheered while his grins got wider to show his obvious victory.

"But if you're lying than I'm kicking your ass."

Tord merely chuckles.

"Sure Thomas."

~+Under the Bridge: Hideout+~

Torm sighs seeing the two agents and the sleek black limo that's containing his fiancée. He told them he would go to them but they didn't believe him for a second.

He approaches them with a sigh and looms to the two agents. "Alright, let's get going."

"Wait! Torm!"

He turns his attention to Bryon's group running up to meet him. The bodyguard blocked their way at the sight of them.

"Hold it, let them through. I want to talk to them."

"Your highness-," The main bodyguard, Joe, says to deny.

Torm shakes his head, "I will make a fuss if you don't let me talk to them. I know none of you want to waste time." His eyes narrow in an angered manner at them.

The bodyguards looked at one another with understanding. Joe gave them to sign to stand down and let his friends through.

Bryon is the first to walk pass them to meet with Storm. "Torm, are you seriously just going to leave us like this?" He questions with a sad look. "What about Tika and Tomi?"

"At the moment my choices are limited Bryon. For now, I just ask that you watch over the hideout while I'm away, especially Tomi and Tika." Torm places a hand on his best friend's shoulder. "I can only trust you and your group to do this for me while I'm away handling business."

The brunet took in a breath and moment to think. It wasn't much time considering how rushed the guards wanted to take Torm away to go home. He reopens his eyes.

"Fine, but please do come back or at least visit."

Torm gives him a small but reassuring smile. "I will come back, one way or another," he says confidently. There was no way he was going to abandon his friends and the group he made. They're special and they'll aways be.

Bryon, Molly, Austin, and Easton wave bye to their leader and friend as he enters the tinted window vehicle. The limo drives pass them with a few other black cars following after it in protection.

Inside the car, Torm is seated across from his betrothed who does not look happy.

"I know what you're gonna say," Torm starts off formally while the  car starts up and pulls away from the hideout.

However, Asher interrupts him by silently raising his hand to stop him. Torm doesn't say anything and lets his counterpart talk.

"Storm... Please tell me now, do you want to marry me?" He asks getting straight to the point. The prince noticed the way Asher's fist on the his thigh is slightly trembling. He looks to his boyfriends grayish blue eyes looking him serious but also nervous. "If you really don't want to marry me, say it now and I will talk with my family and yours."

Torm stayed silent for a moment longer to take in the situation. His betrothed willing to break off the engagement written and agreed upon them since they were young. He was willing to break it now when he was so against it for so long?

"Asher," Torm says. The raven looks at his fiancé ready to take the incoming heartbreak with open arms. "I don't want to break off the engagement."

Those words made Asher's eyes widen in surprise. "Y-You, what?" He honestly looked lost.

Torm shows the soft side of himself to his betrothed as he reaches over to place his hand over Asher's rested one on his lap. His thumb lightly rubbing over the back of his boyfriend's hand.

"Asher even though I don't show my love for you a lot, I really do care about you." Torm removes his mask with his free hand. His light silver eyes soft when giving his attention to Asher.

This is actually what made the raven fall for the prince of Norway. That soft gaze so full of care and love.

"I also really love you, my dear." Torm leans forward and kisses his beloved on the cheek earning him a light blush. "My love for you has always been and always will be with you."

Asher leans back in his seat while Torm leans back just a bit to see his betrothed's face. His expression is red with embarrassment, possibly flustered, and all around understanding.

"I hate you."

"I love you too, my dear."

~+Bar: With Tord and Tom+~

Tom got his beloved and long lost friend again. The very delicious drink that is Smirnoff.

"Thomas really-" Tord says reaching for his bottle but the police officer kept it out of his reach.

"Suck it Tord, I get your bottle since you dragged me here." Tom said happily as he hugs the two bottles of vodka in his arms tightly.

Upon getting to the bar they had received their limited addition vodka. Tord offered his to Tom since he didn't want it at the time but soon after came to regret it.

Then again, he didn't really mind if it meant he could see Tom smiling instead of his usual stoic face.

"Hey Commie!"

"Hm?" The voice of his crush pulls him out of his musing. "What is it Witness?"

Tom pauses as if trying to read him. "You just kinda spaced out. I've been trying to call you a few times now."

"Sorry, just thinking about something." He casually pulled off his usual tone with Tom and thankfully he believed it.

Tom hums as he sets the two bottles back down on the counter. "So how is it going with you and Edd by the way? I haven't had the chance to check in with Matt about it." He pulls his glass of water close to take a sip.

Tord raises a brow, "Oh, you haven't heard yet?" He said a little gleeful inside. "Edd and I broke up."

At that once sentence, with Tom processing it sober, he literally spat out his water in a spray. He coughs as he tries to regain his air, "E-Excuse me?!"

Tord rests his cheeks against his hand looking at Tom. "I said we broke up. Why the surprise?"

"Uhh..." Tom tried not to look Tord in the eyes giving away his nervousness, not that Tord would notice. "Well you two seem to really like each other."

"Our relationship over time just didn't work out. So we talked and mutually decided to break up." Tord thanks the server for their basket of nachos he ordered for them to share. Once the server is gone, he looks back at Tom who still looks struck with surprise. "You okay?"

"Yeah... I just need to the bathroom really quick." Tom sets his phone on the table since he doesn't want to accidentally have it fall out his pocket in the bathroom. His friends already knew to watch it for him since the last accident.

Tord watched Tom leave for the bathroom until the officer's phone gave a ring. A notification caught the norwegian's eye on the lit up screen.

MirrorMirror:
Tom do you really want to do this?

I mean I have a doctor to help you for it, but are you sure you want to really do this?

Tord rereads the messages Matt sent again to figure out what he's trying to say. What did Tom need a doctor for? And more importantly what was Matt worried about concerning Tom?

The phone in his hand vibrated again.

MirrorMirror:
Tom I know you've kept it a secret for the past few years, but please keep thinking about what you're giving up here.

The surgery will take away those... you know.

I'm worried about you.

The last message sent a twinge of jealousy over Tord. 'When did Matt get so close to Tom?' It made his blood boil a bit.

He hears the door opening from where he's sitting and quickly places Tom's phone back where he left it.

Tom return to his seat looking refreshed. Tord noticed the fringes of his hair around his face look a little wet. He watched the officer pick up his phone to check his notifications and saw they were from Matt.

"Oh, Matt texted me." Tom opens the notification to read the full content of the messages. His expression in Tord's view concerning since Tom had a soft smile on his face. "Such a worry wart."

"You and Matt seem closer... Are you two dating?" Tord asks with a sour taste in his mouth.

Tom doesn't look up from his phone as he types back to Matt. He merely shakes his head at the words spoken.

"No way, Matt's like a brother to me. He helped me a lot when we got to spend more time with each other since you and Edd got together." Tom chuckles a little with a small tint of pink on his cheeks. "I'm glad I was able to rely on someone like him back then."

Those words didn't settle so good in Tord. He wanted to be the one who Tom could rely on back them. He wants to be someone Tom could rely on when they're together.

For god's sake he loves Tom to the core that he will do anything for him.

He wants Tom to look at him with those smiles and call his name with such a familiar tone similar to how he calls Matt.

"Tom, I-"

"Tom!"

Before Tord could even get to telling Tom the truth, someone interrupts him.

Both men look to the voice to see it was none other than Zack. The man looked right had ran nonstop all the way to get here. His gelled back raven hair now a mess and sweat trailing down the side of his face.

"Zack!" Tom quickly stows his phone way to rush over to him worried. "What the hell?! Why are you-"

Zack grabs into the front of his dress shirt tightly. His eyes wide and in distress. "You cousin and the girl, Tomi and Tika!"

It was Tom's turn to fall into worry with what Zack said next.

"They've been injured!"