Tom walked in the house, pleased to find everyone there, Namki let him off a few minutes earlier in her own fear something went wrong again.

The kids ran up to Tom to hug him at the door, After giving them gentle pats on the head, he looked to the couch, where Tord slept peacefully and a small carton of blueberries laid empty.

"He got hungry again." Asha admitted .

She sighed and looked to Tom, disappointed. "You never made breakfast before you left the second time."

" But we didn't run out this time! " Soke cheered.

Tom gave a small apology, promising to start on dinner right away.

when he went to the fridge and looked in, He frowned.

"And the raspberries?"

Asha slowly held up a finger to point to the couch.

Tord couldn't remember much of yesterday after his nap.

Of course, he had dinner and all, Namki came home, but he was blind. He couldn't remember a certain scene or differentiate them well. Each moment was just pitch black with conversation and voices, that he didn't even like listening to.

So if he couldn't remember blind memories, he thought back to ones where his sight was enabled.

the immediate thought?

Avery.

for so long he's been shoving it to the side, under too much stress and confusion to focus on her.

But now, he really had to.

His 6:30 alarm for school woke him up, he was going to immediately snooze it on his phone, but he remembered.

he isn't going to school.
Tom is.
all by himself.
with Avery.

So he immediately stumbled up, drunkily made it to the Ashas doorway, grabbing onto the frame, and knocking viciously on Toms door.

when the boy opened the door, bookbag slung over his shoulder, tired look on his face, he muttered:

"Who died?"

" No one! " Tord whined. "Im coming with you!"

Tom blinked.

"Don't make me laugh." he groaned, tiredly walking by.

" Asha! Soke! " he called, Tord could now hear a spoon and pan hitting together.

"Wake up, gotta go to school!"

Tord held his hands to his ears during the announcement, when it subsided, he ran to to the kitchen.

"I'm serious!" he persisted.

Tom started to mix batter, the usual routine could be considered a talent on how easy and fast Tom could do it.

"Tord there's no reason for you to go." he huffed . "Your blind. doctor said, 3 days. tops."

Tord could hear the stove beginning to sizzle like his impatience.

"I have to go!" he whined.

"Why?" Tom questioned, with a hint of attitude .

Tord hesitated , and just went on with it, he couldn't waste time.

"I just do."

Tom took the spatula in his hand and flipped Tords hair from the middle of his face to the side.

"No you dont. Your staying home."

Tord opened his mouth to protest, but he was met with a banana peel to the face.

He grumpily swatted it off as Namki walked down the stairs.

"Tom? Try not to make much noise waking up the kids? I have to work at 8." she called in a calm but tired voice.

" Sorry. " Tom shrugged. "Its the only way to get them up on Mondays."

" Just remember today is a monday for me, too. " Namki yawned before walking back up the stairs.

Tord listened to the soft steps against the wood of the stairs, when he heard a door close upstairs, he turned to Tom again.

"Please?." he whimpered .

Tom put one of the two plates he held on the kitchen island. He walked over and patted Tords cheek with his left hand. He softly smiled.

And then he pulled Tord down by his right ear and said into it:

"No."

He released and walked off, now setting down the plate in his right hand as the kids scurried down to the kitchen table to eat. Tord rubbed his ear with a pained expression.

"What was that for?" He hissed.

Tom slipped on his shoes, Tord turned feeling from facing the stove to 'looking ' behind him, where Toms voice answered.

"so you don't do anything stupid and try to come anyways."

Tom stood up and dusted off his legs. He swiped the keys off the small table by the door.

Before he left, he pushed his point across one more time.

" Tord Larison so help me if I find out you've disobeyed your health precautions or even stepped foot out this house I'll ignore you for a week. "

and then he was out.

Tord hated how Tom had the habit of leaving on a bad note.

Asha took a bite out of her pancake, with its doughy texture in her mouth, hardly chewed, she tugged the sleeve of Tords black shirt.

"Does he always threaten you with his attention?" She asked.

Tord hummed.

"Not sure, But it's working." he mumbled.

The kids soon left, Tord listened for e confirmation they made it to the bus, which was a distant "Goodbye!" and the sound of a engine slowly becoming distant aswell.

He shut the door and went for some pancakes.

for two very slow hours, he walked around the house. Took a 12 minute nap on the indoor carpet by the front door. Poked around for fruit in the fridge, to which he found barely any because he ate the majority yesterday.

for the remainder of the two hours, he sat curled up in the corner of the couch, really he was waiting for Namki to wake up to have some conversation and negotiate with her to take him to school.

did he expect it to work? Absolutely not. But he believed he had some hope.

so he sat there for a while on the couch, if he ever did make it to school, what would he do?

he doesn't have well memory of the big school, especially with the size and amount of hallways, he navigates through sight.

Plus, students count as oncoming changes of placement. he could never predict where one was.

well, maybe, with this new 6th sense Laddi pointed out a while ago, He still wanted an explanation to that.

would he follow Tom around? No way, easily spotted and sent home. Plus neglect of Toms attention.

he really couldn't do much. He could only attempt to stalk around by sound and interrupt only one interaction between Tom and Avery, than he'd be sent home.

but it could be useless, repeat of the consequences plus, she would just talk to Tom later.

the thinking hurt. It was confusing. Made knots form in Tords stomach, or maybe that was from the fruit spree yesterday.

whatever it was, it didn't matter.

He heard quick footsteps, meaning Namki was going down the stairs.

convinced he couldn't do shit even if she did bring him to school, he simply frowned at her.

"Don't wanna be alone?" She pouted sympathetically .

Tord nodded.

"I'd bring you to work but, " she huffed, rolling up a pancake to take on the go, "There's not much for you to do, and I can't really watch over you and run a third of the shop."

Tord gave a understanding nod, after hearing the door shut, he reached for a nearby pillow and screamed into it.

only imagining what damage could be happening right this second.

He heard the distant ping of a notification.

He slowly got up and dragged his feet across the cold floor. He didn't have on socks and was sure to catch a cold from this, maybe that's why his stomach hurt.

He felt for the doorknob of Toms room.and opened the door, this time, taking careful steps once inside.

After landing his hand on his phone, two more pings came out and then the device started to buzz.

thinking Tom was calling him, he immediately answered.

"Hello?" Tord said, impatient.

"Hello." The unfamiliar voice said, sounded like a mix of female and male. but from one person.

Tord, confused and not knowing or recognizing the voice, decided to proceed with caution.

"Who is this?" He calmly asked.

" That will be addressed later. "

Tord frowned, he didn't feel like dealing with something strange like that, probably a prank caller, but he had nothing else to do until anyone came home so he just went along with it.

"Reason for calling?" Tord muttered.

He heard humming from the other line.

"Reason for calling..." the voice repeated, as if they were taking in every word deeply.

" I'm calling to inform you of events happening in Finnick O's Highschool that I'm sure will peak your interests. "

"You are Tord Larison, correct?"

Tord blinked. And immediately hung up.

His heart pounded. Did somebody figure him out?

No. of course not.

'That's not possible-"
"that shouldn't be possible-"

He moved his hair behind his ears "Maybe that was just the staff wanting to tell me about an events and or something." He sighed , in an attempt to calm himself. " A tech program? "

No No. If it was a staff member they would've stated their name and that they work at the school instead of 'addressing it later

He groaned from the floor. Now the gut feeling was worse.

this felt horrible, He felt rocks in his stomach, a giant weight that he really wanted to puke away.

As hard as it was, because of his mental state, he stood up from the floor, ended up bumping into Toms bed.

not wanting to really walk around, He just burried his face into the covers.

He let out another scream.

another ping of a notification came by, and a robotic voice said:

"1 voicemail."

Tord looked up, He slowly walked back to the phone as if it was a predator.

He lifted the thing, and just tapped the screen constantly until the voicemail started to play.

"Hey" it started

Tord already wanted to just fucking die. He was anxious. tired. in no shape or emotional state to do this shit, tom promised him peace, and look what's happening, some weirdo is calling him and knows his name and the school he goes to-

just.

god fucking dammit.

" I was gonna text you, but I forgot, your blind."

the same voice
just
what is that voice?
who's voice is this?

"Please don't get afraid again, I just want to help."

that didn't stop Tord from tensing up
honestly, what did?

Tom did.

"I'm just gonna be honest with you."

" I-"

The voice didn't continue.
Tord thought they wouldn't.

"Forget what I said." they sighed.

"what's her name what's her name...."

The voice rambled. Tord could hear the soft flipping of pages in a notebook.

"Nikki."

Tord couldn't breathe.

" Nikki hasn't done anything. "

Tord felt a drop in anxiety
and then a rise in it.

"She hasn't said anything, it's confusing me, really, and usually I understand most things."

" ive...also figured you out. "

Tord stopped
what did he stop?
just something
was it common sense?
was it self control?
not sure.
something stopped though.
he could feel it.

"I can keep a secret Tord."

he exhaled

"that's beyond the point, I'm keeping an eye on her and Avery for the day, since your at Toms house recovering, feel better, by the way."

Tord didn't like this.
who was this?
what was this?

" where am i? school. Currently on the roof. I called in sick, fever. The only reason they haven't sent me home is because I told them I left the house and lost my key. "

what kind of human being is this?
who functions like this?
who does this?

"With a few tricks up my sleeve, I do appear to be in a fever, they've allowed me to roam the halls, as long as I don't reak havoc, and they've let me chill on the roof."

What in the name of Logic is going on here?
Tord didn't know.
he doesn't think he wants to know.
or should know.

"I didn't think the school would be so unprofessional to let me do this."

" currently, a class is going on, I have no clue what Avery is doing to Tom. I'll ask him though, so don't worry about that. "

"Hopefully with our partnership, we'll be pulling more than fake fevers."

'excuse me?'

" I'll be logging after every period, period two had just begun. "

"see you then."

And then a short beep alerted Tord of the end of the transmission.

He didn't know what for think, if he wasn't a mess before, He sure as hell was now.

someone has figured him out

"Fucking shit."

"someone's caught me, they know what's up, I'm gonna get in so much drama why can't I just live like a normal fucking teenager" he complained, extreme amounts of pessimism was overriding his common sense and he has to collect himself before he loses everything
.
"Okay Okay dipshit." he told himself.

"before you freak out, scream, or call the cops-"

'just think.'

The person didn't sound like a threat.
They wanted to help.

but what if it's a set-up?

but if that was the case, they have the correct points of Tords plan. Tom,Avery, Nikki.

Wouldn't they just target him now?

maybe because he hasn't truly done anything worth imprisonment.

and they just want to be 100% sure.

convinced he shouldn't trust this unknown caller, He didn't respond.

instead, He crawled back to Tom's bed and hugged the sheets.

seemed to be the only thing he could get a grip on.

soon, the robotic voice returned

he walked back to the phone. tapped the screen repeatedly.

"nothing after 1st mod," the voice said, disappointed . " I tried to converse with Tom during the 5 minutes given to walk to and from classes, but he didn't say much."

Tord frowned. He didn't like Tom being silent.

" if you want the specifics, I asked 'how was your day? '" The voice mimicked a happier tone.

"he said okay. Ordinary. nothing special."

There was a moment of silence.

"I wish I had more to say."

And then the beep showed that was it.
Tord found himself also wishing they had more to say.

Tom is pretty open to people talking to him, so this may or may not be one of Toms friends.

Tord felt slightly relieved, even if he couldn't be sure if all of this was just a pool of lies to set him in prison.

Tord this time brought the sheets to the floor. just laying there. taking in how empty he felt without Tom or anyone in the house.

soon another transmission came along.

"I just asked Tom if anyone gave him anything, He said no."

Tord yawned. He had almost fallen asleep waiting for it. what time was it? he didn't know.

everything is confusing, Tord didn't t to understand it, wasn't worth his mental state.

" by the way, Tom seems to dislike being without you. "

Tord perked up at this.

"he's much more quiet and to himself, I saw him fidgeting with a long strip of paper at lunch."

" five minutes later I saw him with a paper star. "

"he seems anxious."

Tord felt like the playing field had been evened out. Now both of them felt a void without the other.

" separation anxiety? I'll have to note that. "

" I almost think he's gonna ask for early dismissal. "

That was the end of that.

Tord felt different.

"4th mod just started, I'm sorry I couldn't catch Tom, today.... what does he have today? I can't remember. All I know is neither of his classes has Avery or nikki."

Tord didn't hear that one. He fell asleep after lazily tapping it thinking he would listen.

lost words.

the next ones beeping was loud enough to wake him.

He woke up to the robotic voice.
He tapped it, which one was this one.

"Okay, 4th's over, I couldn't log after that mod. honestly, it was a mess."

Tord didn't really catch much of that, too groggy on his nap.

He was just gonna listen to what they had to say and he'd go right back to sleep-

"did I tell you school is over in general? yeah. Toms going home now, actually, he's gone. Like, gone . He didn't wait for Matt or Edd."

and there was that rush of energy.

so when he ran out the room, He didn't hear that guy who said the caller's name.

The front door started to creak.

He stayed by the wall. Gripping the corner. It was probably the kids who arrived first.

He heard rushed footsteps behind.

for some reason, He tensed up.

"Hi Tommy-"

The door slammed open.

"Tord?"

It didn't take long for them to find eachother.

you could say it was elegant.

or you could tell the truth and just say they stumbled into eachother.

the children just watched as Tom cautiously held Tord up
He seemed panicked

Multiple things were running through Tord's head.
The caller,
Avery
And now this.
He hated being left alone
For so long
It was like a reminder to the years before he met edd and Matt

Alone

it felt like years.
the other was their track of time.
track of emotion.
track of
themself.

Tom wasn't as nervous. Just, incredibly concerned. He stood still and just made small talk,

"Are you okay?"
"Can you stand?"
To try and calm down Tord.

He didn't want to leave him home alone, but he had to
And he was starting to regret it

Asha closed the door and walked around the two teens keeping hold of eachother . Tord seemed to calm down and get a grip on himself once Tom reminded him today was the last day for the whole, blind thing.

Tord nodded, letting go of Tom but holding onto himself. He just felt, so odd. But Tom made it better.

He always had that ability.
He always made Tord stable.

He was the only one who ever could.

besides her.

Tord never met her.
he missed her.
cried for her.

why did she leave?

Tom helped Tord get to the kitchen island to sit, He then told the kids to bring out their homework. To which they nodded cheerfully. Not for the homework itself, but because Tord was the one to help them with it.

Tom had to sit with them throughout the entire process though.

Tord needed him to.
as if he was afraid he'd lose him again.

the feeling was horrible.
imagine cold water
just stuck in your throat.
you can't speak, your scared.
you feel like your drowning
but your not.

'No'
'Not again'
'please'
'not again'
'never again'
'can't do it again'

'wont do it again'

'I'm not gonna lose someone
again. '

Tord felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Tord?"

" What's wrong. "

"What's wrong?"

" why are you crying? "

Tord wiped at his face.
surely, it was damp.

he kind of just, froze there for a second.

and then he laughed.

it sounded so empty
like a lie
that hid so much of the truth
they say the truth hurts
it really does
atleast,
In Tords case it does.

he usually uses lies to cover the truth,

what if he used truth to cover the harsh truth?

how would that work?

"Its Happy."

"I'm happy."

" Your here with me. "

"thank you."

Tom drew back his hand.

Tord was smiling.

such a beautiful sight to see.

such a shame Tord couldn't see the fond smile Tom gave him.

"The feelings mutual."

Tom then stood up

"what do you guys want to eat?"

The smell of chicken soup filled the room.
The kids were outside. Picking flowers for a 'surprise. '

"I swear if I have to smell more daffodils in gonna tell them I'm allergic." Tord sighed.

Tom threw in a random spice and stirred slowly.

"Aw don't do that." he chuckled lightly.

" why not? "

"Namki thinks it's adorable."

Tord hummed. "Namki thinks anything is adorable."

" True. "

The kids hurried back inside.
"Tom Tom Tom!" Soke persisted .

The teen looked down, to immediately spot a bundle of red roses in his hands.

"I see you raided the garden." he chuckled

" And I'm the theif. " Tord mumbled.

"for you!" Asha beamed.

Tom smiled down at the two. He took them and readjusted some.

"Well Now I have to go on a search for a vase and wash my hands. " he sighed, though he really appreciated the action, He could have lived without it.

but hey, now there's some more decor.

"Give me a moment. "

Asha gasped.

"Wait wait wait!" she said.

She tapped Soke on the shoulder and nodded.

"say it."

It took him a moment, but he nodded in understanding once he remembered.

he coughed and held his hands.

"Are you a flower? cause I'd pick you any day."

Tom blinked.
He was about to laugh.
Tord added in:

"That's my lineee." Tord whined.

and with that, Tom snickered and walked down the hall.

" Tord? " Soke started. "Can I have a popsicle?"

Tord, remembering a list of rules for the kids Tom restated to him a few days ago, answered accordingly.

"What did Tom say?"

Soke groaned.

"No."

Tord nodded. "so why would I give you one ?"

Soke hummed. "Cause he's not the boss of you."

Tord froze.

'Its a trap.'

Tom walked back into the kitchen, setting the vase down on the table and then looking at the kids.

eating popsicles.

Tord smiled.

"Your not the boss of me."

Tom blinked.

"But I am the one who makes you breakfast." he responded.

Tord's expression dropped. "Wait-"

" I am the pancake boss. " Tom continued.

"Tom no-"

"Pancake boss says your no longer a premium customer."

" Tom think of what your doing first-" Tord pleaded

"Pancake boss gets to save on bananas."

" TOm-"

"bananas are expensive."

Tord frowned.
"Their like a dollar for three-"

"bananas dont grow on trees ."

" wha-" Tord stuttered.

"YES THEY DO-"

the door opened and in stepped Namki.

Tord looked at the door
then looked at Tom

"Dinner queen is here."

" Suck up"

Tord stuck out his tounge

Namki dropped her bags down on the floor, the kids ran up to her for a hug.

"I brought you guys flower seeds." she smiled.

As the kids peered into one of the bags and started looking at the flower types, Namki walked over to the two teens at the table.

"How's my favorite pair of high schoolers?" she chimed

" Thats one thing to call us. " Tom yawned.

Namki smiled and looked to the stove.

"You made dinner at 5:00?"

" You came home early. " Tom responded.

"Im the boss, I leave whenever I want." she said, smug.

"What's with you two and being the boss?" Tord groaned.

"Can't wait to get these stupid bandages off."

" You can wait until we finish dinner. " Tom said, growing tired

"Why?" Tord whined.

" Funsies." Tom said with a shrug. "Besides, I don't want you to start crying into the soup because you have your sight back. "

"You're mean."

Tom smiled." I wasn't mean back in the hospital-"

"ECHINOPS!"

Everyone looked to the kids.

"Echi-what." Tord questioned.

The kids hid the packers

"nothing."

Tord sighed. "Another surprise I see."

" No, you don't see. " Soke teased.

"Not yet." Tom added.

Tord groaned at the reminder of his postpone. The kids happily ran to the dinner table as Namki set down plates and filled glasses. Tord tapped his finger constantly against the granite of the kitchen island, unsure if he would even be able to eat from his impaitence.

Tom patted Tord's hand.

"c'mon." he said.

"Lets finish dinner so you can see the flowers again."

Tord tilted his head. "I've never seen the flowers before."

Tom smiled.

" but you have. "

"when you look in the mirror."

"Can I take off the bandages now?"

Tom sighed, Tord was not the patient one. Obviously, throughout dinner he was picking at his bandages.

"Just wait till everyone is situated,this is important."

Tord groaned.

"calm down, Namki is just covering the pot so flies dont get in."

Tord huffed, crossed his arms began to tap his foot. Tom rolled his eyes.

Namki rushed over and sat next to Tom, the kids on the opposite side of him.

they all say bundled up as if this was the first rocket landing on the moon, they just wanted to be the first thing Tord sees, what's better than leaving the darkness to be greeted by those you love?

"Go ahead."

Tord longed to hear those words.
suddenly
he was hesitant

His hands felt lost as they wandered to his head

somewhere in his heart, He knew she should be here for this

it felt empty without her
she needs to witness this.

His hands found the tucked in piece.
His fingers detached the piece.

She belongs here.
with him
no
that's not right
he belongs with her
she should be doing the unraveling

'Because your not here I have to do it myself.'

Slowly, Tord removed the bandages from around his face.
just
one more
swift movement
left.

'I don't '
'I want to be with you-'
'I miss you'
'so much.'
'but'
'I'm here-
'I love it here'
'I belong here.'

'but I need to be with you.'

The bandages felt lighter in his hands.
he gripped them when he opened his eyes.

everything hit him at once.
the kids
Namki
the lights
the colors
Tom.

the split second of their smiles

And the years and years of their dropped expressions.

They looked scared now.
confused.
worried.

Namki's hand slowly raised to cover her mouth.
The kids talkative supportive personality was gone because now they were speechless.

Tom
Oh Tom.

his expression was unreadable.
it looked so devoid of happiness
but so
full of
reality?

at most he looked surprised
and worried
scared.

Tord felt his heart drop.

" Y-"

Tom's breathing became noticeable.

"Your eyes- "
"their-"

Namki stood up and immediately went to the phone.

That sent a surge of panic down Tord.

He grew anxious and grabbed Tom by the shoulder.

"What's wrong with my eyes?" He begged frantically .

The kids started to panic in fear and ran off.

Tom couldn't say anything.

he was in shock.

Tord looked at the most obvious thing.

the roses.

"But I've never seen the flowers before."

" But you have. "

"when you look in the mirror."

'Look in the mirror.'

Tord jumped up, started to make his way urgently to the bathroom. even if he could see, He managed to bump into the walls.

everything seemed like a repeat of Friday.

first the fear
then the frantic run towards a bathroom
bumping into things.

He looked into the mirror.

there were those eyes
staring at him
judging him
questioning him
hating him.

those red eyes.

=====================================
(Previous) Notes
sorry. it's a sneak peak
hey im not dead
Will finish Friday
yeet me into the ocean I don't deserve y'all :')))

anyone who sent me fan art recently, pm me so I can copy it down again because someone vaccumed my room and tossed out some papers I had on the floor

one had your usenames rip

Notes
Bomb dropped
let the theories roll in
bada bing bada boom
sorry this is is hella late
I just hate school and lost my ability to word this like a poet for a sec so I was like
"anything I write will ultimately suck."

enough about my temporary self hate let's go to the fanart

Now I lost the names to most of the fan art but this one is from SaltyDeath because there's a watermark loI -

their writing a book called glitch bitch (I think) I heavily recommend it

it's really good
just check out the book they made with the tv static I swear it's amazing.

this one has a watermark ThAnK GoD
I recommend leaving one if you want to ensure I get your name
usually I write it down
but
we all know what happened
no one messaged me to claim their stuff

no watermark please.comment if it's yours because I suck at organization also tysm I love this

I love all of these okay hehehe

And this beauty
which sadly also has no watermark
please comment if this is yours

Now related to the chapter,
I have no damn clue what to draw for the banners but I swear I'll get on that
2. theorize buddy budds I might throw in hints
3.ily please forgive me
4.long chapter since that's rare

our bandage boi has healed.

Thank you for reading (and being paitent) while following the develodevelopment of For Him!
Cya next chapter!
=====================================
OH BITC H FUCKING SHIT
WATTPAD NEVER UPDATED IT
IM.SO SORry
you SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE OTHER HALF
I WAS WONDERING WHY NEW COMMENTS DIDN'T APPEAR
BULLSHIT