^Vices and Virtues^Tordtom^Biblical au^

Episode 19: The hurricane pt.2

**Warning: Violence, Slurs, Character death**

It was a Thursday morning; the sounds of busy vehicles started to fill the streets while people were already walking to their jobs. Hectic already, like any other day.

Tord placed a table runner and placemats to amp the aesthetic of the kitchen table. He threw away the empty wine bottles and swept the crumbs off the place before preparing the main meal.

"Tord, what are you doing so early?"

"Preparing breakfast; I need to establish myself so that he doesn't think I'm some slob".

Tom cupped Tord's cheeks and kissed him on the tip of his nose.

"He's going to like you, don't worry about it, is there anything I can do to help?"

"You can help me wash the vegetables".

Tom then pointed to the skillet and pouted, Tord's eyes widened and squeezed Tom's hands.

"Maybe I can do the cooking".

"No, the last time you tried to make oatmeal you almost fell"

"That's a one-time thing!"

"I'll teach you when we have time".

Tom lightly chucked as he started washing the vegetables under running water. Tord opened the freezer and looked around.

"I swear there were two pieces of meat in the freezer".

Tom pursed his lips, Dante peeked from the corner with a sorrowful look before disappearing into the dark again. Tord grabbed the last piece of meat and sliced them into smaller pieces. Tom watched as Tord quickly diced the tomatoes and onions into tiny perfect cubes.

"Is there anything else I can do to help?"

"Set the table for me, please?"

Tom grabbed the plates from the cabinet and placed two down, but his attention kept diverting to whatever Tord was doing.

"I know that you're looking, Tom, I have eyes on my back".

"You do!?"

Tord let out a hearty chuckle as he covered the skillet with a ceramic plate to let it sit for a while.

"It's an angel joke".

"Well, at least I'm certain that you two would get along, you and your terrible jokes".

Tord turned off the stove and walked towards Tom to give him a tight squeeze. Tom returned the favor and buried his head into Tord's shoulder.

"I'm so excited; I hope he likes me; I love you, Tom, I love you more every day".

"I wish I could say the same..."

Tord removed himself from Tom and looked him in the eye. Tom's whole body flushed; he kept avoiding his stare as well.

"You still believe that I'm under your spell".

"I don't want to get your hopes up; I don't want to break your heart since you clung onto false hope, I like you too, but Matt and our reputation is at stake".

Tom covered his face in his hands; tears fell onto the floor as he silently wept; Tord pulled him close and let him cry onto his shoulder.

"I'm not the person you think I am Tord, whatever image you have of me in your head is wrong; I'm a person with baggage".

"And I can help you through it, like how you are doing right now; I'll try my best to commit to you, my heart is on my sleeve for you".

Tom softly chuckled while he wiped the tears off his face. Tord turned a bright red when he caught a glimpse of Tom's smile; it felt like his heart could pop out of his chest.