The flat was quiet for once.
Edd was out running errands, Matt had disappeared somewhere with a hairbrush and a mirror, and Tom was in the kitchen half-awake, leaning against the counter with a mug in his hand.
You had only walked into the living room to grab your phone.
Instead, your eyes landed on the coffee table.
There was a magazine sitting right in the middle of it.
At first you didn’t think much of it. The cover was colorful, glossy, the kind of thing people left lying around sometimes.
Then you actually looked at it.
Your brain took about two seconds to process what you were seeing.
“…Oh.”
You picked it up out of pure curiosity.
That was the mistake.
The second you flipped one page your entire face went red.
You snapped it shut immediately like it had burned you.
“…Tom?”
From the kitchen Tom groaned tiredly.
“What.”
You walked to the doorway holding the magazine awkwardly, trying very hard not to look at the cover again.
“Is this yours?”
Tom glanced over.
Then he saw the magazine.
His eyes widened slightly.
“…No.”
You looked at him.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Tom said immediately.
You lifted the magazine a little.
“Well someone here owns it.”
Tom pushed himself off the counter and walked over, clearly already annoyed. The moment he got close enough to see the cover properly, he sighed heavily.
“Oh for—”
You looked even more embarrassed now.
“I didn’t mean to look at it, I just— it was on the table and—”
Tom grabbed the magazine from your hands.
“It’s not mine.”
Your face was still red.
“…Okay.”
You turned away quickly.
“I’m going to my room.”
Tom watched you walk down the hallway, clearly mortified.
The second your door closed, he turned around.
Perfect timing.
Tord had just stepped out of his room, adjusting the sleeves of his red hoodie like he had been about to leave.
Tom slowly lifted the magazine.
“Tord.”
Tord looked at it.
For a brief moment he froze.
Just a flicker.
Then he sighed quietly.
“…Yes.”
Tom stared at him.
“You left this in the living room.”
Tord walked closer and took the magazine back, acting like it wasn’t a big deal.
“I forgot it.”
Tom let out a sharp laugh.
“My sibling just picked that up.”
Tord paused.
Just slightly.
“…I see.”
Tom crossed his arms.
“You couldn’t keep it in your room?”
“It was in my room.”
“Well it wasn’t this morning.”
Tord stayed calm, flipping the magazine shut and holding it at his side.
“I forgot it.”
Tom shook his head.
“They thought it was mine.”
Tord glanced toward the hallway where you had disappeared, then back at Tom.
“…Unfortunate.”
Tom stared at him like he couldn’t believe the response.
“Unfortunate?”
Tord shrugged.
“It’s a magazine.”
Tom scoffed.
“You read these like instruction manuals.”
Tord’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“And?”
Tom smirked now.
“You know what’s funny?”
Tord didn’t answer.
“You’ve dated girls.”
Silence.
“But somehow,” Tom continued, “you’ve never actually slept with one.”
Tord’s jaw tightened a little.
Tom gestured toward the magazine in his hand.
“So instead you study drawings.”
Tord stepped closer, voice flat.
“You talk a lot about things that aren’t your business.”
Tom leaned in slightly.
“No, I just think it’s hilarious.”
Tord didn’t move.
Tom’s grin widened.
“You act like you know everything.”
A pause.
“But you’re still a virgin.”
That landed.
Tord’s expression hardened, but he didn’t argue.
Tom noticed immediately.
“Oh my god,” he laughed. “You didn’t even deny it.”
Tord looked away for a moment.
Tom shook his head, already walking back toward the kitchen.
“All that confidence,” he said over his shoulder, “and you’ve never even gotten that far.”
Tord stood there quietly, the magazine still in his hand.
Tom glanced back one last time.
“Next time,” he added, “keep your porn in your room so my sibling doesn’t find it.”
Then he left.
And for once—
Tord didn’t have a comeback.