[[Hey there guys! Im sorry about the delay! First of all, I lost my notebook and I didn't want to start from scratch. I just found it 2 days ago, but between work and College classes, I haven't been able to get it uploaded until now. I hope you like what I have in store for you guys, and the NEXT chapter is sure to be super angsty for your pleasure!
Disclaimer: I do not own Ed Edd n' Eddy or anything affiliated with it!
Enjoy!]]

There was a breif silence, as Kevin seemed to grasp Edd's words. A look of frustration and confusion adorned his face. "You can't? Why not?" Edd squirmed uncomfortably under the weight of Kevin's expectant gaze. He cleared his throat, and spoke in a voice that shook with every tentative word. "It isn't as simple as it appears Kevin. Stopping... it isn't..." his words trailed off, as he found himself at a loss for the right ones. Again, there was silence. The air was tense and it was uncomfortable. Edd needed an out. He blurted out the first idea that popped into his head. "I really should go and collect my belongings."

It was better than nothing.

Edd stared at his front door so intensely he feared he might burn holes through it, as his nerves started to get the better of him. He had a limited and fuzzy memory of what happened the night of his suicide attempt. He remembered Kevin's voice shouting, accompanied by a banging at his door. He remembered dragging the blade across his arm what seemed like a million times. He remembered blood. There was so much blood. It was as if the whole world was being painted red. The last thing he remembered of that night (before he woke up in the hospital), was the crack of the wood as his door gave out, the dizziness overtaking him as he bled out, and the color red. After that, he drew a blank. What would he see inside his house? As if Kevin could read his mind, he took his hand and gave it an encouraging squeeze. "Hey, listen," Kevin said, his voice low and gruff, but reassuring," if you aren't ready, we can come back later." For a moment, Edd considered turning back. He knew, however, that rationally, there was no point in putting off the inevitable. He took a deep breathe, and opened the door.

The downstairs was immaculate, save for a few drops of dried blood on the wood flooring. The stairs were a tad bloodier than the floor, but the true spectacle was the second floor. Edd's breathe caught in his throat for a moment as he took it all in. Wood splinters littered the ground, and his door lay in shambles on the floor, a huge hole in its center and hinges still attached. He took reluctant steps forward into his room, finding it similar to how he remembered it last. His razor lay discarded on the floor, atop a dried up brown stain that he knew to be blood. It truly is a shame that blood dries brown.. Edd mused to himself ..Red is such a pretty color... He stepped toward the blood stain, and knelt to retrieve his blade, so that it could be returned to its proper place. A place for everything, and everything in it's place. He was met with a hand on his shoulder, and turned to look into firm eyes and deep-set frown. "Hand that over, Edd," Kevin demanded. Edd held the blade tightly, ignoring the sting it was making as it nicked his palm. "Kevin, I appreciate your concern, but this belings to me. I have no intention of disposing of it." The ravenette stood his ground firmly. He knew Kevin meant well, but this was something he simply didn't grasp. He needed to keep it, even if he didn't use it. Just having it stashed away was reassuring. Kevin let out a exasperated sigh, and inched closer, reaching to pry the blade from Edd's fingers. "It's for your own good Dee."

Edd backed away until he was flush against the wall, and gripped the blade tighter. He felt blood drip between his fingers, but he didn't loosen his grip one bit. He just couldn't let Kevin take it. He needed the option of using it, just to know it was there. Knowing that is part of what kept him sane. He knew it wasn't rational, he knew it wasn't smart, but he needed it none the less. Edd looked down at his bleeding hand. Red... Something about it used to scare him. All that red pouring from his body, but now it was something he found comfort in. It was something he could trust not to change, not to turn on him, not to abandon him. It numbed everything and it would always be there. He watched, in a trance-like state, as the blood from his hand dripped and landed on the floor. So did Kevin, who, in a much less trance-like state, lunged for Edd's hand and ripped the blade from his grasp. With rage fueling his every step, Kevin stormed to the window, tore it open, and flung the blade out into the Cul-De-Sac. Edd spoke not a word, as he slid to the floor. Kevin approached him the way you would a wounded animal: Slowly and cautiously. He crouched down and took Edd's bleeding hand in his own. He was silent for a moment, before he decided to speak.

"Edd... this is really bad. This is a serious fucking problem. You almost DIED, and you still won't stop. I don't know why you started this shit, or when, but I know you need help. I won't lose you. Not after I waited so long to get you in the first place. Dee, babe, you need to tell me whats going on in that big smart head of yours."

Edd looked at him and sighed. Kevin looked at him expectantly. "Kevin, you simply cannot understand. This.., cutting, its been a part of my life for so long now that I need to do it, or I just can't seem to function. Part of me knows it's wrong, but it's become second nature to me now. Eat dinner, Shower, brush my teeth, cut myself, get into pajamas, go to sleep. Its like you'd like, I can explain it to you scientifically." Kevin chuckled at the mention of science, but was quickly brought back to the severity of the situation. That dork had evaded his questions earlier, but this time he wasn't letting it go. "Edd, answer me honestly. How long have you been.., ya know, cutting yourself?"

Edd's face fell, and for a moment he seemed to be somewhere else. As quickly as he was gone, he came back, and looked up at Kevin with shame being worn prominently on his face. "It's been 8 years.", he replied. Kevin's eyes widened in shock. Edd was only 17, so that would mean...He's been doing this since he was 9 years old? Fuckin' hell... He took a good look at Edd's arms again. That doesn't look like 8 years of damage...

"Let me see."

Edd looked like were a deer in the headlights. "I beg your pardon?" Edd stuttered. Kevin crossed his arms and spoke again. "I said, let me see. Show me the rest of your scars, because I know that isn't all of it, on your arms." Kevin saw tears glistening in Edd's eyes. In that moment, the intelligent and witty Eddward was reduced to a mere child. He shook and whimpered, as though he were being attacked. His intellect and calm demeanor seemed to have fled, leaving him at the mercy of his fear, completely helpless. In that moment, he was just a fragile boy, caught and cornered with no way out. One wrong move on Kevin's part, and Edd might crumble. So he moved cautiously. He reached over to gently stroke Edd's cheek. "Edd, I promise you'll still be perfect to me... but I need to see them. I need to know. Please trust me."

There was a long pause, as Edd thought. His fear told him to run, that he was to damaged and Kevin would be repulsed by him. His brain was a maddening jumble of "what ifs" that got him nowhere. But his heart, even as scarred and wounded as it was, said to do it. This was Kevin. Pushing fear and logic aside, he took a deep breath, let it out, and replied.

"Tonight, I'll show you everything. Just not now. Let's grab a few things and leave."

Kevin let out a sigh of relief and smile as he helped his boyfriend to his feet. The sockhead wiped his eyes, and went straight to work, grabbing clothes, shoes, quite a few books, toiletries, and a small cactus. Kevin knew better than to ask about it at this point. With all of Edd's essentials(?) packed, they left the house and headed back across the street.

After unpacking and enjoying a nice quick dinner, both boys returned to Kevin's bedroom. Edd opted to go straight to the shower, entering the room and shutting the door behind him. He leaned over the tub to start the water, so he could let it warm up. He knew it would dry out his skin, but it soothed him, calmed his nerves. Leaving it to heat up, he stripped off his clothing. He looked in the mirror and met his own reflection with a sigh. He says it won't change anything... He says I'll still be perfect to him..but what if he's wrong? Edd shook his head, as if that would somehow shake such thoughts away as well. He traced his fingers slowly along the wicked scarring that adorned his of them had needed stitches, which he had done himself. My medical knowledge comes in quite handy sometimes he mused darkly to himself. He looked once again at his reflection in the mirror, and just prayed that this was the right choice. With a deep breath, Edd stepped into the warm shower, and as he washed, he allowed the heat to envelop him like a blanket and calm his nerves. He could do this. He stepped gingerly back out of the shower, drying off his hair. He slipped his hat back on, and slid into a pair of snug boxer-briefs. With one last deep breathe, he opened the door.

At the sound of the door opening, Kevin sat up on the bad and turned to look. What stood before him made his breath catch. Edd... The boy was covered from his structured shoulders to his lithe ankles in scars. So many horrendous words could still be made out on his alabaster skin, so many gashes that never healed properly marred his beautiful body. Kevin felt as if he's just been punched in the stomach. But that wasn't all he felt. He felt butterflies as well. Scars be damned, Eddward Vincent was beautiful. Adonis and Aphrodite both paled in comparison to what Kevin saw when he looked at the angel that stood before him. He had a small and slender frame, with soft curves resembling those of a woman. But he was undoubtedly male. His shoulders, while not very muscular, were broader than any woman's and looked as though they'd been carved from the finest marble into delicate perfection by Michelangelo himself. No amount of scarring could even scrape the surface of Edd's beauty. However, the look on his face told Kevin he did't know that. "I was right," Kevin said with a smile. He got to his feet and took Edd by the waist. "You really are perfect." Edd looked at him both shocked and grateful. "Oh, Kevin. You are too kind..."he stated, smiling that gap-toothed smile that made Kevin's heart race. "I'm being serious Dee. See?" No sooner had the words left his mouth than Kevin had pulled Edd in and kissed him. It was soft at first, timid and cautious. That didn't last long. Their kiss grew passionate. Their lips tangled perfectly, they fit together like puzzle pieces. Kevin felt a heat in his stomach and a growing tightness in his pants with each whimper and gasp his little Eddward made. He pressed him flush against the wall, and the boy squirmed in surprise, resulting in an accidental grinding of hips on hips. Kevin inhaled sharply, and ground against Edd harder, this time entirely on purpose, desperate for more of the delicious friction he felt. He opened his eyes as he broke their kiss for air, and he drank in the sight of Edd, cheeks flushed, lips swollen, eyes hazy from lust and pleasure.

"Kevin, we really shouldn't..." Edd whispered, his voice shaky and panting.

Kevin bit back a growl. "I can't help myself dork...You're just too fuckin' delicious.. I can't keep my hands off of you. God.. just look at you. You're like sex on legs..."

He pushed Edd onto his bed, and put his arms on both sides of the boy. He needed to be sure he Edd wanted this too. "Are you okay with this Edd?"

Edd paused for a moment.

"Not all the way. I'm not ready yet."

Kevin nodded in understanding.
"That's fine. We can just touch. Tell me to stop if you're uncomfortable okay?"

Edd nodded.

Kevin crawled on top of the slim frame of Eddward, and kissed him gently, palcing his hand on his side as he did so. He traced gently along raised scars as his hand moved down Edd's stomach, venturing lower and lower until it found what it was looking for. He felt Edd stiffen under his touch as he rubbed his palm against the boy's clothed cock. He brought his own hips to his lovers, and wrapped a hand around both lengths, pressing them flush together. The heat was burning. Kevin felt like he was on fire and he wanted more. With a deep breath, he began to stroke. Edd choked out a moan, and pressed his hips desperately into the hand, seeking more of this intoxicating feeling. Kevin smirked, and whispered into his ear, "Well aren't you a horny little thing?" Edd bucked into his hand desperately, nodding his head frantically. Kevin's self control was on the verge of failing him as he took in the look of pure want and lust that had taken over Edd's face. Sweet little Eddward was moaning like a little slut beneath him. He was the luckiest guy alive. A few strokes later, he felt edd tense up, and come undone in his hand. "Kevin..!" Edd cried out in a strangled moan as he became putty in his lover's hands. That was all it took to send the redhead over the edge, gasping Edd's name in a breathy groan.

They both collapsed into a heap. Slowly, Kevin rolled off of Edd and onto his back. After taking a few moments to catch his breath, he turned to look at Edd, only to find that the dear boy was fast asleep, having been all tuckered out after reaching climax. Kevin watched him with a smile, observing as the lithe beautiful boy's chest rose and fell as he slept peacefully at Kevin's side, as though they'd been lovers all their lives. He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Edd's forehead. He whispered a whisper so soft, it could hardly be considered a sound at all: "I love you Eddward Vincent."

With that, he too let himself drift off into a peaceful sleep.

Edd awoke the next morning in a groggy sense of contentedness. That didn't last long, as he quickly remembered his state of undress, as well as the previous night's happenings. His face grew flushed and he buried it in the pillow. It was embarrassing to say the least, to have shown his wanton and deviant side to turned to look at the red-head, only to find that he wasn't there. The first thing that hit him was dread. What if Kevin regretted it? What if, now that he'd seen Edd that way, he thought he was dirty? He was well on his way to a panic attack when he smelled something unmistakable. Pancakes.

Oh. He was making breakfast. Edd chuckled to himself, realizing how silly he had been only moments prior. He threw on clothes, and made his way downstairs, where he was greeted with the sight of Kevin in a frilly apron, batter on his face, biting his lip in concentration. He giggled in spite of himself. He really is quite cute sometimes. Edd cleared his throat, making the apron-clad ginger aware of him.

Kevin's head shot up, causing him to splatter more pancake batter on the counter. Edd giggled again.

"Shit, uh, G'morning Dee."

Kevin was blushing rather profusely now.

"Good morning to you as well, Kevin. I leave you alone for just a short while and you go and make a mess?"

Kevin grumbled, making a pouty face fit for a child.

"I was tryin' ta make you breakfast, dork. T's not my fault this shit's so hard."

Edd rolled his eyes and grabbed a towel. Reaching out, he wiped Kevin's face as a mother would. "You seem to have made a commendable effort, and it smells marvelous. Leave the clean up to me, and you finish cooking."

With that said, they did their separate jobs, and breakfast was delicious.

As Edd grabbed his things for the day, Kevin walked up behind him, and wrapped his arms around the petite waist. "C'mon babe, I'll give you a ride to school."

they headed outside and hopped on Kevin's bike. The engine growled as she came to life, before settling into a steady purr. With Edd's arms gripping tightly around his waist, Kevin shot off towards the school. Until his suspension was up, dropping Edd off and picking him up was the most he could do. Kevin cut the engine as they pulled up in front of the steps. Edd hopped off with as much grace as he was able (which wasn't much), and gave Kevin a kiss, before heading to enter the school. Edd was stopped by Kevin's hand on his shoulder, asking him silently to hang back for a moment longer.

"Edd," he started, in a voice flooded with worry,"be careful. Stay in a group whenever you can, and watch your back. I can't be there to keep you safe."

Eddward nodded.

"Promise me, Dee."

With a soft reassuring smile, Edd looked him in the eyes.
"I promise to be wary Kevin. I survived for 17 years mostly on my own, and I promise you I will survive a week without a body gaurd. Honestly, you silly man."

Kevin chuckled weakly along with the sockhead, and he knew he couldn't really argue that what Edd had said wasn't true, but somehow, he didn't feel better. Something wasn't right, he could feel it in his gut, and he didn't like it. Not one bit. He watched as Edd climbed the stairs and disappeared inside the building. The feeling didn't though. It persisted. All he could do now was hope that his gut was wrong.

[[ Alright guys! I hope you liked it! I can't say when the next chapter will be up, but I already have my concept for it, so thats a start. Please R&R, and feel free to leave suggestions for future chapters!]]