"What One Must."

by: ChibiMizu

Disclaimer: I don't own Ed, Edd n Eddy, obviously.

Warnings: This work of fanfiction includes/will include slash (Edd/Eddy), het (Eddy/Nazz; Edd/??), mild language, and mild sexuality (until further notice). Ages of the Ed's are around 20-21. Please excuse OOCness that may occur.

Notes: Holy crap. I haven't written anything in... forever. Plus, I'm kinda rusty at fic writing. So, really, no promises on an update anytime soon. I'll TRY really hard, but I'm such a slacker. X3

What did he really expect? Double D questioned as he pulled his jacket collar closer around his neck. The icy rain danced around his feet in shallow puddles and he shivered. As always, Eddy was late. He was supposed to meet the hat-wearing Edd at the restaurant 20 minutes ago and had yet to arrive. Double D sniffled as he fought off the chill that crept into his thin frame. He looked up as Eddy's car pulled in. He rolled his eyes as Eddy accomplished a sloppy parking job and got out of his car. A slight sigh escaped Double D's lips as he looked the boy over: a dress shirt took the place of the usual t-shirt, and his hair looked a little more managed than usual.

"Eddy! What took yo--" Double D started, raising his hand in greeting, but then froze as Eddy walked to the other side of car. He opened the door and a slender feminine leg was revealed. Double D had always admired Nazz for her sense of fashion and beauty in a culture-less Cul-de-Sac, but at this very moment in time as he watched the blond bomb shell step from Eddy's car, Double D couldn't have hated her more.

"Double D! Didja get us a table?" Eddy strolled up, his hand entwined with Nazz's.

"Yes, Ed's saving it. You brought Nazz?" Double D asked, hiding his disdain.

"Oh, yeah! Hope ya don't mind!" Nazz smiled at Double D whom shrugged.

"Too late now." Double D mumbled as Eddy strode past him, bringing Nazz along behind him. Double D pressed his temple, aggravated, before following the couple into the restaurant.

"Eddy!" Ed announced loudly, standing from his seat at the bar.

"Hey Ed. Since when do you drink?"

"Drink?" Ed blinked, looking down at his glass. Soon enough, a big grin appeared on his face. "Since I was a baby, duh!" Eddy took the glass from his tall friend and sipped it.

"What the? Ed, this is just chocolate milk."

"What else would it be? Silly willy winky head." Ed took his glass back and took a long drink.

"This is our table," Double D motioned, removing his jacket and sliding into the booth. He watched as Eddy offered to help Nazz with her coat. Ed sat next to Double D, and the new couple sat across from them. Nazz glanced through the menu warily.

"Eddy?" she whined. "Is any of this vegetarian?" Eddy looked down at his own menu for a minute.

"Yeah, see? There's salad."

"With chicken in it!" Nazz pouted, closing the menu.

"Order it without chicken." Double D grumbled, already frustrated.

"I guess that'd work..." She smiled across the table at Double D, who lifted his menu up to break her line of sight.

"Hi everyone! I'll be your server for this evening. Ya'll ready to order?" A waitress looked down at the four of them, notepad ready.

"Uhh, I think so?" Eddy started. The four of them ordered and the waitress thanked them and left. They sat in silence for a moment before Eddy broke it.

"What the hell is up, Double D? You've been a grumpo ever since we got here." Double D looked up from playing with his napkin and stared at Eddy.

"Other than your use of licentious language, nothing is wrong." Double D looked away, swirling his water with a straw. Why did Eddy have to bring her? It was supposed to be a get together for just the three Eds. College had started and was keeping Double D content, but busy. Eddy was working at the garage as a mechanic intern all the time, and Ed was doing good considering he was working on Rolf's farm. It was rare that the three of them got to spend any time together outside of passing waves from across the street. It became worse, though, when Eddy started dating Nazz. Nobody saw it coming, least of all Eddy, but with Kevin having moved, she found a new attraction to Eddy, or as Double D put it, a new victim of her lust for attention.

The rest of the dinner went by for Double D as if he wasn't even there. Ed cheerfully described all the fun he had driving a combine and tending to dozens of chickens. Eddy boasted about all the fancy cars he had fixed up and the money he was racking in. Nazz spoke of fashion and whatever the latest craze was in Hollywood. Double D drowned it all out until the check came. He watched to see who would pay it, but obviously the responsibility came down to him. Eddy stood and helped Nazz put her coat back on. Ed stood as well and hugged the shorter boy.

"Glad we could hang for a bit, Ed." Eddy grimaced at the hug but patted his friend's back anyway. Double D made sure there was enough money for a tip and slid out of the booth.

"Thanks for dinner, Double D." Nazz opened her arms for a hug. Double D stifled a laugh and thrust his hands into his pockets. He turned on his heels and walked away from them.

"Ahh, see ya later, Eddy! Double D! Wait up! You're my ride!" Ed called, chasing after him. Nazz looked from Eddy's friends and back to Eddy.

"What was wrong with Double D, baby?" she asked as Eddy began to leave also.

"Hell if I know. Prolly jealous of us or somethin'." He smirked at his own decision and kissed Nazz's neck. "Wanna go back to my place?" Nazz nodded happily. The two got in Eddy's car and left the parking lot.

"Double D?" Ed called out as he tried to remember where Double D had parked. He then spotted his friend fumbling with his keys and jogged over to him. "Double D? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Ed. I'm fine." The cold rain blurred his vision and numbed his hands. He dropped the keys and grumbled. "...Why did Eddy have to bring her?!" He cried, looking to Ed for an answer he knew he couldn't answer; not in the way he wanted him to.

"Because he likes her, Double D!" Ed smiled, picking up Double D's keys for him. Double D looked up into Ed's sparkling eyes and sighed at the expected response, taking his keys back.

"That would make sense, wouldn't it?" He forced a smile for the taller boy. "C'mon, get in. I'll take you home."

-End of chapter 1-