An Unexpected Twist

so here is chapter 2. forgive me for taking so long, i change pairing obsessions quickly. also i plan for this fic to be REALLY long. like stupid it's so long. just to warn you. i believe in building up relationships and getting over leila would take a long time!

Chapter 2

Matthew didn't like rain. Even more than rain he hated fog. The only real semblance of a reason being that in said conditions he was placed in front of everyone else, right in the face of danger, so that he could tell them should danger approach. Which Matthew thought rather stupid as dead men tell no tales as the saying goes. He did not want to be a dead man. He did not want to be even an injured man. So to cheer himself up he would stop the entire caravan every so often saying he thought he saw something. Then brush it off as nothing. Young Master was less than pleased.

"Matthew if you call one more false alarm..."

"They weren't false milord. I thought I saw someone, I really did. It's this fog you see, it plays tricks on the mind."

Hector moved to scratch his back. Despite the fact that one could not itch where a large axe was hanging, "the only one playing tricks is you."

"No, no Young Master, I would never play any tricks on you!"

The lordling scowled at him but left the thief to do his work. Matthew took the opportunity to stop the entire line once more.

"I cannot continue. You see, my eyes are causing me a great deal of pain from all this strain. If we could stop a moment Lord Eliwood?"

Being the prat he was Eliwood naturally said yes. I win again Lord Eliwood. And just for good measure...He strolled over to Hector and squinted.

"Oh, milord, is that you?"

"Of course it's me you idiot!"

"No, I am but a blind man. How would you like it if people called you stupid? Oh wait, well... A better example...how would you like it I were to call you...no see it's gone now," Matthew waved his hands in an increasingly dramatic and expressive manner.

"If you continue you'll actually be a blind man!"

He was pushing it. The thief naturally continued.

"How undeniably cruel Young Master! I should file a complaint with your brother I should!"

"Oh shut your mouth you over-dramatic-"

In the process of flailing his arms about Matthew then felt it necessary to 'accidently' attack his lord's face. Perhaps the act would get him beheaded or some such punishment. He sorely doubted it. Young Master would try for it but he could never actually do it. I hope. Matthew, being cautious in addition to incredibly witty, immediately covered his mouth with a hand.

"M-Milord! Forgive my incredible stupidity! Your face, I've marred your only way to gain a wife!"

The last part had slipped out completely unbidden however his lord did not appear to know the truth behind the thief's words. Oops! Oh bugger. This is quite a spot I've gotten myself into now. Well Leila, forgive me. It seems I will never get to see your increasingly beautiful face ever again. He obscured his own face with both arms in the hope that should Hector swing that enormous axe of his Matthew's arms would be cut off instead of his head.

"You. You...You...YOU!!"

"Yes, it is me Milord. Though I cannot really see how I could have switched myself with any other given my rogueish good looks-finding an adequete look-alike would be rather difficult you see-" with a spritely leap Matthew cleared the attack range of Hector's weapon for the moment.

"Come here, I want to cut your head off!"

"Young Master be reasonable, I only meant it is-oh dear!" he ducked, feeling a rush of air just above his head.

"Hector, please, restrain yourself. I'll kill him for you," Oswin trudged up accompagnied by the sound of his clanking armour.

Matthew raised his hands in surrender, "O-Oswin please, I only meant that it was his only means of gaining a lady at the moment! Of course when he becomes Marquess-which is not to say I wish death upon Lord Uther-Oh Saint Elimine that's quite a large lance!"

"Hector! Are you attempting to kill one of our allies? I know that Matthew is not the most...honourable of men however we need all those who are willing to help us," Eliwood placed a hand on the other lordling's shoulder.

"You heard him!"

"Oh please Lord Eliwood, I am not one to plead for my life but I must!"

"Oh my GOSH! Matthew get up! The battle's begun again!"

Why are you here? Why am I not dead? He cracked open an eye in time to see Serra flying out of his tent. Oswin had apparently taken it upon himself to make Matthew look like a complete and utter fool by allowing the thief to sleep in. Well fine. I am perfectly okay with not being on time as it is not in the thief's handbook that I must be. In any case he jumped into his clothes and jogged out to the battlefield. Which looked like it went on pretty much forever. Oh bugger. Did we really have to start all the way over here?

On the horizon he noticed the castle Santaruz which had loomed over them the entire night as if mocking them with its very existence alone. Lookit me, I'm rich. Matthew took his place next to Kent-though the cavalier scowled at him like his being a thief morally offended him on many, many levels. Which, Matthew supposed, wasn't entirely impossible.

"Hullo Kent, how goes it?"

"Well. Yourself? However there is no time for idle chatter on the battlefield."

"Er…right you are. I've been…'well' as well. I suppose. So long as you fail to include Young Master's daily attempts on my life which…thus far have been…laughably unsuccessful," he continued prattling on while they waited for their orders if only to watch the knight's face growing redder and redder as time went on.

"I am unable to perform my duties with you talking so incessantly Matthew…"

"Oh bloody hell."

Bloody hell you're annoying that is. I can't help talking it's my nature unfortunately Sir Kent! He pouted for a moment until Mark gave him the order to move forward while Kent broke off to the right to help support Sain. His eyes widened with recognition and a grin spread across his face.

"Why hello there!"

"…M-Matthew?! What are you doing here?!"

Matthew pretended to think for a moment then pointed, "Guy, right? If I remember correctly I rescued you a little over a year ago on the plains!"

"Grr…you didn't have to bring that up! I'm employed now!"

"…Hm…I think you should quit and join Lord Eliwood's group!" the brown haired man leaned forward so he would have a better look at Guy's face when the inevitable anger came.

"What?!" the Sacean's face immediately darkened to a shade of red that almost crossed over into purple and Matthew felt rather concerned that the myrmidon would combust.

"Well, if I remember correctly Guy you owe me 6 favours in exchange for the 6 pieces of meat I fed you that day. This will count as one. I would much rather not fight you at the moment Guy I must admit you've gotten quite fierce looking."

"You're a monster! I just get a job and now I have to throw it away…what a waste!"

With Guy's help adding to the might of everyone else overthrowing Santaruz and reaching Lord Helman posed no real trouble. The Lords had burst through the front doors and quickly made a sweep of the entire castle with the help of the left over guards while the rest of the legion busied themselves elsewhere. Matthew personally kept his eye out for any treasure and made it his job to pick up the weapons left behind by their enemies. Oh dear, young master really laid into this one poor bastard! Well, I'll be taking your lance now anyway.

"Wh-What're you doing?!"

"Hm? Oh, hello Guy! I'm making use of these people's weapons you see."

"The-They're dead! That's so…" the Sacaen glared at him, "you're disrespecting their spirits!"

"I'm doing nothing of the sort Father Guy. I dare say they won't be needing them any longer!"

"I don't follow Elimine! You…I'll…Fight me right now!"

Everyone who milled about the battlefield stopped to stare after Guy's outburst and a few surveyed the scene with vague interest. Oh hell no, I've only just finished fighting!

"I'm afraid I can't do that Guy as I'm rather indisposed at the moment however….if you so choose to extend the invitation I'd be glad to do battle later. I'll even get rid of all your favours you owe me if you win," he glanced over his shoulder and raised his eyebrows, "Well Guy?"

"…Fine!"

Matthew smiled, "it's a deal then."

Guy scowled at him then turned on his heel to walk away which was when the thief chose to strike. In an instant he had both of the myrmidon's arms twisted behind his back and a dagger to his throat.

"I win!"

"W-What?!" the viridian haired boy struggled against the man's grip but ended up further entangling himself, "that's not fair!"

"Fighting isn't fair Guy. Besides you never said when we would fight isn't that right?"

"URGH! I'll-I'll kill you!"

"Of course you will Guy, of course." And he went back to his work with a grin after unloading the weapons on the other man. Guy really is too much fun.

End Chapter Two

F.Y.I, Matthew's dream makes no damn sense