Alright, I had a feeling this chapter needed work. (Didn't I say? Didn't I? XD)
So I've done some editing and touching up to it, and hopefully it's better than before. I like it a lot better this way too.
In case you cared what changes I made:
There's more of an opening, so it's not completely weird that Matthew asked Hector to help him hack wood. (ALLITERATION. RAWR.)
I'm not going psycho-fangirl on you with Hector's muscles.
Guy is a commoner, again so when he's sleeping he's just wearing his shirt loosened, his belts are gone, etc.
We don't randomly go from pillow fights to guessing games to talking about girls, there's a transition.
Marcus isn't calling everyone a kid.
And I've fixed a few of the words in caps that could probably go in italics. (not all of them, if I ever completely make the transition it'll take a long time)
Also (rather obviously), the author's note isn't that long this time so it's not too distracting.
Enjoy!
Matthew wheezed as he tried to hoist the axe up. Hector shook his head as his smaller companion struggled to lift the thing above his head. No wonder Matthew had come to him for help; the little idiot probably couldn't chop wood if his life was on the line. It wasn't as if Matthew would go to Dorcas or Bartre or anyone; he just had to come to Hector. Who ─though put off because his alone time was interrupted─ didn't hold it against Matthew.
In reality Hector didn't mind chopping wood. He didn't care too much that he was a noble; if he could fight as a gladiator, he could chop wood. He found the work almost relaxing. He just had to pretend the hunk of wood was Lyn's face and . . . alright, maybe he shouldn't be thinking those thoughts, but still; he found a little labor did him good. Speaking of labor, Matthew wasn't accomplishing any while expending all of his energy.
"Baby." Hector snatched the cleaver from Matthew and rested it on his shoulder effortlessly. "If you can't actually lift the stupid thing, then make yourself useful by getting the pushcart." Hector pointed towards the wooden wheelbarrow.
"Yes sir!" Matthew chittered before bouncing off to retrieve it. Sometimes Matthew's optimism made Hector want to upchuck. Matthew returned with the crudely built cart loaded with wood. "Um . . . now what?"
"Don't just stand there; put some down!" Hector sighed; he really did get stuck with all the lame henchmen. This one needed a lord to help him chop wood.
"Right away young master!"
"And don't call me that if you're feeling so causal!"
"Right away Hector!" Matthew nodded and dropped a piece of wood before Hector. He quickly pulled his hands back, knowing the lord would bring down the axe quicker than expected.
SLAM!
Matthew threw the pieces of wood to the side where a pile would grow before placing another piece down.
Hector let out a breath and wiped his brow as Matthew plunked another block of wood down and pulled back his hands. Hector swung the axe over his head and brought it down on the wood. Matthew waited for Hector to move his axe and threw the wood into the heap just to the left of him.
"She's cute." Matthew spoke up, picking up another piece of timber.
"Huh?" Hector pushed his navy bangs from his equally blue eyes.
"She's cute. You've got good taste." Matthew pulled back his hands as Hector brought the axe down.
"Oh. . ." Hector realized what Matthew meant. "You know I'm not involved with her." He rubbed his bare shoulder; his muscles tensed as he worked.
"Yeah, I know." Matthew shrugged, throwing the chopped up firewood into the pile. "But she's cagey even when talking to me; she's really opened up to you."
"Has she?" Hector rubbed his neck. "Because I haven't noticed."
"She's gone from crying when you try to talk to her to sitting in a meadow, cloud gazing with you. That's a big step." Matthew set another chunk of wood in front of Hector.
"I'm getting all the stuff you took from me back." Hector poked Matthew in the chest.
"Is this what all this is about?" Matthew raised his eyebrows. "Because even as someone who loves shiny things, I do have your best interests in mind as well."
"I'm sure you do." Hector rolled his eyes and brought the axe down.
"Come on, I have a heart too." Matthew chuckled. "Is that really the only reason you're talking to her?"
"Actually no. It's a nice reward if I manage to pull it off, but it's not my top priority. Florina's been nice to me; the least I can do is offer companionship."
"I knew you weren't that low." Matthew snickered. "I'm not the one lucky enough to know her; what is she like?" Matthew threw another piece of wood down.
"Well once you get past the coy exterior, she's really pretty sweet. And she's awfully smart."
"She completes you!" Matthew let out a laugh.
"Oh shut up." Hector rolled his eyes. He swung the axe down on the slab of wood in front of him.
"In all reality I don't see any difference in her opening up to me."
"Well that makes you either ignorant or blind." Matthew let out a sigh, pushing the wood into the heap. "Because just a week ago she turned red just by talking to you."
"I dunno, I just don't see it." Hector rubbed the back of his head.
"Well get used to noticing, because it's getting pretty obvious." Matthew wiped his own brow. "Hey, when's our next late night?" Matthew turned to Hector.
"Actually I think it's tonight."
"Can I invite Guy?"
"You two are going to be at each other's necks."
"Guy asked if there was any other ways he could repay me, and we can't play the Laughing game with only three people." Matthew blinked up at Hector.
"Speaking of which, you are partnering up with Eliwood; he barely makes it past round one when he's with me." Hector wiped his nose.
"Fine." Matthew placed another block of wood down.
"I thought we chopped enough."
"Hm, you catch on faster than I thought." That earned Matthew a very hard shove.
"Just invite Guy if you're that desperate." Hector rolled his eyes, while Matthew fist pumped.
Matthew sat cross-legged on the tent floor with a piece of paper titled "Favors Guy owes me". He scratched off and added on a few things as Hector looked over his shoulder.
"Matthew, you can't add favors on for things he's paid you back with!"
"Drat! Foiled again!" Matthew growled. He scratched a few more things off the list. "I thought I'd get away with that, I mean he would've believed he owed me for inviting him." Matthew put the pencil behind his ear. He folded his list and put it in his cape pocket. Guy entered the tent wearing his shirt loose and no belts. His braid was a simple ponytail now, and his headband was dangling around his neck.
"Hey there," He sat down on the floor. "Thanks again for inviting me."
"Not a problem, but this goes on-" Matthew noted how Hector flexed his arm and thought over what he was going to say carefully. ". . . No problem Guy! Anytime!"
"Heh, were you going to add this on to your list?" Guy chuckled. "Because I'm not that stupid."
"Dang it." Matthew muttered under his breath.
"Hey guys, I'm sorry I'm late; I had to tether my horse."
"Pony."
"Shut it Hector." Eliwood slammed a pillow over Hector's head. Hector raised his eyebrows and took the cushion in his hands.
"No wait! Have mercy!" Too late. Hector pummeled Eliwood in a spilt second. "The pain! It burns!" Eliwood cried as Hector whacked him with the pillow. Guy and Matthew were left to chuckle at the two lords.
"Instead of killing each other, how about we actually do something?" Guy suggested.
"Good plan."
"Sure." Oddly, that got their attention.
"What should we play?"
"How about that game where you put a word on someone's head and they guess what it says?"
"Oh! I love that game!" Matthew pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket and unfolded it.
"Who wants to go first?"
"I guess I will." Eliwood shrugged. Matthew scribbled something down on the paper and then tied to Eliwood's head.
"Is it a weapon?"
"Well. . ." Hector mumbled in a humorous tone.
"No. It's not a weapon." Guy shook his head.
"Is it a tool?"
"Define tool."
"Is it used to fix things?"
"No." Eliwood pondered. He didn't know what the card they had tied to his head actually had on it, and their answers only made it more confusing. The paper read "Ladle", but Eliwood couldn't figure it out.
"Is it made of wood?"
"It can be. But it doesn't have to be." Matthew eyed the card. Eliwood was left extremely puzzled.
" . . . Well I give up, what is it?" Matthew pulled the card from Eliwood's head and showed it to him.
"Aw! How did I not get that?" Eliwood groaned.
"Is it just me or am I sick of this game?" Matthew finally sighed.
"I think you're right; we've been playing it forever. Let's talk about dames!" Eliwood sat up, only to he thwacked by Hector's pillow.
"Must I explain this to everyone? Girls talk about who they like at sleepovers."
"I bet that's a cover up for being too chicken to tell us who you like." Matthew jabbed Hector in the side.
"I am not!"
"Are too!"
"People, are we gonna talk about chicks or not?" Guy asked, playing with his ponytail.
"I bet I know who Matthew likes." Eliwood leaned in with a malicious grin.
"NO." He glared at Eliwood.
"Matthew has yet to actually confess his love to Serra!" Guy snickered.
"Do you want me to revoke this favor buddy?" Matthew snarled.
"But you do like her." Guy beamed. Matthew hid his face behind his pillow.
"Alright she is pretty cute. But you guys have to promise not to tell anyone. Otherwise she'll stalk me even more than she does already."
"Alright, we promise." Eliwood held up his hand as if he were taking an oath.
"So what about you Guy? I know I'm not the only one who fancies clerics." Matthew sneered at the swordsman. Guy lost his look of dominance and blushed madly.
"Well . . ."
"'Oh my dear lady Priscilla! How doth the sunset compare to thy flaming locks? Bah! The dusk hath but no meaning when next to your fawn-colored hair!'" Eliwood and Hector let out a laugh.
"I don't speak like that!" Guy folded his arms, very flustered.
"You should. It'd give you confidence." Matthew chuckled.
"I highly doubt that."
"It's the truth I tell you! CONFIDENCE!" Matthew shouted.
"What are you all doing in there that calls for so much noise?" Marcus' voice made the four very meek.
"Nothing." Eliwood answered in an extremely sugar-coated tone.
"Alright, if you're sure." Marcus replied before he was gone.
"And you say I'm loud?" Hector shot Matthew a glare.
"I didn't know he was there!" Matthew's face was red with humiliation. "Honestly, he's so quiet!"
"Whatever." Hector rolled his eyes. Eliwood suddenly caught his attention, but he remembered his promise and kept his mouth closed.
"Who do you like Eliwood?" Matthew turned to the Pheraen lord. Eliwood did not respond. "Oh what? You're too lily-livered?"
"No." He muttered.
"Hector, who does Eliwood like?"
"I don't know." Hector shrugged, he focused to keep his eyebrows from smiling; they did that when he lied.
"Just tell us!" Matthew lolled out on the tent floor and pulled at Eliwood's arm. Eliwood let out a sigh.
"I'm surprised that you haven't even bothered to take a guess."
"Lyn?"
"EW!" Hector burst out laughing.
"Oh come on, she's not that bad Hector." Eliwood rolled his eyes. "Good guess but no."
"Um . . . I dunno. Who?" Eliwood looked over at Hector and then back at Matthew.
". . . Nin . . . an"
"I didn't quite catch that."
"Ninian." Eliwood turned bright red.
"Oh Ninian! The dragon girl?"
"She is the only Ninian in the camp." Eliwood murmured.
"Yeah she's cute." Matthew nodded.
"She's mine." Eliwood growled.
"Alright, you can have her." Matthew shrugged passively. "So that leaves . . ." a smile spread across his face. "Oh Hector," Hector felt the cruel
pleasure in Matthew's voice. "Who do you like?" Matthew knew. Eliwood knew. He only wanted Hector to say it because he enjoyed seeing the Ostian lord squirm.
"I don't like anyone." Hector took a breath.
"Lies!"
"Relax guys; Hector doesn't have to tell if he doesn't want to." Eliwood spoke up.
Something wasn't right about Eliwood's tone of voice. Or the fact that Eliwood had defended his right to tell. If he confessed his crush on Ninian, it'd only be fair if Hector did as well . . . what was he doing? It hit Hector; Eliwood was trying to make him look weak. Definitely payback for calling him a pansy. It didn't matter now though; Hector was caught between a rock and a hard place. Could he risk his morale and esteem? Would he be able to say he liked someone? Even if his reputation as a strong and powerful lord was important, he didn't think he could man up and say he liked Florina with courage. Anything but pride in his voice would signify further weakness.
Hector may not have been intellectual and may have ignored his common sense, but he wasn't an idiot. He knew that if he said the wrong thing, he could kiss both his reputation and Florina goodbye. He finally broke out into a smile; a cruel, teasing smile.
"Why thank you Eliwood." Hector's voice was sweet, almost dripping with honey. "I'm glad I've got a friend like you watching my back." He gave Eliwood a playful shove, though underlying intentions told otherwise. "You're always looking out for me; it'd be selfish to pass up your kindness." Eliwood's smile faded to a dropped jaw. Guy and Matthew were unsuspecting, but Eliwood knew very well what Hector really implied. "After all; you did tell me to be a little nicer." Eliwood felt a stab of humiliation. His own advice used against him. That jerk! If Eliwood were just a bit bigger he'd sucker punch Hector up the- . . . oh, who was he kidding? He set Hector up, he had it coming. Hector kept Eliwood's secret about Ninian, he told Guy and Matthew himself. This wasn't like him; messing with his friends like a cat with a dying mouse. The humiliation was overwhelming him, and he suddenly felt as if lying down and ignoring the situation would be the best thing to ever happen to him. If Matthew had done it, he probably would have turned out victorious. Maybe there was no way to win that battle; maybe Matthew knew better and that's why he didn't even try. At least Eliwood's name wasn't that badly damaged, just a knick. But if he could come up with a good reply quickly, he could come off clean.
"I didn't know you were so good at fighting verbal battles Hector; it's a lot of brain power." Eliwood in the upper hand.
"Not you too!" Hector barked; he was flustered whenever someone teased his intelligence.
"But whatever, I did defend you and you don't have to."
"NO!" Guy and Matthew cried simultaneously. Matthew merely wanted to see the lordling as bashful as his crush.
"Tell us! Tell us! Tell us!" Guy pleaded.
"I'll give you a tenth of what I-"
"We already have a deal, and I'll stick with that one, thanks much." Hector replied, feeling triumphant.
"Please, I beg of you!" Guy folded his hands. It wasn't fair; he didn't have to get so excited about girls! . . . Not that he liked any, especially Priscilla.
"Come on! We told you who we liked!" Matthew whined.
"Correction; you never actually said you liked them. We suggested them and you gave in." Eliwood pointed out.
"Give us our rights!" Matthew chucked a pillow at Hector. Hector sighed as it bounced off his head.
"I'm tired. I vote for sleep."
"I vote for sleep as well." Eliwood turned down the lantern.
"Come on, just say it!" Matthew waved his arms.
"Go to sleep Matthew." Hector muttered as he buried his face into his covers.
"Guy! Back me up!" Matthew turned to the swordsman.
"Does it count as a favor?"
"Why would it?"
"Go to bed." Guy curled up into a little ball and rested his head on his pillow.
"No! It counts! It counts!"
"Shut up and go to sleep." Eliwood glanced over.
"Come on! We won't even lau-"
"SHUT UP MATTHEW!"
". . . fine. Be that way." Matthew snorted before sprawling out and closing his eyes. ". . . I know who you like anyways."
"If you can't shut up I will happily teach you." Hector's voice was deadly.
"Go to bed Matthew, I can't get any sleep when Hector is beating you up." Eliwood groaned.
"Fine." Matthew growled. He didn't think he wanted Guy there to witness him getting a black eye.
Yes, I have fixed it! Yeah, I know it's not perfect, but it was better than before. See? I take advice, I won't bite you, just be honest and I believe what I want to. (Let's all be thankful that I admit I'm far from the best)
This chapter isn't really obligatory to read, being one of those "Nothing happens because I just needed to pass time in the story" chapters. . .which is long and confuzzling. It was fun though and I'm glad I got feedback.
Ta~