Hey there, everybody! And thanks a lot for the reviews! Even though there weren't that many, I'm glad that some of you reviewed! Anyway, this is the second songfic of this group, and the song involved is Almost by Bowling for Soup! I swear, Almost is like Matthew's theme song! Anywho, I hope you like it!
Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem, its characters, or the song used in this fiction… even though I think it would be REALLY cool if I did! XD
Almost
A certain Ostian thief was sitting in the middle of the campsite, bored.
'I could steal something from Hector and see if he'd know that I did it… nah, I don't really feel like it…' he pondered.
Slowly an idea worked its way into his mind, and he grinned mischievously. Clearing his throat loudly, so as to draw attention, he began to sing a song that held some hidden meaning.
I almost got drunk at school at fourteen
Where I almost made out with the Homecoming Queen
Who almost went on to be Miss Texas
But lost to a slut, with much bigger breast-es
I almost dropped out to move to LA
Where I was almost famous for almost a day
And I almost had you
But I guess that doesn't cut it
Almost loved you
I almost wished you would've loved me too
Though he smirked throughout the song, Matthew seemed to be faking it, almost as though he truly was not feeling well. Regardless, he continued.
I almost held up a grocery store
Where I almost did five years and then seven more
Cause I almost got popped for a fight with a thug
Cause he almost made off with a bunch of the drugs
That I almost got hooked on cause you ran away
And I wish I would've had the nerve to ask you to stay
And I almost had you
But I guess that doesn't cut it
Almost had you
And I didn't even know it
You kept me guessin' and now I'm destined
To spend my time missing you
I almost wish you would've loved me too
Matthew scanned the group, looking for someone in particular. Not the person that the song was about, mind you, because she was… dead. Instead, he was searching for his new favorite person, a myrmidon that he once saved. Somehow, just seeing him was enough to make the spy feel invincible. Finally spotting Guy, Matthew finished the song.
Here I go, thinking 'bout all the things I could've done
I'm gonna need a forklift, cause all the baggage weighs a ton
I know we had our problems, I can't remember one
I almost forgot to say something else
And if I can't fit it in, I'll keep it all to myself
I almost wrote a song about you today
But I tore it all up and then I threw it away
And I almost had you
But I guess that doesn't cut it
Almost had you
And I didn't even know it
You kept me guessin' and now I'm destined
To spend my time missing you
And I almost had you
Almost had you
I almost wish you would've loved me
I wish you would've loved me too
His work complete, the thief flitted off, away from camp.
Mira, the tactician, understood what the song meant and asked Guy to follow him.
"What? Why should I?" he complained.
"Because he's depressed, stupid," she whispered matter-of-factly.
Guy argued, "He's never depressed! What are you talking about?"
"Weren't you paying attention?" Mira sighed, "He… he was talking about Leila… He misses her and needs a friend to comfort him. Now go."
That said, she left Guy to decipher the meaning of her words. Mumbling angrily in defeat, the swordsman took off to find Matthew.
'But we're not really FRIENDS… are we? He's always playing tricks on me and weaseling more favors out of me… That is NOT what friends do!' the Sacaen thought as he wandered through the forest.
It didn't take him long to find the thief, being that Guy was from a nomadic tribe, and when he did, Matthew was just sitting on a low tree branch in a small clearing.
"Um, hey, Matthew?"
Brought out of his thoughts, the spy turned in the sword master's direction, asking, "Yes, Guy?"
'That's odd… He seems distant. That's not the Matthew I know…' Guy wondered silently as he queried, "Um… uh, are- are you… okay?"
The myrmidon almost winced at the squeak in his own voice, 'Why did I have to sound like that! That must have sounded pathetic! And it only happens around him! Why!'
The thief was shocked at the concerned tone that was used. No one ever acted that way toward him, though that was mostly because he always appeared so upbeat.
Matthew beamed, "Well, now that I've seen my favorite toy, I feel fine!"
"T-toy!" Guy questioned, flustered.
"Of course!" the Ostian grinned, tackling the Sacaen to the ground, "I certainly play with you enough!"
"G-g-get offa me, bastard!" Guy protested.
Matthew pouted, "Where would the fun be in that?"
The swordsman tried his hardest to fight the blush creeping to his face, but he failed miserably.
Not really sure what to do next, the two of them simply stared at each other for a while. The silence was eating away at Guy, and just when he was going to complain about Matthew being heavy-
"Matthew! Guy! Where are you guys! It's supper time!"
"H-hear that, M-Matthew? W-we'd better g-get b-back…" the Sacaen stuttered horribly.
Expecting the spy to race back to camp for food without him, Guy relaxed somewhat. What he didn't predict, however, was that Matthew stayed put. The red-caped thief continued to stare at the person beneath him, almost as if he hadn't heard the call from camp.
"M-Matthew? C-cut it out!" the sword master cried, pushing the other off of him with all of his might.
"Oomph!" the thief fell backward. Shaking his head, he asked with pure innocence, "What was that for?"
This confused Guy. Matthew truly sounded as though he felt that he didn't deserve to be shoved.
"A-are you s-s-sure you're all right?" the green haired myrmidon asked in bewilderment.
Hesitantly, Matthew stood and sighed, "Guy… we're friends… right?"
Dumbfounded, the swordsman nodded mutely, curious as to where his 'friend' was going with his question.
Smiling hopefully, the Ostian continued, "And that means… I can tell you anything… right?"
Guy gulped in a nervous manner, replying unsurely, "Um, yeah?"
"The truth is… I'm not always… as cheery as I seem. In fact, I'm almost never happy anymore… I just put on the mask of being merry because I don't want anyone to worry… It's just easier to hide it… gosh, I miss her… so much…"
"Oh…" Guy breathed in disappointment, "So you're still…?"
The blonde answered, "Well… no… I have found someone else, but… every time I think of Leila, I feel guilty… like I'm betraying her whenever I think about this other person… Heh, I'm not making any sense, am I?"
"Matthew…" Guy began, causing the thief to give him a questioning look.
With more confidence than he ever had before, the Sacaen gently wrapped his arms around the spy.
"Matthew, I think Leila would want you to be happy… no matter who you're with… And also… I think that maybe she… wants you to have someone you can lean on whenever you feel sad…" the shorter one soothed.
Clutching the myrmidon's shirt, Matthew drew him closer, burying his face in Guy's neck and sighed, "Thank you…"
The heat of the thief's breath tickled Guy's skin, causing him to blush and lose every shred of boldness in his being.
He swallowed the lump in his throat, saying, "Um… you can l-l-let go now, M-M-Matthew…"
"But… you're the one who hugged me…" the spy grinned against Guy's flesh.
And that cocky smirk was back again as Matthew only squeezed tighter.
Wow, I used the word 'almost' quite a lot! …So, what do you guys think? Please review and let me know! Feedback is my motivation!