Chapter 12

Matthew sighed as he sat on the edge of his bed. It was later in the evening, and he had basically given up on finding anything that would let him stay. Cain had joined him, and he flashed a tired grin at the redhead. From running around out in the courtyard, to packing... He was a bit exhausted. "Sorry I ruined the chance you worked so hard to get me."
Cain groaned as he laid down on Matthew's bed with his arms behind his head. He lifted his chin to look at Matthew, who was sitting on the edge. "I still can't believe that jerk. Did he even see you out there? That was amazing!" Of course, Cain had a bit of a bias, but he genuinely meant the words.

Matthew let out a chuckle as he leaned back on the bed, looking at his lover. "Well, you kept making me seem like I was so fast and cunning, and all that happened was me getting thrown in the snow like I was nothing." He moved up on the bed, so he could easily lean down and give the redhead a quick kiss. "But... thanks for helping. It means a lot."

"You were," Cain insisted. He may be Oswin's top student, but just as Matthew wasn't capable of his abilities, Cain couldn't do half of what Matthew displayed in the courtyard. He sighed, and lifted his chin to return the small kiss. "I hope that asshole realizes it before it's too late. If not..." Cain frowned. "Just... don't forget to write me every now and then, alright?"

Matthew offered another soft smile as he sat close to Cain. "I won't." A silence fell over them. The kind of saddened silence that couldn't be helped by words; anything they said was weighed over by the fact this could be their last night spent together- the last night they would see each other for what could be a very long time.
Their moment was interrupted by a quick knock on the door, and Matthew glanced over to it. Who was it? Someone, coming to tell him goodbye? He doubted it. Getting off of the bed, he opened the door... only to see nobody there. Confused, he looked back and forth down the hallway; it was empty, like nobody had passed by. On the ground, however, was a piece of paper. Bending down, he picked it up. There were only four words on it.
'Training starts at dawn.'

Cain was silent for awhile; words seemed hollow. If this was the last he'd see of Matthew for some time, he didn't want to taint their closeness with- knock knock . Noises like that. He sat up on the bed, but only watched as Matthew went to answer the door. "Who's there?" He asked curiously. It was fairly late; too late for any polite visitor to come knocking. "Huh? What's that?" He saw Matthew holding something.

"It's... a note," he replied back as he closed the door behind him. For a second he looked a bit confused as he read it aloud. "Training starts at dawn..." What training? His eyes widened as he realized; the soundless footsteps and mysterious note... "Its from that man. Cain, he wants me to train with him."

"Hm?" Cain got off the bed and stood so he could see the note as well. Unsigned, and delivered in secret from someone who wasn't heard... It had to have been from that spy! His eyes widened as he realized what this meant, and a wide smile appeared on his face. "Hell yes!" Without warning, he grabbed Matthew and spun the other around in a circle; it was a good thing the room was mostly clear, or something probably would have been broken.

"Whoa!" Matthew laughed out as he was suddenly spun around. He wrapped his arms around the other in a tight embrace as he was spun; eventually, when Cain stopped, Matthew kept his tight hold on Cain, burying his face in the redhead's shoulder. It looked like Matthew wasn't going home after all.

Cain couldn't stop a hearty laugh- not that he wanted to in the first place. He hugged Matthew close to him, a silly grin on his face. He lifted his hand to run it through Matthew's tawny hair, ruffling it and messing it up. "Welcome back, snowbunny."

Matthew kept a large smile on his face as well, a soft hum coming from his throat as he stayed in Cain's grasp. He never wanted to let go. He gave Cain a kiss on the cheek. "It's good to be back," he whispered out softly, and when the redhead looked towards him, he planted his lips on the other's. Parting away, he chuckled. "Well, that was a lot of time wasted packing."