He choked on his own words; his chest felt like it was about to burst open from pain.
And then, it just faded all away, away with the breeze. All the feelings of hurt, betrayal, and sadness just disappeared. His hands dropped back to his sides, his head falling slightly, his shoulders sagged.
He was empty.
Matt was horrified at Akbar seeming to shut down. Rage-filled screaming or sadness he could handle. But seeing Akbar just turn off, just fade. It was terrifying. Like watching a bird break its wings. It struck one hell of a blow at Matt to see the light in Akbar's eyes completely disappear, leaving them as blank, hollow voids.
"If you wanted to go back to her, all you had to do was ask me," Akbar whispered, his voice holding an unnatural amount of blankness. So softly was it spoken, it was hard to hear.
Matt's words failed him, coming out in a slurred mess, completely incomprehensible. Without even thinking, he lunged forward and grabbed Akbar's shoulders. "Hold on, you're taking it all wrong!"
"But you lied to get back here, right?" Akbar tilted his head at Matt, still holding onto the well-known gesture.
The color drained from Matt's face and he let go of the man to run a hand through his own hair in frustration. "Well, yeah, but—"
Akbar cut him off. "So you should stay with her. I'll leave," He told, slowly turning around. Akbar walked a few steps away from Matt, looking up to the sky.
"Akbar, just listen to me—"
"Scones," The silverette whispered.
Swirls of black smoke rose up seemingly from nowhere to incase the Prussian. Unbeknownst to Akbar, the smoke also wrapped around Matt, pulling him along with Akbar back to the world of the dead.
The smoke cleared out quicker than it had appeared, revealing them to be on the bottom level of the Magic Man Arthur's strange building. The first thing Matt saw was the retreating back of the silverette.
Scrambling to catch up to Akbar, Matt pulled him back by tugging viciously on his long hair. He almost made Akbar topple over, but it got him to stop, at least.
"For the love of god Akbar, just stop for a minute!" Matt demanded, frustrated. He slammed his hands into his pants pockets, thinking over what he was going to say. Taking a deep breath, he didn't even get to start before Akbar spoke.
"I didn't mean to bring you along with me, I'm sorry. I never meant to pull you two apart," The silverette apologized, still with empty eyes. "I wasn't aware you had someone else."
Matt put a hand to his forehead, sighing heavily. "Look, I never wanted to get married at all. Katy didn't either; she's got some boy-toy named Daniel or something like that. It was all an arranged marriage, I just went back to tell her about you! I never wanted to be involved with someone!" His story tumbled out in one big mess.
Akbar titled his head. "I'm someone."
Matt stiffened at realizing his mistake. "Well, I didn't actually mean to marry you."
He spoke without thinking again.
Damn it.
Akbar looked down at the ground, a motion Matt recognized from when Akbar spoke of his death.
"I'll go," Akbar said quietly, walking away a little more quickly than usual.
Matt was frozen to his spot before he grabbed his head and screeched a little.
"Just go ahead and tell him marrying him was all a mistake and make him think you hate him, why don't you!? It's not like he didn't already have his heart ripped out by some crazy asshole! You're the biggest idiot in the world, Matt!"
oOo Time Skip oOo
Akbar huddled in his dark corner. He was sitting atop an old coffin that lay across the ground, in a groove in the wall. It kept him out of sight, and provided a nice hiding place. The Prussian was staring blankly in front of him, his head leaning against the cold wall.
He was on his own for quite a bit, until Gilbert and Madeline found him.
The albino was the first to disturb Akbar, jumping to grab onto the other, shaking him a little.
"Aky! We heard about your thing with Matt! Alfie was strolling around and overheard you guys! He said Matt was being a total dummkopf!" Gilbert emphasized each sentence by shaking the other Prussian back and forth.
Madeline, on the other hand, slowly lowered herself down from the rafters to sit in front of Akbar. She delicately grabbed his hand in an attempt to make him feel better.
"Hallo Gil. Hallo Maddie," Akbar responded softly.
"Bonjour, Akbar," Madeline responded, smiling a little at him.
Gilbert bounced. "Yeah, yeah - hallo, hallo. Now, Akbar! Why aren't you out there getting your man back!?"
Akbar turned his head to face Gil. "Because I'm not what he wants. The girl, Katy, is probably better for him anyway."
Madeline swallowed, Gil's shoulders sagged. They were both silent for a few seconds.
Madeline was the first to pipe back up, surprisingly. "Well, what's she got you don't? I doubt she can hold a candle to the beauty of your smile!" She said, grinning.
Akbar made a look of sad acceptance. "She has a beating heart, for one. And secondly, she's a woman . . . That's more than I can be," he sighed, his head falling back against the wall.
Madeline waved a hand. "So? Those girls are ten a penny. You've got tons more! You've got. . . You've got. . ." She trailed off, thinking.
"You've got a way more awesome personality!" Gilbert chirped, finishing Madeline's sentence.
"You've got double anything she's got!" Madeline jumped back in, smiling even wider at her friend.
"I don't have a pulse. I don't have breasts . . . And even if I did they wouldn't be half as big as her's. . ." He squinted on the last part, recalling the image of the platinum blonde.
Gilbert shrugged. "Overrated!"
"And that silly girl isn't wearing Matt's ring~!" The Canadian pointed out, smirking and pointing to the ring on Akbar's hand.
"If he knew the you we know, and how special you can be, Matt would realize she doesn't compare!" Gilbert boasted while slapping Akbar's back.
Akbar glanced at them both. "I know I'm dead, I know I'm a man, I know thinking another man loved me was what killed me the first time, and I was silly to think it would go right this time," The silverette spelled out, pulling his knees to his chest.
For a moment, the Cheer-Up-Akbar duo was silent.
"Akbar. . ." Madeline stopped mid-sentence, reaching out a hand. Smiling sadly, she continued her movement, going to stroke Akbar's hair. "Just remember we care, and things will get better." She titled her head to match his, looking at him expectantly. "Okay?"
Akbar nodded slightly at her.
"Good," She grinned. With that, Madeline nodded at Gilbert, cueing their leave.
oOo Time Skip oOo
Matt raced through unfamiliar corridors, down unknown streets, and around mysterious buildings lit with warm glows. Silhouettes of the corpses inside walked past without a care, no one knowing of Matt's stress.
Where did Akbar disappear to!? Matt inwardly screeched. He had to find that man and apologize! He couldn't just leave Akbar thinking he fell in love with another homophobic jerk!
Matt suddenly stopped. Wait . . . Does Akbar love me? He questioned. Matt rubbed the top of his head, thinking it over. They'd only gotten married a few hours ago. That was also the first time they met. . . He seriously doubted you could fall in love with someone that fast.
Maybe it's just a type of hard-core attraction? Serious like-like? Now I'm thinking like a school girl. Matt's arms dropped down as he stared at the ground with a "that-was-a-really-stupid-thought-and-you-should-feel-stupid-for-it" face for several minutes.
That damn cobblestone would feel his wrath.
Matt shook his head, smacking himself for getting off topic.
"FIND AKBAR ALREADY!" He yelled aloud, making several passing corpses jump in surprise (and slight fear).
oOo
Akbar had finally left his hidey-hole, and was now wandering around aimlessly. It wasn't long before he found himself by a piano. Akbar ran his long fingers over the top of the piano before sitting down to play it. He flowed through the song, enjoying the sound of the elegant melody. It was one he had learned in his youth, though he could not, for the life of him, remember its name.
. . .
Pun not intended.
Akbar began to forget himself in the music, letting it wash away the gnawing feelings that threatened to appear. He ignored the racing footsteps behind him, assuming it was just those of a random passer-by. He continued to ignore it when it sounded like someone crashed into a stack of crates or something, and when the footsteps returned, quickening back towards Akbar's direction.
He didn't know what was up with the owner of the steps, but it did not concern him.
The Prussian slipped up on his piano-playing when someone came up directly behind him, though, placing a hand over his own.
"Hey. Will you hear me out?"
It was Matt's voice, albeit softer than usual. He sounded exasperated.
Akbar didn't fully reply, instead he just nodded a tiny bit.
"I'm sorry I lied to you, I should have just told the truth. But as you've probably noticed by now, I don't always think before I act. At all." Matt confessed, sighing. He sat down next to Akbar, looking at the ivory keys before them.
Akbar turned his head to look at the other, tilting it to the side as usual. "I've noticed," he assured Matt's statement.
Matt snorted before continuing. "This whole day has been kind of a mess."
Akbar just nodded again, going back to tapping the worn keys of the piano. He blinked in surprise when Matt played the next part of the song. Akbar did the next part, eyeing the Canadian next to him. Said Canadian played a more complicated melody, eyeing Akbar right back. Akbar took up the next section, stringing the set of notes together.
It wasn't even a few seconds later they started playing at the same time, both of their effort combined to create a gorgeous piece. A beautiful duet it was, the piano flawlessly emitting the sound despite its age.
At the end, Akbar kesesese'd ever so quietly, with a knuckle to his lips.
Just like the last time Matt had seen him laugh.
In turn, Matt grinned at him. It was nice to see Akbar happy again, even if it was a small amount.
But soon the light fled back out of the icy blue eyes. "I'm not supposed to be the one enjoying your company, am I? It's supposed to be her," Akbar asked under his breath.
Matt groaned, throwing his head back. "I already told you, Katy's got some other guy! She doesn't want me!"
Akbar faced him, seeming to stare into Matt's soul. "Then it should be some other girl, huh?" He murmured.
Matt gave a low growl. Then he did something he never thought he would do. He twisted his hand in a bundle of Akbar's hair and roughly shoved their lips together.
Okay, so he was kissing a dead person.
Put that on the list of "Things Matt has done no one else would ever think is a good idea".
But he'smarried to the dead person, so it's okay, right? Right!
Right.
Right. . .
He didn't know what he was doing anymore.
Matt was pleased to find Akbar returning the kiss despite his inner conflicts about it, though. That would mean Akbar trusted him again, or so he would assume.
After pulling away, they placed their foreheads together, just staring at each other for a time.
"I know Alfie calls me feminine, but you're aware I'm still a guy, right?" Akbar asked, breaking their quiet.
Matt groaned, tilting away and then slamming his head back into its former position, making Akbar wince.
"Of course I know you're a guy, moron. And I don't care. It doesn't bother me that you're gay. Why would it? I've got two dads!" He made a sour face before glancing up and furrowing his brow. "And well, I'm not exactly straight as an arrow either. . ."
Akbar chuckled at that, a small smile making its way onto his face.
Suddenly, an idea popped into Matt's head. He was pretty sure he still had that flower. . .
Reaching into coat, Matt searched for the tell-tale feel of petals or a stem. Giving an "A-ha!" when he found it, Matt pulled a vibrant blue cornflower from his jacket. He had picked it from the forest after he stormed away from the church.
It was originally supposed to be an apology to Katyusha, but Matt figured it could be put to better use like this.
"Look, here, I'm sorry!" He shoved the flower under Akbar's nose, making the other go cross-eyed.
Akbar blinked at the flower, before actually smiling at it. He took it from Matt's hands. "Danke," He said, still looking to the cornflower instead of Matt.
A/N: HOLY CRAPOLA THAT'S A LONG CHAPTER. Longest I've ever written. Wowza. I hope it's a good one~! :D
People update:
Daniel – Nyo/Male!Hungary
Bye~