Inspired by The Thief by Brooke Fraser. This one is a little different because the piece is written from the point of view of Prussia but the song is from the point of view of Canada.

The Thief

"You let her go."

"Gilbert, she was on the other side of a ravine."

"… You could have made the shot."

Matthew ducked his head and focused on his fletching but Gilbert did not miss the self satisfied smile.

"… I could have."

Gilbert snorted. Matthew was the best archer in the kingdom, bar none, and the fact that he had decided to shoulder his bow meant that Gilbert had missed some important detail. Again.

"What did I miss?" He sighed.

Matthew pointed to his likeness on a 'WANTED' poster, tacked to a tree with a knife, and painted with a ridiculous moustache. A leather satchel rested on the dirt beneath the tree. It was teeming with weapons and lace and ribbons.

His sigh changed to laughter as it all clicked into place.

"Oh, it was them."

Elizabeta and her bandits must be back in the neighbourhood. He had thought they were on the other side of the river. It was his mistake and he was sure to pay the price. They were as beautiful as they were dangerous and the crew was female exclusive; "no men allowed".

Gilbert and Matthew had encountered them a couple of times in the past and each time lead to new bruises and taunts. The fact that both factions were still alive meant that they were 'almost friends' and that was as close as it came to friendship amongst thieves.

Matthew hummed in agreement. He put aside his arrows to start sorting through the packs. To rob a robber was considered fair turn out in the forest. It was a treacherous place and to each his own. Still, Elizabeta would be back and Natalia would be more than a little upset. Katyusha, Bella, and Lili were a bit more forgiving but the other two were firecrackers.

"I suppose we better take half and leave the rest then."

Matthew tossed him a bruised apple from one of the packs. The bandits would be back as soon as Elizabeta caught her breath and realized who had ambushed her but they still had a little bit of time to themselves.

Gilbert took a bite from the apple but did not swallow it. He tossed it to a crow and waited for a couple of minutes afterwards in case it was poisoned. When the crow continued to bounce around camp, he chanced a bite and motioned for Matthew to do the same.

Matthew speared his apple on a knife and began slicing pieces. Gilbert used his teeth.

"When did you realize it was them?"

Matthew shrugged but that little smile was back. He pulled his hood up over his blonde curls to hide the expression but Gilbert snorted. Matthew must have known before he even gave the signal to attack.

He had to admire him.

Matthew was wearing doeskin britches and boots to his knees. His belt was wound through his quiver and it rested against his hip. He was wearing a vest, but no chemise underneath, and leather guards against his wrists. His riding cloak, complete with hood, was white with scarlet trim. It was not much for camouflage but, then again, he did not often need to hide.

He could see for miles and would recognize danger long before it came to fighting. Strange, then, that he had so much trouble seeing what was right under his nose.

Gilbert reached for his sword and started sharpening the edges. He bit into the apple to keep it from falling out of his mouth as he wrapped himself around his work. His sword was simple with a single garnet set in the pommel but it had been a gift and he treasured it. It had saved his life more times than he cared to count… Almost as many times as Matthew had.

His outfit was similar to the one Matthew wore in vest and britches but he wore a chemise and gloves too. His cloak was black with the same trim and much more useful when tracking after sunset. He did not have the sight Matthew possessed and so relied much more on gut instinct and luck. Matthew was better at avoiding trouble altogether but Gilbert was better at getting himself out of it again.

"Fine, then. Keep your secrets." He spit out his apple and threw it back at Matthew before returning his hands to his sword. "See if I care."

He smiled when Matthew caught the apple and took a bite of his own.

Gilbert had been travelling with him for about eight seasons. Matthew would be seventy two seasons gone on his next date of naissance and he had been just sixty four seasons gone when he first met him.

He had saved his life in an ambush that was none of his business and Gilbert had not let go of him since.

It raised some eyebrows, he supposed, to see someone with so few seasons travelling with someone who had lost count but Gilbert shrugged it off. He spent most of his time in the forest and such methods of counting were useless there. Survival was the name of the game in the forest; there was alive and then there was dead. That was it. No one spent time counting seasons.

Matthew reached over for another satchel and raised his head enough to catch his eye. He paused with his hand still hovering in the air and blushed. Gilbert winked at him and the blushing worsened.

He ducked his head again and gathered the pack to his chest.

Gilbert and his 'charge', for lack of a better term, had never slept together but he made sure that his intentions were obvious. He would not force the blonde but Matthew was well aware that the option was there. He made sure to be as apparent as possible; he flirted, he teased, he let his touches linger a moment too long.

He was waiting for Matthew to make the first move but, after that, all bets were off. He was a thief and he meant to steal his heart.

Gilbert laughed and went back to his sword. It was well worn and scratched and required additional care to keep it in fighting shape. It was worth the effort.

"Done," Matthew whispered, his voice cracking, and Gilbert had to stifle another fit of laughter. It was hilarious as someone with experience to watch someone without it go through the motions. It was bizarre to think that he used to be so transparent himself.

"Oh?"

"Mmhmm."

"Almost finished." He looked up. "Come sit with me?"

Matthew separated the stolen goods and set them aside before standing up and walking around to settle next to him. Their shoulders were touching even as Matthew drew his knees up and wrapped his arms around them. Gilbert leaned forward to see inside his drawn hood and was pleased to see that his face matched the trim of his cloak.

He knew the option was there and, as long as he knew, Gilbert would not press him or rush the decision. He was content just to know that he had such an effect on the other man. He settled back with his sword and bumped his elbow with his own.

"Thank you."

He was not sure what he was thanking him for. Was it for sitting beside him? For shouldering his bow earlier and not shooting an 'almost friend'? For saving his life over and over again?

It did not matter much. He was thankful for his presence. He was thankful that he no longer travelled alone.

He pressed his sword back into his scabbard and rested his head against his companion. He could feel the heat of his blush through his hood and it was comforting.

In a couple of minutes he would gather their spoils and lead Matthew towards the next great adventure but, for now, he was content to waste a couple of minutes pressed against him. He was content to flirt and tease and wait.

He could wait for the other man to grow up. He could wait to steal his heart.

He could wait forever.

Author's Notes:

This piece is fantasy inspired and I may or may not write other one shots for it in the future. If I do, I will post them on my LiveJournal instead.

I could have written this to be much more sentimental than it is but I decided to make it a little light hearted instead. This fantasy kingdom counts birthdays in seasons instead of years. Canada is sixteen when he first meets Prussia and eighteen years old now. Prussia has lost track but he is willing to wait until Matthew is old enough to deepen their relationship on his own.

Please leave a review and feel free to offer opinions, advice, or criticism. All are welcome. You are free to leave an anonymous review, I do not mind, just please let me know what you think of this piece.