Once Upon A Time... (EddMatt)

I Love You

Edd quickly ducked behind a huge tree. He leaned against it, clutching his right arm which had a nasty cut running down it. Blood had already begun to soak through his shirt. The footsteps that had been following him grew louder and louder.

"Edd..." Tom's voice called. "Where are you..? You'll never protect Matt by hiding, now will you?"

Edd tightened his grip on his sword, causing pain to shoot up his right arm. He took a sharp breath, before realizing his mistake. Edd ducked just in time, Tom's sword wedged in the tree right where his head had been moments before.

"I can't believe you call this easy..." Edd mumbled, climbing onto his feet.

"What was that?" Tom asked, pointing his sword at Edd. "You want to stop?"

"That would be nice." The small knight replied. "I mean, you're probally getting tired from battling me. You should stop and rest."

"Oh man." A smile appeared on Tom's face. "Those sound like fighting words my good sir."

Edd stared at Tom with a look of determination. "Maybe they are."

Tom laughed. "Wow! I haven't trained anyone like you in a long time. It's nice to actually see fighting spirit in someone."

Edd took a fighting stance. He was ready for anything Tom could throw at him.

"Too bad that our lesson is over." Tom sighed, driving the tip of his sword into the soft ground. He leaned on it, pulling out his flask and taking a sip from it.

"What!?" Edd yelled. "We're stopping now? Why?!"

Tom chuckled. "It getting late. We've already been out here for hours. You should be getting back to Matt. He's probally worried sick."

Edd froze. Had they really been trainning for that long?

"Go on." Tom said, waving Edd away with his hand. "Go back to your Prince Charming."

A red blush spread across Edd's face as he turned to leave.

"Don't forget Edd."

The small knight paused, turning to look back at Tom. "Don't tell Matt. No matter what he says or does, you cannot tell him."

Edd nodded and continued out of the garden. He carefully made his way back through the castle, back to Matt's door. Edd was about to opened it, but he paused.

He looked down at his clothes. They were covered in blood and rips. His face and arm hurt like hell.

What was Matt going to think?

Edd sighed and turned to go change, before being suddenly grabbed from behind.

"EDDDDD!" Matt cried, hugging him tightly. Edd squeaked in pain. "Iwassoworriedyouhavenoideawherewereyouicouldntfindyouyoujustleftiwassoworriedhow-"

Edd carefully pulled away from Matt and laid a hand on his cheek. "I'm so sorry Matt. I didn't mean to scare you."

Edd expected Matt to be smiling, but the prince wasn't. He was staring wide eyed at Edd's bloody arm.

Edd grabbed his arm self consciously, not worrying about the pain it caused. "Oh! Uh, please don't worry about it I-"

"Who did this to you." Matt's voice was cold. It scared Edd.

"N-No one!"

"You're lying." Matt lightly brushed his hand across Edd's cheek. "How could you have gotted a black eye and bloody arm from nothing?"

Edd stayed quiet. So this is what Tom meant about Matt hating violence. It was awful to see Matt like this. He wasn't himself.

"Well?"

The small knight looked down, feeling really bad about what he was about to do.

"I-I was jumped." Edd said quietly.

Matt's face softened, only make Edd feel worse and worse.

"When I woke up, I d-decided to take a walk. You were sleeping so peacefully, that I didn't want to wake you. While I was out in the garden, some guys grabbed me a-and beat me up. Th-they said that I wasn't fit to guard you..."

Even though most of what Edd said was a lie, there was some truth. Whenever he was alone, people would throw insults at him and call him unfit to guard the prince. Normally these things wouldn't bother Edd, but they had built up so much that he couldn't keep it in any longer.

Tears were forming in Edd's eyes. He wasn't even trying to lie anymore. "They're all right! How can I protect you, if I can't even protect myself? I'm a failure."

Matt pulled Edd into a big hug, being careful not to hurt his arm. "You're not a failure Edd. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I wouldn't trade you for the world."

"But I can't protect you." Edd whispered. "I'll never be good enough."

"Edd look at me." Matt carefully lifted Edd's chin up, staring right into his beautiful green eyes. "You are wonderful. You're kind, smart, funny... There's no one I'd rather be here with. You are my whole world, and I'm never letting you go."

Edd stared up at Matt, eyes watering. "Why... Why do you think of me like that? Why do you think I'm so great... when I'm not..?"

Matt couldn't take it any longer.

"It's because I love you."

Edd froze, his face turning red.

"I love you Edd. You're the most amazing person I've ever met. Whenever I'm alone or sad you cheer me up. When-"

Matt's eyes widened as their lips connected. It was like a million fireworks had been set off inside his head. It was wonderful.

It didn't seem like they had stayed together long enough. Edd pulled away from Matt, smiling up at him. Matt began to laugh, picking up Edd and twirling him around the hallway.

"U-Uh, Matt?"

Matt quickly cleared his throat, setting him down. "Sorry, I was just excited..."

Edd giggled. "It's not that, It's just, uh, I kinda bled all over your shirt."

Matt looked down to see most of his left side covered in blood. He grabbed Edd's good arm and led him inside his room. "Come on, let's get you patched up."

Matt helped Edd peal off his bloody shirt, without hurting his arm and helped him onto the bed. He grabbed a small first aid kit from his drawer and began tending to the knight's wounds. Edd let out a small hiss when he applied the ointment.

"Thanks Matt." Edd sighed as Matt started to put everything away.

"Anything for you." Matt winked, putting the kit back where he got it from. "It's such a shame that they had to hurt your pretty face."

Edd turned slightly red.

Matt sat down next to him. "It doesn't matter though. You'll always be perfect to me."

"I love you Matt."

"I love you too."