Semblance

He smells like whiskey and regret.

His eyes are shadowed, darkened with secrets long kept hidden and the sickeningly familiar lie that passes through his lips over and over again, composed of two little words:

"I'm fine."

It must have almost begun to feel real, begun to feel like the truth, Matthew thinks, repeating those words for a dozen different people a day. Forcing a smile, feigning contentment… he wonders if Arthur had, for even one moment, convinced himself that he really was okay.

His thoughts grind to a halt as Arthur grabs his arm, pulling him closer. He rests his head against the Englishman's chest, hearing his heart beat under his clothes, and finding some semblance of comfort in the sound.

Arthur buries his head in Matthew's shoulder, his warm breath ghosting over his ear as he whispers the next two words that fall from his lips as easily as he breathes air.

"I'm sorry."

He had always been such a lovely liar.

He smells like whiskey and regret.

His eyes are shadowed, darkened with secrets long kept hidden and the sickeningly familiar lie that passes through chapped lips over and over again, composed of two little words:

"I'm fine."

It must have almost begun to feel real, begun to feel like the truth, Matthew thinks, repeating those words for a dozen different people a day. Forcing a smile, feigning contentment… he wonders if Arthur had, for even one moment, convinced himself that he really was okay.

His thoughts grind to a halt as Arthur grabs his arm, pulling him closer. He rests his head against the Englishman's chest, hearing his heart beat under his clothes, and finding some semblance of comfort in the sound.

Arthur buries his head in Matthew's shoulder, his warm breath ghosting over his ear as he whispers the next two words that fall from his lips as easily as he breathes air.

"I'm sorry."

He had always been such a lovely liar.

A/N ;; This is something like an excerpt of a larger story. I might expand on it one day.