Downton Abbey: All Is Fair In Love And War

You Sound Like A Jealous Prat, Thomas

The Great War,
December 1915

"Will you take your leave come Christmas? Visit that sweetheart of yours?" Thomas said as he fingered the edge of the mug containing tea.

Matthew rolled his eyes at the Corporal "It was not meant for your ears"

"And yet it reached my ears, did it not? The talk of the trenches, Lieutenant Matthew and his sweetheart back in London." Thomas said as he smiled and joked through his jealousy — a dangerous emotion for him to carry as he tended to ruin the lives of those he held any envy or jealous-tendencies towards.

"I already explained, Thomas, not that I truly had to," Matthew said and took a sip from his mug. It was true he didn't need to explain — if he wished to have a sweetheart he was allowed to, for it surely wasn't as if he and Thomas were together, were they? He glanced at Thomas through the corner of his eyes, no they weren't — just two friends enjoying company and closeness as wife and husband should, according to the law at least. Though he could not deny that tingle within him when he thought of the word 'sweetheart' and 'Thomas' together.

"I know, a story manufactured to keep our meetings dignified and just" Thomas finished his tea and set the mug down "Is she a better dancer than me?" He then asked.

"You sound like a jealous prat, Thomas" Matthew tried to hide his smile by pursing his lips together so tightly that they disappeared.

"Does she speak to you with honesty, as I do?" Thomas shuffled the chair closer to Matthew "Does she kiss you, as I do?" He said and leaned in closer, brushing blonde hairs from Matthew's ear and whispered into it "Has she seen you come undone, like I have?" He teased, knowing very well that his words would taunt the Lieutenant.

"We shared only one dance...." Matthew replied and felt his throat go dry from the way Thomas' lips lingered over his ear "....we spoke of nothing of importance, like two passing each other in a village, exchanging pleasantries...." He turned his head, unable to deny Thomas', and their lips brushed together. "She only kissed my cheek as a thank you for the dance" His hands fumbled to set the cup on the table, and he missed as it fell loudly to the ground. "...No one has seen me come undone but you...." Matthew's voice trembled, his heart was pounding — Thomas always caused this to happen to his body, mind and heart and he had for months now.

Thomas' lips attached themselves ravagingly to Matthew's and the animalistic hunger from their first kiss reemerged in the two. It was gripping of limbs, tongues clashing, it was sweat and noises of pleasure once more. Matthew could deny it all he wanted, and he would still do so and claim his emotions never went past the dugout, but nothing made his heart yearn more than Thomas being near him. Not Mary, not anyone from his past, not his invented story of Lavinia. He could blame the war, and he would still do so, but how could he look upon Thomas' in Downton without the urge to press their lips together, share an honest conversation, and the sensation of his body asleep on top of his? Every leave he took, that was what Matthew missed, and his nights were restless without the footman pressed against him in a cot far too small for the two of them.

Thomas had fallen, fallen deeply, and his heart did nothing but scream for Matthew and their moments in the dugout. Not only their fierce passion but also the honest company they shared. He knew he could not be the sweetheart of a future Lordship and the duties that laid before Matthew, and a part of him wished a bullet would take him rather than losing all of this once the war was over — regardless of who won it. So tonight he needed to be brave, he needed to ask what he wished for "Will you allow me to see you in your full beauty?" Thomas spoke as the kiss broke and Matthew's eyes widened.