❝ my heart isn't broken yet,
it's still healing,
bit by bit. ❞

➵ my one, true friend (part three)

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the thief reached out and patted his head lightly. the mage just glared back but made no movement to object. he shuffled slightly in his seat, he's still upset about claude but he'll get over it again. he's sure he will. he did once, but that? that was many years ago.

gusion looked up, pouting childishly, “why did you have to leave me?” it was still there. the question hurts. does claude not enjoy his company no more?

the thief cocked his head to the side, “long story short, a thief's got to run, right? even if it means disappointing you immensely. yeah, i'm bad at reasoning.” he laughed it off, playing it cool.

gusion sat there, looking at him widely. amidst his confusion, he grabbed the thief's hand. “i'll never understand how its like to be a thief.” he smiled slightly, his grip tightening.

“it's pretty fun. you should ask dexter, he's been in the game even before i met you! i swear he knows everything on how to make the perfect heist.” a little spark could be seen in claude's eyes as he kept on elaborating. it gave gusion reason, with him out in the wild. what is there for him to do?

his family didn't care for him. no friends were there to hug him. all he had was this stupid little thief and his monkey by his side. eh, but he's not picky. his claude will just do.

“yeah, dexter, he seems like a nice
pet—” gusion paused as a disgusted look spreaded across claude's face, “tsk, what's this gay romance you have with this monkey?”

“hey! he's not just a pet or some monkey, he's my best friend! only that!” he spat out at gusion.

the mage boy responded with a tint of hurt in his tone, “so you found a new best friend?”

“eh? you still want to keep our friendship? i'd figure after i left, you wanted absolutely nothing to do with me.” dexter hopped on claude's shoulder, burying his face in his neck as he watched the two boys.

gusion laid back slightly and pushed his lower lip forward, “i didn't say i wanted to.”

the thief just shrugged, “okay then. . . but since you're out and free from that weird family of yours. what are you going to do?” he sat back, awaiting for his answer.

“simple. stay with you.”

claude rolled his eyes, “when did i agree on that?”

the mage stood up and grabbed the thief's hand, “even if you don't, i'm not going to leave your side.”

the thief cocked his head to the side and responded lazily, “uh okay then, hmm, sounds weird but okay. stay if you want but we're going to be traveling a lot. so try to keep up with us, uh, okay?” he stuttered a little, looking at his childhood friend.

“no,” gusion smiled and laughed playfully, hitting claude's shoulder lightly, “just try to keep up with me.”

claude blinked, “but that's not how it works. your the one who's supposed to follow me.”

right then, the mage vanished.

whereas the thief just sighed, as if he'll leave gusion behind and wander somewhere off. with dexter disagreeing, they both searched for the pesky little mage, yet he still couldn't let him go off.

he's right, he will have to keep up with him.

“let's just hope he won't be that big of a nuisance, dexter. it will hurt my little heart to have to let him go,” claude joked but yet he earned another disapproving look from dexter.

the mage was always cheerful around claude, it hurts to have saw him so upset earlier. but his heart wasn't broken yet. it just needed to heal, bit by bit.

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every night i hold you in my arms,
and tell you about my day,
i always hoped you've been listening,
but once again, you were naive,
you didn't hear those three words I said to you. i'll repeat it again,

'i love you.'

“hey!” the ragged boy climbed through the window, holding a shining object in his hand. as he ran towards the sleeping mage, it was already past midnight yet claude was always awake.

he ran over, grabbing his friend's head and shaked him gently. nope, still asleep. the ragged boy smiled bitterly and placed the object on his bed.

the boy smiled as he recalled the memories of today. “you won't believe what happened today! look what i got.” he picked up the object, unraveling it to a shiny little dagger.

“i found it, in the paxley's mansion. isn't it dumb that they don't allow melee weapons yet they have this lying around? it mustn't be important since i doubt they'll give this to any of the apprentices. but it's cool, right?” claude lowered his tone, “stealing is more fun than i thought. all the cool stuff i can get, things that i can never have.”

he looked at the sleeping mage. he's not listening. probably for the best. the ragged boy just slid the weapon under his bed as it stopped shining.

“get some rest,” he muttered to him. he smiled slightly, “i love you, dumby.”

after all those nights, gusion had never been listening. and this night was once again the same.

as claude placed his friend back down, he ran to his window and climbed out. he always told gusion that he goes to his room every night and the mage always tried his best to stay awake.

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stealing eventually became a bad habit for claude, leading him to all sorts of trouble. he grew distant to gusion trying his best to hide, which includes hiding from him. and eventually he just had to leave, one way or another. it's strange how to this day, he's never been caught. except his one true friend always seems to find him.

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ending for this was rushed. :p
sorry if it disappointed you but I tried my best lmo.
but I'm finally done with one, true friend so I'll start on other oneshots soon. owo