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"Please Jackie?" Alice begged, tugging on my pant leg. "It's only a small favor!" I yawned loudly unable to rid myself of her nagging. Her persistence is getting on my nerves. I rolled out from beneath the cart ride looking her in the face.

"No." I curtly responded digging through the giant box of tools at my disposable. My eyes lit up from the sight of a particular new and rugged wrench that could, with its longer handle, ease more stubborn bolts in without much of a problem. What a good find~

"Please? It will only be for a little while." She whined as I rolled myself back under the stubborn ride, hitching it to an annoying wrench that defied my desires for it to tighten. If left as it is the wheel could come off leading to quite the law suit...if anyone really cared about getting hurt.

"Why can't anyone else do it? Besides isn't he a grown man already? He can take care of himself!" I snapped back cranking down on a stubborn wrench. How can she ever think to ask me such a thing?

"But Julius gets so caught up in his work that he doesn't even eat properly!"

"Get Ace to do it." I half heartedly suggested. I know Ace would be a terrible keeper. He'll probably get lost in the clock tower itself. Hell he's an idiot...

"You know perfectly well that he can't do it and all of the other role holders will be opposed to it!"

"As am I." I smirked as the bolt finally caved, sinking into the wheel where it belonged. I rolled out from under it hopping to my feet and patted its side triumphantly. I knew it would give in sooner or later-

"Please?" I turned to deny her but froze from the puppy eyes and jutted lower lip. I scowled at her childish face. No. I absolutely refuse. He's a fully grown man! He can take care of himself so all I have to do is reject her and-

"Fine." The words rolled off my tongue with ease from the automatic response to her pleading.

"Great! In the morning go and make him coffee. Black is how he likes it. He won't eat anything else so don't bother giving him breakfast and make sure you give him a hefty lunch and a light dinner. His stomach will get upset if you give him too large of a meal at night and even if he complains you must get him into bed at 10:00 at the latest! If he stays up any later than that he will work until dawn no matter how much you coax him otherwise. I'll leave him to you for tonight and the next month. Thank you Jackie!" She bounded forward pecking me on the check before scurrying off. The moment she turned the corner an eruption of laughter ripped through my throat nearly throwing me to the ground.

"T-the way she explained it made him sound like-sound like a dog or something-!" I hysterically snickered. Random costumers walking by stared at me with a questioning expression before hurrying off. The immense multitude of giggles and bellowing laughter echoed off the wall as I struggled to collect myself. I heaved a long sigh wiping away a few tears of joy. Oh that was priceless...but was she really serious about all that? Geez...such a high maintenance girl. Whatever. Sure, I'll take care of him. Maybe if I'm lucky my vile will fill up some more.

The hours stretched on for days as I tiredly worked on the various machines that Gowland abuses on a daily basis. First the rollercoaster with the loose wheels need to be fixed and then the horror house where the mechanical dolls aren't popping up properly and then there's the drainage of the tunnel of love to clean up the extra muck that's piled up and then there's the cotton candy machine that's not spinning properly and, before all of that, moving the stupid cart back onto the track of the rails. By the end of the day my thoughts were all in a discord begging for the necessary sleep my body craved.

I slumped back to my room barely able to keep on my feet. The lights of the nearby street lamps flickered, catching my weary eyes. Ah, the bulb needs changing...I hedged forward, tempted to fix the problem right away before waving it off. I'll get to it later. I kicked back the door stumbling into the room. As I crossed the floor my various articles of clothing slipped off until I was in nothing but my underwear. I sighed, flopping down onto my bed. Ah~ this is heaven...I inhaled the sweet scent of myself snuggling into the warm blankets. Sleep is nice...

...which will have to wait. Crap.

I forgot about Julius...I sucked in a deep breath reluctantly peeling myself from the soft desirable sheets. I'll have to come back later after at least checking on Julius. I growled. Why do I have to take care of a full grown man?! It pisses me off-! I angrily ripped a pair of sweat pants off the counter, slipping them on along with a nice loose black tank top. He'll have to deal with my sloppy appearance. My other pair of clothes is all dirty from the stupid oil that sprayed all over me.

My shoes tapped wildly over the cobble stone path as I followed the gleaming light shining all along the road. A fully grown man...please! This is pathetic that I have to go and check on him like this. I swear Alice just treats him like a stupid dog! Even the way she described what to do pissed me off. I've only met him a few times and those were just passing glances but good hell at least give the man his dignity rather than cutting off his balls and serving them to me on a china plate.

I heavily exhaled, reaching the clock tower. How annoying...I gripped the door, unable to move the handle. It's locked? Maybe I should just go back then? I was about to turn away and return to my sweet bed before something caught my eye. My eyes narrowed as I approached the shiny bronze object that was lying on the ground; a clock which had stopped ticking. I wonder where this came from? Maybe Julius dropped it? I sighed. Julius is studious and hard working. I doubt he would leave something like this here on his front door on purpose. Maybe someone who wants to get this fixed but was too embarrassed to ask him to his face? Whatever. I'll just go and put this on his desk then.

I knelt down whipping out a small velvet case. I lightly unraveled it revealing a set of picks. Gowland tends to lose about half of his keys and ends up breaking down the door when he can't find the right one. I inserted the longest pin I had along with a second, shorter one to hold the main locking mechanism as I punched in the movable code. It's a waste of a door to just go around and knocking them over. I grinned as the lock clicked open, allowing me free access into the building. Good thing I know how to pick locks.

I jogged up the stairs peeking into various rooms on the way up. I wonder which one is his main work station? In each and every room I found clocks, clocks, and - what's this?

More clocks.

This poor hermit really has his work cut out for him. I passed one room in particular freezing as I spied something large on the desk nestled in the center of the room. I back tracked peeking into it. There, slumped over the desk, was Julius with a clock in one hand and a tiny picking tool in the other. The worst immediately came to mind as I rushed to his motionless side. He's dead already?! I haven't even begun to take care of him though-! A light, subtle snore shove back my reckless fears as I sighed. H-he's just sleeping...wow that gave me a scare...

I gazed over his peacefully resting face. I giggled at his angelic face. Minus his scowling he's actually pretty cute; even with the unnaturally long hair. I've personally always liked guys in long hair. Maybe that's because my brother had it too? I deeply sighed touching his shoulder. I have one hell of a brother complex...

"Get up Julius. You can't sleep here." I said, lightly shaking his broad shoulders. My eyes unconsciously admired his rather slim but muscular physique. Not just his hair but his body too...he's actually really attractive. I've never been this close to him so I've never really noticed how good looking he is. He grumbled in response, shifting away from my prying fingers. I huffed. His cute face will only get him so far. Especially when I'm so freaking tired-!

"I said get up Julius. You need to go sleep in your own bed!" I reprimanded. He deeply inhaled again, brushing off my nagging voice. I snatched hold of his wrist, slipping the wrench and clock from his hand. He needs to get to sleep already! His hand flashed forward, catching my hand in his grasp. His large hand and nimble fingers latched tightly to my hand infusing a heated sensation through the simple touch. I flinched and yanked my hand back from the questioning reaction my body was experiencing. What is this-?! His grip remained firm but gentle, unrelenting in his clutches. He's strong-!

"Alice...," He lovingly mumbled with a sigh. Immediate anger swept through me like a fiery inferno. Alice this and Alice that and Alice this and Alice that and Alice this and Alice that and Alice this and Alice that-! I'm sick of it-! I'm sick and tired of Alice being the only one on everyone's mind. They continue to moon after her even though she's already chosen that idiot Blood. What is wrong with them all? Don't they have better things to do than to howl up an already taken tree?

"It's Jackie, Julius." I gruffly spat, much more venomously than I meant to as I tore my hand from his soft grasp.

"Jackie...?" He uttered with a questioning tone, creasing his eyebrows together. He jerked back without warning, leaping to his feet with wide eyes. I cringed away from his sudden movement. W-what's wrong? He blinked, as though trying to believe what he saw. Is he...disappointed that Alice didn't come? I held back a sneer; how petty.

"Is something wrong Julius?" I asked, trying to keep the annoyance from my voice. He stiffened slightly, altering his face back to his infamous stone cold emotionless face.

"Not at all." He coolly replied still startled from my presence.

"Then why did you react like that?" I pressed, demanding for an answer. He sighed irritably folding his arms as he shot me a cross look.

"I hadn't expected a visitor to come so late and wake me in the middle of the night." He replied with equal ferocity. I hinged back slightly, embarrassed. Am I not needed then?

"What's that in your hand?" He questioned, motioning towards the bronze clock. My gaze flickered to the beautifully crafted clock, holding it up for him to see.

"I found it on your front door." I explained, placing it on his desk. He took it up in his lithe fingers, prodding it with an experienced eye. His pure concentration solely on the beautiful mechanism made my heart thump a little faster. He has such a steadfast and passionate eye for such a common thing...it's admirable. It's almost like he's an artist with the way he admires the crafts, picking up things which I would never have known existed if he didn't pay special attention to it.

"...My door was locked for the night." He mentioned, casting a suspicious glance my way. I stiffened, broken out of my trance as I looked away, abashed. I broke in...t-that's a felony...I didn't think about that. I tried to relax myself, easing my discomfort. I feel...intimidated by this veteran engineer. And yes, I consider someone who fixes clocks to be an engineer. A very skilled one, if that. It takes a steady hand and a keen eyes to see such small details. I personally work better with bigger things but, when it comes right down to it, I can fix the little things too. Not nearly as well as Julius I'm sure.

"I picked it." I simply stated trying to act nonchalant like Ace. I want to get along with Julius. He's interesting. The look in his eyes as he studied every little scrupulous detail of that single clock...it was mind boggling.

"Why?" He pressed. I sighed. I've never really seen him in person before. Of course he would be suspicious of the reason why. But how will he react when I tell him Alice told me to take care of him?

"To check on you." I hesitantly replied. His face went blank absorbing my ludicrous answer.

"Why?" He asked again, purely puzzled by my reasoning. I sighed as the words tumbled out of my mouth.

"Alice asked me to watch over you while she was off with Blood." I carefully assessed his frown grow deeper.

"Really?" He asked with a hint of deluded sarcasm and disbelief.

"Yeah. So get to bed and go to sleep. I'll be back in the morning." I said, hastily walking towards the door. This is more torturous than anything. This must be so degrading to him!

"I'm not a child." He huffed. I was right; he's upset. But, a promise is a promise and I'll do my best to support that. I glanced back at his rigid stance.

"I know." I responded with a sly smile crossing my lips before I slipped out the door. I'm glad he has the same thought as I did when Alice told me to come. What do I have to worry about? He obviously is a grown man and can take care of himself.

JULIUS'S POV

I couldn't believe my eyes. Jackie was there, gently taking hold of my hand before I chased her out. Her genuinely puzzled face and beautiful voice that called my name in my sleep...I shuttered. She went to all the trouble to come to me even in such a late hour. And for what? For me to nip at her heels and kick her out of the tower? No...now she won't come back. I was quite harsh with her. But that fleeting smile that crossed her face before she left...will she come back even as Alice did? I simply just don't understand foreigners. No matter how much I push them away they always come back.

My face flushed lightly with embarrassment. That troublesome woman went and did something unnecessary again. Asking Jackie to care for me...ridiculous! I am a grown man. I've taken care of myself even before Alice came to wonderland. My clock ticked slightly faster as Alice's gentle smile flashed through my mind. And now she's gone off with that Hatter...I shook off my objection. She's happy and that's what matters.

But then what about my feelings? My innermost, selfish desires that wanted to keep her here with me, to rot in this tower along my side for the rest of this game. I...I wanted her to stay. I loved waking up in the morning and seeing her desirable smile while she handed me a terrible cup of coffee. She often pranced around in that shameless dress of hers but it was a pleasure to see her by my side nevertheless. And now it's only the Hatter who gets to enjoy such things. I sighed, relaxing my tensed knuckles. What a depressing person I am. I need to accept that which I've always denied.

No one will ever want the mortification in that sort of romantic light.

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How depressing~ I was feeling down while writing Julius's pov. Ha! So what do you think of this so far? I don't know how far this will make it but hey, I was just thinking that since Julius doesn't have very many stories I'll just go ahead and write some. Tell me what you think if you want this to continue! REVIEW!