Author's note: Lame title is lame -_- I had even worse titles in mind, but this sounded the least annoying, so I stuck with it. To those who already have read my stories, it's nice to see you again, and to those who haven't, hi! I have a strong urge to advertise my other fanfic, but I would rather not force anyone to read it, so if you like Elliot and Leo, you can go read it if you'd like~ However, this story mainly revolves around Oz and Gil in a battle of the bands like story. It is also a collaboration fic between me and jellybean-hearts (though I'm writing the story for fun and she's using the characters for an assignment). This is AU, but not entirely. It's more like Reveille in present time, and there are no chains or the Abyss or anything like that. Names from the world of Pandora Hearts will be incorporated into this story in some way though. Oh, and a warning: some OOC characters. Still need to get the personalities down right. The personality for Gil will be a noticeable combination of his 14 year old self and his 24 year old self because I think it would be cuter that way. Plus it's not like he's drunk all the time. Since this is the first chapter, I don't have much else to say except on with the story! I do not own Pandora Hearts. It belongs to Jun Mochizuki. Review please? And before I forget, listen to Oz's character song if you haven't already. Heck, listen to it while reading this. I don't know any other songs that can act as good imagery for Oz's voice, so it was the only one I could think of to use. ~Yume
Chapter 1: In the spur of the moment
Oz's POV
You're coming to Reveille for the summer? Do you have a place to stay?
No.
Well then, why don't you stay with me for the summer?
It has been a week since I left for summer vacation and three days since I had that conversation and made that decision, but now that I'm here, how do I get to uncle Jack's place anyway? He gave me directions, but unfortunately, they were pretty bad and I just ended up walking around in circles until I was lead to a coffee shop called The Blue Angel. Either way, I was still lost. I wasn't worried though. This was my first time at the capital, so sooner or later I would've been needed to ask for directions. After about 30 minutes, now seemed like a good time as any to start asking. Shortly after walking around for a bit longer, I came across a tall guy clad entirely in a long black coat standing beside a lamppost while looking at his phone. Smiling, I poked him on the shoulder to get his attention.
"Hey, do you mind helping me find a record company called Pandora?" I asked after giving the man a moment to break away from whatever he was doing to pay attention to me.
Dark black hair and captivating golden eyes. Was this guy a host or something?
"If you keep going down this road, there will be a tall building that goes by that name," the man pointed out as he pointed to tower covered in glass windows up ahead.
"Thanks um..."
"Gilbert."
"Gil then. I'm Oz."
He gave me a look that read, "Why are you calling me that if we just met?", but didn't comment on it. Instead, he questioned me about whether I intended to participate an audition Pandora was holding today. Uncle Jack never mentioned it, so I wasn't aware of the occasion, but it sounded like something interesting would come out of it if I tried out, so I nodded.
"Are you going to the audition too?" I wondered curiously as he stuffed his phone in his pocket and then started walking in the same direction I was headed.
This time around Gil did not meet my gaze and mumbled a quiet yes. He appeared to be okay with giving me directions, so why is he shy all of a sudden? It was a bit unusual, but it was definitely cute.
We walked in silence towards the building when suddenly someone familiar to Gil, based on the look on his face, exited the front double doors and began demanding to know why he was here upon seeing his face. Irritated, he began to throw punches at him mentioning something about him running away from the Nightray family while Gil swiftly dodged the attacks in a panic and backed up slowly. As a way to thank him for the directions, I grabbed Gil's hand and pulled him away from the fray and into the building. From the corner of my eye, I could see that he was still yelling until another someone about his age with large glasses smacked him in the head with a book and dragged him away.
I grinned, happy that the escape was successful, as we followed the necessary procedures to sign in, receive our numbers, and then hurry towards the waiting room. After a quick scan of the area once we arrived at our destination, I noticed that there was only 21 people auditioning and Gil and I had barely made it in time. Due to our late entrance, all eyes were on us causing Gil to become nervous and start fiddling with his hat. I planned on doing something to snap him out of it, like flick his forehead, but the number 20, my assigned audition number, was called shortly after I stepped into the room giving me no time to do just that. With a sigh, I took a quick glance at Gil who had found a seat away from the heated gazes of would-be rivals and the love struck gazes from the girls before moving to a different room to actually go along with the spur-of-the-moment audition.
In the auditioning room, I spotted my uncle Jack and his friend Glen along with Glen's sister, Lacie sitting as the three judges much to my surprise. Apparently, that surprise was reflected on Jack's face as well while Lacie just looked amused and Glen kept his usual stoic expression.
"Oz, why are you part of the auditioning group? You could've just asked for Lottie and she would've sent you up," Jack asked. "Were you really planning on auditioning to be part of a band?"
"Not really, but it sounded like fun," I replied cheerfully.
"Oz, because you haven't sent any demos and we know you, you do realize that we will have to judge you more strictly than the other participants to avoid bias, right?" Glen commented seriously.
"Now now. Let's just give him a chance. Afterwards, you can go spend time with Alice and we'll tell you the results after everyone has auditioned. So, what position do you intend to audition for?" Lacie asked kindly.
"Singer...?" I guessed without really knowing what I planned on doing.
I had little talent in the instrument category, so singer was the only option I could think of at the moment.
"Can you write your own music?" Jack questioned curiously.
I shook my head. Honestly, I've never written or tried to write music in my life.
"What kind of music can you sing?" Glen questioned after Jack received my answer.
"I don't know," I replied ignorantly.
Both Jack and Glen sighed while Lacie giggled and urged me to sing. She pointed to the microphone stand in the corner of the room and motioned for me to bring it to the front and just start singing without music. Off the top of my head, I couldn't recall an entire set of lyrics of a well-known song, but I remembered the words to a song I sang to cheer up my childhood friend once, so I decided to go with that. What was it called again? Oh yeah, "Swear to...".
I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the air I needed to push through the verses, and then began to sing as requested.
The clock's hand is noisy
ad begins bending towards 0 a.m.
I feel like I can hear the footsteps
of the darkness that lurks in the inner part
of the mirror.
Before I know it,
a fragment of loneliness, that was
supposed to be extinguished,
closes up before my eyes and sneers at
me.
Things to lose, I thought I had none of
those.
I was going to get accustomed to
loneliness, but
if I'm necessary to you, then
I'll definitely never leave you alone.
I swear to you.
Forever close to you.
Every day was blank, and in my warped
smiling face
there was even tears, that stayed there
unshed.
When I was like that, you murmured to me,
"Crying is not something to be ashamed
of."
By turning myself into something so
humble,
what did I think I was protecting? I'm a
clown lost in a forest of confusion.
When I told you, "There are no things to
believe in, anywhere"
I hurt you, didn't I?
I will keep on protecting you,
who showed me that there are things that
will stay unchanged
Averting my eyes, plugging my ears,
I was running inside a dream.
I wished for a reason to exist in this place.
"I want to be loved", I didn't notice I
had such a wish.
I was going to get accustomed to
loneliness, but
if I'm necessary to you, then
I will keep on protecting you.
I swear to you.
Forever close to you.
At the end of the song, Lacie began clapping joyfully while Jack and Glen followed suit in that order, but with more surprise on Jack's face and a poker face for Glen. Politely, she thanked me for my performance and told me where I could find her daughter. Eagerly, I dashed out of the room, but before heading over to where Alice could be found, I whispered a "Thank you" into Gil's ear triggering an adorable blush and then told him to meet me here if he passes the audition. Gilbert Nightray... Hopefully we both make it, I thought excitedly. All the teasing I could do to him when we become part of a band and see each other more often...
Meanwhile in the audition room after Gilbert's performance...
No one's point of view
Passed the audition:
Elliot Nightray- Guitarist
Leo Baskerville- Bassist
Xerxes Break- Drummer
Oz Vessalius- Singer
And that is the beginning of Taking the World by Storm. Yes, Gil does get a part in the band, but it's not one that actually requires him to be on stage. I'll just say this (to avoid spoilers): He'll have the same job as Vincent, Echo, and Alice. I have my doubts that this is what an audition is really like since I've only participated in singing auditions, I got my references from Full Moon, and the information online told me what the auditions for music schools were like. I also apologize if you wanted to see the other auditions. Like I mentioned earlier, I don't even know how to write audition scenes. I just wanted to write a band story, so I am despite my lack of information because I can't figure out what to type in the google search box. If anyone has any ideas, add it to your reviews (if you do review) or PM me your ideas. Thanks and I hope I'll see everyone in the next chapter!