Title: Undergaze by Peppermint Mocha

Rating: PG

Word Count: 454

Characters: Echo-centric, hinted VincentxEcho

Summary: But behind the dull, almost robotic eyes, was a frenzy of thoughts. Vincent couldn't keep those from her, and so she wondered, and wondered...

Warnings & Notes: Spoilers for episode 17 of Pandora Hearts (unsure about the chapter numbers).

Disclaimer: I do not own Pandora Hearts or its characters in any way, shape, or form. Ever. 8D

A/N: Wow, it's been a VERY long time! XD (What, almost a year?) I'm rather inconsistent if you can't tell. But the plot bunnies hit me pretty hard after viewing this particular episode of PH. I love Echo's character, as well as her relationship with Vincent (however twisted it is *laughs*), and just felt the need to show them a bit of love.

So, read on and enjoy, and drop a review on your way out!

Dedicated to Pickles and Tea Parties with love because I was threatened, I mean, convinced by her to put this up in the first place. 8D

U n d e r g a z e ;

With broken, ragged breaths, the silver-haired girl stared down at her knees. Her face and slackened pose alluded to a calm persona, but inside the small girl was feeling extreme, shredding pain. Her arms twitched at her side, trying hard to keep herself from tearing at her skin, clawing at the pain to try and deafen it.

The poison streamed through her veins and she wanted to scream. Wanted to shriek; Vincent, please, please, make it stop.

With another quivering heave, choking softly, dull eyes lifted to peer through the patio's glass doors and into the room. Lady Sharon seemed to be in the same state, but like Echo, her expression was steady.

Poison was a strange thing, Echo decided. You reacted before you truly felt its effect. The quickened pulse and breath came first, followed by small shudders, and before she knew it, she felt as though her insides were on fire.

Where was Vincent...?

And had the thought barely passed her hazy thoughts that he was there, followed by Break, who ran to Sharon's side. She mouthed her master's name, head slumping back against the railing as she weakly watched his advance to the glass doors.

And finally he was at her side...

She didn't have the strength to peer up at him, and his words were muffled in her deafened, pulsing ears. She strained her body to try and listen, to keep herself awake, because every syllable pronounced by her blond master's tongue was a precious one.

She felt fingers tangle in her hair, pulling her head up just in time to feel a drop hit her face, and blink as it trailed across her cheek.

Another drop, followed by a third.

And in her blurry gaze, a figure stooped low in front of her. Vincent... Her eyes lifted to try to focus on his own mismatched ones, her gaze dead and exhausted, but she knew he understood her pleads.

His expression was mocking, as if to say 'Not yet, not quite yet...'

Finally, he rose the glass bottle to his lips and leaned towards her. Echo automatically allowed her eyes to slip shut, and she choked, coughing as the horrible liquid reached her tongue, body wracking another shiver.

She was used to things like this, yes, but sometimes Echo wondered what her master was thinking. His mind was brilliant, but sometimes he worried her, or even as far as frightened. The silver-haired girl had been taught to remain calm and unwavering, her master's reprimand and the lash of a sharp slap enough to teach her that through the years.

But behind the dull, almost robotic eyes, was a frenzy of thoughts. Vincent couldn't keep those from her, and so she wondered, and wondered...