A/N: It's been a long time since I've wrote for Pandora Hearts and it's all thanks to phollie. for her story, "Overture" that inspired me to write this fic. I also used this chance to do a challenge where I had to include the words: Clock, Rope, and Notebook. Please read and review! Thanks! I hoped that they're a smidge in character though . . .
-x-
Night had fallen on the Nightray family as the members began heading into their rooms for the night. Gilbert sat in his dark room located on the first floor which was distanced from the rest of the family who lived just a floor above him. Small fingers touched the purple bruise on the side of his face as he stared at the wound on his knee that was slowly clotting.
The moonlight streamed into his room through the window that had no shade. The family thought, no, Ernest, the oldest of the boys thought that it'd be funny not to install the light in his room and that the moon would be best. Gilbert didn't mind at all, as long as he had a comfortable bed, light wasn't needed.
Sighing, he looked down at his pocketwatch, waiting for the clock to strike 10. A minute before the hand turned 10, he heard a sound outside his window. Gilbert looked out of the window to see a rope hanging there. It was the signal that he needed and immediately searched for his notebook that he hid from the rest of the family. It was something more precious than his life and he promised to protect it from stray eyes. Pushing the window open, Gilbert got out and began climbing the rope up to the second floor of the mansion and into a familiar room. When he safely snuck into the room, the occupant closed it.
Gilbert smiled warmly at the person and sat crossed legged on the floor, "Hello, Elliot."
"Stupid, why didn't you dodge my attack this afternoon?" the youngest of the Nightrays sighed pulling out a First Aid's kit and began bandaging up the wounds.
"If I did that, then they will suspect something is wrong. I don't want you to get caught," Gilbert winced. Elliot sneered and rapped his older adopted brother's head,
"You idiot! You can at least dodge once! Make it more believable. You're not that weak."
Gilbert touched a hand to his head, "I guess you're right."
"Okay, done. So do you have it with you?" Elliot asked, sliding the box under his bed. Gilbert nodded and took out the notebook from under his shirt,
"Here it is."
"Good, let's continued where we left off," Elliot said leaned forward with a pen on hand. Gilbert smiled as his younger brother began writing in the notebook. He wished every moment was like this and not hidden away to only an hour.
"Hey, Elliot?" Gilbert asked.
"Hmm?" Elliot acknowledged, head still down and was focused on the writing in front of him.
"Why do we have to hide our relationship like this?"
Elliot stopped and looked up, a flicker of pain and fear flashed across his face,
"It's natural. You were adopted of course . . . along with Vincent. You are not part of the Nightray family on the inside, but on the outside you are. That is why you are being treated as such."
"So we can never have an open friendship?" Gilbert whispered.
"It's better like this. One hour is enough to reflect on what we have. This makes it so that we can always treasure what we have. This way, I can pursue it with passion," Elliot said and he went back to writing. Gilbert started at his brother, still pondering on what the other said,
"This pain in my chest . . . is good then?"
"It is, now come and help me. The story is not going to be interesting if it only has my ideas," Elliot huffed. Gilbert smiled and nodded with earnest,
"Okay!"
"Shh! You'll wake everyone!" Elliot hissed. Gilbert quieted and giggled before joining his brother in an adventure that was only a fantasy.
OWARI
