Disclaimer: Pandora Hearts is NOT mine, it's Mochizuki Jun's. Only for fun and I don't win any money with it.
Gil spent the next two or three days locked in his own hotel room. He didn't want to go out. If he wanted to talk to someone then he would only go out and have a seat at the hotel café. There, he talked to many different persons, older, younger, around his age, male or female. He would usually drink coffee while discussing facts about politics, sports, computers, technology and the daily news. It wasn't the best thing Gil could do, but it kept him entertained.
He didn't like that sort of talking. He didn't like talking at all. Vincent would always say that he was a man of few words. And Gilbert totally agreed with his brother. The only thing he usually talked about was work. He didn't have any other theme of conversation, since his past was taboo. It wasn't like it was bad, horrible, disgusting. He just didn't like when people dig around his private issues.
Gilbert considered himself a very simple man. It was really easy: Talking about superficial things that were interesting. The other persons could talk about themselves if they wanted. He was more than happy to help. The only thing was leaving him out. He was made for help, not for asking. If he had a question he would always think about the answer himself. That's how it always has been, since he was a small kid. No asking to others. They may complicate you more than can help you.
The young raven haired man looked out of the window in his tiny room. The days had been spectacular: No clouds filled the sky. The sun shone brightly, giving a feeling of comfort. Still, he had spent them in his room.
He knew he would meet that boy. That's what scared him. He didn't want to give away his secrets. Since the moment he saw the blonde, he knew he was strong willed. He looked the kind of person who knows what they want. And that also meant, there was nothing, not a single thing, that would keep them away from their goal.
Gilbert usually liked that kind of personality. He wished he would have such a strong will, but it wasn't like that.
Tired of thinking, and tired of being between four walls, he went out.
His legs moved on their own. He followed his instinct, smiling. He noticed that the streets weren't as full as they were back then. Actually, the town was really small.
A refreshing breeze started to blow. Gilbert closed his eyes and sat on a bench, feeling the salty air against his skin.
"There you are!" A voice said. He heard steps that ran towards him.
Gil opened one eye and saw the blonde young man in front of him. He rested his hands on his knees, looking straight in the eye of the older one.
"I looked for you those two days. You never showed up in any corner of any street. And I walked for long!" The other happily said.
"…I was in my room." Gilbert said.
"I see. I wanted to thank you properly for what you did." The young man said.
"Oh, it was nothing, you don't have to thank me."
"You're wrong. If my… umm…friend had noticed that I lost his rabbit, then she'd have killed me. I'm not lying. She's very possessive when it comes to her animals." Oz said. "Mind if I sit down?"
"Not at all." Gil responded. He was scared questions about him would just pop out, but actually, he wanted it. He wanted the boy to ask about him.
"Come with me, let's eat something!" Oz suggested.
Gil obediently stood up and followed the boy around.
"You know these streets pretty well, don't you?" He asked.
"Yes. I've been wandering around here for one week. It's interesting to look at the people and try to imagine what their lives are." Oz said. "What about you, Gil?"
"Me? Oh…I'm not sure. I usually don't look at the people around me. I'm lost in my thoughts." He said.
"That's not good, Gilbert." Oz reprehended. "You look like the kind of person who is always thinking. You've got to stop thinking sometimes. You don't know how fun it is to worry about nothing for some hours."
Gil knew the younger man was right. He didn't know how he figured out, but he was right.
"Yes…but there's nothing fun around me." He said.
"Maybe…I think you should laugh more often. If you look happy and cheerful, then happy and cheerful things will happen to you." Oz said.
"Again, how old are you?" Gil suddenly asked.
"I'm turning 19 soon." He informed.
"How can you say such things with so little age? It's amazing. You talk like a professional philosopher." He said.
Oz blushed a bit. "Thanks!" He just said.
They arrived at an ice cream parlour. Oz ordered two chocolate, strawberry and melon ice creams. He gave one to Gilbert, paying both.
"Thanks Oz, but it wasn't necessary. I can pay my own ice cream." He said as he licked the cold dessert.
"I know, but didn't I tell you that I wanted to thank you?" Oz said. "Anyway, I think we're going to see each other more than once here. Just think about how many persons live in one area and you'll have your answer. Why don't we talk a bit about ourselves, just for knowing what we can talk about, and what we can't talk about." Oz suggested.
'There it goes…the damned question.' Gil thought. Still, he was sure that he didn't mind talking about him, not with this boy.
It was really strange for him, since the closest he got to another person was to know what languages they knew and if they finished school or not. He didn't feel secure talking to others, but this boy…Oz changed everything. He felt like he could count on him. Like they had known each other forever. Although at first he didn't like him, now he liked it. He liked talking to Oz. Even if he thought Gil was easy to tease and to make fun of, he liked his presence. It was a kind, naïve and innocent presence. At the same time, it was daredevil and daring.
"I…I don't feel secure talking now." Gil answered.
"Do you want to go somewhere else?" Oz asked. "Of course, let's go! I know a nice place."
That was the kind of thing he liked about Oz. He didn't have to give many explanations, and still the younger knew what he meant, or what he wanted. He knew when things had to stop. When it was enough of childlike behaviour and when he had to act like the nineteen year old he was.
They went to a small beach. It was between two high cliffs: one on the right, one on the left.
"Now you can talk. There's nobody else here." Oz explained.
"I want to know one thing, Oz." Gil said. "Why…why do you want to be my friend? It's something I don't understand. There're so many people around your age. I'm older, and more stupid. And…well, still, you insist. Why? There're so many interesting people out there; I'm not interesting at all. With your precedence, you could talk to anybody in the world, even the most important person."
"That's right, I can talk to anybody in the world. I just have to say that I'm from the Vessalius household, and then they'd probably knee down and kiss my shoes. I can talk to the most important person in the world, and still, they aren't as interesting as you are. You may say you're stupid, older, not interesting. Gilbert, you can say anything you want, I'll still want to be your friend. Why, you ask? It's simple. I've seen in you something I've never seen in anybody else. You are the most loyal person I've met. I can feel it. You don't care about yourself, now do you? You always make sure the others are save before caring about you. I don't like that. You should take care about yourself a bit more; but it's impressive. Also, you were the only person in a whole town who took time to listen to me… to help me. That's what moved me. You didn't do it for money, did you? You even wondered if I was begging for money. Yeah, right. So, that's the answer." Oz said.
"You…you think so?" He asked.
"Yes Gilbert." The other insisted.
"Please, call me Gil if you want."
"Maybe there're things you've done and I'll never know about them. But I don't care. I want to know you, I want to know how you are, not what you've done." Oz said.
"Well, I want to know you as well." Gil said.
Oz giggled. "Now it's my turn to ask why."
"Because you insist so much, and also because I've never met such a young person like you with such a strong will." He answered.
"You see? Both of us have different reasons but we want the same. Let's be friends. That way, we won't be bored in this town." Oz suggested. "Still, you should know that I love to tease people. It's so fun seeing their reactions."
"I…I don't care. I want to be your friend, too. " Gil said.
Both stayed there, not moving, sitting on the sand, and feeling the sunshine. The sea was brave, but at the same time relaxing. Oz sighed and laid his back on the warm sun. He closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.
Gil was ashamed. He didn't like doing things like that. For example, jumping. He assured that there was nobody looking, and then he lied next to Oz. He also closed his eyes and tried to capture every sound.
Oz's breathing, the seagulls, the sea, the wind…everything was perfect. He also fell asleep, next to Oz, making sure his new friend was all right. They lied like that, like old friends who had reencountered.
Gil opened one eye. He didn't know how much time had passed, but his vision was a bit blurred. He saw knew that the sun was setting down, but he didn't stand up. He looked to his right, were Oz should be, but he wasn't there. Then he sighed.
'Maybe it wasn't a good idea to trust him' He thought to himself. That's when he heard laughing.
Oz kneed down, looking down on Gil. He handed the black haired young man a hand.
"You sleepy head! It looks like you were tired! Let's go back!" Oz said and started to run.
Gil ran behind him, laughing. He felt happy. He was happy to have a friend that had nothing to do with work or family.
After a long race, both counterparts stopped and went to their own hotel. Oz followed Gil, although he didn't notice. Once he disappeared trough the hotel lobby, the blonde sighed and went back.
'Maybe…maybe it isn't so bad. I actually like talking to him. It feels so good. I'm…I'm happy to have known Oz.' Gil thought as he entered his room.
He took a shower, getting rid of the sand that glued on his skin. He felt happy inside. A feeling he had never felt before. He felt…
'Complete! That's it.' He thought. 'It's sad that after some weeks we won't see each other anymore.'
Gil didn't mentally reply to his other argument. He didn't want to avoid the moment, but he didn't want it to come soon. He knew it was there, but he accepted it. That was why he wanted to meet him more often, before it was too late.