There's a hat in his brother's room. It's much too big for him, and doesn't match any of his clothes, but it sits there on the dresser and never gets dirty.
It's got a rosette and ribbons, and it's wide and tall and makes him look silly when he puts it on. He does it a few times, but he never looks happy when he does.
It's not his— he's asked him. But even if Vincent didn't ask him, and even if Gilbert actually answered, it wouldn't matter, because Vincent knew who it was from.
When Xerxes Break pays them a visit one day, coming through his brother's window and interrupting their (rather one-sided) conversation, he sees a glint in his eye when Gilbert hurries to grab the hat and hand it to him, his cheeks flushed and a frown on his face.
"But I insist you keep it, Gilbert. I've many more to spare!"
Vincent calls him a liar in his head.
He plans to cut the hat up into ribbons, comes so very close to doing it, but then he stops because at the point he realizes that it wouldn't accomplish anything.
He cuts off a rosette, anyway, for satisfaction's sake.
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fin
Author's Notes: Selfishness is a trait most admirable in people who are willing to do something about it. :