Story: A touch of color in Grey
Book 1 : Shade the Black.
Date: 26 April 2018...
Author: Me -_-'
Translate girl: Me too this month
Beta: AxZi ! 3
Fandom: D Gray Man
Avertissement: I don't own D Gray Man and I don't make money with this story.
Résumé : Having lands in the XIXth century, Ennael quickly realizes that she was made committed by the Kamelott family, fundamentally, the bad guys of DGM. Taking Eve's name, she became the company's lady of Tricia Kamelott and help her with everyday's tasks life. Now that his life is a little less chaotic, Eve thinks about her arrived in this world and make the decision to made her own opinion on the charact... people of this New World in spite of its knowledge of the manga.
French version: 19 chapters long :)
English version: Lyra try'll to translate one chapter a month, please, if you love this fic, thanked her and our Beta AxZi :)
Fanart: You can see a draw of Eve and some fanart made by Kazemarune and Arya39 on my Tumblr (Ennael too). Also, Elogane made a canon side-fic but in french :/ It's "Nuancer les sentiments"
Italic : french, important thought (or both)
Lyra do her best this month but fate was against us and even if she succed to translate the chapter with all her problem, her computer decided to lost it… I do all i can to re-translate it this night but AxZi is really the girl you have to thanks, here, cause she make the whole thing understandable. And she motivate me to do it in the first place, I really, really decided to leave this month's chapter when Lyra warned me but AxZi convince me to do it anyway.
Happy reading!
"Atchou!" I sneezed before shivering violently. Catching one of the pink cloth handkerchiefs that Road lent to me, I mumbled loudly, shot an angry glance from an old maidservant passing by.
I didn't even have the strength to care about it.
After the most shameful adventure of my short life, aka climbing-happily-the-snow-covered-balcony-while-half-naked-and-then-dizzy, I, even more shamefully, had to retreat back to Road's room to retrieve my skirt.
Not that I was ashamed of just walking in shorts, but eh, it wasn't the most appropriate attire to wear and I already was much too tired due to the stupidity of my almost death (seriously, in D Gray Man, and not even because of an akuma!) to deal with these people's outrage.
Thank Merlin I didn't meet anyone in the small stretch between the twins' room and Road's. Thankfully, I could also enter the latter without issue.
At this point, I had lost feeling in my toes and nose, the rest of my body was frozen, I felt a headache begin to take root and I was shaking all over. Seeing me, Road was gracious enough (or pitied me enough) to allow me to take a hot bath in her bathroom and bundled me underneath a series of fluffy blankets when I exited. She began making a fuss about how my wardrobe was almost non-existent (she had to go get me clothes ...) and promised me with a glimmer in her eyes a future trip to the tailors (the tailors!) to remedy this "serious problem".
According to her anyway.
Feeling much too tired and with the sniffles, I went to bed early that night. Unfortunately, even sleeping for more than a 12 hours stretch was not enough to get me back on my feet and it was with a big headache that I was dragging myself out of bed that morning.
After washing and dressing, I headed down the hall to bring the twins their meals. Fortunately for me their trays were still in front of their door.
Mine too for that matter.
Hesitating a couple of seconds, I ended up bringing my tray with me in addition to the twins' and kicked open their door, having no more free hands to knock.
Two kicks later, a growl asked me what I wanted.
"It's Eve, I'm here with breakfast," I told them in annoyance, looking up at the sky even though they could not see me. Devit finally opened the door and let me sneak inside, closing it immediately afterwards and then turning, eyebrows still closed. What am I saying? Frowning eyebrows! Not closed!
Fucking headache ...
Seeing Jasdero a little behind, I went to him and handed him his tray, putting my one on the floor, on the carpet near the fireplace.
"What're you doing?" interrogated Devit aggressively as a confused Jasdero put his tray next to mine.
"I don't have a long time till I'm at Tricia's, so I'll eat breakfast here," I said distractedly, opening the curtains all at once, causing two pained grunts from the twins behind me. A naughty smile on my lips, I opened the window just enough to bring fresh air in without freezing us. Usually, I was not this vindictive ... but well, I guess escaping a Darwin Award-worthy death just does that to people ... true, it was not really their fault but, oh well ...
Marching over to the fireplace, I threw in a couple logs before handling some matches over that'd been lying there to Devit. "You know how to strike a match?" I asked him. Now, I could do it, but I have a mild fear of fire so if I could do without ...
"Of course!" He spat, annoyed, before tearing the matches from my hands and crouching next to the path. "You take me for an idiot, or what?" He added, scratching the match on his sole violently, breaking it in the process.
Biting my tongue so I didn't answer, I sprawled down onto the floor before grabbing my plate and a fork to eat. Hmm ... these eggs are such a delight! I've never managed to make an omelette as good...
Halfway through my plate I still had to stop eating for a sec to meet Jasdero's eyes.
Devit was still trying to light the chimney, the logs taking pleasure in not catching fire, but Jasdero stood awkwardly standing next to the tray looking alternately at his food and at me.
"Well, aren't you going to eat?" I finally asked him after a new round trip between my person and his plate. At my words, he jumped and hastened to sit next to me, stiff shoulders and eyes fixed on me. But he still did not touch his food.
Perplexed, I looked alternately his tray then him.
Attentive, he followed my gaze and then refocused on me.
Hum…
Ho! Hold on! Maybe he wants me ...
"Do you want me to taste?" I asked, nudging my chin in the direction of his plate. It's weird how I spoke crassly to them. Well no, not crassly, but ... "normally".
As if I were talking to my friends.
Pushing back the wave of sadness that assailed me, I stole a piece of potato and omelette from Jasdevi before placing them in my mouth with a noise of contentment.
Jasdevi smiled awkwardly at me and finally began to eat. But only the omelette and the potatoes. Sighing, I took his glass to taste the orange juice then did the same with the scones and the rest. While I was in the middle of a piece of lemon cake that made me wince, a shout of victory came from somewhere behind us. Turning my head, I see with fun Devit with a big smile victorious in front of an amused fireplace. Uh lighted. I really have to go to sleep ... Hum, it was the first time I saw a positive expression adorn his face. However, feeling my gaze on him, Devit turned and hastened to drop his smile in favour of his usual frowning eyebrows.
"Thank you very much, Devit," I told him before returning to my plate, almost missing his puzzled look and then the shy blush on his cheeks. But I could see him. And it hurts that he's never had anyone wishing him, "thank you".
"Oh, that was easy," he mumbled with less anger than usual before slipping by Jasdevi's side and starting to eat.
Our breakfast continued without noise, only interrupted by chewing sounds. After a few minutes, I got up with my now empty tray, quickly followed by two pairs of attentive eyes. "What are you doing?" Devit grunted, stretching slightly.
"To work," I said to them as I walked towards the door.
"Are you coming back?" mumbled Jasdero's small voice. With a grim smile I nodded before opening the door to leave.
It took one step at a time, but it was worth it. They were worth it.
The same story followed for the next few days. I had become used to eating with them in the morning before joining Tricia. The latter was also much better now that the twins were eating and drinking again. Still, she was still resting a lot and I was spending my free time torn between Road and the twins.
I did not know if it was amusing or terrifying, but Road was very angry that I was spending time with the twins instead of her and was doing everything she could to stay with me.
Enervated, I ended up telling her anyway that if she could not get along with the twins, I would not play with any of them and she ended up agreeing to spend some of her time with the boys.
Unfortunately, the twins were not immediately so conciliatory and they first took Road as an intruder, even refusing access to their room. So of course, Road cracked and red with anger, forced me to choose between her and the twins.
Exasperated, I put my threat into effect, and did not spend as much time with them, just breakfast with the twins and tea time with Road.
And so of course, Road, used to having everything she wanted complained to her father and I had the joy of Sheryl's visit just before bedtime on Saturday, February 7th.
That evening, I had started a new drawing representing a chibi-road pulling the left arm of a chibi-me, and chibi-twins were doing the same with the right arm. Sitting at the little round table, I frivolously enjoyed my evening, already in nightgown and a few minutes to go to bed. I was not at all ready when someone knocked on the door.
Surprised, I shouted an "enter" while returning my drawing mechanically. I, who was waiting for me at Road or one of the Maids, with round eyes, saw Sheryl come in.
Opening the door quietly, he looked at the room for a few seconds before his eyes fell on me. Suddenly, he hurriedly closed the door with an incredulous look on his face. A little puzzled, I approached the door to open it, shooting at once Sheryl in the room, his hand still on the handle.
"You needed something? I asked a little confused, his eyes fleeing mine.
Eyes fixed on a vase probably very interesting to my left, Sheryl coughed to clear his throat before answering me. "Um, yes, I wanted to thank you for spending time with David and Jasper," he said clumsily, still avoiding my gaze.
"... and to say to play with Road. She rarely gets along with ... could you put something on?!" he shouted, looking me in the eyes before turning his head to the side and putting his hand to his face.
"Um yes, of course ..." I mumbled as I turned to grab my jacket that was hanging on a chair near the door. Putting it on quickly, I crossed my arms over my chest and asked Sheryl to continue.
"Yes, so ... ah! Road," he said, looking at me in the eyes. Ok, I was in nightdress, but still! It was not the mini shorts and t-shirt that I loved so much to sleep in, it was a long sleeve dress that covered me from head to toe! Frankly, it's becoming ridiculous! I know we do not have the same notion of decency, but honestly, Lenalee strolls around in a miniskirt all the same!
"My daughter is having trouble making friends of her age, however, she really enjoys your company. I would like you to spend some time with her while my wife is resting. Compensation, of course," he said, glancing at his pocket watch.
"... you know I would do it anyway, right?" I said, raising an eyebrow. I was not against a bit of pocket money, but to pay me to play with children is a bit odd. Again, if it had been a babysitting where I had to take care of them eating, doing their homework, games, showering, lying ... Ok, but this is just playing, as if they were paying me to be her friend.
"Road, however, complains that you spent very little time with her lately," Sheryl said, frowning.
"Ah, that ... She did not want me to play with the twins and the twins did not want to spend time with her. So I told them I would not play with any of them until they could get along," I replied with a half-sighed conviction that he would not believe me. After all, he was so crazy about his daughter in the manga that I do not think he accepts anything negative about her.
However, once again I was proven wrong and Sheryl sighed in turn, confessing to me that he thought it was something like that. Then we went on talking awkwardly a few more moments, especially on the matter of Road and Tricia, before Sheryl apologized with another glance at his watch.
Left alone, I continued my drawing a few minutes more before going to bed.
The next day however, I decided that it could not last anymore. The breakfast trays in my arms, I was ready force a change. I did not even get to the door of the twins' room until it opened slightly, allowing me to see a familiar blonde head peek out.
"Jadero?" I called surprise as I walked towards him. Seeing me, his face lit up and he opened the door a little wider to let me in.
Laying the two trays on the desk near the path, I turned around to see a diverting Devit and a bright Jasdero staring at me with hopeful eyes. Eyesbrows wrinkled, I wondered what happened—then finally noticed.
"Have you washed? and dressed in the clothes Tricia gave you too!" I say, impressed, as I slowly approach Jasdero to lower his shirt collar.
A little tense, he did not move back and I took it as a victory. For the last five days, I had not only had to fight them to make them eat something, but also to wash, dress and get out of their rooms.
And then to get them used to human contact too.
Anyway, Thursday, I finally got them to wash a little. Good, only hands and face, but it's a start! However, I had never managed to get them to put on anything other than the filthy clothes they were wearing when they arrived.
Now however, not only Jasdero (who was the most obedient of the two boys) but also Devit were totally clean (visible from their hair that no longer looked like a rat's nest) but dressed in new clothes and of their own volition, furthermore!
A happy smile on my face, I mentally check my to do list while gently ruffling Devit's hair as he screamed back hurriedly.
Now I only had to get them out.
Easy to say, hard to do. Just for them to meet Road, I had to use all my cunning for two consecutive days before they agreed to see her. And again, they had to see her on their doorstep, adamant that they would not leave the room and that Road was not allowed to enter.
During all the breakfast that was taking place around the table now, as I was trying to teach them a minimum of how to live so that Tricia would not have a heart attack by seeing their way (I was clearly not an example, but I was still clearly light years from them thanks to my ... grandmother).
I returned to the problem again and again in my head.
How to get them out?
A flick on Devit's hand for him to use his fork and a contemplative look out the window later and I got my answer.
"It's snowing again," I pointed out, an evil smile already taking place on my lips. Devit gave me a flat stare and I heard clearly in my head Kira sarcastically say "the art of highlighting evidence! ".
Swallowing a sob at the sudden onslaught of memory, I forced myself to smile before clapping my hands to attract the attention of the boys.
"Would you like to help me prank somebody?" I asked with my best, mysterious smile on my face. Even if according to my brother, I looked more constipated than anything else. Heh, my subconscious is in fine shape today ... I cannot stop thinking about my loved ones, first my grandmother, then my best friend and now my brother? How depressing ...
Let's go back to our sheep and avoid thinking about it. I had never pranked anyone before. In any case, not like the sort you think about when you think about the Weasleys. I was too much of a goodie two shoes to do that. If I had to compare myself to someone in Harry Potter, I would be ... the random student we hear about once in the books. Honestly banal, I was clearly part of the common masses. Even though I'd like to look like Hermione or Luna, I do not have that much character, I'm just the masses.
A true sheep of panurge as Azy would say.
No, again?! I would never get to finish a line of thought if this continues!
Soooo, I had never done real pranks before, but hey, as they say, new name for a new life! And I, I jumped a altogether new universe, so I was determined to change ... even if it was for the worse.
I do not fool myself. I knew very well that I had been incredibly lucky so far. Fall on that old lady, get spotted by Tricia, be loved by Road and twins ...
It won't be too long before Murphy's Law catches up and I'll be hurt.
Really, really badly.
But for now... I'll enjoy it as much as possible!
"A ... joke," squeaked Devit, clearly not impressed while Jasdero looked at me curiously. With a smile that I hoped was mischievous, I got up from the table and headed for the door of their room. "Yes, a joke against Road," I told them, stopping near the entrance.
The mention of the girl caught their attention and Jasdero followed me to the door, dragging a grumbling Devit behind him. " What are we going to do?" Jasdero asked, glancing at the door before turning to Devit for permission.
Devit glared at me. He could not resist Jasdero and I knew it very well. He sighed and nodded at his brother before pouting.
"We're going to bother Road a little," I said, smiling. "It's Sunday, she won't wake up for another half an hour, so I suggest we… help her rise and shine," I told them mysteriously, opening the door to take a look down the hall. There was no one. Looking at the twins again, I held a finger to my lips to signal them to shut up before whispering. "It's about time that I join Tricia, so we'll have to be quick and discreet, okay? No noise!"
The twins nodded and I opened the door a little wider so they could pass. Hesitant first, they ended up going down the hall, looking around, surprised and amazed by the luxury of the place.
"All right, first we have to go outside," I told them, slipping down the hall after them, at the small log seal near the chimney. "We're going to have to get some snow for our joke to work."
Devit looked at me a little sceptical before looking at his brother who was already totally excited, and rolled his eyes. Already into the game, I led them through the corridors of the house, making them stop when we heard a noise or hide when someone passed. After a few minutes, we finally reached the living room and opened a window to retrieve the snow.
At this point, the boys were both full of energies, excited by their success in hiding from everyone and insisted on filling the seal themselves and carrying it into the Road's room. With all this, they did not even notice that we could just take the snow on their balcony, saving us precious time.
"Are you sure you do not want me to wear it?" I asked them when I saw them toil filling that huge bucket. They refused loudly and I let out a laugh as I saw Devit trying to carry the bucket alone. "Let Jasdero help you, at least," I said a little too loudly.
" There is someone?" Suddenly asked a male voice from the hallway.
The panicked expressions of the twins would surely have made me laugh if I didn't wear one the same. Signalling for them to hide behind the sofa, the twins did not make themselves pray, taking the bucket with them to my relief.
Before I could do anything else, the door suddenly opened, letting in Sheryl looking at me in surprise. "Eve? You're not with Tricia?" He asked as he entered the room. However, I did not even have time to answer before he visibly relaxed and an amusing smile formed on his lips. The return…
"Um, yes, I'm going, I just had to see if I had not left my ... uh ... book? um, here ..." I say evasively, making a big show of looking around the room. It's crazy how this man makes me feel uncomfortable I always felt like I was doing something stupid or hiding something when I talked to him.
Which was the case.
Hum.
"You lost a book? It must not be far away ... I can help you find it," he said, stepping into the room towards the sofas where the twins were conveniently hiding.
"Ho, do not trouble yourself, you must be very busy," I replied, taking a step away, placing myself directly between him and the sofas.
"No, I insist!" he said, taking another step, his lips contracting slightly. Is it me or… ? Nah, it's not me, Sheryl is laughing at me! This little… Hum. He does not even care about what i'm going to say. At the same time, I should have known that he would easily notice the twins are here, it's a Noah after all, a superman. And…
Even I felt the negative feelings oozing from behind my back.
I was pretty impressed that Devit had not thrown himself at Sheryl's throat. I bet you he wanted Jasdero to hold him by force.
"No, really, I don't want to bother you," I said to him, taking a step of a turn, finding myself directly in front of him, doing my best to block the passage despite not having a big enough head.
To my great relief, he didn't insist any longer. With a heavy, subdued look at the couch, he sighed dramatically, saying, "If you're sure ..." before turning around and out of the room. I could almost see the approving nod.
Almost.
After this, our journey continued without difficulty. After reassuring Jasdero that "No, of course he didn't notice you!" And to confirm to Devit that "Yes, Devit, murder is punishable by law" they grabbed their bucket and followed me again on the floors.
When I arrived at Road's door, I motioned them to be quiet and I opened the door as gently as possible. I then put the twins in front of me and showed them how to dispose the snow on the ground so we were absolutely sure that Road would walk on it. Then, with the excess of snow, I added water from the pitcher of her bedside table and then signalled to the twins to hang it on the curtains of her bed. That way, as soon as she opened them, the bucket would roll over. Ho, not necessarily on her, but there was a huge likelihood ...
Satisfied, I motioned for the twins to leave, and I did the same after checking again that Road was sleeping. In the corridor, the twins were visibly overflowing with energy, the adrenaline making them quiver with excitement.
"So what do you want to do now?" I whispered, gently pushing them away from Road's room. "I have to go see Tricia now, but I'm afraid that if you stay alone, Road does not think it's you and ... avenge," I said to them apologetically. "But you can come meet Tricia! I'm sure it would please her, and that's the least you could do after all, you're still in her home," I said to them in a normal volume now that we were at a sufficient distance from Road's room.
Devit frowned, crossing his arms. "We already saw her," he growled in irritation before Jasdero pouted at him and then sighed and grudgingly agreed, glaring at me. Proud of myself, I directed them to the door of the master bedroom and knocked on the door. "Tricia? It's Eve."
At the sound of an "Enter! " I opened the door to let the twins pass before entering.
Tricia was still in bed and propped up by a multitude of pillows, looking surprised at the twins.
"I'm sorry for being late, I was trying to convince these two young men to get out of their room," I told her as I approached the bed to sit at her bedside, signalling the twins to do the same.
Timidly, Jasdero came to us and stopped near me, out of reach of Tricia, Devit dragging his feet after him.
"I see you've had success!" she said, smiling peacefully at the two boys. "I'm so happy that these clothes fit you well." Tricia suddenly said glancing at the tunics of the twins. "I picked them for you after my husband told me we'd welcome two sweet boys" she said softly, a pleasant smile on her lips.
Tricia really knew how to put at ease, I thought watching Jasdero return her smile and must blush shyly. After only a few minutes, the twins were answering Tricia and did not even realize they had come close to her. Admittedly, I was pretty proud of myself, especially when you could hear a high-pitched roar from the hallway.
Ok, the revenge was small, but I still wanted her terribly for pushing me from this balcony and especially for sending Sheryl to me. I really, reallyyyy don't like to deal with him!
And then, it was really worth it when I saw the twins smile while Tricia worriedly wondered what was happening.
As she got out of bed to see the event in the corridor, and with the shrieks of Road in the background, I extended my hand to the twins.
"What do you want?" Devit asked, looking suspiciously at my hand.
"You have to hit me in the hand," I said smiling, gently taking Jasdero's to bounce on mine. "Like that. It is to congratulate oneself." I said, extending my left hand to Jasdero and my right to Devit.
The twins looked at each other for a moment, as if they were communicating without a word before turning back to me and gently slapping each of my hands with theirs.
"Hey, you're done, are you happy now?" Devit grunted, turning slightly to the side, his cheeks sprinkled with red.
"Extremely" I say smiling from one ear to the other before catching them both in my arms for a group hug.
And to my surprise, they squeezed me back.
Here it is. Late, yes, but just a few hour instead of not having it at all so, yeah... hope you love it :) A review for saying it? :3