Title: More Than Meets the Eye

Prompt 26: How would his parents describe him as a child and now?

Word Count: 623

Timeline: after the 12th manga.

It was one of those days where it appeared the sun forgot to rise. The light filtered through the rain, and the air was damp.

From her position in the hallway, Luella could see her remaining son had a dark green sweater pulled over his darker shirt. The touch of color was a surprise, for Oliver had yet to leave the estate in anything but black.

Luella was not surprised to see him out of bed when she had started to pass by the open door of the library. Since his return to England, Oliver was awake when she went to sleep. He was awake when she arose in the morning. Was his insomnia from the uneasiness he felt now that life was starting to settle into a mundane rhythm again?

Or, was she reading in exactly the wrong direction, as she often did when it came to this boy, no, young man?

Luella stayed in the doorway, quietly watching him. Oliver's focus appeared to be on the rain gently hitting the windowpane, and he had not noticed his adopted mother. Or rather, he probably was aware and just not acknowledging her presence, as he had often done as a child.

He sat on the window seat, a place he had occupied with his brother many times over the years. Today, an unopened hardcover sat next to him instead, demanding much less attention than his twin ever had.

It was three days after Eugene's funeral. More people had shown up than Luella had expected, since many of them had already paid their respects over the course of time while he was missing. Oliver had known that Eugene was dead, and so it was. If any had harbored hope that he was still alive during that time, they had not revealed it.

"Eugene once asked me if it was better to burn out or fade away," Oliver said. His attention had not moved from the window.

Luella slowly entered the room. "Did you answer him?" she asked.

"I accused him of stealing lyrics," Oliver said, turning towards her. "He retorted that he was surprised I knew it was from a song."

"How old were you?"

"Twelve, maybe."

Luella felt tears brimming in her eyes, yet she found herself smiling. Even at the age of twelve, one had already been the philosopher, and the other the realist. Luella could understand why this memory was on his mind, but she was surprised he had taken the time to tell her. Oliver had always been quiet. He wasn't shy – far from it – it was simply too aggravating to explain himself to others.

"How are you doing?" Luella asked.

He gave her a faint smile that did not reach his eyes. "I'm fine."

Luella knew that Oliver would go on without Eugene. However, she wondered if the circumstances had been reversed, if Eugene would have been able to go on without Oliver. After all, Martin had found out at one point the orphanage had had more than one couple that had only wanted to adopt Eugene.

The young Oliver had waved a hand and said, 'Fine, go ahead,' much to Eugene's dismay.

In Japan, Madoka had told Luella about the girl Mai asking if Oliver had always been like this. Oh yes, he had not changed.

Yet…

"Oliver, I seem to have misplaced the photo I brought to Japan," Luella said. "The one of you and Eugene. Have you seen it?"

There was a quirk to his eyebrows, and the smile changed slightly. "Can't say I have. I'll keep an eye out for it."

Luella was certain he had given the print away. For him to have actually thought of someone on that level…now, that was a change.

Notes: Neil Young: My My, Hey Hey: "It's better to burn out, than fade away." Though actually, I was listening to Def Leppard's Rock of Ages, which uses the same line as a tribute. ^_^; Hey, did I tell anyone that this collection is named after Wishing Well, by The Airborne Toxic Event? Are you noticing there is no rhyme or reason to what I listen to…?

Published on 1/12/12, and reworked on 1/17/12, because I'm obsessive like that.