Synopsis: Jack Vessalius and Glen Baskerville, a third rate noble and an illusive powerful Duke, are friends, or at least that is what Jack believed. But when a foreign nobleman took an interest in Jack, a dark emotion swelled in Glen and a tragic play took place. ..
A/N: I adore these two characters, Jack Vessalius and Glenn Baskerville and this idea has been nagging in my mind for a while. I literally spent the entire day today just writing this chapter. *laugh* It's my first writing of Pandora hearts and writing in general for a while. But I do hope the characters are not OOC. Enough said, I hope you enjoy this.
Rating: K+
Disclaimer: I don't own Pandora Hearts because if I did I will have known everything and cry in happiness and sadness. T_T
Light and Dark
A Pandora Hearts fan-fiction
Chapter 1- The Noble outside of Sabire
"Isn't that Jack Vessalius?"
"It's just like the rumors say, he's so beautiful…"
"Golden spun hair, jade green eyes… a face that rivals even the most beautiful lady in Sabire… but alas he's the third child of a low noble family…"
"It will be nice for a fling with him. But if he's is one of the dukes, I will have…"
Giggles filled the air as soft music from the orchestra resonated in all areas of the hall in the Reinworth's mansion.
The female noblewomen who were gushing at the golden man, did not noticing a long dark cloak sweeping past them in the shadows from behind. He paused to look at the said man who was busy talking animatedly with a decidedly annoyed Duke Nightray. His dull violet eyes shone from the dim candles that decorated the corridor, gazing at the scene before him.
To Glen, he knew Jack's effeminate beauty was a gift from the heavens bestowed to the young Vessalius, to counteract his status as the third son. His beauty would be useful to the deals that his family were doing. After all, first impressions were important and Jack… had never fail to astound people with his angelic, warm smiles and a personality like the burning sun... bright and illuminating anyone he sees…
Women and men never failed to sneak a glance at him, Glen noticed in each ball he was pulled to attend. Every charming laughter, every infectious smile and joke... Jack was the only one who seemingly did not realize the power he had within him to the people around him. Even Alice… both Alices had fallen to the power that he had. Glenn knew instantly in the moments she gazed at the Vessalius during his visits to the tower with the younger man.
This power that had even gently melted the walls of this cold-hearted, legendary and mysterious Duke, since that day she was gone… Jack was the second and only one…
A 'friend'… whom he had come to appreciate.
But…
He noticed a glance from the many he surveyed, to the direction of Jack and violet eyes narrowed. He held his cloak tighter around him as he walked closer, surveying the man from a better spot.
Maroon golden buttoned coat and black undercoat, white hair, a rather well sculpted face, an emblem not belonging to any of the noble families of this country. A foreign nobleman.
One elegant eyebrow arched slightly as Glen saw the man wetting his lips with wine, his gaze never leaving from Jack.
Eyes traced the smooth contours of his friend's well sculpted face, his form, before landing on the lips that bloomed into a beautiful laughter. Glen frowned and his face visibly darkened.
It seems that Duke Nightray had noticed the noble too and grabbed Jack, who looked ridiculed at his sudden action. He pulled Jack towards Glen before looking pointedly at the man, who just gave a mysterious grin and a toast to the departing pair. Glen breathed out, realizing he had held his breath during the entire ordeal and saw Nightray walking to him briskly with Jack trailing behind confused.
"Raymond? What's wrong?" Jack asked, his jade eyes darting from Duke Nightray and to Glen, widening in surprise.
"Glen! So that's where you are! I have been looking for you. The ladies should be graced with your presence you know." Jack beamed, and Glen felt the warmth, dark violets softened.
"Baskerville-sama. I shall return Ja… …Vessalius to you," Duke Nightray bowed low, before shoving Jack into the Duke's chest.
Jack scoffed, looking slightly ruffled from the shove. "Return? Wait a minute Raymond, you are making me sound like an object of Glen! We still have yet to go and flirt with the beautiful ladies of Reinworth…," he was about to say more when he felt cold hands on his shoulders and looked to his friend with surprise.
"Glen?"
Glen turned his gaze to the foreign middle aged noble who was looking at his direction while talking to a pair of giggling ladies. A deep bubbling dark emotion was steadily boiling in him as he let his right hand be placed on Jack's smaller hips and pulled him slightly closer to his chest. Glenn turned his eyes to Nightray and the dark haired noble nodded.
"Thank you Duke Nightray. You may leave." Glen's tenor cold voice made the Nightray duke straightened his back before bowing again and leaving the pair, disappearing into the dancing crowd.
When he turned to look at Jack, he found narrowed jade eyes staring at him and he caught his breath.
"You are angry." Glen said silently.
Jack stared at him further before giving a sigh and pulled out from his hold, which has grown warm from the Vessalius's heat.
"I'm not Glen, I am surprised. Try being suddenly dragged, shoved and not being told the reason why for this treatment and see how you will feel," Jack gave a strained grin, before winking and pointing a gloved finger to Glen's stone face.
"I know you and Raymond are doing some communication with your eyes, what is this all about?"
Glen looked to the foreign noble who was occupied with Duchess Reinworth, and led Jack away from the ball through a series of dimly lit corridors. The laughter and music of the ball gradually gave way to silence as the pair walked on. Jack kept quiet, waiting patiently for his friend's answer, letting the Baskerville guide him.
The ebony haired duke pulled him passed a door to the outside, into a well kept open-air garden filled with Reinworth's finest roses.
"Glen."
Glen silently let go of Jack's warm hand and walked to the ends of the garden, where the view of Sabire was seen beneath the star-filled night sky.
Knowing he will not be getting any answer from Glen's mouth, Jack placed his right hand through his golden hair, his jade eyes looking at the ground with defeat. He trailed behind his friend, not pushing the matter any more, looking around the garden curiously.
With each sweet smelling rose he saw, Jack's heart felt lighter as his fingers twitched and reached out to caress the velvet petals. Jack's lips slowly grew into a smile as he took in the sight of the variety of roses and touching them with pleasure.
"Reinworth's roses are truly beautiful," Jack said with a child-like amazement as he leaned his face closer to smell the roses fully. He definitely enjoyed the gardens every time balls in Sabire were held, gardens that his household could never have in that scale and variety.
"The variety in the Vessalius garden is incomparable to gardens as these. Ahh… I wonder if the Lady of Reinworth will grant me a rose from this garden to take back as a memory… What do you think Glen, the two of us shall approach her and ask if we can–"
Jack looked to Glen and found the man staring at him with soft violet eyes that he knew his friend would never show to others.
Only to me… Jack thought as he held his breath. He stood up and walked towards Glen with a small smile. Jade and violet gazing into each other.
"I heard that Duchess Reinworth is rather particular on the type of requests… it will be a first for one to ask for a rose of her gardens.." Glen's lips twitched slightly as Jack gave a huge grin at his answer.
"The first huh… The Vessalius charm never fails on the beautiful ladies!" Jack stifled a laugh at the Baskerville's rolling eyes, "I shall ask the duchess later! I do like the variety of roses here in Reinworth..."
"…Much more than mine?" Glen asked softly.
Jack could not help but laugh and Glenn basked in the warmness Jack was making him feeling.
"Your gardens shall always occupy the heart of this man, just so you know. I did not say it till now for fear of making Duke Baskerville's heart swelled too much in pride," Jade eyes filled with mirth as Jack gave a pat on Glen's shoulder, leaning his body on the marble railings.
Glen looked at Jack gazing the view of Sabire and admired the way the moon shone on Jack, illuminating him with a white light. But the Baskerville preferred the sun, for when the rays shone on Jack, the golden haired boy had never looked so radiant and when he smiles, all darkness seemed to have been blown away by his beauty. Everyone knew of Jack's radiance and the effect it has on them... all except the said person himself. Glen frowned at the thought of the foreign noble as Jack started to talk about the view and where the Vessalius household could be from here.
"…If only Alice… Lotti and the rest can come and enjoy the ball, then it will be perfect," Jack ended. He closed his eyes, letting the cool night wind play with his hair, caressing his flushed skin from all the joy he was experiencing.
A well organized ball, beautiful ladies, friends, delicious food, beautiful music, and also… Glen, that anti-social, quiet but gentle friend that he adored greatly, is here with him… Jack could not help but let another sigh of happiness out, forgiving Raymond and his sudden action in the ball.
Ethereal, cold Glen Baskerville, ever silent and intimidating to all who see him, but Jack knew deep down when he first met him, he was just like any person… a person who desired a friend and unconditional affection…
When Glen told him about Lacie… and later of Alice, Jack understood the trust that the man had bestowed to him. This bond that Glen, one of the high dukes, had finally willing to share with him, a third rate noble that no one had done before. This bond that held the two of them, beyond the status of society, Jack never wanted it to be loosened, but be tightened after each day, with new memories and knowledge of each other.
Jack truly felt blessed.
Jack broke out of his stupor when he felt fingers caressing his fringe and turned to find Glen looking at him, his eyes filled with an emotion the younger man could not make of.
"Glen?"
Glen remained silent, continuing his caresses as his fingers lightly graze on the contours of the smooth sun-kissed skin, gently playing with the golden spun hair Glenn had liked of the 'bubbly ball of gold'. A nickname he overheard Fang jokingly said to Charlotte when he was walking to the piano room a few days ago.
Upon hearing a soft sigh out from Jack's lips, the duke let a small rare smile graced his face. He took in the long gold eyelashes on Jack's now closed eyes and rose-colored lips in a relaxed smile, feeling the trust Jack gave to allow this intimacy to happen between them.
Jack… is beautiful.
Glen knew since the first time he met the young man. But he would never tell the younger Vessalius, knowing that man would tease him for saying such a word to a man instead of a woman.
Besides her… Jack captured his attention entirely. And he had never regretted opening the small door for Jack into his cold heart, frozen from the loss.
This warmth that she had given him… that he had craved deep down in his soul since he was born… had left him that faithful day.
After many years of shutting off from the world in his duties as the Duke and his destiny as Glen Baskerville, Jack entered his life like a dove… and gave him that lost warmth continuously… never rejecting and accepted him for who he is…
But, Jack could never replace his beloved… Glen knew that fact. But yet, he could not stop himself from accepting the warmth that reminded him dearly of his loss. His twisted soul craved for someone to mend this shattered hole in his heart, no matter how small it is, and Jack provided it.
His smiles, his understanding, his stubbornness and differences, his 'friendship'… That was all it took to make this dull world, a world without her… a little brighter, an added note in this tragic score that he composed but it gave a touch of ironic happiness that he wanted to hold dearly.
Glen never knew how important… Jack had become in this forsaken life, like Lacie…
He stopped his ministrations and Jack's eyes fluttered open, revealing beautiful jades that shone brightly in the moonlight. Jack gave a laugh as he took Glen's hands down from his face, "You must have thought of me as a dog, did you Glen. This is the first you have felt my face this much. Usually you just pat my head and that is already rare.."
Glen remained silent but his hands remained in Jack's, reveling in his warmth against the coldness of the night.
"I used to have a cat once. Diana." Jack said, looking at their hands, touching the cold fingers gently, "She was really beautiful, pure white and brown eyes. A gift from my aunt you see, to my sisters. But you know how allergic they are to fur."
Jack looked at Glen, who showed no reaction and gave a smile.
"She always never failed to leave the household despite many ways of keeping her inside. I thought she hated me," he continued, "but every night, she would returned and I would wake up the next morning with her on my chest all curled up. She was adorable… But a few weeks later, she disappeared. No one knows where she was…"
Jack took a deep breath as he held Glen's hands tighter. "At day, when I could go out, I searched everywhere for her. I waited each night, tried my best to stay awake, hoping to at least say to her, 'You're finally back, welcome home. I was so worried'… but she didn't return."
Glen took in Jack's growing grief as the younger Vessalius looked down to the floor. "After a week of search, I found her corpse near the river bank outside the town, dead for many days. A carriage had knocked her down while she was crossing a road… a boy saw it happened…"
"Jack.." He whispered and Jack looked up with a sad smile.
"Since then… I have never taken another pet again… to not to forget Diana..."
Glen let loose his right hand from Jack's grip and gently touched the man's cheek. Jack rarely gets this emotional or even revealed such sad memories to him…
"I'm sorry Glen, why did I tell you such a sad story… it is suppose to be a joyous occasion tonight, not a tear-jerking night. I mean, you have come with me to the ball under my stubbornness, knowing how much you hate crowded areas and balls. And yet I still went by myself and leave you alone and not making sure you eat lots in the ball and now this…"
Jack rumbled on, hitting himself mentally for making the night turn this way for Glen when he felt a light slap on his cheek. The younger Vessalius looked up in astonishment at the man, who looked decidedly irritated.
"Glen."
Glen touched the slapped cheek gently, as though apologizing.
"Stop this Jack. Scolding yourself looks foolish on you."
Jack blinked at his friend and laughed heartily, laughter resonating in the garden. Glen relaxed his posture and let down his hands, looking at Jack laughing continuously.
"To your question before…" The Baskerville turned to the view and placed a hand on the railings, "it is because… we are 'friends' right?"
Jack stopped and looked towards the man with surprise, before his eyes began to fill with tears.
"Indeed… we are friends… friends whom can share joy and pain together…" Jack answered weakly, feeling overwhelmed by the emotions the older man brought up with his words.
Glen turned to Jack and nodded. "Thank you for sharing me this, Jack…"
It is because... we are friends...
Jack turned his back to the Duke and looked to the night sky, his tears dripping down in gentle waves.
"You idiot… now you have made this lovely memory a tear jerker," Jack half laughed and half sniffed, not seeing the smile fully forming on the older man's lips behind him.
Glen stepped forward and patted Jack's head before ruffling the golden locks continuously, with a growing annoyance from the teary Jack.
"And Jack," he whispered, catching hold of Jack's full attention, "you will make a great dog."
He let go of Jack's soft hair and walked to the entrance of the garden as Jack turned to stare in him in disbelief, clutching his ruffled hair.
"Come Jack, it's late. Let's say our goodbyes and retreat for the night."
"Glen, you did not just…You actually said... pfft-"
Jack's melodious laughter once again rang through the garden and Glenn's heart once again felt that gentle warmness.
Yes, Jack can never replace her… but he is a 'friend' that I have grown to love… the first…and only 'friend' I can ever have, Glen thought as he felt Jack's presence beside him.
But at the thought of that man's gaze on his 'friend' and the mysterious grin he gave, the same deep dark emotion boiled in him once again…
"So what have you found about that man, Duke Nightray?"
In the Baskerville main study room, Duke Raymond Nightray stood rigidly in front of the fabled Duke Baskerville, the one man who ruled the family of reapers bestowed by the legendary Abyss. Glen looked outside, his dull violet eyes absorbing the capital from his window.
"He is Franca Ruja, a nobleman from a neighbouring country and a guest of the royal family. He has been staying in Sabire for a few weeks now for a business deal with the Reinworth's family. What that business is, Duchess Reinworth says it is confidential within the parties involved," Raymond answered, watching the Baskerville walked to his table that was filled with documents. A butler stood attentively beside the desk, waiting emotionlessly.
"… I see," Violet eyes looked at some of the documents on the desk and took one up involving a case sent by the royal family.
"And?" He opened the document and looked at content before signing it. He handed it over to the butler who bowed lowly to him and another bow to the duke before leaving silently.
"… It seems that Ruja has been invited to the balls held by the nobles of Sabire since his stay and has charmed much of the noblewomen here with his wits and wealth," Raymond revealed as Glen sat down and elegantly took up his pen to sign some documents, "and… it seems that he is particularly interested in the Vessalius household."
His hand paused in his signature as he looked up to Raymond. Icy violet eyes caused a shiver to run down the Nightray's spine.
"For what purpose?"
The temperature seemed to drop a notch in the room as he stood up, his body tensed.
"N.. No one knows Baskerville-sama," Raymond stood his ground despite the growing fear for the man in front of him, "But one thing is for sure, if the Vessalius household is attending the ball, Ruja will surely be there."
The same dark emotion pooled in his chest as Glen kept his silence and turned to the window, looking out at the direction of where the Vessalius household was.
"Duke Nightray…"
"Yes Baskerville-sama," Raymond stood at attention.
"If Jack… ever attends any of the balls from now on, watch over him and make sure he is not let out of your sight," He ordered, glancing to the duke, whose eyes widened at the order but nodded.
"Leave me."
Raymond left the room without a question and Glen's shoulder visibly lowered in contemplation on the information he just heard.
"Franca Ruja…" The name rolled out, leaving a bad taste in his mouth. He grew quiet, confused by this emotion that had never left him, that this foreign nobleman brought out in him.
"Jack Vessalius! What are you doing with Lily and the roses you PLUCKED from OUR LORD'S garden?" Charlotte's shrill voice was heard outside. He looked to his window, gazing down at the garden below.
Lily, he remembered, the newest addition to the Baskervilles was seen running towards the mansion from the garden with a hooded figure carrying a bouquet of red roses. Sounds of laughter rang in the air as Charlotte stomped down the path, red in the face.
"Lily! You know how crossed the maids will be if they know the roses are plucked?"
"But Mister Jack say it's all right if it's for Master Glen," Lily pouted as she looks to the said hooded figure who stopped in his escape.
Turning to the puffing Charlotte, the hood was let down revealing golden hair, shining brightly under the sun. Glen's breath hitched at the sight.
"These roses bloomed so beautifully it will be a pity to not let them be viewed by your dear master. So see you Lotti! Come on Lily! Let us find your Master!" Jack exclaimed in mischief as he took Lily's small hand and run inside the mansion, leaving his view.
Upon seeing Charlotte's visibly reddened face from above, made the violet eyed man pondered on the fate of the younger Vessalius if she caught him. He sighed and shook his head at Jack's tendency of agitating and teasing the pink-haired Baskerville.
He returned to his desk, staying put in the room and continued his paperwork which he paused for Duke Nightray, waiting patiently for Jack to find his way to him.
"… It seems that he is particularly interested in the Vessalius household."
Glen closed his eyes and pressed his thumb and forefinger against the bridge of his nose.
Am I just thinking too much?
Never… says a voice in his head.
That man wants something from the Vessalius.. Another whispered.
Didn't you notice the desire brewing in those eyes…
Those eyes are like the eyes you held when you see her…
"Quiet."
Glen opened his eyes and the pool of violets revealed a darkness that would strike fear in anyone. The voices in his mind became silent.
The face of his beloved flashed across his mind and Glenn felt his world becoming darker, his deep regrets, his bitterness surfacing. "Lacie..." he whispered painfully but no one answered. His heart twisted at the emptiness but upon hearing a faint pair of hurried footsteps coming to his direction, he snapped out from the maze of his memories.
He shut his eyes and sighed again for the second time for today. Only Jack could bring out such emotions and memories from him, Glenn mused bitterly as he continued his signing.
He heard the doors of the room opened timidly and the sweet scent of roses whisked into the room.
"Glen, are you in here?" Jack's soft hesitant voice flowed into his ear and his lips twitched.
"It seems that you are not caught by Charlotte this time Jack," He answered and looked up, absorbing in the flushed cheeks of Jack and the beaming radiant smile at the entrance.
"See Lily! I told you it's this room!" Jack gleefully ushered in the small petite girl who stared at her master with amazement. He stood up, walking towards the pair and saw the huge bouquet of roses, wrapped in patterned paper, in her tiny arms.
Glen raised an elegant eyebrow as Lily went forward with bouquet shyly, with Jack behind her, encouraging, "Go on. Go on."
"Ma.. Ma… Master Glen!" Lily stuttered, her cheeks a blushing red, "These ro… roses are plucked for you. Please accept this!" She held up the bouquet and looked down in fear, waiting for his reply.
He turned to look at Jack who smiled at him expectantly and bend down to gently take the bouquet from her hands.
"Thank you Lily."
Lily's eyes glowed with overwhelmed joy and a wide smile bloomed on her flushed face, "Y,you are welcome Master Glen!"
"Congratulations Lily, good job!" Jack beamed at Lily who returned back a shy smile. Just then, an idea crossed the younger Vessalius's mind and he clapped his hands, yearning the attention of the two Baskervilles. With a goofy grin, he turned to the older man with shining eyes.
"Glen! Shall we find places to put these roses together? It's a beautiful day today and it will be fun. Also if Charlotte finds us, we can have tea together."
He looked at Jack and to Lily and to the piles of documents, before taking out the pocket watch from his right coat pocket, looking at the time.
Nearing noon…
...
The documents could wait…
"Wait we are disturbing you, aren't we, Glen? If you are busy, Lily and I can take the roses and do the task ourselves," Jack asked, finally noticing the paperwork on his desk but Glen shook his head, holding the bouquet close.
"I will not have invited you to the mansion if you truly disturb me Jack," He walked passed the pair, taking the sweet roses out of the room. Upon hearing that, Jack gave a sincere smile and let the bubbly tiny Baskerville pulled him out of the room to follow her Master.
In the dimly lit corridor, Jack and Lily talked about where to place the roses animatedly while the ebony-haired duke let their voices soaked down into his soul, letting his eyes fell shut in the peace he was currently feeling. A gentle melody, that he had never heard for a long.. long time...
Ever since she was gone, laughter was rare in the Baskerville mansion and everything was grey. But Jack… changed all that …
The thought of that Nobleman made Glen clenched the bouquet tightly. His gloved hands felt the thorns pressed against the paper.
'That man wants something from the Vessalius.'
If anything happened to Jack… would this partially dark world be any darker?
…
to be continued