Past, Present, and Future
Disclaimer: I do not own Pandora Hearts, that belongs to Jun Mochizuki. I am not making any money off of this, this is solely for my own entertainment, and you would get nothing in the attempt to sue as I have nothing really to give.
AN: And here's the second chapter. My muse is happy now. Please let me know what you think of this!
Warning: Mention of kissing between two boys (or one boy and one man, but we can ignore the technical nine year age difference). If you can't handle that, please just turn back now. Flames will be used to warm my dorm and roast marshmallows.
The Present, The Future
When Oz first realized who Raven was, he couldn't believe it. Timid, stuttering, tiny Gil was this tall, strong, older man? It didn't seem possible, even as the puzzle pieces fit together in his mind, the likeness – both physically and personality-wise – was suddenly making more sense. Oz was completely sure when he saw the scar running across Raven's, no Gil's, chest, and he knew nothing had changed, even when everything had, when Gil broke away from Doldum's threads to shoot Zwei instead of Oz. Gil would always be Gil, Oz knew, no matter how much time had passed, but as Gil knelt before him again, stating again as he had so long ago that he wished to always serve and protect him, Oz had wondered if things would ever be able to go back to the way they were before, if they would ever be able to explore what had started in that garden, to him, just a few days ago.
Over the next couple of weeks, Oz watched Gil, watched him for any hints that Gil might still feel what Oz had thought he'd felt that day. As he did, he saw many small gestures, along with larger more obvious ones – such as the debilitating fear of cats that Oz was sure was at least partially his fault severity wise, after all it probably didn't help that Oz's main threats when they were younger had been cats – that were from when Gil was the fourteen year-old servant, and Oz saw even smaller, more subtle things he would've missed had he not been looking for them. He saw the way Gil's gold eyes followed him, making sure he was safe and that he was eating and sleeping properly. He noticed the way any physical contact always lingered for a moment longer than necessary. He saw the nearly completely hidden jealously that flashed through those eyes when Alice became a bit more physically affectionate than was necessarily proper.
During those weeks, he also thought over his own feelings and found that, as long as it was Gil, it didn't matter if he was fourteen or twenty-four. Oz would always love the raven-haired man. Therefore, he would do as he did before, he would tease and give hints to his now older servant.
The first time this time around was sloppy but affectionate. It was after the celebration for everyone getting back safe after the incident at Ada's school. Alice had already been taken back to her room by Oz himself, and Break had taken care of Sharon before heading back to his own room. Uncle Oscar had disappeared at some point, and that left Oz with the drunken Gil draped across the couch. The blonde couldn't help but smile at the picture Gil made, looking much more like his younger self now than the stronger adult he'd become. Oz shook the brunette in an attempt to rouse him enough to get the older man to his room, and he was startled when, once he'd gotten Gil to sit up, Gil grabbed the blonde and pulled him into his lap. Oz felt an odd sense of déjà vu, though the situation was reversed this time, as he sat there for a moment with Gil nuzzling his shoulder affectionately. The fifteen year-old felt a wicked smile split his face before he turned his head slightly and captured the older man's lips with his own. The kiss was a little awkward and a little sloppy due to their position and the fact that Gil was completely sloshed, but the affection behind the gesture was clear. The kiss finally broke as Oz felt Gil, and by extension himself, tip sideways onto the couch. Realizing that Gil had passed out again, Oz slowly extracted himself from Gil's arms, shoulders shaking with silent laughter. Look down at the sleeping brunette, Oz couldn't help but feel hopeful and wonder if, when morning came, Gil would remember any of this.
The second time was a week later and felt very nostalgic. It was rare for Oz to be up before Gil, who was, more often than not, up at the crack of dawn, and this was one of those rare mornings. Oz opened the door silently, grinning at the site of the sleeping Gil. Closing the door soundlessly behind him, Oz took a couple of small steps into the room before covering the rest of the short distance in a sprint and jumping onto the bed, landing on and straddling the now abruptly awake and quickly flushing Gil. Oz laughed as he watched Gil turn very swiftly back into the stuttering, blushing person he'd been when he was younger. Grinning still more widely, Oz felt a strong sense of nostalgia as he leaned down and planted a quick, playful kiss on the brunette's lips before leaping up and off the bed, calling back to Gil that breakfast was ready as he dashed out of the room.
The third time was slow and loving. It was during one of the few times that Gil and Oz had time alone together because Sharon and Break had been called out temporarily and Alice was deeply asleep in her room. As they sat together in the living room, they talked about everything and nothing. They talked about the past, about what was happening now, and what the future would bring, being careful to avoid any tender subjects. They had lapsed into silence, sitting next to each other on the couch, when Oz decided this was probably the best chance he was going to get. Turning and getting Gil's attention, he pressed his lips to the older man's in a slow, lingering kiss, pouring his love into the chaste and yet incredibly passionate meeting of lips. When he pulled back, when Gil questioned him, he told him everything. He told him the purposes behind the kisses, especially the last, when they had been younger, and he told him about his thoughts, his decision, this time around. Oz told Gil that he didn't care about the nine year age difference, that he didn't care that they were both male, because it was Gil he loved. When said man pulled him into his arms and replied in kind, Oz felt completely at ease for, perhaps, the first time in his life. They would deal with tomorrow and any hardships as they came.
Even ten years later, Gil could be found by his master's side at the Vessalius mansion in the finally peaceful times.
AN: And that's the end. Let me know what you think!
