I do not own Pandora Hearts.

Looking for a beta reader.

I wrote something I've never written before in my Pandora Hearts fanfictions, so please leave a review to tell me if you like it.

Tell me if you find any spelling errors

It was Gilbert's soft and gentle voice that woke him up the next morning; he felt a soft hand soothingly caress his face while he slowly regained conscious. It wasn't often that Oz fell into a deep slumber where he could no longer hear any noise from outside and jumped from dream to dream. That night had been one of not so many others.

"I actually feel quite guilty, waking him up…" he then heard the voice of a young female, in his still too-asleep mind, he couldn't put a face on the owner of the voice. "Oz…?" the woman tried to wake him up as well, he then realized person speaking was also the one brushing his hair strands out of his face.

The prince muttered something neither Gilbert nor Dalia understood, but then finally his eyes fluttered open and he gazed straight into the grey eyes of the young Garland. They were actually quite beautiful, he realized groggily. There were green dots in her irises as well… like the sun peeking through a blanket of clouds. His vision sharpened a bit, that's when he saw the silhouette of Gilbert standing before the large windows, he was tying his hair up in a ponytail. When their eyes met, the young man offered him a kind smile.

"Good morning."

"'Morning…" he responded weakly. "W'time s'it?"

Dalia chuckled when hearing him speak like that; she got a hand through his hair. He noticed that she was sitting on his bed… it reminded him of his mother, in some way. The way she'd wake him up when he was younger. Rachel had always loved to wake up her two children on her own, since it was one of the rare moments she didn't have to pretend to be anyone else. If he refused to wake up, she'd tell him that she would tickle him…

"It's nine in the morning, Gilbert's friend will arrive soon." Dalia spoke in a calm voice, the prince wondered if she knew that voice did the opposite of what she wanted. It was soft and soothing and made him want to go right back to sleep right then and there… he of course didn't. The blond slowly got up, muttering a 'I'm up' under his breath while he got a hand through his messy bed-hair. He tried rubbing the sleep out of eyes.

"You look exhausted, are you alright?" the raven then asked.

"I'm fine," he really wasn't he realized. The worst was, Oz knew what made him so exhausted. Something kept B-rabbit asleep… the bond that was now broken between him and Alice had become such a huge part of his existence that his body actually needed time to get used to the fact he could no longer reach out to her whenever he wanted.

He really missed her.

"A nice cup of hot coffee will help a lot, I think." Dalia nodded, "I'll go downstairs to greet our guest when he arrives. You two should wait in my father's office, breakfast will be served there." She then got up from the bed.

Oz got out of bed, Gilbert helped the young boy pick out his outfit for that day, a bit more formal then usual, and then showed him where everything was in the bathroom. Showing the prince that this was indeed not the first time he spend a night at the Garland mansion. It was obvious now, what kind of relation the two had…. The teen felt his face heating up when he remembered in what sort of situation he had walked into last night. Stupid… stupid…

He only needed ten minutes to get cleaned up and dress himself. All this time, Raven had waited patiently in his bedroom and once he got out of the bedroom he greeted him with that kind smile of his.

Oz found himself wondering what he actually looked like in the young man's eyes. Did he still see that same ill, wounded, broken boy from weeks ago or has that image-changed overtime? Even though Oz finally snapped out of his own misery only days ago, he still wondered…

"Did you sleep well?" Gilbert started small talk.

The prince nodded, even though the yawn that followed rather quickly. He immediately noticed the frown on the raven's face when he did so. "T-this isn't because- I-err… I mean…" he groaned, feeling like some idiot for not being able to find his words.

"Is something troubling you perhaps?"

Yes! There is actually! "I was wondering… Gil… do you know about chains?"

The man blinked in surprise when hearing this question, they walked down the stairs, Oz would have usually been admiring the many paintings decorating the lilac painted walls but all he could focus on right now was the man walking beside him.

"I do."

Well, Oz didn't know what exactly he had been expecting yet he still found himself being surprised by this simple answer. "Y-you do?"

"Yeah… I am a member of Pandora." He then held open the door of Dalia's office, letting the prince enter. "Well… was, actually. I'm not so sure anymore."

"No way? Why didn't you tell me? W-wait does this mean, you have a chain?"

So many questions. Gilbert sighed, "You never asked, and I wasn't sure if I should tell you… you seemed to really need a break of everything related to… well you know." The young man made some loose gesture while he leaned against the wooden desk . "I have a chain, yes… I've also seen yours." He easily read the next question burning on his friend's face. A sly smirk appeared on his face once Oz realized how obvious he was. "Surprised me actually." The young man then continued, he gazed at the walls; there were so many books in his office. Did sir Garland read all of them? "Your chain tried to kill me and Vince the first time we met…"

"Ah- s-sorry!"

"It's fine," he chuckled softly, he was actually very handsome when he smiled. "It only tried to protect you, B-rabbit was it, right?" his heart skipped a beat.

It's weird, hearing the name of his chain coming out of someone else's mouth. Yet the boy still nodded, he didn't even notice the maid that entered the office shortly after them, bringing them their breakfast.

The young prince walked towards the large windows at the back off the office and gazed outside with hand clasped together behind his back. "I've been wondering…" he then spoke, voice softer then usual. He slightly narrowed his eyes as he saw a man riding a horse getting closer to the mansion. "Who's ruling my country?"

Eyes widened in surprise when he asked this, Raven actually felt quite embarrassed once he realized that there were moments where he forgot Oz was a prince. That now that the king was dead, the throne was rightfully his. "Is it Jack?" he turned around to face Gilbert.

"I'm not sure, I… I don't think I can tell…" he gulped, gazing at the boy in front of him. The light from outside made his hair shine as bright as gold, for a second the man found himself thinking that the teen was actually quite… "Beautiful."

"Sorry?"

He quickly shook his head, "Excuse me, what I meant to say was; 'I wouldn't know."

Oz frowned, "That's not what you said."

"I did- I mean, that is indeed what I did want to sa-say."

"No you didn't." a scowl appeared on the teen's face, and Gilbert couldn't help but smile at his childish behavior. Honestly, what a brat.

He saw the way the boy opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something. Instead, his eyes widened and a blush decorated his cheeks before he turned around again to hide his flustered face.

The black suit didn't flatter him. The young man then noticed, he didn't like it that the boy wasn't wearing any colors. He appeared so much more mature, so more sorrowful; he realized that the prince still hadn't gotten the chance to grief properly for the dead of his family members. There had been no funeral, he hadn't gotten the chance to go to a church clad in black and give them their last blessing. He had seen the way the boy took all of this in, Oz had mourned for their dead. For a long time, he hadn't even taken care of himself, probably blaming himself for what had happened that night. He had become a shell of the boy he once was.

Gilbert found himself wondering that if Oz had given everything a place in his mind, or if he just pretended he had. He gazed at the boy whom had returned gazing outside with a straight back. He walked around with his head held up high, yet Gil wondered how many times the boy wanted to lower his gaze and just leave this place. To crawl back into his bed and be honest to himself, to Gil… to Vince. "I can't do it. I need more time."

-"Honestly Gilbert-kun, do you think the enemy will give you more time?" a familiar voice whispered inside of his mind.

The raven quickly shook the memory away.

"I see you two haven't started breakfast yet," Dalia spoke once she entered the room together with a man completely dressed in black, he was a personal servant of the family that took Gil and Vince under their wings years ago. It wasn't unusual for them to put on clothes that made them stand out as less as possible.

"Gilbert-sama, it has been a while."

"Good to see you too, Hans."

The prince had turned around as soon as he had heard Dalia's arrival, eyes widened in surprise when he saw the broad shouldered man whom had stepped closer to the young raven to shake hands with him.

Hans then turned to face the small boy whom almost seemed to disappear in the background, the servant realized his mistake then. He quickly kneeled down and apologized for his rude behavior while showing the prince his respect. "I am very sorry for your loss, your majesty."

As if he was already a king.

Both Dalia and saw the boy bit his lip and had to look elsewhere, only for a second could you read the pain on his face before he offered the young man a kind smile. "There is no need for all this, I am no one important." His whole behavior seemed to have changed, he choose his word carefully and had a very mature air around him. He was behaving like royalty. No longer like the wounded small boy whom had lost everything he knew. "For the moment, that is. So raise your head," he made a loose gesture with his right arm.

Hans looked up, but avoided eye contact with the prince.

"What is your name?"

"H-Hans, your majesty."

Oz grimaced when hearing the title again, "By any chances, have me met before? Sir Hans?"

Dalia chuckled softly when she saw just how flattered Hans was when he heard the prince recognized him, even though she knew this wasn't what Gilbert wanted. It would only be a matter of time for Oz to realize the truth of the man he thought he knew.

"We have, actually. Your grace, y-you see…" he spoke, still keeping his head bowed, "I'm the young lady Vanessa's personal servant. You have been good friends with Elliot-sama, her brother for years…"

If the prince was surprised by the information that Gilbert somehow was friends with a servant of the Nightray household, he did not show at all. "I see, how have they been?" he offered the man a smile, even if Hans could not see it.

"N-Not so well, your majesty. I-if I may, Mistress Vanessa is not so sure of whom she should believe… and Elliot-sama has been missing for a few days." He fumbled with the hem of his shirt.

"Would you like some tea, Sir Hans?" Dalia then asked him politely, she gave Oz a warning look. They hadn't invited the man over for small talk, Hans was a servant, and Vanessa hadn't given him much time to be away. The prince gave her a curt nod before he pointed towards the two couches facing each other. "Please, sit down." Dalia voiced what he meant.

She gazed at the prince whom sat down on the sofa across from the man; the teen sat down with a certain grace only one of high status could manage.

Gilbert choose to stand behind Oz, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder without saying a word while Dalia took the seat next to the prince. "Please tell me everything you know, sir Hans."

The man nodded, a droplet of sweating rolling down his temple as he started speaking. It was obvious he was nervous doing this without his mistress by his side, but he knew he could trust Gilbert. So he told them everything he had heard while doing his duties at the Nightray mansion.

It appeared that the new Glen was considering a war if their neighboring country didn't hand them the last remaining prince, it seemed that not even they had noticed the other name missing in the newspaper. How odd. The three of them kept their mouths though, while Hans was a trustworthy person, according to Raven. They couldn't burden him with such powerful information.

The Nightrays chose the side of the Baskervilles, but Duke Nightray was convinced that the reason why his son disappeared was because he still believed in Oz's innocence. The princess had woken up from her coma some time ago, and rumors were already going around the whole kingdom that soon she would start a rebellion against her own uncle.

"You have a lot of supporters, your majesty… actually," and Hans finally looked up to meet Oz's calm face, "You've become q-quite the symbol."

The prince blinked a few times, before he could voice his confusion Dalia spoke, "How do you mean?"

Hans smiled weakly, "Our system is flawed, children of misfortune still get murdered, and we still look down upon those whom do not have the pure blood of a Baskerville running through their veins because they cannot control the Abyss." They looked down upon people like Hans, he had foreigner blood running through his veins. Oz realized.

"Our country is still old fashioned." Dalia agreed, she placed her hand on Oz's trembling one, the boy gazed at her comforting gesture, he chewed on the inside of his cheek and did not push her away.

"But you, your grace… have absolutely no Baskerville blood yet you could still make a contract with the most powerful chain of all times… you and princess Alice."

"We could use this. If they ever do harm you, we could make the people riot." The Garland girl spoke, "This is terrific news!" she laughed.

Hans nodded, not sure if he had said the right words. Only Dalia said her opinion, Gilbert's face remained emotionless like always , as Hans knew him and the prince furrowed his brow.

He then turned around in his seat, "Gil."

The raven nodded once, "I know."

They were both thinking of the same person.

Vincent didn't even seem surprised when he got pulled into an alley, his captor shoved him hard against a wall and invaded his personal space in no time. A sword pressed against his neck.

"It took you long enough," the blond haired young male chuckled when he met the gaze of the other male, "I was already starting to wonder when you would reach out to me."

The red gaze of the child of misfortune narrowed, the male obviously wasn't happy to even be in Vincent's presence. Which wasn't quite that odd, the two shared a rather interesting history. One that Gilbert did not know off. "Let's not waste our breaths on small talk, shall we? Sewer rat."

"Don't tell me you still hold a grudge for me because of that time I poisoned your princess, Hatter?"

"Oh, I still do."

He felt the sharp edge of the sword break his skin as Xerxes answered with a cold mocking voice, he even managed to laugh.

"But this isn't about that, I'm sure you've figured that much out by your irritating way of talking."

"Oh my, am I annoying you?" Vincent asked, as if he actually felt guilty. He didn't. He loved to see the hatter scowl, 'murder' written all over his face. There was only a few people Xerxes Break hated so openly. He was blessed to be the number one of his 'to kill' list.

Xerxes made a soft annoyed noise, but other then that remained calm. Much to the blond male's disappointment. "Tell me where he is so that we can both go our own ways again."

"Ah, but what if I enjoy your company?" the blond chuckled and to proof his point he even raised his arm to gently caress the albino's arm.

He laughed when the man pushed the sharp blade just a tad bit closer and blood started dripping down into his shirt, staining the white fabric.

"Don't."

Vincent laughed airily, pissing of the Hatter had always been one of his favorites things to do when he worked at Pandora headquarters daily.

"Or what? Will you kill me, hatter?" the young man asked calmly, "I already told you, I wouldn't mind if I were to die by your hands." His breath caressed the pale skin of his captor, "But we both know you cannot kill me."

"Believe me I will as soon as you give me the information I need." It wasn't a threat. It was a promise. And if there was one thing Xerxes Beak was well known for, it was for keeping his promises.

"Ah-ah. Can't have that, now can we, Hatter?" he hummed. "Because you see, my brother made me promise something, and you and I both know how much I'd hate to disappoint him."

"Oh I know." He almost spat out the words, disgust written all over his voice.

"I think you've also figured out why."

Break remained silent, he never broke eye contact with the young male.

"You're no fun." Vincent sighed, "Don't worry, we've made sure your beloved brat got everything he's heart desired."

"I bet it must have been thrilling to see the effect of your own poison from up close."

"I must say it was quite delightful to finally get a chance to see it from up close." He agreed, "Then again, lady Sharon gave me that chance before as well."
"You bastard-"

"If you kill me, you'll never find out where he is."

"I think you made yourself clear that you will not tell me where he is." The albino said,

"Perhaps I'll make an exception for you. Wouldn't be the first time."

Toying with strings from the past truly was suicidal behavior. Yet seeing the anger build up in the albino's red eye made the smirk on his face only grow. "Of course, everything comes with a price."

"Haven't you taken enough already, rat?" Yet he still took a step back from him, cleaning his blade off with a piece of cloth.

Vincent laughed, wiping the blood of his neck. "Well?"

"Spill the beans, rat." Break was so close to raising his voice, that's a new one.

When hearing he had won, Vincent could only laugh harder from delight. "Gilbert will soon leave his side anyway, it's only a matter of time before the bond will be fixed again… that is of course if nothing comes up in the mean time."

Break narrowed his eye when hearing this, confusion written over his face. It was obvious he disliked it that Vincent knew more then him, "What do you mean?"

"The prince has grown particularly fond of my brother, and it seems that my brother has given the boy a place in his heart as well. Then again, brother always had a soft spot for those in need." He smiled at the clown, "Like that time you begged him not to leave-" he was cut off by the point of a sword pointing directly at his heart. "There used to be a time you would have begged for me instead."

Break's smile would have scared anyone else, "I don't beg." Vincent of course, wasn't just anyone else.

The young man shrugged; clearly not bothered by the fact of how close he stood to the edge. "Now for my price."

"For information I could have gather myself?" Break snorted, he took two steps back so that he could put his blade away. "You can give a message to Raven and the prince. Tell them time is running out." With that he turned around, intending to leave.

Of course he had his sword back in his hand as soon as he felt Vincent's hand on his shoulder, he turned around faster then the light and-

Crashed his lips right against the rat's.

Not a second later, Vincent doubled over on his knees while holding his stomach, even coughing up a little blood as Xerxes walked out of the alley from the other side. The albino gritted his teeth when he heard the young man laugh behind him.

There waited Elliot Nightray whom had seen everything happen from a safe distance, he had seen how deadly the man he looked up to could be and had seen how his adopted brother had humiliated him. He gulped, a shiver of fear running down his spine as the hatter passed him without saying a word. Both heading back to the castle.

"I-I'm so sorry for my brother's rude behavior-"

"Brats should just remain brats," Break hadn't even turn his head to face him, a smirk of amusement appeared on his face as he let the teen catch up to him. "It's tiresome to pretend you know what you're talking about."

The Nightray furrowed his brow, trying to figure out what he meant by that. "If I may ask…" he flinched when he heard the irritated sigh, "Wh-what was that… back there?"

"Hm?"

Of course. Pretending like nothing had happened, the Nightray frowned. "You and Vincent obviously don't get along."

The hatter snorted, bit of an understatement.

"Yet… he did that?"

Break stopped then, causing the boy to bump straight into his back, "Ah I just realized something!" he said out of the blue.

"R-really, and what might that be?" Elliot asked curiously while rubbing his sore nose.

"That I really despise babysitting brats." Break had an evil grin on his face as he turned his head to face the Nightray, whom gulped loudly and took a step back out of fear.

"I-I'll shut-up now!"

"That seems to be wise."

The rest of their journey back to the castle was spend in complete silence.