#pandora hearts fanfic

[phmonth]

Pandora Hearts Month 2024: Daily Prompt Vote!

Art for phmonth23 by @aprilizzie

Here is the link to the daily prompt vote on for pandora hearts month this year!! Please vote for 7 in each category!

If you don’t plan on participating in all the weeks, and only want to vote on one or two, that’s fine! Also, feel free to still vote, even if you don’t plan on participating at all! The more people voting the more helpful it’ll be!

If you don't know, Pandora Hearts Month is an event that celebrates Pandora Hearts. The first three weeks celebrate the three main trios (Golden Trio, Rainsworth Trio, and Tragedy Trio) and the fourth is a bonus week that celebrates any ships/friendships/ot3s fans chose and love. You can create edits, fanart, drabbles, fanfictions, amvs and mms!

We will be having a Vanitas no Carte Week this year! Last year I said we'd have a VnCMonth but I never got around to creating it. I want to make sure to include a week for it this year, in case that happens again!!

The event will likely occur during October and November!

I'll give you guys somewhere around a week to vote on these!

In case you're curious, the multi-word prompts all came from my writing group. We have a prompt every week, and are up to 215 total at the moment! I thought you guys might enjoy using them too, so I used a number wheel to randomly select some! (Yes, Ravens and Writing Desks was one, and yes, I am so surprised and happy that my randomizer wheel picked it for Golden Trio Week! Now to see if anyone else likes it...). If you like original writing, check out the discord here! Or (shameless plug) @AMothintheArchive on Twitch and Discord! (The tumblr isn't updated yet XD)

[okamigamer1]

I wrote something for PHMonth23 for Alice/Oz/Gilbert it's just porn what plot smut but it's here!

@i-prefer-the-term-antihero

[lafamilledelioncourt]

✨don't touch my babies✨

[sunsetsmakemesad]

You ever just read a fanfiction that leaves you with a strong visceral feeling of

[soleilnewspaper]

Marauders ship names

The fandom has beautiful gut wrenching names for the mlm ships but the wlw are left with mashups?? No, no, they deserve the same poetic treatment the boys receive.

Pulling out my ap English skills (hopefully they work)

Dorlene Marlene - Elegant, great Dorcas - Gazelle

= GracefulGazelle

Pandalily Pandora - “All gifts” from Greek, and there is the legend of Pandora’s box. Lily - Pure, Lily flower 

Gift of flowers = Bouquet 

Box+flower = Flowerbox, Flowercase or Flowervase

Pure - angel + box = Angelbox 

Pandora - Panda - Bamboo tree + Lily = Lilytree 

 Marylily Lily - pure, Lily flower  Mary - Star of the sea; Beloved;

Star of the sea - sea + lily + = Seaflower or Sealily 

Sea+lily = Lilypad??

Beloved - love + lily - petals = lovepetals

Mary - marigold + lily + = Goldlily (not mine, saw someone suggest this) 

Nobleflower for Narcissa and Alice

Bonus:

Xenophilius Lovegood and Pandora Rosier 

Xenophilius's name comes from two Greek words: Xenos "strange" and -Phile "love” giving the meaning of one who loves the strange Pandora means all gifts, and there is still the legend of Pandora’s box 

Valentine

love from Phille from Xenophilius, and on Valentine’s Day couples often receive gifts, Pandora means gift 

Jewerlybox 

Jewerly from love (Phille) as you give jewerly to loved ones, and box from Pandora 

[lunariar02]

I’m writing my first Marauders era fanfiction in English. Aahh!!! Anyways the first two chapters are up and the third one will be out tomorrow!

It’s about Regulus’ life and it’s going to go through all of his school years and events until his death. And it has jegulus!!

[somewhatgayy]

An Absurd Fairy Tale Chapter 5, "The Red King", is live!

Chapter 5 is for Tragedy Trio Day 2, November 4th, "A Reward You Will Regret" I was so excited when I saw the notes I left behind for this chapter last year! Thank you for reading! I'll see you all on November 7th for "Reverence" I'm not sure if it'd be poor etiquette to @phmonth @i-prefer-the-term-antihero for all four uploads, but the first and last feel right at least.

[kanouseis]

let me read to you your defeat

📜 pandora hearts

📜 elliot/oz

📜 highschool au, silly fluff, repressed feelings

📜 rated g

📜 1.7k words

https://archiveofourown.org/works/52651852

[mikariin]

So don’t know if anyone remembers this tragic anime, but like what about a Pandora Hearts AU with MarAce, but without the fudged timeline of sorts?

I can see Marco being part of the Pandora Hearts society, going to form a contract with a chain and it’s supposed to be a Phoenix type one, but he ends up summoning Ace, who actively has no idea what’s going on and even the contract is fucked because guess what? Roger was a human and Rouge was a chain and they made this amazingly adorable half breed, who never even knew he was a chain until they realized they made the wrong summoning symbol.

Now Marco and Ace have to figure out how to work together without killing one another, due to Marco being a stickler for all the rules and Ace being unable to follow simple instructions, for the simple fact that he couldn’t give less of a shit what Marco or any of the others wanted.

(This came to mind when my playlist played the Pandora hearts opening lol)

[phmonth]

Pandora Hearts Month 2023 Prompts!

Wonderful art made by @retracexcviii for last year's secret Santa!

What is Pandora Hearts Month? Pandora Hearts Month is an event that celebrates, well...Pandora Hearts, the manga created by Jun Mochizuki! Each day is a new prompt. The first three weeks celebrate the three main trios, and the fourth is a bonus week that celebrates any ships/friendships/ot3s fans chose and love--or simply any characters not covered by the other weeks! You can create edits, fanart, drabbles, fanfictions, amvs and mms...whatever you can think of, really!

Pandora Hearts Month 2023 Prompts:

Golden Trio Week (Alice, Oz and Gilbert), October 22nd-28th:

Day 1, Sunday Oct 22nd: Coat

Day 2, Monday Oct 23rd: Autumn

Day 3, Tuesday Oct 24th: Precious

Day 4, Wednesday Oct 25th: Raven

Day 5, Thursday Oct 26th: AU

Day 6, Friday Oct 27th: Blue

Day 7, Saturday Oct 28th: Sun

Rainsworth Trio Week (Sharon, Break and Reim), Oct 29th—November 4th:

Day 1, Sunday Oct 29th: Silver

Day 2, Monday Oct 30th: Fragile

Day 3, Tuesday Oct 31st: 🎃 Candy 👻

Day 4, Wednesday Nov 1st: Affection

Day 5, Thursday Nov 2nd: Grave

Day 6, Friday Nov 3rd: Moon

Day 7, Saturday Nov 4th: Winter

Tragedy Trio Week (Lacie, Jack and Oswald), Nov 5th—Nov 11th:

Day 1, Sunday Nov 5th: King

Day 2, Monday Nov 6th: Lyrics

Day 3, Tuesday Nov 7th: Spring

Day 4, Wednesday Nov 8th: Gold

Day 5, Thursday Nov 9th: Guilt

Day 6, Friday Nov 10th: Pocketwatch

Day 7, Saturday Nov 11th: Stars

Fan’s choice Week, Nov 12th—November 18th:

Day 1, Sunday Nov 12th: Hat

Day 2, Monday Nov 13th: AU

Day 3, Tuesday Nov 14th: Meadow

Day 4, Wednesday Nov 15th: Rose

Day 5, Thursday Nov 16th: Lonely

Day 6, Friday Nov 17th: Contract

Day 7, Saturday Nov 18th: Book

(If you want to use other prompts to make a Halloweeny piece, feel free! You don't have to save that for Halloween day!)

When you post, please remember to:

Tag me @i-prefer-the-term-antihero, @phmonth, and/or @this-idiots-left-eye in your posts to make sure I reblog them! (My main blog is your best bet).

Tag #phmonth23 in your tags! I will go through that tag and check if I've missed any direct tags. (If you don't see your piece reblogged on this blog after doing both these methods, please dm me!)

Either put a link, or a “read more” on long fics (or long posts in general), so they're easier to reblog!

NSFW content is allowed, but please make sure it’s clear it’s NSFW/tagged that way, and is beneath a read more so anyone who doesn’t want to see it doesn’t have to!

I also made a collection on Ao3 for writers! Don't hesitate to add your fics to it!

Don’t forget to join our discord if you haven’t! It’s a fun place to discuss the series and more easily share your creations!

You are free to have fun with this!! As I said, as long as you tag it, NSFW is allowed! Tagging ships is nice too. You can pretty much do whatever you want with the prompts!

As long as you make sure the characters from the trio are your main focus, it’s okay to use other characters in your creations too!

You can join any time, and use as many or as few prompts as you want! You don't have to post on the exact day if you can’t make it! I’ll reblog things late!

Since we live across the world, you are free to post whenever the day is for you. I myself will be making posts according to my time, which is Central Standard Time in America. 

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to send an ask here, or post in the #questions channel of the discord!

P.S. About the Phmonth22 prizes:

Some of you may recall me posting about wanting to add a raffle aspect to Phmonth22, with the 15th anniversary merch as prizes. The prizes finally arrived!

Once the setup for Phmonth23 is done, I plan to gather up the names of everyone who posted for Phmonth22, and raffle off the two prizes: one for artists, and one for fic writers!

(Do note, however, that you will have to pay for shipping, especially if it needs to be sent internationally! )

Lastly, Vncmonth!

You guys voted to have a Vanitas no Carte month, like last year! Not sure when that'll be, I'm thinking January-February. I will work on that prompt list after the setup here is done as well!

Feel free to get started on making stuff early! (But please wait to post until the month has started!) I'm so excited to see what you make! Thank you for all your support!

i-prefer-the-term-antihero

[narrators-journal]

Kinktober 2023

This is a day early, but I fear I will forget if I don't, so <3 Remember to follow the rules! and mind the edits specified on the prompt list's post! Everything needed will also be linked there as well as here for ease.

Date made: 9/30/23

Date updated: 12/14/23

Prompt list and credit: Here

Rules of request: Here

Fandoms I write for: Here

Day 1: Masturbation

Home videos (KatsuBao)

Calling collect (akeshu)

Day 2: Car sex

My half of the deal (hisollumi)

Day 3: Mirror sex

Day 4: Against the wall

Dessert before dinner (narukami x sho)

Day 5: Breeding kink

New moon (ryomina)

Human nature (akechi x Arsene)

Anniversary lilies (ryomina)

Compliments (Narukami x Margaret)

Breed the Easter Bunny (narukami x elizabeth)

Day 6: Morning sex

Calling collect (akeshu)

Day 7: Public/semi-public sex

A tigers booty call (beast!shin soukoku)

Just a normal lunch date (ryuji sakamoto x oc x yusuke kitagawa)

A steamy Siren's call (Eikichi Mishina x oc)

Day 8: sensory deprivation

Day 9: bondage/shibari

Sweet dreams (yandere! Monster!Jun tatsujun)

Left blowing in the breeze (sengen)

Sexual healing (hisoka x machi)

I'm a bad, bad magician (sengen)

Day 10: Wax play

Day 11: exhibitionism/voyeurism

Just a normal lunch date (ryuji sakamoto x oc x yusuke kitagawa)

Home videos (katsuBao)

Day 12: pet play

Bow to your emperess (Haru okumura x Akira kurusu)

Sweet dreams (yandere! Monster!Jun tatsujun)

New moon (ryomina)

Anniversary lilies (ryomina)

Compliments (Narukami x Margaret)

Breed the Easter bunny (narukami x elizabeth)

Day 13: Orgasm delay

Just relax and enjoy yourself (ryuji sakamoto x oc x yuuki Mishima)

Just a normal lunch date (ryuji sakamoto x oc x yusuke kitagawa)

Left blowing in the breeze (sengen)

Anniversary lilies (ryomina)

When the cats away, the rat will play (fyozai)

I'm a bad, bad magician (sengen)

Day 14: filming

Home videos (katsuBao)

Smile for the camera (shuake)

Day 15: food play

Day 16: Toys

Day 17: Teratophilia

Full moon (ryomina)

Day 18: Titfucking

Day 19: Deep throating

Day 20: shower sex

A steamy Siren's call (eikichi Mishina x oc)

It's only gay if you kiss (souyo)

Day 21: knifeplay

Keeping the spark alive (tatsujun)

When the cats away, the rat will play (fyozai)

Dessert before dinner (narukami x sho)

Day 22: Somnophilia

Sweet dreams (yandere! Monster!Jun tatsujun)

Anniversary lilies (ryomina)

Day 23: First time

Piano lessons (Leo Baskerville x Elliot Nightray)

Day 24: Glory hole

Day 25: spanking

Sexual healing (hisoka x machi)

A wolf in sheep's clothing (ShuAke)

Day 26: Cockwarming

Day 27: Double penetration

Day 28: Dacryphilia

My crown jewel (yandere!Akira Shuake)

Human nature (akechi x Arsene)

Full moon (ryomina)

Day 29: Sixty-nine

Day 30: phone sex/sexting

Calling collect (akeshu)

Day 31: Costume/lingerie

Compliments (narukami x Margaret)

Breed the Easter bunny (narukami x Elizabeth)

[ayxi12wo]

I came up with a plot for a maxi break x rufus fic, I scribbled a couple of scenes in my notes, I also recorded everything on a dictaphone, then I drew it and I started crying. All this was accompanied by the songs of Maya Kotovskay and Fleür

I realized that in order to write this the way I want it to be, I need to read all the Old Testaments, the Gospel and the Koran + watch the analysis and actually understand

[i-write-hurt-not-comfort]

Who's your favorite character to write?

thank you for the question! i assume this was for my drunk asks prompt but i went to sleep so i'm just answering sober, though i think my response would be the same.

you might think i'd say ruki and kou, my two favourites, but you'd be incorrect. obviously i love writing them and they're integral in my OTPs, but ruki and kou both go through a lot of complex development. kou is almost too unstable and can be a challenge to write due to how complex he is, and ruki has a very dry humour which can be difficult to capture.

firstly i'd say i really like to write subaru, he's gentle but feisty and quite easy to get down i think. he's flexible too, he can be embarrassed and cute, aggressive or horny.

secondly i love writing ayato because he's so silly. he can say really stupid things sometimes and it's such fun to write. his character has a lot of angst potential, true, but i think he's funnier to write in jokey/crack fics.

finally, first on my list is definitely reiji. reiji had gone up in my rankings in many ways over the last 18 months and a lot of that is because of how i've written him. he's got so much range - he's mean and critical, he's a fucking simp, but most importantly he's ANGRY at the world. he's hurt, he's got a really complex relationship with shu which is great to explore, and he's got a ton of insecurities and it makes him the perfect target for angst. but he's also funny in crack fics and such because of how sarcastic and cocky he is. reiji is always a blast to write.

[sunsetsmakemesad]

At the end of the day every story is about love

[turnupswritessometimes]

A couple of scenes looking at Oz and Gil when they're twelve/thirteen, and one after Oz returns from the abyss. (It does not go well.)

Fic below the cut:

Oz had been reading – had been staring at the page as his mind wandered. It was raining heavily, the rain pattering against the glass, so they were all stuck indoors. Gilbert was actually buffing the boots he’d worn out that morning, and gotten completely covered in mud. That was when the thought occurred:

“Good Lord!” Oz half-cried, and dropped the book he’d been pretending to read. It bounced off the table in front of him, before landing face down on the carpet.

Gilbert, in turn, dropped the boot he was polishing. It tumbled limply to a halt. His amber eyes were wide, like a startled cat. Even if he wasn’t that new to the household – even if it had been two years since he arrived – he still thought every mistake would see him thrown out. Perhaps if Oz’s father was around, it would.

“I’ve just realised.” Oz looked at him, toying with his bottom lip. The bored, twelve year old son of a lord, he knew. Quite enjoyed acting like that. “I’ll have to get married, someday.”

He saw Gilbert pause. Saw the little line between his eyebrows form as he thought about it. “Do you…not want to?”

“Not if it’s my father doing the choosing.” Oz stood. He stepped over the book, absentmindedly. It rain streaked the window in silver ribbons; the wind catching the trees and trying to tug them over. “He’ll choose a lady he wants us to have closer ties to, never mind what the girl is like. Imagine if she’s boring.”

“I suppose if she’s truly boring you don’t have to spend time with her.”

Oz watched Gilbert’s reflection in the window. He’d abandoned the boots and picked up the fallen book. He took a moment to smooth out the pages – they’d been creased – before closing it reverently.

“No,” Oz said. “I couldn’t do that. I won’t be like…”

He didn’t say it. He didn’t need to. It was obvious who he meant. He would not be like his own father. He would not stand by and ignore his family.

Gilbert didn’t reply. He placed the book on the table, and stared at it.

Oz leant against the wooden windowsill, turning to watch him. The rain pattered against the glass behind him. He hated that sound. That constant sound. If it rained at night, he could never sleep. It was worse than a ticking clock.

Gilbert still stared at the book, his fingertips tracing the leather binding. If he could read, he hadn’t made it known, and no one else thought it crucial for a valet to know how to. Maybe Uncle Oscar thought Oz would grow bored of him in a month and make him a footman instead.

“Maybe she won’t even be pretty,” he said. Perhaps that had been the first glimmer of the thought, then. That the boy stood before him, in his oversized shirt and too big boots, was pretty. His neck hair curled around his neck daintily; his lips were rosy against his pale skin; his fingers quick, and nimble.

Gilbert’s frown reappeared. “That’s a shallow thought, young master.”

The rain continued pitter-pattering outside. Oz pressed his head against the ridges of the wooden frame until it stung. He shrugged, crossing his arms.

“Oh, don’t try to teach me good virtues, Gil. I’m far too awful for that.”

Gilbert had been staring at the floor, his long hair falling into his eyes, but now he looked up. He examined Oz, and, he felt a shiver tiptoe up his spine. That hadn’t happened before, and he didn’t think he liked it.

“I don’t believe you,” Gilbert said.

Oz didn’t believe Gilbert. He knew he was awful. The few times he’d spoken to his father had confirmed that. And yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d been seen through, as easily as he could see through the glass to the rain beyond. It made him feel as though he’d missed a step in coming downstairs. He could only stare at Gilbert.

Gilbert, who dropped his gaze again, his cheeks steadily turning pink. His skin was usually so pale, that any blush showed up terribly. Prettier, Oz thought, when he blushed. And it was easier to focus on that; on Gil and his pretty cheeks; than on anything else. He wanted to turn that pink to red, and knew how.

“At least I’ll still have my valet.” Oz sat on the windowsill, drawing a knee up into it. He’d leave a scuff mark, he knew, and knew that the servants would think it was because he was a spoilt, uncaring child. “You’ll still be my valet, won’t you, Gil?”

Gilbert seemed untethered. He left the book, and took a tentative step back to where the boots still lay. “I – I suppose.”

“And then my wife won’t matter.” Oz watched him, from under his bangs. “Because you’re pretty, anyway. We’ll just have an affair.”

Gilbert stiffened. He stared down at the shirts, his hair falling forward to reveal a triangle of pale neck. He was frozen, entirely, for a good few seconds. Then, his voice was small, when he said, “No, we can’t.”

“Of course we can. Plenty of fancy lords have affairs with their valets.”

Gilbert stayed still for a moment more. Then he looked up, brushing dark strands from his face. His cheeks weren’t crimson, like Oz had been expecting, but they were still dusted pink.

“I think you’re just trying to seem wicked,” Gilbert murmured.

“It’s true,” Oz insisted.

But Gilbert went back to polishing the boots, with a rigid determination. He didn’t say anything else, but the colour didn’t fade from his cheeks.

Oz pulled his other foot up onto the windowsill, turning to press his cheek against the glass. It was cold against his skin. It was true; he’d heard servants gossiping about it. One Christmas party he’d seen a Lord grope at his manservant, and the man had smiled back. He had been right about it happening. Perhaps it was wrong. That seemed to be what Gilbert was implying, and surely it was what the priest said on Sundays. But he’d also been told he’d be thrown into the Abyss, and that hadn’t happened yet, either. Now Gilbert thought Oz was just pretending to be interested in that to shock him. And he’d thought it.

But, then he kept stealing glances at Gilbert as he worked. His hands were practised. Oz stared at the curve of his nose; the way his eyelashes fanned his cheeks when he looked down; the way his eyes glinted in the grey light of the day. Amber, just like Ada’s cats. He was pretty. As pretty as the girls that Oz danced with, at those Christmas parties. The ones he smiled and flirted with, because he wanted their attention – because he wanted to be a prince to their princess.

And he thought, perhaps, that he felt that way about Gilbert, too.

So maybe that did make him wicked, after all.

*

Those feelings kept growing. Oz kept noticing things about Gilbert that made him feel like he was fizzing like a glass of champagne. Kept thinking that Gilbert was as pretty as a girl; no, not quite; he was pretty, but in a different way to how girls were. A different pretty, and one Oz liked.

And he liked making Gilbert blush. Liked teasing him to make his cheeks turn red, or to see him pout. Liked making him smile, more. Liked making him laugh the most. It made him feel giddy. When he was concentrating on that, he didn’t need to worry about Gilbert seeing through him. Especially as he thought that was just another of Oz’s masks; that he was just teasing. That made it safe.

It meant that Gilbert, hopefully, didn’t notice that Oz’s heart pounded when they touched. That, when Gilbert was dressing him, his pulse raced. His fingers would brush Oz’s chest as he buttoned his shirt, graze his neck when he tied his tie. He often glanced up, as he tightened it, his amber eyes searching Oz’s. It stole his breath, every morning. Every morning, he wondered what Gilbert would do, if he leant forward and kissed him.

It wouldn’t be that hard to do.

It happened in the summer when he was thirteen. On a long, lazy morning where the sun was hot enough to make everyone drowsy. They'd played with Ada until she'd fallen asleep in the shade of a tree, a kitten in her lap. Then, they'd gone for a walk themselves. Oz swung a branch lazily; he was too old to pretend it was a sword, and that made him feel a pang of sadness.

"Don't forget that Lady Rivers is coming to tea this afternoon," Gilbert said, trailing after him. "You've already gotten your short-trousers dirty."

"That's because you insist on dressing me in white." Oz glanced back. A slight wind ruffled his hair, and he thought it would make him look elfish. "That's foolish, Gil. It only encourages me to ruin it."

Gilbert pursed his lips.

Oz turned around so that he wouldn’t stare. His stomach twisted.

"Is Lady Rivers bringing her daughter?" he asked instead. There was a flowerbed to his left, and he stepped onto the low, wooden beam that corralled it.

"I believe so." Was it his imagination, or was Gilbert's tone more careful?

Oz couldn't balance on the beam. It was too narrow and his boots were too clunky. He stopped. "Do you think she's pretty?"

Gilbert paused. For so long that Oz glanced back, to see his amber eyes staring at the grass.

"It doesn't matter what I think."

"But I'm asking."

"I don't know."

His cheeks weren't flushed. It seemed like Gilbert really didn't think so. Which was odd, because the daughter of Lady Rivers was very pretty indeed. She had shining, curly hair and big brown eyes; she looked like a princess from a fairy tale. Oz flirted with her, at every chance, and she giggled and blushed, seemingly flirting back. It felt easy.

Oz stopped. He stared at Gilbert, watching a dark lock fall in front of his face. He glanced up at Oz, then away, shifting slightly. It made him feel like a dog with a scent; his ears were pricked.

"I think she is," he said. Perhaps a bit forcefully. "I think I'll begin courting her."

There. He saw Gilbert's shoulders stiffen. Just for a moment, before he said, "That would be your choice, young master."

"What do you think?"

Gilbert's fists were clenched. "My opinion doesn't matter."

"I'm asking for it."

"But it is not my place."

Oz stepped forward. And again. They were close now, but Gilbert still didn't look up. Every part of him was rigid, like wood. It bothered him. This bothered him. That meant something, and Oz needed to know more.

"What would you say if I said I wanted to kiss her?"

"It's not my choice," Gilbert whispered.

Oz leant even closer, his hands behind his back. "What if I said I wanted to kiss you?"

For a moment, Gilbert didn't breathe. He jerked his chin up, and stared at Oz, his eyes wide. The sun cast curling shadows of his hair against his skin. The sun caught his lashes too, and made them look darker and longer, as he examined Oz's face. He was smirking, he knew, and that he probably looked like a wolf. He let his own gaze drop, down to Gilbert's parted lips, meaningfully.

"Well?" Oz prompted.

"You can't," Gilbert whispered.

"Why not?"

"You're not allowed."

"Who would know?"

Gilbert stayed quiet. His breath came in fast, warm puffs against Oz's cheeks.

"I'll only kiss you if you'd like me to." Though Oz didn't know how he would be able to stand being around Gilbert and not being able to kiss him. "Would you like me to?"

There was another long moment where the long, sunny afternoon stretched around them. Then Gilbert nodded. Then he raised his hand slowly, fingers brushing the front of Oz's jacket.

So Oz kissed him. A sudden, jerky movement that had their teeth knock against each other. But it was a kiss. A kiss that released that fizzy, excited feeling.

Oz caught hold of Gil's shoulders – his arms – kissed him again, tilting his head properly this time. It worked better. He felt Gilbert's mouth move against his own. He clutched at Oz's jacket, leaning into him.

When he pulled away, his breath came heavily. Oz's thoughts had turned to fireworks. To gather them, he brushed a stray lock of hair from Gilbert's face. He tucked it behind his ear; concentrating on that, rather than meeting Gilbert's eye.

"Well, good," Oz said. "That's sorted."

"Young Master Oz." Gilbert's own pale fingers brushed a lock of Oz's golden hair from where it hung in front of his face. He looked as worried as he always did, when Oz was leading them into trouble. But his cheeks were also flushed, his eyes shining.

It felt right. This. Them. Pressing another kiss against Gilbert's forehead and feeling him squirm closer. He smelt of fresh cotton and shoe polish, and those smells shouldn't have been so wonderful. Oz usually hated those smells.

He held him, his arms slipping around to Gilbert's back, and knew he'd started something. Something that could not be undone; a chain between them.

And he revelled in it.

So it continued. A few snatched kisses – Oz was usually the initiator – clasping each other's hands, brushing lips across cheeks and knuckles and foreheads as easily as shaking hands. It was to show affection. It was to chain this bond between them into something real and solid. Now that Gilbert had pledged himself so fully to Oz and he was breaking his one rule. He was accepting one absolute.

Gilbert was the absolute.

So this only made sense. He was the one who knew him better than anyone. Who would stand by him, no matter what. And, more strangely, Oz would stand by him. This was his one. His valet and his everything.

So when Gilbert tied his tie in the morning, of course he kissed him. When he tied his laces, he offered a hand up. When Oz lay despondently, his cheek against the window, Gilbert pressed against him, or kissed his knuckles when he'd finished his studying. It was natural.  Easy.

And it didn't matter about what the future would bring - about engagements and coming of age ceremonies - because for now, he was happy.

For now, he had Gilbert.

*

Now, Oz sat in Lady Sharon’s drawing room, in the evening. Those days were before the abyss; were apparently ten years ago, and even though he hadn’t lived those ten years, it felt like a lifetime ago. His worries had been very different, then.

He sat on the wide windowsill, just like he used to, staring at the glass. It was too dark outside to see anything properly; the moon was like a distant streetlamp, and the stars just pinpricks. The main thing he saw was his own reflection, staring back at him. He was the same; still had unruly, fair hair and a few leftover freckles across his nose. Still didn't need to shave; still had limbs a little too long for him, like a growing colt. He hadn't changed, but it had been ten years; the whole world had changed.

Or maybe he had changed. Because he had been trying to talk to Gilbert for the last ten minutes. Since Break had retired and Sharon had pulled Alice upstairs to toilette together, he had been repeating the words over and over in his head. It was ridiculous. The man sat on the sofa, reading, was Gilbert. His friend. More than his friend. But he didn’t have the courage – he’d always had the courage, before.

Oz snatched a glance at him, resting his chin on his knee. It was stupid to leave it at: 'he'd grown;' of course he had. It was more interesting to see how he stayed the same; his dark hair was still just as unruly, curling around his ears and the nape of his neck; his eyes were still that same amber, like a cat's; he still tapped his fingers, or jiggled his leg, in that nervous way. He was still, underneath, Gilbert. How could Oz not have seen it before?

"Gil?" he asked, as though double-checking that he was right. His heart raced.

"Mm?" Gilbert was lit by the soft light of the gas lamp; the warm glow settling on his hair and cheekbones.

Why didn't you tell me to start with, Oz thought. Why hadn't he been forthcoming about who he was? Why had they all pretended that ten years hadn't gone by? But those weren't the pressing questions. They weren't the questions that he needed to ask, and he didn’t think he’d get a satisfactory answer.

"Do you remember – what it was like before?" Oz's voice didn't waver, and he was proud of himself for that.

Gilbert marked the page in his book, and closed it softly. "I remember you teasing me with cats, whenever you had the chance."

"Not that."

"Actually—" Gilbert placed the book on the side table. Either he had always known how to read, or it was another thing he’d learnt. "You teased me in general, at every opportunity."

"I couldn't help it," Oz said. "You're very easy to wind up. But that's not what I meant."

Gilbert didn’t supply him with what he did mean. He didn't even met Oz's eye – which was exactly like how he used to, when he was embarrassed.

"I meant about us." Oz's heart pounded on his tongue. "About how we were, together."

Gilbert stayed still. It was like they were back to square one. At least it gave Oz the confidence to stand from the window.

"Do you remember a couple of days before the – before my birthday? At the suit fitting?" It was hard to get his tongue to move.

There was a very long second before Gilbert's reply. "Yes."

Oz waited. Took a step forward, forcing his mouth open to say more, but Gilbert continued, softly: "You said you loved me."

Oz had taken Gilbert's hands in his own, twining them tightly together. He'd felt like a Prince in one of Ada's fairy stories. And he'd had to say it, whilst they were alone for five minutes, because it felt like there wasn't anything after the ceremony. Because it was overwhelming, and he knew he would be a disappointment. He'd leant forward and whispered those three words into Gilbert's ear.

"I did." Oz’s voice did waver then. He didn't feel like a prince, stood in his borrowed clothes. He felt like a schoolboy.

"And I said I loved you." Gilbert's eyes flickered up, then back down again. His hands were in fists on his lap.

Oz remembered that. Remembered those yellow eyes looking up at him, and the soft, shy smile on Gilbert's face. He'd squeezed his fingers back. And Oz had felt like he'd swallowed a star.

He swallowed now, his throat sore. "And...?"

"And...what?"

"What about now?" Oz managed to take another step, though his voice sounded desperate.

Gilbert looked up, eyes as warm as the gas lamp. "Of course, I still love you."

Relief flooded through Oz. The champagne was back; a tingling feeling spreading all the way through to his fingertips. Like a star trapped inside him. Of course Gilbert still loved him. It washed away the tenseness, the sore throat, the confusion and anxiety that he'd held ever since finding out that Raven was Gilbert and Gilbert was Raven.

"Oh, good," he said. Grinned. Crossed to the sofa. "That's all sorted then, because I still love you too."

Maybe he should have noticed Gilbert's reaction. Noticed that his eyes widened in panic, and his brows knitted together, and he was about to say something. But the relief was too great – the knowledge that he still this; that he and Gilbert hadn't changed.

So he leant down and kissed him. His hands found Gilbert's cheeks, tangling into his curls.

"It was so unfair, that day," Oz managed to talk between kisses. "The wretched tailor came back in and then it was all schedules—" More kisses, and he was dimly aware that Gilbert wasn't touching him back, as he settled in his lap. "We barely had a moment alone until the—" He kissed him again to avoid saying the word. "But now it can be just like—"

Gilbert did touch him then, finally. But it was to catch his shoulders – to push him away. "Stop, Oz."

He did. His hands fell from Gilbert's hair. His mouth tingled, and he realised that Gilbert never used to call him just 'Oz.'

"You can't," Gilbert said. His hair was a mess, his cheeks flushed.

"That's what you said then, too." Oz pushed against the hands holding him back, but they were firm. "But that didn't matter."

"This is different." Gilbert's hands shifted to Oz's waist. His stomach turned over, despite the frown on Gilbert's face. But he wasn't pulling him closer. He was easing Oz from his lap, like he was a child. "This isn't a rich boy's fling with his servant."

"It still is." He went limp, to make himself harder to move.

"No, it's not.”

“I said I wasn't letting you go so easily just because you're a lord, now."

Gilbert was stronger than him. He deposited Oz on the sofa cushions, and he landed in an ungainly heap. He scrambled to sit, his hands sinking into pillows.

"And I'm still your valet." Gilbert's amber eyes were soft. "I said that. But things are different. I'm ten years older, now."

He was speaking softly, and calmly, though his cheeks were still flushed. He still sat in that stiff way. When he did that, he did look like a Nightray lord.

"Not to me!" Oz clutched Gilbert's shoulder, and felt him twitch. He dropped it, feeling heat flush down his neck. "It's been no time at all for me. I'm still me, and you're still you."

"And I'm a man." Gilbert looked at him. Seriously. Like a teacher with an unruly pupil. "I'm a man, now, Oz. And you're still a—"

"Don't you dare call me a child!" It came out as a yelp, like Oz was a kicked dog. He sat, properly, putting his boots on the floor.

Gilbert took a breath. "You're still fifteen. You have to understand."

"I don't." He stood, feeling hot. "I don't understand how you can pretend this didn't happen. I don't understand how you got to grow up and I didn't. Where's my future?"

"On your chest."

He might as well have slapped Oz. It was even worse than twitching away from him. He blinked. "That's not fair."

"You're an illegal contractor."

"You had ten years to save me." Why didn't you save me, Oz wanted to ask. He gritted his jaw. That wouldn't be fair, either.

"Ten years to do the impossible."

They fell silent. The embers crackled in the grate. It was Oz's turn to stare at the elaborate rug, and he glared at it, as though he could scorch it with just his eyes. This wasn't his house; he couldn't go back to his house; he didn't have a home. What little family he had didn't know he was back. The only connector had been Gilbert, but even he was different.

"What am I supposed to do?" he asked the rug. He knew, of course. He was supposed to find Alice's memories. He was supposed to find a way out of the contract before it dragged him back to the Abyss. He was supposed to put everything right. And usually he would be able to shrug, and laugh, and keep going, but suddenly it all felt like so much. Suddenly, he was so aware of how he was different. There was no fixing this – this missing ten years.

Arms appeared around him. Suddenly. They wrapped him up, easily, pressing him to Gilbert's chest. He turned into him, clutching at his ridiculous black coat. He wasn't crying – he never cried – but he was close to it. His eyes were prickling and it was difficult to breathe. He held onto Gilbert, but this Gilbert didn't smell like himself. He smelt of cigarettes and stale cologne; not fresh laundry and shoe polish.

"Nothing could have changed that day." He could feel Gilbert's mouth move against his hair. His palms pressed against Oz's back. "You understand that, right?"

He did, deep down. That the Baskervilles would appear – that he would be thrown into the abyss no matter what. But he had allowed himself to think about the possibility, just for a moment. It was foolish. It had happened. And of course Gilbert would follow his thinking; he always knew what Oz was thinking, because he knew Oz.

"I know." He pulled away from Gilbert, just enough to dredge up a smile for him. His heart still raced, and he still felt like a ship in a storm. "Nothing can change the past."

Though he didn't pull away. Not yet. He stayed close, searching Gilbert's eyes. "But you do still love me?"

Gilbert's hands tightened. It almost hurt, but he didn’t mind. That pain was better to focus on.

"Gil? Look at me."

Gilbert’s gaze inched slowly round, his eyes sliding over every little detail in the room until they couldn’t escape meeting Oz’s eyes.  His voice was a whisper, "Yes."

"Then – who would know?" Those words had worked before. He raised himself onto tiptoes – that was new – catching himself on Gilbert's chest. He was so tall, now, but he liked it; liked feeling protected.

But this time, when he said that, Gilbert caught his shoulders again. Pushed him back a step, frowning, as though he was trying to concentrate. Oz caught his wrists, and held on. Knew he was almost pouting, and hoped it at least made him look endearing.

"I do – love you," he said. And his hands shifted, palms cupping Oz's cheeks. It made him feel small. "But I look at you now, and you're - so young."

He was a child, in Gilbert's eyes. Which didn't seem right, because Gilbert had always been younger, and shorter, and more of a cry-baby. And Oz didn’t feel like a child; he certainly wasn’t being treated like a child by anyone else.

"That's not fair." And Oz realised that saying it didn’t help his case, but he couldn’t bring himself to care.

"I know." Gilbert's thumb twitched on his cheekbone, and it sent a shooting star streaking under his skin. He turned his face into it, his eyes closing. Gilbert's hands had changed, as well. They weren't just bigger; they were rougher. Closing his eyes didn’t help to pretend things were the same.

Oz pressed his mouth against the centre of his palm. He pressed a kiss there, keeping his eyes shut, to play innocent. A last try at persuasion; he’d always been able to persuade Gilbert.

Who saw through it, now – he always saw through him – he pulled his hands away with a slight sigh. Though, when Oz opened his eyes, he could see that his expression was soft. He was smiling, slightly. Fond. He was fond of Oz. He still loved him.

But not in the way he had before.

Gilbert kissed him. But not on the lips. On his forehead, and through his hair. His fingers twitched in it, smoothing it into place.

"Goodnight, Oz," Gilbert murmured.

He left his book on the side. His coat swept behind him as he closed the door, leaving Oz stood there, alone. He could still feel the ghost of Gilbert's arms, the tingle from where their lips met. His heart thundered dully in his ears.

That was it then. Everything really had changed. He had lost his choices to Alice and Pandora. His future and his past was wrapped in this mystery. He had lost his home when he had come back from the abyss – bundled away here, and part of whatever subterfuge Break was planning. He was stuck in a web that he couldn’t even see. And that would be fine; he would be able to accept that; able to get on with things and fix it all, or let himself get caught by the spider. But the boy he loved had also changed. Now he was a serious man who worried about age and status and reputation.

And Oz was still just a child.

[nyacat39]

Well, Chapter 4 is now out and I've updated the relationship tags~!

Fandoms: Fullmetal Alchemist, Naruto, Bleach, Happy Tree Friends, and Pandora Hearts

Characters: Greed, Ling Yao, Deidara, Cheshire, Flippy, Gin Ichimaru and my OC Sam

Chapters: 4/?

Summary: There are many realities that exist. Some result in different chosen paths and some remain as "What If's" Well then. Here's another; What if it was possible to travel and see all these "What if's?" What if this power was given to the worst people to hold it? Well then dear Reader... Come see for yourselves. (Also Cross posted on Fanfiction.Net here)