Kept his head

“Of course I’m alright. I can look after myself, you know, unlike you.” A chuckle.

Upon hearing that Elliot had arrived here months ago, Leo was quite surprised. It had taken weeks to find him, and yet he had been here the whole time. And then it also occurred to him that if this Elliot had been here for months, this couldn’t be the Elliot from his own timeline.

“Oh, so you’re from the future? That’s quite puzzling, isn’t it? It’s also fascinating, though.”

The black-haired boy probably would have gotten frustrated by the situation, if Elliot’s own anger hadn’t already made him feel pretty calm. It was nice how things always worked out that way. Leo hated being an angry person. Of course, instead of intimidating him in any shape or form, the young master’s rage only succeeded in amusing him.

⚔- Look, Leo. This is awfully off. Get it? You shouldn’t be this joyous about seeing me. 

Unless of course, that Leo came to hate Elliot too, there were many different possiblities here. A loud sigh followed pondering the other chances of what could’ve happened. Should he play along ? Even then, if he followed the game, wouldn’t that be dishonest with the other?

⚔- Let’s just... pretend this makes sense until I can figure it out myself. You’re after all, the same moron like always. I hate this city, and that’s all you need to know about my stancy. I heard the time doens’t flow the same way in this place than in our world.

That, should give the former student enough time to come up with an idea. Plus Oz Vessalius was here, he could help him sort out whatever was happening and maybe even explain it to Leo.

   Something was wrong. She could still smell the hint of a chain on him–of Humpty Dumpty. Still unaware of what all he knew, she chose her next words carefully.

nightraypride

Leo had been wandering around this place for quite a while. He had been looking for someone, not much caring about what he encountered on the way. He always found something new in his travels, but today he was to find something familiar.

Turning a corner, he caught sight of the one and only Elliot Nightray. At first he was dubious; if it were a stranger (and he was simply getting his hopes up as he often did) he would rather not approach them too boldly. However, after walking a few steps closer he couldn’t deny that it was him.

And, of course, the next possible reaction could only be a huge and joyful relief.

“Elliot!”

His voice was louder than he usually raised it, but of course the reaction of other pedestrians were the least of his concerns. The valet ran to his friend, barely faster than a jog, and metaphorically screeched to a halt in front of him.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you! What a relief, you’re here! I thought you might not…”

Leo trailed off, overcome with gratitude to whatever fate had brought them together again. If he had been stuck here without him, he had no idea how he would have spent his remaining years, or with whom. A weight had been lifted off his shoulders, larger than any worry he could dread to have.

Of course, he had not returned to the idea that this was a different Elliot, an Elliot not from his own time or understanding (or lack thereof).

⚔- Leo... you... are you alright?

Blissfully unaware of the change in the timelines, according to the studies in Lutwidge, time lines of diverse centuries could happen if someone happened to enter the Abyss, but Elliot never really went there... did he? He spared himself from going through that hell... Or... ARGH this whole thing was a headache, how to react? Following Leo’s lead? Telling him the truth? Was he ready for it? Should he? Was he in disbelief of seeing Elliot again, a whole act? Many questions rampaged through the head of the Nightray.

⚔- Some months ago... I---might have, this doesn’t make sense DAMN IT, LEO. WHAT THE HELL?!

Like a switch of personas, Elliot starts fuming, what the hell can he do now? Pretend? PRETEND FOR WHAT? TO BE OKAY AND DANDY WITH WALKING IN THIS GODDAMN CITY, HELL NO HE WONT. This was just so much more than the noble could control, there has to be some explanation. Anything.

There was a save space between the people and the tower and while some would try to go inside, some others seemed to even know what it was and then there was…

  “Uhm…” , a familiar face hitting the walls of it with his sword.

It wasn’t that surprising of a sight, after all the boy was known for his temper, but still the question as to Why he was doing that popped up in Oz’ head as he made his way towards him.

⚔- Yeah, right. Wait a minute...

Characters: Leo & Elliot Anime: Pandora Hearts

He didn’t know much about this place so far. A big city that could in no way be compared to any place he knew and that aside, the technology existing here had managed to often drop his jaw. While he didn’t know any of the people here, some of them would flash him a smile and even greet him by his name or engage into a quick conversation, which made him smile back and say vague stuff in return. He didn’t know these people, it was a little irritating. It made him want to turn to Alice and Gil and laugh with them. He knew them, he knew these two well, but they were nowhere to be found.

Telling yet another stranger 'see you later', his shoulders would drop and he’d sigh. He probably would have to clear that up, he really had no clue what that person was on about. Wandering through the streets, he’d look up to the sky for a moment.   "Sharing the same sky, eh?" , he’d laugh a little. The sky, the air, the people roaming through the streets. It was just like home and maybe he could feel like that here too. 

As his gaze fell onto the street and its people again, he’d catch a familiar figure for a moment before losing them again, letting Oz remain there speechless. He’d walk into the very same direction that figure walked in, and his speed would slowly increase until he ended up running.

  “…Elliot?” , the name he spoke would repeat over and over again in his head as he looked everywhere for the figure, until his eyes would finally catch the back of that person again. He didn’t see their face, but at the same time Oz felt that it could only be him.

He didn’t wonder how it could be him or why he was here. The only thing inside his head was that very name of the boy, who was long gone. And all he had wanted at this moment was to reach his figure.

And this evening was no different from any other pointless evening in this hive. Strange events taking over, strange people being loud, and avoiding the modern version of a carts. And in some way they put the horses inside those things, he is yet to figure out how that works and where do they feed them. Truly iconic.

So like this, his very dead day went by, nothing really happening as he pranced through the streets, when he had small incidents previously, today appeared to be a good day, today would be a day when nobody would piss him off, nobody would bicker around and get on his nerves, nobody would push his buttons, yeah it was a day to enjoy, freaking sun atop of skies, clouds and all that, no snow falling down, cold but tolerable weather and then---- it happened. Clenched jaw as pearly teeth rose against one other in uttermost annoyance.

Words could not describe the state in which he was put at the very moment such voice reached noble ears. Series of shivers going up and down the notches of his spine. Gloved hands trembling, even the mist coming out as he continued to breath appeared to be heavier. Oh, he recalled the voice very well, and for some reason it was not comforting. A trainwreck of memories got triggered just there. Initially when waking up, incidents from Isla Yura's mansion continued to follow him around, it took him a gooddamn time to rid himself of such uneasiness, by no means he had forgotten of what happened, or his faults, but to put it in a simple way, Elliot wasn't quite ready to face the past. There's no way to explain himself, to face those demons yet again. And now, Oz Vessalius somehow found his way to this infernal scenario.

A huff escapes his cold lips, there's no way in heaven or earth Elliot Nightray will pay for someone else's careless acting.

Finding herself in the library would be the least expecting place anyone would ever think to find her, as she casually glimpse through some pages of some books. One page caught her attention as she read over the hero’s line over and over again. "This guy… he’s terrible!" And with that, she began to laugh at how terribly written this book was (not realizing she was in the Romance Novel section). It was just terrible! Her laughter was not yet over as a boy approached her to keep it don before showing him the page.

"I’m sorry, I really am, but tell me if you think this is ‘Prince-like’ for him to say."

"And on my steed, I will deflower your innocence with the setting sun upon us."

Commonly Elliot would consider the library as a sacred place, despite how loud his speaking could become though when challenged, if buttons had been pushed accordingly, even Leo ended up kicking him out of the place. But this was not one of those peculiar times.

⚔- Look, I don't care, if you find the book to be comic, at the end of the day, is clear you go for cheap modern writing, I care nothing for the lack of blue phrose in it. Clearly your taste is poor when it comes to reading, now I am not someone to judge books by their covers, but since I already have read this, my conclusion was of it being a waste of time, work of a fan.