Pandora Hearts Oneshots

❈ Falling Rain ❈ Oz Vessalius Oneshot {for marissa731533}

Hello," chirped the little girl, blinking at the boy. He blinked back, head tilting to the side slightly in his confusion. He stood dry under the porch's roof as the rain pelted the world down around them and drenching everything that didn't take cover. The little girl he had often seen around the Vessalius mansion had piqued his interest, he wanted to know more about her. Maybe he would have a new friend to play with Gilbert, Ada and himself?

“Why are you in the rain? It’s cold,” Oz demonstrated this, by hugging his arms close to him. It was a very chilly day out, and the girl was in a simple dress and barefooted. She grinned at him.

“It makes no difference if it’s cold or not!” she answered, hopping up and splashing mud around her and onto her already muddy legs and dress hem. “I like the rain, it’s pretty and soothing.” She hurried up to him then, to his side, still grinning. “Aren’t you the young master?”

Oz winced slightly at that. “You can just call me, Oz.” he smiled rather charmingly, even for his young age.

“Okay than, Oz! You can just call me Mari!” She took his hand in hers and began to gently coax him out into the drizzle. “Why don’t you come play with me?”

‘She’s calling out to you

This is a call - this is a call out

‘Cause every time I fall down

I reach out to you’

Years Later...

The night of Oz Vessalius’ coming of age ceremony had been much anticipated for some time. Even the old run-down mansion and been fixed up back into the prime appearance it once held. The night had been going splendid as had that day (besides Ada, Oz, and Mari running around hiding and dragging Gil with them). Mari had even been rather happy that it had begun to rain for it, still viewing the rain as something precious and joyous.

Of course, that had been before it had all gone to Hell.

She remembered the red-robed people coming and ruining the party, sending Oz away. She remembered a pretty girl their age, in red coat and long hair. The way Gilbert had been attacked for jumping in the way of Oz wielding a sword for the first time...

To say she liked the rain after that night would have been a lie. It was now a thing she dreaded more than anything. And of course she and Gilbert had parted ways after that, only to be brought back together by what seemed like fate, in their desire to bring their beloved Oz back from the Abyss. It was a joyous day when Oz finally did emerge from the Abyss and for weeks she and Gilbert managed to fool him into thinking they were not the kids he had grown up with - that they had not passed him in age in his many years in the Abyss that seemed to him only days.

Of course, things had happened and he had found out. He was startled, and most likely scared at first, but he accepted it quickly, taking them back under his wing - much to Alice’s (the girl in the red coat) chagrin.

‘And I’m losing all control now

And my hazard’s signs are all loud

I’m asking you to show me what this life is all about’

Now Mari stood on the Rainsworth mansion’s porch - where they currently were sheltered. It was raining again, and Mari was contemplating running back inside and avoiding it, as he remained under the porch roof to avoid the wet. The door opened and Oz peeked his head out curiously before a wide smile spread over his face at the sight of Mari. She was still as cute as when she was a kid and the grin on his face widened at that thought.

“Hey, why are you all mope-y?” he inquires rather cheerfully shuffling outside and closing the door behind him, watching as the woman blinked and turned to gaze at him almost stunned - as if she had been caught off guard.

“It’s raining.” she answered simply, turning her gaze away from him and missing the frown that adorned his face at her answer. Even after all these years the feelings she had harbored for the young boy hadn’t been lost, and she was rather dismayed over that fact. It was almost creepy now, now that she was older than he...

Oz fixed the smile back in place before he spoke; “I thought you liked the rain! C’mon!” It was his turn to coax her out into the rain, like so many years ago when she had taken his hand in hers to do so. He began to spin them around, grasping onto her other hand in his and grinning up at the now taller woman, pink staining his cheeks though he ignored it.

Mari blinked down at him several times before she too began to smile and then laugh along with him. Oz’s heart lifted at the sight, and the grin on his face grew.

‘And he fights so you won’t ignore him

‘Cause that’s his biggest fear"

And he cries

But you’ll rarely see him do it

And he loves but he’s scared to use it

So he hides behind the music,

‘Cause he likes it that way’