::Schirm::
an OzBert
(( Prequel to ::Porcelain:: ))
Chapter 3:
Butterfly Boy

Gilbert straightened the cravat on the baggy, oversized outfit, lent to him by his master. He gazed into the mirror, his reflection smiling softly back at him. The foot cuffs of the slacks had to be rolled up a few times so he wouldn't trip on the much-too-long pant legs. The shirt was just as big, a deep purple blouse, hanging airily on his scrawny, fragile shoulders. He rolled the long sleeves up as well, though they occasionally fell back over his hands again.

He pushed a stray strand of raven hair from his face with the back of his hand, sighing and turning away from the mirror. He set the damp clothes he'd change out of in the corner of the bathing room, reminding himself to wash them later.

Gil left the room, making his way carefully down into the kitchen, where Oz Bezarius had four frantic maids wiping, sweeping, and mopping the spilt baking flour form all the kitchen surfaces. The younger boy shook his head incredulously.

"So /this/ is how Bocchan 'cleans up the mess himself'?"

The blonde turned to see his little servant standing at the door, dressed in Oz's own clothes, which hung from the smaller boy loosely, accentuating his short stature and thinness.

"I myself find it quite the clever strategy." Oz replied, voice sweetened with his best self-righteous, sly-guy tone.

He slunk over to Gilbert's side, tugging at the torso part of the violet blouse on the other teen.

"This color suits you."

"M-My young master simply as nice taste."

"You flatter me."

"I do believe /I'm/ the one being flattered, bocchan. I don't deserve bocchan's compliments…nor his kindness. Nor his—"

"Hey. I don't give Gilbert anything that I don't think he has earned." Oz knocked on Gil's forehead with one fist, "Now I'm craving a sandwich. And I picnic outside, with my favorite little future uke!"

Gil blinked at the grinning blonde next to him. He tugged Oz's sleeve lightly, confused,

"Little…future…" Gil tilted his head, "Huh?"

"I'll show you when you're older, I promise." Oz giggled mischievously.

So Gil made a pair of sandwiches, packed them in a basket, and carried it out the door with Oz in the lead.

Gil had to half-run to keep up with Oz's long strides. For every step Oz took, Gilbert took two. The small picnic basket slowed him down as well,

"Ozu…?"

"Hm?"

"Where are we going?"

"Dunno yet, Gil."

"Oh…….did you invite Ada?"

"Not this time, Gil."

"Oh……Why not, Bocchan?"

"This time's special, Gil."

"Oh……okay…"

"Mmh."

"….special how?"

Oz laughed, "It's a secret, Gilbert. Just be patient."

"…..yes, Bocchan."

They were both quiet the rest of the way there, following the paved path with no specific destination in mind; only looking for a decent, secluded picnic spot.

The one Oz found wasn't far from the manor house. There were a few scattered trees, letting the light strain through in selective streams of gold. The grass was a deep green; and soft; inviting like a good picnic spot should.

The blonde smiled, pointing to the perfect patch of picnic grass, "There."

Gil smiled back, nodding, and then nearly dropped the basket when the 15-year-old entwined their hands and ran full-speed towards the picnic spot, dragging the other behind.

"Ch-chotto matte, Bocchan!!" Gil cried while frantically running to keep up with the blonde dragging him away excitedly by the hand.

Oz pushed Gil down into the grass before sitting down Indian-style himself. The blonde snatched up the picnic basket and peeked in, digging through it nosily.

Gil straightened out his baggy outfit, re-rolling the sleeves and legs so he wouldn't trip and could use his hands. He picked a thin strand of the fresh grass. It was such a bold, lively shade of green. /Green is nice,/ the raven-haired boy reminded himself, playing with the grass distractedly, /I like green…/

He turned to find his master staring at him intently. The shade of the blonde's eyes was much deeper, much livelier than even the most well-cared-for field of grass in the world.

The little servant smiled, feeling his own pulse hot in his face; he looked back down at the strand of grass he has pulled.

.. "Is…Oz going to eat…?

The Bezarius boy chuckled, "No, I dragged out all the way out here so that I can stare at you."

Gil blinked. W-Was that….sarcasm…? Or--…?

Oz went on, smirking slyly, "The picnic basket was just an excuse to have you make me a lunch and use it to take me out."

Gold eyes widened, "D-Deito..?"

Oz watched the younger boy squirm in fluster with much amusement of his own. He looked down, prodding at a small butterfly that had landed and was resting on the grass. It crawled away from the blonde boy who was poking at it. When he didn't stop pestering it, the little insect jumped into the air, plunging into quick spurts of flight, before disappearing into the sky.

Both the teens watched in silence, waiting for the butterfly to flutter back down gracefully. It didn't. Gilbert turned to Oz,

"It's…gone?"

"No." Oz smiled, "It'll be back."

So Gilbert stayed there, watching the cloud-clad sky patiently. The older boy grinned at the other. He was just so cute, scouting the sky for the lost butterfly, waiting as loyal as a princess for true love's first kiss.

Oz lay back in the soft ground, "When it comes back, you'll catch it for me."

"Hair, Bocchan!" The raven-haired boy replied zealously.

They basked in the warm Summer air for minutes, hours, how long they weren't sure of and didn't care; Oz om-nommed his sandwich contently and Gilbert ran and flailed around to catch a butterfly.

Within a few minutes, the brunette waddled over to his master, hands cupped closed in a bowl,

"Oz, look~!" he called, holding his hands out in front of him.

The blonde peered at him curiously, "Hm…?"

Gilbert opened his hands to show off the two butterflies he'd caught to his Bocchan. But as soon as they could be seen, they flew into the air, jumping instantly into the distant blue. Oz laughed, eyes shining with glee. The insects danced together so gracefully.

He looked back to the little servant boy, who was pouting at his now-empty hands.

"Th-….they're gone…" his big baby-ish eyes squinted in distress, eyebrows furrowing, "I-…I caught them for /you/, Oz. And…now they're gone…! I'm so sorry! Hontounigomennnnnn~"

The Bezarius giggled, "Shh. Don't worry about it…!" he took Gil's empty hands, pulling them up, back around his own neck, then wrapping his own arms around the boy's thin waist. "Oh, look!" Oz teased flirtatiously, "You caught one!"

Gil turned pink, then smiled softly, "Mhmm! The best one of them all."

"Oh, don't be such a sap!"

Gilbert cleaned up the picnic spot when they decided to go back. Gathering everything into the small basket, while commenting quietly,

"Ozu-bocchan is…" he smiled serenely, "…a lot like a butterfly."

The blonde perked up, eager to hear the other's insight on him, "How so…?"

Gil stopped packing and watched the ground with that dreamy smile still stuck on his face, "He's beautiful. Energetic, and distracted. Sometimes…it's hard for Gil to keep up. But…" he stood up, picking the basket up with an unwavering smile in his eyes, "That just makes it so very worth it when I can finally reach, and catch him."

Oz blinked, face turning red, "What did I say about that sap stuff?!"

Gil giggled, "Sumi-masen, Bocchan."

Oz scowled in fluster at the ground, grabbing Gilbert's hand, leading him back towards the manor,

"Let's go home…"