Work Text
Ada puffs out her rosy cheeks in frustration. Her green eyes glance around the room, focusing slightly on Oz who is holding a pile of thick books. His broad smile reassures her everything will be alright. Ada tries to mirror it but her heart sinks when the figure of Oz’s math teacher glares at them from the door frame. She looks at her big brother whose smile turns into a troubled one.
Ada takes a few steps forward. A little more and she will reach him. A little more and they will run and play together as always. A little more and her racing heart will calm down. However, a hand tugs at her small one and pulls her back. Who is the person that prevents her from releasing her brother from the clutch of the strict math teacher? Does this enemy realize that Oz will be locked again in that room against his will?
She glances behind her and Miss Kate’s gentle smile greets her. Ada’s eyes widen. Should Miss Kate not be on her side? She wants to play in the gardens while clinging to her brother's big hand, laughing with him and listening to his stories. Why is she not allowed to save him?
Oz steps into the other room, almost dropping one of his books as he struggles to wave at Ada. Then the door closes. Ada freezes. The figure of her brother who was supposed to whisper ways of teasing Gilbert is gone. She bows her head. A veil of tears covers her eyes. They fall on her cheeks, signaling her defeat. Unlike other days, she does not bawl but stares in silence at the closed door, imagining a saddened big brother looking out at the window. Who knows how that old man will torment him this time?
"Young master Oz will return soon, Lady Ada." The maid’s smiling voice is soothing.
She caresses Ada’s cheek and ruffles her blonde hair. The familiarity of it almost calms the little girl. However, what truly helps her is Dinah's body rubbing against her leg. She smiles and lifts one hand to wipe away the tears. The cat meows so she bends down and scratches it under its chin. The purring Dinah offers in return is like a piece of joyous music that her big brother plays at the violin.
After a while, Miss Kate addresses her again with a cheerful tone, clasping her hands: "What about playing with Gilbert? I remember that he refused to enter and he is waiting outside. But I am certain he would love to play with you and the
lovely
Dinah! "
For a moment,
lovely
sounds like an ominous suggestion. But Ada’s ears only catch the opportunity to fool her sadness away.
The little girl’s eyes move from the cat to the entrance door. There, she spots a figure standing near the wall, his palms and back pressing against it. His face is petrified and Ada smiles. She would recognize that raven hair anywhere! She hugs the cat to her chest and, with swift steps, runs towards Gilbert. The boy shrinks in the presence of the beast in her arms.
"Gil!" Ada exclaims, her green eyes lighting up. "Do you want to give Dinah a forehead kiss?" She giggles, extending the cat towards the boy, unaware of his phobia. The servant shakes his head frantically, tears already falling across his face.
"N-No, Lady A-Ada!" He raises his hands in front of him defensively, trying to block the upcoming beast’s attack.
"Come on! Look how adorable she is! Listen to how beautifully she purrs!" Ada insists, shoving the cat closer to his face. Gilbert does not see anything cute about the animal, only claws preparing to scratch him and a sadistic sparkle in those brown eyes. A sight he is witnessing almost every day! He considers taking a few steps back but he is already colliding with the wall! The ground underneath him melts away. He collapses on his knees. His eyes dart frantically around the room.
“Are you excited?” Ada tilts her head, watching him closely.
Gilbert shakes his head, clasping his hands in prayer. He watches in slow motion as the cat readies its claws. Ada throws it at his face. Terror blurs his vision. He starts screaming. Dinah lovingly scratches his nose and cheeks as a symbol of affection.
"L-Lady Ada, p-please help me!"
"It looks like Dinah loves you dearly!" she says happily, all her worries forgotten already. The cat walks away from the servant, growling at him.
One would consider a miracle Gilbert does not faint. After all, he had been subjected to this kind of
fun
since time immemorial.
The servant and his pleas are forgotten when a carriage arrives at their mansion. Ada's attention shoots to the window. She notices a familiar figure exiting the carriage. Her eyes brighten up and she rushes in the garden to welcome their visitor. Even though she is little, she cannot forget how a lady should behave in high society so as she approaches their guest, she curtsies and puts on a cheerful smile.
"Welcome home, father!"
Her father returns her smile and pats her head. "You have grown quite a lot since I have last seen you. How are your studies going?"
"Good!" Ada says at once, almost bouncing.
"I am glad to hear that."
"Could I ask you a favour?" At that question, Ada’s smile vanishes abruptly. She stares at her father intently, and he nods his head.
"Could big brother study less? I want him to play more with me!" His smile falters and his loving gaze darkens. His hand drops back to his side. When he replies, his voice is cold.
"No."
Ada’s breath rushes out, her shoulders tensing. Why is her caring father so unfair to Oz?
"B-But big brother is sad..." She fidgets with the hem of her dress, clenching it with her small trembling hands. Xai smiles again but this time it makes Ada’s chest hurt.
"He is?" Her father laughs mockingly. "He will have more to study from now on."
"F-Father, please..." The little girl tugs at his sleeve. "Ada loves big brother..."
“Enough.” He stiffens, jaw clenching.
That word blows away all of her strength. She lets go of his sleeve. He tips his hat in a farewell manner and puts distance between them. He looks away from her, focusing on the other entrance of the Vessalius manor. Ada watches him as he gets farther and farther away, darkness engulfing his silhouette as he disappears through the back door.
Big brother is not that way
, she tells herself with a heavy heart.
Gilbert approaches her, steps unsure. The boy keeps quiet so Ada does not take notice of him.
“Big brother is in trouble…” Her voice trembles. Tears well up and fall on her cheeks.
“ Lady…Ada?”
Ada is taken aback.
“W-What happened with the master?” Gilbert asks, eyes widening at the sight of her crying face.
“Gil!” Ada throws herself into his arms and starts bawling. He startles at the sudden hug but then smiles softly and returns it, patting her on the head.
“What happened?” he repeats himself but she does not answer.
Ada realizes that because of her, Oz will no longer have time to play with her. Because of her, Oz will lose his smile.
And that is the exact opposite of what she wanted for her birthday.