Their Interactions Were So Sweet And Soft Yet Had The Usual Uneasiness Gilbert Always Comes Forward With - Tumblr Posts

𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮

Gilbert von Obsidian x f!Reader

My contribution for Cozytober hosted by @randonauticrap ♡ I'm late for this challenge (╯▅╰)

Prompts: "You look scared.", "Do you believe in ghosts?", "Are you cold or are you blushing?"

Warnings: fluff, not beta-read, bad English, expect grammatical errors. ^^

WC: 2993 (ㅅ´ ˘ `) A/N: Nothing supernatural happened here xD

The mansion appeared to be normal, yet it has been believed for years that it is haunted.

Many people believed that the restless souls of those who perished tragically here several years ago still haunts the grounds.

You were staring at the mansion intently while listening to the staff of this game. The goal here is to collect 20 rose carvings. They also warned you that it wouldn’t be easy since there are also traps inside, and they are not allowed to help other participants. Once done collecting ten rose carvings from the east wing, the next task was to go to the west wing, solve the puzzle to get out of the mansion. Whoever is unable to escape the traps are considered eliminated.

The staff also made you choose your own key for the west wing, and Gilbert let you pick. You choose the color red.

The heavy doors opened as they welcomed you inside, and most of the players were excited, rushing to start the game.

"You look scared, little rabbit."

"Gil, this is a haunted mansion."

"Are you expecting to have some unseen creatures running after you?"

"Of course not."

It wasn’t even long before the game started, you heard a scream not far from you. It was horrifying that you instantly froze on the spot and tightened your grip on Gilbert’s arm.

"W-What the heck was that?!" Your eyes still barely adjust to the dimly lit place.

"Probably someone who stubbed his toe."

"I also sometimes stub my toe but I never scream like that."

You resumed your walk and entered the first room that was not yet open. To your luck, you find your first wooden rose. "They literally placed the rose in an area you wouldn’t even look at."

The rose was sitting at the very top of the cabinet. Gilbert just used his cane to hit the rose at the top and make it fall, he caught it and placed it in the basket that was provided to you. "Good bunny, you found our first rose." He praised you as he ruffled your hair.

When you enter the next room, the vivid rainbow swirls on the wall make you dizzy. "Another one." Gilbert said as he picked up the rose carving. "This first part is pretty easy."

"The real challenge here was on the west wing, I wonder what kind of puzzle they are talking about."

"We'll figure it out soon." He said.

You proceed to the next room but are unable to find another rose. Gilbert is also guiding you and making sure you don't fall into any of their traps. "Do you believe in ghosts?" He asks out of nowhere as you both searched one of the rooms filled with plush toys.

"Yes."

"Have you seen a ghost?" He asked again as he searched through the mountains of plush toys. "Ah, there you are." Gilbert picked up the rose and put it inside the basket.

"Well, I haven't. But there are things that science can't even explain." You answered as you checked under the sofa. "And another one. Two roses in one room huh. Not bad."

"Now that we've gathered ten roses, let's head to the west wing."

You left the room and proceeded to the west wing. You were startled by a loud collision, which was followed by angry yells. "I wonder if it's because the game is too difficult or because they can't get out of the traps..." Gilbert mused.

"Maybe both…"

A huge red door located at the far end of the west wing. It seemed strange when he opened the door. There were five odd doors, each with a different pattern etched on the top. The walls are lined in paintings of eerie unknown creatures from hell. There is also a mountain of small black cubes on a huge, banquet table.

In comparison to the rest of the mansion, the room was well-lit. However, the entire room had been painted black, including the chairs, table, and even the wooden floor, and the windows had been barricaded for unknown reasons. There was a small treasure chest just sitting in one of the chairs.

You threw a glance at Gilbert, and he did the same, before you both went in. The door abruptly slammed shut, and when he attempted to open it, it wouldn't budge. The key you chose was even useless since it did not fit the keyhole.

"Great, now we are trapped here."

Gilbert is inspecting the keyhole and, after a few seconds, he grinned at you. "Lockpicking this door may take longer because it is different from the other doors, but-" His grin widened and you stepped backwards immediately, just your back hitting the pillar. Gilbert then leaned down slightly, his voice almost hushed, and you could almost taste his breath. "This is our perfect chance of being alone." He says, his voice alluring.

The memory of being in the same situation but in the rose garden, where he just kissed you not once, but twice, makes your cheeks flush.

"Are you cold or blushing?" He teased, and before you could respond, he moved fast and nipped your ear.

"That hurts!" You shrieked.

Instead of apologizing, Gilbert just gave you a smug smile. "Let's get these puzzles solved so we can get out of here."

And with that, he moved to observe the strange doors. You continued to frown as you followed him.

. . . . . . . . .

Each black cube has red marks, but with different patterns that will match the patterns on the doors.

After finding the last piece with the correct pattern above one of the doors that would fit the hole, you inserted the cube. And when you thought you could finally get out as you opened the door, it was just a wall. You just sighed and massaged your nose bridge.

"Are you already giving up?" Gilbert asked as he stood alongside you.

"If this is a real-life situation, like if your life relies on it, getting your hopes up, thinking you can get out of here, just to find out the door you just opened is simply a wall on the other side, it's devastating." You can’t help but to feel annoyed. "The paintings in this room also make me feel really uncomfortable, and I want to get out of here as as soon as possible."

"Are you scared then?"

"No." You sighed again. "Let's try the third door, I'll go check that side."

"Alright."

You walked to the other side, but the floor you just stepped on suddenly opened, and you screamed as you fell.

The floor you just stepped on was a trap door.

You prepared yourself for the hit until you landed upon the mattresses, only to bounce off of the material and fall on the hard, cold floor.

"Gilbert!" You tried calling for him, but you couldn't hear him from above.

You turn around and see what type of trap you are in right now.

The room has doors on each side of the wall. Not far from where you landed, there was a matchbox on the floor and a small candle. You tried to remove the lamp that was sticking on the wall but it was just impossible to remove it.

You peered up, but it was dark, indicating that the trap door was shut, so you picked up the matchbox and the candle and decided to find an exit. 

. . . . . . . . .

Another dead end again. It seems like the underground labyrinth with doors is neverending. You even lost count on how many times you’ve met a dead end and you lost count on how many times you got lost trying to get back on track.

Too exhausted from trying to escape, your eyes and mind are now playing tricks on you. Your candle has already melted, and you lit the last match as you continued opening the heavy door until the flame started to flicker, and eventually, it was distinguished.

You are alone in the darkness, lost in the labyrinth. The silence is so maddening. You opened another door that leads to another room with doors. Your hand was on the wall to guide yourself, and you felt a wood beneath your skin, letting your fingers run across the wood until you felt a cold iron. You turned it, but it was locked. You moved on to the second door, and the third. All doors are locked in this room. 

As you were about to head back to the door where you came in, you suddenly heard footsteps besides yours. You stopped and listened carefully but nothing.

When you started to walk to the only exit in the room, you heard the second footsteps. You practically step backwards until your back hits the wall. 

"W-who's there?" Your voice almost whispers, ragged breathing, your heart is pounding so fast.

Fear starts to creep on you and remember more stories about this mansion. You try to shrug away those and think positive, but your mind is doing its worst job to scare you.

Tears start to form in your eyes as you sit on the floor hugging your knees to your chest as soon as you start hearing footsteps getting closer and closer.

"Found you…"

You look up to find Gilbert, who is almost out of breath holding a lamp. He approached you and put the lamp down as you reached for him, and he embraced you in his arms.

"It's okay. You're okay now." He said as he held you tight. "I'm sorry it took me so long to find you."

You shook your head as you finally calmed down. "Please don't apologize. And thank you. But how did you–"

"It was the third door. The foreign letters written on the walls are the clues for this place." He moved a little, his fingers gently wiping your tears. "Are you hurt?" 

"No…"

Gilbert sighs in relief. "Let's get out of here."

You didn’t talk anymore as he held your hand and made your way out.

. . . . . . . . .

It was a relief when the door he unlocked using your key was finally the exit, and you could go directly back to where you started the game. You didn't ask him how he figured out which way is which.

The staff were smiling but then froze when they saw you, well, actually, your partner.

You look up at Gilbert, he was smiling but it was clear he was in a bad mood. Instead of greeting them, he just ignored them as he led you by the bench and you both took a seat to rest. "Gil… I just noticed, but where are the roses?"

"Screw that."

"What?"

"That doesn't matter anymore."

"But isn't that the reason why we participate in this game?"

"After what just happened, do you still want to continue?"

"Yes."

"I left it in that room, since we already got out of the mansion, I'll tell them to go and retrieve it."

You nod your head and wait for him as he goes and talks to staff. While waiting, you slowly pulled up the sleeve of your dress. Your left forearm was bruised and swollen. Earlier, you weren't paying much attention because your main concern was getting out of that labyrinth.

Pulling out the handkerchief from your pocket, you carefully wrapped it around your wrist before pulling down the sleeve. When you looked at Gilbert talking to the staff, their heads were low, as if they were being scolded.

You immediately understand the situation and rush to him. He’s telling them about the safety precautions of the place.

His voice was calm, however you yourself can't help but to feel scared. It was the same feeling when you first met. Gilbert has this deadly atmosphere by just standing there.

You took a deep breath and placed your hand on his shoulder. "Gil..." You said gently. He smiled as he turned to face you. You're at a loss for words as his red eye looks at you.

"This is quite a rare sight."

A familiar voice made you lower your hand. "Clavis?! What are you doing here?"

"I was summoned, saying that one of the participants would like to talk to me. Congratulations on getting out of the mansion." He greeted you with a smile before he looked at Gilbert. "If only that certain 'annoying person' isn't asking for my help."

That 'certain annoying person' must be Chevalier, since Clavis would never run an errand for Sariel.

"You were the organizer of this place?"

"Of course. How I wish I was there before the game started so I can watch you all struggling to escape. So, what would you want to talk about?"

Gilbert proceeds to tell Clavis about the trap door. "It wasn't safe, the little rabbit fell in and was trapped in that underground labyrinth. What if something worse happened to her?"

Clavis eyes widened as he looked at you. "You fell? Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm not."

"Ah, thank goodness. That palace devil will surely get mad if you were hurt." He says. "Since we don't have much time to renovate it, I decided to exclude the trapdoor as one of the entrances to the labyrinth from the game, but I should have placed furniture on that trap door." The smile fades as he stood up against Gilbert. "What happened to the little rabbit was a complete accident and my people are innocent. I will take full responsibility."

"It's fine, Clavis. But what about the red key? We used that to open the door from the labyrinth."

"Yes, that key can open the door in the puzzle room as well. When you put all of the correct cubes and opened it, there's only a long, dark corridor. The exit is located at the very end." Clavis explained, then gave you a meaningful look and smiled again. "But first, as part of the game, please raise your hands."

You did as Clavis instructed, and one of the staff members tied a red string around Gilbert's pinky fingers and yours.

"You were the first participants that got out of the mansion, please follow me to the gardens." The third prince said. "I was actually surprised that you joined the game, since this is actually a game for lovers."

"What?"

"Weren't you informed that this game is only for lovers?" Clavis asked.

"No, the lady must have mistaken us for–"

"Why is this game only for lovers?" Gilbert cuts you off.

"Because by the end of the game, there's a romantic candlelit dinner under the full moon. But I understand why the lady approached you and told you about this game." The third prince smiled as he led you to your table. "Oh, by the way. Part of the rules for this game is that once the red string is tied to your fingers, you have to feed each other."

The staff greeted you with a smile and started assisting you from pulling out your chairs to placing various foods in front of you.

"Enjoy your dinner."

"Of course we will. Thanks." Gilbert responds.

Clavis then excused himself, leaving you and Gilbert.

"I'm hungry. Let's eat."

You took turns feeding each other, and because the food was cooked by Clavis, it was so bizarre that just looking at it made your stomach turn but the taste isn’t weird as it looks.

The candlelit dinner was surrounded by soft music. It was almost the perfect date for lovers. Only if you and the prince aren't friends.

═════════════════

"Would you like to dance? It doesn't have to be formal." You asked him right after dinner.

Gilbert was taken aback, but he smiled at you. "I never expected a woman to invite me to dance."

He stood up and held out his hand to you, which you happily accepted. Instead of holding him on his shoulder, you wrapped your arms around his neck and rested your head on his chest while your bodies swayed slowly to the gentle music. His arms were around your waist.

It took a few minutes before you broke the silence.

"Thank you… For finding me."

"You're welcome."

A whizz distracted you, followed by the thunderous sound of the guns. When you looked up, fireworks soared into the sky one after the other. It was bright and colorful, with red, green, purple, and gold lights illuminating the night sky.

"It's beautiful." You said as you were too absorbed in the fireworks to notice Gilbert's attention on you and his almost whispered words.

"Yeah. You're so beautiful."

. . . . . . . . .

It was past midnight when you left that 'haunted' mansion.

Gilbert's fingers caress your hair as you fall asleep on his lap. The red string was still tied around your pinky fingers. He smiled softly as he remembered what had transpired today. Everything was almost perfect until you fell and got lost in the labyrinth.

He saw you seemed to be hiding your other arm from his view, so he slowly lifted your arm while you were sleeping, and the first thing he noticed was the puffiness of your sleeve, then he gently pulled it down, unwrapped the handkerchief.

The swollen and bruised forearm changes his mood. Why did you lie to him?

You know how he hates lies. 

A memory of you crying in the dark and reaching out for him when he found you quickly eased the irritation he felt after discovering you lied to him about not being hurt.

Gilbert wrapped the handkerchief around your forearm and will let this lie slide for now.

His gaze was transfixed on you while stroking your cheek. The only one who can smile and talk freely to him without feeling threatened, the only one who enjoys being with him, the only one who can make him happy and less lonely.

It was only you.

He returned his gaze to your injured arm and sighs.

Gilbert will definitely burn that mansion.

Tagging: @atelieredux @thewitchofbookswith ♡