Hi guys! This is my first ever fanfiction and though I have the game, I haven really played Julius's route yet and I've always preferred Ace . . But something strange happened and on a wimp I decided to write about the tsundere instead! So it may be a little OOC though but if you have more suggestions or info on how to improve his character do let me know!

Plus I always felt that Julius should be loved more lol! Hope you'll enjoy... This is for all you Julius fans out there! :D (Though the story is a bit pretty emo :P)

P.S I'm still considering whether to make this a oneshot so if you want to me to continue do review and let me know :)

(Julius&Alice)

The Solitary Heart

Chapter1: The Man in the Clock Tower

Tick tock tick tock…

The familiar sound accompanied him as he worked on his latest batch of clocks. He paused to measure the amount of work left. Glancing at the heap of non-ticking mechanics to the right of his desk, Julius Monrey sighed a short frustrated breath, wondering why he even bother to when he knew that there was never an end to his kind of work in Wonderland. But still…

It's too much, he thought. The numbers have grown by 10 percent in the recent turnings of the day. Ace that idiot probably didn't restrain himself again. Julius couldn't blame him since he was technically doing his job which he was apparently too good at. But it could also mean that the numbers in the opposition have grown. He'll need to have a little talk with the knight the next time he visits, whenever that may be since it usually took Ace days before he manages to find the Clock Tower. The raven haired shook his head at the thought even as he concentrated on opening the screws on the dented clock and removing the pallet lever to examine the balance wheel.

His eyes instantly caught the multiple minute damages and obstructions in the gears and their motions.

Not the worst one I've seen, but definitely not the easiest. This one had it rough. He systematically evaluated as he scanned the clock, skillfully running through each possible solution. Among many other errors, the gears will have to be reformed, lever escapement will have to be adjusted and recalibrated and I'll have to fashion a new balance staff and mainspring for it too. No matter.

Nimble and slender hands hovered over his array of tools and with practiced motion, picked up the tweezers he needed even without lifting his eyes from the task that lay before him. The process repeats, tinkering and tweaking before hands swiftly replaced the tool he held and picked up the next equipment, eyes still straining on the damages through his glasses with full concentration. He never asked to be the Clock Master, but unlike Ace, he never complained. Someone had to take up the role and he took comfort in being absorbed in the familiar numbing tedium of his work, he's highly sensitized body and brain moved in rapid coordination and precision. After all, it was the only thing he does best. When he's in workaholic mode, Julius tends to ignore everything else, even sometimes sleep. But when his own internal clock registered that night had just fallen, this time though, he paused.

Alice…

Where is she? He asked himself unconsciously, remembering the first time he met her. He did not know why but she seemed worried and scared when she knew that the day had already turned to night. Being the lone man he was, that distraught look etched on her face made him feel helpless and he inwardly panicked a little and tried to relieve her by changing it to daytime with the firing of his gun. Even though he knew she was growing more accustomed their world's random time change, he still can't help but feel…

Worried.

An unbidden thought, he realized, as he tried to brush its existence in his mind away but in vain. Worried for what? I'm sure she'll be fine. He told himself logically. But then there's the growing number of assassins and rebels that lurked in the dark. Ace had discussed with him before the possibility of them planning to use her to lure the hated Clock Master out. What if she was ambushed on her way back? No. He was sure that the other role-holders would never leave her to walk alone if it was dark. Besides, it was not the first time the girl had to stay over at the other territories because night came too quickly. The foreigner's free to move and stay as she pleases. That's right, she's old enough to know what to do, and she'll be fine. He reluctantly consoled himself, annoyed at his uncharacteristic behavior. His answers made sense, he should be satisfied. He should go back to his work which has been delayed long enough. He should… Yet he found himself staring out of the window and its blackened sky. It wasn't just worry; something else was clawing at his soul… at his heart.

Damn it. What was wrong with him?! Unlike his work, Julius couldn't understand it at all, all this unfamiliar emotions swirling in a chaotic mess, threatening to turn his logical mind upside down. Now's really not the time, he thought to himself, gritting his teeth in irritation. He swept his long flowing hair back and away from his view, his jaw tightened and he squared his shoulders as he once again resumed his working process. He was fully determined to focus on fixing the clock; to be back in his comfort zone where he knew he's emotions would be in control.

His concerns still tugged at his awareness, but his resolution was strong, and finally, just after 15 minutes, Julius was close to finish repairing yet another 'heart'. Ensuring that the cap jewel and balance staff pivots were in place and all the wheels were turning properly, he reaches for the bottle of mainspring oil and applied a little into the mechanism to reduce friction. Satisfied, he secures and tightens the screws and checks the timing and motions of the clock once more.

No wait, this isn't right! There's a minor positional error but the timing's a tad off balance! I was sure I did everything in order, is it possible that I missed out something? He pondered, still in disbelief since he has never made a mistake before. He automatically grabs the loupe and peers into its magnifying lens. Sure enough, his dark cobalt eyes zeroed in on that one difficult-to-catch error and he unrestrictedly breathed out a curse and slamming his fist down on his table, causing his tools and spare parts to fly astray. He'd forgotten, can you believe it, FORGOTTEN to check the hairspring and now it's in the wrong position, coming in contact with the regulator pins in each oscillation and causing an uneven amplitude rate. He sighed and removed his glasses to massage the bridge of his nose. How he made such a simple mistake he will never know. Thankfully, that loudmouth Ace wasn't around or else he would definitely hold this over his head for a long time! It wasn't because he cared but Ace's teasing was more than often nerve-grinding and he sure as hell didn't deserve that kind of torture from the psychotic man himself. To top it off, there was a slight throbbing in his head. The day had been a long one and he had been working non-stop since he woke up.

He desperately needed coffee now.

"Alice would you mind-", he stopped short when he realized that she was not back from her outing with Boris.

The Amusement Park huh, Julius thought to himself. It's good that she's out there having fun rather than being cooped up here with me. She always distracts me anyway when she just sits there and watch…

He turned to look at the chair she usually sat on beside him, and for the first time that day, his eyes lingered on something that wasn't ticking. Why would she stay here in this dull and banal Tower anyway, when she could have the majestic Castle of Hearts, the glorious Hatter Mansion, and even the ever-entertaining Amusement Park? It confounds him so, and though the Clock Tower was a neutral ground, he alone could not offer Alice the sufficient protection she needed from the growing threat, and Ace was not always around to escort her.

She's irreplaceable yet she uses her life to save others, how dense could the girl be? He thought exasperatedly as he recounts her telling him how she stood in front of Peter's gun just because he was about to shoot an innocent soldier-card. Now IF she were to live in the other territories, he was sure that the other roles-holders would be more than capable of ensuring her safety, and she wouldn't be targeted by the rebels like she is now just because she was close to him…

It dawned on him that she might consider living elsewhere, and even if she didn't, he would have to encourage her to do so. That is, when she gets back...

Tick tock tick tock…

That clockwork sound was supposed to be the only sound he'd expected to hear while living alone in the Clock Tower. But Alice changed that. And somehow in some mysterious ways, the foreigner also changed his ticking heart, but he was not about to face that revelation yet. And despite the familiar ticking and silence he was so used to, Julius felt alone.

Thanks for taking the time to read! DO review! Reviews would be nice! :D

Again if there's any suggestions or info on Julius's personality that you can provide I'd really appreciate it! Plus let me know if I should continue with this k!