Title: Games
Author: Shirahime
Pairing: Tiki & Allen
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 515
Summary: Mild mid-series spoilers. Tiki reflects on possibilities lost and found after his confrontation with Allen.
Back at the place that he called home, Tiki sat in an armchair to one side of the large room, a cigarette dangling from full lips sending wisps of smoke to dissipate into air. He shifted a single card between the fingers of one hand. An ace from the deck that he'd given that boy after he'd bested him at poker. He'd noticed the deck peeking out from holy robes, having slipped from the breast pocket of Allen's coat where it had rested near the teen's heart. He'd strewn the cards over Allen's broken form, played with and strength spent. Tiki continued to finger the card now, watching it slip effortlessly between his digits. He was certain that the deck's location had been convenience or chance.
He had been so disappointed that the Allen marked by the Earl for death was that boy he'd met on the train. Tiki had looked forward to meeting the teen again while in his other form, to see that clever thing with platinum hair and dancing eyes, so pleased with himself and his skill. Allen had smirked at first at Tiki's near nakedness after he'd won the clothes off of the man's back. Chastened by conscience, the boy had offered to return them. Golden eyes narrowed. He'd wanted another chance to turn the tables on the boy. Another chance so that he could see downcast eyes and blushing pale skin as Allen removed his last article of clothing with trembling hands. The image in his mind's eye had a faint smile turning up the corners of Tiki's mouth. It was such a shame he couldn't have that now. While Walker had somehow managed to survive, there could be no more carefree circumstances between them now with Allen knowing the thing that he was.
Tiki leaned back in his chair, absently regarding the ceiling through the thin haze of smoke from his cigarette. His smile broadened as he recalled their encounter. Those beautiful eyes had gotten so wide as he'd slipped his hand into the boy's chest, cradling Allen's warm heart within cupped fingers. The muscle had pulsed rhythmically as it struggled to remain calm. It would have been so easy to pull the organ free, but Tiki hadn't, his white glove slipping out pristine.
He grinned suddenly to himself. If the boy managed to stay alive during what was to come, there was still a chance that the two of them could play again. But the stakes would be higher than a boy's innocence lost to the winner at a makeshift card table. Life and death was the only game that the two of them could play now. He'd seen something beautiful among the trees then, Allen's strength and simultaneous fragility. And there was no enemy more fun than one wrapped in such pretty skin. Would he break again as easily as before, or would he be the one to overcome? White gloved fingers drew the cigarette from his lips as Tiki exhaled a stream of smoke. The possibility of finding out made his body thrum with excitement.
End