Allen Walker was certain that the universe hated him. Either that, or he attracted bad juju like drunks to a bar.

And really, things could not possibly get any worse – crack.

" Ah!" Oh no wait, stupid Allen, of course they could.

Hanging on for dear life as the cold spread everywhere, Allen tried to think rationally. How were you supposed to get out of an ice hole again? Spread your weight?...No, that's what you did so you don't fall in. Right.

It must've been the universe that decided. Decided what? Well, that while he was separated from his partner, and while he had just finished battling a level two akuma in the middle of a frozen lake, it would be a splendid idea to make him plummet into said icy hell so that his entire body started shivering uncontrollably.

All on Christmas eve.

Yes, a mission on the day before Christmas. Despite Allen's chagrin, he'd only been told that akuma didn't take holidays. But the real cherry on top of his cake was that Kanda Yuu happened to be his partner; out of all the rotten luck, Allen had hit the jackpot. Kanda was the most stuck-up, grumpy-ass jerk-idiot he'd ever known. Very un-festive on top of that. Of course, he wasn't anywhere to be found at the moment, God forbid they actually worked as a team.

Yeah. The universe hated him.

And now he was going to freeze to death, wading in water so cold it felt like tiny knives were piercing him. He couldn't get enough warmth to his arms, not enough strength to pull himself out. His Innocence was long since rendered useless, his energy had been completely spent.

Oh, this was so pathetic. If he was really going to die, he felt he should put up more of a fight, but he couldn't...because all he really wanted to do was close his eyes.

Allen dimly noted that hypothermia was added to his string of lovely. Which was, of course, perfect.

He allowed himself one hopeless groan, thinking about all he would be leaving behind if he really did die. The thought sent a shock of panic through him, but he was too tired. This day didn't seem like it could get any worse, but Allen knew that it would when, say, his heart slowed until it wasn't beating anymore. Well...

–

" Ugh," Allen's disgruntled moan startled himself. Was he still alive? His chest was rising and falling and he could feel his frozen limbs, so yes, alive. He knew right away that he wasn't in the lake of doom anymore, so that was a good thing, too.

" So you're not dead." The voice sounded disappointed.

Eyes widening, Allen put together the pieces as quickly as he could. Kanda? Kanda was here, and Allen himself was alive, so that had to mean that...Kanda had saved him. There wasn't any other way to look at it, unless of course, he was in his own personal hell.

" Sorry to dash your hopes," Allen mumbled, his voice hoarse, his throat feeling like scratchy sand paper.

" Hn."

Having been more than a little groggy, Allen suddenly realized just how close Kanda's voice was. And it wasn't something his hearing had registered, no, he'd felt it. Felt the slight rumble of his chest, the God damn vibrations.

Peering into the darkness that surrounded him, Allen registered that he was pressed very closely against Kanda, and his own hands were tangled in the other's shirt – what he'd initially thought was a blanket.

Immediately accompanying the thought that he really must be in hell, his abused throat let out a surprising yell that he didn't know he had the breath for.

" Moyashi," Kanda's voice was annoyed. " I'll only tell you this once, so shut up."

" What are you doing?" Allen's plea came out as a gurgled screech. His throat was burning, and it felt like he couldn't breath, as though there was a huge weight crushing his lungs.

" Nothing. You're the one clutching at me." Kanda's voice had that steely calm about it, the kind that meant he was on the verge of killing someone. Something like the calm before the storm.

Allen realized he was still huddling his body in an embarrassing way around Kanda's, and his hands were still grabbing and refusing to let go. But God, he was still so cold, his body quivering, the lack of feeling actually painful, and Kanda was so warm! He couldn't be blamed, not in this situation!

" ...You're not the one who fell into a frozen lake," the boy managed defensively, refusing to acknowledge his position. Kanda scoffed harshly, mocking him, perhaps momentarily distracted. Allen was starting to wonder when he was going to be thrown back violently.

" Where are we?" Allen asked, changing the subject, something primal inside of him needing to cling to the warmth as long as he could.

" In a cave, because of you. The inn's a couple days away, because fo you. And now that you're awake, you can let go of me, Moyashi." There was a not-so-subtle warning tone in his voice.

Allen was about to answer something scathing, when he noticed the stiff position of Kanda's body, and the way his hands were kept exclusively to himself. It was obvious the older boy was trying his hardest not to touch Allen, and the white-haired Exorcist couldn't help but feel annoyed. Was it because he was cursed, or just because Kanda was a prick who didn't like him? Well, it wasn't like he was diseased or anything, and enemy or no, he was damned freezing.

Partly because he wanted to piss the other off, and partly because he really wanted to, Allen quickly started working his numb digits through the Exorcist's coat, tearing buttons in his pursuit. Spreading fabric aside with the patience of someone who'd been waiting a century, he finally met bare skin – heated, hot skin. Allen actually had to stop himself from hissing at the sensation. He splayed his hands out, palm down.

" What the hell are you doing?" Kanda's voice was now not only bordering on murderous, it was a couple notches past that point.

" Trying to warm up, Bakanda," he said, as though it should have been obvious.

" Get your hands off."

" If you let me freeze to death, Lenalee will never forgive you," Allen stated simply, nudging one of his feet in between the older boy's shins, seeking as much warmth as he could. To hell with personal boundaries, anyway, this was a life or death situation. Allen wasn't stupid, and he knew it was all fine and well to be out of the lake, but unless he could keep warm, he wouldn't make it through the night.

" Oi, Moyashi, you underestimate my desire for your death. Keep touching me like this, and I'll throw you back into the lake," he hissed. Allen noted with a falling spirit that there was a real threat in his words.

Sighing heavily, Allen fumbled for a while, bringing out one chilled hand from inside Kanda's coat. Instead of following the procedure with his other hand, Allen promptly gripped one of Kanda's wrists as best he could, and brought it to his face.

" Look, I'm still fighting off hypothermia, and I really don't want your help, but I can't generate enough body heat on my own." Allen pulled the resisting hand so that it touched his cheek, feeling Kanda's fingers fisting.

" See?" he mumbled quietly, knowing he was really pushing his luck with all this touching. At least his frigid skin might give the Japanese boy some idea as to how cold he really was.

" Moyashi." At the warning, Allen let go of the wrist. So much for that stroke of brilliance; the boy didn't even know why he tried.

And at trying to prove the severeness of his own predicament, Allen seemed to feel it all the more. His wet clothing was frozen into one stiff position, and it encased him in a shell of coarse coldness. He couldn't really feel his limbs, and even moving was a pain. His lips were probably blue, his lids probably frosted with ice. The compulsive shivering was exhausting.

He knew that in situations like these – he'd even seem them in cheesy movies – the girl and the boy would get naked and keep close to share their heat, and it always worked. Both for advancing the romantic storyline and for keeping them alive. But Kanda was a boy, and so was Allen. He supposed that threw a wrench in the plan. Though, because he was dealing with Kanda, that was enough of a wrench to begin with.

Lavi would probably help him out, he thought distantly.

Though Allen highly doubted (knew unfailingly) that Kanda would ever submit himself to being kind for a change. It was, perhaps, something that might happen if hell ever froze over. Which is to say, it would never happen. After all, now the jerk wasn't even going to let him catch some of his exuded heat.

So if Kanda wasn't going to help, Allen wasn't going to degrade himself any further. He wasn't going to beg.

" Fine, Bakanda," there was only a trace amount of tired, angry exasperation in his voice, but he couldn't quite help it. He had a right to feel bitter, didn't he? He never asked Kanda for anything, so couldn't he help...just this once?

Allen started to wiggle at a more platonic distance, so as not to disturb his Royal Asshole's bubble. The hard ground against his circulation-challenged skin hurt enough to make him yelp, but he swallowed it.

" Lenalee really is going to hate you," Allen said, as his final curse. He knew the older boy wouldn't give a damn if he did die, but at least Lenalee would care, and maybe she'd give Kanda hell for him.

Trying not to think of how probable it was that he'd fall asleep and never wake up, Allen curled in on himself, breathing into his hands stubbornly. Without the subtle warmth of Kanda, the boy could feel the change immediately. His breathing became even more sporadic, and his body trembled with the arctic touch still pervading his sensory system.

This is the worst Christmas eve ever, Allen couldn't help but think.

There was a loud huff that seemed booming in the relative silence. Allen opened his half lidded eyes, never once realizing that they had been closing.

" Che, alright, damn moron, consider this a favor you will spend the rest of your life repaying Tell anyone, and I'll skewer you," Kanda gritted out harshly.

" What?" the boy was vaguely startled at how hushed his voice was, how weak.

" Idiot, Moyashi."

Next thing Allen knew, he was roughly scooped up into a sitting position, where his Exorcist coat was torn from his body. The loss of protection, however feeble, actually made him whimper as he was left in nothing but a thin shirt and damp pants.

Then deft fingers began undoing his shirt buttons, and Allen didn't have the strength to protest, so he gasped out again when his shirt was tossed aside

" Kanda," he growled. The older boy payed him no attention, and actually tugged sharply at his boots, man handling them until they popped loose. The younger flopped onto the ground heavily without the support of Kanda, and he angrily gasped out another swear. Then, his pants were being slid reluctantly from his legs, leaving him in nothing but thin boxers.

Allen couldn't prevent the tortured whimper that left his lips this time. He had a mind to curse Kanda again, until he realized that the older boy was shrugging out of his coat.

In a fluid motion, Kanda's hands encircled the freezing boy, pulling him tightly against his chest despite Allen's cringe-worthy outer temperature. The Japanese boy lay down, bringing the white-haired Exorcist with him, tucking him as neatly as possibly into his own body.

He was only slightly annoyed when icy hands immediately came to press against his bare chest, and a head nuzzled frantically into the crook of his neck. The hips that nudged against him and the legs that tangled with his own did, however, annoy him a lot.

Sighing again, he wrapped his Exorcist coat around them both, making sure it covered the smaller boy completely.

Settling down now, Kanda noticed the boy's shuddering breathing, and the way his whole body was shaking. His skin was like pure ice. He frowned, glaring at the crown of white hair underneath his chin, before tightening his arms around Allen.

Pressed flush together now, Allen absorbed the given warmth with fervor, praising whatever small part of Kanda's soul had made him do this. Thankyouthankyouthankyou he chanted in his head.

He would regain the scraps of his pride as soon as he warmed up, Allen told himself, as soon as he warmed up...

Allen was almost on the verge of a voicing a begrudging thanks, but he couldn't forestall the slow fluttering of his eyelids anymore, nor could he deny how increasingly comforting the solid heat was. The chest that rose and fell in perfect rhythm was strangely lulling against his shaking body.

He let his fingers curl against the chest, and his breathing started to even out. The warmth was seeping ever so wonderfully into his body, and with a resigned (though no less appalling) revelation, he realized he was relating comfort to Kanda. The thought startled him, but not himself to stop him from falling asleep in a matter of seconds.

Kanda felt Allen relaxing, and some tiny ounce of relief settled in his stomach. For a long time, he lay awake, senses pulled tight; listening for any threats. He mentally abused himself for his situation, one that he'd wholly had a hand in making worse. After all, he'd been the one to dig his hole deeper. He knew he couldn't let Allen die, no matter how he wished to do so. It would cause too many problems when he returned to the Order, and he liked avoiding problems that involved people.

But now, for all his logic, he was practically cuddling with his sworn enemy, if Allen was even worthy enough to be granted such a title. It was more along the lines of 'moronic numbskull.'

A sleepy moan brought his attention to the present, and he rattled off a string of curses as he felt Allen's lips brush against his skin with the motion. He was going to kill Allen, slowly and painfully, and then he'd throw him back in the lake. For good measure.

While Kanda concentrated on trying to fall asleep (the sooner to be done with this whole mission) he unconsciously secured his arms a little tighter around the sleeping Brit. There was no need, he supposed, for either of them to be cold that night...

–

When Allen woke up, he felt dozy and heated. The older boy's arms were heavy and soothing around him. He was completely unthawed, and then there was the way he just seemed to fit into the mold of Kanda's body..

With a rush of color to his face, the boy squeezed his eyes shut, wondering what in the hell he'd just thought. Best not to dwell on it any further, he concluded, slightly panicked.

Desperate for distraction, he instead focused on his surroundings, taking in the very dim light of early morning. He looked up at Kanda, registering that he was still sleeping, something like peacefulness shaping his face. When he'd stared longer than was necessary, he hurriedly tucked his head back into the niche of the other's shoulder, cringing. He didn't like how he had to physically stop himself from humming. He was so warm. Kanda was so warm.

His fingers, no longer creaky at all, curled against Kanda's chest like before, reveling in the oddly familiar feel. Some of the other's long hair tickled his nose, but somehow, he didn't mind. In fact, he was dimly aware that he didn't mind the closeness at all. He didn't mind, even though he knew he should.

Worriedly, Allen nestled his body closer to Kanda's, closing the infinitesimal gap. For the added warmth, he told himself, and nothing more.

He sighed softly against the bare skin, wondering if falling into the lake had somehow altered him.

" Merry Christmas, bastard," he whispered. Out of courtesy, he told himself, and nothing more. As it was, his heart was suddenly beating too fast, so he willed himself to calm down, instead listening to the quiet thrumming of Kanda's heartbeat. It didn't take long for him to fall asleep again, warily ignoring all the crazy-bells going off in his head.

Meanwhile, Kanda, who'd heard the quiet greeting, scowled. Damn idiot was such a sentimental freak.

And more so, Allen had a death wish. He must have.

Kanda Yuu did not do well with close proximity, to anyone, and most certainly not his hated enemy. He also did not do well when the close proximity made him react in ways he didn't count on. His protective enclosure around the idiot, for one, and the fact that he didn't feel like untangling from said idiot.

It wasn't normal. He hated Allen, so why wasn't he...thinking hatefully? The embrace, he told himself for the thousandth time, couldn't be helped. Ah, damn it, this was overly confusing.

And worst of all, Allen's lips against his skin had sent an ill advised shiver down his spine, again.

Fuck.

I have spiffed this up a bit, because...I just had to. Anyhow, hope it's better now, if the changes I've made are at all noticeable.

Leave me a review? SIGH. Well, I just wanted to do a quickie, and I also wanted to do something for Christmas. SO here it is folks, have a good one!!! (Yullen ftw...?)

Merry Christmas! & Happy New Year!

Much love,
Kyla