Hello!

So very obviously, my plans went off the window since last year, and this story was put to rest. However, and you might have seen if you follow my blog, but I did work on this story at times, especially for WIP week and then the Polyweek of this year. I can't promise another update soon, but have no fear, this is still a story I want to continue!

This chapter, like the prologue, has more hints of the other trope behind this story. This story is obviously a Modern AU, but there is another main trope~

I hope you enjoy this chapter, I had a lot of fun writing it, those boys in those settings are such adorable dorks~!


Make It Right

Chapter 1

Allen was humming softly as he cleaned the table, which soon turned into a squeak as arms wrapped around his neck from behind, a weight leaning at his back. Good things he had nothing in hands except the cleaning cloth, but Allen could guess it had been timed.

Just like he could guess who it was, even before the giggles reached his ears.

"Why, hello to you too Mana, or should I say Koana?" Allen greeted, amused.

Mana blinked, while Nea started to snickers. "Koana. That's a good one, Allen." The short haired twin commented, showing at Allen's side, though making no move to remove his twin from Allen's back.

Said long haired twin pouted, and send a narrowed head look at Nea. "You're one to talk… Koanya."

The way Nea spluttered, blushing, because they all knew what Mana meant, was too much for Allen. He started to laugh, hard, one hand over his mouth to try and contain it. No such luck; especially as he had the memory in mind. Sleepy twins one morning, and Nea acting like a damn kitty, half lying on the counter and demanding attention by trying to grab Allen's sleeve whenever he passed.

Nea crossed his arms, looking away with a heavy blush. However, truth was, it wasn't an embarrassed one, or at least not all of it. The main reason that made blood flood to his face? The sound of Allen's laughters.

He might be biased, but Nea felt certain it was one of the most beautiful sound he knew.

He pretended not to see Mana's knowing glance, too.

"I hate you both," Nea mumbled, earning a snicker from Mana, and a melodramatic hand-on-chest from Allen.

"You wound me!" Allen wiped a fake tears from his eye. "And here I thought we had gotten close..."

Mana turned his head, lifting a hand to cover his giggles, too amused by how Nea twitched. Golden brown eyes brightened as he noticed Cross coming out of the little office. He looked back at his brother and his friend, shaking his head fondly one last time at the stare off between the exaggerated lip wobble, and Nea's growing expression of someone help me.

Then Mana sneaked off toward the red-haired. The man had yet to look, rubbing his forehead with two fingers, a mug of coffee in his hand. The long haired twin debated, but he ended up in front of the man, beaming smile on his face as he let out a cheery, "Hey, Marian!"

The sound that left Cross' lips could not be categorized, his body spazzing to stop the full body jump he almost did, and his cup dangerously shook. Mana put his hands around it to stabilize it, trapping Cross' hand under one of his with this.

Red eyes peered at Mana with exasperation, palm now fully on his forehead, a look that tried to look murderous but ended up miserable.

"You menace." Cross grumbled, but made no movement to get out of Mana's grip.

Mana's smile widened. "A problem, Marian?"

Cross glowered, huffing as he looked away. One eyebrow raised as he noticed Nea and Allen, a sigh soon passing his lips. He closed eyes his eyes, rubbing his forehead again as if his headache worsened. "That lovesick idiot, does he intent to make eyes at Allen forever?"

Mana chuckled, but there was sadness when he spoke. "Be nice, Marian. You know why he's hesitant to officially court Allen."

Cross opened his eyes again, shoulders slumping at the serious look on Mana's face. "I know, Mana." He replied in a soft voice. "He hasn't forgiven himself quite yet, has he?"

Mana only smiled wryly in response.

"But really, Mana? Court? Careful, one might think you are a gentleman straight out of the Victorian era."

Mana's smile dropped, and he sent a deadpan look at Cross.

"… What? You're good at being a gentleman-I mean-"

Oh hell, Mana's smile was slowly forming again, eyes glinting brightly. "Were you saying you would like to see me be less of a gentleman-"

"Stop. Right there." Ugh, why did this menace manage to make his cheeks heat up? Him! Cross fucking Marian!

And he still hadn't let go of his hand! Someone help him, dammit!


"Ah, a look I relate to all too well." Nea wiped a fake tear, ignoring the long look from the white haired. "May his soul rest in peace."

Allen snickered, looking forward again, unaware of the way Nea's heart skipped beats as the young man leaned slightly against his side to whisper, "Don't you mean, may his soul rest in pieces?"

Nea swallowed, forcing his gaze forward, and the sight of the look Cross sent at them worked to bring back his amused grin. "Not helping your brother?"

Allen nudged Nea's shoulder with his. "And risk your brother pouting at me? Nah. Cross can handle this." The white haired smile oh so innocently at the way Cross now glared at them, only to startle as Mana leaned closer. "And by that I mean he'll handle being the one flirted with, for once." Then Allen made a face. "… Hey, does this make us brothers in law?"

Nea choked on the coffee he had finally started sipping.

Allen laughed, and laughed harder as Nea spluttered, expression screaming are you fucking serious as much as why did you do this to me how could you do this to me.

The laughters only calmed down after Nea crossed his arms, looking the other way with cheeks a little red. Allen was still chuckling, but he muffled it with a hand, and poked the red cheek with a finger of his other hand, making innocent eyes as Nea glanced at him for the corner of his eyes.

"Nea, my dear Nea, how easy it is to tease you."

Nea's eyes narrowed a bit, however what he said in a low voice was, "Only you can tease me like this."

Allen blinked, and his own cheeks coloured a bit.

"Oh wow you have to tell me how you managed that."

The sudden voice of Cross, right behind them, made Nea jolt a step forward, throwing a glare above his shoulder.

Only to cackle as he got a perfect view of the way Allen smacked his palm in the middle of his brother's face.

Allen froze, then slowly, very slowly, lowered his hand.

Murderous red eyes pierced him.

"… I-I need to-" Allen gestured with his hands, taking a step back, Cross taking a step forward as a maniac grin showed. Allen squeaked and rushed his words, "-to check the-back!"

The white haired turned and ran, the red haired marching off after him.

Mana and Nea exchanged a look.

"Should we..?" Mana started.

Smack! "Ah! Cross, watch where you're smacking that towel!"

"THEN STOP MOVING YOU ASS!"

"I think you meant your ass-" SMACK! "THAT WAS MY LAST DANGO YOU JACKASS!"

Nea licked his lips. "We should."

And that was how the other bartender arrived to the sound of a smack, Cross' angered yell, Nea suddenly running off the back room with a towel in his hand, Cross marching after him with murder in his eyes, Mana speed-walking behind Cross with despair in his frantic hands waves, and Allen whistling as he walked around to get in the path with a water spray in hand.

The bartender sighed, face-palming. Just another day at Jokster's Den.


"Behave, understood?"

Allen smiled brightly, ignoring the finger almost pressed to his nose as he looked right into those narrowed red eyes. "Of course, my dear brother!"

Cross lifted his eyes skyward, slowly closing them as if praying for strength. "You better impress them all at least," he grumbled, looking back down, all too aware of the uncanny ability his adopted brother had to both wreck anyone and everyone in various casino games, and yet earn their respect.

Allen's smile took a sweet edge, so sweet Cross felt shiver go down his spine. "Of course."

The red haired man just shook his head, threw his hands up and walked off. Allen hummed a merry tune, and wandered off too, silver eyes sharp as he took into the various games going on.

Yet, he missed the amber eyes watching with a slight wide eyed look, he missed the soft gasp, the almost call that got swallowed down.

The frozen man stared, swallowed again, and then, a smile bloomed on his face.

Amber eyes burned, growing half lidded, grin taking a pleased edge.

There you are, finally.

To be continued...