Two: The morning after the night before

Allen stirred slowly, feeling wakefulness return to him gradually. His body didn't seem to want to obey his commands, but he wasn't too concerned about that yet. In fact, he was supremely unconcerned about a lot of things, which was unusual for him- usually worries of all sorts were running though his mind from the moment he woke, and sometimes long before, but right now he felt blissfully relaxed.

He opened his eyes carefully, glancing at the window to try and judge the time and thought it was probably about five in the morning, the sun still below the horizon and muted pre-dawn light filtered through the gap in the curtains.

He felt the warmth at his back and was surprised that Kanda wasn't already up and training.

"Finally awake Moyashi?"

"Mmm-hmm" he tried to stretch but his back warned him not to push his muscles too far just yet. "What time is it? How long have you been awake?"

"It's a quarter to five, and I haven't been to sleep yet" Kanda replied, slightly hesitantly. He was waiting for Allen to start shouting and screaming at him for what happened the night before.

Allen eased into a sitting position, wincing as the ache in his lower back increased. "How come?" he asked, pushing the hair from his eyes before yawning widely. He'd not slept so well for a long time.

"I was reading."

Kanda seemed in a downright friendly mood this morning, so Allen was getting the hell out while the going was good. "Well, I guess I'll see you at the docks" he said as he swung his legs from the bed and began gathering his clothes, grimacing at the dried bodily fluids coating his skin.

Kanda frowned. Wasn't he going to start yelling soon? Allen noticed the other man's expression and raised an eyebrow as he pulled on his shirt. "Something wrong?"

"Doesn't this bother you" Kanda asked, gesturing at himself, the bed, the general mess their encounter had made of the room.

Allen's second eyebrow rose in surprise. "No. Should it? It's just sex, it's not like it means anything. We don't even like each other, remember? It was just a way to let off steam." He grinned crookedly. "And it worked, I feel better than I have in weeks. Though you could stand to be a little less rough, you know" he added, grin still in place as he rubbed his tender back. He gave the man in bed a last half wave of farewell and opened the door. "See you later." And then he was gone.

A way to let off steam? Kanda thought about it. He did feel better this morning than he had for a while and the Moyashi was right- it didn't mean anything, they weren't even friends. It was just a way to release their tensions- meaningless sex. It might never happen again. Though he suspected the opportunity would come again soon. They did have very stressful jobs after all.

0o0o0o0o0

The train rattled noisily, but it wasn't enough to keep him awake, and he spent much of the journey dozing with his head against the window and Mugen in his arms.

Allen sat opposite him, playing with Timcampy, pulling the golden golem's wings until the little creature got fed up and made to bite him with its miniature fangs and was hurriedly released.

After a while Allen spoke, though his gaze remained fixed on the scenery flashing passed the window. "Something on your mind, Kanda?"

Kanda gave up on trying to sleep and opened his eyes. Normally he would have rudely dismissed the question but his thoughts were in turmoil. "What does this mean?"

"Huh? What are you talking about? What does what mean?"

"This, us, whatever the hell happened last night!" Kanda snapped. Allen crossed his arms and looked away from the window to the older man's face. "Us? There is no us. I said that this morning, and you agreed, it was just meaningless sex- there's nothing more to it." He shrugged. "Just because we're exorcists doesn't mean we shouldn't have some fun along the way."

Kanda frowned. Allen just sounded so casual about it all- the very subject was making Kanda feel awkward. Allen sat forward, clasping his hands together. "Look, "he said, looking uncharacteristically serious. "If you're uncomfortable with it, we can forget it ever happened, if that's what you want."

Kanda knew he'd never be able to forget last night, even if he did want to, but hex couldn't tell Allen that. "What do you want?"

Allen rolled his eyes and shrugged again. "What, you want an ego boost? It was good sex, Kanda, and I wouldn't mind repeating the experience, only with a little more warning and a lot more lube, yeah?" He smirked. "Komui would be happier if you found some other way of dealing with your issues; he's fed up of replacing the furniture you keep slicing up."

"Tch." And there it was, the normal, no-nonsense, call-me-by-my-first-name-and-I'll cut-your-head-off Kanda that Allen was used to dealing with. "So what are you suggesting? We casually fuck each other to reduce stress?"

"Well perhaps not in those words, but kind of, sure. And I mean, even you get a little horny sometimes, right? Cos there's no way you can claim to be asexual after what you did last night." He fingered the bruise around his right eye. "Though the violence could do with toning down a bit."

Kanda's mouth twisted like he was swallowing something sour and he lifted his chin challengingly, pointedly touching the faint bruise on his jaw. "Like you're one to talk Moyashi."

"It's Allen, and that completely proves my point. We're perfectly safe with each other. I know that you're such a total prick that I'd never fall for you!" he laughed.

"Tch, like I'd fall for a stupid little bean sprout like you!" Kanda retorted.

"So, do we have a deal?" Allen said, traces of the laughter lingering on his face and wiping away the last traces of fatigue that were still there.

Kanda knew there were probably one hundred reasons to say no. Forming a relationship in the middle of war was never a smart thing to do- it made you weak. But Allen wasn't proposing a relationship, was he? Just no-strings sex whenever one or both of them needed to let off some steam. What could go wrong?

"Don't forget, I know where you live, I could always come and hunt you down anyway" Allen winked.

"That's surprising, I thought you didn't even know where you lived."

"Is that a yes?"

"Tch, whatever."