Second Gift - Warmth

The candles within the street lamps burned evenly, flooding the blue winter with their orange glow. Snow drifted slowly, joining the brown-dirty white mess of the ground. The boulevard was silent save for the soft crunching of snow under leather shoes.

Tyki took Allen by his hand, strolling past the soft illuminated shop windows. It was a beautiful sight, but Allen could hardly enjoy it. While his hand was warm in Tyki's gasp, his coat unprepared to deal with the the cold wind drilling into it. Tim rubbed himself over his heart in his breast pocket, in an attempt to warm him, but lacking body heat on his own, Tim was unable to do so. Very soon, Tyki sensed the discord and glanced at him.

"Ah yes, I forgot, you're not as resistant to cold as I am." Allen was ready to sass back, confusing his concern for mocking, but gasped his words away seeing Tyki shrug off his thick longcoat and drape it over his shoulders.

It was basically engulfing his whole form and preserved his body heat so much better but- "W-wait, I can't have you freeze to death because of me!" He protested, moving to get it off, but Tyki's hands clasped around his shoulders firmly.

"Boy, I am a fully awakened Noah, cold doesn't affect me."

"But, you're in just that jacket." And the hem of your coat is going to get dirty.

"It's tightly woven and I have a vest and undershirt so don't worry your pretty head about it." Allen barely noticeably flinched under the hand that came to pat his head. Tyki momentarily paused at that, then recognition flashed in his eye along with something dark that he quickly shoved in the back of his mind. This encounter was about relaxing not going after every person that ever wronged Allen Walker and rid them of their intestines. Another time. He wanted to focus on the Boy now.

"As cute as you look swallowed up by my coat, I can't give it to you, you'll stand out too much." Tyki nodded to himself as he took Allen's hand in his again. "Yep, we're going shopping."

"Shopping?!" Allen parroted stumbling after Tyki. "B-but it's midnight! There's no way stores are open at this hour!"

"Locks are not a problem for me boy."

Allen stopped dead in his tracks right before a boutique dedicated to men's wear, forcing Tyki to halt as well. "Yo-you don't plan on stealing are you?"

Tyki rolled his eyes. "Says that the boy who doesn't mind ripping off every unfortunate bastard stumbling in his way?"

Again, he got some fierce glare-wannabe that was just an absolutely precious pout.

Tyki sighed, holding his hands up in defeat. "Ok, ok, I'm going to pay for it."

"This is not what I-"

"Hey, hey, boy, we're on a date remember," he reminded flashing him a grin. "Just leave the money to me, you have to save up for your trip, don't you?"

Pink colour dusted the boy's normally alabaster cheeks, and Tyki hoped it wasn't just the cold. A smile tugged at his lips seeing the boy glance down almost bashfully.

"But I can't go inside."

With long strides, Tyki made his way in Allen's personal space, stopping when he sensed the boy's muscles tense. Tyki raised his arms in waist heights, beckoning mutely. "Then let's go together."

Allen turned his body to the side, instincts flaring up, hissing at him to never forget what this man was capable of and willing to do- but then next to that his delicate crumbling heart whispering remember, remember that chance encounter with this man, remember how genuine his love and care for his company was, how affectionately he tousled Eeze's hair, how he confronted him and bought him time to run from Apocryphos.

Both of that was Tyki, just different circumstances. The Tyki with his guard off, surrounded by his friends; the Tyki on guard, ready to serve and protect the Earl; they were just two sides of the same coin.

Besides if Tyki really wanted to, he would have just killed him already. So far he was true to his words, his hands were warm and gentle, waiting for him to give his approval.

Right now, the same way as that night when he helped him escape, he wasn't here as a Noah, but Tyki. The Tyki who cared. The Tyki who he cared for, no matter how much he tried to deny.

Gulping down his paranoia, Allen trotted closer, staying unmoving as Tyki's muscular arms closed around him slowly in an embrace, their chests flush to each other, his head pressed into his neck. Goosebumps rose on the back of his head as Tyki cupped his nape, other arm settling on the small of his back. Tyki stepped back, pulling him along and Allen closed his eyes gripping the front of his jacket tightly. There was a strange sensation rippled through his body, thrumming through his heart as he passed through glass, as if it was some waterfall.A shudder ran down on his spine at the strange sensation, making him instinctively press his face further into Tyki's front.

His form rattled, vibrating with Tyki's laughter. "It's alright Boy, we're in, you can let go - if you want to."

Almost reluctantly, Allen released him, stepping back and avoiding Tyki's gaze in favour of looking around in the dark, unlit piece. Timcanpy emerged from his pocket, fluttering around the tophats.

Suits were hung on two levels of metal bars and mannequins loomed dressed in the finest wool clothes. The coats and shoes were more in the back, as they were more expensive.

"Come, let's have a look," Tyki said, pulling him along by his sleeve, their shoes quiet on the carpet - Allen hoped they wouldn't stain it with the dirt they might have brought in.

Tyki let go of him in favour of looking for coats that he deemed to be Allen's size, while Allen let his gaze wander, tightening Tyki's coat around himself - while it was a lot better that there was no sharp wind inside, it was still inhumanely cold.

His gaze flickered to Tyki seeing something move in his peripheral vision. It was a simple black leather coat with heavy lining in the inside. "Try this."

Allen shrugged off Tyki's coat, setting it aside carefully, reaching out , scowling confused when Tyki shook his head. "Turn around, I'll put it on you."

Allen raised a delicate eyebrow but complied. "What's with this huge generosity Tyki, are you trying to sweep me off my feet?"

The warm chuckle Tyki gave fluttered something inside. "Maybe I do". He slipped the coat on Allen's shoulders, hands lingering; Allen could feel their warmth even through the coat. "Question is, will you let me?"

Allen's eyes flickered from his own reflection to Tyki's, who also used the looking glass to meet his gaze. Despite the fact that Tyki was in his human form, Allen could swear his irises were burning like warm embers.

"I… I'm not against your advances… " he admitted the undeniable truth he was sure Tyki knew. "During our time apart… I did realise that on that night… you and Road came for me. You wanted to save me. You talked to me. Reassured me. Not the 14th or the Exorcist… but me.

"Took you long enough," Tyki teased with a soft smile on his face, which inched into a grin seeing Allen's face burn.

"I figured it out that you were attracted to me," he mumbled. "But I thought I was just a passing interest for you. A shiny toy you wanted to break because you couldn't. Until you let me get away, I really thought that was the ca-case."

The last words came out as stutters as Tyki slid his arms down to enclose him in a full embrace, pressing a soft kiss on the crown of his hair as a confirmation, a subtle ask for acceptance. Deep down, Allen admitted that he really did not want to refuse-

"But I am worried."

Tyki paused, his warm breath lingering. Allen took this as a sign to carry on.

"What… will happen to you if you push things too far?"

Will the Earl allow it? Will he demand you to prove your loyalty?

Will he use those three to blackmail you?

Will he force you to choose between your human friends and me?

Will he kill you for treason?

Will Neah hurt or even kill you?

Will your heart be able to take the grief of losing someone you think of as precious?

Muscular arms tightened around him as Tyki leaned forward, hot breath raising goosebumps on the shell of his ear.

"Whatever happens, I'm prepared to face the consequences," he whispered, the deep voice resonating in Allen where his back met Tyki's broad chest. "Not letting you go is something I could never regret."

Allen let out a shuddering breath, leaning on Tyki to support himself, not trusting his quivering knees. "And you call me out on having a big ego."

He could feel Tyki smirked in his hair. "I never denied it. What do you think about this coat though? Is it comfortable?"

Allen moved his arms around a bit. "Hmmm it is warm, but hard to move around with. It would be better to get some sort of fabric coat."

"Wool it is then," Tyki said helping the coat off of Allen's back. He run his gloved hands through the supply, stopping at a deep drown one. "Let's see this one."

Obediently, Allen let Tyki help. He twisted around a bit, a frown marring his face. "It's too tight around my shoulders."

Allen pouted at the chuckle resonating in Tyki's throat. "What now?"

"Nothing really. It's just that you've grown. You used to fit under my chin and now you reach my nose. If you stood on your tiptoes you could kiss me."

You've grown. You're alive. You survived.

Allen fought the urge to blush. "I'll think of it," he muttered as he slipped off his coat.

Tyki fished out a beige long coat with a grin which withered seeing Allen tense up.

"I… don't want beige," he gritted out, resentment and fear though well concealed, Tyki could tell. "I… don't want to be like…"

Tyki's eyes flashed with fury as he connected the dots, unfathomable hatred seeping through Joyd at the mere thought of the Fourteenth. He pushed those sentiments aside in favour of concentrating on the Boy instead. He hung it back, away from sight, hand quickly seeking out the soft white hair. "I see. A different colour then."

They both looked around for a while but finally Tyki presented a nice dark gray long coat with a simple design and ample pockets. Allen wordlessly turned, letting Tyki lay it across his shoulders. It was perfect fit. However looking at the price tag made him want to toss it in fire.

"Put it back, it's way too expensive."

Tyki's hands clasped around his shoulders. "Boy, you're not going to survive the winter in that," he said, his words brutally honest, like always. "You need this in order to be able to keep walking."

Sensing they were about to leave Tim fluttered to settle back on top of Allen's head. The boy casted his gaze down, pulling at the sleeves as Tyki placed the amount onto the counter and took Allen's old coat, his other hand held out for Allen.

"Let's go. You must be starving."

Tyki smiled inwardly that this time, the Boy took his outstretched hand without hesitation.

He pulled themselves out of the store, leading the Boy towards the hotel.