Disclaimer: I don't own -man or any of the characters, nor do I make any kind of profit out of this story.


Chapter 2 – Awakening in an unfamiliar place


There was a steady pounding throbbing uncomfortably close to his eye, and Allen let out a small whine as the comforting darkness slowly made way for the bright light signaling his awakening.

He was warm. It was perhaps strange for it to be the first thing he noticed. But the warmth was so evident that for a second the child wanted to weep. When was the last time that he had been so warm?

It was when Mana-

His world was still alive and whole.

It was almost like a betrayal for him to feel so warm when it was only days ago that his world had shattered to pieces around him. But the Earl had stretched out his hand, so familiar that it left him reeling – and it had felt akin to salvation.

Like Mana. Just more. Complete. Whole.

It was only now that Allen noticed the soft surface he was placed on, the coat covering him providing the familiar warmth. Unconsciously twisting his fingers into the soft material, Allen's eyes darted around the room he woke up in.

He barely noticed the expensive looking furniture and tapestries, only searching for the being that had unknowingly saved him from his own drowning grief.

Because even if it only had been less than a minute since he awoke, he could already feel it.

How much easier it was to merely breathe.

It was like he was drowning before, every breath so heavy it felt like it was about to crush him whole.

The sound of a pen scribbling against paper drew Allen's darting gaze to the imposing desk filled with an assortment of telephones, and the occasional white paper peeking between the apparatuses. Allen registered the oddness briefly, before his eyes set upon the being still scribbling something with a pen that even from meters away Allen knew probably cost more than everything he had ever owned in his life, combined.

Now that the sun was peeking through the windows, dim light flooding the room; Allen took in the stranger – because he was, his mind whispered, even as everything in him rebelled against this thought – that had caused his whole world to somehow rearrange itself when only yesterday Allen had thought such a thing to be impossible.

From his size to the wide smile flashing white teeth, the golden orbs glittering dangerously – everything should have scared him –but instead the only thought running through his mind was that Allen was so glad the being had stayed.

Like he had promised.

''Good morning ~'' The Earl greeted the child merrily, looking up from his desk to take in the child occupying his couch, red hair in disarray and eyes slightly lidded from sleep and resisted the urge to hug the child and never let go.

So adorable ~

Placing down the pen he had grabbed only minutes ago in his hast to appear busy when he had watched the child stir in the beginnings of awakening, the Earl was reluctant to acknowledge that maybe obsessively watching the child sleep for the whole night was perhaps a bit… questionable. But the mere thought of not being near the child – the Fourteenth – when he was finally by his side, had pushed all that to the back of his mind.

Until now.

Instead of taking a hold of the child, he calmed himself and waited patiently for Allen to acknowledge him. He could not overwhelm the child. He needed patience. Patience. Have patience; the mantra was running through his mind, the scenes of the massacre 35 years ago flooding his mind.

The way Neah's blood had pooled around him, dying everything red.

Patience.

Patience. He couldn't fail. It was not allowed. This child, he…. Adam would make sure that he stayed with him always. This child could not also betray him.

The new Fourteenth was his. Only his. The Earl's. Adam's. His.

''G-Good morning.'' Allen haltingly answered, his voice unexpectedly rough – and as if response to the words leaving his mouth, a cough forced itself past his throat, shaking his body as if it wanted to avenge the last few days he had lain motionlessly on Mana's grave.

Immediately there was a hand rubbing his back and Allen tensed only for a second before the familiar presence registered in his mind. How could the Earl be next to him so bloody quickly? Allen was sure the being had been behind his desk only a moment before.

As if punishing Allen for the small lapse in his thoughts another cough shook his body; the throbbing at his temple getting worse with every second.

It hurt. His head. His throat. His body.

His heart.

He knew that the person who used to care for him when he was sick, lull him to sleep and gently encase his hand in his was no longer there.

He was no longer there. So why? Why was he still waiting for those familiar words?

''My dear child~'', the Earl's voice was high-pitched, obviously panicked, but Allen couldn't make out the nuance in the tone. His breath hitched, silver eyes widening and tears pooling. ''My dear child, oh my dear child. I am here.''

The tears were flowing down his cheeks, silent und unnoticed. Those words , so achingly familiar, and yet-

So this was how it was, Allen suddenly realized with startling clarity.

There was no god. Something like that did not exist. Because if there was and humans were truly made by an all-knowing god-

Allen detested god, who let him be born with such an arm. Who had made humans into such ugly creatures who would prey on whoever they could find.

There was-

There was only Mana.

Mana and now the Earl. The being who must surely have been sent by Mana to care for Allen in his place.

Surely that was the only explanation. Because how else could Allen explain anything otherwise?

A small smile was playing on his lips, the first time in many days as he listened to the words repeating themselves over and over again.

''My dear child, my dear child~ I am here…''

An unfamilar place. An unfamiliar voice. Familiar words.

…and the tears continued to flow.


A/N Seems like I am actually motivated right now.

Like you can see. Neither of them are particular sane. I want to show their tranformation, how they develop, how they change and why.

I think both are fascianting characters and deserve to be developed. Allen just lost his world, the only person who has ever been kind to him, and it shows. Well, the Earl... he's being very creepy right now ;)

Next chapter will have some new developments!

C'ya soon,

AriesOrion