"Wow, it really is something to see a hotel with 40 floors!" Allen commented, stretching out his collar and fanning his face discreetly. The elevator's air conditioning wasn't as cool as Allen would have hoped wearing gloves, a long sleeved shirt, and black trousers. Tyki seemed not to have noticed, or if he did he didn't mention Allen's attire.
"Yes." Tyki said and smiled. Allen smiled back, mentally cringing. He sincerely hoped this wouldn't be a repeat of breakfast.
He vaguely wondered what Tyki and Rhode saw in him. Were they really so bored for company? They made no real effort to let Allen know about themselves, and it seemed to Allen they would have been perfectly content to merely stare at him all day. That thought made Allen somewhat uncomfortable.
"All the way to the top?" Allen asked, hating the silence.
"Yes." Tyki responded, giving Allen a sideways glance and small smile. Allen wondered if perhaps Tyki wanted Allen on edge. Allen let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding as the elevator doors chimed open and he jumped out, only to want to jump back in.
In all honestly, Allen never liked large spaces. Oh he was fine with wilderness and open prairies, but large rooms and homes just didn't suit his tastes. Having worked many jobs, he found larger spaces much harder to clean and so never developed a liking for them.
The room he had just entered took up the entire floor.
It was a strange sight to see, even if it weren't partly related to Allen's dislike of large spaces. Everything was in sight, and by everything Allen meant everything.
Far across the way, all the way to the other side of the floor were two beds, both attired with plain white cotton, made perfectly with the expertise of a German housemaid. There was a large living space before Allen, equipped with a flat screen television, a big poofy couch he would not have pictured in Tyki's home setting, and a large stereo system that took up at least a quarter of the back wall, which was saying something. Allen turned around again, and noticed something in the corner--a bathroom. A very clean, very open bathroom, complete with a toilet, boudet, urinal, sink and shower. There was a small wall surrounding the tile that covered the area, but not high enough to be actual walls. It was more to the effect to keep the water off the floor around it, and Allen was sincerely glad he did not have to go to the bathroom at that moment.
"Come with me please." Tyki brought Allen to a nearby door, knocking lightly. "Rhode? Allen is--" the door flew open and Allen was mildly surprised to see Rhode dressed very peculiarly. Almost a Little Bo Peep style, with a much shorter skirt and a more devious smile than Allen had ever imagined the young sheepherder carrying.
"Hello." she smiled cheerfully, and allowed them entry.
If Allen had thought the previous room was strange, this room beat that room with plenty to spare.
It was an office of sorts, Allen surmised by the large computer in the center of the room. A very large computer. The entire monitor took up all of Allen's height, and if he stretched out his arms, he thought that the screen would be wider. Various wires and screens lit up the back wall, and thousand of papers were stacked pristinely around the surrounding walls, making Allen's eyebrows furrow in confusion. At first he thought they were pillars, but at a closer observance he saw the small indentations and barely mismatched corners. He wondered how they kept track of all of them for a moment before turning his attention downwards.
"Over here Allen." Rhode called to him, smiling up and taking his hand. Allen followed her, somewhat forced, and sat down in front of the monitor.
"Name." a droning voice inquired and Allen jumped at the sound of it. The voice wasn't in one place, but all around him, so he could not tell the owner. He looked around nervously, and Rhode laughed.
"Allen Walker." Tyki stated and turned Allen's chair to the right, just a bit. A flash of light came from the corner of the room and gave Allen a full body scan. Allen froze, shivering slightly as the light seemed somehow cold.
"Allen Walker." the voice repeated.
"Um, I beg your pardon--" Allen began.
"Quiet." the voice dictated, and Allen immediately complied. Once the scan was completed, the machine before Allen hummed, making the young man even more nervous. Just when he wondered how much more he'd have to take, the voice stated clearly. "Allen Walker, please step forward." Allen looked to Tyki, then to Rhode, neither of them saying anything. Both merely smiled at him, and so, slowly, Allen stood and walked over to the monitor. A constellation of lines and symbols covered the screen and Allen's eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
"This--this isn't--!"
-----
Kanda ran a hand over his smooth ponytail, and thought the situation through again. It was obvious he couldn't just go barging to where Allen was and demand to have him. The Noahs would recognize him immediately, and that would only create an outright brawl, which Kanda did not have time for. The hand tangled itself in the long strands and Kanda clenched his teeth in frustration. Goddammit!
Kanda bit his wrist and began sucking on the wound. He wasn't particularly hungry, but the blood satisfied his mood somewhat, the hot aroma hitting a nerve that brought Kanda's mood down to rational.
He'd already wasted an hour trying to think of an escape plan, and he only had another hour or so to get to the airport which was 30 minutes away. That left a half hour for Kanda to get the brat out of the Noahs' claws and onto the next plane to Germany. A way to get him out without causing too much suspicion, without giving away Kanda as the perpetrator. Something that would get Allen away from the Noahs in the first place.
Something...something...
Kanda stopped drinking his blood and his eyes darted up, catching the radiator on the other side of the room, next to the bed. He licked the wound, stopping it up with his saliva and stood.
It was better than doing nothing, he supposed.
-----
"Something familiar Allen?" Tyki purred, sounding much closer than Allen remembered him. He turned his head to see Tyki's golden eyes inches before him and he backed up immediately.
"Who are you?" Allen demanded. "What are you to me?"
Tyki smiled. "Just friendly folk I assure you."
"I don't believe you." Tyki opened his eyes and Allen swore they were flashing something dangerous.
"Hmm. Well, I'm afraid I can't convince you further than this." he pointed to the screen again, and Allen felt his mouth dry out. "Don't you want to find Marian Cross?"
Allen had the very bad feeling he'd done something he shouldn't have by letting himself get scanned by this...thing.
"Well don't you Allen?" Rhode cooed alongside him. "So you can visit your father?" her eyes were half-lidded and her face was getting closer to Allen's by the second. Allen tried to get away from the girl but her grip latched on and it was stronger than iron.
Allen wanted to get out. He couldn't take these strange people anymore. He needed to get out and felt as though his life depended on it. He tried to break for the door but Rhode wasn't having it.
"Allen..." she called, eyes laughing.
Something in Allen snapped. A zapping sound was heard behind the monitor, and Rhode's eyes widened at the sound. She turned, Tyki with her, and squinted. Lights flashed from the back wall and wires zipped haphazardly.
Water was seeping through the cords. Rhode looked from the wall to Allen, who was currently shaking as though he were in the center of an earthquake. His eyes were shut tight and every muscle seemed to be in use. She poked him experimentally and his eyes flew open. An avalanche of water rushed through the room and Rhode didn't even have time to take a breath before she was swallowing more than she could handle. She jumped up and choked out the water, looking for Tyki and Allen.
Tyki was apparently in the same boat with her, coughing and spluttering through the water. Allen was exactly where he stood, completely dry. Water flowed around him in a perfect circle and Rhode nearly cackled with glee.
She had wanted to go to the pool after all.
Allen scowled fiercely at the siblings and began to walk out the door, water still maintaining a good distance from every part of his body, down to the last insignificant hair.
Rhode laughed, spitting out water as she did so. "Let's play again, 'kay Allen?" she called out. Allen glowered and shut the door behind him harshly.
Leave them, his bitter conscience told him. He ran for the door, hardly looking back on the queer surroundings, and hoping to never come back to this awful place again.
-----
It figures, just when Kanda had gone through the trouble to get the sucker OUT of trouble, he comes barreling out of the elevator and slamming into Kanda.
"Y-you!" Allen said, surprised.
"Don't call me by--!" Kanda stopped himself from repeating the rehearsed line and stood, rubbing his head and scowling. "Yeah, me. What the hell are you doing?" he asked rudely. Allen frowned.
"Getting away from those creeps!" he shouted, angry and loud.
"Tch. Creeps huh?" Kanda muttered, mostly to himself. "Whatever." He shoved the small carry-on bag into Allen's unsuspecting arms, which earned a nice 'oomph!' from the young man and a look of great indignation.
"What are you doing jerk? This is mine!"
"Which is why I gave it to you, dumb beansprout." Kanda retorted, heading for the stairs--quickly.
"B-Beansprout?!" Allen shouted. "We're going to have to talk about that! I am no beansprout! My name's Allen!"
"Like I care." Kanda scoffed, flying down the stairs almost faster than Allen could keep up with.
"Wait up!" Allen shouted, chasing after the dark-haired man as fast as his short legs could carry him.
"Hurry up!" he shouted back. He burst open the door to the lobby and ran for the exit. "Come on!" Allen bolted along with him, not knowing why, but having his own reasons for wanting to leave the hotel behind in his dust.
Kanda whipped out his arm and dove into the street, calling the first cab to come along. The driver flipped him off but Kanda didn't care about that. He opened the back door and shoved Allen in faster than Allen could keep up with, accidentally banging his head on the top.
"Ow!" he winced.
"Quit your whining!" Kanda ordered and jumped into the car with him.
"W-Whining?" Allen screeched and Kanda rolled his eyes, ignoring him.
"Atlanta Airport." the driver grumbled something about 'better get a huge-ass tip for this' but put the car into gear. "Faster or you can forget your huge-ass tip!" Kanda roared. The driver jumped and complied, taking into account the look that promised death on Kanda's face, and also noticing he was taller than him.
"What...What is all this for?" Allen cried, rubbing his head and willing the automatic tears that had erupted to go away.
"None of your goddamn business." he muttered and settled into his seat, satisfied that they were breaking the speed limit by 20 miles.
"None of my--? It has to do with me doesn't it?! Don't you think then that it--!" before Allen had the chance to finish his sentence, a flash went off behind him and Allen turned to see the fifth room on the twelfth floor blow up a nice large mushroom of ash and flame. The boom resounded shortly after, and Allen could hear the screams of the people on the street fading into the background as the driver pushed the car faster. Kanda made not a sound, not even moving from his position of hands behind his head and eyes closed. Allen sat back into his seat, looking straight at the back of the driver's seat.
He figured it really wasn't his business.
-----
Allen played with the tips of his gloves, hands in his lap. He'd never been in a private jet before, so his eyes were greedily taking in his surroundings, remarking at the fluffiness of his seat to the fact that you could actually see through the windows. The floor was clean and clear of any mystery substances, and the temperature was perfect, not too cold and not too stuffy, which made Allen extremely grateful.
Allen looked everywhere in the small plane, except for the seat across the way from his. He didn't want to aggravate his companion further, already having irritated him concerning his luggage and getting randomly chosen for a search hadn't helped matters either. Allen was surprised and relieved at once to not have to see any dismemberments when the security guard began patting down the older boy.
Now everything was peaceful and quiet, save for the thrumming of the engine below his feet and the light scuffling of the pilot in his cabin.
After five minutes since sitting, Allen's curiosity finally got the better of him.
"Um--"
"Shut up." Kanda replied sharply.
"Y-you didn't even know what I was going--!"
"That because I don't want to hear it." he interrupted again, and Allen bit the inside of his cheek to prevent the nasty remark he'd just thought of from coming out.
"I just--"
"Can it--"
"--want to--"
"Are you seriously this stupid?"
"--get your name!" Allen rushed out at the last minute, right before Kanda's fist met with his face.
Kanda paused, then settled himself back into his seat. Allen relaxed his shoulders a bit, still staring and barely breathing. Kanda's eyes looked to the left, taking in all that was Allen Walker and frowned.
"I'm Allen Walker." he stated cautiously, speaking slowly as if it would placate his temperamental companion. Allen held out his hand and gave a small smile. "Pleased to meet you."
It wasn't that he was particularly set against having the beansprout know his name, more that Kanda didn't really feel like telling him.
"Tch. Like I'd shake hands with a cursed person." Allen looked down at his hand and saw his wrist exposed by an inch, charred skin rearing itself forward to attention.
Allen's eyebrows did a ninety degree turn. "Tch? Tch? Where are your manners? Shouldn't we be properly introduced? How can you be so discriminating?!"
"Tch."
"Tch?"
"Masters Kanda and Walker, please fasten your seat belts, as we will be taking off momentarily." the pilot called through the speaker and Kanda fastened his seat belt dutifully. Allen's angry face calmed into a glum face, and he did likewise. He looked over begrudgingly, and watched Kanda lie back and fold his hands behind his head, eyes already closed.
"Kanda huh?" he muttered.
"Dumbass huh?" Kanda retorted, lips barely moving, almost confusing Allen to think there was a third person present.
"Hey!" Allen protested angrily, but was jerked in his seat when the stairs were removed from the plane.
"We are now taking off." the pilot said routinely and Allen rubbed his tongue against the top of his mouth, trying to will away the pain that had come from biting it.
Kanda said nothing still as Allen slumped down into his seat, planning to say nary a word for the rest of the flight.
Nothing could be worse than flying 10 hours in such a small space with Kanda, Allen was willing to bet. Better not do anything to make it more unpleasant.
-----
A/N: I was my chemistry teacher's worst nightmare 8D
Um, lots of things left open, so I just want to let you know I'll be addressing them. Timcanpy IS in this story--don't worry. Kanda will get the spotlight soon, and we'll get to know a bit about him and his vampire-ness. There will be one chapter dedicated to giving out loads of information, so I don't know if you'll find that annoying or useful--it might be a little dull, but it won't be for a few chapters.
I think this chapter was a little shorter than the previous two, but my idea ran out and I didn't want to drabble.
Let's see, next chapter you can look forward to seeing most of the DGM gang! Linali and Komui for starters, though I don't think Lavi will enter until chapter five... :(
Um, any questions let me know, anything you would like to see/ have addressed will be seen and appreciated. So seriously, if anyone wants to shoot me a plot bunny, I am so open (and when I say shoot, I mean 'shoot'. I hate bunnies D8 ). Also thanks to all the reviewers so far! Really, you all make my day :D (These tabs are pissing me the hell off ): )
