Hello dears!

Here is next chapter, Marionette. I thought right away of when Nea calls the Earl and Allen puppets, though overall, most of the chapter is more about not being in control (or, in other words, as if on strings controlled by someone else).
Also: there might or might not be little hints of what caused Nea's betrayal~

I hope you enjoy!


Hitotsu, Futatsu

Marionette

"Why did you call me a puppet, Nea?"

Allen voiced the question to the empty room of the inn he stayed at, almost absent-mindedly. In truth, as much as he had known he saw Nea back when Kanda's blow awakened him, Allen had never truly recalled it. Except until recently, and he half wondered if it was because of how he had seen Nea again.

What he did not expect was Nea's voice to reply to him, startling him and apparently startling Nea himself, since he stopped midway.

"Because you are being play-heavens! Did you just hear me?"

Allen whipped his head around, looking for the source of the familiar voice; and his eyes widened as Nea stared back from the reflection of the window. A grin broke on the Noah's face, however it was not sinister, rather it was… excited.

"You do! I never thought that could happen so soon. Or at all."

While Timcanpy fluttered with confused noises, Allen moved to stand in front of the window. "You… How can we..?" He lifted his hand, placing it on the window, and watched as Nea did the same. Sadness formed as he realized he only felt the cold of the glass.

"There's always been a connection, but now, you know in your mind there's more than a shadow." Nea explained softly. "Still..." He sighed. "I don't think it will last long, but we can hope it happens again."

Allen frowned, unconsciously pressing more on the window as if he could reach Nea this way. "Why? You keep speaking as if… as if you are a prisoner."

Nea snorted, but the way he looked away, that was reply enough already. "I'm only ever chained if I want to." Allen could believe that, but he waited, knowing there was more from how Nea paused. "I'm not a prisoner. I'm… just staying where it's safer for both of us."

"Safer? From your Memory?" Allen asked softly, trying not to pay attention to how Nea's image was already growing blurry.

Nea looked back at Allen finally, with a smile both genuine and sad. "You and I both have been puppets. You lack informations and it has sent you in a way you wouldn't have wanted if you knew. And I… I know very well how it is, to fight every moment to stay. And how it is to lose, even for a moment." He shook his head, and even when Nea had gotten more of a shadow, Allen felt he saw a single tear.

"I never want you to wake up with bloodied hands, with feelings twisted in actions you never wanted. That's why..." For a second, it was not Nea anymore, but the grinning shadow. Allen felt his heart skip a beat, but then, the shadow flickered, golden eyes bright and determined as they fixed Allen.

"I won't let anyone use you. Not even myself."

With that, the grinning shadow was back, and Allen knew Nea wouldn't show in the reflection for now. A shiver ran down his spine at how the shadow's grin seem to downturn, something angry in it; and Allen was quick to step away, to stop looking. He moved to sit on the bed, Timcanpy landing in his laps.

"Hey, Tim… I think Nea has been protecting me." Allen whispered, petting the golem. "But then… How can I protect him?"

Timcanpy made a few grumbles, and then, he grinned. He opened his mouth, and Allen's voice sounded.

Do you know the way to where the Campbell live?

And then the golem closed his mouth again, looking smug, somehow. Allen chuckled, stretching Timcanpy's cheeks.

"Find their manor, eh?" His gaze grew hesitant, letting go of the cheeks and Timcanpy nimbled gently at his fingers. "He will be fine until then, right?"

The golem simply nipped a bit harder at Allen's finger, earning a little ow! and a pout.

"Fine, you little imp. I get it. But I'll stop worrying when he does."

Timcanpy had to snort at that, and Allen snickered. And deep inside his mind, he felt the little pulse, a sign that confirmed Nea's words when they first met again, that Nea was still here. And that he could tell he was being teased.

It made Allen feel warm, so warm, and it echoed within him, envelopped with something close to tenderness that left Allen's heart thumping a little harder.

If we have been marionettes, then we will cut those strings together, won't we?

To be continued...