So starting with this chapter you are going to see these 'O's in weird places, and they represent the end of a segment or scene within a chapter. Thought I'd tell ya now to throw off any confusion XD

God why the fuck am I so damn fluffy...? I don't get it either. If you ever talked to me in real life you'd be like: "That girl is into some seriously freaky shit..." And here I am writing Disney stuff with a little more gay.

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 4

Allen couldn't concentrate.

The pen in his hand that was supposed to be jotting down notes on the Roman government system wouldn't move. This morning at about six am he'd awoken in Link's bed to his partner's gentle shaking of his shoulder. How he'd gotten to the bed in the first place could only be explained by one theory, the one being that Link had carried him from the couch and set him in the bed. The idea of it made his heart race and a cold sweat would come over him… He almost wished he'd been awake at the time, maybe at that able to enjoy being in his love interest's arms… On the other hand it may have been better this way, seeing how Allen almost started fainting at the very notion that he was carried, having been conscious for it probably wouldn't have gone over well. He was still debating as to whether or not to tell Lavi anything… Because as of right now, he felt kind of good about it. His first sleepover at Link's house and he had been carried over to the ridiculously large bed and soft sheets. He couldn't remember the last time he got such a good night's sleep on a school night. Unfortunately, he knew Lavi would just be unimpressed, and Allen didn't feel like having his good feelings shit on at the moment. Also as of today he was trying to not bump into any of his friends, so talking to Lavi was out of the question.

Eventually he just threw the pen down and leaned back in his chair, giving up on the hope that he might be able to write anything down. His mind was too frazzled, and it didn't help that he had to go to work right after school. Luckily this was his last class and he wouldn't have to deal with being in the building avoiding his friends all day so they wouldn't see his face anymore. It was difficult in history, since he shared the class with Lavi who was the TA, but upon entering he'd covered his head with his hood and avoided pointing his right cheek anywhere in direct eye sight of the red head. He'd taken a seat in the back so no one would bother him and started planning his escape route as soon as class began. It was a risk to take, mostly because he had been avoiding his friends at lunch and in any classes they may have shared, not to mention not answering their phone calls to his house, they were probably catching on to his lack o f social activity. He had to do it though… As soon as either Lenalee or Lavi saw his bruises, or the multitude of them if he removed his shirt, they would start becoming concerned for his safety. Allen wanted them to be occupied with their own lives instead of his personal pity problems.

He heard the class bell and packed his materials with quick desperation. Unluckily for him the Junior Bookman had made a direct path across the classroom and came right up to his desk. Allen kept his hood over the right side of his face, not caring much about how weird it must've looked to his older friend.

"Allen we haven't seen you since lunch yesterday… I didn't even know you were here until I saw you walk in..." Lavi helped with the rest of the books, most likely unaware of how irked he was making Allen feel right now.

"It's nothing." Using only one hand he scooped the rest of his crap into his backpack and allowed Lavi to put the books in. Now his one eyed companion was giving him a funny look.

"This isn't anything to do with Two Spot is it?" The older bit his lip and stared to the side wearing a look of apprehension. "I'm the one who sent him over… If he's done any-"

"Lavi, it's not Link." Allen answered shortly before trying to rush out the door. His way got blocked by the taller red head.

"Allen, why aren't you telling me anything?" There was a hint of hurt in Lavi's voice and Allen felt a prick in his heart. "You never not tell me shit, bro… What's up?"

Allen tried getting past anyways, but didn't think about the senior's superior strength. "Lavi, Just give me, like, a week, ok? Then I'll tell you about it and it'll be gone for the most part."

"What'll be gone?"

"Nothing… Just… Can you let me go? I have work-" Allen was cut off mid-sentence as Lavi jerked his hood down and stared wide eyed at the ugly display soaked into Allen's porcelain skin.

"Allen.."

"Don't make a big deal out of it." The boy yanked his hood back up, feeling a bout of embarrassment racking his system. He hated the idea that he'd been overpowered… He hated that he couldn't defend himself like Link or Lavi… or even Lenalee who was known for wearing sharp heeled boots that could deliver a nasty kick… He even envied that bastard Kanda with his ripped form and ability to use anything sword shaped to take out his enemies…

"Allen, how did that happen?" Lavi stepped aside now, letting Allen through but following after closely. "Link didn't… Did he?"

"Jesus no! Lavi…" Allen rolled his eyes and made a face. "Link was actually… When he saw it he was really nice… Even though we weren't able to go out…"

"He wouldn't take you out 'cause of the bruise?" Lavi asked with an astonished face.

"No! Lavi will you stop assuming everything bad about him? He still offered, but I was the one who said no. Instead I went over to his place and we watched a movie and stuff."

"And stuff?" Lavi grinned.

"You're so gross." The sophomore stuck his tongue out. "We're not like you, we're still on the holding hands and occasionally hugging base…"

"That's not even first base, Al."

"Shut up, Lavi. It's a base for me." He wasn't in a fun mood right now and he just wanted this day to be over with.

"Ok, ok. I'm sorry, Al. You know I'm just looking out for ya!"

"It just pisses me off that you automatically think that Link's done something wrong every time my own personal life shits on me, Lavi. Things happen, I get hurt, I get upset, but that's life, NOT Link." His head felt a little hotter, frustration pitting up in his stomach and coursing through his veins. He didn't normally get so defensive, but lately Link was kind of his sanctuary and Lavi wouldn't let up on trying to make the blonde look like some sort of bad guy.

"I just get bad vibes from him, dude…" Lavi persisted, keeping up with the fast paced stride Allen was now performing.

"He says the same thing about you, ya know," Allen huffed.

"So he's turning you against me!"

"You're turning me against him!" The white haired teen pivoted to face Lavi directly, his face curled up into a slight snarl before easing into one of exhaustion. "Lavi… You're my best friend, and you always will be. It doesn't matter if Link doesn't like you, I always will regardless. But it works the other way around too, just because you don't like Link, that doesn't mean my feelings for him are gonna change."

Lavi made let out a groan and grabbed his shorter friend around the shoulders. "You're killing me, man."

"I know." Allen smiled and continued walking to the doors that would lead him outside, patting his hood before doing so. He exited the school, making way for the bus stop with Lavi still keeping close vigilance, when he heard a familiar voice over the soft buzz of teenage noise.

"Allen, there you are!" Lenalee came running up to the two of them and Allen felt his stomach tighten. He pulled the hood over as best he could, knowing that out of Lavi and Lenalee, she was going to take it the absolute worse. The girl had a tendency to take things to heart and get upset at the very thought that one of her friends might be hurt. She had explained it to Allen one time as her friends being her family, since she pretty much had none except her overbearing brother. "Allen we were looking for you all day!" She stopped to catch her breath for a moment before continuing. "What's wrong? Why weren't you at lunch?"

Allen tried to smile through the hood, masking his dim mood with that of a lighter one. It was a neat trick he had learned to perfect over the years of depression and abuse he'd gone through, a cover up to protect both himself and the ones he cared about from seeing what really lay beneath. "I'm fine, Lenalee, just really tired is all."

"What's he doing with his hood?" Lenalee turned a concerned glance to Lavi.

Allen tried to but in before his one eyed friend could answer. "Nothing, I'm fi-"

"He got hit." Lavi stated blatantly.

"What?" Lenalee's voice raised in shock and she moved the hood piece out of the way of Allen's face after haggling him for a bit. "Allen… this is…"

"It's nothing! Lavi, why'd you do that?"

"Because she's gonna find out eventually! A bruise that big isn't exactly easy to hide Allen. Did you expect to avoid us for how ever many weeks until it got better?" Lavi stood with both hands on his hips and a look similar to one a mother would give a child while chiding them.

Allen snorted and moved on. "I've gotta get to work, guys. If I miss this bus I miss my only chance of getting there." He stormed off, but felt Lavi and Lenalee still following behind him.

"We're only looking out for you, Allen!" Lenalee declared. He knew he was being difficult… He knew he was making things worse but… He threw a hand to his head in frustration and resisted the urge to throw his head back and scream. Why did everyone always worry about him? He could handle himself…

He exited the school's gate, not looking where he was going and bumping into someone. He threw out a quick apology, eyes on the ground and tried to move around them. He got held back though and looked up, his breathing stopping for a second.

"…Link…?"

The blonde looked down at him with that same straight faced expression that never seemed to leave unless he was entirely embarrassed (which Allen thought was all the more cute). "You should look where you're going more, Walker." Allen felt a light spark go off in his brain at the name Walker, knowing it was just Link being Link and since they were in public he'd be even more Linky than usual. He watched the older blonde glance him over before asking, "Is everything alright?" It was a flat monotone, no emotion, no nothing. Allen could see past it though. Link was a lot like him where when he was concerned about someone important to him, his own emotion wouldn't leak out. Only when they were alone did Link sometimes let little cracks of shaking worry or anger slip out from his voice. Moments like those made Allen feel ecstatic, mostly because he knew he was the only one who ever got to see his partner like that.

"Everyone keeps asking me that."

"Then perhaps you look like something is the matter." They were keeping their distance, even though Allen wanted to throw his arms around Link and lay out all his inner feelings of being upset.

"I'm usually better at this." Allen commented. Their flat conversation was unsatisfactory to him. Link was the only person he really wanted to talk to right now, and they had to keep everything distanced and formal. "What brings you here?"

Link looked about before facing Allen again. "You have to catch a bus for work, right?"

"Yeah."

"I'll drive you, I had something I wanted to talk to you about anyways."

"Oh?" Allen was about to ask what when his two friends caught up and stopped behind him. He sensed the air shift between Link and Lavi, like a static electricity current laying heavily over the surrounding party.

"Oh, Link!" Lenalee moved passed Allen and shook the college student's hand with a smile. "We don't really get to see you very much anymore! The last time was two weeks before summer ended, right?" God bless this woman… Allen thought. He knew Lenalee probably had some inner problem with him dating Link as well, whether it be his being twenty years old, his stiff demeanor, or the fact that he worked for the Leverrier family of whom her brother wasn't very politically fond of. But she sucked it up for Allen's sake and it gave him a whole new respect for her.

"It's been a while, Miss Lee." Link politely shook back and then turned back to his partner. "Could we go somewhere more private?"

"What you gonna suck his face off?" Lavi bitterly interjected.

Link snorted. "I'm not so primitive as you, Junior."

"Guys!" Lenalee held out her arms between the two and scolded both older males with the authority that made her so prominent in Allen' group of friends. "Quit arguing like little kids! You can put up with each other for Allen's sake, yes?"

Lavi turned to the side and grumbled something unintelligible whereas Link simply nodded and beckoned to Allen. "Let's go, Walker."

"We're coming with you!" Lavi stormed up by Allen's side and took up a defensive stance.

"Lavi you don't need to-" Allen started but got cut off.

"You got hit, Al, and I'll be damned if something similar happens just because I left you in the care of this long haired twig."

Link scowled and looked like he might bite back, but regained his composure and sighed heavily. Allen could almost feel the head ache radiating from his boyfriend's temples. "Whatever. It's not like it even really matters."

"If we can hurry this up that would be cool." Allen deadpanned. His friends were really a hassle at times… "I have work in under an hour and I can't afford to be late."

The four of them headed to an unoccupied path that lead from the school into a forestry park area (Lenalee came along, probably to stop any more spats the red head and blonde might start with each other). Allen felt his heart skip a beat, knowing that if they were taking this much care not to be seen then whatever Link had to talk about must be dealing with their relationship. They didn't go in too deep, just enough so no one still on the school grounds would be able to see them. There was enough foliage around so that if anyone were to come from any direction, it could be heard relatively early.

"This should be good…" Link stated, giving the woods a quick scan. "Walker, I want to give you something."

"W-what?" Allen felt a blush creeping and mentally shook his head to rid himself of it. "Like what?"

"Like his twenty year old virginity." Lavi sneered before being heavily smacked on the back of the head by Lenalee.

"Ha, ha. Sorry I'm not a crazed animal like some people." Allen glared at Link disapprovingly and the older composed himself before continuing on. "I think it's important you have this…" Link dug in his pocket and fished something out, placing it in Allen's hand gently.

"Link-!" Allen almost felt himself grow angry with the object in his hand. Not because it was an insulting gift, far from it, but he'd seen them in stores and knew how much they cost.

"Wait, what is it?" Lavi hovered over Allen's shoulder, looking into his hands. "Oh nice move, rich boy." It was a shiny new cell phone, one of those flip phone blackberry things with the boxy shape and built in keyboard.

"Link I can't accept this.." Allen mumbled quietly. There was no way he could ever pay off something like this, not with him chasing down all of his Uncle's debts that the man never paid.

"You're accepting it whether you want to or not." Link declared. "You need to have some way to contact people if you're ever in trouble. I've already signed you up with my plan, so you don't have to worry about any expenses. You have unlimited texting, and more minutes than you'll probably ever need, so if you have to reach anyone like me or the Bookman idiot, or anyone else who can help you, there won't be any trouble in doing so."

"No more skipping out on phone calls, just because you're Uncle doesn't pay off the phone bills, right Allen?" Lenalee smiled at him and Allen continued to stare down at the piece of technology.

"But… I'll never be able to pay you back…" Allen felt his chest constrict, almost like he was going to cry again. He was absolutely useless to Link. Pathetic. Sometimes he wasn't even sure why the older kept him around…

"Allen." The white haired teen's ears piqued with shock. He looked up to confirm who the voice had come from and found Link's crimson eyes staring right into his. "Forget about the money for once. I got this for you so that I could make sure nothing happens to you." Allen felt Link's hands close his over the phone. "Just take it, ok?"

Allen couldn't find any words so he just nodded and put the phone in his pocket. He looked back and instantly reddened upon finding his friends standing there looking back at him.

"You really fall for that cheesy shit?" Lavi drawled before Lenalee's elbow pounded into his stomach.

She smiled and said, "Don't listen to him, Allen. Lavi doesn't understand what's like to actually be emotionally attached to someone."

"I do too!"

Allen let out a short laugh and gave his friends a nervous glance. "Do you think you guys could…?" He cut short, not wanting to directly tell them to leave.

Lavi stood there for a minute with a vacant glaze in his eyes, but Lenalee got it and dragged the red head along with one last wink at Allen. He took in a deep breath, holding it until they disappeared through the bare trees. Allen turned back to Link, watching as the stiff stance he had held with the others around melted and the blonde became more relaxed.

"How much more time do you have before you have to be at work?" Link said.

"About thirty minutes…"

"How long does I take to get there?"

"Driving from here to there, about fifteen…"

"May I…?" The older stepped forward, reaching out a shaky hand. Allen ran forward and wrapped his arms around Link's neck as he had wanted to earlier, drinking in the natural scent his partner's hair gave off. "Allen, what's wrong?" Link's deeper voice brushed against the sophomore's ears, tickling them and sending a pleasant shiver down his spine. Allen let out a sigh of satisfaction, glad to finally have this opportunity after trying to avoid people all day.

"My cheek hurts…" The teen whispered, referring to the light throbbing he had been experiencing all of today and half of yesterday when he got the damned bruise. He felt one of Link's arms unwrap from around his waist and cup his right cheek gently, those deep red eyes scanning him, making Allen feel exposed. If there was ever a moment where he wanted to kiss Link more than anything in the world, this was it. He wanted to so bad… But he knew Link would either become furious and throw a fit, pass out and leave Allen dry with no ride, or vomit and spend the rest of the day in nervous sickness. Despite his outward and rather strict demeanor, Allen could see right into Link's hard shell and into the soft personality that lived within. The older student was fragile, one wrong move and he'd fall apart, but Allen felt relatively similar at times… These moments they'd been sharing the past three days or so had been making Allen want more.. More of Link, more time with him, more touching, more feeling, more sharing of emotions…

Allen felt Link press his forehead against his and gently stroke his cheek, making he younger try to control his breathing which had quickened in pace. The only sound he could hear was the ever so slight whistling of Link's nose when he breathed and the occasional plopping of snow on the ground as it fell off of branches here and there. Their breaths were being displayed in front of them, Allen smiling as he saw Link's puff clouds going as fast as his were. He put a hand over the older's chest, feeling the fast rated heart beat that rivaled his own and heard Link let out a small noise from the back of his throat.

Link brought their noses tip to tip, and they both stood there with their eyes closed and drinking in the other's crystalized breath. "As soon as you turn sixteen, I'm kissing you." The older whispered.

Allen tipped his head just a bit, bringing their lips that much closer. "You could now if you wanted to…" He didn't have to be looking at Link to know the man was now blushing as furiously as he was.

"Our lips would freeze together. "Allen let out a little laugh and heard Link release something similar. He'd never heard Link laugh before… It was kind of dry and odd sounding, but hearing it made Allen feel a bout of happiness he'd never experienced before. The last time he remembered being this happy, it had been with Mana… He pushed the thought out of his head, not wanting the past to ruin this moment alone with the human being he was pretty sure he was in love with.

"And then we'd have to go to the hospital like that," Allen continued, still giggling with their lips only two centimeters apart.

"And then they'd ask our ages and throw me in jail after branding me a pedophile," Link chuckled, closing in just a little more…

"You're an average day John Proctor." The younger teased, referring to the play they were reading in English in which a thirty five year old man slept with an eighteen year old girl (Though in the actual historical event John Proctor was about sixty, and the girl he'd had an affair with, Abigail, was almost twelve).

Link let out a full laugh, catching Allen by surprise and holding his older partner when the blonde leaned forward and rested his forehead on Allen's shoulder to ride out his fit. He'd never seen Link like this… Not ever… And since Link was laughing so much, he himself started laughing and they both held onto each other, cackling like a couple of fools. If anyone were to walk by and see them, they'd label them as a pair of crazies and go along their day wondering what could have possibly been so funny.

Eventually the two settled down, but continued to hold each other, basking in warmth that didn't exist for another block or so from where they stood. When Allen stood back a little to regard Link, he was greeted with someone he didn't fully recognize. Link was still smiling, wiping away a stray tear that had escaped in the deadly giggling fit he had suffered. Allen put a hand on the back of Link's head, petting his braid and grinning while he enjoyed the returned quiet with his partner. It was a moment Allen wouldn't ever forget… Link wearing an expression of happiness and laughing with him… It was something he was sure not many other people had gotten to experience, and he absolutely cherished the idea that this side of the blonde could be reserved for him.

He was caught off guard though, as the man held his face gingerly and kissed both of his cheeks. They were soft and deliberate, and each one was placed on either the bruise marring Allen's right cheek, or the nasty scar tearing into his left. He couldn't breath for a moment and made a light choking sound in the back of throat upon feeling the heat from Link's lips on his face. The older pulled back and held Allen in regard, the previously joyful expression now replaced with one of insecurity. Link's eyebrow's knitted together, the red dotted tattoos on his forehead creasing slightly. To make certain the college student didn't regret his action, Allen hugged the man and jokingly remarked, "That was all kinds of illegal, Link."

"It's illegal for you to be so…" Link drifted off, the last echoes of his sentence lingering on Allen's ear drum.

The younger brought himself right next to his partner's ear and huskily breathed, "So what?"

"Beautiful…"

Allen pulled away, looking Link in the face expecting to see some kind of reddish tint or grimace of embarrassment. Instead he was met with a look he couldn't read, and no matter how hard he tried there were no breaks or cracks that could give away which emotion his partner was experiencing right now. It made his stomach flip flop around and the hefty lunch he had eaten earlier threatened to come back up. "Link don't just say things like that…" His voice was barely audible to himself, even in these near silent conditions.

"I never just say anything, Allen." Link rubbed a soft thumb under Allen's eye, caressing his scar. "I've always been completely honest with you. You're absolutely beautiful to me…" He pointed at Allen's scar, "Here." He pet Allen's strangely bleach white hair, "Here." He ran his hand down Allen's left arm, sending shivers up the boy's spine, "here." He then traced his hand and touched the disgusting bruise lightly. The simple touch sent sparks up through Allen's nerves, the contradicting cold weather and Link's somehow warm hands merging together into a format he couldn't explain with words. "The only ugly part is here, because it's not supposed to be there. But eventually it'll go away and you'll be one hundred percent Allen again. No one should mark you unless they do so with care."

Ooo. Oooo. Ooo. Ooo. Ooo. Ooo. Ooo. Ooo. Ooo. Ooo. ooo. Ooo. Ooo. Ooo. Ooo. Ooo. Ooo. Ooo. Ooo. Ooo. Ooo. Ooo. Ooo. Ooo. Ooo.

Allen fell on his bed, heaving an exhausted sigh from running around at work all day. He worked as a waiter at one of the local restaurants and this night he got absolutely killed. He had made good tips though, and sat up to count them out, putting them away in a hidden drawer so Cross wouldn't ever find them. He wasn't allowed to relax long though, for tonight at one of the eighteen and older clubs there was a poker competition, and he planned on earning some good winnings. It was one of the things he never told Link about… His tendency to illegally gamble in underage places was something the older male would definitely disapprove of, but all the same it was difficult for Allen to make a living for himself without the extra cash. Cross had made an environment where if Allen wanted to survive, he'd have to do so on his own. It was harsh upbringing, but people don't get to choose their guardians so Allen was stuck living on his own for the most part.

He took a quick shower, put on some decent clothing, and grabbed the fake ID Lavi had made for him to help him get into such places. Cross wasn't home and probably wouldn't be for a while, which was fine by Allen. He didn't want his uncle finding out about his poker abilities or else the debts might increase ten fold. He jumped when he heard a ringtone go off in his pocket, suddenly remembering about the phone Link had bought him. He checked the number, surprised to see Lavi's name display since he hadn't put in any contacts yet.

Link must have put in my friends for me already… He answered the phone, putting on some socks and shoes in the process. "Hello?"

"Yo! Allen buddy! You ready for tonight?"

"Could you quit acting like we're going to a party?" Allen scolded, puffing his cheek in annoyance. "This is serious, I need you to cover me, ok?"

"Haha, don't sweat it, buddy! I'll drive u there and get you in, no problem at all! The bouncer's a friend of mine too, so even if you get caught or he suspects the ID might be fake he'll still let you in.

"Good." Allen finished his shoes and sat on his bed, counting out a decent sum of money he could use to start out with. By the end of the night he'd have at least five times this, for he was skilled and incredibly talented when it came to poker. He cheated, of course, but there really was no way to help it unless he wanted to end up hungry or get kicked out. "When will you be here?"

"Ten minutes."

"Alright, see you then." Allen hung up and leaned back until he collapsed again onto the bed he never wanted to leave. His body ached and he was tired… But tonight the stress went a lot deeper than that. He couldn't stop thinking about Link… He'd had nights like these, weeks even, where his thoughts surrounded Link and only Link. He was afraid of his fondness for his partner… What if he became too clingy? What if someone found out and arrested Link? What if Cross kicked him out? What if Leverrier cut off Link financially? There was so much at risk even without these factors… One of them already coming to light what with Allen getting his face beat in and whatnot. But he wanted Link… Howard Link was the only soul Allen could think of that had ever called him beautiful… Not even Mana, and he loved Mana more than anyone, had ever said such a thing as far as he could remember. When Link had uttered that word to Allen, he'd wanted to cry right then and there. Several times lately he'd wanted to cry, to bawl up and scream out his problems to his beloved. But he didn't want to burden Link, or anyone really… Even now in his house all alone, he didn't dare cry over something so petty… He was afraid he wouldn't be able to stop and then Lavi might see him like that.

He could still feel the burning sensations on the marks where Link had kissed them. He brought up his left hand and looked at the twisted limb, turning it every which way he could and frowning at it. It was a horribly ugly thing, how could Link say it was beautiful? Even his friends never talked about his arm, or would try to avoid coming into situations where they'd have to touch it… But Link treated it so casually… It was just another part of Allen, as the blonde had put it. In fact whenever Link reached for a hand to grab, he reached for the left one, having no problem with coming into contact with it. It was something Allen wasn't used to, and it still seemed strange to him that anyone would want to even look at it. When he was a boy Mana had covered it up, saying that the other kids were monsters, and if they saw it they'd hurt him. Thinking back on it now, Mana'd had a strange way of doing things… But he was kind and had loved Allen. At least… He liked to believe so…. He liked to think his father had loved him despite leaving him in the care of a drunken maniac…

He let his hand drop back down and stared up at the ceiling instead. He giggled a little to himself, thinking back on Link laughing on his shoulder while they stood in the snowy forest practically shivering to death. Link laughing… The sound had been ringing in his ears and every time it did it brought a smile to his face. He closed his eyes, imagining the man's happy expression, his heart feeling light and his body tingling at the memory. What would Lavi think if he could've seen Link like that? Would he still feel the same? That Link was some big bad guy out to take advantage of Allen? If anything Allen felt he was taking advantage of Link, what with him buying him things all the time… Even the fancy vest he adorned now had been one of the gifts left on his doorstep due to him carelessly thinking out loud. The ribbon however, was Mana's. He always wore it around his neck in place of a tie or bowtie or some such. But lately he found the things that Link gave him as precious as the things Mana had left him… It was a conflicting feeling… On one side he was glad to have someone who meant so much to him again, but on the other he didn't want to forget Mana…

His phone rang again and he answered promptly. "Yes?"

"I'm downstairs. Get your shit, and let's go bro!" The line went dead and Allen sighed heavily. He didn't want to do this tonight… To have to sit at a table of old men and young losers for any amount of hours while he swindled them out of large sums of cash. Meanwhile Lavi, who was the one responsible for getting him in, would be at the bar with his own fake ID, collecting women (occasionally a cute boy) and choosing which one he'd take home with him later that night. It was the one instance in which Allen truly disliked his friend. What with the one eye, the crimson red hair and the womanizing tendencies… He was an exact copy of a younger Cross. But Lavi was still a huge help in many regards, so Allen put up with it, acting as he did when putting up with Cross and having to explain to whatever woman he decided to walk out on in their own house some mornings that they'd been duped and should probably go home.

He checked a mirror, straightening the ribbon and patting his hair down before giving himself a fake smile and headed outside into the frigid temperature.

The long day wasn't over yet… And he wasn't sure how much he was looking forward to the rest of it.

Are you guys feeling happy yet?

It would be a shame if something bad were to happen... WOULDN'T IT.

Yes, yes... Quite a shame...

Quite a shame indeed :)