Tied Together - written July 2013 for thegenuineimitation

When Allen wakes, all is quiet and still.

He's barely able to part his eyelids even in near-total darkness, but hardly needs to be fully alert in order to recognize the dead of night. It's a time he recognizes easily, in a place where he's seen it often. The only movement about him is cool air passing over his single exposed cheek. It chills him, but not so much so as his recurring memories of all those he ultimately never saved; the same ones whom Allen cannot help by shrinking beneath the blankets. Why is the window open?

Kanda. He blinks past his grogginess. He's left already.

He pulls the covers tighter around himself, inhaling their warmth through his nose. Then he lets go, pushing his battle-stiff limbs out all at once, with a voiceless yawn.

x X x

Kanda hones his senses to match the precision of Mugen's blade as he performs his morning ritual. Disruptions in the air around him; changes in temperature; everything; all of it processes easily even as he moves blindfolded in the freezing darkness. He knows without needing to hear the purposeful yet muted scrunch scrunch scrunch of unguarded footsteps.

Slivers of light from the freshly risen moon begin to bend through the trees differently, hitting his arms at new angles as the expected figure draws nearer. Kanda doesn't react, however. He continues to practise his forms; remains mindful to changes in his environment. As opportunities arrive, he bisects the odd falling leaf, swiftly pins a rolling twig without leaving a visible mark. He moves economically, aiming to never waste time or energy on even the most insignificant shifts of muscle.

In effect, he is training to improve the flow of his actions; and balance the use of his strength.

x X x

Allen isn't sure how much time has passed when the dimly lit figure of his bedmate finally approaches. Right now, he's sitting on the ground with his back against a tree. Kanda kneels down and faces him directly; eyes calm. Allen's gaze meets his without a thought. At the same time, one corner of his lips perks upward. "Good morning, beautiful."

"Hey." Kanda sounds pissed despite the compliment.

"Did Mr. Grumpy need a little more sleep this morning?"

"Beansprout," he warns.

"Hair's looking great today."

"Shut the fuck up."

"Did you think I wouldn't notice?"

"Does it matter?"

"I don't think many people would notice, but… I have. I…" In a smaller voice, he hesitantly adds: "It… makes me happy… to see you wearing something of mine."

"Our clothes were jumbled together, you freak. I could hardly find anything in that mess."

"So?"

"Your stupid ribbon was right there, so I just… took it. Next thing I knew, I was already tying my hair up as I stepped out of your room, and—" Kanda explains quickly, turning away. "I wasn't about to go digging through everything to… I'm just going to take it out when I go to wash up anyway!"

Allen decides to leave out the part about how Kanda's usual hair tassle snapped in two right in his eager hands, the night before… so he threw it under the bed.

"Like I said, it looks good on you…" He takes a step forward to slide fingers into Kanda's long ponytail, fingering its atypical binding. There is sadness evident in his lowered voice as Allen speaks again: "Wish we could… I mean I wish you could wear it all day."

He smiles sentimentally, leaning in for a kiss. Exactly as their lips meet, Kanda squeezes his shoulder hard: 'Watch it while we're out here,' that less pleasant touch communicates, and Allen sighs, backing off after barely having tasted his lover's lips.

"Right. I… s'pose I should let you be then. But whenever you're done with it, please—"

"Tch. I know it's your favourite cravat, Beansprout," Kanda scoffs, even rolling his eyes as if it were plainly obvious. "You'll get it back."

x X x

Kanda has bathed and changed into a fresh set of clothes for breakfast. Marie and Miranda join him, grinning to each other one after the other— like they know something he doesn't. He scowls, and Miranda's head dips down so she can concentrate on her meal. Marie rubs her back encouragingly, then turns to his own morning platter. Jeryy is all insufferable smiles, visiting their table often.

During a one-on-one debriefing with Komui, the Branch Head is wearing an especially silly smile, himself. Kanda asks: "Hey. Something funny?"

"Funny?" Komui begins with a sly tilt of the head, "No, no, not at all! Why would you ask such a thing?"

On the training grounds late that afternoon, Kanda can't overlook it even if he wants to when he sees a red-faced Chaoji wailing on an strangely listless Allen. Conveniently, no one else happens to be around. The 'spar' comes off one-sided, with Walker not really putting in a proper fight, and only barely defending himself. "The fuck?"

"Ah, Kanda!" Chaoji blurts as soon as his bloodshot eyes light on the swordsman— noticing Kanda where he stands balking.

Allen Walker isn't looking at anyone. His eyes aren't even focused, and it's pitiful— inexcusable.

"You're only going to tire yourself out by fighting like that, newbie. Lucky for you this guy's not even trying. Cool your head." Kanda knows he needs to take his own advice. He's been working on it. Lately getting better about it. Maybe.

"R-right… sorry," Chaoji apologizes, bowing his head somewhat.

"Anyway, if it's a real spar you want, then forget this idiot and take me on."

"What?"

"Oi, Baka-Moyashi!"

"Huh?" Allen returns to the present, focusing again on the two Exorcists nearby. His eyes widen. "Kanda—?"

"Get out of here, Moyashi. You're not up for this right now."

"Um, Kanda, you—" but Walker just stops there and stares. Apparently conflicted about coming out with whatever's on his mind, He abruptly turns to leave instead. "No, nevermind."

"Hmph." Kanda faces his fight partner for the day. This will be over quickly.

Dinners are finished. Lavi and Lenalee— freshly rested up after the same mission Allen just returned from— had asked him how Allen was recovering. They couldn't find him in the usual places. How was he supposed to know?

Before Kanda's knuckles can rap against the wood a second time, Allen Walker opens his door.

"You're still—?"

"I'm still what?"

"Did you— Oh just come in already!" Allen roughly drags his visitor into his room by one side of his Chinese-style collar, shutting the door with his foot behind them. Kanda smooths it out as he waits for his counterpart to continue his question. "You uh… you know you're still wearing my—?"

"Oh. Yeah, I know."

"You—" He points to the top of Kanda's head, "It's… not on accident then?"

Kanda feels the need to explain himself. And he hates it. "I forgot and went to the baths without a new one. From there it was going to be a pain in the ass to—"

Allen silences Kanda with a rude but swift and, well, not unwelcome kiss; hands gripping his shoulders. Kanda rests his own arms around Allen's waist.

"What was that for?" Kanda asks as Allen hugs him and simply hangs off his shoulders.

"You went through your whole day with— while wearing my— it was in your hair the whole time? Even in the training grounds?"

"Yeah, whatever."

"Kanda…" Allen kisses him again, evidently unable to get his message across through words, so much as with a longer kiss, and fingers massaging Kanda's shoulders; up the nape of his neck, to—

Allen's pressed to his front now, and it occurs to Kanda this is probably the most enthusiastic he's been all day. Maybe even since last night.

Not bad…

It seems he's about to remove that satiny strip of red fabric he's gotten so excited about, but then; "No."

"No what?"

"No, keep it on." It's a deceptively sweet smile he has on now…

"Okay…"

"Everything else comes off."

"Fucking perv."

Allen laughs aloud, and tugs on Kanda's unresistant arm.

"Thanks."