Disclaimer: I don't own DGM, If I did the next chapter would start with Kanda and Allen naked in the same bed, so if that happens, when you finish thanking HOSHINO for doing fanservice, you can come kill me.

Allen locked his door and sat on the cool floor, legs folding neatly underneath him. He unbuttoned his shirt slowly with one hand, peeling the damp fabric off of his trembling torso. Even he was not quite sure where to begin in the inspection of his left arm. It was stained an angry red, so it was hard to see where he had injuries. He never could tell if it was bumped or bruised for his flesh rose and fell, almost akin to waves. All the same, it wasn't difficult to know he was hurt. Every movement, every touch sent jolts racing up and down his nerves.

There was a gentle knock at the door and Allen tried to speak evenly. "Can I help you?" Moore's voice reached his ears, gentle words coaxing him to open the door and to 'let them see', which (more often than not) meant she was accompanied by a doctor that would poke and prod Allen until his nerves were fried.

"Can we please come in Allen?"

"Who's we?"

"Me, and Kanda"

Kanda? Allen borrowed a queer expression. He didn't want to see Kanda as much as he didn't want Kanda to see him. Not like this. But Allen's goal was for Kanda to trust him. And that meant showing bits of himself that would cause wide eyes and gaping mouths.

He padded across to the door and unlocked it, opening it slowly. Allen never liked people's expressions when they saw his deformity, but Kanda's was in a whole other realm of inconsiderate as he stared like it was a piece of crap on his precious soba.

"What the hell is that?"

Miss Moore smacked his head before walking past him and placing her hand on Allen's cheek.

"How bad is it."

"It hurts when I move it."

Kanda moved towards him peering at his appendage. His hand twitched as Kanda's pale hand grazed the metal cross embedded into his flesh.

"How'd you get a wound like that?"

Allen had to smile at the way Kanda reacted. The look of disgust was gone and now curiosity reigned.

"...It's a burn."

"Wait... they hurt after, too, right?" Kanda spoke, eyes slightly wider than normal.

"What, now you're starting to feel bad?" Kanda just gave him a deadpan expression, waiting for his reply. "Uh, yeah they do"

"Hmm" Allen supposed that was some sort of apology, and that was all fine and dandy. However his arm wasn't what had bothered him most.

"Don't... do that again."

"Fine, I'll lay off your arm."

"No, not that..." Allen's brow wrinkled at his words. "Don't... walk away like that." Seeing Kanda's back move away from him... made an awful feeling swell in his chest.

"I can't promise that." Grey and cobalt clashed when he spoke the words. Both looking in each other's eyes, trying to let them know they were serious.

Miss Moore had begun inspecting Allen's arm, it would twitch and she was sure Allen was feeling brutal pain. She continued her analysis noticing that it had bulged rather abnormally. "Oh dear"

"What's wrong?"

"Hmm, nothing... but Kanda dear you can't use so much strength."

"I didn't mean to, I was just pissed"

"Right" He really doesn't care at all does he? She sighed looking at Allen in a worrying way. "Maybe if you guys could... it would be best if you tried to take it easy, okay?

It had been a long while since Moore had left the room. Now Kanda and Allen sat, mirroring each other on the floor, barely speaking. Kanda would inspect Allen's arm while Allen would copy his movements absentmindedly. It felt odd to be with each other without screaming insults and stupid comebacks. The most they spoke was when Kanda pressed a bit too hard, sending pain shooting through Allen's arm. He let loose a yelp and squeezed Kanda's wrist.

Allen damned Kanda, who promptly told him to shut up as he continued rolling Allen's arm over in his hand.

Kanda couldn't explain why he found Allen's arm so interesting. He hated red, and this was a violent blood red, yet it calmed Kanda. The bumps and lines had an architectural elegance to them that made Kanda want to remember each one individually. The skin felt much smoother than he imagined.

It was amazing to say the least. Kanda pressed his finger into one of the dikes, and he felt his hair being pulled.

"Dammit sprout, I didn't even press hard." But that was apparently not the problem as Allen's gaze was downcast, still clutching Kanda's hair. Kanda called his name but got no response, he was about to go find help - thinking he was having some sort of sprout seizure - when he herd thunder from far away, and saw Allen's eyes squeeze shut.

"...You can't be afraid of storms." Kanda couldn't believe how cliché this situation was and almost expected Allen to ask Kanda to hold him.

He pulled his hair from Allen's hand and Allen retracted it nervously to his chest. I can't keep doing this. He thought desperately. I need to get over this.

A crack of thunder, closer than before, made Allen jump and he grabbed Kanda's wrist, who shook him off immediately. "Stop that sprout." Kanda got up to leave, not wanting to deal with a sniveling Moyashi.

"Don't... don't walk away." Kanda paused in the doorway clicking his tongue in irritation. Dammit. He walked back and took his spot across from the pale boy once more. Allen was clutching his hair tightly, and Kanda spoke exasperatedly, leaning on his hand.

"So what, am I never aloud to walk away, ever?"

Allen shook his head and spoke softly, "Only if I ask you to stay."

"Che"

And so they sat. Taking up their original routine of Allen copying Kanda's movements. No words were spoken until the storm was over.

"I'm sorry."

"Che, have storms always scared you shitless?"

"...For as long as I can remember."

"Do you at least have a reason?"

"I do" Normally upon seeing Allen's pained expression, one would drop the issue, but this was Kanda, so he pressed onward.

"What is it?"

"..."

Kanda waited, watching Allen avoid his gaze, not moving as if that would erase his presence, for about thirty seconds before he snapped. "Dammit answer me Moyashi!"

"Some other time... okay?"

He asked, but it wasn't really question. The brunt of it was an excuse to avoid the original question. But it was also a promise that Kanda would get an answer... maybe even soon. He didn't know when he had started to be so interested in the Moyashi's affairs. But he already knew too much to turn back satisfied.

Huge thank yous to Monkey Girl 13624, FullmetalFan16 and, You Still Love Me for reviewing.

Allen's had a bad day, so he's lost a bit of his bite, but it shall be back. I hope.

Thanks for reading