BB says: I'm thinking about writing fan fiction for Death the Kidd from Soul Eater. I know he's OCD, but something about that suit and sophistication is just so smexy! I may also do Gaara from Naruto.

Rating: A strong teen for this one. Language and adult themes. I've never written anything like it before so I hope it turns out okay. It gets a little hot in July ^^.

Disclaimer: Nothing creative this chapter. I'm really tired, so let me just say I don't own D. Gray-Man or the poem January Brings the Snow.

"Hot July brings cooling showers/apricots and gillyflowers,"

~Sara Coleridge

Jerri made the best muffins in the entire world. Even Kanda spared them a second glance as he accepted his daily soba. The chef had outdone himself on the gorgeously presented and buttered breakfast treats. Flavors that Z had never even heard of (popcorn, chicken, potato?) and ones that she was a little more familiar with (blueberry, banana, chocolate) lined a long table in the middle of the mess hall. People swarmed, eager to get their share of normal flavors before all that was left was the strange.

Z herself was particularly fond of her apricot muffin. It was baked to perfection, the pieces of fruit chewy and juicy while the bread surrounding it was spongy and soft. It was still warm, and smothered with a generous helping of butter it was pure heaven to her mouth. Popping the last bite into her mouth with a satisfied sigh, she stood to grab more. A heavy cloud descended upon her face. They were all gone.

Disgruntled and disappointed, Z sat back down at her table, scowling so heavily she could almost feel her brow in her eyes. She was still hungry, but her tastes were in the mood for muffin, and a very particular kind. Those stupid greedy Finders and science department members had mobbed the table and robbed her of instant gratification. She plotted Hell for the world.

At the height of Z's pouting and scowling, when Lavi had scooted a safe distance away from her, Allen slid into the spot beside her with a cheerful good morning to all. He was clothed in the black pants and shirt of his uniform but lacked the jacket. Tim sat upon his head, wings folded in rest.

The relationship between Allen and Z had been fluctuating ever since she woke up in his arms. They were both more friendly and more distant. Somehow gaining a higher toleration of each other while also keeping a respectful distance between. They did not instigate conversation with other, but complete ignorance was no longer an option. Looking up into the pastel eyes of the man who saved her (when had he grown taller than her?) did not ignite the same flurry of anger it used to.

Allen's typical breakfast of piles upon piles of food was occupied by a significant amount of muffins of all flavors. She was not surprised that he was daring enough to go for the jalapeno and the potato, but the muffin at the top of the stack, the king of the proverbial hill, was what caught her eye.

Z's heart stopped, eyes widening in disbelief. "H-how'd did you get that?" Allen, whose mouth was already stuffed with scrabbled eggs and bacon, looked up at her. "Mmph?" He pointed to a very unappealing chicken muffin. Z twitched. "No. That one." The apricot muffin was taunting her, practically glowing in it's almighty muffin glory. Allen took a swig of his milk, swallowing. "Oh. Tim brought it to me." Z watched him as he nonchalantly took a bite out of a honey covered biscuit. She let him finish it and two of his tomato muffins before speaking again. "Give it to me."

"Wha?"

"Swallow first. And then give me your muffin." Allen stopped chewing.

The entire room fell silent instantaneously. Z could almost hear jaws drop. Link's pen stopped scratching across the pad.

Allen was a nice guy. Polite to a fault with a smile that could charm the pants off the Devil. He was commendable in his efforts to save both humans and akuma and even Z almost believed he really could save the world (if he didn't jump in front of a train to save a box of kittens). But everyone knew how serious he could be about his food. He didn't willingly share with anyone except for Timcampy, and even that was a rarity. Asking for his food was questionable. Pushing for it was gutsy. Outright demanding it was crazy.

After recovering from the initial shock, Allen's eyebrows lowered themselves into an offended frown. "No."

If possible, it became even quieter in the mess. Several people ran from the room and Kanda sighed audibly. Z felt her eyebrows lift in shock so deep it dampened the anger. She didn't like being denied anything because it was rare she wanted anything. It was so rare she discovered items she both earned and craved, it wasn't usually an issue to acquire the item. That muffin was something that she thought Allen owed her. Hadn't she fond Innocence on their shared mission a month ago? After he had let her get lost?

"No?"

"No."

"But I want it."

"And you can't have it." Z stood to reach for it, only for Allen to grab her hand and drag her back down to her seat. "I said no, Z. I mean it. It's mine." A twitch developed under one lavender colored eye. "Give it to me Allen, or there will be serious repercussions."

"Yeah Allen. Give it to her." Allen cut Lavi's perverted giggle short with an elbow to the gut. "I'm not scared of you Z." He ripped the corner off a crepe, never breaking eye contact. Being July, the mess was hot and stuffy, a thick breeze coming through the windows. It tousled Z's hair gently, but didn't cool the flames of her temper. "I see." Before Allen could stop her, the gypsy leapt onto the table, snatching the muffin off the top of his food stack and landing on the other side. Allen lunged at her, narrowly missing as she dived to the right. Kanda growled and chose that moment to take his leave.

"Give it back!"

"No! I want it!" Allen snarled and dodged as Z threw someone's muffin at him. The Finder's protest died in his throat as Allen threw an apple back at Z, barely missing the man's head and creating a crater in the wall. Z did a back spring off the table of muffins, upsetting a few, and landing on her feet. As she was about to continue running, hands lunged out from beneath the table. She tripped onto her knees, barely saving the muffin. Allen penned her beneath him as she waved the muffin away frantically. "No! I'll crush it before I give it back!"

"You wouldn't!

"Would!"

"Damn it Z!"

"Allez au diable (go to Hell)!" She rolled over onto her stomach, trying to wriggle out from beneath him while keeping the muffin in tact. She was aware of her childish behavior on a subconscious level, but assumed it was too late to turn back.

"Fine! I challenge you!" Z stopped wriggling.

"Que?" Allen took a deep breath, trying to calm down. His cheeks were red in indignation and there was a small pulsing vein in the center of his brow that spoke of impatience. "I challenge you Z. One on one. I win, I get my muffin back."

"You mean my muffin."

"One hour, Z. Training grounds in one hour." Z thought for a moment. Wondering if they both weren't just trying to find an excuse to train together. It had been a long time since the two of them had compared abilities, and she was curious to see how much he had improved. "Link." The blonde entered Z's line of sight like he had been listening to their conversation. "You're keeper of the muffin until the victor is determined." Allen nodded, helping Z up off the floor. They ignored the still stunned faces that filled the mess hall as they went back to their table. The apple fell from its crater.

"Flirrrrrrttttiiiiinnnngggg," Lavi stage whispered to Chaoji, who chuckled. Z threw a tray at him. The tray ricocheted off the red head and clanged the Chinese man in the face.

"You two don't think you're overreacting? At all?" Link's words fell upon deaf ears as Z and Allen stared each other down. "You could always split it you know." Silence. The sun beat down on them, sweat already beading on their foreheads. Allen didn't bother wearing a shirt, but both wore loose black pants. Z had chosen to go barefoot.

"Ready?"

"Why ask?" Z lunged forward, dodging his fist and slapping him in the ear.

"A slap? You girl."

"Bite me." Z spun in for a roundhouse kick, only for him to catch her leg and push her away roughly. She caught herself, but not before his fist skimmed past her waist, forcing her further back. Z caught his arm, wrapping her body around his and using her weight to toss him. She succeeded in making him lose his footing, but he took her down with him. They tumbled, rolling over each other and down a hill that was concealed by the thick bushes surrounding the grounds. Roots and rocks dug into Z's back, although at some point she felt Allen's arms tighten around her. She knew he was taking most of the beating.

They landed roughly in a tangle of thorns and vines, little purple flowers crushed beneath them. Allen grunted as Z landed on top of him.

The sun was obscured by low hanging branches, gathering heat and humidity into this one area. Water vapor settled on their skin the instant they became still.

"Hah!" Z tried to keep the breathlessness out of her voice. Falling down a hill in an opponent's arms was somewhat unnerving for her. "Victory is mine!" She couldn't see Allen's face in the shade, but she was aware of his hands on her waist. They weren't moving, although she thought she felt them tighten a bit..

Z fired a fist at his face, and he moved his head to avoid it. His hand moved fast, shooting from Z's waist to her wrist, pinning her hand beside his head.

"L-let go, débauché de mère (mother fucker)!" Allen ignored her, his other hand moving up her back, and pressing her towards him gently. Only when he was so close their noses touched could she see his eyes. They were clouded over, looking up at her with a desire that terrified her.

Upon reflection, Z decided she hadn't fought as hard as she could've. She could've activated her innocence, yanked her hand out of his, and leapt away. Perhaps running back to her room and locking the door should have been considered an option as well.

But his breath was on her face and his hand was pressing her closer and the warmth of his body was not entirely uncomfortable in the heat of summer.

The kiss was hard and rough, their teeth gnashing painfully in their hurry. It was like they were trying to beat their common sense, get over this moment of passion before they were able to think about it. Allen wrapped his arms around Z's waist, pulling her flush against his body. She flailed a bit, attempting to resist to convince herself of her efforts, before falling back in.

As their kiss slowed, he kissed the corner of her mouth before sitting up to bite his way down her neck. She sighed, a weak, longing sound and tilted her head in order to give him a better angle. She hissed as his Innocence hand gripped her waist rough enough to bruise, but was silenced when he meshed their mouths together once more.

Z ran her hand down his chest, enjoying the ripple of the hard muscle beneath her. She felt the rough flesh of his sword injury, tasted his gasp as she pressed her fingers to it and scratched him shallowly. She pulled his hair fiercely in order to bite the underside of his chin. She loved the contrast of his fleshed hand and Innocence hand as they explored her back beneath her shirt. She enjoyed the little grunt of pain he made when she bit his lip so hard it bled. She craved the strange mix of salty and sweet that coated his skin. The aggression with which their mouths battled for dominance with yielding lips. Their movements were desperate, years of suppressed fear and lust and anger pushing them forward in a frenzy as their kissing became gnawing and clawing.

You left.

You made me believe.

You made me worry.

You made me care.

A hand slipped to the front of Z's body, pressing its thumb into one of her breasts to elicit a soft moan she didn't recognize as her own. The other joined it, lifting fabric like a curtain to a tragic ending; slow, painful, foreseen.

"Walker?" Link's voice splashed over them as the rain broke through the branches overhead. Rediscovering reality, Z pulled away, all but leaping away from the equally winded Allen. Rain, sweat, and a small stream of blood traced a path down his sculpted torso, more appealing than Z cared to admit. His long white hair was sticking to his body in a way that was deliciously tousled with a stand caught between his lips. Z vaguely remembered ripping his hair tie out and longed to mold her body to his once more. She shivered and held herself against the mad rush of desire that crashed into her thoughts as she gazed at him.

Z had adjusted to the dark, and could see that while his eyes were no longer clouded, they were hooded and spoke of bitter resignation. A humorless smile lifted half his mouth. "Walker?" Link's voice again. Allen reached for Z, brushing her cheek with shaking fingers. The chilled rain was giving her goose-bumps, washing away the heat of the day. Allen was trying to look her in the eyes but his gaze kept wandering to her lips.

What have we done?

What have we changed?

"Answer me Walker!"

"We're here!" Allen's voice was husky, cracking as he forced it to increase in volume. Z pushed his hand away, turning away from soft grey eyes. "I'm leaving." Her voice shook. Allen bit his lip against tense words, nodding. Z sighed.

"You can keep the fucking muffin."

Nothing.