Here I go again rushing headlong without a second thought
Out where reality awaits, I choose to fantasize
And I build myself another piece of this memory estate
But I can't find the key to walk inside my own lies
Hell, the way you walked in, I would kiss the earth beneath your feet

Kamikaze Love
Poets of the Fall

xXxXxXx

The royal palace towered over the rest of E'la Nalore as Allen and Lavi made their way into town, and reminded Allen of a lotus blooming up from the muddy ground. The town was beautiful, but it paled in comparison to the elegance of the palace. The carriage stopped just outside the palace walls, guards checking their papers and giving them a glaring once over before letting them onto the grounds.

Allen could smell cherry blossoms and honeysuckle as the carriage pulled up to the front doors. He balked at the opulence of them, shining white with golden trim. He wondered if it were real gold, but didn't dare ask. "I'm guessing we're here?"

Lavi chuckled and hopped out of the carriage as soon as it stopped. A few attendants rushed to open the doors of the palace as Lavi and Allen filed out of their ride.

"Our stuff?" Allen asked, nervousness thrumming through his limbs as he fidgeted next to the redhead.

"Don't worry about it," Lavi replied, pulling Allen along with a playful smile. "It will magically end up in our rooms. I'm certain we need to make an appearance with some nobles first, or at least the head of security for the Queen's trip."

Allen swallowed down his nervousness. "I've never been anywhere like this before…" He pulled the hood of his cloak closer over his face, obscuring his hair and scar as they walked in through the opened doors.

Lavi patted him on the back with a reassuring touch. "You'll do fine. If you want, I'll even do all the talking."

"Thank you, Lavi. I would appreciate it."

An old man greeted them as they passed through the threshold, dressed in the gold and white livery of the palace. His white hair and wrinkled face were drawn tight with exhaustion as he ushered them in. "Welcome to the royal palace of the Nalore estate. We've been expecting your arrival, Dragon Hunters. The Queen is excited to meet you both."

The redhead glanced over at Allen, the two of them sharing a look of surprise before Lavi addressed the old man. "Hey, mister—?"

The old man continued walking forward through the hall at his snail-like pace, expecting them to follow. "You may call me Harold. I am the head attendant to Her Majesty Queen Adeline Gabriella Nalore. If you need anything while you are in service of the Queen, you may ask me or my staff."

"Okay, Harold buddy," Lavi said, a lilt to his voice. "You're saying the Queen wants to meet with us? We thought we were going to work with the captain of the guard or something."

"The Queen insists on meeting with everyone who works for her," Harold replied, not stopping as they headed through the palace.

Lavi shrugged and shifted his gaze back to at Allen. "Looks like we get to meet royalty, Al. Pretty exciting, huh?" Allen just stared ahead of them in stunned silence. Lavi spared a chuckle for him and clapped a hand on his partner's back once more. "Aw, you'll be fine."

They made their way through the hallways. Elegant paintings hung on the immaculate walls, and beautiful draperies covered each window they passed. Allen wrung his gloved hands together, moving closer to Lavi as they traversed the halls. The redhead noticed the closed space between them, but said nothing on it. He only gave Allen a reassuring smile.

Harold moved like the old man he was, taking slow and deliberate steps on the lush red carpets. Finally, they reached a pair of double doors and Harold opened them with slow and steady movements.

The room was expansive, a large picture window set on the far wall, the last rays of the setting sun shining in through the glass. Paintings hung on the walls, and a few bookshelves lined the extra space. Potted plants and other decorations were set about the room in pleasing locations. In the middle of it all, a small group of people conversed at a round table. They looked up as Harold entered with the guests.

"Your Majesty — The Dragon Hunters from the Black Order have arrived," Harold announced, pushing the doors out of the way as he ushered them inside the room.

The Queen stood from her seat, a smile on her face. "Excellent. Thank you, Harold." Turning to her councilors, she gave them an apologetic smile. "Please excuse me while I meet with my guests."

The majority of the men and women around the table nodded and let themselves out, bidding polite farewells to the Queen, passing Lavi and Allen without a second glance. Only one burly looking woman stayed behind, glaring at the newcomers.

The differences between the two women were astonishing. The Queen had a quiet elegance about her. Her black hair hung loose to the middle of her back, and her olive skin contrasted darkly with the white silk dress she wore. Her entire demeanor exuded welcoming and serenity. However, the woman still seated at the table was the complete opposite. She had short sheared brown hair, pale skin, and narrowed, distrustful eyes.

Once the room cleared, the Queen motioned for Harold to close the door. She smiled at her guests. "Welcome to E'la Nalore, Hunters. I am Queen Adeline Gabriella Nalore and this is my personal guard, Levan Braune. Thank you for coming."

Lavi gave a quick, short bow, and Allen rushed to copy him. "The pleasure is ours, Your Majesty. The Black Order is always available for help in these trying times. I am Lavi, and this is Allen Walker. We're here to assist you in any way you see fit."

Allen was surprised how diplomatically the redhead spoke. It felt like Lavi was a completely different person as he talked with the Queen. He kept quiet, too worried about saying the wrong thing, even if the Queen seemed pleasant enough.

"And I appreciate your quick arrival. I'm afraid we'll need to leave first thing in the morning, so there won't be much time for you to rest before you have to start traveling again."

"Oh, we're quite used to travel, Your Majesty," Lavi replied with a smile.

The Queen nodded. "Levan will be head of this outing, and as such, you will be reporting directly to her." She turned to the women who was still seated and glaring at them. "Levan? Would you please give them some information on tomorrow's trip to the peace summit?" She sat down and grabbed the delicate teacup in front of her, taking a sip as she let her guard do the rest of the talking.

Levan remained seated, leaning forward to rest an elbow against the table. It looked as if the surface would break under the weight and strength of her powerful arm. "We'll head out at daybreak, and take a squad of our best soldiers with as protection for the Queen. Horses will be provided for you on the trip. You will not engage in any fights unless a dragon or one of their consorts appear. Easy enough?"

"I think we got the idea. Right, Allen?" Lavi said, pulling him into the conversation.

"Ah… Yeah. Yes. Got it," Allen replied, stumbling over his words.

"You're both allowed to walk the palace grounds, but don't go into town tonight. We can't have people traveling in and out of the palace right before such an important trip."

"Yes, of course," Lavi agreed, with a polite nod.

The Queen set her cup down on the saucer. "Thank you both. Harold will take care of anything you need from now until we are to leave in the morning. Harold!"

Within seconds, Harold appeared and held the door open for Lavi and Allen. Before they left, they both bowed again to the Queen.

"We look forward to working for you, Your Majesty," Lavi said as they left the room. She nodded before the door was shut and they were back in the hallway.

"I'll take you both to your rooms now. Dinner had already been served hours ago, but I had the kitchen bring you up some food," Harold said as they continued down the winding corridors yet again.

They arrived at a long hallway, doors lining the walls at equal intervals. Harold turned to Allen and Lavi, the same bored expression on his face that he had had the whole time, and pointed to the two doors next to them. "Here are your rooms for the night. I've had your things brought in. If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to ask." He left without another word.

"Aw, separate rooms!" Lavi said, a joking tone in his voice as he opened the door to his quarters. "How boring."

Allen rolled his eyes. Ignoring Lavi for the moment, he entered his own room and gasped when he saw the luxurious interior. The door closed behind him as he took everything in. The room was three times the size of his quarters at the Order and had a large window overlooking the courtyard. Even the bed linens were made of finer material than most of Allen's own clothes. As he walked further inside, he felt the plush fibers of the carpet beneath his feet, cushioning his steps. On a small table near the window, a few plates of food were left for him, kept warm with a silver cover on top of each one. He saw his travel bags next to the bed, looking completely out of place in the fancy suite.

Being alone helped to calm the unease in his stomach, and the smell of food lured him over to the table. Each plate had on it an array of delicacies to try – Roasted pheasant dressed with stuffing, carrots, and potatoes; hot sourdough bread with soft cheese and dill; a delicate soufflé served next to a sweet potato bisque. Everything looked and smelled amazing, and without a second thought, Allen began to dig into the spread.

It wasn't until Allen finished the last bite of food that he heard a knock on the door. "Come in," he called out with his mouth full.

The door opened and Lavi entered with a grin, carrying a large plate. "Hey, Al. I can't finish all this food they gave me and I figured you'd like some. How about it?"

"Yes, please!" Allen replied, popping the last piece of cheese into his mouth with a hum of approval.

"I figured you'd say that." Lavi closed the door as he entered and walked over to the table, setting the plate down. It was more of the same items that had been left for Allen, and he didn't hesitate to take Lavi up on his offer to share. Lavi took a seat in one of the empty chairs as Allen devoured the food.

He turned to look out the window. The sun had set now, and the lights of the E'la Nalore shone bright beyond the palace walls. "I can't believe they won't let us leave the grounds tonight. We've been traveling for four days and we can't even stretch our legs."

The food was almost gone by the time the redhead spoke up, and Allen looked over at him as he ripped into the cooling loaf of bread. "It'll be another boring night then. I had been hoping to explore the town. I've never been here before."

"Bookman took me here once a long time ago," Lavi said, folding his arms against the table and resting his head on top of them. He continued staring through the window and out at the city, though the reflection from the lamp inside hindered his view. "I was young, though, and only saw a couple of the libraries and temples. Nothing too exciting — well, not exciting for most people."

Allen smiled, slowing down as he reached the last few bites of food. "Nothing wrong with being excited by literature, Lavi. I think it's an admirable quality."

Lavi only smiled, still resting his head against the table, looking away from Allen. The quiet in the room was comfortable and the only disturbance was Allen's soft munching. After a few minutes, the redhead sat up straight and looked back at his partner.

"We should go explore."

Allen blinked, taken aback by the sudden suggestion. "Right now?"

"Why not? You're almost finished with dinner and we've got nothing better to do. And, call me crazy, but I would like to do something besides lose to you in another game of poker."

Allen laughed at that, pulling his gloved left hand to his mouth. "Well, when you put it that way, it's hard for me to say no. Where should we go?"

"The gardens," Lavi said without hesitation. "If I have to stay cooped up inside any longer, I'm going to explode from cabin fever."

"We'd better go now, then. I don't want to explain the mess to the cleaning staff." Allen stood up with a grin on his face. "Let's go."

They left Allen's room and headed out into the hallway. Lamps lit the corridor every few yards, chasing away the shadows. As they meandered through the brightly lit halls, they saw a few maids and servants milling about the palace. However, it wasn't until they found an exit did they run into a pair of guards standing watch. They ignored Allen and Lavi, leaving the two Hunters free to explore the palace gardens.

The moon, nearly full, hung low in the early night sky. Stars twinkled above, their brilliance undisturbed by the lights of the city. The gardens were extensive, spreading out over the palace grounds. The walkways were paved with light colored stones, grass and bushes trimmed to perfection. Flowers of all shapes and sizes were in bloom, and the air filled with the heady aroma. A few other palace residents walked the grounds, also lured out by the warm night air.

Lavi sighed, stretching his arms out before resting them behind his head. "This is nice. I needed to stretch my legs. Thanks for coming with, beansprout."

Allen rolled his eyes even as a smile tipped up on his lips. "It's Allen. And of course it's no problem. I needed to get out as well. Besides, it's a beautiful night."

"No denying that," Lavi replied, admiring a water fountain as they ambled past. He would've suggested stopping, but a couple sat at a nearby bench, and if their heated gazes were any indication, they seemed to want privacy.

They headed further into the gardens, walking along the palace walls and admiring the ivy and honeysuckle that grew up the brick. Allen hummed in appreciation as a soft breeze blew past them, ruffling his hair. Once they were free from prying eyes, Allen removed his hood, the cover of night easing his timidness.

Lavi noticed the change and smiled. " Al, I don't know why you always wear that hood. You have nothing you need to hide."

Allen looked over at the redhead then, silver eyes widening. After a moment's thought, he responded. "It's better this way. People can be uneasy when they see my scar or my hand. And my white hair stands out too much."

Lavi stuffed his hands in his pockets. He watched Allen as they walked, Allen pointedly not looking back at him. In the moonlight, his silvery hair seemed to glow with an otherworldly aura, as if he were an angel. It took Lavi a moment to gather his wits enough to speak. "You worry too much about what other people think. Your hair… your scar and your arm, they're all beautiful in their own way." He paused, letting his words sink in before finishing his thought. "If other people can't see the amazing person you are, then they don't deserve to get to know you."

"I… Thank you, Lavi," Allen replied, stumbling over his words. "That means a lot coming from you."

Their footfalls had slowed to nothing, and Allen stared back at the redhead with dewy eyes. Lavi had to look away, not sure what he would do if he kept staring back at Allen. He could feel his heart speed up, and an embarrassed flush on his face. Instead of looking at Allen, he kept his eye focused on the ivy covered wall.

"Allen?" he asked, not looking back at him.

"Yes?"

Lavi paused for a moment, then smiled. "Let's jump wall and go into town."

The sudden change in conversation left Allen reeling for a few short seconds. "What?! Lavi, we're not supposed to leave the palace grounds until tomorrow's trip." He frowned at the redhead, crossing his arms and shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

"C'mon, Al! You can't say you don't want to go exploring. It'll just be for a couple of hours. We'll be back and no one will even miss us. I bet we can even find some local foods for you to try out. I can get us over the wall with my hammer easily."

"How dare you appeal to my love of food, Lavi. That's fighting dirty."

"Did it work, though?" Lavi grinned over at Allen with hopeful gaze.

Allen looked back at the palace, chewing his lip with indecision. There were no guards in sight, no people at all. They seemed to be secluded in this section of the garden. What was the harm in leaving for a while? They couldn't get in that much trouble, could they?

When Allen turned back to Lavi, he still looked nervous, but nodded. "Yeah. Let's do it."

Pulling his hammer from its holster. Lavi let the head grow, then braced it against the ground with the handle up. He grabbed hold of the weapon with one hand and reached out to Allen with the other. "Ready?" he asked, as Allen took the offered hand and hopped up next to Lavi.

Grabbing the handle with both hands, Allen braced himself for what he knew was coming next. "Ready as I'll ever be."

With a chuckle, Lavi let the hammer handle extend, pushing them up off the ground and over the palace wall. The entire trip took only a few seconds, the two of them landing safely on an empty back street just outside. Lavi shrunk the weapon back down to a manageable size and holstered it, looking over at Allen with an amused grin. "That wasn't so bad now was it?"

"Depends on your definition of bad," Allen replied, shaking his head as he fought to regain his equilibrium.

Lavi clapped his hand on Allen's shoulder, steadying him until he could stand straight. He sighed and pouted. "Al, you're so mean to me sometimes. Don't you trust me?"

"Yes, Lavi. I trust you. It's your hammer I don't trust," Allen said with a shake of his head.

"Still mean," Lavi whined.

"C'mon, let's get moving. I don't want to be caught near the palace just after we managed to sneak out." Allen started to walk down one of the alleys and towards the main road.

"You make is sound like we're fugitives or something," Lavi commented, keeping close to Allen as they walked. The alley was dark and empty, but as soon as they reached the end, the lamps on the street brightened the entire area. People milled about, coming in and out of taverns and restaurants. A few shops were still open, selling their wares to the later crowd.

"Well, we were told to stay put. Technically, we're breaking the rules," Allen added, his eyes lighting up as they reached the busting street.

"You worry too much," Lavi replied, nudging Allen with his shoulder. "Where shall we go? Any ideas?"

Allen looked up and down the street, weighing their options. "Let's just walk. I'm sure we'll find something along the way." He smiled at Lavi and turned left, picking the direction at random.

Lavi followed along, matching Allen's step as they walked through the crowd. He noticed that Allen hadn't bothered to pull up his hood again, and it made Lavi smile.

They wandered through the streets, moving slowly as they took in the sights. From the look of the shops and eateries, Allen figured they had found the business district. There were quite a few people on the streets, some of them obviously drunk, though everyone seemed to be having a good enough time. The normal town atmosphere almost made Allen forget why they were here.

A sudden smell caught Allen's attention. He sniffed the air, looking around to find the source. "Lavi… Do you smell that?"

"Smell what?"

"That smell!"

"You'll need to be more specific, Al."

"It's like…beef and potatoes maybe…"

Lavi raised his eyebrows as he turned to Allen. "Are you still hungry? We literally just ate."

"I'm always hungry, or have you not realized that yet?" Allen shot back, still fixated on the smell filling the night air. He walked through the streets, following his nose until he stopped in front of a tavern. He grinned in triumph. "This is the place."

Lavi had to admit, it smelled damn good, even if he wasn't all that hungry. "Do you really want to eat again?"

"Is that even a question?" Allen asked back, already walking into the tavern, not waiting for the redhead.

"Fair enough." He followed behind with a shrug.

The tavern was full up to capacity, every table seated with patrons. Allen slipped through the throng of people until he and Lavi found the bar. A pair of seats opened up, and they each took one. After a few moments, Allen managed to grab the bartender's attention.

"What's the special for tonight?" Allen asked, his stomach already growling. Luckily, it wasn't able to be heard over the din of voices in the bar.

"Shepherd's pie. Still got some left if you want," the bartender answered, looking at Allen and Lavi.

"Bring me four," Allen said, an excited glint in his eyes.

Lavi sighed, not surprised by Allen's request. "I'll just have a mug of ale."

Their orders made the bartender raise his eyebrows, but he walked back into the kitchen to fulfill them nonetheless. Only a few moments passed before the food and drinks were dropped on the bartop before them. Allen wasted no time in digging into his first meat pie, but Lavi only nursed his drink, looking out over at the crowd.

The groups at each table were like their own separate pods of conversations, some raucous and loud, others quiet and composed. A few people played games as they imbibed, but one table in particular stood out to the redhead.

Four men sat around the small, wooden table, cards in hand and piles of money haphazardly stacked next to each player, with a less organized pile in the middle. From Lavi's vantage point, it looked like they were playing poker. One player had the distinct advantage — his own winnings pile twice as big as anyone else's. Lavi took another sip of his ale, the bitter liquid going down easier than the first sip had, and continued to watch the match with half interest. When he turned around, Allen was already on his last pie.

"Shit… Allen, how did you eat all of those already? It's only been a few minutes. I haven't even gotten halfway through my drink!"

Allen chowed down the last few bites of shepherd's pie and sighed in contentment. "It was hard to control myself. They were just so good… I bet I could eat another four."

"I'm starting to think you have a bottomless pit for a stomach," Lavi commented, shaking his head. He took another sip of ale.

"You're probably right," Allen replied, his silver eyes catching Lavi's line of sight. "What are you looking at?"

"Those people… Looks like they're playing poker." Lavi twisted in his stool and watched the game from the bar.

"Mmm," Allen mumbled as he watched. "They are. And the guy with the glasses is winning." Allen looked over the poker savant. Something about him seemed familiar, but Allen couldn't quite place it. He had messy dark hair, curly and wild, a strong build, and a mole under one eye. The glasses he wore obscured his eyes, and when he laughed, it was like warm honey — sweet and rich. Allen shivered.

They watched silently. Another round played through, and one of the players tossed his cards at the end. He stood up, his chair screeching as it scratched along the floor.

"I'm done. This is horse shit."

The man with the glasses smiled, waving at the other player as he stomped out of the tavern. "Sorry to see you go so soon, but I'm sure your money will keep me company."

As the man stalked away, he threw the other player an obscene hand gesture as he disappeared out of the building.

"Guess that's it, then," the man with the glasses said, pulling in his winnings as the other two players groaned in defeat. "I hate to see a good game end, but I love walking away with all these coins."

Allen chewed his lip for a moment, then hopped off the barstool and walked over to the empty chair at the table. "I'll play, if you'll have me."

The man with the glasses paused, looking over Allen with deep interest. He leaned forward, one elbow on the edge of the table as his golden eyes took him in. He smiled. "Hmm? You want in on our game, boy? You sure you can handle it?"

"Aw, let him in, Tyki. I'd like a chance to win some of my money back," one of the other players still at the table said, tossing his cards down with the pile in the middle.

Allen smiled, sweet as pie, and stood politely near the empty seat. His gloved left hand rested against the back of the chair as he looked back at the man called Tyki. "I'm quite the novice at cards, but I assure you I have the gold to play."

Lavi watched from the bar, not a few feet away. He couldn't believe that Allen was trying to get in a poker match, especially when they didn't have that much free time to spend outside of the palace walls. But Allen seemed confident that he could keep up with the players.

Tyki's smile grew, and he gestured for Allen to join the table. "How could I refuse such an offer?"

Allen sat down, his own smile matching Tyki's. "Thank you." He threw in some coins for the ante and folded his hands on the table.

Tyki shuffled the cards, then dealt them out. "Save your 'thank you's for after the game, boy. You might not like the outcome in a few rounds."

"I'll keep that in mind," Allen replied, taking the cards tossed in front of him.

xXxXxXx

Lavi stood behind Allen's chair, having moved not long after Allen joined the card game. A look of intense confusion grew on his face as his companion laid out the cards on the table. A royal flush — nearly the fourth one that Allen had managed to get in the past hour. Lavi wasn't sure how Allen managed it, but he was certain he had cheated somehow. But if he had, neither Lavi nor the other players at the table could tell. Lavi tried to count the cards, his memory working to remember each card played, but the totals never added up properly. The only explanation was that there were more cards in the deck than there should be.

The sickly sweet smile on Allen's face made Tyki's eye twitch behind his oversized glasses. "Won again, boy," he said. It wasn't a question, just an irritating fact that grated on his last nerve. All the money he had won over the course of the night had somehow ended up in Allen's pile.

"Wow, really?" Allen asked, pulling the pile of coins in the middle of the table to his own stash. "I'm so surprised I'm having this kind of luck. I never play card games."

'Liar,' Lavi thought, but kept his face neutral. Allen was definitely playing these guys, though he still hadn't figured out what sleight of hand he had used to win over and over again. Maybe he didn't want to know. It was best to keep out of it. Though, the thought of Allen as a card hustler didn't fail to amuse him.

At least now he knew why he kept losing to Allen.

"Oh, my. You three are out of money, aren't you?" Allen didn't drop the sugar-sweet routine, still playing dumb. "I guess the game's over."

"So it would seem," Tyki said, the pinched look never leaving his face, even as he smiled at Allen.

Not wasting any time, Allen packed up the coins quickly, stuffing them into his coin purse until that overflowed, and then into his and Lavi's pockets. "We'd better be getting back home now. Wouldn't want to be missed."

"Hey, watch what you're jostling there," Lavi complained with an embarrassed tint to his cheeks as Allen shoved the remaining coins in Lavi's clothes.

"What's your hurry?" Tyki asked, his hands tensing on the table between them. "One more game?"

"I really shouldn't. It's been fun, though. Maybe next time?" Allen tugged Lavi along, rushing them out of the tavern as fast as he could.

"Hold up, boy," Tyki said, yanking on Allen's free wrist before he could pass the table and reach the door. The touch proved to be too much of a surprise for Allen. He lost his balance for a second, tilting backwards. Tyki had pulled hard enough to pop the button loose on Allen's sleeve, and with it, fell a stockpile of secret cards.

Allen winced and let out an uncharacteristic, "Oh, shit."

Lavi's eye widened when he caught sight of the cards on the floor. "Allen!"

The other two men at the table jumped to their feet, accusatory looks on their face as the hidden cards fell to the floor in plain view. When Tyki saw the cards, he only grinned, looking more amused than angry.

"You cheated us!" one of the players shouted.

"You'd better give that money back!"

The tavern went dead silent, all eyes at the poker table. The bar had cleared out some since Lavi and Allen had first showed up, but there were enough people still around to unnerve them. With all the attention on them, Lavi felt the hairs prickle up on his neck. He watched the group at the table with a wary eye, not sure what would happen now that Allen had been discovered cheating. If they managed to get out of this situation alive, Lavi made a mental note to never play cards with Allen again.

Allen smiled, though his posture was stiff. "I have no idea where those cards came from," he said, still keeping the sweet act up as he stood his ground.

Tyki leaned back in his chair, his eyes glued to Allen. A grin was about to split his face in two. "You're gonna have to do better than that."

Allen sighed, his stance relaxing, even though the two men at the table looked like they were out for blood. He shrugged his shoulders, as if he weren't about to be pummeled into dust. "This is all a misunderstanding," Allen said, his voice calm. "Here's the thing—"

And then he ran.

Lavi felt his wrist jerked sharply in the direction of the door as Allen pulled him along at an impossible speed. He squeaked in protest, his legs almost forgetting to work right as Allen dragged him none too gently out of the inn and down the street.

"Allen!? What the ever-loving-fuck—"

"Run now! Talk later!" Allen shouted back, as they darted down the crowded streets. Enraged yelling echoed behind them, and it sounded like the men from the poker game didn't hesitate to chase them down. Allen tried to pick up their pace, still yanking Lavi along like a ragdoll.

When Lavi finally got his wits about him and kept from tripping up on his own feet, he pulled his hand from Allen's and ran as fast as he could next to him. "I am never letting you play cards again!" he shouted, dodging groups of people still lingering in the streets. "Why did you have to cheat?!"

Allen seemed less unnerved by the turn of events than Lavi did. A sly smile even spread across his face, hinting at how pleased he was with himself. "They were cheating first. Couldn't you tell?"

The shock of Allen's reply left Lavi tripping up, barely dodging a food cart as the owner was moving it back indoors for the night. He could hear more indignant shouts thrown their way as they kept running. "What the hell are you talking about?!"

"Those three were working together to cheat that first guy out of his money. I figured I'd teach them a lesson." Allen ducked under an overhang near a butcher shop to avoid more foot-traffic. He weaved through the throng of people as if he'd done this before — as if it were an easy, everyday occurrence.

Lavi hazarded a look behind him and caught sight of the two men who followed them. They were far enough behind that the redhead wasn't worried about immediate capture, but they were still in deep shit. They had to lose the men somehow.

"And you thought stealing from thieves was a good idea?" Lavi asked, picking up his pace. Allen would outrun him at this rate. "If they catch us, we're in big trouble. You know that, right?"

"That's why we don't let them catch us!" Allen replied, grabbing Lavi's arm and tugging him down an unlit alleyway.

"Al!?"

"Hurry! Keep running!" Allen shouted, still pulling the redhead behind him. The alleyway was narrow, dark, and littered with refuse. Abandoned barrels and boxes were strewn about the dirt path, and they had to watch their step without losing momentum.

As they turned the corner behind the building and were out of sight, they could hear the two men follow after them. The thieves got stuck on the refuse, however, and it gave them more time to escape.

Allen grabbed the front of Lavi's shirt and tugged him close to the wall. He looked up at Lavi, his silver eyes more excited than frightened. "Use your hammer to get us up on the roof," he said with a hushed voice.

Lavi didn't ask questions this time, and used his weapon the same way he had on the palace grounds. The hammer extended, bringing Lavi and Allen to the rooftop of the tall building. When they reached the top, Lavi returned the hammer to its normal size just before the thieves turned the building's corner.

The roof had no overhang or gutter, and rather than risk being seen looking down, Allen tugged Lavi back from the edge. They fell onto the tiled, flat roof without a sound. Allen pressed his hand over Lavi's mouth as they waited for the men to leave.

Cursing could be heard below, and then the sound of something being kicked — most likely a trashcan, by the clanging of it. Muffled talking became fainter as the seconds ticked by, signaling that their pursuers had lost the trail and wandered away from their hiding place. Lavi wanted to check to see if they were really gone, but opted to continue hiding on the roof with Allen just in case they weren't completely in the clear.

Pulling his hand from Lavi's mouth, Allen gave him an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Lavi," he whispered, not wanting to give away their location if they were still in danger of being found. His hand still lingered on Lavi's chin.

The redhead just shook his head. "You're trouble, Allen Walker."

Allen's weak smile turned to a devious one. "Maybe a little."

Lavi sighed and stared back at Allen. The moonlight was unobstructed from their hiding place on the roof, and he could see the fine curves of Allen's face as he tried not to laugh at their situation. It charmed him to no end. Here they were, tangled together on a dirty roof and trying to avoid a potentially lethal beating from a group of thieves — and Allen was desperately holding in a fit of giggles.

It was insane. Maddening.

Heartbreakingly perfect.

"Lavi, you're staring."

The soft voice pulled the redhead out of his thoughts. He could feel the flush of heat on his cheeks and prayed it wasn't visible in the dim light of the moon. "Sorry, Al. Kinda hard not to when you—" He cut himself off before his mouth had the chance to run too far.

Allen didn't miss it though, and he didn't let it die either. Lavi should have expected as much. "When I what?" he asked, genuine curiosity lacing his voice.

Lavi tried to look away, but Allen's heavenly silver eyes held his gaze, and he was struck by the ethereal beauty held within them. "When you look like that."

"When I look like what, Lavi?"

"Beautiful."

The word was breathed between them like a secret, and Lavi only half realized what he had said after it left his mouth. He was too distracted by Allen's closeness and the mounting desires that he had hoped to shove away and bury deep within his heart. All the tricks and tactics he had used in previous personas to keep from getting attached to people were useless against Allen. He was unlike anyone Lavi had ever met before, and had somehow wormed his way into Lavi's affections, as impossible as it seemed.

Allen's eyes widened at the admission, but he didn't pull away or look all that shocked in general — as if he had been expecting something like this to happen all along. A tiny, hopeful smirk graced his face. "…Funny. I was just thinking the same thing about you."

Lavi's heart stuck in his throat, his breath stopping as he stared at Allen. Their faces were mere inches apart, and the redhead knew he was done for when he couldn't avert his gaze from Allen's. Swallowing down his apprehension, he spoke up again. "Al… I really want to kiss you."

The smile on Allen's face grew and he moved in just a touch closer. "Oh? And what's stopping you? Are you waiting for an engraved invitation?"

"I…" Lavi wanted to tell the truth, the whole truth. It burned on his tongue like acid, but no matter how hard he wanted to spit it out, he couldn't handle giving Allen all the cards like that. He had no answer to give, especially not one he was willing to part with.

Lavi should have left it alone, forgotten about the whole ordeal. He should have pulled away, gotten them down from that damned roof and headed back to the royal palace. But he couldn't, not when Allen stared at him like that — not when his eyes focused on Lavi like he was the only important thing in the world. Allen made him feel like he had never felt in his entire life. It was addictive and wonderful; and no matter how much he knew it would hurt in the end, he couldn't stop himself from jumping in and drowning in the emotions.

So, instead of giving an excuse, Lavi leaned in and kissed Allen. Their lips brushed together, tentative at first, as if they were testing the water before diving in the deep end. Allen's mouth was warm against Lavi's, soft yet firm. Allen leaned in closer, slipping a hand up Lavi's chest, pressing against the folds of his shirt, and then to his chin and neck. The gloved fingers traced over the edge of the redhead's jaw and Lavi found himself sighing with delight. He deepened the kiss and moved in closer, their legs tangling up together as they stretched out across the clay tiles of the roof.

The kiss felt like it lasted for hours, instead of seconds. When their lips parted, Lavi had to catch his breath. His heart pounded in his chest as if he'd just ran for miles. Averting his eye, Lavi wanted to pull away, but found he couldn't move from Allen's hold. The gloved hand still lingered on Lavi's jaw, making the redhead shiver.

Allen stared at Lavi, catching his breath. He smiled, lips twitching up gently on his face. "…Glad you didn't wait for the invitation."

Lavi chuckled, the serious mood broken. He pressed his forehead against Allen's shoulder as he tried to calm his laughter. "It would've taken forever to get delivered."

"My thoughts exactly."

xXxXxXx

A breeze had picked up since earlier in the day, tossing his hair in his face, and Tyki leaned against the outside of the tavern as he waited for his accomplices to return. They weren't of any consequence— just a couple of humans that were useful when he decided to escape his duties for a while. He had let them chase Allen Walker and his redheaded friend off, not caring about the money or if he got it back. There were more important things to deal with at the moment.

The two men, winded and empty-handed, returned to the tavern.

"Sorry, Tyki. We thought we could catch up with them, but they managed to escape."

"Yeah. No idea how they did it. We lost 'em in one of the alleys."

Tyki waved off their worries, taking a long drag off his cigarette. "I wouldn't worry too much about it. If we see them again, we'll deal with it."

"You sure, boss?" one of the men asked.

With a nod, Tyki flicked the last of his cigarette into the dirt. "I've got business to attend to out of town, so I'll let you two deal with it." Without waiting for a reply, Tyki pushed off of the building. "I'll be away for a few weeks. Keep things running while I'm gone."

Tyki walked off, leaving the men behind as he hummed to himself. The usually crowded streets were thinning, the hour growing late, and he smiled as he ambled through town alone.

He felt them before he saw them, the vibrations in the air alerting him to their presence. Shoving his hands in his pockets, Tyki snickered to himself. "Are you two just going to hang out in the shadows, or do you actually want to talk?"

The annoying, high-pitched laughter behind Tyki answered the question for him. "You were right, Devit. He knew we were here."

"Stupid, Tyki. What are you doing hanging out with humans, anyway?" Devit asked, walking next to his twin as they trailed behind the older dragon. "You're gonna start smelling like them at this rate. Right, Jasdero?"

Jasdero only snickered, not bothering to answer the question.

Tyki sighed and stopped in the middle of the street. Turning, he stared down at the twins, though he had a hard time thinking of them as such. They looked nothing alike — Devit with his short, black hair and Jasdero with his long, golden locks. He knew that their faces were the same, but he couldn't see the similarities under all the black makeup they insisted on using. Still, they managed to get in trouble like true siblings, so Tyki figured it wasn't a total misnomer.

"What are you two doing here?" Tyki finally asked, staring down at them with barely contained annoyance.

"The Earl sent us," Devit said, crossing his arms over his chest and letting a cocky grin spread over his face.

"Yeah, yeah," Jasdero replied, nodding along with his brother's explanation. "He said you might need help with that Dragon Hunter you're trying to catch."

Tyki frowned at that. "I don't need help, especially from you brats."

"Oh, brats?! You better watch your mouth!" Devit added, taking a step closer. "He probably thought you needed help since you're such a crotchety old man."

"Yeah! Gonna throw out your hip! Hehehe!"

Tyki half-heartedly kicked at the twins, both of them easily dodging the swipe. "I ain't that old! And I can certainly handle a couple of Hunters. I almost took care of them in Erethan, didn't I?"

"Almost doesn't count! Hehehe!" Jasdero replied, hiding behind his brother as he stuck out his tongue.

"Yeah! They got you good in your shoulder! Took you a week to recover, old man!"

"I was surprised, is all. Don't act like you could do better." Tyki shook his head, realizing he was quickly sinking to their juvenile level. "You know what? Let's make it interesting. A bet — Whoever can catch the Hunter wins."

"What do we win?" Devit asked, sounding intrigued.

"Money?"

Jasdero rolled his eyes. "Lame."

"Bragging rights?"

"Worse yet! Try harder!" Devit added, sticking his tongue out at Tyki.

The older dragon ground his teeth together. "Fine. Whoever captures the Hunter gets to have the other be his servant for a week."

Devit and Jasdero looked at each other, eyes wide for a long moment. Then, an identical pair of smiles crossed their faces and they looked back at Tyki.

"So we can boss you around?" Devit asked.

"And make you do stupid stuff?" Jasdero added.

"If you win," Tyki said with a grin. "And remember, if you two lose, you have to do what I say. Deal?"

The twins nodded. "Deal."