Thank you my wonderful reviewers! Sorry for the delay, spring break has ended and I have to go back to babysitting the munchkins of the public school system. I wasn't able to spend as much time with this chapter as I wished, so its a little short.
Flames of Insanity, no need to apologize. It made me go back to the manga and double check facts, which was very helpful.
Dipilidopa, thank you I wasn't sure about Rivka's blessing. All I had to go on was the obscure ramblings of one of my Jewish roomates.
Greece, you don't have to worship this humble girl. Your reviews are enough. I went through a lot of possibilites before I decided how Mana is going to die, it was difficult. I also plan to cover his return as an akuma. When Allen describes his parents as traveling performers, I was very confused. It always bothered me. I think I've found a decent way to incorporate that into this story, but it may throw off the timeline of the manga by a year or so.
Silverdrake, GreyLiliy, I'm glad that you both like the way Mana is developing. So little attencion is paid to him in the manga, but he was a huge part of Allen's life.
Mana awoke with the sudden confusion that comes with sleeping in a different location. The first thing he was certain of was the freezing temperature of his feet. Second, there was a fussing sound coming from his bedroom. "Oh, he's got to be awake…" Mana ran his fingers through his hair, before letting his hands cover his face. He wasn't ready to face the day yet. He wondered what time it was and reached for his pocket watch. It was on his dresser, in his bedroom, he realized with a groan.
No point in putting it off any longer. He stood and stretched, his neck had developed a severe crick from the awkward sleeping position. He stretched again and was disappointed by its lack of effectiveness. Yawning and trying again for one last decent, back popping stretch, Mana stumbled towards his bedroom.
He dragged his pillow behind him as he entered the room. Allen was sitting in the dead center of the bed, half tangled in the blankets and slowly trying to free himself. He blinked at Mana and froze.
"Good morning Allen, did you sleep well?" There was no answer just a blank stare. With a sigh, Mana threw his pillow on the bed and draped himself across the bottom. The blankets were soft, his bed had never felt so wonderful. Allen shoved himself frantically backwards to keep a wide gap between them.
"Well, I slept horrible. I can't sleep on that stupid couch, I'm too old" he laughed, but it sounded forced. Still, Rivka's words from the night before rang true in his ears. "God doesn't make mistakes… I can do this; she didn't know how either and she raised eight children. If she could do that, then I think I can do this… oh God, I have a son."
He rolled over to face the boy, "let's get some breakfast, Rivka usually isn't here on the weekends. I think she visits one of her children…so, it's just you and me." Allen only stared. Mana wondered what the boy could possibly be thinking. "I can make pancakes…" Soft brown eyes widened at the mention of food. "Does that sound good?"
Allen carefully unwound himself from the blankets and slowly, cautiously approached where he had sprawled. His eyes never left Mana's face. "He must still be nervous…I have to give him time." There was something about the boy's expression that made Mana smile and reach forward to him. Maybe it was hope; he could tell Allen was desperate to trust someone.
Mana caught his little hand as he crawled over and pulled him close, letting his thumb run over the strange wound; it seemed to reassure him. As if a gentle touch on that deformity was proof positive that Mana accepted him and wouldn't hurt him. He was so glad that he could give that kind of trust to him.
Mana sat up and pulled Allen into his lap, loosely holding him. He gave the boy space to pull away if he needed to. The small body tensed against him, so he rubbed tiny useless circles on his small back, absently counting the vertebrae that were too prominent. Allen finally relaxed and buried his face in Mana's shirt; Mana let out a breath he wasn't aware of holding.
Bright winter sunlight was streaming in through the window, illuminating the dust motes that moved with air and Mana felt himself truly relax for the first time since he left work the day before. The events of yesterday had left him with a choice, and he had made it. For the first time in ages he felt certain of his life. So many years found him drifting, just living day to day with no larger purpose. Mana had a purpose to keep moving now and the idea both terrified and thrilled him.
He tightened his grip on the child slightly causing little hands to suddenly grip at his shirt. "…my child now. Not by blood, but by choice…Allen is my responsibility now. My life, everything is going to change… I'll do my best to be his father." It all seemed simple in the early morning light. "…just do the best I can."
Allen had started to make little fussing sounds and fidget. "Hey Allen? I'm going to take care of you from now on. I've decided that, well…you're my son now, did you know that? Everything is for you now. It won't be easy, I don't have much, but … I'm going to be your father and give you the best life I can…" he paused as the boy pulled away to look at him, "…is that ok?"
Allen's brows were knit and he was frowning, forcing Mana to wonder if he understood what he was saying to him. The boy hadn't blinked once, he was sure of it, Allen just stared, watching him.
With a soft sigh, Allen's eyes slid closed and the unshed tears that had been building finally fell. He buried his face in the crook of Mana's neck and held on tight. It wasn't a violent type of crying like he had done so often already, but a soft cry of relief, perhaps even happiness. Mana hoped it was. Allen seemed calmer around him than he did the night before. His collar was getting damp, but it was alright; he would hold Allen and let the child get it all out of his system.
They sat together until Mana heard Allen's stomach growl. He laughed and scooped the little body up and carried him down to the café. On the counter was an apology from Rivka for leaving so early and a long list of things Mana needed to do. Rivka was always very explicit in what she expected of him when she wasn't there.
He needed to wash the lice killing compound out of Allen's hair, keep him warm, and redress any of the wounds that may have reopened over the night, how to clean the wounds, give him more codeine if necessary, what to cook for him and how to cook it… The list just kept going.
Mana could only raise his eyebrows and stare wide eyed at the paper. "We seem to have a long day ahead of us." He tried to set the boy down, but Allen tightly held on to him. As if he would vanish into thin air if he so much as loosened his grip. Mana smiled, he couldn't seem to stop smiling now.
Little lips moved against his shoulder, mouthing words with no sound. It was his name over and over again.
