"Ok, ok…" He sat up and stretched, moaning. "Morning sweetheart." He said before dropping a kiss on his lips. "Are you sure you want to come? You look like you'll drop dead at any moment."

The younger shook his head. "Wanna see it. I'll have a coffee."

"As you wish." He stood up and went to the bathroom to make his hair look somewhat presentable.

After he had slipped into fresh clothes they went downstairs and made two quick coffee's, saying their goodbye's to those still in the club before going to the parking lot.

"Al, keys?"

"I'm driving." The albino said and Lavi rolled his eyes before taking them from his fingers.

"Like hell you are. You look like you are a zombie, so no chance I'm letting you drive." He told him, frowning: he had expected his boyfriend to be more sensitive about driving in that condition. "And it's a 40 minute ride, so you can sleep for a bit or rest your eyes."

"Okay…" At least he didn't fight him about it. Allen kissed his lips before entering the car and curling into a ball after fastening his seatbelt.

"And you said you wanted to drive." Lavi chuckled and the musician offered his a weak eyeroll. "Sleep." He switched the heat on and covered him with his jacket: he had long realised that Allen hated being cold. Maybe it was a reminder of his time on the streets, he didn't know.

Allen nodded and closed his eyes, the coffee not doing much effect on him.

Lavi drove in silence and with as much care as he could muster to make sure he didn't wake his lover up. When he arrived and parked, he sat there for a few minutes, thinking and letting his new condition of barman take over him.

And the feeling of liberty he felt when he thought he would never have to come back there and put up with the jokes was the best thing in the world. The only thing that ever felt better was when Allen said he loved him.

"Are we there?" He looked down and saw Allen staring at him through hazy eyes.

"Yes. I was just thinking."

"Everything alright?"

"Of course love." He smiled and put a strand of white hair behind his ear. "I'm just having a bit of a hard time on believing that I will never have to come back here and that I'll be able to see you everyday." He put his arms on the wheel and rested his head there.

"I know, I've been wrapping this around my head the whole night, too." He sat up and stretched, his eyes still hazy with sleep. "Can we go in now? I want to sleep."

"Of course babe." Lavi laughed and stepped out of the car, rounding it and opening the car for Allen, who was struggling with his jacket. "Come here." He pulled him out of the car and zipped the jacket up, dropping a kiss on his mouth. "Let's go."

They walked holding hands, Allen brushing his knuckles in a calming way. When they reached the entrance a couple minutes later he breathed deeply before checking his ID card at the entrance and the doors opened.

Lavi watched his boyfriend with amusement: Allen was looking at everything as if he had never seen it before. Though it probably was because of the lack of sleep.

"Here, love." He said as he tugged him through another door, They barely crossed the door when an enraged man stomped towards him.

"Bookman! How dare you show your face at this time? You knew your article had to fill a whole page and you never turned it in!" Lavi trembled slightly and Allen squeezed his hand, softly. "And who the fuck is that?" He pointed at the albino, who only glared at him.

"My boyfriend." Lavi replied and the musician felt weirdly proud of him for confronting his boss. "And there's a reason as to why I didn't turn that shitty article you gave me. Two, actually."

"Don't you have them excuses always?" Richard yelled from the other side of the room.

"Wasn't it your fault in the first place you little piece of shit?" Lavi bellowed and everyone jumped and stared at him, surprised at his outburst.

"How dare you, you disgusting faggot?"

"I'm not the one going after a senior licking their boots, now am I?" Lavi snarled and Allen couldn't help but look at him with new eyes: he had always thought of Lavi as someone gentle that wouldn't hurt a fly, but just now he was showing a new whole hidden side of him and damn if it wasn't the hottest thing he had seen in awhile.

"Shut up! Both of you!" The boss yelled and they did, but Lavi posture didn't change. He was tense, but somehow he still looked laid back. "And you Bookman, get to your fucking table right now and start typing away."

"Yeah sorry. Not gonna do that." He smirked and Allen couldn't help but to smile smugly beside him. "You see, I'm not here to work."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm quitting. I found a better job at a better place, so I don't need to stay in this hellhole any longer." Lavi said and the albino squeezed his hand.

"You are just 24, where in the world would someone in their right mind hire you?" The man snarled, rolling his eyes.

"Ever heard of Noah's Ark? It's a club in the wealthy area." Lavi started, as if he was talking to someone stupid or a kid. "Apparently they need a barman, and I got the job."

"Boy, don't lie to me. I know Neah Campbell first hand and he would never hire someone who has never worked as a barman for his club." Well, the man was right: Neah wouldn't do that.

"True," he conceded. "But the fact I'm going out with the DJ who just happens to be one of his children and his boyfriend's adoptive son plus the fact I have three careers, does give me the edge over everyone else. And of course, there's also the fact that I have spent enough time there to know my way around."

"His… son?" All eyes were now trained on Allen, who didn't even bat an eye. "You are Neah Campbell's son?"

"One of them, yes. I mean, there's thirteen of us. Well, ten guys and three girls." He drawled, his voice laced with sleep, but it was easy to misread as boredom. "I'm Allen D. Marian-Campbell, main DJ of Noah's Ark."

Lavi chuckled next to him as he retrieved the letter out of his pocket and gave it to his soon-to-be ex-boss. "Well, that is it. I'll be taking my leave now." He simply said before turning around, tugging the albino. "Let's go, love, we have nothing else to do in this hellhole." He smiled at him and kissed his lips.

There was silence for a few seconds until a third voice, angry and dripping venom shouted. "How dare you do such blasphemy in public? If it weren't enough that you are like that, you have to do it in public? Where everyone can see you? What if there were kids around? You'd corrupt them!"

Allen frowned and turned around, glaring at the man before he started to look at him. He was like a wardrobe: tall and big. A big, thick mustache sitting on top of his lip, he had little to no hair on his head anymore, his eyes were glassy and clear and they reminded him of those of a dead fish. He had a wedding band on his finger, but it looked tattered and dirty, unlike his watch, that shone under the office's lights. He was wearing black pants with a light-blue shirt and a black tie.

"Hm… Mind if we stay for a couple of more minutes, babe?" He questioned, looking up to a green eye.

"Uh… Sure?" Whatever Allen had in mind, he did not know, but he surely wasn't going to take the fun away from him.

"You have a problem with gays, mate?" He questioned and Lavi shivered in delight when he heard the low, cutting, cold voice: when they were at the Hospital he looked menacing, but now that he was still dressed from his Poker session, he looked even better, like a true mobster. "Because one would think that after one of your kids turned out to be gay, you'd be a little more open-minded." He said and everyone gaped: Johanson had a gay kid?

"What are you talking about? I don't have any gay kid! I'd kill them before letting anyone else know such a disgrace ruined my name!"

"Makes sense. That would explain why you are sleeping with someone else. Your wife has a depression, does she not? Probably because you kicked your son... " he squinted his eyes at him before humming. "Sorry, daughter, out of your house a few years back. About three sounds right?" He nodded, smirking. "And of course, your other two children wouldn't agree with you so they are not speaking to you, now are they?"

"How do you know…?"

"Shut it. I'm not done. That woman you are sleeping with… Is someone from this very newspaper… A woman who feels neglected because she is much better qualified than her husband, but he is the one who has the better job, so she needs some submissive little shit like you to vent her frustrations out, huh?" Lavi was trying not to laugh, he really was, but the face Johanson was making was hilarious: his small eyes were big and round now, his lips quivering and he was sweating profusely, his hands clenching and unclenching as he dried them on his trousers and looked at Allen terrified. Totally scared for everything his lover was just spitting and Lavi knew, at that moment, that everything the albino had been saying was the truth and he realised why the doctor had been so scared of him, because with just once glance he could have you all figured out.

"I am not…"

"But you are." He was not letting him finish his sentences, and that was frustrating the man to no end, Lavi knew. "And… it wouldn't be his wife, would it?" He pointed at the boss. "I mean, it would be pretty bad if he knew his wife had been cheating on him with such an asshole like you… Not that he is much better, mind you, but you are just one of the worst." He then turned around and walked to his boyfriend. "We can leave now babe. I've done my job."

"I can see that." He drawled as he pulled the albino to him and kissed him, his eye focused on Johanson, daring him to say anything.

He didn't.

"Well, it certainly has not been a pleasure to meet y'all." Lavi said as he wrapped an arm around Allen's waist and led him outside, hearing yells and threats come out of the room they had just walked away.

Once they were by the car, he pressed Allen against the door and ravished him, ripping a low moan from him.

"What…?" Silver eyes looked at him, tired and confused.

"Sorry love. You were just so hot in there I couldn't help myself." The ginger replied, his voice slightly musky, but his eyes were soft and loving when he brushed a silver strand from his face. "Let's go to sleep?" The musician simply nodded, all the tiredness coming back to him at once. "Get in, c'mon."

He curled again into a ball and Lavi covered him again with his jacket. He didn't fall asleep, knowing he'd have to walk, but he wasn't there with Lavi either.

Once in Lavi's room, the elder helped him into his pyjama pants and he himself changed his clothes again, climbing after the albino had taken his place on the wall side, and as soon as he felt that the green-eyed was under the covers too, he curled up against him.

"Night. Love you." And after that he was out like a light.

"Love you too." He kissed his head and closed his eyes to sleep once more. He cuddled his boyfriend closer to him, all the events of the last 24 hours washing over him and leaving him feeling as light as a feather and with no worries over his shoulder.

He woke up feeling slightly cold, even if he had the comforter neatly wrapped around him. His eyes flicked at the clock on the wall. 14.56.

"Bunny?" He called out, sitting up.

"Yes love?" He opened the door, toweling his hair dry. He sat down next to him and kissed his lips.

"Nothing. Just wondering where you were." He smiled and snuggled down on the bed, only his nose and eyes visible. Lavi snickered at him.

"You can be so cute sometimes. Are you hungry?" Allen nodded. "I was thinking pancakes and orange juice."

"Sounds awesome. And tea."

"Of course. You coming with me or do you want to have breakfast in bed?"

"Kitchen. I don't like eating in bed. It's gross." He drawled. "Call me when it's done?" The redhead nodded and left, leaving him alone in bed.

Twenty minutes later, Lavi stepped into the room and couldn't help but smile fondly upon seeing him curled up once more. He wasn't sleeping though, he could tell by his breathing pace and his eye movements.

"Kitten, breakfast is ready, and if you don't hurry the pancakes will be cold."

"I like them cold, too."

"Ugh, I love you and everything, but that is disgusting." He pulled him out of the bed and kissed him.

"You know nothing about pancakes, then." Allen rebated as his arms circled his waist. "Good morning." He mumbled against his chest.

"Good morning." He kissed his head and pulled back. "Let's go."

They sat down and Lavi served them and poured the orange juice and the tea for his lover as he sipped on his mug of coffee. "Don't you need your computer to work on the composition?" He questioned after eating a pancake.

"Not really. I just need music paper." The albino replied. "Is there any store nearby that sells it?"

"Maybe the bookstore on the corner? I wouldn't know, I never needed it."

Allen hummed as he chewed down on his last bit of pancake. "I'll take a shower and go check it out."

"Alright. I'll come with you, I want to buy a couple more books."

"More!?" He exclaimed, laughing. "At this rate your room will be a library!"

"I'll bring them to your house, then." He simply said and Allen choked on his juice. "Hey!" He patted him on the back, gently. "What's gotten into you?"

Allen stared at him for a few seconds before looking down. "You said my house… not the club, my house." He repeated.

"Oh. I-is it not okay with you…?"

"What? No! I'd love it if you started to leave some of your stuff in my house." He smiled and stood up, kissing his cheek. "If I asked you to come live with me… what would you say?" He questioned.

Lavi looked at him and considered it: he would love it, of course he would. To wake up next to him everyday and to fall asleep holding him, but he was very aware that they hadn't even hit the 1-year mark on dating, so that really only left him with one answer.

"I'd say that I love the idea but to wait some more time before we do move in together." He replied, taking his hands. "Don't get me wrong love, I do want and plan to live together with you for the rest of my life, but just not yet." He looked up into whirling silver pools of emotion. "Are you mad at me?"

Allen chuckled before kissing him on the lips. "Nah, I feel the same way. I just wanted to know where we really stood."

"Well, I'm glad we are on the same page, then." Lavi stood up and put his dish on the sink. "Go get showered, c'mon."

"Yes daddy." He smirked and smacked him on the ass before leaving. "I'll take one of your towels bunny!" He called out.

"Yeah, yeah…"

Once they had their books and paper they went back to the apartment, Allen taking a seat on the sofa and Lavi going to his room, cleaning duster and broom in hand. They didn't interact much during the day, Lavi being the one to kiss his head every time he stepped out. He even ended up tying his lover's long hair in a high bun to prevent it to slip into his eyes.

"You done?" Allen asked when Lavi slumped next to him around 3 hours later.

"Yeah. I'm beaten." He said as he rested his head against his shoulder. "And you?"

"I just need to finish the last movement and I'm done." He explained, setting the papers down on the table and moving to kiss his boyfriend on the lips.

"Will you play it for me?" He questioned.

"Of course." He kissed him again, this time with a more intent and sitting on his lap, wrapping his arms around his neck.

Lavi smiled in the kiss and sneaked his hands to his rear and squeezed, making Allen groan. They kept kissing and the redhead started to knead the flesh beneath his hand.

"Lavi…" Allen sighed against his lips as he went to kiss his neck.

"Mh?"

"Bed." The albino moaned softly when his half-hard cock pressed against Lavi's hip.

"We haven't done it here yet." Lavi replied, not wanting to move.

"Neither we have on your bed." Allen rebated, arching an eyebrow.

And it was true, every time they had sex was either at the club or at Allen's house. Lavi didn't reply to that, so he just kissed him again, his tongue sweeping his mouth, munching softly on his lip.

"I did not fucking need to see this." A voice said from the door and the musician groaned, as he looked behind him.

"And I did not need to see your face, BaKanda, and yet here I am." He rolled off Lavi's lap and sat back at the spot he had previously being occupying.

"It's my house, moyashi. If you don't want to see me, you know where the door is. You'd do me a favour if you just fucking left."

Allen scoffed at that and stretched, resting an arm around his boyfriend's shoulder. "Sorry, but I'm not going anywhere yet."

"Can you two please try and pretend to get along in front of me?"

"Sorry bunny." He kissed him on the lips and smiled at him, tucking a strand of red hair behind his ear.

"Yeah, no problem." He smiled back and looked at his best friend. "Yuu, sit down, I have something to tell you." Kanda frowned, but took a sit on the armchair.

"Something happened at work?" He questioned, his eyes flicking towards the albino before going back to Lavi, but they both simply shrugged.

"You could say so. Nothing bad though! It's just that… we'll be seeing each other even less during the week."

"Did they finally change your shift?" He leaned a bit to them, resting his elbows on his knees. Lavi licked his lips before shaking his head. "Then?"

"I… I quitted. I found a new job." He announced beaming. "But it's a night shift so I'll be sleeping during the day. If I even come."

Night shift? Quitting the newspaper? Not coming to sleep? It wasn't hard to figure what he was hinting. "The club? Is it true?" He looked at Allen, who nodded, smiling.

"We needed a barman and uncle didn't want someone from outside working with us so when Lavi asked me if I was serious about him working with us, we went to see uncle and he was thrilled with the idea." He simply replied, taking his lover's hand and brushing his knuckles.

"And I start on Monday." Lavi finished. "Lulu is going to train me during the day."

He felt relieved. To know that his best friend was finally free of the nightmare his life had been... Sure, it had gotten better when he met Allen. He had been smiling more, laughing more and he would be his usual joking self. And then the beating happened. He had feared that he'd go back to being just an empty shell of who he really was. He had feared Allen would just leave him alone, abandon him like his parents had. But the moyashi didn't. He had stayed, he had nursed him back to health and Lavi came back happier than he had ever been. And now he had this, a chance to do something he would love, something new and by the hand of his boyfriend who, much to Kanda's own reluctance, seemed to adore him and worship the soil the redhead walked on.

He stood up and crossed the space that separated them. "Yuu…?" Lavi arched an eyebrow, slightly confused.

He bowed and hugged him lightly, he still had a reputation to uphold as the resident asshole. Lavi only shook his head before hugging back, but he did put a bit more force in it.

Allen rolled his eyes at them and fished his vibrating phone out, answering a text from Tora about dinner. And just as he looked up again, he saw the Japanese looking at him as he mouthed something.

Something that he was sure was 'Thank you'. He only nodded in return, closing his eyes for a second before Kanda let go of the ex-reporter.

"Bunny, we should get going." He told him, smiling.

"Already?"

"Yeah babe, you are on dinner duty and I'm on setting the table." he explained as he stood up, stretching.

"Alright. Give us a moment?" Lavi requested.

"Of course. I need to call dad anyway." He kissed him on the cheek and went out on the balcony as he dialled Cross number.

"You are happy." Kanda pointed out, sitting down on the spot Allen left empty.

"Of course." He grinned, his eyes slipping to watch his boyfriend talk with his father, playing with a strand of his untied white hair. "I… I never thought that this day would come." He confessed.

"Did you ever even look for another job?" Kanda questioned, but he had been wondering, thinking. Lavi had 3 careers and spoke more languages than he needed too. He could be working as anything related to any of his fields and yet he always said none of the places he had left his resume called him.

"No." He said. "I was afraid. The newspaper was the only thing I knew and I was scared that the next place was going to be worst, so I stayed. I'm sorry I lied to you."

"So am I. But you could have told me about it. I would have helped."

"You are busy enough with your studies, I didn't want to trouble you. And when I met Al things got better. Even with… that in the way." He shook his head, not wanting to remember what happened to him a few months back. "He asked me to move in some day. Not just yet, though. You'll have to put up with me for some more time."

The Japanese smirked at that. "I think I'll be able to manage. I'm happy for you, you know that, right?"

"Of course Yuu." He smiled sweetly and Allen entered, wringing his hands together. "Cold, kitten?"

"Hell yeah." He smiled before standing next to him. "Ready yet?"

"Yeah babe. Just let me get a coat." He stood up and went to his room, coming back with his jacket and a coat for his lover. "See you around Yuu."

"Yeah." He walked them to the door and smiled when Lavi took a hold of his lover's hands to warm them up. "I hope I won't see your face anymore moyashi."

"Same here BaKanda." He closed the door, smirking. "What?" He questioned when he saw Lavi shaking his head in resignation.

"Nothing love." He kissed him on the lips. "Let's go."

As soon as they arrived, Maashima came and pretty much kidnapped Lavi into the kitchen, so Allen just walked upstairs and slipped into his brother's room. "Hey." He sat down next to Tyki, kissing his cheek.

"Hey." He smiled sadly.

"How are you holding up? Think you can go to the poker station?" He questioned. "You know I don't mind taking your place, but Neah is going to chop my head off if I kick another one out."

The Portuguese chuckled. "Whom did you kick?"

"Ehh… Woman. In her late 40, dresses up like a teen?"

"You kicked out Ms. Maytown?" Allen shrugged, he didn't know her name. "She's going to be sooo pissed. Why did you kick her out?"

"Eavesdropping. And I have Jazz to back me up." He replied. "Anyway, how are you?"

Tyki shrunk a bit on himself. "I just… I just don't understand. If he wasn't even interested in me, why would he say he was?"

"There's people who like to hurt others just because of the fun of it, Tyki." He replied. "I like beating people, be it at cards or physically. Dad likes to humiliate them. And then there's the ones who like to give hope to other to then just snatch it away." He smiled sadly and patted him on the hand. "You'll find someone right for you, you'll see."

"I don't…"

"Want anybody else. I get that. Been there, done that, got over it." He stood up and kissed his head. "You up for Poker?"

"Yeah. Can't stay hauled up in here forever anyway. And I guess it'll be better if I can occupy myself with something else."

Allen nodded and pulled him up. "Let's go downstairs, your brother must be freaking out if he hasn't seen you yet." Tyki sighed and followed him, but he stopped the albino before they got out by grabbing his arm. "What?"

"Just wanted to thank you for checking up on me."

Allen sighed, kneading his temples. "Tyki, I've told you, you are my brother, I care and love you, of course I'd check up on you." He smiled. "You would also check up on me, right?"

"Of course."

"So really, no need to thank me."

"Where's Lavi?" He questioned, changing the topic.

"Kitchen. Lunch's shift." He replied. "Oh, hey Tricia." He smiled when he pretty much ran into the woman, her hand up and in a fist, obviously about to knock.

"Hello dears. Tyki, your brother is looking for you." She smiled and he nodded before slipping past them. "So, how happy are you to work alongside your boyfriend?" She questioned, a devious glint in her eyes; the look of a true Slytherin.

"Why do you ask if you already know the answer?" He replied, linking his hands at the back of his head.

"Just making sure. I'm happy for you. And for him. This is where he belongs." She said and patted his arm. "Now, let's go downstairs, you and I have to start setting the table."

"Yes ma'am!" He grinned and followed her downstairs.

The first few days had been nerve-wracking, he was worried that he was going to mess up and poison someone by accident and that all of them would turn their backs on him. But he hadn't killed anyone and Lulu seemed to be happy with his skills so after the first week he calmed down a bit.

And of course, the fact Allen was always there ready to drop a kiss on his face or hug him just made it all better. Road and him were studying: she was doing some of her French homework as Lavi studied once again all the concoctions Lulu had given him to learn.

He felt Allen drop a kiss on his head to catch his attention. "I'm off to the gym bunny."

Lavi looked up and smiled, reaching back and pushing his lover's head down so he could kiss him, slowly, his tongue slipping into his lover's mouth almost lazily. "Don't make it worse." He muttered under his breath and against the Brit's lips.

"Trust me a little, will you?" Allen was smiling as he kissed his nose.

"And I do, or else I wouldn't be here right now, but when it concerns your fists I don't trust you much."

"Ouch." He kissed him again and stood up right. "I'll see you all later!" He yelled to everyone: they had been isolated in the club due to the storm outside last night and the two days before.

"Hey love," he turned around. "Be careful, yeah? It might rain again." Allen only winked and nodded before opening the door.

"Allen, wait!" He turned around and saw Tricia zipping up her coat. "Can you drop me downtown please?" She requested.

"Uh, sure." It wasn't uncommon for them to join someone else on a ride, but it was weird for them to do so when he was going to the gym as he was there for about 3-4 hours before going back. They both left and the woman sat on the passenger's seat. "So, where are you going, Tricia?"

"Don't worry, I have a feeling we are going to the same place." She smiled at him, sweetly.

Too sweetly.

"I don't understand what you mean, I'm…"

"You know exactly what I mean." She cut him off swiftly. "So you either start driving to that bakery, or I'll tell Neah how you really got that cut on your arm."

Allen pulled a face but obeyed. "Since when are you this bossy?" He grumbled.

"Since you decided that getting into trouble all the time was a good idea." She replied.

"And how did you know I was going there?" He questioned, sighing: it made no sense to keep playing fool.

"Lavi told you to not make it worse, he'd never say that if you had been going to the gym. And there's also the fact that you'd do anything to keep Tyki from hurting and going to beat Link is something you'd do without thinking twice." She explained shrugging.

"And you decided to tag along to keep an eye on me?"

"No. I tagged along because I'm the one who'll be doing the talking, not you." He opened his mouth to complain but she held her hand up. "Listen, I know you want Tyki to be better. I want that too, but beating someone is not always the best solution, alright? So you'll let me handle the talking, yes?"

The boy huffed, but nodded nonetheless: he really didn't need Neah knowing what exactly happened at Pimlico.

"You are evil."

"I am not. But you all need someone to keep you on your toes. And Neah trusted me with that mission, so I'm just doing my job." She replied. "He loves you, you know that right? And he just wants to make sure you are not getting into trouble more than it's needed."

"I know that." He sighed. But it still hurt that his uncle, the second closest thing he had to a father nowadays, one of the people whom he loved the most didn't trust him enough to do what he thought that was needed to make people happy.

Tricia smiled and brushed his hair out of his face. "It's not just you, you know? He asked me to keep an eye on every single one of you."

=p=

"Is Mr. Link here?" Tricia asked one of the girls behind the counter.

"The baker? Yeah, I think so. Who's asking for him?"

"I'm Tricia Oliveira and this here is Allen Marian. We own a restaurant down in Soho and we have an offer for him."

"An... offer? What kind of offer?"

"Sorry, that is only for his ears, I'm afraid. So, is he here so we may talk to him?"

The girl frowned, but slipped to the back of the shop and called the man, that came out wiping his hands on a cloth.

"Were you asking for me?" He questioned, frowning.

"Yes, is there somewhere private we could talk?" She asked.

"Uh… Sure, the office is empty." He didn't look like he trusted them but Allen couldn't blame him at all. "Mary said you had an offer for me?"

"Exactly." She nodded and followed him, Allen trailing behind, his eyes glued to the pastries at display. "I'll buy some for you later. If you behave." Tricia told him, smiling kindly.

"Really? I'll be in my best behaviour, then." He grinned back at her and the woman shook her head, not even amused by now.

They entered a small office and Link offered them a place on the sofa as he sat on the other one, but only Tricia sat down, Allen decided to remain standing just in case. "So, what's the offer?"

"There is no offer, really." She said. "We are here for a very different matter."

"What? Look, I don't have any time to spare, so you know where the door is." The man snarled as he stood up.

"Mr. Link, you are going to sit down and listen to what I have to say, or else Allen is going to be the one doing the talking. And he won't be as kind as I will be, if you understand me." Allen smiled darkly at him, all teeth and Link sat down again, huffing.

"Alright, whatever you have to say, say it."

"Tyki Mikk." He looked up, surprised at hearing that name. "I see it does ring a bell."

Sorry about the delay, but my life has suddenly become extra complicated and I have not had time to post!