+ - Chapter 14 - +

Days became weeks, and those weeks soon became a couple of months. Allen had been on edge for the second month he lived with the Lees. Something wasn't right, and frankly, if something wasn't right, Allen Walker would hope it wasn't as bad as he thought he was making it to be.

But face it. When did he ever have good luck with any of that? Never. "Allen, what's wrong?" Lenalee asked one day.

"Ah, nothing at all!" Allen was quick to reply, perhaps too quick, and the Chinese woman beside him, crossed her arms in disbelief.

"I'm not buying it."

The boy leaned his back against the wall, crossing his arms in the process. "I'm just worried; it's been far too quiet; NOAH should have found me by now."

Lenalee raised her eyebrows at that. "You make it sound like you want them to find you..."

"No... It's just... They're planning something; I can feel it. And I don't like being left in the dark; if anything were to ever happen to one of you guys..." Allen winced, chest tightening at the thought.

The Chinese woman smiled kindly at the boy she'd come to see as part of her family, despite the short time he'd been living there. "You should be more worried about Kanda; honestly, that man comes by here nearly every day, it's a miracle he ever gets any work done."

"You know, he's starting to remind me of your brother. Save for the bit where he actually does work." Allen pointed out. "It's freaky."

"Sorry about either of them...men are so difficult to deal with." Allen could almost feel that drop of sweat rolling down his temple, as he decided to just agree with her. "Anyway, I'm sure you have nothing to worry about. Lavi and Link are both snooping around to find anything they can."

"You honestly don't sound too worried of your boyfriend's safety right now."

"He's safer with Link right now than he is here..." The duo heard a sneeze from upstairs, and both looked to each other before laughing. "I guess people do sneeze if you sorta talk about them."

"I guess so." Allen mused. "But I'm pretty sure that was one of his 'Lenalee is about to be molested' alerts or something, right?"

"Eh...no...just no, Allen."

A hand on his shoulder stopped him from continuing on with the conversation, startling the boy as he hadn't heard anyone get behind him. His slightly fearful gaze was met with the triumphant gleam of midnight blue eyes. "You're getting easier to sneak up on, Moyashi."

Allen's heart clenched in his chest as the Japanese man's hand slipped from his shoulder and trailed down his back. Before the limb could reach it's desired destination, of which the boy refused to think about, Allen stepped away from the other, face settling into an annoyed glare. "Oh; you're here..."

Lenalee sighed. "Don't you even knock anymore?"

The FBI agent just shrugged at the question. "You have something I want. Besides; if I knocked, would you even let me in?"

"Let me take a second to...ah, I don't need a second. HELL NO, you stupid pervert!"

"Che."

Lenalee sighed. She figured perhaps she should invest in a Kanda proof lock. "Besides trying to get a piece of Allen's rear end. Again. What was it you wanted?"

That seemed to have caused an arrow through his chest. "Oi, I came here for Mugen."

"Mugen? Wait, why is that even here?"

"We had to move to confiscation box to our home." Lenalee answered, crossing her arms. "It was the only way he wouldn't foolishly try stealing his heirloom back when he still has another WEEK left before he can get it back for good behavior."

"A week left, was last fucking week."

"Was it really now?"

The Japanese man's eye twitched. "Yes; now give me Mugen."

"Fine, fine." Lenalee rolled her eyes at the other's antics and turned to go retrieve the sword, leaving both of the boys. A pervert and his victim. Alone together.

Allen audibly gulped, refusing to look up and meet the gaze of the man who he knew was glad with how this had all played out.

Said man took hold of his chin, tilting it upwards so that he would be forced to see the smirk on the elder's face. "Something wrong, moyashi?"

The boy was frozen in place as Kanda moved forwards to nibble on his earlobe. Face alight with embarrassment, Allen pushed weakly against the other's chest, but was unable to make the well-built man budge an inch. "St-naa~"

Silver eyes widened, the Brit unable to believe that HE of all people had made such a sound all because of someone's molestation habit. On the other hand, Kanda had taken it to mean that the kid's ears were is weak spot. And he was right.

Like the first time they'd met, the FBI agent traced the boy's reddening ear with his tongue, enjoying the little pants and squeals he was rewarded with.

"For someone who protests, you seem to enjoy it." No sooner did he finish that sentence, a big ball of protective golden fur suddenly attacked, catching the older man off guard, and suddenly pinned to the floor by the oversize rottweiler. Its sharp teeth bared, and the fur on its back bristled.

"G-Good boy..." Allen managed to get out as he sunk to the floor. Seemed Timcanpy wasn't all too thrilled with any pervert. NOAH or FBI alike.

"God dammit, get this mutt off me!"

"Stay on him, boy!" Allen quickly demanded, of his loyal K9 companion. "Where did you even come from anyway?"

"I found him trapped in the closet. I take it that was your own doing, pretty boy?" Allen blinked, and nearly had a heart attack as Cross himself stood in the doorway seeming annoyed, and oddly...sober.

Kanda must've been just as shocked, for his remark came a little later than instant. "The fuck are you even doing here?"

"Oi. Didn't I tell you to keep your mitts of my charge?"

"You did!" Allen piped up, a grin forming on his face. "But alas, he likes thinking with the wrong head."

"Moyashi, when I get this dog off me, I'll-"

"What in the world is going on down here?" Lenalee had returned with Mugen in two hands. Upon looking about the scene, she was able to put two and two together. "Yu Kanda, did you try to molest him AGAIN? Oh my god! I can't believe you!"

Cross cocked Judgment, an evil glint in his visible eye. "Again, was it? I leave the boy for two months, and you keep trying to steal what innocence he has left?"

Allen blushed at his guardian's choice of words. "M-Master!"

"What?" The long-haired red-head grinned down at the Japanese man through his glasses, enjoying the sight of the pretty boy glaring up at him from the floor.

"I think he gets the idea..."

Cross raised an eyebrow at his charge. "You're defending him? Don't tell me you really want him up your-"

"NO!" The boy cut off, now mortified beyond belief.

The female in the group rolled her eyes. "I'm just going to put this back, where you can't get it."

"Lenalee, give me Mugen, dammit!"

"Punishment." Lenalee stated before heading back upstairs. "Kanda, if you even THINK of touching him, I can and I will illegally make you a legal female." The threat, although sent to Kanda, had made all three men in the vicinity cringe at the thought of losing their "manly prides".

Allen, who was about to call Timcanpy off of his attacker, jumped at the sound of his phone ringing. With a sigh, the boy stepped out of the room, frowning when noticing that the number was 'unknown'. "Hello?"

"Shounen~" Came the familiar raspy greeting from the other end.

The British boy gasped, the sound crackling through the line. "T-Tyki?"

"Mmn; it's so nice to finally hear your voice again. Are you having fun?" The Portuguese man questioned.

"I-I..." Allen stuttered.

"Nice friends you have: a scientist, a pirate, a drunkard, a Nazi, a samurai and a doll. Can I play with them too?" Tyki continued on.

Those words froze the blood in the boy's body, fear coursing throughout his entire being. "What do you want?!" He hissed.

"Ahh; you always were a smart one. The Earl wants a little chat with you; what do you say?"

Casting a glance back at his companions in the other room. "When and where?"

"Now that's a good shounen~"

He didn't get any information, for his phone was suddenly snatched from him. "So that's where you went, was it, bastard?" Cross's voice was dark and menacing. "I hope you know I'm going to fuck you up when I get my hands on you, Mikk."

Horrified to high heaven, Allen tried, and failed miserably, to get back his phone from his legal guardian. By then, Kanda had managed to get Timcanpy off him, and he pulled back the younger male. "Calm your damn tits, moyashi."

"Calm my-?" Allen glared over his shoulder, "God dammit, Kanda lemme go!"

"Can't you shut that idiot up already?" Cross shouted over his shoulder. "You shut up, disgusting NOAH, I ain't talking to you with that!"

"Che…Moyashi…ow!" Allen had bit his fingers when he tried covering the younger male's mouth, "Fucking dammit! Fine, you asked for it, you little spaz!" Allen felt a dull pain in his neck before falling limp in the Japanese man's arms.

"Tch. You don't know when to give up." Cross growled into the phone. "You can tell that fat marshmallow, word for word, 'If you want to get the boy, you're gonna go through me.', you got that, you sick pedophile? Tell Adam I called him that too." If an argument was about to ensue, Kanda didn't know, because Cross crushed Allen's phone in his hand.

"He's going to kill you for that one." Kanda off-handily pointed out.

"He'll get over it."

It was at that moment that Lenalee decided to return, only to find that her youngest friend was laying unconscious in the arms of a pervert. "KANDA?! HOW COULD YOU?!"

And then, of course, seeing as this was the Lee house, Komui ran down the stairs, inventions at the ready. "LENALEE?! WHAT HAS THAT PERVERT DONE TO MY PRECIOUS SISTER?!"

Cross groaned, feeling a migraine coming on. "Komui, shut the fuck up, no one is molesting your sister. Miss Lee, he did nothing."

"But-"

"I told him to shut him up while I threatened a pedophile trying to lure the kid into a damn trap." Cross informed them, deciding on leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. "As long as I'm in the room, there's no way this other pervert in the brat's life is going to touch my charge inappropriately, lest he has that desire to lose his damn hands."

Kanda clucked his tongue, deciding it'd be safer to put the boy on the couch. He didn't fear many, but he knew who not to mess with. Cross officially at the top of that list with Lenalee. "Is that true, Kanda?"

"I got attacked by a damn dog, shot at by a psychopath with a big-assed gun, and you really think I'd try anything when said psycho is here? Che. Like hell." By the time he had finished, Allen was placed on the sofa, out cold, and still unaware of those around him. Timcanpy took that as an invitation to stand guard of his white-haired master, growling lowly at Kanda if he dared try anything unpleasant.

The Japanese man just held out his hand. "We're not leaving; if we did, they'd just find us. Now give me Mugen."

"I swear; all you ever think about is raping Allen and that damn sword!" Lenalee exclaimed, aggravated beyond belief.

Kanda shook his head, pissed at the fact that the Chinese woman's voice had kept rising with every word. Before he could retaliate, the girl decided to continue on with her rant. "SINCE YOU SEEM TO LOVE THE TWO SO MUCH, WHY DON'T YOU JUST FUCK HIM WITH MUGEN?!"

The FBI agent chocked on whatever it was he had been about to say, trying, and failing, to banish the images of shoving his beloved sword's sheath up the British boy's ass. His cock hardened almost instantly at the thought of all those mewls and moans he'd receive from his soon-to-be lover.

"That's a thing?" A confused Lavi asked, appearing from the hallway with a shocked Link in tow.

The German man glared over at the only other FBI agent in the room, taking in those eyes that seemed slightly unfocussed. "Miss Lee; I'd like to ask you to refrain from giving that pervert any more ideas."

At that, everyone turned to see Kanda just standing there, silently staring at the floor with a frown.

"Honestly, Lena, I think your mind isn't as innocent as Komui thought it was." Lavi said, keeping a straight face, though failing miserably shortly after.

Flushing from embarrassment, Lenalee huffed, and crossed her arms. "Stupid rabbit..." She muttered.

"Aw, c'mon, Lena-lady! Y'know you can't get enough of all this sexiness right here~!"

"Oh Lavi~" Said rabbit paled. "It's bad enough Kanda's language had tainted my sweet sister's vocabulary~ Surly you're not even THINKING of physically doing so~?"

"O-of course not! I was just s-saying that I'm incredibly handsome a-and never even thought of doing anything l-like that with your sister." Lavi stuttered in fear.

After snapping out of his fantasies, Kanda rolled his eyes. "Che. Coward."

The rabbit's response was poking out his tongue. "I have Komui, you have Cross; don't see you doing any better."

"I'm certain they're evenly matched. One means your death, the other means the loss of your penis." Link said. "Of course, Allen also has me, so perhaps Kanda has it twice as worse."

"Dude, how do you say that with a straight face?"

"Say what?"

"Penis." A lapse of silence, before the rabbit starts laughing hysterically.

"Is there something humorous about the word?"

Komui and Lenalee sighed. "Ignore him, he's just being an idiot."

"That...was just disturbing." Kanda grumbled, noting that the Lee siblings said that at the same moment.

Allen awoke to pain in his neck and his friends discussing Lavi's idiocy. Despite now being awake, the boy didn't move, simply choosing to lay there and process what Tyki had said before they'd been interrupted.

If NOAH knew who the others were, and he didn't step in, they would all die. The youth's heart began to beat frantically in his chest at the thought, but his face revealed nothing. Then again, they all thought that he was sleeping; only perverts watch people when they're... oh. Allen was glad that he'd kept his face slack and not decided to peek at his friends through his eyelids; Kanda would probably have noticed and informed the others.

Even with his thoughts all over the place, the Brit didn't fail to notice the tell-tale sound of padded footsteps leading upstairs. One down; five to go.

It was then that Lenalee's voice broke through the quiet. "Kanda, you and Link are coming with me to make dinner; there's no way I'm leaving you here."

Silently thanking the Chinese woman, Allen patiently waited until the three had left the room, not believing his luck when Lavi had yelled 'me too' and scampered after the bickering trio. Now all he had to deal with was Master.

"What kind of hell is this place? No alcohol? Dammit." Cross grumbled, and the boy knew that he wouldn't have to wait long.

That's what he hoped, anyway. Minutes passed by, and Allen was wondering when the elder was going to leave him be. "Brat, if you keep pretending to be sleeping, I'll make you sleep with the fishes. Wake the fuck up, or I'll triple the debts you normally pay for me."

"I can't pay debts if you make me sleep with the fish." Allen sighed, though the thought of being debt free for an eternity sounded rather tempting. Allen wouldn't take his own life, though. He was taught that suicide was a coward's way of something dreadful. Or as Mana once put it, 'Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.' Those words, and the will to keep walking were some of things he held on to, since his adoptive father's passing.

"I'm pretty damn sure you'd find a way." Cross grumbled.

The boy's eyes connected with his guardian's and he sighed. "I'm going to talk to my uncle."

Instead of ordering him not to, or just knocking him out like he thought would happen, the red-head just raised an eyebrow. Well, he COULD have raised both, but the other was obscured by that mask. "Really?"

Allen nodded, gaze on the floor. "We... have something to discuss."

"What about these idiots?" Cross questioned, gesturing to the kitchen and upstairs.

The ball of fear in the youth's stomach expanded. "Don't tell them."

"Kid, listen up, I ain't repeating myself." Cross dictated, after seemingly gathering his thoughts on the matter. "Whether you like it or not, NOAH will come after them regardless of if you talk with fatso or not."

"But surely he'd-"

"What? Listen to reason? Let this one slide? Leave your friends out of this?"

"But I could-!"

"No, you can't." Cross said with finality. "The Earl doesn't give a flying fuck about you as a person. You're just another piece on his elaborate game."

Allen looked to the older male, quirking a brow. "With the way you mentioned it...you make me assume he sees me as not so much a pawn, but an important piece."

"Tell me something, brat. You've seen what he does to pawns that failed him." Cross suddenly seemed older beyond his years, as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "You yourself had failed once or twice, and the worst you get is a slap on the wrist, or rather, their version of it."

"I...don't comprehend what you mean."

"You're stupider than you let on, Moyashi." Allen's demeanor froze up, as he looked to see Kanda had come back at some point. "The Earl doesn't give a flying fuck about pawns, and he detests pawns who are useless to him."

"W-wha...how long were you there for?"

Kanda rolled his eyes, as he stalked over to the younger. "Long enough to understand what fucked up things they had to have done to you."