Funny chapter! Well, it's me torturing Allen because he's too cute.

Countdown: 300 days until Nea's betrayal

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Junior was wrong.

Allen Walker a.k.a Bookman Junior was so, incredibly wrong.

He continuously thought curses as he struggled to keep the polite smile on his face as he stared at this man. Three women hung off both arms, and the smell of alcohol was so heavy in the air.

A bar.

He let Nea drag him to a bar-underage, and all the while disobeying Bookman's orders! If the panda found out...

Allen kept feeling the uncontrollable desire to strangle this man with his long red hair.

...Bookman would kill him if he ever found out where Allen was. He could hear his lecture now:

"A proper Bookman shouldn't be in a bar-he should be recording! I will close this record-" and blah blah blah.

"So, this is the brat you've been talking about," Cross commented, "Seems a little scrawny don't you think? A bit short..." He paused, "Looks like a girl with his long hair. You sure he's the right fit?"

E-eh? A-a girl?!

So Nea was right: Cross was a jerk. Not to mention-he had long hair too!

T-that...jerk!

From beside Allen, Nea stifled laughter, even when Allen elbowed him. Then, quickly, he tied back his hair. It previously fell all over his face, like how a girl would style it.

Cross eyed him; he looked a little more boyish now, with his hair back. Still incredibly feminine, but he couldn't help that.

"What's your name?"

Allen was so tempted to tell him the truth; he had no name. He wanted to tell him to call him Junior because like hell this...this...thing would call him by his carefully selected name.

...However he had an alias for a reason.

Allen kept the smile on his face, because he wouldn't let his alias die because of Cross.

"My name is Allen Walker, pleasure to meet you." He bowed politely, because it was habit in Bookman territory. They always bowed to their elders.

"What're you bowing for? Your dialect and accent says that you're british." Cross deadpanned, and drank a long gulp of whatever was in his cup. Allen felt his eye twitch, and Nea burst into full blown laughter.

"Y'know, if you're such a strong exorcist, shouldn't you be a general?" Allen bit back, polite smile still on his face.

...So much for trying to be polite.

"For Nea to trust you, shouldn't you be smarter?"

Nea's laughter increased.

As he wiped tears, Nea lamented, Ah, maybe Junior and Cross weren't the best of mixes, at least if I had asked Road she would've probably killed Cross by now...

In Allen's mind, the curses increased.

"Nea," Allen harshly whispered to Nea, "You never said that-"

"I told you that you two may not get along, Junior!" Nea hummed, "Now, be a good short stack and tell Cross everything about yourself."

Shortstack?!

Allen blinked back, "No way!"

Nea's amused smile turned serious, "Do it, or I'll show everybody those embarrassing photos and tell your master that you were out drinking!" Which wasn't true, because Allen was a pure child who refrained from it. As a Bookman heir, it was prohibited to do anything that would risk their memory of recording abilities

That and Allen knew better than to lose awareness of his surroundings around Nea.

"Y-you would lie?" Allen gasped.

"Of course I would. My family business is destroying lives." All the while smiling sweetly-Nea really was the devil.

...And that wasn't a lie.

Allen knew Nea would really do it.

"A-Ah...no...no...we-ah- don't have to go that far..." Allen laughed nervously before turning to Cross, "Well, Mr. Cross, you may call me Allen, but I have you know that typically I go by Junior."

Here, he'd get to act all proud that he was a bookman heir. Cross would be so surprised…

He'd get to act all arrogant and elated and Cross would be in awe at him. It was a win-win situation!

Cross blinked, "What're you? Your father was Allen Walker as well?"

Allen smirked, arrogance clear in his face, "No. Allen is actually not my name. I have no name you see for-"

"Ah," Cross interrupted, making Allen deflate, "you are a Bookman heir I see. Bookman Junior is what you go by...ah...so I won't call you Allen then..." He looked defeated, making Allen beam.

Allen brightened, "You won't?"

...A moment of silence passed.

"Short stack is a much better name..." Cross smirked, "And I was fully prepared to call you by your alias. Too bad…"

"..."

"..."

Nea burst into laughter, "HAHAHAHA! I guess he got you, huh, Junior?"

" #%&%^$ $..." Was in Allen's mind once more.

In absolute hindsight, Nea should've told Allen more about Cross. Even if it was hilarious, Allen would throw a fit when they got home. Cross and Allen weren't the best of mixes, but at least it would be fun for the remainder.

And at least he'd be laughing more often now. Mana was always complaining that Nea didn't smile nearly as much.

Still laughing, he held up his notebook.

[Final Countdown: 300 days]

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Needless to say, the first meeting didn't go too well. Allen got found out by Bookman, and was kicked for disobeying. He also got yelled at in five different languages which was always fun to listen to.

Hearing Allen answer in the five languages was always a pleasure as well. He wasn't too fluent in German yet so he sounded like he was speaking gibberish. Fiidora, who was German, had to translate on more than one occasion.

Mana found out that Nea was there as well, and cried because he thought his brother was eloping with some blonde bartender. They were arguing in Mana's room about marriage and kids.

...Something about how Nea would be a terrible parent...and husband...and everything in between…

Cross is completely fine, because Cross is one hell of an exorcist.

And that was their first meeting.

*dies laughing* I'm so mean to Allen. Short chapter but we're kind of almost done and I thought that Allen and Cross wouldn't like each other at first.