Disclaimer : I don't own -Man
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Decision Gone Wrong
Chapter 1
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Three years, Alma noted, it had been three years since Yuu was forced to bring Allen into their relationship.
Personally, he didn't hate the younger male — Who would? Allen was so sweet to everyone — even him.
Him, the partner of Allen's official husband. As much as he hated to be considered the third wheel in the relationship (even though he was together with Yuu way longer than the other), that was still not a legit reason for him to hate Allen Walker.
It was all Tiedoll's idea, he knew. It hurt him a little when he learned that Tiedoll did not want to give them his blessing, but the logical side of him convinced him that time can prove everything. He'll prove that he's the only one Yuu needed in life— Not Allen Walker or anyone — He was the only one Yuu wanted.
It was harsh for Tiedoll to ask a stranger to get into a relationship just to get rid of him.
Allen was dragged into this mess, he knew. However, how should he face said victim?
He was not in the wrong; Allen was innocent; Yuu certainly did not do any wrong as well — Who was in the fault?
His first meeting with the hooded male was in Tiedoll's house.
Kanda had brought him back, glaring at his old man as he introduced Allen to him. From how tight Kanda's grip was on his palm, it was clear that Kanda hated Allen for getting involved in their relationship. Poor guy, he thought mentally. He expected a slap from this stranger — at least that was how it usually goes in T.V. shows.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Allen Walker. You must be Alma Karma."
… Where were all the yellings, and accusation? Even if Allen Walker was forced into these, why isn't he fighting back?
This could only mean one thing to Alma. Allen Walker was interested in Yuu as well — At least, that was what he thought.
Yet, with how Allen treated them daily without wanting to disturb Alma and Kanda when they were at home, is this how someone with their mate in infidelity act? Was it a scheme? But Allen looked so… innocent to them. Well, he couldn't see Allen's facial expression with his hood on all the time but trust him when said this — He just knew.
Allen Walker does not seem to be the scheming type.
The more he gave it a thought, the more curiosity took over his senses.
What's under the hood? What was Allen hiding from them?
As he pushed the door ajar, he was a little shock to find Allen collapse on the sofa.
Never had he seen Allen resting so openly in their presence. Was Allen waiting for them to come back? Or was it just Allen being too tired?
Alma decided to believe the previous statement. It was Christmas after all — Allen might wanted to celebrate with them for all they know.
Three years could change a lot of things.
Alma could tell that Kanda doesn't hate Allen as much by now. The Japanese male was just unsure how to face the British male. No matter how they put it, the relationship between the three of them are… Awkward.
Allen moved a little.
"Ah, he's awake." Alma exclaimed.
It's now or never, Alma breathed in a deep breath.
Yuu will never take the first step; but he can, and he will.
He just need to start a normal conversation with Allen, and lower down his defences.
"Allen, may I know why are your gloves and hood always on?" It was meant to be a friendly act. All he had to do, was to make Allen comfortable with them. Then, it will be the matter of time for Allen to willingly remove his disguise.
Alma raised his hand to give Allen a pat.
He didn't think that Allen would freak out so much and pushed him away.
He didn't think Kanda would get so mad either.
A fight broke up. That was the first time he knew that even someone as sweet as Allen can get so mad. It was his fault for wanting intimate gesture with said male — but what could he do now to not add oil to fire?
"Yuu, it's really okay, Allen apologized too. Let's just forget— Yuu, stop that!"
The moment the hood fell, so does his breathing.
He heard of albinism; he knew how different an albino looked from them, but he didn't know they would be so breathtakingly aesthetic.
Achromatic iris, together with that pale skin and silver hair — Is this how every albino looks like?
He was frozen in his place as Allen rushed back to his room, slamming the door loud. Visibly flinched at the noise, he rubbed his ears tenderly, before turning to face the other occupant of the house.
Kanda looked shocked, his eyes widening ever so slightly, his usual scowl was not there on his face. The moment the hood fell, he expected a lot of things: average-looking guy, weirdo, someone with scars on their face— But none of it entered his sight. Well, there was a scar on the British's face, he noted, yet that was not what surprised him. It was clear that he doesn't know this face before, so why did his heart skipped a beat? Why was his heart reacting as if they were not so… surprised to look at the terrified male before him?
"I don't want to go back there!"
For some reason, he remembered a child that he used to play with in his childhood. Back then, he had use their height as an indicator for who was older than the other. It never crossed his mind to ask for the child's age, so he didn't know if it's right to assume that the child was younger than him. That child always cry, he remembered, especially when the sun set and the adults came to fetch them home. He would ran and hid himself behind Kanda, all the while begging for Kanda to stay a little longer.
"It's not like we won't see each other tomorrow," He had said.
Still, the child shook his head violently. He knew why the child didn't want to return — It was not that hard to notice the bruises and wounds on the child's limbs. Even so, as a child, what could he do to make the child feel better? One thing for sure, no matter how much he protect the child, he could not stop what happened to the boy outside the playground. No matter how close they are, they both still need to bid each other goodbye when it was time to go home.
"I'll be right here tomorrow."
Child abuse was everywhere, there was no way he can do anything against the adults. Being a child means being obedient to the adults; that's what they should do — According to society, that's it. Tiedoll however, was a different case. That old man had taught Kanda to think everything through and bravely take action. So, when the bruises on the child increased, he knew he had to do something.
He told Tiedoll what he knew.
He thought the child would be safe then.
The second day after Tiedoll reported to the officers about the child, the child appeared in the playground in worse state he had ever seen.
"Yuu… Reported them?"
The child whispered to him softly, questioning him. Those still-bleeding wounds and worse beatings on his face — It was too much for Kanda to say a word. He simply nodded in response. The child stared at him a while, before smiling a tired smile to him, "They wanted me to tell you this: Mind your own business."
He remembered he opened his mouth to say something but the child interrupted him — "I too."
Cold spread across his chest.
The child didn't want any help…? But didn't it hurt? Wasn't it painful to be at home? Wasn't that the reason child refused to go home every evening?
"You need to stop this. I don't know what they're doing to you but you're going to die if this continues!"
"Yuu, I don't die that easily."
"You still will!"
They did not play that day; they simply sat on the sand, back against each other. Evening came, he helped the child up and finally stared straight into those hazel eyes.
"... Are you going to be alright?"
He understood, his report may had make the child's parent mad, thus increasing the amount of abuse on said child. Was it still alright for the child to return at this rate?
"... I think so."
He never see the child since. He tried finding the child, though all was in vain.
He had long given up.
So why exactly was his heart reacting this way towards the British male? That child and Allen Walker, they are two separate beings with different facial features, so why?
"Yuu, I know Allen's attractive but you don't have to look at him like that!"
Alma knew that he screwed up. Not only did he pissed Allen off, Kanda seemed to be astounded by Allen's appearance as well.
"He looks really… Familiar." No, familiar was not even close — His heart was screaming to Kanda that Allen Walker might be related to that child.
— Wait a second, "Walker"…?
What was the child's name? Walker what?
He could at least confirm that it was not Allen Walker, but what was the exact name of that child?
"Familiar? Of course he looks familiar! He's been here, living with us for three freaking years!" Alma stomped his way into the kitchen. He hastily filled a cup of water before gulping them down fast.
He needs to calm down.
There was no wrong for Kanda to be stunned by such appearance, it was no wrong in Allen running away from them as well. If he was in Allen's shoes, he would run too.
Another cup filled, he swallowed the liquid slowly this time.
He started this mess — His intention was good, but he did it the wrong way. That was why Allen freaked out and pushed his hand away. Yes, he was in the wrong. Then, Kanda proceeded to questioned Allen for it; alright Kanda was in the wrong too. Kanda pulling off the hood was what set fire to said incident.
Okay, he saw how Allen looked like under the hood, now what?
How should he face Allen the next day?
Scratch that — how should they face Allen the next day?
They invaded Allen's privacy. Would Allen forgive them easily?
Would apologize even work?
Sighing, he filled up another cup and walked back to the hall, passing the second cup to the other male, in which Kanda was too preoccupied to realize there was a cup before him. An eyebrow raised, Alma took a seat beside Kanda, his hand placing both cups on the table.
"You recognized him?"
He watched the Japanese squinted his brows with his eyes close a while. Before long, said male opened his eyes while sighing in defeat, "Not exactly."
With that said, Kanda finally noticed the cups. He took one, mumbling a soft "thanks" as he did so.
"He looks… Familiar, but nothing seems to fit the picture."
"No matter what, it was rude of you to remove his hood without permission," Alma shook his head slightly. "Allen was right, it was overboard for you to remove his hood just because I asked if he will ever remove 'em."
Kanda grumbled under his breath.
"Apologize, and let's wish that he would accept our apologies."
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Decision Gone Wrong
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When was the last time people saw him without his hood on? Family aside, who had ever gain his trust to let him remove his hood willingly? Was it back when he was still a child?
He scoffed, as if I needed a hoodie back then, he rolled his eyes at said thought.
No one would want to be near someone with bleached hair — He learnt that the hard way when he was still a child. Even if those strands were naturally silver, society had make it the way where the minorities would be considered a freak towards the majorities.
Tyki's avoidance towards him in the past — Even when the evidence was clear that Tyki wasn't avoiding him for his hair, it was still hard for him to convince himself that his hair was not one of the many factors for Tyki's action.
Moving out from Tyki's wasn't as hard as he imagined. Everything was still the same to him. The only difference was how a hooded was added into his everyday life. Soon, his hood was a part of him — He feels naked without it.
The couple outside his door, they were not even close to him, yet they had seen his naked side. He felt violated, disgusted even. Now, not only would he feel insecure for the rest of the night; Alma and Kanda will make him get out the house the moment he stepped out of his room tomorrow.
Perhaps he should just start packing? Texting Tyki that he will crash at his place again?
Careless, he clicked his tongue in annoyance.
If only he wasn't too lazy to climb the stairs when he needed a nap, all these would not happen.
Truthfully, he did not hate the couple.
No matter how mean they were towards him, he enjoyed their presence. He had imagined that the couple accepted him in the house when the truth was clearly the total opposite. He imagined that he had finally found someone to accept him as a normal human.
Normal human interaction — he yearn it for years.
Tyki cared for him, but it was obvious that Tyki still couldn't be in the same room with him for too long. They still communicate, they still had interaction — But those were simply temporary. It was not hard to see when Tyki needed out from his presence, especially after they stayed together for a long period of time.
From zero interactions to their current state, it took them both a while. Even so, the tension was always there.
The day he met Tyki for the first time, said male was relieved to see him. Yet, when the adult behind Allen stepped in, he swore he saw Tyki's face went pale.
"... Where's him?"
"Him" was clearly not asking about Allen but someone else, so who?
He didn't know how the adult behind him reacted.
It was all silent before he saw tears flowing out from those disbelieved eyes.
"You — You were there, weren't you?"
"Tyki calm down!"
Their first meeting was not touching at all.
There were no hugs, no tears, no exclamation of how glad they are with each other's safety— Only screamings and yellings.
He was pinned down on the floor; the other screaming at him above him while those tear flowed freely. That was how he learned Tyki's name as well. No introductions were made between the two child — He simply learned it from the screaming adult.
Tyki Mikk, a child who was 3 years older than him. And the "he" Tyki was referring to? It was the same named a redhead he used to room
He didn't know who the redhead was — Or should he say that he didn't interact with that redhead at all? Roommates aside, what other reasons does he have to interact with the redhead? Who would waste their energy socialising with someone that you might not see them anymore any time soon?
And he was right.
The redhead was gone after a week and he was rooming alone once again.
The redhead was not his first roommate; not his last either.
So what's the point interacting with each other?
"It was not his fault, Tyki!"
"He was there, dad! He was there!"
"He was a victim himself! There's nothing he could had done to save anyone!"
There's nothing he could had done to save anyone.
That struck his heart hard.
Indeed, he was a weak, helpless child.
There were hundreds of other child with him before this adult rescued him. What could he do to stop the killings when he couldn't even make sure he himself will live through to see the next sunrise?
His phone vibrated, signaling him of the arrival of a new message.
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((Received))
From: Tyki
Alright. Do you need a ride home?
Send over your address.
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Staring at the direction of bed after setting his phone down, Allen sighed.
Guess I should start packing by now?
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Decision Gone Wrong
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It was an awkward morning.
Alma and Kanda were slowly savoring their breakfast, while Allen was still in the kitchen, preparing his own breakfast.
Allen soon came out from the kitchen with his own plate of breakfast. His hood and gloves were on as usual. However, instead of the smile on his face, it looked more like a tiredly forced smile that morning.
Kicking at Kanda's chair, Alma stared at Kanda, relaying his message to his mate silently while finishing his breakfast.
Allen's here. Apologize.
Kanda stared back in annoyance, Do I have to?
Yes, it was your fault. Say sorry to him.
Growling, Kanda opened his mouth to speak. Yet it was Allen who broke the silence.
"I was in the wrong yesterday. I'm sorry."
That shut Kanda up.
Sure, it was rude for the beansprout to push Alma away, but that was due to Alma's action wasn't it?
"I understand that you both feel uncomfortable with my appearance," he scoffed mentally, who won't? "— I've contacted my family to get me back next week. So it's safe to say that I'll be gone soon."
He wanted to get away today — He was sure the other occupants of the house wanted that too — Since he didn't have a car licence, he needed Tyki to be the driver. That being said, he needed to stay here a week more since Tyki will be working. Therefore, Allen and Tyki decided to set the date to later.
Say what…? Alma gulped nervously, this was not what he wanted! He didn't want Allen to leave them this way. He just wanted Allen to open up to them!
"As for Tiedoll… I'll make up some excuse. I'll just need your cooperations to make it believable—"
"Allen Walker, you got it all wrong!" We were in the wrong, not you!
Alma breathed in a deep breath, soothing himself of the nervousness climbing up his veins.
"Yesterday was a mistake. I just thought it would be a little too warm for you to wear the gloves and hood 24/7."
Allen stared at him, surprised.
"I wanted to convince you to take your hood off, but I guess I startled you." Alma smiled sheepishly. "Yuu felt bad for pulling your hood off too. We were planning to apologize to you today but none of us know how to start a conversation since you looked so mad yesterday…"
Alma apologizing to him was an understatement; but Kanda Yuu feels bad for his actions?
The mighty Kanda Yuu?
Allen converted his sight onto the other male.
Said male just grunted in response.
"Are… Are we forgiven?" Alma half whispered.
"I never blamed you guys." I just knew I'll be cast away as usual — Not that it makes any difference now.
Alma visibly brighten up.
"No leaving either?"
Allen blinked, confused. It took him a while for the message to click,
"You guys still want me here?"
"Of course!"
He had thought these two would react how majorities would — Chasing him out the house or somewhere along those lines.
"But we have some questions we wanted to ask —"
"My hair is naturally that way."
"Well, that too, but we wanted to ask something else actually."
Allen rose an eyebrow, "Go on."
Alma took a deep breath, nervousness visible on his facial, "Well, I understand that your hair may be," Alma stopped a while, thinking of a more accurate word, "different, which is most probably why you wore a hood." He looked up into those monochromatic iris, in which a nod was given.
Feeling the confidence slowly growing in him, Alma's nervousness visibly lessen, "How about your gloves? It's quite hot in this country."
"..."
"W-Well, it's okay if you don't feel comfortable answering us." Alma gulped a little, "Moving on," he glanced at Kanda a while, "Does Yuu looked like anyone you knew in the past?"
"I'm Yuu. What's your name?"
"... Walker."
Yes, of course. Kanda Yuu has the same name as the child from his childhood, though he never did ask the child what his full name was.
"His name is familiar."
"Where?"
Allen turned his attention to the raven-haired male, "Pardon?"
"Where did you hear that from?!"
"... He was a friend — A bad one at that."
It was pin drop silence.
Yes, it wasn't the first time Allen thought that Kanda's first name was familiar. In fact, he knew that Kanda might be the exact same child from the past — The one who left him when Allen needed him the most.
But he didn't know, a part of him argued. He could have stay for a little longer, at least after he was stable—
The logical part of him knew that it was selfish for him to think so. It was wrong. So, so wrong. Yuu was a normal kid; he was not.
When he first met Kanda with Tiedoll, everything clicked.
He understood why he put up with Tiedoll's carelessness since he helped said man, he understood why he forced himself to meet up with the old man again and again even when he felt uncomfortable meeting said man.
It was the same father and son back then, the one who cared so much for him that they reported them for him.
Sure, it backfired but it's the thought that counts, right?
That aside, Kanda Yuu seemed to not remember him as well. He laughed at himself mentally.
Why would Kanda Yuu remember him?
He changed.
His appearance changed so much.
No— It was normal that no one remembers him because he was not suppose to be alive.
"A friend…?"
"Yes." He nodded.
"Can you tell us more…?"
What's the point really? It was almost laughable, Allen noticed.
"Long story short, this friend left me."
It was not his fault — He did the right thing.
He was not suppose to be close to "Allen Walker", so he left.
As much as it hurts, it's the truth Allen could not deny.
"He left me."
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TBC
A/N: Really sorry for the late late update guys. This chapter was typed halfway when my new semester started and assignments started to flood me up so I have to take a break from writing for the past months. I'll try to update all my stories as much as I can this month.