On Tuesday morning, at exactly 5:01 am, Allen Mana Walker, named for his father, deceased, knocked on the locked doors of Akuma. He knew the building was closed. He cupped his hands around his eyes and peered in.

There wasn't a soul in sight. Which was to be expected at 5:01 am. He sighed, breath making a warm, foggy cloud on the otherwise cold glass.

A movement caught his eye. It was a security guard, looking all big and buff. He crossed his arms a few feet away from the door and made a 'go away' gesture with his head. He also made sure that the gun attached to his hip was plainly visible. Probably a little antsy after that whole break-in thing.

Allen rolled his eyes. He sighed again. Then he grabbed the end of his scarf, unfurling it and at the same time slipping his hat off of his head.

Immediate recognition flashed in the guard's eyes and he hurriedly unhooked the ring of keys from his belt loop. Allen waited patiently as the door was opened.

"Mr. Walker! My deepest apologies; I didn't recognize you at first."

"It's fine, it's fine." He said, waving him off. The guard nodded.

"Thank you, sir. But I'm going to need to know why you're here."

"I've been looking for my boss." He self-consciously placed his hat back on his head. "Called his house, but he didn't pick up. So I assumed he was here…" Allen let the sentence hang in the air. The guard shifted on his feet a bit, nervously. Allen's eyes narrowed. "Is he here?"

"Well… yes. But I don't think he wants to see you yet!" The white-haired man raised a brow. Something was being hidden from him.

"Eh, he can suck it up. I have something important I need to tell him and I know deep down he wants to see my beautiful face." The guard looked like he wanted to protest, but Allen slid right past him towards the elevator. He turned to face the uniformed man and smiled. "I'll show myself up?" The doors closed.

Once out of sight, Allen sank against the back wall to the compartment. He pressed the button of the floor he wished to ascend to and dug into his pocket for his phone. He quickly whipped it out and checked for any new messages. Specifically any from Tim.

Nothing.

With a small groan he pressed the cool surface of the phone to his forehead. A tear began to well up in his eye, but he refused to shed it. Not over this.

"Tim… where did you go?"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The first thing he noticed was that it was warm. A little too warm, actually. On the verge of being uncomfortable.

But for some strange reason, he liked it. He didn't want to move.

No, wait, he couldn't move.

"What in the name of…" He trailed off when he realized what was weighing him down. Or rather, who.

He stared for a second at the redhead with an arm curled around his waist, head resting on his stomach, a light snore drifting from his lips. One stray lock of hair was scratching at his belly where his shirt had ridden up a bit during the night. The unconscious Lavi turned and pressed his face closer.

Okay, he wasn't going to lie. The first thing he did was double then triple check that they weren't both naked.

Then came the anger. Oh, god, was he mad. What in the hell would give Lavi the balls to put Kanda on this fucking couch in his fucking building and… and…

WHY THE HELL WAS HE STROKING LAVI'S FACE.

He made a high-pitched noise and pulled his hand away, practically flailing. The redhead mumbled grouchily, slowly sitting up and rubbing his eye. He glared past his fingers at the long-haired man who was currently hyperventilating.

"Jeese, Yuu. It's too-" Yawn. "-early for this." Kanda gaped at him.

Did he not notice the incredibly awkward position they were in?

His eyebrow twitched.

"Lavi…" The redhead looked at him lazily. The nerve! Kanda grabbed him by the face, palm covering his nose and mouth. "Get. Off. Me." He said, squeezing. Lavi whined pitifully.

"Yuu-chan! That hurts!" He cried, clawing at the hand. Kanda laughed manically.

"You know what they say: 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.'"

"But it hurts!"

"So what? If you weren't such an idiot then maybe I wouldn't do things like this."

"I'm not an idiot, Yuu-chan!" Squeeze. "Ow!"

"Stop calling me that!"

"Do you two ever quit?" Their heads snapped around to see an aggravated Allen pinching the bridge of his nose in the doorway. "It'd be nice if you could make my life just a little bit easier for once. I don't like babysitting." Kanda smirked.

"You're in a bad mood."

"And Lavi is sitting on your chest." He deadpanned, just wanting to get to the point.

Kanda looked up and saw that Lavi was indeed sitting on his chest. And their faces were pretty damn close together.

So, like the proud manly man he was, he blushed.

And then shoved the redhead off him with a very loud and very creative curse.

Allen started to realize that 'getting to the point' would have been a lot easier if he hadn't mentioned that.

"Will you both just shut up!" Kanda glanced up in surprise at Allen, loosening his grip around Lavi's throat, who gulped in a breath while pouting. Kanda sat back and crossed his arms as Allen continued. "I'm so sick of you two! Why the hell did you guys have to be partners? You never even liked each other at all, you're goddamn competitorsfor Christ's sake! And I have to be here for all of your shit. I- I just…" In place of words, he just let out an aggravated sigh.

"Are you done?" Kanda asked. Lavi just curled up against the side of the couch, watching silently. Allen slumped forward with a small frown.

"Yeah." He breathed out dejectedly.

"So why are you here?" Allen glared at him.

"I'm here because you don't know how to answer your phone. But you know what?" He forced a smile at both of them, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "It's good because you're both here. What I have to tell you concerns Lavi as well."

"It does?" Lavi piped up. Kanda turned to look at him and found that he was now perched on the back of the couch, clutching one of the pillows to his chest.

"That's not a good place to be sitting. You could fall."

"No I can't!"

"Yes you can."

"Okay, yeah, but I won't!"

"Don't sound so sure of yourself."

"What is that supposed to mean- Hey!" Lavi protested as Kanda gave him a light push. He released the pillow, eyes wide and reached out for Kanda, hovering a bit, before gravity took its hold pulling him to the floor. Kanda lightly gripped the edge of the couch, glancing over at the redhead. Lavi glared up at him.

"What the hell was that for?"

"Just proving a point."

Lavi flipped him off.

"WILL YOU TWO STOP FLIRTING WITH EACH OTHER LONG ENOUGH TO HEAR WHAT I HAVE TO SAY?"

"We're not f-flirting!" Kanda sputtered, a slight blush once again dusting his cheeks. God damn it Schoolgirl Kanda, control yourself! Lavi climbed back up on the couch and settled down beside him, still fuming. He refused to even look at Kanda, and as flustered as he was, the dark haired man found this incredibly hilarious. He almost smiled.

Almost.

"Okay. I hope both of you have decided to act like adults, because I am five seconds away from storming out of here." It was silent. "Good. So as you know, your new blueprint was sent in to the shop not too long ago. Well," He clapped his hands together. "I'm here to tell you that the model is finished!" They looked at him in shock.

"Already?"

"How is that possible?"

"Yeah, what he said."

"You can't come up with your own line, really?"

"Yes I can! But what you said summed up my thoughts perfectly."

"I…"

"You're just a stupid rabbit."

"…am going to…"

"Yuu-chan, so mean!"

"…kill you both…"

Kanda felt the murderous aura emanating from Allen and immediately slapped a hand over Lavi's mouth. That green eye glared at him, but he just shook his head.

It was never a good thing when Allen got like this, though thankfully it only happened once or twice a year.

And only under certain circumstances…

"Hey Allen?" Kanda decided not to pry. He had a feeling it had something to do with Tim, but he didn't want to prod Allen in the wrong direction. Who knew what kind of destruction he could cause… "What were you trying to tell us?"

Allen was shaking with rage, but with a few deep breaths through his nose, he visibly relaxed. His fists became hands again and his teeth stopped grinding loud enough to make a noise. He began massaging the bridge of his nose.

Although, it still looked like he would self-destruct.

"Yes yes yes… Well, since you've decided to be cooperative," Lavi flinched at the tone. Kanda just patted his leg reassuringly. "What I came to tell you was that, since the model is complete, it needs to be tested to see if it can live up to the expectations of that asshole, Leverrier."

"Is this going somewhere?" Allen sent him a look that shut him up.

"The car needs to be able to run on one full tank of sunlight for a whole week, remember? And we need to make sure that it does." They nodded, still not completely sure what was going on. "Well, we thought it best if you two were the ones to do it. And before you start arguing," Allen held up a hand, because they were about to do just that. "Just think for a second. It would be nice to get a break, right? I know you have questions, but if you start screaming again… God help me…"

"Um… Allen, there are flaws in that logic." Lavi blanched when the gaze of death was turned upon him. "I mean… we can't just up and leave… hehe, right?"

"Unfortunately, I have to agree with the rabbit here-"

"Rabbit, really?"

"-because we are the heads of our companies. We can't just abandon our jobs." Allen sighed dramatically, finally deciding to sit down in the chair across from them. Kanda narrowed his eyes at the white haired man.

He was plotting something. Not good.

Not good at all.

"Okay, so I was going to keep this from you, but I should've known you wouldn't agree to my plan, so I guess I'll have to tell you." He sighed even deeper this time. Kanda groaned internally; Allen was definitely up to something. "You see… there was a gas leak… at the Black Order. No one's allowed inside for at least a few days."

"You've got to be kidding me!" Kanda groaned, laying his head in his hands. "What idiot made a gas leak."

"No one 'made it,' Yuu-chan, these things just happen."

"I don't remember asking for your opinion."

"Okay!" Allen said a bit too loudly, obviously trying to break up the fight before it began. "So now you see why I'm trying to get you out."

"You could have worded that differently." Kanda mumbled to himself. Lavi shifted beside him.

"Why do I have to be involved? There's no gas leak in my building. Besides, can't we just get someone else to test it out? It isn't really our job to do it in the first place." Allen directed his gaze onto him, hesitating a little before replying.

"We thought it would be best-"

"And who is this 'we' you keep mentioning?" Kanda looked at Lavi in surprise. The redhead was getting really into this. He actually looked suspicious of Allen. Kanda smirked.

He had taught him well.

"I'm talking about Tyki and I. We've been in touch lately… and… what are you staring at? Do I have something on my face?" It was true; Kanda was staring at Allen, a bit of shock touching the edge of his eyebrows while Lavi just gaped.

"Tyki?" They both chimed, immediately sending each other glares afterwards.

"Yeah, we both have the same job, you know. And since you two are working together, it would only make sense if we worked together. But that's not the point." Allen growled.

Kanda could tell he was really pissed off at all the changes in topic. He usually didn't care about stuff like that; in fact, it was usually the white haired man himself who initiated all the diversions.

But it wasn't only that. Kanda had a strong feeling that Tim had left the apartment him and Allen shared. If this was true… well, he didn't know what to do.

If he knew one thing, it was that Allen wouldn't be okay without Tim, whatever kind of relationship they were in.

They must have has sex.

"The point is you are going on this road trip whether you like it or not. Comprende?"

"So we don't actually get a choice in the matter?"

"Of course not!" Allen exclaimed. "I was trying to get you idiots to agree on it by yourselves, but you're too thick-headed to take a hint! I mean, come on! Who in their right min-"

"Allen, this isn't what I was implying when I said 'convince them.'" A new voice entered the conversation, a rather silky voice. A voice that Kanda couldn't trust. "I doubt screaming their ears off and venting about your little problem will help anyone. More specifically us."

Allen hunched forward, obviously angry but choosing to seethe silently to himself. "Tyki." He acknowledged the newcomer with a nod. Tyki smirked.

"Why hello there, Allen Walker. I see you've at least been trying to convince them."

"Hey, leave me alone!"

"Yes yes, sure." Tyki waved dismissively. He winked at Kanda and gave a small wave to Lavi. Lavi waved back with a grin.

Kanda was too busy imagining ways to make Tyki scream in agony to respond.

"Okay boys, here's the deal." Tyki reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette. Het it up and inhaled before continuing. "You are getting in that car you designed and following a map we marked out. You will stop everywhere it tells you to. You will not stop if it doesn't say so. You will not come back before the week is up. And you will not stay in contact with anyone here. Got it?"

"No."

"Excuse me?"

"No. Nope. Not happening."

"Oh really?"

"Yes really. You can't force Lavi and I out of our own companies just for the hell of it. There's nothing you can hope to accomplish."

"Well, I don't know about you, but I feel as if I am about to accomplish something. Just give it a few seconds." So they gave it a few seconds. And Lavi realized what the man was about to accomplish, although a bit too late.

The alarm rang through the air before he could get a word in edgewise.

Kanda was the only one who jumped.

"That would be the fire alarm." Tyki said, dropping his cigarette on the ground before crushing it beneath his foot. "I suggest we evacuate, hmm?"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Once outside, they found the building to be surrounded by just as many flashing lights and sirens as the previous night. The four of them just stood there, staring up at the skyscraper. Lavi made a few noises of protest when heavily bundled firemen charged through the front doors, but otherwise remained silent.

Two nights.

In a row.

Kanda had the urge to face palm.

"Well, isn't that strange." Tyki sighed, though he didn't sound like he thought it was strange at all. "It might take a while to settle this mess, especially because of the break in the other day. I'd say it will be about… a week?" Kanda and Lavi both whipped around to face him, Kanda looking angry enough for the both of them.

"You sly bastard." He growled. Lavi placed a restraining hand on his arm.

"Okay, Tyki, you win." The Portuguese man bowed slightly to him.

"I'm glad you accept your defeat."

"What?" Kanda barked, glancing back and forth between them.

"I understand that there must be a good reason for this. I know you wouldn't do anything along these lines unless that was so." The smile suddenly dropped off his face. "If I find that it wasn't so, you'll see that mercy isn't a word in my dictionary." Tyki's face paled considerably. Even Kanda felt slightly terrified by this unusual statement coming from Lavi's mouth.

"Ah, yes- well, the car is just around the corner." Tyki stuttered a bit before his composure returned. "You can leave now. Don't worry; everything you need is in the trunk. Including your precious Mugen." He directed that at Kanda, who was definitely surprised that they (he still wasn't completely sure who 'they' was) had thought that much about packing.

He caught Lavi's gaze. They stared at each other for a minute.

"I got shot gun!" Lavi cried as he jumped to action, sprinting toward the parking lot.

"Oh no you don't!" He tried to follow, but was pulled back by the collar of his shirt. He glared at the offender.

"You can't drive without keys." Allen said, pushing the object into his hand. Kanda looked down at them, nodding with a smirk. He reached up and lightly tapped Allen's forehead with his pointer finger.

"See you in a week, Sprout." And with that, he raced after Lavi, who was already around the corner, shouting ridiculous things for no apparent reason.

"What immature brats." The white haired man groaned, wondering how on earth those were some of the most powerful players in the game of business. No matter how hard he tried, the pieces of the puzzle wouldn't fit.

"Have you noticed it only happens when they're together?" Tyki questioned softly, rubbing his forehead. Mindless of his growing headache, a smile tried to pull up his mouth as he watched them bicker like an old married couple. "Those two, at least, have each other."

"Yeah." Allen hummed, a small pang hitting his chest that he tried his best to ignore. "At least they have each other."

Sorry about the wait, it seems that my teachers have decided that now is the best time to dump a shitload of homework on me DX

I'm sorry this chapter might not have lived up to your expectations, but I just wanted to get something out… Next one will be sooner and better ^-^ I promise!1

So, yeah REVIEW.