-1With darkness, there is love.

Editor's note: Thank you ALL for the support that you have been giving me. I can only hope that my stories continue to please you all. It's why I write these chapters. So long as people are happy, I am happy.

If anyone is going to Otakon in 2008, please feel free to say hi to me. Myself and the Aussie Posse' will be there with open arms and vegemite sandwiches and Tim tams for all. (This concludes that I am Australian…). In fact I order everyone who reads this to go to Baltimore next year :P and see me (Will be cosplaying as Lavi on the second day of Otakon).

ANYWAYS ON WITH THE SHOW!!!! And please visit my art site - It's a deviantart site. Just add kaiaken

Lavi could not have expected such a night. Allen had drunken half a bottle of vodka and now he was running around the insides of the apartment block, causing a lot of noise and jumping on anything that was reachable. Not that it was bothering anyone, because there was enough music coming out of the gang's new record player to accommodate for the younger teen. The gang had bought a record player, continuous bottles of Alcohol and bags upon bags of food, jumpers and blankets for everyone to share around the apartment block, including the homeless.

The best bit? The gang still had about 6000 dollars left over. So the entire apartment block was alive with music, laughter and booze. Everything was great…

Except that through some twist of fate, and Boris's sneaky nature, Allen had gotten a hold of the OTHER half of the vodka he had drunken, and now he was TANKED.

"Good thing this Vodka not very strong, da?" Boris watched as the silver haired teen jumped on a table. The other gang members surrounded the table, however Lavi was desperately trying to get Allen OFF the wooden piece of furniture.

"Allen, be careful!!!" Lavi was in a bit of a ruffled state. He had saved Allen from countless accidents throughout the night involving the stairs, as well as the pillars that held the house together. However it seemed that Allen was in his own world to even listen.

"Liiiisen up, I'mmma gonna dance fooor you tonight!!!" Allen bellowed as Enrique placed a record onto the player. Lavi looked at the Mexican with shock as the music started playing.

"Why are you putting music on??" The red head bellowed out loud as Enrique smiled.

"Allen seems to like music, so I put music on to get him into fiesta mood, AARRRIIIBBA!!!!" The gang members, as well as everyone else in the room started to cheer as Allen started his little dance, clapping as the youngster twirled and danced. Though he was drunk, he looked so carefree. It made everyone want to dance. Allen looked at Lavi and bounced off the table, stumbling a bit before looking up at a slightly flustered red head.

"Rrraaaaamiiiii, dance with meee!" Allen proclaimed as Lavi just laughed, his stressed look instantly disappearing as he looked at the blatantly drunk, yet happy teenager in front of him. The younger teen grabbed the hand of the older boy, spinning himself before plummeting himself in Lavi's chest.

"If yyouuuu could lead, that would be goood…" Allen mumbled as he held Lavi. No sooner did Lavi place his hands on the younger teen's hips, a slow song started playing and everyone paired up with another. Lavi just looked down at Allen, who was nuzzling against Lavi's chest, his silver hair messy, face sweaty and flushed with all of the activities of the night. The youngster looked so cute. Lavi sighed as he unconsciously pulled Allen in a bit closer, placing his chin on the younger teen's head. They swayed alongside the other pairs as Lavi saw Boris and Harry dance with each other. It was known that Boris and Harry had grown up with each other, but the pair never really expected to fall in love with each other. Their love however was forbidden and the pair chose to run away. Lavi found them soon after and they had been together since….

Lavi looked down again to find that Allen was looking back at him. Lavi blushed as he saw how flustered and happy Allen look, glistening blue eyes looking back at one Emerald eye. They swayed to the music, looking at each other as they danced.

"Laaavi, Why do you wear an eye patch…?" Allen asked, the smell of alcohol emitted from his breath as Lavi got taken back a bit by the question.

"My father took out my eye…Scar's been there ever since, "The red head answered, feeling Allen's grip tighten with the red-head's words. Allen, though he was drunk, could hear a slight sense of anger and sadness with Lavi's words. The youngster wanted to take that pain away and replace it with happiness…

"Lavviiii, are you happy??" Allen asked as he looked at Lavi with a sad, pleading look. Lavi just smiled as he kissed the other boy's forehead.

"With you around, I am…" Allen's eyes widened, his blush deepening as he saw that Lavi was shedding tears, the red head's faced slightly contorted as he failed to fight the tears off.

Is Lavi crying?????

"Laavi are….are you okay….?"Allen asked drowsily as he clutched Lavi's face with both hands, trying to keep focus as he wanted to help the red head.

"Nah I'm fine, you could call these tears of happiness or something…" The red head grinned as he wiped the tears off with his sleeve. "I guess I have you to than…" Lavi words were halted when he felt a pair of lips land on his own.

It can't be…

It isn't….

ALLEN'S KISSING ME??? Lavi looked down to find it was Allen kissing him, the younger teen firmly pressed against the older teen. The red head closed his eye, tightening his grip on Allen as he kissed the younger teen back, tasting the vodka that Allen had consumed. The kiss however was quickly interrupted when one of the member, Freddy, caught sight of them.

"OI LOOK, the BOSS SCORED!!!" The boy yelled as everyone turned their attention to Allen and Lavi, who stood there embarrassed as everyone else cheered. No one minded that men liked other men or anything trivial...

Because in the end they were all together, surviving and helping each other.

"YAAAY I kissed-ed……someone…" Allen cheered before slumping down into Lavi's arms. The alcohol had finally gotten the better of the youngster and it made Allen drowsy and ready for sleep. Lavi just sighed as he picked up the silver-haired teen.

"Alright guys, I'd better take this one to bed. Keep partying without us…" Lavi announced as he walked upstairs with the younger teen in his arms. The other gang members started hooting and saying many a strange thing as Lavi carried Allen back to his room."

"Don't do anything we would do!"

"YAY for the boss!!!" His gang members were truly happy that their boss had found his own happiness.

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Lavi was exhausted by the time he reached his room, with a drunk young teen in his arms. He kicked the door open and switched on his light with his elbow. Allen was still slightly awake but he was unable to stand, so Lavi walked the youngster to the bed. He gently placed Allen down on the mattress, covering the youngster with blankets before preparing to stand up. He was however stopped when he felt a hand grab at his shirt.

"Don't…leave…" Allen mumbled silently as Lavi looked down. He didn't know whether Allen was saying that because he was drunk or because he needed Lavi. But the red head could only nod as he walked over to the switch, shutting it off before walking back to Allen. He laid down beside Allen, feeling the younger teen's arm wrap around his neck. Lavi took his chance to give Allen one chaste kiss on his lips. Allen smiled, his eyes closed as he fell asleep.

"Lavi…" the younger teen whispered as he drifted into sleep. Lavi couldn't help but fall asleep, snaking his arms around Allen's waist and pulling the youngster close to him.

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The morning rays hit hard on Allen, the young boy feeling as though his head was about to crack in half. It was his first hangover ever after all. The youngster groaned as he shifted a little, finding that he was in the arms of familiar red head… Not that Allen minded, as he remembered the majority of the night, and Lavi was so warm and comfortable. Lavi's sleeping face was so serene and calm, Allen didn't really want to wake the older boy, and holding him was really heart-warming. However looking at the clock that Lavi had on his wall (Lavi stole a clock from the neighbours to impress Allen), it was 8:50am and the younger teen knew he had to wake up, as his driver/butler was coming at 10. And Krory, as kind a man as he was, was also notorious for his impatient nature.

Allen tried to shift, but Lavi had the younger boy in a gridlock. Allen, however, was lucky in the sense that Lavi was a light sleeper. The older teen shifted a little, opening his eye slowly to find he was being greeted by a pair of blue orbs.

"Nnnn… Morning Allen…" Lavi mumbled before he realised the situation. "ALLEN????" The red head nearly jumped out of his skin as he realised that his dream of holding Allen in his arms was NOT a dream at all, it was reality. He toppled off the mattress and stood up quickly, ready to apologise.

"Morning Lavi," Allen smiled as the younger teen stood up. Lavi was blushing heavily and it made Allen chuckle lightly. But inside the younger teen was slightly confused himself. What could he make of kissing Lavi? Was it something he wanted to do again? Allen was starting to understand how deep he felt for the red head in front of him, and though it scared him a little, he was happy to have discovered his feelings…

"Lavi… about last night, I'm not angry or regretting," Allen spoke as Lavi looked at him. "In fact, I don't think I have ever felt this way for anyone… It's strange… I feel…kind of…" Lavi could see them, the tears forming in Allen's eyes as the silver-haired teen smiled his biggest smile. Allen's tears of joy... The red head reached for the tears and stroked them off Allen's cheek, smiling as the youngster returned the smile.

"So you really don't regret anything, Allen??" Allen shook his head. Lavi couldn't believe this moment was happening. He didn't know whether to pursue the situation or not, but it wasn't the time to think about it anyways. Lavi pulled Allen in for a hug, with Allen wrapping his arms around the older teen instantly.

"You really are a weird drunk, Allen," the pair laughed as they held each other for what seemed like an eternity. Allen didn't want to leave Lavi's arms, however looking at the time, 9:05, he knew he had to. He slowly pulled away from Lavi, though he didn't want to.

"I have to get ready for home," Allen said as Lavi made a slightly sulky expression. "Where is the shower?"

"It's down the hall to your left," The red head replied as Allen gathered his bag. As the younger teen wandered to the shower, the older teen was left in a stunned state.

I hope this is the beginning of something more…. Lavi smiled as he grabbed an apple from the stolen table and took a bite.

It was 15 minutes later and Allen emerged out of the shower.

"Hey Allen, what took you so…" Lavi's voice was cut as soon as he saw that Allen was NOT changed, only wrapped in a towel. "WHAT THE HELL???" Lavi fell off the chair he was sitting on as the younger teen walked towards the startled red head. Allen laughed as Lavi picked himself up off the ground, red and flustered with embarrassment.

"Sorry Lavi, I left my socks near the bed…" Allen wandered over to the mattress, bending over and giving the poor red head a slight feeling of fainting. Allen was even more gorgeous without clothes. It took a lot of willpower not to ravish the younger teen. Allen grabbed his socks and returned to the bathroom, smiling at a shocked Lavi before going inside and closing the door.

What is that boy thinking??? The red head thought as he struggled against his manhood so that it wouldn't go hard.

Allen emerged five minutes later in a white shirt and black overalls, his hair well groomed and styled. Lavi was beside himself with a stony look on his face as Allen laughed nervously to himself.

Maybe I went too far with walking out of the shower… Allen thought as he went up to the table, grabbing an apple before turning to talk to Lavi.

"Well I'm ready, shall we go?" The youngster said as Lavi stood up.

"Yeah ok," was the red-head's response, his face still red as a tomato. He wanted so badly to touch Allen's skin, it looked so inviting it almost killed Lavi. The pair walked out of the door, saying nothing to each other until they reached the outside world. They walked to the corner of Feldon and Elm street, unaware that they were being followed by a large group of snoops.

"So Lavi?"

"Yeah Allen?"

"Was I really that good looking half naked?" Lavi almost stopped dead in his tracks. Allen had a lot of guts than Lavi gave him credit for. But how would he answer…?

"Um…well…you….umm…" Nothing right could come out of the red head's mouth, nothing that wasn't dirty and sinister in thought. Allen just smiled as the pair reached the corner, with Krory waiting there as expected. The driver stepped out, tipping his hat slightly as he greeted the pair.

"Hello good sirs, Allen you have been invited to a ball tonight, held by Master Komui Lee and his sister Lenalee" the driver announced, the response being a groan from the youngster.

"Do I really have to go? Lenalee will most likely go on about how I am her 'Betrothed'." Lavi turned to Allen with a shocked expression covering his face.

"You mean you're engaged?" Allen looked back at him, a slight hint of amusement engraved in his eyes.

"Not really, but since we were little, she's always spoken of how she wanted to get married to me. But now it seems she's taken it seriously…" Allen sighed as he recounted the many times Lenalee tried to make Allen take her shopping, or give her kisses. He found the idea of kissing Lenalee revolting… However he didn't mind kissing Lavi.

That settled it in Allen's mind. He had fallen for Lavi. And the youngster wasn't going to let these feelings go un-noticed.

"Krory, do I have permission to invite an extra guest?" Krory knew where this was going as he looked at Lavi.

"Hmm if his lineage was kept a secret and if he was well dressed, I am sure the Lees wouldn't mind you bringing an extra," Krory replied as Allen turned to Lavi.

"Lavi, please say you will come tonight!!!" Allen practically pleaded as Lavi looked at the younger teen, stunned and shocked. A ball??? The closest Lavi had gotten to a ball was when he was robbing the guest baggage area. But a real ball??

"Umm Allen I don't know…I don't know how to eat like a rich person…" Lavi felt a little nervous, but it didn't stop the persistence of the youngster.

"Don't worry, there's no set meals, just food platters. PLEAAAASSEEE???" Allen was really begging this time, his face in a cute pout. How could Lavi say no?

"Oh ok, but I have no clothes."

"Leave it to me, we'll pick you up in 2 hrs!" Allen grinned as he hopped into the car. "Just meet at this corner and we'll collect you." Lavi just sighed as he waved the car off, watching it disappear down the road. He then turned to the large group of people hiding behind a large staircase wall.

"You know, you guys fuckin' suck when it comes to hiding…" The gang members emerged, laughing and cheering as they gathered around their leader.

"You have date with pretty boy!" Boris smiled as Lavi blushed at the Russian's remark.

"That's awesome! So what will you do for two hrs boss?"

"I'm going to sit here and wait for two hours!" Was Lavi's reply. The other gang members looked at their flushed boss, deadpanned as they heard the answer.

"WHHAAAA??"

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"Hey Krory…?

"Yes young master?"

"If you liked someone, but they were of the same gender…is that wrong?" Allen looked worried, his eyes sinking to his feet as Krory just sighed. He had already figured it out since the day before.

"It's no big secret, but Master Komui has a male partner…" the youngster looked up with amazement.

"You don't mean his assistant Reever?" Krory nodded as Allen's eyes widened with a little shock. Komui and Reever????? He knew that they were a little close, but not that close.

"So you see Master Allen? No one will care…although it might be difficult in your case considering the one you care for the most is from a lesser lineage than yourself." Allen just sighed as Krory continued to drive.

"I really couldn't care less about where he came from, he's the nicest person I have ever had the privilege to meet…"

He's the first person that offered me the one thing that no one else gave me… freedom…

---2 hrs later---

"Oi Lavi…this is so lame…" Harry groaned as Lavi continued to wait. Sure enough though, after a full 2 hrs of waiting, a familiar black Royce emerged from the distance. It was indeed Allen and his driver Krory. During the two hours of waiting, the gang members noticed that Lavi had stayed frozen, standing up straight with his face stony and slightly embarrassed. The gang members even made it a game to throw paper balls at the stiff red head.

The black car stopped, and Allen practically bounced out of the car. The silver-haired teen was twice as alive as usual as he greeted the red head.

"Lavi!!" Allen beamed as he looked at the red head, noticing that Lavi's face was slightly stony and sweaty…. "Have you been standing here for 2 hrs??" Lavi just nodded stiffly as the youngster giggled. For a gang leader, he was surely unconventional. "You ready to go?"

"Y-yes," The red head almost shouted as the silver haired boy giggled a little louder. He grabbed Lavi by the sleeve, pulling Lavi into the car as the other gang members started hooting and whistling.

"Lavi! You can do it!!!"

"You have our support, you make good on this night with pretty boy!!!"

"Lavi!!! Give Allen a fiesta of a night!!!"

Lavi could only sigh as the driver drove into the direction of Allen's mansion, the voices of his gang members disappearing into the distance. He looked at Allen, his stiffness easing as he looked at the youngster. Allen had such a large grin on his face, his smile warming Lavi inside and out.

"You really sure I should go?" Allen looked at the red head, seeing the worry etched in Lavi's face.

"Yes. I need someone I can really talk to and have fun with." Lavi couldn't argue with that. Allen really must've hated these parties. Lavi placed his hand on Allen's head, scuffing it as Allen giggled, enjoying the feel of Lavi's hand against his head.

"Heh well I'll be around you like the plague tonight…" Lavi grinned as Allen looked up at the red head, his smile becoming bigger as they stopped at a mysterious shop. Lavi looked out and found that the store had many tuxedos and dinner suits on display. "Um Allen…what is this place?

"Well we want you to look your best right?" Allen smiled as Krory opened the back door. Lavi sighed again, this time in realisation that he was going to attend his first ball, not as a robber, but as a guest. The pair stepped out of the car and into the door of the tuxedo store. A small man greeted the pair, his eyes practically spelling sleepless nights. Lavi thought that he looked like a panda with those eyes.

"What would you like?" The old man simply spoke in a gruff tone as Allen bowed.

"Yes please, fit this man with the best suit in the store." Allen replied, pointing to Lavi as the old man nodded, looking at the taller boy.

"You're lucky, I have just the suit…" The old man waddled into the back. Lavi leaned over to Allen's ear, so that he could whisper to the teen.

"Allen… What's up with that guy?" the red head whispered, noticing that Allen twitched a little. So his ears are his little weak point. How cute…

"He doesn't really have a name, so everyone calls him 'Bookman'," Allen whispered back, as the pair noticed the old man emerge with a neatly wrapped box in his hand. He handed the box to Lavi, the red head looking back at the old man with confusion.

"What are you standing there for? Try the thing on!" 'Bookman' ordered as Lavi nodded furiously, running into the changing room next to him, his fear of the old man apparent. Allen thought that Lavi was cuter when he was nervous. But he didn't know how to approach his feelings. And he didn't know whether Lavi felt the same way, which was a worry for Allen. Allen couldn't think about his situation for too long, as Lavi's voiced hollered from the changing room, which was covered by the curtain.

"Allen?"

"Hm Lavi?"

"Can you help me with this suit?" What was Lavi asking Allen to do?

"You want me to come in and help…you?" Allen started to feel shaky in the legs. Was Lavi really asking Allen to come into the changing room with him?

"Well…yeah… I can't put this thing on by myself." Allen gulped as he walked up to the changing room. He slipped behind the curtain, only to find the older teen in his underwear. Allen felt funny as he looked at Lavi, looking at the features of the older teen as both of them stood there. Allen knew that Lavi was slightly built, but Allen never knew how toned Lavi really was. The youngster was slightly scared that he felt something like this with a man of all things, but it was the least of Allen's worries…

There was a half naked guy in front of him….

"Allen? You ok?" The youngster snapped out of his trans as he looked up at Lavi's face.

"Um…yeah….What do you …need help with…" Allen mumbled nervously as Lavi looked at the young teen's face, heavily blushed, with the bottom lip quivering in pure nervousness.

"Well could you help me with these clothes in general?" The red head asked as Allen nodded. Lavi picked up the dinner shirt, putting it on and indicating Allen to help him with the buttons…

Was Lavi doing this on purpose? Allen shrugged as he nervously placed the buttons on Lavi's shirt. Allen could smell the manly scent of the older teen, taking in the masculine aroma. Allen could also feel the heat radiation from Lavi, and it was getting to the younger teen's head. As Allen reached the bottom button, the younger teen struggled to keep his eyes from lowering down to Lavi's unmentionables. Finally the last button was fastened, and Allen stood up straight, slightly embarrassed and flustered as his thoughts were in a mess.

"Hm, I haven't buttoned a shirt in ages…" Lavi looked at his shirt. It was quite nice and clean. Allen was busy fastening the wristbands of the shirt, trying his best not to make eye contact with Lavi. The butterfly feeling was getting slightly worse as Allen watched Lavi slip the black dinner pants on. The older teen however was having a few issues with the fastener, so Allen gulped as he had to fasten Lavi's pants.

It wasn't hard to put a fastener on, except when you're trying to fasten the pants of the very first man you have ever fallen in love with. But after a few minutes of fumbling, Allen managed to fasten Lavi's pants. Allen stood straight, practically dizzy as he remembered the many times he was trying to AVOID pressing his hands against Lavi's pants. His hands were practically shaking as Lavi handed Allen the tie, a slight grin appearing on the older teen's face as Allen edged closer to him. They were inches away from each other as the teens felt each other's body warmth. The younger teen tied Lavi's red bowtie perfectly, his blush deepening as he finished the final tie. Lavi grinned, scuffing the younger teen's hair in happiness.

"Thanks Allen!" the red head smiled as he messed up the younger teen's hair. Lavi placed his jacket over his shoulder, looking in the mirror. "I look really good. All I have to do is buff up my shoes and that's about it." Allen was dizzy and flushed as Lavi grinned to himself.

How cute…

"So shall we go?" The red head smiled as Allen looked up at Lavi in a fluster. Allen could only muster enough energy to nod as Lavi grinned again, placing Allen in a light headlock as the pair walked out of the dressing room together…

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Editor's note: Awesome! Chapter 5 is complete. Chapter 6 comes in a few days, where Allen and Lavi go to the party and drama ensues, as well as confessions we've ALL been waiting for (even me, and I write this!).