Disclaimer: I do not own -Man or any of its characters.

Allen's POV:

I felt around for the container and it took much longer to find than I liked. Once I had it though, I poured generous amounts of oil onto my hand and made sure to cover every inch of Kanda's cock with it. I needed more room. When he removed his fingers I got up and pulled him to the grass, flipping him so that he landed on his back with me on top of him. His surprised expression made me laugh. I positioned myself over him, on my hands and knees and now he was looking a little awed.

Then I was coming down on him slowly, moving up and down in small degrees, going deeper when I wanted to. I don't know what I was expecting it to feel like, but I could not have possibly imagined beforehand what it actually does feel like to be full in this way. Kanda gasped with each movement. When I had sat down on him fully, I stayed still for a few moments. I think I was holding my breath up until then because I just started breathing again.

I began moving up and down his length experimentally, taking note of what felt the best for me, and what got the best reactions from Kanda. I could watch him all day: groaning, gasping, scrunching his face, writhing his body.

He eventually grabbed my hips and pushed himself back against me in time with my movements. The contrast of the familiar and new struck me right then. I knew Kanda so well, and I knew his body's movements through endless hours of training. I knew his reaction times, his stamina level, and the ferocity of his strength. We've worked in tandem to achieve a common goal. And all that is him is now under me. Sometimes overwhelmed, sometimes answering each action with his own, and sometimes ready to explode.

Kanda's POV:

Allen. He stole me away to a room that no one else knows exist. A room that he created. He made me laugh and smile. And I saw his carefree expressions. He looked at me with desire, and affection. And showed me that desire and affection, knowing that he didn't need to ask. He conquered the unknown with courage. With enthusiasm. He amazes me. He took control of the situation and I'm happy to let him. For the moment.

I'm surrounded by the warmth, softness and hardness that I admire in him. His motions are certain, and once I'm able I thrust up against him with equal force. We've developed an even pace by now. He leaned down so that we were chest to chest to kiss me. His arms were now using me directly for support. I liked feeling the weight of him. I could feel his muscles move under my hands as I held his hips.

We continued this way for a long time. When his breathing quickened considerably, so that it was difficult to keep kissing him, I sharpened my thrust just once so that he might have been thrown if I didn't have his hips, and then continued as before. He yelled out in surprise and pleasure. When I did it again, he met the force and we didn't let up.

I felt my orgasm building quickly. I grabbed Allen's cock with my right hand and stroked him in time with our thrusts. In retrospect, I wish I'd given it more attention before now, but judging by his reactions he wasn't far behind me. I came. My body convulsed, instinctively burying myself deep. Lost in pleasure. I curled forward, and my face met Allen's neck. I grabbed the back of his shoulder with my left hand and squeezed him toward me, riding out the wave. He yelled out my name, and I felt his cock twitching as he came, warmth trickling over my right hand. I pumped him with my hand, eliciting another rush of come from him.

Before the inevitable tiredness could reach me, I flipped him all at once onto his back and hovered over his body. I could now see his face more clearly. Surprised by the turnabout, and sated by his release.

"I hope you don't think I'm finished," I said.

He laughed breathlessly and responded, "Then come here." He glanced at my cock still at the ready, and wet with oil and come, and squirmed in anticipation.

I lowered my weight onto him, kicking my feet out. Then grabbed fistfuls of his hair and rammed my tongue into his mouth. He wrapped his legs tightly around my waist and I grunted in approval. I slid into him appreciatively, glad to be surrounded by him again, and didn't hesitate to start a demanding pace. I could feel his cocked pinned between our bodies as I moved. His legs tightened against me as he pushed back, and his arms pulled me closer at my neck.

When my grip on his hair loosened some, his hands traveled to the back of my head and pulled out my hair tie. I felt the hair fall around me and his hands were running through it against my scalp a moment later; first in the back of my head and then pushing through my fringe and back.

Deciding he wasn't nearly distracted or undone enough if he could pay enough attention to accomplish that, I lifted myself up some to gain better leverage and thrust more deeply and quickly into him. He grunted loudly, and held on to me with his arms around my shoulders. His breath was hitching close to my ear and his fingers dug into my back as we continued.

I grabbed the backs of his thighs and threw his legs over my shoulders. Adjusting my angle again, I drove deeper into him with everything I had. He writhed and yelled out and said my name. Now only his shoulders and head touched the ground, and the soft dirt under the grass was giving way under them. I relentlessly pushed on, making sure to hit the spot that made him yell the most.

He grasped his length and tugged just a few times before he came hard. I continued to drive into him, and he was clenched more tightly around my cock. That, combined with the sight of him before me, made me helpless to resist the pull of my own orgasm. I was frozen in place for some time. And then all at once I let myself collapse on top of Allen in exhaustion. I gasped for breath, with my head on his chest.

As my breathing returned to normal, I felt his hand land on my back. After a few moments more, I had the strength to prop myself up with my forearms on his chest. And he took the opportunity to smooth out the ground under him once again. Then I inched up his body some and kissed him soundly; languidly. Earlier, there was an all-consuming urgency to us, but now it's been quelled. Replaced by a desire to know every inch of him, one piece at a time. My cock still throbbed for him, but it was a deliciously slow throb. My hands explored his face and his hair. He felt along my back and shoulders.

I slid back into him and moved sedately inside him. His hands traveled from my lower back to my ass, pushing me ever so slightly further every time our hips met. I moved my hands down his neck and onto his chest, feeling his muscles move as he kneaded and pushed with his hands. I used my tongue and mouth to explore his neck further. I could taste the salt on his skin and feel the vibrations of his satisfied groans. Then down to the soft juncture of his shoulder, which was easily becoming a favorite of mine. My right hand played with his nipple, softly rolling it between fingers and grazing back and forth. Then I was rubbing his side with my palm.

I noticed for the first time that my Innocence was reacting within me. The synchronization was strong, and familiar except for a small bit of it that felt new. The newness emitted a will separate from the one that I shared with my Innocence: save the akuma, and save the people. Allen's Innocence. Yes, I had felt this briefly when we last fought Tyki Mikk. I felt his convictions, and I didn't know what to do with them. I could cry for their sincerity and fight for their fruition. Did he feel mine as well?

His hands became more insistent on me, urging me to go a little faster. He sucked and bit at my neck with abandon, knowing that any marks he made wouldn't stay there for long. Our pleasure continued to build, though we didn't increase our pace again. It built slowly and solidly until it suddenly spilled over. I went rigid and cried out against his ear, as Allen kept moving around me. I could feel his smile on my neck.

When I could move again, I kissed him and moved against him at the pace we had set once again until he came, head thrown back. To see him that way enthralled me, and thrilled me. I wanted to see his ecstasy again and again.

I stayed inside of him as we reveled in the aftermath. Eventually, though, I pulled out and lay beside him on the grass, looking up at the stars he had put there.

"Amazing," he said softly.

"Yea," I agreed. I didn't think I could voice anything more than that.

He grasped my hand, and our fingers threaded together. We looked at each other. He looked so happy and content that I felt a pull in my chest, and I'm sure I couldn't hide the effect because then he smiled even bigger.

We lay like that until we heard the 11'o-clock chime.

Today was a Sunday, the day of rest in which no training was usually planned. No missions have been announce so far today, but these days there was about a 50/50 shot of one.

It was late in the morning and Allen and I sat in Lenalee's home; the first stop on our tour. We were in for a long day of admissions to, and uncomfortable conversations with our friends, if not out-and-out arguments.

Actually, this was really the second stop. The first was a surprisingly frank discussion between General Tiedoll and me the night of his arrival on the Ark. I still found it terribly difficult to talk with the man; it was always easier when Mari or Chaoji was there too; but perhaps not when it comes to this particular subject.

When I was allowed out of the infirmary the night before, it was only a couple of hours before I was considering going back in to check on Allen. If he had something common, like broken bones, I wouldn't have thought too much about it. But head injuries could potentially leave permanent effects on the way he thought and acted, and he was in danger of that on a daily basis to begin with. Or, he could just drop dead from an embolism.

I was surprised at how worst case scenarios would pop into my head, and thinking about them would cause a knot in my stomach. Unable to banish the thoughts, I walked back to the tower, angry at myself. When I got to the lounge, I stopped there and sat, not wanting to go further. I listened for any nearby activity, and heard nothing. I took that as a good sign, since I was in hearing distance of the infirmary. If there was any sort of emergency there would be people shouting, right?

Now convinced that I could avoid embarrassingly out of character behavior by walking through the infirmary door, I settled more comfortably on the couch. If there was a problem, or if he was released, I would know about it if I stayed here. To keep myself occupied, I read for a couple of hours on battle tactics. As the hours passed, I grew increasingly tired and hadn't even realized when I fell asleep.

I woke up to the sound of footsteps. As I straightened myself out from a slouched position, I saw the General walk over to me and sit down. I instinctively went on edge in response to what I knew was his overly intrusive personality.

"Kanda," he greeted kindly. "You know, I've never seen you sleep - or read - in a public place when you had the option of a private room – or a house in this case."

Feeling defensive, I wanted to tell him that I hadn't changed very much; that it just kind of happened and was out of the ordinary. But that was a lie, wasn't it? When I was at the Order, I never truly felt comfortable anywhere but in solitude. Mari's presence was the only exception, and only most of the time. The halls were filled with people that laughed together and tried to engage with me too. But I knew that before long, most of them would be gone. Their levity bothered me at the time. I didn't get it.

Here on the Ark, however, I knew every name. We all actively engaged in the strategies and decisions that were made. I trusted them with my life and I protected them. Yes, the losses hurt. And that's what I was trying to avoid for all of those years. But, I'm proud to have known them.

I was comfortable here. And it was a little strange to talk with the General who thought of me as my past self.

I answered with, "I guess some things change."

"Why don't you tell me?" he encouraged.

And I did. It was the most I had ever spoken to him at once. He asked so many questions. I told him how I lived now, and what I remembered of my past. Everything - except this thing that was developing between me and Allen.

When I was done, he told me, "I'm so proud of you."

I didn't know what to do with that at first. It turns out his approval meant more that I thought it did. In the past I might have wanted to walk quickly from the room in avoidance. Instead, I looked back at him with a lump in my throat.

Overcome with emotion, he hugged me. And though I couldn't bring myself to hug him in return, I didn't push him away.

Trying to change the subject, I said, "What brings you to the tower so late anyway."

Pulling away, he said, "Checking up on the remaining patient."

I couldn't help but prod for more information, "And?"

He smiled at my concern. "He was making a great deal more sense than earlier when I just talked to him. Other than that, the doctor had no further news. Allen was in high enough spirits by the time I left."

I was relieved at the progress.

The General scrutinized my face for a few moments, which made me close off any facial expression I might have been showing. Then he said, "Were you by any chance…waiting up for Allen?"

I didn't answer right away. I was hating the way he had guessed correctly, and he seemed to be enjoying make me uneasy - he always did. "I was a little concerned," I admitted.

He contemplated something, and then said, "Kanda, I saw some amazing displays of Innocence today, especially from both you and Allen. Is it something that the Exorcists in the Order can accomplish as well? I dare say the four of you are all more in sync with your Innocence than us Generals."

I was struck by his humility, but wasn't surprised by it. I gathered my thoughts, saw no reason to keep any information from him, and answered, "As you know, with the crystal-type weapons, emotion plays a part in synchronization just like the parasitic type; particularly concerning the destruction of akuma, and the protection of others. What's happened here on the Ark, it's like… a brotherhood. When one of us is in danger, it makes the others stronger."

"I see. But, I care so much for my fellow Exorcists; why wouldn't that phenomena affect me?"

Thinking of how the General interacts with others, I thought maybe the key word was 'brotherhood'. "Perhaps, because you look on most of us as a father. Someone that guides others. When's the last time you fought alongside someone and thought of them as an equal?"

He didn't answer right away. "You've given me a lot to think about. Very astute of you to have drawn that conclusion, Kanda. Hmm, does that mean that you and Allen have the strongest bond? It was your mutual danger today that set off synchronization in the other…Actually, the more I think about it…Did Allen's Innocence mingle with yours!"

"It's possible. I still don't understand it."

He looked back towards the infirmary, and then back to me. "This could be very important, Kanda. Just how close are you to Allen?"

His words affected me. I saw no way around it now. What was a few days difference in revealing the truth when the power of that truth had potential in winning us this war? "Lovers." I waited levelly for his reaction, though I agonized internally.

He leaned forward and looked at me for a long time in surprise and then asked, "Is that a joke?"

"It's not." I held his gaze, but my cheeks heated up against my will.

"You're really not joking," he said in wonder. Then, "There's no way Chaoji and I can follow that model."

I almost fell off the couch in surprise at his irreverent response. "Of course not!" I said hotly. "But you can be his friend." Was he acting this way because the revelation didn't bother him? I had to know. "So then, you're not…"

"Angry?" he supplied. "No, no, of course not. You're living the way you want to. I would only be angry if you denied yourself of happiness unnecessarily. Am I surprised? Without a doubt. Although, the two of you do have your similarities, don't you?.. I take it you haven't told anyone else?"

"No, but we intend to. As soon as Allen's healed, probably."

"It will be for the best if you do. Until then, I would watch out for Komui if I were you. He'll be scrutinizing your Innocence in order to find out how in the world you were able to do what you did. But you don't have to worry about me letting the cat out of the bag. I know you'll work things out with your team in your own way."

"Thanks, General. We won't shy away from that responsibility. My only concern is that a rift gets created in the team at a time that we need to be ever closer."

"Have faith in them. Sure, there might be some bumps in the road, but I think it will be fine. So, how long has it been going on?"

"Only a couple of weeks. Though...the seeds were planted much earlier."

"I'm happy for you." I believed him. "Now, I'm going off to bed. I was resting up in town before all of this business started today. Goodnight."

"Goodnight." I stayed about 20 minutes longer, and then went off to bed myself.

Lenalee politely offered us tea in the sitting room, but it was obvious that she was confused as to why we might have come by. It was an admittedly out of the ordinary sort of visit.

Allen started the conversation. "Lenalee. Do you remember what Wisely said about me the last time that we both saw him? That there was an Exorcist I cared about, and that would make Road sad?"

Allen and Lenalee reported all that was said between them and the Noah that day, so I wasn't surprised by the information. I remember Allen acted as if the statement had no truth to it, but no one had asked him to confirm or deny the claim. I also remember the quotation as using the word 'love', and that's probably why neither of us has brought it up to the other.

"Yes, I do," she replied, surprised. "Is there truth to it then? I remember asking you whether it was me, and you said 'no'." She glanced at me, still looking for a connection between the company and conversation. Surely thinking something like, 'Why would Allen be talking about romantic things in front of Kanda?'

"Yes, that's right," he responded with sincerity, recapturing her attention. "There actually is truth to it. And I'm here because I wanted to tell everyone more about that before secrecy became a burden on the group. Your understanding, both as my comrade and my friend, are important to me."

Her curious expression melted into an open one, ready for anything. Well, Allen and I can only hope so. She eventually said, "Who is it? I really can't guess. An Exorcist, like Wisely said? If so, that doesn't leave many options. She must be part of the Order. Have you talked to her about it? Does she return your feelings?" She smiled in suspense. Giddy with the possibilities.

Allen seemed at a loss for words. I decided I would only jump in if he needed me to, or if she asked me something directly, since she was his ex-girlfriend. That was also the reason why we came to her first. She could potentially have to most volatile reaction. And also, Allen thought he owed it to her.

Lenalee continued at the prolonged silence, "And, why is Kanda here to talk about it, too?" Now she was speaking to me directly. "Kanda, do you know who she is?"

Damn! I made a decision to move things along. "I know who it is." Her eyes brightened. I coached myself to ease her into it, since there are number of revelations about to take place for her. "The first hint is that you should be asking, 'Do you know who he is?'"

Her eyes grew wide, and she put her teacup down. "He?" she repeated.

It didn't look like Allen was breathing.

After and long pause, taken while looking at her cup, she lifted her head and prompted, "Allen?"

As if she broke a dam on his words, he spoke immediately. "That's why it's been so hard to bring it up, Lenalee. I've been struggling with this for a while now, but I've decided to be with this person."

"Struggle? Did you struggle alone? Not confiding in anyone?" She knows him so well.

"Until recently, yea. I didn't know what anyone would think of me, or what I should think of it myself." I thought he had been secretive, not that he was condemning himself. I hadn't realized that. Idiot. He'd been thinking that it's wrong?

"You thought we would hate you?" Lenalee asked. "I admit it will take some time for me to understand it, but I'll never hate you. I wish you would have told me, Allen."

He bowed his head. Relieved. "For a while, I thought that maybe I would no longer be chosen by God if I… So I did nothing. I never thought something could…But now that it's happened, I know it's right. It feels right."

His words affected me. It felt more important to say something to Allen at that moment than to stay silent for the sake of revealing everything in degrees to Lenalee. I, myself, just found out something about Allen. It made me feel guilty for not speaking to him directly about it much sooner, even though I had had my own doubts at the time.

"I thought you were being shy about it. That's why I pushed you. If I had known your doubts were so deep I would have done things differently," I said more softly than I intended.

Allen turned his body to the side to face me. "You're the last person I wanted to talk to about it, though. You couldn't have known. Anyway, that sort of worrying is over."

Lenalee inhaled sharply, which grabbed out attention, and put her hands over her mouth to cover her gaping expression. She had no words, but she didn't need them. She obviously drew the right conclusions from our exchange.

"I can guess what you're thinking," said Allen calmly, "and it's the truth."

She bored here eyes into Allen, and then into me.

I wanted her to understand. She was my oldest friend on the Ark, and there was no living woman that I respected more. I was compelled to begin my own explanation. "I recently noticed a difference in Allen's behavior towards me. Eventually, I drew conclusions about what it meant. I was finding it difficult to confirm, but it made me start thinking about the possibility anyway. I don't want to talk to you about my reasons," at least not today, I thought, "but I confronted him about it two weeks ago." I could feel my face burn up. I hated this so much. "And we both agreed to give it a try." Her expression hadn't changed and it made me nervous. "Do you think this is something that you can accept?" I was steeling myself for rejection. She was like family, and what she thought could wound me.

Lenalee started to blink. Well, that was something. Then her face took on a more natural expression, if a great deal perplexed, and said, "Of course it is." I get the feeling that she wants to believe that, which is a great relief. But it won't be as simple as that statement implies. "But, there's a lot I don't understand."

"That can come with time," said Allen. "I think that's enough information for today, don't you?"

"Ok, you're right," she conceded. "But, just one thing, Allen. What about what you and I had? I don't mean it like it sounds!" she rushed to amend. "What I really mean is, you can like a woman, and then down the road, like a man? Gosh, how do I say this right?"

"Are you asking whether I was gay all along, or if I can like both men and women?"

"Yea," she answered shyly.

"I think, I'm able to like both. Being with Kanda now doesn't diminish what you and I had, or make it less real. The reverse is also true."

She absorbed that for a minute and then turned to me. "And Kanda, you had a wife once, in your first life." It was still difficult to think of her, but it wasn't the time to dwell.

"My feelings for her haven't changed. But now, I also care for someone else. You seem to want to understand, so I'll tell you. It doesn't have to be a choice of one preference or the other. At least not with Allen or me."

"Did you struggle with this as well?" she prodded.

"Not very much."

"I'm glad." She seemed to be warming up to the topic. "So, is Allen the first guy that you've thought of that way?"

"Not the first I've thought of, but the first I've…approached."

Just then, Komui's booming voice cut in, "Allen, Kanda! I'm glad you're here, because I've been meaning to talk to you!" We were saved from answering Lenalee's increasingly intrusive questions, but in this case the cure was worse than the disease.

Komui took note of all of the blushing, uncomfortable faces, sat down, and made himself comfortable easily. "I have the feeling that you've been discussing one aspect of the very subject I meant," he said meaningfully.

How could he know that? But I had to ask myself: was he wrong, half-right, or really sure about what we were talking about with Lenalee? I had no idea, but it's best to keep the conversation driven by us in any case.

Allen beat me to it. "Yes, it's time that we talk about this with you. So that we know where to start, why don't you tell us what you know already?"

Komui seemed surprised by Allen's straight-forwardness, but then pressed on. "Well," then he paused, "Did you want Lenalee to stay?"

"What? This is my house." She responded indignantly.

"Yes, it's perfectly fine that she stays. At least, as long as she wants to know about it." Allen looked to me for a quick confirmation, that I agreed to with a nod.

"I want to stay," she said.

"Alright then", Komui conceded. "What I know is that you, Allen and Kanda, have been displaying increasingly impressive synchronization with your respective Innocence. And, most recently in the battle in America, your Innocence ever so slightly synced with each other, creating a level of power never before seen.

I also know what Timcampy showed me, from that time at the lake a couple of weeks ago. So, I could draw conclusions and fill in the blanks involving those two things that I know, but I would rather hear your thoughts on it first."

Allen glared at Timcampy like he was a traitor. And Timcampy was wisely positioned far from him at the moment.

Komui really seemed to care more about the information than any emotions that are tied to it. Or maybe he was phrasing it that way to make it easier for us. I could handle that. "There is a correlation," I confirmed.

"Could you please plot it out for me? The significant emotional events over the course of…however far back it's relevant? I'll run it against the data on your Innocence."

I nodded, and Allen said, "Ok." He didn't mean now did he? I wouldn't be surprised if he pulled out a pencil and paper right that second.

"Great," he said enthused, looking at each of us. "You can come by the lab later on today."

"Right. With that settled," said Allen, "we'll leave you to your visit with your sister." I couldn't agree with him more. We should leave well enough alone and exit on this positive, if still quite uncomfortable, note.

We sat on a park bench a few minutes later. Allen slumped down his seat and kicked his legs out. The concern on his face was obvious.

"It went better than we thought it would," I said I consolation. "Even counting Komui's surprise visit. And we knew it was possible that he would know that much."

"Yea," he agreed. "We have…great friends. I guess I'm just realizing that this is going to take a lot of work. Today is only the beginning."

"Yea." I put my hand on his shoulder and left it there. "Now, are you ready to visit the idiot rabbit?" I asked challengingly.