Chapter three! :D thank you everyone who has read and reviewed so far. c: I appreciate it a lot. (chapter title: Blink 182)

:What's My Age Again?:

Allen stepped out of the bathroom and softly padded towards the living room where he hoped to find the red headed rabbit. He bit at his bottom lip and sighed softly, looking around the town house. Everything looked new and clean. The cub didn't want to touch anything for fear of dirtying it.

"Don't be scared; you're safe here. I'm not going to throw you out into the storm." Lavi's voice spoke behind the bear, causing a shiver to run down his spine.

"F-fank ou." Allen mumbled softly, his still slightly damp ears twitching softly.

"No need to thank me, baby kuma. Everyone deserves a warm place to sleep at night." Lavi turned, walking back to his computer.

The blood haired male's eyes traveled to the paper bag holding his poison of choice. It was completely unopened. By now, Lavi would have been reaching for a nonexistent third bottle.

The novelist turned back to Allen, who was standing at the doorway, looking like he felt out of place. The pajamas the elder had lent him were near falling off, even the shirt; it was a two-thirds sleeve on Lavi, but on the white haired male, it went to the middle of his palms.

Allen shuffled his way into the room, his ears perked and alert the entire time. Lavi didn't take the slightest offense to i, honestly understanding where the kid was coming from. He chewed the inside of his cheek, wondering if he would be able to get any form of information out of the little bear.

"Do you..." Lavi wet his dry lips. "Do you want to talk?"

Allen shook his head slowly, biting at the inside of his cheek. He had a look of shame in his eyes. Lavi couldn't help but wider why.

"Do you not what to talk because of your lisp?" Lavi spoke slowly, trying to show that he was being friendly and not mocking the cub.

Allen's bottom lip quivered and he nodded. Lavi felt his heart shatter at the sight of the trembling boy. Allen's body and posture screamed that he was the allegory of innocence.

Lavi sat down in his computer chair, motioning to the cub that he could sit on his fluffy love seat. Allen sat down but quickly curled into himself. The atmosphere was slightly awkward, but nothing the 22 year old couldn't handle.

"I don't mind your lisp; honestly, I think it makes you absolutely adorable." The red head couldn't help the small smile breaking out on his lips.

"W-weally?" Allen's voice was timid and he talked through the sleeve of his shirt, hiding his mouth.

"Yes, little cub." Lavi's smile widened and decided that the compliment had made a fraction of progress. "How old are you, Allen?"

"I am 16."

Lavi's jaw dropped. He Hadn't even remotely thought that the shy little cub could have been so old! The red head had thought

12 or 13, tops! Allen couldn't have been over 5'2 or 5'3... Why was he so tiny? The novelist's mind raced.

"H-how old awe ou?" Allen's cheeks were powdered a soft pink and it looked radiant against his extremely white hair.

"I'm 22, practically an old man." Lavi chuckled softly, resting one of his arms behind his head. He took another peak at the boy and just had to ask. "How long... How long have you been on your own?"

Allen had suddenly found his toes incredibly interesting. He started twiddling his big toes. "I...I don't wemember when I furst started sweeping in the pawk... But it has been a long time..."

The crimson haired novelist felt his heart sink at that. That more than likely meant years upon years. There was no telling what this poor boy had seen or done just to make ends meet.

Allen rubbed at his forearm, feeling awkward. What was he supposed to say or do now? He bit at his bottom lip, looking around the room. His grey eyes landed on a book shelf maybe four feet from the generous red head. All of the books on the first three rows had pink binding and blue letters, all having some reference to love or sweets.

Lavi noticed the curiosity written all over the bear cub's face and he followed his gaze, chuckling at himself slightly. "Those are all shoujo manga. I use the for reference with my writing and I get them free from my publisher... I'm a novelist."

Allen smiled softly, it was faint, but Lavi swore that he could see it. The cub looked so fragile and precious, curled up like that, a hint of amusement dancing behind his eyes. The red rabbit couldn't help but feel the need to get to get to know this kid; to protect him.

"Will...will ou wead to me?" Allen's voice was so soft that Lavi had to strain his ears just to make sure he actually heard the young boy speak.

Lavi smiled, a pride swelling in his chest. To give such a question, Allen must have been warming up to him! He reached over to the young bear and patted the top of his head. "Sure, any time at all. What would you like me to read to you?"

Allen bit at the sleeve of his shirt softly, his eyes clouding with thought. Lavi's eyes traveled over the ghost-haired boy's face and several new questions arose. Did Allen know how to read, had he ever been to school or anything like that? It baffled the red head as to why someone would just abandon their child like this, but he knew better than to ask.

"Something happy." Allen looked at the elder male for approval.

"Of course!" Lavi smiled, wanting to touch and stroke at those unbelievably soft ears perched on top of the sixteen year old's head.

A crash of thunder shook the apartment building and the light's flickered. A loud gasp left Allen's lips and before Lavi could comprehend it, the bear cub was pressed against his chest, shaking.

Lavi pet at Allen's back, trying to be as comforting as possible. "You're scared of thunder..." He didn't question the obvious. "Don't worry, you're safe with me, chibi kuma."

What what? Is this an update? XD

It's funny. As I started writing this story, I realized that I relate to it quite well. I am talking to a 16 year old guy right now and I'm starting to like him, and I'm all "aargh; why." and I'm 19. XD it's not as big of an age gap as 22 but still haha.