A/N: Sorry it took so long to update, boys and girls! Holiday insanity and all, ya know? Oh well! I come bearing a new chapter! With a bit of rage and the ensuing rockiness of a new relationship! Y'all know how it is, ne? And who knew Eriku had a temer? Maybe it's not very wise to allow the characters to just play on their own. But...yeah! ^_^ Anyways, I appreciate all of your reviews and really wish for y'all to keep reading! You've all been extremely sweet to me and I'm doing my best not to disappoint. Anyways...on with the chapter!

Eric rubbed his eyes quietly and looked over at Alan's desk. This was insane, Alan had been going to the infirmary once every other week to check his condition, which was usually fine aside from the fact that he was frail. The second they told him what it finally was they almost collapsed and Alan had a nasty attack following up. Eric's rudeness during the following hours didn't help matters either.

"The next time you have the audacity to attempt collecting souls your own, you better think twice! If I ever catch you sneaking out to reap on your own again, Humphries, I swear to God I will personally end you! Understand?" Eric growled and pushed Alan back down on his bed, standing quickly and running a hand through his hair. It took a lot for the older brunette to avoid ripping his hair out, or at least his braids, they'd started to hurt like hell whenever he became angry or stressed. "Honestly, to think you were improving...how the hell did you become an honour student when you can't even defend yourself against a rogue record?"

Alan stayed silent and stared down at the ground, pulling his knees up to his chest. Not four months into his position as a dispatch officer and he was already causing trouble. Although perhaps it should be more like six months, after he'd contracted whatever it was, the sheer force of it seemed to make his brain implode and sent him into a coma. Though the heavy sedatives might have had a hand in that as well, the last thing he remembered was losing his glasses. He held onto the side of his head and glanced over at Eric, only then realising his braids were missing, or at least covered up. Not only that but he was actually dressed according to regulation, aside from his tie. It was bright blue and covered in little black crosses. Geez, this man must have a very colourful wardrobe out of work.

"You look almost normal for once...why?" Eric adjusted his glasses and looked away from the window only for a moment, a small scowl was the only answer he would receive apparently.

"Interviews, even that idiot Sutcliff is less flamboyant than usual. We have a whole mass of academy students that want to intern with us, doubtful they'll last a day though. Anymore stupid questions?"

"N-n...the proper outfit doesn't suit you, it makes you look fake..." He went wide eyed after saying it and covered his mouth. He'd not meant for that to slip out! The drugs must still be affecting him, yeah that was it. That didn't matter though, at least not to Eric. He stepped up next to the hospital bed and stared at the younger brunette silently, using all of his willpower not to throttle him.

"Fake? You think that I look FAKE? You don't even have room to talk! You come in here acting as if you're all pure and innocent when really you're just some idiotic kid! How many professors did you sleep with at the academy to get that honours spot, huh? How dare you have the nerve to call ME fake when you are hardly in a position to do so!" Alan opened his mouth to speak and shut it again quickly, stopping when he realised Eric was throwing his blazer and waistcoat onto Alan's bed. He snifed as he threw the tie off as well and picked up the blazer, ruffling his hair into a disorganised mess and snarling at the smaller man. Alan bit his lip and remained quiet, tensing up as the older brunette sat on top of him.

"M-mr. Slingby...I-I didn't mean to off—OW!" he gasped as the back of Eric's hand collided with his face loud enough for a loud cracking noise to resonate through the small room. The force knocked off Alan's glasses as he curled up in a ball as best he could, holding his cheek and shaking. "W-what was th-that for?"

"If you ever call me fake again, I swear it won't be my hand that you have to fear, kid," He stood and picked up Alan's glasses, snapping them in half and tossing them onto the bed before he stormed out of the room. Alan remained there shaking as a group of doctors came in to check on him, obviously concerned after hearing the ruckus.

Eric sighed as he stood outside of the imfirmary, hands in his pockets. He didn't even remember leaving his office. He leaned against the wall and watched quietly, eventually catching sight of Alan entering a room with his nose in a book. Always with those mystery books of his. Though he'd seen the brunette reading worse, and walked in on him in more than one compromising position regarding some of the more...what's the word? Never mind, he shook his head and held open the door for a passing nurse, waiting until she'd disappeared before entering himself. He'd almost completely forgotten the layout after so long of not being there. Finally he stopped momentarily and was pulled into a room before he could speak.

"Miss me?" Eric blinked and turned around quickly, calming down when he realised it was only Alan standing there, grinning like an idiot. "Were you that worried about me, Eric?"

"W-well...no. I just uh...well it's kinda like..."

"Don't lie, Mr. Slingby..."

"Ok, I was worried...but I'd be a bad boyfriend if I didn't worry about how long it took you down here every week, now wouldn't I?" Alan raised an eyebrow and smiled a little. Eric wrapped his arms around him properly and kissed his forehead. He'd be a bad boyfriend if Alan found out that he'd been out collecting souls for him during his assigned collections. The last thing he wanted was for Alan to suddenly change his mind and throw him out into the hall. He snapped out of his thoughts after a moment, glancing up to see Alan slipping off his vest and hopping onto the hospital bed again. "Alan?"

"They won't let me go yet, might as well get comfy, eh?" He cocked his head to the side and smiled at the blond, scooting over to make room for him. Eric ran a hand through his hair and pulled off his gloves and tie as he made his way over, pulling Alan close only to get an arm between them. "E-eric...? What are you doing?"

"Well I thought that since it would be a while, maybe we could-"

"What? I didn't object to a relationship but...no! And...just no! That's disgusting and, and, and...in the hospital? Eric, we're in public! If someone even saw us hold hands we'd-"

"Would you shut up already? Jesus Christ, you can't make up your mind in the slightest, can you? One second you can't keep your hands off of me and the next you're holier than the bleedin' pope! You didn't have to say yes to me, Humphries...frankly I'm surprised you didn't pull the holier-than-thou routine with that," he shook his head and stood up, slipping his tie on quickly without another look.

"B-but...I wasn't trying to...I mean...it's just...something like that...I don't think I could..." Eric stared at him for a moment then shook his head, walking back to the door. "Eric please...I wasn't trying to..."

"Fake."

"Excuse me?"

"I called you fake, Alan. You knew what I asked and then you turn around with your moral bullshit. You need to make up your mind about what you-" He barely saw the brunette move as Alan slapped him hard enough to knock off his glasses.

"Don't you ever call me that again, Slingby! You have no right to use such a nasty term with me!" He narrowed his eyes and picked up the blond's glasses, shoving them in his face before snapping them quickly. "Enjoy the lights, Slingby. Now get out!"