Allen followed his foster father as quickly as his little legs allowed, his stride unsteady and uneven. Several times, he tripped over his own two feet, ending up face-down in the snow. Every time, he stood again, brushing himself off, and hurrying to catch up to Mana, his face split into a broad, toothy grin. He'd never been accepted by anyone before, and he was determined to never let this man go. Mana was the closest thing he's ever had to a family, and he knew that he had to make sure it lasted forever, just like in the stories Mana read to him at bedtime.
Small limbs quaked as Allen tried to hold in his shivers, the winter gales blowing straight through his many layers of clothing. He gasped when he felt a pair of large, warm arms wrap around him, picking him up from the ground and placing him on a broad back, where it was warm and sheltered from the wind.
A large smile spread across Allen's face as he wrapped short arms around Mana's neck, his left hand covered by a large green mitten, his right by a simple woollen glove. He pressed his face into Mana's shoulder to protect his eyes and nose from the wind, his shivers gradually lessening as he warmed up. The little boy had never felt so contented, despite knowing that the next town was still a couple of hours away. He yawned quietly; hiding it behind his hand like Mana had taught him. Mana was teaching him lots of things, like manners and how to read and write. Things Allen had never dreamed he might be able to do.
"Thank you, Mana," Allen said tiredly, and despite being half-asleep, he would always remember what Mana said to him next.
"You're welcome, Allen," the clown smiled. "I'll always be here for you."
And Allen believed him.
"Hey, Mana." A pause. "It's been a while, hasn't it? I'm sorry I haven't been to see you recently. Things have been really hectic around here lately; what with university and going back and forth to the doctors, and well... you know. There isn't really much to tell you since last time," Allen broke off, coughing harshly into a handkerchief. All else was silent for a moment, as though the very elements were waiting for Allen to continue. "Remember how I used to tell you how you'd be the only person I'd ever love?" Allen paused as though waiting for an answer, though he knew that one would never come.
"Well, that's not quite true anymore. Do you remember Froi Tiedoll? I think Cross introduced you two a couple of times. His son, Kanda... well he and I... uh, we're sort of an item now." Allen fidgeted from foot to foot, his hands playing nervously with the hem of his coat. "That doesn't... bother you, right? That I'm in love with a man? I don't think you're the sort of person who would be bothered by that, but I wanted to check."
A soft breeze played around Allen's face comfortingly, and he thought that he could hear a soft, indulgent chuckle. "I know, I know. As long as I'm happy, right? When you died, I didn't think I'd ever be happy again. You broke your promise, you know. You promised that you'd always be there for me, and then a few days later you died.
"I felt so betrayed, Mana. I was young, and I didn't really understand death. I'd never had to face it or really come across it before, and suddenly you were gone forever. Maybe you're still there for me, waiting in the afterlife – I don't know. But right then, at your funeral, I'd never been more hurt, because you'd promised that you'd always be there for me, and suddenly you weren't anymore." A gentle wind caressed his face like an apology, and Allen smiled sadly, his tears long since dried up.
"I probably look really stupid right now, standing here talking to a grave. But I wanted you to know what was going on; I think you deserve to know about your son's life, whether it was me or Neah you really saw when you looked at me. Either way, I still consider you my father, and I think my father would want to know that I'm... you know. You'd really like Kanda, Mana – he's rough around the edges, but he's a really good person once you get to know him, and I love him more than anything, apart from you of course. He's actually a bit like I was when you first found me. It's a shame you're not here to work your magic on him like you did me," Allen chuckled, and the breeze seemed to laugh along.
Allen coughed again, bent over almost double for a few minutes, before he finally stood up straight again, wrapping his scarf around his neck a few more times. The cold was getting to him, and he was beginning to wonder if this was really such a good idea after all.
He didn't notice the dark figure that stood several yards away, watching and listening, until he walked forwards, snow crunching beneath the heavy boots. Warm arms wrapped around Allen's waist, gentle lips at his ear, and Allen leaned back into the comforting warmth, Kanda's chest solid and wonderfully real against his back. He could feel his boyfriend pressing kisses to his hair and cheek, and turned around in Kanda's arms to hug him back, knowing how rare this open display of affection was from the older boy. He wanted to make the most of it while he could.
Allen didn't realise he was crying until warm fingers brushed his tears away – he thought it was odd, as he'd been convinced that he'd run out of tears to cry years ago. Kanda murmured something to him in Japanese, but Allen's knowledge of the language was severely limited, and he only understood a couple of the words.
"Baka usagi said you'd be here," Kanda finally said, after a few more minutes of silence. Allen nodded silently, burying his face in Kanda's chest so that he wouldn't embarrass himself any further. "Why are you even outside in this weather? You're just getting over a bout of the flu, baka moyashi; you should be inside, in the warm..." Kanda trailed off when Allen shook his head.
"I wanted to come and see Mana," Allen whispered, clutching Kanda's shirt like a lifeline. "I always worry that he might get lonely this time of year."
He'd expected Kanda to laugh at him for being so stupid, or at least scoff and say something cynical – but he did nothing of the sort. He just nodded, slipping his arms from around Allen's waist, leaving the young man feeling cold and empty. To Allen's great surprise, however, Kanda stepped up to Mana's grave and bowed his head respectfully. Allen could hear him talking to the grave in hushed tones, but could hear what he said. A wind picked up, gentle and surprisingly warm for this time of year, and Kanda smiled one of his small, rare smiles, stepping back and taking hold of Allen's hand.
"What did you say?" Allen asked curiously, and Kanda chuckled, lacing their fingers together.
"I said that I promised I would love you for eternity and always and be there for you – I think your dad likes me now," he said, and Allen's face stiffened slightly, before relaxing into a sad smile.
"Don't make promises you can't keep, baKanda," Allen whispered, and Kanda shot a concerned glance at him before squeezing his hand, a smirk creeping across his lips and into his eyes.
"You know me, moyashi. I'd never do such a thing."
Oh God, the fluff! It burns! I couldn't help myself, guys. As to why the author's note is at the bottom rather than the top as per usual... actually, I don't know. I just felt like it today.
Okay, I am SO SORRY this is late. Please forgive me peoples! I have no excuses, so feel free to flame me - it might warm up my hands and feet a bit :P Anyway, moving swiftly onward, I have an important question to ask all of you readers out there.
I am considering (and at the moment, it IS only a thought) extending these various AU and canon stories into a series of oneshots. Not multi-chapter stories, 'cause I never seem to finish them. But a series of stand-alone oneshots, where it doesn't matter if I don't really continue, well. That's a whole other story. (LOL, I made an unintentional pun)
So, my question is this; if I did continue these, would you guys want to read them? And do you have any suggestions, etc.? (Alright, that was more than one question. So sue me.)
Leave your answers in the reviews I will hopefully get :) (Pwease?)
Oh, and also - this story is DISCLAIMED, bitch.