Inbok for @sticksandbones

[missinglink]

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[missinglink]

You don't have to apologize.

[He just wishes he had better answers for Allen. He wishes not everything had to be bad news. This boy deserves to catch a fucking break for once in his life.

He gives Allen another squeeze, especially as he can tell that he's struggling not to cry.]

We are going to figure this out, one way or another. Together.

Zahliya has decided Link gets a kiss too so

[godsfavourite]

[ He feels like he does have to apologize, though! Please accept his apology because he doesn't know how else to go about this. Link and Kanda both might be the death of him, actually.

Today has been... maybe "emotionally draining" doesn't even begin to cover it. Today has been a fucking siphon for emotions. He's tired and upset and it's not even sundown yet. He has to stay up, and he has to go talk to Kanda and he has to somehow let Link know that he'll be okay and that he's just Going Through It right now and ?????

He is comforted by the embrace, at the very least. And maybe he could take a very small nap before he goes to talk to Kanda? Oh, but first, thanking Link. Right. Together. They can do this together. They'll figure things out and get home and save Lavi and be with Johnny again and things will work out. They'll do it together!

He picks up his head a moment, and then very gently presses a little peck to Link's cheek, giving a little sniff after as his head drops again into his shoulder. ]

We will.

[missinglink]

[While they were sitting in silence, Link had been wracking his brain, trying to think of some way to cheer Allen up. Maybe he could cook him something? Like a pie...or a casserole? Something just for Allen and nobody else. Maybe-

...

He freezes, his breath hitching when Allen suddenly lifts his head and kisses Link on the cheek, an action that causes him to completely forget everything he was just thinking. He effectively bluescreens, staring into space as his heart leaps into his throat. It pounds deafeningly between his ears, leaving him utterly unable to do...really anything but sit there and process what just happened.

Wh. Wuh.

Did Allen just...?]

I- ...

[Link clears his throat and looks at Timcanpy, eyes wide like saucers as if the Golem might be able to tell him what's happening.]

Er. Would...would you like me to make you something...?

[godsfavourite]

[ Timcanpy does not know. Timcanpy is just Timcanpy. He does float to Link's shoulder instead of Allen's when Allen pulls away from him so he can flop on the bed again and hug his pillow as he now has new information to process. His brain has been going about 400 miles a minute with chatter that's so hard to keep up with. He doesn't notice the shift in Link's tone, or the way his heartbeat picks up.

He just curls in bed bed and speaks muffled into his pillow now. ] If you don't mind. I could really use some food... Something warm and... home-y, I guess. Can you do that? I know that's a weird request.

[missinglink]

[As Tim floats onto his shoulder, Link carefully gets up to his feet as Allen lays down with the pillow in his arms instead. Something warm and home-y...he can do that.

He hesitates at the bedside for just a moment, watching Allen where he's got his face hidden into the pillow. He can't see him as he approaches, so...

It's easier for Link to reach out and ever-so-briefly brush Allen's bangs off his forehead.]

It isn't weird at all. I'll be back in a half hour, okay?

[From there the sound of his footsteps leaving the room can be heard, and he and Tim will be absent for a while. When he returns, it's to the tune of something savory in a bowl on a tray.]

This is Kartoffelklöße.

[He explains as he sets the tray in reach.]

Potato dumplings with sausage and cabbage, with sauteed onions and a mushroom sauce.

[godsfavourite]

[ Allen may or may not have fallen asleep briefly in Link's absence. Perhaps unsurprisingly. He does wake up incredibly easily to the smell of food. He practically sits up right immediately, sparkles in his eyes. ]

Smells bloody amazing~! I don't think I can repeat that word, though... [ Oh, you Germans... He is immediately grabbing for at least two of the dumplings, though. One for each hand. He takes a bite out of one and immediately looks like he'd been told literally all of his problems went away. The boy just... really loves food. ]

Your cooking, Link... it's so good I could cry, you know.

[missinglink]

[He's sitting on the edge of the bed again while Allen eats, glad to see that he's hit the mark for something home-y. It was the first thing he thought of, given that it's one of his favorites from childhood.]

I appreciate the compliment. No crying though, you won't be able to eat properly if you're crying.

[He says this as he grunts and lifts up a pot with a ladle inside onto the end table next to the bed.

Oops, looks like he brought the entire pot up so Allen can just have seconds or thirds if he'd like.]

[godsfavourite]

[ Fantastic news about how much Allen puts away! It helps that Allen works out first thing when he wakes up. The boys have to put up with Allen doing his routine in the living room - but it isn't like they all don't have their own. Staying in shape is important, after all. (Couldn't be me---)

Anyway, Allen has turned into a black hole that only potato dumplings can satisfy. Thank you for your service, Link. ]

I awm weernin ho' wo way are ow o' ar'en so we'ww hawe suswanawle veggies, woo.
(Translation: I am learning how to take care of the garden, so we'll have sustainable veggies, too.)

[ Allen, stop trying to talk with your mouth full. ]

[missinglink]

[It takes Link a minute to translate, but he manages. He's lived with Allen long enough that it's not hard for him to do, though he does wish he wouldn't talk with his mouth full...]

I'm glad to hear that. I also had the thought that I might want to see if acquiring two chickens would possibly be an option...if we could have our own eggs, we wouldn't have to worry about purchasing them anymore.

[godsfavourite]

[ Allen swallows, looking a bit sheepish. ]

Wouldn’t have to worry… if I didn’t break so many…

Though, having our own eggs would be nice. I can ask Heimr about a hutch? Or maybe we can see about leaving them at the barn??

[missinglink]

It's not your fault. The next time I go to pick up groceries, I'll ask what they suggest.

[He'll pick up a dumpling carefully now that they're cooled off enough to easily touch and offer it to Tim, flat in his palm like he's feeding a horse.]

[godsfavourite]

At this rate, you're going to spoil me, Link. At least give me something I can help with! [ Allen, you got a house.

Anyway, Tim spreads his fucking maw of a face and eats the dumpling, thank you- ]

[missinglink]

[Feed Tim :)

Also yeah Allen you got the ENTIRE HOUSE]

Well the chickens will need to have the eggs collected daily, so I do expect you and Kanda to help out with that.

[Sorry Kanda you're being voluntold for future chicken duty]

[godsfavourite]

[ Allen, who has only ever seen chickens but never owned any: ] They lay eggs... daily? [ Oh my God. ] ...Doesn't that hurt?

Poor chickens...

[missinglink]

Well, no...it's probably a bit uncomfortable, but laying eggs is perfectly normal for chickens. They often lay multiple every day, so if you had even just a half dozen chickens, you'd have more eggs daily than you could eat.

[Spoons more dumplings into Allen's bowl as he explains.]

[godsfavourite]

But-... Isn't laying an egg like giving birth?

... [ He picks up a dumpling and stares ahead at the wall for a moment as he thinks Very Deep Thoughts about chickens. ]

I'm suddenly so stressed for chickens.

[ He eats the dumpling- ]

[missinglink]

Well, yes and no. It's only like birth in the sense that the chicken is laying an egg, as opposed to having a bowel movement. But for chickens, the two may as well be one and the same. They do both from the same place, so while it's briefly more uncomfortable for them, it's about as natural of a process as going to the bathroom.

[I'm. So sorry Link is like this, you're trying to eat-]

[godsfavourite]

[ Bold of you to assume this deters Allen from eating. Absolutely not, he's putting another dumpling in his mouth and with his mouth full goes: ] Wow.

[ He ponders the chickens for a moment before he looks over at Link, swallowing. ] Did you own chickens at one point, Link? I can't picture you as a farm boy...!

[missinglink]

Me? No. I just like to read. I always have, since I was young.

[And these days it's not often you don't see Link with his nose buried in a book of some sort.]

And if I find there is something I don't know, then I like to see what I can learn about it.

[There's a reason he makes such a good teacher, tbh.]

[godsfavourite]

...Did you teach yourself to read, Link? [ Because, well, he does recall Link saying he was orphaned. He can't imagine there's very good schooling for kids who live on the streets. Allen didn't go to school, either, so it isn't like he has a lot of room to speak. ]

[missinglink]

No. We learned at the Order.

[Said simply. Matter-of-factly.]

It was a matter of necessity, if we were going to be useful. I spent a lot of my childhood catching up, so I tried to learn everything I could.

[godsfavourite]

[ Allen eats another dumpling contemplatively. That makes more sense, actually. He was also taught... some... but because he was sent off on missions, he didn't really get to do a ton of learning. He wonders what it was like to actually grow up under them. Especially at Central, where things seemed a lot more strict, and far less cozy.

...

He reaches over and sets a hand on top of Link's head. ] ...I was going to go to the beach tomorrow to set up an Ark gateway there. You should come with me! We can explore that together! [ And maybe. Maybe Link can have a little bit of fun and relaxation. ]

[missinglink]

[Oh...hand on his head. He doesn't know how to react, so he just sits there politely.]

I can accompany you. [He replies, as if Allen didn't literally just invite him.] Is there a particular reason you're taking it to the beach?

[godsfavourite]

Ah, apparently the beach is really the only other place that’s safely explorable? But it’s a few days out, so… I thought if I could make that travel time shorter for the residents here, that might be useful?

[missinglink]

Hm...that isn't a bad idea actually, if it works.

[Maybe Allen just can't make gates to other places, but gates that lead around the Grove area are fine? Hm...]

Whenever you're ready then, I'll head out with you.