Inbok for @sticksandbones

[missinglink]

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Breaks open ur inbox with a sledgehammer

[godsfavourite]

[ Allen usually sleeps in without much disturbance from the other two in the morning. Kanda, who wakes up early to meditate, and Link, to cook or study or both, both have their routines, while Allen’s is “hope I don’t wake up with eyebags” and work out. He has a “routine” in the sense he does the same shit in the morning, but it’s never on the same time. The boy is plagued with nightmares, he’s lucky to be sleeping at all.

One morning, though, Allen gets up with his two friends. He greets them with a sleepy greeting as Kanda leaves to meditate downstairs, and Link is changing his top. It’s not unusual — Allen and him have shared a room for quite a while now. It’s funny, though. Today of all days, he sees… is that… in Link’s chest…?

Allen stands from his bed immediately, stepping towards Link before he’s able to finish putting on his shirt. ]

Wait.

Link…?

[missinglink]

[Link is an early riser, as Allen well knows. He's a morning person, so he doesn't typically have problems getting up...but like any normal human person, he's a bit eepy first thing in the morning. He's still trying to pry his eyes fully open as he changes pretty much on autopilot, picking up his shirt to put on...only for Allen calling his name to give him reason to pause.

He doesn't realize what he's staring at, so he just turns to look at him like ?]

Yes?

[godsfavourite]

[ He confirms it pretty immediately. That Innocence’d stained mark. But it’s different this time, there’s scarring. It’s not like it is with Kanda’s or Lenalee’s or… hell, even his own. Even though he knows that’s the Innocence mark, Allen still raises his hand and lines up the marks, pressing his red hand against Link’s chest. Perhaps under any other circumstance, Allen would recognize the inherent intimacy of such an action.

Given the way his face pales like he’s seen a ghost, he isn’t thinking about that right now.

He pulls his hand away with a hitch of his breath as frantic eyes go from the scarring to the floor to the wall. Never up. Never to Link’s face. He cannot bear to look at his eyes now. ]

Y-… [ He finally utters a single sound, but it stops, while Allen struggles to find the things to say among the chaos in his head. ] This is where he tried to kill you…

[ It’s no wonder people were so easy to believe Link died, with a wound like that. And it’s one thing, isn’t it? To be told Link died. He had stared at Kanda like he’d been lying, like he couldn’t believe it. It’s another to… see it. It might not have happened right in front of him, but it’s not hard, like this, for Allen’s imagination to fill in the blanks.

As someone who’s had his heart damaged by one Tyki of the Noah, he knows it’s a pain unimaginably devastating. ]

I. I should’ve come back for- I-I knew he-

Oh, God. I’m… I’m so sorry.

[missinglink]

[...oh. Now he understands.

Before he can really stop Allen, he feels his hand reach out to touch his chest, palm resting perfectly over the cross scar on his flesh. It really does match up with his own mark of Innocence, yet for Link it means something different...but it's weirdly similar at the same time. It was imparted to each of them by the same being, after all.

Because yes. Had intervention not taken place, and had Link not had Atuuda, he would have died. That grave wouldn't have just been a farce to make people think he'd passed away that day to later go on a cross-country undercover mission to protect the Fourteenth.

And he can tell, immediately, that Allen is taking the blame entirely on himself.]

Allen, look at me. [He's not going to force him, but like. Yk.] If you came back, Apocryphos would have killed us both, and possibly even more people that got in his way. I made a choice, even if my memory of it was tampered with.

[His gaze narrows, eyes falling half closed.]

You made the right decision. The only decision you could have. Do not blame yourself for this.

[godsfavourite]

But we could've all gotten out of there!

[ Or maybe left Tyki behind at least.

The exclamation is quick, very obvious that the static-y mess that Allen calls his thoughts aren't working right now. No thinking, only instinct. And instinctively? Well, Allen's a fucking mess. ]

Tim's fast enough, he could've saved you, too! You- you could've died! You basically did! A-and now you have something that hurts you when you heal people, and-

[ He chokes a moment on his next words. Or maybe it's on a sob. It's hard to tell. He knows there's tears that currently sting at his eyes. This feels like a joke. "You're just like Kanda," he wants to say. Just like him. So willing to risk himself, and for what? For someone like Allen? Why? What did he ever do to deserve something like that? Why are all of his friends so willing to risk themselves for him?

Why does he feel so helpless...? ]

...You know I care about you, don't you? Then why would you risk yourself? If you're dead, I won't see you again, you prick...!

[missinglink]

I do know that.

[He doesn't understand why sometimes, though. Not when Link has proven himself to have an agenda that doesn't necessarily align with Allen's wellbeing. He'd been honest with him, after all. He's to protect the Fourteenth...and Allen just so happens to be housing him, right now.]

But can you tell me, in all honesty, that you wouldn't have done the same thing if you were in my shoes? Or worse?

[Allen...is a hypocrite here, and they both know that. Allen is quite often risking his own life for others, and would do so without hesitation for someone he just met.]

My duty has always been to protect you. To stay at your side. If I had turned and fled like a coward back then, I couldn't have lived with myself. I would have been abandoning you along with my own principles, and that is something I cannot abide.

It wouldn't have been a life I would have wanted to live.

[godsfavourite]

...You know I'm not as selfless as others say, Link. I put that on display when we were at Zoogle, didn't I? [ Granted, at the time, Allen did not know 1) that there was a cure that shortened the life of the person who bestowed it, and 2) Link would try to use Atuuda even knowing that Allen just took A Death Sentence in fruit form. ]

Besides, it was never your duty to "protect" me. Just to watch. Your protection became something you decided on. Even now, there's no need for you to! I'm not the Fourteenth!

...

But we're friends. And I get it. I want to protect my friends, too. But I haven't done anything for you to be so bloody reckless! So...

[ He's just staring at the scar now, with such a genuine sadness in his eyes that it seems like it'll bury that natural sparkle it has normally. But then, suddenly, he looks back up at Link, and like flipping a switch, there's a fiery determination in it's place. ]

Don't do anything like that again, okay? I'd rather you have a life to live, okay?? Okay??? I have to see you tomorrow! And all of the tomorrows after that!

[missinglink]

[Link's lips part to respond- to retort, maybe- but what Allen says to him catches him off guard in a way he's not expecting. Or, perhaps more accurately...his own reaction to it surprises him.

Allen wants him to live, this desperately. He would easily believe him to say this to anyone, even someone he just met, but still. Something about the declaration causes his heart to feel tight in his chest, as if he were trying to summon Atuuda despite his magic not working as it should.

He takes a slow breath, pulling on his shirt finally.]

I have no intention of letting anything like that happen again.

[But...he can't promise Allen that he wouldn't try to save him, if he were in dire straights. He used Atuuda to keep him alive once before...he knows without even thinking about it that he'd do it again.]

You will see me tomorrow. I promise you that.

[godsfavourite]

And all the tomorrows after that!!! [ Allen reiterates, as if Link not saying that will curse him, or something similar.

He is taking Link's hands, after he is done putting his shirt on and squeezing them. ]

[missinglink]

[Oh...

Allen takes his hands, and after a moment of being surprised by the sudden contact, his expression relaxes as he gives his hands a gentle squeeze back.]

You trust me, don't you Allen?

[godsfavourite]

[ "Allen". It's... strange. How light he feels suddenly, whenever Link calls him that instead of "Walker". "Walker" was never corrected, because he didn't mind it (Looking at you, "Beansprout"). But it felt... purposeful.

Allen's pause is not because he's hesitating, but rather because he's trying to scan Link's face for answers he cannot see. He is not Kanda, and he is not Link. He isn't good at picking up on intentions like they are. Perhaps this is why they both think him gullible? ]

Of course I do.

[missinglink]

Then believe me when I say I will do what I can to make sure it never happens again. Just as much as I trust you to try to do the same. You might get yourself into more trouble than any person I have ever met, but your will is incredibly strong.

[And...he still has confidence in Allen that he will overcome Nea's influence, somehow.

He will keep living as Allen, no matter what has been foretold. He...won't be erased.

He wants to...no. Has to keep believing that.]

[godsfavourite]

... [ Allen reaches up and pinches Link's nose, huffing as he does. ] Since when did you try sounding so bloody wise, huh?

[ He. He might be pouting, just a little, but he lets go of Link soon after to flop his head against Link's chest with a sigh. (Why are these boys so tall?) (When does Allens get talls....) ]

Alright! Then I'm holding you to it! And if you do anything like that ever again, I'm never forgiving you, understood??

[missinglink]

[Boy why have you done this-

Allen pinches his nose, and Link flusters over it the same way he did the last time Allen did this, yet it's happened and over within seconds, leaving him reeling as he lays his head against his chest instead.

Wah. Bwuh. Hello-]

I...I understand.

[Then, just as Allen's head touches his chest, Link's body suddenly glows ever so slightly, and in a swirl of energy around him, Atuuda floats through the air manifesting somewhere from Link's body, "swimming" around both of them before he stops to lay his head on top of Allen's head.

Hi, Link didn't summon you-]

[godsfavourite]

[ From the nightstand, Timcanpy suddenly hops from it, spreading his wings and landing right on top of Atuuda. Creature pile. ]

...Sorry, I won't keep you here much longer. I just...

...woke up. I don't wanna move, you're very warm. [ Allen- ]

[missinglink]

[Creature pile :)

Link is at a bit of a loss, with Allen leaning on him like this. It's a bit...unprofessional. Uncouth, perhaps. But this is also Allen Walker. He Does these things.

He's not inclined to make him move.]

It's alright. It's still early enough. You can...stay a moment, if you would like.

[With. Your head on his chest.

Straight men do this.]

[godsfavourite]

[ Sorry to say but if Link doesn't move him, Allen is absolutely falling back asleep standing up like this.

Snzzz.......... ]

[missinglink]

[Oh. Oh no.

Allen…]

Oh…Walker…?

[Atuuda rumbles. Shhh. You will wake the baby. Meanwhile, Link is kindof stuck for a moment, unsure what to do.

…

In the end, he remains standing like this for a good five minutes, just letting him nap. Maybe it’s even ten. Only then will he gently shake him, trying to help him stand upright.]

We- ahem. We should get ready for the day. Don’t you want breakfast?

[godsfavourite]

[ Ah yes. The sweet siren song of (checks notes) food. The way Allen jolts upright instantly— ]

Yes! Of course!!! What are you making~? Do you need help?

[missinglink]

[Thank God. Link lives to preserve his straight identity for another day.]

I was thinking I would make French toast. It’s simple- I can show you how it’s done, if you’d like.

[godsfavourite]

Yes please~~~~!!

[ That has like, eggs in it, right? That’s probably fine, then. Maybe he can convince Link to make some sausage with it, though. He really just wants meat always— ]

[missinglink]

[Breakfast time. :) Link rolls up his sleeves and gestures for Tim and Atuuda to follow them to the kitchen, thankful that Allen seems to be in higher spirits from something so simple.

He just has to hope that nothing happens to jeopardize it. Surely they won’t die here.

Surely.]

[godsfavourite]

[ Bold words for someone within stove explosion range— ]

Cross never taught me how to cook, so I hope you know I don’t really know what I’m doing. I only really know how to boil water.

[missinglink]

[Pausing...]

Did General Cross teach you anything...? No life skills?

[godsfavourite]

Uh, well, obviously he taught me how to fight! And, I guess by proxy, I also learned how to play poker from him? I'm also really good at budgeting now. And how to balance a checkbook! Oh, and how to find a good mark!! Oh and - wait, you're not like a cop anymore so it's okay if I'm honest, right? I know how to cheat with taxes.

Don't tell anyone, though! I promise it's not by a lot!