A Fateful Appearance (Private; Alyia)

Allen groaned. It seemed like a million years since the last time he had blood. It's not like he wss incapable of grabbing a stranger and just drink from them until they've run out or anything.. he was just.. paranoid. Paranoid that Kihia would find him again. And because of this paranoia,  Allen hasn't eaten anything in a couple days. And he absolutely refused to eat metal.. nothig was better then blood and no metal can compare to it. Or so Allen thought. He sighed as he sat in the shadows of a wide but dark alleyway. Not many people stopped and stared at Allen, since he was so timid. He  couldn't steal and he sure wasn't going to  eat scrap metal! Despite being the Iron dragon slayer.

He grumbled.  He was hungry and bored.  He sniffed the air for something interesting.  Whether it be food or people he knew. In fact, he didn't know a lot of people. Who would want to get to know a blood-sucking freak?  He sighed, in hopes of something to muse him until he has money to buy some food.. for the first time. "Hungry.. I can't think about that now, though. Nii-san said it's bad to steal and kill.. I think." He questioned.

Alyia looked back and forth. She was back in Magnolia. There had been very little that had changed since she had last visited. In fact it hadn’t changed at all. Alyia looked above her and sighed. She needed to do something. She didn’t even know why she was here in Magnolia other than the tugging feeling that someone that she knew needed her help. Alyia kicked her feet out in front of her like she was a toy soldier and looked back and forth saccing over everything that she passed looking for what was causing the tugging motion in her belly. She kept walking for a while only stopping once to snag a couple chocolate bars from a store that she saw. It was chocolate. Alyia could not resist chocolate. She opened one of the bars and broke it popping a single piece into her mouth and chewing before sticking another piece between her lips and just tasting it. She continued to walk with her bar of chocolate in her hand. Suddenly Alyia froze. It was gone. She spun around looking for what had caused for the tugging sensation to be gone. She turned in almost a full circle before she saw an alleyway. Becoming curious Alyia stuck the chocolate bar into her mouth and approached the alleyway. This reminded her of the first time that she had met Allen and it would be ironic now if she saw the trouble maker that she had grow a little attached to the first time that they had met. She looked behind a trash bin incase the thing that had caused the sensation to stop was there.

Red. Red hair. Alyia froze for a moment. Allen? She shook her head once. Stood back up and blinked before leaning back down and looking again. Allen probably thought that she looked at little weird. Sure enough there was the redhead that she had just been thinking about. “Allen?” Alyia asked, “What are you doing?”

WC:338

Allen was sober. Every little noise caused him to turn his head and look. Not to mention that his hearing was keener then others' since he was a dragon slayer. It was annoying. Just then someone approached the alleyway. It was dark and ominous in this wide alley, some people took a glimpse and strode off. It was the perfect hiding place. Or so he thought. Allen didn't pay much attention to whomever was approaching him, he only glared and grumbled. He figured the person would just walk away like the rest. But no, this "somebody" walked even closer to him. He could hear every footstep. He was sitting down, leaning against the rather clean walls and grumbled even louder.

Allen wasn't exactly cranky but... there were some "consequences" for going without blood for so long. About a week, in his case. He would become more feral than usual (Since apparently he acts really wild even with blood). The person got even closer than before. But with that in mind, Allen crouched into a defensive stance, molding his arm into a dragon claw, and growling with a slight animalistic tone. There small bags under his eyes which gave him the most intimidating glare   along with him just being grumpy in general for not eating anything for a week from sheer paranoia. He hissed and felt the person's presence increase with each step, "Stay back.. don't come any closer-!" But with the sight of a certain "somebody", he was cut off midway, "...Aly..ia?" He said, tilting his head in confusion.

He felt his talons of his dragon-claw-hand twitch as his wrist and up began to smooth down into regular, soft skin. He was obviously not in the best shape. His glare faded into more of a cranky, straightforward expression. "..Thank god.. it's just.. you." He said with a faint smile but truly about to pass out. He then hesitantly approached her, sniffing her and the and items in her hands, "Oh! Um... I'm not.. really doing anything major... but what's that in your hand? Is it food?" He questioned. It was ironic seeing her again but he wasn't sure where to start. He could say he was in the alleyway because he was very paranoid and timid but then he'd have to explain why he was acting in such ways.. and he couldn't say that Kihia scared him so much that he couldn't eat for a week. It's pathetic and kind of.. embarrassing. He started to sniff Alyia more intensely. He had certainly become more feral than usual, sniffing and questioning rather then giving a simple hello. He sniffed her hair, her neck, and hands. It was almost creepy how much sniffing he was doing, as if he was gathering information like a bloodhound sniffing the tracks of a fox. Eventually he pulled back and glared unintentionally, but the slight and small bags under his eyes gave it an ominous look. "..You smell different."

Alyia looked at Allen closely, there seemed to be something wrong with him. Something that she hadn't seen before. He seemed to be more on edge and his facial expressing were more dark and glaring, as if someone had taken somethi... oh. Alyia knew what was wrong, Especially right after Allen had asked about her chocolate. Holding out her hand offering the sweet to him she was taken by surprised when suddenly he got up an started to sniff her. Alyia had tried to push Allen away from her, but she knew that it would be useless seeing the situation that he was in. The angel allowed for him to to sniff her. There was no harm in that. So when Allen pulled away from Alyia and looked at her glaringly the blonde raised an eyebrow. not that much had changed since she had last seen him. Alyia paused for a moment thinking about what would make her smell different. That was when it hit her. She was no longer human. That was right. It was only a couple days after she had first met Allen that she had died and come back to life. That's right when he saw her last she was normal... and now? Now she was an angel. "Yeah, some things happened in the time that I didn't see you."

Alyia fidgeted and remembered the chocolate in her hand. A hesitant smile grew on her face as she reaching into her bag that she had hanging off her arm and pulled out a chocolate bar. "Here though. I heard you ask if the chocolate that I was holding in my hand was food. It is, but it is very sweet and it isn't very, you know, filling." She hands Allen the unopened chocolate bar. If Allen was hungry the chocolate bar would be able to tie him over until she was able to bring him to a cheap restaurant where she would be able to buy him more food. But a thought suddenly hit Alyia, blood. Allen had drunk Allison's blood the first time that they met. Moving quickly Alyia pulled off her necklace pendant, it growing into her scythe. She flipped it around and drew the blade along her wrist. The blood bubbled up from the cut that she had made. With that the blonde thrust her wrist out to Allen, "Here." She looked down at her wrist. "You look like you could use something to eat. Besides, angel blood is much more filling than any food or blood that you will ever drink." It was true that Alyia didn't know if what she was doing was safe, Allen had almost nearly dried out Allison, but this time Alyia was not afraid to push Allen back away from her or slip out of her human body.

WC:489

Allen stared blankly at Alyia.  Different?  Sure, she reeked of unfamiliar scents but she looked the same as when he last time he saw her. And all these unfamiliar scents annoyed him. It was distracting. And trying to clarify what it came from was even more annoying since he doesn't know what or who it is  in the first place. Allen then leaned down curiously at Alyia. He looked at the candy bar and sniffed it. "Smells sweet.. but not sweet as blood." He said calmly, and ended up with pouty tone. But then he looked over at her bleeding wrist and started to widen his eyes and shake his hand frantically,  wih concern, "It's not smart to hurt yourself over someone else." He joked.

Allen gently raised her wrist and sniffed the blood, and ended up blushing with excitement, "This smells.. great...'' He mumbled with glee. It was almost immediately afterwards that he gently pressed his lips against her wrist,  sucking the blood instantly. It was amazing.  He couldn't get enough of it. At this point, he was only thinking about the greatness of the blood and not how much he was consuming.  It was obvious that Kihia's words of not drinking blood didn't stick with him just yet. And because of that, this could be bound to be another Allison-Almost-Dying thing. Which he didn't pay attention to. The amount of bloos he already drank was enough, but giving a desperate, wild man top notch blood wasn't the best combination.

Feeling Allen’s lips on her wrist Alyia held back her breath. She could feel her blood exiting her boy with each gulp that he took. Feeling herself starting to get light headed the angel tried to pull away her wrist. “Allen I think you have had enough.” She pulled harder, but with him not releasing her wrist from his grasp Alyia could feel things around her getting slightly dizzy. With a low growl slipping from the back of her throat the blonde looked back at Allen, bending down so that she made eye contact with Allen. Seeing how violence and force would not make him let go Alyia thought that a familiar face would help. Her blue eyes peering into Allen’s she smiled. “Hey, Allen. I think that you have had enough. I’m starting to get a little dizzy.” The angel could only hope that her soothing words would bring him back from the phase that he was in. Sure as an angel she could heal much faster than any human, but with the rate that Allen had been drinking she knew that she would pass out within the next couple minutes if he didn’t stop.

Alyia continued to look into Allen’s gold eyes. Hoping that he would realize that he had had enough and was starting to hurt her. Her vision began to blur and her breaths started to get harder to take. If Allen did not stop now she was going to have no choice but to slip from her human body and pry the man away from her. So that her human body would be able to heal itself.

WC:283

Allen immediately stopped sucking blood from her fresh cut at her words. It seemed that he was so used to people yanking away from him and hitting him to let go in the process that he somehow managed to get use to. Which he didn't understand if that was a good or bad thing, getting used to being hit all the time. But it had appeared that the thought of him hurting the oned he cared struck him ever so carefully. He jerked his head away from his wrist and backed away from her. Guilt struck him. Was he about to hurt someone again? Did he already do it? Honestly, Allen wasn't very eager to find out. He looked at Alyia, a look of shame expressed on his face and he reached out to make sure Alyia didn't fall or stumble. "I'm sorry! Are you okay? I didn't-.. I mean-.. that is-.."

Allen couldn't find the words to apologize to her. He wasn't sure if he could even properly apologize to her. She told him to stop, twice, and yet his soul insisted on going on. He hated when this happened. He sighed as a bead of sweat ran down the side of his face. "Sit down for a minute and just.. regain your senses. I'm really sorry... " He wasn't certain on any other way to put it. He wouldn't be surprised if she was mad at him. Why couldn't he have more control? He didn't want to scold himself, his top priority was Alyia and Alyia alone. He crouched down and lowered his head between his knees, "I really am sorry..." He mumbled with a guilty tone and expression. Was he overreacting or maybe he was concerned as he should be.

She could feel his lips leave her wrist and for the blood to stop leaving her system. But his presence left from right next to her. She looked up at Allen and started to sway. Any longer she would have passed out from the amount of blood he had taken, and yet she knew that Allen had drunk much more from her than Allison, why had she been able to sustain Allen longer? With a shake of her head she cleared her thoughts, that didn’t matter now. All that mattered right at that point was making sure that Allen didn’t blame himself. When he told her to sit down she merely shook her head and reached out for him. She was almost touching him when he crouched down to the ground evading her touch. She could hear the guilt in his voice as he talked to her,but it wasn’t his fault. It was how he was raised, it was her fault for even offering the blood to him. Sinking down next to him her knees on the ground, placing her hand on his shoulder. “Stop being sorry. You were able to stop right? Isn’t that a huge step forwards?”

A warm smile graced the angel’s features as she stood on her knees and leaned forwards to hug Allen. Her head was still kind of hurting but it must’ve been her angelic healing that quickly replenished her blood. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders as she hugged him close to her. She could only hope that Allen would realize that he had the power now to be able to stop the drinking when he wanted to. She pulled away from the hug her hands still on his shoulders. “Now what do you say we go and have some fun. Oya came with me this time. This will be your first time meeting her.” She remembered the stoat that had followed her and was now sitting on top of the garbage bin. Reaching up she lifted the stoat off the garbage bin and showed her Allen. Her Fur almost matched his hair perfectly and without any notice the stoat leapt from her palm and into Allen’s hair curling into a ball. “I think she likes you.” Alyia smiles and giggles as she stood up. “So where do you want to go?”

WC:409

Allen kept his face low. He couldn't help but avoid eye contact with her! First time he sees her in some time and the first thing he does is assault her? Allen couldn't just accept that, despite Alyia insisting not to feel guilty of it. But he did take one thing into mind - the fact he could stop when he wanted to. He couldn't do that before. A furious desire to drink more and more overthrew him whenever he drank blood, like something was possessing him. But he could stop that now. Alyia was right, this was a huge step. Allen smiled at the thought and raised his head, looking directly at Alyia with his sharp golden eyes. His smile turned into a toothy grin and his eyes widened in excitement. "Really? We're gonna go somewhere? I get to go somewhere with someone! This is great! I haven't done this in forever!" He clenched his fists in pure excitement, being a little over dramatic and acting like a little kid.

Allen began to giggle, not minding the creature on his head. He mumbled something faint, something that he made sure Alyia wouldn't hear. "Only a few weeks ago I met you guys and you've already shown me the passionate choices life has to offer... heh.." He smiled, twiddling his thumbs, lost in thought. But he chuckled and shook his head, swishing those warm thoughts away... for now. He stood up and crossed his arms, smiling confidently down at Alyia. "I wanna go wherever you wanna go. I wanna be surprised! Besides... i-it's not like... I know any places around here..." He mumbled the last few words of his response.

It had only been a few weeks since Allen met everyone he knew right now. He felt so undeserved that he tried to forget them, but it never worked. Allen couldn't help but smile every time he thought about everyone. The kindness they showed him.. the the reassurance they gave. It was all too precious to forget. They were all too precious. Allen playfully stuck his tongue out before flicking Alyia's forehead, "Now don't take this the wrong way. Your blood was tasty and all but it's making me feel icky, it's so different." He shrugged, not aware of his bluntness. But then Allen scowled, a look of disgust on his face as if he just suddenly recalled something he didn't... exactly... want to recall. "But then there's metal. Disgusting metal... rusting, wet, dry... I am ashamed that I've eaten such things... ashamed... oh gosh.. just thinking about it makes me ill... ughh.." He grumbled.

Alyia looked at Allen and started to snicker. Not only was Allen wandering around a place that he didn’t know, he had been hiding behind a garbage can and now he was complaining about her blood. It was making him feel icky. Alyia knew exactly why it was making him feel icky though. This would have been his first time drink the blood of an angel. But then hearing the red head go on about how gross eating metal was sparked something in her. Pieces began to fall into place for her. Allen was not just any person who drank blood he was a dragon slayer. A dragon slayer that had been made as a test subject and then learned the art of Dragon slaying. A large smile appeared on the face of the blonde. Allen had come a long way from where he had started. She was proud of him. “Allen, I should have told you this before. But you didn’t drink the blood of a human, I am no longer human. I am an angel. So it is going to taste a bit different. Sorry about that” Her smile started to falter and the blonde turned away from the red head so that he couldn't see. “But anyways, lets get going. There is a chocolate shoppe that I want to to go.”

The blonde peeked around the corner of the alley’s wall looking out at all of the people. Alyia wanted nothing more than to look back around at Allen and see how he was handling the fact that she was no longer human, but she just could not bring herself to do such a thing. She felt embarrassed, she felt like a liar, and she just could not face him. She took a quick look behind her at the two behind her and a small giggle escaped her lips as she saw Oya on Allen’s head playing with his hair. The stoat already like the male dragon slayer. The angel knew that the two from that point would not be separated. Alyia would have to take Oya to see Allen a lot more. She looked away from the two and stepped out of the alley way and onto the street. “Come on. I’ll buy you something.”

WC:394

Allen didn't really seem surprised from Alyia telling him she was an angel. A lot of things had been happening recently, so this was one of the things that didn't make him jump up in shock. His brothers and sisters and siblings in general were test subjects and monsters. He was pretty sure he could handle this. But after thinking about it more critically, he couldn't help but blurt out,

"Wait, angel? Does that mean.. are you... ?" Was she dead? Was she? The only thing he knew about angels is that those who were angels had died. So was she dead? Allen's concerns were on pointed to her. Though while looking at Alyia with worried eyes, he could feel a patch of fur in his palm. Fur? It was Oya. He had apparently been petting the stoat unconsciously. He stood up next to Alyia and looked down at her. She was small. Like a big stuffed animal. And she had the vibe like someone he could hug for comfort. It was like Kihia's. It was nice.

But then she insisted on buying something. For him. He wanted to say something, but the question if she was dead or not still hovered in his head. He didn't directly ask her though. He just stopped while he was ahead but still was hoping for her to take the hint and answer. But before he could ask again, he ended up stepping out into the busy streets with her and the stoat practically submerged in his red hair. Allen was struck with anxiety. He was surrounded by people. Almost instantly, he started to glare at anyone who came close. He even hissed at them. It's not like he was angry, just extremely anxious. He never liked people and had come to believe that most people were terrifying. He turned back to Alyia and finally managed to say something with a clearly troubled face. "T-thank you. You're kind, Alyia." It had been weeks since Viola and Kihia told him to be polite, so the whole being-a-gentlemen thing never seemed to fade in his mind.

The angel bit her bottom lip at Allen's wondering. He was on the right track of what she actually was and she was afraid of what he would think if and when he found out the truth about her, how she was no longer alive. Or one could say, there was something about her though. In her human body she grew older, just like everyone else. What exactly was she then? With a quick shake of her head the blonde continued into the people.

It was small at first, the sense on something dark following her. But as she continued into the people Alyia she noticed that the dark aura kept following, looking out of the corner of her eye she saw Allen. He seemed to be scowling at all of the people that would get close to him. She heard him hiss several times, but the hisses seemed to be different than normal. Not out of hate, but more out of fear. She was turning around to talk to the red head when he spoke up. He was thanking her. A small smile appeared on the face of the blonde and she reached out to do something that she had never really done before.

Finger tips brushing against his, Alyia slipped her hand into his. "No need to thank me Allen, it is what friends do." Her small hand holding the hand of the dragon slayer had caused for the angel to slightly blush. The pink staining her cheeks was not very visible, but anyone who looked close would see it. She dragged Allen behind her through the masses of people. She remembered when crowds like this used to scare her and she would crumple down to the ground waiting for all of the people around her to leave. But now? Now the blonde was strong enough to push through the crowds without a single ping of fear.

She continued to push through the crowds until the two finally escaped to a less crowded side street. Small shops lined the road and the smell of food rang clearly through the air, reminding her that she hand never finished her chocolate bar. But, that was okay, she guessed. She would always be able to buy more later. Looking over her shoulder at the red head Alyia smiled. "It is less busy here. Do know have any preference where we start? We can get food, or look at the small trinket shops or go look at other places."

WC:424

Allen was nervous out of his mind. There were so many people! Because of the mental torture he endured in Stein's lab, he never got over his paranoia of people and how they treated him. But when he was getting to such an anxious point, Alyia's hand encased his. He flinched in surprise. He looked down at the two hands holding one another, and then at Alyia. He had suddenly calm down. Yes... this was nice. Holding the hand of another was his source of closure. He sighed and smiled, as if he let out some of the anxiousness. But then Alyia talked about his preferences. It's not like he would give it some thought. The only time he had ever went into some place with food you can buy, was with Nii-san and Viola. It's not everyday he gets a chance like that.

But, he knew no shops around here except the ones he steals from. And even those are just little food stands. Allen clenched Alyia's soft hand gently, chuckling. "It's warm. Can we do this more often? It's nice...," He asked sheepishly, and continued to speak, "and about your question, I don't have much of a preference.. but if you insist, I'd say-" Right when he was going to select the second option rather then food first, he didn't think twice ahead of time. "..Food." It was like his stomach spoke for him! Allen was quite surprised that he said the exact opposite of what he was wanting. Didn't bother him though, he wouldn't starve now. Allen then smiled and stopped walking, still holding Alyia's hand however. "Alyia, I still thank you. For what you've done for me. I haven't known you for a long time but I'm already feeling like I'd be miserable without you and everyone." He stuck his tongue out, trying to make the mood a playful one.

But this mood sank when a small group of girls passed buy, laughing and gossiping. Like any other girl... he guessed. But one of those girls, a short one, about as tall as Alyia, bumped into him. He grunted and glared down at her. He leaned down to eye level and started to sniff her almost instantly. She looked confused. "I was hungry anyway..." He whispered before reaching her neck and baring his rather sharp teeth.

The blush on the blonde's cheek grew as Allen commented on their hands. Right then and there she fought the urge to let go of his hand and bring it to her chest to hide it. A warm feeling crept up her finger tips and spread through her hand, but she quickly shook it off as she listened for Allen's answer to her question. He seemed as though he knew exactly what he wanted but when he finished his answer he seemed a little confused only making her confused. Did he want food or was he not sure. A sudden light bulb went off in her head and she sighed, she knew why he had said food, his stomach had been thinking for him.

His next works shocked her the most and caused for her cheeks to become a dark pink. Sure Allen had said everyone, but that also meant her. She had never heard something like that directed at her ever. It felt nice. A small sharp nod was delivered back in his general direction. She could tell that the red head was trying to lighten the mood as he stuck his tongue out and he did a little bit. The copper coloured stoat in his hair making it all the more cuter. But the sudden atmosphere dropped as a group of teenaged girls passed by. Alyia once had longed for a life like that. A normal one and on some days she still did. But as one girl accidentally bumped into Allen, the blonde's want to be normal faded away. She knew that if she were normal she wouldn't be able to protect herself or other people from mages.

Alyia watched for a moment as Allen leaned over and sniffed the younger girl, who had been the one to bump into Allen. Fear stuck through her, not for her but for the younger girl as Allen huskily said his next few words. Tearing her hand away from Allen's she shot it out between the neck of the younger girl and Allen's lips. She could feel his fangs pierce her skin for the second time that day and she cringed.

Looking at the younger girls who had been the ones to make Allen thirsty once again the angel nodded and motioned for them to move away. They did so without a second though. Seeing that they were gone. The blonde looked back down at the dragon slayer who she had placed her wrist in front of to keep him from sucking the blood of another human. Alyia knew that her blood supply was still a little bit shorter, but she knew that Allen would stop. He had before, he would do it again, right? "A-allen."

WC:466

Allen snapped back into reality at the moment the sensation of blood filled his mouth. He hoarsely jerked his head back and wiped the blood that dripped from the corner of his lips. It smeared like a brush stroke from the corner of his lip to his chin. He looked back over at Alyia almost immediately after wiping away the blood from his lips. Instead of reacting with words, his eyes only began to well up will tears. He knew that sorry wouldn't be enough. Sorry wasn't ever enough. He knew that "I am sorry" were just words, and bite marks were injuries. He knew that. He was determined to become proper, and to not hurt others through his desire again. But it happened again. And with the same person!

Allen felt his lips trembling, and at an instant, he covered his mouth with his hand. It was cupping over his chin and mouth, scraping the bottom of his nose. He narrowed his eyes, struggling to keep the tears from rolling down his cheeks. Allen averted his gaze towards the ground, trying to avoid eye contact. "I'm disgusting. I promise I'd have more self control, but then I do this. It's foul of me. I know words aren't enough, but I will say I'm sorry as much as I need to earn your forgiveness... Alyia." Allen's voice was tremendously calm. But his eyes said otherwise. He wasn't sure how to feel right now, if he should hate himself or want to be hated by Alyia.

He was quick to jump to conclusions and just immediately assumed he was a bad person. He never thought twice about anything. It was shameful. He felt passion towards Alyia and because of that, he was on the verge of tears. One thing that differentiated him from others is that he knew damn well what he was feeling. His emotions. He didn't make them as complicated as others did. If he was mad about something, he'd accept that anger and show it. If he was said, he'd do the same. Especially with Alyia, he hurt something precious in his life. And for that, he could not forgive himself. He was never so quick to go to tears. In fact, he hated crying. In front of others, and alone. He was destroying the gift Khalan gave him years ago and it wasn't fair to her.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm... sorry." He broke into tears.

Her wrist stung as she felt her blood start to leave her system once again. It it was over before the blonde knew it. The eyes that she had clenched shut soon after she had seen the younger teenagers cracked open. Alyia looked up at the dragon slayer who towered above her as she saw the pricks of tears startigng in his eyes. Alyia watched as Allen covered his mouth and looked down T her with narrowed eyes. She knew that he was trying to contain his emotions, afterall the tears that resided in his eyes had yet to fall. Opening her mouth to speak to the young dragon slayer the blonde had been stopped by the red head's words of his own. Listening to them, Alyia only managed to hear parts. She had been focused on the expressions of the dragon slayer. He was upset with himself as she coupld tell.

Alyia merely stood there. She watched Allen start to cry and an emptiness filled her. She wanted to help him. But she didn't know how. Helplessness replaces the emptiness inside of her. Alyia had seen the conflict in Allen's eyes before he had broken down into tears. She could tell that it was not something that he wanted other people to see. Knowing the feeling only too well the angel moved forwards and slipped her hand into Allen's threading their fingers together and leading him into a small darkened restaurant. Making a small nod at the person behind the counter the blonde moved to the back pf the building.

With her hand still in his the blonde sat down pulling her tearing dragon slayer with her. She opened her mouth yet again only to see the waiter to come and check up on them. With a quick glare she shooed them away. Looking back at Allen and small smile appeared on her lips, "Allen, why are you sorry? You were able to stop. You were able to control it." Her free hand lifted and cupped his cheek, drying his tears with her thumb. "And if you are worried about me don't be. I am perfect." The angel showed the red her wrist the only thing left pg the bite marks were two small red dots.

"Allen stop blamming yourself. You are doing the best you can and I don't plan on leaving any time soon. You have me right at your side."

WC:419

Allen's tears wouldn't stop. He had clenched his hand over his mouth tightly enough to make him cry in silence. Eventually he just closed his eyes shut, and all he saw was darkness. Alyia's first words seemed to muffle out though, he tried not to listen. As if he had already convinced himself that he was horrible. But before he knew it, Alyia slipped her fingers into his once more and dragged him alongside her. He had no idea where they were going. Things led to another and both of them ended up behind a building. Allen opened up his teary golden optics and felt Alyia's thumb against his cheek, wiping the tears away. There were so much more tears that were welled up inside of him, but at her touch, they seemed to stop immediately.

All of her muffled words became clear again. He only guessed that they muffled out earlier was because he was crying. More importantly, he cried in public. The heart Khalan gave him was rusting and rotting away and it's because he met everyone he knew now. Specifically Alyia. Time to time, he got lost in thought and always ended up remembering Alyia. Maybe it was because she smelled nice... yeah. That must be it.

While he was thinking about this, he realized that he was staring at Alyia in silence. Allen refused to accept that fact that he was sensitive when it came to drinking blood, but he didn't deny it either. Thinking about it made him chuckle. He remembered how he drank the blood of several people before Khalan went missing, and how he could do it with no emotions except desire running through his mind. At the thought, Allen leaned in closer to Alyia and bumped his forehead against hers and narrowed his eyes calmly. Despite what he had just gone through, a smile danced across his face from the corner of his lips. One arm was supporting his weight so he wouldn't fall over, and the other was free, or, at least in her hand.

Thus he took this free arm of his, gently slipping them out of Alyia's hands, and wrapped it around her back, bringing her closer to him. His hands were still trembling though. Allen was able to mumble something out after being granted the courage to speak. "And I hope that you stay. I know I've said this before, but I love you. You've treated me very kindly, and generously. You've also been patient. You've made me uncontrollably happy." Allen grinned. His words had a bit more passion in them than last time, that's for sure. But all he knew is that "I love you" was a sentence that meant a lot to others. So he decided to use it more affectionately this time.

Alyia looked away after she spoke, she didn’t know if what she had said was okay, she could only hope that it was. She looked down at the table in front of her much like a lost puppy, then again she was, she didn’t know what else to say, what if she had said the wrong thing and made it worse? Worry passed through her mind before she bit her lip and looked back up at Allen. What she had not been expecting was Allen not even inches away from her face. He continued leaning down until his forehead rested against hers. Her citrine blue eyes looked up into his golden ones. His eyes were beautiful, all kinds of yellows and golds decorated them. She seemed to be lost in his eyes and was broken out of this trance when his body towered over hers. When he pulled her body close to his a soft high pitched squeak escaped her lips, she was not used to people being so close to her after Deniel had left her and the fact that Allen had just pressed her body against his she couldn’t help but freeze up a little on the inside.

All of her thoughts stopped after he had spoken to her, “Wh-what had he said?” Her mind took a moment before running a thousand miles an hour. She had heard those words from Allen before, but that had been when she was with Deniel and she then had easily brushed them off. But now as Allen sat in front of her saying those words with so much more passion than the first time she didn’t know what to do. Did she like the dragon slayer? She didn’t know. She had only met him twice, but as he said those things warmth spread through her. It was different from anything that she had ever felt. Sure with Deniel they had gone of a couple of outings and had shared the three special words, but had she ever felt warm? Not that she knew of. It was always a soft happy feeling but it was never warm, and now feeling warm after only those couple sentences she could only wonder what was wrong with her last relationship?  

After eventually snapping from her thoughts and looking back into Allen’s eyes the angel smiled. “Thank you Allen, that means a lot to me. I hope that I can stay by your side for forever.” Alyia suddenly paused and doubt stepped into her mind. She would outlive Allen and if she did like Allen she would run into the same problem that she had come across before except the roles would now be switched, she would be the one that would live for forever and Allen would be the one that would leave her. Coming to the conclusion her smile saddened a little, “Allen, isn’t that how people are supposed to be treated? With kindness and generosity?” The blonde suddenly remembered an old “friend” from the past but quickly shook it off. Another smile appeared on her face as she lifted up her now free hand and wiped the tears from the red heads cheeks. "Now stop crying. If I make you happy I don’t want to see any tears okay?”

WC:566

Allen's eyes grew red as the tears filled them. It stinged, it hurt. But his eyes weren't the only thing that hurt. A rather... unfamiliar feeling in his chest grew. He couldn't tell if this was a pleasant or unpleasant feeling. It was frustrating to not know everything that was going on with his body. Allen didn't speak for a few moments, he was completely flustered over his chest and Alyia. He almost felt possessive over her now, he knew that.But he was a clingy person, so he assumed that it was normal.

But Allen was snapped back to reality when a soft touch wiped the tears away. Alyia's small, soft hand. At that very moment, the tears stopped and the remnants of the anxiety ran down his face, onto her hand. Allen pulled away just slightly, to wipe the tears away with his own hands, his own trembling hands. It reminded him, that he had to at least show his gratitude. He took her hand from his face and raised it to his lips. He pressed his lips against her hand gently, one of the hundreds of ways to express gratitude. His lidded eyes peaked down to her fingertips. He lifted his head and smiled, "You know, kissing one's hand is a one of hundreds of forms of gratitude. You have mine, Alyia."

With that, Allen repositioned himself so that he were crouching on his toes, staring at Alyia as she asked him about his tears and happiness. "Alright... sure." He lowered his eyes, not very confident in his answer. For a long time, Allen wasn't as violent and quick with people. And he sure as hell never kissed anyone or anything. As a child, he was quiet, distant, and isolated. But when Khalan disappeared, he went through such unfamiliar emotions. Loneliness, anger, confusion, uncertainty, nervousness, fear. Although these were things caused by the torture he went through in Stein's laboratory, he never experienced these things when a presence he took for granted disappeared in an instance. He didn't know what to do and couldn't trust anyone. It was a terrifying experience, sometimes he just felt like dying. The images of being "edited" haunted him, only adding onto the anxiety of being touched by others. He'd be taken away. He had to protect himself; he had to kill whoever approached him.

He applied this logic to everyone, Allison for example. He didn't want to go through the inhumane experiences he endured. It was horrible. But when the friends he had now reached out to him, he regretted ever thinking of hurting them. He refused to take them for granted and let them slip out of his arms, go out of his reach. He'd never take them for granted. His determination to stay by Alyia grew in his chest, and he embraced it.

Changing the conversation, Allen smirked and whipped his red hair out of his golden eyes and gazed at Alyia fiercely. "You do smell good, though. Tasty. Even without the chocolate." Allen, of course, was joking about the "tasty" part, but her scent was something he was bound to nonetheless. Glancing at the noise from the area, it reminded him of his fear of people. His determination only depended on how willing Allen was able to face his fear. The uncertainty was perhaps the only thing bestowed upon him.

(OOC: I'm going to edit this when I get home. Possibly add more to it.)

Alyia started to blush as Allen had kissed her hand. The words that he had spoken afterwards had not helped her cheeks as she muttered the next words about him crying. But as she heard his answer, the timidness in his voice caused for questions to run through her head. She watched his face and the emotions that crossed it. The sadness and the fear that resided in his final expression. Alyia didn't know what over come her as she reached out for him. But as she realized what she was doing the blonde paused and started to pull had away. For some reason she wanted to do everything that she could to help him. She wanted to reach her hand out and place it on his cheek to make him look up at her. She wanted him to know that everything was okay. That she was right there next to him. But as she realized what she was doing she pulled her hand back into her body and blushed as she looked down. But as she looked up again she saw determination on his face and wondered what he had been thinking about. 

The blonde had gotten caught up in her own head as she looked at the red head and was suddenly broken out of her thoughts when Allen had moved with a swish of his hair. Her eyes looked up into his and widened in surprise of the fierceness the was burried within them. She blushed a light pink as he spoke of how she smelled. She had forgotten that dragon slayers had enhanced senses of smell. The angel opened her mouth to respond but stayed quiet as she saw the dragon slayer transfer his attention else where. She saw his facial expressions change once again, this time into uncertainty. Without a second thought the blonde placed her hand over his. 

His hand warm under hers caused for her blush realizing what she had done. "It's okay Allen. I'm right here. There isn't anything that you can't do with me at your side." She flashed him a small smile. A real smile. Her fingers curl around his hand and held it. Without another word the blonde called for the waiter. It didn't take long until the male was stadning in front of the two with menues. Alyia gave the waiter a forced smile and took the menus placing them in front of the two. "Now we can have some food. A little pointledd to enter a restraunt and not get anything, huh?" Alyia tried to smile up at him assuringly.

WC:445

Allen couldn't help but notice Alyia's bright red face. She was supposedly embarrassed But why? It was just a kiss, kisses don't necessarily mean too much, do they? Humanity was weird and confusing, it took so much effort just to figure out one way of thought they had. Like romance, or rivalry. Even war. What was the point of it? It didn't make a difference to him. Perhaps he didn't do it quite right. Yeah... that's it. He'd do it right this time. "Alyia," he mumbled as he leaned over and down towards her face before placing his lips against hers in another kiss, staying in that position for a few moments and pulling away, "your face was red earlier. I did the little kiss-of-gratitude incorrectly, right? So, there.I hope that'll suffice..." He said rather innocently and anxiously. He shot a glare at the approaching man with "menus". But quickly lowered his head to avoid meeting eye contact, he was nervous and scared out of his mind. But as the objects were placed in front of them, he leaned down and sniffed it. What the heck was that? What did this man bring them? It doesn't exactly look dangerous... but he couldn't trust anything or anyone.

But then his stomach growled again, reminding him of his hunger. He sat down properly in his seat and rested his jaw on the edge of the object in front of him. He wanted to see Kenshi again. The damned poison lizard sort of inspired him. "Sabertooth", the guild. He was tempted to check it out. "Alyia... what are guilds like?" Sure, Kenshi had told him, but the world was too dark of a place for every group of people to think the same and have the same goals.

Darkness was probably the only thing he saw and observed in the world. Death, fear... he was too familiar with these emotions. Stein was his father but refused to accept that. Khalan went missing and his silent nature melted away, revealing his wild one. His hatred and love for both Stein and Khalan contradicted each other and left him confused and depressed. He wanted to find Khalan, but why did she leave him all alone? He wanted to destroy Stein, but he couldn't bear to hurt him. He was in a world full of darkness and it wasn't that darkness that rejected the light, it was him. He didn't know what to do, he didn't know who to ask. They couldn't possibly understand his situation if he didn't understand it either. He couldn't trust anyone. Everyone was a stranger and an enemy. They were nothing special. He could take what he needed whenever he wanted. Anytime he wanted it. There was no figure of authority he acknowledged enough to obey and stop him from doing so.

The world and it's dwellers were disgusting, and it never bothered him enough to breathe it's sick, corrupted air. Humans, filthy things. But along the way, he was able to trust a few of them. At the thought, he smiled warmly at Alyia. Glad to meet her, and to be exposed to the little lucidness in the world. He giggled.

Alyis had continued to smile up at him and let her face form into a quizzical one as she watched Allen, he seemed to be thinking of something, but what was it. Disappering into her own thoughts about what Allen was thinking the angel didn't see the dragon slayer start to lean down to her face. As she heard her name slip from her lips she turned her head back to Allen, snapping out of her own thoughts. Soft. It was soft. His lips on hers couldn't as sprung surprise within her more. The crytal blue orbs widened and she froze for a minute as a warm feeling spread through her body and heat gathered at her cheeks. Frozen in her place they stayed like this for a few moments before Allen pulled away from her. She could only watch him, her cheeks redder than before, her lips parted slightly she could only manage a stare. She hadn't felt that warmth since.. well, since Deniel, but she wasn't even sure that she had felt it then. It was more of a calming feeling that rushed through her when they had kissed. Hearing the red heads voice she looked up at him still in a daze, kiss-of-gratitude incorrectly? What did he mean?

The suden growl that veberated in his through brought Alyia to and she looked behind them at the man who was appraoching with the menus. She smiled at the man as he placed in front of them the menus and the eating utensils. The angel watched with a small giggle as Allen sniffed the silverwear and the peper menus. Seeing this the mage picked up her menus and started to scan through the food, but a voice that she knew that she could no longer live without interupted her search for food as she looked over at Allen who had proped himself up on the table. "Guilds?" Alyia confirmed his question. "It depends on the guild that you join." A soft smile appeared on her face and a honey like sound came out in a giggle. "I know that being in Elcipse Soul has changed me so much. I used to hate people and didn't care who I hurt, as long as it wasn't me, but after join Eclipse Soul so many things have happened and now I can't see myself hurting a child, I would rather get hurt in their stead. Eclipse Soul was for damaged mages, who want to get better who want to no longer be so dangerous and hateful." The angel smiled more brightly her pearl white teeth glissened. "The people there are also amazing. It is as if we are one bug energetic family. We stay together and support each other through thick and thin. I love them."

Her blonde hair fell in front of her face like a golden curtain as she looked back down. Love. It was something that she never knew that she could feel. Something that she thought that she could never feel. Something that she thought didn't even exist. But now, here she was loving a family and maybe the man sitting next to her. Widening her eyes ALyia quickly shook her head. It was far too early to love him, she knew very little about him and he her. Alyia remember the last time that she had "fallen in love" and knew that it could end in pain once again. She didn't know if it was a change that she wanted to take.  But as she felt Allen's eyes on her she looked up a smiled at him. Didn't know her feelings yet, so she would just have to wait and see.

WC:639

She looked flustered. Blushing. The same thing had happened when he had kissed her earlier. He never truly understood that reaction but it was pretty common towards everyone he did it to. Allen flicked his temple trying to figure out what he was doing wrong. Sure, there wasn't a specific reaction he was expecting... just not a flustered one? It was weird. He had to question whether he was thinking in the right mentality or not. It was confusing too. Allen decided not the pay much mind to it and started eyeing down the silverware placed in front of the two.

He glare, even scowled; specifically at the silverware. He was the iron dragon slayer, and never liked iron; or any type of metal. Not copper, not iron... well, those were really the only two he had tried. Never silver, or cold. Titanium, no. It was the most taboo thing people have come to find about Allen. He prefers blood over iron of any type. Kihia sure wasn't happy about it. But he couldn't help but scowl at the thing, no matter how similar it smelled to blood. "Disgusting." He mumbled under his breath ignorantly.

Sure, it wasn't loud enough for the whole place to here. Alyia, maybe. His disgust and disturbing feelings towards metal wasn't something he was open about. Well, not that much. Allen continued to glare at the silverware until his intense look calmed to a soft one, and shot a glance at Alyia. "..Uhm, sorry about that. What about your family? What are they like?" Allen tried to change the subject in case she saw him glare at the silverware. A bead of sweat ran down his face. Metal was disgusting. Gag worthy. He would never put something so foul in his mouth! When Khalan first made him eat copper, he was disgusted. It was salty. Bitter. But he had no choice but to eat it. He couldn't drink animal blood, and dragons were hidden all over so no humans were near. He was stuck eating metal. Metal, metal, metal! The only reason he didn't refuse to eat it because similar but faint smell of blood that covered the materials.

It'd be weird for him to be the iron dragon slayer and hate metal, so he never announced it and resorted to blood again. It wasn't long before he arrived at Magnolia Town. He was lost and exploring Fiore before he even knew towns existed. When he was in the lab, he could recall he had only seen the sun three times when he was in the lab. He was only a test subject of no value. He was bound to live, breathe, and sleep in the darkness. It was the future he had. Even now he had to sleep in dark alleyways just to avoid facing his fears of people. It wasn't the most fulfilling and exciting dream that young children hoped for, but it was his. Just being out of the lab was heaven. It was his heaven. His only heaven.

But his reach had seem to expand when he found Alyia. As if... as if he could take one step further by holding her hand. Allen gazed at Alyia, lost.

I am... artificial. My feelings are artificial. Man made. None of these are real. My friends aren't real. My feelings for them aren't real. Am I a fake, or are they? Allen kept thinking. His thoughts shuffled and gaze came callous. His ambitions? Man made. His love for Alyia...?

"Artificial." He whispered.

Though was in the midst of thinking about how man made he was, Allen carefully studied Alyia's face, he felt as if her true self was slowly unraveling into his hands. As he listened to her response with deep interest. It had seemed that she and her parents were never companions, before their deaths. Yet she spoke softly, as if she were reluctant to say such things. But then she turned away, a salty scent emitting from her face... was she crying? This smell.. the bitterness, it was all too familiar with Allen. He placed both arms on the table, his fingers rolled into his palm and his grip tightened. How was he supposed to reply? He knew she was crying... but not words of pity nor kindness slipped upon his lips. He could only watch before she twisted back around, asking what was artificial. Allen looked up in shock. He wasn't such a transition of conversation.

He said nothing. The silence bestowed upon him carried over into the new topic. He only stared, reminded of how none of this was real. These feelings of pity. Helplessness. Sorrow. Confusion. Or... that is what he thought moments ago. Alyia opened her mouth and spoke, speaking of how everything here was real. Then pointed to her heart. The muscle in her chest... she pointed to it. At the same time, his fingers unfolded from his palm and clenched his chest through his shirt. He could feel it pounding. The female standing in front of her was making his chest beat irregularly. What was this? Was he sick? Distressed? He only stared at Alyia, covering her own mouth with a flustered expression.

His tight grip remained, wrinkles forming in his outfit. Beads of sweat ran down his face, and barely dripped off his chin. He was getting hot, hot and confused. This confusion... fear, it turned into something much more frustrating. Finally, the red head mustered up the courage born out of fear and anger, to speak. "I... am confused. If these feelings have for you are real." His anxiety of the public melted away at that very moment. Before the madness, after the madness... each day of his life came to an end when he wielded the very question, "What am I?". His soul would wither and heart would shatter whenever the question echoed in his mind.

Would he find an answer? Or would he be left being what everyone told him he was? Would this sorrow cease? Or would grow? Would it tear into his deepest fears, and slowly cut him up? Would these scars fade? If they wouldn't, how would he hide them? Did he love Alyia, or was it some artificial facade he spent an eternity in? Was this a dream he'd never wake up from? Was this his punishment? What did he do to deserve this?....

Allen slowly started whispering his thoughts, his voice trembling. "Can I earn my freedom?... Or did these chains of mine bind my rights at the very beginning? Alyia... tell me!" The soft and shaky voice he spoke in seconds ago, rose up into a shout. He stood up from his chair and clenched his chest again, tighter. His breathing grew heavy, and out of sync. He felt light headed. His head hurt! All the smallest noises were screaming into his ears. What was happening? Why does he feel like this? Was this hatred? Fear? Anxiousness? Frustration? Confusion? Sadness? Pity? Love?

All of these thoughts disappeared when that last word popped up. All of that confusion... hatred... sad thoughts... swept away in an instant. Blood rushed to his head and flushed his cheeks with a blush as red as his hair. Love... he only felt like this when around her. It was her. She did this to him. Though sweat ran down his face as if he was just running a marathon, and his body as hot as the fires he feared, the blush was as visible as ever as he lightly panted and gazed at Alyia. He... demanded earlier that she'd tell him why he was so chained up. But now it had a different meaning... what did she do to make his heart pound like this? What did she do? What...

His free hand entangled in the loose strands of blood red hair on his head and holding it out of his eyes, flustered.