Hello dears!

So this has been posted first on my Tumblr blog as I first thought I might only post there anything I do for events. But then I realized, I want to share them and have them easier to read. So I'm starting by posting what I did for Poker Pair Week 2017. Do note that from the start I planned it as a multi chaptered story, so the different day (prompts) are all following each other~ And do note that I kind of never finished in time, I wrote for the first four days, but never finished Day 5, 6 and 7. But I do plan to finish it!

So, basically: here I present you Journey of our Hearts, the story inspired by Poker Pair Week 2017, which 4 out of 7 chapters done! I am only posting Day 1 tonight, and I'll post each other Day I have one per day. Pun not intended.

An important note: This is something not said yet in Meet me Halfway to the End, but like in this story, Allen is 19 years old (over 19), for reasons I can't explain much to not spoil Meet me Halfway. I am in fact considering making his background in Meet me Halfway my "canon" one for him (as in, the one true for any canonverse story). So Allen's age isn't the only personal headcanon I have, but I don't think those headcanons will show in this.

As for the prompts, each chapter/day has been written trying to show at one point something inspired from the prompts, so sometimes a prompt might have less impact on a chapter/day, but the four prompts still have some influence at one point or another~

I hope you enjoy! And I might one day make an expanded version of Journey of our Hearts, if only because I didn't details as much as I would otherwise, with the time limit I tried to keep. This expanded version would mostly be additional scenes, so it might also just be a collection of said additional scenes.

Day One

Accommodations; Safety; Language; Sunshine.

Silver eyes gazed down at himself with a wince as water dripped down from his coat. Timcanpy peeked out from his shirt, somewhat dry thanks to having stayed under the layers of clothes, and Allen glared for a second at the very amused look the golem had. Then, he lifted his head with a sheepish smile as the inn's owner came to him. Or so he thought when he had heard the steps.

His smile fixed itself as instead, the one that had approached him was revealed to be Tyki Mikk in human form, one eyebrow arched and golden eyes taking him up and down. "Well, this is a nice surprise, Shonen. Who would have thought we would meet here, with how you have been avoiding us."

Allen's expression hardened for a second, gaze drifting to the window, as if considering walking out. But it was not just rain outside, it was a storm. He could tell even Tyki had been surprised by it, he wore only a dress shirt and pants, short hair still a bit wet. He also missed completely the flash of concern as Tyki noticed the intent behind Allen's gaze.

"I don't know about you, but I would rather not get drenched again." Tyki started casually, little smirk showing as the white haired male looked back at him. The Noah didn't miss the shivers of Allen's body. Silly boy. "And fighting here is more than likely to get us out." He paused, letting the younger man take into the meaning of his words, and feeling smug when the calculating look shifted into hesitation. "So you should get yourself a room already, or else you're just asking for a nasty cold."

Allen's eyes sharpened into a small glare, but he knew Tyki was right. There was no way it would be safe for him to go outside right now, and if he got himself sick, who knew what would happen if the Noah inside him decided he wanted out? Beside, he felt how he started to shiver hard. So with a sigh that betrayed resignation, Allen started to walk toward the inn's owner.

A hand on his shoulder stopped him as he was about to pass Tyki. He stopped short, glancing to the side, and meeting Tyki's serious eyes. "The Earl really wants you home." The white haired tensed under the hand, but the man only patted his shoulder, looking out the window. "But I don't have orders right now. He only asked us to take the Fourteenth home; but I'm not seeing him."

This was as close as Tyki would come to let Allen know he would be safe tonight, even with the Noah's presence in the same inn. It made warmth show in his chest, which he pretended not to feel. "We're two travellers trapped by the rain." Truce accepted.

Tyki returned his gaze on him with a smile, feeling the way Allen relaxed under his hand. The younger man didn't know it, but he looked tired, even relieved and grateful. It had been an impulse, really, to decide he would rather have Allen stay safe inside, but he couldn't deny it had come from the desire to not see Allen run away from him. He had helped him escape, let him escape, and it was not as if there was a real rush to get him; instead the Noahs were keeping an eye on him.

So really, Tyki was just looking out for Allen by making sure he didn't go back out. The little voice that told him it had hurt when Allen's first reaction had been to look for a way out, away from him, could get silenced. Because Allen had still accepted to stay.

And so Allen finally went to get his room. Tyki watched him for a few seconds, then went back to the table he had been occupying, finishing his drink. In a way that both knew to not be by chance, he ended up going back to his room just as Allen went to his. But neither of them commented on it, though Allen rolled his eyes and Tyki grinned.

As it was, the rainstorm didn't stop after the first night. Or the second. For two days, after an initial attempt at staying on his own, Allen ended up with Tyki sticking around. Not that he minded, because of course poker had ended up their choice of pastime, and poor Tyki had believed he might figure out how to out-cheat Allen.

He also had made the enormous mistake of saying the loser would pay for the next meal, the first day. Tyki kept his words, but Allen only smirked knowingly when Tyki didn't make the same promise the next day.

A curse left Tyki when he lost again after a few rounds, in a language that Allen didn't recognize right away. Someone else did, from a close table, and called out in pleased surprise in the same language. Two things happened then: Allen identified it as Portuguese, and a shiver ran down his spine when Tyki replied in the foreign language that seemed to roll naturally from his tongue.

Allen didn't understand much of it, as he had barely been in Portugal before, though it was clear that Tyki soon ended the little conversation. Still, the few words he recognized, and the expression, told him a lot about what went between the two men. It was obvious Tyki had been offered to come, and Allen had shifted on his seat at the glance toward him, pretending not to notice the mocking edge. And it was easy to do, when he spotted the annoyance that flashed into Tyki's eyes and the way his words were clipped.

Allen had to bite his tongue to not let a smug smirk show as Tyki finished with a wave of hand that was dismissive, not even looking long enough to see the way the other man's ears reddened and instead giving back his attention to Allen. "Want a drink, Shonen? Though I haven't seen you touch alcohol. Not old enough?"

Allen didn't even change his expression despite the teasing tone. "I'll have you know I am over eighteen. But I'd… rather not drink alcohol." He noticed Tyki's curious look, borderline determined, and Allen had a smile way too sweet all of the sudden. "I will rob you of all your clothes and not give them back this time, if you even try spiking my drink."

"… Fair enough." Tyki would have liked to believe he wouldn't be stupid enough to bet his clothes after that, but he also knew that smile meant trouble. Better not test if Allen could really follow with his threat. "You didn't answer my question, though."

"Well, if you offer it, I won't say no. I think something hot might be nice." Indeed, now that Tyki put the idea in his mind, Allen felt that he would be happy with some tea. Or maybe even hot chocolate.

It was once they were sitting side by side, with hot cups in their hand, that Allen finally asked, "So you speak Portuguese? It sounded rather… easy for you."

Tyki grinned. "Fishing for informations?" He laughed in a low manner at Allen's short glare. "It's my native tongue, I would hope it sounds easy. I'm surprised you recognized it, though."

"I have been close to Portugal before, but not long enough to pick more than a few words." Allen admitted. "That's one of the few European languages I can't really speak."

"I could teach you some of it." Tyki offered, to which Allen was quick to look at the man.

"Why?" It left his mouth before he could really control it, which surprised him. Since when did he feel comfortable enough around Tyki that he could slip?

But Tyki only let one elbow rest on the counter, placing his cheek on his palm as he gazed at Allen. "Because I can. What other reason should there be?" His smile was turning predatory. "Or would you like me to say it's because we'll spend more time together?"

Tyki knew he made a mistake when Allen's left hand clenched hard enough around the cup to destroy it. Or maybe it was when pain flashed in his silver eyes just before he turned his gaze away, faint redness over his cheeks.

Oh. That's exactly what he wanted me to say, and he might not have realized it.

A surprised shout came from Allen, though at least, his left hand was more tolerant to temperature. The owner was quick to come, but Allen waved concern and apologized with a smile that Tyki knew to be fake. Before the owner could reach to check Allen's left hand in well meaning worry, Tyki did it first, catching his left wrist.

"Let's treat that. Thank you for the drinks, and sorry for the mess."

Before Allen could react, Tyki had placed the money on the counter and was tugging Allen away. The white haired followed, a little taken by surprise, but he felt again the same kind of warmth he had felt when Tyki had offered the truce of sort. He had no doubt, after all, that Tyki had just prevented his left hand being seen.

They also ended up in Tyki's room rather than Allen's. "You didn't burn yourself, did you?" Tyki asked not long after the door had closed behind them, while still getting Allen's hand closer to his face.

"N-No, this was nowhere near hot enough to do anything." Allen replied honestly, and couldn't help pulling back when Tyki started to remove his glove. Or tried to, because Tyki's grip was too strong.

"You should still remove that glove." Then he lifted his gaze to pin Allen with his golden eyes. "Why this face, Shonen? I know how your hand is."

It was then that Allen realized his expression had slipped, and that he had shown the wariness bordering on fear that he still felt whenever his hand could be exposed. It had lessened in the Order, but after being on the run, it had returned with a vengeance.

Meanwhile, Tyki had finished pulling the glove, gaze softening even if he had wanted to not show it. "It's good it was your left hand that took it all. You could have gotten cut or burned otherwise." He paused, finally lessening his grip, though felt some contentment at seeing Allen didn't do anything at first, only letting his hand drop slowly after a second or two.

"Yeah, well, only my left hand is strong enough to break a cup. It's a miracle the owner didn't question it." Timcanpy, who until now had been hiding in a pocket, flew out and hovered close to his left hand, as if worried despite knowing his master would be fine. It made Allen smile, giving an excuse to have his eyes drift to Timcanpy.

He could guess, after all, that they were circling around the matter of why Allen had broken his cup. And he wasn't sure he was ready to admit, to think about, how he had grown to enjoy Tyki's presence in such a short time spent without the need to fight. How part of him had hoped Tyki did, too.

"So… We can start now, if you want." Tyki crossed his arms with a grin when Allen snapped his gaze up in confusion. "Your lesson in Portuguese. Desculpe ter te provocado, for example." His arms dropped, then one hand came scratch behind his head. "That means, I'm sorry I teased you."

The golem now on Allen's head showed a grin. Tyki ignored it. So did it Allen. Instead, he crossed his arms, tilting his head with raised eyebrows in a silent, elaborate.

Tyki put his hands on his hips, leaning forward a bit with a smirk. "Spending more time together is a good reason to teach you, which you seem to feel strongly about. Enough to break a cup."

So, maybe he shouldn't have teased Allen again; Tyki mused as he watched Allen's eyes turn murderous even though his mouth formed a sweet smile. But the faint fluster that the young man couldn't quite control was so worth it.

Even when Allen cracked his knuckles, left hand then right hand. "Oh, Tyki, I didn't realize you wanted us to spend more time together. But don't worry! I have also an idea of what we can do." His smile widened, sweeter. Tyki felt sweat form. "Would you like to train?"

"… Shonen. Let's stop teasing each other, yeah? I don't think the inn can handle it."

"Who said I'm teasing?"

Tyki chose to be untouchable right there and then. Too bad Allen remembered about it, and punched with his left hand. The Noah could hear Allen's sudden laughter even as he went right through the furnitures, and stuck halfway out the wall.

Maybe it was still worth it all, to have teased Allen. Because it was the first time he heard Allen's laugh; and he would lie if he said it wasn't a good sound to hear.

In the end, thanks to the good mood the sight gave Allen, he let it slide when Tyki managed to get himself back inside and promptly offered a second drink. Though, that didn't stop him from demanding a meal instead, smiling innocently while Tyki paled even as he accepted.

The mood remained light after that, but also warm, warmer than they had been the past two days. So, when the next morning, they noticed sunshine showing as they took their breakfast, Allen felt he could not blame the spark of sadness.

"Seems like this is the end of our little truce." Allen commented in a soft voice, once they had both cleared their room, standing outside with Tyki beside him, and heart thumping hard.

"I still haven't seen the Fourteenth. Have you taught him whose the boss?" Tyki returned, not looking at Allen, instead casually liting a cigarette.

Allen shifted his eyes to the man, then back to the sun showing more and more, the corner of his lips lifting a smile that still had trace of his sadness. "Everyday."

Tyki inhaled, then blew out smoke. "But he still fight you."

Allen hummed in agreement, though unsure what exactly Tyki was saying.

He didn't notice how the man watched him, watched his sad smile, from the corner of his golden eyes, contemplative. "So you still need to know what you want." His gaze went forward before Allen noticed it, pretending not to see as Allen glanced at him. "I let you leave once because of that." And I'll let you leave once more.

For the first time, the smile that formed on Allen's face, the one for Tyki, was genuine. He closed his eyes, and rested his head against the wall. "Run off and figure yourself out, eh?" He chuckled, and heard Tyki do the same. "Should I call you when I do?" He joked.

"No need, I will be there already." Tyki replied, serious yet warm.

Allen opened his eyes, and whatever look he might have meant to show, it vanished in surprise when he realized Tyki was not beside him anymore. He straightened, looked around, but he did not see him. Then again, he reasoned, this was the Noah who could pass through anything he wanted. For all he knew, he might be under. Or above, he mused as he glanced up. Still, he didn't catch any sign of the man, and so he guessed Tyki had simply phased off as soon as he said what he wanted.

His lips curled into a soft, pleased smile as he allowed the warmth he had felt twice in his chest to blossom a third time, fully taking over his chest. Timcanpy sat on his shoulder, watching him as he started to walk, absent-mindedly petting the golem and humming a happy tune.

Not noticing the form in the shadows of an alley, letting his cigarette drop and crushing it with one shoe, watching until the white haired male could not be seen anymore, and finally walking off in the same direction.

You silly boy, you just couldn't admit you are lonely. And that isn't a good look on you.