Very long since last update! Forgive me!

Special thanks to Endei who gave me the kick up the butt I needed to get this chapter sorted and uploaded!

The crystal tumbler caught the light, winking miniscule specks of white up at Tyki as he rolled it between his thumb and first two fingers thinking of all the things he could be doing right now were it not for the constraints of a pointless bet. The thin layer of amber swirled in the glass completely uncaring and apathetic of his problems.

"Are you going to nurse that glass all night?" came a lazy taunt. Grudgingly Tyki turned around and leaned back against the metal railing of the balcony to find his brother, Cyril watching him with mild interest and lying sprawled catlike across a sofa was the source of the taunt, Lulubell. Her own drink sat on the floor beside the sofa as she traced the rim, round and round with a finger.

"Unlike some, I do my own driving and I intend to make it home all in one piece tonight," Tyki returned lightly, but he did take a concessionary sip that made Lulubell grin back at him. To his brother his said, "Is it only the three of us again tonight? Family dinners aren't quite complete without the whole family."

"Is there anyone you're missing in particular? I didn't know you cared so much about the extended family," Cyril leaned his head on his hands looking not at all sorry.

"I don't," Tyki said firmly, "present company excluded of course."

"Of course," Lulubell tipped her glass at Tyki who returned the gesture. Despite differences, the three of them were as close as you could get in an eccentric family such as the Noah.

"All set for tomorrow?" Cyril turned the talk to the board meeting that was set to happen the next morning. As shareholders, both he and Lulubell were to be present, each one half of the Earl's heirs.

Tyki understood each of their interest, but shoptalk bored him half to death after spending his entire day dealing with business. And most especially when it forced him to realize how much he had been avoiding checking in on certain d of preparation today. Lenalee had had to play go between Tyki and the design team while he made himself conveniently unavailable at each request. In the end he had sent Lulubell, who had only stopped in to beg a lift to Cyril's, to do a final sweep of the warehouse before the team left.

A welcome breeze caressed the back of Tyki's neck and cooled some of his frustrations. "It's in your hands' now. I won't even be there tomorrow."

"Tyki," Lulubell said suddenly. "Have you heard there's a rumour going around the shop about your new Designer?"

"No, but I'm sure you're going to tell us?" he teased her.

"Damn straight I am," she retorted as she sat up. This had to be good gossip for her to make that much effort, Tyki thought. "Because Tyki is so lazy he made me spend time with the Design Team–"

"Brother, how could you?" Cyril chided playfully.

"- and while I was there I heard that Lavi has a crush on you. Can't imagine why..".

"You're just jealous it's not you he's crushing on."

"He must have poor taste in men," she said tartly, ignoring Cyril's comment that the she and Lavi have that in common. "That's not it," Lulubell continued, "Apparently the staff are taking bets on when you two will hook up. Daisya is calculating the odds."

"Classy." Great that put him and Kanda on the same leveling as Daisya freaking Barry.

"Give us the inside track," she grinned widely, "how much would be safe for me bet?"

"Don't go encouraging this Lulu," Cyril cut in, ever the voice of reason. "We don't need internal upsets this close to our new opening. And we especially don't want Malcolm to get wind of this."

"Its just harmless gossip brother. They'll get bored soon enough," Tyki dismissed Cyril's concerns and turned his back on the pair and looked out over the large garden. There was not a cloud in the sky and he wondered if Lavi knew about these bets.

"Since when have you been scared of Malcolm anyway?" Lulubell snorted derisively. "Because if you are, you should be more concerned for yourself than Tyki. Did you know Lavi is good friends with Wes? One might think it smells of nepotism…"

Of course, Road's closeness with her aunt meant that she probably heard the whole story of Saturday night before the weekend had ended. Tyki shook his head suddenly wondering if today really was the first time she heard that rumour.

"This just gets better and better," Cyril tapped his foot impatiently.

"Relax, unhappy coincidence. Wes actually doesn't talk about the family business to friends and Lavi certainly didn't name drop. No one beyond us has to know," Tyki said consolingly. "And I don't plan on bumping into Malcolm tomorrow so I'll be out of sight, out of mind for the moustached git."

"It is what it is I guess," Cyril conceded. "Just make sure you steer clear of fanning any more rumours. We've all heard the one about how this Designer got the job in the first place."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tyki demanded angrily. Leaning with his back against the balcony gate to get a better look at his brother and sister-in-law. Cyril was deep in thought calculating damages and Lulu offered him a commiserating smile. Tyki gripped the glass tightly. For as long as he had known him, his brother had always been overbearing.

"I mean that it's no secret his interview was the only one you were present for or that Komui held dud interviews to cover your back," Cyril tried for a diplomatic tone but the words did not sit well Tyki. "So if you really do go pursuing this Lavi, it's not going to look good on the company. I'll have to speak to that son of mine too."

"So you think that I would hire someone based purely on how badly I want to sleep with them?" Painfully aware that his current relationship with Lavi would not be much of a defence, still the carefully blank faces looking back at him did not fill him with confidence. Finishing his glass in one gulp, Tyki all but slammed the empty container on the table. "Lavi deserved the job hands down. He creative, reflective and works tirelessly. There no one else we could have wanted leading up the team than him. Lavi has been through so much than those other art school graduates riding the bank of mum and dad could ever have and he has proved himself beyond a shadow of a doubt. Don't believe you'll see for yourself tomorrow."

"Come now Tyki," Cyril was on his feet too. "I didn't mean anything by it, it sounds like you have a lot of respect for him and I would hate if something happened that would make it difficult for you to work well together."

"So not only do I have poor judgement you think I would intentionally sabotage a working relationship?" He looked to Lulubell, but there was no support to be had from that quarter. "I don't suppose I have anyone to blame but myself, after all I am my father's child."

"I didn't say that!" Cyril tried to block the doorway but Tyki pushed passed him easily.

"Give it up for now Cyril," Lulubell advised as she lay down again. Once comfortable she held out her glass to Cyril for a refill. "You didn't even let me ask if he fancies Lavi too."

Cyril let out an exasperated sigh at Lulubell's lack of concern as Tyki walked back into the house and out the front door. "Do you really need to ask?"

Tyki sat in his car for a time trying to decide where to go from here. Going back inside was not an option and neither was going back to an own empty apartment. He was angry, but at who: Lulubell for bringing it up; Cyril for making him think of that man; or himself for letting it come to this?

Kanda. He could happily blame Kanda for luring him into making what was possibly the dumbest statement of his life. "I'll give you my car." If Lavi ever found out he wagered him against his car than Cyril wouldn't need to worry about Malcolm ripping him apart, Lavi would do it himself.

Contacts flew upwards as Tyki thumbed the list up and down, none of the names jumping out at him as potential company to weather the storm brewing in him. Throwing the phone roughly into the passenger seat, Tyki pulled out of the drive and let the road decide where he would go.

The rush of cool wind through the window, clear skies and even clearer roads made it perfect driving conditions. In his teen years, when he had first arrived at the mansion, it had been on a battered old bicycle that he would make his escapes from a world he barely understood and as the years passed the bike was upgraded to a motorbike. This was not much different now. He was still running away.

At a petrol pump, Tyki rolled to a stop at the end of a small queue, and picked up his phone again and went through all his options again. Sudden vibrations from the phone made Tyki nearly drop the device to the floor. A second later it began to ring and Cyril's name flashed across the screen. He let it ring.

Cyril called him two more times and left a few messages, all of which Tyki ignored. Instead Tyki filled his tank and let the road take him to a now familiar row of terraced homes and dialled his chosen distraction.

"Hello?" came Lavi's tired voice.

"Hey, sorry were you asleep?" Tyki glanced at the dash clock. When did it get so late?

"No, I mean yeah… Just sort of dozed off," Lavi laughed embarrassed at having been caught. "Last minute cramming."

"Cramming has never done anyone any good you know. You have to let your body rest properly."

"Yeah, I should just go to bed." Tyki's hopes sank faster than a lead balloon.

"That's not what I meant," Tyki backtracked quickly. "Let me take you out, take your mind off of it for a little while."

"Now?" Lavi sounded sceptical. "It's pretty late."

"It's only ten thirty! I promise I'll have you home by midnight Cinderella," Tyki bit his lip before adding the clincher, "and I haven't seen you all day. I want to say good luck in person."

There was a long pause on the other side. "Okay fine, what time and where?" The smile was unmissable in his tone.

"I can pick you up in ten minutes," Tyki lied. A necessary lie to make him sound less of a stalker.

"Okay but don't expect me to make an effort."

"Don't worry I haven't either," Tyki said smugly and cut the line. He used the rest of the time waiting to fix his hair and undid the next button on his shirt before pulling out his hairband, tussled his hair and tied it bag up again. Lavi emerged on to the pavement wearing a large hoodie and cargo shorts. He spotted Tyki immediately which was not surprising as Tyki's car was as conspicuous as a tiger amongst kittens.

"So where are we going?" Lavi asked, climbing into the passenger seat. He looked at Tyki expectantly only to shrink back when Tyki suddenly reached over him, bringing them almost nose-to-nose. Gold looked into green, immensely enjoying the way Lavi's eyebrows jumped high into his hairline and his nostrils flared ever so slightly.

"Safety first." Tyki especially enjoyed the contained disappointment when he pulled on the belt on the passenger's side and fastened it before settling back into the driver's seat.

"Such a tease," he complained so emphatically Tyki couldn't hide his mirth. Lavi shot him a pout that only made him laugh harder. "You're very lucky I think you're cute, so I will forgive you. This time."

"Cute? I'm more an intense handsome don't you think?" Tyki made a show of checking the mirror, "between you and me, you're the cute one."

"Oh stop, you're making me blush!" Lavi mocked but a light pink began to suffuse his cheeks. He patted his cheeks twice and stared out of the windows as they tore down the empty street. Dimly lit stores and homes soon gave way to larger estates and parks.

"Where are we going?" he asked again after a while. They had been climbing at steadily increasing incline with every turn into a new road. Thick trees stood on each side of the road and lampposts were spaced much farther apart than on usual roads. "If I didn't know you needed me tomorrow, I'd swear you're about to murder me."

"Who said we need you tomorrow?" Tyki said darkly. All the colour drained from Lavi's face. Tyki laughed not even trying to avoid the well-earned punch to the shoulder. "You make it too easy!"

A short while later they crested a wide hill and followed the road to flat tarmacked area. The car park belonged to an immense museum that stood at the very top of the hill. A series of large marble stairs led up to the entrance.

"Museum's closed," Lavi noted a bit confusedly. Tyki shook his head and taking Lavi by the hand, he led him out of the car park and up a path until the trees thinned and the sprawling city glittered beneath them.

From this vantage point city was as delicate and fragile as a jewellery store display, the distance diminishing the tall towers into jewel studded shadows surrounding by pinpricks of orange and white stark against the velvet night. With not a cloud in the sky the view stretched almost to outer limits where the electrical lifeblood thinned into a fine spider's web.

"It's amazing," Lavi whispered reverently. The grassy slope was tiered with stairways and paths that made the terrain easier to manage foot. There were few couples and groups of friends dotted around the hillside and further along the path a lively bunch just decided to make good use of their car stereo and sub woofer. The pair navigated to a more private patch away from the small crowd of others.

Veering of the path, Tyki lead them into a small, relatively flat clearing that was still as near to the path as to be lit dimly by the lamppost. Here they could view the panorama of the city lights without interruption. Without hesitation Tyki lay down on the uncut grass. He looked expectantly up at Lavi, who joined him with more reserve, opting to sit with his knees bent than to lounge on the ground. "I didn't take you for one to endanger his threads," Lavi said as he looked out over the lights.

"What's life without a few grass strains," he replied but all the same he sat upright and cupping Lavi's chin, he brought their faces close enough to see the individual lashes of his eyes. The darkness muted the brilliant green of his eyes to a deep mossy hue that for a moment stole the breath out of his lungs.

"Are you going to kiss me or do I am going to have to lie to my diary later?" Lavi demanded impatiently.

Finding his voice Tyki grinned, showing all his teeth, "Depends, what would you write?" Lavi nipped the tip of a thumb that ventured to near his lips firing Tyki's desire for the younger man.

"I would write that there's this intensely handsome man who makes the cutest sounds when I do this." He launched himself forward, bowling Tyki onto his back and together they rolled with the momentum hooting with laughter.

A large, gnarled tree root halted them to a jarring stop. Tyki hovered above Lavi, both grinning from ear-to-ear and chests heaving with exhilaration. He caught the wicked glint in Lavi's eye only a second before Lavi gripped his collar and pulled him down into a crushing kiss.

Warning bells went off in his head. Cyril. Kanda. Lenalee. Part of Tyki wanted to listen, if only to prove to himself that he could stop this if he really wanted to, but another part of him was irked with the fearless redhead. "That's two kisses you've stolen from me now," he growled in Lavi's ear.

"Then stop making me do all the hard work!" Lavi dismissed Tyki's complaints by sliding his hands up under Tyki's shirt and tracing the line of his jaw back up to his lips. Tyki tried to focus on the hard soil beneath his palms; at this rate he would handing over his car keys in the morning. It was embarrassing to have his body responding so earnestly to another's hands. The line was drawn when Lavi arched his back, dragging their hips together and forcing a groan out of him.

Tyki extricated himself from Lavi with difficulty. He took a couple of deep breaths and sat down leaning against the base of the tree.

"You are sinful!" Tyki panted, getting his breath back and trying to understand his reluctance. Stopping himself right now went against every one of his natural impulses. He wasn't used to playing the role of the seduced. Lavi shook his head, looking disappointed yet pleased with himself and slumped down next Tyki.

"You're just angry I made you moan first," Lavi snorted. He narrowly avoided a shove from Tyki and stuck out a pink tongue at him. Tyki threw an arm over his shoulder and pulled Lavi close to his side, where he wriggled down until he was comfortable using Tyki's shoulder as a pillow. The younger man seemed happy enough with toning down the scene.

"I know it's not a proper date, but this is one of my favourite spots in the city. I used to come up here all the time when I was kid. My brother, Wes' dad, bought me a motorbike when I turned seventeen."

"Wow a motorbike, I can see you zooming around wrapped all sexy and smouldering in leather," Lavi squinted up at the sky as he imagined a much younger Tyki. Lying there with one arm outstretched as if he expected to catch a star in his hands, Lavi looked deceptively innocent. Tyki took the hand and brought it to his lips. Lavi sat up, his eyes on their hands.

He looked out over the lights again pondering how good of a brother Cyril was. Down there set apart slightly from the mass of radiance was the house where Cyril was no doubt fuming and ranting to cool, disinterested Lulubell. The image brought a smile to his face. Cyril's moods always seemed funnier when he didn't have to deal with the man himself.

"You don't have any siblings do you? It's good having a brother, you know but it wasn't always," Tyki couldn't say what made him continue. "We didn't always get along very well; we were strangers for the first halves of our lives and it wasn't until I was into my twenties that we truly began to know each other. He's tried hard, harder than me, to be a good brother. Its funny I had an argument with him tonight and now I going on about how great he is."

Lavi surprised him with a gentle squeeze of his hand, urging him to go on. "It must mean that you've forgiven him."

"Of course I have. I have to. The bastard always has my best interests at heart." A knot was digging into his back so he shifted slightly and rested his chin over Lavi's head. A waft of warm spice suffused the air around him. "Did you know Daisya is setting up a bookies out of your workshop?"

Lavi's reaction was surprising. Sharply he sat up straight, nearly stabbing Tyki with his elbows and blew air through his nose. "Do us both a favour and just ignore everything he says! No one takes him seriously enough to actually take him up on a bet. He uses the loosest, and I mean loosest, bits of gossip to predict who's going out with who."

He folded his arms tightly and fell back against Tyki's shoulder heavily making him wince. "Okay, now I'm interested what kind of predictions does he make?" Whatever it was, it was clearly upsetting the red head.

"Just everyone with everyone. It's all nonsense." He twisted his mouth as if there was a bad taste he was desperate to spit out. Tyki forced Lavi to meet his eyes.

"No-one should look that pissed off when I'm holding them. Spit it out. Why are you so angry? Did he pair you with someone you don't like?" he tried to joke.

"No," Lavi pouted, "It's because he paired you with everyone in the company!"

Lavi was jealous! Tyki threw his head back and roared with laughter. "Lavi, the only person I've got my eye on in that place is you. Just you." He kissed Lavi's cheek affirming his words, but Lavi pulled back.

"Person? Not man?" he puzzled out, "So you like women too?"

Tyki paused. Past experience taught him that some men and women found his bisexuality threatening and it had led to the breakdown of more than few relationships. Some accused him of being far too sexually open while others annoyingly expected it of him. Where Lavi sat on the spectrum – he would have to wait and see. "Yes, I have male and female partners in the past. And I'll admit, I'm not stranger to sex, so I haven't always been monogamous, but that doesn't mean I can't be if I wanted," he said at length.

"Oh," was Lavi's response. He was ripping up tufts of grass and tearing them apart. "Are you attracted to Lulubell?"

It suddenly made sense why Lavi had looked so crestfallen when Kanda reminded him that Lulu was waiting for him. "If I was just gay would you ask me if I was attracted to Kanda?" he asked making it clear how ridiculous a question it was.

Lavi threw the handful of shredded grass at Tyki and a smile replaced the frown. "No, because Lulubell is a gorgeous woman and Kanda is a bitch. Even I'm a little attracted to her." He caught a glare from Tyki and added quickly, "Just a little."

Tyki dusted his shoulders off wondering how much of the truth to give him. He deserved at least part of it. "I haven't been attracted to her in a romantic way, not since I was a teen anyway but that's a whole other story. Also she is actually Wes' aunt so I don't know but I think that makes her my extended sister-in-law."

Lavi nodded, "I can live with that."

"Do you want this to be monogamous?" Tyki ventured. It was Lavi's turn to think it over. He climbed into Tyki's lap and kneeled with his knees on either side of Tyki's hips. The boldness of the move excited Tyki but he restrained himself to only placing his hands on Lavi's thighs.

"I would always prefer to be, but that's just me and I know this is still very early and you don't have any obligation to me. So," Tyki worried his lower, thinking carefully over his next words. "So, for now we can just test the waters and see where we go from here. Just so you know though… I can get jealous…"

"Really? I hadn't noticed," Tyki's smile belied the wry tone. He kissed the corner of Lavi's mouth. "Like I said, I only have eyes for you Lavi."

"Also I have a favour to ask," Lavi pushed firmly against his shoulder. "Can we not tell anyone at work please? I don't want to rock any boats while I'm still new, and especially while we're working on the opening for September, I don't want my failings to reflect on the company or on you."

Tyki's feelings over the request were mixed. It was ideally the best solution, as he was already failing so hard at keeping to his promised boundaries with Kanda, but the way Lavi said made it sound like he was already preparing for something to go wrong. It was just like with the planning, Lavi kept second-guessing himself. He wrapped his arms around Lavi, pulled him into his chest and held him there.

"Low-key is fine, we can work with that." Tyki released him so he could him straight in the eyes as he said, "But I don't ever want to hear you put yourself down again. You are a fantastic designer and you will knock them out tomorrow with your beautiful styles and charismatic personality. I didn't spend my evening shouting those facts to my brother for nothing. I believe in you."

Lavi patted his shoulders and stood up quickly. He really had been working hard to cover up his anxieties for the coming day, Tyki realised as Lavi stood with his back to him staring out into the distance. Quietly, Tyki stood and brushed debris from his clothing, he waited awhile before pointing out the time.

"It's already past midnight, you ready to go home?" He extended his hand and Lavi took it.

The journey back home from anywhere is always faster than the arrival and too soon they were parked on outside Lavi's house, but by now Tyki knew he was just looking for reasons to stay close to Lavi for longer and decided to walk him to the door.

Just one more kiss.

At last it was Lavi who made the decision and pushed Tyki back at arm's length, "Any longer and I'd have to invite you in and we both know that would be a very very bad idea."

"Yes, very very bad," Tyki conceded and looked up towards the road but did not move. Going up those stairs would be admitting the night was over so he waited until Lavi went in first and he heard the lock slide into place before leaving.

As he started his engine Tyki wondered, would life be so bad without this car?