Hello!

You can thank WIP Week for how I decided to work on a new chapter~ The theme of he 25th was a WIP with my OTP, and Neallen happens to be one. The story might not be an official Neallen, but the Neallen is strong, if simply done in a way that you can read as platonic or romantic.

As it is, this chapter is rather full of Neallen, and again, you can take it as you want; but I can assure you that it delivers feels.

There are also hints you might say, you get to see a bit more Nea, and from what I can see, I'm introducing slowly more characters in the story. I think a few things become clearer, but it does nothing to actually give anything of the truth/plot that is meant to stay vague or hidden~

A little reminder: I have on AO3 a story called Dear Guide Man that gives informations about Allen's backstory in all canonverse, some headcanons, and speak of my main canonverse (which is the one that Meet me Halfway is the story of). There aren't any true spoilers in Dear Guide Man, but it does reveal one or two things that Meet me Halfway has yet to fully show; but otherwise, it is good to check, especially Allen's backstory!
Or if you want to read Allen's backstory, I am writing its story, which is Rise of the Walker!

And another reminder is that I have a tumblr blog at chrisemrysfics dot tumblr dot com, where you can keep an eye on what I am working on, message me, etc!
Plus, if you like how I write, you can always check my site for my original content as chriscassar dot carrd dot co.

I hope you enjoy!

Meet me Halfway to the End

Chapter 4: So close yet so far

Soft humming drifted with the light breeze, a familiar song, eyes closed and the faint sensation of hairs caressed under his hand. Again and again, the motion repeated, hand lifting, palm going down fluffy hairs, the quiet song never stopping.

Lips lifted as in the next motion, his hand paused from the hear under it tilting, and lips pressed a light kiss to the inside of his wrist, grateful, apologetic, fond.

"Are you feeling better?" Eyes opened, taking briefly in the wheat field, back rested against the bark of a tree; before they lowered, the curl of his smile a little fonder at the slight redness of those grey cheeks.

Golden eyes were looking up, almost shy, as their owner turned on his back, letting out a sigh as the hand simply rested on his forehead. Lips formed their own smile, golden eyes warm, if a bit tired.

"I am." Worry filtered into the expression. "I… I didn't hurt you, did I?"

A soft chuckle left his lips, and a finger gently rubbed the line of little crosses over the grey forehead, a light of amused fondness in his own gaze at the way a soft sigh left the other, eyes closing without control and the faintest contented groan leaving the other lips.

"If you don't count appearing out of nowhere, almost giving me a heart attack then falling on me, no, you didn't."

That was teasing, and the light snort showed that the other knew. Yet, he still sat up, making the hand drop, and the other's hands cupped his face.

"… I'm sorry I worried you."

He swallowed, and felt his smile try to fix itself. But thumbs brushed his cheek oh so gently, and golden eyes softened. The tears fell down his cheeks, and he launched forward, arms tight around the other's form, face pressed into his neck, letting out a shaky breath, as arms returned the tight hold, keeping him close.

It was his turn to have a hand in his hairs, there were lips at his temple, a soft murmur of reassurance.

"It will be fine, Allen. I promise."

Silver eyes opened, blinking slowly once, traits twisting in slight confusion. Had he fallen asleep in a field?

He sat up, one hand rubbing his eyes, then one eye opened and he froze. Slowly, his hand fell back down.

Had he not seen this field before..?

What was this manor a few meters away..?

Allen got up, his heart thumping and his insides twisting with longing, nostalgia, warmth.

He let out a shaky breath, his body shivered, and he felt…. He felt…

He turned, looking down the dirt path. His heart skipped a beat at the throne sitting in the middle of it, familiar in a way that brought a memory back to his mind, of waking up chained to it, of… of…

His gaze flickered to the side, everything else forgotten for a moment at the one standing halfway been the throne and Allen himself, half turned as if he had been going to the throne, stopping to watch back.

To look at Allen.

"Ne...a?"

And Allen felt certain it was a smile that lifted the Noah's lips, golden eyes brighter.

And Allen jolted, sitting up from the inn's bed, Timcanpy letting out a startled sound and rolling down the bed.

The golem grumbled, but when he looked, Allen sat there, eyes wide, panting; yet the look on his face was not the same as the one after his nightmares. Confused, lost, twisting with deep want; Timcanpy felt worried and fluttered back to Allen, nuzzling his cheek.

The young man blinked, his breathing returning to normal, and he smiled weakly, lifting a hand to cup Timcanpy, keep him close. Most of the emotions had left his expression, however, he still looked puzzled, troubled.

"Tim… Did you know his name is Nea?" Allen's gaze moved to the window, the first ray of the sun. "I met him once… When he awakened. I had forgotten..." His gaze grew distant, finger scratching Timcanpy's body, missing the watchful way the golem seemed to stare at him with. "He called the Earl mad… That he had forgotten, and me too… Told me he was the Noah who would destroy everything, Nea..."

His finger stopped, hand just resting against Timcanpy. The golem knew Allen was not aware of his own murmur of, "He smiles at me so softly..."

And then Allen turned his gaze back to Timcanpy, less troubled, still a bit lost. Lips lifted at the corner.

"Hey, Tim… Do you think we can find where Nea D Campbell lived?" This manor of his… I want…

Timcanpy stared for a brief moment longer; and then, he grinned.

Hands in his coat's pocket, golden eyes levelled up at the sky, Nea stood in the middle of the wheat field.

How long had he been waiting now, for Allen to say his name again? To Allen's mind, he was a stranger, but Nea had heard it in the tone of his voice, the longing that his heart must feel. Wasn't he the lucky one, in the end, to still remember, despite being trapped within this inner world?

He knew what to look for, after all. But poor Allen, dear Allen, on his own, lost and alone…

His hands clenched. To think he could not even tell Allen, reassure him, I am not here to take all you have…

Nea had thought his hate for the Heart had reached its peak long ago. But seeing Allen without his memories, fighting against the goal he always had, suffering from the lies he had been fed…

His teeth gritted.

And then Nea closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath, releasing it slowly. It would do no good to allow his mind to stew in the fury he felt. Let the anger rest, he would have his time to express it. Right now, it would only hurt the both of them.

Lips twitched, lifted slowly into a side smirk, and as he opened his eyes to look at the sky again, Nea called out, "How long are you going to hide?"

A beat, then a scoff came from his visitor. "I am not hiding, Campbell."

Nea snorted, lowering his head, and turning, facing the red haired man that stepped from behind Cornelia. "No, you just stayed out of sight." He agreed, way too indulgent, smile widening at the glare he received. Golden eyes were sharper as he added, "Weren't you here to see Allen, Marian?"

"Tch." Cross only replied, at first. He took a drag out of his cigarette, blowing it out slowly, but he knew better than to poke at the sleeping beast when Nea had this kind of focused, narrowed eyes. Of course you get like this for Allen. "The little pest stopped me at the last moment. We thought.."

Nea's expression did something, shutting down, golden eyes blazing. "You thought he was about to disappear, and you asked Road to be there for him."

The red haired flinched, this kind of venom from Nea was not one he was used to; and that was why he knew Nea was mad. But he was Cross Marian; and he returned the glare in kind. "Can you blame me? You never allowed me close to him, back then. You never told me the truth. Only what helped you. How was I supposed to know he was not meant to vanish, when all you gave me was look for my vessel."

Nea's mouth formed a thin line, arms crossing as his gaze drifted away. "Don't try, Cross. I haven't told you the truth before, and the reasons I haven't back then are still true now."

Cross furrowed his brows. "Apocryphos stole Judgement from me, and Maria is out of reach except to me."

"What makes you think the Heart is the only one I cannot allow to realize the truth?" Golden eyes pinned Cross, who felt like he was being seen through right to his soul. "Road might be willing to help, but you are here from her powers. She will hear."

As if to prove Nea's point, a twinge of unhappiness, almost hurt, shot through Cross. Right. "You don't trust her?"

The Noah inclined his head, his smile soft, the expression he was not hiding properly sad. "This is not about trust. No one is safe from the truth, not as long as Allen doesn't grasp it himself."

"Why Allen?" A feminine voice asked, and both men glanced up. Road, barely visible, sat on a branch. "Why is it that you only know?" She frowned, agitated, almost pained. "Why must you suffer alone? I can-!"

Nea's smile, so soft and sad, like she had not seen for so long, stopped Road short with a sharp intake of breath. She felt tears burn at the corner of her eyes, her heart swelling, and she knew, she straightened, reached out her hand, "Don't-!"

"Sorry, Road. Take care of everyone for me, yes?" And reaching out himself, a pulse of power forced Road out of his inner world.

Cross shuddered, sensing how the act was soon to send him away, too. "Nea-" He started, brows furrowed, mouth thin.

"Just trust Allen, Marian. All of you… Just trust in Allen."

And Cross too, was forced out.

Nea stood there, his hand extended, closing his eyes. He breathed in, lowered his hand, and exhaled slowly. He opened his eyes again.

Purple twisted into the sky, into the far edges of his inner world. Nea put a hand on his hip, smile dry.

"Close call, eh? Road didn't need to see that. They didn't realize back then, and I'd rather they don't now. It will only give them ideas, and we can't have that now, can we?"

The purple twisted more sharply, zapping the sky angrily. Nea tilted his head, not moving as his inner world grew smaller, more and more purple closing in, twisting with malice.

Something warmed touched his back, golden light glowing softly from behind. Nea blinked, looking above his shoulder.

He met the downward look of the silver mask with a soft smile.

"I'm fine. We had visitors, but they're gone now. They won't find their way in again." He felt a gloved hand pushing at his back, and Nea laughed lightly, shaking his head in amusement. "Yes, yes, I know, back in I go."

Waving his hand, Nea started to walk to the manor. A violent twist of the purple energy made his pause, look behind. He could not prevent the little smirk at the sheer amount of moody glower the white being emitted.

It warmed his heart, truly. But-

"Allen needs you more than me, Crown."

The white being shifted, mask's eyes glowing silver-white, seeming to fix Nea for a few moments.

Then, with a flash of light, it shot up.

Nea lifted his arm, protecting his eyes, then he whistled as the glow died down and he could look, seeing the white path and the clear sky it showed, purple backing off in unhappy swirls.

"You still had to, didn't you?" Nea mused, moving again, lips set into a little smile.

A hum left his lips, a familiar song, as Nea entered the manor, the sound, the song, seeming to echo into the rooms, following him, until he laid on his bed, and the song grew softer and softer.

I hope I get to see you again soon, Allen...

To be continued...