Advanced notes: Lavi is wearing his thin black shirt, white pants and his boots, while Tyki will be wearing his normal clothes with the top hat but minus the cane. o Enjoy!

Summary: Tormented by a suffering heart, Lavi heads out to clear his mind. What he didn't expect was to meet an unlikely companion, Tyki Mikk. Tyki/Lavi.

WARNING: If you don't like BL, Slash, Shounen-ai A.K.A. Boy/ Boy relationship, please turn back now by pressing the 'Back' button.

Disclaimer: Hoshino Katsura-san owns D.gray-man, not me.

Lavi has always liked Kanda Yuu. Ever since he saw the stoic swordsman, he felt that he loved him. Although he openly shows it to Yuu, he knows that the other would never return such feelings to him. He knew…no…He knows that it would take a lot of time and effort to melt the ice barrier that surrounded Kanda. Although he knew this clearly, he still tried to melt that ice even just a little.

Then Allen came. Lavi was curious about Allen's cursed eye and how the boy can be so cheerful even though he had a horrible past. Somehow, Lavi thought they were the same, acting as if nothing sad or traumatic had happened in their pasts. But Lavi knew in his heart that Allen was genuinely happy whenever he smiled. Lavi wished he could do the same but, like always, he knew it was impossible for him.

The first thing the Bookman-in-training noticed when Allen had arrived was the mutual connection between him and Kanda. Everyone had missed it but a future Bookman never misses a single detail. Sure, the two of them were always fighting when they met, whether it is in the hallways, the cafeteria, and on missions, you name it. Even with all their fighting, Lavi could tell that they loved and cared for each other dearly. After all, Allen was the one who opened up Kanda's heart. Lavi loved the both of them and wanted them to be both happy, so he decided not to interfere with them.

Finally, after some time, Allen and Kanda had gotten together. The two of them had become close for some odd reason while on a mission in Venice and confessed their love for each other. After their confession, they were rarely seen fighting anymore. And they were inseparable as if they were glued to each other now. Once, while on a mission with the two of them, Lavi had seen how they protected each other selflessly. They had even forgotten that Lavi was also there.

Of course, Lavi was very happy for them but he couldn't help but feel that he's alone and feeling lonely. Lavi laughed at himself for that because it was in the Bookman's code to be alone for the rest of his life.

"A Bookman has no need for a heart……" Lavi repeated the phrase to himself. He can never forget that. In the first place, he knew that he shouldn't have fallen in love with the two. A Bookman cannot love nor interfere with anything because they were only spectators; they were only there to simply record what was happening in the war. He says to himself that he shouldn't feel lonely because it was meant to happen anyway and instead he should feel happy. But even if scolded himself a million times he still felt solitude.

"Ahh! Why am I feeling this way? I…shouldn't feel this….I can't…I'm Bookman's successor! But…but…I can't…I can't help it!" Lavi held his face in his hands. He felt a tear fall from his eye; he was alarmed by this.

"…ah…What am I crying for?! I should be happy that they finally confessed their undying love for each other…!" Lavi scolded himself again. He remembered when he used to be able to eat with Allen or Yuu, but nowadays he can't even talk with them properly anymore because they were always with each other and they ignored everything around them as if no one but they existed.

"I should go for a walk. Maybe that would clear my head…hopefully." Lavi exited the library and headed out of the HQ. He went to a forest where he usually hangs out when he feels confused or depressed. In that forest, a large oak tree stood firmly. It was about 50 years old or so judging by the thickness of its trunk. Lavi always found that tree as comforting whenever he came. Since the time he first arrived at the HQ, this tree had somehow become his second sanctuary next to the library.

Lavi sat on one of the big roots where he always sat comfortably. He sat there for awhile thinking his thoughts through with less turmoil in his heart. He was still contemplating everything when he heard a noise to his side. He quickly activated his Innocence out of instinct and prepared himself for an attack. He was greatly surprised to see that the intruder was no other than Tyki Mikk, member of the Noah family and killer of one general, six exorcists, and have even killed Allen before.

"You!" Lavi raised his weapon, ready to attack his assailant but he was stopped when the older man raised his hand and spoke.

"Wait. I didn't come here to fight." Tyki spoke calmly

"What kind of fool do you take me for?!" Lavi exclaimed

"I know it's hard to believe, but I mean no harm, Eye-patch-boy." Tyki teased

"D-Don't call me that!" Lavi was flustered by being called THAT 'Eye.Patch.Boy?! Is he insulting me?'

"Oh? Don't be embarrassed. You need company, don't you? So, lower your weapon." Tyki approached Lavi slowly. Lavi cautiously moved a step back. He started to lower his anti-Akuma weapon slowly. That's when he realized what he was doing. 'Wait! I shouldn't let my guard down! For all I know, this could just be a trap….' Lavi raised his hammer again without warning, activated it.

"Size-shifting hammer, grow, grow, GROW!" Lavi shouted and the hammer grew to an enormous size. He swung it downwards to where Tyki was currently standing and a big crash sounded throughout the forest. The impact created a huge accumulation of dust that Lavi couldn't see through. He proceeded to look around for his target.

"Did- Did I get him…?" Lavi asked himself quietly. He continued to scan his surroundings in worry, but he didn't know why.

"Hardly." Lavi stiffened when he heard the voice behind him. He quickly swung his hammer but it just ended up hitting thin air.

"Wh-"Lavi couldn't finish his sentence as his right wrist was grabbed. He was spun around and pinned to the oak tree. The one who did this was obviously Tyki; his eyes held an emotion that Lavi couldn't decipher.

"What are you-"Lavi saw Tyki raising his free hand and started moving it towards the exorcist's face. Lavi, fearing for the worst, shut his eye close and prepared for the impact of the Noah's hand. Then…

pat Lavi felt something gently touch the top of his head, and he slowly opened his eye only to see Tyki Mikk smiling down at him, not in an intimidating way, though. It was rather like….a warm and caring smile? But Lavi couldn't believe what he was seeing. He blinked several times to make sure it wasn't an illusion. If he wasn't being pinned to a tree, he would have pinched himself hard already, but of course, that wasn't the case.

"What's with that stupefied look? I already told you I'm not here to fight, right? I'm only here for a personal business. Now, withdraw your weapon or I'll be forced to tie you up, so we would be able to talk rationally." Tyki explained and watched the boy for any reaction or reply. When he got none, he asked again. "Hey, boy. Are you still awake?" He waved a hand in front of Lavi's face. Nope, still no reaction. An idea hit Tyki's head when he still didn't receive a response. He slowly let his face move closer and closer to Lavi's face. And that's when he got an unexpected reaction.

THUD

Lavi suddenly jerked his head and hit Tyki's forehead hard. Tyki loosened his grip on Lavi's wrist and fell, not because he was hurt but because he was surprised. He hadn't expected the exorcist to actually head-butt him.

"Owww!!!" Tyki looked up to see Lavi sitting down on the ground and holding his forehead. The boy's eye was shut tightly in pain and his cheeks were flushed. What he didn't know though, was the reason why the younger one was blushing.

"Hey, why did you do that?" Tyki asked as he stood up unfazed and walked over to Lavi.

"Why not? Ow…" Lavi glared up at the taller man while still holding his forehead in pain. 'That hurt! Why does his head have to be that hard, literally.'

"Because I already stated my purpose. How many times do I have to tell that I mean no harm? Quit being so stubborn, boy." Tyki tipped his hat a bit and closed his eyes. 'Seriously, why does he have to give me such a hard time just for me talk to talk with him?' He let out a sigh at this thought.

"But even so! You killed General Yeegar, six exorcists…and….and you even killed Allen! How do you expect me to trust you?!" Lavi now stood up and faced Tyki. His visible eye was laced with confusion, doubt, anger, and fear. Tyki saw all of this emotions clearly and he somehow felt bad for letting Lavi feel all this. But he also knew he wasn't the cause of all of it.

"I don't know either. It's all up to you how to do that. I have told you quite a lot of times that you need company, didn't I? Just let me do that, you're just hurting yourself more by trying to push me away." Tyki saw Lavi's eye widen at what he said. Lavi looked down so that his expression wasn't vivid. Due to his confused and sorrowful state, Lavi didn't really have the will and strength to fight right now and he did need a companion even though he knows Tyki can kill him at any moment.

"S-So you really aren't here to kill me…?" Lavi consciously sat on his regular sit while watching Tyki take off his hat and take a sit himself.

"Sigh If that was my intention you would be missing your vital organs by now." Tyki looked up at the full moon. 'Finally, he decided to talk properly with me, after all. I was already on the point of giving up and forcing him down.'

"Oh…Why are you here then?" Lavi looked at him curiously. 'What is his real purpose? Should I even be talking to him? He's my...enemy.'

"I told you, right? You need some company." Tyki looked him in the eye. Lavi quickly averted his gaze from Tyki with a light blush on his cheeks.

"Uhm…So, are you saying you came here to accompany me?" Lavi asked still looking away. But when he didn't hear a reply he looked back and saw Tyki smiling at him with a slow nod.

"But why? We're enemies. Aren't you supposed to fight or kill me?" Lavi looked at the Noah, but he still can't look at the latter's eyes.

"Would you want it that way right now?" Tyki inquired reaching for Lavi. Lavi backed away almost immediately and shook his head vigorously.

"N-No that's not what I meant at all!!! It's just that…It feels strange…you know…" Lavi scratched the back of his neck nervously. 'Why am I so comfortable talking to him…?'

"I know you might feel that way. But you're the next Bookman, right? So that means you have neither enemies nor allies." Tyki stated the obvious. Lavi was struck by that statement and remembered Panda's own words:We are not their allies. We are only on the Order's side by chance.

"I…You're right…But how did you know I was here?" Lavi wondered.

"That….is a secret you'll never know." Tyki said mischievously.

"Well, I won't pester you about that anymore…" Lavi hugged his knees to his chest. This action made Lavi look smaller and even more vulnerable than he already was.

"So, are you going to divulge your problem to me?" Tyki asked expectantly.

"I…" Lavi hesitated for awhile before he continued with a shaky breath "…I feel alone and I'm longing for a companion…But I am the next Bookman. A Bookman has no need for a heart…Even if I wanted to, I…I can never have a heart!" Lavi hadn't noticed that tears were falling freely down his cheek by now. He didn't know why he was letting himself cry either. He jerked when he felt a warm hand touch his cheek and wipe some of the tears away.

"How can someone crying like you have no heart? You have a heart but it is chained…That's why you feel pain and sorrow right now." Tyki said comfortingly and hugged Lavi to his chest. The crying boy tried to push away but submitted almost immediately to the hug. He clung to Tyki while he sobbed silently into the elder's chest.

"Why…?" Lavi had so many questions like 'What is your purpose for doing this?' or 'Why are you trying to comfort me?' but 'why' was the only word he could utter.

"Because I know how it feels…to be abandoned." Tyki said honestly

"I-I….wasn't abandoned…" Lavi was alarmed by the idea of being abandoned. It made his heart twinge whenever he thought of it.

"I know, but that's not what I meant. What I mean is that the ones you love might be still very near but you feel as if they're so far, out of your reach." Tyki explained while running his hand through Lavi's hair in a soothing manner.

"I guess you're right." Lavi to pull away but his companion's hold was tight, "Tyki?" He looked up at the swarthy man with a confused expression.

"You're still feeling bitter and lonely, aren't you, Lavi?" Tyki smiled at the shorter boy knowingly.

"…..Wait! W-Why are you calling me by my name?!" Lavi's eye widened comically.

"Why? Didn't you just call me by my name as well?" Tyki smirked at this. He thought Lavi looked adorable when in this state and he could also see that Lavi's pain is starting to fade away.

"I did? I did!!! No! Ahhh! What will I do?! I shouldn't even have talked to you! Oh no…" Lavi bit on his thumb thinking what might happen and what will he do if someone found out. He was so into thinking that he forgot that he was still in Tyki's arms. Trying to be a gentleman, Tyki waited patiently for the young man to snap out of it. After just a few minutes, Tyki took the courtesy of snapping the boy out of his negative thoughts.

Lavi was startled when he felt Tyki's hand on his head and he looked up. Another realization hit Lavi's mind and he abruptly stood and fell on his butt. Tyki couldn't help but chuckle at the other's predicament. Lavi didn't make a move to stand up and just stuck his tongue out due to his habit.

"Oi! Don't laugh! I can't believe I didn't notice I was sitting on your lap this whole time." Lavi muttered the last sentence to himself but Tyki heard it loud and clear. This was yet another reason for the Noah clan/family member to laugh.

"What?!" Lavi crossed his arms indignantly

"It's-It's just that snicker that expression snicker makes you look so cute!" Tyki had to cover his mouth to try to stop his laughter but it was useless anyway.

"You think…I'm……" Lavi made sure to make a pause, "….cute?" Lavi had a dumbfounded look on his face and he pointed at himself for emphasis. He received a nod from Tyki and that just added the shock that he already felt. 'Cute' coming from the mouth of this certain Noah was already surprising enough but THAT word being directed at HIM(Lavi), NO WAY IN HELL!!!

"You have got to be…CRAZY!!!" Lavi roared at Tyki but that didn't take the smirk off the mischievous man's face. The Bookman-in-training calmed down a bit and stood up, brushing the dirt off his clothes.

"I'll be heading back now." Lavi turned to walk away but was stopped when Tyki held his wrist.

"Wait." Tyki had a serious look in his eyes; this got Lavi's attention quickly.

"Wh-What is it?" Lavi stuttered at the intense look Tyki was giving him. However, his question was not answered. Instead, Tyki held Lavi by the waist and used his other hand (the one he used to hold Lavi's wrist) to lift Lavi's chin. Lavi could only stare with wide eyes as he realized that his voice was caught in his throat and that he was paralyzed due to surprise, fear, and the sheer suspense of what's happening.

Tyki slowly lowered his face to Lavi's before kissing the puzzled boy gently on the lips. Lavi's eye had widened even more at the contact of the other man's lips on his own. Even though it only lasted a few seconds, Lavi defiantly felt it. Tyki let go of Lavi's chin but still held the boy to him.

"Well?" Tyki asked, "Aren't you going to struggle?" He touched Lavi's cheek lightly, stroking it lovingly.

"Ah…I-I….I don't know." Lavi averted Tyki's gaze embarrassedly. His cheeks were so red that he believed it could match his fiery hair. Tyki just held the boy to his chest and stroked his head. Lavi felt strangely comfortable in Tyki's hold and getting his head stroked.

"I…" Lavi started

"Yes? What is it?" Tyki looked down at his companion.

"You know….that was my…" Lavi couldn't help but stop and blush a harder shade of red (if that's even possible).

"What was your what?" As cunning as Tyki is he couldn't grasp what the other meant. He heard Lavi mumble incoherently. "I beg your pardon?"

Lavi let out a nervous breath and continued, "I-I said that was my…." He looked uncertainly at Tyki who gave him a go-ahead-look and finished saying, "That was my first kiss…."

Tyki's expression was unreadable for a moment and this made Lavi even more nervous. Then the Noah (Fucker, maybe.Lol-) laughed. 'He laughed. HE-LAUGHED. He just laughs at me! Doesn't he know it's serious? Wait a minute, why did I even tell him that?'

Lavi contemplated everything in his mind and decided to punish himself later (by doing a hell lot of work and some random things). The exorcist could only glare at the taller man as he laughed. After some time, Tyki finally stopped laughing, holding his stomach and wiping a tear from his eyes.

"Ah..ha…So-rry but I couldn't help it." Tyki straightened himself and looked at the younger boy

"What do you mean?" Lavi was generally confused

"It's because that wasn't even a real kiss yet." Tyki put a lot of emphasis on the word that.

"Huh?" Lavi was cut off when Tyki once again held his waist and lifted his chin to kiss him. Only this time it had more force in it. Lavi opened his mouth in surprise and he was shocked when he felt something slip into his mouth. He found out that it was actually Tyki's tongue; his eye widened again. 'Ack! H-He's tongue. Ahh..!'

"Mmmphh…!" Lavi started squirming because of the strange, new sensation he was feeling in his mouth. Tyki did his best to keep Lavi from moving away. Lavi's squirming stopped at a slow pace and he finally relaxed and let his visible eye flutter close.

The need for air grew and Tyki was forced to dispel the kiss. He looked at Lavi carefully and saw that the boy was deeply flushed. His face was as red as a tomato. Lavi was gasping quite hard and he felt as if his legs are going to give out on him so he leaned into Tyki for support (which the older one enjoyed, mind you. ).

"Now that was a real kiss." Tyki smirked while licking his lips. This made Lavi blush ten times harder. When he didn't get a reply, Tyki started to worry a little.

"Hey, are you alright?" Tyki asked looking directly at Lavi's face with concern written all over his face.

"Y-Yes…I'm fine. I was just….surprised, that's all." Lavi nodded and looked up at Tyki with a reassuring expression. Tyki gave out a sigh of relief and continued to hug Lavi again.

"I was worried because I thought your heart stopped beating." Tyki ran a hand through his hair while explaining this.

"You were worried?" Lavi was confused at this revelation. He had no idea what was the right reaction he should give to his 'comforter'.

"Of course I was. I'm your lover now, so I should take care of you." Tyki meant every word he said sincerely. He even placed his hand on his left chest, over his heart.

"Lo-Lo-LOVER?!?!?!" Lavi backed away a little to look at Tyki's face carefully to know whether the gambler was lying or not. He found neither trace of malice nor fake concern in the darker man's eyes. Instead, he saw genuine love and pure concern.

"Yes, I am your lover now. We already kissed; thus making our relationship official." Tyki stated matter-of-factly.

"I don't know what to say." Lavi confessed.

"Don't worry. I'm prepared to wait for your answer." Tyki patted Lavi's head lovingly to try to comfort and reassure the confused boy.

"Thank you." Lavi flashed a happy smile at his so called 'lover'. He was glad that Tyki would wait for his answer and not force him into things too suddenly.

"You're welcome. I'll see you again when you're ready, ok?" Tyki placed his hat back on his head and cocked his head a bit to the side.

"Ok." Lavi answered quietly. Tyki approached Lavi again and placed a chaste kiss on the younger one's lips. Before Lavi can react, Tyki had stepped back and a gust of wind blew around him. Lavi had to cover his eye from the sudden gust so he couldn't see Tyki. Once he opened his eye, Tyki was nowhere to be found. He searched frantically before he heard a voice.

'I'll be back to hear your answer, my little bunny.' Lavi was flustered by being called 'little bunny' but he figured he could live through it. He was also sure it was Tyki who had said those words.

"I'll be seeing you then, lover." Lavi whispered into the wind and turned to head back to the HQ with a smile gracing his lips.

'Maybe…just maybe, he might be the one to be able to break the chains surrounding my heart'

Author's note: So, did you like it? I'm only a newbie so please don't kill me! I'm sorry for the whole lot of '…' in Lavi's dialogues. Please leave a comment! Oh! And you can also leave a constructive criticism if you want. Thank you for reading my ranting and my fanfic! -

P.S. - Lavi was blushing because he thought Tyki was going to kiss him, which was actually what Tyki would have done then.