31_days | Oct 7/Double or nothing (D-Grayman) High Stakes and Cheating

Day/Prompt: Oct 7/double or nothing
Fandom: D. Grayman
Character/Pairing: Tiki, Allen
Rating: K+

Day/Prompt: Oct 7/double or nothing
Fandom: D. Grayman
Character/Pairing: Tiki, Allen
Rating: K+

Stories: There are two of them, each with their own titles. The first one is serious, the second one humourous.
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1. High stakes

"You do know I'm going to win this one, right?" one player says, glancing at his cards before smirking at the face of his opponent.
"We'll see," the other boy replies, rearranging his cards to hide his nervousness. I can't be nervous now. With all that's at stake, I can't be nervous now.
They sit facing each other in the middle of a room. A round table with green felt holds the cards while around them are mirrors, each displaying a different face.
"Shall we continue?" the first man speaks, his hand hovering over the cards. "I'm getting bored of watching you delay."
"Not delaying," the boy shoots back, "Just planning what to do next."
"Of course. But considering how many pieces I have..." His voice trails off and the boy is reminded of how this started.
"Hello, Allen. Nice to see you again." A figure loomed out of the darkness and Allen was caught off guard.
"You!" Allen stepped back, glancing around furiously to spot any other Noah while starting to transform his arm.
"Now, now. I'm not here to fight." He held his hands up, to show his innocence, but if anything, that made Allen more suspicious.
"I'm sure."
"No, I'm here to play a card game with you." A card game? A simple card game with a Noah?
If anything, simple games were never just that. They always were complex.
"Why would I--"
"Lenalee, Lavi, and," he paused, "Kanda, right? Wouldn't want to see them get hurt...especially since they are my tokens."
"...where do we start, Tiki?"
Allen draws a card and his eyes widen as he gives a small smile.
"Smiling?" Tiki grins, "Good hand, then."
Cursing softly, Allen quickly slips back into his poker face.
"Hmm...what if we raise the stakes, then," Tiki has a sinster look in his face. "Your other friends will be added to my side. You will give me an interesting fight. Seems fun to me."
"What do you say? Double or nothing?"
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2. Cheating
"What?" Allen froze as he read the paper handed to him. "Are...Are you sure this came from him? All of this?"
"Yes," growled the old man. "Now, if you don't handle it, my men will have to deal with you."
"..." Allen's eyes widened as the sheet expanded and he nearly collapsed then and there. "Are you sure that all of this was his?"
"Of course."

There was no way Allen could handle this. Maybe if he ran...no, he needed this lead but...
His life was far more important than his masters, Allen decided before he nodded a thank you and turned to leave.
A hand stopped him.
"Where is it?"
"Uh...when I find him--"
"He told me his appentrice would come. Now where is it?"
Master, when I meet you, you will die. Allen thought. "I don't--"
"Fork it up. Where's my money?"
"His debts...will take," Allen paused when he noticed a deck of cards. "Why don't be play poker for the money? I offer something worth even more than money, my...uh...imported stuffed animal of a rare species." He grabbed Timcampi and held him. "He's worth hundreds."
"Hmm.." the old man had a gambling habit and couldn't resist. "Fine."
-x-
"My turn," Allen said, grabbing another card. Please let this be a good card. He had lost track of what game they were playing, he just followed along and hoped he would win.
"My little friend, you will lose." The old man grinned as he grabbed another card. "I'm thirsty, though...Let's have a drink. Bring one," he ordered his guards.
"I'm too young," protested Allen as the guard reached into a bag and presented a bottle. Apparently the old man loved to drink as well.
"Who cares? Drink up." With that, a glass was placed in front of Allen.
"But--"
"My guard can help you drink."
-x-
"Good friends, right?" the old man sang and Allen drunkenly yelled, "The best of friends!"
"Not until my money comes back," the old man wasn't drunk enough to forget the money, even though by now the game had disintegrated into him and Allen dancing on the table.
"The game, boss, before your wife finds out," one of the body guards infomored the old man and he grew sober.
"Yes, your right. My wife would kill me if she knew about this."
Allen was pushed off the table and cold water was dumped over his head. "What--"
"Your turn."
"..." Allen grabbed a card, fearing the guard that loomed over him.
The other man grabbed one as well. "Yes," the old man crowed, slaming his cards on the table.
"I win!"
"What?" Allen lost all signs of drunkeness when he realized what just happened.
(Years later, he'd look back to this day and remember what happened when one was drunk and honest. From this day onward, he always steered away from drinks. He also cheated often.)
"Now, let me take that creature of yours." Hands reached out to grab Timcampi and in desperation, Allen blurted out,
"Double or nothing?"
The smile in response made him wish he could take back his words.