Allen starts, less at the unexpected response, more at the state of that hand. Alma has always been a healthy little boy in all the time Allen's known him, while Kanda never lets anything keep him down, so it hurts to see them both like this, even though he's starting to realise this is a nightmare. He's had similar dreams before, but they're vague, twisted things conjured by half-told facts and his own imagination. Nothing this detailed. Nothing this real, as though he's actually seen it all happen before.

There's only one explanation for this, and yet, despite the alarm bells clanging in his head, he can't stop himself from reaching out to Alma. Allen always reaches out.

A gloved hand settles over Alma's, gentle despite the strength with which the other is grabbing onto him.

"I'm sorry it wasn't enough."