More fic...
Title: Fade (Chapter 8/14-15??)
Author: Yurffles
Rating: PG-13 (There be some making out in this chapter! ^.~)
Pairing: AllenxLenalee, LavixLenalee
Disclaimer: Not my characters, but the fic idea is mine. =)
Summary: After the Millennium Earl has been defeated, the Exorcists must choose new paths for their lives. This fic is set three years after the start of the series, predicts the success of the Exorcists, and is in line with plot points revealed up to chapter 173 in the manga.
Notes: All chapters can be found [in my memories]
Chapter 8: Idle
Nearly a month had passed since Lenalee and Komui had reached their agreement. On that particular morning, she found herself heading to the cafeteria by herself, since Allen was away on a mission. “Good morning, Lavi, Bookman,” Lenalee said cheerfully as she joined the other two with her tray of food.
“Good morning, Miss Lena,” Bookman addressed. “You’re in good spirits this morning.”
“Well, yeah,” she said, knowing very well that a dopey smile was pasted on her face.
“Allen’s coming back today, isn’t he?” Lavi said, his visible eye sparkling with amusement.
Lenalee flushed. “Well, yeah,” she said, repeating her last statement.
“Ehhh,” Lavi commented, still sounding amused. “So I was right.”
Bookman shot his prodigy a dirty look before smacking him upside the head.
After rubbing a sore spot on his head and giving Bookman an aggrieved look, Lavi started the conversation again. “So, what mission was he on this time?”
“Something in France this time, I think,” Lenalee answered, biting her lip thoughtfully.
“He has been gone a lot this last month.”
Even though Lavi was merely stating a fact, Lenalee felt her mood darken. However, she forced a smile on her face. “You know Allen, always after those Akumas. He’s a bit of a work-a-holic. Plus, I think that the time he spent in the infirmary prior to these little missions had him going stir crazy. It’s really not a surprise that he’d actively pursue these lingering missions.”
“That is the nature of his personality,” Lavi said casually. “But, man, the boy needs to relax. He was up and out that door as soon as he was physically well enough to take on missions.”
Again, Lenalee felt her smile waver, but she held on to it. “He’ll be back soon, and I’ll be happy to see him when he gets back.”
“That’s good,” a familiar voice said from behind her. “Because I’m home.”
“Allen!” she gasped, jumping out of her seat and throwing her arms around him. “Welcome home. It’s good to see you!”
“It’s good to see you, too, Lenalee,” he whispered in her ear, returning her embrace warmly.
Lavi and Bookman uttered their respective greetings, and Allen responded likewise with a polite smile, as he and Lenalee seated themselves back at the table.
She offered her plate to Allen and watched amusedly as he inhaled the food at a ridiculously fast rate. Although she knew he wasn’t full, she knew the amount would be sufficient to stave off his hunger for the time being.
Shortly thereafter, Miranda, who had remained at Headquarters even after the Exorcists were granted their freedom, joined the group and seemed equally as happy as Lavi and Bookman to see Allen again. Even Jeryy found time to escape the kitchen and welcome Allen back (with huge plate of food, which the young man accepted with a big grin).
After he was done eating, Allen reached for her hand under the table and rested his on top of hers. In that comfortable manner, they just chatted with their friends, and Lenalee realized just how happy she was to have him back.
When breakfast time was over and the other Exorcists had parted ways, Lenalee found herself strolling the halls of the Black Order with only Allen’s company. It was the first time they had had a chance to be alone together since … she couldn’t remember how long.
Although Allen seemed content with the silence, she felt compelled to start a conversation. “So,” she said. “Do you need to stop by your room or anything like that?”
"Not really," Allen answered. "I already dropped off my stuff before I headed to the cafeteria."
Instantly, she felt dumb for her previous comment; she should have realized he wasn’t carrying his normal suitcase. "Of course," Lenalee said, with a little laugh. Was it her imagination, or did her voice sound hollow? Why was she finding it so hard to make conversation? Questioning herself only served to make her nervous, which manifested itself physically. Her palms started to feel clammy, and her heart rattled at an alarming pace inside of her.
"Leeenalee," Allen said in a sing-songy voice. "Where did you just go?"
Biting her lip, she felt a warm flush cross her face. "I didn't go anywhere," she protested, her fingers curling around the cuff of her sleeve.
"You're lying," Allen said, grabbing one of her hands. "You always fiddle when you're nervous. Am I making you nervous?"
"That's not it," she said. "I… just really wanted to see you again, and now that I can, I don't know what to say or do. I feel a little foolish."
"I missed you, too," Allen replied simply, as if it would put everything at ease.
Lenalee had to admit that his statement worked on some degree. "That's good to know," she said, ducking her head and stepping closer to him so that they would brush against one another as they walked. Although she wasn't looking at him, she could tell that Allen was smiling.
"So," he said easily, "Where would you like to go? The library? The recreation room?"
"The courtyard," she returned almost immediately, hoping that she didn't sound as eager as she felt. "The weather is nice," she backtracked. "It might be nice just to spend some time outdoors and relax. …Unless you had something else in mind."
"Not at all," Allen said. "It sounds like a wonderful idea."
Once outside, Lenalee led Allen to one of her favorite spot in the courtyard: a little nook tucked away behind bushes. She sat down on the grass, and Allen followed suit. Pulling her knees up, she wrapped her arms around them and rested her chin on them.
"It sure is peaceful here," Allen commented, draping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close.
"It is," she breathed, looking up at the bright sun and clear blue sky.
"Lenalee?" Allen said her name tentatively as if he wanted to ask something but was afraid to.
"What is it?" she asked, turning to face him with a reassuring smile.
"D-did I make you lonely?" His eyes had a sad, almost haunted look to them.
Lenalee's lips trembled as she fought to keep the smile on her face, but she couldn't lie to him, not when he was so obviously beseeching her to be honest. With a heavy sigh, the corners of her lips drooped, and her eyes hardened. "Maybe," she whispered.
"It's just that you've been gone so often."
"It's the job," he said, apologetically.
"I understand the job," she cut in before she could stop herself. "But you didn't have to go on all of the missions that have come up since your recovery. There are plenty of people who are well enough and willing to go." After she was done with her statements, she winced knowing exactly how harsh she sounded.
"I… need to do my part. Besides, they're only Level 1 or Level 2; it's easy. The Akuma need me… The civilians need me, too," he tried to explain.
"I need you," she whispered. "Doesn't that count for anything?" She felt an oddly numb sensation spread over her and was vaguely aware that her throat constricted painfully. Shaking her head and blinking her eyes, she tried to rid herself of this strange feeling and was surprised when she felt a tear trickle down her face. "Ehh?" she uttered, still shocked at the tears. Pulling away from Allen, she pressed the sleeves of her uniform to her eyes.
The next thing she knew, Allen was pulling her hands away from her face and wrapping his arms around her. From just a brief glimpse at his face, Lenalee could tell how miserable he felt.
"Oh, Lenalee, I'm sorry," he whispered, resting his head against the junction where her neck met her shoulder.
With a sigh, she completed the embrace by pulling him closer until she could feel the heat of his skin thrumming against hers through the layers of clothing that separated them. It comforted her. "It's okay," she found herself saying. "I understand your dedication to your work." It wasn't the first time she had spoken these words, and she knew that it wouldn't be the last time. They had had little talks about his work-related compulsion before. But previously, she had always chosen to brush aside her own feelings, because when he was there, nothing else mattered - not her frustrations or the loneliness she felt in his absence. However, his constant departures were starting to wear on her emotionally.
"I'm so sorry, Lenalee," he told her again. "I'm here now… I'm here now."
She felt the warmth of his breath through the high collar of her jacket and shivered upon realizing how close they were to one another. In that moment, she wished that their uniforms didn't have such high necklines so that she could actually feel his lips move against the soft, vulnerable skin of her neck as he uttered his apologizes. Heat rushed through her body at her sudden daydream, and she couldn’t suppress the shiver that ran through her body.
"What's wrong?" he asked, his head still buried into the nape of her neck. "I can feel your heart beating much more quickly now."
"N-nothing," she managed to get out, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over her. She tried to flush the vivid images of her fantasy out of her system, but he refused to let her do so.
"I feel your heartbeat," Allen said, refusing to change the subject. Almost playfully, he pressed his lips against the cloth that covered her neck. Freeing a hand, he brushed aside her hair and gently pushed the high-neck of her uniform down. "It's right here," he whispered, softly kissing the skin right beneath her jaw line.
Reality faded for Lenalee as her surroundings melted away into nothing but heat, light, and sensations. "Allen," she breathed, as he lightly nipped at her neck. And suddenly, she was aware that she was falling, literally. He was pushing her to the ground, and she yielded to his advances, pulling him on top of her. Her lips sought his desperately, and when they made contact, she could feel an equal desire and desperation in him. The feeling of intimacy was irresistible, and Lenalee wrapped her arms around Allen, her hands smoothing their way down his back, feeling hard muscle move underneath soft skin in reaction to her touch. She could feel Allen everywhere around her, his heat enveloping her, until she was aware of nothing but him: the feel of his body on top of hers, the feel of his lips pressed against hers, the feel of his hot breath against her cheek, the feel of his hands entangled in her hair, against her neck, sliding down her body…
Their breaths became labored, and Lenalee felt a hand hesitating near her collarbone, where the first button of her uniform was. She moaned into his mouth and arched her body towards his, hoping he'd get the message.
Unfortunately he didn't, and he pulled back, breathing heavily and looking particularly guilty. "Lenalee," he gasped. "I…" He took a breath. "We…" He looked dazed. His face was flushed, and his lips were swollen.
As she looked up at him, she could still feel a hazy, golden light surrounding them, and she didn't want to let it go. "Allen, what is it?" she asked softly, trying not to change the mood that surrounded them.
"What… I…" He still looked confused, and Lenalee took the chance to put a hand reassuringly on his arm.
"It's okay," she told him. "Everything is okay."
His expression cleared, and a smile of relief crossed his face. "I just… lost control briefly. I apologize."
"There's nothing to apologize for. I liked it, too." It was at this point, Lenalee realized that the moment was over. The magic was fading, and reality was returning. Suddenly, she was painfully aware that she was pinned to the ground with Allen on top of her, and shyness overwhelmed her. Gently, she pushed at his chest, and he seemed to understand. Rolling off of her, he focused his gaze elsewhere while she sat up and straightened her rumpled clothing.
The couple sat in silence for a period of time in order to let the remaining sparks dissipate. Finally, after a sense of calmness was restored, Lenalee said, "We've been out here for a while. Why don't we head inside before somebody comes searching for us?" Although she didn't say it, she knew that he understood that the "someone" she was referring to was her brother.
"Sure," Allen answered obligingly, getting up and offering a hand to Lenalee.
With a smile, she accepted, and they walked hand in hand back into headquarters. Upon passing a common room, something caught Lenalee's eye. Kanda was sitting comfortably chatting with Lavi. "Kanda!" she exclaimed happily, tugging Allen into the room with her. "You're back, too!"
When she saw her friend's normally sour expression deepen, she was perplexed. Kanda's gaze seemed to be focused on her and Allen's joined hands, and then she realized that it was the first time that both Kanda and Allen had been at headquarters at the same time since she and Allen had started dating.
"Beansprout," Kanda said, voice as cold and grumpy as ever. "What are you doing?"
"That's General Walker to you," Allen grumbled in response, his grip on Lenalee's hand tightening almost defensively. "And what's with your attitude?"
"Ah!" Lavi said, smile brightening. "That’s right! Yu doesn't know about Allen and Lenalee!" He had a devilish smile on his face as he whispered something to Kanda, his voice so soft that Lenalee couldn't hear what he was saying.
Lenalee watched with chagrin as Kanda's face darkened. She thought that she could actually see his face twitching.
"You did what?" he asked Allen, jumping out of his seat and pulling out Mugen.
Allen's quick reflexes were the only thing that saved him, as he stopped the swing with his activated left hand. "We're just dating. I didn't do anything wrong!"
Kanda seemed to accept this answer and turned back on Lavi. "That's not what you told me!"
"Lavi," Allen said warningly. "What did you tell him?"
Lavi’s gaze darted between the two young men in front of him. Although he was cornered, he still had a mischievous smile on his face. "Uhh, just that you got Lenalee pregnant, and now you guys have to get married." He laughed weakly. "But it was just a JOKE. A JOKE." He waved his hand, as if it would solve everything.
Lavi, for his attempted good humor, was rewarded with both Allen's and Kanda's fists.
"Fine," Lavi grumbled, rubbing at his wounds. "Beat up on the guy who's still hurt. No sense of humor, any of you."
Although Lavi’s words did not have an ounce of truth to them, they caused the events that had happened in the courtyard moments earlier to flash through her mind. She began to wonder what could have happened if Allen had not pulled away. Fortunately for her, Komui entered the room and brought her thoughts back to the present.
Komui greeted everyone with a nod of his head and short wave, a sure sign that he was only there for business. "Good, Kanda, you're still here. I know you just got back, but there are a couple of what appears to be Level 1s a few miles south of here. Would you mind heading out again? I normally wouldn't ask someone who has just gotten back, but you still have all of your gear on you. It might just make things easier."
"I'll go," Allen piped up. "Kanda just got back. He should relax."
"You just got back," Lenalee couldn't help but piping up.
"I've already had a few hours to relax. Let Kanda take a break."
Lenalee recognized the stubborn set of Allen’s jaw and determined look in his eye. With a sinking heart, Lenalee knew that Allen's compulsion was taking over again, and she knew that she wouldn’t be able to stop him from going on that mission. If push came to shove, she knew he'd pull rank over Kanda; he had done it before.
Komui focused his attention on Allen. "Alright, then. If you don't mind, General Walker, I'll leave it to you." With the official tasks taken care of, Komui expressed his need to get back to work and turned crisply on his heel, exiting as abruptly as he entered.
At that moment, she wanted to tell Allen not to go; she wanted to yell at her brother to get back here and rescind his order sending Allen on the mission. Instead, she forced a smile on her face and said nothing.
"I'll be back in a few hours," Allen told her. "Before this evening is over, I'll be back."
'That's not the point,' a little voice inside her said. She thwarted that thought, and instead said, "Please come home safely."
With that, he disengaged his hand from hers and was off. Lenalee wondered if the universe was playing a giant, cosmic joke on her.
TBC
This chapter has been my favorite chapter to write by far. I actually like writing drama the best. On another note ... this is as ... physically intense as this fic will probably get, b/c writing those sort of scenes makes me blush. Really. That's why I tend to gloss over those details... *thinks* That's it~~~~~~~~
Author: Yurffles
Rating: PG-13 (There be some making out in this chapter! ^.~)
Pairing: AllenxLenalee, LavixLenalee
Disclaimer: Not my characters, but the fic idea is mine. =)
Summary: After the Millennium Earl has been defeated, the Exorcists must choose new paths for their lives. This fic is set three years after the start of the series, predicts the success of the Exorcists, and is in line with plot points revealed up to chapter 173 in the manga.
Notes: All chapters can be found [in my memories]
Chapter 8: Idle
Nearly a month had passed since Lenalee and Komui had reached their agreement. On that particular morning, she found herself heading to the cafeteria by herself, since Allen was away on a mission. “Good morning, Lavi, Bookman,” Lenalee said cheerfully as she joined the other two with her tray of food.
“Good morning, Miss Lena,” Bookman addressed. “You’re in good spirits this morning.”
“Well, yeah,” she said, knowing very well that a dopey smile was pasted on her face.
“Allen’s coming back today, isn’t he?” Lavi said, his visible eye sparkling with amusement.
Lenalee flushed. “Well, yeah,” she said, repeating her last statement.
“Ehhh,” Lavi commented, still sounding amused. “So I was right.”
Bookman shot his prodigy a dirty look before smacking him upside the head.
After rubbing a sore spot on his head and giving Bookman an aggrieved look, Lavi started the conversation again. “So, what mission was he on this time?”
“Something in France this time, I think,” Lenalee answered, biting her lip thoughtfully.
“He has been gone a lot this last month.”
Even though Lavi was merely stating a fact, Lenalee felt her mood darken. However, she forced a smile on her face. “You know Allen, always after those Akumas. He’s a bit of a work-a-holic. Plus, I think that the time he spent in the infirmary prior to these little missions had him going stir crazy. It’s really not a surprise that he’d actively pursue these lingering missions.”
“That is the nature of his personality,” Lavi said casually. “But, man, the boy needs to relax. He was up and out that door as soon as he was physically well enough to take on missions.”
Again, Lenalee felt her smile waver, but she held on to it. “He’ll be back soon, and I’ll be happy to see him when he gets back.”
“That’s good,” a familiar voice said from behind her. “Because I’m home.”
“Allen!” she gasped, jumping out of her seat and throwing her arms around him. “Welcome home. It’s good to see you!”
“It’s good to see you, too, Lenalee,” he whispered in her ear, returning her embrace warmly.
Lavi and Bookman uttered their respective greetings, and Allen responded likewise with a polite smile, as he and Lenalee seated themselves back at the table.
She offered her plate to Allen and watched amusedly as he inhaled the food at a ridiculously fast rate. Although she knew he wasn’t full, she knew the amount would be sufficient to stave off his hunger for the time being.
Shortly thereafter, Miranda, who had remained at Headquarters even after the Exorcists were granted their freedom, joined the group and seemed equally as happy as Lavi and Bookman to see Allen again. Even Jeryy found time to escape the kitchen and welcome Allen back (with huge plate of food, which the young man accepted with a big grin).
After he was done eating, Allen reached for her hand under the table and rested his on top of hers. In that comfortable manner, they just chatted with their friends, and Lenalee realized just how happy she was to have him back.
When breakfast time was over and the other Exorcists had parted ways, Lenalee found herself strolling the halls of the Black Order with only Allen’s company. It was the first time they had had a chance to be alone together since … she couldn’t remember how long.
Although Allen seemed content with the silence, she felt compelled to start a conversation. “So,” she said. “Do you need to stop by your room or anything like that?”
"Not really," Allen answered. "I already dropped off my stuff before I headed to the cafeteria."
Instantly, she felt dumb for her previous comment; she should have realized he wasn’t carrying his normal suitcase. "Of course," Lenalee said, with a little laugh. Was it her imagination, or did her voice sound hollow? Why was she finding it so hard to make conversation? Questioning herself only served to make her nervous, which manifested itself physically. Her palms started to feel clammy, and her heart rattled at an alarming pace inside of her.
"Leeenalee," Allen said in a sing-songy voice. "Where did you just go?"
Biting her lip, she felt a warm flush cross her face. "I didn't go anywhere," she protested, her fingers curling around the cuff of her sleeve.
"You're lying," Allen said, grabbing one of her hands. "You always fiddle when you're nervous. Am I making you nervous?"
"That's not it," she said. "I… just really wanted to see you again, and now that I can, I don't know what to say or do. I feel a little foolish."
"I missed you, too," Allen replied simply, as if it would put everything at ease.
Lenalee had to admit that his statement worked on some degree. "That's good to know," she said, ducking her head and stepping closer to him so that they would brush against one another as they walked. Although she wasn't looking at him, she could tell that Allen was smiling.
"So," he said easily, "Where would you like to go? The library? The recreation room?"
"The courtyard," she returned almost immediately, hoping that she didn't sound as eager as she felt. "The weather is nice," she backtracked. "It might be nice just to spend some time outdoors and relax. …Unless you had something else in mind."
"Not at all," Allen said. "It sounds like a wonderful idea."
Once outside, Lenalee led Allen to one of her favorite spot in the courtyard: a little nook tucked away behind bushes. She sat down on the grass, and Allen followed suit. Pulling her knees up, she wrapped her arms around them and rested her chin on them.
"It sure is peaceful here," Allen commented, draping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close.
"It is," she breathed, looking up at the bright sun and clear blue sky.
"Lenalee?" Allen said her name tentatively as if he wanted to ask something but was afraid to.
"What is it?" she asked, turning to face him with a reassuring smile.
"D-did I make you lonely?" His eyes had a sad, almost haunted look to them.
Lenalee's lips trembled as she fought to keep the smile on her face, but she couldn't lie to him, not when he was so obviously beseeching her to be honest. With a heavy sigh, the corners of her lips drooped, and her eyes hardened. "Maybe," she whispered.
"It's just that you've been gone so often."
"It's the job," he said, apologetically.
"I understand the job," she cut in before she could stop herself. "But you didn't have to go on all of the missions that have come up since your recovery. There are plenty of people who are well enough and willing to go." After she was done with her statements, she winced knowing exactly how harsh she sounded.
"I… need to do my part. Besides, they're only Level 1 or Level 2; it's easy. The Akuma need me… The civilians need me, too," he tried to explain.
"I need you," she whispered. "Doesn't that count for anything?" She felt an oddly numb sensation spread over her and was vaguely aware that her throat constricted painfully. Shaking her head and blinking her eyes, she tried to rid herself of this strange feeling and was surprised when she felt a tear trickle down her face. "Ehh?" she uttered, still shocked at the tears. Pulling away from Allen, she pressed the sleeves of her uniform to her eyes.
The next thing she knew, Allen was pulling her hands away from her face and wrapping his arms around her. From just a brief glimpse at his face, Lenalee could tell how miserable he felt.
"Oh, Lenalee, I'm sorry," he whispered, resting his head against the junction where her neck met her shoulder.
With a sigh, she completed the embrace by pulling him closer until she could feel the heat of his skin thrumming against hers through the layers of clothing that separated them. It comforted her. "It's okay," she found herself saying. "I understand your dedication to your work." It wasn't the first time she had spoken these words, and she knew that it wouldn't be the last time. They had had little talks about his work-related compulsion before. But previously, she had always chosen to brush aside her own feelings, because when he was there, nothing else mattered - not her frustrations or the loneliness she felt in his absence. However, his constant departures were starting to wear on her emotionally.
"I'm so sorry, Lenalee," he told her again. "I'm here now… I'm here now."
She felt the warmth of his breath through the high collar of her jacket and shivered upon realizing how close they were to one another. In that moment, she wished that their uniforms didn't have such high necklines so that she could actually feel his lips move against the soft, vulnerable skin of her neck as he uttered his apologizes. Heat rushed through her body at her sudden daydream, and she couldn’t suppress the shiver that ran through her body.
"What's wrong?" he asked, his head still buried into the nape of her neck. "I can feel your heart beating much more quickly now."
"N-nothing," she managed to get out, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over her. She tried to flush the vivid images of her fantasy out of her system, but he refused to let her do so.
"I feel your heartbeat," Allen said, refusing to change the subject. Almost playfully, he pressed his lips against the cloth that covered her neck. Freeing a hand, he brushed aside her hair and gently pushed the high-neck of her uniform down. "It's right here," he whispered, softly kissing the skin right beneath her jaw line.
Reality faded for Lenalee as her surroundings melted away into nothing but heat, light, and sensations. "Allen," she breathed, as he lightly nipped at her neck. And suddenly, she was aware that she was falling, literally. He was pushing her to the ground, and she yielded to his advances, pulling him on top of her. Her lips sought his desperately, and when they made contact, she could feel an equal desire and desperation in him. The feeling of intimacy was irresistible, and Lenalee wrapped her arms around Allen, her hands smoothing their way down his back, feeling hard muscle move underneath soft skin in reaction to her touch. She could feel Allen everywhere around her, his heat enveloping her, until she was aware of nothing but him: the feel of his body on top of hers, the feel of his lips pressed against hers, the feel of his hot breath against her cheek, the feel of his hands entangled in her hair, against her neck, sliding down her body…
Their breaths became labored, and Lenalee felt a hand hesitating near her collarbone, where the first button of her uniform was. She moaned into his mouth and arched her body towards his, hoping he'd get the message.
Unfortunately he didn't, and he pulled back, breathing heavily and looking particularly guilty. "Lenalee," he gasped. "I…" He took a breath. "We…" He looked dazed. His face was flushed, and his lips were swollen.
As she looked up at him, she could still feel a hazy, golden light surrounding them, and she didn't want to let it go. "Allen, what is it?" she asked softly, trying not to change the mood that surrounded them.
"What… I…" He still looked confused, and Lenalee took the chance to put a hand reassuringly on his arm.
"It's okay," she told him. "Everything is okay."
His expression cleared, and a smile of relief crossed his face. "I just… lost control briefly. I apologize."
"There's nothing to apologize for. I liked it, too." It was at this point, Lenalee realized that the moment was over. The magic was fading, and reality was returning. Suddenly, she was painfully aware that she was pinned to the ground with Allen on top of her, and shyness overwhelmed her. Gently, she pushed at his chest, and he seemed to understand. Rolling off of her, he focused his gaze elsewhere while she sat up and straightened her rumpled clothing.
The couple sat in silence for a period of time in order to let the remaining sparks dissipate. Finally, after a sense of calmness was restored, Lenalee said, "We've been out here for a while. Why don't we head inside before somebody comes searching for us?" Although she didn't say it, she knew that he understood that the "someone" she was referring to was her brother.
"Sure," Allen answered obligingly, getting up and offering a hand to Lenalee.
With a smile, she accepted, and they walked hand in hand back into headquarters. Upon passing a common room, something caught Lenalee's eye. Kanda was sitting comfortably chatting with Lavi. "Kanda!" she exclaimed happily, tugging Allen into the room with her. "You're back, too!"
When she saw her friend's normally sour expression deepen, she was perplexed. Kanda's gaze seemed to be focused on her and Allen's joined hands, and then she realized that it was the first time that both Kanda and Allen had been at headquarters at the same time since she and Allen had started dating.
"Beansprout," Kanda said, voice as cold and grumpy as ever. "What are you doing?"
"That's General Walker to you," Allen grumbled in response, his grip on Lenalee's hand tightening almost defensively. "And what's with your attitude?"
"Ah!" Lavi said, smile brightening. "That’s right! Yu doesn't know about Allen and Lenalee!" He had a devilish smile on his face as he whispered something to Kanda, his voice so soft that Lenalee couldn't hear what he was saying.
Lenalee watched with chagrin as Kanda's face darkened. She thought that she could actually see his face twitching.
"You did what?" he asked Allen, jumping out of his seat and pulling out Mugen.
Allen's quick reflexes were the only thing that saved him, as he stopped the swing with his activated left hand. "We're just dating. I didn't do anything wrong!"
Kanda seemed to accept this answer and turned back on Lavi. "That's not what you told me!"
"Lavi," Allen said warningly. "What did you tell him?"
Lavi’s gaze darted between the two young men in front of him. Although he was cornered, he still had a mischievous smile on his face. "Uhh, just that you got Lenalee pregnant, and now you guys have to get married." He laughed weakly. "But it was just a JOKE. A JOKE." He waved his hand, as if it would solve everything.
Lavi, for his attempted good humor, was rewarded with both Allen's and Kanda's fists.
"Fine," Lavi grumbled, rubbing at his wounds. "Beat up on the guy who's still hurt. No sense of humor, any of you."
Although Lavi’s words did not have an ounce of truth to them, they caused the events that had happened in the courtyard moments earlier to flash through her mind. She began to wonder what could have happened if Allen had not pulled away. Fortunately for her, Komui entered the room and brought her thoughts back to the present.
Komui greeted everyone with a nod of his head and short wave, a sure sign that he was only there for business. "Good, Kanda, you're still here. I know you just got back, but there are a couple of what appears to be Level 1s a few miles south of here. Would you mind heading out again? I normally wouldn't ask someone who has just gotten back, but you still have all of your gear on you. It might just make things easier."
"I'll go," Allen piped up. "Kanda just got back. He should relax."
"You just got back," Lenalee couldn't help but piping up.
"I've already had a few hours to relax. Let Kanda take a break."
Lenalee recognized the stubborn set of Allen’s jaw and determined look in his eye. With a sinking heart, Lenalee knew that Allen's compulsion was taking over again, and she knew that she wouldn’t be able to stop him from going on that mission. If push came to shove, she knew he'd pull rank over Kanda; he had done it before.
Komui focused his attention on Allen. "Alright, then. If you don't mind, General Walker, I'll leave it to you." With the official tasks taken care of, Komui expressed his need to get back to work and turned crisply on his heel, exiting as abruptly as he entered.
At that moment, she wanted to tell Allen not to go; she wanted to yell at her brother to get back here and rescind his order sending Allen on the mission. Instead, she forced a smile on her face and said nothing.
"I'll be back in a few hours," Allen told her. "Before this evening is over, I'll be back."
'That's not the point,' a little voice inside her said. She thwarted that thought, and instead said, "Please come home safely."
With that, he disengaged his hand from hers and was off. Lenalee wondered if the universe was playing a giant, cosmic joke on her.
TBC
This chapter has been my favorite chapter to write by far. I actually like writing drama the best. On another note ... this is as ... physically intense as this fic will probably get, b/c writing those sort of scenes makes me blush. Really. That's why I tend to gloss over those details... *thinks* That's it~~~~~~~~