(Untitled)

[onlypiousfor]

[Smack in the centre of the neutral area between the North and South wings, there is a Lenalee sitting curled up against the wall, face buried against her knees. She is dressed in the third Exorcist's uniform and her hair is well past her shoulders, which may strike some canon denizens as being at odds with the black rings on her legs. Visual

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[salutmelodie]

[Immediately running over to her] Lenalee?!

[salutmelodie]

Why do we have to? [He pulls away again] Lenalee, we can't.

[onlypiousfor]

[In an almost terrified whisper:] Because I can't let him get to you first.

[His rejection hurts so fucking much. It's an ache in her chest eating her out from the inside. Her lips tremble for a moment before she begins to push closer, still gentle and actually almost hesitant. Watch out for that opposite wall, Allen.]

[salutxmelodie]

[Why are there always walls when you least expect them? Allen twitches.] He won't get to me. You need to stop.

[onlypiousfor]

[Because you are trapped in a building comprised of mostly narrow hallways. Reaches up to run the back of her hand down his face-- the side with the scar.] I... can't.

[And she sounds genuinely miserable about the fact. Another nudge, and if Allen keeps backing up, he'll be able to feel his shoulderblades brushing the wall.] Please.

[salutxmelodie]

I'm sorry. [He ducks out from under her, away from the wall, and he's backing away from her.]

[onlypiousfor]

[Desperately:] Don't-- don't run! Don't you dare run again!

[She. Doesn't want to force him. But God, if she has to... she has to.]

[salutmelodie]

[He stares at her in shock. This- This wasn't the Lenalee that he's familiar with. Or any of the Lenalees that he's familiar with.]

[onlypiousfor]

Six months, Allen! Half a year I've been trying to find you again! I've killed-- [no, don't say that] --I've lost everything for you! Don't run away from me! Please.

[And as she has to many times before, Lenalee moves forward to catch him by the wrist again. "Don't go any further into the darkness!"]

[salutmelodie]

[Moves his wrist out of her reach.] Lenalee...you killed someone?

[onlypiousfor]

[No! Don't back away! It breaks her heart. She grasps helplessly at the open air, whining soft and rapid, her chest heaving as she tries not to lose it in front of him. AllenAllenAllen. But his refusal to let her touch just kills and she's beginning to sway on her feet, eyes fixed on that look of distrust. Pant, pant.]

[Everything was wretched and nothing whole.]

It isn't as if I wanted to! [She's practically begging; voice coming out broken.] Allen, please!

[salutmelodie]

[The way she's talking to him makes him want to comfort her. To tell her that everything's okay. But, it wasn't.

He looks at her, torn and betrayed.] Then why did you kill that person, whoever it was?

[onlypiousfor]

[And she just... breaks. Comes apart at the seams. Down to her knees she goes, like a worshipper before their idol, which is unfortunately a very apt comparison, trying and failing to hold back an onslaught of bitter tears.]

They locked me up again! All I wanted to do was keep you safe and they locked me away again! They put me in a cell and Crow in the shadows and let them chase me and-- [God, she can see it all in her head like it's happening again.] He strangled me, Allen! He strangled me while I was chained up and no one helped. I just wanted to protect you!

[salutmelodie]

Lenalee. Lenalee! [He's right in front of her, hands on either sides of her face.]

Calm down!

[onlypiousfor]

[She's long gone. A shivering and sobbing wreck, sick to her stomach and trying to curl in on herself because god, there has to be something that can stop this pain. She clasps her hands over his, and there's no violent intent there (this time); just misery.] I couldn't-- I couldn't die there. I had to get out. Allen, I swear I didn't want to hurt anyone, I swear it. I swear, I swear... Please believe me. Please.

[salutmelodie]

[Despite his instincts telling him to run, Allen hugs her close and comfortingly] Shh, don't worry. I believe you, Lena.