Fall Away
A D.Gray-Man Fanfiction
By SisterWicked
Chapter One

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Well, since someone asked for more non-NG Lucky, I suppose I could be accommodating. Appreciate this mightily, as I doubt I will do another. This is technically AT, I suppose, since it completely disregards the established plot from mid-Ark onward.

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Lavi faced the smiling Noah squarely, refusing to allow his aching body to collapse. Each of his pains were accounted for by his impeccable memory, the blows that the man had landed stored faithfully away amidst a thousand other memories, waiting for the boy to empty them onto paper. Seeing the other shift, he readied himself for another round of attacks, his eye focussed on the blazing purple energy that coalesced around the man's hand.

Despite his protesting muscles, he straightened, lifting his weapon into a defensive position as he struggled to shake off the nervous anxiety that filled him at the older man's disgustingly pleasant smile.

The dark haired Noah hummed in amusement as he stepped closer to the glaring Exorcist, his handsome features obscured by his windswept hair. "Are you ready, boy? I'd love to stay and play with you, but I'm afraid I have a previous engagement."

Lavi snorted derisively, tightening his hands around the handle of his hammer. "Ready when you are, asshole. It's a shame about that 'engagement,' but I'll be sure to tell your buddies how you looked with your hair burned off."

Tyki laughed quietly, gathering his power into a blade. "I doubt it will come to that, Little One.. Are you of a mind to wager?" Sighing at the boy's determined silence, he waved a hand briskly. "Very well. I'd be willing to bet that you'll fall, right here on this roof. If that's the case, I'll allow you to live out the night." His eyes glinted strangely, the pupils contracting to slits as he smiled. "With me."

Lavi spat in disgust. "Oh, how generous of you. I'll take bodily dismemberment, if it's all the same to you." Shaking his head, he grinned. "What if you're wrong? Then what?"

The Noah met his gaze evenly. "I should think that would be obvious, boy. I would be at your rather dubious mercy, would I not? If I'm mistaken, then I forfeit my life in payment." He raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Would you like to shake on it, Exorcist? Ah, of course not, what am I thinking.. That would be the genteel thing to do, and you are a bit rough around the edges."

Lavi stared at him in disbelief. "This from a guy who works in a coal mine? What the fuck ever, man." He smiled, leveling the crossbladed tip of his hammer in the other's direction. "The only rough edges you need to worry about are these. Come on, I've got an appointment myself, actually."

The older man nodded, bowing in mock politeness. "As you will, boy. I look forward to your company." With that, he raised a hand, a soft rush alerting the Exorcist to his danger far too late to prevent the swarm of carnivorous insects from descending. Lavi flung himself to the side, cursing his carelessness in allowing the man to distract him as the butterflies gathered above and behind him.

Swinging the enlarged hammer viciously, he plowed through the violet-winged golems, their bodies scattering like gleaming confetti as the Innocence struck them. Whirling around, he caught sight of the Noah's dark figure, already within arms reach. He stumbled back quickly, willing the Flame Seal into existence and bringing the hammer down to ignite it.

The older man laughed mockingly, sidestepping the hurried attack even as he launched one of his own, slamming the boy down to the roof beams. Waiting patiently as he rose, Tyki sighed in false displeasure. "You'll have to be faster than that, boy. You do wish to outlast the sunset, don't you?"

Lavi growled in annoyance, lifting the hammer again. "Fuck you, you smug bastard." Ignoring the throb in his bleeding knees, he struck, driving the point of his weapon directly at the man's unprotected face. Tyki stepped away again, phasing through the wood of the rooftop to reappear directly beside the winded Exorcist. Catching him by the lapels, he hurled him against the eaves violently, smirking at the glazed expression of surprise in his widened eye.

"Goodnight, Little One. Rest yourself, the nights are longer in Noah's mansion." Without waiting for a response, he walked forward, trapping the boy against the building's last remaining top wall. Smiling widely, he placed a hand on the other's forehead, cracking his head against the surface with a shove, catching him easily as he slumped forward. "Sweet dreams, Exorcist."

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Lavi stirred faintly, aware of a disorienting angle of perception. Opening his eye with a hiss, he shook off his lingering vertigo, freezing as he took stock of his position. Despite his previous unconsciousness, he remained upright, his skin pressed firmly to something vertical and smooth. Leaning back, he felt a moment of panic as he realized that he could move only slightly, his arms caught from above by restraints that clinked faintly as he pulled experimentally.

Sensing the presence of a person, he craned his neck around awkwardly, glaring at the seated form of his captor. "You should have killed me, Noah. I'll get these off eventually, and when I do.." The man snorted softly, rising with a bored hum.

"I highly doubt that, actually." He leaned against the wall in amusement, looking briefly at the boy's defiant face. Reaching into a pocket, he produced a cigarette and a match, lighting the end carelessly before shaking the flame out. "By the time you managed to free yourself, this night would be long done. Don't fret yourself, however.." He smiled, the expression sending a shock of vague unrest through the other's unsteady muscles. Leaning close, he inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of his captive's sudden fear.

"Mm, how pleasant.. But besides that, there's no reason for your anxiety, boy. You'll at least live to meet the sunrise, as I promised." His smile widened, no more friendly than before. "Are you uncomfortable, Little One? I would hate to spoil our evening with things like pain I haven't caused.." He reached forward tauntingly, drawing a finger up the boy's spine. "Do you have a name, Exorcist? Something I can call you, as it were?"

Lavi arched away from his touch with a shudder, averting his face with a growl. "I won't tell you anything, Noah. Do what you want, I'm not afraid of pain." Tyki laughed quietly, repeating the movement as he nodded.

"Of course you aren't. Is there something that you are afraid of, boy? I could think of several things that would bear testing, if you're so inclined.." He stepped away from the other's line of vision, moving directly behind him. Seeing the redhead's abrupt tension, he reached around to cover his eyes, the skin of his palms surprisingly warm against the Exorcist's face.

"Are you afraid of losing what vision remains to you, boy? I could take that from you with only a touch.." He demonstrated briefly, flexing his fingers over the other's tightly closed eyelid. "It would be nothing to remove your eye.. I could pull it straight through your skull, if I wished it." Lavi stiffened at his teasing, struggling to remain perfectly still.

"Why would you bother, Noah? I thought hearts were your specialty." Tyki laughed at the reference, his breath fanning the other's nape.

"Indeed, but you're a Bookman, aren't you? Your kind have no hearts." He pressed close suddenly, forcing the Exorcist to step forward to meet the wall. "There are any number of reasonable substitutes, I think. The lack of one leaves only the question of what I wish to take, in place of the missing part."

Lavi shuddered, resting his forehead against the cool stone. "Pain is pain, idiot. Taking out anything is going to hurt, and then I'll die. Not much you can do with a dead Exorcist, is there?" Feeling the man's laughter against his back, he leaned closer to the wall in an attempt to move away. "Get on with it, Noah. I always wondered if all this Heaven business was a load of horse shit, anyway."

Tyki followed his movement, leaning flush against his back again. "Now, now.. Didn't I say you'd be alive to greet the sunrise, Little One? I'm quite sure I can find a means of keeping you well until then.. Incidentally, you won't be needing this, so.." Lavi's head snapped up, turning as well as he could to stare at the man's hand, now directly beside his face.

"Need what? What are.. No. No! I'll kill you if you touch my hammer!"

Tyki laughed, shaking his head as he stepped away from the furiously struggling boy. "You'll hurt yourself, Exorcist. And as for your toy, what did you think would become of it? Destroying Innocence is another of my forte's." He curled his fist around the item in question, pale light surrounding his hand as he smiled. "I think taking this would be an excellent start to our evening."

Lavi jerked against his restraints desperately, ignoring the sharp sting as the metal dug into his wrists at the movement. "Don't! Damn you, leave it alone! It's mine, and it's all I have!" His voice cracked under the strain of his volume, his struggles intensifying at the man's mildly surprised expression. "Give it back! I need it, you bastard!" His left wrist popped audibly, prompting the older man to disperse his power with a frown.

"Harming yourself changes nothing, Little One. What you say is intriguing, however.." Dropping the Innocence into the pocket of his coat, he shrugged it off, placing it on the seat of his vacant chair. "Why do you claim that you have nothing, boy? Does the Order abuse it's servants now?" Lavi pulled harder, hissing at the feeling of his strained wrist and hand.

"Give it back!" He snarled, wrenching at his still-unmoved restraints. "It doesn't have anything to do with them, the hammer is mine, no one else can use it but me! It doesn't matter who I'm supposed to be, Nyoibo knows who I am!"

Tyki hummed in amusement, shaking his head. "How sad for you. If the only one who knows 'you' is that thing, you really do have nothing. Should I destroy it first, or you, Exorcist? You act as if it would be the same thing. Curious." He returned to the boy's side, smiling at his pained wince. "See there, you've hurt yourself over nothing. But now I know what you fear, so your suffering was less than completely in vain.. Is there something you'd rather have me take, boy? You really should give me your name, since you'll be here for some time.."

Lavi glared at him balefully, turning away with a snort. "You could take a running leap."

The man's lip quirked in a half smile, amused at the redhead's bravado. "It wouldn't really matter, I can walk upon air as easily as the ground.. Besides that, what should I call you, Exorcist? It's a bit rude to address a guest as 'boy', isn't it?" Lavi refused to answer, keeping his face averted.

Tyki shook his head, refusing to be deterred. "Are you afraid to tell me? Do you think I would taunt your companions with the knowledge, when next we meet?" Catching the boy's face carefully, he turned his head to meet his glare. "You could die here alone, boy.. Do you wish for no one to acknowledge you?"

Lavi pulled away from his hand, laughing. "Could? I'd say that was a given. For that, I don't think I deserve to be remembered.. It's my job to kill you, not being able to is worse than being forgotten."

The man frowned in confusion, but nodded. "I could see how you might think that. There is something I wonder, though.." He released the other's chin abruptly, straightening. "What would you trade for another chance, Exorcist? What would you give, to be set free with your Innocence intact? If you could leave this place in the morning, what would you leave behind?"

The redhead stared up at him, his eye wide with wary hope. "You wouldn't let me," He muttered, scornfully. "Everything you say is a lie, Noah. No way would you let me leave here, not with my hammer, and not alone." Tyki smirked faintly, reaching for another match.

"But the Devil always keeps a bargain, Exorcist.. Your Bible tells you so." He laughed at his own allusion, lighting his cigarette. "Any pact you make with me will be binding, boy. I've never broken my word. It's odd that your Church tells lies, while the Earl speaks only truth.."

Lavi shook his head, still wary. "If details and technicalities don't count. I doubt he tells people that the akuma they summon will be wearing them, after. That idea wouldn't be too popular, now would it?"

Tyki laughed again, nodding. "True enough. Most of them don't ask, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind the answer. People in mourning do foolish things, boy. Being what you are, I suppose you couldn't relate."

The boy growled irritably, looking away again. "I know exactly how they act, asshole. It's what I do, remember? I watch, and then I write. Just because I don't feel it doesn't mean I don't relate." The man's laugh was strident, echoing in the dark room.

"You are entertaining, boy.. But the offer was not in jest. What would you give in answer, along with the pleasure of your name? I can be reasonable, to an extent." He leaned closer in anticipation, his voice lowered as he spoke. "What is equal to the pair of you, in your eyes? I could destroy the other, if you can only think of your own worth.." He gestured toward his coat, making as if to retrieve it. The Exorcist bolted upright, opening his mouth to protest.

"Calm yourself, boy. You haven't given your answer, have you? I'll do nothing, until that or sunrise." He smiled amiably, the expression oddly flat. "Well, as far as your Innocence, that is. Can't have you crying 'details', can we?" He chuckled at the boy's indrawn breath. "Dawn is quite a ways off, isn't it? I'm sure there's something I could do to keep you..occupied until then.."

Lavi paled, refusing to look away. "I can occupy myself, thanks."

Tyki hummed in amusement, shaking his head. "That would be rude of me, to leave a guest to their own devices.. Will you give me your name, boy? Something to call you until you make your decision?" Lavi sighed in resignation, annoyed at the man's persistence.

"It won't make any difference, it wouldn't be the real one." Ignoring his better sense, he muttered. "Lavi. That's what it is, this time."

Tyki smiled brightly, nodding. "That's better. I'm afraid I can't shake your hand, but a pleasure none the less." Lavi snorted at the reference to his position, scowling.

"God, you're even less funny than I am, and that takes work. Isn't it also rude to chain your guests up and torture them?"

The older man frowned thoughtfully. "I suppose, but a good host can allow for the situation. Would you rather not be tortured, Lavi? I had assumed that your pride would demand it, in place of more tolerable confinement." He laughed at the boy's indignation, toying with the ends of his scarf. "I could make concessions for your comfort, however.. Is it too warm in here?" He unwound the object carefully, dropping it to the floor. "Is that better? You could do with a new one, Lavi.. That one is rather..tattered."

Lavi shook his head in annoyance, ignoring the chills brought on by the other's cool hands. "I like it just fine, actually. Besides the obvious, what is it that you want? I already told you that I don't have anything."

Tyki feigned thoughtfulness, tapping his chin with a finger. "What are you worth, Lavi? Is your Innocence so important that you count it as all you have?" He circled the other carefully, noting his tenseness as he moved to his blind side. "You claim that it means more than anything, would you trade anything to keep it?"

Lavi fought the urge to turn, to keep the dangerous man in view. "There's nothing but it and me, Noah. You wouldn't understand."

Tyki frowned abruptly, leaning close to speak. "Do you not have my name, Lavi? Your choice of terms is too narrow, for one of your profession." He bent even closer, moving to the other's back. "Do you need reminding? Perhaps your memory is flawed.." His breath tickled the redhead's hairline, prompting the rise of gooseflesh across his exposed skin. "You should use it, if you know. I think it would sound lovely, from your lips.."

Lavi stiffened in alarm, feeling the man's hand between his shoulder blades. "Tyki Mikk!" He blurted, leaning away from the touch. "You're the embodiment of Noah's Pleasure. I know who you are, are you happy?" The older man sighed contentedly, following the Exorcist's quick retreat.

"Are you afraid of me, Lavi? Something so simple shouldn't affect you so.. Is it the same for everything?" He dropped his hand to the boy's waist, pressing his lips briefly against his hairline. "I thought you feared nothing, Lavi.. Should I test your sincerity?" Now the boy did try to turn, scrambling to avoid the man's grip.

"Don't! You said you wouldn't..!" Tyki cut him off with a laugh, running his hands up to the Exorcist's arms.

"I only said I wouldn't harm you, Lavi. I doubt that this counts as 'harm'.." He caught the boy's restraints swiftly, phasing the links into a single chain. Urging him to turn, he smiled at his momentary confusion. "Simply another power," He murmured, backing the other toward the wall. "Useful, at times like this.." Ignoring the Exorcist's building retort, he caught his face in his hands, lifting his head slightly.

"This won't harm you, either." He lowered his head, covering the boy's surprised gasp with his lips. Feeling his protesting jerk, he pressed closer, keeping his hold gentle but firm. Nipping at the corner of his mouth, he soothed the sting with a careful lick, smiling at the redhead's whine of dissent. Lifting his head slightly, he murmured quietly against the boy's skin. "Does that hurt, Lavi? I wouldn't think you'd be surprised, knowing what I am.." He leaned in a second time, following the shape of his lower lip with his tongue.

Lavi clenched his jaw mutinously, struggling to turn away. The older man hummed in amusement, continuing his patient teasing. Lowering a hand to the boy's stomach, he reached through his clothing, stroking the skin beneath tauntingly. The Exorcist jumped in surprise, his mouth opening to protest.

Tyki denied him the opportunity, licking at his parted lips before dipping in to explore his mouth with a sigh. Ignoring his muffled sounds, he sought out his retreating tongue, nudging against it playfully with his own. The boy refused to cooperate, pressing flush against the wall as he fought the other's hold. Pulling back to breathe, Tyki laughed quietly, taking in his narrowed eye and reddened face.

"You're blushing like a schoolgirl, Lavi. Such a fuss, for something as small as a kiss.." Raising an eyebrow, he smiled. "Do you not know how, is that it? Rather a late bloomer, aren't you?" The redhead spluttered indignantly, straining to wipe his mouth against his sleeve.

"What the fuck is wrong with you? If that's what you brought me here for, screw you! I'll bite your tongue off if you try that shit again!"

Tyki laughed, shaking his head. "You wouldn't be able to, unless I allow it. As for the reason you're here.." He took hold of the boy's hips, jerking him forward sharply. "That remains to be seen. I had intended to destroy both you and the weapon you carry, but your reaction intrigues me.. Perhaps you'd be willing to trade yourself in exchange for your Innocence's safety?"

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Yes, I know.. An unfortunate place to stop, but such is life. Expect chapters two and possibly three within the month, please review if it's not too much trouble. As always, feel free to contact me via IM/PM/Email/AssHat Productions. Thank you for reading.