Edited 1.27.2015.
This has been discontinued, so please don't follow it.

-Bad Hand-

Things at the Order were… calm, for once. Not too many Akuma reports and even more than usual Innocence recoveries. This made some of the Exorcists nervous, but only a few. Lavi was one of the main four that noticed something out of place. His Bookman skills weren't really used in this scenario, but he was able to see that things couldn't logically go this well. The actual Bookman, according to Lavi, was lacking nowadays if he couldn't see that. He just thought that maybe the Earl was taking a rest. Nothing odd about that and it was a good turn of events for the Black Order. Lavi still didn't like it.

The next was Krory. He found out, actually, shortly after Lavi came to his conclusion. It really wasn't that hard to see that something was wrong. The Earl wasn't someone who just gave up on his plans, even if it was for a short while. Maybe it was an interlude of this grand-master 'Play' of his; but the 'show had just begun', or so he had said only a while earlier. It didn't make sense that he would just drop everything in the middle of it all. Lavi was right; it just felt wrong. Like the calm before the storm, or so they say.

Once Lavi told Lenalee about his and Krory's ideas on the matter, she, too, noticed that everything felt off. After all the times they met up with the Earl, accidentally or otherwise, he seemed like the person to follow things through without the slightest hitch. For someone like that to just abandon their plan… it wasn't plausible. The Earl would more than likely be planning something absolutely horrible to make up for lost time. Lenalee was sure about that. It hurt her inside to know that Komui didn't see what was wrong with things now. Everything just felt wrong.

Kanda, not wanting the Usagi to gloat for knowing something before he did, ("Told ya, Yuu!" came to mind) didn't say anything when he found out a day later than everybody else. He would have slapped himself right then and there if he didn't have that pride of his. To admit you're wrong was one thing; to admit you're slow was just something that made a large dent in Kanda's almost flawless armor. He surely would have hit himself unconscious by now, had the Order not needed all the Exorcists it had. But what was up with no one but these four realizing what was going on?

This raised another question that they all wanted to get an answer to: What about Allen? Surely he would have noticed this before anybody else, but he hadn't said anything since the whole 'level 4' incident. Whenever any of them met up with the accused boy, he never said anything about what he thought the Earl might be planning. It only made him more suspicious in the eyes of the four. If Allen didn't want to be accused of being a Noah, saying something might help them think he wasn't. By not saying anything and still having that faked smile told them that the boy obviously knew something, but just wouldn't tell. It was unnerving.

Lavi wanted to believe in his friend, his 'little brother,' but he just didn't know anymore. What if Allen really was in league with the Earl; maybe even giving the Noah information on them? Lavi desperately wanted to believe that Allen wasn't a traitor, but the boy was making it hard to think otherwise. Lenalee was also wondering if the kind boy she knew was the same as the Allen that was suspected of heresy. Why heresy, though? Everyone should know that Allen would never do anything to try and harm the Order. Right?

Krory didn't like to think of bad things; he tended to try to avoid that at all costs. But now that this was brought to light, at least for the four of them, it was getting harder every day. He didn't want it to get to him, but every day that went by brought more and more horrific images of what the Earl might have in store. Kanda himself wasn't one to be scared easily; having been an Exorcist for so long does that to someone. It was just unexpected that he actually felt concern for someone. Concern for who, he didn't know exactly. Allen? Maybe, but he doubted it. Why would he be concerned about the Moyashi, anyway?

And it wasn't like any of them were going to bring this up to the superiors or even Komui. That might just land them in even more trouble than Allen. They weren't going to mess with Inspector Leverrier C. Malcolm, either. It might just cost them their lives.

Lavi was able to find Allen (no surprise) in the mess hall after talking with Krory and the others. He was voted representative to go get Allen and bring him back to Lavi's room, where the other three were waiting. It also came as no surprise that Link was there as well. He would have to shake the stalkerish person from Allen's back before going anywhere. Walking up to their table, which was empty except for the two, Lavi sat down across from his friend.

"Yo, Allen!" he waved a hand, making said boy lift his head to stare at the red-head, a dango in his hand. Allen smiled, biting into the food item.

"Hi Lavi. How are things?" he inquired even though he still had food in his mouth. Link shook his head at this. Lavi held back a glare that was directed at the man. He couldn't have himself getting mad at him now. Anytime after this whole onslaught that was probably drawing near would be fine. It'd be better if Link died during the attack, though. Coming back to reality, Lavi leaned forward, his elbows on the table.

"Ne, Moyashi, can I talk to you for a bit?" then, staring at the person to the side, "Alone." Allen sighed, almost as if he knew this was going to happen. He turned slightly to look at Link before lowering his gaze to the remaining food on his plate. He wasn't feeling hungry anymore. And, noted by Lavi, wasn't acting like his usual self. He hadn't reacted at all to the nickname.

"Link, may I speak with Lavi alone?" Allen asked, looking at his half eaten food with a look that was definitely sad. Link's eyes widened at the question. Allen continued as if he hadn't seen the look but still hadn't moved his gaze, "Lavi is a Bookman. He will be able to relay to you, word for word, what I say to him if you ask. You should know that. And besides, nothing I say will be proof that I am the Fourteenth," he looked up then, his eyes pleading. It was a rare sight nowadays. "Please, just let me speak with him."

Link crumbled at the look. He sighed, nodded and stood up, leaving the mess hall. Once Allen was sure he was far enough away, he looked back at Lavi. He shot a look at him that clearly stated 'what is it?'. Lavi, glancing nervously over his shoulder at the person who just left the hall, swallowed.

"Come on. We can go to my room," he stated, standing up, trusting Allen to follow him. He heard the sound of a chair scraping the floor and smiled. Maybe, just maybe, Allen still trusted him. Or maybe he was just following him because he knew he couldn't avoid it. Either way, Allen was coming with him. That was good. Or so Lavi believed as he smiled softly, leaving the hall and approaching his room.

Allen, to say the least, was surprised by what he found in Lavi's room. Or, who he found. He shot a glare at the red-head a nanosecond after he heard the doors' lock click. Lavi just nervously smiled, walking over to and sitting on the bed. Lenalee was beside him while Krory was in a chair at the foot of the bed. Kanda was leaning against the wall, his eyes closed with that ever present scowl. All together, basically, the four formed a half-circle around him, his back practically against the locked door. His only escape now that access to the Ark was prohibited. It was his Ark, damn it!

No one seemed to care when Allen pulled over the one other chair, sitting on it with the back facing his stomach, straggling it with his own frown imprinted on his features. Either they didn't care, or they expected him to react like this. What was this whole thing anyway; an intervention? If so, for what? Allen let out a small, barely noticeable growl before dropping into his blank facade. Lenalee just barely blinked at this, but the cursed boy caught her reaction. She seemed upset about something.

Lavi coughed into his fist, drawing back Allen's attention, "Now that you're here and all–"

"I thought you said alone," Allen interrupted, his voice cold and harsh. Lenalee visibly cringed. Allen, although this sickened him, almost smirked at it. Ever since that shadow manifested, Allen didn't act like himself at certain times. And now was a really bad time for it to happen. Lavi coughed again, looking nervous.

"Yeah, uh, that was just to get two-spot to leave," he relied quietly, looking almost… guilty. Was he guilty of something? Other than telling Allen the truth of course. Allen mentally rolled his eyes, barely conscious of the action. Lavi spoke up again, his voice coming oddly strong, "But, Allen, we need to talk to you. It's serious." Allen had guessed as much, but didn't voice that.

Lenalee sighed, but didn't say anything. It seemed like Lavi was the voted speaker in the group. Well, might as well hear them out. Allen nodded stiffly, accepting whatever was going on; Lavi grinned at him.

"Good. Now, Allen, answer us truthfully: what do you think about the events over the past month?" Lavi's voice was almost monotone, which just about scared Allen into dropping his 'poker face'. But it held fast, only a small amount of confusion leaking through.

"The past month?" he repeated, making Lavi nod. "Well, I think things have finally calmed down," Lavi just nodded again, curtly this time, and emotion that Allen didn't want to recall passing his features. "That's a good thing right? It means the Earl is probably taking a break or something…" Lavi growled, taking Allen by surprise. Had he said something wrong?

"No, no, no, NO!" he growled, though no one else in the room reacted. Allen wondered again why they were even here. "I meant, don't you find anything suspicious? Why would the Earl just stop?" he enticed, trying to get the white haired boy to react the way he wanted. Allen sighed, letting his facade drop. He ran a hand through his hair.

"Yes, I did notice. Alright?" he bit out, almost snarling. Lavi blinked. He had expected that, but he didn't think Allen would go through such a mood swing. "I noticed when he didn't do anything after the level 4 attacked. He got his egg back, so shouldn't he have made more Akuma by now?" The occupants of the room listened silently as he droned on, "My eye's been searching for them every night now, which only resulted in pain. You think I didn't notice?" Lavi just nodded dumbly, as did Krory slightly. Kanda tch'd at him.

"Also, as a side note," he continued, though not on the same subject as before, "the Ark has been calling me, for some odd reason." Kanda half opened his right eye, staring the 'Moyashi' down. What did he mean by that? Allen sighed again, "The Ark is basically a living thing. It breathes; it feels; it yearns. For what, I'm not sure yet." Lavi just shook his head at this.

"Okay, that's all fine and dandy, but right now we're focusing on the Earl." Allen couldn't hold in the scoff. Kanda glared at him, ready to draw Mugen. Allen's reactions were all wrong and they were starting to annoy him. Lavi gave him a side glance that stopped him. "Allen, we're just worried is all. No one but us five know that something's wrong. We need your help."

Allen looked at the red-head, curiosity taking over. Okay, what do they want? he mentally asked, staring at Lavi as he waited for him to continue. Said man cleared his throat again, staring back at Allen full force.

"We need to use the Ark to find and stop the Earl. Once and for all."

Disclaimer: I do not own D. Gray-Man or anything related to it.

A/N: Some background. The level 4 attack was solved quietly; very little loss. This is placed shortly afterward. Allen still stabbed himself, though. Set as if all the Noah were still alive.