Rating: PG
Warnings: None, really. Maybe a bit of angst?
Disclaimer: Don't own the characters, just borrowing them! Promise I'll give them back later
Summary:You don't always need magic words to put a spell on someone. (Allen's POV)

Waking up with Komui hovering over me was certainly not the nicest way to start off after a difficult mission. I guess I can't really complain, though, considering I am alive even if I'm not entirely well. I barely even register that I can't see out of one eye, launching questions at the Black Order's leader but not really getting satisfactory answers. He seems surprisingly unsure about his sister but I guess I can't really blame him. It surprises me that she hasn't woken up, however, and I can't stop the cold fear for her from gnawing at my insides.

But another voice manages to capture my attention and I turn to see a redhead leaning against the door frame. I merely stare at him as he speaks, telling me what I wanted to know. But now I'm finding that I can't stop staring, like I'm frozen in place by his lone, emerald eye, the other being covered by an eye patch. Shock is one thing but I expected it to wear off after a moment, but it doesn't as he introduces himself as Rabi and I simply, dumbly, repeat the last words he says. Luckily he doesn't seem to notice or just doesn't want to call attention to it.

I listen to the message from Miranda, or try to, finding that I was still rather dumbstruck. He stays as an old man, Bookman, enters the room and Komui leaves me with them both. This seems to snap me out of whatever spell Rabi had woven over me, even when I look over to see him moving to the wall to lean against it, trying to ignore the obvious fact that he's watching me again. I don't get much of an opportunity to talk to him, though, and he vanishes along with Bookman before I could even try. But it almost seems like he follows me, as I find him appearing out of nowhere while checking in on Linali and speaking with Komui. Granted, all he seems to want to do is give information but his smile and his gaze always seem to lock me under some strange spell.

Ever since that fateful meeting, I remember all the times when he followed me on missions. I'm not complaining in the least, considering he'd saved me more than a few times and he was good company on those dreary days. And I remember the moments that we stole together, alone, though we never really did much of anything but work together, despite my wishing it were more at times. But I can never get the courage because every single time I looked into his eye, I'd end up being dumbstruck and lose every word I wanted to say.

All of this flashes in my mind in that one instant, feeling the hammer crack in my grasp. Our eyes meet and I can't help but remember when I first saw that emerald eye that captivated me then. To see it full of disbelief and a touch of fear now is painful, but what's more painful is knowing the reason why.

Things almost seem frozen in time but even that can't last forever even though I want it to. I hear him mutter something my ears don't pick up but it doesn't matter. I watch in shock as he's swallowed into the darkness below and I feel the familiar feeling of being dumbstruck but it's not as pleasant as I recall.

I thickly mutter Rabi's name and that of our other fallen companion. I hear it echoed in a feminine voice behind me, reminding me that Linali is still there and she's as shocked as I am.

With a frustrated yell, I let the black hand of despair grip my heart, but I banish it as quickly as it came. I look up to see my master still willing to fight and I nkow I can't rest now. Before I get up, I silently vow to find Rabi as soon as the battle is over.

After all, there's no way someone like Rabi would give up. Not when there's still so much to be said between us. And I still find myself under the spell he always manages to weave over me.