When she first laid eyes on him all she could think of was a painted-faced clown. Skin a pale white, like the fine powder pantomimes use, along with a vibrant smile to attract and misguide the attention to the expression, not the person who wore it. Despite the blooming bruises and heavy bandages taping together his lithe, fragile body, his most noticeable feature was that dazzling smile. Lou Fa's heart truly skipped when Allen Walker greeted her with that and simple words that she treasured dearly.

"Nice to meet you."

It might have been silly to fall for someone out of the blue like that, but it was hard not to.

So this was him. Allen Walker, the Exorcist who was saved by Innocence. Lou Fa didn't practice religion, but she was grateful to whatever God that protected the boy.

Despite just waking up from coma after his near death experience and losing a limb, he immediately jumped headfirst into an intense training of a deathmatch with Fou. She was incredibly worried for his wellbeing but that smile made her silent once again. She just watched from the sidelines, unable to help or even minorly support him.

Or to be more precise, there might have been a way to support him after all. That's what she thought as she was standing before him with a tray holding a kettle, two cups and some dim sum. His large doe like irises blinked in surprise flickering from the treats to her blushing face.

"I-I," she swallowed, trying to ease the fluttering in her small ribcage. "I brought you some refreshments."

Allen continued to eye the treats with wonder, then pointed at himself unsurely."These are for me?"

Feeling her voice shake in the back of her throat, she just nodded and unsurely crept her gaze back to meet his.

He was stunned for a second, then sent her heart on haywire when he gave a warm smile, this time solely aimed at her. "Thank you a lot, Lou Fa."

She didn't know him for long, but she could tell, that smile wasn't entirely carefree, he couldn't hide the dark shadows creeping under his eyes. In that moment she understood and her own smile dimmed just slightly. He was just as scared as the rest of them were - even more because he lost his way of protecting himself, the only reason he didn't succumb to them because she was present. It pained her to know he was suffering but that was part of his recovery. In order to properly process these feelings he needs time and sense of safety so he can let himself experience them.

The make up needed to be washed down every night or there would be health consequences.

She also knew this was wishful thinking on her part though, it would take a lot to have him feel safe enough around her to be completely honest. But that was fine, as long as he knew she was by his side.

Even if she couldn't help him or fix him, she could help by giving him the time and space to heal himself, as well as the company every human carved. It was a simple exchange where they both gave from their hearts.

If only things could have stayed that simple.

Tears stung her eyes listening to his agonized cries all over again, knowing that he was going to die any second, that once he was killed everyone else would die and that she was powerless to save anyone; her love couldn't save him.

It hurt more than seeing him break both in a physically and mentally. It hurt to know that he thought that he was seen as a mere weapon, the painted faced Exorcist, not the hero they all admired; not Allen, the boy. But it hurt most that there was absolutely nothing she could do as he shattered. Just scream.

Among the disharmony of their cries a light exploded to life, stopping the Level 3. A brilliant white Pierrot. Without difficulty, it tore the Akuma apart, but it did not kill it. Once the Innocence deemed it safe, it sought out Allen and aimed at the submerged Accommodator, pulling him out of the water. That day a new clown of light was born with a new look: a mask of hope.

A Crowned Clown.