Author's Note: BAHAHA!!!!! 8D We've finally done it!! After EXACTLY--as of today--three weeks of working on it…the first chapter is ready to be posted~! And I got it up THIRTY EFFIN' SECONDS BEFORE MIDNIGHT!!! -is proud-
Now - for a little info, ne? Well, this here magnificent compilation of winsauce (OVER 9000 CUPS OF IT~!! ) started out as a roleplay between myself (Tofu-Master), and Harmony283. If you've checked out our profile, you'll already know this is a joint account we created together, for our collaborative works. -nod-
So…yes. Because it's US--be prepared for madness. Or Sparta. Or whichever else you prefer.
Also….the title? There's a bit of a story behind that, as well. Throughout the entire creation of this little bundle of joy of ours--almost the entire time, either one - or both - of us have been listening to "Bad Romance" by Lady GaGa. The damn woman is inspirational. But after a while--we realized that the song's theme goes terrifyingly well with our plot. And with most of the pairings, too. Geeze--do we have issues? Not to mention--many times throughout the duration of this, one of the characters (mostly Lavi) will either be listening to, singing, humming, or thinking about this song. So. Yes. -nod-
LOOK IN OUR PROFILE, FOR A LIST OF WHO PLAYS WHOM~
Warnings: Mass-overload of TOO MUCH PLOT!! Smut, drug-use, homosexuality (male and female), swearing galore, violence/slight gore, multiple pairings, inside jokes (if you catch them, I might tell you~), mentions of noncon/dubcon, mental trauma, severe angst, and, uhm….I guess we'll add more when we figure it out? -is SURE she's forgetting some already-
Pairings: -takes deep breath- Kanda x Lavi, Tyki x Lavi, Sheryl x Lavi, Sheryl x Tokusa, Cross x Allen, Allen x Link, Anita x Lenalee, Kanda x Bak, Tyki x Wisely, (mild) Wisely x Allen, Rikei x Shifu…..most likely more to come in the future. X.x
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, we don't own D. Gray-man. Though it'd be wonderful we did~
Nor do we own Lady GaGa, or the song "Bad Romance" (or "Everyone Else Has Had More Sex Than Me" by TISM--which appears as Lavi's ringtone. xD ), though…I wish I owned GaGa herself. xD
Enjoi, m'dears~
Chapter One
"Mask"
Lavi burst in through the doors of the cafeteria, his arms stretched over his head, and mouth open wide in a loud yawn. He perked up immediately, however, when he saw the head of silver hair at their usual table. If Allen was here, that meant so was Lenalee...and hopefully Yuu-chan, as well.
An end to his boredom.
The young Bookman apprentice made his way swiftly towards the aforementioned table, and sat down beside his reluctant best friend, who was - seemingly happily?- slurping away at his soba.
"Well hiya~" the redhead drawled, slinging a casual arm around the Japanese's shoulders. He smiled at Lenalee, and stuck his tongue out at Allen.
Kanda scowled slightly as he felt a heavy arm drape ever so casually around his shoulders. He didn't even have to look to know who it was. That insufferable redhead. He resisted the urge to just shrug the arm off, and instead gave his customary 'Che', before focusing entirely on his noodles. After all, he had practice to get to, and the cafeteria was getting damn noisy now with all the little freshmen swarming in from the buses
Allen, on the other hand, seemed way too happy about the day, but then he had just finished his third stack of pancakes, so it was no wonder the boy was in a good mood.
"Good morning Lavi!" he said cheerfully. "Or...good night, you look like you're about to fall asleep again." He let out a snicker and kicked the older teen under the table. "What're you doing at night?"
Kanda thought he would promptly spit out his soba at that.
It took a lot more effort than Lenalee Lee would care to admit, to not choke on her yogurt from laughter. The look on Kanda's face...was priceless. But of course, she wasn't supposed to notice these things. So she would play it cool.
"What's wrong, Kanda-kun?" she asked with worry. "Do you have a stomach-ache? Your face is twisted funny..."
Lavi couldn't help but let out an obnoxious guffaw at this. He was probably the only person who could see through the Chinese girl's 'mask' - after all, he wore a very good one of his own - but he would keep her secret. It was too amusing, watching the other boy's struggle to remain 'proper' in front of their 'innocent' friend.
"Hmm...funny you should ask, Allen!" he chirped happily, clapping Kanda on the back. "But...why don't you ask Yuu-chan here? I'm sure he could answer better than I could..."
Then again...the boy also rather enjoyed torturing Lenalee, and as he watched her struggle to keep a straight face at his last comment, he was suddenly reminded why.
Allen's eyes widened ever so slightly at the vulgar comment, and, casting Lenalee a worried look--it wasn't like he could say something like this in front of her!--before struggling to find the words. "What are you talking about, Lavi? Why would the BaKanda know what you were up to last night?"
Kanda was pretty sure he'd maim the man.
Castrate him--something, with that insufferable grin, too wide, too--too…it was too early in the morning for this, he decided with a pointed glare at the both of them, and then a less scathing one at Lenalee. Lavi knew better, didn't he? Or no, he probably didn't. He was an idiot after all. "Don't get me involved in your fucking shit," he ground out, though he couldn't help but feel, well...
He never knew what the redhead did anymore. Not that it bothered him. No. But his Soba did suddenly taste very bad, and he pushed it away with a disgusted look on his face. "Che, whatever. I'm leaving."
Lenalee sent a quick wink to Lavi, while Allen was distracted by Kanda's--well, Kanda-ness, and the redhead let out a short laugh, smiling back at her.
"Well...I think I'm going to go get ready for my next class," she said innocently, smiling sweetly at Allen once they'd regained the boy's attention. "After all, I need to do my stretched before Gym...Lavi-kun, you should probably go chase after Kanda-kun--you never know what he'll do when left by himself." This, of course, was meant to be a perverted reference, disguised as an innocent one, seeming like a perverted one. And by the horrified look on Allen's face, she decided she'd done well. "Bye, Allen-kun, bye Lavi-kun~"
Lavi let out a soft chuckle as Lenalee left the table. "That girl...she really doesn't have a CLUE what she's saying, eh Moyashi??" He reached over, and gave the shorter boy a noogie. "Ah well...I suppose I probably should go after Yuu-chan... We have to partner-up for Biology next block, anyways, and if he's mad at me..."
Allen just blinked at the older man, watching the mop of red hair make it's through the swarm of itty-bitty freshmen (it wasn't hard, after all--the man was tall) until it disappeared through the huge double doors at the other end of the room.
Well. That was an interesting morning wasn't it? He looked down at the dirtied plate and sighed, smiling ever so slightly. 'But then that's what I like about them, I guess,' and he could 'guess' at a lot of things, right?
****Kanda***
The man was following him, wasn't he? Yes. He was. Of course he was. Kanda gripped his sword tightly in his hand, almost wishing it was Mugen, but knowing because of damn school policies that bringing weapons to school got you suspended. Not that he cared for the place--he didn't, who gave a fuck about education?
But then Tiedoll was paying for his room and board, and it wasn't like he really wanted to--well...no, he wasn't lazy either but...he owed the man. Even if he hated to admit it. It didn't make the fact any less true either. So he let out a sigh and continued walking--walking, walking--listening to the echo of steps trying to match his own--and soon he was in front of the Training Room doors.
They were vacant this early in the morning, he was sure. Everyone always used the one with better equipment in the front. So it made sense he'd come here, right? To be alone and train, right? He pulled off the key that the trainer had given him (well, okay, he had filched it, but it was just a damn key, right?). But he stopped before he placed the key in the lock, sighing once more.
"What the fuck do you want Baka Usagi?"
Lavi feigned hurt, coming to a stop behind the older boy. He wrapped his arms around Kanda, and buried his face in the Asian's soft hair, letting out an indignant sniff.
"Whaddaya mean, 'what do I want'?" he huffed, hugging Kanda tighter. "Yuu-chan's my best friend - it's only natural I'd come to apologize after I made him angry..."
He let out another sigh, and stood up, a slightly more serious expression on his face. "Besides. I only said that to freak out the Moyashi, y'know that. I wasn't even with you last night. Or the night before, or the night before that. Why'd ya hafta go and get so offended? It was a joke...you know how I am."
He went quiet after that, waiting for Kanda to say something.
--
Why the man had to touch him so much, Kanda would never know, but he could never quite stop his shoulders from tensing when those arms wrapped around him. No matter how many times he told them 'he's safe', they still wouldn't listen. Not that he'd ever admit to arguing with body parts, but--well--it didn't matter, he decided, as he attempted to relax.
"Che, I know how you are," he replied gruffly, though he hated the fact that he choked. Just a little. On the words. "But where the fuck do you go?"
Oh shit. Why did he--he cringed inwardly and waited for those arms to tighten, or pull away. He knew the boy couldn't talk about it, he had figured that part out already, so why did--?
Lavi stiffened - and he knew Kanda noticed - before pulling away. He didn't want to talk about this...he couldn't. Not if he didn't want to get Kanda involved...not if he wanted to keep him safe...
"I...I've been helping Gramps out with some stuff... Work, y'know? Jus' because he's getting' old, an' all...can't do all the troublesome stuff on his own anymore..." He knew he was slipping, but damnit!! It was so--so hard to lie to him! "Please, Yuu...don't ask me this anymore. I'm not trying t'be a bad friend, or a 'suspicious character', but--this is just...stuff I don't wanna get you involved in."
Kanda let out a snort. 'It's always that, isn't it?' Not that he would say it out loud. "Che. Of course."
He turned around to face the man, and watched as he fidgeted nervously. Did the redhead even know how often his hand reached up to touch his eye patch? The eye patch he always wore because he said it made him 'look like a pirate'? Why was he even fucking analyzing that? It shouldn't matter.
No it shouldn't. And it didn't. He knew it didn't because--because he was Kanda Yuu. And Kanda Yuu didn't worry about those things. Ever. Especially when it came to idiotic redheads. So he turned back around again and fumbled with the key, turning the knob when it clicked and stepping through...
Oh God. His eyes. He decided right then he wanted to gouge them out. Really, he did. Because--because--oh holy hell--what were-
The two bodies on one of the mats--right in the damned front of the room--he could see it--everything--and--froze in mid... Ugh...no. Just. No.
"What. The fuck?"
Immediately then, the two bodies scrambled, grabbing at clothes, which were strewn everywhere, hastily attempting to put them back on, as if that would give them any form of decency. As if that would help anything. The damage had already been done. The image still painfully burned into his retinas, and Lavi? Well, the idiot was laughing of course. What else would he be doing?
"Y-Yuu...Yuu-chan!!!!" the redhead gasped out, clutching his stomach tightly as his frame was wracked with hysterical laughter. Oh man...this was just too great. This was the best. And he would never let Kanda live it down. "G-geeze...Yuu-chan....that was...fuck! That was amazing!!!"
His laughter came back, then, ten-fold, and he--promptly fell over, hitting his head on the wall. Hard.
"Gaaahh..!!" He slid to the floor, his head pounding, and his vision flickering.
"Fuuuuuuccckkk........" he groaned. But before Kanda could taunt him for it - call him stupid - he grinned absentmindedly, and spoke up. Maybe if he admitted to it on his own... "Yeah, yeah...I know, that was my own fault... Stupid, right? Eugh......" He didn't even bother standing up. Damn...stupid...Karma.
And Kanda didn't help the man up. Why should he, after all? With THAT image in his head, and why the hell it was funny--he didn't know. Why the hell anyone wanted to have sex before 8AM in the morning--he didn't know that either. Except he didn't think about that sort of thing. No. He had just wanted to train--nothing more. Have a bit of relaxation before going to his first class...
--
Apparently Karma wasn't on his side. But then, Karma was a bitch. And if he had had Mugen, he would have threatened those two, but he didn't. And now, here he was--not thinking about that. No. It didn't help that the guy was in his class. Or that Lavi was bemoaning his bad luck, with an icepack firmly placed on his head (taped there, like it'd do more than give him weird looks).
This just wasn't his day, he decided. Resting his head against the cool surface of the table, not even looking up when the teacher walked in, or when Lavi started poking him, repeatedly, in the side.
Lavi groaned again, thunking his head down on the table...which was probably not the best idea, in his state. "Uuuuunnngghhh........."
He ignored the teacher's demand to sit up and pay attention. Hell, even if he could sit up - without pain - he wouldn't be able to focus. Not with this pounding motherfucker of a headache, at least.
"Yuuuuuuuuu........" He poked his friend again, tilting his head slightly to peer up at the older boy through his bangs. "....d'ya have any Aspirin...or Ibuprofen...or something....? Please...? Y'know I love ya, right?" He graced the Japanese with one of his most dazzling - in his opinion - smiles.
Which didn't work. Kanda blatantly told himself--it wouldn't work. Because it didn't. He knew those smiles. He knew that whenever they were given it could never equal anything good. So he kicked the redhead in the shin and turned his head away.
After all, it was the idiot's own fault he was in pain. Not that kicking him made it any better. Not that the teacher didn't just send him another scathing look as said redhead-idiot howled in pain.
"Kanda, Lavi."
Oh, but of course she'd speak up now. "If you two can't stop...bothering each other, then I'm sending you down to the office. And Lavi, why on earth do you have an icepack strapped to your head? If you're hurt then go to the nurse!"
Lavi hissed angrily at Kanda, through clenched teeth, "What the Hell was that for, BaKanda???" Then, to the teacher, "Sorry...it won't happen again. Right...Yuu-chan...?"
But their sensei insisted that he leave the class, so...what could he do? He packed his books back into his bags, stood up - albeit woozy - and left the room. He'd call Bookman when he got outside--ask for a ride home. After all, if he wasn't going to be in class...then what was the point of being here at all?
It wasn't fair. Sure...it had been his own fault he'd hit his head...but did Yuu-chan really have to kick him like that? He already hurt enough... With a sigh, he pushed the front doors of the school open, and stepped outside, sitting down near the bike racks. The redhead pulled out his phone, and dialed the old Panda's number.
Finally, after what had seemed like forever, the other line was answered. Lavi let out a sigh of relief. "Hey listen, Jiji-"
/Why are you calling?/ Bookman interrupted. /You're in school...are you not? You'd better not tell me you're skipping, boy.../
Lavi gulped at the warning tone in his mentor's voice, and shook his head, before remembering that the old man couldn't see him. "No...No, I'm not. I...hit my head. Got an ice-pack taped to my head...eh-heh... The teacher sent me out of the class, so I figured I might as well just go home...if I'm not gunna learn......." he slowly trailed off.
Bookman let out a quiet grunt, followed up by more silence. After this continued for another 6 minutes, Lavi made a soft sound of curiosity. Finally-
/Tyki is coming to pick you up. You'll go with him, and help him with whatever he has to do today. Understood?/
Lavi nodded, then again remembered he couldn't be seen. Clearing his throat, he corrected himself. "Yessir. Any idea how long till the pretty-boy gets here?"
"......" Bookman paused, then sighed heavily. "About 2 minutes. ...You know as well as I do, how that man drives."
"HA! So I do. Thanks Gramps. I'll see ya later, ya ol' fart." Laughing heartily, he hung up the phone before his guardian could retaliate
****Kanda****
"Now then, class," the teacher turned back to the class as if the redhead hadn't just stormed out of the room, "turn to page 546, and you will see..." But after that, of course, Kanda tuned her out.
Not that he was worried about the redhead's reaction, no. It was the idiot's own fault, after all. Really, and knowing him, he probably wasn't even going to the nurses office. Knowing him, he was sitting right outside, dialing a number of someone he probably knew, that Kanda didn't know. And no, he wasn't just a little worried. After all...well...he just. Wasn't. Right.
Well, maybe he was deeper in thought than he thought when a ruler smacked down on the desk right in front of him.
"Kanda," the teacher hummed, too friendly, and a glance at the clock showed it was, in fact, at the end of class. When had that happened?
"You're staying after class. We need to talk." And if it hadn't been for his well known death-glare, he was certain someone would have said "oooh!" Or some other...childish...nonsense. Instead, they were smart and shuffled out, quietly shooting them glances, but keeping their mouths tactfully shut.
Unlike a certain redhead. Which he wasn't going to think about. No.
****Tyki****
Tyki Mikk hated impromptu changes of plans. He decided that post-haste and post-partum when he had been oh so elegantly talking to one of his brother's...associates and--
"But I'm not a baby sitter."
/Of course not, but you're going to have to go there anyway,/ the old man's voice rasped over the other end of the line, and he could tell the man was irritated. Unbelievably so. Why was everyone so irritated all the time? Tyki could never quite understand it, but then he didn't question it. After all, it would be bad if he lost a customer due to his brash actions.
So he sighed and agreed. "Fine, fine, I'll be there in a moment." And just like so, and--well a yellow light always meant speed up, right? He felt his lips twitch as he did an elaborate U-turn and was suddenly speeding back in the opposite direction. Picking up one redheaded 'idiot apprentice' it was.
/And make sure he meets Sheryl this time./
He felt his blood run cold (not really) at that. Ah, "Already?"
/He needs to meet the man at some point./
"That might not be the best idea~" But it was tempting. Everything about the redhead was...tempting.
/And you're scolding me?/ The older man scoffed, before slipping the phone shut, and leaving Tyki Mikk to himself, and the car, and his mad, mad driving skills.
--
Lavi had very nearly fallen asleep, when he was roused by the loud screeching of tires on pavement. Ahh...Tyki was here. Lavi let a wide grin stretch across his face, as he opened his eyes and sat up. He liked Tyki--the guy was pretty cool. Plus, he disagreed with Jiji a lot...and that was more than reason enough!
"Ne, Tyki!!" he called, standing up shakily, and almost - almost - losing his precarious balance. Damnit...his head shouldn't still be spinning like this...
He walked over to the car, and made a rude face at the Portuguese man, before breaking out into a fit of laughter - which hurt his head--but, he ignored it. "What's up?"
Tyki took one look at the boy and knew the old man had lied to him. 'Baby sit a teenaged redhead' was one thing. 'Babysit' an obviously hurt teenage redhead was very, very different.
"Now what, pray-tell, happened to you?" he pondered, watching the boy stagger around to the passenger's side of the seat, and fiddle with the handle to the door
Lavi grinned, almost...proudly? Settling into the car, he pulled his seatbelt on, and then turned to the man beside him. "Well...I pissed Yuu-chan off today, then I followed him when he stalked off. He went to go into the training room......an' BAM. People having sex on the mats!! It was amazing. Yuu-chan's face...I don't think he'll ever get over that. But anyways...I started laughing, an' I...sorta.....fell over. An' hit my head on the wall."
He averted his eyes, actually feeling mildly embarrassed. Then, "Now, seriously, Tyki-pon! What's up with you???"
Tyki blinked, taken a back slightly. "They...really had sex in such an obvious place?" Judging from the scowl on the others lips (it was really a pout, actually, not that--not that he was paying that close of attention)… "Ah...yes...I'm...fine."
"Yeah, they did. An' Yuu-chan walked in on them!! Honestly, I think he was more mortified than they were....." he laughed again, then suddenly clutched at his head. "Owww.....gotta stop doin' that."
Tyki's eyes widened, and he would have smiled--would have but...the boy grabbed his head. "Are you sure you don't have a concussion?"
"Ughh...if I do, it'll go away. It'll get sick of me after I give it a headache!!" The saddest part was...Lavi seemed genuinely confident of this.
Which really should have been amusing, except it wasn't. "I'm not quite sure how giving your headache a headache will make you feel better, nor am I quite sure that's even possible." He paused to think over the concept, as he pulled out of the parking lot, and then sighed. "But if you're sure then..."
"Eh. Whether I'm right or wrong, I believe in the power of...well, believing...?" He chuckled again, though he didn't let it get out of hand this time. "So...what are we doin' today? Panda-jiji didn't tell me anything." The boy crossed his arms, a small pout forming on his lips.
And that wasn't attractive either...wait, no, scratch that--should have been amusing, but it wasn't that either. He let out a chuckle regardless. "Quite honestly? I'm supposed to be taking you to meet my brother, Sheryl. I'm sure the old man at least mentioned his name right?" He watched the redhead hum in accession and lean his head against the window with a cringe.
"Buuuut.....unfortunately--or luckily, depending on how you look at it--he's stuck in meetings until at least 4PM so..." He cast another glance at the redhead before focusing on the road in front of him, which he really ought to pay more attention to, but didn't. "We're basically...doing whatever we want. You can choose." He only hoped he wouldn't regret that decision
"Hmm...your brother, huh? He as hot as you are, Tyki-pon~?" Lavi asked, winking flirtatiously. See...this was one of the things he loved about Tyki. He could flirt with the man, and no responsibilities would come out of it. It was innocent enough, clean fun. "And....how about that new library that jus' opened up? I actually haven't had a chance to check it out yet...which is utter blasphemy, I say!"
Tyki let out a low chuckle at that, and turned (albeit much slower than he normally would have) onto the street.
"Hm, you'll have to see that for yourself, though I wouldn't get any...ideas...if I were you." Not that he was speaking from experience.
"Ehh...well, we'll see then. Personally, I doubt it's possible." He let out a giggle, and flipped his imaginary ponytail with his hand. God, he loved making fun of those silly girls at his school. And Tyki had been known to join in on occasion, too. Though Lavi swore, if the man paid ANY less attention to the wheel than he already was.... Well, Tyki wouldn't be so pretty anymore.
"And a library, hm? I'm quite surprised you haven't been, but judging from how often you've been writing essays and such at important meetings..."
"Ugh. Tyki!! Please don't mention the 'E' word!!!!" he begged, scrunching his face up in disgust. "I mean...c'mon. Yuck."
Tyki cast him a side long glance and just shook his head. "Only you, Lovey, only you." Though he knew the boy would get onto him for the nickname. He supposed it was half the point as he--whoops, that was a red light, wasn't it? Ah, well, it was barely 9AM in the morning--no one was out. All the kiddies were in school, and another glance at Lavi showed his face wasn't as pained as before.
So he stepped on the accelerator, and felt his lips twitch into that very familiar maniacal grin. Yes. Tyki loved driving. He had mad driving skills, after all.
Lavi's smile was wiped clean off his face, in the matter of a second. "What. Did. You. Just. Call. Me...? Tyki."
Lavi was not amused. At all. He'd corrected the older man enough times!!! "And hey!!! That was a red-light, you idiot!!" But the smile was back on the boy's face, if only slightly.
"Oh come now," He laughed at the boy's mortified expression. "This way we'll get to the library that much faster!" And yes, indeed that was another red light. Then a yellow one. Oh, he had a few green--that was good wasn't it? And of course, whenever he saw a police car, he slowed down (he wasn't that much of a psychotic driver! Honest!), only to speed back up again.
In fact, he was almost certain he had the boy plastered to the windowsill by the time the library came into view
The moment the car pulled to a stop, Lavi wrenched the door open, unbuckled his seatbelt, and stumbled out of the vehicle. That...was...fun. But still too dangerous!
"TYKI MIKK!!!" he shouted, when he'd finally managed to quit gasping for breath. Hyperventilation was not fun. "Were you trying to get us killed? Geeze!!!!"
"Not killed." Tyki's lips tilted into a smirk. "It was for the...experience~" And soon, he found himself patting the boy on the shoulder and leading him towards the glass doors of the library. Suddenly, almost, maybe, a little bit apologetic about the whole thing, with the way the boy still stumbled. 'Maybe the peace and quiet will do him good,'...except of course, well...he liked making things interesting, didn't he?~
****Kanda****
It was pretty much common knowledge that the BaKanda would always be in a bad mood. Morning, noon, even at the end of the day--he always wore a perpetual frown on, that even Lenalee couldn't wipe off his face. So it really shouldn't have come as a surprise that he wasn't in a good mood now, especially considering how the morning went.
But--but it wasn't just that. Not that Allen really paid attention to the man (he didn't. He hated his guts!) but that scowl seemed to set just a little further, a little more pronounced, and it didn't make matters any better that he had stalked out literally 4 minutes after class should have ended.
Should have--and, well, let's not talk about why Allen was late. Because it wasn't his fault! Really! He just...well, no one had woken him up until after everyone left and teachers just shouldn't be allowed to do that! But...it wasn't like that mattered much now, it just meant he was left with speeding off towards his next class, and that's how he saw the BaKanda, silently fuming as he stalked down the hall, with no real intention of going to class. Probably. And Allen could have used that to his advantage--because Lenalee would have scolded him and that would've been funny--except Lavi wasn't with him. Which wasn't good. For a moment he thought 'Don't tell me he's killed him!', but the thought quickly died. 'No, no…he wouldn't. Not even Kanda would kill him!' It was a small comfort, though, but he'd guess he'd have to wait till Lunchtime to figure anything else out. Because it wasn't like he'd walk up to the guy and ask, 'Did you kill any redheads today?'
He'd like to keep his important parts intact, thank you very--then he jumped, startled, when the bell (which was oh so lovely placed right above his head) started to ring. "OH crap--oh crap--oh--!" and he dashed, hurriedly, down the hall, not even paying attention when hands grabbed at his shoulder and tugged him back--moving up to cover his eyes--
"What the--!?"
****Lenalee****
Lenalee had stayed back a bit late in her own class, to help the teacher organize the multitude of bookshelves. She couldn't help but think this was more of a job for Lavi, but alas--the redhead was nowhere to be found.
When she'd left the classroom, and spotted Allen, she hadn't been able to resist the urge to sneak up on the boy. She crept closer, making sure her steps were silent and undetectable, and finally clasped her hands over the other's eyes.
"So!!" she whispered in his ear, grinning widely. "I can see why Kanda-kun would skip class...but what's your excuse..?"
Allen flailed for a good couple of seconds before he recognized the voice puffing into his ear. "Lenalee! What are you--I mean--I'm going to be late for class!" He flailed some more, gripping at the girl's hands, but not too forcefully. "Besides, why the heck should the BaKanda get away with skipping if--and you're late for class too!"
"Aha~" the Chinese girl exclaimed, releasing her best friend. Her eyes gleamed mirthfully, as she pulled a hall-pass out of her pocket, and all but thrust it in Allen's face. "I have THIS."
"But....seriously. What's up with Kanda-kun? Do you know?" She looked worried now, her brows furrowed on her forehead. "And what about Lavi...aren't those two always together...?"
Allen looked temporarily aghast at his childhood friend's good fortune, but the expression quickly wiped off his face as he turned back and watched the BaKanda round the corner and disappear from view.
"I...don't know. He's always in a bad mood. And yeah, they are." He shot her a look at that. "Doesn't Lavi usually help your teacher out before his next class? I mean, he has study hall next period, doesn't he?"
Lenalee nodded. "Yeah, I know... I'm...worried about him. He hasn't been sleeping lately - it's obvious - but he just...he won't admit it. He always gets edgy when anyone tries to bring it up, too... And then Kanda-kun, being--well, Kanda-kun... But why did he get so mad at Lavi this morning?"
"I'm worried, Allen..." She looked up into her friend's eyes, tears brimming. "I can't get through to either of them, and I don't know what to do..."
Allen watched as the tears started forming at the edge of her eyes, and he told himself he wouldn't panic. Wouldn't panic because he'd dealt with her tears before, hadn't he? Yeah, yeah he had. So this could be easy, and really? Why did she care so much about the BaKanda anyway? Though he could agree about Lavi...well...and-
"I don't know, I mean I noticed it with Lavi too--I mean, he doesn't even pick up his cell phone after school--I tried calling him once." He paused at a sniffle from the dark haired girl and cringed. "But yeah he won't tell us--and...you know Kanda doesn't need to have a good reason to get mad at someone--he's Kanda!" He attempted to smile, even though it fell short.
Lenalee nodded slowly, 'forcing' a smile, and wiping her eyes on the backs of her hands. Her makeup smudged a bit, but she didn't care. "I...yeah, you're right...about Kanda-kun, anyways... But Lavi...I...." She paused, and her eyes lit up, as if she'd gotten an idea. "Ne, Allen-kun...what class do you have now? Is there any chance you could skip it...?"
Allen swallowed at the look and opened his mouth. "I...I have History, um...we're just reviewing over a test though so I...guess I can skip?" He could always get his test tomorrow, and it wasn't like the teacher cared if he skipped or not--wait! Wait! Wait! But he'd already agreed, and Lenalee had smiled--smiled like all the world was right and better and good just because he said those few words.
And somehow, he felt like he had fallen into a trap.
Lenalee hugged Allen tightly, burying her face in his neck. "Thank you!!!"
She pulled away after a brief moment, absolutely beaming. "So. We're going to call Lavi. Over. And over. And over. Until he answers. And then we're gonna make him talk. He may not answer his phone, but I know it's always on. He told me once; he's not allowed to turn it off - something about his Grandpa, and emergencies. So...eventually, he'll get sick of hearing it ring, and he'll answer!! But if he tries to hang up...we can just go to his house, and wait for him!"
Allen blinked once, then twice. "Wait...we'll...what?"
Lenalee's eyes were - by now - alight with mischief. "We'll spam him!! ...Oh, come on, you KNOW he'll answer after 20 minutes at the latest! Especially if we don't give him any breaks. Just bam-bam-bam, call-call-call! That boy has no patience for these things--he'll answer."
Allen coughed lightly. "But...are you sure? I mean...what if he's in class, or something? Or, well, he's in study hall--yeah...but..." He fidgeted again--what was Lenalee thinking?
"Trust me, he's not," Lenalee insisted, seemingly sure of herself. "I saw him leave. Just...don't know who picked him up - some really cute guy - or where they went. But...he's definitely not at school." This was, in fact, the main basis behind Lenalee's plot - to find out where Lavi had gone today, who he had gone with, and why he had skipped out. She had a nagging suspicion it must have something to do with their friend's 'Grandfather', but...she wanted the story straight from Lavi himself.
Allen blinked at her.
"He's...not...here? You mean he left?" Well, that certainly wasn't good, and more than justified what Lenalee was worried about. He sighed then and nodded. "Well, if he's not at school, then...yeah. I mean--if you saw him outside then--he probably didn't get checked out."
Not that it wasn't an uncommon practice, to hide out in the bathrooms and call parents instead of going to the health room to call, but...the fact that it was only first period set alarm bells off in the back of his head. Lavi. Going with some cute guy (he cringed mentally at that)...somewhere...Lenalee definitely had the right idea...though--no! He wouldn't let his mind wander. Just not yet. Or...or maybe he'd at least be the one to take the phone away if--he violently cut that train of thought off and swallowed.
"Yeah, definitely. Call, but, um, not in the hallway. It's...the hallway. And I'm late, and even if you have a pass, you know they'll--"
Feeling just a bit miffed at their redheaded friend - she hated being out of the loop, especially when she and Lavi told each other practically everything - Lenalee decided that just a little bit of retaliation wouldn't hurt--Lavi would get over it soon enough, and plus, there was a 50/50 chance Allen knew already - she turned to face her best friend.
"Ne, Allen..." she started, grabbing the boy's wrist, and dragging him off towards the downstairs senior girl's bathroom. It would be the best place in the school to talk--if they could even get service. If not, there were always other options. "You...you do know Lavi's gay--right?"
Allen stood there, gawking--he couldn't even bring himself to pull out of the girls grip as she continued to drag him down the stairs...the information...just wasn't...well, sure he had guessed...with how flamboyant Lavi was--especially towards Kanda, but--but--"You mean...you knew?"
He flinched when she shot him a look over her shoulder, and clamped his mouth shut as she rolled her eyes and they reached the foot of the stairs. He didn't start protesting again until they reached the door to the girl's bathroom. Wait...wait, wait--"You aren't seriously going to drag me--" He didn't get any say so, of course, as she dragged him in, and the door slammed behind him.
"Well, yeah, I knew," she stated, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Lavi and I talk. A lot. Which is why I wanna know about today so badly...this is one thing he hasn't told me a thing about...I don't even know who that guy with him was!" The girl sounded obviously distraught over this fact. "And really, Allen...it's just a bathroom. One that nobody uses anymore. Where else could we phone him, with the least chance of getting caught? Then again, there's always..."
She pulled out her cell phone, and let out an irritated huff. "Yup. There's no signal. Looks like we'll need to go to the park, after all."
Allen balked, "The...park? But that's behind the school! What if we get caught?" He lowered voice, then, "And...I sorta knew too, I mean...but yeah, I guess...if he is then, I'd wanna know too." Not that he'd think of what that meant but, "You two really talk that much?" That shouldn't be as surprising as it was, but...
"Yes. We do. Which is why I'm so bloody pissed, that I don't have the slightest clue what's going on today!" The poor girl was getting so frustrated, she was letting her 'innocent' facade slip, just a bit...but she didn't really care. She felt betrayed.
Grabbing Allen's wrist again, she pulled him out of the bathroom, and back up the stairs to the main floor. Looking left quickly, then right - there were no teachers on duty here, it seemed - she pulled her friend out on of the school's back doors. "Come on. We can just hop the fence on the far end of the field. No one will find us in the woods, right? Or we could just stay, but then we'll have to find somewhere to hide..."
"Er, yeah, hoping the fence is fine." Allen allowed her to drag him out of the building, but when they got halfway across the field, he jerked his hand out of her grip and paused. She turned back to him and gave him a look he hadn't quite been expecting, and maybe the words shouldn't have slipped out quite like they did, but, "Is it just that?"
Because she wasn't acting...normal. And it made him uncomfortable. On more than one level. Sort of like Lavi sometimes. "I mean--" He couldn't help but want to rectify the situation, though.
"........" Lenalee sighed, and shook her head. "Allen...I'm fine. I promise. It's just...well--Lavi and I talk about everything. He knows things about me that no one else does, and I know things about him. He's like my second big brother. And then--seeing him just leave like that...without saying a single word to me... I was already worried about him before, but now I'm worried and a bit angry. I know it's stupid, and he probably has his reasons, but...I still can't help but to feel a bit betrayed, you know?"
They had reached the fence by now, and Lenalee stopped talking, turning to the obstruction before them. "Well...here goes. Hup~!" And she gripped the top of the fence, hoisting herself up, seemingly effortlessly--and dropping down on the other side. She looked back at Allen, giving him an expectant look.
Allen swallowed thickly. Well..that...that...was difficult to swallow. He had known they were close (often times when he had called her, Lavi had been the one to pick up, but he had never thought anything of it)...but now that it actually... He let out a sigh and moved towards the fence, muttering lowly.
"Well that makes a ton of sense now," he sighed, before pulling himself over. Not with as much ease as Lenalee, but close enough, before asking, "Do you have service here?" But he wondered why he couldn't quite look at her.
Lenalee nodded, smiling brightly as she showed the screen to Allen. "All five bars~"
She could tell the boy was uncomfortable, and suddenly regretted her behavior earlier. More than that, she - in a way - regretted not being herself from the very start. The Lenalee she showed to her friends (with the sole exception of Lavi), was still the same Lenalee she had been 5 years ago. She'd been afraid to change--afraid that if she did, she would no longer be accepted. But maybe...that hadn't been the right decision.
"So...do you want to call first, or should I?"
Allen thought it over for a moment. He had seen the flash of regret in her eyes (why did the smile on her lips seem so fake now?), and he knew she probably guessed how uncomfortable he was--this was Lenalee...she was...supposed to be...supposed to be... He found himself shaking his head before he could stop the motion. "You call. He'll probably pick up if it's you. After all, it is your phone."
"Alrighty then~" She pretended not to notice the shake of Allen's head, and instead focused her attention on the phone - pressing the speed-dial for Lavi's number - and deciding what she would say to him. She waited...waited--and there it was, as she'd expected. The answering machine
/Hey, you've reached me~ Who's me? Well, you should know--you called me! Anyways, leave your name an-/
She hung up, sighing. "He's not answering...yet."
Allen let out a sigh. "Do you even think he'll pick up?" He reached out to the phone and, wait--she had his phone number on speed dial? He pushed that thought away and redialed, waiting for their redheaded friend to pick up, and yet again got the answering machine. He let out a sigh and passed it back to Lenalee. "Should we leave a message?"
Lenalee laughed, and shook her head. "We just need to keep trying. Eventually, he'll get sick of it ringing - especially with that ringtone, if he's with a potential boy-toy..." She giggled, shaking her head again.
"Ohhhhh, boy...yeah, I suspect he'll probably pick up within the next three calls. I'd bet on it, in fact..."
Allen looked mildly horrified. "You're...really not making this any easier, Lenalee." And he felt himself smile despite it all. "I mean, what if we're interrupting them when they're--" He paused for half a second, debating on if he really should say...that...but with the way Lenalee was acting now then...he flushed a bit.
"You know...what if...they're..." He felt stupid, and embarrassed, but...she seemed to get it. Which should have bothered him. Still did, a little bit, but--she simply redialed.
"Hmm...no, I doubt it. Lavi likes to flirt--a lot, but...he's not gonna give it up that easily. Trust me. They're probably just...flirting. Or eating. Or knowing Lavi, even sleeping." She laughed, and put a hand on Allen's shoulder. She hoped it would comfort him. "Listen, Allen, I'm-" But she cut herself off, as the other end began to ring.
'Please, please pick up...'
Allen watched as Lenalee's face turned pensive, and knew she was probably hoping that he would pick up. For her sake, he almost wished he did. Except, well, he was still confused. With the hand on his shoulder--heavy...heavier than the light touch she usually gave. And maybe he was thinking too far into it, but...he watched her sigh and squeeze his shoulder, but didn't quite register what it meant.
"Oh!" she gasped quietly, then another smile - this one genuine - spread across her face. She turned to Allen, and mouthed, 'He answered~!'.
"Lavi! Where the Hell are you!?"
****Lavi****
'Everyone else has had more sex than me. Ooh-ooh~ Does any-'
"Lena-chan?" Lavi asked into the phone as he answered (silencing that ringtone that he really wished Tyki wouldn't have heard), slightly taken aback. It was her that'd been calling him non-stop?
"Ahh! Tyki! Hold off for a minute, would ya!?" he yelped, his voice rising an octave, much to his dismay. Unfortunately, he didn't pull the phone far enough away from his head, for his voice not to carry across to the other end.
--
Lenalee giggled, and mouthed the words back to Allen - wanting to know how the other would react.
"Yeah, it's me. Now where are you? I saw you leave the school with that guy...why didn't you say anything to me?"
****Tyki****
Tyki scowled slightly when he saw Lavi pulling out the phone from his back pocket, and answering it. He really didn't want the boy's attention drawn away from him now. After all--there was no telling when he'd get a call from his brother (true, the man would be busy with meetings, but he could always call him for miscellaneous reasons), and so...well, Lavi didn't look like he'd say no if he tried to touch him again, did he? So Tyki grinned, and ran his fingers down the boy's side once more, running down, and around to his ass, before squeezing it, causing the boy to yelp and admonish him. He couldn't keep the small frown (not pout) from forming on his face, but it was all an act--dreadfully amusing, oh yes.
Considering the boy didn't pull the phone away from his ear as he said that. He was sure the person on the other line (a girl, he was certain), had heard.
--
Allen watched as Lenalee giggled lightly over the phone, confused. When she scolded him, still slightly airy and happy--like she had expected...whatever was happening on the other end of the line.
Thankfully she noticed his confused look, and pulled the phone away from her ear, clicking a button he assumed was the 'speaker phone' option. Suddenly Lavi's voice came out of the receiver, loud and-
A little breathless??
--
"I...well, I'm--Tyki, stop that right now!!" He paused, glaring darkly at the older man - who merely laughed, and groped him again--while his cheeks flushed a bright red.
"Ahem..! Sorry, Lenalee...I'm...with a friend. Well...he's Gramps' friend, too...I'm...helping him out with some stuff today, in exchange for Gramps letting me leave school--TYKI!!!--early. I'm sorry I didn't say anything to you, but...it really was a last minute thing. I called Panda-jiji to pick me up, and he sent Tyki, so--stop! Oh, no, not you Lenalee. You didn't do anything wrong."
Tyki couldn't keep the mirthful tone out of his laugh, with the slightly offended look on the redhead's blushing cheeks, and the way he simply did not answer the phone for a while.
Oh dear, had he made things difficult? He wasn't quite sure, nor did he quite care as he squeezed the boy's ass again (all too aware of what was awakening, if the tent in the boy's tight pants were any indication), and relished in the shiver it received.
--
Lenalee, by this point, had to try very, very hard to reign in her laughter. She didn't want to appear suspicious, after all... She cast a glance at Allen - and this time, she did laugh out loud--the boy's expression was hilarious.
...It...they were...this was--was--and Lenalee was laughing at him, and he was sure his face was beet red, and he couldn't quite blame her for--but--he tried to calm the blush, but it wasn't working. And then Lavi's tone took on a raspy quality, as he answered Lenalee's request--er, threat. It was definitely a threat. Did Lavi even know he was on speaker phone?
/...what are you laughing at...?/ the voice on the other end asked suspiciously.
"Oh--No, Lavi, it's nothing. Just...you sound kinda 'busy' right now..."
/Well...I am, kinda.../ She could almost hear him blushing. /Is something wrong?/
"Well--yes, that's why I called. Uhm-"
/Is Yuu-chan alright?/ Lavi interrupted, automatically assuming this had something to do with his best friend. /Is he hurt?/
"No, Kanda-kun is fine. Angry, as usual... I called because--well, everyone's worried about you, Lavi. We know you're not sleeping - whether you admit it or not, so don't you dare try to lie your way out of this one." She paused again, noting that Lavi's breathless gasps weren't ceasing, nor were the soft chuckles of another male voice. "Just…promise me you'll be safe, okay? And don't do anything stupid--you know exactly what I mean. And call me, damnit - as soon as you get home. I'll never forgive you if you don't."
There came another loud 'squeak' over the other end, and, /Yeah, I gotta go now. I'll call you!/
/Click./
Lenalee snapped the phone shut, her grin slowly fading as the hilarity of the situation did. Lavi and this...Tyki-guy...were definitely fooling around. She knew Lavi wouldn't go all-the-way with him--he was still a virgin, though Lenalee was probably the only other person who knew at this point, and Lavi wasn't the type to give 'it' up to some meaningless fling--not if he had a choice. But Lenalee had trust-issues when it concerned older men (with the exception of her brother). She could only hope that her friend would be okay...
She turned back to Allen. "Well...I guess I can relax a bit, now... But--I'm still worried about that idiot. I swear, if he doesn't call me tonight..." She trailed off, honestly not knowing what she would do.
Allen tried to smile, really he did. He couldn't help but be worried, though, when Lenalee's smile fell to a frown, and she looked at her phone worriedly.
"I'm sure he'll call." He took a step forward. "I mean--he promised he would." Not that he could give his word on that. After what he...maybe...heard...and with everything...and-
"Do you want to...head back to class, or..?" He checked his watch, and grimaced. They had been out longer than he thought. Okay, not that long, but still--walking in during the middle of class wasn't a good idea. And he didn't like the prospect of being so close to the campus--he had known a few people to get caught and sent to the principal's office for hiding out here instead of going to class.
So, he swallowed again. "Or do you, y'know, wanna go somewhere else? I mean--class isn't even over yet, and..."
Lenalee smiled warmly at Allen, grateful for his attempt at distraction.
"Hmm...coffee?" she suggested? They used to go out for coffee together all the time, but what with the heavy burden of classes and extracurriculars lately, they hadn't had time.
Allen smiled just a bit wider and nodded his head, looking around the small park-like area before saying, "We'll probably have to take the long way, just in case."
He prided himself in leading the way--down the dirt path that he knew the Environmental teachers always led their students down--it was by a creek, and he knew the creek led to a wider stream, and then to a neighborhood he had passed through many times. He looked back at her only once, smiling again and feeling slightly elated when she smiled back. It was good to see her smiling, even though he knew she was worried. Maybe--maybe...he could cut the rest of class. Or, no...but--he did know--he did know--
"You know where we are right?"
He didn't see her nod, nor did he quite care as he pushed aside another branch. "We'll go this way for a bit, and then we'll get out at a neighborhood, and then we'll follow the sidewalks." He looked back at her this time, and she was looking at him, slightly impressed, with an up-tilt of lips that didn't seem anything like the smiles she usually gave him, but then, he assumed those hadn't been the 'usual' smiles.
And he had to wonder how long she had been acting. It was a painful thought.
"You're a natural-born leader, Allen-kun~!" she laughed, impressed. Allen had always given off that air of strength, and it was one of the reasons she had liked him. At least, she thought it was - that she had. "And I'd prefer the long way, anyways - we haven't gotten a chance to spend time together in a while, after all. So don't worry about it, ne?"
The Chinese girl was happy to see a bit of the tension leave Allen's eyes, and it allowed her own smile to grow just a bit brighter. For a while, there, she'd thought she was about to lose her best friend...and if that happened, Lenalee didn't think she'd be able to live with herself.
Allen couldn't help but feel some of the tension leave at Lenalee's positive words, and quickly agreed. "No, we haven't. I mean..." He held out a hand to her when they climbed over a few slippery rocks, noticing how much stronger it was, but brushing it off. He'd definitely have to learn this 'new' Lenalee. Or--not new. Or...not really.
"I'm sure we've got a lot to catch up on, considering how busy school's been for the both of us." And unlike before, when he would continue to hold her hand for the sake of it, he let it drop behind him, and instead cast her a smile. Yes, they would talk. He hoped she would be willing to talk...not that he thought she wouldn't, especially now, but... He shook the negative thoughts away and kept the smile, as he saw the first of the houses some ways ahead through the trees.
"See? We're getting closer." He pointed, and sped up just a bit. It was good knowing that she'd follow him. Good knowing, even though it was a bit different, that her steps would fall into sync with his own. That was different too, but he was sure he'd get used to it.
In fact, he was certain he would.
Lenalee smiled, nodding her assent. "We really do. And...not just because of school. There are so many things I need to tell you, that I should have told you ages ago. And I will. Allen, I...I tried to say back there, but--the phone...." She took a deep breath. "Allen, I'm sorry. You're my best friend, and I...I kept secrets, and you don't deserve that."
They entered the cafe together; ceasing to speak while they ordered their drinks. Only when they sat down in a small booth in the back, did the conversation resume.
His chest was squeezing a little too much at those words--at the serious tone of his long time best friend, and how apologetic she looked, and he wanted nothing more than to say 'it's alright'... But then, he had always been told he was a pushover...and--he wanted answers. Of course he did. They were friends, weren't they? So, when they chose a booth in the far back of the small cafe after ordering their drinks, he knew it had to be more than a little confession. And maybe--maybe he could bring to light some things on his own plate. Maybe. As he watched Lenalee fidget nervously in her seat, waiting for the waitress to bring them their coffee. Which didn't happen, and didn't happen--and then it did, and he had already torn through two napkins in nervous habit.
When the waitress left, casting them both interested looks (like it was really any of her business what they were doing there--she probably knew they were skipping class.), he finally allowed his mouth to open.
"Um--" And of course, they had decided to speak at the same time. It was almost hilarious, if it hadn't been so serious.
So instead, he grabbed the spoon and stirred his coffee. "You first," he said, too easily.
Hoping she'd take the invitation. Thankfully, she did.
"Well...I guess I should start with the basis of it all...right?" She didn't wait for an answer, before continuing. "Uhm...I guess...I've been trying to make myself into someone I'm not. Not anymore, at least. The 'me' I present to all of you, is barely any different from the 'me' I really was, five years ago. But...inside, I'm confused. And sometimes, I don't if I even know who I really am. When we all started growing up, and changing...I felt like I was changing more than the rest of you. And that scared me, because I thought - if I changed too much, I'd be rejected. And so...I tried not to let myself change at all. But I did, and so I made myself a mask. I only told Lavi, because, well...he wears a mask, too."
Allen tightened his grip on the spoon, glancing up only to see Lenalee staring down, intently, at the coffee in front of her. Something told him she wouldn't drink it until it had gone cold, and he knew, in his own way that he wouldn't either. He swallowed.
"A...mask?"
Like--like he could really say anything else. Like he could really find any comforting words. He swallowed again. "So...these past five years..." And he paused, then shook his head, looking back down at his coffee, and dropping the spoon, letting it clink against the glass. As if that was cue enough, the girl began talking again--just a bit faster than before.
"I...I didn't know what to do, Allen! Yes--you were all changing, but you were still you! I didn't know who I was anymore. In my mind, the only way I could keep fitting in with all of you, was to stay the same! Or--or at least pretend to. I'm...not as 'innocent' as everyone thinks I am, Allen. I know what people talk about. I know what it means, some even from personal experience! I pretend to still be clueless and naive, because seeing all of you get flustered, and try to be careful around me, reminds me of how things used to be, when I was 'real'. I know it's not fair - to any of you, or myself--and I wish I didn't, but I did!"
"And Lavi...I shouldn't talk about Lavi, not when he's not here, but he's had it even worse than me. I've had my 'mask' for barely five years--he's had to wear his, his entire life! And if he slips, and gets caught, then he gets hurt! I've had nothing to complain about, compared to him, but I still--And that's not even the worst of it! I've let my brother down, and he doesn't even have a clue... He's always saying how he'll never let anyone marry me, but deep down, I know he wants to be an uncle someday, and I can't even give him that..."
She had slowed down gradually, nearing the end of her speech, so that by the time she'd finished, she'd barely even noticed she'd stopped talking. The girl's eyes were brimming with tears--of shame, hatred, and disgust - all directed at no one but herself. She sniffled, then let her head thunk down on the table, not even moving her arms to cushion the contact.
Something...wasn't clicking...and he hated it. Hated that he was trying to get it, but that something in him was refusing, blatantly. Like there was a brick wall built in his mind between the words and the comprehension they needed--his brain needed--to understand. And now Lenalee was crying, and he couldn't even get the words out to--to--well. He swallowed. Swallowed and shifted, and looked down at his coffee and sighed.
"Lenalee..." Her name was like a trigger, and the tears nearly spilt over, but she rubbed at them ferociously with her sleeve, like it was bad--no good--and--he wished the table wasn't there anymore, for some reason. Because that too, was a barrier between them that he didn't want. That she didn't need.
And then it clicked. Or something did. Something small, and miniscule--a crack in the brick wall.
And he shook his head, and reached across, between them, grabbing one hand and completely ignoring the coffee--what coffee? Why'd they buy it in the first place? He didn't know, he didn't know, but all he could say was--well--"Okay." Even if he wasn't sure it sunk in all the way. Even if he wasn't sure squeezing her hand in his own would do the girl any good. But he did it anyway.
Because someone needed to, and he knew he wasn't Lavi (whoever 'Lavi' was anymore, he'd--no, he wasn't quite ready to ask that yet), but it had to be enough. Just so she knew.
So he repeated, with a smile, hoping she'd see even through tear-swollen eyes, "Okay."
Lenalee's tears died down, slowly, and she finally Squeezed Allen's hand back, looking up at him through her bangs. Her makeup was smeared and running across her face, but neither of them thought anything of it.
"It's...okay..?" she asked, hesitantly, almost afraid to believe it. But wait--this was Allen. He would never lie to her - not like she had.
So Allen smiled, when she squeezed back and looked up at him, make up ruined but did that really matter now? No, it didn't. And he smiled--kept smiling, and nodded his head, even though the information hadn't really registered yet (and maybe it would take a while to, he didn't know), and said, "Yeah. You're Lenalee, after all, even if you change."
Then, in a fit of childishness that he probably hadn't had for five years, his smile turned up just a bit more, got just a bit wider, and he said, lightly, in a way he himself had held back for five years, because of those five years, "Lenalee's silly. What makes you think I wouldn't say that?"
Lenalee's eyes widened at that, before she - unexpectedly, even to herself - burst into a fit of giggles.
"I...I really am silly, aren't I?" she admitted, her laughter finally dying down a few minutes later. "I'm sorry, Allen. I feel so much better now that I've told you. But...Komui-niichan...I don't...know what I'll say to him..."
She sighed again. "Do you...even know what I meant, then? About...letting my brother down...?"
Allen blinked, and thought that over for a moment. Well, no, if he was completely honest with himself, he didn't quite understand it. The wall was still particularly thick at that portion so he squeezed her hand again. "Not...not really."
A quick glance around made him note that their waitress was keeping a keen eye on them, even though she was waiting on other, tired, customers. "But...I don't think here's the best place for that kind of conversation...I mean..." And he trailed off, letting go of her hand and shrugging. Hopefully she'd understand what he meant.
"Ah." Lenalee nodded, having caught sight of the nosy waitress. "Phht. She's been staring at us almost this entire time we've been here... Stupid woman has no manners," she muttered, too quietly for anyone but Allen to hear her. But, she squeezed his hand back again, and gave him a small smile, showing him her sincere appreciation.
"I don't know what I'd do without you..."
Allen let out a laugh at that, or rather a chuckle, and shook his head. "I dunno, you tell me." He looked at the two cups of coffee still on the table and sighed.
"Do you want to finish your coffee, or...?"
"Oh dear..." Lenalee looked down at her coffee, and another laugh bubbled out past her lips. "Ah, what the heck. It was almost 5 bucks, and it still tastes fine!"
She picked up the cup, and brought it to her lips, taking a sip. "And what do you know...it's still kinda warm."
Allen let out another, slightly louder laugh, and took a sip of his own. "Yeah you're right." He hummed appreciatively, sitting back against the cushioned seat, and taking another large gulp. Too bad the cups were small, he was nearly finished, and from the look on Lenalee's face, she almost was too.
Thus began, something he'd probably call immature later--but it was a nicer form of a drinking contest, between friends. Completely innocent, and it made them both laugh and sputter a bit, and cough. But that was the point--all in good fun. The smile was worth it too, as well as the rather affronted look on the waitress's face that she wouldn't get another story to dish out later.
xoxox
Author's Note: Now that the first chapters done...all I can say is 'wow'. Um yeah... Have Questions? Comments? Loved it? Have CC? Send it via review! And one of us is sure to answer you!