Keep Still

AN: Don't kill me? SORRY FOR THE LONG ABSENCE.

Disclaimer: I do not own D Gray-man!


She's never held a child's head in her lap before.

Tears drip down her cheeks as she cradles the young boy's head, her fingers stroking the clammy skin. Something begins to build up inside her, something pressing and urgent and strong. She's always been the useless one – the one that no one ever said 'thank you' to, because there was no need. "Miranda, Miranda, bad luck Miranda"…

Allen is completely still, and something inside Miranda clenches painfully. Her lap is sticky with blood from his wounds as well as her own, and the thought would ordinarily make her sick, but she can't take her eyes away from the face in front of her. He was the first one. Both of them, Allen Walker and Lenalee Lee – they were the first people who'd ever asked for her help.

And suddenly, Miranda feels an overwhelming urge to react – because she's always taken things lying down. She wants to do something, something for the beautiful, fragile boy who lies so silently in her lap. Something for the brave, lovely girl who sits across the room, her eyes half-lidded and glazed. Something for someone else, because all this time, Miranda has wanted to save herself – and now suddenly, she wants to save them.

Something warm radiates from her being, and she closes her eyes. She's never felt this confident before, as her lips form foreign words.

Innocence, activate.


AN: Okay, so I know Miranda didn't actually say "Innocence, activate"… but it sounds nice?

234 words.