Author's note:
In second chapter I used "Little prince" written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. If you haven't read it then, well, be ashamed.
Either way it's on the web, so if you want to you can read parts where Little prince was with rose and where he met the fox. On those fragments next chapters will be based.
But, seriously - you should read the whole book.
Also it was published in 1943, so let's pretend it happened 100 years earlier.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed it. And, if you see some horrible mistakes or you are not pleased with something, let me know.
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" Innocent, my ass .Of course he didn't think about Lenalee, since his thoughts were occupied by someone entirely different."
Thought Bookman junior while anxiously walking to the library. He recalled his yesterday's prank, which turned to be so much more than a simple hoax. After sleeping off the shock, now he wondered how could he missed something so huge. The redhead already knew Allen and Kanda had this strange relationship going on based mostly on bickering but to even suppose Allen was having feelings for Kanda? Kanda! It's was simply wacky!
Well, while recording history, he traveled a lot with Bookman and met cultures where love between men was acceptable - but usually it was rather on the contrary. He, personally had nothing against them, but he could not speak for everybody else. Being the fourteenth and all already made him some enemies in the Order so he really did not need more.
What's more, he felt sorry for his friend. He admitted that it was difficult to be gay, here in Catholic Organization, but being in love with Japanese was an entirely different problem. All in all, it was understandable why Allen did not want anybody to knew, especially Kanda.
He quickened his pace, deep in thought.
The funniest thing is that even if Allen wanted to attempted anything with Kanda, trying to make Kanda like men would not be as hard as making him actually fall in love.
Lavi heard familiar voice ahead of him, which shook him out of the trance. He looked up and spotted Lenalee, Allen and Link standing in the hallway, chatting. Well, Lenalee and Allen did all the talking, since inspector Howard Link just stood there straightened up, looking all professional, but also kind of bored. Suddenly, Allen and Linalee laughed – and Lavi for some reason was glad that his friend was batting for the other team. He put his arms behind his head and quietly came up to Lenalee from behind, so he wouldn't give up his presence. For those two at least, Link saw him since the beginning.
" Hey there. " – he whispered straight into her ear. She almost jumped, surprised.
" Lavi! " – she said, sounding more angry that she actually was. As an answer he sent her one of his flamboyant smiles – which made her anger melt instantly. He congratulate himself in his mind, pleased to think that he still had something in him. Then he turned to white-haired boy .
" High five! " – he put his open palm in the air, waiting.
Allen glared at him unfriendly. The redhead put down his hand.
" Okay, okay . I get it. I am sorry for yesterday. "
" I don't know if do you realize, but you don't actually look sorry. "
"Well, it's because we both know that you can't stay mad at me for too long. "
Allen sighed resigned, in the end smiling slightly.
" Alright! All sins forgiven, so tell me kids what are you up to? "
" I was telling Allen about our mission. "
" Our mission? " – he asked confused.
" Yes - you, Bookman, Marie and I are going to Prague tomorrow. We have to go to my brother's office in the evening for more details. "
" And here I thought I could rest a little more. "
" Don't complain, not only you are sent on a mission – almost everyone is. Only Krory, Kanda, Allen and few others will stay here, in Order. "
" Still, you are not fun at all. " – she furrowed her brows, Bookman junior not letting her reply, quickly said to his other friend – " So… it will be a good opportunity for you. "
" Opportunity? To do what? " – he asked puzzled.
" To get along with Kanda of course! " - he answered, as it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Allen and Lenalee looked at him like he suddenly grew a second head. Even Link seemed disturbed.
The boy with a scar took a step closer to his one eyed friend and observed his head searching for some major injures.
" Lavi, did you hit yourself yesterday, because you are officially freaking me out right now. "
" Oh, come on, he could be a good friend. You just need to… tame him " – he ended hesitantly.
" Tame him? He needs a big, steel muzzle and a huge bar of soap. " – Allen rolled his eyes.
Lavi turned to Lenalee for some help.
" Lenalee, please say something. "
She eyed him questioningly, she could not put a finger on why he was so suddenly eager to make Kanda and Allen best friends.
" I don't know what is this about, but I have to agree with Lavi. He is an excellent exorcist and a good person, he just have this strange logic where showing kindness is like showing weakness. He is too manly to do that. "
Allen smiled sweetly at them, but with an anger gleaming in his eyes.
" And I think that he is just a stupid, selfish, arrogant jerk. "
" But it does not mean that you cannot like him, right? "
Allen glared at him, suspicious of his words.
" Excuse me, but I don't think that this conversation is going anywhere, since Lavi started blabbering nonsense. Have a safe mission - Good bye. " – he looked at his guardian – " Let's go Link. "
" Finally " – he said sounding exhausted. – " I suggest that you should go back to your paper work before you waste another minute pondering over Yuu Kanda's true nature. "
- " Yes, yes " - he said sheepishly and slowly went to science department.
That being done Lavi and Lenalee were now left alone.
" What do you know, that I don't know? " – she asked the redhead, her gaze still on Allen walking way.
Lavi watched her for a few moments, not saying anything. Then he came closer to her, embracing loosely her shoulders with one arm. And when he was about to say something oh-so-witty, something hit him back of his head. Or rather someone.
" Stop flirting you moron and get back to studying " – Bookman appeared out of nowhere, looking anything but pleased - " Tomorrow we have a work to do! "– The old man nodded to female exorcist, greeting her.
" I'm going, I'm going, geez. " - He waved off Lenalee and followed Bookman to library making funny faces at him.
" I saw that! "
" What? " - he asked innocently.
Lenalee covered her mouth with a hand, amused while she knew she wasn't supposed to, and returned to her own duties.
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Allen Walker could not sleep - it was almost midnight, yet he could not blink an eye. The night was warm so he laid without his shirt on, spread on the bed. A single candle was burning, weakly lighting up whole room. Link was sleeping on the floor beside him, or at least he thought he was. He could never tell for sure.
His cursed hand caressed a nasty scar he got from fighting lever four. It still hurt him a little. But what pained him more was the thing the scar reminded him of. His hand stopped moving. Thinking about this , again, in the middle of the night would not make him any good, so he decided to focus on his redheaded friend.
Lavi probably knew something. But, even if he did, he still acted normally, well normally for him. Which wasn't bad, just annoying.
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
" Bakanda, you bastard - it's all your fault. " He sighed, looking at the ceiling.
Timcampy flew over him, sensing his master's apprentice foul mood and landed on his head nuzzling him delicately.
" Thanks, Tim " – he patted his golem – " you hate him too, right? "
In response golden golem began to growl, known for his dislike toward Japanese.
Allen's eyes saddened "Hate? Who am I kidding."
Suddenly Link sat up, looking straightly at the door.
" What is it? " – Link's alerted look startled Allen.
" Someone is at the door. "
Timcampy circled around over the doorstep, also sensing something. Allen quickly jumped out of the bed and went to open them.
" It's no one there " - for a few minutes he observed the dark corridor, adjusting his sight. But he did not spot a living soul. And then some small object lying on his doormat caught his attention.
" What is it, Walker? " – the inspector asked without a trace of sleep in his voice.
" It was lying here on the ground, strange isn't it? " – he showed it to the inspector.
" A book? "
" Yes. " – he looked at the title – " 'Little prince' – have you heard of it? "
" No. " – he cut shortly. Link could not remember the last time he's read something else than a report.
Allen opened it, when a small piece of paper fell out of it. He caught it before it fell to the floor and eyed it. Without any warning, Link took the book from his hands and browsed it briefly. Not finding anything worth his attention he gave it back, going back to bed.
" It's late, you should go to sleep. "
" Oh, thank you Capitan obvious. "
Link raised his eyebrow, but let that comment pass.
Allen threw the book on his desk, next to his bed. Now seated on his bed, he took a glance at inspector, checking if his eyes were closed. Carefully, he took the piece of paper form his pocket, and read it slowly.
" Hope this will help you tame Kanda. Good luck. "
He read it again and again, before crumpling it into the ball and throwing it away. It was Lavi's handwriting, he recognized it well.
" He knows. " – he groaned in his mind. Allen hid his face in his hands, cursing himself for being stupid enough to give his secret away.
Irritated, he threw himself over the bed, sinking into bed sheets. After a while, the curiosity began to bug him – he could almost feel the presence of book, without even looking at it.
" This is so not what I need right now. "
I took him two hours of twisting and twirling, much to his golem's dismay, before he gave up his pride ( and sanity, he assumed) and began to read the book, accompanied curious Timcampy, and Link's quiet snoring .
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Lavi was going back to his room, pleased with himself.
It was a good idea to gave him that book, since he could not help Allen in other way. Not that he did not want to, it just that he had no knowledge about wooing men nor it interested him. So he could not give Allen any worthy advice.
He just hopes that his friend will change his attitude towards Kanda and do something about it. It will be better for them if he did. And this place would become much, much more interesting.
He smirked, humming lively.
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Kanda sat down in meditating position, taking a few deep breaths and closing his tired eyes.
It was his usual routine – after several hours of rough training, he would come down here to calm his body and mind. It was raining outside all morning, so now he was all soaked, which did not improve his mood. Also Kamoui's nerve-racking voice would not leave his thoughts.
" I will not give you another mission, until you start behaving like a team player! I will not risk losing another finder! "
I was true, that one of finders were killed during their fight with akuma in Belgrade, but it was not his fault that he was such a weakling. He died because of own stupidity.
Japanese fumed, seriously pissed.
His job was to get the innocence, not to protect finders. But, in the end, it was all blamed on Kanda.
He took a white towel that was hanging around his neck to wipe out raindrops from his face.
" If you think that I will change, then you are not as smart as you think you are. " – he mumbled under his nose.
He took a few slips of green tea, he brought along from cafeteria. While favoring the taste, he heard footsteps coming closer.
Everyone knew that it was Kanda's meditation time and no one was stupid enough to interfere. Well, maybe except for Lenalee or Lavi, but they were on their way to Prague. Japanese observed the entrance and then he saw Allen coming through, followed, as always, by inspector.
He glared at him dangerously.
Allen just sat down in similar pose as Japanese, in the farthest corner of room. He did not say a word, nor he looked at the other occupant.
Kanda kept sending him murderous wave, but silver-haired successfully ignored him.
" Why are you here, Moyashi? " Japanese asked finally, losing patience.
" I want to meditate. And my name is Allen, BaKanda. "
" You, meditate? Hah! "
" If an idiot like you could do it, then why can't I? – he opened one eye.
" Don't call me an idiot, you idiot! "
" If you have a problem with me being here, then leave. "
" Me? You leave! I was here first!"
" Then deal with it!"
" Che!"
They both sat down abruptly, looking at the opposite directions. Link rolled his eyes. " Children. "
So they sat there in silence for about an hour, surprisingly without going to their necks. Finally Kanda glanced at Allen discreetly, wondering what was his reason for being here and disturbing his peace. Like, he could not go and annoy someone else, somewhere else.
Allen's head hung from his shoulders in a uncomfortable way, his face showing no emotion.
"Wait a minute…"
The loud snore was heard next.
" The idiot is sleeping! "
Small vain appeared on his forehead. Slowly be grabbed his cup and flung it at him, without a miss. Link observed calmly as cup hit painfully Wlaker's forehead.
"If you want to sleep, then go somewhere else, you moron!"
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