Lavi was annoyed, tired and most of all, confused beyond far for the day. Sitting on a bench, resting, he stared into the nothing as he had been listening and seeing enough people. He had hoped that the town-folk would be talking about one particular person or at least a specific group of people, but still, no luck. Walking around the block over and over, nothing could have been done to help. What's even worse than no luck with his job, his partner in arms was acting stranger than ever. After the whole bakery scene and the crème, Luna had been acting a tad lewd than… …well, ever. Locking arms with him, standing closer than ever, giggling, calling him 'CUTE'! It was all really troublesome and confusing. How or why, but… she was actually acting like a girl. Not just any girl, but a flirting, feminine, soft girl. Countless times had he been baffled, shocked and jumbled.
He couldn't deny the fact he liked it though. After the moment of shock passes, it's quite nice having someone pretty at your side the whole day that isn't threatening to beat the daylights out of you is quite nice. Seeing this side of Luna was very refreshing. Knowing her for a year now, their friendship was a very close one. Even if she acted like a boy most of the time and was always dull to hang with, her company was always enjoyable once she found something to laugh about. Actually, it was only Lavi who could really make her break a giggle. His trouble-making playful attitude was always warming to her. Lavi never knew that though, as her tough male-like exterior kept a lot of her emotions very well hidden.
Luna didn't act like a boy on purpose. It was just a natural way for her. Growing up alone after her grandfather died, she didn't have anyone to watch out for her or to protect her from bullying. Realizing this, she took on the male role herself and stood up to the boys that picked on her when she went through town. Her act didn't help her last long though, and had to make her bite better than her bark. Beginning work at the men's pub at the age 16, she's seen many bar fights to know a thing or two. The owner even helped teach her when he caught her punching one of the sacks of trash out back. The bar owner was kind to Luna, but she never liked how he smelled like heavy alcohol all the time. None-the-less, she was forcefully removed from her job when Kanda snatched her from the town. It was coincidental that she was just wondering that day if she maybe had a life outside the town; a purpose of her own to fulfill. Heavy in thought, she was attacked by those Akuma boys. Their lot had already been giving her a pain for a month already, but she was able to handle them.
"Luna, why don't we head back to the hotel? It's getting late." Lavi frowned, glancing up at the sky. The orange was beginning to lose its bright hue, and blue night sky was quickly seeping in. Luna rose her head off his shoulder to look up at him and smile warmly.
"Tired? I guess so. Let's go." She nodded, rising from the bench. Lavi followed, groaning in pain as he got up. Luna coiled her arms around his, helping him stand. "They still hurt?" she asked softly, a small frown curling down on her lips. Lavi replied with a fake smile and a slight nod of his head. "I'll give you a massage when we get to the hotel." Luna winked, pulling him down the road. Lavi's cheeks turned a tad pink at the thought. He had already blushed furiously enough for the day; these random flirty instances were actually beginning to feel normal for him. As he trudged behind, they passed up the bakery they were at earlier. The lights inside were blazing warm with working ovens and people buzzing about.
"They must have a lot of good business." Lavi muttered, but Luna had already stopped and stared into the shop for a moment.
"Stay here." Luna whispered, leaning him against wall before rushing into the pastry shop. Lavi's one eye scanned the crowd trying to find her, but the blur of colors and movement was a bit too much. After waiting and waiting for what was probably half an hour, he got up to go in and find her. Opening the door, the noise inside the store was suddenly brighter, everyone clapping in sync as even louder music boomed over their laughter. Getting on his toes and peeking over people, he wove his way through the crowd to find himself at the edge of an empty circle. Inside, three groups of two twirled and danced in step to the beat, partners being exchanged soothingly. What surprised Lavi most was that it was Luna dancing amongst them. The dancers were actually pretty young, a few less than her age and some in their early 20s by the looks. None-the-less, it seemed like fun, and with the wide grin on Luna's face, it was obvious she found it very entertaining. Watching in amazement, she followed their dance steps rather well, her feet easily flying over the floor. It actually brought a smile to Lavi's face as he clapped along with the crowd. Sooner than expected however, the music stopped and the dancers gave a bow. As Luna's head rose, she caught sight of Lavi and her skin became furiously flushed.
"You were watching?" she chuckled shyly, skipping up to him.
"You were taking a while and I got worried." He leaned in so as not to yell over everyone. Just as Luna was about to say something, the baker across the room yelled her name, holding a large bag up in the air. Rushing over, she handed him some bills before taking the bag.
"I got us dinner." She smiled, snatching his hand with her free one before pulling him out of the shop.
The whole walk to the hotel, Lavi and Luna ate small pastries, the red head going over some old stories he told her long ago for some laughs. Luna enjoyed the time, laughing and chewing.
"Really though Luna, who knew you were such a good dancer. I was a bit surprised." Lavi nodded before taking a bite out of his croissant.
"Yeah! I'm surprised myself." Luna chuckled before slowing her walk a bit.
'How was I doing that?' she thought to herself. A surge of pain rushed to her head, making her grab it unconsciously and groan.
Lavi heard this and turned around to look at her. "You okay?" he asked, wrapping and arm around her shoulder. The bleach haired exorcist nodded before smiling comfortingly at him. The two continued back to the hotel, the night rather quiet as they distanced themselves from the main road. Entering the inn, the woman at the front desk gives them a warm welcoming.
"Lovely dancing you did at the bakery. Everyone love you~" the woman grinned as the two continued upstairs.
"Wow, word gets fast around here." Lavi said softly.
"It's a small town." Luna shrugged, opening the door for them. Once inside, she locked the two of them in and kicked off her boots, making a B-line for her bed. Collapsing in it with a groan, she hugs the pillow to her face and embraces the softness against her. Lavi sat on his bed next to her, sighing in relief as his legs gave out. The two sat quietly in the room, collecting the soothing feeling of stress leave their legs before Luna turned her head to smile at the red head.
"So we keep looking for the innocence tomorrow?" she smiled sheepishly, hoping their aches would not be worsened. Lavi sighed again, returning a crooked smile and a shrug. Luna closed her eyes for a moment before rising up. "I can't complain though, I had fun today." Her lips curled into her cheeks as her eye landed on her exorcist partner. He arched a brow but said nothing. "It's nice to have a day outside the order." She continued. "Especially with you. You're a lot of fun to be with." Her voice began to soften gradually, and Lavi's attention was completely turned. He no longer worried about the innocence. Luna wanted to continue, but she forgot the words. Her gaze on the red head fixated her as a swell of emotion balled up in her chest. He returned the stare, eye locked on her and the room went quiet.
Not saying a word, Luna rose from her bed and sat next to Lavi, her head resting on his shoulder as her arm wrapped around his, embracing his body warmth. He watched carefully as she curled up next to him.
"I don't want to go back to the order. General Klaud and Komui will just lock me up in there again and make me train all the time. I like being out in the world, seeing places like this and having fun." She muttered, her eyes slowly beginning to feel heavy. "You're so lucky Lavi… you get to know all these languages and see these places… I'm jealous." She whimpered faintly, hiding her face. Her statement actually surprised Lavi really, he never knew that she would possibly be jealous of such a thing. Collecting herself, she lifted her chin to look up at the exorcist, turquoise orb locked on ivy green. The two gazed before the white haired exorcist laid her hand on his cheek, cold touch stinging at his skin before she leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips.
A surge suddenly passed through Lavi as he suddenly felt hungry for her, hands unconsciously grasping and pulling her against him, his lips now snatching hers.
'This isn't right. This shouldn't be happening, I'm not doing this.' Lavi panicked in his head as Luna's arms wrapped around his neck. His tongue rolled over her bottom lip, her mouth opening in invitation, allowing him to explore inside her. Her cold touch stung and made adrenaline pump through his veins, blush rushing to replenish the warmth in every inch she touched of him. Her lips were surprisingly soft despite the lack of fullness they held. Their kiss melted perfectly, warm and cool breath clashing to cause static in the nerves across the mouths, their lust build and building. His body weight overpowering hers, her back laid against the bed, his weight pinning her here.
'No.. I have to stop.' Lavi hissed in his thoughts, his hands running down her arms till they found her wrists, pulling them to the side of her head and pinning them there. Her legs curled and stretch, her body squirming and moving with the immoral energy flowing through her veins. His fingers wove over her palms and entangle with hers, gripping tightly. While his body continued to act on its own whim, he was lucky enough to have some control over his hands, wriggling them till he found what he had been searching for. The ring on her finger still sat where it was placed, it's surface smooth to the touch.
Luna groaned in the kiss, their lips pulling away to catch breath. Her grunting and little moans made a shiver run down Lavi's spine, his might put into controlling his body before he did anything rash while his fingers rushed to pull the jewelry off her hand.
"MMph -Lavi" Luna gasped before nipping at his bottom lip. Closing his eyes tight, controlling his body was harder than he thought. The innocence wasn't controlling him fully, but instead, it was increasing his inner till anything could satisfy his hunger. The one wearing the innocence would act out what the receiver was lusting for, thus making them a doll to their bidding. That is why people would become so famous in town so quickly. Men were talking about how attractive said person was while women spoke of how jealous they were that said person was wooing everyone away.
Growling, Lavi's lips dragged across her cheek and down her jaw-line, slipping to her neck where they suckled and nipped and the soft surface. His fingers pulled at the ring, it's tight fit a bit hard to work before finally, at a sudden moment, it came off with a simple 'pop'. Luna froze, her breath halting for a bit before her arms crashed, her hold on him loosened. The building lust inside Lavi disappeared, but his body felt frail and weak. Rising as high as he could hold himself, he saw Luna fast asleep beneath him. The innocence must've drained all her energy and used her body as a doll.
"So the innocence does its job till the two people collapse. But that doesn't explain how they disappear…" he grumbled to himself before rising up. Turning his head to the window, and ominous shadow floated above the town. It wasn't till he stared at it more that he figured out what it was. "So that's what happened to the missing people." He smirked before reaching over for his hammer.
Luna dreamt softly in the bed, her sleep heavy and dreams vivid. She was sitting in her home again, old creaky floors and walls with very little furniture, dust floating in the air in the light that a window could offer. Sitting in an old rocking chair, she was casually dressed in her old home attire, folded clothes placed in her lap. Lifting her head, confused as to suddenly wonder why she was here.
"Something bothering you Luna?" asked an aged wheezy soft voice. Turning her head, seated in the wooden chair next to her, was her grandpa, a bowl of soup in lap and hands. His skin was wrinkled and dry, eyes hazy and dried. They still held that special glint though, warm and silver. His hair was thin, balding at old age and white as hers. His tiny slouched form was the warmest, comforting and relaxing thing she could ever see.
"No, nothing grandpa. Just a bit tired." She smiled, shaking her head ever so slightly before grabbing the next clothe to fold from the table next to her.
A gentle chuckle came from his chest. "You have the same look your mother had when she thought about your father. Beautiful as ever too." Her grandfather continued. Luna could feel her cheeks flush and she pressed the folded laundry into her lap again.
"Grandfather-!" she gasped with a grin, turning to him again. "You never talk about my parents. And what are you implying anyways?!" she laughed, tilting her head confused. On occasion, like any elder, he would drabble on about something random and very much so off topic. This was probably those moments, but a gut feeling was just itching at her.
"Luna, you can't hide Love. You can hide every expression well, but Love is the one thing you fail to conceal." The old man cackled, head shaking and nodded because of his old bones. Luna furrowed her brow, lowering her head to hide the fluster in his cheeks. It's just old people talk she told herself, but it was hitting her right on the dot. "So tell me about this boy. You seem to hang out with him a lot."
Luna arched a brow at this. "Grandpa, who are you-"
Lavi was leaning against the entrance-way from the hall to the living room, a soft smile on his face. His eye was locked on her, it's glass texture only reflecting, but his sneer holding all the sentiment she needed to see. Her own smile faded as her jaw fell, a silent 'oh' forming on her lips. Her grandfather cackled a bit louder as her slowly turned over his shoulder to see what she possibly could have saw, but Lavi began to walk into the room to save him the trouble. Standing beside his chair now, he placed a hand on his shoulder and bowed his head.
"Lovely to meet you sir." He whispered. The cackling turned into boastful laughter as his eyes lit up at the boy, reaching a hand up to touch his placed on him.
"Oh, so you're the special boy Luna tells me about. My, you are a handsome one." He hummed. "Luna, how could you say such bad things about this boy? He's so nice."
"You say bad things about me?" the red head arched a brow. Luna furrowed hers, pulling the folded laundry from her lap and onto the table.
"Lavi, what are you doing here?" she asked in a low tone. This was her dream with her grandpa. No one else ever came into her dreams.
Lavi's smile faded slightly, but his lips still curled upward into a smirk. "Isn't it obvious?"
Luna stepped forward to lead him out the door when her grandpa held a hand up to her, ordering her to halt.
"Now Luna, we both know why you brought Lavi here." He muttered, his happy glow fading quickly as a frown drooped on his face. Taking one last look at the red head, he gave the elder a comforting squeeze on the shoulder. "I see now that you're in capable hands." His soft eyes turned lonely as he gazed up at the girl he raised. "I loved you Luna, and I always wanted the best for you. I didn't tell you this before but-"
The elders mouth continued moving, but no sound came out. Luna squinted, trying hard to hear, but she was answered with nothing. Looking at Lavi, his eye seemed to grow sad as if he was hearing a sad story from him. Why was Lavi able to hear but her? Luna was quickly growing agitated, her fists balling tight and her skin tingled with crispy cold touches. Pain flooded inside her, making her collapse. She heard a distant cry of her name before a something warm wrapped around her waist.
Waking up abruptly to a cold sweat, the bleached hair exorcist was panting deeply, sweat dripping down her face, chest and back. Was she sick? Pulling the blankets off her, she found herself dressed in different attire. She had on her normal clothes underneath, but over it, a Black Order uniform jacket that didn't belong to her. Feeling something shift under her, she peeked over her shoulder to find in the bed with her was another body. Not just anybody, but Lavi curled up nice and warm next to her. It was his arms wrapped around her waist that she felt around her. The spot on the pillow next to him was drenched with sweat. She had to admit, his warmth was comforting, but shock was too busy drowning out her senses.
The bookman's eye opened to see his sleeping beauty now awake.
"Good morning." He grumbled, arms wrapping tighter around her.
"GET OUT OF MY BED!" she screamed, causing the boy to open his eye in surprise and jolt up next to her.
"Shhh-Stop yelling!" he hissed, placing a finger over her lips. She had none of it though and jumped out of the bed, throwing his jacket off. When she stood up, she found herself not in her usual pants, but shorts instead. Throwing her arms up in shock, she glared at the boy.
"You changed my shorts?!" she squeaked furiously.
"You were cold and sweating all night! I thought it would help!" he yelled back.
"I'M ALWAYS COLD LAVI. IT'S THE PRICE FOR HAVING MY INNOCENCE." She threw her hands wildly in the air, flashing her arms that were purely pale and glistening with sweat, making her skin seem to shimmer like ice. "WHY THE HELL WERE YOU SLEEPING WITH ME?!"
"So you don't remember?" he arched a brow.
"THE HELL I-" she paused. She didn't actually remember much of anything from the previous day. Looking around the room confused, she looked at Lavi again to see that he was covered in bruises, a few bandages covering some cuts.
"Sit down before you faint and I'll tell you everything." He sighed, scooting over to allow her to sit next to him. She sat down on her own bed though. Being too close to him, she might lose it and punch him.
Lavi explained what had happen, about the ring being the innocence, how it had knocked her out and used her body as a doll to do it's bidding, the flirting and lewd actions she did, what almost happened last night and how he got the innocence off of her before anything could happen, that she passed out after it was removed and the Akuma attacked. Luna sat in complete disbelief of what he was saying, but since she had no proof of it, she was going to have to agree with him. The thought of having done all that embarrassed her, her cheeks turning a tad pink the more he explained, but it wasn't really her, so why would she be embarrassed?
"The train back to the order leaves today. You have to take the innocence back there while I take another train with bookman to another town. Komui said that he wanted some information." He shrugged, getting out of bed and folding the covers. Luna didn't budge as she tried to push the mental images out of her head. Lavi saw her seeming so uncomfortable and smiled softly.
"You know, I did have fun yesterday though." He muttered. The female glared up at him, thinking he had an innuendo behind it, but he raised his hands defensively. "Really Luna, you were actually acting like a girl for once. It was nice." His smile stretched across his face as she tensed down again. What was the big deal? Acting like a girl wasn't her, but as Lavi said that, she wondered if maybe everyone would prefer her different…
"I gotta say though, your kissing is a little sloppy. If you need practice, I'd be happy to teach you. Loving is like first language to me." Lavi winked with a devious grin. Luna growled at him before socking him in the shoulder. "OWW!" the red head cried out in pain.