Change of Heart
Change of Heart
Chapter Four : Return to the Order
A week had passed since Allen had run into Road on the street. The incident was nothing more than a moment in his memory…and a blurry one, at that. He was glad to put it out of mind.
Allen looked up at the large gates that would lead him back into the Black Order. His Innocence had fully recovered from its last trauma, and he found that he really couldn't stay away. It was his duty, and he felt a bit bad for taking off time…even if it was forced upon him.
Slowly, Allen pushed open the gates and walked into the dimly lit, large foyer. He was greeted enthusiastically by a face he hadn't seen in a while…two faces, actually.
"Allen! Welcome back!" Lenalee grinned cheerfully and gave him a friendly hug. Allen returned the hug as best he could, what with one arm being preoccupied with his small suitcase.
As he let go of Lenalee, the other voice rang out in protest.
"Eeeh, what the Hell?! I don't get a hug, Beansprout?!" A typical greeting from Lavi. Allen didn't really have time to think of a response or a reprimand for being called 'Beansprout', as Lavi proceeded to riffle his hair excessively.
"Lavi…" Allen remarked with a slightly exasperated tone, as one would give to an irksome parent in public.
"Awright, awright. Well, c'mon! How was your vacation?" Lavi dove right into the questions as he and Lenalee walked with Allen down the corridors and towards his room.
"It was…it was nice. Thanks." Allen smiled calmly, and it seemed to be enough of an answer to placate the both of them. He didn't really want to talk about it much, simply because he knew that, somehow, in one form or another, his run-in with Road would come up.
Fortunately, before either Lenalee or Lavi could ask, they reached Allen's room. He bade them goodnight with a smile and a wave and walked into what was comparable to a disaster-zone.
As he entered the black void of his room, Allen nearly tripped over a number of things, mostly stacks of paper. He finally managed to make it to a lamp and turn it on.
His eyes widened as he slowly comprehended the mess. It was awful! Komui, Lavi, and Lenalee had been so urgent in getting him out of the Order to take a break that he hadn't had time to clean…or at least, make a path to his bed.
With a sigh, Allen began to pick up various junk off his floor. It was late enough already, and the work only made him sleepier. The thought of sleep was like a siren-song that drifted over from his bed. With every inch he cleared, the melody seemed to grow in intensity.
Finally, there was a path! Allen let himself fall onto the bed, still in his Exorcist uniform. He had almost fallen asleep when he felt something poking the back of his head. He wondered, for a moment, if he had accidentally squashed Timcampy…but the little golem was hovering nearby.
With a slight groan, Allen turned himself on his stomach and pulled a slightly crumpled piece of paper off his pillow. He rubbed his eyes and read it aloud quietly.
"Allen…I need to talk to you about some impact…oh, wait." He squinted a bit and re-read the word. Who ever had written the note didn't have the best penmanship.
"I need to talk to you about something…important. Meet me outside, on the road." He raised an eyebrow groggily. He would much rather sleep. But it didn't help that the note had no sender…someone must've gotten into his room while he was cleaning…or something.
Unfortunately, his curiosity bested his desire for sleep and he slowly oozed out of bed. He slipped into his boots with an unrecognized ease, and drew his hood over his head as he slipped out his window.
Outside and in the distance, Road's yellow eyes observed Allen as he climbed out his window in a not-so-graceful fashion. She smiled cutely to herself and waited for him to come to her as she stood in the darkness down the road.