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Thank you to dendodge for betaing.
Disclaimer: I do not own D Gray-Man, it belongs to Katsura Hoshino.
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Chapter 4
Dawn had broken by the time Allen and Lavi began cantering through the woodland. Allen had told the novice to stay away from the dirt path in a wooded area because that was where noblemen and officials would be. To be a successful highwayman, Allen informed him, you must remain in secret and only come forward when you know you won't land in trouble.
Lavi, the words playing through his mind, was riding ahead of Allen on the strange horse. He didn't know what the Earl did to his horses, but the creature seemed impeccably docile despite being ridden by a stranger. He pulled on the reins of the horse and turned it around to face Allen, who came to a halt on his own horse.
"I bet I can jump over that log with this horse," Lavi said with a grin.
Allen raised an eyebrow in distaste. "Lavi, we're highwaymen, not show jumpers. If you fool around, you'll get us caught."
"It's a log that's a few metres away." He pointed at the dead silver birch lying on the ground, almost forgotten. Its silver bark glittered in the straying sunlight beams, and Allen sighed.
"One jump."
Lavi grinned once more, this grin larger than the previous. He had wanted the chance to impress the highwayman. After all, he was sure of his feelings towards the younger teen. He was definitely attracted to him; his face was unusually cute for a highwayman – at least, in Lavi's opinion – and when the young man smiled genuinely (which was rare, Lavi noted), it seemed like the whole world lit up. He was a good person, Lavi knew, despite the terrible acts he committed. The way the wanted posters made Allen look was nothing like how he truly was – he was a young, lonely, betrayed boy with a big heart, and kindness that filled Lavi's heart with warmth.
As he reared the horse up for the jump, Allen watched the redhead attentively. There was something about him that the boy couldn't place. His grin was mesmerising and he made Allen feel warm inside. He'd never really had a companion before; the only men he trusted had betrayed him and tried to kill him, but this time, Allen was sure Lavi wouldn't do that. There was something in his eye that made Allen sure that he was safe when Lavi was around.
Maybe Allen was just finally glad to have a friend he could trust. Or maybe, he just saw Lavi as the brother he never got the chance to have.
Lavi trotted back from the jump, a pleased expression written upon his handsome face. "Did you see that?"
Oh, darn. Whilst lost in thought, Allen had missed the jump. Not wanting to disappoint the redhead, he plastered on a fake smile and nodded enthusiastically. "Very impressive, Lavi."
He trotted forward, missing the glowing beam on Lavi's face as he followed suit.
The sound of several hooves against the dirt forced Allen to stop as he looked out over the vegetation. A large, wooden carriage, painted gold, sped past – clearly a carriage of nobility. Allen felt the money in the carriage weigh down on his belt as he turned to Lavi.
"Stay here and stay quiet."
Before Lavi could ask why, Allen took his hat off and pulled the dark wig, covering his silver hair, away from his head, followed by the black eye patch. He threw the disguise at Lavi, who caught it with precise skill as Allen replaced the hat on his head, tipping the front corner with a grin directed at Lavi, and rode off towards the carriage with professional style.
It wasn't long before Allen was in front of the carriage and pulled out onto the dirt path, obstructing the large vehicle. The driver pulled the reins of the two horses pulling the carriage in surprise, and looked on in horror as Allen moved Timcanpy forward, slowly and menacingly.
The occupant of the carriage stepped out in fury. "What the blast do you think y– oh." The nobleman, Baron Tyki Mikk of Huddersfield, gave Allen an interested look. Allen trotted forward, his trusted pistol cocked and aimed at the Baron's head; however, the man seemed to be cool in the face of danger. "You're the infamous Allen Walker, aren't you?"
Not one for chatter, Allen stopped and narrowed his eyes. "Hand over the money."
"Oh, that's lame. I thought you highwaymen were all 'stand and deliver!'?"
Allen rolled his eyes. "That's so passé. Why does everyone think we're all Dick Turpin? Hell, I'm damn sure Turpin never said that to begin with. Regardless!" Allen stopped himself from ranting any further and let his index finger hover over the trigger as a warning. "Hand over the money and I won't kill you."
"That's it!" Tyki clicked his fingers. "That's it! 'Stand and deliver! Your money or your life!'!"
"Let's not go into this again, Baron. Just give me the money and I'll let you go with your life."
"Hmm, you drive a hard deal, Walker, but I'll have to say… No."
Allen almost dropped the Flintlock in surprise. "N-no?"
"Yes, no."
Allen trotted a little closer to the man and held the gun directly into his face, point blank; there was no way he could miss at that range. "The money. Now."
"The answer is still no. Nevertheless, I didn't realise how cute you were." Tyki pushed the gun from his face, his expression never changing as he placed a hand on Allen's leg. He ran his hand up and down in a slow, suggestive movement. Allen had frozen in place. Just what was Tyki playing at? "You're definitely someone I can have fun with. But, alas, you are a wanted criminal in these parts; oh, but you knew that already, didn't you? I could turn you in…" Tyki's grasp on Allen's leg tightened as the younger boy struggled to free himself. "But not until after I've had my way with you."
Tyki's grasp turned into a pulling motion as Allen felt himself being removed from the horse. Time slowed and Allen panicked. The gun fired and Tyki stepped back in shock, his white shirt going red from the blood seeping through his wound. He was a dead man. That was for sure. He made a small jerk and tried to move towards his carriage, but it was too late. He coughed blood before kneeling to the ground and lying still.
The driver, having seen this, screamed in shock and climbed off the carriage and onto a horse, freeing it in a terrified flurry. Allen watched from the corner of his eye as the man began to ride in the opposite direction to where he came, no doubt toward York. Allen raised his gun before he could stop himself and, with two pulls of the trigger, the man was slumped over the horse, dead. The horse jerked without anyone to control it and ran into the wood and out of Allen's blurred sight.
Allen gasped as he looked down at his smoking pistol, struck by what he'd just done. He'd killed a man. He'd killed an innocent man. Lavi, from the shadows, raced towards Allen and grabbed his wrist.
"Allen? Allen, can you hear me?"
Allen made no movement. His mouth formed words but no voice came from his lips.
"Allen, it's me, Lavi."
"Lavi," Allen whispered, looking up. His grey eyes were wide with shock, and his skin was paler than usual. He was trembling, Lavi could feel it in his grasp.
"It's me. Come on, you're safe now. Let's go." Lavi pulled on Timcanpy's reins, the horse unaware of his surroundings, and trotted forward confidently. Allen clutched onto the golden horse's reins in alarm as Lavi climbed off his own horse and gathered the riches Tyki had in his carriage. Golden coins and the finest jewellery, littered with sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. What took Lavi's fancy was a small gold ring resting on the seat; it had a pale blue stone which shone a milky white in the sunlight. Reminded instantly of Allen's eyes, Lavi pocketed the ring and left the carriage bare. He moved to Tyki's body and kicked the dead man with disgust before riding off and following Allen.