Hey friends! I have the next set, and I am ecstatic to be sharing these ones! This is where we really start getting into several of our novel-worthy lines, and yet still, amazingly, we keep within the "one sentence only" rule. ^.- You'll have to let us know how we did!
And, giving a little credit where credit is due, here is both a warning and a disclaimer (not covered under the original disclaimer... ;3) regarding two of our prompts:
~ "Nicknames" – the nicknames used are original nicknames that my best friend and I created and are not for casual use outside these prompts. Please do not use them without first getting permission! Thank you. :)
~ "Watermelon" – inspired by JanuaryGreen's fanfiction "Lavi's Day Out". If you'd like to know the whole story behind that one-liner, please go read her story! It's hysterical!
All right then, on with it – and enjoy!
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Silence: As much as Allen treasured Lavi's voice, he treasured his silences as well, the calm moments between them filled not with words but of different, shared emotions – their mutual contentment, wonder, even pain – when it was a quiet relief that words were not needed nor asked for, and yet they could both walk away feeling as though they had been lifted up, reassured and encouraged by each other all the same; an entire volume of unspoken but understood conversations between them.
Cradle: "Stay with me Lavi," Allen pleaded, voice broken and wet as he cradled the redhead to his chest, rocking them from side to side while pressing down on the gaping wound across Lavi's ribs, crying silently into his red hair as he waited for the medic to arrive.
Forbidden: "I must really care for you in this forbidden heart of mine… that I could throw away everything I've ever wanted, everything I've worked for without a second thought… to stay with you… my brother…"
Reaching: All his life Allen had been searching, unconsciously reaching out his hand and his heart, silently wishing someone special would catch his hand and accept his gift and hold him tightly until the world disappeared and nothing else mattered… so when Lavi found him reaching and clasped his hand, intertwining their fingers as he whispered "I love you Allen" against his ear, Allen wept silent tears that faded on his smile and he held onto Lavi tightly, falling into the happiness consuming him until time stopped and the world vanished and Lavi and his love were all that remained.
Devious: "Lavi, I know that devious glint in your eye – what on earth are you planning, and how do I get in on it?"
Protect: Never had the urge to protect someone besides himself been so strong, and Lavi blinked slowly at the revelation as he tenderly traced his fingers through Allen's hair, thumb caressing his beloved friend's scarred cheekbone while Allen slept on, oblivious to his actions and the solemn vow Lavi made to himself that he sealed with a fragile, heartbreaking kiss to Allen's forehead, whispering, "I'll keep you safe… I promise…"
Boots: It's been said before that you can tell a lot about someone by the state of their shoes – boots being no exception – and Allen's boots spoke volumes about him: to the sight, scruffy and faded, a little worn and rough around the edges from long and hard years of service, but to the touch were found to be cleanly oiled and as soft as a hummingbird's nest, patched and cared for with personal skill and pride, and easily just as sturdy and reliable as a brand new pair of any shoemaker's finest.
Eye-patch: Lavi's eye-patch bore subtle mysteries to Allen, one he walked the borderline on between asking his friend to allow him to see the eye underneath and waiting for Lavi to reveal his eye on his own… but it was another mystery Allen chose to solve when the two of them walked into a tailor's shop; Lavi turned at his name being called to witness Allen grinning broadly from ear to ear, an eye-patch over his right eye, smirking at his disbelieving face as he laughingly stated, "So this is what it's like to see with only one eye… man Lavi, this kind of sucks…!"
Dominos: Allen had never seen a game of dominos before and went from uninterested to skeptical, intrigued, curious, fascinated, and at last excited as he and Lavi built their own unique setup of the small playing pieces until they had set up enough to knock them all down.
Dream-catcher: Allen smiled in awe as he held up the beautiful object Lavi had sent him from the Americas, fingering the delicate feathers and netting and rolling the red and green beads hanging off of it with wonder as he pulled a note from the box, decorated with Lavi's distinct writing: "This is called a dream-catcher Allen… let it catch all your nightmares where I'm not there to do so."
Nicknames: Kanda face-palmed internally and left the room when the two friends began to nickname each other with what they pulled straight out of their heads, the overly sweetened tones of "Oh, Alle-bear!" and "Haha, Lava-lamb!" haunting his quickening and disappearing steps.
Reunited: Lavi couldn't describe how good it felt, after so many nights on a cold, unforgiving floor and stiff-backed mornings when all his muscles screamed for relief, to stumble through the gates of the Order straight into Allen's waiting arms, pulling him in tightly, so warm and welcoming Lavi could've fallen asleep right where he stood, smiling tiredly against Allen's neck as his most beloved person whispered lovingly to him, "Welcome home."
Watermelon: "Lavi… Lavi no… damn painkillers, I'm losing you… Lavi, wake up… NO you can't… it's not like they're going to talk back, why on earth would you want me to take you to the watermelons?"
Music: Allen awkwardly placed his left hand on Lavi's shoulder, staring up inquisitively at the redhead's secretive, lovely smile while his other hand was captured and warm fingers found his waist as Lavi pulled him into a slow dance, chuckling quietly against his cheek when Allen wondered aloud why they were dancing to no music but fell silent as Lavi's face buried into his shoulder and breathed him in, humming softly, "Then we'll make our own music."
Waiting: Lavi felt like he had wasted most of his life waiting – waiting, walking, recording, waiting – waiting, always waiting, and he grew, to some degree, to dislike the monotony of it all… but then Allen came along and taught him a new meaning to waiting, and then suddenly, Lavi began to wish that time would slow, just a little, so these moments of precious time would not be swept away into the record books.
Petals: Allen leaned against Lavi's chest as they lounged in the meadow, smiling as the warm breeze bent a daisy into his lap and, glancing sideways to ensure Lavi was still dozing against him and the boulder at his back, Allen plucked the flower from the ground and slowly started to pull one silken white petal off then watch it fall – he loves me – then he plucked another petal, frowned then dropped it, checking Lavi once again lest the redhead discover the childish game he was playing – he loves me not – then carefully plucked another petal with a small smile, then another with a frown, then another until no more petals could be found to pluck – he loves me not – and he sighed sadly as he tossed the empty stem away, irritated that the result bothered him even in the least, and was about to grab for another flower when two arms suddenly embraced his middle, pulling him close as Lavi rested his chin on his shoulder, smiling at Allen's surprised flush at being caught and murmured tenderly, "He loves you…"
Chains: For days, he yanked and pulled and raged at the chains and fetters that held him bound, the other end of the heavy metal driven deep into the surface of the mountain ridge behind him... but regardless of what he did, he could not pull them free... and every day he could not run was another day they would return to hurt him; beat him until his senses reeled with agony and weakness and they had found more than their fill of enjoyment soaking in his pain... he began to wonder if he would die this way; trapped in this would without light, or hope, or a future with more than just hurt... but then one night, while his tormentors slept, a deft form stowed into the clearing and one by one swiftly killed every one of his captures... and when this slender entity came for him, he hung forward in defeat, his weight pulling at the manacles about his wrists, his arms long since dead from lack of bloodflow... but it was not the end... instead of a knife slicing through the soft flesh of his throat, calloused fingertips tenderly brushed over his face, and a soft voice he recalled better in his dreams than reality itself whispered, "Oh heaven, Allen, I thought I lost you forever..." ... the fetters unlocked, their keys stolen from the side of a now dead assailant and he buckled bonelessly, but strong arms scooped him up and held him close, they did not let him fall... and Allen whispered the name he had cried out in the deepest throes of his torture, "... La-...-vi..." and for the first time since his capture, wept.
Theory: Rumbling and soft rocking gently drew Lavi out of his dreams... with a yawn, he adjusted into a more comfortable position against the warmth next to him and was prepared to fall back to sleep when a familiar voice invaded his thoughts... "Lavi, this is just my theory, but it looks like you've attached yourself to someone..." and Lavi's eye wearily opened; realizing again that he had fallen asleep on Allen's shoulder sometime during the 16-hour train-ride home... soft silver eyes glanced sideways at him, a ghost of a smile appearing on his friend's face before the younger boy turned back to the book on his lap, and Lavi just shrugged at the old man across the cabin room... "As you said..." the redhead muttered as he folded his arms and leaned back against Allen's shoulder with a sigh, "... just a theory."
Pleasant: Allen could remember the first night he had ever spend with Lavi, not long after their first mission... he had been wandering the dark halls in a half-dazed stupor when sudden light poured out from an open doorway and a bright face with red hair appeared... seeing how exhausted and worn Allen looked, Lavi beckoned him inside, where he warmed and settled his guest, and they talked long into the already late night; about what, Allen couldn't really say, but he could remember the warmth in the conversation and idly wished over time that it would never end... and at some point, when the mood sobered between them, Lavi asked him why he had been wandering the halls at such a late hour, to which Allen told him he had awakened from another night terror... and when Allen asked Lavi why the redhead had invited him to stay, Lavi merely shrugged and said with a small smile, "I was just curious about you..." and there they fell asleep, side by side, overtaken by pleasant dreams.
(To Be) Held: He decided on an experiment of sorts; he wasn't going to hug his best friend unless the other himself initiated the contact, and for days and weeks, Lavi didn't hug Allen once... they still spoke every day and everything seemed to be normal, but some of the silliness and playing around and magic of their relationship was gone, and while Lavi ached for it to return, he was too stubborn to give in... and then, one late evening, Lavi was kneeling on the floor of Allen's room and listening to the other chat away with Lenalee, but he wasn't really paying attention... he had gone a little listless... and he wasn't expecting it when arms enveloped his head and drew him in, and more from instinct than actual thought Lavi leaned his head into the embrace and let his eye close for a moment or two, and as Allen let him go with a smile, Lavi could only numbly, gratefully whisper, "... thank you..."
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You are fantastic for reading this far. I sincerely hope you enjoyed them all. As always, comments and critique are always welcome. Until next time! ^_^
