Wow... I really do fail. I'm sorry everyone – it's been a really rough week or so. Life needs to stop beating me upside the head. *sigh* Well, I have been looking forward to posting these since the last chapter, and I do apologize for being so late. A couple of these are AU, but aside from that, they're just fun, silly, serious, angsty – but hey, it's that much more fun that way. :D
On a side note – I drew a little something for the prompt "Banished". You can find it on my DeviantArt profile here (just remove and replace the parenthesis): http (colon) (double backslash) arithewarrior (dot) deviantart (dot) com (backslash) art (backslash) DGM-Banishment-225834189
As always, enjoy my friends. :)
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Ocean: Allen had always loved to run along the beach... And every morning, before dawn would even begin to paint the sky, he was stretching and warming up; breathing in ocean air and loving it, running miles in either direction along with shoreline until his body gave out... and then, one day, when the sun was high in the sky and he was pacing his way back, he met a boy... seated high up on a large grouping of craggy rocks with hair like fire and a grin like a jester, who called out to him with a wave and said, "You love to run; I can tell... someday, would you let me run with you?" ... And Allen did.
Sand: Lavi snorted back laughter at the sight; instead of swimming or playing around with the rest of the group, Kanda – as usual – was off by himself... he had found a thick pole buried deep into the ground and was currently meditating whilst perched on one foot, eyes closed in concentration... Lavi snagged Allen's attention and the two friends crept stealthily close, counted silently to three, and together grabbed the samurai's balancing foot and leg, knocking him clean off the pole – Kanda hit the ground with a strangled cry and, seething at being interrupted, rolled immediately back up to his feet to give chase after the two misfits making a harrowing escape back to the water, and smiled dangerously when they started panicking and screaming, "HE'S GONNA KILL US!" when they figured out he was gaining on them.
Sky: Sometimes, Lavi got lost in the sky... it was timeless, effortless, and unending; emotion incarnate painted into every color and every cloud and every breath of empty air... it was everything; everything he had never been, and a faint and faded desire within himself wishing he could be... and sometimes, when he was absorbed in the sky, Allen would discreetly watch him... wondering about the myriad of emotion that would play over Lavi's face, and open his mouth to ask...
Pretend: I wanna pretend for a minute... just a minute... that none of this is real... Lavi choked on the blood in his mouth; the harsh, rusty taste of it as he crawled over the field now slippery with more human life... he crawled, he dragged, he pulled himself along on his arms the long distance that separated him from... that separated him from... Allen... he hummed softly, wincing in pain and relief, finding his friend on his back, his familiar face turned up toward the sky, breathing ragged and never deep enough... Allen... and as Lavi reached him, the last channels of his energy bled themselves dry and left him drained, more dead than alive; so he simply collapsed, laying his head against Allen's chest, smelling only blood and listening to the weak pulse thrum gently against his ear... I just want to go home... I want to go home with you... Allen, you are my home... Allen, please...
Illness: He was dying, Lavi knew, as he shivered on the cold tiles of his prison, crawling inch by meager inch towards a corner to curl up in, his body racked in pain, head swimming, his illness growing all the more fatal as the Noah's parasites burned and burrowed under his skin... and as he reached the corner he collapsed there, breathing raggedly while he pulled himself into a painful ball, and waited for Death to come and take him away from that place; the thought relieved him so much his body grew slack and darkness started to seep into his vision, and he was just about to succumb when he hear someone shuffling over the floor nearby and a voice so familiar telling him to wake up, to hold on, because the Destroyer of Time was coming for him, coming to fulfill his destiny, and as Bookman slinked away, Lavi forced himself to sit upright, whimpering at the onslaught of pain the movement racked through his body, and forced himself to rest against the bars of his cell and willed his soul to stay if only just long enough to see Allen one last time...
Difficult: Lavi could feel himself sweating underneath Allen's scrutinizing stare, his hands moving on their own as he swept the three cups around the tabletop, expertly moving the ball to hide beneath one cup, then another, never lifting his gaze from Allen's face until just a trace of uncertainty began to light his silver eyes then stopped the cups and lined them up in a neat row, praying that for once – just once – he had managed to win a game against his crafty friend, and held his breath as Allen lifted his hand, concentrated etching his face as he thought out the puzzle presented before him before finally pointing to the center with a more than confident smirk on his face and Lavi lifted the cup and fell backwards in his seat with a defeated groan as he revealed the ball, frowning at Allen's soft laughter when he held up the ball and chucked it across the room with a scowl... who knew tricking Allen could be so difficult?
Hands: Allen winced at the sight of the smashed weapon as he helped Lavi into a sitting position, immediately reaching out for the redhead's hand, cradling the torn and bruised flesh gently with his own as Lavi sorrowfully gazed upon the broken hammer, trying to find a smile as his broken fingers shook against Allen's black palm, skin twisted and smeared a dark red, and forced out a strained chuckle as he gazed down at their hands: "Well look at that Allen... we match..."
Inside-Out: Lavi always believed that his persona was just that; a persona, a lie he brought to life with a quick wit and an even quicker smile, but then Allen Walker, the Destroyer of Time, the boy he was sentenced to watch as persona Forty Nine, walked into his life and proved him completely wrong, proved that his perfect smiles were empty, his wit was wasted without happiness behind it... but most of all, Allen proved that 'Lavi' wasn't simply a persona, wasn't a lie, but rather he, number Forty Nine, Bookman Junior, was the lie and that Lavi, true smiles, pure love, hearty laughter, had always been, would always be the true self he locked away in his heart... and would always be searching, reaching, waiting for the time he could finally emerge and become the truth.
Hesitation: Walking out of that meeting with Cross Marian and under the scrutinizing microscope of the Order's leadership that day, Lavi stared neutrally at the back of Allen's head as he walked down the hall; hesitant to garner the white-haired Exorcist's attention so as to avoid suspicion, but inside, he was full of questions and concern... but later, when he finally found his friend alone (no longer an easy task, but Allen had already taken to finding ways to escape his observer) in the antiques section of the library, there were no words that came to mind... and when Allen looked up at him with such a perplexing mix of determination and heartbreak, Lavi did the only thing he could think of... he sat down against the bookcase next to him and pulled his dear friend into his lap and against his chest... and when Allen limply leaned into him, drained and listless and aching, Lavi didn't hesitate again, and whispered softly, "... Rain or shine, Hell or high water... I'm here for you..."
Leaving: "I cannot believe we're actually doing this," Allen whispered, slightly unsure even as his body shook in a strange anticipation and he looked back at Headquarters for the last time, smiling softly as Lavi wrapped a bandaged arm around his shoulders and took the side of the map he was offered, wrapping his free hand over Lavi's waist, balancing them out as, with a limp and a smirk, his battered friend asked him if he was scared to be leaving in a playful tone, though Allen could hear the redhead's anxiety as well and he suddenly felt much bolder, knowing his unshakable companion was just as scared as he, all pretenses aside, and managed a laugh, pulling the map tight and heading off down the road, never once looking back again; eyes forward, jaw set, and heart steadfast as they starting forward towards their new future... together.
Defenseless: The first time Lavi awoke with Allen in his arms was only a few weeks into their budding friendship, when the mission they had been sent on got much too hot during the day and much too cold when the sun fell, and Lavi, stunned at the sudden, almost intimate proximity, could only stare in open wonder upon the white-haired boy who, so strong and firm in his eyes, lay cradled against his chest; for once peaceful and utterly defenseless, and he could feel something in his chest clench painfully when it dawned on him, that this beautiful soul reached out through his emptiness, his coldness, the lies, the pain, and found Lavi there beneath it all and trusted him, allowed himself to sleep; knowing, somehow, that Lavi wouldn't fail him... and Lavi, suddenly warm, pulled Allen just a little closer and breathed him in and then, as his eye closed, a strange feeling trembling through his body, he smiled; a true, unconditional, unburdened smile, for the very first time, into Allen's hair.
Strength: It was a strength he didn't know he possessed, carrying his redhead so easily, but Allen wasn't willing to contemplate until this trial was over because Lavi needed him so he couldn't fail, even when just the tiniest sliver of doubt could remind his body that carrying Lavi's much larger, broken, and terrifyingly limp frame on his own straining, wounded back was impossible under every other circumstance.
Bright: Allen sent his best 'I-am-not-amused' stare at his redheaded companion who only grinned brightly at him despite the glare he was being given and Allen sighed, frustrated that his question hadn't been taken seriously at all and that twisting doubt in his gut about just how much of a role he had played in making Lavi's smiles real, as his friend had claimed, only worsened has he turned away, despondent and worried, until two arms wrapped around him to keep him from leaving, and Lavi hugged him close to his chest, voice soft and warm against his ear as Lavi smiled into his skin, "Allen... you are my smile..."
Haircut: "Lavi, I'm getting cold..." Allen caught his friend's gaze out of the corner of his eye, but he hadn't really needed to say anything – Lavi could see the goosebumps flecking Allen's bare shoulders and sides and how he bounced anxiously, eager to go swim – Lavi merely nodded with a grin and a "... Just a minute..." as he ran his fingers from root to tip down Allen's damp hair once and then twice; gauging the length and ensuring he had given his friend an even haircut, and then with a pat to his shoulder instructed him lightly, "You're done – go jump in the lake now, impatient!"
Fan: It was that reoccurring moment; when his unfailing attempts to make the group laugh would end in utter ruin and receive only blank stares and bemused faces, he would always catch Allen with just the tiniest hint of a smile... sure, his best friend wouldn't hesitate to slap him upside the head whenever he was being overly stupid in his silliness, but still, he always paid attention... more than the girls Lavi flirted with, more than Bookman ever gave him the credit for, Allen would always hear him regardless of the value of his words – his best friend was, in the truest sense of the word, his biggest fan.
Dearest: "Keep your step light," Allen instructed in a whisper when Lavi stumbled in the darkness of the cave – it was pitch black in this place and neither Exorcist could even see his own hand in front of his face; only Allen could make sense of the winding tunnels through the use of his left eye locking in on all the Akuma lurking in the different paths around them... and as the white-haired boy waited patiently for Lavi to make his way back to his side, he smiled in relief when he felt fingers find his arm and slide back down to entwine with his hand – it meant Lavi was still uninjured and okay... and as they started to walk, Lavi let Allen lead them forward through the encompassing darkness, their entwined hands pressed into the small of Allen's back so as not to let his grip fail him, he trusted his friend with his dearest wish in that moment; that they would make it through this alive, and together...
Abuse: The day Lavi single-handedly brought the Apocalypse upon the Order was sunny and bright, with clear blue skies pockmarked with fluffy white clouds that he kept his focus on as Bookman and three other representatives of the Clan stood stunned speechless as Lavi withdrew his membership in favor of a white-haired boy that had just saved the world and sat, frozen, as he witnessed Lavi being shredded to pieces with angry words, insults, and physical blows, all the while standing placidly at the window, taking the abuse without a word as the world as he knew it crumbled and crashed around him, silent tears trembling down his cheeks, a peaceful smile on his face.
Banished: He accepted their banishment without comment or remorse; he didn't breathe a word as they beat his already breaking body and slapped his wrists into chilling iron; to leave him in the figurative stockade to rot... his dreams were ruthless, of crowds who mocked and laughed and shamed everything he was and all he wanted to be, but he didn't care about them... he only cared for one... who at last made his way through the audience of his failed life and lowered the hood of his cloak; and Allen walked quietly forward, not hearing the jeers and scorn being tossed and thrown so easily around him, but rather, put all his attention on Lavi... his precious, precious friend... he knelt in front of the wooden stockade and threaded his left hand through Lavi's limp right, and sweetly kissed his temple... and the crowd quieted, both confused and intrigued as Lavi lifted his head at last, his eye sunken and red and burning as he took in Allen's face and trembling with the want to cry... and Allen pulled in close, pressed their faces together; and with Lavi's shallow breath brushing raggedly on his lips he whispered, "You're not alone... never forget that, I'll never leave you alone... I'm here..." and Lavi, beyond all reason and logic, cried tears of liquid clear against Allen's face...
Separated: "You are sure he can see me?" Lavi rasped, gesturing to the two-way mirror stretched along the nearest wall while his captor, an Akuma in the guise of a policeman, nodded without a word, readying the heavy iron shackles with a gleeful grin as Lavi dragged himself towards the glass, knowing Allen was far too wounded to come through the glass, that his own escape had to be postponed, yet he knew he would be saved, sooner or later, that Allen would come for him when he could, so he pressed a hand to the glass, imagining that Allen was there, that he was safe on the other side, fighting through the cheap ropes the Noah had fashioned, about to make his escape... but Lavi knew Allen, desperate and crying, determined and shaking, was pressing his own black palm to match his, and Lavi raised bloody finger and began to write to write three words, backwards, so Allen could read them perfectly, his pledge of love in a stain of red, and then stilled, breathing, staring through his own reflection to where he knew Allen's eyes were, and smiled.
Prison: Later, nearly everyone would wonder how these two had not known each other before being dumped into the correctional institution for minors – both normally good kids from opposite sides of town, who shared an uncommon likeness... Allen for attacking his stepfather when the man would not stop beating his mother, and Lavi for running away from home and from his father who had convinced the judge that the redhead had tried to kill him... they had both been arrested the same night, booked by the same person, and placed in the same cell; and at first, they eyed each other distrustfully, angrily, each dealing with his own level of betrayal and hurt... but slowly, they formed an odd bond of sorts as time progressed in that mutual hell... bonded over several games of poker with peppermints as the prize, over Lavi secretly handing Allen a second roll at dinner, over Allen flipping another inmate the birdie when the guy started making fun of Lavi's eyepatch... they both figured the other wasn't a bad person, but rather had been stuck in this place by the unlucky chance of trying to change his life, and unable to get it in the end... and they were strong-willed and intelligent in spite of their hard lives and the poor examples in place around them, and after getting to know their family histories in the weekly visits the institution's counselor could not figure out how their want to honor and defend what they cherished could be so acutely developed and their want for justice so brightly impassioned... they were like twin stars falling; two souls sinking as they searched for something to give them meaning, to make them want to rise up in spite of the failures and try again to make something right for themselves and their lives... and without even needing the actual words; gaining the understanding of his other's life was what gave them both the reason they were looking for, the meaning their hearts were craving, and when they were together, for the first time in either of their lives - they did not feel so alone anymore... they would talk long into the nights about anything and everything, about their lives, their childhoods, their dreams, their ideals, their fears... gained a respect and trust for each other that borderlined into overprotection in that prison... but it wasn't the counseling, the lectures, and the sacrifice of time that pulled them through... when they did finally walk out those doors as free men, they did so side by side as lifelong friends... having taught each other the greatest lesson of belonging, understanding, accepting, and forgiveness they had ever learned.
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I hope you enjoyed them! I look forward to your thoughts and comments. Thank you for reading!