Title: Mind Over Matter
Genre: Comedy
Rating: T to M
Summary: Lavi arranges a date for Allen and Lenalee. The only problem is that they have to keep this a secret from a certain brother.
Requested by: ImJustNutty
"I look silly," Allen whine when he stared at himself in the mirror, Lavi fretting around him, pulling on his sleeve and collar, straightening the vest and the shirt.
"Nonsense. Look how spiffy you look in a tie. Lenalee would be knocked right out of her Dark Boots," the red head argued back, tightening the tie til Allen's face acquired that aristocratic paleness and lightest shade of blue.
'I… I don't know. What if she doesn't like me like that. I'm making a fool out of myself."
Lavi straightened out. He pointed accusing finger at Allen. "I worked really hard on this. I bought the tickets to the concert. I made the reservation at the restaurant. I swear, if you complain one more time, I will strangle you with your own tie," the Book-Man apprentice warned before he turned into all smiles.
"Now, I have to go see how Lenalee is doing. You know the plan. Get out through the back before Komui notices that you're gone." He left Allen still pivoting around in front of the mirror. His face was turning from blue to green. And yet, Lavi didn't seem too worried. His plan was full-proof, granted the two love birds didn't screw this up. Lavi was so tired hearing Allen whine about how he didn't stand a chance with Lenalee and he was annoyed by Lenalee's innocence act. She knew he wanted that bean sprout, just wouldn't show it. Clearly, this would have gone nowhere if not for a genius like him, Lavi. He mentally petted himself on the back before he knocked on the door to Lenalee's room.
She opened the door just a crack and without looking, dragged the red head in by the arm. Lenalee shut the door and fixed him with a vacant frightened stare. "I'm worried."
"About what?" Laavi asked. He walked over to the window to check if Komui fixed some sort of recording devices. He didn't want to be identified with this mess, not really.
"I'm just so sure that Nii-san will find out. I'm worried what he'd do to Allen."
Lavi gave a laugh and waved his hand. "Allen is a tough kid. He can take anything Komui can dish out."
She bit her thumb but resolved to trust the master mind. Lavi seemed so cool and calm under these pressing circumstances. He didn't have one bit of fright in his eye and his manner was jovial and reassuring. "You'll have a great time. I'm sure." Lavi checked the time. They had to wait at least half an hour after Allen left the head quarters before they would attempt to get Lenalee out. That would be, decidedly, the hard part. But nothing worthy was easy, Lavi thought. If it had to be fought for, ripped out from cold hard fingers of fate, then it was something of true value.
Minutes ticked away and Lenalee sat there, biting her thumb. Time couldn't drag slower even if Miranda froze it in its place. And then at last, the clock struck six. Lanelee yelped, turning her eyes to the calm Lavi. "Well, go on, Cinderella. Have your dance with your prince," dismissively the young man said. The girl nodded and moved for the door. Lavi remained sitting, waiting. The hall remained quiet even after Lenalee left. It only meant that she sneaked out. It also meant that this was only the beginning. Lavi bit down on his lip. It was up to luck for now.
He checked the watch. It was nearing seven now. If everything went well, the two would be at the concert. It also meant that in five minutes Komui would be here to inspect if Lenalee was in the room. Lavi cleared his throat. He was never too good at faking voices, but it was worth a shot. The clock struck seven and just like that, there was a knock on the door.
"Lenalee, dear. It's your Nii-san. How are you?" Komui called out. There was an uncustomary pause. He narrowed his eyes. Something was up.
"I'm fine Nii-san. I'm just changing," Lavi's voice cracked unbelievably high as he strained. The man fumbled with clothing in Lenalee's closet to make it sound believable.
Changing? Something was up.
"Your voice sounds harsh. Did you catch a cold?" Komui asked. Already he pressed against the door. Oh something definitely smelled fishy and he was getting to the bottom of this.
"Oh yes, Niss-san. I caught a cold." Lavi coughed. "I'll be all right, though. Go on. I bet you have a lot of work. You're so important," Lavi tried to play on Komui's ego to get the other man off his back. He was making so much noise, scattering around Lenalee's dresses that he hardly noticed how all of a sudden the handle of the door rattled and then the door itself opened.
"Aha!" Komui screamed and he pointed an accusing finger at Lavi. "Try to impersonate my beloved little sister! Where's Lenalee? What have you done to her?"
Lavi threw the dress at hand at Komui. It provided just enough of a distraction for the youth to run out of the room. He dashed down the hall, mad thoughts running through his head. He was sure that he left Komui behind, but he had to find Allen and warn him that Lenalee's crazy brother would be out for blood. Why couldn't things turn out for the better?
Komui ripped the dress from his face, laughing manically. "The idiot. He'll lead me right to Lenalee and the poor devil who decided to take her out. I love you, my precious tracer," the man lovingly kissed the beeping remote that appeared in his hands. With a devilish smile on his face, Komui proceeded to erupt through Lenalee's door, into the hallway and away and beyond, following a scent like a blood hound.
Lavi ran tirelessly. His legs were as though made to run, perfect sprinting machines. He had only ten minutes before the concert ended and Allen would be in full view with Lenalee. He had merely ten minutes to come up with a plan to stop Komui, who was probably right behind him, flying on pure bitch power. Lavi really hated that guy this very moment when his lungs were set on fire.
There up ahead the lights of the opera house flickered. "Lenalee," Lavi screamed, diving into the thick of the crowd. Somehow, the girl heard him and her gloved hand rose over the heads of men and women. "Lavi," she sounded surprised when he reached them. The man panted, unable to speak for a few moments. "No… time… now," Lavi sputtered, his chest heaving. Allen seemed particularly alarmed. A moment ago he and Lenalee were enjoying perfect tranquility and now, some disturbing news were coming their way.
Lavi seemed to have gained his human speech back. "Komui found out. Go to the restaurant now. Run. Fucking run. He'll be here any moment, I'm sure," fiercely the red head hissed, pushing Allen away from the crowd and into the direction of the restaurant.
"I'll keep take care of everything. Just go." Lenalee eyed him uneasily, but took hold of Allen's hand and ran. Lavi breathed a sigh of relief as he slumped against the wall of the opera house. Lenalee and Allen disappeared soon enough, but Lavi's relief was short-lived. He heard the tell tale thumping of the gigantic robot, which only meant that Komui was hot on his trail. Lavi's heart jumped to his mouth and his swallowed it back. His legs didn't have time to turn back into flesh and bone and so, with unsettling ease, Lavi shifted back into gear and began running. Behind him, the man heard massive panic. Women screamed and children cried. Men scrambled and pointed in awe at the mechanical Titan on four legs. Komui danced on its head, pointing and grimacing. "I got you now. Come out, come out wherever you are," his voice boomed through the loud speaker.
Lavi ran for his dear life. Soon, he knew, he'd hit the edge of the town where the park started. He won't be able to lose Komui there, but at least, when he stood his ground against the robot, he'd have free range. No casualties in sight. Komui blindly followed the trace signal. He didn't care where he was going as long as at the end of that path was Lenalee. His protectiveness was in overdrive, as was the robot. It grunted, its metal gears squeaking. Komui disregarded the general commotion his entrance caused. He was of one mind and one goal: rid Lenalee of this dating threat.
He entered the clearing, which, upon analysis he recognized as the park. The man scowled. Down below, Komui could make out the small form of Lavi. He was holding the hammer. He was looking determined. "Where are they?" Komui roared, his finger hovering over the button that would surely mean all out battle royale in the next ten seconds.
"Never," Lavi screamed back. His hammer popped up, growing in size like mushroom in the rain. He barred his teeth and jumped. The robot reared, kicking its front legs. It too uttered a battle cry of grinding gears and groaning metal parts. Komui's eyes held a crazed light as he furiously pressed buttons on the control of his robot. Here Lavi flew from the left, but was only kicked back and slammed. The hammer swung to dent the robot's side. Staggering it jumped back and once again they locked in a combat neither knew he'd win. Trees toppled. Ground was upturned. And yet, the two were in the fury of battle, unable or maybe even unwilling to stop. The robot stood on three legs now. Lavi had a busted lip. Komui stared down at the exorcist. "Give up. I'm going to win," he threatened. Lavi smirked and stood his ground. They were stuck, unable to turn the fight to favor either one of them. No matter now often Komui pressed the buttons. No matter how many times Lavi swung, the odds remained the same. This was bound to drag.
And when Lavi was so sure that they would spend all night whacking at each other, the robot suddenly stopped. Komui stood, transfixed and daze, looking on at one side. Curious, Lavi rode his Hammer upward only to find the endearing sight he busted his lip for.
There, on the edge of the park's lake sat Allen and Lenalee. They were holding hands and talking. From the bird's eye view both Lavi and Komui could see the smiles on those tranquil faces. "Hmph," Komui uttered. "Yup. They were supposed to be in the restaurant," Lavi replied. "She looks happy," Komui admitted. They stayed this way for a while, just looking on at the other two.
"What do you say we go back to the Black Order and have a drink?" Lavi asked.
"Eh, might as well drown my sorrow in something," Komui agreed. "Might as well face the fact that Lenalee started dating."