Upsetting the Applecart
A terrible silence reigned, once which was broken sharply with an angry bark of, "Sit at the back of the room Moyashi and keep your fucking stupid gob shut". Allen did as he said, with an biting retort of 'It's Allen BaKanda' silently contemplating what repercussions could occur from the now gone scheming Kanda. He slid into an absent seat in the corner of the class. Every head craned round to get a longer look at the cloaked figure trying, and failing, to get a peep under his hood. Delicate gloved hands appeared on the desktop, fingertips drumming rhythmically.
"Eyes to the fucking front" Kanda spat out and everyone hastily twisted round eager to escape their Professor's wrath borne from the arrival of this 'acquaintance of some sort'.
The Theory lesson followed its routine structure, with pupils casting anxious glances between the cloaked figure and their teacher. The two seemed to studiously ignore each other but when they couldn't help but fall into each other's sight well, the strangers reaction was cloaked, literally, but Kanda's scowl just grew all the more pronounced. The bell rang but not a soul moved the students scared in place. "Scram brats" Kanda snarled and the students fled fearing for their lives and full of gossip to spread and water for the grapevine.
When the last student left, with a fearful back glance, the room's temperature seemed to reach below freezing. Kanda repeated his earlier, "What the fuck, are you doing here?"
Allen snorted, "And a pleasure it is to see you too BaKanda, have you decapitated anyone yet?"
Kanda's eyes glinted, "Not yet" the threat hanging ominously in the air, "now spill it Moyashi, I sure as fuck didn't call for any backup and Komuii must have been high off his ass to have sent you". Allen let the insult slide off his back as he produced Timcampy from his cloak, "Here I suspected the initial message would remain unrecieved so I foresaw the necessity of making a copy".
"Che"
"Timcampy you can play the recording of Komuii's message". A fuzzy screen fizzed into existence above Timcampy.
"Hello Kanda I got your message well kind of, I think magic messed with the mechanisms." It was that Nut of a Supervisor; of course he'd be involved! "Anyway I'm surprised you didn't think you could do it all by yourself but I suppose it's a very big castle and there's a lot of nosy students and you're not the most social of people…"
"Wait a fucking moment, I never said half of that shit" Kanda yelled out. The recording rolled on by, Komuii obviously was oblivious of the outburst. Allen smirked in amusement at Kanda's outburst, Kanda could play the cold, unfeeling, stoical bastard all he wanted but the was hot-headed as they came, his temper a raging inferno and yes whilst the jerk pissed him off, and it'd be smarter to keep away, he enjoyed poking jibes at him and getting a rise from behind that cold exterior. Oh yes he understood Lavi's insistence with calling Kanda 'Yuu-chan' despite it being hazardous to his life.
"So I sent Allen, he's going to pretend to be your apprentice and he'll infiltrate the students. That should lighten your workload. Well the usual business as usual, I expect monthly reports, Lenalee is so good at that unlike you Kanda you stupid octopus-" The recording was suddenly cut off and Allen thanked Tim. "Well there you have it that's why I'm here BaKanda-sensei" he smiled sardonic pleasantry with sarcastic amusement from under his hood.
Allen quickly ducked under a stream of purple, the hood flying off his head only to find the stream ricochet of the wall and hit him on the back of his head.
Suddenly his head felt very cold.
Allen lifted up his hand and petted his hand and was horrified to find nothing there!
"You, you" Allen was left speechless, why for was bald?
Kanda's inscrutable mask radiated smugness and he took sadistic pleasure at Allen's mortification but felt a small twinge of something and so muttered "Che, don't be such a baby".
"A baby! You scalped!" cried Allen "How long does this even last?!"
Kanda shrugged, "A day or so"
"Or SO, BLOODY HELL!"
Kanda raised an eyebrow at the explicit, one which Allen seemed oblivious to, "you really enjoying this whole teacher wizard thing, you've just cursed me!"
"It's a hex" Kanda informed primly. Allen just scowled and lifted his hood back up just in time for when the door swung open and the two Exorcists turned to find themselves looking at the Golden Trio. Scowling his permanent scowl, Kanda wrote on top of the board Silent Study before marching out, Allen in tow. He had to announce Allen's arrival as unexpected as it was to the Upper Authority, in this case, The Puppeteer.
"Lemon Whizzbangs" he muttered as he strode past the gargoyle and he ignored the incredulous look Allen was giving him, after all, he still had the last laugh, Allen was bald.
He knocked twice on the door before walking straight in. He found the Headmaster seemingly reading a self-turning book and appearing to be lost from the world.
Che no, Kanda wasn't fooled.
He loudly cleared his throat and stood impatiently. When the Old Man finally deigned to look up he found himself staring at Kanda's paten scowl and accompanied by a smaller, cloaked figure.
"Professor Kanda, and your apprentice I assume" Dumbledore greeted genially.
"Good evening Professor, my name is Allen Walker and from henceforth Kanda-sensei's student (no way was he going to call Kanda, Master), it is an honour to meet the leader of such a renowned establishment amongst other titles."
This polite formal greeting was spoken from a soft-spoken voice which was very at odds with the dark cloak and hooded face which created a sense of sinister force.
Dumbledore mentally frowned careful to erase any thoughts of cunning and analysis from his face; provide a mask to the one who is masked and what's wrong with the one he gives to the general public, a reputable albeit eccentric clever loving omnipotent grandfather figure (or a bumbling fool depending on perspective). Yes these two were dangerous and could interfere with his plans. Oh he had compensated for Dolores Umbridge, so that at most she would only be a pitiful nuisance in the Grand Scheme of things, but with Kanda he was waiting for the other shoe to drop. There was no way a Ministry Backed Professor who was actually competent and teaching well (youth, foul language and acerbic personality aside) didn't have a second agenda. He had considered that the Ministry had actually found a suitable and willing applicant within their pocket and then given him that Defence job so that they could put in the Ministry Undersecretary into an immediate position of power, then dismissed as too much a politically astute decision from Fudge. Now this apprentice shows up.
"and it's a pleasure to welcome you here" Dumbledore greeted back, on top of his musing, 2to be truthful I presumed you to be younger, Kanda being rather young himself"
"It is understandable Kanda, since he has graduated from Rose Cross, is technically eligible to take the position as a Rokuroso mentor however he is not my original mentor, that position belongs to the now late Master Cross. Kanda is a substitute until someone more orthodox is available, until then I will be learning Wand Wizardry and Witchcraft under him." All of this was spoken from behind the draped hood. Allen spun this tale of half-truths and deceit from dual reasons, 1) so that the Headmaster felt slightly reassured by this information and he'd then explain this to the staff, or some version that was befitting for him of it, and 2) so that Kanda knew of his cover story.
"I see, I'm sorry Allen for your loss" Dumbledore gave his condolences. The hooded figure shrugged, "Thank you, truthfully I find it difficult to accept his death; Master Cross was the kind of man who you would think would live forever". Behind him Kanda gave a snort Allen turned his head in his direction at which Kanda's scowl deepened.
"If I may ask"
"No you may not stupid old coot" Kanda thought sardonically
"how old are you, my boy"
"I'm 17, I plan to be entering the 4th Year though as I'm a novice in this discipline."
"Oh you practice other disciplines" Dumbledore asked clearly fishing for information.
"Yes" Allen answered simply.
"Indulge me, I'm interested in your schools fascinating curriculum".
"It is nothing special Headmaster, we are small so instead of classes we have apprenticeships."
"So what exactly do you study?" Dumbledore eyes sharpened, his gaze becoming more penetrating. Allen shifted his stance but his voice was still light-hearted and airy.
"Headmaster I would have thought that obvious. We study Alternative Combative Magic."
"What exactly does that entail?" Dumbledore gaze started to become triumphant
"Using various forms of magic that can used for combat"
"Such as"
Allen smirked from under his hood as he swiftly answered, "Now that would be telling trade secrets Headmaster" there was a slight mocking disapproving edge that still managed to pass as simply respectful teasing. Allen knew a leading question when he heard one, thanks to the Black Order.
Dumbledore drew his back straight momentarily stumped and stood to his full height, which Allen refused to feel dwarfed by.
"I understand sometimes an old man's curiosity can run away from him," Dumbledore apologised his voice and body movements portraying sincere regret yet his gaze was now searching and wary, valiantly trying to get a look Allen in eye surreptitiously.
"It is perfectly understandable Headmaster, after all satisfaction is what brought the cat back"
after it got killed resounded unspoken in the air. It didn't help matters that Dumbledore was most definitely not satisfied with his answers. Allen tilted his head forward slightly to tip the hood further over his head and face. Something about the way that man looked at him was eerie.
Kanda decided this was a good as time to cut in.
"Moyashi, we're leaving" and he swept out the office but the Puppeteer's voice rang out behind.
"I fear we haven't yet arranged and sleeping quarters, your arrival being so unexpected" Dumbledore interjected. Allen who hadn't turned to leave yet faced and answered the Headmaster.
"That is alright, I'll simply sleep with Kanda-sensei"
"There's only one bed" Dumbledore deadpanned.
"Thus I shall enjoy the comforts of the floor" quoting something his late? Master had said to him once, although the original wasn't quite so nicely put.
"For tonight it'll have to do if you so insist" Dumbledore paused as if to allow Allen or Kanda the chance to refute this statement but they said nothing. He continued on "but you must be sorted, that way we will more easily arrange your schooling here."
"Sorted?" Allen asked imperceptivity frowning at the very subtle reminder of Dumbledore's supposed authority over him. "You're evaluated to decide which house you're most suited to be."
"I see, any preparation needed?"
"None"
"Very well, so long as Kanda-sensei agrees". This was Allen's no so subtle retort of Dumbledore's attempt to exert power over him. The Puppeteer's attention switched to the scowling samurai who had been glaring impatiently at him throughout. Dumbledore smiled supposedly oblivious (blatantly ignoring) the Exorcist's ire. "I'm sure Kanda only wishes you to receive the best education in Wand Wizardry as possible, my son."
There was a slight pause when nothing was said, Dumbledore forged on, "and getting Sorted is imperative and a keystone to enjoying an Hogwartian experience". There was an expectant pause and all eyes were on Kanda whom bristled under the attention. "If it's Oh So Important then sure whatever however enjoying a Hogwartian experience is not why we're fucking here."
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow –at what aspect/s of the sentence was uncertain- "Oh is that so?" purposely leaving the question hanging. Kanda just shot him a look, and Dumbledore was suddenly reminded of Severus Snape when someone had supposedly done something stupid and/or idiotic in his vicinity, before exiting the office Allen in tow, the hooded figure nodding a parting as he left. Dumbledore watched as the door automatically closed behind them before frowning.
Well that upset his applecart.
