….
The turbulence quaked the ground beneath his feet, causing him to stumble and lean feebly against one of the white buildings lining the street. This would be the first time in ages where Allen had the freewill to wander wherever he wanted. Unfortunately, even that freedom was limited to within a crumbling Ark. Its very existence was slowly disintegrating all around him.
Every step was taken cautiously and every time the earth trembled, Allen felt his heart leap into his throat. It was difficult to predict where the tremors would occur or how powerful they would be. The anxiety was setting him on edge.
He braced himself and slowly made his way carefully, praying that his way would not crumble beneath him. Allen didn't want to know what could happen if he did indeed fall away with the collapsing of the Ark. The thought made him gritted his teeth nervously.
Suddenly, the building several feet away exploded. Broken rock and splintered wood was scattered along the stone-paved street. Allen almost retraced his steps when voices echoed towards him.
They were distant and almost at odds with each other like they couldn't make up their minds over something. Allen ducked behind a building as the swirling dust and smoke began to settle and he saw several figures standing amongst the ruins.
At first, Allen thought that it was the Noah fooling around but that did not seem plausible. It wasn't until the cloud finally settled that he recognized the black and silver lined coats the individuals wore.
His throat tightened as mixed emotions flashed through his head. Allen saw a familiar redhead along with the long dark hair of the most annoying person he had once known. Then there was a black-haired figure with a white cowlick falling across their face and beside them was. At first Allen wasn't sure what he was looking at but the rich shade of green hair despite boyishly short was also familiar.
It just had to be them; his friends that have probably thought him dead were standing before him. Arguing as their raised voices suggested but still alive and well along with one unfamiliar face amongst them draped in a worn brown cloak.
A part of him wanted to run up to them, to embrace them but Allen was reluctant to do so. He was supposedly dead to them after being missing for months and even if they were to recognize him. Their reactions were what he feared the most.
But then Road's voice echoed in his head and his only hand lingered by the pocket that held the key she had given him. According to the young Noah, the key would lead him to the topmost area of the tower, whatever that meant. It was at least something though the problem was approaching his friends about it.
He took an uneasy step away from the building but then paused. What would he do if they decided to attack him and ask questions later? He had no way to defend himself if they did think him a threat. But it looked too late to back out now that the unknown individual with spiky brown hair had noticed him.
As he had expected, there was an unnerving silence that fell around the exorcists Allen had considered as friends, family even. Although it was the sole female of the group that hesitantly stepped forward.
Her purple eyes quivered amidst her short green locks that framed her face. Allen remained frozen to the spot not sure if she was going to burst into tears or attack him. He felt the strange urge to just run for it, to get as far away from them as possible. The only setback to that thought was that she could easily catch him with her activated innocence.
'Allen…?' Her voice wobbled as she walked closer, her hand slowly reached towards him. Allen grimaced, almost wanting to step back despite knowing that he shouldn't be thinking such things when she wouldn't harm him at all.
This reunion… it made him feel uneasy but he couldn't figure out why!
'Le-nalee…' his voice cracked slightly when he said her name as her hand gently caressed his cheek. Allen could read the uncertainty in her eyes as she gazed down at the left sleeve that hung flimsily by his side.
'It is you right? This isn't some cruel joke,' there it was, the one thing Allen knew they were bound to ask. He gazed at the ground not wanting to look at the warm tears beginning to glisten in the corner of her eyes.
'I…' he began but the words caught in his throat when the ground shook violently right underneath them. The stone-paved street cracked like fragile glass and gave way.
'Crap let's move!' Lavi shouted in urgency as he dashed towards more stable ground. Lenalee and the others in the group wasted no time in scrambling away as well and Allen stumbled after them. He did his best to keep up but the ground gave way quicker than he could get away and he found himself falling. Closing his eyes, Allen decided to give into to this dismal fate.
'Allen!' There was a rush of wind before Allen felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist. He blinked in surprised to find Lenalee gripping him tightly as she bounced off chunks of rock until they made it to where the others waited. Allen was placed on the ground carefully while Lenalee remained crouched beside him.
'U-um Lenalee, maybe that wasn't the best idea, what if, you know, it was a trick,' Allen ignored Krory's insecurity about his unexplainable presence. He felt infuriatingly helpless and needed to be rescued. To think he used to do things independently on his own!
Warm tears rolled down his cheeks.
'I'm sorry… that I can't prove anything to you but I hate this more than you do!' Allen said defensively and he gazed up at them. But he was suddenly taken back by the sympathetic look that crossed both Lavi and Krory's face.
'Looks like you are our beansprout, no Noah or akuma could pull off tears like that,' Lavi said with that goofy grin of his as he knelt down and flicked Allen's forehead.
'That doesn't help our situation you stupid rabbit! Remember we're stuck in a place that's falling apart!' Kanda growled angrily and Allen jolted and rifled through his pocket for the old-fashioned key Road had given him. He had almost completely forgotten about it with his thoughts so overwhelmed by his sudden reunion with his old friends.
'Maybe we can use this,' he offered and held out the key in the palm of his hand to show everyone.
'Ah, that's Master Road's key, lero~!' Allen blinked when he finally noticed the Earl's umbrella hovering at the back of the group. Its hollow eyes gazed surprisingly at the key. 'How'd you get it? You didn't steal it? Lero~'
'Of course he didn't Lero, I gave it to him so he wouldn't get lost~' a voice rang out and everyone glanced up at the balcony above them. Standing there, leaning against the railing was the young Noah, Road Kamelot.
….
Road gazed down at them with a playful sneer as she watched the exorcists all seize up and reach for their innocence. That is, all except Allen and the annoying human that had accompanied them.
'What are you still doing here Noah?' Road sighed in a bored manner and put her hand to her cheek.
'The Ark isn't going anywhere so why not play a little game? The main prize of course is a one-way ticket off this Ark and maybe I'll throw in Allen to spice things up~' the young Noah watched as the exorcists hesitated though the whitehead looked somewhat flustered.
'Y-you can't decide that!' But Road smiled cheekily at him and Allen grimaced.
'Why not? If your friends fail to reach the door in the uppermost tower then obviously I'll be taking you to the new Ark. I wouldn't want to lose the only person who'd play with me,' Allen seemed muttered something under his breath that even the exorcists around him didn't catch.
'We'll never let you keep Allen!' The green-haired exorcist shouted back defiantly. Road couldn't help but laugh at her.
'We'll see~ simply use my key and make your way through the three doors that'll lead to your exit. But you don't have much time left and I'll even leave Lero with you to guide you~' Road conferred unpleasantly before turning her back to the invited intruders.
'See you round~!'
….
Sorry about the lateness of the chapter but getting back to writing is kind of slow after a lazy Christmas and whatnot. But anyway I'm back and hopefully with more frequent updates (can't promise anything though).
So besides that, I've always wanted to do something like this… making Allen the damsel instead of Lenalee. This'll be very interesting indeed! Unfortunately there is no Tyki in this chapter so we'll see about next chapter (haven't thought that far though).
Anywho, hope you enjoyed this and please leave a review!