A/N: *smile* Not much to say this time, but I'm home now and we're moving on with this, so... *grin*

Thank you to LuffyLover27, readwithcats, bibliophile030, Noble Soul of Purity-Aamuet, IbeWildBella, newby6320, Firehedgehog, GreenDrkness, Shadow-X1999, Alaia Skyhawk, karina001, Deugemia, pikaree1, Shadow Spears, Candy Crackpot, Cursed to a Crimson Monotony, vampireharry the 2, and InsanityOwl for reviewing!

Title: Synchronization

Author: liketolaugh

Rating: T

Pairings: None

Genre: Friendship/Family

Warnings: Slight AU

Summary: Innocences have their own wants, personalities, souls - Allen doesn't understand what's so strange about this. But then, he's always been able to see them. (Series of oneshots through the manga. Mostly canon-compliant. Maybe eventually turn AU.)

Disclaimer: I only wish I owned D. Gray-man.

Allen could remember his mindscape, from the times he'd fallen into it through the Fourteenth's influence. It was something of a wreck, a wasteland – like a fresh ruin just out of the clutches of war. Allen found it grimly amusing, and oddly suitable.

Neah's mindscape, by contrast, was an endless, lonely wheat field.

At least, Allen assumed that this place was Neah's mindscape. He'd been wandering it alone for God knew how long, looking for anything, but there was nothing – nothing but a single tree planted in the middle. He named it Cornelia and supposed that that, too, was Neah's influence.

Then he sat in it and thought.

He couldn't stay here, obviously. He owed it to Mana to keep walking, to keep fighting – to not abandon the many akuma to their eternities of agony. Even more, he couldn't leave Neah in his body. He couldn't imagine what the Noah would do with it. Even so-

It was hard to panic, here. There was something about the atmosphere that was like a wet blanket, lying heavy and quelling over his emotions. He wasn't scared, just subdued. Reluctant.

Time passed; Allen couldn't have said whether it was an hour or a day or a week. But then, something pierced the gloom, swathed in Crown Clown's resonations and delving easily into the forefront of his thoughts.

It was an image. Crystal clear, more vivid and complex than anything Crown Clown had ever said to him before.

Allen, in his red-and-black Order uniform, crouched down with a devious smirk on his face. Kanda, in front of him, tall and prideful, with Mugen cast aside and his hands balled into fists. Aside, Lavi cheering through a mouthful of apple, and Lenalee smiling, shuffling her feet as if she'd like to join.

Friends.

His friends.

That thought is all he needs for emotion to surge through him, breaking the lethargy that saturated the landscape, and then there was a rush of sensation.

The next thing he knew, he was blinking his eyes open to Crown Clown's worried face.

? Crown Clown asked urgently.

Allen blinked, and then smiled hesitantly at Crown Clown, trying to hide the turmoil as the reality of what had just happened set in.

He'd lost again, so soon after the last time. Neah had taken over again.

His smile faded. His heart clenched, his expression tightened, and his eyes burned.

What damage had Neah done this time?

Above him, Crown Clown deflated, and reached out to cup the side of Allen's face in one hand, expression soft with regret and worry. Relief. Concern. Assurance, reassurace.

Crown Clown caught Allen's eye and managed a small – forced? – smile. Allen tilted his head slightly, a different kind of worry taking over – what was wrong, if he hadn't hurt anyone? Why was Crown Clown-

"…Walker?"

Allen's head jerked around in time to see Link flinching away, and his heart stopped.

"…Link?" Allen echoed, in almost exactly the same tone Link had just used. A slow, but honest-to-God beam spread across his face, a change of emotion so fast it nearly gave him whiplash. "You're alive. You're alive!"

He hadn't left Link to die, after all.

He launched himself at Link, who flinched again, and hugged him tightly, resting his chin on Link's shoulder. This time he didn't bother holding back the tears that trickled down his face; at least they were happy now. "Kanda told me you were dead, I can't wait to see the look on his face when he sees-"

He felt Link's hands move slowly from the man's sides Allen's shoulders, and smiled with embarrassment as Link pushed at him. He let go easily enough and sat back, but his smile didn't fade until he saw the look on Link's face – apprehension and surprise and guilt.

"…Link?" Allen repeated, head tilted slightly, brow furrowed with concern. He reached up to wipe the tears away, forcing himself to refocus.

Link opened his mouth. "I-"

He closed it.

Allen lowered his arm, brow furrowing further, and then he felt a hand on his shoulder and glanced over questioningly. What had happened? Did Crown Clown know?

Crown Clown's eyes were stormy, even as the rest of his expression was solemn. He tilted his head slightly toward Link, keeping his eyes on Allen.

Allen with grey skin and gold eyes. Link kneeling on the ground before him, a hand over his heart. Allen with pale skin and gray eyes. Link turned away. Crown Clown dipped his head slightly forward, enough so his hair hid his eyes. Regret and bitterness-defeat. Bitterness.

Ice crept into Allen's chest, and before he was consciously aware of his actions, he released Link and scooted back, turning his eyes back on the blond man.

"Oh," Allen whispered, throat suddenly tight. He swallowed, just to prove he still could.

"I-I'm sorry," Link answered, eyes on the ground between them, sounding his age for once. "I am here for Neah, Walker. Not… not you."

He raised his gaze to meet Allen's. Allen searched his eyes and found sadness and guilt, but also defiance and certainty.

Allen bowed his head, hiding his eyes from Link, and smiled.

"Oh," he repeated. "Okay. I understand."

He didn't understand. He had never understood. He felt cold and his insides ached, but Crown Clown's hand was steady on his back, and that would last him until they were alone.

"Do you know where Johnny and Kanda are?" he asked without looking up. "I should get back to them."

…

Crown Clown moved his hand from his back to his arm, and gently tugged him up. Allen raised his head to look at him, and Crown Clown pointed. Allen looked where he was indicating, and then gasped, eyes widening.

"Johnny!"

Link remained where he was as Allen nearly tripped over himself heading to Johnny.

Had he hurt Johnny? Was Crown Clown not in time to stop him this time, did-

Reassurance. Johnny getting hit by a falling piece of building. Crown Clown followed and knelt beside him just as Allen did. Allen reached to tilt Johnny's head forward, fingers gently parting his hair to check on his wound. He blew out a breath, worried.

"He should be fine," Link said, and Allen nearly started at the sound of his voice, coming from just behind Allen. It was still laden with traces of guilt, and Allen could almost feel the hesitation staying his limbs as he hovered over them both.

But, despite his obvious regret, Allen didn't want to look at him.

"I…" Link hesitated. "I should go."

Allen took a deep breath and nodded. "I'll find Kanda," he said softly, tears stinging at his eyes again. "We need to get Johnny somewhere safe."

He glanced over in time to see Link nod, starting to back away.

But he didn't get far. From where he was on the ground holding Johnny, Allen could see Kanda pulling himself up to their level, but Link couldn't. As a result, Link bumped straight into him.

"And where the fuck do you think you're going?"

Kanda's voice was venomous enough that, even taking into account the fact that he'd never liked Link, Allen thought abruptly that he knew exactly why Link was there.

And he hadn't told Allen.

Note: Allen is wrong, Kanda doesn't know why Link is there. If you'll recall, Link lied to his face about it. Kanda just really, really hates Link. *smile and shrug* Thanks for reading, and please review!