A/N: ...The less said about how much I procrastinated on this chapter (and consequentially how late I stayed up last night) the better. *flop*

Thank you to Firehedgehog, readwithcats, Shadow-X1999, Alaia Skyhawk, Candy Crackpot, vampireharry the 2, 14fox, karina001, Deugemia, pikaree1, Ryuakilover, Shadow Spears, Kosho-rinnnn, InsanityOwl, and HION49 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's skin was crawling, and he felt sick. He wanted out of here.

But that wasn't an option, escape was not an option, so he chose the next best thing. He picked a fight.

Picking a fight had been Allen's favorite method of interpersonal problem-solving when he was younger. He still used it occasionally, with Cross and with Kanda, both of whom were equipped to handle it and both of whom were uncomfortable enough with emotions that they wouldn't act on anything they detected under the anger.

Crown Clown disapproved, but he allowed it anyway. When something really helped Allen, Crown Clown rarely actually discouraged it.

"You know, most people try not to lie about people being dead!" he hissed at Kanda, before a startled Link could respond to Kanda's words. Behind them, Mugen climbed onto the building and swept a careful eye across the roof, settling briefly on Allen, Johnny, and Link each before focusing on the conversation.

"I thought you'd be a wimp about it," Kanda said, without taking his eyes off Link. "And look. I was right."

"Anyone would be upset, Bakanda!" Allen snapped back, not quite able to keep the hurt out of his voice this time. "Did you really think I wouldn't find out?"

Crown Clown caught on quickly to Allen's line of thought, and looked sharply at Mugen, who cocked an eyebrow at him, looking not so much defiant as sardonic. At the same time, Kanda snorted.

"I thought I'd leave it up to this guy to tell you." He frowned at Link. "Obviously he did a bang-up job of it, can't even tell you he's alive right."

"Don't be a jerk, Kanda!" Allen's voice rose slightly, and he barely remembered to set Johnny down gently before he stood. "He's working with the Fourteenth, nothing was going to make that better!"

It was eerie, sometimes, how synchronized Mugen and Kanda could be.

"What?" Kanda snarled, jerking to look at silent Link.

Outrage! Mugen's gaze snapped to Link within half a second of Kanda's, his scowl much less pronounced but his green eyes blazing. Protectiveness-anger!

Resentment, Crown Clown bit out, and shifted to ghost his fingers across Allen's shoulder. Defensiveness. Hurt.

"What the fuck does he mean, you're working for the Fourteenth?" Kanda demanded of Link, hands visibly twitching for his sword. "I fucking told you I'd straight-up kill you if you interfered!"

…Kanda hadn't known?

Oh.

Allen's anger broke, which made way for the renewed shock of betrayal. He clenched his fist and took a breath. Crown Clown's hand shifted again to squeeze his shoulder, and when Allen glanced at him, his expression was stony, unwavering on the combined figure of Kanda and Link, the former still blocking the path of the latter.

Finally, Link spoke.

"I have my orders." Quiet and rough, but faced with someone other than Allen himself, his gaze was unwavering. "I'm not going to break them. Not even for you."

"And certainly not for your charge." Kanda's voice was scornful, and then, in a flash of unnatural metal, his sword was out, the razor edge pressed to Link's neck. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you here, CROW."

Link met his gaze evenly. "You couldn't," he replied, with complete confidence.

Allen saw Kanda's sword hand twitch, and realized, suddenly, that Kanda wasn't sure he could at all, even with his sword already in place. Allen made a false start forward, to interfere, but Mugen made a small gesture, eyes on his accommodator, and Allen, trusting his judgement, stopped.

"I can keep you from leaving," Kanda said, navy eyes cold and steely. "No way I'm trusting you out of my sight now."

Link held his gaze, still even and confidant, and for a moment, both of them stood like that.

Link in a CROW uniform. Child Kanda sprawled on the ground, pinned by spell needles. Anger and tension and resentment.

It was so soft Allen barely noticed, but when he processed it, his hand twitched toward his pocket, another false motion. Crown Clown saved him the trouble of breaking the others' stalemate by replying.

Agreement. Concern.

Kanda as a small child. Kanda standing against a horde of akuma, Mugen interjected, without taking his gaze off the stalemate. Then, reluctantly, …Agreement.

Then, finally, Link dipped his head slightly, and his hand travelled up to push Mugen's weapon form away.

"It would be useful to me to stay," Link concluded quietly, gaze steady, no smirk of confidence or triumph on his face, nor any look of defeat.

Kanda scowled, evidently agreeing with Link, but didn't seem willing to change his mind, his eyes suspicious and stormy. He lowered his sword regardless.

"One toe out of line, two-spot," he warned with ill grace, sheathing his katana. Mugen nodded once, in complete agreement with his accommodator, and relaxed slightly.

Allen relaxed, too, slightly. And then he tensed up all over again, guilt and worry overcoming him in equal measure, and he jerked his head over to look at where Johnny lay, because Allen, like an idiot, had forgotten about him.

Kanda frowned, and then followed his gaze. The next thing Allen knew, Kanda was cursing, hurrying over to Johnny and muttering inaudibly under his breath.

? Angel Sword sounded confused. Allen had to agree.

He glanced at Mugen, who cocked an eyebrow at him, looking not nearly as surprised. A moment later, Allen recalled child Kanda doing the same thing to Marie – it hadn't occurred to him that the same trick might still work.

Crown Clown tugged on Allen's arm, giving him a soft, unreadable look. Encouragement. Urgency. Softer, Concern.

Allen obeyed, moving forward to stand by Kanda, while Mugen and Crown Clown both stood back, lingering in place. Kanda waited until Johnny groaned softly, starting to stir, before he looked up at Allen, gaze dark and as unreadable as Crown Clown's had been moments before.

"We need to go soon," he said at last. "That Apo-creep guy is coming."

"As is the Order," Link added, making a half-step forward before Kanda shot him a searing glare. After a moment, though, Kanda nodded reluctantly in agreement.

Anxiety, Angel Sword bit out, sharp and alarmed, and then went quiet again just as quickly. Reluctance, pain, and regret. Reluctance.

Allen nodded in agreement. "We'll have to be careful to stay away," he said quietly. "The Noah are around too." He wondered where the Earl had gone.

Kanda nodded shortly in understanding, and finally, Johnny opened his eyes, dazed and clearly in pain. Allen tried not to wince, guilt wrapping tight around his chest again.

"Ah… What happened?" Johnny mumbled, reaching up to rub at his head. He took his hand away and blanched. "Ah! Blood!"

"You got hit with a piece of building," Allen explained, soft. He glanced quickly at Link, and then at Kanda, and then back to Johnny. "I'm sorry, but we need to go. I'll explain more later, I promise."

Johnny, sensing the urgency, squinted at him through pain-dazed eyes, then nodded and scrambled to his feet, nearly falling over before, at the same time, Kanda and Allen went to steady him. Kanda withdrew his hand sharply, instead standing himself.

"Do you have an idea, beansprout?" Kanda asked, swift and businesslike. "Or do I have to do everything around here?"

Allen shot him a nasty look, stood up, and took a deep breath.

He hadn't wanted to do this. It tied him too closely to the Fourteenth, and posed the greatest risk of discovery by the Order. But it was also the best safe place he could find on such short notice, with such close pursuit.

He closed his eyes.

"Where's Tim?" he asked suddenly, though he didn't open his eyes.

Silence. Allen felt the door open in front of him, but didn't move.

"He's dead," Kanda said at last, heavy and reluctant. "Apocreep did some shit to him, I don't know." A short shift, and Kanda pressed a small pile of what felt like mostly dust into Allen's right hand, loosely held, and then wrapped Allen's fingers around it.

Allen's throat closed up. Tears stung at his eyes, and he lifted both his hands to press Tim's remains to his chest. Tim, who had been a loyal friend to him for longer than almost any other. Who had been affectionate and friendly, despite…

It was too much. Too much. He wanted this day to end. He wanted this to have been a dream.

Without looking back, Allen stepped through the door into the Ark.

I kinda forgot Tim was dead. Or that he existed. *sigh* Tim is not my specialty. *flop* I hope this wasn't made too sloppy by sleep deprivation. *nervous chuckle* Well, regardless, thanks for reading, and please review!