A/N: First multi-chapter fic, yay! This takes place in canon but diverges greatly after the Alma arc. It also is a sort-of sequel to "You and Me and the Devil Makes Three", but you don't need to read that fic to understand this.
Takes place three years after Kanda gets the crystalized Mugen. Lavi and Bookman have been missing throughout this time. Implies Lavi and Kanda were together for quite some time before, and most of the Order knows about it.
Warning: Language and violence. Some sexy things happen later but nothing explicit. Rated M for disturbing situations, torture scars, and possibly PTSD.
I Against I
It was raining.
Typical, Kanda thought. It was raining on the day the world was supposed to end. Cold water drenched through his gloves, soaking Mugen's hilt as the crystal sword hummed against his palm. Beside him Lavi adjusted the grip on the Iron Hammer. The redhead was fidgeting, taut with nervous energy, hair plastered to his forehead as the rain poured down. Kanda considered it a miracle that he was here with him, but then again weren't it all a miracle, that any of them were still here, standing, a field of broken lives and tarnished dreams, destined for this day.
Kanda raised his blade, changing his defensive stance into something more deadly. Ahead of them thousands of Akumas loomed in the distance. Somewhere in that throng sat the Millennium Earl, protected by a literal wall of dying souls and the eight remaining Noahs. Kanda's General uniform stuck uncomfortably to his skin. It was freezing out here, in the open field and the sleety rain. If he weren't made to withstand such discomforts he would've been very cross indeed.
"You ready?" Lavi asked, not a hint of mirth in his voice. Kanda looked over – the redhead was staring into the distance, his free hand wiping the water away from his eyes. The Science Department had finished the former Bookman apprentice's new prosthetic a day ago, a pure aesthetic choice that Lavi had requested. The color wasn't perfect; off just enough to be noticeably mismatched, and definitely would take a bit to get used to. But Lavi said it was a good thing, a necessary reminder of where he had come from. Kanda agreed.
"As ever," he replied, lifting Mugen higher. Neither side had made a move yet. Kanda didn't know what the Earl was waiting for; he was waiting for the signal from Lenalee. The girl – the Heart – was directing the entire operation from the back, guarded by the ever-present Allen Walker. The Exorcists were so severely outnumbered that the only way they could even hope to win was to stick to the discussed strategy to the letter. Kanda sneered. What a joke this was. Humanity's last chance was less than fifty people against ten thousand monsters. If he weren't personally on the front lines he would've never believed it.
"Yu," a rumble of thunder nearly drowned out Lavi's voice. Kanda turned, saw the hand extended toward his direction and reached back. Their fingers intertwined as the heat transpired between them, just for a moment, through the gloves and the cold, pelting water. It was an assurance that they were in this together, and no matter what happened, he'd still have him to fall back on.
A sharp whistle sounded shrilly behind them, followed by a burst from Noise Marie's Organon. That was the signal. Kanda let go, both hands returning to grip Mugen's hilt. He took in a deep breath, felt the tension and the power ripping through his muscles, and charged.