*Dies laughing* I swear this was supposed to be a deep, emotional chapter that progressed the story along. Somehow it turned into this. Well, if y'all were wondering about Allen's well being, here ya go. And Allen meets somebody-and gains an ally?
As usual, thank you guys sooo much for the reviews and the kind words.
Cross Marian, as Allen came to find out, was a jerk. There were many factors about Cross that made him not only a jerk, but an 'insufferable bastard'-as many seemed to deem him. Allen was, of course, much newer to Cross's antics and so it came as a huge shocks when Cross fully showed his habits to him.
First off, Allen came to find out that Cross was a drunk. He spent more of his time playing bartender than an actual apprentice. On the bright side as Lavi so graciously pointed out, Allen could become a pretty successful bartender with all the drinks he now knew how to pour.
Cross was also a womanizer-and girls actually fell for him! Allen couldn't count how many times he came back to Cross's room to find girls on each of his arms as he drank!
And it was clear that the only actual training Allen was getting was the 'sink-or-swim method because there was no hypothetical training with Cross. When it was time to fight, Cross expected you to fight. Training days were also days Allen found out that for seconds like he and Kanda, other exorcists didn't really have to worry about holding back. They'd heal in minutes anyway.
"Allen!" Allen's head snapped up; had he really been falling asleep into his lunch? Cross had been keeping him up with his antics. A week ago it had been because Cross had lost a bet with some Finders. As a reward Allen was given to said Finders to act as a servant until the week was up.
(Allen knew they felt bad but that didn't stop them from making him do everything.)
This week it was chasing down a single mouse that decided that Cross's general hat was it's new home. As a result Allen had been chasing the mouse(and the hat by extension) throughout the nice.
"Lenalee, Kanda. Hi." He waved sleepily almost falling backwards until Lenalee steadied him. Allen was surprised that Lavi wasn't with him as he usually was, but he knew Bookman was sticking close to him right now.
Lenalee smiled sweetly, holding out her hand for Allen to take, "Allen, come here. There's somebody that I want you to meet." She urged, pulling him along. Allen stumbled along, eventually hearing Lenalee giggle and he was lifted like a child. She at first went to balance him on her hip, but decided that it was easier to carry him on her back.
"I feel like an older sister, it's nice." Lenalee said, giggling as Allen's head settled on her shoulder, "You're really tired, huh Allen? General Cross is training you really hard."
Kanda snorted, "He's still chasing that rat."
"Really? I thought you caught it."
Well, Allen did. He locked it in a cage and went to get Cross, but when he came back he found that the mouse was exceptionally skilled in lock picking because when they came back the lock was broken and the mouse was gone-along with the hat.
"Well…" Allen sighed.
Lenalee sighed, "Cheer up, Allen. It'll get better. But look," she pointed to a woman, who sat alone in a chair, "Miranda!"
Miranda looked up, her eyes meeting Allen's and then they widened, "Is...is that…?" Her eyes watered; she hadn't believed the rumors while she was away on her mission. Noah typically left regular exorcists alone as they chased the generals. Seeing him in real felt like a dream-or a nightmare, really.
"Yeah, say hello Allen." Lenalee set Allen down, and smiled when he politely bowed.
"Hello, miss. I'm Allen Walker."
Miranda knelt and let Allen come closer, "Hello Allen, I'm Miranda Lotto."
"Nice to meet you, Miss Miranda!" Allen exclaimed, grabbing her hand. Miranda only smiled, sadly, because when Allen was older he only called her Miranda.
"Please, just Miranda. You're an apprentice, aren't you?"
Lenalee sighed, "Under Cross."
"Really? Oh my." Miranda smiled sweetly, "Well, when you feel tired or fed up please come to me. I'll make you tea." She promised, "He doesn't really notice me, so I'll be the last he comes to." She stood up, not noticing the paper that fell on the floor when she previously stood and slipped. As a result the table toppled over, sending cups and food across the room.
Lenalee winced, already knowing the outcome of Miranda's small mistake,"Three…two...one…"
Allen blinked, Until what?
"I'M SO SORRY!" Allen jumped nearly knocking Lenalee over as Miranda screeched. He flailed around eventually grasping Lenalee's coat and drawing himself close to her.
"I MESS UP EVERYTHING SO I MIGHT AS WELL DROWN MYSELF IN THE FOUNTAIN-"
Allen choked, "Wait...what?!" He stepped forward to stop her, but Lenalee was faster. She grabbed Miranda's shoulder, turning her to face Allen as she whispered into her ear.
"Miranda, didn't you say that you wanted to serve Allen tea when he ran away from Cross? You can't do that if you drown yourself." Lenalee coaxed.
Miranda exhaled, seemingly relaxing as she nodded, "You're...right. I'll hold out until then." She nodded, and sat back down completely calm. Allen blinked, once...twice..three times before deciding that with all her quirks Miranda was…kind of like Lou Fa.
Allen smiled...he did miss Lou Fa didn't he? Miranda reminded him of her, and that made him feel exceptionally better about being so far away from her. Although she was a little...much, going to Miranda didn't sound like a bad idea.
"I'll definitely come to you when I'm sad." He reassured her, smiling a bit. Miranda gave a weak smile in return as she moved to clean up the mess. Allen bowed to her once more before he left with Lenalee, holding her hand as they walked.
Lenalee gave him a bright smile, "Do you like Miranda?" She asked, "It seemed like you did."
Allen nodded, "Mmhmm! She's strange...but it's nice!" He paused as he heard squeaking, and turned quickly enough to come face to face with the mouse.
The mouse had the hat in its' paws, looking hilariously small next to it. His eyes widened as he took a step forward, "You…"
The mouse darted down the other hall, hat in tow. Allen shrieked in response, taking off after it. Lenalee watched, blinking in confusion before shrugging. "I hope he catches it soon." She knew that she could help him but...she wasn't going to.
As horrible as she was sure it sounded, seeing Allen stress so much over Cross was actually heartwarming. It reminded her so much of the past, and as horrible as it sounded she wasn't ready to let go of that Allen yet. Scars faded over time, but they always remained after all.
Lenalee sighed; maybe she'd go serve coffee to her brother and the others-her status be damned.
~insertlinebreak~
The next time Lenalee saw Allen, it was at night later that day. He was panting, but he held the mouse in a cage triumphantly. This time, the cage was bolted shut with at least sixteen locks on it, Allen held Cross's hat in his hand as he teasingly waved it in front of the mouse's face.
"No more causing trouble." He scolded lightly and Lenalee laughed as she approached, Lavi and Kanda at her sides.
"Allen, you finally caught him!" Lavi cheerfully noted, "Are you gonna get rid of him or what?" He leaned in to stare at the rodent. Lenalee was never fond of mice, but she surely felt for the creature if Allen was going to chuck him off of the Order's cliff.
Allen looked insulted at the mere thought of it, "No way! You see, me and Thomas over here," He gestured to the mouse, "Have bonded over this experience and have vowed to stay together forever. Besides I found out the reason he keeps taking Master's hat."
Allen unlocked all sixteen locks to hold Thomas gently in his hand, "You see when Thomas was but a young lad, Master had destroyed his home. Alone, homeless, and cold Thomas vowed to take revenge on the man who ruined his life!" Allen exclaimed dramatically, supplementing the story with gestures.
(The more comical bit was that Thomas assisted him in said gestures.)
The silence that hung afterwards almost was enough to make Allen blush as he urged Thomas back into his cage.
Lavi coughed, "O...Kay...well do you like Cross?" And really, that was the number one question since the beginning of Allen's apprenticeship. In the few months that Allen resided under Cross, what did he really think of him?
"Ha...ha...do I like Master…?" Allen asked, "...Mwahahahaha….NEVER."
Kanda snorted, "knew it."
Allen laughed manically, "Nobody could like him! He's evil! And so I've vowed to help Thomas someday get revenge!" He was beginning to laugh so loud, others were looking.
*Continues to die* Yeah...I wasn't going to let Allen like Cross. And Allen met Miranda! And Allen gains an ally-Thomas the Mouse! I swear this was supposed to be emotional but yeah no. I'll save that for next chapter.