Hiiii~ This is another chapter that turned out a lot better than I thought it would. Has anybody watched Stranger Things season two? I was watching it while writing this. Now, this chapter is highly Noah centered.
It was almost unnerving to see the Earl so upset. Not that Road was any better, they had never seen her so distraught. The Earl and Road had always been the leaders, with Road as the Earl's most trusted Noah. Even Tyki looked shaken by the news.
"Well," Tyki sighed, "First things first, how do we move from here? Previous plan is basically shot and we have bigger things to worry about now." Leaning back in his chair, he trained his eyes on the ceiling. There was never a quiet moment in their family-not a moment of peace. Things were looking up for them, the depression that followed their family after Allen's death was being to fade and Tyki thought it would stay that way.
He never saw his family more silent.
There was another soft sigh and he turned, Wisely blinked back lazily, "There's not much we can do. If the Fourteenth rests in the Second then we have to get him-willingly of course. The plan has to be halted until then." Wisely leaned back in his chair, "Unless you want to go a different route and just destroy the Order and take him."
"We can't just destroy the Order and expect Allen to come with us. He has a child's trust in them." Road added, playing placidly with her dog. The white dogged barked happily in agreement, and licked her cheek.
There was a scoff and all attention suddenly turned to Sheryl. He sat beside Road, petting her hair and watching her play with their dog. "This boy...Allen, is much more trouble than he's worth." Sheryl commented, "It would be easier to just let him stay-his former wouldn't come with us anyway."
"Yes," Road nodded, smiling softly, "But Allen's family. We never turn our back on family. We love them." She rocked back and forth, "Even if it takes us years-Allen needs to be with us."
And although she hadn't spoken it, the elder's true meaning shone through, We can't let him slip through again.
Road sat up straighter, "I'll greet him myself, introduce myself-as Road Kamelot and not as a Noah. He'll trust me, I look no older than he does…" There was also the fact that she missed Allen so much that it hurt-and the fact that she missed Nea terribly as well.
Maybe she missed Nea a little more than Allen, but maybe that was because she hadn't seen her adoptive uncle in nearly forty years.
"I think that's a swell idea. A child places trust in another child. However, Tyki will accompany you my dear," The Earl smiled coldly, "Do see that you don't give yourself away. I'd hate to have to punish you for letting an exorcist or worse Cross see you."
Road and Tyki shuddered; the threat may have been empty but it was a threat none the less and the Earl only threatened them when he was serious. Even when they failed the Ark recapture he hadn't even lifted a finger to harm them-he hadn't even yelled. He cried because of the fourteenth, but didn't yell.
"Yes Millennie." Road nodded nervously.
"Of course, my dear Earl." Tyki agreed, just as Road's door opened. Road hopped down from the Earl's chair to walk over to Tyki, grasping his hand with her own, "We'll return shortly."
And they were gone.
~insertlinebreak~
Tyki and Road immediately split up once they arrived in London. Tyki was too tall for him to go unnoticed, and Cross would recognize him immediately. Road, however, was small enough to disappear in a crowd and although Cross knew her well she was stealthy enough for him not to catch her.
In other words, she got to follow them around.
Road quietly followed the general, knowing that he knew somebody was following him. She knew however they he wouldn't expect it to be her. After the 'little' temper tantrum she threw when he stuck her with his debts, Cross expected her to be assigned to another general.
(She destroyed half a village with a horde of Akuma because of debts. To be fair, the Earl made her buy thirty fruit baskets for the remaining living families and hand them out as 'charity' work.)
Remembering the incident only made Road pout as she dragged Lero behind her.
"Poor boy, having that man as his master again." Road muttered sympathetically, feeling honestly sorry. She heard Allen's rambles about how horrible his training was and how it traumatized him. She followed behind them slowly, watching Alle respond to anything Cross said. Timcanpy fluttered above his head, continuously flying into Allen's hood and out.
She'd have to tread carefully around Timcanpy-the golem never particularly disliked her, not even when he was Nea's, but it was still a bother. Timcanpy was loyal to Cross and would show him her unless the golem deemed her trustworthy.
Cross suddenly stopped in front of a bar and Road disappeared behind a wall to spy.
"Brat, stay out here." Cross ordered. Allen nodded obediently, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall.
"Yes, Master."
Once Cross disappeared Allen immediately started muttering under his breath. Road giggled at just how angry he was at Cross-apparently Cross still was a jerk. She clasped her hands in front of her as she moved to greet him, all sweet smiles and bright eyes.
She stopped in front of him, waited for him to meet her eyes and when he finally did she curtsied politely. Allen, confused, politely tipped his head.
"My name is Road." Road greeted, "Are you all alone?" She questioned, knowing the answer. If she was quick, she could drag him off before Cross came out of the bar.
Allen nodded, scowling, "Master went off again, honestly~" He sighed, "My name is Allen Walker. It's nice to meet you, Road."
Road giggled, "Nice to meet you too! My uncle disappeared as well-the jerk," She sighed, the lie easily coming off her tongue, "I can't really be alone since I'm so young and when I saw you I just…" She sighed, "We look the same age and daddy wouldn't want me to walk with somebody older. How old are you?"
Allen thought about it; he was technically one-almost two-but he didn't look it, "I'm...thirteen." Allen finally decided, "Thirteen years old." He watched as Road smiled brightly,
"Great! I'm thirteen too!" A lie, of course. Road was nearly forty-something she supposed-she stopped counting after she turned seventeen because she never aged, "Would you like to walk with me? We can go to a candy store or something-or a bakery! Do you like sweets?"
Like last time, Allen's eye couldn't pick up that she wasn't human. She was almost afraid that rebirth would give it that power.
So it can still only see Akuma. I'll have to watch out for the Akuma in the streets. Allen will try to fight them.
-All Akuma...don't come near me or else- Road threatened.
"I like all foods! I'll go with you." Allen declared passionately and Road giggled. It seemed that Allen never changed; she'd have to buy him extra candy. They linked hands as they began to walk.
Allen looked at her, "So, why are you in town?"
"Daddy is a diplomat," Road told him, "And we're in London because of that. Usually Uncle has to be around me but he disappeared so I decided to walk by myself." Road looked at him, "What's with the weird clothes, aren't you hot in that, it's warm out."
His exorcist uniform was quite hot but there was little he could do about it. He had to wear it all the time when he left the Order.
Allen scratched the back of his head, "Kind of, but I have to wear it." He pulled at it uncomfortably. His exorcist uniform was much easier to wear when he could wear it without his coat. He wondered if this was how Lenalee felt-he always saw her in a long dress if she wasn't in her uniform.
Road pouted, "Take that off. You can wear it on your arm or something, but if you faint Daddy will kill me if it means we have to pay your medical bills."
Allen smiled nervously, "My master wouldn't be happy." He could picture the lecture-no, the punishments he'd receive if Cross caught him disobeying orders.
"Your master left you in the middle of London all alone, tell him to stuff it." Road stubbornly pouted and as Allen pulled off his coat she tugged him into a store. She smiled sweetly at the store owner as she and Allen walked down the candy aisles.
Road picked out a bundle of chocolates, "Do you like chocolates? We can share these and then go and get cake. I'll pay of course!" She offered, shaking the bag, "London has the best chocolates!"
Allen shrugged, "I haven't had much chocolate. Where I'm from two of the people I'm close to, well there names are Miranda and Lenalee, they really don't like it if I eat too many sweets." He laughed at Road's horrified look, "what?"
"My...caretaker...gives me whatever I want." Road gaped, "Even Daddy gives me whatever I want-and so does my uncle." She grabbed an extra bag of chocolate, "I change my mind, we can get separate bags, you deserve it!"
Allen shook his head, "No that's okay-"
"No I want to." Road interrupted, "Besides, friends do this sort of stuff for each other."
"Friends?" Allen echoed. Road smiled and nodded.
"Friends, that's what we are, right? At least, we could be friends?"
Allen stared, "I never really had a friend...at least nobody my age." It was always his family not his friends. Lenalee and Lavi and Kanda were all his family. So was the rest of the Order.
Road giggled, squeezing both of his hands with her own.
She smiled sweetly, "It's okay, I never hang out with people my age either. So we can be each other's first friend." She held out her hand, smiling;
"So come on!"
~insertlinebreak~
Road walked back into the family room, holding onto three bags of candy, a box of cakes, and a milk shake. Tyki trailed behind her carrying the rest of the food she brought-scowling as Road looked extremely satisfied.
"She bought the boy half of the town." Tyki accused, eyeing her. Road giggled.
"No, I'd see three quarters. I couldn't help it, it's Allen." She giggled, "And I do love him."
Wisely chuckled, "I assume that it went well?" He questioned and half the family laughed in agreement. Road looked absolutely elated. She twirled until she was next to the Earl, placing herself importantly on the arm of his chair and tossing her legs onto his lap.
"What can I say? I'm increasingly persuasive." She giggled, and then her face mellows out, "He's still so sweet. And so trusting, I just met him today, right? But he said yes when I said we should be friends."
Road looked up, "We have to get him soon, the Order still doesn't deserve him."
~insertlinebreak~
Allen was back at the bar by the time Cross walked back out, Timcanpy fluttering after him. He had been dropped off by Road, clutching at least of the stores in London's goods.
Cross eyed him curiously, "Where did you get all that stuff?" He remembered specifically telling Allen not to leave. He'd punish him later, but for now he was actually curious.
"A...friend." Allen replied, "I made a friend. She was nice."
Cross stood still, "What was her name?" Cross suddenly didn't like the way Allen was clutching candy. Allen wouldn't be as trusting unless it was a child he met. The girl would have to be well off to afford all she bought and she'd have to awfully like sweets. She'd also had to be incredibly persuasive to get Allen to disobey Cross.
They'd also have to be fond enough of Allen to even consider approaching him.
Cross didn't like this.
Cross really didn't like this.
It sounded sickeningly familiar-because Cross knew who would approach Allen before Allen even said it.
"Her name was Road."
Cross kept walking, "I see."
*suspenseful music* Cross knows Allen and Road met. Now the question is: will he tell Komui or does he actually even give a fuck?