Here's just a short authors note :) When I wrote chapter one, Yume was a one-shot. Not anymore! Reviews made this happen (awesome reviews). Thank you everyone who has reviewed. I love all of them.
He had been awake awhile and decided to get up. Sleep had come and gone. Lavi sat up, slowly removing his hand from Allen's. Ever so carefully, the exorcist swung his legs over the beds side and stood up. The door made some noise upon opening, but not enough to wake his companion.
"You're up. I made breakfast if you're hungry." Mother was tending to a pot over the fire, inside the hearth.
"Breakfast sounds great," Lavi answered, his stomach replying with an answer of its own.
"Sit down and I'll bring you a bowl," Mother said, not yet turning around. Lavi found a seat in one of the two chairs at the small table.
"Can I ask how you know Allen? If I'm not intruding of course," Lavi added. He was already a guest. It wouldn't help to push his luck as it was, but curiously had the best of him. Curiosity was the name of the game for a bookman.
Grabbing a bowl and spoon she had set nearby, Mother filled the bowl and brought it over to where the boy sat. The woman took the opposite seat from Lavi.
"I don't bite. Ask Barba. He's lived with me long enough to know," she chuckled to herself as if it were an inside joke only she knew.
"Barba?" Lavi asked. "Is he the one who was sleeping when we came in last night?"
"That's him. He can be a bumbling idiot, but he's got a big heart," Mother smiled. She smoke affectionately.
"You asked me a question. I didn't mean to ignore it," Mother hurried. Lavi merely sat back and listened. He tasted the stew in front of him.
"I meant Allen the day Cross Marian showed up here, looking for a place to treat the boy." Lavi couldn't help his interest. He had more questions.
"What do you mean, treat?" He inquired.
"I assume you already know about how Cross found Allen?" Mother wasn't one to share another's private matters; granted they already knew and could be trusted.
"Yes. Allen shared that much with us." She nodded.
"After finding the boy and bringing him back here, we treated his wound; his scar. It was awful. I can still hear the screams." Mother seemed to be remembering. Judging by her expression, it wasn't something she wanted to remember. He waited to she if she would continue. Sighing, Mother did.
"The wound healed eventually, sadly I can't say the same for the kids mind. He didn't move for weeks it felt like."
Lavi only listened. This was another side of the story he figured few knew.
"Finally, Allen came around. He helped Barba and myself around the place with chores and what-not. Eventually Cross left, taking Allen with him, having decided to make him his apprentice. From there, god only knows what kind of life Cross gave the poor kid," Mother finished, turning her head towards the bedroom door.
"Maybe you can fill an old woman in, eh Allen?"
"I'd say debt, a lot of traveling, and trauma about sum up those years, Allen joked, standing in the bedroom doorway.
"How long have you been awake?" Lavi asked. "I hope you don't mind my talking with Mother here."
"I'd rather it be you than other people I know. Besides," Allen moved to the hearth, serving himself food, "I trust you."
"I'm glad you were able to make friends as good as these in the order. I wasn't sure about anything when you left, knowing the kind of patron Cross was," Mother said, her tone serious, still light-hearted.
Allen, food in hand, pulled the seat that was tucked away in the corner of the room to the table.
"He had to be something else. I never really met the general, but after all the stories I've heard, I'm not so sure I'd want to meet him now," Lavi joked, but couldn't disguise the genuine piece of fear he felt.
"Master was, something special, to say the least," Allen's face fell, the way it always did when reliving his childhood with Cross Marian.
"Mother, I've finished the washing." The front door was heard opening.
"Is that Barba?" Lavi asked. Mother nodded.
"Yeah, that's him," she replied. A man of tall stature entered the room. He wore blue overalls, and an unzipped coat. His face lit up.
"Allen! Your awake! I was so worried," Barba exclaimed, hurrying to trap the boy in one of his famous, strangling hugs.
"Now be careful Barba. He's still hurt from yesterday," Mother prompted.
Barba listened. Unusually gently, the man wrapped his giant arms around Allen's small frame.
"I missed you too Barba," he smiled.
Lavi finished his stew, watching on. Allen seemed to belong here.
Everyone ate and finished their breakfast, talking amongst each other, mostly trivial things. The dishes were soon clean, and the day ready to begin.
"I was hoping I could borrow some clothes, for the both of us." Allen had been addressing Mother. "Lavi's exorcist uniform and my prison wardrobe might catch an eye or two," Allen added in an humorous attempt. Lavi hadn't thought about their clothing. They were hiding from the order now, blending in was key.
"If I'm not mistaken, Cross might have left some clothes behind. It was ages ago, but I never threw anything out. They would be in the closet in the room. Feel free to take what you need," the woman advised.
"Thanks Mother." Allen headed for the same room they had slept in. Lavi had not seen the closet the night before as it was nearly pitch black. He followed.
"Let's see what we can find," Allen was already looking through the closets contents when Lavi entered after his friend.
"Anything look good?" Lavi sat on the unmade bed, leaning back, his arms acting as a prop.
"I can honestly say I never imagined my master wearing such normal clothes. What do you think?" Lavi turned to see what Allen was holding up.
A simple white, long sleeved bottom-up under shirt, a long russet colored trench coat, and plain black pants not so different than the Black Orders, made up the ensemble Allen held, displaying the pieces over his arms.
"I think it's just what we need," Lavi smiled. "Is there enough to put something else together?"
"Master had a preference for routine. Mostly women and drinking, but everybody has something," Allen gathered another pile of clothing and sat by Lavi. "Here's yours." Lavi took the bundle of cloth, and inspected the pieces closer.
"What are you going to wear?" he asked.
"It's basically the same. What do you say we give it a try?" Lavi couldn't say no to his partner; he looked excited. Allen moved to undress, standing and facing the far wall away from Lavi. He hadn't expected to change together in all honesty.
'We are both guys, it's nothing,' the red head pushed his doubts to the side.
Lavi also stood up and faced the door, closing it.
He couldn't help catching a glimpse of the others bare back, littered and marred by scars long-since healed.
'I wonder if I look the same,' Lavi wondered. With the black uniform now discarded on the floor and dressed, the boy looked his clothes over, now seeing the final master piece. They were less fitting than he was used to, but it was nice. It was comfortable.
"I'd say you look great. It really is a relief to be out of that horrid get-up I had to wear," Lavi spun around. Allen was also dressed in the same clothing, with the exception of a simple grey vest.
"What do you think? I thought the vest was a nice touch. Kinda reminds me of my old one when I first came to the order." Lavi smiled, than answered,
"You look," the hammer wielder found the words, "much better. You look amazing! Did you have your ribbion this whole time?" Lavi wondered.
"This?" Allen touched the ribbon in question. It was the same red ribbon he had always worn around his neck. It had been a rather long time since he had received it. Most likely (if memory served him right) when Mother had given the boy clean clothes when they met. It was a memento more or less from over the years Allen had endured Cross's ideas of how to bring a child up.
"I found it on Tim this morning. None of us noticed it. I think Link left it for me," Allen's eyes became thoughtful. For the first time since leaving the night before, Allen realized what he missed.
He missed Link, no matter how much he was irritating. He had his qualities. Link was honest.
Lenalee was Allen's first real friend after the boy he had befriended in India. He hated to see her kept in the dark.
Komui, no matter how insane the man was, he was loyal. He loved each and every person who had given their lives to the Black Order: the finders, exorcists, he valued life as a principle to live by.
And Yu Kanda. He really was a pain in the ass at times. However, he was always there when he needed to be; whether it was saving another's life or just to be there. Kanda was a friend.
"I miss it too, the order." Allen looked up. Lavi had sat back on the bed, motioning for Allen to sit by him. He did this.
"I don't think we'll be going home anytime soon." Allen said this, but to himself, quietly. The golem floated over and landed on his white hair, wrapping its wings around the sides of Allen's face in a reassuring gesture.
"No, I don't think we are. But you won't be alone. Timcanpy's here after all," Lavi hoped saying this would raise his friends spirit. He moved closer, wrapping one arm around Allen's shoulder in a (hopefully) comforting manner.
Allen received the motion by letting his head fall into Lavi's shoulder.
"You're here too, Lavi." Allen could feel Timcanpy shuffling as if to save himself from falling.
"Don't sell yourself short." Allen glanced up without moving. Lavi's face was contempltive.
"What is it, Lavi?"
"It's nothing, Allen. Just thinking," was the response.