Two rooms to the left, Lavi was sprawled on Bookman's bed, a book resting on his chest as his eye scanned the text, while Bookman meditated on a spot that was not covered with either newspapers, textbooks or papers.
The older man all but slammed his boots in his successor's face making the latter cry in protest. "Get off the bed, you lump."
"Alright, alright. It's your fault for giving me the lower bunk, Old Panda; makes me laze around all day." The green-eyed Exorcist/Bookman Junior complained, closing his book and tossing it atop the nearest pile to their bunk beds. "What do you think of the new girl?"
The old man mused, "She seems dangerous and reckless. She'll fit in here quite well," Lavi frowned, "you don't like her?"
"I don't know her well enough to judge." Lavi tried to sound nonchalant but he knew Bookman heard the strain in his voice.
"What is it?"
"I just don't understand… She's just been traumatized; weakened and exposed to facts about herself she hadn't had a clue about… I don't understand how she can be so…"
"Calm?" The older man offered.
Lavi nodded. "I just have a feeling that she's hiding something or that we're missing something."
The two rarely agreed but Bookman couldn't help but see eye to eye with his successor. The serious atmosphere was interrupted, however, when Lavi's stomach growled. The two shared a quick glance before Lavi ducked to evade Bookman's shoe flying at his face. He quickly left afterwards with the intention of heading to the cafeteria.
Lenalee had taken Devina to see The Science Division, where she met many friendly men with names she couldn't attach to particular faces; she remembered a Johnny, a Reever, or a Tapp, maybe a George. Then Lenalee took her to the Medical Wing, where she felt like a trespasser, and she was extremely happy to leave. Lenalee then took her to the fourth floor, which belonged entirely to the Intelligence Division or the Finders. The Finders, according to the female Exorcist are ordinary people who track Innocence and scout any rumors of the Innocence's whereabouts to report back to headquarters who then send the Exorcists on missions to retrieve the Innocence. Exorcists apparently do not only kill Akuma but also collect the Innocence before it falls into the Earl's hands who will go on and destroy said Innocence eliminating the threats it poses: which are the destruction of the Akuma and the Earl's plans.
The two girls ended up on the sixth floor, where Lenalee was showing Devina her room-to-be. "I don't have the keys yet, but we'll get them when we see Komui." Lenalee scanned the floor, hopeful to spot her brother. "Oh, the shared bathrooms are that way. The females' are always empty and clean though because there aren't many women in The Order." She stated matter-of-factly.
"It must get lonely, sometimes." Devina blurted.
Lenalee raised a brow but relaxed at Devina's devastated face. "It used to," she admitted, "until my brother joined The Order."
"You two didn't…?" Devina trailed, not wanting Lenalee to say anything she didn't want to.
"No, The Order recruited me a long time ago by force; my brother gave up everything to come work here and be with me." She seemed lost in thought.
Devina nudged her, "well, he seems happy here, like he belongs…" she smiled.
Lenalee smiled back, "he is, he does. Come on, I wanna show you the libr-"
"Hey, what are you two girls doing here?" The two girls turned around to spot Lavi approaching them.
"Hey Lavi," Lenalee smiled kindly, "I was just showing Devina her new room and where the bathrooms are before-"
Lavi's stomach growled, interrupting her speech and the redheaded teenager chuckled embarrassedly. "I was just on my way to the cafeteria, wanna join?" He asked, directing his question mostly to Lenalee.
"Sure," Lenalee answered, and the two began to lead the way to the cafeteria.
Devina remained passively quiet, unsure whether to follow them or not.
"You, too, Devina." Lavi glanced back at her with his emerald orb. She nodded and followed. Lavi had decided that if he were to discover what was behind her unflinching mask, he needed to start acting friendly, and who better than Bookman Junior, the 18-year-old with 49 aliases and personalities to befriend the Exorcist-to-be.
Devina didn't know what it was about the redhead; whether it was the annoying confident strut or the ease with which he conversed with Lenalee, yet completely neglected her. However, she was absolutely sure that she hated his guts and his perfect face with his immaculate nose and his shiny green eye and his stupid eye-patch and his straight white teeth and his soft-looking lips. He just annoyed her to no end. He did seem appealing at first sight but with each ticking second, Devina felt her distaste toward him grow. He was so smitten with Lenalee it was so palpable and pathetic. Devina wanted to help him pick his dignity off the floor because Lenalee was too busy including her in every conversation he strikes instead of just enjoying his attention and she was clearly not interested in him.
Thank god, we're here, Devina thought as they entered the vast orange and yellow hall. There was an insurmountable amount of tables and chairs seating Finders and Exorcists and scientists and healers. Devina noticed the binary division between the members of each section of the Order. The Finders filled the most seats. She was soon distracted by the delicious smell of various cuisines and she ogled each table and every dish upon it. Her stomach protested mildly, louder than Lavi's stomach had dared, and she bit the inside of her cheek in embarrassment. Lavi chuckled and pointed at an open window with a dark-skinned male who was seemingly taking orders from a tall bald man.
Devina dashed forward and stood behind the man, Lavi following her out of curiosity, and well, hunger. When it was Devina's turn to order, she turned to Lavi and gulped. "What do I do?"
Lavi couldn't help but grin. "You tell Jerry whatever dish you want so he can prepare it for you. Hurry up, I'm hungry." He teased and her face fell. She gave him her back and beamed at the cook, Jerry, Lavi had called him.
"Hi, Jerry, my name's Devina, I'm a new Exorcist in training here." She kept her smile on as she spoke.
"What can I get you, Devina, new Exorcist in training?" Jerry asked in amusement.
"You'll make me anything I want?" She asked, almost salivating.
"Anything."
"Free of charge?"
"Why, of course."
Devina gulped, took a long, deep, deep, deep breath. "I want five double cheeseburgers, two large margaritas, yes, pizza! I want seven bowls of chicken ramen and three plates of your best sushi and uhh, three, no, four stacks of dumplings and chocolate cakes and donuts for dessert, and I'll have some orange juice."
Jerry blinked back at her before he broke into a grin, "we got ourselves another Walker, here!" Jerry bellowed to the entire hall, who in turn cheered, while Devina stared at him blankly, not following. "Your order will be coming right up, Devina-san!" Devina beamed and turned around to come face-to-face with a stunned Lavi. She smirked before she sidestepped to allow him to order.
Devina saw Lenalee standing behind Lavi and decided to stand by her. "You've got quite an appetite," Lenalee joked.
"I have never, ever- I mean, this is a feast. I can't wait to eat everything." Devina exclaimed.
Lenalee laughed, "It's because you're Parasitic, Allen's just the same."
And as if on cue, the white-haired exorcist entered the cafeteria and made his way toward his friends. "Hello Lenalee, Devina,"
The three exchanged greetings and pleasantries while Lavi ordered his lunch, then it was Lenalee's turn, and lastly, Allen.
"Jerry-san~" the young Exorcist beamed, "I'm starving," he gasped; the two exchanged some pleasantries before he launched into what seemed like an automated recitation of a list of really, really delicious dishes. "I'll have some mashed potatoes, French fries, dried curry, beef pies, meat stew, Caesar salad, capriccio, kibbeh, spring rolls, sweet and sour pork, chicken tikka masala and some noodles and rice. As for dessert, I'd like some chocolate and vanilla ice cream and about twenty dumplings," Allen heaved, "thanks Jerry."
Devina blinked, and fought the heat that threatened to trail up her neck and onto her cheeks. Is that what I just did?
"Let's go sit with Yuu until our food is ready," Lavi suggested, leading the group.
Devina wondered who this 'you' he referred to was but refrained from asking, and instead followed suit. She didn't feel like striking any sort of conversation with the redhead and instead felt her body cringe away from him, leaning more towards the gentler looking Allen.
Allen was softer and shorter than Lavi; he was well built, not to an intimidating point, but in a way that flattered his height and innocent face.
"Yuu!" Lavi cried out, running towards the longhaired Exorcist Devina had met earlier today. She recalled his name was Kanda. He had refused to greet her back but she didn't take any offence from it, in fact she found it amusing. She still didn't understand why Lavi was repetitively saying 'you', though.
The tall graceful man turned on Lavi swiftly, his sword unsheathed and pointed at Lavi's throat. "Don't ever call me Yuu,"
"But, Yuu-" Lavi protested and Kanda only seemed to press his katana further.
Devina realized this was supposed to be a joke but Kanda was taking it far too seriously. She saw Lenalee and Allen move to stop them, and she debated whether it was her place to intervene or not. "Kanda, is this really necessary?" She asked, approaching the older male.
His sword was inches away from her own throat now, and she gulped and chuckled nervously. "Really, now, you won't kill your own comrades. Put down your sword and go back to your soup and let us all sit down and eat." She raised her arms in surrender.
Kanda glared at her, his eyes narrowed and dark blue and to be frank, frightening. Devina didn't flinch. "Tch," he pulled back his chair and sat down and the group followed suit.
"So who's this 'you' Lavi keeps referring to?"
Devina learned the hard way that Yuu was actually Kanda's first name, which he didn't like hearing, apparently. After her exceedingly satisfying lunch, Devina was approached by one of the Science Division's members; the short young man with frizzy tied up hair and big round glasses.
"D-devina-san, I was instructed by the Chief to hand you your room keys and to take your measurements to start designing your uniform so I can have it ready for you in a matter of days." The man rambled on.
Devina was stuffed to say the least, yet she couldn't help the guilt eating at her stomach for being unable to recall this angel's name. "Uh-um," she stammered, "of course! Do as you please," she stood up abruptly, extending her arms and giving him the exposure he needed to measure her.
The man's face turned a scarlet shade as he tried his best to keep his eyes to himself. He took out a measuring tape out of his lab coat and started taking her measurements. "What type of uniform would you like?"
Devina thought for a moment before she gave him an answer. "Something that fits me well, keeps me warm and is easy to move in. Oh, my Innocence pours out of my body so that means my suit will probably be shredded often…" she trailed, her voice going down several octaves.
"That's okay, we'll take care of that by creating replicas." The man smiled encouragingly and she wanted to die; the guilt has gnawed its way through her stomach and into her soul.
Devina succumbed, "can you tell me your name again?"
"Johnny. Johnny Gill,"
Devina never forgot Johnny Gill's name ever again.
Devina's fingers trembled as she inserted the key into the keyhole, turning it to the right. Her heart jumped excitedly as she heard the clang it made and then she turned the doorknob to access her room. She had yet to wrap her head around the concept of having her own bloody room. Her entire frame shook with excitement as she scanned the empty room.
It was painted in a light purple hue and decorated with a wooden four-poster queen-sized bed to the right, a wooden desk and chair to the left. On the bed's right, there was a maroon settee with a circular coffee table made of glass; on the desk's right, parallel to the wall was a wooden armoire.
Devina's breath was caught in her already aching throat. She was not going to cry. A little sack and a pile of clothes had been left for her on the bed. She made her way to the bed and picked up the light sack of the few possessions she'd brought along. She picked out an old looking book she'd received from Thomas. She traced her fingers over the cover and made her way to the desk and placed it on top of it. She smiled slightly, before walking back to check the pile of clothes. She found a large comfortable looking shirt and took off the now-shredded male shirt she was dressed in before the incident.
A stab of pain shot through her entire being as she recalled that the closest people to her were never going to be a part of this, and she had to force herself to focus on the now. If she grieved, she was lost. A shaky breath escaped her lips as she put on the blue shirt. She headed to the bed and pulled off the sheets before she lay down. A content sigh escaped her lips, as she got more comfortable than she ever had in her entire seventeen years.
Author's Note: Happy (late) Birthday Lavi!
I think this chapter is more of a filler. I'm still trying to introduce everyone and everything, so this is a light one, but soon enough you'll have more than enough suspense. Don't forget to Follow, Favorite or Review. All three would make my day!