Devina jolted awake when her head hit something hard. She groaned as her eyes opened, and her hand reached to touch the back of her head when felt something sticky. "Ugh,"
"Devina! You're awake!" she heard the voice come from her right. She tried to fight the haziness and focus her vision. Lavi's relieved face greeted her, and she tried to smile, but she was sure it more a grimace than anything else. She tried to sit up, and Lavi helped her gently.
She was startled to see the entire tower had collapsed, leaving nothing but ruins behind. She was grateful to see her friends around her, injured and exhausted but not dead. There was a man standing on a casket a few meters away, with a gun in his hand and a lady by his side. She was tall, dressed in a long frilly green dress. Her dress seemed to extend to cover her hair and her face was masked behind a bow-shaped masked that resembled a butterfly.
"Lavi, is everyone okay?" she asked. She noticed everyone else had their sights set elsewhere and she wanted to know what was going on. She followed their gaze and was shocked to see the Millennium Earl. "Wh-what's the Earl doing here?" she realized he had someone slung across his shoulder, and her heart raced when she realized it was Tyki.
"General Cross showed up and saved the day," Lavi said jovially, but his face fell when he saw Devina's. Her face was unreadable, her brows furrowed as she struggled to stand. He couldn't read her at all, and there was still the unsolved mystery of the strange connection between her and the Noah. "Devina…?"
Devina knew it was heresy. She shouldn't concern herself with a Noah, but she couldn't explain what it was they shared. It was just there. She bit the inside of her cheek as she forced herself to stay put. She couldn't run off chasing after a Noah, one who had just tried to kill her and every other person she cared about.
She felt so conflicted, though, and it was really frustrating: the amount of things she couldn't explain just kept piling up.
"Lavi," she started, "when we go home, I wanna sleep for a decade."
Lavi deadpanned. He'd apparently worried himself for nothing. Here she was cracking jokes once again, but still… "Yes," he answered, his eye gentle. "I would love to sleep for a decade, too."
"How about we let the kids leave first, hmm?" Devina was vaguely aware of what the Earl said when the ground began to shake before exploding beneath them.
Devina held back a scream as Lavi and Chaoji fell. She saw Allen lean against the ledge of a cliff and call out for Lavi while she hurried to his side. She leaned forward beside Allen and watched as Lavi extended his hammer and Allen managed to close his hands around its head. Devina's heart fluttered with relief before the hammer's head shattered, its metallic pieces falling through his fingers.
"LAVI!" Devina shouted, and without a second thought, she jumped after him.
She was falling headfirst and she saw Lavi's green eye widen, glistening in the dark before her arms caught him and wrapped around him. She focused entirely on her knuckles, and her bones came out almost transparent. She redirected them toward her feet before they finally solidified enough to help them stand.
"You idiot!" Lavi shouted, and she broke into a grin. He saw how heavily she was perspiring, and swallowed another shout.
They were slowly ascending, and Devina was fighting against the ache and the way her body seemed to reject her actions. She was finally able to see Allen, and his devastated face broke into a big smile, when the plank completely vanished beneath them, and they fell.
Lavi was the first to wake when the Ark was restored by Allen Walker. He couldn't understand why or how he'd survived. He only remembered falling, and dragging Devina down with him.
He couldn't believe her recklessness. Why would she jump in after him? Did she do it because that's what she would've done for any of her friends… or because it was him?
Recently, he noticed that the thin line that was always wavering between like and dislike had slowly began to intermingle between them. And her jumping in like that… to save his life… He couldn't believe she would go so far for him.
His throat was so very dry as he sat up straight and began to look for her, but he found her lying a few feet away, and Chaoji a bit farther from her. Her Innocence had deactivated, and she was back in the green dress she was wearing when they found her. It was severely damaged now, and it no longer covered her legs.
Lavi made his way to her, slowly and deliberately, not intending to upset any of his injuries. He took off his jacket and wrapped it around her, but that made her stir, and then her brown orbs blinked at him.
"…Lavi?" she slowly sat up, the jacket falling off her.
Lavi smacked the top of her head.
"Oww! What the hell, baka-Lavi?" she winced, massaging her head. "You know how injured I am, you shitty brat?"
"Ohh? Are you calling me a shitty brat? Don't joke around- you, you… you, idiot!" he snapped.
"What the hell are you so pissed for? Shouldn't you be happy we're alive?" she yelled back.
"I would be if you hadn't gone and jumped to save my life. Who do you think you are, huh?" his index had suddenly moved and poked her repeatedly. In the chest. "Ackk!" he cried out at the realization.
"You pervert! What do you think you're doing, huh?" she exclaimed, shoving at his chest in response.
"That was by mistake, by mistake!" Lavi's cheeks reddened slightly.
"Yes, you tell yourself that." She fumed, before she sighed. "Lavi,"
"Hmm?" his voice softened at her tone.
"I am so tired." She admitted.
"I know… but since we're back, I'm guessing there's a way to leave this place, and then we can head home."
"Wait, wait! Since we're back…" Devina began and she gripped his green shirt, "…does that mean Kanda and Krory are back, too?"
Lavi's eyes widened, and his heart did a weird flutter at her touch. "Y-ye… probably!" he said and it came out louder than he'd intended.
Devina rose an eyebrow at him before she let go of his shirt. She was sensing something off from the boy in front of her, but she couldn't place her finger on it.
Lavi saw her eyes narrowing at him, and he began to panic. His arm extended, grabbing his jacket and then offering it to her. "Why don't you put this on?"
Devina's face beamed, "oh! Thank you! I was getting kind of cold,"
Lavi smiled softly, before he helped her sit up and then held the jacket for her as she pushed an arm in, and then the other. He saw her squeeze his jacket around her body, the collars hiding half her face, and she closed her eyes in contentment. The jacket seemed to be quite large on her, ending a little bellow her stomach, whereas it ended just bellow his chest. His smile grew, and he stifled a laugh.
"What are you laughing at?" she asked, her eyes flying open, and her tone rising.
He shook his head, "come on. Let's look for the others."
The two turned to see Chaoji, who seemed to have woken up a while ago and has been watching them for quite some time now.
Devina felt flustered again, "Ch-Chaoji!" she stammered.
"Devina-san," he seemed to be fighting back a laugh.
"I- I'm glad… you're okay," she said awkwardly.
The Chinese man seemed to be a little surprised by her sincerity. "Thank you,"
"Hey, hey, what are you doing getting all glum already? We just came back to life!" Lavi scolded.
"Wait, Lavi… is that your Innocence?" Devina pointed to the ground, and Lavi gawked at the spot she pointed at.
"Yes, yes, it seems so…"
"I'll help you gather all the pieces, come on," she said as she sat down on the ground and he followed suit. The two of them began collecting the bigger pieces, then moved on to the smaller ones.
Lavi heard the sound of something tearing, and he saw Devina tear at her already ruined dress, holding a piece of clothing for him to collect his damaged Innocence in. Chaoji helped them, as well, and before long they managed to pick up all the pieces.
"Thanks guys," he said earnestly before his eye glistened. "Oi, where do you think Allen is?" he asked.
Devina thought for a moment, as they began to walk around the Ark's alleyways. "Hmm, I don't know…" she finally said.
"Well, there's only one way to find out," Lavi sucked in a lot of air, before he began to scream. "ALLEN! DINNERTIME!"
Devina smacked two fingers to shield her ears, while Chaoji laughed nervously. "Lavi-san, it's not like he's a dog,"
"Hold on, Chaoji. Watch and learn. If Allen's hungry, he'll come running," Lavi breathed in again. "IT'S TIME TO EAT, ALLEN! THERE'S STEAK AND PASTA AND MITARASHI DANGO! FOOD'S RIGHT HERE, ALLEN!" Lavi continued to shout the names of a million cuisines and Devina just watched him and giggled at how ridiculously mundane his plan was. She was about to tell him to shut up when he lost his breath and gasped. "I- I think we should wait here until they show up."
Lavi paused to think and an idea seemed to pop into his head. He brought his hands close to his mouth before he shouted into them. "Yu, you baldy!"
A door slammed open and Kanda stormed in, his uniform ruined except for the sleeves while nothing covered his upper body. He was holding up an unconscious Krory by his arm slung over Kanda's shoulder. "What did you just call me, baka-usagi?"
"Eeep!" Devina yelped before she hid behind the redhead, who left her standing awkwardly and ran at Kanda to embrace him.
"Yu!"
"Che," Kanda stopped Lavi, turning his narrowed eyes away from the Bookman-to-be, and they landed on Devina.
She felt a shiver run down her spine but then she swallowed and decided it was time to face him. She couldn't fear him forever. She took a few steps and bent forward. "I'm sorry I almost killed you, Kanda,"
Lavi seemed to freeze in his place, while Chaoji's eyes widened in shock.
Kanda glared at her. "Stand up, you little she-wolf," Kanda snapped, and she straightened up immediately, "don't flatter yourself so much."
Devina returned his glare with one of her own, "is that so, bakanda? Wanna have a go at it and see who wins?"
"Wait, Devina!" Lavi groaned, gripping her arm and whisking her closer to his side. She was so light he nearly lifted her off the ground.
"Oi, what are you doing?" she snapped, craning her neck to look up at him.
He tried not to cower, before he pointed a finger at Kanda. "Look! It's Kuro-chan!"
Devina fumed, but she held her tongue. She could see Krory was in a worse shape than any of them, and she felt her heart break.
"I found him like that," Kanda seemed to be answering the unasked question. "But, more importantly, what happened?"
"We don't know, either," Lavi answered, before gasping for air. Devina reflexively covered her ears. "Hey! Get your ass over here, moyashi!"
"Who're you calling a moyashi, baka-Lavi?"
"Ehh? Allen?" she and Lavi yelled simultaneously.
"Allen? Where are you?" Lavi asked.
"The moyashi's voice seams to be coming from the sky!" Kanda guessed.
"It's Allen, bakanda!" Allen's voice screamed again, and Devina chuckled. "I won't forgive you if you call me that again," Allen said, but his voice was gentle. Kanda even smiled, and Devina tried to memorize the image, as she was sure she'd never see it again.
"Allen, is Lenalee okay?" Devina asked.
"Yes, she and Master are fine. I'll open a door for you guys!"
Shortly after that, Allen came out of one of the doors, and Devina found her legs leading her to him. "Allen!" she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her forehead against his chest. His arms held her back and one of his hands brushed her hair.
"What is it with you and girls, Allen?" Lavi asked, and edge to his voice.
"Stop being jealous, Lavi," Allen smirked at him, and as Devina pulled back, she was surprised at the sight. She had never seen Allen so playful.
"What's that supposed to mean, Allen? You've been saying weird things all day," Lavi questioned.
"You tell me, Lavi. What was that reunion you and Devina had, eh?"
Devina couldn't fight the rush of heat that dusted her cheeks, "wh-what are you talking about?" she turned to Allen with another glare.
"Don't ask me," Allen raised his arms in surrender.
"Moyashi," Devina stuck her tongue out at him.
Allen twitched, "not you, too, Devina?" he said, fighting tears.
Lavi laughed, and held his aching stomach. He then straightened up, and turned to Allen. "Allen, how did you do it though? Bring back the Ark?"
Devina strained her ears tentatively, ready to hear the details. "Well, it was all a bit too hazy…" Allen trailed, and Devina slapped her own forehead.
"You're hopeless, Allen," she grumbled.
Allen smiled at her, before he ruffled her hair. "How are you feeling, Devina?"
Devina was startled by his question, but she smiled back. "I'm really happy, Allen."
Out of nowhere, the golden golem appeared and floated beside Allen. "Timcanpy!" he yelled. "I've missed you!" He caught the golem in both his hands. "Look how much you've grown? I haven't seen you since that night…"
Devina's chest tightened, and she halted. Her chest ached at the memory. Tyki had made her destroy Allen's Innocence… yet, I can't hold a grudge against him… what kind of friend am I?
Allen caught her wrist and led her forward, breaking her trance. "I'm sorry, if I've reminded you… of that…" Allen said.
Devina shook her head, "I'm sorry I destroyed your Innocence, Allen…"
"What?" Kanda finally spoke, his interest piqued. "How did you destroy his Innocence?"
Devina paused, "according to Tyki, my Innocence has the power to destroy the Akuma and the Innocence…"
Kanda was silent for a moment, and only hummed in reply.
"Do you know why that may be?" she glanced at Lavi, and he shook his head.
"I'm sorry. I don't."
Devina smiled bitterly, "oh, well. Shall we start looking for the exit, then?" she asked, trying to change the subject.
It seemed to work. "Right. Isn't there a way out of here, moyashi?" Kanda asked.
Allen twitched again, "I'm checking right now to see if there is one, bakanda!" He opened the first door he saw, and stepped in.
Author's Note: Hola, I am updating from work. Finally had some time to sit down and edit, and I usually don't like mixing business with pleasure but here it goes. I found myself bored and without many tasks to do, so it seemed only plausible to update.
Things are slowly falling into place. I know I'm not providing many answers, but they are coming, I promise.
Thank you Sonata Fuling, Musketeer12 and scorpia1029 for the reviews, and welcome aboard to all the new followers!