Author's Note: Hello from the other side. Or well, adult life. I know I'm horrible and lazy and I completely understand if no one's reading this anymore. But I saw the new PV for the anime this weekend and I knew I had to update. I have not yet decided to abandon this story yet, so I think you lovely readers will just have to suffer some more with my inconsistency at publishing. (Things were really awful for a while and my mom was ill. Alas, I've picked myself up again - hopefully.) Part of why I'm not updating often is that I haven't worked on this story in almost a year. I've still got some written material left, but I feel slightly disconnected from Devina and the gang. I also get very doubtful and insecure all the time and consider rewriting the whole thing because my writing has change so much since, and if I do continue writing this, it'll seem very different. I'm rambling. Go on, do enjoy this extra long chapter and please leave me some feedback if you can. If you're still reading this, thank you.
By the time she went back to the Medical Wing, Devina was a total mess. Her hair was matted against her forehead and her shirt was ripped, revealing a shallow cut across her ribs along with a few bruises scattered across the exposed skin.
Once she ran out of tricks, Kanda had her cornered. He made her grab his sword while he demonstrated how to disarm and block attacks without carrying a weapon. The first time he tried it, she couldn't even keep up with his swift movement. The next time he repeated the attack, he slowed down the pace for her to adjust.
He told her the same thing Lavi did when she trained with him so long ago. She needed more muscle power, and to build up her speed and stamina. He suggested running around Headquarters every morning, and asked her to never, ever take the elevator.
The Head Nurse gave her an earful, and Devina pointed out that she had kept her promise having not used her Innocence. She told the kind nurse that by the time she saw her tomorrow, she wouldn't have a single scratch on her. The nurse's response was to toss her a change of clothes and push her into the nearest bathroom.
After a long refreshing shower, Devina had the chance to examine the outfit she was given, and that's when she realized it was a short dress. Something only Lenalee could pull off. She hesitated before she changed into the sleeveless baby blue dress; it hugged her chest and stomach, and then puffed out to stop mid-thigh.
Devina looked at her reflection in the mirror. The color complimented her skin, and it brightened the color of her eyes. She whisked her fingers through her hair, trying to quell it. It was no easy task but she managed to have its volume lessened somehow before she got out. She was surprised to find the Medical Wing's beds all empty, but she couldn't afford to think about it. She needed to head to Komui's office again and ask him where Cross was.
Devina took the stairs, and was surprised to meet Allen, carrying a stack of papers. "A-allen!" she gasped in surprise, before she leaned forward and took half the pile off of him.
Devina caught a second man, rushing to catch up to her friend. He had long blonde hair that he kept styled in a low braid. His eyes were sharp and he had odd eyebrows. He also had two red spots across his forehead. "Allen Walker, wait!" he called as he caught up.
"Devina, sorry I didn't come to see you," Allen said hurriedly, completely neglecting the blonde man, and Devina felt her curiosity ignite. "Oh, you look nice," he smiled gently, his eyes creasing.
Devina bit back a smile, "Thank you, Allen. How are you feeling, by the way?" she asked.
"I'd say I'm okay, if it weren't for the obnoxious man I call Master." He complained, his teeth gritting.
Devina grasped at the chance, "o-oh! Are you going to see him by any chance?" Allen nodded at her question. "Can I come? Can I come?" she begged.
Allen seemed surprised at her pleas but he nodded nevertheless. "Sure, you can-"
"Walker, is this Devina?" the young male asked, and Allen turned to him with an unreadable expression.
"I- I am," Devina answered. "Allen, who's this fellow?" she could see Allen struggling to hide his distaste, but she didn't understand the reason for it.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance." The blonde bowed slightly, and Devina was surprised at his politeness. "I'm Inspector Howard Link, and I am in charge of keeping an eye on you and Allen Walker,"
Devina blinked several times before she mustered a reply. "And why is it that we need to be watched exactly?" she asked testily.
"You and Walker seem to have an ambiguous connection with the enemy. The higher ups are worried-"
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Devina snapped, before she charged at him. The pile of papers he was carrying toppled over, as she closed a fist around his cravat.
"Please release me, Miss. I am merely doing my job. I'd even baked you a pumpkin pie to show you I have good intentions, but Walker ate the entire thing," he said calmly.
Devina's grip loosened, but she didn't release him. "You think you can gain my trust with a fucking pumpkin pie, you weirdo?"
The commotion attracted some bystanders and the surrounding guards suddenly flocked around them.
"Devina, release this man immediately," Klaud ordered as she pushed through the mass.
The sight of the female General made Devina relax. "Klaud, this kid says he's watching over me and Allen. What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Devina demanded, facing her Master. "Do they think we're in league with the Noah?"
"Devina," Allen gripped her wrist, his eyes like melted steal. She saw his warning and wanted to heed it, but she was so angry. How could they accuse her and Allen of treason, after everything they had done for the Order?
Devina was about to yell at Link some more, when she felt something touch her breast. She turned to her attacker, hand hanging and ready to strike. She came face to face with General Cross. His hand remained cupped over her chest and she slapped it away with a squeak. "You are disgusting!" she shivered.
"Master, you pervert!" Allen shouted.
Cross's hand twitched before he faced the female he'd just assaulted. "I… forgive my intrusion… I… couldn't help myself,"
Devina moved quickly, and before she knew it, she had punched his nose and was hoping she'd broken it. "You… you…" she tried to find the right insult but her anger was turning everything red.
"Devina, let's go into Cross's room, come on," Klaud held the girl's wrist gently as she led her in the direction of an open door to her right.
"I'm afraid I can't let that happen. These two are prohibited from communicating with Cross Marian." Link interrupted, and Devina saw Klaud wince, before some guards ushered Cross back into his room.
"What? Why's that?" Klaud asked, barely able to keep herself from attacking Link as well.
"Seeing how he's the one who sent you to bring Devina to the Order, and he happens to have found Allen, furthers our suspicions of the General. He also neglected his duty for several years and still needs to answer to us with regards to his disappearance, his actions while being MIA and the nature of his relation to these two Exorcists." Link surmised.
Devina gritted her teeth, before turning to her Master. "What about Klaud? Can't I talk to her?"
"You can only converse with her in my presence," Link replied nonchalantly. Devina turned to her Master, who smiled at her.
"You look really lovely, Devina," her hand reached for the younger girl's cheeks, before she pulled a stray hair and tucked it behind her ear. "Be a good girl, and don't get into any more trouble,"
Devina knew what her Master meant. Shut up, and follow orders.
Devina, Howard Link and Allen made their way back to the cafeteria. The sight of the three of them was more than comical. Neither she nor Allen could stand the blonde intruder, but they managed to stay silent nevertheless. Devina had never had anyone follow her around, and she couldn't shake off her irritation. She felt as though she couldn't breathe without Link's consent.
Lavi was the first to spot the approaching threesome. He was surprised to see Devina talking animatedly with the blonde, her forehead slightly creased in concentration. His eyes traveled from her face to her outfit, and he caught his breath. Her hair looked a bit ostentatious, but the dress she wore complemented her figure and made her look taller than she really was. He felt his face get hot, then her eyes met his and she broke into a small smile, waving at him.
It took Lavi a moment before he could wave her over, and she abandoned the blonde, who was in the middle of saying something. She appeared suddenly right in front of him, and he had to blink to accommodate how beautiful she looked.
"Yo, Lavi!" she greeted with a salute.
"Hey," Lavi's voice was strained, his visible eye a shadowy green. "Have you eaten yet?"
Devina caught his eye lingering on her thighs, and she felt the fire Cross started reignite. "Lavi, my face is up here," she said sharply.
Lavi broke into a grin, before he said, "Sorry, it's just that you have really thin legs,"
Devina's face felt warm; she didn't know what to say. "Have you heard?" she asked instead, and his eyebrows shot up.
"Heard what?" Lavi asked, puzzled.
"I have a babysitter!" She quipped with a jump. Lavi winced internally, not able to believe that she found him out. He'd been trying hard not to let it show, too. Bookman was going to be cross with him for the next decade or so.
"W-what?" he asked, his voice breaking. He never wanted her to find out, especially now…
"Yes! Have you met him? His name is Howard Link and he's from Central Agency and he's annoyingly incessant!" she said everything with a single breath and then gasped.
Link was suddenly standing right next to her, and he slammed down the stack of papers he was carrying. "I can hear you, you know?"
Lavi felt simultaneous relief and anxiety. "W-wait, why is he watching you?" he asked, catching on.
"Well, he's not just watching me. He's watching Allen, too, and it's ridiculous." Devina huffed.
"What for?" Lavi's lips moved, but his mind was already at work. He already knew why.
Devina bit her lip, looking from Lavi to Link, who answered instead. "They're suspected of having mysterious relations with the Noah."
Devina saw Lavi swallow. "I see," he responded vaguely. He could understand why they needed to monitor Allen; he was able to control the Ark somehow, but Devina hasn't done anything to jeopardize the Order or convey her switching her allegiance. However, he couldn't deny there was something about her that attracted that intolerable Noah.
"Do you believe this?" Devina demanded, her heart constricting at his passive response.
Lavi frowned, before he shook his head. "I don't, but-"
Devina's face fell, but she said nothing. She turned away from him in an attempt to hide her disappointment, he could tell, and she headed towards Jerry's window.
"Devina, wait!" Lavi called after her, about to catch up to her, but Allen held him back.
"Let her be," Allen shook his head, before smiling slightly. Lavi had no clue how the younger Exorcist managed to maintain his cool. Allen and Devina were very similar, but they had opposite temperaments. Lavi sat back down, and picked up his spoon before he twirled it around his soup.
Devina returned and sat down in front of him. She picked up a sheet of paper from the ones Link had brought along and began examining it, reading aloud, "What's your association with Tyki Mikk?" she snorted. "Is this a joke?" she asked the blonde sitting next to her. "I don't have anything to do with him!" she slammed the paper into his face, her hands keeping it there. "You moron. He's a Noah and I am an Exorcist. What do you think's going on between us?"
"Devina, this isn't doing anyone any good," Allen tried to reason with her from his seat beside Lavi.
Devina turned to him sharply. "How can you be so calm about this?" she hissed, before she sighed and hid her face between her hands. "I can't believe this is happening. Just when I thought I was starting to fit in," she mumbled incoherently.
Jerry brought her dish personally, and her head lifted when she saw him. "O-oh, Jerry, you didn't have to do that,"
Jerry gave her a smile, before he ruffled her hair, "don't worry about it, kiddo. These guys from Central are a pain, but we don't believe the hype, and neither should you."
Devina could feel her eyes watering but she wiped at them furiously and then hugged the older man around the middle. "Thanks, Jerry,"
The man seemed to freeze, before he slowly patted her head again.
Lavi and Devina were walking back to her room in charged silence. Link had asked him to take her back to the Medical Wing and keep an eye on her, since he couldn't watch both her and Allen at the same time. The Head Nurse had her discharged then, so they headed to her room. He knew she was mad at him, and he wanted to apologize for not defending her, yet at the same time, he felt something stop him.
They got to her room faster than he'd anticipated, and Devina turned to look at him as they stood at the door. "I know what it looks like," she began, and Lavi wasn't sure what she was talking about. "I know… it seems true, what they're saying about Allen and me but… I can't explain what's happening, and I'm sure I can say the same for Allen because he's… he's the kindest person I know and he isn't the enemy. I refuse to believe that. I just can't believe some people are already treating him differently, I mean, I'm new here and I'm kind of used to being thought of as untrustworthy, but Allen…" she stopped with a whimper, unable to continue as her lips quivered; the tears were falling freely down her cheeks
Lavi was taken aback by her breakdown. He'd never seen her cry like this before, and he didn't know how to comfort her. "Devina," he whispered, before reaching with his hand to wipe her tears away. "I know you and Allen are not traitors, I know that," he said softly, and her hopeful gaze lifted to meet his. "Just try to be patient. They'll be questioning you a lot, but you just have to make sure you answer as best as you can. Just don't make them grow more suspicious of you." Lavi's hands fell from her cheeks to her shoulders, and he gently massaged the tension away.
Devina's eyes closed, and she sighed contentedly. "Okay, okay," she breathed, "I'll try to keep it together." Her eyes opened suddenly and she tilted her head, "Thank you, Lavi. I'm sorry I snapped at you earlier," she drew back from his touch, and Lavi felt hollow at the lack of contact.
"No, I should've said something, Devina," Lavi admitted, running a hand through his hair. Devina was tempted to touch it after his hands returned to his side, and she barely refrained.
"No, it's okay," Devina shook her head. "I'll see you tomorrow," she mumbled, but it sounded like a question.
He almost nodded, but then he saw her lips quiver again. "Devina," he said loudly, and she jumped. "Please, don't cry!" he whined, and she laughed meekly. "I'll bring a book and come keep you company," he offered.
"What? No, Lavi, you don't have to do that," she mumbled feebly, waving him off, and Lavi shook his head.
"Sshh, I'll be right back!" He grinned and then disappeared into the third room to her right. She never knew Lavi's room was so close to hers.
Devina waited until Lavi came out running. He was holding an old looking manuscript with the ink fading, and she wondered how he was managing to read that fragile book without it falling apart.
"Sorry I kept you waiting. I couldn't find this," he smiled, eyeing his manuscript.
"No problem," she said quietly. She turned to unlock her door, walked right in then stepped aside to let him through.
Lavi's footsteps brought him into her room and he whistled. "Man, your room's so neat! My room's a giant mess in comparison; what with Bookman being my roommate and all."
Devina's chest tightened at the mention of the strict old man. "Would Bookman be okay with this?" she asked suddenly.
Lavi's eyebrows met. "Sure, he's still in the Medical Wing, so…" he smiled cheekily and made his way to the bed. He turned around and faced her, and then he let himself go, arms spread open, and he landed on her bed. "Oh, your mattress is soft! Do girls get better rooms? I think I'm raising a complaint on gender discrimination tomorrow morning." He had his eye squeezed shut as he rambled on.
Devina watched him make himself comfortable, and she couldn't help her smile. "Yes, we probably do." She made her way slowly to her bed, picking up Alice's Adventures in Wonderland from the bedside table. "Baka-usagi," she called, and his eye opened wide as her voice sounded closer than before. "Scoot," she ordered.
Lavi stared at her for a moment, as he registered what she said. "You're very straightforward, aren't you?" he joked, moving to make enough space for her.
Devina smacked his arm, before she sat down on her bed awkwardly, swinging her legs up and then resting her back against the headboard. She felt his arm beneath her head, but she didn't move, and he didn't ask her to. She held the book up with her arms outstretched and started to read.
"Are you liking it?" Lavi asked after a moment, and Devina's eyes traveled to meet his face.
"Hmm?" she asked.
"The book, are you liking it?" he reiterated.
Devina broke into a smile. "Oh, yeah."
He could tell she was holding back, wanting him to squirm before she actually revealed anything. "Care to elaborate?" he grunted.
She squealed incoherently, moving her entire body so that it was angled toward his. "I love it! I mean, I know it's a children's book, but it also isn't. Alice can be kind of annoying facing all these obstacles, but that's what makes her so relatable. And I want to go to a place like Wonderland someday; it sounds like such a fun place, minus the beheading, of course."
Lavi's chest swelled at her sudden animation. He bit back a smile, "You sure you'd like to visit such a place? I wouldn't want to chance upon the Red Queen if I could help it."
Devina blinked, "Wait! You read it?" she looked shocked, which made Lavi chuckle.
"Yes, I've read it. Do I seem like the type of person who'd recommend a book to a clueless damsel without reading it first?" he challenged.
Devina frowned. "I just assumed, being a Bookman… that, you know…" She trailed, before her face cleared. "Wait," she straightened up, smacking his arm with the hardcover. "Clueless damsel, is it?" Lavi's yell turned into laughter at her comment. "So, who's your favorite character?" she asked, planting her elbows into the mattress to help keep her up.
Lavi's answer was quick, "'We're all mad here.'" He quoted
Devina snorted, "The Cheshire Cat. That is so like you,"
Lavi scoffed, "Oh, yeah? And who's yours?"
"The Mad Hatter," she grinned, and Lavi burst out laughing. "What?"
"I should've seen that one coming," his eye twinkled.
"He's so out of it, and it seems like he's not making any sense at first but then you realize he's actually really wise."
Lavi mused, "Hmm, I suppose you're right," he seemed to be considering her opinion. "I can't believe I always just brushed him off as a lunatic until having this conversation."
Devina's heart thrummed with pride, "Aren't you glad you lent me the book?" and with that, she placed the book against Lavi's arm and went back to reading.
Devina woke up once she felt an unfamiliar weight moving to her right. Her eyes blinked open, widening at the sight of the red nest. She had somehow managed to nestle into him, her head rested against his outstretched arm with her cheek brushing against the front of his shirt. His other arm was draped over her waist, while her leg stretched over his sleeping form. Her face started burning as her blood rushed and she wished to disappear into thin air rather than face the situation.
Lavi's bandana had fallen off during their sleep and his hair had fallen across his face. She felt tempted to knot her fingers through it and get it out of the way. His uncovered eye was closed and his long lashes startled her, while his face was more serene than she'd ever seen it. For once, it was free of all the masks he regularly wore; he looked almost vulnerable, and Devina felt like she'd walked in on a secret she was never meant to discover. She wondered how many burdens he's carried as Bookman's successor. Whenever she thought about his role as a Bookman, she was overcome by a stifling sadness.
She sighed, before she decided it was best not to wake him. She remained still, waiting for him to wake up.
It must've been an hour before he finally stirred. Devina closed her eyes hastily and pretended to be asleep.
She felt his breathing pick up, fanning her forehead. Her eyes nearly opened when she felt his lips peck her temple. She was sure he could hear the pounding of her heart, and she debated whether to pretend to wake up or maintain her sleeping act. She felt his warm breath against her neck next, as he slowly moved and tried to untangle himself from her. His hand left her side, and she felt bare, but when it reached for her leg, she jumped.
"What the hell are you doing?" she yelled, startling the redhead, who sat up clutching his chest.
Lavi studied her shortly. "Were you pretending to be asleep?" his eyebrows lifted, and she halted.
"What? No! You tickled me!" she pointed accusatively.
Lavi broke into a grin. "For the record, I was trying to get your leg off me." He wagged his brows. "Are you really that ticklish?" he added, leaning in.
"What? What is that look you're giving me?" Devina stood up abruptly, her hands pushed forward in order to protect herself.
Lavi mimicked her as well, standing up. He gently pushed her onto the settee, holding both of her hands in one of his, before his free hand attacked her side. Devina shrieked, "No, no, Lavi! Stop! Lavi, Lavi… please, I can't breathe!" he let go of her hands and began to tickle her everywhere. He was surprised at her response, varying from laughter and gasps to screams. She really was ticklish.
"Hmm," he started. "What would you offer me if I stopped?" he asked her squirming form.
Devina struggled to breathe before she snapped, "anything, please!"
"The first time you met me, how good looking did you think I am?"
Devina gasped, "you're the best looking guy here, Lavi. Now, please, get off!"
"And now that you've gotten to know me, how dull do you think your life would be without me?"
"Lavi… I can never live without you, I love you too much, please."
Lavi's fingers ceased their movement, and he stopped to watch her beneath him. She was sprawled across the settee as he straddled her. Her face was red and tears ran down her cheeks from all the laughing. She was still gasping, trying to catch her breath, and he felt the wind knocked out of him all of a sudden.
He stood up, gave her a small sad smile, before he began to make his way to the door.
"L-lavi?"
But he continued walking until he was out of sight.