The third day of the questioning proved no more fruitful than the first. And now, there were more and more accusations being thrown at Allen as a person.
"He clearly let the Noah take him over," One person was saying, looking like he enjoyed his desk-life a bit more than he should. His dark hair was parted in greasy swirls, and his eyes glittered in his piggy face. "We should execute Walker even if he isn't a Noah, because-"
"Allen Walker has consistently been one of the most loyal soldiers we ever had." Komui broke in impatiently, even his nigh unflappable temper stretched to the breaking point. Allen sympathized, and honestly wished that Lenalee was sitting with him so he could rest his head on her shoulder and sleep. But she was up in the front with her brother today, defending Allen as well. "He has nearly died several times in the defense of his friends and allies, and-"
"That could've been a trick!" One man sniffed, his handlebar mustache twitching underneath his bulbous nose. "You trust him now. That must have been his evil plan!"
Lenalee broke in, her pretty lips twisted into a fearsome scowl. "The minute your Crow came to him for questioning, he went without protest. He certainly trusted you enough to give him a fair chance, rather than this farce!"
At her angry words, the men and women all broke into indignant mutters. No one said anything outright, of course, because Lenalee was the Heart and they still thought they could control her if they played along with her whims, but the belligerence was high in the air. Allen wondered how long it would take for them to turn on him and just kill him outright. He was half wishing for it, at this point; anything else would be leagues more interesting.
"Miss Lee, please." Said a light, cultured voice from the highest seat. All the others settled down at the woman's words, and even Komui and Lenalee looked alert. Allen knew that this person was the one the others deferred to, and though she rarely spoke, when she did it was thoughtful, pointed comments that made it clear she was probably the brightest of them all. "Komui Lee, we would be happy to excuse Allen Walker of all and every charge, if you could prove that he was not involved with the Fourteenth's plans."
Komui hesitated for a second before looking back at Allen, a pleading look on his face. Obviously they had no way to prove whether or not he had been an accomplice. He wished he had some way to show them-
"I believe I can help you with that."
Allen jumped on his bench, his heart rate suddenly tripling in a second. He-he knew that voice, but-
A tall man walked into the room, long blond hair elaborately braided down his back. He was wearing traveling clothes, dust imprinted in every seam, and his skin was tanned from the sun. He walked with confidence, as though every step was planned out before it was taken, as though he knew his place in the world and was content. His eyes were dark and sharp, and there were two odd spots on his forehead.
"And who might you be?" The woman asked politely, even as Komui and Lenalee's mouths dropped like stones.
"Howard Link, personal assistant to the recently deceased Malcolm Levierre." The man introduced himself, sketching a low bow.(4)
Link, offering a pie to Allen when they first met-
"Heya Spots!" Lavi shouted, draping himself over Link's shoulders-
"Don't move, Nea." Link said, leaning back tiredly. "This will take longer than expected to heal."
"Link, it's me." Allen rasped, fighting through the pain to stay awake, keep his grasp on his body. "Link, you need to tell the Order-"
Unnoticed, Allen gasped silently as wave after wave of memory crashed through his mind, dragging forgotten thoughts from the depths of his soul. He could almost hear his memories clicking where the puzzle pieces fit back in, and for a second his vision funneled, as though he were about to pass out. But then luckily everything snapped back into place, leaving him trembling and shaking, heaving for breath, under the weight of the new knowledge.
As stunned whispers broke out across all assembled, Allen could only stare in shock at the ex-Crow. He'd known he was missing something, he just hadn't realized that it was a person!
Link looked over and spotted him immediately, and allowed a small smirk to grace his lips. He nodded his head slightly, and Allen barely had the presence of mind to return the silent greeting. He just couldn't believe it...it had been five months, and all that time he hadn't retrieved a single memory about his friend!
Link turned back to the panel of interrogators, every movement a study in grace. "I have proof that Allen Walker fought the Fourteenth with everything he had, and that the two despised each other."
One of the other women, a slight thing who's hatred was as strong as the tide, said waspishly, "And where were you with this information weeks ago?"
Link smiled very faintly, reached into his pocket…
And retrieved Timcampy.
The little golden ball launched into the air and began swirling around the room. He paused to tug at Lenalee's hair, knocked off Komui's beret, and then flew right for Allen.
"Timcampy!" He cried, delighted, right before the golemn clamped his jaws down on Allen's head. He winced, but accepted the affectionate greeting with grace. "Where on earth have you been?"
"He was helping me look for Cross." Link admitted, and Allen turned to stare at him, even as Timcampy let go of his head and began to bury himself in pearly white hair. "That's actually the reason why I'm late. I came as soon as I heard you had been taken in."
Which meant that Link had clearly kept up with his contacts in Crow. That was useful information, though Allen wasn't quite sure what he was supposed to do with it. He was honestly just relieved that Link was alive, and that he remembered him now.
"I'm happy you're here, Link." Allen said sincerely, smiling at his friend.
Link coughed into his palm, and for a second Allen thought that the Inspector's ears had turned pink. "Yes, well." He turned away back to the brass of the Order. "The golemn I brought with me has all memories of my time I traveled with the Fourteenth."
"You traveled with the Noah?" Mustache snarled.
"I was ordered to by Malcolm Levierre." Link responded with frank honesty. "All members of Crow were expected to perform duties that seemed distasteful to other people. Levierre took a gamble by ordering me to assist the Fourteenth, but in the end that gamble proved very fortuitous."
"You were the Fourteenth's closest confidant, then." One of the interrogators, a short man with grizzled hair, leaned forwards on his elbows, fascinated.
Link scoffed at that. "The Fourteenth didn't trust me. He accepted my help only because he knew he could kill me if I ever betrayed him." His expression faded into a grim smile. "However during the times when Allen Walker was in control-I was his closest confidant."
And then, very subtly, Link glanced at Allen, a question in his eyes.
Allen stared back, confused, wondering what the Inspector could possibly want. And then he realized, that Link was asking for permission to break that confidence, to reveal to these people Allen's deepest insecurities. He hadn't been expecting that-recently everyone had made it their business to get into his business, to pick and question and drag his deepest thoughts from his head.
Even though he knew that he really had no choice in the matter, he appreciated the illusion of choice he was being given.
He nodded at Link, as subtly as he could.
Link looked visibly relieved for a bare moment, and then he schooled his expression and turned back to look at the interrogators. "I was with Allen Walker for almost the entire year and a half he was being possessed by the Fourteenth. And I can say with absolute certainty that they despised each other with almost everything they had, and wanted no part in each other."
"That's just words, Inspector Link." Pig-face said in a voice that was as triumphant as it was smug, clearly believing that he had the upper hand. "You have no actual proof that Walker and the Fourteenth weren't working together."
Link held his hand out to one side, and silently beckoned in Allen's direction. Allen stared at him for a moment, confused-but then the comfortable weight on his head vanished, and Timcampy flew smack into Link's palm. The little golemn immediately turned towards the sky, and a projection quickly appeared in the air.
Link sat on the train, flipping through a newspaper as the world scrolled by. Allen sat in front of him, head resting against the wall, face relaxed in sleep.
Until it wasn't.
The boy jerked upright, gasping as though he'd just surface for air after a long time underwater. Link jumped in surprise at the sudden movement, but quickly settled down when he realized that there was no threat.
"Fourteenth?" He asked.
"No, it's me." Allen gasped out, limbs trembling subtly. "Where are we?"
Link looked out the window, considering. "We….left the train station from Germany about two hours ago, and are going to Russia. Moscow, specifically."
"We're getting off at the next station." Allen said and picked up his coat, hastily pulling it over his shoulders.
Link rose to meet him, bewildered. "What?"
"Whatever he has planned for Russia, it can't be good." Allen growled. "Where are we stopping next? Poland? Good. Hopefully we can get as far as Africa before the Fourteenth retakes control."
Link ended the projection and sent an amused look at Allen, who was blushing at the floor. He hadn't remembered that until now, and he was a little surprised at his own boldness and cheek. Some of the interrogators, the more sympathetic ones anyway, were chuckling to themselves a little. "As you can see, Allen did his best to disrupt any plans the Noah had."
"Did you ever get to Africa?" One of the Interrogators asked.
"We got as far as Morocco before the Fourteenth regained control." Link's expression of mirth faded into a grim frown. "He was...not pleased."
Then he extended Timcampy to the sky again.
Link was still flipping through his newspaper, though he looked significantly more tired than earlier. This was because Allen Walker had taken them on a nonsensical, high-speed course through the European train system. He now knew more about illegally sneaking onto trains than he had ever wanted to in this lifetime.
Said boy was now sleeping again, though he'd been chipper earlier on, when he'd been gleefully foiling all of the Noah's plans.
Allen Walker suddenly let out a groan, and his arms came up to cover the top of his white head.
"Walker?" Link asked, frowning, lowering the newspaper down into his lap. "Are you alright?"
"I'm not that fucking idiot." A low growl broke out from beneath his covered head, a snarl that sent chills up and down Link's spine (and those watching the projection). "I fucking hate that stupid brat. He's fucking ruining all my plans and I hate I hate I hate I hate…."
The projection broke off.
All of the interrogators looked visibly rattled, even the ones who had been the harshest on Allen. No one could argue, now, that the ex-exorcist and the Fourteenth were working together, at the beginning at least. The depths of the Fourteenth's hatred was something they simply couldn't comprehend, on a level they had simply never experienced. However the idea of it left them all a little terrified.
But Link wasn't finished yet. He whispered something to Timcampy, and then said, "Later on, Walker wouldn't have been able to assist the Fourteenth, even if he had wanted to."
Link sat at a table, methodically sewing shut a hole in his clothing. He was obviously in a hotel room, and not a very fancy one at that; there was something that looked like mold on the walls, and the single bed was already occupied by Allen.
A clock chimed on the wall.
Allen suddenly let out a soft sound of pain, and rolled over in the bed. Link paused in his rhythmic motions, lips downturning into a worried frown, before dismissing it and going back to his sewing.
Then Allen let out a choked sob.
Link rose up in an instant, abandoning his clothes to the table. He crossed the whole room in two strides, and carefully knelt down next to the exorcist lying curled in the bed. "Allen?" He asked, very softly.
Allen looked up, and Link was just able to catch sight of twin tear tracks carving lines into Allen's face before the boy looked away. He heaved a breath once, twice, and then lunged out of the bed, pushing past Link and hurrying into the bathroom. Soon enough, the sounds of retching became audible.
Link sighed, and followed Allen into the bathroom, where he was leaning up against the toilet, eyes bright. The Inspector knelt in front of the boy, and carefully, ever so carefully, drew him into a hug.
Allen burst into tears.
Link said nothing at all, simply letting Allen cry in his arms, ignoring as a wet patch slowly began growing on his shoulder. Allen also made no sound except for the soft intake of breath, his tears as quiet as silence. His fingers clutched and released at the folds of Link's shirt, as though he were drowning and seeking something to pull him up for air.
(Allen looked away from his weakness, ashamed. But he also remembered this exact moment, with such clarity that he knew he would probably never forget.)
"He's in my head, Link." Allen gasped out, voice slightly muffled by the jacket.
Link cupped the back of Allen's head with one hand, as though he were a child. In a way, he still was. "I know."
"He's destroying my memories." Allen whispered, so quiet it was barely audible. "I-one day I'll forget everything, and I can't stop it. There's no point in fighting. He'll win anyway."
Allen hadn't realized until that point how useless it was resisting Nea's slow invasion. He'd fought and howled at the world that he wasn't giving in, he wasn't, but up until then he'd still believed that he could win. But even if he fought-even when he fought-always, Nea tied him up in the chair of his mind and forced him to watch as his memories were slowly destroyed. Forced him to watch as his reason for fighting, his friends, everything he had been and wanted to be was taken away.
In the ringing, stunned silence that followed, Link said quietly, "By the end of the fifth month Walker couldn't remember my name. After a year, he told me that his name was Red and that he was just a circus boy." Link grimaced, as though there was a bad taste in his mouth. "I think that the only reason Allen was given control was because the Fourteenth wanted me to see.
"Allen Walker was a fifteen-year-old boy who wanted to keep his friends safe. Even though he knew it was fruitless, he resisted the Fourteenth with everything he had." Link carefully did not look at Allen as he said, "I have been with the Order since I was just a small child, and I have met many warriors over the years. However I have never respected anyone more than Allen Walker."
The silence in the room was absolutely thunderous. They were all looking at Allen, or looking away from Allen-but they were all seeing him anew. The ex-exorcist could see it in their eyes, see their hate and anger shift into something considering. There was pity, or blatant curiosity, or simmering disbelief, but it mattered little. Because they were all thinking. And maybe, just maybe, Allen had a chance.
The woman in charge was the first to break out of her stupor, and she did so with considerable grace. She cleared her throat gently to catch the attention of the others, and said, "I think that's quite enough for the day, don't you?"
The others slowly same alive at the sound of her voice, and a quiet murmur of agreement swept over the room. Even Komui and Lenalee were still looking a bit stunned, and the latter swiped at her eyes harshly before turning away.
As the interrogators began filing out of the room, Allen's eye was all for Link.
"Link!" He cried, rising from his wheelchair to greet his friend. He struggled with the many benches in the back of the room, cursing his own weakness. Once he cleared them, though, he realized that Link had moved forwards to greet him, a soft smile on his lips.
When Allen extended his arm, Link quickly came in for a hug.
"I never thought I'd see you again." He said, a lump rising up in his throat.
"The feeling was mutual." The Inspector responded, his arms warm and reassuring on Allen's back. "I thought it might be too late for you, at the end."
Allen reluctantly drew back, but kept his hand resting in Link's elbow. The Inspector raised an eyebrow at him, but submitted to Allen's critical scan without protest. He'd lost a lot of weight since Allen had last seen him, face almost gaunt it was so thin. His clothes were almost worn through, but his eyes were bright and still alive with intelligence. He was okay, thank God.
"It almost was." Allen admitted in response to Link's question. "Any longer and I don't think I would've been able to rebuild. Have you been eating properly? You always forget your health when you've been traveling a while."
Link rolled his eyes good-naturedly, and it was then that Tim finally decided he'd had enough of flitting around their heads, because he took a nose-dive into Allen's hair. That startled a laugh out of the two of them. "Don't worry so much. I've got Timcampy taking care of me."
"And we're relieved for it." A voice suddenly cut in, causing the two to jump. Komui grinned at them, and Lenalee stood just behind them, obviously having watched the entire spectacle.
Allen smiled back sheepishly, so caught up in the reunion that he'd forgotten that Lenalee and Komui were still there. Link, ever embarrassed by PDI, took a step back from Allen and coughed delicately into his hand.
"What took you so long to come back?" Lenalee asked Link curiously, the hardness in her eyes somewhat betraying her light tone. She obviously took issue with Link about the fact that he'd apparently abandoned his friend for five months.
"Like I said." Link responded, a little coolly. "I was hunting down Cross Marian, at Allen's request, actually."
Allen jumped in there, ready with an explanation. "Early on when we were traveling together, I had reason to believe that he was in trouble. I asked Link that if we didn't find Master before the end of the War, he would find him for me."
"I would've come back the moment I heard Allen had woken up," Link continued before Lenalee could respond, glancing at Allen apologetically, "But I wasn't able to get in contact with Crow until essentially the day the interrogation began."
"Don't worry about it, Link." Allen said quickly. "I'm just glad you made it back at all."
It was then that Allen realized that both Lenalee and Komui were giving the two of them odd looks. He frowned a little, wishing that he had more of a chance to catch up with his friend in private. They had become very close, that time when they'd been traveling together. Link had been a soothing balm for the ragged emotional wounds the Fourteenth was leaving behind, and Allen had essentially played nursemaid for the Inspector when he could. Nea had cared little for Link's health.
But now Link was back, and so were his memories.
Everything would be okay. He hoped, anyway.
4. Tbh I actually forgot all about Link. Instead he got a very dramatic entrance so it all worked out.