Okay, a little interlude from Lavi's point of view, as the title indicated. And, I'll be honest, I find said title hilarious. Must be because I'm tired, though...

Answer: Allen's an idiot, that's why.

Enjoy!

Lavi always had an easy-going personality. He could make everyone smile as he goofed around, and he was always the first to help his friends when they needed to lift their spirits.

Aryane had been the first and only to see through his happy-go-lucky façade. Despite his dazzling smile and charming personality, she had seen behind his eternal mask and discovered the truth of the Bookmen. However, she never hated him for it. She never liked it, but she understood, and she always tried to be there for him, no matter his decisions.

What he liked about her is that she never lied to herself. She never belated herself in false hopes and illusions. She believed in one goal, and only one, and she stuck to it like a leech, no matter what happened. Even if, sometimes, she was even darker than himself –which worried him, to be honest-, her loyalty and honesty was what made them so close.

She was the only one with who he felt like himself, whoever 'himself' was, that is.

But now?

Now, she was gone.

One moment she's there, smiling and cursing and playing cards against him. The next, she's fighting one Akuma after the other, never loosing her cool or her sharp sense of humor. And then, she's flying to the rescue –quite literally- of their friend, and her spread wings are the last thing he saw of her.

When the attack on the ship had ceased, he went for her and Allen with Lenalee, both worried sick.

No news are good news, right?

What a joke.

When they got there, only Timcanpy remained, chased by Akumas. Quickly destroying them, the Golem then leaded them to where the two were supposed to be. However, when they got there, only a pool of dried blood, a wing rotten to the core and a very familiar necklace remained.

Timcanpy showed them what had happened, starting with the apparition of the Fallen One to Aryane and Allen's separation, Summan's saving and death, and the girl coming back. They saw the Noah, couldn't hear what was said. They saw when she lost control and attacked him, only for him to stick his arm through her chest. She wasn't dead, though, but a few seconds later and her wing was ripped apart.

When he saw her face, pale and contorted in pain, he felt so sick. He had to watch, though. He had to make sure that, somewhat, they were safe. That she was safe.

Everything went downwhile after that, though. The Noah destroyed Allen's Innocence before saying something that made the redheaded girl snap. She stood between him and Allen, lying on the ground, ready to protect him with her life if she had too. And then, she barked her orders at Timcanpy and the Golem flew, therefore ending the recorded memory.

Lavi took the necklace but they burned the wing, knowing she wouldn't be able to use it anymore and that it wasn't her Innocence. There were no proofs whatsoever that they were dead, and no bodies were found, which was a plus.

It didn't stayed that way for long.

As soon as they got back to the ship, a scientist from the Asian Branch had informed them that they found their friends. Unclear answers were all they got, but they could only conclude that, dead or not, Aryane and Allen wouldn't be Exorcists anymore, what with the boy's Innocence destroyed and the girl's in pieces. And that was if they weren't already cold corpses under a white sheet.

After that, Miranda –who had just joined them as replacement- repaired the ship, and they were back on their way to find the Marshall. Lenalee hadn't uttered a word since, even when they got the new uniforms, and even if Lavi felt his heart wrench in pain at each second passing, he tried to get over it.

"It's light and easy to move around in!" he remarked, jumping in place.

"I was asked to give them to you since I'm sure your uniforms are all a mess" answered Miranda.

She got up, but froze at Lenalee's sight. The poor girl was sitting in the stairs, gaze fixed on nothingness. She looked like a person dead inside, but with the body still there.

"Her heart is still in disarray" said Bookman. "Miss Lena regrets that she hadn't gone after Allen and Ary last night. She blames herself"

At that, Lavi gritted his teeth. Blamed… herself?

Angry, annoyed, sad, grieving, no one could tell, but the hurt was too much and next thing he knew, he had struck his fist through the window. There was a shattering noise as the glass shards fell on the floor.

"Enough" he snapped. "It couldn't be helped! We were- we were fighting for our lives last night, there was no way we could've save them! It's a war, it can't be helped! Give up and stand!"

Lenalee's eyes widened, before tears finally ran down her face. Instantly, Lavi's anger vanished as the other three Exorcists stared at him accusingly.

"You made her cry" they whispered darkly.

The second after, the old panda was strangling him.

"So sorry, Miss Lena! I'll punish him very harshly!" he assured. "Calm down, idiot!"

Lavi narrowed his eyes.

"Why? I'm not wrong-"

He was sent crashing on the carpet with a powerful hit on the back of his head.

"Do you think you're a disciple of God now?" asked quietly his grandfather. "You are the successor of Bookman, nothing else. I told you to remain an observer at all times! War lies behind all history, and it is because of war that history happens. The Bookmen are those who remains unattached, tied down by nothing as they impartially record everything that occurs. Don't be caught up in the war. We are merely on the side of the church to record what happens. Don't forget your goal, Lavi"

"… I know. Sorry"

Instantly, he was hit a few more times by the older man.

"Even so, I can't believe that the child who was prophesized to be the 'Destroyer of Time' died. It was because I was interested in him that I asked the Head of the department to let us into the Cross Squad. I thought that the 'Time' in the title might refer to someone specific. Time… the Millennium Earl… I thought Allen Walker would be the one to destroy him, which means there's no way he would die here" at that, the old man smiled.

Lavi got up and dusted his clothes, before sighing.

"I'm going to take some air" he announced, walking out.

Leaning on the edge of the ship, Lavi rested his head on his left hand, the right one twirling Aryane's necklace.

"I warned you to stay unattached"

He stopped playing with the necklace, taking it in his fist.

"… she was different"

"We are Bookmen. We don't-"

"She knew!" he snapped, finally turning to his grand-father. "She knew about our true nature, and she never liked it, but she understood nowadays! She always was there for all of us, supported us as much as she could, but when she needed our help, we couldn't give it to her and now, she's dead!"

There was a moment of silence between the two, and Lavi's grip tightened on the pendant.

"No matter… no matter what you said, I couldn't stay detached from her. Why? Why was she- is she different from the others? Why, even after being killed, can't I get her out of my fucking mind!?"

They held each other's gaze for a moment, before the old panda sighed heavily and shook his head.

"I should have seen that one coming" he muttered.

"W-what? What are you talking about, Ji-ji?" demanded Lavi, now confused.

"Will come a day when you will have to choose between her or your destiny, Lavi. I hope that, comes this time, you will make the good choice" simply said Bookman, walking back inside.

"What the hell? Ji-ji! Ji-ji, you can't- What are you talking about!? Ji-ji!"

But he simply ignored his cries and closed the door. Annoyed, Lavi looked down at the necklace in his hand, thinking about his grandfather's words.

"Choose… choose what?" he asked quietly.

But then, he stiffened. Choosing? What was there to choose? She was dead!... wasn't she?

"Lavi?"

"Hey, Crow-chan" he turned to the man.

"Are you… alright?" the eldest asked, carefully picking his words. "I know Ary and you were close…"

"… She was like my annoying little sister" the redhead admitted, a bittersweet smile on his lips. "Can't help but like her, eh?"

However, at his words, Krory's head tilted in confusion.

"Sister?" he repeated. "I thought- I just- oh…"

"What did you think?" Lavi scratched the back of his head, very confused too.

"It's just… I thought you two were together" said Krory plainly.

"Together… like together together?"

The vampire-like man nodded, apparently embarrassed by his conclusions, and Lavi took a step back, shaking his head very fast.

"N-no! Of course not! Why would we- Tenshi and I- we're not-" he couldn't even find the words, ironic for a future Bookman. "Why the hell would you think that!?"

"I'm sorry!" Krory waved hi hands. "It's just… the way you two acted together… and how you looked at her…"

"How I looked at her?" repeated Lavi, before pinching the bridge of his nose. "And how, pray tell, was I looking at her?"

At that, however, Krory seemed to calm down, and he smiled softly.

"The same way I looked at Eliade" he answered.

Silence ensued once again, as the apprentice Bookman choked on his own breath. He wanted to say something, but couldn't manage a sound.

"… That's crazy" he finally croaked out after a few seconds. "She's just- we're just…"

"I'm sorry for bringing it up" Krory shook his head. "I'll head back inside to catch some sleep. You should too"

"… right. 'Night, Crow-chan"

"Good night, Lavi"

He walked back inside, leaving the poor boy to his thoughts.

Him and Tenshi? How he looked at her like Krory looked at Eliade? That was stupid! He means, who the hell can Krory even know how he looked like while watching his Akuma lover? It was just plainly cra-

Doubt slithered around his thoughts. Was that what Bookman meant when he said that sooner? Between her or his destiny? And why should he choose anyway? She was dead, for God's sake! Dead, dead, de-

His eye widened, hope wrenching his heart despite everything as his train of thoughts from sooner came back. The way his grandfather just talked about her, or the smile he made sooner when talking about Allen…Bookman knew something, but wouldn't tell. The scientist from the morning had been very vague, merely stating that Allen and her wouldn't come back. But did that meant they were dead? There was a good chance they weren't.

That she wasn't.

And then, he smiled, suddenly at peace, and brought the pendant against his heart.

Of course Ary was alive. Who was he kidding? She wouldn't be killed that easily, and she wouldn't let Allen die either. They were both okay. She was okay.

But wait. Where did that put him? Now that he knew she was alive –the fact seemed more evident the more he thought about it-, the remarks from sooner came back to haunt him. He bit his lower lip, letting his eye wander on the necklace once again.

"… love?"

Instantly, he scoffed at the ludicrous idea. Why the hell would he love Tenshi? Him? Her? She was just his friend, right?

Right?

Sure, she was funny, and understanding, and compassionate, honest, loyal, strong-hearted, sometimes foolish, yes.

Always staying strong no matter the circumstances, always there for others, always ready to give a chance to anyone who asked for it.

She had a hot temper and a reckless attitude, and a wicked sarcasm that made him laugh every time.

She was borderline crazy, sometimes plain dumb.

She cursed worse than a sailor no matter the reason, yelled in French when she was angry, stomped her foot and huffed like a child when annoyed.

She grieved, never cried. She smiled and laughed and her mere voice-

Lavi started banging his head on the rail.

"Damn it"

He was so whipped.

And where did that lead him, now?

"W… e… p…"

What?

"Wa… up…"

I can't hear you, talk louder… Or don't, I'm fine where I am right now. It's warm... and com-

"WAKE UP!"

I snapped my eyes opened, taking in a sharp intake of breath.

So, Lavi now understands his true feelings, yay! And of course, Ary will go through her own denial phase too *evil smirk*. Also, for those who might think it was too sudden: Lavi never fell in love, so he can't really tell the difference between what he's feeling for Aryane or, for exemple, Lenalee. If asked directly, he'll think and then come to some conclusions -like how Aryane and Lenalee aren't the same to him- but if not, I'm pretty much convinced he's just plain dumb when it comes to these sorts of things.

Question: Who will make the first move? *wink, wink*

Reviews please!