I was hoping to be at this point by last chapter but… So very little plot. Also short and late! That's probably expected at this point though, sorry…
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Chapter 9
Komui's inability to properly decide Allen's fate was by no means a reflection of his ability as a leader, but a stark reminder of the horrible power possessed by Central. As promised, Central returned. The director, escorted by five CROW and closely followed by Cross, stormed into Komui's office. This had been more or less expected, so the only person present at the time was general Tiedoll.
They had been courteous enough to wait another week before storming Headquarters, but seeing as Allen needed at least another month to recover, this did little to comfort him.
"Komui, General" the director nodded at the two.
"A decision had been reached regarding Allen Walker." Cross tensed ever so slightly at the name, noticed only by the pair facing him.
"And that would be?" Komui glared at the director, already preparing arguments.
"He is to train under General Cross, effective immediately."
"Allen is unfit to train. He's still recovering from life-threatening injuries, including a gunshot wound given to him by the same individual you expect him to train under." Komui countered. General Tiedoll, by comparison, looked resigned to it all, but still cast Cross a questioning glance. He was not the type to take apprentices. There was a long list of things he would rather do than babysit and train a child; including, apparently, speak with Central. Cross met his gaze with a smirk and a minute shrug of the shoulders.
"That is no longer your concern chief, it's General Cross's."
"Does that order come from the Pope?"
"Well-"
"It's a yes or no question." Komui demanded. The director's glare intensified, and his features struggled to fend off signs of anger.
"No" he replied, frustration leaking into his voice.
"Then I demanded a reconciling, with all concerned parties present." The director sighed.
"Komui-" His derisive tone was halted as the chief stood his ground. He was not going to cave to them, not with this.
"This is non-negotiable, director." The two glared for nearly a minute before through grit teeth, the director spat out the words:
"Very well." Then he was gone, spinning on his heel and retreating behind the moving curtain of crimson cloaks, quickly escorting him out. Cross hovered back.
"What? Don't you think I'd make a good master?" Cross smirked, though it should signs of strain. This topic was anything but mirthful.
"No, I don't" he stated bluntly.
"Normally I would agree with you" He sighed.
"But this kid is the exception." Then he to was gone.
The meeting, though it was indeed held, did not go as planned. Komui defended Allen vigorously, but there was no convincing the power crazed men. Apparently, while he was making sure the children weren't dead, Cross was telling them fanciful tales of some great hidden power Allen possessed. It was obvious which deed was held with more importance in the eye's of religious men. Things had not gone too bad however. Another week had been wasted preparing for the meeting, during which time Komui and Allen himself travelled to the Vatican. Allen's treatment was to be continued there, though he was far more wary of his new doctors. And for good reason. Komui didn't tell him that though.
After the meeting, the same conclusion had been brought about. Komui proceeded to retreat to Allen's room in the infirmary, praying that he had not already been taken. On occasion there were miracles, for the boy was still there, pensively gazing out the window beside his bed. The door had barely closed behind the chief when the boy addressed him, still gazing past the glass.
"I haveta go with him don't I?" He asked, tone chilling monotone.
"Yes" Komui said after a pause, still struggling slightly to catch his breath. He had practically run the entire way here.
"I'm sorry Allen, I tried, I really did." He pulled over a chair from the desk holding the doctor's notes, bringing it beside the bed and taking a seat.
"It just wasn't enough…" Komui gazed at him with the same pensiveness that the boy was currently giving the window.
"That's okay." Allen turned his head to stare at the bedsheets. He looked as though he had wanted to look at the man, but didn't have the will to force his head to finish rotating that direction. So instead he focused on the blankets.
"I didn't really know people could choose what happened to them 'till I came here." His words were slower, carefully formed as he struggled to convey his thoughts.
"Thank you for trying" He finally lifted his head, silver eyes fighting tears as he managed to meet Komui's gaze.
"Means a lot" he sniffled.
"Of course" Komui nodded, smiling fondly at the boy.
"I'm sorry I couldn't do more" but it won't happen again. I'm going to keep fighting those monsters. I'm in charge of the exorcists, I won't let them be puppets. He tried to think of a way to convey his new-found determination to Allen, when the door swung open. Two CROWs entered.
"It's time. The General wishes to meet with both of you before heading out." His voice was slightly muffled by the curved mask hiding his face. Of course he meant that Allen and Komui were supposed to follow them. Of course, why would Cross come to us? It's not like that's easier than dragging Alen around. Komui thought bitterly. He rose to help allen up, only to have his hand stubbornly pushed away by the boy. Allen rose and began walked over to the CROWs, glaring at them with a sort of challenge in his chief followed nervously, wondering if Allen was deliberately playing with fire or if he was genuinely unaware of what happened to those who threatened the CROW.
They arrived in a large office space. The director sat smugly behind a desk while Tiedoll and Cross exchanged unpleasant words, a conversation that had derived to old stories and name calling. Along the way they had stopped and gathered the few items the boy had accumulated while at the Order in a bag. This, strangely enough, had been at Allen's request. Now his gaze roved over the figures in the office, all high respecting people of authority. Allen remained unshaken by this, showing no weariness or any other emotion that may result in being looked down upon. Komui wanted to assume this strange behavior was simply a result of the boy's inability to comprehend the situation, but Allen was smarter than that.
"Alright brat, you're going to be my apprentice now." Cross announced with a smirk.
"You wish" he shot back defiantly. This brought about the widening of the eyes of all present, specifically Cross, who did not take kindly to back talk.
"What was that?" A dangerous tone lined his words as he took a step towards the boy, with every intention of setting him straight. Tiedoll, in turn, interfered, protesting the particular line of discipline Cross was about to take. That in turn, sparked the director to argue that it was, in fact, Cross's decision and that Tiedoll had no right to interfere. Which brought about Komui's interfering with the director's interfering, on the grounds that he didn't really understand exorcists, let alone their training. Within seconds, the conversation had whirlpooled into a highly political yelling match. After a few minuted, Cross paused, eyes widening then darting back to the boy. He fought the urge to sigh when he realized he was still there, trying not to laugh. Cross glared at him for a moment then smirked. Apparently the brat was clever. And sneaky… This was going to be fun, Cross decided.
"Mana's still dead" he informed the boy. The room silenced at the sudden announcement of Cross. Komui would have been amused at the childish strategy Cross was taking if it wasn't such a sensitive subject for Allen.
"I refuse to believe Mana's dead, especially if you're the one telling me." A stony resolve glazed across his features, lighting a fire within the boy, giving him a ferocity matching that only of Kanda. Though his gaze was focused solely on Cross, everyone in the room could read it. Then we was gone, not with any sort of mind numbing speed, but at a purposeful walk that left the other's in the dust, mentally more so than anything. Cross strolled after him, a similar stride with motives anything but aligning with the boy's: the opposite if anything.
"I take it you're going to be my apprentice then?" Cross smirked, satisfaction filling every fissure of his face. Allen fairly growled.
"Do I have a choice?" Cross snorted. Smart brat.
"Keep that up and you'll be dead in a week." He dropped his luggage atop Allen's head then passed him.
"Try and keep up, idiot." Such hatred had not consumed Allen in some time, since he met Mana most likely. But now that hatred was channeled, given a form. He knew all along what he was, had been told throughout his brief existence. But the reality, the acceptance of it, left a burning, hollow cold in his chest. With the magnified hatred came magnified loneliness. The pair boarded the boat and set off.
"Hope you said your goodbyes at the Order, we aren't coming back." No response. Allen did not turn around. The Order was not his home, the strange Vatican was anything but. He had never had, and never would have such a thing. Monsters like him deserved no such pleasure, Cross knew that. And Allen was sure that if he ever doubted such a thing, the man would teach him anew. What other relationship was to be had with humans and monsters?
Lenalee's eyes shot open and she had to fight the urge to sit up or risk further injury. Instead she glanced about the room, wide-eyed and weary. Something had woken her rather abruptly, but since she was unsure as to what that might be… A feeling of dread began to settle at the bottom of her stomach and she carefully rose, continuing to glance suspiciously about the room. Still nothing. She stood, shakily, and made her way over to the door.
Lenalee leaned against the wall, one hand propping herself against it, the other reaching towards the handle. Meanwhile, she was fighting the wave of horrid memories; sneaking from her room, witnessing the experiments, the consequences, all the consequences and CROWs and- She shook her head and slowly creaked the door open. She peeked out. No one. Brother said Allen's room was right across the hall… Lenalee darted across, leaning against the adjacent wall and catching her breath before once more scanning for, well, anything really. No one came and there was no sign of spells, so she slipped through the door.
Allen's room felt darker, though she knew they were the same. Nevertheless, she made her way through the shadows to the bed, wedged against the wall.
"Allen?" She called, voice but a whisper. Lenalee still flinched at how loud she thought she was, given the stark contrast to the silence before. No response was made so she crept forward.
"Allen? Are you awake? Al-" She moved to set a hand on his shoulder only to find blankets.
"-len…" Her hands grasped the fabric, drawing it away from the bed. Her eyes widened and she white material drifted from her grasp.
"No…" Her breathing increased and her pupils morphed to pinpricks. She darted from the room, flying back to hers, though not literally as she was currently barefoot. In her haste, she forgot to close both doors, instead focused on hiding beneath the blanket in her room, pretending everything on the other side of the linen was non-existent. With only a faded white world, she began dreaming of an explanation. Of a bad novel where she awoke to find everything was a horrible dream. Birds chirped from the other side of a long forgotten bedroom wall. She a good amount of time contemplating the details of her room to her satisfaction. Sleep pulled at her as she continued to fantasize. At some point, her eyes fell closed, and the fantasy became a dream. Lenalee just prayed that when she awoke, that dream, that fantasy, would be reality.
In the early hours of the following day, a nurse stumbled upon the phenomenon that was the two open doors in the medical ward. Fearing another 'incident', she reported such to her superior. He was quick to hypothesize a scenario and informed the Section Leader, one of the few in the Science Division still awake and able to process his words. The two went in to check on Lenalee. After finding her fast asleep quite literally engulfed in blankets, they took their leave, closing the door behind them. They carried about their business until Komui awoke the following day.
"Lenalee woke up last night" Reever informed the still drowsy man. That however served its purpose in effectively waking him up, a glint of sudden alertness catching his eye.
"She must have gone to check on Allen because both doors were open." He connected the dots for the chief, whose gaze drew solemn, eyes falling to the floor.
"No one told her" a statement more than a question.
"No" Komui replied, posture unchanging. The silence only continued to grow. Both contemplating the same thing, but neither able to draw a resolute conclusion from their jumbled, sleep-deprived thoughts. Would it be better to let the girl draw her own conclusions, perhaps hinting at the boy running from the Order, a more than understandable scenario. Or tell her the truth, that she still was not safe from the horrid hands of the CROW. Either way she would be in pain, have nightmares and regrets. Seeing as no third option was preventing itself, that left Komui to determine not the best option, but the one that would hurt his little sister the least.
