Disclaimer: I do not own D-Gray Man. I cosplay Allen instead. XD This story was written for my friend. So just so you know, it is a Lavi x Allen all over the place. –LEMON WARNING- Don't like them together, don't read it. I like them. They seem almost, I repeat, almost canon when you read the manga. You just have to look through those little black lines.

Welcome to another Exorcist tale:

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Simply Captivating

Chapter 1: An Abrasive Welcome to Town

The Memory

It was against Bookman's wishes for him to even want to be a player in life. He was supposed to observe it with an impartial vision and merely record it all in the Hidden History. He could not say that he had not tried. Even then, he had grown over time to regard his fellow Exorcists as his friends. That had been his first stumble. When he thought about it, he had to admit that perhaps the change in him had been brought about by Allen. There was something so outstanding about the teen's charisma that you could not help but be taken in by the magnificence of it. Standing with him was like standing beside a blazing sun. With his unprejudiced care and concern for both humans and the souls of the Akuma, Allen was truly one of a kind. At first Lavi had found him to be a very amusing person but after their ordeal at Krory's castle, he had begun to discover that there was much more to the cursed teen than just a personality quirk. The fervor of what Allen had said to Krory when the vampire had given up hope of living on had made Lavi open his eyes and pay more attention to him. It was not until he had almost lost Allen for good that he had realized how attached to him he really was. It was very strange for him at first, trying to comprehend how he felt. He knew Bookman would frown upon him. Still, he could not ignore that he had let these feelings inside. He actually had no idea what brought him to be here standing in the hall talking to the very person who brought out these strange attachments in him about something that he knew would bring Bookman's anger down on him faster than anything else. He just needed to let it out.

"That's what I wanted to say. If you think it's strange--- "

Allen smiled so brightly that his eyes squinted to accommodate its presence. It was the most alluring thing that Lavi had ever seen. It reminded him of when Allen had been in the Ark, when his personality had been too dazzling for words. The sight of it interrupted the course of his awkward conversation. It was then that the perfect lips spoke the very words that had made his life seem worth participating in.

"It's not strange. I really like you too Lavi."

Lavi had struggled for words to explain himself more clearly. Of course Allen liked him; Allen liked everybody…even the Noah to some degree, "Er…no…I mean I 'really like' you."

The intoxicating silver gray eyes opened partially against the smile, "I know. And I 'really like' you too, Lavi." He had imitated Lavi's tone.

The redhead sighed and put a hand to his forehead. He felt really uncomfortable, "I don't think you understand…"

"Understand what?" The confused face was absolutely endearing.

"What I'm trying to tell you." Lavi scratched absently at his headband.

"Of course I do." Bright happy eyes insisted, "You 'really like' me."

Lavi scratched harder, "Do you even know what that means?" This was more difficult than he thought.

The sweet confusion returned, "Is that a trick question?"

Perhaps a more direct approach was called for. Lavi put one hand on the wall beside Allen's head and leaned in so close that mere inches separated their faces, "When I said 'really like', I meant 'really really like'." He was close enough to savor the scent of his pursuit.

Allen closed his eyes for a second then sighed; a serious look took his happy face. Lavi felt a cringe inside, this seemed like a very bad sign, "No, you don't understand." The white hair shook in a negative motion.

"Huh?" Lavi became very confused and a bit frightened.

The serious expression pierced into him like a pin though a butterfly, trapping him. Allen pointed to his own face, "I. Really 'really' like…" The extended finger pressed briefly to his lips almost in a sign of silence, then they were pressed into Lavi's own, "you, too." The angelic smile returned.

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It was that brief scene in history that had brought the young Bookman to the happiest moments in his life. It was the first thing to pop into his head as he saw the un-defendable strike come his way. What a sad way to die, killed by a Level 2 Akuma. Bookman always said he should be more aware of his blinded side especially in combat. Mere seconds before he became just a mere smudge on the pages of history, something hit him hard in his ribcage.

Lavi was torn from the set up of an untimely death as he went tumbling across the rocky ground to safety. When his senses finally caught up to him and he noticed that death had not taken him, Lavi saw Allen hovering over him with his left arm raised defensively. The battle smudged angel was calling his name.

"Lavi? Are you alright? Lavi?"

He reached a hand to his throbbing cranium, "These rocks are hard."

"I'm sorry." Even in battle the white haired teen managed an apologetic half bow.

Lavi grinned then reached up and arm and ruffled the already messy hair, "Hey, thanks for savin' my mangy ass. I thought it was the end there."

"Don't say things like that!" A frown took Allen's lips.

"Why?" Lavi grinned madly, "Would you miss me?" He darted up and stole a quick kiss before brandishing his hammer and returning to the fray.

"Of course I would you idiot!" Allen shouted at the retreating form a light pink across his cheekbones. He raised his left razor fingered arm and engaged the nearest Akuma.

Lavi darted here and there smashing Level 2 Akuma with enthusiasm letting loose his Fire Seal whenever they became clustered. The damned things were packed across the sky in mass but under the force of the five fighting Exorcists, their numbers were being decimated. Lavi cursed loudly as he saw a few Level 3 Akuma skim across the horizon and pass into the mass of death machines.

"Watch it! The party's pickin' up!"

He sledged another Level 2 into vapor then turned after one of the Level 3 that he still had his eye on. Out of the corner of his vision, Lavi saw Lenalee blast across the sky at the one he was going for. As a team the two managed to send the Akuma to its place of rest. The airborne girl landed next to him briefly catching her breath.

"Thanks for the help." Lavi gave her a playful mock salute and his signature grin.

"You're welcome." Having caught her breath, Lenalee smiled then darted back off into the sky to fight some more.

The rest of the battle, while taxing and tough, came to and end finally after nearly two hours. Lavi let out a loud sigh and leaned on his hammer for support while he tried to take a break. What a brutal fight. The Earl must be getting pretty serious to be throwing such manpower around on whims. He took a deep breath then let out another long sigh. The redhead could not wait to get to a bath and wash the combat smell off.

"Hey, everybody alright?"

"Why must you talk stupid rabbit?" Kanda's annoyed voice crossed the field. Lavi looked up to see the lone Japanese man perched on some rocks looking about to see if anymore enemies were going to pop out of the woodworks. His face was nothing but stone concentration.

"Yuu's ok." Lavi smirked.

"DON'T CALL ME BY MY FIRST NAME!"

Lenalee's chipper voice came just to his right as the wielder of the Dark Boots came to a landing, "I'm ok." She sat down on a rock to rest.

Lavi smiled, "Tough fight huh?"

"You're not kidding." Lenalee replied with a sigh.

"There were so many!" The melancholy tone of Krory came, "It was as though there was no end." The vampire came walking into sight.

"It's ok, Krory. We made it." Allen's cheerful voice spoke up. It took Lavi a moment to find him for Allen was walking directly behind the tall dark man with one hand on his shoulder. He wondered why briefly. Timcampy was flying around both the apprentice of his master and the vampire.

"All accounted for." Lenalee spoke.

Lavi was not paying attention; he kept trying to see why Allen was behind Krory. Without waiting for the two to make it to him, Lavi went walking over. Finally, he saw that Allen was holding a hand over his left eye and a thin trail of blood was steadily coursing down his cheek. Krory was leading him. Lavi let a curse fly as he turned from walking into a full blown sprint. Allen was startled by how fast Lavi had converged on his position. The lean teenager reached out to the wounded side of Allen's face but the white haired teen flinched and turned it out of his reach.

He smiled and waved his free hand at Lavi, "Its ok. I'm fine."

"Fine? You're bleeding!" Lavi reached once again for the hand covering the wound, "Let me see it."

"No." Allen twisted out of the way again and stepped back. Krory kept walking; he was going to sit down. Allen sighed, "It's all right, really. I just need some band-- ah!"

Ignoring the protests, Lavi snatched hold of the offending wrist and pulled hard tearing it from its place over the eye to reveal the wound beneath. A long gash sliced through the soul seeing eye and part of the pale cheek beneath. The young Bookman frowned. His voice was stern, "Sit down."

"Lavi, I can take care of it my—hey!" The redhead put his hands on the Allen's shoulders and pushed at an angle forcing the smaller teen to a surprised seat on the ground. Allen gave a tiny pouting frown as Lavi knelt beside him and started examining the wound, "It's not that bad. I just got careless." He watched Lavi ignore his protests, "I'm not dying."

"It's bad enough anyway." Lavi pulled some first aid items from his belt pouches, "You're lucky this wasn't your normal eye or you'd be in a tough spot for sure."

"Let me do it." Allen reached for the supplies only to have his hand batted away effortlessly.

"No. I've got it."

"Lavi."

"Shut up and stop moving Allen."

"I'm not a kid. I'm telling you it's not so bad."

"And I told you to shut up and stop moving while I bandage this."

Lenalee giggled as she watched them squabble over the care of the white haired teenager's eye. She turned to Krory who had taken a seat near her to rest, "I think it's cute how protective Lavi is."

Krory looked over at Allen with a serious face, "It's good that someone is looking out for him. He's been through a lot." The older man gave a small smile then it disappeared and his eyes watered slightly, "It makes me miss Eliade…" He began to cry. Lenalee was startled for a moment but then gave the vampire a comforting hug.

"All of this unnecessary emotion is making my stomach turn." Kanda jumped down from his perch dramatically, "The enemy is defeated. I'm leaving."

"Aren't you going to report?" The dark haired girl called after him.

"I'll leave that to you." Kanda walked away into the distance.

Lavi smiled and placed the last piece of tape down, "There you go. Disinfected and bandaged." He leaned forward and gave the bandage a soft kiss, "Now, it will definitely get better soon."

Allen smiled at him, "Thank you."

Lavi winked, "You can 'thank' me later."

Allen punched his friend playfully in the arm and gave an exasperated sigh, "You're terrible."

Lavi stuck out his tongue then gave a sly look, "That's not what you said the night before we left to get here."

"Lavi!" Allen's face flushed a shade of rose.

Lavi chuckled then stood. He held out a hand to help the other boy to his feet. He put an arm around the thin shoulders, "Let's go an' see what everyone else is up to, huh?"

The two made their way over to where their companions were resting. Lenalee greeted them with a smile. Krory who had just stopped crying was wiping the water from his eyes on his shirt sleeve. He sniffled then looked to Allen remembering that he had led his wounded friend back to the meeting spot.

"Are you alright now Allen?" Krory's voice was tinged in worry.

"Yes. Thanks for helping me Krory." The ever present soft polite smile shone.

Lavi crossed his arms rather proud of how good of a team the five of them had made against the Akuma. Five…he looked around, "Where's Yuu?"

Lenalee shrugged, "Kanda already left. We'll have to make the report ourselves."

"Lazy bastard." Allen growled beneath his breath. Lavi grinned. He thought it was interesting when little bits of mean anger rose out of his tenderhearted lover. Yuu and General Cross were to only ones that Lavi had seen that were able to draw such hatred from Allen.

"Shall we go?" Krory gestured to the tops of a town in the distance. Lavi gazed at it. It was actually the town that they had been sent to investigate. The report had been that there had been a lot of Akuma activity around there. No shit, huh. Well so much for the Akuma. Time to see what they were up to.

Lavi started forward, "Let's go then."

As the group got closer to the town, something seemed to be very strange. Everything seemed tense. Such suspicion was normal in a town that had been plagued by Akuma, not to mention such a large quantity, but usually the air seemed clearer after the demon machines were destroyed. Everything seemed fine on first glance. People were milling about doing their daily tasks. Shop vendors were wailing about their wares but…still… Lavi looked around warily. He could tell that the others could feel it too.

"I think we should leave."

The sentence barely left the teenagers mouth when a group of soldiers following a horse mounted messenger appeared down the main road. They made haste to the travelers and stopped just before the Exorcists. The messenger took his time getting down from his horse and unrolling the scroll that he had taken out of a pouch. Lavi wanted to walk away but the way everyone in the town seemed to be staring at them now seemed to make it a bad idea. Clearing his throat around seven times, the messenger spoke aloud in a nasal voice.

"The Exorcist group from the esteemed Black Order is herby invited to dine with her Highness Princess Claudia Isabella Anastasia Talskaya at 4 p.m. tomorrow afternoon. You are all required to wear formal attire and not your…work clothes." The messenger looked down on their uniforms with disdain, "Reservations for your nights stay have already been arranged here in town." The man sniffed at them as if he had lowered himself just to talk to them.

"Sorry, we can't stay to 'dine' but we've got a pretty busy schedule." Lavi frowned at the uppity little man. His instincts did not like this at all.

"The Black Order is declining Her Majesty's intentions of good faith?" The sneering messenger raised his eyebrow in an arrogant quirk, "We had heard that those of the Black Order were crude but to be this openly hostile, how vulgar."

"Hey you—" Lavi started to speak up angrily when he felt Allen squeeze his arm tightly. He glanced down to see the snow haired teen shake his head no with a plea in his eyes. Lavi let out a growling breath but swallowed his words.

Lenalee stepped forward, "How did you know we would be arriving here?"

The messenger looked at her as if she were an ignorant savage, "Our queen was in fact the one who called your dubious Organization to let them know of our troubles. I see her faith in you was perhaps not a well placed judgment."

"Can you perhaps wait while we contact our Headquarters and see if we can be spared for this engagement?" Her voice was stern and without kindness throwing the arrogant messenger off guard. He seemed a bit startled at how vicious Lenalee was. Her eyes spoke over her polite words.

"Er, well…of course. Don't take all day, Her Highness can not be kept waiting for an answer all day."

Lenalee turned on her heels in a short display of anger and with the boys following her, walked straight into the nearest Inn and to the phone there. Lavi sat down on a couch in the waiting room. He was seething. Allen sat next to him in an attempt to placate some of the irritation. Krory was pacing to and fro across the waiting room rug. All the tension in the room was far worse than that of the town outside and it was making the tall man very nervous. Finally, Lenalee hung up the phone with a loud sigh and returned to the main room. The others turned toward her.

"Brother says we should attend. The Order doesn't have many supporters out this way and said that he thinks that this is a good chance to try. We should all be on our best behavior and the receipts for the formal attire need to be submitted immediately after our visit. He also says that you should be more careful Allen. You've been recalled after tomorrow. Bookman will want to have a look at that eye."

Allen nodded a bit sheepishly. Lavi crossed his arms, "Stupid panda gramps doesn't trust my patch job."

Lenalee walked to the front door, "You guys stay here. I'm going to deliver our answer."

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When Lenalee returned, she explained in a rather humorless voice that this inn was where they would be staying the night. They were served a semi-fancy dinner at which everyone was silent. Lenalee and Lavi were both very angry at being commanded around. After the hushed meal, the dark haired Exorcist stalked off to the room she had been assigned. Not long after, Lavi's own meal came to an abrupt end and he too left for his room. Allen looked at the retreating form then to Krory. The vampire seemed quite distressed by his friend's frustrations. The white haired teen gave him as warm a smile as he could.

"Don't worry Krory. They'll be alright in the morning. Neither of them take to rude authority well." He stood up, "This whole thing smells fishy to me."

"I agree." Krory spoke up. The hungry man took the very last roll, "I think I shall go and try to talk to some people and see if I can figure out what is going on."

"That sounds like a good idea." Allen fidgeted as Lavi disappeared from his sight, "Well, I guess if you find anything you should tell Lenalee and we'll all discuss it in the morning." He shifted his weight from foot to foot for a second more then bowed a quick farewell and took off after the redhead. As he did, Allen looked at the golden golem as it was flapping after him, "Tim, stay with Krory he might get into trouble." The golem made what could have been taken for a sigh then turned and chased after the tall man.

Krory waved then excused himself from the table. He briefly took a napkin from the oak surface and wiped the crumbs from his mouth. He thought for a moment then walked out the door and onto the moon lit road, best to find a bar perhaps if information was what he wanted.

Lavi sat down with an annoyed sigh on the edge of his bed. The fact that a pompous man in baggy shorts and pantyhose had ordered them about as if they were someone to look down on was still pissing him off. Maybe it would not have been quite so bad if the jerk had been wearing pants… He sat grounding about in his thoughts. For a split second, he wondered if Bookman had discovered whatever it was that he had gone to Berlin for. The old panda probably was not going to tell him about it anyway. Damn old man.

Lavi leaned back on his elbows while in thought to pop his stiff back. He heard several satisfyingly loud cracks of sliding bone and gave a tiny sigh. The redhead sat back up only to feel a tug at one of his boots. For a second, he jumped to the alert but when the young Bookman looked down, he found Allen on his knees removing the boot. Allen must have walked in while he was distracted. Having accomplished his task, the younger teen went for the remaining boot. A tiny smile quirked Lavi's lips.

"What are you up to?"

Allen looked up after undoing the last boot, "Removing your boots of course."

"Why?" Lavi leaned forward just a little.

"You seem really wound up. I just thought you should relax before we have to go to the banquet tomorrow. We're supposed to be on our best behavior." Allen pulled at the shoe.

"I have half a mind not to." Now shoeless, Lavi leaned back on the bed. His back welcomed the break and his hot feet felt much better. At least the mattress was comfortable.

Lavi felt the bed shift for a moment then the pale scarred face entered his vision once more. A tiny frown was upon the lips, "You'd better Lavi." He was sitting on the edge of the bed and began to remove his own footwear.

"Whatever for? They were rude to begin with." Lavi yawned loudly then raised an eyebrow as he felt skilled fingers undoing his shirt.

"You'll promise to behave, " Allen gave him a half lidded look and a sharp smile, "or you'll be sleeping alone tonight."

"That's not fair." Lavi half complained. There was no doubt in his mind that Allen would go through with the threat. He had learned the hard way once before. Having made his lover mad, he had been cut off for nearly two weeks. The cursed teen had made every minute of it hell too. Lavi blamed Cross for such a horrible influence.

"It is fair, besides with you and Lenalee so mad Krory is about to have a nervous fit."

Lavi started to say something about that logic making no sense to him when he felt gentle hands push the fabric back from his shoulders. He could not help but shudder for a second as the hands caressed his chest and moved down reaching for his belt, "Alright, alright. I'll be good." Lavi grinned.

Allen smiled back at him a small blush touching the edges of his face giving away his still timid nature, "You always are."

Lavi sat up briefly to allow his shirt to slide the rest of the way free from his arms then watched with his usual amusement while Allen took both the shirt and pants after he had stolen them and folded them neatly. He laid them in a tidy pile on the bed stand. Lavi chuckled.

"That's very adorable of you."

"What is?" Allen gave him a curious look as he returned to the bed.

"How you always have to do things neatly." Lavi scooted back so that he was now sitting with his back leaned on the headboard of the bed. He reached over and pulled the white haired teen who had just sat back down on the bed up to him, "I think…" The lean teenager tugged on one end of Allen's tie pulling it free. He let it dangle in the air for a moment before lazily dropping it to the floor, "clothes look much better just thrown anywhere. Especially yours."

Another flush of light rose tinted Allen's face, "Lavi, really!"

Lavi grinned with a feral sharpness then proceeded to undress his pale partner. The removed articles were haphazardly tossed anywhere Lavi happened to choose. He always enjoyed watching his white haired lover searching about in the mornings to reclaim his lost clothes. When he had completed his task, Lavi took a second to admire the beautiful creature that belonged to him. He pulled the younger boy into a short hug then leaned over Allen's right shoulder and bit slowly into the flesh there. He smiled as he heard the gasping breath and began to leave his mark there. The last one had already faded. The color of light red and purple always looked striking on his precious white canvas.

Pleased with his work, Lavi rolled to one side putting Allen beneath him. The lean teen grinned at the face of complete surrender that gazed fondly back at him. He leaned down to exchange a loving kiss to the soft lips and let his lover place several small ones along his jaw. Lavi then turned to the unmarked shoulder and began to leave his mark there as well only biting twice as hard as he had the right. He was rewarded with a loud gasp and nails digging into his back to try and push him down on the flesh even more. Lavi was always harder on the left shoulder for the reasons that it could take far more abuse than the right and most importantly, it seemed to give his younger lover twice as much pleasure. Lavi tightened his grip on Allen. The taste and sounds of his beautiful angel were sweet bliss. He let up to give the begging lips another fervent exchange.

"I love you Lavi." Allen's good eye closed for a moment in serene happiness.

Lavi put his forehead against Allen's and grinned devilishly, "I love you, too."

He proceeded to become reacquainted with the property that he had wanted for three nights now. Becoming one once again with his beloved threw all of the anger that Lavi had built up that afternoon out and instead, drew him into a deep peaceful sleep. It was always a strain whenever they had separate missions, to be far away from the comfort they shared together. It was the only thing keeping the hardships of the war from pulling them both down into the consuming darkness and claiming them.

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End Chapter One

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Chapter Two: What surprises does this dinner hold for the Exorcist group? Who is Claudia really and what does she want with them?

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-P.S. To everyone reading the other story, I am just typing this one until I get more of the other written. This one is actually completely written out. SO I have definitely not dropped Between Black and White. I like BBaW best anyway.