Disclaimer: I don't own D.Gray-man in any shape or form
A/N: Shock horror I'm posting two stories in two days, nice surprise when my normal beta sent this back to me the other night and so I quickly did a final cheek this morning and here it is for all to read, I hope you all enjoy it and my other work so please leave a review and let me know what you think as I love to hear back from others,
The Date
Location: Dark Order HQ.
The pair of Exorcist left the elevator that went up the middle of the Orders Headquarters, both of them calmly looking around at the doors spaced around the walkway circling the main shaft.
"I'll get changed for our date, meet you back here in an hour or so. Don't wear the uniform; I want a quiet dinner without any attacks." Lenalee said when they reached her room.
Allen nodded and moved off to his room on one of the upper levels.
Movement just beyond the railing had Lenalee looking over to see Timcampy hoovering, watching her and she held a hand out for the Golem to land.
"Go and show my brother what happened on the mission and the train ride back. Take this note saying he can have our written reports tomorrow."
Timcampy jiggled in her hand and its wings flapped as she released it, moving into her room
Up in Research Komui was pretending to be asleep to avoid the four piles of hip high paper work around his desk. Other Researchers shook their heads at their lazy boss.
Reever was the first to spot the gold form of Timcampy fly in through the main door.
"Allen and Lenalee are back." He called out offering a hand for the golem to land on and taking the letter tied to the end of his tail.
"My Lenalee is back!" Komui sat upright all of a sudden at Reever's comments; the other researchers sighed and shook their heads at how quickly he could wake from the mere mention of his sister.
"Yes, she is and according to this note sent with Timcampy, she has gone to bed, as has Allen. They will both deliver their reports tomorrow afternoon." Reever read over the note while Timcampy hovered over his head.
"My Lenalee is back!" Komui chanted dancing towards the door only to be tackled to the floor by some of his co-workers.
Lavi, who had been walking past looked up when he heard the crash and screams of protest. Walking into the room he looked at the pile of bodies in the middle of the even larger pile of papers, Komui being at the bottom of the stack.
"Yo people, what's up?" Lavi looked over at Reever who was to one side, Timcampy next to his head. "Ah, Allen and Lenalee are back."
"Yes, and she has gone to bed, as has Allen." Reever plucked Timcampy from the air and took him over to the scanner to view the images he had recorded.
Lavi nodded and producing his hammer directed it to grow until it was big enough for him to sit on. He didn't want to chance sitting in one of the few chairs around the room and finding himself on the wrong end of one of the Researchers mad experiments.
Komui, who had managed to get out from under the pile of researchers, bounced up to look at the images that Timcampy was showing them.
Everyone watched silently as the image showed the snow storm that had driven both young Exorcists into an abandon hut. Komui thankfully did not go berserk when it was revealed a little later that Allen sat down next to his sister, as she had said it was to keep warm and he was willing to let this one slide.
It was Allen lightly kissed Lenalee on the head while she was sleeping that had Komui jumping up, reaching for one of the many weapons hidden on him. He was stopped, however, when half the researchers jumped him, Lavi laughing like a madman at the gutsy show of courage Allen was showing.
"Oh, I never thought Lenalee would ever let someone lay there head there." Reever commented when Lenalee woke up later in the image and moved Allen's head onto her lap
Komui looked up from beneath the pile of researchers, his eyes widening at the image of his little sister leaning down to kiss Allen's scar.
"ALLEN! You Octopus!" Komui started dragging himself-as well as half the researchers on him-toward the door, the infamous Octopus firing bazooka somehow springing to hand.
"Someone tie him up and disarm him!" Reever called over his shoulder as the image carried on to the images of the train.
Komui was quickly tied up and forced to watch as the battle on the train played out, everyone making a note to check Allen for cheating before playing cards with him.
"Lenalee!! How could you betray me to go out with that Octopus!" Komui screamed when Allen asked Lenalee out for dinner, the image going black moments later.
"You know, isn't it odd that both of them wanted to go to bed the moment they got back? Allen normally gets a huge meal, while Lenalee comes here to say hello." Lavi leaned back on his hammer, silently congratulating Allen for asking Lenalee out and not averse to stirring the pot.
"Ahhh!! Allen you Octopus!" Komui screamed in rage, throwing himself towards the door, wriggling madly and trying to undo the ropes. "I won't let you touch my sister!"
Everyone, including Reever and Lavi, quickly pined the over protective brother as he managed to writhe his way out of the room and freed one hand. A clear view down to the lower levels showed a sight that made Komui stop mid rant.
Allen was standing on one of the lower levels dressed in his normal clothing, namely the shirt and vest and red ribbon that he wore under his uniform. He played calmly with the top hat that his foster father Mana had worn in one hand, an ace of spades and a joker added to the hat band. His other hand held a single Orchid as he had decided he wanted to give Lenalee something other than roses.
Before anyone could pass comment the door Allen was standing in front of opened, Lenalee stepping out. She wore a black dress that was a little more figure hugging then her normal dresses. It was also slightly lower in the neckline than was her usual dress code. She had shaped her Dark Boots into something a little more formal and a pair of silver clips adorned her usual pigtails.
"Damn, she is…" Lavi didn't get to finish his comment. "Urgh!"
Komui, who had managed to get loose from his bonds, was in the process of strangling him for making a comment about his sister.
Down on the lower level Lenalee looked at Allen and the Orchid he offered her, a small smile dawning as she takes it.
"Well, you didn't ask me out like a normal guy, so I guess you giving me a flower other then a Rose is a good thing." She commented, the odd acoustics in the well carrying her voice clearly.
The researchers had managed to remove Komui from Lavi, who was rasping out 'Sorry' repeatedly and holding his hands protectively over his throat.
"I called one of the restaurants in the city and made a reservation for two. We better hurry before we lose it." Allen smiled, taking Lenalee's arm and leading her onto the lift that had just come to a stop.
"Let's get going before my brother comes down and sees us leaving." Lenalee boarded the lift, Allen only a step behind her.
Komui gurgled beneath the weight of the horde holding him down, his face mashed into the floor.
"Ah, if this does work out, how are we going to tell your brother without him killing me?" Allen asked as the lift started down.
The researchers, keen to hear more forgot about Komui and ran down the stairs, trying to keep pace with the lift to hear more. Komui and Lavi exchanged glances and raced down the stairs after them.
"I'll just tell him and then calm him down… he can't be my over protective brother my whole life." Lenalee responded, delicately sniffing the orchid.
"Oh, yes I can." Komui whispered lovingly running his hands over the Octopus bazooka, only to have Lavi's hammer smash it. "Nooooo!!"
"You're over doing it again Komui." Lavi already planned on tailing the pair for the entire date, just so that he had something to tease Allen about.
"No I'm not! I'm protecting my sister from that octopus Allen." Komui grinned maniacally, his hands suddenly full of another weapon which could not possibly have been hidden on his person but was, unbelievably, there.
Reever grappled with Komui, snaring him in a headlock, while Lavi and the other researchers went to work disarming him, unloading a myriad of impossible looking devices from seemingly endless and bottomless pockets of his coat, all the while they were tumbling, running and generally careering down the stairs to the dock.
The group arrived in time to see Allen pushing off from the dock and the boat starting down the channel. While Komui was held down Reever arranged for another boat. The general consensus was that if Komui saw that Allen was a gentleman and Lenalee was having a good time, he might calm down. If they left him at headquarters he was sure to set traps in Allen's room, or resurrect a Komurin, at the very least he was sure to follow them and disrupt the date.
Arriving in the city the group followed along, keeping out of sight of the couple as they talked, the few snippets of conversation they overheard mostly revolving around how each had grow up and rumours about other Exorcists.
Hiding themselves in an alleyway across the street from the restaurant they watched as Allen and Lenalee were shown to a window seat. Lenalee passed a menu to Allen, saying something to the waiter who nodded and then looked to Allen. Knowing the size of the meals the Exorcist ate they could imagine why the waiter looked pale.
"I'd say he just ordered everything on the menu." Reever looked at Lavi, who was currently sitting on the extended handle of his hammer, the head of which was planted firmly on Komui to keep him still.
"No, he normally orders half of the menu when we are away from headquarters. He's been here before and the cook will be used to the size of his orders, though I don't recognize that waiter." Lavi made it a point to watch Allen every chance he could, he was just as interested in Allen as his Master, both of them wondering about this young man who was destined to be 'The Destroyer of Time'.
Noting Komui turning an alarming shade of purple at being unable to hear what was happening and seeing the two through the window, Reever pulled out his golem, sending it over to the window and produced speakers for them to listen in on the conversation.
A few moments of static and Lenalee's voice came in clear.
"So Allen, where did you get the hat? I don't remember seeing it before." She sipped her water, both of them having agreed that water would be enough for dinner this time.
There was a pause followed by a sigh from Allen. He placed the hat on the table beside his plate. "It was my foster father's. I keep it as a reminder of him. I made the mistake of bringing him back as an Akuma, you know the rest, but with the hat I have two things to remember him by, even if one isn't a good thing."
"I understand." Lenalee smiled at the waiter when he arrived with her meal and the first few dishes of Allen's order.
'At least's he eats neatly in public.' She thought, taking small lady sized bites of her meal.
"Allen, I have wondered… what do you see when you look at the Akuma's? How do the souls appear?"
Allen's head bowed while in the alley everyone strained, leaning forward to hear the response. Lavi remained still, as he already knew the answer, having witnessed a tortured soul when he and Allen met Arystar Krory. He still had dreams of the Akuma's wretched soul.
"It's hard to describe. It looks like their body has been mummified and is wreathed in purple flames. Chains hold the soul to the shell it has been tied to… some of them cry as they kill."
Allen tapped his fork against his plate, remembering those souls he had witnessed since he was twelve years old.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked." Lenalee lowered her head, aware how her question disturbed Allen.
"No, it's alright. I just hope you never have to see what I see in battle." Allen offered Lenalee a smile, hoping to cheer her up.
"We will have to wait and see." Lenalee offered a return smile.
The rest of the meal passed smoothly in the restaurant and in the alley Komui did not even raise his voice when Allen took Lenalee's hand as they prepared to leave.
Lavi was silently cheering Allen on; his fellow Exorcist was the bravest man alive in his books, given he was brave enough to take Lenalee out on a date.
The pair walked down the street, Lenalee pausing at shop windows to admire the displays, Allen standing calmly at her side, his tall hat hiding most of his white hair. He had chosen to wear gloves to hide his red hand and they might have been an ordinary couple out for a stroll instead of two Exorcist's who dealt daily with death and destruction.
"Isn't he cute?" Lenalee paused in front of a window displaying an assortment of stuffed toys, her finger pointing out a white teddy bear.
Allen smiled as he watched her look over the other stuffed toys in the window. Seeing the owner standing by the door Allen got an idea. Moving close to the door without Lenalee noticing Allen pushed the door open, the owner looking at him with a questioning look.
Pointing at the bear in the window Allen grinned and offered the man some money. The owner nodded, smiling as he watched Lenalee and, when she moved on to the next window, he grasped the bear and moved back to the door.
Thanking the shopkeeper and taking receipt of the bear and his change Allen moved to stand behind Lenalee again, keeping the bear in his right hand and hidden behind his back.
'Nice choice Allen. Chocolates get eaten, flowers die, and jewellery is too flashy for a first date, but a stuffed toy is a nice way to remember it.' Lavi thought with a smirk, his hammer mashing Komui to the pavement when he began searching his pockets and muttering about bombs and Allen getting too close to his defenceless little sister.
"Allen? Where did you get to?" Lenalee, being the Exorcist she was, had noted Allen's brief absence and the reappearance of his reflection in the window of the dressmaker's store.
Allen smiled, rocking back on his heels and whistling innocently.
"Ok, I'll bite. What's behind your back?"
"Something for you to remember our first, and hopefully not our last, date." Looking suddenly nervous he brought his hand around and offered her the bear.
Lenalee smiled brightly and jumped forward, wrapping her arms around his neck and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before jumping back just as quickly, hugging the bear to her chest. 'He is so sweet.'
"Thank you so much Allen, I'll treasure him always."
Allen grinned and, taking a deep breath, dared to place his arm around her shoulders, leading the way back to the river and to headquarters.
Reever, realizing where the couple were heading, directed the group, with Komui captive in their midst, into the back alleyways and to the dock, wanting them safely back before Allen and Lenalee returned.
It was a tired group that made it to headquarters, Komui muttering about his largest drills and Allen's arm needing repairs. Watching the manic gleam in Komui's eyes the group solemnly promised each other they would not leave Allen unattended in his company over the next few weeks. He would have to convince them he was used to the idea of his sister dating Allen Walker before they dared.
Allen and Lenalee arrived, taking the lift up to her level and standing before her door.
"I had a lovely time tonight, Allen."
"I did as well. I would love to take you out again, if you what go?"
"I would like that."
Allen smiled and brought his normal hand up he cupped her cheek, leaning in.
Lavi leaned forward, one hand clamped over Komui's mouth, the other around his neck as he fought to stop the coming kiss.
Hands clamped over mouths to restrain a chorus of cheers as Allen's lips met Lenalee's for a second, then Lenalee smiled up at Allen and they broke apart.
"Goodnight Allen. Pleasant dreams and I'll see you at breakfast."
"Goodnight." Allen breathed, a silly smile dawning as the door closed in his face.
There was a mad scramble as the watchers moved into the shadows, though from the look of Allen Lavi doubted he was seeing anything but Lenalee's smile. There was a spring in his step and a dreamy look in his eyes as he took the steps up to his level. Everyone but Komui silently offered congratulations, while Komui entertained dark and sinister thoughts.
"Shows over guys. Back to work or bed, I don't care which. Someone tie him to his desk, or bed, to make sure Allen lives to see the morning." Reever pointed at Komui and four of the researchers dragged him away.
Lenalee snuggled into her nice and warm bed, holding her new bear close. 'I have hope for him. I only hope our future dates will be as good.'
Allen shared Lenalee's thoughts as he climbed into bed, his eyes moving to Mana's hat placed on his bedside table. He smiled, rolled over and looked forward to dreams involving Lenalee and a location away from the war.
"Moving forward, Mana. I'm still moving forward."
End
