A/N: *wave* Next entry in the countdown! I'm hoping to do a clean sweep of them this time, haha - I haven't done so well with that in the past. It should be easier if I don't keep myself to the thousand word minimum. (This is fun, but not quite worth the effort of a full oneshot when not many read it anyway.)
Title: Crown of Thorns
Author: liketolaugh
Rating: T
Pairings: None
Genre: Angst
Warnings: Mild blood/gore
Summary: There are the days the exorcists feel like they've been lined up as humanity's martyrs, here to atone for the sins of the world. Other days, they forget it's not normal. On the worst days, it's both. Chapter 224 countdown.
Disclaimer: I only wish I owned D. Gray-man.
Day 2: Lonely Boy (Favorite Character)
In a way, it was almost familiar – travelling from city to town to city, doing odd jobs for money to buy food and pay off Cross' stupid debts, always moving and staying in inns and with old contacts.
It was just him and Tim this time, though. It made him miss Mana more than usual, even if it had long lost the fresh bite of grief. It also, at the same time, made him more determined than ever to find Cross. It just wasn't the same without his dumb ass making things difficult (even if it was a good bit easier.)
He closed the door behind him, sweeping an absent gaze over the minimalistic inn room. A bed, a table, a candle, a window – and not much more besides. He set his bag aside and sat on the bed, and Timcanpy fluttered off his head to land on his lap, tilting up towards him in silent inquisition.
Allen smiled at him wearily, reaching over to rub the healing Innocence wound with one hand.
"Nothing, Tim," Allen reassured him, shaking his head. "I was just thinking."
"Gah," Tim grunted doubtfully, with one hard flap of his wings for emphasis. Allen's smile softened a little.
"I wonder how the others are doing," he mused aloud, reaching for Tim, who growled in protest but reluctantly allowed Allen to grab a hold on his cheeks and tug lightly. "Lenalee must be worried… She and Kanda have been friends for a very long time, so I bet she misses him a lot. Lavi will have his work cut out for him trying to cheer her up… And he might be worrying, too. He'll handle it, though."
He sighed quietly, pulling a little harder as his thoughts darkened. Tim, uncharacteristically, only struggled a little. Allen didn't notice.
"Marie should be able to take care of Miranda – he'll have to miss Kanda too, but I can't imagine him letting it destroy him, or anyone else, really. Maybe he can help look after all of them." He tilted his head, looking at Tim but not seeing him. "Krory should be okay, I think. He has Lavi, after all, and he could make friends if he tried. He just needs to be brave. And Komui will look after all of them. I know he will."
He sighed and released Tim, and Tim fluttered away to land just out of reach, but apparently was too concerned to hide away entirely. Allen didn't look at him, silver eyes focused on nothing in particular.
"I wonder if Kanda and Alma are happy now," he murmured, subconsciously pressing his hand against the wound in his side again, harder now. "This is what they always wanted, isn't it? To be free." He smiled, aching and wistful. "I hope they were at peace, in the end. They both deserve it."
His smile faded, and he let himself curl up a little as his wounds throbbed painfully – both of them, from Mugen and from Crown Clown. He exhaled heavily for a moment, riding it out, and then let his mind drift again.
"I wonder if anyone will miss Link," he whispered, feeling tears finally start to prick at his eyes, arms still curled around his torso. "He didn't deserve to die like that, Tim. He didn't deserve to die at all. I wish…" He took a deep breath. "I don't think the others liked him, you know? But I wonder if they'll even realize he's gone." He half-laughed, throat dry and voice rough. "I mean… I would never ask them to. They have enough to be dealing with. But it's… it's sad, Tim." The next sound he made could have been either a sob or a laugh, and you never would have known the difference. "I'll miss him, at least. I already do." He took a deep breath. "I miss all of them."
Tim tentatively hovered closer, and then nudged against Allen's wet cheek, visibly concerned, before he drew back questioningly.
Allen smiled, reached up, and brushed his tears away with the palm of his hand.
"It's okay, Tim," he reassured the little gold golem. "This is for them, isn't it?"
"Gah!"
*sheepish grin* So I realized a few hours after I posted the last one that I misinterpreted the prompt system - yesterday's was actually meant to be opening/ending (as in, of the anime.) Oops. *shrug* It doesn't matter so much, though. *bounce* Anyway, thanks for reading, and please review!
