Dream On
Allen was way too young for this shit. Lenalee was convinced. Did he really think she was so innocent that she didn't recognize a walk of shame when she saw one? For god's sake, Allen wasn't Kanda. He didn't usually look sated after going all out in battle – the worse the odds, the better. But these days, he was straggling home \and trying to seem like he regretted all the "fighting" the night before, when it was clear he didn't. Hell, even his hair seemed to curl in smug satisfaction when he walked in, and he spent all his time during travel texting on his messenger app like a hopeless teenager with his first crush, complete with awful flirting.
But was it possible? She supposed that he'd never had a significant attachment to anyone before she'd come along and clubbed him with her friendship connection rainbow, along with her amazing insights into the inner workings of General Cross' once-in-a-while-sober heart. She was sure that Allen now saw them as his true family, regardless of what family he'd been a part of before.
Dollarz: How do you know about that? Have you been peeking in on my dreams?
The Dark Magician: Not me, my dear. But I might have a spy.
Dollarz: Terrifying.
The Dark Magician: It is but one of my many talents. Allow me to show you more of them.
Dollarz: Can you get more talented? I thought we'd already explored that.
The Dark Magician: Tip of the iceberg, as they say.
Dollarz: What do you mean?
The Dark Magician: It's a theory about people. The idea is that what's visible is only a small percentage of what is there, and that inside and underneath, there's still a huge mass that is the rest of the iceberg.
Dollarz: I'd like to see your huge mass. Inside and underneath.
The Dark Magician: How about now, Allen Walker?
She could see him twitching, holding back the urge to bounce about happily. What was wrong with that kid? He'd dropped five years or so from the reserved, polite British exorcist that had come to the Black order's door. And it was all in his mannerisms. His face was practically frozen with the effort it was taking him to keep his glee from shining through. She tried surreptitiously poking him then looking away.
Allen gave a huge start and turned to her with completely blank eyes. The kid was utterly scatterbrained. Now it was her turn to have a face frozen in an attempt to not laugh at her friend. He was clearly trying to formulate a thought into words so he could ask her what had happened, but then his phone buzzed. He couldn't help it. His eyes strayed down to his hand like selective gravity was an operating force and his attention was taken back by the device before it could even make it to Lenalee.
At this point, she suspected that the only reason he was still alive was because there was no way he could ignore his eye's extremely physical warning method whenever his life was in danger. Was it really a curse, or was it evolution to compensate for his lack of an attention span?
The Dark Magician: Stop changing your username!
Abandoned Demon Fruit: I'm bored! I'm in cabin 21B. Are you close?
The Dark Magician: You do know that I'm actively stalking you, right? Of course I am.
Abandoned Demon Fruit: You can't stalk the willing. Try rendezvous, so you sound less creepy.
The Dark Magician: Creepy, or dangerous?
Abandoned Demon Fruit: I guess you can be both. I only like one of them though.
The Dark Magician: Liar. You know you like the creeping.
The Dark Magician: I'm almost there. You might want to get rid of her.
Abandoned Demon Fruit: You know, I can't just tell her that I'm getting excited in my pants because you're nearby.
The Dark Magician: You can't? I could send you some Akuma again.
Abandoned Demon Fruit: No, she's going to think that you're following us.
The Dark Magician: I am.
Abandoned Demon Fruit: Really, for someone so inventive, you need to come up with better ideas. We've done that too many times.
The Dark Magician: No matter how many times we do it, I'll never get tired of it.
Abandoned Demon Fruit: Subtle. And I thought I was the shameless one. Save that mind of yours for later!
The Dark Magician: I do, but this is why you think my ideas outside of bed suck.
Abandoned Demon Fruit: I'll show you sucking.
The Dark Magician: And he takes back the title.
Abandoned Demon Fruit: …Hold that thought, I have an idea.
"Anything to drink, miss?" The train stewardess asked, as she checked in on the private cabins. "I have apple juice, orange juice, and a variety of sodas, as well as red and white wine for an additional fee."
"Water's fine, actually," Lenalee replied graciously. "Thank you."
"And for you, sir?"
Allen leered and leaned in as she came closer. "Red wine, and a spin so I can get a good look, if you please," he said, while giving her a dirty once over.
She gasped. Lenalee gasped. Allen didn't, though.
He cocked an eyebrow at her daringly and motioned for her to commence. She, naturally, glared and slapped him. Lenalee wondered if he'd completely lost his mind, or if his upbringing was a horrendous mistake after all, just as he claimed it was. But it couldn't be true. After all, would General Cross have a strangely beatific expression on his face while resting his palm on his cheek, letting the warmth spread outward from the slap? His eyes were starting to slide closed, and his mouth parted slightly. That must've been inconvenient during training.
As the stewardess took herself out of the situation, Allen blushed and spoke to her in a much too hot and bothered voice. "Um, Lenalee, sorry, but could you give me a minute? I, uh…"
"You liked i-No, say no more!" she yelped, as she cut herself off. There were some things she just didn't need to know or understand about her partner turned walking parental ratings hazard. "Take all the time you need!"
"Um, give me an hour?" Allen called heartlessly after her as she shut the door.
The Dark Magician: Ready yet?
Allen "Blow Me" Walker: Yes, are you coming?
The Dark Magician: Soon enough, my exorcist.
An hour and a half later, Lenalee was sitting at the bar, mildly sauced and had deliberately forgotten all about Allen's… problem, whatever it was. She was going to get transferred if Komui ever heard a word of this. She buffed up her mental image of a pure, sparkling Allen with a bit of alcohol, and it worked wonders.
But when she opened the door, she could swear that either nothing had changed, or everything was slightly off from before. It was the atmosphere of a house when the parents come back after a weekend away, and the kids had already cleaned up from the wild party or orgy they'd had just moments before.
Then she looked at Allen, and Lenalee found herself wondering why their beansprout mascot looked like he'd been drugged into delirium, had a sinfully good time with the seat he was on, or had somehow been roughed up by the bumping of the train and liked it a little too much, even though his hair was neater than it was before. But before she could decide not to ask, he'd stretched himself out like all was right with the world, and out came the cell phone again.
My Innocence Is Gone: That was totally unreal. I feel like I should be thanking you for that.
The Dark Magician: Just living up to my name. The pleasure was all mine.
My Innocence Is Gone: I still feel like warm honey inside. o/o
The Dark Magician: You might want to get that checked out.
My Innocence Is Gone: Shut up. You could go again, couldn't you?
The Dark Magician: Mmm. Want to find out?
My Innocence Is Gone: You're barely human.
The Dark Magician: Yep. 3
Just another train ride.