Cool, new chapter. Yeah~!
Allen was unsure how to go about this. There were few options about dealing with an intruder, but this was no ordinary intruder. This was the daughter of General Cross and as far as he knew she was naïve as to who her father really was and where she was.
"Okay, you're General Cross's daughter and you don't know anything, right? You don't know about the Ark or noah or akuma, right?"
"Um, I know a little about the story, Noah's Ark, from bible study, but that's it." Gabriel shrugged. "And by General Cross, you mean Dad? I didn't know he was part of the army."
"The war we're fighting is a lot different from what I think you're thinking about. But that's beside the point; I have to get you to my boss. He'll hopefully know what to do about getting you back home." Allen took her by the hand and led her out of the piano room.
"But I am ho-." Gabriel was in awe. Allen was right, she wasn't home. Outside the door was an entire town, but it was silent. Void of anyone besides Allen and Gabriel. "How did I get here? Where's my house!"
"That's what I want to find out and that's why I need to ask you a favor," Allen's voice was completely serious. If it was revealed that he was on the Ark without permission, things could get troublesome. On top of that, if the Order found out that Gabriel was the General's daughter they would take her away to do who knows what. Although it was not unheard of, Generals rarely dared to start a family. The possibility of their loved ones being used against them was too high.
"S-sure, what do you need from me?" Gabriel said shakily. She felt very confused and a little afraid. She was with a strange boy with strange powers and she had no one she knew for sure she could relay on. Hell, she wasn't even wearing shoes.
"I need you to keep it a secret that you're General Cross's daughter. Don't go spouting anything, no matter what you hear anyone say. And as far as how I found you, just say I found you wandering the forest, okay?"
Gabriel nodded. Whatever Allen was up to, she had no other options, but to follow his plan and hope it was for her benefit.
The halls were empty as usual as Allen led Gabriel quietly by the hand. The last thing he wanted was for anyone to know she was here before Komui did. It was still a mystery how, but the Black Order Higher Ups knew almost everything that went on in the Order's walls and Allen didn't want to deal with them just yet.
"So, this is the Order, right? It's huge."
Allen chuckled and humored Gabriel's awe. "Yes, it houses a large amount of people who all do different jobs for the Vatican."
"The Vatican, so you guys are all Catholic? Are you monks?"
"No, most of us don't affiliate with a religion and we're not monks. We're exorcists."
Gabriel nodded and listened intently as he explained what type of exorcists they really were. He explained they fought against creatures called akuma who served the Millennium Earl and his henchman, the Noah. He told Gabriel about the Innocence which were the only weapons that truly worked against the akuma and the Noah and how the Innocence could only be wielded by someone who was chosen to wield it.
"So ordinary people can't become exorcists?"
"Well, all exorcists started out as ordinary people, but you can't train to be an Innocence wielder. You just have to be compatible. And don't think we're all exorcists here at the order. In fact, most of us don't fight at all, but rather act as support for those who do. Developing weapons and medicine, doing recon missions, and locating the lost Innocence are all jobs done by people who don't have Innocence. They fight in their own way."
Before long Gabriel and Allen stood before the doors into Komui's office and Gabriel felt a little more than nervous. "Just going over the plan: you found me in the forest and I'm not related to Cross Marian, right?"
"Exactly," Allen said with a reassuring smile and pushed open the door. "Komui, are you in here?"
The office was a huge mess. Mountains of paper were everywhere and there wasn't a sign that anyone was here. "Um, I don't think anyone is here."
"Hold on, give me a moment." Allen took a deep breath and shouted, "Lenalee is getting married without your permission!"
One of the paper mountains exploded to reveal a man in white and a desk which had been under it the entire time. The man, presumably Komui, had a serious look on his face. "Who dares marry my Lenalee?" Out of nowhere he pulls out an absurdly large drill and starts waving it around. "Don't worry Lenalee, Big Brother is watching over you!"
"Holy crap, he's nuts!" Gabriel dived behind a stack of papers expecting the worst.
"Just kidding, Director. But I do have a good reason for bothering you," Allen said in a teasing manner.
Komui straightened up immediately and Gabriel got the innate feeling that this was a routine thing. "Well, good evening Allen. And how may I help you?"
"I've found someone wandering around the grounds," Allen waved for Gabriel to come out of her hiding place. "I think you'll find her very interesting."
Gabriel came out of her hiding spot and was suddenly being examined by a strange robot. "Oh my god, what the hell!"
"Calm down, Allen said you'd interest me, so I'm letting my robot examine you." Komui smiled and walked around the robot to supervise its progress. "Very good, no malfunctions this time."
"Malfunctions! You mean this thing is a proto-type!" In truth, Gabriel wasn't being hurt, but she was very ticklish. She burst into a spastic laughter as the robotic limbs looked her over for injuries or abnormalities.
"Komui, is this really necessary? I'm sure if she were an akuma, I would have sensed it." Allen was a little worried for Gabriel. It would not be the first time if one of Komui's crazy experiments exploded in their faces, but thankfully it let Gabriel go and reported that everything was normal.
"Oh, I knew it would work this time! The Komui-Bot 3000 is just fantastic, isn't it? But Allen, why did you say I would be interested in this girl and more importantly," Komui karate chopped Allen on the noggin. "Why did you bring her into HQ! What if she's a Noah!"
"Calm down, Komui! I'm not so naïve that I can't tell the difference between a Noah and a normal human being! Listen to me, she's Master Cross's daughter!"
"What!"
"Allen, what are you doing!" Gabriel grabbed Allen by his shirt and shook the living daylights out of him. "I thought you said no one was suppose to know!"
Komui was at a loss for words and questioned if he had heard the young man correctly. "General Cross's daughter? As in that no good, perverted, womanizing, lazy, irresponsible, alcoholic General Cross! You must be out of your mind, he doesn't have any children!" Komui laughed at the absurdity of it.
Gabriel on the other hand was not laughing. "What do you mean no good, perverted, womanizing, lazy, irresponsible, and alcoholic! My dad is nothing like that, buster!" She drew herself up and poked Komui's chest to accent every word. "He's a hardworking and honest man and I'll have you know I've never heard him and my mother argue over anything! Even when he had to leave for long business trips! And he's never broken a promise and he's always reliable and-!"
Gabriel continued her rant until she was out of breath from all her shouting, but didn't let up on her livid glare. She learned from her mother that you could lose everything, but you'd still have family and she lived by that teaching. She looked ready to punch someone in the face.
"Calm down, Gabriel. I'm sure Master Cross is a great dad," Allen said, trying to curb her obvious outrage. "But he has a bit of a reputation among the Order and-."
"And what! I'm gonna smack this hijo de puta if he keeps insulting my dad!"
"He's really your father, isn't he!" Komui was amazed, but saw some similarities in personality and if he looked long enough he did notice the odd eye color that also belonged to Cross. "Well, what were you doing wondering the Order's grounds? And where is your father?"
"Um, well…" Gabriel didn't know how to respond, she hadn't planned that far ahead with Allen, but he thankfully stepped in.
"Gabriel was sent by Master Cross…erm, so that she could be safe!"
Komui rubbed his chin, still not convinced. "What about the rest of your family? Siblings? Your mother, perhaps?"
Allen and Gabriel were caught in between a rock and a hard place when suddenly two new characters joined the trio. One strangely resembled a panda and the other was dressed like a pirate.
"Yo, Komui, we're back from our mission and have the report with us! Interesting place, Venice, we should all take a vacation there one day!"
"Lavi, compose yourself before I have to straighten you out myself."
"Hehehe, sorry Gramps, just super excited about being back." The redhead turned his attention to Allen and Gabriel, giving Allen a bear hug and eyeing Gabriel with his good eye. "Well well, what do we have here? Hey, cutie. What's your name?"
"Um, Gabriel?" Suddenly Gabriel was scooped up into Lavi's arms and squeezed half to death.
"Well, nice to meet you, Gabbie! Are you a new exorcist? Kinda small, but wait a few years and you'll be a total strike!"
"Lavi, put her down! What are you doing!"
"Aw, am I taking Allen's girlfriend?" Lavi chuckled and put a flustered and slightly confused Gabriel down. "I was just playing, squirt. At least Allen finally has someone shorter that him."
"Oi, I'm not short! I'm just vertically challenged!"
"…" Lavi slung his arm around Allen's shoulder and laughed. "Ahaha, she's a funny one, ain't she! Vertically challenged, that's a good one!"
Komui cut into the ruckus with a curt cough. "Thank you, Bookman, for the report. If you could please stay a moment, I need to discuss something with you." Komui looked at Allen, a silent message going between them:
I'll have to tell the Order sooner or later, Allen.
I know, but please hold off until I can explain everything.
Alright. She can stay while I figure this out.
Thank you, Komui.
"Lavi, why don't you help me show Gabriel around and set her up with a room."
"Sure," Lavi snickered. "And maybe we can get her some shoes, too."
Gabriel had almost forgotten she was barefoot and giggled with Lavi. "Some shoes would be nice!" And they all laughed together.
The tour of the Black Order was as interesting for Gabriel as a FIFA game. She was enthralled by all the information Lavi knew and she wouldn't doubt it if he had a photographic memory. Somewhere along the way, they got her a pair of slippers for her to use until she got some proper shoes, not that Gabriel was thinking of her feet at the moment.
"Man, this place really is huge. The Vatican must be loaded to be able to afford all this. And you said there are other places like this in different countries?"
"Yes, akuma and Noah are unfortunately an international occurrence," Lavi sighed. "But on the bright side, we get to travel around first class for free. One of the perks of being an exorcist."
"You're an exorcist? Does your arm transform too, like Allen's Innocence?"
"No, I have a hammer. An equipment type. You have a lot of questions for such a squirt."
"My intelligence has nothing to do with my height, thank you sir." She elbowed Lavi playfully.
"Maybe we should visit Lenalee. She's Komui's sister and might have some old clothes you could wear," Allen piped in.
Gabriel nodded and yawned. "Something to change into would be nice, but I'm tired."
"I guess setting you up with a room would be a good idea. It is late." As a matter of fact, it was half past one in the morning. "There's a spare room a ways away from mine if that's okay."
"As long as there's a bed, Allen. As long as there's a bed."
By the time the trio arrived at the spare room, Gabriel was already being carried by Lavi via piggyback. "She's a cutie, ain't she? Like a little kitten," Lavi whispered.
"Watch it, Lavi. She's way too young for you," Allen warned.
"Kittens grow up," Lavi chuckled, but Allen couldn't tell if he was serious, as he laid her on the bed. They both whispered a courteous good night and left her to dream.
So, Gabriel is quite spunky. I'm going to show more of her Latin heritage, just to help build her up as a character. Don't worry if you're craving a Fatherly!Cross. He'll be here eventually. If people are wondering if this is going to have and Main Character x OC in it, then beside's Cross then no.