Title: Stop Running Away
Author: fotoshop-cutout // Shiro
Fandom: D. Gray-Man
Characters/Pairings: Lavi/Allen, Kanda
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,060
Disclaimer: All characters depicted in sexual situations in this post/fanfiction/fanart (including material in the comments) are fictional and are intended to be and considered to be by the author of said material of the legal age of consent in the United States state of California, regardless of what age these characters may be in the material they are derived from.
Summary: Rabi gets a bit emotional.
Notes/Warnings: un-betaed; the thirteenth in a series of 104 themes. "Running way" is today's theme. Rabi is slightly OOC here. Thank you to Sleeping Moon, IcyFireGypsy, xJenL, Aion Laven Walker, and stoneygeek for the awesome reviews!
The first time it happened, Allen ran away. Their lips met for only a millisecond, but Allen pulled back, face going pink before he spun around and bolted from the room. They had been alone in the library, so it wasn't as if anybody else witnessed the exchange; still, Rabi didn't understand what he had done wrong.
The second time it happened, Allen ran away again. This time Rabi was pushed away. Then again, they had been sitting on the hospital bed with a sleeping Kanda across from them. Allen had actually instigated it: Rabi was only confused more by this. They had been making out heavily before Allen very suddenly (and very violently) pushed Rabi off the bed and took off. Rabi had sat up, rubbing his aches and pains as the door swished closed behind the retreating form.
This second time made Rabi think. What was it that Allen was running away from? Was he doing something wrong? Certainly Allen had no qualms about being affectionate: he continually screamed out his love for everything in the midst of battle, let alone the way he helped everyone out—even if they didn't ask for it. In the end, Rabi concluded that perhaps it was the fact that they were both males, and although homosexuality wasn't rare, it often wasn't presented to the public eye.
The third time it happened, Rabi caught Allen's sleeve. They were alone in Allen's room; Rabi had wanted to have some company while he worked on his 'homework' given to him by Bookman. Allen had readily complied. But with Allen shirtless and working out, Rabi couldn't concentrate. Soon he stood up and crossed the room. Allen looked up, only to have soft lips pressed to his. After the chaste kiss, Allen stood and immediately put his shirt on, readying himself to leave. Rabi regarded him with a frown then caught his sleeve. Allen looked his way and Rabi shook his head. "This is your room, I'll leave."
After that, Allen stood stalk-still as Rabi gathered his things and left without another word. Rabi sat in his room, trying to forget about the incident and actually completing his 'homework'. As he worked, he heard the click of his door opening, then closing. The pattern of the footfall indicated the intruder was Allen. Rabi poked his tongue out of the corner of his mouth, using all of his brainpower to puzzle out the logic problem on the paper in front of him. Allen would talk when he was ready; or he would just leave. Either way, Rabi would let him do as he chose.
"Rabi—I…" Allen started quickly, but trailed off. Rabi paused in his writing, but after a moment of silence, resumed his scratching. Allen took a deep breath, turned to put his hand on the doorknob but dropped his hand to his side after only a second. "I can't…"
This time Rabi put his pencil down and swiveled in his chair, facing the other boy. His attentiveness went unnoticed as silver eyes remained locked on the carpet. Rabi's chin rested in his cupped hand, his elbow dug sharply into his leg just above the knee. He waited patiently. Allen looked up, a renewed sense about him.
"Rabi, I can't do this with you."
With that, he tugged open the door. Allen thought it was done. And maybe he would stay true to his words, but Rabi still had to try.
"So you're running away again." His voice was calm. It trembled slightly on the last word, tears springing to his eye even though he fought hard to keep all his emotion bottled up. Allen's feet shuffled beneath him, turning his body ninety degrees. He faced Rabi, silver eyes taking in his friend's form. Rabi was crumpled slightly since the last time his eyes had landed on him. It was amazing the transformation a person could go under physically just by letting his emotions rule over him.
Rabi couldn't keep them tightly held down right now: he felt pitiful, sure, but perhaps this would make an impression on the boy in front of him? No, Rabi wouldn't use his weaknesses to sap the strength from someone else. He wouldn't force Allen to do something he didn't want to. His hand reached up, roughly swiping the tears from his fair skin. He took a deep breath and stood. He straightened his clothes. Finally his eye met with Allen's.
"I'm sorry. Don't listen to me. Just go, if that's what you've decided." He would break after the boy had gone. He wouldn't let him see how weak he was. Allen stood there in front of him for the longest time. Rabi wished he would just go. His green eye broke from the hold of Allen's two silver ones and flickered to his work on the desk. He stared at it, silently wishing the boy would just close the door and walk away. Allen continued to watch, leaning back slightly against the wooden door, both hands behind him on the knob.
Footsteps sounded, Rabi held his breath, waiting for the door to swing shut and leave him out of yet another person's life. The click rang out, his eye dropped to his feet and tears welled up. He didn't hold it back as Allen ran away for the last time.
Arms encircled his shoulders. His eye widened, but he allowed the arms to pull his body close. Rabi opened his mouth, wanting to ask 'why?', but only a sob came out. Suddenly he was collapsing against the younger boy, face buried in his shoulder and knees giving out. Sobs wracked his body over and over again, arms reaching up to grasp the boy's shirt. Allen comforted him; petted his hair and whispered soothing words into his ear, relief flooded through Rabi.
After what seemed to be an eternity, Rabi calmed down enough to pull his face away from the now soaked shirt. His eye rose, lower lip still trembling, to Allen's face. Two hands rose up, cupping either side of his face.
"I'm sorry, Rabi. I didn't mean it—I'll stop running away now." The voice was soft. Rabi believed him. Rabi nodded once, his eye falling closed and one last tear slipping down his cheek. A finger flicked the droplet away and soft lips landed on his.
Tomorrow's Theme: "Judgment"