Title: Silly Excuses

Characters/Pairings: Lavi/Allen, Lenalee, Link

Rating: PG

Word Count: 1,364

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: Allen avoids Lavi.

Notes/Warnings: un-betaed; the sixteenth in a series of 104 themes. "Excuses" is today's theme. Thank you Aion Laven Walker, IcyFireGypsy, NellaxIval, and stoneygeek for the wonderful reviews! Also, sorry it took so long for this one. I recently had all four of my wisdom teeth extracted, so I've been in a LOT of pain. However, I think I'm back at it again!

Allen rested beneath the arms of an oak tree, tilting his head back and looking up at the clouds floating past. He was avoiding returning to headquarters, and he knew why. Really, he was enjoying the time he was spending with Link and Lenalee. Lenalee seemed carefree and back to her usual self; Link was bothersome, but helpful and insightful. As much as it pained him to admit, he had become relatively close to the inspector, though he couldn't say that it was reciprocated at all. But none of that was really relevant. Allen wanted to stay away from the constant shuffling around and as such, the inevitability of being partnered up with Lavi.

Ever since the incident in the Ark, Lavi hadn't been the same. At first he seemed closer, but as they returned to the headquarters Lavi seemed to grow more and more distant. It was as if Bookman was getting to him again. It happened every so often: the apprentice would draw away from his friends because his mentor felt he needed to keep his heart out of the fray. Allen pondered over this; he still couldn't make up his mind as to whether he thought this was a good idea. Lenalee plopped down next to him in the soft grass, Link trailing after her to lean against the tree's trunk on the other side of him.

"When we get back do you think we'll have a break?" Lenalee seemed hopeful, but it was half-assed. Allen knew that she knew there was no "breaks" for them. They were the unranked Exorcists: worked to death, and not given anything in return. Link watched over them as Allen responded, eyes turning back up to the fluffy clouds.

"Probably not, but we can hope." A breeze picked up, tossing his white hair into and out of his silver eyes. He blinked. Link extended his hand, holding something out to him. Allen saw the hair tie and took hold of it. He smiled, "Thank you, Link."

The inspector cleared his throat and straightened his shirt out. Allen shirked off his white gloves and set about tying his hair back. It had grown since he was last at headquarters. Now the ponytail wasn't just a puff-ball of white hair, it was reaching almost to his shoulder blades. Lenalee watched him.

"Your hair is almost as long as Kanda's now." She seemed to be admiring it, "Do you think you'll keep it this length?"

Allen pulled his gloves back on and folded his hands in his lap. He stayed quiet, contemplating for a moment. "Do you think it looks good like this?"

Lenalee smiled—she was always happy when someone seemed to value her opinion. She straightened out her skirt self-consciously and answered primly. "Of course I do, Allen."

In seconds the conversation pulled a one-eighty. "I think Lavi will like it too." Allen paused in his movement. His mind slowed to a crawl. Link watched Lenalee with curiosity. Allen finally managed to turn his head and spit out a word.

"What?"

Immediately it was evident that Lenalee had let something be known that shouldn't have ever slipped out. A dainty hand flew to her mouth, her cheeks tinted pink. In the end she lowered her hand and cleared her throat. "Ummm, nothing. Nevermind."

The awkward moment didn't pass until Lenalee stood and offered Allen a hand up. Link began walking towards the train station. The walk to the train was silent except the shuffling of boots on the road. When they boarded and sat around for quite some time without saying anything, Link had to intervene.

"I hate to ask, but why would the Bookman's apprentice care about Allen's hair? Is something so trivial going down in the records?"

Lenalee sighed and tilted her head down—eyes on her hands in her lap. Her cheeks were rosy. "Well, no, that's not it exactly."

Timcanpy poked himself around Allen's hair as Allen waited patiently for a complete answer to Link's (and his) question. Lenalee seemed at a loss for words, which was unusual for someone as eloquent as she. After fumbling, she managed to tumble out a sentence.

"He told me not to tell anyone, but he really likes Allen."

The rest of the return to Headquarters was quiet.

-----

Allen was avoiding the red head, eye patch wearing apprentice bookman. And so, Allen was stuck in his room. At first, he tried to just not be caught in the same place as the other, but it slowly became apparent that Lavi went everywhere besides personal quarters. After a series of excuses (some of which didn't make sense) to get out of being in the same room as Lavi, Allen retired to his room.

After three days, Link became flustered.

"Look, you can't expect me to be running around getting food back and forth from the cafeteria to you all the time. I do have work to do—besides, you've been cooped up in here for days!"

Link was red in the face, hands curled into fists. Allen turned his face away from the window.

"I suppose you're right. I apologize."

However, he still didn't move. Link shook his head and went back to work on the papers piled on the desk. After a few minutes he muttered at Allen.

"You can't avoid him forever, you know."

Whether Allen was surprised or not, Link didn't see. He was buried in his paperwork. But it seemed to work, as after another hour of silence, Allen left the room.

-----

Allen's first time outside his room in three days and he just had to run into the one person he was trying to avoid.

"Oof—hey! Watch i—oh! Allen!" Allen literally ran into him. The thing was that Allen had been thinking of what place would be best if he were to stay away from Lavi, unfortunately this situation came at the wrong time and place for Allen. He went to open his mouth, but nothing came out. He searched for an excuse: anything to get him as far away from the red head as possible.

"Are you okay?" Lavi tipped his head to the side, his expression of concern making him seem utterly adorable. Allen did not just think that. He gaped for a moment, then turned on his heel and ran for it. For his part, Lavi just shoved his hands in his pockets and was lost in confusion for the rest of the day.

After supper, Allen worked up enough courage to face Lavi. He caught up to him on his way back to the library.

"Hey, um, Lavi?" Allen was slightly distressed, "Look, I'm sorry about earlier…" He searched for anything: "I just realized that I'd run out of shampoo and needed more."

What kind of excuse was that? Allen blushed; Lavi stared at him for a moment and then smiled.

"If it's the shampoo you're using to grow out your hair, I don't mind that you were in such a panic over it."

Allen just nodded, looking around for an escape route. Suddenly, Lavi's hand rested on his shoulder. Allen jumped and tried to dodge it. Lavi held his shoulder firmly, his other hand shoved deep into his pocket. His one green eye was staring at the floor.

"Allen… Lenalee told me that you know."

Allen was about to make another excuse and book it (no pun intended) when Lavi looked up and locked eyes with him.

"I find you interesting—you're a nice guy. Who wouldn't be attracted to you?"

Allen's mouth opened, but Lavi plowed on.

"I understand if you don't feel the same, but please stop making excuses not to see me. It hurts my feelings."

For a moment they were quiet, just looking at one another. Allen had gone still, no longer looking to escape the situation. They watched one another for another minute. Lavi's hand went from Allen's shoulder to be shoved into his pocket, like its twin. Another minute passed. Lavi turned away and headed toward the library once more. Allen watched him. He turned on his heel and returned to his room to ponder over what just happened.

Tomorrow's Theme: "Vengeance"