Title: Unpredictable
Characters/Pairings: Lavi/Allen, Bookman, Kanda, Lenalee, Komui, various scientists, Jerry, Link
Rating: PG-15 (one swear)
Word Count: 1,587
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.
Notes/Warnings: un-betaed; the twenty-fourth in a series of 104 themes. "Rebirth" is today's theme. Thank you, everyone, for sticking with me on this one. Life kind of kicked my butt, so I'm very sorry!
The rebirth of the Fourteenth took time. Time that not many though it would take. They figured they would all go sleep knowing Allen was safely tucked in bed and then they would wake up and find the Fourteenth in his place. A few well placed grins of destruction and everyone thought it would be the very next day that they would lose Allen.
Lavi kept his distance. As he had been taught, he counted on his companion to turn into this exciting new creature—sure, perhaps they would fight to the death, but at least it would be something more than the now-predictable Allen. That was his bookman side talking, though. For safety's sake, his mentor had put fail-safes in motion: he said 'in order to protect my successor'. Lavi called his bluff. He was only trying to save himself. Lavi guessed that if he felt like staying behind to watch all the destruction, Bookman would allow him to and just go off to save his ass. That was okay with Lavi.
Allen felt himself slipping away, little by little. He didn't want others to think what they were thinking: that suddenly he'd look up and be the Fourteenth. In fact, he felt them blending—almost. It seemed as if tiny bit by tiny bit, Allen was considering himself the Fourteenth: that he was leeching values, morals, and knowledge from what was supposed to be his worst enemy. What if they did blend? What would stop it? He started to think it wasn't a bad option. It would allow the Fourteenth to be reborn, but it also allowed Allen to stay and fight this war.
Kanda noticed it first: observant and suspicious of Allen. Like he thought that Allen would turn into the Noah sooner rather than later, and then go on a rampage and kill everyone Allen held dear. No, no; Allen was quite in control. It was almost as if the Fourteenth was weak—or maybe he just wasn't trying to take over yet. This led to Allen standing in front of the mirror every morning, staring at the blackened shadow over his own image. Link didn't know what he was doing, Allen kept it that way.
Soon Allen discovered that he was, indeed, stronger than the Noah. Good for him. He gave the Fourteenth room, and that side of him became prevalent. They melded. Kanda called him on it one time while in a train compartment with Lenalee. He denied it bitterly, but Lenalee never looked at him the same way again.
Because of that, suspicion rose. He was soon named a 'liability'. Komui never gave him missions alone. Kanda was with him, and Lenalee drifted away. Allen was saddened, and the Fourteenth reached out to him. They comforted one another when things got rough. One time it was the Bookman and Lavi instead of Kanda. They got along well. The Fourteenth reminded him that they were lying to him. Allen nearly wailed in the silence of his room when they returned. It hurt that one he considered his best friend was a total lie.
His obligation to the Fourteenth grew, his companions dismissed as one after another turned their back on him. He was ostracized, but he continued lending a hand. Komui spoke to him as if he were a spy: no information that might give him the advantage over them. Not that he would ever want to hurt the Black Order. It hurt so much.
Finally he found it was time to leave. Not for the Earl—he would never leave for him—but to be alone. He wouldn't wear the Black Order uniform, but he would still follow their teachings. He entered Komui's office without a word and laid out his jacket. Everyone watched as he entered the cafeteria one last time and ordered his usual. At least Jerry hadn't turned on him. He still smiled and asked how Allen had been: were the missions still going well? He responded in kind; his politeness never wavering.
He ate in silence and loneliness. Everyone kept their distance. As Allen finished, he looked around the large room, noting how everyone was hiding their glances at him. Either they were suspicious, scared or hostile: they couldn't hide their emotions from him. He was drained, tired of having to deal with this treatment day in and day out. He brought his trays up, dumping his rubbish out, and started towards the door. All eyes were on him. He left without a word.
With all of his loose ends tied up, he went up to his room and retrieved his things. Timcanpy had remained faithful to him through the melding of the Fourteenth and himself, so the golem hovered by his shoulder even as he left. The Gatekeeper trembled and cringed away from him. He bowed to him and wished him well—quietly—and continued on his way. Of course he anticipated being stopped or sought after by the Black Order, but he did not think it would be right away. Even still, he opened up a gateway and stepped into it. He didn't look back.
He closed the gateway and continued walking up the street. Along the way he met scientists. Each one he greeted; and when they turned away, he sent them through gates to various places within the Order's Headquarters. It was plain, simple, effective and he wasn't hurting them any. When he got to the Bookman and Lavi he bowed. The Bookman eyed him, Lavi stayed quiet.
"Sirs, I will escort you out. I do not wish for anyone to believe I'm kidnapping you." That was the Fourteenth speaking. Allen continued, "I want to leave, and the Ark is the only thing that will keep me away from the Millennium Earl. So please, if you could go back to the Headquarters." He was trying to be polite.
The Bookman looked strained. As if he wanted to refuse—but he stopped himself. Apparently it was not the time or the place. The older man nodded. Allen opened a gate with a small gesture. The Bookman gave him one last level look and turned away.
"Come on, Lavi."
But the redhead remained stuck. His arms crossed, he looked between the gate and his mentor. Allen watched, uncertain of what was happening.
"Lavi."
An order, now: something Lavi could not disobey. Could he? The Bookman looked over his shoulder. The redhead stared back.
"No. I think I'll stay."
A long, long silence passed uneventfully. The Bookman and his apprentice stared each other down. When it seemed as if even the clenching of jaw muscles would do nothing for Lavi, the older man relented. With a brisk nod he turned away and stepped through the gate. Allen kept it open.
"Lavi, I do not wish you to stay. I have told Komui of my plans and he did not outright object. Please leave." Concern laced his features as he spoke. Clearly he wasn't ready for this situation. The Fourteenth comforted him by stepping forward. His face changed drastically: going to emotionless in milliseconds.
"The boy aches that you have lied to him in the past. He does not want to cause you the same pain."
Lavi still stood with his arms crossed. He didn't respond. After a moment, the Fourteenth closed the gate without even a gesture.
"Fine then, stay. But do not get in the way." The Fourteenth stepped back then and Allen came forward. He looked at the redhead in confusion, but strode away instead of asking. He dealt with the other scientists easily: doing as he had done to the others. Finally, he opened a portal to the piano room and stepped inside. Once Lavi was inside, he closed the door and moved towards the piano. Timcanpy hovered over to the piano and plopped down.
Hours later, the silence filled only by the playing of the piano, Allen stood. He walked over to the couch where Lavi sat. For a moment, he paused. He went on and out the door. Lavi got up and followed after him. They didn't talk for days. When they finally got around to it, it was orders. They would tell each other to watch out when in battle with Akuma. It didn't take long for that to morph into civilized meal conversation.
No trouble had come from either the Order or the Earl as of yet, and the Fourteenth had convinced Allen that wearing the crosses over his forehead was to show what he symbolized. He carried both the mark of the Noah and the Innocence in his arm—what might seem like a lethal combination. It worked out well enough for them until they came across someone who needed help. The girl had been frightened by the crosses etched into his skin. It took Allen a week to come out of hiding. Lavi had generously left food for him all the while. When he emerged, he spoke tersely to the redhead, telling them that they were going to Spain. He needed something capable of hiding the crosses. He bought a top hat.
It took some time after that to drift back to conversing freely, but they got around to it. Lavi was still suspicious, but he no longer doubted that Allen and the Fourteenth had a sort of agreement. After all, the rebirth of the Fourteenth had not been what was expected: so why should the unusual—unpredictable—relationship between Allen and he be any different?
Tomorrow's Theme: "Breaking Away"