Ashes And Rain

DGM

Chapter 13

The Affectionate And The Not-So Affectionate

Allen was in the dining room wolfing down food like tomorrow, like his stomach was an endless black hole. Lavi-who had annoyingly stuck with Allen until dinner despite the argument they had in Komui's office-eyed him, frozen and disgusted. He had literally stopped chewing his food and the next bite had been on his fork and remains in the air. When Allen finished, Lavi dropped his fork on the tray and shoved his food forward. "I lost my appetite."

Several people around Allen did. Including Krory and Kanda who had also been stuck at the table. Lenalee was glad she got her food before all of them and ate it all because she would have wasted Jerry's delicious food. "Gee, Allen, where do you put all that? You had two mountains of food to eat." Lavi said illy.

"I don't normally eat this much." Allen shrugged it off, proudly holding up his pointer finder. "I normally eat one mountain of food, uh, when I was able to afford it."

Lenalee eyed Allen from waist up. He was so slender and small yet he ate so much. Was it because he was just one of those people where it didn't matter how much he ate or did his innocence use up this much energy? At least one thing was certain, the Black Order will be buying a whole lot more food more often. "Well, if any of our missions call for an eating contest we know who to turn to." Lavi joked.

"Not funny!" Allen responded, humiliated, but silently adding, "That would be nice though." Making Lavi laugh. Again.

"Passing that, what was your synchronization rate Allen?" Lenalee asked, gathering everyone's-yes, Kanda included-attention.

"Oh, it was 92%." Allen muttered, resting his hand in his palm. "I think it's because my Crown Clown had evolved a few weeks ago or it would have been smaller."

"It just evolved?" Krory repeated. "Why?"

Allen scratched his head. "A bunch of akuma decided to attack Master and I got rammed in the battle. Then I could handle most level two's, but stronger akuma came this time. Level three's. Definitely level three. At first it wasn't going too well and in the mist of the fight, it evolved, probably saving my life."

And theirs. If Allen didn't have his Crown Clown, he might not of been able to take on Tyki. "That reminds me, Allen, you told Komui about the Noah you fought, yes?" Bookman asked, coming out of nowhere.

"Yes."

Bookman looked pleased with the answer and walked off. He was going to need that information so he'll get it off the Supervisor. He'll have to record this.

Allen saw a well-known golden object flying towards him and grinned. His Master's golem. He loved that thing. Timcampy was a great friend when Cross was tormenting Allen. Speaking of Cross, he walked in with the Branch Heads and the last of the Generals. They had just gotten out of a meeting Komui mentioned earlier. Other than that, the cafeteria was now pretty empty since Allen sent them away with how he ate.

Randomly, out of the blue, without warning, Cross threw an empty bottle at Allen and it hit him directly in the face, making him fall out of his seat. "Cross, what are you doing?" Klaud questioned dully.

Tiedol and the Heads were already sitting down when that happened, but it was clear Sokolo and Klaud were not going to sit down. If they were, they might now sit with the Heads again. "Uh, Allen?" Lenalee started to say.

Allen grumbled, eyes slanting. He was getting tired of this. Standing, Allen removed the bottle from his face and threw it back at Cross angrily, stomping over to him. To his dismay, Cross caught it without trouble. "What was that for!" Allen yelled.

"Not again, come on Allen, let it go, just let it go." Lavi didn't want to see Allen angry for he was afraid of seeing how this will go if Cross went on fighting him for no reason.

"Well?" Allen held back and didn't strain his voice.

"I needed to talk to you." Cross stated.

"THAT"S NOT HOW YOU START A CONVERSATION!"

Cross did not care one bit. His only response was a shrug at best. He did lean down to meet Allen's eyes. "That's not how you speak to your mentor. I did partially raise you, too, Allen. Show more respect and gratitude brat." His words were cold, sending chills down Allen's back.

"I wouldn't show respect to you if I were your student either, Marian. Being his trainer you should be fatherly and if I may say-"

"You may not."

"You are not the least bit fatherly to poor Allen. As I recall, you start all your fights." Tiedol did finish like he didn't hear Cross.

The red head's scowl deepened and you just knew he was going to comment on that. Allen didn't want to hear it, but at the same time he did just so he could punch the loftiness out of him. "Why would I want to treat this THING as my son. If I ever had a child as ugly as him I would kill myself." Cross directed Allen as nothing more than an ugly object. It really ticked him off. "He's nothing more than someone to work off the debts and fetch my fine wine. He's weak, good for nothing, but stronger than any of those morons over there except the beautiful Lenalee."

In a twisted way Cross was calling Allen strong while putting him down, and the others. Allen couldn't stand it. He couldn't stand him. He ought to let it go, let it slid far, far, FAR away, but he couldn't. He just couldn't. "Says the man who never gets his hands dirty. If you're so great then do everything yourself! You're nothing more than a gambling alcoholic more egotistical and sadistic and indifferent insufferable fool who thinks he's a worthless noble that can't keep hold of a dime for more than three minutes, jackass!"

As soon as Allen said those words he wanted to take them back. There was no telling what Cross would do. Sure, Allen owed Cross his life and sure, he trained Allen and sure, he did partially raise him. . . To live on the dark side of the twisted world you'd only see in a bar. Maybe he did help Allen recognize the cruelty the people had and the way they took advantage of others, but he was worse than them. Scratch that, let the words sear in Master's brain.

The stench of alcohol left Cross' mouth and went up Allen's nose. He could drop a napkin, not a pin, and hear that clear as day. The quietness was scaring Allen. "That's big words. . . For a tiny boy."

That's it, Allen cracked. He lifted his fist to punch Cross in the face so he could mess up his pretty face and reck his life! It'll all come crumbling down in his opinion. He did attempt just that, but Cross grabbed Allen's fist, pushed it aside and shoved Allen back a few steps. "You'll never be able to harm me, brat. Stop attempting to." Cross said crossly.

"I am not short! I am average height! Average! Average! Average! You're all just so abnormally tall!" Allen said.

Cross rolled his eyes. "I need to speak with you so shut up and listen."

The seriousness in Cross' voice made Allen stop rubbing his foot in the ground and lose the redness of rage in his face. It was a good thing too because he was about to create a hole in the floor. "If you're about to ask me to pay more of your debts you can go jump off a cliff." But Allen was dead serious, too.

Cross snatched Allen's collar and dragged him over to another table, merely glancing at his friends to get a good look of Lenalee, and Allen's plates of food he had wolfed down. Cross couldn't bear to watch how Allen eats. It was revolting. "Sit down." Cross pointed at the seat, signaling that he better sit down or Allen would regret it.

Allen had no choice but to listen to his Master's unspoken orders. He never understood why he listened to him. . . . There may be a smidgin of respect towards him, towards his crude Master.

Folding his arms across his chest, huffing and cocking a brow, Allen stared at his Master and waited for him to speak. What made him uncomfortable was the fact Cross was actually sitting next to him. Not across, not two feet away, not behind him, next, like right beside him. Things were getting creepy here. "What is it?"

"You sure it's okay to leave him alone with the General?" Bak pondered.

"They'll have to get used to it. Cross isn't going to be wandering off anymore." Renny, the American branch head spoke.

"Not alone. Remember what he's speaking to Allen about." Komui said in a sing-song voice.

"Brother, what is he talking to Allen about?" Lenalee basically commanded Komui to tell him.

"Oh, sweet Lenalee, it's nothing to worry about, really." Komui waved his hand sheepishly, and at the same time, cluelessly. "It's something to be cautious of, that's all. . . You and a few others might have to tag along. . ."

Lenalee was afraid now. Tag along? Cautious? How is that nothing to worry about? "Brother, what's going on?"

"There's no yes or no or maybe. You and I are going on an assignment together in two days." Cross didn't look too pleased about it, but Allen saw something in his eyes that said something different, Allen just didn't know what it was.

He understood what Cross said clearly, but he was silent, very silent. It bothered Cross to see him like that and he turned around to look at his student. Cross just about smiled seeing the hard and determined eyes. Those were his eyes in a fight. That's what he held when he faced an enemy. That's what Allen looked like when he had to take it serious. That's one thing Cross can say he got from Cross. The seriousness of the battle was always etched in their face, engraved in their eyes, it didn't matter if you could see it or not. It was there.

"What are we doing?"

"Can you believe them?" Lavi grumbled, rubbing his head.

He could hear what Cross said, but he didn't think anyone else did. Lavi had a feeling the Branch Heads planned this. "Believe what, Lavi?" Daisya mumbled, doodling on the table with his finger.

"Cross and Allen. A minute ago they were going at it and about to kill each other. Now they're all serious and getting along. I can't figure it out, do they hate each other, or like each other?" Lavi paused, thoughtfully rubbing his chin. "They're frenemies!"

"Naturally." General Tiedol was somehow sitting at the table with the younger exorcists.

"How do old people do that?" Lavi wondered and Tiedol didn't seem to hear that or he didn't care.

"What are you talking about, General?" Marie seemed a bit interested. You could hear it, his wonder.

Tiedol sipped some water from a cup and Lavi couldn't help but wonder where he got it. These guys were really starting to creep him out. "I'll explain. It doesn't count about what they say to each other. Cross is just like that, it's who he is and who he's been for as long as I've known him. Allen had been dealing with him for a long time and it's understandable about how he feels. No less, Cross and Allen have definitely fought together and have gone through the same experiences. They know each other better than we probably ever will understand either one." Tiedol was playing with the fine glass in his hands as he spoke thinly.

"I don't think I understand it completely." Lenalee admitted.

"They say when you fight against someone you can understand their feelings and the person by how they move and through contact during a battle. Though it is not always true, sometimes that is just the case. But an even greater way to understand someone is through working together, but also, training that one person. Cross has done both with Allen." Tiedol clarified a little more clearly.

"Put it in simpler terms, I don't get it." A boy with brought blue hair and a crystal ball in his forehead said. He was slumping in a seat near the others with a frown. By the looks of it, he had arrived with the Generals and seen the whole thing.

Tiedol finally looked away from the glass, setting it down. He stared at the talking duo. They would sometimes get angry at the other then huff and puff, then let it go. It was an endless cycle. "As student and mentor, they respect each other and trust the other. A bond every teacher shares with their beloved pupil." He couldn't just say that from the beginning? Everyone thought, cursing at the man.

Kanda snorted. "Like hell they trust each other!"

"Now, Yuu, try not to use such words. If you had listened, my son, then you would have realized that it doesn't matter how they treat each other." Tiedol argued which earned him a death glare.

"Do not call me that and I am NOT your son!"

"You always will be in my heart, Yuu. I'll never let you be lonely ever again."

"I told you-"

"Give it a rest, Kanda. You know you can't win against him." Daisya intervened, seemingly making things worse.

Allen still couldn't get Cross to tell him about the mission. He still didn't understand why he was going on a mission so soon. To where? For what? And why with Cross? They just got the General back at the Order and now they're sending him off? What sense did that make? Cross could be killed!

. . . . Not that Allen could ever accept that. There's no way anyone could kill him!

"Allen. ." His name being spoken made Allen stiff and idly respond. Slowly. When he opened his mouth to speak Cross cut him off. "Don't worry about it. It may come on a surprise to you. . ." Cross stopped to think about that last statement. "More like you won't be convinced, even so, I wouldn't bring you on a mission with me if I didn't believe you could handle it."

Cross was right. Allen WAS NOT convinced. He didn't believe it. He couldn't trust it. There were so many, many, many, many-infinity-times where Cross through Allen is a crossfire that he couldn't handle on his own. Dozens of times Cross had to interject in the fight, making Allen feel bitterly pathetic at how he could destroy all the akuma without moving his feet. All he had to do was pull the trigger and bang, they were gone, salvaged. . . . Perchance, Allen could handle it, but just couldn't do it on his own. . . Well, to a further depth than he laid out. How was he supposed to know?

This thing was so mind boggling!

Allen could handle it, he just couldn't finish it. . . He handled it because he lived through all of those events. . . Because he learned from it. . . Because he did better the next round. . . Because- "Allen, you have two days to prepare." Cross warned yet again and left Allen to his thoughts.

Never did Allen confess he would go with his favorable elder. Notwithstanding, he didn't refuse it. Allen, you have two days to prepare. Surely he meant physically and mentally. THat means he had to heal up. Allen was kind of a fast healer, but not that fast. That just meant it gave Allen something to be cautious of already. . . Unless this was about his eye. Urghh! His sensei made such simple things complicated because you couldn't always predict the most expected things from him and they turn out to be the utmost unpredictable and irritating thing in the world!

No-Allen dunk his head-he let Cross get to him and thought too much on it. He'll have to work on that. "Allen?" Lenalee stood in front of Allen, fumbling with her fingers shyly as she called his name.

WIth his eye-catching smile, he greeted her. "Yes, Lenalee?"

It took a minute for Lenalee to collect herself and gain her confidence, that which she regularly had. Bowing down, hands grasping her skirt, her face a little red and timid-why did he have that effect she wondered-Lenalee replied. "Thank you!"

No one was no more shocked than Allen-maybe Komui-when she did that. "Le-Lena-l-lee, why are you thanking me?" Allen unconsciously stood up and faced her, standing directly in front of her.

Lenalee lifted her head as she slowly stood back up. "For saving my life as well as Lavi's, Krory's, Miranda's, Daisya's, Marie's, and Kanda's. And not just that. . . You protected their innocence fragments with your life." Lenalee couldn't meet his eye while saying this. She was far too bashful. "I was thinking. . . That I could get stronger, no, you've made me realize just how weak I am currently. I need to get stronger and I will, I am determined to make this so, all because of you. Watching you fight, even as the odds seemed to stack against you, I believe you gave me faith and hope to see that when someone gets hurt it doesn't mean it's over. . It means it gives you an all more reason to continue on. . . Because of you, Allen, I am. . . I am ready to fight and not be afraid to cry tears, good or bad, as long as I know I do my best and become-"

Allen put his hand on her shoulder, silencing her. He got her point, but. . . He felt she was taking too many steps at a time. She knows she will cry, but even as she does her best, could she not say "If only I were stronger, why weren't I stronger, why couldn't I protect them?". Lenalee was confident, she was strong. He could sense her strength. Lenalee gave so many people strength. "Lenalee, thank you, but that's enough. Just take one step at a time and get stronger, because I know if anything at all, you want to protect your brother, and your home." Allen said with warmth.

Lenalee sheepishly smiled. One step at a time. She'll do just that. With the help of her friends. "I just want you to know that my home includes you from this day forth, Allen, you're family. You'll always be welcomed here with open arms."

Lenalee didn't know just how happy that made Allen. All her words. He was glad to have inspired her.

Okay, I'll make this part simple and short, thanks for reading, and please review. All comments are welcomed. I need all the help I can get. Furthermore, I've known this and it does kinda bother me, and it seems some people see it, too. That's why I want to get a majority vote.

My chapters seem to be too long at times they don't need to be. In my own opinion-I can get so worried when it comes to my stories. So I want to know who all and how many people think I should shorten the chapters a little, here or there, or not at all. I'm trying to fix it to where I don't add too much per chapter in unnecessary parts that I sometimes do.

. . . . I think that's it. Oh, what do you think of Cross? Kanda? I feel like I'm like I sometimes struggling on Kanda's part because he is a jerk most of the time. I want to know if I'm under doing it or overdoing it. I feel safe with Cross, but just in case. . . If you see anything else let me know!

Please review! Feel free to PM me anytime.