Chapter 7: Normalization

While sitting alone in her room, Lenalee discovered that she had developed a new habit in the past week. She found herself perched at the edge of her seat staring at a dried rose that she just couldn't bear to throw away. Although she had gotten flowers before, normally of the "get well" sentiment, she had never felt the urge to keep them. She wondered what the inability to throw away Allen's gift signified about the depth of her feelings. She noted that even though she was unsure about how much she really liked Allen, it did not negate the fact that she felt compelled to keep the dried flower and that she had taken special care to preserve it. The vibrant, red petals of the rose had dulled to a rusty brown, and the flower, as a whole, had become fragile, but fondness spread throughout her when she looked at it.

Her thoughts returned to that day on the town, what she considered their first date. However, the "date," Lenalee recalled wryly, ended not as perfectly as it had begun.

Her and Allen's day on the town had started pleasantly and continued normally enough. However, after an afternoon spent walking around and chatting, both Lenalee and Allen had found themselves eager to give their feet a break. They had settled down on a bench, but the peace had not lasted long. A scream from the center of the town had caused Allen to jump into action quickly, as he had been convinced of an Akuma's presence. Although she had tried to talk sense into him (since his eye had not indicated the presence of Akuma), he had not been able to be placated and had dragged her along with him. In the end, she had been right. It had not been an Akuma, just a mother with a child who had fainted. And he had apologized to her afterwards for overreacting ...

Lenalee frowned ever so slightly. It wasn't as if she faulted him for being on edge and cautious. Due to their profession, they had been conditioned to react quickly. However, his sudden movements had almost caused her to drop her rose, something she had refused to let happen. She had clutched at the stem, gripping it so tightly in her hands that she still remembered the pressure of the thorn stumps digging into her palm. Lenalee shook her head to rid herself of her negative thoughts. Overall, the events of that day left nothing but wonderful memories, and she wanted to focus on those. Besides, Lenalee was well aware that Allen tended to be a bit of a work-a-holic (even if work wasn't as readily available anymore). She had long accepted that aspect of his personality and knew that he wouldn't be the person he was without that trait.

However, there was something else to consider - her brother. That impromptu date that she and Allen had gone on over a week ago caused Komui to become more protective and clingy than ever, and Lenalee wondered if it was time to speak to him again. Dealing with him after she had returned home that night had not been pleasant, and perhaps she had underestimated his ability to cope with this situation. Komui's overreactions were doubly tough on Allen, who now avoided the other man like the plague. Looking at the single, dried flower sitting in its glass vase, Lenalee sighed heavily. She owed it to all of them to get things settled, and so she went to find her brother.

Moments after arriving at the Science Department, Lenalee realized that she should have prepared herself better for her brother's overprotective nature. Upon entering, her brother threw himself on her like a linebacker, catching her off guard.

"Nii-san!" she exclaimed, desperately trying to balance the unaccustomed weight. "What's the matter?"

"Lenalee," he said, looking at her with mournful eyes. "What have I done to make you forsake me?"

"You're over-reacting," she told him in attempts to keep the mood light. It didn't work. She watched as her brother's already sad face crumpled into abject despair. After just one sniffle, the tears began to pour down his face.

"Lenalee," he whined, burying his face into her shoulder. "I'm not. You were out with that General brat. You'd rather be out with him."

"Oh, nii-san," she said, trying to comfort her brother by patting him reassuringly on the back. "It's different. You can't compare my feelings for Allen with the love I have for you. I do love you very much. And you are over-reacting."

He whimpered, tightened his grip on her, and refused to let go.

Lenalee didn't know how long she was held captive in her brother's restricting embrace before she grew impatient. Finally, she had to do something. "Nii-san, please let go of me," Lenalee said as gently as she could, considering the fact that she was getting more than a little exasperated.

"No way!" Komui cried his arms around her waist. "The moment I let you go, you'll go sneaking around again."

"I won't. And how many times do I have to tell you, we weren't sneaking around. You were asleep." She walked around trying to disengage Komui from her, although all she succeeded in accomplishing was dragging her brother around the floor.

"Convenient excuse," Komui pouted. "What if something had happened to you?"

"I can take care of myself," Lenalee told her brother. And then she took pity on him. Kneeling down, she faced her brother. "Nii-san, you know I love you, but it has been almost a month since I've told you about Allen. I was hoping that you'd get used to it soon."

"But, but … you're my precious little sister. I have to be here to keep you safe."

"Oh, nii-san, I know," Lenalee said, softening. She put her arms around her brother. "You're important to me, you must know that. But … this thing with Allen, it's something else I need. But that doesn't mean I need you any less. I need you differently. Can you understand that?" Maybe he couldn't. With a heavy sigh, she continued before he could speak, "Maybe I'm being unfair to you." Her lips tugged downward. "I'm sorry." She rested her head on his shoulder and repeated, "I'm sorry."

A moment's silence passed before Komui spoke. "Lenalee. You know I'd do anything to protect, to keep you safe." He released her from his arms, so that they were kneeling on the floor next to one another. "If you do this, I'm not sure I can keep 'here' safe." He gestured at his heart.

"Oh nii-san, you know what kind of person Allen is, and you know what kind of person I am. I … just …"

"Need to grow up," he finished for her, patting her on the head. "Sometimes I need to remember that. When they took you from me, you were so fragile."

"I learned how to not be fragile. You taught me how when you came here," she reminded him. "And you did a fine job rearing me, nii-san. Now, please, will you take it easier on Allen?" She looked expectantly at her brother, and saw something waver in his eyes. At that moment, she knew she would be able to find some sort of a middle ground with him…

An hour later, Lenalee left her brother's office with vows of kinship renewed. He had seemed to (grudgingly) accept her and Allen's relationship after their honest discussion. During their conversation, Komui had revealed that Reever had tried previously tried to talk to him about her and Allen as well. At this point, Lenalee was relieved that things for the foreseeable future were going to settle down. Shutting the door quietly behind her, she was surprised to find a dark figure lurking nearby, as if waiting for her.

"Lavi!" she gasped, recognizing the silhouette of crutches in the dimmed light of the hallway. "What are you doing there? It's like you're waiting for me to come out to spook me or something."

"That was rather diplomatic of you," Lavi said, his eye twinkling mischievously.

"Do you make it a habit to eavesdrop?" She was unsettled that he had caught off guard and didn't like how obvious it was that she was distracted.

"You were very eloquent in expressing how you feel about Allen," he commented, continuing not to answer her questions, an amused smile on his face.

Lenalee responded to Lavi's evasions by crossing her arms over her chest and giving him a sour look.

"Aww, you don't want to play anymore," Lavi said, sticking his tongue out at her. He waved a fistful of papers in her direction. "Gramps wanted me to deliver these to Komui. Yes, I'm the one with a broken leg, but he's still having me run the errands. The irony isn't lost on me."

Biting her lower lip, Lenalee tried to thing of a way to put a positive spin on things. She finally suggested, "Maybe he just wants you to practice walking with your crutches. You've got another month or so with that cast on, and then who knows how much physical therapy you'll need to regain full use of your leg. You'll be using crutches for a while, and I can tell you're steadier with them now then you first were."

Lavi shot her a skeptical look. "He's not that nice. But I do appreciate you applying your good nature to him."

"Any time," she told him a little smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Anyway, I have to be heading off. Sorry for making you wait to speak to nii-san."

"Give Allen my best regards," Lavi said, a knowing smile on his face.

Lenalee felt her face grow warm and opened her mouth to protest (even though Lavi had hit the nail right on the head).

He laughed, most likely a response to the embarrassed expression on her face. "Go on. Don't keep him waiting." With a final wink, he turned away from her and made his way to the door to Komui's office.

After waiting until her brother's office door was shut firmly behind Lavi, Lenalee heeded the red-headed boy's advice and dashed to Allen's room. She hadn't remembered a time she had felt so free with their relationship, and she wanted to share the good news with Allen as soon as possible. So, she rushed to his room, feeling especially light on her feet.

Knocking excitedly on the door, she waited for his response. She was somewhat deflated when his answer was a lackluster, "Yeah."

"Allen, it's me," she said. "And I have good news. Can I come in?"

"Uhh, sure, Lenalee..."

She pushed open the door to catch Allen in the act of sitting up in his bed. Timcanpy fluttered up, disturbed by Allen's sudden movement. Shutting the door behind her, she rushed over to him and propelled herself into his arms. A surprised noise escaped his throat, as he accommodated her weight in his arms without falling back on his bed.

"Woah," he said with a little laugh.

"I talked to my brother," she told him, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She felt him stiffen at her words. "No, it's a good thing," she reassured him. "I think I really got through to him."

"So I don't have to be scared about leaving my room anymore?" he asked cautiously. He had a skeptical look on his face. "What kind of magic trick did you use?"

"None," she said, blinking in surprise. "Nii-san was reasonable. I know that he can be overprotective at times, but even he understands that I'm an adult now." Kneeling in front of him, Lenalee put a hand on either side of his face and forced him to look at her. "Allen," she said softly. "Everything will be okay. Nii-san understands that I need this… that I need you."

She had the satisfaction of seeing his eyes widen as he processed the sincerity of her words.

"Lenalee," he said, a rueful smile on his face. "I'm sorry." He put his arms around her and pulled her close.

With their bodies pressed closely together and the fact that she could feel his breath on her cheek, she couldn't resist closing her eyes and bridging the gap between their faces until she felt his lips, soft and yielding, against hers.

TBC

This isn't my favorite chapter by far, but I think it's necessary for future cohesiveness of this fic. I digress… =)

I know I don't say this enough – but a big thanks to all my readers. (It makes me happy to think that anybody's reading this fic, and I really appreciate all of your thoughts as well.)