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A/N: Thank you for the reviews! I hope you enjoy the next chapter.
Courtship for Dummies
Chapter Two
Allen had been hiding in the Ark in the Fourteenth's secret room for the better part of an hour, Timcampy resting on his head. Hearing loud growls from his stomach he was reminded that he hadn't eaten for a very long time. On a normal day, or as normal as most days spent in the Order, he would have made his way to the dining hall to eat Jerry's culinary delights without a second thought. But due to recent events he mentally debated the pros and cons of leaving the Ark.
Therefore it wasn't till another quarter of an hour had passed, while he listened to his stomach's growing despair before he finally decided that he would have to brave going out in search of food. It took him another 10 minutes after that before he had built up the courage to actually leave the Ark.
Creeping stealthily through corridors, he dodged people at every turn, not wanting to have to deal with anything that had happened; it wasn't his fault damn it! How was he supposed to know General Tiedoll was a loony?
Crouching at the corner of a busy hallway he decided to make a run for it, however reaching the next turning he bumped into someone so violently he was thrown to the floor.
Looking up his face froze, Lavi stood above him, and he seemed to be barely containing his mirth, tears threatening to fall from his eye. Unable to control himself any longer, Lavi burst into hysterical laughter.
Trying to limit the amount of attention that would be brought to them, Allen quickly moved from his position on the floor to drag Lavi away. Which Allen found to be quite hard, since the person he was dragging couldn't hold up his own weight, almost buckling several times, as a result of the force of his own laughter. Pulling him to the dining hall Allen hoped no one would talk to him if Lavi was already with him. He'd have to talk to Lavi about this at some point anyway.
Feeling the stares of the people in the dining hall as they walked in, Allen hurriedly made his order, thanked Jerry, and found a seat that was relatively isolated. Lavi was of no help at all as he leant against a chair catching his breath before he was pulled once more by Allen, to his chair. Not bothering to pay anymore attention to Lavi, Allen consumed his food with superhuman speed.
After about 5 minutes when Allen had successfully eaten everything in sight and Lavi had calmed down, Allen again felt the need to run away. Instead they looked at each other, in an uncomfortable silence.
"AAAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAAHA."
"LAVI!"
"Just..ahaha…give me a moment…ahahahahaa. Best day of my life. Ahaahahaha." Wiping the tears from his eye, Lavi composed himself once more, although a stupid grin was plastered across his face, much to Allen's consternation.
"So, you and Kanda eh? You dirty rascal or should I say mangy cur? Allen-kun all grown up and breaking hearts!"
"Lavi, shut up! I haven't done anything! And I think Kanda's an asshole!"
"I wouldn't say that too loud if I was you, General Tiedoll is still on a rampage. After you ran off, Kanda went and locked himself in his room; Tiedoll is convinced he was so upset that you didn't stay to declare your undying love that he is hiding. I think Marie has been ordered to beat you up if you show any indication of breaking Kanda's heart."
A loud thud resounded as Allen began to repeatedly bang his head against the table. Eventually running out of energy to do even that, he collapsed, head on the table, radiating defeat.
"Oh God, what do I do?" Taking pity on him, Lavi patted his head gently.
"Hey, it could be worse." Turning his face slightly to the side, Lavi could see Allen's expression of despair.
"How could it possibly get any worse?"
"Kanda could kill you?" A new voice chimed into the conversation.
"I think right now, Lenalee, that would make things a lot easier." Smiling pityingly at Allen she went to sit beside him.
"Don't worry Allen-kun, it'll all blow over soon. No one actually believes you are trying to seduce Kanda-kun."
"But General Tiedoll hates me!"
"General Cross is quite proud of you though."
"That just makes things worse!" Before either Lenalee or Lavi could reply, a blur suddenly pulled Lenalee back.
Allen experienced a sense of deja-vu as he was yet again on the receiving end of a protective guardian glaring at him. Pointing at Allen, Komui started his rant.
"Lenalee! My cute Lenalee! Don't go near him, I have it on good authority that this man is a beast! A BEAST I tell you! Luring young innocents with his deceptively naïve face! I too was deceived by him, but I will protect you Lenalee! If you lay one finger on my Lenalee I will permanently attach an octopus to your head!"
Used to such random outbursts from her brother, she regained her wits a lot quicker then Kanda and kicked his head.
"Brother, you idiot, Allen isn't like that, it's just all a big misunderstanding!"
Komui whimpered in pain at the assault, physical and verbal, but was still determined to shield Lenalee from the perceived threat and tried to usher her behind his back. Stopping Lenalee's lecture to her brother, Allen intervened.
"Lenalee, stop, you should go before this gets out of hand."
"Aha! See how he throws his interests aside when dealt hardships, he is not worthy! Get up! To my office now, we will discuss your behaviour where my Komurin IX can keep a close watch on you!"
Allen was hastily marched out of the dining hall, peering back in disbelief he caught Lenalee's look of apology while Lavi appeared to be trapped between laughing and cringing.
--Interlude of an Angry Father--
Froi Tiedoll was not happy; in fact happy was possibly the emotion furthest away from him right now. He was however incredibly angry and upset.
His youngest son, the most fragile was being molested in his own home! If he'd known the situation his son had been forced to endure at the Black Order's headquarters he would have insisted that Yu-chan came with him on his travels, or that Marie or Daisya were to be present whenever the Cross brat returned to headquarters.
But his child wanted to be so independent, trying to do everything on his own and he'd respected that, backed off to allow Yu-chan the chance to grow on his own, completely against his own wishes. Except he could no longer take a back seat in his child's life, not with such a threat on the horizon, and what was more important then his youngest son's virtue remaining intact from unscrupulous characters? No doubt Cross would have taught his apprentice well, especially with the number of years spent in his care travelling the world, Walker was practically his prodigy!
He was pacing up and down in his own quarters, Noise Marie and his new son Choaji Han watching him. Choaji looked confused but Marie would fill him in later, Marie understood his anger, they were family; Yu-chan was his baby boy and they were his older brothers, they needed to protect him.
If only Yu-chan would open his door and let him talk to him properly, he could convince him that the scoundrel wasn't worth it and to turn his attention to more worthwhile interests. However the longer Yu-chan stayed locked up in his room the more it confirmed his worst fears. Yu-chan had been completely taken in by the rascal; he was in love with Walker! And hurt that Walker would not treat him with more respect and court him properly. Even more hurt to find out that Walker was nothing more then a common womanizer; well his child deserved better then that! If Walker was what Yu-chan wanted then that's what he would get! His father would make sure of it!
With every new thought that entered his head, he became more irate and upon reaching a conclusion to his thoughts he suddenly stopped pacing. Turning to his sons he spoke to Marie.
"You have my permission to use whatever force you deem as necessary if you think Walker steps out of line. I'm going to see Komui."
He immediately rushed out of the room, heading in the direction of Komui's office; they had some business to discuss.
--Interlude of an Angry Father--
--TBC--