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Chapter 3 - Absolution

He blinked his eyes lazily as he regained consciousness finally. His mouth felt dry and his vision was swimming from a strong hit of nausea. His whole body was on fire, the wound from Mugen was pulsing painfully. His injury might have been dressed to avoid his death, however he was deprived of any painkillers as a form of punishment and torture.

The second kind of torture was way crueller. He had to bite back a moan sensing the fragrance of a warm meal. Normally he would be ecstatic to gobble down the delicious treat, but he knew better. He'd bet his other, intact kidney that Central tampered with his food. Seriously, leaving it out in the open like that without anything in return? Too easy. Either it was some poison that would make him experience great pain or it was some sort of truth serum.

Although, to be honest, right now he couldn't force a single bite down on his throat, he would surely throw it back up. (It would be hilarious to see Leverrier's reaction as he throw up on him, but he really didn't want to make matters worse than they already were.) Not to mention his torn insides would be unable to process any kind of intake. He's going to be on IV for a looong while.

His fever clouded eyes swept over the dull cell to distract himself from the evil temptation. His eyes landed on a Crow, who kept watching him intently. He didn't see his captor's eyes, but he could feel the cold satisfaction ooze from him/her.

"He's awake." Ah, it was a male.

Allen heard the shifting of clothes outside his cell, revealing that he had guards outside the prison too and that they were leaving to fetch the Inspector to interrogate him.

The white-haired teen got himself back on his feet and slowly approached the table, his back hunched from the abdominal pain. With sluggish moves he poured himself some water. Even if he didn't eat he had to keep himself hydratated. He took a cautious sip, to test if they mixed something in it. Tasting nothing, but the familiar freshness of water, he carefully gulped down the glass, not wanting to upset his stomach. When he was done he let out a small sigh of relief, then steeled himself again.

Last time he was completely silent much to the Secretary's fury. He tried his best to appear imposing and display his absolute authority in front of Allen, but he didn't bulge. The man quickly lost his tempered and started yelling, again, with no result, Allen remained mute. In the end he even slapped him across the cheek, demanding to know where he hid the two Second Exorcist, but he stayed impassive. After being hit through walls by Noah or Akuma, regular human's punches felt like small kittens' bats, let alone some paper-pusher's.

However, he didn't know what would happen this time. They might pull the honeyed string to manipulate him into giving answers. They might beat him half-dead (but wait, he was already half-dead, would that mean they'd beat him three fourth dead?). They might even poison him with a serum that would induce such pain that would make him beg for his death.

Who knows, maybe they'd soon lose their patience and start torturing him actively under the pretence of Inquisition. Inflict suffering on him, both mental and physical until he talked.

His fist clenched at the train of thought. It didn't matter. Throw whatever torture at him, he'll never utter a single word. He promised.

He closed his eyes and replayed the scene at the North American Branch. He could feel the wind caress his cheek, Kanda's body against his as they swung themselves to Alma, Kanda jumping off to get Alma, Kanda turning back and flash him that dazzling smile. His mind stopped and rewinded that sentence over and over.

It was warm. That smile, those eyes, they were so warm. Not like the scorching hot of the desert the institute was situated at. It was a completely different sort of heat, the one that came from the inside. That smile was so dazzling like a bright star that encompassed him in light. He felt so warm and light, as if someone took away the burdens from his shoulder, as if all his injuries magically healed. That smile was his sun, his last ray of hope in his situation. No matter what suffering they will put him through, it'll be worth it.

Kanda owed him nothing, yet he was willing to take on the role of eliminating him if the need arose. He spared Allen from the fear that his friends would be unable to finish him and end up killed instead of him. In a way Kanda freed him. So he just returned the favour and gave him what he always wanted. Kanda might be unable to fulfil his promise to him, but Allen didn't care, he was happy that Kanda could escape his hell. If only for a week, a day, a minute.

Alma probably breathed out his last already and soon Kanda too would... if he hadn't already...

Allen wouldn't let them near their bodies. He'll never let them repeat the whole fiasco, he wouldn't let them do this tragedy over again. This time Alma and Kanda would truly rest in their well-deserved peace. They wouldn't be betrayed like that once more. Allen would never give away their trust. He already failed Mana once, he didn't need any more regrets. He was going to hell either way. But at least, he got to see a glimpse of the beautiful heavens before he was thrown to his damnation. He didn't mind being stuck in hell for eternity if it meant that he could protect something.

I'll protect your promise for sure. So please forget about ours.

The rattling of the lock and the creaking noise of the old wooden door swinging open woke him up from his musings. He countered the Inspector's glare with an impassive look. "Are you finally going to cooperate?"

The hell if he did.