Churches are sacred places

And angels shouldn't fall into temptation

The Church of Saint Allen Walker was led by a young man of only 30 years. Some people said that it was because of his high-level intelligence and religious passion that he had been given such a high position at such a young age (he had been Head Priest for around a decade and a half now). Some said that it was because his parents were Head Priest and Reverent Sister of the church, so it was only natural that a leadership position was given to the golden-haired child. Some also believed that that it was Saint Allen himself who handpicked the man personally from a dozen other potential priests. Father Bak Chang did not care about such rumours.

He believed himself to be a calm, collected person who can take responsibilities seriously and also know when to lay loose. He was a combination of his wise father and his gracious mother, and he took pride in it, knowing that he made his late parents proud. There was only one time he had lost his cool completely: the time when Allen had suddenly disappeared from the church. Oh God, Father Bak had thought that the dark ages were repeating themselves. The church was in chaos at their patron saint's absence, and Father Bak had to take the brunt of it with disciplined shoulders and unwavering faith that Allen will return.

Oh my God! My heart can't take any more of this! Father Bak could practically cry when Allen came back by Saint Lulubell's carriage, unharmed but moody. When Allen had told his story, Father Bak could only sympathise with the broken-hearted angel. Allen had painted a pretty picture of this Demon Lord Lavi, but Father Bak knew by experience that a single picture could hide a thousand and one meanings. Therefore, he vowed to protect his angel from the dangers that lurked behind this Demon Lord. Enemies would have to go over his dead-cold body before he even allowed them to reach Allen. Saint Allen was his patron saint and his good friend; he won't let that accursed demon to taint him!

"Good morning, Allen! Time to wake up~" He opened the door to the slumbering angel's bedroom.

Allen was sleeping on his side, his wings laid above his slim body. Allen would've looked innocent sleeping by his own, but a soft snore that came from another body tore the picture of purity into itty-bitty pieces. Lavi was using Allen's left arm as his head pillow while his face was buried into Allen's chest, his own left arm circling Allen's waist lazily. Allen tightened his hold on Lavi's shoulders like the demon was a giant stuffed toy, whining when Lavi's wings uncovered their joined bodies. The sunlight beams danced around the peaceful forms, creating a dazzling art that could blind a person.

Father Bak found another great use for the thick bible he was holding.

After the sleeping incident, Allen was eager to show Lavi and his Black Order clan around his home ground. He brought the reluctant demons to the main hall where they perform their masses first. Lavi thought that the church was several steps lower than the grand blue hall back in the Church of Angels. Allen's church was of modest size, filled with stained glass windows that allowed the bright sunlight to pierce through beautifully. Allen said that the laity worked their hardest to keep the area clean and spotless, faithfully replacing the worn-out curtains or lighting the candles every now and then to make up for their small operation.

Then, Allen brought them to the church's courtyard where there were gardens of blooming colourful flowers surrounding small ponds filled with swimming fish and basking tortoises. Creeping plants covered the church's walls, but Lavi said nothing since those flora gave beautiful purple morning glory flowers as gifts to the church. Young trees rustled with the afternoon wind as Allen led the way further down the large garden.

"Look! It's Saint Allen!" A chorus of happy cheers and loud shouts followed the announcement. Soon, the demons and Allen were surrounded with small, young children with nothing but youthful innocence in their glittering eyes. The demons froze on the spot, unused to the wide-eye attention. One of the young boys came out bravely and whispered (though loudly, such were children) to a patient Allen, "I thought demons were bad people, Saint Allen!"

Allen chuckled lightly as he picked up the boy and carried him nearer to a shock Lavi, "It's alright, dear. They're my friends," Allen said to the boy soothingly with his honeyed voice of music.

"What're you doing, Allen?" Lavi hissed softly when he saw Allen holding out the boy's tiny hands towards his sharpened wings. The young boy was about to get cut by his twitching wings if they were not careful!

"It's alright. He won't hurt you," Somehow, Lavi felt like Allen was assuring him instead of the boy. That very thought calmed Lavi down enough to soften his wings, allowing the human child to touch them with shaky hands.

"Woah…" The boy droned out with wonder, moving his hands around the larger feathers that ran downwards, "They're so cool!"

As if the boy was their leader, the other kids came forward with eager faces. The Black Order clan wanted nothing to do with humans, but they were pulled –though weakly, since they were still younglings and all- to sit down to their level. They made sure to ask for permission before touching their wings though, as it was Allen's stern order to them. Soon, all except Kanda (who refused vehemently on any grubby hands touching his sleek wings!) were playing with the church children freely as if they were their own demon children back in the Black Order castle. It was quite a comical sight; adult demons playing with the pure church children.

But not everybody accepted the demons into their sacred ground. The Blessed Council were giving unconcealed glares towards the demons' very presence, but held their tongue until it was meeting time with Father Bak and Saint Allen.

"They're an eyesore in the church! Why are demons doing here?"

"Oh dear; God will be angry! And he will punish us for this!"

"This will ruin our reputation as a sacred and holy place. How will people come to pray when a demon just casually walks around as if they own the place?"

"Father Bak! Saint Allen! Please do something about them before this gets any worse!"

Frankly speaking, Father Bak cared less about these old farts than his monumental pile of paperwork. He yawned at those dreaded meetings, not in the least bit worried about the demons. In his opinion, they looked like good people and they don't usually cause trouble for anyone or during mass times. Unlike some elderly seniors I know... But unfortunately, his young age and "inexperienced life" made the council overlook him and his "foolish" opinions. They targeted the precious Saint Allen instead, bugging the confused angel instead to take action.

A loud bang that indicated the opening of the meeting room door stole everyone's attention away. Lavi leaned against the doorway lazily, his wings folded as he smirked at the shaking old priests, "Yo, shortcake! Timothy and his new friends wanna play ball, but we need another player to even the teams up. You up for it?"

Father Bak watched amusingly as Allen rushed through his apologies to the fearful council and ran out of the room without a single glance back. Lavi threw a knowing wink at Allen's only demon supporter before following behind the angel. As the council started talking nonsense about getting rid of the demons again, Father Bak was all too ready to sit back and let the crows caw. At least Allen gets a way out! He groaned, wishing pitifully that the Blessed council would just. Shut. Up! "And for the last time, exorcism does NOT work!"

The next few days or so was all about Black Order fitting into the Church of Saint Allen Walker. Although they did get a lot of stares and people kept making that weird sign of the cross whenever they passed by them, there were some humans who were open-minded. When Allen had introduced them to his fellow churchmen on the first day, Lavi can count the number of people that coolly accepted the angel's words with one hand… Make that one finger.

But now, I think we're slowly being accepted… Lavi thought to himself as he accompanied Timothy around the church grounds. The church was only part of Allen's vast territory; smaller buildings that were joined together by corridors and bridges stood strongly behind the main church. Therefore, Timothy wanted a tour of this large place, and since Allen was busy with his 'holy' stuff, Lavi was entrusted –more like forced!- with babysitting duty. They passed by some humans who were of the friendlier kind; waving hesitatingly towards them and bowing low as a sign of respect.

"Hey, Lavi! Check this out!" Timothy pointed out at one of the many winding corridors. There were paintings and murals that were hung at the walls; all of them had the theme of their patron saint himself. There was one that showed Allen as a healer with an open magic book opened, another which showed Allen in his glorious church robes. A long, rectangular painting of Allen guiding small children at the river's edge was quite a sight for sore eyes.

"I think they've exaggerated on Allen just a little bit," Lavi mused, looking at the picture of Allen together with his angelic brethren and surrounded by a bright halo of light with a cross at the background.

Timothy snorted as he walked past a small picture of Allen in his normal clothes, "Just because you're his best friend, you think you know all about Allen,"

"What, jealous, short brat?" Lavi poked fire, making Timothy seethed in light animosity.

As Lavi was laughing gaily at Timothy's small punches, a running boy around Timothy's age shouted at them, "Help! Timothy! Lavi! My grandpa's bad!"

Immediately, the two demons followed the panicking child outside the church grounds. Lavi was more concerned about Allen finding out that they had departed from the church grounds without permission rather than the condition of this strange child's grandfather, but Timothy was looking fearful as he picked up the pace to catch up with his new-fond friend.

They had passed the marketplace and many houses before the yellow-haired child stopped at one of the older-looking cottages. The child blasted into the house like he was on fire, and Lavi calmly followed behind the panicky Timothy. He heard sobbing when they walked inside the house, the boy peeking inside of the closed rooms.

"-too late," a professional voice spoke in apologising tones, "I'm sorry,"

"C-can't you.. Do something else? Anything at all?" The voice of a crying woman, most probably the mother of this child, begged the doctor.

Lavi saw the man shaking his head in regret, putting on his hat as he started packing his instruments, "I've tried everything; it's no use… He's just too old.. It's his time to leave,"

"NO, IT'S NOT!" The child shouted in anger, pushing open the door wide open and marching into the room as if he was a grown-up adult, "GRANDPA'S NOT DYING! HE'S NOT!"

Without realising it, the child had also revealed his new friends to his shell-shocked parents. Lavi cringed as the mother shrieked like a harpy, "You! What are you doing here! Begone, demons!" It's one of those kinds of people, huh… Lavi rolled his eyes as the mother started having a mild heart attack right in front of him.

The doctor steamed smoothly through the conversation, tipping his hat at the demons because he was one of those opposite kinds of people, "I can't do anything with him. He's-"the doctor glanced at the crying family before dropping his voice in a hushed tone, "—he's dying; I really cannot do anything,"

Lavi allowed the family to move out of the room before clapping the doctor's shoulders in comfort, "hey, lemme see what I can do, huh? You just get home now, old man,"

"I'm only touching 50, you lousy demon," the doctor retorted grouchily as he left the house.

"Lavi…" Timothy tiptoed at the bed edge, looking over the unmoving human and sniffing him like a curious dog would do to a new thing. He looked at Lavi in mild uncertainty, "he doesn't smell like it,"

The older demon took a whiff on his own, his wings shuffling around in bewilderment also, "you're right… He doesn't carry the smell of death.. But-"Lavi inhaled deeper and tried to distinguish between the smell of old humans and thick medicine, "the human is suffering. From what, I have no idea… It's not demon origin, that's for sure,"

Lavi was hesitant to leave Timothy alone in this human house that had demon-hating humans. But he also couldn't trust Timothy to return to the church alone, since it was also the young demon's first time venturing out of the church grounds. So, he did the next best thing; placing his right arm to the left side of his chest, he murmured his message inside his head as if trying to reach out into the real world.

Allen…

A moment or two passed before he heard the loud flapping of wings and a humanly gasp coming from the troublesome humans. Allen hurried into the room as if sensing the emergency, his wide silver eyes looking for none other than Lavi himself.

"How did you do that? I can't even begin to talk to you, and you easily spoke through Timcampy like it was nothing!" Allen waved his golden gauntlet to emphasise his point, "what's wrong, Lavi? Is there a problem?"

"You tell me, munchkin," Lavi led Allen by the shoulders to meet the main man of everyone's life right now.

"Oh!" Allen's wings fluffed up in a cute manner whenever Allen had found something intriguing to work on. He waved his hand above the sleeping man's body, his healing magic a-glowing bright green like long grass on a sunny day.

The dragging of small feet made Lavi turn around thinking that the stupid humans had come to throw holy water on him or something in those atrocious lines. But it was only Timothy's friend, who looked at them like they were his saviours and nothing his parents would say will change his dream world.

The plucky child pulled on Allen's robes, making Allen stop his investigation. The boy was obviously holding back his tears to act like an adult, but his tiny and shaky voice betrayed his young age, "Saint Allen.. Is-Is my grandpa de-"the boy swallowed his words, stubbornly not accepting the truth in front of real facts.

Lavi was getting tired of waiting, so he pulled the little child to his side. I am absolutely gonna regret this shit later, Lavi thought ominously as he bent down to the little human's level as he patted his head and said soothingly, "Your gramps isn't gonna die; he's only sleeping. Now wipe your tears away, they're useless,"

"Yeah!" Timothy jumped onto the wagon enthusiastically, "Watch Allen heal him all up! He did that to Kanda! Just you watch!"

But the boy was looking ever unsure. Lavi suspected the doubt was planted by the child's absurd parents. He growled, though lightly so as to prevent scaring the already-scared child away, "Do you have faith in Allen?"

With a confident nod from the sniffling boy, Lavi smiled frankly now as he saw Allen already working on the man, "then that is all he needs,"

Allen's hands started to turn blue as he said a prayer to intercede for the wounded man, "excitare ; Familiam tuam indiget vobis". The second the old man breathed in deeply as if he had surfaced water was the second the boy cried out again. This time, out of endless joy.

"I'm surprised that you care about that family," Allen joked as they trio travelled their way back to church.

Lavi pulled Timothy back as the younger demon wanted to go inside the candy store. He grunted, "I don't care. I don't even know them and the woman wanted to throw the blasted rosary at my face,"

Allen laughed loudly, "Don't deny it, Lavi. I've seen the way you comforted that child. Face it; you actually care about them.."

"Demons don't care-"Lavi growled at his best friend as he picked up the pace, his wings sharpened to show his agitation, "-because demons don't have a heart,"

~.~

Before the sunrise the next day, Allen rubbed his eyes groggily as he sat up his comfortable bed. A strong arm tried to drag him back down underneath the seductive covers, but Allen didn't waver. With practised ease, he agilely (Lavi was constantly holding him real tight during his sleep) got out of the warm bed, tucked the still dozing demon in and prepared for his morning mass.

He stood at the entrance of the church wearing his mass robes; white flowing cassock contrasting with a violet-embroidered stole. He wore his white mitre on his head, the meticulously stitched golden cross obvious from the front. Allen had combed his wings beforehand too, making them look graceful and welcoming as an angel descending from the Heavens above. As was his position, Allen wore rose-red shoulder guards that functioned more as badges rather than protection. Allen also made sure to wear his white gloves, courtesy of Father Bak himself when he had Fallen. Speaking of him-

"Good morning, Father Bak," Allen chirped to the sleepy Father who was also dressed in his mass clothing. But the Head Priest wore bright-orange shoulder guards instead to show his position in the Church of Saint Allen Walker.

The priest mumbled like his mouth was made out of stone, "how are you awake at this ungodly hour? I'll never get used to your vibrant energy, Allen,"

"Ssh now, Father Bak. The mass is starting," Allen tried to stifle his laughter. He stood next to Father Bak at the back of the procession line. He stole a quick gaze up at the church's second level, where the Black Order clan were currently sitting. They had wanted to know about the mass orders and what was his duty as the patron saint of a church, so Allen had allowed them to participate in the morning mass instead of the later masses. Not to mention that the Blessed Council goes to the evening masses and neglects the morning ones… The music started playing its musical tune and the choir started to sing beautifully.

Allen walked slowly with Father Bak, only to knock into the back of the altar boy that stood in front of him. The processional music screeched to a halt as some of the choir gasped, making both Allen and Father Bak worry that someone had fainted. Both of them ran forwards to the front of the line, fearing the worst.

But Allen felt a tick on his neck as he stared down at the grumpy-looking Lavi; the Demon Lord looking dishevelled as if he had just got out of bed and came straight here without cleaning up. Dear Father, he didn't even button his shirt! Allen stomped as he approached the rotten Demon Lord himself.

"What're you doing here, Lavi?" Allen hissed in a low tone, acutely aware that everyone in church was watching their exchange with judgemental eyes.

Lavi had the gall to look like he was in the right, his arms crossed over his broad –and revealing, for goodness sake, Lavi! – chest as he said in a sullen voice, "you didn't kiss me good morning,"

Cue abstract rock falling down on everyone's faces. The Black Order clan wanted to swoop down and grab their infuriating Demon Lord away, but Komui held them back as much as he could.

"W-What, Lavi?! Now?" Allen patted Lavi's shoulders in a pacifying manner.

But the resolute Lavi stood his ground as he stared boldly without answering Allen's stuttering question.

If Allen was any lesser of a spiritual being that he was already was, he would've shoved his fist down Lavi's throat. Outwardly, he was blushing and speechless at Lavi's straightforwardness. Inwardly, he was pulling his hair and crying out in frustration like a human child. Lavi tilted his eyebrow in mild snobbishness. Allen gave up trying to fight his best friend.

With a defeated sigh, he indicated to Lavi to kneel down. Since he couldn't move freely in his mass dressing, Allen was forced to restrict his movements. The Demon Lord understood as he bent on one knee and bowed his head like he was about to be knighted by the queen.

Allen tilted Lavi's chin upwards and bent down to meet Lavi's warm forehead halfway. Using his angelic voice, he kissed his forehead as he whispered with gentleness and tender care, "good morning, sweetheart,"

Lavi didn't allow him to get up though, and he grabbed the back of Allen's neck to give the angel a kiss equal in affection and sentiment to his cheek with his demonic voice, "good morning, angel,"

Meanwhile, the Black Order clan couldn't stomach anymore of the obnoxiously endearing picture and left the church a long time ago. Only Lenalee was left standing at the pew, staring down at the gobsmack faces of the humans and watching with amusement as Father Bak muttered something about needing more coffee and "too early for this shit". The oblivious duo still arguing to each other like they weren't interrupting the morning mass. Some things never change.. But still, there's something bothering me… Lenalee's thoughts took her down to a road she should never have gone on.

Again with the fluff! I really can't take all these tooth-rotting acts, Laven, shtooooop! But what's Lenalee up to, I wonder? Oh dear, is she trying to get between them?! Allen's prayer to heal the sick grandpa is "excitare ; Familiam tuam indiget vobis" which means "stir now; your family needs you". Here are some Did-You-Know? facts:

Angels might have a sharper sixth sense when it comes to God's creations, but it is the demons who can smell the scent of death from a mile away. Literally speaking! The demons have an acute sense of smell that help them distinguish individual scents apart. When demons hunt, you can bet that they won't lose track of their prey if they're on its scent; that's why Lavi was able to pick Allen out from the throngs of people easily from the last chapter. Also, their smell is so precise, they can ultimately smell the scent of death on anyone. (According to Krory, the scent of death is "a seducing smell of lavender that makes you feel like sleeping and never wake up") It's both a good and bad thing to demons; good because they would know exactly when would their prey die and how long it will take. Bad, because... Well, imagine having the power to smell death on your loving family members but don't have the capabilities to cure them. Lavi found that out when he could smell death on his parents but he couldn't do a thing because he was still a youngling that time...

Well, it's the New Year's Eve once again. It's been 3 years since I've first started my first Laven story, wow, time really fly by so fast, eh? And it's thanks to you guys that made all these wonderful magic happen! Without your comments and opinions about my stories, there wouldn't be any Laven in the first place! So, I thank you for supporting me all this while through thick and thin. Here's to another blessed year coming ahead, hope you like my New Year update gift to you! Please leave me a comment whenever you're free, it'll do me some good too ^^ Have an awesome New Year! -Kid Darkness