Chapter 3: Imprudent
"It's really coming down, huh." Lenalee murmured, mostly to herself, as she stared out the rain-streaked window of the train car. A streak of lightning silently spiderwebbed across the sky, followed by a crack of thunder moments later.
"Indeed." Link answered from his seat across from her. Lenalee turned to him, but the Inspector hadn't raised his head from his book. Beside him was Allen, fast asleep with Timcanpy curled up on his shoulder and then Timothy had his head in his lap. Lenalee's throat tightened at the sight of the stark white bandage around the boy's head, the result of a death narrowly avoided. She shuddered at the memory of his measly Level II Akuma laying damaged and unable to move. She and General Cloud Nyne had run as fast as they could as the larger and stronger Level III came forward with a vicious sickle in hand, but it was Allen who saved Timothy. By making an unauthorized Gate, Allen made the fifteen meter distance between him and Timothy in a fraction of a second and dispatched their assailant.
Lenalee sighed. No doubt Central would have something to say about that, too, and she hated to admit it, but she privately agreed. The speed at which Allen could create Ark Gates now…she prayed it wasn't a precursor of what was to come.
After the assignment had been completed, Cloud Nyne had vanished, visibly shaken and upset, as soon as they reached the train station. The nearest established Gate was in Verona, two cities away and amounting to a long train ride home.
"Do you think Cloud Nyne is okay?" Lenalee asked.
Outside, the whistle howled against the wind, and the only movement she saw in the Inspector was him raising his eyes. "I'm sure the General is fine."
Lenalee smiled in spite of herself. Right. She had to be okay. Timothy was fine, and Cloud Nyne was strong. If she needed to take a moment to collect herself, then she was welcome to it. After all—
"She's too emotional."
What? Lenalee stared at the Inspector, her heart growing cold. What did he just…
Link was not looking at her. He was simply turning a page in his book and stating in a completely flat and dead voice, "Apostles of God, especially Generals, are the vanguard and forerunners of the Holy War, and therefore should display a more dignified bearing." There was no emotion. No life. She swallowed, anger swelling in her chest. "To lose their composure in battle is not only a failing as an exorcist but also as a representative of the Church. Furthermore—"
Lenalee punched him.
It was almost a mindless action, a reflex that left her as stunned as the Inspector. Link stared at her, both dismayed she'd hit him and that she'd managed to succeed. Crows were exceptional combatants. Landing a hit like that and catching one off guard was damn near impossible. I suppose it pays to have trained with Kanda since I was a child. Lenalee thought. Then pain seemed to catch up with shock, and Link gingerly touched his rapidly swelling nose and Lenalee began cradling her bruised hand.
"What gives you the right to judge us for our moments of weakness?" She asked bitterly, glaring at him even as she rubbed circles into her knuckles. "Cloud Nyne lost all three of her apprentices in one battle. They were all good people—funny, brave, caring—and they were great exorcists. Is it wrong for us to mourn our friends and comrades? Is it! They gave their lives fighting our enemy, and yet you scorn Cloud Nyne for being shaken up after nearly losing Timothy!" She turned away in disgust, muttering a few choice curses in her native language. The Inspector merely dug around in his coat for a handkerchief and pressed it to his bleeding nose. Neither Allen nor Timothy seemed disturbed by the conflict, both still fast asleep.
When Lenalee could think of nothing more to say, she pointedly turned her eyes to the window, her anger boiling now. Damn you, Crow. Corpse-eating bastard. She shut her eyes. This was going to lead to a scolding for sure. Losing her temper and punching a Central agent? Come on, even Kanda knew better than that. Of course, with her past record of openly defying Central, she might get off with a simple chastisement, but…it was possible they'd slap her with a shadow of her own, just to prove a point. Either way, it wasn't going to go well for her. On the other hand, her golem had recorded the entire conversation…maybe she could claim she'd been provoked? No, that was ridiculous, she—
"I'm sorry."
Lenalee's eyes snapped open.
"You're right." The Inspector nodded, still pinching his bloodied nose. "That was…that was inconsiderate of me. I beg your pardon for my harsh words, Miss Lee."
She didn't answer, unused to reactions like this, though her eyes softened a little. Why do you look at us like we're just weapons? Is it so hard to believe we love and feel pain the same as you do? Or at the very least, the same as you should? In the short time they'd known him, she'd never seen Link laugh or smile, as though that disapproving scowl of his was permanently stitched to his countenance. Was he the ideal disposition Central wished for the exorcists to display? "Why can't you just let us be human?" She murmured, half to herself.
"Pardon?"
"Never mind."
Following some hesitation, Link returned to his book, flipping back to his lost page and still clutching the handkerchief to his nose. Lenalee winced. That had to have hurt. She hadn't even bothered holding back there. As if on cue, the Inspector closed his eyes, furrowing his brow and letting out an almost inaudible groan. He is okay, right? I mean, he deserved it, but… Link raised his eyes, and Lenalee quickly turned to the window. He deserved it. Why should I care if he's in pain, he—
"Miss Lee, I—"
But he was cut off by the carriage door clattering open to admit Cloud Nyne, her ever serious face looking them over. Lenalee and Link raised their heads in surprise, but the General's only slightly-red eyes focused on the Inspector and his bloody nose for a fraction of a second. She did not ask. Crows were Crows. Why should she care if one of Central's vermin was bleeding like a faucet. Cloud Nyne turned to Lenalee, her eyes cold and unfeeling. "How is Timothy?"
"He's fine." Lenalee assured her. "He was out before we even left the station."
The Lady General nodded curtly, Lau Jimin chittering on her shoulder, and she took a seat next to Lenalee, crossing her legs and arms as well as closing her eyes. "I just heard from the conductor. Due to poor weather conditions, we won't be in Verona until tomorrow, so the train will be having a brief layover in the next town."
"We're expected to be back tonight." Link pointed out. "I'll—"
"Then walk, Crow." Cloud Nyne nodded her head. "The rest of us will get some sleep."
A silence descended over the carriage before the Inspector continued, "I was going to say, I'll make the call to Central explaining the situation."
The General didn't answer. "H-How is Timothy?"
"He's just fine." Lenalee repeated and smiled.
Link said nothing.
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Author's Notes: Is Lenalee out of character punching Link? I don't really think so. She has slapped Allen and punched Lavi before, and let's not forget about the time she smacked Kanda with a clipboard. And the time she ruined Sir Komlin, then kicked it and her brother into the abyss of the Old Headquarters. …okay, I'm starting to realize Lenalee has a violent soul and growing up with Kanda may have had more of an influence on her than I previously thought.
Just a moment of anger and misunderstanding between two people from very different upbringings. Every relationship has its rocks.
D Gray Man is owned by Katsura Hoshino.