Author's Note: Apologies for what you're about to read. I don't know what I was thinking.

Chapter 16: Deutsch

"Guten morgen, Allen. Inspektor," Exorcist Miranda Lotto said with a shy nod. "Darf ich bei dir sitzen?"

"Natürlich," Walker took his tray and scooted to one side for his comrade. "Wie geht es Ihnen heute, Miranda?"

Miss Lotto bobbed her head thoughtfully as she set her tray down and sat beside the white-haired boy. "Gut, danke. Herr Krory bringt mir das Geigenspiel bei."

Link raised an eyebrow in surprise and glanced up from his own dinner. He hadn't known it was any interest of the Clockwork Exorcist to be musically inclined. She certainly never mentioned it within his hearing.

Walker grinned at her. "Das ist schön zu hören. Bist du erfolgreich?"

Immediately, her face fell and her words came in that dejected mumble Link had come to associate with the poor woman. "Nein…es tut mir leid."

"Was?"

"Entschuldigung! Entschuldigung!" Miss Lotto cried, waving her hands around in panic. "Ich gebe jedoch mein Bestes. Krory sagt, ich verbessere mich."

"Gut, gut." Walker shrugged. "Übung schafft Meister, wie sie sagen."

Link nodded in agreement and quietly returned to his meal. Although he would prefer to hear Miss Lotto's skills in the training hall were improving, he supposed it was good to know she'd found a hobby in which she could practice and gain some much needed confidence in herself. Part of him wondered if Lord Krory was the one to approach her about the lessons or the other way around.

"Übrigens," Miss Lotto's voice drew him out of his thoughts again. "Ich habe eine Frage, Inspektor."

"Was ist es, Frau Lotto?"

"Um…" she began hesitantly. "Also, mir ist aufgefallen, dass Lenalee Sie und Allen häufig besucht. Und sie scheint Ihre Gesellschaft zu genießen."

He frowned. "Was ist damit, Exorzist?" He ignored the disparaging look Walker threw at him.

"Entschuldigung, ich wollte wissen, ob du Lenalee…magst?"

It was a bold question, and one he definitely hadn't expected from the notoriously timid accommodator. In fact, rather than adhere to his first instinct and shut down the rather forward query, Link actually found himself on the verge of giving her a non-evasive answer. That in itself, of course, was another can of worms. Not to mention Walker was still looking at him expectantly, a slight smirk on his face. Then again, Miss Lotto had appeared to piece it together on her own, not to mention the Director knew already.

Link sighed is resignation. "Lenalee ist eine charmant Frau und ich genieße unsere Gespräche. Also," he hesitated here, then nodded. "Ja, Frau Lotto. Ich mag in sie verliebt sein."

Walker's head snapped around in shock, his eyes wide, as he and Miss Lotto exclaimed in unison. "Sind Sie im Ernst?" Then Lotto clasped her hands and cried, "Das ist wundebar, Inspektor!"

"Ja. Ich bin allerdings überrascht, dass Sie das zugegeben haben," Walker added.

Link scowled at his charge, but before he could make a retort, a fourth voice froze his heart in his chest. "Hey, there! What's everybody chatting about? Come on, tell me. You know how I love a good conversation!"

Remembering the 'Incident' with Dr. Regory Peck, Link whirled around, almost assuming a fighting stance right there in the mess hall.

"Whoops, didn't mean to startle you there, Inspector," Chief Komui laughed as he approached the trio. "Good morning, Miranda. Allen. Anything new?"

"W-Well," Miranda stammered, picking at her food. "I-I was just telling Allen and Link here that I have been learning to play the violin from Krory and what a good teacher he is."

"Really?" Komui smiled at the young woman. "You know…"

As the conversation carried on without them, Link leaned in close to Allen and whispered, "Spricht er Deutsch?"

"Nein, ich glaube nicht." Walker turned to him with a suppressed laugh. "Das war knapp, nein?"

Link breathed a sigh of relief. "Ja."

"Is it bad that I was more scared just now than during that mission we just did?"

"Nein, überhaupt nicht, Walker."

-0-0-0-

Author's Note: So I had the idea of writing a chapter but having the dialogue entirely in German. Does this count as trolling? (Don't worry, there will be another chapter coming along and it will be in English, I promise.) I'm also not going to add translations at the bottom of the page because it defeats the purpose of what I was going for here. Plus, the language barrier may have actually saved Link's life in this case.

As for how Allen learned German, I figure he may have picked it up from his travels with Mana or his training with Cross.

Sincerest apologies for any grammar errors. I did my best from memory and with Google Translate.

D. Gray Man is owned by Katsura Hoshino.