Exception

By: Aviantei

8. "We've Got Him"

While Lavi Bookman was a super fly aficionado of all things getting his best friend hooked up with a girl who had an equal interest in the other party, it was not the redhead's only skill. And while he considered that Ivy just might have still been in the process of waking up (she did have a habit of sleeping in after all), he figured the almost drowsy tone in her voice meant something else.

His suspicions were only confirmed when Ivy was almost despondent the entire car ride to the local Denny's. She had hardly even reacted to jokes and pickup lines. Those deserved at least a blush? An eye roll? Anything! For the sake of Lavi's cheerful ego, this had to be corrected!

Oh, and because she was his friend and he cared about her. That sort of stuff counted, too.

"So, wanna tell me what's on your mind?" Lavi asked once they had settled in at the table.

Ivy stopped staring at her coffee and blinked, as if remembering that she needed doctor up and possibly drink the stuff, as well as Lavi's presence entirely. "I'm sorry?" she said, sounding every bit of distracted as she looked.

Lavi tapped his forehead. "What's goin' on inside here," he said, keeping up his smile. Ivy tried to replicate the expression but didn't quite make it. Lavi grabbed a few sugar packets and passed them on, letting her avoid eye contact for a bit. "You can share with me, Ivy-chan. I am capable of listening after all."

Ivy paused, fighting with one of the sugar packets. Eventually, it ripped, and she tipped it over her cup. "I…" She hesitated. Did she really want to talk about this? Was it okay to talk about this? It was supposed to be a date, nothing really serious, just for fun, but… I can't focus like this and I know it. Taking a deep breath, Ivy stirred a bit of cream into her cup. "Kanda-san and I got into a fight," she admitted.

It was probably the quietest Lavi had ever heard her voice.

The redhead grimaced a bit, knowing this had to be bad. As far as he knew, Kanda hadn't seriously lost his temper with Ivy around, and definitely not in her direction. Trying to seem casual, he sipped at his own cup. "I don't mean to pry, but do you want to talk about it, or…" He left the question open, but Ivy responded more readily than he had expected.

"He was mad because you and I were going on a date," she grumbled. Already, the irritation was coming back, replacing the sense of guilt she had had before. "It's so stupid! Where does he even get off with that kind of attitude? It's not like I'm in a relationship at all. Who I go out with, romantically or otherwise, is my business!" Ivy took a deep drink from her coffee, which gave off the illusion of being relaxing, before bringing it back to the table with a bit more force than necessary.

Lavi dabbed a napkin at the small spill, but let Ivy carry on. A bit of venting was good every now and then. Hell, venting was practically Kanda's existence, and people like Allen and Lenalee, despite their good intentions, couldn't keep polite forever. Lavi was glad to act as a sounding board when needed.

"Che, if it bothers him so much, he should've done something about it sooner," Ivy said, her expression wavering into dangerous territory. It was incredible how someone could look like they wanted to strangle someone and cry all at once. "It's not my fault if people like me. Sure, I don't get it but… Ah, not to say anything about your taste, Lavi."

"It's okay, you're just modest," Lavi assured. Ivy actually rolled her eyes at that one. She wasn't self-absorbed enough to believe that one anytime soon. "From what I can guess, it sounds like Yu-pon really overreacted. You're right; it's completely your business."

Ivy nodded, feeling better having said things instead of just thinking them. Still, it didn't change the fact that she had said some things she probably should've kept to herself, or at least presented more calmly. Dammit, she was supposed to be the voice of reason between the two of them.

"Do you really think it's okay?" she asked, because part of her really wasn't sure. "I'm not being awful for wanting to go out and have fun with someone else, am I?"

Lavi nodded. If this day didn't go as planned—which it totally would!—he was going to have a serious talk with Kanda. Or maybe it wouldn't be so serious. Maybe Lavi would get punched, possibly multiple times. But, hey, as long as the message was delivered, Lavi didn't quite mind being the one who got shot over it.

"Ivy-chan," the redhead said, putting on his best grin, "if it's fun you want, I'm more than happy to indulge."

Stomach full and conscience somewhat relieved of burden, Ivy did her best to relax underneath Lavi's arm. Sure, it was a bit weird, mainly because she wasn't really used to close-up contact, but the warmth was an added bonus given that autumn was definitely doing its metaphorical best to keep the temperature at chilly. In the crowd from the festival, it also served as a prevention measure to getting separated.

"So, what should we do first?" Lavi asked, his free arm extended out and nearly hitting a passing person in the head. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that he had moved around a lot, but Lavi always managed to get excited by the fall festival, even though (or possibly because of the fact that) it came around every year. "Food? Attractions? Rides?"

"Rides, huh?" Ivy wryly questioned. While it wasn't her first festival, it was still something she seriously had to get used to. The last year's festival had mostly been a blur as everyone dragged her around all over the place, so she hadn't exactly had time to form preferences.

Lavi didn't disappoint in the expected reaction, and was nearly bouncing with each step, which managed to build up an interesting friction between his arm and Ivy's shoulder. "Yeah, you know. Coasters, swings, the Ferris wheel?" he listed off. That was only an added benefit to the whole Ask-Ivy-on-a-Date-to-Force-Yu-pon-into-Asking-Her-Out plan. He got to have fun in the process! Two birds with one stone!

Lavi was rewarded by Ivy finally smiling. "Sure, that sounds fun," she admitted. Fair rides were something she hadn't tried out too much in a very long time. Normally, it seemed like something childish to ask for, so Ivy didn't. But, if Lavi was the one suggesting it, that made the situation better.

Or maybe not because they were a couple of teenagers in their senior year of high school engaging in the most elementary of school past times, but Ivy chose not to view it that way. The thought hadn't even crossed Lavi's mind.

"Alright, then come on!" Lavi cheered, finding an open spot in the crowd and running through it. "The rides await!"

Ivy laughed a bit, immediately taking chase. Even if it wasn't meant as a challenge, that didn't mean she couldn't take it as one. "That's called a false start, you know!"

Trying not to be too obvious about the whole thing, Kanda stomped his foot instead of kicking the nearby trashcan.

Spying on the date didn't seem wrong to Kanda, and it wouldn't be too hard to admit that it actually made him feel a lot better about the situation. For one, he knew what was going on instead of sitting at home and wondering like a dumbass. It also served as assurance that Lavi wouldn't do anything stupid to Ivy, because Kanda would kick the crap out of the rabbit if he even came close.

Keeping up with the couple—ugh, just thinking that made Kanda want to vomit—wouldn't have been hard if he wasn't trying to be incognito about the whole thing. Something about towering rather close to six foot tall seemed to make him stick out ridiculously in normal situations, let alone this. Fortunately, Lavi had some height himself, and his head of red hair was easy to spot in the crowd.

Damn, he's taking her to the Ferris wheel!

There was no way Kanda would be able to interfere if Ivy and Lavi were on that thing. Still, he needed to keep close, just in case. Maybe he would be able to stop the ride, or create some sort of distraction that would stop them from getting on.

Doing his best to keep behind concession stands and bushes, Kanda followed.

Having secured a perch atop a nearby office building (it was amazing the places you could get when you mentioned being Lee Komui's famed little sister), Lenalee adjusted the binoculars that Lavi had specifically purchased for the day's mission. Soon enough, she could see Lavi's hair bouncing through the crowd, and Ivy was close behind. Finding Kanda took a bit more effort, but soon Lenalee had track of all three of their positions.

"Looks like things are going good," she remarked with a small smile.

"Good," Allen croaked, sounding pretty miserable. "I think I'm getting sick." The British boy finished his complaint with a sneeze, then shuddered on top of his shivering. He absolutely abhorred getting sick. At this point, he wanted to go home. None of Lavi's ridiculous schemes was worth this, even if it had the potential of sedating Kanda in the future.

Lenalee felt for Allen, she really did. But this wouldn't be over until the mission was complete, so the quickest way to get the Brit secured was to get this whole matter settled. After a bit, Lavi and Ivy settled into the Ferris wheel line, and Kanda ducked behind a bush a few feet away soon after.

Lenalee immediately reached for her cellphone.

Lavi's phone rang. After a short apology to Ivy, he dug it out to answer.

It was Lenalee's voice on the other end: "Lavi, we've got him."

[Avi's Anachronistic Author's Notes]

While prepping up some more chapters, I realized I hadn't actually posted the rewritten version of this chapter. Whoops. Sorry about that. You may now resume your reading.

-Avi

[04.24.2017]