Exception

By: Aviantei

35. Friday Morning: Little Gestures

At the rate things were going, Fridays might end up kicking Monday out of the number one Kanda's Least Favorite Day position, though it was a close call. Between Lavi being ridiculous and getting his date night stolen away by the Beansprout's relationship issues, Fridays had started to carry a certain sense of bullshit to them. And through no fault of that Friday, it was Valentine's Day, which meant that the entire fucking student body of Black Order High was losing their goddamn minds.

Some committee or another had gotten together in the name of the holiday spirit and had thrown about decorations with all the reckless abandon of the Bookman siblings hyped up on caffeine combined with the aesthetic sense of several sheets of pink and red construction paper fed through a paper shredder. The damn stuff was everywhere, and while they'd avoided the pretense of lace, there were still mobiles of cupid silhouettes hanging from the ceiling every other hallway. Combine that with the hubbub of confessions and trading valentines and heartbreak and candy, and Kanda wanted to strangle every holiday-wired moron that got caught in his path.

Why do these people even bother to come to school if they're not gonna try to learn anything? The lack of focus and chatter about the dance had meant that lessons were minimum at best. The only good thing about that was homework had been limited, so Kanda was able to slink into the study room during his free period with a minimal workload to even consider.

"Hi, Yu-kun," Ivy said when she slipped into the room a few minutes later. No amount of trying to counter Kanda's negativity could counter the utter loathing she had for the uproar outside. It didn't help that she'd gotten caught in the crossfire of someone's attempt at bolstering holiday spirit, and thus had been blasted with bright pink confetti. She dropped her bag to the ground and started trying to shake the damn stuff out of her jacket. Kanda raised an eyebrow, and Ivy grimaced. "Don't ask."

"Fair enough." Kanda had plenty of wayward holiday adventures he didn't want to recount, most of them the rabbit's fault. This year, it seemed Lavi was more subdued, but Kanda wasn't about to take his chances when they had the whole evening to get fucked up. "So then we'll talk about something else." Ivy finished falling into her seat and looked up at Kanda. He reached to the table and proffered a box. "Valentine's Day is shit, but you're my girlfriend, so here."

Ivy snorted, a smile creeping over her face. She ducked into her own bag, providing a box as well. "Valentine's Day is shit, but you're my boyfriend, so I figured I could play along." Without any other words, the couple traded gifts and started opening them. Neither of them had done any ridiculous wrappings or presentations, so it was just a few moments until they had their respective gifts in hand.

Trying hard not to suck in an obvious gasp, Ivy stared at the small piece of jewelry tucked against the box's cushioning. She had never been one for trinkets—she had even stopped wearing earrings ages ago—but the bracelet was enough for her to make an exception. The band was a simple silver, and at the center was a small charm of a lotus flower. The gems that made it were fake, but that didn't take away from how pretty the thing was.

Her own gift seemed trivial in comparison, and she couldn't tell if the blush on her cheeks was from mortification or from how much thought Kanda had seemed to put into it.

Kanda didn't have any qualms about his own present, finding a small collection of dark chocolate. He didn't do many sweets, but if the candy was bitter enough, he could take it. Based on the labels, there was more unfiltered cocoa powder than anything else in the stuff.

"This looks like it's gonna make my tongue shrivel up," he said, the faintest upturn of his lips betraying his amusement. He held up one of the chocolate bars. "Where did you even find this stuff?"

"Online. It's good, but it's so powerful I can't take more than a few bites at a time, so I figured you'd like it." Ivy snapped herself out of staring at the bracelet and looked to Kanda. "Sorry it's lame in comparison to what you got me. I just figured you wouldn't like anything showy or overblown, so…"

Kanda nodded, setting the candy collection aside for the moment. For someone who was so confident in the face of most adversity, Ivy ended up worrying about the silliest things. "Don't worry about it. It's perfect." Ivy let out a sigh of relief, though she still felt a little guilty. "It's not like that cost much. I just saw it and thought it'd be nice for you to have." Carnations were lame, anyway.

Ivy raised an eyebrow, distracted enough from the flicker of concern still pressing against her chest. "Yu-kun looking at jewelry? Are you sure you weren't thinking of getting something nice for me?" Kanda's eyes darted aside, and Ivy laughed. "I love it, Yu-kun, really. I just wish I'd gotten you something as good."

"Am I supposed to expect something out of you other than putting up with me?" Ivy's mouth flapped a few times, but she couldn't think of a proper retort to that one. Kanda pulled the box from her fingers and pulled out the bracelet, clipping it onto Ivy's wrist with surprising grace. "As long as you like it and don't mind wearing that, it's good enough for me."

Before Kanda could pull back, Ivy pressed her forehead against his, eyes closed. Kanda took a close look at her before shutting his eyes as well, and they enjoyed the small moment of security and warmth.

"There's not enough points to convey how happy this makes me, so I hope you'll accept a substitute," Ivy said, tipping herself into a kiss. They had shared several, but she let it last longer than usual. When she sat up straight again, she pressed a finger against Kanda's forehead. His brow furrowed under her touch. "And I consider putting up with you an exclusive privilege, Yu-kun. I'll be sure to convey that properly on White Day, okay?"

Kanda caught Ivy's hand in his and gave it a squeeze. "Deal. But let's survive tonight first."

"As long as it's me and you, I think we can manage."

Last period rolled around, and there wasn't a single classroom that could focus. The slightest noise made everyone zone in on the door, ready for it to open and bring the carnations everyone was looking forward to. When the deliveries did arrive, the teachers were so relieved that they gave up on their lectures and let everyone enjoy the rest of their chatter. Excited squeals and cheers echoed throughout the school as the recipients looked through their collection of flowers.

There was just one person who hadn't been looking forward to it, and was even less unenthusiastic about his gifted flowers, and for once it wasn't Kanda.

It was Allen.

Now, he had no problem with Valentine's Day. He enjoyed it a fair amount, and not even the recent stress over his love life and potential stalker situation could diminish that. What could diminish it, on the other hand, was the full knowledge of just which class he had last period, when said carnations were delivered.

Sophomore Biology, taught by none other than Komui himself.

Allen and Komui got along at most times. Most times just didn't include when Allen had gone on a date with Lenalee and he was still trying to sort out his feelings in the damn convoluted mess that was TRIangular/QUADrilateral. The collection of about ten carnations that Allen had received that all bore Lenalee's name (never mind the few scattered others he had received) just sealed his doom.

"An impressive gift you've got there, Allen," Komui said from his desk, which was as littered with papers and dirty coffee mugs as ever. No one in the class dared to be jealous of Allen's bounty, given that Komui's wrath was going to come with it. "Do tell us, who's the lovely sender?" Komui's smile twitched. He knew, or at least thought he knew, and Allen wasn't lucky enough for Komui's guess to be wrong.

Still, Allen coughed, trying to arrange his bundle of flowers so that the gift tags with Lenalee's neat script (complete with little hearts on all of them) were hidden from sight. "I don't think they'd appreciate it if I just went and said it to everyone…"

"Nonsense, nonsense." Komui didn't even have to try for his glasses to do the evil light glint. "If they wanted privacy, they could've just sent secret admirer flowers. They must be serious if they sent so many. I think congratulations are in order!"

Lenalee, why have you forsaken me?! Sure it was sweet, but she had to have forgotten his schedule. Allen put on his best smile, but it came across strained. "Well, I'd like to keep my affairs private, if you don't mind." Refusing to answer was tantamount to admitting Lenalee had been the sender, but Allen would do what he could to delay Komui's wrath for as long as possible. Just as the deranged science teacher was about to open his mouth, the bell washed over the building, signaling the end of classes. Allen wasted no time in standing up. "Oh, look at that, class is done! I really should get going."

Before Allen could make any farther moves, Komui threw himself across the room, knocking over several displays and charts in the process. The rest of the class bolted, not willing to be caught up in that shit any longer than necessary. Allen scrambled to join the mass exodus, but Komui snatched onto his arm. Lenalee's lovely carnation compilation slipped free, and Komui gasped with enough dramatics to give Lavi a run for his money. "I knew it!"

Still trying to shake his arm free from Komui's grip, Allen prayed as hard as he could for a miracle. He'd even settle for the roof collapsing on top of him, because it sure as hell would be better than whatever Komui could cook up.

"You," Komui continued, steam all but puffing out of his ears, "have been a good student, Allen Walker. And I have allowed your friendship with my most darling and precious Lenalee because you have never given me reason to doubt you. But this—" He shook Allen's arm that was still holding the carnations, sending the petals rustling. "I will not stand for this, do you hear me?! If you think you can get away with stealing Lenalee's heart, then I will oppose you with everything I have!"

"Komui, I didn't even send her anything. Aren't you getting mad at me when I haven't done anything?" As much as Allen hoped the logic would help diffuse the situation, Komui just pushed closer to a hysterical explosion.

"So you're saying that you wouldn't ever do anything romantic for her? Even after she's poured her love into these flowers, you wouldn't even consider it?" Never mind the fact that all Lenalee had done was order them from the carnation committee. "Is my sister not good enough for you, Allen Walker?!"

"Is there a reason you always take things in the worst way possible?!" Having that roof collapse on top of him sounded like a great idea. Allen would kick out the support beams himself if he could. Instead, he took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. At least one of them had to be in a rational state of mind for the conversation to have a peaceful ending. "Listen, Komui, I won't deny that I like your sister. But I'm still confused on a lot of my feelings—" being part of a love triangle, trying to figure out if he liked another one of his friends, plus just how one was supposed to handle having a stalker all made thinking straight bloody difficult "—and I'm not going to do anything to Lenalee without knowing I'll be committed to her. I want to respect her feelings. Shouldn't you do the same?"

If anyone had bothered to stick around, there would've been a profound silence from the crowd of onlookers. Instead, there was just several moments of contemplation from Komui, who couldn't very well decide to be impressed or just plain outraged that anyone would imply he didn't respect his sister's feelings. His wavering thoughts slackened his death grip, and Allen wasted no time on breaking free of Komui's hold, snagging his backpack, and bolting for the door.

"Well it was nice chatting with you, Komui, but hate to say it, gotta run, gotta get ready for the dance tonight!"

He may have been sincere in what he just said, but that didn't mean he was going to wait around certain death, either.

"You—you little troublemaker!" Komui flew after him, but Allen was fast when he wanted to be (all those years with Cross had been good for something!), and the Brit was already long gone. Komui seethed in the doorway to his classroom, and put all his strength into bellowing, "I'm going to be chaperoning that dance, Walker! Don't think you can get away with so much as looking at my sister!"

Down in the teacher's lounge, Reever grimaced at the sound of Komui's voice and sighed.

Johnny stopped in the middle of getting onto the bus and looked up. Ari was right behind him, amongst several other students that were ready to get themselves home and ready to go. Most students had the dance marked in their schedules and weren't willing to be late. The bundle of Black Order Elementary kids didn't have the same concerns, too busy chomping down on the gift candy they'd exchanged during the day.

"Did you hear that?" Johnny asked. He couldn't quite place what he'd heard, but it didn't sound natural, and it sent a shiver down his spine. Or maybe that was just Ari prodding at his back to keep moving. Muttering a quick sorry, Johnny found an empty seat and let Ari bounce into position by the window. "But, seriously, did you hear something strange?"

Ari held a finger to her cheek. "Hmm, maybe, but I don't think it's anything to be too worried about." Her instincts weren't certain, but, considering what a train wreck the school was on a regular basis, there was a chance she had just become immune. "Oh, I know! You need some candy, mister. That'll solve everything."

Not needing a further excuse for chocolate, Ari pulled open her bag, filled to the literal brim with sweets (who needed to carry around schoolwork? Pshaw), and proffered it to Johnny. The sad part was that what Ari had was just a portion of the candy hoard she and Lavi had collected. It would only get bigger once discounts hit the next day, but that was a battle for after the evening's war.

Johnny selected a few packages of candy, and Ari dumped a few more into his lap before withdrawing a miscellaneous handful for herself. As the bus started to roll away from the school, it became easier to forget whatever weird ominous noise had come from it and focus on the future. "Oh, thanks for the flower, by the way," Johnny said, patting his lab coat pocket. The light blue blossom stuck out, symbolizing friendship, at least according to what the school decided to designate.

Ari tapped the matching carnation tucked behind her ear with a grin. "And thanks to you, as well! Since blue carnations don't really have a meaning, I don't feel as guilty about giving them to people." She reached next to her bag, unveiling the couple of flowers she'd received. "At least a couple are accurate, but what's with this 'you are my sunshine' bullcrap? Yellow carnations are mad depressing, you know?"

Johnny laughed a bit, unwrapping his chocolate bar. If anything, he knew now, and that was what mattered. "Well, friendship works for me. Did you end up ordering carnations for anyone else? You were iffy about whether or not to give Allen something."

"Eh, I went ahead and skipped it." Ari popped a whole Reese's cup into her mouth, reclining as well as she could into the bus seat. "There's too much difference in carnation colors for me to get the message I want across. And besides—" She grinned, not caring that she was showing off the chocolate stuck to teeth "—the real show of how I feel is gonna be tonight. Lenalee might've sent flowers, but I'm gonna win Allen's heart, no matter what. With your dress, it'll be a breeze!"

Flustered by the praise, Johnny blushed and scratched the back of his head. "Aw, well, you helped a lot, Ari, I just modified it the way you wanted…"

"Nonsense, nonsense! Quelle absurdité! You, Johnny, you…" Ari sucked in a deep breath, grabbing Johnny by the shoulders and shaking him about. Poor boy almost knocked his head against the window, but it got the point across. "You are a tailoring genius, and if you don't at least let me get custom commissions of you when we're older, I'll never let you live it down. I will badger you forever. Do you understand me?"

"Understood, mademoiselle," Johnny said with a smile. "No matter what, I've got dibs on your prom dress."

"Forward thinking. I love it!" Ari tossed up her hand up for a high-five, and the resulting smack could almost be heard over the surrounding chatter of dozens of overexcited children planning their evening romances. "And no matter what happens tonight, you and I shall spend tomorrow ransacking the shelves of their discount candy." Never mind that the Bookman house was already struggling for space between confections and books; they knew how to make room for the important things. "It's the ultimate double mission. Can you handle it?"

Johnny pumped his fist. "Officer Gill, reporting for duty!"

And regardless of the stares it brought from around them, Ari and Johnny shouted their battle cry towards the ceiling. Because what else were best friends for?

[Author's Notes]

Well, hello once again, Exception readers! After a few months, we're back in action with the next update! I promise that we're actually going to see the school dance this year. At least we actually made it to Valentine's Day now! Take some fluff in both romantic and platonic forms.

Thanks to anyone who's still around and reading this fic. I appreciate your patience with my nonsense scheduling more than you can know.

I must also say I love writing Johnny and Ari's friendship dynamic. Everyone needs a pal they can just be a giant dork with if you ask me!

I'm also excited because this chapter marks the next round of fanfiction updates for my stories, once more in publication order! I actually almost have a full queue this time, so that means everything should (hopefully) get a fresh update these next few months, with chapter thirty-six to follow soon after (how in the world did this story get to thirty-five chapters in the first place?!)! Please look forward to that chapter and the others to follow!

-Avi

[04.01.2019]