Exception

By: Aviantei

4. Lavi Starts a Scene

For being the type of person to go through all the trouble to build a 'secret' organization and drag them into a meeting, Lavi wasn't quite ready to let Lenalee and Allen see his full hand just yet. Despite what other people may say—mainly Kanda—Lavi had a backup plan in the event that Lenalee and Allen decided not to help out. Sure, he had faith in his friends, but that didn't mean he couldn't come up with emergency measures!

And even though the duo had agreed, Lavi still considered alternates. The logical thing to do would have been to scrap them, as backups were no longer needed, or to even talk with the SSGTIK about how those plans could be revised, Lavi didn't have the patience for that. His instincts were telling him the time was now, and that time was as good as any.

It was now or never! Or something like that at least.

Give him some credit. He did at least try to contain the urge. I've created a new bond with my friends, he thought. We've come together with a common goal and I should respect that. They want to help so I shouldn't go solo, no matter how tempting the idea is!

Suffice to say, this inner monologue/pep talk didn't work out so well.

Kanda wasn't sure exactly what he had done to deserve this, but he was certain that this was hell. Maybe it had been that one time he broke Lavi's arm in middle school gym class (It was an accident. Honest!). Maybe it was all the cursing. Maybe it was the time he had refused to be Lenalee's friend in elementary school and made her cry, though he thought that having Komui hunt him down the next day and lecture him was penance enough. Regardless, Kanda wished he could take whatever it was back.

Because really, it would be worth it just so he didn't have to wait in the lunch line next to the stupid rabbit. Even worse, the bean sprout was with him, and Ivy was nowhere in sight.

It had been a long enough day as it was, even for a not Monday. Classes were boring, teachers were annoying, and Lavi was a constant presence, never backing down. On top of that, the redhead had been pestering Kanda more than usual, and the repetitiveness was very easily wearing down Kanda's nerves.

"So, you don't have any feelings for her?" Lavi asked for what seemed like, and probably was, the millionth time that day. Each time he asked it, Kanda's headache just got worse. Soon enough, it would be a full-blown migraine.

It should be able to go without saying who the 'her' was, because I'm sure you figured out the 'her' is Ivy.

"No, you stupid rabbit," Kanda growled in response for just the equally possible millionth time, the same as every other time Lavi had asked. By now, Kanda's low enough as it was Lavi tolerance had dropped way below the zero mark. It had to be some miracle that he hadn't attempted to shove the redhead into the nearest vending machine by now.

Kanda's harsh denial caused Allen to flinch, which was satisfying, but not enough to soothe Kanda's nerves. The British boy only stood to the side, not saying anything. Sure, this whole conversation was probably going to lead to trouble, but two years at this school had taught Allen there were very few things more dangerous than getting between Lavi and an almost livid Kanda.

"Are you suuuure?" Lavi further prompted. Allen could have smacked his forehead if it wouldn't have been pointless. Kanda just wanted to slam Lavi's head into the wall, forget the potential expulsion. At least the bloodstain would make an interesting addition to the school's history.

Honestly, who the fuck dragged out their vowels that long? Not only was it obnoxious, it was unnecessary.

"Yes, I'm fucking sure." Kanda just barely restrained his yell, the words gritting out between his teeth. He normally wouldn't have cared, but getting shoved into detention wasn't how he wanted to end this day. Especially since that would only make him more pissed and the last time he had been pissed in detention, there had been hospital bills to pay.

Lavi only smiled. "Well, that's a relief off my back then," he said, folding his arms behind his head and leaning against the wall. Allen gave him a concerned look, and Lavi winked—or at least as much as you can wink with one visible eye. It really did nothing to soothe the Brit's nerves, but it didn't matter. Lavi just needed Allen to watch and see how the SSGTIK got things done.

"What's a relief?" Kanda asked, confused. Sure, most things Lavi did usually didn't make sense to Kanda and could maybe catch him off guard, but it wasn't often that he was confused.

Allen couldn't say what caused it, but his stomach suddenly didn't feel so good. He was about to spout off some excuse to go to the nurse, but was cut off by Lavi's next words.

"That you don't like her," the redhead continued. It didn't seem possible, but his smile was only growing wider by the moment. Surely, going to the nurse would be better than this. The woman and Allen didn't even have the best relationship and it would be better than this.

"Why?" Kanda asked. This imaginary stomach bug was apparently contagious, because Kanda had a bad feeling about this. It had to be powerful stuff, too, considering Kanda couldn't even remember getting sick once in his life. Even the chicken pox had passed him over.

Besides the foreboding feeling, a part of Kanda was starting to regret saying 'no.'

"Well…" Lavi drawled. Insert pause for dramatic effect. In those few seconds, Kanda wondered if it would be more effective to try and take out Lavi's only eye left with a plastic spoon or fork. He was partway through considering just using one of the cafeteria provided knives before Lavi added, "That just means I can ask her out."

Drop bombshell, wait for aftermath.

"You can what?" Allen blurted out, clearly not expecting the reaction. Now all that was left to complete the image of pure shock would be milk spurting out of his nose. Too bad they weren't anywhere close to that part of the lunch line yet.

"Huh? Don't tell me you like her, too, Brit," Lavi said, pouting. Hell, it even seemed like his hair had drooped down from its normally skyward reaching state. He was more dejected than a kicked puppy that got stuck watching other puppies get kicked. It would have been heart wrenching if it weren't for the company he was in.

"Wh-what? N-no!" Allen stammered. If he wasn't on the verge of having a heart attack, the objection might have sounded way more convincing and a lot less high pitched. Holding onto his chest, Allen took a breath and put his other hand to the wall to steady himself. What was Lavi thinking? Had the whole SSGTIK thing been a bloody ruse? "It's just… you, Lavi?"

"Yeah," Kanda added, his jaw still almost locked together. "Don't you normally prefer older women anyway?" Part of him died admitting that he had paid enough attention to know the rabbit's taste in women, but he was willing to sacrifice a bit of his pride for the sake of indirectly talking Lavi out of it.

Stupid fucking rabbit, trying to get me to admit I like her. Well it's not gonna happen! As if I'd tell you something like that before I told her.

"While that may be true," Lavi mused, "it's just… Ivy has this certain charm to her. It can really change a guy's opinion." Lavi had to resist the urge to grin. Things were working out even better than he could have thought. If this didn't make Kanda crack in the long run, Lavi was willing to give up his position as the president of the SSGTIK.

Not that the position was really worth anything.

Kanda let out a loud "Che," then turned his back on Lavi. The redhead only watched as his stubborn best friend trip the guy in front of him before cutting ahead in the line, all for the sake of putting space between himself and the duo. Allen could only stare in shock.

Fine then, go ahead and ask her out! You always do whatever you want anyways. See if I fucking care!

As if sensing the state of his stomach, Jerry prepared Kanda a smaller portion of soba than usual.

A bit later than I wanted, but it's out in the world, and that's what matters.

Thanks to allyssagrace16, csd14ll, StiLu RoLu JeLu Love, Truly Dark, JuniorRaptor, KawaiiFairyStar 1000, Sesshomaru's Imouto, Daydreaming1806, PhoenixRage92, and tokyo . jpg for your favorites, follows, and reviews since the chapter 19 update. I seriously do appreciate it.

I know I've said this sort of stuff before, but I'm actually working on trying to make a dent (possible ending) to this story. The fact that I've been able to come close to finishing my novel has reminded me that I do possess the ability to finish stuff, even if they are very long. I'm going to start out by completing the rewrites, then I'll move on to all new chapters (which I've been trying to organize my outline for all day, if I'm being honest). Thank you for your patience.

The next planned update will be chapter twenty in October. That may be subject to change, but we'll see how this thing goes...

Please look forward to both the new chapter and the chapter five rewrite!

[POST] 080115