Chapter 27: Ice Storm

The wind slapped against the old glass doors of the apartment hideaway. A delicate yet intricate sheet of ice formed on the surface. Lou Fa's shoulders trembled and she tugged the thin sheet around her small frame. She gave a small glance over at the pile of clothes in the corner. Her gaze identified her outfit from yesterday. A sweet blouse, a small jacket, and a short skirt. She'd swear it was comfortable enough 24 hours ago for such an attire, but now. The woman shivered again. Did winter always hit this hard before? The cold had been seeping into the walls of their sanctuary all day and despite her efforts, it sunk into her bones. Any more time in this state would make her no different than the thick icicles that had formed on the balcony. Why had none of them thought to equip for extreme weather? Lou Fa pursed her lips and breathed through her nose. She pushed her misery down once again. Lavi and Kanda ran around as if business was still usual. Not counting Lavi's scarf, the boys did not apply any extra coverings to protect themselves. Her wallet still had some weight to it and they had decided against sourcing more winter wear. It appeared that this winter snap was weak against the exorcists. I knew they made the uniforms with extra care, but are they really that good? She giggled as an image of her in a similar getup flickered in her mind. It would be a world better than whatever scrap she was using now.

Lou Fa prayed that this cold wasn't affecting her cherished Allen in the same way that it was for her. Poor Allen was still out protecting the little Miss Ladybug. He didn't give out any specifications of where he was laying his head down, eating, or relaxing. Was he sitting out in the snow? Was he being kept warm with some soup or even just some hot water? Another sigh. Her memories rolled back to the order once again. Not her fluffy blanket, but her bed called back to her. She'd die for it…no she'd kill for it now.

With a huff, she pushed herself up as her joints cracked like ice. Kanda had been sitting in the chair against the wall the entire time. He held a small rag in his hand that he used to shine his sword. He barely moved at her sudden change. His eyes, a deep cobalt, glared up at her with an understood question.

"I'm heading down." She simply stated and marched towards the stairs.

The exorcist was quick on his feet. He held out his sword arm and blocked her with ease. "I thought you didn't have to work today."

"I don't."

"Then what are you doing?" his sharp tone made her wince, but the cold in her bones was stronger than his intimidation.

"I'm not leaving the building," he tilted his head, and she continued, "It's too cold in here. I'm going to build a fire."

"In a wooden building." The way he droned that out made Lou Fa's cheeks turn a brilliant rosy red. She averted her eyes a bit. It was rather peculiar, but what choice did she have?

"I'll do it in the broken range downstairs!"

Kanda crossed his arms and scoffed at her. "Okay…with what kind of kindling." She pointed out the peeling wallpaper. The man was unimpressed. "Alright and how are you going to even light it?"

Lou Fa opened her mouth and paused. She could get rocks, but those were outside, where the freezing temperatures were at their strongest and the nosy journalists were. She needed a spark of some kind. Her eyes wandered to the sword in Kanda's hand. Kanda tightened his grip and turned away. He glared at her.

"No."

"But, we just need to scrap it against another metal thing! Like the rack in that range. It'll make a spark if we do it just right and—"

"NO." he was firm and said nothing else.

Damn. Lou Fa looked back at the balcony doors. Lavi had left to get some provisions and more information. She'd have to wait for his return then. She could possibly convince him to summon the fire serpent from before. Sure that was big and destructive, but it was fire!

"Don't be stupid. Do you want to destroy this place?" Kanda suddenly spoke up again. He sat back down and went back to polishing the katana.

Her blush overtook her face. "I didn't even say anything!" she huffed and stomped her foot, "Besides, it could work!" He didn't even look up at her. Gosh! I see why Allen clashes so often with him!

"Do what you want, but I'm not helping. There's mountains of clothes you've brought back that would work just fine." He gestured to the folded pile of her work-related attire. She shuddered at the idea of wearing them.

The woman huffed and continued down the stairwell. At the base of the stairs was a small hall. At one end, held the front door while the other stretched and opened into a bigger room. Lou Fa passed by a few closed doors into the room. The wall that ran alongside her was decorated with dirt-crusted cabinets. The only color they had was an aged yellow. She walked over to the strange range that sat nestled in between the cabinets. It was familiar yet completely foreign at the same time. It was smooth and metal like the ranges she had encountered at the Order. The surface had four round metal circles on it and there were four corresponding dials on the edge of it. It had a door with a small black window on the face of it. It was the oven, but where—She carefully pulled it open and didn't find the fire source. Where on earth did this thing put its coal—or was it a wood one? The woman took a step back and noticed the drawer under the oven door. Aha! She reached down and pulled it open. Inside were metal pans and trays that were dusty.

"Ugh, gross." she squeezed her eyes shut and ripped the kitchenware out before setting them on the countertops. The coal or wooden pit was oddly clean for its purpose. Sure it had dust that built up in there but it had no old ash or remnants of coal. Maybe the previous owners were really particular about cleaning this. She shook her head. That was a ridiculous thought. It was one thing to clean out the ash, but to scrub the tray clean this well?

Lou Fa closed the drawer and turned her attention to the dials. Curious, she grabbed one and turned it. It did nothing but create a strange clicking sound. In fact, all of them did the same thing. "What is the—" A gasp left her as she noticed the gas smell that came off the circles on the stovetop.

"It's gas!" she shrieked in excitement. It was just like a Bunsen burner! Except larger!

Everything seemed to click in place for her. This range wasn't broken at all! It just needed a simple match. The dials controlled each burner separately. It was ingenious! God, if she could take this back with them, it would revolutionize everything. The new problem was her match. What would she even use? Kanda wasn't helping, Lavi wasn't due back for a while, and Allen was gone! The scientist opened the cabinets around her. Dusty dishes, rusted kitchenware, nothing very—Aha! In a small drawer filled with random papers, there was a small little box. She gingerly picked it up and smiled. By the rough side, she knew exactly what it was.

The girl opened the pack and took a match out. It took only a few swipes until fire was produced. Its small warmth had already made a world of difference. The girl resisted holding the flame closer and looked back down at the burners. The match followed her eye's path as she held it to the stove surface. The flames roared out as she snatched her hand away. As quick as they came, the flames simmered down into a small even circle of fire.
"Yes!" she squealed and jumped up. The floor creaked and she froze for just a second. She kept her excitement within.

The possibilities were endless now! It felt like she was back to proper civilization. She could have hot water, clean clothes, and she could finally make her own food for once. It would be grand! Kanda had walked down during her excitement. The man flinched when she whirled around to face him. She was sure that from his perspective she looked completely mad. Quickly, she snatched up one of the old and slightly dented pots. Lou Fa did not wait and forced it into his hands.
"We need water, Now."

Marinette eyes glittered at the falling snow. A blend of joy similar to the kind she felt for Adrien swirled inside her chest. Winter was always her favorite season. Immediately, she would be transported to her earlier years at the dreamy snowy sights, then the door would open. The intense cold came each time like clockwork was a literal nightmare. The layers of clothes never seemed enough. Each year another layer more would barely make a difference for her. It brought ice that caked over all the rooftops and caused her endless frustration when she patrolled. Of course, these obstacles didn't stop her from enjoying the season. Tiny snowmen dotted her balcony and ice was a detour to skate on while she was about. Her natural optimism caused her to view a chunk of ice with the same wonder as a diamond.

The best part of the season was obviously the holiday wrapped in it, Christmas. Christmas was her family tucked away with hot cocoa as the oven warmed their apartment with her Papa's baking. Christmas was the tree they teamed up to decorate and the gifts that expanded underneath it. It was the time that her parents let her watch her favorite movies over and over, pointing out the various outfits and design ideas. This happy time was definitely something she needed more this year than the last. Her hand reached up and ghosted over her shoulder. The stitches were numb underneath. Her eyes blinked as the face of the Akuma flickered in her mind. A shiver ran down her spine as her skin grew cold. It's been weeks since that encounter and only in the next one will her stitches be removed. Once they were, Ladybug would reenter the skies. Another step to going back to normality.

Marinette's footsteps fell in line with her companion. Her big eyes glanced up at his frame. Her father's coat held him and makeup covered his scarred cheek. He moved with purpose along the path she paved for them yet the gray storm in his eyes seemed to quietly thunder on. Those eyes jumped over to the people ahead of them. Marinette turned her head and took notice of the patrolling pair of officers. They harshly glared in their direction but did nothing. The sight of her city's police walking so openly was becoming more and more normal with each passing day. That Akuma was quietly tormenting them each day. Never seen, but always present. She passed a pole covered in pictures of those that recently been spirited away. Some of those unlucky souls had reappeared after the Akuma had…destroyed them. Bodies were discovered in dumpsters, sidewalks, and floating in the river. An air of anxiety was everywhere.

Allen hadn't made any changes to his routine that would suggest Christmas was on his radar. He stayed in her peripheral view always. Only ever engaging when she reached her hand to him. Would he even do anything for Christmas? Was his duty keeping him from enjoying his birthday? A thread of guilt was pulled in her heart. I'm keeping him from spending time with his friends, aren't I? Her original plan was to create gifts for his friends for him to give, but that idea would never work. He refused every offer she'd given him while he was around her. Dinner, snacks, and even movies. He politely turned her down and insisted that he didn't want to intrude on her personal time too much. That's why she wanted to bring him out. The girl grabbed his sleeve and pointed towards the nearby building. With a pull, he followed behind her as they entered the small shop. A bell dinged as they began to browse around.

"So what are we looking for?" He glanced down at her in question.

The girl hummed and swung her arms. "Not sure…I need some ideas for my gifts. Hey! What are you getting your friends for Christmas?"

"I'm not sure."

"Well.." She bounced in front of him and brought him to a stop. "What do they like? Like uh Mr. Bakanda? What does he like?"

Allen raised an eyebrow at her behavior. She simply smiled brighter as the boy seemed to scoff. "Other than being bitter? He loves Soba. Eats that stuff every day."

Marinette glanced around and spotted a tiny wall with jewelry on it. She was prepared to look away when she noticed a bracelet hanging up there. It had white lava stone beads on it. There were two silver charms on the bracelet. One was a Buddha head that acted as a final bead and the other was a lotus flower charm. The girl walked over to the wall and plucked the bracelet off. Allen trailed behind her.

"Would he like something like this?" she showed it to him.

The boy shrugged. "I don't think so. I wouldn't get that…guy…anything if I were you."

"Why not? He's your friend! And it's going to be Christmas soon!" Allen's eye twitched.

"You are a very nice person Marinette. Don't waste your kindness."

Her lips pressed into a pout. Her plan was failing. She needed to engage in a more aggressive strategy. The girl put the bracelet back onto the shelf. Marinette glanced around and saw a glimmer around the corner. The two walked over and she gasped at the object sitting on the shelf. Sitting there was an hourglass terrarium. It had a small pool inside it that was filled with various foliage and smooth rocks. The star of the show was a tall lotus flower that peaked in the top glass. The girl quickly picked the item up and glanced around her. No competition around, she turned and held it up to Allen.

"How amazing is this?"

The boy leaned in and peered at it. "Yeah! It looks cool."

"And the meaning in it is great," Marinette added. "The hourglass shape represents time and our mortality. The lotus flower symbolizes the rise out of the struggles that life puts us through. We go through the tough battles and bloom into something beautiful! It shows that we should have hope no matter what the situation is."

There was silence from Allen. His eyes were wide and he was staring at her. Marinette's cheek turned a rosy red. This has happened multiple times in her life. She'd get excited about something and suddenly gush out to the person who had been around to witness her joy. Flowers and Fashion usually brought this out of her more than anything else. The exorcist's dumbfounded expression evolved into a bright smile.

"I've never thought of it that way! Wow, Miss Marinette! With that kind of outlook, this would be a perfect gift! Let me guess…" He placed his hand on his chin with a hum, "For that girl, Alya?"

She chuckled and scratched the back of her head. "Nope! Say, what does Mr. Lavi like?"

Allen's smile faded away. "Marinette…You don't have to do—"

"What. Does. Mr. Lavi. like?" she interrupted.

He gaped at her like a fish. "I don't know. He's got the tendency to behave like a dandelion in the wind."

The girl glanced around as the information rumbled around in her brain. If she had to prepare a gift for the ginger in the beginning, she'd get the man a bag of coal with zero hesitation. But, he had a surprisingly caring nature that softened her impression of him. She smiled as the image of him holding out the tissue box to her floated up in her mind. That same tissue box from the precinct sat at her desk. Marinette hadn't the heart to give it back.

"Does he travel?" she strolled further into the store as Allen trailed behind her.

"I think we all travel really."

She huffed, "What does he do in his spare time?"

"If he's not doing his job, he's bothering everyone with something."

"Job?" her ears pricked up at that. Lavi had a Job? She glanced over her shoulder at him. Her blue eyes stared intently at him as she waited for him to clarify. What exactly did he do other than fight akuma? Marinette tried to imagine the one-eye exorcist in a common, day-to-day job. He'd stand behind a counter and tap a screen as a customer droned on in front of him. Maybe he'd scan a bag of carrots and gather groceries in a bag with a bright smile the entire time. Maybe he had a fantastical job like that of a Lawyer. The way he questioned that woman in the apartment building and how he went head to head with the Inspector would be a good piece of evidence for that. The corners of her lips curled into a smile at her musings. How silly.

"Well…I probably shouldn't say," she linked her free arm around Allen's.

"I won't tell!"

"I don't know the specifics, but he has to record history of the sort."

"So he's a historian?" Allen nodded.

She hummed before snapping her fingers. "I've got the perfect idea! Come on!"

Marinette grabbed his gloved hand. The cold leather burned slightly but she simply squeezed tighter. The girl dragged him to the opposite side of the shop. The entire wall was covered in books and trinkets. Her eyes locked on a tiny cup that had a road map of the world on it. It was obviously an old tourist trinket, but it was cool looking in her opinion. She debated it for a moment. Deciding to go for it, she reached out to grab it when a different item caught her attention. It was a small book tucked in between a pair of large hardback textbooks. Carefully, she slipped the small thing out and examined it.

It was a tiny notebook. The book was a rich brown leather that had been tied shit. It was faint, but pressed into the leather was a small compass-like symbol in the upper corner. Her eyes sparkled at the gift as she opened it to inspect its pages. The first chunk of pages was as old as the leather. It was yellowed and decayed just right for it. The rest were simply yellowed and the edges were ripped to blend them into the older pages. It held no information. Completely blank. It had been depersonalized and repurposed for the right person's new adventure.

"This would work for him."

"Marinette you don't have to do this." he pleaded.

"I know. I want to help you though. You've saved me and are protecting me while w—you guys search for that Akuma. So I want to get your Christmas gifts." She huffed.

Allen sighed as she marched to the front of the store. She bought the notebook and terrarium. With a small request, the cashier individually wrapped the items for them. The terrarium was wrapped in white paper and bagged in a small red gift bag that was decorated with glittery snow and snowmen. The notebook was wrapped in black paper and put into a box. It was wrapped in an orange wrapping paper with a black ribbon. The clerk had upsold them a nice little card as well. The card was black and had white snowflakes on it. Marinette borrowed the clerk's pen and quickly scribbled on the card before handing it over to Allen to do the same. They left the store and the crisp air whipped up more snow around them.

The last person on their list was Allen's female companion, Miss Lou Fa. Although Ladybug was aware of her, Marinette was not. She kicked a small pebble on the sidewalk as they started on their journey. The designer wondered how'd she bring up what they could get for the girl that she wasn't supposed to know. Miss Lou Fa seemed to be a kind girl from her brief interactions with her. Yet, she knew next to nothing about her. A common theme with Allen and his friends. She'd have to settle with the basics. Jewelry would be a good start but jewelry can become expensive and she didn't have much money left. Clothes would be silly as she was a model. A card was too impersonal. I can see why Alya gets so upset when I tell her I don't care what she gets me.

The girl glanced over at Allen as she rolled a game plan in her mind. The boy's gaze lingered across the street at another passing pair. Marinette peaked over his shoulder and saw a Father and Son pair skipping along the way. The man had patchy facial hair and a small flat cap on his head. He was dressed in a warm, large coat with a long scarf trailing behind him. Tugging on his hand was a small boy with shaggy chestnut hair. The kid wore a tan coat with fur and a red plaid shirt underneath. The boy seemed happy and in a huge rush.

"Come on, Papa! We'll be late!" The gleeful child was running ahead and dragging his father behind him as best as he could.

The man chuckled fondly. "I'm coming! Slow down, Alan."

Allen tensed beside her before ripping his gaze away. She saw him sigh before he caught her looking up at him. He gave her a small smile. She smiled back until the boy looked away. Once his gaze averted, she frowned. Marinette looked over her shoulder at the passing pair. Did he know them? No that wouldn't make any sense. She watched Allen out of the corner of her eye, noticing him pat the spot where his scar lay. She pushed her pride at how she applied the makeup aside as she observed him. He never did tell me how he got it…It was too wild for a regular scar. She assumed that he got it while fighting an Akuma. It was probably a large dramatic battle that he barely made it out of. She envisioned him whipping around in his white cloak, sparks flying as he dramatically sacrificed the side of his cheek to get one over on his opponent.

The heroine coughed into her fist as she stifled her imagination. "So, anyone else you want to get a present for?"

Allen hummed and she noticed his face warm up slightly. Oh? "Well, there's this...girl that I'm friends with as well. I don't think you've met her yet, but she's um.." He trailed off a bit before coughing to clear his mind, "She's very intelligent, a talented cook, and kind. She would often make me little snacks and things, but I never knew what to give back to her."

Marinette giggled, "She sounds sweet! What's her name?"

"Ah, Lou Fa."

She made a show of thinking deeply, "Do you know what she could like?"

The exorcist placed his hand on his chin and glanced up at the snowing sky. "I'm not sure." She watched his gears turn, "Ah, I remember Jiji—oh, an associate of mine—told me she's a big fan of romance novels. I'd never understand it really, but that's her favorite thing to read."

A whole world opened before her at the ideas. She was no stranger to the genre. In fact, it was her favorite pastime as well. However, she wasn't sure of what the girl had read and she doubted Allen knew. She'd have to find something that wasn't too popular, that she hadn't read before, and that wasn't toxic. Lord knew there was an influx of horrible romances nowadays—Marinette grabbed Allen's sleeve, pulling him to a stop, and gestured to the road. Cars raced by unbothered. Gosh.

"Ah, sorry. Thanks." he meekly spoke. Despite being a great fighter, he was still clueless on the most basic of things. It was getting to be dangerous. He'd gotten better since the first time he escorted her, but was still a bit slow at times.

"You seriously need to be careful, Allen. Those things will hurt you or worse, kill you if you're not paying attention." She wagged her finger naggingly at him. He simply chuckled and scratched the back of his head.

"Sorry, Sorry!"

She sighed, "Well there's this Library we can check out. I'm sure we'll find something that could suit her fancy."

Once it was safe, The two continued on their way. Maneuvering their way through the city streets. They pasted by a variety of stores. Some were clothing stores with gorgeous dresses lining the windows. Flower shops that had all its prized plants trapped inside due to the weather shift. It took a few more turns until they were a quaint shop she had been familiar with before. It was a cozy white building that had blue trimmings. They slipped inside, a bell alerting the occupants to their arrival. Other than the librarian, there was a certain ginger inside flirting with the poor lady.

"Lavi!" Allen called his attention.

She schooled her expression to one of confusion and wonder. "Marinette" had only technically met him once. It was difficult to pretend to be unaware of things while being completely in the know. Lavi turned and grinned at them.

"Moyashi-chan!" the boy held his arms out and ran towards Allen as if he was aiming to hug him. Allen sidestepped him and tripped the incoming threat.

"What are you doing here?" he was glaring but there was no malice only annoyance.

Lavi had kept himself from tumbling to the ground. With a pout, he gave Allen a playful glare. "I was doing more field research. What about you?" she saw him look down at the presents in Allen's hands.

Deciding to step in, she answered for him. "Mr. Walker was helping me get gifts for some friends of mine." She ignored Allen's stare.

Lavi finally turned his attention towards her. His playful smile turned soft at her. Clear like a summer day, she saw his sympathy shine through. Allen had made it aware to her that he was communicating with his crew while he kept by her side. So of course, Lavi knew what had occurred to her. However, she sensed something else. Something more knowing than she expected was reflected in his sympathetic gaze.

"Miss. Dupain-Cheng, I hope you're feeling okay today."

She shifted her feet slightly. "Yes, I am thank you."

"So! Gifts you say?" he clapped his hands and rubbed them together. The duo nodded.

"We're looking for a Romance novel now." Lavi hummed curiously before turning towards the front. He strolled over to the female clerk and placed his elbow on the counter. With his hand on his cheek, he leaned towards her. Marinette and Allen both rolled their eyes at the sight.

"Pardon me, my lady, have you any novel recommendations for my little friend here." He purred at the giggling librarian.

She fluttered her eyes at him. The woman spoke in a mystified tone and answered his question while twirling a strand of her hair, "There are a few books that came in recently. They might be perfect for you." She punctuated with another flutter of her eyelashes.

The three of them watched, as the women retreated to the back down and came out with a small cart with a few books on it. The woman grabbed a few off the cart and spread them onto the counter. She pointed each out and gave a brief synopsis of each. Marinette's eyes found the cover of the last book in the lineup. It was a forest green that transitioned into a lovely sunrise. A silhouette of a pair stood upon a black mountaintop and stared into the sky. A small gasp escaped her as she recognized the title.

"That one would be perfect!" she pointed it out before the woman could explain its description.

The librarian nodded in agreement. "Personally my favorite as well. I'm sure your friend would enjoy this if they haven't read it already."

Allen tilted his head, "What's it about?"

Marinette excitedly jumped up and rambled, "A war nurse and her husband go on a second honeymoon but, the nurse ends up traveling back in time. It's quite the saga!" The boys shared a look before shrugging their shoulders.

At least we got that done.

"Oh! We should also get her a Library Card. Just in case she doesn't really vibe with this book." She buzzed excitedly at the idea. The boys simply watched as Marinette arranged the new card.

Allen took a step back and let his charge take the lead on this. His heart bubbled with complications. On one hand, he was grateful for her assistance. He had no idea what he was going to get his friends for Christmas at all. Even if he did know, there hadn't been time for him to set aside funds for any gifts either. Back home, he'd usually followed whatever Lenalee advised on. If she was busy, Reever or Johnny were his other best options. The science section and Lenalee were always on top of things when it came to the Holidays. Decorations on every wall, festive coffee cups, small trees everywhere, and the entire works. They were probably sorting decorations right as this very second. He sighed. On the other hand, he didn't like having Marinette do this task for him even if she was doing so out of gratitude. She was an unfortunate victim of the Holy War and shouldn't get herself too involved with their crew. This protection detail should be all that was supposed to go on. Yet she kept inviting him further into her sphere.

Just the other day, she begged for him to join her family dinner or watch a "movie" (whatever that was). Her bright blue eyes were glimmering and nearly caused him to give in. Allen held firm. His guilt at her injuries and the invasion he already had on her life was eating him away. Besides, this won't last anyway. He peered out the window at the speeding cars. An odd invention that hurt his mind to attempt to even figure out. It was already December. He didn't think this detour would be this long. They needed to find the Akuma, then the Noah, and figure a way back home. They were needed back there. Komui's office was still overrun with mission requests and mission statements. They needed all hands on deck at this time.

He felt a small poke at his side. Allen looked up at the culprit. Lavi simply nodded over to a corner of the Library. Allen looked back at Marinette. The girl was chatting up a storm with the Librarian over the book she had chosen. The two quietly moved over to the side and spoke in hushed voices.

"We've gotten a lead on the Akuma's locations."

Allen perked up at that. "Oh?"

"It's hunting along the river and," Lavi looked over at Marinette, "by the Bakery." Allen nodded. This Akuma was a large pain. Multiple times his curse eye detected it. Every single time he would hunt it down and it would vanish completely. Somehow, it was finding ways to slip out of his sight at every turn.

"Have you and Kanda searched along the bank?"

Lavi nodded, "Every night. That thing is nowhere to be found."

"Night...have you tried doing a day search for it, ya know so—" Lavi shook his head and cut him off.

"The civilians are making it difficult for that." The bookman sighed, "It's never been this hard to work with the populous before. They're so…nosy! And it's hard to pick out if one of them is the Akuma approaching when they're all being strange."

Allen pursed his lips. Sure they stuck out, but normally people minded their own business. This would be simpler for them all if he was able to go along the river to check with them. However, that would mean putting Marinette in harm's way. He sighed deeply again while massaging his temple. Bodyguard assignments were always the tricker ones to complete.

"In any case, the Akuma is targeting Miss Marinette. Maybe…we should come up with a new tactic?" Allen glared up at him.

"I'm not using her as bait, Lavi."

"What—No No, I'm just saying maybe we should move her and see if the Akuma follows."

"So bait.."

"Okay, technically yes, but we need to put a stop to this before it levels up even further." The bookman reasoned.

Allen sighed at the other's logic. He didn't like it, but it was true. They needed to do something fast. There was only so much he could do while he was stuck watching over the poor girl. He felt bad for her to experience her first Akuma and agreed to the protection detail since he suspected that Innocence was around/on her. However, he has not found Innocence anywhere. Allen glanced down at the small bag that swung around her shoulder. There was something around her. He'd see a flash in the corners of his vision, but nothing in the open. He'd catch her whispering to herself at points. A trait that he was unsure if it was because of her personality or if it was about Something else.

When it came to hunting down the Akuma, he could only do so much. Leaving her unattended for too long or even venturing too far could backfire on him. Akuma—the higher their level—tended to be more manipulative and strategic. Allen was sure that it was waiting for him to slip up. Lavi and Kanda were doing their part as well, but with his insistence that Lou Fa couldn't be left unattended as well, it put the same burden on their shoulders. There wasn't going to be any kind of progress if things didn't change.

"Fine, but I have two conditions."

Lavi nodded his head. "Of course."

"First, Miss Marinette is still injured. We must wait until she's healed up more. You and I both know how hard it is to protect the injured while fighting." Lavi hummed in agreement. "And she must agree to be bait. If she doesn't, then we find a new strategy."

"That's fair. I'll let Kanda know." He reached up and placed a hand on one of his earrings.

"Alright, sorry about that! We're good to head out." Marinette had skipped over to them with the book. She stopped and looked between the two. "Is everything okay?"

Allen and Lavi both put on a polite and professional smile. In complete unison, they replied, "Yes, everything is all good." She blinked at them but said nothing.

"Oh!" Lavi snapped his fingers, "What time is it?" Allen felt a slight drumming beginning in the side of his head.

Marinette glanced at her phone, "Ah, 17:15."

"Darn, I gotta go and get groceries." That caused Allen to tilt his head. Lavi noticed his confusion and further elaborated, "Lou Fa fixed the range and wants to make dinner."

Allen's gaped, "Wha—when did she do that?"

"This morning, if you can believe it. Gosh, I can't wait for it honestly. I was getting a bit tired with takeout food." Lavi smiled and patted his stomach.

The exorcist sighed as he felt a twinge of envy for his comrade. He would've loved to have something homemade. The quick takeouts and snacks that he had been living on these past few weeks were taking their toll. There was only so much nutrients that he could get from them. His innocence was making it very clear what the lack of proper food was doing to his body. Lavi waved them goodbye as the ginger trotted out of the Library. Allen felt a tug at his side and glanced down at his charge. Marinette had carefully grabbed his coat and was smiling up at him.

"We should probably head back home for dinner as well." Home…he tried not to let himself linger on the word for too long. "You'll join us this time, won't you?"

He pursed his lips. "I…I don't know." her eyes were big and pleading. Allen grimaced at the sight. Damnit. He glanced away but she tugged again at him.

"Please? I just.." she gave a big dramatic sigh, "I haven't seen you eat at all. You're protecting me, aren't you? I need to know that you're taking care of yourself too."

Allen was quiet for a moment before his shoulders relaxed. "Only this once." one time would be enough to get her to stop, wouldn't it?

The way that the girl had brightened up reminded him of the sun peeking out of the horizon in the early hours. She threw her arms up in victory and gave an excited jump. Allen simply shook his head at her antics.

"Allen is coming over for dinner. Please be normal."

That was the only request she had made for her parents. A futile effort. They had pulled out the special table cover and the slightly fancier dishware. The dinner spread was larger than normal. Her parents were beaming with pride and joy as they ushered Allen into their abode. The girl looked his way and took notice of how he stared hard at the food. As if he could devour it with a simple gaze.

Her dad was the first to approach Allen with an outstretched hand. "Welcome back, my boy."

Shaking his hand, he responded, "Thank you. I hope I didn't cause too much trouble for you."

"Nonsense! Any friend of my daughter is a friend to my family." Tom wrapped his arm around his shoulder, "Come, have a seat!"

The group quickly seated themselves and it wasn't long before forks were hitting plates. Marinette couldn't help but observe in between bites the way Allen devoured his meal. He had definitely needed this dinner more than she had thought. It was also rather humorous to see his face contort with extreme delight with every single bite. Allen Walker, as she had seen him, always had a neutral expression or a small smile on his face. Seeing his obvious joy made the meal feel tastier. Sitting beside her, her mother was the first to strike up more conversation.

"How have you been Allen, dear?" she spoke softly.

Allen patted his mouth was a napkin, "I've been well, ma'am."

"We haven't seen you or your friends at the Bakery as of late."

"We've been busy locating the Akuma that harmed Miss Marinette." Grateful smiles spread on their faces. Her father leaned back and patted the boy's shoulder. Allen simply nodded his head at him with his signature polite smile.

"Still, Heroes need to eat." Her mother giggled as she pointed at Allen's cleared plate. "Would you like more?"

"Ah," a blush bloomed on the pale boy's face as he placed his utensils down. His eyes briefly looked in her direction. Marinette arched an eyebrow and gave him a smile, "If that's alright." Her mother beamed and quickly refilled the boy's plate.

"Hungry weren't you?" Her father let out a deep chuckle and tilted back in his chair. He cupped his chin and looked off into a corner of the room. "Man, reminds me of when Marinette had a cake for the first time, don't you remember Honey?"

Her mother laughed and nodded her head. Allen tilted his head with a hum. Marinette groaned. Not this again. "Papa! Please!"

Much to her horror, her father turned to Allen and began to relay the classic tale. Her protests went ignored. The seamstress turned beet red as her father went on. From descriptions of how wide her eyes had gotten at the first bite to how her cheeks were covered in icing. Allen's polite smile grew into a wide grin as he looked between her and her father. It seemed he was finding the whole affair to be amusing.

"—there was cake everywhere and all over her. I think I even have a photo."

"AH! Please don't!" The entire table exploded into laughter.

The house had died down after dinner ended. The only sounds were of the cars that still roamed outside and the clinking of porcelain plates. Allen had insisted on helping Marinette's family with the dinner cleanup. It was only fair after experiencing such a wonderful meal. Her father, Tom, aided him in the task which Allen was secretly grateful for. The boy's heart felt lighter after the meal had ended. Her parents were truly wonderful people. He'd bet they'd get along with everyone back at the base. Allen's hands hesitated before resuming drying a small plate. The reminder of everyone waiting for them back home caused his mood to dip. It's been over a month since they got stuck here. Things were not looking up at all.

"Allen," the boy's head shot up and he looked at Tom. The man was holding a wet plate out to him with a concerned expression, "Are you alright?"

Allen blinked and gave him a sheepish smile, "Ah, Yes. I'm sorry." He reached out and plucked the plate from his hand with a small thank you. The boy began drying the dish. Each swipe soaked up water and his rumbling feelings.

"What's wrong son?" Allen flinched at the word and pursed his lips.

"Nothing's wrong Sir, just—" the excuse was on the tip of his tongue but the man's honest gaze made his heart falter, "missing home." Shit, why did I say that? Tom's expression softened.

"I'm sure your parents are missing you just as much. Don't worry. I know you'll be back soon enough." The elder's smile felt warm.

Allen couldn't bear to keep eye contact. The boy averted his gaze to the plate in hand. His chest tightened. He tried pushing and pushing the feelings down again. It's been a constant task that he'd done since he could remember. The plate in his hand shuned with a small hint of his reflection. Even there, he saw it haunting him. He was used to ignoring the unknown nature of his birth. The people in his life early on already told him all he needed to know. He was abandoned. Sold for an abnormal arm. A blessing, really. He met Mana. Found a soul that who loved someone as undeserving as him. Although…he looked at the small dot that swirled around his image, even if it wasn't really him that he loved. There his heart went again. So, he pushed. Tom seemed to catch onto his change in demeanor. The man stopped washing and dried his hands.

"Ah…that's a nice idea to think of."

"What do you mean?" Allen made the mistake of looking back at Tom. There was something about him that made him feel odd. His eyes were too kind. He had an intimidating frame yet a very gentle demeanor. It was hard to ignore.

"They…I never knew them." he stacked the dry plate onto the pile beside him.

"Oh." He saw the color drain from behind the man's large mustache.

"They had…They decided that they didn't want me when I was a child." It was true. It was what he was told all the time.

"What? No. How could they? I'm so sorry."

"It's okay, it was so long ago, I don't even remember it honestly. I'm sure they had their reasons."

"A true parent would never give their child up willingly."

Allen shook his head. His eyes locked onto the blue icebox with all the various pictures and notes. "Where I come from, many people have had to give up their children or leave them behind. If they couldn't afford to feed them or if they had no other choice, it was common…Especially if they had any medical defects."

"Is that why they abandoned you?" the boy flinched and rubbed his elbow awkwardly.

"It's not as obvious now, but my arm was defective when I was a child. I couldn't use it very well at all. I'm much better now. I've—" he chuckled sadly, "—gotten time to adjust. It still causes me to stumble at times, but I've learned to work through it. A kid with a useless arm is not something that any parent would want. I don't know what my parent's financial situation was at the time. I can only guess that it wasn't well enough to afford any type of care for it." Allen finally made eye contact with Tom and saw the heartbreak on his face. He panicked at the sight. "Ah! Please don't feel bad about it. I'm okay now."

Tom rushed towards him and scooped him into a hug. Allen tensed up hard at the sudden affection. The man's embrace was warm and hit a deep part of his heart. It shot into a place that Allen had long dismissed.

"I'm sorry Allen. You didn't deserve any of that."

Allen opened his mouth to retort when he felt a large hand pet his head gingerly. Something built up in his throat and he felt his face grow warm. The man's words echoed in his head and in his soul.

"I—" he snapped his mouth back closed again. His voice sounded so broken. Oh no. Allen felt like something was hitting the barrier inside him. He had spent years perfecting keeping his feelings at bay. It was an exhausting task. His eyes glazed over. Allen shut his eyes tight and shook his head. The dam was beginning to chip and crack. Oh no NO No no.

"I'm…I'm sorry, I shouldn't—" his watery voice was getting difficult to control. Tom said nothing more and just squeezed him. That was all it took. The tears boiled over and ran down his face like a rushing river.

There was a deep sinking that reached Gabriel's bones. A cold air washed over him as he sat within his lair of glowing moths. Their random flight patterns matched the chaos in his mind. It had been weeks since he created an Akuma. Absent-mindedly, he scratched the back of his hand and gazed down at this wedding band. His last attack had ruined everything. Every time he blinked, the horror of it all burned into his brain. Was all this agony worth it?

It will be. I have to do this. Even if others suffer because of it.

A normal human being would be horrified by that thinking. They hadn't been through what he had. If they did and realized that the power to fix things was in their hands. They would be singing a different tune. That was the darkness of humanity. Once in despair, they'll do anything. Absolutely anything. They would go against all logical thinking with the hope that something would turn their situation back around.

Speaking of despair…

He looked over his shoulder at his boss. The man was lounging in a chair reading a book. Unlike last time, he was dressed in a regular suit and tie. He looked absolutely bored. Next to him, standing like a soldier was a short redhead girl he had possessed once. The girl's skin was metallic gray and she had a black star on her forehead. The villain's gut violently twisted. That poor unfortunate soul. It was his fault that her life was lost. Noticing his stare, the Akuma tilted their head and grinned. He cowardly tore his eyes away. What's done was done and he couldn't turn back now. Sacrifices have to be made.

"Monsieur Mikk, if I may inquire, What is it that we are going to do now?"

Tyki halted and closed his book. "Do you know how many levels an Akuma can get to?"

"That I know of…three?" he had seen level ones and twos many times during his lifetime. He only saw one level three. Rainy skies emerged in his mind. Blonde hair flying through the wind. Screams of fear and the loudest beating of his heart he'd ever felt. A shiver ran down his spine at the image. He pushed the memory far back in his mind. Now was not the time.

"So far, Akumas that we've used towards the exorcists have been level four."

Level four!? "What does that have to do with our next move?"

The Noah looked up and gave him a smirk. "We're waiting until our target feels safe. We'll strength our power—" he glanced over at the Akuma. "—then remind them that there is no place safe for them."

His eyebrow furrowed as his irritation rose. Out of fear, he kept his tone as level as he could, "Who is the target, sir?"

Tyki never even told him who they were trying to get with that monster. He presumed it was one of the exorcists, but why use a student? Surely they had other akuma that would be far more useful than this one.

"A tiny bug."

So...ngl i did lose a bit of interest with MLB, but we have more seasons and now Allen's Backstory is coming out! so I'm opening my folders again.

-Ciao