midnightstar | A SURPRISE LENALEE APPROACHES; Command?

Of course it would take more to throw off the sweeper bloodhound drone off this particular trail. If Jerry wanted straight answers then he would have to find a way to eliminate that particular audience.

Allen flashed Lucy a small understanding smile. He didn't blame her or anything since he was just as blatant towards the motherly inclined cook.

Lenalee didn't think he was fooled, but he knew how to be subtle. And he hadn't missed the way that drone was keeping tabs on Allen. He'd just have to shove the drone in a closet and grill Allen later. Or Lenalee, while they were cooking.

"I don't think Komui realized the problem with that milk he gave me last night," Lenalee said, giving the drone a cautious glance as she updated her friend. "So it's lucky I caught him before he gave any to anyone else."

both of those options were his best bet at getting a straight answer. He was one of the few either him or Lenalee might open up to.

"That's a relief. We don't want another Komuvitan kind of outbreak after all." Though part of him was DEFINITELY thankful Lenalee had gotten hit with it first and she'd come to him. Otherwise it might have been years before they got to the point that their feelings were laid out on the table in full between them.

Lenalee shuddered at that reminder. On the one hand it really drove home how much her brother valued the Exorcists, remembering each and everyone who fell like that - unlike the Inspector who treated them like throwaway fodder. On the other... it was kinda scary.

"You're not kidding. Everyone would be running around acting like cats." Again, in her case. "Actually I'm kind of amazed you didn't turn when you got bit back then." She'd be amused to know -WHY- he didn't.

"Ahahaha well I couldn't let that happen. My pride wouldn't allow it." It was silly but it was also the full truth. Allen was quite proud of some parts of him. Not many but there were enough and certainly enough to stave off becoming a biting infection vector like Krory.

The silly conversation at least, was successful in general chatter and in making the drone give up on eavesdropping. Nothing juicey going on here that'd interest Komui, so it puttered off to sweep a different part of the hall. Jerry meandered back towards the table with the breakfast, glancing in the direction the drone went. "Here you go kids, eat up~!" Naturally, Allen had ten times the amount Lenalee did.

"Thank you Jerry! This looks amazing!" Allen's eyes could almost be seen sparkling in anticipation at the morning feast before him. Oh he was going to enjoy this and even better was that Lenalee was at the same table with him. This was the pinnacle of a morning in Allen's books. Something he could only hope to enjoy every day!

Lenalee smiled, watching Allen for a few seconds before tucking into her own meal. Maybe it was her imagination but it even tasted better than before. Was that from Jerry's skill though, or because of how things turned out with her and Allen?

Jerry stayed by the table to chat a bit though, since the drone had wandered off - and he was keeping a close eye on it since he had suspicions given the way Lenalee kept glancing at Allen with a smile. Not to mention how happy Allen was just with her sitting next to him.

"Soooo, if you guys aren't going to be dispatched out for a while, do you have any plans for your free time?"

"Hmmm?" He said his mouth still full. He quickly chewed his bites of food though and then swallowed before speaking up again properly.

"Well Ummm Maybe explore the surrounding woods on the island if I'm not sparring in the training room." Both of those options did NOT exclude Lenalee but saying it out loud was still far too risky even with the drone puttering off.

Lenalee skirted a glance at Allen at mention of exploring the woods. That sounded like it'd be interesting - she certainly hadn't explored the island much herself, staying close to the Order. "Oh! You'll have to let me know if you find anything interesting then." She said innocently. See, she wouldn't just assume to go along with him.

She'd wait till the day of, or before, to ask him to go with him. When there weren't extra ears about. "I'm sure Komui would like to know too." She's... going to have to ask Allen if he thinks steak will bribe Timcanpy to keep certain memories private though. Or something.

Jerry looked thoughtful, and then brightened with a grin, making a note to himself. "What about you Lenalee?"

"Oh, I'll probably be training also. And helping Komui out around the Order while we're all still getting settled in." She flashed a smile at Jerry, reaching over to nab the cup of tea.

Yep, it's totally innocent and they're not going to be doing things together. Except maybe training, but that was normal. Wait, it would draw attention if she went out of her way to not be around him too wouldn't it..?

Allen was infinitely thankful for Lenalee's ability to act like that. He would have loved nothing more than to invite her openly but that was simply not a course of action he could take if he wanted to keep his head on his shoulders for the the rest of his life.

"Of course. I'll be sure to tell you as soon as I get back." Oh dear Allen might want to tone down how bright that smile of his was. Luckily Jerry moved on to Lenalee after that. As for Timcampy. Well he could be negotiated with and bribed.

"Of course. You are after all the one who brings the lifeblood of coffee to everyone in the research department. I've seen how they get when you are on a mission. Not a pretty sight."

It wasn't easy. She really wanted to sit closer to him; she had to consciously remind herself not to lean towards him in her chair. Being able to keep the conversation innocent and off of them helped. She laughed at the mention of the researchers, "Yeah, the Research Team and Komui are always pulling late hours --" Er. Maybe she should phrase that as 'because of Komui' but of course she wouldn't see that that way. This was a war - sleep was a luxury when you were racing against time and the enemy. "It's the least I can do to help everyone out." She wasn't a researcher and she'd only be in the way if she tried helping there, so keeping everyone awake so they could get the work done - which would eventually get passed on to the Exorcists - was the best way to help. "I guess they're even more tired and cranky when I'm away."

"MMm yeah. They also seem to have developed a taste for YOUR coffee specifically. The last time Jerry sent me up there with a tray they complained how it wasn't the same." Yes he was throwing the research group under the bus but it was perfect cover to keep things between him and Lenalee hidden.

Jerry gasped, breaking into the completely innocent cover conversation at that. "Wait a second, was this last week? Those ingrates should be lucky I brewed that coffee for them specially." Yeah, Allen you totally got the science division in trouble now are you proud of yourself? Shaaaaaaaaaame.

Lenalee set her cup of tea down with a laugh, "I.. I'm sure they didn't mean anything by it..!" She was about to offer to show Allen how she brewed the offee, but decided against it, quickly. More importantly Jerry looked like he was tempted to hunt down the poor researchers himself!

Allen could be fairly cutthroat at times. Still he would throw a lifeline for sake of saving them a bit of grief.

"Now now! I didn't say they hated it. Just that it wasn't the same without Lenalee's touch to it." That was all really. Hopefully it would help appease the outraged cook.

It was return of Dark Allen! Or almost, if he hadn't decided to show a little mercy to the scientists. Jerry glanced at Allen again, frowning a little, but eventually relented - with a little grumble. "Well... I supposed everyone has their own tastes.." Grumble Grumble.

Lenalee giggled quietly, glancing over at Allen again. Just -barely- dodged the bullet on that one - for the scientists anyway. Jerry took his grumbling back into the kitchen in any case, leaving the two to finish their breakfast and try very hard to not touch or get closer or blow their cover in any way shape or form. At least on Lenalee's part anyway. She kept her attention for the most part on finishing her breakfast calmly, glancing over at Allen, "Are you going to explore the island after breakfast?" Maybe she could offer to look for herbs for Jerry's cooking and join up with him~!

Did he ever really leave though? What if he'd just gone to sleep for a bit. Allen did watch Jerry skulk back to the kitchen. He couldn't do any more damage control than that though so he returned to eating and chatting with Lenalee.

"Yes that's right. I was thinking of starting at the docks and then just going from there in a circle around the HQ"

Well that wouldn't be a surprise then. Typical Dark Allen, the sneak! Lying in wait to pounce at the first opportunity. Lenalee will have to watch out for that! Only not really.

"Ah, okay..!" Lenalee answered, absolutely not planning on offering to get fish from the docks or herbs. And certainly not imagining sitting cuddled up on the dock with Allen and she really should stop that.

Quickly getting to her feet, she sighed, "Well then, I should go check in on Komui and the rest and see if they need any coffee or anything." She doubted it though - they usually didn't need it until later in the evening. Which meant she had all day to spend with Allen-- er...

He really didn't want Lenalee to god but again necessity trumped personality wishes and in a way that belied greatness too.

"Yes okay. Take care Lenalee." Oh that was a slip up but given he didn't make an effort to hide it, was more surprising it came out today of all days.

After that Allen handed the dishes back to Jerry and excused himself with all due haste eager to leave the surveillance net he could sense around him.

Jerry HEARD that Allen! ...so did Trash bot, but it was fortunately a relatively harmless comment to make. Lenalee flashed a smile at him, waving, "You too, Allen ..!" phew, she came close to tacking on something else to that sentence.

She turned and determinedly stepped out of the mess hall. She of course, would keep her word and see her brother and if the researchers needed anything. But the entire time she was almost antsy, wanting to scurry out to find Allen.

Unfortunately it was at least an hour before Lenalee was free to wander off, at which point she immediately made for the door outside. Allen couldn't have covered -that- much ground in an hour -- at least, not for someone who wore the Dark Boots.

She would find Allen standing on the pier looking over the water, throwing a stone he'd picked up from the shoreline, aiming to get at least ten skips out of each toss. He wasn't in a hurry to start exploring the forest. Almost as if he knew something was missing.

"Allen~!" Lenalee called out, sprinting through the air. For a second it reminded her of... nope, not revisiting that, thanks. And it had a far far better ending, when she caught sight of Allen skipping rocks at the pier.

She actually overshot slightly, then danced back through the air and landed lightly as a butterfly, stumbling a step forward and exhaling a breath. "There you are.."

Allen paused right before another throw as Lenalee finally came into view, prompting him to step back a bit to let her have room to land in front of him, catching her after the stumble with a small chuckle.

"Easy there. Were you having trouble finding me?" Allen asked with a warm smile as that missing feeling suddenly got sorted out.

"A little," Lenalee answered with a sheepish blush, "I almost didn't see the pier here, but I saw those rocks you were throwing. Or rather, the ripples they were making." Since he had caught her, she leaned in to wrap her arms around him into a hug, with a long sigh.

It was only an -hour-, it was crazy how much she had wanted to be at his side. What would happen if they were on separate missions?

Allen smiled ever so warmly as Lenalee landed in his arms. Yes finally. That feeling of something missing was finally gone and done with. Now he could enjoy a rare moment of peace with his dear...lover. THat thought was blooming early on his mind but he still felt it applied.

"Well you're here with me now nd I would not change that for the world~"

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