midnightstar | A SURPRISE LENALEE APPROACHES; Command?

Despite all of everything the Black Order has been through, it was business as usual for the various teams. Lenalee and Allen were in one team with Miranda and a few Finders. Lucky them, their mission took them to the mountains - beautiful scenery, but cold weather. Fortunately they managed to find a small inn with vacancies, so they could stay indoors. Amazingly, Miranda was actually sleeping more peacefully than Lenalee at the moment.

Although after all of the scenarios and seeing all of the deaths in the war with the Earl and fighting the akuma, (...not to mention what she personally has been through), it really should come as no surprise that Lenalee's sleep was less than restful. While she managed to snatch an hour or two here and there of sleep, worries about her friends, her brother, and one exorcist in particular all contributed to making her nightmare particularly bloody and gruesome. When she jerked awake for the second time that night (or was it third, she wasn't sure), she knew she wouldn't be able to get back to sleep right away, so she silently slipped out of her room, padding down the hall. Maybe a glass of water would settle her nerves.

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"Lenalee pretty much summed it up. We'll be getting our briefing after we finish up here. Hopefully it won't be too long." Allen said with a small sigh. He really wanted some more time with Lenalee but the war didn't care about such things.

As he pondered on that, he felt Lenalee's hand over his and turned it with the palm facing upwards so his finger laced with his beloved's. Beloved. That was a very fitting word for it even if he felt bashful just imagining saying that out loud.

Once her plate was placed in front of her, Lenalee --was left with a puzzle. How to eat when she didn't want to let go of Allen's hand. She could, however, sip her drink a little just to delay that inevitability. "It really does look fantastic, Jerry." She praised the chef with a grin, idly wondering what it would be like to feed Allen ...using a fork or something of course, and not..by hand... ah...

She felt her face grow pink when she remembered when he was sucking on her finger last night. God the look on his fa-ACK, stop that Lenalee! She shook her head quickly and drew her hand away from his with an embarrased smile. Dear lord it was dangerous to just -think- about him.

Fortunately Jerry missed that little moment of embarrassment from the both of them, his back turned to put away some things. "Well for your sakes I hope it will be wrapped up quickly. It seems a shame that you have to go out so soon after finding each other like you have." He noted.

Allen was unbelievably just as torn. But with Lenalee taking the first step to pull away he managed to follow suit in the end. Even so while he devoured his delicious morning feast he would constantly sneak glances over to Lenalee, thinking of the way she ate so cutely. Yes now that he was at this stage he could see so many more cute things about the way she acted usually. It only made the love in his heart grow all that more.

Another consequence of these proceedings was that anyone going near the two would feel something akin to an invisible imperceptible bubble encasing the two and the table they were at.

It was even more obvious to Jerry, since he was closest in proximity to the pair, watching out of the corner of his eye the way they diligently tucked into their food, but still sneaked glances over to each other. With Lenalee's cheeks tinging pink everytime Allen glanced at her, and though she sat separately from him, she still managed somehow, to lean in his direction unconsciously.

Jerry had considered breaking into that little bubble between them - well, trying anyway - but even he could see that he wouldn't be able to get their attention. Nothing short of Komui waltzing into the room or Allen being attacked by a Komurin, or their new base being attacked would get their attention right now. He quietly prayed none of those things would happen. Well maybe the Komui one, but the two would see their delusional friend soon anwyay.

Ahh, young love really was the most beautiful thing he'd seen in ..ever actually. He only wished he could something to help them with their relationship obstacles. One of said obstacles named Komui.

So just like that the two lovebirds had their filling breakfast under the gaze of jealousy and adoration of everyone still in the cafeteria. Allen didn't spare them so much as a single glance while the food in his plate gradually lost shape and quantity. Still it was a bit just a bit slower than usual due to his frequent peeking over to Lenalee's side.

The two of them had more determination than they had any right to have at their age. So Komui was fighting a losing battle in terms of breaking through that resolve.

They also deserved that happiness, more than anyone else, after the suffering they've had. Finding love in each other surely was a good start to balancing out all the suckiness they'd been through. Maybe.

Either way, not even Komui would be able to get Lenalee to change her mind about Allen. Once he understood how determined they were to be together, and that things wouldn't change between him and Lenalee, he ought to settle down. She hoped.

Lenalee on the other hand, kept her eyes on her plate, though she could feel Allen's glances which made her warm and tingly all over. Frankly she feared if she looked at him, she'd try to feed him some of her own breakfast- or his. Though there wasn't much left, regrettably, which meant they'd have to go on to see Komui soon.

They surely did. The payoff would only truly come after the war was over but until then they had found something else to tide them by, to give them purpose in a life filled with loss and conflict.

One good consequence of his slower eating and distracted glances was the fact that Allen wound up finishing his meal shortly.

"mmmmm that was a feast and a half, Jerry!"

"From you two, that's the highest praise I can get," Jerry grinned, glancing between the pair. Lenalee was already getting to her feet to help offer the plates, but he shooed her away. "Come on now, no trying to steal my job here." He teased. "I'll take care of the things in the kitchen, you two do what you do best."

Lenalee smiled slightly, nodding agreement. "Well.. then I guess we should get going." She'd ..kind of wanted to linger a little and help with the plates since it'd give her a few minutes more with Allen. But Jerry was right - separating from him would be like taking a bandaid off of an injure. Better to just..yank it off quickly, right? You only suffer more if you let it linger. Or..something.

"What we do best?" Allen repeated quietly before he followed Lenalee's lead in the end. For once he didn't feel all that bad about leaving the cleanup to Jerry. A bit of selfishness on his part but Jerry did allow it with tacit approval.

So just like that the two exorcists left the cafeteria and headed towards the den of the metaphorical dragon. Along the way though, Allen's hand did find its way brushing against Lenalee's as they walked.

And they're off! Though like Allen, she didn't push too hard to help Jerry with the dishes, like she normally did. "Maybe he means... dealing with Akuma?" Lenalee ventured, walking as closely to him as she could without bumping into him, her hand moving to brush against his as well. It was the closest she could come to affection with him in public without triggering any of the Komurin sentry bots patrolling the halls.

"Mmmm maybe" Allen shrugged in the end and just discarded that topic entirely, focusing on small chatter and the occasional contact of his hand with Lenalee until they would have to go into the den of the dragon himself.

She had to resist the urge to slow her steps on the way to her brother's office, raising her hand to knock when they arrived. "Here goes," she whispered to Allen when she heard her brother's groggy response. He must not have had his coffee. That was her fault, she usually brought it to him. Well, he was a big boy who could get his coffee too, but he neglected his own needs often.

"Good morning, Komui," Lenalee chirped, quickly drawing away from Allen to move to her brother's side.

Komui responded with a massive, sleepy yawn, rubbing his eyes as he smiled at the pair, "Oh, good morning you two. Sorry about that. I just can't quite wake up."

"I'll make some coffee for you," Lenalee offered, padding over to the coffee machine.

"Ah, thank you Lenalee," he smiled widely at his little sister, then -glanced- at Allen with a more polite, hesitantly suspicious look. "And how did you sleep, Allen?"

Allen felt a bit responsible for Komui's state since Lenalee's coffee was the lifeblood of the science division. But he couldn't bring himself to feel too much regret either. He might have acted like a gentleman most of the time but he still had a fairly selfish side deep deep down.

Thankfully his pokerface was all back in place so when Komui threw that question his way, he flashed his perfect trademark smile.

"Same as always. A perfectly restful sleep."

"Hmm, at least someone here was able to get some rest," Komui grumped, until Lenalee approached with the coffee.

One sip and he was revitalized, almost like a new man even! "HAHA! Is there nothing like the recuperative properties of a hot drink from someone who loves you~! Thank you Lenalee, you're such a good sister~!" He chugged two more gulps of coffee as Lenalee gave Allen an amused glance, taking her place near him, but not so near as to make Komui worry.

"Ah, that's better," Komui sighed, smacking his lips and glancing at them again as if just remembering they were there. "Oh! That's right, of course, you're here about the missions, correct?"

Lenalee nodded, inwardly bracing herself for the shoe that was sure to drop. Komui took a moment, unintentionally buildling suspense as he searched for their mission papers, "Here we go - Lenalee, you're to go to Spain to investigate rumors of an Innocence being found. Allen, you're to go..." He paused, tempted to suggest somewhere as far from his sweet Lenalee as possible. But there was no need for that! "Scotland; there's been suggestion of activity from a large swarm of Akuma, and it could be just a distraction from the Earl, but we don't think it'd be a good idea to completely ignore it. I doubt it's anything particularly dire, but the Akuma swarm is disturbingly close to the human villages - so evacuation and extermination of the Akuma should be your priority."

Allen didn't break character at all even though on the inside he was already dreading his potential destination. Luckily enough the mission wouldn't take him that far from HQ. Scotland was part of the British isles after all. Compared to Lenalee who had to go all the way to spain, odds were he would make it back first.

He took the papers from Komui and gave them a quick lookover after passing Lenalee her papers as well.

"Understood! I won't fail." Allen nodded firmly. As if he'd let that horde of Akuma anywhere near a settlement once he was deployed.

Lenalee accepted her mission papers with ease, keeping her focus on her brother, and certainly keeping her disappointment that she was going to be further away than she expected.

In a way this was better, at least for her - she'd have been going out of her mind waiting for him to come back to her, if their missions were reversed. Allen surely would be able to handle the wait better than her..

...Unless...something happened and he wasn't able to get back before her. Agh, no, don't even think about that happening. "You can count on me, Komui." She assured him, even though she knew he would be perfectly happy if she didn't have her Innocence, when she wouldn't put herself in harms way.

In fact, if it game down keeping Allen or the INnocence, she'd bet he'd pick Allen. "So then I'll-"

"Ah, one moment," Komui held up a hand, "I wanted ot talk to you before you leave. You can go ahead though, Allen." He was totally not tring to be sneaky and keep them from leaving at the same time.

It wouldn't be that much easier for him but he would be able to hide it from most that much better. He would still miss Lenalee terribly while counting down the days until they were reunited while also hoping he wouldn't get another mission while she was still out on her spain one.

That being said while he didn't show his suspicion openly, he felt something was off about Komui asking Lenalee to stay. That being said if he did anything to show his suspicion things would get...complicated. So he had no other choice but to nod and give Lenalee one brief meaningful look goodbye before he left through the door albeit not in a hurry.

It'd be evil of Komui to do that... but he might do just that if something came in. Lenalee didn't suspect her brother of such deviousness, despite the sorts of evil shenanigans he's gotten up to. First and foremost he knew Allen was Lenalee's dearest friend - though he still didn't believe - or let himself believe - just how dear he was to her. He had to know Lenalee would want to see Allen the minute she got back -- well Komui first, THEN Allen. So he wouldn't do a thing like that maybe..right?

She certainly caught the look from Allen, watching him go, but she had to force herself to look back to Komui and not let her gaze linger any longer than it would normally. She's kept in Komui's room about... ten minutes longer, and then she pads out with an unhurried pace, closing the door behind her.

Only once the door was shut did she turn to bolt down the hall to try to catch Allen before he left. Unless he had waited patiently and she was going to crash into him instead, that is.

Allen didn't risk waiting near the office since Komurin's were abound and he would be cause on the surveillance golems. Instead he'd gone back to his room and packed his things as swiftly as possible before heading over to the ARk room. However much to Link's chagrin regarding schedule deviations, Allen had stopped right there and sat down to wait.

How lucky! Oh - sorry Link, are you there too? Lenalee, when she caught up with Allen and saw he was waiting for her to catch up with him, couldn't help but smile softly. "Allen.." She couldn't very well throw herself into his arms and hold him as tightly as she could, knowing they'd be away from each other for days possibly even weeks.

And Link is watching too. Darnit. He's worse than Komui. She smiled sweetly at him in greeting, and then turned that smile on to Allen. ".. I'm glad I caught you before you left. I wanted to see you off. "

One just had to think of the inspector as furniture. Allen had voiced that to be his stance ever since the man had been assigned as his personal shadow. As such he didn't really give a damn how huffy or puffy he was getting. Especially not when Lenalee came running onto the scene. His smile immediately softened into fondness.

"I was hoping to see you too. I'm glad you made it." Allen smiled as well before he reached over to take one of Lenalee's hands in his own. It was the least he would settle for. Well no there was one more thing to do before he left.

Lenalee pulled her gaze away from Link - Allen took priority, and she closed her hands on his gently, smiling. That smile- she'd always loved to see him smile at her, but now it made her giddy and excited and calm all at the same time. "So am I. ... it looks like you'll.. probably get back before me." Provided nothing went wrong, but she doesn't want to think about that potential. "Come back safely." And swiftly. She'd try to wrap things up just as quickly.

Well she gave him so much to smile about she could look forward to more of it from now on. Allen's smile grew even fonder as he felt her hands wrap around his.

"Seems so. I'll be counting the days." Allen chuckled softly before he raised her hands a bit more but not yet to the fullest like he intended.

"I will. After all I have even more reason to give it my all now." With that he finally raised his hand all the way so as to press his lips to Lenalee's hand.

And he did the same for her. She gently brushed her thumbs over his hands, staring intently at him. It was all she could do not to pull him into her arms and tell him she wished he were coming with her - or that she were going with -him-. She had to be strong though - she could do this. And when they got back, hopefully Komui would let them have a few days free time that she could spend with Allen.

Her cheeks grew rosy at the feel of his lips against her hand, her smile softening her face even more, "The same here," she squeezed his hands gently. Oh she could stand there for hours just holding his hands - just being with him. But Link was probably giving them impatient glares. She didn't care. She did slightly agree with him though - if only that if she didn't let him go -now-, she wasn't going to be able to. So after a moment, she very VERY reluctantly started to pull her hands away.

That was probably the hardest thing she's done in days.

Well if he tried to do anything to send either of them back off on a mission without a break just to keep them apart, odds were Reever would be stepping in to intervene.

He was very reluctant to let her hand slip from his own something which was quite obvious for everyone nearby. In the end he managed it following Lenalee's lead and showed her one more time that trademark smile of his.

"I'm off then, Lenalee."