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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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."

She clasped her hands in front of herself neatly, an effective method to keep from reaching for him again. "Good luck, Allen~! See you soon." Not soon enough as far as she was concerned though.

Once he and Link had departed through the Ark, she sighed, missing him already. But now wasn't a time to get melancholic and pine for him - nope, she had her own job to do. At least that would keep her mind off of the fact that they weren't together. And more to the point, all he had to do really was beat up some Akuma... easy, right?

She wasted no more time contemplating the matter, and only a few minutes later she headed out for Spain herself. Maybe she'll bring back a trinket!

After what felt like a lifetime to Allen, he was finally able to find the hidden base of the raiding AKUMA cutting them off at the source, a small village not too far away from the bigger one that had sent the report. Once they had that, Allen wasted no time in putting together the plan to completely wipe that nest of AKUMA from the face of the world. Carrying it out went smoothly as well as Alen managed to prevent losses from the finder ranks as well something most people wouldn't have bothered with in the Order. Though he didn't get many thinks some thinking that was just him trying to earn brownie points to ease the suspicion on him as the 14th.

Allen didn't care about that though. All he could think of when not on the job was of course the lovely girl who had stolen his heart away so completely.

So he could be excused for the excited spring in his step as he finally set foot back in HQ, taking in a big sigh of relief before muttering to himself.

"I'm finally home."

Fortunate that Lenalee wasn't waiting back at the Order to hear that. And at the same time, Unfortunate, because that meant Allen had to deal with Komui. Well, it wasn't so bad, because Komui was too tired to causae trouble -and no reason to do so. In fact, when Allen made his way back into HQ, Komui was the first to greet him, even at the door, with Reever at his shoulder.

"Welcome back, Allen~!" Reeve grinned as Komui stepped forward to give Allen the friendly possibly too hard welcome back-backclap with a hand. "I hear it went smootly. That'll bring up morale for the others. Komui went out of his way to have Jerry make up a feast for you if you're hungry."

... although he would lay odds that what Allen -really- wanted to hear wasn't 'welcome back' but either 'Lenalee came back just before you' or 'Lenalee will be home soon'. He'll let Komui give the news to him though~!

"Komui! Reever! It's good to be back." Allen said taking the backclap like a champ and not stumbling too much over it. Reever was right though. He would have rather heard Lenalee was back or have her greet him personally. Alas that was something he'd already prepared for so her absence only made a small pang in his heart.

"Even if I wasn't hungry I would still have room for a feast made by Jerry! Ah but the debriefing?"

Komui chortled, "I expected as much. I told Jerry to bring it on a cart to your room in roughly half an hour. Plenty of time for you to debrief us and then relax a little before eating."

He's been hearing the murmurings too, and thought Allen might not want to eat in the mess hall where everyone would be looking at him with suspicion again. It seemed to happen everytime there was an attack by AKUMA or Noahs somewhere. And to think, all the times he put his life on the line, and the friendships they made.

Well, the real friends wouldn't distrust him, and Reever, Komui and Lenalee were among them. "Of course, of course," Komui nodded, "Come on, you can tell us what you discovered in my office." he made his way down the hall, glancing at Allen out of the corner of his eye. "Ah... and about Lenalee..."

Allen never did what he did for the reputation or the gratitude. He did it because he was the only one who could. Initially it was also to atone for his sin, his ignorance. His selfishness.

"Yes sir." Allen said mostly for Link so he could go away and snitch back to that annoying mustache bastard.

Then Komui said a magic phrase. One that Allen should have prepared for and masked his reaction towards. However missing someone so dearly didn't help keep the bigger picture in focus. So naturally Allen ended up perking up in interest.

Komui, Reever, Lenalee and the others knew that well, too. Though was he atoning for wanting to spend time with Lenalee too? That was pretty selfish in a way! Regardless, Komui smiled a pleasant smile to Link, "We'll take it from here, you look worn out," he didn't really, but they at least wanted him gone so he could relax. So they ALL could.

He didn't comment on how Allen perked up much more when his sister was mentioned, though he gave Reever a suspicious look for a second. "Well it appears that she'll be wrapping up her mission sooner than we anticipated too. She'll be back in two days - when the mission came in, we were expecting it to take a week."

Two days would probably feel like an eternity to the two of them, but it was better than nothing. A week would have been far worse. "So Exorcist Allen Walker," Komui said, a little too lightly as he brought the group into his office and made his way behind his desk. "Your debriefing?"

Two days! Yes it would feel like two months or two years but that would have been must worse if Komui had used weeks instead of days. So overall Allen's mood certainly improved rather noticeably.

"That's good news indeed." Allen nodded. Naturally even if he was feeling much more upbeat now, he had not forgotten he was meant to give a report so after he stepped into the office and took the seat on the sofa facing Komui, Allen nodded curtly before he started.

"We arrived on schedule and spoke with the eyewitnesses that had informed the Finder squad before our arrival. From there we tracked down the general location of the Akuma and laid an ambush on the route shortest to the village. Doing so allowed us to intercept a group of three level 3 Akuma. After some....persuading, I learned of the isolated village to the north of the forest. I took two finders with me and left the rest to guard the village. They would notify me through radio if anything happened on their end and with Link's permission, hopefully, I would use the Ark if need be to arrive there. Luckily it seemed losing the scouting party had made the leader Akuma, somewhat nervous so we caught their full force while still inside the settlement. After that I entered combat with Link who was actually useful for once. Within three hours the entire area of operation was clear of all Akuma signatures."

Komui was of the same mind with Allen about Lenalee - for different reasons, of course. "Right. Which reminds me, Reever, how is the work coming along?"

"Right according to schedule," Reever assured him, "It'll be done before she comes home."

"Good good; it'll be a nice surprise for her." Komui beamed, patting himself on the back like he was the one doing all the work. Of whatever it is. But then Allen starts to give his report, and Komui is all business, listening carefully, occasionally looking at his papers and making notes.

When Allen was done, he let out a sigh, nodding gratefully, "Thank you, Allen," he smiled, "I'm glad you weren't injured, and neither was anyone else during the mission." A slight pause, "And everything's been all right with you has it?" he added, just a tiniest bit worried about his friend. Even if his friend might be a threat to his siblingship with Lenalee!~

A surprise for Lenalee? Allen was naturally curious about that but wisely chose to mask it behind his poker face. He would find out about it one way or another so no need to poke the sleeping Chinese dragon.

"Yes about as well as one could expect. I've come to see Link as nothing but furniture and that has made his surveillance bearable enough."

"A-ah.. I see." Komui managed to keep a straight face, though Reever stifled a snicker himself.

Komui cleared his throat, "Well then, whatever is necessary to make the situation tolerable. Unfortunately I don't have the power to dismiss him completely." That galled him quite a lot too. He'd love to get rid of Link and Hitl--er.. um. yeah he'd like nothing more than to never see them again. Not just for Lenalee, but Allen too.

Unfortunately with this business about the 14th, they were getting more involved than he liked - especially with Lenalee's Innocence evolving like it had.

"I understand of course. Still the thought alone is appreciated." Allen said with that unwavering smile of his he put up for the rest of the world. An unfair smile some would argue in most cases. Still he hardly did it with the intent of guilt tripping anyone around him.

Lenalee would say that was an unfair smile - but she was also close enough to Allen to be able to see through that smile. And now even his poker faces.

Komui smiled a little awkwardly, feeling like he should apologize for t he nonsense and rudeness Allen's had to put up with. "Thank you for understanding." He motioned with a hand, "Now you must be hunger and tired. Why don't you take a break and get some rest? Jerry should have left that food for you in your room by now." It'll even still be warm! Yay!

Well to be fair Cross put him through much more nonsense and rudeness and back then he didn't have ANY allies to sympathize with him. Mother was back in England and he rarely had travels there.

"I am actually so I think I will go and do that. If anything comes up you know where to find me." Allen said with a polite smile before standing up and leaving the office with a salute.

"Of course," Komui agreed with a smile, saluting Allen back, with Reever doing the same. Of course Reever stayed behind to help Komui write up the reports of what they knew so far, as well as research for any potential new leads.

Though Allen might hear Komui snort, after he's left, "Allen and Lenalee. That's a laugh, eh Reever? Hahaha-"

Reever coughed delicately, cleared his throat, "Ac--" ... no, he's gonna give that one up before he even tries. Komui would see for himself sooner or later.

Allen caught that murmur but showed no outward reaction. The only sign was that his pace quickened as he left the office though that could easily be attributed to him being hungry.

Surely it's his hunger and not the urge to snicker or cough or otherwise reveal himself to that comment. But when he got to his room, Jerry must have JUST delivered it since the food was actually still steaming hot. Delicious fish dishes, hearty steaks, plenty of vegetables and soup to round it out. Also a whole damn length of italian bread. Fresh baked!

The timing must have been perfect indeed. That being said Allen wasted to time in getting started on the feast, quickly pulling the cart over to the desk where he sat and started razing the mountain of food, carving through it with startling speed.

Few people would be able to sit with Allen and watch the madness that was the sight of his devouring the food. Jerry of course, could, and so could Lenalee, but most of the others would probably watch him in a sort of horrified fascination. Either in how he never gets fat or how he doesn't -choke- on the food he devours.It's a scary scary thing. And yet it's also amazing because he's such a tidy eater too! A tidy eater that leaves a tidy little graveyard of bones.

It was just a contrasting aspect of Allen most would have to live with if they got any closer to him. Lenalee seemed not that bothered by it after all. By the time he was done, Allen's stomach felt full to the brim and he was already looking forward to a brief nap after the feast.

Fortunately he wouldn't be bothered by anyone so he'd be able to nap peacefully. Though Jerry would need to come and get his cart, he could wait until it sounded like Allen was awake again. And once that happened, there'd be a knock at the door.

Allen had no idea how long he'd been out but it was obvious he'd needed the rest even without the feast he'd just inhaled. That being said he had only gotten up a mere minute before the knock to his door came. He yawned once and stretched his arms up to the ceiling before walking over to the door and opening it.

"Y-Yess?" Allen asked with a yawn.