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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"Hahaha well I wasn't trying to do it in the first place it just happened. I guess that's why it happened at all." Allen chuckled modestly, a faint cheeky smile plastered on his lips. He felt simply too good about the fact that He had found such a place in her heart.

"It seemed to have a pretty long wind up time. As long as we see it coming it shouldn't be a problem." Allen agreed with Reever.

"He guesses," Reever echoed, scoffing good naturedly. "You're so lucky it's sickening." He grinned, "Just try not to rub it in the rest of our faces too much."

Not that he ever would, let alone Lenalee. She tucked into her plate, thoughtful on those words. "Hrmm, you're probably right. At least it didn't look very strong - but a lot of those would probably be a pain to deal with."

"I would never do that." Unless someone ticked him off just enough with their envy or jealousy. Then all bets would be off. But as long as everyone stayed polite and respectful of his bond with Lenalee, Dark Allen would remain sealed.

"Hmmm yeah. It's probably a good idea to keep an eye on that Reever." Since he was the one closest to the mad scientist with a sever sister complex.

It would no doubt be one of the more distrusting of those at the Order to do such a thing - but so far they were keeping heir mouths shut. "Right, you have a good point there." He mused, glancing at Allen next, "Just what I was thinking. In fact, maybe I should poke around the office and make sure he doesn't have a bunch of those things stowed away and ready to pop out at a moment's notice. Besides, I doubt you kids want me hanging around all through your lunch hour here." He grinned, "So Jerry and I will get out of your hair."

They would be quickly on the receiving end of a lot of difficulties from several people as well as Allen himself so most were smart enough to try and avoid that situation especially seeing how close Lenalee was to Allen. The girl had quite a bit of sway in the hearts of most people in the HQ. Those who didn't come from the cold heartless Central division.

"Eh? Well um okay." The fact that he didn't deny that or try and make them stay was more incriminating than he realized.

Reever chuckled, "Enjoy the rest of your lunch you two." He waved at the pair, turning to saunter off - and dragging Jerry with him. As much as jerry wanted to stay and coo at the cuteness that is a new couple. ;.; NO FAIR REEVER.

Lenalee giggled softly, resting her chin against her cheek as she watched them go, "You have a really good friendship with those two, you know."

"Yeah I suppose I do. But they are even closer to you. Like a second brother and in some regards a mother." Jerry was very motherly and the skills he shared with Lenalee were very mother like too. So the mental image fit quite nicely in Allen's mind.

Lenalee giggled at the comparison, "Put that way, you're absolutely right. Reever and Jerry were always kind to me when I was brought to the Order." They knew how unfair things were for her and that she didn't want to be there; at least until Komui showed up. "And I was always envious of Jerry's cooking. Still am, actually." She admitted with a smile, taking another bite of her food.

He smiled adoringly while listening to her talk about those two. He knew they were precious to her as well. Precious than most except Komui and him. Which was understandable really when one thought on it some more.

"Well you're definitely getting closer and closer. I can attest to that as your official taste tester."

They were the envy of the room, sitting so close and looking so cuddly as they did nothing more than have an innocent conversation about food and their appreciation for their friends.

Anyone could have the same kind of conversation - except the smiles and looks shared between the two were far more affectionate and intimate. As would be expected. "Do you really think so?" She grins, pleased at that. "Then, as my official taste tester, you should be the one to pick the next thing you want to try the next time I borrow the kitchen."

They could look on in envy all they wanted. Allen had no eyes for them as long as Lenalee was with him. He could look out for others on the battlefield enough to make up for that. Right now this was his time with Lenalee and damn if he wasn't going to enjoy every last second.

"I do~" Allen answered with certainty, a radiant smile on his lips. "Hahaha well I'll have to pick something worthy of your prowess."

Lenalee wasn't even paying them any mind - she's had enough of being stared at for her liking, honestly. Besides, he was the only important one in the room, and she was drowning in the radiance of that smile of his. "Heehee, I'm still new at it, so don't expect -too- much of me," she teased.

Between him, Jerry and Komui she had all the support she needed to keep up the cooking lessons. "You know, Komui is a pretty good cook too."

Allen couldn't agree more with that mindset. Still it would be quite the stir for people if knew how little they really mattered to both of them.

"Oh your modesty is talking again" Allen teased softly before looking back in surprise at Lenalee's words.

"Really? Shame he's more likely to try and poison me somehow at the moment or I'd love to see what he can make."

Well when it came right down to it, Lenalee did value Allen and Komui quite a bit above the rest - though she would do her best to treat everyone equally when it came to defenses in the case of another attack. Although..even during the last attack it was Allen and Komui she was thinking of most. And it was Allen she wanted to rush to.

"I think it's better that I have a little modesty than to get big-headed about my cooking." Lenalee teased back. "Actually, I did burn some things and have to start over, once or twice.." she admitted, a bit sheepishly.

Chuckling at mention of her brother, she heaved a sigh, "It's true.. but he used to make breakfast in the mornings back home. I'd wake up to the smell of it."

Allen would of course fight to protect everyone in the HQ regardless of whether they trusted him or not. But in moments of peace, Lenalee would naturally take the forefront of his focus.

"Trust me that's already professional. Master can't cook to save his life. He either swoons a barmaid into a discount or a tab. Or I had to cook for him."

Edited Date: 2016-07-30 05:01 pm (UTC)

Lenalee chuckled, either genuinely amused by that mental image or thinking Allen was exaggerating a little. A lot. "With that in mind.., maybe you could cook something for my brother sometime. It'll get you into his good graces more, and it might even help with our situation."

Hearing her amusement put a smile on Allen's face even more. Her question puzzled him for a moment.

"Really? I could give it a shot but I would need your help picking something he likes. Then again...he might think I'm doing it just to get in his good graces to stale you away easier..."

Obviously that hadn't occurred to her, as she sits back in the chair for a moment, thinking. "You have a point... and Komui probably would think you were trying to bribe him first and foremost." Aww. she'd thought she had a good idea there. "Well, we have plenty of time to think about those things anyway."

Allen hated having to shoot down Lenalee's idea like that. He knew she really wanted to help and he appreciated the idea too.

"Well I might try it out anyway later." ALlen proposed before he reached out with his free hand under the table to brush his thumb over Lenalee's hand.

"yes. Yes we do."

Edited Date: 2016-07-30 06:22 pm (UTC)

She'd rather he shoot down an idea that wouldn't work out, than to have him agree to an idea and it end up backfiring badly. Feeling his thumb brushing over her hand under the table, she glanced over at him and smiled softly, shifting her hand to curl over his. "Let me know if you do, I know a few dishes Komui likes." Though they had similar tastes. "Just nothing spicy," she added with an impish grin.

"Well her idea wasn't entirely bad. There was a sliver of a chance contained within. Allen would rather bet on that eventually than abandon the potential altogether. Though her remark about spicy foods did get a healthy chuckle out of him.

"I noticed. I'll keep it in mind of course."

Lenalee still felt a little bit guilty about letting her brother take a bite of that chicken. "Good - otherwise maybe he'll accuse you of trying to poison him or something," Lenalee chuckled softly, sheepishly, and shifted to lean against him, her fingers lacing through his. Who knew it would be so nice to just sit with him and feel him so close like this?

It was harmless enough. Family did play tricks like that every now and again right? Well maybe he had a bit of a bias on the matter. Still he was sure Komui wouldn't hold it against Lenalee one bit. There was little Lenalee could do to make him hold a grudge of any kind.

"Haha yes I would rather avoid that." Allen agreed and seemed to shuffle a little closer while his fingers tangled lovingly with Lenalee's. One thing Jerry would likely notice was that this exchanges had set Allen's eating pace back considerably.

Oh he noticed all right - he wasn't a gossipmonger but he was a sucker for lovebirds, and being that the Order had something of a lack of such, and it also being his two favorite people, it was no surprise he'd be keeping a discreet eye on the pair.

To anyone else, Allen and Lenalee were simply enjoying their meal, maybe sitting a little closer than they normally did. The most surprising thing was that Allen's pace of eating almost matched Lenalee's. At this rate she might finish at the same time as he did! And that was a shock.

That was fine with Allen. Finishing around the same time as Lenalee was actually the perfect outcome as far as the young man was concerned. But this all happened so naturally that he didn't even realize it until both him and Lenalee put down the eating utensils at the same time prompting Allen to look back to Lenalee in surprise at their near perfect synchronization.