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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"That's good! Although hopefully I won't have to tackle into you like that again." A pause, and she glances away with a small blush remembering how they ended up.

By the time she reached the dogpiled Komui, her poor brother was practically in tears. Mean ol' scientists and exorcists are PICKING on him and his precious Komurins. SNIFF. Lenalee could only grin at her 'distraught' brother, "You really brought it on yourself, brother..! Those Komurin's are more trouble than they're worth." BUt maybe one day he'll get one that works properly! ... well, some did, just.. it tended not to be beneficial all the time. BUT HEY At least it wasn't zombie juice!

And now that they got all sidetracked, Lenalee oh's, glancing at Allen, "That's right, I left the food cart in your room! I need to return that to Jerry."

Poor Komui. Not only did his sister not give him any sympathy, but now he has to be pinned under people to keep him from tribal-darting Allen AGAIN after hearing that?

She is just too charming. Especiallymwhen smiling or grinning fondly at her dear troublesome brother. He stayed right behind Lenalee just to be safe since one never knewnwhat komui would pull put of his hat next.

"Oh right. I'll come with you then. It's kind of my fault too that were late taking it back."

She wasn't the only charming one around here. And she's not talking about Komui! Lenalee nods agreement in any case, "All right. I'll bet Jerry will have some new dish for you to try too~." Even though he ate what she'd brought. But those parasitic innocence users - was there ever a time they weren't hungry?

She grinned, then turning to her brother, "Please don't cause any more trouble, Komui!"

Don't fix up the Komurins into a giant mecha again. Please.

Komui wriggled as best he could as his sister ~~abandoned him to his fate!~~ turned to head back to Allen's room in order to retrieve and deliver the cart to Jerry. Again, an innocent task but Komui didn't like the idea of her being alone in a room with a boy! "Aah, wait, Lenalee! Let me come with you!"

"Chief, you have work to do, remember? And the meeting with the Inspector this afternoon.." Reever and his crew weren't about to let Komui go scampering off and neglecting his work again!

Lenalee twitched only briefly when she heard Reever mentioning the Inspector, but it passed quickly.

Oh you really think so? That would be the best! Maybe it's a new Chinese recipe. I heard him mention he wanted to try something more exotic. " knowing Komui what he heard was moe along the lines of Allen wanting to get a taste of Lenalee like the evil perverted beast that he is.

She might have gotten over her initial shock quickly but he had already noticed the effect that title had on Lenalee.

After they left the training room, Allen waited for a moment watching Lenalee closely for her reactions. Something she would likely pick up on sooner than later.

Oh that was -PRECISELY- what he thought. In fact, if you listen carefully as you leave, there's a defeated how of "WALKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER" coming from the room as the door shuts.

Lenalee pretends not to hear it. Her brother is so weird. "Really?" She glanced at Allen with a smile and quietly filing that detail away for a little. "Maybe it is. Jerry never fails to disappoint with what he makes." If Allen liked Chinese food that much, she'd definitely have to learn some recipes.

And sure enough, they aren't even more than halfway to his room when she notices him watching her. "...what...?" Was it what he heard about the ..Inspector? She's totally fine though, see the smile?

Yeeeeah just going to ignore that ominous cry thank you very much. He'll face that hell later.

" Yeah he's definitely the magician of the kitchen."

Yeah that smile might fool other people but Allen was all too familiar with fake smilesmsince he used them plenty himself. Which was why he didn't hesitate to say:

"Something is bothering you isn't it Lenalee?"

Jerry would like that title, Lenalee thinks. She'd have to share that note with the chef - Allen would get a pretty bonus for it, she'd bet.

"!" Well that question caught her off guard, and she stares at Allen in surprise for a moment. Probably wondering how he saw through her so easily. "It's... it's nothing, really.." Not something he needed to worry about anyway.

Well, it was ...tempting to tell him, but unlike with the nightmares, just thinking about that experience - about the Investigator - made her blood run cold and her entire body lock up. She paused by his door, debating whether or not to fess up.

For someone with a fearsome reputation as a demon of the cards, seeing the truth inside that smile was nothing short of child's play.

"I don't think it's nothing. But if you think I can't help you at all then I will not pry any further. I only want to help that's all."

"Allen..." Lenalee really ..looking at it that way, she ...didn't want to say he -couldn't- help. She didn't know how he could but..she wasn't sure she -could- talk about it. Well.. it isn't like she needed to give details.

"Let's.. let's bring Jerry his cart first... all right?" It could delay the moment and let her decide if she was capable of putting her words together and tell him what she never told anyone. Ah, well except for Komui, and there was also Reever and Kanda.. though even they didn't know much about it.

"Alright that is fair." She had not shut him out completely. That alone was good. Though once he would know this would touch on the scars of her mind and heart, he would likely regret his meddling.

"There it is. I'll get the dishes then."

"Okay, thank you."

He was a meddlesome teenager all right. But Lenalee couldn't bring herself to shut her friend out - especially when his intentions came from a good place. As he got the dishes, she pulled the cart out of the room, following after him with a pensive look on her face.

Meddlesome and genuinely worried for his..."friend'. The way she was so lost in her thoughts even as they rolled the cart down the order's corridors. In fact the longer this went on the greater his drive to pull Lenalee close to him became.

Thoughts that Lenalee was oblivious to, as focused as she was thinking about what she was going to tell him. She wasn't any good at conversation in fact, the entire time - which is rare for her. She wasn't even looking at Allen - another rarity for her. In any event, they fortunately manage to make their way to the mess hall. She was quick to smile once they stepped in, not wanting to tip anyone off. "Jerry! We brought back your cart~!"

Jerry, stationed in the kitchen naturally, glanced up with a grin, "Ah, perfect timing! I just finished making a new dish - Allen, how would you like to taste test?" As if he had to ask, right?

Well that might have been for the best in the end. Lenalee needed to sort things out on her own a bit first. That being said seeing that fake smile put a bit of a damper on Allen's own.

Whether Jerry picked up on that or not, his his invitation provided the perfect distraction.

"Of course! I'd love to!"

Jerry grinned, stepping out of the kitchen with a covered plate as Lenalee rolled the cart to its place in the kitchen. Jerry didn't -seem- to notice, though he glanced at Lenalee when she came back out to fetch the plates from Allen. "Why don't you join him, Lenalee, you're looking a little pale today." He didn't know about her history with the Inspector, but it was hard not to notice even though she was smiling.

Lenalee looked a little startled, glancing at Allen first, then back to Jerry, "Ah -- well, all right...!" She'd be lying if she wasn't curious what dish he had come up with, even if it wasn't a full multiple course meal like he usually prepared for Allen. It was little more than a snack by his standards. In any case, Lenalee managed to give Allen a genuine smile when she went to sit at the table with him. Jerry was such a mom. A male mom, but a mom nonetheless. But once the 'kids' were situated, he placed the plate on the table and, with a flourish, revealed the dish! "Voila! Stir fry crabs with ginger and spring onions!" Yumyum~!

Well he had already eaten a hearty meal so at the moment this was the best time to try out some new dishes.

Allen blinked curiously before he noticed she was coming to sit with him. As expected of jerry and his maternal instincts.

" Oh goodness just hearing it said like this is enough to make my mouth water!"

Lenalee could hardly refuse him - she was a little hungry herself after all, and if she had tried to take the chance to avoid talking to Allen, she wouldn't have been able to look him in the eye later.

"It smells amazing, too!" Lenalee agreed, flashing Jerry a smile. The cook always liked hearing compliments to his cooking, especially when it was from Allen or the little queen of the order.

Jerry set down some drinks for the pair, "I'm always happy to cook for you two; eat your fill and if you need anything, just let me know. Don't worry about the dishes, I'll come and fetch them when you're done." He tutted over the pair, turning to head back into the kitchen.

Lenalee chuckled at the older man, before turning to her own plate content to push the matter of The Talk(tm) to the back of her mind for now.

"Will do!" Allen said with a quick nod before pulling his plate closer to himself and reaching for his fork and knife. Before tucking in though, he chanced a quick glance up at Lenalee to make sure she was going to start eating before he took the first bite. That was so like him to be worried about others even before eating.

It was so like him! And because it was so like him he'd have caught Lenalee staring at her plate for a moment, before she shook her head, picking up her fork. Glancing towards Allen to see if he had started eating yet, she's caught off guard to see him already watching her. There was no reason for her to blush at the attention and yet she felt herself getting warmer from just that glance. She's okay Allen, really! ...er, right now anyway. "Shall we?" She gave him a small smile, before turning to tuck into her meal - her face lighting up at the taste. Jerry really outdid himself this time.

Someone was forgetting that the person sitting opposite of them was a master at poker's less Luck dependent aspects. But in the end they were here to eat the delicious dishes so for now he would just smiled it of and nod.

"Yeah lets." Allen quickly took a bite and he felt his cheeks stretching as he let out a happy sound of delight.

"Mmmmmmm~!!!!"

Quit watching her Allen, you sneaky thing! Jerry meanwhile, could heare that delight from the kitchen, and chuckled, content to watch the pair occasionally. See, this was his way of fighting too, knowing the exorcists get put through a LOT. Being able to come back home to good food helped put them in a good mood. He'd hope.

Lenalee's grin as she watched Allen enjoy the food was genuine, naturally, giggling to see him dig in. "It's a good thing Timcanpy isn't here, or he might be trying to swipe some of your food too, the way you're enjoying it!" She grinned, eating quickly despite her intention to take her time enjoying the dish.

"Oh you don't know the half of it. He's so small and yet he sometimes ate as much as me!" Allen pointed out after swallowing. Then again he really couldn't throw stones from inside that particular glass house. Still one bite turned to two and then to three and then to many as he savored each one with a happy sound!

Lenalee could remember how odd it was seeing him eating Allen's food when he wasn't paying attention. Cutest golem ever. "I don't know how he puts it all away he's so tiny!" Lenalee laughs. Though the progress they were eating, it wasn't long before she had finished eating - fortunately by then she thought she had a general idea of how to tell him about..that.

"Trust me I don't have any idea either and I've lived with him for years." Allen said as he patted his now little more full belly with a very happy smile on his face. Oh that was simplya taste of heaven and nothing less.

Lenalee glanced at him with a grin, seeing how satisfied and happy he was. Briefly glancing towards the kitchen where Jerry was busy cooking more dishes for later, she found herself hoping her cooking got that good, to get a reaction like that from Allen.

...strictly as a friend. She had to keep reminding herself of that. She stretched a little, letting out a sigh herself, before falling silent for a moment or two. Right. So. Moment of truth or near enough to it that she pushed herself to her feet. "All right, so.." time for The Talk(tm). Well, once they get to his room. Hers was a bit further away and Komui MAY have booby-trapped the hallway.