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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Allen was someone who often went forward with what he felt was the right course of action. Right now comforting Lenalee took precedence over all else. He put his hand up and gently cradled the back of Lenalee's head as he murmured softly.

"It's okay Lenalee. You don't have to say a word more about it. I can piece it all together from here. But thank you. Thank you for trusting me enough to open up about such a painful part of your life."

............ God. Damnit Allen.

Just.

Goddamnit.

Certainly it was the right course of action, but she wanted to just..stay like that now. "Of......of course," she managed after a moment, letting out a quiet sigh.

"You're my dear..." He was only holding her like this as a friend, right? She slowly slipped her arms around him, selfishly imagining that he was holding her for reasons other than friendship. It was unfair to monopolize all of his time like this, when he might have someone else in his heart. "My important friend.." 'Friend'. That didn't feel right.

She was being selfish again, wasn't she?

Could it be called monopolizing when he willingly gave his time up to spend it with her? Or maybe they were simply both being a bit selfish in a world that had taken so much from them both. It was probably that. Especially given the faint flicker in his posture when she called him her important 'friend' that one word brought him both great joy as well as a slight sting of disappointment.

These feelings were unprecedented for Allen and as such rather than reason them out he simply let them go as they please. That in turn translated to the boldness with which he kept Lenalee close to his chest while whispering reassurances.

Wellllllllll, no, that would be silly. Although she was finding it incredibly difficult to pull out of his arms- she had to question if there was need to do so. Ever. She could stay like that for hours, basking in the warmth and safety in the room. Just listening to the soft murmurs of reassurance from her 'friend', glad he couldn't see her face.

She's not sure how long she sat like that, wrapped in his arms, with her own curled around him snugly as she practically nuzzled against his chest. Eventually, she gave a deep sigh, "Thank you, Allen." She pulled back a little, tilting her face up to look at him. ...oh he's.. why is she surprised he's close like this?

Allen was quite relieved as well since his eyes were filled with a peculiar glint that one might have expected sooner from Cross than Allen. However he didn't make a move to take anything further. Instead he settled with this,

"Any time. My door is always open for you." Allen said with a soft smile before he found himself nuzzling gently against Lenalee's hair as well.

Well of course he didn't - he only saw her as a friend! ~~*hit by a bricklayer's truck*~~ Actually he didn't have to. Though she missed a certain look in his eyes, she smiled softly at the feel of his nuzzling. Sighing again softly, she surprised herself when she cupped a hand against his face and leaned over, brushing her lips against his cheek. "I know.. and the same goes for you." She smiled softly, then ...a little awkwardly. Erm. "I..should get back and check on Komui..." She almost slipped there. Definitely came close to..well... let's just say Komui may be the one having nightmares at this moment, in his office.

That...came completely out of nowhere. Even more so than that momentary impulse where he wanted to press his cheek against her hand more almost like a cat or a dog would. Why? Why could she soeasily disrupt his routine and composure? Allen didn't have an answer to that and most brain activity was instantly ground to a halt as he felt a pair of soft warm lips press against his cheek.

"H-Huh? Ouh uh...r-right right that might ummm be for the best."

~~Meweheheheheheheheheheheheehehehe~~

Lenalee smiled, a soft blush on her cheeks as she bade Allen goodnight and slipped out of the room to go look in on her ~~rightfully paranoid~~ brother.

And so Allen is left to his own thoughts for quite a while. Lenalee spent a few hours with her brother, and then joined everyone for dinner (stopping Komui from shooting yet another dart at her friend when he thought he saw her looking Allen's way). And then after dinner, she wandered off with her brother having promised to help him with something. He'd see her again tomorrow!

.................

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooorr he'd see her again later that evening... unintentionally of course. ~~At least right now~~.

Long after everyone had gone to sleep, when even Allen had turned in for the night, his door creaked open quietly. "Nya?" Sneak Sneak Sneak on little not-kitty paws, a not-kitty shape crept quietly into the room and peeked up at the bed. Hop! And there is now a Lenalee climbing up to snuggle against Allen, if he hasn't woken up by now.

Allen watched Lenalee leave the room in a daze before he brought his hand up to gently brush over the cheek she'd kissed mere moments ago. So warm...so soft... His mind took several hours to settle down after that but in the end he finally managed to slip under to slumber.

Only to wake up to the feeling of something warm and somewhat heavy pressing down on top of his chest and body. Allen made a small noise of protest and opened his eyes.

Shhhhh, she's trying to get comfortable here. And don't move about~! In any case when Allen opened his eyes, he'd see Lenalee settling herself on top of him, leeching in that heat as kitties are wont to do. Apparently all set to go to sleep since she nuzzles against him with a small sigh. "Nyaa..." Ah blissss.

G-Get comfortable? Yes he could definitely feel that second body on top of him settling in for...wait...second body?!

Allen slowly looked up only for his face to go completely beet red as he froze. T-That was...Lenalee. Lying on top of him. Worse! She just...SHE JUST NYAA'D. His brain immediately shorted at that moment.

That was better! Her head resting against his chest for a moment - though that heavy pounding of his heartbeat was a little distracting. She nuzzled against him again as if that would settle it down, and when it didn't, she opened her eyes to glance at up.

Oh hey Allen~! "Nya~!" ...and she leans forward to... yep, she just -licked his cheek-. Twice.

Sitting up, she stretched and made a cute little yawn before pouncing on the sheets next to her friend. She'll get you, wrinkled blankets!

Was it better? Allen didn't know what to say about that. Especially given a certain brother's borderline supernatural radar. And yet that radar had not gone off when Lenalee had crawled on top of him in the first place.

"M-Nyaa...?" He repeated, completely at a loss for words. Something that got even more dire as he felt that soft pink tongue lick his cheek. TWICE to boot! She! Lenalee! Has licked his cheek!

He couldn't even process her stretching and providing him with a very dangerous view of her arching body before she started playing with the blankets at his side...

Maybe not in the waking world, but in his dreams, he was chasing after poor Allen with a drill. In tribal gear. With a bunch of Komui's smaller than he like tribal indians, complete with the 'ooga chaka' chanting and spears.

"Nyaaaaaa~! <3" Lenalee beamed, oblivious to why he'd be so red in the face. Though she was a little concerned, so she leaned over to nuzzle his jaw a little. You okay there, Allen? You look like you're going to pass out.

Such a detailed dream. Then again he's likely in the right given the current situation Allen found himself in.

Close. Everything about Lenalee right now was closer to him than ever. Her warmth, even the scent of her body as she pressed up closer to nuzzle against his jaw. This was too much. Too soon! Allen felt himself slowly start to get light headed...

Gasp! Oh no, Allen, don't faint! You're worrying Lenaleekitty! Snap out of it Allen! Snap out of it!

... she probably should take those words for herself, especially since she's...leaning even closer, her head nudging him gently. Don't worry Allen, she'll save you!

With a bite on the neck.

Did that help?

It helped finish him off as steam whistled from his ears before his mouth formed an O and let his soul float out with a blissful smile before he fell back down to the bed, out like a light.

Oh no, she killed him! She killed Allen! Sobsob. Wait, no, he's smiling. And still breathing. Well okay then, maybe he was just really really tired. In that case, she was going to snuggle up against him, draping an arm over him ~~not possessively at all~~ as she decided she'd go ahead and nap with him. In the same bed.

Uh... when they woke up it was going to be awkward wasn't it. Especially considering the kitty-ness would have worn off by then.

It was going to be even more awkward if Lenalee actually remembered everything that transpired. Right now however, he was able to get the most restful sleep he'd gotten in months. Come to think of it he would even remember a pleasant dream or two. Lenalee appearing in all of them too. Not that he'd say that out loud.

There was a good chance she would, and wouldn't -that- be an interesting conversation. But he wasn't the only one that had a very restful sleep, and not a single nightmare to boot.

It was a good thing Lenalee was usually the one to go visit her brother in his office, and not the other way around, or Komui would be suspicious with the lack of a little sister in her bedroom!

Still this was pushing their luck quite a bit.

Still worth it. Lenalee was warm and comfortable and when Allen woke up he'd probably see her arm draped over him first. Lucky boy. If Lenalee woke up first, she might...just stay quiet as long as she could.

He would be quite happy if he knew she got as good a sleep as he did despite all of the highly conflicting feelings he was experiencing.

Allen didn't wake up first though and at some point during his slumber, he had slung one of his arms over Lenalee's middle keeping her there on top of him. The most honest confession of his body that she was going to get at this point. He wanted her there.

With that position, it was even harder to drag herself out of her sleep. Her own body was totally relaxed against him - she wanted to be there as much as he wanted her there.

Eventually, the veil of sleep left her, and she slowly became conscious of lying on...something that was not a mattress. And something wrapped around her to prevent her from budging easily.

Violet eyes opened slightly, focusing first on a shoulder. ... wait, what? She followed the line of the shoulder with her eyes, pausing when she spotted the faint indentation of teeth marks on the curve of a neck. She risked a quick glance up to confirm and ... oh... oh that -is- who she thought it was. ... Allen.

With a sudden blush, she ducked her head gently against him again. Was...this a dream?

It was a good thing he usually wore high collared shirts or explaining those teeth marks would land him a one way trip to Komurin hell. Allen didn't rouse from his sleep that much even with Lenalee's slight movement. Which in turn meant Lenalee had to deal with the peaceful sleeping face Allen was making as well as his arm so utterly immovably over her middle, keeping her pressed against his body no matter what.

It was such a sweet expression - why would she ever want to slip away from that? If this was a dream, the detail in it made her not want to wake up at all. She smiled softly as she watched him, admiring how peaceful he looked. What would happen if she --

Nooo, she couldn't do that! Not even if it was a dream! That was too embarrassing. Not ..not even if she really wanted to. Except her hand was already moving on its own, creeping closer to gently brush against his cheek, tracing the lower part of that red mark on his face, then drifting up a little to brush a few strands of hair out of his face. Entranced - even mesmerized by the peace, quiet and calm.

An expression that under her tender gentle touch would only grow more peaceful and radiant. He'd never looked happier in his sleep and since it was without his consciousness in play it was the full naked truth of how he felt at the time. All because of Lenalee. If she could even think on that what with his expression being so close to her right now.