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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As much as Jerry liked watching Allen eat, he definitely would pick up on that different air from the Exorcist. "Good morning Allen~! Sleep well?" He looked exceptionally bright eyed today.

The mess hall wasn't as busy today, surprisingly - it looked like a number of the exorcists were sent out on missions earlier that morning. Which meant Jerry wasn't super busy and could notice the little details, like when Allen started daydreaming.

Allen snapped out of that moment with a small start. Dammit this was going to happen a lot wasn't it?

"Huh? Oh um y-yes yes. I haven't slept this well in months actually" Hopefully Jerry wouldn't ask the reason for that. The walls in the cafeteria had to have ears.

That and there was still the Komurin trash bot. Komui may have installed spy cameras in it. Jerry smiled, nodding a little. "Glad to hear it! Nice to be able to get some downtime every now and again, huh? Although from the sounds of things, some of you are getting a little busy trying to recover Innocence lately. Are you being sent out soon too?"

That was more likely than most would admit. Allen certainly suspected it especially with how it was staring straight at him right now.

"I haven't gotten any sortie orders yet so I don't honestly know." Allen shook his head. He hoped not. He wanted to see and spend some more time with Lenalee be it talking or even just sparring in the training room.

Yep, those little bot eyes were definitely narrowed and suspicious. Or maybe that was your imagination as it sweep sweep sweeps some trash into its body. It's even whistling a tiny tune.

Jerry was in full agreement with Allen though. "I hope not as well. Lenalee just started wanting to learn to cook, after all, and I don't get to see you kids nearly so much these days - outside of eating, anyway, ha! But you both deserve a nice break." He paused, "Things were tense around here with the Inspector around, but I hear he's leaving today." Thank. God. He had the nerve to insult Jerry's cooking.

"Jerry! Allen!" Lenalee sounded even happier than she normally did as she came jogging into the mess hall, looking for all the world like she was about to tacklehug the silver haired Exorcist. Not...that she did. She checked herself to slow down and flash a smile at the pair. "Sorry I'm late!" Komui grilled her a little. BUT YOU'RE SAFE SO FAR, Allen.

Yeah he doesn't trust robots by default so he's going to pretend accordingly to keep under the radar.

"Oh he is? That's great news!" And no not just because that jerk had been questioning him a few times as well. Thankfully he seemed more occupied with his master this time since the man was finally grounded at HQ.

The moment Lenalee called out their names though, his expression lit up like the dawning sun. There she was finally. Seemed things cleared up okay.

"Haha it's fine. I was just having a chat with Jerry."

Lenalee smiled warmly - maybe a lot more warmly than her usual smiles - as she nodded, "Oh good, then I didn't miss breakfast." She glanced around the mess hall, frowning briefly when she saw the empty seats - but the frown couldn't stay for long when Allen was near.

Jerry was watching them rather closely though, and Lenalee quickly took her seat, ready to offer a topic. Though it seemed Jerry was a second faster, "So did something good happen recently? You're practically glowing with happiness, Lenalee." He glanced at Allen, "Come to think of it, you both are looking really happy today." It couldn't be the nice sleep they had right?

The trashbot's sweeping paused, and then it started sweeping its way a little closer. It's not eavesdropping, no sir.

...Yeah that wasn't suspicious at all. However now he was put on the spot. How to answer to evade that blatant spy of Komui's...

"Huh? I don't really know what to say. Maybe it's just a really good day for once!" that was the weakest excuse ever but it was best he could do when put on the spot like this. Nothing else made any more sense other than the truth...

Oh, whoops. She didn't know how she was going to tone down her joy when she saw Allen. "After all everyone's been through, a little happiness is a good thing, isn't it?" Lenalee added, smiling awkwardly as she padded over to poke the trash bot with a finger. It ignored the poking, continuing to sweep the same spot over and over.

Jerry scratched his head, "Well, you do have a point," He mused at Allen, though he gave the pair a suspicious glance. Nah. "Why don't I get your breakfast started?" Deciding to let the pair off the hook FOR NOW, he headed back into the kitchen.

Lenalee glanced up at Allen from her seat briefly, smiling sheepishly. Her bad, sorry~! Except not ..really.

Of course it would take more to throw off the sweeper bloodhound drone off this particular trail. If Jerry wanted straight answers then he would have to find a way to eliminate that particular audience.

Allen flashed Lucy a small understanding smile. He didn't blame her or anything since he was just as blatant towards the motherly inclined cook.

Lenalee didn't think he was fooled, but he knew how to be subtle. And he hadn't missed the way that drone was keeping tabs on Allen. He'd just have to shove the drone in a closet and grill Allen later. Or Lenalee, while they were cooking.

"I don't think Komui realized the problem with that milk he gave me last night," Lenalee said, giving the drone a cautious glance as she updated her friend. "So it's lucky I caught him before he gave any to anyone else."

both of those options were his best bet at getting a straight answer. He was one of the few either him or Lenalee might open up to.

"That's a relief. We don't want another Komuvitan kind of outbreak after all." Though part of him was DEFINITELY thankful Lenalee had gotten hit with it first and she'd come to him. Otherwise it might have been years before they got to the point that their feelings were laid out on the table in full between them.

Lenalee shuddered at that reminder. On the one hand it really drove home how much her brother valued the Exorcists, remembering each and everyone who fell like that - unlike the Inspector who treated them like throwaway fodder. On the other... it was kinda scary.

"You're not kidding. Everyone would be running around acting like cats." Again, in her case. "Actually I'm kind of amazed you didn't turn when you got bit back then." She'd be amused to know -WHY- he didn't.

"Ahahaha well I couldn't let that happen. My pride wouldn't allow it." It was silly but it was also the full truth. Allen was quite proud of some parts of him. Not many but there were enough and certainly enough to stave off becoming a biting infection vector like Krory.

The silly conversation at least, was successful in general chatter and in making the drone give up on eavesdropping. Nothing juicey going on here that'd interest Komui, so it puttered off to sweep a different part of the hall. Jerry meandered back towards the table with the breakfast, glancing in the direction the drone went. "Here you go kids, eat up~!" Naturally, Allen had ten times the amount Lenalee did.

"Thank you Jerry! This looks amazing!" Allen's eyes could almost be seen sparkling in anticipation at the morning feast before him. Oh he was going to enjoy this and even better was that Lenalee was at the same table with him. This was the pinnacle of a morning in Allen's books. Something he could only hope to enjoy every day!

Lenalee smiled, watching Allen for a few seconds before tucking into her own meal. Maybe it was her imagination but it even tasted better than before. Was that from Jerry's skill though, or because of how things turned out with her and Allen?

Jerry stayed by the table to chat a bit though, since the drone had wandered off - and he was keeping a close eye on it since he had suspicions given the way Lenalee kept glancing at Allen with a smile. Not to mention how happy Allen was just with her sitting next to him.

"Soooo, if you guys aren't going to be dispatched out for a while, do you have any plans for your free time?"

"Hmmm?" He said his mouth still full. He quickly chewed his bites of food though and then swallowed before speaking up again properly.

"Well Ummm Maybe explore the surrounding woods on the island if I'm not sparring in the training room." Both of those options did NOT exclude Lenalee but saying it out loud was still far too risky even with the drone puttering off.

Lenalee skirted a glance at Allen at mention of exploring the woods. That sounded like it'd be interesting - she certainly hadn't explored the island much herself, staying close to the Order. "Oh! You'll have to let me know if you find anything interesting then." She said innocently. See, she wouldn't just assume to go along with him.

She'd wait till the day of, or before, to ask him to go with him. When there weren't extra ears about. "I'm sure Komui would like to know too." She's... going to have to ask Allen if he thinks steak will bribe Timcanpy to keep certain memories private though. Or something.

Jerry looked thoughtful, and then brightened with a grin, making a note to himself. "What about you Lenalee?"

"Oh, I'll probably be training also. And helping Komui out around the Order while we're all still getting settled in." She flashed a smile at Jerry, reaching over to nab the cup of tea.

Yep, it's totally innocent and they're not going to be doing things together. Except maybe training, but that was normal. Wait, it would draw attention if she went out of her way to not be around him too wouldn't it..?

Allen was infinitely thankful for Lenalee's ability to act like that. He would have loved nothing more than to invite her openly but that was simply not a course of action he could take if he wanted to keep his head on his shoulders for the the rest of his life.

"Of course. I'll be sure to tell you as soon as I get back." Oh dear Allen might want to tone down how bright that smile of his was. Luckily Jerry moved on to Lenalee after that. As for Timcampy. Well he could be negotiated with and bribed.

"Of course. You are after all the one who brings the lifeblood of coffee to everyone in the research department. I've seen how they get when you are on a mission. Not a pretty sight."

It wasn't easy. She really wanted to sit closer to him; she had to consciously remind herself not to lean towards him in her chair. Being able to keep the conversation innocent and off of them helped. She laughed at the mention of the researchers, "Yeah, the Research Team and Komui are always pulling late hours --" Er. Maybe she should phrase that as 'because of Komui' but of course she wouldn't see that that way. This was a war - sleep was a luxury when you were racing against time and the enemy. "It's the least I can do to help everyone out." She wasn't a researcher and she'd only be in the way if she tried helping there, so keeping everyone awake so they could get the work done - which would eventually get passed on to the Exorcists - was the best way to help. "I guess they're even more tired and cranky when I'm away."

"MMm yeah. They also seem to have developed a taste for YOUR coffee specifically. The last time Jerry sent me up there with a tray they complained how it wasn't the same." Yes he was throwing the research group under the bus but it was perfect cover to keep things between him and Lenalee hidden.

Jerry gasped, breaking into the completely innocent cover conversation at that. "Wait a second, was this last week? Those ingrates should be lucky I brewed that coffee for them specially." Yeah, Allen you totally got the science division in trouble now are you proud of yourself? Shaaaaaaaaaame.

Lenalee set her cup of tea down with a laugh, "I.. I'm sure they didn't mean anything by it..!" She was about to offer to show Allen how she brewed the offee, but decided against it, quickly. More importantly Jerry looked like he was tempted to hunt down the poor researchers himself!

Allen could be fairly cutthroat at times. Still he would throw a lifeline for sake of saving them a bit of grief.

"Now now! I didn't say they hated it. Just that it wasn't the same without Lenalee's touch to it." That was all really. Hopefully it would help appease the outraged cook.

It was return of Dark Allen! Or almost, if he hadn't decided to show a little mercy to the scientists. Jerry glanced at Allen again, frowning a little, but eventually relented - with a little grumble. "Well... I supposed everyone has their own tastes.." Grumble Grumble.

Lenalee giggled quietly, glancing over at Allen again. Just -barely- dodged the bullet on that one - for the scientists anyway. Jerry took his grumbling back into the kitchen in any case, leaving the two to finish their breakfast and try very hard to not touch or get closer or blow their cover in any way shape or form. At least on Lenalee's part anyway. She kept her attention for the most part on finishing her breakfast calmly, glancing over at Allen, "Are you going to explore the island after breakfast?" Maybe she could offer to look for herbs for Jerry's cooking and join up with him~!