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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If she knew how hard it was going to be to keep things to within safe limits, she might tone down her own gestures of joy and affection for him. Or not since any affection with him would be welcomed. She drew her hand back, unable to stop smiling when she was watching him.

"I don't know. Trout, maybe?" Wait, no, those were river fish weren't they? "The only kind of fish I really know of living in oceans are things like.. eel and octopi..and sharks." Well this was just one more adventure!

"I think a shark would prefer deeper waters than the ones around this island." Allen said with a small chuckle. Still it was definitely a mystery they could use to wrap up this little adventure. Though that did he would need to set down the ingredients they'd picked up already.. After all if a shark did show up then it would take a bit of a bigger tool to bring it down.

"Oh, and dolphins and whales!" ... "What? Oh!" Ahaha, right. "That's true. We'd have to get a sailboat if we wanted to catch something like that - not that I'd want to catch a dolphin any more than a whale." She wouldn't mind -seeing- one though. And with her Innocence she could certainly get that far out; it'd just be down to luck to seeing one when they surfaced.

"Do you want me to carry the plants?"

Someone was getting really excited. Though that was also kind of totally adorable. Allen chuckled again before she spoke of a sailboat. He'd heard the stories about what happened when he was recovering from his fateful encounter with Tyki. He didn't think she'd be too happy about being on a boat like that any time soon. The ferry ride to the island was an exception and again he was there as well.

"Ah would you mind?"

Deeeeeefinitely not, no. But a little one in safe waters would be no problem. If she were on a large ship like the one Anita had, it would just bring back all kinds of unpleasant memories.

"No, not at all!" She answered, reaching out to take said plants from the Crown Clown pack.

Allen would keep that in mind of course and avoid it as much as possible. Then again their line of work that sort of travel was not unlikely at least until an Arc gate was established at the location.

"Thank you. I'll make it quick." Allen said and....paused for a moment before simply kicking his shoes off and rolling his pants up a bit. As long as he didn't submerge himself completely he could get away without stripping down right?

"Good luck, Allen!~" Lenalee beamed, carefully cradling the vegetables and plants in her arms as she watched him. Of course he shouldn't need to ..to strip down to get some fish. Uh. Unless the fish try going deeper to hide from the intruder in their domain, but erm. That ...that wouldn't happen! And Lenalee certainly was trying not to think about that. Just like she was trying not to think about visiting the beach with him later, and cheating with her Innocence to dunk him in the water when they were playing around.

He would be quite surprised to hear of the nefarious scheme cooking inside of Lenalee's mind. As things stood he was already turning away and heading a little ways into the surf until the water started lapping up almost up to his knees.

With that he closed his eyes and immediately a dozen tendrils extended from his cape and then stabbed into the water. What Lenalee didn't see was that once they were at a certain depth, each one of those tendrils split into hair-string like feelers, spreading out into the depths to detect any fish that might swim within their reach.

Was it really that nefarious? Goodness! She really is her brother's sister. She stayed on the shore of the beach, watching patiently and ...she's pretty sure no one in the Order had expected he'd use his Innocence in -this- way. It hadn't even occurred to Lenalee until he'd suggested it.

Meanwhile unda da seaa, there had been numerous fishies that all scattered once Allen waded into the water - but once the water was still again and he had stopped moving, they resumed their normal fishy business. A few brave fish swam around his legs, one taking a little nibble at his ankles before deciding it wasn't food, while a few others actually swam closer to the feelers. Are those really big worms? FOOD.

Well at least her schemes did not involve drills. So on that front alone she was much more preferable. Allen closed his eyes and stood completely still waiting until more fish would gather around the feelers while taking note of the braver ones around his feet. Already his cape was moving to entrap those as well.

Poor little fishies. Before long he had quite a few fish poking at the tendrils which they are certain are quite stubborn worms, some swarming around his feet as if they totally forgot he was even there. Only the most skittish of fish caught note of the cape moving, but only one or two darted away quickly enough to try to escape the cape.

After a few moments longer of stillness, the tendrils suddenly wrapped around every single nibbling fish while a cage like scoop snatched up the fish at his feet. Allen then ripped the tendrils from the water and brought them up into the air revealing the wriggling captives struggling to escape their fate as food.

It was fascinating to watch him like that, though she couldn't say why, exactly. But just when she was about to suggest they try again later if the fish weren't biting, he moved! And what a haul he had with the Clown Crown! "Allen..! That's amazing, you got so many!"

Fishermen everywhere will want his secret. Also it might even be enough fish to feed the Order for...about a day or two, tops. Not counting Allen's portion. Probably.

His prowess comes at a rather steep price but that's not something to ponder on too deeply. If anything Lenalee's praise just makes him want to scratch his cheek bashfully as his heart skips a few beats in happiness.

"You think so? I think that's enough too for now or else it would get pretty hard to carry them all back."

She'd feel awful knowing that, but since she didn't know, she simply beams at him, nodding happily. "That's more than plenty!" She crowed, beckoning him to come back. "Jerry will be able to make all kinds of different recipes with that many fish."

"Then lets head back. Here let me make something for the plants now that I've got these fellows all wrapped up." And by that he meant he created a ball of his cape wrapping around the cluster of fish and minimizing the quantity used just enough to make the backpack for the plants again.

How versatile~! Lenalee smiled, and once he'd finished wrapping up the fish, she reached over to tuck the plans into the cape as well, in the pack. "All set!" She glanced back towards the Order for a moment, wondering if they would get a moment to themselves again today.

"..Well, shall we go?" She asked, glancing back to him and reaching out to tuck her arm under his.

His Innocence was a part of his body at this point. More so than even before. So naturally his control would grow more refined as well. Allen followed her gaze and could imagine what thoughts were running through her mind. Still they had to get back now.

"Yes lets. unfortunately

"Hm?" Lenalee glanced at him curiously, having missed that last little mutter. Was it something important? Well.. she suspected it might be something she was thinking anyway. It wouldn't be his imagination at -all- if he felt like the walk back took even longer, since Lenalee was walking more slowly, and even leaning a little against him with a tight grip on his arm.

She knew she'd have to pull away before they got to the door, but before it came into sight properly, she came to a sudden dead stop at a thought. "Maybe...we should go inside separately..." It's.. not something she particularly wanted to do, but...

Allen would've loved to walk even slower than that. Just enjoying the presence of Lenalee against his arm and the soft relaxed sound of their footsteps down the forest path. It was...perfect or as perfect as they could get in these circumstances.

But that bliss had to come crashing down when Lenalee suggested something that made perfect sense. But what he wanted didn't make sense at all. Still she had a point.

"I...suppose that would be wise..." He didn't want to be wise. This. This was growing more difficult with each precious moment shared alone.

"Right..." Wise. She hardly felt wise for bringing it up - it was now cutting into their time. She started walking again, though her steps got slower and smaller the closer they got to the Order.

There was no telling when they would get to have private time was there? She skirted a look at Allen a few times, then stopped again, "Allen.."

It's just to get his attention because the minute he turned to her, she was cupping her hands against his cheeks and leaning up for firm, lingering kiss. One that left her breathless and - to be quite frank, wanting more - made her step back with flushed cheeks. "...I'll see you inside."

He was in no more of a hurry to get back. He didn't want to imagine how long it would be before he could get Lenalee all to himself. But then he was caught completely and utterly offguard when Lenalee called his name and kissed him again. His eyes went wide and his control over his Innocence almost slipped up but the food and fish didn't get thrown out.

"Y-Yeah...see you...." This time his daze was for a slightly better reason as he looked at Lenalee with burning cheeks of his own.

Oops. Good thing he had such control - although she would have privately felt a little proud of herself if he had completely lost his concentration and dropped their harvest.

She quickly turned and sprinted her way back up to the Order's doors, slipping inside before she changed her mind about going back. And even then she wanted to run back, throw herself into his arms and forget about everything but him.

... bad idea. Bad bad idea. But before she went to find her brother, she did make a slight detour, nabbing three bottles Jerry wasn't using anymore, to make a temporary vase she could tuck the flowers into. Although Jerry didn't comment about the flushed, happy look on her face he did take notice that there were three flowers in all. And the way she quickly bounded down the hall again directly towards Allen's room, like a nimble gazelle.

She'll just leave that flower in the bottle for him as a reminder of the amazing trip through the island they had, before heading on to see her brother. And ..try not to be super antsy to see Allen.

Allen was much later to enter the Headquarters, standing there in a daze still remembering that soft sensation of Lenalee's lips on his own and even touching his lips briefly. Finally though he would make it to Jerry, looking just a little floaty. If that word ever applied for anyone that would be Allen right now. He brought the various ingredients back to the deeper parts of the kitchen and laid them out for Jerry to peruse.

"I uhmmm I'll go freshen up a bit." Allen said to Jerry before heading towards one of the Order baths. Hopefully that would help bring him back down to reality. Though he would be seen idly touching his lips when he left the kitchen.

Oh he definitely didn't miss that little gesture. He tsk'd softly, though he didn't have a chance to chastise him about risk taking with whatever he was doing with Lenalee, knowing how overprotective Komui was!

Worth it or not. But he still intended to look out for the little Exorcists who deserved to live like normal teenagers too. Still, he couldn't help but grin as he watched Allen 'float' off towards the baths.

Lenalee on the other hand, would have loved to go to the baths, but she was busy getting smothered in brotherly love after he was so excited by the flower she brought him. "Komuiiiiiii, I can't breathe..!" Lenalee giggled. "And I still have to put this one in my room. I came straight here after I dropped the other flower off in Alle-" oops. "AWK." And now she's being hugged even tighter. She'll be out eventually! Hopefully without a drill wielding brother hot on her heels.