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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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.

Except Allen would probably confess to it being with the risk. If only in the kitchen where no golems ever were allowed to venture in.

After a good while Allen finally left the bath and after putting his clothes back on finally headed back up to his room. He wasn't in as big of a daze as before however his thoughts were still completely and utterly focused on the time he spent with Lenalee.

"It almost feels like it was a dream." Allen said to himself before he opened the door, closing it behind him with a small yawn before his eyes finally landed on his table. And the bottled flower sitting on top of it. A flower he immediately recognized.

"...Lenalee..." Oh great. Now every time he saw that flower he would immediately think of her.

You say that like it's a bad thing!

In any case, Jerry would find that determination terribly amusing. Lenalee meanwhile, was more than relieved that Komui didn't ask anything specific about her leaving a flower for her 'friend' since Lenalee had quickly explained that she thought the flowers might cheer him up.

It was true at least. Even though she wanted so very much to tell her brother, not just so she didn't have to sneak around, but because she wanted him to know how happy she was with Allen.

Soon though. She didn't want to slip like that again. Eventually Lenalee finished helping Komui and the researchers and wandered off, back to her room, where she sat on the bed for all of ten minutes. She really wanted to see Allen, and preferably before it got late enough that they had to retire for the night.

"..." Antsy antsy antsy. Should she go see him now? They were together about what, two, three hours ago? And yet...she was just barely able to keep herself from jumping up to hurry to his room and see if he was there.

This...was agony.

Well no it isn't but it is definitely risky.

Allen took off his vest and staying only in the undershirt and pants before taking a seat on the window sill, bending one knee up under his chin as he looked at the gift left behind by Lenalee, a faint wistful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Lenalee heaved a sigh. She could try to go to sleep but it was still pretty early yet. Maybe a shower would take her mind off of him?

...

Yeah, no, that wouldn't do it at all. She was being silly. If she wanted to see Allen before, she'd just do it - and more importantly she'd never get to sleep if she didn't. Not to mention she did say she'd see him later.

Two hours was later enough!

After checking the hall and making doubly sure there were no snooping golems about, she trotted off, ending up at Allen's door and knocking gently while trying to look as -casual- as she possibly could.

Allen wasn't even trying to get her off his mind as he looked at that flowing with a sense of longing burning in his chest. As he lingered on that feeling a while longer he heard a knock at his door.

"Yes? Come in." He answered slowly setting his leg down and turning to face the door, his hands gripping lightly onto the window sill as he leaned forward a bit in preparation to greet his guest.

There's a brief pause, and then the door swings open slowly. Lenalee pokes her head in, followed by the rest of her, "Allen..? I'm not disturbing you am I?" He's... got his vest off again. WELL it's not the shirt, but it's just as bad don't stare don't stare eyes UP Lenalee.

"L-Lenalee?!... No! No of course you aren't. Please come in! " Allen said once he recovered from his stupor at getting to see Lenalee again so soon. This was risky and quite incriminating and yet Allen's only emotion was utter joy at seeing her there gain.

With relief, Lenalee gave the door a gentle push to close it behind her. Though being alone in the room with him like this gave her butterflies in her stomach, especially seeing his own reaction to her visiting him. "Did you like it?" She asked, motioning towards the bottled flower. "The next time we're dispatched maybe there'll be a town that sells vases that I can put it in properly but..that'll have to do for now."

Suure that's the only reason she came. Totally innocent and not her hiding the fact that she wanted to throw her arms around him and bask in the warmth that was him.

"Of course I did. It was a wonderful gift to come back to." Allen quickly answered with a nod. Still he didn't believed that was why she would hae come to see him so soon. Or perhaps he wanted to believe that wasn't the only reason.

"Please. Take a seat wherever you like. I'm afraid I only have water to offer if you like."

Lenalee smiled even more, "I'm glad you did!" She let out a sigh of relief, relaxing.

"Oh, thank you, Allen - but it's all right." She glanced around, then absently padded over to sit on the edge of the bed.

... wait, maybe she shouldn't have sat ..-there-. But it would be awkward to get up and move now. Just play it off Lenalee! Nothing weird about this - you've sat on the bed before! ...sure it was before things..changed, but.. uh..

"Actually that's..not the only reason I came over."