midnightstar | How it should have happened!

"If you do this, you won't be able to come back. They'll think of you as a traitor or a spy, the same as Allen." Komui had said. Well, she probably wouldn't be judged AS harshly as Allen, but it wouldn't look favorably on Lenalee if she up and abandoned the Order to chase after him. It was one thing to drag him back, but knowing what would wait for him if she did, she had no intention of doing so. And she had no intention of leaving his side once she found him either.

This... was not what she had dreamed of when she thought about the days of not being needed in the Order - when she and Allen could live together, even with Komui. But she didn't regret her decision. She did, however, worry about Komui once she left - because he would probably take the consequences for it. Sure he reassured her about it, that he would be fine - and that he would even follow as soon as he could, if he could -- lord knows they would be watching him like a /hawk/ if they didn't imprison him or something.

Was this really the right thing to do? Abandon her family for her love? Lenalee shook her head. Had to stop thinking like that. Komui was no fool, and he had his own allies there. He'd be fine.. besides, the dreams she had when she was able to sleep.. they worried her. frightened her, even.

No, that's a laugh. She hadn't been able to sleep properly since Allen took off. That's why she went out with the team to try and find them - but since they were called back, Lenalee couldnt help but disagree with the decision. Which is why she called her brother on a secure line and ..he already knew honestly. He knew she wouldn't agree to peacefully going back, after all she and Allen had been through.

So with her brother's blessing, reassurance and request that she convey his worries to Allen as well, Lenalee made an excuse that she needed to use the bathroom, and bolted the moment she was out of sight. Once she lost her pursuers, she would focus on searching for Allen properly. And pray (ha) she wasn't making a horrible mistake.

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Allen had been on the run constantly since leaving the Order. Being hunted down by the sentient Innocence known as the Apocryphos was something that eroded his will and resolve every day and his sleepless nights only made that worse for him. THe only moments he felt some modicum of peace was when he performed for the traveling band he'd pretty much joined up with. Though now that they arrived at their next big city, he knew he'd have to leave them soon. Staying around big groups like this for too long was no different than painting a target on their backs and Allen wanted nothing of the sort for anyone. Heck it was part of the reason he'd left the Order. Because he did not want the others to be used as pawns against him any longer. Even if it meant...hurting the one he loved and leaving her in tears with a promise not even he was sure he would be able to keep.

Allen constantly moving made it difficult for Lenalee to pick up even a trace of his trail at first - days went by, with Lenalee wondering if she would ever find him, but determined to keep searching. She didn't know what she would do if she couldn't find him, honestly, but giving up wasn't an option. She was tired, but thanks to her own Innocence, she could cover a lot of ground quickly. But she was tired, she was hungry, she was lonely and her fears were gnawing at her. What ifs left her nights tormented with thoughts of having abandoned her brother, or Allen telling her to leave, or worse, being angry with her for risking so much just to come after him.

When she finally saw civilization again, she was relieved. A city this big surely would have heard or seen something about Allen.. and then her hopes were immediately dashed again. In a city this big how the heck was she going to -find- him? She pressed her hand to her lips, taking a deep breath. Focus, pay attention. Allen was going to do everything to avoid notice, right?

She sighed softly, pausing to plunk herself down on a bench, almost depressed with what a hopeless seeming mission it was. She glanced up briefly when she saw a small boy tugging his parent earnestly, by the hand, and excitedly chattering about traveling performers having arrived in town not too long ago. Apparently he'd seen them perform before and wanted to share it with his father and mother this time. A faint smile tugged at her lips as she watched the group walk past, and then she followed the direction they went, thoughtfully.

A traveling band, huh.. maybe one of them would have heard something in their travels? Dusting herself off, she got to her feet and slowly started trudging off in the direction the family went.

Another perk of traveling with a circus, aside from the heavy dose of nostalgia, was the fact that he was provided a disgusise. While that would not work against the Apocryphos, it made avoding detection from Finders that much easier.

Allen smiled that fake yet obviously true smile of his. The audience didn't know any better. Didn't know the true him and all of his burdens. Not that he'd show that while performing.

Here you go little guy. One baloon doggy coming right up." Allen said quickly fashioning a baloon animal for the child. He had been so focused on that that he didn't evne notice who had entered the square.

Awwww, balloon dog. The little boy was over the moon about it, proudly showing it to his father, "Look dad! He made a dog balloon! Isn't it cool?"

His father laughed and nodded, then smiled politely to Allen and fished for his wallet to pay for the Balloon. Anything for his pride and joy. Lenalee didn't notice the disguised Allen yet, busy looking around, forcing past that tiredness to try and pay attention to any glimpses of someone who could help her. Most of the performers were pretty busy, trying to set up for the next event, but they were polite when they gently suggested Lenalee ask someone else.

The little boy with the balloon beamed, turning to skip off to look at other performers, leaving Allen temporarily free.

So naturally, Lenalee wandered in his direction, "Excuse me, I wonder if you could help me. I'm looking for someone." She said to the disguised fellow, forcing a smile on her face.

Allen didn't take the money at first but the man insisted and seeing a father dote on their son to this extent was somthing that was so very heartwarming for Allen. And then a voice...that he both yearned ofr and dreadded at the same time, appeared before him. His mask almost cracked then and there. Why?! Why was she here|?! No this wasn't good. No not good at all. He had to get away before she realized who she'd just spoken to!

"Ah I'm sorry but my shift just ended so I can't help you." He said quickly gathering his props and making to bolt for the big top tent.

The smile fell, and she looked more desperate, reaching out to try and grab hold of his sleeve, or arm. Forward maybe but she was a desperate woman. "Wait, please! This will only take a moment, I promise..!" And there was something nagging at her ..

He saw the look on her face change out of the corner of his eye and it felt as if he'd just taken a dagger to the heart knowing he'd made her feel that way again. The way he left her still haunted his sleep whenever the Apocryphos or Neah didn't. So to see it like this in the waking world was exceedingly painful too. So much so he almost snapped and yanked his sleeve away. Instead he opted to keep his face concealed from her as he gathered his things.

"Alright ask but make it quick." Hopefully if he just listened and answered that would be enough. As long as he could avoid eye contact..

Lenalee let out a relieved sigh. FInally someone cooperative..kind of. His voice was oddly ..almost.. familiar though. She paused, trying to place the voice - it'd be easier if she could see his face though. She leaned a little to the side to try to get a glimpse, "Thank you," she smiled. "You don't know what that means to me. The person I'm looking for...he's.." She closed her eyes briefly, took a steadying breath. "..he's very important to me." So important she risked leaving her only family to find him again. "I... his name is Allen. Allen Walker...have... have you seen him?" She took out a photograph that had been taken during her birthday, during happier times. She had to bite her lower lip when her gaze lingered on his face, but she turned the photograph to show him, "Here, he looks like this. If you have any information..any at all..?"

Allen bit his lower lip after turning his gaze away from that picture. THis was torture. This was punishment. He could feel the emotion in Lenalee's voice and that in turn cut into him like the sharpest blade. It was too much to bear. He had to get away. If he said even word his voice would crack. So he set down the things he'd been gathering....and BOLTED TOWARDS THE NEAREST ALLEYWAY.

The way he just BOLTED like that caught Lenalee quite by surprise. Enough that she stared after him for a few seconds. Either he knew something or... Wait.. it couldn't be...

Or it could. In either case he was getting away, and she couldn't have that. He was the first and only lead she's had in FAR too long. "Wait!" She called after him, breaking into a determined run after him, and drawing a few curious glances.

Allen had been banking on that element of surprise to get enough of a headstart on Lenalee. So he kept running full tilt, sprinting as if his life depended on it and rounding a corner into the alleyway under the baffled gazes of everyone on scene.

She doesn't dare call his name, with the potential risk of other Finders having found their way here as well. Using her innocence in full view of everyone would be a bad idea too, so she waited until they had ducked into the alley before increasing her speed, "Please, don't run..!" Why is he running? He didn't think she was ... wait, did he? Well she knew she had to talk to him fore sure - let him know she wasn't going to drag him back to the Order. For good or bad, she wanted to be with him, and nothing, short of him telling her he didn't want to see her anymore, would make her stop looking for him.

He can't. He can't be there. SHE can't be there. IT was dangerous for them both. So he did his best to put as much distance between himself and Lenalee. Which of course was a futile endeavor which was made a certainty when he darted into the back alley out of sight of the public. Since now a certain Exorcist could activate their inocence without being spotted by civilians. Yet he ran. He ran and ran and ran. IT was not a dignified retreat or anything of the sort. Just a full on sprint.

And that's exactly what she did. The moment she entered the alley, all she could think of was catching up to him and worry about the questions their chase would likely bring up later. He'd already had quite the lead on her from bolting so suddenly, but the moment she engaged her Innocence she started to catch up. And the only thing she could think of to make him -stop- running was to tackle him or grab him or something. Although with that forceful increase in speed, it might end up having the impact of a freight train if she managed to tackle him. And that was being gentle.

Gentle even for a freight train was not going to cut it. Allen had been trained since young to avoid grabs and tackles every time he had to run away from his Master's debt collectors. So Lenalee would need a bit more force and brutality than that as he instinctively pivoted out of her reach. If he could invoke his Innocence without fearing it rebeling against him, he would have already used the Belts to take to the rooftops!

Well she didn't want to hurt him! And it'd been so long since she saw him last, she forgot how much he could take. As well as how nimble he was. It was incredibly frustrating - he was so stubborn! And she was very, VERY lucky he hadn't activated his Innocence - that would have made the chase even more difficult.

Desperation starts to turn to anger - he won't even stop to LISTEN to her! She could throw something at him. Using any wind attacks would be a bad idea - far too noticeable for example, so instead she invoked the second level of her Innocence, increasing her speed and strength further. Before Allen had a distressed Lenalee chasing after him. Now he has an angry one - is that better or worse?

Oh it was worse. Very very much worse as Komui could testify. Yet Allen had already boarded this ship of fools. There was no escape for him yet the alternative still filled him with enough dread to keep him trying to find that needle in a haystack of a chance.

Still he could her hear steps behind him now, drawing alarmingly close so he didn't even dare risk a glance over his shoulder as he sought out his next surprise turn that would hopefully earn him a few precious seconds of space.

Yeah, throwing something at him with her current level of strength might be too much. But they were coming up on another turn and she didn't want to give him that chance to catch her off guard again. And the longer he eluded her, the angrier she got (so it's probably good he didn't look over his shoulder - seeing an angry Lenalee bearing down on him would give him an extra boost of speed from terror!).

Sound Shackle it is. Allen was quick - she had to be quicker, and like the wind she meant to dash forward and slip past him, using the side of the wall to jump off of, twisting in the air and swinging a leg forward to kick the slippery Allen back against the wall. Surely that'll make him stop? Only she was angry enough to NOT hold back her kick, and realized only too late that she might hit him TOO hard.

And that's only if he doesn't manage to get out of the way in time.

An angry Lenalee was a force of nature to be sure and Allen while still considerably powerful, had always found his defenses weakened by default around Lenalee. Or maybe she'd just gotten even faster than when he last saw her and not even his instincts were able to make him evade that kick. A groaning cough spilled from his lips as he was catapulted against a wall, forming a modest crater before he slumped , head hung forward as darkness took him.

She landed lightly as a butterfly -- a deadly butterfly -- with a HUFF, turning when Allen finally stopped running, "Now will you f-" OH. UM. "A-allen..?" Weellllllll shit. Lenalee glanced around quickly, then ran up to him - he definitely had dropped his guard if he hadn't managed to dodge that. Good for her, but he was going to regret that when he woke up.

She pulled him out of the crater his body made against the wall, looking sheepish. Getting him somewhere safe where he couldn't run away from her again was priority now. So carefully she carried him on her back - thankful that he was still so lean - to the alley, looking around until she spotted a small hotel. Thank goodness for that traveling group of performers, most of the people were either on that side of the city or going about their business - Lenalee didn't get too many looks when she scuttled out of the alley, throwing awkward smiles to anyone who looked at her funny. Everthing's fine here, folks, her boyfriend was just REALLY tired!

Thankfully the hotel staff looked more amused than concerned at the sight of Lenalee carrying in the apparently 'exhausted' man. Not that Lenalee gave her real name of course. She gave the name 'Anita' when they asked, giving enough money for two nights. She had two nights to convince Allen she wasn't planning on dragging him back, and she didn't want to leave him, no matter how dangerous it was. After that... she didn't know what she was going to do if he still refused.

The bellhop was nice enough to carry Allen for her though (not like she had any luggage anyway), all the way up to the room that she rented, placing him nicely on the bed. Once the bellhop left, Lenalee tipped him, flipped the sign on the door to 'Do not disturb' and shut and locked it before dropping gently into a chair with a heavy sigh. So many thoughts and emotions were swirling around her head, and she was banking everything on being able to convince Allen of her words.

Surprisingly enough it was almost as if that kick had somehow managed to temporarily shatter the nightmares and fears that had plagued him every night since running off. So it was an actually uneventful and deep sleep. For about a few hours. Then the pain started seeping in and he groaned as his eyes seemed reluctant to open.

Lenalee hadn't risked sleeping - she hadn't found anything to tie him down in order to get some rest herself, so when she heard him making noise, she panicked. Fear that he would make a break for it again the moment he was fully awoke, and the chance that she wouldn't find him again made her immediately move towards the bed, hesitating a moment before effectively YOLOing and carefully climbing on top of the bed, straddling his legs firmly and reaching up to pin his wrists to the mattress. "Don't move." Please just stay there and hear her out~. Also he probably shouldn't move in general - the was a sturdy boi, but she also kicked him pretty damn hard.

Allen immediately felt his blood run cold and he flinched. Pain rushed back into his mind and he remembered those final moments of the chase and the chase itself. But before he could even try to get up and make a run for it again , he found his body trapped in several ways underneath Lenalee's. IT was a bold move made out of desperation. Yet back at headquarters odds were Komui had just been struck by an unexplained urge to murder.

Allen on the other hand was struck dumb as he peered up at Lenalee, shock and reluctance battling it out in his eyes. He could throw her off if he really wanted to. The belts could restrain and lift her with ease. That was exactly what he should do and yet he did not. Allen... just looked back at her before a single word managed to leave his lips.

"Why?" Why was she here? Why had she come. Why why why. So many why's.

Oh Komui was absolutely having aneurysms and ulcers at HQ, not just for Lenalee's decision, but knowing that he wouldn't be able to monitor his sister, or Allen. Who knows what they'll get up to! WOE EES!

They both were having a storm of conflicting emotions, and seeing the reluctance in his eyes was like her own kick in the face. Maybe... maybe he really didn't want to see her. They've been separated for what seemed like forever, he could have moved on, or given up on being with her. Maybe he just saw her as another enemy now - and that hurt the most of all.

She blinked a few times, looking down at him, studying his face before her gaze dropped to look at his midsection where she kicked him. "..doesn't it hurt?" That's why he shouldn't move, obviously.

Wait, no, she shouldn't be too gentle with him, she was /angry/ with him.

That was not the only thing that hurt. THough it was pretty high up on the list right now. Thankfully it didn't feel like he'd broken any ribs. Or maybe his Noah biology had already healed it while he was unconscious. Regardless her question throws him off of his own for a moment.

"That's...well yes it does but..." That didn't answer his vague question! Why was she here?! Why did she follow him all this way?! If she wanted to bring him back she would have already thrown him through an ARk gate and be done with it yet this was clearly a room at one of the inns.