beyond of point of broke up

the beggining

Allen Walker sat in the middle of a cold, grey room; shoulders hunched, he stared at the ground. Four cloaked figures surrounded him, each standing a few inches away from the chair that he was bound to. Completely covered by ornate robes and masks, the elite assassin force known as Crow had been called in from Central for the second time that year to guard him. Allen winced as he shifted, the guards matching his movement. The binding on his left arm was incredibly heavy, dragging the rest of his body as close to the ground as it could manage, given his constraints. Across from him sat the council, separated from Allen by a long table. They were the highest members of the Order, reporting directly to the Pope. They chattered quietly amongst themselves, seemingly deliberating over his heresy, the 14th Noah, and his punishment.

There was nothing more that he could do now. Allen had been given a chance to plead his defense, though in nothing but the name of protocol; the higher ups had reached their decision already, and Allen did not disagree with it. So as they discussed his fate, Allen looked down, and remembered.

Allen stood in General Cross's room, covered in bindings similar to the ones he would be wearing again five months later, glaring sullenly at the back of his Master's head as the mysterious Cross revealed information that made so many things click into place, yet raised so many other questions. Allen remained silent for the most part as Cross explained that Mana, for all intents and purposes Allen's father, was the brother of the 14th Noah; the Noah that had once betrayed and then been killed by the Millennium Earl. The general explained that he had promised to watch over Mana after the 14th died, and that in return the 14th would come back; in Allen's body. The 14th had already begun to awaken in Allen (that specter that no one else could see, always following him), and soon he would completely take control. Then, Allen would no longer exist.

And Allen could no longer remain silent. He screamed in denial, as Cross pointed out the mounting pile of evidence (you knew the Player's song, you were able to perform it despite never having touched a piano in your life. He planted those memories in you). Allen fought against the implications (Did Mana every really love him?), and fought harder against Cross's words (Mana sort of lost it after the 14th died. I don't know when it happened, the 14th did not pick you for a reason; you were simply there. You were unlucky). It was not long before he was trying to fight Cross himself (What would you do if I told you that you'll have to kill someone you love?)

Lavi looked on unflinchingly from the sidelines as Allen struggled, and was ultimately subdued by the guards; Cross walked right past the red-head on his way out. But Allen couldn't begrudge him for it. Lavi was there as a Bookman, after all; it was his job to record, not to intervene. It must have been as hard for him not to help as it was for Allen to watch his Master go, along with all of the answers.

Allen exhaled slowly, carefully moving his left hand back and forth. He could feel the guards' attention on him as he slowly worked the deformed wrist in circles, trying to return circulation to his numb arm, though he was unsure of whether he had simply been still for too long or if it was some sort of side-effect from the sealing. Allen abandoned the attempt after another minute with no response. Soon it wouldn't matter, anyway.

"Your hair's getting longer."

Lenalee looked up at Allen in surprise, raising her hand to toy with an almost shoulder-length ebony lock before smiling brightly at him. Allen's smile widened on its own in response— it was impossible not to pick up on her enthusiasm.

"Yeah, I'm thinking about keeping it short," she confided, turning to face him completely. Her attire was all black as usual, comprised of a sleeveless top and ruffled mini-skirt with long leggings and short boots, innocence hanging around her ankles in the form of twin rings. "With the boots' new power up, I think that it might get in the way if I let it grow back out all the way, but I'd like to be able to put it up in ponytails. I might let it grow out a bit more," she mused. "Brother will certainly be upset, he loves playing with my hair."