Engaging Innocences

Return to Innocence

Allen had a plan. He pulled Timcampy aside two days later. Kanda walked past looking at the two huddled together in a window seat. Mugen walked beside him. The boy was sulking. Kanda glared down at him.
“What is it with you?” he demanded. Mugen pointed his chin over to where Tim wasn’t even looking at him. The golden boy laughed at something Allen said. Allen lifted his head to look at the pair walking by them. The smile still on his lips. Kanda looked away.
When the stupid bean sprout really smiled, he was glorious in his beauty. Kanda hated the fake smiles he gave to so many people. They didn’t deserve to see him like that. The look on his face now had Kanda thinking about how important the short stack had become in his life. He grabbed Mugen’s arm, pulling him over to the golden pair.
“You want to train together today?” he asked, looking anywhere but at that glorious smile. Allen shrugged one shoulder. “Sure, when?” he asked. Tim kicked Mugen lightly with his foot.
“We are free now.” He suggested. Mugen turned away.
“Awe come on; Allen needed me for something. I’m sorry Mu!” He cried. The boy stuck his chin out, arms folded. He looked just like a tiny Kanda. Allen let out a genuine laugh. Mugen shot him a death glare.
“You almost have it. A little more glare in the eyes there.” Allen laughed. Kanda snorted. He folded his arms too glaring at the wall.
“See like that!” Allen shouted pointing at Kanda’s eyes. “Crinkle them up a bit more.” Mugen glanced at Kanda, then tried to match his glare. Allen and Tim where holding their stomachs laughing when Lavi walked by. Mugen laughed when Hammer matched Kanda perfectly.
“Where you even trying?” he teased the other boy. Hammer rolled his eyes.
“Knock it off let’s go train.” Kanda snarled. He led the way to the training room. They warmed up, did some stretches. Then set to work on some group fighting. Kanda and Lavi set up some dummies. Together with their human innocence’s they went through the obstacle course. Allen and Tim acted like Akuma for them to defeat.
Kanda came over head, Mugen wrapped around him. He brought the swords down toward Allen’s head. Allen raised his arm, nothing happened. His innocence didn’t activate. Kanda was already committed to the attack. What was the short stack thinking?
A second before Kanda would have cleaved his head in two, he managed to throw himself to the side. Avoiding connecting with Allen at all. The bean sprout just stood there like he was frozen. His eyes weren’t on Kanda. He was looking out the window.
Kanda moved to see what he was looking at. A tall man with flame red hair was outside. He wore a general’s coat. Kanda tsked. Of course, the only thing that could really throw Allen off was his master.
“Master?” Tim snarled at the man coming to float in the air beside Allen.
“What is he doing here?” Allen asked. They wouldn’t get an answer. As they watched some keepers unloaded a box from the wagon beside him, then Cross looked up at the window. Waved to the boy and climbed back into the wagon. Allen stood still until it was out of sight.
“That was odd.” Lavi said. They agreed. They decided they were done with training for now. They showered and went to get lunch.
A few hours later Allen was in the library. He sat beside the fire watching it as he thought about the man who had raised him, and the man who had made him an exorcist. They were very different people. Each influenced his life greatly. They made him what he was today.
He heard the door open. Allen didn’t look up. He didn’t care who came in. That was until he felt the cushions beside him sink. Assuming it was Lavi, he didn’t say anything, or look at him. Allen waited for the red-haired teen to say something. Lavi had a habit of finding him when he didn’t want to talk.
“You ok, short stack?” The voice that came from the other side of the couch startled Allen. He jumped, eyes wide he looked at the boy. Grey eyes looked back, filled, not with hate, but with something Allen had rarely seen on others while looking at him. Caring? Tenderness? Concern? These were things people rarely showed him.
He was so taken aback that one, he forgot to yell at Kanda to call him by his name, and two he ended up telling him the truth.
“Not really.” He said. “Why was he here? Why didn’t he even try to see me?” Allen looked away. He didn’t want anyone to see the tears. A hand caught his face. Kanda turned him back to look at him.
“He’s an asshole.” Kanda said in a neutral tone. Allen laughed. They way Kanda was he never thought he would hear something like that come out of his mouth. Kanda gave him a tiny smirk.
“Thanks, Bakanda.” Allen whispered. His heart began to hammer a little too fast. Kanda still healed his chin in his hand.
“You look great when you really smile. You shouldn’t waste those fake smiles on people. They don’t deserve it.” He said. Allen blinked. Really? He thought. He had made plans with Tim to get Mugen and Kanda alone so that Allen could see just what Kanda felt for him. Well best laid plans. Allen thought. He leaned forward. He knew the other had quick reflexes. Kanda could move away at any time. Allen didn’t move that fast. Not really slowly, just leaned into the other.
He placed his hand on the others shoulder. Moved a bit closer. Eyes locked together. Kanda didn’t move, didn’t drop his hand from Allen’s face. Allen tilted his head slightly, sliding across the couch he got closer still.
“Say my name.” he asked him. Kanda swallowed.
“Allen.” He breathed out the name. “Shut the hell up and kiss me.” He added closing the distance between them in a flash. Allen almost jerked back. A reaction you had whenever Yu Kanda moved to close near you.
Kanda caught the back of his head, stopping him. Allen pressed into his mouth. He tasted slightly salty. Kanda’s mouth was soft and firm on his. The scared teen closed his eyes. Allen parted his lips a bit. Kanda took the hint. Pushing his tongue into the opening. Allen curled his arms around Kanda’s shoulders. Reaching up he pulled the hair tie out. He ran the silk through his fingers as he pressed into the teen.
“Hope we are not interrupting anything.” An amused voice spoke from behind the couch. Kanda barely moved. Allen sprang off of the couch. Lavi stood arms folded a huge grin on his face looking between the two. Hammer, Mugen and Tim behind him. Tim pouted.
“But we had a plan!” He cried at Allen. Suddenly the golden boy twisted around. He grabbed Mugen’s face and kissed him. The boy’s eyes widened at the assault, but then slowly closed as he leaned into the kiss.
“There plan accomplished.” Allen teased. Tim pulled away from his friend. A huge grin taking up half of his face.
“Well, now that we got that taken care of.” Lavi glared at Mugen and Tim, winked at Allen, and moved just out of Kanda’s reach. “I just came to see if Allen was ok?” Lavi looked questioningly at the shorter boy. “I guess Kanda took care of that.” The boys chuckled.
“How about a movie night?” Tim suddenly piped up.
“Popcorn, candy, like we used to do when Cross left us alone for weeks at a time.” He looked up at Allen huge green eyes wide with excitement.
“Weeks?” Lavi asked. Allen ignored him.
“I would like that, guys?” he looked to the others.
“I think Jerry can come up with something.” Kanda said. “I will go see what I can do. Meet in my room in twenty minutes. Pajamas only.” He ordered before knocking Lavi out of his way to get past.
“You and Kanda, huh. About time.” Lavi said making sure Kanda hadn’t reached the doors yet.
“Stupid Rabbit.” Kanda barked as he walked out.
Twenty minutes later they were all in Kanda’s room. The room had changed. Kanda had gotten three filled carts of food from Jerry. Snacks on one, Allen’s typical dinner on another and the last was filled with dinner foods for the rest.
Allen was pretty sure Kanda stole every pillow in the building. They were scattered all around the floor. A large flat TV screen was set on his dresser. They all plopped down around the room. Tim and Mugen shared a blue bean bag pillow. Lavi set up a nest of about fifteen pillows where he had places for his drinks and food. Hammer sat near him on a single pillow, another was at his back against the wall. Lenalee had tagged along when she had run into the boys. She set up her own little fort of to the side. Allen sat down on a dark grey bag. He sunk into it; Kanda sat cross legged behind him. The pillow lifted the white-haired boy up a little,
Reaching back Allen pulled Kanda’s legs around him. He leaned back into Kanda’s chest. He heard a soft tsk. Allen laughed. He had been a little upset that Kanda’s hair was once again up in its usual pony tail. Kanda started a movie. He then pulled Allen’s cart over to where the boy could reach it. They spent the rest of the night like this.
Allen woke in the morning. Kanda was a sleep beside him, face down, one arm tossed over his waist. The hair tie was loose in his hair. With a smirk, Allen pulled it free. He looked down. He was covered with a black blanket. Kanda was under it as well. He didn’t remember getting covered up. Kanda must have done it before falling asleep. He smiled at the thoughtfulness.
Tim flew up to hover over his face. “Hey Tim, time for breakfast?” he asked the round golden ball. Allen blinked when he didn’t get a response. He bolted upright to stare at the golem before him.
“Oh no!” He cried. He reached out his hands. Tim flew to lay in them. Allen brought him up to his face.
“Oh, Tim.” He stroked the round head holding him close.
Kanda rolled over to sit up. Black hair falling like a curtain of silk around his face. Impatiently he shoved it out of his face. He took the tie back from Allen to fix his hair. He glanced at the golden ball with wings and a tail in Allen’s hand. The short stack was talking to it softly. Looking over to where the boys had been the night before, he saw his sword.
Unsheathed Mugen laid on the pillows. Kanda picked it up. Timcampy let out a soft moan whistle. He buried his face into Allen’s neck.  Allen held him tight as he climbed awkwardly to his feet. Kanda sheathed the sword to his back.
“Lavi.” Allen went to wake the teen. He was sprawled on his back, one arm over his eyes, snoring. Allen kicked him gently. Lavi didn’t even flinch. Allen kicked him a bit harder. His snoring stuttered, and he rolled over.
“Stupid Rabbit wake the hell up or I will cut your ears off!” Kanda bellowed. Lavi was instantly awake. He sprang to a sitting position.
“What are you doing in my room?” Lavi demanded.
“We are in Kanda’s room. Movie night last night.” Allen reminded him.
“Oh, right.” Lavi rubbed at his good eye. Then blinked. He sprang to his feet.
“Tim is…” his voice trailed away as he looked around for Hammer. The boy had been sitting beside him the night before watching the movie together. They had shared snacks. Even talked about the movie a little.
Lavi’s eyes fell to where the dark brown hammer lay on the pillow. “no, no, no.” he fell to his knees beside it, picking it up, he cradled it in his hands.
Tim few up to lay on Allen’s head. Allen gathered the carts. Together they walked down to breakfast. Lenalee had not remained in the room once the boys had fallen asleep the night before. She greeted the with a wave when she saw them come in. Kanda walked beside Allen, Mugen strapped to his back. He looked a little grumpier than usual. Lavi was carrying hammer as he came in sadness slumping his thin shoulders. No one said anything as they gathered their breakfast.
Jerry frowned at the innocence filled weapons. He silently pushed the cart filled with foods little boys liked, back into the freezer. He gave Allen his usual loaded cart. Kanda go this soba noodles. Lavi taking whatever Jerry handed him, while still carrying Hammer.
The group took seats around Lenalee. She leaned over to hug Allen, then Lavi. Since Kanda was on Allen’s other side, she couldn’t reach him. The meal was a silent one.
Komui found them there just as Allen finished up eating. “I have a mission for you four.” He said in a gentler tone than usual. Allen took care of his cart. They followed the chief back to his office.
“We need to get them back into action.” He whispered to Lenalee. She looked back over her shoulder at the glum faces. She couldn’t agree more.