Pairings: Lavi/Allen + Neah/Lavi [slow burn]
Rating + warnings: T / no warnings apply
Author's note: Hello everyone! I've finally gotten close enough to finishing this to start posting, which I'm extremely happy about. It's been my only writing project for the past 3 years, and I have put all of my love and energy into it. This fic is canon divergent from chapter 218 of the manga, but for the most part the fic is canon compliant apart from that. I have 9 chapters ready as of this point, and I'm hoping to finish the ending and edit the rest while I post these chapters, so there should be a regular update schedule. Be prepared for the long haul, this turned out way longer than I expected it to.

But enough rambling, I hope that you guys enjoy reading this and please leave comments (they give poor writers like me motivation) if you can! Enjoy!

The rain outside hammered a cacophony of noise onto the roof above, thousands of drops creating a thousand tiny drum beats struck in unison; a reflection of the feelings contained in the room below. Lavi remembered reading once that emotions could influence the weather, happiness bringing forth a sun hidden before by cloud, sadness a barrage of rain and an army of darkened skies. On this night, with his back pressed tightly against the wood behind him, he could feel each plank etch itself onto his skin. Fingers dancing a nervous pattern on a trembling thigh, he wondered if what he felt at that moment brought forth storms or sunshine.

For when a caged bird is finally set free, is its freedom a gift or a curse?

Four months and sixteen days: the time that had passed since Allen had left the Order. He knew it almost instinctively, not needing a clock or time of day to remind him, nor a calendar to mark the days gone by. He knew, and with each day it became more painfully apparent that the time would only lengthen.

There was no going back.

Kanda and Johnny had briefly tried, and he could only marvel at their attempt to stop the forces pulling him away from everything he held dear. He even briefly entertained the thought that, perhaps, he could go home with them. But Apocryphos was a tireless pursuer, and the Earl knew not the meaning of time. In a crowded alleyway Allen Walker met his fate, mind shattering bit by bit into unrecoverable pieces, a manic grin and memories not belonging to him marking the end of his time on the run.

Or so he thought.

For when he awoke the Earl, Johnny, and the handcuffs tying them together were gone. The city was quiet, empty, the air heavy with a silence that seemed almost unnatural. When he rose to his feet, wincing, something felt wrong. With unsteady steps into dying sunlight, breaths light and quickened by fear and pain, Allen entered a town square full only of the dead.

Feathered eyes and mouths greeted him, creatures of horror and fancy, lives taken so painfully and so very easily. Allen did not then know that these people had died while filled with wonder because oh, an angel from Heaven itself had graced them with its presence.

He did not then know that his lifetime companion, and the friends who'd tried to take him back, were all gone.

His feet moved as if they simply knew only to walk forward, so with heavy steps Allen stepped over the festering dead, eyes focused only ahead. He ignored the feeling of soft flesh beneath his boots, ignored the way his arm throbbed in memory of those feathers filling his eye sockets. Later he would cry, later he would scream and lie listless and sleepless with eyes wide open, but for now he knew he had to leave, though he knew not where he would go.

Allen scarcely comprehended that the scenery had changed from urban to country, that the sun had long since set behind darkening clouds. Blinking, lowering his right hand from where it had been gripping his left so tightly his fingers had gone numb, he realised he had been walking for miles in a form of stupor. He became aware of the ache in his legs, the hardened road beneath him that his boots did nothing to soften for his tired feet, the dizziness that lack of food and water brought. Throat parched, stomach growling, every muscle in his body screaming for rest, Allen felt as if he could lie down on the side of the road and sleep as deeply as if he lay upon a feather-filled mattress.

Weeks had passed since then, but he was still weary, still aching and still full of hunger and thirst. He now knew the meaning of being on the run, how Neah must have felt when he betrayed the Earl, for wherever he went there was no place to rest and nowhere to flee to. Every day since he had last seen Johnny and Kanda had been an endless stretch of running, hiding, running, hiding. Sleep came whenever his body gave up on him, when he couldn't bring himself to get up from where he'd fallen, be it on a city's dirty pavement or a damp dirt road in the countryside. Food and drink came whenever he could muster the strength to perform, though he resorted more often to starving. He couldn't use his Innocence due to the lack of food and Apocryphos's attack, his cursed eye kept him aware of Akuma, and the near fever-like heat and blurred vision that accompanied Neah's excursions warned him of what he could only assume were the Noah. Most normal humans avoided him, for his bedraggled appearance and empty gaze said more than enough that he was to be left alone.

Which was probably for the best, since enough innocent people had died on his part.

Johnny and Kanda's fate was unknown to him, and he almost didn't want to know, for how would he cope with the deaths of more people who had died protecting him from himself? Just the thought of it caused Allen to shudder, to draw his tattered coat more closely around his frame. Cross's words on Neah's outcome rang clear in his mind, that he fought and ran until he died, and Allen couldn't help but tremble at the idea that, perhaps soon, he would be lying dead against a wall somewhere with no-one to help him.

Which was probably for the best, since enough innocent people had died on his part.

No longer even able to cry, for the tears had long since stopped flowing, Allen simply kept walking from place-to-place, eyes set in front of him, mind playing memories that did not belong to him on a loop. Timcanpy was nowhere to be found, and Allen missed the company for he was wretchedly alone.

Which was probably for the best, since enough innocent people had -

The sound of distant thunder rooted Allen to the spot. Looking up to the horizon, he spotted lightning dashing itself upon faraway hilltops. Soon a storm would come, which meant another night of either squatting in a damp abandoned barn, or fleeing sightless and exhausted through the rain. Gritting his teeth, pulling his coat even tighter around himself, Allen prayed to whatever God would take mercy on him to let him rest.

Every night he prayed, and every night his prayers were not answered. But he could only keep praying.

As the rain started to fall the heavens opened to release a storm of such fury Allen could hardly walk straight without toppling over. He mustered whatever strength he had left and ran, the sound of his boots hitting hard earth hidden by the onslaught of raindrops and thunder. Sight soon became useless, water dropping from his eyelashes over his vision, hair stuck to his clammy skin, clothes drenched and full of cold.

At first Allen thought the heat was from the sudden movement, since his body was so near exhaustion he could barely put one foot before the other, but with gut-wrenching fear he could feel Neah begin to surface, vision clouding over even further, the sensation of his boots hitting ground and the rain drumming upon his skull fading. Either a Noah was close or…

Allen couldn't finish his thought, for something was running towards him. He faltered, losing purchase on the slippery mud beneath his feet, consciousness crumbling, and before everything faded to black he saw a hand reach out for him.

The first sensation he felt was warmth; indescribable, comforting, bone-seepingly pleasurable warmth. It filled every part of his body from crown to heel, seeping into him so deeply he felt happy to lie that way forever and never wake again. But then other sensations became apparent to him: aching pain, exhaustion, hunger. He felt a hard floor underneath him, a bunched up piece of clothing beneath his head that smelt so strongly of the Order Allen felt his eyes fill with tears. Then the sound of a fire crackling, the smell of burning wood, the sound of metal clanging against metal, the sound of someone sighing –

And with that Allen sat up wide-eyed, instinctively trying to activate his Innocence and failing, scrambling to his feet in a state of panic.

"Oh, you're finally awake! I was beginning to wonder if you'd need some beautiful princess to kiss you awake or somethin'."

It was Lavi. Lavi sat, spoon in hand, stirring a pot full of something that smelt so good Allen could practically taste it.

"I must be dreaming…"

And then Allen began to laugh, sinking to the floor with his head held in one hand, lips pulled into a weary smile. When his gaze met Lavi's confused one he laughed even further, nearly hysterical, for how could this night, of all nights, be when his prayers were answered.

The smile died on Allen's lips. Hand falling to hang loosely in his lap, he realised that he wasn't dreaming, which meant Lavi was in danger. There was no time to question, no time to wonder how he'd found him, no time to rest or eat or laugh and enjoy the company of someone other than himself. He stood, giving a shaky smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"I'm awfully sorry Lavi, but I have to be going."

One step. Two steps. Silence broken only by the rain continuing to pour outside, and Lavi's wide-eyed shocked gaze rooted onto Allen's painfully fake smile, and how he headed straight for the door and opened it.

"W-wait, Allen - !"

One step. Two steps. The rain hammered on his skull a drumbeat that soon tuned out Lavi's cries for him to stop. But before he could take another step a hand grabbed his arm so tightly it hurt, and he was wheeled right back into warmth and the smell of food and a jade-green eye so full of emotion Allen couldn't breathe.

The door slammed shut and he soon backed himself into it, spine digging painfully into hardened wood. He wanted to find the words to say that he had to leave, that he had to keep running lest he be found, because as long as Lavi was around him he would either be killed by what hunted him or he would kill him. But the feeling of Lavi's hand trembling against his own, the sight of the eye that was fixed on his with a myriad of emotions, the sound of his voice breaking as he said his name - Allen felt himself topple forwards into a warmth that dragged him back deep down into unconsciousness.

And, when he awoke, it was daylight.

Eyelids heavy with sleep, mind sluggish and detached from his body, Allen struggled to pull himself up from the slumber that still clung tightly to his very being. Eventually his body reacted to his thoughts, mind scrambling itself together to put time and place into order, eyes fluttering open to a ceiling of wooden beams.

With a groan he pulled himself up, vision bleary, to a room filled with afternoon sunshine.

It was small, most likely an abandoned stable. The ground was littered with straw that had somehow embedded itself onto the stone floor, and in a far corner was a pile of rusted horse shoes. Motes of dust filtered through the hazy sunshine flooding the room, drifting from the small window opposite him to the dirty ground. And across from him, curled up under a jacket, was Lavi.

Memories came to mind in fragments; the rain, the smell of cooking food, the fingers gripping onto his arm, and then nothing. Getting up as best he could, Allen noticed he was no longer dressed in the clothes he'd arrived in, and his hair hung loosely past his shoulders. Wounds he hadn't even registered last night were bandaged and cleaned, and his feet were wrapped with bandages that smelt strangely medicinal and felt slimy to the touch. His tattered coat and shirt were draped neatly over a nearby bench, his trousers repaired and stitched. His body, which had become so accustomed to aches and weariness felt oddly relaxed; when he stood he no longer felt dizzy, and his fingers clenched and unclenched without numbness.

Allen realised, rather quickly, that he had probably been asleep longer than a night.

Sudden fear gripped him tightly in its claws: how long had he been asleep? Had Lavi been hurt? Had someone come for him? Urgency in his steps, Allen rushed to Lavi's side and knelt down, breathing unsteady and panic-stricken. But the redhead seemed to be fine, sleeping soundly with his chest rising and falling, slowly and steadily. Allen sank back, relieved. But the fear didn't fully abide, for he knew that he had rested far too long, that he hadn't made enough progress to keep him ahead of his tireless pursuers.

He had to leave, and he had to leave now.

Grabbing his shirt, coat, and trousers, Allen dressed as quickly as he dared without waking his sleeping companion. Tying his hair back with a ribbon, he attempted to put his feet into his boots but found himself unable to bite back the cry of pain that escaped him; his feet were in agony. Now he knew why they were bandaged, and with panic rising like a wave inside of him he realised he couldn't run away.

Lavi stirred with a groan.

Frozen in place, Allen did nothing but stare wide-eyed as the redhead sat up, rubbing his eye with the back of one hand. When he turned his bleary gaze towards him he didn't seem surprised or shocked at Allen's dressed state, nor that he was attempting to leave. Instead he yawned, so deeply his jaw clicked, and stumbled to a pot sat in the far corner. Upon opening it Allen smelt something akin to stew, now cold, but it smelt so good he felt his mouth water. Lavi turned towards him knowingly, smiling in a way that made it rather clear he knew Allen wouldn't leave without food. He laughed as Allen stumbled over to the pot and stared eager-eyed at what seemed to be the dinner from the night before.

"I didn't know when you'd wake up, so I made enough for two. Or five, knowing your stoma-"

He didn't even have time to finish, for Allen had already discovered a bowl beside his feet and was stuffing meat and vegetable into his mouth so quickly Lavi wondered if he'd choke. Soon enough the pot was empty, and a very satisfied Allen sat back with a hand on his stomach.

"I haven't eaten that well in months."

Lavi didn't know whether to laugh or feel concerned, so a quiet chuckle seemed like an appropriate enough response. Allen paused before guilt entered his expression, hands raised in apology.

"A-ah but I am sorry, there's not any left for…"

"Ah don't worry about it 'sprout, I ate last night anyway."

"The name's Allen."

A frown and curt voice accompanied Allen's words, causing Lavi to laugh. It was a sound so joyous to Allen's ears he couldn't help but smile; laughter, cooked food, and sleeping as much as he needed were things Allen had learned to live without over the past few months. Regardless of how much he had missed it, he knew he probably shouldn't get used to it.

After a brief moment of silence he turned his gaze towards his companion, confusion showing in his features.

"Lavi… What happened to…? I mean, what…?"

"If you mean your feet, I haven't even seen soldier's feet look that covered in blisters and sores. You also had frostbite, you're lucky I didn't have to cut your toes off." Allen poked his foot with a finger and deeply regretted it, wincing. "And as for how long you've been asleep, it's been nearly three days."

Allen looked up, eyes wide.

"Three…"

"Yep. You must've been pretty exhausted, huh."

Eyes downcast, Allen let the silence answer the question for him. Running a hand through his hair, Lavi pretended not to notice the fear veiling Allen's gaze, nor the way he tapped his fingers nervously against the stone floor.

"And as for what I'm doing here… Well…"

When Lavi didn't continue Allen forced his gaze upward, to which he saw an expression he'd never seen before on his friend's face. It reminded him awfully of his own expression when he first found out about the 14th, about Mana's connection to him, so when Lavi put on a smile and scratched the back of his head with a bashful glance Allen knew something had gone terribly, terribly wrong.

"Let's just say I really wasn't expecting to see you come falling into me and send me flying down the hill."

Allen grimaced. "A-ah I'm sorry…"

Lavi shook his head. "Don't sweat it, I should be the one sayin' sorry for injuring you."

"Injuring…?"

Lavi faltered, refusing to meet Allen's gaze with a pained expression. "Well… When you got up you weren't…"

And then Allen knew. He didn't want to imagine what he, no, Neah had done while he had been unconscious.

"I'm sorry…"

"It's fine."

They were silent for a while until Lavi continued with a cough, fiddling with the hem of his shirt with a faraway look in his eye.

"He said I should've run. But he looked like a gust of wind could be the end of him, so when he put up a fight I fought back. It didn't take much to knock him out but I probably did more damage than I meant to. I took him inside a place where I'd been stayin', and I didn't know if… well, if you were gonna come back… but, you were pretty beaten up and exhausted so…"

Silence befell them. Allen, unable to think of a reply, simply bowed his head and eyed his bandaged figure. Neah's excursions had become common place for him over the months; sometimes they lasted a mere few hours, other times a few days. The slip in consciousness was frightening at first, more so when Allen realised it had happened before at the Order, in Paris, at the North American branch. But eventually, when he concluded that who he was, 'Allen', wasn't consumed and erased upon each take-over, he simply accepted Neah's control over his mind and body as a fact of life.

He couldn't change it, so worrying over such a thing would be a waste of time and effort.

But Lavi had been missing, if Allen remembered correctly, for a few weeks before he himself had left the Order after Apocryphos's attack. Though his memories of that time were hazy at best, more due to the interrogation and Neah's awakening than anything, he briefly recalled Link commenting that Lavi and Bookman had been kidnapped by the Noah.

Which meant Lavi would not have known if 'Allen' would return if Neah was in control.

So, when Allen returned his gaze to his companion it was with curiosity, and a pang of guilt. How did he escape? Why was Bookman not there with him? Why had he helped Allen if he thought 'Allen' was gone? Seeming to sense the questions Allen wished to ask, Lavi simply shrugged before leaning back, palms resting on the dirty ground. Ask away, his gaze implied, resting on a spot near Allen's bandaged feet. But Allen couldn't articulate his queries so instead settled for silence.

Minutes passed, and with each moment the atmosphere filled with an awkward tension that you could almost taste; it was sour to the tongue, hard to swallow, and left your stomach and chest aflutter with an anxiety that could consume you. Unanswered questions lingered, and both Lavi and Allen knew that they could not be answered. Or, perhaps, they simply did not want to answer them, at least not in that moment when one had barely given himself a day's rest for weeks at a time, and the other could no more speak of what had happened than choke on the lump that refused to leave his throat.

They sat, uncomfortably quiet. But it seemed other forces were at work to end the discomforting silence between them, for the familiar change in Allen's left eye signified Akuma. Needing nothing to be said, Lavi jumped to his feet, reaching for the Innocence strapped to his thigh. It was only then that Allen noticed two things, leaving two previously unanswered questions answered.

Lavi's Innocence had changed, and there were stigmata on the palm of each hand.

"How many?"

Allen got up in a daze, trying to focus. "Five… wait, no… more but I can't seem to see them all properly…"

"That's fine. Can you tell how far away they are?" Lavi's voice was sincere, calming Allen's nerves.

"Too close for comfort."

And that was enough, for Lavi simply nodded before hurriedly packing items into a large duffel bag, moving methodically and quickly. When he turned around and saw Allen trying and failing to activate his Innocence, shaking from the effort of it, Lavi shook his head.

"We can't fight them, not with your injured feet. If I was alone I might be able to take them on but…"

He paused, gaze flickering from the unactivated hammer held in his hands to the burning marks on his palms. He could practically feel his Innocence come to life in his tightening grip, the thoughts and processes that he wasn't quite used to yet whirring in his mind, the power that left adrenaline flooding through his veins so fast his head was spinning.

But he couldn't, and Allen knew that. He knew all too well.

"So I guess we'll be running then."

In better circumstances Allen would have laughed at the irony since he could scarcely walk, nevermind attempt to flee from a group of Akuma. But nevertheless he gathered himself together, pulling himself upright with a deep breath.

He would do his best. That was all he could do, after all.

But Lavi shook his head once more, smiling this time. He extended a hand towards Allen, stigmata facing toward him, gaze resolute and firm with an emotion Allen couldn't quite figure out. And so he took hold of the hand before him, his left in Lavi's right, two crosses and marks of a doomed fate entwined.

A few steps forward and soon they were stood outside in mid-afternoon sunshine. Five was a poor estimate; more than twenty Akuma were gathering around them, fast approaching. With a quick glance Lavi counted several Level Ones, even more Level Twos and Threes, and 4 Level Fours with their mockery of angel wings outstretched. A part of his mind whispered I can do it, a quiet confidence that stated, perhaps, he was stronger now. But it was a risk he couldn't afford to take, not with the boy by his side weaker than he'd ever seen him, even though his light still shone just as brightly as it ever did.

Lavi brandished his weapon, fingers and palms sliding across hardened iron - no, crystal - and with the smallest thought, the tiniest rush of feeling rippling down his neck and spine to his arms, his hands, the tips of his fingers, he activated his Innocence with a call of its name. And it answered, aglow and burning with purpose. But there would be no fighting for it today, no souls to exorcise.

"Extend!"

Gripping Allen tightly with one hand, and his Innocence with the other, Lavi swung himself over his hammer as it changed shape accordingly, more fluid than it had been before. With a single command they were off. Allen had thought Lenalee was fast, the day they fought their first Level Four, but Lavi's Innocence was fast, so fast Allen's hair and clothes whipped about him painfully. And yet again he felt himself marvel at the change in power from Equip type to Crystal, the change in speed and ability.

Looking over his shoulder he could see pursuing Akuma, but they struggled to keep up. The Level Ones and Twos were soon lost behind the retreating horizon, and eventually the Level Threes also seemed to fade into the distance. The Level Fours were another matter.

Lavi cursed under his breath, also looking over his shoulder, and the Innocence seemed to respond by moving even faster, so fast even Lavi was struggling to notice his surroundings. But it was almost intuitive, like riding a bike or stretching out one's arms to balance; what he thought and felt was echoed by the bond to his Innocence, and with each urge to go faster, to move quicker, it replied and responded. When he thought he had noticed a tree too late, or not avoided a house quick enough, the weapon held in his hands almost knew what to do.

And despite everything, amongst all the misgivings and all the doubts, Lavi felt a thrill of being alive so strongly it hurt.

However neither of them would live for much longer if they didn't lose the Level Fours pursuing them. If Allen had not been so injured, so exhausted, and if his Innocence could function then perhaps they could stay and fight, but Lavi knew that he could not take on those Akuma alone and protect Allen at the same time.

They had to keep moving.

Just when Allen thought they could go no faster they did, so fast now that the world around them was a blur of colour, and he noticed with a jolt that behind him Lavi's Innocence was crumbling. Fearing it was breaking from the strain he nearly turned around and warned Lavi of the danger before realising that it was not, in fact, crumbling at all; it was as if the weapon had left an after-image in its wake, crystal returning to its original state, to blood, frozen in the path they had taken. But where was the hammer's head? If it wasn't fixed on the ground outside of the stable they had just left, where was it? He wished he could ask but the noise of the wind and the intense concentration on Lavi's face left him unable to speak, and so he remained silent, confused and concerned but silent and trusting in his companion to lead them to safety.

Suddenly the range of colour disappeared to an endless blue and it took Allen a while to realise they were crossing a lake or ocean of some kind, a wide expanse of water that left sky and earth blurring together into a disorientating array of colour. It left him feeling nauseous and dizzy so he buried his face between Lavi's shoulder blades, fingers digging into the fabric of his coat. Lavi, concerned, turned his head.

"Allen, you doin' alright?"

He had to shout to be heard above the wind and Allen could feel Lavi's voice vibrating against him as he spoke. Pulling away, meeting Lavi's gaze, Allen nodded.

"I'm alright, don't worry."

Lavi smiled before his expression faded to one of grim seriousness.

"Good. Are the Akuma still tailin' us?"

Allen turned, keeping a firm grip on Lavi's back so he didn't fall, and tried to focus his eye on the Akuma's souls - though he wished with all his heart he never had to look at another Level Four's soul because it was horrifying - and found nothing. At first he felt relieved, but then he saw them: one, two - far too close for comfort - then three, but where was the fourth one?

"Lavi, I can't find the last on-"

"Shit!"

He had no time to react because suddenly the world was spinning, endless blue blurring into one, and then he hit water hard, so hard all the breath was knocked out of him and he couldn't move. Shock overtook instinct and it took far too long for him to realise he was sinking, but he felt too weak to swim for the surface and the coldness of the water was so blissfully numbing, so dark and calm and free of toil and he felt as if he could simply close his eyes and - but his lungs were burning from the lack of air with his entire body screaming at him to breathe and if he lay down and died here he would be forsaking Mana and everything he had tried so hard to live for - but did that really matter when he wouldn't exist soon anyway - he had to keep moving but -

The decision was made for him as a firm arm wrapped itself around his middle and dragged him, partly unwilling, to blinding sunlight and fresh air. He gasped for breath, throat and eyes burning until he was coughing and spluttering and unable to brush neither water nor tears from his eyes.

"Allen. Allen! Come on, listen to me you idiot!"

He heard a voice; Lavi's voice, full of urgency and worry. As he opened his eyes he saw that they were in the middle of a large lake, land faraway on the horizon, and with one hand Lavi was holding him up as the other held onto the Innocence suspended just above his head so tightly his knuckles were white from the strain of it.

"Allen, listen, I can fight on water but not that well, we have to get out of here."

He sounded panicked and it made Allen's heart flutter with worry. Heaving, trying hard to breathe and focus, he reached for Lavi's Innocence and painfully hoisted himself up, Lavi following suit. As they sat, regaining their bearings, they saw that the Level Fours had surrounded them, wings spread wide, a circle of death and destruction and maniacal smiles.

"Hand over the Noah, boy."

"I am no Noah!"

Allen's rebuke was full of anger and petulant denial, yet all it did was make the Akuma laugh. Lavi gritted his teeth, anger flaring within him.

"You want him? Come get him."

And off they went like a bullet fired from a gun, the sudden rush of movement leaving Allen clutching at his stomach and resisting the urge to vomit; Lavi's Innocence was moving as if the hounds of hell themselves were chasing them and, ironically, it wasn't too far from the truth. His left eye showed the Akuma were matching their pace, however, and there was no comfort to be found in being over dry land once more either. It was dawning on the both of them with each passing second that they could not outrun them, and yet the prospect of stopping and fighting left them both anxious and concerned for each other's safety; they were surrounded on all sides by an expanse of trees and there was so little space to fight.

But they had been in stickier situations before, and they trusted each other's ability to fight and survive so faithfully that nothing could break it. As Lavi brought them to a halt over a clearing, cursing, Allen placed a hand on his shoulder and his smile said it's okay, don't worry about me. Despite the paleness of his skin and the way he trembled as he sat behind him he still shone as brightly as ever, and Lavi knew that whatever happened they had each other's back.

They always had each other's back.

And so they descended, hitting ground softly, and Allen noticed as they landed that the head to Lavi's hammer had reappeared and the weapon seemed sturdy and firm once more. There was no time to speculate however, and as each Level Four landed onto the ground with a loud thud it sent adrenaline pumping through their veins, sent their hearts thudding wildly against their ribcages until their eardrums thudded in time to each heartbeat.

"Give up the Noah."

It was not a request this time; it was a command. Lavi simply moved so he was stood back-to-back with Allen, smiling grimly. Before he could throw a retort their way he noticed something was wrong, very, very badly wrong for Allen was shaking, shaking in a way that was not out of fear but out of restraint. Lavi's heart sank.

"… Allen?"

No answer. As he turned to look at his friend's face he froze, horror flooding through him. Allen's skin was darkening to a deep russet brown, his eyes cat-like slits of amber, and that was not Allen's face, not an expression he would ever wear and it was horrifying, like someone had ripped off Allen's face and put a bad imitation of it back on.

"Good afternoon, Akuma."

His voice was like velvet, soft and sultry and altogether not Allen-like at all and it made Lavi's skin crawl. He had seen this happen before, but he knew no matter how often he was cursed to see this happen it would always leave him feeling uneasy and somewhat disgusted. He had no time to react for Allen - not Allen - raised his right hand and all four Akuma froze into place, eyes bulging. Allen - not Allen noT ALLEN NOT ALLEN - cricked his neck, once, twice, before fixing his gaze on the Akuma with a frown.

"Now now Akuma, you should think better of attacking one of your masters, hm?"

He clicked a finger and the Akuma shuddered, eyes dancing wildly about from floor to sky to floor to sky and it was dawning on Lavi far too late what was happening.

"W-we don't have a choice! The will of the Earl is above yours, 14th, we can't -"

Another finger clicked and the Akuma were in agony, held in thrall by a power higher than their own and it was horrifying to behold. Allen's very aura had changed to something dark and rancid and all the dazzling brightness and goodness that he normally held was gone, replaced with something that was inhuman.

"That's not a very good excuse now, is it?"

Black stars appeared on all four Akuma's foreheads.

"N-no please we beg of you don't -"

"Don't what?"

One Akuma exploded, decorating the forest floor with gore. Then another, then another, until one was left and Allen - NOT ALLEN NOT ALLEN NOT ALLEN NOT AL- stepped forward, all fake smiles and fake kindness and as he cradled the Akuma's head in his hands his expression darkened.

And then there were none.