HowtoLaughOutLoud

My Damsel Breathes Fire
By Misster Cackles

Staging Noah
Chapter 4

: / / / / :

Lavi first awoke a few hours later from a quite click of a door, body automatically aware of unfamiliar surroundings, but too tired and hazy to actually care about them; the thick, warm comforters were pulled over his shoulders tightly and, trying to forget exactly why he was treated with such luxury, rolled over onto his side and fell back asleep, a deep unwelcoming guilt settling in his stomach. The weight gave him horrid nightmares of betraying his Innocence and becoming a Fallen. As a Fallen, in his twisted dream, his skin was gray and he wore silver lined armor and helmet that covered his face, controlled by Tyki Mikk to hunt and kill his friends. When he destroyed the Order, Lenalee’s face was the most vivid in his dream with the look of horror etched into every line of it as he slowly strangled her to death with his bare hands…

And it felt incredible and elating.

The prefect orb shape of the Innocence’s core’s particles rippled and sparked briefly as a common housefly skimmed against the edge of the orb of fragments and combusted instantly. A low pitch grumble emitted from the remains of the anti-akuma weapon, sounding inconspicuously like the roar of the blazing snake. He gasped deeply in his sleep when the dream Lenalee became limp in his hold and inhaled some of the dust that was Innocence.

One bleary emerald eye opened slowly, not finding his peace in sleep.

: / / / / :

As she was heading to the banquet hall, Rhode Kamelot tensed suddenly from the faint stirrings of her Noah. Amused as to why it was reacting to the sense of Innocence, Rhode walked with a swing to the nearby grand staircase that directed to the second floor bedrooms and laid a hand on the stairwell, peering curiously up at the darkness of the second level of the Kamelot manor. She had no doubt that it was from the Bookman Lavi whom the servants were laying to rest, but whatever caused the Innocence to spark to life was gone just as quick as it came, and her Noah settled.

Tyki messed up again, Rhode thought. She thought quick to decide what to do; it might be possible that Lavi’s Innocence might end up like Lenalee Li’s, but highly impossible seeing how the two Innocence were destroyed in two very different ways: Lenalee Li’s Innocence broken down from over extrusion, Lavi’s by the Noah’s power itself. It was exceedingly tempting to let it pass to see how it unfolded, but Rhode’s lips quirked a smile of deviousness, lifting her foot to step on the bottom stair.

“Where’s your mother, Rhode?”

For interrupting her fun, Tyki could deal with his own problems. It was too tempting to not do, anyway.

The voice made her halt, a frown replacing the grin as she was caught going to the Bookman’s room. She sighed and brought her foot back on ground level, turning to meet her firm uncle’s face. He didn’t seem all too pleased with her mischief, and judging how he appeared unconcern, Rhode guessed he hadn’t felt Lavi’s Innocence. It wasn’t that surprising; her Noah was stronger than his in true form and could pick up the sense of the enemy’s weapon ten miles away. Rhode Kamelot wasn’t the first child of Noah for nothing, mind you.

Rhode huffed and crossed her arms, “Mother went to lie down for a while and asked for Clyde to wake her up when you both arrived. Where’s Father?” She asked in return, having been outside in the snow-covered courtyard with Russell, the Kamelot’s large, white dog, when the head maid came and fetched her to wash up for supper and change into a nicer dress since they had company. Rhode, confused and almost upset that her father or uncle would bring someone during their own family time, asked who the guest was, but the maid did not know, but that didn’t matter: Upon entering the house, gossip was all over the corridors between the servants of the ill and improper state of the new redhead arrival.

Redhead…

The young Kamelot girl could only guess one person with red hair that her father Cyril and uncle Tyki would disrupt their time for, even if unintentional: The Bookman Junior Lavi. Well, Rhode reconsidered and tilted her head slightly, previous Junior. A warped smile came upon her lips; previous Junior, but the last Bookman.

Tyki smiled at his niece, features smoothing to something more relaxed, “You father’s taking over Clyde’s job, apparently, but for a good cause.” He offered his arm, but Rhode ignored it and walked past him towards the dining hall, tossing a cheeky grin over her shoulder.

“You want to know a little about the last remaining Bookman before Mother starts asking questions?” Rhode asked, finally fisting her hand on the side of her uncle’s formal jacket, making Tyki frown with displeasure; he was sure it was going to crease. He sighed.

“Tricia is a good woman and doesn’t ask questions, but it’d be better if she wasn’t suspicious, especially when the Bookman’s not going to act pleased around us…” Tyki trailed and gave Rhode a surprised look. Rhode grinned up him, knowing he finally caught on to what she had said.

“How’d you do it? It took me a couple of weeks to get the Bookmen I had been assigned to; certainly your mother wouldn’t allow you to cross seas without your father to reach the ones in America.” Tyki stated suspiciously, having a very good idea on how she completed her task. And just as he had thought, she replied with: “Lulu finished last night.”

Tyki snorted and rolled his eyes, “Of course. Was it the usual bribery of making Lulu believe she’ll be at least a little more important to the Duke, even though he’ll be congratulating you yet knowing she did the work?” He turned them around a corner and continued to guide his niece and himself to the dining hall. He knew how his niece worked, and knew she didn’t work clean and fought dirtier.

A giggle came from the girl almost too innocently, “What makes you think that, Tyki?” Sometimes Tyki was fearful of his own niece, but it wasn’t without reason, obviously. She exhaled long, and immediately the air changed into something business.

“What is it you’d like to know about him?” Rhode asked. “His heart and mind’s been in me only once, but that doesn’t make him all the easier to read, Tyki; you’re the one who’s got to make small talk with him to make it appear normal.”

Tyki smiled, understanding, “Well, let’s start with his current alias.”

Rhode gave her uncle a side glance, “You really must not know anything on him if you don’t even know that much, Tyki, but he goes by Lavi, his forty-ninth name.”

“Well said, my dear,” he said sarcastically. As they neared the dining room, two servants on either side of the tall door opened a door each for them, bowing as they walked past. Tyki nodded his head for them to be at ease, but Rhode acted as if she didn’t see them, like always. He smirked slightly, silently shaking his head to his niece for being, well, like his niece. Two butlers pulled their chairs and asked if they would like a beverage to wait for the master and mistress; Tyki politely declined and Rhode wanted cider.

Tyki thought silently for the moment while Cyril and Tricia were still missing; Lavi, eh? It sounded exotic like his. Tyki idly wondered how shocked or angry, or perhaps un-amused the Bookman would be when he would call him by his name, something he made very clear that he didn’t want him doing. Tyki glanced at Rhode, another question forming.

“How young is he?”

Rhode didn’t even look at him when saying, “Too young for anything you might want to do.” While she buffed her fingernails on her dress front, Tyki deadpanned as he was certain that for any servant within hearing range raised their eyebrows. She flashed her violet eyes to his dark brown ones, and rolled them. “I was only joking, Tyki. He’s somewhere around nineteen, no older, I’m positive.”

The Noah of Pleasure gave a surprised sound and a low chuckle, “That’s quite a lot of names for such a short span of time.” Rhode only nodded in agreement. A butler came in with Rhode’s drink and set it down before her, bowing on the way out. “Just how long has he been apart of the Bookman Order?”

The twelve-year-old took a sip of the heated apple drink and rested the cup back on the table, tilting it on its edge and let go. Luckily, it didn’t spill over and fell back evenly. She made a small frown when it didn’t do anything destructive and leaned back into her chair, responding with a whisper, “Since around the time my human body was born, maybe a little longer. He’s been with the other organization for about two or three years-”

Just then the banquet hall doors opened and Rhode immediately fastened her mouth shut on the subject and Tyki stood from his chair as Cyril and Tricia entered the room. Cyril was taking his wife’s hand in his and guiding her to the right side of his chair, across from Tyki. Rhode was seated next to her mother. Tyki sat down after his brother, showing proper formal manners in front of the mistress of the Kamelot manor.

After a minute of Cyril tasting and testing the red wine, the chefs brought out the prepared dinner (a leafy fruit salad; a roasted swine, complete with an apple in mouth; with a various number of different vegetables and fruits and dressings and rolls) and served the family. Rhode had a steady eye on the last cart of food, the dessert cart that seemed almost over filling with cakes, puddings, pies, and other pastries and creams that was set aside for later. Her mother scolded her lightly and told her to eat what was in front of her then she could have what she desired.

Tyki took a sip of the sweet yet bitter wine and started conversation, “How have you been Tricia? I passed by Rowel earlier this evening and I told him you were feeling better, so I hope I’m not wrong.”

Tricia swallowed dryly on fresh baked bread and took a drink of the glass of water, clearing her throat before she replied with, “I do feel healthier, thank you for asking, Tyki. Doctor Knox has been doing his part, but there have been days where I’m…off, for lack of better word, and the medication doesn’t work as well. So as of recent, however, I’ll need to be dressing more warmly if I am to show our new company any courtesy.” She gave a slight smile at her husband’s brother, and an extra quirk for the last statement that Tyki had a hard time reading; Tricia may be humble, sickly, and very well-mannered woman, but there was something else about her that made Tyki stay on his toes.

Tyki gave a smile back, staging helplessness point blank, “I apologize for bringing a guest on such short notice, my dear, but he was a good friend of mine when I was visiting Ireland and offered me housing when all lodgings were filled. When I saw him on the street, I tried to find him a nice bed and breakfast, but their offices had closed. It was also very unfortunate that he was ill from the weather, as well.”

Cyril decided to act with it, his acting skills not as great as Tyki’s but still convincing, “What is he doing in Portugal? That’s quite a trip to take. Can he speak our language?”

The darker man nodded, “He was coming for his grandfather’s funeral, but he was too late for it, he said.” He took another drink of the wine, “He’s been taught well; it would surprise me if he didn’t know Portuguese.”

Tricia bought the performance from the double-life tricksters and gave a gloomy sigh, “I’m sad to hear that… Well, is there something else here that he could spend time doing before leaving?” And that was when the two men knew that they had won her consent (not that it was a hard thing to do, but Lavi would still be in the manor even if she didn’t approve of it). Tyki smiled gratefully at the kind woman.

“Thank you, Lady Tricia,” Tyki said as if it were the best news he’s heard of all week, “And I’m pretty sure he could find something to do in your wonderful home. Actually…” he trailed, going into thought. His original plan was to limit the Bookman’s wandering and freedom (such as restricted from using the phone lines and going outside), but he really did not want a miserable person on his hands or Tricia may think it will be her doing. Perhaps, when he recovered from his cold, Tyki could have a servant show the Bookman to the Kamelot’s private library. That would be a way to keep a natural librarian busy.

“He could play with me sometimes,” Rhode spoke up for the first time on the topic, suggesting, though sounding more demanding. “Or help me with homework; he seems really smart.” Tricia looked at her daughter with a raised, skeptical brow and Tyki sighed at his niece’s mistake; she wasn’t supposed to know of him yet.

“When have you met him, dear?”

Rhode bit on the tip of her spoon before answering, “Uncle Tyki’s told me a lot of his stories of when he’d been in other countries. This guy sounds kind of familiar, I think… Isn’t he the young traveling scholar from Ireland?”

God, Rhode was cunning, Tyki thought and he exhaled deeply. Next to him, he heard Cyril do the same. The darker Portuguese smiled wide and nodded, “That’s correct, Rhode; I’m glad you remembered.”

Tricia flushed slightly for taking her daughter for granted, “I’m sorry, dear, I didn’t realize, but don’t you think as a scholar he might be more than a little busy to help you? Give him at least a few days before you ask anything of him.” She blinked and faced the men, “Sorry, but what is his name? It could be counted as unsuitable to speak to him without knowing his name.”

“You can call me Lavi, good madam.”

Three pairs of eyes turned immediately to the new voice while Rhode grinned to into her soup, having long sensed his arrival at the door when she said that he could help her do school work so the Bookman would know what his background would be while staying with them. Lavi could work out the rest.

Tyki stared openly with a sudden unease that Lavi would expose the three of them, and he saw the same minuscule expression on his brother’s face as he narrowed his eyes warningly at the redhead. It wasn’t as though Cyril couldn’t make Tricia forget, but as a family man, he despised using his Noah talents on his loved ones. Yet after Lavi bowed respectfully after introducing himself, he glanced to the three Noahs…

And he smiled kindly with an almost genuine smile.

He looked back at Tricia, “I’m sorry for intruding, madam, but I truly appreciate any hospitality you give.” Tyki settled back slightly; it seems that the Bookman would keep his promise and corporate with them.

Tricia waved off his apology, “No need to be sorry, Sir Lavi; I find it in right that Lord Tyki thought it wise to bring you here.” She smiled warmly; delight was in her eyes for this new guest and it was radiant: Tyki saw Lavi visibly relax in her presence.

Lavi chuckled politely, “It was lucky that he showed up when he did.” While Tyki was mentally rolling his eyes, she nodded in agreement and offered him the chair next to Tyki, across from Rhode. With near hesitancy, he accepted, slightly limping, and it was then that Tyki noticed Lavi’s change in attire. He wore a white dress shirt and deep crimson necktie underneath a pine green vest that matched the darkest color in the Bookman’s lone eye, with solid black dress pants and polished dark brown shoes. From the vest’s pocket hung a familiar gold chain that latched across his front to the shoulder button. Lavi’s appearance was complete when his shocking colored hair was lightly gelled back so it didn’t seem as unruly.

In other words: beside him, instead of his once enemy Exorcist Bookman that had identity issues, sat a well-bred, bilingual scholar from Ireland. If a little pale, though.

The lady Kamelot gasped, “You’re limping! Are you alright? We can have someone take a look at it…” Lavi silenced her with a shake of his head, still smiling lightly.

“I only had a bad turn out with the streets. I was too deep in thought to realize that I was walking over ice. Definitely nothing to worry about, good madam,” he lied smoothly.

“You didn’t rest for long, are you feeling that much better…Lavi?” Tyki asked, playing the stage as he had done when he met up with the Bookman. He hinted an emphasis to his name, wondering if he would do anything as he thought he might do.

Lavi stopped the waiter from serving him any alcohol and asked for warm cider instead before answering Tyki, “Ah, some, yes; I just couldn’t sleep well.” Not even a frown, Tyki thought, sulking.

“Hey!” Rhode said, “After dinner, would you like to play with me, Lavi? We could play History Lesson.” Tyki and Cyril raised a brow at the choice of game, and Lavi paused while cutting his pork. But Tricia put a hand on her arm, shaking her head firmly.

“He needs some more rest, dear,” she said, “Sir Lavi has traveled a long ways…”

“No, that’s alright, madam,” Lavi interrupted again, grinning at Rhode as he talked, “If I feel up to it, I will. I wonder what she could teach me.” He chuckled some, and Cyril huffed out a smile that was hidden behind his wine glass; he was finally seeing, that even though Lavi would make him feel suspicious, the boy would not start any trouble. The older brother glanced to the younger one with a thoughtful gaze, noticing the side glances he was giving the Bookman, and an ugly question surfaced from the back of his mind: could he trust his brother enough to not tempt the boy into fighting? Already Tyki tried to make a jab at him while they were pretending to be acquaintances, and arguing would just upset his wife. He would need to speak to Tyki later on the subject.

It would be a lie to say the rest of dinner was silent and uneventful, and a certain Noah made sure of it. Rhode began to finally munch down on her desired sweets of all sorts, some that looked familiar to the Bookman and others that seem to have strange, purple, pasty fillings. Tricia had a small slice of spicy gingerbread cake in front of her while Cyril and Tyki both fancied themselves to a dark pudding. Lavi also asked for a slice of gingerbread cake, and damn did these chefs know how to cook. Probably as well as Jerry!

He almost tensed once again and pretended not to take notice of the Noah of Pleasure’s secret glimpses at him; he knew what that Tyki Mikk was doing, trying to unnerve him, add mocking his earlier statement that evening about him not wanting him to know his alias. Blasphemy, he growled in his head, he would not drop to Mikk’s standards.

But still, five times in the past six minutes was unnerving!

With a small idea in his head, Lavi took it to action when the next time Tyki looked at him discreetly. A green eye matched him and looked at him right back, and he could tell Tyki was shocked. In fact, feeling satisfied, Lavi smirked at the Noah in disguise. He raised his lone brow and appeared curious, taking the performance into his hands.

“Is there something wrong?” Lavi asked innocently enough, “You keep looking at me as if you have something to say.” He turned to face the darker Portuguese man, drawing attention from the three Kamelots to them. Since he was facing towards Tyki, Lavi could very well see a smile playing on Cyril’s mouth, either it was one of mirth or one of approval, the redhead didn’t know.

Tyki swallowed quickly and Lavi could see the gears turning behind his eyes as he thought of a hasty lie, then he nodded, acting as if he was closely examining his face and even leaned in to keep up his performing. Lavi felt his cheeks heat with such near proximity. He was embarrassed that the Noah had taken back control.

“I’m sorry, Lavi, for startling you,” Tyki said smoothly, and slowly reached up and gently took a hold of the younger’s chin who was frozen stiff from the touch, not knowing what to do to stay in character. “But I couldn’t tell if you were really all that pale; hmm, you even have an unhealthy glow to your face.”

He raised his other hand and asked, “If I may…?” He teethed off its glove with leisure motion, and softly laid his finger tips on the boy’s cheek, rotating in small circles before the palm went flat against the blind side of his face. Tyki’s hand felt nearly as long as his head was, but Lavi jolted, yet the fingers gripped a little tighter to hold him still. His green eye widened, staring back at the dark colored irises that flashed with something, making his chest was starting to heat up and constrict with their closeness, and he wanted to pull back, but…

And as quick as things seemed to happen in this country lately, the air around them suddenly changed into something more calming and content and Lavi jerked his head from the tender grip and whipped around to stare at the cause. Rhode was looking at them both with a deep frown on her face, and beside her, Tricia’s body lazed limply from being in Rhode’s dream realm. Her eyes had changed from their violet hue to the Noah gold, and her hair seemed wilder than before, if only a little; there was no gray skin, though. Cyril heaved a sigh, all source of smile gone.

“Now if we could all behave, children?” Cyril commanded tersely to the Bookman and his younger brother. Seriously, they were old enough to know better. He looked at his adopted daughter, mentioning to Tricia, “What is she seeing?” He was visibly trying to control his anger; it was bad enough that Rhode had to use her ability on her mother, but sometimes his brother played with his rivals too much.

Rhode nibbled at another spoonful of dessert and smirked wickedly at the two across the table, amused with the night’s events, “Something that was more censored than that; too bad it’s only foreplay,” she said under her breath to no one. She glimpsed at the dream her mother was having in her head and repeated the words spoken in it, “Tyki is asking if he feels unwell. No touching.”

Cyril nodded and told Rhode how he wanted the dream to play out and let her do the rest, “Have the Bookman say he may be left weak from a traveling cold. Let them leave the table and Tyki guide him back to his room. And as for you two…” He glared at the real Tyki and Lavi again, and the redhead gulped. It didn’t help that the man next to him was sweating underneath the brow, either.

“I want you both in the library, immediately. I will be there after supper, and after I’ve had a chance to release some anger. Understood?” Tyki nodded in response and stood, walking out of the banquet hall, doors pulled open with his approach (the servants in the room were in the same dream as Tricia) without another word. Lavi, sensing that Cyril may be extremely dangerous when angered, followed the Noah of Pleasure’s actions with hobbling haste and fell in behind his step. His right cheek tingled where Tyki had touched him and the coils in his chest only lessened slightly; he chose to ignore those feelings, placing them under the category as anger. It explained the heat, at least.

When they twisted around many corners and entered different halls he didn’t recall seeing on his way to the banquet hall, the silence was too thick for Lavi to handle any more, especially in the dimly lighted, smaller corridor by gas lamps where Lavi could feel Tyki’s presence everywhere. Lavi began to say anything to start conversation, but before he had time to say anymore, Tyki didn’t even pause in step to turn on him, shoving him up against the wall with a pointing finger that shook at the redhead’s face, like a man scolding his dog. The dark eyes were narrowed almost angrily at him.

And for some reason, the look on Tyki’s face and the waving of his finger made Lavi’s rage overflow; he dare shake his finger at him when he was the one that started the shit in the dining room?! Tyki was telling him harshly to listen, eyes flickering between colors, but Lavi growled furiously, stomping a foot forward. He didn’t care if this guy was a Noah or not, but he wasn’t about to be scolded for something he didn’t start, Godammit! Tyki blinked in surprise at the retorting rage.

Lavi cursed in many languages, “This is your fault, Noah,” he seethed. He raised a hand and waved his own damn finger at the Portuguese’s face, “You had to start something in there! I wasn’t so perfectly fine with lying for you fucking Noahs while I stayed here in exchange for my safety and Innocence, but I was doing it, was I not, Mikk?! I could have been giving you shit, exposing your Noah selves to that woman in there. She might not have believed me, but it would give you bad face to her, right? Don’t you dare put the blame on me, Noah!” Lavi hissed out hot breath, collecting thought.

“I didn’t need to be here. You could have completely ignored me at that diner, earlier. You could have been on your way while I went on my own. You didn’t have to destroy Nyoibo!” In irate despair, he threw his hands in the air, “Why did you even bring me here if you were going to make me miserable, Noah?” Lavi half shouted, half asked.

After the anger started to flood from his face and his eyes became a normal human color again, Tyki hummed with near curiosity, stepping a little away, and after a moment he answered with, “But I did, did I not? Then you were an Exorcist, and I am a Noah; what would you have done if our situations were switched? I as the ill Noah on the street, and you as an Exorcist, able to kill me without trouble what would you have done?”

Lavi frowned, “I would have killed you without fucking with your head, making you wonder if you were going to die or not, or be left with other enemies.” The older man smiled with a small snort.

“Then the only difference is that I let you live after I disposed of the thing that may harm me. Would you really not have tried to exorcise my Noah like Walker tried to have done to make me harmless as well?” The Bookman stuttered, averting his face.

“If…if I was able to exorcise, I would have, but I’m…I wasn’t synchronized enough with my Innocence to do so,” the redhead muttered. Tyki didn’t say anything, and when Lavi took a peek at him, he appeared to be in deep thought, dazing off as he looked at him. The darker man finally slowly opened his mouth, a smile appearing on his lips full force, and he changed topic.

“And what makes you believe that my intentions were to make you unhappy, Bookman? Pardon if it’s my entertainment making you, ah, miserable, but all I was going to say was I going to need you to listen to me if you want to live by the end of the night. I’m sorry if I seemed more put off than I thought; I have a lot on my mind, and I don’t generally like to be on my brother’s bad side.” Lavi nodded and swallowed a little forcefully, remembering the look of irritated displeasure on Cyril.

There was a sound coming from the entrance of the corridor which became louder and echoing footsteps. Tyki’s posture automatically straightened and Lavi masked his nervousness and annoyance, making a mental note to talk to the Noah later on the subject of the real reason why he was here. It was a maid carrying a basket piled of linens, and she paid no mind to them, but Tyki fell back into routine of the normal human, Lord Tyki Mikk, and not monstrous Noah of Pleasure.

Tyki hummed and waved a hand in front of them, “Shall we continue, Lavi?” He stepped towards the direction he gestured to, waiting for the Bookman to fall into step beside him, and then they went on to the library in silence.

The maid faltered her pace to the master baths, studying the hanging gas lamps with a baffled stare: The once dimly lit hallway was now brightly blazing.

“Who turned up the fire…?”

: / / / / :

“Oh my God, it’s so huge!”

When Tyki had turned on the small table light and illuminated the room, Lavi had been taken back by the number of books that the family of Noahs owned. Sure, by first glance at the titles, he was pretty sure he’s read most of them, but still… The library itself was more like a small public one, but this was remarkable for personal reasons! As a Bookman, he was impressed, and surrounded by the number of them, Lavi felt like he was back at his old room from the first Black Order’s Headquarters. Save for the clutter of newspaper that was obviously missing from the floor. Lavi rounded up to the first bookcase near him and started picking at the titles and judging the literature.

Tyki smirked at the exclamation, but when he turned to the younger, he wasn’t there. He blinked in surprise when he caught movement from the corner of his eye and there Lavi was, picking out a few books already. He allowed himself a soft chuckle, giving the Bookman a strange look at his actions: at least he was right when he thought of the idea earlier. He came up behind the unexpectedly changed attitude Bookman stealthily, his face hovering over the redhead’s shoulder on his blind side. Before saying anything, Tyki watched as the slim fingers skimmed over translated English volumes that Tyki hadn’t bother to read yet. Even from this proximity, the Bookman didn’t seem to sense him yet and even started to mumble to himself occasionally in multi languages as his fingers ran up and down countless spines; the Portuguese man guessed Lavi was hardly aware of the change.

He sounded entrancing and he wondered how this boy of such a younger age than he could speak so many tongues so fluently. Tyki was able to understand only the Portuguese, English, Spanish, German, and French words coming from his mouth, and recognized the sounds of Romanian, Arabic, Hungarian, and Italian but could not read into them fully. He was sure that there were even a few tongues in there that he hadn’t even heard of. Tyki wanted to hear more, but now wasn’t the time. He drew back slowly and carefully to not aware Lavi of his presence.

“Are you enjoying yourself, Librarian?” He asked, and Lavi jumped, his hand brushing against the covers as he spun around. Tyki noted that when he was turning, Lavi turned from his left side, and Tyki wondered if that was because it would be faster to see behind him. The older man stepped back, suddenly finding that he was too close when the boy’s nose came almost to his chin.

Lavi noticed this, and raised a brow, “You’re strange, Noah; first you get in my space at dinner just to irritate me, but when we’re like this you’re wary? I don’t get you.” Tyki laughed sharply, not full of any normal malice, but just a bit of amusement there.

“You’re one to talk, dear Librarian.” He tilted his head, “If you being here make you believe that you’re being ill-treated, why do you not just leave?” The response was without hesitation, lone emerald eye showing nothing.

“Wasn’t I promised answers, Noah? Why else do you think I would be here?”

Tyki gave a light smile and shrug, half joking when he said, “Because you do not know when the next ship to your Order is?”

Lavi side stepped the question, that part true as well, and studied the Noah and took from what he knew so far about him. Tyki Mikk didn’t lie, and when he did it’s not counted because he’s only stretching the truth, or not giving the whole truth. Lavi had only fallen for it before because he was so paranoid with the Crow and being left with them, and not to mention Tyki liked to mess with people at the same. So, Lavi guessed, if he, Tyki, and Cyril were going to talk in a while, Tyki would be sure not to give out all the details right at the beginning.

He decided one thing right then; if he had ceased to be an Exorcist (the thought pained him to think of it and he winced from displeasure), then the Black Order wouldn’t need him anymore. It wasn’t as though he wouldn’t enjoy being in the Black Order, but he was a front line man and didn’t want to be caught up with only the sidelines with Finders. Without Innocence, he was just as that Noah in his head had said: He was only a Bookman and would record the hidden history of the world. Lavi decided that he would stay with the Noahs as long as necessary.

Lavi hummed, “Is there a phone here? I need to make a call to the Bookman’s Order to get the right supplies and books that I might need while I’m here.” He glanced around the room, seeing one attached to the wall near the light that the Noah had turned on. He made to go to it, but Tyki caught at his arm.

The Noah of Pleasure appeared to be taken back at the request and stuttered only slightly, “W-wait, Librarian, I do find it wise to see what my brother says before taking action. He might not want you here that long at all.” Lavi stayed silent for a few moments, thinking it over; it never occurred to him that the Noah wouldn’t want to use him to find secrets of the Black Order if he took residence in the Kamelot’s manor for a while.

“Alright, then may it be possible to contact the Black Order and tell them I won’t be returning?” He rather not say goodbye in person… Not while Lenalee was there.

A flash of his dreaming earlier (her beautiful, gasping face) made him grit his teeth and avert his eyes for a second before coming back to the here and now. He would learn sooner or later on how to get rid of these emotions that resurfaced after so many years to become the Bookman Gramps would be proud to see.

Tyki took a long time in answering, but then made a very hesitant nod, slowly uncurling his fingers from the previous Exorcist’s wrist. His dark eyes were wide and uncertain, making Lavi feel on edge. Would Cyril really be so angry for letting him use the phone? And why would it be alright to contact the Noahs enemy instead of his own Bookman’s Order? Lavi found it peculiar, but didn’t read too much into it; he’s already known that this Noah was a strange one.

Lavi limped and swerved around Tyki, mindful of how his eyes were following him, and leaned on the wall. He picked up the receiver and cradled it with his shoulder and ear while he dialed the number on the base.

Brrring. Brrring. Brri-

“Reever.”

Reever was seriously not the person he wanted to talk to, probably one of the last. Lavi straightened his composure and coughed into his fist to clear his throat.

“This is Lavi, is Komui there?”

There was the sound of drilling in the background, and he figured Reever picked up the phone from the science department. “Ah! Lavi! Komui was just about to contact Bookman’s golem when he saw that he’d left it behind; he needs to talk to him urgently. Is he there? Could you put him on?” Lavi gritted his teeth and tried to ignore the painful tightening in his chest. There was a lump in his throat. This was almost too much to take… Shit.

“I-I need to speak to Komui, now, Reever. Bookman is… Bookman’s…he…” Lavi swallowed thickly as he heard the line go silent from Reever’s end, and even though he’d been able to keep his distress to himself since he’d known his teacher had passed, he couldn’t help the tears that slipped from his eye now. His shoulders shook and with the anguish he felt hot embarrassment, knowing Tyki was watching him and seeing this.

“He… Gramps’ died…” He choked out, and his fist clenched and twitched, like getting ready to strike something.

Silence, then...

“I’m sorry, Lavi. I’ll transfer your call.” What more was there that he could say, Lavi thought, and he sniffed and dried his tears quickly. That was enough, he could pull through it. There was a moment’s wait.

“Komui. Lavi?”

“Yeah, I’m here.” His voice was a little dry and low.

“Listen, Lavi,” Komui said seriously and getting straight to the point, “You might be in danger.” Lavi almost laughed bitterly: he was standing in the same room as a Noah and threw himself in Portugal to fend off some Crows. His sub-consciousness wanted danger. To humor him, Lavi asked:

“What do you mean?”

“…We received a letter from you Bookman’s Order late last night that was sent half a month ago to all Bookmen everywhere.” Komui said. Lavi perked with interest; it was rare that the Bookman’s Order would contact all its members at once. He heard the older man sigh through the phone and that recently familiar becoming feeling of dread settled in his gut once again that night.

“Komui… What did it say?” There was no immediate response, so Lavi asked louder, “What did the Bookman’s Order have to say, Komui!” There was a quick in drawn of breath behind him and Lavi glanced back to Tyki who was staring at him with wide alarmed eyes. Perplexed, the solo green eye held their unblinking stare, unsure as to why he automatically thought that what ever Komui had to say about the Bookman’s Order was related with the Noahs.

“Lavi… The Bookman’s Order has been destroyed,” The Chinese man said softly, “If Bookman is dead, then that would make you the last Bookman, Lavi.”

Lavi didn’t say anything at all for a couple moments and he rocked shakily on his heels with a negative hum. His heart was beating anxiously with in its cage and his chest felt tighter with each pound of blood through his ears. What was going lately? Why were the Bookmen such targets; the Innocence from his teacher and him he could understand, but those Bookmen not even knowing what akuma were?

“No w-way, Komui,” Lavi said unevenly with an unsteady laugh, “There are thousands of people in that Order. They can’t all be gone. What about the headquarters from over seas?”

“There are numerous of eye witnesses from over seas that have reported seeing an adult female flee from the scene of the murders, and… Lavi, the reports fits the Noah Lulu Bell’s description right down to the long, braided ponytail and crosses on her forehead.” There was another pause where Lavi forgot to breathe, especially when Komui continued, “And with the attacks here in the East, two people have been identified: A young girl and older man depicted as Rhode Kamelot and Tyki Mikk.”

Komui was saying something else, but Lavi didn’t hear any of it, a low static filling his ears. With his single eye still on the Noah, wide and disbelieving, he could easily see the confirmation written in that sadistic grin that was spreading on the older man’s face as he guessed what the phone conversation was about. The last Bookman swallowed thickly and inhaled deeply and shakily, not taking his eye off the Noah.

“T-thank you for telling me, Komui, but I’ve got to go now.”

“W-wait, Lavi! You could at least come back home to Headquarters, right? Lenalee’s worrying—”

Stone cold toned and Lavi interrupted and replied quickly before hanging the phone back on its hook, “As a Bookman I do not have a home, nor do I have comrades. I see no reason as to why I have to go back to your Black Order when I have nothing more to do with it. The Bookmen no longer have Innocence in their possession. Thank you for your time, Komui Li.”

There was a clank when the phone was dropped back on the base and nothing else. The green eye didn’t steer away from the Noah, now once again edgy in his presence even though promised not to be harmed. Just as the Noahs had said earlier that evening: he wasn’t suppose to have allies nor enemies, but that didn’t mean if an evil wanted to make the Bookmen a foe that they would still regard them as nothing. But why was the Noah hunting Bookmen? Why not just stick with those who have Innocence?

Tyki took a step towards him and Lavi tensed, preparing himself to fight with his bare fists if he had to.

“Why did you Noahs kill the Bookmen?” Lavi raised his voice. Tyki came closer and raised his arms, shrugging with a smirk.

He laughed shortly, “Because it was essential, my dear Librarian.” Tyki halted a few feet in front of the Bookman and said with a serious face, “Only those who knew the truth about it were allowed to live because they were needed for recording purposes. It would have been hard to take a Bookman who didn’t understand anything about this war and brought him into the middle of it only to be shown a new side entirely.”

Lavi squinted at his choice of word when using ‘side’ and asked slowly, mostly to himself, “When you mean say ‘new side,’ are you speaking about… No… But if Central was even afraid to let General Cross know, much less the Order, then that must mean whatever it is, is in the Earl’s favor.” His eye averted downward in deep thought, but the Noah didn’t let him think too long on it.

Tyki narrowed his eyes slightly, “What are you mumbling about, Librarian?”

The Bookman jerked his head up again, green eye annoyed, “One…no…” He studied the Noah quietly for a full five seconds, “Two questions, Noah.” When Tyki nodded his head hesitantly at his outward behavior (not as though his consent mattered to Lavi anyway), Lavi asked first, “Why didn’t you all at least let those across the Atlantic live? What were the chances of them coming over seas to butt into whatever event was happening here?”

Tyki snorted, “Too high of a chance. If those who didn’t know what’s been happening from at least being in this war, then they were useless and would have gotten in the way. What the Millennium Earl is planning is going world wide, lad. We don’t need any stragglers.”

Lavi nodded in acknowledgement, storing away the information as soon as it left the other’s mouth. Then he asked without wait, “This isn’t my second question, but what is he planning?”

Again, there was silence until the Noah of Pleasure hummed with thought, smirking wider. He laughed once more and brushed the left group of bangs over his ear as he resumed stalking closer to Lavi. “Well, you see, lovely Librarian that question is actually what’s keeping you alive this very moment, but not in so that you have to know what the Earl is doing precisely. You see, all you have to know is the jest of it and what it might lead to.” Tyki had gotten Lavi to back up to the wall behind him and reached up to grab the boy’s chin with his fingers as he had done earlier during dinner.

Staring into the single green eye, Tyki asked firmly, “Librarian, have you honestly ever heard of the other side of the war?”

: / / / / :