Chapter Text
Allen awkwardly stumbled after Kanda, the elder's hand still firmly attached to his wrist. He decided not to break the tense silence; whatever was going through Kanda's mind would have to remain a mystery (not that Kanda would even take any notice of his questions anyway). They hadn't been walking for very long (6 minutes tops) when Kanda finally stopped.
The door in front of them was a cream colour, standing out against the light grey walls, and had a white plaque on the front announcing 'Photography Room' in large black letters. But Kanda did not open the door straight away, Allen soon found himself roughly shoved against the grey wall, sapphire eyes burning into molten silver.
"… Kanda?"
"This photo-shoot is the second most important thing next to the open day, the last thing this company needs is an amateur moyashi like you fucking the whole thing up."
Allen's face began to heat up, but Kanda didn't give him a chance to retort.
"During the next few days and the few weeks of production, as soon as you put on that costume you will remain completely in character. Am I clear bean sprout?"
Allen nodded, eyes wide. Kanda stepped back from him and grasped the door handle, "Che, let's get this over with." Allen caught the door before it slammed in his face, he had a feeling these next few weeks were going to drag their feet.
•••••++•••••
Allen let out a gasp as he took in the photography room laid out in front of him. Colourful backdrops hung on wires above his head, waiting to be flown(1) in, multicoloured lights flashed on and off as the photographers tampered with the lighting to produce the desired effect. Make-up artists ran backwards and forwards, touching up make-up and fixing spots in-between each rapid volley of shots. After about four seconds of gazing at everything around him, Allen himself was drawn into the flurry that was the photography room.
"Bak, we have Thumbelina! Where do you want me to place her?"
A young man with blonde hair, 'Bak' Allen presumed, straightened from his previous position leaning over a computer screen and looked over at them. "Good, we were wondering where she had gotten, the main photo with Thumbelina and the Prince is next up. Just put her over with the Prince, we are almost finished with the sister and her suitor."
Allen didn't have a chance to correct them on his gender before he was pulled away once again, this time right to the edge of the backdrop currently being used. He used the opportunity given to him by the brief lack-of-movement to admire the bright and highly detailed costuming. Lavi and Lenalee, currently being photographed, looked wonderful in their simple, but highly effective, outfits. Lavi wore a loose, green tunic with a light brown sash. The green was deliberately made to look as though it had been well worn and loved, with spots of 'faded' green here and there, the sash was adorned with a gold trim. His pants, three-quarter-cargo style with form-fitting leggings underneath, both black. Dark green boots with brown and gold buckles went half way up his calves. Lenalee's half-dress was a style similar to Allen's own: the same green, brown and gold as Lavi's, it's bodice was tight and shaped, the skirt wrapping around the back and leaving the front free. Also a unitard, a brown and gold sash connected the two ends of the skirt together, giving the illusion of a corset and separate leggings rather than one whole piece of material. Her boots were the same as Lavi's but without buckles. Tunic-like sleeves went down to her elbows, leaving her delicate forearms bare and her hair was wrapped in an intricate knot on the back of her head, brown and gold ribbons weaved throughout.
Lavi was on one knee, his arms around Lenalee's waist. Lenalee stood on one leg, the other slightly out behind her, she was leaning away from Lavi with her head turned away and one pale hand lightly touching her lips. Together they looked the perfect picture of a young country girl and her persistent suitor. The photographers didn't take very long, the lights flashing continuously, a person hurrying in to adjust an arm position or a leg position every now and again.
Lavi and Lenalee were visibly relieved as soon as Bak called out to them that he was satisfied and that they could relax. Holding perfectly still in awkward positions was not a favoured past time of anyone, even professional models. Allen caught their eye as they were making their way off the set; Lavi gaped while Lenalee just grinned. But before they could go up to him, Bak was already calling the next shoot.
"Ok, this one's the big one! So we gotta make sure we do it right. Thumbelina and the Prince please enter the set."
Allen felt a hand on his shoulder and shivered as warm breath tickled his ear, "remember what I said moyashi. The production comes first."
As much as Allen hated to admit it, Kanda was right. The results from this photo-shoot would be displayed throughout the entire city (and maybe even beyond) in the form of advertisement posters for the production. He had to push all other feelings aside and focus on his role as Thumbelina. Right now, he was not Allen Walker, he was Thumbelina and his job was to make the audience believe that as well. So, with a deep breath, Allen followed the black haired man onto the set.
The background had changed from a countryside landscape to soft pink and blue roses. The blue matched Kanda's outfit, which was in a similar style to Lavi's but grander, more form fitting and elaborate, and in royal blue, gold and silver. Like Allen, he would also wear a different costume for the wedding scene, which would not be disclosed to the public until the opening night.
Bak instructed them to stand side-by-side, facing each other and leaning right up against one another (much to Allen's embarrassment). He then got Kanda to lean into Allen, as if going in for a kiss, and place the back of his hand against Allen's cheek (once again, much to Allen's awkward embarrassment). Allen had to turn his face slightly to the front, but tilted into Kanda's hand, and place one of his own hands just on top of Kanda's. They had their free arms wrapped around each other. From a distance, Allen and Kanda looked like two young people in love, but close up it was easy to tell that the aura surrounding the two was far from affectionate.
Lavi and Lenalee held their breath as Bak positioned the cameras and adjusted the lighting. The tension emanating from the set was thick; they both prayed it would not be noticeable in the photos.
Allen and Kanda remained in their position for several minutes while Bak and a shorter girl with an unusual outfit called Fou(2) went around rearranging cameras, costumes, settings and positions. After a short while, Bak called for the shooting to commence. It was then that the crew members got a true glimpse of hope that the production may actually be okay.
It was miraculous and shocking, one second the tense aura was stifling and the next, as soon as Bak called to begin, there remained such a loving and pure atmosphere that Allen and Kanda really could be madly in love. They had relaxed into each other completely and were so thoroughly in character that even Lavi and Lenalee had to rub their eyes and pinch one another to make sure they weren't in some crazy dream.
Unfortunately, the quality of Allen and Kanda's performance was such that the shoot didn't last very long. The second Bak announced the end of the shoot, Allen and Kanda shot away from each other, and the menacing aura came back harder than ever.
They exited through different sides and remained as far away from each other as possible. Luckily, Bak called for Kanda's individual shoot and Allen was free to join Lavi and Lenalee in a little waiting room for cast members just off to the side, until it was his turn. Allen retreated quickly, anything to escape the heavy aura that had settled in the air.
•••••++•••••
Lavi and Lenalee looked up when they heard the door swish open and stood quickly when they realised who it was. Lenalee hurried over and threw her arms around Allen as best she could without tangling the intricate costumes. Allen was caught slightly off guard by the sudden display and stumbled back a few paces. After a few seconds Lenalee released him from her bear hug and grinned.
"Wow Allen, what was that back there?"
Allen looked at her in confusion, "What do you mean? Did something happen?"
Lenalee and Lavi's eyes widened and they exchanged glances before Lavi stepped forward, "You mean you didn't realise?"
"Um… no? Realise what?"
"During the photo shoot… you and Kanda were all menacing towards each other, then as soon as Bak called to begin you both kinda 'snapped into character' and the aura completely disappeared. It was like you'd never had any negative thoughts towards the other at all! And then, as soon as it was over you both kinda reverted back…"
"Really? I didn't notice… I just remember thinking that the production mattered above all else and that I was just going to have to do it."
Lavi and Lenalee exchanged another glance before Lenalee walked up, "say, Allen? Have you been feeling any different around Kanda recently? Like, a strange feeling in your chest or something similar?"
Allen gave her an odd look but answered the question nonetheless, "Not that I can recall. Unless you count the fact that I now hate him more than ever after all that rigorous training. Why?"
"No particular reason, just wondering." Lenalee decided it was probably best to change the topic before the future of 'Yullen' was crushed before it had even begun. She directed Allen to the couch and took a seat beside Lavi in the middle. "So Allen, how has your training been going? We haven't had much of an opportunity to talk to you."
They talked for a few minutes until Fou knocked on the door, calling Allen to the set. But Lavi sped past him before he could make it within three paces of the door. Allen looked after him for a moment before shrugging and making his way to the set, this was no time to be wondering about what Lavi was up to now, he had a job to do.
•••••++•••••
Lavi shot out the door the moment Fou's voice was heard through the thin wood. He had to catch Yuu and ask him about Allen before he managed to escape. Unfortunately, Kanda had 'rabbit sensors' and sped up his, already quick, pace.
"Wait up Yuu-chan!"
The pace quickened even more without turning into a full-blown sprint, if that is even possible, but this is Kanda we're talking about.
"Yuuuuu-chaaaaan! Wait up, I need to talk to you!"
Still no response, so Lavi decided to reveal one of the cards in his deck, so to speak.
"It's about Allen!"
The reaction was immediate. Deep sapphire eyes glared over at the redhead, "you'd better not be wasting my time."
"No, no, no, it really is about Allen. How have you been feeling towards him recently?"
Lavi yelped as a fist found itself embedded in the wall where his head had been a second before, a millisecond later and that same fist would have found itself a home in his broken skull.
"The fuck you asking me that baka usagi?"
"Oh, you know. Just wondering how the two greatest enemies in the Order were able to pull off a scene that looks like it should be in a real sappy chick flick."
Lavi braced himself for the next fist that would be surely flying his way any second now. But it never came. Kanda turned sharply away from Lavi, his hair sailing around him to settle back into place as he began to walk away.
"Tch, none of your business."
Lavi stared after him, before a grin slowly began making its way across his features, 'hmmm, this could prove to be interesting.'