ＥＸＯＲＣＩＳＴ.

    “Thought so~,” he chuckled. “Oh well, I’ll eventually get to you when you’re so broken you’d WANT to come to the Ark with me~.” He knew well that the Order turned their back on him. And he had to avoid Apocryphos.. And Akuma, and Noah.. He felt sort of bad for Aren. Everyone was against him.

     “Why would I need to trick you and trap you? I already have you trapped, we’re in an alley way. I have many Akuma at my disposal. I can summon them at will. But I’m not going to. I don’t think I need to remind you that I did save your life, boy.. It’s simple, we go out into the busy streets, where nothing can happen. I’ll even let you pick out where you want to eat. And you can eat until you’re stuffed. Just use your head, I don’t need to trick you to trap you.”

​​⌠ ♠ ⌡ ❛Fat chance Tyki Mikk.❜ The day that happens is the day he finally lets Neah has this contemptible body, and that was going to happen when pigs learned how to fly and grow wings. While it was true that everyone but the normal humans was out to get him he tried not to dwell on that subject, the more he did the more he felt his hope dwindled to near nonexistent. So far the worst out of the was that damn living Innocence that hunter him like the Arctic fox he was, even now Aren was glancing over his shoulder to check if it wasn't just suddenly behind him or something. The words cause a less than pleased expression to cross the white-haired man's features, abnormally sharpened teeth showing an after effect of Neah sometimes taking over his body. 

❛You consider this trapped? It's not like I can't get out of here you know.❜ 

With the use of Crown Clown, he can easily escape this cramped space at the drop of a pin and he knew the other knew this fact as well. While yes, he could summon copious amounts of Akuma Aren has not been on the run this long and not gotten captured for a reason, even with countless Akuma after him by just their very sense of the 14th Noah within him. ... Yet, Tyki was right he did save his life from that walking nightmare of living Innocence when he surely would have been doomed, Road even sacrificed herself by taking a hit for him of all things and he still felt terrible about that. 

                                     🐰 [[[♠] ⅩℒⅠⅩ [♥]]] 🐰

I know you are an Akuma.

Really now? So then… there’s not much more point in continuing this charade, is there? However…

No. Maybe he can still play along with what he’s supposed to be. Even if the other knows, there’s still hesitation. Words spoken as if to have him leap out and say You Caught Me Red-handed Exorcist. But if he doesn’t give in to the bait, he still has a chance to be the one to survive this. Its what he’s programmed to do after all: to deceive. To let one’s eyes and sentiments trick them into believing he is genuinely human, until the pivotal moment where he has an opening to strike.

He only needs a split second…

A split second is all it takes to die. All it takes to kill.

He only needs a split second. If he can win that, whatever this boy knows is pointless.

❝  An Akuma? Come on now, don’t’cha think an Exorcist of all things would be smarter than that? I would never…  ❞

He dawns another smile, taking a few more steps to advance towards the other, now that he’s backed to a wall, in a manner of speaking. Its a risk, stepping closer, but one he’s willing to chance. Just a split second. He goes so far as to open up his arms, like he’s opening himself up, like he’s welcoming Allen to come into a hug. Still, he’s ready to leap away at the first sign of an incoming attack.

❝  You’ve been fightin’ in this war too long, ya? You’re starting to get paranoid. You even look tired. Why don’t we head back to headquarters so you can catch a break?  ❞

⌠ ♠ ⌡ The hand pressing against the tree that now dripped of blood only seemed to tighten upon the bark further, as the other stepped forward more with wide open and welcoming arms that offered the warmth and comfort of a hug. Yet, he knew that was not the case as his Innocence cried out wanting to transform right here and now even if he did not will it to do so, slowly Crown Clown's cape formed over his body and the mask situated around his neck. The claws were attempting to form but Aren hid the arm slightly behind his back to keep it from forcing its way out just yet, how could this being be so insistent on getting away with the fact that it's a normal human? 

No, better question why was Aren hesitating when he knew that all Akuma must be destroyed and that the souls inside should be set free so they would no longer feel suffering. From what he can see this is a level two Akuma that stood before him, and as someone who could kill level fours it would be so easy to end this one's life but he wasn't about to underestimate the Akuma either. For a moment he waits for the other to get close to the tree his back is pressed against, making it seem like he was going to accept the hug that was being shown. Only to suddenly use his height to his advantage and duck between the other's legs so that he was no longer trapped like a cornered animal and CC's claws formed upon being uncovered. One would take this as a chance to attack an unsuspecting enemy, but Aren merely puts some distance between them as his clawed hand trembled slightly. 

❛Stop it... Stop talking like that, stop using him like that...❜ 

     “Then allow me to make this a meeting on good terms. I just wanted to see if you were okay. I would ask if you want to come to the Ark with me, but I get the feeling I know the answer,” he sighed. “My mission is simple, bring you back to the ark. But I want you to do it on your own terms. I won’t be forcing you to,” he stated. “How about you grab lunch with me? That way no Akuma will bother you.. And in case IT shows up, you won’t have to worry about facing him on your own~… I’ll pay~.” He hoped Aren wouldn’t resist the temptation of food. All you can eat without worrying about pay.

​​⌠ ♠ ⌡ The expression he gives is nothing less than suspicious upon the mention of seeing if he was okay, ah, there it was so Tyki was tasked with taking him to the Ark he knew it could not be something as simple as just a 'check-up'. ❛You do know that answer.❜ Good, he wouldn't have to say it himself if the other already knew, but, that didn't mean there would be no persistence on the matter that much Aren knew. 

Yet, the fact that Tyki was not about to 'force' him to come back earned yet another strange type of expression from the white-haired man, and then the mention of food and that 'THING' he dreaded even hearing about caused a visible shutter to run through his spine. Even if he had not said anything yet a rumble from his stomach clearly spoke that Aren was hungry, you didn't exactly eat well acting like a street clown and had to work off the money people threw you out of the kindness of their hearts. 

Anger continues to rise to dark hues. More anger blossoming in his features, as veins throb dangerously on his face. Kick his ass? Yeah right. Kanda would never let that happen twice. The short stack simply got lucky. He was probably having an off day. “…..It’d be worth it, if it wiped that smirk off your features. I’ll gladly re-build a hundred walls if it meant you knew your place, short stack. Kumoi be damned.” He could feel his hand tightening at his side. Already ready to reach and toss the other. “Maybe I’ll stop calling you that when you grow a few inches. Wonder if being a parasite type also means it stunts your growth.”

​​⌠ ♠ ⌡ ❛Know my place? You sound like I'm some lost animal that got into something it wasn't meant to.❜ The anger on his features shows as well, how could people stand this man? From the first day they've met, he's always had some kind of beef with Kanda, and he doubted that was going to change anytime soon. Sparkes always flew when they were even in the same room for too long with each other, Kumoi would kick 'both' their asses for more broken walls and likely force them both to work on fixing them. 

                                🐰 [[[♠] ⅩℒⅠⅩ [♥]]] 🐰

❝  Mm… y’seem to think I care what you are or aren’t, ‘sprout,  ❞ is the short, simple response Lavi gives him. He knows better than anyone, but he truly doesn’t care, and besides that, despite Allen’s words, he does have to be near Allen, especially because of what he is.

What exactly Allen “is” however is up to debate. Some would say an Exorcist, some would say another pawn destined to die young, others, a critical point breaker with great potential, some, a traitor Noah, to a few, the Destroyer of Time. Some would say nothing but an unfortunate child with a cursed fate. All of those and none of those were reason enough.

Ultimately, someone who carries historical importance. That was what mattered most in the end, as far as he was concerned.

Scooting a seat closer and sitting down, fingertips lightly probe against Allen’s skin, around his sides and stomach and the scar looking for a reaction that suggests an injury somewhere, so he can figure out what, if anything, can be done to help it heal.

❝  Most people are scared by the unknown, and easier give in to fear rather than try to understand what they’re afraid of. Even when they think they understand something, often its just the idea of understanding enough on how to destroy something. That kind of fear, though… the only outcome it could possibly bring is escalating the problem. Caution is healthy, but paranoia and hate against oneself or ones own side based off of a superficial judgement doesn’t help anyone.  ❞

⌠ ♠ ⌡ ❛Everyone seems to nowadays.❜ Who could blame them after finding out just what he harbored inside of him, a parasite that would soon take over his body and erase his very existence from this world? No one wanted to be around a being like that and he did not blame the Order for being so high strung about him, with how rapid the changes were and his fear of losing himself grew more fierce each and every day. Even if he fought hard against the hand fate had dealt him that did not mean it was any easier on this poor fought over body of his. The Noah wanted him, the Order wanted him, hell even the Bookmen with how he was called the Destroyer Of Time the latter being more tolerable and not as likely to stab him in his sleep. 

It was hard, feeling like you only had yourself to rely on in the world it felt like the time he spent before meeting Mana, that time in the Circus where his parents sold him for the strange discolored arm known as Innocence. If not for this arm perhaps his life could have been different, but, that was something he would never come to find out that's not how life worked. As the other's fingertips probed against his skin as if trying to find points of injury there would be nothing to find, at least, not physically besides the gruesome appearance that the scar gave and the blood still trickling down pale lips to puddle upon the floor. The other's words were heard make no mistake about that, but, it did not stop the expression seemingly plastered upon the man's pale features from sticking to him relentlessly.  

❛You seem to be pretty confident in me, Lavi.❜ 

    Tyki was looking at a map, smoking a cigarette. His eyes scanning the paper. His head sometimes nodding to thoughts. When his golden hues trailed to the top, he saw out of the corner of his eyes, white hair. He was quick to fold up the map and shove it in his back pocket and walk with a quick gait towards the familiar white haired man.

    Sure enough, he saw the back of Aren. “Yo~. Boy~,” he called out in a singing voice. “Wait up~!”

⌠†⌡ Oh boy, this must have been one of Aren's friends if they were running up to him so willingly, someone clearly has no self-preservation by this display... Good, he hates that gives him more fun and an easier chance destroying people, there's a smile upon the Noah's features as Alabaster hues close for a second. 

❛What do you need Robin?❜

​​⌠♠⌡ A surprised expression suddenly crossed the Exorcists features, while out on a walk to get some fresh air the last person he expected to see was here. Great ... The Exorcist really was not in a mood to fight, so, maybe he could just slink past unnoticed? It was worth trying so he ducked away into a branching alleyway path, but he was to slow on the draw with his luck he had been spotted right as he turned the corner.

Heroes breed failures. @akhuleka

And Kou was the LIVING PROOF of such statement. The light of his eyes faded as his failure became more prominent: in an attempt to play the hero, both eyes were cut down by the Alpha and he almost dies, causing the teamwork to disrupt. Being a hero… being a hero SUCKS. The more you try to save, the more people will die.

“… It is futile.”

“It does not matter what YOU do. You will not make the difference.

You are not SPECIAL.  

None of us is. 

Every day you wake up in the morning and attempt to save and manage to save one life… that life will be extinguished tomorrow by an Akuma you will not be there to fight with.

The shades are too big for you to breed light upon them.”

⌠♠⌡ ❛Once again I will say it, I know, I know my effort is futile and that the people I save will just die eventually even if I just helped to delay it that's good enough for me.❜ That still was not going to stop Aren from trying to do the best that he could, even if it was pointless and humanity was doomed to be killed by Noah and Akuma alike forever. At least ... At least he could make some small difference before he lost this body, and Neah brought destruction upon the world to the Noah's full extent.