That was the first thing you’d said to Lenalee Lee after things had settled down, and you were both comfortably at the Order. You had both been eating to build up your strength again when you suddenly spoke up. It was pretty chaotic in the cafeteria, as it always was, but Lenalee had been hear long enough to train her ears to hear certain voices amongst the swell of noise from the crowd. She lowered her spoon back into her bowl and looked at you.
You were gazing at her, sitting sideways on the bench with your elbow on the table and your head leaning against your fist. Your dish had been pushed to the side, forgotten. Your expression was neutral, as was your tone, so Lenalee couldn’t tell if your observation was a good one or a bad one, or just that: an observation, just you thinking out loud.
“It has,” she agreed slowly, eyeing you for a reaction. Still, you did not give one. Uncertainty blossomed inside her, making her feel self-conscious.
You had only ever known her with short hair–in fact, the same could be said for most of the Order. She always kept her hair grown long. Given the nature of how it was cut, she feared that maybe you didn’t like how it wasn’t neat. She had examined her reflection in the mirror for quite some time when she was washing up after returning home to the Order–not out of vain, but out of curiosity. She didn’t care how she looked, so long as she was alive. Still, she was worried about your opinion.
Your gaze was heavy, but you didn’t say anything, and Lenalee couldn’t find her voice to explain what had happened. How do you tell a loved one the tale about how you nearly died? About how you watched many of your friends die? It all still weighed heavy on her heart, and she didn’t know how to bring it up without it becoming too overwhelming. She also didn’t want to upset you, and she knew that the news would certainly do just that.
Whatever she was expecting or hoping from you, it wasn’t for you to reach your hand out and run your hand through the short, choppy locks upon her head, but she’d be lying if she said she didn’t like it. Your hand moved in comforting motions, making her heart fill with many emotions, all at once. She could feel her eyes stinging, threatening to shed tears as she stared intensely at her bowl.
“It’s cute,” you assured softly. “I like it.” Then, to her surprise, you gently pulled her head to your shoulder, embracing her with one arm. Murmuring into her hair, you added in a quiet voice, “I don’t know what happened, and I’m not going to push you for answers. I’m just glad your here–safe–with me. Just know that you can talk to me, okay? You seem overwhelmed with something. It doesn’t have to be now, it doesn’t have to be next week. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.”
Your words were enough to send all of her repressed feelings spilling over, leaving wet trails down her cheeks. She didn’t sob, she didn’t wail. She silently mourned for Anita and her crew. She mourned for her friends who had died once, and thanked whoever was listening for bringing them back again. She also thanked god, the universe, anyone and anything that would listen, for guiding her back here, into your arms–to her home.
Your free hand went to her back, rubbing up and down slowly, methodically. You felt your own tears threatening to fall, as they always did when you saw Lenalee, your precious Lenalee, in such a sorrowful state. But you wouldn’t cry, not here in the cafeteria, and especially not in front of her, not when she’s already so distraught. Instead, you smothered the urge to cry with a choked laugh, placing a kick kiss to her head.
“Really, it’s really cute,” you rambled as a distraction. “I love it. I really do. It suits you. It’s so soft.”
This managed to pull a weak laugh from her, and she sat up, wiping her eyes. Her hand found yours and held onto it tightly. When she managed to pull herself together, she smiled at you. You smiled back, squeezing her hand once.
“I love you,” she said, because she was afraid she’d never get to say it again.
“I love you, too,” you replied, because in that moment that’s all you would allow yourself to feel. No sadness, no pain. Just an overwhelming love for the girl sitting next to you, and that was enough for you.
(Bless you anon for including dearest Miranda, she deserves it. I’m answering this assuming that the Church no longer requires Exorcists.)
Allen would want to do something relaxing. Though for him, the definition of “relaxing” is very lenient and broad, because he can consider most physical activities relaxing, like working out or performing.
I could see a big part of him really wanting to just settle down somewhere peaceful. A quiet little town, hopefully somewhere close enough to the Order that if his friends want to visit, they won’t have any trouble finding him.
Another part of him wants to go visit famous or popular restaurants all over so he can try all different types of cuisines. That is, if you’re up for it, of course.
I could see him being really down for opening a little cafe or bakery if you suggest it. He’d probably work the cash register and do the cleaning, as he’s not a particularly fantastic cook or anything. Though you can teach him! Many dates could be spent after the shop is closed so you can teach him new recipes.
Kanda would have no idea what to do with himself. He’d spend a good part of the first year living as he did on his days off at the Order: training, meditating, and eating sometime in between. Unless you sit there with him, you won’t see him much during this time.
After he eases into this life of freedom, the life he’s always wanted, he wants to move somewhere secluded. Like, a cozy little cottage in the forest or something. He likes the peacefulness of it.
Now that he doesn’t have to look for “that special someone” anymore, now that he knows it was Alma all along, he can finally allow himself to relax a bit.
He becomes a lot less tense and mean. Still blunt, but his anger has died down to a glowing ember. He’s….he’s happy now, here with you.
Lavi still has his duty as Bookman, so even though this was is over, there may be another one somewhere else. Either way, he still has those duties to attend to.
This means a lot of traveling! I’m sure that he, Bookman, and yourself have reached some sort of agreement that as long as you can give up a life of stability and also not compromise their position as Bookmen, you can come along with them. It’ll be fun!
In the lull between recording things, Lavi would sneak off with you to have some alone time. He’ll take you to see notable landmarks of the area you guys are at or into towns and such.
This whole arrangement of you coming with them helped Lavi and Bookman drop the whole “not needing a heart” thing, and Lavi’s much more open to you because of it.
Lenalee would definitely want to move back to China with you and Komui, assuming you’re up for it. She wouldn’t pressure you or anything, but you can tell she really wants to go back.
If you agree, she’d be over the moon. She drag you along all across the country, showing you to things she is familiar with and things even she hasn’t seen yet. It’s so cute.
However, Lenalee had spent practically all her life at the Order. It’d probably take some time for her to ease into a life of peace. She’d be kind of jumpy and tense for a few months at the slightest sound of uproar, even if it’s just some neighborhood kids outside playing too loud. With you there, though, it’ll be easier for her to relax.
Frequent trips out of the country to visit places she didn’t get to see leisurely when at the Order, once she is comfortable enough to do so. She always calls Komui from the phone at the inn you are staying at to let him know you both are okay.
Miranda would have the easiest time getting settled back in to a normal life because she hadn’t been part of the Order for that long, and had way more experience out in the world than the others on this list(it helps that she’s the oldest as well, haha).
The only issue would be work…she still doesn’t trust herself not to be clumsy, even though she’s made great progress since joining the Order. Her anxiety would cause her to mess up. You are definitely going to have to reassure her a lot.
She doesn’t care where you both go or what you do–it’s not like she has anyone waiting for her anywhere. She’ll follow you to the ends of the Earth, if you’d like.
Within a few years, with your help, she has gained some confidence to get a steady job and trusts herself enough to do a lot of the chores around the house(especially if you work a lot). This confidence also allows her chance to think she’d be a decent mother(again, with your reassurances), and thus she’s absolutely open to starting a family.
(Mmmmm I’m gonna answer these as a “what makes them realize they are in love with their S/O”. I’m pretty sure I’ve down confession headcanons in the past for them.)
Honestly, Allen falls in love all at once. It hits him like a splash of cold water.
He sees you one morning, and you’re talking to somebody, and he’s watching your little unconscious mannerisms and ticks and realizes, “I’m in love with them.”
At first he’s a little shocked–he didn’t exactly wake up thinking he was going to have that revelation today, but here he is. And then he smiles, because he’s okay with it.
He comes over and sits by you and when you ask him what the smile’s for he just hums and shrugs, gazing at you in awe. It’s a good look for him, though, him being lovestruck.
Kanda would take a long time to realize he’s in love with you, and it’s your patience that seals the deal.
You’ve stuck around with him this long, but that’s not it. You are patient with him even when he’s being an ass, or when he’s confused and lost.
He thinks you are a saint and the love he has for you is so strong it hurts and kind of scares him.
And then you smile at him and that’s it, he’s gone. RIP Kanda
Lavi falls in love with your spirit. Your smile, your laugh, your life. He thinks you are a goddamn blessing and like Kanda, he’s terrified.
Bookman aren’t suppose to have a heart and it’s like you stepped in and every glance, every gentle touch, every giggle and whispered uttered has filled his empty chest with warm love.
And he’s happy. So happy. He could cry. He doesn’t. But he could.
He’s conflicted. This really threw his plans out the fucking window. How is he going to be able to leave you now that he knows he loves you so much? It would kill him.
Lenalee falls in love with your strength. Not just physical strength, but your mental and emotional strength.
She’s always been worried that she wasn’t strong enough, and next to you, she realizes that that wasn’t the case; you make her realize that she was just strong in her own way, just like you were strong in your own way.
It makes her happy. You make her happy. She really wants to spend the rest of her life with you, no matter how long or short it may be.
She also falls in love with the way that you get along with Komui. She was afraid he would scare you off, but yet here you are, still with her.
Link falls in love with your gentleness. He’s so used to being surrounded by rough and tough characters–a lot of which seemed heartless–that he feared that he, too, would become like them.
And then here you come waltzing into his life, tugging out his inner kindness and gentleness.
The gentle way you seem to chip away at his rough exterior with a metaphorical chisel, breaking a part his protective wall and letting his feelings ooze out.
He realizes this when he’s making you your nth packed lunch in the early hours of the morning. His hands freeze as the realization dawns upon him, and he needs a moment to just breathe.
Toad's Cave 