Chasing You (Arcs 1-7)

Catastrophe (XIX)

(A/N: Hello! I know that what I'm about to write isn't going to be very realistic in how the military does their recognition but I needed a party for the drama to happen... Lolol!

Thank you guys so much for your support. I enjoy reading your comments a lot and will try to respond to them. [Wattpad notification can suck sometime, as your comments disappear on my notification...] Thank you all for reading, voting, and commenting!)

Soon it became time for the banquet to start. It was mandatory for all researchers and military personnel to attend the event. The citizens in base A were welcomed to attend the event as well. There was two reasons to why this event was held in public, to show recognition for Allen and the other heroic figures, and another is to use them as 'bait' to draw out the hiding rats.

In such a large gathering, whoever was still opposed to them would take this chance to try and eliminate all possible targets. They would cause a major bedlam, making it easier for them to strike. For this, there were hidden V-virus soldiers stationed in the high tops of the building. They were to keep an eye on the crowd and take out any approaching danger.

Noel knew of this plan, though he wanted Allen not to attend as he was worried for his safety, he couldn't overrule the field marshal. Noel was tense on the inside but he remained impassive on the outside as he went to pick up Allen. Allen had already known about their plan initially. He didn't oppose it, after all being they were going to clear out the pests for him.

Allen was leaning against the window pane when Noel walked into the room. He stopped, his eyes were immersed in a world of beauty. The setting sun had left the sky in streaks of yellow, orange, and red. It illuminated and outlined Allen's figure. With just the right touch, the warm colors against his milky white skin added to his already sylph-like features. Allen's hair seemed to soak up the rays of the sun as it had a coquelicot* shade to his dark onyx colored hair.

(A/N: Aiiii, now I'm researching colors. Coquelicot is a reddish orange color. #FF3800 If you're looking for the shade.)

Allen hears the door open and turns around. For the first time, he sees ripples in Noel's usually calm sapphire eyes. His mouth curves into a beautiful bow shape, "Is it time?"

Noel nodded, "En. Let's go, my love."

Allen walks over to Noel, their fingers intertwine with each other. Allen could feel the coolness from the ring on Noel's finger and his mood lightens. This man will be by his side, there's no need to worry about anything else.

---

The event was held outside in a secured area. The only way inside or out was through one gate and that was heavily protected with armed V-virus soldiers.

When the two arrived, they had changed out of their regular clothing and wore suits fitted to their sizes. One black and one white, the colors contrasted each other drastically but it also complimented each other. Without darkness, there would be no light. Without light, there would be no darkness. One cannot live without each other.

Noel took Allen to greet some of the other generals and field marshal that had arrived for this event. Noel made sure that he was always besides Allen, never a step too far behind or a step in front of him. Afterwards, they went and sat down at their designated table. It was located right in the middle of the seating area, not too far out but also not close enough. As more and more people began to pour into the event, the air soon buzzed with noise.

The field marshal of base A had gone up on stage and was making a congratulatory speech. As the speech carried on, Allen's name was called. He glanced at Noel, who nodded for him to go. When Allen turned around, his eyes flashed with a faint light. Just earlier, Bao Bao had notified him of Mina's arrival.

She had spread a rumor that he had gotten rid of her, because he was scared that she would take away his brother. She made sure that it was known that she never had that intent but rather she was in love with a lieutenant named, Lucas Kavka. She 'hinted' that he was an ungrateful brat. She saved him and in return, he planned to get rid of her. Her rumors had already spread throughout the middle and lower classes like a wildfire.

Allen did nothing to stop the rumors and let it metamorphosize. The rumor had exchanged through so many people's mouth that it had become twisted and strayed from the original one. There were so many versions, that you couldn't keep track of it anymore.

Now it became that Allen had disliked Mina from the start and planned to get rid of her. Another version was that Allen was secretly in love with Mina and had gotten jealous that she was in love with Lucas instead of him, so he got rid of her.

Allen just shrugged at the fables that were going around. Whether or not it was the truth, they all would find out soon enough.

Allen gracefully walked onto the stage. He didn't walk too fast or too slow, there were no flaws that could be seen in his action. No one could take their eyes off of him once they were on there, not even Mina. She pinched her arm to snap her out of her stupor. This wasn't the time to day dream. She needed to initiate her plan.

As soon as Allen walked up to the field marshal, Mina walked into the area. She wore a beautiful mint colored off off shoulder A-line dress. Her hair had two braids going back and had a single plain silver hair pin. She had on very light make up that made her skin look even more pale, her lips were slightly cracked, she had dark circles underneath her eyes, and her makeup was somewhat smeared making her look even more pitiful.

She looked truly pitiable and won the hearts of many of the people who had heard about the rumors. They glanced up at the difference in Allen's and Mina's look. How could someone who looked so angelic be so cruel? Mina was just a woman, he didn't have to take it that far. He was simply a white-eyed wolf.

Some of their looks held disdain and contempt for Allen. They had long forgotten that he was the reason why they had been successful in the elimination of the Black Order, and that he was going to be their future saving grace from getting infected by the Z-virus.

Allen stood off to the side as the field marshal continued on with his speech. One by one, recognition came. Noel, Irvin, Evonne, Cheryl, Ricardo, Wolfrik, Rolf, William, and many other soldiers and researchers went onto the stage. After, they all head back down to their tables once again. Allen and Noel had just gotten to their table, when a tap came onto Allen's shoulder.

A very quiet and timid voice came from behind him, "Al-Allen?"