Notes: Lavi/Allen, if you wanna take it that way. Lavi's thoughts as Allen saved him from himself; specific reference to chapter 122/episodes 88-89.

Death of Passivity

What had he done? He'd lost himself and attacked his friends—no, his family. He deserved to die, tried to die, even. He was worthless and shamed in more ways than one. Once as a bookman, twice as an exorcist.

But a warmth engulfed him that had nothing to do with the flames. A warmth and a darkness. It wasn't death, even if it was a little white devil with his arms around him. Damn him. The antithesis of the Grim Reaper, wasn't he?

"Lavi, please…"

Allen's voice cut through everything, including his heart. It was a genuine plea, one he'd probably never hear again, and one he shouldn't have had to hear at all, not if he was a true bookman.

Panda-jijii's gonna kill me for this…

Lavi let go of his Innocence and slumped into Allen's arms. Everything hurt, but the hardest thing to do was breathe. Allen's cocoon was small and airtight, and the heat of the flames had scorched his throat and lungs raw.

"Lavi…" The boy sounded relieved, pained, and close to tears.

"I can't breathe," Lavi managed, hardly above a whisper. "And Lenalee…" He could just barely hear her, and he couldn't make out what she was screaming, but it had to be one or both of their names. But talking had tickled his throat, and he went into a coughing fit. Allen's embrace tightened around him, his thumb rubbing his back between his shoulder blades in a comforting gesture.

Road would be jealous…

Lavi found himself amused in spite of himself, but he couldn't laugh even if he wanted to. His chest was constricting and it was all he could do to keep his breathing low and even in hot confines. "Allen…"

"I'm trying – your stupid hi-ban solidified," Allen grumbled, his voice low and strained.

Finally something cracked. Light and cool air hit them, and they gasped for it like dying men before collapsing in the midst of their complaints.

Once he could breathe evenly again, Lavi smirked to himself. He couldn't tell if it was a blessing or a curse that the others were there – they were really the only thing keeping him from grabbing the white-haired boy and snogging him breathless.

Yeah, Panda-jijii's gonna be way pissed with me…