It was early enough that most people would be sleeping. Such a notion had long since eluded some. For a good portion of the early morning, Allen had become good friends with the small bathroom toilet, hugging it close. He was beyond grateful for the closing door.
The last thing he wanted was to wake up his snoring companion. There were better ways to be woken up than by the sound of your friend (really anybody) emptying their stomachs contents.
Slowly getting to his feet, Allen flushed the toilet and rinsed his mouth before leaving the bathroom. Carefully and still ever so slow, Allen inched the bathroom door closed until it clicked shut.
Peaking around the corner to make sure Lavi was still sound asleep, finding what he wanted, the boy left the room. Deciding not to risk the creaking of the old hinges, as they both had come to know well, the door stood open.
Downstairs, an older women wearing an apron and mittens was at work removing trays from a large oval.
"Miss Denton?" She turned to Allen.
"I told you to call me Mary," the older women said sternly, focused on putting a new tray of fresh dough into the oven. Allen knew she wasn't angry, nor frustrated. It was her tone that, anyone who spent enough time with the women, knew she was making humor of something.
"Miss Denton makes me feel old. My own kids just called me Mary when they still lived at home. You and Lavi may as well be my own, so please, feel free to address me as so." Mary closed the large oven door. Allen felt a familiarity about Mary Denton's choice of speech: demanding, order-like almost, but a soft undertone and unlike who she reminded him of, decent hearted.
"Mary it is," Allen nodded.
"Now what can I do for you? It's early for either of you two to be up." Entering the kitchen further, Allen answered:
"I wanted to talk to you about taking the evening off. I'm not feeling all too great this morning." Mary took the mittens off and set them on the counter.
"You don't have to ask. You two explained to me everything when you started here. I can seem a slave driver but I'm really a big softie," she laughed. Mary had noticed the boys paler complexion and ashen tone. Allen grinned thankfully.
"Thank you Mary. I'll work even harder tomorrow."
"You always do. Now run on back to bed and rest. I can't have my best employees, even if you are my few, falling sick on me. I'll bring you your dinner later. Soup should do. Something safe." Allen thanked madam Denton again and made his way back up to the bedroom, the door still open, he did one last thing before crawling back into bed.
He hadn't changed out of his night attire, merely slipping his coat on to cover up, making things simple. Removing said coat, the covers pulled up over his shoulders, Allen felt Lavi turn in bed, the exorcists arm incasing the younger. With a small grin still, Allen let himself fall back asleep.
The sun had come up. Lavi was up. Bookman had ingrained into his schedule, whatever the day held, that raising with the sun was the time to be awake. Having moved very little in his sleep, Lavi was still curled around Allen's lithe figure.
"Another day. Another twenty-four hours to spend with you," He muttered, to himself happily. Allen, facing opposite his partner, stirred. Lavi laughed softly.
"Your awake? I had plans of waking you up my own way, but I can still improvise." Propping himself up on a arm, Lavi leaned over Allen, kissing his forehead. He moved to his cheek. The sleeping boy muttered incoherently. Lavi pulled back, taking a second and letting himself observe, as there wasn't a better word to describe it.
The warmer temperature, pale complex, and tightly curled sleeping position was all Lavi needed to know. An unconscious sigh escaped.
'You're not feeling well. You don't look good either,' he thought, letting himself think the obvious. He'd seen the routine enough times. It didn't get easier.
Getting out of bed and undressing, Lavi found his clothes laid out for the day over the chair by the closet.
'He must have gotten up already and laid them out." A solemn smile found his eyes. He thought of the little things, and that was what Lavi loved most about Allen Walker. Seeing the door ajar, Quickly dressing for the day, Lavi headed down stairs.
"Mary?" he called.
"In the kitchen!" Lavi walked into the kitchen, finding Mary balancing two trays of bread fresh out of the oven. Grabbing a spare pair of gloves from the counter and slipping them on, Lavi took the teetering tray.
"Let me help." Mary, with her free hand, gripped the tray two-handed.
"Thanks Lavi. I was worried there for a minute."
"Not a problem. I was wanting to talk to you actually."
"No need." He was confused at first, but realization hit home.
Lavi answered his question, "You already know then." It wasn't an accusation. It was almost a relief to not have to say the words.
"Allen came down earlier this morning and asked for the day off. I gave it to him of course. You two work harder than anyone I've employed," Mary continued about the kitchen.
"Thank you Mary."
"Anytime sweetheart."
Open for business, Lavi set about serving the early birds, the regulars who came without fail for a morning drink. Madam Denton had gone to check on Allen, as Lavi was preoccupied and she insisted.
He still remembered their first time sitting down with Madam Denton upon requesting a job and room for exchange of work. She began, after their short hand version of everything leading up to their arrival at her door, of course mentioning their connection with Cross Marian:
"I'll expect you to address me as Mary when you are not working. Otherwise, Madam Denton will do fine." She finished with her contagious smile.
"So we have the job?" Allen asked, meekly.
"You have the job." Lavi had never had trouble calling really anyone by first name. Kanda could attest to this. Be it a close friend, first name basis was comfortable, but this was an elder, an employer. Allen had taken time getting used to the notion of course. It was different from his usual patterns of being formal and polite. But as customs grow to be routine, normal; so do new ones.
"Good morning Lavi." His attention had, he found the source of his name. Vivian sat alone. Lavi recognized her a moment later.
"Vivian. What brings you here so early?" Her face lit up more.
"I thought I would try something new. A drink to start the day. What I had last time will do." With a simple 'of course,' a smile and service, Lavi left and returned with one cup of ale. He set it down in front of her.
"Where's Allen? It's odd he's not serving with you."
Lavi answered, disappointment and something that Vivian could only describe as 'visibly upset,' crossed his face:
"He's not feeling well today. It's not uncommon. Nothing serious, not to worry." Sipping her beverage, she said,
"I think you are. It's nothing to be ashamed of. When you care about someone and they aren't okay, it's natural to worry." Lavi sat across from Vivian, setting the tray down on the small table top.
"I'm not ashamed. It's the simple fact that it doesn't get easier." Lavi held his head in his hands, his elbows rested on the wooden table top.
"I just don't know how to help. It's chronic, what he has. I'm afraid of what might happen one day if Allen doesn't get better." Lavi felt her take his hand in his, a comforting gesture.
"I'm sorry. This isn't something I should bother you with." Vivian met Lavi's stray gaze. She responded,
"I don't mind. I've always listened to Elizabeth's problems and worries. I like to think we're something of friends after all this time. I just have one suggestion." Meeting her more square, he motioned with a nod to continue. She did.
"I read somewhere in a story once, 'Time is precious. It is not infinite, and every clock must come to a stop. Treasure the moments you have.' I believe you can apply this here. Live the moments you have with Allen to the fullest. Whether it be ten years, or one. The simple things." Lavi asked,
"You read that in a book? It's amazing. The kind of books I read only tell me what's already happened. Everything is for certain." Vivian let Lavi's hand go.
"No one knows what is going to happen. That's part of the adventure."
"Thank you Vivian." Lavi stood, grabbing his tray. "I have to get back, but I appreciate that." She chuckled.
"No worries. I could go on for awhile Like that. I'll spare you though," she joked. Lavi laughed a little in response, parting from the table to refill drinks of waiting customers.
The day had come to a close, the floors, dishes, everything was cleaned; here Lavi retired to bed after bidding Mary goodnight. Scaling the stairs, he closed their bedroom door. Too tired to bother, Lavi discarded his shoes, shirt and apron on the floor, his pants were too much of a hassle for now he deemed.
"Are you still asleep?" Lavi asked quietly, in hopes that if Allen were, he would not wake him.
"I'm very asleep," he turned, yawning, facing his shirtless companion. Lavi lived for the others loving sarcasm. A small chuckle later, the red head crawled into bed, removing his headband and letting it fall onto the night stand. He was awake, but still looked exhausted and ready to sleep, no better than when he first left him.
"Let's do something tomorrow, if it's warmer. And if your feeling better." Lavi, his arm supporting his head underneath and on his side, found and held tight to Allen's hand. He held back.
"What were you thinking? Fresh air might do me good," the white haired exorcist managed a small, still real, happy smile. They did this a lot, Lavi thought. But their were worst things to be guilty of, he also thought with a smug.
"Let's go for a walk then. How does that sound." Allen nodded his response.
"I think that's a great idea Lavi." Without hesitation, he said,
"I love you Lavi."
"I love you more."
Here they fell asleep together, nothing different, with the exception of something seemingly insignificant.
Lavi had found his final strike.