Allen falls asleep on the gondola.
Really, he barely makes it to the platform at all, but Lavi is steadfast and keeps him upright until they step down into the narrow boat. The older teen lowers him to the bench, and Allen manages to sit dazedly upright for a few seconds before he starts nodding off, head dropping forward then snapping back again when he catches himself dozing. Timcanpy sits on his shoulder, burrowed close to his neck and looking impressively worried for a creature without a face.
Lavi pauses from his spot at the end of the boat to watch, oar raised to push off, then sighs and places the wood back down to round the bench again. Better to nip this in the bud than to have to fish him out of the canal later when he sways just a little too far.
"Right then, c'mon Allen. Why don't you lay down until we get there?" Lavi crouches down in the center of the boat so that he's eye-to-eye with the other exorcist, resting his forearms on his thighs with an expectant smile.
Allen looks up, startled at his sudden presence, then raises a weary hand to rub at his eyes, cheeks colored from both the fever and embarrassment at his situation.
"I think you may be right Lavi…" He tries unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn before continuing, "Wake me up when we get there?"
Lavi makes a point to check his temperature again, almost laughing when Allen scrunches his face in slight annoyance at the gesture. Still too high, but he's not going to make a fuss right now.
"No worries, we'll get you home safe and sound."
Allen nods, then lowers himself so that he's laying half on the bench, partially curled to the side and while it doesn't look particularly comfortable, he's out in under a minute after Timcanpy wiggles his way under his arm.
Bookman, who had been watching silently from the other side of the gondola up to this point, takes Lavi's place when he returns to grab the oar, carefully checking Allen over as they make their way through the stonework canal. He has a theory that the boy's immune system has taken a hit, his innocence channeling a lot of energy to heal itself leaving him more vulnerable to illness. He isn't used to this level of strain yet; especially after having recently raised his compatibility. Clinically, it's very interesting- and that's what the wisened exorcist tells himself when he takes longer than necessary to ensure that the boy is okay for the time being. He has no use for attachments.
Allen sleeps through the rest of the short trip, barely shifting when the boat rocks up against the stone platform to dock even when Lavi brings it up a little too fast, jarring Timcanpy from his spot and sending him flying into the air in agitation. Lavi barely slips out and apology, nervously rubbing the back of his head with his free hand when he notices Bookman rising from his seat to crouch in front of Allen, a look of subtle alarm on his face. He hastily steps over to them, sharing his own alarm when he gets a clearer look.
Allen has huddled into himself, brows crinkled in distress as he shivers, and he lets out a quiet whimper as tears begin to streak silently down his fever bright cheeks. Bookman once again tests his temperature, letting his palm rest on the boy's head for a moment before removing it with a displeased shake of his hand.
"It's gotten worse. We need to get him inside."
Lavi doesn't argue or hesitate, just turns and crouches by the bench so that Bookman can help get Allen onto his back. When he's as secure as they can manage, Lavi steps carefully onto the platform, frowing back over his shoulder when Allen unconsciously wraps his arms around his neck a little more tightly. He's seriously burning up.
They make their way up the stairs in silence, punctuated every once in a while by Allen's coughs, growing so bad that at one point Lavi has to stop in fear that Allen might fall. He kneels close to the ground just in case, and Bookman steps up to help support him, patting him firmly between the shoulder blades when the fit refuses to subside. It leaves the teen breathless, panting and more exhausted than ever. He's awake at this point, but not by choice, so he just leans forward, forehead against Lavi's back as he tries to regain his composure. He has his arms locked in place around his shoulders, trembling with the effort of holding on, and the older teen shifts subtlety to take more of his weight so that he doesn't have to try so hard. Lavi casts a sideways glance at Bookman after a moment, who nods and steps back.
"Okay Allen, not too far now, almost there."
He stands again, ignoring a growing ache in his knees, glad for once to see the familiar doorway leading to the infirmary up ahead. The matron is scary as all hell, but she really knows what she's doing. Though he can't help but to feel a little bad to be leaving Allen in her not-so-gentle care.
Which turns into feeling really bad the moment he sets foot in the room. The woman in question is standing near a desk across the room, and her attention immediately snaps to him the second she hears the door creak, her gaze so intense that Lavi's first reaction is to tighten his hold on Allen and take a big step back. He forces himself to stand still when she marches up to him, clipboard tucked securely under one arm and a look of murder gracing her sharp features, only for her expression to soften when she recognizes just who Lavi has on his back.
It's so baffling that he can only stare in disbelief as she suddenly takes on a mothering air, going through the familiar motions of checking him over and tsk-ing at what she finds. She pushes his hair back from his forehead and lays the back of her hand there with a frown, and even Allen seems a little startled, staring at her in confusion through half lidded eyes.
"Too high. Get him into a bed, then tell me what happened."
Lavi does as he's told, warily watching her walk away to go and grab a cart with basic instruments, thankful when Bookman steps in to give her the rundown. He has more baseline medical knowledge to start, so it makes sense.
The Bookman's apprentice backs up to the bed, bending to let Allen sit on the side, then turns and helps him out of his jacket, which earns him a polite "Oh, thank you." followed by more coughing. The teen looks like the only thing he wants to do is disappear into the linens, but he forces himself to sit patiently until the matron returns, partially with Lavi supporting him by his side.
By the time she gets to him, he's half asleep again, startling awake when she puts a hand under his jaw, hands cold as she examines both sides, then gives him a pat and tells him to open his mouth. He does so without much thought, too tired to put up any fronts, and she slips a thermometer under his tongue with strict instructions to keep still.
Things start to become jumbled after this point, he vaguely remembers her taking the thermometer back, though he doesn't remember what she says or does after that. He knows someone helps him out of his boots, then the next thing he knows- he's being lowered into bed, a thin blanket being pulled over him and something cold being placed on his head, and he's not sure if he likes it because he's really too cold already. Then there's a yellow blur, and Timcanpy is on the bed with him, having grown to the size of a large cat and Allen smiles at that, tugging the golem into a hug and feeling secure enough in his warmth that he's asleep in seconds.
He's so far gone that he doesn't feel it when the matron starts him on an IV, shaking her head in displeasure as she makes a note on her clipboard before returning to her desk, but not before kicking the Bookman's apprentice out who has taken to hovering nervously near Allen's bed. She has a feeling neither of them will be getting any peace here soon.
A/N: you can all thank Jujulapetoch and their wonderful review for helping me get the next chapter out. I seriously appreciate it and it definitely gave me motivation to keep going! Still piecing together exactly what I want to do with this but it will be hella fluff guaranteed