Chapter Text
HospitalInfirmary
“I really did not expect this was where I would end up today,” Caleb murmurs, tugging one of the blankets a little closer. He’s still freezing cold, even in what he knows is the warmth of the Academy’s infirmary. It doesn’t bode well about the overall state of health, but, well… it is a bit too late to worry about that right now.
“I think literally any of us could have told you,” Molly remarks, tucking the blanket over his shoulder. “I mean, I’m pretty sure we did. Me and Essek told you last night.” He tips his head towards where Essek is hovering, anxious and still in disguise at Caleb’s behest, at the other side of the bed. “You came in today, anyway, love, how did you think this was going to go?”
He sighs. He’d known he hadn’t really been in a state to go into school, but it would not be the first time he had pushed himself for something at the Academy. At least he is doing it for good reason this time. They’re at a crucial state in their study with his students. He doesn’t need to be laid up in bed, either here or at home.
“And I’m not judging, gods know I’ve pushed too hard on so many things,” Molly continues, still perched on the edge of the mattress. “Like, it’s a flaw. I get it! But you should have stayed home, Caleb, d’you know how shit it is to get a message hearing you’d collapsed? It scared the hell out of me.”
“Ja… I know… I know.” Essek squeezes his hand, clasped between both of his, and Caleb smiles wearily. “I am sorry, both of you. And you,” he says, addressing Essek now, “you should not be here, Essek, it is dangerous for you–”
“Of course I should be here–” Essek starts, as Mollymauk interrupts,
“He wasn’t not coming. Worry less about us and more about yourself, magic man, you’re still the one in a hospital bed.”
“It’s worth the risk,” Essek says quietly. “And,” he adds, like he can sense the argument forming, “I’m not going anywhere until you’re cleared to come home with us, so don’t try to talk me into it. Okay?”
Well… Caleb can’t really say anything. He would say the same thing if it were Molly or Essek who had collapsed. And, really, he’s glad that they’re here; he still feels just miserable enough to wind himself into an emotional mess if they hadn’t rushed to his side. Maybe even still. He’ll see where the day takes them. “Ja,” he says softly instead, and apologizes again. “I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize to me. I’m not– well, I’m not really in the best position to reprimand you for working too hard,” Essek says sheepishly, and Caleb laughs softly.
“Ja… we wizards are a messy group, aren’t we?”
“You’re telling me,” Molly laments, and tucks Caleb’s hair out of his face. “Disasters,” he says dramatically. “Try to get some more sleep, magic man. Maybe they’ll let us teleport you home in a few hours, yeah? Get you back to your own bed.”
“Maybe…” He hopes. A teacher, laid up in his own Academy. It’s not setting a good example, but he tries not to think about that, too. And anyway, he does want to sleep. He is still so tired, and weak, and achy. “I’m sorry you two are going to be left without anything to do, though.”
Molly snorts softly. “I think I could find something to pass the time, if I was really inspired. Remember what happened the last time we infiltrated a clinic,” he says, a little more humor lighting up his eyes, and Schieße, he remembers–
“Are you ready to make a damn fool of yourself?”
“I'm always ready to make a damn fool of myself.”
“Please do not do that at my school,” he whispers, teasing, “Mollymauk.”
“Do I want to know what happened the last time you were in a clinic…?” Essek asks slowly, eyebrows furrowed.
“Nein.”
“I painted my dick and made fake vomit with eggs and hot sauce,” Molly boasts. Like it’s something to be proud of– and Caleb can’t help but laugh at the flashbacks of the tiefling crawling, screaming, across the floor– and then he has to cough, and laugh a little harder, at the look of disbelief on Essek’s face from the statement.
“You what?”
“We needed a distraction, I was being a distraction!”
“With egg on your dick,” Caleb rasps, chuckling, and squirming to try and get comfortable. “Behave for now, ja, please. I would not live this one down.”
“I will if you promise to take better care of yourself.” Mollymauk grins, although it doesn’t entirely reach his eyes. He is trying to keep up a brave face, but his eyes are still worried through the joking.
Right… the worry. He really is not setting a good example, for his students or the people he loves. He is being irresponsible. He knows.
“Ja. I promise,” he swears, and smiles as Essek holds his hand and Molly strokes his hair until he falls asleep again.