"Kaldur, you're sick!"

"I'm not sick," The boy pleaded as he was dragged toward the med bay, "It's just a reaction."

"Kaldur'ahm, don't be difficult." His king scolded lightly. "Of course you're sick, look at yourself."

Kaldur huffed as his mentor lead him in, waving down one of the doctor's who'd stuck around after patching the kids up earlier.

"Please, I promise you I can handle this myself." Kaldur begged.

Orin disregarded his protests, showing the doctor the rash on Kaldur's arms. "Look at this. How could you have missed this while treating him earlier?"

"Sir, please."

"Kaldur." Orin said firmly, silencing the boy. He turned back to the attending doctor. "It's inflamed!"

"I'm sorry, it wasn't exposed while we were patching them up." She stuttered. "I mean, he was wearing a jacket..."

"Well, can you at least identify what's wrong?"

"Looks like some kind an allergic reaction." She replied, "Has your sidekick had burning eyes, running nose, swollen throat?"

Orin looked at Kaldur, who shrugged shyly. "Tell the doctor." He ordered.

Kaldur fidgeted uncomfortably, his face feeling very hot. "I have been feeling... unwell recently." He hesitated, knowing he should tell the doctor everything. "...I've also been struggling to breath."

He felt his king go cold at his side, Kaldur winced. His mentor felt responsible for his safety, but Kaldur was really old enough that he didn't need to share everything with him. He'd thought he could cover up the rash until it left, like he did with most of his allergic reactions. Unfortunately his king had noticed the irritated burn-like splash of bumps on his skin.

Luckily the doctor didn't miss a beat. "How long have you had these complaints?"

Kaldur shrugged again, looking away. "Two days ago, when we were training in the pool."

"Did you let anyone know?" She asked.

Kaldur could feel his king's eyes on him as he shook his head. "No." He admitted. "I thought it would go away."

"You tried to hide it." His king corrected. "Aqualad, you always need to tell someone."

"Yes, sir." He said, chin down and eyes on the floor.

The doctor placed the end of a stethoscope to his chest. "Breath in." He did. "Breath out." He did. "Have you been coughing recently?" She asked, removing the stethoscope. He nodded. "Alright, sounds like you're having a reaction to the Chlorine in the pool."

Kaldur wasn't sure what that meant entirely, he just wished he could be having this conversation alone with the doctor.

"What's the treatment?" Aquaman asked.

"Wash off the affected areas with unchlorinated water," She said, taking out a notepad, "I'll prescribe him a cream and eyedrops, how does that sound."

"Thank you." Kaldur said quickly.

"Kaldur also has very fragile, underdeveloped lungs."

"Oh, why didn't you say?" She asked the teen. "I'll prescribe an inhaler too, just in case."

"Will that be enough? Aqualad is very sensitive to medication and drugs, will there be any adverse reactions?"

"He'll be fine once the rash settles down and the coughing stops. He just probably shouldn't swim in chlorinated water if it can be avoided."

"I'll have a word with his trainer."

"Please, that won't be necessary." Kaldur said. "I can tell Black Canary myself."

"Aqualad, usually I trust you, but today you have already tried to hide an injury from me. I will talk to Canary."

"Yes sir."

Aquaman turned to the doctor. "Perhaps you should check in again later this week to be sure he's recovering?"

"I think that would be a good idea." She said. "Excuse me, I have a shift to get to."

"I'm so sorry we've held you up." Kaldur interrupted, flooded with shame.

"No need to apologize, your mentor is right, you should always tell a doctor." She waved to the two. "Goodnight, I'll have those prescriptions filled in the morning,"

Kaldur withered in his chair; having an allergic reaction was bad enough without his mentor's protectiveness.

"Now, Kaldur." Aquaman said, once she had gone. "I think we ought to return you to Atlantis for the night to take the pressure off your lungs."

"Sir, I've been long capable of sleeping on land."

"I'm sure, but this will do you good." He said, "No, I insist on it, Aqualad, you are returning to Atlantis with me for the rest of the night."

"Yes sir."